Rl . : R.D.D. 7333* r J2 v^^ ./*^\ § # s *> K. *l £ , , CO « s ~ o s v^^ Ha §* E ~-* W O 55 « £ 7 • 4> § V ^ 2 *-*=T* tf O Qh ^ & e ** *a ^•^ ^ 76,t on A WORD TO THE WEARY. A WORD TO THE WEARY. BY WILLIAM S. PLUMER, D.D. 5fe APR Logical 8t^ NEW YORK: Anson D. F. Randolph & Company, 77» BROADWAY, Cor. 9 ih Street. Copyright, 1874, by Anson D. F. Randolph & Co., A WORD IN SEASON TO HIM THAT IS WEARY. Sin and sorrow are twin sisters. They were born the same day. They have grown up together. It is as idle to say that there is no misery as to assert that there is no wickedness in the world. Some men seem to be uniformly prosperous. They appear to have but few trials. They have more than heart can wish. They are receiving their good things in this life. They are the abhorred of the Lord. Their eternity will be rueful. Yet even they have their seasons of weariness. And the mass of men have many and palpable sorrows. This is always true of the godly in this life : " Many 6 A WORD TO THE WEARY. are the afflictions of the righteous." " Whom the L.rd loveth he chasten- eth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiv^th." The tears of God's people often flow, day and night. Waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. Oh, the weariness of good men! It has many causes. Some- times it comes from — POOR HEALTH. No less than others, God's people are liable to pain and sickness. More pitiable objects, as to bodily suffer- ing, have seldom, if ever, been seen than were Job and Lazarus. Many a time God's people " have no rest in their bones ; " they have " wearisome nights appointed unto them ; " they are made to "cry in the morning, oh, that it were evening! and in the evening, oh, that it were morning!" It was proof of the kindness of John's A WORD TO THE WEARY. 7 heart, when he wrote to Gaius, " Be- loved, I wish, above all things, that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." Nor are those 'forms of bodily suffering which are most unpleasant to look upon always the most distressing. One sometimes says of another, " There is not much the matter with him ; he is only nervous." Such speech is foolish. Nervous distress may be, and often is, the severest of all suffering. The theory of death by the cross was, that it took life by torturing the nervous system. It is sad, indeed, when one is forced to say, " There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger ; neither is there any rest in my bones." There are " sore sicknesses, and of long con- tinuance." To the godly there is no promise of exemption from distress- ing bodily infirmity. Even Elisha 8 A WORD TO THE WEARY. fell sick of a sickness whereof he died. How sadly Hezekiah felt all the power of the bodily distress that bore him down, we learn from his own words. Isa. xxxviii. 9-20. Let one take the daily rounds of the faithful pastor and evangelist, and he will see in garrets and cellars, as well as in stately mansions, scenes of bodily suffering well suited to appall. If one is thus tried, let him cast his care upon the Lord, and cease to glory in his strength, or to put confidence in an arm of flesh. Let him have faith in God, and sing — When languor and disease invade This trembling house of clay, 'Tis sweet to look beyond my pains, And long to fly away. Sweet to look inward, and attend The whispers of His love ; Sweet to look upward, to the place Wh' re Jesus pleads above. A WORD TO THE WEARY. g Sweet to reflect how grace divine My sins on Jesus laid ; Sweet to remember that His blood My debt of suffering paid. Sweet in His righteousness to stand, Which saves from endless death ; Sweet to experience, day by day, His Spirit's quickening breath. Sweet on His faithfulness to rest, Whose love can never end ; Sweet on his covenant of grace For all things to depend. If such the sweetness of the streams, What must the fountain be ; Where saints and angels draw their bliss Immediately from Thee. Toplady. POVERTY. God's people also know much of poverty and worldly embarrassment. God has marvellously chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and 10 A WORD TO THE WEARY. heirs of the kingdom that cannot be moved. With few exceptions, those who shall be kings and priests unto God forever know on earth what want is. In this point most Chris- tians are conformed, at least in a measure, to the sufferings of Christ. Those who have not felt this form of trial can hardly conceive of the pangs of good men when they see poverty, like an armed man, marching into their abodes, and stripping them of their comforts, and sometimes of the necessaries of life. It is a blessed thing that, if we are poor, it is be- cause such is the will of God, for the Lord maketh poor and He maketh rich. The Lord is specially the friend of the poor, and will avenge their wrongs, and punish their op- pressors, and maintain the right of the poor. " Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith ? " A WORD TO THE WEARY. n O, let me make the Lord my trust, And practice all that's good ; So shall I dwell among the just, And He'll provide me food. I to my God my ways commit, And cheerful wait His will ; Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet, Shall my desires fulfill. The meek at last the earth possess And are the heirs of heaven ; True riches, with abundant peace, To humble souls are given ; The heavenly heritage is theirs, Their portion and their home ; He feeds them now, and makes them heirs Of blessings long to come. Eternal life can ne'er be sold, The ransom is too high ; Justice will ne'er be bribed with gold, That man may never die. Rest in the Lord and keep his way, Nor let your anger rise, Though Providence shall long delay To punish haughty vice. Watts. 