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BV  4501  .S69  1860 
Smyth,  Thomas,  1808-1873 
The  well  in  the  valley 


jFvoiitispifrr. 


The  Well  ia  the  Valley. 


THE 


WELL 


IN   THE 


VALLEY. 


"Who  passing  thbottoh  the  Valley  of  Baca  make  it  a  Well."— Ps.  Ixxxiv.  6. 


KEV.  THOSr  SMYTH,  D.D. 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C. 


NEW  AND  BEVISED  EDITION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

1122  Chestnut  Street. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

THE  AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


No  books  are  published  hy  the  AMERICAN  SuNDAY-ScHOOL  Union 
withont  the  sanction  of  the  Committee  of  Publication,  consisting  of  fourteen 
members,  from  the  following  denominations  of  Christians,  viz.  Baptist,  Me- 
thodint,  Congregational,  Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  Lutheran,  and  Refonned 
Dutch.  Not  more  than  throe  of  the  members  can  be  of  the  same  denomination, 
and  no  book  can  be  published  to  which  any  member  of  the  Committee  shall 
object. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  L 

PAcn 
The  Well  in  the  Valley 13 


CHAPTER  11. 

Union  with  the  Church  essential  as  a  Christian  Duty  and 

Means  of  Grace 27 

CHAPTER  III. 

Belief  in  Christ,  and  Confession  of  Christ,  both  Necessary 

AND  Obligatory 47 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Belief  with  the  Heart  the  first  duty 60 

CHAPTER  V. 

Belief  with  the  Heart  further  explained  and  uroed 75 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Give  Yourself  unto  the  Lord 83 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Believing  and  Devoted  Soul  encouraged  to  make  an 

Open  Confession 91 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Obligation  and  Importance  of  a  Public  Profession  of  Faith  113 

vii 


Viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   IX. 

PAGB 

What  the  Lord's  Supper  is,  and  what  it  Teaches 161 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  True  Believer  Preparing  to  Unite  with  the  Church 
and  Come  to  the  Lord's  Table 171 

CHAPTER   XL 
The  True  Believer  Remembering  Christ  at  the  Communion 

Table 195 

CHAPTER  XXL 
Words  of  Instruction  as  to  what  Mat  and  Ought  to  be 

Expected 241 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Honour  and  Glory  of  Membership  in  Christ's  Church, 

AND  HOW  Disciples  should  therefore  Live  and  Act  ...  258 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
The  Work  to  be  Done,  and  the  Way  to  Do  it 276 

CHAPTER  XV. 
The  Lord's  Supper  often  a  Converting  Ordinance 292 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  Lord's  Supper  adapted  to  Do  Good  to  Children 305 

CHAPTER   XVII. 
A  Word    to   those  who,    from  whatever   Cause,   are   not 

Members  of  the  Church 338 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
A  Plea  for  the  Church 359 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
The  Communion  of  Saints 377 


CHILDHOOD. 

Chief  of  heaven's  beauteous  band,  there  come  to  view 
Three  sisters,  which  above  their  fellows  shine, 
Towering  in  grace  and  majesty  divine: 

In  order  first,  in  lineaments  and  hue, 

Faith,  to  her  royal  standard  ever  true, 

Leading  on  high  their  bright  and  order'd  line, 
And  raising  with  firm  hand  her  Master's  sign; 

Around  her  throne  a  stole  of  heavenly  blue, 
The  cross  her  sceptre,  and  her  robe  the  sky. 

Hope,  too,  is  there,  with  heaven-communing  face, 
Fair  Hope,  her  silver  anchor  fix'd  on  high : — 
And  saffron-robed  descending  Charity, 

With  little  children  in  her  loved  embrace, 

Leaning  from  heaven  with  heaven-inviting  grace. 

Childhood  in  God's  own  temple  ever  found; — 
As  when  the  lamps  of  eve  their  shadows  flung, 

And  Samuel  heard  the  awful  voice  profound ; — 
Or  when  the  temple  with  hosannas  rung. 
And  Christ  was  welcomed  by  the  infant  tongue  I 

Yea,  Christ  himself  is  seen,  a  holy  child. 
Sitting  his  heavenly  Father's  courts  among. 

Then  what,  0  Lord,  'mong  men  by  sin  defiled. 

Is  for  thy  temple  meet  as  childhood  undefiled? 

Sweet  childhood !  shadow  of  celestial  love ! 

Train'd  to  look  up  and  hold  a  parent's  hand 
And  ever  lift  the  eye  to  one  above  ; — 

Which  knows  not  yet,  while  it  obeys  command; — 

Hopes  all,  and  all  believes.    Elysian  land ! 
Drinking  the  air  of  immortality 
It  sheds  o'er  earth  a  gleam  of  paradise. 

It  is  a  precious  sight,  which  angels  view 
In  trembling  joy  and  hope ;  immortal  love 

Hangs  o'er  it,  watching  every  opening  hue. 
Since  many  such  on  this  bad  earth  may  prove 
Meet  for  God's  golden  house  in  highest  heaven  above 


CHARITY. 

Fair  form  that  sittest  on  the  cloud, 

An  image  of  parental  love, 
And  from  the  purple-folding  shroud 

To  earth  descendest  from  above, 
With  babes  enfolded  in  thine  arms. 
As  sheltering  them  from  worldly  harms ; 
All  words  are  weak  to  speak  of  thee, 
And  figure  thy  fair  form,  divinest  Charity ! 

How  can  we  paint  thee  to  our  eyes  ? 

Thy  brow  is  like  the  radiant  morn. 
Thy  flowing  robes  are  azure  skies, 

And  stars  the  gems  thy  robes  adorn ; 
The  vernal  cloud  thy  chariot  fair, 
The  winds  the  steeds  that  chariot  bear, 
And  hues  of  evening  clouds  that  roam, 
Are  but  the  radiant  gate  that  leads  unto  thy  home. 

If  thus  thou'rt  fair  with  God  above, 

And  fairer  than  all  things  below, 
Bathed  in  thy  light,  immortal  love. 

Our  hearts  would  burn,  our  footsteps  glow ; 
With  eager  haste  our  feet  be  shod, 
To  love  our  neighbour,  serve  our  God ; 
His  sheep  to  feed,  his  lambs  to  tend, 
As  through  his  pastures  now  they  wend, 
His  voice  to  know,  his  stafi"  to  heed^ — 
And  to  his  home  and  banquet  lead. 
Such  actions  are  the  heart's  own  door. 
Whereby  affection  brings  and  multiplies  her  store, 
tip-springing  in  the  soul  with  joy  for  evermore. 


THE 


WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY, 


CHAPTEE  I. 


A  WORD  WITH  MY  READERS ;  AND  THE  WELL  IN 
THE  VALLEY. 

My  Dear  Reader : — If  a  word  from  your  minister,  or 
some  thread  of  Providence,  has  led  you  to  take  up  this 
volume,  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  to  introduce  myself 
to  you  as  a  friend.  You  are  a  man  or  a  woman,  young, 
full  grown,  middle-aged,  or  advanced  in  years.  As 
such,  you  have  a  soul  to  be  saved  or  lost.  This  matter 
must  be  soon  determined,  finally  and  forever.  In  the 
midst  of  life  you  a.re  in  death;  and  with  death  the 
day  of  your  merciful  visitation  closes,  and  the  night 
Cometh,  in  which  man  can  no  more  work  out  his  own 
salvation,  because  there  is  no  longer  any  place  for 
repentance,  and  because  God  no  longer  worketh  in  any 
heart  to  will  and  to  do. 

I  take  it  for  granted  that  you  believe  and  realize 
these  momentous  truths.  I  hope  you  have  very  care- 
fully and  prayerfully  thought  and  read  on  the  subject 
of  personal  religion.  If  so,  you  feel,  as  I  presume 
you  do,  an  anxious  desire  to  know  the  way  of  Grod  more 
perfectly.     You  cannot  but  feel  that,  in  order  to  be  a 

2  13 


14  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Christian,  there  is  much  for  you  to  do,  as  well  as  mucli 
for  you  to  know  and  experimentally  to  feel. 

"  The  Church  of  the  living  God,  which  He  pur- 
chased with  His  own  blood,"  exists.  It  has  existed 
always,  from  the  very  beginning  of  time.  It  is  the 
kingdom  of  light,  in  contrast  with  "  the  kingdom  of 
darkness;"  "the  kingdom  of  God,"  in  contrast  with 
''  THE  world"  of  which  Satan  is  the  God  and  Prince ; 
and  it  "  is  righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,"  in  contrast  with  sin  and  selfishness  and  sen- 
suality,— "  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eyes 
and  the  pride  of  life." 

Now,  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  you  are  a  member. 
You  were  ''born  of  the  flesh,"  in  and  of  the  world, 
and  you  have  grown  up,  perhaps,  and  willingly  re- 
mained in  this  kingdom  of  Satan,  living  ''according 
to  the  course  of  this  world,"  and  not  according  to  the 
will  and  word  of  God, — "  seeking  your  own  things,  and 
not  the  things  of  God;" — ^loving  and  serving  the  crea- 
ture rather  than  the  Creator,  "who  is  God  over  all  and 
blessed  forever," — whom  you  are  bound  to  love  and 
serve  with  all  your  heart  and  soul  and  strength  and 
mind. 

To  become  a  Christian,  it  is  very  evident,  therefore, 
that  you  must,  as  Scripture  teaches,  be  "translated  out 
of  the  kingdom  of  darkness  into  the  everlasting  king- 
dom of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,"  and  "live 
no  longer  unto  yourself,  but  unto  Him  who  died  for 
you  and  rose  again."  The  question,  therefore,  "Ought 
I  to  join  the  church  and  to  become  a  subject  of  the  king- 
dom of  God?"  must  earnestly  engage  your  thoughts. 
For  there  can  be  no  neutrality,  no  compromise  between 


A   WORD    WITH    MY   READERS.  15 

God  and  Mammon,  Christ  and  Satan,  the  World  and 
the  Church.  He  that  is  not  with  Christ  is  against 
Him,  and  He  that  followeth  not  after  Him  is  none  of 
His,  but  is  counted  for  an  enemy  and  a  traitor.  You 
cannot  serve  both  parties,  any  more  than  a  soldier  could 
fight  both  for  his  country  and  for  her  enemies  in  any 
national  conflict  for  independence  and  liberty. 

G-od  demands  of  every  man  allegiance  to  Christ,  unto 
whom  '^all  power  is  given  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  and 
to  whom  every  knee  must  bow" — as  a  friend  or  an 
enemy — ''of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  on  earth,  and 
things  under  the  earth." 

Facts  prove  also  that  every  man  is  conscious  that 
there  is  a  natural  antipathy  in  his  heart  to  religion,  and 
especially  to  the  yoke  and  service  of  an  open  disciple- 
ship.  His  treasure  and  his  heart  are  in  the  world.  His 
friends  and  fellowships  are  worldly.  His  position  and 
pleasures  are  in  accordance  with  the  lusts  of  the  flesh, 
or  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  or  the  pride  and  fashion  of  life ; 
and,  as  he  is  intuitively  convinced  that  he  cannot  servo 
two  masters  or  receive  the  honour  that  cometh  from 
man  and  that  which  cometh  from  God  at  the  same 
time,  he  either  thinks  nothing  at  all  upon  the  subject 
and  careth  for  none  of  these  things,  or,  if  he  does 
think  and  feel,  he  satisfies  his  mind  in  remaining  as  he 
is  by  the  common  idea  that  an  open  profession  of  reli- 
gion and  union  with  Christ's  church  are  not  necessary, 
but  are  left  to  every  man's  voluntary  choice.  Many 
therefore  spend  their  lives  out  of  the  church,  and  yet 
hope  that  they  are  Christians,  because  they  attend  upon 
many  of  the  services  of  the  sanctuary.  Others,  again, 
wish  to  be  saved  and  to  go  to  heaven,  but  have  no  idea 


16  THE   WELL   EN   THE   VALLEY. 

that  this  is  reached  by  walking  in  the  statutes  and 
commandments  of  the  Lord. 

Will  yoU;  then,  dear  reader,  carefully  read  what  I 
will  say  to  you  about  the  Well  in  the  Valley,  and  the 
paramount  duty'of  union  and  communion  with  some 
branch  of  Christ's  visible  kingdom,  as  this  duty  is  held 
forth  in  Scripture  and  in  the  standards  of  the  various 
evangelical  denominations  ? 

Love  strong  as  death, — nay,  stronger, — 

Love  mightier  than  the  grave, 
Broad  as  the  earth,  and  longer 

Than  ocean's  widest  wave, — 
This  is  the  love  that  sought  us ; 
This  is  the  love  that  bought  us; 
This  is  the  love  that  brought  us 

To  gladdest  day  from  saddest  night, 

From  deepest  shame  to  glory  bright, 

From  depths  of  death  to  life's  fair  height, 

From  darkness  to  the  joy  of  light: 
This  is  the  love  that  leadeth 

Us  to  his  table  here ; 
This  is  the  love  that  spreadeth 

For  us  this  royal  cheer. 

The  Well  in  the  Valley  !  What  lovely  and  at- 
tractive pictures  do  these  words  present"  to  the  ima- 
gination !     Let  us  portray  one  of  them. 

We  behold  a  most  agreeable  landscape.  Mountains 
to  the  north  and  south  enclose  a  valley  whose  land  is 
highly  cultivated  and  covered  with  flocks  and  herds. 
It  is  watered  by  the  river  Litanus  and  several  other 
streams,  and  is  a  delicious  and  enchanting  country. 
With  a  balmy  atmosphere  and  salubrious  climate,  it  is 
the  very  place  to  induce  a  company  of  pilgrims  on 


-    A   WORD    WITH    MY   READERS.  17 

their  way  to  Jerusalem  to  tarry  for  a  night.  The 
fruit-bearing  mulberry-tree,  with  its  lofty  branches 
and  broad-spreading  leaves,  everywhere  abounds.  In- 
terspersed among  these  are  found  the  palm,  the  olive, 
the  cedar,  the  oak,  the  fir,  the  sycamore,  the  chestnut, 
the  willow  and  other  trees,  which  not  only  add  grace- 
ful ornament  to  the  landscape,  but  afford  most  refresh- 
ing shelter  from  the  direct  and  injurious  rays  of  a 
tropical  sun ;  contribute  essentially  to  the  comfort,  and 
even  sustenance,  of  the  inhabitants,  by  their  abundant 
fruit;  while  by  their  juices  they  administer  cooling 
and  medicinal  draughts.  Many  of  these  trees  flower 
twice  in  the  season  and  bear  fruit  all  the  year  round. 
Flowers  also  grow  in  this  valley  in  great  profusion  and 
variety.  The  meadows  are  adorned  in  succession  by  the 
blossoms  of  the  different  species  of  anemone,  ranunculus, 
crocus,  tulip,  narcissus,  hyacinth,  lily  and  violet.  These, 
together  with  the  iris,  the  almond-tree,  the  cassia,  the 
wild  grape,  the  myrtle,  the  spikenard,  and  innumerable 
daffodils,  crow-foots  and  jessamines,  form  an  enamelled 
carpet  which  perfumes  the  air  with  the  most  grateful 
odours,  and  thus  embalm  while  they  perfect  a  scene 
replete  with  every  thing  that  can  gratify  the  eye 
or  charm  the  imagination. 

Such  was  the  Valley  of  Baca,  alluded  to  in  Scripture, 
supposing  it  to  refer  to  that  plain  (still  called  Bakaa) 
which  lies  in  one  of  the  most  northern  districts  whence 
travellers  were  accustomed  to  journey  to  Jerusalem. 
This  every  Israelite  was  required  to  do  thrice  a  year, 
to  the  three  great  feasts, — the  Passover,  Pentecost,  and 
that  of  Tabernacles.  These  festivals  could  be  cele- 
brated only  at  Jerusalem,  which  was  the  mother  of  all 
B  .  2* 


18  *        THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Israelites,  the  centre  and  source  of  all  their  religious 
solemnities,  the  bond  of  union,  and  the  great  leading 
type  of  that  temple  which  is  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens.  To  prepare  for  that  heavenly- 
temple,  all  the  types  and  shadows,  the  sacrifices  and 
oblations  of  the  Mosaic  economy  were  instituted  as 
means  of  grace  and  the  pledge  and  foretaste  of  its 
celestial  blessedness.  There  were  then,  as  now,  family 
religious  services,  and  also  public  and  united  worship 
in  the  Various  synagogues  of  the  land.  But  these 
were  not  enough.  To  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the 
fundamental  facts  of  their  religion;  to  keep  them 
steadfast  in  their  profession;  to  hold  forth  the  majesty 
of  divine  service  and  the  glory  of  Israel  and  Israel's 
God ;  to  imbue  their  minds  with  more  profound  know- 
ledge and  spiritual  experience;  to  consolidate  the 
bonds  of  peace  by  a  unity  of  faith,  hope  and  joy ;  and 
above  all  to  constitute  special  occasions  of  sacred  fel- 
lowship and  divine  blessings ;  a  personal  attendance 
— implying  a  pubHc  profession  and  solemn  communion — 
was  required  of  all  Israelites  three  times  every  year. 

It  was  in  this  way  that  believers  under  the  Old 
Testament  economy  of  the  Church  proclaimed  their 
spiritual  oneness,  not  only  as  one  visible  church,  but  as 
bound  together  in  holy  covenant  and  fellowship  with 
Jehovah.  This  was  the  very  heart  and  soul  of  the 
Mosaic  religion.  The  great  end  and  purpose  of  every 
thing  about  it  was  to  open  up  the  way,  through  the 
sacrifice  and  mediation  of  a  coming  Saviour,  for  the 
restoration  of  guilty  sinners  to  a  sin-pardoning  God,  so 
that  they  might  find  in  Him  the  centre  of  their  being, 
their  only  absolute  and  supreme  good,  the  fountain  of 


A   WORD   WITE   MY   READERS.  10 

all  excellence  and  blessedness,  their  only  proper  and 
satisfying  rest, — 

And  thus  bring  back, 
Through  the  world's  wilderness,  long  wander'd  man 
Safe  to  eternal  Paradise  of  rest. 

To  believing  and  spiritual  minds,  the  dearest  place 
on  earth  was  the  sanctuary  of  God,  the  courts  of  Jeho- 
vah, God's  house.  Heart  and  flesh — every  power  and 
faculty  of  body  and  mind — longed  for  them.  When 
away  from  them  or  prevented  from  repairing  to  them, 
such  individuals  envied  the  felicity  of  those  who  dwelt 
at  Jerusalem,  and  even  the  little  birds  which  found 
shelter  and  protection  around  the  sacred  precincts  of 
God's  altars.  And  while  to  unbelieving  and  pleasure- 
seeking  hearts  the  beauty  of  Baca's  vale  was  more 
attractive  than  the  dwellings  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
pious  hearts  only  made  it  a  highway  along  which  to 
pass,  and  a  well  beside  which  to  refresh  themselves, 
while  they  eagerly  pressed  forward  to  appear  before 
God  in  Zion. 

Those  are  at  home  :  these  journey  still 

To  build  their  nest  on  Zion's  hill. 

Blest !  who,  their  strength  on  thee  reclined, 

Thy  courts  explore  with  constant  mind, 

And  Salem's  distant  towers  still  view ; 

With  active  zeal  the  way  pursue ; 

Secure  the  thirsty  vale  they  tread  ; 

While,  oozvAg  from  the  rocky  soil, 

The  copious  springs  their  steps  beguile, 

And  bid  the  cheerless  desert  smile. 

As  down  in  grateful  showers  distill' d 

The  heavens  their  kindliest  moisture  yield ; 


20  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

From  stage  to  stage  advancing  still, 
Behold  them  reach  fair  Zion's  hill, 
And,  prostrate  at  her  hallow'd  shrine, 
Adore  the  Majesty  divine. 

Re-union  and  communion  with  God  have,  therefore, 
been  the  great  end  of  true  religion  from  the  beginning 
of  the  world;  and  union  with  His  church,  and  com- 
munion in  its  privileges  and  duties,  have  ever  been  the 
means  through  which  these  inestimable  blessings  were 
enjoyed, — the  well  in  the  valley  of  life  from  which  weary 
and  thirsty  souls  have  drawn  forth  the  waters  of  salva- 
tion. Such  is  the  order  of  G-od's  appointed  method  of  sal- 
vation and  sanctification.  The  God  of  ordinances  has  ever 
been  revealed  most  sensibly  to  the  hungry  and  thirsty 
soul,  in  the  ordinances  of  God.  Believers,  having 
spiritual  life  imparted  to  them  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  have 
ever,  like  new-born  babes,  desired  the  sincere  milk — 
and,  as  they  grew  in  grace,  the  stronger  food — sup- 
plied by  the  word  and  ordinances  of  God.  These  have 
been  to  them  what  home  and  parents  and  a  well-filled 
storehouse  and  generous-hearted  kindness  are  to  the 
children  of  loving  parents.  In  the  valley  of  life  the 
church  has  ever  been  to  such  souls  the  well-spring  of 
all  true  personal  and  social  happiness.  Around  this 
they  have  ever  clustered.  Here  they  erected  their 
tents.  Here  they  spread  their  table  in  the  wilderness, 
and  around  its  board  they  feasted  on  the  fat  things, 
the  bread  of  heaven  and  the  livina;  water.  However 
distant  from  it  in  bodily  presence,  it  was  still  near  to 
them  at  heart.  Participation  in  the  pleasures  of  com- 
munion with  each  other  and  with  God  was  their 
chiefest  joy,  and  to  be  cut  off  from  them  by  any  insu- 


A   WORD   WITH   MY  EEADEES.  21 

perable  obstacle,  their  heaviest  affliction.  ''  If  I  forget 
thee,  0  Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget  her  cun- 
ning. If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth;  if  I  prefer  not  Jeru- 
salem above  my  chief  joy." 

And  thus  will  the  church  of  God,  which  he  pur- 
chased with  his  own  blood,— and  the  ordinances  of  God, 
which  at  once  commemorate  and  communicate  his  un- 
speakable mercies,— and  the  service  of  God,  with  its 
own  self-imparting  reward,  its  sanctifying  power  and 
its  ultimate  recompense,— ever  be  regarded  by  loving 
and  believing  hearts. 

The  world  may  be  to  you,  dear  reader,  like  the  valley 
of  Baca,  full  of  beauty  and  refreshment.  But,  if  you 
are  a  child  of  God,  you  will  turn  away  from  all  created 
beauty  and  all  transient  joy  to  Him  who  is  the  source 
of  all  that  is  beautiful  and  desirable  in  life,  and  find  in 
Christ  and  Him  crucified,  and  in  that  church  which  he 
instituted  and  of  which  he  is  the  foundation,  your 
chiefest  joy,  the  home  and  rest  of  your  soul,  the  life 
of  your  life,  the  radiance  of  its  beauty,  and  the  rapture 
of  its  joys.  There  you  will  learn  to  use  without 
abusing  the  mercies  of  a  generous  Father.  There  you 
will  be  taught  how  to  glorify  the  Giver  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  gifts.  There  you  will  be  disposed  to  con- 
secrate body,  soul  and  spirit,  influence  and  affluence, 
time  and  talents,  to  Him  who  hath  loved  you  and  given 
himself  for  you.  And  there  you  will  be"  enabled  so  to 
improve  the  many  blessings  intrusted  to  your  use, 
as  to  make  to  yourself  friends  who  shall  receive  you 
into  everlasting  habitations. 

But  it  is  only  to  the  few,  and  to  these  few  but  for  a 


22  THE    WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

short  and  uncertain  season,  that  life  is  so  favourable, 
and  the  world  so  charming.  To  the  great  majority 
life  is  what  has  been  most  generally  understood  by  the 
valley  of  Baca, — a  vale  of  tears,  a  place  of  weeping, 
a  dry  and  thirsty  land  where  no  water  is,  a  dreary 
waste,  a  thorny  road,  a  weary  pilgrimage  through  a 
howling  wilderness. 

Such  is  the  interpretation  anciently,  and  now  gene- 
rally, preferred,  of  the  passage  selected  as  our  motto, 
and  suggestive  of  our  title.  The  valley  of  Baca  was 
probably  some  dry,  desolate  valley, — the  valley  of 
weeping,  as  it  may  be  literally  rendered, — and  is  em- 
ployed as  a  beautiful  description  of  this  life,  regarded 
as  the  vale  of  tears,  clouded  by  sorrow  and  destitute 
of  all  inward  and  heart-satisfying  consolation.  As  the 
valley  of  Baca  lay  on  the  way  to  Jerusalem,  a  road 
may  have  been  constructed  through  it,  and  a  well  of 
capacious  size  excavated  to  receive  and  retain  the  early 
and  the  latter  rains.  Here,  then,  the  pilgrims  towards 
Zion  would  halt.  They  would  make  this  a  stage  in 
their  journey,  a  well  where,  under  the  cover  of  some 
building  analogous  to  our  inns,  they  would  enjoy  shade, 
rest  and  refreshment.  And  just  what  this  well  in  the 
valley  of  Baca  was  to  the  ancient  pilgrims  to  Jerusa- 
lem,— their  type  of  heaven, — such  is  the  church  to 
weary  pilgrims  now  on  their  journey  through  this  vale 
of  tears.  It  is  a  temporary  home,  a  rest,  a  refuge  from 
the  storm,  a  shelter  from  the  burning  rays  of  the  sun, 
a  well  of  living  water,  a  source  of  happiness,  a  fountain 
of  delight. 

This  is  what  the  church  is  designed  to  be,  and  what 
it  is  to  every  hungry  and  thirsty,  to  every  weary  and 


A  WORD   WITH   MY  READERS.  23 

heavy-laden  soul,  which  having  found  peace  and  joy 
in  believing,  rejoices  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  It 
is  what  many  interpreters  have  understood  by  the  inn 
to  which,  in  the  parable,  the  wounded  traveller  was 
borne  that  he  might  be  nursed,  nourished  and  restored. 
Happy,  says  the  Psalmist  in  the  same  Psalm,  is  such  a 
man  !  His  strength  is  in  God !  All  obstacles  are  re- 
moved out  of  his  way,  and  an  easy  and  delightful 
access  is  opened  up  for  him  unto  God  through  the 
pathless  wilderness  of  his  own  sinful,  guilty  and  de- 
spairing fears.  All  his  springs  are  now  in  Christ. 
From  Him  living  streams  of  spiritual  health  are  con- 
tinually supplied,  by  which  he  is  strengthened  and 
made  fruitful  in  holiness  and  in  every  good  word  and 
work.  And  as  the  church  is  Christ's  appointed  in- 
strumentality for  the  administration  of  ordinances  and 
the  communication  of  spiritual  blessings,  and  especially 
(as  in  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper)  the  nearest 
and  dearest  communion  with  Him  which  is  possible 
upon  earth,  the  poor  wandering  bird,  to  which  the 
Psalmist  compares  the  believer  while  on  earth,  finds  in 
it  a  resting-place  and  home  both  for  itself  and  its  help- 
less young. 

Forth  from  the  dark  and  stormy  sky, 

Lord,  to  thine  altar's  shade  we  fly, — 

Forth  from  the  world,  its  hope  and  fear ; 

Saviour,  we  seek  thy  shelter  here. 

Weary  and  weak,  thy  grace  we  pray : 

Turn  not,  0  Lord,  thy  guests  away !  ^ 

Long  have  we  roam'd  in  want  and  pain ; 
Long  have  we  sought  thy  rest  in  vain ; 


24  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

wilder' d  in  doubt,  in  darkness  lost, 
Long  have  our  souls  been  tempest-tost. 
Low  at  thy  feet  our  sins  we  lay  : 
Turn  not,  0  Lord,  thy  guests  away ! 

To  you,  then,  my  dear  reader,  who  art  yet  in  the 
valley  of  life, — whether  it  is  to  you  sorrowful  or  joy- 
ful,— I  would  point  out  this  home — the  well  in  the 
valley — and  invite  and  encourage  you  to  draw  near,  to 
abide  under  the  shadow  of  its  sacred  walls,  and  to 
drink  abundantly  of  its  living  water.  This  is  the 
object  of  my  book.  It  is  not  a  story-book,  though  you 
will  find  in  it  numerous  and,  I  hope,  very  interesting 
incidents  from  real  life.  I  trust  you  feel  your  need  of 
true  piety  and  an  earnest  desire  to  obtain  it.  I  hope 
also  that  you  cherish  a  deep  and  heartfelt  respect  for 
the  church,  and  that  you  would  esteem  it  a  great 
privilege,  as  it  is  your  most  solemn  obligation,  to  be  a 
worthy  member  of  it.  As  such,  allow  me  to  take  you 
by  the  hand  and  talk  with  you  as  Christ  did  with  the 
woman  of  Samaria.  You  are  afraid  to  hope  in  Christ, 
to  cast  yourself  upon  him  as  a  guilty  sinner  fully  sen- 
sible of  your  weakness  of  faith  and  insensibility  of 
heart,  and  you  are  afraid  to  profess  religion,  because, 
as  you  think,  you  are  too  young  or  too  old,*  or  too 
unworthy,  and  because  you  might  afterwards  fall  away 
and  disgrace  your  high  calling.  Perhaps,  like  the 
Psalmist,  you  may  realize  how  amiable  are  God's  taber- 
aacles,  and  how  goodly  are  the  tents  of  Jacob.     Your 

*  At  a  communion-season  in  one  of  the  churches  of  Philadelphia 
a  short  time  since,  a  man  aged  eighty,  and  his  wife,  aged  seventy- 
eight,  and  their  son,  aged  sixty,  were  received  together  into  the 
church  as  disciples  of  Christ. 


A    WOED    WITH    MY    READERS.  25 

BOiil  may  long  and  faint  for  the  courts  of  the  Lord. 
You  may  even  envy  those  that  are  already  dwellers  in 
Zion,  who  come  up  with  joy  to  its  solemn  feasts,  who 
go  on  their- way  rejoicing,  and  have  songs  of  gladness 
put  into  their  mouths  in  the  house  of  their  pilgrimage. 
You  may  often  ask  yourself  the  question,  Ought  I  to 
join  the  church?  and  think  that  you  would  rather  be 
a  worthy  doorkeeper  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  than  to 
dwell  at  ease  amid  the  tents  of  wickedness. 

Allow  me,  then,  to  guide  you  to  this  happiness,  this 
freedom  from  inward  cares,  this  quiet  peace  of  mind, 
this  gladness  and  contentment  of  spirit.  I  would 
rejoice  to  be  able  to  remove  your  fears  and  doubts  by 
presenting  to  you  the  fulness,  freeness,  and  sufficiency 
of  Christ  for  pardon,  peace,  holiness,  and  perseverance 
even  unto  the  end ;  and  the  adaptation  of  his  church 
to  supply  confidence  and  comfort,  and  constantly  re- 
newed vigour  to  enable  you  to  proceed  from  stage  to 
stage  through  this  valley  of  weeping,  until  you  appear 
before  God,  and  enter  into  that  rest  which  is  reserved 
in  heaven. 

A  story  is  told  of  a  tribe  of  Indians  who  fled  from 
a  relentless  foe  in  the  trackless  forest  in  the  south- 
west. Weary  and  travel- worn,  they  reached  a  noble 
river  which  flowed  through  a  beautiful  country.  The 
chief  of  the  band  stuck  his  tent-pole  in  the  ground 
and  exclaimed,  '^ Alabama!  Alabama!"  '^Here  we 
shall  rest !     Here  we  shall  rest !" 

Come,  then,  thou  wearied  and  foot-sore  pilgrim,  into 
this  -peaceful  valley,  and  there  find  Him  who  once 
tarried  at  the  well  of  Jacob,  and  in  the  fulness  of  his 
imparted  peace  and  joy  descending  like  dew  from  the 


26  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Lord,  or  as  showers  upon  the  grass,  you  will  be  con- 
strained with  all  his  true  followers  to  say,  "  Here  wa 
shall  rest!  Here  we  shall  rest!"  or  you  will  exclaim, 
as  did  the  lowas  and  Sacs  from  Wisconsin  and  Illinois, 
when  driven  beyond  the  ^'Father  of  Floods,"  "  lowaT 
Here  is  the  place,  and  beautiful. 

Come,  listening  spirit,  come  ! 

Good  angels  guide  thy  way  ; 
Our  Shepherd  bids  thee  to  his  fold ; 

The  gracious  call  obey. 

No  more  the  cold  gray  stone 

His  sepulchre  doth  seal ; 
'Tis  roU'd  away  :  our  Lord  is  risen  ; 

He  stoops  our  wounds  to  heal. 

Come,  waiting  spirit,  come  ! 

His  hallow'd  board  is  spread  ; 
Turn  from  the  false  delights  of  earth, 

And  take  the  living  bread  ; 

And  in  that  strength  divine, 
Pass  on  thy  pilgrim  way ; 
Make  him  thy  pole-star  through  the  night, 
•    Thy  sunbeam  all  the  day  ; 

And  guard  with  faithful  hand 

The  promise  of  his  love, 
To  share  his  banquet  here  below, 

And  be  his  guest  above. 


UNION   AND    COMMUNION    WITH    THE    CHUECH.      27 


CHAPTEE  II. 

UNION    AND    COMMUNION    WITH    THE     CHURCH    ESSEN- 
TIAL AS  A  CHRISTIAN  DUTY  AND  MEANS  OF  GRACE. 

In  the  order  of  natural  relations  the  church  was 
originated  by  God's  love  and  grace  to  the  whole  world, 
considered  as  having  become  guilty  before  him.  The 
word  church  means  either  a  house  and  family^  or 
chosen  and  called,  and  in  its  most  complete  sense 
refers  to  all  those  who  shall  finally  be  redeemed  and 
gathered  together  into  one  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  First-born  whose  names  are  written  in 
heaven.  This  is  what  is  spoken  of  in  its  progress  as  the 
invisible,  and  in  its  consuvionation  as  the  triumphant 
church, — the  kingdom  of  God  which  shall,  in  its  in- 
numerable multitude  of  redeemed,  be  delivered  up  to 
the  Father,  by  whose  grace  it  was  first  chosen  in 
Christ.* 

Now,  it  will  be  at  once  perceived  that  of  this  church, 
— as  of  God  himself  absolutely  considered, — we  can 
know  nothing,  except  what  God  is  pleased  to  reveal, 
and  that  the  whole  purpose  of  the  Bible  is  to  make 
known  God's  gracious  purpose  and  plan  of  redemption, 
the  way  of  salvation,  the  instrumentality  employed  in 
calling  and  preparing  the  members  of  this  church  for 
an   inheritance   among   the   saints  in   light,  and   the 

*  Heb.  xii.  23 ;  Acts  xx.  28 ;  Eph.  i.  22 ;  Matt.  xvi.  28. 


28  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

history  of  the  process  by  which,  through  all  genera- 
tions of  men  that  have  elapsed,  the  chosen  ones  have 
been  translated  out  of  the  kingdom  of  darkness  and 
made  fellow-citizens  with  the  spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect,  and  joint  heirs  of  Christ,  from  whom  the  whole 
family  in  heaven  and  on  earth  is  named. 

It  having  pleased  God  to  save  men,  not  invisibly 
and  directly,  but  visibly  and  instrumentally,  there 
arose  a  necessity  for  the  dispensation  of  Christ  through 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  for  the  Scriptures,  the  ordinances, 
the  heralds  of  the  cross,  for  the  association  of  believers 
with  officers  and  laws  for  mutual  edification,  for  the 
preservation  and  propagation  of  the  glorious  gospel  of 
the  blessed  God,  and  for  a  witness  to  every  creature  of 
God's  love  and  Christ's  willino;ness  to  save.*  As  soon 
as  sin  had  entered  the  world,  God  therefore  founded 
this  VISIBLE  CHURCH  upon  the  promise  of  the  Saviour 
and  the  dispensation  of  grace  and  salvation  through 
him ;  and  at  once  instituted  worship  and  ordinances 
by  which  men  might  be  called  and  converted  and 
discipled  and  afterwards  trained  and  sanctified. 

It  is  thus  seen  that  it  is  through  this  complex  visible 
economy  of  grace  God  stands  related  to  us  as  sinful 
and  guilty  creatures,  and  that  we  are  authorized  and 
encouraged  to  hope  in  his  mercy,  to  believe  his  pro- 
mises, to  receive  and  trust  in  Christ  as  our  Saviour, 
and  to  glorify  and  enjoy  him  in  his  worship  and  work. 
The  church,  as  an  instrumentality,  is  God's  visible 
economy  for  accomplishing  his  invisible  purposes  of 
salvation ; — the  charter  of  our  hopes,  the  basis  of  our 

*  Eph.  iii.  21  ;  1  Tim.  iii.  15  ;  Eph.  iv.  11,  12;  Eph.  iii.  21. 


UNION   AND    COMMUNION    WITH    THE    CHUECK.      29 

confidence,  the  medium  of  our  intercourse  and  com- 
munion with  God,  and  the  pledge  of  God's  faithful- 
ness to  all  his  promises.  And  this  church  as  a 
community — called  iyivKtrdly  by  the  Holy  Spirit  and 
externally  by  the  word,  worship  and  ordinances,  and 
other  providential  agencies  of  God's  appointment — is 
that  Zion  and  family  of  God  to  which  all  promises  and 
privileges  belong ;  to  which  are  given  the  oracles  and 
ordinances  of  God,  pastors  and  teachers,  helps  and 
governments.  This  church  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  the  body  and  kingdom  of  Christ,  for  which  he 
is  head  over  all  things;  through  which  he  executes 
his  missions  of  mercy;  over  which  he  exercises  su- 
preme authority ;  and  by  which  men  are  called  suc- 
cessively, and  in  divers  times  and  manners,  to  faith 
in  Christ,  confession  of  Christ,  subjection  to  Christ's 
government,  and  obedience  to  '^  all*  things  whatsoever 
Christ  has  commanded." 

It  is  thus  apparent  that  the  church  is  that  instru- 
mentality by  which  God  is  now  in  Christ  reconciling 
the  Avorld  unto  himself;  seeking  and  saving  the  lost; 
and  revealing  himself  as  the  just  God  and  yet  the 
justifier  of  the  ungodly,  as  waiting  to  be  gracious  and 
as  not  willing  that  any  should  perish.  It  will  also  be 
observed  that  in  this  divine  instrumentality  —  the 
church — is  included  the  whole  of  God's  '^  method  of 
grace"  and  ''  ministiy  of  reconciliation."  '  God's  love 
originated  all  in  order  that  his  love  might  be  mani- 
fested and  proclaimed  internally  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  sensibly  and  sociably  by  preaching,  by  reading,  by 
praying,  by  praising,  by  life  imparted,  by  love  excited, 
Dy  the  field  of  duty  opened  up,  by  discipline  exercised, 

3« 


30  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

by  self-denial  and  self-sacrifice  freely  endured,  and  by 
all  these  as  in  accordance  witli  God's  own  appointment 
and  promised  blessing,  and  as  made  effectual  to  salva- 
tion and  sanctification  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  i3 
therefore  all  these  agencies  together  which  constitute 
the  church  of  God, — not  the  outward  and  visible  churc^h 
alone,  nor  the  inward  and  spiritual  alone,  but  both 
together.  It  is  by  both  these  chosen  means  God  calls, 
convinces,  converts,  subjects,  sanctifies,  and  saves  souls. 
It  is  in  this  complex  sense  the  church  is  the  pillar  and 
ground  of  the  truth ; — the  power  of  God  unto  salvation ; 
— against  which  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail ; — to 
which  are  added  daily  of  such  as  shall  be  saved ; — 
which  is  richly  furnished  with  living  water,  wine  and 
milk,  bread  of  heaven,  provisions  of  grace, — with  its 
symbols  and  insignia,  and  its  sacramental  ''communion 
of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ"  and  with  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  has  thus  brought  himself  into  the  gracious 
covenant-relation  of  a  Friend  and  Saviour,  engaging 
to  be  our  helper,  and  to  give  his  Holy  Spirit  to  all  who 
sincerely  seek  and  implicitly  obey  him  in  the  faithful 
use  of  his  appointed  means  of  grace.  By  all  these 
God  most  mercifully  condescends  to  our  weakness  and 
wants,  and  most  tenderly  employs  all  the  principles  of 
our  nature,  as  the  cords  of  a  man,  to  draw  us  to  his 
bosom  and  away  from  those  slippery  places  on  which 
our  feet  would  otherwise  slide  and  our  end  be  destruc- 
tion. Shall- we  not  rejoice  that  the  God  of  hope  and 
consolation — in  the  method  of  his  grace  and  the  dis- 
pensation of  his  church  and  providence — has  established 


UNION    AND    COMMUNION   WITH    THE    CHUECH.       31 

a  fixed  and  necessary  relation  between  his  own  required 
use  of  liis  own  appointed  means  and  his  own  gracious 
blessings, — the  bestowment  of  repentance,  faith,  and 
holiness,  without  which  no  man  can  enter  the  kino;- 
dom  of  heaven? 

I  rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice,  that  God  by  all  these 
means — by  these  promises  and  doctrines,  and  worship 
and  prayer,  and  ordinances  and  duties — has  esta- 
blished a  ground  of  hope  on  which  all  to  whom  the 
gospel  is  dispensed  inay  rest  with  assured  confidence 
and  have  their  love  and  gratitude  kindled  into  godly 
sorrow,  and  repentance  unto  life  and  faith  unfeigned ; 
and  by  whose  afi'ectionate  and  most  merciful  instru- 
mentality the  work  of  grace  is,  in  all  ordinary  cases, 
commenced  and  perfected  in  them  that  believe. 

Thanks  be  to  God  for  these  unspeakable  privileges, 
by  which  Christ  is  so  aff'ectionately  presented  to  my 
poor  perishing  soul  as  the  object  of  permitted  faith 
and  love ;  by  which  the  Holy  Spirit  so  tenderly  woos 
and  wins  my  heart ;  so  that,  while  God  is — as  I  would 
have  him  to  be — free  to  save  whom  and  in  what  way  it 
pleaseth  him,  he  has  nevertheless  bound  himself  to 
bless  those  who  sincerely  seek  him  with  all  their  heart 
in  the  diligent  use  of  the  ordinances  of  God. 

By  whom  salvation  is  effected  in  regeneration  and 
sanctification  is  cne  thing;  hy  ivhat,  is  another.  The 
Holy  Spirit  is  the  only  efficient  worker  of  salvation  in 
the  soul,  and  for  this  selfsam_e  thing  is  God.  But  the 
Holy  Spirit,  as  is  declared  in  his  own  word,  works 
nevertheless  by  faith, — by  the  truth, — by  preaching, — 
by  his  church, — by  baptism, — by  the  Lord's  Supper, 
— by    confession, — by    all    good   works, — by   all   holy 


32  THE  WELL    IN    THE   VALLEY. 

living, — and  by  all  generous  and  heroic  sacrifices. 
These  are  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  instru- 
mentally,  though  not  efficiently;  ordinarily,  though 
not  invariably.  They  are  all  tests  and  evidences  of 
faith,  obedience,  and  love ;  evidences  of  sincerity ;  ex- 
pressions of  grateful  devotion ;  helps  and  encourage- 
ments, delightful  to  the  believer  and  most  impressively 
convincing  to  the  unbeliever. 

The  question,  then,  for  you,  my  dear  reader,  to 
ponder,  is  not  whether  you  can  possibly  be  saved  in 
some  uncovenanted  way  without  obedience  to  God's 
prescribed  will  and  appointed  ordinances,  but  whether 
a  person  who  can  avail  himself  of  such  means,  and  is 
commanded  and  invited  to  employ  them,  and  yet  wil- 
fully and  perseveringly  neglects  them,  either  through 
unbelief  or  indifference,  or  distrust  of  God's  promises, 
can  hope  to  be  saved?  Whether,  in  short,  religion  while 
personal  and  private  as  the  life  of  God  within  the  soul 
of  man,  has  or  has  not  also  social  and  public  relations 
as  essentially  created  by  it  and  which  demand  the  pro- 
fession and  development  of  inward  experience?  These 
questions  are  not  to  be  determined  without  seriousness 
and  deliberation.  There  are  helps  to  the  right  decision 
of  them  of  which  we  are  bound  to  avail  ourselves. 
Ask  God's  word."^  Ask  conscience.  Ask  from  all 
other  associations,  sacred,  civil,  or  sociaL     Consult  the 

^-  Matt.  X.  32,  33;  Mark  viii.  38;  2  Tim.  i.  8 ;  2  Tim.  ii.  12; 
Rom.  X.  9,  10;  Mark  xvi.  16;  Acts  ii.  38;  Acts  ix.  14,  21;  Ps. 
xxvii.  4;  Mark  ix.  7;  Ps.  ii.  6,  10;  Gal.  i.  8;  John  xiv.  23;  John 
xvii.  17;  John  xx.  21;  Luke  x.  16;  Heb.  xii.  17;  Gal.  iii.  27;  1 
Cor.  xii,  13;  Rom.  vi.  25;  Acts  ii.  38,  xxii.  15;  Titus  iii.  5  ;  Eph.  v. 
26;   1  Pet.  iii.  21  ;   1  Cor.  x.  16,  17;  Acts  ii.  4. 


UNION   AND    COMMUNION    WITH    THE    CHURCH.       33 

creeds  of  all  chiirclies,  ancient  or  modern,  Oriental  or 
Western,  Keformed  or  Evangelical !  Repeat  the  Lord's 
Prayer  and  tlie  Apostles'  or  Nicene  Creed ! 

Examine  the  articles  of  the  various  communities  of 
organized  believers.  With  one  voice  do  not  all  teach 
that  within  this  visible  catholic  or  universal  church, 
consisting  of  all  throughout  the  world  that  profess 
the  true  religion, — the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  house  and  family  of  God, — there  is  ordi- 
narily found  salvation  ? — and  that  the  ministry,  oracles 
and  ordinances  of  God  are  given  to  it  by  Christ,  and 
made  effectual  to  salvation  by  his  presence  and  Spirit 
to  the  end  of  the  world?  It  cannot  be  necessary  to 
enforce  a  principle  or  proposition  by  further  argument 
which  is  recognised  and  maintained  by  such  a  cloud 
of  witnesses.  Though  but  human,  it  is  nevertheless 
weighty  authority. 

Out  of  many  testimonies  to  the  fact  that  this  is  the 
uniform  doctrine  of  the  Reformed  Evangelical  churches, 
I  will  quote  from  the  twenty-eighth  article  of  the  Con- 
fession of  Belgia,  ''Of  the  Church,"  as  given  in  the 
Harmony  of  Confessions,  adopted  and  repeatedly  pub- 
lished by  general  consent : — * 

''Art.  28.  We  believe  that,  seeing  this  holy  com- 
pany and  congregat'on  consisteth  of  those  that  are  to 
be  saved,  and  out  of  it  there  is  no  salvation :  therefore 
no  man,  of  how  great  dignity  and  pre-eminence  soever, 

*  First  published  in  1581,  at  Geneva,  at  Cambridge,  1586,  in  Lon- 
don, 1643,  The  work  was  originated  in  several  assemblies,  and 
especially  at  Frankfort  in  1577.  "In  this  Harmony,"  says  Koecher, 
*'  as  being  the  clearest  exposition  and  surest  defence  of  their  consent, 
the  teachers  of  the  Reformed  churches  are  wont  exceedingly  to 
glory." 


34  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

ought  to  separate  and  sunder  liimself  from  it,  that, 
being  contented  with  his  OAvn  solitary  estate,  he  should 
live  apart  by  himself;  but,  on  the  contrary  side,  that 
all  and  every  one  are  bound  to  associate  to  this  com- 
pany ;  carefully  to  preserve  the  unity  of  the  church ; 
to  submit  themselves  both  to  the  doctrine  and  dis- 
cipline of  the.  same  ;  finally,  to  put -their  neck  willingly 
under  the  yoke  of  Christ,  and  as  common  members  of 
the  same  body,  to  seek  the  edification  of  their  brethren, 
according  to  the  measure  or  gifts  which  God  hath  be- 
stowed upon  every  one.  Whosoever  therefore  do 
either  depart  from  the  true  church,  or  refuse  to  join 
themselves  unto  it,  do  openly  resist  the  commandment 
of  God." 

You  perceive,  then,  my  dear  reader,  that  the  duty 
of  union  and  communion  with  the  church  in  all  its 
ordinances,  by  a  visible  profession  and  active  co-opera- 
tion, is  made  imperative,  not  on  account  of  an  inherent 
efficacy,  but  by  Christ's  appointment,  who  has  ordina- 
rily connected  the  means  of  grace  with  the  method 
of  grace;  not  meritoriously,  but  instrumentally ;  not 
efficaciously,  but  as  signs  and  seals  of  that  covenant 
by  which  Christ  is  revealed  and  related  to  us,  and 
pledged  to  do  in  us  and  for  us  all  that  they  imply  and 
require. 

These  means  of  grace  do  not  conflict  with  the  doc- 
trine that  we  are  saved  by  grace  and  not  by  works, 
since  they  are  themselves  gracious  means  by  which 
the  God  of  grace  works  in  us  to  will  and  to  do  accord- 
ing to  his  own  good  pleasure  and  in  every  man  seve- 
rally as  he  wills ;  and  by  which,  so  far  as  we  can  un- 
derstand, the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  is 


UNION   AND   COMMUNION   WITH   THE   CHUECH.       35 

most  commonly  so  manifested  as  to  become  the  founda- 
tion of  our  faith,  and  hope,  and  joy. 

Neither  do  these  means  of  grace  contradict  the 
fundamental  doctrine  that  we  are  justified  by  faith 
and  not  by  worlvs ;  for  in  this  sense  laith  also  is  work, 
and  does  not  justify,  but  is  itself  the  effect  of  grace 
given,  and  only  mado  more  prominent  than  any  other 
*^ fruit  of  the  Spirit"  and  ^^gift  of  God"  because  by  the 
very  nature  of  our  minds  Christ  can  only  be  received 
and  rested  upon  for  salvation  by  this  faculty  of  believ- 
ing, and  because  it  is  in  itself  the  renunciation  of  all 
other  grounds  of  hope,  and  an  absolute  submission  to 
God's  plan  of  salvation  through  the  righteousness  and 
grace  of  Christ.  Considered,  therefore,  as  the  completed 
act  and  exercise  of  power  given  by  Christ  through  the 
Holy  Ghost,  faith  is  a  work,  and  in  this  sense  we  are 
justified  not  only  by  faith,  but  by  all  good  works,  as 
our  Saviour  and  his  apostle  James  teach.*  The  ability 
to  believe,  to  repent,  to  hope,  to  confess,  and  to  obey 
Christ,  and  to  do  every  other  good  work,  is  from  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  and  none  of  them  are  to  be  rested  in 
as  any  satisfaction  for  sin  or  cause  of  pardon ;  and 
yet  these  are  all  of  such  necessity  to  all  sinners  that 
none  may  expect  salvation  without  them.  To  neglect 
them  is  therefore  sinful  and  displeasing  to  God.  For 
it  should  be  remembered  that  faith  in  Christ  if  not 
dead  will  work  by  love  to  Christ,  and  if  any  man  love 
Christ  he  will  do  his  will  and  observe  all  things  what- 
soever he  has  commanded. 

Nay,  more :  so  essentially  connected   are   salvation 

*  John  vi.  28,  29  ;  James  ii.  22,  23. 


36  THE    WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

and  the  word,  worship  and  ordinances,  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  frequently  speaks  of  them  as  themselves  saving, — 
by  a  common  figure  of  speech,  representing  the  cause 
by  the  effect,  the  agent  by  the  means.  It  is  thus 
declared  that  a  man  must  be  born  of  water  and  of 
the  Spirit;  that  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hear- 
ing by  preaching,  and  salvation  by  the  foolishness 
of  preaching ; — that  the  engrafted  word  is  able  to  save 
our  souls  ; — that  "  baptism  doth  now  save  us"  by  the 
washing  of  regeneration ; — that  except  a  man  eat  of 
Christ's  flesh  and  drink  his  blood,  he  hath  no  life  in 
him ; — that  the  bread  and  wine  are  the  communion  of 
the  body  and  blood  of  Christ ; — that  with  the  mouth 
confession  is  made  unto  salvation ; — and,  not  to  enlarge, 
that  if  any  man  will  become  Christ's  disciple,  he  must 
deny  himself  and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  him. 
These  multiplied  declarations  of  God's  word  teach  us 
— not  that  any,  or  all  these  together,  can  save  and 
sanctify,  but,  as  Archbishop  Leighton  expresses  it, 
that  "  the  great  and  common  end  of  all  the  ordinances 
of  God,  that  one  high  mark  they  all  aim  at,  is  to  save 
us,"  "  and  the  great  and  common  mistake  in  regard  to 
them  is  that  they  are  not  so  understood  and  used." 
"  The  word,  especially  the  word  of  the  gospel,"  this 
must  include  all  its  complex  means  of  conveying  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus;  ''and  this,"  says  Andrew  Fuller, 
the  renowned  Baptist,  "  is  the  laver  in  which  the  sin- 
ner is  washed  from  his  uncleanness."* 

"  And,  as  it  is  not  Christianity,  strictly  speaking, 
but  the  profession  of  it,  which  entitles  us  to  a  place  in 

*  Works,  p.  597,  col.  2.,  Lon.  ed. 


UNION    AND    COMMUNION   WITH   THE   CHURCH.      37 

Clirist's  visible  kingdom,"  to  treat  a  person,  says 
Fuller,*  as  a  member  of  Christ's  visible  kingdom  and 
as  being  in  a  state  of  salvation,  who  lives  in  the 
neglect  of  what  Christ  has  commanded  to  all  his 
followers,  and  this,  it  may  be,  knowingly,  is  to  put 
asunder  what  Christ  has  joined  together.  '^  He  that 
believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved ;  but  he  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  By  this  language  he 
hath  hound  us;  though,  not  having  said,  ^^he  that  is 
not  baptized  shall  be  damned,  he  hath  mercifully  re- 
frained from  binding  himself." 

^'  The  design  of  positive  institutions  is  to  prove  us, 
whether  we  will  yield  implicit  obedience  to  God's  com- 
mandments or  hesitate  till  we  perceive  the  reason  of 
them."t  '^In  this  I  praise  you,  brethren,"  says  the 
apostle,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Fuller,!  '^that  ye  remember 
me  in  all  things,  and  keep  the  ordinances  as  I  have  de- 
livered them  unto  you.  For  I  have  received  of  the 
Lord  that  which  also  I  delivered  unto  you;"  and  Mr. 
Fuller  closes  by  saying, ||  ''Allow  us  to  repeat  what  was 
observed  at  the  beginning,  that  an  unreserved  obedience 
to  the  revealed  will  of  God,  in  whatever  form  it  is  de- 
livered, is  the  scriptural  test  of  faith  and  love."  Mr. 
Fuller  happily  illustrates  this  subject  by  comparing 
the  church  to  an  army.§  ''  ITo  man  could  with  pro- 
priety occupy  a  place  in  the  army  without  having  first 
avowed  his  loyalty  and  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
The  oath  of  allegiance  does  not  indeed  initiate  a  per- 


*  See  Works,  p.  854,  col.  2,  on  Terms  of  Communion, 
f  Works,  p.  734.  %  Works,  p.  735. 

II  Works,  p.  736.     The  italics  being  his  own.     §  Works,  p.  857. 
4     . 


38  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

son  into  the  army,  as  one  may  take  that  oath  who  is 
not  a  soldier;  but  it  is  a  prerequisite  to  being  a  soldier. 
Though  all  who  take  the  oath  are  not  soldiers,  yet  all 
soldiers  take  the  oath." 

''  Thus,  in  1  Cor.  xii.  13,  we  are  said  '  by  one  Spirit' 
to  be  '  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether  Jews  or 
Gentiles,  whether  bond  or  free,  that  all  may  drink  into 
one  spirit.'  "  "The  allusion  is,  I  conceive,  to  the  ordi- 
nances of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper, — by  the  former 
of  which  they  were  initiated  into  the  body  of  professing 
Christians,  and  by  the  other  had  communion  in  it."* 

A  public  profession  of  religion  by  union  and  com- 
munion with  the  visible  church  of  Christ  is  there- 
fore made  requisite  instrumentally,  though  not  meri- 
toriously, because  piety  cannot  be  developed  in  the 
soul  without  such  visible  manifestation.  Bishop  Butler 
clearly  demonstrates  that  the  very  notion  of  Chris- 
tianity, as  a  scheme  for  saving  souls  and  training  them 
for  a  higher  and  better  state,  implies  positive  institu- 
tions. The  visibility  of  the  church  consists  in  them, 
and  without  them  Christianity  must  have  been  in 
a  great  degree  sunk  and  forgotten ;  "  and  it  is  to  be 
observed  further,"  adds  Butler,  'Hhat,  as  the  nature 
of  the  case  requires,  all  Christians  are  commanded  to 
contribute  to  preserve  Christianity  in  the  world  by 
uniting  in  the  public  profession  and  external  practice 
of  Christianity,  "t  This  includes  participation  in  the 
sacraments,  which  are  the  appointed  means  of  making 
such  a  profession.  This,  therefore,  is  our  duty,  a  duty 
so  indispensable  that  no  man  while  wilfully  neglect- 

*  Fuller's  Works,  pp.  857,  858.     f  See  Analogy,  Pt.  2,  eh.  1,  (1.) 


UNION  AND   COMMUNION  WITH   THE   CHUECH.      39 

ing  it  lias  any  right  to  assume  that  he  has  either  faitH 
or  repentance,  without  which  he  cannot  be  saved. 

Besides,  these  means  of  grace  are  not  mere  badges, 
nor  acts  of  profession.  They  are  the  keys  put  by  God 
into  our  hands  to  open  the  door  of  communion  with 
him  and  invisible  things ;  with  heaven  and  all  its 
blessings ;  with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  all  his  graces ; 
with  God  and  all  his  promises  ;  with  Christ  and  all  his 
mercies ;  while — blessed  be  his  name  ! — he  holds  in  his 
own  hand  the  key  of  grace  by  which — when  and  how 
he  pleases — he  can  unbar  the  bolted  doors  of  our  hard 
and  unbelieving  hearts  and  make  us  willing  in  the  day 
of  his  power.  In  this  we  are  labourers  together  with 
God,  so  that  God  worketh  in  us  and  by  us.  For, 
though  we  can  do  nothing,  we  must  work  the  work  of 
God.  By  so  doing  we  have  every  thing,  and  otherwise 
nothing.  God  will  have  us  ask,  and  seek,  and  knock, 
that  he  may  open  the  door  and  bless  us ;  and  ordinarily 
only  those  who  seek  him  find  him,  and  only  those 
who  come  unto  him  have  life.  And  therefore  will 
the  Lord  wait  that  he  may  be  gracious  unto  you.  He 
waits  until  you  seek  his  grace  by  the  faithful  use 
of  the  means  of  grace.  ^'  Then  shall  ye  call  upon  me, 
and  ye  shall  go  and  pray  unto  me,  and  I  will  hearken. 
And  ye  shall  seek  me  and  find  me  when  ye  shall 
search  for  me  with  your  whole  heart." 

The  means  of  grace  are  not  merely  means,  nor 
man's  means.  They  are  God's  means;  and  they  are 
"  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation."  They  are  not 
mere  symbols,  representative  and  instructive.  They 
do  not  merely  teach,  as  they  do  most  impressively,  our 
sin,  and  guilt,  and   helpless   misery.     They   are   also 


40  THE  WELL   IN  THE  VALLEY. 

seals  of  the  gospel,  by  which  God  assures  ns  that  it  is 
worthy  of  all  acceptation^  and  binds  himself  to  fulfil 
all  its  promises,  while  he  requires  us  all  to  bind  our- 
selves to  faith  and  obedience.  They  embody  in  their 
very  nature  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  in 
their  use  the  impotence  of  man  and  his  humble  sub- 
mission to  the  righteousness  of  God.  To  neglect  them, 
therefore,  is  to  break  God's  covenant  and  to  neglect 
God's  appointed  means  of  grace. 

These  means  of  grace  are,  therefore,  God's  ordinary 
means  for  conveying  grace.  They  not  only  signify 
and  ratify,  but  communicate,  grace.  They  impart  the 
blessings  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  as  well  as  assure  us  of 
them.  The  Sacraments,  as  the  great  body  of  Christians 
believe,  are  ''  efficacious  means  of  grace,  not  merely  ex- 
hibiting to,  but  actually  conferring  upon  those  who 
worthily  receive  them  the  benefits  which  they  represent, 
not  as  moral  means,  but  as  means  of  God's  appointment 
and  attended  by  his  Spirit,  communicating  what  they 
signify.  Nothing  less  than  this  will  satisfy  the  strong 
language  of  the  Scriptures  on  this  subject,  or  the 
experience  of  God's  people,  who  so  often  find  their 
strength  renewed,  their  faith  confirmed,  their  pur- 
poses invigorated,  and  their  hearts  filled  with  joy  and 
love,  receive  anew  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  enter  into 
fellowship  with  God,  and  have  their  soul  filled  with 
the  Holy  Spirit."* 

You  are  not,  therefore,  to  consider  the  church  and 


*  Texts  given  above.  See  more  hereafter.  See  also  "  The  Way 
of  Life,"  by  Dr.  Hodge,  Chap.  VIII.,  from  which  the  words  are 
taken. 


UNION   AND   COMMUNION   WITH   THE   CHUECH.      41 

ordinances  of  God  as  mere  conventional  associations 
and  badges  of  ceremonial  profession,  nor  as  of  voluntary 
and  imperfect  obligation,  nor  as  in  themselves  un- 
essential. They  are  the  instrumental  agency, '  ^  the  hands 
by  which  the  Spirit  of  love  purifies  the  conscience  and 
conveys  grace  and  salvation  to  the  soul."  '^  He  who 
appointed  them  both  causes  the  souls  of  his  people  to 
receive  his  seals  with  faith,  and  makes  them  effectual 
to  confirm  that  faith  in  them  who  so  receive  them."* 

As  the  King  of  Zion,  Christ  must  be  openly  ac- 
knowledged and  served.  As  the  God  of  Cliristianity, — 
"God  manifested,"  "God in  Christ,"  "God  revealed,"— 
Christ  must  be  worshipped  in  his  own  ordinances.  We 
must  "  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord."  Christianity 
in  its  essence,  spirit  and  principle  is  secret,  inward, 
in  the  heart.  But,  like  the  heart  in  the  body,  the 
reason  in  the  head,  and  conscience  in  the  soul,  it 
renews  and  regulates  our  whole  compound  nature, 
with  all  its  relations  and  actions.  It  re-creates  the 
whole.  It  forbids  what  the  world  enjoins.  It  enjoins 
what  the  world  forbids.  It  forbids  fellowship  with 
sinners,  and  severs  the  world  from  the  church, — the 
only  body  on  earth  which  acknowledges  Christ  as  head, 
king,  and  God  over  all  and  blessed  forever ;  and,  as  the 
church  is  based  upon  Christ's  express  authority  and 
command  and  promise,  it  is  surely  necessary,  in  order 
to  be  a  Christian,  to  obey  Christ.  It  is  surely  neces- 
sary to  give  ourselves  to  his  church,  and  be  discipled 
according  to  the  will  of  God.  If  to  be  a  Christian  it  is 
essential  to  love  Christ,   then,  surely,  if  we  love  him 


*  Leigliton  on  St.  Peter,  chap.  iii.  19-21,  vol.  i.  p.  245 

4* 


42  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

we  will  love  his  commandments  and  do  them.  In  this 
way  only  can  we  openly  confess  and  honour  him  before 
men,  hold  forth  our  allegiance,  make  manifest  that  we 
are  with  Christ,  that  we  follow  him.* 

You  perceive,  then,  my  dear  readers,  that  the  duty 
of  union  and  of  co-operation  and  communion  with  the 
church  is  not  a  question  of  private  judgment.  It  is 
not  left  to  expediency  nor  to  choice,  It  is  an  impe- 
rative obligation,  made  as  binding  as  the  authority  of 
God  can  make  it.  Let  no  man  deceive  you,  nor  the 
example  of  multitudes,  nor  the  inconsistencies  of  pro- 
fessing Christians,  betray  you  to  think  lightly  of  this 
matter  and  sin  against  your  own  soul.  In  the  enjoy- 
ment of  all  God's  means  of  grace,  you  may  be  grace- 
less, and,  what  is  the  saddest  of  all  sights,  you  may  be 
walking  towards  hell,  while  walking  in  the  way  of 
God's  ordinances, — Christians,  and  yet  no  Christians, 
— ''circumcised,  and  yet  uncircumcised  in  heart." 
Take  heed,  then,  how  you  treat  them !  Take  heed 
of  despising  them  ignorantly  and  in  unbelief, —  or  of 
keeping  aloof  from  them  through  superstitious  fear, — 
or  of  neglecting  them  through  self-righteous  pride  and 
confidence  and  distrust.  The  sacraments  constitute 
one  part  of  the  instrumentality  by  which  God  is 
revealed  and  related  to  us  as  in  Christ  reconciling 
sinners  unto  himself, — one  of  the  means  of  grace, — one 
of  God's  ordinances, — and  one  method  of  worshipping, 
glorifying  and  enjoying  him.  They  are,  therefore, 
equally  authoritative  and  equally  necessary — as  acts  of 


^  See  chapter  on  the   Sacraments,   &c.,   in   "Way  of  Life,"  by 
Dr.  Hodge. 


UNION   AND    COMMUNION   WITH   THE   CHURCH.      43 

profession  and  communion,  and  as  means  effectual  to 
salvation — as  are  preaching,  praying  and  singing,  and 
"  require  no  other  qualifications  than  such  as  are 
necessary  to  the  acceptable  worship  of  God." 

You  are  thus  shut  up  to  the  alternative  of  living 
without  God,  aliens  from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel, 
strangers  to  the  covenants  of  promise,  and  neg- 
lecters  of  the  Bible  and  of  the  Sabbath  and  of  the 
sanctuary,  or  of  yielding  yourselves  up  to  God  to  be 
instructed  by  his  word  and  guided  by  his  Spirit  into 
all  truth  and  duty.  Eepent,  and  believe  the  gospel. 
Become  a  disciple.  Deny  yourself,  and  take  up  your 
cross,  and  follow  Christ  into  his  church,  to  the  Lord's 
table  and  into  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  there  work  the 
work  of  God.  '^  Except  you  repent,  you  shall  perish." 
"  He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  ^'  Except 
a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  ''  Except  ye  eat 
the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man  and  drink  his  blood,  ye 
have  no  life  in  you."  '^  The  words  that  I  speak  unto 
you,  they  are  spirit  and  they  are  life.  It  is  the  Spirit 
which  quickeneth  :  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing."  ''  Do 
this,  therefore,  in  remembrance  of  me." 

This — all  this,  and  nothing  short  of  this, — is, 
therefore,  your  only  safe  and  self-satisfying  course  of 
duty.  But  all  this  is  not  your  immediate  duty.  There 
is  an  order  of  relation  which  is  required.  You  must 
first  repent  and  be  baptized  and  believe  on  Christ,  and 
then  give  yourself  to  Christ  and  to  his  church,  and  pay 
your  vows  unto  him  in  the  presence  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  go  to  his  table,  and  eat  and  drink  with  him 
and  with  his  people  in  faith,  penitence  and  grateful  love. 


44  THE  WELL    IN   THE  VALLEY. 

Most  gracious  Father,  and  Saviour,  and  Sanctifier! 
dispose  and  enable  me  to  know  and  to  do  thy  will, 
that  in  the  keeping  of  thy  commandments  I  may  find 
great  reward  and  great  delight,  and  walk  in  all  thy 
statutes  and  commandments  blameless.  So  cleanse 
and  purify  my  heart  that  I  may  have  the  answer  of 
a  good  conscience  toward  thee,  and  an  answer  of 
good  will  and  peace  from  thee.  Grant  that,  with 
energetic  purpose  of  heart — the  living  impulse  of  thy 
gracious  Spirit — I  may  advance  in  faith  and  in  earnest 
hope,  and  be  imbued  with  such  a  glowing  love  to  thee, 
as  my  condescending  Father  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  I 
may  find  thy  yoke  easy  and  thy  burden  light,  thy 
ways  pleasantness  and  thy  paths  peace,  and  sit  under 
the  droppings  of  thy  sanctuary  with  great  delight. 

In  passing  through  the  valley  of  life,  may  I  find  in 
thy  church  a  well,  and  in  thine  ordinances  living 
water,  and,  being  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
bring  forth  fruit  until  life's  end,  to  show  that  the  Lord 
is  upright,  and  that  he  withholdeth  no  good  thing 
from  them  that  love  him,  and,  finally,  after  this  life 
is  ended,  be  received  into  thy  heavenly  kingdom,  to 
sit  down,  with  Abraham  and  Isaac  and  Jacob,  at  the 
marriage-supper  of  the  Lamb,  in  that  glorious  temple 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

Finally,  my  dear  reader,  let  me  ask  you,  in  the 
strong  and  stirring  words  of  Mr.  Spurgeon,  "  Dost 
thou  belong  to  the  church  ?  For  out  of  the  church 
there  is  no  salvation.  But  mark  what  the  church  is. 
It  is  not  the  Episcopalian,  Baptist  or  Presbyterian. 
The  church  is  a  company  of  men  who  have  received 
the  Spirit.     If  thou  canst  not  say  thou  hast  the  Spirit, 


UNION   AND   COMMUNION   WITH   THE   CHUECH.      45 

go  thy  way  and  tremble;  go  thy  way  and  think  of 
thy  lost  condition :  and  may  Jesus,  by  his  Spirit,  so 
bless  thee  that  thou  mayest  be  led  to  renounce  thy 
works  and  ways  with  grief,  and  fly  to  Him  who  died 
upon  the  cross,  and  find  shelter  there  from  the  wrath 
of  God." 

Deck  thyself,  my  soul,  with  gladness, 
Leave  the  gloomy  haunts  of  sadness, 
Come  into  the  daylight's  splendour. 
There  with  joy  thy  praises  render 
Unto  Him  whose  boundless  grace 
Grants  thee  at  his  feet  a  place  ; 
He  whom  all  the  heavens  obey 
Deigns  to  dwell  in  thee  to-day. 

Hasten  as  a  bride  to  meet  him, 
And  with  loving  reverence  greet  him. 
Who  with  words  of  life  immortal 
Now  is  knocking  at  thy  portal ; 
Haste  to  make  for  him  a  way, 
Cast  thee  at  his  feet  and  say  : 
ISince,  0  Lord,  thou  com'st  to  me. 
Never  will  I  turn  from  thee. 

Ah,  how  hungers  all  my  spirit 
For  the  love  I  do  not  merit ! 
Ah,  how  oft,  with  sighs  fast  thronging, 
For  this  food  have  I  been  longing ! 
How  have  thirsted  in  the  strife 
For  this  draught,  0  Prince  of  Life, 
Wish'd,  0  Friend  of  man,  to  be 
Ever  one  with  God  through  thee ! 

Here  I  sink  before  thee  lowly, 
Fill'd  with  joy  most  deep  and  holy. 
As  with  trembling  awe  and  wonder 
On  thy  mighty  works  I  ponder; 


d6  THE  WELL   IN  THE  VALLEY. 

On  this  banquet's  mystery, 
On  the  depths  we  cannot  see  ; 
Far  heyond  all  mortal  sight 
Lie  the  secrets  of  thy  might. 

Sun,  who  all  my  life  dost  brighten, 
Light,  who  dost  my  soul  enlighten, 
Joy,  the  sweetest  man  e'er  knoweth, 
Fount,  whence  all  my  being  floweth, 
Here  I  fall  before  thy  feet, 
Grant  me  worthily  to  eat 
Of  this  blessed  heavenly  food, 
To  thy  praise  and  to  my  good. 

Jesus,  Bread  of  Life  from  heaven, 
Never  be  thou  vainly  given, 
Nor  I  to  my  hurt  invited; 
Be  thy  love  with  love  requited ; 
Let  me  learn  its  depths  indeed, 
While  on  thee  my  soul  doth  feed  ; 
Let  me,  here  so  richly  blest, 
Be  hereafter  too  thy  guest. 


J.  Ftti.NEE,  1662. 


BELIEF  AND   CONFESSION   OF   CHRIST.  47 


CHAPTER  III. 

BELIEF   IN   CHRIST,  AND    CONFESSION   OF   CHRIST,  BOTH 
NECESSARY   AND   OBLIGATORY. 

In  the  order  of  nature  man  must  believe  before  lie 
can  confess  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  must  have 
faith  and  confidence  in  the  person,  work  and  glorious 
all-sufiiciency  of  Christ,  before  he  can  commit  his  soul 
into  his  hands  as  a  faithful  Redeemer,  and  openly  ac- 
knowledge and  confess  him  before  men.  And  yet,  in 
that  striking  declaration  of  the  apostle — (Rom.  x.  9, 
10) — ^Mf  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved :  for 
with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness ;  and 
with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation," — 
we  find  confession  is  placed  before  believing.  The 
reason  of  this  apparent  anomaly  is  found  in  the  fact, 
that  the  apostle  had  more  immediate  reference  to  the 
judgment  of  man  than  to  that  of  God.  God  looketh 
upon  the  heart,  and  can  discern  its  thoughts  and 
intents.  He  can  see  faith  even  when  it  has  never  yet 
been  whispered  to  the  ear  of  mortal.  But  it  is  far 
different  with  respect  to  man.  He  can  only  judge 
from  the  outward  appearance,  and  discover  the  state 
of  the  heart  by  the  conversation  and  the  conduct. 
Our  heartfelt  belief  can  therefore  be  known  to  our 


4:8  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

fellow-men  only  by  our  open  confession  and  our  cor- 
respondent outward  devotion.  A  man's  character  is 
known  by  the  company  he  keeps ;  and  a  man's  opinions 
are  known,  in  every  free  counzry,  by  the  party  to 
which  he  is  attached,  and  by  his  own  free  and  constant 
publication  of  them.  And  in  the  same  way  do  we 
judge  whether  a  man  really  and  at  heart  believes  and 
trusts  in  the  Saviour,  by  his  readiness  to  confess  him 
before  men,  and  to  hold  fast  the  profession  of  his  faith 
steadfast  to  the  end.  When  speaking,  therefore,  in 
reference  to  the  judgment  of  man,  the  apostle  puts 
confession,  which  is  the  effect,  before  belief,  which  is 
the  cause ;  because  it  is  only  by  the  effect  we  can  know 
any  thing  of  the  cause. 

But  there  is  another  rea,son  for  this  arrangement, 
and  that  is,  that,  so  far  as  it  regards  the  efficiency 
of  the  church  as  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth, 
the  open  and  steadfast  confession  of  the  truth  is 
more  patent  and  potent  to  the  world  than  its  inward 
possession.  For  the  same  reason  that  we  cannot 
see  the  faith  of  another,  which  is  in  the  heart, 
that  faith  can  have  no  influence  over  us  while  it  re- 
mains there.  It  cannot  afford  a  testimony  for  the 
truth  of  Christ,  nor  for  the  all-sufficiency  and  glory 
of  Christ.  It  cannot  demonstrate  to  us  the  nature,  effi- 
cacy and  power  of  the  gospel,  and  its  ability  to  mould 
and  fashion  the  character,  and  to  sustain  the  soul  in 
every  time  of  need.  It  cannot  prevail  upon  others  to 
"  acquaint  themselves  now  with  God,  and  be  at  peace 
with  him,"  by  the  evident  manifestation  of  what  he 
has  done  for  our  souls.  Our  faith,  therefore,  to  have 
any  value  to  others, — to  be  promotive  of  the  glory  of 


BELIEF   AND    CONFESSION    OF    CHRIST.  4V^ 

God, —  to  advance  the  cause  and  kingdom  of  Christ, — 
to  bear  an  efficient  testimony  for  Christ  and  his  cross, 
— and  to  lead  to  the  conviction  and  conversion  of 
others, — must  be  openly  confessed  and  manifested 
before  men.  Nay :  would  we  reap  all  the  benefits  of  a 
saving  faith  in  our  own  souls, — would  we  experience  its 
power  to  save,  to  sanctify,  to  transform  the  heart,  to 
mould  our  principles,  to  fashion  our  lives,  and  to  sus- 
tain and  comfort  us  under  all  our  trials, — we  must 
'^  come  out  from  the  world,  take  up  our  cross,  deny 
ourselves,"  and  identify  ourselves  with  Christ's  church 
and  people,  in  a  profession  of  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  and  a  diligent  observance  of  his  appointed  ordi- 
nances. 

But,  while  all  this  is  true,  still  it  is  equally  true 
that  a  mere  profession  of  Christ,  a  mere  outward  obser- 
vance of  ordinances,  is  vain,  worthless  and  dangerous 
to  salvation.  It  cannot  do  good  to  others.  It  cannot  do 
good  to  ourselves.    And  it  cannot  glorify  our  Saviour. 

Neither  a  profession,  then,  without  faith,  nor  faith 
without  a  profession,  is  a  complete,  perfect,  or  sym- 
metrical whole, — a  true  development  of  man's  glorious 
powers  under  the  influence  of  the  gospel.  And  the 
reason  is,  that  man  is  a  compound  being,  possessed  of 
a  body  as  well  as  a  soul, — of  affections  as  well  as  intel- 
lect,— of  active  powers  as  well  as  an  understanding, — 
and  of  social  qualities  as  well  as  of  personal  attributes. 
What  he  does  as  man,  he  does  with  all  his  faculties ; 
and  what  he  approves  in  his  understanding,  he  carries 
out  into  action  by  his  will  and  his  active  powei's. 
When  a  man  believes  in  his  heart,  he  lives,  and  moves, 
and  acts,  in  accordance  with  the  nature  of  the  thine,- 


50  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

believed.  There  is  no  power  which  can  paralyze  the 
will  to  do  where  there  is  a  heart  to  do,  and  a  possi- 
bility of  doing.  In  order  to  enable  any  man,  there- 
fore, heartily  to  do,  it  is  necessary  that  he  should 
heartily  believe.  This  belief  is  the  principle — the 
beginning — the  fountain — the  elastic  spring — the  ever- 
living  power  which  works  in  us  to  will  and  to  do. 

Faith  is  the  mightiest  principle  of  human  nature. 
It  is  the  only  inlet  to  our  knowledge  of  every  thing 
without  us,  every  thing  past  and  to  come,  every  thing 
invisible  and  divine.  It  lies  at  the  foundation  of 
character  and  conduct.  A  man  is  what  he  really,  not 
seemingly,  believes ;  and  by  inevitable  necessity  a  man 
will  act  in  accordance  with  what  he  sincerely  and 
firmly  believes.  And  as  in  regard  to  every  thing  else, 
man  is  ever  ready  to  hazard  any  thing,  and  to  make 
any  sacrifices,  for  what  in  his  judgment  he  requires,  and 
for  what  will  remunerate  the  cost ;  so  it  also  is  with  him 
who  truly  believes  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  They  will 
become  to  him  principles  of  life  and  conduct.  They 
will  mould  and  transform  his  character.  And  they 
will  direct  and  control  his  actions.  As  coals  of  fire 
they  will  burn  within  him,  until  they  find  vent  in  the 
flames  of  devotedness  and  zeal. 

<'  'Tis  faith  that  changes  all  the  heart; 
'Tis  faith  that  works  by  love, 
That  bids  all  sinful  joys  depart, 
And  lifts  the  thoughts  above. 

"  'Tis  faith  that  conquers  earth  and  hell, 
By  a  celestial  power  : 
This  is  the  grace  that  shall  prevail 
In  the  decisive  hour." 


BELIEF    AND    CONFESSION    OF    CHEIST.  51 

You  perceive,  then,  my  dear  readers,  that  belief  in 
the  heart  and  confession  with  the  mouth  are  insepa- 
rably joined  together  in  the  economy  of  our  salvation. 
Confession,  though  only  the  means  of  professing  faith 
and  obedience,  is  said  to  secure  that  salvation  which 
Christ  alone  can  give,  and  which  faith  alone  makes 
ours.  It  is  thus  said  that  ^'  whosoever  confesseth  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh  is  of  God."  ^'  Whoso- 
ever calleth  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved." 
That  is,  confession,  or  calling  on  the  name  of  Christ, 
implies  faith,  and  faith  leads  to  confession.  Salvation, 
which  is  the  blessing  received  by  faith  and  attested  in 
confession,  is  attributed  to  both.  The  real  efficacy  is 
not  in  either,  but  in  the  grace  of  Christ  and  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  working  in  the  heart  the  will  to 
believe  and  to  confess,  and  thus  conveying  the  right 
and  title  to  salvation,  and  salvation  itself.  Confession 
and  communion  with  the  church  are  the  external  means 
of  conveying  and  of  exhibiting  salvation,  as  faith  is  the 
internal  means  of  receiving  and  appropriating  it.  But 
it  is  the  Holy  Spirit  that  imparts  power  to  become 
sons  of  God  and  to  confess  him  before  men. 

Not  long  since  I  was  greatly  interested  in  the  case 
of  a  young  lady  who  had  long  been  seriously  consider- 
ing the  subject  of  personal  religion,  but  who  was  re- 
markably diffident  and  unwilling  to  be  approached  on 
the  subject.  I  tried  in  vain  to  draw  her  out  into  con- 
versation, or  to  get  a  correct  knowledge  of  her  actual 
views  and  feelings.  I  gave  her  a  book  to  read,  which 
I  thought  would  open  up  the  way  for  conversation 
after  reading  it ;  but  although,  as  I  afterwards  learned, 
she  read  it  with  very  great  anxiety,  she  returned  it, 


52  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

with  the  special  request  that  I  would  cot  speak  to  her 
on  the  subject  of  religion.  What  was  I  to  do  ?  I  felt 
very  solicitous  to  do  her  good.  I  induced  my  wife,  to 
whom  she  was  very  much  attached,  to  converse  with 
her  and  endeavour  to  overcome  her  reluctance  to  con- 
verse with  me.  She  consented  to  come  and  see  her, 
though  under  a  promise  that  I  should  not  speak  to 
her.  She  came,  and,  after  a  long  and  most  touching 
interview  with  her,  my  wife  came  into  my  room  deeply 
affected,  and  said  to  me,  ^'  I  know  not  what  to  do.  I 
have  said  all  I  can  to  her,  and  I  wish  you  would  go  in 
and  see  her."  I  went  in,  and  found  her  trembling  like 
an  aspen-leaf.  I  endeavoured  to  allay  her  excited 
feelings,  by  assuring  her  that,  although  I  felt  very 
anxious  to  converse  with  her  and  give  her  the  benefit 
of  any  experience  and  knowledge  I  might  have, 
nevertheless  I  would  say  nothing  to  her,  unless  it  was 
agreeable  to  her  own  feelings.  She  soon  became  calm 
enough  to  speak,  when  she  said,  ^'  I  am  not  fit  or  pre- 
pared to  join  the  church."  "  It  would  be  the  very  last 
thing  I  would  advise  you  to  do,"  I  replied,  "  to  unite 
with  any  particular  church,  unless  you  are  both  fit  and 
prepared.  You  may,  however,  be  both  fit  and  pre- 
pared, and  yet  imagine  that  you  are  not,  and  thus  be 
led  to  neglect  both  a  positive  duty  and  a  most  im- 
portant means  of  grace  and  confidence,  of  comfort  and 
usefulness.  I  would  be  very  glad,  therefore,  if  you 
would  tell  me  what  you  consider  necessary  in  order  to 
uniting  with  the  church."  She  replied,  that  ''she 
did  not  think  persons  ought  to  unite  with  a  church 
unless  they  feel  satisfied  in  their  own  minds  that  their 
hearts  are  renewed  by  the   Spirit  of   God,  and  that 


BELIEF    AND    CONFESSION    OF    CHRIST.  53 

ihey  really  love  Christ."  I  told  her  that  I  was  very 
glad  to  hear  her  say  so,  as  I  thought  it  would  be  both 
sinful  and  dangerous  for  any  one  to  profess  what  they 
did  not  really  believe  and  feel,  and  that  it  was  undoubt- 
edly the  primary  and  all-important  matter  to  secure 
an  interest  in  Christ,  the  influences  of  the  Spirit,  and 
an  abiding  determination  and  desire  to  become  not 
merely  a  professor,  but  a  possessor,  of  religion,  and  not 
merely  an  outwardly  consistent  member  of  the  church, 
but  a  real  Christian, — a  Christian  in  principle,  in  heart, 
and  in  growing  sanctification  and  holiness.  But,  I 
added,  while  this  is  true,  many  persons  look  for  evi- 
dences of  this  state  of  heart  which  are  not  essential, 
and  overlook  those  that  exist  within  them,  and  which 
are  quite  sufficient  to  prove  that  God,  the  Holy  Ghost, 
has  ''worked  in  them"  to  will  and  to  feel  as  they  do,  and 
who  ought  therefore  to ''work  out  their  own  salva- 
tion," by  doing  "whatsoever  Christ  has  commanded," 
and  relying  upon  whatsoever  Christ  has  promised  to 
do  in  and  for  those  that  commit  their  souls  unto  Him, 
as  unto  a  faithful  Redeemer.  It  is  necessary  to  have 
faith,  and  love,  and  hope,  and  an  unqualified  submis- 
sion to  God  in  Christ,  a  willingness  to  give  up  every 
thing  inconsistent  with  a  loving  and  loyal  obedience  to 
him,  and  a  sincere  desire  to  be  saved  from  sin  as  well 
as  from  guilt,  and  to  be  sanctified  and  made  a  holy, 
happy,  whole-hearted  Christian,  as  well  as  to  be  justi- 
fied and  delivered  from  condemnation.  But  it  is  not 
necessary  that  these  views  and  feelings  should  be  per- 
fect, unclouded,  and  untroubled  with  doubts.  The 
question  is.  Do  you,  as  far  as  you  know  your  own  heart, 
really  feel  in  this  way?     And  are  you  anxious  to  have 

5* 


54  THE   WELL    IN   THE   VALLEY. 

these  feelings  strengthened  and  confirmed?  And  is  it 
your  sincere  desire  and  purpose,  with  the  help  of  divine 
grace,  to  live  and  act  as  a  true  and  devoted  and  grow- 
ing spiritual  Christian?  If  you  do,  then  you  have  evi- 
dence that  the  ever-blessed  Spirit  has  wrought  in  you 
a  saving  change;  and  you  have  in  these  feelings  and 
convictions  and  desires  the  fruits  of  that  Spirit  by 
which  he  witnesseth  with  your  spirit  that  you  are 
born  again,  not  of  the  will,  or  word,  or  power  of  man, 
not  of  water  merely,  but  by  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  is  not  for 
you  to  prescribe  to  God  any  amount  or  degree  of  feel- 
ing, any  time  or  mode  of  conversion,  and  still  less  the 
enjoyment  of  peace,  hope  and  confidence,  before  ^^  doing 
the  will  of  Christ,"  and — as  the  result  of  so  "doing," — 
feeling  assured  by  your  own  joyful  consciousness  that 
your  experience  of  the  saving  power  of  his  gospel  "is 
from  God." 

The  order  of  God's  working  in  the  conversion  of  the 
soul  is  as  various  in  difi'erent  individuals  as  their  in- 
dividual character  and  history,  or  as  the  breaking  and 
progress  of  the  light  of  day  to  which  it  is  in  Scripture 
compared.  On  some  the  light  of  the  Sun  of  Eight- 
eousness  shines  with  the  dawn  of  life,  and  their  light  in- 
creases with  such  silent  and  imperceptible  development 
that  its  origin  is  lost  amid  the  memories  of  infancy. 
Such  is  also  the  case  with  others  who  are  brought  up 
in  the  green  pastures  and  by  the  pleasant  waters  of 
parental  piety  and  instruction,  and  whose  early  feet 
have  learned  to  walk  in  the  ways  of  wisdom  and  the 
paths  of  peace.  To  others,  again,  the  dawn  and 
morning,   and   perhaps   noon,   of  life,   are  clouded  in 


BELIEF   AND   CONFESSION   OF   CHRIST.  55 

darkness,  so  tliat  no  light,  no  "clear  shining,"  appears, 
until  all  at  once,  as  to  Saul  of  Tarsus,  that  sun  breaks 
through  the  intervening  clouds  and  dazzles  and  over- 
comes them  by  its  brightness.  The  question,  there- 
fore, in  every  case,  is  not  when  or  how,  or  with  what 
accompanying  evidence,  the  heart  is  ''transformed  by 
the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  but  what  are  the 
present,  prevailing  and  permanent  evidences  that 
''he  who  hath  wrought  you  for  the  self-same  thing 
is  God."  And  as  to  peace  and  confidence  and  joy, 
these  are  the  rewards  and  recompenses,  and  not, 
generally,  the  precursors  of  actual  devotion  to  Christ 
and  trustful  compliance  with  all  known  and  prescribed 
duty. 

Our  conversation  was  long.  My  young  friend  be- 
came full  and  free  in  her  communications;  and  the  re- 
sult was,  my  clear  conviction  that  God  had  early  called 
her  by  his  Spirit,  as  he  did  Samuel,  and  that, — as  I 
have  often  found  the  case, — by  long  self-inquiry,  and 
distrust,  and  procrastination,  she  had  become  incapable 
of  forming  a  right  estimate  of  her  own  feelings  and  of 
her  real  convictions.  Such  a  course  will  invariably 
engender  doubts  and  difficulties,  and  cause  those  who 
have  good  reason  to  rejoice  and  give  God  thanks  for 
what  he  has  done  for  their  souls,  and  to  "take  the  cup 
of  salvation  and  pay  their  vows  unto  the  Lord,  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation,"  to  "hang  their  heads 
as  a  bulrush,"  and  to  go  in  heaviness  for  many  years. 

The  ultimate  result  with  this  young  lady,  and  with 
various  other  persons  to  whom  I  might  refer,  has  been, 
that  they  have  found  Christ  faithful  to  his  promises. 
They  were  emboldened  to  present  themselves  before 


56  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

his  altar,  to  enter  into  public  and  solemn  covenant 
with  him,  to  find  in  so  doing  strength  and  confidence 
imparted  to  them,  and,  having  been  planted  in  the 
house  of  Grod,  to  flourish  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  and 
still  to  bring  forth  fruit  in  all  the  exercises  and  activi- 
ties of  the  Christian's  life. 

When  holy  books,  when  loving  friends, 

When  parents  grave  and  kind, 
Tell  of  the  peace  the  Almighty  sends 

On  the  pure  heart  and  mind, — 

When  they,  on  whom  our  souls  should  lean, 

The  wondrous  joy  declare, 
How  to  God's  altar  they  have  been 

And  found  their  Saviour  there, — 

Alas  !  too  often,  worldly-wise, 

We  scorn  what  they  reveal ; 
We  will  not  see  with  otljers'  eyes. 

Ourselves  would  touch  and  feel. 

Thus  many  a  precious  day,  month,  year. 

The  blessing  we  delay : 
It  comes  at  last  with  sadden'd  cheer, 

He  justly  dims  his  ray. 

Alas,  that  man  his  breath  should  lose 

In  wayward,  doubting  race. 
Nor  his  still  home  in  shelter  choose 

Where  thou  hast  set  his  place ! 

Not  very  long  ago,  I  entered  into  conversation  with 
a  middle-aged  gentleman,  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
and  his  duty,  as  a  father  of  a  family,  to  live  and  act  as 
a  Christian  parent.     He  admitted  the  truth  of  all  I 


BELIEF   AND   CONFESSION   OF   CHEIST.  57 

said,  and  that  he  had  thought  much  and  deeply  on  the 
subject;  ''but/'  said  he,  ''it  is  a  very  solemn  thing  to 
join  the  church,  and  ought  to  be  very  fully  and  care- 
fully considered,  especially  as  many  join  the  church 
who  fall  from  their  high  calling  and  thus  bring  great 
disrepute  upon  religion."  "That  is  very  true,"  said  I. 
*'  Our  Saviour  himself  told  us  that  in  the  church  there 
would  be  tares  as  well  as  wheat,  and  bad  as  well  as 
good  professors.  But  you  must  also  admit  that  it  is  a 
very  solemn  thing  to  live,  and  a  very  solemn  thing  to 
die ;  and  that  if  it  be,  as  it  clearly  is,  your  duty  to  be  a 
true  Christian  and  a  member  of  Christ's  church,  it  is  a 
very  solemn  thing  to  live  in  open  disobedience  and 
neglect  of  Christ's  authority  and  commandments." 

And  is  it  not,  my  dear  reader?  Let  me,  then, 
beseech  you  to  accompany  me  in  earnest  prayerfnl- 
ness,  while  I  endeavour  to  point  out  to  you  the  nature 
and  evidences  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  the  duty,  and 
privilege,  and  great  advantages,  of  being  a  consistent 
member  of  his  church  on  earth.  I  know  you  not.  I 
shall  never,  probably,  see  you.  But  I  am  with  you 
in  spirit,  and  I  love  you  as  one  of  God's  children; 
and,  therefore,  I  should  be  very  thankful  if  I  can, 
to  any  degree,  be  helpful  to  you  in  your  present 
state  of  mind.  I  know  how  trying  it  is,  and  can 
sympathize  with  you ;  and  "  my  heart's  desire  and 
prayer  to  God  for  you  is,  that  you  may  be  saved." 
But  there  is  One  who  can  do  infinitely  more  and 
bettei  for  yco.  than  I  could  possibly  do;  One  who 
can  both  give  you  right  views  and  feelings,  and  the 
evidences  of  them,  and  who  can  "strengthen  you  with 
all  might  in  the  inner  man,"  and  dispose  and  enable 


58  THE   WELL   IN    THE    VALLEY. 

you  for  every  duty.  Oh,  yes !  it  hath  not  entered  into 
the  heart  of  any  man  to  conceive  fully  the  way  of  God 
in  the  conversion  of  the  soul.  Do  thou,  therefore,  All- 
seeing,  Omnipotent  Spirit,  the  Comforter  and  Guide  of 
souls,  manifest  thy  presence  and  power  to  thy  servants 
or  handmaidens,  whomsoever  they  be,  that  read  this  book. 
Unseal  and  open  their  eyes.  Unstop  their  ears.  Un- 
bar the  closed  door  of  their  hearts.  Illumine  their 
understandings.  Enliven  their  conscience.  Quicken 
their  dead  hearts.  Guide  their  doubting  spirits.  Bring 
Christ,  in  his  all-sufficiency,  fulness  and  freeness,  as 
a  living,  loving,  divine,  ever-present  and  omnipotent 
Saviour,  before  their  minds.  In  thy  light  may  they 
see  light.  From  thy  life  may  they  derive  life.  And 
do  thou  so  help  all  their  infirmities  and  overcome  all  their 
difficulties,  that  they  may  be  enabled  to  come  to  Christ 
as  sinful,  guilty  and  impotent,  and,  relying  on  his 
grace,  take  up  their  cross,  deny  themselves,  come  out 
from  the  world  and  be  separate,  and  follow  him  by  a 
diligent  observance  of  all  his  statutes  and  command- 
ments. 

Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord, 

Stranger  nor  foe  art  thou ; 
We  welcome  thee  with  warm  accord, 

Our  friend,  our  brother,  now. 

The  hand  of  fellowship,  the  heart 

Of  love,  we  offer  thee : 
Leaving  the  world,  thou  dost  but  part 

From  lies  and  vanity. 

The  cup  of  blessing  which  we  bless, 

The  heavenly  bread  we  break, 
— Our  Saviour's  blood  and  righteousness, — 

Freely  with  us  partake. 


BELIEF   AND   CONFESSION   OF   CHRIST.  59 

In  weal  or  woe,  in  joy  or  care, 

Thy  portion  shall  be  ours ; 
Christians  their  mutual  burdens  share. 

They  lend  their  mutual  powers. 

Come  with  us,  we  will  do  thee  good, 

As  God  to  us  hath  done ; 
Stand  but  in  him,  as  those  have  stood 

Whose  faith  the  victory  won. 

And  when  by  turns  we  pass  away. 

As  star  by  star  grows  dim. 
May  each,  translated  into  day. 

Be  lost  and  found  in  Him. 


60  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 


CHAPTEE   IV. 

YOU   MUST   FIEST   BELIEVE   WITH    THE    HEAllT. 

