Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

from her anchors. The "Candida," a Spanish brig, was regarded as thoroughly seaworthy, and, though the wind was exceedingly high, she would have outrode the storm had her moorings held. Most likely she would have remained entirely uninjured. As it was she became a wreck on one of the reefs. Six of the crew were drowned, and those persons who escaped to land lost all except their lives. These disasters resulted from the brig parting from her anchors. At her anchorage she was safe, but not so elsewhere with such a hurricane blowing. Now it is

BRAVE

157

well to bear in mind that in the voyage of life we are always near, and sometimes very near, dangerous reefs. For the most part either the wind is blowing, or the current moving in the direction of the peril. Intemperance, or avarice, or pride, or anger, or envy, or peevishness, or evil of some sort is as such a reef, hurtful, if not at once fatal. No moorings may be confidently trusted to but those Divinely provided. He who leaves such anchorage knows not whither the current or the next storm may bear him. "Buy the truth and sell it not." B. S.

The Children's Corner.

III. ASK JESUS.-WHEN?

RAVE and noble Daniel prayed three times a day, even when he expected to be cast into the lions' den for doing so. Holy and devoted David prayed seven times a day. Paul said, "Pray without eeasing." It is said that a brave old martyr for some time before his death spent all his waking hours in prayer. He preacher and a bishop, and when he was too old to preach, then he

was

a

[ocr errors]

used to keep praying for everybody and every church he could think of, and so from the time he rose in the morning until he retired at night his time was spent in prayer. The Lord Jesus sometimes spent whole nights in prayer. When His disciples were asleep, or doing something else, He was praying, hour after hour, all through the lone night. If we look into the Bible and try to find out, we shall soon know when and how often we ought to pray.

We ought always to pray before we sleep at night. We should thank God for all His blessings during the day, and ask Jesus to take care of us during the night. O would

it not be dreadful for a boy or girl who did not pray to be found dead in bed? But if we knew they loved prayer, we should say,

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Ah, Jesus has taken their souls to a better world, and they are now praising and serving God, and will be happy with Jesus for ever." Two little boys, called Freddy and Franky, were taught by their mother to

pray to Jesus every night. They were both young, but they were very different in some things. Freddy loved prayer, and thought much about Jesus, and tried to love and to please Him. Franky always said his prayers at night, but did not think much of what he was saying, and did not care much about it. One evening several of the friends of their father and mother came to visit them, and they were allowed to sit up later than usual. That night when their mother took them to bed she was in great haste to go down again to join her friends, so she quickly undressed them, and told them she had not time to hear them say their prayers.

"We ought to say our prayers." said Freddy.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Franky, Franky, let us get out and say our prayers."

[ocr errors]

No, no; I can't get out, it is so cold and dark, and I want to go to sleep." Then Freddy himself left his bed, knelt down beside it, and prayed to God; and then with peace filling his little heart he went into his bed, covered himself up, and calmly slept.

Next morning, whilst pa and ma were sitting at breakfast, Franky came down, and after kissing pa and ma, took his seat at the table. His mother said, "Franky, where is Freddy?"

"Why, ma, he is asleep. I went to his bed, but did not wake him. And, ma, I had such a beautiful dream last night. I thought I heard such delightful music, and I looked up and saw a band of angels. Two of them came down from heaven. They came down to the stars, then to the clouds, then to the roof of our house, then into our room, and when they came through the roof there was such a burst of music. They came between Freddy's bed and mine. It was a big angel and a little one, and the little angel came to my bed, and said, 'Is this the one, shall I take him?' But the big angel said, 'No, he did not say his prayers last night. He is not fit to go to Jesus.' Then they went to Freddy's bed, and the little angel took up Freddy between his wings, and they flew away through the roof, and through the clouds, past the stars, and then I couldn't see them any more. It was so beautiful, and O such delightful music!"

"Franky," said his mamma, "is Freddy dressing?"

“No, ma, he is asleep. I left him in bed, and when I put my hand upon his forehead it was so cold."

The mother rushed upstairs into the chil

dren's room, and found the angels had indeed taken away Freddy's soul, for there lay his body a corpse. O yes, Freddy was in a

better world! Now he had angels and saints for his companions. Now he himself could play this delightful music. Now he was with Jesus Whom he loved so much. O how good it was that he loved Jesus and prayed before he went to sleep! How thankful Franky should have been that God spared him alive! Let us never forget, then, to commit ourselves to the care of Jesus before we retire to bed.

