SUNDAY-school teachers are often discouraged, but among revival records of the past something may be remembered for their encouragement.
We must never forget that when the Lord Jesus was here, He was “much displeased” with those who tried to hinder the little ones being brought to Him to touch, and that “He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10). On a previous occasion, too, He had taken a child in His arms (9:36), so that those around Him ought to have known His love for such. Think of the hands of the blessed Jesus laid on the children! (See Mark 5:23,23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. (Mark 5:23) and 9:27.)
Well, twenty-six years ago there was a Sunday school in a certain hamlet. The place boasted no church, so that the children preferred coming to the undenominational school to going to a more distant one, and about seventy usually attended it. Generally speaking they were very naughty, and the faith of the teachers was sorely tried, their courage too, for several of them had to forego their dinner in order to be in time for it. But “though it tarry, wait for it,” and the answer came to their prayers when least expected.
An evangelist who had been converted through the Irish revival came to the next village, and there were wonderful meetings night after night, which were attended by hundreds. Besides conversions among the adults, in the course of two months, some eighteen of the elder children were brought to Christ, some of whom remain unto this present day, and many are fallen asleep; but all were trophies of grace, and the Sunday-school teachers were well recompensed, and so the sowers and the reapers rejoiced together.
Last spring, in the course of some special prayer meetings for blessing on the gospel, a brother got up and said he had received a letter which he believed would be of great interest to all. It was from a lad, now at sea, who had been an attendant at the Sunday school held in that very room in which we were assembled, but who had remained proof against the prayers and entreaties of his teachers. Often they had needed to recollect that “the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain.” And now this precious rain from Heaven had fallen! Here are extracts from the letters read that night: —
Gibraltar, H. M. S. —March 1903.
“DEAR―, — Since I have been here a great change has come over me. I have found out what a great sinner I am and in need of a Saviour. I went to chapel ashore the other day and heard Mr.―preach; he preached from the 103rd Psalm, about the mercies of God; and I saw how merciful God had been to me― a guilty sinner. I was ashore last night, when a lady came up to me and asked me if I would come and hear a gentleman preach. I said I didn’t mind; so I went, and the gentleman happened to be Mr. —, and he spoke of the wickedness of men and the love of God; and when he had finished speaking he got down on his knees and said: ‘Are there any here who would like me to pray for them? If so, let them put up their hands.’ There was a conflict went on within me between the devil and Jesus, as to who should win the day: those few moments seemed ages. But, thank God, the devil was defeated, and up went my hand. But I was not the only one; another chap from my ship, the painter, held up his. And after Mr.―had prayed, he said: ‘Will anybody stand up and own that Christ is his Saviour?’ and again the devil tempted me. When Mr.―said: ‘Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me... in this... sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father.’ When I heard these words I shook the devil off, and stood up and owned Him as my Saviour. I have had many temptations already, but, thank God, I threw them off. The painter is going to let us have his shop for meetings when we can’t get ashore, and when we are at sea. I daresay it seems strange to you to see me write like this. I feel more lonely now and in need of a friend; I seem to be in another world, with a change of air...”
23rd March 1903.
“DEAR―, ― I daresay by the time that you get this letter you will have heard the news. I expect you will think it too good to be true; but, thank God, it is true. Last night at ten, three of us stole down the stokehole and up in the fan flat with our Bibles; we prayed to God to keep us from all temptations and worldly things, and read our Bibles from the First Epistle of St John. It seems rather hard at first breaking off bad habits; one of my mess-mates said to me tonight, ‘Going to have a run round at cards?’ I said, ‘No, I have finished playing cards.’ He answered, ‘What’s up with you now? You another silly — gone regular?’ I don’t mind being silly as long as I am silly on the right side. I shall be glad to have any little tracts you can send me; they will not go through the port this time.... Please tell G. of my conversion.... Pray for me. — W. G. (A.B.).”
Since these letters were written, several other men on board have been brought to the Lord. Let us then thank God and take courage, for in due season (God’s time) we shall reap if we faint not.”
H. L. H.