Would  you,  then,  my  dear  reader,  be  saved  ?  Would 
you  '^be  reconciled  to  God,  and  be  at  peace  wiili  him," 
and  thus  be  prepared  for  death,  judgment  and  eter- 
nity? Then  you  must  do  all  that  God  requires,  and 
IN  THE  OEDER  which  he  prescribes.  You  must  first 
believe  the  testimony  of  God  concerning  Christ,  with 
your  heart;  and  then  you  must  confess  Christ  with 
your  mouth.  God  has  in  infinite  mercy  provided  sal- 
vation through  the  incarnation,  life,  death,  resurrec- 
tion and  intercession  of  Christ.  He  has  made  a  per- 
fect atonement  for  all  sin,  and  wrought  out  a  right- 
eousness which  is  of  infinite  merit  and  sufficiency.  His 
'^ blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  God  is  now  reconciled 
and  satisfied,  so  that,  while  ''he  is  a  just  God,  he  is 
also  a  Saviour."  ''  God  is  now  in  Cheist."  We  have 
no  longer  to  do  with  an  absolute  Deity,  with  God  as 
angry,  jealous  and  as  a  consuming  fire.  God  is  now  in 
Christ,  to  whom  all  judgment  has  been  committed. 
Christ  now  sits  upon  the  throne,  and  ever  liveth  at 
God's  right  hand,  as  ''head  over  all  things  to  his 
church,"  and  as  "a  Prince  and  a  Saviour  to  give  re- 
pentance and  remission  of  sins."  So  truly  is  this  the 
case,  that  no  man  knoweth  God  but  the  Son,  and  he  to 
whom  the  Son  shall  reveal  him.     No  man  can  come 


BELIEF   OF   THE   HEART.  61 

unto  the  Father  but  by  the  Son.  No  man  can  stand 
justified  before  God  but  he  who  stands  there  in  the 
righteousness  of  Christ.  It  is  through  him  that  the 
Spirit  is  imparted  unto  men.  In  Christ  dwelleth 
all  fulness.  On  him  is  laid  all  our  help.  In  him  are 
treasured  up  all  the  riches  of  divine  grace  and  mercy. 
God,  therefore,  now  deals  with  sinners  through  Christ. 
Christ  has  been  lifted  up,  as  was  his  type,"  the  brazen 
serpent,  in  the  wilderness,  that  whosoever  believeth  in 
him  may  be  saved.  Such  is  God's  plan  of  mercy.  Such 
is  the  gracious  scheme  of  redemption.  Such  the  way 
of  life. 

Now,  this  plan  of  redemption  evidently  supposes  that 
we  are  dead.  And  to  believe  in  Christ,  therefore,  we 
must  have  a  clear  conviction  (I  do  not  say  how  deep 
and  strong,  but  a  clear  and  full  conviction)  that  we  are 
''dead  in  trespasses  and  sins;"  that  we  cannot  justify 
ourselves  in  God's  sight;  that  we  can  do  nothing  to 
reconcile  our  souls  to  God,  nothing  to  make  us  accept- 
able to  him,  nothing  to  produce  penitence,  or  feeling, 
or  peace,  or  joy  in  our  hearts.  Oh_,  my  dear  reader, 
have  you  been  brought  to  this  state  of  conviction  be- 
fore God?  Are  you  "sure  that  the  judgment  of  God 
against  you  is  according  to  truth,"  that  you  are  verily 
guilty  before  him,  and  that  you  are  not  only  already 
condemned,  but  that  you  deserve  the  condemnation 
which  is  written  against  you?  Have  you  been  driven 
from  all  the  refuges  of  lies  in  which  men  naturally 
hide  themselves  from  this  conviction  ?  Have  you  given 
up  your  vain  efforts  to  establish  a  righteousness  of  your 
own;  either  by  comparing  your  character  with  that  of 
others,  and  it  may  be  with  some  who  are  professors  of 


62  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

religion,  and  taking  comfort  from  the  thought  that  you 
are  as  good  or  better  than  they  are;  or  by  endeavouring, 
in  addition  to  your  morality,  to  secure  God's  favour  by 
praying,  reading,  and  observing  outward  duties?  If 
you  have  not  done  this,  if  you  are  not  condemned  by 
your  own  conscience  as  verily  guilty  before  God,  then, 
with  all  your  self-confidence  and  pride,  you  are  a 
miserable  being.  For  what  is  it  to  God  that  you  are 
AS  GOOD,  or  better,  and  more  amiable  and  estimable, 
than  others  are,  even  than  many  professors  of  religion 
are,  when  God  has  pronounced  his  judgment,  that  ''all 
have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God,"  "that 
EVERY  MOUTH  may  be  stopped,  and  all  the  world 
may  become  guilty  before  God,"  and  that  by  his  per- 
sonal character,  obedience,  morality,  or  religion,  "there 
shall  NO  flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight"? 

He  is  a  most  miserable  professor  who  has  no  better 
foundation  on  which  to  build  than  his  personal  charac- 
ter, or  holiness,  or  obedience.  Verily,  he  builds  upon 
the  sand,  and  when  the  floods  arise,  and  the  winds 
blow,  all  his  vain  hopes  will  perish.  Christ,  and  his 
finished  work  of  righteousness,  is  the  only  foundation 
that  is  firm  and  everlasting.  No  goodness,  nor  duties, 
nor  professions,  nor  doings  of  ours  can  make  a  balm  that 
will  cure  the  deadly  plague  of  the  soul.  All  the  peace 
such  hopes  can  give  is  like  the  plaster  that  covers  the 
deep-seated  cancer,  which  only  favours  its  deadly 
growth  and  aggravates  the  malignity  of  the  disease. 
Poor,  miserable,  outcast,  guilty  man  can  never  weave 
a  garment  by  all  his  efforts,  that  can  hide  his  guilt  and 
depravity  from  the  scrutiny  of  Omniscient  Purity. 
Oh,  no,  my  dear  reader,  "unless  your  righteousness 


BELIEF   OF  THE   HEART.  63 

exceeds  that  of  the  Pharisees,  [who  certainly  excelled 
all  other  men  at  that  time  in  outward  morality  and 
religious  devotion,]  you  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God."  You  may  be  moral,  honest  and  devout,  you 
may  pray,  and  read,  and  receive  the  sacrament,  and 
yet  be  ''poor,  and  miserable,  and  blind,  and  naked." 
For  if  it  is  true  that  this  class  of  persons,  who  appeared 
to  be  righteous  before  God,  but  who  had  no  inward 
holiness,  ''shall  perish," — though  they  certainly  had  as 
good  a  hope  as  you  have, — where  shall  you,  who  flatter 
yourselves  that  you  are  as  good  as  they  v/ere,  oh, 
where  shall  you  find  yourselves  when  death  cuts  off  all 
further  help,  and  oh,  "how  shall  you  escape  the 
righteous  judgment  of  God?" 

Would  you,  then,  as  a  sinful  creature,  be  saved,  and 
have  Christ  and  heaven  as  yours?  Then  you  must 
leave  behind  you  your  own  righteousness, — all  your 
morality,  holiness,  duties,  tears,  repentings,  convic- 
tions, desires  and  prayers, — and  bring  to  Christ  no- 
thing but  your  sins,  wants  and  miseries, — or  else  you 
do  not  come  to  Christ  as  a  Saviour  at  all,  but  only 
insult  and  despise  him.  Christ,  if  yours  at  all,  will  be 
your  entire  and  your  only  Kedeemer,  and  must  be 
received  by  you  as  a  poor,  guilty,  helpless  sinner — im- 
penitent, unbelieving,  unfeeling,  hard-hearted  and  un- 
godly— or  else  you  do  not  understand  who  Christ  is, 
what  he  is,  what  he  has  done,  or  why  he  became  a 
Saviour  at  all.  To  believe  in  Christ  is  to  be  convinced 
that  you  are  a  sinner,  and  that  Christ  is  able  and  will- 
ing to  save  you  AS  A  sinner,  and  that  he  became  a 
Saviour  because  all  men  were  sinners,  and  because 
there  is  no  other  way  in  which  any  man  could  ever  be 


64  THE  WELL  IN   THE   VALLEY. 

''saved  from  his  sins."  To  accept  Christ's  righteous- 
ness alone — to  trust  in  Christ's  blood  alone — to  con- 
fide in  Christ's  strength  alone — to  look  for  faith,  and 
hope,  and  joy,  and  holiness,  to  Christ's  grace  alone — 
and  to  do  all  this  only  because  Cod  has  so  planned, 
and  testified,  and  commanded,  and  promised; — this  is 
the  sum  of  the  gospel — this  is  to  make  Christ  a  real 
Saviour — this  is  to  ^'confess  him  and  to  believe  on  him 
with  the  heart."  When  you  can  see  how  God  has 
provided  for  your  soul,  in  Christ  and  his  finished  work, 
''wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and  sanctification,"  and 
repentance,  and  hope,  and  peace,  and  comfort;  strength 
to  preserve,  to  grow  in  grace,  to  keep  the  faith,  and  to 
finish  your  course,  and  to  do  all  things  through  his 
strengthening  grace; — then  hast  thou  found  thy  rest, 
0  thou  wearied  soul;  then  art  thou  in  the  ark  that 
will  outride  every  tempest;  and  then  art  thou  safe  in 
the  arms  of  Omnipotent  Mercy. 

I  lay  my  sins  on  Jesus, 

The  spotless  Lamb  of  God : 
He  beai's  them  all,  and  frees  us 

From  the  accursed  load. 
I  bring  my  guilt  to  Jesus, 

To  wash  my  crimson  stains 
White,  in  his  blood  most  precious, 

Till  not  a  spot  remains. 

I  lay  my  wants  on  Jesus  ; 

All  fulness  dwells  in  him ; 
He  heals  all  my  diseases, 

He  dcth  my  soul  redeem. 
1  lay  my  griefs  on  Jesus, 

My  burdens  and  my  cares; 
He  from  them  all  releases, 

He  all  my  sorrow  shares. 


BELIEF   OF   THE   HEART.  65 

I  rest  my  soul  on  Jesus, 

This  weary  soul  of  mine ; 
His  right  hand  me  embraces, 

I  on  his  breast  recline. 
I  love  the  name  of  Jesus, 

Immanuel,  Christ,  the  Lord; 
Like  fragrance  on  the  breezes 

His  name  abroad  is  pour'd. 

All  our  unbelief,  our  fears,  our  doubts,  and  our  want 
of  feeling,  of  faith  and  of  confidence,  arise  from  our 
self-righteousness  and  self-sufiiciency,  which  keep  us 
from  Christ,  and  keep  therefore  our  guilt  and  our 
guilty  fears  alive  within  us.  Would  that  we  could 
feel  and  practically  realize  that  Christ  is  our  peace, 
and  not  duties, — that  Christ,  and  not  tears  of  sorrow,  is 
the  source  of  our  hope,  our  life,  our  pardon !  Oh,  yes ! 
Christ  is  our  true  advocate  with  the  Father,  and  not 
prayers;  and  Christ  alone,  and  not  any  efforts  of  ours, 
can  secure  reconciliation,  and  life,  and  the  remission 
of  our  sins. 

''God  is  love," — infinite  love.  So  much  did  ''Cod 
love  the  world"  as  to  devise  the  scheme  of  redemption 
in  eternity,  and  perfect  it  in  time.  "He  willeth  not  the 
death  of  the  sinner."  "He  is  not  willing  that  any 
should  perish,  but  that  all  should  turn  unto  him  and 
live."  He  has  become  reconciled  unto  the  world,  and 
is  "now  waiting  and  willing  to  be  gracious."  He  has 
provided  life  for  the  dead, — for  those  that  were  dead  in 
law,  dead  by  conderination,  dead  in  depravity,  dead  in 
their  own  utter  moral  impotency,  dead  in  their  absolute 
inability  of  themselves  to  change  their  wills,  their  pur- 
poses, or  their  afi'ections,  "dead  in  trespasses  and  sins." 
And  this  life  is  in  God's  dear  Son,  "hid  with  Christ  in 

E       "  6* 


66  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

God."  ''Clirist  is  the  way,  the  truth  and  the  life." 
"If  any  man  believe  in  him,  though  he  were  dead, 
yet  shall  he  live."  "The  word  is  nigh  thee,"  0  sinner, 
"even  in  thy  mouth,  and  in  thy  heart:  that  is,  the  word 
of  faith  which  we  preach;  that  if  thou  shalt  confess 
with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in 
thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead, 
thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  be- 
lieveth  unto  righteousness;  and  with  the  mouth  con- 
fession is  made  unto  salvation.  For  the  Scripture  saith, 
Whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  ashamed." 

In  all  the  Scriptures,  therefore,  there  is  not  one 
hard  word  against  a  poor  sinner,  stripped  of  all  self- 
righteousness,  who  casts  himself  for  life,  light  and 
peace,  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Believe,  thon,  but 
Christ's  willingness,  my  dear  reader,  and  Christ  will 
"make  you  willing."  If  you  cannot  of  yourself  be- 
lieve, remember  that  Christ  is  "the  author  of  faith." 
If  you  feel  no  sense  of  pardon,  remember  that  Christ 
"  gives  remission  of  sins"  and  secures  the  favour  of 
the  Father.  If  you  do  not  feel  as  sorry  for  your  sins 
as  you  should,  forget  not  that  Christ  "  giveth  repent- 
ance also."  Do  you  feel  weak  ?  "  He  giveth  power 
to  the  faint."  Do  you  feel  your  faith  feeble  ?  "  He 
increaseth  strength."  Are  you  full  of  infirmities ?  "  He 
is  not  a  high-priest  who  cannot  be  touched  with  them, 
but  one  who  was  in  all  points  tried  as  we  are,"  that  he 
might  be  able  to  feel  towards  us  as  brethren.  Does 
your  faith  trerable  and  vacillate,  like  the  reed  shaken 
by  the  wind,  or  the  taper  dying  in  the  socket  ?  "  He 
will  not  break  the  bruised  reed,"  nor  quench  the 
dimly-burning  taper,  but  will  sustain  and  revive  them. 


BELIEF   WITH   THE   HEART.  67 

He  "  works  in  the  heart  to  will  and  to  do."  ''  By 
grace,  then,"  0  sinner,  ^Hhou  art  saved,  through  faith; 
and  that  not  of  yourself:  it  is  the  gift  of  God." 

0  sinner,  wilt  thou  not  then  believe,  and  trust,  and 
*'  commit  thy  soul  to  Christ,"  sick,  blind,  unbelieving, 
hard,  unfeeling  as  it  is,  and  plead  with  him  for  the 
fulfilment  of  his  own  gracious  word  ?  What  is  your 
unbelief?  Why,  it  is  making  your  guilt  greater  than 
Christ's  righteousness,  your  disease  beyond  Christ's 
remedy,  your  darkness  beyond  Christ's  power  to  en- 
lighten, and  your  wants  beyond  Christ's  ability  or 
willingness  to  supply.  Thus  do  you  undervalue 
Christ,  reject  his  righteousness,  deny  his  truth,  and 
practically  affirm  that  his  blood  does  not  "  cleanse 
from  all  sin." 

Oh,  yes  !  unbelief  hardens  your  heart,  blinds  your 
eyes,  shuts  your  ears,  sears  your  conscience,  and  keeps 
your  soul  closed  to  that  precious,  priceless  Saviour 
who  stands  at  the  door  and  knocks,  seeking  for  ad- 
mittance. Were  but  this  veil  withdrawn,  you  would 
at  once  be  filled  with  rapture  in  view  of  the  freeness, 
fulness  and  all-sufficiency  of  the  grace  of  Christ ;  and 
though  you  saw  him  not  with  your  bodily  eyes,  yet, 
believing  on  him,  you  would  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory.  Let  me  give  you  an  illustration 
of  this  as  presented  by  an  individual,  in  describing  whose 
experience  I  only  portray,  a  scene  which  is  every  day 
verified  in  the  history  of  new-born  souls.    - 

It  was  a  time  of  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  a 
female  seminary.  From  day  to  day,  and  week  to 
week,  young  voices  were  learning  the  first  notes  of 
that  new  song  which  evermore  ascends  from  the  whole 


68  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

family  of  the  redeemed.  There  were  others,  too, 
whose  countenances  betrayed  the  anguish  of  hearts 
aroused  to  a  sense  of  God's  claims  and  yet  unrecon- 
ciled to  him. 

Among  the  latter  class  was  one  whose  case  had  ex- 
cited special  interest.  She  was  soon  to  leave  the 
seminary,  and  with  her  talents  and  energy  must  exert 
a  powerful  influence  over  those  among  whom  her  lot 
should  be  cast.  Would  it  be  for  good,  or  evil  ?  She 
was  now  deeply  convinced  of  her  guilt  and  danger ; 
but  there  were  some  who  remembered  with  sorrow 
that  in  earlier  years  she  had  seemed  not  less  powerfully 
awakened,  and  yet  remained  out  of  Christ. 

Week  after  week  went  by,  but  Ellen  found  no  peace. 
She  was  outwardly  calm ;  but  it  seemed  like  the  calm- 
ness of  despair.  Whether  in  the  recitation-room,  at 
table,  or  in  the  unrestrained  freedom  of  social  converse, 
a  single  glance  at  her  countenance  revealed  to  the 
most  casual  observer  the  settled  gloom  of  the  soul. 
Many  a  heart  ached  in  view  of  her  anguish,  and  many 
a  prayer  was  sent  up  to  heaven  in  her  behalf.  One 
after  another  her  teachers  and  schoolmates  sought  op- 
portunities of  conversation  with  her  on  the  great  sub- 
ject which  engrossed  her  thoughts.  While  she  was 
frank  and  unreserved  in  communicating  her  feelings, 
and  listened  attentively  to  those  who  tried  to  explain 
to  her  the  way  of  salvation,  there  was  still  a  difficulty 
which  none  could  remove. 

''It  is  of  no  use,"  she  would  say.  "  All  this  has 
been  explained  to  me  over  and  over,  as  clearly  as  it 
could  be.  But  there  is  something  in  the  wslj.  I  can* 
not  come  to  the  Saviour,  and  I  fear  I  never  shall." 


BELIEF  WITH  THE  HEART.  69 

''Ah,  we  cannot  help  her!"  sighed  her  friends,  as 
some  of  them  reviewed  together  their  fruitless  efforts. 
"  "We  can  only  commend  her  to  God.  Let  us  pray  for 
her." 

At  length  there  was  a  change, — as  we  trust,  the 
great  change  by  which  sinners  are  new-born.  Peace 
was  now  as  visible  in  Ellen's  countenance  as  distress 
had  been  before. 

"  Oh,  what  a  wonderful  way  of  salvation  !"  was  the 
utterance  of  her  heart.  "  How  simple,  how  beautiful, 
how  glorious  !  Why  did  I  not  come  to  Christ  before  ? 
That  mysterious  hinderance  which  seemed  to  be  in  my 
way  was  nothing  but  unbelief." 

Truly,  it  was  ^'  nothing  but  unbelief."  And  now, 
*'  being  justified  by  faith,''  Ellen  had  "  peace  with 
God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  And  thus  is 
it  with  you.  It  is  ''  nothing  but  unbelief,"  anxious 
reader,  which  keeps  you  from  Christ  to-day.  It  is  the 
same  unbelief  which,  if  not  abandoned,  will  finally 
shut  you  out  of  heaven.  Ah!  unbelief  is  a  fearful 
thing, — a  wall  between  your  soul  and  Christ, — a  weight 
to  sink  you  in  the  burning  lake  forever. 

Come  with  me,  reader,  into  yonder  humble  dwelling. 
There  has  just  entered  the  celebrated  Dr.  Chalmers. 
The  scene  is  a  low,  dirty  hovel,  over  whose  damp  and 
uneven  floor  it  is  difficult  to  walk  without  stumbling, 
and  into  which  a  small  Avindow,  coated  with  dust, 
admits  hardly  enough  of  light  to  enable  an  eye  unac- 
customed to  the  gloom  to  discern  a  single  object. 
A  poor  old  woman,  bedridden,  and  almost  blind,  who 
occupies  a  miserable  bed  opposite  the  fireplace,  is  the 
object  of  the  doctor's  visit.     Seating  himself  by  her 


70  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

side,  he  enters  at  once,  after  a  few  general  inquiries  as 
to  her  health,  &c.,  into  religious  conversation  with  heT: 
Alas !  it  seems  all  in  vain.  The  mind  which  he  strives 
to  enlighten  has  been  so  long  closed  and  dark  that  it 
appears  impossible  to  thrust  into  it  a  single  ray  of 
light.  Still,  on  the  part  of  the  woman  there  is  an 
evident  anxiety  to  lay  hold  upon  something  of  what  he 
is  telling  her ;  and,  encouraged  by  this,  he  perseveres, 
plying  her,  to  use  his  own  expression,  with  the  offers 
of  the  gospel,  and  urging  her  to  trust  in  Christ.  At 
length  she  said,  "  Ah  !  sir,  I  would  fain  do  as  you  bid 
me,  but  I  dinna  ken  how :  how  can  I  trust  in  Christ  ?" 
''  0  woman,"  was  his  expressive  answer,  in  the  dialect 
of  the  district,  "just  lippen  to  him."  "  Eh,  sir,"  was 
the  reply,  '^  and  is  that  a'  ?"  "  Yes,  yes,"  was  his 
gratified  response:  "just  lippen  to  him,  and  lean  on 
him,  and  you'll  never  perish."  To  some,  perhaps,  this 
language  may  be  obscure,  but  to  that  poor  dying 
woman,  it  was  as  light  from  heaven  :  it  guided  her  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  Saviour ;  and  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  it  was  the  instrument  of  ultimately  conduct- 
ing her  to  heaven.  And  so,  dear  reader,  will  it  guide  you. 
It  is  not  easy  to  give  an  English  equivalent  for  the 
word  "  lippei;!."  It  expresses  the  condition  of  a  per- 
son who,  entirely  unable  to  support  or  protect  himself, 
commits  his  interests,  or  his  life,  to  the  safe-keeping  of 
some  person  or  object.  Thus,  a  man  crossing  a  chasm 
on  a  plank  lippens  to  the  plank  ;  and  if  it  give  way 
he  car.,  do  nothing  for  himself.  The  term  implies, 
therefore,  entire  dependence  under  circumstances  of 
risk  and  helplessness.  As  lost  and  helpless,  let  me 
entreat  you,  then,  to  accept  the  offer  of  Christ's  hand, 


BELIEF  WITH  THE  HEART.  71 

Christ's  help,  Christ's  guidance,  Christ's  deliverance, 
Christ's  all-sufficiency,  Christ's  promise  and  Christ's 
ordinances,  and  ''just  lippen  to  him,"  and  you  will  be 
borne  safely  over  the  roaring  gulf  of  perdition  and 
planted  on  the  Eock  of  ages. 

There  is,  believe  me,  no  other  heart's  ease,  no  other 
way  of  peace  and  assurance,  for  any  man,  than  to 
glorify  Christ  by  confiding  in  his  power,  promises  and 
gracious  loving-kindness.  Art  thou  persuaded  of 
this  ?  Then  what  difficulties  or  distracting  fears  can 
cloud  thy  hopes  ?  Art  thou  in  any  doubt  on  this 
point?  Then  tarry  here.  Look  not  forward  nor  back- 
ward, neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  neither  to 
heaven  nor  to  hell.  Look  only  to  Christ's  own  word, — 
to  his  promises,  invitations,  provisions  and  merciful  re- 
bukes of  thy  faithless  and  unbelieving  heart.  Look 
only  to  himself.  Cast  thyself  at  his  feet,  like  Mary ; 
or  throw  thyself  into  his  arms,  and  there  plead  until 
he  give  thee  power  and  faith  to  believe.  Tell  him  you 
believe,  but  so  doubtingly  that  he  must  "  help  your 
unbelief."  Tell  him  you  love  him,  but  so  feebly  you 
are  afraid  you  do  not  love  him  at  all,  and  ask  him  to 
let  his  love  ''constrain  you."  Implore  him  to  shed 
abroad  his  love  in  your  soul  by  the  Holy  G-host  so  as  to 
fill  you  with  love  to  him.  Can  you  fail  to  be  heard  and 
to  be  helped  ?  Is  his  arm  shortened,  or  his  ear  heavy  ? 
Oh,  no.  "Why,  then,  art  thou  cast  down,  0  fearful 
soul  ?  Why  art  thou  disquieted  within  thee  ?  Hope 
in  God,  for  thou  shalt  yet  praise  him.  Wait  on  the 
Lord,  and  he  will  be  the  light  of  thy  countenance  and 
the  strengtli  of  thine  heart."  In  this  "  acceptable 
time"  cry  mightily  unto   Him  who  can  quicken  thy 


72  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

dead  heart  and  make  thee  alive  unto  God,  a  new 
creature, — 

Born  by  a  new,  celestial  birth. 

Do  this,  and  thou  shalt  yet  be  able  to  say,  ''He 
brought  me  up  also  out  of  an  horrible  pit,  out  of  the 
miry  clay,  and  set  my  feet  upon  a  rock,  and  established 
my  goings.  And  he  hath  put  a  new  song  in  my  mouth, 
even  praise  unto  our  God.  Many  shall  see  it  and  fear 
and  shall  trust  in  the  Lord." 

Just  as  thou  art, — without  one  trace 
Of  love,  or  joy,  or  inward  grace, 
Or  meetness  for  the  heavenly  place, — 
0  guilty  sinner,  come. 

Thy  sins  I  bore  on  Calvary's  tree  ; 
The  stripes,  thy  due,  were  laid  on  me, 
That  peace  and  pardon  might  be  free  : 
0  wretched  sinner,  come. 

Burden'd  with  guilt,  wouldst  thou  be  blest  ? 
Trust  not  the  world  :  it  gives  no  rest : 
I  bring  relief  to  hearts  oppress'd : 
0  weary  sinner,  come. 

Come,  leave  thy  burden  at  the  cross  ; 
Count  all  thy  gains  but  empty  dross : 
My  grace  repays  all  earthly  loss  : 
0  needy  sinner,  come. 

Come  hither,  bring  thy  boding  fears, 
Thy  aching  heart,  thy  bursting  tears  : 
'Tis  mercy's  voice  salutes  thine  ears  : — 
0  trembling  sinner,  come. 

"  The  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say,  Come  ;" 
Rejoicing  saints  re-echo,  Come  : 
Who  faints,  who  thirsts,  who  will,  may  come : 
Thy  Saviour  bids  thee  come. 


BELIEF  WITH  THE  HEART.  73 

Here  is  my  heart ! — My  God,  I  give  it  thee; 

I  heard  thee  call  and  say, 
*'  Not  to  the  world,  my  child  but  unto  ME  :" 
I  heard,  and  will  obey. 
Here  is  love's  offering  to  my  King, 
Which,  a  glad  sacrifice,  I  bring  : — 
Here  is  my  heart. 
Here  is  my  heart ! — Surely  the  gift,  though  poor, 

My  God  will  not  despise  : 
Vainly  and  long  I  sought  to  make  it  pure, 
To  meet  thy  searching  eyes  ; 
CJorrupted  first  in  Adam's  fall. 
The  stains  of  sin  pollute  it  all, — 
My  guilty  heart ! 
Here  is  my  heart ! — my  heart  so  hard  before. 

Now  by  thy  grace  made  meet ; 
Yet,  bruised  and  wearied,  it  can  only  pour 
Its  anguish  at  thy  feet ; 
It  groans  beneath  the  weight  of  sin. 
It  sighs  salvation's  joys  to  win, — 
My  mourning  heart ! 
Here  is  my  heart ! — In  Christ  its  longings  end, 

Near  to  his  Cross  it  draws  ; 
It  says,  "  Thou  art  my  portion,  0  my  Friend, 
Thy  blood  my  ransom  was." 
And  in  the  Saviour  it  has  found 
What  blessedness  and  peace  abound, — 
My  trusting  heart ! 
Here  is  my  heart ! — Ah  !  Holy  Spirit,  come, 

Its  nature  to  renew. 
And  consecrate  it  wholly  as  thy  home, 
A  temple  fair  and  true. 
Teach  it  to  love  and  serve  thee  more. 
To  fear  thee,  trust  thee,  and  adore, — 
My  cleansed  heart ! 
Here  is  my  heart ! — It  trembles  to  draw  near 

The  glory  of  thy  throne  : 
Give  it  the  shining  robe  thy  servants  wear. 
Of  righteousness  thine  own ; 

r 


74  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Its  pride  and  folly  chase  away, 
And  all  its  vanity,  I  pray, — 
My  humbled  heart ! 

Here  is  my  heart ! — Teach  it,  0  Lord,  to  cling 

In  gladness  unto  thee. 
And  in  the  day  of  sorrow  still  to  sing, 
*'  Welcome  my  God's  decree." 
Believing,  all  its  journey  through, 
That  thou  art  wise  and  just  and  true, — 
My  waiting  heart ! 

Here  is  my  heart ! — 0  Friend  of  friends,  be  near^ 

To  make  each  tempter  fly  ; 
And  when  my  latest  foe  I  wait  with  fear, 
Give  me  the  victory  ! 
Gladly  on  thy  love  reposing, 
Let  me  say,  when  life  is  closing,— 
Here  is  my  heart  1 


WHAT  IT  IS  TO   BELIEVE.  75 


CHAPTEE  V. 

WHAT   IT   IS   TO   BELIEVE,    FURTHER   EXPLAINED   AND 
URGED. 

I  HAVE  already,  my  dear  reader,  reasoned  with  you 
upon  this  subject  and  endeavoured  to  show  what  is  im- 
plied in  believing  on  Christ. 

Still,  however,  you  hesitate,  and  doubt,  and  fear  to 
cast  yourself  upon  the  Saviour,  and  to  look  to  him  for 
faith  and  hope  and  pardon  and  acceptance,  and  the 
full  assurance  of  hope,  and  peace,  and  joy.  The  legal 
spirit  of  the  natural  heart  still  leads  you  to  imagine 
that  you  must  be  better,  and  feel  better,  and  have  a  far 
deeper  conviction  of  sin  and  love  to  Christ,  before  you 
can  feel  warranted  in  reposing  upon  him  as  ''  made 
unto  you  of  Cod,  wisdom  and  righteousness,  and  sanc- 
tification  and  redemption." 

Let  me,  then,  again  show  you  what  it  is  to  believe  on 
Christ;  and,  in  doing  so,  I  will  employ  the  following 
illustration. 

It  was  a  dark  night :  a  high  wind  was  blowing  with- 
out, while  all  the  family  of  Mr.  H.  were  lying  quietly  in 
their  beds,  breathing  calmly  in  the  soundest  slumbers. 

All  at  once  Mr.  H.  was  aroused  by  the  terrible  cry 
of  fire.  He  was  not  sufficiently  waked  at  first  to  un- 
derstand the  cause;  but  the  sound  grew  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  soon  many  were  gathering  under  the  win- 


76  THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

dow.  ''  Fire !  fire !  your  house  is  on  fire !"  they  shouted, 
as  they  pounded  heavily  upon  the  doors.  Throwing  a 
few  clothes  around  him,  Mr.  H.  rushed  to  the  door;  and 
what  was  his  surprise  and  fear  to  discover  that  his  own 
dwelling  was  in  flames !  He  hastily  returned,  called  up 
his  terrified  wife,  and,  taking  the  babe  and  the  next 
older  child,  they  quickly  sought  shelter  in  an  adjoining 
house.  His  oldest  son,  about  ten  years  of  age,  slept  in 
a  chamber  in  another  part  of  the  house,  near  the  room 
of  the  servant-maid  who  lived  in  the  family. 

Immediately  the  father  hastened  to  rescue  him,  feel- 
ing but  httle  anxiety  for  his  property  if  his  family  only 
might  all  be  saved.  On  his  way  he  met  the  maid. 
''Where  is  Charles?"  said  Mr.H.,  surprised  to  see  her 
alone. 

"Crying  in  his  room,"  answered  the  frightened  girl. 
*' I  but  just  escaped;  and  the  stairs  are  now  all  in  flames." 

The  fire  had  broken  out  in  that  part  of  the  house, 
and  the  flames  were  now  spreading  with  fearful  rapid- 
ity. Almost  distracted,  Mr.  H.  rushed  out  and  hastened 
to  the  part  of  the  house  beneath  the  window  of  his  son's 
sleeping-room. 

The  window  was  thrown  up.  The  terrified  boy  was 
standing  there,  crying  out,  in  agony,  '^ Father!  father! 
how  shall  I  get  out?" 

He  could  be  seen  by  the  glare  of  the  fire  in  the  room; 
but  he  could  see  no  one  beneath  him, — it  was  so  dark, — 
although  he  heard  many  voices. 

"Here  I  am,  my  son,"  cried  out  the  deeply-moved 
father.  "Here  I  am:  fear  not.  Lay  hold  of  the  sill  of 
the  window  and  drop  yourself  down.  I  will  certainly 
catch  you." 


WHAT   IT   IS   TO   BELIEVE.  '  77 

diaries  crept  out  of  the  window,  and,  clinging  with 
die  grasp  of  a  drowning  person,  he  hung  trembling,  and 
afraid  to  let  go. 

*'Let  go,  my  son,"  cried  the  father. 

''I  can't  see  you,  father." 

"But  I  am  here,  my  son." 

"I'm  afraid,  father,  that  I  shall  fall." 

"Let  go:  you  need  not  fear,"  again  shouted  the  fa- 
ther. The  flames  began  to  approach  the  window:  the 
casement  grew  hot:  if  hfe  stayed  there,  he  would  be 
burned.  He  recollected  that  his  father  was  strong, — that 
he  loved  him  and  would  not  tell  him  to  do  any  thing 
that  would  injure  him.  He  drew  his  breath,  unclasped 
his  fingers,  and  in  a  moment  was  in  his  father's  arms, 
overpowered,  and  weeping  for  joy  at  his  wonderful 
escape. 

Now,  just  such,  my  dear  reader,  is  faith  as  it  regards 
the  salvation  of  your  soul.  You  are  now  in  most  cer- 
tain danger  of  everlasting  death,  because  of  your  un- 
godliness and  sin.  The  flames  of  vengeance  burn  around 
you.  But  Christ  has  secured  redemption  and  everlast- 
ing life;  and  God,  our  Father  in  heaven,  has  so  loved 
us  as  to  covenant  and  engage  that  whosoever  believeth 
in  Christ  shall  be  saved.  Neither  can  you  be  saved  in 
any  other  way;  for  out  of  Christ  "our  God  is  a  con- 
suming fire."  By  no  eff'orts  of  your's,  therefore,  can  you 
escape  from  Him  "who  is  able  to  destroy  both  soul  and 
body  in  hell"  forever.  You  cannot  atone  for  past  sins. 
There  they  are,  and  they  cry  aloud  for  vengeance.  You 
are  already  condemned,  and,  for  aught  you  know,  sen- 
tence may  be  passer,  upon  you  at  any  moment ;  and  then 
"eternal  destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and 

7* 


78  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY, 

from  the  glory  of  his  power,"  awaits  you  in  that  ^'lake 
which  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone,  where  "'•he 
worm  dieth  not  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched." 

Christ,  however,  is  able  to  save  you, — ^because  he  is 
God  as  well  as  man.  Suppose  the  boy  suspended  by 
his  feeble  hands  had  seen  another  little  boy  like  him- 
self stretch  his  weak  arms  and  call  upon  him  to  trust 
to  him  for  deliverance.  He  would  have  cried  out  at 
once,  ''  You  cannot  save  me."  Just  so  the  convicted  sin- 
ner feels,  when  invited  to  put  his  trust  in  a  man  like 
himself,  or  in  any  one  short  of  an  almighty  Saviour. 
''A  mere  human  deliverer!"  he  exclaims.  "Do  you 
mean  to  mock  me  ?  What  can  such  a  deliverer  do  for  a 
wretch  like  me  ?  What  can  he  do  with  those  mountains 
of  guilt  which  are  pressing  upon  me,  and  with  that 
deathless  worm  which  is  gnawing  within  me?  What 
can  he  do  to  avert  the  dreadful  sentence  of  the  law 
which  hangs  over  me,  or  to  quench  the  devouring  flames 
which  are  kindled  to  consume  me?"  The  convinced 
sinner  feels  that  he  needs  a  Divine  Saviour, — an  Al- 
mighty Saviour, — a  living,  loving,  personal,  ever  and 
everywhere  present  and  sympathizing  Saviour, — One 
who  is  able  to  "save  to  the  uttermost," — One  whose 
"blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  He  feels  that  no  other 
Saviour  can  meet  the  fearful  exigencies  of  his  case  or 
can  ever  do  him  any  good.  And  Avhen  he  looks  into  the 
Bible,  he  finds  that  just  such  a  Saviour  is  provided  and 
freely  ofi'ered.  Here  he  finds  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
is  a  holy  Saviour,  whose  word  is  truth, — a  glorious  Sa- 
viour, altogether  deserving  his  confidence  and  love, — 
"the  great  God  and  our  Saviour," — "God  manifest 
in  the  flesh," — one  who  "is  God,"  yea,  whose  "name  is 


WHAT   IT   IS   TO   BELIEVE.  79 

Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the  everlast- 
ing Father  and  the  Prince  of  Peace." 

When,  therefore,  with  an  eye  of  faith  he  sees  this  Sa- 
viour— who  is  ''mighty  to  save" — standing  beneath, 
extending  his  Omnipotent  arms  to  receive  him,  and 
calling  out  to  him  to  let  go  all  his  false  dependences 
and  hopes,  what  should  prevent  him  from  doing  it, — 
from  simply  putting  forth  the  act  of  faith,  and  falling 
into  the  kind  and  gracious  arms  of  his  Almighty  Deli- 
verer? He  obviously  has  all  the  knowledge  and  con- 
viction that  are  necessary;  and  he  has  only  now  to  be- 
lieve in  Christ,  to  trust  to  him,  to  fall  into  his  embrace 
and  live  forever. 

We  can  easily  imagine  a  host  of  excuses  which  this 
little  boy  might  have  offered;  but  we  also  know,  and 
you  will  admit,  that  they  would  all  have  been  false  and 
vain,  and  that  he  had  every  warrant  and  encouragement 
to  act  as  he  was  required.  We  know,  too,  that  in  no 
other  way  could  the  child  have  been  saved  at  all,  and 
that  if  he  had  remained  fearful,  and  hesitating,  and  halt- 
ing, he  would  certainly  have  been  lost.  Now,  just  so  is 
it,  0  sinner,  with  you.  You  can  frame  a  hundred  ex- 
cuses; but  they  are  all  false  and  without  any  founda- 
tion; and  if  you  do  not  break  through  them  all,  and  at 
once  and  forever  and  entieely  yield  yourself  to  Christ, 
casting  your  soul  on  him  and  committing  it  to  his  hands, 
you  must  perish. 

''Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,"  was  the  earnest  reply  of 
one  who  had  been  herself  awakened  by  these  words  to 
an  anxious  friend. 

"But  how  shall  I  prepare?" 

"Prepare,  by  believing  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 


80  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

now.  Prepare,  by  repenting  of  sin,  just  here,  this  very 
hour.  Prepare,  by  bringing  forth  fruit  meet  for  re- 
pentance." 

"Oh,  how  shall  I  prepare?"  he  again  inquired. 

'^  Take  Christ  for  your  Saviour,  for  he  must  be  your 
final  Judge.  There  is  no  condemnation  to  them  who 
are  in  Christ  Jesus.  Believe  on  him.  Trust  him,  now 
and  forever.  Try  now,  right  here.  Submit  to  him. 
Give  yourself  up  to  him.  Tell  him  you  are  willing  to 
love  him,  obey  him,  with  all  your  heart.  Covenant 
with  him, — now, — now, — now  !  And  you  will  know,  as 
I  now  know,  how  precious  is  the  joy  of  being  forgiven." 

He  did  pray.  He  confessed  and  bewailed  his  sins, 
his  worldly  schemes  and  ambition,  his  utter  disregard 
of  his  duties  to  God  and  his  duties  to  his  fellow-men. 
He  made  solemn  promises  to  Christ  of  everlasting 
devotion  to  his  service,  whatever  might  become  of  him. 
There,  on  the  spot,  he  gave  himself  up  to  God  to  be  his 
forever. 

SINNER  RESOLVING  TO  GO  TO  CHRIST. 
Esther  It.  16. 

Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast 

A  thousand  thoughts  revolve ; 
Come,  with  your  guilt  and  fear  oppress'd, 

And  make  this  last  resolve: — 

"I'll  go  to  Jesus,  though  my  sin 

Hath  like  a  mountain  rose : 
I  know  his  courts ;  I'll  enter  in, 

Whatever  may  oppose. 

"Prostrate  I'll  lie  before  his  throne, 

And  there  my  guilt  confess : 
I'll  tell  him  I'm  a  wretch  undone 

Without  his  sovereign  grace. 


WHAT  IT  IS   TO  BELIEVE.  31 

« I'll  to  the  gracious  King  approach, 

Whose  sceptre  pardon  gives: 
Perhaps  he  may  command  my  touch,— 

And  then  the  suppliant  lives. 

"  Perhaps  he  will  admit  my  plea, 

Perhaps  will  hear  my  prayer; 
But  if  I  perish,  I  will  pray, 

And  perish  only  there. 

"  I  can  but  perish  if  I  go ; 

I  am  resolved  to  try ; 
For  if  I  stay  away,  I  know, 

I  must  forever  die." 


Just  as  I  am, — without  one  plea 
But  that  thy  blood  was  shed  for  me, 
And  that  thou  bidd'st  me  come  to  thee, 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

Just  as  I  am, — and  waiting  not 
To  rid  my  soul  of  one  dark  spot, — 
To  thee,  whose  blood  can  cleanse  each  blot, 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

Just  as  I  am, — though  toss'd  about 
With  many  a  conflict,  many  a  doubt. 
Fightings  within,  and  fears  without, — 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

Just  as  I  am, — poor,  wretched,  blind, 
Sight,  riches,  healing  of  the  mind. 
Yea,  all  I  need,  in  thee  to  find, — 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 


F 


82  THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

Just  as  I  am, — thou  wilt  receive, 
Wilt  welcome,  pardon,  cleanse,  relieve, 
Because  thy  promise  I  believe, — 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 

Just  as  I  am, — thy  love  now  known 
Has  broken  every  barrier  down  ; 
Now  to  be  thine,  yea,  thine  alone, 
0  Lamb  of  God,  I  come. 


GIVE   YOUESELF  UNTO   THE  LOBD.  83 


CHAPTER  VI. 

GIVE   YOUESELF   UNTO   THE   LOED. 

Man  is  so  constituted,  that,  in  order  to  fix  and 
deepen  his  thoughts,  they  must  be  spoken  or  written. 
Language  and  letters  are  intended  to  be  means  of  ex- 
pressing, and  of  giving  stability,  to  the  thoughts  and 
feelings  of  the  soul.  When  they  really  do  so,  the  man 
is  sincere  and  truthful ;  but  when  not,  he  is  deceitful 
and  hypocritical.  Where  more  than  one  person  is  con- 
cerned, reliance  is  put  upon  words  and  writing,  in  pro- 
portion as  there  is  mutual  confidence ;  but  in  all  mat- 
ters of  importance,  "  to  put  an  end  to  strife,"  and  to 
impart  unwavering  assurance,  an  oath  or  written  en- 
gagement is  given.  This  is  the  foundation  of  all 
business  transactions  among  men.  This,  also,  is  the 
case  in  the  formation  of  all  partnerships  and  associa- 
tions. Even  as  individuals,  we  never  enter  upon  any 
important  transaction  without  deep  reflection  and  very 
careful  decision.  This  ought  to  be  the  case ;  and  every 
such  determination  ought  to  be  made  after  seeking  the 
guidance  and  blessing  of  God.  "  In  all  thy  ways  ac- 
knowledge him,  and  he  will  direct  thy  steps." 

Were  you,  for  instance, — that  I  may  use  an  illustra- 
tion to  which  in  Scripture  the  consecration  of  the  soul 
to  Christ  is  often  compared, — solicited,  or  did  you  feel 
it  to  be  your  duty,  to  raarry,  how  carefully  would  you 


84  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

weigh,  every  consideration  bearing  on  ttie  eventful 
issue!  How  often  would  you  retire  within  yourself, 
and,  in  view  of  all  the  possible  results  of  your  decision, 
earnestly  importune  that  ''  wisdom  that  cometh  from 
above,  and  which  is  profitable  to  direct."  Having  done 
this,  you  would  then,  probably,  set  your  seal  to  a  writ- 
ten engagement,  or  otherwise  express  your  assent. 
This  would  afterwards  be  ratified  by  a  solemn  public 
contract  in  the  presence  of  God,  and  probably  of  many 
witnesses  assembled  on  the  occasion,  and  your  hymeneal 
torch  be  lighted  at  God's  altar,  and  your  heart  be  there 
plighted  in  faith  to  the  partner  of  your  bosom. 

Now,  so  it  is  in  your  relation  to  God.  To  him  also, 
thoughts  and  feelings  are  expressed  by  words  or 
writing.  In  this  way  they  are  also  deepened  and  con- 
firmed. And  as  God  requires  you  to  ''  give  him  your 
heart,"  and  to  'Wow  unto  the  Lord,"  and  "pay  your 
vow,"  you  cannot  hesitate  about  either  the  obligation 
or  the  expediency  of  doing  so.  Only  let  your  heart, 
and  your  lips,  and  your  pen  agree.  Let  what  you  say 
or  write  be  what  is  "  written  on  the  fleshy  table  of 
your  heart,"  and  you  cannot  fail  to  derive,  from  a 
solemn  consecration,  important  and  lasting  benefit. 

Let  me  then  beseech  you  to  join  me,  even  now,  in 
making  a  surrender  of  yourself  to  God  in  Christ. 
Come  with  me  into  God's  presence,  as  ''in  Christ  he  is 
reconciling  sinners  to  himself,"  and  dedicate  yourself 
to  him,  saying, — 

Eternal  and  unchangeable  Jehovah !  Thou  great 
Creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  adorable  Lord  of 
angels  and  men !  I  desire,  with  the  deepest  humiliation 
and  abasement  of  soul,  to  fall  down  at  this  time  in 


GIVE    YOUESELF   UNTO   THE    LORD.  85 

tliine  awful  presence,  and  earnestly  pray  that  tliou 
wilt  penetrate  my  very  heart  and  soul  with  a  suitable 
sense  of  thine  unutterable  and  inconceivable  glories  ! 
Trembling  may  justly  lay  hold  upon  me,  when  I,  a 
sinful  worm,  presume  to  lift  up  my  head  to  thee, — pre- 
sume to  appear  in  thy  majestic  presence  on  such  an 
occasion  as  this. 

Who  am  I,  0  Lord  God,  or  what  is  my  house? 
What  is  my  nature  or  descent,  my  character  and 
desert,  that  I  should  speak  of  this,  and  desire  that  I 
may  be  one  party  in  a  covenant  where  thou,  the  King 
of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  art  the  other.  I  blush 
and  am  confounded  even  to  mention  it  before  thee. 
But,  0  Lord,  great  as  is  thy  majesty,  so  also  is  thy 
mercy.  If  thou  wilt  hold  converse  with  any  of  thy 
creatures,  thy  superlatively  exalted  nature  must  stoop, 
must  stoop  infinitely  low ;  and  I  know  that  in  and 
through  Jesus,  the  Son  of  thy  love,  thou  condescendest 
to  visit  sinful  mortals,  and  to  allow  their  approach  to 
thee,  and  their  covenant  intercourse  with  thee.  Nay, 
I  know  that  the  scheme  and  plan  is  thine  own,  and 
that  thou  hast  graciously  sent  to  propose  it  to  us ;  as 
none  untaught  by  thee  would  have  been  able  to  form 
it,  or  inclined  to  embrace  it,  even  when  actually  pro- 
posed. To  thee,  therefore,  do  I  now  come,  invited  by 
the  name  of  thy  Son,  and  trusting  in  his  righteousness 
and  grace :  laying  myself  at  thy  feet  with  shame  and 
confusion  of  face,  and  smiting  upon  my  breast,  I  say 
with  the  humble  publican,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.'  I  acknowledge.  Lord,  I  have  been  a  great  trans- 
gressor. My  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven,  and  mine 
iniquities  are  lifted  up  unto  the  skies.     The  irregular 


86  THE   WELL   IN  THE   VALLEY. 

propensities  of  my  corrupt  and  degenerate  nature  have, 
in  ten  thousand  aggravated  instances,  wrought  to  bring 
forth  fruit  unto  death.  And  if  thou  shouldst  be  strict 
to  mark  mine  offences,  I  must  be  silent  under  a  load  of 
guilt,  and  immediately  sink  into  destruction.  But  thou 
hast  graciously  called  me  to  return  to  thee,  though  I 
have  been  a  wandering  sheep,  a  prodigal  son,  a  back- 
sliding child.  Behold,  therefore,  0  Lord,  I  come  unto 
thee.  I  come,  convinced  not  only  of  my  sin,  but  of  my 
folly.  I  come,  from  my  very  heart  ashamed  of  myself, 
and  with  sincerity  and  humility  confess  that  I  have 
erred  exceedingly.  I  am  confounded  with  the  remem- 
brance of  these  things ;  but  be  thou  merciful  to  my 
unrighteousness,  and  do  not  remember  against  me  my 
sins  and  my  transgressions.  Permit  me,  0  Lord,  to 
bring  back  unto  thee  those  powers  and  faculties  which 
I  have  ungratefully  and  sacrilegiously  alienated  from 
thy  service,  and  receive,  I  beseech  thee,  thy  poor  per- 
verted creature,  who  is  now  convinced  of  the  right 
thou  hast  to  him,  and  desires  nothing  in  the  whole 
earth  so  much  as  to  be  truly  thine  !  Blessed  God  !  it 
is  with  the  utmost  solemnity  that  I  make  this  sur- 
render of  myself  to  thee.  Hear,  0  heavens  !  and  give 
ear,  0  earth !  I  acknowledge  the  Lord  to  be  my  God. 
I  solemnly  declare  myself  this  day  to  be  one  of  his 
covenant  people.  Hear,  0  thou  God  of  heaven !  and 
record  it  in  the  book  of  thy  remembrance,  that  hence- 
forth I  am  thine,  entirely  thine.  I  would  not  merely 
consecrate  unto  thee  some  of  my  powers,  or  some  of 
my  possessions,  or  give  thee  a  certain  proportion  of 
my  services,  or  all  I  am  capable  of  for  a  limited  time ; 
but  I  would  be  wholly  thine,  and  thine  forever.    From 


GIVE    YOUESELF   UNTO    THE    LORD.  87 

this  day  do  I  solemnly  renounce  all  tlie  former  lords 
which  have  had  dominion  over  me, — every  sin  and 
every  lust, — and  bid  in  thy  name  an  eternal  defiance  to 
the  powers  of  hell,  which  have  most  unjustly  usurped 
the  empire  over  my  soul,  and  to  all  the  corruptions 
which  their  fatal  temptations  have  introduced  into  it. 
The  whole  frame  of  my  nature,  all  the  faculties  of  my 
mind,  all  the  members  of  my  body,  would  I  present 
before  thee  this  day,  as  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and 
acceptable  unto  God,  which  I  know  to  be  my  most 
reasonable  service.  To  thee  I  consecrate  all  my 
worldly  possessions.  In  thy  service  I  desire  to  spend 
all  the  remainder  of  my  time  upon  earth,  and  beg  thou 
wouldst  instruct  and  influence  me,  so  that,  whether  my 
abode  here  be  longer  or  shorter,  every  year  and  month, 
day  and  hour,  may  be  used  in  such  a  manner  as  shall 
most  eff'ectually  promote  thine  honour,  and  subserve 
the  scheme  of  thy  wise  and  gracious  providence ;  and 
I  earnestly  pray  that  whatever  influence  thou  givest 
me  over  others,  in  any  of  the  relations  of  life  in  which 
I  may  stand,  or  in  consequence  of  any  peculiar  regard 
which  might  be  paid  me,  thou  wouldst  give  me  strength 
and  courage  to  exert  myself  to  the  utmost  for  thy 
glory,  resolving  not  only  that  I  will  do  it  myself,  but 
that  all  others,  so  far  as  I  can  rationally  and  properly 
influence  them,  shall  serve  the  Lord.  In  this  course, 
0  blessed  Grod",  would  I  steadily  persevere  to  the  end 
of  my  life,  earnestly  praying  that  every  future  day  of 
it  may  supply  the  deficiencies  and  correct  the  irregu- 
larities of  the  former,  and  that  I  may,  by  divine  grace, 
be  enabled  not  only  to  hold  on  in  that  happy  way,  but 
daily  to  grow  more  active  in  it. 


88  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

ISTor  do  I  only  consecrate  all  that  I  am  and  have  to 
thy  service,  but  I  also  most  humbly  resign  and  submit 
to  thy  heavenly  will  myself  and  all  that  I  can  call 
mine.  I  leave,  0  Lord,  to  thy  management  and  direc- 
tion all  that  I  possess  and  all  I  wish,  and  set  every  enjoy- 
ment and  every  interest  before  thee,  to  be  disposed  of 
as  thou  pleasest.  Continue  or  remove  what  thou  hast 
given  me;  bestow  or  refuse  what  I  imagine!  want,  as 
thou,  Lord,  shalt  see  good ;  and  though  I  dare  not  say 
I  will  never  repine,  yet  I  hope  I  may  venture  to  say 
that  I  will  labour  not  only  to  submit  but  to  acquiesce; 
not  only  to  bear  what  thou  doest  in  thy  most  afflictive 
dispensations,  but  to  consent  to  it,  and  to  praise  thee 
for  it,  contentedly  resolving,  in  all  that  thou  appointest, 
my  will  into  thine,  and  looking  on  myself  as  nothing, 
and  on  thee,  0  God,  as  the  great  eternal  All,  whose 
word  ought  to  determine  every  thing,  and  whose 
government  ought  to  be  the  joy  of  the  whole  rational 
creation. 

Use  me,  0  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  as  the  instrument 
of  thy  glory,  and  honour  me  so  far,  as  either  by  doing 
or  suffering  what  thou  shalt  appoint,  to  bring  some 
revenue  of  praise  to  thee,  and  of  benefit  to  the  world 
in  which  I  dwell ;  and  may  it  please  thee,  0  my  Crea- 
tor, from  this  day  forward,  to  number  me  among  thy 
peculiar  people,  that  I  may  no  more  be  a  stranger  and 
foreigner,  but  a  fellow-citizen  with  the  saints,  and  of 
the  household  of  God.  Keceive,  0  heavenly  Father, 
thy  returning  prodigal.  Wash  me  in  the  blood  of  thy 
dear  Son,  clothe  me  in  robes  made  white  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb,  and  sanctify  me  throughout  by  the  power 
of  thy  Spirit !     Destroy,  I  beseech  thee,  more  and  more 


GIVE   YOUESELF   UNTO   THE   LOED.  89 

the  power  of  sin  in  my  heart !  Transform  me  more 
and  more  into  thine  own  image,  and  fashion  me  to  the 
resemblance  of  Jesus,  whom  henceforward  I  would  ac- 
knowledge as  my  teacher,  my  sacrifice,  my  intercessor, 
and  my  Lord  !  Communicate  to  me,  I  beseech  thee,  all 
needful  influences  of  thy  pjirffying,  cheering  and  com- 
forting Spirit ;  and  lift  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance 
upon  me,  which  will  put  the  sublimest  joy  and  glad- 
ness into  my  soul. 

Dispose  my  affairs,  0  God !  in  a  manner  which  may 
be  subservient  to  thy  glory  and  my  own  truest  happi- 
ness ;  and  when  I  have  done  and  borne  thy  will  upon 
earth,  call  me  from  hence  at  what  time  and  in  what 
manner  thou  pleasest;  only  grant  that  in  my  dying 
moments,  and  the  near  view  of  eternity,  I  may  remem- 
ber these  my  engagements  to  thee,  and  may  employ 
my  latest  breath  in  thy  service ;  and  do  thou,  0  Lord, 
when  thou  seest  the  agonies  of  dissolving  nature  upon 
me,  remember  this  covenant  too,  even  though  I  should 
then  be  incapable  of  recollecting  it.  Look  down,  0  my 
heavenly  Father,  with  a  pitying  eye,  upon  thy  languish- 
ing, dying  child ;  place  thine  everlasting  arms  under- 
neath me  for  my  support ;  put  strength  and  confidence 
into  my  departing  spirit,  and  receive  it  to  the  em- 
braces of  thy  everlasting  love !  Welcome  it  to  the 
abodes  of  them  that  sleep  in  Jesus ;  to  wait  with  them 
that  glorious  day  when  the  last  of  thy  promises  to 
thy  covenant  people  shall  be  fulfilled  in  their  triumph- 
ant  resurrection,  and  that   abundant   entrance,  which 

shall  be  administered  to  them  into  thine   everlastino- 

o 

kingdom,  of   which  thou  hast   assured   them   in  thy 
covenant,  and  in  the  hope  of  which  I  now  lay  hold  of 

8* 


90  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

it,  desiring  to  live  and  to  die  as  with  my  hand  on  that 
hope ! 

And  when  I  am  thus  numbered  among  the  dead,  and 
all  the  interests  of  mortality  are  over  with  me  forever, 
if  this  solemn  memorial  should  chance  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  any  surviving  'friends,  may  it  be  the  means 
of  making  serious  impressions  on  their  mind.  May 
they  read  it  not  only  as  my  language,  but  as  their 
own,  and  learn  to  fear  the  Lord  my  God,  and  with 
me  to  put  their  trust  under  the  shadow  of  his  wings 
for  time  and  for  eternity ;  and  may  they  also  learn  to 
adore  with  me  that  grace  which  inclines  my  heart  to 
enter  into  the  covenant,  and  condescends  to  admit  me 
into  it,  when  so  inclined ;  ascribing  with  me,  and  with 
all  the  children  of  God,  to  the  Father,  to  the  Son  and 
to  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  glory,  honour  and  praise  which 
is  so  justly  due  to  each  for  the  part  he  bears  in  this 
illustrious  work.     Amen. 

Lord,  I  am  thine,  forever  thine  ; 

My  soul  doth  cleave  to  thee  : 
My  dearest  Lord,  be  ever  mine, 

I  have  no  love  but  thee. 

Henceforth  I  am  not  mine,  but  God's  forever.* 

*  This  was  in  substance  the  form  adopted  by  Dr,  Doddridge  and 
used  by  Mrs.  Ramsay,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  See  her  most 
valuable  Life,  published  by  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  p. 
27.  This  solemn  transaction  will  be  found  still  more  impressively 
and  permanently  beneficial  if  this  form,  or  a  similar  one,  is  (mrefully 
written  out,  and,  after  piayer  for  divine  direction  and  help,  solemnly 
signed  as  in  God's  presence.  Such  a  paper,  carefully  preserved 
and  occasionally  perused,  and  especially  before  communion-seasons, 
might  be  found  of  very  great  service  as  a  help  to  self-examination 
and  a  test  of  condition  and  progress. 


ENCOUEAaEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  91 


CHAPTElf  VII. 

THE    BELIEVING   AND    DEVOTED   SOUL   ENCOURAGED    TO 
MAKE   AN   OPEN   CONFESSION. 

And  now,  my  dear  reader,  have  you  gone  witli  me 
in  this  surrender  of  yourself  to  God,  and  do  you  feel 
that  you  are  now  no  longer  your  own,  but  "his  to  whom 
you  have  now  yielded  yourself  as  his  servant  to  obey 
him"  ?  If  so,  and,  so  far  as  you  can  determine,  you  are 
willingly  and  unreservedly  "the  Lord's,"  then  con- 
fess that  you  are  so  before  men. 

Do  not  conceal  your  feelings.  Put  on  a  manly 
courage.  Act  as  you  would  in  every  other  case.  Avail 
yourself  of  the  principles  of  your  nature  already  ex- 
plained, and  of  the  sympathy,  experience  and  prayers  of 
others,  or  at  least  of  some  one  judicious  Christian 
friend.  Do  not  imagine  they  are  uninterested  in  you 
because  they  have  not  spoken  to  you.  They  may  be 
even  now  earnestly  wrestling  with  God  in  prayer  for 
you,  and  "travailing  in  pain,"  until  you  are  born  again, 
and  yet  afraid  to  speak  to  you,  lest  they  should  "speak 
unadvisedly  with  their  lips"  before  you. 

"As  I  was  leaving  the  prayer-meeting,"  said  one, 
"when  I  had  gone  a  little  distance,  a  lady  came  rushing 
up  to  me,  and  exclaimed,  'Oh!  my  brother,  my 
brother !  oh !  is  not  my  husband  to  be  saved  ?  I  have  put 
in  a  request  that  he  might  be  prayed  for,  three  times; 


92  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

and  three  times  this  request  has  been  read;  and  in 
each  case  no  allusion  has  been  made  to  my  case  in  the 
prayers  which  followed.  My  husband  has  not  been 
prayed  for.     What  does  it  mean  ?' 

''The  heart  of  this  mfe  was  very  much  encouraged 
when  I  met  her  again  aMd  inquired,  '  Is  your  husband 
converted  yet?' 

'''Oh,  no:  he  is  not  converted;  but  I  believe  he  will 
be.     I  feel  assured  he  will  be.' 

"In  a  few  days  I  met  her  again.  I  asked  her,  'Is 
that  husband  of  your's  a  Christian  yet?' 

" '  Oh !  I  am  afraid  not.  I  have  been  praying,  and 
hoping,  and  believing.  I  am  so  distressed  with  anxiety 
for  him  that  I  have  had  to  give  up  all  attention  to  all 
household  duties.  I  cannot  oversee  my  house.  My 
hope  is  in  God;  and  I  will  trust  in  him,  for  vain  is  the 
help  of  man.' 

"A  few  days  after,  I  met  this  same  wife  again. 

" '  Is  your  husband  converted  yet  ?'  Her  countenance 
lighted  with  a  spiritual,  serene  and  holy  joy. 

"'Oh,  yes!  I  hope  my  husband  is  converted.  He 
came  home  from  his  business,  he  ran  to  me,  threw  his 
arms  around  my  neck,  and,  in  weeping  rapture,  ex- 
claimed, "Oh,  I  have  found  the  Saviour!  I  have  given 
myself  up  to  him,  and  on  the  very  next  Sabbath  I  am 
to  unite  myself  to  the  people  of  God.  I  am  with  you 
now  for  time  and  eternity."'" 

It  not  unfrequently  happens  that  a  husband  or  a 
wife,  or  some  other  member  of  a  family,  becomes  anx- 
ious on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  conceals  the  cause, 
of  the  anxiety  from  the  other  members  of  the  family. 


ENCOUEAGEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  93 

in  most  cases  concealment  causes  decay  of  feeling,  and 
the  last  state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first. 

No  husband  or  wife  should  ever  carry  a  hidden 
grief, — and,  least  of  all,  the  grief  for  sins  committed  and 
a  Saviour  slighted.  The  endearing  relation  between 
husband  and  wife,  parents  and  children,  brothers  and 
sisters,  was  not  designed  to  be  a  hinderance,  but  a  help, 
to  salvation. 

How  many  painful  experiences  would  such  a  course 
prevent !     Take  the  following  illustration.* 

Soon  after  engaging  in  business,  Mr.  H married 

the  woman  on  whom  his  affections  had  long  been  fixed. 
His  ardent  attachment  was  fully  reciprocated.  The 
union  was  a  happy  one.  The  parties  enjoyed  as  much 
domestic  happiness  as  is  compatible  with  estrange- 
ment from  God :  neither  the  husband  nor  the  wife  was 
a  professor  of  religion. 

The  happiness  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H was  often  the 

subject  of  remark  among  those  who  knew  them.  They 
were  prosperous  in  their  affairs.  Their  mutual  affec- 
tion was  very  strong.  Perfect  confidence  existed  be- 
tween them.  Every  joy  and  every  sorrow  was  shared 
by  each.  The  cause  of  the  anxious  countenance  or  of 
the  sunny  smile  on  the  part  of  the  one  was  immediately 
confided  to  the  other. 

After  a  while  the  watchful  wife   noticed  a  change 

stealing   over  her  h-isband.     He  became   reserved, — 

especially  in  the  evening,  when  he  had  been  wont  to 

converse  with  her  most  freely.     In  regard  to  matters 

■  on  which  he  had  been  accustomed  to  speak  freely  there 

*  From  the  Sunday-School  Times. 


94  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

was  no  clia,nge;  at  least  lie  gave  prompt  and  full 
answers  to  her  questions.  It  was  only  when  her  inquiries 
related  to  the  cause  of  his  thoughtful  and  sad  appear- 
ance that  he  gave  evasive  replies. 

These  replies  gave  her  exquisite  pain.  She  saw  that 
there  was  a  hidden  grief,  which  she  was  not  permitted 
to  share.  Was  he  displeased  or  pained  by  any  thing 
she  had  done?  He  assured  her  he  was  not.  Had  he 
troubles  in  his  business?  It  had  never  been  so  pros- 
perous. Had  he  been  treated  unkindly  by  any  one? 
He  was  not  aware  that  he  had  an  enemy  in  the  world. 
Whence,  then,  the  cause  of  the  concealed  sigh  and  the 
anxious  brow?  Why  did  he,  once  so  fond  of  her 
society,  seek  to  be  alone? 

One  day  he  left  his  place  of  business  much  earlier 
than  usual,  entered  his  dwelling  without  observation, 
and  went  to  an  unoccupied  room.  His  wife  accidentally 
entering  it  found  him  on  his  knees  weeping,  with  an 
open  Bible  before  him. 

To  her  quick  intelligence  the  hidden  grief  was  re- 
vealed. Kneeling  by  his  side,  with  her  eyes  stream- 
ing with  tears,  she  exclaimed,  ''Husband,  why  did 
you  not  tell  me  of  this?  The  subject  is  one  on  which 
I  have  long  desired  to  speak  with  you." 

''Why  did  you  not  do  so?"  was  his  reply. 

"Because  of  the  reserve  with  which  you  have  treated 
me  of  late." 

"And  now  you  know  the  cause." 

"We  have  suffered  much  needlessly,  and  lost  time  for 
the  great  work  which  we  desire  to  do." 

The  barrier  of  reserve  being  thus  broken  down,  they 
spoke  freely  upon  that  subject  which  had  for  weeks  been 


ENCOUEAGEMENT  TO   CONFESSION.  95 

resting  with  unusual  weight  upon  their  minds.  They 
did  not  leave  the  room  till  they  had  mingled  their 
prayers,  and  strengthened  each  other  in  the  resolution 
to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God. 

In  a  few  days,  Mrs.  H was  rejoicing  in  hope,  and 

was  of  material  service  to  her  husband,  whose  early 
religious  instruction  had  been  less  perfect  than  her 
own.  Ere  long  they  were  united  in  love  to  Christ  as 
well  as  in  love  to  each  other. 

And  thus  will  every  true  Christian  bosom  thrill  with 
tender  and  joyful  emotions  in  the  knowledge  of  your 
hopeful  change  of  feeling  and  of  your  heavenly  desires. 
Their  hearts  will  melt  before  you.  Tears  of  thankful- 
ness will  bedew  their  cheeks,  and  there  will  be  joy,  not 
only  among  the  angels  of  God,  but  also  among  the 
saints  on  earth.  An  electric  spark  will  be  communi- 
cated to  your  own  soul.  The  fire  will  burn,  and  you 
will  thank  God  for  that  communion  of  hearts  which 
can  bring  with  it  such  overflowing  peace  and  joy.  Be 
not  afraid,  therefore:  only  fear  false  fear.  Be  not 
ashamed,  except  of  sinful  shame  which  would  hinder 
you  from  doing  what  you  know  to  be  right,  and 
your  duty,  and  for  your  happiness.  The  only  difii- 
culty  is  to  make  the  first  approach.  All  after  that 
will  be  easy,  pleasant  and  profitable.  This  you  can 
make  by  letter,  if,  as  is  best,  you  cannot  do  it  by  per- 
sonal communication.  But  in  one  or  other  way  do  it. 
I  beseech  you  to  do  this,  let  the  efi'ort  be  what  it  may. 
Be  master  of  yourself.  '^Quit  yourself  like  men, 
be  strong,"  and  let  do  cowardly  timidity  restrain  you. 
Never  did  I  see  a  happier  man  than  one  who  was  cer- 
tainly the  most  timid  and  reserved  I  ever  knew.     I 


96  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

perceived  in  him  some  evidence  of  being  tliouglitful, 
and  sought  a  private  and  suitable  opportunity  to  con- 
verse with  him.  He  had  been  most  anxious  that  I 
should,  and  yet  he  found  it  impossible  to  introduce  the 
subject.  But  it  was  to  him  like  the  opening  of  a 
spring.  The  waters  that  were  welled  up  within  the 
adamantine  walls  burst  forth.  He  was  relieved  of 
agonizing  pressure.  He  was  guided  and  helped  for- 
ward, and  soon  found  peace  and  joy  in  believing. 
Very  lately,  also,  I  sought  an  opportunity  to  ''  speak 
to  a  young  man"  of  a  very  similar  temperament.  I 
invited  him  to  ride  with  me,  and,  after  introducing  the 
subject  of  religion,  found  him  so  eager  to  converse, 
that  after  approaching  his  home  we  remained  some 
time  in  earnest  communication,  and,  when  I  told  him 
his  dinner-hour  was  past,  ''Oh,"  said  he,  ''that  is  of  no 
consequence.  I  could  listen  all  day  to  what  you  have  to 
say." 

But,  oh,  how  inexpressible  is  the  delight  of  a  faithful 
pastor's  bosom  when  any  of  his  flock — of  the  sheep  or 
lambs  he  is  to  feed — come  to  him,  and,  in  the  confidence 
of  love  and  respect,  open  to  him  their  feelings  and 
seek  his  counsel  and  prayers.  It  is  like  a  burst  of  sun- 
shine on  a  stormy  day.  He  can  lift  up  his  eyes  to 
heaven  and  say,  "I  thank  thee,  0  Father  in  heaven, 
that,  whilst  these  things  are  hid  from  so  many  of  the 
wise  and  prudent,  thou  hast  revealed  them  unto  these." 


Weary  soul  and  burden'd  sore, 
Laboring  with  thy  secret  load, 

Fear  not  all  thy  grief  to  pour 
In  some  heart,  true  love's  abode. 


ENCOURAGEMENT    TO    CONFESSION.  97 

Think  not  this  is  hidden  quite : 

Pastors'  ears  are  keen  to  hear, 
Pastors'  eyes  are  quick  as  light, 

Glancing  wide  and  watching  near. 

They  with  boding  anguish  read 

Half  your  tale  ere  ye  begin ; 
Bitter  ^rops  in  heart  they  bleed, 

Sorrow  for  your  shame  and  sin. 

Fear  not  thou  thine  eyes  to  hide 
On  some  breast  that  aches  for  thee; 

Patient,  kneeling,  here  abide 

Till  the  o'erburden'd  heart  is  free. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Bullock,  of  Kentucky,  relates  of  the 
patriotic  statesman  and  national  orator,  Henry  Clay, 
that  '^upon  meeting  him,  onon*e  occasion,  he  said  to  me, 
'Sir,  I  wish  to  come  and  spend  a  day  with  you  in  the 
country.  There  are  some  things  about  which  I  wish 
to  converse  with  you.'  Shortly  after  he  came  early  in 
the  morning  and  spent  the  entire  day.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  left  his  home  for  the  last  time  for  Wash- 
ington. Mr.  Clay  was  very  feeble,  and  evidently  be- 
lieved that  his  busy  and  eventful  life  was  drawing 
rapidly  to  a  close.  I  had  seen  him  in  the  vigour  of  his 
manhood,  and  he  certainly  was  the  most  imposing  and 
commanding  man  I  ever  saw.  'Now  he  was  gentle 
and  tender  as  a  woman ;  his  mind  was  clear  and  strong ; 
his  views  and  feelings  about  religion  had  evidently  un- 
dergone a  great  change. 

'^  Just  before  he  left,  the  young  ladies  of  my  family, 
(about  sixty  of  them,)  to  whom  he  had  been  introduced 
in  the  morning,  at  his  own  request,  came  to  receive 
his    farewell.      He    arose,    and,    with    great    feeling, 


98  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

addressed  them  for  about  twenty  minntes.  He  alluded 
to  his  age  and  infirmities,  and  its  being  in  all  proba- 
bility the  last  time  he  would  ever  meet  them  on  earth, 
and  he  wished  to  leave  with  them  his  testimony  of  the 
value  and  importance  of  the  Christian  religion. 

^^  He  said,  '  I  am  an  old  man.  I  have  been  a  very 
wicked  man.  I  have  seen  a  great  deal  of  the  world; 
and  I  tell  you  nothing  is  so  important  to  you  as  to  be 
the  true  followers  of  Christ.'  It  was  to  me  a  beautiful 
and  sublime  spectacle  to  see  the  first  citizen  of  the  Ee- 
public,  upon  whose  accents  our  Senate  had  often  hung 
entranced,  and  whose  name  and  fame  were  world-wide, 
standing  in  the  midst  of  that  lovely,  youthful  band, 
counselling  and  blessing  them  in  patriarchal  style. 
Although  I  had  heard  Mr.  Clay  in  some  of  his  greatest 
eff'orts  at  the  bar  and  before  the  people,  on  no  occasion 
did  I  ever  feel  that  he  was  more  truly  great  than  when 
commending  the  religion  of  a  crucified  Saviour  to  those 
young  and  admiring  hearts." 

During  the  past  winter  I  was  gratified  by  several 
such  visits  from  young  persons  of  both  sexes.  One 
day  a  visitor — a  young  gentleman  in  large  business — 
was  announced.  He  was  introduced.  I  was  unnerved 
at  his  presence.  He  had  been  for  years  altogether  a 
man  of  the  world,  and  very  careless  about  the  Sabbath 
and  the  sanctuary.  I  had  ventured  to  talk  with  him  .a 
few  days  previously,  sitting  on  a  box  of  goods  in  his 
store,  but  had  no  hope  of  any  immediate  religious  feel- 
ings. He  had  intended  leaving  the  city  on  a  collecting- 
tour,  the  morning  after  I  saw  him,  but  was  very  unex- 
pectedly, that  is,  providentially,  hindered.  Strange 
feelings  came  over  him.     He  knew  not  what  to  make 


ENCOUEAGEMENT    TO    CONFESSION.  99 

of  tliem,  or  why  tliey  should  be  felt.  Thoughts  of  a 
departed  father,  who  had  been  very  pious,  haunted 
even  his  dreams,  and  seemed  to  call  him  to  repent  and 
pray,'  and  change  his  course  of  living.  He  tried  to 
read  the  Bible,  but  could  not.  He  went  down  on  his 
knees  to  pray,  but  knew  not  how,  and  thought  it  was 
only  mockery.  He  thought  he  would  come  and  see  me, 
and  w^as  on  his  way,  when  Satan  led  him  to  think  he 
was  making  a  fool  of  himself,  and  that  these  feelings 
would  soon  subside.  He  turned  back  and  busied  him- 
self in  his  store.  But  he  could  not  get  rid  of  his  feel- 
ings ;  and  finally  he  had  come  to  see  me  and  make  known 
to  me  these  facts.  '^And  now,"  said  he,  '^I  wish  you 
to  tell  me  just  what  you  think  I  ought  to  do."  We 
talked  long  together,  as  we  have  since.  I  gave  him  a 
book  to  read,  made  prayer  with  him,  and  we  separated, — 
both  full,  I  trust,  of  joy  imparted  by  the  Holy  Ghost; 
for  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  he  was  ^'led,"  like  the 
Ethiopian  eunuch,  ''by  the  Spirit,"  and  will  become  an 
active  and  devoted  Christian. 

Let  me,  then,  persuade  you,  my  dear  reader,  to  ''go 
and  do  likewise."  Unburden  yourself  by  allowing 
some  Christian  friend  to  share  your  burden  with  you 
and  to  help  to  relieve  you  of  it. 

And  while  you  thus  make  a  special  confidant  and 
guide  of  some  one  friend,  or  of  your  pastor, — to  whom 
it  will  be  the  greatest  honour  you  can  confer  upon  him, 
— let  your  general  change  of  views  and  desires  be 
known  in  your  domestic  circle? 

Let  it  be  known  in  your  family,  and  to  your  friends 
and  acquaintances.     Tell  them  of  your  position.     Come 


100  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

out  from  among  the  worldly  and  thoughtless  and  be 
separate.     Confess  your  faith  also  before  the  world. 

A  young  man  of  fashion,  of  wealth  and  education, 
of  high  social  position  in  one  of  the  fashionable  avenues 
in  our  great  city,  found  out,  in  the  progress  of  the  re- 
vival, that  he  was  a  sinner, — that  he  had  a  soul  to  be 
saved  or  lost.  He  felt  himself  on  the  verge  of  ruin  and 
the  brink  of  eternal  despair.  He  was  bowed  down 
under  the  load  of  his  sins  as  a  grievous  burden.  He 
sought  relief  and  found  it  not.  The  requirements 
of  the  law  stared  him  in  the  face,  and  he  felt  justly 
condemned.  His  heart  was  filled  with  sorrow.  His 
countenance  bore  the  marks  of  woe.  Day  after  day  he 
went  about  with  his  head  bowed  down  like  a  bulrush, 
and  day  after  day  the  burden  became  more  and  more 
insupportable.  What  should  he  do  ?  Whither  should 
he  fly  ?  He  had  at  home  a  young  wife,  whom  he  loved 
as  he  did  his  own  life.  She  was  like  him, — devoted  to 
the  pleasures  of  the  world, — knew  not  what  religion  was, 
— cared  not.  They  had  been  all  well  mated  in  the  love 
of  fashionable  life, — the  gayeties  and  worldly  amusements 
commonly  enjoyed  by  persons  in  their  position  in  life. 

One  day,  while  in  a  prayer-meeting,  that  burdened 
young  man  found  his  burden  removed,  faith  in  Christ 
sprang  up  in  his  soul, — ^he  found  his  repentings  kindled 
together, — felt  in  himself  the  hope  that  maketh  not 
ashamed, — realized  a  Saviour  precious  to  his  soul.  He 
believed  that  Cod  for  Christ's  sake  had  forgiven  his 
sins.  He  determined  that  he  would  never  be  ashamed 
of  Christ.  He  would  acknowledge  and  honour  him 
everywhere. 

The  opportunity — the  time  and  place — soon  came. 


ENCOURAGEMENT   TO    CONFESSION.  101 

He  was  returning  to  his  home  in  tlie  evening.  "Now," 
said  he,  "  I  must  honour  and  obey  God  in  my  family. 
I  must  set  up  family  worship." 

"Oh,  no,"  said  the  tempter, — "not  yet.  Don't  be  in 
a  hurry.  Take  time.  Get  a  little  stronger ;  and  then 
you  can  go  on  better." 

"  I  must  begin  to-night.  I  do  not  know  what  my 
wife  and  my  sister  will  say ;  but  it  is  a  duty,  and  I  am 
resolved  to  do  it,  and  trust  God  for  the  rest.  I  must 
pray  in  my  family." 

"Not  to-night,"  said  the  tempter:  "you  don't  know 
how  to  pray.  You  have  never  prayed  much.  You 
are  unacquainted  with  the  language  of  prayer.  Wait 
and  learn  how  first." 

"  No,  no :  I  must  pray  to-night,  and  I  will  pray  to- 
night.   Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan." 

He  passed  into  his  dwelling,  and  into  his  library; 
and  there,  before  God,  his  heavenly  Father,  and  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  he  poured  out  his  heart  and 
asked  for  strength  and  grace-  from  on  high  to  assist 
him  in  his  duty. 

When  he  met  his  wife  that  evening,  she  saw  at  once 
that  a  great  change  was  come  over  him,  but  said  no- 
thing.    At  length  he  said, — 

"  My  dear  wife,  would  you  have  any  objections  to 
our  having  family  worship  \ 

After  a  moment's  surprise  and  hesitation,  she  said, 
with  true  politeness, — 

"  Certainly  not,  if  it  is  your  pleasure." 

"Bring  me  a  Bible,  then,  please,  and  draw  up  under 
the  gas-light,  and  let  us  read  and  pray." 

He  read  a  chapter,  and  then  kneeled  down  ;  but  his 


102  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

wife  and  sister  sat  bolt  upright  in  their  seats,  and  he 
felt  that  he  was  alone  on  his  knees.  He  lifted  up  hia 
eyes  to  God,  and  cried  out,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul, 
''God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner."  And,  gathering 
strength,  he  went  on  in  his  prayer,  pouring  out  hia 
most  earnest  cry  and  supplication  that  God  would  have 
mercy  on  his  beloved  wife  and  sister.  So  earnest,  so 
importunate,  was  that  prayer  that  God  would  show  his 
converting  grace  and  power  on  the  spot,  that  the  heart 
of  his  wife  was  melted  and  overcome,  and  she  slipped 
from  her  seat  upon  her  knees  beside  him,  and,  ere  she 
was  aware,  she  uttered  one  agonizing  cry  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  for  mercy  on  her  soul;  and  then  the  sister  knelt 
down  by  his  other  side  and  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 

He  continued  to  pray;  he  devoted  himself  and  those 
with  him  to  God.  He  confessed  and  bewailed  his  and 
their  manner  of  life  hitherto ;  he  pleaded  the  promises 
of  God  to  all  those  that  seek  him,  and  made  mention 
of  the  amazing  grace  of  God  in  the  pardon  of  his  sins, 
and  he  besought  that  they  all-might  find  and  obtain 
peace  and  forgiveness  through  a  crucified  Saviour. 

The  submission  was  complete.  The  surrender  was 
fully  made,  and  when  they  rose  from  their  knees  it  was 
to  acknowledge  each  to  the  other  what  determJnations 
and  consecration  they  each  had  made  during  the  pro- 
gress of  that  first  prayer  in  the  family,  in  that  parlour ^ 
of  all  they  were  to  Christ. 

This  is  God's  own  plan  of  becoming  Christ's  disciples, 
— by  denying  ourselves,  taking  up  our  cross  and  follow- 
ing him,  acknowledging  that  we  are  weak,  infirm,  un- 
worthy and  undeserving  sinners,  and  that  all  our 
ria-hteousness   and    hope   and   help   are   in   the   Lord 


ENCOUEAaEMENT   TO    CONFESSION.  103 

Jesus  Christ.  If,  my  dear  reader,  thou  shalt  thus 
"  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved."  Conscience  may  con- 
demn you,  guilt  may  alarm  you,  and  Satan  tempt  you 
to  doubt  and  fear ;  but  do  not  despair :  hope  still.  No 
guilt  ever  exceeded  the  merits  of  Christ's  blood ;  nor 
has  any  sin  ever  yet  conquered  the  invincible  power 
of  his  grace.  In  all  thy  temptations,  be  not  discouraged. 
These  surges  are  intended  not  to  drive  you  from  him, 
but  to  sweep  away  from  you  every  filthy  rag  of  self- 
confidence  that  you  may  stand  firm  and  immovable 
on  Christ  your  rock.  He  is  the  temple,  altar,  priest 
and  sacrifice,  to  whom  every  sinner  may  come,  and 
none  but  sinners  can  come,  and  to  whom  they  are  to 
come,  not  that  they  may  offer  an  atoning  sacrifice,  but 
that  they  may  trust  in  his  sacrifice  and  blood,  "which 
cleanseth  from  all  sin."  Christ's  blood  secures  recon- 
ciliation for  the  ungodly,  (Col.  i.  20;)  cleansing  for  the 
polluted,  (1  John  i.  7 ;)  purchase  from  the  slavery  of 
Satan,  (Acts  xx.  28 ;)  redemption  from  the  curse,  (1 
Peter  i.  18 ;)  purging  from  our  condemning  conscience, 
(Heb.  ix.  13,  14;)  remission  of  all  our  sins,  (Heb.  x.  16, 
17 ;)  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God,  (Rom. 
viii.  21;)  a  complete  and  everlasting  justification  before 
the  law  and  justice  of  God,  (Bom.  v.  9;)  and  peace, 
liberty  and  boldness  towards  God  as  our  Father  in 
heaven,  (Eph.ii.13.)  Oh,  how  rich,  how  free,  how  all- 
sufficient,  is  the  grace  of  Christ!  It  is,  indeed,  high  as 
heaven,  from  which  it  comes  and  to  which  it  leads ;  deep 
as  hell,  from  which  it  delivers;  and  broader  than  the 
earth,  since  it  not  only  makes  a  propitiation  sufficient 


104  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

for  all  the  sins  of  all  men,  but  brings  life  and  security 
to'angels  and  "glory  to  God  in  the  highest." 

Look,  then,  to  him,  and  thou  art  secure;  look  to  any 
thing  else,  and  thou  art  undone.  Tt  is  only  ''  in  Christ" 
that  God  is  gracious,  reconciling  and  forgiving.  In 
Christ  alone  God  is  ''plenteous  in  mercy,"  bound  by 
covenant  grace,  and  pledged  by  many  precious  promises, 
to  receive  all  that  come  to  him,  and  to  cast  out  none. 

To  be  in  Christ,  then,  by  an  absolute  surrender  of 
the  soul  to  God  in  dependence  on  his  merits  and  mercy, 
and  to  have  Christ  "  formed  in  our  souls,"  by  a  heart- 
felt faith  in  the  word  and  promise  of  God,  and  by  the 
sanctifying  application  of  them  by  the  Holy  Spirit, — 
this  is  the  hope  of  glory, — this  is  salvation, — ''this  is 
eternal  life." 

Fear  not,  then,  0  thou  who  art  willing  to  be  Christ's, 
to  believe  and  to  trust  in  him,  and  to  look  to  him  for 
ALL  thy  salvation  and  all  thy  desire.  He  will  restore 
with  the  Spirit  of  meekness.  He  will  bear  all  thy 
burdens.  He  will  give  "grace  upon  grace;" — grace  to 
pardon,  grace  to  hope,  grace  to  believe,  grace  to  impart 
peace,  "  grace  sufficient  for  every  time  of  need."  He 
will  forgive  not  only  once,  but  seven  times, — not  only 
seven  times,  but  seventy  times  seven. 

You  feel  ashamed  at  the  sight  of  your  own  unworthi- 
ness.  And  well  you  may.  But  you  may  not  and  ought 
not  to  feel  ashamed  of  Christ,  nor  ashamed  of  yourself, 
seeing  that  he  was  made  shame  for  you,  that,  all  your 
shame  being  taken  away — washed  in  the  laver  of  rege- 
neration, sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  Christ  and  covered 
over  with  his  righteousness — you  may  be  presented 
unto  God  without  spot  or  blemish  or  any  such  thing. 


ENCOURAGEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  105 

While  in  yourself,  therefore,  there  is  nothing  but  shame 
and  self-reproach,  in  Christ  there  is  nothing  but  glory- 
ing, and  boldness,  and  confidence  towards  God.  Of 
yourself  you  cannot  think  too  meanly;  but  of  him  you 
cannot  think  too  highly.  Of  yourself  you  cannot  think 
too  little;  but  of  him  you  cannot  think  too  much.  Of 
yourself  you  cannot  fear  and  doubt  too  much;  but  you 
cannot  labour  too  much  for  him,  nor  have  too  great 
confidence  in  him,  nor  indulge  too  exalted  expectations 
of  good  from  him. 

But  you  doubt  and  distrust  your  best  thoughts  and 
purposes,  and  imagine  you  have  no  real  faith  or  love, 
because  you  find  within  you  so  much  and  so  frequent 
doubting.  Now  you  ought  to  know,  from  the  very 
working  of  the  heart  about  that  which  is  most  dear  to 
it,  that  there  may  be  some  doubting  where  there  is 
strong  faith  and  real  love,  and  some  faith  and  love 
eve^  where  those  doub tings  and  jealousies  are  greatest. 
There  may  be  much  smoke  while  there  is  little  or  no 
perceptible  flame,  and  yet  that  smoke  cannot  exist  with- 
out some  fire  to  sustain  it.  And  thus  also  a  man  can- 
not doubt  and  fear,  and  be  jealous  over  himself  with  an 
anxious  jealousy,  without  some  faith  and  love  and  ap- 
preciation of  Christ.  To  be  convinced  that  you  are  a 
sinner,  and  that  you  believe  not  and  love  not  as  you 
know  you  should,  is  itself  some  evidence  of  the  Spirit's 
working  in  your  heart,  since  it  is  his  mission  to  con- 
vince of  sin,  of  righteousness  and  of  judgment.  The 
ignorant  mai  is  always  the  confident,  undoubting  man. 
Doubting  implies  knowledge  of  self,  of  God,  of  sin  and 
of  Christ.  And  although  faith  and  love  are  feeble  and 
faint  in  proportion  to  our   doubts,  yet  these   doubts 


106  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

are  proof  positive  of  more  or  less  faith  and  love  and 
hope. 

Let  not  tliy  fears  or  doubts,  therefore,  lead  thee  to 
distrust,  despondency  or  despair.  Your  safety  is  in 
Christ,  not  in  yourself.  He  is  your  ark,  and  around 
him  is  the  everlasting  rainbow  of  promise  and  of  pre- 
servation. The  floods  may  swell  and  rise  higher  and 
higher,  until  they  reach  the  clouds.  All  your  sins,  like 
mountain  billows,  may  go  over  you.  But  they  cannot 
overwhelm  Him  in  whom  you  trust  and  hope,  and  who 
is  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  sure  and  steadfast.  Only 
abide  in  him.  Think  only  of  his  power,  sufficiency  and 
grace,  and  the  inheritance  is  as  sure  to  you  as  the 
promise. 

But  you  feel  so  much  deadness  and  hardness  of  heart 
and  insensibility  of  feeling.  This  is  to  be  expected  as 
the  result  of  your  own  mental  exercises.  You  are  re- 
quired to  will  and  to  do,  to  deny  yourself,  to  take  up 
your  cross  and  follow  Christ  by  doing  whatsoever  he 
hath  commanded.  Do,  then,  all  that  you  are  required, 
and  just  as  it  is  required.  Though  it  be  but  lamely,  still 
walk  in  the  ways  of  his  commandments.  Lie  not  still. 
Awake,  thou  that  sleepest.  It  is  not  your  condition,  but 
your  duty,  that  ought  now  to  engage  your  attention. 
Neither  is  it  what  you  feel  disposed  to  do,  but  what 
Christ  would  have  you  to  do,  that  you  ought  to  do  with 
all  your  might..  Work,  then,  "the  work  of  God."  Walk 
in  his  prescribed  ways  humbly  and  sincerely.  "  Take  up 
your  bed  and  walk"  at  his  bidding.  His  word  is  power. 
Stretch  out,  then,  your  hard,  though  it  be  withered. 
Wait  on  the  Lord,  who  ''  meeteth  him  that  worketh  right- 
eousness, those  that  remember  him  in  all  their  ways," 


ENCOUEAGEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  107 

and  who  ''to  as  many  as  believe  on  him  gives  power 
to  become  the  sons  of  God." 

You  want  to  love,  and  you  ask  me  how  you  are  to 
love.  I  answer,  believe — trust — obey — follow  Christ. 
But  how  are  you  to  do  that  ?  I  answer,  love  him  for  all 
he  is,  and  for  all  he  has  done,  and  for  all  he  ever  lives  to 
perform  in  and  for  you.  Believe  much,  and  you  will  love 
much.  Love  much,  and  you  will  believe  much.  Let  him 
who  is  altogether  lovely,  and  who  is  love,  and  whose  love 
and  pity  brought  him  down  to  save  rebellious  worms,  fill 
your  vision,  your  thoughts  and  your  desires,  and  this 
Avill  enkindle  aflame  of  love  and  faith  in  the  coldest  heart. 
Dwell  on  his  love  with  sweet  accord.  Think  how  much 
you  ought  to  love  him,  how  much  you  desire  to  love  him, 
and  how  little  you  do  actually  love  him,  and  ''  he  will 
not  leave  you  comfortless."  He  ''will  come  to  you." 
He  will  so  "  shed  abroad  his  love  in  your  heart"  as  to 
constrain  ^ou  to  love  him,  and  to  live  not  unto  your- 
self, but  unto  "him  who  died  and  gave  himself  for  you, 
and  rose  ag-ain  that  he  may  be  with  you  always,  even 
unto  the  end." 

This  is  the  true  and  only  way  to  attain  to  a  peaceful 
assurance.  Simple  trust  and  reliance  on  Christ  and 
his  promised  grace,  and  a  faithful  endeavour  to  please 
him  by  walking  in  his  ways  and  obeying  his  commands, 
— this  will  bring  with  it  a  peace  whereof  all  the  world 
cannot  deprive  us,  and  against  which  the  gates  of  hell 
cannot  prevail.  The  reflex  exercise  and  sensible  en- 
joyment, of  assurance,  is  a  gift  bestowed  when,  and  in 
what  measure,  it  pleaseth  Christ.  But  this  direct  con- 
fidence in  him,  reliance  on  his  promise,  and  assurance 
of  his  all-sufficiency, — this  is  your  privilege,  nay,  duty. 


108         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

at  all  times, — even  when  you  are  least  sensible  of  the 
happy  enjoyment  of  faith  and  hope  and  love.  When 
you  feel  that  in  yourself  you  are  nothing,  cast  yourself, 
with  all  your  burdens,  on  the  Lord.  Do  not  wait  until 
you  feel  as  you  would  wish.  Do  not  say,  If  the  promise 
and  the  grace  were  only  mine,  and  Christ  my  Saviour, 
I  could  trust  and  believe.  This  is  to  invert  God's  order, 
and  all  rational  order.  This  is  to  make  a  Saviour 
of  your  experience  and  feelings,  and  to  substitute  them 
for  Christ  and  his  promises,  and  to  build  your  hope  on 
them  and  not  on  Christ  as  the  only  foundation  laid  in 
Zion.  Eather  say,  Christ  offers  himself  to  me,  his 
promise  is  to  me,  his  grace  is  sufficient  for  me,  all  are 
held  forth  to  me  in  the  gospel,  and  therefore  I  cannot 
doubt  or  fear,  since  with  all  my  heart  I  receive  and 
embrace  them.  "''I  had  fainted,"  says  David,  ''unless  I 
had  believed  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord."  And  so 
will  you  faint  unless,  in  the  same  way,  you  f5jrst  believe, 
and  then  expect  to  realize,  ''the  goodness  of  the  Lord." 
Hope  in  the  Lord  first,  and  then  "  thou  shalt  praise 
him  for  the  help  of  his  countenance."  Add,  then,  to 
your  FAITH,  meekness,  patience,  diligence,  activity,  de- 
votion, obedience;  and  in  thus  doing  his  will  you  shall 
come  to  know,  in  your  own  joyful  experience,  the 
peace  that  passeth  all  understanding. 

"  I  could  tell  them,"  said  a  lady,  "  what  it  is  that  with- 
holds larger  blessings;"  and  when  asked  what  it  was, 
^'  Why,"  said  she,  "  it  is  disobedience. "  And  so  also  it  is 
with  you.  God  requires  the  obedience  of  faith,  of  love  and 
confidence,  of  self-denial  and  cross-bearing,  of  confession 
and  union  with  his  church  in  its  employments  and  en- 
joyments, and  when  these  acts  of  service  arc  not  ren- 


ENCOUEAGEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  109 

dered  to  God  lie  is  disobeyed, — ^he  is  dishonoured  and 
displeased,  and  his  blessing  is  withheld.  Duty  and  de- 
light are  inseparable.  God  works  in  us  not  only  to 
will — to  feel  joy  and  peace — but  to  DO.  Christ  sheds 
his  love  over  the  soul,  that  love  may  lead  to  obedience; 
for  ''he  that  loveth  me  will  keep  my  commandments." 
You  must  therefore  remember — to  adopt  the  language 
addressed  recently  to  young  converts  by  a  teacher  in 
Israel, — that  Christ  is  a  shepherd,  and  has  a  fold ;  Christ 
is  a  prince,  and  has  a  kingdom ;  Christ  is  a  householder, 
and  has  a  house.  There  is  in  this  fold,  this  kingdom, 
this  house,  provision,  authority,  discipline,  everything 
requisite  to  throw  around  the  young  Christian  to 
strengthen,  establish  and  confirm  him.  Jesus  Christ 
is  the  captain  of  your  salvation ;  he  has  a  great  camp, 
divided  into  families  and  tribes,  all  marching  under 
one  banner.  It  is  not  essential  to  which  division  you 
belong,  but  you  ought  to  be  in  some  one  of  them.  You 
ought  to  show,  by  your  public  example,  that  you  are 
not  ashamed  to  confess  Christ.  You  ought  to  celebrate 
the  death  and  sufi'erings  of  your  Saviour  in  the  ordi- 
nance of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Come,  then,  into  his 
church,  where  the  weak  are  strengthened,  the  wavering 
confirmed,  the  young  guided,  and  where  its  wing  is  ex- 
tended for  protection  over  all  its  members. 

