New and Contrite Hearts; Forty Brief Meditations for Lent (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 Excerpt: ...unto the Lord. We are told in God's Holy Word that "our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ;" that "our 72 Cle Consttratftf life. life is hid with Christ in God." Surely this means that in all our works and thoughts God must have the first place. It was.a beautiful fancy that the angel helped Fra Angelico to paint the lovely cherub faces of his pictures, and we may be sure that all work done in the fear and love of God, however lowly and common-place, is worthy the notice and the help of angels. Never sigh after some exalted sphere and grand work for God; the poor day labourer who does his work honestly and faithfully, the diligent servant, the conscientious teacher) are doing God's work as truly as the greatest in the land. Our sphere of labour may be lowly, and we may not be able to do even that humble work very well, but if we do our best, "looking unto Jesus," God asks no more. I have read a legend of a monk who, in ages long gone by, spent his time in painting pictures of saints and martyrs, and "the sweet Christ-face with the crown of thorns." Day by day the monk laboured in his lowly cell, but his art was rude and uncultivated; and his pictures were laughed at by his brethren. The poor artist was filled with sorrow. He longed to show in his pictures of the Saviour the love he felt for Him, but in vain; and so he determined to destroy all his paintings. Suddenly lifting his eyes the monk saw a visitor in his cell, wearing a crown of thorns, and saying with gentle voice, "I scorn no work that is done for love of Me." And the wondering artist saw the pictures on the walls transfigured, and shining with a beauty and a colour which had never appeared on earthly canvas. "Yes, th...