of the Christian religion. To rest in faith, is to receive implicitly the inspired teaching of God's revealed will. The troubles and tempests of fear belonging to this life will come; but to rest in faith, is to be tossed about upon a stormy sea, and yet to know no fear! Some years ago, the fury of the tempest had overturned a boat, which contained three sailors, one of whom sunk. The other two were seen floating on the deep, and a rope was conveyed to one of them, but he refused it, crying out, "Fling it to Tom, he is just ready to go down; I can last some time longer." They did so, and Tom was saved. Then the rope was flung to the other just in time to save him also. The principles of faith and beneficence are kindred. ON desert-sand or ocean-foam, My faith to Thee for ever clings; Beneath the shadow of Thy wings. XXVIII. Rest for the Dying. "THE righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come."-ISAIAH lvii. 1. "As dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing."-2 CORINTHIANS vi. 9. JESUS! Omnipotent, when death is near, Waft heavenly Canaan's music to my ear; With fuller, deeper confidence of love, As Jordan's stream I see: So in its chilly waters I shall prove How death is slain by Thee. H TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. EXTREMELY delicate are all parts of the human frame. The movements of all the muscles, the component parts of all the tissues, and the exceedingly fine covering over the whole! Astonishing contrivances! all testifying to the profound wisdom of the Almighty Maker's skill. Nor is it the least wonderful thing about it, that such mechanism should be so long preserved free from injury, seeing how constantly we are exposed to innumerable dangers. That any one of these dangers should not destroy all our bodily powers in a moment seems strange. Strange that a harp of thousand strings But our astonishment ceases when we remember Who it is that continues to uphold and preserve us alive. Even the same Almighty Power who gave us breath and being at first. And yet, sooner or later death is inevitable, because it is the decree of God. "It is appointed unto men once to die." No care nor device on our part; no medical science nor precaution can effectually shield us from the approach of death. That which more deeply concerns the Christian is, how can he best meet death when it comes? What is that which soothes the passage to the grave? It cannot be the idea of parting from those we love on earth, such anticipations always causing pain, although alleviated by the sure and certain hope of a future reunion. Grace bestows the preparedness for such a solemn event. And the sweet thought of being for ever with Jesus softens the passage to the tomb. The gloomy abode of death is lighted up with rays of illumination from the Sun of righteousness. We must die, for Christ died, yea, even rose again, and because He hath said, "Where I am, there also shall my servant be." That we should die is nothing wonderful, since we began to die at the very moment we began to live. To the believer, then, to die is to rest from labour, and toil and mortal strife. To "sleep in Jesus." To REST in hope! Still there are many things which occasion brief anxiety. One of these is the frequent suddenness of death. And then to see the young, the fair, the beautiful taken, is another source of human sorrow. But even this sad thought is corrected, when faith takes a clear view of their future blessedness. Only the choicest flowers are fit to be transplanted to Immanuel's garden, where they shall always bloom in undying beauty! And this truth annuls the pain of dying. Moreover, it produces the most intense satisfaction, because the believer can say, "I am now going home!" "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: "I shall be satisfied when I awake with Thy likeness.” |