Streams from the valley of Berachah

Preface

This simple message does not claim any literary merit, but is a little stream from a full and overflowing heart, which longs to share with those it loves the blessing that has grown too big tor the Avriter any longer to keep for herself alone.

Contents

I. How T Learxed the Secret. - - 9

II. A New Song, - - - - - 27

V. Hard Places. _ _ _ _ 67

I. How I Leaened The Secret

FROM my earliest childhood, until a little over twenty years of age, my time was all spent in a worldly way. My family were not Christians and made no profession. We had no religious influence or training in the family circle, but attended church on the Sabbath because it was respectable to do so. Beyond this, I knew nothing better, and really thought that to be a Christian was to try desparately hard in some way to be good enough to get into heaven ; to go to church, and have religion, and be very pious, and, consequently, not very happy. The conception of such a life was not very inviting, especially to a young person who had some advantages in life. Every one naturally craves happiness and joy, and this is what the world is seeking after ; but no one is willing to give up a good thing unless he finds something better. We do not blame them, and, indeed, believe it is impossible for any one to act otherwise. It is not hard when we get beyond the theory of these things and do really see the beauty, joy and victory of a real Christian experience lived out, to desire it and never be satisfied without it. How many things that charm and attract us in this world will drop away when we find that we do not want them because we have something far better !

Oh, that Christians in their home circle, their business, church life, and intercourse with the world, would have Christ so manifest in them that others would see a victorious joy, which would make them hungry for the same! We beheve the unsaved would come to Christ as we have never yet seen them do, without so much pleading and coaxing on the part of professing Christians. I have often been repelled by those who professed and did not possess ; and, in fact, during all of those years of my life in my Kentucky home, I never met with a Christian who I saw had a real joyful Christian experience in his everyday life. I do not mean to say that there were not earnest children of God in that place, but I do say that those who were redeemed, and His witnesses, did not let their light shine as they should have done.

My dear, aged grand-parents were true Christians, but their inner life was too sacred to talk about. How many feel so ! Some years of my life were spent in society, and the natural result was, selfishness and extravagance in many ways, and self -hf e nourished and encouraged. Many times I was heart-sick of the shallowness, and often deception and heartlessness of society. I longed for something really true, satisfying, and worth living for ; and, still, I did not know for what. However, my Lord did knew, and He was letting me see one side of life ; and now — Praise His name ! — I see and enjoy the other.

My health failed, and some very serious diseases settled upon my body. From babyhood I had been delicate, had no constitution, and had been most tenderly cared for, with almost luxury around me in the home life, accustomed to using all kinds of remedies. For several years I suffered from a disease which prevented my going up and down stairs, or walking any distance without pain ; also from chronic dyspepsia, and such weak eyes ( caused by granulated lids and far-sightedness), that I could not lift them up in a bright light or use them in any way without inflammation ; added to all this, a pressure on the brain, as of a heavy band of iron clasping it — I was, indeed, in a sad condition, which neither an excellent physician at home, nor water-cure treatment in different places could remedy or reach.

At that time it was arranged for me to visit relatives in the North, our thought being for a little change of air, surroundings and treatment. The Lord had His own plan for me. As I look back over those years I see his hand in every stepping. I was with a Christian family, and they often spoke of what God was to them in all the little pleasures, trials and needs of every -day life ; and I saw it was true and real, and my soul was made hungry for what they had. I did not even have a Bible with me, but purchased one, and alone in my little room I talked with God, and He talked with me. The Holy Spirit put such a longing desire in my heart to really know that Christ was my Saviour, and by the very cords of love drew me to Himself. As I opened my new Bible, many passages were given by the Spirit, and it seemed as if they were sealed and sent from hesLYen just for me. I shall never forget those precious words in the fourteenth of John : ' ^ I will not leave you comfortless : I will come to you. " ' ' Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. '' In a very simple way I behoved His word to me, and, taking Jesus as my Saviour, knew that He accepted me, and that I was ^'born again." My conversion was clear, definite and settled forever. I was not depending upon any worthiness in myself, but it was all for Jesus' sake. I united with the Church of the Redeemer, a small Episcopal church in Brooklyn, and thus commenced my new life. I was only a baby, but a real hungry one for the best food and nourishment ; and not having anything to unlearn, or any prejudices or doctrines to give up, and never having had an opportunity of conversing with any of the learned divines, I was simple-hearted enough to be lieve the Scriptures, just as they read, and to appropriate the promises, as a child would take his father's word. I was led on very rapidly, and the blessed Holy Spirit opened up the Word and taught me Himself.

