Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

THE PORTFOLIO.

in a calm, quiet, unobtrusive manner, rather than to resort to any effort to convince them of the error of their way. All the efforts of her father were, however, of no avail to lure her from the purpose she had formed to lead a religious life.

As a last resort, he gave a large party, and sent out invitations to the most worldly and fashionable of the city. The evening at length arrived; the company came together; all was a scene of gaiety and mirth, for the pleasure-loving throng were there. In the midst of this scene it was arranged that she should be invited to sing and play on the piano one of those fashionable airs to which they had been wont to listen with so much interest previous to her conversion. She made no objection as she was led by her father to the piano. Taking her seat, she commenced in a strain the most touching, because it came from her heart, and sang, with a full clear voice, that beautiful hymn of Charles Wesley :

[ocr errors]

"No room for mirth or trifling here, For worldly hope, or worldly fear, If life so soon is gone :

If now the Judge is at the door, And all mankind must stand before The' inexorable throne!

"No matter which my thoughts employ, A moment's misery, or joy;

But O! when both shall end, Where shall I find my destined place? Shall I my everlasting days

With fiends or angels spend ?

"Nothing is worth a thought beneath, But how I may escape the death

That never, never dies! How make mine own election sure, And when I fail on earth, secure

A mansion in the skies!"

was seen

61

She had not sung through one verse before her father, who stood by her side, to drop his head. Every whisper ceased, and the most intense feeling was evidently pervading the entire company. Every word was distinctly heard, and each seemed an arrow from the Spirit's quiver going directly to the hearts of the hearers. When she ceased, her father was gone. His feelings were too great to be suppressed, and he sought another room, where he gave vent to his tears. Mary had conquered; and from that hour she was free from the allurements of the world. For many years she lived to adorn her profession, and then went up to join the song of the redeemed in heaven.

[blocks in formation]

"Homes are more often darkened by the continual recurrence of small faults, than by the actual presence of any decided vice. These evils are apparently of very dissimilar magnitude; yet it is easier to grapple with one than the other. The Eastern traveller can combine his forces, and hunt down the tiger that prowls upon his path; but he scarcely can escape the mosquitoes that infest the air he breathes, or the fleas that swarm in the sand he treads. The drunkard has been known to renounce his darling vice; the slave to dress and extravagance, her besetting sin; but the waspish temper, the irritating tone,

rude dogmatic manners, and the hundred nameless negligences that spoil the beauty of association, have rarely done other than proceed till the action of disgust and gradual alienation has turned all the currents of affection from their course, leaving nothing but a barren track over which the mere skeleton of the companionship stalks alone,"

THE BROKEN BUCKLE. You have read in your own history of that hero, says Dr. James Hamilton, who, when an overwhelming force was in full pursuit, and all his followers were urging him to a more rapid flight, coolly dismounted in order to repair a flaw in

62

MONTHLY NOTES FOR READERS.

his horse's harness. While busied with the broken buckle, the distant cloud swept down in nearer thunder; but just as the prancing hoofs and eager spears were ready to dash down upon him, the flaw was mended, and, like a swooping falcon, he had vanished from their view. The broken buckle would have left him on the field a dismounted and inglorious prisoner; the timely delay sent him in safety back to his bustling comrades.

There is in daily life the same luckless precipitancy, and the same profitable delay. The man who, from his prayerless awakening, bounces into the business of the day, however good his talents and great his diligence, is only galloping upon a steed with a broken buckle, and must

not marvel if, in his hottest haste or most hazardous leap, he be left inglorious in the dust; and though it may occasion some little delay beforehand, his neighbour is wiser who sets all in order before the march begins.

LIVE FOR CHRIST.

You have your work to do for Christ where you are. Are you on a sick bed? Still you have your work to do for Christ there, as much as the highest servant of Christ in the world. The smallest twinkling star is as much a servant of God as the midday sun. Only live for Christ where you are.-M'Cheyne.

Monthly Notes for Readers.

THE Rev. Edward Jewitt Robinson, Wesleyan Minister, Glasgow, and formerly a Missionary in the Tamil provinces of Ceylon, has condensed into a small and well-written volume his own observations, and the reliable statements of others, on the condition of female life in India, under the title of The Daughters of India. The Rev. Thornley Smith has produced another capital book, which he simply entitles Saul. In it, he embodies a great deal of information under the four divisions into which it is divided, Saul the Pharisee, Saul the convert, and Paul the Apostle and Martyr. The Conference-Office has issued this month new editions of the late revered and honoured Joseph Entwisle's short, practical and edifying treatise on Secret Prayer; and the Memoir of Miss Sarah P, by M. G., showing the necessity of conversion to God as a preparation for death, for the use of young persons. The titles of the New Tracts added to the Large-Type Series are, But I cannot feel now; Greediness; Slavery: the first, showing the danger of trifling with spiritual influences; and the two latter earnestly dealing with various forms of godless pleasure and of mammon prevalent in our days. The Life and Letters of Mrs. Emily C. Judson, by A. C. Kendrick, Professor of Greek in the University of Rochester, U.S., has been re-issued in

