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V 


BRIEF 


IT 

VIEWS  OF  THE  SAVIOUR, 


REFLECTIONS  ON  HIS  DOCTRINES,  PARABLES, 


DESIGNED    CHIEFLr 


FOR    THE    YOUNG. 


-v^ 


BY  O.   A.   TAYLOR,   A.   M. 


A  N  D  O  V  E  R  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  GOUJLD  AND  NEWMAN. 
1835. 


Entered  aecordiog  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1835, 

By  Gould  and  Newman, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE. 


Running  my  eye,  several  months  since,  over  some 
German  pamphlets  which  lay  in  the  corner  of  a  book- 
store, I  came  across  the  "  Life  of  Jesus,  for  Children ; 
by  J.  F.  Feddersen,  Court  and  Cathedral  Preacher  at 
Brunswick."  In  form  and  general  execution  it  was 
rather  repulsive  ;  but  the  words,  Seventh  Edition,  to- 
gether with  the  lateness  of  the  date  (1827,)  attracted 
my  attention,  and  led  me  to  suppose  it  a  valuable  work 
for  the  purpose  originally  intended.  In  this  supposi- 
tion I  was  confirmed  by  the  preface.  "  The  Life  of 
Jesus  by  Feddersen,"  it  was  there  said,  by  its  editor, 
a  friend  of  the  deceased  author,  "  met  with  much  ap- 
probation, soon  after  its  first  appearance,  in  1775.  It 
was  translated  into  several  languages,  introduced  into 
many  Protestant  schools  as  a  reading-book,  and  not  on- 
ly recommended  but  employed  by  Roman  Catholic 
teachers."  I  also  found  the  work  interesting  in  itself, 
Faults  indeed  it  had.  It  was  altogether  too  dry  and 
didactic  in  its  style.  It  was  characterized,  however,  by 
simplicity  as  well  as  by  a  tasteful  and  appropriate  se- 
lection of  matter,  every  where  bore  marks  of  genuine 
piety,  and  seemed  to  me  worthy  of  a  translation. 

On  sitting  down,  however,  at  some  leisure  moments, 
to  give  it  an  English  dress,  I  soon  found,  that  with  all 


IV  PREFACE. 

its  excellencies,  little  or  nothing  could  be  made  of  it  In 
this  way.  T  therefore  relinquished  the  task,  and  avail- 
ing myself  of  the  author's  plan  and  general  train,  gave 
myself  up  to  my  own  thoughts ;  the  consequence  of 
which  is,  that  instead  of  a  little  pamphlet  exclusively 
for  children  in  a  rude  form,  and  with  few  or  very  care- 
less divisions,  I  here  have  a  book,  regularly  marked  off 
into  parts  and  sections,  designed  for  children  in  part, 
but  rather  for  the  more  advanced  young,  and  I  would 
fain  hope  worthy  of  being  read  by  others ;  for  the  mat- 
ter and  execution  of  which  I  must  in  the  main  be  re- 
garded as  responsible.  Part  first,  containing  a  short 
life  of  Jesus,  is  an  exception.  I  have  indeed,  added 
various  circumstances,  modified  several  exegetical  or 
historical  expressions,  and  no  where  confined  myself  to 
a  mere  translation  ;  but  the  order  in  which  the  mate- 
rials are  presented,  the  harmony  of  the  Gospels  here 
brought  to  view,  is  Feddersen's.  I  should  myself  in- 
deed, in  some  cases,  have  much  preferred  a  different 
arrangement.  Mark  also  as  exceptions,  the  paraphrase 
of  Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  p.  64  ;  more  or  less 
of  Sec.  XX.  p.  121  ;  the  most  of  Sec.  II.  p.  140  ;  the 
paraphrase  of  parts  of  Jesus'  last  discourse  with  his 
disciples,  p.  199;  many  of  the  prayers,  etc.  They  be- 
belong  rather  to  Feddersen  than  to  myself.  Some  of 
the  poetry  may  also  be  added,  as  to  which,  however,  see 
Note  II.  As  to  the  rest,  I  must  in  the  main  lay  claim 
to  it.  Thus  Sec.  XII.  p.  83,  contains  of  Feddersen's 
only  what  is  to  be  found  in  six  or  eight  lines  on  page 
84  ;  and  this  is  about  the  amount  of  his  to  be  found  in 
Sec.  XIV.  p.  90;  Sec.  XXI.  p.  126  ;  Sec.  XXII.  p. 


PRFFACE. 


129;  Sec.  XXIII.  p.  131;  Sec.  XT.  p.  167  ;  while  Sees. 

XXIV.  p.  136;  IX.  p.  162;  XVI.  p.  181  ;  XXII.  p. 

197,  and  XV.  p.  240,  of  Feddersen's,  contain  nothing. 

I  mention  these  only  as  specimens.  From  them  some 
judgment  may  be  formed  as  to  the  rest.     The  truth  is, 

I  have  in  general  made  use  of  the  original  merely  as  a 

book  of  hints,  and  it  contains  little  or  nothing  more,  not 

even  a  single  illustration.  To  render  the  whole  as  use- 
ful as  possible,  I  have  in  the  table  of  contents,  given  the 
principal  Scripture-references,  and  marked  the  geo- 
graphical names  which  designate  the  Savior's  journeys, 
in  italics,  added  two  or  three  Notes,  and  an  Index. 

In  regard  to  style  and  thought,  I  must  confess  that  1 
have  not  sought  much  after  monosyllables,  nor  always 
been  cjirefid  either  to  chain  the  mind  down  to  the  earth, 
or  to  have  every  thing  fidly  developed.  Why  should 
the  lad  not  accasionally  meet  with  hard  words,  and  find 
something  which  demands  patient  thinking,  provided 
there  is  enough  plain  to  allure  him  on  ?  The  mature 
scholar  discovers  new  beauties  and  intellectual  fountains 
in  his  Virgil,  every  time  he  reviews  it;  and  yet,  if  he 
loved  the  study,  he  found  enough  there  to  interest  and 
delight  even  when  he  was  a  lad.  The  young  Christian 
understands  something  of  the  Gospel,  and  yet  this  same 
Gospel  furnishes  ample  employment  for  the  most  able 
pupils  in  the  school  of  Christ.  Put  always  into  the 
hands  of  a  lad,  if  possible,  a  book,  which,  while  it  in- 
terests and  improves  his  youthful  mind,  has  ample  trea- 
sures for  the  investigation  of  maturer  years.  Let  its 
sentences  resemble  little  gates,  which,  on  being  opened, 
1* 


VI  PREFACE. 


usher  him  at  once,  into  rich  gardens  and  extended 
landscapes,  over  which  he  may  ramble  at  pleasure,  find- 
ing on  every  side,  new  flowers  to  examine,  mountains 
to  climb,  and  rivers,  vales  and  woods  to  explore.  Give 
him,  also  to  understand  that  if  he  would  become  a  gen- 
uine thinker,  he  must  learn  at  once  to  meet  difficulties 
with  courage,  and  habituate  himself  to  patient  investi- 
gation. It  is  not  enough  that  he  survey  the  garden 
from  a  corner,  or  the  landscape  from  some  mountain's 
top.  He  will  know  but  little  about  them  until  every 
thing  is  fairly  explored,  the  fields  have  been  crossed, 
the  valleys  visited,  the  woods  penetrated,  and  every 
curious  rock  carefully  surveyed. 

I  cannot  flatter  myself  indeed  that  this  little  book  is 
to  any  great  extent  of  the  above  character.  I  rather 
fear  it  has  too  much  of  the  opposite.  As  the  Bible, 
however,  is  such  a  book,  and  much  of  what  I  have 
written  is  from  the  Bible,  it  would  be  somewhat  strange 
if  there  were  not  some  sentences  in  this  respect,  resem- 
bling the  sacred  original.  Whatever  its  character,  how- 
ever, I  commit  it  to  the  world.  That  I  should  feel  some 
solicitude  as  to  its  reception,  is  natural.  I  dedicate  it  to 
him  of  whom  it  treats,  and  hope,  that  with  all  its  im- 
perfections, he  will  accept  of  it,  and  turn  it  to  account 
in  building  up  his  kingdom. 

OLIVER  A.  TAYLOR. 


Theol.  Sem.  Andover, 
Jan.  1835. 


CONTENTS,   ETC. 


PART  I. 


A  SHORT  HiSTORV  OF   Jesus'  Life, 13 — 40 

Sec.   I.     From  his  birth  to  his  thirtieth  year. 

Born  at  Bethlehem — Visited  by  tlie  Shepherds— [Presented  in  the 

temple,  see  p.  48] — Visited  by  the  wise  men — Carried  into  Egypt 

— Brought  back  to  J\''azareth — Goes  up  to  Jerusalem  in   his  12th 

year,  and  converses  with  the   teacliers  in  the  temple — Character, 

etc.  a 13—16 

a  Matt.  I.  nod  H.  Luke  I.  and  II. 

Sec.  II.     From  Jesus'  baptism  to  his  beginning  to  teach. 

John  begins  his  ministry,  a — Jesus  comes  from  Nazareth  to  him  [in 
Bethabara}  beyond  Jordan  to  be  baptized — The  vision  seen  and 
voice  heard,  6 — John's  testimony  resperting  him,  c — Goes  into  the 
desert  [probably  of  Ju deal  and  is  tempted  of  the  devil,  d — Returns 

to  Jordan — Chooses  some  disciples,  e     .     ■ 17 — 18 

a  Matt.  3:  1—12.     Mark  1;  1—8.  Luke  3:  1—18.     b  Matt.  3:  13—17.  Mark  1:  9— 

11.  Luke  3:  21—23.    John  1:  28.     c  John  1:  15—36.    d  Matt.  4:  1— 11.  Mark  1.  12, 

13.  Luke  4:  1—13.     e  John  1:  37—51. 

Sec  III.  Jesus'  first  year  as  a  teacher. 
Jesus  leaves  Jordan  with  these  disciples  for  Galilee,  a  [probably  call- 
ing at  Nazarethi — Changes  water  into  wine  at  Cana,  b — Goes  down 
to  Capernaum,  c — Thence  up  for  the  first  time,  as  a  teacher,  to  the 
Feast  of  the  Passover  at  Jerusalem,  d — Here  he  cleanses  the  tem- 
ple, performs  various  miracles,  and  converses  with  Nicodemus,  e 
— Travels  into  various  partsofJurfea,  teaching,/— John  filled  with 
joy  at  what  he  hears  of  him,  but  is  soon  afterwards  thrown  into 
prison,  o' — Jesus  not  long  after  this,  passing  through  [Sychar  in'] 
Samaria,  h  returns  to  Galilee,  i — Visits  Cana,  and  heals  a  noble- 
man's son,  j — Xazareth  also,  but  is  badly  received.  A- — And  finally 
takes  up  his  residence  at  Capernaum,  I — Here  and  in  the  neigh- 
borinor  reo-ions  he  teaches  and  works  miracles — At  this  time 
also  he  delivered  his  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  healed  a  leper,  etc. 
taught  out  of  Peter's  ship,  healed  a  second  leper,  stilled  a  tempest, 
and  healed  a  paral3'tic,  m 19 — 22 

a  John  1:  43.  b  John  2:  1—11.  c  John  2:  12.  d  John  2:  13.  e  John  2:  14—25. 
3:  1—21.  /  John  3:  22.  4: 1,  2.  g-  John  3.  23—36.  Compare  Matt.  4:  12.  Mark  1:  14. 
Luke  3:  19,  20.  h  John  4.5—42.  t  Jolin  4: 1—3.  Corap.  Matt.  4:  12.  Mark  1:  14,  15. 
Luke  4:  14,  15.  Jolin  4:  43—45.  j  John  4:  46—54.  U  Matt.  4:  13.  Luke  4;  16—30. 
I  Luke  4;3l.  Matt.  4:  13—16.  m  Matt.  4:  17—25.  5:— 8:  1—17.  9:1—8.  Mark  1: 14— 
45.  2:  1—12.  Luke  4:  31 — 44.  5:  1 — 26.  N.  B.  As  to  the  tempest  uncertain.  It  be- 
longs rather  to  the  next  section.  It  would  seem,  Matt.  8:  18— 34.  Mark  1:  35 — 41. 
Luke  8:  22—25. 


Vlil  CONTENTS  AND 

Sec.  IV.     Jesus'  second  year  as  a  teacher. 

Jesus  goes,  for  the  second  time,  up  to  the  Feast  of  ths  Passover  at 
Jernsalem — The  infirm  man  of  Bethcsda,  a  and  the  ears  of  corn — 
The  withered  hand — His  return  to  the  Sea  of  Gennesareth  and 
what  he  does  there,  b — Prays  in  a  mountain,  cliooses  the  twelve,  c 
[and  repeats  to  tlicm  passages  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount.  Com- 
pare Luke  G:  20 — 49] — Returns  to  Capernaum — Tlic  gentile  cen- 
turion, d — The  widow  of  JS^ain,,c — Crosse.s  and  recrosses  the  Sea,f 
— Raises  the  daughter  of  Jairus,  g — Visits  Kazarcth,  etc.  h — Re- 
stores two  blind  men,  on  Iiis  way  thence,  i — Makes  anotiier  excur- 
sion througii  Galilee,] — Sends  forth  the  twelve,  k — John  behead- 
ed, I — Sails  to  a  desert  near  Bcthsaida  on  the  north  of  the  sea  and 
there  miraculously  feeds  a  multitude — The  people  wish  to  make 
liim  king — Walks  to  his  disciples  on  their  way  to  Capernaum  in  a 
storm  on  the  sea — They  reach  first  the  land  oi  Gennesareth,  m, — 
Many  forsake  him,  n 22 — 2G 

a  John  5:  1—47.  b  Matt.  12:  ]— 21.  Mark  2:  23—98.  3:  1—12.  Liike  6:1—11. 
c  Mark  3: 13—19.  Luke  6:  12—19.  Matt.  10:  2—4.  d  Matt.  8:  5—13.  Luke  7: 1—10. 
e  Luke  7:11—17.  /It  would  seem  Mark  5:1—20.  Luke  8:26—39.  However, 
Matt.  8:  18—34.  Mark  4.-  35—41  and  Luke  8:  22—25  all  rather  belong  here  than  to 
the  last  section,  g  Malt.  9:10-26.  Mark  2:  15— 22.  5:21—43.  Luke  5:  29— 39. 
8;  .10— 50.  h  Mark  6:  1—6.  i  iMatt.  9:  27— 34.  j  Malt.  9:  35.  Mark  6:6.  Luke  8:  1 
—3,  etc.  k  Malt.  9:  36—38.  10:  1—42.  Mark  6:  7—13,  30.  Luke  9:  1—6.  10.  I  Matt. 
14:6—12.  Mark  6:  21— 29.  Luke  9:  9.  m  Mall.  14:  13— 30.  Mark  6:  31— 56.  Luke 
9.-  10—17.  John  6:  1—21.     n  John  6:  22—71. 

Sec.   v.     Jesus'  third  year  as  a  teacher. 

Jesus   visits   the  regions  of  Tyre  ax\d   Sidon,  a — Also  of  ,Decapolis, 

and  works  miracles,  etc. — Sails  to  Dalmanutha  or  Magdala, 

Thence  to  the  northern  Bcthsaida — Makes  an  excursion  to  Caesu- 
rca,  etc.  h — His  transfiguration,  c — Goes  up  to  the  feast  of  Taber- 
nacles at  Jerusalem,  d — Leaves  Jerusalem  for  Galilee — Returning 
again  to  Jerusalem,  is  inliospitably  treated  by  the  Samaritans,  e — 
Sends  out  the  seventh,  / — N'xsxls  Bethany,  g — Teaches  his  disci- 
ples to  pray,  // — Goes  up  to  the  Feast  of  the  Dedication,  i — With- 
draws to  Bcf/w/wra  on  the  other  side  of  Jo7-rf«H,  j     .     .     .     :17 — 30 

a  Malt.  15;  1—38.  Mark  7:  8.-  1—9.  Juhn  7.-  1.  b  Matt.  15:39.  16:  .Murk  8:  9:  1. 
Luke  9:  18— 27.  c  .Matt.  17;  1—21,  etc.  Mark  9:  2— 29,  etc.  Luke  9. -.ib— 4.5,  etc. 
d  John  7:  2— .53.  8-  9:  (0:  1-21.  c  Luke  ix.  51— 56,  etc.  /Luke  x.  1—20,  etc. 
g  Luke  X.  38—42.     h  I,uke  xi.  1—13,  etc.     i  John  x.  22—39.    j  Joh'i  x.  40—42. 

Sec.  VL      The  last  days  of  Jesus. 

The  Feast  of  the  Passover  drawing  near,  Jesus  goes  up  to  Jerusalem 
[through  Samaria,  Luke  17:  11  ?] — Stops  at  Be/hanif  <m('  raises  La- 
zarus, a — Being  in  danger  of  the  Jews,  he  retires  to  Ephraim,  b — 
He  leaves  Ephraim,  passing  through  Jericho,  c  .     .     .     .     30 — 32 

a  John  xi.  1 — 53.  Luke  xvii.  11,  etc  b  John  xi.  54.  c  Matt.  xix.  etc.  Mark  x. 
etc.  Lukexviii.31 — 43,  xix.  1 — 28.  Comp.  John  xii.  ]  — 11. 

Sec.  VH.      The  last  tceek  of  Jesus. 
On  a  Sunda}-,  he  enters  Jerusalem ,  weeping  over  it,  as    he  catches 


REFERENCES.  »* 

sight  of  it— In  the  eveningr  returns  to  Bethany— On  Monday  re- 
visits Jerusalem,  but  retires  again  in  tiie  evening — What  he  does 
in  Jerusalem  on  Tuesday— On  Wednesday— Also  the  transactions 
of  Thursday,  the  institution  of  the  last  Supper,  etc.  a       .     32 — 34 

a  Matt,  xxi.— XXV.    xxvi.  1— 29.    Mark  xi.— xiii.    xiv.  1— 25.    Luke  xix.  28 — 48. 
XX.  xxi.  xxii.  1 — 38.  John  xii.  12 — 50.  xiii. 

Sec.  VIII.     Jesus'  last  sufferings  and  death. 

His  farewell  address  and  the  scene  of  Gethsemane — Betrayed  by  Ju- 
das and  led  away  to  be  tried — JVIalchus  healed — Falsely  accused, 
and  abused— Denied  by  Peter — Before  Pilate— Before  Herod — 
Scourged,  etc. — Finally  condemned  instead  of  Barabbas — His  cru- 
cifixion and  miraculous  death,  a 3.5 — 39 

a  Matt.  xxvi.  30—75.  xxvii.  1—56.  Mark  xiv.  20—72.    xv.  1—41.    Luke  xxii.  39 
— 71.  xxiii.  1 — 49.  John  xiv. — xix.  1 — 37. 

Sec.  IX.     Burial,  resurrection  and  ascension  of  Jesus. 

His  burial— Guards  placed  around  his  tomb — He  arises,  however,  on 
the  third  day — Appears  to  many — Blesses  his  disciples — And  as- 
cends to  heaven,  a 39 — 40 

a  Matt,  xxvii.  57—66.  xxviii.  Mark  xv.  42—47.  xvi.  Luke   xxiii.  50—56.  xxiv. 
John  xix.  38 — 42.  xx.  xxi.  Acts  i.  1 — 11. 

PART  II. 

I.  Reflections  on  the  Life  of  Jesus, 41 — G3 

Sec.  I.  Must  become  truly  acquainted  with  Jesus. 
Two  reasons  in  particular  why, 41 — 45 

Sec.  H.     On  the  birth  of  Jesus. 
Five  reasons  why  we  should   believe   Jesus  something  more  than  a 
mere  man — Reflections — Poetry — Prayerful  resolve,     .     .  45 — 50 

Sec.  hi.     The  persecution  of  Jesus  zchc7i  a  child. 
Forced  to  go  into  Egypt  to  escape  Herod — The  reader's  happy  lot — 

Hymn,« 51 — 52 

a  Rev.  xxii.  1. 

Sec.  ly.     The  youth  of  Jesus. 
His  example  in  the  temple  when  12  years  of  age — A  resolve — How 
lie  spent  his  earlier  years — Hymn, .53 — 5.5 

Sec.  V.     The  baptism  of  Jesus. 
Circumstances  respecting  it  in   favor  of  the  divine  character  of  Je- 
sus— The  Lamb   of  God — The  voice  from    heaven Prayerful 

thoughts, .55 — 57 


X  CONTENTS    AND 

Sec.  VI.      The  temptation  of  Jesus . 
As   to  Spirits — Jesus  tempted — We  are  exposed   to   temptations — 
Satan's  power — Six  directions  in  regard   to  temptations — The  sto- 
ry of  Elizabetii,  or  God  will  see  me — The  danger  of  temptation  il- 
lustrated, or  a  rash  youth — Scriptural  allusions,      .     .     .     57 — 63 

II.     Reflections  on  Jesus'  Doctrines, 63 — 96 

Sec.  VII.     Introductory  Remarks, 63 

Sec.  VIII.     Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount  paraphrazed,  a — Its  doc- 
trines noble — Happy  and  unhappy  families — Questions  put  to  the 

conscience, 64 — 08 

a  Matt.  V.  1—12. 

Sec.  IX.     Sermon  on  the  Mount  continued. 
Letting  one's  light  shine,  a — Swearing,  h — The  praise   of  men    not 
to    be   sought,  etc, —  God    sees  and    will  reward — Should  practice 
what  we  learn — The  end  of  wicked  children — Hymn,      .     69 — 72 

a   Matt.  V.  14—16.     b  Matt.  v.  33-37.     c  Matt.  vi.  1—4. 

Sec  X.     Prayer. 
Its  benefits — Jesus  prayed — Errors   to    be  avoided,  a — The   Lord's 
prayer,  b — How  to  pray — May  pray  with  confidence,  c — Blessings 
thence  resulting,  d 72 — 78 

a  Matt.  vi.  5—8.    b  Matt.  vi.  9—13.    Comp.  Luke  xi.  1—4.      c  Matt.  vi.  14,  15. 
Luke  xi.  5 — 13.    d  Ps.  xxiii. 

Sec  XI.     The  laic  of  reicard. 
A  trait  of  human  nature — A  rule  of  God's  government — Illustrated,  a 
— Of  judging  others,  6 78 — 83 

a  Matt.  vii.  2.    Luke  vi.  38.  Compare  Matt.  xxvi.  52.  Gen.  xlii.21 — 24.  Esther 
vii.  9,  10.    Dan.  vi.  24.    b  Matt.  vii.  1—5.  Luke  vi.  37—42. 

Sec  XII.     Seek  first  the  kingdovi  of  heaven. 
The   exhortation,  a — A  happy    island — The  surpassing   charms  of 
heaven — The  only  way  of  obtaining  it,  ■ 83—87 

a  Matt,  vi.33. 

Sec  XIII.     Caution  against  deception. 
Of  deceivers — The  flatterer — A  rule  for  our  conduct,  a — Youth  not 
to  dissembler-Heaven  has  no  deceivers — David's  prayer ;  Search 
me,  h 87—90 

a  Matt.  vii.  15—29.  Luke  vi.  43—49.     h  Ps.  cxxxix.  23,  24. 

S E c  X I V .     Of  trusting  in  ProtidciLre. 
The  sorrowful — Advice  to  such — A  lesson  from  the  flowers  and  birds 
— The  case  of  Mr.  Park— Prayer — The  benefit  of  trusting  in  God 


REFERENCES.  XI 

— Obedience   necessary    to   confidence — God's    feelings  towards 

us,  a— Hymn, 90—96 

a  Matt.  vi.  19—34. 

III.  Reflections  upon  particular  doctrines,  .  .  .  97 — 128 
Sec.  XV.     On  a  true  knowledge  of  God,  etc. 

I.  Must  know  God  and  Jesus — His  words,  a — H.  Must  linow  that 
Jesus  sent  of  God,  etc. — How  he  proved  it — HI.  Must  believe  in 
Jesus — Faith  illustrated  ;  the  medicine  ;  the  ferry  ;  the  precipice 
—The  effects  of  faith,  etc.— Prayer, 97—104 

a  John  xvii.  3. 

Sec.  XVI.     The  feelings  and  conduct  of  a  hcUever. 
Mistakes  in  this  case — Sad  result  of  making   them — What  consti- 
tutes a  Christian,  a 105 — 107 

a  Luke  xviii.  18-30.  Matt.  vii.  22.  Luke  xiv.  25-35. 

Sec  xvii.     Love  to  God  and  one's  Keighh or. 
The  essence  of  virtue — Jesus'  words  to  a  Pharisee  upon  this  subject 
—Illustrated,  a— Exhortation, 107—111 

a  Matt.  xxii.  3G— 40.  Mark  xii.  28—34. 

Sec  XVHI.     Do  you  love  Jesus  ? 
Few  it  is  to  be  feared  really  do — The  poor  man  of  Denmark — Death, 
to  whom  pleasant,  a Ill — 113 

a  Jolin  xxi.  15,  etc. 

Sec  XIX.  What  Jesus  farther  taught  of  love  to  one's  neicrhhor. 
Why  particular  instruction  necessary — I.  Those  above  us  to  be  hon- 
ored— How  to  make  filial  obedience  pleasant — The  effects  of  filial 
disobedience  and  the  contrary — II.  We  are  to  be  kind  and  oblig- 
ing— The  golden  rule,  a — The  Indian  and  the  two  white  boys — 
The  schoolmaster's  father,  etc.  h — HI.  We  must  show  meekness 
and  love  to  our  enemies — IV.  Must  preserve  a  forgiving  spirit — 
Prayer  and  resolve — Hymn,       .....         113 — 121 

a  Matt.  vii.  12.    b  Luke  xvi.  19—31. 

Sec  XX.      Watchfulness ,  temperance,  and  man-plea sino-. 
Prayerful  watchfulness   greatly  neglected  by   the  youno- — I,  Must 
watch  against  intemperance — II.  Must   watch   over  our  general 
conduct — HI.  Must  guard  against  sinful  man-pleasing,     121 — 125 

Sec.  XXI.      The  word  of  God. 
The  Savior    exhorts  ns  to   attend  to  it — Its  value — To  be  daily  read 

and  studied — A  sure  guide — Hymn,  a  .         .         .       126 128 

a  Luke  xvi.  31.  John  v.  39 — 47. 


Xll  CONTENTS    AND 

IV.  Reflections  upon  some  other  doctrines,     .     .     .     129 — 138 

Sec.  XXII.     The  angels. 

The   guardians   of  children,   a — Superstitious  fears  wicked — The 
Christian  always  safe,  i  ......     129 — 131 

a  Matt,  xviii.  10—14,     b  Gen.  .xxviii.  10—22.  2  Kings  vi.  17.  Ps.  x.xxiv.  7. 

Sec.  XXIII.      The  resurrection  and  last  Judgment. 
Announced  by  Jesus— Tlie  final  scene — Fearful  to  the  wicked — Joy- 
ful to  the  good — True  honor — A  prayer — Hymn,  a      .      131 — 135 

a  Matt,  xxii.23— 33.  Mark xii.  18-27.  Luke  xx.  27— 38.  Matt.  xxv.  31— 46. 

Sec.  XXIV.     Eternal  Life. 
I  am  bound  to  eternity — The  joy  anticipated — Bunyan's  Pilgrims. — 
Prayer— Hymn, 13.5—138 

PART  III. 

1.  The  Parables  of  Jesus, 139 — 1G6 

Sec.  I.     Introductory  remarks,         ......        139 

Sec.  II.      The  lost  son. 
Obtains  his  share  of  the  estate  and  leaves — Wasting  it  all,  is  reduced 
to  want — Repents  and   returns — Is  kindly  received  except  by  his 

eldest  brother,  a 140—142 

a  Luke  xv.  11 — 32. 

Sec  III.  Reflections. 
The  parable  praised,  a — Shows  the  kindness  of  God — The  heaven- 
ly family  take  an  interest  in  us — The  consequences  of  dissijialion 
— Visiting  the  hospital — A  caution — Gellert's  lines,  a — Parental 
chastisement — How  a  child  may  obtain  genuine  pleasure — Youths 
who  have  already  broken  the  hearts  of  their  parents — A  case  rela- 
ted— The  proper  course  for  such  penitents — Prayer,     .     143 — 150 

a  See  Note  L  p.  258. 

Sec  IV.     The  servants  with  different  talents. 
The  rich  man,  his  servants,  and  their  talents — Tiieir  conduct — Wiiat 
we  are  here  taught,  a  ......         151 — 153 

a  Matt.  xxv.  14—30. 

Sec  V.     The  rich  7nan  and  Lazarus. 
What  we  are  here  taught — The  wicked  not  the  best  off.  because  they 
fare  the  best  in  this  world — The  reward  comes  hereafter — The  in- 
fluence tliis  should  have— Poetry,  a  .         .         .         .         153 — 154 
a  Luke  xvi.  19 — 31. 


REFERENCES,  XIII 

Sec.  VI.      The  merciful  Samaritan. 
Explanatory  facts — Onr  duty  to  love  others  here  admirably  set  forth 
— We  are  to  assist  even  our  enemies — Hymn,  a       .  155 — 157 

a  Luke  10:  25—37. 

Sec.  VII.     The  Soiccr. 
The  seed  on  a  hard  soil — an  obstinate  youth — Repentance  came  too 
late,« "...         157—159 

a  Matt.  13:  1—23.  Mark  4:  1—29.  Luke  8:  4-15. 

Sec.  VIII.     The  Laborers  in  the  Vineyard. 
A  master  hired  persons  at  different  times  in   the  day  to  work    in  his 
Vineyard — He  paid   them  all  the   same  price — The   ill-will  it  ex- 
cited— Five  things  taught  us  in  this  parable — Hymn,  a    159 — 162 

a  Matt.  20:  1—16. 

Sec.  IX.     Perseverance  in  Prayer. 
The  friend  in  want — His  importunity  prevailed — Importunity  more 
prevalent  with  God,  a — The  poor  widow  and  the  unjust  judge,  fc — 
God  will  attend  to  his  beloved,  etc.       ....     162 — 164 
a  Luke  11: 1—13.        b  Luke  18:  1—8. 
Sec.  X.     The  good  master  and  the  hard  servant. 
Readiness  to  forgive — Jesus'  compassion — Hymn,  a   .     .     164 — 166 
,  a  Matt.  18:  15—35.     See  Note  I.  p.  258. 

II.  Reflections  on  particular  discourses  and  parables,  167-174 

Sec.  XI.     On  Death. 
Though  young,  I  may  die — The  case  of  the  worldling,  a — My  play- 
mates— My  walk  in  tJie  graveyard — My  sister  Olive's  morning- 
glory — Poetry  on  it,  .         .         .         .         .         .         .         167 — 169 

a  Luke  12:  15—21. 

Sec.  XII.     On  Hximilitrj. 
An  excellent  rule,  etc. — Cause  of  quarrels  among  school-boys — The 
Publican  and  Pharisee — Conclusion,  a  .  .         .     169 — 171 

a  Luke  14:  7—11.  18:  9—14. 

Sec.  XIII.     The  great  love  of  God. 

The  lost  sheep  and  money — The  Son  of  Man  came  to  seek  and  to 
save  his  lost  sheep — His  love  for  his  friends — Hymn,  a      171 — 174 
a  Luke  15:  1—10. 

III.  Hints  and  examples, 175 199 

Sec.  XIV.     Youthful  pleasures. 

Jesus  loved  and  recommended  cheerfulness,  a — Religion  therefore 
not  gloomy,  t— Christians  the   best  right  to  feel  cheerful— Must 
b 


XIV  CONTENTS    AND 

guard  however  against  worldly  delight — Duty  not  to  be  neglected 
for  pleasure — God  always  sees  us— Christian  pleasure,     175 — 178 

a  John  2:  1—11.     6  Matt.  6:  16—18.  Compare  Eccl.  11:  9,  10.  12: 

Sec.  XV.     Peter  and  the  miraculous  draught  of  fishes. 
The  case  stated,  a — We  are  not  certainly  forsaken  of  God  because 
things  go  hard  with  us — Human   efforts  must  have  God's  bless- 
ing, i  178—181 

a. Luke 5:  1—11.  Comp.  Matt.  4:  18—22.     Mark  1;  16—20.     b  Ps.  cxxvii. 
Sec.  XVI.     The  widow's  son  of  Kain. 
The  scene  described,  a — Man  resembles  a  flower,  6 — Hymn,  181-182- 
a  Luke  7;  II — 17.        b  Job  14:  2.  Compareon  page  167. 
Sec.  XVn.     Reflections  on  Prayer. 
Jesus  often  asked  to  relieve — I  also   will  ever  go  to  him — If  unan- 
swered, not  murmur — If  answered,  guard  against  pride,  a  184-185 

a  Matt.  11:  28— 30.  Matt.  15:  21— 28.  Mark  7:  24— 30.  Matt.  8:5— 13.  Luke  7: 1-10. 
Sec.  XVIII.     The  last  coming  of  Jesus  to  Jerusalem. 

The  joy  of  the  occasion — Jesus  wept  over  Jerusalem — We  should  be 
joyful  for  the  Gospel — The  hosannas  of  children  very  acceptable 
to  Jesus — His  last  coming  to  judgment,  a  .         .         186 — 189 

a  Matt.  21:  1—11.  Mark  11: 1—10.  Luke  19:  28—44.  Ps.  8:  2. 
Sec.  XIX.     The  doings  of  Jesus  in  the  Temple. 
Drove  out  the  traders — The  house  of  God  a  sacred  place — The  feel- 
ings we  should  have  there,  etc.  a      .         .         .         .         189 — 191 

a  John  2:  13—22.  (Compared  with  Matt.  21:  12,  13.  Mark  11:  15—18.  Luke  19r 
45,  46.)  Pa.  93:  5. 

Sec.  XX.     Humility. 
The  little  child  an  example — Must  become  like  one,  to  enter  heaven 
— Proper  feelings,  a  .  .....         191 — 192 

a  Matt.  18:  1—6.  Mark  9:  33—37.  Luke  9:  4C— 48.  Comp.  Luke  18.-  15—17. 

Sec  XXI.     Affliction. 
Many  afflicted  in  the  time   of  Jesus — Cases  supposed — Benefits  of 
affliction — Proper  state  of  feeling — Hymn,  a         .         .     193 — 196 

a  Matt.  15:  21—28.    Mark  7:  24—30.    Matt.  17;  14—21.   Mark  9:  14—29.  Luke  9: 
37—43.  Lam.  3:  27.  John  16.-33. 

Sec.  XXII.     Kot  my  will  hut  thine  be  done. 
A  visit  to  Gethsemane — God  does  all  things  well — Hymn, «  197-198 

a  Matt.  26:  36—46.  Mark  14:  32—42.  Luke  22:  39—46.  John  18:  1,2. 
IV.     Sec.  XXIII.    Last  discourse  of  Jesus  with  his  disciples. 

Paraphrazed — Deserves  attention  as  our  best  friend's,  a         199 — 202 

a  John  13:  1.5.  (Compare  1—14.)   17.  .34,  35.  14:  1.  2.  3.  6.  21,  22,  23.    15:  9,  10. 12, 
14,  20.  23.  16:  7,  13.  33. 


REFERENCES  XV 

PART  IV. 

I.  The  virtues  of  Jesus, 203 — 234 

Sec.  I.     hitroductory  remarks,  .....     203 — 204 

Sec.  II.     The  friendship  of  Jesus  for  children. 
What  he  said  about  them — ^Cases  in  which  his  love  to  them  was  ex- 
hibited—Comforting— Hymn, «  ....         204—207 
a  Matt.  18:1—14.     Mark  9:  42.  Luko  17:  1,2.     Matt.   19:  13—15.    Mark  10:  13— 
16.  Luke  18:  15—17. 

Sec.  III.     The  piety  of  Jesus. 
A  perfect  example — His  love  of  truth  when  12  years  of  age,  a — Obe- 
dient to  his  Heavenly  Father  through  life,  b — How  shown,  c — The 

character  of  his  zeal,  <i 207—209 

a  Luke2;40— 52.  6  John  12:  49,  50.  14;  31.  15:10.  17:4.  c  Comp.  Heb.  10:  9. 
d  Compare  Mark  9:  14—19.  Luke  9:  37—41. 

Sec.  IV.     The  zeal  of  Jesus  in  prayer. 
He  prayed  much — Instances,  a — Prayed  acceptably,  h — Surely  then 
we  ought  to  pray — How  and  for  what — Prayer  soothing — God  an- 
swers in  the  best  way,         210 — 213 

a  Matt.  4:  1,  2.  Mark  1:  12,  13.  Luke  4:  1,  2.  Matt.  14: 13,  23.  Mark  6:  31,  32. 
46.  Luke  9:  10,  18.  John  11:  41,42.  Matt.  26:36— 46.  Mark  14:  32— 42.  Luke  22: 
39—46.  6  Matt.  3:  16, 17.  Mark  1.-  10,  11.  Luke  3:  21,  22.  Also  Matt.  17:  5.  Mark 
9:  7.  Luke  9;  28,  34, 35.  John  12:  28. 

Sec  V.     Zeal  of  Jesus  in  praise. 
Instances — Man  naturally  ungrateful — All  have  reason  for  gratitude 
— Thoughts  to  excite  gratitude — Singing,  a      .         .        214 — 216 

a  Matt.  14:  19.  Mark  6:  41.  Luke  9;  16.  John  6:  11.  Matt.  26:  26,  27.  Mark  14: 
22,  23.  Luke  22: 19.  24.-  30.  John  11;  41.  Matt.  26:  30.  Mark  14:  20. 

Sec.  VI.     The  diligence  of  Jesus. 
Jesus  always  diligent — We  should  be — God  can  dispense  with  our 

labor,  a 217—218 

a  John  iv.  32,  34.    See  Note  L  p.  258. 

Sec.  VII.     Uprightness  of  Jesus,  love  of  truth,  etc. 
Jesus  always  lived  and  acted  as  he   thought — His   intercourse   with 
the  Pharisees — The  consequences  of  these  traits — Very  few  much 
like  Jesus  now — Hymn,  a  .....         219 — 221 

a  Matt.  X.  16.  John  i.  47. 

Sec  VIII.     Compassion  of  Jesus  for  mankind. 
Came  to  sufTar  for  them — Aided  all  who  needed — Prayer,   221 — 223 

Sec  IX.     Humility  of  Jesus. 

In  childhood — In  life— With  his  disciples — In  death,  a        824 — 22rv 

a  John  xiii.  1 — 17.  Lsa.  liii.  7. 


TVl     .  CONTENTS    AND    REFERENCES. 

Sf.c.  X.     Jesus  a  true  friend. 

His  friends   in  Bethany— His  disciples — The  cases  of  John,   Peter, 

and  Judas — His  friendship  liow  evinced— A  friend  to  all  who  love 

him — Seek  virtuous  friends,  «  .  ...         225 227 

a  John  xi.  vi.  70,  71.  xiii.  10,  11,  18,  21,  etc.  Malt.  xii.  46—50.  Mark  iii.  31—35. 
Luke  viii.  19 — 21. 

Sec.  XI.      T/ic  love  of  Jesus  for  enemies. 
Mankind  whom  lie  came  to  save,  all  his  enemies — lived  and  labored 
among  them — Wept  over  Jerusalem,  a       ....         228 

a  Luke  xix.  41 — 44. 

Sec.  xii.     Jesus  in  his  sufferings  and  death. 

I.  To  the  last,  full  of  holy  love — Confidence  and  resignation — His 
last  words — II.  His  conduct  to  his  enemies — To  Judas — Before 
his  accusers — HI.  To  his  mother — Differently  often  do  youths 
treat  their  aged  parents — A  widowed  mother  often  disobeyed — The 
language  of  gratitude — Tobias — Hymn,  «  .         .         229 — 234 

a  Matt.  xxvi.  50.  Luke  xxii.  48.  John  xix.  25—27.  Tobit  iv.  2 — i. 

II.  The  conclusion  of  Jesus'  life  upon  eakth,         .        235 — 248 

Sec  XIII.     The  resurrection  of  Jesus. 

Had  Jesus  not  risen  from  the  dead  our  faith  would  be  in  vain — That 

he  has,  no  believer  in  the  Bible  can  doubt — This  proves  him  the 

Son  of  God — We  may  now  rely  upon  his  teachings,  prophecies, 

promises,  and  a  final  resurrection,  a  .  .         .         235 — 237 

a  1  Cor.  XV.  14.  John  xx.  1, 19, 26. 

Sec.  XIV.     The  ascension  of  Jesus  to  heaven. 
Confirms  all  our  hopes — Gone  to  prepare  for  us — Should  have  strong 
faith  in  him — The  day  of  judgment  one  of  justice,  a  237 — 240 

a  Matt,  xxviii.  16— 20.     Mark   xvi.  14— 20.     Luke    xxiv.  50— 53.     Acts  i.  1—14 
John  xiv.  3,  29.     Matt.  vii.  24—27.     Luke  vi.  47—49. 

Sec.  XV.  Concluding  remarks. 
A  full  portrait  of  Jesus  to  be  found  only  in  heaven — He  was  evident- 
ly a  most  glorious  personage,  and  in  every  respect,  just  such  a  Sa- 
vior as  we  need — All  should  fall  in  love  with  him  as  soon  as  they 
become  acquainted  with  him. — The  majority  treat  him  with  neg- 
lect or  contempt — But  why  .' — I.  Not  because  he  is  cruel — II.  Not 
because  he  is  not  long  suffering — III.  Not  that  he  is  not  ready  to 
forgive — IV.  Nor  that  he  has  ever  sought  to  injure — He  never 
sought  to  injure  in  person — His  doctrines  not  injurious — Testimo- 
ny of  infidels — Compared  with  heathenism — They  would  bless  the 
dying  man  and  the  world — The  opposer  must  be  crushed,  a — The 
water  of  life, 240—250 

a  (p.  255.)  Compare  Job  xii.  10,  11,  with  the  preceding  and  following  verses.  See 
also  Ps.  xxxiii.  9,  and  Note  I.  p.  258. 


PART    I. 


A    SHORT     HISTORY    OF    THE    LIFE    OF    JeSUS. 

SECTION  I. 

From  the  birth  of  Jesus  to  his  thirtieth  year. 

Long  before  Jesus  was  born,  God  caused  his  birth  to 
be  announced  by  pious  men,  who,  because  God  made 
them  capable  of  foreknowing  and  foretelling  many  future 
events,  are  called  prophets.  All  the  descriptions  which 
God  caused  to  be  given  by  them,  of  this  future  personage, 
prove  that  he  was  destined  to  be  the  greatest  of  bene- 
factors to  mankind,  to  save  them  from  sin  and  its  punish- 
ment, to  bring  them  to  good,  to  render  them  pleasing  to 
God,  and  to  prepare  them  to  go  to  heaven  after  this  life. 

About  four  thousand  years  after  the  creation  of  the 
world,  Jesus  was  born  at  Bethlehem.  This  was  the 
very  time  that  had  been  announced  by  the  prophets,  as 
the  time  of  the  birth  of  Jesus,  and  the  very  place  that 
had  been  named  by  them  as  his  birthplace.  God  in  his 
wisdom  had  so  ordered  all  this,  that  every  one  could  cer- 
tainly know  that  Jesus  was  the  real  Messiah  or  king  that 
had  been  promised  by  God  ;  for  every  thing  happened  to 
him  exactly  according  to  the  word  of  God.  The  parents 
of  Jesus  were  called  Mary  and  Joseph.  They  were  poor 
and  humble  in  life,  but  very  pious. 
2 


14  THE  EARLY  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

At  his  birth,  the  following  remarkable  event  took 
place.  It  was  in  the  night,  and  there  were  shepherds  in 
the  fields  with  their  flocks.  All  of  a  sudden,  there  shone 
a  great  clear  light  round  about  them,  at  which  they 
v.'ere  very  much  afraid  ;  but  in  a  moment,  they  heard 
the  voice  of  an  angel,  who  called  to  them  not  to  be  afraid, 
for  he  brought  them  the  joyful  news  that  the  promised 
Savior  was  born  ;  and  he  told  them  that  if  they  would  only 
go  to  Bethlehem,  they  should  there  find  the  child  in  a 
stable  and  lying  in  a  manger.  Soon  after,  they  heard  ma- 
ny voices  singing  a  song  of  praise  to  God,  and  celebrating 
the  happiness  which  men  should  derive  from  this  birth. 
On  this,  they  hasted  away  immediately  to  Bethlehem,  and 
there  they  found  the  child  Jesus,  just  as  it  had  been  told 
them,  in  a  stable  and  in  a  manger  ;  and  also  Joseph  and 
Mary,  whom  they  informed  of  Vvhat  they  had  heard,  sit- 
ting near  by,  taking  care  of  him.  With  joy  and  grati- 
tude to  God,  that  he  had  permitted  them  to  find  the  pro- 
mised Savior,  they  then  hastened  back  to  their  flocks. 

This  event,  my  young  friends,  teaches  you,  that  this 
child  Jesus  must  have  been  one  destined  by  God  to  great 
and  blessed  purposes ;  for  we  have  never  heard  of  any 
other  child  whose  birth  was  announced  in  such  a  way,  and 
celebrated  by  songs  of  praise  sung  in  the  air. 

Immediately  after  the  birth  of  Jesus,  there  came  learn- 
ed men  from  a  distant  country  in  the  East,  to  Jerusalem, 
and  asked  where  the  new-born  prince  and  future  king 
was  to  be  found.  They  said,  that  in  this  eastern  coun- 
try they  had  seen  a  wonderful  light  which  they  knew  to 
be  his  star,  and  tb.erefore  had  come  to  show  him  their 
regards.  Herod,  who  was  then,  under  the  Romans,  the 
reigning  king  of  Judea,  a  very  wicked  man,  heard  of 
this  question,  and  was  greatly  alarmed, 


THE   EARLY  LIFE  OF  JESUS.  15 

For  the  present,  however,  he  disguised  his  fears  ;  and, 
having  made  various  minute  inquiries  about  the  child, 
and  cliarged  these  men  lo  bring  him  word  again,  respect- 
ing it,  he  sent  them  to  Bethlehem. 

Here,  to  their  great  joy,  they  found  Jesus.  Immediate- 
ly on  their  leaving  Jerusalem,  the  bright  sign  in  the  air, 
or  something  that  looked  like  a  star,  which  had  appeared 
to  them  in  their  own  country,  and  made  known  to  them 
the  time  of  his  birth,  reappeared,  and  going  before  them, 
led  them  to  the  spot,  where  he  lay.  Having  found  him, 
they  fell  upon  their  faces  before  him,  and,  after  the  man- 
ner of  the  people  of  the  East,  made  him  valuable  presents, 
as  a  sign  of  their  submission  to  his  authority. 

Herod,  as  soon  as  lie  had  heard  of  the  birth  of  Jesus 
from  these  learned  men,  was  filled  with  suspicion  respect- 
ing him;  for  he  thought  this  child  might  at  some  future 
time,  rule  as  king  over  the  Jewish  nation,  and  drive  him 
or  his  descendants  from  the  throne  ;  and  therefore  he 
resolved  to  kill  Jesus.  God  however  took  the  infant  into 
his  protection.  He  told  the  wise  men  in  a  vision,  not  to 
let  Herod  know  any  thing  about  the  yourg  child. 

After  their  departure,  he  also  gave  his  foster-father,  (or 
the  man  who  took  care  of  him  as  his  father,)  warning  in 
a  dream,  that  he  should  secretly  take  the  child  Jesus 
and  his  mother,  and  flee  into  Egypt.  Joseph  did  so,  im- 
mediately. In  the  mean  time,  Herod  remained  firm  in  his 
purpose  to  kill  Jesus  ;  and  therefore  caused  all  the  male 
children  in  Bethlehem  and  the  region  around  it,  who 
were  not  yet  two  years  old,  to  be  slain  ;  expecting  that 
the  child  Jesus  would  certainly  perish,  with  the  children 
who  were  thus  destroyed. 

Herod  died  not  long  after   he  had  been   guilty  of  this 


16  THE  EARLY  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

frightful  deed.  Joseph  was  informed  of  this  also  in  a 
dream,  by  the  providence  of  God.  At  the  same  time,  he 
also  received  command  to  return  back  to  the  land  of  Ju- 
dea  ;  which  he  did,  taking  up  his  residence  at  Nazareth. 

Of  the  youth  of  Jesus  we  know  nothing  that  is  to  be 
depended  on,  but  what  follows.  He  was  a  pious  child, 
of  great  understanding,  and  of  extraordinary  zeal  in 
learning  what  was  good.  Of  this,  he  gave  a  wonderful 
example  as  early  as  his  twelfth  year,  when  he  went 
with  his  parents  up  to  the  feast  of  the  passover  at  Jerusa- 
lem. Here  he  took  his  seat  in  the  school  of  the  temple 
among  the  old  teachers,  listened  to  them  with  attention, 
proposed  many  questions  to  them,  and  carried  on  such 
conversation  with  them,  that  they  were  astonished  ;  for 
from  it,  they  perceived  that  he  knew  and  understood 
more,  much  more,  than  was  common  for  children  in  gen- 
eral who  were  of  his  age. 

He  was  a  youth  who  feared  God,  who  honored  his  pa- 
rents like  a  dutiful  child,  who  was  agreeable  and  oblig- 
ing to  others,  and  who  daily  increased  in  knowledge  and 
in  virtue,  and  was  more  and  more  beloved  both  by  God 
and  man. 

During  this  period  of  his  life,  he  assisted  his  father  in 
his  domestic  affairs  and  in  the  labors  of  his  calling.  He 
lived  in  his  father's  little  family  at  Nazareth,  altogether  in 
retirement  and  silence,  even  up  to  the  time  in  which  he 
made  his  appearance  in  public  as  a  teacher,  a  worker  of 
miracles,  and  a  Savior  sent  by  God  for  the  salvation  of 
mankind. 


HtS  BAPTISM  AND  TEMPTATION.  l'7 

SECTION  II. 

F'rom  the  baptism  of  Jesus,  to  the  beginning  of  his 
labors  as  a  teacher. 

When  Jesus  was  about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  a  pious 
man,  named  John,  at  the  command  of  God,  began,  like 
the  ancient  prophets,  to  call  upon  people  to  repent.  They 
were,  at  that  time,  very  wicked,  and  a  great  many  of 
them  very  ignorant.  He  told  them,  that  Jesus,  the  pro- 
mised Messiah,  was  soon  to  make  his  appearance  in  pub- 
lic, for  the  salvation  of  mankind  ;  and  that  those  who  would 
be  ready  to  receive  him,  must  break  off  their  sins,  and 
attend  diligently  to  the  practice  of  religion ;  while,  with 
great  earnestness,  he  exhorted  them  to  the  immediate 
performance  of  this  important  duty.  Multitudes  of  peo- 
ple thronged  to  hear  him.  He  baptized  all  who  confessed 
their  sins,  and  thereby  gave  liim  to  understand,  that  they 
had  formed  the  good  resolution  of  repenting  and  reform- 
ing their  lives. 

Now  when  Jesus  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  he  also 
came  to  this  man  to  be  baptized. 

John,  who  well  knew  who  Jesus  was,  and  that  he  was 
a  very  pious  and  holy  man,  out  of  modesty,  at  first  refus- 
ed to  perform  this  baptism  ;  but  as  Jesus  continued  to  de- 
sire it,  he  baptized  him  in  the  river  Jordan.  When  Jesus 
came  up  out  of  the  water,  the  spirit  of  God  in  the  form 
of  a  dove,  hovered  over  him  and  lighted  upon  him  ;  and 
in  a  moment,  a  voice  was  heard  from  heaven,  saying  : 
"  This  is  my  son,  my  dearly  beloved,  in  whom  I  am  well- 
pleased."  By  means  of  this  voice,  John  was  still  farther 
convinced,  that  Jesus  was  the  promised  Savior.  He  di- 
rected his  hearers  and  all  pious  men  to  him,  and  at  this 
2* 


18  HIS  BAPTISM  AND    TEMPTATION. 

time  and  often  afterwards,  testified  that  he  himself  was 
inferior  to  Jesus,  and  only  his  forerunner  ;  that  Jesus 
was  the  Son  of  God,  the  Savior,  and  was  sent  for  the 
happiness  of  the  world. 

Immediately  after  his  baptism,  Jesus  betook  himself  to 
an  unfrequented,  solitary  region,  in  order  that  here,  by 
giving  himself  up  free  from  all  disturbance,  to  prayer  and 
silent  reflection,  he  might  prepare  for  the  important 
work  which  he  had  resolved  to  accomplish  for  the  salva- 
tion of  mankind.  Here  he  must  have  suffered  much ; 
for  he  found  himself  under  the  open  heavens,  among  wild 
beasts  ;  and,  for  forty  days,  he  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink. 
At  this  time,  there  came  a  wicked  spirit  to  him,  and 
tried  to  lead  him  into  the  commission  of  various  sins  and 
foolish  acts  ;  but  he  overcame  all  these  temptations,  and 
remained  faithful  to  God  and  his  great  calling.  After 
this,  there  came  also  good  spirits  to  him,  who  brought 
him  food  and  drink. 

From  this  desert,  Jesus  returned  again  to  Jordan, 
where  John  was.  On  this  occasion,  two  of  John's  pupils 
became  interested  in  the  excellent  doctrines  of  Jesus, 
and  followed  him,  wishing  to  become  his  disciples.  On 
the  next  day,  Jesus  chose  Philip  and  Nathanael  as  his 
disciples ;  and  he  afterwards  increased  the  number  of 
admirers  and  followers,  who  accompanied  him  every 
where,  and  lived  in  the  most  confidential  intercourse 
with  him,  until  they  amounted  to  twelve. 


JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER.  19 

SECTION  III. 

The  first  year  of  Jesus,  as  a  teacher. 

In  company  with  these  disciples,  Jesus  travelled  into 
Galilee.  After  his  arrival  there,  he  with  them  attended 
a  marriage  in  the  city  of  Cana ;  and  here  it  was  that  he 
performed  his  first  miracle,  changing  water  into  wine. 
By  this  act  he  showed,  that  God  had  given  him  power  to 
work  miracles  ;  that  is,  to  do  things  which  cannot  be 
done  by  any  known  human  power,  but  only  by  the  spe- 
cial assistance  of  God.  By  this  means  he  also  strength- 
ened his  friends  in  the  belief  that  he  had  been  sent  of 
God,  and  that  they  might  rely  with  perfect  confidence 
upon  all  his  words. 

After  this,   having,  in   company  with  his    mother,   his 
brethren,    and    his    disciples,    visited    Capernaum,  and 
tarried    there    for    a  short  time,     he   went    up    to  Je- 
rusalem, to  the  first  feast  of  the  passover   that  was  cele- 
brated after   his  entrance  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  as 
a  teacher.     Here,  finding  that  people  had  lost  all  rever- 
ence for  the  temple  of  God,  and  changed  it  into  a  market- 
place, every  where  full  of  quarrelling  and  noise,  injustice 
and  fraud, — he  was  seized  with  a  holy  zeal,  and,  like  the 
ancient  prophets  and  in  the  exercise  of  similar  authority, 
drove  all  the  buyers  and  sellers  out  of  the  place.     "  It  is 
written,"  cried  he,  "  in  the  word  of  God,  '  My  house  shall 
be  called  the  house  of  prayer,  but   ye  have  made  it  a  den 
of  thieves.'  "     By  doing  this,  he  gave  proof  that  he  had 
received  full  power  and  authority   from  God,  to  bring 
men  to  give    up  all  their  contempt  of  God,  and  show 
true  reverence    to  his   name.      He   proved   this  also  by 
many  other  miracles.     It  is  true  that  by  this  means  he 


20  JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER. 

gained  many  friends ;  but  as  tlieir  hearts  were  not 
altogether  right  towards  him,  he  did  not  associate  with 
them  on  intimate  terms.  Nicodemus,  a  distinguished 
Jew,  had  honest  views,  and  was  desirous  of  becoming 
truly  acquainted  with  the  will  of  God.  He  came  there- 
fore to  Jesus  in  the  night,  and  had  an  instructive  con- 
versation with  him.  In  particular,  Jesus  told  him  that  a 
change  of  heart,  as  well  as  love  to  and  confidence  in 
him,  the  son  of  God,  were  indispensable  for  any  man  who 
would  become  his  real  disciple,  and  obtain  the  grace  of 
God. 

From  Jerusalem  Jesus  travelled  with  his  disciples  into 
various  regions  of  Judea,  teaching,  wherever  he  went. 
John  was  filled  with  great  joy  by  the  accounts  he  receiv- 
ed of  these  doings,  and  bore  testimony  to  the  excellencies 
of  Jesus. 

This  joyful  witness,  however,  to  the  glory  of  Jesus,  was 
soon  afterwards  thrown  into  prison,  and  in  a  short  time 
beheaded,  because  he  boldly  censured  the  Vv'ickedncss  of 
king  Herod  . 

Towards  the  beginning  of  winter,  Jesus  went  again  in- 
to Galilee.  On  the  way,  he  had  an  interesting  interview 
with  some  of  the  Samaritans.  He  also  tarried  a  short 
time  at  Cana.  It  was  while  here,  that  he  healed  a  cer- 
tain nobleman's  son,  who  lay  sick  at  Capernaum.  He 
then  visited  Nazareth  and  taught  there;  but  the  inhabi- 
tants of  this  city,  instead  of  being  improved  by  his  doc- 
trines, became  bitterly  incensed  against  him,  and  thrust- 
ing him  out  of  the  city,  led  him  to  the  brow  of  the  hill 
on  which  the  city  was  built,  and  were  going  to  throw 
him  down  headlong ;  but  Jesus  escaped  from  their  hands 
without  doing  them  any  violence,  and  went  down  to  Ca- 
pernaum, where  he  took  up  his   residence   while  in  Gali- 


HIS   FIRST  YEAR. 


21 


lee,  teaching  in  the  public  school  or  synagogue,  to  the 
great  satisfaction  of  all  who  heard  him.  Here  also,  he 
cured  Peter's  wife's  mother  of  a  fever,  and  healed  various 
other  sick  persons. 

By  means  of  the  doctrines  which  he  taught,  which 
were  very  excellent,  as  also  by  the  miracles  he  wrought, 
for  the  good  of  unhappy  persons,  he  every  where  acquir- 
ed for  himself  authority.  From  Capernaum,  in  company 
with  a  great  multitude  of  people,  he  visited  other  cities 
in  Galilee.  It  was  while  on  this  journey,  that  he  delivered 
the  admirable  discourse,  called  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount, 
in  which  he  taught  his  disciples  and  other  hearers,  re- 
specting the  true  meaning  of  the  divine  law,  the  true 
manner  of  giving  alms  so  as  to  please  God,  the  true  way 
of  praying  acceptably  to  God,  the  laying  up  of  eternal  riches 
in  heaven,  confidence  in  God  in  respect  to  the  wants  of  the 
body,  and  many  other  important  truths.  Having  deliver- 
ed this  discourse,  he  again  res;tored  many  sick  to  health, 
and,  in  particular,  healed  a  leper.  About  this  time  he 
taught  on  the  sea  of  Gennesareth,  out  of  a  ship  which  be- 
longed to  Peter,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  multitude. 
After  the  discourse  was  ended,  Peter,  who  had  labor" 
ed  all  night  in  vain,  at  the  command  of  Jesus,  once  more 
let  down  the  net,  and  obtained  an  uncommonly  rich 
draught  of  fishes ;  upon  which  he  was  filled  with  the 
greatest  astonishment,  and  humbly  confessed  that  he  was 
altogether  unworthy  of  the  grace  and  help  of  Jesus. 

Thus  it  is  that  God  always  at  a  right  time  and  often  in 
an  unexpected  manner,  richly  rewards  those  who  obey 
him  and  put  their  confidence  in  him.  They  toil  all  night 
perhaps  without  success,  and  are  about  to  give  up  in  de- 
spair, when  they  see  the  day  dawning  in  the  east,  and 
the  sun  himself  soon  shines  upon  them,  bringing  to  them 


22  JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER. 

a  thousand   blessings  in    his  train.      For    the   righteous 
there  is  always  a  rich  blessing  in  store. 

In  a  certain  city,  a  leper  besonght  him  for  help.  Je- 
sus helped  him,  and  forbade  him  from  telling  others  of  it ; 
but  without  minding  what  Jesus  said,  he  went  right 
away  and  told  of  it.  It  was  the  custom  of  Jesus,  often 
to  betake  himself  to  solitary  places  and  pray.  He  retir- 
ed to  such  a  place  at  this  time,  for  the  assembly  of  people 
around  became  too  great  and  powerful  for  him,  and  were 
very  troublesome.  As,  however,  even  here,  he  was  throng- 
ed with  people,  and  sick  folks  were  brought  to  him  from  all 
quarters,  he  healed  them,  and  then  made  his  escape  from 
them,  in  order  to  sail  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  sea. 
In  the  ship,  he  fell  asleep.  There  arose  a  violent  storm. 
Full  of  anguish,  the  disciples  awoke  him,  and  entreated 
him  for  help.  He  immediately  spake  a  few  words,  and  si- 
lenced the  storm. 

After  this,  he  returned  to  Capernaum.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  there,  he  healed  a  sick  person  who  was  suffering 
very  much  from  the  palsy. 


SECTION  IV. 

The  second  year  of  Jesus,  as  a  teacher. 

Jesus  again,  in  company  with  many  persons  of  kind 
and  friendly  dispositions,  went  up  to  the  feast  of  the 
passover  at  Jerusalem.  Here  at  the  pool  called  Bethesda, 
he  healed  a  man,  who  hud  had  an  infirmity  for  thirty-eight 
ye^rs.  His  enemies  censured  him  for  this,  because  he 
did  it  on  the  sabbath-day  ;  but  he  showed  them  that  he 
had  done  right.     Not  long  after  this,   he,  in  company 


HIS  SECOND  YEAR.  23 

with  his  disciples,  went  through  a  field  of  grain,  on  the 
sabbath-day  ;  and  the  latter,  as  they  passed  along,  pluck- 
ed off  the  ears  of  the  grain,  and  rubbing  them  out  in  their 
hands,  ate  the  kernels  ;  which  the  Pharisees  also  looked 
upon  as  a  breach  of  the  sabbath-day  ;  but  Jesus  defend- 
ed his  disciples.  On  another  sabbath,  he  entered  into 
the  synagogue  or  the  sciiool  of  the  Jews,  taught,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  healed  the  right  hand  of  a  man  which  was 
withered.  At  this,  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  were  so 
embittered  against  Jesus,  that  they  resolved  among  them- 
selves to  kill  him.  When,  however,  he  perceived  this, 
he  removed  from  them,  and  again  betook  himself  to 
the  Sea  of  Gennesareth.  To  this  place,  a  very  great 
multitude  of  people  followed  him  from  all  the  regions  of 
Judea.  Here  he  instructed  the  people  from  out  of  a  ves- 
sel which  lay  near  the  shore  on  which  they  stood,  healing 
all  the  sick  that  they  brought  to  him.  Yes,  the  sick 
were  even  healed  by  only  touching  him. 

He  often  left  all  company  and  ascended  a  mountain 
alone,  in  order  to  give  himself  up  for  a  few  hours  in  the 
quiet  of  solitude,  to  pious  thoughts  and  meditations.  This 
he  did  on  the  very  night  previous  to  the  time  he  had  fixed, 
for  choosing  out  of  the  multitude  of  his  followers,  a  par- 
ticular number  of  intimate  associates  to  be  his  disciples 
or  pupils;  who,  by  daily  intercourse  with  him,  should  be 
prepared  to  become  public  teachers  of  mankind  ;  and 
who,  in  confirmation  of  their  having  received  a  commis- 
sion and  full  authority  from  God  for  this  purpose,  should 
be  endowed  with  the  power  of  working  miracles.  After  he 
had  prepared  himself  for  making  this  important  choice  by 
a  solemn  and  heartfelt  prayer  to  God,  he  called  all  his  fol- 
lowers to  him,  and  publicly  selected  twelve  for  his  partic- 
ular pupils.    These  he  called  apostles  or  missionaries. 


24  JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER, 

He  now  returned  to  Capernaum,  where  he  healed  the 
sick  servant  of  a  gentile  centurion.  From  this  place  he 
went  to  Nain,  where  he  raised  from  the  dead  the  son 
of  a  poor  widow. 

This  and  a  multitude  of  other  miracles  which  Jesus 
did  in  Galilee,  increased  the  envy  and  bitterness  of  his 
enemies  against  him.  In  order  to  be  secure  against  their 
persecutions,  he  crossed  over  to  the  other  side  of  the  sea  of 
Gennesareth  ;  and  from  this  place,  he  returned  again  to 
Capernaum.  Here  he  defended  himself  against  those 
who  censured  him  for  having  held  intercourse  with  publi- 
cans and  sinners.  In  thus  censuring  him,  they  did  him 
great  injustice;  for  his  desire  was,  to  make  men  better  ; 
and  in  order  to  effect  this,  it  was  necessary  for  him  to 
associate  and  converse  with  them,  just  as  a  physician  must 
associate  and  converse  with  those  sick  persons  whom  he 
would  cure  of  their  diseases.  He  raised  the  daughter  of 
Jairus  from  the  dead,  and  also  in  a  very  wonderful  manner,- 
healed  many  other  sick  persons  ;  and  among  others,  two 
blind  men  who  followed  him  as  he  went  out  of  Nazareth, 
and  cried  after  him  for  help.  He  only  touched  their 
eyes,  and  they  received  their  sight.  He  also  restored 
speech  to  a  dumb  person. 

See  here,  dear  youth,  how  unspeakably  kind  our  Sa- 
viour is  !  He  helps  every  one  who  asks  him  for  help. 
He  sends  no  miserable  person  away  from  him,  but  has 
compassion  upon  all. 

Refuge  oftlio  troubled  spirit, 
When  tiie  flood  is  rolling  near  it,     ■ 
Who  did  ever  bow  before  tliee, 
And  with  humble  heart  adore  thee, 
Without  kindest  aid  receiving. 
Peace,  salvation,  in  believing .' 


HIS  SECOND  YEAR.  25 

To  the  voice  of  woe  complaining, 
Didst  thou  bend  willi  grief  unfeigning, 
Wlien  on   earth,  in  toil  and  danger. 
Seeking  for  the  sin-lost  stranger  ; 
And,  tho'  high  enthroned  in  glory, 
Thou  art  still  as  kind  and  lowly; 
Not  a  suppliant  asks  relieving, 
Without  aid  from  thee  receiving, 

At  Nazareth,  which  was  his  own  country,  people  did 
not  perceive  how  full  his  heart  was,  of  tenderness,  good- 
ness, and  love.  He  taught  here  indeed,  but  here  he 
was  again  despised  and  persecuted.  He  left,  therefore, 
the  ungrateful  people  of  this  place,  and  travelled  again 
through  the  other  parts  of  Galilee,  teaching  the  will  of 
God  and  the  way  of  salvation,  and  restoring  various  sick 
persons  to  health.  At  this  time,  he  sent  forlli  his  twelve 
apostles  into  different  regions,  to  also  make  known  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and,  by  the  performance  of 
miracles,  to  show,  that  these  their  doctrines  were  true, 
and  from  God.  They  returned  to  him  again,  a  short 
time  before  the  feast  of  the  passover,  after  having 
preached  as  they  were  commanded,  casting  out  evil 
spirits, — and  made  a  report  to  Jesus  of  all  they  had  done. 

