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BURMAN SLAVE GIRE,

AND OTHER

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

 

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AMERIGAN TRACT: SOCIEE ©,

150 NASSAU-STREET., NEW YORK.

98 CORNMIEE, BOSTON:/
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|CONTENTS.

THE BURMAN SLAVE GIRL.
RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED
THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.i
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MAN SLAVE GIRL;

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THE STORY OF MEH SHWAY-EE.

 

PUBLISHED BY THE
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150 NASSAU —S4i-R Bb be NN WY On IsTHE

BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL;

OR,

aL SLORY OF 3M AS AAY AY Rae

Many years ago there livedin Amherst, British
Burmah, a little slave-girl, seven years of age,
named Meh Shway-ee. A Burman slave! Do
not these few words tell a sad tale of sorrow, deg-
radation, ignorance, and suffering? A Burman
was she? Then must she have been a heathen
child, knowing nothing of the God who made her,
of the Saviour who died to redeem her, of the
eternity of happiness or misery that awaited her.
And a slave besides? Yes, even during those ten-
der years of childhood which Christian mothers
watch over and guard so carefully, so aflection-
ately, poor little Meh Shway-ee, motherless and
friendless, hved in cruel bondage, in deplorable
eullt and ignorance. So barbarous was the treat-
ment she received, that her body was wasted to6 THE BURMAN SLAVE-G Pn.

a skeleton, and covered from head to foot with
the marks of a large ratan and blows from some
sharp-edged instrument, which inflicted deep
wounds that were a long time healing. One day
her master, in a violent rage, caught her by the
arm and gave it such a twist as to break the
bone. The suffering which this occasioned was
truly agonizing; her piteous cries and moans
could not be suppressed, and the wicked man,
fearing they would lead to the discovery and
punishment of his guilt, confined her in a secret
apartment, most uncomfortably close and hot,
civing out word that she was dangerously ill of
a fever, and near death.

The American missionaries at Amherst, hear-
ine of the wretched condition of the e hild, made
ereat efforts for her rescue, which, with much
difficulty, they effected. Her master was brought
before the officers of government, tried for his
conduct, and condemned to confinement and hard
labor for four years. Rather than submit to this
punishment, however, he took his own life by
poison, thus adding aint crime to the many
already pressing upon his guilty soul.

Meh Shway-ee was taken to the mission-house,
and received into the family of Mrs. Wade

Almost the first word she spoke was, “ PleaseTHE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 7

ay

give your slave a little rice, for 1am very hungry.
Being asked if she had not had her breakfast, she
rephed, ‘‘ Yes, but I get very httle, so that I am

9

hungry all day long. Her naturally smiling
countenance wore an expression of grief and
despair; for forty-eight hours she cried almost
incessantly, notwithstanding the kindest efforts
to relieve her, and the most soothing attentions
to her necessities. After two weeks of unremit-
ting care and nursing by day and by night, Mrs.
Wade enjoyed the. inexpressible satisfaction of
seeing her so far restored as to begin to play a
little with the other girls, and to realize in some
degree the blessings of her new home.

How great the change in the life of this little
girl! Taken from a hard-hearted, inhuman mas-

o
oO

ter, from imprisonment, torture, and servitude, to
the bosom of a Christian family, to be cherished,
instructed, and loved as their own child. We
rejoice with thee, happy Meh Shway-ee. We
rejoice that thou art to learn of that great Being
who made thee, and has preserved thee through
fearful dangers and sorrows, and who has so mer-
cifully wrought thy deliverance.

Feeble and emaciated as she was at the time
Mrs. Wade took her to her own home, the excellent
nursing and attention which she there received,8 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

were soon rewarded by considerable improve-
ment in her health, which enabled her to attend
the mission school for about six months. Her
teachers felt the necessity for using to the utmost
advantage this season of comparative, though
very precarious health, to instruct her carefully
in religious truth. They especially besought
God’s blessing to aid their eflorts in removing
the veil of ignorance that darkened her mind,
that the pure light of truth might reveal to her
her relation to God, her duty, her helpless con-
dition, and the refuge of hope. Yet so delicate
was her frame, and so frequent her attacks of
pain, that it was only by slow degrees that these
great truths could be unfolded to her understand-
ing and brought home to her conscience. With
the greater wonder. and interest, therefore, and
with higher adoration of that Spirit whose office
it is to guide the soul heavenward, do we note
the progress of this heir of immortal glory.
Karly in February, 1828, her case having been
examined by a European surgeon, was pronounced
hopeless. From this time she was permitted to
share the apartment of Mrs. Wade, whom she
called ma-ma, a term equivalent to mistress or
madam, in order to enjoy all possible opportuni-
ties of instruction during her intervals of ease.THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 9

Being asked one day whether she thought she
should recover, she replied, “I don’t know, ma-ma.
It sometimes seems to me that this hard pain can
never be removed. [am afraid I shall die, but
1 want very much to get well.” ‘Where would
you go if you should die?” “Good people,” she
replied, ‘‘ when they die, go to enjoy the happi-
ness of the heavenly world; but when the bad
die, they go down to the world of unhappiness.”
“But to which place would you go? Are you
good or bad?” ‘I have told a great many hes,
and used very bad language before I came to live
with you, and I don’t know where I shall go
~ when Idie.” ‘ But do you not commit sin now?”
“T don’t tell hes or use bad language now, but I
sometimes get angry with the other girls.” ‘Does
God know your sins?” ‘God sees and knows
every thing I do and say, and I am very much
afraid of God. I think of my sins every day.”
Her mistress then talked with her about heaven
and its holy and happy inhabitants, and told her
that God was more willing to give her this hap-
piness than even she herself could be to supply
her with daily comforts. Meh Shway-ee felt the
force of this, and said with delight, ‘‘ I want to
vo to that happy place when I die. But ma-ma
is very good, and gives me every thing I wish for,10 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

so that I want to get well. and stay with her.”
«But if you should ask me for fine clothes and
rich ornaments, I could not give them to you;
or if you should ask me to procure the forgive-
ness of your sins, | could not do it, for no one can
do that but the Son of God.”’ “I know it, ma-ma,’”’
was her reply; ‘none but Jesus can take away
our sins.” ‘And do you really desire to have
Jesus Christ forgive your sins?” ‘JI do desire it,
for I am afraid I shall go down to hell when |
die.’ “Then ask him to forgive your sins,” said
her mistress; ‘if you only ask him as earnestly
as you ask me for medicine when you are in dis-
tress, he will certainly listen to your prayers.”
Little Meh Shway-ee was very attentive during
this conversation, and the earnestness of her prayer
a little while afterwards, indicated a deep sense of
her need of pardon. Thenext day she was asked,
“ What did Jesus Christ do to deliver us from sin
and hell?” <‘*He came down from -heaven and
suffered death for us.” ‘Do you think he will
forgive your sins?” ‘I think he will, before I
die.” ‘‘ When you first came to live with us, you
did not know that there was an eternal God. Do
you beleve it now, or do you sometimes think
there 1s no other God but Gaudama? Tell me,
Meh Shway-ee, what you really think?” «JDEE 3B UR EAN SLAY b= G PRT. ta

think there is a God far above us, in the heavenly
world.” ‘But you have not seen him; do you
really believe what you say?”  “ Yes, ma-ma, I
know there is a great eternal God in heaven.”
For a few days she failed very fast, and ex-
pressed a desire to die and go to heaven, believ-
ing that Christ wowld forgive her sins, though as
yet without the assurance that he had done so.
Her mistress said to her, “If he forgives your
sins I shall see you again in that happy world.”
She smiled sweetly at this remark, answering,
“How happy shall we be when we get there.”
Her illness at this time caused so much pain,
that during some days she could scarcely speak
at all. To the question, “Do you think Christ
has forgiven your sins?” she replied briefly, “1
hope he has.” Yet afterwards the view of her
sinfulness again overwhelmed her; perhaps be-
cause she looked only at her guilt instead of
“looking unto Jesus.” Hope departed from her
mind, and with the fear of death and a sense of
Christ’s displeasure weighing heavily upon her,
poor little Meh Shway-ee was comfortless indeed.
When one of the girls who was sitting by her
bedside prayed for a new heart, Meh Shway-ee,
who had been eagerly listening, repeated with
strong emphasis, “O change my heart.” Again12 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

she said, “I have not yet a new heart; I am
afraid Christ will not call me up to heaven when
I die, because I am so sinful.”

It was not long, however, that she continued
in this state. No one seeking so truly with all
the heart can fail to find salvation. From all
her efforts to make herself worthy she now turned
away, committing herself, just as she was, unto
Jesus Christ. Light broke in upon the darkness;
peace followed the conflict, and the little one
rested upon the sirmple word of her Redeemer.

During her illness, Meh Shway-ee had ever
manifested a lovely spirit of gratitude and affec-
tion towards all her friends, and especially towards
Mrs. Wade. One day, upon receiving from her
hands a little food, she looked up with peculiar
earnestness of expression, exclaiming, “‘O ma-ma,
how much I love you.” Her mistress, believing
there must be some special cause for this feel-
ing just then, sat down by her side and began to
talk with her. ‘‘ You seem a little better to-day,
Meh Shway-ee ; would you like to get well eradu-
ally and live to be a woman?” ‘No, ma-ma,”’
she replied, “I want to be well at once and go
to heaven. I want to dig; then I shall be well
and happy.’ ‘ But where are all your sins which
have made you so much afraid to die?” “JDH (B-RALAN SE: AsV b=G PRIL: IS

think they are all forgiven to-day, ma-ma.”’
‘“Who has forgiven them?” ‘The Lord Jesus
Christ, the holy Son of God.” ‘Are you happier
to-day than yesterday ?” ‘O yes, lam not afraid
now, | am happy.” These few words were fol-
lowed by great exhaustion, but after tryimg in
vain to sleep, she spoke again: ‘1 do very much
wish to have you sit down here by me, ma-ma;
I want you to teach me.” She was silent for a
moment ; then raising her eyes, with great serious-
ness she prayed, ‘‘O thou eternal God, wilt thou
forgive my many sins, and let me die and go to
heaven; and wilt thou also let ma-ma die soon
and come up to heaven too.” They both remained
silent ; they felt that God was very near. When
Meh Shway-ee spoke again, it was to tell of her
longing for heaven, and to entreat her mistress to
pray that God would let her also soon go to that
happy place.

One Sabbath-day, being partially relieved from
suffering, she felt a strong desire to attend the
native worship. She was urged not to think of
it, lest some sudden attack of pain should cause
her to disturb the assembly. But so earnestly
did she ask the privilege, promising not to cry
out, however hard the pain might come, that she
was indulged in her request. Her httle bed was14 "HE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

placed at the door, where she could hear all the
services, and with deep attention she joined in
heart with the other worshippers. Before the
sermon was ended however, a very distressing
spasm seized her, and she turned upon her bed
in agony, but at the same time suppressed every
sound that could be heard by the assembly.

Day after day, as this little girl learned more
of Jesus Christ, did she strive more to feel and
to act in all things as he requires. She knew
that he was her best friend; she loved to please
him. Her meekness and patience under suffer-
ing, her unselfish regard for others, and her litle
acts of self-denial, were indeed a powerful com-
ment on the purity and strength of the new prin-
ciple that actuated her.

“Does not your head ache, ma-ma 2” she said
one night; “1am afraid you will get ill by taking
so much care of me, besides all the rest you have
to do every day.” And again she said, ‘‘ How
much I love you, ma-ma. How good you are
to take such kind care of me. I love all the
teachers, and the other ma-ma, and all the girls—
I love every body, but Jesus Christ more than
all, for he came down and died to save me from

hell.”

Her increasing illness and a most painful coughTHE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 1

often made her too weak even to utter the words
of prayer, and sometimes she would have to stop,
alter making an attempt to pray. She under-
stood very well, however, that God knows what
is in the heart; and that if prayer exists there,
even though it cannot be expressed in words, he
deigns to accept it. One afternoon, feeling a little
more comfortable, Meh Shway-ee asked to be
taught to pray, as a poor feeble little child about
to die, and giving herself to God’s care, ought to
pray; and in every petition she wanted to ask that
her mistress might go to heaven too.

Mrs. Wade said to Mee Aa, one of the school-
girls, “You must pray for your little friend ; she
will die soon.” » >“ aie ” seit Meh, shwa y7ee, “do
pray for me, for Lam very, ill<° I eain’t stay here,
but I shall go ta, dices hiolk i die. , , Phere I
shall never be}anery or mmpatieht av elie , P shall
see Christ there, and many ood people. I want
ma-ma there; O how happy I shall be when she
comes. Sister Aa, don’t you want to go with us?
If you repent of your sins and love the Lord Jesus
Christ above all things in this world, he will love
you and will call you up to heaven. I did not
always love him. Before I came to live with
ma-ma, I used to be angry and tell lies, and revile
every body [ did not like. Ihad never in.all my16 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

life prayed to God, and did not even know there
was a Jesus Christ. And -after I came>here 1
used to get angry, and care nothing about God.
So when I was taken ill I was afraid to die.
But the teachers prayed for me and taught me to
pray, and told me that if I repented of my sins
and loved Christ, he would love me too. O how
happy I was the day I felt my sins forgiven and
that Christ loved me. Now I am not afraid to
die; I am going to heaven.’ Meh Shway-ee
forgot her weakness in talking thus upon her
favorite theme; but the exertion was too much
_for her, and she sunk back upon her pillow pale
and exhausted, yet with a smile of the sweetest
peace, UpdA .ner--countenance. oThe little gil,
who: hack deanils i i Ms all her Avril wwtith eager inter-
est, whis speredls softly, “al wish Chris st would love
me. “and take: away, a silts.’ We trust she too
has expériéniced liis’ willingness’ ahd power, as
well as Meh Shway-ee.

The following day, Meh Shway-ee was ex-
tremely ill, and apparently near her end. Two
or three times she exclaimed, ‘‘ O, ma-ma, I must
die, for I cannot breathe.” After recovering
from a severe attack of pain, she gave her mis-
tress all her little playthings, saying, ‘“ Please
take them, ma-ma, | don’t want thern any longer.THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 17

There 1s my fanam, too,” a small silver coin, the
only money she had ever owned, “I will give you
that, for I shall never want it again.”

Her mistress replied, “You had better give it
to one of the little girls. Which of them do you
love most?” ‘TJ love them all,” she said, “ but I
want to give my money to ma-ma, for I love her
most.” ‘Very well,” said her kind friend, “I
will put it in my box, and when Meh Shway-ee
is dead, I shall look at it and think of my little
pinl,’ 9 Yess dor?! said shes with a pleasant
smile. ‘ You have been saying to-day that you
should die; is your mind sorrowful because you
must die?” “No, I am not at all sorrowful; I
would rather go to heaven than live any longer.
I can’t say my prayers aloud to-day, because my
cough is so bad; but I like to think of Christ and
of heaven, that don’t make me cough; and I like
to hear ma-ma pray.”

A day or two afterwards Mrs. Wade, rising
early in the morning to attend to her little charge,
found her quite easy and inclined to talk.
‘“Ma-ma,”’ said she, ‘‘I want to call you Mah-aa,”
mother, “because I love you so much.” ‘You
may call me so,” said her mistress, “and you
shall be my little daughter. I love you very
much, and therefore keep you in my own room

Ser. 1V. 7418 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

day and night.” ‘I should like to call the
teacher Pah-aa,”’ father. ‘‘ Will he let me Pees,
my little daughter,’ said Mr. Wade, ‘‘ you may
call me father.” She then told him of the hap-
piness she enjoyed in feeling that her sins were
all pardoned, through the grace of Jesus, of her
willingness to die, and of the bliss awaiting her
in heaven; at the same time entreating him too
to pray that he might quickly follow her tere.
“Yes, my little daughter,” he replied, Si aul
follow you, as soon as God shall call me.”

Submissive, patient, and gentle as Meh Shway-ee
usually was, yet, considering her great trials and
all the evil influences of her infant years, it would
be too much to expect that she should invariably
be the victor over temptation. The strength of
sinful habits cannot be overpowered in a few
months; the pains and discomforts of sickness
are severely trying to frail human nature; there-
fore we wonder not that this afflicted child should
sometimes remit her watchfulness and give way
to sin.

