Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

"Don't mind about it," I said; "you must not leave your dear baby for a minute. I shall do very well, never fear."

“The Lord will take care of you, I know,” added Mary ; “and see, ma'am, there's Mr. Grey just gone by, and he had his lantern in his hand. Now you'll do bravely if you keep near him.”

Forth I sallied into the dark, and heard the good woman shut her door behind me. But no sign of lantern or Mr. Grey could I see; and though I knew the way pretty well, I was not accustomed to traverse it in the dark and alone.

Now and then a gleam from some cottage window cheered me on, but for any good from Mr. Grey's lantern, I might have fallen into the brook, or lodged myself in the hedge. Still I heard footsteps occasionally before me, and went forward as fast as I could, thinking that though it might be Mr. Grey, Mary was certainly mistaken about the lantern.

Suddenly a flash of light shot across the lane, but in a moment or two it vanished, leaving darkness more felt than before. But I hurried on and soon overtook my wished-for guide. He doubtless knew his way blindfold, for it was a dark lantern that he carried, and so far as I had been concerned, there might have been no light within it.

“ Mr. Grey,” said I, quite out of breath, "be so good as allow me the benefit of your light a little way, for I really am afraid of stumbling in the darkness.”

"By all means, my dear madam, certainly. I had no idea that you were in any such need. Why did you not stop me before ?"

Having explained the cause of my dilemma, we walked on quietly, the lantern doing its duty all the way, and Mr. Grey, our kind village doctor, politely glad to be of

use to me.

"Mr. Grey," said I, "may I take the liberty of asking why you kept that light covered up, when it might have been a help to some neighbour like myself?"

66

Why, you see I know these lanes as well as my horse does; and when I have to go through them at night on foot, I don't see any use in attracting observation, or making myself a mark as I pass along. It is of no consequence to any one where I am going to; and if I come to some doubtful turn, or want to see any person or thing, I can

flash out enough light in a moment to see that all is right. If I knew any one needing such help, of course I should be very glad to afford it."

"I am not sure that you are quite such a philanthropist as I had supposed," said I.

"What, because I don't light the village, and let every one know where I am?" said the doctor, laughing.

"When it couldn't do yourself any harm, and might do somebody good, as I gratefully testify now. Many thanks, and good evening, Mr. Grey."

[ocr errors]

Stay, I shall see you up the walk and in at your own door, in spite of your suspicions of my philanthropy; and allow me to add that if you can help poor Mary Brown with a little nourishment for her child, I think we shall get it round nicely again," and away went Mr. Grey with his lantern, throwing its broad light down the path before him, while he playfully called out, "You see I can take a reproof."

I cannot help a habit of cogitating upon little things, and I do not believe there is anything in the world, however insignificant, out of which we may not get a lesson of some sort if we choose; so it would have been curious if I had not found one in Mr. Grey's dark lantern.

Only a week or two before, I had travelled a distance in the same railway carriage with Mr. Grey; three gentlemen occupied the opposite seats, and a lively conversation arose among them, Mr. Grey reading his newspaper all the time. But a few sentences sufficed to prove that one, if not more of the strangers, was sadly forgetful of the third commandment; and almost every phrase he used was prefaced or concluded with an appeal to the Almighty, either to witness his veracity, or to bless his life, or with solemn ejaculations of God's goodness or greatness, which, used in common conversation, send a thrill of intense pain through the hearts of those who reverence his holy name.

At last, feeling disgusted and distressed at the continued profanity, I ventured to look at Mr. Grey, who I knew must be as much annoyed as myself; Mr. Grey looked at me in return, and resumed his paper with an extremely dissatisfied air, but said nothing. "Mr. Grey might speak," thought I; "he is certainly a servant of the Lord, and ought not to bear this in silence." Perhaps Mr. Grey was favouring me with the same kind of mental comment; but

nevertheless, there we sat like two dark lanterns, the light within us hugged for own special benefit, but invisible to those before whom it ought to have shone faithfully.

The sixth traveller in our carriage was a pale sickly looking little girl, with large earnest eyes, which now and then were glancing anxiously towards the irreverent speaker, and after a long time, and many fidgetty movements as if feeling very uncomfortable, she suddenly bent across to the gentleman, after one of his profane ejaculations, and softly said, "Please, sir, would you not do that any more?" "Not do what, my little maid ?"

"Not take the name of the Lord our God in vain, sir," she replied, blushing deeply.

66

Upon my word!" said the gentleman, who seemed very good tempered, and as much disposed to be amused as surprised, "I must beg your pardon I think; but really I was not aware that I was doing any harm. You'll forgive me though if I try to be a better boy, won't you?"