About  this  time,  John  was  beheaded.  When  Jesus 
heard  of  his  execution,  he  crossed  with  his  disciples, 
over  the  sea  of  Gennesareth,  and  went  into  a  desert 
near  the  city  of  Bethsaida.  As  was  usually  the  case,  as 
soon  as  it  was  known  where  he  had  gone,  a  great  multi- 
tude followed  after  him,  to  whom  he  again  showed  him- 
self a  teacher  full  of  genius  and  heartfelt  love,  and  a  pow- 
erful helper ;  for  he  taught  the  crowds  which  assembled 
around  him,  healed  the  sick,  and  fed  the  whole  multitude, 
consisting  of  five  thousand  men,  besides  women  and 
3 


go  JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER. 

children,  with  five  barley  loaves  and  two  fishes  ;  and  in 
such  a  manner  too,  that  twelve  baskets  were  filled  with 
the  fragments  which  were  left  after  all  had  been  satisfied. 
By  this  miracle  Jesus  clearly  proved  that  he  had  divine 
power.  It  was  the  means  of  convincing  the  people  that  he 
was  the  promised  great  prophet.  They  now  wished  to  pro- 
claim him  king.  He,  however,  was  not  striving  after  vain 
honor.  He  had  the  well-pleasing  of  his  heavenly  Father  at 
heart,  above  all  things  else.  The  object  which  he  was  seek- 
ing after,  was  to  make  men  wise,  good,  and  happy.  He 
retired,  therefore,  into  a  solitary  region,  in  order  to  give 
himself  up  to  pious  contemplations.  In  the  mean  time, 
he  had  sent  his  disciples  away  before  him  to  Capernaum, 
by  water.  After  they  had  got  out  into  the  sea,  a  violent 
storm  arose,  in  which  they  were  in  very  great  distress. 
In  the  height  of  the  danger,  Jesus  came  to  them,  walking 
on  the  sea,  and  having,  by  his  words  and  familiar  tones 
of  voice,  calmed  their  fears  on  beholding  him,  entered 
into  the  ship.  Immediately  after,  the  storm  subsided 
and  they  arrived  at  land.  His  arrival  becoming  at  once 
known,  the  sick  were  brought  to  him  from  all  the  re- 
gions round  about, — who,  by  merely  touching  his  gar- 
ments, were  made  whole. 

About  this  time,  many  of  those  who  had  hitherto  ap- 
parently been  his  friends,  withdrew  from  him,  because 
he  told  them,  that  from  him  they  had  no  temporal  advan- 
tages to  expect, — nothing  but  heavenly  and  eternal  riches. 
His  twelve  apostles  assured  him  of  their  constant  fidelity, 
because  that  they  believed  he  was  Christ  the  son  of  God. 
He  discovered  to  them,  however,  for  the  first  time,  that 
one  of  their  number  should  in  a  faithless  manner  betray 
him 


HIS  THIRD  VEAR.  27 

SECTION  V. 

The  third  year  of  Jesus,  as  a  teacher. 

After  the  feast  of  the  passover,  which  Jesus,  however, 
did  not  celebrate  at  Jerusalem,  he  betook  himself  to  the 
region  of  the  rich  commercial  cities  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 
where  a  Syro-phenician  or  Canaanitish  woman  came  to 
him,  and  entreated  him  for  help,  in  behalf  of  her  daugh- 
ter. At  first  he  seemed  disinclined  to  attend  to  her 
entreaty  ;  but  on  account  of  the  perseverance,  faith,  and 
humility,  with  which  she  made  her  request,  he  listened 
to  her  complaints,  so  that  she,  on  her  return  home,  found 
her  daughter  perfectly  restored.  Leaving  Tyre  and  Si- 
don, he  now  came  into  the  region  of  Decapolis,  or  the 
ten  cities,  where  he  healed  the  lame,  the  blind,  the  dumb, 
and  other  diseased  persons ;  and  in  particular,  restored 
one  who  was  both  deaf  and  dumb,  to  the  use  of  the  fa- 
culties of  hearing  and  seeing,  so  suddenly,  that  every  bo- 
dy was  filled  with  admiration,  and  gave  praise  to  God 
and  to  Jesus,  crying  out :     He  hath  done  all  things  icell ! 

Here  it  was,  that  he  again  so  wonderfully  supplied  the 
wants  of  a  large  multitude  out  of  a  little  food  ;  for  he  not 
only  fed  four  thousand  men,  besides  women  and  children 
who  were  not  reckoned,  with  seven  loaves  and  a  ^e\\ 
small  fishes,  so  as  to  satisfy  them  all,  but  so  even  as  to 
have  seven  baskets  full  of  fragments  left. 

On  a  journey  which  he  now  undertook  to  Dalmanutha, 
having  crossed  over  the  sea,  he  rebuked  the  Pharisees 
who  lived  in  that  region  and  came  forth  to  meet  him, 
for  their  conduct  and  unbelief  At  Bethsaida,  he  restor- 
ed a  blind  man  to  sight.     At  Cesarea,  he  again  gave  his 


28 


JESUS  AS  A  TEACHER. 


disciples  to  understand  that  he  was  the  Messiah,  and  fore- 
told them  of  his  approaching  and  heavy  sufferings,  of 
his  death,  and  of  his  resurrection  on  the  thirrl  day.  In 
doing  so,  he  exhorted  them  for  his  sake,  to  endure  all 
sufferings  wilh  willingness,  and  to  remain  faithful  to  him, 
even  unto  death.  This  exhortation  he  afterwards  repeat- 
ed at  different  times.  A  few  days  after  this,  he  took  with 
him  Peter,  James,  and  John,  and  wilh  them  alone,  as- 
cended a  high  mountain,  where  God,  by  means  of  a  won- 
derful transaction,  the  effect  of  his  wisdom  and  almighty 
power,  gave  these  three  disciples  to  understand,  that  Je- 
sus was  his  beloved  son,  and  that  the  doctrines  which  he 
taught,  were  true.  The  countenance  of  Jesus,  for  in- 
stance, became  of  a  splendor  like  the  sun,  and  his  gar- 
ments were  as  white  and  shining  as  the  snov.'.  Moses  and 
Elias  or  Elijah,  both  of  whom  had  at  this  time  been  dead 
many  centuries,  made  their  appearance  and  conversed 
with  Jesus  of  his  future  sufferings  and  death ;  and  the 
three  disciples  heard  a  voice  out  of  the  clouds,  saying : 
'  This  is  my  beloved  son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased  ;  be- 
lieve and  obey  what  he  says.' 

This  wonderful  transaction  is  called  the  trctnsjiguration 
of  Jesus.  On  his  coming  down  from  the  mountain,  he 
healed  a  youth,  who  had  the  falling  sickness, — a  disease 
said  to  make  its  attacks  at  the  change  of  the  moon.  His 
disciples  had  found  themselves  unable  to  cure  it. 

Some  time  after  this,  he  went  up  to  the  feast  of  taber- 
nacles at  Jerusalem.  Here  he  taught  publicly  in  the  tem- 
ple, and  proved  that  he  had  been  sent  of  God.  At  this, 
the  chief  magistrates  of  the  Jews  were  so  much  incensed 
against  Jesus,  that  they  resolved  to  cause  him  to  be  ta- 
ken. Nicodemus  opposed  this  resolution,  but  without 
success.     Jesus  continued  to  teach   in   public,  and  said 


HIS  THIRD  YEAR.  29 

that  he  was  the  one  who  was  to  make  mankind  acquaint- 
ed with  true  wisdom,  the  way  to  eternal  happiness, — assert- 
ing that  he  had  had  an  existence  before  Abraham.  At 
this  the  Jews  were  so  much  excited,  that  they  took  up 
stones  and  were  going  to  stone  him  ;  but  he  withdrew 
himself  from  them,  and  went  out  of  the  temple.  Soon 
after  this,  he  found  a  man  who  had  been  born  blind,  and 
cured  him  of  his  blindness  on  the  sabbath-day. 

He  now  left  Jerusalem.  Soon  afterwards,  wishing  to 
return  thither  again,  he  took  his  way  through  Samaria  ; 
but  the  Samaritans  would  not  give  him  a  lodging.  Upon 
this,  James  and  John  became  animated  with  such  indig- 
nant zeal,  that  they  wished  to  punish  the  unfriendliness 
of  the  people  with  fire  from  heaven  ;  but  Jesus,  who 
always  corrected  his  disciples  when  they  erred,  and  seri- 
ously counselled  them  to  do  better,  admonished  them  to 
cultivate  more  meek  and  gentle  dispositions.  On  this 
journey,  he  selected  seventy  of  his  followers  or  pupils,  and 
sent  them  forth  to  spread  his  doctrines  in  different  re- 
gions. Tliey  returned  back  to  him  with  joy,  and  he  re- 
turned thanks  to  his  heavenly  Father  for  the  good  which 
they  had  been  the  means  of  accomplishing. 

In  the  mean  time,  upon  his  journey,  he  came  as  far  as 
to  Bethany,  where  he  visited  Mary  and  Martha ;  and  be- 
cause the  latter  thought  more  on  the  domestic  business 
of  her  house,  than  upon  paying  attention  to  his  words,  he 
gave  her  a  pointed  admonition,  saying  to  her  :  '  Thou  art 
careful  and  troubled  about  many  things  ;  Mary  hath 
chosen  the  good  part.' 

After  this,  his  disciples  came  to  him  at  the  close  of  one 

of  his  prayers,   and   asked   him   to  teach   them   to  pray  ; 

when  he  repeated  to  them  the  words,  "  Our  Father  which 

art  in  heaven,  etc.,"  which  he  had  done  before  in  his  ser- 

3* 


30  THE   LAST  DAYS  OF  JESUS. 

mon  on   the  mount,  and  exhorted  them  to  pray  with  per- 
severance and  devotionalness  of  spirit. 

From  Bethany,  he  went  up  to  the  feast  of  the  dedication, 
at  Jerusalem.  At  this  feast,  the  Jews  required  of  him  a 
public  declaration,  whether  or  not  he  was  the  promised 
Messiah  or  Christ.  When  in  reply,  he  appealed  to  the 
works  which  he  had  done  in  his  Father's  name,  they 
became  so  indignant  against  him,  that  they  again  deter- 
mined to  stone  him.  He  did  indeed  show  those  who  ac- 
cused him  of  blasphemy  against  God,  that  he  was  inno- 
cent, but  it  availed  him  nothing.  They  sought  to  take  him 
and  put  him  to  death;  but  he  escaped  this  time  also  from 
their  hands,  and  withdrew  to  the  place  on  the  other  side 
of  Jordan,  where  John  had  baptized.  Here  many  receiv- 
ed his  doctrines  as  true,  and  became  his  followers. 


SECTION  VI. 

The  last  days  of  the  life  of  Jesus. 

By  this  time,  the  fourth  feast  of  the  passover  was  draw- 
ing near,  and  Jesus  entered  upon  his  journey  to  Jerusa- 
lem. On  the  way,  he  admonished  those  that  were  with 
him  to  strive  after  salvation,  and  warned  them  against 
all  hypocrisy  in  worshipping  God.  In  the  house  of 
one  of  the  chief  Pharisees,  where  he  was  a  guest  on  the 
sabbath-day,  he  healed  a  man  who  had  the  dropsy,  and 
exhorted  the  guests  to  humility.  Upon  this  journey, 
he  imparted  to  his  disciples  as  well  as  to  others  who  fol- 
lowed him,  much  excellent  instruction.  He  told  them, 
that  constancy,  forbearance,  and  fidelity  in  the  confession 


THE  LAST  DAYS  OF  JESUS.  31 

and  practice  of  his  doctrines,  and  a  readiness  to  undergo 
every  species  of  suffering  for  his  sake,  constituted  the  on- 
ly sure  sign  of  their  being  his  true  followers  and  genuine 
disciples.  He  called  upon  them,  therefore,  expressly, 
to  see  to  it  with  all  seriousness  and  diligence,  that  this 
sign  was  found  upon  them.  In  the  parable  of  the  unjust 
steward,  and  the  account  he  gave  of  the  rich  man  who 
lived  every  day  in  splendor  and  pleasure,  he  censured  the 
vices  of  the  vain,  sensual  world,  such  as  injustice  and 
faithlessness,  dissipation,  gluttony,  and  indifference  to 
the  poor  ;  while  on  the  other  hand,  he  recommended 
compassion  to  those  suffering  with  want,  as  a  virtue, 
the  practice  of  which  brings  happiness.  In  another  pa- 
rable, he  taught  that  men  should  persevere  in  prayer, 
and  pray  with  humility,  keeping  far  removed  from  a  proud 
reliance  upon  their  own  virtues  and  merits,  and  feeling  sen- 
sible of  their  unworthiness  before  God.  While  upon  this 
last  journey,  he  also  performed  several  great  works  of  love. 
He  restored  ten  men  who  were  lepers,  to  health,  of  whom, 
however,  only  one  returned  him  thanks  for  this  benevolent 
act.  At  Bethany,  he  raised  his  friend  Lazarus  from  the 
dead,  after  he  had  been  buried  four  days.  This  miracle 
excited  great  attention  to  the  power  of  Jesus.  The  Jews 
now  more  than  ever,  went  about  to  kill  him.  As,  how- 
ever, the  time  of  his  death  had  not  yet  arrived,  he  retired 
to  a  city  called  Ephraim,  a  remote  place,  until  the  passover 
had  drawn  near. 

During  his  residence  in  this  place,  he  evinced  towards 
young  children  that  were  brought  to  him,  that  he  was  the 
children's  friend.  He  showed  a  rich  young  man,  what 
it  was  requisite  for  him  to  do,  in  order  to  become  his 
true  disciple.  He  promised  his  disciples  great  rewards  for 
their  faithfulness  to  him  thus  far;  but,  in  the  parable  of 
the  laborers  in  the  vineyard,  warned  them,  and  all  of  us, 


32  THE   LAST  WEEIC  OF  JESUS. 

who  wish  lo  know  what  he  taught,  not  to  be  envious  if 
we  find  others  faring  better  than  we  do,  and  not  to  mur- 
mur against  God,  even  if  he  does  not  do  according  to 
our  wishes  and  thoughts. 

When  now  the  feast  of  the  passover  had  drawn  near, 
Jesus  left  Ephraim  on  his  way  towards  Jerusalem.  On 
the  journey  he  gave  his  disciples  a  prophetic  account  of 
the  torments  which  awaited  him,  and  of  the  kind  of  death 
before  him,  at  Jerusalem.  On  coming  near  to  Jericho,  he 
found  a  blind  beggar  sitting  by  the  side  of  the  road,  and 
gave  him  his  sight.  In  the  city  of  Jericho,  he  visited 
the  house  of  Zaccheus,  and  instructed  those  who  were 
present,  in  edifying  discourses  and  parables.  On  going 
out  of  Jericho,  he  found  two  blind  men  sitting  by  the 
way-side,  and  cured  them  of  their  blindness, — when  they 
accompanied  him  cut  of  gratitude.         ^ 


SECTION  VII. 

The  last  week  of  Jesus. 

On  a  Sunday  Jesus  made  his  public  entrance  into  Jeru- 
salem. The  people  who  followed  after  him  and  came  to 
meet  him,  showed  him  the  greatest  marks  of  honor,  and 
accompanied  him  with  songs  of  praise  and  exclamations  of 
joy.  He,  however,  on  drawing  near  to  the  gates  of  Jeru- 
salem, wept  over  the  great  blindness  and  profligacy  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  the  frightful  destruction  which  hung  over 
this  beautiful  city. 

O  the  Savior,  kind  and  full  of  compassion  !  Under 
exhibitions  of  the  purest  love,  he  travels  on  to  the  city, 


THE  LAST   WEEK  OF  JESUS.  33 

where  he  is  to  be  seized  and  slain!  The  misery  of  its 
inhabitants,  moves  him  to  tears  ! — Once  more,  however, 
before  he  died,  he  presented  himself  in  his  divine  elevation 
of  character,  while  he  saw  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem 
impending;  and,  as  at  the  beginning  of  his  career  as  a 
teacher,  so  also  at  its  conclusion,  he  purified  the  temple 
of  those  people,  who  within  its  courts,  transacted  busi- 
ness, which  was  in  direct  opposition  to  the  dignity  of  the 
place.  At  the  same  time,  he  also  miraculously  healed 
many  who  were  sick,  of  their  diseases.  In  the  evening, 
he  went  back  again  to  Bethany. 

Early  on  Monday,  he  returned  to  Jerusalem,  and  again 
rebuked  those  who  traded  in  the  temple  ;  in  doing  which, 
however,  he  excited  the  priests  against  him.  In  the  eve- 
ning he  concealed  himself  without  the  city. 

On  Tuesday,  he  came  again  into  the  temple  and  con- 
tinued preaching  various  salutary  doctrines.  He  taught 
the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  foretold  the  destruction  of  the 
city  Jerusalem,  and  answered  the  question  :  "  Which  is 
the  greatest  commandment  in  the  law  ?"  He  recommend- 
ed sincere,  undivided,  heart-felt  love  to  God  as  the  great- 
est, the  chief  commandment ;  by  the  side  of  which  he 
placed  true  love  to  mankind,  including  in  this  last,  indeed, 
the  love  of  ourselves,  but  excluding  from  it  selfishness.  He 
also  named  the  signs  which  should  precede  the  divine 
judgment  which  ;'.vas  to  be  brought  on  the  Jewish  na- 
tion, and  particularly  upon  the  city  of  Jerusalem  and  its 
splendid  temple.  As  this  judgment  was  to  be  sudden 
and  unexpected  in  its  coming,  so  he  took  occasion  thence 
to  exhort  his  followers  to  make  serious  preparation  for  it, 
and  to  think  upon  their  security,  because  that  they  now 
had  time  for  it.  Hence  he  admonished  them  to  live  in 
the  constant  exercise  of  moderation  and  temperance,  to 


34  THE  LAST  WEEK  OF  JESUS. 

guard  themselves  against  painful  anxiety  about  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  to  attend  with  all  diligence  to  what  was 
good,  and  carefully  avoid  every  thing  wicked  ;  because 
that  all  this  was  necessary  for  every  one  who  would  stand 
in  righteousness  and  joy,  not  only  before  this,  but  before 
every  other  judgment  of  God.  These  instructions  he  not 
only  imparted  in  words,  but  also  in  the  parable  of  the  ten 
virgins,  and  that  of  the  different  talents  a  man  intrusted 
to  his  servants.  He  also  imparted  to  them  a  kw  hints 
respecting  his  glorious  coming  to  the  last  judgment  of 
all  men. — On  Wednesday,  he  again  taught  in  the  temple. 
On  Thursday,  he  sent  Peter  and  John  into  the  city,  to 
prepare  the  paschal  lamb  ;  in  the  mean  time,  he  held  an 
instructive  dialogue  with  the  rest  of  his  disciples,  in 
which  he  taught  them  respecting  many  subjects,  comforted 
and  admonished  them.  Towards  evening,  he  went  with 
them  to  Jerusaelm.  While  on  the  way,  he  delivered  vari- 
ous, touching,  and  consolatory  farewell  discourses.  When 
they  were  about  to  sit  down  at  the  table,  he  washed  his 
disciples'  feet,  and  thereby  gave  them  a  practical  exhor- 
tation to  exercise  love  and  humility  towards  each  other. 
At  the  table  he  showed  them  that  one  of  their  number 
should  betray  him,  and  soon  after,  told  Judas  with  perfect 
clearness,  that  be  was  the  person.  This  faithless  disci- 
ple, had  already  agreed  with  the  high  priests,  to  deliver 
Jesus,  his  teacher  and  the  best  of  teachers,  into  their 
hands,  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  or  about  fifteen  dollars. 
The  information  of  Jesus,  that  he  knew  his  wicked  in- 
tentions, the  manner  in  which  he  gave  it,  and  the  warn- 
ing he  thus  gave  the  traitor,  did  not,  however,  all  hold 
him  back  from  his  infamous  deed.  At  this  repast,  Jesus 
also  established  the  sacrament  of  the  holy  supper,  exhort- 
ed his  disciples  to  love  one  another,  and  foretold  Peter  of 
his  fall. 


THE  LAST  SUFFERINGS  OF  JESUS.  3«^ 

SECTION  VIII. 

The  last  sufferings  and  death  of  Jesus. 

Jesus  now  gave  his  disciples  a  very  consolatory  and 
moving  farewell  address.  He  concluded  it  with  a  pray- 
er ;  and  in  the  night,  went  out  with  them,  to  the  Mount 
of  Olives.  On  the  way  he  told  them  beforehand,  that 
they  would  all  forsake  him,  and  that  Peter  would  deny 
him  three  times,  before  the  cock  should  crow  twice. 
Having  arrived  with  them  at  the  farm  or  tield  of  Gethse- 
mane,  he  entered  the  garden  which  belonged  to  it.  Here 
his  last  grievous  sufferings,  in  reality  commenced.  He 
began  to  tremble  and  quake,  told  his  disciples  that  he 
was  exceedingly  sorrowful  even  unto  death,  and  exhorted 
them  to  watch  with  him  and  pray.  Not  far  from  them  he 
kneeled  down,  fell  upon  his  face,  and  prayed,  saying  : 
"  O.  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from 
me  ;  nevertheless,  not  as  T  will,  but  as  thou  wilt."  Then 
arising  and  coming  to  his  disciples,  he  found  them  asleep. 
This  affected  him,  and  he  again  admonished  them  to 
watch  and  pray.  He  went  away  the  second  time  and 
prayed,  returned  to  them,  and  again  found  them  asleep. 
He  went  away  the  third  time  and  prayed.  Under  this 
prayer,  he  felt  himself  strengthened  in  an  extraordinary 
manner  by  God.  It  was  to  him  as  if  an  angel  had  poured 
a  cup  of  consolation  into  his  soul.  The  deadly  anguish, 
which  had  been  so  violent  that  his  sweat  fell  like  drops 
of  blood  to  the  ground,  vanished.  When  he  came  to  his 
disciples  the  third  time,  he  found  them  still  sleep- 
ing. He  awoke  them,  and  told  them  that  his  betrayer 
was  near.    Directly  after  he  arrived  with  a  Roman  guard. 


36         THE  LAST  SUFFERINGS  OF  JESUS. 

and  a  crowd  of  public  Jewish  officers,  and  betrayed  Je- 
sus to  them  with  a  kiss.  It  would  have  been  easy  for 
him  to  have  kept  this  company  at  a  distance  from  him,  or 
to  have  slain  them  ;  for  at  the  mere  words,  I  am  he,  they 
shrunk  back  and  fell  down,  with  terror  ;  but  he  permitted 
them  to  seize  him  and  bind  him.  He  went  so  far  even, 
as  to  heal  the  ear  of  Malchus,  which  Peter  had  wounded 
with  his  sword.  Having  now  bound  Jesus,  they  led  him 
away,  and  all  the  disciples  forsook  him.  They  brought 
him  first,  to  Annas,  who  had  been  high  priest,  and  then 
to  Caiaphas  the  acting  high  priest,  with  whom  the  chief 
council  had  assembled  together. 

Here,  there  came  forward  wicked  people,  who  had  been 
bribed  with  money  to  bring  accusations  against  him,  and 
in  an  unjust  manner,  accused  him  of  criminal  words  and 
actions.  God,  however,  watched  over  the  innocence  of 
Jesus.  The  bribed  false  witnesses  were  unable  to  bring 
any  thing  against  him  with  truth.  They  did  not  agree 
in  their  testimony  or  depositions,  and  their  falsehood  be- 
came public.  As  Jesus  openly  confessed  that  he  was  the 
promised  Messiah  or  Christ  and  the  son  of  God,  the  higli 
priest  declared  him  a  blasphemer  of  God.  The  other 
members  of  the  council  agreed  in  this  decision,  and  unan- 
imously condemned  him  to  death.  Upon  this  he  was 
very  much  abused.  The  assistants  and  servants  of  the 
council,  spit  upon  him  and  struck  him  in  the  face  with 
the  palms  of  their  hands,  carried  on  their  ridicule 
with  him,  and  threw  out  calumnies  against  him.  In  the 
midst  of  these  abuses  he  had  also  the  mortification  to 
hear  how  Peter  three  times  publicly  denied  his  name, 
and  affirmed  with  the  most  horrible  oaths  that  he  knew 
him  not.  The  Savior,  however,  rich  in  love,  turned 
upon    Peter    a    deeply   moving,    warning    look,    which 


THE  LAST   SUFFERINGS  OF  JESUS.  37 

brought  him   so   far   to  reflection  that  he   went  out  and 
wept  bitterly  for  the  sin  which  he  had  committed. 

Jesus,  having  now  been  condemned  to  death  by  the 
chief  council  of  the  Jews  for  the  second  time,  was 
brought  to  Pontius  Pilate  the  Roman  governor,  for 
the  purpose  of  having  it  confirmed  and  carried  into  exe- 
cution. When  Judas  saw  this,  he  repented  of  his  treach- 
ery, and  brought  again  the  reward  which  he  had  received 
for  it ;  and  as  the  Jewish  officers  would  not  take  it  back, 
he  threw  it  down  in  the  temple,  and  in  despair  went  out 
and  hanged  himself.  The  enemies  of  Jesus  brought 
hard  accusations  against  him,  before  Pilate  ;  but  Pilate  re- 
cognized his  innocence,  and  declared  to  his  accusers,  that 
he  found  nothing  in  him  worthy  of  punishment.  He 
sent  him  to  Herod,  the  ruler  of  Galilee,  then  also  in 
Jerusalem.  He  too  found  the  accusations  of  the  enemies 
of  Jesus,  groundless  ;  but  still  he  together  with  his  men  of 
war  abused  him  in  various  ways,  and  treated  him  with  rid- 
icule. To  make  him  an  object  of  sport  and  laughter,  he 
clothed  him  with  a  white  robe,  and  thus  sent  him  back  to 
Pilate.  Pilate  was  very  much  inclined  to  let  Jesus  go; 
and  hence  he  placed  by  the  side  of  Jesus  one  who  had 
been  convicted  of  robbery  and  murder,  called  Barabbas, 
and  declared  Jesus  innocent,  supposing  that  the  people 
would  now  ask  for  the  release  of  Jesus;  for  at  the  feast,  it 
was  customary  for  the  people  to  ask  for  the  release  of  a  pri- 
soner; but  they  cried  out,  'Release  not  Jesus,  but' Ba- 
rabbas.' 

Upon  this,  Pilate  caused  Jesus  to  be  scourged  with  thongs, 
to  which  were  perhaps  tied  little  iron  hooks  or  pieces  of 
bone.  The  soldiers  pressed  a  crown  of  thorns  upon  his 
head,  clothed  him  with  a  purple  garment,  and,  puttino-  a 
reed  in  his  right  hand,  bent  their  knees  before  him,  and  sa- 


38  THE  LAST  SUFFERINGS  OF  JESUS. 

luting  him  in  ridicule,  said,  Hail,  king  of  the  Jews.  Then 
again  they  spit  upon  him,  took  the  reed  and  smote 
him  on  the  head  with  it,  and  struck  him  on  his  face 
with  their  hands.  Once  more,  while  in  this  lamenta- 
ble condition,  Pilate  brought  him  out  before  the  people, 
in  hopes  thereby  to  excite  their  compassion.  Twice 
again  also,  he  affirmed,  that  he  had  found  no  guilt  in  him. 
All  his  representations,  however,  and  efforts  for  softening 
the  feelings  of  the  people,  were  in  vain.  They  cried 
out  incessantly,  *  Let  Jesus  be  crucified.'  At  last,  seeing 
that  the  tumults  and  outcries  continually  increased,  Pilate 
also  sentenced  Jesus  to  be  crucified  ;  but  he  washed  his 
hands  before  the  people,  and  exclaimed  in  public  :  '  I  am 
innocent  of  the  blood  of  this  just  person.' 

Jesus  was  then  led  away  to  a  place  called  Golgotha, 
and  there,  between  two  malefactors  or  wicked  men,  he 
was  nailed  by  his  hands  and  feet  to  the  cross.  The  sol- 
diers who  did  this,  then  divided  his  garments  among 
them,  and  for  his  coat  cast  lots.  Just  before,  they 
had  handed  him  some  drink  composed  of  bitter  vinegar, 
which,  however,  he  would  not  take.  While  in  the  ago- 
nies of  death,  he  was  ridiculed  and  calumniated,  not  only 
by  the  chief  priests  and  soldiers,  but  even  by  one^pf  the  mur- 
derers who  were  crucified  with  him.  Under  the  most  terri- 
ble sufferings  of  his  body,  and  in  the  most  inexpressible  an- 
guish of  his  soul,  he  cried  out :  "  My  God,  my  God,  why 
hast  thou  forsaken  me."  Directly  after,  he  complained 
of  thirst ;  and  by  way  of  making  new  sport  of  him,  there 
was  offered  to  him  a  kind  of  sour  wine,  to  drink.  When 
he  had  tasted  of  it,  he  exclaimed,  It  is  finished ;  and  im- 
mediately after,  having  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice :  "  Fath- 
er, into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit,"  he  bowed  his 
head,  and  died.  After  his  departure,  his  side  was  pierced 
through  with  a  spear, 


THE  BURIAL  OF  JESUS. 


39 


The  death  of  Jesus  was  accompanied  with  some  re- 
markable events,  and  the  performance  of  real  miracles. 
For  three  hours,  while  he  was  in  the  pains  of  dissolu- 
tion, there  was  a  great  darkness  of  the  sun,  over  all  the 
land  of  Judea.  When  he  died,  the  veil  in  the  temple 
was  torn  from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  into  two  parts. 
There  was  also  so  violent  an  earthqoike,  that  the  very 
rocks  rent,  and  some  gx  ves  opened,  out  of  which,  after 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus,  the  dead  who  lay  in  them  came 
forth  alive. 


SECTION  IX. 

T'he  burial,  resurrection,  and  ascension  of  Jesus. 

Joseph  of  Arimathea,  a  secret  friend  of  Jesus,  asked 
Pilate  for  permission  to  bury  the  body  of  Jesus,  which  he 
received.  Nicodemus  helped  him  in  this  service,  which 
was  performed  so  as  to  exhibit  testimonies  of  great  honor. 
The  corpse  was  wrapped  up  in  clean  linen,  together  with 
Myrrh  and  Aloes,  and  laid  in  a  grave  .vhich  Joseph  had 
lately  hewn  out  in  a  rock  in  his  garden,  and  in  which  no 
one  had  ever  before  been  laid.  The  entrance  to  it  was 
stopped  up  with  a  great  stone. 

The  Jewish  council  informed  Pilate,  that  Jesus  when 
alive,  had  often  said,  that  he  would  rise  on  the  third  day  ; 
and  hence  begged  him  to  station  a  guard  to  watch  the 
grave  during  that  time,  in  order  that  his  disciples  might 


40  RESURRECTION  AND  ASCENSION  OF  JESUS. 

not  secretly  steal  the  body  away,  and  then  try  to  pass  his 
resurrection  off  upon  the  world.  Pilate  gave  them  a 
guard  ;  they  themselves  sealed  the  stone  at  the  entrance 
of  the  grave,  in  order  that  the  guard  might  not  be  bribed 
nor  any  person    be  permitted,   to  enter  into  the  tomb. 

What  Jesus,  however,  had  more  than  once  predicted, 
came  to  pass  ;  for  on  the  third  day,  he  arose  and  came 
out  of  the  grave.  The  event  was  accompanied  with  a 
great  earthquake,  and  an  angel  descended  from  heaven 
and  rolled  away  the  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre  ; 
and  upon  this,  the  keepers  became  exceedingly  affright- 
ed and  Red. 

Jesus,  having  arisen  from  the  dead,  appeared  to  many 
pious  persons  ;  in  particular,  he  made  himself  known  at 
different  times  to  his  desponding  disciples.  He  called  up 
their  attention  to  and  gave  them  instructions  respecting, 
the  various  prophecies  and  teachings  of  the  sacred  scrip- 
tures which  spake  of  himself  He  appointed  them  to 
teach  his  religion,  commanding  them  in  the  first  place 
to  make  mankind  acquainted  with  it,  and  when  they  avow- 
ed their  faith  in  it,  to  consecrate  them  in  professing  the 
same,  by  means  of  baptism. 

On  the  fortieth  day  after  his  resurrection,  he  assembled 
his  disciples  together,  at  Bethany,  promised  them  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  with  his  gifts,  should  soon  be  poured  out 
upon  them,  and  that  by  this  means  they  should  receive 
power  to  execute  the  duties  of  their  apostolic  office,  and 
then  he  lifted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  them  ;  during 
his  performance  of  which  act,  he  ascended  from  them  be- 
fore their  eyes,  up  into  heaven.  While  they  stood  gazing 
after  him  with  wonder  and  astonishment,  two  angels  ap- 
peared to  them,  and  told  them,  that  Jesus,  who  had  now 
gone  up  into  heaven,  should  one  day  come  again. 


PART    II. 

I.    Reflections  on  the  life   of  Jesus. 
SECTION  I. 

Necessary  to  become  truly  acquainted  with  Jesus. 

There  is  much,  my  young  friends,  for  you  to  learn,  if 
you  would  have  things  go  well  with  you, — if  you  would 
have  enough  to  eat  and  drink,  and  would  live  contented 
and  esteemed  in  this  world,  and  obtain  happiness  after 
death. 

The  most  important  knowledge  for  you  to  acquire, 
however,  is  that  which  relates  to  Jesus  Christ.  You 
must  begin  to  exhibit  your  love  of  study  and  your  perse- 
vering diligence,  in  the  very  first  place,  in  forming  a  true 
acquaintance  with  his  character.  I  will  give  you  reasons 
why  this  knowledge  is  of  such  importance. 

The^r.s/  reason  I  have  to  give,  is,  that  Jesus  Christ 
was  the  wisest,  the  most  pious,  the  holiest  of  men.  In- 
deed, he  is  the  only  perfect  man  that  has  ever  lived  on 
earth,  from  its  creation,  down  to  the  present  time. 

All  other  men,  even  the  best  of  them,  have  sinned,  and 

sinned    a   great    many  times.      They  have   had   wicked 

thoughts,  they  have  spoken  wicked  words,  they  have  done 

what  is  wicked.     Should  we  take  any  one  of  them,  there- 

4* 


42        REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

fore,  as  our  guide  in  all  things,  we  should  often  be  led  a- 
stray,  and  do  what  God  has  forbidden.  Jesus  Christ,  how- 
ever, never  committed  a  single  sin,  or  broke  one  of  God's 
commandments.  From  his  childhood  to  his  death,  he 
obeyed  his  heavenly  Father  in  all  things.  It  was  his 
greatest  joy  to  honor  God  and  yield  perfect  obedience  to 
his  will. 

He  was  also  ever  full  of  kind  feeling,  and  engaged  in 
doing  good.  He  helped  those  who  were  in  want,  healed 
the  sick,  taught  the  ignorant,  guided  the  wanderer  right, 
warned  the  vicious,  strengthened  the  weak  in  virtue, 
comforted  the  sorrowful,  and  labored  night  and  day  to 
serve  others  and  advance  the  best  interests  of  mankind. 
Though  grieved,  wronged,  and  persecuted,  by  wicked 
men,  he  never  grieved,  wronged  or  persecuted  them  in  re- 
turn. On  the  other  hand,  he  mourned  over  the  evil  of 
their  hearts,  which  made  them  unhappy,  and  was  leading 
them  on  to  destruction.  He  prayed  for  them,  sought  to 
bring  them  to  better  thoughts,  and  did  them  acts  of  kind- 
ness and  benevolence. 

You  must  make  yourself  acquainted,  therefore,  dear 
youth,  with  Jesus  Cjirist,  in  order  to  have  a  rule  before 
you  which  you  may  always  safely  follow  ;  in  order  that  gui- 
ded by  his  instruction  and  led  by  his  example,  you  may  al- 
ways know  how  to  obey  God,  by  doing  what  is  good  and 
avoiding  what  is  wicked.  If  at  any  time,  you  are  doubt- 
ful as  to  how  you  ought  to  act,  you  have  only  to  ask  how 
Jesus  Christ  has  acted  or  would  act,  under  similar  circum- 
stances, and  that  will  be  the  right  way.  In  him  you  see  all 
the  virtues  that  we  are  ever  to  practise,  shining  forth  in 
the  greatest  beauty  and  the  most  amiable  dignity.  This 
view  should  certainly  fill  you  with  reverence  towards  him, 


MUST  BE  TRULY  ACQUAINTED  WITH  IirM.  43 

incline   your   feelings  to  him,  and  make  you  anxious  to 
become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  him. 

The  second  reason  why  you  should  become  truly  ac- 
quainted with  Jesus  Christ,  is,  that  he  is  the  only  son  of 
God, — that  is,  the  only  son  of  God  in  his  kind,  in  the 
highest,  noblest,  and  best  sense.  This  is  a  name  he  re- 
ceives in  the  Bible,  were  he  is  also  called  by  various  other 
names,  as.  The  Life  of  the  World,  Redeemer,  Savior, 
The  Lord  our  Righteousness. 

He  came  down  from  heaven,  to  teach  men  the  way 
that  leads  to  it.  This  he  has  done  most  faithfully.  He 
has  told  the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
wise  and  the  simple,  what  is  good  and  right ;  and  how 
they  must  live  if  they  would  obtain  the  grace  of  God, 
and  have  a  sure  hope  of  going  to  him,  and  living  with 
him,  in  eternal  happiness,  after  death. 

While  in  the  world,  he  was  greatly  persecuted  and  af- 
flicted. In  particular,  he  suffered  much  during  his  last 
days  and  hours.  Though  perfectly  innocent  and  holy, 
he  was  seized  by  his  enemies,  and  crucified.  All  this, 
however,  he  freely  suffered  for  mankind.  They  had  sin- 
ned against  God,  and  thus  brought  themselves  into  a  state 
of  misery  and  everhts^ag«Ticieath.  Jesus  knew  this,  and 
pitied  them.  The  grand  [object  of  his  message  of  love 
from  heaven,  was,  to  deliver  them  from  this  state.  Ac- 
cordingly, in  order  to  procure  the  grace  and  forgiveness 
of  God,  for  all  who  repented  of  their  sins  and  gratefully 
recognized  him  as  their  Savior,  he  spent  his  life  in  labor- 
ing for  them,  passing  through  a  great  variety  of  sorrows 
and  woes,  and  finally  bore  their  sins  for  them  in  the  fear- 
ful sufferings,  the  agonizing  death,  of  the  cross. 

To  complete  the  great  work  he  had  undertaken,  pro- 
cure for  his  followers   a  peaceful   death,  resurrection  at 


44  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

length  from  their  graves,  and  entrance  into  celestial  joy, 
he  himself  arose  again  from  the  dead  on  the  third  day 
and  went  to  heaven,  where  he  has  prepared  for  them, 
stores  of  everlasting  happiness.  He  is  now  himself  in 
glory,  sitting  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  There,  though 
surrounded  with  angels  and  the  splendor  of  the  upper 
world,  he  thinks  on  us  here  below,  intercedes  for  us  with 
God,  and  blesses  us. 

Those  of  you,  therefore,  my  young  friends,  who  love 
what  is  good  and  wish  to  know  with  certainty,  how  to  live 
truly  pious,  obtain  the  grace  of  God,  die  at  last  without 
feeling  the  bitter  stings  of  conscience,  and  enter  into 
happiness  after  death,  must  become  acquainted  with  this 
son,  this  messenger  of  God,  this  most  exalted  teacher  of 
wisdom  and  godliness,  our  Savior  from  all  that  is  evil, 
our  intercessor  with  God,  and  the  being  from  whom  alone 
we  expect  to  receive  our  happiness  in  the  world  to  come. 
Those  of  you  who  do  not  form  a  true  acquaintance  with 
him,  receive  him  in  confidence  as  your  Savior,  love  him, 
and  obey  all  his  commandments,  must  not  even  hope  that 
he  will  make  you  wise  and  good  and  happy.  Treasure 
these  words,  dear  youth,  up  in  your  minds,  and  let  the 
following  often  constitute  your  prayer  : 

Help  me,  Lord,  wliile  liere  I  wander, 
Oft  tlie  Savior's  life  to  ponder, 
E'er,  in  spirit  meeiv  and  lowly, 
Striving  to  become  as  holy. 
Should  of  friends  the  dearest  fail  me, 
And  the  scoffing  world  assail  me, 
While  in  pain  my  spirits  languish; 
^         O,  sustain  me  in  my  anguish. 

Help  me,  far  from  friend  and  lover, 
Calmly  like  my  Lord  to  suffer, 
Find  thy  will  enduring  pleasure. 


ON  HIS  BIRTH.  45 


And  thy  love  abundant  treasure, 
Ever  onward,  upward  pressing, 
Till  my  soul  obtain  thy  blessing, 
And,  with  her  immortal  lyre, 
Kindle  in  seraphic  fire. 


SECTION  II. 
On  the  birth  of  Jesus. 

We  have  a  great  many  testimonies  and  proofs,  that  Je- 
sus was  something  more  than  the  child  of  a  mere  man  ; 
and  that  his  glory  far  surpassed  the  glory  of  all  the  in- 
habitants of  this  world, 

In  \.\\e  first  place  ;  God  had  caused  his  birth  to  be 
made  known  by  wise  and  holy  men,  long  before  it  hap- 
pened. On  a  great  many  occasions  too,  God  had  com- 
forted the  pious  when  weighed  down  with  affliction,  by 
telling  them  of  his  coming  into  the  world,  by  means  of 
which  mankind  should  be  blessed  and  made  partakers  of 
salvation.  Six  months  before  the  event,  he  brought 
about  the  birth  of  John,  who  was  sent  to  prepare  the 
way  for  Jesus  ;  that  is,  by  instructing  the  generation  of 
Jews  then  on  the  stage,  and  setting  them  a  pious  exam- 
ple, to  bring  them  back  to  the  piety  of  their  fathers,  thus 
rendering  them  favorably  disposed  to  receive  the  doc- 
trines of  Jesus,  and  recognize  him  as  the  Savior  of  the 
world  ;  and  in  proof  that  John  was  sent  as  the  forerun- 
ner and  forteller  of  the  approach  of  such  a  divine  person, 
his  birth  was  preceded  and  followed   by  several  wonder- 


46  REFLKCTtONS  ON  THE  LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

ful  events,  which  you  will  find  spoken  of,  in  the  first 
chapter  of  Luke. 

In  the  second  place  ;  an  angel  also  unexpectedly  made 
his  appearance  to  the  mother  of  Jesus,  the  pious  virgin 
Mary,  and  saluted  her  in  the  most  friendly  manner  in 
the  words  :  "  Hail,  thou  art  highly  favored,  the  Lord 
is  with  thee;  blessed  art  thou  among  women  ;"  and  as 
she  was  very  much  disturbed  by  the  appearance  and  ad- 
dress or  salutation  of  the  angel,  he  told  her  in  the  kindest 
manner,  not  to  be  afraid,  and  informed  her  that  she 
should  bear  a  son,  who  should  be  called  Jesus  ;  that  he 
should  be  a  great,  a  divine  person, — should  be  the  son  of 
God  ;  that  God  would  one  day,  give  him  the  authority  of 
the  highest  king,  and  that  he  should  not  like  David,  reign 
merely  upon  earth  and  only  for  a  iew  years,  but  that  he 
should  reign  over  all,  and  reign  forever.  Full  of  aston- 
ishment, she  replied  :  '  How  can  this  be,  since  I  am 
unmarried  V  But  the  angel  calmed  her  by  assuring  her 
that  God  was  almighty,  and  by  his  supreme  power, 
would  so  arrange  and  accommodate  all  things,  that  she 
should  have  a  son. 

Think,  dear  youth,  on  these  extraordinary  decrees  or 
predeterminations  of  God,  respecting  the  child  Jesus. 
How  wonderful  !  He  must  certainly  have  been  a  child 
of  divine  glory, "and  supremely  esteemed  and  beloved  of 
God  ;  for  otherwise  God  would  not  have  made  such  ex- 
traordinary preparations  for  his  connng  into  the  world, — 
would  not  have  performed  such  wonders  to  bring  him  into 
the  world,  nor  have  employed  his  angels  to  make  known 
the  happening  of  this  event. 

In  the  ihird  place  ;  it  was  an  angel  who  first  informed 
the  shepherds,  that  the  birth  of  Jesus  had  really  taken 
place.     This  angel  was  also  accompanied   by  a  heavenly 


ON  HIS  BIRTH.  47 

host,  who  celebrated  the  event  in  songs  of  joy  and  praise, 
in  which  they  uttered  the  words,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good-will  towards  men." 
God  caused  all  this  to  be  done,  as  a  new  proof  that  Jesus 
was  born  to  become  the  Savior  and  benefactor  of  the  hu- 
man race  ;  that  he  deserved  the  reverence,  the  worship  of 
the  angels,  and  consequently  that  he  also  surpassed  them 
in  glory. 

Let  the  example  of  the  angels,  excite  you  also,  to  sing 
praise  to  Jesus,  and  give  God  thanks  for  his  birth.  How 
much  reason  you  have  to  be  thankful  that  he  ever  came 
into  the  world.  You  see  how  the  pious  shepherds  acted 
in  this  respect.  Having  found  Jesus  in  a  manger  at 
Bethlehem,  they  went  away  singing  praise  and  giving 
glory  to  God,  for  all  the  things  which  they  had  seen  and 
heard,  (just  as  it  had  been  told  them,)  and  making  known 
to  all  around,  the  wonderful  things  that  had  happened. 
Do  as  these  good  people  did,  and  you  also  will  find  grace 
before  God. 

In  the  fourth  place  ;  if  we  reflect  attentively  upon  the 
history  of  the  wise  men's  coming  from  the  East  to  see" 
him  that  was  born  king  of  the  Jews,  we  shall  here  also 
be  obliged  to  confess  the  hand  of  God  every  where  ap- 
parent in  making  known  the  glory  of  the  child  Jesus, 
and  miraculously  protecting  it  from  harm.  He  prepared 
a  sign  in  the  air,  an  appearance  like  a  star,  by  which 
these  learned  men  were  led  from  a  remote  country,  di- 
rectly on  to  Jerusalem.  He  awaked  in  them  an  impulse 
to  travel  this  journey  ;  and  caused  a  second  appearance 
of  this  star,  which  led  them  directly  on  to  Bethlehem, 
preceding  them  until  it  came  and  stood  over  the  place, 
where  Jesus  was.  The  warning  in  a  dream,  also,  which 
they  received,  not  to  return  to  Herod  at  Jerusalem,  came 


^  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE   LIFE   OF  JESUS. 

from  God,  as  well  as  the  resolve,  to  follow  this  warning  ; 
as  in  the  words  which  Herod  had  spoken  to  them,  they 
could  have  found  many  motives  for  giving  him  an  account 
of  the  child  Jesus. 

In  the  Jifth  place  ;  when  Jesus  was  forty  days  old,  and 
was  brought  to  the  temple  in  order  that  the  usual  prayer 
might  be  made  for  and  over  him,  that  he  might  ever  con- 
tinue to  be  a  pious  child,  doing  what  is  pleasing  to  God, 
several  extraordinary  things  took  place,  very  much  in  fa- 
vor of  his  exalted  character. 

Simeon,  a  pious  and  aged  man,  who  had  long  been 
earnestly  sighing  after  the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  by 
means  of  the  internal  encouragement  of  his  heart,  receiv- 
ed a  promise  from  God,  that  he  should  not  die  until  he 
had  seen  him,  felt  a  special  impulse  to  go  into  the  tem- 
ple. As  soon  as  ever  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  the  child 
Jesus  here,  it  was  as  if  a  voice  witliin  had  said  to  him  : 
"  This  is  the  Messiah  that  has  been  promised  to  the 
world."  Full  of  reverence  and  joy,  he  took  up  the  di- 
vine child,  and  clasping  it  in  his  arms,  brake  forth  in 
thanksgiving  and  praise,  saying:  "Lord,  now  lettest 
thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation,  which  thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face 
of  all  people  ;  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  Savior  of  man- 
kind, him,  who  is  to  be  a  light  to  lighten  the  heathen, 
and  the  glory  of  thy  people  Israel."  He  gave  the  mother 
of  Jesus  also  his  blessing,  and  told  her  beforehand,  re- 
specting her  son,  that  some  would  despise  him,  and  there- 
by render  themselves  very  unhappy  ;  and  that  others 
would  honor  him  with  heart-felt  confidence,  as  the  mes- 
senger of  God,  believe  his  words  and  obey  his  command- 
ments, and  thereby  become  very  happy. 

The  aged  and  pious  Anna   also  discovered   in  him  at 


ON  HIS  BIRTH.  49 

once,  the  Savior  and  benefactor  of  the  whole  human 
family.  She  gave  God  praise  for  the  arrival  of  the  Sa- 
vior in  the  world,  and  full  of  joy,  told  of  the  wonderful 
event  to  all  who  were  expecting  it,  and  thus  strength- 
ened their  confidence  in  him,  and  their  love  and  esteem 
for  him. 

Recollect,  my  dear  youth,  that  the  confessions  of  these 
pious  and  aged  people,  and  the  things  they  uttered  in 
praise  of  Jesus,  had  their  foundation  in  an  extraordinary 
revelation  of  God,  and  were  the  results  of  an  impulse 
which  had  been  excited  in  their  souls  by  God  himself ; 
and  you  will  easily  perceive,  that  they  must  have  been 
in  every  respect  true  ;  and  that  Jesus  was  the  Savior 
that  had  been  promised  by  God,  as  to  come  into  the 
world,  to  make  mankind  wise,  comfort  them,  i)less  them, 
and  lead  them  on  to  eternal  happiness.  Surely  then,  you 
ought  to  feel  as  tlioy  felt,  and  mike  similar  confessions. 
I  hope  you  will  be  inclined  in  your  heart,  to  reflect  and 
pray  somewhat  as  follows  : 

"  Jesus  Christ  is  indeed  the  son  of  God.  His  glory  is 
divine,  and  we  are  his  property.  The  angels  adore  him  ; 
and  pious  men  by  the  especial  direction  of  heaven,  pay 
him  their  worship.  He  came  into  the  world  as  he  him- 
self tells  us,  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost ;  to 
look  up  the  sheep  that  had  V\'nndered  olT  from  his  fold,  in- 
to the  wilderness,  and  bring  them  back  again  ;  to  reform 
mankind,  fill  them  witii  peace,  and  make  them  happy  for- 
ever. And  what  pains  he  took  to  accomplish  this  work  ; 
how  much  did  he  condescend  !  He  was  born  in  poverty. 
His  mother  and  he  whom  God  chose  to  be  his  supposed  fa- 
ther, were  poor  people,  and  in  very  humble  circumstan- 
ces. He  was  born  in  a  stable,  and  laid  in  a  manger. 
How  very  different  the  situation  in  which  I  was  born  ;  of 
5 


50  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

how  much  attention,  how  many  conveniencies,  and  how 
much  care  which  I  received,  was  he  altogether  deprived  ! 

'  How  much  better  1  was  attended 

Than  the  Son  of  God  could  be, 
When  from  heaven  he  descended, 

And  became  a  child  like  me  ! 
Soft  and  easy  was  my  cradle  ; 

Coarse  and  hard  my  Savior  lay  ; 
For  his  birthplace  was  a  stable. 

And  his  softest  bed  was  hay  !' 

And  still  I  am  a  sinful  child.  O  how  grateful  I  ought  to 
be  to  thee,  blessed  Jesus,  that  thou  didst  condescend  to 
become  a  poor  child,  to  save  me  from  my  sins! 

Blessed  Lord,  I  do  indeed  believe  that  thou  wast  sent 
by  our  Father  in  heaven,  to  teach  us  true  wisdom,  and 
make  us  good  and  happy.  I  do  indeed  believe  that  thou 
wast  sent  by  God,  out  of  the  greatest  love  and  benevo- 
lence to  mankind  ;  and  that  by  thy  coming  into  the 
world,  thou  hast  worked  out  for  us,  a  great  and  eternal 
salvation.  Thou  art  truly  the  son  of  God,  full  of  divine 
glory  and  power.  I  will  praise  thee  from  my  very  youth. 
I  \vill  honor  and  love  thee  as  my  Lord  and  Savior,  as 
lonor  as  I  live.  I  will  obey  thee,  and  put  confidence  in 
thee,  until  death.  Give  me  grace,  kind  and  merciful 
Savior,  to  do  according  to  these  resolutions." 


ON  HIS  EARLY  PERSECUTION.  51 

SECTION  III. 

The  })ersecution  of  Jesus  when  a  child. 

In  the  earliest  years  of  his  childhood,  Jesus  had  a  per- 
secutor in  Herod.  This  wicked  king,  being  afraid,  from 
what  he  had  heard,  that  this  innocent  child  would,  at 
some  future  day,  rule  over  the  Jewish  nation  and  drive 
him  from  his  throne,  sought  to  kill  it ;  and  employed 
all  his  cunning  and  power,  to  accomplish  his  cruel 
^  purpose.  He  even  sent  forth  and  slew  all  the  children, 
at  least  all  the  male  children,  who  were  under  two  years 
of  age,  throughout  Bethlehem  and  the  region  around  it. 
He  did  not,  however,  succeed.  You  recollect  that  God 
took  care  of  the  child,  and,  warning  Joseph  and  Mary  of 
the  evil  that  was  intended  against  it,  told  them  to  arise 
secretly  and  flee  into  Egypt;  so  that  the  parents  of  Jesus 
were  obliged  to  go  into  a  foreign  country,  in  order  to  se- 
cure him  from  danger. 

Think  here  too,  my  young  friends,  how  differently  it 
has  fared  with  you  from  what  it  did  with  Jesus,  and  from 
what  it  has  with  a  great  many  other  children.  You  have 
been  exposed  to  no  cruel  Pharaohs  or  Herods.  God  has  by 
his  grace,  made  every  thing  go  well  with  you.  He  has 
secured  you  from  all  such  cruel  men,  as  would  seek  your 
life.  On  the  other  hand,  you  have  had  kind  and  oblig- 
ing people  ready  to  take  the  greatest  care  of  you,  from 
your  very  infancy,  to  guard  your  life  from  danger,  and 
your  health  from  injury.  You  have  grown  up  thus  far,  in 
perfect  quietness  and  peace,  and  have  never  been  oblior- 
ed  to  flee  for  safety  from  the  house  of  your  parents.     You 


52        REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS, 

should  think  of  this  kindness  of  God  towards  you,  with 
gratitude,  and  let  his  goodness  excite  you  to  become  pi- 
ous children  ;  in  order  that  when  you  die,  you  may, 
through  what  your  Redeemer  has  done  for  you,  be  per- 
mitted to  live  with  him  in  heaven,  where  there  are  a 
great  many  pious  children,  worshipping  him  all  the  time, 
and  singing  his  praise.  Think  how  much  God  has  done 
for  you,  how  well  he  has  provided  for  you,  what  a  pre- 
cious home  you  have,  and  you  will  be  inclined,  I  thinks  to 
say  : 

For  life  which  thou  hast  given, 
I  tliank  tliee,  Lord  of  iieaven, 

And  drop  a  grateful  tear  ; 
Thy  goodness,  all  decreeing, 
From  nothing  drew  my  being, 

And  kindly  brouglit  me  here. 

My  soul's  exalted  Lover 

Was  doomed  on  earth  to  suffer. 

In  childhood's  tender  age; 
First  sleeping  in  a  manger. 
Then  driven  from  home  a  stranger, 

By  Herod's  cruel   rage. 

Thou  hast  for  me  provided, 
And  like  a  Father  guided, 

And  blessed  me  evermore  ; 
Hast  given  me  days  of  gladness. 
With  scarce  an  hour  of  sadness, 

And  every  needed  store. 

Should  e'er  the  tempest  lower, 
I'll  trust  thy  guardian  power, 

And  still  thy  goodness  own, 
Till,  high  on  Zion's  mountain, 
I  taste  the  crystal /ownia in, 

Fast  flowing  from  thy  throne. 


ON  HIS  YOUTH.  53 


SECTION  IV. 


The  youth  of  Jesus. 

There  are  some  circumstances  coHiiected  with  the 
youth  of  Jesus,  which  you  ought  to  think  of,  and  from 
which  you  may  draw  instruction.  It  early  became  evi- 
dent that  lie  had  extraordinary  gifts  of  mind,  great  wis- 
dom, and  strong  desires  of  soul,  after  the  word  of  God. 
When  he  was  no  more  than  twelve  years  of  age,  he  took 
his  seat  in  the  school  of  the  temple,  among  learned  and 
experienced  men,  heard  them  with  attention,  and  asked 
them  questions  respecting  the  most  important  doctrines 
of  religion.  Not  only  by  his  questions,  but  also  by  his 
answers,  he  obtained  the  high  regard  of  the  teachers,  and 
all  who  were  present.  He  asked  his  mother,  who  had 
been  for  some  time  looking  for  him,  when  she  found  him 
there,  how  she  could  have  sought  for  him  in  any  other 
place,  since  she  must  have  supposed,  that  he  would  tarry 
no  where  with  so  much  pleasure,  as  in  the  house  of  his 
heavenly  Father.  Here  also,  dear  children  and  youth, 
take  your  Savior  for  an  example,  and  form  the  following 
resolutions  : 

"  From  my  dear  Savior,  I  will  learn  to  go  with  pleasure 
to  church  and  to  school.  I  will  apply  myself,  with  all 
diligence  to  acquire  useful  knowledge,  and  particularly 
a  true  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion.  For  this  pur- 
pose, I  will  hold  the  Bible  in  the  greatest  esteem.  I 
will  never  be  guilty  of  quoting  it  in  a  light  and  trifling 
way,  for  the  sake  of  jest,  or  drawing  any  expressions 
from  it  to  use  as  by-words.  On  the  other  hand,  I  will 
5* 


54        REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

gladly  listen  to  instruction  respecting  its  doctrines,  and 
read  pious  writings,  and  such  other  books  as  may  be  ben- 
eficial to  me.  I  will  always  be  attentive  to  instruction 
from  my  teachers.  I  will  answer  them  with  reflection 
and  respect,  and  modestly  ask  them  to  explain  to  me 
what  I  do  not  sufficiently  understand.  If  I  do  all  this, 
then  will  my  teachers,  and  all  good  people  who  hear  this 
ofme,  loveme  and  hold  me  in  esteem;  and  God  will 
grant  me  his  blessing." 

Jesus  spent  his  youth  in  the  house  of  his  parents.  To 
them  he  always  showed  the  obedience  of  a  pious  child. 
He  increased  in  true  wisdom  and  virtue.  His  good  con- 
duct in  this  respect,  his  growth  in  wisdom  and  piety, 
obtained  for  him  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  love  of  his 
parents,  and  other  good  people.  He  remained  in  the 
family  of  his  father,  even  after  he  became  of  age,  because 
the  solitary  life  he  was  able  to  lead  in  the  quiet  of  Naza- 
reth, gave  him  just  such  an  opportunity  as  he  wanted,  by 
means  of  daily  intercourse  with  God  in  prayer,  and  con- 
stant, serious,  holy  contemplation,  to  prepare  for  the 
great  business,  which,  as  the  teacher  and  Savior  of  men, 
he  was  soon  to  undertake  and  carry  into  execution.  In 
the  mean  time,  he  also  faithfully  assisted  his  father  in 
working  at  his  trade,  until,  as  the  messenger  of  God,  (le 
began  to  teach  and  work  miracles  in  public.  In  all  these 
respects,  Jesus  is  a  good  example  for  those  children  and 
youth,  who  would  be  loved,  would  grow  up  wise  and 
happy,  and  go  to  heaven  and  live  with  him  there  at  last. 

Hymn. 

On  the  world's  wild  bosom  growing, 

Dear  Redeemer,  thee  I  find. 
With  religion's  savor  glowing. 

And  a  spirit  meek  and  kind. 


ON  HIS  BAPTISM.  55 

In  thy  father's  humble  station, 

Watching  his  approving  eye  ; 
Mid  the  teachers  of  thy  nation, 

Listening  to  the  sage  reply. 

And  though  dark  thy  way  and  gory, 

Lovlier  still  and  more  divine, 
On  it  brightened  into  glory, 

Till  th'  immortal  crown  was  thine. 

Every  stage  of  life  adorning, 

Growing  too,  may  I  be  seen, 
Fragrant  as  the  summer-morning, 

Lovely  as  the  blooming  green. 

Grant  me  grace  and  wisdom  ample, 

Kind,  obedient,  meek  and  true, 
E'er  to  follow  thine  example. 

Till  heaven  open  on  my  view. 


SECTION  V. 

7%e  baptism  of  Jesus. 

Very  important  proof  of  the  divine  glory  of  Jesus,  is 
furnished  us,  in  the  declining  of  John  to  baptize  him, 
because  he  considered  him  as  a  perfectly  righteous  and 
holy  man  ;  also  in  John's  confession,  that  Jesus  was  far 
more  exalted  than  he  was  himself,  notwithstanding  he 
had  been  endowed  with  so  much  dignity  and  power,  by 
God.  Strong  proof  of  the  divine  glory  of  Jesus,  is  also 
furnished  us,  in  the  confession  of  John,  in  which,  filled 
with  the  deepest  reverence  towards  Jesus,  he  bore  testi- 


56  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESLS. 

mony  of  liim  in  public,  as,  "  the  Lamb  of  God  which  tak- 
eth  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 

This  was  as  if  John  had  said  :  "  As  the  sprinkling  of  the 
blood  of  a  lamb,  on  the  two  side-posts,  and  on  the  upper 
door-post  of  the  houses  of  the  Israelites,  saved  them  from 
the  plague,  on  the  dark  and  gloomy  night,  in  wliich  the 
Lord  smote  all  the  first-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  from 
the  first-born  of  Pharaoh  that  sat  on  his  throne,  to 
the  first-born  of  the  captive  that  was  in  the  dungeon,  and 
all  the  first-born  of  cattle  ;  so  the  sprinkling  of  the  blood 
of  Jesus,  shall  save  from  the  plague  of  sin,  all  who  trust 
in  him,  in  that  dreary  night  when  the  Lord  goes  forth  to 
smite  the  sinful  world.  He  is  to  procure  the  forgiveness 
of  mankind,  and  their  gracious  acceptance  with  God.  He 
has  been  sent  by  God,  for  the  express  purpose  of  enlight- 
ening the  human  race,  sanctifying  them,  and  rendering 
them  happy,  by  suffering  for  them  the  greatest  sorrows, 
and  the  most  painful  death." 

If  all  the  doubts  you  have  respecting  the  divine  glory 
of  Jesus,  are  not  now  removed,  they  must  be,  as  it  seems 
to  me,  when  you  remember  what  took  place,  just  after 
he  was  baptized  ;  for  as  he  was  coming  up  out  of  the 
water,  the  spirit  of  God  descended  upon  him  in  the  form 
of  a  dove,  and  alighted  upon  him,  and  God  himself  tes- 
tified by  a  voice  from  l-.eaven,  that  Jesus  was  his  beloved 
son  in  whom  he  was  well  pleased.  Can  you  hesitate 
then,  dear  youth,  to  receive  Jesus  Christ  as  your  divine 
Savior,  and  always  to  serve  him  as  such  ?  Methinks  T 
hear  you  say  : 

"  Blessed  Jesus,  thou  art  the  beloved  Son  of  God  ; 
from  my  heart  will  I  love  and  honor  thee.  For  thy  sake, 
I  hope  to  obtain  the  forgiveness  of  all  my  sins,  from  God  ; 
and,   by   thy  assistance,  to   please  my  Father  in  heaven. 


ON  HIS  TEMPTATION.  57 

in  all  my  youthful  actions.  I  am  indeed  a  highly  favored 
child.  I  have  enjoyed  the  great  privilege,  like  the  son  of 
God,  of  being  baptized.  From  his  baptism,  I  learn,  that 
the  baptism  which  I  have  received  is  something  holy.  I 
will  often,  with  reverence,  gratitude,  and  love,  call  to 
mind,  my  baptismal  covenant.  I  will  say  to  myself:  '  By 
means  of  baptism,  I  have  been  consecrated  to  be  a  child 
of  God,  and  an  heir  of  eternal  life.  O  blessed  Father  in 
heaven,  suffer  me  not  to  trifle  away  this,  the  greatest  of 
blessings  I  can  have  upon  earth,  by  my  sins.  Thou  hast 
engaged  to  be  my  faithful  Father  and  guide,  from  my 
youth  upwards.  O  help  me  always  to  remain  thy  pious, 
thy  good  and  obedient  child.'  " 


SECTION  VI. 

The  temptation  of  Jesus. 

There  are  spirits  which  do  not  dwell  in  such  bodies 
as  we  have,  called  angels,  or  devils.  They  are  called 
angels  if  they  are  good,  and  devils  if  they  are  wicked. 

Now  one  of  these  wicked  spirits  came  to  Jesus,  while 
he  was  in  the  wilderness,  to  which  he  had  been  led  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  and  tried  to  seduce  him  into  various 
sins.  To  disturb  his  confidence  in  God,  he  tried  to 
make  him  perform  an  unnecessary  and  untimely  miracle, 
by  changing  stones  into  bread.  To  make  him  guilty  of 
rashness,  he  challenged  him  to  throw  himself  down  from 
off  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple.      To   bring  him  to  deny 


58        REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

God,  he  was  so  shameless  as  to  request  the  Savior  to  fall 
down  and  worship  him.  The  devil,  however,  was  de- 
feated in  all  these,  his  wicked  attempts.  The  Savior  re- 
fused to  listen  to  any  of  his  proposals,  until  at  last  he 
went  away,  no  doubt,  in  great  sadness.  Things  turned 
out  here  with  Jesus,  just  as  the  Bible  says  they  always 
will  with  good  people,  who  resist  the  devil ;  for  the  Bible 
says,  that  if  we  resist  him,  he  will  flee  from  us  ;  and  so  the 
Savior  found  it. 

My  young  friends,  wherever  you  go,  you  will,  as  long 
as  you  live,  meet  with  many  enticements  to  sin.  Your 
own  hearts  are  wicked,  and  will  be  constantly  leading 
you  astray.  You  live  too,  in  a  world  which  is  full  of  in- 
iquity and  sin.  Besides,  you  will  also  be  tempted  to  sin, 
by  some  of  the  wicked  spirits,  of  which  the  Bible  speaks. 
It  is  probable,  indeed,  that  much  of  the  evil  in  the 
world  which  is  ascribed  to  these  spirits  or  to  Satan,  their 
chief,  does  not  originate  with  him  or  his  followers.  It  is 
quite  certain  that  Satan's  power  is  often  represented,  as 
far  greater  than  it  really  is.  From  the  Bible,  however, 
we  know  well  enough,  that  he  tempts  men  to  sin,  and 
does  them  all  the  mischief  he  can.  Why  God  permits 
this,  is  a  question  we  cannot  fully  answer.  You  will  pro- 
bably know  more  about  it,  when  you  become  older  and 
acquire  more  maturity  of  thought.  Nor  is  it  necessary 
that  you  should  fully  understand  this  subject.  It  is  no 
great  matter  from  what  quarter  the  temptation  comes. 
It  is  your  business  to  resist  all  temptations  to  sin,  whether 
they  have  their  immediate  origin  in  your  own  hearts,  in 
your  companions,  or  in  evil  spirits.  As  you  would  be 
happy,  therefore,  in  this  world  and  the  next,  you  must 
learn  to  resist  temptation  as  Christ  did, — you  must  learn, 
at  all  times,  and  under  all  circumstances,  to  resist  every 


HOW  TO  MEET  TEMPTATION.  59 

temptation  to  do  any  thing  which  you  know  or  even  fear 
to  be  wrong.  Let  me  give  you  some  directions  upon  this 
subject,  which  will  be  of  great  benefit  to  you,  if  you  fol- 
low them. 

1.  Pray  to  God  every  day  not  to  lead  you,  or  suffer  you 
to  be  led,  into  temptation.  Entreat  him  always  to  pre- 
serve you  from  all  that  is  evil,  whether  it  come  from  your 
own  heart,  from  the  world  around  you,  or  from  the  wick- 
ed one,  who,  as  the  Bible  says,  "  goes  about  seeking 
whom  he  may  devour."  So  you  are  told  to  pray  in  the 
Lord's  prayer,  by  Christ  himself  Entreat  him  to  en- 
lighten your  mind  and  make  you  wise,  in  order  that  you 
may  know  at  once,  what  good  and  evil  is;  and  to  give 
you  strength  to  overcome  every  besetment  to  sin. 