Upon one occasion, when her bed had not been
made to suit her, she became impatient and fret-
ful, speaking quite unkindly to the girl who had
made it. Her mistress observed it, and also recol-
lected having seen something of the same spiritTHE

 

BURMAN SLAVE-GIRIZE. 19

before. Hard as it was to reprove her, yet it
seemed necessary at this time; and taking a
favorable opportunity, she sat down by her side,
and asked whether she found she could live one
day without sin. Meh Shway-ee, hesitating a
little, answered, “I don’t want to be wicked as
I used to be; but when the girls make my bed
badly, I can’t be patient, and then I speak angry
words.” ‘Does Christ like such impatient feel-
ings and angry words?” asked her mistress. “ No,
mah-aa, and J am afraid that Christ will not
loverme@e:? 4<1) Do you remember when you were
last at the other ma-ma’s house, how you cried ?
Was that good?” ‘No, mah-aa; but the boys
said their lessons so loud I could not bear it, and
I was angry with them.’ ‘Did you think that
Christ saw you when you behaved so?” «J did
not think of Christ then; but he saw me, and I
am sorry and afraid because of that sin.” “Christ
is ready to forgive all you have done, if you are
really sorry and pray to him,” said Mrs. Wade.
And then she taught her to discipline herself, and
to speak kindly to all, that she might please
Christ, who sent this sickness, and who con-
stantly watched over her. She replied, “I shall
not forget what mah-aa has said to me, though
I be ever so ill.”20 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

That she did not forget, was proved by her
increasing watchfulness, day by day, and espe-
cially about a week afterwards, when one of the
youngest scholars did something which annoyed
her exceedingly. Her mistress said nothing, but
waited to see how she would bear it. Fora httle
time she kept quite still; then, with an unrufiled
countenance and gentle tone she said, ‘“ Sister
Ny-oon, please not make such a noise here in
ma-ma’s room, I beseech you.” And turning to
Mrs. Wade, she inquired whether she had been
impatient or fretful since the day she was reproved
for that fault, adding, “I try to remember every
day what you said ; and when they do wrong, I
try to bear it and speak lovingly to them.”

Who of us may not profit much by so beautiful
an example of meekness and forbearance? Are
you, my little friend who now reads this story,
really trying as Meh Shway-ee tried, to be governed
by that charity which ‘is not easily provoked,”
which ‘“beareth all things?” You find it hard
sometimes to preserve a smooth and pleasant face ;
to return kind and gentle words, spoken “lovingly,”
for harsh and bitter ones. So did Meh Shway-ee ;
yet she was enabled to do this by that heavenly
aid which is offered freely to all, and without
which we can never overcome our faults. WillTHE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. Pil

~

you remember this? Perhaps within an hour
you may have occasion to practise it. We are
always lable to temptation, and ought never to
cease to “‘ watch.”

Amid the privileges and blessings that sur-
rounded this little Burman girl in her present
home, she by no means forgot the wretchedness
of her former condition. Once, when mention
was made of her sufferings at that time, she told
of several cruel deeds which she had never re-
vealed before, and spoke of certain relatives of
her master who had beaten her unmercifully.
Her mistress asked her where she would have
all those people go when they died. “I would
have them all go to heaven,” said she. “But
don’t you~hate such wicked people?” “No,
mah-aa, don't hate any body.” ‘Can you pray
for them?” ‘J want to pray for them, but my
cough will stop my words.” “Shall J pray for
them ?” asked Mrs. Wade. Do mah-aa? said
she, ‘‘and I will listen; that don’t make me
cough.” Her mistress then assisted her devo-
tions by a few simple petitions, and felt that
Jesus listened with pleasure while the dying
slave-girl prayed for her enemies.

Her perfect confidence in the truthfulness and
love of her mistress, is touchinely shown in a22 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

few simple expressions which fell from her lips
when she had received some medicine from the
hand of that excellent lady; and they form as
beautiful a tribute to her as to the lovely child
who uttered them. ‘“Itis very bitter,” said she,
‘but IT want to take it, for I know it will make
me easier, because mah-aa says it will. Mah-aa
never tells me what is false. When she says it
will make me easier, it does so. And when it is
bitter, she never tells me it is sweet, but says she
gives me bitter things because she loves me, and
wants to make me easy. When mah-aa says she
will give me any thing, I always get it; and
when she says any thing will hurt me, I don’t
want to eat it, because I know she tells me the
truth. I love to hear her words, because they
are all true.” |

It is towards the middle of March. and our
little friend is now drawing very near the close of
her earthly pilgrimage. Already is she entering
“the valley of the shadow of death.” Does she
shrink from the passage? Is she alone and in
darkness, now in her hour of greatest need? Oh
no, she fears nothing; the Lord is with her, and
she knows the strength of his grace and love to
keep her unharmed. Her peace is fully made
with him, and she has only to yield herself, asTHE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 23

the weak, helpless, trusting child she really is, to
his most welcome summons.

Very early one morning, Meh Shway-ee being
weary and restless, Mrs. Wade arose, and having
done what she could for her comfort, sat down
by her bedside. Perceiving this, Meh Shway-ee
looked up and said, ‘‘Please go to bed now,
mah-aa.” ‘‘No,” replied her mistress, ‘‘1 will
sit by you a little while, for I know you feel
lonely when you can’t sleep.” The poor child
was very faint and low, and wanted some atten-
tion almost every moment; notwithstanding
which, in her consideration for her mistress,
she said again, “Do go to bed, mah-aa. I am
afraid you will be ill, and then you can’t stay
with me at all; my mind is distressed when
your head aches.” Mrs. Wade assured her that
she was well, and felt it a pleasure to sit by her,
which quite relieved her anxiety, and she began
to talk very cheerfully. “I did not ask to sit in
your lap once yesterday, because you looked so
tired, that I thought I would try to do without
ms Al eanitatell: hew much, love. yous... ly love
all the teachers, and all the girls, and every body
I know; but I love you, mah-aa, more than all ;
you do every thing for me by night and by day.
You teach me to pray, and tell me about the Lord24 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIREG.

Jesus Christ and about heaven, and let me be
your own little daughter.”

The following day, seemg Mr. Wade go out,
she urged her mistress to accompany him, and
refresh herself with exercise; but Mrs. Wade
declined, saying she would rather stay with her
little ‘sick danohtem “Do! go,” said ;she,
should be so sorry if you should get ill.”

And now the signs of dissolution appeared,
and Meh Shway-ee, perceiving the change and
understanding perfectly her situation, asked for
Dr. Judson and Mah Lah, an attendant. ‘ Why
do you inquire for them?’ asked her mistress.
“T want to have them sit down here,” she said,
“so that I can see them, for | am now going; I can
stay no longer.” When Dr. Judson came in, she
anticipated that he would wish to know the state
of her mind, and therefore said, “I can’t talk
much now, but 1 am: not afraid.to: die.: ‘Lhe
Lord Jesus Christ has taken away all my sins.
But I am in great distress; it seems as if I could
not breathe... .“/This2’. said her mistress. “Sis
the pain of death; try to bear it patiently, my
little daughter; it will soon be over. You
can't say your prayers now; do you want us
all to: pitay, tomayou'’ is, “* Yes:,’: saidieshe. + “ide
pray for me.”THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL. 25

About seven o'clock in the morning, she re-
quested Mah Lah to procure for her from the
market a rice cake, a little delicacy of which
she had been particularly fond. It was not for
herself she desired it now, but that she might
give it to her mistress and the other teachers, as
a last token of her gratitude and affection towards
those she loved so well. Soon after this she was
much distressed for breath, and exclaimed, “ Oh,
mah-aa, I can’t breathe ; my breath will stop.”
“Yes,” replied her mistress, “it will soon stop,
my httle daughter.. This is death; do you know
that you are dying?” ‘Yes, mah-aa, I know
that I am dying.” ‘ Well, this is the will of
Christ, and you love Christ; therefore, try to bear
it patiently, it will soon be over.” On hearing
this, she looked up, and said, with much emphasis,
‘“T do love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I will bear
all the pain patiently.” She then lay for some
time without speaking, and Mrs. Wade asked her,
“Do you know me, Meh phway-ee !” |“ Yes:
mah-aa, I know you and love you very much.”
Her mistress continued, ‘I love you too, my little
daughter; but I don’t wish to keep you in this
evil world where you suffer so much. I am
willing to have you go to heaven. I shall follow
you... There: weshall’ meet agam.7? > “0 how26 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

elad I shall be when you come, mah-aa. I
want to be your own little daughter zhere too. a
In a few minutes, her mistress again inquired,
“Do you know that you are dying even now ?”

“Yes, mah-aa, I know it, and am not afraid.
I want to go; I want very much to die, even
now.”

For a little time longer she looked upon her
beloved mistress, but did not speak again. So
peaceful, so gentle was her departure, that
even the watching friends by her side knew
not the moment when her happy spirit was set

free.

“Rest, little slave, thy work is done,
The cross is past, the crown is won ;
Rest, suffering child, on Canaan’s shore,

Where pain is felt and feared no more.

‘Thy story tell to saints on high,
And sound His praises through the sky
Who rescued thee from tortures dread,

And poured salvation on thy head.

** Rest, sainted seraph, on thy throne;
The bliss of heaven is now thine own:
Move in thy sphere, a beauteous star,

And shine on us thy friends afar,THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

‘* For thou art not on earth forgot;
And when our bodies press this spot,
We hope in heaven again to see
The ransomed slave-girl, Meh Shway-ee.”’

We have traced the progress of this little lamb
of Jesus’ flock from the period when she was
delivered from the ravening foe, until she was
safely folded in the arms of the good Shepherd:
may we not gather from it something for our own
improvement? From the abundant manifesta-
tions of Christ’s love to her, may we not learn
more heartily, more entirely to trust him? And
beholding how great a work he wrought for this
frail, helpless child, how clearly, how wonder-
fully is shown his power to renew and sanctify
the heart, to call forth and centre upon himself
its highest affections, and to accept believing
prayer, can we not draw nearer to him with
strengthened and purified faith ?

To the young especially, does the story of
Meh Shway-ee’s piety appeal most touchingly
and forcibly. Does it not, dear children, awaken
in your hearts more fervent gratitude for the gos-
pel of Jesus Christ? Consider her spiritual con-
dition while under the power of that wicked
master. Her mind was deeply depraved by sin
and ignorance ; and not the first ray of the hght

A28 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

of truth had ever beamed upon her. Can you
think what this world would become, if, for a
long time, no light should shine upon it? Every
thing that lives would suffer, gloom and desola-
tion would prevail all around us, and death would
quickly follow. If then the consequences of
natural darkness are disastrous, no less so, cer-
tainly, are the consequences of spiritual darkness.
As the glorious hght of the sun gives life and
streneth and beauty to every thing in nature, so
the light of God’s truth shining upon the human
mind is the source of spiritual hfe. The Bible
represents those who are ignorant of God as being
in darkness, and thus it was with this little
heathen girl. Habits of lying, of using bad lan-
guage, aud the free indulgence of all her natural
passions, had greatly corrupted her mind. There
was no fear nor love of God in her heart to re-
strain her, for indeed she knew not that there is
a (rod. She had no idea of a pure, a holy, a per-
fect Being, who had called her into existence, and
who had endowed her with an immortal soul.
The best object of worship of which she had
ever heard was Gaudama; and he is a false
god, with no power to help or to harm any
thing. The poor Burmans believe Gaudama to
have attained to that degree of honor and ex-THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL: 29

cellence which entitled him to be regarded as
an object of supreme adoration, and then to
have entered a state of unconsciousness, that
is, an entire torpor of existence; and this the
heathen consider the highest possible happiness.
Their temples and sacred groves are filled with
his images, and innumerable pagodas are erected
over various precious relics of this deity. It is
said that one of his teeth is preserved and wor-
shipped in China, and some of his hair in Ran-
goon. Of course no one could become any better
by serving Gaudama, and Meh Shway-ee knew
neither her érror nor her danger. At the same
time that her moral nature was in this deplor-
able condition, disease was wasting her frame and
hurrying her to the grave. Do you not think she
Was in pressing need ?

Behold now the wonderful providence of God.
He put it into the hearts of those Christian mis-
sionaries to befriend the little sufferer, and through
ereat difficulties they effect her deliverance. They
pray for her; they teach her to pray for herself;
ight breaks in upon her mind; the knowledge of
Christ is this light, for he says, ‘‘ He that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
licht of life.” Very soon this wicked, passionate,

ijenorant child becomes a loving disciple of Jesus.THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

 

30

Observe the sincerity of her repentance and
the readiness with which she yielded her heart
to God as soon as she learned that this is required.
But with many of you, happy children of this
favored land, how great your reluctance to come
to Christ! Perhaps you were so early instructed
in religious truth that you cannot remember the
time when you did not understand your duty.
Has not the mother whom you love so well,
often impressed sacred lessons upon your heart ?
Has not your father, or some older friend, with
affectionate earnestness directed you to God's
holy word, and explained to you its command-
ments? From all this you turn away. ‘There
is a blindness worse than that of ignorance ; it 1s
a wilful, determined blindness to the plain, simple
truth, the shutting out of the heht that beams
upon us from heaven. So long as you refuse ‘to
believe in Christ, just so long you shut your eyes
from this heht, and the wrath of God is abiding
on you. Oh, there is very much in the readiness
with which many heathen children receive the
gospel, to rebuke you, who, with a better know-
ledge of the way of salvation, still refuse to enter
therein. They oftentimes suffer great persecu-
tion from their friends when they become Chris-
tians, but you have no fear of such consequences.THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

 

31

One heathen mother cruelly beat her daughter,
and said, ‘‘ Ha, you, a religion in which you can-
not tell hes, what you take for? Our race must
buy and sell and get their living by telling lies!”
Another said to her child, “I put you at the
school only to learn to read and sew, not to take

9)

the religion of the teachers ;” and then she drag-
ged her about by the hair of her head and beat
her.

A missionary has related, that among the
Karens it is very common for those who oppose
the Christian religion to say of their friends who
embrace it and come no more to their feasts, that
they are dead. He was one day walking with a
converted youth, when, in a narrow path, he sud-
denly met the father of the lad. The missionary,
pointing to the boy, asked the man, ‘‘ Do you know
him 2?’ “No,” he replied. He inquired: again,
looking him earnestly in the face, ‘‘ Do you not
know him? Is not this your son?” Noy’ said
he, ‘‘my son is dead.’ How precisely contrary
is this to the truth of the Bible, which represents
sinners as dead, and believers only as living the
true life in God.

It is noticeable in the prayers of this simple-
hearted child, how frequently she asked that her
beloved mistress might soon die and go to heaven.$2 THE BURMAN SLAVE-GIRL.

She felt that her home there was so much more
attractive in its holiness and bliss than her earthly
home, and the presence of God with the society
of the redeemed so much more delightful than
that of earthly friends, that to pray for her to be
called thither was asking for her the greatest
happiness.

By the faith of this young disciple working in
her heart and life the fruits of holiness, God’s
power and grace are signally honored. The
manifestations of that grace to her, and the assur-
ances of his love, he is equally ready to bestow
upon all who truly seek them. May the beauti-
ful example of piety afforded us by this httle
Burman slave-girl incite our hearts to love and

obey the blessed Saviour whom she served.RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

 

PUBLISHED BY THE

AMERICAN FRACT SOCIETY

4

150 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK.

7)ZR
UD yRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE,

Tuts beautiful boy was called to his heavenly
home ere he had completed his fifth year; but
‘that life is long that answers life’s great end.”
The Lord our God, ‘out of the mouth of babes,
has ordained strength.” He who said, “ Suffer
httle children to come unto me, and forbid them
not,’ will, we trust, accept this simple offering,
made in truth and love.

The object of this brief memoir is to exhibit
the power of religious truth even in life’s early
morn, to encourage parental faithfulness, and to
incite children to follow so precious an example
of youthful love and obedience—of early truth
and generosity. For this has the friend who pens
these lines been permitted to cull a few incidents
from a mother’s precious ‘ Recollections of her
sainted JaMIE.”’

