Part 18 (1/2)

”By G.o.d's grace, sir.”

”What does grace mean?”

”Favour; free favour to sinners.”

”Right; and what does G.o.d bestow upon the children of wrath, when he makes them children of grace?”

”A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; is it not, sir?”

”Yes, this is the fruit of Christ's redeeming love; and I hope _you_ are a partaker of the blessing. The family of G.o.d is named after him, and he is the first-born of many brethren. What a mercy that Christ calls himself 'a _Brother_!' My little girl, he is _your_ Brother; and will not be ashamed to own you, and present you to his Father at the last day, as one that he has purchased with his blood.”

”I wish I could love my Father and my Brother which are in heaven better than I do. Lord be merciful to me a sinner! I think, sir, if I am a child of G.o.d, I am often a rebellious one. He shows kindness to me beyond others, and yet I make a very poor return.

'Are these thy favours day by day, To me above the rest?

Then let me love thee more than they, And strive to serve thee best.'”

”That will be the best way to approve yourself a real child of G.o.d. Show your love and thankfulness to such a Father, who hath prepared for you an inheritance among the saints in light, and made you 'an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, as well as a member of Christ, and a child of G.o.d.' Do you know what 'the kingdom of heaven' means?”

Just at that instant her mother entered the house below, and began to speak to a younger child in a pa.s.sionate, scolding tone of voice, accompanied by some very offensive language; but quickly stopped on hearing us in conversation up stairs.

”Ah, my poor mother!” said the girl, ”you would not have stopped so short, if Mr. --- had not been here. Sir, you hear how my mother swears; pray say something to her; she will not hear me.”

I went towards the stair-head, and called to the woman; but ashamed at the thought of my having probably overheard her expressions, she suddenly left the house, and for that time escaped reproof.

”Sir,” said little Jane, ”I am so afraid, if I go to heaven I shall never see my poor mother there. I wish I may, but she does swear so, and keep such bad company. As I lie here a-bed, sir, for hours together, there is often so much wickedness, and noise, and quarrelling down below, that I do not know how to bear it. It comes very near, sir, when one's father and mother go on so. I want them all to turn to the Lord, and go to heaven.--Tell me now, sir, something about being an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.”

”You may remember, my child, what I have told you when explaining the Catechism in the church, that the 'kingdom of heaven' in the Scripture means the church of Christ upon earth, as well as the state of glory in heaven. The one is a preparation for the other. All true Christians are heirs of G.o.d, and joint-heirs with Christ, and shall inherit the glory and happiness of his kingdom, and live with Christ and be with him for ever. This is the free gift of G.o.d to his adopted children; and all that believe aright in Christ shall experience the truth of that promise, 'It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' You are a poor girl now, but I trust 'an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' You suffer now; but are you not willing to suffer for his sake, and to bear patiently those things to which he calls you?”

”Oh yes, very willing; I would not complain. It is all right.”

”Then, my dear, you shall reign with him. Through much tribulation you may, perhaps, enter into the kingdom of G.o.d; but tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. As a true 'member of Christ,' show yourself to be a dutiful 'child of G.o.d,' and your portion will be that of an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

Faithful is He that hath promised. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pa.s.s.”

”Thank you, sir, I do so love to hear of these things. And I think, sir, I should not love them so much if I had no part in them. Sir, there is one thing I want to ask you. It is a great thing, and I may be wrong--I am so young--and yet I hope I mean right--”

Here she hesitated and paused.

”What is it? Do not be fearful of mentioning it.” A tear rolled down her cheek--a slight blush coloured her countenance. She lifted up her eyes to heaven for a moment, and then, fixing them on me with a solemn, affecting look, said,--

”May so young a poor child as I am be admitted to the Lord's Supper? I have for some time wished it, but dared not to mention it, for fear you should think it wrong.”

”My dear Jenny, I have no doubt respecting it, and shall be very glad to converse with you on the subject, and hope that He who has given you the desire, will bless his own ordinance to your soul. Would you wish it now or to-morrow?”

”To-morrow, if you please, sir;--will you come to-morrow and talk to me about it? and if you think it proper, I shall be thankful. I am growing faint now--I hope to be better when you come again.”

I was much pleased with her proposal, and rejoiced in the prospect of seeing so young and sincere a Christian thus devote herself to the Lord, and receive the sacramental seal of a Saviour's love to her soul.

Disease was making rapid inroads upon her const.i.tution, and she was aware of it. But as the outward man decayed, she was strengthened with might, by G.o.d's Spirit in the inner man. She was evidently ripening fast for a better world.