There should be prayer when all the family, father, mother, and all the children and servants, if there be any, are come together.This is called family prayer, and I hope that you have this prayer by your father or mother every day, morning and evening. If you have not, could you not ask your father or mother to begin it? I have read of two daughters, who were away at a boardingschool, coming home and asking if they might have prayer in the family. They had both become converted. The father did not wish it, but said they might if they liked. them read a chapter and the other prayed. The father stood up, but whilst his daughter was praying he felt and wept and trembled. He knelt down, and then lay all along on the floor grieving for his sins. His daughters continued to pray for him until he repented of his sins and found peace with God. Ah, he would have family prayer afterwards]! See what children can do. But I hope all your parents pray with you.

One of

Our Lord Jesus spoke about praying in our closet. He said, "But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." You see closet prayer means secret prayer. It is asking Jesus when

perhaps no one else knows it but Jesus; going away so as not to have our mind disturbed by anything. A little boy went with his mother to see a house in which his mother wanted to live. As they were going back home the little fellow burst into tears. His mother was surprised and asked, What is the matter? What are you crying for?

"Because we are going to live in that house."

"Well, why do you cry? Is it not a better house than the one we now live in?"

[ocr errors][merged small]

ASK JESUS.-WHEN?

little boys and girls wanted to go into another room for prayer! How happy and good they would be!

But some people have no secret room-how can they pray in secret? A good Methodist in London, who was very poor, so poor that he could only afford to pay for one room, used to go out into the crowded streets and pray as he walked about; and he said he had enjoyed many sweet and precious hours whilst in his heart praying to God, even when the street was so crowded he could scarcely get along, and when there were loud noises of every kind all around. He so loved this communion with Jesus, that nothing could draw his mind away from it. So we see any one can have secret prayer even if they have not a quiet room.

We should pray when we enter God's house to worship Him.-Then we should ask Jesus to help us to worship Him. Every idle word, and idle thought too, we shall have to give an account of at the day of judgment. How much more for idle thoughts in God's house, when we pretend to be worshipping

God!

Satan will try to make us think about our playmates, our toys, or anything we can see around us, so we need to ask that God's good Spirit may help us to feel the worship so much that we shall think about it all the time. Bow, then, when you enter, and pray for grace.

We should have special prayer at special times.—When we feel we have any great difficulty, or any great sorrow, or when we feel our sin and wish for God to cleanse The Lord away all our unrighteousness. Jesus prayed on very important occasions. He prayed all night before He chose His twelve disciples. How important it was that He should choose the right ones? How important that they should be good men, and that they should become like Jesus Himself? He prayed, too, in the garden of Gethsemane, when He felt His great agony of sorrow. He prayed when He was placed on the cross for the very men who were murdering Him. So should every one of us pray at special times, pray earnestly, and expect that God would answer our prayers.

66

Pray without ceasing."-"Continuing instant in prayer." "Praying always with all prayer." But how can we do that? Why, we have so much to think about, and much to do, that it is impossible. How can we pray all day when we are busy learning lessons, playing with our schoolfellows, and helping father and mother? Why, we cannot be kneeling down all day; and, besides, we

159

could not think what to pray about so long as
that. A number of ministers were once met
together to talk about difficult questions, and
to try to answer them. They thought it must
be
very difficult to "pray without ceasing,"
so they agreed that one minister should think
about it for a month, and try to find out how
to do it, or what the passage meant, and
when they met together again he should read
what he had written about it. A servant
girl heard what they were saying, and ex-
claimed, "What, a whole month to find
out what that means! why, it is one of the
easiest verses in the Bible."

"Well, well," said an old minister, "Mary
Can you pray
what do you think it means.
without ceasing?"

"O yes, Sir!" said Mary.

[ocr errors][merged small]

What, when you have so many things to

Why, Sir, the more I have to do, the more I can pray."

open

"Indeed. Well, Mary, do tell us how you can do that, for most people think that when they are busy they cannot pray at all." "Well, Sir," said Mary, "when I awake 'Lord the pray, in the morning, I eyes of my mind that I may understand Thy Word.' Whilst I am dressing, I pray that God would clothe me with the robe of righteousness. When I wash myself, I pray that God would wash all my

sins

away.

As

I begin to work, I pray that God would give me strength to do my work well. When I light the fire, I pray that God's work may revive in my soul. When I sweep the house,

my I pray that sin may be swept away out of heart. Whilst getting breakfast, I ask that God would feed me with the Bread of Life, and so everything I do gives me something pray about."

to

"Enough, enough," said the old minister. "Go on, Mary, pray without ceasing, and as for us, let us thank God for what Mary says, and remember that God will guide the meek." withNow let my little friends try to pray out ceasing like Mary.

ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PRAYER.
1. Abraham's servant
prays-Rebekah
appears.

2. Moses cries to God--the sea divides.
3. Moses prays-Amalek is discomfited.
4. Joshua prays-Achan is discovered.
5. Hannah prays-Samuel is born.
6. Asa prays a victory is gained.
7. Daniel prays-the dream is revealed.
8. Daniel prays-the lions are muzzled.

