图书图片
PDF
ePub

thing. These things happen, like other things, by mere chance, and you call it Providence-that's all." He went upon his voyage, and the case he put became literally true: he was wrecked, and remained upon the wreck three days, when a ship appeared, and seeing the signal of his distress, came to his relief. He returned, and, in relating the case, said to his brother, "Oh! Tom, when that ship hove in sight, my words to you came in a moment into my mind like a bolt of thunder, of which I have never got rid; and now I think it no more than an act of common gratitude to give myself up to Him who pitied and saved me.'

THE CHILD AND THE LION.

The Rev. John Campbell relates a singular escape of a Bushman child from being devoured by a lion. The child was only four years of age, and was sleeping beside its parents in a half-open hut. About midnight the child awoke, and sat by a dull fire.

The father happening to awake about the same time, looked at his child, and while looking, a lion came to the opposite side of the fire. The child, ignorant of its danger, was not afraid, but spoke to it, and sportingly threw live cinders at it, the lion growled, and approached nearer: the child seized a burning stick, and playfully thrust it into its mouth, and the lion scampered off as fast as it could run.

The father witnessed all this, but was afraid to interfere, lest he, as well as his child, should have been torn to pieces by the ferocious animal.

THE FOUNTAIN OF CONTENT.

The fountain of content must spring up in the mind; and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove.Johnson.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Personal Religion.

THE BOW IN THE CLOUD; OR, THE JOY THAT COMES OF SORROW.

"And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud."-GEN. ix. 14.

THE Connexion of this passage will be generally understood. The reader will know to what the bow in the cloud, and the cloud in which the bow is seen, relate. It will be remembered that in process of time man's sin had overcome God's forbearance on the earth, and as the result of this a deluge of waters was employed to sweep away our guilty race. Noah and his family found grace, and were preserved; and when the calamity was past, and these favoured ones came forth out of the ark-immediately a covenant was made with them and their seed, between God and the earth; and of that covenant, thus instituted, the rainbow was pointed to, as the token thereof. Many things may be said of this bow in the cloud. Its position-being placed in the heavens, whence the rains descended which drowned the world-its position made it suitable as a sign of what had happened to man.

And again, the time when the bow is usually seen may teach us something of the goodness and the goodwill of Him who appointed it. Commonly it is beheld in seasons of much rain, so that when the fears of men begin to be excited by the apprehension of Divine judgments, then appears for their relief this token of preservation and peace. Other thoughts are suggested by the colours of the rainbow. By the watery hues which are seen in it is represented the overwhelming rain which is past-never to return; and by the fiery appearance which it wears, is prefigured the final destruction of the world, when all shall be burned up, and when the elements shall melt with fervent heat. And last, but not least, may we not regard this bow in the cloud as a pleasing and lively type of Christ? For in Him-who is seen in the midst of the throne with a rainbow about His head-in Him all the promises of God are yea and amen; and whatever the evils which befall us, whatever the darkness that surrounds us, we have only to look on Him, and we shall be lightened, and our faces shall not be ashamed. "It shall come to pass (saith God) when I

[blocks in formation]

bring a cloud over the earth, the bow shall be seen in the cloud." This passage is very suggestive of higher and spiritual truths which it is adapted to teach. We are reminded by it of other clouds, and of other tokens of a better covenant, which tokens ought to assure us that these spiritual clouds-clouds of trouble and sorrow-shall not overwhelm us, but shall prove only the means and the medium of richer blessing to our souls. Let us notice some of the spiritual clouds which often arise and spread themselves over our path. Such are afflictions—personal and relative; and at such a time, how often are our souls cast down, and our spirits disquieted within us! What gloomy thoughts pervade and possess us, and what fears and forebodings will sometimes appal us! Under such circumstances, Hezekiah not only turned his face to the wall, but he cried mightily unto God for the lengthening of his life; and when the answer of peace was returned-when the bright bow of hope was seen scattering the gloom-he was heard to confess, "Behold, for peace I had great bitterness." It was as if in his affliction the pains of hell gat hold upon him, and he was not able to look up; but when the threatened destruction was past, the song of praise and thanksgiving burst forth from his lips: "Thou, Lord, hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption, for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back." Thus did he welcome the bow in the cloud, and was seen to go on his way rejoicing. Other of these clouds consist in temptations from our great adversary. How many of these—and how many times during our life—have filled us with fear, and robbed us of peace? Job could speak feelingly of clouds of this nature. To him in his prosperity that enemy came in as a flood. Truly, Satan not only desired, but was permitted to have him and to sift him as wheat, and we know from his own lips something of the thick dark clouds which then rested and settled on his path. This is shown us, not only in the words which poured forth curses on the day of his birth, but also in his longing desires, and earnest search after God, his Saviour-“ I go forward, but He is not there; backward, but I cannot perceive Him; on the left hand, where He doth work, but I see Him not."

