A A IW '• o 1 — = 33 i^— ^ m c, 3 = 6 i : ^ i 8 = == -c 9 m I -7 — ^ 1 -1 1 = -^1 D 1 Fll.GRlM BV THB AUTHOR OF ^'ONLY A SERVANT/ THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES HEART iMELODIES. PRINTED BY ANDREW BROWN, 42 HANOVER STKKKT, EDINBURGH. HEART MELODIES OF AN AGED PILGRIM. BY THE AUTHOR OF "ONLY A SERVANT."' " Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and ?naking melody in ymcr heart to the Lord.'''' Eph. v. 19. ;iE D i 11 b u r 9 b : ANDREW STEVENSON, 1891. 35sq k PREFACE. "\"\ THAT the Author says in the note prefixed to the verses entitled " The Ever Living Saviour" {vide page 67), may be appHed to the whole contents of this little book. He can "lay no claim to originality either in the thought or expression " of his verses, and would not presume to call his simple rhymes poetry. He has but gathered some precious pearls from the vast ocean of God's revealed Word, in the shape of those truths which are fitted to convey hope, comfort, and con- solation to weary pilgrims on their journey Zion- ward, and strung them together in a form which, it may be, meets the apostolical injunction that we should make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Most of the pieces have been written after the close of a busy business career of perhaps more than ordinary length; the greater part of them in- deed, during the "borrowed years" that succeed the allotted threescore and ten ; and in those wake- ful hours when impaired health interfered \\dth his vi PREFACE. enjoyment of "tired nature's sweet restorer — hahny sleep." At such seasons it was a calming and grateful occupation to turn the thoughts of the unduly active mind in the direction of the things that belong to our everlasting peace; and he trusts his little volume may be found useful in the case of others, as its contents have often been in his own, in bringing a peaceful quiet and refreshing into these oft-times otherwise painful hours. He regrets that he is unable to give any indica- tion to the authorship of the lines given on page 132 — " To a Mother on the Death of her First-born Son." They are of such a date as to make it certain that he has not been infringing any one's copyright; and their merit is such as cannot fail to make them acceptable to the readers of what might prove an otherwise disappointing volume. They have been inserted here mainly as a specimen and record of an unwonted feat of memory on the part of an affectionate sister, such as he believes is not often paralleled. B. Bruntsfield Placi:, Edinburgh. CONTENTS. PAOE AGED pilgrim's SOLILOQUY, THE Ill all-sufficient saviour, the, .... i5i aspirations, 138 bairns' hymn, a, 146 bereaved, to the: a hymn of consolation, . 18 BEULAH 41 COMPASSIONATE SAVIOUR, THE I48 DEATH-BED EXPERIENCE, A, I42 DEATH ENCOUNTERED, S8 "did NOT I SEE THEE IN THE GARDEN WITH HIM?" 51 DISCIPLESHIP 64 "DO YOU LOVE GOD?" 90 EVER-LIVING SAVIOUR, THE, 67 FAINT AND WEARY, 154 FLIGHT OF TIME, THE, I18 GIFTS OF GRACE, THE, I07 god's house ON EARTH, I60 god in nature and in grace, .... 121 gospel feast, the, 45 "l have prayed for thee that thy faith fail NOT," 33 vin CONTENTS. IN MEMORIAM— MARY H : ONLY A SERVANT, . IN MEMORIAM — MARY J. NICHOL, SECRETARY OF THE invalids' AUXILIARY TO THE EDINBURGH MEDI CAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY, "l WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT," OLD BETTY, .... OPENED KVE, THE, . PARABLE, A, . . . . PERFECT GOD AND PERFECT MAN, POOR NELL, .... PRAYER, A, . . . . RELEASED, .... REMINISCENCES, RESPITED, RESTORED, .... RETROSPECTION, REVIVED, . . . - . .SABBATH, THE, salvation's STORY, . SUSTAINED, .... TELL THE STORY FAR AND WIDE, WILLING TO DEPART, ICO 23 78 73 14 55 29 49 II 129 I 86 "3 5 38 89 8 26 76 RESPITED. " Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit. . . . For the grave cannot praise Thee, death can not celebrate Thee. . . . The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.''- — IsA. xxxviii. 17-19. T T E has brought me back from the border land — From the very gates of death — Where I felt the touch of Death's clammy hand, And the chill of his icy breath. He has given me back to your earnest prayers, O friends, most loved and true ! He has seen you were loath from me to part — He has work for me still to do. And I gladly stay, since such is His will, For He knows what's best for me — If He keeps me here — if He calls me hence — It is still with Himself to be. B I would sit, like Mary, at His feet, Or, like John, lean on His breast ; I would take up my cross and follow Him, And would seek no other rest Than the rest that is found in working for Him- It may be a soul to win — A word to speak to some sorrowing one, Or a sinner to guide to Him ; Or it may be only to suffer awhile. To show what His grace can do, And that what you see of His work in me May strengthen and comfort you. I would never forget His love to me, But would tell it again and again — How He filled my soul with cloudless peace. When my body was racked with pain ; How I fed on His precious promises, And was kept in perfect peace. When I thought of my own unworthiness. And of His abundant grace. I scarce could claim to be counted His child, For I knew how wayward I'd been, And aught as His servant I'd sought to do Had always been tainted with sin. So I felt that only the sinner's place Was the place to be taken by me ; And that was enough for me, dear Lord ! For the sinner is welcomed by Thee. As such it is that we come to Thee, Having nought of our own to plead ; But Thy perfect life and Thy precious blood Are made ours by the Father's deed. For He loved the lost with a boundless love, When He saw them dead in sin ; And He gave His Son to take our place. And made us complete in Him. And now having nought of our own to boast, We look for our all to Thee ; We cling to Thy cross, and we trust in Thy word. And we find Thou hast made us free ; Free from the love and the guilt of sin, I">oni the law's condemning power, From the pride of life, from the fear of death, And from him who seeks to devour. And so we go on in our pilgrim way, Committing our all to Thee, And we find Thy grace is enough for us here. And enough for Eternity ! REVIVED. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." — Ps. xxiii. 4. THRUST Thee, Saviour ! yes, I'll trust Thee, Trust Thee, though I cannot see — Thine it is to choose my pathway — Mine is but to follow Thee. Let the way be bright or dreary, Smooth or rough the path I tread, All is well when Thou art near me. Telling me by whom I'm led. Though I know not what's before me, All the way is plain to Thee, Every turning, every winding, Few or many as they be. Let me but enjoy Thy presence, Tliat will brighten all the way ; And the morning, gilt with promise, Will bring in the perfect day. For I know at least the ending — That my faith reveals to me — Rest and peace and joy eternal. Given and made sure by Thee. Rest and peace and joy, what blessing ! Rest from travail, toil, and pain ; Peace from fear and doubt and fighting. Every foe o'ercome and slain. And such joy, so pure and holy. As in heaven alone could be. That same joy, O precious Saviour ! Which is in and flows from Thee. So I press on in my journey. Casting on Thee all my care. Sure Thou never wilt forsake mc. But will still my burdens bear. Yes, Thy grace will still support me, Fit for glory day by day. Till made perfect in Thine image, Thou wilt call me hence away ; Away from time and all its sorrow. Sin and suffering, shame and pain ; Away from earth and imperfection. Heaven and all its bliss to gain. SUSTAINED. " Thou shall call His name Jesus : for He shall save Mis people from their sins." — Matt. i. 21. "Thy name is as ointment poured forth." — Cant. i. 3. T STOOD by the bed of the dying one, And sought to uphold her hope and faith ; Her pilgrim race was nearly run, And she lay there, face to face with death. I spoke of the names of our blessed Lord, So fitted to comfort, to cheer, and sustain. And I thought that " Immanuel — God with.us," Would soothe her, lying there racked with pain. I said that in each of His glorious names Some trait of His wondrous grace is expressed ; " Oh, yes," she replied, with a happy smile, " But I like His name of 'Jesus' best." Yes, Jesus, Thy name to the sinner is dear, For it speaks of the ransom fully paid, Of the stains washed out, of the sin subdued, And the filthy one all comely made. Of our sins it speaks and Thy righteousness, Of the shame and the pain which Thou didst bear, And the glorious robe, so pure and white. Wrought out by Thee for Thine own to wear. It tells of life to the dead in sin, Of strength to the weak and feeble one. Of refuge from wrath and escape from hell, And of heaven with all its joys begun. It tells of Satan o'erthrown and foiled, Of Jehovah honoured and glorified. Of mercy in copious streams outpoured. And justice appeased and satisfied ; Of the Father's love and the Spirit's aid, Of all we need laid up in the Son — The Three combined to give grace while here, And glory at last when time is gone. lO Do we wonder then she rejoiced in this name, And prized it when passing on to her rest ? No, we feel we would rather with her say, We, too, like His name of "Jesus" best ! II RELEASED. " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. . . . And when he had said this, he fell asleep. "—Acts vii. 59, 60. O HE is passing away, For her call has come And the Master now Is leading her home. The road may seem rough — 'Tis the same that He trod — And she feels it enough That she be as her Lord. His presence is with her, To uphold and to cheer ; With His arms underneath her She has nothing to fear. 12 She is kept on the Rock, Still trusting His word, — For langour and pain Soon the joy of her Lord. Her dark night of weeping Will ere long be o'er, For the morning of joy Casts its bright beams before. The gates stand ajar At the end of the way : Even now she sees gleams Of eternal day. The angels are waiting To usher her in, — One more of His ransomed From death and from sin. Her loved ones are round her, Her passing to cheer ; So bright is her prospect. They can't keep her here. 13 Oh, no, though the parting Brings sorrow and pain, They're cheered by the hope Of soon meeting again. Where the loved gone before In expectancy stand, To welcome her home To Immanuel's land. 