Starlight Through the Shadows

“Work for 1879, if the Lord will. To write ‘Starlight through the Shadows, a daily book for Invalids.” Such was the intention of my dear sister, F. R. H. Having herself passed through the shadows of sickness and sorrow, she sought -to -bring some scarry promise sure,” which might be more welcome, to the feeble eye, ‘dian ‘i-he dazzling rays of brighter promises.

In answer to a suggestion, that she should write on some other subjects, her characteristic reply was: “I don’t think I have got any real “commission to write anything at all for next ‘’autumn, except the invalid book. I believe “I am going off the line of my especial calling “if once I begin to think of writing as a matter “of business and success and cheque, and all “that; and I can’t expect the same blessing in” it. And so, though of course it stands to rea-

. that the invalid book must have a very “limited circulation compared to the others, I “shall be much happier doing that; and I be- “lieve I shall have more real, i. e., spiritual results” from it, than if I set myself to do any others,

a use I do think God gave me the thought “to do this one. I have felt so very strongly and

etly hitherto, that my pen was to be used “c//A’ fur the Master, that I am very fearful of “getting the least out of the course in which I “have felt H” (J//<v, 1 8 79. )

Only eleven chapters were written, when for her all Bhadows fled awiy, ami. were exchanged l’«»r the shadowless ery Light

lit!

To complete a seventh and last volume of P. R. II. s Royal Series, selections have been r unpublished manuscripts.

My beloved sisters life-long interest in all missionary work seems to culminate in her 1 ‘Marching Orders.” By request of Mr. Eugene Stock, she wrote these papers for the Church Missionary Gleafier of 1879.

Outlines of addresses given at various times, with other papers, show her diligent searchings in the Scripture of truth.

May the Holy Spirit’s blessing cause them to be helpful Gleams from the King’s Word.

MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL.
December 14th, 188 1.

CONTENTS.

I. Softly and Safely

II. What seemeth Him good.

in. The Silence of Love

iv. The Dew of the Word.

v. With Whom we have to do

VI. Things which He suffered

vn. The Lord’s Cherishing

viii. Fresh Glory

ix. This God is our God

X. Thy Hand

XI. “I pray for them “.

Marching Orders. Nos. I. to IX.

Outlines of Addresses: Leprosy. Leviticus xiii. Holiness, and being God’s own. Lev. xx. Christ our Law-Fulfiller. Lev. xxvii. 34 The Voice from the Mercy Seat. Num. vii Page

3
10

18
23
30
36
41
46

5*
58
61
Pag*

ivcness. Num. xiv. 19.... .114

The Brazen Serpent Num. xxi. 8, 9.. 122

The Continual Burnt Offering. Num. xxviii. 3-6. 127

tides i. i-S 132
: Life 14+

l of Address to V. W. C. A. Meeting. Ps. li. 149 of Address to Y. W. C. A. Meeting at

April 17, 1879. Hos. iii. I -3. 152

raous Papers:
Sickness from God’s Hand ..... 155
all the Children of God?.... 159
of the Unity in Diversity of the

ptures 161

Internal Evidence of the Probability that St. Paul

the Epistle to the Hebrews... 165

THE story of Jacob’s thoughtfulness for the cattle and the children is a beautiful little picture. He would not let them be overdriven even for one day. Verse 13: “My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.”

He would not lead on according to what a strong man like Esau could do and expected them to do, but only according to what they were able to endure. Verse 12: “Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.” He had had so much to do with them that he knew exactly how far they could go in a day; and he made that his only consideration in arranging the marches.

Perhaps his own halting thigh made him the more considerate for “the foot of the cattle”

4 FLIGHT through the shadows.

and “the foot of the children” (see margin).: had gone the same wilderness journey pears before (chap. xxix. i: “Then Jacob went 00 his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east”), when they were DOt vet in existence, and knew all about its and heat and length by personal ex-And so he said, “I will lead on

“For ye have not passed this way hereto-

(Josh. iii. 4)- We have not passed this

way heretofore, but the Lord Jesus has. “For

ive not an high priest which cannot be

touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb.

iv. !:). It is all untrodden and unknown ground

to US, hut He knows it all by personal experience;

that take away our breath, the

Stony bits that make our feet ache so, the hot

-tretehes that make us feel so exie rushing rivers that we have to pass

through, Jesus his gone through it all before

D& “Foi Himself took our infirmities and bare

(Matt. viii. 17).” For in that

He i I.:.. h ith suffered being tempted” (Heb.

S wearied with His journey; “Jej wearied with His journey”

me but all the many waters went over Him, and yet did not quench His love. “All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. xlii. 7). “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Cant. viii. 7).

He was made a perfect Leader by the things which He suffered. Heb. ii. 10: “To make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. v. 8, 9: “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” For now He knows all about it, and leads us softly according as we are able to endure.

“For He knoweth our frame” (Ps. ciii. 14). And He does not. only know, with that sort of up-on-the-shelf knowledge which is often guilty of want of thought among ourselves, but He remember eth that we are dust. Ps. lxxviii. 39: “For He remembered that they were but flesh.” Think of that when you are tempted to question the gentleness of the leading. He is remembering all the time; and not one step will He make you take beyond what your foot is able to endure. Never mind if you think it will not be able for the step that seems to come next; either He will so strengthen it that it shall be able, Ol I Ec will call a sudden halt, and you shall not have t” take it at all.

I not restful t<> know that you are not to any Esaus, for how much you get through, or how tar you are led on in the day! lon’t know, or, knowing, don’t remember, the weakness or the drawbacks. Maybe they wonder you do not get on farther and rig the work better, bearing up against r the sorrow more bravely. And mayb wounded and wearied without a

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