The  church  is  that  Beautiful  palace  which  stands  just 
by  the  way-side  on  the  King's  highway  to  the  Celestial 
City.  Here  are  provided  lodging  and  refreshment  and 
pleasant*  company  for  the  solitary,  sore-footed  and 
dispirited  pilgrim.  This  house  was  built  by  the  Lord 
of  the  Hill  for  the  relief  and  security  of  pilgrims. 
Here  Discretion,  Prudence,  Piety  and  Charity  are  ever 

10 


110  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

ready,  with,  wet  eyes  and  warm  hearts,  to  instruct,  to 
reprove,  to  correct  and  thoroughly  to  furnish  and  build 
up  all  who  enter  it  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel. 
Here  a  table  is  kept  always  furnished  with  fat  things 
and  wine  well  refined.  Here,  too,  weary  and  worn  pil- 
grims may  repose  in  the  large  upper  chamber  of  Peace, 
and,  after  enjoying  the  sleep  of  God's  beloved,  may 
awake  to  rejoice  that  they  dwell  already  next  door  to 
heaven.  Here  also  are  the  ancient  records  and  the 
divine  armory  from  which  the  panoply  of  heaven  is 
provided  for  every  pilgrim  though  they  be  as  many  as 
the  stars  of  heaven  for  multitude,  and  strong  enough 
to  resist  and  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  Satan.  From 
the  goodly  Pisgah-tops  of  this  mountain  of  the  Lord's 
house  may  be  seen  the  land  of  Emmanuel,  beautified 
with  woods,  vineyards,  fruits  of  all  sorts,  flowers  also, 
with  springs  and  fountains,  very  delectable  to  behold; 
and  in  the  glorious  distance  the  gates  of  the  Celestial 
City. 

But  while  these  heavenly  helpers  stand  ready  to 
welcome  every  pilgrim,  saying,  Come  in,  thou  blessed 
of  the  Lord,  and  while  the  Porters  at  the  several  gates 
of  this  palace  Beautiful  are  ever  on  the  watch  to  guide 
and  guard  their  approach,  nevertheless,  fears  and 
doubts — those  lions  in  the  way — deter  many  a  travel- 
ler. They  know  not — because  they  will  not  believe — 
that  these  lions  are  chained,  and  they  yield  more  to 
unbelieving  suspicions  than  to  divine  promises  and 
commands  and  assurances  of  grace  and  mercy  to  help 
them  in  every  need.  Be  strong,  then,  and  of  a  good 
courage,  and  you  will  soon  cut  your  way  through  the 
armed  men  and  lions,  and  have  a  happy  entrance  ad- 


ENCOUEAGEMENT   TO   CONFESSION.  Ill 

ministered  unto  this  heavenly  kingdom.  Only  fix  your 
eye  on  the  cross  and  your  heart  on  the  glorious  gospel 
and  the  wedding  garment  so  freely  given,  and  on 
Christ  the  author  and  finisher  of  faith,  and  you  will 
be  made  conqueror  and  more  than  conqueror.* 

"  There  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother." 

Prov.  xviii.  24. 

One  there  is  above  all  others, — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 
His  is  love  beyond  a  brother's, — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  I 
Earthly  friends  may  fail  or  leave  us, 
One  day  soothe,  the  next  day  grieve  us. 
But  this  Friend  will  ne'er  deceive  us  : — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 

'Tis  eternal  life  to  know  him, — 

Uh,  how  he  loves  ! 
Think,  oh,  think  how  much  we  owe  him, — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 
With  his  precious  blood  he  bought  us, 
In  the  wilderness  he  sought  us, 
To  his  fold  he  safely  brought  us : — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 

We  have  found  a  friend  in  Jesus, 

Oh,  how  he  loves ! 
'Tis  his  great  delight  to  bless  us, — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 
How  our  hearts  delight  to  hear  him 
Cid  us  dwell  in  safety  near  him  ! 
Why  should  we  distrust  or  fear  him  ? 

Oh,  how  he  loves ! 

Through  his  name  we  are  forgiven, — 
Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 


See  Bunyan. 


112  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

Backward  shall  our  foes  be  driven, — 

Oh,  how  he  loves ! 

Best  of  blessings  he'll  provide  us, 

Nought  but  good  shall  e'er  betide  us, 

Safe  to  glory  he  will  guide  us : — 

Oh,  how  he  loves  ! 


CHRIST  THE  ROCK  OF  AGES. 

Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me, 

Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee ; 

Let  the  water  and  the  blood 

From  thy  wounded  side  which  flow'd 

Be  of  sin  the  double  cure : 

Save  from  wrath  and  make  me  pure. 

Not  the  labour  of  my  hands 
Can  fulfil  the  law's  demands : 
Could  my  zeal  no  languor  know, 
Could  my  tears  forever  flow, 
These  for  guilt  could  not  atone : 
Thou  must  save,  and  thou  alone. 

In  my  hand  no  price  I  bring : 
Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling, 
Naked,  come  to  thee  for  dress, 
Helpless,  look  to  thee  for  grace, 
Vile,  I  to  the  fountain  fly : 
Wash  me,  Saviour,  or  I  die. 

While  I  draw  this  fleeting  breath, 
When  my  eyelids  close  in  death, 
When  I  soar  to  worlds  unknown. 
And  behold  thee  on  thy  throne. 
Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me. 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee. 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  113 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OBLIGATION    AND    IMPORTANCE    OF   A   PUBLIC    PRO- 
FESSION   OF    FAITH. 

Are  you  now,  my  dear  reader  in  Christ;  trusting  to 
him,  and  to  him  alone,  for  salvation?  Then  it  is 
your  duty  to  confess  Christ  before  men.  You  must 
make  a  public  profession  of  this  self-renunciation  and 
this  devotion  to  Christ.  You  must  thus  put  yourself 
under  Christ's  care,  that  he  may  instruct,  comfort  and 
guide  you,  and  that  you  may  be  useful  to  him  and  to 
his  cause.  Without  this,  you  are  told  by  the  apostle 
your  faith  is  not  right,  nor  unto  salvation.  '^The  word 
of  faith  which  we  preach,"  says  the  apostle,  ''is  this, 
that  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart,  thou  shalt  be 
saved.  For  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  right- 
eousness, and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation."  This,  as  we  have  seen,  is  in  perfect  accord- 
ance with  the  constitution  of  our  nature,  the  arrange- 
ments of  society,  and  our  own  conduct  in  reference  to 
every  event  and  business  of  life.  Where  there  is  feel- 
ing and  faith  in  the  heart,  it  will  reveal  itself  by  words, 
by  writing  and  by  actions  corresponding  to  them.  It 
would  not  be  enough — to  resume  our  former  illustra- 
tion— to  make  a  written  engagement  with  your  be- 
trothed, in  order  to  marriage.     That  engagement  must 

H  10* 


114         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

be  sealed  by  a  public  and  solemn  contract.  And  just 
so  it  is  in  your  relation  to  God  in  Christ.  When  there 
is  faith  and  love  in  the  heart,  it  will  manifest  itself  in 
personal  love  and  dedication  to  him.  But  it  will  do 
more.  It  will  seek  that  visible  union  and  communion 
with  Christ  of  which  marriage  was  constituted  an 
emblem.  Christ  represents  himself  as  the  husband, 
and  his  people  as  the  bride.  "Thy  Maker  is  thy 
husband."  ''  Hearken,  therefore,  0  daughter,  forsake 
also  thine  own  kindred  and  thy  father's  house.  So 
shall  the  King  greatly  desire  thy  beauty,  for  he  is  thy 
Lord,  and  worship  thou  him."  Even,  therefore,  as  the 
loving  heart  seeks  in  a  public  contract  the  recognition 
and  ratification  of  its  union  with  the  object  of  its  fond 
devotion,  so  does  every  believer's  heart  desire,  by  a 
public,  solemn  covenant,  to  seal  and  testify  its  union  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  its  grateful  willingness  to 
be  his,  his  only,  his  wholly  and  his  forever.  Love 
cannot  slumber  in  cold  reserve  where  there  is  love 
and  loveliness  and  an  open  hand  and  heart  to  welcome 
it.  Faith  cannot  exist  like  dying  embers  buried  up 
under  the  ashes  of  a  selfish  worldliness,  when  the  Be- 
finer  stands  by  to  fan  those  dying  embers  into  flame, 
feed  them  with  oil  and  fuel  and  blow  upon  them  with 
the  inspiring  breath  of  his  divine  life.  And  it  would, 
therefore,  be  as  unnatural  as  it  is  impossible  for  any 
man  truly  to  believe  on  Christ  and  not  feel  that  faith, 
like  a  hot  coal,  burn  within  him  and  consume  his  very 
bones,  until  it  finds  vent  in  the  full  flame  of  active, 
consecrated  zeal  and  devotion  to  his  service.  A  man 
may,  indeed,  be  so  ignorant  as  not  to  know  the  full 
nature  of  his  privilege  and  duty,  and  in  this  condition 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  115 

be  disposed,  like  Mcodemus,  to  remain  in  obscurity 
and  inactivity.  But,  while  God  may  wink  at  this 
ignorance,  he  will  not  allow  it  to  remain.  He  will 
cause  the  light  in  some  way  to  shine  upon  it  and 
irradiate  it,  that  he  who  was  shrouded  in  ignorance 
may  walk  forth  in  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  childrcD 
of  God. 

^^  Why  do  I  thus  fear  to  enter  the  house  of  God? 
Why  am  I  so  opposed  to  this  revival  of  religion  ?"  queried 

young  Walter  G ,  as  he  sat  musing  by  himself  in 

his  father's  dwelling ;  while  just  beyond  rose  the  spire 
of  the  church  where  his  father  worshipped,  and  where 
all  the  family  except  himself  were  now  issembled  with 
the  people  of  God. 

Then,  rising,  to  throw  off  the  gloom  of  his  own 
thoughts,  he  looked  from  the  window  to  the  pleasantly 
lighted  church;  and,  almost  within  the  sound  of  the 
penitential  prayer  and  of  the  songs  of  praise,  he  again 
almost  unconsciously  asked,  "  Why  this  reluctance  to 
enter  there?  Surely  there  is  no  danger  of  my  being 
converted.  But,  if  it  be  cowardly  to  absent  myself,  it 
at  least  shows  that  I  do  not  favour  the  fanaticism  of 
this  so-called  revival  of  religion." 

The  son  of  pious  parents,  the  brother  of  praying  sis- 
ters, young  Walter  hated  and  scorned  religion,  and 
proclaimed  his  aversion,  not  only  by  disregarding  its 
teachings,  but  by  open  ridicule  and  blasphemy.  And 
thus  he  was,  in  manhood's  prime,  the  grief  of  those  who 
loved  him,  the  scorner  of  his  father's  God. 

And  now,  because  the  Spirit  was  very  visibly  mani- 
fested, and  sinners — even  some  hardened  in  sin — were 
brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  his  hatred  to  religion 


116         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

became  only  tlie  more  intense  and  bitter ;  while  he  by 
every  means  avoided  being  personally  brought  under 
its  influence.  But  this  evening,  left  entirely  alone  fco 
the  silence  of  his  own  gloomy  thoughts,  the  Holy  Spirit 
became  his  guest,  and,  though  he  endeavoured  to  divert 
his  thoughts  into  some  other  channel,  he  was  troubled. 
''Why  am  I  so  opposed  to  this  revival  of  religion?" 
In  vain  he  strove  to  evade  the  question,  in  vain  to  drive 
hence  his  unwelcome  Guest.  The  whispers  of  the  ''still 
small  voice"  penetrated  to  his  inmost  spirit. 

Then  came  a  struggle,  a  soul-conflict,  such  as  angels 
delight  to  witness;  and,  humbled  to  the  dust,  the  scoff- 
ing youth  cried  for  mercy  to  his  offended  God  and  Ee- 
deemer.  Alone  the  Angel  wrestled  with  him;  while 
he,  clinging  to  the  cross,  would  not  let  him  go  till  the 
glorious  victory  was  won  and  his  soul  had  found  peace 
in  believing  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

With  the  rising  of  the  morrow's  sun  there  rose  from 
his  lips  a  song  of  praise  and  thanksgiving ;  and  the 
next  evening  found  him  in  the  house  of  prayer,  hum- 
bled, contrite  and  rejoicing,  telling  of  the  work  of  God 
wrought  in  his  soul,  and  inviting  sinners  to  Jesus. 

Uniting  himself  with  the  visible  church,  he  showed 
by  his  life  and  conversation  that  it  was  indeed  the 
Spirit  of  God  that  visited  him  and  wrought  the  sud- 
den conversion  in  his  soul;  causing  Christians  to  ex- 
claim, "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my 
Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." 

A  gentleman  once  came  to  my  study  who  was  in 
this  condition.  He  had  lived  beyond  middle  life  in  the 
world  and  in  sin,  and,  by  a  remarkable  providence,  was 
brought  to  consideration  and  conversion.     But  he  was 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  117 

profoundly  ignorant  of  the  gospel,  and  indeed  of  the 
Bible,  and  he  thought  he  might  go  on  in  his  endeavours 
to  be  and  to  live  a  Christian  and  yet  retain  his  con- 
victions to  himself.  But,  while  he  was  thus  privily 
minded,  God  had  otherwise  arranged  his  future.  He 
was  brought  to  hear  me  at  night  on  an  occasion  when  I, 
a  perfect  stranger  to  him,  was  led  to  preach  on  the 
character  and  conduct  of  Nicodemus  as  coming  to  our 
Saviour  by  night.  It  was  •  enough.  It  was  like  the 
light  of  the  sun  shining  into  a  dark  chamber.  He 
saw  his  sin  and  folly,  his  ignorance  and  his  suicidal 
course.  He  waited  upon  me,  unbosomed  his  whole 
heart,  and  with  eyes  streaming  with  tears,  and  his 
whole  frame  excited  by  deep  emotion,  expressed  his 
earnest  desire  to  know  all  his  duty,  to  take  up  all  the 
cross,  and  to  follow  Christ  at  whatever  sacrifice  of  in- 
terest and  feeling.  And  this  he  did.  He  became  a 
diligent  student  of  the  Scriptures.  He  lived  in  prayer; 
and  even  the  midnight  hour  was  made  vocal  with  his 
songs  of  praise  and  his  utterances  of  humble  supplica- 
tion. He  became  a  member  of  the  church,  lived  a  life 
so  unblamable  as  to  put  to  silence  even  his  previous 
companions  in  sin,  and  died  triumphant  in  faith. 

And  so,  my  dear  reader,  will  it,  must  it,  be  with 
you. 

When  Count  Zinzendorf  was  advanced  in  life,  he  hap- 
pened to  be  in  Geneva,  on  a  visit,  and,  being  required  to 
address  some  children  there,  he  said,  ^' My  dear  children,  I 
will  tell  you  what  I  did  when  I  was  very  young.  I  was 
told  that  my  Creator  had  become  man  from  love  to  me ; 
and  it  made  a  deep  impression  on  me.  I  thought  with 
myself,  '  If  my  compassionate  Lord  should  have  no  other 


il8  THE  WELL   m   THE  VALLEY. 

person  to  love  him,  at  least  I  will  cleave  to  him  and  live 
and  die  with  him.'  Many  an  hour  have  I  spent  in  con- 
versing with  him,  as  one  speaks  to  a  dear  and  honoured 
friend.  But  still  at  that  time  I  did  not  know  the  amount 
of  what  I  owed  him.  Alas !  I  did  not  know  the  merits  of 
a  bleeding,  dying  Saviour,  who  had  made  an  offering  for 
my  sins,  till  on  a  certain  day,  when  the  whole  truth  of 
what  my  Creator  had  borne  on  my  account  flashed 
vividly  before  my  mind.  At  first  I  burst  into  tears, 
and  could  not  restrain  myself, — it  was  so  wondrous  good 
of  him ;  and  then  I  made  a  solemn  covenant  with  him, 
to  live  to  him  and  love  him  more  than  I  had  ever  done. 
I  have  now  spent  upwards  of  fifty  years  in  daily  inter- 
course with  my  Saviour,  and  feel  myself  every  day 
happier."  What  a  testimony  was  this !  Alas,  how 
few  have  made  religion  such  a  thorough  work! 
Zinzendorf's  covenant  was  a  very  short  and  simple 
one : — '^  Dear  Saviour,  be  thou  mine,  and  I  will  be 
thine." 

Augustine,  in  his  Confessions,  tells  us  of  a  great  man 
at  Eome,  named  Victorinus,  many  of  whose  friends  were 
heathen.  When  God  in  his  rich  mercy  converted  him 
to  the  Christian  religion,  he  came  privately  to  Simpli- 
cianus  and  informed  him  that  he  had  become  a  Chris- 
tian. Simplicianus  answered,  ''I  will  not  believe  thee 
to  be  a  Christian  till  I  see  thee  openly  profess  it  in  the 
church."  Victorinus  jeeringly  replied,  ''What!  do 
•the  church-walls  make  a  Christian?"  and  went  his  way. 
But  when  in  perusing  the  Scriptures  he  came  to  those 
words  of  Christ,  (Mark  viii.  38,)  "  Whosoever  there- 
fore shall  be  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my  words  in  this 
adulterous  and  sinful  generation,  of  him  also  shall  the 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF    FAITH.  119 

Son  of  man  be  ashamed  when  lie  cometh  in  the  glory 
of  his  Father,  with  the  holy  angels/'  he  returned  to 
Simplicianus  and  openly  professed  his  faith  and  trust 
in  Christ.  - 

Let  this  declaration,  then,  equally  impress  your 
mind ;  for,  assuredly,  if  even  in  the  face  of  persecution 
and  death  men  were  under  imperative  obligation  to 
confess  Christ,  no  possible  excuse  can  justify  any  man 
now  in  withholding  himself  from  the  ranks  of  Christ's 
disciples,  since  this  is  made  necessary  by  the  very  rela- 
tion in  which  you  stand  to  Christ  and  in  which  Christ 
stands  to  you.  '^He  that  is  not  with  me,"  says  Christ, 
"  is  against  me."  Every  man,  therefore,  is  either  the 
FEIEND,  or  he  is  the  enemy,  of  Christ, — every  man  is 
either  on  the  side  of  God  and  of  "  the  seed  of  the  wo- 
man," or  on  the  side  of  Satan  and  of  ''the  seed  of  the 
serpent."  And  hence  we  find  that  in  the  closing  page 
of  Eevelation  (Rev.  xxi.  8)  "the  fearfuV  are  put  in  the 
very  fore-front  of  those  "  who  shall  have  their  part  in 
the  lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone,  which 
is  the  second  death,"  because,  like  all  the  rest,  they 
''reject  the  counsel  of  Cod  against  themselves,"  "obey 
not  the  truth,"  and,  instead  of  "  submitting  themselves  to 
the  righteousness  of  God,  go  about  to  establish  a  right- 
eousness of  their  own." 

Faith  in  Christ  will  infallibly  produce  love  to  Christ; 
and  love  to  Christ  will  make  the  heart  willing  to  "run 
in  the  way  of  his  commandments."  Hence  the  first 
cry  of  the  believing  soul  is,  "  Lord,  what  wouldst  thou 
have  me  to  do?"  and  the  first  exclamation  of  all  who 
hear  his  words,  see  his  zeal  and  witness  his  devotion 
is,  "Behold,  he  prayeth." 


120         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

Of  this  I  will  give  you  a  very  striking  illustration, 
in  the  case  of  Mr.  Baker,  a  deist,  of  Cincinnati.  His 
mind  being  opened  to  the  truth  while  on  a  sick-bed, 
after  prayer  he  said  that  he  desired  to  make  a  declara- 
tion. JSTo  one  understood  what  he  designed  to  do. 
The  curiosity  of  all  present  being  excited,  they  rose  and 
approached  his  bed,  when  with  the  deepest  solemnity 
he  expressed  himself  as  follows: — '^I  wish  to  make  a' 
declaration  in  the  presence  of  my  family  and  of  these 
witnesses.  I  now  declare,  before  you  all,  that  I  am 
convinced  of  the  error  I  have  advocated  for  twenty 
years  past.  I  believe  there  is  such  a  being  as  Jesus 
Christ.  I  believe  he  is  the  Son  of  God.  I  believe  he 
is  the  only  name  by  which  we  can  be  saved." 

Eeferring  to  the  uncertainty  of  life,  although  he  ex- 
pected to  recover,  he  added,  ''  Whether  I  shall  survive 
my  present  sickness  or  not,  such,  I  wish  you  to  under- 
stand, is  my  full  belief.  I  repent  of  my  error.  I  wish 
you,  sir,  to  use  this  my  declaration  to  comfort  or 
strengthen  Christians,  as  you  may  judge  best.  If  there 
is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repents.  Christians 
on  earth  will  rejoice  also.  I  do  repent.  Such  are  the 
sentiments  I  believe,  and  mean  to  support  and  defend 
while  I  live." 

At  this  time  Mr.  Baker  was  thought  to  be  recover- 
ing; but,  his  disease  returning,  he  requested  earnestly 
to  have  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  unto  him. 
''This,"  says  the  clergyman  who  gives  the  account, 
''was  to  me  a  startling  request.  I  was  fearful  that  he 
had  wrong  views  of  the  nature  of  this  ordinance,  and, 
like  many  others,  might  think  through  its  influence 
to  obtain  the  pardon  of  sin.     Some  questions  were  pro- 


PUBLIC    PROFESSION    OF    FAITH.  121 

i)Osed  to  him,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  out  his  views 
of  this  institution.  Immediately  he  drew  my  head 
down  and  whispered  in  my  ear,  as  he  was  unable  to 
speak  aloud  without  much  effort  and  pain.  He  said 
that  he  regarded  the  Lord's  Supper  simply  as  a  symbol 
of  the  Saviour's  sufferings :  he  did  not  think  there  was 
any  efficacy  in  it  to  save  from  sin,  and  he  did  not 
expect  by  it  to  receive  forgiveness  of  his  sins,  for  he 
trusted  only  in  the  blood  of  Christ  for  salvation.  But 
his  reasons  for  desiring  to  receive  this  ordinance  were 
as  follows : — 

'^  For  twenty  years  he  had  denied  publicly  that 
there  ever  was  such  a  being  as  Jesus  Christ.  Had  he 
lived,  he  designed  to  have  made  a  public  profession  of 
his  faith  in  Him,  and  thus  undo,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
evil  he  had  done.  But  now  he  was  about  to  die  with- 
out the  privilege  of  making  a  public  profession  of  reli- 
gion. He  therefore  desired  to  make  as  public  a  mani- 
festation of  his  faith  in  Christ  as  he  could  in  his  situa- 
tion, and  once  before  he  died,  if  it  could  consistently  be 
done,  to  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper." 

We  might  illustrate  the  same  truth  from  the  history 
of  Augustine  himself.  Never  was  man  more  hopelessly 
cut  off  from  salvation  by  pride,  by  unbelief,  by  errors 
in  doctrine,  by  vain  philosophy,  by  carnal  lusts,  than  was 
the  young  philosopher  and  libertine  of  Carthage.  Oh, 
how  he  grieved  and  afflicted  the  heart  of  that  poor,  be- 
reaved, widowed,  but  believing  mother,  Monica,  who 
yearned  over  him  as  her  only  child !  and  oh,  how  dread- 
ful his  impiety,  which  led  him  to  fly  from  her  to  Kome ! 
and  how  heavenly  her  hope,  which  led  her  to  fly  after 
him,  that  she  might  bring  him  to  Christ ! 

11 


122  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

At  length,  through  persevering  prayer  and  the  clear 
exhibitions  of  sacred  truth,  accompanied  by  the  power 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  this  man  of  pride,  of  sensuality, 
of  unhallowed  ambition  and  supreme  selfishness  was 
brought  low  in  the  dust  of  humiliation  before  God, 
and,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus,  was  led  to  count  all  things 
but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ. 
He  now  felt  the  absolute  necessity,  the  infinite  value, 
of  such  a  Saviour.  He  was  filled  with  peace  in  believ- 
ing; and,  in  the  language  of  the  Psalmist,  he  delighted 
to  pour  forth  thanksgivings  to  Him  who  had  deliverf>d 
him  from  the  dominion  of  sin.  In  the  fulness  of  his 
joy,  he  exclaimed,  ''  0  Lord,  I  am  thy  servant,  I  am 
thy  servant,  and  the  son  of  thine  handmaid :  thou  hast 
loosed  my  bonds.  0  Lord,  who  is  like  unto  thee?  I  will 
offer  to  thee  the  sacrifice  of  praise  continually !" 

Having  been  admitted  into  the  church,  he  resolved 
to  return  at  once,  with  his  mother,  to  Africa,  that  the 
spectators  of  his  former  blindness,  his  follies,  wicked- 
ness and  protracted  impenitence,  might  witness  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  conversion  and  the  omnipotent  power  of 
divine  truth  and  grace,  and  that  he  might  proclaim 
to  his  own  countrymen  that  Eedeemer  whom  he  had 
so  ungratefully  dishonoured.  Oh,  if  we  had  many 
Monicas  we  would  still  have  many  Augustines,  and 
our  sons  and  our  daughters  would  not  only  believe  on 
Christ,  but  rejoice  to  bear  any  and  every  cross  for  love 
to  his  name. 

Do  you,  then,  my  dear  reader,  believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ?  Do  yoi;  believe  that  he  is  able  and  will- 
ing to  save  you, — just  as  you  are  and  just  now, — • 
with    your   cold,   unfeeling,  hard,  guilty   and    sinful 


rUBLIC    PEOFESSION   OF    FAITH.  123 

heart  ?  And  do  you  cast  yourself  unreservedly  on  his 
mercy  and  trust  in  him  alone  for  salvation?  Then 
come  thou  and  do  likewise.  Confess  Christ  with 
YOUR  MOUTH.  Profess  him  before  the  church  and  the 
world;  and  observe  and  do,  in  remembrance  of  his 
divinity,  his  grace  and  mercy,  and  his  all-atoning  blood 
and  righteousness,  what  he  has  commanded.  Having 
given  your  own  heart  to  the  Lord,  give  yourself  also 
to  his  church  and  cause,  according  to  the  will  of  God ; 
and,  as  a  pledge  of  your  love  and  devotion,  come  to  the 

TABLE  OF  THE  LORD. 

This  is  what  you  ought  to  render  unto  the  Lord  for 
all  his  mercies: — ''take  the  cup  of  salvation  into  your 
own  hands,  and  pay  unto  him  your  vows  now,  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation."  This  is  the  plain  and 
imperative  duty  of  all  who  have  the  opportunity  of 
doing  it;  and  its  neglect  can  admit  of  no  excuse  which 
would  not  equally  excuse  you  for  not  believing  on 
Christ  with  the  heart.  What  fits  you,  fellow-sinner,  to 
come  to  Christ  himself  and  to  hope  and  trust  in  him, 
fits  you  to  come  to  Christ's  table ;  and,  as  it  regards  both, 

"The  only  fitness  he  requireth 
Is,  to  feel  your  need  of  him." 

There  is,  and  can  be,  no  other  fitness  or  worthiness  in 
any  man,  since  we  are  all  guilty,  and  since  there  is  no 
power  in  any  man  to  make  himself  either  fitter  or  bet- 
ter, seeing  that  it  was  "  because  we  are  without  strength 
Christ  died  for  the  ungodly." 

Blessed  be  Q-od,  fellow-sinner,  all  grace  is  treasured 
up  in  Christ, — grace  to  pardon,  grace  to  pacify,  grace  to 
purify,  grace  to  edify,  grace  to  sanctify  and  grace  to 


124  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

triumpli  by.  To  believe  in  Christ  is  to  believe,  there- 
fore, that  in  Him  is  all  that  we  need,  and  to  draw  liv- 
ing water  out  of  this  well  of  salvation,  by  the  help 
of  those  means  Christ  himself  has  given  us,  not  that 
we  may  trust  in  them,  but  that  we  may  be  led  by  them 
to  trust  wholly  and  solely  in  Him  to  whom  they  refer  and 
on  whom  they  depend  for  all  their  efficacy.  Now, 
prayer  is  one  of  these  means;  confession  of  our  sins, 
humiliation  on  account  of  them  and  turning  away  from 
them  is  another;  reading  the  Scriptures  is  another; 
attendance  on  the  public  services  of  religion-is  another ; 
converse  with  Christians  is  another;  charity,  liberality 
and  activity  in  well-doing  is  another;  public  profession 
is  another ;  and  participation  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  one 
of  the  most  precious  and  important  of  these  means.  To 
return  to  the  figure  of  Christ  as  the  only  true  well  of 
salvation.  The  well  is  deep,  and  its  riches  so  ''un- 
searchable and  past  our  finding  out,"  that  it  is  only  by 
these  means  of  grace  we  can  let  down  our  faith  and  draw 
forth  the  living,  saving  and  purifying  grace. 

Every  one,  therefore,  who  is  ''living,"  as  it  regards 
his  hopes  of  salvation,  "by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God," 
and  is  daily  looking  to  Him,  by  humble  faith  and 
prayerful  reliance,  for  "  grace  and  mercy  according  to 
his  need,"  is  prepared  to  come  worthily  though  unworthy 
to  the  Lord's  table.  If,  then,  poor  doubting  soul,  thou 
hast  laid  hold  of  Christ,  thou  hast  all  that  God  can  give 
thee  and  all  that  God  will  require  of  thee.  God  will  have 
nothing  else,  and  asks  for  nothing  else.  Nothing  will 
do  thee  good,  or  satisfy  conscience,  or  take  away  sin, 
bat  Christ,  who  "found  a  ransom,"  (Jobxxxiii.24;)  "in 
whom  God  is  well  pleased,"  (Matt.iii.  17;)  and  in  whom 


PUBLIC    PROFESSION   OF    FAITH.  125 

God  is  reconciling  sinners  unto  himself.  God  does  all 
you  want  and  will  bestow  all  you  need,  as  a  guilty  and 
hopeless  sinner,  for  Christ's  sake.  ''He  give th  grace 
and  glory,  and  withholdeth  no  good  thing"  from  them 
that  believe  ^n  Christ.  They  have  peace  with  God. 
They  hav&  access  to  God.  They  rejoice  in  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God.  They  joy  also  in  God.  He  is  their 
merciful  Father,  and  they  are  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  Lord  Almighty.  In  themselves  they  deserve 
rejection,  wrath  and  hell.  In  Christ  they  are  made 
worthy  of  acceptance,  pardon  and  life ;  and  to  as  many 
as  do  really  believe  on  him  Christ  as  really  gives 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God.  They  are  adopted 
into  God's  family.  They  ''are  no  longer  strangers  and 
foreigners,  but  fellow-citizens  of  the  saints,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  household  of  God,"  and  are  freely  welcome 
to  a  hearty  enjoyment  of  all  the  privileges,  promises 
and  ordinances  of  this  heavenly  family. 

I  to  that  boundless  Love  would  ever  turn, 

From  it,  as  from  some  hidden  urn, 
Drawing  the  peaceful  thoughts  of  Charity, 

And  bid  the  world  good-by 
For  that  calm  grove  wherein  our  Mother  dwells, 

Beside  those  living  wells, 
Wherein  the  face  of  heaven  is  ever  clear 

And  looks  out  from  the  azure  deeps 
Soothing  to  love  our  fear, 

And  on  whose  tranquil  margin  sleeps 
Some  sacred,  hoary  pile,  which  on  their  breast 

Is  mirror'd  in  calm  rest. 
So  may  I  turn  from  turbid  rills 

Which  fever'd  pleasure  fills. 
And  from  pale  Superstition's  brood, 

That  dwell  in  solitude. 
11* 


126  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

Oh,  take  me,  tranquil  Mother,  'neath  thy  wing, 
That  I  may  dare  look  out  on  Death's  dread  sea, 
While  in  calm  watchfulness  I  learn  of  thee 
And  to  thy  hopes  of  mercy  cling. 

Do  you,  then,  my  dear  reader,  say  that  you  can  be- 
lieve in  Christ,  and  be  a  Christian,  as  well  without  a  pro- 
fession and  without  the  sacrament  as  with  them  ?  Then 
you  despise  God,  who  has  so  positively  ordered  other- 
wise, reject  his  invitation  to  his  supper  and  rather 
starve  than  come,  and  "the  truth  in  love"  cannot  be  in 
you.  Your  faith  is  surely  dead.  Your  pretended  love 
is  cold  as  indifference  itself.  The  love  of  Christ  con- 
strains you  not.  You  have  no  regard  for  the  honour 
of  God,  the  glory  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
Shame,  or  fear,  or  unbelief,  rules  in  your  heart.  You  are 
openly  disobeying  God,  and  refusing  that  acquiescence 
which  God  requires, — which  the  interests  of  religion 
demand, — which  is  essential  to  the  very  existence  of 
the  church, — which  love  to  Christ  imperiously  requires 
— and  which  your  own  soul  needs. 

Do  you  say  it  is  a  very  solemn  engagement,  and  you 
shrink  from  committing  yourself  for  life  ?  Ah !  my  dear 
friend,  does  this  prevent  you,  would  it  prevent  you,  from 
entering  into  any  civil  or  social  relationship,  or  into 
the  marriage  union,  although  it  is  made  with  a  weak 
and  fallible  mortal,  and  although  it  involves  all  your  in- 
terests for  body  and  mind  through  every  period  of  life? 
And  will  you  tell  God  that  you  can  trust  ^' a  worm  of  the 
dust,"  but  that  you  are  afraid  to  trust  Him  who  is  the 
chief  among  ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely, — Him 
who  is  as  willing  as  he  is  able  to  save  to  the  -uttermost 
all  that  trust  in  him, — Him  who  is  as  willing  to  carry  on 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  127 

and  to  perfect,  as  he  is  to  begin,  the  work  of  grace  in 
their  hearts — and  who  is  able  to  keep  that  soul  which  is 
committed  unto  him  until  the  day  of  redemption  ? 

Do  you  say  that  you  are  afraid  you  may  hereafter 
abandon  or  disgrace  your  profession?  Verily,  if  such 
is  thy  spirit,  thy  '^  heart  is  not  right."  You  still  dis- 
trust God,  disbelieve  in  Christ  and  question  the  sin- 
cerity and  ability  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  You  still  cleave 
infatuatedly  to  the  world  and  expose  yourself  to  future 
sin  and  future  worldliness.  You  are  ''striving  to 
serve  two  masters,  God  and  mammon," — the  world  and 
Christ.  You  are  endeavouring  to  keep  your  feet  on 
the  two  different  vessels  of  the  world  and  the  church, 
and  you  will  inevitably  fall  between  them  into  the  gulf 
beneath.  •  Or,  if  this  is  too  severe  and  harsh  a  judgment 
of  your  case,  and  you  are  restrained  by  what  you  be- 
lieve sincere  and  proper  feelings,  then  you  are  most 
certainly  deceived.  You  are  looking  to  yourself  for 
strength  to  persevere,  and  not  to  Christ,  who  loves  to 
the  end  those  that  are  his  own.  You  forget  that  "  he 
is  faithful  who  has  promised,  and  cannot  deny  himself," 
and  that  he  will  ''  keep  by  his  power,  through  faith, 
unto  salvation,"  all  who  put  their  trust  in  him.  You 
forget  that  ''neither  life,  nor  death,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  any  thing  else,  [no  possible 
contingency,]  ca.n  separate  from  the  love  of  God 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  Either,  there- 
fore, you  do  not  sincerely  wish  and  desire  to  be  and  to 
live  as  a  Christian,  or  you  are  allowing  yourself  to  be 
led  away  by  the  old  but  still  common  error  of  "  going 
about  to  establish  some  righteousness  of  your  own, 
rather  than  submit  and  trust  altogether  to  the  right- 


{28  THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

eousness  of  God," — of  trying  to  save  yourself  rather  than 
;o  be  saved.  Or  have  you  hitherto  proudly  opposed  re- 
igion  and  reviled  its  weak  and  halting  professors,  and  are 
you  now  ashamed  to  retract  your  avowals,  to  recant  your 
'^ungodly  speeches,"  to  identify  yourself  with  these  in- 
consistent and  halting  professors,  and  to  humble  yourself 
to  apply  at  the  door  of  the  church  for  admission  to  it  ? 
Most  sure  it  is  that  'Hhe  pride  of  life"  still  reigns 
within  you;  that  you  are  ashamed  of  Jesus;  that  you 
cannot  brook  the  contumely  of  his  cross ;  and  that  you 
are  therefore  '4n  the  gall  of  bitterness  and  the  bonds 
of  iniquity," — since  you  prefer  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season  rather  than  suffer  afflictions  with  the  people  of 
God,  and  the  honour  that  cometh  from  man  to  that 
honour  which  cometh  from  God. 

'^  I  often  wished  to  be  a  Christian,"  said  a  young  man, 
''and  thought  I  was  ready  to  take  my  stand  upon  the 
Lord's  side.  Some  of  my  friends  would  say  to  me, 
'You  must  come  out  and  be  decided  to  be  a  Christian.' 
I  would  say,  'I  would  if  I  only  knew  I  should  hold  out.' 
I  was  afraid  that  I  should  make  shipwreck  of  myself 
and  my  faith.  I  was  often  urged  to  take  the  stand  to 
be  a  Christian,  and  I  would  always  fall  back  upon  this 
lack  of  confidence.  I  feared  I  would  disgrace  my  pro- 
fession :  so  I  went  on  making  no  progress. 

''One  day  I  stood  by  the  sick-bed  of  a  dying  woman, 
not  then  absolutely  dying,  but  hastening  out  of  the 
world  with  a  rapid  consumption.  She  seemed  more 
like  an  angel  than  such  a  mortal  as  I  was.  She  was 
ripe  for  transplanting  into  the  paradise  above.  She 
urged  me  as  I  had  been  urged  before.  I  replied,  as  I  had 
replied  before,  that  '  I  would  come  out  and  be  on  the 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  129 

Lord's  side  if  I  only  tliouglit  I  would  live  a  consistent 
Christian  life,  but  I  was  afraid  I  should  fall  back. 
'Oh,'  said  she,  'you  are  afraid  to  trust  the  Lord,  are 
you  ?'  She  looked  on  me  with  such  a  look  of  gentle  pity 
and  reproof!  Those  few  words  were  like  '  apples  of  gold 
in  pictures  of  silver.'  They  went  to  my  heart  at  once, 
and  opened  my  eyes  to  my  real  difficulty.  I  was  en- 
deavouring to  work  out  my  own  salvation  all  alone;  I 
had  not  provided  for  any  help  from  Jesus.  I  cast  at 
once  all  my  burden  on  Him ;  I  trusted  at  once  and  for- 
ever in  Him  to  keep  me  through  faith  unto  salvation. 

"Now,"  he  continued,  ''if  there  be  anyone  that  feels 
as  I  have  felt,  do  as  I  did.  Eoll  all  the  care  of  the  sal- 
vation of  your  soul  over  on  Him  who  is  able  to  save  to 
the  uttermost.  'Come  unto  me,'  he  says,  'and  you 
shall,  find  rest  to  your  souls.'" 

I  was  a  wandering  sheep ; 

I  did  not  love  the  fold ; 
I  did  not  love  my  Shepherd's  voice; 

I  would  not  be  controll'd. 

1  was  a  wayward  child ; 

I  did  not  love  my  home ; 
I  did  not  love  my  Father's  voice ; 

I  loved  afar  to  roam.  * 

The  Shepherd  sought  his  sheep  ; 

The  Father  sought  his  child: 
They  follow'd  me  o'er  vale  and  hill. 

O'er  desert,  waste  and  wild. 

They  found  me  nigh  to  death, 

Famish' d  and  faint  and  lone; 
They  bound  me  with  the  bands  of  love, 

They  saved  the  wandering  one. 


130  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

They  wash'd  my  filth  away, 

They  made  me  clean  and  fair, 
They  brought  me  to  my  home  in  peace, 

The  long-sought  wanderer! 

Jesus  my  Shepherd  is  : 

'Twas  he  that  loved  py  soul, 
'Twas  he  that  wash'd  me  in  his  blood, 

'Twas  he  that  made  me  whole. 

'Twas  he  that  sought  the  lost. 

That  found  the  wandering  sheep; 
'Twas  he  that  brought  me  to  the  fold ; 

'Tis  he  that  still  doth  keep. 

I  was  a  wandering  sheep, 

I  would  not  be  controU'd; 
But  now  I  love  the  Shepherd's  voice, 

I  love,  I  love  the  fold ! 

I  was  a  wayward  child ; 

I  once  preferr'd  to  roam ;  ♦ 

But  now  I  love  my  Father's  voice, 

I  love,  I  love  his  home ! 

In  connection  with  the  above  beautiful  hymn  of 
Bonar,  and  as  further  illustrative  of  our  position,  I 
would  mention  the  following  case  of  a  young  lady  in  a 
female  senftnary. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  young  ladies  to  meet  for  a 
few  moments  each  evening,  in  their  several  recitation- 
rooms,  for  prayer  and  other  devotional  exercises.  One 
evening,  near  the  close  of  the  term,  after  one  of  these 
praying-circles  had  assembled,  the   door  opened,,  and 

Helen  B ,  who  had  resisted  all  efforts  to  persuade 

her  to  come  to  Jesus,  entered.  Her  eyes  were  down- 
cast, and  her  face  was  calm  and  very  pale.     There  waa 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  131 

BometHing  in  her  look  wliicli  told  of  an  inward  struggle. 
She  took  her  seat  silently,  and  the  exercises  of  the 
meeting  proceeded.  A  few  lines  were  sung,  two  or 
three  short  prayers  were  offered,  and  then,  as  was  their 
custom,  each  repeated  a  few  verses  of  some  favourite 
hymn.  One  followed  another  in  succession,  until  it 
came  the  turn  of  the  new-comer.  There  was  a  pause, 
and  a  perfect  silence ;  and  then,  without  lifting  her  eyes 
from  the  floor,  she  commenced, — 

"I  was  a  wandering  sheep  ; 
I  did  not  love  the  fold." 

Her  voice  was  low  but  distinct,  and  every  word,  as  she 
uttered  it,  thrilled  to  the  hearts  of  the  listeners.  She 
repeated  one  stanza  after  another,  and  not  an  eye  save 
her  own  was  dry,  as,  with  sweet  emphasis,  she  pro- 
nounced the  last  lines : — 

"No  more  a  wayward  child, 
I  seek  no  more  to  roam : 
I  love  my  heavenly  Father's  voice ; 
I  love,  I  love  his  home !" 

That  simple  hymn  told  all.  The  wandering  sheep,  the 
proud  and  wayward  child,  had  returned;  and  there 
was  joy  that  night  among  the  angels  in  heaven,  and 
among  Christians  on  earth,  over  one  more  repenting 
sinner. 

Do  you  say  you  can  discharge  all  the  duties  of  a. 
Christian  and  yet  remain  as  you  are?  You  contradict 
Christ,  who  says,  '^  If  any  man  will  be  my  disciple,  let 
him  take  up  his  cross,  and  deny  himself,  and  follow  me 
— Go  into  my  vineyard  and  work;"  and  you  contradict 


132  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

the  Apostle  Paul,  who  says  that  ^^  this  is  the  word  of 
faith  which  is  preached  to  sinners, — that  if  thou  shalt 
confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  be- 
lieve on  him  in  thine  heart,  thou  shalt  be  saved;"  and 
it  is  thus  manifest  that  '^you  have  neither  part  nor  lot 
in  the  matter." 

Do  you  say  the  Lord's  Supper  is  only  an  outward 
ordinance,  and  not  in  itself  necessary  to  salvation?  I 
answer,  first,  that,  were  it  altogether  such,  nevertheless 
love  and  gratitude  would  say,  '^Inasmuch  as  my  gra- 
cious Kedeemer  has  made  this  observance  a  mark  and 
evidence  of  love,  I  will  observe  it  as  scrupulously  as 
if  it  were,  in  its  own  nature,  essential  to  my  spiritual 
welfare."  But  I  answer,  secondly,  that  this  ordi- 
nance is  not  wholly  outward,  but  is  a  seal  of  the 
covenant,  a  pledge  of  mercy,  a  token  of  love,  a  means 
of  strengthening  our  hearts,  and  a  season  of  special 
presence,  communion  and  merciful  dispensation  on  the 
part  of  Christ  and  of  the  blessed  Comforter.  It  is  the 
Lord's  Supper;  and  as  oft  as  we  eat  this  bread  and 
drink  this  wine,  he  is  with  us,  always,  unto  the  end  of 
the  world. 

Do  you  say,  '^  I  am  not  fit  yet  to  go  to  the  Lord's  table"  ? 
'^You  know  not  what  spirit  you  are  of."  Thou  art 
sayiing,  ''  I  will  become  rich,  and  increase  in  goods,  so 
as  to  have  need  of  nothing,"  and  then  I  will  come;  and 
knowest  not  that  thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable, 
and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked.  ''I  counsel  thee, 
therefore,"  says  Christ,  ^Ho  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the 
fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich;  and  white  raiment,  that 
thou  mayest  be  clothed,  that  the  shame  of  thy  naked- 
ness  do   not   appear."     Not   only  those  who   remain 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  133 

*' without"  are  excluded  from  the  marriage-feast, — 
from  heaven — but  he  also  who  comes  there  without  the 
'Svedding  garment,"  and  in  his  own  dress,  and  who  is 
not  willing  to  sit  down  covered  with  the  robe  of  Christ's 
righteousness  received  as  a  gift  at  Christ's  hands.  To 
say  you  are  not  fit  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table,  is  then, 
either,  to  say  that  you  are  sinful, — which  is  the  very 
reason  why  Christ  became  your  Saviour  and  has  pro- 
vided this  means  of  grace;  or  it  is  to  say  that  you  do 
not  wish  to  come  there  as  a  sinner,  saved  and  sanctified 
altogether  by  grace, — and  in  this  sense  it  is  to  trust  for 
fitness  to  your  own  righteousness,  to  your  own  duties  and 
efi'orts  and  attainments, — which  is  a  rejection  of  Christ. 
In  so  saying,  therefore,  you  forget  that  you  are  to  come 
to  Christ's  table,  filled  with  a  sense  of  your  unworthi- 
ness  and  building  all  your  hope  and  confidence  on  the 
love  and  grace  of  Cod  in  Christ,  that  you  may  there 
find  strong  consolation  in  reposing  on  Christ's  infinite 
righteousness  and  merits,  see  all  your  guilt  and  defile- 
ment and  sin  washed  away  in  the  fountain  of  Christ's 
blood,  and  there  renounce  self,  trample  on  all  self- 
righteous  hopes  and  dependence,  and,  '^  being  justified 
by  faith,  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."     To  come  as  unworthy  is  to  come  worthily. 

But  you  want. more  faith  in  order  to  go  to  the  table 
of  the  Lord?  And  where,  dear  reader,  are  you  to  get 
this  faith  but  by  coming  to  Him  who  is  ^Hhe  author 
and  finisher  of  our  faith,"  and  who  has  instituted 
this  ordinance  for  the  very  purpose  of  increasing,  by 
means  of  it,  faith  and  peace  and  humility  and  love 
and  joy  to  poor  and  needy  souls?  Come,  then,  to  the 
Lord's  table,  because  the  Lord  of  the  table  invites  you 

12 


134         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

there,  and  because  lie  says,  ''Ho,  every  one  that 
thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters ;  yea,  come,  buy  wine 
and  milk  without  money  and  without  price."  Kemem- 
ber  thy  sins  and  Christ's  pardonings;  thy  ill-deserts 
and  Christ's  merits;  thy  weakness  and  Christ's 
strength;  thy  pride,  Christ's  humility;  thy  many  in- 
firmities, Christ's  restorings;  thy  guilt,  Christ's  con- 
stant applications  of  his  blood;  thy  failings,  Christ's 
assistance;  thy  wants,  Christ's  fulness;  thy  tempta- 
tions, Christ's  tenderness;  thy  vileness,  Christ's  right- 
eousness. Blessed  soul,  whom  Christ  shall  thus  find 
among  the  guests  at  his  table,  not  having  on  his  own 
righteousness,  but  having  his  robes  washed  and  made 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb ! 

At  thy  table,  blessed  Lord,  thou  hast  indeed  ful- 
filled thine  own  injunctions:  thou  hast  not  bidden  the 
rich,  to  receive  from  them  in  return ;  thou  hast  called 
the  poor,  who  can  make  thee  no  recompense,  but  as  re- 
deemed shall  be  themselves  thy  recompense, — the  joy 
that  is  set  before  thee.  And  thy  bread  and  wine  are 
like  thy  own  precious  blood, — not  intended  for  the 
righteous,  nor  for  the  just  made  perfect;  they  are  for 
sinners, — for  repenting  sinners,  as  such,  who  are  not 
worthy  so  much  as  to  gather  up  the  crumbs  under  thy 
table,  whose  sins  are  grievous,  whose  burden  is  into- 
lerable. 

Are  any  such  afraid  to  come  ?  Then  I  can  only  say, 
I  find  no  other  name,  or  title,  or  description,  under 
which  they  are  invited.  I  cannot  fin(f  it  written.  Come, 
ye  washed,  ye  cleansed,  ye  sanctified;  come  hither,  ye 
strong,  ye  assured.     It  is,  ''Come  unto  me,  all  ye,"  &c. 


PUBLIC  PKOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  135 

&Q.  ^'Let  him  that  is  athirst  come,"  &c.  &c.  Willing- 
ness and  need. 

The  lost, — it  is  the  name  of  them  that  Jesus  came 
to  save.  Heady  to  perish, — it  is  the  only  readiness  that 
Jesus  speaks  of.  Our  misery  was  the  Saviour's  induce- 
ment when  he  died,  and  our  salvation  his  only  desired 
reward.  Sense  of  the  one  and  consent  to  the  other,  a 
truly  penitent  heart  and  living  faith,  are  all  the  title 
now  that  he  acknowledges.  When  the  spirit  is  willing, 
— or  not  willing,  but  longing  to  be  made  so, — when  the 
heart  is  broken,  and  can  find  no  peace, — nay,  when  the 
heart  is  stout,  but  desires  to  be  broken, — we  would  repeat 
our  words,  "Come  ye  to  the  supper." 

And  do  you  still  doubt  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith, 
and  whether  ye  really  repent  and  believe  the  gospel, 
while  nevertheless  you  ardently  wish  to  do  so,  and 
lament  your  coldness  and  unbelieving  fears  ?  Listen  to 
what  is  said  in  a  catechism  whose  teaching  on  this 
point  is  fully  sustained  by  Scripture  and  experience 
and  by  all  evangelical  Christians. 

"May  one  who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ,  or  of 
his  due  preparation,  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper?  One 
who  doubteth  of  his  being  in  Christ,  or  of  his  due  pre- 
paration to  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  may 
have  true  interest  in  Christ,  though  he  be  not  yet 
assured  thereof, — and  in  God's  account  hath  it,  if  he  be 
duly  affected  with  the  apprehension  of  the  want  of  it, 
and  unfeignedly  desires  to  be  found  in  Christ  and  to 
depart  from  iniquity;  in  which  case  (because  promises 
are  made,  and  this  sacrament  is  appointed,  for  the  relief 
even  of  weak  and  doubting  Christians)  he  is  to  bewail 
his  unbelief,  and  labour  to  have  his  doubts  resolved ; 


136  THE  WELL  IN   THE  VALLEY. 

and,  so  doing,  he  may  and  ought  to  come  to  the  Lord's 
Supper,  that  he  may  be  further  strengthened."* 

Do  you  then  admit  that  you  have  now  very  different 
views  of  God,  yourself,  life,  death  and  eternity  from  what 
you  once  had,  and  that  it  is  now  the  abiding,  predomina- 
ting desire  of  your  heart  to  be  a  true,  living,  loving  and  de- 
voted Christian,  sanctified  and  made  holy  by  the  power  of 
Christ  and  his  Holy  Spirit?  Why,  then,  are  you  afraid 
to  commit  yourself  to  an  open  profession,  or  even  to 
hope  that  you  are  a  Christian,  or  to  hope  in  Christ's 
word?  Is  not  this  unbelief?  Are  not  these  evidences 
and  proofs  that  ''he  who  hath  wrought  them  for  the 
selfsame  thing  is  God,"  and  that  you  therefore  belong 
to  God?  Are  not  these  manifestations  of  divine  love, 
fruits  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  your  experience,  decided 
testimonies  of  supernatural  religion  in  your  soul?  And 
yet  you  have  never  owned  it, — nay,  hang  ])ack  and 
refuse  to  admit  the  fact ;  fear  it  is  not  for  you,  and 
reject  the  comforts  that  seem  poured  down  into  your 
soul.  A  thousand  ifs  and  huts  and  scruples  are  offered 
to  the  kindest  inquiries  and  most  affectionate  expostu- 
lations that  can  be  presented  to  you,  either  in  public  or 
in  private.  There  has  been  grace  enough  to  convince 
you  of  sin,  to  show  you  your  ruin  and  to  make  you 
willing  to  accept  of  a  precious  Saviour ;  and  yet  unbe- 
lief has  refused  the  inference,  and  unbelief  has  rejected 
the  comforts  which  really  belong  to  every  awakened 

*  Isa.  i.  10 ;  1  John  v.  13 ;  Ps.  Ixxxviii. ;  Ps.  Ixxvii.  1-12 ;  Jonah  ii.  4 ; 
Isa.  liv.  7-10 ;  Matt.  v.  3, 4 ;  Ps.  xxxi.  22 ;  Ps.  Ixxiii.  13, 22, 23 ;  Phil.  iii. 
8,9;  Ps.  X.  17;  Ps.  xlii.  1,2,5,11;  2Tim.ii.  19;  Isa.  i.  10;  Ps.  Ixvi.  18- 
20;  Isa. xl.  11,29,31;  Matt. xi.  28;  Matt.xii.  20;  Matt.  xxvi.  28;  Mark 
ix.  24;  Acts  ii.  37;  Acts  xvi.  30;  Rom.  iv.  11;  1  Cor.  xi.  28. 


PUBLIC    PROFESSION   O'F   FAITH.  137 

sinner.  And  when  your  character  has  been  portrayed, 
and  your  experience  described,  and  your  state  before 
God  so  compared  with  Scripture  that  your  judgment, 
your  mind,  your  knowledge,  have  been  obliged  to  admit, 
that  it  is  you,  and  the  preacher  has  announced  them  to  be 
the  description  of  a  Christian,  you  have  said,  after  all, 
''Not  for  me."  You  reject  the  comforts  of  the  glad 
tidings  of  great  joy.  Now,  let  me  tell  you,  this  is  ''pro- 
voking God  to  jealousy."  Oh,  is  it  true  that  often 
upon  your  knees  you  have  deplored  your  wretchedness 
before  God,  cried  out  for  mercy,  and  sought  salvation 
at  his  hand,  often  at  his  house,  and  in  his  word,  felt 
the  heaven-recorded  evidences  of  grace  in  the  heart  to  be 
— feeble  though  it  be  as  of  a  babe  in  Christ — to  be  your 
own,  and  yet  still  say,  after  all,  "  I  doubt  whether  it  is  for 
me" ?  Oh !  fellow-sinner,  you  are  "provoking  the  Lord 
to  jealousy."  Wonder  not,  then,  if  he  suspends  the 
comforts  of  the  gospel.  Wonder  not  if  he  sends  still 
darker  things  in  personal  experience.  "Oh,  but,"  say 
you,  "I  am  afraid  of  presumption."  "Oh,  but,"  say 
you,  "I  am  afraid  lest,  after  all,  it  should  not  belong  to 
me, — lest,  after  all,  I  should  turn  out  a  hypocrite,  deceiv- 
ing myself,  and  perish  in  my  own  gainsaying."  Shall 
I  tell  you,  beloved,  what  would  be  the  sure  and 
solid  ground  upon  which  you  might  dismiss  such 
scruples,  and  upon  which  you  might  draw  the  infer- 
ences which  should  afford  peace  and  comfort  to  the 
mind  of  a  child  of  God?  If  thou  hast  seen  thyself,  (0 
Holy  Ghost,  I  pray  thee,  apply  this,) — if  thou  hast 
seen  thyself  a  guilty  sinner,  deserving  hell,  and  hast 
discovered  that  all  thou  dost  want  is  in  Christ,  and  art 
really  willing  to  accept  all  as  the  gift  of  God,  and  to 

12* 


138  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

submit  your  whole  body,  soul  and  spirit  tc  God  in 
Christ,  for  life  and  for  death,  for  time  and  for  eternity, 
for  sanctification  as  well  as  for  justification,  to  live  in 
him  and  for  him  and  in  entire  dependence  on  him, 
THEN  THOU  AET  A  CHRISTIAN,  and  the  comforts  of  the 
gospel  are  thine,  the  witnessings  of  the  Spirit  are  thine, 
the  ordinances,  and  especially  the  Supper  of  the  Lord, 
are  thine,  and  in  rejecting  them  thou  art  refusing  to  be 
comforted,  and  '' provoking  the  Lord  to  jealousy." 

Surely,  then,  dear  readers,  it  is  your  duty  to  obey 
Christ's  command,  to  confess  him,  to  become  his  dis- 
ciples and  follow  the  Lord  fully  and  with  your  whole 
heart ;  and  it  is  your  duty  to  do  this  in  the  proper  way, 
by  true  repentance,  unfeigned  faith  and  implicit  confi- 
dence. Your  difficulties  are  painfully  oppressive  and 
discouraging,  but  they  are  occasioned  by  unbelief  and 
disobedience,  which  are  sinful.  I  deeply  sympathize 
with  and  pity  you,  but  I  cannot  flatter  you.  You 
refuse  to  obey  plain  commands  and  discharge  positive 
duty.  You  are  afraid  to  do  wrong  by  obeying  and 
trusting  Christ,  and  yet  not  afraid  to  neglect  known 
duty  and  a  great  salvation  and  a  gracious  Saviour. 
You  are  afraid  of  condemnation  for  doing  what  Christ 
commands,  and  yet  not  afraid  to  live  while  "already  con- 
demned" and  "reprobate,"  that  is,  disapproved.  There 
is,  therefore,  but  one  course  for  you  to  pursue  with 
safety.  Obedience,  and  that  alone,  can  be  acceptable 
to  Cod, — "the  obedience  of  faith"  and  the  obedience  of 
duty.  To  withhold  either  is  sin.  To  profess  to  do 
either  with  an  impenitent  heart  is  sin.  You  must 
repent,  believe  and  obey,  or  perish.      You  must  do 

ALL. 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  139 

Cling  to  the  Crucified ! 

His  death  is  life  to  thee, — 

Life  for  eternity. 

His  pains  thy  pardon  seal ; 

His  stripes  thy  bruises  heal ; 

His  cross  proclaims  thy  peace, 

Bids  every  sorrow  cease. 

His  blood  is  all  to  thee: 
It  purges  thee  from  sin ; 

It  sets  thy  spirit  free  ; 

It  keeps  thy  conscience  clean. 
Cling  to  the  Crucified ! 

Cling  to  the  Crucified  ! 

His  is  a  heart  of  love, 

Full  as  God's  heart  above : 

Its  depths  of  sympathy 

Are  all  awake  for  thee ; 

His  countenance  is  light 

Even  in  the  darkest  night. 

That  love  shall  never  change, 
That  light  shall  ne'er  grow  dim : 

Charge  thou  thy  faithless  heart 
To  find  its  all  in  him. 
Cling  to  the  Crucified ! 

Come,  then,  oh,  come  to  Christ.  Come  to  his  church. 
Come  to  his  ordinances.  Come  to  his  table.  "Only 
believe,"  receive  and  embrace  him,  and  he  will  "be 
made,  of  Cod,  to  your  soul  wisdom  and  righteousness 
and  sanctification  and  redemption." 

Do  I  address  one  who  has  been  a  communicant,  but  is 
now  under  a  melancholy  dejection  and  fear  of  coming  to 
the  Lord's  table  ?  Your  case  resembles  that  of  a  young 
lady  of  whom  I  have  seen  an  account;  and  there  are 
many  called  to  pass  through  similar  trials.  She  was  of 
rare  mental  endowment,  of  amiable  and  affectionate  dis- 


140         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

position,  of  devoted  piety,  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
benevolent  operations  of  the  church,  and  very  active  in 
doing  good.  She  was  possessed  of  a  feeble  constitution 
and  of  an  ardent  temperament.  She  was  much  subject 
to  sick  headaches  and  nervous  depressions.  In  her 
seasons  of  depression  she  often  concluded  she  had  been 
deceived,  and  was  really  unconverted.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  when  the  Lord's  Supper  was  about  to  be 
administered  in  the  church  to  which  she  belonged,  she 
came  to  her  minister  in  much  trouble,  when  the  follow- 
ing conversation  occurred: — 

''The  next  Sabbath  is  the  day  of  oui  communion, 
and  I  do  not  know  what  to  do.  I  feel  that  I  cannot 
approach  the  Lord's  table.  My  heart  is  like  a  rock.  And 
yet  I  fear  my  absenting  myself  will  injure  the  cause; 
for  my  acquaintances  in  and  out  of  the  church  are 
numerous.  And  then  my  parents  and  sisters  are  not 
professors ;  and  they  will  not  understand  it.  I  dare  not 
commune;  and  yet  I  fear  my  not  doing  so  will  injure 
the  cause.     "What  shall  I  do?" 

''Well,  if  you  are  an  unconverted  sinner,  I  do  not 
see  what  you  have  to  do  with  the  cause.  It  is  rather  a 
singular  kind  of  sinner  that  is  much  afraid  of  injuring 
the  cause  of  Christ.  Let  the  cause  take  care  of  itself. 
You  cannot  approach  the  Lord's  table,  because  you  can- 
not feel  as  you  think  you  should.  Can  you  feel  right 
when  you  read  the  Bible?" 

"No:  I  cannot." 

"Then  ought  you  to  quit  reading  it?" 

"Can  you  feel  right  when  you  pray?" 

" No,  you  do  not ;  but  do  you  therefore  quit  praying? 
Now,  when  you  absent  yourself  from  the  Lord's  Sup- 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  141 

per  because  you  can't  feel  altogether  as  you  would  de- 
sire to  feel,  and  quit  reading  the  Bible  and  praying  for 
the  same  reason,  the  devil  will  have  gained  the  advan- 
tage he  seeks." 

"I  cannot  give  up  reading  my  Bible  and  praying." 
"  Then  you  had  better  do  your  whole  duty, — assured 
that  sinners  are  not  likely  to  be  much  concerned  about 
the  cause  of  Christ.  The  shortest  way  to  get  rid  of 
your  troubles  is  to  do  your  duty."  She  took  my  advice, 
and  was  soon  cheerful  and  happy  as  ever. 

We  are  told  that  there  was  in  one  of  the  English 
villages  a  poor  fellow  who  was  called  Jack,  and  who 
earned  his  living  by  selling  a  few  pins  and  needles  and 
such  like.  He  was  a  man  who  had  not  all  his  wits. 
He  had  wit  enough  to  be  always  drunk, — which  takes 
no  wit  at  all;  but  he  had  not  enough  wit  to  do  much 
else.  In  going  along  the  street  he  heard  some  poor 
women  singing  this  very  simple  ditty: — 

"  I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all; 
But  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all." 

Jack  thought  that  was  a  pleasant  little  rhyme,  and  so 
he  began  to  say  it  to  himself,  and  it  pleased  God  to 
impress  it  not  only  on  his  memory  but  on  his  conscience. 
The  man  became  a  changed  man.  He  gave  up  his 
swearing  and  his  drunkenness,  and  every  one  could  see 
who  knew  him  that  there  was  somethino;'  croinsr  on  in 
his  heart  more  than  had  been  before.  At  last  John 
felt  he  was  called  of  God,  and  he  came  to  the  minister 
and  asked  that  the  minister  would  admit  him  into  his 
church.  ^^  Friend  John,"  said  the  minister,  ''what  is 
your  experience?"     He  said,  ''I have  not  got  any,  sir." 


142         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

*'Not  got  any  experience,  friend  John?  Then  I  can- 
not receive  you."     Said  he,  ''Sir,  I  know  that 

'  I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all, 
And  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all.'  " 

''Cannot  you  tell  me  any  thing  more?"  "No,  sir: 
that  is  all  I  can  tell  you."  "  I  have  no  objection  to 
receive  you,  John,"  said  the  minister,  "but  you  must 
come  before  the  church,  and  they  will  ask  you  a  great 
many  questions,  and  I  don't  know  what  you  will  do." 
"I don't  know  what  I  will  do  either,"  said  John.  John 
was  brought  into  the  room  where  the  members  of  the 
church  were  sitting,  and  the  minister  said,  "Brother 
John,  you  are  expected  now  to  state  your  experience." 
John  rose,  and  very  modestly  said, — 

*'  I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all, 
And  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all," — 

and  sat  down.  So  an  old  deacon  got  up  and  said,  "I 
say,  friend  John,  this  won't  do.  This  is  not  enough. 
Come,  now;  don't  you  ever  have  any  doubts  and  fears?" 
"No,"  said  John:  "I  cannot  doubt  that 

'I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all," 

for  I  know  that  I  am;  and  I  dare  not  doubt  that 

'  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all,' 

because  he  has  said  it,  and  it  would  be  wrong  to  doubt 
what  he  says."  That  deacon  sat  down;  and  another 
got  up  and  said,  "  Friend  John,  there  are  times  when 
my  evidences  are  very  bright  and  I  feel  confident,  and 
at  other  times  I  lose  my  evidences  and  I  feel  that  I 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION   OF   FAITH.  143 

have  gone  back  in  the  divine  life.  Is  it  so  with  you?" 
''I  cannot  go  back,  sir,"  said  John;  "for 

'  I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all,' 

I  can't  be  much  less  than  that,  sir;  and  I  can't  go  for- 
ward, sir,  for 

'Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all,' 

and  I  don't  want  more  than  that.  It  is  every  thing  to 
me."  "Nay,"  said  the  other,  "but  sometimes  I  feel 
that  I  am  getting  rich  in  grace,  and  at  other  times  I 
lose  my  evidences."  "  I  don't  lose  any  thing,"  said  John ; 
"for 

'I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all,' 

and  none  can  take  any  thing  from  me;  and 

'  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all,' 

SO  that  I  am  never  richer  and  never  poorer."  This 
puzzled  them.  They  could  not  make  it  out.  The  mi- 
nister said  a  few  words  in  John's  favour,  and  it  was 
carried  by  a  large  majority  that  the  brother  should  be 
admitted,  though  he  had  said  but  very  little.  Afterwards 
this  poor  man  was  noted  for  being  one  of  the  happiest 
Christians  in  the  church;  for  no  one  could  make  him 
doubt.     And  as  long  as  he  lived  his  ditty  was, — 

"  I'm  a  poor  sinner,  and  nothing  at  all, 
And  Jesus  Christ  is  my  all  in  all." 

Come  to  the  Lord's  table,  then,  weak  and  trembling 
believer,  that  you  may  lean  on  Christ's  bosom.  "  That," 
says  an  old  divine,  "Is  the  gospel  ordinance  posture  in 
which  we  should  pray,  and  hear,  and  perform  all  duties. 


144  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

ISTotliing  but  lying  in  that  bosom  will  dissolve  hardness 
of  heart  and  make  thee  to  mourn  kindly  for  sin,  and 
cure  a  careless  spirit, — that  gangrene  in  profession. 
That  will  humble  indeed,  and  make  the  soul  cordial  to 
Christ,  and  sin  vile  to  the  soul;  yea,  transform  it  into 
the  glory  of  Christ.  Never  think  thou  art  right  as 
thou  shouldst  be,  a  Christian  of  any  attainment,  until 
thou  comest  to  this, — always  to  see  and  feel  thyself 
lying  in  the  bosom  of  Christ  who  is  in  the  bosom  of 
his  Father.  (John  i.  18.)  Come  and  move  the  Father 
for  near  views  of  Christ,  and  you  will  be  sure  to  speed. 
You  can  come  with  no  request  that  pleaseth  him  better. 
He  gave  him  out  of  his  own  bosom  for  that  very  end, 
to  be  held  up  before  the  eyes  of  all  sinners  as  the  ever- 
lasting monument  of  his  Father's  love." 

''Do  this,  then,  in  remembrance  of  Christ."  Such  is 
the  voice  of  our  Lord  and  Master ;  and,  lest  you  should 
think  it  referred  only  to  the  twelve  disciples,  the  Apostle 
Paul  assures  you  that  this  ordinance  was  not  only  in- 
stituted by  Christ,  but  again  communicated  to  him  by 
a  special  revelation,  and  that  it  is  to  run  parallel  with 
time,  and  that  by  it  all  who  trust  in  his  name  are  to 
''show  forth  Christ's  death  till  he  come."  How,  then, 
if  you  have  hitherto  neglected  this  ordinance,  will  you 
answer  for  your  conduct  in  the  day  of  the  revelation 
of  Christ's  righteous  judgment?  This  is  a  command, 
remember,  which  is  not  couched  in  any  doubtful  terms, 
but  plain,  positive  and  demanding  immediate  and  im- 
plicit obedience.  No  sophistry  can  darken  its  mean- 
ing or  elude  its  force.  Surely,  then,  in  setting  it  at 
naught,  you  are  challenging  the  authority  of  God  over 
you,  and  impiously  declaring,  "Who  is  the  Lord,  that  I 


PUBLIC    PROFESSION    OF    FAITH.  145 

should  obey  him?"  instead  of  saying,.  ''Lord,  what 
wouldst  thou  have  me  to  do?"  But  ''Who  art  thou, 
that  thus  repliest  against  Grod  ?"  Who  art  thou,  that 
choosest  what  divine  commands  thou  art  to  obey  and 
what  to  treat  with  contempt,  although  equally  given 
by  Him  who  has  all  power  both  in  heaven  and  in 
earth? 

Who  art  thou,  that  thou  puttest  away  from  thee 
the  obligations  of  this  command?  Either  thou  must 
seek  the  grace  necessary  to  obey  this  command,  or 
bring  upon  thy  soul  the  guilt  of  violated  duty.  Un- 
fitness is  no  excuse.  For  surely,  since  all  the  fitness 
Christ   requireth   is    to   feel   your   need  of   him,  not 

TO  FEEL  THIS  is  an  AGGEAVATION,  and  NO  EXTENU- 
ATION, of  your  guilt.  Consider  well,  then,  before 
you  incur  divine  indignation  and  endanger  your 
own  salvation  "by  openly  setting  Christ  at  naught, 
crucifying  him  afresh,  and  putting  him  to  an  open 
shame."  For  remember,  also,  that  while  union  to 
Christ's  church,  and  remembrance  of  him  in  his 
ordinance,  is  a  duty,  it  is  also  an  inestimable  privilege, 
and  God  may  swear  in  his  wrath  that  this  privilege, 
with  all  of  heavenly  blessing  it  implies,  you  shall  never 
enjoy.  It  may  be  very  true  that  you  are  not  as  loving, 
as  believing,  as  strong,  as  sanctified,  as  you  think  you 
should  be,  but  you  are  not,  surely,  willing  to  have  your 
name  utterly  wanting  in  the  book  of  life.  You  are 
not  prepared  to  "sell  your  birthright,"  and  to  write  it 
in  a  covenant,  that  you  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in 
Christ  or  his  salvation.  When  "the  Lord  comes  to 
count  and  write  up  his  people,"  you  are  not  willing  to 
find  your  name  omitted  and  your  inheritance  given  to 

K  13 


146         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

a  more  faithful  servant.  You  ought  therefore  to  re- 
pent and  believe  the  gospel,  and,  having  done  this,  come, 
with  whatever  measure  of  faith  and  hope  you  have,  to 
this  ordinance  which  is  expressly  designed  to  increase 
faith,  to  help  unbelief  and  to  multiply  your  peace  and 

joy- 

The  feeling  of  every  awakened  and  grateful  heart 
must  be  that  of  one  whose  case  I  have  read.  He 
had  lived  as  a  mere  respecter,  without  becoming  a 
professor,  of  religion.  He  was  now  on  his  dying  bed, 
and  expressed  an  exceedingly  earnest  desire  to  make  a 
profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ  by  participating  in 
the  Lord's  Supper.  ''Not,"  said  he,  ''that  I  think  the 
reception  of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  essential  to  salvation ; 
but  I  do  feel  that  if  I  die  without  it  I  can  never  be 
happy,  because  I  shall  never  forget  that  there  was  a 
command  of  my  Saviour  who  so  unspeakably  loved  me, 
and  that  I  never  obeyed  it." 

"  Can  we,  for  whom  the  Saviour  bled, 
Careless  his  heavenly  banquet  see, 
Nor  heed  the  parting  word  that  said, 
'  Do  this  in  memory  of  Me'  ?" 

Listen,  then,  dear  reader,  to  the  voice  of  the  Lord. 
He  summons  you  to  quit  the  standard  of  error  and  to 
range  yourself  under  that  of  truth.  Come  forth,  then, 
from  the  camp  of  his  adversaries,  and  enter  into  that 
of  his  friends.  Unite  yourself  to  the  holy  band  of 
patriarchs  and  prophets,  of  apostles  and  martyrs,  and 
all  those  illustrious  men  of  all  ages  and  countries  who 
have  considered  this  profession  their  glory  and  have 
glorified  it  by  their  holy  lives  and  triumphant  deaths. 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION    OF    FAITH.  147 

Why  can  you  not  do  this  ?  What  hinders  ?  The  door 
is  open,  wide  open.  The  invitation  is  full,  free,  uni- 
versal, and  confirmed  by  the  promise  and  the  oath  of 
God.  The  command  is  plain,  positive  and  paramount. 
Why,  then,  oh,  why  will  you  prefer  the  sullied,  flaunt- 
ing, heart-mocking  and  perishing  banners  of  the  world, 
the  flesh  and  the  devil,  to  the  pure,  peaceable,  purify- 
ing and  immortal  banner  of  Christ's  everlasting  king- 
dom? Behold,  the  fashion  of  the  world  passeth  away. 
Already  its  grandeur  and  its  delights  are  fading  on 
your  distant  view.  Soon  it  will  have  vanished,  and  all 
on  earth  will  be  dark,  dreary  and  full  of  bitterness. 
You  will  close  your  eyes  upon  it  forever.  And  then 
what  will  remain  to  you  of  all  the  pleasures  of  sin,  the 
profits  of  business,  the  hallucinations  of  fashion,  the 
vanities  and  vexations  of  earth?  ISTo thing  but  their 
remembrance,  and  the  everlasting  remorse  they  will 
carry  with  them.  '^Wherefore  come  out  from  among 
them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and  touch 
not  the  unclean  thing;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will 
be  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and 
daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty."  ''If  any  man 
will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up 
his  cross,  and  follow  me;  and  him  that  cometh  unto 
me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."  "Come  unto  me,  all 
ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me, 
for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart;  and  YE  shall  find 
REST  UNTO  YOUR  SOULS.  For  my  yoke  is  easy  and 
my  burden  is  light." 

A  tuneless  lute,  which  shepherds  cast  away, 
Unfit  with  one  sweet  note  to  please  the  ear ; 


148  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

A  fragile  reed,  crush'd  in  the  dust,  and  sear, 

On  which  the  storm  hath  dwelt  with  ruthless  sway ; 
A  flickering  light,  whose  former  cheerful  ray 

Now  fast  expires  amid  the  gloom  that's  near : 

Like  these,  dull,  tuneless,  crush'd,  do  you  appear, 
And  cheerless,  hopeless,  pass  the  livelong  day ! 

But  why  despond  ? — that  mighty  Shepherd  dear — 
In  whose  just  praise  you  tune  no  equal  lay 

Nor  burn  with  fervour  equal  to  his  name — 
Is  still  a  present  help  in  time  of  need  : 
He'll  bind  up — never  break — the  bruised  reed, 

And  fan  the  dying  spark  to  heavenly  flame. 

On  one  occasion  the  Kev.  David  Nelson*  related  the 
following  incident.  He  went  to  the  house  of  a  young 
man  of  wealth  on  an  evening  when  the  brilliant  par- 
lours were  filled  with  the  sons  and  daughters  of  fashion. 
After  the  crowd  had  dispersed,  as  he  sat  alone  with 
the  young  man,  he  began  to  talk  with  him  about  the 
interest  of  his  soul.  The  man  replied  he  would  gladly 
become  a  Christian  if  he  knew  what  to  do.  -  '^  Sup- 
pose," said  Dr.  Nelson,  'Hhe  Lord  Jesus  stood  in  this 
room,  and  you  knew  it  was  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  he 
should  look  kindly  on  you  and  stretch  out  his  hand 
towards  you,  and  should  say,  'Come  unto  me,  all  ye 
that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest:'  what  would  you  do?"  ''I  would  go  to  him,  and 
fall  down  before  him,  and  ask  him  to  save  me,"  was  the 
reply.  "But  what  if  your  gay  young  companions 
were  in  the  room  and  they  should  point  and  laugh  at 
you?"  ''I  should  not  care  for  that.  I  should  go  to 
the  Lord  Jesus."  "Well,  the  Lord  is  really  in  this 
room,  though  you  cannot  see  him,  and  he  stretches  out 

*  Author  of  "  The  Cause  and  Cure  of  Infidelity." 


PUBLIC   PKOFESSION   OF    FAITH.  149 

liis  hand  to  you,  and  says,  'Come  unto  me;'  and  you 
should  believe  what  he  says  in  his  letter,  the  Bible,  as 
much  as  though  you  heard  the  words."  Soon  after 
this  conversation  he  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  this 
young  man  at  the  table  of  the  Lord. 

And  this  leads  me  to  urge  upon  you  the  danger  of 
delay,  and  the  necessity  for  prompt  decision  and  un- 
wavering determination  to  deny  yourself,  take  up 
your  cross  and  follow  Christ,  whoever  and  whatever 
may  oppose.  On  your  faithfulness  in  this  matter  may 
depend  the  best  interests  of  others  as  well  as  of  your- 
self. 

A  few  years  since,  during  a  powerful  revival  in  New 
England,  the  Holy  Spirit  exerted  its  mighty  influence 
upon  a  family  circle  consisting  of  a  father,  a  mother 
and  five  most  interesting  children.  The  mother  and 
her  five  children  were  hopefully  converted.  The 
father,  who  (says  the  writer  of  the  narrative)  was 
naturally  one  of  the  most  amiable,  retiring,  modest 
men  with  whom  I  ever  was  acquainted,  aided  his 
family  in  attending  the  numerous  meetings,  and 
was  not  unfrequently  seen  bowed  down  and  trembling 
under  the  power  of  the  truth.  The  conversion  of  his 
wife  and  children  in  rapid  succession  was  like  so 
many  earthquake-shocks  to  the  foundations  on  which 
his  false  hopes  rested.  But  neither  the  affecting  scenes 
of  their  distress  nor  the  ecstasies  of  their  subsequent 
joy  could  melt  his  heart  into  contrition.  He  now  felt 
that  he  was  groping  in  a  dark  path  and  in  wretched 
loneliness.  He  who  should  have  been  the  leader  of  a 
pious  household  was  left  far  behind,  a  subject  of  prayer 
and  an  occasion  of   grief  to  the  circle  around  him. 


150         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

Thus  lie  remained  for  weeks.  Ere  long,  preparations 
were  made  for  gathering  in  the  fruits  of  the  revival 
into  the  church,  and  a  day  appointed  for  the  examina- 
tion of  the  candidates.  The  mother  and  her  five  chil- 
dren, and  some  sixty  others,  came  before  the  church, 
and  were  propounded  for  admission  into  its  pale.  As 
the  day  of  admission  drew  near,  the  father,  who  had 
watched  their  movements  with  much  concern,  expressed 
a  regret  to  his  wife  that  they  should  make  a  profession 
at  present,  and  requested  that  they  should  wait  for 
him.  The  mother,  deeply  moved,  solicited  the  advice 
of  the  pastor  and  other  friends ;  but,  after  due  delibe-  ■ 
ration,  it  was  concluded  that  the  path  of  their  duty 
was  plain,  and  that  they  were  bound  to  follow  Christ. 
With  calm  decision  and  firmness,  they  resolved  to 
do  so.  As  soon  as  he  knew  their  decision,  he  became 
more  earnest  in  his  remonstrances,  and  used  every  pos- 
sible argument,  especially  with  the  mother,  to  dissuade 
her  from  her  purpose;  but  in  vain.  He  soon  changed 
his  tone  of  entreaty  into  one  of  fearful  threatening, 
warning  his  wife,  if  she  had  any  afiection  for  him,  any 
regard  for  the  peace  of  the  family,  to  desist  from  her 
purpose,  and  wait  for  him.  ''No,"  said  the  martyr- 
like woman:  ''I  love  you  most  tenderly,  but  I  love 
Christ  more.  I  have  waited  for  you  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  now  I  shall  do  my  duty;  and  as  to 
the  consequences,  I  will  leave  them  to  God."  At  the 
close  of  this  interview,  which  took  place  on  a  Saturday 
evening,  he  took  his  hat,  and,  uttering  some  threats, 
left  the  house,  as  if  never  to  return.  It  v/as  a  painful 
sight  to  mother  and  children.  Might  he  not  become 
the  victim  of  lasting  mania,  or  in  his  rage  and  disap- 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  151 

pointmsnt  suddenly  destroy  himself?  As  it  afterwards 
appeared,  he  retired  to  his  barn,  threw  himself  on  the 
hay-mow,  it  being  midsummer,  and  there  rolled  and 
struggled  like  a  wild  beast  in  a  net.  An  awful  warfare 
was  waging  between  an  awakened  conscience  and  a 
desperately  rebellious  heart.  He  could  not,  would  not, 
submit.  Sabbath  morning  came.  The  family,  with 
trembling  anxiety  for  the  absent  father,  prepared  to  go 
to  the  house  of  God;  but  just  before  the  hour  of 
service  his  feelings  drove  him  from  his  hiding-place. 
He  was  safe,  but  still  unhumbled.  He  again  inquired 
of  his  wife  if  she  remained  fixed  in  her  purpose,  and, 
finding  that  she  did,  he  left  the  house  with  dreadful 
signs  of  rebellion,  throwing  out  some  intimations  that 
he  never  should  return, — that  fearful  consequences 
might  be  anticipated.  He  was  soon  out  of  sight,  but 
not  out  of  mind.  The  family  departed;  and  the  father, 
finding  his  threat  unavailing,  returned  to  the  house, 
quickly  prepared  himself  for  church,  and  was  soon  seen 
in  the  gallery  in  a  situation  favourable  for  witnessing 
the  ceremony  he  had  opposed  so  vainly.  And  when 
the  ceremony  of  reception  took  place,  and  the  father 
looked  down  and  saw  his  wife  and  five  children,  with 
the  rest,  admitted  into  the  church,  he  burst  into  tears, 
and  his  agitation  was  great.  The  step  was  taken,  and 
could  not  be  retraced.  On  retiring  from  the  house  he 
felt  that  he  was  indeed  alone.  He  began  to  come  to 
himself, — to  review  the  dreadful  rebellion  of  his  heart, 
which  recent  events  had  brought  to  light.  His  heart 
began  to  break,  and  found  no  peace  until  his  soul  was 
made  to  rejoice  in  that  Saviour  whom  he  had  so  re- 
cently persecuted.     He  now  felt  deeply  thankful  that 


152  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY.       ^ 

his  wife  had  taken  so  decided  a  course;  and  he  consi- 
dered her  uniting  with  the  church  the  means,  in  God's 
hands,  of  leading  him  to  repentance. 

It  may  be,  however,  that  you  are  anxious  about 
your  own  soul,  and  have  made  up  your  mind  to  join 
the  church  and  become  an  open  and  professing  disciple 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  There  are,  however,  many  things 
pressing  upon  your  time  and  attention  and  demanding 
immediate  consideration.  Shall  you  wait — postpone — 
pat  off  till  a  convenient  season?  God  forbid.  Listen 
to  the  following  testimony,  and  learn  the  devices  of 
Satan. 

'^Thirty-four  years  ago,"  says  Mr.  W.,  of  R.  I.,  ^'I 
thought  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  had  pardoned  my  sins. 
My  wife  and  I  thought  it  our  duty  to  follow  Christ  and 
unite  with  the  people  of  God.  The  day  arrived  on  which 
we  were  to  relate  our  experience  to  the  church,  with  a 
view  to  becoming  members.  We  were  nearly  prepared 
to  leave  home,  when  a  gentleman  called  and  wished  to 
transact  some  business  with  me.  I  told  my  wife  to  go 
on;  I  would  be  along  soon.  She  went,  related  her  ex- 
perience, was  baptized,  and  lived  and  died  in  the  bosom 
of  the  church.  But  I  was  detained  longer  than  I  ex- 
pected to  be,  and  found,  when  ready  to  go,  that  it  was 
too  late.  The  next  meeting  for  the  purpose  I  was  again 
hindered  by  yielding  to  worldly  business;  and  by  the 
third  meeting  I  had  little  inclination  to  go,  and  doubted 
whether  I  was  a  Christia^i.  Since  then  you  have  heard 
me  profane  the  name  of  jod  and  seen  me  neglect  the 
house  of  his  worship.  But  there  has  never  been  a 
single  night  that  I  have  not,  when  laying  my  head 
upon  the  pillow,  reflected  upon  the  time  of  my  convic- 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF    FAITH.  153 

tion,  and  endured  bitter  remorse  in  view  of  my  dis- 
obedience. But  the  feeling  that  I  had  on  that  afternoon 
has  never  returned.  Should  I  die,  I  must  die  in  the 
dark.  I  am  now  about  fourscore  years  old ;  and,  had  i 
the  world,  I  would  give  it  for  a  return  of  that  impress- 
ive sense  of  my  obliga>tion  to  God,  which  should  lead 
me  to  do  the  long-neglected  duty.  Oh,  my  friends,  as 
you  value  your  souls'  interest,  let  no  earthly  considera- 
tion prevent  the  immediate  discharge  of  duty." 

If,  then,  my  dear  reader,  you  believe  in  Christ,  and 
rely  upon  him  alone  for  salvation,  and  desire  to  be 
found  of  him  in  peace,  and  to  show  your  faith  by  your 
works, — this  ordinance  of  his  appointment  requires  you 
without  delay  to  observe  it  in  remembrance  of  him. 

Oh thrat  the  serious,  the  ''almost  persuaded," among  my 
readers  would  give  this  matter  their  earnest  and  honest 
attention !  What  is  to  be  gained  by  delay  and  by  test- 
ing the  forbearance  of  God?  Long  enough  have  you 
neglected  that  which  secures  your  highest  happiness 
and  involves  your  first  duty.  The  time  past  should 
suffice  for  impenitence :  what  is  left  of  life  is  not  too 
much  to  give  to  God.  He  justly  claims  your  all.  Pro- 
crastinating reader,  what  is  your  decision  in  view  of 
the  ''next  communion"?  "I  think  I  cannot  come  now 
and  make  a  public  profession  of  religion.  I  must  not 
be  in  a  hurry.  I  do  not  like  to  do  such  solemn  things 
in  a  hurry."  So  said  a  poor  man  to  a  good  missionary 
in  one  of  our  large  cities.  He  had  been  urged  to  this 
duty  by  the  good  man.  "  Well,  when  are  you  coming?" 
said  the  missionary. 

''Not  till  the  next  communion,"  answered  the  reluc- 
tant man. 


154  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

''But  7CU  told  me  just  so  before  the  last  communion. 
Thus  I  urged  you  then  to  the  duty  of  publicly  acknow- 
ledging your  obligations  to  Christ.  Ought  you  to  de- 
lay? Are  you  sure  of  another  opportunity  so  favour- 
able as-  the  present?  Do  you  not  believe  it  to  be  a 
duty?" 

"  Oh,  certainly  I  believe  it  to  be  a  duty.  I  believe 
I  have  been  laid  under  everlasting  obligations  to  the 
Lord  Jesus  for  what  he  has  done  for  me." 

''Why  not,  then,  make  a  public  confession  of  your 
obligations  to  him?" 

"I  know  I  ought.  But  I  do  not  like  to  be  in 
a  hurry.  I  think  I  must  wait  till  the  next  com- 
munion."" 

This  poor  man  lived  most  of  his  time  in  a  busy  street. 
He  had  a  room  close  by  his  place  of  business.  Three 
communions  had  gone  by  since  he  had  begun  to  say, 
"Not  till  the  next  communion." 

As  another  was  approaching,  our  missionary  brother, 
who  looks  after  the  neglected,  and  those  who  neglect 
themselves,  thought  he  would  call  in  at  the  office  of 
this  broker,  and  ask  him  to  be  ready  at  the  approaching 
communion  to  obey  Christ's  command, — "This  do  in 
remembrance  of  me."  So,  walking  into  his  office,  he 
inquired,  "Where  is  Mr.  C ?" 

"Oh,  we  have  cleared  him  out,"  some  one  answered, 
in  a  rough,  brutal  voice. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  said  the  missionary.  "  Cleared 
him  out!     How  is  that?" 

"Oh,  you  see,  he  died  the  other  day,  just  right  here; 
and  we  cleared  him  out  and  carried  him  over  to 
Cemetery." 


PUBLIC   PROFESSION   OF   FAITH.  155 

"Not  till  the  next  communion"  had  therefore  been 
eaid  one  time  too  often,  and  the  man  went  to  his  last 
account  unprepared. 

Poor,  procrastinating  reader,  don't  put  this  matter 
off!  May  you  be  led  like  one  reader  at  least  of  the 
above  fact,  who  was  struck  with  terror  in  his  mind  at 
the  thought  of  being  stricken  down  in  a  similar  way,  to 
inquire,  ''And  what  would  become  of  me  if  thus  cut 
down"?  This  he  asked  the  minister  to  whom  he  came 
with  anxious  haste.  ''I  want  to  become  a  Christian," 
said  he. 

"Are  you  willing,  my  friend,  to  submit  to  Christ  now, 
— to  believe  on  him,  and  trust  him  and  his  finished 
righteousness  for  all  your  hopes  of  salvation?" 

"Yes." 

"To  repent  of  and  forsake  all  sin,  and  devote  your- 
self forever  to  him?" 

"Yes." 

"To  pray  with  me  now,  to  go  home  and  pray  in 
your  family,  and  under  all  circumstances  lead  a  Chris- 
tian life?" 

"Yes." 

The  minister  led  in  prayer.  The  farmer  followed, 
in  a  prayer  of  earnest  humility,  penitence,  self-renun- 
ciation and  unreserved  consecration  to  the  service  of 
God. 

Oh,  be  persuaded,  then,  to  give  yourself  to  Christ 
now,  at  once,  in  this  thy  day,  ere  the  opportunity  is 
forever  withdrawn.  Have  you  been  '^almost  per- 
suaded"? oh,  be  persuaded  altogether,  to  make  a  full, 
final  and  absolute  surrender  of  yourself  to  Christ, 
body,  soul  and  spirit,  as  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and 


156  THE    WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

acceptable  unto  God.  '^And  now,  Lord,"  let  your 
heart  and  your  lips  say,  "  all  my  desire  is  before  thee. 
I  am  convinced  of  my  duty,  and  dare  no  longer  dis- 
obey. Oh,  forgive  me  that  I  have  rebelled  so  long! 
I  have  been  invited  to  become  thy  disciple  and  to  come 
to  thy  table,  and  have  foolishly  neglected  many  an  op- 
portunity of  strengthening  and  refreshing  my  soul.  I 
have  been  commanded  to  do  this  in  remembrance  of 
Him  who  deserves  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  by  my 
refusal  and  neglect  have  at  once  poured  contempt  upon 
the  authority  and  slighted  the  love  of  Him  who  loved 
me  and  gave  himself  for  me. 

'^I  bless  thee  that  I  am  in  some  measure  sensible  of 
my  error,  and  am  come  to  a  resolution  that  I  will  have 
respect  to  this  as  well  as  thy  other  commands.  The 
time  past  shall  suffice  me  to  have  lived  in  the  omission 
of  so  plain  a  duty  and  the  neglect  of  so  glorious  a 
privilege.  Oh,  keep  it  upon  the  imagination  of  my 
heart  forever;  and  let  me  be  confirmed  in  those  good 
purposes  which  thy  own  Spirit  has  led  me  to  form,  and 
which  no  less  power  than  his  can  help  me  to  keep. 

^'I  am  indeed  unworthy;  but  I  acknowledge  the  in- 
sufficiency of  that  plea  against  a  positive  command.  I 
am  unworthy,  but  must  not  therefore  refuse  thy  kind- 
ness. I  hope  I  am  relying  upon  Christ,  who  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  the  unworthy,  and  who  is  able  to  save 
and  sanctify  to  the  very  uttermost;  and  therefore  I  can- 
not any  longer  neglect  an  ordinance  which  is  at  once 
so  great  a  duty  and  so  exalted  a  privilege,  and  in  the 
use  of  which  I  hope  to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  know- 
ledge of  my  Lord. 

''Or,  if  I  have  hitherto  deceived  myself  and  walked 


PUBLIC   TROFESSION   OF   FATTF.  157 

in  a  vain  show,  I  now  desire  to  accept  the  gospel  offer, 
to  enter  into  covenant  with  God,  to  acknowledge  thee, 
0  Father,  Son  and  Spirit,  to  be  my  God,  my  all,  my 
everlasting  portion.  In  deep  humility,  upon  my  bended 
knees,  I  now  accept  an  offered  Saviour,  and  call  heaven 
and  earth  to  witness  that,  as  far  as  I  can  judge,  I  am 
sincere.  And  this  I  would  declare  in  the  presence  of 
thy  people, — begging,  with  some  hope  and  confidence, 
that  I  may  be  accepted  now,  and  found  in  the  number 
of  the  faithful  at  last. 

'^Oh,  direct  me  in  all  the  steps  I  am  to  take,  and  let 
me  see  my  way,  and  follow  it,  and  have  comfort  in  the 
issue,  through  the  merits  and  mediation  of  my  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.     Amen." 


Whom  dost  thou,  dear  Kedeemer,  call 

To  thy  sweet  feast  of  grace, 
Admit  iuto  the  banquet-hal 

And  at  thy  table  place  ? 
'Tis  not  the  proud,  the  rich,  the  strong, 

With  earthly  good  content. 
But  sick  and  weary  souls,  who  long 

For  nobler  nourishment. 

Ah !  didst  thou  for  the  pure  alone 

The  royal  feast  prepare, 
Small  were  the  hope  for  such  a  one 

As  me  to  find  a  share. 
But  since  the  blind,  the  sick,  the  lame, 

Obtain  admission  free, 
I  too  will  venture,  in  God's  name. 

To  join  the  company. 

Yet  who  would  think  the  guests  he  sees 
Around  that  table  placed 
14 


158  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

Were  victims  all  of  foul  disease, 
With  ghastly  wounds  defaced  ? 

For  lo  !  their  generous  Host  provides, 
From  his  full  store  on  high, 

For  each  a  shining  robe,  that  hides 
All  his  deformity. 

And  I,  in  that  bright  garment  dress'd, 

Will  to  the  table  go  ; 
For,  Lord,  thou  wilt  not  scorn  a  guest 

Because  his  rank  is  low. 
When  others  coldly  close  the  door, 

Wide  flies  the  gate  of  grace  ; 
And  he  who  was  the  least  before 

Obtains  the  highest  place. 


THE  SHADOW  OF  THE  CROSS. 

Oppress'd  with  noonday's  scorching  heat, 

To  yonder  cross  I  flee, 
Beneath  its  shelter  take  my  seat : 

No  shade  like  this  for  me  ! 

Beneath  that  cross  clear  waters  burst, 

A  fountain  sparkling  free, 
And  there  I  quench  my  desert  thirst : 

No  spring  like  this  for  me  ! 

A  stranger  here,  I  pitch  my  tent 
Beneath  this  spreading  tree ; 

Here  shall  my  pilgrim-life  be  spent : 
No  home  like  this  for  me ! 

For  burden'd  ones  a  resting-place 

Beside  that  cross  I  see ; 
Here  I  cast  off  my  weariness  : 

No  rest  like  this  for  me ! 


PUBLIC   PEOFESSION  OF   FAITH.  159 

RETURN  UNTO  THY  REST. 

Cease,  my  soul,  thy  strayings, 

Have  they  bi'ought  thee  peace  ? 
Come,  no  more  delayings; 
Cease  thy  wanderings,  cease. 

These  vanities  how  vain ! 
Wander  not  again. 

Thou  hast  found  thy  centi-e  ; 

There,  my  soul,  abide ; 
Never  more  adventure 
Now  to  swerve  aside. 

These  vanities  how  vain! 
Wander  not  again. 

Thou  hast  reach' d  thy  dwelling ; 

Safe,  sure  anchorage 

From  the  perilous  swelling 

Of  the  tempest's  rage. 

These  vanities  how  vain ! 
Wander  not  again. 

Tranquil  hours  now  greet  thee, 

In  thy  calm  abode  ; 
Gracious  looks  now  meet  thee, 
From  thy  loving  God, 

These  vanities  how  vain! 
Wander  not  again. 

See,  yon  star,  love-lighted, 

Sparkles  from  on  high; 

See,  yon  hope,  love-plighted, 

Cheers  thy  heaviest  sky. 

These  vanities  how  vainl 
Wander  not  again. 

Watch,  my  soul,  the  glory 

Coming  brightly  up 
O'er  yon  forest  hoary. 
O'er  yon  mountain-top. 

These  vanities  how  vain! 
Wander  not  again. 


160  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

'Tis  the  bridal  morning 

Rise,  make  no  delay ; 

Put  on  thine  adorning, 

Cj^st  thy  weeds  away. 

These  vanities  how  vain  I 
Wander  not  again. 


WELCOME  TO  THE  TABLE. 

This  is  the  feast  of  heavenly  wine, 

And  God  invites  to  sup  : 
The  juices  of  the  living  vine 

Were  press'd  to  fill  the  cup. 

