There are some things in the Bible which, as the holy book itself tells us, are "hard to be understood" (2 Peter 3:16)—things which the most learned men cannot understand by their own wisdom, and which can be known only as the Spirit of God makes them clear to us. And if learned men cannot understand all the Bible, no wonder that much of it is difficult for our young readers. But there are some things in the Bible which all may understand, and which God bids us believe. Your parents do things, the meaning of which you are told you will know when you are older, but you can, all of you, however young, understand that your parents love you. God is love, and He tells us so in the Bible, and shows to us how we may understand that He is love. Everyone, who believes what God says, can understand that He is love. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son, into the world, that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9.) And if we believe God, we shall love Him. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." (4:8.)
Think over these words. God has shown forth His love towards us, and you who are but a child have come into this world, and will live on, on forever! God has shown forth His love towards us, poor, weak, and sinful as we are, because He sent His own Son from heaven into this world, to become a babe, and at length to die upon the cross, so that our sins might be forgiven, and that we might live in happiness forever through Him. You, who believe what God says about His Son, love Him, and thus you know in your heart what God is. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself." (v. 10.)
Do you trust God's love day by day?
"Don't hurt me, papa," said a little boy of four years of age the other day to his father who was playing at some game with him.
"Why do you ask me not to hurt you, my child?" said his father; "have I ever hurt you? "
"No, papa!" smiled the little fellow.
"Then I am sure you need not ask me not to hurt you now, my boy," answered his father, after which the little boy was quite at rest.
Have you learned that God will never be unkind to you? Sometimes we find ourselves almost like the little boy, praying God not to hurt us! But God is love, and though He may try our faith, as the father of whom I have told you tried the faith of his little boy, yet we know that He will never hurt us, and we know this because God is love.
God keeps the bodies and the souls of His people. He watches over them day and night. He never wearies: He neither slumbers nor sleeps. He withdraweth not His eye from the righteous. He never leaves them nor forsakes them. Each child of His is dear to God. Not one shall be lost. Let us learn a few texts from His own holy book which teach us these things.
"He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psa. 91:11, 12.)
" He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous." (Job 36:7.)
" I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. 13:5.)
" Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:5.)
As these latter chapters of our volume are specially addressed to Christian children, we have adopted the plan of beginning each with stories relating to the little ones, and ending them with what may be more suitable to the elder amongst our young friends.
God never sleeps, and we are ever under His watchful eye. This comforts our hearts, for God cares for us.
WILL YOU WATCH ME?
She was only three years old, and it did seem very terrible to have to run past that big black dog, when he was unchained, too!
"Will you come with me? " was the appeal that reached my ears.
" No; Touch never hurts you," was my answer; " so run away."
But the child would not move. " Will you hold him, then? " was her next demand. But I shook my head, while I told her that the dog loved her and that she loved him, and therefore she knew very well there was nothing to fear.
One more frightened glance at Touch, and these words I could not resist, " Will you watch me, then?" This I promised to do, and the little one began her perilous journey. More than once she cast anxious looks behind her to make sure my eye was upon her, and then, satisfied on that point, set forth at full speed, which soon brought her safely home.
Little reader, what do you learn from my story? God's eye is ever on His children; and if you are one of those happy children whose sins have been washed away in the blood of Jesus, it is pleasant to Him to look down upon you, for it is joy to His heart to watch even a little child who is seeking to follow Him.
I want to ask you one question. Does it make you feel safe to know that He who loves little children is watching you?
GOD'S CARE FOR THE SHEPHERD BOY.
In a lonely valley in Scotland lived a poor shepherd, named Robin. He was nearly eighty years old, and his beard and hair were white as snow. His wife and children were dead, and there was only left to him a little grandson, whom he called Jemmy. Jemmy dearly loved his grandfather, who had taken him to his home when he became an orphan, and was the only friend he had in the world. The shepherd taught Jemmy to read, and when the old man's eyes were dimmed with age, it gave him great pleasure to hear little Jemmy read two or three chapters to him every evening. Jemmy was pleased, above all, to see Jesus Christ spoken of as the Good Shepherd, for the little boy took care of his grandfather's flock. When sitting on the top of a mountain, eating his dinner, often a piece of dry cake, he would say to himself, "If I, who am but a child, am able to take care of a flock, how much more able is Jesus Christ to take care of those He calls His sheep. The children are little lambs, and I am sure He always guards them with tenderness. What did my grandfather say when children did not obey their parents, as God has ordered them? 'Some evil will befall them, like my stray lambs.'"
