Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

86

[ocr errors]

THE WORD OF POWER.

HOME LESSONS FOR THE LORD'S DAY.

THE WORD OF POWER.

THE work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.'

Our young friends had learned this answer from the Catechism, and as they were now spending their holidays by the sea-coast, their parents thought they could explain it to them best, by helping them to observe the wonderful works of creation spread around them. The Bible and the book of Nature were the only volumes the children were expected to study during the vacation. All other lesson books had been laid aside, and both parents and children heartily enjoyed their sea-side rambles.

The parents were very desirous that the minds as well as the bodies of the children should be braced and strengthened by their residence at the coast; and so they took great pains to point out to them many proofs of the wisdom and care of God, in the structure of shells, plants, and fishes &c.

The children got interested in the subject, and soon learned to discover new wonders for themselves.

On Sabbaths, it was a great pleasure to them to walk to and from the house of God by the edge of the sea, and to watch the waves as they broke on the shore. Then papa or mamma would talk to them of that word of power which in the beginning brake up for the sea its decreed place, and shut it up with bars and doors, and said, hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.' Again they would speak of how every ebbing and flowing tide executed that perpetual decree, by which God had placed the sand for the bound of the sea, that it cannot pass it; and when the storm was raging around, they would point to Him who said to the waves, Peace, be still; and there was a great calm.

When the children were seated round the table for their Bible lesson, little Harry

climbed mamma's knee, saying, 'Please, tell me a story.'

6

And what will my story be about, Harry dear?'

'About the sea, mamma, and the big waves.' 'I think we shall read about God making the sea and the dry land. It is the first story that ever was written, for it tells us of what God did long ago before the world was, and before time began. Can you tell me where to find that story, Maggie?'

'It is in the first chapter of Genesis, at the very beginning of the Bible, and Moses wrote it, mamma.

And why is the first book of the Bible called Genesis?'

'Because Genesis means "the beginning," Katie replied.

The chapter we are going to read is the only true history of the beginning of the world; all other accounts are only foolish fables, for none but God could tell us how the world was made. Now we will read the chapter, and Harry will listen to the wonderful story.'

When they had finished reading, mamma said to little Harry, 'When a man is going to build a house, he collects stones, and lime, and wood, &c., of which to build it; can you tell me of what God made the world?'

'Of nothing, mamma; God made the world, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, all of nothing.'

'Yes, how very wonderful. God alone can make anything of nothing. What word in our lesson tells us that God made all things of nothing, Katie?'

The first verse says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Created, is the word, mamma.'

'God's making all things of nothing, is called the work of creation. This is the first truth the Bible makes known to us. It is the first Bible wonder, and the next is how he made all things. Can you tell me this, Harry?'

'God said, Light be, and it was, and He said, Let the dry land appear, and the waters flowed into the seas, and the dry land appeared.'

THE WORD OF POWER.

""By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; for He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." And still God upholds all things by the word of His power. This is the second of creation's wonders. Do you know what the word "day," means, in this chapter?'

'A day means twenty-four hours, from one morning till the next morning,' said Katie.

'A day commonly does mean twentyfour hours, but in Scripture it often means a period of time which may be of any length. The six days of creation cannot mean days of twenty-four hours, because the sun was not appointed to rule over the day, and to divide the light from the darkness, till the fourth day. Time, as we reckon it, did not begin till Adam was created. The six periods of creation are called days, to bring before our minds at one view, the whole of this great work, and to fix in our hearts the truth, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Now, Willie, you might name some of the wonders done by that word of power, in these six days?'

'Light was created on the first day; air on the second; the dry land appeared, and plants were created on the third day; the sun and moon became lights to the earth on the fourth day; then living creatures were made, and last of all, God created man.'

How many wonders you have named, Willie. We might study any one of them all our lives long, and be ever finding new wonders regarding it. Do you know what lesson God taught Job from the works of creation? Read Job 42. 3-6.'

I have uttered that I understand not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.'

[ocr errors]

Humility is the great lesson we should learn from the wonderful display of God's power and wisdom in the works of creation. The great Sir Isaac Newton said, a short time before his death, "I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy

87

playing on the sea-shore, and diverting himself in now and then finding a smoother pebble, or a prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." The more we know of God, the more will we feel our own ignorance. In studying the works of creation, there is one truth which we must not forget. It is stated six times in the chapter we have been reading, and is mentioned in the catechism: What is it Willie?'

'All very good. "God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good."

Every thing was created perfect, and served the end for which God had made it. Nothing could have been made better than it is. All God's works praise Him. The heavens declare His glory, and the earth is full of His goodness. Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl: all praise the name of the Lord.'

'Do you remember, Willie, how Jesus taught His disciples to look at the works of creation around them? What did He teach them from the light, and the life, and the air?'

'He taught them that light, and life, are emblems of the gospel; and that the wind or air, is an emblem of the Holy Spirit.'

[ocr errors]

Every thing in nature is designed to teach us spiritual truth, and the Bible teaches us to read the book of nature aright. I remember some lines written by John Newton on the sea-shore. I learned them long ago, and I think you might learn them now:

In every object here, I see

Something, O Lord, that points to Thee:
Firm as the rock Thy promise stands;
Thy mercies countless as the sands;
Thy love, a sea immensely wide;
Thy grace an ever flowing tide.

In every object here, I see

Something, my heart, that points at thee:
Hard as the rock that bounds the strand;
Unfruitful, like the barren sand;
Deep and deceitful as the ocean;
And, like the tide, in constant motion.

[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE SWALLOW.

summer in providing for the wants of the hungry little mouths at home.

