Images de page
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

d the

have

fiell

ti

by

ours

say

ama

ce a ders

sk of

and

[merged small][ocr errors]

a hundred girls, what sort of men and women they will make; what part they will play in the world's history; what path they will tread; how many will serve God; and what service they will render. But Agnes, we say, was led to the tabernacle; there she heard the burning words of Whitfield; and burning words they were. They burnt their way into her heart, though she did not know then just what they were, or where they came from. But having heard him once, she felt she must hear him again and again. She used to creep in and sit on the gallery stairs, that nobody might notice her, fearing, if she was seen, she might be driven away as a little hypocrite. And then she would creep behind the old folks as they left the chapel to hear what they talked about, for she loved to hear them talk about Jesus, and what He had done for them, wondering at the same time whether their Saviour would ever become her Saviour. But of this she had many fears; for although she was but a little girl, she felt she was a great sinner; indeed, she feared her sins were too great, and too many, ever to be forgiven. But she could not help going to the tabernacle to hear of Jesus and His precious blood.

And this is the way with all who feel themselves to be very great sinners. I have often felt, “If I go to hell at last, I should like to be found among the Lord's people while I live. I know I love them, I know I love their ways, I know I love to hear them talk about their Lord and His glorious Gospel." Is this anything like your feeling, my young friends? Are you ever concerned about these things?

Agnes, we say, loved to hear of Christ, but she dare not say a word to any one about it, fearing, if she did, they would only laugh at her, or, what

was worse, set her down for a little hypocrite. Indeed, she was often tempted to think herself a hypocrite; Satan suggesting that a child could know nothing in reality, and therefore must be a hypocrite.

I should like to be able to tell you all she has told me about these her early days, for I have listened to this part of her history with the deepest interest. But as she has been dead

more than twenty years, very much has slipped from my memory. However, I well remember her saying she crept on thus for years, the subject of many doubts and many fears; and among the many, the one arising from her youth not the least.

When about eighteen years of age it pleased the Lord to break in upon her soul with light and peace, and she went on her way rejoicing; and enjoyed years of soul-prosperity.

You must know I became acquainted with Agnes by going from house to house, and from room to room as a missionary. When I met with her she was an old woman, getting towards ninety years of age; she was a venerable-looking old lady, and when she talked about the days of her childhood, it seemed as though she never could have been a little child; but she had been such, and could talk of her girlish days as though they were but yesterday, as persons say.

She had long and interesting tales to tell of the very many troubles she had had to pass through, and how the Lord had brought her through them all, and how He had put new songs in her mouth, even praise to her God, &c. I used to love to go into her little room, for she had only one little back room, for bedroom, parlour, kitchen, and all she required, but that

little back room was a very Bethel.

Yes, there

she used to sit with her large Bible open before her, and before I could well get seated, she would begin to tell me what she was reading; and she would bring forth such precious things, new and old, as would make my heart burn within me.

"But the tale," say you. Well, the tale now, for these days of blessed soul-prosperity, seems hardly suitable to you, little gleaners; except as we remember you will ere long be men and women, and we hope some of you at least, Christian men and women too; and if so, you will need the same God, the same grace, the same Jesus Christ, the same Holy Spirit to help you, and all in the same way as Agnes of old was helped.

She used to say she counted it not among her smallest mercies that God gave her a godly man for her husband. He was a communicant of the church of the immortal Toplady while he stood connected with the venerable Romaine. Thus many happy years passed away, and the Lord gave them ten children. But time brings its changes, and sometimes very painful changes; so it was here. It pleased the Lord to take away their youngest daughter (her father's pet); and this proved such a blow to the father that he never recovered it. He was paralyzed from head to foot, and lived in this afflicted state for three years, unable to sit in his chair without being tied, and scarcely able to speak. At the end of three years he died, and Agnes was left a penniless widow, with a husband to bury and nine children to bring up. Oh, Agnes, "Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, Thou art the Guide of my youth ?" Yes, Agnes did cry, and the Lord heard her, and delivered her out of all her troubles.

Oh, the sweet stories I have listened to from this

dear old saint's lips! How she loved to exalt her Master. But perhaps you will ask, "Could she speak well of her Master after passing through so much trouble ?" Oh, yes, indeed she could! She could not speak too well of Him. She would say, "Often have we eaten up the last bit of bread, not knowing where the next was to come from; but it did come. Yes, it always came." This was a favourite expression of hers, like the Israelites of old, "When we gathered much we had none to spare, and when we gathered little we had no lack." But her troubles did not end here; she lived to bury eight out of her nine children left fatherless, and one only was left to bury her.

Now, I dare say some will be anxious to know how she died. Her end was peace. I was a little disappointed at not seeing her end, expecting something like what we call a triumphant deathbed; but in this, others, as well as myself, were disappointed, for her last illness was short, and she went off in a sleep. I saw her a few days before her death, and her mind was stayed trusting in God.

May many little gleaners, like Agnes, be called to "remember their Creator in the days of their youth," is the desire of

OLD DADDY TELLTALE.

[Should any of the more advanced readers desire a more detailed account of the above case, more suited to the experienced Christian, they can have it in No. I. of Christian Pathway, post free for 3 stamps, and in a neat volume for 30 stamps. Address, Author of Christian Pathway, 99, Rotherfield Street, Islington.]

HISTORY OF THE JEWS,

FROM NEHEMIAH TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

To the Editor of the LITTLE GLEANER.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-Having in my possession a series of letters written by a lady, epitomizing Jewish History from the time of Nehemiah to the destruction of Jerusalem, it has occurred to me that some extracts in a connected form might be profitable and interesting to the majority of your readers; at any rate they will inform those that are unacquainted with the subject, and will show the fulfilment of prophecy. I would have your readers refer to their Bibles for the confirmation of what is advanced in reference to holy writ, and the thoughtful among them cannot but observe the strict analogy of events with prophecy.

I purpose, God willing, sending a chapter every month; and that the Lord's blessing may attend the perusual of the same in the desire of your willing servant, S. B.

Deptford, January, 1868.

CHAPTER I.

THE history of the Old Testament closes with an account of the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and the rebuilding their city and temple, under the direction of Ezra and Nehemiah. After the death of Nehemiah, we do not find any more governors of Judea appointed by the kings of Persia; but being annexed to Syria, it became subject to the governors of that province, under whom the high-priests exercised the chief authority, both in sacred and civil concerns; whose ambition was one principal source of the various calamities that befell the Jews in the subsequent periods of their history.

It is impossible to obtain a right understanding

« PrécédentContinuer »