The Man with the Book Part 15

Well, much. Employers are granting their Sunday slaves concessions, slight indeed, but hopeful as to the future. Many persons who used these vehicles on the Lord's day have discontinued the practice. Some drivers and conductors have left on Sabbath principles; and, best of all, many of the men have already received spiritual good.

This was certainly the case with old Ben, who had driven to the Bank many thousand times, and who for thirty-two years had never attended Divine wors.h.i.+p. He, indeed, held religion and religious people in derision. The Missionary secured his attention, and one day soon after the meeting, old Ben observed to him, "I read the tracts now, sir, and a bit of the Bible, and mean soon to get another Sunday off." He succeeded, and in the morning, the first time for so many years, attended Divine wors.h.i.+p. In the evening his wife went, and he remained at home reading the Scriptures. He retired to rest unusually happy, but to sleep the long sleep, as in the silence of the night watches his immortal spirit was summoned to the presence of G.o.d.

It is indeed well that at length these men should have spiritual care, and that the "feet of those who carry glad tidings" should make their way to those who are in like condemnation. Now it so occurred that about the same time that Christian attention was directed to the neglect and wants of the men who labour upon our _noisy highways_, the roads,--that a like attention was called to those who pa.s.s life quietly on our _silent highways_, the ca.n.a.ls. These water ways of the metropolis extend for several hundred miles through and about the City and its suburbs, and connect and bring into communication other great cities of the country. They are traversed continually by barges, which besides much merchandise contain a large floating population. Whole families inhabit the small cabins, and they have been described in the British Parliament as the most ignorant and debased of the people. It was therefore decided by the rulers of the mission to select a suitable man from the ranks, and bid him to make known the Gospel in the cabins, and on the towing paths.

The surprise at the lock of the Grand Junction Ca.n.a.l was great indeed when a stranger boarded each of their vessels, and addressed them as though they were old acquaintance. It was evident at first that they did not take kindly to the new friend. There were suspicious looks, and such hints as, "There bees them as says we are awful bad, and as puts us down in them papers as is in the publics." The zeal of the good man was also a matter of jest with them; as when they saw the agility with which he sprang from the tow-path to the barge, and from boat to boat, one man said to the other, "he's a jumping Jack, he is." The readings from the Bible, appeals to conscience, and the gift of Testaments and ill.u.s.trated publications, soon won a way to their hearts, and in the course of five months their "Tract Man" became a popular personage, and this is how the fact was discovered. Mr. Atkinson, late Mayor of Hull, who superintends the work, gave a tea to as many boatmen and their wives as happened upon a certain evening to be at the Brentford Junction, and two hundred and fifty, direct from their boats, a.s.sembled, and a rough company they appeared.

Tea over, and justice was done to it, the meeting commenced by their host taking the chair, and he, after hearty words of Christian kindness, requested the man who was known to carry a Book with him to address them. This he did by telling them "that a few days before he had read something upon an old tea-pot in the Brighton Museum, which he would repeat to them,--

'The loss of gold is much, The loss of health is more, The loss of Christ is such a loss That no man can restore!'

"And then he explained to them the value of money, and the misfortune of losing it by accident, and the sin of losing it by drunkenness and vice.

The value of health, and the folly of losing it by intemperance, smoking, and neglectful habits. The value, the preciousness of Christ as the Saviour of sinners, and the folly, the crime, of refusing the mercy of G.o.d by Him. The Book was then produced, and the words read solemnly, 'Behold the Lamb of G.o.d that taketh away the sin of the world.'"

Their Missionary was then called upon, and the boat people received him with a demonstration of delight. His speech was simple in words, but full of Christian affection for their souls, and of sympathy in the trials of their calling. It was evident that they received him as their own "parson man," as they drank in every word he uttered, and with a great noise expressed their delight with his speech. One of them indeed rose, and with a stammering tongue said, "that he was a waterway man, and like them all, he and his wife wanted to see him often in their cabin, to read to them from the good Bible, and to try and make them good, as he knew he was doing to some of them."