Going to Ocean Grove, I was thrown with some earnest, living Christians, who had entered into a deeper life, and had also been healed in their bodies by the direct power of God. My eyes were opened to a real life in the Spirit for soul and body, which I had never dreamed was possible for any of us on this earth. I not only heard their testimonies, but J carefully watching them, saw the richness and fullness of what they professed made real in their lives. I longed for the experience, and knew it was for me as well as for others, as '^God was no respecter of persons. " At first it was more a blessing, than the Blesser to abide, that I apprehended asked for and received. There, for the first time, in a meeting on the campground, I gave myself in unreserved consecration to the Lord. I had a real battle with the enemy in using my voice in testimony, but saw that I must be free and would grieve the Holy Spirit if I did not obey. The word came to me, '^Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." I stood up in that assembly and opened my mouth without knowing a word I was going to say, and my blessed Lord did not fail me, but put words in my mouth, and my attention was taken off the people and myself, and drawn heavenward, and all I thought of, or cared for, was to please my Master. After a few simple words, that I do not remember, I took my seat with a joy and spring I had never had in my life before, and I went out from the meeting knowing that I was walking in the very sunshine of God's presence, love and approval.

I would say just here to any brother or sister to whom the Holy Spirit is speaking, and making hungry for more, to obey Him quickly, and say, ' ' Yes, Lord ! yes. Lord ! " all the way along, and that if we do our part in obedience He will never fail us. Our obedience is far more to the Lord than all our sacrifices and works.

Praise the Lord ! Christ was victor that day, and ever since I have had freedom in speaking for Him. I left Ocean Grove, having my life and desires changed. The written Word was made Spirit and Life to me ; I was sealed by the Holy Spirit ; and, entering into a larger place, took Christ as my Healer the best I knew how at that time.

Returning to my home in Kentucky, I found that I was a very ignorant child in the knowledge of the Bible, knowing only the precious words that had been made real to me by the Holy Ghost. Waiting and testing days were before me, and I was hindered by the reasoning and questioning of many who said the days of miracles were over, and that remedies were provided by the Lord, and ever so many other tvise things that seemed very reasonable and sensible at the time. My own doubts and fears came ; the enemy took advantage of my little knowledge of the Word of God, and, being very much pressed in many ways, I went back to remedies. The Lord was very tender and patient with me, not reproving, but lovingly doing the very best He could for me on the plane I had chosen. I then saw that the testimonies and experiences of others, however wonderful or helpful they might be, were not enough to build upon, but that we must have a knowledge of the Word of God for ourselves, and a *Hhus saith the Lord," to meet the enemy with in the hour of suffering and conflict, and at every step as we go forward. My place was not as easy as when surrounded by the Christians the Lord had thrown around me in my visit Xorth, but it was His will, and I now see plainly that it was the very best thing for me at the time, as it threw me more fully upon God, alone, and His simple Word.

After several years of stumbling, and, also very much blessed training from my Heavenly Father in the opening up of His Word to me, by the Holy Spirit, and teaching me the ministry of prayer, I was enabled to clearly see Divine healing in the Atonement, and came to the place where it was not what man said, but what God's Word offered me. I made a covenant with Him to believe and trust Him for my body, and henceforth to take the Bible as my standard, — burning all the bridges behind ; and swinging out into His love, I was able, in abandonment, to leave myself in His hands. Remedies went ; not because there was any virtue in giving them up, but because I did not want them and had something better. All the disease was taken away, and I was entirely well in body and delivered from the trouble in my eyes. The Lord opened the way for a visit to several of the Faith Homes in Europe, and I learned much from His dear children in Bethshan, London, Dorothea Trudel's and Pastor Stockmayer's Homes in Switzerland ; and thus I was being prepared, without knowing it, for a work that the Lord was preparing for me in Berachah Home in Xew York. In 1884 I came into the Home as Deaconess, and here I have had the opportunity of seeing hundreds of cases of Divine heahng, and very many of His people step out of a life of sadness, despondency, selfishness and even the good self, into the liberty of Christ. ^'Whom the Son maketh free is free indeed."