Those who have watched the swallows say that they come every three minutes throughout the day to the nest with food for their little ones. And it is a long day with them,-up in the early morning, in the bright sunny hours when nature is fresh and glad, long before man begins his work, and on till the night closes in with lingering shadow;-a day truly of busy and incessant, yet glad and happy working.

The quantity of insects which the swallows destroy is really enormous. A table spoonful was taken from the mouth of a swallow accidentally shot. Indeed, but for swallows and other insect-feeding birds, we would be overrun with wasps, cockroaches, beetles, and other noxious insects. And here I may mention a curious circumstance, that while they feed upon bees, swallows rarely touch the working bee. They prefer the big lazy fellows we call drones; and I wonder sometimes whether it wouldn't be a good thing if there could be a swallow or two attached to every school to snap up the lazy boys and girls that won't work. There are some older folks too in the world, who find it very difficult, with all the sunshine that is in it, to extract any honey from the flowers of life, and for these also a big swallow might be a good medicine.

Like the robin the swallow is endeared to our hearts. They come so trustfully to build in our houses, either under the eaves, or in the chimney, or close by us in the church steeple, and they fly in and out with such fearless confidence that they win their way to our affections. There are few boys sq cruel as to kill a swallow. The swallow is greatly attached to its own particular nest. Year after year they come back to the same building and construct their nests in the selfsame nooks. They have been known to come back for twenty summers to the same cottage, and if by any chance the building has come down in the interval, they fly round and round the well remembered spot and make mournful cries.

This spring, in a country house, a pair

89

of swallows were found roosting in the hall. For a good many years back they had built their nest in the outer porch, and when the old nest was examined there was in it a large piece of glass. The maid confessed that when they began to build in the old place she put the glass in to prevent them; that they had then gone to a corresponding nook on the other side of the porch, and she had put in a piece of glass there too. Being thus driven altogether from the old haunt, they had come within doors to complain, as it were, of what been done. So soon as they were noticed the glass was removed, and the swallows at once, with joyful chattering, began to build in their dear old home. Swallows often build the nest in a belfry, and have been known to build in a large school-house.

I do not doubt but our little readers could tell who it is that says, 'The sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.' Would that all who read this could feel towards that loving and kind Father, who has made us and the swallow, such a trustful love as David felt when in the swallow's confidence he found an emblem of his own.

With us the swallow's nest is composed externally of tempered clay, neatly built up,-a mud cabin, such as is to be found in some parts of Ireland,-and within it is lined with hay, wool, moss, feathers, or some soft substance. They can protect themselves if attacked, and have been known, when other birds, such as sparrows, take possession of their nests, to assert their right of property vigorously, and by the help of one another, even building in the intruder as a punishment, and sometimes tearing the nest down and throwing out the little sparrows.

The edible nests we read of, as found in Java, are constructed by swallows. The Chinese prize them as great delicacies, and make soup of them. They are said to be very nutritious and wholesome. They are built on the perpendicular rocks and the sides of the lofty caverns which abound in

[blocks in formation]

Java. The men who gather them are let down by ropes at great risk of their lives; but the trade is profitable and extensive. The annual weight of nests brought to market is 5000 pounds, and the value realized, £200,000.

The swallow excels in the swiftness of its flight and grace of its movements. They live on the wing, and it is the free air that they love. Dr Chalmers once wished, as he watched their flight, that he was a bird; and David says, 'Oh that I had wings for then would I fly away, and be at rest.' To the swallow there is no rest. They are on the wing the livelong day. It is supposed that they have a king or captain, at whose call they are ready to fly. Two quick, sharp notes are heard, and all the swallows in sight disappear. At the close of the summer they collect in large numbers; the hosts are marshalled, and in great flights they set out for a warmer clime. Wearied on the wing, they sometimes light on a passing ship, or on the ocean's kindly bosom to rest, and then they rise with renewed energy to pursue their flight. They never swerve from their course, but press ever onwards. They seek a country, and they never cease their flight till they arrive in its genial warmth.

I close with a question for all. Are you seeking a better country? Then are you pressing on and never halting till you reach its blessed shore? Swift as an arrow is the flight of time; and it will be sad, when we should be seeking the eternal summer of heaven, if we are overtaken and destroyed by the frosts of earth.

[blocks in formation]

15 What did Jesus say should become of the righteous and of the wicked then? These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt. 25. 46.)

16 What then should we do? Watch and pray for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13. 33.)

V.-Comfort for Weary Sinners.

17 What does Jesus say to those who labour and are heavy laden? Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat. 11. 28.)

18 But will He not turn you away if you have been wicked? Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6. 37.)

19 And is He able to save you? He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7. 25.)

20 And what is there in store for them that love Jesus? Eye hath not see:, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. (1 Cor. 2. 9.)

VI.-Rest.

21 Is there any rest for us if we are wicked? The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isa. (57. 20-21.)

22 Shall we find peace if we learn of Jesus? Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meck and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Mat. 11. 29.)

23 What did Jesus say about the mansions above? In my Father's house are many mansions if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14. 2.)

24 Are God's people sure of rest at last? There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Heb. 4. 9.)

VII.-The Widow and the Orphan.

25 Has God promised to remember the lonely widow and the orphan? Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. (Jer. 49. 11.)

26 And the poor and destitute, will God hear their cry? He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. (Psa. 72. 12.)

27 Would God have us be kind to the poor? Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. (Psa. 41. 1.)

28 Is it the mark of a Christian to care for the poor and the lonely? Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1. 27.)

« AnteriorContinuar »