Review

[This story teaches children to see the Bible's stories as more than just mere amusement. How sad it is that today many would do well just to get their children to be amused by the Bible, since they have been so drenched in everything else under the sun. And it seems that everywhere we look someone is putting Bible stories to rock music, and turning them into such foolishness that is becomes blasphemous. It is one thing to tell Bible stories in a way children will understand. It is quite another thing to make a mock of holiness and cause children to lose their reverence for God and His Word.]

“T HOMAS and his sister had been busily employed all the morning at their lessons. Ellen finished her piece of sewing just as her brother began the last line in his copy; and by the time that her little work-box was neatly put up in its place, Thomas had wiped his pen, exclaiming, “There, now business is done; and as it rains so fast, we are sure of a nice story from mamma.”

To mamma they went; and having satisfied her that their tasks were indeed properly done, claimed the reward. “What story shall it be?” said mamma. “Oh, a pretty history out of the Bible, if you please, mamma,” replied Ellen. “Yes,” said Thomas, “there are many beautiful histories in the Bible. I do love it best of all books, for the sweet histories that are in it. I am never tired of hearing about Moses and Joshua, how they led the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan; or of David, how he killed Goliath, and fled from Saul, and how he became king. And then about naughty Absalom, and wise Solomon, and Samuel the little priest. Oh there is no book like the Bible.”

The children seated themselves upon two little stools near their mother, and with smiling looks, waited for her to begin. But she had something to say to them first.

“In the histories that you have named, and all others, we are shown examples, whether of piety or wickedness, ‘profitable,’ as St. Paul tells us, ‘for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;’ and the object is, ‘that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.’ When we overlook this, we not only do wrong, but acquire a habit of trifling with holy things, and pierce ourselves through with many sorrows, by neglecting to use the means which God has given, in the manner that he has commanded.”

“I am glad you do so,” replied her mamma; “but you must observe many other things besides the providential government of God. All the parables in the New Testament, as you well know, are given to teach us our duty as Christians, and many of them are explained by our blessed Lord himself.”

“We must also remember, that the sinners redeemed by him, become ‘a peculiar people, zealous of good works;’ and that although ‘we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God,’ yet, to those who believe, exceeding great and precious promises are given of such strength and support as they need. They find God a refuge, ‘a very present help in trouble: when their heart and their flesh fail, they find him the strength of their heart, and their portion for ever.’

“Indeed, mamma,” said Ellen, “I do not. It is true that I often say to myself, ‘How wonderfully God delivers his people out of their dangers!’ but I do not think so much about our Saviour as it seems I ought to do.”

“Alas, my child, how can such as we dare at all to think upon the holy Lord God, or take his name into our mouths, unless at the same time we regard him as our reconciled Father through Jesus Christ? So awfully pure and holy is the Most High, that he is a consuming fire to all out of Christ. Every blessing, every comfort, every hope that we enjoy–health and strength, the use of our limbs and our senses, safety by day, repose at night, food and raiment–all, all are the purchase of our Redeemer’s blood. He says, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth.’ How mercifully that power is used, let our lips confess, while our souls bless the Lord.”

“If we always thought of this, sister,” said Thomas, “every thing that we read in the Bible would make us love Jesus Christ more and more.” “It ought to do so,” replied his mamma, “but our ungrateful hearts are so ready to forget his benefits, and so little inclined for his service, that I fear you do not always pray for the help of the Holy Spirit, although he is given to take of the things of Christ and show them unto us–to bring all things to our remembrance–and to lead us into all truth. Our Lord says, ‘Search the Scriptures,’ ‘they are they which testify of me.’ It is He ‘of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write.’ ‘To Him give all the prophets witness.’

“Yes, mamma, and they were told not to provoke him.”

“True, my dears: Jehovah said, ‘My name is in him; and this Angel had power to forgive sins, or not to forgive them. ‘Who can forgive sins but God alone?’”

“The Jews said that, mamma.”