12 A WORD TO THE WEARY. THE DEFECTION OF FRIENDS. Sorrows seldom come single. Like vultures, they are gregarious. A major part of one's friends are com- monly such only when he is prosper- ous. Most trees are left naked soon after heavy frosts begin to fall upon them. Very few men are friends in need. One or two acts of enlarged kindness frequent!)' exhaust human sympathies. It pierces the heart of a good man to see the heel of his fami- liar friend lifted up against him. Sometimes those, to whom we have done the best services, become cold and even cruel. The son of Sirach spoke wisely, when he said : " Some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble. And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity and strife, will discover (reveal) thy reproach. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 13 Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of affliction. But in thy pros- perity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants. If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face. ,, This witness is true. If a merchant would know how few his real friends are, let him suffer his note to go to protest. The same wise ancient said : "A faithful friend is a strong de- fence ; and he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure. Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable. A faith- ful friend is the medicine of life." Ec- clus, vi. 8-14. To find out the deceit- fulness of men by the loss or treach- ery of a professed friend is a very sad lesson. It is no mean attraction of heaven, that there all apparent friend- ships are real and beyond suspicion. 14 A WORD TO THE WEARY. When such desertions of friends oc- cur, we should cleave the closer to Christ. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. His words are very kind : " Henceforth I call you not servants ; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth ; but I have called you friends ; for all things that I have heard of my Fa- ther I have made known unto you." John xv. 15. Having loved His own, He loved them to the end. His mercy knows no bounds. His friendship is lasting as eternity. Flee to Him. Oh, could I speak the matchless worth, Oh, could I sound the glories forth, Which in my Saviour shine ! I'd soar and touch the heavenly strings, And vie -with Gabriel while he sings, In notes almost divine. I'd sing the precious blood he spilt, My ransom from the dreadful guilt Of sin, and wrath divine : I'd sing his glorious righteousness, A WORD TO THE WEARY. 15 In which all-perfect, heavenly dress My soul shall ever shine. I'd sing the characters he bears, And all the forms of love he wears, Exalted on his throne ; In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days Make all His glories known. Soon the delightful day will come, When my dear Lord will call me home, And I shall see His face : Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend, A blest eternity I'll spend, Triumphant in His grace. Medley. THE DEATH OF LOVED ONES. This is a world of change. Noth- ing is certain but change. Friend- ships are often sundered by death. Father, mother, husband, wife, broth- er, sister, child — any loved one may be taken as in a moment ; or, if they agonize till we are willing to see 1 6 A WORD TO THE WEARY. them go, so that they may be out of misery, that is perhaps more distress- ing than to have them taken in a way that greatly surprises us. Men are born to die. Dust we are, and to dust we must all retnrn. Our dear- est friends are lent to us but for a short time. Of this we have full no- tice in God's word and in His prov- idence also. In many of our church- es half the worshippers hang out the signals of distress in their yery attire. And those, who wear no mourning apparel, are perhaps as sorely bereav- ed as those who are most mourningly attired. Of those who die, some were our care, some our hope, some our pat- tern, some our guide, some our stay. If a loved one is taken without giving signs of true repentance, the distress is exceedingly terrible. It is like that of David over Absalom. " And the king was much moved, and went A WORD TO THE WEARY. jy up to the chamber over the gate, and wept : and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom ! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son ! " Sometimes our loved ones are taken away in circumstances where hope and fear respecting their eternal hap- piness alternate. In this way mul- titudes are sadly grieved. But even where there is a quiet and fixed per- suasion that our departed friends were at peace with God, we still sore- ly miss them. How does the mother's heart ache for the little one that nest- led in her bosom ! How does con- jugal affection bleed, when it is rifled of its darling object ! How sad is the cry when the brother says to the sis- ter, 0:1 their return from the ceme- tery, " Well, dear Mary, we have no longer any earthly parent. We are fatherless and motherless. We are 1 8 A WORD TO THE WEARY. orphans." Many a father has said, like Jacob, " If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." In such sad hours what can we do, unless we have access to the mercy- seat? God is our refuge and strength — the sole refuge arid strength of our souls in the day of sorrow and be- reavement. Blessed is the man, who finds in the Lord all needed re- sources. Friend after friend departs ; Who has not lost a friend ? There is no union here of hearts, That finds not here an end. Were this frail world our final rest, Living or dying, none were blest. Beyond the flight of time, Beyond the reign of death, There surely is some blessed clime Where life is not a breath, Nor life's affections, transient fire, Whose sparks fly upward and expire. A WORD TO THE WEARY. ig There is a world above, Where parting is unknown ; A long eternity of love, Formed for the good above ; And faith beholds the dying here, Translated to that glorious sphere. Thus star by star declines, Till all are passed away, As morning high and higher shines To pure and perfect day ; Nor sink those stars in empty night, But hide themselves in heaven's own light. Montgomery. UNKIND SPEECHES. This is a wicked world, and the tongue is a principal instrument of the wickedness, that makes earth so much like the pit of woe. The tongue is a world of iniquity. Laws, and bars, and bolts, and racks cannot check its mischief. Unjust reproach- es, uncharitable surmises and censo- rious rumors often fill God's people 20 A WORD TO THE WEARY. with grief. David bewails the fact that he was " the song of the drunk- ard/' Job bemoans himself because " the children of those, whom he would not have set among the dogs of his flock," and even his own serv- ants treated him scornfully. True religion does not create insensibility to the value of a quiet life, or of a good name. It refines and strength- ens our lawful regards to the good opinions of others. One of the bitter ingredients in the Master's cup of sorrow was calumny and misrepre- sentation. He says : " Reproach hath broken my heart." Ps. lxix. 26. Some- times the sins of slander and back- biting, reproach and detraction come over society like desolating waves. Then the good man says, " My soul dwelleth among lions." " Every day they wrest my words." " Oh, that I had wings like a dove ! for then A WORD TO THE WEARY. 