The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1882, Page 15

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 15

At Jesus’ Feet.

Some time ago a pastor was called to visit.a
member of his congregation who had been
taken sick very suddenly. She was, says he, a
young wife and mother and had all that could
make life desirable. There was a loving hus-
band to whom it was a pleasure to minister to
her slightest wish and whose position in life
made it easy for him to do so. There was a
widowed mother who clung to her with sweet
tenderness as her only child. There was a babe
just beginning to prattle and to give her con-
stant joy with its winning ways.

The unbelieving world would say that to such
a one death must have been very terrible.
There was not a cloud in the sky to cast its
shadow upon her path, when after an illness of
but two days the shadow fell. ‘This,’ she
said quietly to her husband, “is death. Do
not deceive yourself, but look for comfort and
strength to the gracious Saviour, who is filling
my soul with peace. Oh, I praise Him that
He is calling me so early to be with Himself,
and I leave my dear ones in His hands with
the assurance that He will do for them far
more than I could do, if my stay on earth
were prolonged.’’ :

She seemed like one about to start on a
pleasure trip. The timid woman, who would
not have stepped at night beyond the threshold
of her husband’s house without his strong arm,
was walking alone through-the valley of the

shadow of death, not only calmly but joyfully.
Nay, not alone. Jesus was with her. She
knew she had eternal life by faith in the risen
Saviour. After a short time of quiet resting
and silence she said to her husband, ‘I have
had such views of His excellence and loveliness
in the Gospel, and of the glory of His presence,
I long to be gone. Look upon Him, look upon
Him with both your eyes, and you will want
nothing more.’’ A little later she said, ‘‘I am
weary now, and will lay me down at Jesus’
fect,’’ and in a few moments was sweetly sleep-
ing ‘‘till He come.”

Infidels may sneer at all this, if they choose,
as a weak delusion. They know not the risen
Christ who has taken the sting from death and
has wrested victory fronr the grave. And
therefore, at the close of life, they have noth-
ing to present to the shrinking soul but the
dark gloom of an unknown eternity. ‘Their
rock is not as our rock,’’ Deut. 32, 31. Let
the believer turn away with pity from the
foolish and wicked talk of infidelity, and, in
these joyful Easter days, look with both eyes to
the risen Lord who says, ‘‘Fear not; I am the
first and the last: Iam he that liveth and was
dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death,” Rev. 1, 17. 18.; “Because I live, ye
shall live algo,’ John 14, 19. .Oh, it is not a
Passing “dream, but a sweet reality that as
pay “sat at Jesus’ feet” (Luke 10, 39.),-we
_. © May sit at the feet of the risen Jesus’ as

the soul’s hiding place from the wrath of God
against sin, and from the storms of life; and
we also, if called to die, may say through
simple faith, ‘‘I will lay me down at Jesus ae :
feet.” Then, at His coming, He will raise us stead of receiving a kind welcome, they were
to his throne.

visit to the African chief, several hundred
miles inland from the missonary station at La-
takov, in South Africa. The name of the
chief was Macaba. He was a great warrior,
and was the terror of his enemies. In one of
his conversations with this man of war and

missionary spoke of the resurrection of the
dead.

prise; ‘what are these words about the dead?
The dead—the dead rise?’’ :

shall rise.’’

tigers, and crocodiles rise?’’

warriors; ‘‘ye wise men, did your ears ever
hear such strange and unheard-of news? Did
you ever hear such news as this?” turning to
an old man, the wise man of his tribe.

had all knowledge, but I am confounded by
these words. He must have lived long before
we were born.”

sionary, laying his hand om his breast, ‘‘ Fa-
ther, I love you much. Your‘Visit has made
my heart white as milk. The words of your
mouth are sweet like honey; but the words of
a resurrection are too great for me. I do not
wish to hear about the dead rising again; the
dead can not rise; the dead shall not rise.”

““why must I not speak of the resurrection?”’

A Missionary Story.

A party of missionaries, after a long day of
»| travel, stopped at a little African village. In-
greeted with harsh words and gestures, and
forbidden to come into the town. ‘There was
danger from lions, but the missionaries had no
choice except to remain outside; indeed, they
were not sure but the villagers intended harm,
they looked so fierce.

Just as twilight came, what was their sur-
prise to see a woman approach with a pitcher
of milk, some water, a bundle of wood, and a
leg of mutton! She came silently, and began
to make a fire and prepare a meal.

“Why do you show us this kindness?’’ they
asked.

She looked at them a moment, the tears run-
ning down her cheeks; then she said: ‘*You
are the friends of my Saviour; shall I not do
this much for His sake? My heart is full. I
cannot speak the joy I feel to see you.’’

This speech was a great surprise to the trav-
elers. ‘‘Here,’’ they thought, “is a woman,
the only Christian in this region, proving a
true and tender love to Christ; for has He not
made kindness shown to His people for His
sake a test of love?’’

“Tell us about yourself,’ they said. ‘How
is it possible for you to live a Christian life in
this place?’’

“Ah,” she began, “look at this!’”’—I tell
you her very words as she drew from her bosom
a copy of the New Testament—‘ This is the
fountain whence I drink; this is the oil with
which I feed my lamp.’’

She had been to a school at a mission station
far away. There she had learned to know and
love Christ. When her friends compelled her
to go and live with them, she had carried the
New Testament with her. It was her daily
help, and joy, and comfort.

+ + oe eo

“They must not Rise.”

Mr. Moffat, the missionary, went to pay a

blood, while seated with fifty or sixty of his
headmen and “‘rainmakers”’ around him, the

‘“‘What!’’ cried the chief, starting with sur-

“Yes,’’ said the missionary, ‘‘all the dead

“Will my father rise?’’

“Yes, your father will rise.’’

“Will all the slain in battle rise ?”’

Yes.””

“Will all that have been eaten by lions,

“Yes, and come to Judgment.’*
‘‘Hark!’’ shouted the chief, turning to his

‘*Never,”’ said the old man. ‘‘I thought I

The chief then turned and‘ said to the mis-

General Jackson and the Lord’s Day.

The following story of General Jackon is told
in a Southern paper: During the latter part of
his life he was in the habit of coming down to
New Orleans to see his old friends and comrades
in arms, and take part in the celebration of the
glorious eighth of January. It happened on
one of these visits that the 8th occurred on
Sunday. General Planche called upon the old
hero and requested him to accompany the
military to the battle ground on the annivers-
ary of the great day. ‘‘I.am going to church
to-morrow,’ mildly said the General. The
military preparations for the celebration went
on, and Sunday morning dawned bright and
beautiful. At 10 o'clock General Planche
called at the St. Charles and informed General
Jackson that the military and civic processions
were ready to accompany him to the scene of
his glory. ‘‘General Planche,’’ said Old Hickory,
turning upon him’ the glance of his kindling
eye, “‘I told you I was going to church to-
day.’ General Planche withdrew, muttering
to himeelE, ‘“‘T might have known better.’’ The
celebration was postponed until the next day,
and General Jackson went to church on that
Sunday.

‘“‘Tell me, my friend,” said the missionary,

Lifting his arm, which had been so strong in
battle, as if grasping a spear, the chief said,
“T have slain my thousands; and shall they
rise?—shall they rise?’’

In the consciousness of his sin, the thought
of meeting his slain overwhelmed and fright-
ened the chief. And, oh, it isa terrible thought
to every unbelieving sinner that he shall meet
again all whom he has injured, neglected, and
destroyed.

— oo oe

Tue difficulty in the way of believing the

resurrection of Jesus is not found in the head,

but in the state of the heart as deceitful above

all things, and desperately wicked, as in;itself
enmity against God.