78 LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS. struck me very much. But my wicked heart said, nevertheless, 'It is all a dream,' and I turned back to my wicked ways. "At last I followed my missionary when he settled down in Bethesda. On the way he said to me, 'Fekou, you are unhappy, but you are so very quiet-why do you not tell me what troubles you?' And at another time he said, 'Fekou, you are not struggling against sin?' These words pierced me like an arrow. hymn The rible pit called hell; but there is also a LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS. mind. Falling sick, the old man was surrounded by his heathen companions and superiors in order to induce him to worship his Ifa. This was steadily refused by the poor old * AN aged man, of threescore years which had reached his once dark and ten, after attending the usual church services in Abbeokuta for about eight months, had become convinced of the folly and wickedness of the heathen system, and of the truth of the Gospel. The change in his opinions and feelings did not pass unnoticed by his idolatrous countrymen. They saw and hated the light * Ifa is nothing more than a number of palmnuts. The desired answer is obtained by holding these nuts in the hand in a certain manner, similar to a child's play of guessing at something concealed in the hands, in this country. BEGGING, TO GIVE TO AN IDOL. man, under the plea of being too ill to give attention to it; but his friends were not so easily turned from their purpose; they would worship Ifa for him; and the neglected Ifa is now brought forth, and consulted and worshipped. The poor old man meanwhile, lying on his mat, prays to God in his heart for deliverance from their hands. Sacrifices and offerings are now demanded. The sick man pleads poverty. This they will not hear of, for they have resolved to punish him for daring to think otherwise than their forefathers. Thinking to appease their wrath, he procures the victims for sacrifice, but with a heavy heart, knowing that he 79 He is thus sinning against God. so I gave it to Christ, and now I've no soul !" "I HAVE NO SOUL!" A MINISTER once said to a poor lad of weak intellect, "Have you а soul?" He answered, "No." "What!" said the minister, soul?" 'No,” he replied: “I once had a soul; but I couldna keep it, 66 no Dear young friend, is your soul in Christ's keeping? or will this poor idiot be one of the Lord's witnesses against you in the Great Day? BEGGING, TO GIVE TO AN IDOL. I FEAR that even the heathen sur- god by a beggar. This man had gone pass us in this matter of giving. about begging till he obtained this When at the Temple of Conjeveram money, and his rule was never to eat the other day, I learned that a mag- food till he had got ten rupees nificent crown of gold, all set with (twenty shillings); and the final reprecious stones, valued at about thirty sult was this magnificent crown for thousand rupees (fifteen thousand the god.—Wesleyan Juvenile Offering. dollars), had been presented to the 80 POETRY-A MISSIONARY'S PARABLE. Poetry. A MISSIONARY'S PARABLE. AGAINST Amanna's rocky shore a gallant vessel dashed, And soon above her towering masts the sullen billows washed; But ere the bark went down, her crew had climbed that islet reef, And from impending death had found a harbour of relief. No voice of friendly welcome, no pity-beaming face Greeted the homeless wanderers in that wild and far-off place; But they praised the God of heaven, who alone was strong to save Even life itself, amid the strife of wrestling wind and wave. But thirst, with direst sufferings, those stalwart men assailed, And at this new calamity their hearts with terror quailed. They roamed all o'er the desert isle, if haply some clear spring Might to their wasting energies new life and vigour bring. Vain, vain the search; and dark despair was setting in each eye, As they saw no other fate than just to lay them down and die. Only one hardy mariner, to suffering long inured, Continuing his lonely path, by blessed hope allured, Reached a deep thicket, where the sound of bubbling waters thrilled His ear as with sweet music, and his soul with rapture filled. In eager haste he knelt beside that rippling rill, and drew, With a long deep draught of its crystal wave, courage and life anew; Then, raising his eye to heaven above, "My God, accept," he cried, "The praise of a grateful heart, for Thou hast thus my need supplied!" And now, does he haste away, think you, to his comrades in distress, And bid them share his new-found joy? Ah, so you would surely guess! But listen-he reasons with himself: God that brought me here, ""Twas And showed the secret spring of life, with its waters fresh and clear. There's plenty for all to drink, I know, but no need for me to tell, For He who guided my steps here, can guide the steps of my friends as well." Days passed: he drank and lived, while those around him pined and died. Full oft upon their dreadful fate he looked, and sadly sighed "Oh, would to God they knew where flows that life-renewing tide!" Alas! he vainly wishes-one by one they perish soon, And he, of all that gallant crew, stands silent and alone. At length a whitening sail appears-he hails it with delight; Kind voices cheer his heart again, and hope grows strong and bright. But when the sailors leap on shore, and view the dread array Which death had left behind, they start in horror and dismay. "How livest thou among the dead? say whose these mouldering bones?" "Alas! my comrades all," he cries, in lamentable tones, "Consumed by thirst, have perished long-I mourn their hapless fate." "How livest thou?" again they ask. He hastens to relate How God his footsteps guided to the tiny forest rill, Which, had his brethren known, mayhap they had been living still. "Ah! wretched man, auditors exclaim; " with one accord his "A murderer, self-convicted, thou-thine be the guilt and shame!" My reader, does thy heart respond to the dread verdict given? Then say, what is the crime of those who hold the "news of heaven" Fast in their selfish grasp, nor seek its blessing to convey To those who, "knowing not the truth," are passing swift away. (From Notes of a Missionary Sermon preached by Rev. E. R. W. Krause, at Yarmouth, August 22, 1858) ION. Price 6d. per doz. or 3s. 6d. per 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 6 George Street, Edinburgh. "HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London. 82 THE INFANT IN THE FLOOD. of the midland and western counties of England, something floating down one of the streams which had overflowed its banks attracted the attention of a party of villagers, who were watching the course of the torrent and the devastation which marked its path. They followed it in a boat, and, overtaking it, picked up a wicker cradle, containing an infant, apparently about four months old, fast asleep, and perfectly unconscious of its danger, as you see in the picture. "Poor little thing!" was the prompt and natural exclamation of a lady, in whose hearing the incident was mentioned; and such, no doubt, will be the exclamation of many of the young readers of this narrative. Their feelings will be stirred in behalf of the little one rescued from so perilous a situation. Far be it from me, my dear young friend, rudely to check the flow of your kindly feelings. It is well, it is lovely, to see young hearts moved in behalf of the helpless. The world will soon enough come in with its hardening influences. But, while you are thinking of the little infant, let me affectionately ask you whether its case does not bring with it a lesson for yourself? It was floating down the stream. How is it with you? The world, too, has its stream, and multitudes, children as well as those of riper years, are carried down by it. Are you swimming with it, or striving against it? The world has its attractions, its pleasures, and its follies, even for you. Suppose the little one in the cradle, awakening from sleep, had crowed and laughed at the trees, and the shrubs, and the flowers on the banks of the stream down which it was hurrying to destruction, you would have been tempted, even more than before, to exclaim, "Poor little thing!" Take home the lesson, dear reader, and act upon it. It was asleep. Well for the little one in the cradle; but for a soul to be asleep in the midst of danger, is a very sad thing;-never is its danger greater than when in such a case. Happy the child whom the Lord will not suffer thus to sleep-whom He overtakes with some call of His Word, saying, Awake, thou that sleepest," or, with some event of His providence giving the alarm, “What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God." 66 It was hastening to destruction. And so is every one who is following the course of this world. "It leadeth to destruction" is the inscription over the gate, and all along the highway of the world; and blessed is the child who hears the voice of warn |