to be seen in the distance to the right. A river, or branch of one, was rolling on not far from the town, as I leaned out of the window, to mark its progress, and I watched its bright waves run one after another, in dazzling succession. From a green-tinted wood, just in front, I listened to the cooing of the turtle dove, and the warbling of the nightingale, while the gentle sweep of winds through the leafy branches, added its meed of interest to the soothing sounds. 66 “O," thought I, "if the LORD in this life, can and does thus refresh the weary soul, what will be the glory, and joy, and delights of heaven, the habitation of His Holiness? But as Thou sayest, LORD, Since the beginning of the world, men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear; neither hath the eye seen, O GOD, besides Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways.'(a) 'Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer; Thy name is from everlasting."(b) And I am Thy most unworthy, yet most happy, servant and handmaid. O that I could live in the LORD's courts for ever, and sing his praise!" But when the damsel First, there was rich And now a damsel brought in my supper on silver plates, with a large gold cup to drink out of; and there was the heraldic engraving of the LORD on all the service: the Cross and the Lamb. And I read the words engraven, "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of Hosts."(c) withdrew, I examined my entertainment. "new milk "(@) in my cup of gold, which also was mixed with wine, according to the invitation of my LORD, written and framed, and hanging on the wall: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."(e) Then there was a joint of the "fatted calf, tender and good," and dressed with butter and milk sauce :(ƒ) there was "butter in a lordly dish ;") and then "honey and fine flour" baked up into cakes with "oil."(h) Grapes, apples, and figs were placed at one corner of the table ;() and in small cups at (a) Isaiah Ixiv. 4, 5. (e) Isaiah lv. 1. (b) Isaiah lxiii. 16. (f) Genesis xviii. (c) Haggai ii. (d) Hebrews v. 13. (h) Ezek. xvi. 25. the other corner, "a little balm, a little honey, spices, and myrrh nuts and almonds."(a) I lifted up my hands, as I surveyed this abundantly spread table, and I was just going to pour out my poor imperfect thanks, when a large bell was rung for about a minute, and I heard a rustling noise, as of many persons rising at once. Then there was a dead silence, and I distinguished the voice of mine host saying aloud, "Praise ye the LORD.' Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.' Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.'"() On hearing these words, I crept softly to a side door, and opened it very cautiously. I saw immediately a large hall underneath the gallery, which ran all round the floor on which my room was built; and in this hall, which was very brilliantly lighted up, two long tables, with a short one, transverse, in the middle of which, rather elevated, stood Eliezer and his wife, and their numerous company, standing also. The supper was spread, and thanks were now about to be offered. I knelt down against the rails to listen and to take a share in the blessed service. The host again repeated, "Praise ye the Lord!" The whole company responded; and I heard several voices also in the gallery near me, join fervently with those below: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.") The host then began, with uplifted hands, and eyes closed, so as to shut out all visible objects: "Oh Thou bounteous GOD! opening Thy hand, and filling all things living with Thy goodness, be pleased to bless the food with which Thy rich love in CHRIST, and for His dear sake, hath supplied us. Thou knowest, O our only joy and strength, but too well, our exceeding unworthiness, as we stretch forth our hand to receive Thy mercies: nevertheless, though we are unworthy and unprofitable, yet Thy SON, our Head, is all perfect, all lovely, full of merit, and well beloved of Thee. With this plea, with this reason and cause, why Thou shouldest bless Thy gifts to our souls, as well as to our bodies, we ask Thy blessing; Yea, we know we shall have it, because Thou hast promised us all gifts in CHRIST, and Thou art a faithful GOD, performing what Thou hast promised: a GOD of power, able to be faithful: a GOD of love, willing to be able. O make our souls fat by the (a) Genesis xliii. 11. (b) Psalm cxlix. (c) 1 Chron. xvi. 25. rich unction of Thy Holy Spirit, and, sweet JESUS, bless us for ever and for ever." To this little prayer, the whole company said " Amen.” The host then desired them to be seated, and requested the carvers to begin their office; while he said aloud, still standing, and his guests passing the plates to each other in great silence : "Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of GOD and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of JESUS CHRIST. (a) We are bound to give thanks alway to GOD for you, brethren, beloved of the LORD, because GOD hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.