BRIGHT shadows of true Rest! some shoots of bliss; The next world's gladness pre-possest in this; Eternity in time; the steps by which We climb above all ages; Lamps that light The pulleys unto headlong man; time's bower; Transplanted Paradise; God's walking hour; The creature's Jubilee; God's parle with dust; Deducted from the whole; The combs, and hive, The milky way chalkt out with suns; a clue -Vaughan's Sacred Poems. GENERAL HAVELOCK. I KNEW him personally, having been privileged to make his acquaintance many years ago under the hospitable roof of the late revered Dr Marshman, of Serampore, whose son-in-law he was. Somewhat stern and reserved he was in his manner; yet you could not be long in his presence without finding that he was a man who feared God, and that, fearing God, he feared nought besides. It was this holy, reverential fear of God that was the real source of his undaunted courage in the discharge of duty, at whatever peril of life or fortune. His, in this respect, was the genuine spirit of the old English Puritan, the very spirit of Oliver Cromwell and his compeers. And the tendency was to turn the British soldiers, under his exclusive moulding, into a phalanx of modern Ironsides. He was the first of our Generals who distinctly recognised the hand of God in his surprising victories over the mighty hosts of rebel mutineers. "By the blessing of God, I have captured Cawnpore," were the first words of his memorable telegraphic despatch from the scene of one of the strangest and bloodiest tragedies ever enacted on the stage of time. Faithful as a patriot-warrior to his earthly Sovereign, he lived to receive from Her Gracious Majesty a first instalment of honour and reward, and to hear how a grateful country had hailed his great services with unbounded admiration and applause. But faithful also as a soldier of the Cross to his Sovereign in the skies, he has now gone to receive a far greater honour, and inherit a vastly nobler recompence of reward. He has gone, ripe in grace, to fructify in glory. What a transition! From the confused noise of battle, to the hallelujahs of angels! From garments rolled in blood, to the pure white robes of the redeemed in Immanuel's land! Dr Duff. GOD'S PROVIDENCE. 23 I BELIEVE the Lord has always, ready provided, some kind Samaritan, journeying, as if by chance, on the very road where the wounded traveller lies, and who arrives just at the very moment when "oil and wine are especially needed. I believe, too, that the Lord, in the workings of that providence which is over all His works, and which suffereth not a sparrow nor a hedgeling to fall to the ground unpermitted of Him, whenever He has a bruised and torn one of His flock needing a tenderer hand than usual to nurture and to heal it, has that hand ready to stretch out and help —has one close at hand to supply the wantone whose own heart has been, perhaps, touched and prepared by sorrow for the especial work of sympathy with some other torn and sorrowing one of the family. We are apt to say of such apparently accidental circumstances, "How very fortunate!" but Faith lifts up the curtain and sees God's hand at work, and cries out, "It is of the Lord's mercies!"-Rev. B. Bouchier. LEISURE MOMENTS. Bold sinning doth afterwards make faint believing.-Fleming. None are more ready to shrink in a day of trouble, than such who at a distance seem more daring.—Ibid. If there were no enemy in the world, nor devil in hell, we carry that within us, that if let loose, will trouble us more than all the world beside.-Sibbes. Nothing can be very ill with us when all is well within: we are not hurt till our souls are hurt. If the soul itself be out of tune, outward things will do us no more good than a fair shoe to a gouty foot.-Ibid. Men are out of their right minds till they come, by faith and repentance, to Jesus Christ.-Bain. Unreasonable fears are the sins of our hearts as truly as they are thorns in our sides; they grieve the Holy Spirit..-Burgess. One rose upon a bush, though but a little one, which bears it to be a true rose tree.-Ibid. and though not yet blown, proves that He that hath tasted the bitterness of sin, will fear to commit it; and he that hath felt the sweetness of mercy, will fear to offend it. -Charnock, If I owe my whole self to God for making me, how much more for making me again? -Augustine. The history of all the great characters of the Bible is summed up in this one sentence: They acquainted themselves with God, and acquiesced in His will in all things.-Cecil. God denies a Christian nothing, but with a design to give him something better.