For Young Believers.
IF, when earthly relationships are dissolved by death, those who remain fondly cherish the remembrance of departed friends, how much more so is it with believers in whose hearts God has formed those spiritual ties and affections which, like their divine Author, will endure forever? If the former can enter into the meaning of the well-known line,
“Though lost to sight, to memory dear;”
the latter can add―
“Not lost, but gone before;”
and, while retracing, with a mixture of joy and
sorrow, past intercourse with those
“Whose pilgrim days are done,”
anticipate the time when they
“Shall meet them on that shore
Where partings are unknown.”
Among the number of now departed saints with whom it was the writer’s privilege and happiness once to hold fellowship, was a young bricklayer, named A―. At the time of his conversion he was the only youth in the village who was known to have believed; and when the writer, who was nearly of the same age, was soon after brought to Jesus, a mutual attachment was formed between them; and as both realized the truth of that saying, “A man’s foes shall be they of his own household,” and met with the same opposition from the world, they were bound together in real Christian brotherhood, and walked in the fellowship of the Spirit, “as being heirs together of the grace of God.” But ere long a family circumstance caused A.’s removal to London, and it was while he was there being further instructed in his trade that the following event took place.
At the completion of a contract, a supper was provided for the workmen, and at the appointed hour they assembled to partake of it. When it was ended, A. rose to depart; but as some who hated him for the sake of Christ, and who had frequently hidden his tools because he would not join them when they tossed for beer, etc., had agreed to make use of the occasion to put, what they called, his Methodism to the test, he was not only prevented, but given to understand that none would be allowed to leave till they had sung a song.
The young bricklayer was much tried, but as the master was unavoidably absent, remonstrance was useless, and he resumed his seat. The one who sat next him soon commenced the singing, and shortly after the song was ended, A.’s name was announced. Upon his refusal to comply, some wished him to give the company a song in a psalm tune; and when he again refused, others, amidst much laughter, asked him to sing “one of the songs of Zion;” but to this he also objected. He was then ironically requested to make a speech, and to this he assented, and spoke in substance as follows: — “My friends,” said he, while the tears trickled down his cheek, “I will address you from the chorus of the song which has just been sung, and in which most, if not all, of you have joined. You cannot be aware of the solemn words you have uttered. You have been singing,
‘Come, let us merry be, and drive away all sorrow,
For perhaps we may not meet again tomorrow;’
and the last line is indeed true, for you know not what shall be on the morrow. Even this night your souls may be required of you; and should it be so, where would tomorrow find you? “He was about to proceed, when he was interrupted by cries of “Put him down;” “We have had enough;” “Let us subscribe, and send him to college,” etc.; and had not the representative of the master interfered on his behalf, he would have been roughly handled, and forcibly ejected from the room. When order was restored, A. wished once more to depart; and as he was such a disagreeable fellow, and was spoiling the pleasure of the evening, he was allowed to do so.
Young Christians, unto you it is given, in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; and though it is frequently said by those who are vainly trying to “make the best of both worlds,” that suffering for Christ is an expression which has no reference to this enlightened age, the Holy Scriptures affirm that we must “through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God;” and that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The young bricklayer found it so, both at home and in the midst of his associates; and if you, like him, have grace to live Christ under the parental roof, and to witness for Christ in your various spheres and callings, you will find that the offense of the Cross has not ceased; and that as in former times he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. If those by whom you are surrounded do not plot against you, they will try you in a variety of ways; and, however hard it may be to flesh and blood to be taunted and laughed at, or trying to human nature to be reviled and evil spoken of, you must not shrink from treading the path of discipleship, nor be ashamed to confess whose you are and whom you serve. Oh, watch against the first step in inconsistency of conduct, and against the least compromise of Christian principles. Be not like the worldly minded Christians of these degenerate days, whose consciences seem to be as elastic as a piece of India-rubber, who are as unstable as water; and who, while they say, “Lord, Lord,” attempt to throw truth tastefully into the background whenever it would involve them in suffering, shame, or loss; but “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things,” and give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. If you yield to the wishes of those who so sorely try you, you will not only dishonor the Lord and wound your own souls, but your enemies will rejoice, and say, “Ah, so would we have it;” whereas, if you remain true to Christ, you will be counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
But while you seek to follow the Lord fully, pray for wisdom and discretion, that you may be enabled to exhibit the meekness and gentleness of Christ, in connection with a firm and unflinching attachment to his name; otherwise you will give unnecessary offense, and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. Learn of him who was meek and lowly in heart; for though the manifestation of a meek and quiet spirit will not remove the enmity of the carnal mind, nor save you from the hard speeches and biting jests of those who hate the image of Christ whenever they see it reflected, it will keep you from suffering for evil doing. And should you still be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you; on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. And should these pages meet the eye of any who, like A.’s fellow workmen, are vainly seeking to drive away the sorrow which sin brought into the world, by reveling’s and such-like, the writer would affectionately remind them that the pleasures of sin are but as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and that the end of such mirth is heaviness. You may indeed refuse to hear the word of expostulation, but is such conduct consistent with those who have immortal souls, whose destiny is eternity? And suppose you so close your ears and harden your hearts that the voice of friendly warning is for the moment lost upon you, it will not always be so. When the roll which Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah, and which contained all the words of the Lord which He had spoken unto him, was cut with a penknife and consumed in the fire that was on the hearth, and that without the least emotion; another roll was written in which was found all the words of the book which Jehoiakim, king of Judah, had burned in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words. And so, dear fellow-sinners, if you persist in your present evil course, and continue to hate instruction and despise reproof, the sin of rejecting the truth will be added to all your other sins, and be the most bitter ingredient in your future cup of never-ceasing misery and torment. Be persuaded then to ponder the question which the young bricklayer put to those whose good he sought, and whose spiritual welfare lay near his heart. Before tomorrow dawns the Lord may come, and the moment which will be to those who are Christians the full fruition of all their hopes, will be the forerunner of everlasting destruction to all who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Or should he still delay his coming, you may be in eternity; and if you depart this life in your present condition, your laughter will be turned into mourning, and your mirth into the wailings of despair. Oh! shut your eyes no longer to the danger that awaits you, but give heed to the Divine warning, “The wages of sin is death,” and listen to the gracious declaration, “The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Yes, “hear, and your soul shall live.”
N.