AFTER, the recitations and songs at the “breaking-up,” to which I drew my young readers’ attention last month, came, what I have no doubt was the chief point of interest in that day’s proceedings—namely, the distribution of the prizes. There was lying on the table a tasty little basket, the contents of which were partially hidden from view, but which really contained the several books and ornamented cards with which the persevering and painstaking scholars were to be rewarded. I had observed that some mysterious and inquisitive looks had been directed by the children towards that basket, but I was not aware what it contained till the moment arrived for bringing it forward; when the schoolmistress, wishing (missing words) one to undertake the agreeable task of distributing the prizes, that service fell upon me, and (missing words) formed it as well as I could, though I (missing words) fulfilled such an office before.
The prizes, I could plainly perceive, (missing words) all of equal value. The names of the (missing words) competitors were written in the different (missing words) and on the cards, accompanied by a statement of the ground of commendation on account of whom the reward was given. This, I thought, (missing word) proper; for one who may not excel in one thing, may succeed in something else. I took each book in order, and, calling up before me the scholar whose name was written therein, I presented the reward to him or her, saying, before all, some few words of commendation and encouragement to each of them, with which, as you may suppose, they were much gratified. It is pleasant to me to have to say that, while some, of course, gained more and better prizes than others, I believe that every child received something. “General Diligence” came in for its share of praise, and I was glad to be called on to recompense some for that as well as others for having showed ability in the acquisition of knowledge.
I wish now to recall your attention to what I said in the first paper on this subject respecting the necessity of being a scholar before one can have a title to a scholar’s privileges. Again let me ask you, dear child, are you a scholar or disciple in the school of God? Have you come to Jesus as a sinful child, and trusted in Him and in His precious blood to wash you from your sins? Is the name of Jesus a delight to your young heart? Do you desire to do those things which give Him pleasure Are you willing, if He should see it good, to depart from this world, and to be with Himself in heaven forever? If none of these things are true of you, how can you bong to Christ, and be one of God’s dear children? And, while you continue in such a condition, how can you be a learner in the school of God? The first thing to be done in order to please God is to come to Jesus. Till you have done that, you cannot be a learner or disciple of Christ. You see, that it was the scholars in the school at which I attended who received the rewards, and no one else. Suppose that some strange children had wanted to share in the prizes. “No,” the scholars might have replied, “you do not belong to the school, and so you cannot have any of the rewards. If you want to have them, you must come to school in the proper way, and then you can try for them, as we do. But, if you do not come to the school, you cannot share in the prizes.”
There is a day coming, dear children, when the Lord Jesus will distribute His rewards to all those who have been His true disciples and faithful servants in this world. Several Scriptures teach us this, but, if you will read Matthew 25:14-23,14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:14‑23) you will see what I mean. All the promises, too, contained in the addresses to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, teach us the like truth. Would you not wish, dear young believer, when you are with Christ in His glory, and all the holy angels are around Him, to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? I am sure that I should like to hear Him say it of me. Well, if we are faithful to Him, we shall even now have a special joy in our hearts, and by-and-by receive His outward token of approval. There is sometimes at school an attentive, well-behaved boy, who knows by the kind look and words of the master that he is pleased with his conduct, and I think that this must be more grateful to the heart than receiving even the best of prizes. And so to have in our hearts a testimony, like Enoch, that we please God, is far more precious than the hope of receiving ever so great a reward; though this cannot fail to be highly valued by us as being the gift of Christ and a mark of His approbation of the precious fruits of the Spirit, which He Himself has wrought in us.
When I had finished the distribution of the prizes to the children, I found at the bottom of the basket an ornamented pictorial card, to which no name was attached, and on which there was no writing at all. I asked the schoolmistress what I was to do with it, but she only replied that I was to make what use of it I thought proper. I felt puzzled. If I declined to make any use of it at all, that course seemed unsatisfactory. If I presented it to one of the scholars, I feared that I might occasion some jealousy in the others, which, of course, I wished to avoid. If I took it myself, that seemed worse than all. So I was in a dilemma. At length a happy thought struck me. I proposed that it should be given to the one who was willing to take the lowest place in the school. This proposition was received with acclamation, both by the scholars and their friends. All eyes were then turned towards a happy-looking little girl, the youngest in the school, who, upon my calling her by her name, came forward and smilingly took the prize thus assigned to her. Thus I was relieved from my difficulty, and all were pleased with the mode of its solution.
Does not this little incident give a pleasing suggestion, dear young believer, of the beauty of lowliness in the sight of God? The Lord Jesus Himself, who is “equal with God,” humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.” What a beautiful word that is in Luke 22:24-27,24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:24‑27) when, alas! there was a strife among the disciples, “which of them should be accounted the greatest.” And Jesus said unto them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as He that serveth.” How like this is to the exhortation in Philippians 2: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” While this spirit of humility becomes all believers, it is especially lovely in the young. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:55Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5)).
The “breaking-up” was by this time accomplished, and we retired to partake of some refreshment which had been prepared for us. We afterward went on to the lawn adjoining the house, and the evening being fine, all of us, the old as well as the young, spent the time agreeably together till it was right for us to disperse to our respective homes, which we did, after having passed a pleasant day.
T.