-Ibid. THE LAW OF LOVE. Page for the Young. "PLEASE help me about this sum, sister Ellen, and then I'll not trouble you again to-night. I've tried it over and over again, but it isn't right after all." And little Charley Stanley put his hand to his head, as if he had thought so long upon his puzzling sum as to make his head ache. "Oh dear, Charley, I'm sure I've shewn you how to do every one of the sums in your lessons already, and I want to finish this story." Ellen," said Mrs Stanley in surprise, "I am very sorry you should allow yourself to speak so unkindly to your little brother. Charley, my son, you may come to me; I will assist you, if your sister is unwilling to do so. "Thank you, thank you, mamma," and Charley's eye sparkled with pleasure as he brought his slate to his mother; "when this sum is done, my lesson is all ready for tomorrow; and papa said I might go to grandpa's to-morrow afternoon if my lessons are perfectly learned. Ellen has shewn me three, and you one, and I have done seven all alone; but this one I cannot get right." "Very well for a little boy of eight; but I hope soon to see you try to conquer all difficulties alone. Here, my son, is your mistake, in adding this column of figures; look it over, and add it carefully, and when that is done the sum will be right." Charley, thus encouraged, went again over the sum, discovered and corrected the mistake, then laid away his slate and books, with the self-satisfied feeling we may all enjoy when we have patiently and faithfully performed every known duty. 66 دو Oh, mother," said Charley, "I feel as though you had lifted a great weight from me, and now I can rise up as light as a feather;' and he sprang across the room several times like a young deer. this "Your lessons were a burden, my son, evening, because you were tired; at another time, when you are well, you would not feel so. I only obeyed the law of love in assisting you." "Law of love, mother! I do not know what you mean." "I mean that law which makes it our duty to help each other at all times and in all places, as we have opportunity." little about, you threw away one of earth's greatest pleasures," said Mrs Stanley seriously. Ellen looked at her mother very earnestly a few moments, and said, "I do not know what you mean, mother." "I mean the pleasure of doing good, of bearing another's burden. You know Charley is never quick at figures, and now is more than usually troubled to keep along with his class, because he has been absent a week on account of illness, and is still weak from the effects of it. His lessons are in reality a great burden to him now; you are four years older than he is, and might be of great use to him, if you would. I have a motto for you to learn, which, if practised every day by each one who professes Christianity, would make this world a much happier one than it now is." "I know I am selfish, mother,” said Ellen. "Do you think I ever can be good?" "Yes, dear, if you ask God to renew your heart, and give you a right spirit, leading you to Christ, that you may become like Him, the Holy Spirit will help you to be good." "But mother, what was the rule you were to give me to cure selfishness?" "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."" A child has duties every day, and God gives all the necessary strength to perform those duties, but requires no more of any of us than we are able to perform. At home and abroad, remember this law of love, “Do to others as you would have others do to you," and "Bear ye one another's burdens;" then if these rules are always obeyed, we shall know that we are striving to become like Christ. SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS; OR, THE CHILD'S PRAYER. John's divine communion feel, May I, with unwearied Paul, Peter's ardent spirit feel, With a light, happy heart, and an affectionate kiss upon his mother's lips, he left the room soon after, not daring, however, to say good-night to Ellen, fearing another cross look Joseph's purity impart, or word if he should disturb her. } Isaac's meditative heart; Abraham's friendship, how sublime! He had scarcely closed the door, when Ellen Might I call that blessing mine. threw down the book, exclaiming, "There, I The lovely pattern Jesus drew: But more than all, may I pursue have finished the story, and it is not much And in my life and conduct show after all." How He conversed and lived below; And imitate my suffering Lord, "And to read that story which you care so Till all His image is restored. Dan. i. 17, 20. Acts vi. 8, 10. John xiii. 23. 2 Tim. iv. 7. 2 Tim. ii. 22. James v. 11. 1 Sam. ii. 18, iii. 19. Luke xvi. 22. Isa. vi. 6. Gen. xxxii. 24-28. (1 Chron. iv. 9, 16. Josh xxiv. 22, 23. Gen. xxxix. 9. Gen. xxiv. 63. James ii. 23. 1 Pet. ii. 21. Fublished by STRAHAN AND CO., at the Office, 42 George Street, Edinburgh, Printed by BALLANTYNE AND Co., Paul's Work, No. 3. CHRISTIAN QUEST A Family Magazine for Leisure Hours and Sundays. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1859. A DISCOURSE FOR THE YOUNG.