I was kept well physically, (my old troubles never returning), and very much blessed in my own soul and in my service ; but, still, I now see that for some years I knew very little of what it was to really die to self as well as sin, and have Christ enthroned within, and not only healing, but health for my body.

About three years since, a most severe testing came in the form of nervous prostration, and my life was hanging by a thread, seemingly. Many of our dear friends and workers thought perhaps T was going home to Jesus. The Holy Ghost plainly showed me that He was leading me into the deeper life of Christ's indwelling presence, and that all former experiences had been mere blessings and touches of healing in answer to prayer, but that now my Lord was inviting me into a closer place in His heart, and that it must be a union with Himself for soul and body. The words came by the Spirit, — *' Life, Life," — and I saw that no one could take life for me. I could not depend upon others to pray for me, but recognized it as a call to be alone with God, to depend upon Him and receive from Him. It seemed as if I was to have the experience of standing alone as fully as if I was separated, as many of our dear missionaries are, in India, China and other places, without having the atmosphere of faith around them, which is such a blessing to those at home.

Many passages from the Scriptures were made hving words to me by the Holy Spirit ; among them, "The Lord for the body and the body for the Lord." '' Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon that have I given you." "Awake, awake; put on thy s rength, O Zion ; put on thy beautiful garments, Jerusalem, — shake thyself from the dust ; arise and sit down, O Jerusalem ; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, captive daughter of Zion." "I will betroth thee unto me in faithfulness and thou shalt know the Lord. " "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over his bride, so thy God shall rejoice over thee."

At the same time the enemy came in like a flood, as he always does when God has great blessings for us. I felt the very powers of darkness surrounding me and

M STREA^IS FROM BERACHAH.

blocking up the way ; but I literally obeyed, and walked the floor for hours, putting my foot down on the promises, shaking off the power of the enemy and taking in life.

Those early morning hours I entered into a blessed union with my Beloved, and His life came into my body and soul, with a joy, rest and peace that were beyond anything ever experienced before.

A month or two later, I had what seemed diptheria, but took healing by simply saying over and over, '' Thy Will he done,^^ knowing it was health. The life came and the disease went as He quickened my mortal frame. These testings have rooted and grounded me in Christ. Now, it is not a blessing, or simply a healing, but the Blesser and Healer dwelling inside, and Christ's Divine health for the body continually supplied.

My work, I am sure, is more fruitful as

I am more hid away in Him. The natural activity of the flesh is not to be depended upon ; the true life is the Holy Ghost ; to live, to walk, and to think as He prompts is all that I desire. I can now say, '^Itis done ;" "He hath made all things new ; He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. "

God has His best things for the few

That dare to stand the test ; God has His second choice for those

Who will not have His best.

It is not always open ill

That risks the Promised Rest ; The better, often, is the foe

That keeps us from, the best.

There's scarcely one but vaguely wants

In some way to be blest ; 'Tis not Thy blessing, Lord, I seek,

I want Thy very best.

And others make the highest choice,

But, when by trials pressed, They shrink, they yield, they shun the cross.

And so they loose the best.

I want, in this short life of mine,

As much as can be pressed Of service true for God and man ;

Help me to be my best.

I want to stand when Christ appears

His holiest and best.

I want, among the victor throng, To have my name confessed ;

And hear my Master say at last, Well done ; you did your best.

Give me, O Lord, Thy highest choice ;

Let others take the rest ; Their £-ood things have no charm for me.

For I have got Thy best.

II. The New Song

" He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." Psalm xl : 3.

