Gathering Jewels Part 3

NEW YORK, Sat.u.r.day afternoon, April 22, 1865.

I renewed my covenant with G.o.d in the City Hall Park while standing there, which I some years ago made, and now I again renew it, that I would serve G.o.d better than formerly.

JAMES KNOWLES.

NEW YORK, Thursday, April 19, 1866.

Renewed my engagement with the Lord to serve Him better than I had done before, after having prayed to Him to be justified through faith in the righteousness of Christ; and asked for other blessings which I felt satisfied I would receive, for I feel my great need of these, as I felt very helpless in myself, but that there was abundant fulness in Christ.

I write this and the above on this Sat.u.r.day night, the 22d of April, 1866.

JAMES KNOWLES.

NEW YORK, Wednesday, December 5, 1866.

My birth-day, and a fine day.

I resolved on this day to endeavor to serve the Lord better, and renewed my covenant with the Lord, which I formerly made, and have again and again sought or attempted to renew. May the Lord aid me in the future.

And thus, from these few specimens of his constantly self-convicted weakness and appeals for more spiritual strength, we get a look at the inner life of a practical Christian worker which it is rare to find among us in these days. He could not stand alone; his last self-examination always found him short, though it consisted of but a few questions put by the spirit to the flesh at the end of every devotional service incidental to the life and work of each day, thus:

Did I this morn devoutly pray For G.o.d's a.s.sistance through the day?

And did I read His sacred Word, To make my life therewith accord?

Did I for any purpose try To hide the truth and tell a lie?

Did I my time and thoughts engage As fits my duty, station, age?

Did I with care my temper guide, Checking ill-humor, anger, pride?

Did I my lips from aught refrain That might my fellow-creature pain?

Did I with cheerful patience bear The little ills that all must share?

For all G.o.d's mercies through this day Did I my grateful tribute pay?

And did I, when the day was o'er, G.o.d's watchful aid again implore?

CHAPTER III.

SCRIPTURE TEXTS.

1858.

"I want a meek, a gentle, quiet frame, A heart that glows with love to Jesus' name; I want a living sacrifice to be For Him who died a sacrifice for me."

The following extracts from his diary reveal to us his carefulness in noting the texts of Scripture and the a.n.a.lysis of sermons he heard preached on the Sabbaths and week days from 1858 up to the time of his death.

_Thursday_ (_fast-day_), _September 16, 1858._--Heard a sermon preached by Dr. Crawford from the 57th chapter of Isaiah and the 15th verse: "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

_Sat.u.r.day, September 18th._--Preached by Mr. Sanderson, from the 15th chapter of St. Luke and the 2d verse: "And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them."

_Sabbath, June 20, 1859._--Preached by Mr. Finney, from Ecclesiastes, chapter 9, verse 10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."

_Sabbath, December 16, 1860._--Preached by Mr. Finney, from the 53d chapter of Isaiah and 11th verse, last clause: "By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many: for he shall bear their iniquities." Afternoon.--"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d, through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is like the love of my mother. What an inexpressible peace and love and gentleness is launched upon you; which none but a mother can bestow, oft do I sigh in my struggles with the hard, uncaring world, for the sweet, deep security I felt, when of an evening, nestling in her bosom, I listened to some quiet tale. In my younger years I read in her tender and loving voice an invaluable incentive to be good. I can never forget her sweet smile upon me. When I appear to sleep, I feel her sweet kiss of peace.

A MOTHER'S LOVE.

Children, look in those eyes; listen to that dear voice; notice the feeling of a single touch that is bestowed upon you by that gentle hand. Make much of it while yet you have that most precious of all good gifts--a loving mother. Read the unfathomable love of those eyes; the kind anxiety of that tone and look, and by a.n.a.logy remember the tenderness and compa.s.sion of Jesus.

_New York, November 12, 1865_ (_Sabbath Day_).--Heard Mr. Finney preach from the Gospel according to St. Luke, 24th chapter and 23d verse: "And they said one to another, did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scripture?" It was powerful and impressive to all present, as: 1. The doctrinal teaching of Christ, as understood in this part of the chapter. 2. It is scriptural. 3. It is faithful. 4. It is pointed. 5. It is instructive to the understanding.

_Friday, December 12, 1867._--I attended our church, and heard a sermon preached from the 3d chapter of St. Matthew and the 3d verse, last clause: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Afterward Mr. Chambers was ordained to the office of the gospel ministry, and the charge was given to him by Dr. Campbell; and the charge to the people by Dr. Hall. After the conclusion of the services, the congregation congratulated our newly-ordained pastor in his new relation to us.

_Sabbath, October 1st._--Preached by Mr. Chambers to the children of the Sabbath school, in the Fortieth Street Church, from Luke ii., verses 27 to 32. Simeon was led by the Spirit into the Temple, and for an important object. He had been waiting in expectancy of this great event, and at the appointed period was led to the temple, where he became satisfied in beholding the Lord's Christ, and thus his faith became constant in the fulfilment of G.o.d's promise to him, and found that the desires awakened in his soul was now satisfied; and although he had been comparatively unknown to others, yet he now enjoyed not only a convincing proof of G.o.d's goodness to himself on this occasion, with such an appearance of love, but he enjoyed the privilege of prophesying concerning his own people, and also the effects of the gospel upon the Gentile nations.

_Sabbath, November 21st._--Preached by Mr. Chambers, from Jeremiah, 2d chapter and 19th verse: "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that _it is_ an evil _thing_ and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy G.o.d, and that my fear _is_ not in thee, saith the Lord G.o.d of hosts."

In one of his notes, as if he had just heard a sermon upon the subject, he writes: "In lives of faith and long obedience to the command of our Lord and _Master_ Jesus Christ, we have first presented to us something of the operations and workings of the mind of the depth of humility and grat.i.tude expressed in his own words, and the evident absence of everything of a proud spirit. Thus when the sinner is brought to Christ, the change will become manifest not in giving expression to similar feelings in only thankful acknowledgments in words, but a becoming and thankful spirit will be seen in the entire life, in proportion as Jesus is followed and kept in view. But when Jesus is received into the heart, the recipient of this precious gift will feel anxious to do good to others, that they, too, may partake of the benefits of His salvation.

First, then, deep repentance of sin. Second, a heart full of grat.i.tude to G.o.d for this free gift. Third, the Apostle is not ashamed to acknowledge his entire indebtedness to G.o.d. What encouragement we may have from this circ.u.mstance in common with others to endeavor to do good; for if it was such an advantage to this man to be made whole, how great, then, must the advantage be to those, who are led to believe in Christ, and are delivered from condemnation, and become heirs of G.o.d, and joint heirs with Christ."

_New York, Sabbath, March 6, 1870._--Sermon [preached by Dr.

McElroy's a.s.sistant] from 1st Thessalonians, 5th chapter, 17th verse: "Pray without ceasing."

1. By observing stated seasons for prayer.

2. Always maintain a prayerful spirit.

3. Always acting as in the immediate presence of G.o.d.

4. Turning everything into prayer.

_New York, Sabbath, March 20, 1870._--Sermon preached by Mr.

Chambers, to the Sabbath-school, from 6th chapter of Romans, 23d verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of G.o.d is eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord."

1. The death of character.

2. The death of all good prospect.

3. The death of the body.

4. The death of the soul.

_Fortieth Street Church, Sabbath, December 3, 1871._--Sermon preached by Mr. Chambers, from the 25th chapter of St. Matthew, 31st and 32d verses: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of His glory. And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."