Annals of the Poor

by John Kendrick Bangs

  PART IV.

  The translation of sinners "from the power of darkness into the kingdomof God's dear Son," is the joy of Christians and the admiration ofangels. Every penitent and pardoned soul is a new witness to thetriumphs of the Redeemer over sin, death, and the grave. How great thechange that is wrought! The child of wrath becomes a monument of grace--abrand plucked from the burning! "If any man be in Christ he is a newcreature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."How marvellous, how interesting, is the spiritual history of eachindividual believer! He is, like David, "a wonder to many," but thegreatest wonder of all to himself. Others may doubt whether it be so ornot; but to _him_ it is unequivocally proved, that, from first to last,grace alone reigns in the work of his salvation.

  The character and privileges of real Christians are beautifully describedin the language of our church; which, when speaking of the objects ofdivine favour and compassion, says: "They that be endued with soexcellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose in dueseason: they through grace obey the calling: they be justified freely:they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of hisonly begotten Son, Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works; andat length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity."

  Such a conception and display of the almighty wisdom, power, and love, isindeed "full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godlypersons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit ofChrist mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, anddrawing up their minds to high and heavenly things: it doth greatlyestablish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyedthrough Christ, and doth fervently kindle their love towards God."

  Nearly allied to the consolation of a good hope through grace, as itrespects our own personal state before God, is that of seeing itsevidences shed lustre over the disposition and conduct of others. Brightwas the exhibition of the union between true Christian enjoyment andChristian exertion, in the character whose moral and spiritual features Iam attempting to delineate.

  It seemed to be the first wish of her heart to prove to others, what Godhad already proved to her, that Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and thelife." She desired to evince the reality of her calling, justification,and adoption into the family of God, by showing a conformity to the imageof Christ, and by walking "religiously in good works:" she trusted that,in this path of faith and obedience, she should "at length, by God'smercy, attain to everlasting felicity."

  I had the spiritual charge of another parish, adjoining to that in whichI resided. It was a small district, and had but few inhabitants. Thechurch was pleasantly situated on a rising bank, at the foot of aconsiderable hill. It was surrounded by trees, and had a rural, retiredappearance. Close to the church-yard stood a large old mansion, whichhad formerly been the residence of an opulent and titled family; but ithad long since been appropriated to the use of the estate as afarm-house. Its outward aspect bore considerable remains of ancientgrandeur, and gave a pleasing character to the spot of ground on whichthe church stood.

  In every direction the roads that led to this house of God possesseddistinct but interesting features. One of them ascended between severalrural cottages, from the sea-shore, which adjoined the lower part of thevillage street. Another winded round the curved sides of the adjacenthill, and was adorned, both above and below, with numerous sheep, feedingon the herbage of the down. A third road led to the church by a gentlyrising approach between high banks, covered with young trees, bushes,ivy, hedge-plants, and wild flowers.

  From a point of land which commanded a view of all these several avenues,I used sometimes for a while to watch my congregation graduallyassembling together at the hour of Sabbath worship. They were in somedirections visible for a considerable distance. Gratifying associationsof thought would form in my mind, as I contemplated their approach, andsuccessive arrival, within the precincts of the house of prayer.

  One day as I was thus occupied, during a short interval previous to thehour of divine service, I reflected on the joy which David experienced atthe time he exclaimed: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go intothe house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, OJerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together;whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony ofIsrael, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord."

  I was led to reflect upon the various blessings connected with theestablishment of public worship. "How many immortal souls are nowgathering together to perform the all-important work of prayer andpraise--to hear the word of God--to feed upon the bread of life! Theyare leaving their respective dwellings, and will soon be united togetherin the house of prayer. How beautifully does this represent the effectproduced by the voice of the 'Good Shepherd,' calling his sheep fromevery part of the wilderness into his fold! As these fields, hills, andlanes, are now covered with men, women, and children, in variousdirections, drawing nearer to each other, and to the object of theirjourney's end; even so, 'many shall come from the east, and from thewest, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in thekingdom of God.'"

  Who can rightly appreciate the value of such hours as these?--hours spentin learning the ways of holy pleasantness and the paths of heavenlypeace--hours devoted to the service of God and of souls; in warning thesinner to flee from the wrath to come; in teaching the ignorant how tolive and die; in preaching the gospel to the poor; in healing the broken-hearted; in declaring "deliverance to the captives, and recovering ofsight to the blind."--"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy namethey shall rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they beexalted."