This

this country by the energetic house of T. Nelson and Sons. This Memoir equals in interest the memoirs of the two former wives of Dr. Judson, the distinguished Baptist Missionary to Burmah. volume is sure to command a large sale. We are not surprised to find that Doing and Suffering: Memorials of Elizabeth and Frances, daughters of the sainted Edward Bickersteth, has reached, in a few months, the seventh edition. The homepicture it gives of two loving sisters is exquisitely beautiful. Its chief attraction, however, lies in the diversity of religious experience it portrays. The younger sister, a sufferer, with abundant and evident tokens of fellowship with her Saviour, is, in consequence of manifold affliction, called to pass through great spiritual conflict. She is sustained and comforted by the elder sister, ever radiant with peace, and joy in believing. The letters the latter writes constitute the main and most attractive and edifying portion of the volume. Annals of the Rescued, published by James Nisbet and Co., contain the experience of working men once slaves of drink; but, now, by the blessing of God on the labours of the devoted Mrs. Wightman, of Shrewsbury, recovered from the path of destruction. It will be read with deepest interest. Messrs. Strahan, of Edinburgh, have added to their list two at

MEMORIALS OF THE DEPARTED,

tractive volumes; the one, From Death to Life, by the Rev. A. Saphir, consisting of an exposition of eighteen remarkable conversions recorded in the Bible; the

63

other, a translation of The Near and the Heavenly Horizons, by Madame de Gasparin, addressed to the suffering,

Memorials of the Departed,

GEORGE WATTS was born November 2d, 1802, on a small farm called Redmyres, in the parish of Newhills, in Aberdeenshire, of honest and pious parents. They endeavoured to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, seeking to make them wise unto salvation. So trained, they acquired habits of the strictest morality, sobriety, and industry. When a boy, George was very affectionate, dutiful, and teachable. After he reached manhood, and some years after he had quitted the parental roof, he wrote to his mother that he had not forgotten her fireside-counsels, nor ever should as long as he lived. He became a gardener, and in the course of time obtained a situation in London; afterwards, he removed into Wales, where he fell in with a small English Methodist Society. He became the subject of strong conviction. He felt himself to be a debtor who had nothing to pay; a lost soul without an interest in the world's Reedemer. For some time his grief was intense; his soul was in an agony, and for a short period he seemed almost without hope. During this season of sorrow, he was very diligent in attending all the means of grace; and it was not long before he was enabled to sing,

"Stung by the scorpion sin,

My poor expiring soul The balmy sound drinks in,

And is at once made whole : See there my Lord upon the tree! I hear, I feel, He died for me."

He then felt the chains by which his soul had been bound broken off, and he rejoiced in the liberty of God's children. His language now was,—

"What shall I do to make it known,
What Thou for all mankind hast done?"

What did he do? He sent home, in

letters to his friends, tidings of the great things the Lord had done for his soul; he at once cast in his lot with the people amongst whom he had received salvation; he constantly manifested in his life the sincerity of his profession; he brought forth fruit unto God, and this appeared especially in acts of benevolence and kindness to the needy, and to the cause of Christ. His partner in life soon followed him not only into the little Christian Society to which he belonged, but into the kingdom of God's grace, and they rejoiced together. Mr. Watts became a Class-Leader, and continued to hold that office until laid aside by affliction. For the discharge of his duties he was well furnished out of God's treasury, having known the Scriptures from a child; and the soul-agony through which he himself had passed, prepared him to sympathize with every one in similar circumstances. He laboured to extend the cause of his great Master, and very soon had the happiness of seeing the room at Abernant become too small for the worshippers. The Lord now put it into his heart to build a house to the honour of His name in Aberdare. He sought the Divine guidance; bought a piece of ground; secured help, and had the pleasure of seeing the chapel consecrated to the worship of God in 1841. After securing this object, he then turned his attention to the instruction of the young on the Sabbath. He bought Bibles and other books requisite for the work. He endeavoured to stimulate the children by the distribution of small books. He also established a Tract Society for the benefit of adults. For a season these efforts seemed to be successful. Shortly afterwards, however, unhappily Mormonism made its appearance, and destroyed the results of much anxious labour. The chapel and school were deserted: Mr. Watts was now the only Class Leader left. Moved by the