THE Lord has been teaching me, in a deeper sense, this lesson of having all things made new, and among the new things He has impressed especially the ''new song.'' I believe that in no vray can we so acceptably serve the Lord as by continual rejoicing ; and the fruit from such a life is, — ^'Many shall see it and trust in the Lord. "

I met recently a dear sister who was a missionary for some time in a most difficult field, and she was an inspiration to me. She had the song in her heart and the glory shining out in her face. She told me of

the months she had spent on the field in

28 STREAMS FRO:\[ BERACHAH.

privations, sometimes sleeping in holes in the ground, sometimes going for days with very little to eat, or having merely scraps from the natives to appease her hunger ; three times being poisoned by the natives, and rising from what would have been her death-bed by simple trust in God. Her spirit of joy made the deepest impression upon us, and she was indeed an example of what the Lord wants all His children to be.

She was so entirely unconscious of having done anything more than most ordinary Christians would do under the same circumstances, — to simply believe God.

Some one has said, "The devil cannot touch our eternal life, but will rob us of our peace and joy.'' How true this is I When the children of Israel wandered away from the Lord, and were in sorrow, trial and despondency, the word was lovingly given,

'rHE NEW SONG. ^9

"She shall sing there." Where? In the valley of Achor, the place of trial and testing, where everything seemed against the possibility of their doing so. They.probably said, ' ' such a thing can never be ; we haVe had our song, but lost it." But when God said they should sing, that was enough. They entered into a fuller separation unto God, and a closer fellowship with Him ; and even into a life of betrothal, calling Him ^Mshi," Husband. He is speaking to some to-day, saying, "they shall sing there" — in the place just where you are, my dear brother or sister, perhaps in the wilderness ; perhaps in sorrow, or trial or testing ; in just the place where the natural joy and spring of life is gone, and when you have thought you can never sing again, and much prefer not to do so ; choosing rather to serve the Lord with submission, but never again with joy. Perhaps He has been speaking to you and preparing you by this very experience to enter into His own divine joy.

How many try to get back an old experience ! A friend said, a short time since, that she had lost the joy and love she once had in her early Christian life, and would give anything to get it back. But what a mistake she was making in spending her time in trying to revive an old thing, which can never be done, for this is not God's way.

It was His choice for her to bring her into a fresh, new experience, which would be far better than the old one. The Lord, Himself, gets tired of old songs. Let Him speak to your heart in the wilderness, so that you will not only sing to-day, but at all times in your home ; among your servants ; in the parlor ; in the kitchen ; in the laundry ; and, as Paul and Silas did, under the most trying circumstances.

Let us look at some reasons ivhy we should sing and rejoice. First, it glorifies our Lord. '' He that off ere th praise glorifieth Me. " How we earnestly long to glorify Him. Do we realize that this life of praise is more to Him than all the work we can do ? Some wear out their lives wearily in Christian work, even in the interest of souls, and, still, God is not half as much glorified as by a simple-hearted child who has entered into a life of praise, shedding sunlight around continually, and leading others into it by her very song.

Lately, a young woman, who is an earnest Christian, went down into the slums of New York, to work among the lost ; but one who knew the needs of such a work said, *^she will never do to work among those people, for her face is too sad and too long.'' She was ready, willing and earnest, but her very countenance was against her.

S3 STREAMS FROM BERACHAH.

At the Convention at Framingham, some years ago I met a dear sister whose face has come up before me many times since, although we have not met for years. At that time she told me that in her Christian work she had been fretful, hasty in her temper at home, sharp in her tones of voice, and wore a cross expression upon her face. The Holy Ghost ^spoke to her, and showed her how she dishonored her Lord in these things, and what a hindrance she was to her husband and children ; and, going to the Lord, she asked him that she might have a sweet voice, an unclouded brow and a rejoicing spirit so as to glorify Him in her work. Her prayer was answered, and her husband and children were won over by her life of praise and sweetness, as they had not been by all her preaching before, and she found she could accomplish far more in every way than she had done in her old driving way. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. "

Secondly, we are commanded to rejoice. "Eejoice in the Lord alway ; again I say, rejoice." "Eejoice evermore." We hardly realize that this command is just as definite as "thou shalt not steal;" and still, how many times a day we break this command ! Shall we not commence to obey Him and form the habit of praising ?

