Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

:

[ocr errors]

know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand.' John x. 27, 28. 'Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.' 2 Tim. iv. 8. 'Ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him.' 1 Cor. ii. 9. For the Lamb,, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' Rev. vii. 17.—Mr. Somers then went on to describe the place of torment. The fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched.' Mark ix. 45, 46. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.' Psalm ix. 17. 'Upon the wicked he shall rain fire and brimstone and a horrible tempest. Psalm xi. 6. 'But....the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.' Rev. xxi. 8.-When Mr. Somers had finished repeating those promises and threatenings from Scripture, he went on to point out to all present, that, through the sin of Adam, every one of his children had become unfit for heaven, and were by nature children of wrath, and heirs of death and hell; having inherited from their father hearts so wholly and entirely filthy and corrupt, that they could not of themselves turn unto any good, or so much as wish to do well. He then spoke of the goodness of God, who, when miserable man had lost heaven by his transgression, sent his only son to die for us upon the cross: thus was God "manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."-Mr. Somers then eagerly begged the young people to note his words: “I have shown you," he said, "that you have lost heaven by nature, being through sin altogether unfit for it; and now, my dear children, I proceed to point out to you how you may recover it, and escape hell. There is one name, and but one name under heaven by which men can be saved: and this name, this blessed name is Jesus: on this foundation, if any man buildeth, he shall be saved. VOL. II.-L

Oh, therefore, my beloved children, as you love your immortal souls, as you dread eternal fire and everlasting darkness and despair, hold fast to the cross of Christ, and count all things as nothing when compared with him."-Mr. Somers then explained unto the young people, that our Saviour by his death obtained three benefits for the redeemed: First, justification, which includes forgiveness of their sins through his death; secondly, sanctification, which is the changing and cleansing their vile natures by the Holy Spirit; and finally, glorification which no man will receive till after death: as it is written in the 17th Psalm, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness."—Mr. Somers then spoke of Charles Trueman of his state before death, and of his exceedingly happy death. He pointed out that there were two things which had been most remarkable in him, and which gave assurance of his now being blessed; the first was, his great humility and low thoughts of himself; so that, for many months before his death, he was never heard to speak of himself but as a sinner; and that not vainly and lightly, as some will do, but with deep sorrow and shame; and secondly, his firm trust and joyful confidence in his Redeemer: so that his love seemed to have cast off all fear of death. "Oh, happy state! Oh blessed death!" said Mr. Somers; "May all here present be found in faith at the hour of death, as this dear child was."-Mr. Somers finished his sermon by a few words to such parents as were present, recommending them, from the example then before them, to give a religious education to their children, and went over, one by one, all the means appointed by God for parents to use towards their children: to wit, bringing them in infancy to receive the sacrament of Baptism, and, in their due course and order, making them to attend and observe all Divine ordinances, such as public and private prayer, hearing of sermons, reading the Bible; setting before them the example of simple and holy living-Mr. Somers, I say, set all these things in order before the parents, and then concluded by urging them to seek from God, by diligent and earnest prayer presented in the name of the Redeemer, a Divine blessing upon their endeavours; "for without God's grace and blessing, I may preach unto my dying day, and you may labour to instruct your children, rising up early and late taking rest, but all will be to no purpose: the work must be of God; therefore in all

things let us give God the glory; ascribing to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, all glory and honour for ever and ever. Amen."

After the sermon, every one went to his own home. Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild and their children, with Mrs. Goodriche, thought and talked much of little Charles and his happy death all day. In the evening after tea, Mr. Fairchild prayed with his family, and they sang a hymn together. You will, perhaps, like to hear Mr. Fairchild's prayer; I shall therefore put it down here with the hymn.

A Prayer to be used by the Father or Master of a Family for his Children or Servants.

O Lord God, thou by whom we hope to be justified, to be sanctified, and glorified, hear the prayer of a father, who in the name of our blessed Saviour, intercedes for his children and his servants. O Lord, how dreadful would it be to me at the last day to see any one of these my dear children, or poor servants, condemned to everlasting fire! Oh! the thought is horrible! O Almighty God, give me grace, then, faithfully, humbly, and in simplicity, to use the means appointed to me for the good of my children. And O, holy Father, for thy dear Son's sake, for the sake of him who died for us, grant thy grace, grant thy blessing to this my dear family from the greatest to the least. Pour thy Holy Spirit upon them. And, O enable me always, and at all times, to give unto thee the glory if my family do well. Unto thee, O Lord be the glory; unto thee O Father, unto thee O Son, unto thee O Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen.

"Our Father, which art in heaven," &c.

HYMN XXVII.

Great God! now condescend

To bless our rising race;

Soon may their willing spirits bend

To thy victorious grace.

Oh, what a vast delight

Their happiness to see!

Our warmest wishes all unite

To lead their souls to thee,

Dear Lord! thy Spirit pour
Upon our infant seed:

Oh bring the long'd-for happy hour
That makes them thine indeed!

L 2

>

THE

ORPHANS OF NORMANDY;

OR,

FLORENTIN AND LUCIE.

« FöregåendeFortsätt »