[blocks in formation]

PRO-ROMISH LEGISLATION.--The following measures were passed, or attempted to be passed, during the late Session of Parliament.

1. The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. This measure was passed after little discussion, and received the royal assent on July 24th. It repeals the Act of 1851.

2. Glebe Loan Amendment Bill. The principal measure became law last year, and obtained the royal assent on August 10th, 1870. It gives power to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland to advance money to the extent of two-thirds of the value or cost of

glebes and manses. Each glebe may extend

to ten acres of land. The bill of this session extends the provisions of the Act of last year in order that a loan of two-thirds may be obtained for the purchase of any house, or for the discharge, to the same extent, of any debt incurred upon a house to be used as a manse or priest's house. The measure embraces Presbyterian ministers as well as Romish priests. There can be little doubt, however, looking at the past history of this description of loans, that the sums advanced on priests' houses will never be repaid, and no Government will dare to enforce repayment. We may, therefore, consider that these Acts will give an endowment to Romanism in Ireland to a very large amount. It is almost certain that the provisions of the Acts will be so applied as to assist in the building and extending of convents and monasteries, should it be made out that any of these places constitute a dwelling-house for a priest, and that he there gives spiritual instruction to the inmates.

men trustees. By the present bill all this was sought to be altered. The number of trustees was to be increased from seventeen to twenty-eight, and it came out in the discussion that the object of this was, that every archbishop and bishop in Ireland might be a trustee, that all the laymen might be excluded, and that the provision about submitting rules of the College to the Lord-Lieutenant might be repealed. Happily, the Government was obliged to withdraw their bill on August 15th.

5. Prison Ministers Bill. The object of this bill was to compel justices and other prison authorities to appoint Roman Catholic priests as chaplains to every prison in the kingdom which might have ten Roman Catholic prisoners, with salaries out of the public rates, and premises, furniture, and other appurtenances for Roman Catholic worship. The Government was obliged to withdraw the bill, but it will most likely be introduced again next session, and it becomes every Protestant strenuously to resist it.

6. Death-bed bequest law in Scotland. Perhaps the most extraordinary measure which passed this session is that which first bore the title, "Fees of Conquest, etc., Bill." This measure withdraws all that Scotland possessed of "a mortmain law." In England, before a bequest of land can be valid, the deed must be executed twelve months before the donor's death, and enrolled for six months. In Scotland such a deed must be executed sixty days before death, and evidence that the testator was of sound mind, or, as the phrase is, "At kirk and market!" This bill abolishes this law entirely, and provides no substitute. From the title of the bill no member understood its purport, and during all its stages in the House of Commons no reference whatever was made to it in the re

3. Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland) Bill. This bill extends the area of the Charitable Commissioners in Ireland, but diminishes the Executive. The danger of the measure lies in this, that it diminishes the quorum of Commissioners to three instead of ports of the Parliamentary proceedings in the five, as provided by the Act of 1844. By press until it reached the Lords. The Governthat Act the Commissioners are constituted ment overpowered the few remaining peers, as follows: The Master of the Rolls, the and passed the bill in the face of a formal Chief Baron in the Court of Exchequer, Judge protest. When the nature of the bill was of Court of Prerogative for Causes Ecclesias- discovered in the Commons, an attempt was tical, together with ten other persons, five of made by a few hon. members to get its operawhom must be Roman Catholics. The tion suspended for twelve months by introquorum, therefore, may be all Roman ducing in the Commons a "Suspensory Bill," Catholics. They have power to apply any but there being no time to print the "Susillegal bequest to some other "charitable pensory Bill" before the close of the session, and pious purpose,"" as they shall judge best." hon. members had to content themselves with 4. Maynooth College Bill. From 1800, protesting against it in the hope that next when the first Act was passed, up to the Irish year some satisfactory legislation on this imChurch Act, there have always been six lay-portant matter may be secured.

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

IT

T is one of the principles of Wesleyan Economics that our Ministers should not receive stated salaries, but that all their needs should be supplied only. It is a practical corollary of this principle that provision should be made for the education of their children; for it cannot be questioned that this is one of their most urgent "needs."

And the claim has all along been admitted by the Connexion. For the education of Ministers' sons Kingswood School was commenced under the auspices of our Founder; and that Institution has expanded-through

the necessities of the case-into the two establishments of " New Kingswood," near Bath, and of "Woodhouse-Grove," near Leeds. The efficiency of these schools is a well-ascertained fact. Its alumni are continually reinforcing the ranks of our ministry; and they make their way-these "Kingswood and Grove boys"-into each of the learned professions, as well as into the more lucrative places of our commercial and mercantile life.

With regard to Ministers' daughters also the principle has always been recognized by the granting of "educational allowances."

M

« ПредишнаНапред »