2 \ would I fly away and be at rest." " Thou lovest all devouring words, O, though deceitful tongue." The anguish thus caused is dreadful. Let those who have felt it testify. One says : " There is a persecution sharp- er than the axe. There is an iron that goes into the heart deeper than the knife. Cruel sneers, and sar- casms, and pitiless judgments, and cold-hearted calumnies — these are persecutions." But of old, one said : " The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." Prov. xxvi. 22. " Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Prov. xviii. 21. Among mine enemies my name A proverb vile has grown, While to my neighbors I become Forgotten and unknown. Hard lot of mine ! my days are cast Among the sons of strife, 22 A WORD TO THE WEARY. Whose never-ceasing quarrels waste My golden hours of life. Peace is the blessing that I seek, How lovely are its charms ! I am for peace ; but when I speak, They all declare for arms. Slander and fear, on every side, Seized and beset me round : I to Thy throne of grace applied, And speedy rescue found. Within thy sacred presence, Lord, Let me forever dwell ; No fenced city, walled and barred, Secures a saint so well. Fear Him, ye saints ; and you will then Have nothing else to fear ; Come, make His service your delight ; He'll make your cause His care. Watts. REAL PERSECUTION. We have the highest authority for saying that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 23 Although in most lands the lion is chained; yet everywhere the seed of the bondwoman hates the seed of the freewoman. It has always been so ; so it will continue to the end of the reign of wickedness. There are many ways of persecution, even in free countries. Social proscription, vex- atious lawsuits, a general disposition to disoblige, the withholding of what is just and equal, and in countless ways harassing with malignity those who merit no such measure at our hands, are very common. There is often persecution in one's tone and temper towards another, in his words, and in countless little actions, as well as in tormenting with the penalties of laws made to afflict good men. In some parts of the world the whole system of taxation, both in assessing and collecting it, is in the very spirit of persecution. It is amazing how 24 A WORD TO THE WEARY. far even good men sometimes go, not only in conniving at outrages com- mitted on others, but in fanning the flame of fury. Many others profess to hold with the hare, but they hunt with the hound. The number of men who are valiant for the truth and the right is small. A large number of at least a good sort of men will say, It is no good thing that the malicious are doing ; but they will risk nothing and do nothing to arrest the course of malice and wrong-doing. Even in the present century blood has been poured out like water in the cause of truth and righteousness. In the early ages of Christianity, as well as since, " Persecution walked The earth, from age to age, and drank the blood Of saints, with horrid relish drank the blood Of God's peculiar children — and was drunk ; A WORD TO THE WEARY, 2 $ And in her drunkenness dreamed of doing good. The supplicating hand of innocence, That made the tiger mild, and in his wrath The lion pause — the groans of suffering most Severe, were naught to her : she laughed at groans : No music pleased her more ; and no repast So sweet to her as blood of men redeemed By blood of Christ/' One good effect of persecution in every form is its tendency to purify the Church of God. A false professor can seldom stand such a test. Milner says: " Persecution often does in this life what the last day will do com- pletely — separate the wheat from the tares." Blessed be God, there is a land where persecution never reaches. And will the God of grace Perpetual silence keep ? The God of Justice hold his peace, And let His vengeance sleep? 26 A WORD TO THE WEARY. \ Behold what cruel snares The men of mischief spread ; The men that hate Thy saints and Thee, Lift up their threatening head. Against Thy hidden ones, Their counsels they employ ; And malice, with her watchful eye, Pursues them to destroy. " Come, let us join (they cry) To root them from the ground, Till not the name of saints remain, Nor memory shall be found." Awake, Almighty God, And call Thy power to mind ; Make them to bow before Thy will, And let them pardon find. Convince their madness, Lord, And make them seek Thy name ; Or else their impious rage confound, And turn their pride to shame. Watts. DEATH AND THE GRAVE. God's people know that they must die. As naturally as others, they A WORD TO THE WEARY. 