'Tis enough, righteous Father ! Let Thy will be done ! Farewell now to earth, Heaven's bliss is begun ! 14 A PARABLE. "All these things are against me." — Gen. xlii. 36. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God." — Rom. viii. 28. " 'T'HE journey is so very long, and so weary is the way, Oh, when will ever we get home ? " we're often heard to say. " They stop at every station, thus losing so much time; When will we reach the terminus of this tiresome railway line ? " We're shut up here so cramped for room, and so comfortless the seat. We've got no cushions to our backs, nor warmers for our feet, 15 These broken windows have no screens, and to make the thing complete, How rude and disagreeable are the passengers we meet ! " Alas ! how many passengers are found in every train Who constantly thus grumble, and do nothing but complain ; While if they'd only think a bit, examining their pass, They'd find they'd got, by their own fault, into another class Of carriage than they should be in, and they're alone to blame ; The Master came to see them off, and booked them in His name, He bought the tickets at the bar, all cost to them to save, And had they only looked they'd seen 'twas a first class one He gave. i6 O Christian ! does this parable no lesson bear for thee? Do not you in this passenger your own true i)icture see? Your Father has provided you all blessings for the A\ay, But, oh, how oft you walk by sense, and let unbelief have sway ! Need you wonder then if comfort leaves, and your peace is ta'en away ? You should not go with downcast look, complaining of your lot, Nor harbour thoughts of discontent, as if your Lord had not Remembered all He undertook, when first He rescued you From fearful pit and miry clay. Is not His promise true? Be sure the work His grace began shall be accom- plished too. And has He not, oft in times past, such blessings on you poured. 17 That well He merits at your hands to be for aye adored, As your bountiful Provider, Protector, Leader, Guide ? He gave His Son to save your soul, can there be aught beside. In earth below or heaven above, that He will not provide ? You must not think you will not meet some trials by the way, 'Twont do to have the sun aye shine and keep the clouds away ; We need the rain, the wind, the frost, to fertilise the ground, Without these in their seasons due no autumn fruit is found. And if the Christian, too, would grow, and be at last complete, He seeks the footsteps of his Lord, and there he plants his feet In the prints the Man of Sorrows left in the painful path He trod. And in fellowship in suffering gets closer to his God. c i8 TO THE BEREAVED. A HYMN OF CONSOLATION. These verses have already been published and circulated as a leaflet. " Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may he able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." — 2 Cor. i. 3.4- "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." — I Thess. iv. 18. 'T^HEY are gathering fast in the home above — The friends we have known and loved below; We shall miss them here, but they're welcomed there, Then why should we grieve to let them go ? We shall miss them here ? Nay, Memory still Will ofttimes bring them back to our view ; 19 We'll hear them speak, and we'll speak to them, And we'll live all our happy past anew. We will find them again when we meet with their friends — And again when we kneel at the throne of grace, We will meet them there at our Saviour's feet, And rejoice with them at that Resting place. They'll be here when we look on the scenes they loved — When we read their favourite books once more ; And the words they spake and the things they did Will seem more real than they did before. We'll hear their voice in the household psalm, When we gather together to praise the Lord, And to drink again of the healing springs From the rich deep well of His Holy word. They'll go with us again to the house of God, And we'll take sweet counsel as we go, And our hearts will burn as we talk by the way. And bring back the bright Sabbaths of long ago. 20 And oh, if Memory thus hallows the past, And brings what we most loved back again ! What shall we say of what faith reveals Of the bliss they have gained and we pant to gain? " Father, I will," the Saviour hath said, "That those Thou hast given Me be with Me here." With Christ ! caught up by His own desire ! Oh, who would not wish to be welcomed there ? They have left behind them their sin-stained dress ; They have finished their course and kept the faith, And now, through their Saviour's righteousness, They are freed from sin and have conquered Death. They have reached the abode prepared for them, The home they had ever kept in view ; And the joys which they find in that Resting place They longingly wait to share with you. 21 There's no taint of sin there, and no touch of pain — No sorrow to grieve, and no care to annoy^ — For as all are made perfect in holiness, So all are made perfect in love and joy. It would baffle an angel's tongue to express All the joy of that pure and peaceful abode ; Who can say what it is to behold the Lord's face ? Who can say what it is to be ever with God ? But the Lamb Himself is the light thereof, And all who are there His likeness bear — With Him and with them in that Resting PLACE ! Oh, who would not wish to be welcomed there ? 'Tis the Saviour's will that keeps us here, Even that same will that called them home ; So we'll patiently wait His appointed time, And be ready to go when He bids us come. We will take up the work which they have laid down, And it may be we'll reap of that they have sowed ; 22 Into their loved labours we'll enter here — We'll rejoice with them there in the joy of their God. At a distance still from our Father's house, A little longer our cross we must bear — In a "little while" His call will come, And they'll be among those who will WELCOME us THERE ! These lines, with their accompanying note, were sent by the writer to the widow of a much loved friend, on the occasion of her husband's death. Bereavement is the common lot of all, and what proves consolatory to one wounded heart may prove equally so to others. They have therefore been revised, and are now cast on the waters, with a prayer to the God of all comfort, that He may be pleased to use them for blessing to His afllicted ones in their dark and cloudy day. My Dear Mrs. My thoughts, which have been much with you since Monday morning, have found expression in the accompanying lines, which I now send to you, in the hope of their imparling to you some of that comfort wherewith I myself have been comforted of God. May they be blessed for this end of Him who is the God of all comfort. To Him I commend you, and with heartfelt sympathy, I remain yours most sincerely, J. B. B. IN MEMORIAM Mary J. Nichol, for many years the active and energetic Secretary of the Invalids' Auxiliary to the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, who died at Bridge of Allan, on 6th June 1890. " Well done, good and faithful servant: . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."— Matt. xxv. 23. T T APPY spirit, now released From thy suffering and thy pain ; Welcomed home to endless bliss, To an everlasting reign ! Weary days and sleepless nights Were thy portion here below, Aching limbs and palsied frame, Feverish tossings to and fro. 'Twas the way the Master trod, And the way He chose for thee, That thy sufferings might be used To show how rich His grace could he. Dut the suffering now is ended, And the glory has begun ; Now thy well-fought fight is over, And the heavenly prize is won ! He was with thee in the furnace, Giving grace and strength to bear — Thou art with Him now in glory. All His promised bliss to share. Thy bright crown, so rich with jewels Gathered for Him here below By thy work and witness for Him — _ How it shines upon thy brow ! For the work thine own hands fashioned, Gladly though 'twas wrought by thee, Was not all thy service rendered — No, how many now there be, 25 Winningly by thee enlisted, Willingly their part to bear In the blessed work of mercy, Ever to thyself so dear. And how many a suffering sick one Learned from thee that even they (In their helplessness and weakness, Thinking they could only pray) Could do something for the Master, Something He would reckon good, Something which would gain His verdict- That she had done what she could. Some of them are home already, Sharing with thee in His joy ; Some have caught thy fallen mantle, Work like thine their loved employ. And aloft the banner waving, On they follow as did'st thou, Cheered still by thy bright example. And the thought of what thou'rt now ! 26 TELL THE STORY FAR AND WIDE. " How beautiful upon the mountains arc the feet of him that bringcth t;oo(l tidings, that publisheth peace ; that bringeth good tidings of good, that pubhsheth salvation ; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. " — Isa. lii. 7. 'T*ELL the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — Tell what mercy doth provide, Rebel hearts like ours to gain. Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — A victim to the altar led. The Lamb of God for sinners slain. Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — • Jesus Christ is crucified, God is reconciled to men. 27 Tell the story far and wide. Tell it o'er and o'er again — Justice now is satisfied, Sin atoned, and left no stain. Tell the story far and wide. Tell it o'er and o'er again — Jesus Christ is glorified. And He comes as King to reign. Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — Now the gospel banquet's spread. Costly viands, choicest wine. Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — Christ's Himself the living bread,. Giving health and life to men. Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — Hear the Spirit and the Bride Calling — Shall they call in vain ? 28 Tell the story far and wide, Tell it o'er and o'er again — All may come, for all are bid, All may freely enter in. 29 POOR NELL. " I am sought of them that asked not for Me ; I am found of them that sought Me not."— IsA. Ixv. i. "Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God." — Luke xviii. i6. T^ARK lowered the wintry sky, And the rain in torrents fell, The biting winds were high, When poor little ragged Nell, While she struggled against the storm. Chanced, as she ran, to espy A room, oh, so bright and so warm, . And so pleasing to the eye ! 30 The fire in the well-filled grate Sent its beams across the way, And told of the welcome heat It gave out on that stormy day. And glad children went trooping in — Nell heard their happy song — And the teacher looked so good and kind, As he stood 'mid the happy throng. The contrast was so great, Twixt the cheerful scene within, And the cold and cheerless street — She could not but wish to be in. But the children, as in they passed. Were all tidy and neat and clean, And she was a ragged lass, Her clothes tattered and torn and mean. Yet she thought of the kindly look That beamed on the teacher's face. As he welcomed each little one in, So she plucked up heart of grace. 31 And when next the door was opened To let more of the children through, She ran and she thus addressed him, Ere he from the door withdrew — *' Please, Sir, I'm a poor little creature. My clothes neither tidy nor clean, But you seem so kind, may I ask, Sir, If the likes of me may come in ? " The teacher had learned of the Master, And he thought of the words He had given, *' Let the little ones come unto Me, For of such is the kingdom of heaven." His heart and his eyes too were full As he looked on poor Nell, and he smiled ; While she joyed as she heard his reply, " You are heartily welcome, my child." So he took the poor wanderer in, And near the fire gave her a place, Where the wet garments soon became drier, And happiness lit up her face. 32 While the little ones gather around, Each with a sweet welcome prepared For this other poor child who had found The shelter that long they had shared. There was joy at that hour, too, in heaven, 'Midst the angels and saints above, O'er this poor little waif who had found Her way to the Lord whom they love. 33 "I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT." "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." — Gal. iii. 26. "Justified by faith." — RoM. v. i. " Precious faith."— 2 Pet. i. i. "Worketh by love."— Gal. v. 6. "Purifying their hearts by faith." — Acts xv. 9. "Over- cometh the world." — i John v. 4. "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."— I Pet. i. 9. ' ' And what shall I more say ? for the time would fail me to tell."— Heb. xi. 32. A H, Peter ! — confident and vain — Thou'rt in the tempter's toils again ! And hid from thy pride-blinded eyes Is all that now before thee lies — D 34 The fierce assault, the sad defeat, The base denial, and complete Forsaking, followed, as was meet. By bitter oaths and shameless lies — All these arc hidden from thine eyes. But He, whose eye can all things see Of past, or present, or to be, Hath seen it all, and well doth know The working of that crafty foe. Who now through thee another blow Aims at Himself, in this the hour Of darkness and of Satan's power, Raised up against Him, Yet, for thee. Even in His own extremity. He feels and prays. The raging crowd Surrounds Him, thirsting for His blood. He knows His Father at His cry Would send the angel-hosts from high To save ; yet would He not go free. He prays, — but Simon, 'tis for thee ! O weary sinner, bending low Beneath the tempter's bitter blow, 35 And feeling that with such a foe 'Tis vain for feeble thee to cope ; Hear the sweet words of heavenly hope- Faint not, for in that evil hour, However dark that hour may be, Thy very weakness brings the power That lifts thee up, and rescues thee. For He, who ever intercedes Before the throne, for thee now pleads. And 'tis an all-prevailing plea Thy Saviour there presents for thee ! What asked He for the tempted one Whose boasted courage now was gone ? That angel legions might be sent To save him ? Or at least prevent The sad denial ? Or that He Who erst in dark Gethsemane The bloody sweat wiped from His brow Would re-appear — His errand now To cheer the lowly servant, and afford Strength unto him, as erewhile to his Lord ? Not such His prayers. 36 What was it then He pleaded for ? Oh, hear again Another witness from the hps divine, Who gives His testimony line on line, To thy prevailing power, O precious Faith ! That overcomes the world and conquers death ! He only asks that, when the foes assail And lay His followers low, thou should'st not fail ! Hail, precious Faith ! Oh, who can tell The virtue that in thee doth dwell ? Thou art the eye by which we see Jehovah's long hid mystery. Through thee we learn His gracious plan For justifying sinful man. Nay more, the eye but gives us sight, And brings this wondrous plan to light ; But thou'rt the hand by which we take Boons freely given for Jesus' sake, And pardon, peace, and righteousness, And love, and joy through thee possess. Thou break'st the chains in which we're led, And link'st us to our living Head. 37 And thou'rt the mouth by which we feed On Him, and find Him meat indeed ; By thee from death to Hfe we rise ; By thee the simple are made wise ; The weak made strong ; all rich supplies The poor receive, their portion here Is God Himself, and Paradise Their home when Jesus shall appear. O precious Faith ! how oft we're taught What miracles by thee are wrought, What mountains moved, what battles won. What foes subdued, what great things done. What fears allayed, hopes realised, Earth's vain things scorned, God's good things prized ! Such are Faith's works. How great they be ! And what is Faith ? Faith, Saviour, is but trust in Thee ! 3S THE SABBATH. "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy clay ; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable ; and shalt honour Ilim, not doing tliine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words : then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord ; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father."— IsA. Iviii. 13, 14. /^UR Saviour has said that the Sabbath was made ^■^^ For man — a boon by the Father given, That the way-worn pilgrim here on earth Might taste of the joys of the saints in heaven. We oftentimes speak of the peaceful rest In the home of these glorified saints above ; And we hope to be gathered there at last, With all whom we here so fondly love. 39 We know that there's nothing can compare With the bhss of that holy and happy abode ; And the highest wish that our hearts can frame For ourselves or for them, is that all may claim To be welcomed there by our Saviour God. Now, what are our Sabbaths here below But foretastes and shadows of that above ? And could we but always regard them so, How dear and how bright would these Sabbaths prove ! But how often we count them a weariness ! And cry, When will this Sabbath day be done, That we may betake us again to the race For worldly gain ? Alas ! were it won, 'Twould be at the cost of our precious souls, And the loss of all that His love has bought. Of earthly good or unending bliss, For those whom He saved, though they knew Him not 40 Till He came — it may be on a Sabbath morn — And with healing eyesalve touched their eyes, And showed them that earth's but a wilderness, — The soul's true home is beyond the skies. Then our earnest aim and effort should be, If we wish to enjoy Sabbath blessings below, To bring down to this earth as much of heaven. Its work and its joys as to saints are given, Who now, as before in the land of the living. Are keeping their Sabbath there, Lord, with Thee. For as Thou art the light of that heaven above. So art Thou the fount of all blessing below ; And our Sabbaths here must be spent with Thee, If a true Sabbath blessing our hearts would know. 41 BEULAH. "A land which the Lord thy God careth for : the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year."— Deut. xi. 12. " All nations shall call you blessed : for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."— Mal. iii. 12. "D EULAH ! Beulah ! oh, so fair ! How bless'd are all the dwellers there ! Its genial clime, cerulean skies, Soft breezes borne from Paradise ; Its hills, with smiling vales between, With pasture clad so rich and green ; Its mountain peaks which pierce the sky, Their sides by radiance from on high Made bright with glory not their own, But His whose beams are o'er them thrown. The rills which from these mountains flow In gay cascades as down they go, 42 Till, meeting in the plain below, They form those streams so deep and wide, Enriching all on every side. The stately trees of varied hue. By Spring and Autumn decked anew ; In noble phalanx, broad and grand. Are gathered some ; while others stand Apart and lone, or scattered o'er The wide expanse ; some skirt the shore Of rolling stream or lonely lake ; Their quivering leaves the zephyrs shake, And join with rippling brook to make. With bleating lambs and lowing herds, And happy singing of the birds. Sweet music to delight the ear. That it with wondering eye may share The joy abounding everywhere. While flowers are thrown with lavish hand Broadcast in beauty o'er the land, With sweet perfume to scent the air ; And luscious fruit, so rich and rare. As if our God would nothing spare. But scatter all with bounteous hand, To make this a delightsome land. 43 Yet these are but the shadows, Lord, Of what Thy goodness doth afford To those who, guided by Thy hand. Rest for a while in Beulah Land. What's best and fairest here below, Speak of the bliss to which we go, But, oh, how faintly they express The fulness of that blessedness ! The sinner saved, God reconciled, The rebel welcomed as a child. The filthy cleansed, the naked clothed. The law fulfilled, sin's service loathed. For swinish husks — now heavenly bread, A loving trust for slavish dread, A certain hope for doubts and fears, A placid joy for griefs and tears ; Life worthy of the name we bear. And a patient watch till He appear ! O Covenant ! secure and grand ! Like mountain range that fills the land, A sure retreat no human hand Could rear, but raised at God's command. Down from thee flow in rills and streams Blessings so great, so rich, so free. 44 Such as faith in her fondest dreams Could neither ask nor hope to see. These granted, as seems best to Him, In trickling rills or copious stream. By constant flow that cannot tire. With love our grateful hearts inspire. His precious promises are made The hills from which w^e look for aid ; And in the pages of His word We find the pastures of our Lord ; There, richly fed, the bruised reed Becomes a plant of God indeed. Expanding still, aye towards the sky, As trees they lift their heads on high, Firm rooted in the ground they stand — Jehovah's host — a noble band. From storm and wind they fear no shock ; For, resting on the living Rock, Which stable is and stands for aye, As stable and secure are they. Grace helps in every time of need, It strengthens, shields, and beautifies. Faith's source and stay, and Glory's seed, Fits and prepares for Paradise. 