At the close it was cheering to hear them trying with all their will to sing, "Tell me the Old, Old Story," and to notice their reverence during the closing prayer.

After the tea several letters were sent to the Office. They were alike in style, and we select one to show the progress which has been made with these rough people.

"Dear sir i right those few lines to you to thenk you for you kingens for sending such a man to the Poor Boat Peple i think he Just the man for it to Point them to the lame of G.o.d Wich taks the sins away he Not shamed to take yup his crose and tell Poor Peple a Bout Jueses i cant right much But i hope you escuse my Bad righting Whe have knowed in tim a good Wile at Padgtion and glad to see his face Down kingsland Pasen the lord Bless his labore and give him soles fore his hiere so

No More frome

c.---- D----.

Boat man."

We will only add that a gathering from among the boat people, as from the omnibus men, is being made to the Lord Jesus, and as they approach Him, the Saviour, their spiritual fetters are broken, and the outward fetters of their calling fall away. Duty, compa.s.sion, patriotism, require that these thousands of the oppressed should have opportunity to wors.h.i.+p Jehovah in His temple, and to become acquainted with His laws, and the wonders of His grace. Remember, oh ye people who have been chosen and called to form the Church of the Redeemed on earth; remember that it is your dignity, as well as duty, to help all who are oppressed; everywhere to proclaim the freedom of the kingdom "set up in the earth;"

that to you the enraptured words of the prophet are addressed with royal command and sustaining promises: "Thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places ... for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them."[2]

[2] Isaiah xlix. 9, 10.

The Book for All:

ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD.

Ye have not sowed in vain!

Though the heavens seem as bra.s.s, And, piercing the crust of the burning plain, Ye scan not a blade of gra.s.s.

Yet there is life within, And waters of life on high: One morn ye shall wake, and the spring's soft green O'er the moistened fields shall lie.

Tears in the dull, cold eye, Light on the darkened brow, The smile of peace or the prayerful sigh, Where the mocking smile sits now.

Went ye not forth with prayer?

Then ye went not forth in vain: "The Sower, the Son of Man," was there, And His was that precious grain.

CHAPTER XIII.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY--FAITH--THE MACHINERY MAN--MAN'S INNER WORLD--SIN REPROVED--CONVERSE UPON AN OMNIBUS--THE INFLUENCE OF TRUTH--THE BIBLE ONLY--COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHED--BROUGHT NIGH, VERY NIGH.

THE BOOK FOR ALL:

ITS UNIVERSAL GOOD.

"And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of G.o.d." ACTS xiii. 44.

"They that be wise shall s.h.i.+ne as the brightness of the firmament:" they who have the wisdom of G.o.d in a mystery, or the hidden wisdom,--the knowledge not to be found by searching the works of creation, or in the discoveries and developments of science and philosophy. This wisdom cometh from above, and is therefore communicated by the all-wise and eternal Jehovah. This, and this alone, can enlighten man spiritually, invest him with power to comprehend the central and infinite in truth, and lead him to the attainment of those graces and perfections which can alone fit him for the reception of reflected glory, and raise him to a place before the throne of ineffable light and purity.

This wisdom (like its counterpart in the natural world, the sun) casts rays of light, beauty, and restoration very widely. When He, the essence of uncreated light, stood with "the glory He had with the Father"

veiled, as the Teacher of men, He uttered a truth so mighty that wherever it is repeated the darkness fleeth away; wherever it is sounded forth with power, be it in the palaces of kings, in the hovels of the poor, or in the deepest recesses of moral corruption, the blackness of the shadow of death which surrounds the immortal soul is dispersed as by the voice of Omnipotence. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

The Church militant, the royal priesthood, the ransomed people, is an a.s.semblage of individuals called out of darkness into His marvellous light. This community of the blessed occupies the place of the absent Lord, and has to show forth His glory. As children of the day, they renounce the hidden things of darkness; and as vessels of mercy illuminated by Divine grace, they show forth "the light of the Lord."

