1881 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



2.51 



mj' room and asked G od to forgive me. This 

 brought some peace ; but for all that, the 

 burden kept increasing. It was Saturday 

 night. ;My evenings, especially Saturday 

 evenings, are usually my happiest moments. 

 To-niglit, nothing gave peace or rest. I 

 went down into the greenhouse and looked 

 at the bees in the pail bee-liivie. They were 

 doing finely, but this burden chilled and 

 deadened every thing. I went u]) into the 

 ofliee and read the Amrrrican Aqriculturist. 

 For a time, I forgot, and was as cheerful and 

 pleasant as usual ; but presently a great 

 load that began to seem almost mountain- 

 like, swept over me, coming from I hardly 

 knew where, enveloping and chilling me to 

 my heart's core. I told' Mr. Gray of the in- 

 cident, and he said I had done exactly right, 

 if I recollect correctly ; but against this rose 

 up the voice of God "in his displeasure, with 

 a condemnation that settled the matter de- 

 cisively. It was late, and surely nothing 

 could be done at this hour. Oh that I had 

 been more mild and gentle ! I was just 

 thinking I would give fifty dollars to have 

 been able to recall those few words. Then I 

 remembered the words in that little book, 

 the Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, that 

 God forgives instantly, and peace always 

 comes at once when we are truly penitent, 

 and ready to obey implkithi. I have had such 

 trials before, and I knew by experience, the 

 pain would, in time, wear off. I sat down 

 gloomily, thinking it was God's just punish- 

 ment, and there was no other way but to 

 live it through. A sleepless night and un- 

 fitness for my Sabbath-day's labors rose be- 

 fore me. but'there was no help for it. I must 

 bear it. and try again to learn better. It was, 

 I confess, with a lack of faith that I again 

 knelt alone and asked God's forgiveness. 

 Xow should I say that, while on my knees, 

 God told me what to do. you would call it 

 visionary, and therefore I 'will state it this 

 way : VViiile on my knees the thought came 

 to plunge out into the night and hunt up the 

 one who was, very likely, even now giving 

 himself wholly iiito the hands of Satan. 

 The feeling came stronger, and seemed to 

 say, " He whom you have helped and 

 cheered and encouraged with kindness and 

 long patience thus far, now in his hour of 

 greatest need and sorest trial you have de- 

 serted; an immortal soul is likely at this 

 very instant feably wavering on the verge 

 of ruin, and no hand near to stay his fall." 

 Some thing did suggest faintly that I knew 

 not where he was ; but strong and clear 

 came the voice, '• I will guide thee.'' Off I 

 sped, and before I knew it, the load had gone, 

 and I was happy— happy as a bird in the air. 

 It was among those who were almost strang- 

 ers that God led me, and it was with a little 

 trepidation that I intruded ; but very soon I 

 knew why God had sent me there. It was 

 not much that I said, and I fear little was 

 the good I did, more than to say a few kind, 

 hopeful words, and then I was directed to 

 visit two or three others, whom I knew 

 would sleep better after having heard the re- 

 sult of my mission. One of them was the 

 dear friend Avho was to i)reaeh to ns on the 

 morrow, and it was worth a great deal to see 

 his face. light up, -uid the load of care lifted 



a little, and the thought occurred to me that 

 I he would not only rest better, but that his 

 sermon on the morrow would reach further 

 I in its mission of saving souls. Home at last, 

 and happy. JNIy wife does not wony when I 

 am late now, for she feels sure that some- 

 body will be made happier for my absence. 

 j And is this indeed myself, and my life':* The 

 I old life is not forgotten yet. even though a 

 half-dozen years have passed; and as 1 lie 

 ! down to rest, almost too happj' to sleep, I 

 praise him again and again for his mercy 

 and kindness. 



Behold the Lamb of God, which laketh away the 

 I sin of the world. 



Yes, not only the .sin of the world, but the 

 ! pain and sorrow of the world, to all who will 

 i ptit their trust in him. Now, I do not wish 

 ; to say by the above that anybody was saved 



I or converted l»y my visits that night, for the 

 [ events are in tiod's hands, and the responsi- 

 bility rested on him, and not my poor self, 

 after I had obeved the promptings of that 

 moving spirit ; "but the point I wish you to 



! see is, that God answers prayer in the way 



I I have indicated, and gives relief. I know 

 ' yoii may explain it away by saying that it 



was only a feeling of uneasiness, and that I 

 felt better as a matter of course, after having 

 done a humane act; but, my friend, who 

 and what prompts these feeUngs, and what 

 will be the result of following them V Sap- 

 pose we call it (rod, or the " God part " that 

 is in us all ; and, to go a little further, what 

 will be the result of cultivating this prompt- 

 ing spirit within us V Is it wild to think this 

 gentle influence might in time grow so as to 

 envelop you like a robe, and, while it guards 

 and holds you from evil, that it may also 

 give yoti a "feeling of happiness and safety 

 that can be, without exaggeration, compared 

 to the text,— 



Eye hath not seen, nor car heard, neither have en- 

 tered into the heart of man the things that God hath 

 prepared for those that love him?— I. Cok. ~ : 9. 



Now a little further : If one is going to 

 cultivate this influence, he must have (luiet 

 and meditation ; es]iecially is this the case 

 with a beginner. He must commune with 

 himself— with his inner nature. It is no 

 easy matter for untrained humanity to sub- 

 mit to be led by an influence so gentle as to 

 be compared to a summer breeze. 



A bruised reed shaU he not break, and the smok- 

 ing tiax shall he not quench.— Isa. 4~ : 3. 



Well. now. friend L., how better can we 

 place ourselves than in the attitude of pray- 

 er, when we wish to seek this straight and 

 narrow path V The bowed head indicates 

 humility and obedience ; the closed ey(^s, a 

 willingness to forget earthly objects ; and an 

 audible voice, even though you are alone in 

 the woods, that you are not afraid to ask the 

 God who made you to j?uide you in ways of 

 wisdom and in paths of peace. I have only 

 tried to tell you how I feel about answers to 

 prayer, friend L..so far, and at another time 

 I will try to answer some of your other difh- 

 culties. ^^ 



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 each, postage paid on all. Just say how many you 

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