H́nh ảnh trang
PDF
ePub

became, by unanimous consent, the Bishop of Milan. His heart warmed towards the young and ambitious orator, and his prayer was, that his talents as a public speaker might be consecrated to the service of God. Augustine listened to him; his conscience testified to the truth of his words; but the "law in his members" was opposed to his convictions of duty, and obtained the mastery over him.

The mother took counsel with Ambrose, and they laboured and prayed in unison for the conversion of the son. He was prevailed upon to put away the idol of his heart, and she was sent to Africa; but so vagrant were his heart's desires, that he soon set up another idol. Who would wonder if history had recorded that, under these circumstances, the faith of the mother had failed? Who would be surprised, had it been written that her hands hung down, and her heart was broken? History does not so record. It tells how her faith in God rose triumphant over every obstacle. She gave herself to prayer anew, with a faith which did not falter. It soon had its reward, for God had merey on her He delivered him from the bondage and pollution of sin ; and he became a free man in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who can describe the feelings of the mother, when that son fell upon her neck, and told her he had found Jesus ? All her struggles for more than thirty years were forgotten. The emotions of gratitude and joy drove from her remembrance the sorrows of the past.

son.

66

Her work was done. She had lived to see him converted. She felt like Simeon. The language of her heart was, Now lettest thou thine handmaid depart in peace; for I have seen thy salvation." She wanted to die at Tagasta ; but before the journey was completed, Christ took her to himself.

Augustine grieved over her loss. He who, had she died while in his sins, would have rejoiced that a faithful reprover was removed, now deeply mourned that, just as he had learned to appreciate her worth, she must be taken from him. This son became Bishop in Hippo.

Let mothers who have wayward sons, continue "instant in season," and "out of season." Let them continue in prayer. God will hear their supplications, and answer them in his own time. Have faith in God. And let the sons of pious mothers give attention to their mothers' prayers and counsels; or they may hereafter find cause for bitter regrets.

"I DON'T LIKE MY BUSINESS."

THERE is no greater fallacy in the world than that entertained by many young men, that some pursuit in life can be found wholly suited to their tastes, whims, and fancies. This philosopher's stone can never be discovered; and everyone who makes his life a search for it will be ruined. Much truth is contained in the Irishman's remark, "It's never aisy to work hard." Let, therefore, the fact be always remembered by the young, that no life-work can be found entirely agreeable to a man. Success always lies at the top of a hill. If we would reach it, we can do so only by hard, persevering effort, while beset with difficulties of every kind. Genius counts nothing in the battle of life! Determined, obstinate perseverance, in one single channel, is everything. Hence, should any one of our young readers be debating in his mind a change of business, imagining he has a genius for some other, let him at once dismiss the thought as he would a temptation to evil.

If you think you made a mistake in choosing the pursuit or profession you did, don't make another by leaving it. Spend all your energies in working for and clinging to it, as you would to the lifeboat that sustained you in the midst of the ocean. If you leave it, it is almost certain that you will go down; but if you cling to it, informing yourself about it, until you are its master, bending your every energy to the work, success is certain. Good, hard, honest effort, steadily persevered in, will make your love for your business grow; since no one should expect to reach a period when he can feel that his life-work is just the one he could have done best, and would have liked best. We are allowed to see and feel the roughnesses in our own pathway, but not in others; yet all have them.

EXTRACTS.

HUMILITY.- -"It is always safe to learn even of our enemies; seldom safe to venture to instruct even our friends.

CHARITY Would lose its name, were it influenced by so mean a motive as human praise.

REDEEM THE MOMENTS.-He that hopes to look back with satisfaction upon past years, must learn to know the present value of single minutes, and endeavour to let no particle of time fall useless to the ground."- Dr. Johnson.

BEAUTIFUL WATER.

The following lines were suggested by Mr. J. B. Gough's eloquent apostrophe to water.