The time which Jemmy passed all alone on the top of the mountains never seemed to him long, and besides his Bible he had his little book of hymns, which he liked to learn by heart.
Robin had a dog, named Watch, which had been of great service to him. The faithful creature followed Jemmy every morning when he went out with his flock; and when the little shepherd was tired with reading and reflecting he would play with his dog. The good dog loved him so much, that he never left him; and if Jemmy hid from him, Watch was never easy till he had found him. One day Jemmy forgot his duty, and wishing to make a sling, like King David when he was a shepherd boy, he left his grandfather's flock and ran to the house to look for a cord. It was very naughty, and Jemmy ran back to his sheep as fast as he could, for his conscience told him he was guilty; but when he reached the mountain, he saw that four of his sheep were gone; he looked on all sides, but he could not see them; he went up higher, but saw nothing. He ran home directly and told the truth to his grandfather, who, instead of being angry, put his hand upon his head, and said, "The sheep are probably gone to the right side of the mountain to go into the other pastures; go and look for them, my child; make haste, for it will snow soon. Bring home your flock quickly."
When Jemmy reached the top of the mountain the snow was falling, and the ground was soon white. Old Robin began to repent that he had told Jemmy to go out; for he knew that if the poor child were once to lose his road on the mountains when they were covered with snow, he would not be able to find it again all the night, and that he would be dead with cold before morning. The old man sat near the window, listening with anxiety. The shades of night grew thicker and thicker, and at last the old man could see nothing, and he made up the fire. He was very uneasy about the child; he saw in a corner of the room the little stool on which Jemmy sat every night, and his eyes filled with tears. He did not hear any noise in the village; the people were all gone into their houses to take shelter from the storm; he heard nothing but the wind in the valley and the ticking of the clock, which was placed in the corner of the room; at last it struck seven. Robin fell on his knees, and prayed God to restore him his poor child. While he was praying, the tears ran down his cheeks, though he did not forget that God has promised to help those who put their trust in Him. Old Robin then put on his cloak, and was going to his neighbor Mackey, to beg him to go and look for Jemmy, when he heard a scratching at the door. What do you think he saw when he opened it? Do not be disappointed; it was not Jemmy, but only his good dog Watch. Poor dog! when he saw Robin he gave a sad glance at him, and then ran a little way from the door and came back again. The dog wanted to make the old man understand that he came to show the way to the place where his little master was.
Robin then went as fast as he was able to his neighbor Mackey.
"What is the matter, my friend?" said John Mackey; and having heard, he at once said, "I shall go and look on all sides for Jemmy. Courage, my good neighbor; do not despond. God has not left your dear Jemmy. No, no, Robin; you will have him again."
He was going to add something, but Watch interrupted him by jumping upon him and running towards the door. "Well, Watch, well," said he, "go on before, and I will follow you." And on very fast lie went, but not so fast as the dog wished. Watch ran always in front, when suddenly the dog stopped, but n Mackey heard him uttering bitter cries. Mackey then came up, and saw Watch scraping the snow with all his might. A moment after, he heard a feeble voice which said, " Help me, save me; " and he saw the head of little Jemmy appearing above the snow.
The poor child had fallen into a deep hole, which was nearly full of snow, and his little body was almost buried. He was so feeble and benumbed with the cold that he could not move; and Mackey had a great deal of trouble to take him out.
When Mackey reached his house, and old Robin saw Jemmy motionless on Mackey's shoulders, he covered his face with his hands, and all his body trembled; but Mackey said, " Did not I tell you to put your confidence in God? "
When these kind neighbors saw how weak the boy was, they put him in their own bed, made him take some hot porridge, rubbed his benumbed limbs, and took off his wet clothes, the old man watching all the time near the bed. The night's rest did Jemmy a great deal of good; and the next morning, when all in the house met round the breakfast table, and while Watch was placed at the feet of his young master, Jemmy told all that had happened to him.
In trying to find the sheep, as his grandfather told him, he had fallen into the hole out of which the good Mackey had taken him. "When Watch saw me," said he, "in danger, he seemed not to know what to do at one time he pulled me, and then, all of a sudden, he ran away as fast as he was able. When I was alone, I asked God to take me out of that dreadful place." Thus you see that God cares for those who put their trust in Him.
