I knew him to be a servant of the Mighty King, by his having the King's banner. I noticed, too, that as each got the banner there came to them a guide, arrayed in white, who carried them safely over, and did all in his power to keep them in the right way. If they went in the wrong track and persevered in it, their guide always withdraws from them, and when this was the case, their situation became most dangerous. Their guides would never go in the forbidden tracks; but if they were to turn, they then gave them all possible help to regain their lost situation, and also to strive with greater care to keep them in it afterwards. But if they went too far, they very seldom returned, as all forbidden paths led into a fathomless abyss, and the further they got down the more difficult it was for them to regain their former footing. "Very few," my companion said, "of the many who had passed the river, reached the kingdom. Some would not listen to their guide, nor follow the ambassador's directions, but acted as if they could reach it by any way they wished, forgetting that there was only One way; so that they who wilfully followed others of their chosing, were undoubtedly lost. As for those who followed their plan of reaching the opposite side, although this they MIGHT accomplish, they were neither purified, nor had they the King's banner; neither had they their names written in the Book, nor had they a guide, so that if it were possible for them to reach the kingdom, it was impossible to gain admittance, as they had wilfully neglected the directions given them by the King's Son. As for those who had persevered unto the end of their perilous course, it was joy unspeakable both to them and their guides, to see the kingdom nigh at hand-a city of pure gold-whose walls are jasper, and the foundations garnished with all manner of precious stones; the streets also of pure gold, and as transparent as glass. Then the pure river, clear as crystal, proceeding from the great white throne of the Mighty One. And lastly, their receiving the crown of pure gold, and being made to sit on the Throne of their King for ever and ever." And when he had told me these things, I thought I saw him borne to those blissful Mansions on the wings of the faithful, who, as they ascended, chanted this glorious strain in tones of unutterable sweetness, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." T. F. COLLECT FOR GRACE. STORY OF A LITTLE CHILD. OH for a tongue might fitly tell The Treasure of those prayers, 'Twere a high task-not mine to dare, I knew a simple cottage child, Asking it ever in the words She had been wont to hear, The white-rob'd priest repeating, In God's own Temple near. Pastor and people uttering out, Safe through the dangers manifold, Each under God's good Governance, Thus praying to be kept from sin, That wardeth off each evil thing From soul or body's harm; Deem ye not from those little lips The words held lower worth, Deep-fraught with thoughts above her thoughts Her half-form'd speech breath'd forth. For still the happy child averr'd That she had learn'd to pray, Not daily only, but each hour, That constantly those blessed words, From very wont of saying them, But ever as returning thus, How might she dare, 'twas so she said, How might she dare, a poor weak child, Saying the words, in Holy Church, Oh wisest, best, our Mother's voice, Accepted, sure, by Him who saith, C. A. G. "Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee, is not darkness."-Ir is not surprising that our sins should be displeasing in the sight of God, but that imperfections even grow out of our virtues. This should make us tremble. Our wisdom is often only a worldly and selfish policy; our modesty a composed and hypocritical exterior, to attract praise and for the sake of appearance; our zeal, an effect of fancy or pride: and frankness only thoughtlessness and scoru. How do we shrink from those sacrifices, which we make to God, while they appear so meritorious in the eyes of the world! let us beware lest our light turns into darkness.Fenelon. |