2.  Never  presume  to  tempt  God  to  leave  you  to  do 
what  is  wicked  by  putting  yourself  in  the  way  of  danger, 
or  keeping  yourselves  ignorant  of  it.  The  child  who  puts 
himself  on  purpose,  in  the  way  of  danger,  when  there  is 
no  need  of  it,  who,  for  example,  runs  upon  ice  which  he 
knows  is  not  strong  enough  to  bear  him,  or  climbs  a  tree, 
from  which  he  can  easily  fall,  or  engages  in  any  play, 
which  may  injure  his  health  or  his  limbs, — such  a  child 
tempts  God  to  leave  him,  to  the  effects  of  his  own  mis- 
conduct. The  child  who  refuses  to  learn  what  good  and 
evil  is,  when  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  so,  who  is  inatten- 
tive to  his  teachers  and  the  minister,  and  makes  no  efforts 
or  but  feeble  ones,  to  ascertain  what  is  right,  tempts  God 
to  give  him  up  to  the  effects  of  his  own  ignorance.  Had 
Christ  thrown  himself  down  from  the  pinnacle  of  the  tem- 
ple, as  the  devil  wanted  him  to  do,  he  would  have  tempt- 
ed his  Father  in  heaven.  If  a  child  associates  without 
any  necessity,  with  bad  playmates,  he  tempts  God  to 
leave  him  to  be  as  bad  as  they  are.      Now  the  Bible  de- 


60  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS. 

clares,  and  Christ  has  confirmed  the  declaration,  that 
"  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God."  To  tempt 
God,  therefore,  is  very  wicked  ;  and  he  who  tempts  God, 
has  no  reason  to  think  that  God  will  !iear  him,  or  answer 
his  prayers.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  great  reason 
to  fear  that  such  persons  will  be  left  to  fall  into  tempta- 
tion and  sin. 

3.  Boldly  resist  every  temptation  to  sin,  which  you 
meet  with.  Be  afraid  to  do  what  is  wicked,  never  be 
afraid  to  do  what  is  good.  If  you  have  wicked  thoughts, 
put  them  out  of  your  minds,  and  go  to  thinking  what  is 
right,  repeating  religious  poetry,  or  portions  of  scripture, 
or  your  prayers.  Above  all  things,  '  If  sinners  entice 
you,  do  not  consent.'  If  wicked  youths  try  to  make 
you  do  what  is  bad,  never  mind  what  they  say  ;  disre- 
gard their  ridicule,  and  get  away  from  them,  as  soon  as 
you  can.  Many  a  youth  has  been  lost,  because  he  had 
not  courage  enough  to  resist  the  ridicule  of  his  wicked 
companions.  Do  you  recollect  how  boldly  Joseph  resist- 
ed Potiphar's  wife,  when  she  tried  to  entice  him  into  sin  1 
'  How  can  I  do  this  great  wickedness,'  said  he,  '  and  sin 
against  God  ;'  and  then  he  got  away  from  her  as  soon  as 
he  could.  Do  you  do  so  too,  whenever  you  are  tempted 
to  sin  by  your  wicked  companions,  or  any  other  persons. 

4.  Remember  how  much  it  will  grieve  your  parents, 
and  all  good  people,  to  find  out  that  you  do  what  is 
wrong ;  and  how  much  they  will  rejoice,  when  they  hear 
that  you  do  what  is  right.  Do  you  not  love  your  parents, 
who  are  so  kind  to  you,  and  do  so  much  for  you  ?  Can 
you  bear  to  think  of  grieving  them,  by  doing  any  thing, 
which,  if  they  should  find  it  out,  would  make  them  feel 
very  sorry  1 

5.  Remember  how  much  you   will   grieve  your  Savior 


GOD  WILL  SEE  ME.  61 

by  doing  what  is  wrong.  The  Savior  had  such  love  for 
you  and  the  rest  of  mankind,  that  he  came  down  from 
heaven  and  suffered  and  died,  to  save  you  all  from  your 
sins.  You  remember  his  cruel  death.  Now  can  you 
bear  to  think  of  grieving  one,  who  has  done  and  suffered 
so  much  for  you  1  You  will  grieve  him,  if  you  do  not 
firmly  resist  every  temptation  you  meet  with,  just  as  he 
did,  when  he  was  tempted  by  the  devil  in  the  wilderness. 

6.  Remember  that  God  always  sees  and  knows  every 
thing  you  think,  do,  or  say,  both  in  the  day-time  and  in 
the  night,  at  home  and  abroad.  You  cannot  hide  any 
thing  from  him  ;  and  when  you  die,  you  will  have  to  an- 
swer to  him  for  every  thing  you  have  done. 

There  was  once  a  little  girl,  called  Elizabeth,  who  was 
kept  from  sin,  by  remembering  that  God  is  every  where, 
and  knows  all  things.  She  had  some  playmates  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  using  language  which  she  had  been 
told  was  very  wicked.  As  she  was  with  them  one  day 
in  a  garret,  where  there  was  not  much  light,  they  tried 
to  bring  her  also  to  use  wicked  language,  and  told  her 
that  she  should  speak  such  words  as  they  did.  She  replied, 
I  must  n  it,  for  it  is  ivickcd.  But  you  shall,  said  they,  for 
we  are  up  in  the  garret  ;  nobody  will  hear  you.  No,  she 
said,  I  must  not,  for  Gud  will  hear  me.  But  you  shall, 
they  replied  ;  it  is  all  dark,  there  is  no  window,  nobody 
can  see  you.  No,  she  again  replied,  without  any  hesita- 
tion, no,  I  nil/ it  not,  for  God  loill  sec  me. 

If  you  are  alvv'ays  thus  bold  to  resist  every  temptation 
to  sin,  you  will  soon  find  it  becoming  easier  and  easier  to 
do  what  is  good.  Your  wicked  companions  will  soon 
cease  to  trouble  you  ;  and  though  you  may  not  know 
that  good  spirits  come  and  niinister  to  your  wants,  as 
they  did  to  those  of  Jesus,  after  he  had  been  tried  with 
6 


62  THE  RASH    YOUTH. 

hunger,  and  beset  with  temptation  in  the  wilderness  ;  yet 
you  will  feel  that  you  have  done  right,  and  this  will  fill 
you  with  joy,  and  make  you  happy. 

But  if  you  do  not, — if  you  give  way  to   temptation  ! — 

0  how  I  wish  I  had  never  given  way  to  temptation  !  I 
should  have  escaped  from  a  great  deal  of  sorrow.      And 

1  have  known  many  persons  beside  me,  who  also  gave 
way  to  temptation,  and  regretted  it,  when  too  late.  What 
shall  I  say  to  you,  my  dear  young  friends,  to  show  you 
the  great  danger  of  consenting  even  for  once,  to  think 
what  is  sinful !  Let  me  lead  you  to  the  bank  of  yonder 
broad  stream.  How  beautiful  it  is  !  And  do  you  hear 
the  water  roar  down  below  us,  and  see  how  it  foams  and 
sends  the  spray  up  into  the  air  ?  No  person  can  pass 
down  those  falls  in  the  strongest  boat  that  ever  was, 
without  being  dashed  to  pieces.  If  a  man  in  crossing  the 
river  ever  finds  himself  drawn  into  the  current,  his  only 
way  of  escape  is  to  get  out  of  it  as  soon  as  possible.  If  he 
gives  himself  up  to  the  stream,  he  is  certainly  lost.  And 
yet  there  was  a  young  man  who  felt  strong  and  skilful 
at  the  oar,  and  rashly  ventured  to  sport  a  while  with 
the  danger.  I  stood  watching  him,  trembling  for  his 
safety,  and  calling  loudly  to  him,  and  begging  him  to  de- 
sist from  such  rash  conduct ;  but  the  more  I  called,  the 
hardier  he  became.  For  a  long  time,  he  ventured  far 
and  returned  in  safety.  But  there  was  a  point  from 
which,  if  he  ventured  beyond  it,  he  could  never  re- 
turn, though  he  knew  not  where  it  was.  At  length,  hav- 
ing insensibly  ventured  farther  than  usual,  he  turned  to 
make  his  escape,  but  found  it  too  late.  I  saw  him.  His 
countenance  became  pale  in  an  instant.  His  strong 
arm  was  unnerved  at  once.     He  shrieked  for   help,  but 


REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'   DOCTRINES.  63 

was  hurried  furiously  away  with  the  stream,  and  dashed 
to  pieces  among  the  rocks. 

And  just  so  it  is  with  temptation.  When  a  person 
feels  its  current  drawing  him  away,  it  is  high  time  for 
him  to  bestir  himself.  His  only  safety  then,  is  in  making 
immediate  escape  from  the  danger.  If  he  dallies,  relying 
upon  his  strength,  venturing  from  time  to  time  a  little 
farther,  he  will  soon,  to  his  horror  find,  that  he  has  ven- 
tured too  far,  and  be  driven  down  the  stream  and  dashed 
to  pieces,  as  thousands  have  been  before  him. 

Thus  Samson  played  with  Delilah,  until  he  became 
shorn  of  his  locks  ;  and  David  indulged  his  eyes,  until  he 
became  an  adulterer  and  a  murderer  ;  and  Judas  cher- 
ished the  love  of  getting  money,  until,  for  thirty  pieces  of 
silver,  he  betrayed  the  Son  of  God  to  his  enemies. 

Do  then,  my  dear  youth,  take  warning  in  season.  Your 
only  safety  consists  in  stemming  the  current,  whenever 
you  find  it  drawing  you  downwards, — in  escaping  from  it 
for  your  life,  just  as  Lot  did,  from  the  kindling  flames  of 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah. 


II.  Reflections  on  Jesus'  doctrines. 

SECTION  VII. 

Introchictory  Remarks. 

When,  my  young  friends,  you   become   truly  acquaint- 
ed with  the  doctrines  of  Jesus,  and  see  how  good  and  ex- 


64  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

cellent  they  are,  you  will  certainly  approve  of  them,  as 
well  as  delight  to  follow  them,  and  will  look  upon  their 
author,  our  Savior,  as  to  the  highest  degree  worthy  of 
your  love.  All  his  doctrines,  or,  in  other  words,  the  re- 
ligious truths  which  he  taught,  are  divine  ;  that  is,  they 
are  in  all  respects  agreeable  to  the  feelings,  the  will  of 
God.  They  are  all  of  a  beneficial  tendency,  adapted  to 
bring  us  to  God,  and  expressly  designed  to  make  men 
wise  and  happy,  both  for  time  and  for  eternity.  I  will 
make  you  acquainted  with  those  of  them  in  particular, 
which  are  of  especial  importance  to  you  in  the  period  of 
youth  ;  with  a  clear  and  thorough  knowledge  of  which 
indeed  it  is  impossible  for  you  safely  to  dispense  ;  and  I 
hope  you  will  be  persuaded  to  give  your  attention  to 
them,  and  treasure  them  up  in  your  hearts.  If  you  do 
so,  every  thing  will  certainly  go  well  with  you,  both  in 
this  world  and  after  death. 


SECTION  VIII. 


Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount. 

After  Jesus  had  made  choice  of  disciples  to  be 
with  him,  accompany  him  on  his  journeys,  and,  from 
him,  prepare  to  become  teachers  of  mankind,  he  as- 
cended a  high  hill  or  a  mountain,  and  from  it  addressed 
to  them,  and  others  who  were  with  them,  a  discourse  full 
of  the   most   excellent    instruction.      This   discourse    is 


HIS  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT.  65 

usually  called,  Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount.  The  fol- 
lowing are  some  of  the  things  which  he  taught  on  this 
occasion,  which,  in  order  that  you  may  better  under- 
stand them,  I  shall  give  to  you  in  varied  language. 

"  Blessed  are  those  who  in  deep  humility,  feel  and  con- 
fess themselves  destitute  of  a  knowledge  of  divine  good, 
and  genuine  piety,  while  they  earnestly  desire  and  strive  to 
obtain  them,  and  become  rich  in  them  ;  for  such  persons 
shall  become  wise,  pious  and  happy. — Blessed  are  those 
who  bear  the  sorrows  of  this  life,  with  patience  ;  for 
they  shall  be  comforted. — Blessed  are  those  who  do  not 
permit  themselves  to  be  excited  to  anger,  by  the  abuses 
of  wicked  men  ;  for  they  shall  always  live  in  tranquillity, 
and  enjoy  their  temporal  favors  and  blessings,  in  great  se- 
curity.— Blessed  are  those  who  really  hunger  and  thirst 
after  every  thing  that  is  right  and  well  pleasing  in  the 
sight  of  God, — who  have,  earnest  desires  to  know  the 
truth,  and  become  truly  holy  ;  for  their  wants  shall  be 
supplied,  their  desires  shall  be  satisfied. — Blessed  are  the 
merciful ;  for  God  will  show  mercy  to  them  again  in  re- 
turn.— Blessed  are  those  who  permit  no  wicked  thoughts, 
no  sinful  desires,  to  reign  within  them, — who  put  down 
every  evil  thing  that  arises  in  their  minds,  and  preserve 
their  hearts  pure  and  holy  ;  for  both  in  this  life  and  that 
which  is  to  come,  they  shall  have  the  closest  heart-felt 
union  with  the  perfectly  holy  God  ;  they  shall  share  more 
and  more  in  his  grace,  and  shall  finally  obtain  eternal 
happiness. — Blessed  are  those  who  love  peace  ?,nd  har- 
mony, and  strive  to  promote  them  ;  for  God  will  love  such 
persons  as  his  children,  and  bless  them  with  peculiar  fa- 
vors.— Blessed  are  those  who  are  persecuted  and  ill 
treated,  because  they  do  what  is  good  ;  for  they  shall 
certainly  enjoy  the  grace  of  God,  and  at  last  obtain  eter- 
6* 


66  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUs'  DOCTRINES. 

nal  happiness. — Blessed  are  you  when  men  revile  you, 
persecute  you,  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you, 
merely  because  you  are  my  friends  and  followers.  Re- 
joice then  and  be  exceedingly  glad  ;  for  there  is  a  great 
reward  laid  up  for  you  in  heaven.  In  this  case  you  are 
treated  as  prophets  and  other  good  men  have  been  before 
you." 

What  noble,  what  useful  doctrines!  If  every  member 
of  every  fliniily  observed  them,  what  happy  families  we 
should  have  !  There  would  then  be  no  quarrelling  in 
them.  Brothers  and  sisters  would  all  love  one  another. 
And  this  world  too  would  soon  be  changed.  Haughti- 
ness and  murmuring  and  revengefulness  would  every 
where  cease  from  among  men,  swords  be  beat  into 
plough-shares,  spears  into  pruning  hooks,  and  the  fierce 
looking,  bloody  warrior,  return  from  the  field  of  battle,  to 
sit  down  in  peace  and  happiness  under  his  own  vine 
and  fig-tree.  The  earth  would  then  be  full  of  hunger- 
ing and  thirsting  after  righteousness.  Purity,  and  calm- 
ness, and  benevolence,  and  love,  would  universally  pre- 
vail. 

Let  me  ask  you,  my  dear  youth,  whether  you  Jive  in 
such  a  peaceable  and  happy  family.  There  are  indeed 
but  few  such  to  be  found.  But  there  are  a  few.  It  has 
been  my  lot  to  meet  with  here  and  there  one,  in  my  in- 
tercourse with  the  world.  They  were  usually  retired 
from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  life  ;  and  yet  the  stranger 
was  kindly  received  and  entertained,  whenever  he  knock- 
ed for  admittance.  Their  abodes  seemed  hallowed. 
There  was  the  sweet  voice,  the  honest  tone,  the  fraternal 
salutation,  and  the  benevolent  look.  And  then  the  morn- 
ing and  evening  prayer  and  praise  ascended  to  God  ;  and 
if  sorrow  pressed  upon  a  single   heart,  it  was  mutually 


HAPPY  AND  UNHAPPY  FAMILIES.  67 

shared ;  and  it  was  borne  with  holy  resignation  to  the 
will  of  heaven.  Happy,  happy  families  !  While  reckon- 
ed of  theirnumber,  I  have  almost  forgotten  my  mortality, 
and  fancied  myself  in  the  family  of  heaven, — at  least,  I 
have  said  to  myself,  would  to  God,  it  were  my  lot  to  live 
and  die,  far  removed  from  all  the  turmoils  of  public  ac- 
tivity, among  a  few  such  celestial  spirits.  Methinks  life 
would  be  divested  of  half  its  sorrows,  and  death  itself 
prove  a  gentle  passage  to  the  tomb. 

But  alas  !  with  many  families  it  is  widely  different. 
They  bear  but  little  resemblance  to  a  family  of  paradise. 
They  are  full  of  bickerings,  cross  words,  unkind  looks, 
and  almost  every  thing  that  is  bad.  Is  it  your  lot,  to  live 
in  such  a  family  ?  Then  ask  yourselves,  how  far  you  have 
hitherto  been  the  cause  of  its  unhappiness.  Have  you 
striven  after  the  blessings  pronounced  by  Jesus,  of  which 
you  have  just  been  reading? 

Have  you  always  showed  yourselves  ijeaccmakers,  when 
with  other  children  and  youth,  with  your  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, with  the  domestics,  or  with  any  other  persons  in  your 
father's  family  ?  Have  you  always  carefully  avoided  all 
bitterness  and  contention  ?  When  any  one  has  done  to 
you,  what  you  did  not  like,  or  injured  you  in  any  way, 
have  you  not  become  angry,  and  tried  at  once  to  injure  him 
in  return  ?  Have  you  in  such  cases,  always  carefully  re- 
mained silent,  or,  instead  of  revenging  yourselves,  gone 
and  given  a  true  account  of  the  wrong  you  had  received, 
to  your  parents  and  teachers,  in  order  that  the  person  who 
had  injured  you,  might  be  prevented  from  injuring  you 
again,  or  be  reformed  ? 

Have  you  always  showed  yourselves  merciful,  when 
you  had  an  opportunity  to  do  so  ?  Of  the  money  which 
you  have  received   of  your  parents  and  friends,  have  you 


68  UEFLECTIONS  ON  JliSUs'  DOCTRINES. 

let  poor  children,  or  sick  people,  or  the  poor  heathen, 
have  a  part  ?  When  you  have  seen  other  youths  hungry 
and  without  victuals,  have  you  readily  shared  with  them 
any  food  that  you  possessed  ?  Have  you  never  joined 
in  ridiculing  or  trying  to  injure  any  playmate  or  little 
child,  when  you  have  found  others  doing  so?  Is  it  cer- 
tain,— would  your  companions  now  tell  me, — that  you 
do  not  belong  to  the  number  of  those  wicked  young  per- 
sons, who  delight  in  cruelty  ? 

Are  you  always  pure  in  heart  ?  For  you  are  not  even 
to  think  what  is  wrong.  You  are  to  have  no  other 
thoughts  or  desires  than  God  himself  permits.  Have 
you  no  others  ?  Is  your  heart  thus  pure  ?  Do  you  al- 
low wicked  thoughts  to  remain  within  you,  or  do  you  put 
them  out  of  your  minds,  as  soon  as  they  arise,  and  go  at 
once  to  thinking  of  something  that  is  good  ?  Have  you 
never  seen  any  school-mate  or  brother  or  sister,  that  had 
something  which  you  longed  for  very  much,  and,  full  of 
envy,  tried  to  get  away  ?  Have  you  never  been  guilty 
of  contriving  mischief  against  any  one? 

Happy  will  it  be  for  you,  if  your  heart  and  conduct, 
are,  and  continue  to  remain,  until  death,  as  pure  as  Jesus 
requires.  You  may  be  ridiculed  and  pointed  at  as  a 
young  saint,  but  all  good  people  will  love  you,  and  the 
almighty  God  will  be  your  Father  and  friend,  not  only 
in  this  life,  but  in  that  which  is  to  come.  Jesus  Christ 
was  abused  for  being  good.  You  ought  surely  not  to 
murmur,  if  you  fare  as  well  as  your  Savior. 


OUR  LIGHT  AND   LANGUAGE.  69 


SECTION  IX. 

Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  continued. 

There  are  some  other  things  taught  in  Christ's  Ser- 
mon on  the  Mount,  which  are  of  particular  importance  to 
the  young,  and  to  which  I  must  also  call  your  attention. 

"  Men,"  says  he,  "  do  not  light  a  candle,  to  place  it 
under  a  bed  or  a  measure,  but  to  put  it  in  a  candle-stick, 
and  set  it  where  it  can  fill  a  room  or  a  house,  with  light. 
And  thus,  if  you  have  any  light,  you  must  let  it  so  shine 
that  others  may  see  it,  and  receive  light  from  it." 

The  meaning  of  the  Savior  in  these  words,  is  very  easy 
to  be  understood.  We  are  not  indeed  to  make  a  display 
of  our  piety.  This  would  be  certain  proof  that  we  do 
not  possess  much.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  we  are  not 
to  keep  our  piety  concealed.  If  good,  we  are  to  show  it 
in  our  lives  and  actions,  in  order  that  others,  encouraged 
by  our  example,  may  also  become  good,  and  be  brought 
to  give  praise  and  glory  to  God.  Your  real  character 
must  shine  forth,  in  all  you  say  and  do.  In  the  presence 
of  your  parents,  teachers,  brothers,  sisters,  and,  in  short, 
all  with  whom  you  associate,  you  must  let  it  always  be 
seen  by  your  conduct,  that  you  are  a  good  and  pious 
child. 

You  know  that  the  third  commandment  forbids  our 
swearing  and  using  the  name  of  God,  in  a  disrespectful 
manner.  Now  Jesus  Christ  forbids  the  same  thing. 
'  Swear  not  at  all,'  says  he.  '  Affirm  or  strengthen  what 
you  say,  by  simply  saying,  yes,  or  no.'  "  Let  your  com- 
munication be  yea,  yea,  nay,  nay." 


70  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

Attend  diligently  to  this  commandment.  Strive  to 
know  what  is  true  and  upright,  and  then  speak  it;  and 
depend  upon  it,  your  simple  yes  or  no,  will  be  believed 
sooner  than  the  greatest  oaths,  of  those  children  who  love 
to  tell  lies.  No  body  is  so  much  despised  in  this  world 
as  liars  ;  and  besides,  most  awful  punishments  are  threat- 
ened against  them  in  the  Bible. 

According  to  our  Savior's  command,  also,  whenever 
you  give  any  thing  to  the  poor,  you  must  he  careful  not 
to  do  it  for  the  sake  of  boasting  of  it,  or  of  getting  praise  ; 
but  because  it  is  the  will,  the  command  of  God  your  hea- 
venly Father,  that  you  should  be  kind  and  benevolent. 
Recollect  that  your  heavenly  Father,  always  sees  and 
knows  what  you  do,  even  though  nobody  else  does ;  that 
he  never  forgets  any  of  his  children,  or  their  works  ;  and 
that  he  will  certainly  reward  all  M'ho  obey  his  will. 

And  think,  how  happy  it  will  make  you  feel  in  the 
great  day  of  judgment,  when  you  stand  before  him,  with 
all  who  have  ever  lived,  to  hear  him  mention  your  name 
with  praise, — to  hear  him  say  :  "  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant."  That  praise  will  not  be  given  to  those 
who  ought  not  to  receive  it,  and  it  will  be  worth  more 
than  all  the  praise  you  can  ever  obtain  from  the  world. 

To  all  these  doctrines,  these  commands,  of  the  Savior,  1 
hope  you  will  carefully  attend, — committing  them  to 
memory,  impressing  them  upon  your  hearts,  and  practis- 
ing them  in  your  lives.  If  you  do  so,  you  will  become 
good  and  happy,  and  bless  the  Lord  that  he  ever  gave 
you  pious  parents  and  friends,  and  taught  you  his  will. 
If  you  do  not,  every  ihing  will  go  bad  with  you  in  the 
end,  and  you  will  wish  that  you  had  been  born  among 
the  heathen.  I  am  very  much  afraid  that  this  is  what 
many  young  persons  and  children  do  not  think  of      I  am 


ALMSGIVING  AND  OBEDIENCE.  71 

quite  sure  that  there  are  many  grown  persons  who  know 
the  will  of  God,  and  yet  do  it  not ;  and  I  am  afraid  that 
there  are  many  sabbafh-school  children,  who  can  repeat 
a  great  deal  of  the  Bible,  and  yet  do  not  try  to  practise  a 
word  of  it, — who  attend  the  sabbath-school,  hear  the 
scripture  explained,  and  understand  it,  and  yet  go  right 
away  and  do  just  what  it  has  forbidden.  Indeed,  I  have 
seen  children  of  this  character.  At  sabbath-school,  they 
could  repeat  all  the  139th  Psalm,  which  speaks  about 
God's  being  every  where  present,  in  heaven,  earth,  and 
hell;  and  yet  at  home  or  among  their  playmates,  they 
acted  just  as  though  God  never  saw  them,  and  knew 
nothing  about  them.  At  sabbath-school  they  could  hear 
the  teacher  explain  the  words  :  "  My  son,  if  sinners  en- 
tice thee,  consent  thou  not ;"  but  as  soon  as  they  had  left 
it,  they  would  yield  to  the  solicitations  of  some  wicked 
playmate  to  go  away  and  play  on  the  sabbath-day,  or  to 
swear  and  use  the  name  of  God  in  a  very  irreverent  and 
wicked  manner.  At  sabbath-school  they  could  repeat 
the  fifth  commandment  by  heart,  and  give  a  good  account 
of  the  three  first  verses  of  the  6th  chapter  of  Ephesians  ; 
but  at  home  they  treated  their  parents  with  great  disrespect, 
and  were  very  disobedient  and  wicked  children.  Such  chil- 
dren are  making  their  hearts  worse  and  worse,  and  I  am 
afraid  they  will  come  to  some  dreadful  end,  and  perhaps 
die  at  last  on  the  gallows  ;  for  in  a  little  while  they  get  ti- 
red of  going  to  sabbath-school,  and  neglect  it  all  together. 
They  try  also  to  keep  away  from  all  places  of  instruction. 
They  prefer  to  do  their  own  wills.  They  at  length  run 
away  from  their  guardians  or  parents.  Then  they  have 
their  full  gratification  in  sin.  But,  poor  youth  !  sin  bites 
in  the  end  like  a  serpent,  and  stings  like  an  adder.  Death 
at  length  overtakes  them,   and  if  they  are   not  led  away 


T2  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUs'   DOCTRINES. 

by  some  human  arm  to  die  on  the  scaffold,  they  feel  that 
they  are  about  to  be  hurried  away  to  the  great  scaffold  of 
the  eternal  Judge,  and  on  it,  to  be  subjected  to  all  the 
pains  of  eternal  death.  And  go  then  they  must,  for  repent- 
ance is  too  late.  God  will  hear  them,  will  be  gracious 
and  merciful  to  them  no  more. 

Hymn. 

Let  no  foul   passion  ever  rise, 

Nor  dare  to  lie  and  swear  ; 
For  God,  tlio'  far  above  the  skies, 

Can  see  you  every  wljere. 

'  Let  love  through  all  your  actions  run, 

And  every  word  be  mild  ; 
As  did  tlie  blessed  virgin's  Son, 

When  like  thyself  a  child.' 

Before  your  friends  and  playmates  dear, 

Be  gonllo  and  divine; 
And  let  it  evermore  appear, 

That  Jesus  Christ  is  thine. 

If  thus  you  do,  where'er  you  go. 

Encircled  in  his  love 
You'll  find  yourself,  while  here  below, 

And  live  with  him  above. 


SECTION  X. 

Prayer. 

Among  the  other  duties,  my  young  friends,  which  you 
have  to  perform,  if  you  would   become  pious  and   happy, 


PRAYER,  ITS  BENEFITS.   JESUS  PRAYED.      73 

i.s  that  of  prayer.  Of  this  you  have  doubtless  already 
been  told,  by  those  who  love  you.  By  thinking  much 
on  God,  and  conversing  with  him  often  in  prayer,  you 
will  certainly  always  preserve  a  love  and  respect  for  him 
in  your  hearts.  Prayer  will  make  you  strong  to  resist 
all  enticements  to  sin, — every  temptation.  It  will  bring 
you  to  look  upon  the  various  follies  and  pleasures  of  youth 
with  increasing  dislike,  and  in  the  end,  to  regard  them 
with  utter  aversion.  It  will  raise  your  eyes  above  this 
world,  and  fix  them  on  the  brighter  one  which  lies  be- 
yond the  grave.  If  you  pray  with  a  right  spirit,,  you 
v/ill  find  God  gracious  to  you,  not  only  in  your  youth,  but 
at  every  future  period  of  your  life,  and  as  long  as  you 
continue  to  exist. 

Of  all  this  I  think  you  cannot  fail  to  be  fully  persuad- 
ed, if  you  call  to  mind  the  many  instances  recorded  in 
the  Bible,  of  persons  having  received  great  favors  from 
God,  in  answer  to  their  prayers  ;  and  especially  when 
you  come  to  be  better  acquainted  with  the  zeal  of  Jesus 
in  this  respect ;  for  Jesus,  as  I  shall  hereafter  tell  you, 
often  prayed ;  sometimes  all  night  long;  and  generally 
in  the  most  solitary  places. 

'•  Cold  moutitains  and  tlie  midnight  air. 
Witnessed  the  fervor  of  iiis  prayer." 

And  what  strength  and  comfort  he  derived  from  this  ex- 
ercise !  What  joy  it  imparted  to  his  soul !  And  then  he 
has  told  us  all  about  the  manner  in  which  we  are  to  pray. 
How  kind,  iiow  very  kind,  the  Savior  has  shown  him- 
self, in  what  he  has  done  for  us  in  only  this  one  re- 
spect; — in  setting  us  such  an  example,  in  exhorting  us 
with  such  earnestness  to  pray,  and  in  telling  us  how  to 
perform  this  duty,  if  we  would  truly  please  our  heaveii- 
7 


74  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

ly  Father,  and  be  heard  and  answered  by  him  !  For 
how  miserable  would  be  the  condition  of  that  little  child 
which  should  find  itself  without  any  father  or  friend  to 
go  to,  in  the  midst  of  a  thick  wood,  in  a  dark  night ;  and 
how  much  more  miserable  would  our  condition  be  in 
this  world,  without  a  God  to  go  to,  or  without  knowing 
how  to  pray  ! 

Taking  the  directions  of  Jesus,  then,  for  your  guide, — 
do  not  imitate  the  hypocrites.  They  prayed  only  for  the 
sake  of  being  seen  of  men,  and  this  was  all  they  gain- 
ed by  their  prayers.  When  you  wish  to  pray,  go  into 
your  chamber,  or  some  other  secret  place,  and  there 
pray  to  God  in  silence,  and  all  alone.  He  is  present 
there  with  you  in  your  solitude.  He  sees  your  heart.  He 
listens  to  your  sighs  ;  and  be  assured  he  will  make  it  evi- 
dent that  he  heard  your  prayers,  though  unheard  by  men. 

Do  not  let  your  prayers  consist  of  mere  chattering,  of 
vain  repetitions,  or  of  words  and  phrases  which  you  can 
not  understand.  Men  pray  thus  who  are  ignorant  of  God, 
as  the  prophets  of  Baal  did,  before  Elijah.  They  imagine 
that  God  will  hear  them  so  much  the  sooner  for  often 
repeating  what  they  say,  or  using  a  great  number  of 
words.  Do  not  imitate  them.  Carefully  avoid  all  such 
conceits.  See  to  it,  whenever  you  pray,  that  you  under- 
stand what  you  say,  and  pray  in  your  mind  ;  and  if  in 
reading  a  prayer  or  in  repeating  one  which  you  have 
learned  by  heart,  you  find  any  thing  obscure  or  unintelli- 
gible, ask  somebody  wiser,  to  explain  it  to  you. 

Gaze  not  around  you  while  you  are  praying,  suffer 
not  your  thoughts  to  be  in  pursuit  of  any  thing  else,  and 
do  not  run  over  your  prayers  in  thoughtless  haste,  a.s  lit- 
tle children  are  apt  to  do.  All  this  is  very  improper 
and  indeed  very  wicked,  in  Christian  youths. 


HOW  TO  PRAY.   THE  LORd's  PRAYER.       75 

You  must  not  only  understand  your  prayers  and  at- 
tend to  them,  but  you  must  pray  from  the  heart,  that  is, 
according  to  the  feelings  and  wishes  of  your  heart,  speak- 
ing the  truth  before  God,  just  as  you  would  do,  if  you 
were  conversing  with  your  dear  parents  and  friends.  Je- 
sus has  given  you  an  example,  from  which  you  may  learn 
with  what  simplicity  and  deep  sincerity,  you  ought  to 
converse  with  God  ;  as  well  as  the  reasons  why  you  should 
pray  to  him  in  particular.  You  have  known  this  prayer 
called  the  Lord's  prayer,  by  heart,  almost  from  your  in- 
fancy.    I  will  give  it  to  you  with  some  explanation  : 

"  Father  of  all  men,  who  art  exalted  over  all,  let  thy 
glorious  attributes  be  made  truly  known  to  every  one, 
and  be  praised  with  the  deepest  reverence,  both  in  words 
and  works.  O  grant,  blessed  God,  that  thy  kingdom, — the 
kingdom  of  truth,  virtue,  and  happiness, — may  be  con- 
tinually extended.  Help  me  also  to  yield  a  willing  and 
heartfelt  obedience  to  thy  laws  ;  and  as  thy  will  is  done 
in  heaven,  so  let  it  also  be  done  on  earth.  O  Lord,  I  am 
thine ;  do  with  me  at  all  times  and  under  all  circum- 
stances, as  it  seems  good  in  thy  sight.  Give  us  this 
day,  whatever  is  needful  to  our  preservation  and  real  hap- 
piness in  this  world.  Forgive  us  the  sins  which  we  have 
committed  against  thee,  as  we  forgive  every  one,  what- 
ever offence  he  has  committed  against  us.  Suffer  us  not 
to  fall  into  evil  and  meet  with  temptation  to  sin.  Stand 
by  us,  when  we  do.  Save  us  from  every  thing  that  is 
wicked  and  injurious  to  our  true  welfare  ;  for  thou  art 
our  supreme  Lord,  and  from  thee  comes  whatever  good 
thing  we  stand  in  need  of.  To  thee  we  owe  eternal  praise 
and  thanksgiving  !  Amen.  I  have  filial  confidence  in 
thee,  that  thou  wilt  hear  this  prayer." 

In  order  that  your  prayer  be  agreeable  to  God  and  ob- 


76  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUs'  DOCTRINES 

tain  his  hearing,  you  must  pray  in  the  name  of  Jesus  ; 
that  is,  you  must  pray  according  to  the  directions  of  Je- 
sus, with  a  humble  and  upright  heart,  and  feeling  confi- 
dent that  God,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  will  hear 
your  prayer  and  answer  it  at  the  best  time  and  in  the  best 
manner.  You  must  also  have  a  spirit  of  forgiveness.  You 
must  not  even  think  that  God  will  hear  you,  answer  your 
prayers,  and  forgive  your  sins,  if  you  cannot  and  do  not 
sincerely  forgive  others  all  the  injuries  they  have  done 
you. 

And  besides,  your  prayers  and  your  actions  must  agree 
together.  When  you  pray  to  God  for  any  particular  fa- 
vors, you  must  show  by  yoor  actions  that  you  really 
want  them.  If  you  pray  for  the  conversion  of  a  brother 
or  a  sister,  you  must  act  towards  them  as  though  you 
wished  for  their  conversion.  This  agreement  of  your  ac- 
tions and  your  prayers,  is  the  only  proof  you  can  give  of 
your  sincerity.  And  you  must  pray  continually  ;  not  that 
you  are  to  be  always  on  your  knees,  making  petitions  to 
God  ;  but  that  you  must  be  habitual  in  the  perform- 
ance of  this  duty,  ever  thirst  after  holiness,  and  always 
have  that  spirit  within  you,  without  which  no  one  can 
expect  God  to  hear  him. 

Think  of  what  has  now  been  told  you,  and  go  with 
confidence  to  your  Savior.  He  has  often  exhorted  us 
to  pray  to  God  through  him,  and  told  us  to  put  confidence 
in  him.  If  you  always  pray  according  to  his  directions, — 
with  as  pious  and  humble  a  heart  as  he  prayed, — you 
may  be  assured,  that  God  will  hear  your  prayer  at  the 
right  time,  and  grant  you  whatever  it  is  good  for  you  to 
have.  Upon  this  subject  there  is  no  need  of  doubts,  for 
Jesus  has  expressly  declared,  that  he  who  asks  shall  re- 


MUST  PRAY  IN  ACTION.       GOD  A  FATHER.  7  / 

ceive  ;  and  to  remove  all  fear  in  this  respect,  he   has  ad- 
ded a  plain  illustration. 

"  A  good  father,"  says  he,  "  when  asked  b)'  a  son  tor 
bread,  will  not  give  him  instead  thereof,  a  stone  or  a 
poisonous  serpent."  Did  either  of  your  parents,  my  child, 
ever  serve  you  so?  Whenever  you  ask  them  for  any 
thing,  do  you  not  feel  perfectly  confident  that  they  will 
let  you  have  it,  if  they  think  proper?  "  God  is  the  best 
of  fathers,  our  heavenly  Father,"  adds  the  Savior  in 
meaning;  "and  how  much  more  readily  will  he  give 
good  things  to  those  who  ask  him  for  them." 

And  if,  my  child,  you  always  go  to  God  in  prayer,  feel- 
ing that  he  is  the  kindest  of  fathers,  and  putting  confi- 
dence in  his  wisdom  and  goodness,  you  will  always  have 
a  source  of  happiness,  of  which  no  one  can  deprive  you, — 
a  friend  to  guide  you,  whose  feelings  no  one  can  alienate 
from  you.  Your  parents  and  all  your  earthly  friends  may 
be  taken  from  you  ;  or,  by  some  means  or  other,  they 
may  be  brought  to  dislike  you.  But  nothing  of  all  this 
can  ever  happen  with  respect  to  God.  He  remains  eter- 
nally the  same.  He  loves  those  who  love  him,  and  it  i.s 
impossible  for   him  ever  to  cease  to  love  them. 

With  such  a  friend  on  your  side  you  have  nothing  to 
fear.  Should  wicked  men  take  away  your  life,  it  would 
only  hasten  your  journey  a  little  through  this  world,  and 
luring  you  sooner  home  to  your  God.  With  such  feelings, 
even  though  orphans  in  the  world,  you  will  always  be 
able,  rejoicingly,  to  unite  with  the  Psalmist  in  saying  : 
"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want." 

"  The  Lord  my  shepherd  is, 
I  shall  be  well  supplied  ; 

7* 


78  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

Since  he  is  mine,  and  I  am  his, 
What  can  I  want  beside  ? 

He  leads  me  to  the  place, 

Where  heavenly  pasture  grows, 

Where  living  waters  gently  pass, 
And  full  salvation  flows." 


SECTION  XL 

Of  the  law  of  reward. 

I  suppose  the  most  of  you,  my  dear  readers,  to  be  still 
young  ;  but  you  have  lived  long  enough  to  see  how  peo- 
ple generally  act  towards  each  other,  when  left  to  them- 
selves. Perhaps  even  now,  should  your  sister  strike  you, 
you  would  begin  to  think  at  once  of  striking  her.  At 
least  when  one  playmate  finds  himself  injured  by  anoth- 
er, he  most  usually  sets  about  revenge.  And  when  one 
child  sees  another  in  difficulty,  how  often,  instead  of  try- 
ing to  help  him,  he  seems  to  rejoice  over  his  misfortune ! 

As  with  children  and  youth,  so  with  older  people.  If 
one  neighbor  receives  injury  from  another,  he  begins 
in  ordinary  cases,  to  think  at  once  of  revenge,  especially 
if  there  be  a  little  obstinacy  in  the  way  ;  while  there  are 
thousands  in  the  world,  who  never  think  of  assisting 
those  who  are  needy  and  distressed,  unless  they  hope  to 
receive  some  favor  in  return. 

Our  Savior  was  well  acquainted  with  this  trait  of  hu- 


LAW  OF  REWARD  ;    ILLUSTRATED.  79 

man  nature,  "  With  what  measure  ye  mete,"  says  he, 
"  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again."  That  is,  whatever 
you  do  to  others,  you  must  expect  them  to  do  to  you  in 
return. 

These  words  of  our  Savior,  however,  mean  more  than 
this.  They  also  mean  that  God  himself  will  invariably 
reward  us  according  to  our  works.  He  has  resolved,  that 
with  what  measure  we  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  us 
again.  If  we  show  ourselves  kind,  and  full  of  good  feel- 
ing towards  others,  we  shall  find  them  kind  and  full  of 
good  feeling  towards  us.  If  we  assist  the  miserable,  we 
shall  find  them,  and  multitudes  of  others,  if  they  can  do 
it,  ready  to  assist  us,  whenever  we  stand  in  need  of  it. 
We  shall  have  the  gratification  of  seeing  even  our  ene- 
mies become  our  friends,  or  cease  to  oppose  us.  At 
least  it  is  certain,  that  God  will  approve  of  what  we  do, 
and  bless  us  with  his  favor. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  show  ourselves  unkind, — if 
we  are  treacherous  and  hard  and  unmerciful  towards 
our  associates,  we  shall  find  them  treacherous  and  hard 
and  unmerciful  towards  us  in  return.  At  least  it  is  cer- 
tain we  shall  not  escape  punishment,  for  God  never  suf- 
fers the  guilty  to  escape.  It  may  not  come  upon  us  at 
the  very  moment  in  which  we  do  what  is  wicked,  but 
depend  upon  it,  it  will  ultimately  come.  This  is  evident 
from  many  examples  of  tRis  kind,  to  be  found  in  the  Bi- 
ble. 

The  case  of  Joseph's  brethren  is  exactly  to  the  pur- 
pose. You  recollect,  perhaps,  the  history.  They  had 
torn  him,  whom  they  ought  to  have  protected  and  de- 
fended, away  from  his  father's  house,  and,  in  spite  of  his 
bitter  grief,  the  deep  anguish  of  his  soul,  and  his  earnest 
entreaties,  sold  him  as  a  slave  to  a  company  of  Ishmael- 


>S0  REFLECTIONS   ON  JESUS     DOCTRINES. 

ites  ;  but  they  were  punished  for  their  conduct.  They 
had  cruelly  put  him  to  anguish,  and  they  were  afterwards 
put  to  anguish  in  their  turn.  Standing  before  the  very 
person  whom  they  had  so  much  abused,  they  sighed,  and 
in  their  anguish,  said  among  themselves :  "  We  are  veri- 
ly guilty  concerning  our  brother." 

And  in  the  case  of  Haman,  too,  who  hated  Mordecai, 
because  he  received  more  honor  from  the  king,  than  he 
himself,  and  therefore  sought  to  bring  him  to  the  gallows, 
and  to  destroy  all  the  Jewish  nation  to  which  he  belong- 
ed. He  was  brought  to  the  gallows  himself,  and  died 
in  the  same  way  in  which  he  intended  Mordecai  to  die. 

And  then  those  wicked  people,  who,  in  order  to  gratify 
their  hatred  and  destroy  Daniel,  contrived  to  get  him 
cast  into  the  lions'  den  ;  how  dreadfully  and  yet  how  just- 
ly they  were  punished!  They  were  thrown  into  that 
very  den,  into  which  Daniel  had  been  cast,  and  were 
torn  in  pieces. 

And  there  are  a  great  many  such  instances  to  be  met 
with  in  common  life.  It  is  often  the  case,  that  the  chil- 
dren of  rich  and  distinguished  parents,  strike  the  child- 
ren of  poor,  but  good  parents,  and  treat  them  with  ridi- 
cule and  contempt.  They  feel  perhaps  too  good  to  play 
with  them,  sit  upon  the  same  seat,  or  even  go  to  the  same 
school.  In  a  few  years,  however,  both  grow  u]),  and  a 
great  change  takes  place  in  their  condition.  God  in  his 
providence  makes  the  rich  parents  and  their  children 
poor,  and  the  others  rich.  The  first  are  turned  out  of 
house,  and  deprived  in  one  night  of  all  they  have,  by 
fire  ;  or  they  meet  with  great  calamities  in  the  course  of 
their  business,  which  defeat  all  their  plans  ;  or  in  the 
midst  of  abundant  wealth,  they  become  idle,  and  care- 
less, and  vicious,  and  thus  lose  all  they  have.     The  oth- 


CASES.   A  PRAYER.   JUDGING  OTHERS.       81 

ers  prosper  far  more  than  they  expected  ;  every  thing  fa- 
vors them  ;  their  fields  yield  great  crops  ;  or  their  trade 
flourishes;  and  in  the  end,  they  find  themselves  and 
their  descendants,  rich  ;  and  under  such  circumstances, 
it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  those  children  or  men,  slight- 
ed and  ridiculed  and  treated  with  contempt,  by  the  very 
persons  whom  they  once  treated  with  contempt  them- 
selves. 

Many  a  child  too,  who  has  filled  the  hearts  of  his  pa- 
rents with  deep  sorrow,  has  found  his  own  heart,  in  some 
way  or  other,  filled  with  deep  sorrow  in  return,  when  he 
has  grown  up.  Often  have  men,  when  brought  into 
great  calamities,  thrown  into  prison,  bound  in  chains,  or 
led  away  to  die  on  the  scaifold,  been  heard  to  cry  out, 
that  their  sufferings  and  punishment  were  just  what  they 
deserved  for  the  unkind  manner  in  which  they  had  treat- 
ed their  parents.  "  O,  had  I  obeyed  my  parents,  I  should 
never  have  come  to  this.  How  much  my  poor  mother 
suffered  on  my  account,  I  was  the  means  of  hastening 
her  death ;  and  now  I  am  reaping  the  reward  of  my  do- 
ings." 

Depend  upon  it^  Jesus  knew  what  he  meant,  when  he 
said  :  "  With  what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measur- 
ed to  you  again  ;"  or  as  he  has  more  forcibly  expressed 
the  same  thought  in  another  place  :  "  He  that  taketh 
the  sword,  shall  perish  by  the  sword."  If  you  ever  read 
history  much,  and  with  an  observing  mind,  you  will  find 
it  full  of  illustrations  of  this  truth.  In  the  book  of  eterni- 
ty, in  particular,  when  unfolded  to  view,  you  will  read  its 
fulfilment  in  most  conspicuous  characters,  on  every  page. 

Let  this  then  be  your  daily  prayer :  "  Guide  me,  O 
blessed  God,  by  thy  Holy  Spirit,  and  leave  me  not  to 
cause  my  parents  and  teachers  any  sorrow.     Never  suffer 


82 


REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS    DOCTRINES. 


me  even  to  think  of  injuring  any  one.  O  deliver  me 
from  that  misery  and  deep  anguish  of  heart,  which  wick- 
ed doers  will  certainly  experience,  at  least  in  the  world 
to  come." 

In  this  connexion,  my  young  readers,  you  should  also 
reflect  upon  what  the  Savior  has  said  about  our  judging 
others.  "  Judge  not,"  says  he,  "  that  ye  be  not  judg- 
ed.    Condemn  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  condemned." 

You  sin  against  this  rule,  or  you  break  it,  if  you  are  in 
the  habit  of  thinking  and  speaking  the  worst  things 
about  your  fellow  creatures  ;  if,  instead  of  speaking  good 
about  others,  and  dealing  kindly  with  their  faults,  or  mak- 
ing suitable  apologies  for  them,  you  look  only  at  their 
faults,  trying  to  make  them  greater  than  they  really  are, 
and  spreading  them  all  around  you,  while  perhaps  you  re- 
joice over  them,  and  treat  them  with  ridicule.  Great,  in- 
deed, is  your  crime,  in  this  respect,  if  you  wantonly  in- 
vent lies  about  others,  and  feign  what  is  wicked.  Guard 
yourselves  against  this  hateful  practice,  and  particularly 
against  the  weakness  so  common  to  youth,  of  treating  the 
faults  of  others  with  ridicule.  Look  to  your  own  defects. 
Are  you  sure,  that  you  are  not  worse  than  those  whom 
you  abuse  ?  Endeavor  to  ascertain  your  own  characters. 
How  very  foolish  for  you  to  have  acuteness  enough  to 
discover  a  trifling  error  in  the  conduct  of  others,  and  yet 
be  unable  to  detect  the  most  frightful  errors  in  your- 
selves !  '  It  is,'  says  the  Savior,  '  as  if  you  should  dis- 
cover a  man,  with  a  little  mote  or  splinter  in  his  eye,  and 
should  think  of  nothing  else  but  drawing  it  out,  while 
you  had  a  beam,  a  far  more  dangerous  wound,  in  your 
own  eye,  and  would  not  be  informed  of  it.' 

Be  assured,  that  if  you  see  how  full  of  error  and  sin, 
you  are  yourselves,  and  how  much  kindness  and  forbear- 


•\ 


ATTEND  TO  YOUR  SOUL.  83 

ance  you  need  from  your  friends  and  all  good  people,  you 
will  think  far  less  of  the  faults,  the  wickedness  of  others. 
On  the  other  hand,  you  will  always  have  kindness  and 
love  in  your  heart  towards  them,  even  when  they  are  very 
bad  ;  and  with  such  feelings  you  will  not  be  very  apt  to 
calumniate  them  or  judge  them  \vith  severity.  The  lan- 
guage of  your  heart  will  rather  be  : 

Help,  Jesus,  help  mc  e'er  to  love  n>y  neighbor; 
To  kindly  share  in  all  his  pain  and  labor, 
And  hold  his  name  in  estimation  duly, 
As  mine,  most  truly. 

O  guard  me,  lest  I  judge  his  faults  severely  ; 
Let  me  not  tail  to  hide  iheui  most  sincerely, 

Nor,  when  lie  falls,  tlio'  standing,  thence  in  sorrow. 
Due  cure  to  borrow. 


SECTION  Xlf. 

Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

If  we  were  to  live  only  in  this  world,  and,  at  death, 
cease  to  exist  forever,  then  it  would  be  wise  to  attend 
chiefly  to  the  things  of  time,  and  treat  religion  and  eternity, 
at  best,  merely  as  pleasing  dreams.  Since,  however,  it 
is  certain  that  we  are  to  live  beyond  the  grave,  and  live 
there  forever,  and  that  too,  in  a  state  of  happiness  or  mis- 
ery, every  one  who  reflects  upon  the  subject,  must  see 
it  to  be  very  foolish  to  neglect  religion  and  eternal  things, 
and  feel  himself  called  upon  by  the  voice  of  wisdom  her- 


84  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

self,  to  attend  in  the  very  first  place,  to  the  concerns  of 
the  soul. 

As  we  should  expect  then,  Jesus  exhorts  us  to  seek 
first  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  or  the  kingdom  of  God. 
The  same  thing  he  does  frequently  in  different  ways, 
sometimes  telling  us  to  set  our  affections  on  things  above  ; 
at  others,  to  lay  up  our  treasures  in  heaven.  As  if  he 
said  : 

"  Let  it  be  the  object  of  all  your  efforts  to  live  for  God, 
— to  live  such  a  life  of  wisdom  and  piety,  as  shall  through 
my  grace,  gain  you  admittance,  when  you  die,  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  For  this  purpose,  fear  God  and 
keep  his  commandments.  Learn  not  those  things  which 
relate  alone  to  this  world,  which  are  adapted  merely  to 
make  you  happy  in  this  life  ;  but  seek  that  wisdom  which 
will  make  you  happy  for  eternity.  To  do  this  is  not  on- 
ly to  make  yourselves  acquainted  with  the  divine  will, 
but  to  practise  it,  keeping  your  eyes  all  the  time  upon 
the  world  above,  and  living  alone  for  God."  I  might  pre- 
sent various  motives  to  induce  you  to  obey  the  injunction 
of  the  Savior,  to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  fact,  that  they  are  the  words  of  the  Savior  him- 
self 

Remember  that  this  world,  and  every  thing  it  contains 
is  passing  away  ;  that  thieves  and  robbers,  and  time  and 
misfortune,  stand  ready  to  deprive  us  of  all  our  earthly 
possessions ;  that  your  parents  and  friends  will  soon  be 
taken  away  from  you  ;  that  you  yourselves  may  be  oblig- 
ed to  endure  sickness  and  distress  for  years  ;  that  cries 
of  grief  and  groans  and  tales  of  woe,  attend  us  at  every 
stage  of  our  course  through  this  world. 

On  the  other  hand,  remember,  that  he  who  does  the 
will  of  God,  shall  nevertheless,  be  sustained  in  all    his 


THE  DESIRABLENESS  OF  HEAVEN.  85 

trials,  be  reconciled  to  the  will  of  God,  feeling  that  he 
does  all  things  right,  be  always  to  a  greater  or  less  degree 
happy,  and,  after  death,  be  put  in  possession  of  riches,  in 
a  region,  where  there  are  no  thieves  to  steal,  and  where 
neither  moth  nor  rust  will  corrupt.  It  is  indeed  very 
painful  to  die.  And  yet  a  great  many  men  as  well  as 
youth  and  children  have  longed  to  go  to  heaven  and  be 
with  Jesus,  where  there  is  no  sin  and  no  sorrow.  And 
if  you  fear  God,  when  your  end  draws  near,  you  will  prob- 
ably wish  to  die  and  go  there  too.  And  will  you  not  seek 
this  kingdom  ? 

Suppose  a  vessel  should  come  to  us  from  a  great  dis- 
tance, and  tell  us,  that  a  new  and  wonderful  island  had 
been  discovered ;  that  in  beauty  of  landscape  and  health- 
fulness  of  climate,  it  far  surpassed  every  thing  that  had 
hitherto  been  seen  in  the  world  ;  that  there  was  no  win- 
ter there,  nor  autumn,  but  one  eternal  spring  ;  that  there 
was  no  sickness  or  sorrow  or  death,  ever  heard  of,  in  all 
the  region;  that  its  inhabitants  were  immortal,  and  full  of 
kindness  and  love,  and  ever  laboring  to  do  good  to  each 
other;  that  peace  and  happiness  forever  dwelt  in  every 
bosom,  and  ruled  over  the  whole ;  that  moreover  the  in- 
habitant of  the  world,  whatever  his  character  and  from 
whatever  part  he  came,  provided  he  left  every  thing  be- 
hind, should  be  admitted  into  this  island  and  made  par- 
taker of  all  its  happiness  :  Would  you  not  long  to  become 
one  of  its  inhabitants  and  secure  its  promised  bless- 
ings, its  immortal  joys  ?  Would  you  not  be  willing  to  sub- 
mit to  conditions  somewhat  severe,  in  order  to  obtain 
them  ?  Would  you  not  be  very  anxious  to  embark  for  it 
at  once,  lest  you  should  die  before  you  got  there  ?  O,  me- 
thinks  we  should  every  one  of  us  part  immediately  with 
all  we  have,  and  embark  for  this  island.  We  certainly 
8 


86         REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

should  not  suffer  ourselves  to  be  hindered  by  any  thing. 
We  should  hasten  away  with  all  the  speed  imaginable, 
from  this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow  and  death,  and  as  soon 
as  possible,  secure  the  blessings  offered. 

There  is  indeed  no  such  island  in  this  world  ;  but  be- 
yond the  grave  there  is  a  region  which  far  surpasses  it. 
There  is  no  sighing  or  sorrow  or  death  there,  nor  winter, 
nor  autumn,  nor  even  night.  It  is  full  of  beauty,  and 
happiness.  There  is  to  be  found  there  the  river  of  the 
water  of  life,  and  trees  bearing  twelve  kinds  of  fruit.  It 
is  full  of  green  fields.  There  is  not  a  thief,  or  liar,  or 
swearer,  or  adulterer,  or  any  other  vile  person,  to  be  found 
there.  All  its  inhabitants  are  good.  They  are  in  every 
respect  lovely.  They  are  continually  praising  the  Re- 
deemer. They  are  happier  than  it  is  possible  for  us  even  to 
think.  And  among  them,  too,  we  shall  find  some  of  our 
own  dear  friends  who  are  dead, — a  dear  mother,  or  bro- 
ther, or  sister,  for  whom  we  have  often  wept. 

Now  when  Christ  tells  us  to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  he  means  that  we  shall  so  live  and  act,  that  when 
we  come  to  die,  we  may  be  admitted  into  this  happy  re- 
gion. He  came  down  to  die  for  us  and  help  us  to  get 
there.  The  only  condition  he  imposes  upon  us,  is,  that 
we  shall  give  all  up  to  him,  and  love  him  and  serve  him 
in  this  world  ;  while  at  the  same  time,  he  assures  us,  that 
if  we  do  so,  it  shall  be  far  better  for  us  even  in  this  life. 
Will  you  not  then,  dear  youth,  seek  first  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  be  happy  while  you  live,  and  forever  after  death  ? 

But  remember  you  can  never  enter  heaven,  if  you  are 
not  made  good  and  holy  through  Jesus  Christ,  and  do 
not  give  up  every  thing  for  his  sake.  If  you  disobey 
your  parents,  and  quarrel  with  your  playmates,  and  break 
the  sabbath,  and  lie,  and  cheat,  and  swear,  and  steal,  and 


CAUTION  AGAINST  DECEPTION.  87 

Jove  this  world  better  than  you  do  Jesus,  you  must  be  forev- 
er shut  out  of  this  glorious  region.  For  all  such  persons, 
there  is  a  dreadful  place  prepared,  full  of  darkness  and 
misery  and  everlasting  death. 

Think  of  this,  and  going  away  alone,  pray  God,  for 
the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  forgive  your  sins  and  prepare 
you  to  enter  his  glorious  kingdom.  He  will  certainly 
hear  you  and  answer  your  prayers,  if  you  pray  to  him 
from  your  heart. 


SECTION  XIII. 

Caution  against  deception. 

You  are  still  young,  and  inexperienced  in  the  artifices 
and  tricks  of  false  men  ;  but  this  world,  being  full  of  sin, 
is  also  full  of  deceit, — full  of  men,  who  hesitate  not,  when 
their  own  interest  seems  to  require  it,  to  deceive  their 
fellow  creatures. 

Depend  upon  it,  they  may  also,  with  the  greatest  ease, 
deceive  you,  and  thereby  lead  you  into  sin.  They  may 
try  to  make  you  believe  that  it  is  not  wicked  to  swear, 
or  that  it  is  lawful  to  disobey  one's  parents,  or  that  the 
sabbath-day  may  be  broken,  or  that  the  way  to  heaven 
is  not  so  difficult  as  the  Bible  tells  us  it  is, — that  there  is 
far  less  danger  of  going  to  hell  than  we  have  supposed  ; 
and,  in  short,  that  there  is  not  a  word  said  about  ever- 
lasting punishment  in  all  the  Bible ;  and  they  may  at  the 
same  time  do  this  with  such  an  appearance  of  piety,  as  to 


88         REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'  DOCTRINES. 

induce   you   to  believe  what  is  not  true,  and  to  practise 
what  God  himself  has  forbidden. 

Now  it  is  necessary  for  you  to  be  particularly  upon 
your  guard  against  all  religious  deceivers.  You  must  fol- 
low the  rule  which  Jesus  has  laid  down  to  direct  us  in 
this  respect.  '  See  to  it  that  you  do  not  suffer  yourselves 
to  be  blinded  by  the  appearance  of  piety.'  There  is 
many  a  person  who  pretends  to  be  very  good,  but  who  has 
a  heart  full  of  wickedness.  Externally,  he  resembles  a 
sheep,  but  internally,  he  is  a  wolf, — a  ravenous  beast  of 
prey. 

If  you  have  ever  read  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  you  will 
probably  remember  what  is  said  in  it,  about  a  man  called 
Flatterer,  who  led  Christian  and  Hopeful  out  of  their 
way,  and  got  them  entangled  in  a  net.  He  was  just 
such  a  man.  He  seemed  to  be  good  and  pious,  but  he 
spake  flattering  words,  and  his  heart  was  full  of  wicked- 
ness and  deceit. 

Now  to  guard  against  such  deceptions,  you  must  always 
look  at  a  man's  conversation  and  actions,  and  look  at  them 
until  you  really  know  his  character.  He  may  put  on  the 
appearance  of  a  good  man  for  a  little  while  ;  but  his  real 
nature  will  at  last  break  out,  and  you  will  see  clearly  what 
he  is.  For  can  you  not  with  certainty  always  tell  a  tree 
by  its  fruit  ?  If  the  tree  is  good,  is  not  its  fruit  good  ? 
If  the  tree  is  bad,  is  not  its  fruit  bad  ?  Does  not  the  ap- 
ple-tree always  produce  apples,  and  the  fig-tree,  figs  ? 

Now  it  is  just  so  with  men.  By  making  yourselves  ac- 
quainted with  a  man's  conversation  and  actions,  you  will 
in  the  end  certainly  ascertain  what  kind  of  disposition 
and  feelings  he  has  ;  or  in  other  words,  what  kind  of  a 
man  he  is.  Are  a  man's  works  good,  then  he  is  a  good 
man,  however  unwilling  people  may  be  to  admit  it.     Are 


HEAVEN  CONTAINS  NO  DECEIVERS.  89 

his  works  bad,  then  he  himself  is  also  bad,  however  pious 
he  may  pretend  to  be ;  and  you  cannot  rely  upon  what 
such  a  man  tells  you,  respecting  religion.  You  must  be- 
ware of  him  as  a  false  prophet. 

And  here  let  me  warn  you  also,  to  avoid  all  dissimula- 
tion. Never  be  guilty,  as  children  and  youth  often  arc, 
of  acting  the  hypocrite,  before  the  eyes  of  your  parents 
and  teachers,  and  seeming  to  be  very  obedient ;  while  be- 
hind their  backs  you  ridicule  them,  with  all  their  good 
advice,  and  are  guilty  of  a  hundred  mischievous  and 
wicked  tricks. 

Of  what  use  would  your  hypocrisy  be  to  you  ?  It 
would  probably  all  be  found  out  in  this  world  ;  and  good 
people  would  treat  you  as  a  deceiver.  But  if  it  were 
not,  God,  who  sees  every  thing,  would  see  all  your  v.'ick- 
ed  actions.  You  would  not  be  one  of  his  beloved 
children  ;  and  you  would  be  punished  for  your  dissimula- 
tion, if  not  in  this  world,  at  least  in  that  which  is  to  come. 
When,  after  death,  you  drew  near,  longing  to  be  admitted 
into  heaven,  he  would  say  to  you,  '  Depart  from  me,  thou 
deceiver,  thou  hypocrite ;  I  have  never  recognized  thee 
as  my  child.' 

There  is  no  dissimulation  in  heaven.  The  saints  and 
angels  in  that  region,  never  try  to  deceive  each  other  or 
God  ;  and  this  is  one  thing  that  makes  heaven  so  happy 
a  place. 

Be  very  careful,  therefore,  to  form  an  acquaintance 
V.  ith  your  own  heart ;  to  attend  closely  to  all  you  feel,  do, 
and  say,  and  see  whether  you  are  perfectly  honest  in 
every  thing,  as  you  are  required  to  be,  by  the  word  of 
God.  If  this  is  the  case  with  you,  as  I  hope,  then  you 
are  in  reality  a  pious  child.  Make  the  prayer  of  David 
yours,  and  use  it  often.  "  Search  me,  O  God,  and  know 
8* 


90  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'   DOCTRINES. 

my  heart ;  try  me  and  know  my  thoughts  ;  and  see  if 
there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way 
everlasting." 

Come,  thou  All-seeing,  come  and  try  this  heart ; 

Unveil  the  sins  that  lurk  in  every  part; 

Help  me  their  darkest  caverns  to  unseal, 

And,  what  I  am  before  thee,  know  and  feel. 

O  leave  me  not  to  tread  death's  fearful  way, 

But  check  my  wandering  feet,  whene'er  they  stray, 

And  kindly  lead  me  to  the  realms  of  day. 


SECTION  XIV. 

Of  trusting  in  Providence. 

In  youth,  for  the  most  part,  we  are  free  from  anxieties 
and  cares.  We  are  then  under  the  guardianship  of  pa- 
rents and  friends,  and  receive  food  and  clothing  and 
every  thing  else  we  need,  from  their  hands. 

Even  in  youth,  however,  there  are  some  who  ex- 
perience anxiety  and  care,  and  perhaps  are  left  orphans, 
to  buffet  the  world  alone.  If  this  be  not  the  case  with 
us  in  youth,  it  unquestionably  will  be,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent,  in  maturer  age.  We  shall  find  ourselves,  like 
others,  full  of  troublesome  thoughts  respecting  the  pre- 
sent and  future,  when  we  have  to  provide  for  ourselves, 
and  feel  our  perplexities  increasing  upon  us,  with  our 
years. 

If,  my  young  friend,  you  ever  live  to  see  this  period, 
and  feel  a  weight  of  anxieties  and  cares  pressing  upon 


A  LESSON  FROM  THE  BIRDS  AND  FLOWERS.  S 

you  and  filling  you  with  sadness  and  gloom,  go  to  the 
Bible,  and  you  will  find  enough  there  to  comfort  and  sup- 
port you.  Think  especially  of  what  the  Savior  has  told 
us  ;  '  To  take  no  anxious  thought  about  what  we  shall 
eat,  drink,  or  wear.'  Say  to  yourself  :  "  God  has  given 
me  life,  and  he  will  certainly  also  give  me  every  thing 
that  is  necessary  for  its  support.  He  has  created  my  bo- 
dy, and  he  will  not  refuse  to  feed  and  clothe  it." 

Come,  take  a  walk  with  me  out  into  the  fields,  on  this 
beautiful  morning.  Do  your  hear  the  birds  ?  How 
sweetly  they  sing !  That  is  a  robin  with  his  mournful 
strain  ;  and  that  is  the  little  wren,  whose  body  swells  with 
every  eifort ;  and  hark  !  from  the  distant  wood,  I  hear 
the  warbling  of  the  thrush.  Now  think  of  all  this.  Look 
upon  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  consider  them  well.  They 
neither  sow  nor  reap,  nor  gather  fruit  and  grain  into 
barns,  as  men  do ;  and  yet  they  are  all  well  provided  for, 
and  quite  happy.     Our  heavenly  Father  feeds  them. 

And  then,  these  flowers,  how  beautiful  they  are  !  This 
is  the  iris,  and  this  the  lily,  and  this  the  rose.  Each  has 
colors  and  charms  of  its  own  ;  but  all  are  most  delicately 
tinged,  most  delightfully  clothed.  Solomon  in  his  most 
costly  robes  was  never  arrayed  like  one  of  these  flowers. 
And  yet  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin.  They  grow- 
up  without  labor,  wild  in  the  fields.  God  makes  them 
grow,  and  clothes  them  in  such  beautiful  colors. 

Such  thoughts  as  these  should  certainly  lessen  your 
anxieties,  and  fill  you  with  confidence  in  God.  From 
them  you  cannot  help  perceiving  that  he  is  powerful,  and 
kind,  and  attentive  to  every  thing  he  has  made  ;  that,  as 
Christ  tells  us,  '  Not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  with- 
out  his   notice.'     Surely  if  God   takes  such  care  of  the 


94  REFLECTtONS  ON  JESUs'  DOCTRINES. 

happiness  which  comes  from  obeying  God,  if  you  would 
have  confidence  in  him  as  your  Father,  and  be  happy 
even  in  this  world.  God  may  indeed  treat  you  for  a 
long  time,  in  many  respects  as  a  child,  even  if  you  diso- 
bey him;  for  he  is  kind  to  the  unthankful  and  the  evil, 
and  sends  his  rain  upon  the  just  and  the  unjust  ;  but  be 
assured  tnat  you  can  never  have  confidence  in  him,  as 
long  as  you  disobey  him  and  Jesus  Christ  your  Re- 
deemer. 

A  little  child  that  has  one  of  the  kindest  of  fathers, 
and  has  often  run  smiling  to  his  aims,  now  turns  away 
from  him,  hardly  dares  to  look  at  him,  and  seems  afraid 
to  meet  him.  What  has  produced  such  a  change? 
This  child  has  been  disobedient.  The  father  does  not 
yet  indeed  know  it,  but  the  child  is  conscious  of  guilt, 
and  by  means  of  its  disobedience  it  has  lost  all  its  confi- 
dence in  the  best  of  parents. 

And  just  so  it  is  with  regard  to  ourselves  and  God.  If 
we  would  have  confidence  in  him,  we  must  obey  him  ; 
for  consciousness  of  guilt  will  in  this  case  as  in  thq  other, 
fill  us  with  distrust.  It  is  impossible  in  the  very  nature 
of  the  thing,  that  those  who  disobey  God,  should  feel  con- 
fidence in  him. 

Make  it  then  the  object  of  your  most  zealous  efforts,  as 
long  as  you  live,  to  obtain  the  grace  of  God,  and  please 
him  in  every  thing.  You  will  then  be  happy,  not  merely 
when  you  come  to  die,  but  you  will  have  every  thing 
you  need  in  this  world.  In  short,  you  will  be  left  in 
want  of  no  real  good. 

Let  me  conclude  what  I  have  to  say  to  you,  in  the 
words  of  one  who  was  a  friend  to  youth  and  to  mankind. 