2 J shrink from pain and the grave. The love of life was probably as strong in man before his fall as it is now in most men. The temporal penalty attached to eating the forbidden fruit derived its force from a desire to live. Some good people are consti- tutionally timid ; and some of them are much inclined to look on the dark side of things. In fact, some habitually expect the worst. Unless we are sustained by hi^h Christian hopes and principles, sober reflec- tion on death and its consequences must beget uneasiness in the firmest. Nor can anything wholly and per- manently remove the fear of death but divine grace. Death is both the king of tenors, and the terror of kings. Men have, without apparent alarm, stormed a deadly breach. But when, in the quiet of a chamber, they have been told that their time of de- 28 ^ WORD TO THE WEARY. parture was near, fear has blanched their cheek. It is no marvel that the mass of men should dwell on the sub- ject with real discomfort. It greatly humbles the righteous to remember that they deserve death, and even worse than any temporal suffering can possibly be. Sometimes their sense ot u n worthiness is accompanied with low spirits. Then it looks as if they may expect sorrow upon sorrow, till they are swallowed up of grief. For fifty- five years I have been considerably familiar with beds of sickness and of death. I have seen many die, but I have not in that time seen one com- fortable death, where the good hope through grace in Christ was want- ing ; nor have I ever seen the right- eous forsaken in his last moments. I once knew an eminent child of God, who was subject to seasons of insan- ity, accompanied by awful depression A WORD TO THE WEARY. 2 g of spirits. She had such a spell not long before death, but as she ap- proached near her end, her mind be- came clear, and she left the world not only tranquilly, but joyfully. One thing is very cheering ; it is that the young, the nervous, and even those who had long been in bondage through the fear of death, but were able to put their whole reliance on Christ, were in the last days of life among the very bravest and bright- est of dying saints. Oh ! to be ready when death shall come ! Oh ! to be ready to hasten home ! No earthward clinging, no lingering gaze, No strife at parting, no sore amaze, No chains to sever that earth hath twined, No spell to loosen that love would bind. No flitting shadows to dim the light Of the angel-pinions winged for flight, No cloud-like phantoms to fling a gloom Twixt heaven's bright portals and earth's dark tomb ; 30 A WORD TO THE WEARY. But sweetly, gently, to pass away From the world's dim twilight into day. To list the music of angel lyres, To catch the rapture of seraph fires, To lean in trust on the risen One, Till borne away to a fadeless throne. Oh ! to be ready when death shall come ! Oh ! to be ready to hasten home ! Anon. THE STATE OF THE CHURCH ON EARTH. This often makes the righteous sad. In all nations the wicked have a fear- ful power, commonly a large major- ity ; and they wield their power against the truth. Every govern- ment on earth is more or less anti- Christian in its laws and usages. The love of many, from whom good things had been expected, has wax- ed cold ; many turn aside to fables and to jangling; some embrace and A WORD TO THE WEARY. 31 disseminate troublesome notions ; others hold and propagate damnable heresies. Even Charity itself, be- cause it rejoiceth in the truth, dares not hope that the mass of nominal Christians and teachers in the visible Church are the real friends of God. World liness, vanity, formality, sloth, backsliding, want of tenderness of conscience, and lack of zeal, are fear- fully prevalent. Among the pious is often heard the cry, " Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?" Barren ordi- nances and an unfruitful ministry fill the pious with grief. No famine is so dreadful as a famine of the Word of God ; no drought is so much to be deprecated as a dearth of spiritual influences. When the heavens be- come brass, and glow like a furnace, and the earth becomes iron, man and beast are often in great straits. But, if the whole Church of God at that 32 A WORD TO THE WEARY. very time were thrifty and abundant in every good work, joy might still abound. It is sad indeed when few of the sens of the Church offer them- selves to be her ministers, when pillars in the temple are fallen, and others rise not up to take their place. That was a doleful cry of the prophet, " Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail from among the chil- dren of men." Ps. xii. I. One sight is inconceivably sad : it is that of a rich harvest perishing for the want of reapers to gather it in. Saviour, visit Thy plantation ; Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain : All will come to desolation, Unless Thou return again : Lord, revive us ; All our help must come from Thee. Keep no longer at a distance, Shine upon us from on high ; Lest for want of Thine assistance, A WORD TO THE WEARY. 33 Every plant should droop and die ; Lord, revive us ; All our help must come from Thee. Let our mutual love be fervent, Make us prevalent in prayers ; Let each one esteemed Thy servant, Shun the world's bewitching snares. Lord, revive us ; All our help must come from Thee. Break the tempter's fatal power ; Turn the stony heart to flesh ; And begin from this good hour, To revive Thy work afresh. Lord, revive us ; All our help must come from Thee. Newton. THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Heavy as are the other trials of the Christian life, their power of pro- ducing" distress is not comparable to spiritual distress. The greatest war- fare is the conflict with sin and temp- tation. To be tempted of the devil 3 34 A WORD TO THE WEARY. is, in a sense, to be tormented of the devil; and when the heart at all yields to the seductions of the wick- ed one, and the conscience is defiled by sin, the anguish is sometimes in- tolerable. Read and study the 32d, 51st, and 130th Psalms, if you would know how sin has of old seduced and afflicted. " The spirit of a man sus- taineth his infirmity ; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" In their own spiritual state, the pious often find cause of discomfort and weariness hardly capable of expression. Long after David knew and loved God, he compares his distresses to broken bones; he is so covered with shame that he cannot look up ; he forgets to take bread, and piteously cries out, "Iniquities prevail against me !" Look at Peter going out and weeping bit- terly. Hear Paul saying, " O, wretch- ed man that I am, who shall deliver A WORD TO THE WEARY. 