The rare and peculiar advantages with which
this happy boy was blessed, should be mentioned
before the incidents relative to his early develop-
ment. Gifted by nature with a fine tempera-
ment, he united, even in his babyhood, infantile
grace, vigor, activity, and intelligence.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   

®RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

He was the first-born of devoted parents; he
was fondly loved by his paternal and maternal
grandparents, and he was the favorite of a large
circle of friends. Like Samuel, he was a child of
prayer, and like Timothy, he early knew the
Scriptures, and the “unfeigned faith’’ which
dear Jamie so beautifully exhibited, dwelt first,
as in the case of Timothy, ‘with his mother,’’
and with those beloved relatives who impressed
his tender, susceptible mind. There were no
contending influences in his education. In all
his homes he saw the same life-giving prin-
ciple exhibited. God was worshipped, and the
world with its fashionable follies was not suf-
fered to enter and cast its withering blight over
the noblest affections, the purest impulses, and
the truest aspirations. Worldly ambition and
‘“carking care”? were alike strangers in these
homes and in these hearts of love and piety.

Not only his parents, but his orandparents,
were eminently fitted to instruct him, and to
win youthful lové and confidence. He was sur-
rounded by every thing calculated to refine the
taste, and to cultivate and elevate the aflections.

He was a child of nature, reared among her
ennobling and tranquillizing influences. His sum-
mer home commanded a view of the noble Alle-
rhanies, so beautiful with their lichtsand shadows,

O
oSRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 5

so glorious in their lofty majesty. Under the in-
fluence of their refreshing breezes he grew in vigor
and beauty. Here he sported on the lawn with
his dear cousins, or wandered over the grounds
with his ‘“‘sweet mamma,” as he fondly called
her, or rode on his beautiful little pony, by the
side of his papa or grandpapa.

Many miles distant from the summer residence
were his winter homes, and here nature appeared
with new and varied aspects. One home, that
of his maternal grandpapa, was by the ocean’s
side, washed by its flowing waves. Here Jamz
gathered shells for his mamma; and by the ocean—
that type of infinity—many a truth was impressed
on his susceptible heart. Here, too, beneath the
shade of the ever green orange-tree, amid the
balmy breezes of a delicious winter clime, sur-
rounded by the rich gifts of nature, he learned
lessons of beauty. His other homes, those of his
parents and paternal grandparents, were sepa-
rated only by a mile of woodland; and in early
spring, the golden bells of the jasmine, entwining
with the white blossoms of the fringe and the
variegated flowers of the honeysuckle and wood-
bine, give life and new beauty to the green forest.
Innumerable birds make their homes within the
mossy curtains of the old live oaks, and on moon-
light nights the plaintive notes of the whip-poor-6 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

will mingle with the glad shouts of the children
who play beneath the sycamores beside their cot-
tage homes.

The house of God in which his parents wor-
ship while at their winter residence, is located
amid rich natural scenery. Like the “leafy
pavilions” of the Israelites, it is embowered with
foliage. Without the walls of the church the war-
rior rests. The three doors of the sacred edifice
open on luxuriant trees and flowering shrubs,
where the sweet singing birds are chanting over
the graves of the American and English soldier.
Surrounded by scenes of historic interest, the
unsophisticated mind is almost imperceptibly en-
riched and ennobled.

The love of the beautiful, that leht of the
mind which, alas, is too often extinguished in its
dawn, was early developed in httle Jamin, reared
as he was amid rural scenes so varied, so pic-
turesque, and so impressive. When we remember
that he was the friend and companion of his
parents and grandparents, and that he was con-
stantly taught lessons of wisdom and love from
the works and word of God, we can better under-
stand his maturity of intellect, his truthfulness,
his love, his generosity, his childish obedience
and simpheity, and his manly self-control. He
was 1n an unusual manner shielded from allRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. P

injurious examples; and the sinful nature
which is the mournful inheritance of all, seemed
early brought under the restraining influence of
erace.

His exemplary grandpapa, who, we trust, has
now joined him in the regions of bliss, wrote of
his lamented namesake, ‘““He was a child of
many prayers, and himself a praying child ;”
“faith in the efficacy of prayer was strongly im-
pressed on his mind.’ His grandpapa related
the followimg incident which occurred when
Jamie was less than three years old. A little
cousin, whom he dearly loved, was very ill, and
an aunt of the little sufferer came in and asked
Jamie if he would pray for Atty. He said he
would. She said, ‘‘Then kneel down and do
so.” To which he replied, ‘“‘I don’t say my
prayers in the parlor.’ He then sought a retired
spot in his mother’s chamber, and his infant
prayer was overheard by her. When he returned
to the parlor, he said, ‘‘ Atty will be well now,
for I have prayed to God for him.”

When about four years old, after rising one
night from his bed and kneeling by his mother’s
to offer prayer to God for the relief of his pain,
he extended his hand to his mamma, and said,
“Feel my pulse now; amI not better?” Truly
may we wish to become as a little child, and8 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE,

to be brought to perfect-confidence in Him who
has bid us in every thing make known our wants
unto him. Many are the professing Christians
who, before they can enter the kingdom of heaven,
must be brought from formality, bigotry, or pride
of opinion, to the humility and love of a little
child. It is interesting to notice the similarity
between little children and mature Christians
advanced in a godly life. One has beautifully
said, ‘‘ If in this world the smile of the infant be
that which most directly reflects the majesty of
the Most High, so have always the wisest and
best men been most truly children; and though
filled with the light of the glory of God, yet al-
ways have they most confessed their ignorance.”
Our Saviour, just before leaving his disciples, who
had been blessed by his teachings, addressed them
as, (litthe children:

If any of Jamir’s friends were sick, he was in
the habit of offering up petitions like this: “ Pray
God, make my dear papa well, for Jesus’ sake ;”’
and once, when very young, his infant lips lisped,
“Pray God make my rabbit well.” The sick
and distressed were often mentioned in his
prayers.

Colonel W

lutionary war, called at his grandmamma’s; that

 

, who had suffered in the revo-

night he prayed for “the poor old man with onlyRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 9

 

one leg.” Jamie was then less than three years
of age.

He reverenced the Sabbath; and his toys, in
which he delighted, were laid aside on that holy
day. When very young, he was, at his own
request, taken to church ; and he listened with so
much attention that he often alluded to what he
there heard.

Even in babyhood, his intelligence of counte-
nance was striking. His uncommon beauty must
have arrested attention ; but not that alone—not
his exquisite features, his brilliant eyes, or his
symmetry of form—could have left the memory
which the writer of these memoirs loves to recall.
It was his sowl that left its impress on hers.

When he was not more than six months old,
as he fixed his beautiful eyes on her, she gazed
on him with surprise, and for a moment it seemed
as if he would speak. Hven then

“T read high gifts, half latent, half defined,
Pledges of manhood’s nobleness of mind.”

Each circling year brought with it higher prom-
ises for Jamie; and as we saw him in perfect
health, with his peerless beauty, his noble bear-
ing, his sparkling intelligence, we deemed him
formed to adorn some high place of earth. But
he has gone to the “ better land.”10 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

When not more than two years old, he would
stand in a chair and preach, as he called it.
With seriousness he would say, ‘“‘ My peoples, you
must not tell lies, or God wont love you; you
must not steal or call bad names.” If he heard
any of the servants make use of improper lan-
guage, it was common for him to reprove them
by saying, “If you do so, God wont love you.”
The servants, impressed with his uncommon ma-
turity, would say, “‘Mas Jami, you da man, you
a’n’t child.” They were extremely fond of him,
and if a cold detained him in his mamma's
chamber, they would say, ‘‘ Make haste, come
out, Mas Jamie; we all miss you too much.”’

Neither his mother nor his nurse ever saw
him unkind to his little sister. His playthings,
of which he was very careful, were freely given.
to amuse her. Jealousy cast no shadow over
his affectionate nature. When a baby brother
claimed the love of his parents, he was delighted,
and said ‘‘he must be called for dear papa.” As
it was the name designed by the mother, she
assented, and Jamie ever enjoyed the pleasure of
thinking that he had named his little brother.
Happy as he was, however, a foreshadowing of
the future seemed for a moment to fall upon his
heart ; for going down stairs to his papa, and
looking sadly in his face, he said, ‘Papa, uf IRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 11

were to die, would you miss me, now you have
another little son 2”

Jamie was a child of tender sensibilities, and his
mother writes, that on his return, after his last
visit at his grandpapa’s, and when the carriage
had turned into the broad road so that the place
could no longer be seen, his thoughts appeared
fixed on the late parting, and turning to his
mamma, with his lips quivering and his eyes
filled with tears, he said, “Poor grandpapa has
no little boy to talk with now.” Alas, in a
few short weeks, that sympathetic, affectionate
little heart no longer beat on earth, and his life-
less body was borne along that very spot where
he had thus expressed himself with so much
affection towards his beloved grandpapa.

At the age of four, Jamie lost a little cousin.
Death was then a stranger in that happy circle,
and the mother and her son saw his image for
the first time, in the inanimate form of the beau-
tiful little cousin. Jamie understood not what
was meant by death, but seeing all so sad, he
was deeply grieved: his mother thought it right
to take him to the church, but when he saw the
httle coffin placed in the silent grave, he could
not suppress his grief. A friend led him away
from the trying scene, and this was his lament,
“J shall never see you again, my dear little{2 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

cousin—I shall never play with you again.”
Precious boy, this was his last lament. No
more was he to be grieved by earthly partings.
He is removed to a world where his aflectionate
heart may safely expand. He has gone from a
world where “love’s watchword is farewell,” to
a land where that sad word is unknown.

His love for his cousins led him to rejoice in
yielding up his enjoyments to them. His grand-
papa writes, that although he delighted to ride
his pony, he received almost as much pleasure
from seeing his cousin ride. His papa had just
brought him a beautiful new saddle, which he
in delight showed to his uncle. His uncle, to
try him, took it wp as he was leaving, and said,
« Jayne, I will take your new saddle to Atty.”
A child three or four years of age would natu-
rally have cried ; but his manly, unselfish reply
was, “Tell Atty I hope he will like it very
much.”

His little pony was often seen bearing the
happy boy, as he accompanied his grandpapa
in his daily rides, while infancy and age were
engaged in pleasant conversation.

His grandpapa says his remarkable questions
and observations would lead one to suppose he
was twelve, not four. ‘‘He rode with the ease
of a graceful, well-taught equestrian, and man-RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE; ies

aged his horse with a fearlessness that showed a
master-spinit. He had no childish fears in his
sports ; it was not heedless carelessness, but a
just perception, that made him courageous.” He
was prompt in inventing sports for his young
companions. These little incidents show, that
although he was so fond of serious truth, he had
no morbid sensibility.

Reference has been made to his fearlessness.
His remarkable gentleness and fear of injury to
any of God’s creatures may be mentioned in con-
trast. He would not keep a wild rabbit or bird, but
would say, when a bird was given to him, “Do,
mamma, let it go and fly back to its mother.” The
servants one day brought him a fig-eater, tied by
the leg; but as soon as his mother told him it
was cruel, he let it go, and was never seen to
retain another. His mother relates, that one
morning his grandpapa entered her room, say-
ing, ‘My daughter, I was in the orchard just
now with Jamie, when I found him trying to take
up a worm: I asked him what he was doing;
he answered, ‘I am going to give this to mamma;
you know she likes such things,’”’ alluding to
her fondness for curiosities; ‘but when I told
him it was a common worm and you did not
wish it, he raised his foot to crush it, but in an
instant put it down, and said, ‘ No, the world is1-4 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

2)

large enough for you and me.’” These incidents
are rnore striking, because boys sometimes delight
in cruel sports, and think them manly.

This noble, gentle boy was very fond of horses.
One day, during the last summer of his life, as
he was standing by his grandpapa while the
horses were groomed and fed, he said, ‘‘ Grand-
papa, have horses souls?” ‘No, my son,” was
the reply. ‘Then what becomes of them when
they die ?”’ he said ; and seemed much concerned
to think his favorites had no other life than this.

With all this gentleness and thoughtfulness,
Jamme possessed great decision and energy of
character. He was decided in his taste and par-
tialities. His energy was often displayed in his
efforts to assist others, and if he saw a nail loose
he would bring His little hammer from his box of
tools and set it firm. This he called ‘making
himself useful.” To furnish him employment
and amusement, his grandmamma told him one
day to make a little garden, which, with the
assistance of one of the servants, he did, fencing
it round. ‘He planted,” says his mamma, ‘an
orange-tree, a rose-bush, and sweet-violets; and
they are still fresh and green on earth, while he,
my transplanted flower, has been so long bloom-
ing above.”

“He was a child of truth,” says his grand-RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 15

papa, “his word was never doubted, and _ his
open, frank confession when he did wrong, inspired
perfect confidence.’”’ One evening, a flag belong-
ing to one of the castles of a chess-board was
missing. As inquiry was made, Jame looked up
with his lovely ingenuous expression, saying, “]
cracked it up with my little hammer, mamma.”
This incident will suggest the reply of George
Washington, “I did it, papa, with my little
hatchet.”

His obedience and self-denial must not pass
unnoticed. When he was not more than eighteen
months old, she who now records this little inci-
dent was visiting at his home, and he in glee-
ful sport was springing, as children are wont to
do, to seize her curls, when one word, Jame!
from his mother, caused. his little hands to drop
instantly by his side.

If his mother told him not to partake of the
dessert, no one could persuade him to. At the
age of three years, he was dining without his
parents at the house of a relative, and when a
peach was given him, he replied, ‘‘ Mamma said I
must not eat peaches;” and when urged to take
something of the dessert, he continued so firm in
his obedience that.a gentleman present said, “I
have never been taught such a lesson of self-
denial before.” That his obedience proceeded16 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

from principle, the following incident will illus-
trate. On one occasion, when he was not well,
his mother wished to give him a remedy which
was disagreeable to him. He objected, and his
mother left the room, saying, “My son, I will
not stay with you if you will not do as I tell
you.” Soon, a cousin, who was very fond of him,
and who had remained in a retired part of the
chamber, heard him say to his nurse Flora, ‘‘ Do
give it to me, mauma, for you know the Bible
says, [ must honor my parents.”

Many were the examples of his generosity and
unselfishness. He spared no eflort to amuse those
he loved, and he wished to share his treasures
with them. The writer of these lines has a vivid
recollection of Jamre’s meeting her at the entrance
of his father’s house and extending his hand in
his, own graceful manner, leading her up the
steps, and saying with delight, ‘Papa has given
me one pony for my own; when he gives me
another I am coming to take you to ride in the
carriage.” During the evening his busy feet and
hands were employed in bringing specimens of
shells, minerals, and other curiosities from his
mamma’s cabinet, to the friend who expressed an
interest in the works of nature. From his money-
box he sent many a piece, that the heathen might
have the gospel preached to them. As he hadRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 17

quite a sum of money for so young a child, he
seemed to suppose the contents of his little box
sufficient to supply all his friends, and when he
heard his papa speak of a payment, he freely
offered his money. On one occasion, a gentle-
man to whom he was most fondly attached was
speaking of the expenses of a proposed journey to
attend a missionary meeting, when Jame asked
tor half a dollar from his box to give his dear
friend.

Soon after he was two years old, his mother
began to teach him to read, but his mind seemed
so excited, the excitement accompanied by a
slight fever, that she relinquished the attempt.
He was, therefore, not regularly taught to read;
but both of his dear grandmammas would occa-
sionally call him and hear a lesson. From both
of these beloved relations he received much in-
struction. He loved, every Sabbath afternoon,
to go to the house of his dear aunt
from his home by clustering foliage

 

separated
and listen
to her while she taught his little cousins the
truths which would make them wise unto salva-
tion. His mother taught him Bible stories, to
which he was particularly fond of listening, and
which he repeated with astonishing accuracy.
She writes, ‘‘ The history of Noah and the flood,
Moses’ birth, Daniel in the lion’s den, Joseph
Ser. IV. 7618 REGOMNLECTLONS OF SAME.

and Isaac, etc., he was perfectly conversant with :
and it is a blessed consolation to me now, that. I
endeavored to teach him a knowledge of divine
things, and that when the mandate from on high
summoned him so very unexpectedly to enter
the realms above, he did not go to an unknown
God, but loved the blessed Saviour who he
knew died upon the cross to save him, and now,
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the
blessed company of heaven, he lauds his holy
mame, -

The last winter of his life, his paternal grand-
mother was spending the winter with her chil-
dren, and begged that her little grandson night
steep in her room; this request being granted,
she employed the early morning in impressing
his tender mind with beautiful thoughts and holy
truths. She taught him little hymns, and had
commenced with him the church catechism. He
was instructed in love, and affection was mingled
with wisdom. He was taught by those whose
mental and moral attainments fitted them to
interest and impress the youthful mind. He
understood these teachings, and not only repeated
his verses and related Bible stories with distinct
pronunciation and correct emphasis, but applied
religious truths from the promptings of his own
heart. One day a sudden shower called him andRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 19

his little cousin in from their sports on the lawn:
as they took refuge in the piazza his mother
heard the question from his playmate, ‘Oh,
JAMIE, are you not sorry it is raining? for now
we cannot play;” and Jamrm’s sweet reply,
“Don’t you know God sends the rain to make
the corn grow ?”