'  We  are  indebted,  my  dear  young  friends,  to  Jesus 
Christ,  for  what  we  are  able  with  certainty  to  know  and 


OBEDIENCE  NECESSARV  TO  CONFIDENCE.      95 

believe,  respecting  the  feelings  of  God.  From  what  he 
has  taught  us,  we  learn,  that  while  God  is  full  of  the 
highest  wisdom,  and  possessed  of  almighty  power,  so  that 
none  of  his  purposes  can  fail,  he  is  also  full  of  benevo- 
lence to  the  human  race  ;  that  he  regards  thera  with  all 
the  love  and  affection  of  a  father;  that  he  has  resolved, 
through  his  Son,  to  make  them  as  happy,  as,  by  obe- 
dience, they  will  consent  to  be  made  ;  and  that  he  has 
ever  ordered  and  will  continue  to  order  all  the  affairs  of 
his  government,  with  special  reference  to  the  good  of 
those  who  yield  sincere  obedience  to  his  will.  How 
cheering  it  is  to  know  that  God  has  such  feelings  towards 
mankind!  What  an  awful  thing  it  would  be  to  live  in 
uncertainty  of  his  benevolence  and  goodness  !  How  much 
reason  in  particular,  have  those  that  love  him,  to  rejoice 
in  him  as  a  father.     They  have  nothing  to  fear. 

'  As  God,  then,  aims  at  the  happiness  of  mankind, 
you  should  do  the  same.  Kindness,  integrity,  and  uni- 
versal benevolence  to  your  fellow  creatures,  should  per- 
vade your  very  heart.  You  should  contribute  to  the  hap- 
piness of  others,  as  much  as  you  are  able,  whenever  op- 
portunity presents,  and  by  doing  so,  show  that  you  live 
according  to  the  doctrines  of  Jesus,  and  love  and  honor 
God.  It  is  in  this  way  only,  that  you  can  ever  think  of 
being  able  to  die  happy  ;  for  none  but  those  who  have 
such  feelings,  and  love  what  is  good  and  honest,  are  pre- 
pared for  happiness,  that  is,  for  entering  into  the  com- 
munity of  the  righteous,  into  the  joys  of  the  kingdom  of 
God.     Indeed,  none  but  such  are  in  reality  Christians. 

'  And,  my  dear  youth,  if  we  have  worthy  thoughts  of 
God  ;  if  we  love  and  honor  him,  and  consequently  obey 
him,  we  may  be  assured,  that  every  thing  which  hap- 
pens to   us,    will    work   for   our   good.      In    this  case. 


96  REFLECTIONS  ON  JESUS'   DOCTRINES. 

'  God  being  full  of  paternal  feelings  towards  us,  in  par- 
ticular, we  may  leave  all  our  concerns  with  him.  There 
is  no  need  of  our  troubling  ourselves  with  anxious  cares 
and  despairing  thoughts,  as  to  how  we  shall  be  provided 
for.  We  have  only  to  labor  with  faithfulness  and  diligence 
in  our  calling,  or  in  the  place  which  God  has  pointed  out 
to  us  in  this  world,  and  looking  to  him  in  prayer,  com- 
mit our  future  destiny  altogether  to  his  hands.' 

Hymn. 

Will  God,  who  clothes  the  lily, 

The  little  sparrow  feeds, 
With  glances  cold  and  chilly. 

Regard  his  children's  needs  ? 

No,  no  ;  the  clouds  may  gather 

Around  me,  as  I  tread  ; 
I  have  a  heavenly  Father, 

And  shall  be  clothed  and  fed. 

Tho'  dark  my  way  and  narrow, 

On  him  who  clothes  the  rose. 
And  feeds  the  little  sparrow, 

I  surely  may  repose. 

With  him  I  leave  the  morrow, 

And  every  passing  day  ; 
On  him  I  lean  in  sorrow, 

And  hasten  on  my  way. 


A    SAVING  KNOWLEDGE  OF  JESUS.  97 


SECTION  XV. 

III.  Reflections  upon  particular  doctrines  taught 
BY  Jesus. 

On  a  true  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  object  of  his 
mission,  and  faith  in  him. 

Our  kind  and  blessed  Savior,  my  young  friends,  has 
also  left  us  several  other  doctrines,  in  addition  to  those 
of  which  I  have  spoken  in  the  foregoing  pages.  By 
means  of  these  doctrines  in  particular,  if  we  become 
rightly  acquainted  with  them  and  truly  practise  them, 
we  shall  become  good,  and  obtain  peace  and  eternal 
happiness.      Attend  to  nie,  and  I  will  speak  of  them. 

I.    You  must  know  God  and  Jesus. 

If  a  man  is  a  stranger,  and  altogether  unknown  to  you, 
you  do  not  trouble  yourself  about  him.  If  you  know 
nothing  good  of  a  man,  you  neither  love  nor  honor  him. 
You  are  unable  to  put  confidence  in  him,  and  you 
will  have  no  wish  to  be  beloved  by  him.  And  so 
also  it  is,  with  regard  to  your  God  and  Savior.  If  you 
have  no  knowledge  of  him  ;  if  you  are  unacquaint- 
ed with  his  kind  and  holy  will  ;  you  will  feel  no  respect 
for  him,  you  will  not  trouble  yourself  to  obey  him,  you 
will  not  seek  to  please  him. 

The  first  thing  then  you  have  to  attend  to,  with  the 
greatest  diligence,  in  your  youth,  is,  the  acquisition  nf  a 
true  knowledge  of  your  God  and  Savior. 

I  have  already  said  something  to  you  upon  this  sub- 
ject; but  let  me  now  say  it  to  you  more  particularly, 
and  tell  you,  that  you  must  have  something  more  than  a 
9 


98  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

mere  notion  that  such  a  person  as  Jesus  once  lived,  and 
ability  to  describe  his  character ;  that  you  must  not  only 
know  who  he  is,  but  that  you  must  know  him  from  your 
very  heart. 

Hear,  my  dear  youth,  how  expressly  Jesus  has  himself 
recommended  this  to  us,  as  a  duty.  In  the  prayer  he 
uttered  at  the  close  of  his  farewell  address  to  his  disci- 
ples, for  instance,  he  says:  "And  this  is  eternal  life, 
that  they  know  thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
whom  thou  hast  sent."  In  what  stronger  terms  could  he 
exhort  you  to  strive  after  a  true  knowledge  of  him  and 
his  Father  ?  He  promises  you  all  the  joy  and  glory  of 
heaven,  as  the  reward  of  doing  so ;  and  who  of  you  do 
not  wish  to  obtain  the  joy  and  glory  of  heaven  ! 

Attend,  therefore,  as  you  value  your  souls,  to  the  ac- 
quisition of  a  true  knowledge  of  God  and  Jesus.  Eternal 
life  depends  upon  it.  If  you  do  not,  the  consequence 
will  be  eternal  death.  Your  souls  will  be  dying  forever, 
and  yet  never  die. 

II.    You  must  know  that  Jesus  rcas  sent  of  God  and 
that  he  is  the  Son  of  God. 

Jesus  loved  mankind  with  unspeakable  love,  and  in 
every  thing  that  he  spake  and  did,  gave  proof  of  the  high- 
est wisdom.  Acting  under  the  influence  of  this  love 
and  wisdom,  he  was  obliged,  by  means  of  his  words  and 
actions,  to  give  mankind  assurance  that  he  was  a  teacher 
sent  to  them,  from  God,  to  save  them  and  make  them 
happy,  and  endowed  with  divine  power.  Had  he  not 
done  so,  he  would  never  have  been  recognized  by  them, 
as  the  best  of  teachers,  and  as  their  guide  to  heaven.  In 
the  measures  which  he  took,  in  this  respect,  he  was  cer- 
tainly governed  by  the  greatest  love  for  them  ;  and  it  was 
by  means  of  the  assurance  which  he  so  frequently  gave 


JESUS  THE  SON  AND  MESSENGER  OF  GOD.  99 

them,  to  this  effect,  that  he  acquired  favor  and  confidence 
among  them.  It  was  for  this  purpose,  he  publicly  con- 
fessed, both  before  friends  and  foes,  that  he  had  been 
sent  by  the  Father  in  heaven  ;  that  he  was  sojourning  on 
earth,  to  accomplish  his  will  ;  that  he  was  Christ  the  Son 
of  the  living  God  ;  that  the  man  who  believed  in  his 
name  and  served  him,  loving  and  honoring  him,  as  his 
Lord  and  Savior,  and  following  him  in  life  and  death, 
should  receive  the  grace  of  God,  and  inherit  eternal  life. 

At  the  same  time,  he  applied  to  his  works  as  to  proofs, 
that  he  was  the  messenger  and  the  Son,  of  the  living 
God.  Indeed,  it  was  by  means  of  his  works,  he  made  it 
known  in  public,  that  the  power,  wisdom  and  goodness 
of  God,  dwelt  in  him  and  were  appropriately  his.  For 
he  knew  the  secret  thoughts  of  man  ;  he  changed  water 
into  wine  ;  he  fed  thousands  with  a  few  loaves  of  bread ; 
he  cured  the  most  dangerous  diseases,  by  a  mere  word, 
and  brought  the  dead  to  life ;  the  wind  obeyed  his  com- 
mand, and  the  sea  became  still.  Such  works  no  one  can 
do,  if  God  be  not  with  him,  and  operating  through  him. 

Jesus,  then,  having,  not  only  in  his  wise,  glorious,  and 
happifying  doctrines,  but  also  in  his  works,  given  ample 
proof  that  he  is  truly  a  teacher  sent  of  God,  the  Savior 
of  mankind,  the  Son  of  God, — with  good  reason,  most 
seriously  requires  them  to  receive  and  honor  him  as  such. 
It  is  indeed  true,  that  the  prophets,  by  means  of  divine 
power,  performed  miracles,  and  said  much  that  was  true 
and  good  ;  but  they  did  not  perform  near  as  many,  nor 
as  great  miracles  as  Jesus, — did  not  perform  them  at  all 
times  and  on  all  occasions,  as  he  did ;  nor  were  their 
instructions  as  numerous,  as  universally  applicable,  or  as 
full  of  consolation. 

When  you  become  acquainted  with  all  this  and   some 


100  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

Other  things  now  too  hard  for  you  to  understand, 
and  with  a  maturer  mind  and  in  connection  with  other 
knowledge,  can  think  them  all  over  with  correctness, 
you  will  thence  learn,  what  you  are  able  now  in  some 
measure  to  perceive,  that  Jesus  was  not  a  mere  man  ; 
but  that  he  was  endowed  by  God  his  Father,  with  great 
powers,  excellencies,  and  incomparable  dignity  ;  and 
that  we  of  the  human  family,  to  whom  he  has  shown 
such  unspeakable  good,  should  pray  to  him  and  love  him 
even  as  we  do  his  Father,  and  yield  obedience  to  him  as 
our  Lord. 

III.    You  must  believe  in  Jesus. 

The  Savior  speaks  often  of  faith  in  him,  and  always 
maintains  that  it  makes  a  man  eternally  happy.  I  will 
quote  only  one  or  two  of  his  assertions  upon  this  subject. 
He  says  that  "  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  belie veth  in  him, 
should  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life."  And  again  : 
'■  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son,  hath  everlasting  life  ; 
and  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son,  shall  not  see  life,  but 
the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him." 

Do  you  know,  dear  youth,  what  is  here  meant  by  faith? 
It  is  one  of  those  things  which  are  easier  felt  than  ex- 
plained ;  but  I  will  illustrate  it,  by  one  or  two  examples. 

A  little  child  is  taken  very  sick,  and  its  parents  bring 
it  some  medicine  which  tastes  very  bad.  The  little  child 
dislikes  it  very  much,  and  would  refuse  to  take  it ;  but 
his  parents  tell  him  he  must,  in  order  to  get  well  ;  and 
having  always  found  that  his  parents  knew  best,  what 
was  good  for  him,  and  had  his  happiness  in  view,  he  puts 
confidence  in  them  now,  and  without  any  hesitation  takes 
the  medicine.  The  child  has  what  we  might  call  faith 
in  his  parents. 


FAITH.      THE  SICK  CHILD.       THE  FERRY.  101 

In  the  course  of  my  travels,  I  come  to  a  river,  over 
which  I  must  cross  in  a  boat.  The  river  is  very  high 
and  boisterous,  and  I  feel  afraid  to  venture.  At  length  a 
ferry-man  presents  himself,  who  tells  me  that  he  is  well 
acquainted  with  the  stream,  and  has  often  crossed  it 
when  far  higher  and  more  boisterous,  in  perfect  safety. 
At  the  same  time,  several  of  his  neighbors  come  forward 
and  testify  to  the  truth  of  what  he  says,  affirming  that 
they  have  all  frequently  experienced  his  skill.  I  acquire 
confidence,  until  at  length,  being  fully  persuaded,  I 
throw  myself  into  his  boat,  and  am  ferried  over.  That 
is,  J  acquire  faith  in  the  man's  skill,  and  upon  the 
strength  of  this  faith,  trust  my  life  in  his  hands. 

And  in  like  manner  with  regard  to  Jesus.  You  find 
your  are  a  sinner.  You  have  broken  the  law  of  God, 
and  feel  that  you  must  perish.  While  you  are  in  this 
condition,  a  man  comes  along  and  tells  you  that  he  has 
heard  of  a  remedy  for  the  evil  of  past  sins  ;  that  a  great 
and  most  wonderful  being,  the  Son  of  God  himself,  has 
come  down,  given  himself  up  to  justice,  and  suffered  and 
died  for  the  sinner  ;  that  though  he  has  ascended  to  glo- 
ry, he  has  left  instructions  behind  him,  directing  the  sin- 
ner how  to  avail  himself  of  this  great  grace.  You  listen. 
You  feel  confident  that  what  he  tells  you  is  true.  You 
believe  in  the  virtue  of  the  remedy.  Without  this  belief, 
this  faith,  you  would  never  try  it, — you  would  neglect  it 
altogether.  Your  faith  therefore  becomes  the  means  of 
saving  you. 

I  remember  once  to  have  heard  this  believing  in 
Christ,  most  beautifully  illustrated  in  another  way.  Per- 
haps the  illustration  is  to  be  found  in  some  book,  but  I 
have  not  seen  it  in  any. 

A  man  in  the  course  of  his  travels,  becomes  benight- 
9* 


102  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

ed  ;  and  at  length,  losing  his  way,  falls  asleep.  Awak- 
ing just  at  the  dawn  of  day,  he  finds  himself  on  the  very 
brink  of  a  precipice.  At  the  moment  he  is  sliding  down 
the  last  jutting  rock,  he  grasps  a  bush  and  hangs  by  it 
over  the  brink.  In  this  dreadful  condition,  it  is  evident 
he  cannot  hang  long.  A  stranger,  passing  by  and  espy- 
ing his  danger,  hastens  to  a  part  of  the  rock  not  far  be- 
low him,  spreads  out  his  strong  arras  to  receive  him, 
and  cries  out  to  him :  "  You  are  now  safe,  if  you  only 
let  go  your  bush  ;  for  I  shall  then  catch  you  as  you  fall." 
The  man,  however,  cannot  trust  to  the  stranger.  He 
holds  on  to  his  bush,  which  in  the  mean  time,  begins  to 
o-ive  way,  and  in  a  few  moments,  will  certainly  leave  him 
to  be  dashed  in  pieces  upon  the  rocks  below.  The  stranger 
pleads  with  him,  intreats  him  to  trust  himself  in  his  arms, 
and  tells  him  that  if  he  continues  thus,  his  destruction  is 
certain.  If  the  unhappy  man  perseveres  in  his  distrust, 
and  hangs  on  to  his  bush,  he  perishes.  But  if  he  trusts 
to  the  words  of  the  stranger,  and  letting  goof  it,  falls  into 
his  arms,  he  is  safe. 

So  with  the  sinner, — with  us  all.  Like  the  man  of 
whom  I  have  just  spoken,  we  are,  both  by  nature  and 
practice,  hanging  by  vain  hopes  and  contrivances  of  our 
own,  on  the  brink  of  a  fearful  precipice,  over  everlast- 
ing destruction,  while  Christ,  espying  our  danger,  has 
placed  himself  below,  and  is  calling  upon  us  to  let  go  of 
them,  and  fall  into  his  arms.  If  we  continue  to  hold  on 
to  them,  they  will  soon  all  give  way  and  leave  us  miserably 
to  perish  ;  but  if  we  put  confidence  in  what  Christ  tells 
us,  and  fall  into  his    arms,  we  shall  be  saved. 

I  hope  you  have  understood  these  illustrations  and  ap- 
plied them  as  you  ought.  And  now  just  think  ;  what 
greater  favor  could   Christ   show  you  than  he  has  done, 


THE  PRECIPICE.        EFFECTS   OF  FAITH.  103 

in  teaching  you  to  believe  in  him  1  For  of  what  use 
would  all  your  knowledge  of  him  be  to  you,  if  you  should 
consider  nothing  that  you  have  learned  and  know  about 
him,  as  true  and  good  ?  If  you  should  remain  in  unbe- 
lief, you  would  neither  esteem  him,  nor  govern  yourselves 
by  his  word  ;  and  of  course,  you  would  not  be  reformed 
by  him  or  any  thing  he  has  said,  nor  ever  become  the 
dear  children  of  God. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  you  believe  in  Jesus,  you  will 
feel  sorry  for  all  your  past  sins,  sincerely  repent  of  them, 
and,  resolving  to  forsake  them  forever,  fly  to  Jesus  as 
your  Savior,  and  just  such  a  Savior  as  you  need.  God 
will  then  for  his  sake,  forgive  all  your  sins  and  fill  your 
hearts  with  holy  joy,  or  what  the  Bible  calls,  peace  in  be- 
lieving. You  will  then  listen  to  all  the  doctrines  which  Jesus 
has  taught,  as  good  and  true,  and  delight  to  follow  them. 
You  will  then  put  confidence  in  him,  that  he  will  receive 
you  to  himself  in  heaven,  if  you  continue  to  love  and 
honor  God  even  to  death. 

And  you  will  also  be  grateful.  For  should  a  man 
throw  himself  into  a  river,  and,  plunging  to  the  bottom  of 
the  stream,  bring  you  up  and  save  you  from  drowning, 
would  you  ever  cease  to  remember  him  with  gratitude 
and  love?  Much  more,  then,  if  you  truly  believe  in  Je- 
sus, will  you  also  ever  feel  full  of  gratitude  and  love  to- 
wards him,  for  having,  by  the  most  agonizing  sufferings 
and  death,  saved  you  from  such  unspeakable  sin  and 
misery,  and  raised  you  to  such  wonderful  happiness  and 
glory. 

See  you  not,  then,  what  a  blessed  thing  it  is  to  believe 
in  Jesus  ?  He  who  does  so,  enjoys  all  the  benefits  which 
Jesus   came  to  procure  for  us,  in  this  world.     By  means 


104  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

of  the  doctrines  wiiich  the  Savior  taught,  he  will  become 
wise  and  good.  He  will  by  means  of  him,  be  render- 
ed lovely  and  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  God.  He  will  ob- 
tain a  peaceful  conscience,  be  delivered  from  all  slavish 
fears  of  death,  and  be  made  eternally  happy. 

Prayer. 

Blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  be  pleased  to  listen  to  the 
confessions  and  vows  of  a  weak  child.  I  affirm,  as  thy 
disciple  Peter  did,  that  I  believe  and  ackowledge  thee 
to  be  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  Most  joyfully 
will  I  honor  and  worship  thee,  from  my  youth  upwards. 
With  gratitude  and  confidence  will  I  receive  thee  as  the 
teacher  and  Savior  of  the  human  family,  through  whom 
we  obtain  grace  and  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  from  the 
Father  of  all  in  heaven,  if  we  seriously  hate  our  sins  and 
love  what  is  good,  pray  in  thy  name,  ground  all  our  hopes 
of  a  happy  immortality  upon  thee,  obey  thy  commands, 
follow  the  example  which  thou  hast  set  us,  and  live  and 
die  to  thee.  Help  me,  my  Lord  and  God,  my  Savior  and 
friend,  help  me  to  live  according  to  this  confession,  and 
to  fulfil  these  vows,  in  which  I  surrender  all  up  to  thee 
forever.  O,  take  the  entire  and  undivided  control  of  this 
heart,  and  lead  me  on  to  perfection  until  death,  and  then 
receive  me  to  thyself,  with  the  thousands  of  thy  saints  in 
glory. 


PRAYER.       TEST  OF  FAITH.  105 

SECTION  XVI, 

The  feelings  and  cimduct  of  a  believer  in  Jesus. 

It  is  possible,  my  young  friends,  after  all  I  have  said, 
that  you  will  make  mistakes  upon  this  subject,  and  think 
you  are  Christians  when  you  are  not.  Many  persons,  as 
we  learn  from  the  Bible,  have  made  such  mistakes. 

You  probably  remember  how  there  once  came  a  rich 
young  man  to  Jesus,  and  said  to  him  :  *  Good  Master, 
what  good  thing  shall  I  do  to  become  thy  true  disciple, 
and  obtain  eternal  life  V  and  that  Jesus,  unquestionably 
to  bring  the  young  man  to  see  how  miserable  his  condi- 
tion was,  if  he  had  nothing  but  his  own  goodness  to  de- 
pend upon,  and  to  feel  his  need  of  a  Savior,  through 
whom  to  obtain  grace  and  forgiveness  from  God,  remind- 
ed him  of  the  wickedness  of  all  mankind,  and  told  him, 
that  in  order  to  be  saved,  he  must  keep  the  command- 
m(tnts,  nor  murder,  nor  commit  adultery,  nor  steal,  nor 
bear  false  witness  ;  but  honor  his  father  and  mother,  and 
love  his  neighbor  as  himself  ? 

This  young  man  thought  himself  very  good,  and  on 
hearing  the  reply  of  Jesus,  felt  himself  in  a  fair  way  for 
heaven  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  Savior  applied  the  test  of  sin- 
cerity to  his  heart,  it  became  evident  at  once  that  he  was 
not  a  Christian.  He  had  only  called  Christ  good  Master 
with  his  mouth,  and  did  not  in  reality  believe  in  him  as 
the  Savior. 

And  you  will  also  remember  Jesus  tells  us,  that  at  the 
last  day,  after  the  righteous  have  all  set  down  with  him 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  many  will   come  to   its   gate, 


106  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

knocking  hard  and  pleading  earnestly  for  admittance,  alleg- 
ing that  they  ate  and  drank  in  his  presence  in  the  world, 
and  did  many  wonderful  works  in  his  name  ;  but  that  he 
will  tell  them  to  depart  from  him,  calling  them  workers 
of  iniquity,  and  declaring  that  he  never  knew  them. 

It  will  be  very  sad  for  you  to  find  yourselves  of  this  num- 
ber, and  guilty  of  such  a  mistake.  It  will  not  be  with 
you  in  the  other  world,  as  it  is  in  this.  Here  you  can  re- 
pent of  any  fault  of  which  you  have  been  guilty,  and  re- 
form ;  or  you  can  counteract  its  evil  effects,  or  at  least  you 
can  obtain  forgiveness  for  it;  and  besides,  in  the  sorrow 
it  may  occasion,  you  have  many  sources  of  comfort. 

But  there  you  can  repent  no  more,  no,  not  even  if  you 
weep  for  repentance  in  bitterness  of  soul  ;  nor  will  you 
there  any  more  be  able  to  prevent  the  evil  effects  of  what 
you  have  done  or  left  undone.  You  must,  without  one 
friend  to  comfort  you,  or  one  smile  from  your  God  and 
Savior,  forever  endure  the  consequences  of  all  your  sins. 
It  is  then,  surely,  of  the  utmost  importance  for  you  to  be 
certain  that  you  are  Christians. 

Do  remember,  then,  that  it  is  not  enough  for  a  Chris- 
tian, that  he  calls  Jesus,  Lord  and  Savior.  Hear  from 
the  mouth  of  Jesus  himself,  what  is  demanded  of  a  true 
Christian.  "  Would  you,"  said  he  to  the  young  man,  of 
whom  we  have  just  spoken,  "  would  you  be  my  true  dis- 
ciple, you  must  part  with  all  you  have,  giving  it  away  to 
the  poor,  and  come,  follow  me." 

In  another  place  he  has  expressed  himself  in  still 
plainer  language.  '  He  who  would  be  my  disciple,  must 
love  me  more  than  he  loves  father  and  mother,  and  the 
dearest  friends,  yea,  than  his  own  life, — must,  for  the 
sake  of  religion  and  piety,  be  ready  at  once  to  give  up 
every  thing  he  loves   and   deems   of  value   in  the   world. 


A  SAD  MISTAKE.       DISCIPLESHIP.        LOVE.  107 

whenever   circumstances    demand    such    a    sacrifice, 

must,  from  obedience  to  God,  suppress  all  the  wishes  and 
inclinations  within  him,  which  are  opposed  to  the  divine 
will,  and,  enduring  with  patience  all  the  sufferings  that 
God  brings  upon  him,  follow  after  vie'    \, 

From  this  statement,  you  see,  that  you  cannot  truly 
say  you  believe  in  Jesus,  and  call  yourselves  Christians,  if 
you  do  not  love  him  supremely  ;  and  that  the  only  evi- 
dence you  can  give  of  your  loving  him  supremely,  is  the 
obedience  you  yield  to  the  will  of  God  ;  that  it  is  perfect- 
ly evident  you  do  not,  if  you  are  disobedient  in  this  re- 
spect, it  being  impossible  in  the  very  nature  of  the  case, 
for  a  man  to  have  his  heart  full  of  supreme  love  to  a  be- 
ing, without  acting  under  the  influence  of  this  love,  and 
yielding  obedience  to  the  will  of  the  being  whom  he  thus 
loves.  That  on  the  supposition  you  do  thus  love  Jesus, 
you  will  yield  obedience  to  the  will  of  God,  or  as  an 
apostle  has  expressed  it,  that  love  is  the  fulfilling  of  the 
law,  is  farther  evident  from  what  Jesus  has  said  respect- 
ing this  subject,  of  which  I  shall  speak  in  the  next  sec- 
tion. 


SECTION  XVII. 

Love  to  God  and  one's  neighbor. 

Our  blessed  Savior  has  recommended  love  to  us,  as  the 
highest  virtue.  He  has  declared,  that  it  is  the  source  of 
all  other  good  feelings  and  deeds,  and,  of  course,  in  ef- 
fect, declared,  that,  if  a  man  has  bad  feelings  and  is  guilty 


108  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

of  bad  deeds,  he  has  no  love  in  his  heart,  and  hence,  that 
he  is  not  a  true  Christian. 

To  a  Pharisee  who  came  to  him  for  information 
upon  this  subject,  and  asked  him,  Which  is  the  great 
commandment  in  the  law  ?  Jesus  replied  :  "  Thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  thy  God,  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This  is  the  first  and 
great  commandment."  As  if  Jesus  had  said  :  "  You 
must  love  nothing  so  much  as  you  do  God  ;  you  must 
love  him  supremely,  and,  in  every  thing  you  wish  for, 
seek  after,  or  do,  make  it  your  grand  object  to  obtain 
his  love  again  in  return.  You  are  not  to  love  him  the 
best  for  a  little  while,  and  then  to  love  something  else  far 
better.  No,  from  your  youth  upwards,  as  long  as  you 
live,  you  must  love  him  better  than  you  love  any  thing 
else  in  the  world,  however  agreeable  it  may  otherwise  be 
to  you  :  This,"  says  the  Savior,  "  is  the  first  and  the 
greatest  commandment." 

With  this  commandment,  however,  there  is  most  in- 
timately connected  another,  like  it  and  next  to  it  in  im- 
portance. So  says  our  Savior  himself,  and  then  repeats 
it  :  "  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself;  "  also 
adding :  "  On  these  two  hang  all  the  law  and  the 
prophets."  That  is  ;  '  More  important  commandments 
than  these,  are  not  to  be  found  ;  they  surpass  all  the 
others ;  they  contain  the  essence  of  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures.' 

And  is  it  not  easy  to  perceive  the  truth  of  what  the  Sa- 
vior here  says  ?  Is  it  not  very  plain  that  love  is  in  all  ca- 
ses the  very  spirit  of  obedience,  and  hatred,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  very  spirit  of  disobedience  1  A  lad,  for  instance, 
goes  to  school  to  a  master  whom  he  hates.  Before  his  mas- 
ter, he  may,  indeed,  study  hard  and  really  appear  dutiful 


LOVE,  THE   ESSENCE  OF  OBEDIENCE.  109 

and  kind.  But  then  it  is  nothing  but  hypocrisy.  He  will 
all  the  time  have  hard  feelings  towards  his  master,  be  hat- 
ing him  in  his  heart,  and  perhaps  contriving  how  he  may 
do  him  injury  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  imagines  himself  out  of 
his  master's  notice,  he  will  give  vent  to  his  wicked  feel- 
ings, openly  disobey  him,  treat  him  with  ridicule,  and  in- 
jure him  all  he  can. 

The  lad,  on  the  other  hand,  who  loves  his  master,  will 
not  only  study  and  appear  well,  while  in  school,  but  he 
will  really  have  kind  feelings  towards  his  master  all  the 
time,  in  his  heart ;  and  as  soon  as  he  is  out  of  his  master's 
sight,  he  will  let  these  kind  feelings  out,  and,  in  every 
thing  he  says  and  does,  will  show,  that  he  really  loves  his 
master.  He  will  speak  of  him  with  kindness,  defend  bis 
character,  and  do  every  thing  in  just  such  a  way  as  he 
knows  would  please  him,  if  he  were  really  present. 

Just  so  it  is  with  the  man  who  hates  God.  He  has 
the  very  spirit  of  disobedience  to  God  in  his  heart.  Ex- 
ternally he  may  appear  tolerably  well,  but  internally,  all 
is  hatred;  and,  depend  upon  it,  so  far  as  he  is  left  with- 
out any  restraints,  he  will  act  out  and  give  full  vent  to, 
the  hatred  which  he  feels.  The  man  on  the  other  hand, 
who  loves  God,  has  (he  very  spirit  of  obedience  in  his 
heart.  He  will  not  only  appear  well,  externally,  but  he 
will  really  feel  well  within  ;  and  as  far  as  he  can,  he  will, 
on  all  occasions,  act  out  or  give  full  expression  to,  his  kind 
and  affectionate  emotions.  No  one  will  have  any  room 
to  call  his  character  in  question. 

In  like  manner  with  regard  to  one's  neighbor.     If  <ve 

hate   him,  we  may  disguise  it   indeed,  for  a  while  ;  but 

we  shall  all  the  time   have   hard   feelings  towards  him  ; 

and  be  contriving,  perhaps,  how  we  may  injure  him.     At 

10 


110  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

least  we  shall  act  towards  him  just  as  we  feel,  as  soon  as 
all  restraints  are  removed. 

,  If,  on  the  other  hand,  we  love  him,  (and  we  shall  cer- 
tainly do  so  if  we  love  God,  as  he  commands  us  to  love 
our  neighbor,)  see  you  not  how,  under  the  influence  of 
this  love,  we  shall  do  every  thing  else  we  are  required 
to  do  ?  and  how  that  one  schoolmate  which  loves  another, 
will  always  treat  him  in  a  kind  and  lovely  and  affection- 
ate manner,  and  assist  him  whenever  he  needs  assistance  ? 

This  principle  of  love  in  the  heart  may  not  unaptly  be 
compared  to  a  fountain.  It  sends  forth  only  a  little  purling 
rill ;  but  this,  little  as  it  is,  rolls  down  the  side  of  a  moun- 
tain, and  on  through  wide  plains,  receiving  constant  addi- 
tions as  it  flows.  Every  where  in  its  course,  it  waters 
the  fields  all  around.  Flowers  and  shrubs,  and  orchards, 
spring  up  on  its  banks,  and  the  extended  landscape  is 
clothed  with  verdure.  Not  the  minutest  blade  of  grass 
fails  to  feel  its  life-giving  influence.  And  so  it  is  with 
love  in  the  heart.  Though  the  fountain  seems  to  send 
forth  almost  unnoticeabie  streams,  yet  these  streams  re- 
ceive constant  accessions,  diff'use  their  influence  through 
all  the  man,  modify  every  thought,  feeling,  and  action, 
and  extend  themselves  to  all  the  relations  which  he  is 
ever  called  to  sustain.  Not  a  human  being  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact,  will  fail  to  experience  their  hallowed 
effects. 

See  to  it,  then,  that  you  always  have  these  command- 
ments before  your  eyes,  and  in  your  hearts.  From  the 
manner  in  which  you  fulfil  them  you  may  know  for  cer- 
tainty, whether  or  not  you  believe  in  Jesus  and  are  a 
true  Christian, — whether  you  are  a  good  and  pious  youth. 
Do  not  presume  even  to  think  you  love  God,  so  long  as 
you  do  not  obey  him,  and  show  yourself  kind  and  affec- 


DO  YOU  LOVE  THE  SAVIOR?  Ill 

tionate  to  your  fellow  men,  and  readily  assist  and  serve 
them  ;  for  Jesus  says  that  your  are  his  friends,  if  you  do 
what  he  commands  you  ;  and  an  apostle  of  Jesus  has 
told  us  that  if  we  hate  our  fellow  men,  we  have  not  the 
love  of  God  in  our  hearts. 

'Tis  vain  to  say  that  God  we  love, 

While  hating  one  another  ; 
For  he  who  loves  his  God  above, 

Will  also  love  his  brother. 

Our  God  is  love,  and  he  declares, 

That  in  the  heart's  affection, 
Our  fellow  shall  have  mutual  shares, 

And  ever  find  protection. 


SECTION  XVIII. 
Do  you  love  Jesus  ? 


Before  I  close  the  subject  of  the  two  last  sections,  let 
me  ask  whether  you  could  truly  say  as  the  young  man 
who  came  to  Christ  said,  in  regard  to  the  commandments 
of  God.  "  All  these  have  I  kept  from  my  youth  up  ?  " 
And  this  is  only  asking  you,  in  other  words,  what  reason 
you  have  to  think  you  love  Jesus  supremely.  Should 
you  now  be  called  to  die,  and  appear  before  your  Savior, 
your  God  and  Judge,  and 'give  him  an  account  of  your 
past  lives,  what  would  you  say  to  him  ?  Should  he  put 
8uch  a  question  to  you  as  he  once  did  to  Peter,  "  Simon, 
son   of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  ? "    what  reply   could  you 


112  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

make  ?  Could  you  say  as  Peter  did  :  "  Lord,  thou  know- 
est  that  I  love  thee."  And  would  your  past  lives  bear 
testimony  to  the  truth  of  this  answer  ? 

I  have  seen  a  great  many  of  all  ages,  who,  I  felt  quite 
certain,  did  not  love  Christ  supremely,  or  better  than  they 
loved  every  thing  else  ;  but  I  have  seen  only  a  kw  who 
gave  unquestionable  evidence  that  they  did.  I  remem- 
ber my  mother  used  to  tell  me  about  a  little  child,  who 
was  always  afraid  of  disobeying  God,  and  seemed  to  love 
her  little  playmates  as  well  as  she  did  herself;  and  I  have 
since  heard  and  read  of  several  such  children.  I  have 
known  men  too  who  seemed  to  love  God  supremely,  and 
their  neighbors  as  themselves.  I  remember  one  in  par- 
ticular who  used  to  visit  his  destitute  neighbors  whenev- 
er they  were  sick,  or  there  was  a  storm,  or  he  thought 
they  had  any  need  of  assistance,  and  never  suffered  the 
stranger  to  go  away  hungry  from  his  door  ;  and  I  know 
there  have  been  a  great  many  such.  An  interesting 
story  which  T  have  read  in  a  book  of  a  man  who  showed 
great  love  for  his  neighbor  now  occurs  to  me.  The  af- 
fair happened  in  Denmark. 

A  fire  had  broken  out  in  a  certain  village.  A  poor 
man,  one  of  the  inhabitants,  labored  hard,  among  others, 
to  extinguish  the  flames.  Every  effort,  however,  was  in 
vain.  The  flames  continued  to  increase,  "  At  length 
the  poor  man  was  told  that  his  own  house  was  in  great 
danger  ;  and  that  he  had  not  a  moment  to  lose,  if  he 
wished  to  save  his  furniture."  'There  is  something  more 
precious,'  said  he  immediately,  '  that  1  must  first  move. 
My  poor  sick  neighbor  is  not  able  to  help  himself.  He 
will  be  lost,  if  I  do  not  assist  him.  I  am  sure  he  relies 
on  me.'  Thus  saying,  he  flew  to  his  neighbor's  house ; 
and  before  he  paid  any  attention  to  his  own  house,  or  to  his 


THE  POOR  MAN  AND  HIS  NEIGHBOR.  113 

furniture,  which  was  all  the  wealth  he  had,  he  rushed 
at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  through  the  flames,  that  were 
already  coming  very  near  the  sick  man's  bed,  took  him  in 
his  arms,  and  carried  him  to  a  place  of  safety. 

I  could  also  tell  you  of  men  who  loved  God  so  much,  that 
they  sub?Tiitted  to  be  burned  rather  than  deny  him.  But 
alas  !  those  who  do  evidently  love  God  supremely  and 
their  neighbors  as  themselves,  are  very  few,  compared 
with  those  who  do  not.  I  hope  you  will  see  to  it  that 
you  do  not  belong  to  this  latter  class  ;  that  you  keep 
these  two  great  commandments  before  your  eyes  and  in 
your  hearts.  If  you  do  so,  when  you  come  to  die,  you 
will  most  probably  have  no  fears  of  death.  You  will  feel 
that  you  are  going  to  live  with  God  your  Savior,  whom 
you  love  so  much  ;  and  you  know  that  nothing  is  so  plea- 
sant, when  we  are  away  from  home,  as  the  idea  of  meeting 
with  our  friends  again  ;  and  that  we  are  never  so  happy 
as  when  we  are  in  company  with  those  whom  we  re- 
ally love. 


SECTION  XIX. 


Whnl  Jesus  has  farther  taught,  respecting  love  to 

one's  neighbor. 

Though  all  the  duties  we  owe  to  our  fellow  creatures 

spring  directly  from    the   second   great   commandment, 

just  as  the  stream  and  its  branches  flow  from  one  foun- 

taia  ;    yet  our  Savior  has  not  stopped  here,  and  altogeth- 

10* 


114  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

er  left  it  for  us  to  deduce  our  various  social  duties  from 
this  commandment.  With  the  feeling  of  love  strongly 
glowing  in  our  hearts,  it  would  be  indeed  easy  for  us  to  do 
so ;  but  how  weak  is  our  love  at  the  best ;  how  many  are 
the  prejudices  under  which  we  often  labor  with  regard 
to  our  duties  !  Our  Savior,  therefore,  has  kindly  given 
us  some  specifjc  directions  to  follow  in  our  intercourse 
with  one  another.  The  most  of  them  have  already  been 
alluded  to.  Let  me,  however,  enlarge  upon  them,  in  this 
place,  and  exhort  you  to  obey  them. 

I.    You  are  to  honor,  love,  and  obey  tJiose  teachers,  guar- 
dians, and  magistrates,  who  have  the  charge  over  you. 

In  particular,  you  are  to  honor  you  father  and  mother. 
Treat  them  at  all  times  with  respect,  never  contradict 
them,  much  less  ever  presume  to  laugh  at  them  or  treat 
them  with  ridicule.  Thank  them  for  the  kindness  they 
show  you,  and  love  them  as  long  as  they  live,  in  return 
for  their  great  love  to  you. 

In  order  to  draw  pleasure  from  fulfilling  this  command- 
ment, reflect  and  discourse  often  with  one  another  re- 
specting the  fact,  that  your  parents,  next  to  God,  are  your 
greatest  benefactors.  Call  to  mind  and  tell  each  other 
of  the  unspeakable  favors  you  received  from  them,  in  the 
first  period  of  your  life,  the  many  cares  they  felt  on  your 
account,  and  the  meat  and  drink  and  clothes  and  lodg- 
ing, with  which  they  have  furnished  you.  They  have 
watched  over  you  in  sickness,  and  done  every  thing  in 
their  power,  that  you  might  be  restored  to  health.  They 
have  caused  you  much  joy,  and  enabled  you  to  learn  ma- 
ny useful  things,  by  means  of  which  when  you  become 
older,  you  can  obtain  your  living,  as  well  as  happiness 
and   honor  in   the    world.      They  have  given  you  m«ch 


HONOR  THY  FATHER  AND  MOTHER.        115 

useful  instruction,  they  have  borne  with  your  faults,  par- 
doned them,  and  ever  remained  your  kind  and  faithful 
parents,  notwithstanding  your  many  offences  against 
them.  Their  care  for  you  still  continues.  They  pray 
for  you,  and  thSir  greatest  anxiety  for  you  is,  that  you 
may  obtain  the  grace  of  God,  and  be  forever  happy  be- 
yond the  grave.  And  how  many  parents  there  are,  who 
deny  themselves  the  conveniencies  and  even  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  in  order  to  give  their  children  good  edu- 
cations, and  prepare  them  for  the  world  before  them  ! 

Now  is  it  not  highly  proper, — is  it  not  right,  that  you 
should  honor,  and  love  these,  your  greatest  benefactors, 
by  yielding  them  full  obedience  ?  Are  not  those,  on  the 
other  hand,  very  ungrateful  and  wicked  children,  who 
grieve  their  parents  by  disobedience,  make  them  angry 
by  impudence,  and  fill  them  with  deep  anxiety  and 
trouble  by  impiety  ?  God  has  threatened  grievous  pun- 
ishments against  such  children.  They  usually  suffer  for 
their  disobedience  even  in  this  world  ;  and  often  they 
come  to  dreadful  ends.  Those  pirates  or  sea-robbers, 
and  others  of  their  character,  who  commit  such  shocking 
crimes,  and  end  their  days  on  the  gallows,  almost  univer- 
sally date  the  commencement  of  their  ruin  back  to  their 
disobedience  of  their  parents. 

To  those  good  children,  on  the  other  hand,  who  honor 
their  parents,  God  has  promised  peace  and  prosperity. 
They  will  be  likely  to  grow  up  in  the  love  of  all  who 
know  them,  to  enjoy  themselves,  and  to  live  long.  Seek, 
my  dear  sons  and  daughters,  to  become  heirs  to  this  pro- 
mise. 

Jesus,  from  his  throne  exiled, 
Man  to  reconcile  to  heaven, 
Has  to  every  pious  child, 


116  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

Here  a  bright  example  given. 
From  liis  youtli,  of  sin  aCraid, 
His  dear  parents  he  obeyed. 

Like  him,  both  in  heart  and  mind, 

Ever  tliinc  obey  and  cherish, 
Grateful  for  their  love,  and  kind, 

Till  their  bodies  droop  and  perish. 
You  shall  see  them  smile  in  pain, 
And  His  blessing  too  obtain. 

II.    Yoli  must  always  be  kind  and  obliging  to  others. 

In  your  intercourse  with  your  brothers  and  sisters,  with 
the  servants  and  others  of  your  father's  house,  w-ith  your 
school-mates,  and  with  all  mankind,  you  must  ever 
remember  the  words  of  Jesus  :  "  Whatsoever  you  would 
that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them." 

This  is  a  rule  which  you  can  always  have  in  your  minds 
and  easily  apply,  whatever  be  the  circumstances  in  which 
you  are  placed.  JNay,  it  is  a  rule  which  the  very  heathen 
see  to  be  just,  and  sometimes  almost  involuntarily  practise. 
The  case  of  an  Indian  now  occurs  to  me. 

He  was  a  chief,  and  had  lost  two  little  children  whom 
he  loved  exceedingly,  and  mourned  for  them  two  years. 
One  day  after  this,  while  returning  from  pursuing  two 
white  men  out  of  revenge,  one  of  whom  he  most  cruelly 
killed,  he  heard  a  rustling  in  the  bushes,  and  distinctly 
saw  two  little  white  boys  concealing  themselves.  "  But 
I  thought,"  says  the  Indian,  "  of  my  own  little  children, 
and  passed  on  without  noticing  them."  Happy  had  it 
been  for  this  savage,  had  he  always  done  to  others,  as  he 
would  wish  to  be  done  by. 

This  is,  however,  not  only  an  easy  rule  to  apply,  but  it  is 
a  safe  rule,  and  will  always  bring  us  out  of  all  difficulties 
at  last ;  whereas  the  breaking  of  it,  is  constantly  getting 


GOLDEN  RULE.       THE  INDIAN.       THE  BOYS.  117 

US  into  trouble,  and  often  leads  to  the  most  mortifying  re- 
sults, even  in  common  life.  Let  me  relate  to  you  an  in- 
stance, not  perhaps  exactly,  but  yet  nearly,  as  it  happen- 
ed, in  a  town  in  New  England,  not  long  since. 

On  a  cold  winter's  day,  a  number  of  boys,  who  had  a 
schoolmaster  whom  they  greatly  loved,  met,  during  the 
sports  of  their  recess,  a  stranger,  a  poor  old  man,  driving 
slowly  and  feebly  along  through  the  snow  in  his  carriage. 
His  age,  his  dress,  his  whole  appearance,  united  with  the 
effects  of  the  cold  upon  him,  made  him  look  very  singular, 
and  excited  their  merriment.  They  immediately  came 
around  him,  began  to  call  him  names,  threw  snow-balls 
at  him,  whipped  his  horse,  and  in  several  respects  greatly 
abused  him.  This  was,  as  they  thought,  fine  sport,  and 
caused  them  many  hearty  laughs.  Not  so  the  poor  man. 
He  felt  it  deeply,  but  what  could  he  do  !  He  was  aged 
and  feeble  and  cold.  He  cast  upon  them  a  reproving  look 
or  two,  and  kept  driving  on.  Soon  after,  these  boys  were 
called  up  before  the  teacher  whom  they  loved,  to  an- 
swer for  their  conduct.  This  was  very  trying.  He  had 
not  indeed  told  them  not  to  treat  aged  people  or  any  bo- 
dy else  in  this  way,  but  he  had  felt  that  they  of  them- 
selves ought  to  know  better.  They  had  not,  however, 
reflected.  The  master  drew  a  moving  picture  of  the 
case  of  the  old  man,  feeble  from  age,  chilly  with  cold 
and  also  fatigued,  and  asked  them  how  they  should  have 
liked  under  such  circumstances  to  be  thus  abused.  They 
saw  at  once  that  they  had  done  wrong.  But  addressing 
himself  to  one  of  them,  he  continued  :  "  You  have  a  fa- 
ther ?"  "  Yes,"  was  the  reply.  "  And  where  does  he 
live  ?"  He  was  told.  "  Can  you  describe  your  father  ?" 
"  And  suppose,"  said  he,  "  that  this  old  n)an  had  been 
your  father  ?"     All  were  silent,  but  evidently  thoughtful, 


1  18  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

But  how  were  they  covered  with  shame,  when  he  added  : 
"  This  old  man,  whom  you  have  so  much  abused,  was  my 
father."  Now  if  these  boys  had  only  applied  the  rule 
of  the  Savior  before  us,  they  would  have  not  only  done 
right,  but  have  avoided  all  the  disagreeable  feelings  which, 
by  neglecting  it,  they  were  obliged  to  experience. 

And  theli,  as  to  the  other  world  ! — The  rich  man  who 
lifted  up  his  eyes,  being  in  torments,  had  not,  while  in 
life,  done  to  Lazarus,  as  he  would  like  to  be  done  by  ! 

Treasure  up,  then,  this  rule  of  the  Savior,  and  show 
yourselves  at  all  times  kind  and  obliging  to  others  ;  re- 
membering that  you  love  to  have  others  kind  and  obliging 
to  you.  If  it  is  in  your  power  to  warn  any  one  of  injury 
he  is  about  to  receive,  or  to  give  him  good  counsel,  do  it 
with  the  utmost  willingness  and  pleasure.  You  will  de- 
rive the  greatest  benefit  from  doing  so ;  for  every  body 
will  love  to  assist  and  serve  you  in  like  manner  in  return. 
All  will  highly  esteem  you  for  it,  and  delight  to  associate 
with  you  ;  and  besides,  to  assist  and  serve  others  will  fill 
your  hearts  with  real  joy, — that  joy,  which  springs  from 
the  consciousness  that  you  have  done  good  and  been  of 
use  to  others  ;  and  above  all  things  you  will  find  yourself 
in  a  way  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  obtain  the  blessings  of 
eternal  life,  to  enjoy  the  favor  of  God  forever. 

III.    You  must  show  meekness  and  love  to  your  enemies. 

Let  me  remind  you  also,  of  the  exhortation  of  Jesus, 
to  our  practising  these  virtues.  They  must  in  his  view 
have  been  deemed  of  great  importance  and  deserving  of 
the  utmost  attention.  For  he  has  often  taught  them  and 
in  the  most  express  manner  recommended  them  to  our 
observance.  The  following  words  of  his  are  remarkable  : 
''  For  if  ye  forgive  men  their  trespasses,  your  heavenly 
Father  will  also  forgive  you  ;  but  if  ye  forgive  not  men 


LOVE  TO  ENEMIES.        A   FORGIVING  SPIRIT.  119 

their  trespasses,  neither  will  your  Father  forgive  your 
trespasses." 

If  then  you  would  have  God  forgive  the  many  sins 
of  your  youth,  and  remain  your  gracious  Father,  (and 
this  should  be  the  object  of  your  daily  prayers,)  you  must 
never  avenge  yourselves  upon  those  who  injure  you. 
You  must  not  seek  or  even  think,  to  do  any  thing  to 
them  either  at  present  or  in  time  to  come,  that  may  bo 
painful  to  them,  or  cause  them  any  injury,  out  of  a  spirit 
of  revenge. 

Would  you  have  God  hear  you  when  you  pray,  "  For- 
give us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our  debtors,"  you  must 
as  I  have  already  told  you,  from  your  heart  forgive  all 
the  evil  that  has  been  done  to  you  ;  you  must  help 
your  enemies  and  serve  them  whenever  it  is  in  your 
power.  For  instance,  if  your  brothers,  sisters,  school- 
mates, or  playmates,  should  strike  and  insult  you,  or 
speak  evil  of  you  behind  your  back,  of  which  you  have 
not  been  guilty,  you  must  not  strike  and  insult  them,  or 
speak  false  and  wicked  things  against  them  in  return  ; 
but  you  must  pray  for  them  that  they  may  not  be  punish- 
ed for  their  improper  conduct,  and  seek  to  do  them  all 
the  good  in  your  power.  If  you  do  so,  you  will  fulfil  the 
command  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  enjoy  the  grace  of  God. 

IV.    You  must  never  shoio  yourselves  implacable. 

What  I  here  mean  is,  that  you  must  never  show  your- 
selves destitute  of  a  forgiving  spirit  towards  those,  who, 
after  having  done  evil  to  you,  come  and  ask  your  for- 
giveness. It  is  quite  possible  that  such  a  person  might 
die,  when  you  would  be  unable  any  longer  to  draw- 
pleasure  from  doing  him  good  ;  and  then,  in  the  other 
world  he  would  complain  of  you  as  a  hard  and  unmerci- 


120  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

ful  man,  who  would  not  forgive  him,  and  be  reconciled  to 
him  ;  and  such  a  complaint  would  draw  down  upon  you 
severe  punishment  from  the  just  and  holy  God,  by  whom 
you  know,  as  I  have  already  told  you,  that  we  are  to  be 
treated,  as  we  have  treated  our  fellow  men.  To  those 
who  are  merciful,  he  is  merciful ;  and  to  those  who  are 
unmerciful,  he  too,  is  unmerciful. 

Prayer  and  Resolve. 

Blessed  Father  in  heaven,  I  desire  nothing  so  much 
as  to  be  thy  good  and  well-pleasing  child,  here  and  here- 
after. My  soul  thirsts  for  thee  ;  my  flesh  longs  for  thee. 
Thy  grace  and  spirit  assisting  me,  therefore,  I  resolve, 
according  to  the  teachings  of  my  Savior,  to  love  my  ene- 
mies, to  bless  those  that  curse  me,  to  do  good  to  those 
that  hate  me,  and  to  pray  for  those,  who  offend  and  per- 
secute me.  Thus  towards  me  thoii  hast  ever  conducted. 
In  the  ignorance  and  folly  of  youth,  I  have  often  done 
thee  great  injustice,  and  broken  thy  commands  ;  but  thou 
still  remainest  my  kind  and  benevolent  Father.  This 
too,  is  thy  mode  of  dealing  with  mankind  in  general. 
Thou  causest  thy  sun  to  rise  upon  the  evil  and  the  good, 
and  sendest  thy  fertilizing  rain  upon  the  just  and  the  un- 
just. I  resolve,  therefore,  relying  on  thy  aid,  to  become 
a  child  agreeable  to  thy  feelings  and  example, — to  de- 
light in  doing  good,  even  to  those  who  do  not  do  good  to 
me. 

H  Y  M  N. 

The  miglity  God  who  rules  on  high, 
And  rolls  ihe  thunder  thro'  the  sky, 
Declares,  and  will  maintain  his  sway; 
"  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will  repay." 


WATCHFULNESS  AND  PRAYER.  12fl 

This  would  I  ever  bear  in  mind, 
When  others  show  themselves  unkind, 
And,  'mid  reproaches,  calm  and  still, 
Await  my  Father's  sovereign  will. 

O  teach  me.  Lord,  enthroned  above, 
Like  thee,  my  enemy  to   love  ; 
To  aid  him,  plunged  in  deep  distress, 
And,  when  he  curses,  meekly  bless. 

Within  my  heart  I  fain  would  bear 
Thine  image  ;  kindly  paint  it  there. 
Help  me  to  show  the  love  of  heaven, 
WIio  have  so  much  to  be  forgiven. 


SECTION  XX. 

Watchfulness ,  temperance,  and  sinful  man-pleasing. 

There  is  perhaps  no  one  duty  in  which  young  people 
are  so  apt  to  fail,  as  in  watchfulness  and  prayer,  or  what 
may  be  called  a  prayerful  watchfulness, — a  serious  guard- 
ing of  one's  thoughts  and  actions,  against  every  thing 
that  is  sinful.  They  uniformly  give  themselves  up  far 
too  much,  to  their  passions  and  wishes  for  pleasure. 
Reason  and  religious  truth  have  little  or  no  influence 
over  them  ;  and  if  they  had  not  parents  to  govern  them, 
and  a  great  many  laws  and  restraints  to  bind  them  down 
to  duty,  I  fear  they  would  in  most  cases  give  themselves 
up  to  the  current  of  their  own  feelings,  and  go  on  in  the 
pursuit  of  pleasure  until  their  way  ended  in  everlasting 
11 


122  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

pain.  At  least  it  is  certain,  that  all  children  give  them- 
selves up,  without  any  consideration,  to  their  own  feel- 
ings, as  far  as  they  can  ;  and  that  those  who  are  left  with- 
out any  or  much  restraint  to  their  own  passions  and  in- 
clinations, almost  always  lead  miserable  lives,  and  bring 
themselves  to  untimely  and  awful  deaths  ;  or,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Bible,  they  do  not  live  out  half  their  days. 
I  could  give  you  a  great  many  instances  of  this,  if  it  were 
necessary ;  and  I  should  immediately  point  you  to  Byron, 
of  whom  you  will  learn  more  when  you  get  older,  as  one. 
Now,  my  young  friends,  I  want  you  should  remember 
that  if  you  would  be  happy,  you  must  subject  all  your 
passions  and  inclinations,  to  the  control  of  reason  and  the 
word  of  God  ;  and  to  get  such  a  control  over  yourselves, 
you  must  watch  your  own  hearts  continually,  guarding 
yourselves  against  every  thing  sinful,  and  pray  God, 
to  enable  you  to  do  what  is  good. 

And  this  is  just  what  Jesus  and  also  his  apostles  have 
often  told  us  to  do, — to  watch  and  pray  that  we  enter  not 
into  temptation,  and,  when  we  are  templed,  to  watch  and 
pray  that  we  do  not  sin  against  God,  by  yielding  to  it. 

I.    Temperance. 

You  must  guard  yourselves  against  eating  and  drink- 
ing too  much,  and  above  all  things  to  such  a  degree, 
as  to  deprive  yourselves  of  reason  and  feeling.  There  are 
a  great  many  things  which  have  often  been  drunk  in 
times  past,  and  which  some,  who  ought  to  know  better, 
drink  now,  of  which,  however,  you  should  never  taste; 
as  they  will  almost  certainly  injure  you,  if  you  do.  What 
these  things  are,  your  sabbath-school  teachers  will  be 
able  to  tell  you.  It  is  of  eating  too  much,  however,  that 
children  and  youth  are  the  most  liable  to  be  guilty.     Be- 


TEMPERANCE  IN  EATING  AND  DRINKING.  123 

cause  any  thing  tastes  good  they  are  apt  to  go  on  eating 
of  it,  without  observing  any  proper  limits. 

Guard  yourselves  against  this  crime.  Accustom  your- 
selves to  think,  whenever  you  go  to  the  table,  how  that 
eating  and  drinking  too  much  will  injure  your  health  and 
unfit  you  both  for  study  and  work  ;  and  that  he,  who  in 
his  youth  gives  himself  up  to  the  pleasures  of  eating  and 
drinking  more  than  is  proper,  that  is,  more  than  is  ne- 
cessary to  satisfy  his  hunger  and  thirst,  will  become  a 
glutton  and  a  drunkard,  when  he  is  older;  and  gluttony 
and  drunkenness  are  frightful  crimes.  He  who  gives  him- 
self up  to  them,  is  unfit  for  the  happiness  of  the  righteous, 
and  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  So  the 
New  Testament  often  tells  us.  They  are  shut  out  and 
placed  among  dogs  and  sorcerers  and  whoremongers,  and 
murderers  and  idolaters,  and  liars.  They  would  not  be 
happy  in  heaven,  if  they  should  go  there.  They  would 
be  drunkards  and  gluttons  still,  and   feel  very  miserable. 

No  Christian,  for  the  sake  of  pleasure, 
Who  thinks  as  Christ  would  have  him  think, — 

Will  go  beyond  a  temperate  measure. 
When  he  sits  down  to  eat  and  drink. 

The  Lord,  this  mind  and  heart  to  cherish, 
Hath  food  in  store,  as  well  as  breath ; 

Abused,  it  causes  both  to  perish. 
In  temporal  and  eternal  death. 

II.    Our  conduct  in  general. 

You  must,  if  you  would  be  Christians,  and  acquire  all 
the  feelings  and  dispositions  of  true  Christians, — you  must 
attend  carefully  to  your  thoughts  and  words,  and  your 
entire  conduct,  whether  at  home  or  at  school,  and  wheth' 


124  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

er  your  parents  see  you  or  not.  You  must  see  to  it,  that 
you  neither  think,  speak,  nor  do,  any  thing  which  is  un- 
just. If  you  neglect  to  do  so,  you  will  be  in  great  dan- 
ger of  thinking  many  things  that  are  wicked,  and  from 
thinking,  come  to  do  them.  And  so  also  if  you  would 
do  your  duty  in  praying  to  God  every  day,  attending 
faithfully  the  exercises  of  the  house  of  God,  assisting 
those  who  need  your  assistance,  and  ever  showing  your- 
selves kind, — you  must  watch  over  yourselves  all  the 
time  ;  for  the  heart  of  man  left  to  itself  is  like  an  un- 
cultivated garden.  It  may  possibly  produce  here  and 
there  a  flower,  but  it  will  be  a  wild  one  ;  and,  besides, 
the  garden  will  every  where  be  full  of  weeds. 

To  purity  and  holiness  of  heart,  you  never  can  attain 
without  watchfulness  and  prayer.  Think  of  this  and 
often  sigh  forth  in  prayer  to  God  for  help,  saying  : 
"  Guard  me,  O  God,  from  sin,  and  guide  me  at  all  times, 
so  that  I  may  ever  do  what  is  pleasing  in  thy  sight,  and 
keep  myself  holy." 

III.  Man-pleasing. 

You  mtist  guard  yourselves  against  man-pleasing  and 
the  effects  of  a  present  prospect  of  gain,  to  draw  you  into 
sin.  You  will  not  live  long  before  you  will  find  your- 
selves in  circumstances  in  which  you  are  strongly  tempt- 
ed to  break  this  or  that  commandment  of  God,  for  the 
sake  of  gaining  some  present  advantage,  or  of  obtaining 
the  favor  of  wicked  men.  Perhaps  you  will  think  that 
by  telling  a  lie  you  can  bide  a  crime ;  or  that  by  asking 
an  extravagant  price  for  something  you  have  to  sell,  or  by 
concealing  some  of  its  defects,  you  can  get  more  for  it 
than  you  otherwise  would,  or  that  by  uttering  an  oath, 
you  can  gain  the  applause  of  some  wicked  companion. 


THE  HEART  UNGUARDED.       MAN-PLEASING.  125 

You  may  depend  upon  it,  however,  that,  in  the  end, 
you  would  find  yourselves  greatly  deceived.  But  do  not 
slop  to  think  of  this.  Give  up  all  gain  forever,  and  cut 
yourselves  off  from  all  hope  of  ever  enjoying  the  favor  of 
man,  rather  than  allow  yourselves  so  much  as  to  think  of 
sinning  against  God,  for  a  single  moment.  Ask  your- 
selves in  the  words  of  Jesus,  what  it  would  profit  you, 
if  you  should  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  your  own 
soul ;  and  think  how  he  has  declared  that  he  who  loves 
father  or  mother,  or  any  human  being  or  earthly  thing 
more  than  he  does  himself,  the  Savior,  can  have  no  part 
in  him  as  the  Savior.  And  never  forget  that  those  who 
obey  God,  will  always  have  a  powerful,  unchangeable, 
ever  present  friend, — a  friend  in  this  life,  and  when  he 
dies,  and  forever.  Say  to  yourselves  in  prayer  :  "  O 
blessed  God,  let  the  words  of  thy  Son,  be  a  holy  pre- 
cept ever  before  me.  Help  me  duly  to  prize  thy  grace, 
and  all  the  favors  thou  grantest  to  me  in  this  world ;  and 
to  obey  thee,  rather  than  man.  Help  me  ever  to  show 
myself  grateful  and  pleasing,  in  the  way  thou  hast  recom- 
mended, to  all  my  benefactors ;  for  if  even  wicked  men 
practise  this  virtue,  what  right  have  I  to  dispense  with 
practising  it,  who  wish  to  become  a  truly  virtuous  and 
christian  child  ? 

"  Prone  to  wander,  Lord,  I  feel  it — 

Prone  to  leave  the  God  I  love — 
Here's  my  heart, — O  take  and  seal  it  ; 

Seal  it  from  thy  courts  above." 


126  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTRINES. 

SECTION  XXI. 

The  iDord  of   God. 

From  the  various  hints  that  have  from  time  to  time 
been  suggested  respecting  the  Bible,  you  have,  I  hope, 
already  come  to  see  and  feel,  that  true  wisdom  re- 
quires you  to  study  it  continually,  and  to  hold  fast  to 
whatever  it  teaches.  The  Savior,  however,  has  not  left 
you  without  directions  in  this  respect.  He  has  express- 
ly exhorted  us  to  read  the  Bible  with  thoughtfulness  and 
reflection  ;  and  to  encourage  us  to  do  so,  he  has  pro- 
nounced those  people  blessed,  who  hear  the  word  of  God 
and  put  it  in  practise.  What  he  has  done  for  us  also  in 
this  respect,  shows  the  kindness  of  his  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings towards  the  human  family.  Can  there  be  any  need 
that  I  should  exhort  you,  from  your  very  childhood,  to 
obey  the  direction  of  the  Savior  in  this  respect, — to  study 
the  Bible  most  carefully,  and  ever  hold  it  in  the  highest 
esteem  ? 

The  Bible,  as  you  know,  makes  us  acquainted  with 
the  will  of  God.  It  teaches  us  what  is  wicked  and  what 
is  good.  It  tells  us  what  is  dangerous  and  what  is  safe. 
It  is  the  only  guide-book  we  have  of  our  journey  through 
this  world.  It  gives  us  the  best  possible  directions  for 
obtaining  happiness,  both  here  and  hereafter.  It  calls 
upon  us  to  be  perfect  in  all  things.  It  enjoins  it  upon  us 
to  abstain  not  merely  from  gross  vices,  that  is,  from  such 
as  are  punished  by  the  civil  authority,  but  also  from  all 
secret  sins;  to  show  ourselves  at  all  times  moral  and 
well  behaved  ;    and   to  conduct  as  those  who  know  and 


THE  BIBLE.       WHAT  IT  TEACHES.       OUR  SUN.        127 

believe,   that  God    sees   and   knows   all  things,  and  that 
he  rewards  the  good,  and  punishes  the  wicked. 

O  what  a  lovely,  precious  book  this  Bible  is  !  What 
should  we  know  of  heaven  and  hell,  and  the  life  beyond 
the  grave,  without  it !  If  we  had  no  Bible,  we  should 
be  indeed  full  of  darkness,  as  the  heathen  now  are.  We 
should  know  nothing  of  Jesus.  We  should  have  no  book 
upon  which  we  could  certainly  depend,  to  direct  us. 
Now,  even  if  you  have  no  parents  and  friends  to  teach 
you  what  to  do,  you  have  only  to  study  the  Bible  and 
obey  it,  and  you  will  do  right,  and  every  thing  will  go 
well  with  you.  And  suppose  the  Creator  should,  in  anger 
for  our  abuse  of  the  Bible,  take  it  from  us  !  It  would  be 
as  if  yonder  sun  should  forget  to  rise  ;  or  as  if,  at  mid-day, 
we  should  suddenly  see  him  darken  and  blacken  and 
disappear.  The  earth  would  hang  lifeless  and  darkling  and 
frozen  in  the  heavens.  How  kind  then,  does  our  Savior 
show  himself,  in  exhorting  us  to  read  with  attention  and 
to  practise  with  all  our  heart,  what  there  is  contained  in 
this  book  ! 

Study  it  then,  my  child,  every  day.  Try  to  fully  un- 
derstand its  meaning.  Endeavor  from  it,  to  become  per- 
fectly acquainted  with  what  God  has  commanded  and 
prohibited,  and  learn  how  you  must  always  live,  from 
your  youth  up,  in  order  to  please  God,  and  be  forever 
happy.  Read  it  with  the  utmost  diligence.  Preserve  it 
in  your  hearts.  Yield  it  full  obedience,  and  let  the  excel- 
lent doctrines  and  exhortations  it  contains,  render  you 
wise,  and  fill  you  with  fear  and  reverence  to  God.  You 
will  find  some  places  in  it  hard  to  understand,  but  ask 
your  parents,  teachers  in  the  sabbath-school,  and  other 
friends,  to  explain  them  to  you  ;    and  at  the  same  time 


128  ON  PARTICULAR  DOCTiUNES. 

ask  them  to  point  out  to  you  those  passages  which  are  the 
most  important  to  be  read. 

You,  my  child,  as  v;ell  as  all  others  who  enter  this 
world,  will  doubtless  meet  with  a  great  many  different 
trials,  and  sometimes  feel  as  if  you  should  sink  down  in 
despair  :  nor  will  those  who  bind  the  Bible  to  their  hearts, 
be  delivered  from  them  all.  But  then,  I  can  assure  you, 
that  if  you  study  the  word  of  God,  find  out  what  it  means, 
and  obey  it,  in  all  things,  you  will  come  out  well  at  last. 
You  may  have  to  travel  through  a  long,  dark,  dreary  wil- 
derness, full  of  hills  and  valleys,  and  entangling  bushes, 
and  wild  beasts  and  poisonous  serpents  ;  but  then  you 
shall  not  perish  in  the  wilderness.  You  shall  get  through 
it  in  safety.  You  shall  at  last  emerge  from  the  thick 
wood  into  the  broad  and  brilliant  regions  of  happiness 
and  peace,  where  God  is  and  all  his  saints,  and  there  sing 
his  praise  forever. 

Hold  fast  the  word  of  God, 

Where'er  its  precepts  lead  ; 
Tiio'  storms  and  seas  of  blood. 

Thy  onward  course  impede. 

The  multitude  may  sneer, 

And  all  its  truths  deride  ; 
But  plant  thy  footsteps  here, 

And  they  shall  never  slide. 

Below,  this  book  is  yours, 

Tlie  treasure  of  your  love  ; 
And,  long  as  God  endures, 

Shall  be  in  heaven  above. 


SOLILOQUY.       I  AM  GUARDED  BY  ANGELS.  129 


SECTION  XXII. 

JV.  Reflections  upon  a  few  other  doctrines  taught 
BY  Jesus. 

2'Ac  Angels. 