  My thoughts then pursued a train of reflection on the importance of theministerial office, as connected in the purposes of God with thesalvation of sinners. I inwardly prayed that those many individuals whomhe had given me to instruct, might not, through my neglect or error, beas sheep having no shepherd, nor as the blind led by the blind; butrather that I might, in season and out of season, faithfully proclaim thesimple and undisguised truths of the gospel, to the glory of God and theprosperity of his church.

  At that instant, near the bottom of the enclosed lane which led to thechurch-yard, I observed a friend, whom, at such a distance from his home,I little expected to meet. It was the venerable Dairyman. He came upthe ascent, leaning with one hand on his trusty staff, and with the otheron the arm of a younger man, well known to me, who appeared to be muchgratified in meeting with such a companion by the way.

  My station was on the top of one of the banks which formed the hollowroad beneath. They passed a few yards below me. I was concealed fromtheir sight by a projecting tree. They were talking of the mercies ofGod, and the unsearchable riches of his grace. The Dairyman was tellinghis companion what a blessing the Lord had given him in his daughter. Hiscountenance brightened as he named her, and called her his preciousBetsy.

  I met them at a stile not many yards beyond, and accompanied them to thechurch, which was hard by.

  "Sir," said the old man, "I have brought a letter from my daughter, Ihope I am in time for divine service. Seven miles has now become a longwalk for me: I grow old and weak. I am very glad to see you, sir."

  "How is your daughter?"

  "Very poorly indeed, sir,--very poorly. The doctors say it is a decline.I sometimes hope she will get the better of it; but then again I havemany fears. You know, sir, that I have cause to love and prize her. Oh,it would be such a trial! but the Lord knows what is best. Excuse myweakness, sir."

  He put a letter into my hand, the perusal of which I reserved tillafterwards, as the time was nigh for going into church.

  The presence of this aged pilgrim, the peculiar reverence and affectionwith which he joined in the different parts of the service, excited manygratifying thoughts in my mind, such as rather furthered than interrupteddevotion.

 
The train of reflection in which I had been engaged when I firstdiscovered him on the road, at intervals recurred powerfully to myfeelings, as I viewed that very congregation assembled together in thehouse of God, whose steps, in their approach towards it, I had watchedwith prayerful emotions.

  "Here the rich and poor meet together in mutual acknowledgment that theLord is the maker of them all; and that all are alike dependentcreatures, looking up to one common Father to supply their wants, bothtemporal and spiritual.

  "Again, likewise, will they meet together in the grave, thatundistinguished receptacle of the opulent and the needy.

  "And once more, at the judgment-seat of Christ shall the rich and thepoor meet together, that 'every one may receive the things done in hisbody, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.'

  "How closely connected in the history of man are these three periods of ageneral meeting together?

  "The house of prayer--the house appointed for all living--and the housenot made with hands, eternal in the heavens. May we never separate theseideas from each other, but retain them in a sacred and profitable union!So shall our worshipping assemblies on earth be representative of thegeneral assembly and church of the first-born, which are written inheaven."

  When the congregation dispersed, I entered into discourse with theDairyman and a few of the poor of my flock, whose minds were of the likedisposition to his own. He seldom could speak long together without somereference to his dear child. He loved to tell how merciful his God hadbeen to him, in the dutiful and affectionate attentions of his daughter.All real Christians feel a tender spiritual attachment towards those whohave been the instrument of bringing them to an effectual knowledge ofthe way of salvation; but when that instrument is one so nearly allied,how dear does the relationship become!

  If my friend the Dairyman was in any danger of falling into idolatry, hischild would have been the idol of his affections. She was the prop andstay of her parents' declining years, and they scarcely knew howsufficiently to testify the gratitude of their hearts for the comfort andblessing which she was the means of affording them.

  While he was relating several particulars of his family history to theothers, I opened and read the following letter:--

  "SIR,

  "Once more I take the liberty to trouble you with a few lines. I received your letter with great pleasure, and thank you for it. I am now so weak that I am unable to walk to any public place of divine worship,--a privilege which has heretofore always so much strengthened and refreshed me. I used to go in anxious expectation to meet my God, and hold sweet communion with him; and I was seldom disappointed. In the means of grace all the channels of divine mercy are open to every heart that is lifted up to receive out of that divine fulness grace for grace. These are the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. How have I rejoiced to hear a faithful and lively messenger, just come, as it were, from communion with God at the throne of grace, with his heart warmed and filled with divine love, to speak to fallen sinners! Such a one has seemed to me as if his face shone as that of Moses did with the glory of God, when he came down from the mount, where he had been within the veil. May you, sir, imitate him, as he did Christ, that all may see and know that the Lord dwelleth with you, and that you dwell in him through the unity of the blessed Spirit. I trust you are no stranger to his divine teaching, aid, and assistance, in all you set your hand to do for the glory of God.