They of necessity do this by letting men see their good works, by reproving sin, by giving instruction in righteousness, by holy zeal in efforts to increase the kingdom of truth and purity. Possessed themselves of the Word of G.o.d, through which and by the Holy Spirit they are being sanctified, they use that same word for purposes of the grace of G.o.d which bringeth salvation. The Bible in the hand of the Christian is as the wisdom of G.o.d in the hand of Ezra, leading them "to judge;" to give wisdom and prudence "to all such as know the laws of their G.o.d, and to teach them that know them not." Hence it is the duty and high privilege of each Christian, be he minister or layman, ordained or unordained, to communicate precious truths, to teach from the Holy Scriptures which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

We have a conviction that the individual members of the Church have not yet risen to the dignity of every man saying to his neighbour, "Know the Lord." This witnessing for G.o.d is not a professional matter, but a religious duty. Ma.s.ses of people in our great cities perish for lack of knowledge, while many partakers of precious faith are content to live without an effort to add one immortal spirit more to the ransomed from the earth. They, alas! are many who are under the "woe" p.r.o.nounced against those "who live at ease in Zion." There are no laity in the theocracy of grace. All are priests. And they who have heard the call of Divine compa.s.sion, and feel themselves sheltered in the covenant of love, are commanded to say "Come," or for ever bear the reproach of being unfaithful servants. This standing back from the great conflict, this looking on instead of joining in the holy strife, is a reproach to the royal people, an injury to our neighbour, and a withholding of blessing from this sin-stricken world. There is work for all in the great vineyard, and opportunities for usefulness are ever occurring. It is not those only who dwell in squalor that require the Gospel: the respectable mechanics, the trading and professional cla.s.ses; yes, and the educated, and the n.o.ble, and the princes of the earth: all who have not pa.s.sed into the kingdom of grace need the same truth, the same restoring and elevating force. While, therefore, it is right to send the Gospel of the grace of G.o.d to the lower orders, this does not _exonerate_ from the duty of influencing the other cla.s.ses to the acceptance of truth and the practice of holiness. The necessities of the world require that every Christian should carry a pocket Bible, and study how to use it well. Then would the kingdom of G.o.d come with power.

There can be no doubt that the practical infidelity and viciousness of the cla.s.ses immediately and very much above them has a most injurious effect upon the lower orders of society. The wealth of the rich is often used to the demoralization of the poor, while skilled workmen are the chief propagators of scepticism among them. Those, therefore, who give themselves to the labour and care of uplifting the very low, have a deep interest in the religious elevation of the more refined and educated, as the cla.s.ses act with marvellous effect upon each other. These considerations must be our excuse for devoting this last chapter to narratives of like Christian work among the more advanced in the social scale. As infidelity is so terrible a foe, we commence with two instances of recovery from its destructive influence.

One evening the visitor had occasion to call at a public inst.i.tution, and stopped in the lobby to examine a microscope and set of lenses. The optician showed him a telescope by which he said stars at a great distance could be seen and particulars accurately defined. In answer to the inquiry, "If those distinguished by the appellation 'telescopic stars,' and ranging from the seventh magnitude upwards could be seen by it," he gave a very clever answer, which led to a long and pleasant conversation. At parting, the visitor observed "that there was an instrument now much in use by the 'wise,' of higher range, and called by the name of 'faith,'--a gift of G.o.d, a power by which Christians could look through the clouds, beyond the nebulae, even to the place where Jesus is seated at the right hand of G.o.d."

The optician shook his head, and said that "he believed in all that was true in creation, in all that could be demonstrated; but that his credulity stopped at the uncertain."