B. S.
God keeps the souls of His people as well as their bodies. Once a gentleman was walking along a country road, when presently a peddler came by. He had a pack upon his back; and the two entered into conversation. Presently the peddler said, " I am saved, thank God."
"And those who are saved are safe forever, they are eternally kept by God," added the gentleman; "'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee' are God's own words."
" Yes, but then, sir, we may slip through His fingers," replied the doubtful-minded peddler.
There are many persons who think, if they do not say it, that some day they may yet be dropped, as it were, by God. It is a blessed thing for us to be sure that of all whom the Father has given to the Lord not one shall be lost.
You may have your trying moments, when a kind of dark cloud rolls over you, and you begin to doubt.
There was once an aged believer upon her dying bed. She did not doubt God, but she was dark within her soul.
A person who was sitting in her room, said, "You cannot be a real Christian, for if you were, you would not be so dark in your soul as you say you are."
With great earnestness she replied, " My Father may put me to sleep in the dark if He pleases.
This was true faith in her Father's wisdom and love. And if you should be tried and tempted, remember that God changes not.
But many of God's children seem to change.
It is too often the case that boys and girls who are converted, when they grow up to be young men and women, turn aside from the ways of God to walk in the ways of the world. The time arrives when they are no longer under the protecting care of their parents, and they fall into temptation to the dishonor of God their Father and to the grieving of His Holy Spirit. The Name of their Lord and Master, whom they once loved, is no longer sweet to them, and with bad consciences they follow the ways of Christ's enemies.
There are two texts of scripture which we will speak of in connection with this mournful subject:-
" By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:20.)
" The Lord knoweth them that are His." (2 Tim. 2:19.)
" By their fruits ye shall know them," says the Lord. In winter time it is not easy to tell the difference between a crab tree and a sweet apple tree. But it is easy enough even for a child to do so in the autumn. Whether people are really converted, God knows; we can only judge by their lives. God alone can see what is in the heart, but we can see what comes out of it. It is very sad to watch a young promising tree become sickly and at length wither almost away. How bitterly sad it is to witness the boy or girl, who has professed to be a tree of the Lord's planting, growing older and yet becoming less and less Christian-like.
If you, were to go into a garden choked with weeds to such an extent that the flowers and weeds were altogether in a mass, no doubt you could not tell one from the other. "Father, shall I pull up this?" said a little boy who was helping his father, for the child could not tell whether it was weed or flower at his feet. But the father knew. And every one will know at the harvest time who are Christ's and who are not. It is a most grievous state of things when it is difficult to say of anyone whether he or she is or is not a Christian. There ought to be no doubt whatever about it. God knows who are His, and the world ought to know too, by seeing the fruits borne by God's people.
May you be kept by God to bear fruit for Him, to live for Him till the Lord comes, or till you are called to go to the Lord. He will assuredly keep His own, and not one shall be lost; but, Christian children, may you so " keep yourselves in the love of God," that you may bear fruit which those who love Him not shall see is of a heavenly kind, and thus that your Father, who is in heaven, may be glorified.
Let us conclude this chapter with two short stories, the first about a boy who knew how God would keep his soul even should He allow his body to die; the second about an aged woman of more than a hundred years old, who rejoiced in God's keeping her soul through time and for eternity.
WHAT CLEMENT WROTE IN HIS BIBLE.
How little did the children think, that bright, stormy April day, as they sat round the dinner-table in their home by the sea, that one of their number, then full of life and health, would never more take his place amongst them.
Yet so it was! When tea-time came, the eldest brother, the one who used to cut the bread, and set the chairs, and see that everyone was helped, was absent. They might call "Clement! Clement!" but no Clement came, and it was not till his body was brought home, cold and dripping as it had been found cast up by the sea, that they knew his end.
Oh, it was a sad house that evening! Robert and Aleck looked at each other, and then at that poor dead face, and it seemed a thing too dreadful to be true. But the father and mother, wondering at their boy's sweet, peaceful look, took comfort, for they were assured that the blessed Savior, who had taught their Clement when in life and strength to trust Him, had surely been near to cheer the boy when no help was nigh, and that Jesus had taken him home to His Father's house, where storms can never come.