“Yes, Ellen; and the Jews were right. They heard Jesus Christ declare to the sick man that his sins were forgiven; and they saw a miracle performed to prove that he had ‘power upon earth to forgive sins.’ This should have convinced them that he was indeed ‘God manifest in the flesh;’ but their hard and unbelieving hearts would not allow it. Seeing, they did not perceive; and hearing, they could not understand. Shall we be like those unhappy Jews, shutting our eyes and our ears against the blessed truths that testify of Jesus?”

“Then, my children, we must diligently seek in the Bible for what will so strengthen our faith, and assure our hearts; always praying that we be not forgetful hearers, but doers of the word. Satan, who opposed the work of our redemption, and even dared to meet and to tempt the Son of God, is always watching to draw off our thoughts from Him, whom to know is eternal life.

“We may take up the Bible, to be interested by its histories, and delighted by the beautiful language in which they are written, yet seek no real profit from it. We may believe all that is told us of the creation, and even the whole of our Saviour’s life, death, and resurrection, without being the better or the happier.

“It is when we look into the Bible as if it was a letter written to us, and every word of it meant for our instruction, that it becomes a light to our feet, showing us the path to [eternal life]. We must feel ourselves to be poor ruined creatures, and come seeking our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, in every part of the book. They who seek him early shall find him.”

The children were very thankful to their mamma for telling them all this; and they listened very attentively, while she read to them the history of Abraham going to sacrifice his son Isaac, in the 22d chapter of Genesis. She also explained to them how beautifully the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus was foreshown in it.

“But Isaac was not slain at last,” said Ellen, “and our Lord was.”

“Isaac was spared,” said her mamma, “through the offering of another in his stead. As the death of the ram saved the life of Isaac’s body, so did the precious blood of Christ deliver Isaac’s soul from the bitter pains of eternal death. ‘God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,’ and the blessed Jesus consented to be delivered up, and to die upon the cross, for the sinful children of men. Let us never cease to give honor unto him who is adored by the angels of heaven, joining with the spirits of just men made perfect; and all together glorifying him, and saying, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.’”

Review

GEORGE: Yes, father, I like to see them; for though they are not so pretty as wasps, they are not so spiteful and mischievous.

F: It is a great matter to be free from such bad qualities as spitefulness and mischief, but that is not all the praise of the bee; it sets us an example of many good and excellent qualities. You have not, I hope, forgotten Dr. Watts’ beautiful little poem,

How doth the little busy bee,

G: No, father, I can say it quite perfectly now; and mother says she taught it me before I was two years old.

F: That which is earliest planted is likely to be most deeply rooted. You learned to repeat the words then: now, you are old enough to observe the thing; and as you do so, you will discover in your little poem a beauty and meaning which you had not before perceived.

First, let us examine the curious and well-contrived frame of this little creature, and adore the wisdom and power of God in its creation. We wonder at the mighty elephant, and the majestic lion, when we occasionally see them; but the Creator’s hand is no less visible in the little bee, or ant, or spider, which we see every day, and are too apt to pass by without a thought.

Look at its delicate wings, with strong fibres around and across, to strengthen the fine lacework of which they are formed.

Observe how curiously the eyes, which are very large, are covered over with a thick horny shield to defend them from injury; and, as if to supply any defect of sight which this might occasion, they are provided with a pair of horns or feelers, which they can put out or draw in at pleasure; these they commonly thrust out before them, and with them tenderly feel any object they approach, and judge of its nature and properties.

The tongue of the bee is much longer than its mouth will contain, and so is doubled up and reaches a good way under its breast. This is necessary to enable her to suck out the honey which in many flowers is placed at the end of a long narrow tube, as in the honeysuckle, which flower, I suppose, takes its name from the sweet food which it abundantly furnishes to these industrious little creatures.

The bee is thickly covered with hairs; these, most likely, are designed for warmth, for the bee itself is a tender little creature; and great warmth also is necessary in bringing forward its young, over which the parent bee sits–much in the same manner as a hen on her eggs–and which by her natural warmth she cherishes, until they come out of their little cells, perfect bees.

