The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15
Children Column.
st Never Thanked Him. ''*


sent tor TO see Gypsy boy who was dying. and
IN the course of her gentle pleadings with him..
she thrice repeated the text, " God so loved the
world that H gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life" John iii 16) He
looked for a few moments .ntently upon her,
then, with hfes last effort, gasped-" And l
never thanked Him."
never thanked Him." no, POOR lad, for he
had ne'er been taught
To know at what costly price his precious soul
was bought.
No loving hand e'er led him to the Fathers
house of prayer,
To hear of all his goodness and OF all his mercy
there:
OF the once despised Jesus, so gentle and so kind
The Friend and Great Physician, to the halt,
and MANNED and blind.
He had never heard of Jesus and his redemptive
plan,
In taking on his sinless soul the curse which
fell on man.
The name of Jesus was to him new and Won
drous theme,
And fingered on his opening mind like some
enchanting dream.
He lay in specifies ecstacy upon his bed Of
straw,
While the fervent lady visitant repeated Ger
and DER
God loved the world so boundlessly, though
He sent his own begotten Son, as Bethlehem s
promised child,
Whom angels worshipped at his birth, and shep.
herds came from far,
With Joyous steps, to gaze upon the Bright and
Morning Star
That whosoe'er In Him believed, his mighty
power to save,
Should perish not, but triumph Ger the cold and
narrow grave.
What this dear Saviour did for them, who lived
IN days gone by,
He'll do for thee, In Him believe aud thou
shalt never die; -
But life, eternal life is thine eternal rest He'll
give,
Eternal glory all thine own oh now believe
and live"
The message of salvation came, as soft refresh
ing showers,
Upon the thirsty blades of grass, and natures
dropping flowers.
His soul revived, he realised, in death momen-
tous hour,
Christ's unimaginable love, and resurrection
He raised his wasted weary Frame while fell a
grateful tear.
" I never thanked Him few the words, yet
full of heavenly cheer.
His spirit calmly winged Its flight to that bright
world above,
Encircled by redeeming grace, and everlasting
love.
How do De thank the Saviour for retaining
what 1oe lost
Our glorious inheritance, at his transcendent
cost:
Just merely thank Him with lips, where
fellow Christians meet,
Join in the sweetest hymns of praise, and com
mune at his feet;
Then back into the busy world, amongst its
careless throng,
Forgetting we are not our own, but unto Him
belong;
And when confronted by his foes, we ought the
truth Defend
Deny, like faithless Peter did, our ever gracious
0, let us thank our Saviour. with deeper love
than this
Pour forth the precious spikenard upon his
head, and kiss
His feet, like devoted Mary, or lean upon his
breast
Like John, the beloved disciple, and get our
souls refreshed,
By the nearness OF his presence, and music of
mis- tone,
Till our hearts make full submission, and bid
Him reign alonei
No more to merely thank Him when we unite
TO pray,
But by p,'re and holy life, to thank Hun eyery
day. J ]. L.
From leahet entitled 1 never Thanked
Him y or, The Dying Gypsy Lad published by
j. ]. Lane, Brighouse, England. Is. per 100.