The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-02
" Under His Wings"

A little while ago heard a beloved
friend Of mine, minister of Christ, who
among the many stars in his crown Of
glory, will, trust, have one for me, tell
a touching story. 1t was of the time
when he was tiny fellow, not nearly
SO big as many of you who will read
these lines, and unfortunately for him it
was necessary for his father to take him
to a surgeons operating-room. Most
grown-up people dread visit to a room
of that kind, and have known little
cripples in the House at Bray who were
far more patient in their endurance of
pain than many strong grown-up people
are; and so, if the tiny fellow trembled a
little when he saw the chair and the in
struments, we must not be too hard on
him, for [ dare say you would, and am
very certain [ should have done like
wise. For some time the operation could
not be performed, because the little fell
low would not consent to it E: but at last
he yielded, saying to the surgeon, " You
may do qohat yol like If my father holds
nay hand"
In the pressure of that large loving
hand the little fingers found support and
strength. The fathers hand had shielded
the child from many a sorrow, and the
child not only almost instinctively, but
from experience, trusted in it, and was
helped. Now, the recollection of that
little story has more than once been Of
use to me, and I do not doubt it will be
Of equal use to you, if you will quietly
think for moment or two over its les
son.
Many of you have not seen much
trouble, and 1 thank God that in his
providence you have not, but the hap
piest and brightest life on earth has its
dark and lasting sorrows, and none OF
you will escape from what is the common
lot. And so with pain, and so with sick
ness, the question for you is not how al
together to escape them, but how best to
bear them when God sends them. Some
Of you have already learned the answer
to that question. 1 would that all Of you
had.
Only few hours since, dear lady and
some little children in deep mourning
passed my window. From them, quite
recently, loving husband and father has
been taken, and the little fingers will not
again be clasped in the earthly fathers
hand. But, young as the children are
they know that their father loved Jesus
and that he has gone to be with him and
in what indeed would be thick darkness,
if they had not the comfort the love of
Christ gives even to his very little ones,
they feel that the hand of Jesus is lead
ing them and keeping them, and in child
like faith they leave their tiny fingers in
his great, tender clasp, and the tears
cease and the sobs are hushed.
Could you do this, dear young friends?
Have you put your hands inside those OF
Jesus ? Though He is the King of Glory,
his great loving heart has been yearning
for the sweet touch of your little fingers
in his, and the wonderful hand, that was
outstretched to cure the leper and the
demoniac and the blind, is outstretched
now In patient waiting for yours. Once
you have given yourself to him, you will
have
"a Home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat
And burden Of the day
And when clouds of sorrow come you will
have the sunshine Of his face, and the
sweet comfort of his love and his pre-
sence.
have on the northern moors often
seen the shepherd put the sheep into the
fold as night fell and he was doubly
careful in looking after the little lambs
though they had their mothers with them
The great, strong shepherd was touched
by the frailty Of the little sheep and ]
think if Jesus could, love one Of his flock
more than another, that one would be 9
weak little lamb, tiny enough to sleep on
his breast.
Let him lead you into his fold, and foi
ever, and your life will be full Of thai
peace which the world certainly cannot