Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

PRAYERS IN SCRIPTURE LANGUAGE FOR A

REVIVAL OF RELIGION.

Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.-Jer. iii. 23.

The Lord liveth in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness: and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.-Jer. iv. 2.

For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered. -Jer. viii. 21, 22.

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them.-Jer. ix. 1, 2.

Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdom there is none like unto thee. -Jer. x. 7.

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.-Jer. x. 23, 24, 25.

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds, because they said, he shall not see our last end.-Jer. xii, 4.

O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

Why shouldest thou be as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.-Jer. xiv. 7,8,9.

Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!

We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee.

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glery: remember, break not thy covenant with us. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou he O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee; for thou hast made all these things.-Jer. xiv. 19 to end.

O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.— Jer. xvi. 19.

MEDITATION ON SCRIPTURE.

Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified.Matt. xxviii. 5.

Oh that I could get to myself all the comfort which these words of the angel to the women are calculated to convey. I am often full of fears and disquietude; and I may always well be so when I am not seeking Jesus. It is when I am seeking the world, or sin, or self that I am like the troubled sea, and a stranger to peace and satisfaction. No immortal being can be really happy and contented without having the mind occupied in the pursuit of some engaging end: and there is no end, no objects in all respects suited to a needy sinner's search but Jesus. If I bring an empty, wanting soul to a broken cistern, I may well be full of fear and dismay. The world, what is it but a broken cistern which can hold no water? and yet, again and again I come to it as if it had never before failed me, and then

I am the certain prey of fear and discomfort. Sin, what is it but a broken cistern whose bitter waters poison and paralyze my soul? and yet how I come to it again and again to be mocked and made wretched and miserable! Self-oh when I yield to its dictates, and follow my own will rather than seeking to do and to suffer the will of my God and Saviour, how I fall into the mazes of fearful uncertainty, and become the prey of a tormenting and frightened conscience. But oh! if my whole soul is seeking Jesus, there is no room for fear. He may seem for a season to be hidden from my view, and I may begin to be afraid, but I shall not long be so. The full manifestation of his love does but tarry for a season, in order that I may the more highly value it when it does come, and in order to excite in me the proper fervency and importunity of prayer.

Oh my soul, be alway seeking Jesus, which was crucified. Follow him to his cross. See in those precious drops of blood the purchase money of thy redemption. Hear in those dying words, "it is finished," the tidings of his power to save to the uttermost. At the cross too learn to crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. Learn to carry thy cross, to take thy Saviour's yoke, to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.

Oh my soul, be alway seeking Jesus which is risen. And with thy risen Saviour let every hope within thee kindle into the brightest flame. Surely no fear can dwell within view of a risen Saviour. Dost thou fear death? Oh! but thou hast been at the cross, and there thou hast seen the sting extracted; and now thou art beholding thy risen Saviour as the first fruits of them that sleep. The grave cannot contain him: he rises as a mighty conqueror; and all his followers rise in him as their covenant-head and representative; the members of the body with their glorious Head. I will not fear to go into that grave which my Saviour has smoothed and sweetened with his presence. Where he has gone, I may safely and cheerfully also.

go

Dost thou fear that the work of the cross was not accepted? The resurrection of Jesus forbids the fear. He might have been crucified as an impostor, but he could not be raised from the grave as an impostor. No, he is risen, not only as the firstfruits of them that slept, but to warrant and make good the sufferings and the death of his cross.

Oh my soul, seek Jesus which has ascended. In heart and mind thither ascend whither thy Saviour Christ is gone before. Seek those things which are above; which he is exalted and is waiting to bestow. Seek the gifts which he has received for thee; the Spirit which is His without measure. Seek his glory, the mansion which he is gone to prepare, the inheritance reserved for thee. Seek Jesus daily and hourly in the character of thy Advocate and Intercessor. Put thy cause afresh into his hands continually; beg Him to plead thy cause. And then rest assured, that none who seek Jesus shall be ashamed: for he never said to any of the sons of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain.

