Luke 1:74 That he would grant to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, — In a Western cabin, far away from all other residences, there sat a Christian mother rocking her babe to sleep. The husband and the father had been called suddenly off on business, and there had been no defence provided for that house that night in the wilderness. As the mother sat there in the cabin rocking her babe to sleep, miles away from any other tenement, glancing to the floor she saw a ruffian's foot projecting from under the table. Having rocked her child to sleep she put him in the cradle, and then knelt down and said: "Oh I Lord, keep this child; keep me. Oh! Thou who never slumbereth, watch over our cabin to-night. Let no harm come to us. If there be those abroad who wish us ill, bring them to a better mind. The Lord have mercy upon all wanderers, all who do deeds of violence and death. Bring them to Thyself — bring them to pardon and to heaven." As she arose from the prayer the ruffian came out from under the table and said: "There will be no harm to you to-night. Pray for me, I am the wanderer that you spoke of. Pray for me." Years passed on, and that Christian woman sat in a great meeting called in the interest of reform. There was a great orator that day to be present, and as he preached righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, his eye fell upon the countenance of that woman. His cheek was blanched and he almost failed in his speech. At the close of the meeting they joined hands, and a few words of conversation passed, and some one said: "Why, where did you form the acquaintance of that orator?" "Never mind," she said, "I have known him many years." Who was it watching the mother that night? Who was it watching the babe? Who was tit that brought the ruffian to God in repentance for his sin? Who is it that watches all our cradles, and all our tables, and all our homes, and all our way? Blessed be His glorious name for ever. He is a shelter to which we may all run. He is a fortress in which we may all be safe. (Dr. Talmage.) Parallel Verses KJV: That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, |
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