These were clouds deep and dark, but yet (as we learn from his experience) there, in the midst of them, the bow of heaven was seen. And how blessed was the issue! Even in earthly things the Lord prospered the latter end of Job more than the beginning; and in spiritual things how much richer he had become by his

losses is shown us when he says-comparing the present with the past-" I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor myself, and repent as in dust and ashes." And we all know the result of this

"The more thy glories strike mine eyes,
The humbler I shall lie;

Thus while I sink, my joys shall rise
Immeasurably high."

But again, another dark cloud requiring this bow may be (as it often is) inward corruption. How many of these overshadow us! Yea, what worse than earthly damps, and what mists more dense than any that are without us, arise from the inward lustings of the flesh-from the warring of our members-from the sin which dwelleth in us, and from an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Nevertheless, though the Christian be sometimes found in darkness, he will not rest or walk in it.

The wicked may do this, because he feareth not God; but to be born of God is to follow God-is to be like God, and to live unto God.

Such an one, like Joseph, may be bound in affliction and iron, but the soul is not bound. Through all opposition it will transcend this lower scene, and will seek its rest in God; and while others lie grovelling in the dust-while they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh-the soul which is created anew in Christ

66

"Upward tends to His abode,

To rest in His embrace."

And it is this experience, these desires and hopes of the believer, which discover for him the bow in the cloud. "We are troubled," said Paul, on every side; we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed." And why this safety in danger, this joy in sorrow, and this peaceful calm, amidst the raging storm? Why, it is because of the bow in the cloud" I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." We may consider further what this bright bow in these clouds betokens. The rainbow testified to Noah that there should be no more destruction of the earth by water. Many clouds would indeed come, and often would they gather blackness, and wear a threatening aspect, but in doing this these clouds would only

help the earth-would only tend to refresh and to renew it, by pouring upon it the early and latter rains. And so it is with spiritual clouds. Though often threatening our destruction, yet to the real Christian

"They're big with mercy, and shall break
With blessings on his head."

Pitiless and raging as is the storm, the bow shall soon be seen, for though weeping endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning.” Have not clouds of affliction proved so in the experience of all God's people? Has not temptation also (when met with in the path of duty, and when overcome by the sword of the Spirit) been attended with a like result? Yea, blessed are such tempted ones, for besides the crown of life hereafter, in this present time it is found that angels come and minister unto them. Neither are clouds of spiritual darkness felt in vain. They teach us our weakness-and when we are weak, then are we strong. And more than this; they make the promise sweet, Christ precious, heaven welcome, and life diligent. They say to us, "Arise and depart, for this is not your rest;" and it is at such times our sins are felt, and that in the name of the Lord we destroy them.

Let me address a few words to the unconverted reader. You, also, have many clouds overhanging your path, for the way of transgressors is hard; but where and what is the bow which can give you comfort and peace?

In the natural world, you have the same covenanted blessing with the righteous to look upon. The same loving Father, who causes His sun to shine on the evil and the good, also sets His bow-the same bow-in the cloud for you.

But how is it in spiritual things-in the time when your fear cometh as desolation, and when distress and anguish come upon you? Where is your bow of promise and of comfort then? The believer, in his calamities, which assail him to try him, can see this cheering bow in his cloud-"As thy day is, so shall thy strength be;" or, another which is like to it-"My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." But on what bow of peace can you look with hope?

Yes, there is one-but only one-and that is the promised mercy of God in Christ. Come and look on this radiant bow-it is set there for you. It is as a bridge of love, and it spans the dark gulf which yet separates your soul from God.

« 上一页继续 »