Though young Maude could not, on account of his journey to London, attend the wedding service, he accompanied his sisters, who were bridesmaids, to the Grange, before he started by the train. The Maudes found the family of their friends, the bride included, at their early breakfast, a cheerful meal, at which Harry and his sisters joined as welcome guests. The sight of the happiness of others was ever a source of happiness to the young lieutenant. One of the brightest hours of his life was that spent at the Grange amongst old friends and companions upon that bridal day. Pleasant is it to fulfil the command, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice."
Though the young officer quitted with regret the cheerful circle of his friends, yet it was, perhaps, with a feeling of yet deeper gratification that he appeared on the evening of that day in the presence of his Queen. He sat at the board of his Sovereign, a welcome and honoured guest, because he had nobly done his duty, because in the hour of trial and danger his courage had never failed. Thankfulness, and not pride, beat in the bosom of Harry; he gratefully acknowledged that it was God who had helped him in need, who had strengthened his arm and nerved his heart, who had carried him safe through dangers, and crowned him with honour and joy. That evening, when on the young officer rested the approving glance of his Queen, was one which to his dying day he would recall with gratification.
"Earth's pleasures are fleeting, and its honours are passing away; the bridal feast and the royal banquet may both be joyous, but they belong to those things which Time sweeps from our view at last, as though they had never been. God be praised, who hath prepared for His children pleasures that abide, and glory that never shall end!" So thought Harry on the following Sunday, when, for the first time since his departure ten years before, the pastor's family, as an unbroken family, met in the House of Prayer.
It was deep joy to the sailor to pass once more down the well-remembered aisle, with kind familiar faces around him, to occupy once more the very seat where so often, when a boy, he had listened with reverence to the voice of his father proclaiming the message of God. It was deep joy to join again in worship with the friends of his youth in that church, to which memory so often had turned during long years of absence.
Harry did not leave it after the sermon was ended, he and his family all remained to join in the service of obedience, the service of hope, the service of love. There, indeed, they could enjoy the sense of communion, not only with their Heavenly Father, but with all His family in heaven and earth—there they could realise that all true Christians are one in Christ, united with the angels above, and the spirits of the just made perfect.
If anything could have added to Harry's happiness at that sweet and solemn hour, it was to know that the Garths were worshipping near him. There were the grey-haired labourer and his wife, and their young grandson beside them, sharing for the first time, but not for the last, the privilege and blessing of drawing nigh to the Lord at His Table. As with meek reverence and love they obeyed their Master's command, faith raised their thoughts to the great Feast above, to which all God's servants are bidden. "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." * "Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." †
* Luke xiv. 15. † Rev. xix. 9.
My reader, this is a solemn subject, and should it be one to which you have not yet given much thought, most earnestly would I commend it to your prayerful attention. May we duly prize the privilege of Christian Communion while yet we remain upon earth, nor refuse the loving invitation so graciously given to penitent sinners—"Come, for all things are now ready." * And when this life is over, and earth itself shall have passed away, may we, through our Saviour's merits, be received at the heavenly feast above, as rejoicing and thankful guests!
* Luke xiv. 17.
HYMN.
OBEYING Christ's command, oh! Lord,
I come, a thankful guest,
In no polluted tattered robe
Of human merits dressed,
But in my Saviour's righteousness,
The spotless wedding-vest.
Unworthy as I own I am,
Thy feast of love to share,
For His sake hear my humble cry,
For His sake grant my prayer;
And let Thy mercy cleanse my soul.
And shed Thy Spirit there!
Oh! Make me one with Thy dear Son,
To Him my soul unite,
A branch of the Eternal Vine,
Not fruitless in Thy sight:
Thine own on earth—Thine own in heaven.
Through ages infinite!