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tender, charitable spirit, and their acts of mercy for His sake. Yet even for them that Saviour has a word of gentlest reproach: "Say not, I am a child; . . . for I am with thee." He will strengthen them, He will help them, and growing in grace and in knowledge, and adding unto their faith "courage," even the weakest and most fearful may, through His omnipotent power, experience such a change as that which had passed over the spirit of the once-hesitating and doubting Jeremiah, when he exclaimed, with all the burning ardour of a loyal, loving, and confiding soul, "His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

Such a change as this, we repeat, the most fearful may at length experience; but if not, at least let them say what they can, when they can, in the cause of Christ and holiness: it is not they who speak, but the Spirit of their Father that speaketh in them.

To those who from "mental illness or debility" think themselves "wholly incapable of contributing to the good of others," we can offer no better advice than to beg them to read those sweet words of comfort tendered to such afflicted ones by the deeply experienced author of a most valuable. and interesting work, "Christian Encouragement." 1

In conclusion, let us offer a few simple rules and suggestions for the guidance of those who desire to show forth God's praise, and to diffuse around the knowledge of His truth.

Look to the Holy Spirit for instruction, and depend upon Him alone for help. Through Him the weakest instruments may effect the mightiest results, "the lame" may "take the prey." Give yourself up to His direction, seek to lose sight of self; and while remembering that the spiritually "wise" man studieth to answer," endeavour to realise that blessed promise, as applicable to times of conscious weakness and difficulty as to circumstances of alarm and danger, "It shall be given you in the same hour what ye ought to speak'

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1 Published by the Religious Tract Society.

Be true to yourself; do not utter abstract truths from a cold and formal sense of duty, do not speak from the experience of others, but, like Elihu of old, let the spirit that is within you constrain you. Do you indeed "know", the Lord, not by "the hearing of the ear," but by acquainting yourself with Him? Have you seen through personal experience the evil and misery of sin, the peace and pleasantness of wisdom's ways? Speak then what you "do know," and " testify" that you have seen; "be true to Christ, and you will be true to yourself," and your words, through God's blessing, will thus come with the power and vividness of truth to the minds and hearts of your hearers.

Remember that except you earnestly endeavour to carry out in practice that which your lips proclaim, you will injure the cause of Christ while speaking in His name. A holy life has been called "a living sermon," and such a life will undoubtedly prove the best commentary upon any words that you may utter. St. Paul would know "not the speech" of those who were puffed up, "but the power." And if you would live such a life, if you would speak to the profit of those whom you address, cultivate communion with your Saviour; be much in intercourse with Him. Meek and lowly, diligent and self-denying, patient and benevolent, pure and true, seek to become like Him; so shall the spirit of Christ breathe through your conversation, and His felt embolden and encourage you. presence

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"Learn to cultivate a certain independence of the opinion of others." Do not fear being called "over-religious," "assuming," or "hypocritical." If you are conscious of sincerity, though amid much remaining imperfection, if you are praying for that wisdom which God "giveth liberally" to all who ask for it, is not the approbation of your God enough? and can you not trust Him in His own good time to show you a token for good," to "appear to your joy," adversaries may be ashamed?

that your

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"Christian Daily Life," by Hetty Bowman.

Avoid any peculiar phraseology, and let a due regard be paid to time, place, circumstance, and the individual character of those whom you address. These points have been frequently insisted upon by many, but unhappily not without cause. The wise and well-instructed Christian will endeavour to employ that "sound speech which cannot be condemned," and will seek so to order his conversation as to "give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully;" remembering, however, with regard to the question of time, that circumstances may occasionally arise which will throw light on the meaning of an often mistaken passage of Scripture, "Instant in season, out of season.”

The Trees of Scripture.

HE grandest tree of Palestine is the CEDAR of Lebanon, with its beautiful spreading branches and dark green foliage. We find no particular mention of any individual tree, but cedars were greatly used by David in building the king's house, and by Solomon in the erection of the Temple. The trees were felled in Lebanon, and sent in floats to Joppa for transmission to Jerusalem, by Hiram, King of Tyre, for which service Solomon gave him a yearly allowance.1

In Ezra iii. 7, we find also that men from Tyre and Zidon brought cedar-trees from Lebanon to Joppa, for the building of the second Temple.

The cedar is often used as a type of grandeur and power -of a constantly growing and flourishing condition. "The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."2 Its delicious fragrance is also noticed: "The smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

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The FIG is one of the native fruit-trees of the Promised Land, and is found, either wild or cultivated, in every part

1 1 Kings v.

2 Psa. xcii. 12.

3 Cant. iv. II.

of Palestine. Many of us may be familiar with its appearance, as it is a good deal grown in England, especially in Sussex. The first mention of the fig-tree is in Genesis iii. 7, when Adam and Eve made themselves coverings of its large leaves. Figs are still a very important article of food, both fresh and dried; and when eaten with barley cakes they form the usual provender for travellers, as well as the cheapest food. We often read of every man sitting under his own fig-tree :' this sounds very pleasant, and gives one the idea of peace and security. How delightful it must have been to the Israelites to do so, after they were settled in the Promised Land, and all their wanderings and fightings were over! The foliage is very thick, and affords a cool shelter from the hot sun. When our Lord saw the fig-tree afar off, and hoped to find some fruit on it, but found nothing but leaves, He cursed it, and it withered away. Although it says the "time of figs was not yet," we may suppose it to mean that the usual time of gathering figs was not come ; but even at that time of year the tree might be expected to have fruit.

A cake made of figs is often mentioned. Some were given to the famishing Egyptian found by David when he was pursuing the Amalekites.3 They also formed part of the supplies scnt to David at Hebron.1

Figs are still considered to make a very good poultice in the East, as in the days of Hezekiah, when Isaiah said, "Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover."

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OAKS are frequently mentioned in the Bible. Jacob hid the idols and earrings that Leah and Rachel had brought away under an oak-tree which was by Shechem." In the same chapter, 8th verse, we find that Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, was buried under an oak, and the name of it was

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2 Which was not till after the Passover, and it now wanted five days to that time.

3

I Sam. xxx. 12.

4 I Chron. xii. 40.

5 Isa. xxxviii. 21.

Gen. xxxv. 4.

called "Allon-bachuth," or the "Oak of weeping." Joshua assembled the tribes together at Shechem, just before his death, and renewed the covenant between them and God, and set up a great stone as witness under the oak-tree there.1 Abimelech was made king by the men of Shechem under the same oak-tree, but in this place it is called the plain of the pillar, instead of the oak.2

The angel appeared to Gideon under an oak-tree which belonged to Joash, his father, and there told him that God would be with him, and help him to deliver Israel from the Midianites.3

Absalom's head was caught in the thick boughs of a great oak-tree, as he rode under it on his mule, and there he was slain by Joab whilst hanging on the tree.1

Remarkably large oak-trees were the favourite resorts for the performance of religious rites, and under their shadows great persons were buried. Saul and Jonathan were buried "under the oak in Jabesh."5 The Arabs still use them for

the burial-places of their sheikhs.

Ezekiel says, "Then shall ye know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols."

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Hosea says, "They burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good." The oak is sometimes used as a type of strength. Amos, in speaking of what God had done for Israel, says, "Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks," etc.

The oaks of Bashan were particularly fine, and grew to a magnificent size.

Joshua xxiv. 26.

4 2 Sam. xviii. 14.

7 Hosea iv. 13.

2 Judges ix. 6.

5

1 Chron. x. 12.

• Amos ii. 9.

3 Judges vi. II. 6 Ezek. vi. 13.

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