One morning the family were assembled for
worship, and his papa being absent, his mamma
said to a friend, “ Will you pray for us?” Jame,
sitting in a little chair at her feet, said, in the
most solemn and appropriate manner,

‘“‘ Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer ;
There humbly fall before his feet,

For none can perish there.”’

His mother says, “‘ A Sunday or two before he
was taken sick | remained at home, as one of the
servants was very ill and needed my attention;
and while talking to him, as I usually did on
that holy day, he said to me, ‘Mamma, when I
die shall I have lttle wings” and appeared
verv anxious to know all about heaven. Blessed
boy, in a few short weeks he knew all about
these blissful regions; while I, then so lately his
teacher, was left in ignorance myself to think of
the treasures I possessed safe in glory.”4
°

RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE

‘He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,
He kissed their drooping leaves ;
It was for the Lord of paradise,
He bound them in his sheaves.

“(My Lord has need of the floweret gay,”
The reaper said, and smiled ;
‘Dear tokens of the earth are they,
Where he was once a child.’”’

Jame lived on earth four years and eight
mouths. For a few weeks before his last illness
he had not enjoyed his usual perfect health, but
he complained of no pain, and was lively and
animated.

On one Saturday evening in January the fond
mother saw her bright and beautiful boy leave,
for the last time, that parlor of which he was the
pride and ornament. The mother, with a light
heart, all unconscious that the reaper with his
sickle was standing om her threshold, played and
sung for a sister-cousin. But “not in cruelty, not
in wrath, the reaper came ? it was, we doubt not,
to bear this blossom of hope and fairest promise
to a more genial clime. That mght, JamIzE’s pulse
beat high, and he breathed with pain, but soon
obtained relief and fell into a sweet and quiet
sleep. The next day, alter a remedy admunis-
tered by his uncle the physician, he was pro-

nounced better. That day, the Sabbath, heRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. ot

explained to his little sister, not three years old,
the picture of the Israelites crossing the Red sea.
The next morning he seemed decidedly better,
and with his usual energy, though still on the
bed, he amused himself with the tools from his
little box, and holding up a bit of wood which he
had been shaping, he said, ‘“‘ Mamma, see my little
boat.” That night this lovely boy was struggling
with fatal disease which had fastened on his lungs,
panting with dread pneumonia, and ere the next

midnight he had suffered his last sorrow.

Was

wards evening his unfavorable symptoms had
returned, and in the early watches of the night
his mother had sought to give expression to her
foreboding fears in words lke these :

‘With pulses quick, and rapid breath,
I quiver at the thought of death;
Yet sorrow springs not from the dust,
But comes from God, my hope and trust.”

During his painful illness, Jamre was obedient,
gentle, affectionate, and manly.

When his grandpapa and grandmamma arrived,
he was too ill to enjoy the presents they brought
him, and yet he could say, ‘‘Grandmamma, you ll
see how good I take my physic.” He extended
his little arm for his uncle to open a vein, from

which rehef was hoped.

no benefit, and as his difficulty of breathing pre-

Blisters afforded him22 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE,

vented his lying down, he desired to be taken to
his mamma’s bed, where he surely expected ease.
But, alas, the impotency of human solace in such
an hour! Who in this dying world has not
known the agony condensed into the moment
which follows the vain eflort to afford relief to a
beloved sufferer? This fondly cherished boy cast
his eyes on the beloved group who had ever
ministered to his every want, and plaintively
saying, and doubtless with surprise, ““ Nobody
helps me,” he repeated, as he looked around,
each dear name. At another time he said, ‘‘ No-
body knows how much I suffer.” Yet, although
the dark waves rolled over him, his love shone
pure and bright ; although “ can’t you help me
was a vain question, yet he clung to those who
loved him. His expressions of affection were
frequent. Once, throwing one arm around his
erandpapa, and one around his “sweet mamma,”
he said, “These are the people I love.” His
mamma asked him how much he loved her; he
replied, “Just as mush as I love papa.” To
the questions, ‘Do you wish to go to heaven?”
“Would you like to go to your Saviour?” he
ever replied, “ Yes.” But his short suffering ill-
ness did not allow connected conversation. His
fever and parching thirst led him to call often for
water, which could not be freely allowed him.RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 23

His mother writes, ‘When my precious boy was
beseeching us so constantly for water, I felt that
he would soon drink from that crystal stream
which flows from the throne of God.” When
near death, he asked, ‘‘ Where is baby-boy?”
Soon after he suddenly exclaimed, “Do bring a

?

light, I can’t see my sweet mamma,” and raising
his hand to know if she was there, he passed it
over her face. Then directing his eyes upwards
with a look of wonder, he said, in the most solemn
manner, ‘I love God; how beautiful it looks up
there.” ‘Oh, this blessed manifestation has com-
forted me,” says his mother ; ‘for I feel that when
my precious Jame lost his mortal sight, his
heavenly Father allowed a ray of his glory to be
visible to him, to light his departing soul to a
blessed mansion above.” His face beamed with
intelligence, his mind had never for a moment
wandered, and “I knew,” said his mother, ‘“ this
was no vain fancy, no delusion, and I said: ‘My
son, what do you see up there?’ but it was not
my Father’s will for me to hear more, for my
darling boy, who had blisters drawing, appeared
in great bodily pain.” For those who were yet
to linger on earth there were no further revela-
tions of celestial glory. What call we death!
That which opens the spiritual eye, and reveals
to it glories which mortal eye cannot behold ;24

of ignorance, sin, and sorrow, and

of life.”

Could we o’erlook that mark.’’

unutterable thines, and a brief
)

eS

now asked, ‘‘ How long can Jamte

RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

His uncle replied, that every thing

that which frees the spirit from its suffering
tenement, and from the bonds of time and space,

gives the part-

ing soul an entrance into the heavenly world,
where God and his wondrous works may be more
fully known. Then death is glorious. Death is
the key that opens heaven. ‘ Death is the crown

‘Dear, beauteous death, thou jewel of the just,
Shining nowhere but if the dark,
What mysteries do he beyond thy dust,

A foreshadowing of heavenly glory had fallen
on the dying boy; his rapt vision had beheld

period only of

earthly endurance remained for him. His mother

stay with us?”
depended upon

sleep. His mamma said, ‘“ Jamie, your uncle says
you must try and sleep—shall I sing for you?”
He’ said, ‘< Yes, mamma.” ©‘ What shall I sing,
my son?’- “Sing what you sing in church,”
meaning a hymn. Fondly placing his head on
her shoulder, he said, “‘ Come, mamma, let us exe)
to sleep.”’ As he ceased speaking, a slight tremor
passed over him; his mother anxiously said,
“Jami. He turned his beautiful eyes, now
radiant with heavenly light and love, ‘‘ the con-RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 25

scious soul,” says his mother, ‘ glowing with the
reflected light of eternity.”

And thus he passed away from that loved
earthly resting-place, to Him who took children
in his arms and blessed them. What pen can
paint the scene that followed? True, that weep-
ing group is composed of Christian parents and
friends; but could those parents give up their
child of promise—could they know that never
more that lovely face would light up at their
approach, that never more the accents of his
voice or his glad footsteps were to meet their
ears—could they place in the dark grave that
beautiful form, on which so early the signet of
manhood was impressed, and not weep bitter
tears?

Oh, when the heart is broken with grief,
when its floodgates are opened, and when tears
will flow, how does the suffering Christian bless
God for those precious words, ‘Jesus wept.”
What a volume of consolation do those two words
suggest! Did Jesus weep only for Mary and
Martha, or were those tears shed too for all who
weep in this dying world?

When Jamte died, the days of mourning were
many and bitter. But the stricken mourners knew
where to look for consolation: lke the disciples
at the death of John, they ‘‘ went and told Jesus.”26 RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

As the lifeless arms of Jamie fondly enclasped
the desolate mother, the mourners knelt in that
chamber of death, while one who had tenderly
loved the departed asked for strength for hearts
that were breaking.

Two nights and one day the bereaved parents
watched by the inanimate, but beautiful form of
their precious boy. The mother traced on paper
the features of that noble countenance, so soon
to be put into darkness; and she placed in his
hands a sprig of arbor-vite, emblem of hope,
and she strewed over him sweet-violets. The
mother’s hand, strengthened by love, assisted in
placing that cherished form in his narrow coflin,
and then with her yearning heart she turned to
prepare for a sad and mournful journey. Gar-
ments were to be packed for “ baby-boy”’ and his
little sister ; but Jamre’s trunk, which he so much
valued, was to be left in the desolate home. No
longer is he, with his glad step, bringing “some-
thing to pack.’ Here are his garments, but he
needs them not; here are his playthings, and
lying on the floor is the “little boat.” O, can
we wonder that the mother moved about among
those mute but eloquent mementos, “with her
heart, like a wind flower, bent even to breaking ;”’
yet was she enabled to say, when reviewing these
scenes of suffering, “I felt I could not rebel, forRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 27

my Father’s hand had prepared the bitter cup;
and should I not drink it ?”

And now, slowly and mournfully a train winds
through the avenue. One carriage bears all that
is mortal of the joy of that home.

The stricken parents and mourning friends are
accompanying the cherished remains to their
ancestral burial-place. But it is the father and
mother who bear with them the casket, from
which the gem has for ever fled. The father
drives gently, as he carries from his home his
first-born, his pride, his image, his peerless boy ;
the mother with her hand of love carefully
euards the lifeless treasure. *Tis the boon her
yearning heart craves, and her sympathizing
friends can deny her nothing. Fifteen weary
miles they bore him, the afflicted mother read-
ing, as streneth was given her, words of com-
fort to her dear husband. She says, ‘1 can
never forget how very near the heavenly world
appeared to me during all that time. It seemed
as though a thin veil only separated me from
my beloved boy, whose spirit seemed to whisper
in my heart, ‘Mamma, I am glad God supports
you.”

And now they reach a spot beloved by Jame
in life, the home of his grandparents. Says his
mother in her lament,RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

‘CA few weeks past, he sweetly played
Amid his grandsire’s garden shade ;

And now, within the darkened hall,
Are seen his coffin and his pall.”

And now they kneel around that coffin, while
the man of God offers fervent prayer for heavenly
aid in this trying hour. The last look is given—
who will attempt to tell of that moment ?—not
one who knows its concentrated agony.

The knell is heard, and. the devoted friends
fearing for the mother, solicit her to remain at
home, and again the mother pleads to go to
Jamirn’s grave. He would never leave her in
life ; why should she not be by him even in death,
till the faithful tomb had taken the treasure to
its trust? The beautiful burial-service of the
church of his fathers was read, and the mortal
form of the loved one, ‘“‘ cut down as a flower,’
was committed ‘‘ dust to dust.”

The mourning parents turned with their deso-
late hearts from the new-made grave; and were
not their thoughts lke those sweet, dirge-hke
numbers of the plaintive poetess ?

“Earth, guard what here we lay, in holy trust,
That which has left our home a darkened place,
Wanting the form, the smile, now veiled with dust,
The light departing with our loveliest face.
Yet from thy bonds undying hope springs free,
We have but lent our beautiful to thee.RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 29

“But thou, Oh Heaven, keep, keep what thou hast taken,
And, with our treasure, keep our hearts on high!”
* * *¥ * * *K

The bereaved ones returned to the ‘‘ grand-
sire’s halls,’ where Jamir had been so happy,
but where he was never more to be heard or seen.
Alas, that ever more—earth’s knell! When that
knell strikes the heart, its crushed strings are
insensible to mortal impressions; the voices of
earth fall unheeded on the ear. But tones soft
and sweet whisper, “‘ Yet a little while, and ye
shall not see me; and again, a little while, and
ye shall see me.” ‘If ye loved me, you would
rejoice because I go tothe Father.” It is the voice
of the blessed Saviour; and if the mourner knows
the voice of the Beloved, that*stern earthly word
never more is.lost in heavenly breathings. Ifin
the days of its earthly happiness the heart has
sought heavenly love; if it is filled with sweet
promises, with hope, and with confidence, even
although that mourning heart is crushed, it will
instinctively send forth richest harmonies, and
will be soothed by its own sweetness. Who that
sees the power of religion, as exhibited by many
a bereaved Christian, can doubt its reahty? The
same piety which softens the heart and gives
vividness to every natural aflection and emotion,
sorrow not excepted, enables the Christian to30 RECOLEECLTIONS OF JAMIE.

turn, like a grieved child to a parent, and say,
“Though He slay me, ye@will I trust in him.”
When he takes from his beloved bright and happy
days, and gives darkness and night, often too does
he “give songs in the night.” ‘Thanks be to God,
who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.” The Christian weeps and suflers and
mourns like other men, even more than other
men, but he murmurs not, and like Job, “he sins
not with his lips.”

‘““T bless my heavenly Father,” said the young
mother who had laid her child of promise in his
early grave, ‘“ for making me feel, throughout the
whole bitter bereavement, that my boy was taken
in love, not in anger. I| felt that we had ever
prayed for the choicest blessings for our son, and
that our Father in heaven, in love and pity has
sheltered him beneath his own wing from all the
sorrows and sufferings which he must haveexpe-
rienced, if left in this ‘vale of tears®”’ In writ-
ing for her children, she says, ‘“‘ While reading
my Bible for comfort, the next day after, JAMIE’s

se
a5

funeral, I turned to the 14th chapter of St. John,
and there I found the blessed promise which I felt
my child, though so young, had realized, in the
latter clause of the 21st verse: ‘And he that loveth
me shall be loved of my Father; and Twill love
him, and manifest myself to him.’ Remember,RECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE. 31

my children, your brother’s almost dying words,
‘I love God—how beautiful it looks up there.’
Here was first the declaration of the love of his
young heart to God, and then, in the glory which
seemed visible to him, a manifestation of the
Saviour. Think of it, my children, and see what
a blessed privilege itis to be a child of God; and
Oh, may it be yours.’”’

Six summers have passed aw ay since flowers
bloomed over Jamte’s grave. The lily, emblem
of his grace, purity, and beauty, unfolds its petals
there. But ah, could we now but see that glo-
rlous one whom fading flowers so faintly image,
that rare blossom of hope and promise so early
transplanted to the garden of paradise, how would
wonder and love and gratitude fill our hearts!
Could we but see who now are his companions—
that=xadiant band—how should we bless his
gnly Father, even for his early grave!

   

Phat..chosen resting-place the maternal
re ents have both been gathered. One was
ecimnrapped to heaven at a distance from his home,
which he,had left in the vain search for health;
and his dying request was, to be brought home
“and buried by the side of his cherished namesake.
Sweet was the consolation of his other grand-
» parent, when leaving those whom she loved onRECOLLECTIONS OF JAMIE.

earth, to believe that she should soon meet that
precious spirit which she had so often instructed
in heavenly things. Many still mourn for J AMIE ;
while the parents sacredly treasure every recol-
lection of their ‘‘summer child,” in whom so

many hopes were garnered up.

‘But in their hearts, unlinked with thoughts that grieve,
The fadeless memories of the lost one leave
A holy vision love may ponder on,
When all the bitterness of woe 1s gone;
And say an angel, to their fond arms given,
Was ouly from their dear embraces riven
To turn their thoughts for evermore to heaven!”

And while they feel that all the earthly gifts
with which they are blessed, can never fill the
void which Jamip’s early death has left, yet they
bless God that hé gave them this costly offering
to lay. upon his altar. They ever miss_their
“first-born” from their happy band; but they
feel it a glorious privilege that their J amupeigisatfe
in paradise—that he is educated by angel
ings—that he is dwelling near the throne of God,
where “their angels do always behold the face
of their Father in heaven.”THE

 

TEN COMMANDMENTS

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TEN COMMANDMENTS
ILLUSTRATED.

