IN London Mark was not a stranger, and as one saw the fair young Jew wending his way, at 7 p.m.,
through the crowded streets, and beheld his calm, peaceful, heavenly expression, one would not think that a thick cloud of trouble was hanging over him; but the cloud was not so thick as to obscure him from his divine Protector. "Every dark cloud has a silver lining." The Sun of righteousness is ever shining.
At last Mark turned into a quiet street off the main thoroughfare, and as he passed an unpretentious building, he heard voices singing. He paused and listened to those beautiful words—
"Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distress'd?
'Come to Me,' saith One, `and coming,
Be at rest.'” "
Poor Mark wiped away a falling tear, and listened to the end. He then entered the building, and found some Christians met for prayer. As they poured forth their simple petitions Mark could not but feel that he had been led there.
There was silence for a little time, Mark did not look up; he was on his knees with his face buried in his hands. At last he heard a very familiar voice, whose accent and whose tone bespoke that of a gentleman. He dared not look up now, his heart was too full; for that voice was petitioning for a young Jewish convert, and amidst the flutterings of his heart and his pent-up feelings Mark recognized the voice of his friend, Reginald Stevenson. Then a hymn was given out and sung, the following—
“There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth,
It sounds like music in mine ear,
The sweetest name on earth.
“It tells me of a Savior's love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner's only plea.
“It tells me of a Father's smile,
Beaming upon His child;
It cheers me through this little while,
Through deserts waste and wild.
“It tells me what my Father hath
In store for ev'ry day;
And, though I tread a darksome path,
Yields sunshine all the way.
“It tells of One whose loving heart
Can feel my smallest woe,
Who in each sorrow bears a part
That none can bear below.
“It bids my trembling soul rejoice,
It dries each rising tear,
It tells me in a still small voice
To trust and never fear.
“Jesus, the name I love so well,
The name I love to hear—
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.
This name shall shed its fragrance still
Along this thorny road,
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill
That leads me up to God.
“And there with all the blood-bought throng,
From sin and sorrow free,
I'll sing the new, eternal song
Of Jesus' love to me.” "
The sweet words of this hymn sent its savor to the poor wounded heart. Such a hymn he had never heard before. He had a cultivated taste, and earth's voices had often blended in his hearing to give forth sounds of melody, that could be only truly appreciated by an ear like his. Now rough voices blended in these words, and the accent of the uncultivated met his ear, still Mark thought he had never heard aught like them. The words now riveted his attention, not the music. A time is fast hastening on when we shall no more praise Him with lisping and stammering tongue, but voices will join in sweet harmony in the chorus of the redeemed in the courts above, such as even angels have never heard; and the voice of Mark will help to swell that chorus.
He had not the courage when the meeting was over to speak to Reginald—not, however, from diffidence, for he had moved in society, where self-consciousness is but little known. Mark was weak from the effects of the journey, and also from all the trying events of the past few hours. He sat as one transfixed; but he was not unnoticed. Reginald's quick eye had noted his entrance, and now when Mark looked up, it was to see his friend, and to feel a warm grasp of the hand; but each was too full to speak his thoughts. Reginald was overcome to see his Jewish friend under that roof. The two left the building, and walked on some distance without a word. Reginald knew full well by Mark's countenance, sad, yet peaceful, that something unusual had happened; but he had too much refinement of feeling to ask questions, and he knew that his old pupil would soon open his heart to him.
Although there was only a few years' difference in their ages, Mark looked up to Reginald: his superior intellect, his strength of character, his firmness, still mixed with gentleness, called forth the respect of all with whom he had intercourse. At length he ventured to say, "Shall I hail a cab?”
Mark said, from the depths of his breaking heart, "Oh! no; I have no home to go to.”
Reginald knew all now, for he was well acquainted with the consequences of a member of a Jewish family confessing the name of Jesus. Reginald had no home either. He was a tutor in a gentleman's school, and lived in the house of a minister, whose conduct during the week so denied what he preached from the pulpit, that Reginald thought of seeking another appointment. He had found a happier home in the Jewish household of Isaac Barnard than ever he had known before or since, except in the loved home of his parents, whom he daily missed; still his Father was guiding him, too, and would do so until parents and son should meet above, no more to sever.