* BY REV. JOHN EDMOND, GLASGOW. A GREAT many hundreds of years ago, a man was travelling alone to the north of Jerusalem. He had a staff in his hand. He looked like a man that had been used to country life. He carried a scrip, or little wallet, with provisions in it; his loins were girded, and his sandalled feet were dusty. As he journeyed, night at length began to fall. He looked round him as if to discover some place for halting at, and could see no house nor tent all round; so he gathered some stones, and laid them in a smooth and secluded spot; then wrapping his upper coat around him, he stretched himself on the ground, with his head resting upon the stones, and fell fast asleep. As he slept, he had a strange bright dream. He thought the sky opened above him; a long flight of steps appeared let down to where he lay, and angels went up and down upon the heavenly stairs. Then he thought he saw God himself standing at the top, and heard His voice speaking kind words to him. After a while he woke, all filled with awe; and in the morning when he left the place, he made a pillar of his pillow stones, poured oil upon it, vowed a vow beside it, and said that he would always call it "God's house." You know well who the man was. You knew before we had gone far in telling the story, that we were speaking about Jacob, and going to describe his dream at Bethel, and the ladder he saw stretching there from earth to sky. Now, twenty years afterwards, God directed him to return to his father's house again, and encouraged him to do so by saying, "I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst a pillar and vowedst a vow." Jacob called the place Bethel, and God accepts the name, and reminds him of what was promised him there. Now, as we have been speaking From "The Children's Charter. By the Rev. John Edmond, Glasgow."-An admirable work, fresh and original in its treatment, and displaying throughout the true simplicity of genius. WEEKLY NUMBERS, D. MONTHLY PARTS, 3D. in this chapter about the house of God, we propose to talk with you a little about the meaning of the title God kindly assumes when He calls Himself the God of that house. The truth in the title applies to every place where God records His name. What, then, may we learn from the gracious words of Jehovah, when he said (see Gen. xxxi. 3)— "I AM THE GOD OF BETHEL?" Now, keeping in mind the story of God's meeting with Jacob, as already referred to, Bethel," implies in it these five truths-tells you will easily see that this title, "God of us that God 1. Is in every place. 2. Dwells with men. 3. Watches over His own. 4. Hears their prayers; and 5. Keeps His promise always. First, THE GOD OF BETHEL IS IN EVERY PLACE.-Jacob came to Bethel all alone, but God was there before him. The place was full of God. It grew night while he lay down in that spot, but God was there seeing him as he slept. Perhaps ere he closed his eyes, he looked up to the sky and was pleased to see the bright stars looking down on him. An eye, brighter by far than any of these sparkling watchers, was resting on him. After he woke, he got up and said, "Surely God is How could he doubt it after in this place. that dream? But the dream only made him understand what was true before. But Jacob's words would have been true anywhere else. God always sees you, dear young friends, always hears you, is always beside you, always knows you. The "darkness and the light are alike to Him"—the distant and the near are all the same-the secret and the open equally known. You remember what Hagar called the name of the Angel who met her by the well-"Thou God seest me." Let these four simple words be inscribed on your very heart. And God does not need to leave one place to go to another. He is in all places at the same time. Up in heaven, in the sea, on the mountain, in the street, in the closet, there is God. He knows no far away. In China, India, Italy, Britain-out where your friends are in Australia and America-out among the tribes where Dr Livingstone travelled, and in the regions where Franklin was lost in the graves where dead bodies sleep, and the world where departed spirits dwell-everywhere, always everywhere, God is. If a hundred missionaries were going to as many places in the world, God would say to them, "Lo! I am with you alway," and He would keep His word. You know the story of the boy, who being promised some reward if he would tell where God is, answered by promising a larger, if his questioner would tell where God is not. The thief that, being about to commit some depredation, looked all round, east, west, north, and south, to see if any one observed him, was well reminded by his boy that he forgot to look up. Ah! children, never do aught from which you would be ashamed to look up, nothing which while doing you would start to think that God looks down. But, secondly, GOD DWELLS WITH MEN. Bethel is God's house, and Bethel was on earth. God then dwells there. But you will say, How can any place be God's house more than another, when He is everywhere? What is Bethel more than Babel? The reason of any place getting the name in the text is, that it is a place which God loves; a place where He shews Himself most, where He entertains and blesses people. It is somewhat like the owner of a house who, though the whole belongs to him, has a room specially called his own, because he meets with people and transacts his business there. Thirdly, THE GOD OF BETHEL WATCHES OVER HIS OWN.