INTRODUCTION:

THESE words the Lord spake in the mount, out of
the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick
darkness, with a great voice; and he added no more:
and he wrote them on two tables of stone. Deut.
Dee:

And these words which I command thee this day,
shall be in thy heart; and thou shalt teach them dili-
gently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them
when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walk-
est by the way, and when thou liest down, and when
thou Tisest up. Deut..6; 697.

O that there were such a heart in them, that they
would fear me, and keep all my commandments al-
ways, that it might be well with them and with their
children for ever. Deut. 5:29. —

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing
the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, en-4 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

lightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord 1s clean, en-
during for ever: the judgments of the Lord are truce
and righteous altogether: more to be desired are they
than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than
honey, and the honey-comb. Moreover, by them is
thy servant warned; and in keeping of them there is
creat reward. Psa. 19: 7—T1.

This is the love of God, that we keep his command-
ments. 1 Johme a 23.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command
you. John 15:14.

The law was our schoolmaster, to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by ye, « (Cal.
o: 24.

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth. om. 10:4.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only be-
eotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3: 16.FIRST COMMANDMENT.

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.

‘Thou shalt have no other gods before
me.” Hxod- 20 so:

 

‘‘Hinthrone the great Jehovah in thy heart,
Let all thine homage unto him be paid ;
Suffer no idol to usurp in part
The glory due to him who all things made.
In thought, word, deed, thy life to him be given,

Thou shalt be blessed on earth, and saved in heaven.”

Wuat 1s Gop? In an early meeting of one of the
committees of the Westminster Assembly, the subject
of deliberation was, to frame an answer to the ques-
tion, “* What is God >”? Each man felt the unapproach-
able sublimity of the divine idea suggested by these
words; but who could venture to give it expression in
human language! All shrunk from the too sacred
task in awe-struck, reverential fear. At length it was
resolved, as an expression of the committee’s deep
humility, that the youngest member should first make
the. attempt. He consented; but begged the breth-
ren first to unite with him in prayer for divine en-
lightenment. Then in slow, solemn accents he thus
began his prayer: “O God, thou art a spirit, infinite,
eternal, and unchangeable in thy being, wisdom, pow-
er, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth”? When he
ceased, the first™sentence of his prayer was imme-
diately written down, and adopted, as the most per-
fect answer that could be conceived; as, indeed, in a6 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

 

very sacred sense, God’s own answer, descriptive of
himself. This individual, it is supposed, was George
Gillespie.

Proor or Gopv’s Exisrencre. A poor Arabian of
the desert was one day asked how he came to be as-
sured there was a God. “In the same way,’ he re-
plied, “‘that I am able to tell, by the print impressed
on the sand, whether it was a man or beast that passed
that way.’ :

Gov’s Existence. Galileo, the most profound phi-
losopher of his age, when interrogated by the Inquisi-
tion as to his belief of a Supreme Being, replied, point-
ing to a straw on the floor of his dungeon, that from
the structure of that object alone, he would infer with
certainty the existence of an intelligent Creator.

GoD SEEN IN HIS Works. The famous astronomer
Kircher, expecting a visit from a friend who was an
atheist, procured a beautiful globe of the starry heav-
ens, and placed it in a part of the room where it could
not but, be noticed by his visitor. The latter, soon
after his arrival, being struck with its appearance,
earnestly inquired who made it, whence it came, and
to whom it belonged.“ It belongs to nobody,”
Kircher, ‘‘nor was it ever made by any person, but came
here by mere chance.” ‘That,’’ repled his sceptical
friend, “‘is impossible and absurd; you are jesting with
me.’ ‘See, then,’ said Kircher, “the absurdity of
your own atheism. You will not believe that this
small globe originated in mere chance, and yet, you
contend that those heavens, which it so faintly sets
forth, came into existence in all their magnificence

saidFIRST COMMANDMENT: 7

and glory, without design, and without a Creator.”
And going on in this strain of reasoning, his friend
was at first confounded, then convinced, and at last
led cordially to acknowledge the absurdity of denying
the existence of a God.

GoD EVERYWHERE. Collins the infidel, once meet-
ing a plain countryman, inquired where he was going.
“To-church, sir.’ ‘‘Whattodothere?’ “To wor-
ship God.” ‘Pray tell me, is your God a great or a
little God?’ ‘He is so great, sir, that the heavens
cannot contain him, and so little that he can dwell in
my heart.” Collins afterwards declared, that this
simple yet sublime answer had more effect on his
mind than all the volumes he had ever read.

THE ATHERT ON THE Arps. Amid the sublime
scenery of the Alps,/a wretch had the hardihood to
write over against iis name, in the album kept for
visitors, ‘An athegst.’? It caught the eye of a minis-
ter who followed, when he at once wrote under It ale
an atheist, a fool; if not, a liar.”TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.

‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any thing
that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under
the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself
to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity
of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation of them that
hate me; and showing merey unto thou-
sands of them that love me, and keep my
commandments.” Ex. 20: 4-6.

*‘ Bow not thy knee to forms of wood or stone,
Likeness of aught that’s found in earth or heaven,
Lest God, in anger, from his holy throne,
Swear that thy guilt shall never be forgiven;
Lest children’s children lose his smile, and faint
Beneath the curse thy sin upon their souls hath sent.”

‘‘ Whatever passes, as a cloud, between
The eye of faith and things unseen,
Causing that brighter world to disappear,
Or seem less lovely, and its hope less dear,
That is our world, our idol, though it wear
Affection’s impress, or devotion’s air.”’SECOND COMMANDMENT. 9

GOING DIRECTLY To THE Hicuxst. A Protestant,
who rented a farm from the Duke of Gordon, having
failed in some payment, the steward, in the absence
of the duke, seized all his stock and soldit. The duke
soon coming home, the tenant went to him to suppli-
cate for indulgence. ‘* What is the matter, Donald ?”’
said the duke. Donald told his sorrowful story in
so earnest and touching a manner, that the duke at
once forgave him the debt. In going out, Donald’s
attention was attracted by the pictures and images he
saw in the hall, and in his homely way he expressed
his desire to know what they were. “These,” said
the duke, who was a Roman-catholic,)“‘ are the saints
who intercede for me.’ ‘My lord,’’ said Donald,
“would it not be better to apply directly to God? I
went to your steward, and then to your son, and begged
forbearance, but it was all in vain; andif | had not
come directly to yourself, all my property would have
been taken from me, and I and my family left without
a home or shelter. In the same way, will you not be
most likely to have your prayers answered, if you go
with them directly to God himself ?”’

“NOTHING ALLOWED TO COME BETWEEN US AND
Gov. “Sir,’”’ said a lady to Mr. Romaine, “I lke
the doctrine you preach, and think I can give up every
thine but ane.” “What is that, madam?” “ Cards,
sir’? “You think you could not be happy without
them??? .“No, sir, I could not.” ‘Then, madam,
they are your god, and to them you must look for sal-
vation.” 'Ehispointed—and—faithful replyis—said_to
baxveissued-in-her.conversion.10 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

TE Aa RD) COW EMEAINGD IE Ee INI
“Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in
vain, Exods20. 377.

‘*The low esteem, the heedless thought of God,
The wandering thought in prayer, when his great name

vain, or false

Is on the lips; the reckless,

Profession of that name :

its wanton, rash,
Or idle repetition, to pour forth

Anger and passion, or to point the jest;
The light appeal to God; the perjured oath;
The bold and open blasphemy; the curse,
Asking damnation on ourselves or others,

All take Jehovah’s glorious name in vain,
And stain the soul with guilt, and in the book
Of judgment a dark record make, to rise
Against us in the final day.”’

“Tt chills my blood to hear the blest Supreme
Rudely appealed to on each trifling theme.
Maintain your rank; vulgarity despise ;

To swear is neither brave, polite, nor wise:
You would not swear upon the bed of death;
Reflect

 

your Maker now could stop your breath.”’

WasHINGTON’s Reproor oF PRoFANENESS. Wash-
ington was once dining with several of his officers,
when one of them uttered an oath. He instantly
dropped his knife and fork, and in a deep tone, withTHIRD COMMANDMENT. 11

characteristic dignity and earnestness said, ‘‘ I thought
we all regarded ourselves as gentlemen.”’

A sust Estimate. Prince Henry once said, “ All
the pleasure in the world is not worth one oath.”

THe TRAVELLER AND THE Coacuman. A profane
coachman, pointing to one of the horses he was driv-
ing, said to a pious traveller, “ That horse, sir, knows
when I swear at him.” “Yes,” replied the traveller,
“and so does One above.”

Tue ExceLtence or a Prince. The excellent
Mr. John Howe, hearing a gentleman speaking in
praise of Charles I. in a large party, and at the same
time mixing many oaths with his discourse, mildly
but decidedly said to him, that he had omitted one
great excellence inthe character of that prince. ‘“‘ What
is it, sir?” said the other with eagerness; ‘‘ what is
it?” “It is this,’”? said Mr. Howe, “that he was never
heard to swear in common conversation.”

SWEARING. A pious man once being in company
where was a gentleman who frequently used the
words, devil, deuce, ete., and at last took the name of
Godgin vain; “‘Stop, sir,” sard tie old man: ~ bsaid
nothing while you only used freedom with the name
of your master, but I insist upon it you shall use no
such freedom with the name of my Master.’

ProraniTy Resuxep. Howard the philanthropist
was scen significantly to button up his coat in the
neighborhood of a shoe-shop where he heard coarse
profanity. ‘J always do this,’’? he remarked, “when
I hear swearing. One who can take God’s name in
vain, can steal, or do any thing else bad.”12 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED

THe FOURTH COMMANDIMEN TE.
‘Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it

holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all
thy work; but the seventh day 1s the Sab-
bath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt
not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-
servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that
is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord
made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that
in them is, and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day,
and hallowed it. Exod. 20:8-11.
‘Hail, hallowed day, that binds a yoke on vice,

Gives rest from toil, proclaims God’s holy truth,

Blesses the family, secures the state,

Prospers communities, exalteth nations,

Pours life and light on earth, and points the way to

heaven.”’

‘© A Sabbath well spent
Brings a week of content,

And strength for the toils of the morrow;
But a Sabbath profaned,
Whatsoe’er may be gained,

Is a certain forerunner of sorrow.”

A Swerrirr’s TESTIMONY TO THE VALUE OF THE

SappatrH. An under-sheriff of London mentions theFOURTH COMMANDMENT. £3

saying of a Puritan divine, ‘Hem the Sabbath well,
and it will not ravel out all the week;” and he adds,
‘* My office has enabled me to confirm the value of the
Sabbath, there being searcely a criminal, whether for
death or minor punishment, who was not daily con-
fessing to me, in Newgate, that he considered his first
fall, and subsequent misery, to be owing to the viola-
tion of that blessed day.”

Sir Matrruew Hate’s Estimate or THE Sap-
BATH. That great man Sir Matthew Hale says, of
the Sabbath, “I have found, by long and sound expe-
rience, that the due observance of this day and its
duties, has been of singular comfort and advantage to
me. ‘The holy observance of this day has ever had
joined to it a blessing on the rest of my time, and the
week so begun has been blessed and prosperous to me.
On the other hand, when I have been negligent of the
duties of this day, the rest of the week has been un-
successful and unhappy to my secular employments ;
so that I could easily make an estimate of my suc-
cesses the week following, by the manner of my pass-
ing this day: and this I do not write lightly or incon-
siderately, but upon long and careful observation and
experience.”

Goop Rrasonine. “If you are not afraid of God,
I am afraid of you,’’ said a merchant as he passed a
counting-room on the Sabbath and sawit open. The
next day he refused to sell his produce to the Sabbath-
breaker on any credit whatever. He acted wisely.
In three months the Sabbath-breaker was a bank-
rupt.ta EEN COMMAND MENUS TiS ERAS ED.

REPROOF OF A SABBATH-BREAKER. A minister of
the gospel in Edinburgh, was once introduced to a
man of the world, a scoffer at religion, in the follow-
ing terms: ‘‘ This is Mr. ———\, an acquaintance of
mine, and [ am sorry to add, one who, though young
and in health, never attends public worship.” “I am
almost tempted to hope,”’ said the minister, ‘‘that you
are bearing false witness against your neighbor.”
“By no means,’ said the infidel, “for I always spend
my Sundays in settling up my accounts.””?’ The min-
ister at once and most seriously replied, “‘ You will
Jind, sir, that the day of judgment will be spent in the
same manner.’

He wovutp NoT BREAK THE SaBBATH. It is said
that a late president of the Bank of the United States
once dismissed a clerk because the latter refused to
write for him on the Sabbath. The young man, with
a mother dependent on his exertions, was thus thrown
out of employment by what some would eall an over-
nice scruple of conscience. A few days after, this
same man being requested to nominate a cashier for
another bank, recommended this very individual, and
mentioned this incident as proof of his trustworthi-
ness. ‘ You can trust him,’’ said he, ‘for he wouldn’t
work for me on Sunday.”

THE SABBATH IN ScoTLanp. As showing how
great the regard paid to the Sabbath in Scotland, it is
related that a geologist, while in the country, and
having his pocket hammer with him, took it out and
was chipping a rock by the way-side for examination,
when he was accosted by a Scotchwoman with, ‘“‘ WhatFOURTH COMMANDMENT. 15

are you doing there, man?” ‘Don’t you see?” was
the reply; “‘I am breaking a stone.”’ “You are do-
ing more than that; you are breaking the Sabbath.”

Youne Men anp THE SappatH. There ts no safety
to the young man who does not keep the Sabbath. He
has forsaken God, and turned from his ways. He is
on the devil’s ground, tempting that old murderer to
tempt him, provoking God to leave him in his hands,
to eat the fruit of his own way, and to be filled with
his own devices.

SABBATH ANECDOTE. There is a class of people
who find a vast amount of ‘‘ works of necessity”? upon
the Sabbath ; and it is common for such in hay-sea-
son, for example, to have more or less to do upon that
day. A colored man who lived with a farmer of this
character, saw, or thought he saw a determination on
the part of his employer, to follow up his labor upon
this day of sacred rest. Sabbath morning, however,
he was not up, as usual, at breakfast. The farmer’s
son called him, but he said they need not wait for
him, as he did not wish for any breakfast. “ Why,
Cesar,’’ said he, ‘we shall want you, as soon as the
dew is off, to help about the hay.’ ‘ No,” said he,
““T cannot work any more on the Sabbath; it is not
right.”” “Not right,’’ said the young man; fig 16 not
duty to take care of what Providence has given us ?””
““Q there is no necessity for it,” said he, ‘‘ and ’tis
wrong to do it.” “But would you not pull your cow
or sheep out of a pit upon the Sabbath, Cesar?”
‘No, not if I had been trying all the week to shove
them in; I would let them le there.”16 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

Ee EER COMMANDER NT.
‘Honor thy father and thy mother, that
thy days may be long upon the land which
the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exod.
20 2.

‘‘ Honor thy parents, those that gave thee birth,
And watched in tenderness thine earliest days,
And trained thee up in youth, and loved in all.
Honor, obey, and love them; it shall fill
Their souls with holy joy, and shall bring down
God’s richest blessing on thee; and in days
To come, thy children, if they are given,

Shall honor thee, and fill thy life with peace.”

Hooxrer anp HIS Motuer. The judicious Hooker
used to say, ‘‘If I had no other reason and motive for
being religious, I would earnestly strive to be so for
the sake of my mother, that I might requite her care
of me, and cause her widow’s heart to sing for joy.”

WasuHineton’s Fintan ArrectTion. Washington,
when a boy, was about going to sea as a midshipman,
and his trunk had been taken to the boat, when, as
he went to take leave of his mother, he saw the tears
bursting from her eyes, and an expression of deep sad-
ness on her countenance. Seeing the distress of his
parent, he at once turned to the servant, and said,
‘“Go and tell them to bring back my trunk. I will
not go away, and break my mother’s heart.” His
mother was struck with the spirit and manner of theFIFTH COMMANDMENT. £7

decision, and at once said to him, “ My son, God has
promised to bless the children that honor their parents,
and I believe he will bless you.”

