Year: 1859




In the days when inns were not so nu-
merous as they now are, it was customary
in the highlands of Scotland for travellers
to ask lodgings at the houses by the way
side. a


At lonely part of highland road, a
weaver had his home He was very
good man, and one who had real faith in
God He was poor but hospitable, and
kindly entertained belated strangers who
asked to tarry for the night. But he was
sometimes imposed upon by worthless
characters, who rose early and made their
escape with what they could most readily
carry off, His wife frequently said to him
that if he took in people he knew nothing
of, after the way he had been doing, they
would be ruined by their depredations
But he felt the necessity laid upon him, in
his circumstances, to fulfill the scripture
command to entertain strangers" and al
though he wished to discriminate, he could
not think of giving up the practice.


A person presented himself at his door
shortly after he had suffered at the hands
of dishonest guests, and he, wishing to sat
isfy himself and his wife of the mans good
ness of character, said Well, now, you
are stranger to me what security do
you give that you are such person as |
ought to entertain2" Without moments
hesitation. the man answered" +" The Lord"
"Thafs quite enough" said the good man,
opening his door wide to the wall. "Come
in, come in. I receive you in the name of
the Lord" And so the stranger admitted
was Hospitality treated, and after worship
was shown to bed. But he was thorough
rogue, and before the day dawned had left
the house with a web the weaver had got
ready the previous evening to carry to his
employer.


When the weaver and his wife got up
in the morning, and found the fellow gone
the wife was in great perplexity, and in
her anxiety gave way to upbraiding her
husband, saying, "Now, you see, it is just
as I said; we shall certainly be ruined by
this foolish practice of yours. What are
we now to do2 The webs away and how
are we to live until you weave another n
1t was dark day to her, but not so to
him, for he said, 81 got good security
and l am sure it will be for the best Ii
was for the Lords sake [ received him,
and although he has proved unworthy Of
our hospitality, yet Jesus is worthy, and
we shall lose nothing by it."


AS the thief was crossing hill, shun-
ming the usual road, God enveloped him
in misty covering. He wandered long
upon the hillside, this way and that, and
at last got to the foot of the hill, and knock
ing at the cottage-door, he asked if they
would keep him for the night The good
man of the house recognized the voice at
once, and said to him, Come in, and down
with the webw The thief was thunder
struck, while the man continued, "When
you next intend to play similar pranks,
mind not to give your security" Down
fell the web, and the thief, in consterna-
ton, took to his heels.


The explanation of the matter is, that
the thief got bewildered in the mist, and
instead of going down the further side Of
the hill, came down the same side, and
knocked at the very cottage door from
which he had set out in the morning with
the poor mans web.


From this true storylet us see that Gods
eye is over the righteous, but his face is set
against the wicked; and if we obey Gods
word by using hospitality without grudg-
ing" and doing all the other relative and
social duties enjoined by Him, we shall
never lose by it. The Lord is the best Sc
curity. Though those you benefit may
prove unworthy, you shall in no wise
lose your reward" as long as the Lord is
your security.