Containing: "Two Years on the Brink of Jordan,"
with Letters on Sanctification and a Story
for Little Folks; the last named
written expressly for Two
Little Nephews,
BY
MRS. REBECCA STEWARD.
TWO YEARS ON THE BRINK OF JORDAN.
Early one spring morning, as I was going about my work, a messenger arrived, saying my Father wanted me. So I made haste and finished up all my work, looked over my wardrobe, picked out and packed up such articles as I thought I should need, and started on my journey, my guide going on before. We had not traveled far before we came to a broad, dark river, whose waters at the time were very much swollen. My guide said, I would have to wait awhile till a ferryboat could come and take me across; so I sat down on the bank of the river and began musing. The river, though so dark and swollen, did not look so dreary, for my guide had given me a telescope, through which I could look away beyond and see my Father's House, which was illuminated with glory and light; and the light from that far mansion shone over the river and the dark valley all around. While I sat there musing, the boat came, but not for me; there were other friends there, the Father had sent for before me; but he sent me this comforting message: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," and my soul answered: "All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes." (Job iv., 14.) And so for many days I sat there waiting and musing; again and again the boat came and went, friend after friend passed over, but still the message came not for me. At length I began to grow weary and impatient; to neglect my Father's business; saying my Lord delays his coming; then came this quiet reproval: "Ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." "For yet a little while and He that is to come will come and will not tarry." (Heb. ix., 36, 37.) After this gentle reproof, I felt ashamed and strove to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, and in due time He did build me up, for my guide advised me to take my telescope and take another look towards my Father's House. I did so, and the sight gave me new vigor, for I could see all the surroundings of my Home. I could see its beautiful gardens, all its choicest fruit and its sweetest flowers; and flowing through the midst of the garden I could see the "pure river" of the "Water of Life," which watered and enlivened every plant that grew in the garden; and on either side of the river stood the "Tree of life," "which bore twelve manner of fruit, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were good for the healing of the nations;" then there was the sweet Lilly of the Valley, in its humble innocence sending up its rich perfume; then the "Rose of Sharon" was there, whose odor filled the air with sweetness, and the Birds of Paradise were there,—those sweet little songsters that the Father had brought from the cold, sterile regions beyond Jordan, and placed in His beautiful garden. They were busily flitting from branch to branch, warbling forth their sweetest notes, and making the air resound with their music. Some of them I thought I almost knew, by the mark of their feathers. As I sat gazing, the river that before had been so swollen, seemed to subside and become very narrow, and seemed as if I had nothing to do, but get up and walk across; but my guide detained me, saying: "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall in due time eat the good of the land, but if disobedient, the sword of the enemy shall devour you."
Being still detained and feeling somewhat weary, "I laid me down and slept, and awoke again, for the Lord sustained me." On awaking, I took up my telescope to take another look across, but I only had it adjusted to my eye, when I again discovered the ferryboat in the distance. This time I thought surely it was coming for me, and began to look around and make all things ready for departure; but again I was doomed to disappointment. The boat came, but not for me this time either; another friend must go before me, one whom the Father thought more weak and needy than I. And as He saw me begin to grieve and fret, He sent me another comforting message, saying: "I will not leave the comfortless, in the sixth trial; and in the seventh, I will not leave thee nor forsake thee." Then again my soul replied, I will fear no evil; in God alone will I put my trust. When I found I had to wait awhile longer, I thought I would look around on this side of Jordan, for I had been so anxious to get home to my Father's House, and so busy looking beyond, that I had not noticed anything on this side so much; and in the glory of light that beamed across the river, I had not noticed the poisonous flowers that spread their baneful influence over all the land, or the muddy, filthy pools, sending up their miasmatic odors, poisoning the air; and while I was looking, with shame let me say it, poisonous as were those flowers, noxious as was the vapor from the pools, I began to be interested in them, and to seek after them; so much so, that my guide said softly in my ear: "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Matt. xxvi., 41.) But I was so engrossed with the flowers, and the whisper came so softly, that I did not heed it, but kept on going farther away from the river, losing sight more and more of my Father's House. Again my guide called after me, but this time in louder tones: "Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." (Matt. xxvi., 24.) But still, strange as it may seem, and as ungrateful as it appears after the pleasant view I had had of my Father's House, and the soothing promises he had given me, such is perverse human nature, that I paid but little heed, but still wandered on, plucking flowers, now here, now there, 'till I had gone quite away; but still my loving Father would not leave me, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth," and on looking up I saw my guide approaching with a rod, which, when he came near enough, he laid heavily about me. Humbled, ashamed and bleeding, he brought me back and laid me exhausted on the bank, where I lay for many days without power to move or courage to look up. Although I had been so