-Have you ever thought what a beautiful Psalm the hundred and twentyfirst is? Jacob might have sung it when he rose that morning, had it been written then and known to him. Do you remember that part of it, "The moon shall not smite thee by night?" So he had found it. In the East, the moonbeams are frequently very noxious in their influence; but Jacob had light of ministering angels instead. A curious story connects itself in our mind with the words we have quoted. Once, as we have been told, there was a good woman who in fever had become delirious, and required constant watch by night as well as by day, to prevent her rising from her bed and rushing from the house. One night her attendant yielded to fatigue, and dropt asleep. The fever patient rose, and ran forth to a pond with the purpose of self-destruction. It was a clear moonlight night, and as she neared the water the image of the moon, reflected from the glassy surface, met her eye. She was familiar with the Psalms in the Scottish metrical version, and immediately there flashed into her recollection that line "The moon by night thee shall not smite." As God would have it, the cool night air and the kind word of promise calmed her fevered brain, and she came back to wake up her startled nurse, and say, "But for a better Keeper than you, I had not been here tonight." Yes, it is a beautiful thought—He that keepeth Israel slumbers not nor sleeps. Fourthly, THE GOD OF BETHEL HEARS PRAYER.―Jacob prayed the morning after his happy vision, that God would be with him on his journey, and in the strange country he was going to, and would give him food and clothing, and bring him back again to his father's house in peace. And God did all he asked. All along those twenty years He kept him, and now was about to take him home, a rich and happy man. God hears prayers still. When you speak to God, think how He hears you as really as ever your parents did when you asked them for something: He knows not only what you say, but what you think; He knows when you pray, whether you ask or not. Then believe that He really does things for being asked. The Bible says so. Many, many have found it so. When you pray, therefore, expect to be answered. Whatever He has expressly promised, be sure you will get. Other things you will get if they be good for you. You say, perhaps, you have asked a new heart, and you feel your heart stony still. Well, it is one sign of a softening heart to feel its hardness. But are you sure you asked a new heart, meaning a heart that loves God and likes to please Him? Then I am sure you have gotten it not free from all wrong, hard, dark feelings, but fighting against them, getting somewhat freer from them, to be freed altogether by and by. And if you have gotten such a heart, you will always wish it better and better. Do not doubt God's willingness to hear you when you pray. Think how little you fear repulse from your parents when you ask bread from them. Did they ever mock your hungry cry with a stone? Then read and rejoice in these words of Christ: "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Lastly, THE GOD OF BETHEL ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISE.-God said to Jacob in his dream, "I will keep thee in all places whither thou goest," and "The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed," and "In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." In his own history, in Israel his posterity, in Jesus, in the Church to this day, we see God doing what He spoke of from the top of the ladder. In like manner every word of God is sure. Man's is often otherwise. Men sometimes promise, and though they wish it, they are not able to perform; but God always has power to do as He said. Men sometimes make promises which it is sinful to keep. Herod did, you know; but God can never promise anything that is wrong. Men sometimes promise and forget, as the butler forgot Joseph. God never forgets. Men sometimes make promises never intending to keep them; but "God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should change His mind." You have seen a bank-note. It is a promise to pay money. The laws of our country have made such promises so secure, that nobody