Observe, too, each bee is furnished with a bottle or bag, in which to carry its honey, which, by muscles fitly adapted for the purpose, she empties into the honey-comb; in this also they often fetch water with which to mix up food for their young, in attending to which they are very diligent and careful. So much for the natural formation of the bee, which should lead you to adore the Creator’s power and wisdom, as manifested in the smallest as well as the noblest of his works.

I must now tell you a few things which have been remarked concerning the habits of the bee, and of which we may say, as Solomon says of the ant, “Go to the bee, thou sluggard,” or spendthrift; “consider her ways, and be wise.”

1. Bees are very industrious. See how busy they are; some coming loaded into the hive, to lay up the store they have obtained; others going out in search of more: not a flower in the garden that affords honey but they visit it; and when none grow near at hand, they will even travel miles to obtain their sweet food.

Their teeth are the only instruments with which they shape these buildings so neatly and exactly; but they spare no pains in their work, and are so diligent that a stock of bees swarmed into an empty hive will, in the course of a day, construct cells enough to contain three thousand bees. If every man, woman, boy, and girl in the world were as industrious, there certainly would not be half so much poverty and misery as there are.

2. They are in regular and orderly subjection to one called the queen bee, and they labor very well together, and divide their work in the best and most agreeable way. With all their bustle we see no confusion.

But they are not kept constantly to one employment; they often change the tasks assigned them: those who have been at work are permitted to go abroad for food, while those who have already been in the fields take their place at home.

3. Bees are very persevering; they do not work hard one day and live in idleness the next; or when they go out in search of food, play about half the time, and come home with half a load of honey. If they did so, they would soon be turned out of the hive; for it is a constant rule with them, that those who will not work shall not eat; and they seem to find their joy in their work. Oh, if we did but take pleasure in our duty, how much better and more easily would it be performed; how much complaint of hardship on the part of scholars and servants would be spared, and of negligence and idleness on the part of those who instruct and employ them.

4. Bees are remarkable for their neatness and cleanliness; it is by their extreme neatness and exactness that they are able to get so much work done in so short a time, and so many accommodations in so small a compass. They have no room to throw about their honey here, and their wax there, as some slovenly people do their work; nor can they afford to suffer such valuable things to be wasted, nor spare their time to be always clearing away after the idle and careless; so they take care not to scatter any of their materials while they work, and their house is always a pattern of neatness and order. Oh, if it were possible for some children to be changed into bees, and carry into the hive their present lazy, dirty, slovenly habits, I am sure the whole family would unite in turning them out without ceremony.

5. Bees are very careful for futurity. In the summer-time, when the weather is fine, and the flowers plentiful, they do not consume all they earn, but eat what is sufficient, and lay up the rest in store for winter. In this respect they furnish a lesson to man; for there are many persons not deficient either in industry or ingenuity, who yet are often exposed to misery and inconvenience which might have been avoided, had they had the self-denial and forethought in the day of abundance to lay up something in store for the day of want.

Remember this, and never let plenty tempt you to waste and extravagance; for they will both bring on want, and make it harder when it comes; and whatever you forget, be sure to remember that your soul has wants as well as your body; and unless you believe in Christ and lay up treasure in heaven, you must be poor for ever.

6. There is one thing more I must mention of the character of the bee, namely, its usefulness to man. Nothing is made in vain; but I do not recollect any creature except the bee that is useful to man of its own voluntary industry and frugality. The horse must be driven, and the sheep must be sheared; the bee alone seems to find its pleasure in laboring and in preserving the produce of its labor. However, I do not say this very positively; I may be mistaken; but this I am sure of, that a rational and immortal creature cannot know a greater earthly happiness than that of being useful to his fellow-creatures, according to the will of God; and as it is a happiness which is not denied to the youngest or meanest, let it be our constant endeavor to enjoy it.

By our daily exertions, our good example, and our humble prayers, let us do some good to the world in which we live; let us add some honey to the hive of human happiness, which will afford grateful reflections to our own minds, and spread the honorable savor of a good name, perhaps even after we are dead.

