A Story for the Little Ones.
IN a country village not very far from Manchester, there lived a poor little orphan girl. Her mother was dead, and her father had quite forsaken her, so that she was an orphan indeed; but he who loves little children had taken her under his gracious care. In the first place, he had provided her a home in the house of a Christian friend, and more than even this, which was kind indeed to a desolate orphan child, he had, by his grace, brought her to a knowledge of himself. She had been taught by the Spirit, through the word, that “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin;” for although but a child, she knew she was a sinner, and that nothing less than that precious blood could: put away her sin. She did not trust to being a good girl, and saying her prayers, and going to church, and reading good books, and all those other things that little people, and big people too, are so apt to trust to for salvation. No, not she! She knew, for God himself had taught her, that though all those things were right and becoming, they had nothing to do with salvation. That was a work which Christ alone could do for us, and did fully and perfectly accomplish for all who believe in his name. She knew that he did it all―
“Long, long ago,”
and that she could neither add to it nor take away from it. She knew it was done once and forever, because he said, when he was dying on the cross, “It is finished!” She believed HIM, and the thought of his love for her made her to love him in return. And then, of course, because she loved him, she tried to do those things that are pleasant in his sight. This was very different to doing them in order to buy salvation with them, was it not? Well, this dear little orphan girl found it a happy thing to know and love and serve Jesus; but better still, she hoped someday to see him in his own bright home, where orphan sorrows are unknown; and her hope was to be fulfilled sooner than she had, perhaps, expected, for it came to pass that she fell ill. Now it is a sad thing for little boys and girls to be ill. They like so to run about and enjoy themselves in the bright sunshine. A little boy once going along with his, mother, holding her hand, suddenly gave a bound, and exclaimed, with a skip and a jump, “O mamma isn’t it a happy thing to be ALIVE?” Now this just expresses what children feel — they like to be alive.
But the little orphan Mary, though she, too, liked to be “alive,” knew that there was a happier scene to live in than any on the earth. She knew that “to depart and be with Christ was far better.”
When a friend who came to see her said how sorry he was to see her so ill, she replied, “Yes, I am very ill, but I do not wish to get better. I want to go to Jesus in heaven, and to see my brother.” Her brother had been accidentally killed a few years before, and, as she had loved him much, she greatly desired to see him again. Although in much pain, she was so taken up with thoughts of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Saviour, that she hardly seemed to feel or attend to the pains of her poor body. With much interest she repeated the words of Christ, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven;” and when her friends knelt and offered prayer for her, she united with them as well as she was able. When somewhat easier in body, she would sing such hymns as she had been taught, and took delight in expressing the love she felt for and her desire after Jesus. Thus her time was passed in prayer and praise, and conversation with Christian friends on “the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Her remarks pleased all who heard them, and surprised many. It was a pleasant sight to see a little one thus able and delighting to tell of the love of Christ, was it not?
Now if you, little reader, should be thus called away — if you should be taken ill suddenly, and find yourself about to die, could you take pleasure in speaking of the things of God, and feel very happy in the hope of soon seeing Jesus face to face? If not, you do not love him yet. Oh, let the example of the little orphan Mary stir you up to be in earnest in going at once to Jesus, for He has said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in nowise cast out.” Then if the Lord should come, or you should be taken ill as she was, you would be ready, and not only ready, but glad to go.
Well, Mary did not suffer long. One Lord’s-day morning, before the sun rose to gladden little boys and girls with his bright beams, Mary’s happy spirit took its flight from its earthly tabernacle — far, far away — to regions brighter than the brightest day that ever smiled upon little children here.
“We sing of the realms of the blest,
That region so bright and so fair;
And oft are its glories confest,
But what must it be to be there!”
Mary soon knew what it was to be there and if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ now, you too will know some day, and we cannot tell how soon. Have you ever been taken by your friends to the seaside, and, standing on the sand where the rippling waves make tiny furrows at your feet, looked out upon the wide ocean to the verge of the horizon where the waters seem to meet the sky? If so, you have perhaps felt as a little boy once did who, looking thus across the sea just when the setting sun was sinking into the deep in a glorious flood of golden light, thought he was on the very verge of eternity, and that that was heaven’s open door letting the glory through upon the waves. Heaven seemed very near to him then. And it is good to stand as it were upon the “verge of eternity,” and gaze mentally on that bright and blessed home which awaits those who love Jesus. It may be nearer to some of us than it even seemed to be to the little boy on the sea-sands.
If this little story about the orphan Mary should lead you in spirit on to the “verge of eternity,” and cause you, though but for a moment, to look wistfully at that “open door,” turn not away until you know, as little Mary knew, that you have entrance there, whensoever the hour may come, through that precious blood which has purchased everlasting life and a place in the Father’s house for all who believe in his dear Son.