35 me?" By Isaiah, the whole Church says, " Our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Is. lxiv. 6. Sometimes these spiritual conflicts are rendered more distressing by the hiding of God's countenance. One's fellowship does not then seem to be with the Father and with the Son. When close and comfortable com- munion with God is much interrupt- ed, one feels that his Helper and Friend is gone. At such times pray- er is almost a task, praise almost a burden, and Satan seems to be let loose, and even blasphemies are thrust into the mind. Then despairing thoughts are almost overpowering. Sin becomes bold. Resistance seems unavailing. The soul cries for help, but there is none; for salvation, but it is afar off. The terrors of the Law are let loose. Conscience thunders. God Himself seems to have forgotten 36 A WORD TO THE WEARY. to be gracious. Then, with Jere- miah, the soul cries out, u Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be heal- ed? wilt thou altogether be unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?" Jer. xv. 18. Perhaps the words of the Psalmist still better express the feeling of the soul : " Will the Lord cast off forever ? and will He be fa- vorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? doth his promise fail forevermore ? hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath He, in anger, shut up his tender mercies ?" Ps. lxxvii. 7-9. The old cry, " O Lord, how long?" is often heard in the assem- blies of the saints. When my sins, in aspect dread, Meet like waters o'er my head, Seen in light of God's own face, Darker for his offered grace ; When I sigh for healing rest, A WORD TO THE WEARY. 37 By a hopeless yoke opprest, Struggling in a grasp too strong, Borne, as by a wind, along ; Then I hear that voice from heaven : " Knock, and entrance shall be given." Anon. Sometimes very strange temptations overtake the people of God. Time would fail to state the half of them. Here is one. In a letter, John New- ton says : " I was for a while troubled with a very singular thought. . . I seemed not so much afraid of wrath and punishment as of being lost and overlooked amidst the myriads that are continually entering the unseen world. * What is my soul,' thought I, ' among such an innumerable multi- tude of beings?' And this troubled me greatly. Perhaps the Lord would take no notice of me. I was thus greatly perplexed. " In like manner, Pollock says of himself that — ■ 38 A WORD TO THE WEARY. " — he as some atom seemed which God Had made superfluously, and needed not To build creation with ; but back again To nothing threw, and left it in the void, With everlasting sense that once it was." However strange such thoughts may seem to those who never had them, yet there is laid for them a broad foundation in the ignorance, guilt, and fears of unregenerate na- ture. Even where grace has im- parted some knowledge of God and His mercy to sinners, such fears may spring up. A consciousness of one's unworthiness, and inability to be prof- itable to God ; a strong sense of ill- desert, accompanied with weak faith in the divine mercy and perfections may much depress a pious mind. Feeling unworthy of any notice from God, it fears He may doom it to ever- lasting neglect and eternal desolation. When God seems to be pursuing it A WORD TO THE WEARY. 39 in displeasure, the soul says, as Da- vid said to Saul, u After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea?" Sam. xxiv. 14. To the same effect Job speaks in his distress: " Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and .wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?" Job xiii. 25. And because one feels as if he were be- neath the dignity of God's wrath, he also fears that he may be beneath the regards of His mercy. Sometimes the wicked one besets good men with doubts concerning the omniscience or omnipresence of God. It seems to them that God is not noticing what takes place. Their faith is weak, and they sink into de- spondent thoughts. One goes " for- ward, but God is not there; and backward, but he cannot perceive him ; on the left-hand, where he doth 40 A WORD TO THE WEARY. work, but he cannot behold him ; he hideth himself on the right hand, that he cannot see him." Job xxiii. 8, 9. In its trouble, the soul, not seeing God, thinks God does not see it. The "eyes fail, from looking upward." No God appears; no helper comes. Then the tempter urges that God does not see, or does not regard. In such a state men are ready to say : " Master, carest Thou not that we perish? "Mark iv. 38. The absence of a firm faith in God's watchful care will destroy one's com- fort. "AS ONE WHOM HIS MOTHER COMFORT- ETH, SO WILL I COMFORT YOU." " So will I comfort you," as when a sobbing child Seeks sweet heart-comfort on its mother's breast ; By her caresses fond, unconsciously beguiled From memories of pain, soon sinks to rest. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 41 " Ye shall be comforted." Our hearts are faint and sore ; We would be little children once again ; But childhood would bring back the griefs we knew of yore, But not the mother who caressed us then. We need a stronger love, we seek a deeper rest, Whose type and earnest we once knew in this ; The nestling of the child upon its mother's breast, The sweet dreams won us by her " good- night " kiss. Lord ! grant us restful sleep, untroubled, sweet and calm ; Not fitful slumbers, 'mid life's fevered dream. Oh, seal our weary eyelids with thy touch of balm, Not to re-ope until the Great Day's gleam. We only wait, as minors, till the glad Birthday Shall crown us kings before our Father's throne. As princely exiles here, we struggle, toil, and pray, With eyes, by watching, very weary grown. 