the glory of that God whom to magnify had always been his first object. But besides his gradual advancement, there is another circumstance to be observed in the method by which the Lord trained him onward to a fitness for his work." "You mean his previous sufferings," said Villeroi. "Yes. We observe he was first a cherished child in his father's house, knowing as little of himself perhaps as any of us do now of our own hearts. Being more wise for his age and more pious than his brethren, he probably thought himself just fit to be a ruler in the land of Egypt, or to fill any other great office, or to be a missionary." "there were "Oh," cried a little girl laughing, no such things in those days!" "We don't know," replied Leighton, "there might not have been any persons absolutely professing this calling and laying themselves out for it as ours do; but we see in scripture many instances of individuals being required to confess the name of the true God, to stand up for his worship, and to declare his attributes to others in the midst of heathen idolaters, and sometimes at the peril of their lives. Such were Noah, Elijah, Daniel, the three children, and others." 66 Well," returned Villeroi, "but about Joseph ?" "It is not unlikely," said Leighton, "that his father's tenderness and partiality helped to increase his own good opinion of himself; and thus, he did not scruple to tell his brethren his dreams, though he must have known their purport would be mortifying to them. In the midst of this career of vanity, however, the Lord had pity on Joseph; he saw he was a goodly plant, but that rank weeds were growing up about him; so he was transplanted, removed, at once, from the idolatrous love of his father, and the persecuting envy of his brothers, and thrown into the purifying furnace of affliction. Reuben describes the anguish of his soul at their cruel deed; he did not then see, it was his first step to promotion. This event helped to break his earthly ties; he had no longer a kind parent on whom to repose his griefs; he was cut off from all friendly society; he had but one consolation left-the Lord was with him. After this we see him again elevated a little: he was tried and found faithful; but the Lord had something yet better in store for him, and suffered him to be unjustly accused, and a second time thrown into the furnace. Here he gets a glimpse of hope, and again, for two full years, is disappointed, while the ungrateful butler, restored to office according to his prophecy, enjoys his own prosperity, and forgets his kind companion in sorrow. How gradual were the steps by which a loving Father exalted him, and restored, one by one, all he loved and cherished, to his desolated heart! Such, my dear friends, is only a single instance, though a lively one, of the preparatory process through which almost every child of God is brought, whom He intends to honor by any signal office in His service." "But, few missionaries go through much trial until they are already engaged in their work," said Villeroi. "True," returned Leighton, "but they should calculate on its being before them, and examine well whether they are supplied with the Christian's panoply, and whether it is proof, before they venture into that hazardous though glorious duty." "We do not clearly understand you," said two young ladies who were listening attentively to what was passing, though they had not taken much part in the conversation. Leighton drew from his pocket a little Testament, and, opening it at the 6th chapter of Ephesians, read as follows, from the 11th verse to the 18th:"Put on the whole armour of God," &c. &c. 66 : Now," said he, "I conceive that though this advice applies to all Christians, more or less, it does in a most especial manner to those who are called upon to preach the word of God in foreign countries. We can be at no loss to comprehend the meaning of the figurative language used by the apostle. But when we think we have this armour in possession, let us prove it before we encounter a fierce warfare, even as David did before he ventured to meet Goliah; that is to say, let our faith, love, patience, meekness, forbearance, long-suffering, and firm continuance in well-doing, stand the test of ordinary occurrences, and home experience, before we rush into untried scenes of action." Henry Villeroi sighed at this conclusion; it did not suit the blind enthusiasm of youthful zeal, but he was unable to controvert the reasoning. "As we are upon this subject," said he, at length, after a short pause, which nobody else seemed inclined to break; "I think it may perhaps be entertaining to read you a poem which mamma pointed out to me, in a volume of select religious poetry, which she brought home yesterday; it was written by a person who had been reading the 7th chapter of Revelations, and whose mind was exalted into a temporary rapture, by contemplating the glorious view there pictured so sweetly, imagining he saw the patriarchs and prophets, martyrs and missiona. ries, of whom he had heard and read, mingling in that bloodwashed throng." “Oh, pray, read it," was the general request. Henry rose immediately, and went to his mother's reading closet for the book, from which he read, with considerable interest and animation, the following poem : What did'st thou see? beloved John, (With whom conversed the Holy One, When in famed Patmos, from thy view, His arm the future's veil withdrew, What did'st thou see? Four angels stand, To hurt the earth; 'till far and wide Oh! what a seal was that which shone On every radiant brow, Nor Israel's thousands, wore alone Tho' born divided far, by flood, (In differing climes) of kindred blood, One name th' unnumbered nations stood Transported to avow. But see what spotless robes are those The victor's palm, their hands enfold, But with loud voices strong and bold, With raptured eye th' Apostle saw "Calm, tho' thou seest, divine and bright, This multitude appears, Those eyes which now look life and light, Were once all dewed with tears. In tribulation's furnace, they Have trod with pain their patient way, And mortals' fleshly fears. |