Annals of the Poor

by John Kendrick Bangs

  PART III.

  Divine grace educates the reasoning faculties of the soul, as well as thebest affections of the heart; and happily consecrates them both to theglory of the Redeemer. Neither the disadvantages of poverty, nor theinexperience of childhood, are barriers able to resist the mightyinfluences of the Spirit of God, when "he goeth forth where he listeth."

  "God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise;and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the thingswhich are mighty." The truth of this scriptural assertion was peculiarlyevident in the case of my young parishioner.

  Little Jane's illness was of a lingering nature. I often visited her.The soul of this young Christian was gradually, but effectually,preparing for heaven. I have seldom witnessed in any older person, undersimilar circumstances, stronger marks of earnest inquiry, continualseriousness, and holy affections. One morning, as I was walking throughthe church-yard, in my way to visit her, I stopped to look at the epitaphwhich had made such a deep impression on her mind. I was struck with thereflection of the important consequences which might result from a morefrequent and judicious attention to the inscriptions placed in ourburying-grounds, as memorials of the departed. The idea occurred to mythoughts, that as the two stone tables given by God to Moses were once ameans of communicating to the Jews, from age to age, the revelation ofGod's will as concerning the law; so these funeral tables of stone may,under a better dispensation, bear a never-failing proclamation of God'swill to sinners as revealed in the gospel of his grace, from generationto generation. I have often lamented, when indulging a contemplationamong the graves, that some of the inscriptions were coarse andridiculous; others, absurdly flattering; many, expressive of sentimentsat variance with the true principles of the word of God; not a few,barren and unaccompanied with a single word of useful instruction to thereader. Thus a very important opportunity of conveying scripturaladmonition is lost. I wish that every grave-stone might not only recordthe name of our deceased friends, but also proclaim the name of Jesus, asthe only name given under heaven whereby men can be saved. Perhaps, ifthe ministers of religion were to interest themselves in this matter, andaccustom their people to consult them as to the nature of the monumentalinscriptions which they wish to introduce into churches and church-yards,a gradual improvement would take place in this respect. What isoffensive, useless, or erroneous, would no longer find admittance, and asuccession of valuable warning and consolation to the living wouldperpetuate the memory of the dead.

  What can be more disgusting than the too common spectacle of triflinglicentious travellers, wandering about the church-yards of the differentplaces through which they pass, in search of rude, ungrammatical, ill-spelt, and absurd verses among the grave-stones; and this for thegratification of their unholy scorn and ridicule! And yet how much is itto be deplored that such persons are seldom disappointed in finding manyinstances which too readily afford them the unfeeling satisfaction whichthey seek! I therefore offer this suggestion to my reverend brethren,that as no monument or stone can be placed in a church or church-yardwithout their express consent or approbation, whether one condition ofthat consent being granted, should not be a previous inspection andapproval of every inscription which may be so placed within the precinctsof the sanctuary?

  The reader will pardon this digression, which evidently arose from thepeculiar connection established in little Jane's history, between anepitaph inscribed on a grave-stone, and the word of God inscribed on herheart. When I arrived at Jane's cottage, I found her in bed, reading Dr.Watts' Hymns for Children, in which she took great pleasure.

  "What are you reading this morning, Jane?"

  "Sir, I have been thinking very much about some verses in my little book.Here they are,--

  'There is an hour when I must die, Nor do I know how soon 'twill come; A thousand children young as I Are called by death to hear their doom.

  Let me improve the hours I have, Before the day of grace is fled; There's no repentance in the grave, Nor pardon offered to the dead.'

  "Sir, I feel all that to be very true, and I am afraid I do not improvethe hours I have, as I ought to do. I think I shall not live very long;and when I remember my sins, I say,--

  'Lord, at thy feet ashamed I lie, Upward I dare not look; Pardon my sins before I die, And blot them from thy book.'

  Do you think he will pardon me, sir?"

  "My dear child, I have great hopes that he HAS pardoned you; that he hasheard your prayers, and put you into the number of his true childrenalready. You have had strong proofs of his mercy to your soul."

  "Yes, sir, I have, and I wish to love and bless him for it. He is good,_very_ good."

