Imatges de pàgina
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Christian, whose condemnation in the world to come, it is to be feared, will be greater than even that of the heathen themselves: "And these," he said," are those persons, who having the opportunity of reading their Bible and hearing the Gospel preached, yet live in utter neglect of the great salvation prepared for them; people who think of little or nothing but enjoying what they call pleasure, gathering together riches, or making themselves great in the world. Even England," added Mr. Fairchild, "this happy country, in which there are many who preach the pure Gospel, in which there are numbers of holy books daily within our reach, in which the Bible is found in almost every house, is full of those persons who neglect and despise religion; and though it would be thought very shameful in this country, for a man plainly to say, I do not love my Saviour-I do not believe in the Holy Spirit! yet there are thousands who shew as much by their careless lives and vain conversation."

"Papa," said Lucy, "I fear, from what you say, that there are very few real Christians in the world, and that a very great part of the human race will be finally lost."

"My dear child," replied Mr. Fairchild, "it is not the will of God that one should be lost; neither is it our business to decide upon this matter: this we know, that a way of salvation has been pointed out to us, and that it will be our own fault if we do not accept this great salvation: the great sins of mankind are pride and unbelief; this is the natural state of man's heart, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit of God to convince us of this unbelief, and to bring us to a knowledge of our unhappy state by nature, and of that which the blessed Saviour has done for us. From the be ginning of the world, until this present day, there always have been some who have been thus con

vinced of sin and brought to the knowledge of God. These are those blessed persons who are called in Scripture the children of God; and these are those who are described in the Revelations, chap. xiv. verses 1-5. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.' The first of these, among the children of Adam," proceeded Mr. Fairchild, was Abel: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him...And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephtha; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets; who through faith subdued

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kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained pro mises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in skeep-skins and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.' (Heb. xi. 46, 32-40)."

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Ob, Papa;" said Lucy, "what pretty verses!" "From these verses we may learn, my dear children," said Mr. Fairchild, "that all people who are not brought to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, the Blessed and Holy Trinity, as they are shewn to us in the Bible, remain in their sins, and are in a state of condemnation; but that those who have a right faith will receive a new nature from God, and will be saved through the Lord Jesus Christ."

"Oh! Papa, Papa!" said the children, "pray for us, that we may not be wicked and go to hell."

"I would have you remember, my dear children," said Mr. Fairchild, "that there is no such thing as being saved, except by the Lord Jesus Christ, through his death: nothing you can do yourselves can save you. Even if you could, from

this time forward, live without sin, yet you are condemned already for your past sins. Neither can you keep even one of God's commandments, without the help of the Holy Spirit."

"Papa," said Lucy," we will pray to the Holy Spirit to help us, and then we shall get better."

"Ask your mamma, to-morrow," said Mr. Fairchild, "to tell you a story of something which happened to her when she was young, by which you will better understand what is meant when I say you cannot be good without the help of the Spirit. And now we will kneel down, and I will teach you to pray that God will make you of the number of his holy ones; and then you shall go and play in the garden."

A Prayer to be admitted into Christ's little Flock.

O Lord God! we little children come unto thee in the name of Him who died for all men. We do not ask thee to make us clever, or to make us rich, or to make us handsome, or to give us any worldly good; but we ask thee to make us thine own little children. Take us, O holy Father, and wash us from our sins in the blood of the Lamb without spot; and set upon us thy seal, that we may be numbered amongst thy sheep, and dwell for ever in thy fold, under the good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep. And, oh! increase through all the world the number of thy sheep! Have mercy on all men: turn them from their sins, and bring them into thy fold; that the devil, who goeth about like a roaring lion, may find none to devour.

O Lord, hear our prayers, for thy dear Son's sake; to whom, with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, be all glory and honour, now and for ever. Amen.

HYMN V.

JESUS, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress:
'Midst flaming worlds, in these array'd,
With joy shall I lift up my head,
When from the dust of death I rise
To take my mansion in the skies,
E'en then shall this be all my plea-
Jesus hath liv'd and died for me.

Bold shall I stand in that Great Day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay,
While through thy Blood absolv'd I am
From sin's tremendous curse and shame ?
Thus Abraham, the friend of God,
Thus all the armies bought with blood,
Saviour of Sinners Thee proclaim;
Sinners of whom the chief I am!

This spotless Robe the same appears
When ruin'd nature sinks in years:
No age can change its glorious hue;
The robe of Christ is ever new.

O let the dead now hear thy voice!
Bid, Lord, thy banish'd ones rejoice!
Their Beauty this, their glorious Dress,
Jesus, the Lord our Righteousness.

MRS. FAIRCHILD'S STORY.

THE next morning, when Lucy and Emily were sitting at work with their mamma, Henry came in from his papa's study:

I have finished all my lessons, Mamma," he said: "I have made all the haste I could, because papa said that you would tell us a story to-day; and now I am come to hear it."

So Henry placed himself by his mamma, and

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