049 Do You Remember Little Elizabeth

Do you remember Little Elizabeth? By J. A. James. He who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11, verse 30. My imagination has sometimes presented me with this picture of a faithful Sunday school teacher's entrance into the state of her everlasting rest. The agony of death finished, the triumph of faith completed, and the conquering spirit hastening to her crown. Upon the confines of the heavenly world, a divinely lovely form awaits her arrival. Enwrapped in astonishment at the dazzling glory of this celestial inhabitant, she inquires, is this Gabriel, chief of all the heavenly multitudes, and am I honored with his aid to guide me to the throne of God? With a smile of ineffable delight, such as gives fresh beauty to an angel's countenance, the mystic form replies, do you remember Little Elizabeth who was in yonder world, a pupil in your Sunday school class? Do you recollect the child who wept as you talked to her of sin and directed her to the cross of the dying Redeemer? God smiled with approbation upon her heart in characters never to be effaced. Providence removed her from beneath your care before the fruit of your labor was visible. The gospel seed, however, had taken root, and it was the privilege of another to water what you had sown. Nourished by the influence of heaven, the plant of piety flourished in her heart and shed its fragrance upon her character. Piety, after guarding her from the snares of youth, cheered her amidst the accumulated trials of an afflicted life, supported her amidst the agonies of death, and elevated her to the mansions of immortality. And now behold before you the glorified spirit of that poor child who, under God, owes the eternal life on which she has entered to your faithful labors in the Sunday school, and who is now sent by our Redeemer to introduce you to the world of glory as your first and least reward for guiding the once thoughtless, ignorant, wicked Elizabeth to the world of grace. Hail, happy spirit! Hail, favored of the Lord! Hail, deliverer of my soul! Hail to the world of eternal glory! I can trace the scene no further. I cannot paint the raptures produced in the honored teacher's bosom by this unexpected encounter. I cannot depict the mutual gratitude and love of two such spirits meeting on the confines of heaven, much less can I follow them to their everlasting mansion and disclose the bliss which they shall enjoy before the throne of God. All this, and a thousand times more, is attendant upon the salvation of one single soul. Teachers, what a motive to diligence! Amidst surrounding millions, the faithful teacher shall stand to receive the public plaudits of her judge and Savior. And as much as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me. Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord!