ONE lovely summer evening the teacher of the first boys’ class in a village Sunday-school found himself in the midst of his scholars.
The boys were in a bad mood―listless, idle, and tiresome―in fact, their behavior was most unseemly.
One only of them displayed any disposition to listen to the teacher. This boy did attend, but none of the others cared to answer any of their teacher’s questions.
It was trying work, yet the teacher bore it patiently. At length he reproved his boys for their misconduct, and at the same time held up the good behavior of the attentive scholar as an example. His manner of reproof only caused the boys to change their tactics. They at once proceeded to vent their spleen upon the attentive scholar, whispering, “Favorite! Favorite!”
It was hard for the poor boy to have to endure this; yet, being at heart truly desirous to hear the word of God, he tried to listen; but at last the tears started to his eyes, nor could he cease crying until the school was over.
It may be that I am addressing some boy who has known by experience what it is to weep because of reproaches. Be of good courage, youthful believer! Be not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord! The brave boy is he who does what he knows to be right even though he has to suffer in consequence, and every child that bears the cross on earth for Christ’s sake shall wear a crown in heaven.
I hope I am not now speaking to one who delights to “sit in the seat of the scornful” (Psa. 1:11Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalm 1:1)), for a day will come when the scorners who delight in scorning shall be overtaken with fear and destruction, when those who hate knowledge, and choose not the fear of the Lord, shall “eat of the fruit of their own way,” and God will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh. “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path”; “fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”
I have said that the attentive scholar was truly desirous to hear the word, but it is not enough to behold the “strait gate,” we must enter in at it, or we shall not be saved—we must be converted! The boy whose conduct had been commended did not at once enter in. Was it because he had to endure persecution?
Oh, how many have turned aside from following the Lord because they feared the reproach of men! Be warned, turn not aside to vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver. “Hearken unto Me!” thus the Lord speaks, “fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling’s.”
We had better endure reproach now than have presently to endure “everlasting burnings.” Those that receive the seed in “stony places” endure not tribulation of persecution.
Behold that youth kneeling alone at his bedside! It is the same boy who once wept before his fellow-scholars. Now the tears roll down his cheeks as he pours out his soul to God. His tears flow on account of his own transgressions; he has come to himself; confesses himself a guilty sinner: He has heard of the “strait gate”; he longs to enter in at it. While upon his knees he enters; he believes to the saving of his soul; and his heart overflows with joy, because of God’s great salvation! May all the dear boys who read this likewise find mercy. A. J.