Thirdly, it is His ivill for us to continually rejoice. "In everything give thanks, for this is the tvill of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." This lesson was deeply impressed upon my mind quite recently in a dream. Occasionally the Lord teaches some precious lessons in this way, and the experiences have been as real as those in my waking hours.

One night, in my sleep, a very severe trial was presented, which touched me keenly, and seemed about the hardest thing that could come : still I could recognize God back of it, and see all that He meant in it for me. On waking, the whole thing flashed over me, and it was as real as any lesson I have ever had. I cannot express the joy I experienced upon finding that I had been able to so meet the Lord in this teaching, in my unconscious moments, as to leave myself in His everlasting arms, lay my head upon His bosom, and let Him love me. He was more to me than the suffering ; rejoicing, I nestled up to His loving heart and sweetly fell asleep again.

Then the passage was repeated, ^^In everything give thanks, for this is the tuill of God concerning you." This was opened up to me by the Spirit, and the emphasis was upon His will ! I saw more clearly

THE NEW SO.^G. 35

than ever before that it was His will that we should praise Him, and I longed for His will above everything else, and at that time this was His way of leading me into the new song, and educating and developing me.

How many pressed and discouraged ones would come into liberty if they only would hear the Holy Spirit whispering that word to them, In everything give thanks, for this is His will.

Do you really long to obey God ? Do you want to glorify Him in your life ? Do you want His will above everything else ? Tell Him so, and let Him lead you into a life of praise.

I used to think that I had a great many rights, and looked upon things from the side of justice ; but now I see that I have no rights, excepting the will of God for me. You may say, ^' Oh, yes, it is very easy for you to praise Him, or for some one else to do SO, but you are not in my place, which is so pecuHar and difficult ; I can never do it." That is one of the devil's lies. Whatever God has commanded or wills for us He will accomplish in us, if we will only let Him, That is the way, the living way, spoken of in Hebrews x : 20, ^'By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us." When are we to sing ? Listen to what the Word says about it. In trial. '' Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you ; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory shall be revealed, ye shall be glad, also, with exceeding joy."

We are told not only to be submissive, which most of us are willing to be, but to not think it strange, and to rejoice, and then '^ the exceeding joy " will be ours. I do love

TilE NEW SONG. ti

to appropriate that fullness of joy which is my inheritance. Do you ?

We are to rejoice in sorrow. *^As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ; as poor, yet making many rich ; as having nothing, yet possessing all things." This passage seems to contradict itself, and yet we know it does not. Our happiest moments can be in times of sorrow.

We are to rejoice in temptation. '^ Count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations, knowing that the trial of your faith worketh patience." Has your faith ever been tried ? Has it ever been tested ? At these times have you ever had the Holy Ghost whisper His word to you, ^^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 ? " He tells us to count it so, and we must do it, and trust Him to make it real to us, even in the darkness, and when seeming failure is marked on everything. Are we wilhng to appear like fools, as old Habbakuk, who sang a song of victory in the very darkest hour ? ^^ Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall there be fruit in the vine ; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat ; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be herd in the stall ; yet I will rejoice in the Lord ; I will joy in the God of my salvation." He goes on to say that ^^ our feet shall be like hind's feet, and we shall be made to walk on our high places." This song in the dark, when everything has failed, brings us to where God can trust us to walk upon the high places in safety ; places of danger, and so narrow that only the song can carry us over.

We are to sing before the battle. As

Jehoshaphat was going forward to meet the enemy, with the singers in front of the army, he commanded them to sing without any indication of victory. As soon as they commenced to sing, God commenced to work, the victory was given, and they assembled in the valley of Berachah to praise the Lord. It took them three days to gather up the spoils. They had more than victory. I used to puzzle over this passage, ^' We are more than conquerors," but I have learned that after every battle we have the richness of the spoils in our life.