[blocks in formation]

Beautiful where, midst burning sands,

The green oasis grateful stands,

To pour its pure and healthful tide,

Like the water of life which he who died

Will give to the throngs on earth's bleak shore,

That thirsty souls may thirst no more:

Beautiful in the fairy lines

The frost-king oft so well combines,

Til ornaments richer than pearls or gold,

On the poor man's window-pane unfold;
Nor less of beauty and grace is found,
In the evening cloud with glory crown'd,

When the god of day sinks to his rest

Through the gorgeous gates of the golden west:

Beautiful in the tears that fall

At sympathy's beck on the sable pall,

When a fireside group is rudely riven,

And earth despoiled for th' enriching of heaven;
Beautiful, too, in the bow above,

Assuring us ever that "God is love."

Then hail to the crystal flood so fair!
Brighter than jewel rich and rare;
Beautiful water, fair and bright,

Beautiful as the silvery light

Beautiful every form it bears

Beautiful, beautiful everywhere.

From the Canadian Primitive Methodist Christian Journal

[merged small][graphic][subsumed]

death did she express her confidence and joy in God. Her affliction (diphtheria) was of a very painful nature, yet she bore it with the greatest patience, and was never heard to murmur. As her end drew near her prospect brightened.

ELIZABETH, eldest daughter of menced in her heart; but not John and Elizabeth CLAYDON, till within a fortnight of her who was born at Fincham, Lynn Circuit, June 27, 1848. Being blessed with a pious father, she was brought up in the way in which she should go, and at an early age she became a scholar in our Sabbath-school, and continued regular in her attendance until her last illness. On Sunday, Nov. 30th, 1862, Her attachment to her teachers she said to her aunt, "I am was great, and soon she won dying, but I am going to their confidence and esteem. heaven," and pointing at some Her obedience to her parents object in the room, she conand teachers was marked,- -as tinued, "look at that beautiful she seldom if ever called forth angel, don't you see it aunt? it is their reproof. so bright."

On the day of her death, being told she could not get any better, she replied, "I am going

About three months prior to her affliction her teacher observed a great change in her general conduct, and evidently to be with Jesus which is far the work of grace was com-better;" her heart was fixed

trusting in the Lord. In the evening she wished her father to pray with her; he did so, and she responded with emphasis, "Amen." When he ceased she began to sing

Also, ELIZA, daughter of William and Ellice GOWERS, after a brief affliction of fever, at the early age of six years and nine months, entered into the paradise of God, October 2nd,

"I have a sister in the promised 1862.

land,"

(referring to a younger sister who fell asleep in Jesus only four days before); a few minutes elapsed, and she again broke out in song

"I believe I shall be there,

And walk with him in white."

Thus death has visited our school in the past year, which surely is a solemn call to the young to prepare to meet their God.

Let praying parents be encouraged, and let Sabbathschool teachers labour on.

She then bade her friends fare-"If faithfully you labour in a cause

well, urged them all to pray, and to meet her in heaven, exclaiming several times, "I am going," when the last mortal tie was broken, and her happy spirit took its flight to the mansions of bliss. She died, December 2nd., 1862, aged fourteen years.

Died, in the same parish, REBECCA, daughter of John and Mary ABLE, who was a regular scholar in our school till seized with fever.

The last fortnight of her life

so divine,

Your scholars like gems in your

crown shall shine."

CALEB EVERETT.

CATHERINE ANN PIPER was born in the year 1845, at Mitcheldever, in Hants, where she was trained in the fear of the Lord; and her exemplary conduct, her love of good books, and of the Sabbath-school, encouraged her beloved parents to hope that the good seed sown by them, and watered by their

she was quite insensible except prayers, was taking root in her at intervals when she would heart, and would spring up in a life devoted to God and his

sing sweetly, especially those beautiful lines commencing

"Jesus, lover of my soul," &c.

She lingered for a few days, and then exchanged mortality for life, September 17th, 1862, aged

twelve years.

cause.

At the age of fourteen she left school and went to reside with an aunt, and while with her she associated with worldly young people; and this exerted a pernicious influence on her

« TrướcTiếp tục »