Page images
PDF
EPUB

ROOM FOR A LITTLE CHILD.

ID you notice the boy musician

Last night, as he stood on the floor
Of the concert hall, with his violin,
A child of six years or more?

Did you mark on his cheek the pallor,
Or notice the small thin hand,
And the eyes that flashed as the leader
Lifted on high his wand?

Did you notice that young child's music,
How it throbbed and thrilled through the hall,
And how, when the strain was ended,
Men shouted for his recall?

Then he played us a sad dirge softly,
Like the sobbing of the wave;
In the midst of a breathless silence,
Like the silence of the grave.

And we wept as we listened to it,

Yet we could not well tell why;
But it touched the hearts of the hardest,
Not a cheek in the hall was dry.

Then the child looked gravely before him,
And around on the mighty crowd,
That had risen in silence to greet him,
As he bent his young head and bowed.

Then turned away holding his violin,
And we saw him disappear,
As the voice of our pent-up feelings
Arose in one mighty cheer.

You remember that he looked weary,
And feeble and pale and thin;
And how you said, when you saw him,
"I declare this thing is a sin.
"The child should be in the nurs'ry,
In his little cot fast asleep,
Not here his very soul wasting,

That women and men may weep.
"Not here, 'mid this wild excitement,
That might drive a grown man mad:
But at home in a happy childhood,
Peaceful and fresh and glad."
Indeed, 'twas a sin-you spoke truly;
But vain was your pity for him,
When the brain was o'ertaxed and weary,
And the dark bright eyes grew dim.
Last night, when the music was over,
He tossed on his little bed;
And one who was lying near him
Took note of the words he said.

For he moaned as if he were dreaming,
Yet all night he never slept;

And sometimes he seemed to be praying,
And sometimes he softly wept;

Till the night drew near to the morning,

Then he looked up calmly and smiled,
And said, "Oh, Thou gracious Saviour,
Make room for a little child."

Then all was still and silent,

Not one word more he said;

And the listener thought he was sleeping;
But the angels knew he was dead.

He died as he spake his petition;

His soul had gone forth with his prayer,
As we trust to be with the Saviour,
There is rest for the weary there.
Of such as he is the kingdom,
For the lips of the Undefiled
Spake blessings upon the children;
There is room for a little child.
There is room with the Christ, oh children;
Room in the ark of grace;
Room in the home He prepareth;

Room in the heavenly place;
Room in the glorious temple;

Room in the Holy Land;
Room by the living waters;

Room at the Lord's right hand;
Room by the throne of glory;
Room by the crystal sea;
Room with the choir celestial,

And the white robed company.

For the Lord lay a babe in the manger,
No room for Him in the inn,

That He might be the children's Saviour,
And bear all their guilt and sin.

You know how He took them and blessed them;
You know how He suffered and died;
That in heaven for the blood-bought children,
There might be a place by His side.

O, trust Him, dear children, to save you;
Your hearts to the Master give,

And your hands, too, wherewith you may serve
Him,

As long as on earth you live.

Seek His Spirit to guide your footsteps,
To walk in His heavenly ways;

Let your tongue be proclaiming His mercy,
And your lips be declaring His praise.

Give your life to be His, His only,
Till the battle of life is o'er,
And the dawn of eternity breaketh;
His only, for evermore.

R. R. THOM.

A BIBLE READING.

HINDRANCES.

FOUNDATION TEXT: "Some [seed] fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it " (Luke viii. 7).

What are the thorns which choke the growth of the seed? "Cares and riches and pleasures of this life" (Luke viii. 14). Also, "The lust of other things entering in" (Mark iv. 19.)

Notice it is not said they prevent the seed from shooting, but from bringing forth fruit to perfection" (Luke viii. 14), or, as Mark has it, "it becometh unfruitful."

Now the purpose of sowing seed is that it should bring forth fruit. "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John xv. 8).

"These three years I came seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none.

If it bear fruit, well, but if not, then after that, thou shalt cut it down" (Luke xiii. 7, 9).

