The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus, John R. Macduff [best short novels txt] 📗

of the happy citizens of the New Jerusalem: Patriarchs, prophets, saints, departed friends, who are now safe within its gates, watching you from these glorious heights, beckoning to you not to tarry, but to be "followers of them who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises." "Verily I say unto you, There is joy in heaven among the angels of God over every sinner that repenteth."

We have been speaking of the " name of JESUS."

Read the motto over the gateway of all these six cities. Read the motto over the door of the Gospel Refuge:-" Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME given under heaven among men by which the sinner can be saved, but the NAME of JESUS."

Jesus, my Refuge ! look on me:
When weak and weary, worn, opprest:
I cast my every care on Thee-
Thou art my Rest .

Jesus my Refuge ! guide my way,
Dispel the gloomy shades of night,
Oh, shine Thou forth with cheering ray!-
Thou art my Light .

Jesus, my Refuge ! storms may rise,
Affliction sweep with tempest-shock,
My spirit to Thy shelter flies,
Thou art my Rock .

Jesus my Refuge ! legion-foes
May seek to drive me from the field,
But in Thy strength I shell repose-
Thou art my Shield .

Jesus, my Refuge ! Thou in store
Hast happiness without alloy,
Pleasures unmingled, evermore-
Thou art my Joy .

Jesus, my Refuge ! on the brink
Of Jordan, in my latest strife,
Thou wilt not suffer me to sink-
Thou art my Life .

Jesus, my Refuge ! oh, supply
My every want, whate'er befall;
Through life, in death, eternally,
Thou art my ALL !

ANON.


THE ROCK OF CASTELLO.


The Rock of Castello.


As I was walking on a bright summer evening, among the Italian Alps, I came to one of the lovely valleys of the Waldenses. These, perhaps I should tell my young readers, are a pious race of Christians, who have, age after age, boldly "contended for the faith once delivered to the saints," and kept the lamp of truth brightly burning, when all around was darkness.

This beautiful spot is surrounded by very lofty mountains, whose tops are almost lost in the clouds, while the little stream that murmurs below has its banks covered with vines and mulberry trees, rich corn fields, and happy villages. When I first entered it by the Alpine pass of La Croix, the whole valley was shrouded in a dense fog, with the exception of one bold and very remarkable Rock, which towered in solitary grandeur above the sea of mist, and seemed from its height like an island suspended in mid-air!

Upon inquiring what this Rock was, I was informed it is a place famous in the history of the Valley. When the poor peasants were persecuted by their foes, their cottages and hamlets plundered, their loved sanctuaries burnt with fire, and "all their pleasant things laid waste," they would retire with their wives and little ones up to this rocky citadel, which the God of nature seemed to have reared as a shelter for His defenceless people.

Within this Rock that same God had wonderfully provided for their safety and comfort. It contains a large cavern, capable of holding many at a time; and in the very centre of this cave is a fountain of water, which yields a never-failing supply. When driven thither by the storms of persecution, the exiles provided themselves with food, from the plentiful wild fruits of the adjoining mountain, so that the Bible promise was made good to them, "Their bread shall be given them, and their water shall be sure!" Swords and cannon and other means of defense they had none, but a single man, stationed at the mouth of the cave, was enough to defy hundreds of armed soldiers. He had only to hurl fragments of loose stones (which were supplied from the sides of the cavern) down upon the foe, and they were instantly beaten back, thus fulfilling God's words to Israel, "Five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight."

Often, often, then, when the wintry tempests and Alpine storms, and drifting snows, were raging fiercely around, adding to the terrors of the enemy, did these peasant warriors find in the Rock of Castello a secure shelter and retreat. With their fountain and blazing fire, their Bibles and their God, they would make the rocky cavern ring with praise. They "feared the Lord," and had no other fear. He had "given his angels charge over them;" and they could boldly make the challenge, "God is for us, who can be against us?"

* * * * *

When I heard about this Rock, which the "God of Nature " had upreared as a citadel for his oppressed people, it reminded me of a better ROCK, which "the God of Grace " has provided for perishing sinners!

Dear Children!-You are all, by nature, like these poor Christians of the Alps, the inhabitants of a Valley. It is called " The Valley of Tears! " Like theirs, too, it is a lovely valley, far too lovely for sinful man; but though lovely, its name tells you it is a Valley of Weeping . Sin has made it so. And more than this, it is a Valley of Danger , a Valley of Death !

It is full of Enemies . I can not tell you them all, "their name is Legion, for they are many." There are:

THE WORLD. Ungodly men, bad companions,
tempting you to sin,
and trying to keep you
back from fleeing to Jesus!

YOUR OWN The enemy within, the worst HEARTS. of all, because the most
deceitful of all!

SATAN. The great enemy, who goeth
about seeking whom he
may devour.

DEATH. The last enemy, a sudden
enemy, but oh! remember,
a sure enemy; other enemies
may come, He must
come, and the time of his
coming is generally "at
midnight ," when you least
look for him!

Methinks I hear my young readers exclaiming, If my enemies are so many, if my danger is so great, is there no place I can flee to? "What must I do to be saved" from those enemies in this Valley of Tears ? Oh! whither shall I flee from the "wrath to come?"

Hear the voice of God:-He is pointing to a Rock rising from the midst of the Valley, and is calling aloud to you, "Flee to this Stronghold, ye prisoners of Hope!"

Do you ask-When shall I flee? He answers, " Now is the day of salvation!"

Do you ask-May I not wait a few years? I am yet a young inhabitant of the Valley. Death, if he be the surest enemy, is the last enemy; have I not yet time enough? God answers-TO-DAY! while it is called to-day! "Verily, there may be but a step between thee and Death!" "Haste thee; flee for thy life."

Do you ask-But must I leave all the pleasures of sin, and so much that I love in this valley of tears? God answers, "What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Do you ask-But is there no other refuge than this, no other means of safety but, amid storm and tempest, to climb to this Rock? God answers, "Neither is there salvation in any other! For there is none other name given under heaven, by which a sinner can be saved, but the name of Jesus."

Dear children, let this be your prayer: "Lord, lead me unto this ROCK, that is higher than I!"

Oh! with what delight does that Great God look upon children, such as you, when they "flee for refuge to lay hold on this hope set before them;" and when they join their hearts and their voices together, saying, "Oh! come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise unto the ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!"

But I would like to tell my Young Readers something more about this Great "Refuge from the storm"-this Great "Covert from the tempest." Let us seat ourselves for a little in the Alpine valley, under the brow of the Rock of Castello; it may help us to some thoughts of the better "Rock of Ages!" I dare say many a poor Waldensian, when taking shelter in this earthly refuge, would be often reminded by it of the ROCK that can never be shaken!

First , The Rock of Castello is very High . So is Jesus ; so High, that He is called the Son of the Highest -"The Ancient of Days!"-"God over all." "The heaven of heavens can not contain Him!"

Second , The Rock of Castello rises from the Valley : so Jesus rose from poor parents in this valley of tears. He