Oh,  bless  the  Saviour,  ye  who  eat, 

With  royal  dainties  fed ; 
Not  heaven  affords  a  costlier  treat, 

For  JESUS  is  the  bread ! 

The  vile,  the  lost, — he  calls  to  them ; 

"Ye  trembling  souls,  appear! 
The  righteous  in  their  own  esteem 

Have  no  acceptance  here. 

*'  Approach,  ye  poor,  nor  dare  refuse 
The  banquet  spread  for  you." 

Dear  Saviour,  this  is  welcome  news  I 
Then  I  may  venture  too. 

If  guilt  and  sin  aflFord  a  plea 

And  may  obtain  a  place. 
Surely  the  Lord  will  welcome  me 

And  I  shall  see  his  face. 


THE  lord's  supper,  AND  WHAT  IT  TEACHES.     161 


CHAPTER   IX. 


From  all  that  has  been  said,  the  true  nature  and  de- 
sign of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  of  the  benefits  to  be  de- 
rived from  it,  must  be  apparent.  It  is  to  Christianity 
what  the  celebration  of  a  particular  day  is  to  our 
national  independence.  It  is  an  instituted  public  and 
stated  observance,  originated  at  the  very  beginning  of 
Christianity,  and  constantly  maintained  by  Christians, 
in  every  part  of  the  world,  ever  since.  It  is  a  com- 
memoration incapable  of  explanation  except  by  the 
admission  of  the  great  fundamental  facts  of  Chris- 
tianity. It  is  a  monument  more  enduring  than  brass, 
or  triumphal  arches,  or  pyramids  of  stone.  It  is  a 
living  monument,  whose  sound  has  gone  out  into  all 
the  earth,  so  that  there  is  no  speech  nor  language  where 
its  voice  has  not  been  heard.  It  is  a  pillar  and  ground 
for  the  truth ;  and  as  it  has  stood  firm  as  a  rock  against 
all  the  assaults  of  hell  ever  since  Christ's  coming,  so 
will  it  remain  firm  and  unassailable,  lifting  its  head  to 
the  clouds  and  covering  with  its  ever-widening  base 
the  whole  earth,  until  Christ  comes  the  second  time  to 
judge  that  world  which  he  redeemed. 

But,  while  the  Lord's  Supper  is  an  irresistible  de- 
monstration of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  it  is  the  great 
cardinal  doctrine  of  Christianity  which  this  institution 

L  14* 


162  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

singles  out  and  commemorates.  It  is  the  death  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  which  it  shows  forth  as  often  as  it  is 
observed : — 

Christ  and  his  cross  is  all  its  theme : 

The  mystery  which  it  speaks 
Is  scandal  in  the  Jew's  esteem, 

And  folly  to  the  Greek. 

But  to  them  that  believe,  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation.  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified  is  its  glory. 
Christ  our  passover  is  here  in  lively  representation 
slain  for  us.  His  body  is  symbolically  broken,  and  his 
blood  shed,  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself. 

Now,  my  soul,  thy  voice  upraising. 
Sing  the  cross  in  mournful  strain ; 

Tell  the  sorrows  all-amazing. 
Tell  the  wounds  and  dying  pain, 

Which  our  Saviour, 
Sinless,  bore  for  sinners  slain. 

He  to  freedom  hath  restored  us 

By  the  very  bonds  he  bare, 
And  his  flesh  and  blood  afford  us 

Each  a  seal  of  mercy  rare : 
Lo  !  he  draws  us 

To  the  cross,  and  keeps  us  there. 

Jesus  !  may  thy  promised  blessing 

Comfort  to  our  souls  afford ! 
May  we,  now  thy  love  possessing. 

And  at  lenglh  our  full  reward. 
Ever  praise  thee. 

Thee,  our  ever-glorious  Lord  ! 

This  great  fundamental  peculiarity  of  the  gospel  is  the 
TRUTH  of  which  this    ordinance  is  a  public,  constant 


THE  LOED's  SUPPEE,  AND  WHAT  IT  TEACHES.      163 


and  unchangeable  proclamation.  Jesus  Christ  is  in 
this  ordinance  evidently  set  forth  among  men  as  cruci- 
fied and  slain,  as  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning 
and  the  end,  the  gospel,  the  glad  tidings,  the  good 
spell,  the  only  foundation  laid  in  Zion,  and  the  only 
way  under  heaven  by  which  men  can  be  saved. 

Here,  then,  we  have  a  symbolical  institution  em- 
bodying in  a  form  intelligible  to  the  savage  as  well  as 
to  the  philosopher,  to  men  of  all  languages  and  in  all  ages, 
atonement  for  sin  by  Christ's  death  on  the  cross.  The 
bread  is  broken  and  the  wine  poured  out  to  denote 
his  dying  for  us.  The  bread  is  also  eaten  and  the  wine 
drank  to  denote  the  spiritual  refreshment  and  strength 
— the  life — which  we  derive  from  Christ's  mysterious 
union  with  us. 

Help  me,  Lord,  to  view  thy  cross. 

Who  all  my  griefs  hast  borne, — 
To  look  on  thee,  whom  I  have  pierced, — 

To  look  on  thee,  and  mourn. 

While  thus  I  mourn,  I  would  rejoice  ; 

And,  as  thy  cross  I  see, 
I  would  exclaim,  in  faith  and  hope, 

"  The  Saviour  died  for  me  !" 

The  Lord's  Supper  is,  therefore,  a  testimony  to  Jesus 
— a  permanent,  stated  and  immovable  ordinance  in 
the  church,  in  order  to  show  that  salvation  is  based 
exclusively  and  altogether  on  the  person,  blood  and 
righteousness  of  Christ  as  a  divine  Saviour.  It  is  a 
beacon  on  every  rock  and  point  of  earth's  dangerous 
shores,  to  direct  the  storm-tossed  and  buffeted  mariner 
safely  to  the  haven  of  everlasting  life.  Or,  like  the 
serpent  in  the  wilderness,  it  is  a  signal  uplifted  high, 


164         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

to  catch  the  expiring  gaze  of  every  dying  sinner  and 
fix  it  in  saving  and  healing  faith  upon  Him  who  is  here 
hfted  up  upon  the  cross,  tliat  whosoever  believeth  on 
him  may  not  perish  but  have  everlasting  life.  It  bears 
witness  of  Christ.  It  is  a  living  prophet, — the  voice  of 
one  crying  in  the  wilderness  of  human  life,  and  in  every 
street,  and  from  every  church,  "Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world." 

It  is  like  the  salutes  of  cannon  that  announce  some 
glorious  victory.  It  commemorates  to  the  end  of  time 
the  conflict  and  the  victory  of  all  ages,  the  subjugation 
of  Satan,  the  overthrow  of  sin,  the  abolition  of  death, 
the  conquest  of  the  world,  the  establishment  of  a 
heavenly  kingdom,  the  everlasting  triumph  of  all 
Christ's  friends,  and  the  everlasting  destruction  of  all 
Christ's  enemies ; — and,  reverberating  through  the  hills 
of  Zion  and  the  caverns  of  hell,  makes  known  to  prin- 
cipalities and  powers  in  heavenly  places  the  manifold 
wisdom  of  God. 

Glory,  glory  to  our  King ! 

Crowns  unfading  wreathe  his  head ; 
Jesus  is  the  name  we  sing, — 

Jesus,  risen  from  the  dead  ; 
Jesus,  Conqueror  o'er  the  grave ; 
Jesus,  mighty  now  to  save. 

Jesus  is  gone  up  on  high  : 

Angels  come  to  meet  their  King ; 
Shouts  triumphant  rend  the  sky, 

While  the  Victor's  praise  they  sing: — 
*'  Open  now,  ye  heavenly  gates  ! 
'Tis  the  King  of  glory  waits." 

Now  behold  him  high  enthroned, 
Glory  beaming  from  his  face, 


THE  LOED's  SUPPEE,  AND  WHAT  IT  TEACHES.     165 

By  adoring  angels  own'd, 

God  of  holiness  and  grace ! 
Oh  for  hearts  and  tongues  to  sing, 
"  Glory,  glory  to  our  King !"  * 

Jesus,  on  thy  people  shine ; 

Warm  our  hearts  and  tune  our  tongues, 
That  with  angels  we  may  join, 

Share  their  bliss  and  swell  their  songs : 
Glory,  honour,  praise  and  power, 
Lord,  be  thine  for  evermore ! 

Let  this  characteristic  of  the  nature  and  design  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  be  well  considered.  It  gives  to  it  a 
peculiar  significance,  a  transcendent  importance.  It 
imparts  to  it  ^'manifold  wisdom."  It  is  to  the  system 
of  the  gospel  the  heart-ordinance, — the  very  central 
organ  of  vital  power,  activity  and  nourishment,  with- 
out which  it  dies  and  loses  its  distinctive  nature. 
For  let  it  be  remembered  that  while  the  gospel 
receives,  teaches  and  authoritatively  sanctions  all  the 
doctrines  pertaining  to  God  and  man,  to  the  body 
and  the  soul,  to  time  and  eternity,  to  God's  power  and 
providence,  to  man's  responsibility  and  subjection  as  a 
moral  creature  to  God's  moral  government, — while  it 
affirms,  confirms  and  illustrates  all  these  and  many 
similar  truths, — nevertheless,  that  new  and  transcend- 
ent element  which,  as  ha?  been  said,  overtops  all  others 
in  its  importance,  and  to  bring  which  to  light  the  gospel 
was  revealed  and  the  Lord's  Supper  instituted,  most 
assuredly  is  the  redemption  of  man  by  God  in  Christ; 
his  redemption  from  sin,  in  both  its  penalty  and  its 
power;  his  justification  before  God  through  faith  in 
Christ;  his  sanctification  through  the  truth  by  the 
Divine  Spirit;    the  impartation  to  him,  as   one  with 


166  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Christ,  tlie  life  of  God;  and  his  fitness  thereby  for 
the  celestial  realms.  It  is  this  whole  stupendous  work 
of  redemption,  embracing  such  various  displays  of 
divine  wisdom  and  grace,  which  makes  the  gospel  to 
difier  essentially  from  every  other  system.  It  is  this 
which  has  always  wrought  most  powerfully  upon  the 
hearts  of  men  to  bring  them  to  repentance.  It  is  this 
which  has  attracted  to  itself  the  most  intense  affection 
of  the  church  through  its  whole  history,  and  has  illu- 
mined the  Christian's  path  with  most  effulgent  and 
animating  light.  And  it  is  this  the  striking  away  of 
which  from  the  gospel  at  once  reduces  it  to  a  level  little 
superior  to  that  of  the  writings  of  Plato  and  other 
moralists;  which  robs  the  gospel,  in  fact,  of  its  cha- 
racteristic glory,  and  makes  its  miracles  needless  and 
its  pretensions  unintelligible. 

The  end  aimed  at  in  the  gospel,  and  in  the  Lord's 
Supper  also, — so  far  as  it  regards  man, — is,  therefore, 
the  salvation  of  the  soul,  and  that  salvation  as  declared 
to  be  in  Jesus  Christ  the  Lord.  You  are  a  sinner. 
You  are  guilty.  You  are  depraved.  You  are  polluted. 
You  are  ignorant.  You  are  helpless.  You  are  undone. 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  Saviour.  His  blood  cleanseth 
from  all  sin.  His  righteousness  cleanseth  from  all  con- 
demnation. His  Spirit  quickens  the  soul.  His  grace 
is  sufficient  for  you.  He  is  our  life,  our  wisdom,  our 
sanctification,  our  redemption,  the  hope  set  before  us, 
our  all  in  all.  The  word  testifies  of  him.  Ministers 
preach  him.  Sabbaths  proclaim  his  finished  work  and 
his  ascended  power  and  glory  and  righteousness.  And 
the  Lord's  Supper  shows  what  he  must  work  in  us, 


THE  lord's  supper,  AND  WHAT  IT  TEACHES.     167 

what  he  must  be  unto  us  and  what  he  must  do  for  us, 
in  order  to  make  us  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus. 

It  is  Christ,  the  Lord,  therefore,  whose  death  is 
here  "shown  forth."  It  is  Christ,  not  as  dead,  but  as 
living, — as  having  died  and  risen  again,  and  ascended 
up  far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things 
and  reassume  that  glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father 
from  before  the  foundation  of  the  world; — it  is  the 
mighty  God — the  everlasting  Father — who  is  here 
celebrated  as  the  Prince  of  Peace,  able  to  save  to  the 
uttermost.  It  is  Emanuel, — God  with  us, — the  great 
mystery  of  godliness, — God  manifest  in  the  flesh  that  as 
God  incarnate  he  might  thus  purchase  the  church  with 
his  own  blood, — we  here  see  unveiled  and  brought 
down  to  our  familiar  comprehension. 

And  as  baptism,  the  only  other  sacrament  of  the 
church,  is  unto  the  Name,  and  a  consecration  to  the 
worship,  of  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
— the  Triune  God, — so  the  Supper  of  the  Lord,  which 
opens  sweet  communion  with  Jesus  at  his  table,  brings 
with  it  also  a  heartfelt  enjoyment  of  the  favour,  love 
and  personal  communion  through  Jesus  of  all  the 
Persons  of  the  Godhead.  At  the  table  of  the  Lord, 
therefore,  we  enter  into  a  most  blessed  and  soul-satisfy- 
ing apprehension  of  redemption  by  Jesus,  through  the 
appointment  and  covenant  love  of  God  the  Father  and 
the  quickening,  renewing  and  sealing  grace  of  God  the 
Holy  Ghost.  The  blessed  Spirit  thus  witnesses  with 
our  spirits  that  we  are  the  sons  of  God. 

The  Lord's  Supper  is  thus  an  epitome  of  the  gospel, 
compressing  into  one  expressive  service  those  leading 
facts  which  constitute  its  great  truths.    It  is  a  syllabus 


168  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

of"  what  is  more  fully  delivered  in  tlie  Gospels  and 
Epistles.  It  is  an  index,  directing  tlie  inquirer  to  the 
most  prominent  and  important  subjects.  It  is  a  pic- 
torial representation  of  the  gospel,  bringing  into  the 
central  foreground,  in  order  to  give  them  lustre  and 
effect,  those  objects  to  which  all  the  other  parts  of  the 
picture  are  subservient,  and  to  which,  as  the  grand 
result,  they  are,  however  beautiful  in  themselves,  only 
tributary. 

Christ,  then,  is  the  end  of  all  the  means  of  grace, 
and  the  means  towards  the  great  end, — the  prize  of  our 
high  calling.  And  to  discern  this  truth  in  this  sacra- 
ment,— to  understand,  receive  and  heartily  embrace  it, 
— and  to  be  led  in  our  helpless  weakness  to  Christ, — 
having  received  him,  to  walk  in  him,  to  lean  on  him 
and  to  look  to  him  for  grace  and  mercy  according  to 
our  need, — this  is  the  great  blessing  of  the  ordinance, 
without  which  none  should  be  satisfied,  and  to  which  all 
others  will  be  added  according  to  God's  good  pleasure. 

Look,  then,  dear  reader,  to  this  ordinance  for  that 
which  it  is  ordained  to  accomplish  as  its  grand  and 
glorious  result.  It  is  a  school-master  to  bring  you  to 
Christ.  It  is  a  gentle  hand  that  would  lead  you  to  see 
Jesus.  It  is  a  glass  in  which  you  may  behold  mirrored  all 
the  lineaments  of  his  blessed  countenance.  It  is  a  river 
of  life,  in  which  are  reflected  the  beams  of  the  Sun  of 
righteousness  and  from  which  you  may  draw  plentifully 
the  healing  draughts.  This  is  the  way  along  which 
Christ  is  passing,  so  that,  whether  you  are  blind,  or 
halt,  or  lame,  or  sick,  or  low  in  stature  like  Zaccheus 
so  as  to  require  to  climb  or  press  through  a  crowd, 
you  may  still  cry  aloud,  ''Lord,  have  mercy  on  me." 


THE  lord's  supper,  AND  WHAT  IT  TEACHES.     169 

The  Lord's  Supper  is  the  Lord  preaching  to  you,  and 
saying,  ''Come  unto  me,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  It 
is  the  Lord  looking  upon  you,  approaching  you,  coming 
very  near  to  you,  talking  with  you,  that  as  a  Prince 
and  Saviour  he  may  give  you  repentance  and  remission 
of  sins  according  to  your  need. 

Let  Christ,  then, — Christ  as  a  prophet,  priest  and 
king, — Christ  as  a  reprover,  purifier  and  preserver, — 
Christ  as  a  physician,  a  leader  and  a  ruler, — Christ  as  a 
sovereign,  almighty  and  all-sufficient  Kedeemer,  Lord 
and  Master, — as  well  as  Christ  a  friend,  a  pacifier,  and  a 
tender,  affectionate  and  sympathizing  high-priest, — be 
that  which  you  seek  in  coming  to  his  table.  Submit 
your  soul  to  him,  and  let  him  do  towards  you  as  seemeth 
to  him  good.  Be  not  anxious.  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled.  In  the  world  you  shall  have  tribulation; 
^  but  be  of  good  cheer,  since  it  is  through  much  tribula- 
tion we  must  all  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.  Be  not 
disappointed  if  the  way  of  the  cross  is  your  way  to  the 
crown,  and  a  day  of  weary  toil  your  preparation  for  a 
night  of  rest  and  quietness  and  peace.  What  matters 
it  to  the  traveller  who  is  hastening  to  home  and  loved 
ones,  if  the  way  is  rough  and  th  orny  ?  And  why  need 
the  Christian  care  what  may  be  the  nature  of  the  way, 
so  that  he  may  but  safely  reach  his  home, — 

Where  he  shall  bathe  his  weary  soul 

In  seas  of.  heavenly  rest, 
And  not  a  wave  of  trouble  roll 

Across  his  peaceful  breast  ? 

If  we  would  conquer,  we  must  fight.  If  we  would 
reach  the  prize,  we  must  run.  If  we  would  reign  with 
Christ,  we  must  suffer  also  with  him.     And  if  we  woula 

15 


170 


THE    WELL    IN   THE   VALLEY. 


be  glorified  together  with  Christ,  we  must  be  sanctified 
and  made  holy  by  him.  If  we  would  ascend  the  holy 
hill  of  God,  we  must  pass  through  the  valley  of  humilia- 
tion. If  we  would  rise  still  higher  to  heights  of  glory, 
we  must  overtop  the  hill  Difficulty  and  the  slough 
of  Despond.  And  if  ever  we  enter  the  gates  of  the 
city  and  the  land  of  Beulah,  it  will  be  after  enduring 
the  cross  in  the  town  of  Vanity,  and  after  encountering 
many  a  hard  struggle  with  Giant  Despair  and  the  dark 
phantom  spectre  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 
Then,  leaning  on  your  Beloved,  and  deriving  light  and 
life  from  him,  songs  will  be  put  into  your  mouth,  and  you 
can  sweetly  sing, — 


No  gospel  like  this  feast 
Spread  for  thy  church  hy  thee, 

Nor  prophet,  nor  evangelist, 
Preacli  the  glad  news  so  free. 

Picture  and  parahle ! 

All  truth  and  love  divine. 
In  one  bright  point  made  visible, 

Hence  on  the  heart  they  shine. 

All  our  redemption  cost, 

All  our  redemption  won; 
All  it  has  won  for  us,  the  lost, 

All  it  cost  thee,  the  Son. 

Thine  was  the  bitter  price, — 

Ours  is  the  free  gift  given ; 
Thine  was  the  blood  of  sacrifice, 

Ours  is  the  wine  of  heaven. 

For  thee  the  burning  thirst. 
The  shame,  the  mortal  strife, 

The  broken  heart,  the  side  trftnspierced; 
To  us  the  bread  of  life. 


To  thee  our  curse  and  doom 
Wrapp'd  round  thee  with  our  sin, 

The  horror  of  that  mid-day  gloom, 
The  deeper  night  within. 

To  us  thy  home  in  light, 

Thy  "  Come,  ye  blessed,  come !" 
Thy  bridal  raiment,  pure  and  white. 

Thy  Father's  welcome  home. 

Here  we  would  rest  midway, 

As  on  a  sacred  height. 
That  darkest  and  that  brightest  day 

Meeting  before  our  sight : 

From  that  dark  depth  of  woes 
Thy  love  for  us  hath  trod, 

Up  to  the  heights  of  bless'd  repose 
Thy  love  prepares  with  God; 

Till,  from  self's  chains  released, 

One  sight  alone  we  see, 
Still  at  the  cross,  as  at  the  feast, 

Behold  thee,  only  thee! 


PEEPAEING   TO   UNITE    WITH    THE    CHUECH.       171 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   TEUE    BELIEVEE    PEEPAEINQ   TO   UNITE  WITH   THE 
CHUECH   AND    COME   TO    THE    LOED'S    TABLE. 

Just  as  assuredly  as  any  man  desires  and  hopes  for 
salvation,  must  he  yield  himself  unreservedly  and  with- 
out compromise  to  that  Grod  who  provided  salvation 
for  him — to  that  Saviour  who  has  redeemed  him  Ly  his 
own  precious  blood — and  to  that  ever-blessed  Spirit 
who  has  so  graciously  undertaken  to  work  in  our 
hearts  to  will  and  to  do  according  to  the  purpose  of 
God. 

This,  many  now  living  have  felt  to  be  their  happy 
privilege  to  do ;  and  this  you,  my  dear  reader,  are  now, 
I  trust,  about  to  do.  Be  thankful,  m^y  friend,  that  Gocl 
has  heard  your  supplication,  and  that  you  have  been 
encouraged  to  participate  in  such  great  and  unspeak- 
able privilegas.  Eemember,  however,  that  such  en- 
couragement is  founded,  not  upon  any  fitness,  prepared- 
ness or  worthiness  in  you,  but  upon  the  hope  that  you 
have  become  sensible  of  your  ignorance,  guilt  and  in- 
eufficiency,  and  have  embraced  Christ,  and  that  you  are 
looking  to  him,  by  prayer  and  the  diligent  use  of  every 
means  of  grace,  for  wisdom  and  righteousness  and  com- 
plete redemption;  for  his  Holy  Spirit  to  renew  and 
sanctify  you;  and  for  grace  and  mercy  according  to 
your  every  need.     This,  and  this  alone,  can  give  you 


172  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

a  well-grounded  confidence  that  you  have  believed  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  you  have  fled  from 
every  self-righteous  dependence  and  '4aid  hold  o*^ 
Christ  as  the  only  hope  set  before  you  in  the  gospel.' 
See  to  it,  then,  my  dear  friend,  that  such  is  your  spirit 
your  determination  and  your  trust.  Without  this  you 
are  still  without  Christ,  and  consequently  '^  without 
God  and  without  hope  in  the  world."  Without  this 
your  profession  will  only  be  hypocrisy,  and  your  com- 
municating in  Christ's  presence  only  a  '^  crucifying  of 
Christ  afresh,"  by  a  shameful  denial  of  the  freeness, 
fulness  and  all-sufficiency  of  his  work  and  mercy,  his 
Spirit  and  grace.  Not  to  communicate  is  a  dreadful 
sin,  but  so  also  is  unworthy  communion.  As  the  one 
is  an  open  rejection  of  God's  authority,  so  is  the  other 
a  daring  insult  to  God's  omniscient  purity  and  holiness. 
The  one  refuses  to  obey  the  invitation  to  come  to  the 
feast,  and  the  other  comes  without  a  wedding  garment. 
The  one  lives  without  Christ  and  without  God  in  the 
world,  and  the  other  in  the  church.  The  one  is  rebel- 
lion and  the  other  is  hypocrisy,  and  both  sinful  ex- 
ceedingly. 

See  to  it,  then,  that  "  Christ,  is  within  you  the  hope 
of  glory,"  and  that  you  are  "in  Christ,"  ''not  having 
on  your  own  righteousness,  which  is  as  filthy  rags" 
in  the  sight  of  God,  who  looketh  upon  the  motive 
and  the  heart.  For  if  you  are  not  in  Christ — if  you 
are  not  dead  to  any  further  confidence  in  yourself,  and 
to  any  hope  of  salvation,  or  of  sanctification,  or  of  safety 
and  persevering  holiness,  except  through  Christ — your 
''goodness  will  be  as  the  morning  cloud,  and  the  early 
dew,  that  soon  passeth  away;"  and,  "having  put  your 


PREPARING   TO    UNITE    WITH    THE    CHURCH.       173 

hand  to  the  plough/'  you  will  be  found  among  those 
''who  turn  back  unto  perdition,"  and  concerning  whom 
Christ  will  say,  at  the  day  of  judgment,  ''I  never  knew 
you."     He  alone  can  ''stand  fast"  who  has  built  his 
hope  upon  the  rock  Christ  Jesus,  since  he  is  not  only  an 
immovable  rock  to  sustain,  but  also  a  spiritual  rock  to 
follow  him  through  all  the  wilderness,  out  of  which 
shall  flow  living  waters  to  quench  and  satisfy  his  thirsty 
soul.     He  alone  is  alive  to  God,  so  that  he  shall  "grow 
in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Grod,"  who  from  the 
bottom  of  his   heart  can  say,  "I  live,  yet  not  I,  but 
Christ  liveth  in  me ;  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in 
the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who 
loved   me   and  gave  himself  for  me."     Blessed  is  the 
man  whose  hope  is  thus  fixed  in  Christ,  "whose  sins 
are  covered."     He  shall  not  be  moved  by  any  sleight  of 
men  nor  artifice  of  the  devil,  but  shall  be  like  a  tree 
planted  by  rivers  of  water,  whose  leaves  are  always 
green  and  its  fruit  plentiful,  and  whose  root  fadeth 
never.      The  confession  made  by  such  a  man,  being 
rooted  in  the  grace  of  Christ,  will  be  as  a  shining  light 
in  the  midst  of  darkness. 

"Take  heed,  then,"  my  dear  reader,  "that  there  be 
not  in  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,"  which  will  assu- 
redly lead  you  "to  depart  from  the  living  God."  How 
many  professors  that  once  appeared  "/lo^"  (Rev.  iii. 
14-16)  have  cooled  down  into  lukewarmness  and  indif- 
ference, into  worldliness  and  formality,  into  drunkenness, 
dishonesty  and  lust,  and  sometimes  even  into  infidelity, 
and,  having  begun  in  bright  hope,  have  ended  in  de- 
spair! Their  foundation  being  in  themselves, — their 
hope  springing  from  excited  feeling  and  not  from  tiio 


174  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

word  and  promise,  the  person  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
and  "having  therefore  no  root  in  them/' — after  a  time 
they  fall  away  and  ''walk  no  more  with  Jesus."  They 
never  really  knew  Christ  and  the  power  of  his  gospel, 
and  therefore  he  never  knew  them.  And  hence  they 
have  gone  away  and  walked  no  more  with  him,  being 
offended  at  the  cross  and  not  willing  to  deny  themselves 
and  follow  Jesus. 

There  is,  therefore,  much  to  arouse  the  fears  and 
awaken  the  conscience  in  the  discussion  of  the  question. 
Ought  I  to  join  the  church  and  go  to  the  Lord's  Supper? 
Many  do  both,  and  yet  eat  and  drink  unworthily.  They 
bring  judgment,  that  is,  as  the  word  means,  condemna- 
tion, upon  themselves.  By  grieving  his  Holy  Spirit, 
they  provoke  God  to  visit  them  with  the  frowns  of  his 
Providence,  and  to  seal  them  to  the  day  of  perdition. 
They  know  that  they  were  never  convinced  of  sin, 
never  converted,  never  born  again,  never  transformed 
by  the  renewing  of  their  mind,  never  truly  devoted  to 
God.  While  with  their  lips  they  confess  Christ,  their 
hearts  are  far  from  him.  They  are  none  of  his.  They 
follow  not  after  him.  They  neither  walk  with  him, 
nor  work  for  him,  nor  live  in  him,  nor  love  him.  They 
neither  feel  the  guilt  of  sin  nor  the  greatness  of  salva- 
tion, the  goodness  of  God  nor  the  grace  of  Christ. 
They  never  felt  the  misery  of  being  lost  nor  the  rap- 
ture of  being  found,  the  helplessness  of  spiritual  death 
nor  the  power  of  God  in  making  them  alive  again. 
They  were  never  led  to  cry  out,  ''God,  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner,"  and  never  had  reason,  therefore,  to  "re- 
joice in  God"  as  a  sin-pardoning  God,  merciful  and  gra- 


PREPAEING  TO   UNITE   WITH   THE   CHURCH.      175 

dous,  forgiving  iniquity,  transgression  and  sin.  They 
do  not  live  to  Christ,  and  they  cannot  die  unto  him. 

For  such  to  profess  religion  is  impiety  and  to  com- 
municate is  a  lie.  It  is  to  take  God's  name  in  vain. 
It  is  to  say  by  the  lips  and  the  mouth  and  the  posture 
that  they  are  the  Lord's  and  that  the  Lord  is  their 's, 
while  their  heart  is  far  from  him.  It  is — like  Judas — 
to  betray  Christ  with  a  kiss,  and — like  Ananias  and 
Sapphira — to  lie,  "  not  unto  men  merely,  but  unto  God." 

This  is  sadly  true,  and  I  dare  not,  dear  reader,  con- 
ceal it  from  you.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  faith  with- 
out works,  which  is  dead, — a  name  to  live  which  is  only 
the  covering  of  a  dead  corpse, — the  form  without  the 
power  of  godliness, — a  religion  which  is  no  more  than 
sounding  brass  or  a  tinkling  cymbal.  There  are  dead 
and  unprofitable  branches,  withered,  fruitless,  having 
no  root  and  no  life  from  the  living  vine;  and  what 
have  such  to  do  to  come  to  the  feast  of  the  Lord  ?  Can 
the  dead  praise  him  ?  Can  the  dead  call  on  his  name, 
or  feed  upon  him,  or  grow  up  into  the  stature  of  perfect 
men  in  Christ  Jesus  ?  No !  Oh,  no !  This  feast  is  for 
the  living,  not  the  dead;  for  those  who  have  been 
quickened  by  Christ ;  for  those  who  have  •  spiritual  ap- 
petites and  desires  created  within  them,  and,  who  as  new- 
born babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that 
they  may  grow  thereby;  for  those  who  hunger  and 
thirst  after  righteousness  that  they  may  be  filled,  and 
whose  heart's  desire  and  prayer  is  that  their  souls  may 
prosper  and  be  in  health. 

All  this  is  true, — solemnly  true, — and  ought  to  lead 
you  to  examine  yourself  whether  you  be  in  the  faith, 
and  so  eat  of  this  bread  and  drink  of  this  wine.     Let 


176  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

not  tills,  however,  discourage  you,  if  you  realize  and 
feel  your  own  unwortliiness ;  your  want  of  any  ability 
or  strength  to  ''hold  fast  your  profession  steadfast  to 
the  end,  or  to  walk  worthy  of  him  who  hath  called 
you"  by  his  Spirit,  and  his  grace,  unto  a  life  of  holiness 
and  new  obedience.  It  is,  indeed,  a  great  thing  to  be 
a  Christian.  The  Christian  life  is  a  high,  holy  and 
heavenly  calling.  Its  standard  is  perfection;  its  spirit 
purity;  its  aim  holiness  in  the  fear  of  God;  its  object 
the  glory  of  G-od  and  the  salvation  of  the  soul;  and  its 
end  everlasting  life.  It  is  as  high  over  every  other  order, 
association  and  rule  of  action  as  the  heavens  are  above 
the  earth;  as  God  is  higher  than  man;  and  as  the  Bible 
is  more  perfect  than  any  human  code  of  morals.  Any 
other  ca^lling  a  man  may  fulfil  by  his  own  ability;  but 
to  ''walk  by  this  rule,"  a  man  must  be  guided  by  "that 
wisdom  which  cometh  from  above,  which  is  profitable 
to  direct,"  and  thoroughly  furnished  unto  every  good 
word  and  work,  and  he  must  be  upheld  and  "kept  also 
by  the  power  of  God,  through  faith,  unto  salvation." 

Great,  however,  as  is  the  calling,  the  work  and 
the  aim  of  the  Christian,  still  greater  are  the 
grace  and  mercy  imparted  by  God  to  "work  in  him  to 
will  and  to  do;" — still  greater  are  the  merit,  the  inter- 
cession and  the  ever-living  presence  and  sympathizing 
spirit  of  our  Divine  Kedeemer,  who  prays  for  his  dis- 
ciples that  their  faith  fail  not; — and  still  greater,  too, 
the  almighty  power  of  God  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  can 
preserve  the  graces  he  has  "wrought,"  subdue  corrup- 
tions, help  us  to  "crucify  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the 
devil;"  "to  walk  humbly  with  God;"  and  to  "keep  our- 
selves unspotted  from  the  world;"  yes,  able  to  wash, 


PEEPARINa   TO   UNITE   WITH   THE    CHURCH.      177 

sanctify  and  completely  redeem  us,  and  present  us 
faultless  before  the  Father  with  exceeding  joy.  Grreat, 
then,  0  sinner,  are  thy  sins,  but  greater  that  plenteous 
redemption  which  says  to  you,  ^'Though  thy  sins  be  as 
scarlet,  they  shall  become  white  as  snow;  though  they 
be  red  as  crimson,  they  shall  become  white  as  wool." 
Great,  0  sinner,  are  thy  sins,  which  have  abounded  so 
as  to  rise  like  a  mountain  over  your  head ;  but  the  grace 
of  Christ  ''has  much  more  abounded,"  so  that  this 
mountain  of  iniquity  shall  be  removed  and  cast  into 
the  sea  of  forgetfulness  and  remembered  no  more  for- 
ever. Great,  0  thou  fearful  heart,  is  thy  weakness  and 
unbelief;  but  God  has  ''laid  thy  help  on  one  who  is 
mighty  to  save,"  who  is  "Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the 
Mighty  God,  the  Everlasting  Father,  and  the  Prince 
of  Peace."  "He  is  able,  therefore,  to  save  to  the  ut- 
termost all  that  come  unto  God  by  him."  "Look  then 
unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  ye  ends  of  the  earth;  for 
I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else."  Great,  0  thou  weak 
believer,  is  thy  proneness  to  wander,  and  to  forget 
Christ;  but  greater  is  the  love  of  Christ,  who  will 
never  leave  nor  forsake  the  soul  that  trusts  in  him, 
but  who  saves  to  the  uttermost  all  who  come  unto  God 
by  him.  Great  and  numerous  are  thy  foes,  thy  enemies 
and  thy  temptations;  but  "greater  is  he  that  is  for 
you  than  all  that  can  be  against  you;"  "he  is  faithful 
to  his  prom'ses,  and  cannot  deny  himself;"  "his  gifts 
and  calling  are  without  repentance;"  and  as  "he  is  the 
author,  so  is  he  the  finisher,  of  your  faith. "  "  What  shall 
we  say,  then,  to  these  things?  If  God  be  for  us,  who 
can  be  against  us?     He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son, 

M 


178  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all.  how  shall  he  not  with 
him  also  freely  give  us  all  things  ?  Who  shall  lay  any 
thing  to  the  charge  of  God's  elect?  It  is  God  that 
justifieth.  Who  is  he  that  condemneth?  It  is  Christ 
that  died,  yea,  rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who  is  even 
at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession 
for  us.  Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ? 
Shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine, 
or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword?  Nay,  in  all  these 
things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that 
loved  us.  For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor 
life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor 
things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor 
depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord." 

While,  therefore,  it  is  true  that  it  would  be  better 
for  those  who  trust  in  themselves,  and  go  back,  ''not 
to  have  known  the  way  of  righteousness,  than,  after 
they  have  known  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy  command- 
ment," yet  let  not  this  discourage  you  or  lead  you  to 
falter  in  your  course.  The  same  is  true  of  baptism, 
of  Christian  education,  of  prayer,  of  the  Bible,  of 
preaching,  of  alms,  and  of  every  other  means  of  grace; 
since  all  these  will  aggravate  a  man's  guilt,  misery  and 
condemnation  if  ''he  fail  of  the  grace  of  God,"  and 
trusts  in  them  for  acceptance,  and  does  not  "obey  the 
truth."  "The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomina- 
tion: yea,  the  ploughing  of  the  wicked  is  sin."  (Prov. 
xxi.  4.)  "The  thoughts  and  intents  of  their  hearts  are 
evil,  and  only  evil,  and  that  continually."  The  only 
,  way,  therefore,  to  avoid  the  curse  and  wrath  of  God 


PEEPARING  TO  UNITE  WITH  THE  CHURCH.   179 

against  all  the  children  of  disobedience,  is  to  enter  upon 
the  discharge  of  this  and  every  other  duty  in  the  fear 
of  the  Lord,  in  dependence  upon  his  Spirit,  and  looking 
to  him  for  grace  and  mercy  to  help  you.  "  For  as  oft 
as  we  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this  wine,  we  do  show 
the  Lord's  death  till  he  come." 

In  the  strength  of  Christ,  therefore,  hold  on  thy  way. 
Do  not  disobey  Christ's  authoritative  command,  nor 
turn  a  deaf  ear  to  his  melting  invitation,  but  "  do  this 
in  remembrance  of  him,"  that,  being  made  worthy  for 
it  "by  the  imputation  of  his  righteousness,  which  is 
without  works  on  your  part,"  you  may  be  made  par- 
taker also  of  his  holiness  and  of  his  everlasting  blessed- 
ness. 

Come,  then,  to  God  in  Christ,  and,  as  you  accompany 
me  with  a  pure  heart  and  humble  voice  unto  the  throne 
of  the  heavenly  grace,  say  after  me, — 

0  G-od,  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  to  whom  I 
have  now  yielded  myself,  according  to  thy  gracious  war- 
rant and  mercy,  I  am  sensible  of  the  treachery  and 
baseness  of  my  own  heart;  but  I  am  also  acquainted 
with  thy  power  and  mercy  and  faithfulness.  Oh,  let 
me  not  rashly  take  up  a  profession  which  I  shall  as 
hastily  abandon  or  never  fully  maintain. 

Help  me  to  understand  the  engagements  I  am  under- 
taking, that  I  may  count  the  cost  and  not  prove 
a  foolish  builder.  Help  me  to  consider  the  difficulties 
and  disadvantages  that  attend  religion,  and  the  troubles 
to  which  it  may  expose  me.  And  may  I  seriously  con- 
sider that  I  must  deny  myself,  and  take  my  cross,  and 
follow  Christ,  if  I  would  be  his  disciple. 

Let  none  of  these  things,  however,  move  me  from  my 


180         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

resolution.  Oli,  give  me  such  near  and  affecting  views 
of  the  glory  that  is  to  be  revealed,  and  of  that  wrath 
and  fiery  indignation  which  await  the  ungodly, — so  set 
death  and  judgment  before  me,  and  so  impress  me  with 
a  sense  of  the  worth  of  my  soul,  and  the  emptiness  of 
this  world, — that  I  may  be  fully  determined  to  accept 
of  Christ,  and  adhere  to  him  through  evil  and  through 
good  report,  and  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  him.  And,  oh,  may  this  be 
my  unalterable  persuasion !  Let  me  never  turn  aside, 
nor  wander  from  thee.  Oh,  let  me  not  trifle  with  thy 
commandments!  Let  me  never,  like  an  ungracious 
prodigal,  forsake  my  father's  house,  or  count  his  meat 
contemptible.  Oh,  never  let  me  deny  or  forget  that 
Jesus,  whom  I  am  so  solemnly  to  acknowledge  as  MY 
LoED  AND  MY  GoD !  Let  the  unclean  devil  never  re- 
enter and  take  possession  of  this  soul,  which  I  conse- 
crate as  a  temple  to  the  Holy  Ghost.  I  am  full  of 
fears,  and  have  reason  to  be  jealous  of  myself,  but  yet 
I  am  not  void  of  hope;  nor  have  I  any  reason  to  dis- 
trust my  God.  Thy  grace  is  sufiicient  for  me.  Oh,  for 
thy  name's  sake,  lead  me  and  guide  me  and  put  thy  fear 
into  my  heart,  that  I  may  never  depart  from  thee. 

But,  0  my  God,  while  I  would  obey  and  come  to  thy 
table,  let  me  not  come  unworthily.  May  I  never  ''eat 
and  drink  condemnation  to  myself."  Deliver  me  from 
khe  dreadful  guilt  of  crucifying  afresh  and  putting  to 
open  shame  that  Jesus  whom  I  think  my  soul  loves, 
and  desires  to  remember,  confess  and  honour.  Keep 
me  from  receiving  poison  from  the  richest  food,  and 
from  coming  for  a  blessing  and  carrying  away  a  curse. 
And  to  this  end  enable  me,  by  thy  grace,  to  commit  my 


WLcW  in  t\)t  Fallrn. 


Janet  Fraser. 


PREPARING   TO   UNITE   WITH   THE    CHURCH.      181 

soul  into  Christ's  hand,  to  depend  on  him  for  all  I  need, 
and  let  his  gracious  Spirit  help  my  infirmities,  plead 
for  me  with  groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered,  bear 
witness  with  my  spirit  that  I  am  a  child  of  God,  and 
strengthen  me  with  all  might  in  the  inner  man;  that  I 
may  thus  hold  fast  the  beginning  of  my  confidence  stead- 
fast unto  the  end.  Which  I  humbly  ask  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 

Oh,  happy  bond,  that  seals  my  vows 

To  Him  who  merits  all  my  love! 
Let  cheerful  anthems  fill  his  house, 

While  to  that  sacred  shrine  I  move. 

'Tis  done  !   the  great  transaction's  done  ! 

I  am  my  Lord's,  and  he  is  mine ; 
He  drew  me,  and  I  follow'd  on, 

Charm'd  to  confess  the  voice  divine. 

Now,  rest,  my  long-divided  heart; 

Fix'd  on  this  blissful  centre,  rest: 
With  ashes  who  would  grudge  to  part, 

When  called  on  angels'  bread  to  feast  ? 

High  heaven,  that  heard  the  solemn  vow, 

That  vow  renew'd  shall  daily  hear, 
Till  in  life's  latest  hour  I  bow, 

And  bless  in  death  a  bond  so  dear. 

You  may  find  encouragement,  my  dear  reader,  in 
coming  to  the  Lord's  table,  notwithstanding  many 
fears  and  misgivings,  from  the  story  of  Janet  Fraser's 
gift  of  a  site  for  a  Free  Church,  in  Scotland.  She  was  a 
very  aged  and  poor  woman,  (earning  about  eighteen 
dollars  in  the  course  of  a  year,)  who  lived  in  that  por- 
tion of  the  country  in  which  the  lord  of  the  soil  was 
bitterly  opposed  to  the  Free  Church  and  had  positively 
refused  to  sell  or  rent  as  much  ground  as  would  afford 
room  for  even  one  church.  The  adherents  of  the 
Free  Church  had,  therefore,  as  in  many  other  cases,  to 
worship  in  the  open  air,  on  the  sea-shore,  or  wherever 
they  could,  amid  all  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather, 

16 


182  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

and  during  the  depth  of  winter.  Janet — whose  nan\e 
will  now  go  down  to  posterity  as  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Free  Church — owned,  as  her  sole  possession,  a 
small  piece  of  ground  which  was  within  the  prohibited 
soil. 

When  a  committee  of  the  Free  Church  at  Thornhill 
waited  on  Janet  to  see  if  she  would  sell  them  her 
ground,  she  utterly  refused  to  do  so,  because  she  said 
she  had  vowed  to  give  it  to  God,  and  therefore  it.  was 
only  as  a  gift  that  she  could  part  with  it.  In  the  mean 
time,  an  agent  of  the  Duke  of  Buccleuch  offered  to 
purchase  the  ground.  But  Janet  cut  short  all  his 
overtures,  by  the  noble  reply,  ^^She  had  devoted  it  to 
her  Maker,  and  she  wouldn't  take  his  five  hundred 
pounds  sterling,  (or  about  $2500,)  no,  nor  all  the  duke- 
dom of  Queensberry,  for  her  ground,  under  a  prohibi- 
tion to  give  it  to  the  Almighty."  She  gave  it,  there- 
fore, to  the  Free  Church ;  and  upon  it  now  stands  the 
commodious  Church  of  Thornhill. 

This  resolution  of  Janet  had  its  origin  in  a  purpose 
which  she  formed  at  a  sacramental  occasion ;  and,  as  she 
regarded  it  as  an  occurrence  of  ''  too  serious  a  nature 
to  have  one  flaw  in  it,"  we  shall  quote  from  her  own 
account.  "I  sat  down  at  the  Lord's  table  on  Sabbath, 
when  an  old  woman  followed;  and  when  the  bread 
came,  she  took  her  piece  and  laid  the  rest  on  a  plate, 
which  was  handed  down  the  tables.  In  the  address, 
before  distributing  the  elements,  the  minister  repeated 
these  words,  quoted  from  Isaiah  xliii.  1 : — '  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  that  created  thee,  0  Jacob,  and  he  that  formed 
thee,  0  Israel,  Fear  not;  for  I  have  redeemed  thee,  I 
have   called   thee   by  thy  name;   thou  art   mine.'     I 


WicW  in  U)C  Fallrn. 


Janet  Fraser's  Cottage,  aud  Tlioruhill  Free  CLarch. 


PEEPAE.ING  TO   UNITE   WITH  THE   CHUECH.      183 

thouglit  they  entered  my  sonl,  and  lifted  it  up  in  joy 
whicli  I  could  hardly  contain;  but,  when  the  bread 
passed,  such  fear  came  on  me  as  that  I  durst  not  lift 
it  off  the  plate.  I  wished  the  cup  might  pass  likewise, 
if  I  did  not  belong  to  God.  But  the  minister  observed 
I  had  missed  the  bread.  He  spoke  to  the  elder  who 
was  carrying  it  back,  that  a  person  or  persons  had 
missed  the  bread.  The  elder  offered  it  to  a  man  who 
sat  beside  me,  who  said  we  had  all  eaten  of  it,  when  I 
replied,  it  was  I  who  missed  it :  so  he  gave  me  a  piece. 
I  admired  the  providence  as  much  as  the  promise,  and 
I  have  now  need  of  them  both.  Lo,  in  all  these  things 
God  oftentimes  worketh  with  man,  to  bring  back  his 
soul  from  the  pit,  to  be  enlightened  with  the  light  of 
the  living.     God  is  good  to  Israel." 

Such  is  her  own  simple  account  of  her  feelings. 
Like  many, — indeed,  we  might  say,  like  all  the  children 
of  God  at  times, — she  had  been  in  a  state  of  coldness 
and  dark  misgiving.  She  '^was  in  a  strait  betwixt  two 
things."  She  knew  it  was  her  duty  to  go  to  the  com- 
munion, and  that  she  ought  to  be  in  a  suitable  and 
proper  frame  of  mind  and  heart,  and  yet  such  was  not, 
as  she  feared,  her  condition,  and  therefore  she  was  in 
dread  of  committing  sin  by  coming  to  the  table  of  the 
Lord.  But  still,  as  her  state  of  coldness  was  a  burden 
and  a  grief  to  her,  and  she  anxiously  desired  to  be  de- 
livered from  it,  she  ventured,  like  the  poor  woman  in 
the  Gospel,  to  press  forward  through  the  crowd,  so  as  to 
get  as  near  her  Saviour  as  she  could,  knowing  that  "ii 
he  would,  he  could  make  her  whole,"  even  though  she 
could  but  touch  as  it  were  the  hem  of  his  garment,  or 
have  one  ray  of  his  life-giving  countenance  lifted  upon 


184  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

her.  This  was  faith  walking  in  darkness  and  struggling 
in  weakness.  And  it  was  rewarded.  He  who  made 
whole  the  poor  woman  helped  her  infirmities  and  un- 
belief. The  desires  of  her  heart  were  fulfilled.  She 
saw  the  goodness  of  the  Lord.  She  was  lifted  up  out 
of  her  despondency.  The  shadows  of  night  were  scat- 
tered, and  joy  came  in  the  morning  of  her  fresh-dawn- 
ing hopes.  Her  heart  was  filled  also  with  love.  Gra- 
titude demanded  an  expression.  She  had  received 
much,  and  she  felt  that  she  ought  to  give  much.  And 
therefore,  like  the  poor  widow  at  the  temple,  who  was 
commended  by  our  Saviour  because  she  ''gave  more 
than  all  the  rest,  inasmuch  as  she  gave  her  all,"  Janet 
gave  her  all, — her  home,  her  patrimony,  her  ''living." 
She  gave  what  wealth  could  not  buy,  nor  influence  se- 
cure, nor  aristocratic  pride  any  longer  withhold.  She 
gave  unto  the  Lord  a  place  where  a  sanctuary  might 
be  built,  from  which  the  praises  of  the  Lord  might 
ever  ascend  out  of  the  hearts  of  his  free  and  faithful 
followers.  That  house  has  been  built, — singularly  ir- 
regular, indeed,  so  as  to  fill  every  portion  of  the  lot, 
and  thus  accommodate  as  many  worshippers  as  possible, 
but  a  perpetual  memorial  of  the  faithfulness  and  mercy 
of  the  Lord  to  them  that  seek  him, — however  dark  and 
desponding  may  be  their  feelings, — when  they  seek  him 
in  the  way  of  his  promises  and  his  ordinances  and 
with  their  whole  heart. 

Oh,  yes !  God  is  ever  far  better  with  his  people  than 
tongue  can  describe; — better  than  their  fears  and 
more  merciful  than  all  their  hopes.  Thus  does  the 
high  and  holy  Saviour,  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  and 
the  praises  thereof,  look  down  upon  those  that  are  of 


PEEPARINO  TO  UNITE  WITH  THE  CHUPCH.   185 

an  humble  and  contrite  heart,  'Ho  revive  th^  spirit  of 
the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite 
ones."  "The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,"  said  the 
blessed  Jesus,  when  on  earth,  '^  because  he  hath  anointed 
me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor;  he  hath  sent  me 
to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliverance  to 
the  captives  and  recovering  of  sight  to  the  blind,  and 
to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bound."  ''  Lamb  of  God, 
whatever  reason  we  have  to  be  afraid,  we  shall  not  find 
it  in  the  memory  of  thee!  There  has  been  nothing 
seen  of  thee  but  love ;  nothing  heard  or  known  of  thee 
but  goodness;  not  one  repulsive  look  to  them  that 
sought  thee,  not  one  refusal  to  them  that  asked  thy 
help,  not  a  word  of  discouragement  even  to  thy  ene- 
mies, if  they  would  turn  to  thee  again.  They  who  re- 
jected thee  were  repaid  with  tears;  and  they  who  cru- 
cified thee,  with  thy  prayers.  And  there  has  been  no 
change.  'As  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this 
cup,  ye  do  show  forth  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come.' 

''The  Lion  of  the  Tribe  of  Judah  is  not  in  the  feast; 
the  judge,  the  avenger,  is  not  there;  but  'in  the  midst 
of  the  throne  a  Lamb  as  it  had  been  slain,'  touched 
with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  waiting  to  be  gracious. 
'  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock :  if  any  man  hear 
my  voice  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and 
will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with  me.' " 

Come  to  the  table,  then,  my  dear  reader,  relying 
upon  Christ,  and  your  hopes  shall  not  be  disappointed. 
Feed  upon  him  by  faith,  and  then  shall  you  experience 
the  truth  of  that  saying,  "Whoso  eateth  my  flesh  and 
drinketh  my  blood  hath  eternal  life;  and  I  will  raise 
him  up  at  the  last  day.     He  that  eateth  my  flesh  and 

16* 


186  THE  WELL  IN   THE   VALLEY. 

drinketh  my  blood  dwelleth  in  me,  and  I  in  him." 
Come,  believing  in  this  unseen  Saviour,  heartily  ap- 
proving of  the  method  which  God  has  appointed  foi 
man's  salvation,  and  then,  '^ being  justified  by  faith, 
you  shall  have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."  From  your  inmost  soul,  submit  yourself  to 
the  plan  of  righteousness  devised  by  God,  and  '^rejoice 
in  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  we 
have  now  received  the  atonement."  Earnestly  desire 
to  "be  found  in  Christ,"  having  no  other  righteousness 
or  ground  of  trust  than  "that  which  is  through  the  faith 
of  Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is  of  God  by  faith." 
Let  it  be  the  very  foundation  and  corner-stone  of  your 
hope  and  confidence  that  "Christ  died  for  our  sins," 
and  was  "made  sin,"  that  is,  a  sin-ofi'ering,  "for  us," 
that  he  might  be  made  unto  us  of  God  righteousness, 
and  that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God 
in  him.  Under  the  full  consciousness  of  your  own 
guilt  and  sinful  infirmities,  "behold  the  Lamb  of  God, 
who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world,"  who  "made  his 
soul  an  ofi'ering  for  sin,"  and  "put  away  sin  by  the 
sacrifice  of  himself,"  that  "what  the  law  could  not 
do"  God  might  do,  by  sending  "his  Son,  in  the  like- 
ness of  sinful  flesh  and  for  sin,  condemning  sin  in  the 
flesh,  that  the  righteousness  of  the  law  may  be  fulfilled 
in  us."  Christ,  therefore,  has  "made  peace  by  the  blood 
01  his  cross,"  and  "given  himself  for  us,  that  he  might 
redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,"  so  that  we  may  "have  no 
condemnation,"  but  be  "freely  justified  from  all  things 
from  which  we  could  not  be  justified  by  the  law,"  and 
be  "purified  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of 
good  works."     Let  your  prayer,  therefore,  be,  "Lord,  I 


PEEPARING   TO   UNITE   WITH   THE   CHUECH.       187 

believe  all  these  glad  tidings :  help  thou  mine  unbelief. 
Lord,  increase  my  faith,  and  perfect  that  which  is  lack- 
ing in  it,  that,  feeling  its  strength,  I  may  not  doubt  its 
reality.'' 

Let  your  desire  be  toward  this  blessed  Saviour,  and 
your  delight  be  in  him,  and  ''love  not  in  word,  but  in 
deed,  and  in  truth."  Come  to  Him  who  is  not  ashamed 
to  call  himself  brother  and  us  his  brethren,  saying, 
"Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee?  and  there  is  none 
in  all  the  earth  that  I  desire  beside  thee.  Yea,  doubt- 
less, and  I  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the  excellency 
of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord." 

My  Brother !     Can  it  be, 
The  God  of  life  and  glory  condescends 
To  call  himself  by  such  endearing  name  ? 
My  Brother !     I  would  lie  low  at  thy  feet 
And  gaze  upon  thy  face  of  love, — 
Thy  greatness  making  my  humility, 
Thy  excellence,  my  holiness. 

Behold  in  your  loving  and  all-merciful  Redeemer 
'Hhe  chief  among  ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely." 
Tell  him  that  you  love  him.  Say  to  him,  ''Lo,  thou 
knowest  all  things :  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee  and 
have  chosen  thy  testimonies  as  my  heritage  forever." 
Tell  him  that  you  ''are  constrained  by  his  love  to  live 
not  unto  yourself,  -but  unto  Him  who  loved  you,  and 
gave  himself  for  you;"  that  you  find  "his  yoke  easy 
and  his  burden  light;"  that  his  commandments  are 
not  "grievous;"  and  that  it  will  be  your  delight  to 
"follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth."  As  he 
says,  "Ye  are  my  friends  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  com- 
mand you,"  tell  him  it  will  be  your  aim  and  purpose  to 


1.88  THE    WELL    IN    THE   VALLEY. 

/'keep  all  his  commandments  and  his  statutes  blame- 
less." As  he  requires  you  to  '^love  your  neighbour  2S 
yourself  and  to  forgive  your  enemies/'  ask  him  to  fill 
your  heart  with  love  and  charity  towards  all  men. 
And  as  we  '^  hereby  know  that  we  have  passed  from 
death  unto  life,  because  we  love  the  brethren,"  see  that 
ye  "love  one  another  with  a  pure  heart  fervently." 

''But,  0  my  God,"  you  may  still  say,  "how  weak 
and  how  imperfect  is  my  love !  I  even  hate  myself, 
that  I  can  love  thee  no  more.  I  abhor  myself,  that  T 
love  thy  Christ  no  better,  and  blush  to  think  that  I 
am  no  more  kindly  affectioned  to  those  whom  thou 
hast  loved  with  an  everlasting  love  and  with  whom  I 
hope  to  live  p.nd  converse  forever. 

"  My  only  comfort  is,  that  I  would  love  thee :  I  desire 
to  love  thee;  I  long  to  love  thee,  even  as  thou  wouldst 
be  loved.  Lord,  kindle  my  spark  into  a  flame,  and  let 
that  flame  be  strong  and  steady,  and  especially  grant 
that  my  obedience  may  prove  my  love  to  be  of  the  right 
kind ;  for  how  can  I  say  I  love  thee,  if  my  heart  be  not 
right  with  thee?  And,  for  thy  sake,  may  I  love  my 
neighbour, — especially  the  happy  members  of  that 
glorious  family  to  which  it  is  my  highest  honour  to  be- 
long. Oh,  may  I  love  them  as  myself,  and  in  honour 
prefer  them  before  myself,  and  think  no  ofiice  of  love 
too  mean  for  me  to  stoop  to,  in  imitation  of  Him  who 
came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister.  (Matt. 
XX.  28.)  And  thou,  0  blessed  Saviour,  who  hast  died 
that  I  might  be  '  cleansed  from  all  filthiness  both  of 
flesh  and  spirit,  and  that  thou  mightest  perfect  in  me 
holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,'  grant  that  I  may 
be    made    'perfect   in    every    good    work    to    do    thy 


PREPARING   TO   UNITE    WITH   THE   CHURCH.       189 

will/  and  that  I  may  be  sanctified  wholly,  and  my 
whole  spirit,  soul  and  body  be  preserved  blameless,  to 
the  coming  of  our  Lord."     1  Thess.  v.  23. 

Come,  then,  to  the  table  of  the  Lord  in  this  spirii 
and  with  these  desires,  and  "you  shall  be  filled,  and 
your  soul  shall  be  satisfied."  Here  you  may  expect  to 
have  your  faith  strengthened  by  the  sensible  repre- 
sentation which  is  made  of  Christ,  as  both  crucified 
and  exalted.  Here  you  may  hope  to  have  your  love 
inflamed  by  the  remembrance  of  that  love — ^high  as 
heaven,  deep  as  hell,  stronger  than  death,  and  endless 
as  a  past  and  coming  eternity — with  which  Christ  hath 
loved  you.  Here  your  resolutions  will  be  confirmed 
by  the  experience  of  his  loving-kindness  and  tender 
mercy.  Here  your  mind  will  be  spiritualized,  by  being 
set  on  things  above,  and  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible. 
Here  your  whole  spirit  and  conversation  may  be  moulded 
by  the  grace  and  strength  imparted  unto  you.  Here  your 
peace  may  flow  as  a  river,  and  your  joy  be  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory.  Here  you  may  be  clothed  in  the 
whole  armour  of  God,  so  that  you  may  fight  manfully 
the  good  fight  of  faith,  be  prepared  for  all  the  troubles 
of  life,  and  made  triumphant  amid  the  agonies  of  death. 

When  the  missionary  Judson  was  in  this  country, 
he  visited  the  birthplace  and  early  residence  of  his 
first  wife,  and  on  entering  one  of  the  rooms  he  was 
attracted  by  a  faithful  portrait  of  her  in  all  her  youth 
and  beauty.  Overpowered  by  the  flood  of  associations 
and  memories  of  what  she  was  then,  and  of  all  her  devo- 
tion and  sufiferings  in  his  behalf  since,  he  was  melted 
into  tears  of  profound  sorrow,  gratitude  and  love. 
When  Marshal  La  Fayette  was  on  his  last  tour  through 


190  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

this  country,  lie  was  introduced  to  a  public  hall  where 
he  beheld  a  lifelike  statue  of  Washington.  He  drew 
near.  He  uncovered  his  head.  He  remained  for  some 
time  fixed  in  mute  silence.  At  length  his  countenance 
fell,  the  tears  began  to  fall,  and  his  full  heart  burst 
forth  into  expressions  of  mournful  and  reverential 
sorrow.  And  when  the  sailors  and  the  soldiers  who  had 
participated  in  the  philanthropic  devotion  of  Miss 
Nightingale  during  the  Crimean  war  were  on  any 
occasion  brought  into  view  of  her  picture,  they  have 
been  known  to  fall  down  before  it  in  tearful  gratitude 
and  veneration.  And  when  we — for  whom  as  sinners 
Christ  died,  the  just  for  the  unjust — behold  in  his  ordi- 
nance the  emblematic  picture  of  Christ  in  all  his  love 
and  sufferings, — when  we  look  upon  him  evidently  set 
before  us  crucified  and  slain, — when  we  see  the  broken 
bread  and  blood-red  wine,  and  the  linen  cloth  which 
covers  these  memorials  of  his  death,  like  the  shroud  in 
which  kind  women  swathed  his  sacred,  lacerated  body, 
— how  must  our  sympathies  be  awakened,  our  afi'ec- 
tions  enkindled,  and  the  whole  soul,  with  all  that  is 
within  it,  be  melted  into  tenderness  and  adoring  wonder, 
love  and  praise ! 

You  will  feel  as  did  Agnes  Beaumont,  the  friend  of 
Bunyan,  who  united  with  his  church  in  1672.*  Speak- 
ing of  the  communion,  she  says,  "Oh,  it  was  a  feast 
of  fat  things!  I  sat  under  his  shadow  with  great  de- 
light. When  at  the  Lord's  table,  I  found  sach  a  return 
of  prayer  that  I  was  scarcely  able  to  bear  up  under  it. 


*  Read    the   beautiful    and    edifying  Illustrated    Life  of  Bunyan, 
recently  issued  by  the  Aniericnn  Sunday-School  Union,  p.  303,  &c. 


PEEPAEING   TO   UNITE   WITH    THE   CHUECH.       191 

I  was,  as  it  were,  carried  up  to  heaven,  and  had  such 
a  sight  of  the  Saviour  as  even  broke  my  heart  in  pieces. 
Oh,  how  I  then  longed  to  be  with  Christ !  How  will- 
ingly would  I  have  died  in  the  place  and  gone  im- 
mediately to  glory!  A  sense  of  my  sins  and  of  his 
dying  love  made  me  love  him  and  long  to  be  with  him. 
I  have  often  thought  of  his  goodness  in  his  remarkable 
visit  to  my  soul  that  day ;  but  he  knew  the  temptations 
that  I  was  to  meet  with  the  very  same  night  and  a  few 
days  after.  I  have  seen  the  bowels  of  his  compassion 
towards  me  in  these  manifestations  of  his  love  before  I 
was  tried.     This  was  infinite  condescension  indeed!" 

Thus  it  may  be,  and  thus  I  trust  it  will  be,  with  you, 
my  dear  reader;  so  that,  being  filled  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory,  your  heart,  like  Bunyan's,  may 
be  so  taken  with  the  love  and  mercy  of  God  as  not  to 
know  how  to  contain  itself. 

'^I  thought,"  says  he,  ''I  could  have  spoken  of  his 
love  and  told  of  his  mercy  to  the  very  crows  that  sat 
upon  the  ploughed  lands  before  me,  had  they  been  capa- 
ble of  understanding  me.  Wherefore  I  said  to  my 
soul,  with  much  gladness,  'Well,  would  I  had  a  pen 
and  ink  here,  I  would  write  this  down  before  I  go  any 
farther.'" 

Soft  as  falls  the  heavenly  dew, 
AVeary  nature  to  renew, 
Or  the  flakes,  unearthly  pure, 
Of  the  snowy  coverture, 
Thus,  too  high  for  mortal  sense, 
Christ  his  presence  doth  dispense, 
Seen  in  diviner  sympathies. 
In  sacred  joys  that  rise 
And  waft  the  soul  to  heaven  with  rapture's  sighs. 


192  THE   WELL    IN   THE   VALLEY 

Jesus  hath  left  his  flock  below, 

And  gone  unto  the  Mount  to  pray 
For  his  poor  wanderers,  left  to  go 

Without  him  on  the  stormy  way. 
But  when  the  tempest  rageth  high 
With  dread  their  fearful  hearts  to  try, 
Their  tearful  eyes  shall  see  him  nigh, 

Stilling  the  tempest  into  peace. 

Bidding  all  dark  forebodings  cease, 
Shedding  abroad  his  heavenly  love, 
Inspiring  hopes  of  joys  above, 

Where  soon  upon  the  blissful  shore 
They  from  their  Lord  shall  go  on  stormy  waves  no  more. 

^'  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  bene- 
fits towards  me?  I  will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  I  will  pay  my  vows 
unto  the  Lord  now  in  the  presence  of  all  his  people." 

Communion  of  my  Saviour's  blood 

In  him  to  have  my  lot  and  part, 
To  prove  the  virtue  of  that  blood 

Which  burst  on  Calvary  fi'om  his  heart. 

To  feed  by  faith  on  Christ,  my  bread, 

His  body  broken  on  the  tree : 
To  live  in  him,  my  living  Head, 

Who  died,  and  rose  again,  for  me : — 

This  be  my  joy  and  comfort  here. 

This  pledge  of  future  glory  mine  ; 
Jesus,  in  spirit  now  appear. 

And  break  the  bread  and  pour  the  wine. 

From  thy  dear  hand  may  I  receive 

The  tokens  of  thy  dying  love. 
And,  while  I  feast  on  earth,  believe 

That  I  shall  feast  with  thee  above. 


PEEPAHINa  TO   UNITE   WITH   THE   CHURCH.      193 

Ah !  here,  though  in  the  lowest  place, 

Thee  at  thy  table  may  I  meet, 
And  see  thee,  know  thee,  face  to  face ! 

For  such  a  moment  death  were  sweet. 

What,  then,  will  their  fruition  be 

Who  meet  in  heaven  with  blest  accord  ? 

A  moment  ? — no  :  eternity  ! 

They  are  forever  with  the  Lord. 


In  the  hour  of  trial, 

Jesus,  pray  for  me, 
Lest,  by  base  denial, 

I  depart  from  thee. 
When  thou  seest  me  waver, 

With  a  look  recall. 
Nor,  for  fear  or  favour, 

Suffer  me  to  fall. 

With  its  witching  pleasures, 

Would  this  vain  world  charm, 
Or  its  sordid  treasures 

Spread,  to  work  me  harm ; 
Bring  to  my  remembrance 

Sad  Gethsemane, 
Or,  in  darker  semblance, 

Cross-crown' d  Calvary. 

If,  with  sore  aflfliction, 

Thou  in  love  chastise, 
Pour  thy  benediction 

On  the  sacrifice : 
Then,  upon  thine  altar, 

Freely  offer'd  up, 
Though  the  flesh  may  falter, 

Faith  shall  drink  the  cup. 

When,  in  dust  and  ashes. 
To  the  grave  I  sink, 
17 


.194  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

While  heaven's  glory  flashes 
O'er  the  shelving  brink, 

On  thy  truth  relying 

Through  that  mortal  strife, 

Lord,  receive  me,  dying, 
To  eternal  life. 


Approach  not  the  altar 
With  gloom  in  thy  soul, 

Nor  let  thy  feet  falter 
From  terror's  control ! 

God  loves  not  the  sadness 

Of  fear  and  distrust ; 
Oh,  serve  him  with  gladness,— 

The  gentle,  the  just! 

Confiding,  believing, 

Oh,  enter  always 
'*His  courts  with  thanksgiving. 

His  portals  with  praise !" 

Nor  come  to  the  temple 
With  pride  in  thy  mien, 

But  lowly  and  simple, 
In  courage  serene. 

Bring  meekly  before  him 

The  faith  of  a  child  ; 
Bow  down  and  adore  him, 

With  heart  undefiled. 

And  "by  the  still  waters," 
And  through  the  green  shade, 

With  Zion's  glad  daughters 
Thy  path  shall  be  made. 


REMEMBEKING  CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  195 


CHAPTEK  XL 

THE   TRUE   BELIEVER   EEMEMBERINa   CHRIST   AT   THE 
COMMUNION-TABLE. 

What,  my  friend,  are  the  ministers  of  Christ,  at 
whose  hand  you  are  now  about  to  receive  the  emblems 
of  our  Saviour's  love  and  passion?  ''Let  a  man,"  says 
the  apostle,  "  so  account  of  us  as  of  the  ministers  of 
Christ,  and  stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  Now, 
then,  we  are  ambassadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God 
did  beseech  you  by  us :  we  pray  you,  in  Christ's  stead, 
be  ye  reconciled  to  God."  Were  not  this  exalted  office 
so  distinctly  and  unequivocally  delineated  and  enjoined, 
it  would  be  the  very  height  of  unpardonable  and  blas- 
phemous presumption  in  any  man  to  assume  such  a 
position  between  the  high  and  holy  Sovereign  of  the 
universe  and  his  accountable  and  guilty  creatures. 
But  such  being  the  duties  which  ministers  are  called 
upon  to  discharge,  in  dependence  upon  the  gracious 
guidance  and  help  of  our  adorable  Redeemer,  it  would 
be  presumption  in  them  to  shrink  from  it,  or,  under  a  plea 
of  affected  modesty,  not  to  make  themselves  prominent, 
or  to  allow  personal  considerations  to  hinder  them  from 
boldly  and  faithfully  holding  forth  the  word  of  life. 
Especially  is  this  true  on  such  an  occasion  as  that  of 
the  communion,  when  the  King  himself  comes  near, 
that  he  may  hold  intercourse  with  those  who   have 


196         THE  WELL  IN  THE  YALLEY. 

chosen  him  as  their  Eedeemer.  Here  especially  let 
the  minister  remember  that  he  is  in  Christ's  stead,  as 
though  God  did  beseech  his  hearers  by  him.  In  this 
spirit  let  him  persuade  and  entreat  them  to  be  "recon- 
ciled to  God."  And  in  this  spirit,  also,  do  you,  dear 
reader,  come  to  the  table  of  the  Lord.  He  is  himself 
present,  to  bless  you  and  to  do  you  good.  Let,  then, 
all  thoughts  of  his  ministers  be  banished  from  your 
mind,  and  let  Christ  himself  speak  to  you  on  that  occa- 
sion, when  he  will  afford  you  the  opportunity  of  cele- 
brating this  feast  of  love.  It  was  on  the  same  night 
in  which  he  was  betrayed,  that  Christ  took  bread,  and 
gave  thanks,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  unto  his  disciples, 
saying,  "This  do  in  remembrance  of  me."  "Likewise 
also"  did  he  bless  and  give  to  them  the  cup.  And 
what  he  did  with  the  twelve  apostles  he  does  also  with 
all  his  disciples  to  the  end  of  the  world.  "For,"  says 
the  Apostle  Paul,  "I  have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I  delivered  unto  you,  that  the  Lord  Jesus, 
the  same  night  in  which  he  was  betrayed,  took  bread; 
and,  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said, 
Take,  eat :  this  is  my  body  which  is  broken  for  you : 
this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  After  the  same  man- 
ner, also,  he  took  the  cup,  when  he  had  supped,  saying, 
This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood :  this  do  ye, 
as  oft  as  ye  drink  it,  in  remembrance  of  me.  For  as 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do 
show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come." 

Such  is  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  is  the  Lord's. 
Christ  is  the  beginning,  middle  and  end  of  it.  Christ 
is  its  author  and  finisher.  His  finished  work  is  its 
foundation  and  the  object  of  its  commemoration,  the 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  197 

antitype  of  whicli  it  is  a  type,  tlie  thing  signified  by  its 
sign,  the  blessing  secured  by  its  seals  and  appropriated 
by  their  reception — the  hope  set  before  us.  Christ  and 
him  crucified  is,  therefore,  the  sum  and  substance,  the 
Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last,  of  this  most 
solemn  and  endearing  of  all  His  ordinances. 

Christ  himself  is  present.  To  the  believing  heart 
he  is  the  bread  of  heaven,  the  living  water,  the  new 
and  heavenly  wine.  His  presence,  spirit  and  power 
impart  life  and  reality  to  the  scene  and  divine,  quick- 
ening virtue  to  the  feast  itself.  '^  Virtue  goes  out"  of 
Christ,  and,  when  spiritually  discerned,  gives  infinite 
value  and  unspeakable  sweetness  to  the  elements, 
tliough  in  themselves  carnal  and  unprofitable. 

Born  for  us,  and  for  us  given, 

Of  a  virgin  undefiled, 
Scattering  wide  the  seeds  of  heaven, 

Sojourn'd  he  on  this  world's  wild, 
And  on  that  reraember'd  ev'n, 

His  appointed  course  fulfiU'd. 

Meekly  to  the  law  complying, 

He  had  finish'd  its  command, 
And  to  them,  at  supper  lying. 

Gave  himself,  with  his  own  hand, 
This  memorial  of  his  dying, 

To  every  age,  to  every  land. 

'Tis  his  grace  to  our  receiving 

Makes  the  bread  his  flesh  to  be ; 
And  the  wine,  our  sins  relieving, 

Blood,  from  every  sin  to  free; 
Though  not  seeing,  yet  believing, 

Christ  reveals  the  mystery. 
17* 


198  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

To  the  smitten  rock,  then,  fleeing, 

Drink  we  the  New  Covenant, 
Which,  to  ancient  types  agreeing, 

To  the  latest  times  is  sent ; 
Still  believing,  though  not  seeing, 

Christ  in  his  own  Sacrament. 

In  faith,  then,  coming  to  the  feast, 

There  present  to  the  heart, 
Not  to  the  hands,  the  Eternal  Priest 

Will  his  true  self  impart. 

"This  do,"  says  Christ,  ''in  remembrance  of  me." 
This  do,  because,  in  the  first  place,  this  is  an  ordinance 
which  I  appointed  for  my  own  glory,  for  your  comfort, 
and  'as  a  means  of  establishing,  preserving  and  per- 
petuating my  church.  '•  For  as  oft  as  ye  eat  this  bread 
and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show  forth  the  Lord's  death" 
— make  a  proclamation  of,  and  attest  your  faith  in,  the 
great  fact  and  doctrine  of  my  vicarious  death  for  the 
atonement  of  sin  and  the  redemption  of  sinners — till  I 
come  again  at  the  great  day  of  my  appearing,  ''to  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead."  "He  that  believeth"  in  me, 
as  an  atoning  Mediator  and  as  an  almighty  and  all- 
sufficient  Eedeemer,  will  then  be  saved  "from  the  wrath 
that  is  to  come;"  while  "he  that  believeth  not"  shall 
then  be  as  assuredly  damned.  "For  the  Lord  Jesus 
shall  be  revealed  from  heaven  with  his  mighty  angels, 
in  flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know 
not  God  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruc- 
tion from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory 
of  his  power,  when  he  shall  come  to  be  glorified  in  his 
saints,  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them  thai  believe,  in 
that  day." 


EEMEMBEEING   CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  199 

''Do  you,  then,  dear  reader,  believe  in  me?"     This  is 
the  language  which  Christ  in  this  ordinance  addresses 
to  you.     ^^Do  you,"  he  says,  ''believe  that  I  am  the 
Son  of  God,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  besides  whom 
there  is  none  else,  who  am  able  to  save  to  the  utter- 
most all  that  come  unto  me  by  faith?     If  you  do,  then 
'do  this  in  remembrance  of  me.'     Do  you  now  receive 
me  as  your  Saviour  in  particular,  and  not  merely  as 
'the  Saviour  of  all  men,'  and  do  you  believe  on  me  in 
your  heart?— then  come  near  unto  me  at  this  time,  and 
'do  this  in  remembrance  of  me.'     Do  you  put  your 
trust— your  hope  for  acceptance  with  God,  and  for  every 
spiritual  blessing — on  that  'work  which  the  Father  gave 
me  to  do,'  and  which  I  finished  when  I  'gave  up'  the 
ghost'  as  'a  curse  and  a  sin-offering'  upon  the   cross, 
and  do  you  do  this,  believing  that  'God  is  in  Christ'  re- 
conciling sinners  unto  himself,  imputing  unto  them, 
not  the  guilt  of  their  trespasses,  but   the   merit   of 
Christ's  righteousness,  so  that,  being  justified  by  faith, 
they  may  have  peace  with  God?— then  'do  this  in  re- 
membrance of  me.'     Do  you  fear,  and  tremble,  and 
stand  in  doubt,  when  you  look  to  your  own  heart,  your 
own  feelings  and  your  own  inability?    And  do  you  feel 
that  all  'your  wisdom  is  foolishness,'  all  'your  strength 
weakness,'  and  'all  your  goodness  but  as  the  morning 
cloud  and  the  early  dew,  that  soon  vanish  away'?— 
then  come  here,  and  'do  this  in  remembrance  of  me.' 
Do  you  realize  that  this  duty  takes  precedence  of  every 
other  obligation,  and  that  this  privilege  transcends  im- 
measurably every  other?— then  come,  and  with  a  full, 
a  thankful  and  grateful  heart,  'do  this  in  remembrance 
of  me.'     Do  you  feel  that  whereas  you  were  once  too 


200  THE    WELL    IN    THE   VALLEY. 

proud  to  have  me  to  reign  over  you,  too  much  ashamed 
to  be  thought  religious,  too  worldly  to  care  for  spiritual 
things,  and  too  carnal-minded  to  be  willing  to  give 
up  the  pleasures  and  vanities  and  gayeties  of  the  world, 
you  are  now  able  to  rejoice  in  being  my  disciple,  and  to 
find  pleasure  and  delight  in  keeping  my  ordinances  and 
commandments  blameless? — then  'do  this  in  remem- 
brance of  me.'  For  you,  and  such  as  you,  I  have 
appointed  this  feast;  and  to  you  it  is  that  I  would  ever 
give  a  welcoming  invitation.' " 

God  of  my  salvation,  hear, 

And  help  me  to  believe  : 
Simply  do  I  now  draw  near 

Thy  blessing  to  receive. 
Full  of  guilt,  alas!   I  am, 

But  to  thy  wounds  for  refuge  flee : . 
Friend  of  sinners,  spotless  Lamb, 

Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me. 

Standing  now  as  newly  slain, 

To  thee  I  lift  mine  eye : 
Balm  of  all  my  grief  and  pain, 

Thy  blood  is  always  nigh. 
Now  as  yesterday  the  same 

Thou  art,  and  wilt  forever  be: 
Friend  of  sinners,  spotless  Lamb, 

Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me. 

Saviour,  from  thy  wounded  side 

I  never  will  depart : 
Here  will  I  my  spirit  hide 

Till  I  am  pure  in  heart. 
Till  my  place  above  I  claim, 

This  only  shall  be  all  my  plea: — 
Friend  of  sinners,  spotless  Lamb, 

Thy  blood  was  shed  for  me, 

II.  But,  secondly.  Let  me,  says  Christ,  ask  you  to  do 


EEMEMBERING  CHRIST  AT   COMMUNION.  201 

this  in  remembrance,  that  is,  in  commemoration,  of  what 
I  am,  and  in  attestation  of  your  belief  in  my  divinity. 
''Whom  do  men  say  that  I  am?"  ''Why,  my  Lord," 
you  may  reply,  "men  are  very  much  divided  in  their 
sentiments  respecting  thee.  Some  denounce  thee  as  an 
impostor;  some  regard  thee  but  as  one  of  the  prophets; 
while  others  again  consider  that  thou  art  exalted  among 
the  angels  and  other  high  intelligences."  "  But  whom," 
asks  Christ  again,  "do  you  say  that  I  am?"  And  what 
can  you  answer  and  say,  but  what  Peter  said? — "Thou 
art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God."  Yes, 
Lord,  I  know  thee  who  thou  art,  the  Son  of  God. 
And  to  you  Jesus  answers,  even  as  he  did  to  Simon, 
"Blessed  art  thou;  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed 
it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father  who  is  in  heaven;  for  no 
man  can  come  unto  me  except  my  Father  draw  him ;  and 
no  man  can  call  me  Lord,  and  trust  in  me  as  such,  ex- 
cept by  the  Holy  Ghost."  Kemember  this,  that  when 
you  come  to  this  table  you  may  come  to  One  who,  while 
he  "was  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,"  was  at  the  same 
time  "in  the  form  of  God;"  who  is  "Immanuel,  God 
with  us,"  "God  manifest  in  the  flesh;"  and  who  is, 
therefore,  'Hhe  mighty  God,"  "mighty  to  save,"  yea, 
"able  to  save  to  the  very  uttermost  all  that  come  unto 
him  by  faith."  "Do  this,  therefore,"  says  Christ,  "in 
remembrance  of  what  I  am," — "the  great  God,  and 
YOUR  Saviour." 

Son  of  God!  to  thee  I  cry: 
By  the  holy  mystery 
Of  thy  dwelling  here  on  earth, 
By  thy  pure  and  holy  birth, 
Hear,  oh,  hear  my  lowly  plea: 
Manifest  thyself  to  me ! 


202         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

Lamb  of  God !  to  thee  I  cry : 
By  thy  bitter  agony, 
By  thy  pangs  to  us  unknown, 
By  thy  spirit's  parting  groan, 
Hear,  oh,  hear  my  lowly  plea : 
Manifest  thyself  to  me  ! 

Prince  of  Life !  to  thee  I  cry : 
By  thy  glorious  majesty, 
By  thy  triumph  o'er  the  grave. 
Meek  to  suffer,  strong  to  save, 
Hear,  oh,  hear  my  fervid  plea: 
Manifest  thyself  to  me  ! 

Lord  of  glory,  God  most  high, 
Man  exalted  to  the  sky ! 
With  thy  love  my  bosom  fill ; 
Prompt  me  to  perform  thy  will : 
Then  thy  glory  1  shall  see, — 
Thou  wilt  bring  me  home  to  thee. 

III.  But,  in  the  third  place,  ''Do  this,"  says  Christ, 
''  in  remembrance"  of  what  I  became  in  order  to  pur- 
chase eternal  redemption  for  you.  It  was  when  there 
was  no  other  eye  that  could  pity  and  no  other  arm  that 
could  bring  salvation,  and  when  the  violated  and  in- 
jured throne  of  God  demanded  vindication  before  his 
universal  empire,  that  Christ  said,  as  it  is  written  in  the 
volume  of  God's  everlasting  decrees,  "Lo,  I  come  to 
do  thy  will,  0  God."  Then  it  was,  in  order  that  God 
might  ''reconcile  us  unto  himself"  and  establish  among 
us  "the  ministry  of  reconciliation,"  and  that  "peace  and 
good  will  might  be  proclaimed  on  earth,"  Christ,  "be- 
ing in  the  form  of  God,  and  thinking  it  no  robbery  to 
be  equal  with  God,  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and 
took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in 
the  likeness  of  men,  and,  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man, 


EEMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  203 

humbled  himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross."  He  who  was  "God  over  all, 
and  blessed  forever,"  ''was  despised  and  rejected  of  men, 
a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief:  he  was 
despised,  and  we  esteemed  him  not.  He  was  oppressed, 
and  he  was  afflicted,  yet  he  opened  not  his  mouth ;  he 
was  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep 
before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his  mouth ; 
he  was  taken  from  prison  and  from  judgment,  and  he 
was  cut  off  out  of  the  land  of  the  living,  and  made  his 
grave  with  the  wicked."  Yea,  though  ''he  had  done 
no  violence,  neither  was  any  deceit  in  his  mouth,  yet  it 
pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise  him :  he  put  him  to  grief; 
and  he  was  numbered  with  the  transgressors." 

Now,  "do  this,"  says  Christ,  "in  remembrance  of" 
all  this.  Remember  all  I  did  and  suffered  in  the  flesh, 
from  the  first  to  the  last  hour  of  that  period  of  mys- 
terious humiliation  and  abasement : — how  in  infancy  I 
was  found  a  child  of  poverty;  how  even  in  childhood  I 
became  a  wanderer  and  an  exile;  how  the  children  in 
the  market-place  publicly  hooted  at  and  mocked  me  as 
"a  glutton  and  wine-bibber;"  how  I  "came  even  to  my 
own,  and  my  own  received  me  not;"  how  I  went  about  in 
deserts  and  cities,  having  no  certain  dwelling-place,  nor 
even  where  to  lay  my  head;  how  I  endured  such  con- 
tinual "contradiction  of  sinners  against  myself;"  and 
how,  after  "going  about  doing  good"  and  "fulfilling  all 
righteousness,"  I  was,  "by  wicked  hands,"  by  perjured 
and  suborned  witnesses,  by  an  intimidated  and  unjust 
judge,  and  by  the  bitter  malice  of  ungodly  foes,  "cruci- 
fied and  slain."  So  unparalleled  were  my  sufferings, 
that  "I  was  a  worm,  and  no  man;  a  reproach  of  men, 


204  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

and  despised  of  the  people.  All  they  that  saw  me 
laughed  me  to  scorn;  they  shot  out  the  lip,  they  shook 
the  head.  I  was  poured  out  like  water ;  and  all  my 
bones  were  out  of  joint;  my  heart  was  like  wax;  it  was 
melted  in  the  midst  of  my  bowels,  and  I  was  brought 
into  the  dust  of  death.  The  assembly  of  wicked 
men  enclosed  me.  They  parted  my  garments  among 
them,  and  cast  lots  upon  my  vesture."  ''Is  it  nothing 
to  all  you  that  pass  by?  Behold  and  see  if  there  be 
any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow,  which  was  done  unto 
me,  wherewith  the  Lord  afflicted  me  in  the  day  of  his 
fierce  anger." 

And  wherefore — Christ  in  this  ordinance  does  as  it 
were  say  to  you — was  I  thus  afflicted  ?  Surely  I  have 
borne  your  griefs  and  carried  your  sorrows.  I  was 
wounded  for  your  transgressions  and  bruised  for  your 
iniquities.  The  chastisement  of  your  peace  was  upon 
me,  and  with  my  stripes  you  are  healed.  The  Lord 
laid  on  me  the  iniquity  of  you  all.  For  the  transgres- 
sion of  my  people  was  I  stricken,  for  I  bore  their  ini- 
quities. For  God  made  me,  who  knew  no  sin,  to  be  sin 
for  you,  that  you  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  ME. 

Oh  the  curse  and  bitterness  that  our  sins  have  brought 
on  Jesus  Christ !  You  can  say,  with  Ambrose, ''  "When  I 
but  think  of  those  bleeding  veins,  bruised  shoulders, 
scourged  sides,  furrowed  back,  harrowed  temples,  nailed 
hands  and  feet,  and  then  consider  that  my  sins  were  the 
cause  of  all,  methinks  I  should  need  no  more  arguments 
for  self-abhorring !  Christians !  would  not  your  hearts 
rise  against  him  that  should  kill  your  father,  mother, 
brother,  wife,  husband, — dearest   relations  in  all   the 


REMEMBEEING   CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  205 

world?  Oh,  then,  how  should  your  hearts  and  souls 
rise  against  sin !  Surely  your  sin  it  was  that  murdered 
Christ,  that  killed  him,  who  is  instead  of  all  relations, 
who  is  a  thousand,  thousand  times  dearer  to  you  than 
father,  mother,  husband,  child,  or  whomsoever.  One 
thought  of  this  should,  methinks,  be  enough  to  make 
you  say,  as  Job  did,  'I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in 
dust  and  ashes.'  Oh,  what  is  that  cross  on  the  back  of 
Christ  ?  My  sins.  Oh,  what  is  that  thorny  crown  on  the 
head  of  Christ?  My  sins.  Oh,  what  is  the  nail  in  the 
right  hand  and  that  other  in  the  left  hand  of  Christ? 
My  sins.  Oh,  what  is  that  spear  in  the  side  of  Christ? 
My  sins.  What  are  those  nails  and  wounds  in  the  feet 
of  Christ?  My  sins.  With  a  spiritual  eye  I  see  no 
other  engine  tormenting  Christ,  no  other  Pilate,  Herod, 
Annas,  Caiaphas,  condemning  Christ,  no  other  soldiers, 
officers,  Jews  or  Gentiles  doing  execution  on  Christ, 
but  only  sin.     Oh,  my  sins,  my  sins,  my  sins!" 

Many  woes  had  Christ  endured, 

Many  sore  temptations  met, 
Patient,  and  to  pains  inured : 

But  the  sorest  trial  yet 
Was  to  be  sustain' d  in  thee, 
Gloomy,  sad  Gethsemane ! 

Came  at  length  the  dreadful  night : 

Vengeance,  with  its  iron  rod. 
Stood,  and  with  collected  might 

Bruised  the  harmless  Lamb  of  God : 
See,  my  soul,  thy  Saviour  see 
Prostrate  in  Gethsemane ! 

There  my  God  bore  all  my  guilt : 
This,  through  grace,  can  be  believed; 
18 


206  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

But  the  horrors  which  he  felt 

Are  too  vast  to  be  conceived : 
None  can  penetrate  through  thee, 
Doleful,  dark  Gethsemane ! 

Sins  against  a  holy  God, 

Sins  against  his  righteous  laws, 
Sins  against  his  love,  his  blood, 

Sins  against  his  name  and  cause, — 
Sins  immense  as  is  the  sea ! 
Hide  me,  0  Gethsemane ! 

Here's  my  claim,  and  here  alone ; 

None  a  Saviour  more  can  need : 
Deeds  of  righteousness  I've  none; 

No, — not  one  good  work  to  plead: 
Not  a  glimpse  of  hope  for  me, 
Only  in  Gethsemane. 

Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost, 

One  almighty  God  of  love, 
Hymn'd  by  all  the  heavenly  host 

In  thy  shining  courts  above, 
We  adore  thee,  gracious  Three, — 
Bless  thee  for  Gethsemane. 

"  Do  this"  then,  says  Christ, "  in  remembrance  of"  these 
things.  See  in  the  bread  and  wine,  in  the  bread  broken 
and  the  wine  poured  out,  and  in  the  administration  of 
each  to  every  communicant,  the  evidence,  the  certainty 
and  the  awfulness  of  your  guilt,  ruin  and  coming  misery, 
the  dreadfulness  of  perdition,  and  the  infinite  difficulties 
which  lay  in  the  way  of  your  possible  salvation.  Ee- 
member  this,  that  you  may  be  more  deeply  convinced 
of  sin  and  humbled  in  the  dust  of  penitence  and  self- 
abasement;  that  you  may  properly  understand  and 
duly  estimate  the  nature  and  extent  of  my  humiliation, 
sufferings  and  death,  and  your  consequent  duty  and 
privilege;  and  that,  comprehending  more  of  the  mys- 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT    COMMUNION.  207 

tery  of  godliness  and  the  unspeakable  love  of  God,  you 
may  put  away  all  fear,  all  shame  and  all  lukewarmness, 
and  ''glory  only  in  the  cross,  whereby  you  are  cruci- 
fied unto  the  world,  and  the  world  is  crucified  unto 
you." 

0  sacred  head,  now  wounded, 

With  grief  and  shame  weigh'd  down! 
0  sacred  brow,  surrounded 

With  thorns,  thine  only  crown ! 
Once  on  a  throne  of  glory, 

Adorn' d  with  light  divine, 
Now  all  despised  and  gory, — 

I  joy  to  call  thee  mine. 

On  me,  as  thou  art  dying. 

Oh,  turn  thy  pitying  eye ! 
To  thee  for  mercy  crying, 

Before  thy  cross  I  lie. 
Thine,  thine  the  bitter  passion, 

Thy  pain  is  all  for  me  ; 
Mine,  mine  the  deep  transgression,— 

My  sins  are  all  on  thee. 

What  language  can  I  borrow 

To  thank  thee,  dearest  Friend, 
For  all  this  dying  sorrow. 

Of  all  my  woes  the  end  ? 
Oh,  can  I  leave  thee  ever  ? 

Then  do  not  thou  leave  me  : 
Lord,  let  me  never,  never 

Outlive  my  love  to  thee. 
Be  near  when  I  am  dying ; 

Then  close  beside  me  stand ; 
Let  me,  while  faint  and  sighing, 

Lean  calmly  on  thy  hand  : 
These  eyes,  new  faith  receiving, 

From  thine  eye  shall  not  move ; 
For  he  who  dies  believing 

Dies  safely  in  thy  love. 


208         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

IV.  But;  in  the  fourth  place,  ^'Do  this/'  Christ  says, 
''in  remembrance  of  me," — that  is,  in  order  that  you 
may  be  led  to  the  lively  faith  of  what  I  now  am.  The 
cup  has  now  passed  from  me.  The  work  of  humiliation 
is  now  finished.  The  last  enemy  is  subdued  and  will 
be  finally  destroyed.  Many  were  the  foes  that  opposed 
my  victory  and  your  redemption ;  but  I  have  led  '^  capti- 
vity captive,"  triumphed  over  them  in  my  cross,  accom- 
plished "a  complete  redemption"  and  ''brought  in  an 
everlasting  righteousness."  God's  law  demanded  satis- 
faction, and  I  "magnified  it."  God's  attributes  required 
atonement,  and  I  drank  the  cup  even  to  the  very  dregs. 
The  wrath  of  God  was  revealed  from  heaven  against  all 
transgressors;  and  against  me  it  was  that  God  said, 
"Awake,  0  sword,  against  my  shepherd,  and  against 
the  man  that  is  my  fellow,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts." 
Yea,  even  when  thou,  0  God,  had  forsaken  me,  even 
then  did  I  not  forsake  you,  helpless,  guilty  and  undone 
sinner.  The  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil  were  all 
against  you;  "but  this  is  the  victory  that  overcometh" 
them  all,  "even  faith"  in  me;  for  "your  life  is  hid  with 
Christ  in  God."  Guilt  alarms  you  with  the  apprehen- 
sion of  coming  wrath;  but  "who  will  lay  any  thing  to 
your  charge?  seeing  it  is  God  that  justifieth."  Satan 
whispers  that,  after  all,  you  shall  be  condemned;  but 
who  is  he  that  condemneth?  seeing  it  is  "Christ  that 
died,  yea,  rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who  is  even  at  the 
right  hand  of  God,  who  also  maketh  intercession." 
Fear  and  doubt  and  unbelief  lead  you  to  tremble  lest 
you  fall  away  from  your  steadfastness;  but  "if  God  be 
for  you,  who  can  be  against  you?"  And  "he  that 
spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all, 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST  AT  COMMUNION.  209 

how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely  give  you  all 
things?" 

''I  still  live;  and  because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also." 
''It  was  needful  for  you  that  I  should  go  away"  and 
be  no  longer  with  you;  but  ''I  have  not  left  you  com- 
fortless. I  have  given  you  another  Comforter,  even 
the  Spirit  of  truth,  who  glorifies  me;"  and  ''Lo,  I  also 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 
''All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  on  earth; 
and  I  am  head  over  all  things  to  the  church."  I  am 
now  "a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins;"  and  I  "ever  live  to  make  interces- 
sion for  the  ungodly."  I  have  not  left  you  as  orphans 
in  the  world,  nor  handed  you  over  to  any  earthly 
church  or  ministry.  "I  am  still  the  vine,  and  ye  are 
the  branches;  I  am  the  living  head,  and  ye  are  the 
members."  I  am  "  that  h^ad  from  whom  the  whole  body 
fitly  joined  together  maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto 
the  edifying  of  itself  in  love."  I  "ascended  up  far 
above  all  heavens,"  that  I  might  fill  all  things  with  my 
presence,  uphold  all  things  by  my  power,  and  make  all 
things  work  together  for  the  good  of  my  church  and 
people. 

Eemember,  therefore,  who,  and  what,  and  where  I 
now  am,  and  "let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled,  neither 
let  them  be  afraid."  "  Who  shall  separate  you  from  the 
love  of  Christ?  Shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  per- 
secution, or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword? 
As  it  is  written,  for  thy  sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day 
long;  we  are  accounted  as  sheep  for  the  slaughter. 
Nay,  in  all  these  things  you  are  more  than  conquerors, 

through  him  that  loved  us.     For  I  am  persuaded  that 
0  18^;^ 


210  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities, 
nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able 
to  separate  you  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  our  Lord." 

''Do  THIS,"  then,  in  remembrance  of  your  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  of  that 

Jesus  who  once,  a  child  of  woe, 
Wept,  bled  and  suffer'd  here  below 

And  deign'd  for  men  to  die  ! 
Jesus  !  to  praise  whose  matchless  name 
Ten  thousand  glorious  seraphs  frame 

The  chorus  of  the  skies. 

Jesus !  who  made  this  ponderous  earth, 
Who  gave  yon  splendid  planets  birth, 

And  form'd  each  lesser  star. 
Jesus  !  who  fills  creation's  throne, 
Yet  stoops  to  mediate  for  his  own 

At  heaven's  eternal  bar, 

Jesus !  of  whom  the  prophets  tell, 
Who  death  disarms,  and  conquers  hell, 

And  bids  the  tempter  flee. 
Jesus !  who  hears  the  contrite  sigh. 
Who  wipes  the  tear  from  sorrow's  eye 

And  sets  the  prisoners  free. 

This  is  the  theme  which  angels  love, 
When  through  the  radiant  courts  above 

Their  loudest  anthem  rings, — 
When  every  heart  and  every  tongue 
And  every  golden  harp  is  strung 

To  praise  the  King  of  kings.  • 

V.  But,  once  more,  ''Do  this,"  says  Christ,  "in  re- 
membrance of"  my  presence  with  you  on  every  com- 
munion-occasion.    I  said  to  my  disciples,  when  I  had 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  211 

broken  bread  with  them,  "  I  will  not  any  more  eat  there- 
of until  it  be  fulfilled  in  the  kingdom  of  God," — that  is, 
until  the  kingdom  of  God  shall  come.  But  that  kingdom 
is  now  come.  As  often,  therefore,  as  you  eat  of  this 
bread  and  drink  of  this  cup,  ''is  it  not  the  communion 
of  my  body  and  of  my  blood?"  seeing  that  ''I  am  with 
you  to  bless  you  and  to  do  you  good."  This,  then,  is 
my  supper.  This  is  my  banqueting-chamber,  and  "my 
banner  over  you  is  love."  When  I  promised  to  meet 
my  disciples  and  to  bless  them,  I  fulfilled  all  their  ex- 
pectations, and  "their  sorrow  was  turned  into  joy." 
Believe  me,  therefore,  when  I  say  that  you  will  see 
me  also,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your  joy  no 
man  shall  take  from  you;  for  I  will  show  you  plainly 
of  the  Father.  Eemember  what  the  disciples  were, 
and  what,  through  my  grace  strengthening  them, 
they  became.  How  many  are  there  now  in  heaven,  if 
thou  canst  tell? — even  "a  multitude  which  no  man  can 
number."  And  "whence  came  they?"  Did  they  not 
come  through  much  tribulation  and  many  tempta- 
tions, doubts  and  fears?  And  were  they  not  "made 
more  than  conquerors"  over  sin,  fear,  doubt,  death  and 
hell,  "through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb"?  Now,  what 
they  were,  you,  it  is  true,  now  are, — poor,  miserable, 
blind,  naked,  and  driven  from  wave  to  wave  of  trouble, 
fear  and  doubt.  And  what  they  now  are,  it  is  equally 
true,  you  may  be;  and,  if  you  will  only  believe,  hope, 
trust  and  obey  me,  you  will  be.  Have  you  ever  back- 
slidden?— Eemember  Peter,  that,  like  him,  you  msiy 
now  turn  and  look  upon  me  whom  you  have  pierced, 
and  weep  and  be  forgiven.  Have  you  been  unbeliev- 
ing?— Eemember  Thomas,  that,  seeing  Christ  in  this 


212  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

ordinance  as  having  been  crucified  and  slain,  you  may 
cry  out,  '^  My  Lord  and  my  God !"  Have  you  been  cold 
and  lukewarm? — Let  my  love  constrain  you,  so  that 
''  though  now  you  see  me  not,  yet,  believing,  you  may 
rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory."  Have 
you  been  afraid  to  hope  and  rejoice? — ''0  thou  of  little 
faith,  wherefore  dost  thou  doubt?"  What  have  you  to 
do  but  believe,  seeing  that  all  the  promises  are  yea 
and  amen  in  me  and  that  I  am  your's?  Can  you, 
then,  doubt  my  ability  or  deny  my  willingness? 
Sooner  may  the  heavens  and  the  earth  pass  away 
than  one  jot  or  tittle  of  all  that  I  have  promised  remain 
unfulfilled.  Doubt,  then,  no  more.  Be  fearful  and  un- 
believing no  longer.  Eemember  me.  Think  not  of 
your  sins,  except  to  remember  that  my  blood  cleanseth 
from  all  sin.  Think  not  of  your  weakness,  except  to 
''glory  in  your  infirmities,"  since  ''when  you  are  weak 
then  are  you  strong."  Think  not  of  your  hard  and 
stony  heart,  except  to  mourn  over  it,  and  to  bring  it 
unto  me,  that  I  may  soften  it  and  make  it  a  heart  of  flesh. 
You  have  looked  forward  to  the  communion-occasion, 
and  to  your  participation  in  its  solemn  services,  as  some- 
thing awful;  but  remember  me.  "Fear  not:  it  is  I." 
Come  unto  me,  you  that  thus  labour,  and  I  will  give 
you  rest.  Come  near,  that  I  may  embrace  you  in  my 
arms  of  mercy, — that  I  may  fill  you  with  j  oy ,  shed  abroad 
my  love  in  you,  and  that  I  may  enable  you  to  feel  that 
this  is  "none  other  than  the  house  of  God  and  the  very 
gate  of  heaven."  "Eat,  0  friend;  drink,  yea,  drink 
abundantly,  0  beioved."  "Hitherto  you  have  asked 
nothing  in  my  name:  ask,  and  you  shall  receive,  that 
your  joy  may  be  full.     Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 


REMEMBERINa   CHRIST   AT    COMMUNION.  213 

whatsoever  you  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my  name,  he 
will  give  it  you." 

''Do  this,  then,  in  remembrance  of  me;"  and  ''if  you 
love  me,  keep  my  commandments;"  "for  hereby  is  my 
Father  glorified,  if  you  bear  much  fruit."  Eemember, 
therefore,  that  I  died  for  your  impenitent  friends  as 
well  as  for  you,  and  that  it  is  for  my  glory  as  well  as 
their  good  that  they  also  should  be  saved.  Remember 
that  I  "gave  my  life  a  ransom  for  all"  and  as  a  propitia- 
tion for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  and  "go  ye  there- 
fore into  all  the  world,  and  preach  my  gospel  to  every 
creature."  Eemember  that  "my  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
world,"  and  is  intrusted,  therefore,  to  the  zeal,  libe- 
rality, self-denial  and  self-sacrifice  of  its  members ;  and, 
as  you  have  "freely  received,  freely  give."  Be  willing 
to  communicate  and  ready  to  distribute,  that  by  your 
liberality  and  activity  and  devotion  the  gospel  "may 
have  free  course  and  be  glorified."  And  remember 
how  opposed  the  world  is  both  to  me  and  to  you,  and 
how  as  it  hated  me  it  will  hate  you  also.  "  Walk,  there- 
fore, in  wisdom  towards  them  that  are  without,"  "that 
wisdom  maybe  justified  of  her  children,"  "and -that 
they  may  be  ashamed  who  speak  evil  of  your  good  con- 
versation in  Christ."  Be  very  jealous,  therefore,  for 
my  honour  and  for  your  own  usefulness,  and  watch 
and  pray,  lest  you  fall  into  the  snares  of  the  devil, 
and  the  gospel,  through  your  coldness,  dishonesty, 
covetousness,  or  unchristian  conduct,  be  blasphemed. 


My  faith  looks  up  to  thee, 
Thou  Lamb  of  Calvary, 
Saviour  divine ! 


214  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

Now  hear  me  while  I  pray ; 
Take  all  my  guilt  away ; 
Oh,  let  me  from  this  day 
Be  wholly  thine ! 

May  thy  rich  grace  impart 
Strength  to  my  fainting  heart, 

My  zeal  inspire ! 
As  thou  hast  died  for  me, 
Oh,  may  my  love  to  thee 
Pure,  warm  and  changeless  be, — 

A  living  fire ! 

0  thou  best  gift  of  heaven, 
Thou  who  thyself  hast  given, — 

For  thou  hast  died  ! — 
This  thou  hast  done  for  me : 
What  have  I  done  for  thee, 

Thou  Crucified  ? 

1  long  to  serve  thee  more  : 
Reveal  an  open  door. 

Saviour,  to  me ; 
Then,  counting  all  but  loss, 
I'll  glory  in  thy  cross 

And  follow  thee. 

Do  thou  but  point  the  way 
And  give  me  strength  to  obey ; 

Thy  will  be  mine  ! 
Then  can  I  think  it  joy 
To  suffer  or  to  die, 

Since  I  am  thine. 

VI.  Finally,  says  Christ,  Do  this  in  remembrance  of 
what  I  will  yet  be  and  do  for  you.  I  will  come  again 
the  second  time  to  judge  the  world  in  righteousness. 
As  oft,  therefore,  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this 
wine,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come,  ''look- 
ing for  the  glorious  hope  and  that  blessed  appearing  of 


EEMEMBEEING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  215 

the  great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  ''The 
harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world.  As  therefore  the 
tares  are  gathered  and  burned  in  the  fire,  so  shall  it  be 
in  the  end  of  this  world.  The  Son  of  man  shall  send 
forth  his  angels,  and  they  shall  gather  out  of  his  king- 
dom all  things  that  offend,  and  .them  which  do  iniquity, 
and  shall  cast  them  into  a  furnace  of  fire :  there  shall 
be  wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  Then  shall  the 
righteous  shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom  of 
their  Father." 

And  as  after  death  there  is  to  every  man  that  judg- 
ment which  foredooms  the  judgment  of  the  great  day, 
''what  manner  of  persons  ought  we  to  he  in  all  holy 
conversation  and  godliness,  looking  for  and  hastening 
unto  the  coming  of  the  day  of  God!"  "for  we  must  all 
appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ;  that  every 
one  may  receive  the  things  done  in  his  body,  accord- 
ing to  that  he  hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad." 
(2  Cor.  V.  10.)  Eemember  that,  as  I  must  "judge  the 
world  in  righteousness,"  this  judgment  "must  begin  at 
the  house  of  God."  While,  therefore,  I  am  merciful 
and  gracious,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness, 
— while  I  am  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  that 
all  should  turn  unto  me  and  live, — while  I  will  in  no  wise 
cast  out  any  that  come  unto  me,  however  weary  and 
heavy  laden, — nevertheless,  remember  that  my  "eyes 
are  as  a  flame  of  fire"  to  detect  the  hypocrite  and  the 
formalist.  I  cannot  "look  upon  sin  but  with  abhor- 
rence," nor  "pass  by  transgression"  with  impunity. 
And,  therefore,  if  "the  righteous,"  or  any  who  are  pro- 
fessedly such,  "commit  iniquity,  all  his  righteousness 
shall  not  be  remembered;  but  for  his  iniquity  that  he 


216  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

hath  committed,  he  shall  die  for  it."  Eemember,  then, 
that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  '^the  form  of  godliness" 
where  there  is  not  'Hhe  power,"  and  "a  name  to  live" 
while  there  is  only  death.  If  ''any  man,  then,  who  is 
called  a  brother,  be  a  fornicator,  or  covetous,  or  an 
idolater,  or  a  railer,  or^'  drunkard,  or  an  extortioner," 
I  w'ill  put  away  from  me  ''that  wicked  person."  Do 
you  "forsake  the  assembling  of  yourself  together"  with 
my  disciples,  "as  the  manner  of  some  is"?  Do  you  "for- 
get to  entertain  strangers"?  Do  you  " love  this  present 
world"?  Do  you  "love  father,  or  mother,  or  houses,  or 
lands,  more  than  me"?  Do  you  "restrain  prayer  before 
God"?  Do  you  "forget  God"  in  your  family 2  Do  you 
live  unto  yourself,  and  not  unto  me,  "  who  died  for  you"  ? 
— then  do  not  thou  forget  that  "in  the  day  when  I  shall 
be  revealed  from  heaven,  with  my  mighty  angels,  in 
flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God 
and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
you  run  fearful  hazard  of  being  "punished  with  ever- 
lasting destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  and 
from  the  glory  of  his  power,  when  he  shall  come  to  be 
glorified  in  his  saints  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe,  (because  our  testimony  among  them  was 
believed,)  in  that  day"  when  he  will  pour  out  his  fury 
upon  the  heathen  and  upon  all  that  call  not  upon  his 
name,  and  when  all  who  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
shall  be  anathema  maranatha. 

When  this  passing  world  is  done, — 
When  has  sunk  yon  glorious  sun, — 
When  we  stand  with  Christ  in  glory, 
Looking  o'er  life's  finish'd  story, — 
Then,  Lord,  shall  I  fully  know — 
Not  till  then — how  much  I  owe. 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  217 

When  I  hear  the  wicked  call 
On  the  rocks  and  hills  to  fall, — 
When  I  see  them  start  and  shrink 
On  the  fiery  deluge  brink, — 
Then,  Lord,  shall  I  fully  know — 
Not  till  then — how  much  I  owe. 

When  I  stand  before  the  throne, 
Clothed  in  beauty  not  my  own, — 
When  I  see  thee  as  thou  art, 
Love  thee  with  unsinning  heart, — 
Then,  Lord,  shall  I  fully  know — 
Not  till  then — how  much  I  owe  ! 

When  the  praise  of  heaven  I  hear, 
Loud  as  thunders  to  the  ear, 
Loud  as  many  waters'  noise. 
Sweet  as  harp's  melodious  voice, 
Then,  Lord,  shall  I  fully  know — 
Not  till  then — how  much  I  owe ! 

Eemember,  then,  dear  reader,  what  Christ  says  to 
you.  Eemember  him  in  what  he  was,  what  he  became, 
what  he  did,  what  he  is,  and  what  he  will  be.  How 
terrible  is  he  as  an  enemy,  and  how  estimable  is  he  as 
a  friend ! — a  friend  always  at  hand,  able  and  willing  to 
help,  able  and  ready  to  advise,  and  able  and  ready  to 
protect.  His  grace  is  sufficient  for  every  trial,  and  his 
strength  adequate  to  every  weakness;  and  you  may 
come  with  boldness  to  his  throne  of  grace,  in  the  assur- 
ance that  you  shall  there  obtain  grace  and  mercy  in 
every  time  of  need.  Let  past  experience  embolden  and 
encourage  you  to  do  this  in  humble,  cheerful  and  joy- 
ful remembrance  of  Him  by  whose  grace  you  have 
come  thus  far.  Here  devote  yourself  to  him,  and  im- 
plore more  grace,  that  you  may  strive  even  until  death 
shall  terminate  your  labours  in  rest  and  peace  and  joy. 

19 


218  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Such,  then,  being  the  nature  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  it 
is  at  once  apparent  that  it  is  the  most  holy,  solemn  and 
spiritual  service  in  which  man  can  engage.  It  brings 
us  into  the  very  presence-chamber  of  the  King  of  saints, 
there  to  hold  converse  and  communion  with  the  Lord 
that  bought  us. 

How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place !  It  is  none  other 
than  the  house  of  God  and  the  very  gate  of  heaven.  It 
is  holy  ground.  Holiness  alone  becometh  it.  To  all 
profane  and  unbelieving  despisers  it  is  as  a  consuming 
fire.  Let  all  such  keep  back,  and  draw  not  hither  till 
they  put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deceitful  lusts,  and 
jjut  on  the  new  man,  which,  after  God,  is  created  in 
righteousness  and  true  holiness.  ''For  my  own  part," 
said  Calvin,  when  required  by  the  Council  and  Senate 
to  admit  Bertelier  to  the  communion,  ''after  the  ex- 
ample of  Chrysostom,  I  avow  that  I  will  suffer  myself 
to  be  slain  at  the  table  rather  than  allow  this  hand  to 
deliver  the  sacred  symbols  of  the  Lord's  body  and  blood 
to  adjudged  despisers  of  God."  This  was  uttered  with 
such  authority,  and  produced  such  an  effect,  that 
Perrin,  the  President,  himself  immediately  whispered 
to  Bertelier  that  he  must  not  present  himself  as  a  com- 
municant. He  accordingly  withdrew;  and  the  sacred 
ordinance,  says  Beza,  "was  celebrated  with  a  profound 
silence,  and  under  a  solemn  awe  in  all  present,  as  if  the 
Deity  himself  had  been  visible  among  them."  Yes,  the 
Deity  is  present, — really  present.  "There  am  I,"  says 
Christ.     "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway." 

Our  communion,  therefore,  is  a  personal  approach  to 
a  personal  and  present  Saviour.  Believing  in  God,  we 
believe  also  in  him. 


BEMEMBERING   CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  219 

Saviour,  to  me  thyself  reveal, 

In  tins  tliy  feast  of  love  : 
Speak  to  my  heart,  and  let  me  feel 

Thy  Spirit  in  me  move. 

With  thee  conversing,  I'll  forget 

All  time  and  toil  and  care : 
Labour  is  rest,  and  pain  is  sweet, 

If  thou,  my  God,  be  near. 

Here,  then,  my  God,  be  pleased  to  stay. 

And  make  my  heart  rejoice : 
My  bounding  heart  shall  own  thy  sway 

And  echo  to  thy  voice. 

Thou  callest  me  to  seek  thy  face: 

Thy  face,  0  God,  I  seek. 
Attend  the  whispers  of  thy  grace, 

And  hear  thee  inly  speak. 

Let  this  my  every  hour  employ 

Till  I  thy  glory  see. 
Enter  into  my  Master's  joy. 

And  find  my  heaven  in  thee. 

Yes,  my  dear  reader,  this  is  not  merely  a  comme- 
moration :  it  is  a  communion.  The  King  is  among  his 
guests.  He  comes  in  and  abides  with  them  and  sups 
with  them.  He  comes  near  as  a  deliverer,  a  Saviour,  a 
sanctifier  and  a  comforter,  to  all  that  mourn  in  Zion, 
to  all  that  look  for  his  appearing,  and  to  all  that  come 
unto  him  '^desiring  tc  see  Jesus"  and  to  be  '^ healed 
of  all  their  diseases."  And  as  the  elements  evidently 
set  before  us  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified,  and  as 
every  act  of  the  minister  represents  Christ,  in  his  gra- 
cious and  condescending  presence  and  power,  a  very 
present  help  and  hope;  so  also  does  every  act  of  the 
communicant  imply  a  personal  faith  in  this  present 


220  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Bedeemer,  love  to  him,  coining  to  him,  and  appropria- 
tion of  him  as  a  living,  loving,  all-seeing  and  all-suffi- 
cient Saviour. 

In  coming,  then,  to  the  communion,  endeavour  to 
realize  all  that  Christ  here  teaches,  offers,  promises 
and  pledges  to  you  as  a  poor,  needy,  helpless  sinner. 
Come  to  him  as  such.  Come  as  really  desiring  and 
requiring  all  that  is  here  signified,  signed  and  sealed. 

There  is  a  dear  and  hallow'd  spot 

Oft  present  to  my  eye, — 
By  saints  it  ne'er  can  be  forgot : — 

That  place  is  Calvary. 

Oh,  what  a  scene  was  there  displayed 

Of  love  and  agony, 
When  my  Redeemer  bow'd  his  head 

And  died  on  Calvary ! 

Then  fainting  under  guilt's  dread  load, 

Unto  the  cross  I'll  fly, 
And  trust  the  merit  of  that  blood 

Which  flow'd  at  Calvary. 

Whene'er  I  feel  temptation's  power 

On  Jesus  I'll  rely, 
And,  in  the  sharp  conflicting  hour, 

Repair  to  Calvary. 

When  seated  at  the  feast  of  love, 

Then  will  I  fix  mine  eye 
On  Him  who  intercedes  above, 

Who  bled  on  Calvary. 

When  the  dark  scene  of  death,  the  last 

Momentous  hour,  draws  nigh, 
Then,  with  my  dying  eyes,  I'll  caat 

A  look  on  Calvary. 


EEMEMBEKING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  221 

I  have  thus  endeavoured  to  show  the  true  import 
of  Christ's  most  gracious  instructions  conveyed  through 
this  holy  ordinance.  But  tliere  is  still  more  to  be 
known  and  remembered.  For  the  bread  and  wine  are 
not  only  set  before  us  as  lively  oracles  of  all  that  Christ 
would  say  to  us,  but  also  of  all  that  our  hearts  would 
say  unto  him.  The  bread  and  wine  are,  therefore,  not 
only  provided,  but  partaken;  not  only  administered, 
but  received;  and  not  only  exhibited  ''as  a  spectacle  to 
angels  and  to  men,"  but  as  a  seal  engraven  on  the 
heart,  and  as  manna  imparting  spiritual  nourishment  to 
the  soul  of  each  believing  communicant. 

Holy  board ! 
Where,  at  a  bound,  while  many  drink  bare  wine, 

A  friend  doth  steal  into  my  cup  unheard, 
And  sweetly  seals  me  his,  and  all  his  glories  mine. 

*  When,  therefore,  the  minister  offers  the  bread  and 
wine  to  those  at  the  table,  this,  you  ought  to  under- 
stand, represents  Christ  freely  offered  to  sinners,  even  the 
chief,  and  the  receiving  of  the  bread  and  wine  means,  ''I 
do  thankfully  receive  the  broken,  bleeding  Saviour  as 
my  surety."  The  act  of  taking  that  bread  and  wine  is 
an  appropriating  act:  it  is  saying  before  God,  and 
angels,  and  men,  and  devils,  "I  do  flee  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  as  my  refuge."  Noah's  entering  into  the 
ark  was  an  appropriating  act.  Let  others  fly  to  the 
tops  of  their  houses,  to  their  castles  and  towers,  to  the 
rugged  rocks,  to  the  summits  of  the  highest  mountains : 
as  for  me,  I  believe  the  word  of  God  and  flee  to  this 

*  We  chiefly  adopt  the  simple  and  satisfar^tory  illustration  of  the 
fervent  in  spirit    McCheyne. 


222  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

ark  as  my  only  refuge.  (Heb.  xi.  7.)  When  the  man- 
slayer  fled  into  the  city  of  refuge,  it  was  an  appropri- 
ating act.  As  he  entered  breathless  at  the  gates  of 
Hebron,  his  friends  might  cry  to  him,  Flee  into  the 
wilderness,  or.  Flee  beyond  Jordan !  But  no,  he  would 
say,  I  believe  the  word  of  God,  that  I  shall  be  safe  only 
within  these  walls:  this  is  my  refuge-city,  here  only 
will  I  hide !  (Josh,  xx.)  When  an  Israelite  brought  an 
offering  of  the  herd  or  of  the  flock,  when  the  priest  had 
bound  it  with  cords  to  the  horns  of  the  altar,  the  offerer 
laid  his  hands  upon  the  head  of  the  lamb :  this  was  an 
appropriating  act,  as  much  as  to  say,  I  take  this  lamb 
as  dying  for  me.  The  world  might  say,  How  will  this 
save  you?  Mend  your  life,  give  alms  to  the  poor.  I  be- 
lieve the  word  of  God,  he  would  say.  I  do  not  wish  to 
bear  my  own  sins:  I  lay  them  on  the  Lamb  of  God. 
(Lev.  i.  4.)  When  the  woman  trembling  came  behind 
Jesus  and  touched  the  hem  of  his  garment,  this  also 
was  an  appropriating  act.  Her  friends  might  say  to 
her.  Come  and  try  some  more  physicians,  or,  Wait  till 
you  are  somewhat  better.  No,  said  she :  '^  If  I  may  but 
touch  his  garment  I  shall  be  made  whole."  (Mark  v. 
28.)  In  the  42d  Psalm,  David's  enemies  said  to  him 
continually,  "Where  is  thy  God?"  This  made  tears  his 
meat  night  and  day.  It  was  like  a  sword  in  his  bones. 
But  in  the  43d  Psalm,  he  gathers  courage,  and  says,  ''I 
will  go  unto  the  altar  of  God/'  where  the  Lamb  was 
slain;  and  then  he  says,  ''Unto  God,  my  exceeding 
joy."  You  say,  I  have  no  God:  behold,  Ftake  this 
Lamb  as  slain  for  me,  and  therefore  God  is  my  God. 
In  the  Song  of  Solomon,  when  the  bride  found  him 
whom  her  soul  loved,  she  says,  ''I  held  him,  and  would 


REMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  223 

not  let  him  go."  This  was  true  appropriating  faith. 
The  world  might  say  to  her,  ^^Come  this  way,  and  we 
will  show  thee  other  beloveds,  fairer  than  thy  be- 
loved." Nay,  saith  she:  ''I  held  him,  and  would  not 
let  him  go."  '^This  is  my  beloved,  and  this  is  my 
friend."  (Song  iii.  4.) 

Just  such,  beloved,  is  the  meaning  of  receiving 
broken  bread  and  poured-out  wine  at  the  Lord's  table. 
It  is  the  most  solemn  appropriating  act  of  all  your 
lives.  It  is  declaring  by  signs,  ''I  do  enter  into  the 
ark,  I  flee  into  the  city  of  refuge,  I  lay  my  hand  on 
the  head  of  the  Lamb,  I  do  touch  the  hem  of  his  gar- 
ment, I  do  take  Jesus  to  be  my  Lord  and  my  God;  I 
hold  him,  and,  by  grace,  I  will  never  let  him  go."  It  is 
a  deliberate  closing  with  Christ,  by  means  of  signs,  in 
the  presence  of  witnesses.  When  the  bride — that  we 
may  again  apply  and  perfect  our  former  illustration — 
accepts  his  right  hand  in  marriage  before  many  wit- 
nesses, it  is  a  solemn  declaration  to  all  the  world  that 
she  does  accept  the  bridegroom  to  be  her  only  husband. 
And  so  in  the  Lord's  Supper,  when  you  receive  that 
bread  and  wine,  you  solemnly  declare  that,  forsaking 
all  others,  you  heartily  do  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  as  your 
only  Lord  and  Saviour.  And  here  let  me  again  say 
a  word  to  trembling,  believing  souls.  This  feast  is 
spread  for  you.  ''Eat,  0  friends;  drink,  yea,  drink 
abundantly,  0  beloved."  If  you  have  faith  as  a  grain 
of  mustard-seed,  come.  If  you  are  ''weak  in  the  faith," 
ministers  are  commanded  to  receive  you.  If,  even  for 
the  first  time  in  your  life,  Christ  now  appear  full  and 
free  to  you,  so  that  you  cannot  but  believe  on  him,  do 
not  hesitate  to  come.     Come  to  the  table,  leaning  on 


224  THE   WELL    IN   THE   VALLEY. 

the   Beloved,  and  you  will  have  John's  place  there. 
You  will  lean  peacefully  upon  his  breast. 

Think,  while  you  eat  and  drink, 
Of  all  for  thee  Christ  bore,— 
The  cup  that  he  would  drink, 
The  crown  of  thorns  he  wore, 
The  garden,  the  betrayal,  and  the  gloom, 
The  pavement,  and  the  mountain,  and  the  tomb. 

Be  this,  his  flesh,  thy  cure, 

His  bloody  sweat,  thy  balm, 
His  blood,  thy  soul  secure, 
His  agony,  thy  calm; 
To-day  thy  fears  and  anguish  pass  away 
In  joy  and  peace  that  shall  abide  alway. 

I.  Every  communicant  eats  the  bread  and  drinks  the 
wine. — "Take,  eat;"  "Drink  ye  all  of  it."  Eating  and 
drinking  in  this  ordinance  imply  feeding  upon  Christ. 
It  is  said  of  bread,  that  it  "  strengtheneth  man's  heart," 
a.nd  of  wine,  that  it  "maketh  glad  the  heart  of  man." 
Bread  is  the  staff  of  life,  and  wine  is  very  reviving  to 
those  who,  like  Timothy,  have  often  infirmities.  These 
are  some  among  the  many  blessings  which  man  pos- 
sesses. Now,  to  partake  of  them  in  the  Lord's  Supper 
is  as  much  as  to  say,  I  do  feed  on  Jesus,  as  my  only 
strength.  "In  the  Lord  have  I  righteousness  and 
strength."  To  take  the  bread  into  your  hand  is  saying, 
by  signs,  "  Christ  is  made  of  God  unto  me  righteous- 
ness." To  feed  upon  it  is  saying,  "Christ  is  made  unto 
me  sanctification." 

Bread  of  the  vorld,  in  mercy  broken, 

Wine  of  the  soul,  in  mercy  shed. 
By  whom  the  words  of  life  were  spoken, 

And  in  whose  death  our  sins  are  dead, 


BEMEMBERINa   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  225 

Look  on  my  heart  in  sorrow  broken, 

Look  on  my  tears  in  anguish  shed, 
And  be  thy  feast  to  me  the  token 

That  by  thy  grace  my  soul  is  fed. 

When  Israel  fed  on  manna  for  forty  years,  and  drank 
water  from  the  rock,  they  were  strengthened  for  their 
journey  through  the  howling  wilderness.  This  was  a 
picture  of  believers  journeying  through  this  world. 
They  feed  every  day  on  Christ  their  strength :  he  is  their 
daily  manna;  he  is  the  rock  that  follows  them.  When 
the  bride  sat  under  the  shadow  of  the  apple-tree,  she 
said,  "His  fruit  is  sweet  to  my  taste;"  ''Stay  me  with 
flagons,  comfort  me  with  apples,  for  I  am  sick  of  love." 
Believer,  this  is  a  picture  of  you.  No  sooner  are  you 
sheltered  by  the  Saviour  than  you  are  nourished  and 
renewed  by  him.  He  comforts  your  heart,  and  sta- 
blishes  you  in  every  good  word  and  work.  In  the  36th 
Psalm,  when  David  speaks  of  men  trusting  under  the 
wings  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  he  adds,  ''They  shall  be 
abundantly  satisfied  with  the  fatness  of  thy  house,  and 
thou  shalt  make  them  drink  of  the  river  of  thy  plea- 
sures." "  Little  children,"  you  know  by  experience  what 
this  means.  When  you  were  brought  to  believe  on  the 
Son  of  God,  you  were  adopted  into  his  family,  fed  with 
the  children's  bread,  and  your  hearts  filled  with  the 
holy  pleasures  of  God.  The  same  thing  is  represented 
in  feeding  on  the  bread  and  wine.  It  is  a  solemn 
declaration,  in  the  sight  of  the  whole  world,  that  you 
have  been  put  into  the  clefts  of  the  smitten  rock,  and 
that  you  are  feeding  on  the  honey  treasured  there.  It 
is  declaring  that  you  have  sat  down  under  Christ's 
shadow,  and  that  you  are  comforted  and  nourished  by 


226  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

the  fruit  of  tliat  tree  of  life.  It  is  saying,  ''I  have 
come  to  trust  under  the  shadow  of  his  wings,  and  now 
I  drink  of  the  river  of  his  pleasures."  It  is  a  sweet 
declaration  of  your  own  helplessness  and  weakness,  and 
that  Christ  is  all  your  strength  and  all  your  life. 

All,  therefore,  who  are  really  ''looking  unto  Jesus" 
are  invited  to  come  to  the  Lord's  table.  You  may  feel 
like  a  sick  person  recovering  from  a  fever:  you  are 
without  strength;  you  cannot  lift  your  hand  or  your 
head;  yet  you  look  unto  Jesus  as  your  strength.  He 
died  for  sinners,  and  he  lives  for  them.  You  look  to  him 
day  by  day.  You  say,  He  is  my  bread,  he  is  my  wine ; 
I  have  no  strength  but  what  comes  from  him.  Come, 
then,  and  feed  at  the  Lord's  table,  a  welcome  guest. 
Or  you  feel  like  the  traveller  when  he  arrives  at  an  inn, 
faint  and  exhausted :  you  have  no  strength  to  go  farther, 
you  cannot  take  another  step.  But  you  lean  on  Jesus 
as  your  strength.  You  believe  that  word,  ''Because  I 
live,  ye  shall  live  also."  Come,  then,  and  feed  on  this 
bread  and  wine,  with  your  staff  in  your  hand  and  shoes 
on  your  feet,  and  you  will  "go  on  your  way  rejoicing." 
Feeble  branches  need  most  nourishment.  The  more 
you  feel  your  weakness,  the  amazing  depravity  of  your 
heart,  the  power  of  Satan  and  the  hatred  of  the  world, 
the  more  need  have  you  to  lean  on  Jesus,  to  feed  on 
this  bread  and  wine.  Ar.d  you  are  all  the  more  wel- 
come. 

0  thou  that,  nail'd  upon  the  bleeding  tree, 
Breathest  thy  soul  away,  let  me  draw  nigh, 
And  hang  my  weary  heart  and  eyes  on  thee. 
To  look  on  thee,  in  thy  sore  agony, 


UEMEMBEEINa   CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  227 

Shall  heal  the  serpent's  wounds  that  long  have  stung 

And  fill'd  my  veins  with  death.     While  thou  dost  die, 

I  from  thy  throes  am  born  to  life  above : 

'Tis  thus  thou  build'st  thy  martyrs,  and  'tis  thus 

That  Faith  herself  doth  anchor  on  thy  love. 

While  with  fhine  arms  outstretch' d,  bleeding  and  bare, 

As  to  thy  throne  of  Godhead  thou  to  Thee 

Dost  draw  the  big  round  world,  let  me  draw  near. 

And,  clinging  at  the  foot  of  that  dread  tree. 

Beneath  thy  wither'd  frame  and  bleeding  side 

Hide  myself,  and  look  up,  0  Lord,  to  thee. 

My  only  hope  and  refuge,  only  pride. 

Of  a  lost  world.     Oh,  mayst  thou  o'er  me  reign, 

And  in  the  fountains  of  my  heart  abide.* 

II.  Every  communicant  shares  the  bread  and  wine 
vnth  others. — The  Lord's  table  is  not  a  selfish,  solitary 
meal.  To  eat  bread  and  wine  alone  is  not  the  Lord's 
Supper.  This  is  the  family  meal  of  that  family  spoken 
of  in  Eph.  iii.  15.  You  do  not  eat  and  drink  alone, 
therefore,  by  yourself:  you  share  the  bread  and  wine 
with  all  at  the  same  table.  Jesus  said,  ''Drink  ye  all 
of  it." 

This  expresses  love  to  the  brethren,  a  sweet  feeling 
of  oneness  with  ''all  those  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  in 
sincerity,"  a  heart-filling  desire  that  all  should  have 
the  same  peace,  the  same  joy,  the  same  spirit,  the  same 
holiness,  the  same  heaven,  with  yourself.  You  remem- 
ber the  golden  candlestick  in  the  temple,  with  its  seven 
lamps.  It  was  fed  out  of  one  golden  bowl  on  the  top 
of  it,  which  was  constantly  full  of  oil.  The  oil  ran 
down  the  shaft  of  the  candlestick,  and  was  distributed 
to  each  lamp  by  seven  golden  pipes  or  branches.  All 
the  lamps  shared  the  same  oil.     It  passed  from  branch 

*  Translation  of  an  ancient  hymn. 


228         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

to  branch.  ISTone  of  the  lamps  kept  the  oil  to  itself.  It 
was  shared  among  them  all.  So  it  is  in  the  vine- 
tree.  The  sap  ascends  from  the  root  and  fills  all  the 
branches.  When  one  branch  is  satisfied  it  lets  the 
stream  pass  on  to  the  next.  ISTay,  it  carries  the  rich 
juice  to  the  smaller  twigs  and  tendrils,  that  all  may- 
have  their  share, — that  all  may  bear  their  precious 
fruit.  So  it  is  with  the  body.  The  blood  comes  from 
the  heart  in  a  full  and  nourishing  stream ;  it  flows  to  all 
the  members;  one  member  conducts  it  to  another, 
that  all  may  be  kept  alive  and  all  may  grow. 

So  it  is  in  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  bread  and  wine 
are  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  to  show  that  we  are 
members  one  of  another.  "¥ot  we,  being  many,  are 
one  bread,  and  one  body,  for  we  are  all  partakers  of 
that  one  bread."  (1  Cor.  x.  17.)  It  is  a  solemn  declara- 
tion that  you  are  one  with  all  true  Christians, — one  in 
peace,  one  in  feeling,  one  in  holiness, — and  that  if  one 
member  suffer  you  will  suffer  with  it,  or  if  one  mem- 
ber be  honoured  you  will  rejoice  with  it.  You  thereby 
declare  that  you  are  branches  of  the  true  Vine,  and 
are  vitally  united  to  pJl  the  branches, — that  you  wish 
th^  same  Holy  Spirit  to  pervade  every  bosom.  You 
declare  that  you  are  lamps  of  the  same  golden  candle- 
stick, and  that  you  wish  the  same  golden  oil,  to  keep 
you  and  them  burning  and  shining  as  hghts  in  a  dark 
world. 

Dear  believer,  you  ^'know  that  you  are  passed  from 
ieath  unto  life,  because  you  love  the  brethren."  This 
pure  and  holy  love  is  one  of  the  first  feelings  in  the 
converted  bosom.  It  is  divine  and  imperishable.  You 
are  a  companion  of  all  that  fear  God.     It  would  be  hell 


REMEMBEEING  CHEIST  AT   COMMUNION.  229 

to  you  to  spend  eternity  witli  wicked  men.  Come  and 
show  tliis  love  at  the  feast  of  love.  The  table  in  the 
upper  room  at  Jerusalem  was  but  a  type  and  earnest  of 
the  table  in  the  upper  room  of  glory.  Soon  we  shall 
exchange  the  table  below  for  the  table  above,  where  we 
shall  give  full  expression  to  our  love  to  all  eternity. 
There  no  betrayers  can  come, — ''no  unclean  thing  can 
enter."  Jesus  shall  be  at  the  head  of  the  table,  and 
Grod  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  our  eyes. 

Be  known  to  us  in  breaking  bread, 

But  do  not  then  depart: 
Saviour,  abide  with  us,  and  spread 

Thy  table  in  our  heart. 

There  sup  with  us  in  love  divine; 

Thy  body  and  thy  blood, 
That  living  bread,  that  heavenly  wine, 

Be  our  immortal  food. 

Come,  then,  to  meet  Christ  now,  that  you  may  be 
prepared  to  meet  him  and  to  lean  on  him  all  through 
the  wilderness,  and  to  find  him  your  rod  and  staff  as 
you  pass  over  the  Jordan  of  death.  The  day  and  the 
hour  of  your  departure  may  be  near,  even  at  such  a 
moment  as  you  think  not  of.  Oh,  come,  then,  knowing 
that  your  hour  is  at  hand,  and  eat  this  passover  as  if 
it  might  be  to  you  the  last  as  well  as  the  first. 

On  the  morning  on  which  Wishart,  the  first  martyr 
of  the  Eeformation  in  Scotland,  was  to  be  executed, 
the  priests  sent  two  Franciscan  monks  to  acquaint  him 
that  the  time  of  his  death  drew  near,  and  to  ask  if  he 
wished  to  confess  his  sins  to  them,  as  was  customary. 
He  replied  that  he  had  no  need  for  friars,  nor  any  wish 

20 


230  THE   WELL    IN    THE   VALLEY. 

to  converse  with  tliem,  but  if  they  would  gratify  him 
so  far,  he  would  be  happy  to  be  visited  by  the  learned 
man  who  had  preached  the  day  before.*  On  this 
being  reported,  the  sub-prior,  after  he  had  obtained  the 
permission  of  the  bishop,  came  to  the  prison  in  the 
castle,  where  Wishart  was  confined,  and  held  a  long 
conversation  with  him,  intermingled  with  many  tears. 
At  length,  after  he  had  ceased  weeping,  from  which  he 
could  not  refrain,  he  kindly  asked  whether  he  would 
not  wish  to  partake  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Supper. 
''Most  willingly,"  answered  the  martyr,  ''if,  according 
to  Christ's  appointment,  it  be  shown  forth  in  both 
kinds, — namely,  in  bread  and  wine."  Winram  imme- 
diately returned  to  the  bishops,  and,  with  a  view  of 
conciliating  them,  informed  them  that  the  prisoner 
solemnly  affirmed  his  innocence  of  the  crime  with 
which  he  was  charged,  and  that  he  did  not  say  so  to 
avert  his  impending-  death,  but  only  to  leave  a  testi- 
mony to  man  of  that  innocence  which  was  known  to 
God.  The  effect,  however,  was  quite  opposite:  the 
cardinal,  (Beaton,)  inflamed  with  rage,  exclaimed,  "As 
for  you,  Mr.  Sub-Prior,  we  know  very  well  already 
what  you  are."  Winram  then  asked  whether  the 
prisoner  would  be  allowed  the  communion  of  the 
holy  body  and  blood  of  the  Saviour;  when  the  other 
priests,  after  having  consulted  a  little  together,  gave  it  as 
their  opinion  "that  it  did  not  appear  proper  that  an 
obstinate  heretic,  condemned  by  the  Church,  should 
have  any  Church  privileges."     This  determination  was 


*  Jolm  Winram,  Sub-Prior  of  St.  Andrews,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
friend  to  the  Reformation, — but  not  openly,  for  fear  of  the  priests. 


EEMEMBEEING  CHEIST  AT  COMMUNION".  231 

reported  to  Wisliart;  and  it  does  not  appear  that  lie 
saw  Mr.  Winram  again. 

At  nine  o'clock,  the  friends  and  domestics  of  the 
governor  having  assembled  to  breakfast,  he  was  asked 
whether  he  would  commune  with  them, — to  which  he 
frankly  replied,  ''With  more  pleasure  than  I  have 
done  for  some  time  past;  for  I  perceive  you  are  devout 
men  and  fellow-members  of  the  same  body  of  Christ 
with  me,  and  also  because  I  know  this  will  be  the  last 
food  I  shall  partake  of  on  earth."  Then,  addressing 
the  governor,  "I  invite  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  and 
by  that  love  wdiich  you  bear  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  to  sit  down  at  this  table  a  little,  and  at- 
tend to  me  while  I  address  an  exhortation  to  you  and 
pray  over  the  bread  which  we  are  about  to  eat,  as 
brethren  of  Christ;  and  then  I  shall  bid  you  farewell." 
In  the  mean  time,  the  table  being  covered,  as  is  the 
custom,  Avith  a  linen  cloth,  and  bread  placed  upon  it, 
Wishart  began  a  short  and  clear  discourse  upon  the 
Last  Supper,  and  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ, 
and  spoke  about  half  an  hour.  He  especially  exhorted 
them  to  lay  aside  wrath,  envy  and  malice,  that  their 
minds  might  be  filled  with  love  to  one  another,  and  so 
become  perfect  members  of  Christ,  who  daily  intercedes 
that  we  through  him,  our  Sacrifice,  may  obtain  eternal 
life.  Having  spoken  to  this  effect,  he  gave  God  thanks, 
and  broke  the  bread  and  gave  a  little  to  each;  and  in 
like  manner  he  gave  the  wine,  after  he  himself  had 
tasted,  entreating  them  to  remember  in  this  sacrament, 
along  with  him,  the  last  memorial  of  Christ's  death ;  but 
that  for  himself  a  more  bitter  cup  was  prepared,  for  no 
other  reason  than  preaching  the  gospel.     After  this  ha 


232  THE  WELL   IN    THE-  VALLEY. 

again  retired  to  his  chamber,  and  finished  his  own 
private  devotions. 

Probably,  since  the  institution  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
it  has  seldom  been  administered  under  circumstances 
more  solemn  and  affecting  than  on  this  first  celebration 
of  it  in  Protestant  Scotland.  Wishart  was  a  man  of  the 
most  mild  and  amiable  temper,  of  a  sweet  and  vene- 
rable appearance,  and  his  manners  are  said  to  have  been 
particularly  engaging.  He  had  been  a  kind  intimate 
in  the  governor's  family  for  nearly  two  months,  and 
during  that  time  seems  to  have  conciliated  the  afiec- 
tions  of  his  keeper  and  attendants,  the  most  of  whom 
had  probably  through  his  means  become  ''partakers 
of  like  precious  faith,"  since  he  addressed  them,  upon 
this  occasion,  as  persons  whom  he  knew  to  be  fellow- 
members  of  the  same  body  of  Christ.  In  less  than 
three  hours  he  was  to  stand  in  the  presence  of  that 
God  and  Saviour  whose  dying  love  they  were  com- 
memorating, and  to  be  honoured,  to  glorify  his  name, 
by  passing  through  the  flames  to  heaven.  With  what 
energy  would  he  address  them ! — With  what  reverential 
attention  would  they  listen!  With  what  a  pressure 
of  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come  resting  upon  him, 
would  he  speak  and  they  hear,  and  both  participate  in 
the  twofold  emblems  of  a  Saviour's  complete  and  per- 
fect sacrifice !  Scarcely  can  a  scene  of  deeper  interest  be 
imagined,  excepting,  perhaps,  some  which  soon  followed, 
when,  on  the  mountain  and  the  moor — 

"Leaning  on  his  spear, 
The  lyart  veteran  heard  the  word  of  God," 

and  from  this  holy  banquet  there  administered  gathered 
strength  to  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  and  to  wit- 


EEMEMBERING   CHRIST   AT   COMMUNION.  233 

iioss  a  good  confession  before  many  witnesses  on  tlie 
gibbet  or  at  the  stake. 

But  sucb  ought  every  communion-season  to  be.  It 
was  the  last  command  of  Christ  which  instituted  it,  and 
his  last  act  to  observe  it.  The  Lord  Jesus,  the  same 
night  in  which  he  was  betrayed,  took  bread".  That  was 
the  darkest  night  that  ever  was  in  this  world,  and  yet 
the  brightest, — the  night  when  Christ's  love  to  sinners 
was  put  to  the  severest  test.  ''  Knowing  that  he  should 
now  depart  out  of  this  world  unto  the  Father,  and 
having  loved  his  own,  he  loved  them  unto  the  end;"  and 
therefore  to  comfort  their  sorrowful  and  desponding 
hearts  he  left  this  pledge  of  his  return  to  take  them  to 
himself,  that  where  he  is  there  they  may  be  also. 

Let  me  be  with  thee  where  thou  art, 

My  Saviour,  my  eternal  rest : 
Then  only  will  this  longing  heart 

Be  fully  and  forever  blest. 

Let  me  be  with  thee  where  thou  art, 

Thine  unveil'd  glory  to  behold: 
Then  only  will  this  wandering  heart 

Cease  to  be  false  to  thee  and  cold. 

Let  me  be  with  thee  where  thou  art, 
Where  spotless  saints  thy  name  adore : 

Then  only  will  this  longing  heart 

Contend  with  sin  and  earth  no  more. 

Let  me  be  with  thee  where  thou  art, 
Where  none  can  die,  where  none  remove : 

There  neither  death  nor  life  will  part 
Me  from  thy  presence  and  thy  love. 

''And  now,"  said  Christ,  after  administering  the 
ordinance,  '^I  am  no  more  in  the  world.  I  come  to 
Thee.    But  these  are  in  the  world,  and  I  come  to  Thee." 

20* 


234  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

And;  as  that  was  Christ's  Last  Supper  with  his  dis- 
ciples, so  is  each  communion-season  the  Last  Supper 
with  Christ  to  some.  It  is  a  preparation  for  their  burial. 
It  is  their  last  spiritual  meal, — their  last  act  of  faith 
and  hope  and  consecration, — their  last  communion  with 
saints  on  earth  and  with  an  unseen  Saviour  in  heaven. 

Come,  then,  into  his  very  presence.  Set  your  affec- 
tions on  him,  so  that,  though  you  see  him  not  with 
bodily  eyes,  yet,  believing,  you  may  rejoice  with  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

Christ  and  his  cross  fill  every  thought, 
And  faith  and  love  be  fixed  on  him. 

This  every  communicant  is  encouraged  to  do;  and  this 
the  very  act  of  participation  necessarily  implies,  and 
ought  to  impart. 

"Within  a  short  period  the  spirit  of  the  late  Dr. 
Adolphe  Monod,  the  ornament  of  the  French  Protest- 
ant pulpit,  and  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  devoted 
men  of  his  generation,  passed,  through  much  tribula- 
tion, into  the  kingdom  of  God.  For  two  years  he 
struggled  with  an  excruciating  malady,  before  enter- 
ing into  his  rest.  And  how  was  he  sustained  while 
passing  through  that  valley  and  shadow  of  death? 
*' As  for  me  personally,"  said  he,  ^'I  am  in  peace.  Him 
whom  I  have  preached  is  also  Him  in  whom  I  have 
believed.  Whatever  moment  he  has  appointed  to  take 
me  back  to  himself,  I  know  he  will  sustain  me  in 
the  last  struggle;  and  I  enter,  in  the  measure  of  my 
weak  faith,  into  the  thought  of  the  apostle: — 'I  have  a 
desire  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far 
better.'" 

He  had  always  been  of  a  melancholy  cast  of  mind, 


EEMEMBERlNa   CHRIST  AT   COMMUNION.  235 

but  became  more  cheerful  as  lie  was  more  afflicted. 
Once,  when  his  sufferings  were  very  great,  he  was 
heard,  whilst  engaged  in  .prayer,  saying,  "I  have  never 
been  happier  than  I  am  now.  I  have  never  felt  Thee 
so  near  me.  I  have  never  been  less  sad  than  since 
Thou  hast  so  sorely  afflicted  me.     Happy  sickness !" 

This  gracious  frame  of  mind  he  retained  until  the 
end,  his  patience  and  submission  increasing  as  his 
sufferings  grew  more  intense ;  and  many  were  the  occa- 
sions when  he  testified  as  to  his  faith  and  his  entire 
reliance  on  his  Saviour's  blood.  On  one  occasion,  in 
the  presence  of  the  members  of  his  family,  when  he 
was  about  to  take  the  communion  with  them,  he  thus 
expressed  himself: — ''It  is  only  by  faith  we  receive  the 
Lord  in  the  communion, — that  we  eat  his  flesh  and  drink 
his  blood.  Then  we  live  by  him,  as  he  lived  by  the 
Father;  and  thereby  our  faith  will  not  be  the  simple 
knowledge,  but  the  possession,  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  is 
not  knowing  Jesus  Christ  that  saves  and  sanctifies:  it 
is  having  Jesus  Christ.  ...  In  taking  the  communion 
with  you,  I  declare,  as  we  are  called  to  it  by  God,  I 
come  into  his  presence  as  a  poor  sinner,  whose  whole 
life  witnesses  against  him  before  God,  and  whose  Chris- 
tian works  are  a  pure  gift  of  divine  grace,  in  which  he 
only  interfered  to  alloy  them  and  to  mix  therein  human 
infirmity  and  corruption.  .  .  .  But,  at  the  same  time,  I 
have  a  firm,  simple  and  peaceful  hope  in  the  redemp- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ, — in  his  blood,  in  his  sacrifice ;  and 
if  I  could  find  any  clearer  expression  I  would  use  it, 
that  all  the  glory  may  be  given  to  the  efficacy  of  the 
blood  of  the  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ,  atoning  for  my 
sins  before   God,  supplying  by  his  merits  the  good  I 


236  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

have  not  done,  and  repairing  tlie  evil  I  have  done.  Oh, 
wonder  of  grace !  Sin  is  abolished.  I  no  more  stand 
before  God  as  a  sinner.  '  Jesus  Christ  has  been  made 
unto  us  sanctification  and  redemption;'  'He  has  been 
made  sin  for  us,  that  we  might  be  righteous, — that  we 
might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him.'  I 
am  clothed  with  his  righteousness,  as  he  is  clothed  with 
my  sin !  God  can  no  more  condemn  me  than  he  can  con- 
demn his  Son,  and  I  stand  before  him  as  his  beloved 
Christ!     Faith  in  this  sacrifice  is  my  only  hope." 

He  had  then  already  been  deprived  of  the  privilege 
of  public  worship  for  four  months,  and  it  became  evi- 
dent that  no  amelioration  could  be  Jioped  for, — when  the 
thought  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  still  gather  a 
few  friends  around  him,  to  partake  of  the  communion 
with  them.  The  first  meeting  of  the  kind  was  held  on 
the  14th  of  October;  and  they  were  continued  every 
Sunday,  without  interruption,  for  six  months.  These 
meetings  were  a  true  practical  evangelical  alliance,  as 
they  were  conducted  by  ministers  of  all  denominations, 
— Reformed,  Lutheran,  Independent,  Free  Church, 
Wesleyans;  and  all  those  who  assembled — and  they 
were  as  numerous  as  the  little  sick-room  would  allow 
— felt  that  they  were  indeed  one  body  and  one  soul 
with  their  afflicted  brother,  and  that,  like  him,  they 
had  no  other  hope  of  salvation  than  the  cross  of  their 
Saviour.  M.  Monod  himself  was  able  to  say  a  few 
words  at  every  meeting,  however  much  he  might  have 
suff'ered  during  the  foregoing  week.  For  this  privilege 
he  felt  very  thankful,  and  acknowledged  it  as  a  special 
favour.  Those  who  heard  him  then  will  agree  that  he 
was  never  more  powerful  in  the  pulpit  than  he  was  on 


KEMEMBERING   CHKXST  AT   COMMUNION.  237 

that  bed  of  sickness,  wlien  lie  addressed  them  briefly 
on  the  main  points  of  Christian  faith  and  love,  and 
collected  the  little  strength  he  had,  after  a  week  of  con- 
stant suffering,  to  urge  them  to  consecrate  themselves 
entirely  to  the  Lord's  service. 

The  last  of  these  meetings  took  place  on  the  30th  of 
the  succeeding  March.  Although  very  weak  that  day, 
strength  was  granted  him  to  make  a  prayer,  which  was  as 
his  farewell  to  the  Church.  It  was  full  of  humiliation 
and  thanksgiving  towards  God,  of  love  and  gratitude 
towards  his  brethren.  "  0  God !"  he  said,  "  whose  name 
is  love,  who  never  hast  done,  and  who  never  will  do  any 
thing  but  in  love,  how  can  I  be  thankful  enough  when 
I  see  these  friends,  whose  love  for  me  has  assembled 
them  around  my  bed  of  sickness  and  suffering,  and 
what  more  thou  alone  knowest !  I  rejoice  in  their  love. 
To  whom  has  more  ever  been  shown  than  to  me  ?  Should 
I  not  be  the  most  ungrateful  of  men  if  I  were  not  the 
most  thankful?  Therefore  I  return  thee  thanks,  0  my 
God;  and  I  thank  thee  still  more,  if  possible,  for  thy 
love  that  has  so  sorely  afflicted  me,  but  which  has  at 
the  same  time  supported  me;  and  I  confess,  before  these 
friends,  that  thou  hast  never  let  me  want  any  thing, 
though  I  have  been  so  often  wanting  in  faith  and  pa- 
tience, and  though  I  am  so  far  from  having  attained 
that  perfect  patience  to  which  I  most  ardently  aspire. 
But  thou  hast  been  all  mercy;  and  as  long  as  I  have 
breath  of  life  and  strength  I  will  declare  it  before  them. 
I  thank  thee,  0  my  God,  for  the  freeness  with  which 
thou  hast  manifested  thy  goodness  towards  me,  in  freely 
forgiving  all  my  sins, — I,  the  greatest  of  sinners,  the 
least  of  thy  children,  the  poorest  of  thy  servants, — but 


238         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

I  also  whom  thou  hast  loaded  with  mercy,  and  made 
use  of  to  advance  thy  kingdom,  even  in  the  extreme 
weakness  and  pain  in  which  I  am  plunged  to-day.  I 
bless  thee  that  thou  hast  given  me  a  Saviour !  With- 
out him,  I  confess,  0  my  God,  I  should  have  been  irre- 
vocably lost  and  now  in  the  depths  of  despair.  But  I 
have  a  Saviour,  who  has  freely  saved  me  by  his  blood 
which  was  shed ;  and  I  will  make  it  known  that  I  rest 
entirely  upon  his  blood  shed  for  me.  I  confess  that  all 
my  righteousness,  all  my  works  which  have  been 
praised,  all  my  preaching  appreciated  and  admired,  all 
is  in  my  sight  as  filthy  rags,  and  that  there  is  nothing 
in  me  capable  of  subsisting  before  the  light  of  thy 
countenance  and  the  brightness  of  thy  holiness.  But 
now  it  is  not  I  that  shall  be  judged:  it  is  Christ  in  me; 
and  I  know  that  he  will  enter,  and  I  with  him,  and 
that  we  are  so  closely  united  that  he  could  never  enter 
and  leave  me  without.  0  God,  I  thank  thee  for  all 
these  friends,  to  whom  thou  hast  granted  the  same 
privilege  and  the  same  consolation,  and  to  whom  thou 
hast  deigned  also  to  give  thy  Holy  Spirit,  to  apply  to 
their  souls  the  free  gift  of  eternal  life  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ." 

Well,  then,  may  it  be  said  that  ''the  Lord's  Supper 
is  the  sweetest  of  all  ordinances."  It  is  fragrant  with 
the  love  of  Christ, — who  is  its  life  and  power.  Here 
Christ  is  all  and  in  all,  and  here  ''all  things  are  our's," 
— found  through  Christ  strengthening  our  faith  to  ask 
and  expect  them,  opening  our  hearts  to  receive  them, 
and  out  of  his  own  infinite  fulness  imparting  grace  and 
mercy  in  every  time  of  need  and  sufficient  for  every 
emergency. 


EEMEMBEEINQ   CHEIST   AT   COMMUNION.  239 

Pardon  and  peace  to  dying  men, 

And  endless  life,  are  given, 
Through  the  rich  blood  that  Jesus  shed 

To  raise  our  souls  to  heaven. 

Millions  of  souls  in  glory  now 

Were  fed  and  foster'd  here  ; 
And  millions  more,  still  on  their  way, 

Around  the  board  appear. 

Here,  Saviour,  here  thyself  reveal, 

And  be  thy  glory  known  : 
Affix  thy  blessed  Spirit's  seal  ; 

Make  all  my  heart  thine  own. 


While  in  sweet  communion  feeding 

On  this  earthly  bread  and  wine, 

Saviour,  may  we  see  thee  bleeding 

On  the  cross  to  make  us  thine ! 
Now,  our  eyes  forever  closing 
To  this  fleeting  world  below, 
On  thy  gentle  breast  reposing, 

Teach  us,  Lord,  thy  grace  to  know. 
Though  unseen,  be  ever  near  us, 

With  the  still,  small  voice  of  love ; 
Whispering  words  of  peace  to  cheer  U8» 

Every  doubt  and  fear  remove ; 
Bring  before  us  all  the  story 

Of  thy  life  and  death  of  woe, 
And  with  hopes  of  endless  glory 
Wean  our  hearts  from  all  below. 


Here,  0  my  Lord,  I  see  thee  face  to  face  : 

Here  would  I  touch  and  handle  things  unseen, 

Here  grasp  with  firmer  hand  the  eternal  grace,  ' 
And  all  my  weariness  upon  thee  lean. 


240   "  THE   WELL  m  THE   VALLEY. 

Here  would  I  feed  upon  the  bread  of  God, 

Here  drink  with  thee  the  royal  wine  of  heaven ; 

Here  would  I  lay  aside  each  earthly  load, 
Here  taste  afresh  the  calm  of  sin  forgiven. 

This  is  the  hour  of  banquet  and  of  song  ; 

This  is  the  heavenly  table  spread  for  me : 
Here  let  me  feast,  and,  feasting,  still  prolong 

The  brief,  bright  hour  of  fellowship  with  thee. 

Too  soon  we  rise ;  the  symbols  disappear ; 

The  feast,  though  not  the  love,  is  pass'd  and  gone ; 
The  bread  and  wine  remove,  but  thou  art  here, — 

Nearer  than  ever, — still  my  Shield  and  Sun. 

I  have  no  help  but  thine ;  nor  do  I  need 
Another  arm  save  thine  to  lean  upon: 

It  is  enough,  my  Lord,  enough,  indeed : 

My  strength  is  in  thy  might, — thy  might  alone. 

I  have  no  wisdom,  save  in  Him  who  is 
My  wisdom  and  my  teacher  both  in  one ; 

No  wisdom  can  I  lack  while  thou  art  wise, 
No  teaching  do  I  crave,  save  thine  alone. 

Mine  is  the  sin,  but  thine  the  righteousness ; 

Mine  is  the  guilt,  but  thine  the  cleansing  blood: 
Here  is  my  robe,  my  refuge  and  my  peace, — 

Thy  blood,  thy  righteousness,  0  Lord  my  God. 


WOKDS   OF    INSTRUCTION.  241 


CHAPTER   XII. 

WORDS   OF   INSTRUCTION  AS  TO  WHAT   MAY  AND   OUGHT 
TO    BE    EXPECTED. 

My  dear  reader,  I  must  now  leave  you,  but  not,  I 
trust,  alone.  You  will  be  able,  I  hope,  to  say,  with. 
Christ,  ''And  yet  I  am  not  alone,  because  the  Father  is 
with  me."  Yes !  God,  I  hope,  will  be  with  you;  work  in 
you  to  will  and  to  do;  give  you  the  preparation  of  the 
heart  and  the  answer  of  the  tongue;  invite  you  by  his 
still,  small  voice  to  ''keep  the  feast;"  create  in  you  a 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness;  "sweetly 
force  you  in,"  and  there  say  to  you,  as  you  sit  before 
him  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,  "Eat,  0  friend; 
drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly,  0  beloved." 

This,  dear  reader,  is  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to 
God  for  you.  May  you  be  able  to  say,  with  Colonel 
Gardiner,  "How  blessed  the  solemn  ordinance  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  proved  to  me!"  "Often,"  says  Dr. 
Doddridge,  in  his  memoir  of  one  who  was  a  won- 
derful example,  that  remarkable  evidence  of  the 
power  of  divine  grace  to  convert  the  most  infidel 
and  sanctify  the  most  impure,  "have  I  had  the  plea- 
sure to  see  that  manly  countenance  softened  into  all 
%the  marks  of  humiliation  and  contrition  on  communion- 
occasions,  and  to  discern,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to 
conceal  them,  streams  of  tears  flowing  down  from  his 

Q  21 


'242  THE    WELL    IN   THE    VALLEY. 

eyes  while  he  has  been  directing  them  to  the  memorials 
of  his  Redeemer's  love.  And  some  who  have  conversed 
intimately  with  him  after  he  came  from  that  ordinance 
have  observed  a  visible  abstraction  from  surrounding 
objects,  by  which  there  seemed  reason  to  imagine  that 
his  soul  was  wrapped  up  in  holy  contemplation.  And 
I  particularly  remember  that  when  we  had  once  spent 
a  great  part  of  the  following  Monday  in  reading  to- 
gether, he  made  an  apology  to  me  for  being  so  absent 
as  he  seemed,  by  telling  me  that  his  heart  was  flowing 
upwards,  before  he  was  aware,  to  Him  whom  having 
not  seen  he  loved,  and  he  was  rejoicing  in  Him  with 
joy  so  unspeakable  that  he  could  not  hold  it  down  to 
creature-converse." 

And  when  faith  and  love  are  in  lively  exercise — 
when,  like  Colonel  Gardiner,  we  examine  our  own 
selves,  judge  our  own  selves,  and  in  conscious  weak- 
ness and  want  '' wrestle  with  the  angel  of  the  cove- 
nant, and  make  supplications  to  him  with  tears  and 
cries" — he  will  strengthen  us,  that,  like  Jacob,  we  may 
have  power  with  God  and  be  conscious  of  his  presence. 
''While  the  king,"  says  the  believing  spouse,  ^'sitteth 
at  the  table,  my  spikenard  sendeth  forth  the  smell 
thereof."  And  such  should  be  the  case  always  when 
we  feast  with  Him  who  '^offered  himself  an  offering  and 
a  sacrifice  unto  God,  a  sweet-smelling  savour,"  out  of 
whose  lips  is  poured  grace,  and  '^all  whose  garments 
smell  of  myrrh  and  aloes  and  cassia,  out  of  the 
ivory  palaces  whereby  they  have  made  thee  glad." 
Even  as  ^'  God  hath  anointed  him  with  gladness,"  so* 
'"'with  gladness  and  rejoicing  shall  his  people  be 
brought,    they  shall   enter   into   the   king's    palace." 


WOEDS   OF    INSTEUCTION.  243 

Only  let  your  heart  and  your  expectation  be  towards 
Him,  saying,  ''Let  my  beloved  come  into  my  garden 
and  eat  of  his  pleasant  fruits,"  and  he  will  be  heard  by 
the  ear  of  faith,  saying,  ''I  am  come  into  my  garden, 
my  sister,  my  spouse.  I  have  gathered  my  myrrh 
with  my  spice.  I  have  eaten  my  honey-comb  with  my 
honey.  I  have  drunk  my  wine  with  my  milk.  Eat, 
0  friends;  drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly,  0  beloved." 

How  can  it  be  otherwise?  By  that  ''one  offering 
offered  up  once  for  all,  Christ  has  perfected  forever 
them  that  are  sanctified."  All  power  is  now  in  his 
hands.  The  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and  hath  given  to 
him  all  things  both  here  and  in  heaven,  so  that  he  might 
be  Head  over  all  things  to  his  church  both  in  heaven  and 
on  earth.  He  "has  received  gifts  for  the  rebellious 
also,"  and  "ever  liveth  to  give  repentance  and  remis- 
sion of  sins."  To  him,  thus  mighty  to  save,  we  look  in  all 
and  through  all  the  services  of  the  communion.  He 
is  our  altar,  our  sacrifice,  our  High-Priest,  our  King. 
"We  are  his  friends,  chosen  in  Christ,  given  to  Christ, 
called  and  adopted  by  Christ,  and  accepted  by  God  for 
Christ's  sake.  We  here  perceive  the  love  of  God  the 
Father,  the  grace  of  God  the  Son,  and  the  comfort,  ad- 
vocacy, consolation  and  help  of  God  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Having  "in  the  end,"  or  "evening  of  the  world,  put 
away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,"  Christ  calls  his 
disciples  apart,  that  here,  encircled  by  his  family,  he 
may  feast  himself  with  his  redeemed,  and  they  with 
him,  in  this  holy  supper.  He  is  as  present  now  in 
spirit  as  he  was  with  his  first  disciples  in  body ;  and  yet  a 
little  while  and  we  shall  be  brought  into  his  upper  sanc- 
tuary to  celebrate  the  ordinance  anew  at  the  marriage- 


244         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

supper  of  tlie  Lamb ;  and  then  and  there  we  shall  behold 
him  by  sight,  as  we  now  do  by  faith.  Then  we  shall  be 
with  him  where  he  is,  see  him  as  he  is  and  be  satisfied 
with  his  likeness,  as  now  we  see  him  through  the 
glass  of  ordinances  darkly  and  yet  believingly  and  re- 
joicingly. Being  united  to  Christ,  we  here  partake  of 
his  fulness,  and,  having  life  in  Christ,  are  quickened 
together  with  Him  who  is  our  life,  and  with  whom,  when 
he  appears,  we  shall  appear  in  glory. 

In  the  Lord's  Supper  Christ  is  the  substance  of  all 
its  shadows  and  the  reality  of  all  its  forms.  The 
Lord's  Supper  is  a  fresh  opening  and  reading  of 
Christ's  will.  It  is  the  New  Testament  or  bequest  of 
that  inheritance,  that  eternal  weight  of  glory,  and 
that  grace  and  mercy — including  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,  and  ''all  those  things  we  have  need  of" — 
which  Christ  hath  purchased  for  us.  We  come  here 
by  his  invitation  to  meet  him  and  to  assure  our  hearts 
before  him.  ''Gather  yc,"  he  says,  "my  saints  to- 
gether, those  that  have  made  a  covenant  with  me," 
that  here  in  my  banqueting-house  my  banner  over 
them  may  be  love.  "If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come 
and  drink."  "And  the  Spirit  and  the  Bride  say,  Come; 
and  let  him  that  heareth  say.  Come ;  and  let  him  that  is 
athirst,  come:  and  whosoever  will,  let  him  come  and 
take  of  the  water  of  life  freely."  Blessed  are  the  poor 
in  spirit,  the  needy  in  soul,  the  halt  by  sin,  the  blind  in 
heart,  yea,  the  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  for  even  such — 
all  such — are  bidden  to  the  feast.  ' '  Hearken,  my  beloved 
brethren :  hath  not  God  chosen  the  poor  of  this  world, 
rich  in  faith  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom?"  The  Lord's 
table  is  the  Lord's  gift;  and  as  he  is  the  host,  so  does 


WORDS   OF   INSTEUCTION.  245 

he  provide  the  fare,  give  the  preparation  of  the  heart 
and  ''the  garments  of  salvation."  And  every  poor, 
needy  and  helpless  sinner  who  comes  to  him  as  a  free, 
full  and  complete  Saviour  is  a  welcome  guest, — welcome 
to  come  and  put  in  his  claim  for  the  rich  gifts  which 
Christ  has  left  and  secured  for  him,  to  receive  a  present 
earnest  of  them,  and  to  feel  that  he  is  an  heir, — "an heir 
of  God,  a  joint-heir  with  Christ,  to  an  inheritance  in- 
corruptible, undefiled  and  that  cannot  fade  away." 

''Truly  we  have  here  fellowship  with  the  Father  and 
with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ."  We  have  to  do  with  Jesus. 
Desire  and  expect  above  all  things,  therefore,  at  the 
Lord's  table,  the  presence  of  your  Saviour.  Will  not 
Jesus  come  to  the  feast?  Yes.  "I  will  be  with  you.  I 
will  not  leave  you  comfortless.  I  will  come  unto  you. 
I  am  with  you  always.  I  will  bless  you  and  do  you 
good."  Come,  then,  boldly,  that  you  "may  obtain 
mercy  and  find  grace  to  help  you  in  time  of  need." 
Open  your  heart  to  Him  who  "searcheth  the  reins  and 
hearts,  and  unto  whose  eyes  all  things  are  naked  and  open." 
Say  unto  him,  "Try  me,  0  Lord,  prove  me,  search  my 
thoughts,  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me, 
and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlasting.  0  Lord,  send  thy 
light  and  thy  truth.  Let  them  lead  me,  let  them  bring 
me  unto  thy  holy  hill  and  to  thy  tabernacles.  Then 
shall  I  go  unto  the  altar  of  God,  to  God  my  exceeding 
joy.  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord.  My  soul  shall 
be  joyful  in  my  God.  For  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the 
garments  of  salvation.  He  hath  covered  me  with  the 
robe  of  righteousness.  As  a  bridegroom  decketh  him- 
self with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herself 


246         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

with  jewels.  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus,  come.  Now,  even 
now,  let  mine  eyes  see  thy  salvation." 

How  great  are  the  privileges  which  result  from  an 
ability  to  say,  Christ  is  mine !  If  Christ  is  your's  then 
all  that  he  possesses  is  your's.  His  power  is  your's  to 
defend  you,  his  wisdom  and  knowledge  are  your's  to 
guide  you,  his  righteousness  is  your's  to  justify  you,  his 
spirit  and  grace  are  your's  to  sanctify  you,  his  heaven  is 
your's  to  receive  you.  He  is  as  much  your's  as  you  are 
his ;  and  as  he  requires  all  that  you  have  to  be  given  to 
him,  so  he  gives  all  that  he  has  to  you.  Come  to  him, 
then,  with  holy  boldness,  and  take  what  is  your  own. 
Remember,  you  have  already  received  what  is  most  diffi- 
cult for  him  to  give, — his  body,  his  blood,  his  life.  And 
surely  he  who  has  given  these  will  not  refuse  you 
smaller  blessings.  You  will  never  live  happily  or  use- 
fully, you  will  never  highly  enjoy  or  greatly  adorn  reli- 
gion, until  you  can  feel  that  Christ,  and  all  that  he  pos- 
sesses, are  your's,  and  learn  to  come  and  take  them. 

Remember,  however,  that  while  Christ  waiteth  to  be 
gracious,  while  he  wishes  every  guest  to  worship  in 
the  beauty  of  holiness,  to  sit  before  him  as  in  heavenly 
places,  ''  to  comprehend  more  of  the  length  and  breadth 
and  height  and  depth  of  the  love  of  God,"  never- 
theless Christ  comes  to  his  table  as  a  king,  clothed  with 
the  sovereignty  of  grace  and  power.  He  giveth  when 
and  as  "it  seemeth  to  him  good," — to  "  all  severally  as 
he  will."  We  are  bound;  but  he  is  free.  We  are  igno- 
rant ;  he  is  wisdom.  We  know  not  what  a  day  may 
bring  forth  ;  we  know  not  even  what  to  ask  for  as  we 
ought;  we  know  not  what  spirit  we  are  of;  and  there- 
fore we  know  not  what  things  we  have  most  need  of; 


WOEDS   OF   INSTRUCTION.  247 

but  he  knoweth  the  end  from  the  beginning.  He 
knows  all  things,  and  he  will  make  all  things  work  to- 
gether for  our  good.  Let  us,  then,  trust  him  for  his 
grace.  Let  us  feel  confidence,  that  as  no  trial  shall  be 
permitted  to  befall  us  which  he  will  not  enable  us  to 
bear,  so  he  will  also  order  his  gifts  and  graces  and 
blessings  so  as  to  prove  himself  a  very  present  help, 
according  to  our  need.  '^None  shall  go  away  empty." 
None  of  his  little  ones  need  despond,  or  fear  that  Jesus 
will  overlook  or  pass  them  by  and  not  be  known  by 
them  in  the  breaking  of  bread.  They  shall  every  one 
have  his  own  several,  personal,  appropriate  supply,  both 
seasonable  and  sufficient.  ISTot  all  alike  in  measure  or 
in  quality, — even  as  all  are  not  alike  in  character  or  ex- 
perience,— but  all  alike  in  grace, — all  alike  in  the  wise 
adaptation  of  Christ's  imparted  blessing  to  their  wants 
and  woes,  to  their  trials  and  temptations,  to  their 
direction,  encouragement,  reproof,  rebuke,  correction, 
humiliation,  and  thus  to  their  sanctification  here  and 
their  salvation  hereafter.  Jesus  knoweth  their  hearts, 
— their  lives  and  their  lusts,  their  pride  too,  and  self- 
confidence,  and  all  those  temptations  that  do  so  easily 
beset  them.  His  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will 
thoroughly  purge  his  floor,  winnow  his  wheat  and 
separate  the  chafi",  and,  as  a  skilful  refiner,  adapt  all 
his  movements  so  as  to  purge  away  the  dross  and 
render  the  gold  seven  times  purified. 

Like  a  wise  householder,  therefore,  Christ  will  bring 
forth  and  set  before  every  guest  his  meat  in  due  season, 
— milk  for  babes,  strong  meat  for  the  full-grown,  and 
wine  on  the  lees  well  refined  for  the  faint  and  weary, 
and  strong  drink  for  him  that  is  ready  to  perish.     All 


248  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

graces  are  his  gifts.  Faith  is  his  gift,  and  so  is  peace, 
and  hope,  and  joy,  and  assurance.  Wisdom  and 
strength,  and  fortitude,  and  patience,  and  resignation, 
and  rejoicing  in  tribulation,  as  well  as  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God,  are  all  his  gifts.  Repentance,  and  hu- 
mility, and  godly  sorrow,  and  mortification  of  the  flesh, 
and  victory  over  the  world,  and  self-denial,  and  taking 
up  the  cross, — all  these,  also,  are  among  the  gifts  and 
graces  of  our  Lord  and  Master. 

In  the  Lord's  Supper  there  are,  therefore,  diversities 
of  gifts,  and  differences  of  operation,  and  variety  of  ad- 
ministration. But  they  are  all  from  the  same  Lord. 
''The  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his."  To  everyone 
of  them  he  says,  ''Thou  hast  found  grace  in  my  sight, 
and  I  know  thee  by  name.  This  people  I  have  formed 
for  myself:  they  shall  show  forth  my  praise."  Every 
one  of  them  also  can  say,  in  return,  "The  Lord  is  my 
portion,  my  Lord  and  my  God.  Whom  have  I  in 
heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  the  earth  that 
I  desire  besides  thee."  And  to  every  one  of  them 
Christ  again  answers  and  says,  "But  now  thus  saith  the 
Lord  that  created  thee,  0  Jacob,  and  that  formed  thee, 
0  Israel :  Fear  not,  for  I  have  redeemed  thee ;  I  have 
called  thee  by  thy  name ;  thou  art  mine.  I  am  come, 
that  ye  may  have  life,  and  that  ye  may  have  it  more 
abundantly." 

The  state  and  condition  of  each  communicant  is  as 
much,  then,  the  object  of  Christ's  regard  as  their  per- 
son and  their  salvation.  And  his  dealings  with  them 
and  his  gifts  to  them  are  ordered  accordingly. 

As  the  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth, — as  the  rain 
Cometh  down  from  heaven  in  that  measure  and  in  those 


WOEDS    OF   INSTZIUCTION  24.9 

places  wliicli  it  pleaseth  Him  that  sends  it,* — anda-stlie 
seed  cast  into  the  earth  beareth  fruit,  in  some  thirty, 
in  some  sixty,  and  in  some  a  hundred  fold, — so  it  is  in 
the  communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  It  accomplishes 
all  that  which  pleaseth  Christ,  and  that  for  which  he 
hath  sent  it.  And  let  it  be  remembered  that  as  it  is 
just  as  easy  for  God  to  cause  a  strong  wind  as  the 
gentle  breeze  or  the  calm,  and  the  full  and  flooding 
rain  as  the  soft  and  silent  dew,  and  to  multiply  seed  a 
hundred  as  easily  as  thirty  fold,  so  it  is  here.  The 
difference  is  in  Christ's  purpose,  and  not  in  his  power; 
in  his  providence,  and  not  in  his  promises;  in  his 
adaptation  of  his  gifts  to  our  graces  or  gracelessness, 
and  not  in  any  want  of  loving  kindness  and  tender  con- 
cern for  our  best  good  and  our  greatest  happiness. 
Many  come  with  their  pitchers  to  the  wells  of  salva- 
tion and  go  away  without  water,  because  they  do  not 
come  with  their  pitchers  empty,  but  so  full  of  their 
own  frames  and  feelings,  their  desires  and  expec- 
tations, their  selfish  wishes  and  prescribed  limitations 
to  the  divine  conduct,  as  to  leave  ''no  room  to  receive 
it."  Their  anxiety  to  be  made  happy,  to  enjoy  peaceful 
hope  and  to  be  comforted — like  the  crying  of  a  weaned 
child — actually  drives  away  joy,  beclouds  hope  and 
destroys  comfort.  What  they  require  is,  not  the 
breasts  of  consolation,  but  the  stronger  food  of  whole- 
some correction,  reproof,  self-loathing  and  humiliation, 
in  order  that,  forsaking  all  confidence  in  themselves, 

■^  "In  like  manner  the  lightning,  when  it  breaketh  forth,  is  easy  to 
1)6  seen;  and  after  the  same  manner,  the  wind  bloweth  in  every 
country.  And  when  God  commandeth  the  clouds  to  go  over  the 
whole  world,  they  do  as  they  are  bidden." — Apocrypha. 


250  THE  WELL   IN    THE    VALLEY. 

they  may  live  by  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved 
them  and  gave  himself  for  them.  What  they  want  is 
what  the  Irish  convert  desired.  "  Oh,  sir,"  said  she  to 
the  minister  trying  to  comfort  her,  "it  is  not  peace  I 
want, — I  want  Christ !  I  want  Christ ! ' '  And  if,  my  dear 
reader,  you  leave  the  table  of  the  Lord  dejected  and 
disquieted,  say,  "  Even  so.  Saviour,  if  so  it  seemeth  good 
in  thy  sight.  Give  me  thyself,  and  withhold  what  thou 
wilt.  Be  thou  my  rock  and  refuge,  and  then  let  the 
winds  blow  and  the  floods  arise  and  beat  against  me. 
What  time  I  am  afraid,  I  will  trust  in  thee.  Why  art 
thou  cast  down,  0  my  soul,  and  why  art  thou  disquieted 
within  me?  Hope  thou  in  Christ:  he  is  faithful;  he 
cannot  deny  himself.  He  is  able,  he  is  willing,  and  will 
not  forsake  me,  but  will  yet  be  the  strength  of  my  heart 
and  my  exceeding  joy.  My  soul,  hope  thou  in  Christ." 
It  will  always  happen  that  at  the  Lord's  table  some 
will  enjoy  much  and  others  less, — some  will  weep  and 
others  sing  for  joy.  Into  the  hearts  of  some  Christ 
will  put  gladness,  and  into  others  fears  and  faintings 
and  self-misgivings.  Some  hearts  will  burn  within 
them  whije  he  talks  with  them  by  the  way,  and  opens 
to  them  the  Scriptures,  and  is  known  unto  them  in  the 
breaking  of  bread,  while  to  others  he  hideth  himself 
and  they  walk  in  darkness  and  see  no  light.  Some, 
like  Mary,  will  lie  low  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  wash 
his  feet  with  their  tears,  and  wipe  them  with  their  dis- 
hevelled hair,  while  others,  like  the  beloved  disciple, 
will  be  permitted  to  lean  on  his  bosom  and  drink  in 
life,  inspiration  and  bliss  from  his  blessed  words. 
Some  will  go  away  rejoicing  as  a  strong  man,  to  run 
with  patience  the  race  set  before  them,  while  others 


WOEDS  OF  INSTRUCTION.  251 

will  go  away  hanging  their  heads  as  a  bulrush,  and  in 
much  heaviness,  because  of  their  inward  sorrow  and 
self-upbraiding. 

How  strongly  and  how  sweetly  still 
Tliou,  Christ,  dost  draw  the  human  will, 

And  gently  prove 
Whether  thou  dost  thyself  reveal, 
Or  from  our  senses  dost  conceal, 

'Tis  both  in  love! 

0  Christ,  when  thou  thyself  dost  hide, 
May  faith  our  darkling  spirits  guide. 

And  firmly  hold, 
That,  when  these  fleshy  vessels  break, 
We  of  thy  goodness  may  partake 

And  thee  behold. 

But  no  believer  shall  go  away  empty.  Every  man 
will  receive  the  gift.  Every  man's  pitcher  will  be  filled 
with  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation,  so  that,  if  one 
cannot  strike  his  harp  with  exulting  joy  because  he 
feels  that  Christ  is  his,  all  may  say,  '^In  the  Lord  have 
I  righteousness  and  strength."  Many  will  say  unto 
the  Lord,  ^'Who  will  show  me  any  good?  Lord,  to 
whom  can  I  go  but  unto  thee  ?  Thou  hast  the  words 
of  eternal  life." 

''The  first  occasion  of  drawing  near  to  the  Lord's 
table,"  says  Dr.  J.W.Alexander,  "is  likely  to  be  memo- 
rable for  life.  And  yet  it  is  not  always  marked  with 
eminent  spiritual  peace  or  joyfulness.  Indeed,  it 
is  common  to  hear  sad  lamentations,  and  sometimes 
expressions  bordering  on  utter  despondency,  after  the 
solemn  rite  is  over.  The  result  is  caused  partly  by  in- 
correct or  exaggerated  expectations  of  immediate  com- 
fort, and  partly  by  the  trepidation  of  a  mind  placed  in 


252         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

novel  and  trying  circumstances.  It  is  useful,  there- 
fore, to  be  instructed  that  acceptable  participation  in 
this  sacrament  is  not  always  evidenced  by  high  or 
rapturous  emotions.  To  avoid  the  other  evil,  you 
should  seek  for  calmness  of  mind  as  a  most  important 
condition  of  profit.  If  self-examination  has  been  faith- 
ful, you  may  freely  give  yourself  up,  on  the  morning 
of  the  Lord's  day,  to  serene,  tranquil  waiting.  In  plain 
terms,  do  not  try  to  think  of  too  many  things.  Eeflect 
that  you  are  not  to  communicate,  but  to  receive.  Place 
your  soul  in  an  expectant  posture.  It  is  impossible  to 
wait  for  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  without  a  certain 
degree  of  composure,  self-collection  and  holy  stillness. 
Seat  yourself,  so  to  speak,  at  the  foot  of  the  cross." 

Let  such,  then,  dear  readers,  be  your  views  and 
expectations  in  going  to  and  in  returning  from  the 
Lord's  Supper.  Go  to  the  feast  with  these  gracious 
anticipations  and  expectations.  Behold  the  King  at 
his  table,  and  look  for  such  blessings  from  his  hand  as 
he  knoweth  it  best  to  bestow  in  his  kingly  sovereignty 
and  divine  benignity. 

Blessing  and  honour  and  power  and  glory,  be  unto 
Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  to  the  Lamb  that 
was  slain,  for  ever  and  ever !  Surely  our  God  is  gra- 
cious in  having  instituted  such  a  feast  for  the  setting 
forth  of  his  love.  I  have  tasted,  I  do  taste,  that  the 
Lord  is  gracious,  and  that  his  mercy  endureth  forever. 
Oh,  what  a  miracle  of  love  is  the  whole  purpose  of 
God  concerning  his  church  and  people!  Chosen  of 
God  to  be  holy,  then  redeemed  by  blood,  yea,  the  blood 
of  the  Son  of  God,  then  regenerated  by  the  Spirit,  then 
constituted  by  adoption  sons  of  God,  now  feasted  upon 


WORDS  OF  INSTRUCTION.  253 

the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  and  ere  long  to  sit  down 
in  the  kingdom  of  glory  to  feast  their  ravished  souls  in 
the  unceasing  enjoyment  of  God  and  the  Lamb  for  ever- 
more !     Thanks  be  unto  Grod  for  his  unspeakable  gifts ! 

Gracious  Lord  God!  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost! 
In  the  name  of  thy  dear  and  blessed  Son,  I  pray  for 
grace  to  present  myself  at  thy  mercy-seat.  It  hath 
been  proclaimed  in  thy  church  and  to  thy  people  that 
my  Lord  is  about  to  hold  a  feast  at  his  table  on  the 
sacrifice  of  his  own  broken  body  and  blood.  Lord, 
may  I  be  of  the  happy  number  ?  I  would  come  as  a  poor, 
needy  sinner.  And  I  would  pray  my  God,  who  spreads 
his  table  and  invites  his  guests,  to  prepare  my  other- 
wise unprepared  soul  both  to  accept  the  invitation 
and  to  be  found  a  welcome  guest  before  thee. 

I  look  up  to  thee,  0  thou  blessed  and  eternal  Spirit, 
who  art  the  alone  quickener  of  dead  souls  and  the 
glorifier  of  Christ  Jesus,  that  thou  wouldst  work  in  me 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  thy  good  pleasure.  Oh,  give 
me  such  a  deep  view  of  sin,  and  with  it  such  a  deep 
view  of  the  fulness,  suitableness  and  all-sufficiency  of 
redeeming  grace  in  Christ,  that  while  my  soul  feels,  as 
it  ought  to  feel,  an  abiding  sense  of  my  own  total  un- 
worthiness  before  God,  the  view  of  Jesus  and  his  finished 
salvation  may  comfort  and  encourage  me.  Bring  me, 
divine  Spirit,  to  that  fountain  which  is  open  for  sin  and 
uncleanness.  Wash  me  and  make  me  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb!  Clothe  me  with  the  robe  of 
Christ's  spotless  righteousness,  so  that  when  the  King 
comes  in  to  see  the  guests  at  his  table,  I  may  be  found 
by  him  clothed  in  his  wedding  garment,  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  saints,  and  have  a  gracious  reception  1 

22 


254  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

And  0  thou  blessed  Redeemer!  tlioii  who  art  the 
Lord  of  the  feast  and  the  whole  substance  of  it !  wilt 
thou  be  graciously  pleased  to  manifest  thyself  to  me  at 
thy  table  ?  And  while  thou  art  visiting  one  and  another 
of  thy  redeemed  there  with  the  smiles  of  thy  love,  oh 
for  some  sweet  token  to  my  poor  soul  also,  given  me 
by  thine  own  hand !  Let  me  hear  thy  voice ;  let  me 
see  thy  countenance;  for  sweet  is  thy  voice,  and  thy 
countenance  is  comely! 

Everlasting  praise  to  my  God  and  Father  for  taking 
me  into  this  covenant  of  grace  and  for  having  given 
me  to  his  dear  Son.  Lord,  accept  me  in  him.  Make 
me  to  know  my  adoption  in  him,  and  both  here  and 
forever  may  my  soul  be  found  safe  in  him  and  with- 
out blame  before  thee  in  love.  And  may  my  soul  ever 
be  in  such  lively  exercise  of  faith  at  the  table  of  thy 
dear  Son,  that  I  may  enjoy  all  the  blessings  of  thy 
covenant  love  in  Jesus  Christ.  Glory  be  to  Jehovah, 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  now  and  forever. 

Great  Master  of  the  feast !  Precious  Lord  Jesus !  by 
every  great  and  glorious  name,  and  by  every  tender 
and  endearing  name,  would  my  soul  call  upon  thee 
and  welcome  my  Lord  at  his  own  table !  Lord,  I  pray 
thee  come  in  and  see  thy  guests  at  thy  table.  Thou 
art  thyself  all  the  feast.  Behold,  Lord,  thy  redeemed, 
thy  children,  thy  people,  here  met  at  thine  invitation 
to  be  fed  by  thy  bounty  and  to  commemorate  thy 
death.  Lord,  be  thou  with  us  in  every  part  of  the 
feast.  Surely  God  our  Father  hath  drawn  me  here;  for 
Jesus  himself  hath  said  that  none  can  come  unto  him 
except  the  Father,  who  hath  sent  Jesus,  draw  him. 
Surely  God  the  Spirit  hath  inclined  my  soul  to  come 


WORDS   OF   INSTRUCTION.  255 

here;  for  .it  is  tie  that  hath  put  an  hungering  and 
thirsting  in  my  soul  after  Jesus  and  which  none  but 
Jesus  himself  can  satisfy.  And  surely  thou,  0  God  the 
Son,  hast  invited  me  here ;  for  thou  didst  promise,  when 
thou  wast  lifted  up,  that  thou  wouldst  draw  all  to  thee ! 
Oh,  precious  testimonies  of  a  precious  covenant  God  in 
Christ !  Hither,  then,  I  have  come ;  and  may  the  Lord 
give  me  a  gracious  welcome ! 

But,  Lord,  before  I  depart,  let  me  drop  one  petition 
for  thy  Zion,  and  that  part  of  thy  church  more  espe- 
cially with  whom  I  am  here  partaking  of  thy  bounties. 
Lord,  answer  every  cry  of  all  thy  children.  Give  out 
largely  to  the  supply  of  their  wants.  Suffer  none,  no, 
not  one,  to  go  empty  away,  but  let  thy  poor,  thy  needy, 
give  praise  to  thy  name.  Surely,  Jesus,  thou  wilt  feel 
constrained  to  bless  thine  own.  Thou  wilt  not  hide 
thyself  from  thine  own  flesh.  If  thou,  dearest  Lord, 
wert  to  withhold  thy  bounties,  thou  wouldst  not  be 
more  full.  Ac  J  if  thou  wert  to  give  ever  so  largely, 
thou  canst  not  be  straitened.  Lord,  pronounce  a  bless- 
ing, then,  on  every  one,  and  let  all  thy  people  praise  thee. 
God  be  merciful  unto  us,  and  bless  us,  and  cause  his  face 
to  shine  upon  us,  that  thy  way  may  be  known  upon  earth, 
thy  saving  health  among  all  nations.  Let  the  people 
praise  thee,  0  God ;  let  all  the  people  praise  thee.  Oh,  let 
the  nations  be  glad,  and  sing  for  joy;  for  thou  shalt 
judge  the  people  righteously,  and  govern  the  nations 
upon  earth.  Let  the  people  praise  thee,  0  God;  let  all 
the  people  praise  thee.  Then  shall  the  earth  yield  her 
increase;  and  God,  even  our  own  God,  shall  bless  us. 
God  shall  bless  us;  and  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall 
fear  him. 


256  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 


AN  ANCIENT   SACRAMENTAL  HYMN. 

0  bread  to  pilgrims  given, 

0  food  that  angels  eat, 
0  manna  sent  from  heaven, 

For  heaven-born  natures  meet ! 
Give  us,  for  thee  long  pining. 

To  eat  till  richly  fill'd,— 
Till,  earth's  delights  resigning. 

Our  every  -wish  is  stilFd !  • 

0  water,  life-bestowing. 

From  out  the  Saviour's  heart, 
A  fountain  purely  flowing, 

A  fount  of  love,  thou  art ! 
Oh,  let  us,  freely  tasting, 

Our  burning  thirst  assuage : 
Thy  sweetness,  never  wasting, 

Avails  from  age  to  age. 

Jesus,  this  feast  receiving. 

We  thee  unseen  adore ; 
Thy  faithful  word  believing. 

We  take, — and  doubt  no  more. 
Give  us,  thou  true  and  loving, 

On  earth  to  live  in  thee ; 
Then,  death  the  veil  removing, 

Thy  glorious  face  to  see ! 


THE  LITANY. 

Lamb  of  God !  whose  bleeding  love 

We  now  recall  to  mind. 
Send  the  answer  from  above. 

And  let  us  mercy  find ; 
Think  on  us,  who  think  on  thee, 

And  every  burden'd  soul  release : 
Oh,  remember  Calvary, 

And  bid  us  go  in  peace ! 


WORDS   OF   INSTRUCTION.  257 

By  thine  agonizing  pain 

And  bloody  sweat,  we  pray  ; 
By  thy  dying  love  to  man, 

Take  all  our  sins  away : 
Burst  our  bonds,  and  set  us  free, 

From  all  iniquity  release : 
Oh,  remember  Calvary, 

And  bid  us  go  in  peace  I 


22* 


258  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  HONOUR  AND  GLORY  OF  MEMBERSHIP  IN  CHRIST's 
CHURCH,  AND  HOW  DISCIPLES  SHOULD  THEREFORE 
LIVE   AND   ACT. 

Consider,  then,  dear  reader,  your  liigh  calling, — 
your  glorious  birthright, — your  unspeakable  blessedness 
in  being  a  fellow-citizen  with  the  saints,  a  member  ol 
the  household  of  God,  an  heir  of  God,  a  follower  of  the 
Lamb,  a  disciple  of  the  Lord,  a  member  of  Christ's 
body,  no  longer  a  stranger  and  foreigner,  or  an  enemy 
or  a  servant,  but  a  friend  of  Him  whose  favour  is  life, 
and  whose  loving-kindness  is  better  than  life. 

''This  honour  hath  all  the  saints;"  a  glory  which 
illustrates  and  adorns  the  most  exalted  personage  on 
earth  as  much  as  the  lowliest,  poor,  and  unnoticed  guest 
that  comes  in  poverty  of  spirit,  if  not  in  poverty  of 
outward  condition,  to  sit  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus,  at  the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb. 

At  the  coronation  of  his  majesty  George  III.,  after 
the  anointing  was  over  in  the  Abbey,  and  the  crown 
put  upon  his  head  with  great  shouting,  the  two  arch- 
bishops came  to  hand  him  down  from  the  throne  to  re- 
ceive the  communion.  His  majesty  told  them  he  would 
not  go  to  the  Lord's  Supper  and  partake  of  that  ordi- 
nance with  the  crown  upon  his  head;  for  he  looked 
iipon  hiniself,  when  appearing  before  the  King  of  kings, 


MEMBERSHIP   IN   CHRIST'S   CHURCH.  259 

in  no  other  character  than  in  that  of  an  humble  Chris- 
tian. The  bishops  replied  that,  although  there  was  no 
precedent  for  this,  it  should  be  complied  with.  Imme- 
diately he  put  off  his  crown,  and  laid  it  aside.  He  then 
required  that  the  same  should  be  done  with  respect  to 
the  queen.  It  was  answered  that  her  crown  was  pinned 
to  her  head,  that  it  could  not  be  easily  taken  off.  To 
which  the  king  replied,  '^Well,  let  it  be  reckoned  a 
part  of  her  dress,  and  in  no  other  light."  ^'When  I 
saw  and  heard  this,"  says  the  narrator,  '4t  warmed  my 
heart  towards  him ;  and  I  could  not  help  thinking  that 
there  would  be  something  good  found  about  him  to- 
wards the  Lord  God  of  Israel." 

'^ Church  fellowship,"  says  Bunyan,  "rightly  man- 
aged, is  the  glory  of  all  the  world.  No  place,  no  com- 
munity, no  fellowship,  is  adorned  and  bespangled  with 
such  beauties  as  is  a  church  rightly  knit  together  to 
their  Head,  and  lovingly  serving  one  another.  Chris- 
tians are  like  the  several  flowers  in  a  garden,  that  have 
upon  each  of  them  the  dew  of  heaven,  which,  being 
shaken  by  the  wind,  let  fall  their  dew  at  each  others' 
roots,  whereby  they  are  jointly  nourished  and  become 
nourishers  of  one  another.  Oh,  how  happy,"  he  adds, 
"is  he  who  is  not  only  a  visible  but  also  an  invisible 
saint !  He  shall  never  be  blotted  out  of  the  book  of 
God's  eternal  grace  and  mercy. 

This  is  the  mar.  with  whom  God  is,  in  whom  God 
works  and  walks, — a  man  whose  motion  is  governed 
and  steered  by  the  mighty  hand  of  God  and  the  effec- 
tual working  of  his  power.     Here  is  a  man! 

This  man,  by  the  power  of  God's  might  which 
worketh  in  him,  is  able  to  cast  a  whole  world  behind 


260         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

him,  with  all  the  lusts  and  pleasures  of  it,  and  to 
charge  through  all  the  difficulties  that  men  and  devils 
can  set  against  him.     Here  is  a  man  ! 

This  man  is  travelling  'to  Mount  Zion,  the  heavenly- 
Jerusalem,  the  city  of  the  living  God,  and  to  an  innu- 
merable company  of  angels  and  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  Jesus.' 
Here  is  a  man  ! 

This  man  can  look  upon  death  with  comfort,  can 
laugh  at  destruction  when  it  cometh,  and  long  to  hear 
the  sound  of  the  last  trump,  and  to  see  the  Judge 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Here  is  a  m^an 
indeed ! 