“The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth" (James v. 7). In other cases "riches" and positions and honours shut out the light of heaven. Paul has a word for these (1 Tim. vi. 17). How wise was the prayer of Agur"Give me neither poverty nor riches, lest I be full and deny Thee or lest I be poor and steal" (Prov. xxx. 9).

[ocr errors]

But thorns, with their hindrances, beset the path of those who are neither poor nor rich; they are not exempt from the "lust of other things." Let us look at some of them.

1. Desire for what we have not, making us envy the lot of a neighbour, and think our case worse than that of others, or regret the happier days of the past. How is this thorn to be uprooted? (Heb. xiii. 5; Luke xii, 15; Eccles. v. 10).

2. Prickings from the circumstances of daily life, or from the misdoings of others, or from want of rest in the will of God. Cure (Matt. vii. 3; 1 Pet. v. 5, 6, 7).

3. Prickings from harbouring unforgiving thoughts. Cure-Example of Christ (1 Pet. ii. 19-23; Luke xxiii. 34). If the seed sown bears no fruit, or only immature, dwarfed and sickly fruit, we say, "Is there not a cause? I remember riding in Palestine over a piece of ground, where the thorns rose so thick and high that no green ear could have had a chance to grow up. It would have been literally "choked" had it made the attempt. No bright sunlight could have matured the plant, no rain from heaven could have had room for its gentle drops. So it is with the heart where the " cares or the "riches," or "the lust of other things prevent the upspringing or growth of the seed of the Kingdom which the good Husbandman has sown.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The tender blade may have pierced the soil-in other words, the young heart may have opened to the love of Christ; but, alas! as years go on, cares and anxieties in business, in the bringing up of a family, in pecuniary pressure, choke its growth, and instead of a cheerful trust in God, doubts and gloom prevail. How are these "thorns to be removed? Read the answer in Philippians iv. 6.

The thorns which hinder some of us may be the indulgence in some habits we feel to be contrary to God's will. Cure (Matt. v. 29, 30).

"Let us lay aside every weight" (Heb.

xii. 1).

This will apply to self-indulgence in many forms. Oberlin threw aside his snuff-box, when he saw it was getting a hold over him.

[ocr errors]

We must say to whatever prevents us from bringing forth "fruit to perfection to the glory of God, Hinder me not."

"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke ix. 62). M. E. BECK.

Scripture Exercises.

ANSWER TO No. X., p. 200.

"BETHEL " (Gen. xxviii. 19); "PENIEL" (Gen. xxxii. 30).

[blocks in formation]

2. On what rock was Samson, when he was bound with new cords?

3. The father of a wicked king, who "made Israel to sin."

4. An Ethiopian whom God promised to deliver, because he put his trust in"Him." 5. A man who judged Israel 23 years. 6. What was the name of an altar the Reubenites and Gadites set up?

7. The father of the first king of Israel. 8. The "first fruits of Achaia unto Christ."

9. The brother of Rebecca.

1. P eor.

2. E lkanah.

3. N oah.

4. I shbosheth. 5. E limelech. 6. L uz.

Numbers xxiii. 28. 1 Sam. 1-21. Numbers xxvi. 33. 2 Sam. ii. 10. Ruth i. 2.

Genesis xxviii. 19.

10. A place from which gold was brought.

11. One of the seven churches of Asia. 12. The successor of Benhadad, king of Syria.

13. What people were noted for their great height?

14. One of the tribes whose inheritance was beyond Jordan.

15. A king of the Amorites.

16. Of what place was Philip tetrarch? 17. To what city was the Angel Gabriel sent?

Three words of remarkable meaning.

[subsumed][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee (Isa. xliv. 22).

T I am with thee to save thee (Jer. xv. 20). The Lord taketh pleasure in His people (Psa. cxlix. 4).

W One thing have I desired of the Lord (Psa. 18 W xxvii. 4).

16

T

Verily, there is a reward for the righteous 19 T (Psa. lviii. 11).

20

F

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

23 M

8

24 T

[blocks in formation]

Verily, my sabbaths ye shall keep (Ex. xxxi. 13).