I  read,  blessed  Savior,  in  the  Bible,  that  angels  are 
the  friends  and  protectors  of  little  children.  Thou  hast 
said,  that  in  heaven,  their  angels  are  always  admitted 
into  the  presence  of  thy  Father,  and  thus  not  only  indulg- 
ed with  nearness  of  access  to  him,  but  treated  with  great 
honor.  Often,  unquestionably,  have  I  experienced  thy 
fidelity  and  love,  in  the  watchful  care  of  angels^  over  me. 
I  have  again  and  again  been  in  very  great  danger.  I 
can  even  now  call  to  mind  times  in  which  I  was  exposed 
to  death,  and  might  have  come  to  a  most  miserable  end, — 
at  least  might  have  been  made  a  permanent  invalid  or 
cripple,  if  God,  through  his  holy  angels,  had  not  preserv- 
ed my  life  and  guarded  me  from  all  harm. 

Thanks,  blessed  Father,  to  thee,  for  the  kind  and 
faithful  provision  thou  hast  made  for  the  defence  of  the 
helpless,  and  the  gracious  providence  thou  hast  ever  ex- 
ercised over  me.  Suffer  me  not  by  my  sins,  to  forfeit 
thy  guardian  care.  In  the  name  of  Jesus,  I  pray  thee 
to  grant  me  the  presence  of  thy  Holy  Spirit.  Help  me 
to  keep  my  heart  clean  and  cherish  him  in  my  bosom, 
in  order  that,  under  his  direction,  thy  angels  may  con- 
tinue to  be  with  me,  and  guard  me  from  all  harm,  and 
especially  from  sin.      And  then,  I   will   endeavor  to  re- 


130 


A  FEW  OTHER  DOCTRINES. 


member  how  I  am  in  the  invisible  company  of  thy  an- 
gels. This  thought  shall  be  ever  in  my  mind,  and  keep 
me  from  all  wickedness.  It  shall  encourage  me  to  strive 
after  their  innocence  and  piety,  in  order  that  when  I  die, 
I  may  live  with  them  in  eternal  joy. 

Nor,  while  I  rejoice  in  the  protection  I  receive  from 
God,  through  his  angels,  will  I  forget  how  different  my 
situation  is  in  this  respect,  from  that  of  the  poor  heathen, 
and  thousands  of  superstitious  people.  They  are  con- 
tinually afraid  of  ghosts  or  evil  spirits,  or  something 
dreadful,  they  know  not  what.  The  rustling  of  a  leaf 
makes  them  tremble.  They  live  in  slavish  fear  all  their 
days,  and  know  not  where  to  go  for  security.  T  have 
nothing  of  this  kind  to  alarm  me.  God  is  my  protector 
and  friend.  I  am  every  where  surrounded  by  his  pre- 
sence. I  cannot  wander  from  him  and  his  guardian  love. 
I  shall  find  him  with  me,  in  the  darkest  nights  and  in 
the  most  distant  climes.  And  then,  he  has  placed  his 
angels  over  me,  for  my  immediate  protection.  To  be 
afraid  of  ghosts  and  evil  spirits,  would  be  to  distrust  my 
God.  It  would  be  very  wicked  for  me  to  have  such  su- 
perstitious fears.  Especially  am  I  guarded  on  every  side, 
if  I  am  a  child  of  God,  whether  older  or  younger.  God 
has  repeatedly  declared  that  he  is  on  the  right  hand  of 
those  who  love  him  ;  that  he  has  graven  them  on  the 
palms  of  his  hands,  and  that  he  can  never  forget,  or  cease 
to  defend  them.  Thus  the  Lord,  in  a  dream,  showed 
himself  to  Jacob,  when  alone,  and  far  away  from  his  fa- 
ther's house,  he  slept,  and  saw  a  ladder  reaching  from 
heaven  to  earth,  and  the  angels  of  God,  ascending  and 
descending  upon  it.  The  servant  of  Elisha,  too,  the 
prophet,  on  having  his  eyes  opened,  found  his  master  s«r» 


SUPERSTITIOUS  FEARS.       THE  RESURRECTION.       131 

rounded  with  a  multitude  of  chariots   and  horses  of  fire, 
sent  by  God,  to  protect  him  from  all  harm. 

With  such  a  guardian,  I  will  press  on  boldly  through 
the  wilderness  before  me.  I  will  both  lay  me  down  in 
peace,  and  sleep,  for  the  Lord  will  make  me  dwell  in 
safety.  I  will  even  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shad- 
ow of  death,  feeling  secure  in  knowing,  that  "  The  angel 
of  the  Lord  encampeth  around  those  that  fear  him,  and 
delivereth  them." 


SECTION  xxin. 


The  resurrection,  and  the  last  Judgment. 

It  would  be  a  great  calamity,  my  young  friends,  for  us 
to  be  ignorant  of  what  awaits  our  souls,  as  well  as  our  bo- 
dies, after  death.  In  this  respect,  also,  Jesus  Christ  has 
provided  for  our  tranquillity, — and  thanks  to  him  for  it. 
He  has  told  us  with  perfect  clearness,  that  the  dead  are 
to  rise  and  live  again ;  and  that  those  who  have  been  pi- 
ous here,  are  to  enter  into  happiness  ;  but  that  those  who 
have  been  wicked  here,  are  to  find  themselves  unhappy. 
When  this  will  take  place,  he  has  not  told  us,  only  that 
it  will  certainly  take  place,  sometime  or  other. 

Immediately  after  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  our 
Lord  and  Savior  will  hold  his  last  judgment ;  and  when 
he  comes  to  judgment,  in  all  his  dignity  and  splendor, 
accompanied  with  his  holy  angels,  that  is  the  end  of  the 


132  A  FEW  OTHER  DOCTRINES. 

world.  The  sun,  moon  and  planets  will  then  cease  to 
shine,  the  heavens  will  pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  the 
earth  will  tremble,  its  mountains  and  cities  will  be  over- 
turned, the  sea  will  roar,  and  the  earth  and  every  thing 
in  it,  will  be  burnt  up. 

Jesus  Christ,  will  then  sit  down  upon  the  judgment- 
seat,  and  all  nations, — all  those  who  have  been  raised 
from  the  dead,  and  all  those  who  were  living  at  the  re- 
surrection,— will  be  assembled  together  before  Him,  their 
Lord  and  Judge.  It  will  then  be  made  publicly  known, 
what  a  difference  there  is  between  the  good  and  the 
wicked. 

The  good,  will  Jesus  place  at  his  right  hand,  and  con- 
fer public  honor  upon  them  for  having  shown  themselves 
so  benevolent  and  full  of  good  feeling  towards  their  fellow 
creatures.  All  the  acts  of  kindness  they  have  done  for 
others  in  giving  them  food,  supplying  them  with  drink,  and 
clothing  them,  as  well  as  in  any  other  services  of  love,  in 
providing  for  their  necessities,  he  will  consider  as  done 
for  himself  ;  and  he  will  say  to  them  :  "  Come,  ye  blessed 
of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world." 

The  wicked  will  Jesus  place  on  his  left  hand,  while  he 
holds  up  clearly  before  them,  how  wicked  and  unmerciful 
they  have  been.  He  will  tell  them,  that  all  the  acts  of  un- 
kindness  and  the  want  of  compassion  they  have  shown  to 
others,  particularly  in  designedly  neglecting  to  feed  the 
hungry,  give  the  thirsty  drink,  take  care  of  the  sick,  and 
receive  the  forsaken,  he  considers  in  the  same  light,  as  if 
they  had  been  shown  to  himself  He  will  in  threatening 
language  order  them  away  from  him,  saying  :  "  Depart 
from  me,  ye  cursed,  into  hell-fire,  which  has  been  prepared 
for  the   devil  and  his  angels."     "  These   shall  now  go 


THE  JUDGMENT.       ITS  CERTAINTY.  331 

away  into  everlasting  punishment,  but  the  righteous  into 
life  eternal." 

Such,  my  young  readers,  are  the  declarations  of  Jesus 
Christ,  respecting  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  and  a 
great  day  of  Judgment.  Many  wickedly  disbelieve  them, 
but  we  shall  all  soon  by  experience  find  them  true.  Within 
a  hundred  years,  at  farthest,  we  shall  have  done  with  every 
thing  below,  and  entered  upon  eternity.  The  resurrec- 
tion too,  will  at  length  arrive,  and  then  we  shall  be  call- 
ed in  solemn  and  awful  assembly,  to  stand  before  God, 
and  give  up  our  final  account. 

It  will  be  a  fearful  day  to  the  wicked.  There  they 
shall  see  all  the  secret  tlioughts  and  purposes  as  well 
as  public  acts,  of  their  vile  hearts,  recorded  and  drawn 
out  in  the  most  faithful  and  vivid  colors,  and  fully  expo- 
sed. There  they  shall  be  made  to  feel  how  often,  in  the 
persons  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  the  stranger,  the 
naked,  the  sick,  the  hungry,  and  other  sufferers,  they  have 
treated  Jesus  Christ  himself  with  contempt;  and  O  how 
surprised  they  will  be  tofind  in  him  the  powerful  advocate  of 
those  whom  they  have  abused  ;  and  to  behold  him  as  their 
enemy,  seated  upon  the  throne,  clothed  with  almighty 
power  ! 

But  it  will  be  a  happy  day  to  the  good.  There  they 
will  hear  their  unworthy,  and,  in  many  cases,  forgotten 
acts  of  kindness,  recounted  over  by  the  Savior  and  Judge 
himself;  while  he  declares  he  considers  the  least  service 
they  have  done  in  his  name,  to  the  very  meanest  of  the 
human  family,  as  done  to  himself.  And  what  a  thrill  of 
joy  will  run  through  their  hearts,  when  they  perceive 
that  he  who  sits  upon  the  throne,  is  their  Redeemer  and 
friend,  the  very  person  whom  they  thought  of  aod  loved 
so  much  below  ! 

12 


134  A  FEW  OTHER  DOCTRINES. 

And  think,  dear  youth,  of  the  honor  or  dishonor,  you 
will  then  incur,  according  as  you  are  good  or  bad,  and 
are  welcomed  to  heavenly  joys,  or  commanded  to  depart 
into  the  miseries  of  hell. 

It  is  pleasing  here  to  have  your  parents  tell  you,  you 
have  done  well,  and  to  receive  the  approbation  of  the 
good.  And  yet  the  praise  they  bestow  is  often  unde- 
served, and  it  may  be  very  transitory.  How  much 
more  pleasing  then  will  it  be  to  hear  God  say,  "Well 
done  good  and  faithful  servant,"  knowing  that  it  is  not 
bestowed  in  vain  ! — It  is  painful  here,  to  incur  the  cen- 
sure of  our  parents  and  fall  into  disgrace  of  our  fellows  ; 
and  yet  the  censure  may  not  be  deserved,  and  the  dis- 
grace may  be  unworthy  of  attention.  How  much  more 
then,  how  inexpressibly,  painful,  will  it  be,  to  fall  into  dis- 
grace of  God  himself,  and  hear  him  say  :  "  Depart  from 
me,  into  everlasting  fire  ;"  and  all  this  too,  before  the 
whole  world  ?  Here  is  honor  worth  seeking  after,  worth 
possessing  ;  here  is  dishonor  to  be  shunned  and  dreaded. 
With  these  thoughts  before  you,  will  you  not  think  on 
eternity,  and  live  for  it,  seeking  that  honor  which  comes 
from  God  only?     I  seem  almost  to  hear  you  say  : 

"  Blessed  Savior,  according  to  thy  promise,  the  dead 
are  to  rise  again  and  come  forth  alive  from  their  graves  ; 
those  who  have  done  good  to  eternal  happiness,  but  those 
who  have  done  wicked  to  the  most  frightful  misery.  O 
help  me,  then,  according  to  thy  direction,  to  receive  thy 
word  with  pleasure,  and,  in  all  things,  yield  it  most  per- 
fect obedience.  As  the  only  honor  worth  having,  comes 
from  thee,  and  it  will  prove  infinite  disgrace  to  be  disowned 
by  theie  at  last,  help  me  in  all  things  to  seek  that  honor 
which  comes  from  God  alone.  Help  me,  blessed  Savior, 
to  obey  and  confide  in  thy  Father  in  heaven  above,  by 


REAL  HONOR  AND  DISHONOR.  136 

whom  thou  wast  sent ;  that  at  last  I  may  be  so  happy  as 
to  obtain  the  honor  of  hearing  him  say,  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant,  enter  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  My 
hope,  my  strong  desire,  is  to  obtain  eternal  life.  The  de- 
cision which  thou  passest  upon  me  I  know  will  be  just. 
The  honor  I  receive  from  thy  hand  will  be  deserved 
through  my  Savior.  Clothed  in  the  robe  of  righteousness 
which  he  has  provided,  I  shall  arise  at  the  resurrection 
of  the  just,  and  enter  into  eternal  joy." 

Hymn. 

No  more  of  toil  or  fawning, 

For  augiil  below  the  sun  ; 
I  see  the  judgment  dawning. 

And  brighter  as  I  run. 

Take  back,  ye  who  for  it  languish. 

Earth's  faded  wreath  and  torn  ; 
I  blush  with  burning  anguish, 

It  ever  to  have  worn. 

I  pant  for  laurel  flowers, 

Of  pure  celestial  hue  ; 
In  bright  immortal  bowers, 

I  have  a  seat  in  view. 

Kind  angels  call  me  thither, — 

I  hear  their  harps  resound, — 
With  wreaths  that  never  wither, 

By  Jesus  to  be  crowned. 

There  we'll  rehearse  the  story, 

Of  Jesus'  dying  love, 
And  range  the  fields  of  glory. 
With  kindred  souls  above. 


136  A  FEW  OTHER  DOCTRINES. 

SECTION  XXIV. 

Eternal  life. 

I  am  destined,  then,  to  eternity.  My  body  only  is  to 
die.  My  soul  is  to  live  forever.  It  will  live  when  this 
sun  has  gone  out,  and  all  these  stars  are  extinguished, 
and  the  heavens  and  earth  have  departed.  It  may  have 
to  live  in  everlasting  pain  and  sorrow,  in  that  dreadful 
world,  of  which  the  Bible  speaks,  and  in  which  all  the 
wicked  are,  after  death.  But  it  may  also  be  permitted  to 
live  in  that  world,  where  Jesus  and  his  holy  angels  are. 
The  Savior  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  life  for 
its  salvation.  He  has  by  his  death,  provided  for  even 
such  a  sinner  as  I  am.  I  seem  to  see  the  gates  of  heaven 
thrown  open  before  me,  and 

"  The  kind  angels  at  the  gates, 

Inviting  mc  to  come  ; 
While  Jesus  my  forerunner  waits. 

To  welcome  travellers  home." 

The  world  has  lost  its  charms.  I  see  it  short  and  tran- 
sitory. I  am  allured  onward  to  the  realms  of  glory.  I 
cannot  forget  how  happy  my  school-mate,  Henry,  was, 
when  he  came  to  die.  "  O  mother,"  said  he,  "  I  am  go- 
ing to  see  Jesus,  and  I  shall  love  to  be  with  him."  And 
grandmother,  too,  when  she  came  to  die,  she  was  talking 
about  heaven,  and  the  people  there,  all  the  time,  until 
she  lost  her  voice.  I  would  be  willing  to  stay  here  as 
long  as  God  pleases  ;  but,  O  how  pleasant  it  will  be  to  go 
to  heaven,  and  there  inherit  eternal  life.  There  will  be  no 
sickness  there,  nor  cold  winter,  nor  darkness,  nor  storms, 


ETERNAL  LIFE.       DELIGHTS  OF  HEAVEN.  137 

Bor  death.  It  will  always  be  day  there,  and  happiness  and 
peace.  And  then  the  music  will  be  so  sweet, — not  a  dis- 
cord in  it  nor  a  jarring  note.  There  too,  grow  the  trees  of 
life,  and  rolls  the  living  stream,  of  which  I  have  read  iu 
the  Revelation  of  John.  I  shall  eat  of  the  fruit  which 
grows  on  those  trees.  I  shall  drink  of  this  water,  not 
at  a  great  distance  from  the  fountain  head,  where  it  is  com- 
mingled with  putrid  or  bitter  streams,  but  close  by  where  it 
comes  out  of  the  throne  of  God,  that  great  white  throne. 
But  above  all,  there  I  shall  find  Jesus,  who  loved  me  so 
much  before  I  knew  any  thing  about  him,  who  thought 
of  me  in  the  kindest  manner,  before  I  even  had  a  being. 

'  '•  Tliere  I  shall  see  Iiis  face, 

And  never,  never  sin," 

O  what  inexpressible  thoughts  arise  in  my  mind  while  I 
think  of  these  things.  I  am  indeed  often  afraid  that  I  do 
not  love  my  Savior  better  than  every  thing  else.  But 
there  are  times,  in  which  I  hope  I  do.  And  then,  I 
think  I  understand  what  is  meant  in  the  Pilgrim's  Pro- 
gress, when  it  is  said,  that  Christian,  having  gone  up  to 
the  top  of  the  house  and  looked  towards  the  south,  be- 
held at  a  great  distance,  a  most  pleasant  mountainous 
country,  beautified  with  woods,  vineyards,  fruits  of  all 
sorts,  flowers  also,  with  springs  and  fountains  very  de- 
lectable to  behold.  It  was  the  same  place  which  he  and 
Hopeful  saw,  by  the  aid  of  the  perspective  glass  which 
the  shepherds  gave  them,  when  they  were  on  the  top 
of  the  hill,  called  Clear.  It  was  the  celestial  city,  it  was 
that  paradise  into  which  Jesus  told  the  penitent  thief  on 
the  cross  that  he  should  be,  in  a  little  while,  and  that 
too,  on  the  very  day  of  his  death.  It  was  that  place  I 
love  so  much  to  think  of. 
12* 


138  DRAWING  NEAR  HEAVEN. 

O  my  blessed  Savior,  Jesus  Christ,  from  my  very  heart 
do  I  rejoice,  that  thou  hast  given  me  such  instruction  re- 
specting thy  will,  and  the  way  to  eternal  life  ;  that  thou 
hast  furnished  me  with  such  inviting  prospects.  Help  me 
ever  more  to  press  onward,  with  the  world  behind  my 
back,  and  heaven  before  me  ;  and  feel  truly  grateful  for 
that  grace  of  thine,  by  which  I  am  enabled  to  look  for- 
ward to  the  future  with  such  glorious  hopes. 

Hymn, 

Amid  the  wilderness  I  tread, 

Of  gloom  and  pilgrimage  and  dread, 

With  scenes  eternal  drawing  near, 

I'am  cheered  ;  the  realms  of  joy  appear. 

What  tho'  the  land  be  dimly  seen, 

And  death's  cold  river  roll  between, 

At  every  step  appear  a  foe, 

And  hell  flash  fearful  as  I  go  ; 

To  guard  nie  safe  on  either  hand, 

I  see  the  angels  marsiialled  stand, 

While  brighter,  like  the  dawning  day. 

Heaven  sheds  its  beams  upon  my  way. 

Taste,  then,  no  more,  earth's  bitter  streams — 

Keep  fast  thine  eye  upon  these  beams  ; 

Press  boldly  up  the  mountain  glade, 

Or  fearless  penetrate  the  shade. 

Till,  clad  in  new  immortal  bloom, 

Thou  issuest  from  the  desert  gloom. 

Enraptured,  then,  survey  the  plains, 

Where  thy  Redeemer  lives  and  reigns  ; 

Hard  by,  the  trees  celestial  grow, 

And  life's  broad  living  waters  flow  ; 

The  city  of  thy  God  lies  here. 

The  rainbow  and  the  cloud  appear. 

The  sacred  choir,  the  burnished  throne, 

And  (joy  transporting  !)  all  thine  own. 


PART    III. 

SECTION  I. 

I.  The  Parables  of  Jesus. 
Introductory  Remarks. 

You  have  already  heard  enough,  my  young  friends,  of 
the  instructions  of  Jesus,  to  know,  that  every  thing  he 
taught  is  useful,  and  will  be  listened  to  and  remembered, 
with  great  pleasure,  by  pious  children  and  youth.  He 
has,  however,  taught  us  many  things  in  a  peculiarly  in- 
teresting and  agreeable  manner.  To  his  disciples,  and 
others  who  collected  around  him,  he  often  uttered  little 
histories  or  narratives,  which  are  usually  called  parables. 
These  were  either  accounts  of  events  which  had  really 
happened,  or  else  inventions  made  for  the  occasion,  just 
as  if  they  had  happened.  They  embodied  most  excel- 
lent instruction,  and  were  expressly  intended,  by  the  in- 
terest they  excited,  to  set  those  who  heard  them  a  think- 
ing. From  them,  we  too  may  learn  a  great  deal  as  to 
what  is  right,  and  what  is  wrong;  as  to  what  is  good 
and  adapted  to  make  us  happy,  and  what  is  wicked  and 
adapted  to  render  us  unhappy.  I  can  here  make  you 
acquainted  with  but  a  few  of  them.  If  you  read  them  with 
attention,  they  will  prove  very  salutary  to  your  imagina- 
tion and  your  heart. 


140  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 


SECTION     If. 


The  lost  son. 

A  rich  man  had  two  sons.  The  youngest  did  not  wish 
to  remain  any  longer  under  the  inspection  of  his  good 
father;  and,  for  the  purpose  of  being  able  to  live  with- 
out hindrance,  according  to  his  youthful  inclinations,  he 
resolved  to  go  into  a  distant  country.  He  requested  of 
his  father,  therefore,  the  portion  of  the  estate  which 
would  regularly  fall  to  him,  as  his  share  of  the  inheritance 
after  his  father's  death.  The  good  man  complied  with 
his  son's  wishes  ;  and  this  young  man  collected  all  his 
money  together  and  went  into  a  strange  country.  Here 
he  did  whatever  seemed  to  him  to  be  good,  and  gave 
himself  up  altogether  to  sensual  pleasures,  leading  a  very 
wild  and  disorderly  life;  until,  in  a  short  time,  he  had 
squandered  away  all  his  wealth  in  sports,  drunkenness, 
and  debauchery.  Soon  after  this,  there  came  on  a  terri- 
ble famine,  in  the  land  where  he  was  residing.  On  ac- 
count of  his  great  poverty,  he  felt  the  pressing  scarcity 
far  more  than  others.  In  order,  therefore,  to  avoid 
dying  of  hunger,  he  was  forced  to  become  a  feeder  of 
stoine.  While  he  was  thus  employed,  he  would  gladly 
have  satisfied  his  hunger  with  the  swine's  food  ;  but  not 
even  of  this  did  he  receive  a  supply.  Inexpressible  in- 
deed was  the  depth  of  anguish,  into  wiiich  this  young  man 
now  found  himself  plunged  by  his  past  follies  and  dissi- 
pated conduct !  He,  who  had  possessed  great  property, 
lived  in  luxury,  perhaps  worn  splendid  garments,  and 
seen  himself  surrounded  with  a  multitude  of  gay  and  joyful 


THE  LOST  SON.   REPENTS  AND  RETURNS.     141 

companions, — now  saw  himself  just  ready  to  die  of  hun- 
ger, clothed  in  ragged  and  filthy  garments,  living  in  the 
most  contemptible  condition  a  man,  and  especially  a  Jew, 
could  occupy, — among  the  swine  in  the  field,  and  afflict- 
ed perhaps,  at  the  same  time,  with  diseases  brought  on 
him,  by  his  dissipation. 

Alone  and  forsaken,  he  now  began  to  think  upon  his 
miserable  state.  In  the  course  of  his  reflections,  he 
said  to  himself:  "  How  many  day-laborers  has  my 
father  and  they  all  have  food  enough,  while  I  am  here 
perishing  with  hunger.  I  will  arise,  and  go  again  to  my 
father, — will  confess  to  him  my  folly,  my  unsteadiness, 
and  my  infamous  conduct,  and  ask  his  forgiveness."  He 
immediately  entered  upon  the  journey,  and  came  to  his 
father.  His  father  caught  sight  of  him.  while  he  was  at 
a  great  distance,  and  in  him,  at  once  recognized  his  son. 
Full  of  compassion  for  the  miserable  condition  in  which 
he  saw  his  son,  the  father  ran  to  meet  him,  fell  upon  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him  with  the  greatest  tenderness.  Full 
of  humility  and  bowed  down  to  the  very  dust,  the  return- 
ing son  then  said  to  him  :  '  Best  of  fathers,  I  have  sin- 
ned grievously  against  God  and  against  thee,  and  am  no 
more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son.  Take  me  into  thy 
family  as  a  day-laborer,  as  a  hired  servant.'  The  good  fa- 
ther forgave  him  every  thing,  took  off  his  filthy,  tattered 
garments,  clothed  him  with  a  fine  robe,  putting  a  ring  on 
his  finger  and  shoes  on  his  feet,  commanded  a  splendid 
feast  to  be  prepared,  told  the  members  of  his  family  that 
they  ought  to  be  truly  joyful,  and,  full  of  paternal  gladness 
and  delight,  exclaimed  to  them  :  '  See  here  !  This  my 
son  was  as  it  were  dead,  but  he  is  alive  again ;  he  was 
lost,  but  now  he  is  found.' 

The  eldest  son,  on  coming  from  the  field  where  he  at 


142 


PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 


first  was,  hearing  of  the  return  of  his  brother,  and  per- 
ceiving the  joy  it  occasioned,  was  so  far  from  rejoicing 
with  his  father  and  all  the  family,  as  to  be  filled  with  en- 
vy and  indignation.  He  would  not  even  go  into  the 
house.  The  good  father  went  out  to  him,  and  reasoned 
with  him,  intreating  him  to  come  in  ;  but  instead  of 
yielding  to  his  father's  solicitation,  he  brought  up  re- 
proaches against  him,  objecting  that  he  had  never  once 
permitted  him  to  make  merry  in  a  friendly  festival  ;  but 
that  as  soon  as  his  other  son  had  come  home,  who  had 
wasted  away  his  property  in  the  most  dissipated  life,  he 
had  killed  for  him  the  fatted  calf,  and  made  a  great  feast. 
The  good  father,  however,  replied  to  his  son  in  a  manner 
full  of  affection  and  love,  told  him  that  he  had  ever  lived 
with  him,  and  been  receiving  favors  at  his  hand,  and  be- 
sides was  as  it  were  master  of  all  his  estate  ;  and,  by 
rightly  impressing  him,  respecting  the  matter,  endeavor- 
ed to  bring  him  to  take  part  in  the  joy  of  the  whole  fami- 
ly, on  account  of  the  safe  return  and  the  thorough  refor- 
mation of  his  only  brother,  telling  him  as  he  had  told  the 
rest  of  his  family,  that  nothing  was  more  proper  than  this 
joy,  for  that  this  brother  of  his,  was  like  one  restored  to 
them  from  the  dead,  or  one  found,  after  he  had  long  been 
given  up  as  altogether  lost. 


THE  OLDEST  SON.   GOD  FORGIVING.        143 


SECTION  III. 

Reflections. 

This  parable  has  been  extolled  as  a  most  admirable  one, 
particularly  by  the  pious  Lavater  of  Switzerland.  It  is 
indeed  deserving  of  all  the  praise  it  has  ever  received, 
and  should  be  read  not  only,  but  studied.  In  what  I  say 
of  it  I  must  be  brief. 

By  the  good  father  is  to  be  understood  God,  our  righ- 
teous Father  in  heaven  ;  and  by  the  lost  son,  the  sinner. 
As  the  father  here  spoken  of,  forgave  his  deeply  humbled 
and  repenting  prodigal  son,  as  soon  as  he  asked  for  for- 
giveness ;  so  God  our  heavenly  Father  daily  forgives  all 
those  godless  children  and  wicked  men,  who,  coming  to 
reflection,  acknowledge  their  sinful  ways  and  repent. 
They  may  belong,  indeed,  to  the  very  vilest,  and  have 
treated  him  with  the  greatest  abuse  ;  but  as  soon  as  from 
a  distance,  he  catches  sight  of  them  coming  towards  him, 
he  forgets  and  forgives  the  past,  runs  to  meet  them  and 
clasps  them  in  his  arms.  Such  kindness  is  there  in  the 
heart  of  our  heavenly  Father,  and  so  ready  is  he  to  for- 
give the  repenting  sinner.  And  then  the  joy  occasioned 
as  Christ  tells  us,  among  the  angels  of  God,  by  the  re- 
pentance of  the  sinner,  is  very  finely  represented  by  the 
joy  with  which  the  prodigal  was  received  on  his  return, 
in  the  house  of  his  father. 

From  this  parable  then  you  see  that  there  is  a  deep  in- 
terest taken  in  the  salvation  of  the  sinner,  in  the  spiritual 
world.  The  family  from  which  this  prodigal  has  wander- 
d  is  a  most  kind  and  affectionate  family,  and  look  upon 


144  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

nothing  with  so  much  pain,  as  the  waywardness  of  one 
of  their  Father's  children, — look  upon  nothing  with  so 
much  joy  as  the  return  of  such  a  profligate. 

I  do  not  know  how  you  are  affected,  my  young  readers, 
with  this  view  ;  but  as  to  myself,  I  cannot  get  it  out  of 
my  mind.  It  alarms  me.  There  must  be  some  unutter- 
able reasons  why  the  good  beings  of  the  spiritual  world 
should  feel  so  deeply  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  the  sin- 
ner. Il  Jills  me  with  hope.  As  however  worthless  I  may 
be  regarded  in  this  world,  there  are  beings  in  the  universe 
who  do  not  so  regard  me.  The  inhabitants  of  heaven 
take  the  deepest  interest  in  my  welfare.  It  allures  mc. 
I  feel  that  the  heavenly  family,  from  which  I  have  wan- 
dered, is  a  most  lovely  one,  and  long  to  rejoin  it,  confi- 
dent that  I  never  shall  be  happy,  so  long  as  I  am  away 
from  it ;  and  though  consciousness  of  unworthiness,  often 
causes  me  to  blush  and  tremble,  when  I  think  how 
pure  and  holy  it  is  j  yet  the  tender  manner  in  which  God 
is  represented  as  receiving  the  returning  sinner,  allures 
me  onward.  I  will  continue  my  journey  to  my  Father's. 
I  am  unworthy,  but  he  is  kind.  He  has  received  others, 
and  I  am  sure  that  he  will  not  reject  me ;  and  if  I  can 
only  get  into  his  family,  even  as  a  hired  servant,  I  shall 
be  happy.     It  is  all  I  ask. 

The  parable  before  us,  however,  gives  rise  to  other  reflec- 
tions. From  it  you  see  clearly  into  what  an  unhappy  con- 
dition young  people  are  brought  by  giving  themselves  up 
without  consideration  to  the  follies,  lusts,  and  dissipations 
of  youth.  He  who,  like  the  lost  son,  spends  the  early 
years  of  his  life  in  extravagance  and  vice,  will,  when  he 
becomes  older,  like  him,  find  himself  sunk  in  poverty, 
shame,  and  contempt.  Diseases,  weakened  energies  of 
soul,  and  a  life  shortened  by  crime,  are  the  natural  pun- 


A  SAD  SPECTACLE.       THE  HOSPITAL.  145 

ishments  which  he  ordinarily  draws  down  upon  himself  by 
his  irrational  conduct.  Believe  me,  I  have  known  a 
great  many  youths  who,  by  their  wild  and  godless  lives, 
had  plunged  themselves  into  the  most  woful  misery.  At 
the  beds  of  the  sick  and  dying,  I  have  heard  the  sighs  of 
many  young  persons,  while  they  cried  out  :  "  Would  to 
God  we  had  not  so  blindly  followed  our  lusts  and  passions. 
Had  we  yielded  obedience  to  the  exhortations  of  our  pa- 
rents, and  teachers,  we  should  not  be  now  lying  here  in 
such  a  pitiful  condition.  We  ourselves  are  the  guilty 
authors  of  our  misery,  of  the  woful  death  before  us." 

It  would  hence  be  well  for  your  friends  occasionally  to 
take  you  with  them  to  the  sick  room  or  to  the  hospital, 
and  there  point  out  to  you  some  of  these  miserable  beings. 
You  would  in  truth  find  it  very  sad,  to  behold  them  ex- 
periencing, both  in  body  and  mind,  the  most  direful  ef- 
fects of  a  dissipated  course  of  life,  and  writhing  in  ago- 
nies, from  which  in  this  world,  there  is  no  deliver- 
ance; but  from  it,  I  trust,  you  would  derive  instruction. 
How  could  you  indeed  see  the  drunkard  and  debauchee, 
going  down  to  the  grave  in  unutterable  and  irremediable 
torments,  without  flying  from  the  bottle, — however  al- 
luring it  might  seem, — and  without  refusing  ever  to  suf- 
fer yourselves  even  in  thought,  to  forget  what  Solomon 
has  told  us  at  tiie  coinmand  of  God  in  the  seventh  chap- 
ter of  Proverbs,  and  what  the  Savior  himself  has  said  in 
the  twenty-eight  verse  of  the  fifth  chapter  of  Matthew ! 
You  would  then  have  a  visible  illustration  of  the  truth  so 
often  declared  in  the  Bible, — that  indulgence  in  pleasures 
which  God  has  forbidden,  ends  in  the  greatest  unhappi- 
ness,  the  most  fearful  suflfering.  You  would  see  with 
your  own  eyes,  that  the  vv-ay  of  the  transgressor  is  hard ; 
13 


146  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

that  sin  does,  indeed,  at  least  in  this  world,  bite  like  a 
serpent  and  sting  like  an  adder. 

And  besides,  just  think  of  the  black  crimes  which  lie 
in  the  way  of  a  young  man,  when  he  has  once  fairly  em- 
barked on  the  current  of  self-indulgence  ;  of  the  deep, 
the  overwhelming  sorrows  he  will  bring  down  upon  his 
dear  parents  and  friends, — hurrying  them  away,  perhaps, 
to  untimely  graves  ;  and  above  all,  of  the  fearful  doom 
that  awaits  him,  when,  without  one  solitary  friend,  with 
Jehovah  himself  for  an  enemy,  he  enters  the  other  world. 

Forget  not  then,  that  you  have  a  weak  and  effeminate 
heart.  It  is  easily  wrought  upon  by  wicked  pleasures. 
It  must  be  guarded  on  every  side,  or  else  it  will  leave 
you  to  be  blinded  to  what  is  good,  and  to  be  hurried  away 
by  the  allurements  of  vice,  as  others  have  been.  Call  to 
mind  the  admonitions  you  have  already  received.  Shall 
your  parents  and  friends,  and  the  word  of  God  itself,  have 
all  exerted  their  influence  over  you  in  vain  ?  The  words 
of  the  pious  Gellert,  (as  near  as  I  can  translate  them,) 
who  was  a  faithful  and  experienced  counseller  of  youth, 
are  in  this  view,  worthy  your  deep  attention. 

Sweet  pleasure  blasts  the  wretch  she  seizes, 
While  chasteness,  life  and  health  secures  ; 

There's  nought  but  pain  and  sore  diseases, 
For  him  who  follows  where  she  lures. 

He  who  destroys  God's  temple  here, 

Deserves  his  vengeance  most  severe. 

How  lovely  was  the  youth,  and  blooming, 
Ere  charmed  from  virtue's  hallowed  ways  ; 

But  now — pale,  haggard,  and  assuming — 
The  flower  is  blighted  and  decays. 

Deep  guilt  corrodes  his  brow  with  fears, 

And  whispers  judgment  in  his  ears. 


PRIZE  RESTRAINT.   A  PURE  PLEASURE.      147 

Flee  then  the  cup  that  Pleasure  offers  ; 

And  should  her  flattering  smiles  impede, 
Go  ask  the  grace  that  Jesus  proffers, 

And  wisdom  in  the  hour  of  need. 
Thou'st  many  a  trial  here  to  brave. 
Or  die  at  last,  beyond  the  grave. 

Recognize  it,  therefore,  as  the  greatest  of  divine  favors, 
that  you  still  live  under  the  inspection  of  good  parents 
and  teachers.  Receive  with  gratitude  the  chastisement 
they  inflict  upon  you,  should  it  even  happen  to  be  a  little 
severe.  No  youth,  when  he  comes  to  sober  thought,  will 
murmur  on  this  account,  except  the  light-minded, — those 
who  are  inclined  to  criminal  extravagance,  and  wish  to  live 
according  to  the  bias  of  their  own  irrational  self-will,  far 
away  from  all  parental  direction  and  restraint.  The  prod- 
igal was  such  a  character  ;  it  was  his  disposition  in  this  re- 
spect, that  occasioned  his  misfortunes.  Beware,  there- 
ibre.  of  becoming  so  blind  to  your  own  interests,  as,  fgr 
the  sake  of  a  little  self-indulgence,  to  think  for  a  single 
moment  of  breaking  away  from  the  careful  and  vigilant 
education  of  your  parents  and  other  friends.  Remember 
that  they  know  more  of  the  world  and  the  human  heart, 
than  you  do,  and  can  tell  far  better  what  is  for  your  good. 
Put  perfect  confidence  in  their  wisdom  and  kindness, 
and  yield  unhesitating  obedience  to  their  advice.  They 
may  sometimes  deny  you  a  pleasure  ;  but,  depend  upon  it, 
they  will  have  reason  to  do  so;  and  that  in  the  end,  you 
will  bless  them  that  they  guarded  you  so  closely,  and 
were  often  severe  towards  you. 

And  besides,  is  pleasure  your  object?  Good  children 
and  youth  are  a  source  of  daily  happiness  to  their  parents  ; 
and  where  can  you  find  pleasure  in  greater  purity,  than  in 
daily  seeing  the  hearts  of  your  parents  filled  with  joy  at 


148  PARABLES  OP  JESUS. 

your  good  conduct  ?  And  will  it  be  no  pleasure  to  re- 
ward these  guides  and  guardians  of  your  youth,  for  the 
innumerable  sorrows  and  cares  they  have  sustained  on 
your  account,  and  the  ceasless  pains  they  have  taken  to 
make  you  happy  ;  and  to  reward  them  too,  in  the  only 
way  in  which  it  will  ever  be  possible  for  you  to  do  it  ? 

It  is  painful  for  me  here  to  reflect  that  this  little  book 
may  perhaps  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  who  have  long 
since  given  themselves  up  to  forbidden  pleasures,  or  at 
least,  to  great  vvildness  and  irregularity  of  conduct,  and 
thus  have  already  broken  the  hearts  of  their  parents  and 
guardians.  The  very  thought  recalls  to  my  mind  many 
trying  scenes  that  I  have  witnessed  of  mothers,  weeping 
for  ruined  sons,  or  sisters,  for  lost  brothers.  1  had  thought 
in  this  place  of  relating  some  of  them,  but  they  will 
probably  occur  in  abundance  to  every  body's  recollection. 
Where  is  there  a  village  which  is  not  full  of  tales  of  woe 
of  this  kind  ?  one  instance  in  my  own  experience,  whilo 
passing  several  yeare  since,  from  Geneva  to  Auburn,  very 
deeply  impressed  me.  After  crossing  the  Cayuga  lake 
on  the  afternoon  of  a  beautiful  May-day,  having  strayed 
out  of  my  course,  I  had  knocked  at  the  door  of  a  retired 
cottage,  to  obtain  some  refreshment.  I  was  most  cor- 
dially received  by  a  widow  woman  and  her  daughter  of 
about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  heartily  welcomed  to 
whatever  I  wanted.  Nay  more,  I  was  entertained  with 
an  interest  for  which  I  could  not  account,  and  had  queS' 
tions  put  to  me  about  my  mother  and  myself  as  if  they 
felt  the  deepest  interest  in  our  mutual  welfare.  On  my 
arising  to  come  away,  the  daughter  had  withdrawn. 
The  mother,  after  having  urged  me  to  spend  the  night  at 
her  house,  accompanied  me  to  the  door.  Here  stood  the 
daughter ;  who  seeing  me  about  to  leave  them,  burst  into 


BROKEN  HEARTED  FRIENDS.   AN  INSTANCE.    149 

a  flood  of  tears,  exclaiming,  '  O  you  make  me  think  of  my 
brother,  you  look  so  much  like  my  brother."  Here  the 
riddle  was  solved.  The  woman's  only  son  had  left  her,  a 
lonely  widow,  during  the  last  war,  and  gone  into  the  army. 
For  some  time  she  had  heard  from  him  incidentally,  or  in 
other  ways.  At  length,  she  ceased  to  hear  from  him  any 
more.  Years  had  now  elapsed,  and  yet  neither  his 
mother  nor  his  sister  had  forgotten  him.  When  they  saw 
me  coming  towards  the  cottage  gate  over  the  field,  my  re- 
semblance to  him  deceived  them  and  made  them  think 
for  a  few  moments,  that  he  had  returned  ;  and,  though  it 
was  painful  to  find  that  it  was  not  so,  the  same  resem- 
blance made  them  afterwards  take  a  deep  interest  in  me, 
and  wish  to  detain  me.  I  left  them,  putting  up  a  prayer 
to  heaven  in  their  behalf,  and  feeling  that  a  mother's  and 
a  sister's  love  is  too  sacred  to  be  trifled  with  or  disregarded. 
H  any  such  wayward  youth  should  happen  to  catch 
sight  of  these  lines,  let  him  read  the  parable  of  the  lost 
son,  and  look  carefully  into  his  own  heart,  reflecting  how 
bad  he  has  been.  It  may  be  too  late  for  him  now,  even  if 
he  repents,  to  undo  all  the  injury  he  has  done  to  his  pa- 
rents and  friends  ;  but  by  repenting  he  can  obtain  the 
forgiveness  of  God,  a  good  share  of  happiness  even  in  this 
life,  and  above  all  things,  happiness  beyond  the  grave. 
This  in  such  cases,  is  the  only  way,  in  which  we  can  re- 
pair the  injuries  we  have  done  our  friends. 

Prayer. 

Blessed  Father  in  heaven,  suffer  not  the   wicked  plea- 
sures of  youth,  to  have  power  over   me.      Let   me  be 
guided  all  my  life  long  by  wisdom  and  godly  fear,  in  order 
that  it  may  go  well  with  me,  both  in  this  world,  and  in 
13* 


150  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

that  which  is  to  come.  So  govern  me  and  others  young 
like  me,  by  thy  good  Spirit,  that  none  of  us  may  fall  into 
the  follies  and  dissipations  of  youth,  as  did  the  lost  son, 
and  bring  ourselves  into  misery. 

O  God,  thou  knowest  how  many  things  there  are  to  al- 
lure us  to  sinful  pleasures,  in  the  world,  and  how  many 
there  are,  who  would  gladly  seduce  others  to  become 
their  companions  in  wickedness.  My  heart  is  still  weak. 
Like  other  children,  I  am  often  indifferent  to  the  truth, 
and  very  thoughtless.  I  pray  thee,  suffer  me  not  to  be 
led  astray  by  any  wicked  examples,  and  drawn  into 
vicious  practices.  Sustain  me  in  all  the  temptations  and 
allurements  I  meet  with  to  sin,  and  bring  me  safely  to 
heaven  at  last. 

Blessed  Father  in  heaven,  I  have  often  sinned  grievous- 
ly against  my  parents  and  against  thee.  T  am  not  wor- 
thy to  be  called  thine  ;  yet,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  forgive 
all  the  sins  of  my  youth.  Help  me  from  this  time  on- 
ward, to  be  more  careful  to  please  thee,  and  to  fill  my  pa- 
rents and  teachers  with  joy,  by  my  good  and  pious  con- 
duct. Hear  my  prayer,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  in  whose 
name  it  is  offered. 


A  PRAYER.       THE  DIFFERENT  TALENTS.  151 


SECTION    IV. 

The  servants  with  different  sums  of  money. 

A  rich  man  in  the  course  of  his  business,  travelled  in- 
to a  foreign  country.  Before  he  left  home,  he  called  to- 
gether his  servants  or  the  managers  of  his  affairs,  and  pre- 
sented them  with  certain  sums  of  money.  To  one  he 
gave  a  thousand  dollars,  to  another  five  hundred,  and  to 
a  third,  three  hundred.  To  them  all  he  said  :  "  Use 
the  sums  which  I  have  now  put  into  your  hands,  in  such 
a  way  as  to  gain  something  by  them,  until  I  come  again 
and  call  for  a  reckoning  with  you.  When  he  returned 
and  held  a  reckoning  with  them,  he  found  that  the  first 
had  gained  a  thousand  dollars,  and  the  second  five  hund- 
red. He  was  well  satisfied  with  them,  and  returned  to 
them  what  he  had  put  into  their  hands  at  first,  together 
with  what  they  had  gained,  promising  to  entrust  them 
with  still  more. 

The  third  one,  however,  had  been  too  idle  to  gain  any 
thing  by  the  money  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted.  He 
had  suffered  it,  indeed,  to  lie  wholly  unemployed.  His 
lord,  therefore,  with  justice,  gave  him  a  sharp  rebuke,  dealt 
with  him  as  an  idle  and  wicked  servant ;  took  his  money 
from  him,  and  gave  it  to  him  who  had  originally  received 
the  most,  and  who  had,  at  the  same  time  gained  the  most, 
and  thereby  shown,  that  he  would  also  know  how,  well  to 
employ  a  larger  sum.  In  addition  to  this,  he  also  con- 
demned the  slothful  servant  to  severe  punishment,  for  his 
unfaithfulness. 
This  little  narrative  or  parable,  my  dear  readers,  is  also 


152  PARABLES  OF  JESUS, 

full  of  important  instruction.  God  has  not  given  you 
equal  powers  of  body  or  mind  ;  nor  furnished  you  with 
equally  favorable  means  and  opportunities  for  obtaining 
useful  science,  knowledge  and  skill.  To  some  he  has 
given  more  in  this  respect,  and  to  others  less.  Now  all 
that  is  required  of  any  child,  is,  that  he  make  a  faithful 
use  of  the  gifts  or  talents  which  have  been  loaned  to  him. 
Whatever  you  have  received  from  God,  whether  more  or 
less,  you  are  under  obligation  to  employ  for  his  glory  and 
the  benefit  of  the  world.  He  who  has  received  much 
good  from  God,  is  called  upon  to  exhibit  much  diligence, 
in  turning  this  good  to  a  careful  purpose. 

Know,  therefore,  that  those  children,  who  have  good 
powers  of  mind  and  have  property,  are  far  more  deserving 
of  punishment  and  are  far  more  odious  in  the  sight  of 
God  and  man,  for  being  ignorant  and  useless,  than  poor 
and  simple  children  are,  for  remaining  in  their  stupidity 
and  wickedness  ;  for  the  latter  are  destitute  of  those  ca- 
pacities and  encouragements  to  become  useful  in  what- 
ever is  good,  of  which  the  former  are  possessed.  In  the 
mean  time,  however,  poor  and  simple  children  are  also 
deserving  of  punishment  and  contempt,  if  they  do  not 
employ  the  little  time,  opportunity  and  power,  they  have 
in  endeavoring  to  become  wiser,  more  pious  and  more 
skilful. 

Carefully  avoid,  therefore,  on  the  one  hand,  every 
thing  like  envy  or  hatred  towards  others,  who  may  have 
more  in  this  world  than  yourselves.  On  the  other  hand, 
be  diligent  in  your  youth,  in  every  thing  that  is  good  ; 
for  if  you  do  so,  you  will  receive  far  more  from  God  when 
you  are  old,  than  he  has  now  given  you  ;  and  in  heaven, 
God  will  reward  you  with  unspeakable  honor  as  having 
been  pious  and  faithful. 


THE  RICH  MAN  AXD  POOR  LAZARUS.  153 

Let  not  thy  heart  be  sad  or  grieved, 

That  meagre  is  thy  store  ; 
Improve  the  gifts  thou  hast  received  ; 

God  never  asks  for  more. 


SECTION  V. 

The  rich  man  and  poor  Lazarus. 

You  will  find  this  little  narrative  in  the  16th  chapter 
of  Luke.  You  must  have  heard  it  and  read  it.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  solemn  and  awful  ones  there  is  in  all  the 
New  Testament.  It  teaches  us,  that  wicked  men  often 
prosper  in  this  world,  spending  all  their  days  in  splendor 
and  joy,  and  flourishing  like  a  green  tree  planted  by  the  wa- 
ter brooks  ;  while  the  pious,  on  the  other  hand,  are  often 
obliged  to  suffer  poverty  and  every  manner  of  disease. 

You  will  experience  the  truth  of  this,  when  you  grow 
up  to  be  men,  and  become  better  acquainted  with  the 
world.  Think  not,  however,  on  this  account,  that  the 
wicked  fare  better  than  the  good.  This  life  is  very  short. 
In  seventy  or  eighty  years  at  farthest  it  is  gone  ;  and  very 
few  live  to  be  so  old.  Then  the  wicked  die,  as  well 
as  the  good.  Now  after  death  there  is  another  life, 
which  lasts  forever.  There  it  will  become  manifest,  that 
it  was  happier  to  honor,  love,  and  obey  God,  than  it  was 
to  forget  him  and  do  wickedly  ;  for  in  that  world,  the  wick- 
ed suffer  eternal  pain,  and  the  righteous  have  everlasting 


154  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

joy.     The   wicked  rich  man,  lifted  up  his  eyes  being  in 
torments,  while  the  poor  good  man,  was  happy  in  heaven. 

Take  particular  notice  of  this  ;  and  should  it  be  your 
lot,  also,  to  suffer  from  poverty  and  want  in  the  midst  of 
your  piety,  while  you  see  wicked  men  around  you  possess- 
ed of  temporal  abundance  and  delight,  do  not,  on  that  ac- 
count, become  weary  of  the  practice  of  godliness.  Con- 
tinue pious,  and  do  nothing  which  is  not  right  in  the  sight 
of  God.  With  those  who  pursue  this  course  it  will  go 
well  at  last,  when  the  wicked,  who  were  happy  at  first, 
have  fallen  into  eternal  poverty,  shame,  and  misery.  You 
have  an  instance  of  this,  in  the  rich  man  who  was  not 
good  ;  who,  after  death,  as  the  Savior  tells  us,  was  una- 
ble to  obtain  a  cup  of  water  to  cool  the  burning  heat  of 
his  tongue,  while  Lazarus,  after  the  poverty  and  want  he 
had  suffered  upon  earth,  was  partaking  of  enjoyment  and 
repose  in  heaven. 

Jk'ix  this  !iu|ft  narrative  firfn!"  in  "OUT  Hiinds  ■  and  ?? 
often  as  you  read  it  or  repeat  it,  pray  :  "  Guard  me,  bless- 
ed Father  in  heaven,  against  every  thing  like  want  of 
pity  and  tenderness  of  heart  towards  the  poor  and  suffer- 
ing." 

I  ask  not  wealth  or  honor  here. 

But  like  my  Lord  above. 
With  those  who  weep,  to  drop  a  tear 

Of  sympathy  and  love  ; 
And  when  I  come  at  last  to  die, 

A  humble  part  to  share 
With  the  redeemed  above  sky, 

And  be  renjembered  there. 


THE  MERCIFUL  SAMARITAN.  153 


SECTION  VI. 


The  merciful  Samaritan. 

I  have  just  been  telling  you  how,  from  the  account  of 
the  rich  man  and  the  poor  Lazarus,  and  the  different 
treatment  they  received  in  the  other  world,  you  should 
learn  to  use  property  aright  and  to  sympathize  with  and 
assist  all  who  are  poor  and  needy. 

The  little  narrative  or  parable  of  Jesus,  about  the  mer- 
ciful Samaritan  is  also  calculated  to  excite  you  to  the  same 
good  conduct.  You  have  all  doubtless  read  it ;  but  to 
fully  understand  it,  you  must  be  informed  that  the  man 
who  got  so  wounded  on  his  way  from  Jerusalem  to  Jeri- 
cho, a  road  frequented  by  thieves  and  robbers  even  to  this 
day,  was  evidently  a  Jew  ;  that  the  priest  and  Levite  who 
passed  by  him,  were  Jews  too,  and  hence  bound  as  breth- 
ren, but  much  more  by  their  profession,  to  assist  this  poor 
wounded  man  ;  and  that  the  Samaritan  who  finally  treat- 
ed him  so  kindly,  belonged  to  a  class  of  people,  with 
whom  the  Jews  had  no  dealings,  and  whom  indeed  they 
looked  upon  as  enemies.  The  Samaritan,  therefore,  did 
not  merely  find  a  man  and  a  stranger  in  distress.  The 
person  whom  he  found  wounded  and  forsaken  and  half 
dead,  and  took  such  tender  care  of,  was  his  bitter  enemy. 
In  this  parable  then  you  have  beautifully  set  forth  by 
the  Savior  himself,  the  duty  of  loving  your  fellow  crea- 
tures, of  which  I  have  more  than  once  spoken.  You  are 
always  to  be  ready  to  do,  as  the  Samaritan  did, — to  assist 
those  who  need  your  assistance,  without  any  regard  to 


156  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

the  place  or  country  to  which  they  belong,  even  should 
they  happen  indeed  to  be  your  bitter  enemies. 

If,  therefore,  you  see  another  child  fallen  down  and 
brought  into  danger,  or  a  poor  man  lying  in  the  streets 
and  in  danger  of  dying  from  cold  and  hunger  ;  you  must 
raise  this  little  child  up,  and  do  every  thing  you  can  to 
save  it.  You  must  ask  your  parents  and  neighbors  to 
give  this  poor  man  food  and  clothing  and  to  bring  him  in- 
to a  house,  in  order  that  he  may  not  perish  of  cold  and 
hunger.  That  would  be  a  very  wicked  child  which  should 
rejoice  to  see  others  in  misery,  or  ridicule  a  poor  man  who 
should  be  suffering  with  want.  That  would  be  a  very 
foolish  and  ignorant  child,  which  should  think  that  we 
ought  not  to  give  any  thing  to  or  help  a  sufferer,  be- 
cause he  was  of  a  low  rank,  or  had  been  educated  in 
another  religion. 

Whatever  the  sufferer  be  called,  whether  high  or  low, 
Christian  or  Jew,  Lutheran,  Catholic  or  Reformed  ;  re- 
gard it  not.  Serve  him,  help  him,  give  him  what  he 
needs.  So  God  does.  So  Jesus,  according  to  the  ac- 
count of  the  merciful  Samaritan,  would  have  us  do.  So 
the  angels  would  do,  if  they  lived  upon  earth. 

C  H  A  R  I  T  Y. 

Cold  the  heart  of  man  was  beating, 
When  heaven's  Love  in  pity  came, 

And,  with  kind  and  gentle  greeting, 
Softly  whispered  Jesus'  name. 

Slighted  oft,  and  unattended, 

Still  she  wanders  here  below, 
Seeking  for  the  unbefriended. 

Listening  to  the  tale  of  woe. 

O'er  the  stranger,  see  her  bending, 
As  he  fainting  lies  and  cold  ; 


THE  SOWER.       AN  OBSTINATE  YOUTH.  157 

While,  with  anxious  care  attending, 
On  she  leads  him  to  her  fold. 

Should  in  distant  wilds  1  languish, 

Let  me  view  her  watching  by, 
Hear  her  soothe  my  dying  anguish, 

See  her  pointing  to  the  sk}'. 

And,  earth  left,  with  hope  to  stay  me, 

Covered  o'er  with  wounds  of  sin, 
At  heaven's  portal  down  I'll  lay  me, 

Till  she  come  and  lead  me  in. 


SECTION  VII. 

The  Sower. 


In  the  parable  of  the  sower,  we  read,  how  the  seed 
which  was  scattered  abroad,  fell  upon  many  different 
kinds  of  soil.  A  part  of  it,  in  particular,  fell  upon  a  hard 
trodden  footpath,  where  it  found  no  earth,  and  was  lost. 

This  representation  reminds  us  of  many  foolish  and  ob- 
stinate youth,  who  remain  inattentive  and  indifferent  to 
all  the  religious  instruction  and  good  exhortations  they 
have  received  from  their  teachers  and  parents, — who, 
though  possessed  of  the  best  means  for  growing  in  chris- 
tian virtue  and  knowledge,  make  no  use  of  them  whatev- 
er, but  still  remain  ignorant   and  wicked. 

I  remember  such  a  youth.  He  was  my  classmate  at 
an  academy,  and  called  Stephen.  His  father,  a  pious 
14 


158  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

and  good  man,  had  taken  great  pains  with  him,  and 
tried  various  ways  to  bring  him  to  repent  of  his  sins 
and  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  all  in  vain.  He  still 
remained  a  wild  and  irreligious  youth ;  and  at  last,  when 
urged  by  his  father  to  go  to  a  sabbath-school,  which  had 
just  been  established  in  the  place,  he  boldly  declared 
to  him,  that  he  did  not  wish  to  be  driven  to  heaven. 
The  scene  however  soon  changed.  On  going  to  the 
academy  one  morning,  I  was  told,  and  the  news  gave  me 
an  inexpressible  shock,  that  Stephen  was  dead.  He  had 
had  no  sickness.  On  the  other  hand,  he  was  smart  and 
active  ;  and  but  a  day  or  two  previous,  he  had  recited  with 
his  class. 

On  the  evening  before  his  death,  at  a  party  of  young 
people,  he  got  to  bantering  with  his  companions  about 
drinking  what  he  called  the  essence,  but  they  affirmed 
to  be,  the  oil,  of  wintergreen,  until  he  finally  swallowed 
quite  a  vial  full  of  it.  Soon  after  the  poor  fellow's  return 
home,  he  was  seized  with  dreadful  thirst,  and  asked  a 
little  brother  to  rise  and  get  him  some  water.  Great 
agony  succeeded,  which  continued  to  increase,  in  spite 
of  the  efforts  of  the  physician,  even  after  the  cause  had 
been  ascertained,  for  the  information  was  given  too  late. 
Nor  was  this  all.  His  mind  was  in  greater  agony  than 
his  body  ;  and  when  he  found  death  inr^vitable,  deeply 
did  he  lament  the  manner  in  which  he  had  treated  the 
pious  efforts  of  his  father,  and  refused  to  go  to  the  sab- 
bath-school. 

Poor  youth  !  His  mind  and  heart,  had  been  like  the 
footpath,  which  is  trodden  down  hard.  The  seed  of  the 
word  of  God  could  find  no  soil  there  :  and  in  the  end,  he 
died  as  the  fool  dieth. 


i 


A  FEARFUL  RESULT.   THE  LABORERS.       159 

Happy  will  it  be  for  you,  my  readers,  if  your  hearts 
resemble  that  good  ground,  in  which  the  seed  sown 
took  root  and  brought  forth  rich  fruit, — if  you  listen  at- 
tentively to  pious  exhortations  and  religious  instruction 
from  your  parents  and  teachers,  and  treasure  the  truth 
up  in  your  soul, — if,  agreeably  to  what  they  teach,  you, 
from  your  youth  upwards,  love  virtue  and  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  and,  all  your  life  long,  make  it  your  grand  object 
to  become  stronger  and  more  consistent  as  disciples  of  Je- 
sus Christ. 


SECTION  VIII. 

The  laborers  in  the  vineyard. 

A  certain  master  of  a  family,  going  out  early  in  the 
morning  to  hire  laborers  into  his  vineyard,  found  some 
whom  he  agreed  to  employ  for  a  shilling  a  day,  and  ac- 
cordingly set  at  work.  Going  out  again  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  finding  others  standing  idle 
in  the  market-place,  or  the  place  of  public  resort,  he  told 
them  also  to  go  at  work  in  his  vineyard,  and  that  what- 
ever was  right  he  would  be  sure  to  give  them.  The  same 
thing  he  also  did  to  others  at  noon,  and  at  three  o'clock 
and  at  five,  in  the  afternoon. 

When  the  day  had  closed,  he  called  all  his  laborers  to 
him,  and  beginning  with  the  last  whom  he  had  hired,  and 
proceeding  backwards  in  this   way,  he  paid  them  all  up. 


160  PAIIABLES  OP  JESUS. 

giving  every  man  a  shilling,  and  making  no  difference 
between  those  who  had  worked  all  day,  and  those  who 
had  worked  only  a  part  of  it. 

The  good  man  in  doing  this  certainly  did  not  wrong 
those  whom  he  had  first  hired  ;  for  he  gave  them  all  for 
which  he  had  agreed  with  them.  To  those  on  the  other 
hand,  who  had  labored  less  than  a  day  in  his  vineyard, 
he  showed  himself  good  and  generous  ;  and  his  conduct 
in  this  respect,  ought  to  have  excited  universal  approba- 
tion. It  did  not.  Those  who  had  labored  all  the  day, 
were  filled  with  envy  of  their  fellow  laborers  and  mur- 
mured against  the  good  man  of  the  house. 

This  parable  is  also  full  of  instruction.  From  it  we 
learn,  in  the^rst  place,  that  it  is  the  will  of  God,  that 
from  our  earliest  years,  we  should  ever  avoid  idleness  and 
diligently  employ  ourselves  in  labor.  There  is  something 
for  us  all  to  do,  and  we  should  be  careful  to  do  it.  An 
idle  man  is  usually  an  unhealthy  man,  and  always  an  un- 
happy and  wicked  man. 

From  this  parable,  we  learn,  in  the  second  place,  that 
God  does  as  he  pleases  with  every  thing,  and  that  it  is  our 
duty  to  feel  that  his  will  is  the  best,  and  to  be  satisfied 
with  it.  Even  if  we  find  it  disagreeable  at  present,  in 
some  things,  and  contrary  to  our  own  wishes  and  inclina- 
tions, we  must  be  careful  not  murmur  against  it,  and  his 
government.  In  the  way  of  submission  and  obedience, 
we  shall  find  that  God's  will  and  government  were  the 
best,  and  had  their  origin  in  wisdom  and  goodness. 

From  this  parable,  we  learn,  in  the  third  p]a.ce,  the  ob- 
ligation we  are  under,  to  acquire  all  that  knowledge,  and 
to  perform  all  those  v/orks,  which  God  has  pointed  out,  to 
persons  of  our  age,  rank,  and  calling,  as  to  be  acquired 
and  performed  ;    and  that  in  so  doing   we  shall  certainly 


BE  CONTENTED  AND  DILIGENT.  161 

obtain  his  blessing  and   in  a  far  richer  measure  than  we 
deserve. 

From  this  parable,  we  learn,  in  the  fourth  place,  that 
to  be  e/ivious  of  others  for  being  richer,  more  distinguish- 
ed, and  happier  than  we  are,  as  those  who  labored  all 
day  in  the  vineyard,  envied  those  who  had  labored  but  a 
part  of  the  day  in  it,  is  contrary  to  the  will  of  God,  is  to 
show  ourselves  enemies  in  heart  to  mankind,  and  full  of 
ingratitude  to  God  for  his  goodness. 

AnA  finally ,  from  this  parable,  we  learn,  that  all  chil- 
dren and  youth  who  have  hitherto  wasted  their  time  in 
idleness,  malicious  tricks,  and  not  only  useless,  but  sin- 
ful conduct,  should  resolve  at  once  to  repent  of  their 
wickedness  in  this  respect.  From  this  time  onward  they 
should  employ  all  the  means  and  opportunities  in  their 
power,  for  the  accomplishment  of  some  good  object;  and 
by  so  doing,  show  themselves  more  grateful  to  God,  than 
they  have  hitherto  done.  If  they  have  for  a  long  time 
neglected  this  duty,  they  should  now  attend  to  it,  with  so 
much  the  greater  diligence,  and  spend  every  moment, 
and  all  their  strength,  in  striving  to  become  truly  able, 
and  christian  men. 

H  Y  M  N. 

'  See  how  the  littie  busy  bee, 

Improves  each  shining  hour, 
And  gathers  honey  all  the  day. 

From  every  opening  flower.' 

Like  her,  for  body  and  for  mind. 

Each  passing  hour  to  fill, 
Employment  you  must  also  find, 

Or  Satan  surely  will. 

14* 


PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

Think  how  the  daj'  has  run  to  waste; 

Your  sun  intensely  shines  ; 
Haste,  children,  to  the  vineyard  haste, 

And  toil  among  the  vines. 


SECTION  IX. 

Perseverance  in  Prayer. 

You  remember  that  in  speaking  of  prayer,  I  told  you, 
you  must  always  persevere  in  praying,  if  you  would  have 
God  hear  and  answer  you.  So  our  Savior  has  told  us, 
in  two  parables,  which  he  spake  at  different  times,  on 
purpose  to  illustrate  this  very  subject.  In  the  first  he 
says  : 

'  Suppose  one  of  you  to  have  a  friend,  and  about  mid- 
night to  arise  and  go  to  his  house,  and  from  without,  call 
to  him,  saying  :  '  Friend,  lend  me  three  loaves  of  bread  : 
for  altogether  unexpectedly,  there  has  come  to  me,  a 
worthy  guest,  and  I  have  nothing  to  set  before  him.' 
He  would  dislike  this  unseasonable  disturbance,  and 
from  within  perhaps  reply  :  '  Trouble  me  not ;  the  door 
is  now  shut ;  I  and  my  children  have  gone  to  bed,  and  I 
cannot  rise  and  give  you  what  you  ask.'  Now  this  man, 
though  he  cannot  be  induced  by  his  friendship  for  you, 
to  rise  and  furnish  you  with  bread  ;  yet  by  your  pressing 
importunity,  he  will,  I  am  certain,  be  induced  to  rise  and 
give  you  as  many  as  you  want.      Now    I  need    not   tell 


J 


PRAY  ALWAYS.       THE   UNJUST  JUDGE.  163 

you,  (as  the  Savior  meant  by  inference  to  be  understood,) 
that  if  friends  can  be  induced  by  importunity  or  perse- 
vering requests,  to  do  such  favors  for  each  other,  even 
against  their  feelings  ;  much  more  may  God,  who  is  al- 
ways ready  and  willing  to  hear  and  answer  the  prayers  of 
the  faithful.' 

The  second  parable  may  be  expressed  in  familiar  lan- 
guage, so  as  to  exhibit  the  true  meaning,  somewhat  as 
follows  : 

'  In  a  certain  city,  there  was  a  judge,  who  neither 
feared  God,  nor  regarded  man.  He  was  a  hard  charac- 
ter, prided  himself  in  his  perfect  indifference  and  inde- 
pendence, and  in  his  actions  was  guided  wholly  by  his 
own  feelings  and  selfish  interests.  In  the  same  city, 
there  lived  a  poor,  defenceless,  widow  woman.  This 
widow  had  a  neighbor,  from  whom  she  received  very  un- 
just and  oppressive  treatment, — such  treatment,  indeed, 
as  she  could  receive  only  from  her  enemy.  Having  suf- 
fered much  from  him,  she,  at  length,  as  the  only  means 
of  deliverance  and  redress  from  her  wrongs,  went  and 
laid  her  case  before  this  wicked,  unjust  judge,  and  en- 
treated him  to  defend  her  against  her  adversary,  and 
maintain  her  rights.  This  poor  woman  brought  no  pre- 
sents,— her  request  was  disregarded,  and  she  returned 
home  in  sadness  of  heart,  still  to  suffer  under  the  hand  of 
her  enemy.  She  did  not,  however,  give  up  her  case  in 
despair.  She  from  time  to  time  renewed  her  suit  to  the 
unjust  judge,  though  for  a  great  while,  utterly  in  vain. 
At  length,  becoming  weary  of  her,  he  said  to  himself: 
*  I  will  grant  the  request  of  this  poor  woman, — not  be- 
cause I  am  afraid  of  God,  or  have  any  regard  to  man,  for 
I  am  perfectly  indifierent  to  both  ;    but  to  get  rid  of  her 


164  PARABLES  OP  JESUS. 

troublesome  and  exhausting  importunity.'  He  did  as  he  had 

resolved  to  do,  and  the  poor  woman  went  home  rejoicing. 
Now  hear,  (continues  Jesus,)  the  language  of  this  un- 
just judge.  He  resolves  to  do  what  is  right,  not  because 
it  is  right, — from  fear  of  God,  or  regard  to  man,  but 
simply  because  it  suits  his  convenience, — to  get  rid  of 
trouble.  And  can  you  suppose  that  God,  holy  and 
just  as  he  is,  will  fail  to  appear  in  behalf  of  those,  who,  day 
and  night,  in  great  confidence,  lay  their  requests  before 
him,  without  thereby  wearying  his  patience  ?  I  assure 
you  he  will  not.  He  is  far  removed  from  making  any  un- 
necessary delay  in  their  cause.  They  are  his  beloved. 
They  have  but  a  short  time  to  wait  for  his  appearance. 
When,  however,  the  Son  of  man  comes,  will  he  find  this 
belief  in  the  land  1  Will  he  find  his  professed  followers 
possessed  of  such  confidence  in  this  respect,  as  they  ought 
to  have,  and  relying  without  despondency  upon  his  faith- 
fulness and  love  ?  Will  he  find  their  oppressors  in  any 
dread  of  his  couiinjj?" 