disobedient, yet was my guide most assiduous in his attentions and care of me, saying: "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not. (Heb. xii., 70.) And as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that love him, for he knows our frame that we are but dust." (Ps. clxxxiii, 13.) It sorely repented me, and with the Psalmist I exclaimed: "My feet were almost gone, my steps were well nigh slipped." (Ps. lviii, 2) Then I began to cry mightily unto the Lord for help, and from His temple He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He sent me succor. And I was comforted by this message: "Before thou callest I will hear thee, and while thou art yet speaking, I will answer thee." Being thus comforted and somewhat strengthened, my guide advised me to take up my telescope again and take another look across the river. It had been so long since I had looked across, he thought it would do me good, and so it did; for as I looked the green shores appeared so pleasant and inviting to me, it made me feel at once like passing over, and while I was gazing I saw the boat again leave the shore; this time I thought it would certainly come for me. Again I gathered up my things making ready to depart, and many friends gathered around me, mourning and weeping, begging me not to go, but stay with them; yet I was anxious to be gone. Many were the petitions that went over to my Father's House to spare me a little longer, that "they could not do without me;" in this I could not join them. I could only say: "Lord let thy will be done." Meanwhile the boat came nearer and nearer, and I lay looking, both hoping and fearing; hoping it was coming for me, and fearing it was coming for me; for like the apostle I was in a strait betwixt two: "for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain." (Phil. vii., 21-23.) And I suppose that the prayers of tender friends must have prevailed, for when the boat drew nearer, I found it was not coming for me yet, but I received this message: "Let Patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James, i., 4.) From this I saw that Patience was to be my best friend and I tried to take her close to my bosom, and my heart breathed the prayer: "Lord help me with Patience to do all thy righteous will concerning me," and, as I sat there, with Patience for my comforter, I grew calm and composed and began to wonder what had become of the boat I had seen approaching, when, on looking around, I saw it had stopped close by an old friend that had been laying there for a long time; almost ever since I had been there, and, while I looked, I saw her with a shout spring up and step quickly into the boat. Oh! with what rapture I gazed; and when the boat struck out from the shore I could hardly contain myself, I felt I really must go too. But Patience laid her hand on me, and whispered to me, to take my telescope and look after them; and, as I looked, the boat sprang from the shore with great velocity; the river seemed to become narrower, and the light from my Father's Temple so illuminated it, that the darkness had all fled away; and, as I gazed, my vision became brighter and brighter, and my telescope became more powerful, and it seemed, I might follow the boat with my naked eye, as it sped its way across, until it neared the other shore; and, as it neared the shore, I saw the pearly gates of my Father's House fly open, a company came out to meet her, with songs of welcome, saying: "Come ye, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Math. xxv., 34.) So they took hold of her and led her in through the gates; and, as they went through, I could hear the warbling of the birds amidst the rustling of the leaves, and could see the waving grass and sweet flowers, and the waters rippling along their winding way. As I looked, I really thought there were more birds than I had ever seen before; and I never heard them sing so sweetly. As I gazed upon the shining ones, I tried to see if I could recognize any of them; and I thought I could see several whose faces were familiar to me there, and with whom I had associated; and, while I was still looking, they led her into the vestry; then I lost sight of her awhile; but, presently, they brought her forth clothed in white linen, pure and clean, and a palm of victory was placed in her hand; then I saw a greater number come to meet her, and they all joined in one mighty overpowering song, saying: "Salvation to our God, who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii., 10.)
As I heard this, my heart felt like bursting with rapture. O! how I longed to be there! Just then the pearly gates swung to, and I could see them no more. When I could see no more within, I thought I would take a look around and view the holy ground, and "mark well her bulwarks." So I looked well around her walls, and measured her towers, which I found to be very strong, so that no enemy could prevail against them; and her walls were great and high, and I found they lay four-square and rested on twelve foundations, all of them precious stones, and on each foundation there was a name written, which, when I had looked more closely, I found to be the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel; and in each wall I saw there were three gates, and on the gates I saw the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; and, as I still looked, I saw numbers coming and entering in at the gates, from all parts of the world, East, West, North, and South; every gate seemed in use, and with every new arrival there were new songs of praise. As I still looked, I discovered, that all that went over, did not enter the pearly gates; but, instead, some were hurled over a dreadful precipice, which lay just below the wall, and led to a dark, dreary gulf below, where the voice of their groanings was dreadful to hear. Then I asked: "Who are these?" And my guide informed me: "These are they that go away into everlasting punishment, and the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever." And now my guide thought I had seen quite enough for awhile, and so had better lie down and rest; musing on these words: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."
