1.
IT was a sight one does not get every day―no, nor once in many―a little child―I had almost said an infant, though that would not have been strictly correct. She was lying in bed, in a room where there was little furniture―little of what men would call comfort―a calm, pale face, surrounded by a close, simple cap. Dark circles round the eyes seemed to tell of approaching dissolution to the frame; but such a stillness, such an expression of repose, I have seldom, if ever, witnessed. It did one good to be there to breathe the atmosphere of such a presence; for there was deep, solid peace in that young heart―no cloud, as far as one could discern. She had been singing, as I had heard previously from her mother―singing more than once, out of the fullness of her happiness. That poor, bowed down mother, tried by the sickness of three of her children at the same time, surely this was to her a cup of mercy in the midst of her affliction, could she have seen it clearly.
But how often is it that the richest mercies strike the heart but faintly under circumstances of heavy trial. We see not, it may be, the hand that holds the cup, or we forget, or fail to appreciate, the love of the heart that guides the hand. Faith in the blessed Saviour of poor lost sinners of the human family, is a precious gift of God, and this poor mother had it, question less, underneath all her sorrow; but how simple, how pure, how effortless it shone in the little one I sat by the side of the bed in silence for a moment, looking at the interesting face―a comely face it had been, evidently, in its brief day―almost fearing to disturb that tranquil mind by even a word. When I spoke, it was to ask, ― “Is Jesus precious to you?”
“Yes” (simply and at once); I do not wish to get better, sir.”
“How long have you been happy?”
“About five months.”
A leaf of “The Silent Comforter” was unfolded just where her eye could take in the large letter texts, at the foot of her bed. She directed my attention to it in words that showed her enjoyment of the passages she had been reading.
I asked her if she suffered pain.
“Yes” (as though she was suffering then). “There is no pain in heaven.”
I think it was Revelation 21:44And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4) that occurred to me on saying this. She assented, and I afterward repeated another text from the same wondrous book, 7:17: “The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
“You will soon see that blessed Saviour whose brow was crowned with thorns, whose blood was shed for you.”
“Yes.
“The Lord bless you, dear child.”
It was a brief interview, but who shall tell its value? I mean, to me. We talk of influence; and surely it is a subject of immense importance. What a book could be written on it if one had the ability. I thought and said something of this kind, many years ago, to one who had long been in the school of Christ; and more than once lately has this thought occurred to me of penning what I could concerning it. Not that one can hope to do more than touch the margin of so wide a theme. One Mind alone, the Infinite, can fully measure it; but if permitted to glean a little in His field-and surely the universe belongs to Him — who would not like to be a learner, aye, and a laborer too?
2.
The highest kind of influence is that which the blessed God diffuses by His Spirit through His word. The soul, subject to this, becomes as a watered garden, the very dwelling-place of Divine love and peace. And if we would know how this is realized, we may look at what the Lord says in the 8th chapter of the gospel by John, verse 45: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.” See here the condescending grace of the Father in heaven, that He teaches His children Himself, not putting them under the harsh yoke of the schoolmaster, but giving them home-tuition under the Spirit, the Comforter, who forms children’s hearts― children’s affections. And the way He does this is by revealing Jesus. It is quite true, that naturally they are afar off, anything but children or childlike, but then they have to be brought to Jesus. And this is the effect of God’s teaching: “Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” And I am bound to say, that there is not an emanation of beauty in the universe, whether it be of mind or form, that is not the work of Him who is the Christ, the beloved of the Father. He is the original, the Head of creation, the pattern to which all things true, and beautiful, and blessed, are to be assimilated. Nay, they must take their coloring and form from Him before they can be either true, or beautiful, or blessed. A poor wretched sinner―for that is what man is, since the fall―is attracted to One who is perfect Love, ―One who in nature is infinitely above all sin; and the meeting-place is the one above all others most dreadful to man, ―the place of death and judgment. The love that could anticipate this for the sinner must be infinite, and so it is; and when this love is tasted, the heart is won, and then comes the education. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega of this; for God has but one object to present to us: yet is that object so blessed, so attractive, that we may forget ourselves entirely in the contemplation of it. But this is not all; for if the Father reveals the Son, the Son reveals the Father: and I not only get Christ for myself, but Christ in myself. I love Him―I love His image; and that image is formed in me while am occupied with Him. He attracts me, and I put Him on; then His objects become my objects―His joys my joys―His interests my interests, and these are heavenly and eternal. Now here is an influence, the highest, the most powerful, ―the influence of God Himself upon the heart, producing happiness by revealing the Source of happiness—the beauty of holiness; in other words, the Christ Himself. For Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; that very Jesus who was crucified in ignominy on Calvary, more than eighteen hundred years ago; that very Jesus who is now in heaven, at God’s right hand; who knows how to link Himself with men on earth―that is, whose bodies are on earth; who knows how to plead their cause both Godward and man-ward, as sustaining them in heaven and defending them on earth. And all this comes out in the Word; yea, much more; but I would only say here, to every soul that values its eternal interests, “Don’t neglect this simple truth―this Divine promise of Divine teaching. Read the Scriptures; read them prayerfully. Depend upon God the Holy Spirit to teach you. Don’t be discouraged if you get knocks and drawbacks Search the Scriptures daily. God is a bounteous Giver, a patient Instructor. Wait upon Him alone in the most quiet corner you can find. Whatever other influence you may be subject to be sure you place yourself under this, the influence of God in Christ, by His Holy Spirit, through the word of truth, the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance incorruptible, unfading, undefiled, in company with all that are blessed and secured in the Lord forever.”