45 THE GOSPEL FEAST. "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: . . . and said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, . . . into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled." — Luke xiv. 1 6, 21, 23. /^H, have you not heard of the great feast pre- pared ? And now open to all who so poorly have fared, And who never as yet in God's good things have shared, For they never have heard of this great feast pre- pared. 'Tis the great marriage feast of the Bridegroom and Bride, And the Bridegroom is He whom our sins crucified, 46 While the Bride is the sinners for whom He hath died. 'Tis the great marriage feast of the Bridegroom and Bride. The espousal was made amid suffering and pain, But the sufferings are past ; peace and joy come again ; And the peace will abide and the joy will remain, Though th' espousal was made amid suffering and pain. And 'tis meet when the Bridegroom brings home his fair Bride In His glory to share, in His palace abide, Should be mirth and rejoicing on every side ; This is meet when the Bridegroom brings home his fair Bride. So He sends out His messengers here to proclaim. And to tell of this feast and invite in His name Every hungering one. Oh, how gladly they came, Those messengers sent this great feast to proclaim ! 47 For they go to the east, and they go to the west, To the north and the south carrying out His behest; And this upon all was the message they pressed, In the north and the south, in the east and the west — " You are hurrying on in a dangerous way. Oh, stop but a moment and hear lis, we pray ; For of weighty import are the words we would say, While you're hurrying on in this dangerous way. " You are feeding on husks the swine tread under feet; You are taking the bitter and calling it sweet ; And instead of God's manna, 'tis ashes you eat, ^Vhile you feed on the husks the swine tread under feet. " And the table above there groans under the load Of the bountiful banquet, prepared by our God ; Both apples to comfort, and flagons to stay, And the longing soul satiate in every way With the bountiful banquet prepared by our God ; On that table above which groans under the load. 48 *' And there's room for us all at this great marriage feast, And enough for us all of this fare of the best, And the Bridegroom is there to welcome each guest, And there's room for us all at this great marriage feast." So these messengers tell this to all whom they meet, In the green country lane, or the hard city street, And each one and all they most lovingly greet ; And in season and out, never cease to entreat For a loving response to this message so sweet. While they tell of this great feast to all whom they meet. Then we'll seek to fill up every yet unfilled chair, For not one of the seats should be left vacant there ; And no effort we'll grudge and no labour will spare, While we seek to fill up every yet unfilled chair. 49 A PRAYER. "My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word. ... I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart."— Psalm cxix. 28, 32. T^AKE me, Father ! take and use me, Let me something do for Thee ! Long ago Thy grace did choose me, But how useless still 1 be ! Others working all around me, Put my indolence to shame ; Can it be that since I found Thee I have been Thine but in name ? E so Oh, forgive my barren greenness, Quicken me, O Lord, anew, Make me fruitful, heal my leanness, Show me what Thou'dst have me do. Make me willing, make me able, Strength and will both come from Thee ; For without Thee, I am feeble. Sinful, worthless, and unstable, So but fruitless still must be. I would look away from self, then. Turn me now to Thee alone ; Raise me, Lord, support and strengthen, Ere the coming shadows lengthen, Let Thy will in me be done ! 51 "DID NOT I SEE THEE IN THE GARDEN WITH HIM?" " Rejoice not over me, O mine enemy : when I fall, I shall arise ; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." — MiCAH vii. 8. "The Lord uphold eth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." — Ps. cxlv. 14. 00 SPAKE THE SCOWLING SOLDIER, aS he StOOd And glared with hatred in its blackest mood, Alike on Him already in their power, And the poor trembling wretch, who fain would cower And shrink from notice in the High Priest's hall, Though once the foremost, boldest of them all. So spake the soldier, glorying in the thought Of one more victim to the slaughter brought. Forgetful all of what he heard Him say, — " If Me ye seek, let these then go their way." 52 So SPAKE POOR HUMAN NATURE, in the breast Of one who tried, now fails to stand the test, And sadly feels, without His power t' uphold, The veriest coward indeed, though once in word so bold. His conscience speaks the accusation true, His faith deserts him, and his boldness too ; He shrinks from suffering, and by sin he tries To escape the cross, nor cares to win the prize, Forgetful he of what his Lord did say — " Fear not, thy faith won't fail ; for I for thee will pray." So SPAKE THE Saviour, though in bonds He stood 'Mid raging foes all thirsting for His blood ; The fainting servant saw his Master's look — More full of grace and pity than rebuke, And louder far than any words it spoke — " Yes, Peter, in that garden thou with Me And other loved ones oft wert wont to be. How blessed there the sweet converse we had, Without might sorrow be, there we were glad ; And what I then did say I ne'er forget, I loved Mine own then, and I love them yet." So SPAKE THE TRUE DISCIPLE, now restored, Self all abased, and glorying in his Lord— " Hear me, ye sinners who the Lord have slain, He died to save you, and He lives again ; You knew Him not, though David's royal Son, The promised Saviour. All His work now done, To you He sends me and His chosen few, To tell the wonders of His love to you. In no one else can saving grace be found. Come and be saved." His fearless words astound, His boldness awed them, until memory woke, And told them he who now so fearless spoke Had companied with Jesus, now adored As Prince and Saviour ; whom their fathers' God Had sent to bless and turn them from their sin, And open His heaven above for them to enter in. So LET us ALSO SPEAK, when urged to stray And leave, perchance, the safe though narrow way. We in the garden oft with Him have been, And there His suffering and His sorrow seen. Like Peter, oft we've vowed ne'er to forsake, And oft like him, alas ! while He did wake. 54 Who bore such untold sufferings for our sake, We've slept ; and when His enemies appeared Have turned our backs upon Him, and have feared Then to be known as His. O gracious Lord, Help us with that same strength Thou did'st afford To Peter in his dark and dismal day ; Give us that look which drove despair away ; Help us, like him, Lord, evermore to say — ♦' All things on earth below or heaven above Thou knowest, and Thou know'st that Thee we love ! " 55 PERFECT GOD AND PERFECT MAN. "The man Christ Jesus." — i Tim. ii. 5. " Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God : l^ut made Himself of no reputation, . . . and was made in the likeness of men." — Phil. ii. 6, 7. T N lowly guise the Saviour came, A humble virgin's sinless Son ; Assumed an infant's feeble frame, Its weakness shared as we have done. Like us He grew, the child, the lad, Submissive to his parents' rule ; A craftsman's home was all he had, And trained in honest labour's school. The Saviour grew from child to man ; Nor ever left His humble sphere 56 Till came the hour, when, in God's plan, The great Messiah should appear. Then, like those chosen ones of old, Whom God, in dark and cloudy days From humble sphere in field or fold To Israel's help was wont to raise, — The Saviour came ; Oh, praise His name ! Yea, give Him everlasting praise I But not to Herod's court came He, Nor sought His friends in High Priest's hall ; Rude fishermen of Galilee, Poor and unlearned, obeyed His call. And not to deeds of high emprise, As men would count, did He ordain - To lead them ; not to earthly fame. For victories won on battle plain ; Or loud applause for tuneful strain ; Or eloquence to captivate. And gain repute in Church or State ; Oh, not to such did He give heed. Yet His were victories indeed ! 