42 A WORD TO THE WEARY. For comfortless, aye, orphan'd, Thou dost nevei make Thy children. Trusting hearts are kept in peace, And when our night-time comes, ThouTt bid us sleep to wake Where every sob is hushed, and sorrows cease. THE WORLD DENIES GOD'S SAINTS. It often distresses the pious that men of the world do not ad-mit their claims to sonship with God. It is a remarkable fact that when the Phari- sees were in the last stages of cor- ruption, they were in the greatest favor with the uncircumcised in heart. It is no less true that the more pure and holy any body ol men have been, the more malignant have been their enemies. Even the claims of Jesus to a spotless purity were so far from being admitted, that he was said to be in league with the prince of the devils. In like maimer A WORD TO THE WEARY, 43 the world hates the followers of Christ, and denies their claims to saintship. Tis no surprising thing, That we should be unknown ; The Jewish world knew not their King, God's everlasting Son. Sometimes this uncharitable spirit extends to even some of the profess- ed followers of Christ. In almost every age there have been some who cried, with a loud voice : " The tem- ple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we" — we are the Church — salvation is secured only in our com- munion — ye are all in your sins. Such conduct not only displays con- summate vanity in these boasters, but it often deeply wounds the ten- der spirit of the true Christian. Al- though he may not complain of it, it is not without its effect on his heart 44 A WORD TO THE WEARY. It sinks his spirits. He is sad either be- cause he fears that he may be wrong, or because it grieves him to find any professed friend of Christ so carried away by uncharitableness. In almost every ship are some passengers, who make themselves disagreeable by their unamiable or disobliging tem- pers. Some are vastly self-conceited. They claim to know everything. They find fault with the navigation of the ship. They see how it might be much better done. They are querulous, and never in a good hu- mor. At such times and in such cir- cumstances, our wisdom is to cease from man and go to God, our exceed- ing joy. He is a very present help in trouble. A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing ; Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing. A WORD TO THE WEARY, For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe ; His craft and power are great, And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing ; Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be ? Christ Jesus, it is He. Lord Sabaoth His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro' us. The Prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him : His rage we can endure — For lo ! his doom is sure ; One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth ; 45 46 A WORD TO THE WEARY. The Spirit and the gifts are ours, Through Him who with us sideth. Let good and kindred go, This mortal life also ; The body they may kill, God's truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. Luther. LEANNESS AND BARRENNESS LAMENTED. It is sad when the chief song oi the believer is over his own leanness. If a vine-tree brings forth no good grapes, it is good for nothing but to be burned. So says and argues the great prophet of the river Chebar. Ezek. xv. If God has done every- thing proper to be done to his vine- yard, it ought to bring forth good grapes. " Now are ye my friends, if ye do whatseover I command you. M " Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit." It is dreadful A WORD TO THE WEARY. 47 so to live as to incur the blighting curse sent on the barren fig-tree. God is never glorified by a heartless, fruitless profession. A good man deplores the want of zeal and useful- ness in his brethren, but most of all in himself. Blessed Paul was very intent that he himself should not run in vain, neither labor in vain. Phil. ii. 16. No preaching is more useful to Christians than that which makes them humble for past neglect, and zealous of good works. Those writ- ings, which abase pride and beget liveliness in the work of God, should be much studied. The following hymn has long been a favorite in the devotions of the closet. It is entitled, UNFRUITFULNESS LAMENTED. Long have I sat beneath the sound Of thy salvation, Lord ; 48 A WORD TO THE WEARY. But still how weak my faith is found, And knowledge of Thy word. Oft I frequent Thy holy place, And hear almost in vain ; How small a portion of Thy grace Can my false heart retain ! How cold and feeble is my love ! How negligent my fear ! How low my hope of joys above ! How few affections there ! Great God, thy sovereign power impart, To give Thy word success ; Write Thy salvation on my heart, And make me learn Thy grace. A holy life, fruitful in good works, is essential to the making of our call- ing and election sure. But alas ! " Men will wrangle for religion ; write for it ; fight for it ; die for it ; anything but live for it." We never do our duty till we stir ourselves up to take hold upon God. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 49 All really good works have their root and beginning in unfeigned faith in Christ. John vi. 28, 29; Heb. xi. 6. And all true evangelical faith leads to holiness, because it is itself the very germ of holiness in a sin- ner's heart. God's people sometimes fall into a great error respecting their duty. The layman wishes he could preach. The preacher wishes he could turn philanthropist. The philanthropist thinks the patient sufferer far excels him in glorifying God. The patient sufferer wishes he could lead a life of active usefulness. The best way is for every one to stand in his lot, and do his duty there. Let Mordecai be porter, till God calls him to guide the State. Let Daniel go to the lions' c\en. The path of his duty lies right through that, cage of ferocious ani- mals. Let Aquila and Priscilla make 4 50 A WORD TO THE WEARY. tents when they have nothing better to do. Let Peter feed the sheep and lambs. Hark ! the voice of Jesus crying, " Who will go and work to-day ? Fields are white, and harvests waiting : Who will bear the sheaves away ? " Loud and long the Master calleth ; Rich reward he offers free ; Who will answer, gladly saying, " Here am I ; send me, send me." If you cannot cross the ocean, And the heathen lands explore, You can find the heathen nearer, You can help them at your door. If you cannot give your thousands, You can give the widow's mite ; And the least you give for Jesus Will