'The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  about  them 
that  fear  him,  and  delivereth  them.'  This,  therefore, 
is  a  glorious  privilege  of  the  men  that  fear  the  Lord. 
Alas!  there  are  some  of  them  so  mean  that  they  are 
counted  not  worth  taking  notice  of  by  the  high  ones 
of  the  world;  but  their  betters  do  respect  them.  The 
angels  of  God  count  not  themselves  too  good  to  attend 
on  them  and  camp  about  them  to  deliver  them.  This, 
then,  is  the  man  that  hath  his  angel  to  wait  on  him^ 
even  he  that  feareth  the  Lord." 

Oh,  how  blind  and  besotted  are  the  children  of  this 
world,  who  see  in  Christ  no  beauty  and  comeliness 
wherefore  they  should  desire  him,  although  altogether 
lovely;  and  who  see  no  glory  in  the  Christian,  though 
he  is  a  prince  of  Israel,  and  has  power  with  God;  who 
see  no  glory  in  the  Church,  though  it  is  the  palace  of 
the  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  the  joy  of  the 
whole  earth,  an  eternal  excellency,  of  which  it  is  said, 
''Thy  God  is  thy  glory."     Like  Elijah's  servants,  they 


MEMBERSHIP   IN   CHRIST's   CHURCH.  261 

can  see  nothing  but  earth,  earth, — feel  no  desire  but  for 
man's  favour,  and  no  fear  but  of  man's  wrath.  But 
when  their  eyes  are  unsealed,  how  do  they  behold  the 
chariots  of  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  transfigured,  and 
the  earth  and  all  its  glory  obscured  in  the  greater 
glory  of  Zion,  which  is  now  fair  as  the  sun,  clear  as 
the  moon,  and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners ! 

*  Oh,  how  do  Christians  then  look  as  if  their  faces  did 
shine,  and  they  were  the  excellent  ones  of  the  earth, 
the  friends  and  favourites  of  God!  So  it  was  when 
Bunyan  listened  to  those  poor  women  of  Bedford,  of 
whom  he  tells  us,  "One  day,  the  good  providence  of 
God  called  me  to  Bedford,  to  work  at  my  calling;  and 
in  one  of  the  streets  of  that  town  I  came  where  there 
were  three  or  four  poor  women  sitting  at  a  door  in  the 
sun,  talking  about  the  things  of  God;  and,  being  now 
willing  to  hear  their  discourse,  I  drew  near  to  hear 
what  was  said,  for  I  was  now  a  brisk  talker  myself  in 
the  matters  of  religion ;  but  I  may  say,  ^  I  heard,  but 
I  understood  not,'  for  they  were  far  above,  out  of  my 
reach.  Their  talk  was  about  a  new  birth,  the  work 
of  God  in  their  hearts,  as  also  how  they  were  convinced 
of  their  miserable  state  by  nature.  They  talked  how 
God  had  visited  their  souls  with  his  love  in  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  with  what  words  and  promises  they  had 
been  refreshed,  comforted  and  supported  against  the 
temptations  of  the  devil;  and  methought  they  spake 
as  if  joy  did  make  them  speak;  they  spake  with  such 
pleasantness  that  they  were,  to  me,  as  if  they  had 
found  a  new  world,  as  if  they  were  people  that  dwelt 
alone,  and  were  not  to  be  reckoned  among  their  neigh- 
bours." 


262  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Witli  what  earnest,  laborious  jealousy  did  this  set 
Bunyan  about  seeking  a  participation  in  their  heavenly 
joy!  ''Oh,"  says  he,  ''how  I  loved  those  words  that 
spoke  5f  a  Christian's  calling,  as  when  the  Lord  said  to 
one,  'Follow  me;'  and  to  another,  'Come  after  me'! 
Oh,  thought  I,  that  he  would  say  so  to  me  too !  How 
gladly  would  I  run  after  him !  I  cannot  now  express 
with  what  longings  and  breathings  in  my  soul  I  cried 
to  Christ  to  call  me.  Thus  I  continued  for  a  time,  all 
in  a  flame  to  be  converted  to  Jesus  Christ.  I  also  did 
see  such  glory  in  a  converted  state  that  I  could  not  be 
contented  without  a  share  therein.  Gold! — could  it 
have  been  gotten  for  gold,  what  would  I  have  given 
for  it?  Had  I  a  whole  world,  it  had  all  gone,  ten 
thousand  times  over,  that  my  soul  might  have  been  in 
a  converted  state. 

How  lovely  was  every  one  in  my  eyes  that  I  thought 
to  be  converted,  whether  man  or  woman !  They  shone, 
they  walked  like  a  people  that  carried  the  broad  seal 
of  heaven  about  them.  Oh,  I  saw  the  'lot  had  fallen 
to  them  in  pleasant  places,  and  they  had  a  goodly 
heritage.' 

While  I  thought,"  adds  Bunyan,  "of  that  blessed 
ordinance  of  Christ,  which  was  his  last  supper  with  his 
disciples  before  his  death,  that  scripture — 'Do  this  in 
remembrance  of  me' — was  made  a  very  precious  word 
to  me ;  for  by  it  the  Lord  did  come  down  upon  my  con- 
science with  the  discovery  of  his  death  for  my  sins, 
and,  as  I  then  felt,  did  as  if  he  plunged  me  in  the  virtue 
of  the  same.  Were  my  soul  in  but  such  a  good  condi- 
tion, and  were  I  but  sure  of  it,  oh,  how  rich  should  I 


MEMBERSHIP   IN   CHRIST'S   CHURCH.  263 

esteem  myself,  though  blessed  with  but  bread  and 
water. 

About  this  time/'  he  tells  us,  ^Hhe  state  and  happi- 
ness of  these  poor  people  at  Bedfo];d  was  thus,  in  a  kind 
of  vision,  presented  to  me.  I  saw  as  if  they  were  on 
the  sunny  side  of  some  high  mountain,  there  refreshing 
themselves  with  the  pleasant  beams  of  the  sun,  while  I 
was  shivering  and  shrinking  in  the  cold,  afflicted  with 
frost,  snow  and  dark  clouds.  Methought,  also,  betwixt 
me  and  them  stood  a  wall,  that  did  encompass  about 
this  mountain.  Now,  through  this  wall  my  soul  did 
greatly  desire  to  pass;  concluding,  if  I  could,  that  I 
would  even  go  into  the  very  midst  of  them,  and  there 
also  comfort  myself  with  the  heat  of  their  sun. 

About  this  wall  I  bethought  myself  to  go  again 
and  again, — still  praying  as  I  went, — to  see  if  I  could 
find  some  way  or  passage  by  which  I  might  enter 
therein;  but  none  could  I  find  for  some  time.  At  last, 
I  saw  as  it  were  a  narrow  gap,  like  a  little  doorway  in 
the  wall,  through  which  I  attempted  to  pass.  Now, 
the  passage  being  very  strait  and  narrow,  I  made  many 
eff"orts  to  get  in,  but  all  in  vain, — even  until  I  was  well- 
nigh  beat  out  by  striving  to  get  in;  at  last,  with  great 
sliding,  my  shoulders  and  my  whole  body  goifc  in;  then 
I  was  exceedingly  glad,  went  and  sat  down  in  the  midst 
of  them,  and  so  was  comforted  by  the  light  and  heat 
of  their  sun. 

Now,  this  wall  and  mountain  were  thus  made  out 
to  me:  The  mountain  signified  the  church  of  the  living 
God;  the  sun  that  shone  thereon,  the  comfortable 
shining  of  his  merciful  face  on  those  that  were  therein; 
the  wall,  I  thought,  was  the  world,  that  did  make  se- 


264  THE    WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

paration  between  Cliristians  and  the  world;  and  the 
gap  that  was  in  the  wall,  I  thought,  was  Jesus  Christ, 
who  is  the  way  to  God  the  Father;  for  Jesus  said,  in 
his  reply  to  Thomas,/!  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and 
the  life:  no  man  cometh  to  the  Father  but  by  me;' 
'  Because  strait  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way  which 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it.' 

But  forasmuch  as  the  passage  was  wonderful  nar- 
row, even  so  narrow  that  I  could  not  but  with  great 
difiiculty  enter  in  thereat,  it  showed  me  that  none 
could  enter  into  life  but  those  that  were  in  downright 
earnest,  and  unless,  also,  they  left  that  wicked  world 
behind  them;  for  here  was  only  room  for  body  and 
soul,  and  not  for  body  and  soul  and  sin." 

How  beautiful  is  the  similar  estimate  of  the  glory 
and  beauty  of  true  piety,  given  by  the  great  and  good 
Jonathan  Edwards! — ^'It  appeared  to  me  that  there 
was  nothing  in  it  but  what  was  ravishingly  lovely, — the 
highest  beauty  and  amiableness, — a  divine  beauty,  far 
purer  tha>n  any  thing  here  upon  earth;  and  that  every 
thing  else  was  like  mire  and  defilement  in  comparison 
with  it.  Holiness  appeared  to  me  to  be  of  a  sweet, 
pleasant,  charming,  serene,  calm  nature;  which  brought 
an  inexpressible  purity,  brightness,  peacefulness  and 
ravishment  to  the  soul.  In  other  words,  that  it  made 
the  soul  like  a  field  or  garden  of  Grod,  with  all  manner 
of  pleasant  flowers,  enjoying  a  sweet  calm  and  the 
gently  vivifying  beams  of  the  sun.  The  soul  of  a  true 
Christian,  as  I  then  wrote  my  meditations,  appeared 
like  such  a  little  white  flower  as  we  see  in  the  spring 
of  the  year;  low  and  humble  on  the  ground,  opening 
its  bosom  to  receive  the  pleasant  beams  of  the  sun's 


MEMBERSHIP    IN    CHRIST's    CHURCH.  265 

glory;  rejoicing,  as  it  were,  in  a  calm  rapture;  dif- 
fusing around  a  sweet  fragrancy;  standing  peacefully 
and  lovingly,  in  tlie  midst  of  other  flowers  round  about; 
all  in  like  manner  opening  their  bosoms,  to  drink  in 
the  light  of  the  Sun." 

How  charming  is  the  place 

Where  my  Redeemer,  God, 
Unveils  the  beauties  of  his  face 

And  sheds  his  love  abroad! 

Here,  on  the  mercy-seat. 

With  radiant  glory  crown'd, 
Our  joyful  eyes  behold  him  sit 

And  smile  on  all  around. 

To  him  our  prayers  and  cries 

Our  humble  souls  present: 
He  listens  to  our  broken  sighs 

And  grants  us  every  want. 

Give  me,  0  Lord,  a  place 

Within  thy  blest  abode, 
Among  the  children  of  thy  grace, 

The  servants  of  my  God. 

Eemember,  then,  dear  reader,  from  what  depths  thou 
hast  been  raised,  and  to  what  height  thou  hast  been 
exalted, — what  thou  wert  in  thyself,  and  what  thou  art 
in  Christ, — the  greatness  of  thy  misery  and  danger 
and  deserved  damnation,  and  the  greatness  of  salvation, 
— the  light  afflictions  which  can  possibly  afflict  you 
here,  and  the  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory 
that  is  treasured  up  for  you  in  heaven, — and  live,  and 
love,  and  act,  and  sufi'er,  and  work,  and  give,  as  be- 
cometh  the  children  of  a  king,  and  the  expectant  heirs 
of  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 

9.^ 


266         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

You  will  have  many  discouragements  from  within, 
from  without,  from  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil. 
The. Tempter  will  come  upon  you  with  such  suggestions 
as  he  did  to  Bunyan: — '''You  are  very  hot  for  mercy, 
but  I  will  cool  you.  This  frame  shall  not  last  always, 
many  have  been  as  hot  as  you  are  for  a  space,  but  I 
have  quenched  their  zeal.'  And  with  this,  sueh-and- 
such  who  had  fallen  off  would  be  set  before  my  eyes. 
Then  I  would  be  afraid  that  I  should  do  so  too;  but, 
thought  I,  I  am  glad  this  comes  into  my  mind;  well,  I 
will  watch,  and  take  what  care  I  can.  '  Though  you 
do,'  said  Satan,  '  I  would  be  too  hard  for  you.  I  will 
cool  you  insensibly,  by  degrees,  by  little  and  little. 
What  care  I,'  saith  he,  'though  I  be  some  years  in 
chilling  thy  heart,  if  I  can  do  so  at  last!'  These 
things  brought  me  into  great  straits;  for,  as  I  at  pre- 
sent could  not  find  myself  fit  for  present  death,  so  I 
thought  to  live  long  would  make  me  more  unfit,  for 
time  would  make  me  forget  all,  and  wear  even  the  re- 
membrance of  the  evil  of  sin,  the  worth  of  heaven, 
and  the  need  I  had  of  the  blood  of  Christ  to  wash  me, 
both  out  of  mind  and  out  of  thought;  but  I  thank 
Jesus  Christ  that  these  things  did  not  at  present  slack 
my  crying,  but  did  rather  put  me  more  upon  it." 

♦As  God  has  created  you  worthy  not  only  to  believe 
in  his  Son,  but  also  to  confess  him  before  the  world, 
and  to  be  a  witness  for  him,  perhaps  a  standard-bearer, 
a  teacher  of  babes,  a  wife,  a  mother,  a  father,  a  Sab- 
bath-school teacher,  a  co-worker  with  all  that  are  zeal- 
ous in  every  good  work, — watch  and  work.  Work  out 
your  own  salvation.  Wear  his  name  on  your  foreheads. 
Bend  his  word  as  a  necklace  about  your  neck.     Let 


MEMBEESHIP    IN    CHRIST's    CHURCH.  267 

your  feet  be  sliod  with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel 
of  peace.  Take  the  helmet  of  salvation  and  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit,  and,  being  thus  clothed  in  the  whole  pa- 
noply of  God,  fight  manfully  the  good  fight  of  faith. 
Fight  not  uncertainly,  as  one  that  beateth  the  air. 
When  weak,  look  for  strength  to  Jesus.  When  fallen, 
arise,  and  Christ  will  give  power  to  the  faint,  and  thou 
shalt  be  made  a  conqueror,  and  more  than  conqueror, 
through  Him  that  hath  loved  you. 

''You  cannot,"  to  use  once  more  the  words  of  Bun- 
yan,  ''be  there  where  no  eyes  are  upon  you.  You  are  a 
spectacle  to  God,  angels  and  men;  and  being  exalted 
to  the  profession  of  Christianity,  and  also  to  the  com- 
munion of  God  and  saints,  you  can  neither  stand  nor 
fall  by  yourself,  but  the  name  and  cause  and  people  of 
God  shall,  in  some  sense,  stand  and  fall  with  you.  Yea, 
let  us  have  joy  in  thee,  brother.  Refresh  our  spirits  in 
the  Lord.  We  have  confidence  in  thee,  that  thou  wilt 
be  circumspect  to  the  adorning  of  the  doctrine  of  God 
our  Saviour. 

Do  not  flatter  yourself  with  a  position  among  the 
sons  of  God  unless  you  live  like  his  sons.  When  we 
see  a  king's  son  playing  with  a  beggar,  this  is  unbe- 
coming :  so  if  you  really  be  the  King's  children,  live 
lil?:e  the  King's  children;  if  ye  be  risen  with  Christ,  set 
your  aff'ections  on  things  above  and  not  on  things  below. 
When  you  come  together,  talk  of  what  your  Father 
promises  you.  You  should  all  love  your  Father's  will, 
and  be  content  and  pleased  with  the  exercises  you  meet 
with  in  the  world;  if  you  are  the  children  of  God,  live 
•together  lovingly;  if  the  world  quarrel  with  you,  it  is 
no  matter,  but  it  is  sad  if  you  quarrel  together :  if  this 


268  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

be  among  you,  it  is  the  sign  of  ill  breeding;  it  is  ac- 
cording to  no  rules  that  you  have  in  the  word  of  God. 
Dost  thou  see  a  soul  that  has  the  image  of  God  in  him  ? 
Save  him,  love  him :  say,  '  This  man  and  I  must  go  to 
heaven  one  day.'  Save  one  another;  do  good  for  one 
another ;  if  any  wrong  you,  pray  to  God  to  right  you, 
and  love  the  brotherhood. 

Eemember,  man,  if  the  grace  of  God  hath  taken 
hold  of  thy  soul,  thou  art  a  man  of  another  world,  and, 
indeed,  a  subject  of  another  and  more  noble  kingdom, — 
the  kingdom  of  God, — which  is  the  kingdom  of  the  gos- 
pel, of  faith,  of  grace,  of  righteousness,  and  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  hereafter.  In  those  things  thou  shouldst 
exercise  thyself,  not  making  heavenly  things,  which 
God  hath  bestowed  upon  thee,  stoop  to  things  that  are 
of  the  world;  but  rather  here  beat  down  the  body, 
hoist  up  thy  mind  to  the  things  that  are  above,  and 
practically  hold  forth  before  all  the  world  that  blessed 
word  of  life. 

I  doubt  the  faith  of  many,"  adds  Bunyan,  ''and  fear 
that  it  will  prove  no  better  than  the  faith  of  devils  in 
the  day  of  the  Lord;  for  it  is  without  life  and  soul  to 
that  which  is  good.  For  where  is  the  man  which  walk- 
eth  with  the  cross  on  his  shoulders?  "Where  is  the 
man  zealous  of  moral  holiness?  For  those  things,  in- 
deed, which  have  nothing  of  the  cross  of  the  purse,  or 
the  cross  of  the  belly,  or  the  cross  of  the  back,  or  the 
cross  of  the  vanity  of  household  affairs,  I  find  many 
busy  sticklers;  but  self-denial,  charity,  purity  in  life 
and  conversation,  are  almost  turned  quite  out  of  doors 
among  professors.  But,  man  of  God,  do  thou  be  sin- 
gular !     Singularity  in  godliness,  if  it  be  in  godliness, 


MEMBERSHIP   IN    CHRIST's   CHURCH.  269 

no  man  should  be  ashamed  of.  Holiness  is  a  rare  thing 
now  in  the  world. 

The  design  of  this  exhortation,  (he  says,)  was,  and 
is,  that  naming  the  name  of  Christ  should  be  accom- 
panied with  such  a  life  of  holiness  as  shall  put  addi- 
tional lustre  upon  that  name  whenever  it  is  named  in  a 
religious  way."  Such  a  lustre  he  himself  determined 
to  shed  upon  the  name  of  Christ.  '^For  my  part,"  he 
says,  ^'I  had  rather  be  a  pattern  and  example  of  piety, 
rather  my  life  should  be  instructing  to  the  saints  and 
condemning  to  the  world,  with  Noah  and  Lot,  than 
hazard  myself  among  the  multitude  of  the  drossy.  I 
know  that  many  professors  will  fall  short  of  eternal 
life;  and  my  judgment  tells  me  they  will  be  of  the 
slovenly  sort  that  so  do;  and  for  my  part  I  had  rather 
run  with  the  foremost  and  win  the  prize  than  come 
behind  and  lose  my  labour.  E"ot  that  works  do  save  us ; 
but  faith  w^hich  layeth  hold  of  Christ's  righteousness 
for  justification  sanctifieth  the  heart,  and  makes  men 
desirous  to  live  in  this  world  to  the  glory  of  that  Christ 
who  died  to  save  us  from  death. 

'Tis  said  of  Hananiah,  'He  feared  G-od  above 
many.'  God  continue  the  joy  of  thee,  brother!  Our 
hope  of  thee  is  steadfast  through  grace, — trusting  in  the 
Lord  that  He  that  hath  begun  the  good  work  in  thee 
will  perfect  it  until  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  a 
pitiful  sight  to  behold  those  that  did  feed  delicately  to 
be  desolate  in  the  street,  or  they  that  were  brought  up 
in  scarlet  to  embrace  dunghills.  We  speak  not  these 
things  to  shame .  you,  but  as,  our  beloved  brother,  to 
warn  thee.  0  Timothy,  keep  that  which  is  committed 
to  thy  trust;  watch  and  be  sober.     And  if  thou  be  in- 

2:i^ 


270  THE    WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

clined  to  sleep,  let  that  of  Delilah  arouse  thee: — 'The 
Philistines  be  upon  thee,  Samson!' 

"  G-race  be  unto  thee.  The  Lord  is  at  hand.  Behold, 
the  Judge  stands  at  the  door." 

Are  you  a  communicant? — Such  was  the  question 
addressed,  as  the  narrator  tells  us,  to  one  who  had  for 
six  years  professed  to  be  a  follower  of  Him  who  said, 
''Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may 
see  your  good  works  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is 
in  heaven."  For  months  had  she  been  mingling  with 
the  worldly  and  the  gay,  and  in  the  excitement  of  her 
daily  life  she  had  forgotten  that  the  vows  of  God  were 
upon  her,  that  she  had  been  "  bought  with  a  price," 
even  the  blood  of  God's  dear  Son.  She  had  indeed 
gone  with  the  multitude  to  the  house  of  prayer ;  but 
how  had  she  listened  to  the  truths  there  proclaimed? 
She  had  gone  on  with  the  world  as  if  she  were  indeed 
of  it,  as  if  this  were  the  end  of  her  being. 

One  Sabbath  morning,  upon  being  asked  by  one  of 
her  gay  companions  to  accompany  him  to  hear  some 
distinguished  preacher,  she  declined,  saying  that  it 
was  communion  Sabbath  in  her  church,  and  she  must 
be  there.  ''Are  you  a  communicant  f  was  the  short 
but  cutting  reply.  Few  and  simple  were  the  words, 
and  perhaps  forgotten  as  soon  as  spoken  by  him  who 
uttered  them ;  but  they  found  their  way  to  the  young 
wanderer's  heart.  Go  where  she  would,  engage  in 
what  scenes  of  folly  she  might,  this  startling  question 
would  ring  through  her  soul;  and  as  she  answered, 
''Yes,  I  am  a  communicant,"  that  other  mightier  ques- 
tion would  force  itself  upon  her,  "Am  I  a  Christian  f" 

For  six  years  she  had  called  herself  the  friend  of 


MEMBEESHIP   IN   CHRIST's   CHURCH.  271 

Jesus,  and  now  she  must  go  back  through  all  those 
years.  She  must  recall  the  hour  when,  in  the  agony 
of  an  awakened  and  convicted  spirit,  she  cried  to  God 
for  mercy,  and  he  heard  her  cry,  and  whispered,  ''  Go 
in  peace:  thy  sins,  which  are  many,  are  forgiven  thee." 
Then  the  trembling  hope,  the  holy  fear,  the  new  tides 
of  joy  which  filled  her  heart,  as  bowing  in  penitential 
prayer  she  gave  herself  away  to  Him ;  then  the  day  on 
which  she  confessed  Christ  before  the  world,  the  re- 
solves she  formed  that  she  would  live  only  for  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  good  of  her  fellow- creatures ;  the 
happy  months  which  followed  of  sweet  communion 
with  her  Saviour,  the  zeal  with  which  she  engaged  in 
his  service : — all,  all  came  back  to  her.  She  recalled 
with  bitterness  the  first  time  that  she  deserted  the  place 
of  prayer  for  some  scene  of  gayety  and  folly,  and  all 
those  years  of  wandering  in  which  she  had  indeed  been 
a  member  of  the  visible  church,  but,  alas,  had  given 
little  evidence  that  she  loved  Him  whose  death  she 
commemorated.  Oh,  what  a  record  had  gone  up 
against  her ! — What  scores  of  wasted  opportunities  and 
despised  privileges ! — What  reproach  had  she  brought 
upon  the  name  and  cause  of  religion! 

Again  she  bowed  in  agony  of  spirit,  as  she  had  years 
before,  and  asked  forgiveness  of  Him  whom  she  had  so 
deeply  wronged.  Again  did  those  accents  of  mercy 
fall  on  her  ear,  '^  Go  in  peace :  thy  sins,  which  are  many, 
are  forgiven  thee;"  and  from  that  audience  she  went 
forth  strong  in  his  strength.  He  only,  the  great 
Searcher  of  hearts,  witnessed  the  anguish  of  his  re- 
pentant child.  He  only  knew  the  peace  and  joy  which 
she  experienced;  but  the  world  saw  the  fruit  of  all  this 


272  THE  WELL    IN    THE  VALLEY. 

in  her  humble  and  consistent  life,  her  untiring  efforts 
to  do  what  in  her  lay  for  the  glory  of  her  beloved 
Master.  Now  there  is  no  need  to  ask,  ''Are  yon  a 
communicant?"  for  her  daily  walk  shows  that  her  ''life 
is  hid  with  Christ  in  God." 

Ob,  sweetly  breathe  the  lyres  above 

When  angels  touch  the  quivering  string, 

And  wake,  to  chnnt  Immanuel's  love, 
Such  strains  as  ange!-lips  can  sing ! 

And  sweet  on  earth  the  choral  swell, 
From  mortal  tongues,  of  gladsome  lays, 

When  pardon' d  souls  their  raptures  tell. 
And,  grateful,  hymn  Immanuel's  praise. 

Jesus,  thy  name  our  souls  adore; 

We  own  the  bond  that  makes  us  thine ; 
And  carnal  joys,  that  charm'd  before. 

For  thy  dear  sake  we  now  resign. 

Our  hearts,  by  dying  love  subdued, 

Accept  thine  oflFer'd  grace  to-day ; 
Beneath  the  cross  with  blood  bedew'd 

We  bow  and  give  ourselves  away. 

In  thee  we  trust,  on  thee  rely  ; 

Though  we  are  feeble,  thou  art  strong : 
Oh,  keep  us  till  our  spirits  fly 

To  join  the  bright,  immortal  throng! 

Kern  ember,  therefore,  Peter,  and  be  not  high-minded, 
but  fear.  Eemember  Lot's  wife,  and  look  not  back. 
Remember  Demas,  and  beware  lest  the  love  of  this 
present  world  le^d  thee  to  forsake  Christ  and  his  dis- 
ciples. Remember  Judas,  and  take  heed  and  beware. 
of  covetousness,  which  is  that  idolatry  by  whose 
witchery  the  love  of  many  waxeth  cold.     Remember 


MEMBERSHIP   IN   CHIIIST's   CHURCH.  273 

Simon  Magus,  and  fear  lest,  having  been  numbered 
"with  the  people  of  God,  your  heart  should  not  be  right, 
and  you  should  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in  the  matter. 
Remember  the  disciples  of  Jesus  who,  becoming  offended 
because  of  his  doctrine  of  the  cross,  went  away  and 
walked  no  more  with  him.  Remember  all  those  who, 
having  put  their  hand  to  the  plough,  have  become 
weary,  sat  down  and  taken  their  ease  and  fallen  asleep 
in  Zion.  Remember  Lot  and  IToah,  and  beware  of 
that  siren  who  lurks  in  the  juicy  grape,  and  in  the 
wine  when  it  is  red,  to  lure  men  away  from  sense  and 
reason  and  modesty  and  shame.  Remember  Samson, 
who  gave  the  strength  of  the  Lord  to  Delilah,  lest  you 
also,  lying  on  the  lap  of  indolent,  self-indulgent  gratifica- 
tion, yield  thy  heart  to  sin,  betray  the  secret  of  the 
Lord  which  is  with  them  that  fear  him,  and  drown 
thyself  in  perdition  and  many  hurtful  snares.  Re- 
member Saul,  lest  by  indulging  in  a  selfish,  envious 
and  jealous  disposition  you  provoke  God  to  depart  from 
you.  Remember  David,  and  make  a  covenant  even 
with  your  eyes  as  well  as  your  lips,  lest  lust,  being  con- 
ceived, should  bring  forth  sin,  for  sin  when  it  is  finished 
bringeth  forth  death  itself.  It  is  not  necessary,  in  order 
to  sin,  to  have  it  introduced  from  without.  It  is  already 
within  you.  You  were  conceived  in  sin  and  brought 
forth  in  iniquity.  This  is  the  declaration  of  the 
Holy  Scripture.  Your  heart  is  corrupt  and  full  of 
inordinate  desires  Avhich  only  require  the  opportunity 
of  indulgence  to  become  deeds.  Yea,  a  single  spark 
will  kindle  in  it  an  unquenchable  flame.  Yea,  as  in  the 
smooth  pond  or  the  quiet  sea,  in  which  are  mirrored  in 
apparent  beauty  all  the  glory  of  the  heavens,  it  only 


274  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

requires  a  breath  of  the  tempest  to  destroy  the  celestial 
landscape  and  make  it  cast  forth  mire  and  dirt,  so  is  it 
with  your  heart.  Eemember  how  the  way  to  Zion  is 
strewn  with  the  bones  of  unhappy  travellers  who,  turn- 
ing aside  from  the  king's  highway, — the  strait  and 
narrow  road, — have  fallen  a  prey  to  that  roaring  lion 
who  goeth  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  Re- 
member what  you  were,  what  you  are,  where  you  are, 
where  you  are  going,  what  is  your"  first  great  business 
here,  and  how  soon  the  night  cometh  and  your  Master's 
voice  shall  be  heard  calling  you  to  give  account  of 
your  stewardship.  Eemember  that  your  soul  and  this 
life  and  this  present  world  constitute  your  field,  where 
you  are  to  work  the  work  of  God, — even  your  everlast- 
ing salvation.  Remember  that  the  produce  of  this  field 
is  to  be  your  future  portion  and  inheritance,  and  that 
he  that  soweth  to  the  flesh — to  self — shall  of  the  flesh 
reap  corruption;  that  he  that  soweth  sparingly  shall 
reap  sparingly ;  that  he  that  soweth  the  wind  of  a  vain, 
indolent  and  frivolous  life,  shall  reap  the  whirlwind; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  that  soweth  plentifully  for 
the  Lord  and  his  cause  shall  reap  abundantly  in  the 
life  everlasting. 

Soldier  of  Christ,  thou  warrior  tied 

And  bound  by  holiest  vow, 
Oh,  what  hast  thou  to  do  with  rest  and  ease? 

Still  wipe  thy  manly  brow. 
Strengthen  thy  feeble  knees. 
And  but  with  life  thine  armour  lay  aside. 

For  yet  a  little  while 
When  thou  on  thy  last  enemy  hast  trod, 

Shalt  enter  with  a  smile 
On  rest  eternal, — ^yea!  the  rest  of  God! 


MEMBERSHIP   IN   CHEIST's   CHUECH.  275 

Approach,  then,  thou  with  heart  sincere, 
Show  thy  firm  allegiance  here : 
'Twas  himself  who  gave  the  sign, — 
Brake  the  bread  and  pour'd  the  wine. 

Faithful  to  his  last  command, 
Take  these  symbols  in  thy  hand; 
Eat,  and  Jesus  suffering  see; 
Drink,  and  ponder  'twas  for  thee 


276  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT. 

''Who  can  forget,"  wrote  an  individual  present  at  one 
of  the  union  prayer-meetings,  "  the  last  prayer  offered 
up  by  a  late  infidel  lawyer  ?  That  prayer,  so  meek,  so 
humble,  so  inspiring,  so  full  of  gratitude  and  holy  joy 
for  delivering  grace  and  pardoning  mercy, — that  prayer, 
so  full  of  thankfulness  for  what  God  is  doing  in  city 
and  country, — so  thankful  for  the  good  news  that  comes 
to  us  from  mountain-top  and  valley  over  all  the  land, 
of  what  God  is  doing  in  the  conversion  of  sinners." 

"Oh!"  said  he  to  the  writer,  grasping  him  by  the 
hand  after  the  meeting  was  over,  with  a  most  animated 
countenance,  "this  has  been  a  most  blessed  day  to  me! 
I  have  had  unspeakable  enjoyment  to-day.  I  have 
been  at  the  communion-table  to  commemorate  the 
death  of  my  ever-blessed  Lord." 

"I  have  been,"  said  another,  "to  communion;  and 
my  heart  burned  within  me  as  the  Lord  talked  with  me 
and  as  I  listened  to  his  gracious  words.  I  am  like  one 
who  has  come  from  the  audience- chamber  of  a  king, 
richly  laden  with  the  tokens  of  his  favour.  I  have 
feasted  on  rich  viands;  I  have  drunk  at  flowing  foun- 
tains ;  I  have  rested  a  while  my  weary  feet.  And  now, 
refreshed  and  strengthened,  I  must  grasp  again  my 
pilgrim  staff  and  go  on  my  way  rejoicing.     I  must  re- 


WOEK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.      277 

tarn  to  the  world  and  use  the  lessons  I  have  here  learned 
from  the  Master's  lips.  Henceforth  my  work  on  earth 
must  be  to  glorify  this  gracious,  this  bountiful  Lord 
and  Eedeemer  and  to  magnify  his  name  in  my  life.  I 
must  seek  as  my  first  concern  that  his  kingdom  may 
come ;  praying  and  labouring  for  this  end  unweariedly, 
until  I  shall  receive  the  welcome  summons  to  the 
marriage-supper  of  the  Lamb, — -when  I  shall  be  forever 
with  the  Lord,  rejoicing  in  his  presence  and  hearing 
his  words." 

What  a  work,  then,  my  dear  reader,  have  you  to 
accomplish!  a  pains-taking  and  painful  work;  a  self- 
denying  work;  a  convincing,  awakening  and  converting 
work;  a  regenerating,  sanctifying  and  purifying  work; 
a  heart-work  as  well  as  a  head-work;  a  work  in  the 
understanding,  the  afi'ections  and  the  will;  a  work  in 
the  body,  in  mortifying,  crucifying  and  keeping  it 
under,  as  well  as  in  the  soul;  an  out-door  as  well  as  an 
in-door  work;  a  work  at  home,  in  the  counting-house, 
in  the  lanes  and  by-ways,  as  well  as  in  the  sanctuary; 
a  work  for  the  poor,  the  miserable,  the  blind,  the 
guilty,  the  naked,  the  homeless,  the  fatherless,  for  the 
young  and  the  middle-aged  and  the  old,  for  all  men, 
as  you  have  opportunity,  as  well  as  for  your  own  salva- 
tion ;  a  life-work  and  a  love-work,  terminating  only  in 
the  rest  of  the  grave,  and  in  that  final  rest  which  re- 
maineth  beyond  the  grave ;  and  a  work  sustained  by 
that  love  which  is  stronger  than  death,  equal  to  all 
trials,  and  which  many  waters  of  affliction,  disappoint- 
ment and  trouble  cannot  quench. 

Oh,  what  a  work,  my  reader,  is  there  before  you ! — a 
high  and  a  holy  calling, — a  glorious  race, — a  warfare  in 

24 


278  THE    WELL    IN   THE    VALLEY. 

whicli  you  are  made  a  spectacle  to  God,  to  angels  and 
to  men. 

Live,  tben,  as  in  God's  sight,  and  in  the  sight  of 
death,  judgment,  heaven  and  hell.  Live  and  act, 
knowing  that  you  stand  or  fall  alone  hy  yourself, 
though  not  for  yourself.  Let  no  man,  therefore, 
hinder  you  in  your  work. 

Take  a  few  examples  of  your  work,  and  how  to  do  it. 
You  are  a  wife,  a  husband,  a  child;  and  they  who  are 
dear  to  you,  and  to  whom  perhaps  you  are  subject  in 
the  Lord,  care  for  none  of  these  things  and  count  the 
cross  a  scandal.  Be  it  so.  You  are  put  to  the  proof. 
You  have  here  a  test  or  experiment  of  your  sincerity 
and  devotion.  Two  masters  claim  your  allegiance  and 
your  obedience.  Shall  you  obey  and  please  man,  or 
God  ?  You  should  obey  husband  and  parents,  and  please 
children  and  friends,  in  all  things  not  sinful  or  forbidden. 
This  God  requires.  This  is  the  way  of  peace  and  power, 
and  the  way  to  do  them  good.  But  not  one  hairbreadth 
beyond  this  are  you  at  liberty  to  go.  For  he  that 
loveth  father,  or  mother,  or  children,  more  than  Christ 
is  not  worthy  of  him ;  and  true  love  to  them  is  faithful 
and  unfaltering  obedience  to  Christ.  Thus,  and  thus 
only,  can  you  hope  to  win  them  to  Christ  and  to  save 
your  own  soul.  Of  this  I  could  give  you  many  strik- 
ing examples,  both  as  it  regards  the  power  of  parents, 
children  and  wives. 

Take  the  following.  You  are  the  believing  wife  of  an 
unbelieving  and  ungodly  husband.  Be  faithfully  con- 
sistent and  devoted  to  Christ,  to  your  own  soul  and 
to  the  soul  of  that  husband,  and  you  may  yet  rejoice 
over  him  as  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus  and  bound 


wore:  to  be  done,  and  the  way  to  do  it.    279 

with  you  in  the  bundle  of  life,  if  not  on  earth  and  while 
living,  yet  hereafter  in  the  great  harvest-home  of  heaven. 
The  pious  work  of  a  persecuted,  abused  and  broken- 
hearted wife,  made  instinct  with  her  piety,  was  the  in- 
strument, in  God's  hands,  of  awakening  that  remarkable 
man  to  whose  conversion  I  have  before  alluded.*  A  phy- 
sician gives  a  similar  account  of  a  lady  who  was  the  wife 
of  a  wealthy  farmer  whose  whole  soul  was  absorbed  in 
gain.  Whatever  reminded  him  of  religion  was  sure  to 
provoke  his  violent  hostility;  the  Sabbath  was  to  him 
any  thing  but  a  ''day  of  rest,"  the  place  of  worship  any 
thing  but  a  sanctuary.  He  neither  revered  the  one 
nor  visited  the  other,  and  persecuted  his  wife  for  her 
conscientious  endeavours  to  consecrate  the  day  to  its 
Bacred  purposes.  A  clergyman — especially  if  a  Method- 
ist— was  an  object  of  peculiar  hatred,  as  his  wife  was 
a  member  of  that  branch  of  the  church. 

They  had  seven  sons,  all  of  whom  had  been  led,  by 
their  father's  influence  and  example,  to  join  in  ridi- 
culing and  persecuting  their  mother:  in  fact,  so  far  as 
they  could,  they  worried  the  good  woman's  life  away 
with  their  scandalous  behaviour  and  outrageous  annoy- 
ances. She  always  met  them  with  a  pleasant  smile 
and  kind  words,  and  endeavoured  faithfully  to  fulfil 
the  duties  of  a  wife  and  mother.  Often  in  secret  her 
prayers  ascended  to  God  for  their  conversion.  She 
committed  them  to  her  Saviour  without  a  murmur.  In 
such  circumstances,  for  years  had  lived  this  Christian, 
now  lying  on  her  bed  of  death.  She  died;  but  before 
her  departure  she  affectionately  exhorted  her  family  to 
love  and  serve  that  Saviour  who  had  been  her  comforter 
in  life,  and  who  was  her  joy  and  hope  in  death,  and, 

*  On  p.  116. 


280  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

commending  them  to  God,  she  fell  asleep.     Thus  she 
died,  and  was  buried. 

Months  passed  away,  and  the  recollection  of  the 
very  sad  event  was  sinking  into  forgetfulness.  Spring 
was  once  more  bursting  forth  into  new  life.  He  was 
returning  at  midnight  from  visiting  a  distant  patient. 
His  way  led  past  the  burying-ground,  whose  white 
tombstones  stood  like  a  multitude  of  ghosts  in  the 
clear  moonlight  and  would  anon  fade  from  view  as  the 
dark  clouds  spread  their  shadows  over  the  scene.  Eiding 
slowly  along,  the  better  to  enjoy  the  magnificent  picture, 
his  attention  was  suddenly  arrested  by  a  dark  object 
among  the  tombs. 

Beaching  a  point  out  of  sight  of  any  one  on  watch,  he 
secured  his  horse,  and,  arming  myself  with  a  stout  club, 
proceeded  to  reconnoitre.  Noiselessly  entering  the 
ground,  he  cautiously  approached  the  point  where  his 
attention  had  been  attracted.  As  he  drew  near,  what 
was  his  astonishment  to  discover  the  husband  of  the 
woman  spoken  of,  prostrate  at  the  head  of  her  grave, 
earnestly  praying,  with  sobs  and  groans,  that  God 
would  forgive  him,  a  miserable  sinner !  Without  dis- 
turbing the  penitent  man,  he  quietly  withdrew. 

The  following  day  was  the  Sabbath.  The  man  was 
at  the  house  of  God,  and,  with  tears  and  smiles,  ad- 
dressed his  astonished  and  delighted  neighbours,  ask- 
ing their  forgiveness  for  his  previous  godless  life  and 
example,  as  he  humbly  and  penitently  hoped  God,  for 
Christ's  sake,  had  pardoned  his  great  sin.  He  spoke 
of  his  heartless  treatment  of  his  deceased  companion ; 
how  the  arrows  of  conviction  had  for  years  rankled  in 
his  heart,  and  he  had  madly  resisted ;  how  her  dying 


WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.       281 

words,  and  prayers,  and  her  holy  life  were  perpetually 
condemning  him.  But  now  all  was  peace;  and  hoping, 
with  Grod's  grace,  to  live  a  new  life,  he  fervently  im- 
plored his  Christian  neighbours  to  permit  him  to  walk 
with  them,  and  entreated  them  to  assist  him  with 
their  counsels  and  prayers.  Every  eye  was  moistened 
as  that  hard  man  related  his  struggles  with  con- 
science and  the  final  triumph  of  the  Holy  Spirit  over 
that  stony  heart.  He  united  with  the  church  where 
his  wife  once  belonged.  His  sons,  one  after  another, 
followed  the  father's  example,  until  the  whole  number 
were  joined  in  the  fraternal  embrace  of  a  Saviour's 
love. 

Years  have  passed  since  the  events  recorded.  The 
old  man  is  a  father  in  the  church,  universally  respected 
and  beloved  by  his  acquaintance.  His  house  is  a  syno- 
nym of  hospitality;  and  no  clergyman's  horse  need  fear 
neglect  at  his  hands.  The  sons  are  yet  living,  and 
honour  their  profession. 

Verily  the  prayers  of  the  righteous  shall  be  heard 
and  answered.  If  the  poor  pleader  does  not  always  in 
this  life  see  the  answer,  it  will  come.  0  Christian, 
whoever  you  are,  pray,  pray  in  faith.  He  is  faithful  who 
hears  you.  Remember,  ^^They  that  sow  in  tears  shall 
reap  in  joy."  "Sorrow  may  endure  for  a  night;  but 
joy  Cometh  in  the  morning."  If  there  be  ''joy  in  hea- 
ven over  one  repenting  sinner,"  who  can  appreciate 
the  blessedness  of  the  good  woman  whose  death  is  here 
recorded  ? 

''I  remember  a  gentleman  in  Maryland,"  says  Rev. 
Dr.  Murray,  ''who  was  brought  to  God  partly  through 
the  instrumentality  of  a  pious  wife.     After  she  was 


282         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

converted  she  felt  she  had  a  solemn  duty  to  perform 
with  reference  to  her  family.  Her  husband  neglecting 
the  duty  of  family  worship,  she  herself  would  call  the 
children  together  for  reading  the  Scriptures  and  prayer 
every  morning,  and  perhaps  evening.  The  husband  would 
stay  outside  the  room,  but  required  the  children  to  at- 
tend while  the  mother  was  conducting  the  devotions.  God 
was  pleased  to  bless  her  efforts.  Her  husband  was  con- 
verted, and  has  since  gone  to  glory.  She,  too,  is  at 
rest  in  the  Paradise  of  God.  Three  daughters  have 
followed  her,  and  they  are  safe  with  Jesus  in  the  better 
world.  Two  daughters  remain,  members  of  the  church 
of  Christ  and  followers  of  the  Kedeemer.  One  son  is 
also  in  the  church,  an  active  and  useful  member.  Only 
one  of  that  family  is  at  this  day  out  of  Christ." 

Let  us  work  while  we  pray,  and  we  may  expect  the 
blessing  of  God. 

Be  faithful,  then,  dear  reader,  to  Christ,  to  duty,  and 
to  what  pertains  to  your  own  salvation,  and  God  will 
be  with  you,  to  bless  you,  and  to  make  you  a  blessing 
to  your  house,  your  home,  your  kindred  and  your 
friends.  But  if  you  allow  the  love  of  man,  or  the  fear 
of  man,  or  the  love  of  this  present  world,  to  bring  a 
snare  upon  you  and  lead  you  to  hesitate,  to  temporize 
and  to  do  evil  that  good  may  come,  it  may  be  to  your 
everlasting  regret. 

You  may  be  a  widow  with  children  growing  up 
around  you;  and,  surrounded  as  they  will  be  by  gay 
and  thoughtless  companions,  they  may  wish  to  be  like 
them,  and  to  follow  a  multitude  in  living  according  to 
the  lusts  of  the  eye  and  the  pride  of  life,  if  not  the  lusts 
of  the  flesh.     What  are  you  to  do?     I  will  tell  you. 


WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.      283 

"  I  well  remember,"  says  one,  "when  about  nine  years  of 
age,  returning  from  school  one  day  with  a  request  to 
my  mother  that  I  might  attend  a  children's  ball  which 
was  to  take  place  the  next  evening.  One  or  two  had 
been  held  before,  at  which  most  of  my  companions  were 
present :  my  younger  sister  and  I  had,  however,  re- 
ceived no  invitation,  as  it  was  well  understood  that  our 
mother  was  'very  strict,'  and  probably  would  not  per- 
mit us  to  attend.  But  on  this  occasion  a  note  was 
handed  us,  as  we  were  returning  from  school,  request- 
ing our  company  for  the  next  evening;  and  as  we 
entered  the  parlour  where  our  mother  was  sitting,  our 
little  hearts  swelled  with  desires  to  which  they  had 
until  then  been  strangers.  We  asked  her  permission 
to  attend,  which  she  gently  but  firmly  denied,  giving 
us,  at  the  same  time,  some  of  her  most  important  rea- 
sons for  so  doing.  We  felt  the  propriety  of  her  objec- 
tions, and  in  fact  had  httle  inclination  to  enter  into  an 
amusement  with  which  we  were  wholly  unacquainted; 
but  the  dread  of  the  sneer  and  ridicule  of  our  com- 
panions, and  their  remarks  upon  the  unnecessary  strict- 
ness of  our  dear  parents,  overcame  every  other  feeling; 
and  we  begged  that  we  might  go  at  least  once,  in  order 
to  show  them  that  she  was  more  indulgent  than  they 
supposed.  I  shall  never  forget  the  tone  of  seriousness 
my  mother  assumed  as  she  represented  to  us  the  re- 
sponsibility incurred  by  Christian  parents  in  giving  up 
their  children  to  God.  'You,  my  dear  children,'  said 
she,  'are  consecrated  children.  Your  parents  have 
covenanted  with  God  to  train  you  up  for  his  service. 
How  can  I,  without  a  fearful  violation  of  that  covenant, 
permit  you  to  enter  a  place  where  every  thing  you  see 


284  THE    WELL    IN   THE   VALLEY. 

and  hear  will  be  calculated  to  divert  your  mmds  from 
serious  things?  Would  not  God  be  justly  angry  with 
me,  and  could  I  expect  his  blessing  in  my  endeavours 
to  train  you  up  for  him?  Now,  which  do  you  prefer? 
— that  I  should  displease  God,  or  your  companions?' 
This  was  enough.  We  were  entirely  satisfied,  and 
were  able  to  meet  our  companions  the  next  day  with- 
out shame  or  fear.  Indeed — shall  I  say  it? — we  felt  a 
secret  pride  in  the  integrity  of  our  dear  mother's  prin- 
ciples. Though  afterwards  invited  on  one  or  two  other 
occasions,  we  felt  not  the  slightest  inclination  to  accept. 
The  question  was  settled,  and  settled  forever.  And 
how  often,  since  we  reached  a  mature  age,  have  we 
looked  back  to  that  period  with  indescribable  interest, 
and  with  fervent  gratitude  to  our  parent  for  the  firm- 
ness and  wisdom  she  manifested!  How  much  incon- 
venience and  expostulation  did  she  thus  avoid,  and 
from  how  many  temptations  and  conflicts  secure  our 
youthful  years !  Much  of  the  indifference  with  which 
we  have  ever  regarded  amusements  of  this  kind,  even 
since  the  formation  of  our  own  principles,  may  doubt- 
less be  traced  to  the  impression  thus  early  made  upon 
our  minds.  And  might  not  every  parent,  by  a  similar 
course,  throw  the  same  safeguard  around  the  future 
welfare  of  her  children? — Surely  such  children  will 
ever  have  cause  to  bless  the  honoured  name  of  ^mo- 
ther'!" 

On  one  occasion  a  boy  stood  in  the  midst  of  a  ring 
of  wicked  lads,  who  were  about  to  plunge  him  in  the 
river  because  he  proposed  to  them  to  go  to  church. 
He  stood  among  them,  without  saying  a  word,  while 
they  all  marched  around  him,  singing  and  blaspheming. 


WORK   TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.   285 

Just  before  they  were  about  to  put  tbeir  threat  in  exe- 
cution, with  tears  streaming  down  his  cheeks,  he  said, 
''Boys,  I  am  in  your  power.  I  have  not  the  strength 
to  resist  you;  but  I  want  to  make  a  little  statement,  and 
after  that,  if  yoii  feel  disposed  to  put  me  in  the  creek, 
do  so.  I  am  distant  from  my  home  several  hundred 
miles.  The  day  I  left  it,  my  mother  sent  for  me  to 
her  sick  chamber,  and,  laying  her  hand  upon  my  head, 
said  to  me,  'My  son,  in  all  probability  I  shall  never 
see  you  again  on  the  earth.  Hard  as  it  is  to  part  from 
you,  my  youngest  child,  necessity  seems  to  require  it, 
and  I  have  but  one  admonition  to  give  you.  It  is  a 
text  of  Scripture :—''  My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  con- 
sent thou  not." ' "  Thus  ended  his  touching  story;  and 
they,  so  far  from  carrying  their  wicked  threat  into  exe- 
cution, allowed  him  to  pass,  and  every  one  of  them 
turned  and  followed  him  to  church ! 

Among  the  subjects  of  a  recent  revival  were  three 
children,  aged  respectively  fourteen,  eleven  and  eight 
years.  These  were  the  children  of  one  family,  the 
father  of  which  was  a  bitter  opposer  of  spiritual  religion. 
And  when  these  three— the  last  of  nine  belonging  to  the 
same  family— were  also  called  into  the  vineyard  of  the 
Master,  the  father,  feeling  himself  deserted  in  opinion, 
called  them  around  him.  "Why  is  it,  my  children," 
he  said,  ''that  you  have  fallen  into  the  current  of  reli- 
gious excitement  now  abroad  in  the  community?  You 
know  my  feelings  and  my  views.  Why  do  you  forsake 
your  father  ?  Have  I  not  been  a  kind  father  unto  you  ?" 
"Yes,"  said  the  eldest  one,  "you  have  always  been  a 
kind  father  to  us,  and  we  believe  you  always  will  be; 


286  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

but  we  must  obey  G-od  rather  than  you,  and  serve  bim 
in  preference  to  you." 

And  wbat  was  the  secret  of  these  nine  children  being 
brought  to  the  Saviour  in  early  life?  BehJDd  it  all 
there  was  a  godly,  pious  mother.  She  it  was  who 
prayed  with  and  for  her  children,  who  took  them  to 
her  hallowed  spot  of  prayer,  and  there,  with  the  ear- 
nestness of  a  mother's  love,  invoked  the  blessing  of  God 
on  their  behalf;  and,  despite  every  contrary  influence, 
that  mother's  heart  was  overflowing  with  the  joy  of 
answered  prayers.  Oh,  what  can  a  mother  not  do,  in 
the  plastic,  formative  period  of  youth,  in  making  im- 
pressions for  eternity? 

^'I  remember  well,"  says  the  narrator,  ''how  my  own 
grandmother — for  I  was  early  deprived  of  a  mother's 
love  and  care,  even  beyond  my  earliest  recollections — 
used  to  lead  me  to  her  consecrated  spot  of  prayer,  and, 
laying  her  hand  on  my  head,  commend  me  to  God,  and 
with  strong  cryings  and  many  tears  implore  in  my 
behalf  the  converting  grace  of  the  Spirit.  Can  I  ever 
forget  those  scenes,  those  prayers?  Never,  while 
memory  retains  its  power!  These  prayers  made  me 
a  Christian,  I  trust,  before  I  was  twelve  years  of  age; 
they  made  me  a  minister  of  the  gospel;  they  have 
brought  seven  Ovit  of  nine  of  the  children  in  our  family 
into  the  service  of  Christ!" 

Oh,  yes !  and  how  many  mothers  are  yet  preaching, 
and  will  to  the  end  of  time  continue  to  preach,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  son  of  their  womb  and  the 
fruit  of  their  prayers  and  training ! 

Early  in  the  last  century  there  lived  a  poor  Christian 
widow  in  the  south  of  England.     Her   only  son  she 


WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.   287 

souglit  to  train  for  Christ,  but  she  died  as  he  entered 
on  his  eighth  year.  He  became  a  profligate ;  but  eigh- 
teen years  later  he  Avas  awakened  by  the  memory  of 
her  counsels,  and  became  a  devoted  pastor.  He  was 
instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  Claudius  Buchanan, 
— one  of  the  most  prominent  founders  of  English  mis- 
sions in  the  Indies.  A  tract  of  Mr.  Buchanan  first  drew 
the  attention  of  Judson  to  the  heathen.  The  widow's 
son  was  likewise  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  Thomas 
Scott,  the  author  of  Biblical  Commentaries,  unequalled 
in  the  range  of  their  circulation  and  influence.  William 
Wilberforce  also  was  given  to  his  prayers ;  and  a  treat- 
ise by  Wilberforce  won  to  Christ  Legh  Eichmond, 
whose  tract,  ''The  Dairyman's  Daughter,"  has  resulted 
in  the  conversion  of  thousands.  Thus  the  obscure  and 
ignorant  mother  of  John  Newton,  though  dead,  still 
speaks,  in  all  the  languages  of  earth,  the  wonderful  work 
of  God's  grace. 

That  you  may  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge 
and  love  of  God,  live,  then,  dear  reader,  for  others, — for 
your  family,  for  your  church,  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
Would  you  be  in  health,  you  must  be  active ;  and  would 
you  have  your  soul  prosper  and  be  in  health,  you  must 
go  into  Christ's  vineyard  and  work.  This  is  the  way, 
and  the  only  way,  to  keep  the  life-blood  of  piety  circu- 
lating freely  in  your  veins,  to  warm,  nourish  and  en- 
liven your  soul.  Feed,  then,  the  lambs  around  you. 
Take  care  of  the  young.  Go  into  the  Sabbath-school. 
Visit  the  poor  and  the  ignorant  and  the  careless 
around  you,  them  that  are  in  prison,  and  those  who 
are  lame,  and  pray,  pray  earnestly  for  grace,  for  the 
spirit  of  wisdom  and  power  and  of  a  sound  mind,  that 


288  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

you  may  turn  many  to  righteousness,  who  shall  shine 
as  stars  in  the  firmament  of  heaven.  Oh,  be  in  earnest. 
Eealize  the  awful  danger  in  which  these  souls  are  lying, 
and  that  inevitable  destruction  towards  which  they  are 
rushing  with  such  headlong  impetuosity.  And  while 
you  weep  and  mourn  with  those  who  weep  and  mourn, 
— while  you 

Weep  for  the  death-pangs  of  the  heart 
Ere  being  from  the  bosom  part, — 

weep,  oh,  weep  still  more  bitterly  for 

That  death  whose  pang 

Outlasts  the  fleeting  breath : 
Oh,  what  eternal  horrors  hang 

Around  the  second  death  I 

Go,  labour  on :  your  hands  are  weak, 

Your  knees  are  faint,  your  soul  cast  down ; 

Yet  fiilter  not :  the  prize  you  seek 
Is  near, — a  kingdom  and  a  crown ! 

Go,  labour  on,  while  it  is  day  ; 

The  world's  dark  night  is  hastening  on : 
Speed,  speed  the  work;  cast  sloth  away! 

It  is  not  thus  that  souls  are  won. 

Men  die  in  darkness  at  your  side, 

Without  a  hope  to  cheer  the  tomb : 
Take  up  the  torch  and  wave  it  wide, — 

The  torch  that  lights  time's  thickest  gloom. 

Toil  on,  faint  not,  keep  watch,  and  pray ! 

Be  wise  the  erring  soul  to  win ; 
Go  forth  into  the  world's  highway; 

Compel  the  wanderer  to  come  in. 

There  was  a  time,  brother,  when  you  had  something 
to  say  for  Christ,     Will  you  ever  forget  that  morning 


WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.      289 

when  you  awoke  with  a  new  hope  in  your  heart  and  a 
new  song  in  your  mouth?  ^'Old  things  have  passed 
away:  behold,  all  things  have  become  new."  What  a 
bright  day  it  was !  Your  heart,  so  one  describes  it,  was 
so  full  of  joy  and  joyful  anticipations  that  if  an  angel  had 
appeared  suddenly  by  your  side  you  would  hardly  have 
been  surprised;  and  had  the  firmament  parted,  and 
through  the  broken  sky  you  had  seen  the  land  which  is 
very  far  off,  it  would  have  seemed  quite  natural.  You 
were  looking  for  something  great.  When  you  went 
abroad  into  the  city,  you  thought  that  all  the  bells  ought 
to  be  ringing,  that  all  the  children  ought  to  be  out  with 
palm-branches  in  their  hands,  and  that  every  man 
should  be  spreading  his  garment  in  the  way ;  for  you  felt 
— oh !  you  felt — that  the  Son  of  David  had  come.  And 
the  next  Sabbath,  as  you  went  to  the  house  of  God,  your 
mother  leaning  on  your  arm,  she  so  happy  and .  you 
so  happy,  it  seemed  as  if  the  very  stones  were  singing 
under  your  feet.  Then  you  could  not  hold  your  peace ; 
then  you  must  speak.  Nothing  but  a  command — a 
command  from  God,  and  that  straight  and  clear  as  the 
light — could  have  sealed  your  mouth.  And  if  your 
heart — will  you  allow  me,  in  all  kindness,  to  say  it? — 
if  your  heart  were  as  full  of  love  now  as  then,  you 
would  not  ask  me  to  prove  that  a  man  should  tell  what 
great  things  the  Lord  hath  done  for  him.  And  if  any 
one  should  forbid,  you  would  answer,  with  Peter  before 
the  Sanhedrim,  ''I  cannot  but  speak  the  things  which 
I  have  seen  and  heard;"  or  with  Luther  before  the  Diet 
at  Worms,  "Here  I  stand:  I  cannot  do  otherwise. 
God  help  me.  Amen."  For  one,  if  I  had  no  tongue, 
I  would  talk  with  my  fingers;  and  if  I  had  no  fingers, 

T  25 


290  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

I  would  manage  to  make  my  features,  inexpressive  as 
they  may  be,  say  something  for  Christ. 

At  a  recent  farewell  missionary  meeting  of  the  Ee- 
formed  Presbyterian  Church,  Mr.  Heron,  one  of  two 
young  brethren  who  were  about  to  leave  for  India, 
addressed  his  brethren.  Picture  to  yourself  a  youthful 
figure,  almost  boyish  in  size  and  shape,  though  with  a 
countenance  expressive  of  thought,  and  on  which  the 
hue  of  affliction  had  even  thus  early  cast  its  shade, 
with  a  clear,  silvery  voice, — now  gentle  and  earnest, 
anon  shrill  and  impassioned, — as  this  descendant  of 
Renwick  shrinkingly  stood  up  before  the  vast  assembly 
and  alluded  to  his  school-boy  days  among  them.  In  a 
tone  of  deep  earnestness,  he  narrated  his  call  to  the 
work,  his  feelings  in  view  of  parting  from  loved  friends, 
his  dear  flock,  (for  he  had  been  for  years  a  pastor,  and 
begotten  many  souls  through  the  gospel,)  and  the  be- 
loved fathers  and  brethren  of  the  synod.  Then  he  ad- 
dressed his  young  brethren  in  the  ministry  thus : — "  My 
young  brethren  in  the  ministry,  what  shall  I  say  to 
you?  Our  yearly  meetings,  our  pleasant  hours,  our 
social  prayer  and  praise,  our  conversations  on  the  love 
of  Christ,  the  preciousness  of  his  salvation  and  the 
glory  of  his  kingdom, — shall  they  be  no  more?  My 
heart  is  yet  warm  with  the  electric  current  of  love  that 
thrilled  it  as  we  sat  side  by  side  on  Sabbath  at  the 
communion-table;  but  my  spirit  is  strengthened  and 
ennobled  by  the  large  and  bright  and  joyful  view 
which  I  then  had  of  our  reunion  in  our  Father's  house 
and  in  the  general  assembly  in  heaven.  Till  then  it 
is  our's  to  labour  and  to  suffer,  your's  to  return  to  your 
known   fields  of  labour,   our's   to   go  ^forth,  literally 


WORK  TO  BE  DONE,  AND  THE  WAY  TO  DO  IT.   291 

strangers  and  pilgrims,  to  the  dark  places  of  the  earth. 
Oh,  mention  our  names  to  your  families  and  your  flocks, 
and  let  them  arise  on  the  voice  of  prayer  in  your 
closets,  at  your  hearths,  in  your  congregations,  at  your 
communions,  your  presbyteries  and  your  synods.  And 
now  farewell,  fathers,  farewell,  brethren,  farewell,  scenes 
and  friends  of  my  youth !  Welcome,  Jesus !  my  brother, 
my  companion,  my  inheritance  forever!"  You  may 
imagine,  for  I  cannot  describe,  the  sensations  of  the 
assembly.  Aged  ministers  bowed  their  heads  and 
wept;  every  eye  was  suffused;  the  power  of  faith  was 
felt  even  by  the  most  thoughtless. 

My  dear  reader,  are  you  under  any  less  obligation 
to  live  for,  and  to  love  and  labour  for,  Christ? 

Up,  Christians,  up!  the  Saviour  calls; 

The  work  brooks  no  delay : 
On  you  the  sacred  duty  falls 

To  preach  the  gospel  day ; 
And  many  must  run  to  and  fro 
Ere  knowledge  like  an  ocean  flow. 

Up,  Christians,  up !  the  moments  fly, 

And,  while  you  count  the  cost, 
Ten  thousand  sinners  round  you  die 

And  are  forever  lost ! 
Can  these  the  realms  of  darkness  fill 
And  you  be  reckon'd  guiltless  still  ? 

Up,  Christians,  up  !  the  field  is  wide 

And  white  with  ripen'd  grain  : 
Forth  to  the  labour,  side  by  side, 

A  faithful,  vigorous  train; 
Your  Master's  high  approval  win, 
And.  bring  the  gospel  harvest  in. 


292  THE   WELL   IN  THE  VALLEY. 


CHAPTEE  XV. 

THE   LOED'S   SUPPEE   OFTEN  A  CONVERTING   OEDINANCE. 

Have  you,  then,  my  dear  reader,  living  around  you 
an  impenitent  brother  or  sister,  father  or  mother, 
friends  or  relatives,  companions  or  acquaintances? 
Live  for  them.  Love  them.  Pity  them.  Order  your 
conversation  and  conduct  so  as  best  to  win  upon  them 
and  bring  them  to  Christ.  Induce  them  to  read,  and 
put  suitable  works  into  their  hands.  Persuade  them 
to  go  with  you  to  the  house  of  God,  not  only  on  the 
Sabbath,  but  also  during  the  week.  Hide  not  yourself 
from  them.  Be  ready  to  give  a  reason  for  the  hope 
that  is  in  you,  and  make  it  evident  that  your  heart's 
desire  for  them  is  that  they  may  be  saved.  In  addition 
to  the  means  suggested,  induce  them  also  to  attend 
upon  the  communion-Sabbath  and  to  remain  and  wit- 
ness the  solemn  service.  It  is  good  for  them  to  be 
there.  The  Lord's  Supper  is  a  means  of  grace, — a 
means  both  for  imparting  and  for  increasing  grace.  It 
is  a  convincing  and  converting  ordinance,  as  well  as  a 
comforting  and  sustaining  ordinance.  It  is  intended 
for  sinners  as  well  as  for  saints,  for  unbelievers  as  well 
as  for  believers,  for  those  who  do  not  and  for  those  who 
ought  not  to  communicate,  as  well  as  for  those  who  do, 
and  was  therefore,  in  all  probability,  a  part  of  the  daily 
worship  of  the  primitive  churches.  (Acts  ii.  42.)     It  is, 


lord's  supper  a  converting  ordinance.     293 

we  have,  seen,  a  demonstration  of  the  truth  of  Chris- 
tianity and  a  preaching  of  the  essential  doctrines  of 
Christianity.  It  brings  into  actual  and  appalling 
reality  man's  depravity,  guilt,  condemnation  and  danger, 
— the  certainty  and  fearfulness  of  a  coming  judgment, 
— the  terrible  fact  that  surely  there  is  a  distinction 
between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  an  impassable 
gulf,  which  only  the  blood  of  Christ  can  fill  up  and  the 
cross  of  Christ  bridge  over,  and  that  except  a  man  be 
born  again,  redeemed  and  justified,  there  will  be  an 
eternal  separation  between  him  and  Christ,  between 
him  and  heaven,  between  him  and  Christians,  just  as 
surely  as  there  is  such  a  separation  in  the  scene  before 
him  when,  as  in  a  rehearsal  of  the  coming  judgment, 
he  sees  the  sheep  gathered  together  and  the  goats  left 
behind.  And  when,  therefore,  ''there  come  in  one 
that  believeth  not,  or  one  unlearned,  (and  who  may 
learn  by  seeing  that  which  is  presented  so  impressively 
before  him  what  he  could  not  by  the  hearing  of  the  ear,) 
he  is  convinced  of  all,  he  is  judged  of  all,  and  thus  are 
the  secrets  of  his  heart  made  manifest,  and  so,  falling 
down  on  his  face,  he  will  worship  God,  and  report  that 
God  is  in  you  of  a  truth." 

So  it  was  in  the  apostles'  days;  for  ''they,"  we  are 
told,  "continuing  daily  with  one  accord  in  the  temple, 
and  breaking  bread  from  house  to  house,  did  eat  their 
meat  with  gladness  and  singleness  of  heart;  praising 
God  and  having  favour  with  all  the  people.  And  the 
Lord  added  to  the  church  daily  such  as  should  be 
saved."  "iVnd  they  continued  steadfastly  in  the  apos- 
tles' doctrine  and  fellowship,  and  in  breaking  of  bread, 


294         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

and  in  prayers.     And  fear  came  upon  every  soul;  and 
many  wonders  and  signs  were  done  by  the  apostles." 

And  so  it  has  ever  been  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
The  Lord's  Supper  is  the  Lord's  power.  It  is  his  rod 
of  iron, — a  fan  in  his  hands, — the  trumpet  of  doom, 
calling  sinners  to  judgment  and  saints  to  salvation. 
It  is  a  day  of  the  right  hand  of  his  power,  when  the 
Lord  makes  bare  his  arm,  wields  his  glittering  sword, 
and  commands  guilty  rebels  to  kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be 
angry  and  they  perish  from  the  way  when  his  wrath 
is  kindled  but  a  little.  In  other  days,  and  in  other  lands 
and  at  the  present  time,  these  seasons  of  communion 
have  been  found  to  be  the  great  days  of  the  feast,  when 
Christ  stands  and  cries  aloud,  ''If  any  man  thirst,  let 
him  come  unto  me  and  drink.  To-day,  if  ye  will  hear 
my  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts;  for,  behold,  now  is 
the  accepted  time,  and  now  is  the  day  of  salvation. 
Oh  that  thou  wouldst  know,  even  in  this  thy  day,  the 
things  that  belong  to  thy  peace,  ere  they  are  forever 
hidden  from  thine  eyes !  How  shall  ye  escape  if  you 
neglect  so  great  salvation?  For  it  is  impossible  for 
those  who  were  once  enlightened,  and  have  tasted  of 
the  heavenly  gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  have  tasted  of  the  good  word  of  God  and 
the  powers  of  the  world  to  come,  if  they  shall  fall 
away,  to  renew  them  again  unto  repentance, — seeing 
they  crucify  to  themselves  the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and 
,'Qt  him  to  an  open  shame.  For  the  earth,  which 
drinketh  in  the  rain  that  cometh  oft  upon  it,  and  bring- 
oth  forth  herbs  meet  for  them  by  whom  it  is  dressed, 
receiveth  blessing  from  God;  but  that  which  beareth 


lord's  supper  a  converting  ordinance.    295 

thorns  and  briers  is  rejected,  and  is  nigh  unto  cursing, — 
whose  end  is  to  be  burned." 

A  member  of  Congress  and  a  man  of  eminent  posi- 
tion in  Virginia  said  that  he  could  hear  any  preaching 
unmoved,  but  that  he  never  could  see  the  communion 
administered  without  being  awed  into  profound  solem- 
nity and  self-examination. 

Yes!  many  have  been  the  occasions  when,  on  the 
mountain  and  the  moorland,  in  the  deep  glen  and  the 
rocky  defile,  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth,  in  the  cata- 
combs of  Rome,  and  in  the  sanctuaries  of  God,  the 
communion-season  has  been  a  Pentecostal  scene,  a  val- 
ley of  Bochim,  a  place  where  tears  and  sobs  and  the 
groanings  of  suppressed  conviction  have  mingled  with 
the  herald's  voice  of  thunder  and  the  notes  of  solemn 
praise,  and  when  a  whole  assembly  have  been  shaken 
as  the  heart  of  one  man  by  the  irresistible  power  of 
the  divine  Spirit  moving  over  them  as  he  did  over  the 
chaotic  mass,  or  as  the  wind  bows  beneath  it  the  field 
of  corn,  or  as  the  tempest  subdues  by  its  might  the 
cedars  of  Lebanon  and  the  trees  of  the  forest. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  century  there  was  a  remark- 
able revival  of  religion,  which  pervaded  most  of  our 
Southern  churches.  Its  origin  is  traced  to  communion- 
seasons  in  connection  with  which  protracted  religious 
services  were  accustomed  to  be  held, — usually  commen- 
cing on  the  Thursday  preceding  the  Sabbath  and 
closing  on  the  following  Monday.  On  these  occasions 
the  pastor  in  charge  invited  to  his  aid  other  brethren; 
and  not  unfrequently  the  leading  families  and  members 
of  other  churches,  would  come  from  a  great  distance  to 
share  in  the  privileges  of  the  feast.     And,  that  they 


296  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

might  not  be  burdensome  to  tbe  families  in  tbe  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  church,  they  often  brought  with  them 
their  own  provisions,  and  came  prepared  to  encamp 
upon  the  ground, — covered  carts  and  wagons  serving  as 
tents.  But,  as  the  church  could  not  accommodate4he 
half  of  those  who  were  thus  assembled,  an  extempore 
pulpit  was  provided  in  a  neighbouring  grove,  and  two 
congregations,  instead  of  one,  held  their  services  simul- 
taneously in  the  vicinity  of  each  other.  Afterwards, 
for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  multitudes  who 
came  together  on  those  occasions,  regular  encampments 
were  provided.  -  A  rude  pulpit  was  constructed,  logs 
at  regular  intervals  in  front  of  it  serving  as  seats,  and 
all  under  an  arbour.  The  surrounding  tents  also  were 
chiefly  arbours  similarly  prepared. 

Speaking  of  the  bodily  exercise  with  which  this  re- 
vival was  attended,  we  learn  from  one  who  has  heard 
the  late  Eev.  Dr.  Francis  Cummins, — who  for  many 
years  laboured  in  Georgia  with  great  fidelity  and  suc- 
cess, and  where  his  memory  is  still  cherished  by  the 
older  members  of  the  church, — relate  that  it  devolved 
on  him  to  preach  at  one  of  these  encampments  in  North 
Carolina,  when  there  were  seated  before  him  several 
thousand  souls.  For  a  while  there  appeared  nothing 
unusual  in  the  aspect  of  the  congregation.  All  were 
attentive.  There  was  the  stillness  of  the  grave,  un- 
broken but  with  the  voi3e  of  the  preacher.  Presently, 
as  a  mighty  rushing  wind  passes  through  a  forest, 
making  its  path  of  prostrate  trees,  while  those  on  either 
side  still  stood  erect,  so  was  the  unseen  and  unaccount- 
able power  upon  his  congregation,  commencing  at  the 
seats  nearest  the  pulpit,  and  making  a  path  of  prostrate 


loed's  supper  a  converting  ordinance.    297 

bodies  througli  the  entire  assembly ;  and,  after  short  in- 
tervals, there  was  another  and  still  another  similar 
phenomenon.  Meanwhile,  there  was  no  voice,  save  a  sup- 
pressed groan  from  the  lips  of  some  of  the  fallen.  The 
minister  himself  was  so  deeply  affected  that  he  would 
have  fallen  too,  had  it  not  been  for  the  tree  at  his  back, 
against  which  he  leaned  for  support.  The  fallen  after 
a  while  arose,  resumed  their  seats,  and  appeared  to 
be  no  otherwise  affected  than  when  the  preaching  of 
the  word  is  accompanied  with  more  than  ordinary 
power.  Some  arose  as  from  a  sleep,  unconscious  of  any 
but  a  passing  emotion,  while  others  continued  deeply 
affected,  and  afterwards  lived  to  bring  forth  fruit  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  divine  grace. 

Such  also  was  that  season  in  the  ministry  of  the  illus- 
trious Calvin  to  which  we  have  referred,  and  that 
other  occasion,  when  for  the  last  time  he  was  carried, 
emaciated  and  nigh  unto  death,  to  the  church,  and  in 
the  presence  of  assembled  multitudes  received  the  sacra- 
ment at  the  hands  of  Beza  with  such  expressions  of  joy 
in  his  countenance,  and  such  awful  stillness  and  weep- 
ing around  him,  as  made  it  to  all  present  none  other 
than  the  house  of  God  and  the  very  gate  of  heaven. 

Such  also  was  that  occasion  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland  when  the  youthful  preacher  Living- 
ston, after  going  away  to  avoid  preaching,  and  being, 
like  Jonah,  driven  back  to  his  post  of  duty  by  a 
secret  constraining  influence,  the  audience,  who  had 
kept  up  a  prayer-meeting  all  night,  and  even  the 
preacher  himself,  were  affected  with  such  a  deep, 
overpowering  influence  as  to  melt  their  hearts,  subdue 
their  wills,  dissipate  inveterate  prejudices,  awaken  the 


298  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

careless  and  indifferent,  produce  conviction  in  the  most 
hardened,  bow  down  the  most  proud  and  haughty  and 
bold,  and  impart  a  spiritual  knowledge  of  divine  things 
to  the  hearts  of  Christians  to  which  they  had  been 
hitherto  strangers.  ''It  was  known,"  says  Fleming, 
''as  I  can  speak  on  sure  ground,  that  nearly  five  hun- 
dred had  at  that  time  a  discernible  change  wrought  in 
them,  of  whom  most  proved  lively  Christians  after- 
wards. It  was  a  sowing  of  seed  through  Clydesdale: 
so  that  many  of  the  most  eminent  Christians  of  that 
country  could  date  either  their  conversion  or  some  re- 
markable confirmation  of  their  hopes  from  that  day." 

And  while  such  cases  of  remarkable  revivals  in  con- 
nection with  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
are,  unhappily,  and  to  the  church's  condemnation, 
now  rare,  there  are  not  wanting  continual  evidences  that 
this  ordinance  is  the  power  of  God  unto  conviction, 
conversion  and  salvation  to  many  souls. 

About  thirty  years  ago  this  ordinance  was  dispensed 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Bermuda.  A  stranger 
from  America  was  present.  He  had  been  residing  for 
some  time  on  the  island.  He  came  to  the  island  a  gay, 
thoughtless  young  man.  One  evening,  in  private,  it 
occurred  to  him,  in  what  must  such  a  life  issue?  The 
thought  took  deep  hold  of  hif.  mind  and  excited  the 
utmost  anxiety.  His  companions  were  gay,  like  him*- 
self,  and  he  knew  no  others.  He  became  sick  of  his 
former  life,  but  found  none  to  direct  him.  He  secluded 
himself,  and  was  completely  miserable.  In  various 
mortifications  he  expected  relief:  his  severities  were 
excessive ;  he  was  emaciated,  and  his  life  was  in  danger. 
He  would  have  communicated  his  distress  to  those  who 


lord's  supper  a  converting  ordinance.     299 

could  give  him  counsel ;  but  where  were  such  ?  Oh, 
where?  They  were  unknown  to  him.  He  attended 
worship  at  the  time  and  place  mentioned,  and  the  so- 
lemnity was  most  impressive.  The  elements  had  been 
consecrated,  and  were  in  the  hands  of  the  communi- 
cants. All  was  still.  Not  a  breath  could  be  heard. 
It  was  like  the  silence  mentioned  in  the  book  of  Revela- 
tion, '^for  half  an  hour."  At  this  time  some  interesting 
scenes  of  Providence  were  disclosed,  and  all  felt  that 
they  had  a  deep  concern  in  the  death  of  Christ.  A 
voice  broke  the  silence :  it  was  an  unknown  voice : — 
^^ Christ,  have  mercy  upon  meF'  It  was  the  voice  of 
the  stranger.  All  again  was  still  as  death.  The  so- 
lemnity of  the  assembly  was  increased,  and  their  feel- 
ings too  deep  for  utterance.  The  assembly  breaking 
up,  some  retired  rejoicing  in  the  Redeemer,  others 
deeply  sensible  that  they  stood  in  need  of  a  Saviour. 
The  stranger  assured  the  writer  that  he  was  not  aw8.re 
of  what  he  said,  his  mind  was  so  fully  engaged.  When 
he  was  better  instructed  concerning  the  person,  cha- 
racter and  office  of  Christ,  he  saw  a  rock  upon  which 
he  could  build,  and,  building  thereon,  he  found  rest  to 
his  soul.  He  became  a  zealous  and  an  exemplary 
Christian.  Returning  to  America,  he  took  orders  in 
the  Episcopal  Church,  and  has  laboured  for  many  years 
in  the  vineyard,  with  acceptance  and  success. 

One  Sabbath  at  our  communion-service  (says  a 
pastor)  I  saw  a  man  in  the  back  part  of  the  church, 
wh0;0n  visiting  his  wife,  had  treated  me  very  insult- 
ingly. It  was  a  rainy  afternoon,  and  he  lingered  with 
some  other  persons  near  the  stove  after  the  congrega- 
tion was  dismissed.     As  I  came  down  the  aisle,  I  went 


300  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

directly  to  liim  and  held  out  my  hand.  I  did  not  know 
whether  1  should  meet  with  a  repulse  or  not.  I 
thought  it  would  be  no  harm  to  run  the  risk.  On  the 
instant  he  took  my  hand,  and  by  his  words  and  manner 
betrayed  a  spirit  the  very  reverse  of  what  he  had  ex- 
hibited when  I  called.  The  lion  seemed  changed  to 
the  lamb. 

The  next  day  I  called  at  his  house,  and  found  him, 
with  his  head  leaning  on  his  hand,  at  the  table,  weeping. 
As  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  started  up  and  grasped  my 
hand,  and  held  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  as  if  he 
would  not  let  me  go.  When  we  were  seated,  his  wife 
told  me  that  he  had  slept  none  during  the  night,  and 
that  he  had  spent  it  weeping  and  groaning  over  his 
sins.     She  continued,  saying, — 

''  The  sin  which  has  been  most  heavy  on  his  mind  is 
his  treatment  of  you." 

''But,"  said  I  to  him,  ''I  do  not  think  of  it." 

''That  troubles  me  most,"  he  replied:  "you  came  to 
do  me  good,  to  visit  my  sick  wife,  to  pray  with  us ;  and 
I  abused  you." 

"But  I  forgive  you;  and  Grod  will  do  so,  if  you  ask 
him." 

"Do  you  forgive  me?"  said  he;  and  he  looked  at  me 
earnestly,  as  if  he  doubted  whether  I  meant  what  I 
said. 

"Yes;  and  God  will" 

"No,"  he  replied,  "God  will  not.  I  have  sinned  too 
much.  I  cannot  believe  he  will."  And  here  a  fresh 
gush  of  emotion  choked  his  utterance.  "I  ao  not 
think  he  ever  will." 

I  tried  to  convince  him  that  he  might  find  pardon 


lord's  supper  a  converting  ordinance.     301 

and  peace ;  but  it  seemed  to  him  too  good  to  believe. 
"We  all  kneeled  together,  and  I  prayed  with  them  in 
the  firm  hope  that  God,  who  had  so  deeply  shown  him 
his  guilt,  would  soon  heal  his  broken  heart. 

It  was  as  I  expected.  In  a  few  days  his  mourning 
was  turned  into  joy,  and  he  rejoiced  in  a  Saviour's  love. 

I  mention  but  one  instance  more,  from  among  many 
others.  A  young  person,  who  was  just  entering  upon 
domestic  life,  with  every  prospect  of  many  days,  was 
so  interested  in  the  services  introductory  to  the  solemn 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  that  she  was  con- 
strained to  give  herself  to  the  Lord  and  in  due  season 
to  become  a  communicant.  The  comfort  she  then  was 
enabled  to  feel  supported  her  during  a  severe  sickness, 
which  soon  after  withered  her  bloom  and  laid  her  low. 
After  the  first  communion  which  she  was  permitted  to 
enjoy,  she  remained  absorbed  in  thought  until  reminded 
that  others  were  ready  to  come  forward,  when  she 
observed,  '^I  am  so  happy  I  could  die  here."  Eedeem- 
ing  love  occupied  her  mind.  She  had  a  foretaste  of 
heaven ;  and,  as  it  proved,  this  was  the  last  service  of  the 
kind  in  which  she  participated,  for  soon,  through  decay 
of  nature,  she  slept  the  sleep  of  death. 

When  the  bride  sat  under  the  shadow  of  the  apple- 
tree,  she  says,  ''His  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste;"  and 
again,  ''Stay  me  with  flagons,  comfort  me  with  apples, 
for  I  am  sick  of  love."  Believers,  this  is  a  picture  of 
you.  No  sooner  are  you  sheltered  by  the  Saviour  than 
you  are  nourished  and  renewed  by  him.  He  comforts 
your  hearts,  and  establishes  you  in  every  good  word 
and  work.  In  the  thirty-sixth  Psalm,  when  David 
speaks  of  men  trusting  under  the  wings  of  the  Lord 

26 


302  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

Jesus,  he  adds,  ''They  shall  be  abundantly  satisfied 
with  the  fatness  of  thy  house,  and  thou  shalt  make 
them  drink  of  the  river  of  thy  pleasures." 

It  is  true,  as  may  be  objected  to  this  view  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  that  it  implies  faith  and  spiritual  life 
in  him  who  rightly  and  profitably  partakes  of  it,  and 
that  to  all  others  it  is  like  food  to  a  dead  or  diseased 
body,  which  can  neither  eat  nor  digest  it.  To  admi- 
nister, therefore,  the  Lord's  Supper  knowingly  to  such, 
would-be  like  giving  the  children's  bread  to  dogs,  or 
man's  food  to  brutes,  or  angels'  food  to  men.  Grant  it. 
But  is  not  all  this  as  true  of  all  the  services  of  the 
sanctuary,  of  all  the  means  of  grace,  of  prayer  and 
praise,  and  of  all  acceptable  and  profitable  worship  ? 
These  are  all  spiritual,  adapted  to  spiritual  natures,  and 
require  spiritual  motives  and  desires  in  them  that  profit 
thereby.  Grod,  who  is  a  Spirit,  can  be  worshipped 
aright  in  any  of  these  ways  only  in  spirit  and  in  truth ; 
and  he  that  cometh  unto  God  to  offer  reasonable  and 
acceptable  service  must  believe  that  he  is,  and  seek 
him  with  his  whole  heart.  But  it  is,  nevertheless,  the 
duty  of  sinners  to  pray,  to  praise,  to  worship  and  to 
seek  God.  And  it  is  in  so  doing  they  are  ordinarily 
made  to  feel  their  selfishness,  ungodliness  and  unbelief, 
and  to  seek  and  find  that  Divine  Spirit  who  alone  can 
work  in  them  to  will  and  feel  and  worship  aright,  and 
who  is  the  only  companion  and  guide  who  can  spirit- 
ually prepare  our  hearts  for  the  ordinances  a  ad  the  altar 
of  God. 

If,  therefore,  all  the  other  means  of  grace  and  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary  are  employed  by  God  the  Spirit 
to  convince  of  sin,  of  righteousness  and  of  judgment 


LOED^S   SUPPER   A   CONVERTING   ORDINANCE.      303 

to  come,  and  if  all  this  is  accomplislied  by  taking  tlie 
truths  pei'taining  to  Christ  and  showing  them  in  real- 
izing power  and  attractiveness  to  the  unsealed  vision 
of  the  sinner,  how  much  more  may  we  expect  this  to 
be  the  case  when  Christ  is  evidently  set  before  them 
the  sacrifice  for  sin  in  his  own  Supper!  And  when 
sinners  stand  by,  as  did  the  Koman  soldiers,  and  be- 
hold the  spotless  Lamb  of  God  agonizing  for  their  re- 
demption in  that  cruel  death  here  showed  forth,  may  it 
not  be  expected  that  their  hearts  also  will  be  filled 
with  remorse,  and  they  be  led  to  cry  out,  ''Truly  this 
was  the  Son  of  God"?  ''God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sin- 
ner." "Eemember  me,  0  Christ,  in  thy  death,  thy  life, 
thy  rising  again  from  the  dead,  and  when  thou  comest 
into  thy  kingdom  of  glory." 

Merciful  Saviour,  grant  that,  whensoever  and  where- 
soever thou  art  lifted  up  in  this  holy  Sacrament,  thou 
mayest,  by  thy  almighty  power  and  grace,  draw  the 
repentant  hearts  of  ungodly  sinners  unto  thyself! 

Induce,  then,  I  say,  dear  reader,  your  impenitent 
friends  to  come  with  you  to  this  ordinance  and  to  ex- 
pect a  blessing  for  themselves.  For  while  it  is  true 
that  professed  believers  only  can  properly  communi- 
cate, an  actual  blessing  may  be  communicated  to  those 
who  do  not,  but  who  here  may  be  convinced  of  all, 
and  pricked  in  their  hearts,  and  led  to  confess  that  God 
is  with  us  of  a  truth,  and,  looking  on  Him  whom  their 
sins  have  pierced,  mourn  with  a  godly  sorrow  and  be 
converted  and  be  saved. 

I  saw  One  hanging  on  a  tree, 

In  agony  and  blood, 
Who  fix'd  his  languid  eyes  on  me  , 

As  near  the  cross  I  stood. 


304  THE   WELL  IN   THE  VALLEY. 

Sure,  never,  till  my  latest  breath, 

Can  I  forget  that  look : 
It  seem'd  to  charge  me  with  his  death,— 

Though  not  a  word  he  spoke. 

Alas !  I  knew  not  what  I  did, 
But  now  my  tears  are  vain : 

Where  shall  my  trembling  soul  be  hid? 
For  I  the  Lord  have  slain. 

A  second  look  he  gave,  that  said, 

*<  I  freely  all  forgive : 
This  blood  is  for  thy  ransom  paid : 

I  die  that  thou  mayst  live." 


THE  lord's  SUPPEE  AND  THE  LOED'S  LAMBS.     305 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD'S  LAMBS. 

My  dear  children  !  It  is  for  you,  as  well  as  for  older 
persons,  I  am  writing.  I  pray  that  God  may  be  pleased 
to  make  this  book  The  Children's  Guide  to  the 
Church  and  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  I  can  see  you  in 
smiling  crowds  drawing,  near  to  hear  about  the  Child's 
Gospel,  and  the  Good  Shepherd,  who  loves  the  lambs 
of  the  flock  and  has  made  it  the  special  duty  of  his 
under-shepherds,  ministers,  teachers  and  parents,  to  love 
and  feed  and  tenderly  to  care  for  them.  I  have  always 
loved  to  preach  to  children, — which  I  often  do, — and 
have  always  found  them  very  attentive  and  often  very 
deeply  affected.  All  good  ministers  and  Christians  love 
children.  But  none  can  love  you  so  much  as  Jesus,  who 
came  to  gather  the  lambs  into  his  fold  and  there  gently 
lead  and  feed  them,  Christ  has  therefore  adapted  his 
church  and  ordinances  so  as  to  be  interesting  and  edify- 
ing to  both  young  and  old.  Children  are  lost  as  certainly 
as  the  old;  and  they  go  astray  from  the  very  womb,  and 
begin  to  wander,  like  sheep,  farther  and  farther  from  the 
fold ;  and  as  Jesus,  when  on  earth,  said  that  his  kingdom 
would  include  the  lambs  as  well  as  the  sheep,  so  he  has 
opened  up  little  wicket-gates  through  which  they  may 
enter.  One  of  these  is  the  Sabbath-school,  through  which 
kind  parents  and  teachers  endeavour  to  guide  children  to 

w  26* 


306         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world. 
They  are  just  like  a  kind  shepherd  on  the  Scottish  moun- 
tain, who  had  his  plaid  wrapped  closely  about  him. 
Something  was  inside  of  it,  which  he  was  carrying  very 
carefully. 

^'Malcom,"  I  said,  '^what  is  this  that  you  have  in 
your  plaid?" 

''It  is  a  poor,  forsaken  lamb.  When  I  was  going  my 
rounds  this  morning,  I  found  it  lying  on  the  cold 
ground.  It  had  been  left  behind,  and  would  soon  have 
died.  I  took  it  up,  wrapped  it  in  my  warm  plaid,  and 
am  now  carrying  it  home." 

"And  what,"  I  asked,  ''do  you  intend  to  do  with 
it?" 

"I  will  feed  it,"  said  the  kind  shepherd;  "and  it  will 
soon  be  one  of  the  flock." 

He  did  so.  The  poor  lost  lamb  revived,  grew,  and 
became  one  of  the  liveliest  and  strongest  sheep  of  the 
flock.  It  must  have  pined  and  died  if  my  kind  friend 
had  not  had  compassion  upon  it. 

Many  children,  alas !  so  perish  through  utter  neglect 
and  unbelief  on  the  part  of  those  who  have  been  ap- 
pointed by  Christ  to  bring  them  up  in  his  nurture  and 
admonition,  and  who  are  severely  rebuked  if  they  do  not 
do  so. 

A  shepherd  lost  a  little  lamb  from  the  fold.  He 
looked  for  it  long  and  anxiously.  He  scoured  the 
mountains  to  find  the  little  wandering  one ;  but,  after  a 
fruitless  search,  he  returned,  and  the  shades  of  night 
settled  down  on  fold  and  shepherd.  In  the  morning 
that  little  stray  lamb  was  found  just  outside  the  door 
of  the  sheep  fold,  but,  alas !  torn  to  pieces  by  the  wolves. 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     307 

Just  SO  it  may  be,  my  dear  young  reader,  with  you ;  for 
the  devil;  like  a  roaring  lion,  goes  about  seeking  whom 
he  may  devour.  0  ye  parents  and  teachers,  take 
them  up  into  your  arms  and  bring  them  to  Jesus.  0 
children,  come  to  Jesus,  come  to  Jesus  now,  and  ask 
him  to  make  you,  by  his  grace,  a  loving  lamb,  and  to 
carry  you  in  his  arms  into  his  fold  on  earth,  and  there 
feed  and  nourish  you  until  you  are  fit  for  his  fold  in 
heaven. 

There  is  a  little,  lonely  fold, 

Whose  flock  one  Shepherd  keeps, 
Through  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold, 

With  eye  that  never  sleeps. 

By  evil  beast,  or  burning  sky, 

Or  damp  of  midnight  air, 
Not  one  in  all  that  flock  shall  die^ 

Beneath  that  Shepherd's  care. 

For  if,  unheeding  or  beguiled, 

In  danger's  path  they  roam, 
His  pity  follows  through  the  wild 

And  guards  them  safely  home. 

0  gentle  Shepherd,  still  behold 

Thy  helpless  charge  in  me  ; 
And  take  a  wanderer  to  thy  fold, 

That  trembling  turns  to  thee.  '" 

The  Sunday-school  is  instituted  to  take  care  of  chil- 
dren, and  help  ministers,  parents  and  teachers  in  doing 
their  work.  Good  books  are  found  there  which  are  de- 
signed to  interest  children  in  the  church  and  its  ordi- 
nances, and  especially  in  the  Lord's  Supper.  On  this 
subject,  as  I  have  shown,  all  evangelical  denominations 
are  and  ought  to  be  agreed ;  and,  as  the  Lord  is  convert- 
ing multitudes  of  children  in  all  our  churches,  he  is 


308  THE    WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

calling  upon  us  to  see  to  it  that  they  are  discipled  and 
taught  all  things  whatsoever  he  has  commanded. 

When  Bunyan's  Christiana  came  to  the  wicket-gate, 
and  the  keeper  of  the  gate  asked  who  she  was,  she 
bowed  her  head  and  said,  I  am  the  wife  of  Christian, 
and  these  are  my  sweet  babes  also.  Then  he  took 
her  by  the  hand,  and  led  her  in,  and  said  also,  Suffer 
the  little  children  to  come  unto  me;  and  with  that 
he  shut  the  door.  This  done,  he  called  to  a  trumpeter 
that  was  above  over  the  gate,  to  entertain  Christiana 
with  shouting  and  sound  of  trumpet  of  joy.  So  he 
obeyed,  and  sounded,  and  filled  the  air  with  his  melo- 
dious notes. 

And  when  she  arrived  at  the  Palace  Beautiful,*  all 
its  inmates  leaped  for  joy,  and  the  Master  came  to 
the  door,  and,  looking  upon  her,  said.  Come  in.  Chil- 
dren, come  in.  So  he  had  them  all  into  the  house. 
And  one  smiled,  an^  another  smiled,  and  they  all  smiled 
together,  for  joy  that  Christiana  was  become  a  pilgrim. 
They  also  looked  upon  the  boys.  They  stroked  them 
over  the  faces  with  the  hand,  in  token  of  their  kind 
reception  of  them. 

I  heard  laj^ely  that  on  a  recent  Sabbath  some 
fifteen  persons  made  a  public  profession  of  faith,  and  of 
these  fifteen  at  least  ten  were  from  the  Sunday-school. 
But  a  more  interesting  fact  connected  with  it  was,  that 
eight  of  these  ten  were  brought  in  from  one  single  class. 
The  teacher  of  that  class  had  twelve  youths,  from  fif- 
teen to  nineteen  years  of  age,  under  his  instruction. 
He  had  been  labouring  earnestly  for  their  salvation, 

*  Interpreted  by  all  as  the  church. 


THE  LOED'S  SUPPEE  AND  THE  LOED's  LAMBS.  309 

and  God  had  permitted  him,  in  former  communion 
seasons,  to  see  some  come  out  and  sit  at  the  communion 
table;  but  on  the  last  Sabbath  he  permitted  him  to  see 
the  entire  remaining  eight;  and  there,  at  the  Lord's 
table,  sat  that  servant  of  God,  while  every  one  of  his 
class  was  gathered  around  him,  eating  bread  and  drink- 
ing wine  in  the  name  of  Jesus.  It  was  a  scene  over 
which  that  church  rejoiced,  that  teacher's  heart  re- 
joiced, and  over  which,  I  doubt  not,  angels  in  glory- 
rejoiced. 

Now,  Christian  brethren,  why  should  it  not  be  so 
with  your  classes  ?  That  teacher  had  no  other  gospel 
than  the  one  that  is  put  in  your  hands, — no  other  throne 
of  grace, — no  other  Spirit  than  the  one  promised  in  an- 
swer to  your  prayers.  What  makes  the  difference?  It 
is  this :  some  do  not  labour  for  that  end.  They  feel  their 
work  is  accomplished  when  the  Sabbath's  lesson  is 
learned  and  recited.  But  oh,  teachers,  your  work  is  not 
done  till  the  soul  is  saved, — till  you  and  your  class  sit 
together  at  the  table  of  the  Lord. 

There  can  be  no  greater  mistake  than  to  suppose 
either  that  children  do  not  need  the  gospel,  or  that  they 
are  incapable  of  exercising  faith  and  confident,  happy 
reliance  on  the  Saviour.  I  fully  concur,  from  my  own 
experience,  with  a  living  divine,  in  believing  that 
little  children  need  not  only  the  comforts  which  a  mo- 
ther can  give,  but  also  those  which  the  Saviour  gives. 
I  know  not  how  it  was  with  others ;  but  I  can  safely  say 
that  I  never  needed  the  supports  and  consolations  of 
true  religion  more  than  in  my  childhood, — though  I  had 
the  kindest  of  parents.  Perhaps  my  feeble  health  and 
excited  nerves  subjected  me  to  unusual  sadness.     How- 


310         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

ever  this  may  be,  I  find  no  persons  in  the  world  more 
ready  to  confess  their  need  of  special  comfort  than  chil- 
dren. The  gospel  has  a  balm  for  every  wound,  a  cor- 
dial for  every  aching  heart.  Children  need  the  sym- 
pathy of  Jesus.  If  they  ask  for  it,  they  get  it  as 
readily  as  their  parents.  Every  child  has  sorrows, 
which  require  the  help  of  God  and  are  quite  beyond 
the  power  of  man  to  relieve;  and  as  to  confiding  faith, 
what  can  be  more  beautiful  than  that  recently  mani- 
fested? 