57 They were the meek and lowly few, To whom He heavenly truths revealed, And glorious mysteries brought to view, From scribes and Pharisees concealed. They gathered round Him as He went A homeless wanderer to and fro ; But aye on deeds of mercy bent, Moved at the sight of human woe. They heard His words, they saw His deeds. And in their bless'd converse with Him, A better school by far they found Than synagogue or Sanhedrim. He told them of the Father's love, The work which He had come to do. The Holy Spirit's promised aid, And all that He would lead them throu2;h. "O' They wondered at the gracious words That from His lips so freely flowed ; And in them and His miracles They recognised the Son of God. 58 DEATH ENCOUNTERED. " Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, lie also Himself likewise took part of the same ; that through death lie might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil ; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." — Heb. ii. 14, 15. 'T^HERE comes an hour — it comes to all — Sad sequel to that fatal fall, When Adam's sin involved his race In all its ruin and disgrace ; When life was lost, and death began To assert its sway o'er sinful man ; And conscious of sin's grievous load, Man sought to hide himself from God. That hour must come, must come to all ; For all have sinned — all share the fall. 59 The spirit which our Father gave To animate our mortal frame, And higher good than earthly crave, Returns to Him from whom it came ; The worn-out body back to dust Returns from which 'twas ta'en at first. Death comes, indeed, to all alike. Yet comes he not alike to all. Some dread the blow he comes to strike, Some hear it as the Father's call To wearied pilgrims as they roam. Faint, lone, and heart-sick for their home. They hear it as the Bridegroom's voice, And when they hear it, they rejoice. What is it in that dreaded hour That gives this messenger the power To shake with fear and terrify ? And oft evokes the sad, vain cry, " I must not, will not, cannot die ! " — 'Tis sin. The conscience, now awake, Recalls the past and all its deeds — A black record that well may shake The trembling frame of him who reads ; 6o And sees by sad experience taught, God's law despised and set at naught ; The evil heart, the bitter root, And springing from it as its fruit. Commandments trampled under foot ; Of all required, not one thing done. Of all forbade, avoided none ; And love as well as law despised, God's grace refused. His Christ not prized ; This world, the god that had his heart. Can now no help nor cheer impart. O world, how false and vaiji thou art ! What is it in that solemn hour Takes from this messenger the power To terrify ? and for distress. Gives hope and joy and perfect peace ; As if the very calm of heaven. To dying saints already given, Enwrapped them in its ample fold ; And crowns, and harps, and streets of gold. And angels bright ; and friends of old Deemed lost on earth, but now restored ; And blessed presence of their Lord, 6i Were not unseen, but all enjoyed, All perfect now and unalloyed. 'Tis faith — faith on the simple word Of an all-truthful, holy God, Of Him who will not, cannot lie, Whose word shall stand and be fulfilled, Whate'er it be that word shall yield ; Or promised life, or threatened death, Or richest grace, or fiercest wrath ; That word abides eternally. The word of Him who cannot lie. And what, then, in that solemn hour Does faith reveal, which seems to pour Such comforts on the dying one ? It tells of the salvation won, And freely given through God's Son. Faith does not seek to hide the sin, But shows the sinner what he's been ; A black record — but still the sight Brings not despair, but brings to light More of the glory of that grace, W^hich meets and answers such a case — 62 More of the love of Christ makes known^ More of our need of Christ alone. It recks not then what we have been, How deep into God's mysteries seen, How useful to the Master's cause, How strictly honoured all His laws, What converse with Himself have had, How many souls through us made glad, What sacrifice we strove to make, What suffered for the Saviour's sake ; Of none of these the saint doth think When trembling on the very brink, And soon into death's arms to sink. No, none of these are in his thought, When thus to face life's close he's brought,. His Saviour and his sins are all Conscience and memory now recall ! No more with questions deep perplexed,. Which often in the past have vexed, Concerning this world or the next ; He leans now on some simple text, Which comfort brings alike to sage, Deep learned in all the sacred page, 63 Or humble and unlearned one, Who only knows what Christ has done ; Both rest them on the same sweet word, Both simply trust the same loved Lord ; They have no other trust beside, But this — hear it ye sinners far and wide ! — For us Christ Jesus lived, and bled, and died — His work on earth complete, to heaven He hied. And now in Him are all His people's wants supplied. 64 DISCIPLESHIP. "Then said Jesus to those . . . which believed on Ilim, If ye continue in My word, tlien are yc My disciples indeed." — John viii. 31. " Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit ; so shall ye be My disciples." — John xv. 8. T ORD Jesus ! may I take the name, And really Thy disciple be ? Thou may'st, indeed, for unto all My call is, Come and learn of Mc. Lord Jesus ! should I take the name, And really Thy disciple be ? Thou should'st — thou'rt lost unless thou dost — Salvation's only found in Me. 65 Lord Jesus ! can I take the name, And really Thy disciple be ? Without My aid, My Spirit says. No man can ever come to Me. Poor sinner ! wilt thou take the name, And truly My disciple be ? Thou may'st, thou should'st, thou can'st, for free The Spirit is for all — for thee. Poor sinner ! if thou only wilt, There's nothing that can hinder thee ; The Father loves. My blood is spilt, The Spirit waits thy help to be. Lord Jesus ! I would take the name, And truly Thy disciple be ; I feel the Father draws ; I pray, O Holy Spirit, strengthen me. Poor sinner ! come and take the name. And truly My disciple be. 66 This now you know— I tell you so — All My disciples have to do, Is hear, and trust, and follow Me. Lord Jesus ! I will take the name, And truly Thy disciple be ; I'm poor, and weak, unwise, and wrong ; But Thou art rich, and wise, and strong ; And all that may to Thee belong Is mine, — so I have all in Thee ! 67 THE EVER -LIVING SAVIOUR. These verses have already been published and circulated as a leaflet. " I am He that liveth, and was dead ; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death. "—Rev. i. i8. The writer of the following lines makes no claim to origin- ality in either their thought or expression. They are but the outburst of, he trusts, a thankful heart, written after a pleasant Sabbath spent in waiting upon God in the ordinary services of the Sanctuary ; and they are now presented to the public in the hope that they may touch a responsive chord in the hearts of others who may be rejoicing, like him, in Christ Jesus as their ever-living Saviour. /'""^OME ! let us sing to Christ our King A joyous song of praise, And in our hearts make melody, While we our voices raise. For Jesus lived and Jesus died, And Jesus lives again ; And Jesus stands at God's right hand. His kingdom to maintain. 68 Our fathers, in their rites and types, Afar off saw His day ; And faith in Him who was to come Was all their hope and stay. But better days on us have dawned, We see the Saviour come ; And FAITH, and hope, and love, and joy. Now cheer our pilgrim home. Our FAITH beholds the Lamb of God Atone for all our sin ; And HOPE looks up, and sees the bliss His righteousness doth win. And LOVE to Him pervades our souls Who loved us while we strayed. Who sent His Son to save the lost. And bring the helpless aid. And LOVE to Him, who gladly came To do the Father's will ; Who takes our place and bears our sin, And answers for us still. And LOVE to Him whose touch awakes. And all this grace reveals ; 69 Who brings us to our Saviour's feet, And every promise seals. And LOVE to them who fear His name, Who tremble at His word ; And, linked in loving brotherhood, Adore Him as their Lord. And LOVE to them who wander still — Such as the Master showed — We hate their sins, but love their souls, And woo them back to God. We tell them Jesus lived and died, That Jesus lives again ; And they that trust to Him for all, Can never trust in vain. Then let us sing to Christ our King A joyous song of praise. And in our hearts make melody, While we our voices raise. And, while we sing to Christ our King, AVe'U let our joy be seen ! 70 We're not yet what we hope to be, W'c are not what we've been ; But by His grace we're moving on, And keep the narrow road, Where, Hghtened by His countenance, We journey home to God. Earth's storms may beat, her waters rage, Nay, hell itself assail ; But sheltered 'neath His loving wings, No foe can e'er prevail. The weakest lamb within His fold Enjoys His constant care ; And none but those He leads and guides Can find an entrance there. But, once within its hallowed walls. Oh, how supremely blessed ! Light to the dark, life to the dead, And to the weary rest ; Sight to the blind, strength to the lame, Health to the sick He brings ; Deaf ears, unstopped, now gladly hear ; The tongue once dumb now sings. 71 Even now He owns us for His sons, And, with a Father's care, Guides and provides for all our wants, Feeds us on heavenly fare. But soon He'll call us to Himself, Or will Himself appear ; We'll be with Him where He is now, Or He'll be with us here. Yes ! Jesus lived, and Jesus died, And Jesus comes again ; He comes again to judge the world, He comes again to reign. To reign, not o'er a little flock. Obscure, despised, and few ; All heaven and earth shall own His sway, And Satan's legions too. Angels and saints exulting see Redemption-work complete. And he who erewhile bruised His heel Lies crushed beneath His feet. For Jesus lived, and Jesus died. And Jesus lives again ; 72 And Jesus sits upon His throne, And shall for ever reign. Then now we'll sing to Christ our King A joyous song of praise, And in our hearts make melody, While we our voices raise. For then our feeble strains will merge In loud acclaims of praise. Which angel-hosts and ransomed saints In one grand anthem raise ! 