NEVER TO BE Forgorren. A youth lamenting the
death of an affectionate parent, a friend endeavored to
console him by saying he had anys conducted towards
the departed one with tenderness and respect. -“So I]
thought,” said the other, “while my parent was living;
but now I remember with shame and deep sorrow dane
instances of disobedience and neglect, for oie alas,
it is now too late ever to make any, atonement. ,

BE Kinp To your MotuEr. “What would I sive,”
said Charles Lamb, “to call my mother back to earth
for one day, to ask ie pardon upon my knees, for all
those acts by which I gave her gentle spirit pao yy

CHRIST an Example To Cuttpren. “Let all
children remember,” says Dr. Dwight, “if ever they
are weary of laboring for thetr parents, that Christ
labored for his ; if impatient of their commands, that
Christ cheerfully obeyed ; if reluctant to provide for
their parents, that Christ forgot himself and provided
for his mother amid the agonies of the crucifixion.
The affectionate language of this divine example to
every child is, ‘ Go thou and do likewise.”

Tue Power or a Motuer’s Tears. Olympia, the
mother of Alexander the Great, was so severe towards
some of his officers, that his deputy, Antipater, once
wrote him a long letter of complaint against her; to
which Alexander returned this answer: ‘ Knowest
thou not that one tear of my mother’s will blot out
a thousand of thy letters of complaint ?”

7818 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

Gop Marks THE Unputirun Cuitp. Philip Henry,
speaking of an undutiful and wicked son in his neigh-
borhood, charged his children to observe the provi-
gence of God concerning him. ‘Perhaps,’ said he,

“T may not live to see it, but do you mark k if God dob
not send some pemankable judgment upon him in this
life, for thus violating the fifth commandment.” But
he himself lived to see it fulfilled soon after, in a very
signal providence.

Retigion at Home. “Let them learn first,’ says
Paul, “to show piety at home.” Religion begins in
the family. One of the holiest sanctuaries on earth
is home. The family altar is more venerable than
any altar inthe cathedral. The education of the soul
for eternity begins by the fireside. The principle of
love, which is to be carried through the universe, is
first unfolded in the family.

PARENTS SHOULD KEEP UP SYMPATHY WITH THEIR
Curtpren. Parents must never put away their own
youth. They must never cease to be young. Their
sympathies and sensibilities should be always quick
and fresh. They must be susceptible. They must
love that which God made the child to love. Chil-
dren need not only government, firm and mild, but

sympathy, warm axid tender. So long as parents are
their best and most agreeable companions, children
are comparatively safe, even in the society of others.

One Curp. Bishop Beveridge has truly and strik-
ingly said, ‘Who knows but the salvation of ten
thousand immortal souls may depend on the education —
of a single child.”Six TH COMMANDMENT, 1

<O

LA SESE COMMANDMENT.
‘* Thou shalt not kill.” Exod. 20:13.

 

‘Life is the richest boon on earth that’s given;
Then prize and sacredly regard the gift—
Thine own, or others. Let thy netghbor’s life
Be hallowed as thine own.
By trifling with thy health; by surfeiti ing,
Intemperance, excess; by eviet that wears,
Or passion that eats out its very soul.
Cherish thy being, but forget thou not,

Life’s worth is me asured |

Thine own waste not,

y its wse alone.”’

 

Our own LIFE AND TH AT OF OTHERS. If you would

properly appreciate the life of other s, love your neigl
bor as yourself :

moderate in diet

l=
if you would preserve your own, be

abundant in exercise, Cov ehaus of
fresh alr, diligent in business, a

in all things living for God.

DEATH THE pL oF Murper. The declara-
tion of God to Noah, “ Whoso sheddeth man’s blood,
by man shall his blood be shed,’? was manifestly de-
signed to be the law of God as to the punishment of
murder. But even if understood merely as a predic-
tion, or as an assertion of fact, it has thus far in the
ee of the world, been singularly 1 rerified. Very
few murderers escape a violent death; so few, that
the fact has passed into a proverb. And the prov-
erb, that “* Murder will out,’’ ineludes the almost uni-
form conviction, not only that it will be discovered,
but avenged. And so the experience of the world ie

nd contented i In spirit:90 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

clares. Hundreds of cases might be given, in which
a retributive providence has followed the murderer,
pressing closer and closer upon him, till at last it has
sent his body to a dishonored grave, and his soul to a
lost eternity! ‘‘ Bloody and deceitful men shall not
live out half their days.’

PROVIDENCE AGAINST THE Murprrer. A gentle-
man, at the point of death, gave the following account
of his case to Dr. Lake, his physician: ‘‘ About a fort-
night ago, I was riding over-Hounslow heath, where
several boys were playing cricket, when one of them
hitting the ball, it struck me on the toe, causing
severe and increasing pain. Arriving at Brentford, I
sent for a surgeon, who was for cutting the toe off;
but unwilling to suffer that, I went on to London.
At London I consulted another surgeon, who advised
cutting off the foot ; but not being willing to hear of
this, the next day the mortification struck up into the
leg, as now, I fear, it has into the body.” Dr. Lake
asked if he knew the boy who struck the-ball. He
answered, “Ten years ago, I was riding over that
same heath, when an old man ran by my horse’s side,
begging me for alms, saying he was almost famished.
I bade him begone; but as he still kept by me, I
threatened to beat him. Finding he took no notice of
this. I drew my sword, and in my anger struck him a
blow which killed him on the spot. A boy about four
years old, who was with him, screamed out that ‘his
faiher was killed’ His face I perfectly remember.
It was that boy who struck the ball against me, which
is the cause of my death.”SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exod.

20 AS

‘‘In his own likeness God did make our race:
Our souls to be like his; our curious frames
To be the dwellings of the Holy Ghost.
Guard, then, that frame from all that might pollute ;
See, too, that every thought be chaste and pure,
Each like a holy priest within God’s house,
Devoted to his worship. Christ hath said,
None but the pure in heart God’s face shall see.”

THe TENDENCY oF DisoBepiIENcE. ‘The violation
of this commandment,’ says Dr. Paley, “‘ corrupts and
depraves the mind more than any single vice what-
ever. That ready perception of guilt, that prompt and
decisive resolution against it, which constitutes a vir-
tuous character, is seldom found in persons addicted
to these indulgences. They prepare an easy admis-
sion for every sin; are, in. low life, usually the first
stage in men’s progress to the most desperate villa-
nies; and in high hfe, to that lamented dissoluteness
of principle which manifests itself in contempt of the
obligations of religion and moral probity.”

Tue Kine Reprovep. In the days of Henry VIIL.,
who was notorious for his violation of this command-
ment, it was customary for each of the bishops of the
realm to make him a present on new-year’s day.
Bishop Latimer, on one of these occasions, went with99 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

his brethren to make the annual offering; but in-
stead of a purse of gold, he presented the king with a
Bible, in which was one leaf turned down at the
seventh commandment, and another at the passage,
“ Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”’
Proper Reaptye. So much of our popular litera-
ture is disgraced by allusions of an improper kind; so
many periodicals contain articles that may well cause
the reader to blush; so much of the poetry, and so
many of the newspapers of the day abound in refer-
ences, to say nothing more, that tend to undermine
the precious foundations of moral purity, that every
one has need to pray, “ Keep us from temptation.”
Frorion. “ Constant familiarity with works of fic-
tion,” says Hannah More, ‘‘stirs the imagination,
which wants quieting; irritates the passions, which
want calming; and, above all, disinclines and dis-
qualifies for active virtues and for spiritual exercises.
The habitual indulgence in such reading is a silent
mining mischief.” Authors who live in violation of
social purity, will not be likely to inculcate this virtue
forcibly upon others. It is well known that an em1-
nent foreign novelist closed his door against his noble
and confiding wife, because she refused being acces-
sary to his connubial perfidy. Another popular author
of fiction openly manifests disrespect for the social re-
lations of men.EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

PE, eG et er COMMANDMENT.
‘Thou shalt not steal.” Exod. 20:15.

‘Basest and meanest of all sins is theft:
To take thy neighbor's property, or aught
That’s his; to practise fraud upon thyself
By idleness or waste; or by deceit,
Concealment, peculation, breach of trust,
To practise it on others. Aim to be
In all thy dealings upright. True it is,
‘An honest man’s the noblest work of God.”

A JewisH Maxim. It was a maxim with the Jews,
that “he that did not bring up his son to some honest
calling, brought him up to be a thief.”

Tue Honest Farmer. Two farmers having a dis-
pute as to some land, an action at law was commenced
to determine it. On the day fixed for the trial, one of
them called on his opponent to accompany him to
the court, that each might give his own statement of
the case. Finding his neighbor at work in his field,
he said to him, “Is it possible you have forgotten our
cause is to be decided to-day >” “No,” said the other,
‘‘T have not forgotten it, but I cannot well spare time
to go. You will be there, and I know you are an
honest man, and will state the case fairly, and justice
will be done.’”’?’ And so it proved; for the farmer who
went to the judge stated his neighbor’s claims so
clearly, that the cause was decided against himself,
and he returned to inform his opponent that he hadDa nN COMMANDMENTS IGLUST RATED.

gained the property. Such a character is worth more
than the wealth of the Indies.

Tur Beacar AND THE GuINEA. A beggar asking
Dr. Smollett for a shilling, by mistake he gave him a
euinea. The poor fellow perceiving it, hobbled after
him to return the money; upon W Mien Smollett re-
turned it to him with a second guinea, as a reward
for his honesty, exclaiming, “What a lodging has
honesty taken up with! I would rather be that man
than a dishonest king.”

Tur COHIMNEY-SWEEP AND THE WatcH. A poor
chimney-sweep, being called, in his work, to a noble-
man’s house, and being left none in a chamber saw
on the table a beautiful watch. Cautiously talkint® it
in his hand, he said to himself, “Ah, if it was oot
mine ! But, ? he continued, ealsitia to himself, ‘if
1 take it,*l shall be a thief; for the Bible tells me
not to steal. And yet,’’ he added, ‘‘no one sees me.
Yes, God, who is everywhere, sees me ; and if I took
it, one Sait I pray to him, and how ool I die in
peace »””? Overcome by hase thoughts, he carefully
laid the watch down in its place again, saying, eee
would much rather be without it and poor, than rich
and a thief’? And at these words, as if afraid of
temptation, he hastened back to his work. The own-
er of the watch, a lady, who in the next room had
overheard his soliloquy, the next morning sent for him,
and said, ‘‘ My little friend, why did you not take the
watch yesterday?’ And as the boy fell on his knees,
astonished and in fear, not knowing what would come
next, she continued, “I heard every thing you said,KIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 25

and I thank God that he enabled you to resist tempta-
tion. From this time I will take you under my care,
and maintain and clothe you, and have you instructed ;
and if you ever live thus in the fear of God, his bless-
ing will always attend you.”

A Matay’s Test or Honesty. A New England
sea-captain going to India, was boarded by a Malay
merchant, a man of high standing and wealth, who
asked if he had any tracts or good books he could
part with. The American, at a loss how to account
for so singular an inquiry from such a man, replied,
“What can you want with tracts and good books?
you cannot read a word of them.”’? ‘ True,’’ said the
other; ‘‘but I have a use for them, nevertheless: and
it is this. Whenever one of your countrymen, or an
Englishman, calls on me to trade, I put a tract or
good book in his way, and then watch to see what he
does withit. Ifhe reads it soberly, and with interest,
I infer that he is honest, and will not cheat me; but if
he throws it aside with contempt, or a profane oath, I
have no more to do with him: I cannot trust him.”

“Trou Gop sEEsT ME.”’ A father and his son went
out together to steal corn. When they came to the
field, the father climbed up on the fence, and looked
carefully around that no eye might see him. He then
began to fill his bag with the corn. ‘Father,’ said
the boy, ‘‘there is one direction in which you did not
look.” “Ah, my son,” replied the father, “‘and where
is that?’ “Oh, father, you did not Look up.” The
man returned home with an empty bag and a stricken
conscience.26 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

   
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
    
 
  

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.
‘*'Thou shalt not bear false witness against
mye merombor Exod. 20.16.

 

‘Beware the tongue that’s set on fire of hell,
And flames in slander, falsehood, perjury,
In malice, idle talking, thoughtless tales.
Speak not too much, nor without thought; let truth
In all things, small or great, dwell on thy lips.
Remember, God hath said, ‘He that in word
Offends not, is a perfeet man; while he
That bridles not his tongue, deceives himself,
And shows his faith is vain.”

‘Sacred interpreter of haman thought,
How few respect or use thee as they ought!
But all shall give account of every wrong,
Who dare dishonor or defile the tongue.”

Tue Toneve. There are but ten precepts of the
law of God, says Leighton, and two of them are be-
stowed on the tongue; one in the first table, and the
other in the second, as showing it is ready, if not bri-
dled, to fly out against both God and man.

Tue Toneve. Of all the disturbers of the peace of
neighborhoods and villages, what agent is half so sue-
cessful as a tale-bearing, tattling, slanderous tongue ?

THE Cure oF aN Evin Toneur. The cure of.an
evil tongue, says Leighton, must begin at the heart.
The weights and wheels are there, and the clock
strikes according to their motion. <A guileful heartNINTH COMMANDMENT. OF,

makes a guileful tongue and lips. It is the workhouse
where is the forge of deceits and slanders; and the
tongue is only the outer shop where they are vended,
and the lips the door of it. Such ware as is made
within, such, and no other, can come out.

Tue Goop Sipe. When any one was speaking ill
of another in the presence of Peter the Great, he at first
listened to him attentively, and then interrupted him:
“Ts there not,’’ he asked, ‘“‘a fair side also to the char-
acter of the person of whom you are speaking? Come,
tell me what good qualities you have remarked about
him.”

Not at Home. A lady was busily engaged in do-
mestic affairs, when some one rang the street-door bell,
and the Catholic servant-girl was bidden to say that
her mistress was not at home. ‘Yes, ma’am,” she
replied; ‘and when I confess to the priest, shall |
confess the lie as your sin, or mine ?”’

WASHINGTON’s TRUTHFULNESS. When Washington
was about six years old, some one gave hima hatchet,
with which he was so highly pleased that he went
about chopping all the trees within his reach, and
among the rest, a favorite cherry-tree of his father’s,
which he eut so badly as to leave little hope of its
living. The father, next day, was inquiring in vain
for the offender, when George coming forward, was
asked if he knew who had done it. He hesitated a
moment, and then nobly said, “J cannot tell a he,
father, I cannot tell a lie, I did ut with my hatchet.”
His father, with deep emotion, clasped him to his heart,
saying, ‘IT am glad you have killed my tree, for you28 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

have paid me for it a thousand-fold. Such conduct
is worth more than thousands of trees, though their
blossoms were silver, and their fruit solid gold.”

Exaccrrations. Never to speak by superlatives
is a sign of a wise man; for that way of speaking
wounds either truth or prudence. Exaggerations dis-
cover the weakness of the understanding, and the bad
discerning of him that speaks. Excessive praises ex-
cite both curiosity and envy; so that, if merit answer
not the value that is set upon it, as it usually happens,
general opinion revolts against the imposture, and
makes the flatterer and the flattered both ridiculous.

An Ancient Maxim. It was a maxim of Pittacus,
one of the seven wise men of Greece, that ‘‘no man
should ever give himself the liberty of speaking ill of
another, whether an enemy or a friend.”

LisTENING To SLanpDER. It is only ill-natured and
ill-nurtured, unworthy and wicked people, that are
willing auditors of slander. ‘A wicked doer,’’ says
the wise man, “giveth heed to false lips, and a liar
giveth ear to a naughty tongue.”

Tue Sprrir oF Curist. As you would honor
Christ, who has taught us the lesson of divine char-
ity, ‘‘let this mind be in you” that was in him; be
moved by the same benevolent spirit, and “let your
speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.’
“Tf any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect
man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”TENTH COMMANDMENT.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s
house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s
wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-ser-
vant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing
that is thy neighbor’s.” Exod. 20:17.

“Lust not in thought for aught thy neighbor hath
Envy him not, because his honors shine:
Rejoice in every joy that crowns his days,
And be content in heart with what is thine.
The lot of each, the same wise God has given,
As for each best—for each, the way to heaven.”

Two Buessines. ‘It’s a great blessing to possess
what one wishes,” said some one to an ancient phi-
losopher, who replied, “It’s a greater blessing still, not
to desire what one does not possess.” a

CoNTENTMENT. A contented mind is the greatest
blessing a man can enjoy in this world; and if, in the
present life, his happiness arises from the subduing of
his desires, it will arise in the next from the gratifica-
tion of them.