" How did it happen? " they asked; but no one could answer. He had been noticed walking along the sands, watching the waves roll in, for it was a spring tide, and very grand they looked; after this no one saw him alive.
His parents knew their boy's love for the sea, and how often he would sit for hours on the shore, busy with his book, little heeding how quickly the time passed. He must have been thus engaged the stormy April day of which we speak. Clement had not noticed, in his sheltered nook, the flowing tide, ever coming nearer and nearer, till, when too late, the water locked him in, and all hope of escape was gone. No doubt he shouted for help, but the wind was high and the sea roared, so his voice was lost.
There was nothing left for Clement Layton but to wait till death should roll in upon him. Did he faint as the chill waters rose around him, or did he long battle with the waves? We cannot tell; but we know that the same Lord Jesus who came to His disciples walking across the dark waters, and who stilled their hearts with His word, "It is I; be not afraid," was present. Yes! the Lord of Life took away every thought of fear, so that Clement was " more than conqueror through Him that loved him."
While the water was gathering round Clement, the Lord gave him courage and calmness to think of those who loved him, and he wrote for them words more precious than I can tell. I have read these words, and you shall read them too.
His parents went mournfully along the shore the evening of their boy's death, searching for anything that might have belonged to him, and their search was not in vain, for they picked up a Bible and one or two of his books, all soaked with the salt water. It was not till the next day that they noticed some pencil writing on the fly-leaf of the Bible; it was like a message from heaven to their hearts as they read, " In danger, I now declare that I do trust in Jesus my own Savior, and have trusted for about five years. I know that my sins of heart and action have been many and grievous, but now I do pray to God to forgive me for the sake of the perfect work of Christ, and to help me to do His will, and to receive me to safety and holiness with Himself.
" I ask God to bless my father and mother, and to give them the comfort of His Holy Spirit, and to keep all my brothers and sisters in His faith and fear.-Clement K. Layton."
These were Clement's last words, written with a firm hand, as he sat alone face to face with death.
Sometimes, as Robert and Aleck walk on the sands thinking of their brother, rough men come up, and, with tears, speak of Clement, and tell how he had read the Bible to them and tried to lead them to his " own Savior " in whom he trusted.
Dear children, you often sing "Safe in the arms of Jesus."
See how safe and happy in the storm and "in danger" was this dear boy whom Jesus loved.
C. P.
Now, God can and does keep His own, whether they are called, as was beloved Clement, early to Himself, or whether they live more than a century upon this earth, as did the aged Christian of whom we now tell you.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE AGED CHRISTIAN.
A gentleman was giving an address in a cottage; after he had done, a man bent with years, and whose head was silvery gray, begged him to come and see his mother.
"Your mother?" asked the astonished speaker, for he could hardly believe that the old man of more than eighty years had a mother yet living.
Following the old man, our friend entered a cottage, and then mounted the nearly upright ladder which led from the lower room to the attic of the house. Then he found himself standing in a little room, through the small window of which the setting sun shone in, its rays lighting up a bed whereon sat upright a spare, gaunt figure. This was the mother of the old man. Though more than a hundred years old, and though very feeble in body, yet her mind was clear and strong.
After a short talk, the gentleman said to her, "Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Savior?" Immediately her dim eyes brightened; her voice started into a shrill energy at the sound of His blest name, and she cried aloud, "To be sure I do," and then added, pointing her finger at the questioner, "Do you know Him? Do you know Him for yourself? Do you?" Then, as if she could hardly contain herself, she added-
"Know Him! Yes; and many a long year before you were born! Know Him I should think I do." She told our friend how that she was but a girl, going to market along the dirty road, when the Lord Jesus revealed Himself to her, and how that God had kept her all her long, long life.
You need not fear, for the Lord will never leave His own. Those who are His shall be kept, should they die in childhood or live a hundred years.
Our times are in Thy hand,
Father, we wish them there;
Our life, our soul, our all, we leave
Entirely to Thy care.
Our times are in Thy hand,
Whatever they may be,
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.
Our times are in Thy hand,
Why should we doubt or fear?
A Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
Our times are in Thy hand,
Jesus the crucified!
The hand our many sins had pierced
Is now our Guard and Guide.
Our times are in Thy hand;
We'd always trust in Thee,
Till we have left this weary land,
And all Thy glory see.