And let us remember, that we must not try to do this in our own strength. We must entreat God to bestow upon us his Holy Spirit, who will teach us to be holy, useful, and industrious in this world, and fit us for another and a better world.

And remember, that your prayer can only be heard for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save sinners. O believe in him. Read John 3:14-18, and examine Psalm 19th to find out what is sweeter than honey and the honey-comb.

Review

U NCLE: No, I am not, Mary; and I am very sorry that you are going. I have determined not to go for many reasons.

M: Yes, I do; but that was not my fault; I could not help his being killed, nor you either.

U: No, we could not; but if I went there, I should be thinking of the poor man all the time, and that would make me very unhappy.

M: For what reason?

U: Why, I should be thinking that to procure me that amusement, a man was sent to eternity without a moment’s warning; for he fell from the top, and was killed on the spot.

M: But, uncle William, the man might have been killed in building a house or a ship.

U: Yes, so he might, that is very true; but then, Mary, houses and ships are needful things, but circuses are not needful; indeed, so far from being needful, they do much harm.

M: I should like to know what harm they do, for I have heard that in some places they allow the children of schools to go; and if they do harm, it cannot be right for them to go, nor for me either. But indeed, uncle William, I cannot see what harm there is in men riding beautiful horses.

U: O there is no harm in that, but it is only part of the performance; for I have seen women doing so, standing on the saddle, gaily, or indeed gaudily dressed, with very short dresses, and throwing themselves about in an unbecoming manner. This cannot be right, for do you not remember what the Bible says about the dress and conduct of women?

M: Yes; that they “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety.” 1 Timothy, 2:9.

M: No, there cannot be from your account, and I see now that the exhibition encourages young women to be fond of gay dress, and to be bold and immodest in manner, and all this in opposition to the word of God. But tell me something more about it.

U: There are with every circus one or two men dressed in all kind of colors, and their faces painted red and white, who are called “fools,” or “jesters.”

M: What do they do?

U: They play tricks with one another, and talk foolishness, to make the people laugh; do you think that is right?

M: No, I am sure it is not; for the Bible says that we are to avoid “foolish talking and jesting,” Eph. 5:4; and from what you say, this is practised in the circus.

U: Yes; and perhaps if you went, you might learn to do the same.

M: What you tell me makes me begin to be afraid to go to the circus, for if I went and learned foolish talking and idle words there, what should I do in the day of judgment? For I heard my teacher read in the twelfth chapter of Matthew, that “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” But how strange it is, uncle, that so many people go to the circus: I suppose they have no Bibles.

U: That is not the reason: they have Bibles, and read them occasionally, as you have done; but the truth is, they do not know what the circus is until they go, and then they are so pleased that they forget all the Bible says, and soon become “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” and his word; and having gained a taste for it, they go again and again, as often as they can.

M: But does it not cost money to go there?

U: Yes, it does.

M: How, then, do poor people and children get money, when they can hardly get food and clothing? I am sure my mother finds it hard enough to get us those things.

U: I must inform you what I have been told on this subject, for this is another bad thing to which the circus leads. In order to go there, some have been known to pawn or sell their clothes or furniture to get money, or borrow it of their fellow-workmen and others; and when pay-day comes, it must be returned, and then the wife or family must go without some necessary of life or clothing. But that is not the worst, for I have heard of masters being robbed by their servants, and even parents by their children, that they may get money in order to go to such places of amusement.

M: O, how very bad! I never thought that theatres and circuses led to so much that is evil, or I am sure I should never have wished to go with my cousin. Only think, some break the eighth commandment to go there.

U: But these are not all the bad consequences of the circus.

M: What, are there more still?

U: Yes, many; the performances are generally at night, and it often happens, I have heard, that persons who go to such places, when they come out, instead of going straight home, fall in with bad companions, and are induced to go to a public-house, where they spend their money in beer, or spirits, until they are overcome with strong drink.

M: Why, the circus coming to town leads people to commit a sin which the Bible says shuts men out of the kingdom of heaven. 1 Cor. 6:10.