[ocr errors]

64

MEMORIALS OF THE DEPARTED.

deplorable ignorance and superstition which this sad departure from the truth evidenced, he united with several other benevolent and philanthropic tradesmen of the place in building a commodious school-house; and, also, a neat house for the accommodation of the schoolmaster. They furnished the school with all the necessary apparatus, and very soon had the happiness of witnessing the mental and moral culture of the children of their neighbourhood. The cause he so much loved again prospered; and his class grew so large that it was necessary to divide it, and appoint another Leader. From time to time, he was greatly encouraged by many coming to the chapel, inquiring their way to Zion. He had, however, the sad mortification and pain of seeing the Society, for the second time, torn to pieces. It was not now a foe from without that did it, but foes within, who joined in the sad agitations of 1849-52. This was a great trial to Mr. Watts; but he continued to pursue the even tenor of his way; and he lived long enough to see many more coming up to the help of the Lord than he had witnessed in days gone by, so that before his death there was scarcely a sitting in the chapel to be let. In July, 1856, he was visited with severe affliction. From the commencement of his illness his friends saw much reason to fear he would never recover. The strong, hale man, who had passed more than half a century without a serious illness, was now compelled to spend wearisome nights and days. Months passed on, bringing very little change. As the winter, however, wore away, he appeared to mend; and, in the month of May he was so much better that hopes were entertained of lengthened life. But they were soon cut off; for, in the beginning of June, as he was one day walking out, he was overtaken by a shower of rain, and on the following day the worst symptoms of his complaint returned, and it was evident that his sickness was now unto death. During the last twenty years the Lord had prospered him in worldly circumstances. He had resolved to retire from business; and the cottage was being erected in which it was

hoped he would enjoy a long season of leisure. The Lord, however, was about to take him to a better rest. He was often racked with excruciating pain; but in patience and peace he possessed his soul. He was ever considerate of others; and it often surprised his attendants how little trouble he gave. When it was put to him if he was willing to leave all and go, if the Lord called; he cheerfully replied, "O, yes! And there is one thing I can say now, that the work I have lived to do in this world, I do not regret." On another occasion, being asked if there was anything in his affairs that he would wish to have attended to, he answered, “No; I believe I have done all, and have left everything straightforward, so that my family may be comfortable, and all things may proceed as usual when I am gone." He then gave a few directions concerning his funeral, and desired that his friends would at once submit to the will of Providence, and give him up to God. On Friday, July 24th, 1857, after having been quiet for two hours, with his hands clasped, and his eyes directed upwards in prayer, he very sweetly exchanged the bed of suffering for the rest which remains for the people of God. Mr. Watts read the Bible through once a year at familyworship. He loved Wesley's hymns, and they always formed a part of his devotional exercises. It was his practice every day to turn his shop into a closet; and there, before the shutters were taken down, he would enter in and shut the door, and on his knees, behind his counter, pray to his Father in secret. He sympathized with the needy; and many an act of kindness did he do unknown to any one on earth but the recipient. He was a warm supporter of Missions. He never took upon himself to preach. But sometimes, before the railroad was made through the mountain over which the Preachers had to walk, and which lay between Merthyr-Tydvil and Aberdare, and the weather hindered their coming, he would read one of Wesley's sermons, or give a short address. He was a faithful reprover of sin. Many a short and effective sermon was preached by him behind his counter.

H. T. & J. ROCHE, PRINTERS, 25, HOXTON-Square, London.

[merged small][merged small][graphic]

JOHN WESLEY AT THE CHARTER-HOUSE.

A THOUSAND historic circumstances cluster around the ancient foundation, now known as the Charter-House, where John Wesley was first placed "under tutors and governors." A little more than three centuries and a half before the founder of Methodism was born, a terrible plague, which had ravaged many parts of Asia, broke out with fearful violence in London. The ordinary burial-grounds filled apace, and great difficulty was felt, especially by the poor, in finding "a buryingplace where they might bury their dead out of their sight." Moved by the pious example of Stratford, Bishop of London, Sir Walter de Manny, "a most valiant man at arms," and a great favourite with Edward the Third, "purchased of the Master and Brethren of St. Bartholomew's Spittle, a piece of ground called Spittle-Croft, containing thirteen acres and a rod," which he surrounded with a brick wall, and had it duly consecrated as a burying-place for "the poor and needy." So dreadful was the mortality that, according to a Latin inscription on an old stone cross which long stood in the yard of the Charter-House, more than fifty thousand corpses found sepulture in this "thirteen acres and a rod of ground" in less than one year.

VOL. VII.-Second Series.-MARCH, 1861.

F

« AnteriorContinuar »