be precious in His sight. If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 51 If you cannot rouse the wicked With the judgment's dread alarms, You can lead the little children To the Saviour's waiting arms. Let none hear you idly saying, " There is nothing I can do/' While the souls of men are dying, And the Master calls for you. Take the task he gives you gladly ; Let your work your pleasure be ; Answer quickly when he callerh, " Here am I : send me, send me." A non, THE SUM OF THE WHOLE. When one looks at these things, perceives the great cleceitfulness of his own heart, sees the working of the mystery 7 of iniquity in the world, beholds the abounding of error on all religious subjects, botli doctrinal and practical, witnesses many sad and shameful apostasies and gross self- deceptions, his soul is cast down 52 A WORD TO THE WEARY. within him. Abraham is ignorant of him, and Israel acknowledges him not. His faith is so weak that he fails confidently to claim sonship with God. His title to heaven is not so clear as he could wish. In many ways he is at a disadvantage. For all such I have a word in sea- son : I. A Word of Instruction ; II. A Word of Encouragement ; III. A Word of Caution. I. — A WORD OF INSTRUCTION. I. Whatever be the case of any one, the basis which God has laid for the faith, support, encouragement, vic- tor)- and final salvation of his people is ample and covers the whole case: " The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, A WORD TO THE WEARY. 53 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Tim. ii. 19. Every heir of life is known of God, and God is known of him. His record is on high ; and he hates sin and loves holiness. These are the main pillars on which rests the fabric of Christian hopes, joys, safety and consolation. God has full intelligence of all that takes place, or that can take place. His omniscience covers everything. He can see a grain of wheat in a bushel of chaff. He never regards a sheep as a goat, nor the wheat as tares. He has a distinct vision of all matters relating to the best interests of all his people. He infallibly distinguishes the weak saint from all vain pretenders around him. Though Noah lived in a world wholly given up to sin and folly, yet God knew him from all his genera- tion. Though righteous Lot was the 54 A WORD TO THE WEARY. only good man among the thousands, and perhaps millions in the plain of Sodom, yet God discerned between his servant and his ungodly neigh- bors. In peace and in war, by sea or on land, on mountains or in cities, in dens or in deserts, in prisons or in palaces, God has never failed to rec- ognize believers as his friends, how- ever obscure or distrustful of them- selves. There is a still higher sense in which God knows His people, i. e., he approves them and regards them with favor. See Ps. i. 6; Amos iii. 2. Often has the word this sense. The fountain of this kind regard is in God's infinite and everlasting love and mercy. God looks upon His people in the face of Christ Jesus ; and He loves the image of Christ which they bear in their hearts. All the saints are " elect according to the A WORD TO THE WEARY. 5- foreknowledge of God the Father." 1 Pet. i. 2. " Whom he did fore- know, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified : and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Rom. viii. 29, 30 ; compare Eph. i. 3-6. God knows all the affairs of His people as they now stand, or as they shall here- after stand. He loves His own. He loves them infinitely. He has loved them with an everlasting love. Men may hate and deride them, but God pities and cherishes them. Their judgment is with their God. Their names are in the book of life. Their Saviour reigns. If we cannot do all the good we wish, let us do all the good we can. Let all remember that 56 A WORD TO THE WEARY. God knows and approves their unful- filled desires and unaccomplished plans of usefulness. " So do I gather strength and hope anew ; For well I know Thy patient love perceives Not what I did, but what I strove to do — And though the full ripe ears be sadly few, Thou wilt accept my sheaves." Though the Lord did not permit David to build the temple, yet He took it well of him to meditate so pious a work, and gather much of the treasure necessary to accomplish it. Every epistle to the seven church- es of Asia has in it these words : " I know thy works. 1 ' He knows alt about them. And He knows all about His people — their joys and sorrows, their pains and pleasures, their poverty and purposes. If we are distressed about food and raiment, He knows that we have need of these things. The Lord will pro- A WORD TO THE WEARY. 57 vide. Not a sparrow is forgotten before him. And are ye not of more value than many sparrows? The Good Shepherd calleth the sheep by name. He knows them well. John x. 3, 14. My God, whose gracious pity I may claim, Calling thee Father — sweet endearing name — • The sufferings of this weak and weary frame, All, all are known to Thee. Each secret conflict with indwelling sin, Each sickening fear I ne'er the prize shall win, Each pang from irritation, turmoil, sin, — All, all is known to Thee. Nay, all by Thee is ordered, chosen, planned, Each drop that fills my daily cup, Thy hand Prescribes, for ills none else can understand ; All, all is known to Thee. And welcome, precious worthy Spirit, make My little drop of suffering for His sake ; Father, the cup I drink, the path I take, All, all is known to thee. A n oh. 58 A WORD TO THE WEARY. On the seal of God may also be found this inscription : u Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." " If a man therefore purge himself from these [sinful lusts], he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanc- tified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work,'' 2 Tim. ii. 21. God never intended that His people should have consola- tion, except in the way of holiness. If men believe that the moral law is not binding as a rule of life, they will wallow in the mire of sin. It is not safe for any man to bless himself in his iniquity. " Say ye to the wicked, it shall be ill with him." He who approves and allows sin, is in the bonds of iniquity. Scougal says : " I had rather see the real impres- sions of a god-like nature upon my own soul, than have a vision from heaven, or an angel sent to tell me, A WORD TO THE WEARY. 