SECTION  X. 

The  good  master  and  the  hard  servant. 

All  young  persons  who  are  inclined  to  anger,  enmity 
and  revenge,  should,  for  their  instruction  and  improve- 
ment, often  and  attentively  read  what  Jesus  has  told  us, 
of  the  nobleminded  conduct  of  the  good   lord  or  master. 


THE   GOOD   MASTER   AND  THE   HARD  SERVANT.  165 

in  forgiving  one  of  his  servants  a  great  debt  at  liis  own 
particular  request  ;  and  what  Jesus  has  told  us  too,  of 
the  hardness  or  cruelty  with  which  this  servant,  after  he 
had  received  this  favor,  treated  a  fellow  servant,  who 
owed  him  but  a  small  sum.  It  throws  light  upon  what 
I  told  you,  on  page  76  ;  how  you  must  be  ready  to  for- 
give, if  you  would  have  God  hear  your  prayers  and  for- 
give you.  God  is  ready  to  forgive  young  persons,  as  well 
as  others,  their  sins,  and  do  them  great  good  here,  and 
also  hereafter,  if  they  repent,  reforming  their  disposition 
to  anger,  enmity  and  revenge.  If,  however,  they  fail  of 
this  condition,  and,  not  withstanding  God  is  ready  to 
forgive  them,  show  themselves  unkind,  unforgiving  and 
revengeful,  let  them  remember  that  they  will  be  seized 
and  thrown  into  prison, — a  dark,  gloomy  prison, — at  last. 
Let  such  thoughts  as  these  pass  through  your  youthful 
minds,  and  excite  you  to  serious  reflections  and  efforts 
upon  this  subject  : 

"  God  and  my  parents  and  teachers  have  much  io 
bear  with,  and  treat  very  indulgently  in  me,  a  weak 
and  erring  child.  Instead  of  punishing  me  often  and 
with  severity,  as  they  might  do,  they  forgive  me  the  pun- 
ishment I  deserve,  treat  me  with  tenderness  and  friend- 
ship, and  show  me  a  thousand  favors.  Surely  then  it 
is  reasonable  and  just,  that  I  should  suppress  all  anger 
and  hatred  and  grudging  in  my  own  breast,  and  like 
thenj  learn  to  bear  with  forgiving  patience  the  faults  of 
others,  and  with  a  willing  mind,  to  do  good  to  those  who 
have  injured  me. 

Moreover,  it  would  make  me  very  unhappy  if  I  should 
not  forgive  my  brothers,  sisters,  and  playmates,  the 
wrongs  they  do  me  ;  for  then  my  heavenly  Father  would 
not  forgive   me  my  sins  against  him  ;    I  shall  never  ob« 


166  PARABT-ES  OF  JESUS. 

tain  happiness  after  death,  unless  I  have  his  forgiveness. 
I  hope  I  shall  ever  remember  this,  and  cultivate  kindness, 
forbearance  and  forgiveness  in  my  very  heart  towards  all 
offenders,  feeling  that  God  only  prevents  me  from  being 
as  bad  as  the  worst,  and  that  I  am  now  a  guilty  sinner 
in  his  presence,  and  have  no  hope  of  pardon,  but  what 
comes  through  Jesus. 

*  Yes,  my  soul  was  once  forfeited,  and  so  were  all 
souls.  But  he  who  had  the  power  of  us,  and  might  best 
have  taken  the  advantage  of  our  sins  and  crimes,  dealt 
kindly  with  us,  took  pity  on  us,  and  himself  found  out  a 
remedy.  O  what  should  we  do,  if  he  who  is  the  judge 
and  sovereign  of  all,  should  but  judge  us  as  we  are  ! 
Let  me  think  of  this,  and  I  am  sure  that  kindness  and 
mercy  will  breathe  within  my  lips.'  Let  me,  when  I 
feel  hard  and  unforgiving,  go  to  the  cross  of  Jesus,  look 
there  upon  my  suffering  Savior,  and  think  how  he  can>€ 
there  : 

"  Sinful  soul,  wfhat  hast  thou  done  ? 
Murdered  God's  eternal  Son;" 

and  I  am  sure  I  shall  not  feel  inclined  to  treat  any  of  my 
fellow  creatures  on  earth  with  severity,  but  be  rather  dis- 
posed to  weep  over  their  sins." 

Go  to  Calvary, — raise  thine  eyes — 

Flows  the  crimson  down  the  tree  ! 
'Tis  Immanucl  bleeds  and  dies, 
Pardon  to  obtain  for  thee  ! 

Can  a   sinner  e'er  forget, 

How  his  crimes  were  cancelled  jiere, 

And,  when  trifling  is  the  debt, 
Use  a  fellow-worm  severe  ? 

No,  tho'  bitter  be  the  tusk, 

Like  my  Savior  now  in  heaven, 
I'll  forgive  and  only  ask, 

|n  my  turn  to  be  forgiven. 


SOLILOQUY  ON    DEATH.  167 

SECTION  XI. 
II.  Reflections,  etc.  on  particular  discourses 

AND  PARABLES  OF  JESUS. 

Oil  death. 

I  am  young,  active,  and  healthy  ;  but  I  will  not  there- 
fore venture  to  give  myself  up  to  youthful  lusts  and  plea- 
sures, thinking  myself  secure  from  death.  If  I  should 
do  so,  my  end  might  come  before  I  nas  prepared  for  it, — 
in  a  manner  altogether  sudden  and  unexpected.  I  would 
ever  remember  the  case  of  the  rich  man,  of  whom  the 
Savior  tells  me  in  the  Testament.  lie  thought  thus 
within  himself:  "  I  have  goods  enough  collected  togeth- 
er for  many  years.  I  will  now  quit  labor,  and,  having 
built  larger  and  carefully  stowed  them  all  away,  betake 
myself  to  the  real  enjoyment  of  life, — I  will  eat,  drink, 
and  make  merry."  But  God  thought  differently,  and 
said  to  him  :     '  Thou  fool,  this  liight  shall  thou  die.' 

Besides,  I  remember  a  number  of  my  playmates  have 
(lied.  There  was  Mary  and  John,  who  went  to  the  sab- 
bath-school with  me,  and  one  of  whom,  belonged  to  my 
class  ;  tliey  were  sick  but  a  little  while,  and  died  very 
suddenly  ;  and  they  were  both  younger  than  I  am.  And 
when  the  instruc'nr  told  me  the  other  day  for  a  composi- 
tion, to  describe  the  grave-yard,  and  to  copy  some  of  the 
most  interesting  epitaphs  I  found  there,  I  recollect  I 
was  astonished  at  the  number  of  short  graves,  with  the 
children  in  five  of  which  I  had  been  acquainted  ;  and 
the  graves  of  three  of  them,  were  quite  new. 


168  PARTICULAR  DISCOURSES  AND  PARABLES. 

Nor  shall  I  soon  forget  one  of  the  epitaphs  :  "  A  flower. 
It  bloomed  in  the  morning  and  withered  at  night."  It 
recalled  to  my  mind  a  piece  of  poetry  in  my  sister  Olive's 
Album  about  the  morning-glory.  She  saw  a  morning- 
glory  just  opening,  early  in  the  day,  and  was  delighted 
with  it ;  and  having  cut  ofT  a  large  piece  of  the  vine  on 
which  it  grew,  carried  it  into  her  room  ;  but  she  had 
plucked  it  too  early  ;  before  noon  it  withered  and  died. 
Not  long  after,  a  friend  to  whom  she  had  told  the  circum- 
stance, wrote  the  following  piece  for  her,  in  her  Album. 
I  have  thought  of  it  often  since,  and  I  hope  as  I 
repeat  it,  T  shall  never  forget,  that  though  [  am  young 
and  active,  and  well,  I  am  not  too  young  and  active,  and 
well,  to  sicken  and  die  ;  or  to  lose  my  life  by  some  ac- 
cident, as  many  others  have  done. 

The  morning-glory. 

Olive,  call  to  mind  the  stor}-, 

Of  tlie  flower  you  plucked  so  soon  ; 

'Twas  tlie  beauteous  morning-glorj, 
Withered,  blighted,  dead  at  noon. 

I  have  plucked  me  many  a  flower, 

Fragrant,  beautiful  and  gay, 
But,  alas  !  from  hour  to  hour, 

Seen  them  wither  and  decay. 

On  a  rose-bush,  slightly  shaded, 

Two  sweet  buds  I  lately  found  ; 
In  one  hour  they  bloomed  and  faded, 

And  fell  withered  to  the  ground. 

Such  is  life, — in  fairest  story, 
Blooming  lovely  but  to  fade, — 


GRAVE-YARD.       EPITAPH.       MORNING-GLORY.         169 

Oft  in  youth, — a  morning-glory, — 
Withered,  blighted  and  decayed. 

Yet  in  Virtue's  garden  growing, 

Sweet  perfume  it  leaves  behind, — 
Plucked  of  angels,  fresii  and  glowing, 

In  immortal  wreaths  to  bind. 

Prove,  my  child,  fair  Virtue's  flower; 

Then,  though  blighted  at  the  tomb, 
In  thy  Savior's  fadeless  bower, 

Sweetly  shalt  thou  ever  bloom. 


SECTION  XII. 


On  humility. 


What  an  excellent  rule  of  prudence  and  modesty  is 
that,  vvhicii  Jesus  laid  down,  while  he  was  sitting  at  meat 
with  a  company  of  people  full  of  pride,  and  extremely 
jealous  of  their  rank  !  '  When  thou  art  invited  to  a  feast 
or  a  wedding,'  said  he,  '  do  not  go  at  once  and  sit 
down  in  the  highest  place.  A  more  distinguished  guest 
than  thou  art,  may  come  in,  and  then  thou  shalt  be 
obliged  with  shame,  to  take  a  lower  seat.  Rather  take 
at  once,  the  lowest  seat,  and  then  thou  wilt  receive  honor, 
if  thou  art  directed  to  a  higher  one.' 

And  very  excellent  too,  is  the  moral  sentiment  which 
15 


170  PARTICULAR  DISCOURSES  AND  PARABLES. 

our  Savior  expressed,  and  often  repeated,  showing  the 
advantage  of  humility  over  pride  :  "  Every  one  that 
exalteth  himself  shall  be  abased  ;  and  he  that  humbleth 
himself  shall  be  exalted." 

I  used  sometimes  to  think  that  those  who  acted  the 
proudest,  and  I  believe  were  the  proudest,  got  along  the 
best ;  but  I  do  remember  that  a  great  many  quarrels 
which  took  place  among  the  boys  at  school,  arose  in  pride. 
One  said  he  was  the  strongest,  and  another  said  that  he 
could  hit  the  ball  the  best,  and  a  third,  that  he  could 
play  quoits  the  best,  until  they  all  got  angry  and  began  to 
fight.  I  remember  too,  that  those  boys  and  girls,  who 
seemed  to  be  so  proud,  were  not  loved  so  much  as  others, 
while  those  who  seemed  modest  and  humble,  and  ready 
to  oblige  and  honor  others,  were  loved  by  almost  every 
body. 

I  know  that  I  have  nothing  to  be  proud  of,  for  I  am  a 
weak  and  inexperienced  child  ;  but  yet  I  know  that  1 
am  apt  to  feel  proud,  and  that  pride  is  very  unbecoming 
and  wicked.  I  hope  that  as  I  grow  up,  I  shall  become 
wiser  and  better  in  this  respect,  and  never  be  guilty  of 
despising  such  poor  ignorant  children  and  youths  as  I  am. 
Above  all  things,  I  should  be  humble  before  God.  The 
Savior,  in  his  account  of  the  Pharisee  and  the  Publican, 
who  went  up  together  in  the  morning  to  the  temple  to 
pray,  has  given  me  a  fine  example  of  the  odiousness  of 
all  pride  and  haughtiness,  and  of  the  loveliness  of  humility 
and  self-abasement,  in  the  sight  of  God.  The  proud  and 
honored  Pharisee  went  boldly  up  to  the  place  of  worship 
and  prayer,  and,  standing  up  erect,  went  to  talking  before 
God  of  his  own  excellences  and  good  works ;  while  the 
poor  despised  Publican  stood  at  a  great  distance,  and, 
feeling  unworthy  to  even  lift  his  eyes  up  to  heaven,  smote 


HUMILITY.       PRIDE.       THE  LOVE  OF  GOD.  171 

jpon  his  breast,  and  only  asked  God  to  have  mercy  upon 
him. 

From  this  account  it  appears,  as  I  have  already  been 
told,  that  God  is  merciful  to  those  only  who  form  no  vain 
conceits  of  their  own  goodness  in  his  presence,  and  who 
are  hence  not  guilty  of  treating  others  with  haughtiness, 
but  who,  on  the  other  hand,  feel  that  they  are  weak  and 
sinful,  and  altogether  unworthy  of  the  favors  they  receive 
from  his  grace. 

Blessed  Father  in  heaven,  to  me  also,  from  the  first 
moment  of  my  existence,  hast  thou  shown  thyself  un- 
speakably good.  I  know  that  all  thou  hast  done  for  me, 
has  been  the  result,  not  of  any  worth  or  merit  in  me,  but 
purely  of  thy  divine  and  paternal  mercy.  Suffer  me 
never  to  forget  this;  and  for  the  sake  of  Jesus,  continue 
to  be  gracious  to  me,  a  weak  and  erring  child.  Clothe 
me  with  his  blessed  humility. 


SECTION  XIII. 

The  great  love  of  God, 


How  happy  is  my  lot ;  what  a  gracious  God  I  have  ' 
How  much  care  he  exercises  over  me,  and  what  unwea- 
ried pams  he  has  taken  to  make  me  his,  and  bring  me  to 
everlasting   happiness!    My  Savior   has   represented  this 


172  PARTICULAR  DISCOURSES  AND  PARABLES. 

to  me  in  truly  vivid  colors,  by  the  image  of  the  faithful 
shepherd,  who  went  out  into  the  wilderness  after  a  single 
sheep  which  had  strayed  away,  and  looked  for  it  until  he 
had  found  it ;  and  then,  full  of  joy.  laid  it  upon  his  shoul- 
ders ;  and  having  arrived  at  home,  called  together  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  said  to  them  :  "  Rejoice  with 
me,  for  I  have  found  my  sheep  which  was  lost."  The 
same  blessed  care  and  anxiety,  he  has  also  brought  clear- 
ly to  my  view  in  what  is  said  about  the  lost  piece  of 
money. 

'  Where  is  there  a  woman,'  says  he,  (he  speaks  of  a 
poor  woman,)  '  who,  possessed  of  ten  nine-penny  pieces  of 
money,  if  she  lose  one  of  them,  will  not  light  a  candle, 
sweep  the  house,  and  seek  with  all  diligence  until  she 
find  it  ?  And  having  found  it.  she  calls  together  her  female 
neighbors  and  friends  and  says  to  them  :  "  Rejoice  with 
me,  for  I  have  found  the  piece  of  money  which  I  had 
lost."  I  assure  you  that  there  is  such  joy  among  the  an- 
gels of  God,  over  one  sinner  who  truly  repents  and  yields 
obedience  to  my  doctrines.' 

My  blessed  Father  then  in  heaven,  has  sought  for  even 
me.  What  pains  has  he  taken,  by  instruction,  and  ad- 
monition, and  various  acts  of  benevolence,  ever  since  I 
had  a  being,  to  truly  enlighten  my  understanding,  thor- 
oughly impress  my  heart,  draw  me  to  himself,  and  final- 
ly bring  me  to  heaven  !  O  wonderful  love  !  It  brought 
the  glorious  Redeemer  down  to  this  world  to  suffer  and 
die  for  me  not  only,  but  all  sinners.  Yes,  the  Son  of 
man,  as  he  has  asserted,  did  indeed  come  to  seek  and  to 
save  that  which  was  lost, — to  look  up  his  perishing  sheep. 

He  once  had  a  fold  in  Eden,  a  peaceful,  happy  fold; 
but  his  sheep  broke  loose  from  it  and  strayed  away  into 
the  wilderness  of  the  world.      He   discovered   it ;    and, 


THE  LOST  MONEY -AND  SHEEP.       JESUS'  LOVE.       173 

though  he  had  other  sheep  which  had  not  strayed,  he 
mourned  over  the  wanderers,  his  heart  was  touched  with 
compassion  for  them,  and  he  resolved  to  risk  his  life  to 
save  them.  Accordingly,  the  good  shepherd  left  the  de- 
lights of  his  father's  house,  and  wandered  far  off  into  the 
wilderness  to  look  them  up. 

He  found  them  scattered  on  the  mountains,  or  panting 
of  thirst  by  bitter  streams.  They  were  faint  and  weary, 
and  worried  by  ravenous  beasts  of  prey.  He  presented 
himself  to  his  beloved  flock.  He  called  them  all  by  their 
names.  He  would  fain  have  led  them  to  green  pastures, 
to  secure  fields,  and  have  enclosed  them  in  his  fold.  But 
they  knew  not  his  voice  ;  they  fled  away  at  his  approach. 
But  he  threw  himself  between  them  and  the  wolves  of 
the  wilderness,  which  came  howling  upon  them  on  every 
side.  He  faced  these  ravenous  beasts  of  prey.  He  fought 
with  them.  He  fell  before  them.  The  good  shepherd 
laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep.  His  body  was  man- 
gled and  torn  for  them  in  the  wilderness.  But  his  pur- 
pose was  accomplished  in  death.  His  sheep  were  rescu- 
ed,  for   the  enemy   were   satiated  with  his  blood. 

O  inexpressible  love  !  No  wonder  that  God,  under 
the  inflhience  of  this  love,  sends  angels  to  guard  those 
that  are  his.  He  loved  them  while  they  were  his  ene- 
mies;  much  more  must  he  love  them  as  his  friends.  He 
will  certainly  continue  to  love  and  protect  them  until 
death,  and  hereafter  forever.  Nothing  shall  ever  alien- 
ate his  affections  from  them. 

Most  gladly  then  will  I,  like  an  obedient  child,  hear 
him  calling  me,  and  follow  his  voice.  I  will  make  it  my 
first  object  to  obtain  heavenly  dispositions  and  feelings. 
I  shall  then  find  my  greatest  pleasure  in  the  company  of 
good  men ;  and,  like  the  angels  of  God,  from  my  very 
15* 


174  PARTICULAR  DISCOURSES  AND  PARABLES. 

heart  rejoice  to  see  ignorant  and  wicked  men  becoming 
wiser  and  better.  I  shall  then  be  safe  as  long  as  I  live. 
Feeling  that  I  am  a  child  of  God,  and  have  his  angels 
around  me,  and  his  eye  of  love  upon  me,  I  will  pass  fear- 
lessly on  through  the  wilderness. 

Hymn. 

O  wonderful,  amazing  love  ! 

When  death  was  drawing  nigh, 
The  Savior  left  his  throne  above, 

For  enemies  to  die. 

All  hell  in  furious  storms  arose  ; 

On  Calvary  he  ends; 
'Twas  thus  he  loved  iiis  bitter  foes, — 

O  how  he  loves  his  friends  ! 

Sweet  streams  of  mercy  ever  flow, 

Celestial  fruits  abound. 
And  angels  guard  them  as  they  go. 

And  kindly  hover  round. 

Cheer  up,  my  soul,  thine  eyes  elate  I 

See  myriads  on  the  wing, 
To  guard  the  feeblest  to  the  gate 

Of  their  eternal  king. 

Fear  not.     Tho'  child  in  years  and  strength, 

A  life-guard  is  at  hand  ; 
Thou  safely  shall  arrive  at  length, 

In  Canaan's  happy  land. 


CHRISTIAN  SAFETY.       INNOCENT  PLEASURE.  175 


SECTION  XIV. 


III.    Hints  and  examples  from  the  life  of  Jesus. 


Youthful  pleasures. 

Jesus,  as  we  read,  together  with  his  disciples,  went  to 
a  wedding.  He  did  not,  however,  disturb  the  enjoyment 
of  the  guests  who  were  present.  On  the  other  hand,  he 
took  measures  to  preserve  it,  by  changing  water  into 
wine. 

From  this  we  see,  young  friends,  that  the  kind  Sa- 
vior permits  men  to  have  innocent  enjoyment.  Here, 
also,  he  teaches  them  by  his  example,  to  hold  agreeable 
and  friendly  intercourse  with  each  other.  Dark  and  mo- 
rose persons  he  evidently  could  not  endure.  He  com- 
manded his  disciples,  in  their  acts  of  divine  worship,  to 
avoid  all  hypocritical  disfiguring  of  the  face,  sourness  of 
look,  and  hanging  down  of  the  head,  and  required  of 
them  never  to  appear  sorrowful  without  a  cause. 

It  is  not  true,  then,  as  young  persons  are  apt  to  think, 
that  religion  is  designed  to  be  a  gloomy  thing,  and  that 
to  become  Christians,  we  must  give  up  all  enjoyment  in 
this  world.  The  Christian,  as  well  as  others,  may  take 
satisfaction  in  life  and  rejoice  in  social  intercourse.  In- 
deed, the  Christian  is  the  only  person  who  can  draw  solid 
pleasure  from  the  things  of  this  world,  and  the  bounties 
which  God  has  heaped  upon  the  human  race,  in  the 
works  of  creation.  The  difference  between  him  and  a 
wicked  man  in  this  respect,  is  very  much  like  that   be- 


176  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

tween  an  obedient  and  a  disobedient  child.  Both  are 
living  upon  the  kindness  of  the  same  father  ;  but  the 
disobedient  child  receives  every  thing  with  an  improper 
spirit; — with  a  moroseness  of  temper,  and  with  that  kind 
of  feeling,  indeed,  which  prevents  all  real  enjoyment. 
The  obedient  child  alone  derives  solid  satisfaction  from 
the  bounty  of  his  father. 

Be  then  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  and  delight  in  social 
intercourse.  Look  upon  the  world  and  all  it  contains, 
as  the  work  of  your  heavenly  Father,  and  his  gift  to  you 
and  others,  to  use  with  rejoicing. 

It  is  necessary,  however,  for  Christians,  and  especially 
for  young  Christians,  to  guard  themselves  against  taking 
improper  delight  in  the  things  of  this  world.  Their  de- 
light is  widely  different  from  that  of  the  wicked,  and  it 
must  always  be  confined  to  certain  limits.  Because  God 
permits  them  to  have  enjoyment  in  this  world,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  example  of  Jesus,  to  have  friendly  inter- 
course with  each  other,  they  are  not  to  give  themselves 
up  to  sensual  indulgence  and  youthful  folly. 

Thus,  for  the  sake  of  pleasure,  you  must  never  neglect 
to  learn  what  your  parents  and  teachers  have  told  you  to, 
nor  ever  break  any  of  their  commands.  You  must  nev- 
er seek  delight  in  any  thing  by  which  you  transgress  the 
word  of  God,  injure  your  own  healths,  or  do  prejudice  to 
the  bodies  or  souls  of  others.  You  must  never  make 
youthful  amusements  the  grand  object  of  your  desires 
and  the  main  business  of  your  lives.  Your  most  fervent 
desires  and  most  zealous  efforts,  must  be  directed  to  the 
strengthening  of  your  minds,  in  acquiring  what  is  useful 
and  good,  and  accustoming  your  hearts  to  the  fear  of  the 
Lord.  Exercise  great  care  in  partaking  of  youthful  en- 
joyment, and  keep  an  eye  upon  yourselves,  least  your  in- 


CAUTION.       THE  CREATOR'S   EYE.  177 

nocence  and  virtue  be  endangered,  and  you  speak 
and  do  things,  senseless,  wicked,  and  highly  deserving  of 
punishment.  This  is  a  thing  that  often  happens,  when 
youth  are  drunk  with  joy,  and  giving  themselves  up  to 
wild  and  extravagant  pleasures. 

As  the  best  protection  against  all  temptations  to  sin, 
in  this  respect,  you  should  think  often  and  serious- 
ly, upon  all  that  is  good  and  praiseworthy,  which  as  chris- 
tian children  you  are  bound  to  perform,  attend  closely  to 
your  own  hearts,  and  preserve  a  vivid  recollection  of  the 
truth,  of  which  I  have  before  spoken  to  you,  that  God 
knows  every  thing  and  is  every  where  present. 

Look  at  yonder  sun.  How  glorious  he  shines  !  He 
sheds  his  rays  over  the  earth.  His  heat  is  felt  every 
where.  He  pierces  with  a  glance  through  the  universe. 
Emblem  of  the  great  Creator's  eye,  which,  with  a  glance, 
penetrates  through  heaven,  earth,  and  hell.  Ever  live 
and  act  as  though  the  great  Creator's  eye  was,  like  the 
sun  at  broad  noon-day,  looking  down  upon  you.  This 
did  the  little  child  of  whom  I  told  you,  when  she  was 
tempted  to  do  what  was  wrong.  This  is  just  what  Solo- 
mon tells  us  to  do.  '  Rejoice,  O  young  man,  in  thy  youth, 
and  let  thy  heart  cheer  thee,  and  betake  itself  to  delight ; 
but  constantly  bear  in  mind,  that  thou  must  one  day  stand 
before  God  in  judgment,  and  give  him  an  account  of  all 
thy  pleasure.' 

And  if  you  find,  that,  as  Christians,  acting  under  the 
influence  of  such  views  and  feelings,  you  are  deprived  of 
some  of  those  pleasures  in  which  the  wicked  freely  in- 
dulge, you  will  not,  as  Christians,  much  regret  their  loss. 
You  have  tasted  of  richer  delights,  the  joys  of  pardoned 
sin.  You  will  thirst  for  the  enjoyment  of  your  Redeem- 
er,    You  will  long  to  walk  the  green  fields  of  heaven, 


178  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

drink  of  the  river  of  water  of  life,  and  pluck  of  the  mel- 
low fruit  that  grows  on  its  banks.  You  will  prefer  a 
day  in  the  house  of  God,  to  dwelling  in  the  palaces  of 
wickedness.  Your  greatest  joy  will  be,  that  your  names 
are  written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  Nothing  is  more 
certain  than  that  he  who  is  always  thinking  of  the  water 
of  this  world,  has  never  tasted  of  the  water  of  life. 

'  What  sinners  value,  I  resign  ; 
Lord,  'tis  enough  that  Ihou  art  mine. 
Let  me  behold  thy  blissful  face, 
And  stand  complete,  in  righteousness. 

Then, — glorious  hour  and  blest  abode  ! — 
I  shall  be  near  and  like  my  God  ; 
And  flesh  and  sense  no  more  control. 
The  sacred  pleasures  of  the  soul.' 


SECTION  XV. 


Peter  and  the  miraculous  draught  ofjishes. 

All  night  long  had  Peter  toiled  with  his  net,  and  taken 
nothing.  This  was  no  doubt  very  trying  to  him.  He 
was  a  fisherman  by  trade,  and  depended  on  success  in  his 
business  to  provide  for  his  family.  He  and  his  partners 
had  evidently  given  up  all  farther  efforts  at  present,  in 
despair.     They  little  knew  what  mercy  there  was  in  store 


CHRISTIAN  JOY.       THE  FISHES.       A  HARD  HILL.       179 

for  them.  God,  by  this  very  disappointment,  had  prepar- 
ed the  way  for  greater  blessings. 

Jesus  had  been  teaching  in  the  neighborhood.  He 
was  then  walking  near  by,  on  the  sea-shore.  He  caught 
sight  of  Peter's  vessel,  at  a  little  distance  from  land,  and 
having  entered  it,  and  taught  the  people  a  while  from  its 
deck,  he  said  to  Peter  :  "  Launch  out  into  the  deep  and 
let  down  your  net."  Peter  did  so,  telling  Jesus  at  the 
same  time  with  a  desponding  voice,  of  the  ill  success  that 
he  and  his  companions  had  had  during  the  night ;  and 
immediately  and  to  his  utter  astonishment,  he  obtained 
such  a  wonderful  draught  of  fishes,  that  the  net  was  bro- 
ken, and  both  his  vessel  and  that  of  his  companions 
were  filled  so  full    as  to  be  just  read  to  sink. 

By  this  miracle  Peter's  family  was  provided  for.  At 
the  same  time,  it  convinced  him  that  Jesus  was  under  di-. 
vine  influence,  and  produced  in  him  such  humility,  that 
Jesus  numbered  him  at  once  among  his  disciples.  '  De-i 
part  from  me,'  said  he  to  the  Savior,  '  for  I  am  uni 
worthy  of  thy  presence, — I  am  a  sinful  man.'  '  Fear 
not,'  replied  the  Savior,  '  for  you  shall  hereafter  catcl^ 
men.' 

Here  we  see,  that  it  is  not  certain  we  are  forsaken  of 
God,  because  we  meet  with  ill  success  and  great  disi 
couragement.  The  stations  we  respectively  occupy,  and 
the  parts  we  have  individually  to  perform  in  life,  are  in- 
deed various.  All,  however,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
find  the  path  of  duty  a  path  of  fear  and  trouble.  As 
Bunyan  has  aptly  represented,  it  seems  to  lie  right  up 
a  hill,  which  is  high,  steep,  craggy,  and  very  difficult 
to  be  climbed.  So  llie  faithful  servants  of  God,  whether 
apostles  and  martyrs,  or  Christians  in  the  more  retired 
walks  of  the  church,  have  ever  found  it.     It  is  ours  alon^ 


180  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

to  do  with  our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do.  Results 
we  must  leave  with  our  Father  in  heaven.  He  may  be 
after  all,  and,  in  proportion  to  our  confidence  in  hin»,  we 
shall  unquestionably  find  that  he  is,  dealing  with  us, 
even  in  his  darkest  providences,  as  his  dearly  beloved 
children. 

We  here  also  see,  that  all  human  efforts,  in  order  to 
prove  successful,  must  have  the  divine  blessing.  Efforts 
are  indeed  necessary.  Without  them,  we  have  no  right 
to  expect  any  thing  fi-om  God.  The  lad  who  never 
studies  has  no  reason  ever  to  expect  to  become  wise  or 
learned.  The  man  who  sows  nothing  in  the  spring,  will 
certainly  have  nothing  to  reap  in  the  fall.  On  the  other 
hand,  however,  it  is  also  and  very  evidently  true,  that, 
without  the  blessing  of  God,  we  exert  ourselves  altogeth- 
er in  vain.  We  may  rise  early  and  work  late,  but  it  will 
be  labor  lost.  To  be  enabled  to  reap  a  crop  of  grain  in 
the  fall,  for  instance,  from  seed  that  we  have  sown  in  the 
spring,  we  must  have  warm  rain  and  sunshine;  and  these 
God  alone  can  send.  So  also  we  may  begin  early  to 
study  our  books,  be  very  diligent  all  day,  and  study  late  ; 
and  yet  without  the  blessing  of  God,  we  shall  not  make 
any  progress.  Beautifully  is  this  expressed  by  the  Psalm- 
ist. 

"  Except  the  Lord  build  the  house,"  says  he,  "  they 
labor  in  vain  that  build  it.  Except  the  Lord  keep  the 
city,  the  watchman  waketh  but  in  vain.  It  is  in  vain 
for  you  to  rise  up  early,  to  sit  up  late,  to  eat  the  bread  of 
sorrows." 

Here  then,  is  clearly  to  be  seen,  what  we  have  each 
one  of  us  to  do,  if  we  would  be  truly  prospered.  "  Yes," 
I  almost  hear  you  say,  "  as  a  youth  I  must  always  feel 
this  my  absolute   dependence   upon   God,  for  success  in 


SEEK  god's  blessing.       THE  WIDOw's  SON.         181 

every  thing  I  undertake,  and  endeavor  to  obtain  his  bless- 
ing. I  must  begin,  continue  and  complete,  all  ray  labors, 
in  obedience  to  his  holy  will,  and  with  pure  aims  to  his 
glory,  relying  in  confidence  upon  his  granting  me  his 
blessing  and  gracious  assistance.  If  I  do  so,  neither  in 
temporal  things  nor  spiritual,  will  my  mind  be  distracted 
with  doubts,  fears,  and  perplexing  cares.  I  shall  be  sus- 
tained in  all  the  trials  and  disappointments  of  life  ;  and 
in  the  dark  hour  of  sorrow  and  gloom,  with  the  eye  of 
faith,  see  the  star  of  hope  ascending  the  horizon. 

Here,  then,  blessed  Father  in  heaven,  I  solemnly  en- 
gage, to  begin  and  end  all  my  labors,  in  prayer,  and  con- 
fidence, in  gratitude  and  childlike  fear,  before  thee." 

On  me  thy  blessing  kindly  shed  ; 

Thy  way  is  my  desire  ; 
O  let  nie  by  thy  hand  be  led, 

Or  where  I  atn,  expire. 


SECTION  XVI. 

7Vie  tDidoio's  son  of  Nain. 

The  shortnCiS  of  life  as  well  as  the  kindness  and  com- 
passion of  Jesus,  are  brought  strikingly  to  view  in  the  ac- 
count given  of  his  raising  from  the  dead  the  widow's 
son,  of  Nain. 

16 


182  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

As  he  and  his  disciples  were  entering  the  gates  of  this 
city,  they  met  a  funeral  procession,  carrying  a  young 
man  to  the  grave.  After  the  corpse  there  followed  an 
aged  woman.  She  was  a  widow.     This  was  her  only  son. 

Poor  woman,  I  seem  to  see  her  !  How  she  weeps  ! 
She  is  bent  down  with  age,  and  almost  heart-broken  with 
sorrow.  She  has  doubtless  relied  with  great  confidence 
and  fondness  upon  him  to  support  her  in  the  decline  of 
life.  She  had  nourished  and  cherished  him  in  infancy  ; 
she  had  been  left  alone  with  him,  by  the  death  of  her 
companion.  Her  heart  had  become  bound  up  in  his. 
All  of  a. sudden,  her  fond  hopes  were  blasted  ;  the  child 
of  her  love,  the  support  of  her  years,  was  taken  away 
from  her  ;  and  now  with  large  crowds  of  sympathizing 
people,  she  is  following  him  to  the  tomb. 

But  Jesus  meets  the  funeral  procession.  He  sees  the 
woman  and  her  attendants.  He  penetrates  at  once  into  the 
grief  of  her  heart.  He  touches  the  bier,  and  the  bearers 
of  it  stand  still.  He  exclaims  :  "  Young  man,  I  say  unto 
thee,  arise."  He  accordingly  arises,  and  Jesus  restores  him 
again  to  his  mother,  who  goes  home  with  him  in  company 
of  her  now  wondering  friends,  rejoicing. 

Repeated  lessons  do  I  have  to  teach  m.e  the  compassion 
of  Jesus,  and  remind  me,  that  '  Man  cometh  forth  indeed 
like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down ;  that  he  fleeth  also  as  a 
shadow,  and  continueth  not.' 

Hymn, 

Close  on  the  silent  grave  we  tread  ! 

Perhaps  before  this  day  has  fled, 

My  life  is  closed — so  frail  and  brief, — 

An  autumn  leaf! 
And  friends  bend  o'er  me  drowned  in  grief. 


AN  AFFECTING  SCENE.   THE  GRAVE  NEAR.     183 

Full  many  a  youth,  like  me  in  bloom, 

Has  sunk  as  sudden  to  the  tomb ; 

Upon  each  cheek  the  sunbeam  played, — 

I  saw  them  fade  ; 
And  ah  !  how  soon  tliey  had  decayed  ! 

Short  hours  of  joy  at  best  delay, 
The  summons  of  the  final  day  ; 
Eternity  is  drawing  near, — 

Is  almost  here, — 
Behold  the  coffin  and  the  bier  ! 

Help  me,  with  days  so  swift  and  few, 

To  keep  eternity  in  view, 

And,  when  it  dawns,  within  to  find, 

A  soul  resigned, 
And  faith,  my  Lord,  on  thee  reclined. 

Should  then  in  youth  these  cheeks  grow  pale, 
And  heart -string  after  heart-Etmig  fail, 
I'll  calmly  hear  death's  cold  behest, 

Lean  on  thy  breast. 
And  in  soft  slumber  sink  to  rest. 

Or  should  my  sands  still  longer  run, 
While  thus  thy  blessed  will  is  done, 
Let  this  my  happy  portion  be, 

Thy  gift  to  me, 
To  live  and  die  at  last,  to  thee. 


184  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


SECTION  XVII. 


Rijlcctions  on  prayer. 

In  the  history  of  Jesus,  I  find  that  he  was  often  visited 
by  afflicted  and  unhappy  people.  Some  came  to  him 
seeking  help  for  their  own  diseases  and  pains;  and 
others,  for  those  of  their  families  or  friends.  The  Savior 
always  kindly  granted  them  the  help  they  wanted.  He 
sent  none  away  without  relief. 

I  too  will  turn  in  prayer  to  Jesus  and  his  heavenly  Fa- 
ther, in  the  hour  of  sickness,  danger,  and  want, — when- 
ever, indeed,  I  am  in  want  of  any  good,  which  man  can- 
not bestow.  To  him,  too,  will  I  also  ever  cry  for  help, 
whenever  my  parents,  relatives  and  friends  are  in  dis- 
tress. He  himself  has  kindly  and  graciously  encouraged 
me  to  do  so.  "  Come  unto  me,"  says  he,  "  all  ye  that 
are  weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 

Should  it  seem  as  if  God  did  not  intend  to  hear  my 
prayer,  I  will  not  on  that  account  cease  praying.  I  will 
call  upon  him  with  increased  heart-felt  fervor,  and  perse- 
vere in  my  requests.  Thus  did  the  Canaanitish  woman. 
When  she  at  first  made  request  to  Jesus,  in  behalf  of  her 
daughter,  he  seemed  for  a  long  time  to  disregard  it.  She 
repeated  it,  however,  and  at  length  obtained  her  suit. 
Like  her  too  and  the  Centurion  of  Capernaum,  who,  even 
while  they  prayed,  felt  themselves  altogether  unworthy 
of  a  hearing,  I  will,  while  I  pray,  endeavor  to  feel  my 
un worthiness,  saying  thus  to  myself: 

"  O  Lord,  I  am  unworthy  of  the  mercy  of  receiving  an 


PRAY  ALWAYS  AND  FAINT  NOT.  185 

answer  to  my  prayers  ;  yet  as  just  such  unworthy  persons 
as  I  am,  have  often  received  great  good  at  thy  hands, 
thou  wilt  also  say  to  me,  if  I  come  to  thee  in  real 
sincerity  of  heart,  even  as  thou  hast  said  to  others  :  '  Let 
it  be  done  to  thee,  according  to  thy  word.  Be  comfort- 
ed, thy  faith  hath  made  thee  whole.'  " 

And  should  the  Lord,  after  all  my  perseverance,  seem 
to  refuse  his  answer  to  my  request,  I  will  not  therefore 
murmur  against  him  and  think  of  him  as  having  broken 
his  promise.  His  word  is  unchangeable.  I  will  go  to  my 
own  heart,  as  the  cause  of  this  failure.  Perhaps  I  had 
concealed  some  beloved  sin  there.  I  will  remember  that  I 
am  shortsighted,  and  cannot  see  what  is  best.  But 
should  the  requests  which  I  make  to  him,  be  gracious- 
ly heard  and  answered,  and  should  I  receive  the  good 
which  I  earnestly  desire  and  pray  for,  I  will  not  therefore 
give  myself  up  to  feelings  of  pride.  With  Peter  I  will 
make  confession  :  "  I  am  a  sinful  man,  O  Lord  ;"  and 
this  thought  shall  still  keep  me  humble,  while  with  grate- 
ful feelings  I  acknowledge  the  numerous  favors,  which, 
notwithstanding  my  unworthiness,  I  receive  from  the 
hand  of  God. 


16* 


186  HINTS   AND   EXAMPLES. 


SECTION  XVIII. 


The  last  coming  of  Jesus  to  Jerusalem. 

It  was  a  joyful  occasion  when  Jesus  came  up  to  Je- 
rusalem, for  the  last  time,  and  entered  the  city.  The 
multitude  which  accompanied  him,  full  of  exultation, 
spread  out  their  cloaks,  and  strewed  branches  of  trees 
along  before  him,  in  the  way,  to  do  him  honor.  On  his 
descending  the  mount  of  Olives  to  the  west,  large  crowds 
of  persons,  who  had  come  up  to  Jerusalem  to  attend  the 
feast  of  the  passover,  and  had  heard  of  his  raising  Lazarus 
from  the  dead,  met  him  from  the  city,  bearing  palm- 
branches  in  their  hands,  and  crying  out :  "  Hosanna 
to  the  Son  of  David  ;  hosanna  to  the  King  of  Israel." 
The  whole  multitude  of  the  disciples,  also,  who  had  ac- 
companied him  from  Bethany,  reflecting  upon  all  the  glo- 
rious things  they  had  seen  and  heard,  while  with  Jesus, 
caught  the  prevailing  spirit  of  exultation,  and  joined  in 
the  cry  of  praise  and  glory  to  God,  which  rang  through 
the  procession.  On  his  entering  the  temple,  in  the  city, 
and  while  he  was  engaged  in  performing  a  variety  of  won- 
derful works,  the  children  in  the  temple  were  also  heard 
crying  out :     "  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David." 

Jesus  alone  was  sad.  On  first  catching  sight  of  Je- 
rusalem, he  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it.  He  could 
not  help  thinking,  how  this  wicked  city  had  rejected  him 
and  his  mission,  was  about  to  imbrue  its  hands  in  his 
blood,  and  must  soon  be  utterly  destroyed  by  its  enemies, 
for  the  sins  of  which  it  was   guilty.      And  yet  even  the 


JESUs'  LAST  JOURNEY  TO  JERUSALEM,       187 

sadness  of  Jesus  was  mingled  with  joy.  He  defended 
his  disciples  for  their  exclamations  of  praise,  against 
the  reproaches  of  the  Pharisees,  who,  like  spies,  had 
crept  in  among  the  crowd.  He  approved  of  the  hosan- 
nas  of  the  children  in  the  temple,  to  the  Sou  of  David,  at 
which  those  hypocrites  were  so  much  enraged,  asking 
them  if  they  had  never  read  what  was  written  in  the 
Psalms  :  "  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings 
thou  hast  perfected  praise." 

Be  assured,  my  dear  readers,  that  we  have  great,  ve- 
ry great  reason  to  praise  God,  for  having  given  us  a  Sa- 
vior. For  what  a  miserable  place  would  this  world  be 
without  him  !  Let  me  ask  you  again  to  look  at  yonder  sun. 
How  bright  he  shines.  His  rays  awake  us  in  the  morn- 
ing from  our  slumber,  and  call  us  forth  to  the  labors  of 
the  day.  They  cheer  us  as  we  toil.  They  warm  the 
cold  air  and  refresh  our  bodies.  They  put  all  nature  in 
motion,  causing  springs  and  rivers  to  flow,  the  vegetable 
world  to  spring  to  life,  and  the  animal  creation  to  leap 
with  joy, — to  delight  in  existence.  Take  away  this  sun, 
and  what  a  change  !  No  morning  would  again  dawn  up- 
on the  earth.  One  long  dreary  night  would  succeed,  and 
chilling  vapors,  and  dreary  cold.  The  rivers  and  brooks 
would  cease  to  flow,  the  vegetable  world  to  put  forth,  the 
animal  creation  would  all  soon  be  wrapt  in  the  arms  of 
a  wintry  death,  and  in  short,  the  machinery  of  nature 
would  every  where  stand  still. 

Like  this  sun  of  nature,  the  Sun  of  righteousness  now 
shines  brightly  upon  us.  His  enlightening  rays  awake 
us  from  the  slumber  of  sin,  and  call  us  forth^to  the  labors 
of  a  brighter  day.  They  wai^m  our  souls  as  we  toil ; 
they  cause  the  springs  and  rivers  of  milk  and  honey  to 
flow  ;  they  clothe  the  trees  of  life  with  verdure  and  bloom 


188  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

and  fruit ;  they  fill  the  whole  world  of  sinners  who  behold 
them,  with  transports  of  joy, — with  hopes  of  endless  glo- 
ry ;  they  fill  heaven  itself  with  songs  of  jubilee  and  ever- 
lasting praise. 

Take  this  Sun  of  righteousness  away  from  our 
earth,  and  a  worse  than  eternal  midnight  would  succeed. 
It  would  be  left  shrowded  in  thick  darkness ;  it  would 
feel  the  infection  of  deadly  vapors ;  it  would  hang 
bound  in  icy  chains.  Not  a  life-giving  spring  or  river 
would  flow  over  its  plains,  a  solitary  tree  or  vegetable 
put  forth  in  its  fields,  or  a  child  of  hope  be  found  on  its 
bosom.  It  would  be  a  world  of  unutterable  horror  and 
despair.     It  would  be  in  every  whit  dreadful. 

How  much  reason  then  have  we  to  praise  God,  for 
having  sent  his  Son  to  be  our  Savior  !  Especially  have 
we  reason  to  praise  him,  if  we  have  ourselves  experienc- 
ed the  forgiveness  of  this  Savior.  Well  indeed  may  such 
love  and  extol  him.  Be  assured,  that  to  him  and  to  Je- 
sus, the  praises  of  all  such,  are  very  pleasing.  Never  are 
praises,  however,  more  agreeable  to  God  our  Savior,  than 
when  they  are  offered  by  children  and  youth.  He  ap- 
proved of  the  hosannas  of  the  little  children  in  the  tem- 
ple. Of  the  hosannas  of  such,  he  will  ever  approve. 
God  loves,  out  of  their  mouths,  to  perfect  praise.  And 
then,  how  happy  will  he  at  last  make  those  who  thus  hon- 
or and  adore  him  !  What  glorious  rewards  will  he  give 
them  in  heaven ! 

But  another  thought  occurs  to  me,  in  view  of  Christ's 
last  coming  to  Jerusalem  and  entering  into  the  city.  It 
will  be  a  joyful  occasion,  when,  with  myriads  of  his  saints 
from  glory,  he  comes  for  the  last  time  to  the  earth,  and 
his  people,  hearing  of  his  approach,  go  forth  to  meet  him. 
Hosannas  to  the  Son  of  David,  to  the  King  of  Israel,  will  in- 


JESUS'  DOINGS  IN  THE  TEMPLE.  189 

deed  ring  through  the  vast  throngs  that  accompany  him, 
and  echo  through  the  wide  universe.  Perhaps  the  Savior 
will  burst  into  tears  as  he  again  catches  sight  of  the  vile 
earth  and  its  unregenerate  inhabitants,  exclaiming  some- 
what as  he  did  over  Jerusalem  :  "  O  that  thou  hadst 
known,  at  least  in  the  very  last  hour  of  respite,  the  things 
which  belong  to  thy  peace.  But  now  they  are  forever 
hid  from  thine  eyes.  Already  the  devouring  flame  be- 
gins to  kindle  upon  thee  !"  But  he  will  nevertheless, 
with  joy,  be  welcomed  home  to  glory,  and  with  joy  too 
in  his  own  heart  will  he  welcome  his  beloved  followers 
thither.  He  will  be  joyful ;  they  shall  enter  into  the  joy 
of  their  Lord. 


SECTION  XIX. 


The  doings  of  Jesus  in  the  temple. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  after  the  entrance 
of  Jesus  into  Jerusalem,  he  went  into  the  temple;  puri- 
fied it,  as  he  did  at  the  commencement  of  his  career,  of 
the  people  who  had  desecrated  it  to  a  market-place,  full 
of  noise,  altercation,  and  profaneness ;  and  showed  his 
goodness  by  healing  all  the  sick  and  maimed  who  were 
brought  to  him  there  to  be  healed. 


188  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

and  fruit ;  they  fill  the  whole  world  of  sinners  who  behold 
them,  with  transports  of  joy, — with  hopes  of  endless  glo- 
ry ;  they  fill  heaven  itself  with  songs  of  jubilee  and  ever- 
lasting praise. 

Take  this  Sun  of  righteousness  away  from  our 
earth,  and  a  worse  than  eternal  midnight  would  succeed. 
It  would  be  left  shrowded  in  thick  darkness ;  it  would 
feel  the  infection  of  deadly  vapors ;  it  would  hang 
bound  in  icy  chains.  Not  a  life-giving  spring  or  river 
would  flow  over  its  plains,  a  solitary  tree  or  vegetable 
put  forth  in  its  fields,  or  a  child  of  hope  be  found  on  its 
bosom.  It  would  be  a  world  of  unutterable  horror  and 
despair.     It  would  be  in  every  whit  dreadful. 

How  much  reason  then  have  we  to  praise  God,  for 
having  sent  his  Son  to  be  our  Savior !  Especially  have 
we  reason  to  praise  him,  if  we  have  ourselves  experienc- 
ed the  forgiveness  of  this  Savior.  Well  indeed  may  such 
love  and  extol  him.  Be  assured,  that  to  him  and  to  Je- 
sus, the  praises  of  all  such,  are  very  pleasing.  Never  are 
praises,  however,  more  agreeable  to  God  our  Savior,  than 
when  they  are  offered  by  children  and  youth.  He  ap- 
proved of  the  hosannas  of  the  little  children  in  the  tem- 
ple. Of  the  hosannas  of  such,  he  will  ever  approve. 
God  loves,  out  of  their  mouths,  to  perfect  praise.  And 
then,  how  happy  will  he  at  last  make  those  who  thus  hon- 
or and  adore  him  !  What  glorious  rewards  will  he  give 
them  in  heaven ! 

But  another  thought  occurs  to  me,  in  view  of  Christ's 
last  coming  to  Jerusalem  and  entering  into  the  city.  It 
will  be  a  joyful  occasion,  when,  with  myriads  of  his  saints 
from  glory,  he  comes  for  the  last  time  to  the  earth,  and 
his  people,  hearing  of  his  approach,  go  forth  to  meet  him. 
Hosannas  tothe  Son  of  David,  to  the  King  of  Israel,  will  in- 


JESUS'  DOINGS  IN  THE  TEMPLE.  189 

deed  ring  through  the  vast  throngs  that  accompany  him, 
and  echo  through  the  wide  universe.  Perhaps  the  Savior 
will  burst  into  tears  as  he  again  catches  sight  of  the  vile 
earth  and  its  unregenerate  inhabitants,  exclaiming  some- 
what as  he  did  over  Jerusalem  :  "  O  that  thou  hadst 
known,  at  least  in  the  very  last  hour  of  respite,  the  things 
which  belong  to  thy  peace.  But  now  they  are  forever 
hid  from  thine  eyes.  Already  the  devouring  flame  be- 
gins to  kindle  upon  thee  !"  But  he  will  nevertheless, 
with  joy,  be  welcomed  home  to  glory,  and  with  joy  too 
in  his  own  heart  will  he  welcome  his  beloved  followers 
thither.  He  will  be  joyful ;  they  shall  enter  into  the  joy 
of  their  Lord. 


SECTION  XIX. 


The  doings  of  Jesus  in  the  temple. 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  after  the  entrance 
of  Jesus  into  Jerusalem,  he  went  into  the  temple;  puri- 
fied it,  as  he  did  at  the  commencement  of  his  career,  of 
the  people  who  had  desecrated  it  to  a  market-place,  full 
of  noise,  altercation,  and  profaneness ;  and  showed  his 
fToodness  bv  healing  all  the  sick  and  maimed  who  were 
brought  to  him  there  to  be  healed. 


190  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

The  house  of  God  is  the  place  in  which  he  has  agreed 
to  meet  his  people.  It  is  a  holy  place.  Those  who  go 
there,  should,  of  course,  go  there  for  holy  purposes,  and 
see  to  it,  that  while  there,  they  worship  God  in  spirit  and 
in  truth.  To  go  there  for  unholy  purposes,  and  to  act 
the  part  of  hypocrites,  while  there,  is  very  wicked.  This 
is  evident  from  the  zeal  of  Jesus  to  purify  his  Father's 
!house  at  Jerusalem.  Whenever,  therefore,  you  go  to 
the  house  of  God,  let  it  be  resolving  :  "  We  will  raise 
our  hearts  in  devotion  to  God  and  listen  to  his  word,  and 
pray  for  grace  to  enable  us  to  do  so." 

Agreeably  to  this  resolution,  while  at  meeting,  show 
your  devotion  to  God  by  uniting  in  singing  and  praising 
with  the  church,  at  least  in  the  secret  feelings  of  your 
hearts  ;  by  attending  carefully  to  the  sermon,  and  avoid- 
ing every  thing  like  gazing  around  yon,  or  like  sport 
and  indifference.  *  My  heavenly  Father's  house,'  says 
Jesus,  '  is  a  house  of  prayer.'  It  is  a  holy  place. 
There  we  are  to  think  of  this  heavenly  Father,  praise 
him,  call  upon  him,  learn  his  will,  and  receive  encourage- 
ment and  strength  to  yield  full  obedience  to  his  com- 
mands. In  a  word,  the  house  of  God  is  the  place  to 
which  sinners,  as  halt,  maimed,  and  diseased,  are  led,  to 
be  cured  by  Jesus  through  the  agency  of  his  holy  Spirit, 
of  all  their  diseases  and  complaints.  It  is  the  place  where 
Jesus  is  continually  working  the  most  wonderful  cures 
and  bringing  souls  into  his  kingdom.  Here  he  displays 
his  pardoning  inorcy  and  love,  and  grants  consolation  to 
his  people.  Whenever  you  go  to  this  sacred  place, 
think  of  the  excellent  example  of  attentiveness  and  devo- 
tion, which  Jesus  himself  set  us,  in  the  temple  of  God, 
when  in   the  twelfth   year  of    his   age.       As  you  draw 


HOUSE  OF  GOD.        EXAMPLE   OF  HUMILITY.  191 

near  to  the  meeting-house,  and  especially  in  entering  it, 
always  call  to  mind  the  words :  "  Holiness  becometh 
thine  house,  O  Lord,  forever." 


SECTION  XX. 


Hiimility. 

The  humility  which  I  have  spoken  of  as  taught  by  Je- 
sus in  precepts,  he  also  taught  by  an  example. 

A  contention  had  arisen  among  his  disciples,  respec- 
ting the  ranks  they  should  severally  hold,  and  who  should 
be  deemed  the  greatest,  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  To 
make  them  ashamed  of  their  foolish  conduct,  their  ambition 
to  hold  a  situation  above  others,  and  their  proud  conceit 
of  their  excellencies,  he  took  a  little  child  and  placing  it 
in  the  midst  of  them,  and  finally  taking  it  in  a  kind  and 
tender  manner  in  his  arms,  pointed  it  out  as  an  example 
in  humility  for  them  to  follow.  "  You  are  contending," 
said  he  in  meaning,  "about  who  shall  be  the  greatest  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  I  tell  you  most  positively,  that 
except,  in  humilily,  innocence,  and  goodness  of  heart,  you 
come  to  resemble  tliis  little  child  and  others  like  it,  it 
is  impossible  for  you  ever  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
or  have  any  share  in  it." 

In  view  of  this  example  of  humility,  then,  my  younw 
friends,  and  what  I  have  before  said  to  you  upon  the  sub*^ 


192  HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

ject,  resolve  that  you  will  strive  to  resemble  those  good 
little  children,  who  yield  with  the  utmost  readiness  and 
submission  to  those  that  take  care  of  them,  doing  what 
they  are  told  to  do,  learning  what  they  are  told  to 
learn,  and  showing  nothing  like  obstinacy  or  ill-will.  Say 
to  yourselves : 

"  Pride  and  contempt  of  others  shall  never  find  a  place 
in  our  hearts.  We  have  from  thy  hands,  O  God,  receiv- 
ed more  money,  better  garments,  more  distinguished 
parents,  more  skill  to  learn,  and  higher  means  for  obtain- 
ing the  affection  of  others,  than  many  poor,  weak,  sickly 
children  and  youth  around  us  ;  but  we  will  not  presume 
on  that  account,  to  treat  them  with  contempt,  or  to  form 
vain  conceits  of  our  own  excellencies  and  gifts.  We  will 
look  upon  every  thing  we  have,  as  coming  from  thee, 
be  grateful  to  thee  for  those  things  thou  hast  bestowed 
upon  us  and  not  upon  others,  and  sympathize  with  those 
who  want  this  or  that  good  in  their  youth.  We  will  with 
pleasure,  so  far  as  our  parents  give  us  leave,  furnish  them 
with  clothes  and  books,  and  show  them  other  favors. 
Nor  will  we  confine  our  benevolence  to  those  who  are 
destitute  around  us.  We  will  think  often  of  the  heathen 
and  others,  and  send  presents  far  away  to  tliem." 

"  Is  there  ambition  in  my  heart  ? 

Search,  gracious  God,  and  see  ; 
Or  do  I  act  a  haughty  part  ? 

Lord, I  appeal  to  thee. 

I  charge  my  thoughts  be  humble  still, 

And  all  my  carriage  mild  ; 
Content,  my  Father,  with  thy  will, 

And  quiet  as  a  child." 


EARLY  AFFLICTION.  193 


SECTION  XXI. 


Affliction. 

In  the  history  of  Jesus,  my  young  friends,  you  read 
of  children  and  youth,  delivered  from  very  severe  diseas- 
es and  sufferings.  You  will  remember  two  cases  in  par- 
ticular. In  one  a  woman  had  a  daughter  greatly  troubled 
by  a  wicked  spirit  ;  and  in  another,  a  father  had  an  only 
son  afflicted  with  a  very  sore  disease,  and  also  greatly 
troubled  by  a  wicked  spirit. 

From  this  you  learn,  that  even  the  period  of  childhood 
and  youth,  has  its  troubles;  that  if  you  live,  you  will,  as 
I  have  intimated,  meet  with  affliction,  and  often  be  expos- 
ed to  sickness,  and  death.  You  must  have  had  proof 
enough  of  this,  among  your  own  young  acquaintances. 
You  have  unquestionably  seen  them  afflicted  in  various 
ways  and  exposed  to  great  sufferings.  But  more  than 
this;  many  of  you  who  read  this  book,  must  have  had 
sickness,  or  in  some  other  way,  experienced  affliction 
yourselves. 

"  Ah  yes,"  I  seem  to  hear  you  say,  with  sighs  and  tears ; 
"  we  have  indeed  experienced  affliction.  I  have  lost  a 
dear  father,"  says  one.  "  He  had  sent  me  away  from 
home  to  school ;  but  on  a  cold  night  in  winter,  a  man 
came  where  I  was,  and  witli  a  very  sad  look,  told  me 
Father  was  very  sick,  and  that  I  must  go  home.  And 
I  went  home  ;  but  I  found  him  dead,  and  mother  and  all 
the  rest  weeping  around  the  bed  on  which  he  lay.  I 
shall  never  forget  how  I  then  felt,  and  especially  when 
J7 


194  HINTS  AND   EXAMPLES. 

they  told  me  his  last  words, — how  he  said  I  must  be  good 
and  live  godly  in  Jesus  Christ.  I  have  often  missed  my 
father  since,  and  felt  what  it  is  to  be  fatherless." 

"  And  I,"  says  another,  "  have  lost  a  dear  mother. 
I  was  then  very  young.  T  cannot  remember  all  about 
it;  but  I  do  remember  how  she  looked  at  me,  and  then 
putting  her  hand  on  my  head,  prayed  to  God  for  me, 
that  he  would  keep  me  from  a  wicked  world.  Her  look 
and  voice  were  very  kind,  and  I  wept  ;  but  I  did  not 
then  know  very  well  what  she  meant  by  a  wicked  world  ; 
but  I  have  since  learned  something  of  it.  And  when  I 
hear  other  children  speaking  of  their  mothers,  I  cannot 
help  thinking  how  mine  looked,  and  how  she  prayed,  when 
I  stood  by  her  dying  bed,  and  it  makes  me  feel  very  sad," 

"  And  I,"  says  a  third,  "  have  lost  a  dear  sister.  She 
was  older  than  I,  and  used  to  walk  with  me  out  into  the 
fields,  cull  flowers  for  me,  and  tell  me  stories.  I  loved 
her  much,  and  wanted  to  be  with  her  all  the  time.  But 
at  length  she  was  taken  sick,  and  I  could  see  her  no 
more,  until  they  told  me  she  was  dead,  and  she  looked 
very  pale ;  and  then  I  recollected  how  I  had  sometimes 
grieved  her  ;  and  now  I  have  no  sister." 

And  there  are  others  of  you  who  have  various  other 
complaints  to  make.  Some  of  you  have  been  very  sick, 
and  perhaps  been  lamed,  or  deprived  of  some  of  your  sen- 
ses. Others  are  very  poor  and  destitute  of  benefactors  and 
friends  ;  while  others  again  have  lost  dear  brothers  or 
playmates,  or  met  with  other  afflictions.  Indeed,  the 
most  of  you  probably  at  times,  /eel  inclined  to  think 
your  lot  peculiarly  hard,  in  the  world. 

Whatever  be  your  afflictions,  however,  whether  sick- 
ness, poverty,  or  the  loss  of  friends,  beware  of  murmuring 
against  God,  for  bringing  them   upon  you.     He  has  de- 


EARLY  AFFLICTION  BENEFICIAL,  195 

clared  in  his  word,  that  it  is  good  for  a  man  to  bear  the 
yoke  in  his  youth ;  that  is,  that  it  is  good  for  us,  to  meet 
with  trials  when  we  are  young.  And  so  I  doubt  not  you 
will  find  it,  if  you  grow  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
Those  who  never  meet  with  affliction  when  they  are 
young,  never  know  how  to  bear  it,  if  they  meet  with  it 
when  they  become  old.  Besides,  those  who  have  never 
felt  affliction,  never  know  how  to  sympathize  with  the 
afflicted.  Nor  is  this  all.  Those  who  always  enjoy  this 
world,  are  very  aj)t  to  neglect  the  next.  Affliction,  on 
the  other  hand,  makes  us  feel  that  life  is  uncertain,  and 
that  solid  happiness  is  not  to  be  obtained  short  of  heaven. 
Here  you  see  reason  enough  why  you  should  be  afflicted. 
But  even  if  you  could  not,  there  is  no  reason  why  you 
should  murmur  against  God  ;  for  Jesus  Christ  has  de- 
clared, that  in  this  world  his  children  shall  be  afflicted  ; 
but  that  he  sees  all  their  sufferings  and  will  make  every 
thing  work  for  their  good. 

Say  thus  to  yourselves  :  "  God  certainly  has  the  best 
purpose  in  view  in  whatever  he  does,  and  does  all  things 
well.  By  means  of  the  trouble  which  he  brings  upon  us 
in  youth,  he  wants  to  lead  us  early  to  forsake  what  is 
evil  and  do  what  is  good.  His  will  be  done.  We  will 
bear  the  chastisements  which  he  so  kindly  brings  upon 
us,  without  murmuring.  We  will  endeavor  to  improve 
by  them  and  become  belter.  We  shall  certainly  hereaf- 
ter derive  great  benefit  from  the  afflictions  which  we  are 
thus  early  called  to  suffer,  and  thank  God,  for  having,  by 
means  of  them,  rendered  us  more  thoughtful,  more  pious, 
and  more  useful.  If  we  are  good,  we  shall,  when  we  be- 
come older,  experience  joy  at  the  hand  of  our  heavenly 
Father,  instead  of  our  present  sorrow  ;  at  least,  we  shall 
beyond   the  grave.     I    remember  how  Lazarus  was  very 


196 


HINTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


poor,  and  afflicted  with  painful  sores,  in  this  life  ;  but 
after  death  he  was  taken  to  heaven  and  filled  with  com- 
fort ;  and  so  I  doubt  not  it  will  be  with  all  who  love  God. 
There  it  will  be  seen  that  all  God  did  to  them,  was  in 
kindness." 

Hymn. 

Scarce  ceased  to  shed  the  childish  tear, 
I  mourn  beneath  thy  hand  severe, 
And  with  a  dark  and  clieerless  sun, 
Begin  my  path  of  life  to  run. 

But  deep  and  searchless  is  thy  will, 
'Tis  mine  to  bow,  be  calm  and  still  ; 
And,  while  this  youthful  bosom  bleeds, 
To  follow  where  thy  spirit  leads. 

Thou  hast  not,  from  thy  child  estranged. 
His  joy  to  grief  in  anger  changed  ; 
Thy  love  has  aimed  the  painful  stroke ; 
'Tis  good  for  me  to  bear  the  yoke. 

My  sins,  in  number,  like  the  sand, 
Called  loud  for  thy  chastising  hand ; 
I  feel  it,  take  the  bitter  cup, 
Bow  at  thy  feet,  and  drink  it  up. 

Turn  thee,  my  Father,  kindly  turn  ; 
I  come  a  child,  thy  will  to  learn. 
O  help  me  humbly  to  adore, 
Walk  in  thy  way  and  sin  no  more. 


NOT  MY  WILL,  BUT  THINE  BE  DONE.       197 


SECTION  XXII. 

Not  my  icill,  but  thine  he  done. 

I  am  afflicted.  I  am  bowed  down  with  sorrows.  I 
go  mourning  all  the  day,  beneath  the  frown  of  my  hea- 
venly Father.  But  then,  my  Savior  was  also  afflicted. 
He  was  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief. 
In  the  garden  of  Gethsemane  in  particular,  he  was  over- 
whelmed with  anguish.  His  soul  was  exceedingly  sorrow- 
ful,— even  unto  death.  Lead  me  to  the  sacred  place.  It 
is  solitary  and  dark.  Tiiere  he  is  !  He  lies  on  the  cold 
ground.  Hark  !  He  prays  !  Let  me  listen.  "  O  my 
Father — if  it  be  possible — not  my  will" — What  does  he 
say  ?  Let  me  draw  nearer.  "  O  my  Father,  if  it  be 
possible,  remove  from  me  this  cup  of  sorrows.  Yet  not 
my  will,  but  thine  l)e  done."  He  repeats  this  prayer. 
He  is  resigned.  His  voice  is  calm.  Consider  for  a  few 
moments,  my  soul,  the  spectacle  before  thee,  and  then 
retrace  thy  footsteps  to  murmur  no  more.  Learn,  like 
thy  Savior,  to  bow  in  humble  prayer,  and  in  submission 
to  the  will  of  God.  Never,  in  the  hour  of  sorrow,  per- 
mit thyself  hereafter  to  forget  the  scene  thou  hast  wit- 
nessed in  Gethsemane,  the  example  of  patience  and  holy 
resignation  there  set  thee,  by  thy  Savior.  God  does  all 
things  well,  and  so  it  will  ultimately  appear.  Dark 
clouds  now  obscure  the  sun  frcjm  thee;  but  there  is  still 
a  sun.  Soon  they  will  pass  off,  and  thou  shalt  feel  his 
rays  as  warm  as  ever.  Or  thou  shalt  ascend  the  celes- 
tial mount,  far  above  the  region  of  clouds  and  storms,  and 
feel  his  rays  settling  in  eternal  sunshine  upon  thy  head. 
17* 


198  whate'er  god  does  is  kindly  done.       V 

Submit  then  in  calmness  to  the  will  oi'  thy  heavenly  Fa- 
ther, for  he  does  all  things  well. 

Hymn. 

»  Whate'er  God  does,  is  kindly  done, 

And  justly,  iho'  severe  ; 
Where'er  he  leads,  I'll  follow  on, 
And  faithfully  adhere  ; 
In  all  these  pains, 
He  still  remains, 
My  guardian,  God,  and  guide, 
And  let  his  will  decide. 

Whate'er  God  does,  is  kindly  done, 
As  all  will  shortly  see  ; 
He  is  my  life,  my  daily  sun, 
And  cannot  injure  me  ; 
In  joy  and  pain, 
Nor  more  complain, 
I'll  trust  his  tender    are, 
Assured  of  goodness  there. 

Whate'er  God  does,  is  kindly  done; 
Tho'  bitter  now  the  cup, 
'Tis  tendered  by  a  skilful  one, 
And  I  must  drink  it  up  ; 
Sweet  joy  indeed 
Will  soon  succeed, 
The  anguish  that  I  feel. 
And,  therefore,  peace,  be  still. 

Whate'er  God  does,  is  kindly  done  ; 

Nor  will  his  kindness  end. 

Tho'  rough  the  journey  that  I  run. 

And  misery  attend. 

