The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1909, Page 78

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78

The Lutheran Pioneer.

——— eS ee

Morning Hymn for a Little Child. -

O God! I see the morning light,

And Thou hast kept me through the night!
I thank Thee for Thy love and care,

And beg Thee hear my morning prayer.

Keep me, O God! again to-day,

And ‘take my naughty heart away;
O make me gentle, good, and mild —
Just like the Savior when a child!

And when to-night I fall asleep,

O come again the watch to keep!

So let my life all pass away,

With God my Keeper night and day.

———_-e-- —__-__

“None Other Name.’’

A German statesman, lying on his deathbed,
sent for a Christian pastor, well known to him, and
said: “I am very ill, my friend, and believe death
is not far off. I should like you to converse with
me on the subject of religion, but to spare you use-
less trouble, let me say at once that I do not wish
to hear anything about Jesus Christ.”

“Be it so,” replied the minister; “there are other
religious topics on which we may converse. To
begin, then, shall I speak to you of the character
of God?” %

“Certainly; for I have always held the Supreme
being in the highest veneration.”

So Pastor A—— discoursed of God’s love, and
_ this with so much eloquence that when he rose to

leave the Count pressed his hand, and charged him
to repeat his visit very shortly. And when next he
came he received a cordial welcome.

“What shall be our subject of conversation to-
day?” asked the sick man.

The servant of God spoke of the divine wisdom
and omnipotence; his liearer pronounced these
truths beautiful and sublime, but was in no other
way impressed by them.

On a third visit the pastor dwelt on the holiness
of God, demonstrating that a being so spotlessly
pure cannot enter into union with any less holy than
Himself. The fourth interview was devoted to the
contemplation of God’s inflexible justice; and at
last the sword of the Spirit had found a joint in
- the armor.

“Stay, I implore you!” cried the nobleman.
“Such thoughts are overwhelming. If the Al-

mighty be indeed holy and just, as you depict Him,
I am lost.” .

The pastor made no reply, but left him, and
earnestly prayed for a deepening of the spiritual
impression which at length his dying friend ap-
peared to have received.

After several days’ interval there came an urgent
message, entreating him to visit the count imme-
diately. :

“Oh, Pastor A. ;»” eried the latter, “why have
you so long delayed returning to me? My mind is
a chaos of doubts and fear. It is as if I were in
hell, or hell in me. In God’s name, tell me some-
thing which may restore the calm of which you
have robbed me. Either modify the harshness of
your doctrine, or give me some comfort and en-
couragement.”

The pastor replied: “I can retract nothing I
have said to you of the greatness and justice and
holiness of God, and the impossibility of fellow-
ship between such a God and sin-stained, rebellious
humanity. Grand and consoling truths I could in-
deed impart to you; but in view of the restriction
you have imposed on me, I can but leave you now,
for time and eternity, in the hands of God. Though
my heart bleeds for you, I am powerless to give you
help, not daring to present to you the only means

-of deliverance.”

“Nay, speak not thus!” exclaimed the dying
man, in a tone of anxiety. “Tell me, I entreat, if
there is any way of salvation still open to me:”

“I know of one, and only one; but you cannot
hear it without my speaking to you of Jesus
Christ.” .

“Speak to me as you will; only show me a door
of escape from the misery I now am suffering.”

And then for the first time the pastor brought
forth his New Testament and read therein the
blessed words which assure the sinner of pardon
and peace through Him who came to seek and save
the lost; through Him whose blood cleanseth from
all sin, whose grace is freely offered to every sinner. -

It was good seed. falling into well-prepared
ground. Quickly that world-worn, conscience-
stricken soul found rest in Him who calls “not the
righteous but sinners,” and he passed away, giving
thanks with his latest breath for the free grace of
God in Christ Jesus, with childlike confidence com-
mending his spirit info the hands of his Father in
heaven.— Word and Work.

“THE birds are winged arguments: for God’s
Providence.”