The subject was renewed upon another visit, and continued at intervals for some months; so that he became well instructed in the principles of that faith which is said to "abide" and to "dwell" in the true Christian, and which the unbelief of men cannot "make void." After a time the optician left the inst.i.tution, and was lost sight of for nearly three years. He then addressed a letter to his friend of the telescope, from Middles.e.x Hospital, telling him that he had suffered sad reverses, and that he was a patient there with a painful eruption; and added, "Through the mercy of G.o.d I have obtained precious faith, and I hope to be ever mindful that I can only conquer the enemy by giving myself up, and entirely depending upon the blood of the Lamb. I feel, my dear friend, what tongue or pen cannot describe: I feel that I am preserved by our blessed Saviour from that doom I so deserved; and I now place all my dependence upon this new Friend, and I trust that I may continue in the faith, and rest in the Lord and wait."

When the visitor called he found him afflicted with a kind of leprosy, being covered with sores from head to foot. He however looked happy, and in the course of conversation, observed, "That remark, sir, about the telescope when you first spoke to me, was the leading step in my conversion: I never lost its impression. When I packed or unpacked the instruments I used to think about it, and at last got to desire your statement to be true,--that 'the Lord Jesus, by a power of the soul, could be seen pleading for and saving sinners;' but now, blessed be G.o.d, I feel that I have the heavenly gift, and pray for its increase." He recovered from his disease, and has for years proved his faith by holy living.

The other instance occurred in the International Exhibition. A visitor who frequently embraced opportunities to direct attention to some truth contained in the good old Book, was one morning worming his way through the machinery annex, when his progress was stopped by a barrier. As it was the midday hour for refreshment, the whirl and clatter was stayed, the machinery being at rest. A man, a fine specimen of the English mechanic, sat by the motive engine reading Goldsmith's History of England. The visitor noticed this, and, handing him a Gospel of St.

John, said, "Here is part of the great biography,--some leading pa.s.sages in the life of the King now crowned with many crowns; but whose life here was a miracle, from the manger to Golgotha."

"I have read it, sir," the man replied, taking the book; "but I cannot believe all the Bible says about Jesus Christ, and other matters."

"If you have time, I should like to know how it is that you reject the testimony which _G.o.d_ has given of His Son?" said the giver of the Book, and the following conversation took place:--

"Well, sir, this is how it is: I was religious in my youth, but when an apprentice, my shopmates induced me to attend theological lectures followed by debates. These discussions shook my faith in the Christian system, and the reading of books has strengthened my convictions."

"This is a serious matter: do please tell me your chief difficulty."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with the various machines."]

"Well, sir, this is one: the Bible says that every man in order to be a Christian must have a change wrought in him called conversion, which to my mind is simply a change of opinion, with results which could be effected by other means. Socrates was made good by philosophy; and men of all opinions, even Mohammedan and Hindoo, have been made moral by the good in their systems. What we are to aim at is a perfect moral code free from superst.i.tion and spiritual tyranny."

"You must, my good friend, judge of a system by its general influence, as well as by its effect upon the individual; and I suppose that you would not like society to go back from the Christian to the heathen state, because there may have been moral heathens; or to live under the government of Turk or Hindoo, because some individuals among them have practised virtue. Now it occurs to me that you may not be quite clear in your views of the Christian system which you reject. It consists not of moral principles, which are its results,--but of a new life,--the communication of Divine influences. Let me ill.u.s.trate this by your occupation. It is your duty to connect the band of this engine with the various machines; and thus by an act of yours a ma.s.s of inert mechanism instantaneously becomes subject to complicated motion, and invested with great power. It is so with the inner world of man's spiritual being, which has its facts as well as the outer and material. The soul of man has wonderful powers and capabilities, even when inert, in a state of spiritual deadness, resembling the machinery around us, until the steam force is communicated to it. Man in a state of nature is dead and incapable of loving _G.o.d_, or otherwise exercising the powers of his higher being; but the ever blessed Creator, by an act of clemency, pardons sinners who believe in Jesus, and gives His Holy Spirit to them.