“Yes, we part; but not forever,
Joyful hopes, our bosoms swell,
They who love the Lord, no never,
Know a long, a last farewell.” "
What a glad reunion there will be on the morning of the resurrection, when Christ will come to claim His own. The ancient Israel of God knew what it was to be guided by the great Jehovah through sandy desert and stormy times; and, blessed be His name, the Israel of God knows now what it is to have the same Jehovah, only He is now known as Jehovah Jesus. Oh! the privilege to be under His banner.
"Friends may one day soothe, the next day grieve,
But this Friend will ne'er deceive:
Oh! how He loves.” "
We want no other friend when we have Him.
"Go, bury thy sorrow, the world hath its share.”
Let us go and tell Jesus, not spend our breath in complaints to creatures who cannot help. Go to Jesus for His sympathy, and then you can go and comfort others and tell them, who have been hitherto strangers to it, of Jesus and His love.
Again Reginald and Mark walked on together in silence for some time, when the former told Mark that he knew where he could find lodgings for the night, and it was only about a mile from where they were now standing. Mark was glad to avail himself of this opportunity, so Reginald hailed a cab. They were soon on their way, and when Reginald told Mark that he was going to take him to one of his own people his heart bounded with joy.
Reginald had been recently introduced to Hyam Isaacs, who with his wife found joy and peace in believing that their long-expected Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth, their Savior. They had each possessed a Testament, but feared to tell each other for some time; and when each made the confession, what joy was theirs!
Hyam had been cast off by his family, and thus his wife and children were entirely dependent on his own exertions. Though now with a limited income, but with a comfortable home, they knew a peace and a happiness unknown before.
"A mind at perfect peace with God,
Oh! what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled through blood,
This, this indeed is peace.”
The visitors soon arrived at the door of a small detached villa. It was quite dark, so that Mark could not see the outward surroundings. The door was opened by Hyam himself, a man of medium height, about sixty years of age, with snowy locks, the high nose of his race surmounted with gold spectacles. His whole expression showed him to be a man of culture and intellect. Reginald received a hearty welcome; and having told his friend the object of so late a visit, Mark received a warm welcome in that Jewish home, or rather Christian home, and such an one as he never forgot. The two friends were led into the general sitting room, where the family were seated at supper. Rebekah, Hyam's wife, welcomed Mark as her own son when she heard his tale, for she had so recently known what her own husband had to suffer for the name of Jesus. His own brother dared not speak to him. He had been cut off by all his kindred, and mourned for as dead.
Here for some weeks Mark found a home, and was taught by his host the more perfect way. Hyam told his youthful hearer many things that surprised him. Mark had often delighted to read of his forefathers walking round the walls of Jericho, and how those walls fell flat to the ground at their mighty shout. He had however seen no spiritual meaning: but now he learned that Israel's God, the Captain of their salvation, would have all the glory and that through faith in Himself, not in anything that they could do, the way was made plain for them to enter the city. What were walls to Israel's God? He spake and it was done.
They entered that city, but the way that led up to it was through redemption ground—bought by the blood of another. So now what are difficulties to Jehovah? Let us only trust Him. He will fight for us, and work in us, to do of His good pleasure, all through the blood of the Lamb. O! that His blood-bought people could go on with full purpose of heart, with full trust in their great Redeemer, who will never leave them nor forsake them. His Spirit ever abides with His people; but the world (the blest Redeemer when here on earth said) will not receive Him, because they do not see Him. We walk by faith and not by sight; but by and by our faith will give place to sight. We shall see our Jesus; no eye will ever behold God but in Jesus; He will sit upon the throne of God-that God who has said, "I will not share my glory with another;" but He seats the Man Christ Jesus on His eternal throne; so the Man Christ Jesus must be Jehovah.
Mark found this great Jehovah to be indeed his Guard and Guide through all the tangled ways of this world.
After Mark had spent some weeks with Hyam Isaacs, he, through the influence of his kind host, who knew the manager of a large business establishment in France, got an appointment there; so Mark returned to within a few miles of the spot he had so recently left. He had a good salary, and did not remain long in lodgings, but took a pretty villa near the mountains of lovely southern France, overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean. He furnished it, and in a short time obtained leave of absence; so he returned to his native land. He did not go back to France alone, but took with him, to share his joys and his sorrows, Hannah Isaacs, Hyam's eldest daughter, who, like himself, was also traveling towards the heavenly city.