U: Yes; it is well known that going to such places of vanity, and then to public-houses, has led to the ruin of thousands, body and soul; besides which, wives and children suffer by the drinking habits of their husbands and fathers learned there.

M: O what bad things come from going to the circus. But all do not get drunk, and spend the money in beer which they ought to take home for their wife to buy food and clothing for the children.

U: No, perhaps they do not do exactly that, but quite as bad; for I have been told that in some public-houses they play cards and gamble, and often lose more money than they have; and then they borrow, and to repay this they rob their masters, and this often ends in their imprisonment perhaps for life.

M: But young women cannot get into harm by going to the circus.

U: Indeed they do; for I have heard of some who rob their employers to go there; or if not that, many, in spending their own money, deprive their aged or sick parents of some help which they might have given them; and others tell lies to go there, when their employers do not wish them to go: they say they have been to see some relation or friend. And added to this, I have heard that many young women can trace their ruin to the bad company which they have met by going to the circus or theatre.

M: O, uncle, I have heard quite enough about the circus. I see now it is bad in itself, and it leads to much that is bad also. I am determined that I will not go; and I shall do what I can to persuade cousin Lucy and others to stay away.

U: I am glad to hear you say so, Mary, and I do not think you will ever repent of such a resolution; but to strengthen your determination, let me tell you something more.

M: I have heard quite enough; I do not want to know more.

U: But I must tell you one thing.

M: Well, what is that, uncle?

U: Have you not heard how many people there are in the world who have no Bibles and no ministers; who have never had an opportunity of knowing any thing about the Lord Jesus Christ, and the value of their souls, for the salvation of which he suffered the death of the cross?

M: Yes, I have heard that there are about six hundred millions in this wretched state.

U: How much better it would be to give the money to feed the poor, or clothe the naked, or teach the ignorant, or to help to send the gospel and Bibles to the heathen, than to support theatres and circuses, which, so far from doing any good, do much harm.

M: I know now what I will do. I will ask my cousin to give me the money instead of taking me to the circus, and I will give it to send the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the poor heathen; and I will try to get all my young friends to do the same. I beg, uncle, that you will not say another word about the circus; I am quite ashamed that I ever thought of going there.

U: I am very thankful that you are brought to this mind, Mary. May God, by his word and Spirit, lead you to believe in and trust and love the Lord Jesus Christ, and ever keep you in the right way; and may many be induced to follow your good example.

Review

“F AR away in one of the valleys of South Africa, there lived a heathen family. They were rich in flocks and herds. For many years they sowed the ground, and gathered the fruits in peace. At some distance from this family dwelt a warlike tribe called Zoolahs, which often formed into bands and invaded the country road. In these attacks they used first to kill the men, and then they carried off the cattle, broke down the huts, and set fire to the cornfields.

One day these savage men rushed into the valley where this African family lived. They slew the father, and left the mother and her little son Mossetse by the side of the ruins of their hut. The widow and her child sat down to weep; their home was gone, their best earthly friend was slain, and all they had in the world was torn from them by their wicked foes. Poor heathen woman! she knew not that God saw her and her child, as he saw Hagar and Ishmael in the desert. Nor did she know that he was a Father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow. No gospel had ever reached her dark mind, nor had she been taught to bend her knees in prayer. The widow took a sharp stick, and as she was too ill to seek for food, she gave it to her little boy, and sent him to dig up roots, and to collect a kind of grass, which was at that time ripe. The grass was so hard and coarse that even the cattle would scarcely eat it; but as it yielded a few handfuls of grain, she ground it between two stones, and formed it into “grass-bread.”

Soon the health of the poor widow began to fail; for weeks passed away, and no one came to their help. In her sadness she thought, who would provide for her little boy when she was dead. She used the little strength she had to make a large quantity of grass-bread, that she might have a supply if she grew worse, or for her orphan child if she were taken from him by death.