73 THE OPENED EYE. "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things." — Ps. cxix. i8. " One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." — John ix. 25. T ORD ! when I inward turn mine eye, What is the sight that then I see ? A heart polluted and unclean, At enmity with good and Thee. Lord ! when I backward turn mine eye, What is the sight that then I see ! A life of wickedness and sin, From youth to age continued in, Defying or forgetting Thee. 74 Lord ! when I forward turn mine eye, What is the sight that then I see ? The Judge upon the great white throne, The sinner, friendless and undone, Condemned, not by the Judge alone. But forced himself his guilt to own. And acquiesce in the decree, Natheless its endless misery, Which then, O Lord ! pronounced by Thee, Tells of a lost Eternity I Lord ! when I upward turn mine eye, What is the sight that then I see ? The Father, Son, and Spirit met. The great Triune in council set, The mystery of redemption planned, The work committed to His hand, Who at the appointed season came. And, ever blessed be His name. Endured the cross, despised the shame, That through Him sinners now might claim Acceptance with the holy God, — Pardon for all the ill they've done, — Deliverance from its galling load, — And likeness to the righteous One. 75 So when I forward turn mine eye, This is the sight that now I see — Through hfe a pardoned sinner led, In all his way kept, Lord, by Thee ; And when the Judgment-seat is set, Stands at the bar, but not alone — Still owns indeed his deepest guilt, But knows the blood for him once spilt Was that of Him now on the throne, Who bought and claims him for His own, — He hears with joy the glad decree, Which then, O Lord ! pronounced by Thee, Tells of a bless'd Eternity ! 76 WILLING TO DEPART. "\Vc are . . . willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." — 2 Cok. v. 8. "With Christ ; which is far better." — Phil. i. 23. T^HE glorious "Whosoever will;" The sure " I'll in no wise cast out ; " The " blood that cleanseth from all sin ; " The gracious "Wherefore did ye doubt?" These, and a thousand texts like these, Dispel all doubts and cheer the heart ; They fill the soul with perfect peace, And make us willing to depart. And then the sight He sometimes gives Of what the saints enjoy above ; 77 Bright visions of His own bless'd face, And gushings of His heart of love ! When thus He deals with suffering ones. On beds of sickness though they lie, His presence for their pain atones, And makes them even glad to die. It may be sad from friends to part, And leave those whom we dearly love ; But for us all He has prepared A better home by far above. There, in a little while, we know His ransomed ones shall gathered be ; All sickness, pain, and partings o'er. And all rejoicing, Lord, in Thee ! All that Thy life and death secure, To all who trust Thee freely given. Pardon, and Peace, and Righteousness, And everlasting bliss in heaven ! 78 OLD BETTY. "Have not I written to thee excellent things, . . . that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth ? " — Prov. xxii. 20, 21. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things.'* — John xiv. 26. /^Ll) Betty was born 'mong our Highland hills, ^^^ Long before such things as Board Schools were known ; So, while she was strong both in body and'limb, And grew up a lassie well-favoured and trim, Of book-lore, alas ! the poor body got none. In the days of her youth, too, the reaping machines Had not been invented to cut down the grain ; 79 But trooping in crowds, burly loons and stout queans Came down from our Highland hills, down to the plain As each harvest came round ; and our farmers were glad, When they looked on their fields so abundantly clad, To see such an army with sickle and plaid, Appear in their time of need, bringing them aid. So year after year did Betty come down. And it turned out at last with a favourite loon. Who found favour not only in her loving eyes But in those of the farmer they served, who thought wise The permanent service of both to retain. Instead of but helping to cut down his grain. They left then their Highland home up in the hills ; And while he, as farmer's man, followed the plough, She wrought, as she said, " among a' orra things Round the steading connected with cattle or cow." And so the years passed in industry and quiet, And few were the changes that fell to their lot. 8o They lived without God — alas ! how many try it — They lived on His care, but rcmember'd Him not. But there came a day when He thought upon them, And to keep them from settling down in their nest, — It might be a rude waking, but surely to Him Who does everything well, we must own it was best ; The husband was stricken at last by disease, And he lay and groaned under his sufferings sore, But the pain that he felt in his poor mortal frame Was but light as compared with that which now came To pierce his sad soul ; and it vexed him far more To think that when now he looked death in the face He should not be ready, but all unprepared ; For he never had learned of the matchless grace Of the God to whom he had given no place In all his thoughts ; and now that the race Was so nearly run, he scarcely dared To utter a prayer, but vacantly stared Into coming gloom, as if no one cared For his perishing soul, and thus he lay As one condemned w^hile passing away. 8i No olive plants round their table had sprung, They grew old together a childless pair ; Yet the music of childish prattle rung Through their cottage home, for a child was there. A child, alas ! of sin and of shame, Whom heartless parents refused to own. And handed o'er to a stranger's care. And suffered to borrow a stranger's name. That she might never by theirs be known. This little one, now but a child of seven. Had been sent by them to the village school, And had learned sweet hymns about God and heaven. Which, tho' hid from their darkened minds, were full Of precious truths, even truths that could save ; For they spake of Christ's cradle, His cross, and His grave. She had got, too, as a reward at school, A little book which she highly prized, — 'Twas a copy, indeed, of God's own Word, So precious for all, yet so often despised, — Its pages she conned o'er and o'er again, And spelt out the words oft with trouble and pain, G And tliosc which were long and beyond her power, The poor httle one had just to pass o'er. She was reading the gospel of John one day, While the poor dying man in his suffering lay ; And he hearkened and heard, as he lay on his IkcI, And this was the verse, and thus it was read— " God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only Son, that IN Him should not perish, but have life." Thus he heard of God's love, he heard of God's Son, He heard of God's gift, and of life begun, — But these gaps were left, and he could not yet see For whom, and in what way, these great things could be ; Yet he felt that these truths quite suited his case, And he cried to his wife, " If any pass by, Bring in the first one, and ask him to try To read the whole verse, and explain it to us." A lad was brought in, and he reads the verse thus — " God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in hlim should not perish, but have everlasting LIFE." He heard, and he cried, " Oh ! I know what's believ- It's nothing but trust ; and I know everlasting, But what's whosoever ? oh ! that I can't see." Says the lad, "It is any one — ^just you or me."' — ■ "Just any one, say you ? I see now, I see ! I thank Thee, O God, for this goodness to me, And now I can die, only trusting in Thee ! " The Spirit was there, and He wrought not in vain, For another poor sinner was then born again. Oh, who can depict the joy that then beamed On the face of that dying man ? Surely it seemed As if Jesus Himself again had appeared, And thrown down the bulwark that Satan had reared 'Tween Him and this ransomed one, given of Ciod A fresh witness to be to the power of His blood. 84 Oh, blessed the moment when light rushes in, And the Spirit appHcs God's ransom for sin, ^Vhen the darkness is gone, and the sinner now sees Not only his sins, but God's refuge from these. He lingered on still for a week or two more. And daily he fed on fresh truth freely given ; And at last closed his eyes in peace here on earth, To be opened again in the full bliss of heaven ! Poor Betty was left new alone with the child To bring up and to share in her desolate lot ; But the blessing of God and His own blessed light Were shed down and abode on her poor lowly cot. Twas the Spirit that taught the poor dying one, And He was still present with them that were left, And a sev'nfold care seemed to lavish on them, Of their earthly support and their stay now bereft. There is no one, indeed, that teaches like Him ; And pleasing the tale that I now have to tell. How poor Betty, who'd never been taught in her youth. In her riper years learned to read, and read well. S5 'Twas the dear little child by whom she was taught, And the Bible the book they both eagerly scanned ; And the truth, as they read with slow progress but sure, Took all the more hold, for they could not endure To pass over a verse and not understand Its full meaning ; and so, not the letter alone. But the truth in its spirit and power came home To hearts all prepared to receive the good seed, And produce not mere hearers, but doers indeed. 'Twas the work of the Spirit, whose office it is To take of God's truths and reveal them to His, Who may be but babes in His kingdom, and poor, But unto whom still is His promise made sure — That the meek and the lowly ones ever shall find What is hid from the proud and self-satisfied mind. So they aye read their Bible, and oft through and through ; To either of them 'twas the One Book they knew, And they spake of its truths in such wondrous wise, It filled all their neighbours around with surprise ; For Betty now knows her dear Bible so well. She is counted a "mother in Israel !" 86 RESTORED. " He restorelh my soul."— Ps. xxiii. 3. " I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord."— Jf.r. xxx. 17. r~\ SINNER ! caught in Satan's snare, ^^ Led to deny your Lord ! Sink not and yield not to despair, You yet may be restored. Oh, think not hghtly of your sin ! It deeply wounds His heart; But still that Heart yearns over you, Unwilling to depart — 87 And leave you in the tempter's power, To glory in your fall, And lead you back to bondage dire, And sin's unending thrall. Write bitter things against yourself, And tears of sorrow shed. You never can bewail enough The sins for which He bled. But add not sinful unbelief To sin you now deplore ; Mistrusting both His word and grace But makes your guilt the more. Like Peter, look to Jesus' face. And see the love that's there ; In the sad look you give to Him He'll recognise a prayer — A prayer, though not expressed in words. Well understood by Him ; Thine answer to His look of love That stirs thy heart within. 88 ^\'hat can you do with sin hut go To the still open door, And wash anew in Jesus' blood As you have done before ? There only, peace and pardon found Shall nerve your heart anew, And strengthened faith will strengthen love, And inward sin subdue. 'Tis only keeping near to Him And trusting Him with all, You'll run the race successfully. And keep from future fall. 89 SALVATION'S STORY. " So great salvation." — Heb. ii. 3. " Salvation is of the Lord." — ^Jonah ii. 9. "The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation." — Ps. cxviii. 14. /^OME, let US think of Jesus, Of Jesus and His love ; Who came from heaven to save us, Leaving His throne above, And the bosom of the Father, For He was His delight ; And the praises of the angels Unceasing day and night ; 90 In that l)right home so holy, Without a taint of sin, And where no pain nor sorrow Can ever enter in. Oh, its blessedness was perfect ! (iod reigning over all ; And a cheerful service rendered To Him by great and small ; A willing, true obedience, And submission to His will, Ensured this perfect blessedness — A bliss abiding still. But another fold He thought of; And it grieved God at His heart That the foe this fold had entered, . And seduced man to depart From Him and from His service, Such as angels give above, Tliat as angels they might share in His blessings and His love. 91 But they listened to the tempter, And, deceived by his Hes, Rebelled against their ISIaker, And learned, with opened eyes, That the way of the transgressor, Which henceforth they would tread, AVas hard and full of bitterness And death, as God had said. And so, in sad forgetfulness Of Jehovah and His ways, In fearful sin and misery They passed their wretched days. For Satan triumphed over them, And held them in his power ; And sin and death reigned rampant As the unhappy dower Which forsaking God had brought them. When they disbelieved His Word, And put more faith in Satan Than their Creator-Lord. 92 lUit though they had forsaken Him, He still remembered them ; And His thoughts were still of mercy full. All unwilling to condemn, Or to leave them in their misery. So the Father sent the Son To be their Saviour, by atoning For the sin that they had done. The Messiah came most gladly To do all the Father's will ; And lived and died for sinners, And answers for them still. He took our nature on Him, Became a little Child : Though God, as Man He suffered^^ But ne'er by sin defiled. Himself a spotless sacrifice, He on the altar bled : God's justice thus was satisfied By His dying in our stead. 93 And His life of spotless innocence And freedom from all sin, Provides us with a righteousness Through which we enter in Again into God's favour, As sinners reconciled ; And no longer guilty rebels, He counts each one a child, When, all other trust renouncing, We build our hope on Him, Who came to earth from heaven This lost world to redeem. Oh, then, I'll think of Jesus, And all He's done for me ; And when temptation rises. To His dear arms I'll flee. When Satan would assail me, I'll tell him Jesus died ; So he no more can claim me. For I am justified 94 By the work my Saviour finished, When He died upon the tree ; Since for all my Master answers, He can nothing find in me. I'll refer him to that Master, Who will ever shelter me — And tell Satan from his bondage I've been by Him set free. And I'll trust my all to Jesus ; And from His fulness still, I'll aye draw all that's needed To conform me to God's will. For, though He's gone to heaven, He leaves me not alone : The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Whom He promised to His own," Hath come, and will uphold me, Console me and instruct, And, in the path assigned me. Aye safely mc conduct. 95 He'll apply the work of Jesus To my sin-burdened soul ; For Father, Son, and Spirit All combine to make me whole. My Lord will ne'er forsake me ; But, protected by His power. He will keep me safe, and make me All ready for that hour, When His will shall be to take me .To see Him in His glory. As the blessed consummation Of His salvation's story. 96 " DO YOU LOVE GOD ? " " Ciod hnth chosen the weak things of the world to con- found the things which arc mighty." — i Cor. i. 27. " A little child shall lead them."— IsA. xi. 6. ^' T^O YOU LOVE God?" 'Twas a childish voice That spoke thus in accents so soft and so mild ; But the Spirit-sent arrow flew straight to Its place, Though the bow that was drawn was drawn by a child. Returning now home from her bright holidays, She happened to meet, in the home-going train. 91 With a kind-hearted one, whom her sweet, winning ways Had so charmed and amused, that again and again Did he ply the dear maiden with story and fun, To beguile the long road as the moments ran on. So he joked, and she laughed and screamed with delight. And the dearest of friends all at once they be- came, Till, in talk with another, he mentioned Cod's name — Without reverence, I fear — indeed, took it in vain ; Yet, strange as it seems, without giving her pain. For she had been always accustomed to hear That Name ever spoken with love and with awe, So made sure her new friend was a friend of God too; And when she thus questioned, she thought she might draw Some sweet declaration of love to the God Who so early had found her, and in whose dear love H 9S She had found such dchght, and whose favour she prized, Than her nearest and dearest all others above. He turned to the little one, patted her head. And sought to put off his reply with a smile ; But the questioning look on her face still remained, And would not give way. So, after a while — " Love God, my sweet darling? Pray, tell me, do you ? " Was the answer he made. "To be sure, Sir, I do; And all who love me, I know, do love Him too. Now, you've been very kind, and I see you love me; So I'm wanting to know from you how this may be, And this is the reason I'm questioning thee." The arrow struck home, and would not be removed, And it led him to think of his earlier days — - Of a father revered and a mother beloved. Training him to love God, and delight in His ways. 99 He thought how he'd wandered, forgotten this God, Neglected His service, and broken His laws ; He saw himself vile and exposed to God's wrath, And he trembled while feeling how helpless he was. But he thought of the lessons he'd learned in his youth, Of the love of this God to our poor fallen race ; And found comfort at last in embracing the truth, As revealed in that wondrous old story of grace. Thus the Spirit made use of the little child's words, A fresh trophy to bring to the power of this grace, And to show that from babes' and from suckling mouths He can still, when it pleases Him, perfect His praise. 100 IN MEMORIAM. The foUo~d5 I've sleepless nights and I've weary days, The tempter's so dreadful a foe ; And I am so weak, I can scarcely raise My feeble arm ; and each struggle displays Him strong and me weak ; for his guileful ways Perplex me so, that, in wild amaze, My spirit looks up and despairingly says, — " O Lord, let me go ! — let me go ! >> " O faithless and doubting one ! " Jesus cries, " Why send cries such as these to Me? You are looking to self, giving heed to his lies AVith whom you are fighting, forgetting your eyes On Me should be fixed ; for in no otherwise Can strength and peace come unto thee. *' I've blunted the weapons of this dreaded foe — Arise ! and quit thee like a man ; I have girded thee fully from top to toe. And with armour which I have tempered so. That if you but use it now as you should do, And as those whom I strengthen can, — 156 " You'd quench all his fiery darts in your shield ; You would pierce him through with your sword — The sword which I erewhile against him did wield, When of old I o'ercame and drove him from the field— And now to the servant, all foiled, he will yield, As he did to the servant's Lord. "Take up your weapons, and use them then, And cease in your folly to doubt ; For unbelief brings you but sorrow and pain, And never can poor, weary sinners regain Their peace and their joy, but by looking again To Him who at first brought them out From the fearful pit and the miry clay ; And who, ever the same, will in no wise say To any that trust Him, * You're cast away ! ' " 157 "I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT." "The word, . . . upon which Thou has caused me to hope." — Ps. cxix. 49. "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen." — 2 Cor. i. 20. "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." — I Thess. v. 24. T T E lies on his dying bed Wasted and thin ; But the darkness has fled, — The light has poured in. He lies there in perfect peace — Vanished all doubt ; It \vas this brought the peace, — " I'll in no wise cast out." 158 Words by His lips spoken, Who once for us bled ; And who never has broken A promise He made. Oh, what more is needed To banish all fear, Than such an assurance, So simple, so clear ; And given by Him who hath Both power and will, Whate'er He hath promised To all to fulfil? Oh, then, let us trust Him Whatever our case : There's none but may taste of The power of His grace. We may trust in that here To support and sustain ; For none that ere trusted Did trust Him in vain. '59 He will be with us still, As He's been in the past ; In Him we'll abide, and Oh, then at the last He'll be with us in dying. And carry us through The dark stream. When the city Bursts bright on our view, He'll be there to receive us, While glad angels shout, " Here's another brought home Whom He would not cast out." i6o GOD'S HOUSE ON EARTH. "This is none olher bul the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." — Gen. xxviii. 