  It had for some time past occurred to my mind that a course of_regulated_ conversations on the first principles of religion would bevery desirable from time to time, for this interesting child's sake: andI thought the Church Catechism would be the best groundwork for thatpurpose.

  "Jenny," said I, "you can repeat the Catechism?"

  "Yes, sir; but I think that has been one of my sins in the sight of God."

  "What! repeating your Catechism?"

  "Yes, sir, in such a way as I used to do it."

  "How was that?"

  "Very carelessly indeed. I never thought about the meaning of the words,and that must be very wrong. Sir, the Catechism is full of good things;I wish I understood them better."

  "Well, then, my child, we will talk a little about those good thingswhich, as you truly say, are contained in the Catechism. Did you everconsider what it is to be a member of Christ, a child of God, and aninheritor of the kingdom of heaven?"

  "I think, sir, I have lately considered it a good deal; and I want to besuch, not only in name, but in deed and in truth. You once told me, sir,that 'as the branch is to the vine, and the stone to the building, andthe limb to the body and the head, so is a true believer to the LordJesus Christ.' But how am I to know that I belong to Christ as a true_member_, which, you said one day in the church, means the same as a_limb_ of the body, such as a leg or an arm?"

  "Do you love Christ now in a way you never used to do before?"

  "Yes, I think so indeed."

  "Why do you love him?"

  "Because he first loved me."

  "How do you know that he first loved you?"

  "Because he sent me instruction, and made me feel the sin of my heart,and taught me to pray for pardon, and love his ways; he sent you to teachme, sir, and to show me the way to be saved; and now I want to be savedin that way that he pleases. Sometimes I feel as if I loved all that hehas said and done, so much, that I wish never to think about anythingelse. I know I did not use to feel so; and I think if he had not lovedme first, my wicked heart would never have cared about him. I once lovedanything better than religion, but now it is everything to me."

  "Do you believe in your heart that Christ is able and willing to save thechief of sinners?"

  "I do."

  "And what are you?"

  "A young, but a great sinner."

  "Is it not of his mercy that you know and feel yourself to be a sinner?"

  "Certainly; yes, it must be so."

  "Do you earnestly desire to forsake all sin?"

  "If I know myself, I do."

  "Do you feel a spirit within you resisting sin, and making you hate it?"

  "Yes, I hope so."

  "Who gave you that spirit? Were you always so?"

  "It must be Christ, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I was quitedifferent once."

  "Now, then, my dear Jane, does not all this show a connection between theLord Jesus Christ and your soul? Does it not seem as if you lived, andmoved, and had a spiritual being from him? Just as a limb is connectedwith your body, and so with your head, and thereby gets power to live andmove through the flowing of the blood from the one to the other; so areyou spiritually a limb or member of Christ, if you believe in him, andthus obtain, through
faith, a power to love him, and live to his praiseand glory. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes, sir, I believe I do; and it is very comfortable to my thoughts tolook up to Christ as a living Head, and to consider myself as the leastand lowest of all his members."

  "Now tell me what your thoughts are as to being a child of God."

  "I am sure, sir, I do not deserve to be called his child."

  "Can you tell me who _does_ deserve it?"

  "No one, sir."

  "How, then, comes any one to be a child of God, when by nature we arechildren of wrath?"

  "By God's grace, sir."

  "What does grace mean?"

  "Favour; free favour to sinners."

  "Right; and what does God bestow upon the children of wrath, when hemakes them children of grace?"

  "A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; is it not, sir?"

  "Yes, this is the fruit of Christ's redeeming love; and I hope _you_ area partaker of the blessing. The family of God is named after him, and heis the first-born of many brethren. What a mercy that Christ callshimself 'a _Brother_!' My little girl, he is _your_ Brother; and willnot be ashamed to own you, and present you to his Father at the last day,as one that he has purchased with his blood."

  "I wish I could love my Father and my Brother which are in heaven betterthan I do. Lord be merciful to me a sinner! I think, sir, if I am achild of God, I am often a rebellious one. He shows kindness to mebeyond others, and yet I make a very poor return.

  'Are these thy favours day by day, To me above the rest? Then let me love thee more than they, And strive to serve thee best.'"