''What  do  you  do  without  a  mother  to  tell  all  your 
troubles  to?"  asked  a  child  who  had  a  mother,  of  one 
who  had  not :  her  mother  was  dead. 

''Mother  told  me  whom  to  go  to  before  she  died," 
answered  the  little  orphan.  "I  go  to  the  Lord  Jesus: 
he  was  mother's  friend,  and  he  is  mine." 

"Jesus  Christ  is  up  in  the  sky:  he  is  away  ofi",  and 
has  a  great  many  things  to  attend  to  in  heaven.  It  is 
not  likely  he  can  stop  to  mind  you." 

"I  do  not  know  any  thing  about  that,"  said  the 
orphan:  "all  I  know  is — he  says  he  will;  and  that's 
enough  for  me." 

What  I  wish  to  say  now,  is  that  the  Lord's  Supper 
is  THE  children's  ORDINANCE  as  truly  as  it  is  that  of 
grown  persons,  and  that  they  ought  always  to  be 
present,  and  instructed  in  its  nature  and  design,  and 
their  duty  and  privilege,  when  converted,  to  par- 
ticipate in  it.  For  just  as  surely  as  children  may  be 
truly  converted  and  taught  of  God,  so  on  their  young 
and  tender  hearts  may  this  solemn  service  be  made,  by 
grace  divine,  to  come  down  like  rain  on  the  mown  grass,  to 
renew  them  unto  God,  and  to  cause  them  to  bring  forth 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     311 

and  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose.  Of  the  truth  of  this  fact 
I  could  produce  instances  from  my  own  experience; 
and  there  are,  blessed  be  God,  at  this  moment,  in  my 
own  spiritual  vineyard,  some  fragrant  flowers,  blooming 
in  youthful  loveliness  and  beauty,  and  giving  hopeful 
evidence  of  piety,  whose  tender  minds  were  led  to  con- 
secrate themselves  to^  Christ  while  sitting  as  silent 
worshippers  during  the  communion-services.*  Under 
the  softening  dew  and  vivifying  beams  communicated 
through  this  heavenly  ordinance,  the  good  seed  has  been 
quickened  in  their  hearts,  and  has  come  forth,  first  the 
blade,  then  the  ear,  and  then  the  full  corn  in  the  ear. 

The  Lord's  Supper  is,  therefore,  the  children's  ordi- 
nance as  well  as  of  those  who  have  attained  the  stature 
of  perfect  men  in  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  the  Father's  good 
pleasure  to  give  them  the  kingdom.  To  them  also 
pertaineth  the  promise  and  provisions  of  his  house; 
and  out  of  their  mouths  he  can  perfect  praise  and  put 
to  shame  the  unbelief  of  those  who  are  the  wise  of  this 
world.  Jesus  loves  to  hear  their  hosannas  and  to 
carry  them  in  his  arms.  And  when  he  comes  among 
his  flock  to  feed  and  comfort  them,  we  may  be  sure  he 
will  not  overlook  the  tender  lambs.  Oh,  no!  he  will 
look  upon  them  with  an  eye  of  peculiar  pity,  and 
speak  to  them  in  the  still  small  voice  of  his  all-sub- 
duing mercy.  ''  About  the  eighth  year  of  my  age,"  says 
the  celebrated  John  Brown,  of  Haddington,  '^I  pushed 
with  the  crowd  into  the  church  at  Abernethy  on  a 
communion  Sabbath.  There  I  heard  the  minister  speak 


*  Out  of  sixty  additions  to  the   church  during  the  vear  1858,  at 
least  forty  were  the  children  of  the  church. 


312  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

mucli  in  commendation  of  Christ.  This  in  a  sweet  and 
delightful  manner  captivated  my  young  affections,  and 
has  since  made  me  think  that  children  should  never  be 
kept  out  of  church  on  such  occasions." 

The  lambs  of  Christ's  fold  must  be  led  by  the  foot- 
steps of  the  flock  where  they  feed,  and  rest  and  refresh 
themselves  by  the  limpid  streams  flowing  from  the 
wells  of  salvation,  and  during  the  burning  rays  of  severe 
calamity  be  comforted  under  the  green  and  overshadow- 
ing trees. 

^'The  last  visit  paid  me  by  Eev.  Dr.  Archibald  Alex- 
ander," says  Dr.  Plumer,*  ''was  for  the  purpose  of 
preaching  several  days  to  my  newly-formed  church  in 
Baltimore.  One  of  his  sermons  was  on  love  to  Christ, 
and  was  founded  on  1  Cor.  xvi.  22.  He  began  his  ser- 
mon by  saying,  'I  am  in  favour  of  early  taking  chil- 
dren to  the  house  of  Grod.  When  I  was  not  more  than 
four  years  old,  I  heard  a  minister  preach  on  this  text. 
From  the  time  he  began  his  sermon  I  was  interested 
to  know  the  meaning  of  Anathema,  Maranatha, — 
words  which  I  had  never  heard  before, — and  I  watched 
till  he  gave  the  usual  explanation;  and  I  never  forgot 
it.'" 

As  to  the  proper  time  when  children  should  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  church,  much  wisdom  is  to  be  exercised ; 
and  no  general  rule  can  be  laid  down.  The  individual 
character,  knowledge,  experience,  maturity  of  purpose 
and  other  circumstances  of  each  particular  child  must 
determine.  But  when  able  to  discern  the  Lord's  body, 
to  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  them,  and  to 

■5^  Letters  on  Early  Piety. 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD'S  LAMBS.     313 

sliow  by  a  good  conversation  their  faitli,  and  love,  and 
devotion  to  the  Saviour,  let  them,  being  first  proved, 
and  when  no  longer  novices,  ''make  a  good  confession 
before  many  witnesses,"  and  consecrate  their  strength 
and  their  unfolding  character  to  the  Lord.  Being 
thus,  in  the  plastic  age  of  undeveloped  manhood,  ''de- 
livered over,"  like  molten  gold,  to  the  "form,"  or  mould, 
"of  doctrine"  constructed  by  Infinite  Wisdom,  they  will 
come  forth  into  the  busy  world  bearing  about  with 
them  the  image  and  superscription  of  their  sovereign 
"Lord  and  God,"  and  as  epistles  of  Christ,  written  by 
the  Holy  Grhost,  be  seen  and  read  of  all  men,  to  the 
praise  and  glory  of  Him  whose  "workmanship  they 
are."  Planted,  in  the  early  spring  of  life,  in  the  house 
and  garden  of  the  Lord,  they  will  become  fat  and 
flourishing  in  the  courts  of  our  God,  and  still  bring 
forth  fruit  even  unto  old  age,  to  show  that  the  Lord  is 
upright,  and  that  he  withholdeth  no  good  thing  from 
them  that  walk  uprightly. 

The  ability  of  young  persons  fully  to  discern  the 
Lord's  body,  and  the  way  of  salvation  through  him,  is 
strikingly  illustrated  in  the  following  facts. 

Before  stating  them,  however,  I  would  remark  that 
all  children  who  manifest  early  piety  do  not  die  young, 
but  often* live  and  grow  old, — yes,  even  outlive  multi- 
tudes who  are  born  after  them.  Their  advanced  age 
corresponds  to  their  early  years,  and  their  whole  life 
thus  becomes  a  continual  thank-ofiering  to  Him  who 
at  the  beginning  called  them  by  his  grace. 

The  oldest  woman  in  New  Hampshire,  perhaps  in 
New  England,  is  also  the  oldest  Christian  there,  and 

27 


314         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

began  her  pious  course  almost  a  century  ago.  Ninety- 
seven  years  ago,  a  little  girl  of  ten  years  was  hopefully 
converted  to  God  in  Lee,  N.  H.  That  little  girl  is  still 
living,  in  good  health,  and  ''apparently  as  likely  to 
live  a  number  of  years  as  other  aged  persons."  Her 
mind  is  unimpaired,  although  sight  is  gone  and  hearing 
affected.  On  other  than  religious  subjects  she  does 
not  incline  to  converse,  but  delights  to  speak  of  divine 
things, — dwelling  upon  the  justified,  pardoned  state 
of  the  true  Christian  and  the  precious  promises  of  God's 
word.  She  has  ''surprising  familiarity  with  the  Scrip- 
tures;" and  her  memory  is  filled  with  a  store  of  pious 
hymns. 

I  read  also  a  very  interesting  account  of  a  recent  com- 
munion-occasion in  Maine,  when  seven  sisters,  well  ad- 
vanced in  years,  and  who  were  now  living  in  different 
portions  of  the  country,  sat  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord, 
where  in  their  early  youth  they  had  all  commemorated 
the  love  of  their  dying  Lord  and  united  in  a  living  con- 
secration to  him.  And,  what  is  more  remarkable  still, 
there  is  now  living  in  Ohio  a  man  who  has  been  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  eighty-eight 
years. 

All  things  are  changing, — thou  the  same, 

Thou  art  our  heavenly  home : 
Be  hallow'd  here  our  Father's  name, 

Until  his  kingdom  CQme. 


Lo,  to  thy  kingdom  here  below 
We  little  children  bring ; 

For  to  that  kingdom  such  we  know 
The  meetest  offering. 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.  315 

That  they  in  thee  may  here  put  on 

Thy  kingdom's  panoply, 
And  in  the  path  of  duty  run, 

Like  children  of  the  sky. 

Oft  as  breaks  out  their  mother's  stain, 

While  they  advance  to  heaven. 
Children  in  love  may  they  remain, 

Forgiving  and  forgiven. 

Let  nought  allure  them  from  thy  word, 

Or  tempt  their  spirits  frail ; 
But  should  they  fall,  yet,  blessed  Lord, 

Let  evil  not  prevail. 

Jesus  has  bequeathed  both  grace  and  glory  to  the 
Christian  in  the  New  Testament,  which  is  sealed  with 
his  own  blood ;  and  yet  few  so  well  know  where  to  find 
his  will,  and  how  to  read  it,  as  did  a  little  Irish  boy, 
who,  one  day,  going  to  school  with  a  Bible  under  his 
arm,  was  met  by  a  priest,  who  asked  him  what  book  he 
had  there. 

^'It  is  a  will,  sir,"  said  the  boy. 

*' What  will?"  asked  the  priest. 

''  The  last  will  and  testament  that  Jesus  Christ  left 
to  me,  and  to  all  who  wish  to  claim  a  title  to  the  pro- 
perty therein  left,"  said  the  boy. 

''What  did  Christ  leave  you  in  that  will?" 

''A  kingdom,  sir." 

"Where  does  that  kingdom  lie?" 

''It  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  sir." 

"And  do  you  expect  to  reign  as  a  king  there?" 

"Yes,  sir,  as  a  joint  heir  with  Christ." 

"And  will  not  every  person  get  there  as  weU  as 

you?" 


316  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

'''Ho,  sir:  none  can  get  there  but  those  that  claim 
their  title  to  that  kingdom  upon  the  ground  of  the 
will." 

The  priest  who  spoke  to  the  boy  was  one  who  daily 
read  the  Bible  himself,  and  wished  children  to  go  to 
school  where  it  is  read, — which  most  of  the  priests 
oppose.  He  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  boy's  answer 
that  he  said, — 

''  Indeed,  you  are  a  good  little  boy.  Take  care  of  that 
book  in  which  God  gives  you  such  precious  promises; 
believe  what  he  has  said,  and  you  will  be  happy  here 
and  hereafter." 

Thus  may  children  make  from  experience  the  lan- 
guage of  Sir  William  Jones  their  own,  and  in  old  age 
testify, — 

Before  thy  mystic  altar,  heayenly  truth, 
I  kneel  in  manhood,  as  I  knelt  in  youth : 
Thus  let  me  kneel,  till  this  dull  form  decay 
And  life's  last  shade  be  brighten'd  by  thy  ray; 
Then  shall  my  soul,  now  lost  in  clouds  below, 
Soar  without  bound,  without  consuming  glow. 

A  Western  writer  says  that  he  is  acquainted  with 
three  ladies,  now  in  mature  life  and  adorning  their 
Christian  profession,  one  of  whom  was  but  eight  and 
the  other  two  only  seven  years  old  at  the  time  of  their 
admission  into  the  communion  of  the  church.  The 
celebrated  John  Wesley  was  a  communicant  in  his 
father's  church  at  the  age  of  eight.  A  spirit  of  piety 
early  showed  itself  in  the  child's  heart  of  Calvin;  and 
he  was  accustomed,  when  young,  to  pray  in  the  open 
air,  under  the  vault  of  heaven,  a  habit  which  contributed 
to  awaken  in  his  heart  the  sentiment  of  God's  omni- 


THE  LOKD'S  supper  AND  THE  LOED'S  LAMBS.      317 

presence.  More  than  twenty-five  years  ago  (says  Dr. 
Plumer)  I  attended  the  meeting  of  a  presbytery  in 
the  South.  There  was  preaching  for  several  days. 
On  Sabbath  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered,  and 
some  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  Among 
them  was  a  small  boy.  I  had  never  seen  so  youthful 
a  communicant.  I  was  interested  to  know  his  sub- 
sequent history.  The  Monday  after  joining  the  church, 
he  went  to  school  as  usual.  At  play-time  he  went 
with  the  rest  to  engage  in  their  usual  exercises.  But 
the  old  controversy  between  Cain  and  Abel  revived 
with  virulence.  A  number  of  the  boys  surrounded 
him,  crying,  in  bitter  scorn,  '^Oh,  here  is  a  little  Chris- 
tian," &c.  But  God  was  with  his  young  servant, 
and  enabled  him  to  bear  with  meekness  all  these 
taunts.  He  held  on  his  way,  and  is  now  at  the 
head  of  one  of  the  colleges  of  our  country,  and  a  suc- 
cessful preacher  of  righteousness.  These  cases  are 
perhaps  extreme,  but  not  wholly  exceptional.  There 
are  enough  on  record  like  them  to  stimulate  the  zeal 
and  rebuke  the  unbelief  of  parents  and  pastors.  Some 
people  seem  to  think  the  conversion  of  the  very  young 
an  impossibility :  at  all  events,  they  always  oppose  the 
reception  of  a  person  very  young  to  sealing  ordinances, 
no  matter  what  the  evidence  of  a  renewed  heart  may 
be.     Surely  this  is  wrong. 

The  Hon.  Mr.  Venable,  a  member  for  many  years  of  our 
national  Congress,  gave  me  an  account  of  his  little  daugh- 
ter, aged  eleven,  who  became  a  Christian.  On  inquiring 
when  and  how,  her  simple,  child-like  answer  was,  that 
while  alone  in  the  woods,  seeking  Christ  and  earnestly 
pleading  for  his  gracious  presence,  "when  she  could  not 

27* 


dl8  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

help  herself  he  helped  her."  She  was  a  child  of  great 
intelligence,  as  well  as  of  deep  emotions,  and,  in  view  of 
an  approaching  communion,  expressed  a  desire  to  become, 
by  public  profession,  a  member  of  the  church.  But,  as 
her  parents  deemed  her  age  and  experience  too  immature, 
she  yielded  to  their  judgment  until  the  season  drew  nigh. 
One  night,  after  family  worship,  she  retired  to  bed,  and 
her  parents  also.  But  before  her  father  had  undressed, 
he  heard  her  little  feet  come  patting  down  the  stairs 
until  she  entered  the  room,  and,  throwing  herself  on  his 
knee,  put  her  arms  about  his  neck.  He  saw  that  some- 
thing weighed  heavy  on  her  heart,  and  asked  her  what 
it  was.  ''Father,"  she  said,  in  reply,  ''I  am  not  un- 
happy, but  I  am  not  at  rest.  I  have  heard  you  and 
other  Christians  say  that  you  never  get  so  near  to  Jesus 
as  at  the  communion-table;  and  I  want  to  get  as  near 
to  him  as  I  can."  What  could  he  say  but  what  he  did? 
''My  precious  child,"  replied  he,  "if  that  is  your  expe- 
rience and  your  desire,  God  forbid  that  I  should  hinder 
you !"  She  joined  with  her  parents  and  a  brother,  who 
on  the  same  occasion  united  with  the  church  in  the 
communion.  "And  never,"  said  this  Christian  father 
and  statesman,  "did  I  see  a  countenance  more  bright 
and  sparkling  with  joy  than  that  young  Christian's 
face  as  she  sat  at  the  feet  of  her  Saviour.  She  lived," 
he  added,  "to  give  evidence  of  deep  and  growing  piety 
for  years,  and  is  now  a  spirit  among  the  just  made  per- 
fect in  heaven." 

Take  another  case,  of  which  I  have  personal  know- 
ledge, of  a  little  boy  twelve  years  old.  He  had  been  a 
child  of  affliction,  and  had  endured  an  operation  of  a 
very  severe  and  hazardous  character.     God  had  given 


THE  LOED's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     319 

him  his  life,  in  accordance  with  the  prayers  of  his  mother, 
(who  narrated  the  story  to  me  with  her  eyes  moist- 
ened with  tears,  and  her  heart  apparently  yearning  for 
her  own  sanctification  and  the  salvation  of  her  husband 
and  children,)  and  that  if  spared  he  might  be  conse- 
crated to  his  service  and  glory.  He  gave  every  pleas- 
ing evidence  of  a  new  heart,  with  new  dispositions  and 
conduct,  and  a  desire  in  all  things  to  please  God. 
''Mother,"  said  he,  one  day,  ''is  it  not  the  duty  of  all 
whom  Christ  loves,  and  who  love  him,,  to  acknowledge 
him  by  joining  his  church  and  openly  confessing  their 
devotion  to  him?"  On  being  answered  in  the  affirma- 
tive, he  said,  "Well,  mother,  I  want  to  acknowledge 
Christ ;  but  you  say  that  I  am  too  young.  Now,  I  want 
to  know,  if  I  die  soon,  who  will  take  the  responsibility 
of  my  not  having  done  what  Christ  requires ;  for  I  will 
not."* 

In  such  cases,  and  at  such  an  age,  I  would  not  feel 
bound  to  advise,  much  less  to  urge,  young  persons  to 
unite  publicly  with  the  church.  But  if  they  themselves 
realized  the  obligation,  and  could  give  a  reason  for  the 
hope  that  is  in  them,  and  an  intelligent  statement  of 
the  nature  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  of  their  motives  in 
wishing  to  become  the  Lord's  disciples,  like  Mr.  Spurgeon, 
I  dare  not,  and  would  not,  hinder  them.  I  would  hear 
the  Saviour  himself  saying, "  Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven."  I  would  remember,  also,  how  when 
by  his  prophets  he  required   fathers   and  mothers  to 


*  These  are  the  very  words  of  the  little  boy,  as  given  to  me  by  hi? 
mother,  as  nearly  as  I  could  take  them  down. 


320         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

come  to  him  and  confess  their  sins,  that  he  might  for- 
give and  save  them,  his  language  was,  "  Sanctify  a  fast. 
Call  a  solemn  assembly."  And,  lest  they  should  leave 
little  boys  and  girls  at  home,  he  gave  this  particular 
command  about  such : — '^  Bring  the  Children."  Oh, 
yes;  God's  house  is  the  home  of  his  little  ones, — the 
nursery  of  heaven. 

From  yon  delusive  scene, 

Where  death  and  ruin  smile, 
Beneath  a  treacherous  mien, 

The  sinner  to  beguile, 
The  Saviour  calls.    Oh,  hear  his  voice, 
And  make  his  love  your  early  choice ! 

Down  from  the  realms  of  light, 

To  this  dark  world  of  woe, 
He  came  with  speedy  flight. 

Redemption  to  bestow : 
The  Saviour  calls.    Oh,  hear  his  voice, 
And  make  his  love  your  only  choice  I 

• 
With  pardon  in  his  hands. 

And  purity  and  joy, 
How  sweet  are  his  commands, 

His  bliss  without  alloy  : 
The  Saviour  calls.    Oh,  hear  his  voice, 
And  make  his  love  your  happy  choice ! 

Through  life  your  guard  and  guide, 

In  death  your  strength  and  stay, 
He'll  keep  you  near  his  side, 

Nor  ever  turn  away. 
The  Saviour  calls.    Oh,  hear  his  voice, 
And  make  his  love  your  lasting  choice  ! 

Whom  Grod  calls  and  justifies  and  sanctifies  let  not 
man  reject.     "Whom  God  unites  to  Christ  in  faith  and 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     321 

love  let  not  man  put  asunder.  And  whom.  God  tlio 
Holy  Ghost  convinces  of  sin  and  brings  to  Christ  as  a 
Saviour  let  no  man  discourage.  More  than  forty  years 
ago,  a  little  girl,  seven  years  of  age,  stood  weeping  and 
trembling  at  the  door  of  her  pastor's  study.  In  kind 
accents  she  was  invited  in,  and  encouraged  to  open  her 
heart  and  tell  what  it  was  that  so  distressed  her.  "  Oh, 
sir,"  she  cried,  ''I  have  been  a  great  sinner  all  my  life. 
I  have  lived  seven  years  without  God  and  without 
Christ.  Do  you  think  such  a  sinner  as  I  am  can  be 
forgiven?"  The  good  minister  told  her  that  Jesus  died 
to  take  away  her  sins,  if  she  would  believe  in  him,  love 
him  and  give  him  her  heart,  and  then  marked  out  a 
few  chapters  in  the  Bible  for  her  to  read,  and  prayed 
with  her. 

Soon  peace  and  happiness  filled  her  mind,  and  she 
told  her  mother  she  wanted  to  join  the  church.  Her 
mother  thought  she  was  too  young  to  profess  Christ 
before  men, -and  said  to  her,  "My  dear  child,  I  am 
afraid  that  you  will  go  back  to  the  world  and  bring 
disgrace  upon  the  church  of  Christ."  With  a  bursting 
heart  and  many  tears,  she  replied,  ''Cannot  the  Lord 
Jesus  keep  a  child  in  the  right  way  as  well  as  a  grown 
person?  He  has  promised  to  take  the  lambs  in  his 
arms  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom.  I  believe  in  him 
with  all  my  heart.  I  know  that  I  love  him,  and  I  want 
to  obey  him." 

Her  mother  could  resist  no  longer :  she  gave  her  con- 
sent, and  the  little  girl  was  admitted  to  the  church. 
She  still  lives,  and  has  trained  up  a  large  family  in  the 
fear  of  God.  Several  of  her  children  have  also  become 
members  of  the  church. 


322         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

A  woman  once  called  to  see  the  mother  of  a  sick  child 
who  was  dying.  After  looking  upon  the  little  creature, 
the  poor  mother  said,  ''Will  you  pray  with  my  daugh- 
ter?" ''It  is  only  a  child,"  was  the  strange  answer  of 
the  unfeeling  woman,  who  had  got  up  to  go.  "  It  is  only 
a  child."  The  little  girl  pushed  aside  her  bedclothes, 
and  cried  out,  with  all  the  strength  she  had,  "Yes,  I 
am  a  child,  but  I  have  a  soul."  What  a  reproof!  And 
yet  are  there  not  many,  many  fathers,  many  mothers, 
many  pious  people,  who  fail  to  make  serious  efforts  to 
bring  the  little  ones  into  the  kingdom  of  God,  for  pre- 
cisely this  reason? — "It  is  only  a  child!" 

In  confirmation  of  what  has  been  adduced,  I  could 
mention  several  other  cases  from  my  own  immediate 
family  and  pastoral  connection.  I  can  rejoicingly  men- 
tion one  family  of  six  children — the  youngest  about 
nine  years  old,  and  the  oldest  but  one  about  sixteen — 
all  of  whom  are  hopefully  pious,  and  three  members  of 
the  church.  I  will,  however,  introduce  an  example 
taken  from  another  denomination,  one  of  whose  godly 
ministers  recently  told  me  that  he  united  with  the 
church  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  always  believed  he 
ought  to  have  done  so  much  sooner. 

"At  a  camp-meeting,"  says  the  Kev.  J.  B.  Finley,  in 
his  "Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  "held  on  one 
occasion,  the  venerable  Bishop  McKendree  was  pre- 
sent, and  preached  to  the  children  and  young  people. 
On  this  occasion  the  bishop  noticed  a  little  boy  who 
was  much  affected.  Being  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  family,  and  knowing  the  child  well,  the  bishop  in- 
vited him  into  the  tent,  and  conversed  and  prayed  with 
him,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  little  head,  and  com- 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     323 

mended  him  to  God.  That  afternoon  the  doors  of  the 
church  were  opened,  and  this  boy  went  forward  and 
presented  himself  for  membership.  He  was  received, 
and  continued  to  attend  regularly  to  his  religious  duties, 
never  absenting  himself  from  a  prayer-meeting,  or  a 
class-meeting,  or  preaching,  when  he  could  attend. 
He  was  but  a  mere  child,  and  as  he  would  sit  in  class, 
no  one,  either  leader  or  preacher,  would  speak  to  him 
or  pay  him  any  attention.  At  this  his  young  heart 
was  much  aggrieved,  and  he  was  sometimes  tempted  to 
go  no  more ;  but  he  continued  to  hold  on  till  his  grand- 
father, who  was  a  travelling  preacher,  should  visit 
them,  and  he  could  speak  to  him  on  the  subject.  At 
length  the  grandfather  came;  and  when  he  was  sitting 
alone  one  day,  the  child  came  to  him  and  said, — 

"'Grandfather,  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question.' 

"'Well,  my  child,'  said  the  old  man,  'what  is  your 
wish?' 

"'Well,  it  is  this,'  said  he:  'Do  you  think  I  am  too 
young  to  serve  God  and  belong  to  the  church?' 

'"No,  not  at  all,  my  child,'  said  the  venerable  saint, 

with  emotion.     '  Young embraced  religion  when 

she  was  only  seven  years  of  age;  and  we  have  many 
examples  in  the  Bible  where  children  became  religious 
in  the  dawn  of  life,  such  as  Samuel  and  Josiah  and 
Timothy;  and  the  Scriptures  say,  "Out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings  God  has  perfected  praise."  But 
why  did  you  ask  this  question  ?' 

"'At  a  camp-meeting,'  said  the  child,  'where  Bishop 
McKendree  preached  to  us  children,  I  resolved  I  would 
be 'a  Christian;  and  when  brother  0.  opened  the  doors 
of  the  church,  I  went  forward  and  joined.     I  have  been 


324  THE   WELL   IN  THE   VALLEY. 

to  meeting  every  time  since,  and  stayed  in  class;  but 
no  person  says  a  word  to  me  about  religion,  and  1 
thought  they  considered  me  too  young  to  be  noticed.' 

'^'Well/  said  the  grandfather,  *  I  will  go  with  you  to 
meeting  next  Sunday,  and  if  the  preacher  does  not 
speak  to  you  when  he  meets  the  class,  do  you  rise  up 
and  ask  him  the  reason.     Do  you  understand?' 

^''Yes,  grandfather,  I  will.' 

"The  day  came,  and  the  grandfather  and  the  child 
were  at  meeting.  "When  the  congregation  was  dismissed, 
the  preacher  commenced  leading  his  class ;  and  all  were 
spoken  to,  as  usual,  but  the  little  boy.  He  made  an 
effort  to  rise,  but  his  heart  failed  him.  The  grandfather, 
seeing  this,  said,  'Brother  L.,  little  J.  has  a  question  to 
ask  you.'  The  child  then  rose,  and  in  a  simple  manner 
''gave  his  experience,"  not  forgetting  to  allude  to  his  not 
having  been  spoken  to.  At  this  the  preacher  blushed, 
and  the  class-leader  wept,  one  after  the  other  confessing 
their  delinquency  and  promising  to  do  better  for  the 
future.  That  child  has  grown  to  manhood,  and  has  a 
family,  and  has  been  a  useful  and  highly  acceptable 
member  of  the  church." 

What  will  Christ  think  of  such  persons?  He  was 
once  "much  displeased,"  not  with  those  who  mocked 
him,  nor  those  who  plucked  out  the  hair,  nor  with  Peter, 
who  denied  him,  nor  Judas,  who  betrayed  him,  nor 
Pilate,  who  condemned  him,  nor  the  Jews,  who  crucified 
him ;  but  with  his  disciples,  because  they  rebuked  those 
who  brought  little  children  to  him.  "Forbid  them 
not,"  he  said.  Once  also  in  spirit  Christ  rejoiced;  but 
at  what?  That  the  multitude  thronged  his  path, 
strewed  his  way  with  palm-branches  and  even  with 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     325 

tneir  own  garments?  They  crowded  every  spot,  and 
even  climbed  the  topmost  trees  and  house-tops,  that 
they  might  see  him  pass.  They  heard  him  gladly,  and 
with  universal  shout  rent  the  heavens,  crying  out, 
'^Hosanna!  Hosanna  in  the  highest!  Blessed  be  He 
that  Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord !"  and  would  at  once 
have  made  him  King !  Was  it  on  these  accounts  that 
he  rejoiced  ?  No ;  but  when,  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 
he  said,  ''I  thank  thee,  0  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth,  because  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise 
and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes.  Even 
so.  Father;  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight." 

Blessed  Jesus,  impart  to  all  ministers  and  parents 
and  teachers  thy  Spirit.  Enable  them  to  see  thee  in 
the  children  whom  thou  hast  given  them.  Hast  thou 
not  given  it  as  one  of  the  signs  of  thy  coming,  and  one 
of  the  fruits  of  thy  kingdom,  that  ''out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  ordained  strength, 
because  of  thine  enemies,  that  thou  mightest  still  the 
enemy  and  the  avenger"  ?  And  hast  thou  not  thyself 
taught  us  the  import  of  this  glad  prophecy?  ''When 
the  chief  priests  and  scribes  saw  the  wonderful  things 
that  he  did,  and  the  children  crying  in  the  temple  and 
saying,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David,  they  were  sore 
displeased,  and  said  unto  him,  Hearest  thou  what  these 
say?  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Yea,  have  ye  never 
read.  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou 
hast  perfected  praise?"  We  may  rest  assured  (says 
one)  that  when  Christ  shall  take  to  himself  his 
great  power  and  rule  over  all  nations,  young  children 
will  everywhere  cry,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David. 
Nor  will  there  then  be  found  any  surly  old  pharisees  to 

28 


326  THE   WELL    IN    THE   VALLEY 

complain  of  their  songs  and  shoutings.  "  He  shall  save 
the  children  of  the  needy,  and  shall  break  in  pieces  the 
oppressor." 

Let  us  not  (he  adds)  go  beyond  the  Scriptures.  But 
let  us  not  fall  short  of  them.  Let  us,  to  the  youngest, 
who  can  know  any  thing,  tell  of  God  and  of  Christ,  and 
call  on  them  to  love  the  Saviour.  We  often  and  pro- 
perly continue  our  efforts  to  save  the  aged  sinner. 
Sometimes  we  are  successful.  Yet  how  much  greater 
the  discouragements  with  such  than  with  young  chil- 
dren! 

Let  us  begin  early.  Let  us  call  young  sinners  to 
repentance.  Let  us  commend  Christ  to  their  tender 
affections.  Let  us  tell  them  they  must  hate  sin  and 
love  Christ.  ''Feed  my  sheep"  is  no  more  a  binding 
command  than  ''Feed  my  lambs." 

It  is  sometimes  said  that  the  piety  of  children  is  apt 
to  be  very  deficient  in  just  views  of  the  holiness  of  God. 
This  may  be  so.  But  is  not  this  a  want  in  the  piety 
of  many  adults?  Where  is  the  score  of  professors, 
taken  promiscuously,  in  any  church,  whose  piety  did 
not  from  the  first  need  great  improvement  in  this  re- 
spect? Bead  the  account  of  Phoebe  Bartlett,  given  by 
the  elder  President  Edwards,  and  where  can  you  find 
an  account  of  a  conversion  in  which  God,  in  all  his 
excellent  character,  had  greater  prominence  ?  I  know 
not  of  any. 

Others  have  thought  that  the  piety  of  children  was 
apt  to  be  very  deficient  in  a  sense  of  the  evil  of  sin. 
But  read  the  Life  of  James  Laing,  written  by  McCheyne, 
and  tell  me  what  man  or  woman  ever  seemed  more 
truly  to  loathe  sin  in  the  inmost  soul. 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     327 

Others  suggest  tliat  children  are  very  liable  to  self- 
deception  respecting  their  own  exercises  of  mind. 
This  is  true  of  persons  of  every  age,  and  is  a  good 
reason  for  caution  and  discrimination  in  all  cases,  but 
cannot  justify  a  discouraging  course  of  procedure  to- 
wards the  early  religious  impressions  of  children. 

Nor  does  it  seem  to  me  that  more  is  to  be  made  of 
the  appearance  of  a  desire  in  pious  children  to  be  free 
from  needless  and  unreasonable  restraints.  In  an  im- 
portant sense  a  pious  child  is  to  be  regarded  and  treated 
still  as  a  child,  but  it  should  not  be  placed  under  a 
system  of  espionnage  or  surveillance.  Indeed,  no  child 
should  be  dealt  with  unreasonably. 

In  fine,  I  can  best  sympathize  with  McCheyne  when 
he  says,  ''Jesus  has  reason  to  complain  of  us  that  he 
can  do  no  mighty  work  in  our  Sabbath-schools,  because 
of  our  unbelief."  Let  us  pray  for  the  children.  Let 
us  labour  for  the  children.    Let  us  hope  for  the  children. 

I  trust  a  better  day  is  dawning.  One  excellent  and 
judicious  brother  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church 
a  few  months  since  received  forty  children  into  full 
communion  on  a  profession  of  their  faith.  I  trust 
others  will  have  good  cause  for  doing  similar  acts  of 
love. 

Come,  then,  to  the  Lord's  Supper,  my  dear  reader, 
if  a  parent,  with  your  children  in  your  hearts  and  in 
your  arms  of  loving  and  believing  prayer,  saying, 
"Here,  Lord,  am  I,  and  the  children  thou  hast  given 
me.  Receive  them  to  thyself,  and  give  them  back  to 
me  renewed  and  sanctified  in  the  dew  of  their  youth, 
and  be  thou  from  this  time  their  God  and  guide."  Will 
he  not  hear  you?     Yes.     He  is  a  covenant-making  and 


328  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

a  covenant-keeping  God,  having  mercy  upon  tlie  chil- 
dren's children  even  to  the  third  generation  of  them 
that  love  him.  Yes,  though  he  may  a  while  forbear 
and  deny  your  request,  and  turn  away  from  you  as  from 
the  Syro-Phoenician  mother,  yet  will  he  not  forget  nor 
fail  of  his  promises.  Trust  him  for  his  grace,  and  never 
give  him  rest  until  he  bless  you.  A  praying  mother 
died  a  short  time  since,  leaving  six  unconverted  chil- 
dren. The  last  of  those  six  children  was  converted  a 
short  time  ago.  "I  am,"  said  the  speaker,  ''one  of  those 
six  children:  and  I  am  that  last  one^ 

I  had  the  pleasure  yesterday  (says  a  pastor)  of  re- 
ceiving the  last  of  a  large  family  to  my  church.  Some 
time  since,  in  conversation  with  the  mother,  she  said, 
"I  have  perfect  confidence  he  will  be  brought  in;"  and' 
so  had  I.  I  had  known  the  family  for  years,  and  I  knew 
it  to  be  a  godly  family,  devoted  to  the  service  of  Christ. 
One  of  its  members  was  a  minister,  another  the  wife  of 
a  minister,  another  an  elder  in  a  Presbyterian  church, 
and  now,  with  great  joy,  I  have  received  the  last  one  of 
that  large  family  on  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ. 
I  believe  greatly  in  training  children  in  the  way  they 
should  go. 

But,  my  dear  reader,  if  you  are  a  parent,  seek  this 
blessing  for  your  children  now.  If  it  is  their  duty  to 
remember  their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their  youth,  and 
to  seek  the  Lord  early,  then  it  is  your  duty,  and  not 
merely  your  privilege,  to  expect  that  they  shall  now 
find  God  in  peace.  Be  not  satisfied,  then,  that  you 
have  done  all  your  duty  until  Christ  is  actually  formed 
in  their  hearts  the  hope  of  glory.  This  is  their  only 
safety  and  your  only  confidence  in  looking  out  upon  the 


THE  LOED'S  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.     329 

raging,  tempestuous  sea  of  life,  and  remembering  how 
the  cares  of  this  life,  the  deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the 
lusts  of  the  flesh,  like  so  many  rocks  and  quicksands, 
imperil  their  salvation.  And  why  should  you  not  thus 
be  comforted  and  they  redeemed ?  What  hinders ?  ''Is 
any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord?"  Is  it  not  as  easy  for 
him  to  renew  the  heart  of  a  babe  as  of  an  adult  ?  Nay, 
if  there  could  be  any  difference,  would  it  not  be  in  favour 
of  the  child,  before  its  depravity  has  had  time  to 
develop  itself, — before  the  habit  of  sinning  is  formed? 
Is  there  any  thing  in  the  Bible  to  forbid  our  expecting 
the  very  early  conversion  of  our  children,  even  before 
they  are  capable  of  knowing  good  and  evil?  Not  a 
word,  so  far  as  I  can  find.  On  the  contrary,  the  cove- 
nant of  grace  made  with  Abraham,  and  the  indefinite 
extension  of  its  promises  to  all  who  ''have  like  precious 
faith,"  afford  us  the  greatest  encouragement. 

If  our  Saviour  were  present,  would  he  not  say,  "0 
ye  of  little  faith,  wherefore  do  ye  doubt?"  We  know 
that  John  the  Baptist  was  sanctified  from  the  womb ; 
and  if  he  was,  what  hinders  other  infant  children  from 
being  in  like  manner  born  again? 

Oh,  what  a  blessing  it  would  be  to  have  them  adopted 
as  "the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Lord  Almighty,"  as 
soon  as  they  are  born  !  What  a  relief  it  would  be  to 
see  them  giving  evidence,  as  soon  as  they  can  lisp  the 
name  of  Jesus  and  hear  the  wonderful  story  of  his  life 
and  death,  that  they  love  him !  How  would  it  shield 
them  from  the  temptations  of  the  world,  the  flesh  and 
the  devil,  by  which  so  many  are  snared  and  taken  in 
the  critical  period  of  youth ! 

What  pious  mother,  in  embracing  her  darling  babe, 

28* 


330  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

can  help  sometimes  fearing  that,  if  it  lives  to  grow  up 
without  a  new  heart,  it  may  become  a  prodigal  son,  as 
so  many  have,  and  '^  bring  down  her  gray  hairs  with 
sorrow  to  the  grave"  ?  What  a  relief  it  would  be,  if  she 
could  indulge  a  strong  persuasion,  in  the  exercise  of  a 
lively  faith,  that  her  prayers  have  already  been  answered, 
and  that  the  dear  little  one  has  already  been  born  again ! 
Who  doubts  that  Samuel  was  converted  in  infancy  or 
early  childhood,  in  answer  to  th^  prayers  of  his  mother, 
who  "lent  him  to  the  Lord  as  long  as  he  should  live"? 
If  all  parents  should  lend  their  little  ones  to  the  Lord, 
with  like  precious  faith,  and  thus  dedicate  them  to  his 
service  all  the  days  of  their  lives,  as  Hannah  did  Samuel 
even  before  he  was  born,  would  not  the  offering  be  ac- 
cepted and  their  prayers  be  answered?  I  believe  they 
would. 

So  speaks  Dr.  Humphrey ;  and  so  also  speak  reason, 
experience  and  the  whole  tenor  of  the  word  of  God.  And 
here,  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  how  good  and  pleasant 
and  profitable  is  the  opportunity  of  seeking  both  faith 
to  believe  to  urge  and  to  expect  this  unspeakable 
blessing !  crying  unto  God  with  importunate  earnest- 
ness, "Oh,  satisfy  them  early  with  thy  mercy,  that  they 
may  rejoice  and  be  glad  all  their  days!" 

And  if,  my  dear  reader, — and  may  this  often  be  the 
case, — you  are  still  young,  and  the  child  of  religious 
parents,  let  me  appeal  to  you.  Let  a  father  in  Israel 
address  to  you  a  few  words. 

My  young  friend,  bring  before  you  your  pious  parents. 
How  are  they  now  praying  that  every  attempt  to  bring 
you  to  a  decision  may  be  efi'ectual !  See  you  not  the 
tears  now  dropping  from  the  cheek  of  thy  father,  thy 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.  331 

motlier,  at  thy  side, — while  each  says,  '^If  thy  heart  be 
wise,  my  heart  shall  rejoice,  even  mine."  Some  of  us 
can  speak  from  experience.  We  only  recommend  what 
we  have  exemplified.  We  were  enabled  early  to  dedi- 
cate ourselves  to  God,  and  we  have  found  his  yoke  easy 
and  his  burden  light.  We  have  found  his  ways  plea- 
santness and  peace.  We  have  found  godliness  profitable 
unto  all  things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is, 
and  of  that  which  is  to  come.  And,  next  to  the  salva- 
tion of  our  souls,  we  daily  praise  him  for  an  early  con- 
version. "I  bless  thee,  0  God,  for  many  things,"  says 
Beza,  in  his  will  and  testament,  "but  especially  that  I 
gave  up  myself  to  thee  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen." 

Wait,  then,  no  longer;  be  encouraged  by  the  assur- 
ance, "I  love  them  that  love  me;  and  those  that  seek 
me  early  shall  find  me."  If  the  flower  be  not  blown, 
ofier  the  bud.  And  through  all  the  changes  of  life, 
and  from  the  borders  of  the  grave,  God  will  honour 
this  surrender,  and  say,  "I  remember  thee,  the  kind- 
ness of  thy  youth." 

Around  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven 

Thousands  of  children  stand, — 
Children,  whose  sins  are  all  forgiven, 

A  holy,  happy  band. 

What  brought  them  to  that  world  above, 

That  heaven  so  bright  and  fair, 
Where  all  is  peace  and  joy  and  love? 

How  cam«  those  children  there  ? 

Because  the  Saviour  shed  his  blood 

To  wash  away  their  sin : 
Bathed  in  that  pure  and  precious  flood, 

Behold  them  white  and  clean. 


332         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

On  earth  they  sought  the  Saviour's  grace, 

On  earth  they  loved  his  name ; 
So  now  they  see  his  blessed  face 

And  stand  before  the  Lamb. 

Or  it  may  be,  dear  reader,  that  you  are  yourself  a 
pious  child,  and  you  go  to  the  Lord's  table  to  weep 
over  a  father,  who  by  his  thoughtless  impenitence  and 
neglect  of  the  great  salvation  has  resisted  the  Spirit 
of  God,  and  provoked  him  to  strive  no  more  with  him, 
but  to  let  him  alone.    'What  are  you  to  do  ? 

Among  the  pupils  of  two  Christian  ladies  who  con- 
ducted a  small  Sunday-school  in  a  remote  part  of  Vir- 
ginia, were  the  sons  of  a  Mr.  G ,  a  stone-mason, 

who  was  not  only  irreligious,  but  a  drunkard.  He  at 
first  was  opposed  to  his  sons  attending  the  school ;  but, 
finding  that  they  took  a  good  deal  of  interest  in  it,  and 
were  much  gratified  with  the  instruction  they  received, 
as  well  as  with  the  religious  services  they  engaged  in 
there,  he  ceased  his  opposition,  and  quietly  allowed 
them  to  have  their  way.  Some  time  after  this,  he  no- 
ticed that  one  of  the  boys  had  become  quite  serious, 
and  that  he  was  frequently  engaged  in  reading  his 
Bible  and  in  prayer. 

At  length,  one  day,  he  overheard  him  praying  fer- 
vently for  the  conversion  of  his  father  and  mother. 
This,  he  said,  he  could  not  stand,  and  determined  at 
once  to  give  up  drink  and  to  seek  religion  for  himself. 

He  soon  became  a  changed  man,  and  gave  up  his  old 
associates, — who,  inste^td  of  being  called  upon  by  him, 
as  formerly,  to  partake  of  the  bottle,  were  positively 
refused  when  they  now  invited  him  to  do  so. 

About  this  time  a  small  school-house  was  built  near 


THE  lord's  supper  AND  THE  LORD's  LAMBS.  333 

his  residence,  and  the  Methodists  occasionally  had  re- 
ligious services  there.  In  the  course  of  a  few  months 
he  united  himself  with  them,  and  so  did  his  son. 

In  March,  1856,  Mr.  G informed  them  that  he 

and  some  of  his  neighbours  wished  to  establish  a  Sun- 
day-school at  the  small  school-house  near  him,  and  re- 
quested that  they  would  allow  him  the  use  of  the  library 
at  H ,  as  the  school  there  was  suspended.  His  re- 
quest was  readily  granted,  and  the  school  organized. 
Before  the  end  of  the  year,  several  persons  who  were 
interested  in  the  school  followed  Mr.  G's  example  by 
uniting  themselves  to  the  church,  and  others  have 
since  done  the  same;  so  that  in  eighteen  months  quite 
a  little  religious  community  has  been  gathered  around 
the  school-house,  where  before  there  was  not  a  pro- 
fessor save  one ! 

More  than  two  hundred  years  ago,  in  the  little  town 
of  Blackburn,  amid  the  glens  and  hills  of  Lancashire, 
lived  a  little  boy  named  John  Bailey. 

He  had  been,  like  Samuel  of  old,  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Lord  even  before  his  birth ;  and  of  him 
it  may  be  said,  as  of  that  prophet-boy,  '^  The  Lord  was 
with  him."  Instead  of  engaging  in  boyish  sports,  from 
a  child  he  sought  a  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  it  was  the  study  of  these  and  the  frequent  exercise 
of  prayer  to  God  that  made  him,  in  early  life,  ''wise 
unto  salvation." 

The  mother  of  our  little  John  was  a  godly  woman, 
who  carefully  watched  over  the  development  of  his 
youthful  piety;  but  his  father  was  a  man  of  a  far  dif- 
ferent character.     Instead  of  delighting  himself  in  the 


334  THE  WELL  IN   THE   VALLEY. 

pleasures  of  home  and  the  society  of  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, his  leisure  hours  were  spent  at  the  ale-house 
amid  scenes  of  rioting  and  dissipation. 

One  day,  when  our  little  boy  was  still  young,  his 
mother  gathered  her  family  around  her,  and,  taking 
this  child  of  promise  in  her  arms,  set  him  in  the  midst 
to  pray  with  and  for  the  household.  His  simple,  child- 
like petitions  were  not  addressed  in  vain  to  the  ear  of 
Him  who  heareth  prayer. 

His  father,  on  his  return  from  the  village  tavern, 
where  he  had  been  gaming  and  dancing  with  a  crowd 
of  his  low  associates,  learned  the  fact  that  his  little  son 
had  been  leading  the  devotions  of  the  family,  in  the 
place  of  him  whom  God  had  stationed  as  head  of  the 
household.  This  simple  occurrence  could  not  easily  be 
forgotten.  The  father's  heart  was  touched  with  a  sense 
of  his  sins.  He  felt  his  own  wickedness  and  neglect 
of  duty  as  he  had  never  before.  He  began  to  reflect 
upon  the  life  he  was  leading;  and  the  contrast  between 
his  own  conduct  and  that  of  his  little  son  added  to  the 
force  of  his  convictions.  In  penitence  and  sorrow,  he 
sought  pardon  where  alone  that  pardon  could  be  found ; 
and,  looking  to  Christ  as  the  propitiation  for  his  sins, 
he  found  peace  in  believing. 

This  little  boy,  so  early  an  honoured  instrument  in 
the  turning  of  a  soul  to  God,  grew  up  in  his  fear  and 
became  eminent  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Multi- 
tudes were  wont  to  attend  his  preaching ;  and  wherever 
he  went  the  power  of  the  Lord  seemed  manifested  in  an 
imusual  manner  in  the  conversion  of  souls. 

At  length,  after  many  years  of  usefulness  at  home, 


THE   LORDS   SUPPER   AND   THE   LORD's   LAMBS.    335 

he  sought  the  then  newly-settled  shores  of  New  Eng- 
land. Here  his  life  was  spent  in  the  labours  of  his 
youth,  and  multitudes  of  souls  had  reason  to  bless  God 
for  the  preaching  of  John  Bailey. 

Have  you,  then,  my  dear  young  reader,  such  a  father? 

Love  cannot  reach  him ;  arrows  of  Despair 

And  Hope  and  Fear  fall  from  him,  hedged  in  scale 

Of  wild  obduracy,  like  iron  mail ; 
But,  Christian,  hast  thou  left  no  weapon  there 
In  thy  heaven-furnish'd  quiver?     It  is  Prayer. 

Wing'd  by  faith's  pure  resolve,  Prayer  shall  prevail: 

It  hath  the  promise.     Into  life's  dim  vale 
Prayer  doth  of  Help  the  golden  gates  unbar ; 

To  good  of  purpose  stern  that  rugged  brow 

May  turn;  Love  o'er  the  rock  his  tendrils  throw: 
As  when  upon  the  world's  first  wakening  morn 
The  Spii'it  came  descending  on  the  thorn, 
Woke  by  that  sacred  touch  the  flower  was  born. 

And  bird  new-made  sung  on  the  new-made  bough. 

And  this  you  will  do  if  you  are  indeed  the  Lord's. 
For  if  any  man  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is 
none  of  his.  And  what  was  the  Spirit  of  Christ?  Did 
he  not  come  to  seek  and  save  the  lost?  Did  he  not  go 
about  doing  good,  not  pleasing  himself,  but  counting  it 
nis  meat  and  drink  to  do  the  will  of  God  in  securing  the 
salvation  of  a  world  guilty  before  God,  enemies,  un- 
godly and  without  hope?  What  was  his  life  and  death 
but  one  continued  sacrifice  of  himself  for  the  good  of 
others,  and  especially  for  their  spiritual  and  everlasting 
welfare?  And  if  you  are  his  disciple  indeed  you  will 
imitate,  represent  and  follow  your  divine  Master.     The 


336  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

love  that  cliaracterized  him,  and  love  to  him  shed  abroad 
and  renovating  your  heart,  will  constrain  you  to  live, 
not  unto  yourself,  but  unto  Him  that  loved  you  and  gave 
himself  for  you.  Loving  Christ,  you  will  love  the  souls 
for  whom  he  died  and  to  bring  many  of  whom  to  glory 
is  still  ''the  travail  of  his  soul."  To  live,  to  you, 
will  be  Christ.  Life  and  the  world,  and  opportunity 
and  ability  and  influence,  you  will  consider  as  so  many 
talents  given  in  trust  by  your  Lord  who  has  gone  to 
prepare  a  place  for  you  in  heaven,  to  be  employed  in 
winning  souls  to  him,  and  in  furthering  his  glorious 
kingdom.  Having  suffered,  you  will  have  a  fellow- 
feeling  for  all  that  suffer.  Having  been  long  bound  in 
prison,  you  will  feel  bound  with  them  that  remain  in 
chains  under  Satan's  bondage,  and  you  will  strive  to 
open  for  them  the  prison-doors.  Having  been  dead  and 
made  alive,  lost  and  found,  an  alien  and  now  a  citizen, 
a  starving  prodigal  and  now  a  son  and  heir,  a  ship- 
wrecked mariner  and  now  rescued  from  the  deck  of 
the  sinking  ship,  you  will  labour  and  strive  to  rescue 
others  from  the  same  miseries,  and  unite  with  all  who 
have  assisted  in  securing  your  merciful  preservation 
and  present  participation  in  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
children  of  God,  in  delivering  them  from  going  down 
to  the  pit. 

Every  communion-season  may  thus  be  like  looking 
into  the  glass  and  seeing  what  manner  of  person  you 
are  and  ought  to  be.  It  will  be  the  re-perusal  of  your 
personal  history, — the  review  of  your  past  life  and  of 
all  God's  merciful  dealings  with  you.  It  will  be  a  re- 
awakening of  your  earliest  convictions,  a  rekindling  of 


THE  LOBD'S  supper  AND  THE  LORB's  LAMBS.      337 

your  first  love  and  a  doing  again  of  your  first  works. 
Christ  will  appear  as  he  once  did,  'Hhe  one  altogether 
lovely,"  your  heaven  of  holy  joy.  Earth  will  lose  its 
charm  and  fade  before  the  brightening  visions  of  the 
inheritance  divine.  Earthly  joys  will  become  insipid, 
and  transient  as  the  crackling  of  thorns  under  a  pot, 
and  you  will  feel  that  it  is  better  to  go  to  the  house  of 
God  than  to  the  house  of  feasting.  You  will  renew 
your  strength  like  that  of  eagles,  and,  taking  a  fresh 
start,  run  the  race  of  holy  living.  And  thus,  girding 
up  the  loins  of  your  mind  and  laying  aside  every 
weight  and  the  sins  that  do  most  easily  beset  you,  you 
will  enter  with  new  devotion  upon  every  labour  of  love, 
not  being  weary  in  well-doing,  knowing  that  in  due 
time  you  shall  reap  the  recompense  of  great  reward. 

Polycarp,  on  the  eve  of  martyrdom,  said  he  had 
served  Christ  eighty-and-six  years.  A  contemporary 
father  informs  us  there  were  then  many  persons  of  both 
sexes,  some  sixty  and  some  seventy  years  of  age,  who 
had  been  disciples  of  Christ  from  childhood.  Oh,  be 
ye  followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  and 
perseverance  are  now  inheriting  the  promises. 


W  29 


338         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 


CHAPTEK  XVII. 

A  WORD   TO    THOSE   WHO,  FEOM   WHATEVER   CAUSE,  ARE 
NOT   MEMBERS   OF   THE    CHURCH. 

What  shall  I  say,  my  dear  reader,  unto  you?  I 
would  beseech  you,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  to  present 
yourself  unto  Christ  your  Saviour,  body,  soul  and 
spirit,  a  living  sacrifice,  which  is  your  reasonable  ser- 
vice. I  would  say,  Deny  yourself,  take  up  your  cross 
and  follow  Christ.  I  would  say.  Take  the  cup  of  salva- 
tion into  your  hands,  and  pay  your  vows  unto  the 
Lord  now,  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation.  I 
would  say.  Come  out  from  the  world  and  be  separate, 
forsake  also  thine  own  kindred  and  thy  father's  house, 
and  cleave  unto  the  Lord.  I  would  say,  First  give 
yourself  unto  the  Lord,  and  then  unto  his  church  and 
people,  according  to  the  will  of  God.  I  would  say, 
Be  not  ashamed  of  Christ  and  his  cross  before  a  wicked 
and  adulterous  generation;  for  if  any  man  is  ashamed 
of  Christ  now,  of  him  will  Christ  be  ashamed  before 
his  Father  and  the  holy  angels.  I  would  say.  Believe 
on  Christ  with  thine  heart  and  confess  him  with  thy 
mouth;  for  with  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  right- 
eousness, and  with  the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation.  I  would  say,  Join  yourself  to  the  company 
of  believers.  Be  added  to  the  church.  Come  to  Mount 
Zion.     Forsake  not  the  assembling  together  of  Christ's 


TO    THOSE    NOT    MEMBERS    OF    THE    CHURCH.       339 

Hock.  I  would  sa}^,  Become  a  disciple  by  that  public 
profession  which  is  strikingly  expressed  in  the  ordinance 
of  baptism,  and,  having  thus  been  introduced  into  the 
church,  seek  to  be  taught  and  to  obey  all  things  what- 
soever Christ  has  commanded.  And,  as  Christ  has  also 
instituted  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  and 
commanded  its  observance  in  remembrance  of  him  till 
he  come,  I  would  say,  Do  this.  Examine  your  own 
heart,  whether  you  can  discern  the  Lord's  body  in  the 
broken  bread  and  the  outpoured  wine  and  so  eat  and 
drink  not  unworthily. 

This  you  have  not  done.  All  these  things,  which  are 
substantially  stated  in  the  language  of  Scripture,  you 
have  left  undone.  They  are  to  you  as  if  they  had  not 
been  written  in  the  Bible,  nor  commanded  by  God,  nor 
made  essential  to  a  good  hope  and  a  living  faith  and  a 
rightful  expectation  of  heaven.  You  are  at  this  mo- 
ment living,  as  far  as  these  requirements  of  heaven  are 
concerned,  without  God  in  the  world,  and  as  if  they 
had  no  reference  to  you  and  were  no  concern  of  your's. 
''Who  has  not  passed  the  doors  of  a  church  at  the 
moment  when  the  congregation  are  pouring  out,  hun- 
dreds after  hundreds,  on  the  crowded  pavement  ?  The 
old,  the  sick, — they  do  not  look  as  if  they  would  live  to 
come  again;  the  young,  the  gay, — a  long  and  perilous 
journey  is  before  them;  the  rich, — how  hardly  shall  a 
rich  man  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven !  the  poor, — at 
least  the  poor  have  need  of  consolation !  But  they  are  all 
gone.  It  is  too  common  a  sight  to  wonder  at.  The  ser- 
vice is  ended.  No,  indeed,  it  is  not.  The  doors  have 
been  closed  upon  a  few  score  supplicants,  whose, voices 
echo  through  the  vacant  space.     Some  solitary  ones 


340         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

here  and  there  in  the  lately  crowded  pews,  saddened  by 
the  sudden  depopulation.  What  are  they  about  ?  No- 
thing extraordinary.  It  happens  every  month  or  so. 
They  are  staying  for  the  communion !  Eternal  Being, 
is  thine  eye  intent  upon  this  place,  and  dost  thou  see 
nothing  extraordinary  in  this  scene?  Are  these  the 
only  ones  of  all  that  crowd  for  whom  thy  blood  was 
shed,  thy  body  broken,  thy  feast  provided  and  thy 
welcome  given?  These  all  the  sinners  in  danger  of 
forgetting  thee,  or  sufferers  in  need  of  comfort,  or  dying 
ones  exposed  to  condemnation?  It  is  not  yet  the  time 
when  thou  wilt  command  that  they  shut  to  the  door 
and  exclude  forever  those  that  are  not  ready.  It  is  not 
thy  doing  that  these  hundreds — these  Christian  hun- 
dreds, who  have  heard  the  word  of  thy  salvation — turn 
their  backs  upon  thy  table." 

My  dear  reader, — guilty,  dying,  and  yet  undying 
reader, — why  do  you  thus  trifle  with  your  Saviour's 
blood  and  trample  under  foot  the  everlasting  covenant 
and  the  feast  of  love  divine  ?     Alas !  alas  for  you ! 

You  may  do  this  because  you  do  not  believe  the 
Bible,  or  because  you  do  not  believe  these  duties  to  be 
essential,  or  because  you  do  not  think  they  are  obliga- 
tory upon  any  but  those  who-  feel  willing  and  able  to 
fulfil  them.  Or  you  may  consider  union  with  the 
church  so  sacred  and  solemn  a  transaction  as  to  require 
a  man  to  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind  that  he 
is  perfectly  able  to  maintain  and  persevere  in  a  walk 
and  conversation  according  to  godliness.  Or  you  may 
imagine,  like  Nicodemus,  that  you  may  be  a  Christian 
and  yet  not  a  disciple,  and  this,  too,  purely  for  fear  of 
the  shame,  or  the  loss  of  that  honour  which  cometh 


TO    THOSE    NOT    MEMBERS   OF    THE   CHURCH.       341 

ifom  man,  and  that  yet  you  may  do  many  things  and 
still  be  a  Christian  while  out  of  the  church,  which  you 
could  not  and  would  not  do  if  in  the  church.  Or  by 
identifying  yourself  with  some  one  denomination  you 
may  suppose  that  you  will  thereby  curtail  your  influ- 
ence and  popularity  with  all  classes  and  conditions  of 
men.  Many  are  the  shades  of  particular  opinion  and 
prejudice,  or  of  wilful  and  obstinate  disinclination, 
which  hinder  men  from  considering  the  subject  of  per- 
sonal religion  and  of  seriously  weighing  the  question, 
''Ought  I  to  join  the  church?"  But,  whatever  they 
are,  they  are  all  alike  insufficient,  unreasonable  and 
inexcusably  wrong.  They  involve,  one  and  all,  the 
principle  of  disobedience,  the  denial  of  God's  author- 
ity, the  substitution  of  self-will  and  personal  inclina- 
tion and  private  opinion  for  the  plain,  positive  and 
perpetual  requirements  of  the  word  and  will  of  Grod. 
They  display,  therefore,  the  spirit  and  motive — the 
animus — of  all  sin.  And  as  he  who  offendeth  in  one 
point  is  guilty  of  all,  and  as  he  is  cursed  who  con- 
tinueth  not  in  all  things  written  in  the  law  to  do  them, 
and  as  he  that  breaketh  one  of  the  least  of  Christ's 
commandments  is  an  offender  just  as  truly  as  he  who 
breaketh  the  greatest,  ''therefore  thou  art  inexcusa- 
ble, 0  man." 

Heaven  and  earth  might  more  easily  be  made  by  you 
to  pass  away  than  one  jot  or  tittle  of  whatsoever 
Christ  has  commanded  shall  pass  away;  and,  as  the 
Lord's  Supper  is  not  only  a  sacrament  instituted  by 
Christ,  but  again  expressly  revealed  and  made  univer- 
sally and  permanently  binding, — a  memorial  of  his  love 
and  a  pledge  of  our  faithfulness, — it  follows  that,   if 

29* 


342  THE   WELL   IN   THE    VALLEY. 

neglected  or  despised,  it  will  be  a  swift  witness  against 
you. 

Of  Zion — that  is,  tlie  cliurcli,  the  homestead  and 
birthplace  of  all  the  children  of  God — it  shall  be  said, 
"  This  and  that  man  was  born  in  her,  and  the  highest 
himself  shall  establish  her.  The  Lord  shall  count, 
when  he  writeth  up  the  people,  that  this  man  was  born 
there." 

''One  shall  say.  Jam  the  Lord's;  and  another  shall 
call  himself  by  the  name  of  Jacob;  and  another  shall 
subscribe  with  his  hand  unto  the  Lord  and  surname 
himself  with  the  name  of  Israel." 

Nor  is  the  church  alone  sacred.  Each  individual 
Christian  is  a  consecrated  temple.  The  church  is  a 
collection  of  hallowed  individuals.  On  each  separately 
is  inscribed,  "Holiness  to  the  Lord."  The  church  is  a 
glorious  sanctuary,  built  up  of  individual  Christians, 
each  fitted  and  polished  by  the  hard  of  the  great 
Builder.  What !  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the 
temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  in  you,  which  ye 
have  of  God,  and  that  ye  are  not  your  own?  For  ye 
are  bought  with  a  price :  therefore  glorify  God  in  your 
body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's. 

A  very  common  notion  prevails  that  salvation  means 
nothing  more  than  obtaining  pardon,  finding  peace,  and 
getting  to  heaven.  It  is  much  more.  Salvation  is  not 
secured  once  for  all,  after  which  nothing  remains  to  be 
done.  We  do  not  get  to  heaven  as  we  travel  by  rail- 
way, having  only  to  seat  ourselves  in  the  train,  which 
then  whirls  us  along  without  any  further  effort  of  our 
own.  It  is  rather  like  a  journey  on  foot,  which  requires 
continued  exertion.     When  Christ  says,   "  Come  unto 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBERS   OF   THE   CHURCH.      343 

me,"  lie  is  not  standing  still,  but  leading  sinners  up  to 
God.  If  then  we  go  to  him,  but  refuse  to  go  forward 
with  him,  we  are  left  behind.  Salvation  involves  a 
constant  reliance  on  Christ  and  a  patient  continuance 
in  well-doing.  We  must  follow  him,  as  well  as  come  to 
him ;  and  we  may  be  sure  we  have  not  truly  come  to 
him  unless  we  do  truly  follow  him.  We  come  to  him 
for  salvation;  but  salvation  is  following  Jesus.  They 
are  two  names  for  the  same  thing,  and  cannot  be 
separated.  If  we  do  not  follow  Jesus,  we  are  not 
disciples  of  Jesus,  we  are  not  saved.  He  said, 
"If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him  follow  me.  (John 
xii.  26.)  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow 
ME."  Matt.  xvi.  24. 

Ah,  my  dear  reader,  in  despising  or  disesteeming  the 
church,  you  know  not  what  you  do.  Your  course,  if 
pursued  by  others,  would  despoil  that  church  of  its 
beauty,  deface  its  glory,  empty  it  and  leave  it  desolate, 
yea,  raze  it  to  the  ground.  But  it  cannot  do  this.  It 
can  only  destroy  yourself.  For  while  by  joining  hand 
in  hand  with  the  gates  of  hell  you  cannot  prevail 
against  the  church,  yet  if  you  hold  your  peace  and 
will  not  come  in  and  become  an  indweller,  God,  "out 
of  the  very  stones  of  the  streets,"  and  from  the  out- 
cast rocks  lying  in  waste  and  desert  places  in  the  yet 
unquarried  mines  of  heathenism,  will  raise  up  children 
who  will  count  her  stones,  to  whom  her  very  dust  will 
be  dear,  who  will  come  unto  Zion  with  joy,  walk  and 
go  around  about  her,  mark  well  her  bulwarks,  tell  the 
towers  thereof,    and   consider  her  palaces,  that  they 


344         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

may  tell  it  to  the  generation  following.  For  this  God 
is  our  God  for  ever  and  ever.  He  will  be  our  guide 
even  unto  death. 

Say  not  that  this  duty  is  voluntary,  and  this  ordi- 
nance one  not  of  positive,  but  of  imperfect,  obligation. 
It  is  voluntary  just  as  salvation  is  voluntary;  but  it  is 
also  imperative  and  plainly  commanded,— so  far  as  op- 
portunity will  permit.  The  same  God  worketh  in  them 
that  believe  'Ho  will  and  to  do  according"  to  all 
his  commandments.  The  same  Saviour  who  died  to 
save  lives  to  reign  and  to  rule  over  us.  He  who  said, 
"Come  unto  me,"  said,  also,  ''If  any  man  will  be  my 
disciple,  let  him  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross  and 
follow  me."  He  who  said,  "I  will  give  you  rest,  and 
to  as  many  as  believe  I  will  give  power  to  become  the 
sons  of  God,"  said,  also,  "If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  com- 
mandments ;  take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me ; 
for  my  yoke  is  easy  and  my  burden  is  light.  Whoso- 
ever therefore  shall  confess  me  before  men,  him  will  I 
confess  also  before  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But 
whosoever  shall  deny  me  before  men,  him  will  I  also 
deny  before  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  He  that 
loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  me  is  not  worthy 
of  me ;  and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than 
me  is  not  worthy  of  me.  And  he  that  taketh  not  his 
cross  and  foUoweth  after  me  is  not  worthy  of  me.  He 
that  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it;  and  he  that  loseth 
his  life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it.  "Do  this  in  remem- 
brance of  me." 

The  obligation  to  be  a  disciple  of  Christ  is,  therefore, 
so  essential  to  a  Christian  that  he  who  is  not  with 
Christ — Christ  himself  says  it — is  against  him,  and 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBEES   OF   THE   CHURCH.      345 

ne  that  gathereth  not  with  him  scattereth  abroad.  To 
be  united  with  Christ's  cause  and  church  is  necessary, 
then,  in  ordinary  circumstances,  to  the  very  character 
of  a  Christian,  and  is  inseparable  from  it.  Every  one 
who  claims  the  Christian  name  and  indulges  the  Chris- 
tian hope  and  looks  for  the  Christian's  heaven  must 
surely  take  upon  him  the  Christian's  yoke,  bear  the 
Christian's  burden  and  wear  the  Christian's  badge, — 
and  can  only  reject  them  by  rejecting  Christ,  and  by 
giving  the  lie  to  all  his  deceiving  hopes,  his  refuges  of 
lies.  ''For  if  we  say  we  have  fellowship  with  him, 
and  walk  in  darkness,  we  lie,  and  do  not  the  truth." 

There  must,  in  every  case  of  well-grounded  hope  in 
Christ,  be,  therefore,  a  personal  consecration.  How 
direct  the  command,  Follow  thou  me !  How  marked 
the  apostle's  formula  of  discipleship,  giving  first  your- 
selves unto  the  Lord !  The  whole  man,  body  and  spirit, 
must  be  laid  on  the  altar,  every  power  and  faculty 
be  consecrated  to  G-od.  Each  disciple  for  himself  must 
make  for  himself  this  offering.  The  Jew  of  olden  time 
devoted  to  the  altar  the  choicest  of  his  herd  and  of  his 
flock;  but  the  Christian  brings  a  nobler  gift: — ''Here, 
Lord,  (he  says,)  I  give  myself  aw^ay."  How  solemn  the 
vow,  I  am  the  Lord's.  Consecrated  by  a  solemn  vow,  I 
can  never  cease  to  be  a  hallowed  offering.  My  own  heart 
prompted  the  gift;  my  own  lip  breathed  the  vow;  my 
own  hand  signed  the  deed ;  and  I  gave — 'twas  all  I  had 
to  give — TYiyself  unto  God. 

If,  then,  it  were  absurd,  as  well  as  guilty,  for  any 
man  to  claim  the  honour  of  a  soldier  while  refusing  to 
join  the  ranks,  submit  to  discipline  and  fight  manfully, 
— or   the   recompense  of  a  servant  while   disobeying 


346  THE   WELL    IN    THE    VALLEY. 

commanded  rules  and  neglecting  required  duty, — or 
for  a  child  to  expect  the  love  and  confidence  and  nou- 
rishment of  parents  while  gainsaying  and  disobedient 
and  without  natural  affection, — or  for  a  student  to  ex- 
pect honours  and  applause  while  utterly  careless  of  his 
studies  and  deportment, — how  much  more  is  this  the 
case  with  that  man  who  dares  to  hope  for  salvation 
through  the  divine  Eedeemer,  while,  instead  of  con- 
fessing him  before  men,  he  sets  him  at  nought,  and,  in- 
stead of  commemorating  the  Lord's  Supper  in  remem- 
brance of  him,  goes  his  way,  and  "makes  light  of 
it,"  "cares  for  none  of  these  things,"  "waits  for  a  con- 
venient season,"  and  says,  practically,  "Who  is  the 
Lord,  that  I  should  obey  him?"  "He  that  saith,  I 
know  him,  and  keepeth  not  his  commandments,  is  a 
liar,  and  the  truth  is  not  in  him." 

If,  therefore,  as  Bunyan  says,  thou  wouldst  so  run 
as  to  obtain  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  then  be  sure  that 
thou  get  into  the  way  that  leadeth  thither;  for  it  is  a 
vain  thing  to  think  that  ever  thou  shalt  have  the 
prize,  though  thou  runnest  never  so  fast,  unless  thou 
art  in  the  way  that  leads  to  it.  Set  the  case  that 
there  should  be  a  man  in  London  that  was  to  run  to 
York  for  a  wager:  now,  though  he  run  never  so  swiftly, 
yet  if  he  runs  full  south  he  might  run  himself  quickly 
out  of  breath,  and  be  never  nearer  the  prize,  but 
rather  the  farther  off.  Just  so  it  is  here:  it  is  not 
simply  the  runner,  nor  the  hasty  runner,  that  winneth 
the  crown,  unless  he  be  in  the  way  that  leadeth 
thereto. 

And  as  it  regards  the  members  of  the  church,  you 
are  to  consider  that  in  the  present,  earthly,  visible  dis- 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBERS   OF   THE   CHUECH.      347 

pensation  the  churcli  is  a  field  where  there  are  tares  as 
well  as  wheat;  a  flock  in  which  there  are  goats  as  well 
as  sheep ;  a  net  in  which  there  are  good  fish  and  bad ;  a 
house  in  which  there  are  vessels  unto  honour  and 
vessels  unto  dishonour;  a  vineyard  in  which  there  are 
dry  trees  as  well  as  green,  and  barren  as  well  as 
fruitful  fig-trees;  a  tree  on  which  there  are  unfruitful 
branches  fit  only  to  be  burned,  and  fruitful  branches 
which  are  trimmed  and  tended  so  as  to  bring  forth  more 
fruit;  a  family  in  which  there  are  disobedient  and 
obedient  sons,  a  Judas  as  well  as  a  John,  and  foolish  as 
well  as  wise  virgins ;  and  a  body  in  which  there  are 
diseased  and  feeble  and  even  palsied  limbs,  as  well  as 
those  which  are  healthy.  The  end  is  not  yet.  ''The 
harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world,  and  the  reapers  are  the 
angels."  Then  will  come  the  sifting  time,  the  testing 
time,  the  time  for  binding  up  in  bundles,  the  ingather- 
ing and  the  glorifying  time.  And  then,  too,  all  beyond 
the  collective  body  of  the  church,  of  the  redeemed 
church, — the  world,  the  outlying  fallow  ground,  the 
wild,  waste,  unprofitable  wilderness, — will  be  burned 
up.  Then,  while  the  redeemed  shall  ride  safely,  in  the 
ark  Christ  Jesus,  over  the  fiery  billows  of  a  devastated 
''earth  and  heaven,"  the  unbelieving  generation,  that 
would  not  hear  God's  warning  voice,  listen  to  his  com- 
mands, embrace  his  invitation  and  come  into  the  ark, 
— they  shall  perish  and  sink  like  lead  in  the  depths  of 
the  devouring  flames. 

What,  THEN,  0  thou  neglecter  of  God's  ordinance, 
will  be  all  thy  vain  excuses  for  remaining  away  from 
God, — without  God  as  a  God  in  covenant, — without 
Christ  as  your   Master,  Lord   and   Shepherd, — ^aliens 


348  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel  and  strangers  from 
the  covenants  of  promise, — prodigals  in  a  far  country, 
an-hungered,  and  yet  labouring  for  that  which  is  not 
bread,  toiling  for  that  which  satisfieth  not,  dead  while 
you  live,  without  hope,  nigh  unto  cursing,  already  con- 
demned? Surely  all  your  vain  excuses  are  no  better, 
no  wiser,  and  not  less  ungodly  than  the  ungodly 
speeches  of  those  who  refused  to  come  to  the  palace 
and  the  marriage  supper  of  the  king,  when  bidden  of 
him,  because  one  had  a  farm  he  wished  to  visit, 
another  a  wife  he  wished  to  please,  another  ten  yoke 
of  oxen  he  desired  to  prove.  And  when  that  King  of 
glory  shall  come  in  his  Fathei  's  kingdom  to  see  the 
guests,  then,  oh,  then,  if  not  wise  to-day,  you,  like 
them,  shall  either  be  shut  out  and  cast  into  outer  dark- 
ness, or,  even  if  it  were  possible  for  you  to  enter  in  with- 
out having  received,  through  his  appointed  means  of 
grace,  the  wedding  garment,  when  the  King  shall 
ask,  "Friend,  how  camest  thou  in  hither?"  you  will 
be  speechless.  And  then  shall  the  King  say  unto  his 
servants,  "Bind  him  hand  and  foot,  and  take  him  away 
and  cast  him  into  outer  darkness :  there  shall  be  weep- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth." 

But  what,  you  will  say,  would  you  have  me  to  do? 
I  am  not  a  Christian;  I  am  not  converted,  sanctified 
and  saved;  and  would  you  have  me,  as  such  and  while 
suchj  join  the  Church?  Not  so.  God  forbid.  But 
here,  my  dear  reader,  is  the  awfulness  of  your  case. 
Your  excuse  is  your  guilt,  the  very  head  and  front  of 
your  offending,  the  heinousness  and  inexcusableness 
and  self-condemning  evidence  of  your  rebellious  enmity 
to  God.     Yes,  this  is  your  condemnation,  that  you  will 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBEES  OF   THE  CHUECH.      349 

not  come  unto  the  light  because  your  deeds — the  whole 
temper  and  spirit  and  disposition  of  your  heart — are 
evil.  You  hide  yourself  like  Adam,  because  conscious 
of  your  offence,  and  you  shun  the  light,  because  it  reveals 
the  hidden  things  of  darkness  that  lurk  in  the  cham- 
bers of  imagery  where  you  have  set  up  your  idols,  and 
where  you  fall  down  and  serve  them  day  and  night, 
defiling  the  temple  of  God  and  provoking  the  God  of 
the  temple  to  anger. 

Christ,  who  is  the  Lord  of  the  church,  is  also  its  Sa- 
viour. He  who  commands  these  duties  gives  strength 
to  perform  them.  All  the  fitness  you  require  is,  to 
feel  your  need  of  him,  for  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  ful- 
n,ess  of  God, — all  you  need  for  pardon,  peace  and  purity, 
wisdom,  righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption. 
He  is  the  author  of  faith,  the  giver  of  repentance,  the 
upholder  and  preserver  of  all  who  trust  in  him.  The 
very  fitness  you  require  for  this  ordinance  he  there- 
fore offers,  urges  on  you, — entreats,  persuades  and  be- 
seeches you  to  accept.  But  you  will  not.  You  will 
not  come  to  him  and  have  life.  You  will  not  believe 
and  be  saved.  You  will  not  submit,  and  be  accepted, 
restored,  reconciled  and  redeemed.  You  reject  Christ, 
and  then  disobey  his  commandments.  You  will  not 
come  to  the  God  of  ordinances,  and  then  excuse  your- 
self for  trampling  under  foot,  as  an  unholy,  useless 
thing,  the  ordinances  of  God. 

You  are  in  a  strait  betwixt  two.  Scylla  frowns 
terribly  on  your  left,  and  Charybdis  on  your  right, 
while  between  roll  the  dark  waters  of  destruction,  and 
on  the  shore  sits  the  Siren,  singing  you  to  sleep  and 
luring  you  to  destruction.     Before  you  is  the  shoreless, 

30 


850  THE   WELL    IN   THE    VALLEY. 

bottomless  ocean  of  eternity,  with  its  perdition  of  un- 
godly men.  On  either  side  are  the  unscalable  moun- 
tains. Behind  you  come  rushing  on  death,  judgment 
and  hell,  with  their  fierce  legions  of  devils,  ready  to 
torment  you  before  the  time,  and  hurling  on  you  the 
fiery  thunderbolts  of  God's  law  and  curse,  God's  threaten- 
ings  and  penalties. 

My  dear  reader,  escape ! — escape  for  thy  life !  Cry 
unto  God.  Cry,  and  spare  not.  There  is  none  else  can 
deliver.  Ask,  then,  until  you  receive.  Seek  until 
you  find.  Knock  until  the  door  of  mercy  is  opened. 
Lay  hold  upon  God's  strength.  Cling  to  the  horns  of 
the  altar  and  fall  into  the  hands  of  God.  Submit! 
Submit!  Yield  yourself  now  unto  him,  as  in  Christ 
Jesus  he  is  reconciling  sinners  unto  himself,  as  his  ser- 
vants to  obey  him.  Lay  down  the  weapons  of  your 
rebellion,  and  say  unto  him,  Now  I  am  thy  servant,  0 
Lord.  Do  with  me,  0  Lord,  as  seemeth  unto  thee  good. 
God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner. 

Wait  not,  0  delaying  sinner,  for  God  in  some  mira- 
culous manner  to  convert  you.  God  has  been  waiting 
for  you  these  many  years, — waiting  to  be  gracious,  and 
by  his  long-suffering  forbearance  leading  you  to  re- 
pentance. And  now,  even  now,  he  is  seated  on  a 
throne  of  grace,  to  which  he  invites  you  to  come  with 
boldness,  that  you  may  obtain  grace  and  mercy. 

Wait  not  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  For  has  he  not  already 
wrought  in  you  to  will  and  to  do,  convincing  you  of  sin, 
of  righteousness  and  of  judgment,  of  your  guilt,  danger 
and  duty,  of  the  desirableness  and  necessity  of  a  good 
hope  and  a  right  preparation  for  death?  ''Tell  other 
sinners,"  said  a  lady  who  had  long  been  waiting  to 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBERS   OF  THE   CHURCH.      351 

obtain  the  Holy  Spirit,  'Hhat  lie  is  waiting  for  them. 
They  do  not  know  it,  I  am  sure,  any  more  than  I  did; 
or  they  would  not  grieve  and  resist  and  provoke  him  as 
they  do."  Eesist,  then,  no  longer.  Grieve  him  no 
more.  Yield  to  his  heavenly  influence,  and,  depending 
on  his  promised  guidance  and  help  for  all  your  in- 
firmities, cast  yourself  on  that  divine  Saviour  whose  he 
is  and  to  whom  he  leads. 

Wait  not  for  Christ  to  come  to  you,  but  come  to 
him.  Has  he  not  come  ?  Is  he  not  near  ?  Is  he  not 
nigh  thee,  with  thee,  even  in  thine  heart?  Does  he 
not  at  least  stand  at  the  door  of  that  heart  of  thine, 
knocking  for  admittance,  and  saying,  ''  Open  unto  me, 
and  I  will  come  in,  and  take  up  my  abode  with  you, 
and  bless  you"?  He  is  not  absent,  thougE  invisible; 
nor  far  away,  though  in  heaven;  nor  uninterested, 
though  set  at  nought  so  long;  nor  unwilling,  though 
so  unkindly,  ungenerously  distrusted.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary for  you  to  be  carried  by  the  Spirit  to  heaven  to 
find  Christ.  Only  believe.  Venture  on  him;  venture 
wholly.  You  are  in  darkness,  but  he  sees  you.  You 
know  not  what  to  do,  but  he  knows  all  and  will  guide 
you  right.  You  have  no  power,  but  neither  had  the 
man  with  the  withered  arm,  nor  the  palsied,  nor  the 
dead;  and  surely  He  who  gave  them  life  and  ability 
will  give  you  power  to  become  the  son  of  God.  ''  Don't 
you  think,"  remarked  one  who  had  long  wearied  her- 
self in  going  about  seeking  for  Christ  in  some  sermon, 
or  meeting,  or  pastoral  conversation,  or  in  some  book, 
and  yet  had  not  found  him,  'Hhat  the  reason  why  we 
do  not  get  out  of  darkness  sooner,  is  because  we  do 
not  believe?     I  know  what  to  do.     I  must  trust  in 


352  THE  WELL  IN   THE   VALLEY, 

Jesus  Christ,  and  I  believe  God  will  enable  me  to  do 
so.  We  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  trust."  Yes,  dear 
reader,  this  is  all  you  can  do  ;  and,  blessed  be  God,  it 
is  ALL  you  are  required  to  do.  Take  Christ,  then,  at 
his  word,  and  you  may  be  very  sure  his  word  shall 
stand  and  that  he  will  make  it  good.  Not  only  may 
you  do  this.  You  ought  to  do  it.  You  must  do  it, 
or  perish.  ''  God  commands  every  man  to  repent  and 
believe."  Believe,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.  ''The 
obedience  of  faith"  is  the  only  acceptable  obedience, — a 
faith  relying  on  God's  assurance,  acting  upon  it,  hoping 
in  it  and  expecting  all  its  promised  blessings.  Justify 
not,  then,  your  unbelief  by  ''making  God  a  liar"  and 
thus  adding  sin  to  sin. 

Wait  not  for  a  revival  in  your  church  or  neighbour- 
hood. It  may  never  come.  It  may  come  and  you  be 
gone.  It  may  come,  and  find  you  hardened  through 
unbelief.  If  it  come,  the  same  difficulties  will  exist. 
Besides,  it  is  not  necessary.  Salvation  is  a  personal 
concern.  You  cannot  be  saved  in  a  crowd.  You  must 
individually,  in  your  own  heart,  with  your  own  power 
of  will  and  choice  and  with  your  own  love  and  desire, 
be  converted  and  turned  unto  God;  and  that  Holy 
Spirit  by  whom  alone  you  can  do  this  is  now  promised 
to  them  that  ask  him. 

Wait,  then,  for  nothing.  Above  all,  wait  not  for  a 
more  convenient  season.  What  are  you  to  do  in  the 
mean  time?  You  are  mortal.  You  are  in  the  hands 
of  that  God  against  whom  you  are  sinning  and  with 
whom  you  are  trifling.  You  are  abusing  his  grace, 
wasting  his  opportunities,  dishonouring  his  authority, 
disobeying  his  commands,  denying  his  rightful  claims. 


TO   THOSE   NOT   MEMBERS   OF   THE   CHUECH.      353 

withholding  his  purchased  and  redeemed  soul,  refusing 
liis  offered  pardon,  rejecting  his  Son,  grieving  his 
Spirit,  and  risking  everlasting  destruction  upon  the  un- 
certainty of  life  and  the  continued  forbearance  of  a  God 
already  angry  and  weary  of  your  shameful  provoca- 
tion. 

God  calls  you  now.  Dare  no  longer  to  disobey.  God 
invites  you  now.  Turn  no  longer  an  ear  deaf  as  an 
adder  to  the  kind  inviting  voice.  The  Saviour  weeps 
over  you,  as  he  did  over  Jerusalem,  saying,  '^  Oh  that 
thou  wouldest  know,  even  now,  in  this  thy  day,  the 
things  that  belong  to  thy  peace,  before  they  are  forever 
hidden  from  thine  eyes !"  Oh,  let  not  those  tears  of  the 
blessed  Redeemer  dry  upon  your  cheek,  or  fall  un- 
heeded to  the  ground.  God  is  sparing  you,  and  has 
given  you  this  fresh  opportunity  to  turn  unto  him  and 
live.  "  See,  then,  that  you  refuse  not  him  that  speaketh 
from  heaven!"  Refuse  the  offers  of  wealth  from  him 
that  would  bestow  it.  Neglect  that  disease  which  is 
preying  upon  your  vitals,  and  which  when  once  fastened 
upon  a  human  system  was  never  known  to  relax  its 
grasp.  Walk  carelessly  along  that  bending  and  creak- 
ing plank  which  carries  you  so  dangerously  over  the 
deep  and  howling  cataract.  Sleep  soundly  upon  the 
giddy  top  of  the  lofty  mast  while  the  winds  are  shriek- 
ing in  frantic  rage  amid  the  bare  ropes  and  poles,  and  the 
mountain  waves  are  rising  up  to  heaven.  Build  the 
foundations  of  your  future  life,  in  which  you  wish  to  enjoy 
the  comforts  of  a  quiet  home  in  the  bosom  of  an  en- 
deared family,  on  the  now  slumbering  but  soon  to  become 
boisterous  waves.  Let  your  vessel  glide  along  smoothly 
without  wind  or  tide,  while  you  hear  the  faint  and 

X  30* 


354  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

feeble  sound  increase  even  into  the  dread  rumbling 
of  the  Maelstrom's  awful  moan.  And  while  you 
sweep  on  resistlessly  in  ever-nearing  circles,  until  the 
fearful  sight,  as  if  hell  from  beneath  opening  to  receive 
you,  appalls  your  view,  and  in  fiercer  whirl  you  rob 
round  the  dread  abyss, — sing  joyously  and  laugh  all 
fear  to  scorn.  Do  any  or  all  of  these  things.  Do 
any  thing,  if  possible,  even  more  mad  and  suicidal,  but 
despise  not  the  voice  of  God  which  now  speaks  to  you, 
saying,  '^To-day,  if  you  will  hear  my  voice,  harden  not 
your  heart  as  in  the  day  of  provocation,  when  God 
swore  concerning  Israel  that  they  should  not  enter  into 
his  rest."  That  voice  then  shook  the  earth,  made  the 
mountain  to  quake  and  its  very  rocks  to  burst,  so  that 
the  whole  assembly  hid  themselves  for  dread,  and  even 
Moses  exceedingly  feared  and  quaked.  Despise  not, 
then,  that  voice  which  shall  once  again  rend  not  the 
earth  only,  but  also  the  heavens,  yea,  wake  the  sleep- 
ing dead  from  the  slumber  of  ages,  to  stand  in  judgment 
before  him.  0  sinner,  hearken  to  that  voice  as  a  voice 
of  warning  mercy,  that  you  may  not  listen  to  it  as  a 
voice  of  indignation  and  wrath: — 'Tor  if  the  word 
spoken  by  angels  was  steadfast,  and  every  transgression 
and  disobedience  received  a  just  recompense  of  reward, 
liow  shall  we  escape  if  wef  neglect  so  great  salvation?" 

Oh,  heavenward,  heavenward  turn  your  sail, 

Ere  midst  that  fearful  roar 
Ye  sink  in  night,  where  the  howling  gale 
Doth  o'er  the  lost  ones  moan  and  wail, 

Sunk, — sunk  to  rise  no  more! 

False  is  the  pageant  that  seems  so  fair; 
False  are  the  lights  that  lure ; 


TO  THOSE  NOT  MEMBEES   OF   THE   CHURCH.      355 

And  the  warp  of  darkness  woven  there 
Of  sin  and  sorrow  and  deep  despair, 
Forever  shall  endure ! 

But  see!  afar,  o'er  the  sea  of  life, 

A  haven  of  rest  appears ! 
There  are  no  joys  with  temptation  rife, 
There  is  no  anguish,  no  pain  nor  strife, 

There  are  no  parting  tears. 

There  shall  no  shadow  the  <*Dayspring"  mar 

That  beams  o'er  the  angel  band. 
Then  flee  from  earth's  pageant  of  sin  afar; 
By  the  light  of  Bethlehem's  guiding  star, 

Oh,  steer  for  the  "Better  Land!" 

Ah,  my  dear  reader,  you  may  not  fear  tlie  power  of 
man's  wrath;  but  I  will  tell  you  whom  you  should  fear: 
''Fear  him  who  can  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell 
forever.  Yea,  I  say  unto  you,  fear  him.  It  is  a  fear- 
ful thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God;  for 
our  God  is  a  consuming  fire,  and  according  to  his  power 
so  also  is  his  wrath." 

There  is  a  voice  of  sovereign  grace 

Sounds  from  the  sacred  word : 
Ho !  ye  despairing  sinners,  come, 

And  trust  upon  the  Lord. 

My  soul  obeys  the  almighty  call, 

And  runs  to  this  relief: 
I  would  believe  thy  promise.  Lord; 

Oh,  help  my  unbelief. 

To  the  dear  fountain  of  thy  blood, 

Incarnate  God,  I  fly: 
Here  let  me  wash  my  spotted  soul 

From  crimes  of  deepest  dye. 


356         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

Stretch  out  thine  arm,  victorious  King, 

My  reigning  sins  subdue ; 
Drive  the  old  dragon  from  his  seat, 

With  his  apostate  crew. 

A  guilty,  weak  and  helpless  worm, 

On  thy  kind  arms  I  fall : 
Be  thou  my  strength  and  righteousness, 

My  Jesus  and  my  all ! 

Do  this,  my  dear  reader.  Do  this  now,  once  and 
forever,  and  then  you  shall  know  of  the  doctrines  that 
they  are  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation; 
and  knowing,  you  will  grow  in  knowledge,  and  perfect 
strength  In  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  until  you  come  to  learn 
Christ's  immeasurable  grace  and  to  feel  the  joys  that 
cannot  be  expressed.  Then  shall  the  church  become 
to  you  a  home,  a  training-school,  a  vineyard,  a 
field  which  the  Lord  hath  blest,  a  garden  blossoming 
and  fragrant  as  the  rose.  Then,  too,  the  world  and 
life  and  labour,  hitherto  so  irksome  and  hard  to  bear, 
shall  become  like  the  wilderness  converted  into  a  fruit- 
ful field,  a  yoke  that  is  easy  and  a  burden  that  is 
light.  And  then  will  the  Lord's  Supper  become  to  you 
a  feast  of  fat  things,  of  wine  on  the  lees  well  refined, 
pleasant  to  the  eye,  sweet  to  the  taste,  delightful  to  the 
smell,  nourishing  to  the  soul  as  bread  to  the  hungry,  in 
the  heart  a  well  of  living  water,  and  to  the  whole  inner 
man  strength  in  the  Lord  and  power  from  his  grace, 
with  which  to  run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  you, 
looking  for  and  hasting  unto  the  coming  of  the  great 
God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 


TO  THOSE   NOT   MEMBEP;S  OF   THE  CHUECH.      357 


SELF-DEDICATION  TO  GOD. 

Lord,  I  am  thine,  entirely  thine, 
Purchased  and  saved  by  blood  divine: 
With  full  consent  thine  I  would  be 
And  own  thy  sovereign  right  in  me. 

Grant  one  poor  sinner  more  a  place 
Among  the  children  of  thy  grace, — 
A  wretched  sinner,  lost  to  God, 
But  ransom'd  by  Immanuel's  blood. 

Thine  would  I  live,  thine  would  I  die, 
Be  thine  through  all  eternity: 
The  vow  is  pass'd  beyond  repeal ; 
Now  will  I  set  the  solemn  seal. 

Here,  at  that  cross  where  flows  the  blood 
That  bought  my  guilty  soul  for  God, 
Thee  my  new  Master  now  I  call. 
And  consecrate  to  thee  my  all. 

Do  thou  assist  a  feeble  worm 
The  great  engagement  to  perform : 
Thy  grace  can  full  assistance  lend; 
And  on  that  grace  I  dare  depend. 


Dark  was  the  long-predicted  night, 
When  last  the  little  flock  assembled 

And  watch'd  with  awe  the  approaching  light, 
And  for  the  fatal  morrow  trembled, — 

That  morrow  which  their  Lord  should  see 

Extended  on  the  accursed  tree. 

'Twas  then  that,  with  uplifted  eye, 

He  took  the  sacred  bread  and  brake  it; 

'Twas  then  the  cup  he  raised  on  high, 
And  bade  the  astonish'd  mourners  *'Take  it; 

Take  it ;  and  when  this  cup  you  see. 

Poor  contrite  soul,  remember  me  I" 


358  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

And  didst  thou  say,  ''Remember  thee"? 

Sooner  yon  sun  shall  cease  its  shining, 
Sooner  this  soul  shall  cease  to  be — 

Its  immortality  resigning — 
Than  this  fond  heart  forget  to  raise 
Its  anthems  of  perpetual  praise. 

Can  I  thy  houseless  nights  forget, 
The  cold  dews  on  thy  temples  lying, 

The  taunts,  the  spear,  the  bloody  sweat, 
The  last  long  agony  of  dying, 

Thy  present  gifts,  so  large  and  free, 

The  transports  of  eternity? 

And  is  thy  sacred  table  deck'd, 

Thine  own  blest  hand  the  feast  preparing, 

And  shall  my  soul  the  joy  reject 

The  angelic  bands  delight  in  sharing  ? 

I  come !  I  come  !  Oh,  hear  my  prayer  I 

Blest  Saviour,  meet  my  spirit  there  1 


A  PLEA  FOR  THE   CHURCH.  359 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

A   PLEA   FOR   THE    CHURCH. 

The  church  is  to  the  world  what  Christ  was  when  he 
was  made  flesh  and  dwelt  or  tabernacled  among  us.  It 
is  Christ's  tabernacle.  It  is  the  king's  palace.  It  is  the 
royal  court;  for  where  the  king  is,  there  the  court  is. 
''  Where  Christ  is,  (says  Augustine,)  there  the  church  is," 
and  where  the  church  is,  there  Christ  is,  according  to  his 
own  promises.  "Where  the  spirit  of  God  is,  says  Ire- 
naeus,  there  the  church  is."  Where  the  church  is, 
there  Christ  and  his  Spirit  will  be.  Here,  as  in  a  sanc- 
tuary, God  sits  enthroned,  to  hear,  answer  and  bless 
every  true  worshipper.  Blessings  flow  from  it  as 
their  fountain,  and  radiate  from  it  as  that  planetary 
orb  which  reflects  the  light  of  the  Sun  of  righteousness. 
It  is  the  spring  of  the  fountain  and  the  only  source  of  all 
light  and  heat.  It  is  for  the  church  as  Christ's  kingdom 
and  body — the  ingatherer  of  the  harvest — that  the  world 
exists,  providence  is  sustained,  nations  are  permitted  to 
rise  and  fall,  time  to  fulfil  its  destined  course,  and  the  ge- 
nerations of  men  to  fill  up  the  number  of  earth's  myriad 
inhabitants,  and  all  the  blessings  of  civilization,  liberty 
and  social  happiness  to  fall  like  dew  or  manna  upon  the 
earth.  The  power  and  the  grace  are  resident  in  Christ 
alone,  and  bestowed  by  his  sovereign  will  whensoever  and 
on  whomsoever  it  pleaseth  him.     But  as  when  Christ 


360  THE   WELL   IN  THE   VALLEY. 

dwelt  among  us  in  the  temple  of  his  body,  healing  vir- 
tue went  out  from  the  very  hem  of  his  garment,  and 
rays  of  glory  shone  forth,  revealing  the  only-begotten 
Son  of  God,  so  the  mercies  manifold  which  multiply 
— beyond  the  boundaries  of  his  body  the  church — to 
the  world  at  large,  are  the  evidences  of  Christ's  pre- 
sence with  her,  and  the  blessings  which  she  scatters 
along  her  path  on  her  glorious  march  to  universal 
dominion  and  eternal  glory. 