Within  his  arms 

When  fear  alarms, 

I  have  a  place  to  hide. 

And  let  his  will  decide. 


JESUS'  FAREWELL  DISCOURSE.  199 

Whate'er  God  does,  is  kindly  done, 

And  welcome  to  the  pain  ; 

I'll  calmly  trust  tliis  heavenly  one, 

Until  lie  smile  again, 

Or  life  expires, 

And  my  desires, 

In  heaven  are  satisfied, 

And  let  his  will  decide. 


SECTION  XXIII. 


IV.  The  last  discourse  of  Jesus  with  his  disciples. 

On  the  evening  before  Jesus  suffered,  and  in  which  he 
instituted  the  Lord's  supper,  he  held  his  last  and  parting 
discourse  with  his  disciples.  This  discourse  is  full  of 
instruction  and  comfort,  and  gives  a  clear  and  lively  ex- 
hibition of  the  love  of  his  heart  to  those,  whom  he  ad- 
dressed. I  will  present  you  with  some  extracts  from  it, 
of  such  doctrines  and  remarks  as  you  can  now  under- 
stand and  put  in  practice.  When  you  are  older  and  have 
acquired  mure  penetration  of  mind,  you  may  be  able  to 
read,  reflect  upon,  and  understand,  the  rest  of  it,  which 
is  more  difficult. 

'  I  have  set  you  an  example  of  love  and  humility,  that 
you  should  conduct  towards  each  other  as  I  have  con- 
ducted towards  you. — It  is  well  that  you  know  my 
instructions,   but  happy  are   you,  if  you  practise  them. 


JESUS     FAREWELL  DISCOURSE. 

— In   taking   my  leave  of  you,  I  give  you  a  new  precept 
or  commandment, — that  you  love  one  another,  even  as 
1  have  loved   you.     By  this  shall   all  men  know  that  you 
are  my  disciples,  if  you  love  one  another. — Be  not  faint- 
hearted and  desponding  in  the  sufferings  of  this  life,  but 
have  confidence  in   your   heavenly  Father,  and  think  on 
me. — I  am  going  away  to  prepare  a  place  for  you  in  hea- 
ven;   but  though  I  am  going  away  from  you,  I  will  come 
again  to  you   and  at  length   take  you  to  myself,  in  order 
that  you  may  be  in  that  heavenly  joy  where  I  am. — It  is 
through  my  doctrines  or  what  I   have  taught,  that  a  man 
comes  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth ;   and  it  is  through  my 
mediation,  (that  is,  through  every  thing  that  I  have  done 
and   suffered  for  the  improvement  and  salvation  of  man- 
kind,) that  a  man  comes  at  last  to  the  possession  of  ever- 
lasting happiness.      No  one  can  obtain  the  friendship  of 
my  Father  in  heaven,  and   intimate   union  with  him,  ex- 
cept through  me  ;  (that  is,  except  he  receive  me  in  heart- 
felt obedience  as  his  Lord  and  Savior.) — He   who  knows 
my  commandments  and   lives  according  to  them,  he  it  is 
that  loves  me.     And   he   who  loves  me,  will  be  loved  by 
my  Father  also,  and  I  also  will   love  him,  and  make  him 
more  intimately  acquainted  with  my  love. — He  wIjo  loves 
me,  does  what  I  say,  and    my  Father  will  love  him,  and 
we  will  come  to  him,  and   live   with   him   as   his  friends, 
and  always  delight  in  doing  him  good  and  rendering  him 
assistance. — With  the  same  affection  that  my  Father  hath 
loved  me,  do  I  love  you.     Preserve  yourselves  worthy  of 
my  love.     If  you  do  my  commandments,  you  will  always 
remain  worthy  of  my  love,  even  as  I  have  always  remain- 
ed lovely  and  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  my  Father,  because 
I  constantly  yield  childlike  obedience   to  his  will. — This 
is  my  last  commandment  to  you,  my  will  and  Testament, 


HIGHLY  DESERVING  ATTENTION.  201 

that  you  love  one  another,  even  as  I  have  loved  you. 
You  are  my  friends  if  you  do  whatever  I  say  to  you.  Be 
not  astonished  if  those  who  are  not  my  friends,  hate  you. 
If  in  your  thoughts,  actions,  and  passions,  you  were  like 
the  men  of  the  world,  they  would  then  love  you.  But 
now  as  you  differ  from  them  in  all  these  respects,  they 
hate  you. — He  who  hates  me,  hates  my  Father  also. — It 
is  for  your  good  that  I  should  leave  this  world.  If  I  do 
not  leave  you,  the  spirit  of  truth  will  not  come  to  you, 
and  take  up  his  residence  with  you  ;  but  if  I  go  away, 
I  will  send  him  to  you.  When  this  spirit  of  truth  comes 
to  you,  he  will  lead  you  to  a  true  knowledge  of  that  truth 
and  goodness  which  you  do  not  now  possess.  He  will 
teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  every  thing  that  I  have 
said  to  you,  to  mind. — In  this  world  you  must  meet  with 
trials  and  sufferings  ;  but  be  comforted  !  I  have  over- 
come the  world.  (And  so  you  also,  shall  overcome  it, 
with  all  your  trials  and  sufferings,  if,  according  to  my 
example,  you  steadily  persevere  in  faith  and  obedience 
towards  God  and  ever  remain  firm  in  goodness.) 

Such  are  some  of  the  things  which  Jesus  said  in  his 
last  discourse  to  his  disciples.  Can  you  neglect  them  ? 
Would  you  not  treasure  up  in  your  minds,  the  last  words, 
the  pious  admonitions  and  directions  of  a  dying  parent, 
teacher,  or  friend  ?  Should  you  fail  to  do  so,  and  zeal- 
ously to  put  them  in  practice,  would  you  not  show  your- 
selves wickedly  disposed  and  very  ungrateful  ?  And 
will  you  not  then  treasure  up  in  your  minds  and  put  in 
practice,  these,  the  last  words  of  your  Lord  and  Savior? 
How  ungrateful  to  him,  and  how  wickedly  disposed  will 
you  show  yourselves,  by  treating  them  with  neglect ! 
For  these  words  were  spoken  by  Jesus,  on  the  very  eve-j 
ning  before  he  suffered,  aqd  some  of  them  late  in  the 


202  THOSE  WHOM  JESUS  LOVES. 

night,  not  long  before  he  went  out  into  the  garden  and 
prayed  there  in  such  anguish,  and  was  betrayed  to  his 
enemies  by  one  of  his  own  disciples.  They  were  spoken 
too  in  full  view  of  the  painful  death  that  was  before  him. 
They  demand  attention,  therefore,  as  the  last  words  of 
your  divine  and  yet  dying  teacher  and  friend.  Regard 
them  as  such.  In  particular,  bear  in  mind  that  those  on- 
ly are  his  true  friends,  w  ho  live  according  to  the  rules  of 
godliness  which  he  has  laid  down  ;  that  he  loves  those 
only  who,  agreeably  to  his  precepts  and  example,  evince 
that  they  have  love  to  all  others  ;  and  that  without  this 
love,  a  man's  religion  is  mere  pretension. 


PART     IV. 

SECTION  I. 

I.  The  virtues  of  Jesus, 

Introductory  Remarks. 

I  have  thus  far,  my  young  friends,  exhibited  the  Savior 
to  you  as  a  teacher  most  worthy  of  your  reverence  and 
love,  confining  your  attention  chiefly  to  his  instructions. 
You  have  learned,  that  lie  has  given  us  the  best  direc- 
tions in  regard  to  the  practice  of  all  those  virtues  which 
are  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  God  ;  and  you  have  in  some 
measure  become  acquainted  with  them.  I  told  you, 
however,  at  the  very  outset,  that  one  reason  why  you 
should  become  acquainted  with  Jesus,  was,  that  he  was 
the  holiest  of  men,  and  a  perfect  example  for  us  to  follow  ; 
that  we  had  only  to  ask  how  Jesus  acted  or  would  act 
under  particular  circumstances,  in  order  to  know  how  we 
should  act. 

I  am  now  going  to  speak  of  him  in  this  respect, — to 
bring  him  before  you  in  a  few  words  as  a  perfect  pattern 
of  holiness,  as  an  example   for  you  to   follow,  in  every 


204  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

thing  that  he  has  taught  us.  And  depend  upon  it,  you 
will  find  a  consistency  in  his  character  which  you  cannot 
find  in  any  other.  There  are  a  great  many  men  in  the 
world  who  can  talk  very  well  about  what  is  good,  while 
their  actions  are  very  wicked.  Nay,  nothing  is  more 
common  than  to  find  people  teaching  one  thing  and  prac- 
tising another.  But  it  was  not  so  with  Jesus.  What  he 
taught  he  practised.  His  words  and  actions  always 
agree  together. 

Here  then  I  must  also  ask  for  your  attention  ;  for  I 
am  certain  that  your  delight  in  Jesus,  your  regard  for 
him  and  your  confidence  in  him,  will  be  very  much  in- 
creased, when  you  come  clearly  to  see,  that  he  was  as 
pious,  benevolent,  upright,  and  well  disposed,  in  all  his 
actions,  as  he  was  in  and  according  to  his  instructions. 


SECTION  11. 


The  tender  friendship  of  Jesus  for  children. 

I  begin  with  giving  you  that  view  of  the  heart  of  Jesus 
which  is  best  adapted  to  please  you,  and  fill  you  with 
reverence,  love,  gratitude,  and  confidence,  towards  him. 
That  he  had  a  kind  heart,  you  will  not  question.  From 
several  incidents  in  his  life  you  can  also  see  that  he  was 
a  great  friend  of  children,  and  that  he  made  known  his 
love  to  them  in  a  very  tender  and  affectionate  manner. 


THE  REGARD  OF  JESUS   FOR  CHILDREN.  205 

He  showed  great  and  altogether  peculiar  care  for  their 
happiness.  He  warned  grown  persons  against  causing 
them  to  offend,  that  is,  against  setting  them  any  wicked 
example,  or  giving  them  any  occasion  to  sin  ;  and  in  or- 
der to  make  this  warning  so  much  the  more  powerful, 
he  represented  the  man  who  is  guilty  of  making  young 
people  worse,  as  to  the  highest  degree  a  hurtful  and 
wicked  man,  and  deserving  of  very  severe  punishment. 
He  exhorted  his  hearers  not  to  despise  children,  on  ac- 
count of  their  weakness  and  simplicity,  because  that  they 
were  held  in  great  esteem  by  God,  and  that  their  angels, 
— those  who  had  been  placed  over  them  as  the  guardians 
of  their  lives  and  their  innocence, — had,  on  account  of 
(heir  very  office  in  this  respect,  great  authority  in  hea- 
ven. 

In  order  to  make  it  still  clearer,  how  much  children 
are  loved  and  esteemed  by  him  and  his  Father  in  heaven, 
and  to  show  why  great  care  should  be  e.xercised  for  their 
souls,  he  then  asserts,  that  he  himself  had  come  into  the 
world  for  the  very  purpose,  of  taking  charge  of  these  lost, 
these  neglected  little  ones,  and  conducting  them  to  hap- 
piness. By  means  of  some  parables,  also,  he  taught  how 
near  the  happiness  of  children  was  to  his  heart,  and  how 
much  his  Father  in  heaven  was  doing  for  their  salvation. 

How  dear,  well  disposed,  pious  children  are  to  him  he 
has  shown  in  the  case  of  the  contention  which  arose 
among  his  disciph's,  as  to,  "  Who  of  them  should  be  the 
greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  V  Taking  such  a 
little  child  and  setting  it  by  him  in  the  midst  of  them,  he 
])ointed  it  out  to  them  as  a  most  lovely  example,  and  one 
which  they  must  imitate  and  become  like,  in  heart  and 
soul,  if  they  would  really  be  his  genuine  subjects. 

On  another  occasion,  wlien  his  disciples  showed  them- 
18 


206  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

selves  unfriendly  to  those  who  had  brought  children  to 
him  in  order  that  he  might  lay  his  hands  on  them  and 
pray  over  them,  he  was  much  displeased;  and,  having  re- 
proved his  disciples  for  this  their  conduct,  he  turned, 
and  in  the  most  affectionate  words,  said  to  those  whom 
they  had  wished  to  send  away  from  him  :  "  Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  God."  He  then  took  the  little 
children  up  in  his  arms,  and,  most  affectionately  em- 
bracing them,  gave  them  his  blessing. 

To  good  pious  children,  then,  let  me  say  :  You  are 
unspeakably  dear  to  Jesus  Christ.  He  has  gone  so  far 
even  as  to  declare  that  he  should  esteem  and  reward 
every  favor  done  to  you,  as  if  it  had  been  done  to  himself 
Can  any  one  have  greater  love  for  you  than  this?  And 
what  a  privilege  to  be  thus  loved  by  such  a  being  ?  Such 
then  being  the  real  feelings  of  kindness  and  the  love  of  Je- 
sus towards  you,  you  must  at  all  times  so  live  as  to  please 
him,  and  delight  to  do  his  will.  His  will  is,  you  know, 
that  you  should  love  one  another,  even  as  he  loves  you, 
and  labor  continually  to  become  more  and  more  like  him 
in  wisdom  and  holiness,  in  order  that  it  may  go  well  with 
you  in  this  world,  and  that  when  you  die,  you  may  go 
to  him  and  live  with  him  in  heaven.  And  how  much 
the  confidence  of  those  of  us  who  are  older,  in  Jesus 
Christ,  should  be  strengthened,  by  his  tender  love  for  lit- 
tle children  !  If  we  resemble  good  little  children,  we 
may  be  certain  that  he  will  also  love  us. 

Hymn. 

For  good  children,  there's  protection  ; 
Jesus  loves  them  and  is  grieved, 


THE  PIETY  OF  JESUS. 

If,  as  once  he  gave  direction, 
Kindly  they  are  not  received. 

In  the  wilderness  he  sought  them, 
Wildly  straying,  faint  and  cold  ; 

In  his  mighty  arms  he  brought  them, 
And  secured  them  in  his  fold. 

Touch  them  now,  and  most  severely 
He  avenges  whom  he  saved  ; 

Dearly  bought,  he  loves  them  dearly  ; 
On  his  heart  they  are  engraved. 

Come  to  me,  ye  young  and  tender, 
When  on  earth  he  said,  and  smiled  ; 

Welcome  still  to  its  defender. 
Is  the  lamblike  little  child. 


2^ 


SECTION  III. 

The  piety  of  Jesus. 

1  must  also  point  you,  my  young  friends,  to  Jesus 
Clirist  our  Savior,  as  an  example  of  the  greatest  piety, 
one  of  the  noblest  too,  and  the  most  deserving  of  your  re- 
gard. There  have  been  many  very  pious  men  in  the 
world,  such  as  Paul  and  John,  and  Brainerd  and  Henry 
Martyn  ;   but  Jesus  Christ  has  far  surpassed  them  all. 

From  the  earliest  period  of  life,  Jesus  loved  and  hon- 
ored his  heavenly  Father.  When  he  was  no  more  than 
twelve  years  of  age,  he  gave  a  fine  proof  of  the  delight  he 
had  in  his  holy  word  ;  for  full  of  joy  and  eagerness  to 
learn   the  truth,  he  took   his  seat  in  the  temple  in  the 


208  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

midst  of  those  whose  business  it  was  to  teach  it. 
In  early  years,  the  purity  and  sincerity  of  his  piety,  ac- 
quired for  him  from  day  to  day,  new  love  with  God  and 
with  man.  To  the  very  close  of  his  existence  on  earth, 
he,  as  a  son,  remained  obedient  to  his  heavenly  Father. 
He  never  in  all  his  life  was  guilty  of  a  single  sin.  Not 
a  false  or  unjust  word  ever  came  out  of  his  mouth.  All 
his  words  and  deeds,  including  his  miracles,  bore  testi- 
mony of  his  unchangeable  love  and  filial  devotion, 
*  He  spake  as  his  Father  had  told  him  to  speak.  He  lov- 
ed his  Father,  and  therefore  did  all  that  his  Father  had 
commanded  him.  He  kept  his  commandments  and 
remained  in  his  love.  He  made  known  his  Father's 
glory  upon  earth  and  completed  the  work  which  he  had 
entrusted  to  him  to  accomplish.' 

From  heartfelt  love  to  God,  he  undertook  the  reforma- 
tion and  salvation  of  the  human  race.  Amidst  all  the 
troubles,  nay,  amidst  the  most  friglitful  agonies  which  he 
was  obliged  to  suffer  in  order  to  bring  about  this  work  of 
reformation  and  salvation,  he  remained  faithful  to  God, 
and  adhered  firmly  to  the  position  :  "  I  delight,  O  my 
God,  to  do  thy  will."  He  was  always  satisfied  with  God, 
retained  confidence  in  him,  and  in  every  thing  gave  hitn- 
self  up  entirely  to  the  divine  guidance. 

From  love  to  God,  he  every  where  zealously  sought  to 
bring  all  men  to  do  him  honor.  He  taught  them  the 
will  of  God  in  truth,  and  with  deep  impression,  and 
directed  them  to  call  upon  him,  with  full  convic- 
tion of  his  greatness  and  in  uprightness  of  heart.  In 
order  to  advance  the  honor  of  God,  he  sought  to  extend 
wisdom,  virtue  and  good  feeling  around  every  where. 
He  exhorted  ignorant  and  wicked  men  and  laid  before 
them  the  most  impressive  motives  to  bring  them  to  relin- 
quish their  errors,  follies,  and  vices. 


EXHIBITION  OF  HIS  PIETY.  209 

From  love  to  God,  he  also  ever  held  the  Scriptures 
and  divine  worship,  in  very  great  esteem.  He  de- 
lighted to  speak  of  sacred  and  excellent  things,  and 
with  pleasure  resorted  to  the  temple  and  the  schools  or 
the  houses  of  prayer  of  the  Jews,  to  teach  his  Father's 
truth,  and  call  upon  him  in  the  assembly.  It  grieved  him 
to  find  the  place  set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God,  dese- 
crated by  things  and  business  sinful  and  altogether  op- 
posed to  such  worship,  as  is  evident  from  the  manner  in 
which,  on  two  occasions,  he  drove  the  buyers  and  sellers 
out  of  the  temple. 

And  then,  unfavorable  as  were  the  circumstances 
in  which  he  lived,  with  what  a  steady  glow,  did  the  feelings 
of  devotion  always  blaze  forth  from  his  heart !  His  piety' 
was  not  a  flickering  flame,  now  reduced  to  cold  embers, 
and  anon  bursting  forth  like  some  volcano  at  midnight. 
It  was  a  steady,  heaven-ward  glow  ;  or  if  it  ever  seemed 
to  blaze  up  brighter,  it  was  when,  from  holding  com- 
munion with  his  Father  at  the  gate  of  heaven,  he  on  a 
sudden  found  himself  back  in  the  world  among  vile 
sinners  ;  as  when  descending  from  the  holy  mount  of 
transfiguration,  he  saw  the  multitude  with  the  foaming 
and  gnashing  demoniac,  come  running  to  meet  him, 
and  groaning  in  himself,  seemed  to  long  for  his  own 
hallowed  regions. 

Fix  your  eyes  upon  this  example  of  piety  set  you  by 
Jesu.".  You  will  find  it  widely  different  from  all  those 
which  have  ever  been  set  you  by  men.  Their  examples 
are  all  more  or  less  imperfect,  and  the  more  you  examine 
them  the  worse  you  find  them  ;  but  this  is  perfect ;  and 
the  more  you  examine  it,  the  brighter  it  shines,  the  more 
glorious  it  appears. 

18* 


810 


THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 


SECTION  IV. 


The  zeal  of  Jesus  in  prayer. 

Among  all  who  were  in  the  habit  of  praying,  of  whom 
the  Bible  gives  account,  Jesus  is  the  most  distinguished 
and  full  of  zeal.  He,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  has  given 
us  the  best  precepts  in  regard  to  prayer,  and,  in  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  the  best  pattern  to  direct  us  in  the  forma- 
tion of  our  petitions,  himself,  as  I  have  already  hinted, 
held  frequent  intercourse  with  his  Father,  in  prayer  and 
heavenly  contemplation. 

He  often  betook  himself  to  solitary  places,  where,  in 
perfect  quiet,  he  could  occupy  himself  with  holy  thoughts, 
and,  without  being  disturbed,  give  himself  avvay  in  prayer 
to  God.  The  very  last  thing  he  did,  just  before  entering 
upon  his  duties  as  a  public  teacher,  was,  to  prepare  him- 
self for  the  work,  by  withdrawing  into  the  wilderness  and 
there  devoting  sometime  to  fasting  and  prayer.  As  soon 
as  he  had  heard  of  the  beheading  of  John  the  Baptist, 
he  retired  into  a  desert  place,  as  if  to  give  vent  to  his 
grief  for  the  loss  of  a  dear  friend,  in  prayer  ;  at  least,  we 
are  expressly  told,  that  after  escaping  from  the  multitude, 
which  followed  him  into  the  desert,  he  went  alone  up  in- 
to a  high  mountain  to  pray.  Before  he  raised  Lazarus 
from  the  dead,  he  was  secretly  engaged  in  prayer, — no 
doubt  for  the  divine  assistance,  for  he  says:  "Father, 
I  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  heard  me."  And  you  pro- 
bably all  remember  how  that  just  before  Judas  and  his 
company  came  upon  him,  in  the  dark  and  cold  night  in 


THE  ZEAL  OF  JESUS  IN  PRAYER.  211 

which  he  was  betrayed,  he  was  engaged  alone  in  the 
most  earnest  prayer. 

Such  are  some  of  the  instances  in  which  we  are  told 
that  Jesus  retired  by  himself  and  prayed.  In  looking  at 
them,  it  is  evident  that  he  prayed  in  a  way  that  was 
pleasing  to  God  ;  for,  on  more  than  one  occasion  was 
there  a  voice  heard  from  heaven,  saying  :  "  This  is  my 
beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  It  is  also 
evident,  that  he  prayed  from  his  very  heart,  and  with  hu- 
mility and  confidence  in  God,  and  perfect  resignation  to 
his  will ;  for,  at  the  close  of  each  petition  he  uttered  in 
the  garden,  though  overwhelmed  with  agonies,  he  repeat- 
ed :  "  Not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done."  And  moreover 
we  see  that  he  prayed  always,  or  in  other  words,  perse- 
vered in  prayer;  and  that  for  the  performance  of  this  du- 
ty, he  chose,  he  delighted  in  solitude. 

Here,  then,  my  young  friends,  you  have  the  example  of 
the  Savior  before  you,  in  regard  to  prayer.  Righteous 
and  divine  as  he  was,  he  felt  the  need  of  holy  converse 
with  God,  of  heavenly  aid,  and  devoted  much  of  his  time 
to  private  supplication.  Surely  then,  you,  sinful  and 
weak  as  you  are,  stand  in  need  of  the  divine  assistance, 
and  should  spend  much  of  your  time  in  secret  prayer. 
That  you  unite  with  others,  in  asking  God's  blessinc  at 
meals,  in  family  devotion  morning  and  evening,  and  in 
public  worship,  is  well;  but  this  is  not  enough.  Your 
other  religious  exercises,  indeed,  will  not  be  of  much  ad- 
vantage to  you,  if  this  duly  be  neglected  ;  for  genuine 
public  worship  is  but  the  united  flame  of  many  hearts 
that  have  been  set  on  fire  in  the  closet. 

Take  a  lesson  then  from  the  example  of  your  Savior, 
in  this  respect.  Let  not  the  noise  and  bustle  of  sportive 
or  gay  and  dissipated  company,  consume  all  your  time. 


212  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

Cheerful,  indeed,  you  may  be  ;  but  you  should  also  learn, 
even  in  your  youth,  to  be  thoughtful  and  meditative. 
Twice,  at  least,  every  day,  should  you  retire  to  your  room 
or  some  other  place,  where  you  will  be  free  from  inter- 
ruption, and  there  give  yourselves  up  to  serious  reflection 
upon  your  lives,  and  to  holy  converse  with  God,  fixing 
all  your  thoughts  and  feelings  upon  divine  things,  and 
laying  open  your  hearts  to  the  most  sacred  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Nor  should  you  be  hasty  in  performing 
this  duty.  Remain  at  the  altar  if  you  can,  until  you  feel 
heaven  glowing  in  your  souls  ;  at  least,  until  you  have  for 
a  time  thoroughly  abstracted  yourselves  from  the  world. 

And  do  you  ask  what  you  shall  pray  for  ?  It  is  a  poor 
question  for  a  sinner  to  ask,  surrounded  too  as  he  is  by 
a  world  of  sinners  like  himself  Have  you  forgotten  the 
Lord's  Prayer  ?  Pray  God  to  sanctify  your  heart,  pre- 
serve you  from  all  evil,  and  guide  you  into  all  that  is 
good  and  true.  Pray  for  your  parents,  teachers,  broth- 
ers and  sisters ;  for  your  sick  friends  ;  and  for  all  whom 
you  know  to  be  in  want.  Pray  God  for  strength  to  ena- 
ble you  to  perform  all  your  duties  ;  particularly  when 
you  have  any  very  solemn  and  arduous  work  before  you, 
as  did  Jesus  before  he  began  to  teach.  Pray  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  and  for  the  con- 
version of  all  the  world. 

And  believe  me, — the  early  and  continued  exercise  of 
"secret  prayfer,  will  have  a  most  happy  effect  upon  you, 
especially  in  making  you  more  and  more  the  children  of 
God.  Through  its  means  you  will  gradually  loarn  to 
draw  near  to  him  in  childlike  simplicity  and  confidence, 
and,  from  your  very  heart,  to  acquaint  him  with  all  your 
wishes  and  troubles,  just  as  you  come  to  yosir  parents 
and  tell  them  of  every  thing  that  bears  upon  your  minds  : 


TRUE   PRAYER  BRINGS  TRANQUILLITY.  213 

and  in  exact  proportion  as  you  are  able  to  do  this,  you 
will  find  it  at  all  times,  a  source  of  tranquillity  and  un- 
failing joy.  On  this  point  a  wise  and  excellent  man  has 
said  :  "  Whenever  I  feel  pressed  with  trouble  or  inclined 
to  be  restless  and  uneasy,  I  retire  in  secret  and  pour  out  my 
complaints  before  God  ;  and  how  it  is  I  know  not,  but  at 
the  close  of  my  prayer,  I  find  myself  as  calm  and  cheer- 
ful, as  if  nothing  had  been  the  matter."  The  same  ef- 
fects of  prayer  have  often  been  experienced  by  others. 
Rely  upon  this  testimony  and  look  for  similar  results. 
God  is  ever  faitiiful  to  his  promise.  The  prayer  of  the 
honest  heart, — of  one  who  looks  for  every  thing,  through 
Jesus  Christ,  at  the  hand  of  God,  and  relies  with  unwa- 
vering confidence  upon  the  pledge  of  the  Father  in  hea- 
ven,— the  prayer  of  such  an  one,  will  never  be  left  unan- 
Bwered. 

God  does  not  indeed  always  give  us  the  precise 
thing  we  ask  for  :  but  he  gives  us  something  far  bet- 
ter,— tranquillity  of  mind,  accompanied  with  wisdom  to 
aroid  difficuities,  patience  to  endure  them,  or  else  cour- 
age and  strength  to  conquer  them,  and,  above  all,  with 
glorious  hopes  of  unutterable  blessings  in  the  world  to 
come.  How  indeed  could  God,  consistently  with  his 
goodness,  gratify  all  our  requests  ?  We  often  go  to  him 
with  the  most  unreasonable  complaints,  and  ask  him  for 
things,  which  it  would  be  of  the  greatest  injury  for  us  to 
receive, — which  would  plunge  us  indeed  into  the  most  in- 
tolerable misery. 


214  TUE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 


SECTION  V. 


The  zeal  of  Jesus  in  praise. 

Jesus  has  not  only  set  us  an  example  in  praying  to 
God,  but  he  has  also  set  us  one  in  giving  him  praise. 
He  spent  his  whole  life  in  glorifying  God  in  deed  and  in 
truth.  He  also  embraced  every  opportunity  that  present- 
ed, to  utter  the  praises  of  God  and  give  him  thanks,  in 
public.  When  he  fed  the  five  thousand,  with  five  barley 
loaves  and  two  fishes,  and  a  year  afterwards  when  he  fed 
the  four  thousand  with  seven  loaves  and  a  few  small  fish- 
es, he  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven  and  gave  God  thanks 
for  the  food.  When  he  partook  of  the  last  supper  with 
his  disciples,  and  after  his  resurrection,  when  he  sat 
down  at  the  table  with  the  two  disciples  of  Emmaus,  he 
also  gave  God  thanks  for  what  was  before  them.  When 
he  was  about  to  call  Lazarus  forth  from  the  grave,  he  gave 
thanks  to  his  heavenly  Father,  for  having  heard  his  pray« 
er  for  a  blessing  and  for  divine  strength  ;  and  once  we 
are  told  that  he  and  his  disciples  praised  God,  by  uniting 
together  in  singing  a  hymn. 

Is  not  the  example  of  Jesus,  in  this  respect,  very  much 
overlooked  ?  Is  not  ingratitude  or  withholding  from  God 
the  praise  that  is  justly  his  due,  one  of  the  crying  sins  of 
the  world  ?  That  we  should  call  upon  God  when  in  dis' 
tress,  may  be  deemed  natural.  Many  a  sailor  who  never 
prayed  in  fair  weather,  has  fallen  upon  his  knees  in  the 
storm.  When,  however,  God  has  answered  our  prayers, 
bow  apt  we  are  to  forget  him  !     "  You  are  cursing  and 


THE   ZEAL  OF  JESVS  IN  PRAISE.  215 

swearing  now,"  said  a  captain  to  one  of  his  hands;  "  but 
last  night  I  saw  you  upon  your  knees?"  "  True,"  re- 
plied the  tar ;  "  but  then  the  storm  raged  around  us,  and 
we  were  expecting  every  moment  to  go  to  the  bottom ; 
now,  the  sea  is  smooth,  there  is  a  pleasant  sun,  and  our 
vessel  is  riding  safely  at  anchor."  We  receive  the  gift, 
and  the  Giver  is  forgotten.  What  must  be  the  character 
of  the  hearts  of  persons  naturally  so  ungrateful  ?  Ingrat- 
itude to  an  earthly  benefactor  is  denounced  as  marking 
the  basest  of  wretches  ;  and  yet  how  many  thousands 
there  are,  habitually  ungrateful  to  God ;  who,  like  the 
tiger  in  his  cage,  snatch  at  the  gift,  and  seem  to  set 
the  Giver  at  defiance  ! 

That  we  all  have  reason  enough  to  feel  grateful  to  God, 
who  can  question  ?  Look  upon  the  meanest  and  unhap- 
piest  persons  that  tread  the  earth.  A  few  hard  cases  to 
a  finite  mind,  will  be  discovered, — some,  in  regard  to 
which  all  that  we  can  do  will  be  to  say  :  '  Even  so,  Fa- 
ther, for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight.'  In  general, 
however,  we  shall  find  the  vilest  and  apparently  the  most 
unhappy,  surrounded  with  mercies,  and  see  blessings 
flowing  in  upon  them  from  their  Creator,  in  ceaselesa 
.streams. 

Have  you,  my  dear  readers,  hitherto  been  in  the  habit 
of  murmuring  at  your  hard  lot,  and  hence,  of  indulging 
in  ungrateful  feelings  towards  God  ?  Pause  for  a  few 
moments  and  indulge  in  rational  thought.  You  have  al- 
ways looked  upon  the  bright  side  of  your  own  characters 
and  the  dark  side  of  your  mercies.  Just  reverse  the  ta- 
bles. Think  how  unworthy  you  are  to  receive  any  thinof 
from  God.  Recollect  that  you  have  received  every  thing 
from  him, — life,  health,  reason,  parents,  friends,  the  gospel, 
hopes  of  immortality,  and  in  short,  blessings  too  many  to 


216  THE   VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

be  enumerated.  As  your  sins  and  mercies  pass  in  re- 
Tjew  before  you  and  you  call  your  ingratitude  to  mind, 
let  crimson  blushes  come  over  your  faces  in  the  presence 
of  God,  while,  excited  by  the  example  of  Jesus  to  deep 
repentance,  you  take  up  your  neglected  harp  and  string 
it  anew,  to  sing  his  praise.  And  having  once  opened 
your  hearts  to  such  an  emotion,  never  suffer  it  again  to  be 
ciosed.  Praise  your  Creator  for  the  past.  Praise  him 
for  all  the  new  favors  you  receive  from  his  hands.  Nev- 
er forget  to  thank  him  when  he  saves  you  from  danger 
or  restores  you  to  health.  Praise  him  for  keeping  your 
parents,  brothers,  and  sisters  from  disease  and  want. 
Praise  him  for  guarding  them  against  evil,  for  healing 
them  of  sickness,  rescuing  them  from  trouble,  and  sor- 
row, and  granting  ihem  cheerfulness  and  repose.  De- 
pend upon  it,  you  will  thus  praise  God,  if  you  are  truly 
his  children.  The  man  who  has  nothing  like  gratitude 
to  God  in  his  heart,  is  not  a  Christian  ;  and  if  there  be 
gratitude  in  the  heart,  it  will  of  course  flow  forth. 

And,  my  young  friends,  it  seems  to  me,  that  if  you 
wish  fully  to  imitate  the  example  of  Jesus,  in  this  respect, 
that  you  will  also  wish  to  learn  to  sing,  in  order  that  you 
may  praise  God  by  singing,  as  Jesus  and  his  disciples 
did.  For  what  other  purpose  did  God  give  us  musical 
voices  than  that  we  should  sing  his  praise  ?  And  be  as- 
sured that  if  you  feel  truly  grateful  to  God,  you  will  feel 
quite  happy,  for  gratefulness  is  a  very  happy  feeling. 


HIS  DILIGENCE.  217 


SECTION  VI. 

The  diligence  of  Jesus. 

One  feeling  seemed  constantly  to  pervade  the  soul  of 
Jesus,  while  he  was  in  the  world  :  "  My  Father  has 
work  for  me  here,  and  I  must  attend  to  it.  He  sent  me 
hither,  not  to  do  my  own  will,  but  his ;  and  it  is  my  meat 
and  my  drink  to  do  it." 

Accordingly,  the  Savior  was  always  diligent.  Every 
moment  of  his  life  was  passed  in  useful  labor.  In  his 
youth  and  the  private  part  of  his  muturer  years,  he  help- 
ed his  parents  in  their  domestic  affairs.  Having  entered 
upon  his  public  ministry,  he  exerted  himself  early  and 
late  to  do  good  and  serve  others,  and  was  all  the  time 
travelling  from  place  to  place,  healing  the  sick  by  the 
way  and  raising  the  dead,  or  else  engaged  in  teaching  his 
disciples,  reproving  and  exhorting  the  Jews  in  parables 
and  other  ways,  or  in  carrying  on  discussions  with  fierce 
opponents.  His  very  nights  were  often  spent  in  secret 
and  earnest  prayer  to  God,  instead  of  taking  that  repose 
which  wearied  nature  demanded.  While  others  slept  he 
prayed,  and  no  doubt  prayed  for  those  that  were  asleep. 
So  many  were  his  labors,  that  it  is  declared  at  the  close 
of  John's  Gospel,  that  if  they  were  all  written  out  with 
particularity,  the  world  itself  would  be  as  it  were  unable 
to  contain  the  books.  They  ended  only  with  his  dying 
exclamation  :  "  It  is  finished." 

Here,  in  the  example  of  Jesus,  see  confirmed  what  I 
said  to  you  on   the  parable  of  the   laborers  in  the  vine- 
yard,— that,  in  proportion  to  your  years  and  strength,  you 
19 


218  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

should  be  diligently  engaged  in  something  that  is  useful. 
God  has  provided  for  his  rational  creatures  in  the  early 
and  helpless  part  of  life.  Beyond  this  period,  however, 
he  leaves  them,  under  the  direction  of  his  providence,  to 
take  care  of  themselves, — to  acquire  strength  by  exercise, 
wisdom  by  thinking,  riches  by  labor,  friends  by  friend- 
ship, and  heaven  by  following  Jesus  Christ.  Indeed, 
he  himself  has  a  large  vineyard  here  on  earth,  in  which 
he  expects  us  all  to  labor  ;  and  the  same  feeling  should 
pervade  our  souls  in  this  respect,  as  did  that  of  Jesus  : 
'  I  must  be  doing  his  work.' 

Think  not,  however,  that  his  plans  and  operations  will 
suffer,  if  you  feel  disinclined  to  labor  in  his  vineyard.  It 
is  your  privilege  to  do  so.  You  will  fare  better  for  it, 
even  in  this  world.  When  death  comes,  you  will  be  able, 
like  Jesus,  to  bow  and  say,  *  My  work  on  earth  is  finish- 
ed ;'  and  in  the  world  to  come,  you  will  receive  a  glori- 
ous reward.  But  if  you  are  determined  to  remain 
idle, — be  assured,  as  the  dying  Reinhard  remarked,  *  that 
God  is  too  perfect  in  wisdom  to  suffer  his  plans  and  op- 
erations to  depend  upon  imperfection.'  He  can  well  get 
along  without  you.  '  He  does  not  need  either  the  work 
of  man,  or  his  own  gifts.  He  is  a  king,  and  has  only  to 
speak  the  word,  and  thousands  will  spring  to  life,  ready  to 
post  without  rest,  over  land  and  sea,  in  executing  his  will.' 


HIS  LOVE  OF    UPRIGHTNESS,  TRUTH,  ETC.  219 


SECTION  VII. 


The  uprightness  of  Jesus,  his  love  of  truth  and  frankness. 

The  virtues  of  uprightness,  love  of  truth,  and  frank- 
ness, which  are  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  were  all 
taught  by  the  Savior,  are  also  virtues  which  he  ever  put 
in  practice.  From  his  mouth  there  never  came  forth  a 
false  or  disguised  word  ;  in  conduct  he  never  showed 
himself  deceptive.  He  spake  and  lived,  according  to  his 
convictions  of  what  was  right  and  what  was  wrong, 
whether  in  private  or  in  public  ;  whether  enjoying  the 
countenance  of  his  friends,  or  frowned  upon  by  his  ene- 
mies. 

Conspicuous  was  he  in  all  these  respects  in  his  inter- 
course with  the  Pharisees.  He  spake  and  acted  before 
them  as  he  thought  was  right,  notwithstanding  their  mur- 
murs. When  he  addressed  them,  proud  and  impious  as 
they  were,  he  always  did  it,  with  the  utmost  candor  and 
correctness  of  feeling, — revealing  to  them  their  wicked- 
ness and  hypocrisy,  without  maintaining  in  this  regard 
the  least  reserve.  The  parables  which  he  often  employ- 
ed, are  not  exceptions  to  this  remark.  He  used  them  for 
the  very  purpose  of  obtaining  a  more  certain  access  to 
the  heart. 

It  is  true,  that  by  means  of  these  traits  of  character, 
he  was  constantly  creating  enemies  ;  but  he  deemed  the 
truth  of  far  more  importance  than  every  thing  else  ;  and 
he  looked  upon  it  as  his  business  to  make  it  known  at  all 
times  and   defend    it,  both  in  his  words   and    actions. 


220  THE  VIRTUES  OP  JESUS. 

Neither  the  power  and  authority  of  those  before  whom  he 
lived  and  spake,  nor  the  dangers,  persecutions,  tempta- 
tions and  threatenings  to  which  he  was  exposed,  could 
deter  him  from  his  duty  in  these  respects. 

Lovely  and  divine  example,  but  one  now  rarely  to  be 
found  among  either  old  or  young,  to  any  great  degree  of 
perfection  !  Jesus  has  indeed  told  us  not  to  fear  man, 
who  can  only  kill  the  body,  but  to  fear  him  who  can  de- 
stroy both  soul  and  body  in  hell  ;  but  many  heed  it 
not.  The  Savior's  words,  too :  "  Be  ye  wise  as  ser- 
pents and  harmless  as  doves,"  are  made  to  mean  such 
wisdom  and  harmlessness  as  the  old  Serpent  evinced, 
when,  by  intrigue  and  hellish  guile,  he  persuaded  Eve  to 
eat  of  the  forbidden  fruit,  assuring  her  it  was  quite  a 
harmless  offence,  and  that  she  should  not  surely  die. 
And  yet  how  peaceful  and  happy  is  the  life  and  the  death 
of  him,  who  always  acts  like  Jesus  in  this  respect !  Me- 
thinks  it  will  be  honor  and  bliss  enough  to  have  him  say 
of  MS,  as  he  did  of  Nathaniel :  "  Behold  an  Israelite,  in 
whom  there  is  no  guile  !" 

Clear  as  Siloe's  limpid  fountain, 

Jesus,  let  my  heart  be  found  ; 
Firm  in  God.  as  yonder  mountain, 

While  the  ocean  beats  around. 

Thus  didst  thou,  dear  blessed  Savior, 

Feel  on  earth,  the  truth's  control, 
And  in  frankness  of  behavior, 

Speak  the  meaning  of  thy  soul. 

Oft  beguiled,  I'll  still  remember, 

Like  my  guileless  Lord  to  live. 
Cool  in  love  the  burning  ember. 

And  tho'  dying  pray,  "Forgive." 


HIS  TENDER  LOVE  FOR  MANKIND.  221 

Guileless  is  the  world  of  glory, 

And  the  heavenly  sky  serene  ; 
Not  a  traitor  young  or  hoary, 

Walks  the  fadeless  fields  of  green. 


SECTION  VIII. 


The  love  and  tender  compassion  of  Jesus  for  mankind. 

Jesus  showed  himself  the  greatest  friend  to  the  chil- 
dren of  men,  that  has  ever  lived  on  earth.  He  entered 
the  world  for  the  sole  purpose  of  benefiting  them.  He 
wished  to  make  them  wise,  pious,  cheerful,  and  eternally 
happy.  He  came  not  to  be  served;  but  to  serve  others, 
and  labor  for  the  good  of  many,  and  lay  down  his  life  as 
a  ransom  for  them  in  death  on  the  cross.  Accordingly, 
every  thing  he  did,  bore  marks  of  the  kindness  and  good- 
ness of  his  heart.  We  find  him  on  all  appropriate  occa- 
sions, seeking,  by  admonition  and  instruction,  to  bring 
men  to  do  right,  to  feel  benevolent,  obliging,  and  com- 
passionate towards  each  other,  and  to  render  them  truly 
happy. 

In   him  the  sorrowful,   in  particular,   always  found  a 

comforter  rich  in  love,  and  the  suffering  a  helper  ready  to 

impart  relief     To  the   blind  he  gave   sight,  to  the   deal 

hearing,  to  the  dumb  speech,  and  to  the  lame  the  use  of 

19* 


222  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS, 

their  limbs.  He  cured  all  manner  of  diseases  and  com- 
plaints,— the  palsied,  the  leprous,  and  the  epileptic,  or 
persons  afflicted  with  the  falling  sickness  and  the  most 
frightful  spasms.  He  dispelled  the  sorrow  of  the  poor  wid- 
ow for  an  only  son,  and  dried  up  the  tears  of  the  mourn- 
ing Jairus  for  an  only  daughter.  There  were  indeed 
no  exceptions  to  his  bounty. 

He  regarded  neither  religion,  rank,  nor  nation.  The 
simple  fact  that  help  was  needed  and  earnestly  requested, 
was  the  only  thing  that  he  took  into  consideration.  To 
all  such,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles,  the  tender  language 
of  his  heart  was :  '  Come  to  me,  all  ye  who  are  afflicted 
and  weighed  down  with  sorrow,  especially  with  the  bur- 
den of  your  sins,  and  I  will  receive  you,  revive  you, 
and  give  you  rest.'  The  Samaritans,  the  Canaanitish 
woman,  and  the  Roman  centurion,  alike  found  in  him  a 
physician,  a  helper,  and  a  kind  benefactor. — He  never 
did  any  thing  to  injure.  All  his  miracles  were  of  a  be- 
nevolent tendency,  and  were  expressly  wrought  for  the 
confirmation  of  faith,  the  comfort  of  the  sorrowful,  the 
restoration  of  the  sick,  or  the  rescuing  of  the  miserable, 
from  their  sorrows  and  plagues. 

No, — the  blessed  Savior  never  made  any  exceptions  in 
the  conferment  of  his  favors,  but  those  that  he  was  oblig- 
ed to  make.  He  never  was  known  to  injure  any  one. 
His  love  was  most  tender  and  unbounded.  It  flowed  forth 
to  all  mankind.  When  I  think  of  this,  I  cannot  forbear 
asking  why  the  Jews  and  Romans  treated  him  so  unkind- 
ly ;  nay,  I  cannot  help  asking  why  he  is  so  unkindly  treat- 
ed by  multitudes  among  us  ;  for  they  speak  of  him  and 
revile  his  name,  as  though  he  were  the  most  cruel  and 
wicked  of  beings. 


his  impartiality.     a  prayer.  223 

Prayer. 

Jesus,  my  Lord  and  my  Savior,  how  full  of  kindness 
and  friendship  wast  thou  while  on  earth  ;  how  very  com- 
passionate, and  ready  to  help,  and  serve  others  !  Grant 
me  also  a  disposition  early  to  begin  to  help  and  serve 
others,  as  thou  didst.  Feeble  indeed  at  present,  are  my 
means  and  strength  for  such  duties  ;  but  mercifully  grant, 
that  I  may  ever  find  within  me  as  great  willingness  and  anx- 
iety to  do  good  as  I  have  opportunity  and  ability.  Never 
leave  me  to  ridicule  those  who  are  simple,  or  injured  in 
mind,  or  lame,  or  in  any  way  defective  in  body, — as  wicked 
children  often  do.  Whenever  I  see  such  persons,  may  I 
call  to  mind,  what  kindness  they  received  from  thee.  Help 
me  to  pray  for  them,  and  show  myself  compassionate  to- 
wards them,  as  thou  didst.  Aid  me  also  in  giving  thee 
thanks  for  the  many  favors,  which,  without  any  service  or 
worth  of  mine,  thou  hast  shown  to  me,  but  not  to  them. 
Preserve  me,  blessed  Lord  and  Savior,  preserve  me  from 
all  hardness  of  heart  and  cruelty  of  disposition, — from 
envy,  hatred  and  injustice.  Give  me  a  mind  and  heart, 
like  thine,  ready  to  do  good  to  every  one,  and  to  rejoice 
over  the  prosperity  of  others. 


224  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS, 


SECTION  IX. 


The  humility  of  Jesus. 

From  his  very  childhood,  Jesus  was  conspicuous  for 
the  great  virtue  of  humility.  He  lived  in  the  family  of 
his  parents,  who  were  poor  and  humble  in  life,  altogeth- 
er unknown,  and  concealed  from  the  world.  When  af- 
terwards he  came  forward  in  public,  as  a  teacher  of  man- 
kind, he  did  it,  without  ever  making  any  boastful  display 
of  his  power  and  greatness.  He  often  performed  his 
benevolent  works,  his  miracles,  in  private,  and  forbade 
those  whom  he  had  aided,  from  saying  any  thing  of  the 
kindness  he  had  shown  them.  He  associated  with  those 
who  were  poor,  humble  in  life,  and  treated  by  the  proud 
Pharisees  with  contempt,  showing  towards  them  a  heart 
overflowing  with  love.  On  the  last  evening  of  his  life, 
he  did  to  his  disciples,  what  the  meanest  servants  of  the 
family  were,  in  other  cases,  obliged  to  do  for  guests, — 
he  washed  their  feet,  thus  teaching  them  by  this  his  hum- 
ble conduct,  how  they  were  to  associate  together  and  per- 
form all  manner  of  services  for  each  other,  without  any 
pride, — with  the  utmost  readiness  of  heart.  And  here, 
too,  I  might  point  you  to  the  indignities  to  which  he  sub- 
mitted, when  betrayed  by  Judas,  and  led  away  to  Pilate's 
Judgment  hall,  and  standing  before  Herod, — how  he  was 
falsely  accused,  and  mocked  and  spit  upon,  and  finally 
crucified, — and  all,  without  uttering  a  murmuring  word. 
He  was  led  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter  and  as  a  sheep 
that  is  dumb  before  her  shearers,  so  he  opened  not  his 


HE  WAS  A  TRUE  FRIEND.  225 

mouth.  And  forget  not,  the  wonderful  humility  he  ex- 
hibited in  coming  down  from  his  glorious  abode  in  the 
heavens  at  first,  to  lead  such  a  life  and  to  submit  to  such 
a  death.  O  I  cannot  help  thinking  how  humble  those 
ought  to  be  who  profess  to  be  like  him  ! 


SECTION  X. 


Jesus  a  true  friend. 

Jesus  was  very  susceptible  of  friendship,  and  had  a  few 
choice  spirits  with  whom  he  associated.  There  Was  a 
family  which  he  loved  and  often  visited,  at  Bethany.  Of 
this  family  Lazarus  was  taken  sick  and  died.  How 
tenderly  was  Jesus  affected  when  he  heard  of  the  death 
of  this  friend  ;  how  he  groaned  in  himself  and  wept  as 
he  drew  near  to  the  grave  to  raise  him  from  the  dead, 
and  saw  Mary  and  the  Jews  drowned  in  tears !  Doubt- 
less other  sorrows  pressed  heavily  upon  him  and  weighed 
down  his  spirits  ;  but  who  can  question  that  he  was  in  real 
grief  for  his  friend  !  His  very  enemies  present,  ex- 
claimed, as  they  looked  upon  him  :  "  Behold,  how  he 
loved  him  !" 

The  susceptibility  of  Jesus  for  friendship,  however,  is 
particularly  evident  from  the  intercourse  he   held  with 


226  THE  VIRTUES  OF  JESUS. 

his  disciples.  Of  these  he  had  chosen  twelve,  to  be  his 
intimate  associates  ;  and  to  them  he  ever  showed  himself 
a  firm  and  sincere  friend.  In  their  absence  he  defended 
them  against  unjust  accusations.  With  the  utmost  frank- 
ness and  honesty  of  heart,  he  gave  them  the  best  of  coun- 
sel and  instruction.  He  never  flattered  them,  but  always, 
with  impartiality,  told  them  their  faults,  in  regard  to 
which,  he  had  to  treat  them  with  much  lenity  and  for- 
bearance. One  of  them  in  particular,  on  account  of  his 
close  resemblance  in  tenderness  of  disposition  to  him- 
self, was  his  favorite,  and  called  the  beloved  disciple. 
You  remember  his  name  was  John.  He  sat  next  to  his 
master,  and  as  all  reclined  upon  their  left  elbows,  lean- 
ed upon  his  breast,  at  the  last  supper. 

And  how  very  much  was  Jesus  grieved,  that  Judas 
had  formed  the  hard-hearted  and  wicked  purpose  of  be- 
traying him,  and  was  thus  about  to  plunge  himself  into 
the  greatest  misery  !  Many  were  the  affectionate  hints 
he  gave  him  in  order  to  bring  him  to  relinquish  his  base 
design.  With  what  kindness  too  and  seriousness  did  he 
warn  Peter  not  to  suffer  himself  to  be  led  astray  and  be- 
come unfaithful,  by  the  ardor  of  his  feelings!  And  when 
Peter  denied  him,  how  careful  was  he,  not  in  the  very 
moment  in  which  Peter  did  it,  but  at  the  most  proper 
time,  to  remind  him  of  his  guilt,  by  a  reproving  look. 
And  how  readily  too  he  forgave  Peter  his  sins  as  soon  as 
he  confessed  them  and  wept  over  them  in  true  repent- 
ance ! 

And  then  the  susceptibility  of  Jesus  for  friendship, 
jippeared  in  the  readiness  with  which  he  assisted  his 
friends  when  they  were  in  want,  and  undertook  to  comfort 
them  in  their  sorrows  and  cares.  Here  let  me  refer  you 
again  tq  the  death  of  Lazarus,      With  what  promptness 


A  FRIEND  TO  ALL  WHO  LOVE  HIM.  227 

did  he  hasten,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  to 
the  consolation  of  the  sisters  of  the  deceased  !  On  the 
last  evening  of  his  life,  he  gave  his  disciples  a  farewell 
discourse,  full  of  tenderness  and  the  most  heartfelt  friend- 
ship. As  a  friend  near  to  death,  he  taught  and  consoled 
them  ;  and  in  a  powerful  and  most  solemn  prayer,  to  his 
heavenly  Father,  he  entreated  him  to  take  care  of  them, 
to  stand  by  them,  and  to  grant  them  his  assistance. 

And  need  I  tell  you,  dear  youth,  that  Jesus  has  a  friend- 
ship for  all  who  love  him,  and  a  friendship  strong,  accord- 
ing as  they  resemble  him  in  their  hearts  ?  He  himself  has 
already  told  us  so,  in  the  most  expressive  language  ;  for 
do  you  not  love  your  mother  and  brother  and  sister  ?  And 
yet  Jesus  told  some  who  had  just  informed  him  that  his 
mother  and  his  brethren  stood  at  the  door  desiring  to 
speak  with  him,  that  whosoever  should  do  the  will  of  his 
Father  in  heaven,  should  be  as  dear  to  him  as  a  mother 
or  sister  or  brother.  But  let  me  also  remind  you,  that 
you  are  now  in  an  age  in  which  the  inclination  to  friend- 
ship begins  to  become  more  and  more  lively  and  warm. 

From  Jesus  then  learn  to  cultivate  a  friendship  which 
is  wise  and  virtuous.  Make  choice  of  those  persons  for 
your  friends  who  love  God.  Remain  faithful  to  them  un- 
til death.  Bear  with  their  weaknesses  and  defects. 
Never  flatter  them.  When  they  think  and  do  wrong, 
tell  them  of  it,  and  endeavor  to  bring  them  to  better 
thoughts  and  actions.  Be  at  all  times  ready  to  help  and 
serve  them.  Pray  for  them.  Recognize  their  love  to  you 
with  gratitude  ;  and  when  you  come  to  die,  commend 
them  to  Jesus  Christ  your  Lord  and  your  God, 


228  THE  VIRTUES  OP  JESUS. 

SECTION  XI. 
The  love  of  Jesus  for  enemies. 

Mankind,  to  whom  Jesus  was  sent  by  God,  in  order  to 
save  them  and  make  them  happy,  were  almost  wholly  his 
enemies,  because  they  were  wicked  and  had  transgress- 
ed the  commandments  of  his  heavenly  Father.  He  con- 
tinued, however,  during  his  whole  life,  to  love  them  with 
heartfelt  love.  He  exerted  himself  incessantly,  to  preach 
to  them  true  wisdom,  and  the  fear  of  God  in  the  heart, 
to  procure  for  them  the  grace  of  God,  and  to  render  them 
eternally  happy.  And  how  much  he  had  to  suffer  in  the 
performance  of  his  labors!  He  had  no  home.  While 
the  foxes  had  holes  and  the  birds  of  the  air  had  nests,  the 
Son  of  man,  as  he  himself  tells  us,  found  not  where  as  a 
home,  to  lay  his  head.  By  the  wicked  people  among 
whom  he  lived,  he  was  sorely  oppressed,  persecuted  and 
calumniated  ;  but  he  never  retorted.  Those  who  cen- 
sured him,  never  received  censure  from  him  in  return. 
He  on  no  occasion  rewarded  evil  for  evil.  He  meekly 
bore  all  the  sorrows  and  vexations  brought  upon  him  by 
his  opposers,  and  ever  preserved  the  kindest  and  most 
tender  feelings  towards  the  nation  which  treated  him 
with  such  cruel  hostility.  He  healed  their  sick,  he  com- 
forted their  sorrowful,  and  he  taught  their  ignorant.  A 
few  days  before  his  death,  he  burst  out  in  tears  over  the 
city  of  Jerusalem  as  he  caught  sight  of  it  from  the  top 
of  Olivet,  and  thought  of  the  misery  that  was  coming 
upon  it  on  account  of  its  sins,  and  the  sad  destruction 
which  hung  over  the  heads  of  his  enemies.  I  have  more 
to  say  to  you  upon  this  subject,  but  shall  say  it  in  the 
next  section. 


HIS  LOVE  AND  CONFIDENCE  IN  GOD.       229 


SECTION  XII. 


Jesus  in  his  sufferings  and  death. 

From  what  I  have  now  said,  dear  youth,  you  see  how 
good  and  holy  was  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Savior. 
Take  now,  into  more  particular  consideration,  his  con- 
duct during  his  sufferings  and  in  death,  and  you  will  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  divine  virtues  that  he  exhibit- 
ed, during  the  whole  of  his  life  upon  earth,  in  all  their 
greatness  and  dignity. 

I.  Look  at  his  love  and  confidence  in  God. 

He  shrunk  not  for  a  single  moment  even  in  death, 
from  obedience  to  his  heavenly  Father.  He  well  knew 
that  the  most  unspeakable  sufferings  awaited  him  at  Je- 
rusalem ;  and  yet^in  the  performance  of  duty,  he  volun- 
tarily went  up  thither.  They  came  upon  him,  weighing 
down  his  tender  frame  ;  but  not  a  murmur  did  they  draw 
forth  from  his  mouth  ;  no  signs  of  impatience  did  they 
cause  him  to  exhibit,  nor  any  want  of  confidence  in  God. 
Firm  in  spirit  and  perfectly  resigned  to  the  divine  will, 
we  find  him  kneeling  in  ardent  prayer,  in  the  midst  of 
the  fearful  onset  of  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  praying 
too  from  his  very  heart, — in  sincerity  and  in  truth.  '  O 
my  Father,'  he  exclaims,  going  away  alone  three  times 
and  casting  himself  upon  the  cold  ground,  repeating  the 
same  words, — '  O  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this 
cup  pass  from  me,  but  yet  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt. 
If,  according  to  thy  wise  counsel,  I  must  drink  it,  thy 
20 


230         JESUS  IN  HIS  LAST  SUFFERINGS. 

will  be  done.'  When  at  length  a  dark  cloud  seemed  to 
hang  midway  between  him  and  God,  intercepting  every 
ray  from  the  divine  countenance,  his  language  was  not 
that  of  disappointed  hope.  He  was  not  thrown  into  de- 
spair. Tt  was  evidently  with  feelings  of  filial  resignation 
and  confidence,  though  as  a  sorrowing  and  deserted 
child,  he  cried  out :  "  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou 
forsaken  me."  And  finally,  when  at  last  he  tasted  of 
the  cup  of  vinegar,  handed  in  cruel  mockery  to  quench 
his  dying  thirst, — hid  as  God's  face  had  been,^-we  hear 
him  saying  with  a  loud  voice  :  "  Father,  into  thy  hands 
I  commend  my  spirit." 

Wonderful  example  of  holy  love  and  confidence,  in  the 
most  trying  circumstances  !  It  ought  to  make  us  asham- 
ed of  our  coldness  and  indifference  in  prosperity,  and 
furnish  us  with  strength  and  confidence,  in  the  hour  of 
adversity.  How  was  the  Redeemer  tempted  and  tried 
and  agonized,  without  shrinking  or  wavering  for  an  in- 
stant ;  but  we,  poor  creatures,  though  he  has  engaged 
to  be  with  us,  fly  from  the  first  appearance  of  danger,  or 
meanly  capitulate  with  the  enemy — Cannot  watch  and 
pray  with  the  Savior  one  hour  ! 

II.  Iiook  at  the  gentle  and  affectionate  conduct  of  Jesus, 
in  his  last  hours  of  sorrow,  towards  his  enemies. 

He  had  long  seen  that  he  should  be  betrayed  by  Ju- 
das, and  as  a  friend,  in  one  way  and  another,  often  given 
him  the  kindest  hints  as  to  the  subject,  and  gently 
warned  him  to  relinquish  this  purpose.  He  even  knew 
this  disciple  to  be,  at  this  very  time,  full  of  the  intention 
of  betraying  him,  and  thinking  of  nothing  but  how  to 
seize  him  and  deliver  him  to  the  Jews.     And  yet  with 


HIS  GENTLE  CONDUCT  TO  HIS  ENEMIES.  231 

all  the  meekness  imaginable,  he  met  him  at  the  last  sup- 
per, condescended  to  wash  his  feet,  as  he  did  those  of 
the  rest  of  his  disciples,  and  to  give  him  other  affection- 
ate hints.  He  was  even  heard  to  groan  in  spirit  as  he 
spake  of  what  was  soon  to  take  place  ;  while  by  the  very 
gentleness  of  his  conduct,  it  was  made  evident,  that,  so 
far  from  being  angry,  his  heart  was  overflowing  with 
grief  at  the  thought,  that  one  of  those  with  whom  he  had 
so  long  associated,  was,  by  acting  such  a  wicked  part, 
about  to  ruin  himself  forever.  And  when  from  the  ago- 
nies of  the  garden,  he  arose  to  meet  the  traitor  and  his 
attendants,  and,  receiving  from  him  the  salutation  of 
kindness  and  love,  was  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
Jews,  it  was  without  uttering  a  single  reproachful  word. 
'  Friend,  wherefore  art  thou  come  ?  Betrayest  thou,  Ju- 
das, the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss?'  This  was  the  gentle 
language  that  flowed  forth  from  his  lips. 

The  band  of  men  and  offieers  by  whom  he  was  seized, 
were  confounded  at  the  very  words  :  /  am  he, — he  whom 
ye  seek,  and  sunk  down  in  terror  to  the  ground.  And 
yet  he  did  not  avail  himself  of  their  confusion,  to  injure 
them,  or  to  effect  his  escape.  It  was  only  necessary  for 
him  to  speak  the  word,  and  myriads  of  angels  would 
have  descended  from  heaven  to  his  assistance  and  the  ut- 
ter destruction  of  his  enemies.  And  yet  he  availed  him- 
self not  of  this  power  ;  he  returned  them  not  evil  for  evil. 
He  submitted  to  them  without  resistance.  He  told  Pe- 
ter to  do  them  no  injury,  and  healed  the  ear  of  the  servant 
Malchus,  which  this  disciple  had  wounded  with  his 
sword.  •-  He  was  falsely  accused  and  was  calumniated, 
as  well  as  mocked  and  scourged  and  spit  upon,  and,  in 
ridicule,  clothed  with  a  purple  robe  and  crowned  with 
thorns.     Even  after  he   was  nailed  to  the  cross,  he  was 


232         JESUS  IN  HIS  LAST  SUFFERINGS. 

railed  at  and  covered  with  taunts  and  reproaches.  And 
yet,  wonderful  example  of  meekness!  he  never  showed 
the  least  appearance  of  anger  in  return,  towards  those 
who  thus  abused  him.  On  the  contrary,  he  retained  to- 
wards them,  a  soul  full  of  gentleness  and  love,  and  in 
reply  to  their  bitter  sarcasms,  was  only  heard  to  breathe 
forth  the  prayer  :  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do." 

III.  And  finally ,  let  me  ask  you  to  look  at  the  filial  love 
which  Jesus  showed  in  his  last  moments,  for  his  mother. 

He  might  surely  have  been  excused  from  exercising 
very  particular  care  on  her  account,  at  this  dreadful  hour, 
and  have  trusted  her  in  the  hands  of  his  beloved  disciple, 
without  laying  upon  him  any  express  injunction,  in  her 
behalf  He  had  ever  honored  his  parents,  and  who  in 
this  case  would  have  thought  the  worse  of  him  ?  But  he 
is  not  satisfied  to  do  so.  He  does  not  forget  her,  nor  fail 
to  make  particular  provision  for  her  future  wants.  And 
in  how  natural,  brief  and  expressive  a  manner  does  he 
do  it !  She  and  the  beloved  John  are  standing  together 
at  the  foot  of  his  cross.  He  discovers  them.  "  Wo- 
man," says  he,  "  behold  thy  son  ;"  and  to  the  beloved 
disciple:  "  Behold  thy  mother."  John  enters  at  once 
into  all  the  meaning  of  the  language.  From  this  moment 
he  takes  care  of  her  as  his  own  mother,  and  has  her  to 
live  with  him  in  his  own  house. 

Widely  different  from  this  conduct  of  our  Savior  is  the 
manner  in  which  many  a  youth  treats  his  parents,  when 
they  become  old  and  feeble.  Worn  out  perhaps  with  the 
cares  and  watch! ngs  they  have  gone  through  with,  for 
their  children,  they  now  too  often  receive  from  them  at 


THE  LOVE  HE  SHOWED  FOR  HIS  MOTHER.  233 

best,  nothing  but  indifferent  looks  and  expressions.  The 
father  stoops  with  age,  leans  trembling  on  his  staff  as  he 
walks,  and  gropes  with  blindness,  and  therefore  his 
youthful  son  cannot  endure  him.  The  grey-headed, 
palsied,  and  perhaps  childish  mother,  has  also  become  a 
burden.  They  go  mourning  down  to  their  graves. 
Their  son  has  forgotten  that  he  was  once  a  child,  and  al- 
so all  the  follies  for  which  he  has  received  their  forgive- 
ness ;  or  perhaps  he  is  longing  for  the  paternal  estate, 
and  this  avaricious  desire  has  frozen  up  his  soul. 

The  widowed  mother,  in  particular, — deprived  of  the 
companion  of  her  youth,  and  left  to  finish  the  journey  of 
life  alone, — how  often  does  she  find  her  heart  filled  with 
daggers,  by  the  conduct  of  children,  who  now  think 
themselves  delivered  from  parental  restraints  and  at  lib- 
erty to  act  as  they  please.  AVould  to  God  that  the  laws 
of  our  land  did  not  encourage  such  thoughts.  For 
scarcely  is  the  father  laid  in  the  grave,  before  the  inex- 
perienced lad  finds  himself  surrounded  by  giddy  com- 
panions, whispering  in  his  ears,  that  his  mother  can  no 
longer  hold   him,  and  advising  him  to  assert  his  rights. 

Thanks  to  God,  however,  the  law  of  filial  gratitude  is 
still  in  force.  '  Hear,  my  dear  son,'  said  the  dying  and 
good  old  Tobias,  '  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  hold 
them  fast  in  thy  heart.  Should  the  Lord  take  away  my 
soul,  having  performed  for  me  the  rites  of  burial,  contin- 
ue to  honor  thy  mother,  all  the  days  of  her  life,  ever  mind- 
ful of  the  danger,  care  and  pain  she  has  had  on  thy  ac- 
'count.'  Louder  still  is  the  language  of  the  Son  of  God, 
in  the  example  of  filial  love  that  he  set  us  on  the 
cross.     And  the  grateful  heart  responds  : 

"  Yes,  my  dear  mother,  I   will  continue  to  honor  thee. 
Just   now,  I  thought  I   saw   a  tear  starting  in  thy  eye. 
20* 


234  CONCLUSION  OF  JESUS'  LIFE  ON  EARTH. 

Why  was  it  ?  Didst  thou  call  to  mind  what  thou  hast 
suffered  for  me  in  times  pa.st,  and  fear  that  perhaps  I 
should  prove  ungrateful  ?  Thou  hadst  reason  for  such 
fears,  for  I  have  often  hurt  thy  feelings  ;  but  forgive  the 
past,  I  have  come  to  my  senses  and  shall  do  so  no  more. 
In  health  will  I  stand  by  thee,  in  sickness,  kneel  at  thy 
side  and  hang  over  thy  couch,  in  death  receive  thy  last 
breath  ;  and,  having  buried  thee,  I  will  strew  the  flowers 
around  thy  grave.  Fear  not,  my  dear  mother,  but  in  me 
behold  ihy  child,  and  weep  and  fear  no  more." 

My  Mother. 

Often  into  folly  straying, 

(Best  of  mothers,)  have  I  grieved  her  ! 

Often  heard  her  for  me  praying, 

Till  the  gushing  tears  relieved  her, 

And  she  gently  rose  and  smiled. 

Whispering,  God  will  keep  my  child. 

She  was  youthful  then  and  sprightly  ; 

Fondly  on  my  father  leaning, 
Sweet  she  spoke,  her  eyes  shone  brightly, 

And  her  words  were  full  of  meaning  ; 
Now, — an  autumn  leaf  decayed, — 
I  perhaps  have  made  it  fade. 

Well,  whatever  ills  betide  thee, 

Rueful  for  the  past,  I'll  share, 
In  thy  sickness,  watch  beside  thee. 

And  beside  thee,  kneel  in  prayer. 
Best  of  mothers,  on  my  breast 
Lean  thy  head  and  sink  to  rest. 


HIS  RESURRECTION.  235 


SECTION  XIII. 