  "I hope, sir, the sincerity of my wishes for your spiritual welfare will plead an excuse for the freedom of my address to you. I pray the Giver of every perfect gift, that you may experience the mighty workings of his gracious Spirit in your heart and your ministry, and rest your all on the justifying and purifying blood of an expired Redeemer. Then will you triumph in his strength, and be enabled to say with the poet,--

  'Shall I, through fear of feeble man, The Spirit's course strive to restrain; Or, undismayed in deed and word, Be a true witness for my Lord?

  Awed by a mortal's frown shall I Conceal the word of God most high? How then before thee shall I dare To stand, or how thine anger bear?

  Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng, Soften thy truths and smooth my tongue, To gain earth's gilded toys, or flee The cross endured, my God, by thee?

  What then is he whose scorn I dread. Whose wrath or hate makes me afraid? A man? an heir of death? a slave To sin? a bubble on the wave?

  Yea, let men rage, since thou wilt spread Thy shadowing wings around my head: Since in all pain thy tender love Will still my sure refreshment prove.

  Still shall the love of Christ restrain To seek the wand'ring souls of men, With cries, entreaties, tears to save, And snatch them from the yawning grave.

  For this let men revile my name,-- No cross I shun, I fear no shame: All hail reproach, and welcome pain; Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain.'

  "I trust, sir, that you see what a glorious high calling yours is, and that you are one of those who walk humbly with God, that you may be taught of him in all things. Persons in your place are messengers of the most high God. Is it too much to say, they should live like the angels in all holiness, and be filled with love and zeal for men's souls? They are ambassadors, in Christ's stead, to persuade sinners to be reconciled to God. So that your calling is above that of angels: for they are _afterwards_ to minister to the heirs of salvation; but the sinner must be _first_ reconciled to God. And you are called on from day to day to intercede with man as his friend, that you may win souls to Christ. Christ is ascended up on high, to intercede with his Father for guilty sinners, and to plead for them the merits of his death. So that Christ and his faithful ministers, through the operation of the blessed Spirit, are co-workers together. Yet without him we can do nothing: our strength is his strength, and his is all the glory from first to last.

  "It is my heart's prayer and desire, sir, that you may, by a living faith, cleave close to that blessed, exalted Lamb of God, who died to redeem us from sin--that you may have a sweet communion with Father, Son, and Spirit--that you may sink deep in humble love, and rise high in the life of God. Thus will you have such discoveries of the beauties of Christ and his eternal glory as will fill your heart with true delight.

  "If I am not deceived, I wish myself to enjoy his gracious favour, more than all the treasures which earth can afford. I would in comparison look upon them with holy disdain, and as not worth an anxious thought, that they may not have power on my heart to draw or attract it from God, who is worthy of my highest esteem, and of all my affections. It should be our endeavour to set him always before us, that in all things we may act as in his immediate presence; that we may be filled with that holy fear, so that we may not dare wilfully to sin against him. We should earnestly entreat the Lord to mortify the power and working of sin and unbelief within us, by making Christ appear more and more precious in our eyes, and more dear to our hearts.

  "It fills my heart with thankful recollections, while I attempt in this weak manner to speak of God's love to man. When I reflect on my past sins and his past mercies, I am assured, that if I had all the gifts of wise men and angels, I could never sufficiently describe my own inward sense of his undeserved love towards me. We can better enjoy these glorious apprehensions in our hearts than explain them to others. But, oh, how unworthy of them are we all! Consciousness of my own corruptions keeps me often low; yet faith and desire will easily mount on high, beseeching God that he would, according to the apostle's prayer, fill me with all his communicable fulness, in the gifts and graces of his Spirit; that I may walk well-pleasing before him, in all holy conversation, perfecting holiness in his fear.

  "If I err in boldness, sir, pray pardon me, and in your next letter confirm my hope that you will be my counsellor and guide.

