42

THE SENSIBLE WIFE.

more disconsolate than he, and gave way to lamentations and tears. As she had spoken cheeringly to him the evening before, and exhorted him to dismiss his sorrow, he was astonished, and asked the cause of her sudden grief. Hesitating a little, she replied that she had been dreaming, and that it seemed to her that a messenger had come from heaven, and brought the news that God was dead, and that all the angels were weeping. "Foolish woman," said the husband, "you know right well that God cannot die!"-"Indeed," replied the wife, “and if that be so certain, how comes it that you are now indulging your sorrow as immoderately as if He really did no longer exist, or, at least, as if He was unable to set measure and bounds to our affliction, or mitigate its severity, or convert it into a blessing. My dear husband, learn to trust in Him, and to sorrow like a Christian. Think of the old proverb,

'What need to grieve,

If God still live."

Verily, my Father, didst Thou not live, I would not myself wish to live another hour! And if sometimes Thou feignest to be dead, I will not cease to rouse Thee with my prayers and tears, until I sensibly experience again that Thou art the health of my countenance, and my God.

THE CHILDREN OF THE RICH.

43

IX.

The Poverty of the Children of the Rich.

HIS happened one day to be the subject of conversation in a company, and almost all who were present had instances of it to relate. On inquiring into its causes, some maintained that it was owing to the foolish love of wealthy parents, who trained their children in youth more to luxury than labor, more to wasting than thrift, and thus made them bad economists. Others supposed the cause to be, that great wealth is seldom amassed by one man, except at the expense of many others, and without the tears of widows, and the sweat of the poor,-in short, without injustice; and that for that reason the curse of God cleaves to it, and fritters it away. To these views Gotthold did not object, aware, in particular cases, of their truth. He insisted, however, that to the children of the rich, poverty is a secret blessing, inasmuch as it takes from them the key which opens all the doors of sin; or, in other words, wealth. Nurtured, he said, as they have been, in superfluity and self-indulgence of all kinds, in total ignorance of the cross, and insensibility to the hardships and miseries of others, they would, if left in this state, care little or nothing for heaven. God, therefore, permits their temporal possessions to melt away, that they may thereby be led to

44

THE OPEN SMELLING-BOTTLE.

despise earthly things, and seek, with all the greater ardor, those that are heavenly.

O God! vouchsafe to my children Thy enduring grace, and even in the midst of poverty, they will then be rich enough.

X.

The Open Smelling-Bottle.

DOR some purpose, Gotthold had taken from a cupboard a vial of rose-water, and, after using it, had inconsiderately left it unstopped. serving it some time after, he found that all

Ob

the strength and sweetness of the perfume had evaporated. This, thought he with himself, is a striking emblem of a heart fond of the world, and open to the impressions of outward objects. How vain it is to take such a heart to the house of God, and fill it with the precious essence of the roses of paradise, which are the truths of Scripture, or raise in it a glow of devotion, if we afterwards neglect to close the outlet, that is, to keep the Word in an honest and good heart! How vain to hear much, but to retain little and practise less! How vain to excite

1 Luke viii. 15.

in our heart sacred and holy emotions, unless we are afterwards careful to close the outlet by diligent reflection and prayer, and so preserve it unspotted from the world. Neglect this, and the strength and spirit of devotion evaporates, and leaves only a lifeless froth behind.

Lord Jesus, enable me to keep Thy word like a lively cordial in my heart. Quicken it there by Thy Spirit and grace. Seal it, also, in my soul, that it may preserve for ever its freshness and its power!

XI.

The Diamond.

OTTHOLD, inspecting the operations of a goldsmith, who was setting a diamond, saw him place a dark leaf in the capsule, which it was intended to fill. On inquiring for

what purpose this was done, he was told

that it improved the brightness and sparkling of the jewel. Reflecting upon the matter, he found that such would naturally be the effect, and exclaimed: My God, here I have a type of Thy grace, which shines most brightly and beautifully in our deepest distress, or when employed to overlay the blackness of our guilt. I do not wonder so much that it irradiated

46

THE CHURCH SPIRES.

an Enoch, a Noah, a Daniel, and a Virgin Mary, as that it shed its enlightening and quickening rays on David the adulterer, on Peter, who denied his Master with an oath, on Paul the persecutor and blasphemer, and on that great sinner Mary Magdalene.

$

XII.

The Church Spires.

EEING, in a certain town, the church spires mounting almost to the clouds, Gotthold began

to wonder that our forefathers had expended so much industry and wealth upon an ob

ject which seems to minister to nothing but superfluous pomp and outward show. After some reflection, however, he remarked, that their intentions were no doubt good, and their object praiseworthy. Does not such a tall and stately spire seem like a giant figure pointing upwards! There can be no doubt, our worthy ancestors meant that every church should direct our eyes to heaven, and thereby admonish us that the doctrine preached in the sanctuary below, is the only way to the mansions above. As often, then, as we see such a spire, let us recollect that here we have no continuing city, but must seek one to come.1

1 Hebrews xiii. 14.