II.  The  conclusion  of  the  life  of  jesus  upon  earth. 

The  resurrection  of  Jesus. 

Had  the  Savior  remained  in  his  grave,  we  should  not 
in  reality  have  known  what  to  think  of  him.  We  should 
even  then  indeed,  have  been  obliged  to  love  and  honor 
him  as  a  man  of  great  wisdom  and  of  a  good  heart, — as 
one  who  had  done  acts  of  benevolence  to  multitudes  of 
the  human  race,  led  a  blameless  life,  and  suffered  a  most 
unjust  and  cruel  death.  But  we  should  not  truly  know 
whether  he  were  the  ambassador  of  God  and  the  Savior 
of  men,  as  he  solemnly  gave  himself  out  to  be,  and  made 
his  character  known  ;  for  then  his  declaration,  that  he 
should  rise  again  on  the  third  day, — a  declaration  by 
which  his  authority  as  such  an  ambassador  and  Savior, 
was  to  be  confirmed,  would  have  remained  unfulfilled.  In 
this  case  indeed,  our  faith  would  be  altogether  without 
foundation  ;  as  Paul  said  to  the  Corinthians  :  '  If  Christ 
has  not  risen  from  the  dead,  then  your  faith  is  in  vain.' 

Jesus  however  has  risen  from  the  dead.  People  went 
to  his  tomb  on  the  third  day,  and  his  body  was  not  to  be 
found  there.  Angels  whom  they  there  saw,  told  them 
that  he  had  risen.  A  little  before,  there  had  been  a 
great  earthquake,  in  the  midst  of  which  a  glorious  per- 
sonage descended  from  heaven  and  rolled  away  the  stone 
from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre,  when  Jesus  came  forth, 
while  the  Roman  soldiers  who  had  watched  around  it  all 


236  CONCLUSION   OF  JESUs'  LIFE  ON  EARTH. 

the  night,  trembled  and  became  as  dead  men.  Jesus  too 
himself,  a  little  while  afterwards,  made  his  appearance 
to  those  people  who  had  come  to  see  his  corpse.  He  also 
made  his  appearance  to  a  large  number  of  others,  partic- 
ularly to  his  disciples  and  intimate  friends,  and  ate,  drank 
and  conversed  with  them,  meeting  them  in  their  assemblies, 
especially  on  the  Lord's  day  or  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
and  working  a  great  variety  of  miracles  in  their  presence, 
for  a  period  of  forty  days.  Nobody  who  believes  the 
Bible  can  hesitate  for  a  moment  to  believe  that  Jesus 
has  risen  from  the  dead. 

Now  God,  by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  from  the  dead, 
has  given  us  a  public  proof,  that  Jesus  was  his  beloved 
Son  ;  that  he  had  accomplished  the  work  of  salvation 
agreeably  to  the  divine  pleasure,  and  finished  the  task  for 
which  he  was  sent  into  the  world.  This  you  yourselves, 
weak  as  you  are  in  knowledge,  can  perceive  ;  for  it  is 
very  evident  that  God  would  not  have  acted  as  a  wise 
and  holy  being,  if  he  had  raised  Jesus  from  the  dead, 
without  the  latter's  having  in  reality  been  such  a  person 
as  he  pretended  to  be. 

We  can  now  also  readily  perceive  that  every  thing  Je- 
sus taught, — whether  about  the  present  state  of  man, 
God's  feelings  towards  him,  the  way  of  salvation,  or  a 
future  state, — is  true,  is  eternal  truth.  Has  he  declared 
our  state  by  nature  a  ruinous  one  ?  It  is  so.  Has  he  told 
us  that  God  so  loved  the  world  as  to  send  his  only  begot- 
ten Son  to  save  it  1  It  is  not  to  be  doubted.  Has  he  point- 
ed to  his  bloody  cross  as  the  only  means  of  salvation  ? 
None  can  be  saved  who  treat  it  with  neglect.  Has  he 
told  us  that  there  is  a  hell  of  devouring  flames  for  the 
wicked,  and  a  heaven  of  eternal  joy  for  the  good  1  How 
presumptuous  then  the  wretch  who  dares  gainsay  him  ! 


HIS  ASCENSION  TO  HEAVEN.  237 

It  is  now  also  a  matter  of  certainty  that  all  the  prom- 
ises and  prophecies  of  Jesus  will  be  fulfilled.  Of  this  we 
can  ask  for  no  greater  proof  than  the  exactness  with 
which  his  declaration  has  been  accomplished,  that  he 
should  die,  and  on  the  third  day,  rise  again.  The  very  in- 
fidel, as  soon  as  he  meets  the  Savior  coming  forth  from  the 
tomb,  all  covered  with  the  wounds  he  had  received  but 
three  days  before,  and  with  the  hole  of  the  spear  through 
his  side  into  his  very  heart,  must  become  a  believer, 
and  take  hold  of  the  prophecies  and  promises  of  this 
mighty  one,  as  certainly  to  be  fulfilled.  In  particular, 
there  can  now  be  no  doubt  that  he  will  furnish  those 
who  truly  ask  him  for  it,  with  grace  adequate  to  their 
weaknesses,  temptations  and  difficulties  ;  and  that,  though 
the  bodies  of  his  saints  crumble  into  dust,  he  will  in  the 
end  raise  them  from  the  dead  in  more  glorious  forms,  and 
receive  them  into  his  everlasting  kingdom. 


SECTION  XI V^. 


The  ascension  of  Jesus  to  heaven. 

The  great  and  fundamental  doctrine  of  the  Christian 
religion,  that  Jesus  was  the  Son  of  the  living  God  and  sent 
by  him  to  save  mankind,  as  well  as  the  truth  of  what  he 
taught  and  the  certain  fulfilment  of  his  promises  and  pro- 


238  'CONCLUSION  OF  JESUS'  LIFE  ON  EARTH. 

phecies  have  indeed  been  unquestionably  established  by 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  from  the  dead.  All  these,  how- 
ever, also  receive  additional  confirmation  and  certainty, 
from  his  ascension  to  heaven. 

He  had  commanded  his  disciples  to  go  forth  into  every 
part  of  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature, 
assuring  them  that  all  who  believed  on  him  and  professed 
his  name,  should  be  saved,  but  that  all  who  did  not,  should 
be  damned,  and  telling  them  in  the  most  encouraging 
manner,  that  he  would  be  with  them  and  all  who  like 
them  went  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel,  even  to  the  end 
of  the  world.  Having  then  led  them  out  to  a  high  part 
of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  just  on  the  borders  of  Bethany, 
he  blessed  them,  and,  before  their  eyes,  ascended  up 
into  heaven.  This  sight  together  with  what  two  angels 
told  them,  who  appeared  soon  after,  how  that  this  same 
Jesus  was  to  come  again  to  judge  the  world,  filled  them 
with  joy.  They  had  no  more  doubts  about  the  character 
of  Jesus,  the  truth  of  his  doctrines,  and  the  object  of  his 
mission.  They  worshipped  him,  and  then  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  where  they  spent  their  time  in  the  public, 
and  social  exercises  of  piety,  visiting  the  temple  contin- 
ually, and  praising  and  blessing  God. 

And,  my  readers,  there  can  now  remain  no  farther 
doubt,  in  the  minds  of  any  one,  that  Jesus  did,  in  every 
point,  accomplish  his  Father's  will  upon  earth  ;  for  a  son 
who  receives  the  highest  reward  from  his  father,  has 
certainly  conducted  in  the  highest  degree,  according 
to  the  will  of  his  father;  and  such  a  reward  has  Jesus 
received  from  his  Father  in  heaven. 

And  now  it  is  also  indeed  evident  that  the  words  of  Je- 
sus are  true,  and  that  he  will  keep  his  promises,  and 
see   his  prophecies  fulfilled.     His  resurrection  took  away 


HIS  ASCENSION  CONFIRMS  OUR  HOPES.  239 

all  our  fears  in  these  respects,  but  his  ascension  to  heaven 
confirms  all  our  hopes  ;  for  he  frequently  declared  before- 
hand, that  he  should  return  again  to  the  glory  and  joy  of 
his  Father,  from  whom  he  came  forth  at  first,  to  live  and 
suffer  for  us  on  earth  ;  and  to  that  glory  and  joy  his  dis- 
ciples saw  him  return. 

It  is  true  we  have  lost  his  bodily  presence  from  the 
world  ;  but  he  is  still  the  friend  of  children,  and  by  his 
Holy  Spirit  ever  present  with  those  that  love  him  and 
keep  his  commandments  ;  and  as  to  his  bodily  absence  ! — 
He  has  only  gone  away,  as  he  told  his  disciples,  to  pre- 
pare a  place  for  his  followers  in  order  that  at  death,  he 
may  take  them  with  delight  to  himself,  to  live  and  rejoice 
there  with  him  forever,  and  share  in  the  glory  which  his 
Father  has  bestowed  upon  him  because  of  his  perfect 
obedience. 

Now  then  let  your  faith  be  strong.  Stand  firm  upon 
this  everlasting  rock.  There  is  indeed  a  storm  com- 
ing, and  it  will  beat  fiercely  upon  your  habitation  ;  but 
here  founded,  it  shall  remain  unshaken,  while  the  un- 
believer's is  demolished  around  you,  or  is  swept  away 
with  the  flood.  Cheer  yourselves  also,  as  Christians,  amidst 
the  wickedness  around  you,  in  looking  forward  in  confi- 
dence to  the  approach  of  a  day  of  judgment,  when  the 
widow  and  the  orphan  shall  have  justice  done  them,  and 
the  tyrant  be  no  more  permitted  to  oppress.  As  certain 
as  Jesus,  after  he  had  risen  from  the  dead,  ascended 
to  heaven,  so  certain  will  he  return  again  to  this  world ; 
and  then  we  shall  all  have  to  meet  him  and  hear  our 
eternal  doom  ;  then  every  thing  that  is  now  wrong, 
will  be  set  perfectly  right,  and  the  wicked  will  be  driven 
away  like  chaff  before  the  wind. 


240  CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

« 

*  That  awful  day  will  surely  come, 
Th'  appointed  hour  makes  haste, 

When  we  must  stand  before  our  Judge, 
And  pass  the  solemn  test.' 


SECTION  XV. 


Concluding  Remarks. 

I  have  now,  my  young  friends,  brought  what  I  thought 
it  worth  while  to  say  to  you,  about  the  Savior,  and  what 
I  hoped  would  interest  you,  to  a  close.  I  have  not  at- 
tempted to  give  youa.fullportraifof  his  character.  This  is 
a  task  beyond  the  reach  of  a  finite  pencil.  We  might  as 
well  attempt  to  paint  the  sun  with  a  coal.  Indeed,  it  is  not 
to  be  found  short  of  heaven,  and  you  must  go  there,  in 
order  to  see  it.  I  have  only  attempted  to  fix  your  eyes 
upon  here  and  there  a  point  in  his  likeness,  as  it  was 
drawn  and  left  for  us  by  his  apostles,  making  such  re- 
marks as  I  felt  might  be  profitable  to  you. 

Every  thing  I  am  sensible  has  been  but  imperfectly 
done.  And  yet  if  you  have  carefully  read  what  I  have 
written,  you  have  formed  some  acquaintance  with  the 
virtues,  the  instructions,  and  of  course,  the  character,  of 
Jesus  Christ.     You  have  come  to  see  that  he  was  a  mes- 


WHY  DO  ANY  NOT  LOVE  THE  SAVIOR  ?  241 

senger  from  heaven,  and  that  the  object  of  his  mission 
to  this  world,  was  a  most  benevolent  one, — to  make  the 
human  race  wise  and  pious,  and  eternally  happy.  You 
have  found  him  the  best  of  teachers,  the  holy  pattern 
of  all  that  is  good,  the  benefactor  and  Savior  of  all,  the 
Son  of  God, — such  a  person  as  the  earth  never  contained 
before  ;  and  in  short,  just  such  a  Savior  as  we  need,  and 
one  in  every  respect  worthy  of  our  most  ardent  affection 
and  hearty  obedience. 

With  such  a  person,  I  should  think  every  body  would 
fall  in  love,  as  soon  as  they  become  acquainted  with  him. 
I  should  expect  a  mere  outline  of  his  character  and  the 
object  of  his  mission,  to  excite  universal  curiosity,  and  a 
bare  rehearsal  of  his  sojourn  on  earth,  from  the  manger, 
to  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  to  bring  the  heathen  to 
trample  their  idols  in  the  very  dust,  and  assemble  all  na- 
tions together  and  melt  them  down  in  tears  of  repent- 
ance, gratitude  and  holy  affection,  around   his  cross. 

And  yet,  within  the  sound  of  my  voice,  there  are  per- 
sons who  have  heard  the  whole  story  a  thousand  times, 
and  remain  perfectly  indifferent  to  the  whole.  I  enter 
into  a  family  near  by  me,  and  there  I  find  a  child  with 
whom  his  parents  have  labored  and  prayed  in  vain  for 
years,  to  bring  him  to  love  this  very  Savior.  I  have  only 
to  walk  out  into  the  street  a  short  distance,  listening  as  I 
walk,  in  order  to  hear  his  name  associated  with  every 
thing  that  is  mean,  and  treated  with  the  vilest  abuse.  I 
take  up  the  memoir  of  Henry  Martyn,  and  opening  it, 
find  the  Mohammedan,  blaspheming  this  lovely,  this  bene- 
volent person.  In  short,  all  the  world  over  where  he  has 
ever  been  mentioned,  if  there  is  any  one  who  is  treated 
with  abuse,  it  is  this  glorious  Son  of  God,  who,  out  of  the 
purest  compassion,  laid  aside  the  robes  of  his  glory  and 
•21 


242  CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

came  down  to  this  earth,  to  suffer  and  die  for  the  salvation 
of  its  inhabitants.  A  few  indeed  love  him  ;  but  the  hu- 
man heart  in  general  swells  against  hiui  with  rancor, 
and  often  burns  with  the  most  unutterable  hate.  There 
are  not  only  single  individuals,  but  whole  bodies  of  men, 
who  have  sworn  to  do  all  in  their  power,  to  blot  out  his 
very  name  from  existence,  and  destroy  the  last  remnants 
of  his  kingdom  from  among  the  children  of  men. 

The  fact  utterly  astounds  me.  I  know  not  what  to 
think  of  it.  I  fancy  I  have  mistaken  the  character.  I 
return  to  my  Bible  and  again  peruse  its  sacred  pages, 
pausing  at  every  line  and  reflecting  as  I  read.  But  there 
is  no  mistake.  It  is  the  very  character  I  thought  it. 
The  compassionate  Savior,  the  glorious  Son  of  God, — it 
is  he  who  is  so  much  abused.  I  think  all  his  history 
over,  as  foretold  by  prophets  and  found  in  the  Gospels  ; 
I  examine  the  object  of  his  mission,  and  the  wants  of 
those  whom  he  came  to  save  ;  I  come  to  the  foot  of  Cal- 
vary, and  pointing  to  his  bloody  cross,  call  upon  all  the 
sons  of  men  to  tell  me,  why  such  a  person  receives  such 
treatment.  If  there  be  real  accusations  against  his  cha- 
racter, let  them  appear.  Or  will  you  unite  with  the  Jews, 
and,  without  their  plausibility  of  excuse,  bring  false  wit- 
nesses to  effect  his  condemnation  and  the  justification 
of  your  own  conduct  ?  Let  me  call  upon  those  of  my 
young  readers,  in  particular,  who  still  refuse  obedience 
and  love  to  the  Savior,  and  often  are  found  treating  him 
with  gross  contempt,  to  answer  for  this  their  conduct. 

I.    You  cannot  despise  the  Savior  because  he  is  cruel. 

If  the  Savior  were  a  cruel  being,  there  would  then  be 
some  excuse  for  you,  for   we  are  so  made  as  to  dislike 


JESUS  IS  NEVER  CRUEL.  243 

cruelty.  If  we  see  a  man  oppressing  an  innocent  child, 
we  turn  away  from  him  with  aversion.  But  then  Jesus 
is  not  cruel.  How  is  it  possible  to  accuse  one  of  cruelty, 
who  has  ever  shown  himself  so  kind  and  good  to  all  the 
human  race, — who  so  loved  his  very  enemies  as  to  lay 
down  his  life  for  their  salvation  ?  On  the  other  hand, 
did  you  ever  hear  of  compassion  and  benevolence  like 
his?  "  Scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one  die  .  . .  But 
God  commendeth  his  love  towards  us,  in  that  while  we 
were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us. — He  hath  borne  our 
griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows  . .  .  He  was  wounded  for 
our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities. 
The  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him,  and  with 
his  stripes  are  we  healed," 

"  Believe  that  he,  whose  side 

Thy  crimes  have  pierced  with  their  rebellions,  died 

To  save  tliy  guilty  soal  from  dying 

Ten  tliousand  horrid  deaths,  from  whence 

There  was  no  'scape,  there  was  no  flying, 

But  thro'  his  dearest  blood's  expense  ; 

Believe,  this  dying  friend  requires 

No  other  thanks  for  all  his  pain, 

Than  e'en  the  truth  of  weak  desires. 

And,  for  his  love,  but  love  again  : 

Did  ever  mis'ry  find  so  true  a  friend  ? 

It  is  a  love  too  vast  to  comprehend." 

II.     Your  contempt  of  Jesus  cannot  originate   in  his  not 
being  long-suffering. 

If  he  were  not  long-suffering,  so  weak  are  we  by  na- 
ture and  so  slow  to  learn  what  is  good,  that  there  would 
then  perhaps  be  some  ground  for  the  conduct  of  sinners 
towards  him.     If,  after  bestowing  upon  us  a  kvi  compas- 


244 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS- 


sionate  glances,  he  turned  away  his  looks  of  tenderness 
and  benevolence,  and,  without  farther  effort,  relinquished 
us  at  once  to  our  sins, — right  as  it  would  be  for  hirn  to 
do  so, — there  would  then,  at  least  in  appearance,  be 
something  to  justify  the  abuse  every  where  heaped  upon 
him.  But  this  is  not  the  case.  Jesus  is  long-suffering. 
The  very  earth,  had  it  a  voice  to  speak,  could  cry  out  in 
testimony  of  his  forbearance. 

Beautifully  has  the  Savior  himself  illustrated  this  trait 
in  his  character,  by  the  parable  of  the  barren  fig-tree. 
For  three  years  had  it  stood  in  a  rich  soil  and  received 
the  greatest  care ;  and  yet  it  remained  barren.  It  is  no 
wonder  that,  under  these  circumstances,  the  master  of 
the  vineyard,  was  minded  to  cut  it  down.  He  did  not, 
however,  do  so.  At  the  intercession  of  the  dresser  of  the 
vineyard,  he  was  persuaded  to  try  it  a  little  longer.  And 
thus  the  Savior  deals  with  sinners.  They  have  been 
fruitless  for  years,  though  growing  in  the  very  richest  of 
soils  and  receiving  the  most  ample  attention.  And  yet, 
though  he  might  well  cut  them  down,  he  is  easily  per- 
suaded to  try  them  a  little  longer,  and  hence,  continues 
to  let  them  stand. 

In  proof,  indeed,  of  the  long-suffering  of  Jesus,  I  may 
appeal  to  your  own  experience.  It  is  probable  that  not 
an  impenitent  sinner  will  run  his  eye  over  this  page, 
without  being  conscious,  that,  towards  him  in  particular, 
the  Savior  has  been  very  long-suffering.  You  have  read 
the  Bible,  heard  exhortations,  listened  to  sermons,  and 
witnessed  the  exit  of  beloved  playmates,  or  companions 
in  maturer  life.  The  houses,  churches,  grave-yards  and 
groves  you  have  frequented,  as  well  as  innumerable  mer- 
cies you  have  received,  could  all  testify  to  the  forbear- 
ance towards  you,  of  the  Savior. 


JESUS  NEVER  FAILS  IN    LONG-SUFFERING.  445 

Some  of  you  have  experienced  the  severe  trial  of  los- 
ing a  dear  parent.  You  can  call  to  mind  the  words 
of  a  dying  mother  and  all  the  solemnities  of  her  closing 
scene, — how  she  clasped  your  hand,  entreated  you  to  be- 
come good,  and  prayed  for  you.  "  O  my  child,"  she 
said,  "  do  let  me  meet  you  in  heaven."  And  then  you 
kneeled  down  at  her  bed-side,  wept,  promising  never  to 
forget  what  she  said,  and  resolved  to  be  good.  She  heard 
your  vow,  and  died  contented  because  she  heard  it. 
Poor  mother !  The  grass  and  the  wild  flowers  have 
grown  up  on  her  grave,  and  she  is  thought  of  no  more. 
Her  child  has  forgotten  her.  You  have  neglected  her 
words.  You  have  broken  the  solemn  promise  you  made 
her, — to  endeavor  to  meet  her  in  heaven.  You  have  no: 
yet  repented  of  your  sins  and  submitted  to  the  Savior.         ' 

And  could  I  get  at  your  secret  history,  I  should  doubt- 
less there  find,  that,  under  various  calls  of  the  Holy  Spi- 
rit, you  have  all  been  often  deeply  affected,  and  been 
brought,  retiring  to  your  closets,  solemnly  to  vow  that 
you  would  be  the  Lord's,  I  should  there  read,  that,  from 
year  to  year,  you  have  had  the  same  feelings  and  repeated 
the  same  vows,  while,  as  broken,  they  all  stand  recorded 
against  you,  in  the  book  of  God.  Have  such  persons 
any  room  to  complain  of  Jesus  as  wanting  in  long-sufFer- 
jng  and  forbearance  1 

Could  your  sins  become  visible,  you  would  see  them 
rising  in  black,  heavy  columns  towards  the  throne  of 
God,  calling  for  vengeance  on  your  guilty  heads;  and 
yet,  on  the  broad  heavens  I  can  now  discover  not  a  sign 
of  vengeance  against  you.  On  the  other  hand,  every 
thing  is  inviting.  Almighty  goodness  and  mercy  cry, 
Forbear ;  and  at  once  the  thunder  called  for  by  your 
sins,  is  stayed,  and  in  dark  clouds  I  see  them  roll  off, 
21* 


246  CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

permitling  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  still  to  shine  upon 
you,  and  try  to  melt  down  your  frozen  souls.  Where  did 
you  ever  hear  of  patience,  and  forbearing  goodness  and 
love  like  this  1 

III.    You  cannot  reproach  the  Savior,  because  he  is  not 
ready  impartially  to  forgive  all  who  come  to  him. 

How  miserable  would  be  our  condition,  if  Jesus  were 
not  ready  to  forgive  every  repenting  sinner  ;  if  he  were 
partial  in  the  distribution  of  his  pardons  !  Or  if  there 
were  hope  that  he  would  forgive  all  penitents,  some  time 
or  other,  how  much  we  might  have  to  suffer,  how  cer- 
tainly should  we  sink  down  in  despair,  if,  for  years,  he 
held  himself  at  an  awful  distance  from  us,  wrapt  up  in 
all  the  terrors  of  a  holy  God,  keeping  us  in  perfect  agony 
and  suspense,  and  often  driving  the  trembling  culprit 
away  in  utter  despair  from  his  presence  !  Perhaps  the 
sinner  would  then  have  some  reason  to  treat  Jesus  with 
contempt. 

But  it  is  not  so.  I  have  been  telling  you  all  along, 
how  very  ready  he  is  to  forgive.  I  have  informed  you 
that  he  came  from  heaven  on  purpose  to  obtain  the  par- 
don of  sinners.  I  have  repeated  his  words  to  you  : 
'-  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden" — 
those  sweet,  those  precious  words.  I  have  told  you  of 
his  tenderness  and  friendship  and  love,  and  of  his  last 
^prayer, — yes,  how  he  prayed  for  his  murderers  on  the 
cross  :  "  Father,  forgive  them."  See  you  not  how  very 
ready  he  is  to  forgive?  And  then  thousands  that  are 
now  living,  have  found  him  ready  to  forgive.  There  are 
multitudes  of  Christians  able  at  this  very  moment  to  tes- 
tify, that,  as  soon  as  they  went  to  him,  confessing  their 
fins  and   throwing  themselves  upon   his  mercy,  they  felt 


JESUS  IS  READY  TO  FORGIVE.  247 

their  heavy  burdens  removed,  and  found  relief  from  the 
horrors  of  a  guilty  conscience.  They  are  also  ready  to 
assure  you,  that  you  too  will  be  received,  if  you  will  only 
go  to  him.  It  has  never  been  heard  of,  that  by  him  a 
sinner  was  ever  rejected,  though  as  vile  as  Manasseh, 
and  as  bloody  as  Paul.  He  has  pledged  himself  in  the 
most  solemn  manner,  to  receive  all  who  apply  to  him, 
and  to  receive  them  as  soon  as  they  come. 

IV.    You  cannot  excuse  your  contempt  of  Jesus  by  show- 
ing that  he  has  ever  sought   to  injure  you. 

That  the  Savior  never  sought  to  injure  any  one  in  per- 
son, while  on  earth,  is  a  fact  too  obvious  to  every  one  who 
has  read  the  Gospels,  to  need  proof.  If  therefore  he  has 
ever  sought  to  injure,  it  must  be  by  the  precepts  and  doc- 
trines which  he  inculcated.  Now  if  it  can  fairly  be 
shown  that  the  Savior  has  ever  in  the  least  thing  in  this 
way  sought  to  do  prejudice  to  one  of  his  Father's  crea- 
tures, or  if  it  can  be  made  to  appear,  that  the  full  opera- 
tion of  any  thing  that  he  ever  taught,  will  cause  a  single 
pang,  though  at  the  end  of  thousands  of  years,  in  all  the 
universe  of  the  perfectly  obedient,  why  then  my  wonder 
at  the  abuse  he  receives  from  the  wretches  whom  he 
came  to  save,  will  to  some  extent  subside.  I  shall  then 
drop  my  pen,  admitting  that  the  sinner  has  reason  to  de- 
spise the  Son  of  God, — that  the  scoffs,  sneers,  and  hos- 
tile efforts  of  infidels  and  atheists,  have  their  foundation 
in  a  palliative  measure  of  truth. 

Who  however  can  prove  or  will  dare  assert,  that  any  of 
the  Savior's  precepts  or  commands  will  ever  -result  in  the 
least  degree  unfavorably,  to  the  perfectly  obedient  ?  The 
infidel  raves  at  times,  and  the  apostate  and  atheist  talk 
wildly  ;  but  even  these  do  I  hear  in  their  retired  moments, 


248  CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

paying  homage  to  the  wisdom,  benevolence,  and  love  of 
all  the  Savior's  instructions,  and  fairly  admitting  the  full 
tendency  of  every  thing  he  has  said  and  done,  to  promote 
perfect  happiness.  Voltaire  pauses  and  reflects  for  a  few 
moments  upon  the  precepts  and  doctrines  of  Jesus,  and 
then  he  seems  astonished  at  their  simplicity,  dignity,  and 
benevolent  characteristics.  Napoleon  opens  the  New 
Testament  and,  reading  through  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount,  '  Expresses  himself  struck  with  the  highest  admi- 
ration at  the  purity,  the  sublimity,  and  the  beauty  of  the 
morality  it  contains.'  Rousseau  seems  enchanted  with 
the  precepts  and  doctrines  of  Jesus,  and  lost  in  his  esti- 
mation of  the  character  from  which  they  must  have  ori- 
ginated.    Hear  what  he  says  : 

"  The  holiness  of  the  Gospel,  is  an  argument  which 
speaks  to  my  heart,  and  to  which  I  should  regret  even  to 
find  a  good  answer.  Is  it  possible  that  a  book  at  once  so 
sublime  and  so  simple,  can  be  the  work  of  men  ?  Is  it  pos- 
sible that  he  whose  history  it  narrates  was  a  mere  man  ? 
What  sweetness,  what  purity  in  his  manners,  what 
touching  grace  in  his  instructions  ;  what  elevation  in 
his  maxims  ;  what  profound  wisdom  in  his  discourses, 
what  presence  of  mind ;  what  government  over  his  pas- 
sions !  Where  is  there  the  man,  who  knows  how  to  act, 
suffer  and  die,  without  feebleness  and  ostentation  ?  Soc- 
rates,dying  withoutpain,  without  ignominy, easily  sustain- 
ed his  personage  to  the  end  ;  and  if  this  easy  death  had  not 
honored  his  life,  people  would  have  doubted,  whether, 
with  all  his  morality,  he  were  any  thing  but  a  sophist. 
The  death  of  Socrates,  calmly  philosophizing  with  his 
friends,  is  the  easiest  one  could  desire.  That  of  Jesus 
Christ,  expiring  in  agonies,  injured,  mocked,  accursed  by 
all  the  people,  is  the  most  horrible  one  could  fear.     Tru- 


TESTIMONY    OF  INFIDELS  TO  THE  GOSPEL.  249 

\y  if  Socrates  lived   and  died  like  a  philosopher,  Jesus 
Christ  lived  and  died  like  a  God." 

Compare  now  the  precepts  and  doctrines  of  Jesus 
Christ,  in  their  exact  adaptation  to  the  entire  condition 
and  character  of  man  and  their  legitimate  effects,  with 
all  the  systems,  in  these  respects,  that,  in  one  way  and 
another,  have  ever  been  introduced  into  the  world.  Be 
not  hasty  in  performing  the  task.  Collect  together  at 
your  leisure,  the  Coran,  the  Vedas  and  the  Shasters, 
the  Zend-avesta,  the  books  of  Confucius,  and  all  similar 
productions  ;  carefully  study  them  ;  be  sure  that  you  un- 
derstand them  ;  read  them  in  connexion  with  the  Gos- 
pel, and  compare  them  with  it,  step  by  step.  Having 
done  so,  assume  the  garb  of  a  pilgrim  and  travel  from 
country  to  country,  visiting  the  different  communities 
where  these  several  religious  systems  prevail  in  their 
greatest  purity  and  produce  their  natural  effects,  taking 
also  the  best  christian  communities  in  your  way.  Hav- 
ing done  so,  suppose  there  are  as  many  worlds  as  there 
are  systems,  and  that  one  of  these  worlds  is  under  the  full 
and  direct  operation  of  the  Gospel,  another  under  that  of 
Mohammedanism,  a  tiiird  equally  under  Hindooism,  and 
so  on,  until  all  your  religions  are  exhausted.  Cautiously 
note  from  year  to  year  and  from  century  to  century,  their 
different  and  legitimate  tendencies.  If  they  all  contain 
■something  that  is  good,  find  out  in  each  one  of  them, 
whether  the  good  or  the  evil  predominates.  Carefully 
observe  which  of  them  possesses  the  power  of  elevating 
the  mind,  regenerating  the  heart,  and,  in  the  shortest 
space  of  time,  filling  the  world  where  it  prevails,  with 
complete  happiness,  and  having  done  so,  strike  the  bal- 
ance. Need  I  tell  you  that  you  will  find  the  result  alto- 
gether in  favor  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  1 


250 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 


Look  we  at  it  as  a  system  of  truth,  addressed  to  the 
reason  of  man  and  adapted  to  exercise  his  intellectual 
powers.  It  calls  for  our  credence  indeed,  but  only  so 
far  as  it  is  supported  by  the  most  substantial  evidence. 
Its  author  knew  that  he  was  addressing  rational  beings, 
and  therefore  he  dealt  with  them  as  such,  and  rested 
every  thing  he  said  upon  the  most  solid  foundation. 
Does  he  claim  to  be  the  Messiah?  He  points  to  a  long 
series  of  prophecies  in  support  of  his  claim.  Docs  he  de- 
clare himself  the  Son  of  God  ?  He  works  miracles  to 
show  that  his  declaration  is  true,  and,  to  leave  no  doubt 
on  this  point,  causes  himself  to  be  transfigured  in  the 
mount  before  an  ample  number  of  witnesses.  Does  he 
present  himself  to  the  world  as  the  Savior  of  sinners  ? 
He  conducts  as  their  Savior,  heals  the  sick,  raises  the 
dead,  and  sho\V3  that  he  has  power  over  life  and  death, 
by  yielding  himself  up  to  crucifixion,  and  coming  forth 
on  the  third  day  from  the  tomb,  exhibiting  himself  and  the 
prints  of  his  wounds  to  all  that  will  behold  them.  What 
regard  is  here  had  to  tlie  nature  of  the  human  mind; 
with  what  salutary  exercises  is  it  furnished,  in  the  very 
act  of  receiving  such  a  system  ! 

And  then,  when  you  come  to  look  into  it  as  a  system, 
to  take  it  all  in  pieces  and  examine  its  principles  and 
parts,  comparing  them  together,  liow  gigantic  does  it  ap- 
pear, what  a  reach  of  thought  does  it  every  where  exhib- 
it, how  manifestly  is  it  the  production  of  God  !  Here 
too,  there  is  ennobling  work  for  the  human  mind,  labor 
that  strengthens,  enlarges,  elevates,  and  refines.  It  was 
kind  in  the  Savior  to  furnish  us  with  such  intellectual 
food.  In  so  doing,  he  has  taken  one  of  the  best  steps  to 
satisfy  our  terrestrial  wants  ;    he  has  acted  agreeably  to 


THE  SUPERIORITY  OF  THE  GOSPEL.        251 

our  natural  constitutions,  and  laid  a  solid  foundation  for 
our  improvement. 

Very  different  from  this  is  it,  with  all  other  religious 
systems.  They  come  to  me  claiming  to  be  received, 
but  why  ?  I  feel  that  I  have  a  reason,  and  that  this  rea- 
son deserves  respect.  I  call  therefore  for  solid  and  sub- 
stantial evidence  that  they  are  the  true  ones.  In  answer 
to  my  call,  I  am  furnished  with  obscure  traditions,  or  un- 
certain histories  of  individuals,  or  various  long  and  re- 
diculous  fables.  I  listen  to  them  until  filled  with  dis- 
gust I  exclaim  :  "  Is  this  the  manner  in  which  you  treat 
the  rational  part  within  me  ?  I  am  certain  that  my  Crea- 
tor would  not  thus  serve  me.  The  Gospel  appeals  to  me 
as  a  rational  being,  and  challenges  my  investigation  of 
the  evidence  in  its  favor  ;  and  it  shines  bright  with  truth. 
You  pay  no  regard  to  my  intellectual  powers  in  this  re- 
spect. You  have  nothing  for  my  mind  to  feed  on.  You 
are  clothed  in  black  vestments,  and  constantly  shrinking 
away  in  darkness.  If  I  receive  you,  I  feel  that  I 
must  give  up  my  intellectual  powers,  or  sink  down  into 
puerility." 

And  then,  when  1  come  to  look  into  these  systems 
themselves,  to  take  them  in  pieces  as  I  did  the  Gospel, 
and  examine  their  principles  and  parts,  comparing  them 
carefully  together,  how  different  do  they  appear  ;  what 
pigmies  in  size  are  they  ;  what  shallowness  of  thought  do 
they  exhibit !  In  short,  I  find  nothing  in  them  but  in- 
sane fancies,  or  else  fragments  of  truth,  which  I  am  cer- 
tnin  were  stolen  from  the  sacred  fountain  itself,  and 
whicii  are  thrown  together  with  little  or  no  connexion, 
and  often  in  the  most  utter  confusion.  What  is  there 
here  to  ennoble  the  mind,  to  strengthen,  enlarge,  elevate 
and  refine  the  intellectual  powers,  or  what,  that  can  serve 


252 


CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 


as  a  foundation  for  future  and  lasting  improvement  ? 
Can  I  hesitate  under  such  circumstances  to  decide  in  fa- 
vor of  the  system  of  Jesus  Christ? 

And  then,  what  an  amazing  advantage  does  the  Gos- 
pel possess  over  all  these  systems,  in  regard  to  its  effects 
upon  the  heart  ?  In  the  worlds  where  they  prevail,  I 
discover  little  or  nothing  but  cruelty,  superstition  and 
blood.  Under  the  most  hallowed  influences  of  the  sys- 
tem of  Confucius,  the  mother  strangles  her  new-born 
babe.  The  Mohammedan,  under  the  most  searching  op- 
eration of  his  creed,  is  fierce  and  bloody,  and  prowls 
through  the  desert  for  plunder,  like  a  tiger  for  his  prey. 
And  as  for  Hindooism, — I  find  the  temples  of  its  devo- 
tees, all  surrounded  with  the  bones  of  its  victims.  Nor 
is  it  belter  with  any  of  the  rest  of  them.  They  all  find 
and  leave  the  heart  swelling  with  the  poison  of  sin,  and  the 
soul  consuming  away  with  dark  forebodings  and  gloomy 
passions.  It  is  the  Gospel  alone  that  begins  at  the  seat 
of  disease, — that  works  an  internal  cure, — that  expels 
the  foul  spirit  and  clothes  the  maniac  in  his  right  mind. 
In  spite  of  all  his  heathen  physicians,  he  foams  and  raves, 
till  the  Son  of  God  makes  his  appearance,  and  then  the 
poor  man's  fever  subsides,  his  mind  becomes  calm,  and 
he  sits  down  as  gentle  as  a  lamb,  at  the  feet  of  his  great 
Benefactor.  How  vastly  in  this  respect,  does  the  Gospel 
surpass  all  the  other  systems  of  religion  !  How  obvious- 
ly it  accomplishes  what  they  cannot  !  How  very  saluta- 
ry it  is  in  its  operation,  how  beneficial  in  its  tendency, 
how,  in  every  respect,  exactly  what  we  need  !  In  a  word, 
there  is  nothing  here  that  can  harm.  To  me  it  is  per- 
fectly evident,  that  it  never  can,  as  long  as  time  shall 
endure,  be  the  cause  of  the  least  injury  to  a  single  one 
of  the  perfectly  obedient  lo  it,  in  all  the  universe  of  God. 


ONLY  THE  GOSPKL  CURES  THE  HEART.  2515 

What,  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  ever  prove  injurious  ?  Who 
dares  hint  such  a  thought  ?  Would  it  injure  you,  my 
readers,  to  love  your  parents,  to  show  yourselves  kind 
and  obliging,  and  to  fear  and  honor  God,  according  to 
its  hallowed  requisitions  ?  Would  it  be  any  misfortune 
for  you  to  have  your  sins  cancelled,  to  have  Jesus  for 
your  Redeemer,  and  to  find  in  God  an  everlasting  friend  ? 
Can  you  for  an  instant  suppose  it  was  to  injure  you,  that 
the  glorious  Son  of  God  forsook  the  heavens  and  came 
down  and  suffered  and  died  ? 

And  what  if,  as  the  last  sun  of  life  is  setting,  you  should 
be  able  with  holy  resignation,  like  Dr.  Watts,  to  say  : 
"  Thank  God,  I  can  lie  down  to  night  indifferent  wheth- 
er I  wake  up  in  this  world  or  the  next  1"  Suppose  that 
at  this  trying  moment  you  could  really  utter  the  words 
of  the  poet  as  your  own,  and  sing  forth  from  your  very 
soul : 

"  Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed, 

Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are  ; 
While  on  his  breast  I  lean  my  head, 

And  breathe  my  life  out  sweetly  there  .''" 

What  if  as  the  last  blood  retreats  to  your  heart,  you  should 
even  be  constrained  from  the  discoveries  of  celestial  glo- 
ries, to  burst  out  in  the  language  of  the  dying  Christian  : 

"  Hark  !  they  whisper,  angels  say, 
Sister  spirit,  come  away  ;  .  .  . 
The  world  recedes,  it  disappears — 
Heaven  opens  on  my  eyes,  my  ears, 
With  sounds  seraphic  ring  :" 

or,  in  the  words  of  the  dying  Payson,  be  compelled  to  ex- 
claim :     '  The  Sun  of  Righteousness,  has  for  some  weeks 
32 


254  CONCLUDING    REMARKS. 

been  drawing  nearer  and  nearer,  growing  larger  and  brigh- 
ter as  he  approached  !  He  now  fills  the  whole  hemisphere, 
pouring  forth  a  flood  of  glory,  in  which  I  seem  to  float  like 
an  insect  in  the  sunbeams,  exulting,  yet  almost  trembling, 
and  wondering  with  unutterable  wonder  why  God  should 
deign  thus  to  shine  upon  a  sinful  worm.' 

And  would  it  injure  the  wicked  inhabitants  of  this 
world  any,  to  have  them  all  become  like  Jesus,  beat 
their  swords  into  ploughshares,  their  spears  into  pruning 
hooks,  and  learn  to  live  together  in  harmony  and  love, 
each  sitting  down  under  his  own  vine  and  his  own  fig- 
tree,  without  any  to  hurt,  molest,  or  make  afraid  ?  What 
if  they  should  every  one  of  them  in  the  end,  die  in 
peace,  at  the  Judgment  find  themselves  on  the  right 
hand,  and,  on  hearing  their  final  sentence,  receive 
from  the  Lord  of  life  himself  a  crown  of  glory,  and  enter 
into  his  immortal  joy  ? 

O  tell  me,  ye  neglecters  of  the  Gospel,  ye  infidels  and 
ye  atheists,  who  despise  the  Son  of  God,  why  is  it  that  ye 
thus  treat  him  with  contempt,  or  seek  to  destroy  his  king- 
dom !  To  me,  as  I  gaze  upon  him,  he  appears  altogether 
lovely,  infinitely  desirable.  Language  fails  ine  when  I 
would  express  his  excellence.  I  am  utterly  lost  in  my 
admiration  of  his  character.  I  would  exchange  worlds 
for  his  approving  smile.  I  can  only  fall  at  his  feet  and  in 
the  very  depths  of  humility,  cry  out :  "  Let  thy  kingdom 
come,  and  thy  glory  fill  the  universe."  Alas  !  I  know 
it  too  well ;  your  neglect  of  the  Gospel  comes  from  your 
sin  ;  your  contempt  of  the  Son  of  God,  is  the  overflowing 
gall  of  a  wicked  heart. 

Well,  if  you  persevere  in  sucli  conduct,  you  will  soon 
find  yourselves  engaged  in  a  fearful  conflict.  The  once 
suflfering  victim  of  Calvary,  is  not  to  be  set  at  naught  with 


SINNERS  IN  A  FEARFUL  CONFLICT.  265 

impunity.  All  good  men  and  angels  are  on  his  side. 
The  laws  of  creation  are  but  the  decrees  of  his  will.  All 
power  is  given  to  him  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Such  is 
the  being  whom  you  dare  neglect,  or  treat  with  vile  con- 
tempt. If  you  will  not  submit  to  him,  you  must  conquer 
him,  or  be  crushed,  for  he  has  sworn  not  to  leave  a  sin- 
gle enemy  unsubdued.  Could  you  trample  the  sun  and 
stars  under  your  feet,  command  the  myriads  of  heaven, 
and  hurl  the  Deity  from  his  throne,  there  would  be  some 
hope  for  you  as  a  rebel.  Then,  as  the  savage  Nero 
looked  out  upon  the  conflagration  of  Rome,  or  the  haugh- 
ty Marius  sat  alone  on  the  ruins  of  Carthage,  you  might 
contemplate  the  conflagration  of  a  world,  and  sit  alone 
amidst  the  ruins  of  the  universe.  But  hast  thou  an  arm 
like  God  ?     Canst  thou  thunder  with  a  voice  like  him  ? 

You  fly  from  the  lion  and  the  tiger ;  you  are  struck 
with  awe  at  the  mighty  waterfall,  or  the  broad  ocean,  or 
the  wide  landscape  around  you,  and  far  beneath  your  feet. 
You  hide  your  face  from  the  vivid  lightning ;  you  turn 
pale  at  the  crashing  thunder,  and  sink  down  in  terror 
as  the  tornado  sweeps  along  the  earth.  How  then  can 
you  stand  before  the  Son  of  God  !  How  will  you  bear 
the  frown  of  him  who  speaks,  and  it  is  done,  who  coni' 
Kiands,  and  it  stands yiirsf .' 

'  Poor  sinners,  little  do  you  think 
Willi  whom  you  have  to  do.' 

He  whom  you  thus  neglect  or  despise,  is  not  to  be  light- 
ly so  treated.  Persisting  in  such  conduct,  you  must,  as  he 
himself  has  told  you,  be  crushed  by  him.  To  do  so,  is 
voluntarily  to  throw  yourselves  beneath  his  car  or  the 
broad  wheels  of  the  universe.  Here  you  will  receive  in- 
jury, and  what  an  injury,  what  a  loss ; — and  one  too 
which  you  can  ill-afford  to  sustain  !     For  your  souls  are 


256  CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

poor  and  needy.  Life  to  them  is  also  very  desirable, 
and  death,  such  a  death,  very  terrible.  But  judge  ye 
from  whence  the  injury  cotnes.  Decide  for  yourselves, 
whetiier  Jesus  and  his  Father's  throne  will  not  remain 
forever  guiltless  of  your  blood. 

Here  I  drop  the  subject,  and  leave  my  readers  to  their 
own  reflections.  Some  will  think  T  have  expressed 
myself  with  severity  :  but  is  it  possible  in  such  a  case  to 
be  severe  beyond  the  truth  ?  What  can  be  more  unrea- 
sonable than  the  treatment  which  Jesus  Christ  receives 
from  a  majority  of  the  human  race  ?  And  his  Gospel  be- 
ing true,  how  infinitely  dangerous,  to  perseveringly  re- 
gard it  with  indifference  or  contempt  1  The  remarks 
forced  themselves  upon  me,  as  I  was  drawing  my  views 
of  the  Savior  and  his  doctrines  to  a  close.  I  could  not 
forbear  throwing  out  a  few  hints  for  the  infidel  and  the 
atheist  to  digest,  should  they  ever  run  their  eyes  over  these 
pages.  The  train  of  thought  under  the  fourth  head,  a 
little  further  developed,  is  one  which  years  since  saved 
me  from  the  abyss  of  religious  skepticism,  and  may,  with 
the   blessing  of  God,  prove  as  beneficial  to  some  others. 

God  grant,  however,  my  young  friends,  that  in  your 
case  they  may  forever  be  uncalled  for.  Fain  would  I 
have  you  choose  the  direct  road  to  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven, rather  than  the  one  that  lies  through  the  wilderness 
of  skepticism  and  infidelity,  passing  along  the  borders  of 
hell.  I  have  therefore  taken  you  by  the  hand  and  endea- 
vored to  lead  you  to  the  sacred  fountain.  We  have  been 
down  together  by  short  excursions,  into  the  humble  vale 
where  it  gushes  forth.  We  have  stooped  to  drink  of  the 
living  water  in  all  its  purity.  We  have  walked  through 
green  pastures  along  the  banks  of  its  flowing  stream  ;  we 
have  smelt  the  fragrance  of  the  trees  that  grow  there, 
and  reposed  ourselves  in  the  cooling  shade.     Have  you 


THE  WATER  OF  LIFE,  HERE,  HEREAFTER.  257 

heartily  been  with  me  in  these  excursions,  tasted  of  the 
living  water,  and  enjoyed  the  pasture,  the  fragrance  and 
the  shade?  You  will  then  hereafter  remember  the 
place,  and  as  the  panting  hart  returns  to  its  favorite 
brook  and  wonted  vale,  return  to  this  fountain  and  val- 
ley, as  those  of  all  others  in  which  you  most  delight. 
Here  you  will  be  found  taking  your  morning  walks,  and 
indulging  your  evening  meditations,  and  here  you  will 
rejoice  to  spend  the  hallowed  hours  of  the  Lord's  day. 
In  all  the  varying  scenes  of  life,  whether  of  sorrow  or 
of  joy,  you  will  find  it  a  place  of  most  delightful  retire- 
ment and  repose.  In  short,  here  you  will  pass  your  days, 
until  you  are  removed  from  it,  and  placed  in  the  rich  val- 
ley watered  by  the  broad  river  of  life,  where  your  Re- 
deemer and  all  his  redeemed,  dwell. 

And  do  you  find  the  sacred  fountain  sweet  and  re- 
freshing to  your  thirsty  soul,  even  in  the  little  valley 
where  it  is  to  be  found  in  this  world  ?  What  then  will 
it  be  to  have  full  access  to  the  broad  river  of  God,  hard 
by  where  it  flows  forth  from  his  throne,  to  walk  the 
green  pastures  there,  and  partake  of  the  immortal  fruit  ? 
How  delightful  the  city  watered  by  such  a  river;  how  sa- 
lubrious the  air  of  such  a  clime  ;  how  sweet  the  fragrance 
of  its  groves ! 

Press  onward,  my  young  friends,  in  your  knowledge  of 
the  word  of  God,  and  as  you  grow  in  years,  make  your- 
selves more  and  more  acquainted  with  the  Bible,  the 
Gospel  in  particular  and  the  life  and  doctrines  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  soon  this  fragrant  grove,  this  salubrious  air, 
this  delightful  clime  and  these  living  waters  themselves, 
shall  all  be  yours.  You  shall  then  be  forever  freed  from 
sin  and  sorrow  and  death,  and  have  holiness  and  peace 
and  everlasting  bliss. 

22* 


NOTES. 


I.    PRINCIPAL  AUTHORS  QUOTED.      • 

Anna  Maria  von  Schurmann,  240.  She  tried  several  times  to 
give  a  written  representation  of  Jesus  ;  but  finally  relinquished 
the  attempt  in  despair,  declaring  it  was  like  trying  to  paint  the 
Bun  with  a  coal.  Reinhard's  Plan,  p.  1.  Note. — Dic/i,  248.  See  his 
Future  State,  p.  27G.  ed.  N.  Y.  \Qi\.—Shakspeare,  166.  See  Beau- 
ties of,  by  Dr.  Dodd,  article  "  Forgiveness." — Gellert,  146.  He 
was  a  native  of  Haynichen  in  Erzgebirg,  Saxony;  professor  at 
the  University  of  Leipzig  ;  and  died  in  1769.  He  was  a  learned, 
pious,  and  universally  beloved  man,  and  especially  esteemed  for 
his  spiritual  songs.  He  is  said,  never  to  have  engaged  in  poetical 
composition,  without  a  devotional  preparation  of  feeling  and  an 
effort  to  enjoy  the  state  of  mind  he  intended  to  express.  His 
hymns  were  esteemed  by  all  sects.  At  the  setting  in  of  winter, 
one  time,  he  observed  a  peasant,  a  stranger,  drawing  up  a  load  of 
fire- wood  to  his  door.  On  the  poet's  appearing  at  the  window,  the 
latter  asked  whether  he  were  the  gentleman  who  made  those 
hymns.  On  receiving  a  reply  in  the  affirmative,  he  deposited  his 
load  and  immediately  went  off.  Perceiving,  when  on  his  death- 
bed, that  his  illness  took  a  serious  turn,  he  raised  his  eyes  to  hea- 
ven and  said  :  "  Lord,  he  whom  thou  lovest  is  sick."  Lausaer  (or 
Christliches)  Gesangbuch,  p.  622, and  Boston  Recorder,  Jan.  30th, 
1833. — Lavater,  143.  'See  Die  Parabeln  Jesu  bearb.  von  Lisco, 
p.  254.  He  was  a  very  pious  and  popular  minister  of  Zurich,  Swit- 
zerland, was  distinguished  as  a  physiognomist,  and  died  in  1801. 
—H.  Martijn,  241.  See  Memoir,  p.  320,  ed.  Boston  IS'Si.— Milton, 
218.  See  his  Sonnets:  "When  I  consider,"  etc. — Pa?/5ore,  253. 
See  Memoirs  p.  408.  first  eA.—QuarUs,  243.  See  his  Emblems, 
Book  5th,  "The  Farewell."— iJeinAa?Y/,  218.  See  his  Memoirs 
and  Confessions,  p.  111.  Compare  above  under  A.  M.  v.  Schur- 
mann.— Rousseau,  248.  See  his  Oeuvres  Completes,  in  one  vol- 
ume, p.  233,  Paris  1826.— F.  Rochow,  the  author  referred  to,  94. 
See  his  Versuch  eines  Schulbuchs,  p.  94. 


259 


II.    THE  POETRY. 


Feddersen  in  his  little  work  lias  often  quoted  verses,  sometimes 
from  an  unknown  source,  and  oftener  still,  referred  to  a  little  vol- 
ume of  German  Prayers  and  Hymns  for  children,  by  Sturm.  The 
verses  on  pp.  24,  44,  83,  90,  111,  115,  120,  123, 128,  146,  196,  are 
imitations  of  some  of  those  that  I  found  in  Feddersen.  The  hymn 
on  p.  182  is  an  imitation,  though  not  a  very  close  one,  of  one  re- 
ferred to  in  Sturm's  work.  That  on  p.  198,  has  several  stanzas,  in 
imitation  of  "  Was  Gott  Thut  das,"  a  most  beautiful  hymn, 
made  by  Sam.  Rodigast,  formerly  Rector  in  Berlin,  for  a  sick 
friend.  R.  died  in  1708.  See  Journal  of  Humanity,  April  19th, 
1832.  The  first  and  third  stanzas  of  the  hymn  on  p.  52  are  also 
imitations.     See  Journal  of  Hum.  Jan.  3d,  1833. 


III.    NOTE,  p.  249. 

The  Jews  have  their  Talmud,  the  Catholics  their  Legends  of 
Saints,  and  the  Turks  their  Sonnah,  all  three  of  them  kindred 
works,  made  up  chiefly  of  traditions  and  abounding  in  the  grossest 
absurdities.  And  what  shall  be  said  of  other  heathenish  traditions 
and  religious  conceits,  such  as  are  found  among  the  Hindoos  ? 
The  Protestant  has  nothing  but  his  Bible,  and  how  inexpressibly 
noble  in  comparison  !     See  Curiosities  of  Literature,  1. 160. 


INDEX   TO   THE   HYMNS. 


Amid  the  wilderness 

Believe  that  he  whose  side     . 

Clear  as  Siloe's  limped  fountain 

Close  on  the  silent  grave 

Cold  the  heart  of  man 

Come  thou  all-seeing 

For  good  children  . 

For  life  which  thou  hast  criver 

Go  to  Calvary 

Help,  Jesus,  help  me 

Help  me,  Lord 

Hold  fast  the  word  of  God 

How  much  better 

I  ask  not  wealth     . 

Is  there  ambition    . 

Jesus  from  his  throne 

I>et  no  foul  passion 

No  Christian  for  the  sake 

No  more  of  toil 

Often  into  folly 

Olive  call  too  mind 

On  the  world's  wild  bosom 

O  wonderful,  amazing  love 

Refuge  of  the  troubled  spirit 

Scarce  ceased  to  shed     . 

See  how  the  little  busy  bee 

Sweet  pleasure  blasts 

The  Lord  my  shepherd 

The  mighty  God    . 

'Tis  vain  to  say 

Whate'er  God  does 

What  siimers  value 

Will  God  who  clothes 


Page. 
13S 
243 
220 
182 
]56 

90 
206 

52 
166 

83 

44 
128 

50 
154 
192 
115 

72 
123 
135 
234 
168 

54 
174 

24 
196 
161 
146 

77 
120 
111 
198 
178 

9G 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Affliction,  90,  184,  193,  197. 

Angels,  appear  to  the  shepherds,  14,  46;  to  Jesus,  18  ;  the  guar- 
dians of'children,  129,  174  ;  one  appeared  to  J.  in  the  garden, 
35  ;    to  Mary,  4G  ;  rolled  away  the  stone,  40,  235.     See  spirits. 

Apostles  or  Missionaries  chosen,  23  ;  sent  forth,  25  ;  their  profes- 
sion of  belief,  26.     Compare  40,  238.     See  disciples. 

Ascension  of  Jesus,  40,  237. 

Authors  quoted,  see  Note  I. 

Baptism  of  Jesus,  17,  55. 

Benevolence,  154,  155.     See  love. 

Bethany,  29,  30,  31,  33,  40,  238. 

Bethlehem,  13,14,15,47,51. 

Bible,  in  esteem,  53  ;  how,  often  treated,  87;  reflections  about 
it,  126  ;  references  to,  see  the  contents.  Compare  240,  follow- 
In*  ;  also  unaer  Orospei,  ana  N^w  iit. 

Birth  of  Jesus,  13,  14;  reflections  on,  45. 

Bonaparte's   testimony  to  the  excellence  of  the   Gospel,  248. 

Blasphemy,  Jesus  accused  of,  30,  36. 

Burial  of  Jesus,  39. 

Capernaum,  19,  20,  21,  22,  24,  26. 

Care,  relief  from,  90. 

Childhood  of  Jesus,  13,  51. 

Children  of  Bethlehem  slain,  15;  the  love  of  Jesua  for, 31,  204  ; 
to  be  diligent,  161,  217;  guarded  by  angels,  130, 174 ;  their 
praise,  183;  example  in  humility,  191. 

Christians,  who  are,  107  ;  as  to  pleasures,  175.     See  disciples. 

Conduct,  consistency  of,  71;  of  a  believer,  105;  to  others,  107, 
113, 114,  116  ;  to  enemies,  119,  155  ;  in  general,  123.  See  pa- 
rents. 

Confessions,  49,  56,  104. 

Confidence  in  God,  75,  91,  93,  195. 

Crucifixion,  35.     Compare,  229. 

Death,  of  Jesus,  35,  229 ;  his  escapes  from,  15,  20,  29,  30  ;  reflec- 
tions on, 167. 

Deception,  87.     Compare  69,  219,  and  hypocrisy. 

Dependence,  on  God.     See  providence  and  confidence. 
Diligence,  160,181,217. 

Disciples  chosen,  18,  23;  zeal  of  two,  29;    to  be  one,  what  neces- 
sary, 30,  31.     See  apostles  and  Christians. 
Duty  often  difficult,  178. 


262  GENERAL  INDEX. 

Envy,  caution  against,  31,  IGl. 

Faith  in  God,  100  ;  described,  101 ;  its  efFects,  105. 

Families,  happy  and  unhappy,  66. 

Feast  of  Tabernacles,  28  ;  of  the  Dedication,  30;  of  the  Passover, 
16,  19,  22,  2.5,  27,  30,  32. 

Forgiving  others,  76, 164,  165. 

Frankness,  219.     See  deception. 

Friend,  Jesus  one  of  children,  204  ;  a  true  friend,  225.    V 

Galilee,  19,  20,  21,25.     See  Gennesareth. 

Gennesareth,  24  ;  Sea  of,  21,  23,  24,25. 

Gentiles  referred  to,  24,  27,  222.     Compare  246. 

Gelhsemane,  35.     Compare  197,  229,  231. 

God,  his  house,  19,189;  knows  when  to  relieve,  21,179;  his 
blessing  needful,  180;  always  right,  197,  198;  confidence 
in,  77,90;  always  sees  us,  61,  79,  177  ;  feelings  towards  us,  75, 
77,90,  95, 143;  love  to,  see  love. 

Gospel,  to  be  preached  every  where,  40,  238  ;  testimony  of  infi- 
dels in  favor  of,  247;  compared  with  heathen  systems,  249. 

Gratitude,  29,  103,214  ;  filial,  233. 

Hatred,  root  of  evil,  108. 

Heart,  purity  of,  08. 

Heaven,  e.xhortation  to  seek  it,  83;  free  from  deceit,  89. 

Heathenism,  etc.,  compared  with  the  Gospel, 249. 

Herod,14,15,  20,  37,  47,  51. 

Honor,  true,  134. 

Hospital,  to  visit  a,  useful,  145. 

Humility,  169,  191,  224  ;   pride  80,  170. 

Hypocrisy,  89.     See  deception. 

Jerusalem,  15,  19,22,  28,  30,  32  ;  last  coming  of  Jesus  to,  32,  186. 

Jesus,  life  of,  13  ;  how  known  to  be  the  Savior,  13,  14,  17, 19,  27, 
28;  must  know  him,  41,  97;  what  proofs  that  he  was  more 
than  a  mere  man,  45,  55, 98  ;  birth,  14;  childhood  and  youth, 
16,  51 ;  Baptism,  17,  55  ;  temptation,  18,  57;  as  a  teacher,  19  ; 
walks  on  the  sea,  26  ;  escapes  death,  15,20,  29,  30;  last  week, 
32  ;  weeps  over  Jerusalem,  32,  186;  last  supper,  34  ;  in  Geth- 
semane,  35,  197  ;  death,  35;  burial  and  resurrection,  39  ;  com- 
mission to  apostles  and  ascension,  40  ;  His  farewells,  34,  40, 
199  ;  coming  again,  40,  239.     See  virtues  of. 

John  the  Baptist,  17,  18,  20,  25,  30,  45,  55  ;  the  beloved  disciple, 
34.     Compare  226,  232. 

Judas,  the  traitor,  34,  230. 

Judging  others,  83 ;  Judgment,  the  last,  34,  40, 131 ,  239.      . 

Knowledge  of  Jesus,  why  important,  41,  97. 

Lamb,  the  paschal,  34  ;  Lamb  of  God,  56. 

Lazarus,  raised,  31,  225,226  ;  parable  of,    and  the  rich  man,  153. 

Life,  of  Jesus,  13,  41  ;    life   short,  181,  167  ;    eternal   life,  136. 

Lord's  supper,  34  ;  Lord's  prayer,  75  ;  Lord's  day,  236. 

Love  to  God,  33  ;  to  one  another,  34  ;  two  great  commands,  108  ; 
compare  113;  the  greatness  of  God's  love,  171.  The  result  of 
faith,  107;  to  God  and  one's  neighbor,  107,  113;    illustrated    in 


GENERAL  INDEX.  263 

effect,  110.  Do  you  love  Jesus  ?  Ill  ;  of  Jesus  for  children,  i304  ; 
for  mankind,  221;  for  his  friends,  225  ;  his  enemies,  228,  230  ; 
for  God,  22'J  ;  for  his  niDther,  232.     Ciiarity,  154, 155. 

Man-pleasing,  a  caution  as  to,  124. 

Messiah,  Jesus,  how  kn.ivvu  to  be  the,  1.3,26;  what  lie  said  to  his 
disciples,  27;  question  of  Jesus,  30 ;  says  he  is,  36;  com- 
pare 41,  45,  'J8.     See  Jesus. 

Miracles,  makinrr  wine,  19;  the  nobleman's  son,  20;  Peter's 
wife's  mother,  21;  at  the  Pool  of  Bethesda,  22;  the  wid- 
ow's son,  24;  Jairus'  dausrhter,  24  ;  loaves  and  fishes,  21,  25, 
27,  178  ;  of  the  blind,  24,  27,  32,  29  ;  storms  silenced,  22,  26  ; 
of  the  lepers,  31;  Lazarus,  31;  at  his  death,  39;  resurrec- 
tion, 40,  235. 

Money,  the  talents,  151  ;  the  thirty  pieces,  34  ;  the  lost  piece,  172. 

Mother,  of  Jesus,  13,  19,  232  ;  a  mother's  love,  148. 

Murmuring  against  God,  prohibited,  194. 

Nazareth,  residence  of  Jesus,  16.  20,  25,  54. 

Neighbor,  love  to,  107,  113. 

Nicodemus,20,  28,  39. 

Obedience,  basis  of  confidence,  93.     See  parents. 

Orphans,  77,  90, 129,  193, 197, 204,  221,  232. 

Parables  of  Jesus,  r39  ;  of  the  lost  son,  140  ;  of  the  servants  and 
their  different  talents,  34,  151 ;  of  the  rich  man  and  poor  Laz- 
arus, 31,153;  of  the  merciful  Samaritan,  155;  of  the  sower, 
157;  of  the  laborers  in  tlie  vineyard,  31,  159;  of  the  friend  in 
need,  and  of  the  unjust  judge,  31,  162  ;  of  the  good  master  and 
the  hard  servant,  164  ;  of  the  worldling  107 ;  of  the  Pharisee 
and  Publican,  170  ;  of  the  lost  mone}'  and  sheep,  171. 

Parents,  of  Jesus,  13,14,51;  treatment  of.  71,81,86.  114,  145, 
147,232. 

Park,  Mr.  interesting  anecdote  of,  92. 

Persecution  of  Jesus  in  childood,  15  ;  reflections  on,  51 . 

Peter,  21,34,  35,  36,  HI.  178,  185. 

Poetry,  73,  77, 125,  130,  137, 1.53, 181,  240,  253,  255.  See  Index  to 
the  Hvmns,  and  Notes  I.  and  II. 

Pn.irisees,  23,  27,  30,  219. 

Pleasures,  youthful,  144,  175  ;  Christian  pleasures,  177. 

Prayer,  18,  23,  29,  31,72;  perseverance  in,  162;  reflections  on,  184  ; 
how  to  pray,  75  ;  compare  121,  165,  210  ;  of  Jesus  in  Getbse- 
mane,  see  Gnthsemane  ;   on  the  cross,  38,  232,  248. 

Prayers,  44  (po.fjf,)  49,  56,  75  (the  Lord's  prayer,)  81,89,  104, 
120,  124, 134, 14J.  171,  180,  223. 

Prodigal,  the,  140,  143. 

Praise,  sung  by  angels.  14  ;    by  children,  188  ;  in  general,  214. 

Providence,  trust  in,  90,  160, 180. 

Reflections,  on  Christ's  life,  41  ;  on  his  doctrines,  63  ;  on  partic- 
ular doctrines,  97;  on  tlie  doctrine  of  angels.  129;  on  the  re- 
Burrection  and  last  jud^^ment,  131  ;  on  eternal  life,  13:j;  on  the 
parables  of  Jesus,  139  ;  on  particular  discourses  and  parables, 
167;  on  hints  and  examples,  175;  on  the  last  discourse  of  Jesus, 


264  GENERAL  INDEX. 

199 ;    on   his   virtues,  203  ;    on  his   last  sufferings  and  death, 

229;  on  his  resurrection,  235  ;    on  his  ascension,  237  ;    on  his 

person  in  general,  240. 
Religion,  not  a  gloomy  thing,  175. 
Resolves,  49, 53, 120, 173,  180,  184, 192, 195. 
Resurrection,  33,235,  131. 

Rewards,  promised  the  disciples,  31 ;  law  of,  78. 
Sabbath,  22,  23,  30  ;  sabbath-school,  71.     Compare  936. 
Samaritans,  20,29;  the  merciful  one,  155,  222. 
Sermon  on  the  Mount,  2],  29,  G4,  69. 

Servants,  with  different  talents,  151  ;  the  hard  one,  etc.,  164. 
Sinners,  24,  143  ;  in  a  fearful  conflict,  254. 
Socrates  and  Jesus  compared  in  death,  248. 
Spirits,  a  wicked  one  tempted  Christ,  18  ;  cast  out,  25  ;  good  ones 

and  bad,  57.     See  angels. 
Sun,  the,  used  as  a  comparison,  127,  177,  187. 
Sheep,  the  lost,  Jesus  came  to  save,  49, 172. 
Shepherds,  their   visiting   Jesus,  14,  46. 
Scourging  of  Jesus,  37. 
Star  seen  by  wise  men,  14,  15,  47. 

Supper,  the  last,  34  ;  Lord's  instituted,  34.     Compare  231. 
Swearing,  69,  86.     Compare  123. 
Temperance,  121. 

Temptation  of  Jesns,  18,57;  how  to  meet,  59,  71.     Compare  b7. 
Temple,  the,  16,  19,  28,33,48;    doings  of  Jesus  in,  189. 
Transfiguration,  28.     Compare  209,  250. 
Vineyard,  the  laborers  in,  159. 
Virtues  of  Jesus,  203  ;  friendship  for  children,  204  ;  pietj,  207  : 

zeal  in,  209;  in  prayer,  210;  in  praise,  214  ;  in   diligence,  217  ; 

love   of  truth,  etc.,  219  ;  compassion  for  man,  221 ;  compare  24, 

32,187;    humility,  224;  a   true   friend,   225;    dying  love   and 

confidence  in  God,  229;  in  regard  to  enemies,  228,  230  ;  lo  his 

mother,  232. 
Watchfulness,  121. 
Widow's  son  of  Nain,  24, 181,222  ;  widow  and  unjust  judge.  163  ; 

how  a  widow  often  treated  by  children,  232. 
Wine,  made  out  of  water,  19.     Compare  175. 
Wise  men  from  the  East,  14,  47. 
Young  man,  the  case  of,  31, 105. 
Youths,  disobedient   ones,  etc.,  148;    arashoae,  62;  a  prodigal. 

144;  an  obstinate  one,  157;  youth  of  JesuMJfB,  53 
Zeal,  of  Jesus  in  piety,  209.  ^ 


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I^mip       Date  Due 

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1 

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BS2420.6.T24 
BnefwewsoftheSawour 


11012  00013  1385