Even a child is known by his doings (Prov. xx. 11).

Every word of God is pure (Prov. xxx. 5). Make Thy face to shine on Thy servant (Psa. xxxi. 16).

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord (Psa. xxxiv. 2).

W Buy the truth and sell it not (Prov. xxiii. 23).

S

Be careful for nothing (Phil. iv. 6).

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it (Psa. cxxvii. 1).

Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt. xviii. 3).

Return unto thy rest, O my soul (Psa. cxvi. 7).

[ocr errors]

123

14

15

25

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

By their fruits ye shall know them (Matt.vii.20).
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee
(Psa. lvi. 3).

A bruised reed shall He not break (Isa. xlii. 3).
With thee is the fountain of life (Psa. xxxvi. 9).
Your life is hid with Christ in God (Col. iii. 3).
He that overcometh shall inherit all things
(Rev. xxi. 7).

WI will run the way of Thy commandments (Psa. cxix. 32).

T

27 F

S

30 M

He healeth the broken in heart (Psa. cxlvii. 3). Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil

(Exod. xxiii. 2).

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear
Thee (Psa. lx. 4).

S Jehovah-nissi (the Lord my banner (Exod.

xvii. 15).

We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Rom. viii. 37).

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY.

[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"HE WOULD IF HE COULD, BUT HE COULDN'T."

[graphic]

By Rev. P. B. POWER, M.A.

AM not going to tell you about a man who could not, as we say, "blow his own trumpet," that is, "praise himself." Most people can do that, when they are foolish enough to want to do it; and it is very hard to prevent them.

I want to tell you about a man who had a real trumpet of brass, and who wanted, above all things, to blow a good loud blast on it, and who knew how to do it, and had the breath for it; but never a sound could he get out of that trumpet, and a good thing too, both as regards himself and thousands of others. Our friend was a black trumpeter in an English regiment in America, before that country was separated from ours.

A celebrated open-air preacher was going to hold a meeting, which was expected, as such meetings generally were, to be a very large one.

But the trumpeter's heart was black, like his face, and the poor fellow did not like the word of God to be preached; so what does he do but take his stand in front of the minister, a little way off, and he had his trumpet in his hand, ready to blow a mighty blast as soon as the minister had got on a little in his discourse, and to put an end to the whole thing.

The crowd gradually increased behind the trumpeter, and kept pressing forward in order to hear more distinctly; and so it soon came to pass that our friend's arms became pinioned to his side.

On went the preacher, and angry got the trumpeter, and now, now, now, at this and that that the preacher said, he longed to blow a blast. He struggled to get the trumpet to his mouth, but he couldn't; he tried to wriggle himself out of the

crowd, but he couldn't do that either. There he was kept, fixed as securely as if he had been nailed into the ground.

Then the black trumpeter had to listen to what he was as a sinner, and what would become of him without a Saviour; and all this the Holy Spirit so struck into his heart that he was seized with perfect agony, and, when way was made, had to be carried to a house in the neighbourhood. And there the preacher went to see him, and so spoke to him that, by the blessing of God's Spirit, the trumpeter from that day forward became an altered man.

Who knows, dear friend, but that, by bringing this article into existence, it may be a good thing for you, as well as for the congregation assembled that day, that the trumpeter "would if he could,

but he couldn't."

Truly we don't know what we are depriving ourselves of, if we will not listen to God's message and His truth, whether the word be written or spoken. We are shutting ourselves out from hearing what it is, of all things, most necessary that we should know, from the best of all good news, from perhaps the possibility of the very highest blessing. "Tom," said a man to his mate, after they had both been listening to a minister who had been preaching in an out-of-theway place, that was some good stuff that fellow gave us to-night." When he came really to listen to it, then he recognized that it was "good stuff."

66

The black trumpeter, in his hatred of all holy things, would have hindered others from getting as well as himself. He was a dog in the manger, as most godless people are. Who knows, if he had been allowed to blow that trumpet, how many souls might have been left unawakened, and their death laid at his

« PreviousContinue »