Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-31
At the Feet OF Jesus.

There are a great many times in our lives
when our strength is to sit still" Motion
is good in its time, but so is meditation, so
is quiet study, so is patient waiting on
God. If bucket is to be filled from
spout of water, the best place for that
bucket is to keep it under the stream until it
is full We soon run empty of grace, aud
need replenishing, and need to be "filled
unto all the fulliess of God"
The cry of the hour is for more work.
But genuine work consumes strength. The
most laborious farmer must halt his team
occasionally at the plow and rest he must
90 in from the hot harvest.feld and sit down
at his table and refresh his weary frame.
An army is never in so good trim for SER
vice in battle as after sound sleep and
morning meal. So every servant OF Jesus
must often recruit his spiritual strength by
sitting down at his Masters feet in prayer,
in meditation, in reading Christs words and
thinking about them. The disciples were
not losing time when the sat down beside
their master and held quiet converse with
him under the olives of Bethany or by the
shores of Galilee Those were their school
hours those were their feeding times The
heathiest Christian, the one who is best
fitted for godly living and godly labors, is
he who feeds most on Christ. Here lies the
benefit of Bible-reading, and of secret prayer.
The very act of sitting down quietly with
our crucifed Redeemer at his table of love,
has its Specification.
Let us not forget, either, that to be in
structed we must come often to the feet of
Jesus. The transcendent truths of the atone
ment and the new birth were revealed to
Nicodemus when he was sitting as an in
auirer beside the Great Teacher. The
woman of Sychar found wellspring of
truth while she was listening in the hot
MONDAY to a person who told her all things
that she had been doing in her shameful
past. We need Just such discoveries about
ourselves. There is spiritual education in
contact with Christ. When he says to us
Come unto me-" he does not only mean
that we must come for forgiveness and sal
walton, but also for instruction and for com
munion.
There are two sides in the best developed
Christian. There is Martha-side which is
employed in benevolent activities, in teach
| ing others, in going about doing good
| Some Christians overdo this side, and neg
lect the other side. They keep on the &C
in ceaseless round of excitement. They
do not enough develop the Mary-side o.
character that habit of sef-study. prayer
reflection, and heart-converse with theil
Lord With such there is tendency tt
noise, hurry, worry, and superficiality. Shal
low brooks are noisy; there are stllle
waters that run deep, and do not run dry
| The busiest and most benevolent Marthi
must often take Marys place at the Master
feet, both to learn his will, and to drink il
his spirit. We do not read much abou
Paul's quiet hours or secret devotions; ye
he must have had constant, close fellowship
with his Lord, and deep meditation ant
soul-filings, or he never could have stooC
the strain or the drain of his public achieve
ments. All the most effective men, th
Augustines, Bernards, Luthers, Bunyans
Edwardses, and Paysons, have drawn the
strength and inspirations from secret com
munion with their divine Lord. When a
the feet of Jesus, the mighty men were litt
children.
In our hours of sorrow there is no plac
for consolation like that in which we fee
his everlasting arms put under our heads
| Oh, how his arms do rest us How soothing
to lie where John did, ON that bosom of infnit
love There is room for all of us there. w
can hear him saying, "Let not your heart
be troubled. Ny peace | give unto you
Where am ye shall be also. If ye abid
IN me and ! in you, ye may ask what y
will, and it shall be done unto you"
The last lines that Frances X. Haverga
ever wrote express the longings of the sou
that sits at Jesus feet and looks up into hi
countenance;
al am so weak, dear Lord cannot stand
One moment without thee;
But oh, the tenderness of thine enfolding!
And oh, the faithfulness Of thine upholding
And oh, the strength of thy right handl
That strength is enough for me.
:" am so needy Lord and yet know
All fullness dwells in thee;
And hour by hour that never-failing treasur
Supplies and fills in overhowing measure
My least, my greatest need And so
Thy grace is enough for me-"