80. Cross for All
Cross for All
EVIL SPEAKING.—”Is she a Christian?” asked a missionary in the East of one of the converts who was speaking unkindly of a third party. “Yes, I think she is,” was the reply. “Well, then, since Jesus loves her in spite of that, why is it that you can’t?”
CROSS AT EVERY DOOR.—A widow-lady, almost in despair, complained, “No other roof is so constantly beset with misery as mine.” It pleased God to teach her a lesson through a dream. One night, she dreamed that a whole town stood before her, and every house in it bore a cross against its door; on one it was a very large one; on the next it was of less size; and, on others, it was but a small one. Among all the crosses, none appeared to her so light to carry as that at her own door. She awoke a new creature. She prayed God to pardon her for her murmuring spirit, and to release her from it. THE GOODLIEST SPECTACLE.—Augustine has said, “One of the goodliest spectacles, able to attract angels to the grates of Heaven to behold it, is neither theaters, amphitheaters, pyramids, nor obelisks, but a man who knoweth how to do well and bear ill, and to vindicate himself from ill by doing well.”
CONVERTED PRIZE-FIGHTER.—A soldier—a stout, lion-hearted man—had been a noted prize-fighter, and a terror to those who knew him. That man sauntered into the mission chapel, heard the gospel, and was converted. The change in his character was most marked and decided. The lion was changed into a lamb. Two months afterwards, in the mess-room, some of those who had been afraid of him before began to ridicule him. One of them said, “I’ll test whether he is a Christian or not;” and, taking a basin of hot soup, he threw it into his bosom. The whole company gazed in breathless silence, expecting that the lion would start up, and murder him on the spot. But after he had torn open his waistcoat, and wiped his scalded breast, he calmly turned round, and said, “This is what I must expect if I become a Christian. I must suffer persecution.” His comrades were filled with astonishment.
WHY IS IT SO?—Why must Christ be chastised for my peace? How is it that the ground has to be turned by spade and plough, and put, as it were, to the torture, under harrows, before it will produce bread-corn for us? How is it that, when the corn is produced, it must also be subjected to torture,—must be bruised under millstones, ground and reground,—before it will make bread for us? Why is animal life slain for us? Why does every creature come into the world through the gate of suffering? How is it that all things are secreted within chaff or skin or shell, and that violence must be done to chaff, skin and shell in order to reach the hidden good? How is it that plants, flowers and fruit yield their latent virtue only when bruised? Finding the answer to these questions will help to the opening of the other question. NO OTHER CAUSE.—An honest and Godfearing man once told another that though he lived peaceably with every one, hurt no man, was ever quiet, yet many people were his enemies. His friend comforted him in this manner: “Arm thyself with patience, and be not angry though they hate thee. What offence do we give the Devil? What aids him to be so great an enemy? Only because he has not that which God has; I know no other cause of his hatred toward us.”