Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

or swallowed up in my thankfulness.

Who was

I that such an unbounded measure of delight should be awarded me?

In that buoyant state of my spirit, I saw and felt nothing but gladness; how bright were the heavens, how blue the sky, and how green the grass beneath my feet! The air was fresh and pure, and as I walked through the fields, my pathway was decked on either side with daisies and dandelions; the hedge-rows were adorned with beauty, and the very brambles were covered with blackberries. The sun that was beaming above me seemed to shine into my heart. sensible presence of God's goodness gladdened my spirit, and every now and then I burst into an audible hallelujah. I felt like one in love with heaven and earth, "the sea and all that in them is." Prayer and praise were alternate on my lips. All nature appeared to rejoice. The hills seemed to "break forth into singing," and the trees of the fields to "clap their hands."

A

Not only my natural, but my spiritual affections were also called forth. I felt that it was indeed the sabbath-day, and that the "sound of the church-going bell" was then inviting me to the sanctuary of the Lord, "to render thanks for the great benefits received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most

holy word, and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary as well for the body as the soul." Times without number had I used them without emotion, but now I felt the full import of the words,

"Lord, how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship thee;
At once they sing, at once they pray,
They hear of heaven, and learn the way."

As I entered the portal of Fairlight church, my heart was drawn towards my fellow-worshippers, and I felt it to be a good thing to wait upon the Lord. The first words spoken by the minister were not only a text, but a sermon in themselves: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John i. 8, 9. Had I heard nothing more than those words, I should not have returned home empty-hearted.

Pleasant as food to the hungry, are kind words to us, when we feel kindly. At the end of the gospel was the following mercy-loving admonition: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye

kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you," Eph. iv. 31, 32. What heartburnings and unkindness would be prevented among us by a general attention to this advice of the apostle, and what briers and thorns would be removed from our paths!

The sermon followed; and faithfully were we told of the idol that the world is ever setting up before us in its seductions and temptations; and earnestly were we reminded that there was no middle course. We must either bow down to the idol, or worship in sincerity the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

As I returned from Fairlight church, my fellow-worshippers, by degrees, turned off along the lanes and fields, till I found myself alone. No, not alone, for I had His presence who had so wondrously lifted up my heart, in joy and with thankfulness. My soul truly magnified the Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God my Saviour.

A faithful and affectionate sermon, afterwards heard at St. Mary's, did much to rekindle the fervour of my morning emotions, so that my head was, as it were, anointed with oil, and my cup made to run over. A sunny sabbath of this kind is not often passed: would that it were

otherwise; would that every spirit that is bowed down could be frequently lifted up, and every heart that is sorrowful be filled with joy.

Some of my readers may think me too serious, while others may regret that my remarks are not so weighty as they should be. Meekly will I endeavour to bear either, or both of these reproaches. I have faithfully depicted my emotions, with a kind intention, and hope thereby to call forth sunny recollections in other hearts. Hardly can it be out of character in an old man to encourage his younger friends to gladden their present and brighten their future hours by faith in that merciful Saviour, who died that we might live for ever.

Come sudden death, come flood, or flame,
Who trust in a Redeemer's name

Are still secure, for thrones on high
Await their entrance to the sky;

And crowns of gold their brows shall wear,
Who thus, through Christ, for death prepare.

Long shall I remember Fairlight, and Fairlight church, and many things shall I forget before my sunny sabbath will be blotted from

my memory.

OLD HUMPHREY AT HASTINGS.

Bear with an old man's prattle, for his heart
Beats lovingly for thee, and all mankind.

I

"STANDS Hastings where it did?" said I, trying to be cheerful, as I hobbled along with difficulty, supported by two porters from the railway to the vehicle engaged to carry me to my place of destination; but no, it would not do. I was too much subdued and exhausted by my transit from "the mart of all the earth," to be cheerful. had been carried, on account of extreme weakness, from my cab at the London Bridge Station to the carriage that was to bear me onwards; and some feared that I should sink by the way, and never reach Hastings. It pleased the Father of mercies that it should be otherwise.

But if not cheerful, I was at least grateful, for I was not unmindful that in all my preceding visits to this delightful locality, the sea and land breezes had gathered round me with healing on their wings, and I was sanguine enough to hope and trust that I should again be benefited with

U

« AnkstesnisTęsti »