"Oh yes, sir," she sweetly replied, "and God will too if you ask him."

Oh how I rejoiced in that flash of light, shaming though it did my own cowardice and faithlessness.

I

I was once invited to spend an evening in company with a lady whom I understood to be a very decided Christian, and, full of delight at the privilege, I expected a great treat in her conversation, and much help from her sympathy. Alas! she was as dark to me as Mr. Grey's lantern. neither saw nor heard anything different from the manners and themes of kind well-bred people, who live for themselves and know nothing of religion beyond its forms. I know not where her light was on that occasion.

[ocr errors]

but I had no "those senti

"You surprise me," exclaimed a man of business; "I have had dealings for years with Mr. idea that he entertained those sentiments!" ments" being understood to mean the religion of Jesus, that, in fact, Mr. was a believer. This was very likely; for Mr. was a dark lantern on 'Change, though he possessed light that shone cheerfully and usefully round him among known Christian friends, and in the home circle.

To whom is it said, "Ye are the light of the world?" To those who only throw their light when sure of sympathy and good understanding from those who know them? To

66

those who are too idle, or too selfish, or too cowardly to bear witness for their Lord in an evil and Christ-defying world? Ah," say some, “it is written, and the Lord himself said it, Cast not your pearls before swine.'" But pearls and light are not synonymous terms. Pearls of truth may be thrown away on stupid ears, and dull hearts; but light is that which no man has a right to veil from his fellow's sight, whether he chooses to behold it or not.

Again, others say, "I don't like to be particular, and attract attention. My religion is between my own heart and my God, and does not concern others. I have no desire to set up myself as if I were wiser and better than my neighbours. And even David said he restrained his tongue even from good, while the wicked was before him.'" If he did, there is no proof that he was right; for he was obliged to speak after all, and might as well have done so first as last, for he seems to have burst into prayer at last before the wicked.

It is utterly opposed to the divine precept of the Lord Jesus, that in bearing witness for him we should seek to exalt or "set up" ourselves; for he said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify (not you, but) your Father which is in heaven." The light kindled by the Spirit of God in the soul of a believer is not ours but Christ's, and we have no right by any rule of humility to shroud it in apparent darkness. "Be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine, as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life."

What a beautiful and blessed thought, that by means of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shining through the life and conversation of the humblest and weakest of God's believing children, some sinner may be saved from destruction, some saint preserved from stumbling, and helped home to glory! But if we go about the world like Mr. Grey's lantern, though we may get safely to heaven ourselves, there is but "a starless crown" for our brow; and the shining of those "who turn many to righteousness," will be there for us to admire, but not to share. Let us then while here "walk as children of light," Ephes. v. 8.

Not even Satan can accuse believers of shutting out the light. Let him not triumph by their shutting it in.

A QUESTION FOR THE CLOSING YEAR.

66

For what is your life?"-James iv. 14.

THE first and most obvious answer to this question is that which the apostle himself gives, "It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." It is a momentary scene of hope and disappointment, of joys and sorrows, of entrances and exits. But as we dwell upon the question, there is another thought of far deeper interest. It is, that our life is the threshold of eternity-the infancy of immortality; that here our characters are to be formed for the innumerable ages of future being : that our everlasting happiness or misery is suspended upon our improvement of this inch or two of time. What an amazing value do these considerations give to the breath that is in our nostrils!

I. Let us consider life in reference to this momentary and chequered state of being; and,

II. As affording the only opportunity to prepare for a happy eternity.

1. What is your life? Can you grasp the vapour? Will it stay to be analyzed? or does it not rather mock all your efforts, and vanish when you think you hold it most securely? You breathe the vital air, but surely this is not your life. You live because you eat and drink and sleep, and you walk and act and speak because you live; but who can describe that pervading invisible something to which we give the name of life?

What, in reference to its continuance, is your life? A vapour, a tale that is told, a dream, a fading leaf, a dissolving cloud, a withering flower. We perceive it, or rather we see what indicates its presence, when the sun goes down, and in the night it passes suddenly away. We go into the chamber-we look where it was, but it is gone. There is the body, just as it used to be, with all its members and organs, and displaying as much as ever the handiwork of the Creator. But if we speak to it, there is no hearing and no answer. If we handle it, it is cold as a clod. If we reason, or expostulate-if we mourn, or rejoice, it regards us not. It does not move a limb, nor drop a tear, nor put on a smile. The eye may be open, but it sees nothing. The heart is there, but as still and dead as a stone. In short, all the mysterious functions

« ПредишнаНапред »