in ordinary circumstances is afraid to trust them. Yet sometimes even they fail, and panic seizes those that hold them. Not long ago, people in Glasgow and many other towns were terrified to receive or retain them, and would not take nor keep them, but ran to the banks crying out, "Gold, gold!" But as they are better than fine gold itself, so the promises of God are surer too. Here are some of the things which, in the bank-notes of the Bible, God promises to give: "Come unto me and I will give you rest;" "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;" "I will come again to receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." Can a child be poor that has notes like these in his hand? Faithful is He who hath promised; He also will perform. And now, to close, let us ask two questions. Have you a Bethel? Perhaps you will emigrate some day. If you do, and come back again, you would like to see your native place, your father's house. Will there be any place you would like to go to, saying, This was "God's house" to me? Are you on your way to Bethel God's house above? Heaven is Jesus' Father's house. Are you going to it? God dwells there-shews Himself gloriously to its happy hosts. There, if you reach it, you will see Jesus. There you will meet with saints. There you will talk with angels. There you will know how God kept you and answered your prayers. There you will join a worshipping assembly, the like of which you never saw nor dreamed of. They are gathering fast, even now, for that great congregation. The bells are ringing to convene the church in heaven. The close of every passing year is like another stroke sounding the hour at hand. Every death of a good man or a good child is another entering to take his place. As time ends the gates close. Oh! enter ere it be too late. Yet there is room; but you must stand hopelessly without, if you go not in till the doors are shut. God is calling, "Arise! go up to Bethel, and dwell there!" Hear His voice, arise and go on pilgrimage to the celestial city, WHAT IS BIBLE STUDY? 27 MUST everybody study the Bible? Yes. Tell us, then, what is intended by studying. Is it intended that all, learned or ignorant, must critically inquire into the exact meaning of all the words and phrases of the sacred book, and puzzle themselves with the questions which have occupied translators, and commentators, and scientific men for ages? Far from it. For all study two things are required. A disposition to seek information, or increase of knowledge, on the subject in hand; and a persistent determination and endeavour to gain that information. We will suppose a man having first this disposition, to open his Bible at the Epistle to the Philippians. He reads "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians." He is not satisfied with merely pronouncing the words mechanically; passing on rapidly, as if to finish a task, or because the reading of the Bible is a duty which cannot be neglected with impunity, but is after all of little interest. He pauses, and inquires-"Epistle means letter -The letter of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Paul I know something about, and I understand that he was the apostle of Jesus Christ; but who are the Philippians? How did Paul become acquainted with them? Why was he interested in them? Did they live near Tarsus where he was born, or near Jerusalem where he was educated? Were they few or many? Where was he when he wrote this letter?" He determines to find a satisfactory answer to these questions before proceeding further. It is easily done. The first verse informs him that those to whom the letter is addressed lived at Philippi, and that it was not sent to all the inhabitants of that place, but to "the saints in Christ Jesus" who dwelt there. Here some indolent, fretful mind will ask, "But how is he to find out where Philippi was, or how Paul came to know the people?" Do not be anxious, friend, if you have not a large library or an all-comprehending Encyclopædia. A look at the margin of your Bible will shew you a reference to Acts xvi. 12-to which turn and read. You will ascertain that Philippi was not very near either Tarsus or Jerusalem- -that Paul was making a missionary tour when he came there, and there he gathered a church. You can glean many interesting particulars about that church. Its commencement was a female prayer-meeting which was held by a river side at a little distance from the busy city. The first members of it, so far as we know, were Lydia the seller of purple, and her family. Her house was Paul's home at Philippi, and there soon clustered round those who hung on his lips for instruction, and loved him as few ministers of the gospel are loved, and stood by him through such trials as none encounter now in Christian lands. It was among the Philippians |