() Wherefore, I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health;(c) and use a little wine for your stomach's sake ;(a) but let us, who are of the day, be sober.”(e) Then Eliezer sat down, and six harpers, clothed in white, immediately struck up their sweet preludes and sounds from the orchestra at one end of the hall. The oldest among them, a venerable man, blind, head uncovered, with his grey and thicklyhanging curls fluttering in the wind, which poured in from the high window of the arched roof, sang, in fine recitative, "Hear the voice of the bridegroom."() "Eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved.”(9) The chorus from the five harps now responded in full swell, and sang: "For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation." And then the leading harper took up the strains, "Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of GOD be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."() The whole band then followed in rich harmony, "Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvellous works that (a) 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5, 6. (e) 1 Thes. v. 8. (b) 2 Thes. ii. 13. (c) Acts xxvii. 34. (g) Cant. iv. 16. (d) 1 Tim. v. 23. (h) Ps. cxlix. He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth. Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations."(a) The public repast being now nearly concluded, I went into my chamber, and sat down to mine; and never did I eat food so sweet and wholesome; never was food so relished! But I left my door open to hear the heavenly music, which continued till the table was cleared, and then the harpers sat down to their refreshment in a corner of the hall. Then the steward took the harp, and giving out the name of the chapter as the twenty-sixth of the prophet Isaiah, he led the whole assembly, by repeating, alone, the first four verses: "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation will GOD appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." whole company then took up the fifth verse, "For he bringeth down them that dwelleth on high," &c. to its conclusion; and the host followed with the sixth, and so on, alternately, to the end. The whole party then separated in different directions, and I, who had again quitted my room to join in the worship of GOD, and witness the new and affecting ceremony of the Thanksgiving, sung, as well as said, now returned to my chamber, and having, on my knees, offered up a poor broken petition from a grateful, humble, and an adoring heart, for the mercies which were heaped upon me, lay down on my "bed of green," enclosed in a new "cedar-wood" recess, and in two moments was in the deepest and the sweetest sleep. The CHAPTER IV. Magdalena's spiritual reflections on awaking-Perceives a bright and elegant little object on the Bible-It moves, and at length vanishes-She searches the room, in vain, to find it—It re-appears, and again vanishes-Morning prayers-The Breakfast-The choice viands of this sweet repast—One hundred guests sit down-Magdalena retires to her own chamber — Reads the Word of God-Tears of joy flow down at her sweet medi tations-The little object once more appears, sitting on the sacred pageA description of its form, dress, and weapon-Magdalena addresses it— Its divine actings-It again vanishes-Abraham's conversation in the garden-A venomous reptile attacks Magdalena-Her horror of mind -Abraham smiles at her distress-1 description of the deadly beast. THE sun had been long up, pouring forth his bright beams to enrich the earth and gladden the heart of man, when my bonds of sleep were broken. A sense of joy, and love, and peace dwelt on my soul, and yet the crowded events of the past day were not clear in my recollection. I sat up and leaned on my elbow, to take a survey of my couch, my chamber, the lofty arch of the bright blue heavens, and the full orb of created light darting forth his rays, and dispelling darkness from sensible objects, an emblem of that Majesty of Light uncreated, which shoots his beam into the hidden recess of man's understanding, and thereby makes visible the thicker darkness, and desolation, and deadness of his immortal soul. And thus I considered the eye of my body, just opened to the wonders of creation and of visible objects, after it had, for many hours, been closed in a profound repose; and then I reflected on the far greater wonder and mystery of the eye of my understanding, but just opened, after being, for my whole life-time, sealed up in pitchy darkness; while the fretful, restless tumult of a sad and feverish dream had held all the affections of my heart, and the faculties of my mind, in a stupor, till the moment when my LORD had said unto my soul, "Receive thy sight."(a) Not that I had, like the bodily blind man, asked of the Divine Giver to grant me sight, for I conceived, yea, I was sure and certain, I saw spiritually as well as any, and far better than some; but of His sovereign bounty, and His own free will, He had given me the precious boon I asked not for, and wanted not; and now what shall I say? How shall I speak? "O let the (a) Luke xviii. 42. |