59 that my name was enrolled in the book of life." Men may boast of free grace, and rejoice in justification by faith, and talk fluently of other Scrip ture doctrines, but all will be in vain if they remain filthy and unholy. No man can prove himself a Christian, if he does not hate sin. Among the ancients the entrance to the temple of honor was through the temple of virtue. He who would ascend to glory must be first pure. Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. But he, who hates sin and perfects holiness, may know that he is of God. " To be amended by a little cross, afraid of a little sin, and affected with a little mercy, is a good evidence of grace in the soul." But no unre- newed man can truly say, " I hate every false way ; " " With my mind I serve the law." It is folly not to believe that he that doeth righteous- 60 ^ WORD TO THE WEARY. ness is righteous, or that he that com- mitteth sin is of the devil. I John iii. 7, 8. Personal holiness is the only satisfactory evidence of our accept- ance with God. He who loves it has rejoicing in himself, and not in an- other. Man's destiny is determined in this life. His character is formed here, and it may be known here. LONGING FOR HOLINESS. Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways To keep His statutes still ! Oh, that my God would grant me grace To know and do His will ! Oh, send Thy Spirit down to write Thy law upon my heart ! Nor let my tongue indulge deceit, Nor act the liar's part. From vanity turn off my eyes ; Let no corrupt design, Nor covetous desires, arise Within this soul of mine. A WORD TO THE WEARY, 6 1 Order my footsteps by Thy word, And make my heart sincere ; Let sin have no dominion, Lord, But keep my conscience clear. My soul hath gone too far astray, My feet too often slip ; Yet, since I've not forgot Thy way, Restore Thy wandering sheep. Make me to walk in Thy commands, 'Tis a delightful road ; Nor let my head, nor heart, nor hands Offend against my God. 2. In the being", perfections and government of God is laid a sure foundation for the solace of God's people. The darkest gulf into which the mind of man can look is that of atheism. Nor can any scheme of thought present the world otherwise than as a helpless orphan, unless we admit that God is, and that he has an infinitely excellent nature, and that He governs all things. God lacks no 62 A WORD TO THE WEARY. attribute, the existence of which could cheer a good man, nor is His government weak, or foolish, or par- tial, or precarious. " The Lord reign- eth ; let the earth rejoice." Ps. xcvii. I. No words are better suited to quiet any pious heart than these : " It is the Lord." The Lord Jehovah reigns, His throne is built on high ; The garments He assumes Are light and majesty. His glories shine with beams so bright, No mortal eye can bear the sight. The thunders of His hand Keep the wide world in awe ; His wrath and justice stand To guard His holy law ; And where His love resolves to bless, His truth confirms and seals the grace. Through all His ancient works, Surprising wisdom shines ; Confounds the powers of hell, And breaks their cursed designs. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 63 Strong is His arm, and shall fulfill His great decrees, His sovereign will. And can this mighty King Of glory condescend, And will He write His name, My Father and my Friend ? I love His name, I love His word ; Join all my powers and praise the Lord. 3. Nor has the history of God's deal- ings with His people left any room for doubt that He will be with His own, and help them to the end. Tell me, O vexed soul, when did God ever forsake the righteous, and leave him to perish ? Now, all God has done, He will do again when the necessities of His people demand it. Salvation wrought for David or Daniel is as good ground of support to a believer of this dav, as if it were part of his own experience. Nor is this all. God has good cause for all He does. He knows that he is acting 64 A WORD TO THE WEARY. wisely. If we could understand what He is doing, we should heartily ap- prove it. The darkest event that ever happened in the Church of God was the death and burial of His holy child, Jesus. Yet, from that came life and salvation to the whole Church. His counsels are of old faithfulness and truth. No plans, no methods, no counsels are as good as His. He manages all perfectly. Give Him time to explain Himself. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace ; Behind a frowning Providence, He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour : The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain ; God is His own interpreter, And he will make it plain. A WORD TO THE WEARY. 65 4. Moreover, grace and strength are pledged to carry all believers through the worst trials, through all the trials that may come upon them. They may be huge, but divine grace can make the worm Jacob to thresh the mountains. Hear God's promises : 4i As thy days, so shall thy strength be." i4 Fear not: for I have redeem- ed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine; when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." " I will not leave you comfortless ; I will come unto you." " My grace is sufficient for thee." So that we could desire no more, and no better promises than are already given in God's precious word. S 66 4 WORD TO THE WEARY. Our God, how firm His promise stands ! E'en when He hides His face, He trusts in our Redeemer's hands, His glory and His grace. Then why, my soul, these sad complaints Since Christ and we are one ? Thy God is faithful to His saints, Is faithful to His Son. Beneath His smiles my heart has lived, And part of heaven possessed ; I praise His name for grace received, And trust Him for the rest. 5. Nor does God ever afflict ca- priciously. He does nothing but for good cause.