218

CROSSING THE DARK RIVER.

CROSSING THE DARK RIVER.

REV. E. MONRO.

It was a silent evening, and the sunset glowed over the distant hill. The faint stars came out one by one in the deep-blue sky, and they shed a pale light on the broad sheet of water, which flowed slowly and heavily on, of the Dark River. On the bank stood the family of Adeodatus, and I saw him among them. My attention was drawn towards them with increasing interest. I saw he was pale, deadly pale, but calm-calm as the still sunset on the hill; his eye was blue as a summer sky at midday, and his brow was solemn, thoughtful, and sad. His family were weeping around him, and I doubted not that he was about to cross the stream. I heard but few sounds; the words, "0 Adeodatus! our dear Adeodatus!" sighed along the water's edge. But his gentle and quiet face seemed to hush them all. I was surprised beyond measure at the composure with which he came so close to the water at which he had so trembled at the distance. But I looked to the silver thread, and saw it was brilliant even to dazzling me.

"My mother, my mother!" said the youth, "I shall soon enter into the dark waters; but I feel calm; the silver thread is bound close around me, and it seems as if it would draw me on to the other side. Weep not

for me, my mother, weep not for Adeodatus; but while you sojourn a while longer in the wilderness, think of the day when you must all cross the water. I fear it not; I know that He whom I have ever loved, though so weakly, will bear me safe through. Farewell, my family! my beloved family, farewell!" And as he spoke, his last accents were choked by the rising wave into which he had glided. All their eyes were fixed in the track of the water where their beloved had entered. But they saw no sign of his form; all they saw was the silver cord beneath the water, shining with crystal light, so as to light up the Dark River itself with its glory. They fixed their eyes on the other side, but they could not see across. The deep shadows hung there; and though some fancied they saw a light and a form on the side opposite where Adeodatus had entered, it was an indistinct fancy. He had passed away, and they saw him no more.

CHRISTIANS BY THE RIVER OF DEATH.

MRS. E. H. EVANS.

THERE came a little child, with sunny hair,

All fearless to the brink of death's dark river,

And with a sweet confiding in the care

Of Him who is of life the joy and giver;

And as upon the waves she left our sight,

We heard her say, "My Savior makes them bright."

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CHRISTIANS BY THE RIVER OF DEATH.

Next came a youth, with bearing most serene,
Nor turned a single backward look of sadness;
But as he left each gay and flowery scene,

Smiling declared, "My soul is filled with gladness;
What earth deems bright forever I resign,
Joyful but this to know, that Christ is mine."

An aged mourner, trembling, tottered by,

And paused a moment by the swelling river, Then glided on, beneath the shadowy sky,

Singing, "Christ Jesus is my strength forever. Upon his arm my feeble soul I lean

My glance meets his without a cloud between."

And scarce her last triumphant note had died,
Ere hastened on a man of wealth and learning,
Who cast at once his bright renown aside,
These only words unto his friends returning :
"Christ for my wisdom thankfully I own,
And as a little child I seek his throne."

Then saw I this—that whether guileless child,
Or youth, or age, or genius, won salvation,
Each, self-renouncing, came; on each God smiled

Each found the love of Christ rich compensation For loss of friends, earth's pleasures, and renown Each entered heaven, and "by his side sat down."

THE PILGRIM SAFELY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DARK RIVER.

JOHN BUNYAN.

Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two Shining Men again, who there waited for them. Wherefore, being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying, "We are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation." There, said they, is "the Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect." You are going now, said they, to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and, when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity. There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth, to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death, "for the former things are passed away." You are going now to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and to the prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now "resting upon their beds, each one walking in his righteousness." You must there receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your

222 THE PILGRIM SAFELY OVER THE DARK RIVER.

sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there "you shall see him as he is." There, also, you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing, the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy receive every one that follows into the holy place after you. There, also, you shall be clothed with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When he shall come with sound of trumpet in the clouds, as upon the wings of the wind, you shall come with him; and, when he shall sit upon the throne of judgment, you shall sit by him : yea, and when he shall pass sentence upon all the workers of iniquity, let them be angels or men, you shall have a voice in that judgment, because they were his and your enemies. Also, when he shall again return to the city, you shall go, too, with sound of trumpet, and be ever with him.