Curistran Happiness. Christian happiness, for
this world, is to want little and enjoy much: worldly
happiness, to want much and enjoy little.

Never Satisrirp. A laundress who was employed
in the family of a gentleman of wealth, said to him
with a sigh, ‘Only think, sir, how little money would30. TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

   

make me happy!” ‘How little, madam?” says the

gentleman.

make me perfectly happy.’’
have it,’’? and he immediately gave it to her. She
looked at it with joy and thankfulness, but before the
exclaimed, “TI wish I had

giver was out of hearing

dD)

said two hundred.’’

FENELON.

“O dear, sir, one hundred dollars would

“Tf that is all, you shall

When Fenelon’s library was once on

fire, ‘God be praised,’ he exclaimed, “that it is not
the dwelling of some poor man.”

Gop IN ALL.

That we may always be kept from

a complaining spirit about what zs, let us endeavor to
see God’s hand in all events; and that we may not be
anxious as to what shall be, let us endeavor to see all

events in God’s hands.

Then if we are rich, we shall

have God in all; and if poor, we shall have all in

God.

SATISFIED WITH THE DivINE ALLOTMENTS.

If two

angels, says John Newton, were sent down from heav-
en, the one to govern an empire, and the other to
sweep the streets in it, they would be alike contented
in their respective spheres and duties, and feel no in-
clination to change employments.

Wuots Ricu?

‘“When I was young, an old gentle-

man asked me, ‘When is a person rich enough? [|

replied, ‘When he has a thousand pounds.’
“When he has ten thousand?’ I asked.

hundred thousand »” ‘No.’
he has a little more than he has got, and that is ney-
If we once allow the be-

se
= 9) Ie
Chis

So it too often is.

‘No.’
“Noe SX
‘When then? ‘When

ginnings of a covetous spirit, our desires will alwaysTENTH COMMANDMENT. Sk

keep in advance of our possessions. He only is truly
rich who is truly contented.

Tue ENTRANCE oF Sin. Most sins begin at the
eyes ; by them, commonly, Satan creeps into the heart:
that man can never be in safety that hath not cove-
nanted with his eyes.

Tue Irartan BisHop. An Italian bishop who had
struggled through many difficulties without repining,
and been much opposed without ever manifesting 1m-
patience, being asked by a friend to communicate the
secret of his being always so happy, replied, “‘It con-
sists in a single thing, and that is, making a right use
of my eyes.”’ His friend, in surprise, begged him to
explain his meaning. ‘‘ Most willingly,” replied the
bishop?*‘‘In whatsoever state I am, I first of all look
up to heaven, and remember that my great business
on earth is to get there. Ithen look down upon the
earth, and call to mind how small a space [ shall
soon fill init. JI then look abroad on the world, and
see what multitudes are, in all respects, less happy
than myself. And thus I learn where true happiness
is placed, where all my cares must end, and how
little reason I ever have to murmur, or to be other-
wise than thankful. And to live in this spirit, is to
be always happy.”32 TEN COMMANDMENTS ILLUSTRATED.

CONCLUSION.

THE wHoLE Duty or Man. ‘Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it
be-eval.” Heel, 12:13,.14.

Our Saviour’s SUMMARY OF THE COMMANDMENTS.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: this is the
first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On
these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets.” Matt. 22: 37-40.

A coop Rute. It isa good rule, to step in no path,
to speak no word, to commit no act, when conscience
appears to whisper, Beware. You had better wait a
+welvemonth and learn your duty, than take a hasty
step and bring tears and repentance to a dying day.

PREPARTION FoR Eternity. The sum and sub-
stance of all preparation for a coming eternity, says
Dr. Chalmers, is to belseve what the Bible tells us,
and do what the Bible commands us.Ls YY
LY
Fa

pz;

y
ay
N
Sif
tet

STHE

BIBLE WITH WINGS

 

EUBETSOInHD BY THE

AMERECAN PRACT SOCLED

EDO, NAS S AGU = SR BE, NB Weve O Rie.THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

How strange it would be to have only one
Bible in town, and that perhaps chained to a
stone table in the church; and stranger still
would it be, on opening it, to find it all written
in a foreign language, which you could not un-
derstand: it would not only be very strange, but
very sad, children; would itnot? But thisisthe
way it used to be in our mother land, in old Eng-
land, not many hundred years ago. The word
of God was very scarce: it was not a printed,
bound, English book, as you now see it in every
family, and in the hand also of every Christian
child; no, it was written with a pen on parch-
ment, in the Latin language.

This was before the invention of printing ;
copying a Bible was a very long and laborious
work, occupying many weeks and months; and
a New Testament was so expensive, that one
could hardly be bought for two hundred dollars.
Think of that: two hundred dollars for a Testa-6 Tie Bl Bie WIE WINGS.

ment! But in our days, the Bible societies, by
the help of the printing-press, issue more than
ten thousand Bibles in a day, and you can buy
one for fifty cents, or even twenty-five.

We cannot be thankful enough for our birth
and education at this period of the world’s his-
tory, without studying history and contrasting
our times with those gone by. The Bible then
was like a sealed book to all the English people
but a few learned men. Where could they go
to learn the law of God, the way of pardon, and
the path to heaven? They must learn from the
mouths of priests, monks, and popes; and almost.
all these, 1 am sorry to say, taught very different
doctrines from those recorded on the pages of the
Bible. They did not teach the truth; they taught
hes. No wonder that the people went astray.
They wandered in darkness, and it was for the
interest of the popes and their priests to keep
them in darkness. If any were found who wished
to study God’s word for themselves, the priests
said, “No, no; we’ll do that business for you;
you cannot understand it; we are sent to instruct

9

you.” Alas, many of the priests themselves nev-
er took the trouble to read the Bible.
From time to time, however, fragments of the

Bible were translated into English by pieusTHE BIBLE With WINGS. oy

priests, to whom it was precious, and who desired
others also to profit by its blessed truths; but the
affairs of true religion went on in a very sad,
dark way, as you may well suppose they would
without the Bible, until 1350, when a brave.
good man appears, called Joun Wickurre. He
preached in the town of Lutterworth; and as he
was quite a learned man, he held an office also
in Oxford college. Among Wickliffe’s choicest
treasures was a Latin Bible, which he studied
deeply and prized highly. The better he came
to understand its wonderful and saving truths, the
more grieved he was at the gross darkness which
shrouded the minds of his countrymen respecting
the nature of true piety, and the stronger grew
his dislike of the various religious orders who
pretended to instruct the people in the way of
salvation, particularly the mendicant friars, as
they were called, who overran the land. These
were religious beggars, who sought the favor of
God by going from door to door clothed in rags,
begging for their daily food.

To give you a specimen of the kind of instrue-

 

tion they gave—one class of these beggars, styled
the Carmelites, taught that the Virgin Mary ap-
peared to one of their number, and gave him a

solemn promise that the souls of all those who8 PoE BIBLE WITH WENGs.

left the world with a@ Carmelite cloak on their
shoulders would certainly go to heaven. Under
the mask of religion, they often held the most
abominable principles, and committed the worst
crimes. Itis not surprising then, that good John
Wickliffe, with his eyes open to the Bible, set
himself against these friars, and did all he could
to lessen their influence in England. This made

APSE 3
i) ANE

 

 

 

  
     

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i

them exceedingly angry. On one occasion, whise
he was lying sick at Oxford, a party of them broke

into his chamber, abusing him with the vilest

  

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language, and calling down the heaviest judg-THE BIBLE

   

WEEE WEN Gs: €

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ments of heaven upon his head. Sick as he was,
Wickliffe did not mean to bear this. He rose up
from his pillow with great energy and drove them
out of his presence, exclaiming, “I shall not die,
but live to declare the evil deeds of you friars.”

Wickliffe saw there was but one effectual way
of bettering the religious condition of his coun-
trymen, and that was to give them the Bible in
ther own tongue. This was a grand and noble
idea, but it was a new one in those days, and one
which the pope and friars would certainly oppose
with all their might. ‘As the doctrines of our
faith,” boldly declared Wickliffe, ‘are more clear-
ly and precisely expressed in the Scriptures than
they can possibly be by priests, seeing that many
prelates are but too ignorant of Scripture, the
conclusion is abundantly plain that believers
should ascertain for themselves the matters of their
faith, by having the Scriptures in a language
which they fully understand.” ‘“Christ’s law is
contained in Scripture,” he again says, “and we
should admit of no conclusion not approved there ;
there is no court besides the court of heaven.
Though there were a hundred popes, and all the
friars in the world turned. cardinals, yet should
we learn more from the gospel than we should
from all that multitude.”10 Te Bl Bik W TIE: WINGS:

This sound truth, you must remember, was
uttered long before Luther and the great Refor-
mation, while popish darkness covered the whole
Christian world; and it was bold language indeed
at that time, when the pope was sovereign over
men’s consciences; yes, and dangerous language,
for on account of it he was lable to be seized for
a heretic, and heretics were burnt at the stake.
The friars did all they could to ruin him, accus-
ing him again and again to the pope; but God
raised up friends for Wickliffe, one of the most
powerful of whom was an English duke, who
took his part, protecting him from the rage of the
friars and the bulls of the pope.

Eek ho INGLIS eB 1B a.

With such stanch Protestant views, taking the
right ground, that the Bible is the only rule of
our faith, this fearless man casts about in his
mind in what way to supply this dreadful defi-
ciency of Bible knowledge: he at last resolves to
have an English Bible. “I will translate my
Latin Bible into English,” he declares, and soon
sets himself about this great and good work; and
work he does, with all his might. See him toil-
ing month after month by the midnight lamp,
early and late; there he sits by his curiouslyTHE BIBGE WIE WINGS. i

wrought oaken table, penning text after text in

a huge book made of parchment, which lies before

o
©

him

 

and let me tell you, that this very oaken
table upon which this faithful and courageous
man translated his Bible still exists. Should
you not like to see it? It has been carefully
preserved in the old church of St. Mary’s, in the
town of Lutterworth, in England, where he used
to preach. Do you not want to see a specimen
of our language in very cld times? Here is a
verse. See if you can read it.

‘Therefore when Ihesa was boren in bedlem
of juda, in the dayes of Kinge heroude, loo kyngis
or wise men camen fro the est to ierusalem seynige
where is he that is boren kyge of jewes, for-soye
we have seen his sterre in the eest & we comen
for to worschipe hym.”

It is not known how long Wickliffe was engaged
in his translation, but he never gave it up until
it was completed—the Bible, the whole Bible,
and the first Bible in the English tongue. Oh,
what a grand and blessed work! For executing
it, Wicklifle deserves a rank among the greatest
benefactors of his country. If the pope and fri-
ars hated him before, for this they owed him a
still heavier grudge. By its light how scanda-
lous their lives, how false their doctrines mustte Mh Bi Bis Wit Hh Wane.

appear. ‘They spit their spite upon his charac-
ter, calling him “the devil’s instrument,” “the
church’s enemy,” “the people’s confusion,” “the
hypocrite’s mirror,” “a sink of flattery,” “a forger
of les;” telling him he would be stricken by the
horrible judement of God, and that his wicked soul
would go to the dark mansions of the black devil.

These he did not much mind. At last, by their
incessant persecution, they got him banished from
the university of Oxford, and the pope command-
ed him to appear before him at Rome. Once in
the pope’s clutches, poor Wicklifle would have
found no mercy ; but his heavenly Father did not
suffer him to endure the gloomy horrors of such
a journey, for before the order could be obeyed
Wickliffe was called to his rest above. He was
taken suddenly ill in the pulpit, after preaching
to his little flock one of his precious Bible ser-
mons, and lived only two days, falling sweetly
asleepin Jesus. The hatred borne to him by the
enemies of gospel truth did not cease with his
death. An assembly of ecclesiastics was held
at Oxford, which condemned his doctrines and
burned his books; and some years afterwards, by
orders from a great popish council, his body was
not suffered to lie peacefully in the church; it
vas dug up and thrown into the river Swift, aTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. BS

little branch of the beautiful Avon. Was not
this a mean way of showing their hatred? Do
as they might with his body, their malice could
not penetrate the heavenly abode of his soul.
He was far, far beyond the reach of their anger.

Nor could all the eflorts of popery put entirely
out the heht which he had kindled. We read
that his translation was studied: poor priests, as
the preachers of his doctrines were called, went
through the land diffusing the knowledge of God’s
truth, which they had acquired by the study of
that translation. They became popular, and in
some quarters rivalled in influence the mendicant
friars. As I before told you, printing not yet hav-
ing been invented, the circulation of this first
English Bible could not have been extensive.
In spite, however, of the labor of copying it word
for word with a pen, in spite of the opposition of
friars and popes, it was the word of God, and
could not be cramped or crushed. It was the
bread of hfe to many a starving soul. As its
heht gimmered here and there around many an
English home, it was like a streak of the dawn
of better things. This first English Bible was
the forerunner of brighter and more blessed
times, and its fearless translator is styled in his-
tory, the morning-star of the Reformation.14 THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

Go with me to the neighborhood of the city of
Harlaem, in Holland: mark that solitary man
walking thoughtfully through a grove of beech-
trees; he snatches up a piece of bark, he thinks
and whittles, and whittles and thinks; he cuts
and carves, and whistles and thinks, until, be-
hold, he is shaping letters—a, b,c: by and by he
soes home, and there he cuts out letters enough
to make a sentence; in order to hold them to-
gether, he runs a string through them, and dip-
ping them into a glutinous sort of ink, stamps
them upon paper. The letters are taken up, and
lo, two lines in a minute, as it were, show them-
selves to view.

“OQ,” cry the children, puzzled and pleased to
see what quick writing it was. ‘O,” ery the
elders, ‘it is surely curious.” They gather around
with pleasing surprise, as again and again he
repeats the experiment.

‘Why, this man is only trying to print,” I dare
say the children nowadays will exclaim; ‘and
pretty bungling work he must make of it ; wood-
en letters with a string run throughthem!” Ah
yes, you are right; but this, children, is the first
idea, the earliest attenvpt in printing. It was in
1435, or thereabouts, and the man’s name was
Laurentius.THE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 15

About six or seven years afterwards, let us
pass into an obscure workshop in the German
city of Mentz, and there we shall find Guttenberg
manufacturing metal types instead of clumsy
wooden letters. He is hard at work trying to
perfect the idea conceived by Laurentius. No-
body knows what a mighty instrument for the
world’s civilization is lying in a rude and half-
formed state within the low walls of that little
workshop. The pope does not dream that from
it will issue a power which he can never master,
or awe, or imprison, or burn. It is little and
almost helpless now, but it will increase and
throw its long arms all over the earth, penetrat-
ing palaces and prisons, huts and halls, with
resistless energy. Asif to foreshadow the bless-
ings which the noble art of printing was to con-
fer upon the world, what do you think was the
first book which issued from the press? It was
a Buble, a French Bible. Seven or eight years
were occupied in completing the work, and it
was the wonder of all Paris. Oh yes. Printing
seemed to give wings to the Bible, and nobody
could stop its flight.16 THE BIBLE WITH: WINGS.

Poh oe PR NE ED ING Wo 0 ES 2 ava INT

But Lam now going to tell you something about
the first Testament printed in the English lan-
guage; so let me introduce you to a poor priest
named Wituiam Tynpaue, born in the woody
retreats of Gloucestershire, England, some hun-
dred years after Wickliffe. His broad forehead
and quick, penetrating eye denote more than or-
dinary mind; great thoughts and noble purposes
he half hid behind his earnest expression ; while
in his talk, so different from his fellow-priests,
there is something which tells you that his soul
has been enlightened and invigorated by the word
of God, and the errors and vices of popery fill him
at times with a just and honest indignation.

“We are better without God’s law than the

9)

pope’s,” said one of his brother priests ‘1 defy

> exclaimed William

the pope and all his laws,’
Tyndale. “If God spare my life, before many
years I will cause the boy who driveth the plough
to know more of the Scriptures than you do.”
Here was a threat, and what did it mean?
When he looked around, and saw how true piety
had been corrupted by the laws and decrees of
Rome, and beheld his countrymen perishing for

that Bible knowledge which only could makeTIE DEBE Wen WINGS: TZ

them wise unto eternal life, he determined to set
about translating the Bible into English, and if
possible give it in a printed form to the people.
To further this noble undertaking, he left the
house of Sir John Walsh, in whose family he had
several years been tutor, and journeyed up to
London. Of the great learning of the bishop of
London he had often heard, and he thought with-
in himself, “If I could but come to this man’s
service, I should be happy.” But when he ar-
rived at the city, and marked the course of the
world, and saw the pomp of the prelates, and
heard the “praters”—for good William Tyndale
did not think they deserved the name of preach-
ers—and received the lord bishop’s answer to his
application that his house was full, poor Tyndale
turned aside, saying, “ Room enough, room enough
there is in my lord’s house for belly cheer, but
none to translate the New Testament.”

