The Little Gleaner Part 40

Brewer's Church, died in the Lord some years since, and was interred in the adjoining burying-ground.

AN EVENING AT THE WEST END.

On Monday evening, April 23rd, 1888, we were present at the twenty-second Annual Meeting of Gower Street Chapel Sunday School, and, although the weather was most unfavourable, the attendance was good, which must have been very encouraging to Mr. Cooper, the Superintendent, and the teachers. The meeting was presided over by the senior deacon, Mr. Link.

The proceedings were opened by singing, and the Chairman read the fourth chapter of Malachi, after which Mr. Gray engaged in prayer.

Mr. Link, in the course of a few weighty remarks, said that they were gathered to thank the Lord for His goodness. He felt that the children were surrounded with many temptations to ensnare them. He spoke of the shortness of time, and the solemnity of the day of judgment, and said that he often meditated upon these things, and thought about the Lord's servants and people, whom he had loved because they were the Lord's, and whom he hoped to meet again when he had done with time things.

The report for the past year was then read by Mr. Hale, the Secretary, from which it appears that there are 222 scholars on the books, which is a slight decrease during the year. The library numbers about 1,030 books. The report of the Sick and Benevolent Society was also read.

Mr. Boorne, of Greenwich, in addressing the teachers, referred to the works, Word, and wors.h.i.+p of G.o.d. He said that the gra.s.s, moss, plants, trees, flowers, and fruits showed the sovereignty of G.o.d. Then there were the various animals for the use and food of mankind, and the internal treasures--metals, oxides, salts, &c. G.o.d's wise provision of the sea for cleansing and purifying the earth--all declared the sovereignty, wisdom, power, and goodness of G.o.d.

"Great G.o.d, with wonder and with praise, On all Thy works I look; But still Thy wisdom, power, and grace s.h.i.+ne brightest in Thy Book."

He then spoke of the Book of _revelation_, the Bible, and the need that the scholars should be taught the value of it, and what it has cost to procure it to us--what a privilege it is to be able to read it, and of the mercy of understanding it.

He mentioned an instance of a Bible, consisting of nine volumes, being sold for 33 6s. 8d., in the thirteenth century, which would represent about fifteen times that sum now. To-day a Bible might be bought for a few pence.

He referred to the rigid laws of the time of Henry V., to prevent any from reading the Bible in the mother tongue; yet still the Book lives.

He referred to the vulgar idea of the "three R's" in education, and said that there were three R's which he wished them to oppose in their teaching, namely, _Romanism_, _Rationalism_, and _Ritualism_. How many wors.h.i.+pped something short of G.o.d in the setting up of candles, crucifixes, music, and other things. We must "wors.h.i.+p in spirit and in truth."

He concluded by exhorting them not to grow weary in well-doing, for their labour would not be in vain in the Lord.

Mr. Hazlerigg, of Leicester, said he had the difficult task of speaking to the children, and he wished to put before them four prizes. But they were not tangible--nothing to eat, nor yet anything to see--yet all, he thought, might have them, and he recommended them all to aim at getting them.

The first thing he wished them to prize was, their Sunday School. He said it should be the endeavour of all to keep up the honour of the school, and, when any were tempted to do wrong, their first thought should be, "What would they say at the Sunday School?" When he was formerly in the army, they had what was termed "_esprit de corps_,"

_i.e._, a pride in keeping up the character of the regiment. He hoped none of his audience would ever buy sweets on Sunday, or it might be said, that "It is one of the Gower Street Sunday School children."

The second prize was, their Bibles. If they prized and were led by their Bibles, they would be good children. It would make them submit to all lawful authority. How different it would be if the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," was better learnt and practised than it is!

In the third place, he wished them to prize their chapel. He spoke of the blessing attending the hearing of the Word of G.o.d. He said that some children go to school, and then slip off without going to chapel. He hoped none of those before him ever did that.

Fourthly, he hoped they would prize their Superintendent and their teachers. What a labour of love and self-denial was theirs! They liked the work, and their desire was, the glory of G.o.d in the children's good--in the salvation of their souls, and their prosperity--and they sought for this reward--the good of their scholars.

The "touchable" prizes for the past year were then distributed by Mr.

Hazlerigg, and after Mr. Link had concluded with prayer, the children each received a bun and orange, the gift of Mr. Prior, one of their teachers.