While wondering what more could be for the child of God, than that which my eyes had already seen, I fell asleep. When I awoke, everything looked calm and bright around me; so I thought, with Patience, I would take a stroll along the banks, and see if there were any friends there whom I knew; for I saw many had gathered there unobserved, while I had been so deeply interested in what was going on, on the other side of the river. As I went around from one to another, I found several I was acquainted with; some had been waiting for a long time, others had just arrived. Some were waiting with patience, others were growing very impatient. To while away the time, and for mutual encouragement, I sat down, and entered into conversation with some of them. "For as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the face of his friend." Some had grown very weary, and one said: "I would have fainted, unless I had believed, to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; and now I believe, that ere long I shall see the King in his beauty, for I have the promise, that He, that is to come, will come, and will not tarry. And my Father's command is: Wait on the Lord, be of good courage; and also the promise: And He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord."
With this I felt very much encouraged, and felt as if I too could "Wait on the Lord." Much more encouragement from one and another I found, till presently I saw one coming up in great haste, saying: "My Father has just sent for me in great haste, and I must be gone. Have you seen the boat that takes us across?" I looked up and saw it coming, and, while waiting for it to come to the shore, I asked her at what time the messenger came for her. "In the early part of the evening," she said, just as she had folded away all her work, and closed up her house, and had sit down, to enjoy a long, quiet evening, thinking over those texts of warning: "Let your loins be girded about you, and your lights burning." Another: "Be ye also ready; for in an hour, when you think not, the Son of man cometh." And said she: Just while I was musing on these things, there came a knock at the door, and the messenger came in, saying: "The Master calleth for thee;" so I left all and made great haste to get here. The boat then came alongside; she sprang in, and it shot off from the shore like an arrow. Again I felt as if I could not be left behind; and, feeling so anxious to go, I almost sprang into the water; for the river looked so narrow, and I could see the bottom so plain; it seemed as if I could walk across; but Patience laid hold of me and gently held me back, saying: "Wait on the Lord, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold, that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
But I still felt so homesick and complaining, that my friend had almost gained the other side, before I had observed it; so, then, I thought, if I could not go, I could see across, and with my telescope I could follow her and see her enter the pearly gates; by this time she had reached the shore, and I saw a great company come out to meet her, having harps in their hands; among them were several that I knew, who had journeyed with us through life, whom I had heard many times tell their hopes and fears; but, now, they were safely housed in their Father's mansion, never more to go out. As they came to her they commenced chanting: "Blessed are they that do his commandments; that they may have a right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the City."
As they led her through the gates, I again heard the singing of birds; it seemed to me, at this time, they sang louder and sweeter than ever. And amongst them I saw three,[1] that I thought looked more bright and cheerful than the rest. These kept all the time very near her, sometimes sitting on her shoulders, sometimes in one place, then another; but all the time keeping near her, and expressing the utmost joy. On examining more closely, I found they were some pets that she had sent to her Father several years before; and now they led her into the vestry; and, while they were robing her, as the gates were still ajar, I thought I would look further within. So, by readjusting my telescope, and increasing its magnifying power, I could see away beyond the walls; and I discovered there "many mansions," that my "Elder Brother" had gone many years ago to prepare, for all those that love him. I thought, "my sister will soon inhabit one of these mansions," and, how long, ere I too shall inhabit one also; and, in the anxiety and desire of my soul, I cried: "How long, oh Lord!" Then my guide whispered, reprovingly: "In patience possess ye your soul." So, being comforted, I continued my gaze, and, looking further on, I saw a great and high mountain, which, my guide told me, was Mount Zion; and a Lamb stood on the mountain, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousands, having their Father's name written in their foreheads; and I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers, harping on their harps; and, they sang, as it were, a new song before the throne. (Rev. xiv., 1-3.) Then I inquired of my guide who the Lamb was, and who was this great company that was with him; and he said: "The Lamb is He that was slain from the foundation of the world, and they, that are with him, are those who follow the Lamb, withersoever he goeth; these were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and the Lamb." As I listened to their music, I tried to hear what they were singing; and I found they were singing the "Song of Moses, the servant of God," and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are thy ways, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name, for Thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest." (Rev. xv., 3, 4.)