While at London the good priest was very poor,
and might have suffered still greater ills but for
the kindness of a wealthy alderman named
Monmouth, who having heard him preach, was
sreatly delighted with the godly simplicity of his
doctrine, and invited him home. Tyndale found
the alderman had not only a friendly, but a pious
heart. He was warmly interested in the prog-
8018 Tae BU LE TW TLE SWwelneGas 3

ress of the Reformation carried on by Luther in
Germany, and longed to behold the light of the
gospel of Christ spreading in England. What
a precious and sympathizing friend for Tyndale!

”- as the

Here he staid for nearly a year, “living,
good alderman says, ‘like a good priest, studying
most part of the day and night at his book, and
would eat but sodden meat, nor drink but small
beer; and I never saw him wear linen about him
in the space he was with me.”

Whether Tyndale was molested in his pious
labors, or his presence was like to bring reproach
upon his generous friend, we cannot tell; but he
mournfully says, “ Not only is there no place in
my lord of London’s palace to translate the New
Testament, but there is also no place to do it
in all England, as experience doth now openly
show.” And accordingly, in the year 1524, we
find him bidding adieu to his native land, and
setting sail over the North sea for the city of
Hamburg. Here we find him in humble lodg-
ings, busy with his pen. and Bible, supplied with
the means of living by the pious alderman and
other Christian friends. Cheer up, Tyndale, you
have now leisure and means enough for your
labor of love.

We next find him at Frankfort, the translationTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 19

completed and in the hands of the printers. How
bravely has the work gone on! Tyndale must
be thankful for God’s blessing thus far. In this
state of things, a popish deacon got scent of what
was doing. He heard that two learned English-
men were lurking about the city, and a boast
was made by one of the printers, that whether
the king and cardinal of England would or not,
all England would in a short time become Prot-
estant. The deacon determined to pry into this
matter, and see what it all meant. He made
friends with the printers. Having invited them
to his house he gave them a plenty of wine, when
they let the secret out how three thousand copies
of the New Testament in English were in the
press, paid for by English merchants, who meant
to carry it over, and circulate it all over the coun-
try before the king and cardinals should find it
out. Henry VIII. was king of England at this
period, and 1t was while he was friendly to the
pope. Afterwards, you remember, he turned
against him, and England joined the Reforma-
tion.

At this news the deacon was in high temper.
By the help of a powerful popish knight, the
printing-ofhce was surrounded and the press
seized, but happily not before Tyndale, warned20 THE BIBEE WITH wiNGs:

of the danger, ran to the rescue of his half-printed
sheets, packed them away in a boat, and was
sailing up the Rhine to the city of Worms. The
deacon and the knight completely missed their
prey, and glad enough are we. At Worms, where
the cause of Luther was triumphant, the people
having asserted their right to read and study the
Bible, Tyndale again put his work into the press.
Without meeting any further hinderance, it at
last came forth, the first New Testament printed
in the English laneuage.

How was it to be carried to England? Some
Christian merchants volunteered their services.
Bales of this precious volume were brought to
London, Oxford, and Norwich, whence they went
forth into a hundred paths, distilling their price-
less blessings upon the hearts and around the
hearths of many an English home. As if by
magic, the Gospels were found all over the land.
Where did they come from? What did it mean?
The bishops were enraged and astonished. The
bishop of London instantly issued a proclamation
against the Tyndale New Testament, forbidding
its being read; and diligent search was made
for them. A subscription was set on foot for the
express purpose of buying them up to be burned.
As fast, however, as they were destroyed, othersTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 21

came to supply their places. English vessels
shipping wheat from the Continent to supply a
scarcity at London, shipped also large stores of
the bread of life; there was no stopping it. At
last an agent was dispatched to Antwerp to buy
up every English Bible that could be found; and
on the 4th of May, 1530, in a public square in
London, a large fire was kindled in the presence
of a great crowd of spectators, when Testament
after Testament was thrown into the flames by
order of the cardinal, and the people were sol-
emuly warned against reading the word of God
Think of that.

In spite, however, of proclamations and flames
and buying up of editions, the blessed book had
free course and was glorified: sometimes it came
in the wares of Jewish merchants; in the ped-
dlers’ packs: in packages done up in wax, some-
times in one way and sometimes in another; for
as it is sometimes said, ‘‘ Where there is a will,
there is a way,’ many an Englishman willed to
have a Bible, and every danger was braved to
supply the demand. Ah, yes, the Bible had
wings now, and nothing could stop its flight.
While his New Testaments were proscribed and
burned in his native country, Tyndale himself
was hard at work on the Old Testament.THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

Finding how vain were all attempts to stop its
circulation, the next plan was to secure their
author. Spies were sent over to decoy him to
England. Though willing to suffer any thing
for his heavenly Master, he would not unneces-
sarily throw himself into the lion’s jaws. While
quietly pursuing his labors beneath the hospita-
ble roof of an English friend named Poyntz, at
the city of Antwerp, a wolf in sheep’s clothing
came to the house. He pretended great interest
in the doctrines of the Bible Christians, and was
accordingly welcomed to their society." But
Phillips, for that was his name, came to watch
Tyndale, and if possible, to seize him. One day
when Poyntz went some miles distant on busi-
ness, a snare was laid for the noble reformer.
He was arrested, carried off to a castle eight
miles from Antwerp, and there put into close
confinement. Once in the power of his enemies,
nothing could save him from their hatred. In
September, 1536, he was led forth to die. While
his body was burning, his last words were, “ Lord,
open the eyes of the king of England.” Thus
perished this noble man, and one of England’s
best reformers; as some one has said of him. “in
putting the New Testament into the hands of
Englishmen, he gave them the charter of salva-THE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 28

tion, the book of eternal life, while his own his-

tory affords a beautiful example of its purifying

and saving power, under the blessing of the Holy

Spit.”

THE WHOLE BIBLE-PRINTED AND:CIR-
GU BARE):

King Henry VIL. of England, who m 1009
began his reign a great friend to the pope, after
a while quarrelled with him, and took the relig-
ious affairs of his kingdom into his own hands.

X—-The Bible-readers were very glad of this, because

they hoped to be allowed to read the word of
God unmolested. The king’s favorite adviser,
Cromwell, the earl of Essex, was a friend to the
Bible, and he determined to have a full edition
of that precious volume printed in the English
language. For this purpose, he sent a good and
learned man named Coverdale to the city of Paris,
where the best printing was then done, to super-
intend the execution of the work. Although
countenanced and protected by the English am-
bassador, the pope would not allow the printers
to go on. Inquisitors were sent to seize the
work; but not before Coverdale had secreted a
large quantity of the half-printed sheets, and
conveyed them privately beyond their reach; the
rest fell into their hands: some were burned, and24 THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

as much as “four great dry fats full” were sold
to a haberdasher, to “lap his caps in.” Cover-
dale fled to London, where the book was again
put into the press, and was without further hin-
derance, “Fynisshed Apryle, anno 1539,” and
soon had an extensive sale. From its size, it
was called The Great Bible. The clergy were
immediately required to provide “one boke of
the whole Bible of the largest volume in English,
to be set up in the churches before Christmas.”

“It was wonderful to see,” says one, ‘ with
what joy this book was received, not only among
the learneder sort, and those that were noted as
lovers of the Reformation, but generally all Eneg-
land over, by the common people—with what
greediness God's word was read, and what resort
to places where the reading of it was. Every
body that could, bought the book, or busily read
it, or got others to read it to them if they could
not themselves; and divers more elderly people
learned to read on purpose; and even little boys
flocked among the rest, to hear portions of the
holy Scriptures read.” Oh, what a beautiful pic-
ture of England is this!

 

Although this was in Henry’s reign, there is
no evidence that he had any great liking for the
Bible himself; but at his death, his son EdwardTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 25

succeeded to the throne, who was one of the best
princes that ever lived. On his coronation-day,
when he beheld the three swords used on such
occasions, he asked where the fourth was. His
lords looked up with surprise, and asked what he
meant. ‘The Bible,’ he answered ; “that book
is the sword of the Spirit, and is to be preferred
before these swords; without that, we are noth-
ing, we can do nothing, we have no power.
From that, we are what we are this day; from
that alone we obtain all power and virtue, grace
and salvation.” What wise and noble sentiments
from the lips of this youthful monarch. He loved
the Bible himself; he knew from sweet experi-
ence, that its truths were precious to the soul.
During his reign which lasted six years, his peo-
ple were nourished by the word of God; every
one could read and study it, with no one to molest
or make him afraid. Fifty editions of the Bible
issued from the press. These were good times
for England. Bible truth took deep root on the
English soil—too deep for his sister Mary, who
at leneth succeeded him, to dig up or burn out.

> who next sat on the

It was “bloody Mary’
English throne. What a cruel popish bigot was
she. Howshe hated the Bible. One of her first

laws was to stop the people from reading it, for26 THE BIB WITH WINGS.

she meant to bring the whole nation back to
popery. Oh, how could they give up the book °
they had learned to prize so highly? How could
they return to the poor, foolish rites of priestcraft ?
They had been feeding upon the bread of life;
could they be satisfied with the husks and stub-
ble served out to them by monks and cardinals?

 

Then came dark days to England—dark, very
dark. Again people were called upon to choose
between Bible religion and popery; and at what
a fearful risk men chose the former. It was the
Bible and death; yet there were not only men,
but delicate women and dear children, who count-
ed not their lives dear to them for the steadfast
love which they bore to the word of God. Good
John Rogers, whose picture of his burning at the
stake you have often seen, was the first of that
noble band of English martyrs who at this time
sealed their attachment to the Saviour by their
blood. In spite of laws and spies, many a little
congregation used to steal away into the thick
forests, in lonely fields, in cellars and barns, to
read the book of life; but constables were every-
where on the watch, and many a one was sud-
denly broke up by armed men, who bound and
committed to prison the poor unfortunate ones;
whence, if they persisted in refusing to return toTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. D7

popery, they were led to the burning pile. Thus
full three hundred of England’s best subjects—
best, because they loved and obeyed the word of
God, were victims to the bigotry of the bloody
Mary. But these martyrs were witnesses for
Christ ; they were living letters of the excellency,
the patience, the joy, the hope, the consolation
which a serious study of the Bible can give to
the soul of man.

After an unhonored reign, Mary at length died,
unloved and unlamented; and her sister Eliza-
beth ascended the throne. There was a custom,
on the coronation of a prince, to release prison-
ers; when this had been done, and men long
bound came forth to light and freedom, one of
Elizabeth’s lords said, ‘There are yet four or
five others to be freed.?’? ‘“‘Ah, who are they?”
she asked. “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and
Paul,” was the answer; ‘‘they have been long
shut up, so that they could not talk to the com-
mon people, who are eager to see them abroad
again.” Elizabeth was a Protestant, and she
was ready enough to let the good evangelists go
free. Soon their fetters were taken off, the bad
laws of Mary were repealed, and they walked
cut again among the people, who, as you may
well suppose, received them gladly. A law was28 Pe Bel Baler AW Ta ie Wr INGE S<

made that every parish church should be pro-
vided with a Bible, and that every parson should
have a Testament for his own private use. How
curious does such a law seem to us, when no
minister would think of spending a day without
the society of his Testament. Bible truth plant-
ed by Wickliffe, by Tyndale, by Coverdale, and
watered by the blood of martyrs, now grew up
and flourished on every side strong and beautiful,
full of green leaves and good fruits. From Tyn-
dale’s translation of the New Testament to the
close of Elizabeth’s reign, there were two hun-
dred and sixteen editions of the Bible issued from
the English press, a great many more than were
published anywhere else in all Europe. Thus,
you see that the Bible stock in our mother-land
was healthy and vigorous.

WHO TRANSLATED OUR BIBLE?

After Elizabeth’s long, and in many respects
useful reign, James I. became sovereign of Eng-
land. Soon after the festivities attendant upon
his coronation were over, a great ecclesiastical
council, or ministers’ meeting, was held in the
winter of 1604, at Hampton court, one of the
king’s palaces, situated in a beautiful park, six-
teen miles from London. The object of thisTHE BIBLE WITH WINGS. 29

meeting was to settle some church difficulties
which had sprung up in the last reign; but it is
chiefly interesting to us on account of an impor-
tant measure issuing from it—a new and able
translation of the Bible; and it is the translation
then made that is used by us at the present time,
and called the authorized version. Fifty-four of
the most learned and distinguished divines were
selected for this most important business. These
were divided into six companies, to whom were
assigned different portions of the sacred volume.
The first met at Westminster, with the books of
Moses, with all the Jewish history to the second
book of Kings, for their work. Dr. Andrewes,
whose learning was held in high estimation all
over Europe, presided over this division. The
second, under the charge of Dr. Lively, met at
Cambridge, and they translated from Chronicles
to Canticles. The third assembled at Oxford,
under Dr. Harding; their portion was from Isaiah
to Malachi. The fourth also met at Oxford,
laboring upon the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation.
The fifth at Westminster, translated the Epistles.
The sixth at Cambridge, undertook the Apocry-
pha.

Each one of a division took the same chapter,
and having translated it in his own study, they30 Ee BB OE W Twi NiGss

all met together and compared their work: if
there was disagreement, they altered and im-
proved it, until the best translation was agreed
upon; it was then sent to the other companies
for examination. After the whole was com-
pleted, it was carried to London, where two del-
egates from each university met, and examined
it anew; and these last learned doctors gave
nine months’ hard labor to the revision. A great
deal of care and time, and learning and study,
you see, were bestowed upon this important
work; and it is their severe labor which has
made this translation so valuable and enduring.

In 1611, it issued from the press, after seven
years’ work upon it, a noble folio Bible, which
has been a fountain of life to thousands and
thousands who read the English language. Do
you value this precious volume as you ought?
Do you make it the man of your counsel and the
guide of your life? O bind its truths continually
upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck.
“‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way? By taking heed thereto according to thy
word. Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are
they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him
with the whole heart.”THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

WILBERFORCE RICHMOND.

Amone the dying counsels of this beloved son
of the Rev. Legh Richmond, his sister says, “ He
recommended to me most earnestly the constant
study of the Bible. ‘Here,’ said he, ‘I speak in
a peculiar manner from recent experience. For
the last three months the Bible has been my
sole instructor. It has gradually led me on to
clear hght and real experience, till every prom-
ise is my own. I have read the greater part of
it through several times during my illness; and
often on the Sabbath, when I have spent the
day alone, I have read the whole of the New
Testament, unable to leave off till I had grasped
all the mind of the Spirit at once. Perhaps papa
has thought I read too few religious books. He
has looked anxious at my neglect of many he put
in my way. I do not give myself in this respect
for an example, but I have found little benefit
from books, sermons, or conversations. The Bi-
ble, the Bible alone has taught me every thing.
If I read books on religion, however excellent,
the thought always haunted me—this is human ;oe THE BIBLE WITH WINGS.

it may be wrong. I could not rest till I went to
the Bible. Here I felt all was divine and infal-
lible; aud I found. such comfort in the simple
truth of God’s word, that I set aside every other
book dissatisfied. I may be éarnest, then, in
pressing you to go to the Bible.’

‘He then said, ‘But you must pray over the
Bible. Without the teaching of the Spirit it
will do you no good; you must apply it, as you
go on, to yourself, and feel it personally, or you
will get no benefit, though you stand the whole
day over it. J have been in the habit of read-
ing the Bible on my knees, and I recommend
you to do the same. It encourages prayer. I
have found it very useful to turn Scripture into
prayer, using the very words. There is not a
psalm I have not turned into a prayer. I have
felt so safe in making prayers from the Bible,
because then I knew I could not err; and let
prayer always be preceded by self-examination ;
lay your heart before God; indulge not even

a doubtful feeling; one secret sin will cloud
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