For the sake of brevity, a vote of thanks was proposed to the latter, a.s.sociated with the names of the visiting ministers and the President, which was heartily responded to. Mr. Hazlerigg replied for all in a few witty words, which brought the evening to a genial and timely close.

RAGGED TOM.

Tom was a poor, ragged boy. His home was an old house in a narrow court.

A stool, a deal table, an old bed in one corner, and a bag of shavings in another, were all the goods contained in the room where Tom, with his father and mother, lived.

Tom's hands and face were generally very dirty; his hair matted; his clothes were in rags, and his feet were without shoes. He often had nothing to eat, and no fire to warm him, however cold the day. Many were the blows and kicks the poor boy received from the rude men and lads who lived in the court.

It was well for him that a Ragged School was established in the neighbourhood, and he was invited to go. He then learned that he had three enemies of which he had not hitherto thought much. These were dirt, ignorance, and sin.

He speedily vanquished the first at a pump. The second he overcame by patient effort at the school. Then Tom became a respectable, happy, and useful young man. Best of all, he sought mercy and help from G.o.d, and lived to prove that he had G.o.d's smile and blessing.

OUR BIBLE CLa.s.s.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD GATHERING HIS SHEEP.

(JOHN x. 16.)

In the city of Jerusalem, at the Feast of Tabernacles, a few months before His death, Jesus set forth this beautiful parable of the Good Shepherd. He had given sight to a man who from his birth had been blind.

The Pharisees, as usual, had shown their hatred of Him, and He then described Himself as the true Leader, beloved and honoured of all believing, obedient souls, declaring that His enemies did not believe Him, because they were not His sheep.

"My sheep hear My voice; I know them, they follow Me, and I lay down My life for them." "And other sheep I have that are not of _this_ [Israelite or Jewish] fold; them also I must bring; and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd" (John x. 16).

The Jews who listened to those gracious words were much divided in their opinions about them, some declaring that Jesus was mad; others, appealing to the great miracle He had wrought in opening the eyes of the blind; and three months later, at another feast (see ver. 22), their controversy was renewed, and Jesus concluded His striking allegory by saying, "I and My Father are One, and no power shall ever be able to s.n.a.t.c.h My people from My hand or from His" (ver. 29, 30).

Returning to our text, we find Jesus declaring that all His people are His before they know or love Him.

Up to that time the Jewish Church had been the only earthly fold of believers in the living G.o.d, and all the Gentiles who were taught by the Holy Spirit were led to unite with the house of Israel or the people of Judah.

G.o.d was Israel's Shepherd (Psa. lx.x.x. 1). He led His people "like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psa. lxxvii. 20). They were regarded as "the sheep of His pasture" (Psa. c.), and the world around them were strangers and foreigners, "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise."

But among these outcasts Jesus had many sheep. He gathered some in olden times. He came to lay down His life for a great mult.i.tude, to be drawn to Himself from every kindred, and tribe, and nation, and tongue. He spoke of them as being already His own--"Other sheep I have, and them also I must bring," or lead. "The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way"; and He who paid the ransom price of His wandering flock, goes after every one for whom He shed His blood.

"He finds them wandering far from G.o.d, And brings them to His chosen fold."

"As many as are led by His Spirit"--the Spirit of G.o.d--"they are the children of G.o.d," the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He brings them to feel that they are lost--that they are far off by wicked works--that they are guilty, and weak, and helpless--and thus they are drawn to the Good Shepherd, who can and will deliver them from all evil, and fill them with all good.

And having brought near, He leads in green pastures, beside still waters; and even when the way is less pleasant, He always "leads in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment" (Prov.

viii. 20).

"They shall hear My voice," He said, and it is by His voice--His Word spoken to the heart--that He ever leads His people. Three thousand heard it on the day of Pentecost, and were p.r.i.c.ked in their heart. Wounded, and imploring forgiving, healing grace, they heard again with gladness, and followed their Lord in baptism (Acts ii. 37-41).

Lydia's heart was opened to receive the glad tidings, and she followed the Good Shepherd; and Jesus leads His disciples all the way home. "In all thy ways," the wise man says, "acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Prov. iii. 6). "These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth" (Rev. xiv.).

Happy are they who know the sound of that heavenly voice! Have _we_ heard it? It may not be _recognized_ at first, as Samuel heard, but did not know _who_ called him, until his name had been again and again repeated, and Eli had "perceived that the Lord had called the child."