THE MOTE IN THE EYE.

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XIII.

The Mote in the Eye.

HILE at play, a child happening to get a mote into his eye, kept rubbing and wiping it for a while, but with no other effect than to increase the pain and inflammation. At last he ran and complained to his father, who put a small pearl into it, and bade him close and roll it about several times, whereupon the pearl dropped out with the mote adhering to it. This suggested to Gotthold the following thoughts: The eye is the light of the body. It sees all things presented to it, but not itself. It is, however, as the present instance shows, an extremely sensitive organ, and cannot endure even a mote, but weeps and aches until it is relieved. It thus affords us a true emblem of conscience, which, although itself little noticed, perceives, apprehends, and, so to speak, keeps a record of all things. In one respect, indeed, conscience is superior to the eye; for while the latter sees only by day, the former sees also by night, and takes minute cognizance of the works of darkness. Now, true it is that many, especially when blinded by the delusions of self-love and carnal security, look upon sin as only a mote. But ah! with what bitter pain and anguish the mote, which seems so small, can wring the con

science! How it aches and weeps! And, in such a case, O God of mercy, there is no help but with Thee. The Gospel of Jesus is the pearl of great price.1 Dropped by Thy hand into the wounded and troubled heart, it takes sin and all its anguish away, so that we find rest to our souls, and learn to serve Thee with alacrity and delight.

Help me, O my God! to walk at all times cautiously and circumspectly, and guard me by Thy grace from ever wounding my conscience.

XIV.

The Lock.

LOCK was shown to Gotthold, constructed of rings, which were severally inscribed with certain letters, and could be turned round until the letters represented the name Jesus. It was only when the rings were disposed in this manner that the lock could be opened. The invention pleased him beyond measure and he exclaimed: Oh that I could put such a lock as this upon my heart! Our hearts are already locked, no doubt, but generally

1 Matt. xiii. 46.

THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK.

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with a lock of quite another kind. Many need only to hear the words, Gain, Honor, Pleasure, Riches, Revenge, and their heart opens in a moment, whereas, to the Saviour and to His holy name, it continues shut.

Lord Jesus, engrave Thou Thy name with Thine own finger upon my heart, that it may remain closed to worldly joy and worldly pleasure, self-interest, fading honor, and low revenge, and open only to Thee!

XV.

The Golden Candlestick.

OTTHOLD proceeded: Among the furniture of the tabernacle, under the Old Testament, not the least conspicuous article was the golden candlestick, with seven branches and lamps that always burned. By the Divine command, however, this candlestick was neither cast nor soldered together, but made of beaten work from a talent of gold.1 In this way the Lord intended to signify that no one can shine on earth with the light of sound doctrine and a holy life, or in heaven with eternal glory, who has not been subjected to His hammer,

1 Exodus xxv. 31.

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THE DRINKING-CUP.

and beaten and wrought conformably to His mind. The only misfortune is, that we do not comprehend His method of working. Thy will, O God, is to make of us vessels unto honor, sanctified and meet for Thy use, and prepared unto every good work! We, however, would rather continue good for nothing, than subject our sinful flesh to pain. But, O my Father, heed not our folly. The hammers Thou usest are the devil, the world, and all sorts of adversity. Beat well, that both here in time, and hereafter in eternity, I may be a vessel unto honor, and fit for Thy use.

XVI.

The Drinking-Cup.

SILVER cup, gilded and tastefully embossed, was standing upon a table, and suggested to Gotthold the following thoughts: The sole difference between this and any other piece of

silver is, that it has been more highly wrought, and beaten with the hammer. In no other way could it have been formed into the costly and beautiful vessel which we here see. Why then should we think it so

1 2 Timothy ii. 21.

THE MONK IN SOLITUDE.

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strange and unaccountable when God, in His unerring wisdom, applies to us, in good earnest, the hammer of the Cross? Do not we deal as we please with the inanimate creatures, moulding them into any shape which strikes our fancy? And ought we, then, to take offence, and complain of Him, when He makes the Cross His hammer, and beats us into conformity to His will? Is our right over the creatures better than His over us? And would any good thing come out of us were our gracious Father to let us alone?

XVII.

The Monk in Solitude.

RECOLLECT, said Gotthold, a pleasant story, told by a pious minister, about a monk of former days. He resolved to leave his monastery, on the ground that he there too frequently met with

causes of provocation, and was betrayed into anger and other sins. Accordingly he retired into the desert, in the hope that solitude would enable him to serve God with an easier mind. One day, however, his pitcher happened to be upset, and, when lifted up, fell a second time, which kindled his anger