  "I can only recompense
your kindness to me by my prayers, that your own intercourse with God may be abundantly blessed to you and yours. I consider the Saviour saying to you, as he did to Peter, 'Lovest thou me?' And may your heartfelt experience be compelled to reply, 'Thou knowest all things, and thou knowest that I love thee' supremely! May he have evident marks of it in all your outward actions of love and humanity in feeding his flock, and in the inward fervour and affection of all your consecrated powers: that you may be zealously engaged in pulling down the strongholds of sin and Satan, and building up his Church; sowing the seeds of righteousness, and praying God to give the increase: that you may not labour for him in vain, but may see the trees bud and blossom, and bring forth fruit abundantly, to the praise and glory of your heavenly Master. In order to give you encouragement, he says, whosoever 'converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death;' and that will increase the brightness of your crown in glory. This hath Christ merited for his faithful ministers.

  "I hope, sir, you will receive grace to be sincere in reproving sin, wherever you see it. You will find divine assistance, and all fear and shame taken from you. Great peace will be given to you, and wisdom, strength, and courage, according to your work. You will be as Paul; having much learning, you can speak to men in all stations in life, by God's assistance. The fear of offending them will never prevent you, when you consider the glory of God; and man's immortal soul is of more value than his present favour and esteem. In particular, you are in an office wherein you can visit _all_ the sick. Man's extremity is often God's opportunity. In this way you may prove an instrument in his hand to do his work. Although he _can_ work without means, yet his usual way is by means; and I trust you are a chosen vessel unto him, to prove his name and declare his truth to all men.

  "Visiting the sick is a strict command, and a duty for every Christian. None can tell what good may be done. I wish it was never neglected, as it too often is. Many think that if they attend in the church, the minister to preach, and the people to hear, their duty is done. But more is required than this. May the Lord stir up the gift that is in his people and ministers, that they may have compassion on their fellow-sinners,--that they may never think it too late, but remember that while there is life there is hope!" Once more I pray, sir, pardon and excuse all my errors in judgment, and the ignorance that this is penned in; and may God bless you in all things, and particularly your friendship to me and my parents. What a comfort is family religion! I do not doubt but this is your desire, as it is mine, to say,--

  'I and my house will serve the Lord, But first obedient to his word I must myself appear; By actions, words, and tempers show That I my heavenly Master know, And serve with heart sincere.

  I must the fair example set; From those that on my pleasure wait The stumbling-block remove; Their duty by my life explain, And still in all my works maintain The dignity of love.

  Easy to be entreated, mild, Quickly appeased and reconciled, A follower of my God: A saint indeed I long to be, And lead my faithful family In the celestial road.

  Lord, if thou dost the wish infuse, A vessel fitted for thy use Into thy hands receive: Work in me both to will and do, And show them how believers true And real Christians live.

  With all sufficient grace supply, And then I'll come to testify The wonders of thy name, Which saves from sin, the world, and hell: Its power may every sinner feel, And every tongue proclaim!

  Cleansed by the blood of Christ from sin, I seek my relatives to win, And preach their sins forgiven; Children, and wife, and servants seize, And through the paths of pleasantness Conduct them all to heaven.'

  "Living so much in a solitary way, books are my companions; and poetry which speaks of the love of God and the mercies of Christ is very sweet to my mind. This must be my excuse for troubling you to read verses which others have written. I have intended, if my declining state of health permit, to go to --- for a few days. I say this lest you should call in expectation of seeing me during any part of next week. But my dear father and mother, for whose precious souls I am very anxious, will reap the benefit of your visit at all events.

  "From your humble and unworthy servant,

  "E--- W---."

  Having read it, I said to the father of my highly valued correspondent,--

  "I thank you for being the bearer of this letter. Your daughter is akind friend and faithful counsellor to me, as well as to you. Tell herhow highly I esteem her friendship, and that I feel truly obliged for themany excellent sentiments which she has here expressed. Give her myblessing, and assure her that the oftener she writes the more thankful Ishall be."

  The Dairyman's enlivened eye gleamed with pleasure as I spoke. Thepraise of his Elizabeth was a string which could not be touched withoutcausing every nerve of his whole frame to vibrate.

  His voice half faltered as he spoke in reply; the tear started in hiseyes; his hand trembled as I pressed it; his heart was full; he couldonly say,--

  "Sir, a poor old man thanks you for your kindness to him and his family.God bless you, sir; I hope we shall soon see you again."

  Thus we parted for that day.