Oh thou crucified, and risen, and ascended Jesus, be thou the one object of my soul's desire all the days of my sojourning here below; be thou the unceasing object of my pursuit. Let me not, like Peter, follow thee afar off: but may I always be seeking to get nearer and nearer to thee in the enjoyment of sweet communion with thee and in growing conformity to thy blessed image, until I find thee in the full enjoyment of heaven, and lie in thy bosom through an endless eternity.

W.

SCHOOL AT LOCLE.

About three years since the interest of many friends was strongly excited by the account of the Institution for Orphan and Destitute Children at Locle in Switzerland;" and many were induced kindly to contribute towards the support of this truly valuable establishment.

A letter received from Stephen Grellet, dated, Yverdun, Nov. 4th, 1832, contains information respecting the present state of the establishment, which it is believed will prove highly gratifying to many, and induce them to cherish the feeling of continued interest in its support.

Extract from Stephen Grellet's letter.

"In company with Mary Ann Calame, I went to her Orphan Institution. She has now about 250 inmates in her family, which continues to be supported by acts of charity, and it is marvellous how time after time, when in the greatest need, supplies have been furnished. She feels much indebted to friends in England. I wish those who have liberally contributed to it, might see its excellent order and extensive usefulness. All the children love her as a mother; she speaks to them, and treats them as such. The school for little ones has interested me much, they were at their little works, for industry is a special branch of their education.

The very little ones, about two or three years of age, were

unravelling old silk; the others up to five and six years, were at their knitting, whilst a blind woman, knitting also, spoke to them in a familiar, and very kind manner, putting to such as she called out by name, various questions in the Scriptures, Roman History and Geography. It was astonishing how readily these little ones answered her questions, without ceasing from their work, and perfect silence prevailed, none speaking but the one whose name was called upon. What has given me special comfort, is the marks that some of these children bear, that they have known something of the dear Redeemer's love. The whole family was collected together, children and assistants, as well as servants. Many of their young minds shewed that they felt what I said to them. Once when I inquired, if some of them felt not at times, that which prompted them to seek for some corner privately to seek the Lord, and pour out their prayers to him; Mary Ann Calame told me it was only the day before, that some of the girls had asked for the use of a corner in the garret, not occupied; and inquiring of them, what purpose they wanted it for, with some hesitation they said, they wished to have a little by-place to retire to, they felt as if they must in that way, seek and pray to the Lord. Mary Ann has given them the use of a closet in a chamber she has at the institution.

In the evening I had another meeting in the village at her house, where those who are in the practice of meeting with her family came, and some others also. Her own family is large, Catharine Zimmerlin, her intimate friend, with whom she has been in near union for eighteen years, the widow of a French clergyman, eight young women finishing their education there, and the servants. Some of these young females are in an awakened state, one is a Greek, who when a child, escaped at the massacre of Scio. I believe her parents perished. Her name is Argiri Clime. She is now seventeen years of age, and very forward of her age. She has been placed here by a society at Zurich. They have written to M. A. Calame, that it is concluded next spring to send her back to Greece, perhaps to Scio or Syra, where there is an aunt of hers, who is now very poor, and is urgent for her return. From the few trinkets that Argiri had upon her at the time of her escape, it is thought her parents must have been persons of wealth. She appears to feel much for the degraded and benighted state of young females in Greece, and has a pious mind. She is very desirous to devote herself to do good among the Greeks, and that by education: she continues to speak Greek, good French, and understands German, and other branches, as painting, &c."

The Editor will be very glad to receive and forward as he did before (see vol. 12. page 45.) any contributions to Madame Calame for this interesting Institution. They may be sent to him at Casterton Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, (by letter, post paid,) or paid for him to Messrs. Seeley, 169 Fleet Street, London.

« AnteriorContinua »