17. " I was glad when they said unto mc, Lei us go into the house of the Lord." — Ps. cxxii. i. " Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." — Heb. x, 25. /^K, why is God's house by so many forsaken? ^"■^^ They seem to forget that He meets with them there ; He has told us where two or three gather together, He is there, in the midst, both to speak and to hear. Oh, did they but know how abundant the blessing, He waits there, on all who will take, to bestow, What crowds there would then be, all eagerly pressing To share in His bounty — how gladly they'd go ! i6i But alas ! they don't know Him, for Satan deceives them, And draws them from Him and His worship away ; And they barter God's favour, and blessings eternal, For the world's fleeting pleasures that fade in a day. Nay, Satan deceives them by calling them pleasures; They have sin in their root, and, apart from our God, Then can end but in death — a meet ending for folly. Still choosing the evil, despising the good. Oh, would they but listen to God's loving message, And hearken to Him who can never deceive. He'd forgive all the past. He'd provide for the future, And shower on them blessings which they who receive Would find blessings indeed, all others excelling, And so loudly calling for love and for praise, M l62 That, with hearts overflowing, they'd flock to His dwelhng, And joyfully there hymns of gratitude raise ! They would go to His house desiring to meet Him — With nothing but this would they rest satisfied ; And their hearts would rejoice, for to those who thus seek Him, We know His best blessings are never denied. If so they would do, ihere'd be no more com- plaining : God's houses are empty, His worship despised ; But 'twould seem as if He were again with us dwelling, And all the fond hopes of His saints realised ! We would say, with the Psalmist, such bright days foreseeing. As he looked with delighted heart, sharing the bliss, — " Oh, bless'd are the people \Yhose God is Jehovah; Yea, blessed are they whom He owns to be His!" INDEX TO SCRIPTURE TEXTS. Genesis xxviii. 17, . ,, xlii. 36, . Deuteronomy xi. 12, Psalms xviii. 32, 34, xxiii. 3, . . xxiii. 4, . . xxiii. 6, . xxxvii. 25, . Ixxiii. 25, 26, Ixxvii. 5, xc. 9, . . XC. 12, 14,. cxviii. 14, . cxix. 18, cxix. 28, 32, cxix. 49, cxxii. I, „ cxliii. 7, „ cxlv. 9, . . ,, cxlv. 14, . Proverbs iv. i, 4, . ,, xxii. 20, 21, >) 99 99 j> 9> 99 9> 99 >> 9> 91 99 99 PAGE 160 14 41 154 86 5 113 113 142 129 113 118 89 73 49 157 160 154 121 41 129 78 Canticles i. 3, . . . 8 Isaiah xi. 6, . . . . 96 ,, xxxviii. 14, . . 154 ,, xxxviii. 17, 19, I ,, xl. II, . . 146 „ lii. 7,. . . 26 ,, Iviii. 13, 14, . 38 ,, Ixv. I, . . 26 Jeremiah xxx. 17, . 86 Jonah ii. 9, . . . 89 Micah vii. 8, . . 51 Zechariah ix. 17, . 121 Malachi iii. 12, . . • 41 Matthew i. 21, , . 8 „ xviii. 2, 10, 146 ,, XXV. 23, . 23 ,, xxviii. 18, 151 Luke xiv. 16, 21, 28, 45 ,, xviii. 16, . 29 ,, xix. 41, . . 148 ,, xxiii. 28, . 148 ,, xxiv. 47, . . 148 164 John vi. 37, . . viii. 31 > • ix. 25, . . xiv. 26, XV. S, . xvii. II, 12, Acts vii. 59, 60, „ XV. 9, . . Romans v. I, ,, viii. 28, viu. )i. 1 Corinthians i. 27, 2 Corinthians i. 3, 4, ,, i- 20, V. 8, . ,, xii. 9, Galatians iii. 26, PAOK 107 64 73 7S 64 107 II 33 33 14 151 96 iS 157 76 151 I'AOB Galatians v. 6, . . . 33 I'hilippians i. 23, . 76 „ ii. 6, 7, . 55 I Thessalonians iv. 17 138 iv. 18 . 18 V. 24, '57 I Timothy ii. 5, . . 55 Hebrews ii. 3. . . . 89 x. 25, . . . 160 xi. 14, 15, 58 xi. 32, . . 33 I Peter i. 9, . • . 33 2 Peter i. I , . . . 33 „ i. 14. • • III I John iii. 2, . . 138 ,, V. 4, . . ._ • 33 Revelation i. 18, . 67 23rd Thousand, Ppice Is. 6d. "ONLY A SERVANT; OR, • A BRIEF MEMORIAL OF MARY H , BY AN ELDER OF THE CHURCH. yy With Introductory Notice by the Rev. W. H. GooLD, D.D. Andrew Elliot, ij Princes Street, Edinburgh. Sold by all Booksellers. In addition to the following selection from the Notices of the Press when the book first appeared, it has been favourably noticed and recommended by, among others — The Rev. C. II. Spurgeox (in '' Sword and Trowel") Thos. Guthrie, D.D., St. John's Free Church, Edinburgh. J. R. Macduff, D.D. (Author of "The Faithful Promiser," &c.) IIoRATius BoNAR, D.D., Chalmers Memorial Free Church, Grange, Edinburgh. Jas. Robertson, United Presbyterian Church, Newington, Edinburgh. George Smeaton, D.D., Professor of Divinity, New College, Edinburgh. J. H. Wilson, D.D., Barclay Free Church, Edin- burgh. Jonathan Watson, Baptist Church, Duke Street, Edinburgh. Notices of the Press, "A striking, well-written, and most profitable memoir of a domestic servant." — Christian Treasury. "There is certainly one good thing about the age we live in — the press supplies good matter for all and sundry, for high and low, for rich and poor, for kings and subjects, for parents and children, for masters and servants. Here, at least, is a very excellent little book for her who is * only a servant.'. . . It is such a treatise as, under the Divine blessing, may not only make the good servant at home, but faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore wish it a large circulation." — London Weekly Kevie-u. " This is a singularly interesting narrative of a useful career in humble life. . • . The greater part of the volume consists of a Diary kept by Mary herself, which is wonderfully well written for one in her humble position. . . . Without going further into the merits of the book, we commend it very cordially to our readers ; and it is particularly suitable for putting into the hands of servants. The title of the book is suggested by a phrase used by herself on her dying bed." — Kelso Chronicle. " We have read this ' brief memorial' with much interest and pleasure. It records a few incidents in the life of an orphan girl, who spent the last five years of her life as nursery- maid in the writer's family ; and contains extracts from her Diary, and some of her letters. . . . We have been sur- prised at the force and accuracy with which one who was ' only a servant,' and early left an orphan, expresses herself, and at the clearness with which she indicates to correspondents of her own rank the way of salvation. The book may lie useful to many besides servants ; but we commend it specially as suited to young female servants." — Evmtgelical Witness. " The volume is one which, when taken up, will compel the reader to go on until its last page. Though, in her own words, ' only a servant,' Mary H was a saint of God, of much simplicity and earnestness of character, and of no small amount of natural ability. Her journals are remarkable productions for one in her situation. The vigorous English in which they are written, as well as the piety they breathe, are certainly very striking, and show what the odd intervals of time well employed, what the sitting under an evangelical ministry, what divine grace, even in apparently adverse circumstances, can do to elevate the mind mentally and morally. The elder, who has written this memorial with great judgment, skill, and pious feeling, has rendered an important service to the Church of Christ. " — Reformed Presby- terian Magazine. ' ' We beg to introduce the volume entitled ' Only a Servant — a brief Memorial of Mary H , by an elder of the Church,' as exhibiting a most attractive picture of the ancient family simplicities, associated with, yet unperverted by, modern refinement, and what is still more impressive and instructive, sanctified and elevated by that fundamental equality of genuine Christianity which recognises no dis- tinction between male and female, Greek or barbarian, bond or free, master or servant ! The ' only a servant ' was a remarkable character. . . . The volume is the finest commen- tary we have ever seen upon the ' Epistle to Philemon,' though, in all probability, the biographer was unconscious of making the least reference to that inspired letter, ... It is written with power and skill, tenderness and sobriety." — Fife Herald. " This little volume is a truly valuable addition to the literature of religious biography. . . . We have in abundance those of statesmen, soldiers, ministers, travellers, &c. . . . But here we have, in a britjf touching narrative, the ' life ' of a humble domestic servant, told by her master. . . . Noble in life, she was heroic in death ; and she passed away after a brief, but severe illness, leaving behind her an example which, as recorded in this little unpretending volume, is worth a thousand sermons. " — Fifeshire Journal. "A brief but valuable sketch of one who (to use her own words) was ' only a servant,' but who was in the highest sense 'above a servant, a sister beloved ' in Christ. . . . Her diary and letters, which are indeed very remarkable for one in her station, furnish evidence not only of the Christian principles under which she acted, but of the living communion which she maintained with Christ. . . . This little work is peculiarly fitted for presentation to servants." — British Messenger, "Mary II , was a servant girl of not more than twenty-eight years at her death, without a home other than the house in which for the time she served. . . . Yet was she a mature, intelligent, judicious, as well as devoted Christian, beautifully consistent in her personal walk, and fervently zealous in her endeavours to be spiritually useful to those with whom she was in any wise connected. Her writings, as here preserved, show, moreover, how cultivated a mind she had. The narrative of the dying scene is as touchingly beautiful as anything we have read for a longtime." — Brechin Advertiser, This book It DUE on the last date tiampcd below. 10M- 11-50 2555 470 REMINRTON RAND INC. 7.0 PR iill6 3539h 7a 000 3658275