  "That will be the best way to approve yourself a real child of God. Showyour love and thankfulness to such a Father, who hath prepared for you aninheritance among the saints in light, and made you 'an inheritor of thekingdom of heaven, as well as a member of Christ, and a child of God.' Doyou know what 'the kingdom of heaven' means?"

  Just at that instant her mother entered the house below, and began tospeak to a younger child in a passionate, scolding tone of voice,accompanied by some very offensive language; but quickly stopped onhearing us in conversation up stairs.

  "Ah, my poor mother!" said the girl, "you would not have stopped soshort, if Mr. --- had not been here. Sir, you hear how my mother swears;pray say something to her; she will not hear me."

  I went towards the stair-head, and called to the woman; but ashamed atthe thought of my having probably overheard her expressions, she suddenlyleft the house, and for that time escaped reproof.

  "Sir," said little Jane, "I am so afraid, if I go to heaven I shall neversee my poor mother there. I wish I may, but she does swear so, and keepsuch bad company. As I lie here a-bed, sir, for hours together, there isoften so much wickedness, and noise, and quarrelling down below, that Ido not know how to bear it. It comes very near, sir, when one's fatherand mother go on so. I want them all to turn to the Lord, and go toheaven.--Tell me now, sir, something about being an inheritor of thekingdom of heaven."

  "You may remember, my child, what I have told you when explaining theCatechism in the church, that the 'kingdom of heaven' in the Scripturemeans the church of Christ upon earth, as well as the state of glory inheaven. The one is a preparation for the other. All true Christians areheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, and shall inherit the gloryand happiness of his kingdom, and live with Christ and be with him forever. This is the free gift of God to his adopted children; and all thatbelieve aright in Christ shall experience the truth of that promise, 'Itis your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' You are a poorgirl now, but I trust 'an entrance shall be ministered unto youabundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist.' You suffer now; but are you not willing to suffer for his sake,and to bear patiently those things to which he calls you?"

  "Oh yes, very willing; I would not complain. It is all right."

  "Then, my dear, you shall reign with him. Through much tribulation youmay, perhaps, enter into the kingdom of God; but tribulation workethpatience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. As a true'member of Christ,' show yourself to be a dutiful 'child of God,' andyour portion will be that of an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.Faithful is He that hath promised. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trustalso in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

  "Thank you, sir, I do so love to hear of these things. And I think, sir,I should not love them so much if I had no part in them. Sir, there isone thing I want to ask you. It is a great thing, and I may be wrong--Iam so young--and yet I hope I mean right--"

  Here she hesitated and paused.

  "What is it? Do not be fearful of mentioning it." A tear rolled downher cheek--a slight blush coloured her countenance. She lifted up hereyes to heaven for a moment, and then, fixing them on me with a solemn,affecting look, said,--

  "May so young a poor child as I am be admitted to the Lord's Supper? Ihave for some time wished it, but dared not to mention it, for fear youshould think it wrong."

  "My dear Jenny, I have no doubt respecting it, and shall be very glad toconverse with you on the subject, and hope that He who has given you thedesire, will bless his own ordinance to your soul. Would you wish it nowor to-morrow?"

  "To-morrow, if you please, sir;--will you come to-morrow and talk to meabout it? and if you think it proper, I shall be thankful. I am growingfaint now--I hope to be better when you come again."

  I was much pleased with her proposal, and rejoiced in the prospect ofseeing so young and sincere a Christian thus devote herself to the Lord,and receive the sacramental seal of a Saviour's love to her soul.

  Disease was making rapid inroads upon her constitution, and she was awareof it. But as the outward man decayed, she was strengthened with might,by God's Spirit in the inner man. She was evidently ripening fast for abetter world.

  I remember these things with affectionate pleasure; they revive myearlier associations, and I hope the recollection does me good. I wishthem to do good to thee likewise, my reader; and therefore I write themdown.

  May the simplicity that is in Christ render

  "The short and simple annals of the poor"

  a mean of grace and blessing to thy soul! Out of the mouth of this babeand suckling may God ordain thee strength! If thou art willing, thoumayest perchance hear something further respecting her.