Some days after she had made this supply of food, she lay in the ruins of her hut unable to move; an old skin was her only covering when the cold shiverings of a fever came over her; and Mossetse, still too young to know his mother’s danger, said to himself, “Why does not my mother sit with me in the bright beams of the sun, as she used to do?” One day she called him in a feeble voice, “My child, go; some one finding thee will have pity on thee, and take thee up. Leave me, I am nearly dead. For two days thou hast not eaten any thing. Follow yon footpath which crosses the valley; some one will surely meet thee.” Little Mossetse was afraid, and said to his dying mother, “Do not speak so; it makes me cry. No, you will soon be well, and I shall no longer be hungry.” While she again spoke to him, she died; but he knew it not. In his distress, he crept under the old skin that covered his mother. Three days passed away, and he wondered why she slept so long. He called to her, but she made no answer. In his distress, he went and sat down at the door of the hut, when an African woman passing by, stopped to look at the lonely child, and went into the hut. She then told Mossetse that his mother was dead. “Dead!” he did not know what it meant: but when he was made to understand that his mother would not speak or move again, sorrow filled his young heart; while the woman coldly turned away, and left him alone in his misery.

All night he sat in the desert by the side of the dead body of his mother: when the morning came, he thought he would go along the narrow path of which she spoke. He walked for some hours in it, when he came to a place where a native was at work. Mossetse sat down a little way off though he spoke not a word. The man looked at him, and seeing that he was faint, tired, and covered with dust, he drew near, and then offered to take the little wanderer to a stream of water, to wash and refresh his limbs. At the sight of the water the boy cried aloud, “Oh, do not drown me; I will be your servant; I can take care of your kids.” To calm his distress, the kind stranger called his own children to play with him, while he hastened to fetch some bread and milk. When it was brought, the poor orphan had been so long without either eating or drinking, that the first draught of milk caused him to utter a cry, and he had scarcely power to eat the bread.

The child now sat down on the roadside and shed tears. He thought he was forsaken of all. While he was thus weeping, a troop of savage men rushed along the road: they soon overtook Mossetse’s kind benefactor, and killed him and all his family. The next morning all that remained of them were a few scattered bones; for the savages had not only killed them, but had feasted on their bodies. If Mossetse had been with them, he would have been slain and eaten too.

Want at length forced him to leave his mountain cave. He set out, not knowing whither he went; but after walking many weary miles, he came to the huts of some Africans, who received him in a friendly way, and among them he took up his abode. Mossetse grew up like the rest of the heathen, in sin and ignorance; he was without God in this world, and without hope of the world to come.

Years passed away, and at last some missionaries came to this spot. On one occasion, when the missionary was showing that God is the preserver of men, Mossetse rose from the ground, and said, “It is true: the heavenly Father, of whom I now learn, watched over me and directed my steps. He gave me that kind friend who fed me. He preserved me from death in my cave in the mountains. What have I done for God, who loved me so much? Why has he not permitted me to perish? I am an ear of corn left standing in the midst of a field stricken with hail. Was I not the companion of the children who were killed? Did I not sleep with them beneath the same cloak? And was I not to have slept with them again on the night in which they perished? I live by a miracle. God said, ‘Mossetse shall live.’ I was to live to know Him who caused me to live. From this time I wish to be his; I can be no other’s.”

Mossetse received the name of Moses at his baptism, which name he took to remind him of the deliverances God had wrought on his behalf. A few days after this, the missionary asked him if he did not sometimes wish to run in the ways of sin. “I do not know,” said he, “how a man who had received a stab in his breast from a sword, should desire to be wounded a second time. I have suffered too much from the agony of my conscience to seek to renew it; and I find that the peace which I enjoy is of far greater value than the vanities which I have had to give up.”

This little account also shows the value of Christian missions. The African orphan would not have known who had saved him in all his dangers, if the missionaries had not been sent to preach the gospel in his land. In sin he would have lived, and without hope he would have died. But he heard of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit blessed to his soul what he heard. Happy Mossetse! may many more of your sable brethren be brought to love the Saviour of sinners; and may those children in Christian lands who help to send the gospel to the heathen, learn to know the value of that gospel themselves.”

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