However,  therefore,  it  may  be  despised  or  dises- 
teemed,  man's  soul  unconsciously  needs  and  craves  for 
the  church  of  God.  With  unsatisfied  desires  and  un- 
quenchable longings,  it  seeks  for  rest  within  itself,  and 
finds  only  an  empty  void,  which  neither  the  world,  nor 
home,  nor  business,  nor  any  earthly  enjoyments,  can 
ever  fill.  Hungry  and  thirsty,  it  turns  away  from  the 
dull  satieties  of  earth,  and  pines  for  want  of  heavenly 
manna  and  living  water.  Wearied  amid  the  fretful 
circumstances  of  passing  time  and  the  unvarying  round 
of  sublunary  engagements,  it  despondingly  asks,  ''  Who 
will  show  me  any  good?"  And  solitary  and  alone  amid 
bustling  crowds  and  gay,  festive  halls,  it  sighs  for  the 
wings  of  a  dove,  that  it  might  fly  away  and  be  at  rest. 
Yes,  poor  soul,  thou  needest  rest  and  findest  none,  and 
never  can  find  any,  except  in  God  and  in  God's  own 
house,  and  in  the  consolations  there  provided  for  you, 
by  Christ  whose  house  it  is.  The  spark  divine  within 
thee, 

Like  a  dim  lamp  that  o'er  a  river  shines, 

Still  in  thy  soul  sounds  the  deep  undertone 

Of  some  unmeasurable,  boundless  time. 

That  still,  small  voice  calls  to  your  Father's  house, 

The  mountain  of  your  rest,  the  kingdom  of  the  skies, 


A   PLEA   FOR   THE   CHURCH.  361 

In  heavenly  grace  and  beauty  warm  with  life, 
With  saints  and  angels  peopling  all  her  courts. 

Many  thousand  hearts  now  happy  and  at  home  in 
the  church,  rejoicing  in  the  goodly  fellowship  of  the 
saints  and  enjoying  spiritual  health  and  spiritual  act- 
ivity, can  give  their  experience  in  the  language  of  that 
beautiful  lyric, — - 

People  of  the  living  God, 

I  have  sought  the  world  around. 
Paths  of  sin  and  sorrow  trod, 

Peace  and  comfort  nowhere  found; 
Now  to  you  my  spirit  turns, 

Turns,  a  fugitive  unblest ; 
Brethren,  where  your  altar  burns, 

Oh,  receive  me  into  rest. 

Lonely,  I  no  longer  roam, 

Like  the  cloud,  the  wind,  the  wave ; 
Where  you  dwell  shall  be  my  home. 

Where  you  die  shall  be  my  grave ; 
Mine  the  God  whom  you  adore. 

Your  Redeemer  shall  be  mine; 
Earth  can  ^11  my  soul  no  more, 

Every  idol  I  resign. 

Tell  me  not  of  gain  or  loss. 

Ease,  enjoyment,  pomp,  or  power  ; 
Welcome  poverty  or  cross, 

Shame,  reproach,  affliction's  hour : 
"Follow  me  :"  I  know  thy  voice; 

Jesus,  Lord,  thy  steps  I  see ; 
Now  I  take  thy  yoke,  by  choice  ; 

Light  thy  burden  now  to  me. 

Make  that  choice,  dear  reader,  your's,  and  this  expe- 
rience will  be  your's.  Yes !  in  the  church  there  is  for 
you  a  home,  home-rest  and  home-happiness.     It  is  at 


362         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

once  the  emblem,  the  proof  and  the  earnest  of  the 
heavenly  home, — the  earthly  fold  of  the  Good  Shep- 
herd,— the  well  in  the  valley, — the  homestead  of  Christ's 
family,  where  out  of  his  treasury  he  supplies  all  their 
wants,  and  dwells  among  them  to  bless  them  and  do 
them  good, — 

The  earth's  one  sanctuary, 

Where  in  the  shadow  of  the  rock  we  dwell, 

The  rock  of  strength. 

To  it  are  given  the  oracles  of  God,  the  promises,  the 
means  of  grace,  the  feast  of  love,  the  communion  of 
souls.  Here,  as  it  has  been  said,  the  stranger  finds  a 
welcome,  the  alien  the  privileges  of  citizenship,  the 
orphan  the  adoption  of  sons,  and  the  long  lost  prodi- 
gal a  joyous  home.  Here  love  and  sympathy,  encou- 
ragement and  kindness,  dwell.  Eeceived  into  this  family 
of  God  with  joy  such  as  is  felt  by  the  angels  over  one 
sinner  that  repenteth,  you  will  feel 

No  more  a  stranger  or  a  guest, 
But  like  a  child  at  home.  ' 

The  weary  traveller  is  seated  by  the  fireside,  and  his 
heart  cheered  with  the  wine  of  consolation.  A  mortal 
immortal  knocks  at  the  gate,  and  is  admitted  for  a  night 
and  forever.  The  scene  and  the  locality  may,  like  a 
dissolving  view,  pass  from  the  light ;  but  the  heart-union 
to  each  other  and  to  Christ,  formed  among  the  brother- 
hood, will,  if  sincere,  be  durable  as  the  years  of  eternity ; 
and  while  the  stranger  just  admitted  may  be  a  cold 
corpse  to-morrow,  he  becomes  one  of  a  family  known, 
in  the  language  of  God,  as  'Hhe  church  of  the  first-born, 


A   PLEA   FOR   THE   CHURCH.  363 

whose  names  are  written  in  heaven,"  meet  for  God's 
golden  house  in  highest  heaven  above. 

It  is,  therefore,  by  being  born  in  Zion,  and  nourished 
as  babes  in  Christ  at  her  bosom,  God  has  ordained 
that  his  children  are  to  grow  in  the  nurture  and  admo- 
nition of  the  Lord,  until,  matured  in  grace  as  a  son  or 
daughter  of  the  Lord  God  Almighty,  they  are  prepared 
for  an  inheritance  among  the  saints  in  light. 

It  is  true,  sadly  true,  that  such  is  not  the  view  taken 
of  the  church  by  men  generally.  To  them  she  presents 
no  form  or  comeliness,  no  grace  or  beauty,  wherefore 
they  should  desire  her.  They  see  only  the  wrinkles  on 
her  forehead  and  the  scars  upon  her  wounded  sides  and 
bleeding  hands.  They  hear  only  the  sounds  of  her  in- 
testine broils  and  public  strife.  They  look  only  upon 
what  to  them  appear  her  forms  of  godliness,  which  seem 
cold,  unmeaning,  heartless  services.  She  is  to  them 
only  as  a  tent  to  which  the  wayfaring  man  turns  aside 
for  a  momentary  repose  from  the  fatigue  and  weariness 
of  his  journey,  but  not  as  the  home 

Where  his  best  friends,  his  kindred,  dwell ; 
Where  God  his  Saviour  reigns. 

True,  sadly  true,  it  is,  that  for  such  views  there  is 
often  too  much  ground.  A  church  made  up  of  imper- 
fect creatures  in  an  imperfect  state  must  have  many 
imperfections,  and  fall  greatly  below  the  standard  and 
pattern  of  it  showed  in  the  Mount, — far  below  what  it 
might  and  ought  to  be  and  what  it  yet  will  be.  In  the 
church,  we  are  ready  to  imagine,  one  might  hope  to 
meet  with  nothing  to  mar,  and  every  thing  to  enhance, 
our  enjoyment  of  the  rest  of  God.     It  is  not,  however. 


364         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

precisely  so ;  and  the  fact  that  it  is  not  so  is  frequently 
a  grievous  stumbling-block  in  the  course  of  the  young 
believer. 

And  yet,  if  this  evil  be  confronted  and  surveyed,  it 
will  disquiet  less.  It  will  be  ascertained  to  be  an  evil 
in  part  imaginary,  in  part  exaggerated,  and  in  part 
real  and  great,  but  still  made  subservient  to  good. 

That  there  are  on  some  points  different  opinions 
among  true  believers  is  to  a  great  extent  an  imaginary 
evil.  No  mind  but  one  can  justly  comprehend  all  the 
truths,  with  all  their  relations,  which  fill  the  paradise 
of  revelation.  Among  finite,  ignorant  and  unsanctified 
men  there  must  be  various  and  discordant  views  of  the 
boundless  universe  of  truth.  If,  then,  this  Christian 
sees  more  of  one  truth  and  that  of  another,  and  if  each 
states  his  opinion  with  his  reasons  for  it  kindly,  the 
deficiencies  in  the  general  fund  of  Christian  knowledge 
will  be  continually  diminished,  and  apparent  differences 
will  be  found  to  arise  more  from  imperfect  and  partial 
views  than  from  any  contradiction  either  in  spirit  or  in 
faith. 

That  there  are  great  failings  observable  in  Christians 
is  an  exaggerated  evil,  because  that  which  is  exceptional 
is  attributed  to  the  whole  body.  Were  a  man  to  enter  a 
garden,  of  which  many  fruits  and  flowers  were  excel- 
lent, and  bring  forth  from  it  nothing  but  a  handful  of 
weeds,  how  absurd  as  well  as  false  would  it  be  to  repre- 
sent these  as  samples  of  the  general  products  of  the 
garden,  the  character  of  its  soil  and  the  taste  and  skill 
of  the  gardener !  And,  while  it  is  not  less  unreasonable, 
is  it  not  very  wicked,  to  hold  up  the  inconsistencies  and 
open  apostasy  of  a  few  professors — who  grow  up  as 


A   PLEA   FOB,   THE   CHURCH.  365 

tares  among  the  wheat — as  representatives  of  what  all 
Christians  really  are? 

But  still  further.  The  most  halt  and  stumbling 
Christian  may  often  be  the  most  humble  and  sincere. 
The  soiled  and  tattered  garment  may  cover  a  warm 
and  loving  heart.  Wounds  and  bruises  and  putrefy- 
ing sores  may  be  as  the  rough  and  carbuncled  shell 
that  protects  the  diamond.  And  of  many  whom  the 
world  condemns  and  the  church  itself  doubts,  it  may 
be  said  that  each  one  of  them  is 

A  king,  even  now  a  king,  thrice  blest. 
No  longer  by  his  foes  oppress'd, 
Though  still  he  hides  from  mortal  ken 
The  flashing  of  his  diadem. 

And  is  not  this  arrangement,  though  attended  with 
many  evils,  and  though  it  occasions  many  scandals, 
offences,  heresies  and  divisions,  made  subservient  to 
much  good?  Is  it  not  an  exhibition  of  kindness  and 
forbearance  and  mercy  to  the  unthankful,  ungodly 
world,  and  is  it  not  a  test  of  faith  and  love  and  loyalty 
to  Christ's  faithful  followers? 

But  grant  all  that  any  man  can  ask,  and  admit  all 
the  instances  of  lamentable  hypocrisy  and  backsliding 
and  apostasy.  These  tares  are  not  the  wheat,  though 
growing  with  them  in  the  same  field  and  enjoying  the 
same  rain  and  sunshine  and  laborious  cultivation. 
These  scandals  and  offences  and  heresies  and  divi- 
sions are  not  the  genuine  and  intended  fruits  of  the 
vineyard,  though  they  are  often  found  in  rank  luxu- 
riance flourishing  in  the  courts  of  the  Lord.  These 
apostates  are  not  genuine  disciples.     Such  are,  indeed, 

31* 


366  THE  WELL    IN   THE  VALLEY. 

in  and  of  Israel,  but  they  are  not  Israel.  They  are  a 
mixed  multitude,  that  go  up  with  Israel  to  the  promised 
land,  who  are  now  made  helpful  to  her  and  whose  very 
vices  are  set  before  her  as  warnings.  And  while  the 
church  visible  and  outward  is,  indeed,  like  Joseph's 
coat  of  many  colours,  and  though  the  many  tongues  of 
her  divided  tribes — who  understand  not  one  another's 
speech— are  like  Babel's  voices;  yet  among  all  these 
scattered  and  discordant  multitudes  there  is  a  sacred 
race,  a  chosen  inheritance  of  God ;  and  from  that  din  of 
confused  and  rabble  jargon  there  comes  up  the  swelling 
sound  of  blest  voices  uttering  praise  and  adoration  to 
the  one  living  and  true  God. 

Be  not,  then,  deceived  by  outward  seeming.  Many, 
it  is  admitted,  are  the  evils  and  many  the  divisions  of 
the  church  of  God.  But  within  all  these,  and  notwith- 
standing them,  the  true,  the  invisible,  the  spiritual 
church  exists  in  its  indivisible,  sublime  unity.  Con- 
secrated by  a  divine  vocation,  enlisted  to  a  heavenly 
calling  and  animated  by  celestial  patriotism,  this  sacra- 
mental host  of  God's  elect  moves  forward  as  one  con- 
secrated host,  under  one  leader  and  commander,  and 
with  one  single  end  in  view, — the  spiritual  conquest  of 
the  world.  The  principle  which  prophesies  and  pro- 
motes this  union  must  operate  wherever  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  is. 


This  is  the  abode  where  God  doth  dwell, 

This  is  the  gate  of  heaven, 
The  shrine  of  the  Invisible, 

The  Priest,  the  Victim  given, 
Our  God  himself,  content  to  die, 
In  boundless  charity. 


A   PLEA   FOE,   THE   CHURCH.  367 

Oh,  holy  seat,  oh,  holy  fane, 

Where  dwells  the  Omnipotent, 
Whom  the  broad  world  cannot  contain, 

Nor  heaven's  high  firmament ! 
He  visits  earth's  poor  sky-roof  d  cell, 
And  here  he  deigns  to  dwell ! 

Here,  where  the  unearthly  Guest  descends 

To  hearts  of  innocence, 
And  sacred  Love  her  wing  extends 

Of  holiest  influence, 
He  mid  his  children  loves  to  be 
In  lowly  majesty. 

Let  no  unhallow'd  thought  be  here, 

Within  that  sacred  door ; 
Let  nought  polluted  dare  draw  near, 

Nor  tread  the  awful  floor ; 
Or,  lo !  the  Avenger  is  at  hand 
And  at  the  door  doth  stand. 

The  eye  of  sense  sees  only  tiie  outward.  To  it  these 
separate  companies,  with  their  diversified  uniform, 
their  distinct  leaders  and  various  banners,  occupying 
each  their  several  positions  and  marching  to  the  sound 
of  their  own  music,  appear  like  so  many  hostile  bands. 
Or,  to  change  the  figure  and  contemplate  the  church 
as  one  common  family  and  brotherhood  of  which  Christ 
is  the  Head,  then  to  the  eye  of  the  carnal  observer 
the  misconception  is  just  the  same.  The  stranger 
knows  nothing  of  the  joys  and  communion  of  the 
domestic  circle.  The  ripples  that  occasionally  break 
the  placidity  of  the  fountain  may  attract  his  vision, 
but  he  knows  nothing  of  the  deep,  silent,  constant 
love  and  soul-refreshing  intercourse  that  make  glad 
the  city  of  our  God.  Any  man  may  be  witness  to  the 
confusion  and  disorder  incident  to  house-keeping  and 


368  THE  WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

house-cleaning  and  table-preparation.  Any  man  may- 
be witness  to  the  many  little  bickerings  and  harsh 
speeches  that  may  break  forth  like  sparks  from  the 
domestic  hearth,  or  like  steam  from  the  domestic  urn. 
But  the  fireside  chat,  the  household  cheer,  the  smiles, 
the  jokes,  the  laugh,  the  pleasant  repartee,  the  look 
answering  look  of  affection,  the  silent,  secret,  soul- 
subduing  sympathy  and  love  which  weep  with  whoever 
weeps  and  rejoice  with  whoever  is  happy, —  the  inner 
life,  in  short,  which  lives  in  every  member  of  the  family 
and  is  common  to  all, — this  he  cannot  see  or  feel.  ''A 
stranger  intermeddleth  not  therewith,"  No:  there 
must  be  a  vital  union  in  order  to  a  real  communion  in 
this  life,  and  love  and  happiness.  And  if  this  is  so  in 
earthly,  how  much  more  true  is  it  in  heavenly  things, 
which  can  only  be  spiritually  discerned  and  of  which 
the  natural  heart  can  know  nothing!  How  much 
greater,  then,  must  be  the  misjudgment  of  those  who 
estimate  the  life  and  love  of  Christ  and  his  church  by 
what  is  visible  in  the  outer  life  of  Christian  men, — im- 
perfect men, — men  who  are  as  yet  only  as  babes  and 
children  in  Christ,  immature,  seeing  as  through  a  glass 
darkly,  and  knowing  only  in  part !  The  very  perfec- 
tion of  love  and  beauty  and  holiness  in  the  gospel 
throws  its  followers  into  sad  and  melancholy  contrast. 
They  are  seen  as  faces  are  through  false  reflectors, — 
distorted,  caricatured,  and  every  blemish  immensely 
magnified. 

Christians  are  not  yet  what  they  ought  to  be  and 
shall  be.  But  we  know  also  that  they  are  not  what 
they  once  were,  nor  what  they  hope  to  be  when  they 
shall  be  all  like  Him  who  is  the  chief  among  ten  thou- 


A   PLEA   FOR   THE   CHUBCH.  369 

sand  and  altogether  lovely.  Even  now  and  here,  amid 
all  their  weaknesses  and  deformities  and  disagreements, 
there  is  among  them  all  a  family  likeness,  a  family 
relationship,  an  indissoluble  bond,  an  invisible,  secret, 
all-powerful  sympathy. 

The  kindred  links  of  life  are  bright, 

But  not  so  bright  as  those 
In  which  Christ's  favoured  friends  unite 

And  each  on  each  repose, 
Where  all  the  hearts  in  union  cling 
To  Him  their  centre  and  their  spring. 

Only  let  some  common  enemy  approach,  some  common 
danger  alarm,  some  common  revival  enkindle  their 
affections, — only  let  some  calamity  common  to  all  occur, 
some  death  which  is  vital  to  all  take  place, — some 
thoughts  that  breathe  and  words  that  burn  be  uttered 
by  any  voice  in  the  entire  family  of  God, — and  there  is 
at  once  awakened  a  responsive  voice  in  the  whole  heart 
of  Christendom,  throughout  every  one  of  its  widely- 
separated  families.  Oh,  yes !  and  when,  as  in  the  case 
of  Carey,  or  Chalmers,  or  Martyn,  or  Judson,  or  Wil- 
liams, or  Heber,  some  champion  of  the  cross  falls  in  the 
high  places  of  the  field,  fighting  manfully  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and  contending  earnestly 
for  the  common  salvation  even  until  death  silences  the 
shout  of  "victory," — and  whether  it  shall  have  been 
by  the  labours  of  his  pen  or  by  the  labours  of  his  life, 
— whether  he  shall  have  lived  in  Europe,  Asia,  Africa, 
or  America, — and  to  whatever  portion  of  the  church  he 
may  have  been  attached, — there  will  go  up  a  voice  of 
lamentation,  because  a  mighty  man  has  fallen  in  Israel. 
The  record  of  his  valorous  achievements  will  kindle  a 


370         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

flame  of  devotion  in  the  bosom  of  every  soldier  of  the 
cross.  The  song  of  triumph  and  the  shout  of  victory- 
will  go  up  to  heaven  from  every  tribe  and  tent  in  Israel, 
for  the  glorious  achievements  of  his  life  and  death. 
His  relation  to  one  denomination  will  be  lost  in  his 
common  relation  to  all.  His  name  and  his  greatness 
will  be  considered  a  common  inheritance,  and  be  re- 
membered with  grateful  praise  and  a  common  glorying, 
in  all  lands,  by  all  denominations  and  to  the  remotest 
posterity.  All  envy,  jealousy  and  sectarian  selfishness 
will  be  lost  in  the  contemplation  of  Christian  genius 
and  devotion,  and  such  heroes  and  martyrs  will  take 
their  places  in  the  firmament  of  heaven,  there  to  shine 
as  stars  and  to  encompass  the  church,  in  her  march 
through  the  wilderness,  as  a  great  cloud  of  witnesses. 

Thee  in  them,  0  Lord  most  high, 
Them  in  thee  we  glorify ; 
Glory,  0  Lord,  to  thee  alone, 
Who  thus  hast  glorified  thine  own. 

Here,  then,  is  the  evidence  and  the  earnest  of  that 
unity  of  spirit,  of  faith,  hope  and  charity,  which  ani- 
mates every  follower  of  the  Lamb.  And  how  does  this 
common  affection,  this  spirit  of  brotherhood,  break 
its  silence  and  receive  audible  manifestation  in  every 
prayer  they  offer!  When  bowing  before  the  common 
mercy-seat,  how  do 

The  saints  in  prayer  appear  as  one, 

In  word  and  deed  and  mind, — 
While  with  the  Father  and  the  Son 

Sweet  fellowship  they  find. 


A  PLEA   FOR  THE   CHURCH.  371 

The  soul,  caught  up  on  wings  of  love, 
Communes  with  happier  souls  above ; 
Burst  is  the  separating  girth, 
And  earth  is  heaven,  and  heaven  is  earth. 

Yes,  let  true  believers  only  be  brought  together 
before  the  throne  of  grace,  and  they  feel  that  they  have 
one  language,  one  country,  one  fatherland,  and  that 
they  are  fellow-citizens  of  one  glorious  kingdom.  Their 
hearts  run  together  as  do  the  particles  of  quicksilver, 
and  you  might  as  well  try  to  separate  the  confluent 
atoms  of  air  as  to  dissever  their  united  hearts.  Two 
converts  from  different  parts  of  the  heathen  world, 
and  by  the  instrumentality  of  missionaries  of  different 
denominations,  were  once  brought  forward  at  a  mis- 
sionary meeting  on  the  same  platform.  They  had  not 
known  nor  seen  each  other  before.  They  could  not 
speak  each  other's  language.  But  through  the  medium 
of  the  missionaries  present  they  were  introduced,  and 
made  acquainted  with  each  other's  conversion  to  God 
and  union  to  Christ  and  his  church.  Their  counte- 
nances were  immediately  lighted  up.  Their  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears.  One  of  them  cried  out,  in  ecstasy, 
"Hallelujah!"  The  other  took  up  the  note  of  joy,  and 
shouted,  in  still  louder  voice,  "Hallelujah!"  They 
rushed  into  each  other's  arms  and  embraced  one 
another  as  brethren.  Thus  do  Christians,  loving  the 
same  Saviour  who  begat  them  by  his  grace  to  the  same 
blessed  hope,  love  also  each  other,  because  begotten  by 
him. 

The  faith  for  which  saints  once  endured 

The  dungeon  and  the  stake. 
That  very  faith,  with  hearts  assured, 

Upon  our  lips  we  take. 


372  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

Though  scatter'd  widely  left  and  right 

And  sent  to  various  posts, 
One  is  the  battle  that  -ye  fight 

Beneath  one  Lord  of  Hosts. 

We  know  not — we  shall  never  know — 

Our  fellow-labourers  here; 
But  they  that  strive  and  toil  below 

Shall  with  one  crown  appear. 

Oh,  taste,  then,  dear  reader,  and  see  that  the  Lord 
is  good.  Come  among  us  and  with  us,  and  we  will 
show  you  good,  and  your  heart  shall  delight  itself  with 
joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory.  Drinking  water 
out  of  these  wells  of  salvation  and  eating  bread  with 
gladness  and  singleness  of  heart  at  the  table  of  the 
Lord  in  his  own  banquet-hall,  you  will  feel  that  it  is 
good  to  be  here, — that  it  is  none  other  than  the  house 
of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven.  The  electric  spark  of 
invisible  love  will  kindle  a  flame  of  love  in  you.  Your 
soul  will  be  secretly  drawn  by  an  irresistible,  heavenly 
attraction  to  Christ,  who  dwells  in  every  believing  heart, 
the  hope  of  glory.  And  as  you  sit  in  heavenly  places  in 
Christ  Jesus,  worship  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,  and 
partake  of  the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary  with 
great  delight,  you  shall  have  a  song  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving  put  into  your  mouth  "as  in  the  night 
when  a  holy  solemnity  is  kept;  and  gladness  of  heart 
as  when  one  goeth  with  a  pipe  to  come  unto  the  moun- 
tain of  the  Lord,  to  the  mighty  one  of  Israel." 

Yes!  I  believe  her  glorious  still  within 

With  beauty  undiscern'd  by  mortal  eye, 
Yet  seen  of  heaven.     Her  glories  shall  begin 

To  come  serenely  forth  when  earth  and  sky, 


A  PLEA   FOR  THE  CHURCH.  373 

Like  morning  mists  which  shroud  her,  shall  pass  by; 
Then,  like  the  radiant  sun,  on  either  hand 

With  beauty  clothed  and  immortality,  v 

She  shall  break  brightly  forth  at  God's  command, 
And,  filling  earth  and  heaven,  a  living  temple  stand. 

When  I  study,  says  one,  the  existence,  the  origin, 
the  moral  significance,  the  sublimity  and  the  destiny 
of  the  Christian  church,  I  am  overwhelmed  with 
astonishment  and  grief  at  the  lamentably  inadequate 
and  perverted  opinions  which  prevail  respecting  it. 
Ecclesiastical  hierarchies,  doctrinal  sects,  religious 
fraternities, — and  do  these  comprise  all  that  is  meant 
by  the  church?  A  State  Establishment,  a  Dissenting 
body,  a  Methodistic  society,  a  Presbyterian  denomi- 
nation,— does  the  meaning  of  these  expressions  termi- 
nate with  the  things  they  respectively  designate  ?  No, 
verily !  There  is  a  great  thing  among  men,  and  they 
know  it  not, — a  wonder  unwondered  at,  a  glory  un- 
noticed. Is  it  generally  known  that  a  great  problem 
is  being  solved  by  Infinite  Wisdom,  and  that  earth,  in 
the  first  instance,  and  heaven,  shortly,  are  the  scenes 
of  its  solution?  Have  men  in  any  considerable  num- 
bers recognised  the  fact  that  a  process  of  inconceiv- 
able sublimity  is  going  on  every  day  in  the  market- 
place, the  streets,  the  fields,  the  houses  and  the  huts 
of  this  world  ? — That  the  Creator  of  the  visible  is  form- 
ing, without  rest  or  intermission,  an  invisible  temple 
of  living  stones,  w^hich,  when  completed,  shall  be  ex- 
hibited before  the  universe  as  the  most  gorgeous  and 
costly  of  all  his  possessions? — That  heaven  has  realty 
come  down  to  earth  and  brought  into  sympathy  with 
its  plans  and  purposes  myria-ds  of  the  human  family, 

32 


374  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

wlio  are  every  day  journeying  to  the  city  not  made 
witli  hands,  and  growing  in  the  likeness  of  Him  who  is 
thfe  Head  of  all  principality  and  power  and  the  Sove- 
reign of  life? — That  amidst  the  thorns  and  thistles  of 
earth's  deserts  grow  flowers  which  are  lovingly  tended 
by  angels,  watered  by  the  river  of  life  and  destined  to 
be  transplanted  to  the  garden  of  the  Lord? — And  that 
among  those  whom  the  world  despises,  as  it  did  their 
Prince,  are  to  be  found  men  who  shall  ere  long  be 
acknowledged  by  angels  as  the  sons  and  heirs  of  God? 
Is  this  known  ?  Are  these  things  considered  when  the 
word  "church"  glides  from  the  tongue?  The  street- 
passenger  sees  men  going  to  some  building  consecrated 
to  religious  purposes,  on  the  morning  of  the  Lord's 
day.  Does  he  think  what  that  procession  means?  Is 
there  not  a  hidden  significance,  a  veiled  glory,  which 
will  not  burst  upon  his  mental  vision  without  the  labour 
of  trying  to  uncover  it?  May  not  that  procession 
point  to  eternity  and  signify  the  power  of  the  Invisi- 
ble? Assume,  for  the  sake  of  illustration,  that  the 
proper  motives  animate  the  travellers, — that  they  know 
wherefore  they  are  moving  thither, — that  they  under- 
stand the  ultimate  object  of  the  holy  convocation, — that 
they  feel  the  solemnity  of  their  profession, — and  that 
they  devoutly  wish  for  the  great  things  involved  in 
their  voluntary  avowal  of  attachment  to  the  Invisible 
King, — and  then,  if  asked  by  the  passenger  to  explain 
all,  what  would  they  say?  A  correct  answer  would 
startle  the  querist,  and  very  probably  themselves;  and 
a  complete  answer  would  convince  him  that  his  wisdom 
would  be  to  go  with  them  and  would  prepare  all  to 


A   PLEA   FOR  THE  CHURCH.  375 

spend  a  day  of  rapt  enjoyment  and  of  exciting  joy  in 
the  anticipation  of  the  future. 

How  much,  then,  there  is  to  think  about,  and  how 
strong  the  calls  to  thought,  when  the  idea  of  a  Chris- 
tian church  rises  before  the  mind!  Originating  be- 
fore the  world  was,  streaming  along  the  lines  of  all 
history,  and  pointing  to  perfection  and  duration  when 
the  world  shall  flee  away  and  no  place  be  found  for  it, 
the  Christian  church  forever  challenges  the  study  of 
all  thinkers.  It  is  either  an  unprecedented  imposture, 
or  a  magnificent  embodiment  of  divine  love  and  wisdom. 
A  thousand  reasons  prove  that  it  cannot  be  the  former;' 
ten  thousand  demonstrate  that  it  is  the  latter.  In  its 
constitution,  spirit,  purpose  and  destiny,  it  is  altogether 
a  divine  thing.  In  this  earth  it  is  a  visitant  for  whom 
heaven  longs  as  a  resident. 

Thus  have  I  often  seen  a  vernal  rose, 

Which  midst  the  lowering  storm  untouched  appears, 
Though  hostile  lances  all  around  her  close: 

Still  o'er  the  palisade  of  armed  spears, 

Her  loveliness  unharm'd  its  beauty  rears, 
And  day  by  day  expanding  drinks  the  shower. 

E'en  so,  unfolding  to  the  eternal  years. 
The  church  discloses  her  ethereal  flower, 
The  many-folded  heavens  of  her  unfading  bower. 

All  things  which  here  are  cast  in  beauty's  mould, 

Awful  or  fair,  of  soul-entrancing  power, 
Speak  but  the  things  of  her  celestial  fold. 

Heart-stirring  love  in  youth's  first  blooming  hour, 

Gazing  intense  on  beauty's  short-lived  flower, 
Speaks  but  the  love  of  that  immortal  bride, 

And  beauty  which  is  her  unfading  dower. 
Riches  speak  treasures  which  with  her  abide, 
And  fame  the  unerring  praise  which  God  sets  by  her  side. 


376  THE  WELL   IN  THE   VALLEY. 

The  gems  in  ocean's  breast,  and  living  spars 
Deep  hid  in  earth's  dark  bowels  far  below. 

Shall  pave  her  wondrous  pathway  to  the  stars; 
The  fairest  hues  on  eve  or  morning's  brow 

The  emblem  of  her  covenantal  sign ; 

Bird's  songs  or  angels'  voices,  as  they  go 

Bearing  their  aid  to  weary  souls  that  pine ; — 

All  blessings  are  but  streams  from  her  life-giving  shrine. 


THE  COMMUNION  OF  SAINTS.  377 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS. 

Love  "  resembles,  in  many  points,  the  free,  circum- 
ambient atmosphere,  with  its  light  and  air.  It  is  dif- 
fusive, and  will  not  be  confined.  Pent  up,  it  becomes 
foul  and  putrid,  and,  laden  with  malaria,  carries  with  it 
the  seeds  of  death.  Its  life,  purity  and  healthfulness  de- 
pend upon  its  free  and  unrestrained  circulation.  While 
it  thus  circles  about  it  is  various, — now  the  fitful  air  play- 
ing with  the  leaves  and  curling  the  tassels  of  the  flowers, 
anon  the  gentle  breeze  fanning  the  aching,  fevered 
brow,  at  another  time  the  stronger  wind  speeding  the 
vessel  to  the  desired  haven,  and  again, — when  needful 
to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  morbid  vapours  and 
restore  the  proper  equilibrium  and  due  proportions  of 
the  atmosphere, — the  gale,  the  tempest  or  the  tornado. 
And  it  is  only  while  thus  free  and  diff'usive  that  the  air 
is  pure,  and  that,  gathering  fragrance  and  perfume  from 
every  garden,  it  imparts  life  and  joy  to  every  living 
creature.  Now  such  also  is  Christian  love.  Coming 
down  from  above,  it  cannot  be  confined  to  individuals, 
homes,  sanctuaries  or  denominations.  It  is  Christian 
and  catholic.  As  there  "is  a  common  salvation"  and 
''a  like  faith"  and  ''one  hope"  and  ''good  tidings  for 
all  people,"  so  are  all  Christians  "one  in  Christ  Jesus," 
"one  fold  under  one  Shepherd."     Now,  of  this  "unity 

32* 


378  THE   WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

in  the  Spirit"  the  bond  is  love.  Loving  Him  that  be- 
gat, we  cannot  but  love  all  that  are  begotten  of  him. 
Just  as  love  to  a  friend  will  create  love  to  his  children, 
and  love  to  the  children  love  to  the  friend,  so  is  it  with 
every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit.  Love  to  Christ 
pants  with  love  to  Christ's  followers,  and  goes  out  in 
desires  and  yearnings  and  efforts  for  the  happiness  of 
all  that  are  of  ''  the  household  of  faith,"  and  returns 
from  its  labours  of  love,  like  the  vapours  of  ocean,  to 
increase  and  purify  itself.  It  cannot  rest.  It  cannot 
dwell  apart.  It  cannot  remain  in  the  isolated  bosom. 
If  it  does,  it  becomes  sour,  selfish,  morbid,  gloomy, 
censorious,  bitter,  bigoted,  hateful  and  uncharitable, — 
the  poisonous  atmosphere  of  spiritual  malignity  and 
death.  It  is  only  while  it  is  living  and  pure  it  con- 
tinues hearty,  healthful  and  happy.  Christian  love  re- 
mains LOVE  only  when  it  is  open,  free  and  diffusive, 
embracing  in  its  arms  of  charity,  and  in  its  breast  of 
tenderness,  confidence  and  affection,  all  that  call  on  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  both  their's  and  our's. 

The  rain  that  cometh  down  from  heaven  is  another 
natural  emblem  of  this  spiritual  grace  of  Christian 
love.  Sinking  into  the  heart,  it  springs  up  in  ever 
fresh  and  living  water,  which  as  necessarily  seeks  free 
course,  that  it  may  run  and  be  glorified.  Pent  up  in 
selfish  sanctity,  walled  around  by  sectarian  jealousy, 
closed  up  by  the  huge  stone  of  besotted  fanaticism  and 
one-eyed,  leering,  canting  hypocrisy,  this  spring-well 
of  charity  becomes  a  filthy,  stagnant  pool,  breeding  ver- 
min and  disease,  covered  over  with  the  putrid  slime 
of  decay,  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  a 
stink  in  the  nostrils  of  men.     Let  Christian  love,  then, 


THE  COMMUNION  OF   SAINTS.  379 

run.  Take  away  the  stone  from  the  well.  All  our 
springs  are  in  God,  the  unfailing  fountain  of  the  water 
of  life,  which  never  can  be  exhausted.  Let  it,  then,  flow 
freely.  See  how  clear  it  bubbles  up,  impregnated  with 
the  vital  breath  of  its  native  heavens !  How  it  sings 
and  smiles  as  it  rolls  along  in  the  sunshine  and  through 
the  green  pastures,  like  limpid  streams — 

Through  life's  green  vale  in  beauty  gliding, 
Now  'ueath  the  gloom  of  willows  hiding, 
Now  glancing  o'er  the  turf  away 
In  playful  waves  and  glittering  spray. 

Behold  every  plant  of  righteousness,  how  it  laughs  in 
merry  gladness  with  the  fresh,  buoyant  life  imparted  to 
it.  Every  leaf  glitters  with  pearly  drops  and  exhales 
sweet  odour.  Every  tint  of  every  flower  seems  to  be 
fresh  painted,  and  every  tree  to  be  brightened  with  a 
new  enamel;  and  as  we  walk  forth  amid  this  garden 
of  the  Lord,  how  does  it  give  forth,  a  sweet  smell,  ex- 
haling that  fragrance  which  is  the  celestial  product  of 
a  divinely-imparted  love!  Yes!  love  is  twice  blessed 
in  blessing  others,  and  as  it  runs  on,  gathering  to  itself 
every  particle  of  divine  life  and  swelling  its  volume,  it 
receives  life  with  love,  and  conveys  both  to  every  nation 
and  kindred  and  tongue  and  people  through  whose 
boundaries  it  passes  along,  until  the  accumulated  waters 
at  last  mingle  and  lose  themselves  in  "seas  of  heavenly 
rest." 

''If  I  can  pluck  souls  from  the  clutches  of  the  devil," 
said  Bunyan,  "I  care  not  where  they  go  to  be  built  up 
in  their  holy  faith."  "Oh,  how  my  heart  (says  Spur- 
geon)  loves  the  doctrine  of  the  one  church !     The  nearer 


380         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

I  get  to  my  Master  in  prayer  and  communion,  the 
closer  am  I  knit  to  all  his  disciples.  The  more  I  see 
of  my  own  errors  and  failings,  the  more  ready  am  I  to 
deal  gently  with  them  that  I  believe  to  be  erring.  The 
pulse  of  Christ's  body  is  communion;  and  woe  to  the 
church  that  seeks  to  cure  the  ills  of  Christ's  body  by 
stopping  its  pulse !  I  desire  this  day  to  preach  the 
unity  of  the  church.  I  have  said  no  man  belongs  to 
Christ's  church  unless  he  has  the  Spirit,  but,  if  he  hath 
the  Spirit,  we  would  give  him  both  our  hands,  and 
say  God  speed  to  you  in  your  journey  to  heaven;  so 
long  as  you  have  got  the  Spirit  we  are  one  family,  and 
we  will  not  be  separate  from  one  another.  God  grant 
the  day  may  come  when  every  wall  of  separation  shall 
be  beaten  down!"  And  so  say  I  to  you,  gentle  reader. 
That  man  has  never  known  the  heart  of  Jesus  and  felt 
its  throbbings  beat  responsive  to  his  own,  whose  Chris- 
tian love  and  charity  go  no  farther  than  his  own  church. 
The  divisions  of  the  earth,  with  all  the  evils  incident  to 
them, — and  they  are  legion, — are  of  God  and  not  of  man. 
Man  would  obliterate  and  destroy  them,  and  concentrate 
all  in  one  great  Babel  of  discord,  confusion,  despotism 
and  terror.  But  God  confounds  all  such  schemes  and 
blasts  all  such  unions  and  overwhelms  all  such  Babels 
in  destruction.  And  as  all  the  natural  divisions  of  the 
earth  are  a  wise  and  providential  adaptation  to  the  pre- 
sent natural  character  and  condition  of  men,  so  are  also 
the  divisions  of  the  church.  ''There  must  be  heresies," 
divisions,  sects,  various  and  even  erroneous  opinions 
and  practices.  These  are  evils,  gigantic  evils,  and  give 
occasion  to  all  manner  of  offences.  But  they  are  neces- 
sary.    They  must  needs  be,  "in  order  that  they  who 


THE   COMMUNION   OF  SAINTS.  381 

are  approved  may  be  made  manifest;"  that  the  water 
of  life  may  be  prevented  from  stagnation ;  and  in  order 
that  Christians  may  provoke  one  another  to  zeal  and  to 
love,  to  work  miracles  of  mercy,  and  to  perform  mighty 
works,  even  though  they  follow  not  after  the  same  com- 
pany. Why  should  we  grieve  and  distress  ourselves 
if  ''  Christ  is  preached  even  in  a  spirit  of  contention 
and  hatred  towards  us"  ?  The  evil  is  their's,  not  our's. 
Why  should  we  judge  another  man's  servants?  To  our 
common  Master  they  stand  or  fall.  He  ''will  try  every 
man's  work."  Yea,  he  will  try  every  man's  spirit,  and 
render  to  every  man  as  his  work  shall  "be,"  whether  it 
be  the  work  of  faith  and  sound  doctrine  and  corre- 
sponding zeal — "whether  it  be  gold,  or  silver,  or  pre- 
cious stones — or  whether  it  be  only  hay,  wood  and 
stubble."  Why,  then,  should  the  herdsmen  of  Lot  and 
those  of  Abraham  strive  together,  or  Judah  vex 
Ephraim  and  Ephraim  Judah,  seeing  that  there  is  room 
enough  and  water  enough  and  work  enough  for  all, 
and  that  when  the  day's  labour  is  done  there  will  be 
an  evening's  rest  and  recompense  for  all, — from  Him 
who  "judgeth  righteously,  and  in  whose  Father's  house 
there  are  many  mansions"  ? 

A  remarkably  pious  old  negro,  belonging  to  a  differ- 
ent denomination,  was  asked  how  we  were  all  to  get  to 
heaven,  since  it  seemed  that  we  were  travelling  so 
many  different  ways.  Promptly  he  answered,  "Here 
is  a  circle  in  this  yard,  and  yonder  is  a  gate.  Do  you 
see  that  gate?  Well,  some  folks  might  go  around  the 
circle,  some  along  the  walk  straight  through, — some 
one  way,  and  some  another.  But  when  they  get  down 
yonder  they  must  all  go  through  the  gate :  they  can't 


382  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

get  over  the  fence.  The  only  diiFerence  is,  that  the 
man  who  goes  straightest  through  has  less  distance  to 
go :  that  is  all.  So  it  is  on  the  road  to  heaven :  wind 
abont  as  we  may  before  we  get  there,  one  thing  is  cer- 
tain,— ^we  must  all  go  through  the  strait  gate." 

Old  Washburn,  of  London,  expiring  in  his  eighty- 
eighth  year,  said  to  his  daughter,  ''My  dear  child, 
'God  be  merciful  to  me,  a  sinner!' — I  have  never  got 
beyond  that  prayer."  Good  old  Dr.  Alexander  said,  in 
his  last  hours,  to  a  brother  who  stood  by  his  side,  "All 
my  theology  has  come  down  to  a  single  text : — '  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners.'" 

''Oh,  how  like  a  rainbow  is  the  Christian's  life! 
it  spans  the  horizon  on  either  side,  and  seems  to 
rest  in  the  splendour  of  its  repose  without  hesita- 
tion or  trembling.  It  throws  its  arch  overhead, 
where  the  clouds  flitting  across  it  make  more  definite 
the  glittering  splendour  of  its  harmonizing  tints.  Thus 
is  it, — just  Christ  in  the  heart,  just  the  blood  of  Jesus 
trusted  to,  just  simply  repose  upon  the  promises,  the 
testimony  and  the  provisions  of  God's  word.  Nothing 
else  than  this  is  the  Christian  life ! 

"But,  then,  see  how  rise  up  doctrines  and  churches 
and  schisms  and  plans  and  controversies  and  difficulties, 
till  when  one  gets  to  the  summit  of  the  arch,  heady 
and  high-minded,  he  almost  fears  to  walk,  and  falls  at 
last, — not  indeed  fatally,  but  he  is  humbled,  and  is  drawn 
down  again  towards  the  other  limb,  and  at  last  rests 
upon  the  eastern  hill,  simple,  childlike,  tender,  aff'ec- 
tionate ! 

"Sir,  I  thought  myself  once  upon  the  very  margin 
of  the  grave ;  and  if  a  little  child  had  stood  by  my  bed- 


THE   COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  383 

side  and  told  me  'the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth 
from  all  sin,'  I  would  have  felt  it  was  an  angel's 
voice.  Oh,  how  simple  the  message  spoken  from  the 
heart  of  love!"   So  speaks  Dr.  Tyng. 

One  sole  baptismal  sign, 

One  Lord,  below,  above, 
One  faith,  one  hope  divine. 

One  only  watchword, — Love ; 
From  different  temples  though  it  rise, 
One  song  ascendeth  to  the  skies. 

Our  sacrifice  is  one  ; 

One  Priest  before  the  throne ; 
The  slain,  the  risen  Son, 

Redeemer,  Lord  alone ! 
And  sighs  from  contrite  hearts  that  spring, 
Our  chief,  our  choicest  oflFering. 

Head  of  thy  church  beneath, 

The  catholic,  the  true, 
On  all  her  members  breathe; 

Her  broken  frame  renew ! 
Then  shall  thy  perfect  will  be  done 
When  Christians  love  and  live  as  one. 

The  longer  I  live,  the  larger  does  my  heart  grow 
towards  Christians,  the  wider  becomes  the  circumfe- 
rence of  my  charity,  and  the  less  selfish  and  jealous  is 
my  love  towards  brethren. 

My  brotherhood's  a  circle,  stretching  wide 
Around  one  fount,  although  a  sea  divide  : 
With  fathers,  who  behold  the  Lord  in  light. 
With  saints  unborn,  who  shall  adore  his  might, 
With  brothers,  who  the  race  of  faith  now  run, 
In  union  and  communion,  I  am  one ! 

In  looking  round  on  Methodists  with  their  seraph  Wes- 


384  THE   WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

ley;  or  on  Lutherans  with  their  lion-hearted  Luther; 
or  on  Calvinists  with  their  Calvin, — firm,  faithful  and 
lofty  as  the  mountains  round  about  his  own  Geneva, 
visible,  like  them,  from  afar,  and  like  them  modifying 
the  spiritual  temperature  of  the  wide  world  and  send- 
ing forth  streams  into  all  lands; — or  whether  I  look 
upon  the  Reformed  with  their  Zuingle;  or  upon  the 
Moravians  with  their  Zinzendorf ;  or  on  the  Baptists 
with  their  Foster,  Hall,  Judson,  and  other  worthies; 
or  on  the  Episcopalians  with  their  great  cloud  of  high 
and  holy  men, — faithful  witnesses  and  martyrs  to  the 
truth;  or  on  the  Congregationalists  with  their  Pilgrim 
Fathers;  or  upon  any  of  the  other  evangelical  deno- 
minations;— I  can  rejoice  and  give  G-od  thanks  that, 
with  different  forms  of  godliness,  they  have  all  the 
power;  that  with  different  rites,  they  have  all  the  sub- 
stance; that  with  various  orders,  they  have  one  great 
High-Priest,  the  true  minister  of  the  sanctuary;  that 
with  various  earthly  dialects,  they  have  one  heavenly 
language ;  that  with  different  ecclesiastical  circles,  they 
have  one  Bible,  the  magnetic  centre  to  them  all;  that 
with  various  uniforms,  they  have  one  Captain  of  Sal- 
vation ;  and  that  as  one  sacramental  host  of  God's  elect, 
they  are  all  waging  warfare  against  the  common  enemy 
and  fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith.  And  when  I  look 
on  our  great  Catholic,  Christian,  Evangelical,  National 
Societies, — the  Bible,  the  Tract,  and  the  Sunday-school 
Unions, — I  rejoice,  yea,  and  I  will  rejoice,  when  I  be- 
hold such  marvellous  manifestation  of  the  glorious  fact 
lat,  amid  all  their  diversity  of  administrations,  ther 
arious  dcDominations  have  one  Lord,  and  that,  ami 
11  their  tendencies  to  sectarian  jealousy  and  distrust 


THE   COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  385 

thej  are  sweetly  constrained  by  the  divine  grace  of 
tlie  faith  and  charity  of  the  gospel,  whereto  they  have 
attained,  to  walk  by  the  same  rule  and  to  mind  the 
same  thing. 

These  associations  are  living  demonstrations  that 
amid  all  their  variety  of  external  forms  and  obser- 
vances, and  amidst  even  their  distinct  and  opposite 
opinions,  all  evangelical  denominations  cherish  great 
principles  and  corresponding  practices  which  are  in 
themselves  powerfully  attractive  and  an  adequate  basis 
for  mutual  and  respectful  love.  And  to  whatever  ex- 
tent full  visible  communion  may  be  considered  inexpe- 
dient or  improper,  there  may  be,  there  ought  to  be,  and 
there  will  be,  exhibited  a  spiritual  oneness  and  fellow- 
ship in  the  faith  and  love  of  Christ,  in  the  practical 
design  and  tendency  of  Christian  doctrine,  and  in  the 
final  hope,  through  grace,  of  eternal  life.  Oh,  yes! 
faith  working  through  love  will  bind  all  the  living 
stones  in  the  spiritual  building  with  the  purest  and 
most  adhesive  cement  of  inviolable  friendship  till  the 
whole  building  is  completed  and  all  are  united  together 
in  one  heavenly  temple  in  Christ  Jesus.  Then  the 
many  tones  of  earth  shall  give  place  to  the  one  new 
heavenly  song  in  which  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  shall  praise  him  with  harmonious  voice.  Church 
of  Christ,  how  shall  I  speak  thy  coming  and  praise 
thy  full-blown  beauty? 

Fair  as  heaven's  doors,  which,  made  of  varied  stone, 
Yet  mingling,  form  one  glory  all  their  own ; 
Sisters  of  glorious  birth,  though  varied  each. 
Each  lovely  ;  and  their  mien  and  form  and  speech 
Z  33 


386  THE   WELL   IN  THE   VALLEY. 

Mark  all  one  family ;  all  blend  in  one, — 
Their  hues  combining  in  one  light  divine. 
Thus  in  my  musings  all  together  shine 
In  one  harmonious  whole,  and  ever  seem 
Passing  from  form  to  form,  as  in  a  dream, 
Till  all  is  lost  in  one,  in  beauty  seen, 
Centred  in  light,  one  heaven-descended  queen. 


There  is  but  one  communion,  as  there  is  but  one 
Lord.  There  can,  therefore,  be  but  one  true  church, 
whose  centre  is  Christ,  whose  circumference  is  eternity 
past  and  to  come,  and  whose  radii  are  the  innumerable 
company  of  souls  attracted  within  that  circle  and  en- 
livened and  enlightened  by  its  heavenly  power.  De- 
riving from  Christ  life  and  energy,  imbued  by  him  with 
common  sympathies  motives  and  aim,  all  Christians 
should  of  necessity  be  actuated  by  a  common  activity, 
terminating  in  a  common  work.  We  are  labourers  to- 
gether with  God.  We  are  co-workers  and  helpers  in 
the  gospel.  We  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  every  one 
members  in  particular,  fitly  joined  together  and  sup- 
ported by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth.  To  every 
one  is  given  a  talent.  Every  one  occupies  a  place  in 
the  vineyard,  and  has  a  gift,  and  a  field  for  which  he 
is  accountable.  The  church  is  thus  the  arm  of  the 
Lord;  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation;  "the 
pillar  and  ground  of  the  truth;"  the  almoner  of  God's 
mercy. 

These  several  works  do  not  prevent,  but  '^  prepare 
the  way  of  the  Lord"  in  his  larger  field,  which  is  the 
world.  The  works  of  righteousness  and  labours  of  love 
which  devolve  upon  the  Christian  church  as  a  whole 
are  in  regions  beyond  the  boundaries  of  local  churches, 


THE    COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  387 

• — in  the  waste  places  of  Zion,  in  the  unbroken  fallow 
ground  and  in  the  yet  uncleared  wilderness.  These 
labours,  therefore,  are  the  developments  of  Christian 
love,  uniting  in  common  activities,  for  the  removal  of 
common  obstacles,  and  for  the  erection  of  a  common 
highway  for  the  more  rapid  progress  and  prosperity  of 
the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  Such  labours 
are  to  the  church  what  perspiration  is  to  the  body, — 
something  external  to  its  component  members,  implying 
their  healthful  existence,  dependent  upon  them,  and 
yet  distinct  and  outside  of  them.  And  as  there  are 
some  four  millions  of  invisible  pores  in  the  body,  these 
may  well  represent  the  general  agencies  and  activities 
of  the  one  universal  church  for  the  common  good  of 
all.  And  as  in  the  body  the  closing  of  these  pores 
excites  morbid  action  in  all  its  separate  members  and 
functions,  leading  to  dulness,  disease  and  even  death, 
while  their  free  and  harmonious  co-operation  enables 
each  separate  member  to  carry  on  securely  and  health- 
fully its  own  functions,  so  also  is  the  general,  united 
co-operation  of  Christians  essential  to  the  peace,  purity, 
unity  and  prosperity  of  every  particular  denomination, 
church  and  Christian,  while  its  partial  existence  or  im- 
perfect operation  is  the  evidence,  the  effect  and  the  re- 
active cause — of  spiritual  coldness,  disease  and  death. 

'^  Ye," — that  is,  the  church,  the  communion  of  saints, 
— "  are  the  light  of  the  world. "  Now,  take  a  ray  of  light 
and  examine  it,  and  it  seems  to  be  a  simple,  un  compounded, 
brilliant  light.  But  if  you  subject  that  light  to  the  prism, 
you  find  that  instead  of  one  colour  there  are  in  it  not  less 
than  seven,  and  that  it  is  the  result  of  the  action  of 
violet,  indigo,  blue,  green,  yellow,  orange  and  red  colours, 


388         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

not  one  of  them  being  white.  And  so  it  is  with 
every  individual  Christian  church  and  denomination. 
They  are  found  to  be  made  up  of  the  most  various  and 
apparently  conflicting  materials,  none  of  which,  to  the 
unspiritual  eye  of  the  unbeliever,  appear  to  be  ''pure 
and  undefiled  religion."  But  when  these  are  united 
together  into  one  by  Him  who  created  the  light  out  of 
darkness  and  who  hath  shined  into  their  hearts,  they 
appear  "clear  as  the  sun  and  fair  as  the  moon."  We 
find,  also,  that  by  arranging  these  several  colours  in 
their  natural  order  upon  a  wheel,  and  imparting  to  it 
motion,  we  actually  produce  the  pure,  white,  brilliant 
light.  And  so  is  it  when  Christians  of  various  denomi- 
nations are  brought  to  act  together  as  a  wheel  in  the 
chariot  of  the  gospel.  Losing  all  individual  peculiarities, 
they  combine  so  as  to  present  to  the  eyes  of  God,  of 
angels  and  of  men,  a  glorious  light,  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  being  arisen  upon  them. 

The  varying  sects  of  Christians  all  unite 
To  spread  the  common  truths  of  gospel  light, — 
Prismatic  like,  whose  rainbow  tints  agree 
To  melt  in  one  bright  hue  of  crystal  purity. 

Such  is  the  mystic  and  transforming  power  of  Chris- 
tian love,  and  of  that  communion  of  saints,  of  which  the 
Lord's  Supper,  even  when  it  is  observed  by  a  particular 
church  or  by  a  single  denomination,  is  the  sign,  the 
pledge,  the  obligation,  the  evidence  and  the  actual 
manifestation. 

Mid  scenes  of  confusion  and  creature  complaints, 
How  sweet  to  my  soul  the  communion  of  saints, 
To  find  at  Christ's  banquet  for  all  there  is  room 
Who  find  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  a  home ! 


THE    COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  389 

Sweet  bond,  that  unites  all  the  children  of  peace, 
Pledge  of  conquest  in  arms  and  victorious  release ! 

There  is  but  one  Lord,  and  but  one  Supper,  and  but  one 
death  showed  forth  in  it.  All  Christians  are  branches; 
but  they  are  all  united  to  Christ,  and  derive  their  life 
from  the  one  vine.  All  Christians  are  birds  of  Paradise, 
and  while  building  their  nests  separately,  like  them 
they  all  build  upon  the  living  branches  of  the  one  tree 
of  heaven.  All  Christians  are  members  of  one  body,  of 
which  Christ  is  the  head.  All  Christians  are  children, 
and  the  children,  too,  of  one  Father  and  of  one  holy,  ca- 
tholic church, — ''the  mother  of  us  all."  All  Christians, 
therefore,  participate  in  the  Lord's  Supper  of  one  bread 
and  one  wine,  and  around  one  board,  though  it  be  in  sepa- 
rate companies  and  in  each  denominational  family  apart. 
The  Lord's  Supper  is  thus  to  Christians  of  every  deno- 
mination what  it  is  to  Christianity.  It  is  like  the  taber- 
nacle in  the  midst  of  the  surrounding  tribes,  binding  them 
together  through  all  the  wilderness,  notwithstanding  all 
their  tribal  distinctions  and  their  separate  encampments. 
It  is  what  the  Temple  and  the  great  feasts  at  Jerusalem 
were  amid  the  territorial  divisions  of  the  Israelites  in 
Canaan.  It  is  what  Mount  Zion  was  among  the 
other  hills  of  Judea.  It  is  the  fold  where  the  various 
flocks  of  the  common  herd,  however  scattered  up  and 
down  over  the  mountains  and  the  valleys,  are  gathered 
home  at  twilight  to  meet  together  under  the  loving 
care  of  the  good  Shepherd.  It  is  the  Father's  house, 
where  the  children  of  its  many  mansions  are  collected 
to  the  evening  meal,  and  eat  bread  and  drink  wine 
with  one  another  at  this  Supper  of  the  Lord  spread  for 
them  in  his  Father's  house.     It  is  what  is  so  beauti- 

33* 


390         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

fully  described  by  God  himself: — the  Lord  Himself  in 
the  midst  of  bis  people,  as  tbe  dew  and  the  showers 
upon  the  grass.  It  is  the  banner  of  salvation,  given 
because  of  the  truth  to  the  army  of  the  living  God, 
waving  triumphantly  over  the  collected  forces  as  they 
here  meet  in  review  before  their  common  leader, — the 
captain  of  the  Lord's  host,  the  angel  of  the  covenant, 
the  deliverer  and  commander  of  the  people, — that 
under  it  they  may  swear  fresh  fealty  to  him,  and  be 
inspired  with  fresh  loyalty  and  ardour  to  go  forth  again 
into  all  the  world,  and  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith, 
until  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  become  the  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Yes,  the  Lord's 
Supper  is  the  King's  tent,  amid  the  surrounding  tents, 
where  every  good  soldier  of  Christ,  as  he  passes  by, 
receives  a  pledge  of  his  favour,  a  badge  of  honour,  a 
word  in  season,  a  new  heart  and  a  right  spirit,  that, 
again  forming  in  the  ranks  of  war,  he  may  fight  man- 
fully the  good  fight  of  faith  and  be  faithful  unto  death ! 

Communion  of  saints !  How  sweet  the  sound  to  a  be- 
liever's ear!  How  it  makes  us  feel  that,  however 
separated  as  living  stones  and  difierent  compartments, 
we  are  one  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost, — no  more 
strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow-citizens  with  the 
saints,  and  of  the  household  of  God,  and  are  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and  prophets, 
Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner-stone,  in 
whom  all  the  building,  fitly  framed  together,  groweth 
unto  an  holy  temple  in  the  Lord,  in  whom  ye  also  are 
builded  together  for  an  habitation  of  God  through  the 
Spirit. 

Of  all  this  the  Lord's  Supper  is  the  divinely  insti- 


THE    COMMUNION  OF   SAINTS.  391 

tuted  symbol  and  pledge,  "the  bond  of  perfectness;" 
''the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace;"  the 
avowal  to  the  world  that,  under  all  the  variations  of  its 
forms,  government  and  order,  there  is  but  one  church 
of  God,  which  he  purchased  with  his  own  blood;  ''one 
Lord"  over  it;  "one  faith"  animating  it;  one  baptism 
of  the  Spirit, — not  outward  in  the  flesh,  but  "the  wash- 
ing of  regeneration,  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Grhost;" 
— one  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all  and 
through  all  and  in  all;,  so  that,  while  "unto  every  one 
of  them  is  given  grace  according  to  the  measure  of  the 
gift  of  Christ,  it  is  the  same  Spirit  who  worketh  in 
them  all  severally  as  he  will." 

The  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  their  heart  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  love  of  Christ  constraining  them,  and 
the  love  of  the  Spirit  working  in  them  love  to  one 
another,  is,  therefore,  the  very  essence  of  Christian  life, 
— "the  Christian's  vital  breath,"  the  brightest  evidence 
of  his  being  born  of  God  and  made  a  new  creature  in 
Christ  Jesus,  and  the  earnest  of  his  inheritance  among 
the  saints  in  light. 

In  descending  the  Upper  Nile,  says  a  recent  traveller, 
the  Arab  boatmen  called  out  "Engalesee!  Engalesee!" 
This  was  responded  to  by  a  similar  cry  from  an 
ascending  boat.  It  was  understood  that  there  was  an 
"Englishman"  on  board  of  each.  With  no  other 
knowledge  than  this,  both  directed  their  boats  to  the 
shore  for  a  meeting.  Each  was  alone;  and  it  was  a  joy 
to  meet  one,  under  these  circumstances,  who  could  even 
speak  the  same  language. 

This  Englishman,  however,  might  be  an  illiterate 
boor.     But  no :  he  proved  to  be  a  man  of  education 


392  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

and  refinement,  a  graduate  of  Cambridge.  But  he 
might  still  be  an  infidel,  or  ungodly,  with  whom  one 
could  only  make  a  few  inquiries  about  worldly  things, 
and  pass  on,  to  become  strangers  as  much  as  before. 
On  the  contrary,  he  proves  to  be  a  Christian.  But  he 
might  be  in  pursuit  of  the  world  or  of  pleasure.  But 
no:  he  was  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  in  pursuit  of 
strength  to  work  for  his  Lord.  But  still  he  might 
entertain  some  views  which  would  constitute  a  barrier 
to  the  fullest  communion  of  souls.  But  no :  there  was 
no  diff'erence  in  this  respect.  A  more  congenial  spirit 
could  not  have  been  found  in  any  land.  What  a  meet- 
ing! In  a  few  minutes  we  were  one.  Vast  oceans 
rolled  between  us  and  every  thing  loved  on  earth.  We 
were  separated  by  five  hundred  miles  from  the  nearest 
individual  that  bore  even  the  name  of  Christian,  with 
boundless  deserts  on  either  side,  with  the  exception  of 
the  narrow  valley  which  stood  before  us. 

The  unintelligible  gutturals  of  the  Arabs,  to  whom 
time  was  little  and  eternity  less,  gradually  ceased  as 
they  fell  asleep  on  the  sand;  and  we  were  left  to  full 
communion  of  soul,  seeming  to  find  our  God  and  Sa- 
viour nearer  in  this  far-off  land.  But  this  meeting 
was  brief.  A  few  hours,  and  we  parted,  to  see  each 
other's  faces  no  more  until  the  great  judgment-day. 
But  even  here  was  there,  in  brief,  the  image  and  resem- 
blance of  a  future  and  eternal  and  perfect  communion  in 
Christ, — where  the  redeemed  of  all  ages,  countries  and 
nations  shall  meet, 

"And  range  the  blest  fields  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
And  sing  of  salvation  for  ever  and  ever." 


THE    COMMUNION  OF   SAINTS.  393 

The  spirit  of  tiie  present  wonderful  revival  in  "Wales, 
as  it  is  of  all  revival,  is  this  love  of  Christ  flowing  out 
in  love  to  Christ's  people  of  every  name. 

The  more  immediate  cause  of  this  revival  seems  to 
have  been  the  labours  of  Mr.  H.  Jones,  a  Wesleyan 
minister,  a  native  of  Cardiganshire,  who  was  converted 
in  America  during  the  great  revival  here,  and  who  re- 
turned to  his  own  country  for  the  express  purpose  of 
endeavouring  to  revive  religion  there.  The  spirit  which 
animates  him  may  be  judged  of  by  the  following  extracts 
from  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  a  young  man  studying 
in  the  Calvinistic  Methodist  College  at  Bala: — 

''I  would  wish  to  preach  each  time  as  if  I  were  to  die 
in  the  pulpit  when  I  had  done  preaching, — as  if  I  were 
to  go  from  the  pulpit  to  judgment.  If  we  are  not  in 
this  frame,  we  shall  do  very  little  good.  Oh,  dear 
brother,  let  us  live  like  two  young  men  who  are  very 
near  heaven !  live  so  godly  that  every  one  shall  fear 
us.  Never  say  one  word  slightingly  of  any  one  or 
any  thing,  but  of  the  devil  and  sin;  think  highly  of 
every  religious  denomination,  and  love  the  image  in  all. 
Remember,  we  are  children  of  the  same  Father,  brethren 
to  the  same  Brother,  born  again  of  the  same  Spirit,  be- 
longing to  the  same  family,  feasting  at  the  same  table, 
washed  in  the  same  fountain,  travelling  the  same  road, 
led  by  the  same  pillar,  to  the  same  eternal  home !  Al- 
though I  do  not  belong  to  the  Calvinistic  Methodists, 
yet  I  love  them  as  well  as  my  own  denomination." 

This  is  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  of  truly  primitive 
Christianity.  With  one  voice,  from  the  beginning,  al- 
ways, everywhere,  and  now.  Christians  declare,  ''I 
believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church,  the  Communion 


394  THE  WELL   IN   THE  VALLEY. 

of  Saints,  the  blessed  company  of  all  faithful  people,  to 
whom  belong  the  sacraments  specifically  appointed  as 
means  of  grace  for  all  who  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  both  their's  and  our's."* 

The  communion  of  saints  is,  therefore,  a  fundamental 
article  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  embodied  in  its  earliest 
creeds,  as  it  was  exemplified  in  the  loving  character  and 
self-denying  acts  of  its  primitive  disciples;  and  it  is 
not  less  essential  now.  It  is  now,  and  always  was,  made 
imperative,  and  forced  upon  the  conscience  and  heart 
of  Christians  by  the  showing  forth,  in  the  communion, 
of  a  common  Saviour,  the  Lord  both  of  the  living  and 
the  dead. 

Oh  here,  if  ever,  God  of  love, 

Let  strife  and  hatred  cease, 
And  every  heart  harmonious  move 

And  every  thought  be  peace. 

*  See  Bishop  Hind's  History  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  Chris- 
tianity, p.  203,  vol.  i.,  late  ed. — In  some  editions,  the  words  in  the 
creed,  "  The  Holy  Catholic  Church,"  "the  Communion  of  Saints,"  are 
separated  by  a  semicolon,  as  if  they  were  distinct  articles.  But  in 
the  authorized  formulary  of  the  Episcopal  church,  the  comma  was 
substituted  for  the  semicolon ;  so  that  the  creed  in  their  revised  edi- 
tion reads,  "  I  believe  ...  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church,  the  Com- 
munion of  Saints."  This  change  was  intentional,  and  was  made  in 
accordance  with  the  ancient  form,  and  with  the  idea  that  the  Catholic 
Church  is  composed  of  all  true  believers. 

The  substitution  of  the  comma  for  the  semicolon  teaches,  as  the 
sense  of  that  church,  as  set  forth  by  her  highest  legislative  body,  that 
the  latter  sentence  is  exegetica.  of  the  former;  that  in  professing 
faith  in  the  Catholic  Church,  the  Communion  of  Saints  is  meant,  or, 
in  the  language  of  their  Communion  Service,  "the  blessed  company 
of  all  faithful  people." 

This  view  is  not  only  held  by  Barrow,  but  by  Cranmer,  Ridley, 
Bishop  Taylor,  Pearson,  Hinds,  and  others,  and  by  all  Evangelical 
churches. 


THE    COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  395 

Not  here,  where  met  to  think  on  Him 

Whose  latest  thoughts  were  ours, 
Shall  mortal  passions  come  to  dim 

The  prayer  devotion  pours.  ^ 

"The  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth!"  The  dif- 
ference betwixt  us  and  them,  says  Bunyan,  is  not  that 
we  are  really  two,  but  one  body  in  Chnst  m  divers 
places.  True,  we  are  below  stairs,  and  they  above; 
they  in  their  holiday  and  we  in  our  working-day 
clothes;  they  in  harbour,  but  we  in  the  storm;  they  at 
rest,  but  we  in  the  wilderness ;  they  singing,  as  crowned 
with  joy,  we  crying,  as  crowned  with  thorns  Bu  we 
are  all  of  one  house,  one  family,  and  are  all  the  chil- 
dren of  one  Father.  .         ,.,     , 

Precious,  most  precious  doctrine !  Precious  alike  to 
the  living  and  the  dead,  and  equally  as  it  regards  our 
friends  living,  dying  and  when  they  have  "gone  before. 

One  family,  we  dwell  in  him, 

One  church  above,  beneath, 
Though  now  divided  by  the  stream, 

The  narrow  stream,  of  death. 

One  army  of  the  living  God, 

To  his  commands  we  bow : 
Part  of  the  host  have  cross' d  the  flood. 

And  part  are  crossing  now. 

But  do  I  believe  (ask  yourself  in  the  language  of  an 
Episcopal  writer)  this  in  the  heavenly  import  of  this 
blessed  doctrine,  in  its  full,  rich  clustering  of  spiritual 
affections?  The  communion  of  saints!  What  is  it. 
Not  the  acceptance  of  that  faith  which  the  saints  m 
common  profess.  Not  the  communion  of  my  own 
parish,  or  of  my  own  church  or  party.    All  these  may 


396  THE    WELL    IN   THE    VALLEY. 

be  found  where  the  communion  of  saints  is  not,  and  this 
comm^union  found  where  all  such  distinctions  exist. 

The  illustration  introduced  above  is  a  faint  emblem 
of  the  communion  of  saints,  but  scarce  a  resemblance. 
"We  are  fellow-pilgrims  in  the  rough  and  difficult  path 
to  the  Celestial  City,  polluted  alike  with  sin  and 
harassed  with  infirmities,  differing  in  a  thousand  minor 
things,  but  with  one  strong  common  purpose  to  tread 
the  same  road,  to  follow  the  same  leader  and  to  reach  the 
same  goal.  The  road  is  conflict,  the  leader  is  Christ, 
and  the  goal  is  heaven.  Churches  are  important  only 
as  they  advance  our  onward  progress  and  our  oneness 
with  Him  who  purchased  us  with  his  own  blood.  The 
fact,  then,  that  we  are  Christians  in  the  deep  spiritual 
meaning  of  the  term,  forms  a  bond  too  strong,  too  pure, 
too  enduring,  to  be  appreciated  by  any  but  those  who 
can  say,  with  the  conviction  and  fervour  of  Thomas, 
''My  Lord  and  my  God."  Differing,  as  we  may,  in 
many  things,  we  are  one  in  Christ,  our  righteousness 
and  our  trust;  one  in  our  daily  experience  and  our 
spiritual  aspirations,  one  in  our  fears  and  weakness, 
one  in  our  strength  and  ultimate  triumph,  one  in 
our  final  song,  '' Worthy  the  Lamb."  Oh,  let  this 
communion,  this  sharing  of  the  dearest  interests, 
the  sharpest  conflicts  and  the  noblest  of  all  victories, 
t)e  to  us  a  foretaste  of  that  unbroken  communion  in 
heaven,  where  sin,  infirmity  and  conflicting  interests 
can  never  enter.  And  when  we  come  to  the  Lord's 
table  to  renew  our  visible  covenant  with  him  and  to 
seal  our  union  with  each  other,  let  us  go  forth  into  the 
world  with  this  communion  so  manifest  in  our  affec- 
tionate  intercourse   and   charitable   forbearance,  that 


THE  COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  397 

men  shall  say  once  again,  ''See  how  these  Christians 
love  one  another." — Would  not  Satan  tremble  then? 
His  followers  love  not  one  another. 

I  carried  (says  a  distinguished  American  traveller) 
my  sectarian  narrowness  with  me  to  England.  I 
still  clung  to  it  on  the  continent,  and  through  the  con- 
tinent; for  thus  far  I  had  constant  Christian  inter- 
course with  friends  around  me.  But  when  I  reached 
dark  Egypt  the  scene  was  changed.  I  sighed,  a  stranger 
in  a  strange  land,  for  one  Christian  friend,  with  whom 
I  could  commune  upon  the  things  of  the  Eedeemer's 
kingdom.  For  many  days  I  found  not  one.  I  was 
alone  in  the  midst  of  thousands.  But  at  length,  on  the 
summit  of  the  great  pyramid  of  Egypt,  I  most  unex- 
pectedly met  a  stranger,  who,  though  not  of  my  de- 
nomination, proved  to  be  a  disciple  of  my  master.  And 
there,  on  the  summit  of  that  majestic  wonder  of  the 
world,  and  amid  the  solitudes  of  that  great  moral 
desert,  I  grasped  his  hand,  and  bade  adieu  to  my 
bigotry  forever. 

Here,  all  unknown,  "we  wander, 

Despised  on  every  hand, 
Unnoticed,  save  when  slighted 

As  strangers  in  the  land. 

Our  joys  they  will  not  share. 
Yet  sing,— that  they  may  catch  the  song 
Of  heaven,  and  of  the  happy  throng 

That  now  await  us  there ! 

Come,  gladly  let  us  onward, 

Hand  in  hand  still  go. 
Each  helping  one  another 

Through  all  the  way  below. 
34 


398         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

One  family  of  love, 
Oh,  let  no  voice  of  strife  be  heard — 
No  discord — by  the  angel-guard 

Who  watch  us  from  above. 

0  brothers  !  soon  is  ended 

The  journey  we've  begun: 
Endure  a  little  longer ; 

The  race  will  soon  be  run. 

And  in  the  land  of  rest, 
In  yonder  bright,  eternal  home, 
Where  all  the  Father's  loved  ones  come, 

We  shall  be  safe  and  blest! 


Here,  then,  dear  reader,  I  leave  you.  I  have  not  in- 
tended, nor  endeavoured,  to  provide  for  you  a  systematic 
or  didactic  treatise  on  the  church  and  the  Lord's  Supper. 
I  have  rather  designed  to  enter  into  personal  conversation 
with  you  and  talk  with  you  as  a  friend  talketh  with 
his  friend,  face  to  face.  There  are  yet  many  things  of 
which,  were  we  together,  I  might  still  speak,  touching 
the  King  and  his  beauty ;  for,  if  all  were  told,  the  world 
could  not  contain  the  books  that  should  be  .written. 
You  see,  however,  how  large  a  letter  I  have  written 
unto  you,  with  mine  own  hand,  out  of  my  heart  of 
hearts,  and  with  earnest  prayers,  that  you  may  be 
united  by  a  true  and  loving  faith  to  Christ  and  his 
church  on  earth ;  and  that,  having  served  him  long, 
faithfully  and  successfully  here  on  earth — "and  well 
earned  a  grave"  and  a  grave's  hallowed  rest — you  may 
come  unto  Mount  Zion,  and  "unto  the  city  of  the  living 
God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable 


THE   COMMUNION  OF  SAINTS.  399 

company  of  angels,  to  the  general  assembly  and  church 
of  the  first-born  which  are  written  in  heaven,  and  to 
God  the  judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new 
covenant,  and  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speaketh 
better  things  than  that  0/ Abel." 

Dear  reader,  let  us  go  to  Jesus,  that  living  we  may 
be  his,  and  that  dying  we  may  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  our  last  end  be  peace. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1800,  the  national  fast- 
day  of  Zurich,  Lavater  was  borne  for  the  last  time  to 
the  Church  of  St.  Peter's,  and  just  as  the  holy  supper  was 
about  to  be  distributed,  he  arose  with  difficulty  amid 
his  flock,  and  said,  with  a  faint  voice,  "  In  this  church, 
where  I  appear  perhaps  for  the  last  time  before  you, 
on  the  brink  of  the  tomb,  I  address  you  these  words: 
May  Jesus  Christ  bless  in  you  as  in  myself  this  com- 
munion, the  pledge  of  a  love  above  all  comprehension. 
...  It  is  on  the  threshold  of  eternity  that,  seizing  with 
one  hand  the  hand  of  my  Saviour,  I  would  with  the 
other  shpw  you  to  him,  repeating  to  you  what  I  have 
so  often  said.  .  .  .  Jesus  is  absolutely  indispensable  to 
every  man,  to  every  sinner,  to  me,  to  you.  Efforts 
made  without  him,  out  of  him,  to  become  good,  tranquil 
and  happy,  are  presumptuous,  useless,  and  lead  to 
nothing  but  fainting  and  despair.  Thou,  Jesus  Christ, 
God-man,  thou  art  the  most  faithful  friend  of  man! 
In  thy  presence,  by  thee,  with  thee,  and  in  thee  we 
must  live!  Thou  must  be  the  life  of  our  life,  our 
object  in  days  of  health,  our  security  in  days  of  sick- 
ness, our  refuge  in  misfortune,  our  hope  in  death!" 

In  a  small  upper  room  in  the  land  of  our  Eedeemer's 


400  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

birtli,  there  was  gathered,  a  few  years  since,  a  stricken 
band  of  missionaries  around  the  table  of  the  Lord. 
The  number  present  was  nearly,  if  not  exactly,  the  same 
as  that  of  those  who  first  celebrated  the  supper  with 
Jesus  on  Mount  Zion.  It  was  a  beautiful  autumn 
morning.  On  their  west  rolled  the  blue  depths  of  "  the 
great  and  wide  sea;"  on  their  north  and  east  stretched 
away  the  lofty  heights  of  Lebanon,  "that  goodly  moun- 
tain." Around  them  was  the  busy  hum  of  stirring  thou- 
sands, who,  ignorant  or  thoughtless  of  the  scenes  of 
that  upper  room,  hurried  along  the  noisy  streets  as 
usual.    • 

It  was  the  parting  scene  of  Mrs.  W ,  a  mission- 
ary sister,  bidding  farewell  to  her  afflicted  husband,  to 
the  missionary  circle,  and  to  earth.  At  her  earnest 
request,  they  were  there  to  celebrate  with  her  once  more 
on  earth  the  dying  love  of  that  Saviour  whose  gospel 
they  went  forth  to  proclaim. 

Need  it  be  said  (says  one  present)  that  that  room  was 
"quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven"?  To  the  dying  one  it 
was  truly  the  "land  of  Beulah."  She  was  rapidly  ap- 
proaching the  river,  but  was  enabled  to  look  across  its 
dark  waters  into  the  open  door  of  heaven.  "  The  shining 
ones"  were  there;  and  when  the  officiating  member  of  our 
little  band  passed  the  emblems  of  the  Saviour's  death 
to  the  sufferer,  saying,  with  streaming  eyes  and  falter- 
ing voice,  "  Take  these,  dear  sister :  you  will  soon  receive 
them  new  in  the  kingdom  of  our  Father  above,"  her's 
were  the  only  tearless  eyes  in  the  room.  Others  saw 
and  heard  and  felt  what  to  some  it  might  seem  unlawful 
to  utter.  But  our  visions  were  faint  compared  with  her's. 
Our  eyes  were  too  much  dimmed  with  tears  to  see  very 


THE   COMMUNION  OF   SAINTS.  401 

Clearly  at  a  distance.  Her  tears  were  all  wiped  away. 
*'  This,"  said  she,  "  is  death.  I  shall  soon  be  in  eternity. 
Lord  Jesus,  I  lay  my  soul  at  thy  feet.  I  give  it  tb  thee 
in  all  its  pollution.  I  can  make  it  no  better.  It  is  all 
that  I  can  do.  Conduct  me  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death.  It  is  pain  and  distress  and  anguish 
now;  but  I  shall  soon  be  with  Jesus.  Jesus  is  the  por- 
tion of  my  soul.  There  is  no  other  for  me."  Never 
did  heaven  seem  to  us  nearer,  or  its  door"  wider  open. 
As  the  dying  missionary  left  the  table  of  her  Saviour's 
love,  and 

<*  Pass'd  through  glory's  morning  gate, 
To  walk  in  Paradise," 

it  seemed  as  though  we  could  look  in  after  her,  and 
almost  hear  the  ministering  angels  who  went  up  with 
her,  chanting  her  welcome  home  and  singing  on  their 
glorious  way.  Did  we  dream?"  Or  was  it  reality? 
However  the  thoughtless  world  may  explain  it,  some 
of  us  have  gone  in  the  strength  of  it  through  the 
wilderness  for  many  a  day  since.  Nearly  half  of  that 
little  band  have  already  joined  her  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river.  Two  or  three  have  gone  within  the  past 
year.     Others  of  us  yet  linger  behind,— 

<«  Though  we  are  to  the  margin  come 
And  soon  expect  to  die." 

Often,  as  one  and  another  departs,  and  ''the  pearly 
gates  are  left  ajar,"  might  they  adopt  the  language  of 
Bunyan,  in  view  of  the  safe  arrival  of  his  pilgrims 
within  the  gates  of  the  city: — ''Now,  just  as  the  gates 
were  opened  to  let  in  the  men,  I  looked  in  after  them, 

2A  34* 


402  THE   WELL   IN   THE   VALLEY. 

and  behold,  the  city  shone  like  gold;  and  in  them 
walked  many  men,  with  crowns  on  their  heads,  palms 
in  their  hands,  and  golden  harps  to  sing  praises  withal. 
There  were  also  of  them  that  had  wings,  and  they 
answered  one  another  without  intermission,  saying, 
'Holy,  holy,  holy  is  the  Lord.'  And  after  that  they 
shut  up  the  gates ;  which,  when  I  had  seen,  /  wished 
myself  among  them.'' 

"MAKE   HASTE,  MY   BELOVED" 

(Song  viii.  14.) 

Pass  away,  earthly  joy, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Break,  every  mortal  tie, 

Jesus  is  mine! 
Dark  is  the  wilderness. 
Distant  the  resting-place : 
Jesus  alone  can  bless: — 

Jesus  is  mine ! 

Tempt  not  my  soul  away, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Here  would  I  ever  stay, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Perishing  things  of  clay, 
Born  but  for  one  brief  day, 
Pass  from  my  heart  away  : — 

Jesus  is  mine ! 

Fare  ye  well,  dreams  of  night, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Mine  is  a  dawning  bright, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
All  that  my  soul  has  tried, 
Left  but  a  dismal  void, 
Jesus  has  satisfied: — 

Jesus  is  mine ! 


THE   COMMUNION   OF   SAINTS.  403 

Farewell,  mortality, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Welcome,  eternity, 

Jesus  is  mine ! 
Welcome,  ye  scenes  of  rest, 
Welcome,  ye  mansions  blest. 
Welcome,  a  Saviour's  breast : — 

Jesus  is  mine ! 


CHURCH  IN   HEAVEN. 


"  Yet  in  patience  run  the  race  before  you. 
Long  for  heaven,  where  love  is  watching  o'er  youj 

Sow  in  weeping ; 
Soon  the  fruit  with  joy  you  shall  be  reaping." 

CHURCH  ON  EARTH. 

*<  Come,  come  quickly,  long-expected  Jesus, 
From  all  sin  and  sorrow  to  release  us ; 

Quickly  take  us 
To  thyself,  and  blest  forever  make  us !" 

CHURCH  IN   HEAVEN. 

**Ah,  beloved  souls!  your  palms  victorious, 
Golden  harps,  and  thrones  of  triumph  glorious, 

All  are  waiting : 
Follow  on  with  courage  unabating." 

CHORUS. 

"Let  us  join  to  praise  His  name  forever, 
To  us  both  of  every  good  the  giver. 

Life  undying 
We  shall  each  obtain,  on  him  relying. 

'*  Praise  him,  men  on  earth  and  saints  in  heaven  t 
To  the  Lamb  be  praise  and  glory  given, — 

Praise  unending, 
Glory  through  eternity  extending !" 


404         THE  WELL  IN  THE  VALLEY. 

May  it  be  so  with  you,  dear  reader !  I  will  still  com- 
mend you  to  God,  and  to  the  power  of  his  grace,  and 
to  the  ever-present,  all-sustaining,  all-sufficient  Com- 
forter.    Fare  thee  well. 


INDEX. 


PASS 

Agnes  Beaumont,  story  of ^^^ 

Alexander,  Rev.  Archibald's,  sermon 312 

Alexander,  Rev.  James  W.,  on  first  communion 251 

Are  you  a  communicant?  story  in  reply 270 

Augustine,  his  advice  to  Victorinus  as  to  public  profession 118 

his  own  conversion  and  confession 121 

Baker,  a  Deist,  conversion  and  confession  of 120,  121 

Bartlett,  Phoebe ^26 

Belief  and  confession  of  Christ  both  necessary  and  obligatory, 

(ch.  iii.)  inseparable ^1 

of  the  heart  must  go  before  confession,  ch.  iv 60 

what  it  is  to  believe  illustrated,  ch.  iv 75 

Believer  preparing  to  unite  with  the  church  and  come  to  the 

Lord's  table,  ch.  ix 171 

remembering  Christ  at  Lord's  table,  ch.  x 195 

Blessing,  the  blessing  of  God;  what  withholds  it? 108 

Boy,  the  boy  that  would  go  to  church 284 

the,  and  the  will ^^^ 

who  did  not  think  he  was  too  young  to  join  the  church. ..318,  319 

whom  no  one  would  speak  to,  and  Bishop  McKendree 322 

Buchanan,  the  first  link  in  a  long  chain 287 

Bunyan's  exalted  conception  of  the  church  and  union  with  it....  191 

Beautiful  palace 109-111 

Christiana  and  her  boys 308 

glory  of  church-fellowship 259,  260,  264 

Butler,  Bishop,  on  the  church  and  profession  of  religion 38 

Calvin's  last  communion 207 

Chalmers,  Dr.,  and  the  old  woman 69 

Charles  in  the  burning  house,  story  of 75 

Child,  only  a  child •;  ^22 

Children,  the  Lord's  Supper  adapted  to  interest  and  profit,  ch.  xvi.  305 

406 


406  INDEX. 

pAoa 

Christiana  and  her  boys 308 

Church,  the,  is  the  Well  in  the  Valley 22 

union  and  communion  with,  essential  as  a  Christian  duty 

and  means  of  grace,  eh.  ii *29 

who  are  fit  to  join:  story  of  a  young  lady 51 

is  the  Beautiful  palace 109-111 

the  true  believer  preparing  to  unite  with,  ch,  ix 171 

honour  and  glory  of  membership  in,  ch.  xii 258 

at  what  age  ought  children  to  join? 319 

the  little  girl  and  boy  who  wished  to  join 317,  318,  321 

a  word  to  those  who,  from  whatever  cause,  are  not  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  ch.  xvii 338 

a  plea  for,  ch.  xviii 359 

the  holy  catholic,  and  the   communion  of  saints,  the 

same 394 

Clay,  Henry,  Rev.  Mr.  Bullock's  story  of  his  conversion  and  con- 
fession   97,  98 

Communion  with  God  the  great  end  of  all  true  religion 20 

the  wonderful  one  at  Kirk  of  Shotts 297,  298 

of  saints,  ch.  xix 377 

Confession  of  Christ  necessary  and  obligatory,  ch.  iii 47 

must  be  open,  ch.  vi 91 

Confessions  of  Faith,  Harmony  of,  quoted 33 

Conversion,  order  of  various 54 

Cummins,  Rev.  Francis,  his  account  of  a  remarkable  communion 

occasion 295,  296 

Dedication  to  God,  form  for  self-consecration 84 

recommended  to  be  made,  and  how 90 

Doddridge's  account  of  Col.  Gardiner's  enjoyment  of  the  Lord's 

Supper 241,242 

form  of  self-consecration  to  God 90 

Doubts:  may  one  who  dojibts  come  to  the  Lord's  Supper? 135 

story  of  a  young  lady  and  Dr.  Rice 139,  140 

Edwards,  Jonathan,  on  the  glory  and  beauty  of  holiness,  or  true 

piety 264 

account  of  Phoebe  Bartlett 326 

Ellen,  the  story  of  her  conversion  and  cause  of  her  delay 67 

Excuses  and  doubts  preventing  confession,  ought  not  104 


INDEX.  407 

PAOX 

Faith,  the  mightiest  principle  of  human  nature 50 

Family  worship,  story  of  its  commencement  by  a  fashionable 

young  man 100,  102 

Francke,  hymn  of. 45,  46 

Fraser,  Janet,  story  of. 181 

Fuller,  Andrew,  on  the  sacraments  and  profession  of  faith  36,  37,  38 

Gardiner,  Colonel,  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  after 241-343 

George  III.,  interesting  account  of  his  coronation-communion  ...  258 
Girl,  little  girl  who,  after  conversion,  was  ninety-seven  years  a 

Christian 314 

the  little  girl  w^o  stood  weeping,  and  why 321 

who  wished  to  join  the  church,  and  why 317 

Give  yourself  unto  the  Lord,  ch.  v 83 

Helen  B ,  affecting  story  of  her  conversion 130-132 

Heron,  Rev.  Mr.,  his  farewell  missionary  address  and  communion  290 

Hinds,  Bishop,  on  communion  of  saints 394 

Hodge's  Way  of  Life  referred  to 40,  42 

Humphrey,  Dr.,  encouragement  to  hope  for  early  conversion  of 

children 330 

Husband,  Is  not  my  husband  to  be  saved? 91 

the  silent  and  reserved,  and  why 93 

Is  not  my  husband  to  be  saved? 91,  92 

Jack,  Foolish  Jack's  experience  and  examination 141-143 

Jewish  church  and  economy,  typical  and  spiritual  nature  of....  17-19 
Jones,  Rev.  H.,  and  the  revival  in  Wales 393 

Lavater,  his  last  communion 399 

Leighton  on  the  ordinances 36,  40 

Life,  human,  in  its  mingled  condition  and  experience  like  a  valley    21 

Lippen  to  it:  Dr.  Chalmers  and  story  about 70 

Livingston's   remarkable  sermon  and  communion  at  the  Kirk  of 

Shotts 297,  298 

Lord's  Supper,  may  one  who  doubts  come  to? 135 

story  of  a  young  lady  and  Dr.  Rice 139, 140 

necessity  of 144-149 

danger  of  delay,  story  of 149-151 


408  INDEX. 

PAGU 

Lord's  Supper,  what  it  is,  and  what  it  teaches,  ch.  viii 161 

the  true  believer  preparing  to  unite  and  come  to, 

ch.  ix 171 

believer  remembering  Christ  at,  ch.  x 195 

what  may  and  ought  to  be  expected  in,  ch.  xi 241 

on  coming  to  it  for  the  first  time,  thoughts  and 

directions  for 251 

often  a  converting  ordinance,  ch.  xiv 292 

and  the  Lord's  Lambs,  ch.  xvi 305 

Marriage,  what  would  you  do  if  asked  to  marry? 83 

what  you  would  do  if  engaged  to  be  married 113,  114 

McCheyne,  his  views  of  what  is  meant  by  partaking  in  the  Lord's 

Supper 221 

love  and  hope  for  conversion  of  children 327 

McCheyne's  Life  of  James  Laing 326 

Melancholy  and  pious:  story  of  Dr.  Rice  and  young  lady...  139,  140 

Member  of  Congress,  his  idea  of  the  communion 295 

Missionary,  the  missionary's  last  communion 400-402 

Monod,  Adolphe,  his  farewell  communion-seasons 236 

Mother,  the  godly,  pious  mother  and  her  eleven  children 285,  286 

and  her  little  boy,  and  his  wish  to  know,  and  what 319 

Murray,  Rev.  Dr.,  account  of  a  pious  wife 281 

Negro,  pious  old  negro's  illustration 381 

Nelson,  Rev.  David,  and  the  young  man,  story  of 148 

Nile,  the  two  travellers  on 391 

Old  gentleman  and  great  sinner,  remarkable  conversion  of...  116, 117 
Old  man,  eighty-eight  years  a  member  of  the  church 314 

Plumer,  Rev.  Dr.,  on  early  conversion,  piety,  and  profession  of 

children 312,316 

Polycarp,  eighty  years  a  professor  of  religion 336 

many  others  in  his  age  became  such  very  young 336 

Prepare  to  meet  thy  God:  how  to  do  this 79,  80 

Profession,  public,  obligation  and  importance  of,  ch.  viii 113 

Profession,  public,  excuses  for  not  making  answered 126-146 

danger  of  delaying 149,  151 

other  facts 152-155 


INDEX.  409 

PAGE 

Professors,  faults  of,  classified 363,  364,  365 

Ramsay,  Mrs.,  form  of  self-dedication  used  by  her 90 

Bice,  Dr.,  and  the  young  lady  who  was  melancholy 139,  140 

Sisters,  the  three  sisters  united,  when  old,  in  communion  at  the 

church  where  in  early  youth  they  first  made  profession 315 

Stranger  on  communion  occasion,  feelings  of 298 

Union  and  communion  with  God  the  great  end  of  all  religion 18 

with  the  church  essential,  how,  and  why,  ch.  ii 27 

Venable,  Hon.  Mr.,  account  of  his  little  daughter's  wish  to  join 

the  church 317,  318 

Walter  G.,  why  afraid  to  go  to  church,  story  of 115 

Washburn,  his  dying  words  to  his  daughter 382 

Well  in  the  Valley :    Ps.  Ixxxiv.  explained 16 

object  of  the  book,  and  persons  addressed  13,  24 

Widow's  story  of  the  widow  and  her  children 283 

the  poor  widow's  son,  and  the  results 287 

Wife,  story  of  a  believing  wife  and  her  ungodly  husband....  278-280 
another  case,  given  by  Dr.  Murray 281 

Wishart,   last  communion   of,    before   being  burnt  as   a  mar- 
tyr  229,230,231 

Work  to  be  done,  and  how  to  do  it,  ch.  xiii 276 

Young  lady,  interesting  and  aflFecting  scene 130-132 

Young  man,  story  of  one 98 

and  the  Rev.  David  Nelson 148 

the  fashionable  young  man  in  New  York  converted...  100 
that  often  wished  to  be  converted,  story  of 128 

Zinzendorf,  Count,   his   own  account   of  his   conversion  while 

young 117    118 


INDEX  TO  POETRY. 


PAGE 

All  things  are  changing,  thou  the  same 314 

Approach  to  the  altar 194 

Around  the  throne  of  God  in  heaven 331 

Be  known  to  us  in  breaking  bread , 229 

Born  for  us,  and  for  us  given 197 

Bread  of  the  world,  in  mercy  broken 224 

Cease,  my  soul,  thy  strayings 159 

Cling  to  the  Crucified 139 

Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  heart 80 

Come  in,  thou  blessed  of  the  Lord 58 

Come,  listening  Spirit,  come 26 

Communion  of  my  Saviour's  blood -. 192 

Dark  was  the  long-predicted  night 857 

Deck  thyself,  my  soul,  with  gladness 45 

Fair  as  heaven's  doors,  which,  made  of  varied  stone 386 

Forth  from  the  dark  and  stormy  sky ~ 23 

From  yon  delusive  scene 320 

Glory,  glory  to  our  King 164 

God  of  my  salvation,  hear 200 

Here  all  unknown  we  wander 397 

Here  is  my  heart!  my  God,  I  give  it  thee 73 

Here,  0  my  Lord,  I  see  thee  face  to  face 239 

Holy  board!  where,  at  a  bound 221 

How  charming  is  the  place 265 

How  strongly  and  how  sweetly  still 251 

[  lay  my  sins  on  Jesus 64 

I  love  thy  kingdom.  Lord 336 

410 


INDEX.  411 

PAGE 

In  the  hour  of  trial 193 

I  saw  one  hanging  on  the  tree 303 

I  to  that  boundless  love  would  ever  turn 125 

I  was  a  wandering  sheep 129 

Jesus,  who  once,  a  child  of  woe 210 

Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea 81 

Just  as  thou  art,  without  one  trace 72 

Lamb  of  God!  whose  bleeding  love 256 

Let  me  be  with  thee  where  thou  art 233 

Like  a  dim  lamp,  that  o'er  a  river  shines 360 

Lord,  lam  thine,  entirely  thine 357 

Love  cannot  reach  him;  arrows  of  despair 334 

Love,  strong  as  death,  and  stronger 16 

Many  woes  had  Christ  endured 205 

My  Brother!  can  it  be 187 

My  brotherhood's  a  circle  wide 383 

My  faith  looks  up  to  thee 213 

No  gospel  like  this  feast 170 

O  bread  to  pilgrims  given 256 

Oh,  happy  bond,  that  seals  my  vows 181 

Oh,  heavenward,  heavenward  turn  your  sail 354 

Oh,  sweetly  breathe  the  lyres  above 272 

One  there  is  above  all  others Ill 

One  sole  baptismal  sign 383 

Oppress'd  with  noonday's  scorching  heat 158 

0  sacred  head,  now  wounded 207 

0  thou  who,  nail'd  upon  the  accursed  tree 226 

Pardon  and  peace  to  dying  men 239 

Pass  away,  earthly  joy 402 

People  of  the  living  God 361 

Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me 112 


412  INDEX. 

PA<IK 

Saviour,  to  me  thyself  reveal 219 

Soft  as  falls  the  heavenly  dew 191 

Soldier  of  Christ,  thou  warrior  tried 274 

Son  of  God,  to  thee  I  cry 201 

The  faith  for  which  saints  once  endured 371 

There  is  a  dear  and  hallow'd  spot 220 

There  is  a  little,  lonely  fold 307 

There  is  a  voice  of  sovereign  grace 355 

Think,  while  you  eat  and  drink 224 

This  is  the  abode  where  God  doth  dwell 366 

This  is  the  feast  of  heavenly  wine 160 

Those  are  at  home:  these  journey  still 19 

Thus  have  I  often  seen  a  vernal  rose 375 

Up!  Christians,  up!  the  Saviour  calls 291 

Weary  soul  and  burden'd  sore 96 

Weep  for  the  death-pangs  of  the  heart 288 

When  holy  books,  when  loving  friends 66 

When  this  passing  world  is  done 216 

While  in  sweet  communion  feeding 239 

Whom  dost  thou,  Redeemer,  call 156 

Yes,  I  believe  her  glorious  still  within 372 

Yet  in  patience  run  the  race  before  you 403 


THE  END.