Gotthold's emblems: or Invisible things understood by things that are made

Front matter

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II

NE mild winter day, some boys had made a snow-ball, and rolled it along until it had grown too large and heavy for them to move. Here, said Gotthold, we have an agreeable emblem of human cares. These are often little and insignificant, but we magnify them by impatience and unbelief, till they become greater than we can bear. Many a one keeps, night and day, revolving his trouble in his mind to no better purpose than these boys. All they accomplish by their pains is to set up for those who pass a sign that children have been at play, and he gains nothing by his but a head more confused, and a heart more sorrowful than before. We are often reluctant to give God the honor of caring for us, and, as if He were drowsy or negligent, offer to assist His wisdom by our folly. But we thereby lose rather than gain. Besides, what a high offence it is, if, when He opens the bosom of His compassion, and bids us boldly cast all our cares into it, we treat Him with distrust !

My God ! Thou hast formed the eye, and shall Thou not see? Thou hast planted the ear, and shalt Thou not hear? Thou hast made the heart, and shalt Thou not take thought? I will roll my trouble no farther than to

34 THE COLD.

Thee, or, if that be beyond my might, I will admit Thee into my heart, and show Thee there what is too heavy for me. Thou wilt then know, though I may not, by what means it may be removed.

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III

t Corlfr.

CHILD had continued at play in the open air till its hands became livid with cold. At length it rushed into the house, and holding them to the fire, experienced acute pain, which is the usual consequence of subjecting benumbed limbs suddenly to the influence of heat. Gotthold pitied the little fellow, and then remarked : Many and bitter are the pains which prey upon the human body in this world ! There are headache, toothache, earache, and aches in every limb, more numerous than can be told. If, however, even in time, and for man's correction, a righteous God subjects him to sufferings so great, what must be the case in hell, when He pours upon the reprobate the full measure of His wrath ? In the present instance, as we see, the pain proceeds from the conflict of heat with cold; and so it will be in hell. The victims snow. 35

there will burn in everlasting flames, and at the same time wail and chatter with their teeth. Nor can there be any comparison between the. brief anguish of this child, and the torment which shall endure for ever ! But so intent are children upon their play, that they neither feel the present cold, nor fear the future pain ; and we who are older act a similar part. We pursue the folly of the world, permit ourselves to be beguiled by its paltry pleasures, and all too easily forget the penalties which follow sin, both in time and eternity.

Ah, my God ! subject me to any amount of torment in the present life, that will exempt me from the pains of hell hereafter !

IV. Sno In

HERE was a deep covering of snow upon the ground, when Gotthold thus began: Snow is one of those marvellous thing's which God ^Jt^V 5 brings forth from the treasures of nature ; and no satisfactory account has yet been given of the manner of its production, or of the fantastic shapes which its minute particles assume ; although able men have made it the subject of long and careful

36 snow.

study, many of them in fact, till the whiteness of their heads attests how often they have seen it fall. This, however, is certain, that God uses it according to His pleasure, sometimes for the good of man, and sometimes to his temporal detriment, or even bodily destruction. Cold although it be, it must, at His behest, serve as a fur to cover and protect the winter's seed. In this sense, the royal prophet says, " The Lord giveth snow like wool ; " and country people predict a fruitful season when the White Goose hatches a numerous brood. Rubbed, too, upon frozen limbs, it restores them to warmth and animation. On the other hand, how destructive it becomes when it receives its commission fram the Divine wrath ! In mountainous regions, as we sometimes hear, a mere flake, s timed at first by the touch of a bird's wing, or other accidental cause, grows to such a magnitude, as it tumbles from the heights, that on reaching the valley, it crushes and entombs the abodes of men, and even whole villages and towns. How often, too, do we read of the floods and calamities which ensue in Spring, when the snow of the mountains, suddenly dissolved by the rain or heat, rushes down and swells the brooks and rivers till they overflow their banks !

Lord God ! all depends upon Thy favor or frown. Thou canst make that which is cold itself a protection from cold, and even a means of generating heat. Baneful things cease to be baneful when overruled by Thy

THE MONEY SCALES. 37

grace. The most useful lose their utility if Thou withhold Thy good influence ; and in Thy hand the most minute may become the instrument of a mighty judgment.

V. %\t Iltoncij Antics

N opulent merchant having received a sum of money, was putting the ducats, one by one, into a pair of scales, in order to ascertain that they were not too light. " For my part," said J *f" Gotthold, who was present, " I should be more afraid of their being too heavy." " How so ? " inquired the merchant. " Do you not think," rejoined Gotthold, " that money is too heavy when bedewed with the blood of the poor, the sweat of the laborious, and the tears of the widow and the orphan ; or when loaded with the curses of those who, by fraud or violence, have been robbed of it? I will hope, however, that there are no pieces of this description in that heap of yours ; or rather, I will not fear that there are any. Suffer me, however, without offence, to express the wish that you will always make your conscience your scales, and weigh in it your dollars and ducats to ascertain that they are of proper weight, and have been honestly ac-

38 THE DROWNED MAN.

quired. Many a man never learns, until he is struggling with death, how difficult, or rather impossible, it is to force a soul, burdened with unrighteous gain, through the strait gate which leadeth unto life. Take heed, then, that no such gain ever burdens yours. The more he carries, the more the pilgrim sweats and pants as he climbs the steep ; and the more the conscience is oppressed with dishonesty and fraud, the harder will the struggle of a death-bed be."

0, my God ! withhold from me the wealth to which tears, and sighs, and curses cleave. Better none at all than wealth like that !

VI

HE magistrate of a well-known town, accompanied by some acquaintances, had gone on public business to a neighboring village, across a frozen river. On their return in the evening, they did not reflect that the intervening thaw might have softened the ice, and rendered it unsafe ; and so, unsuspicious of danger, they proceeded along, the magistrate taking the lead, conversing with his companions, and expecting soon to

THE DROWNED MAX. 39

reach the opposite bank. Alas ! the shore he reached was that of death ! Slipping a foot, and the ice breaking, he fell into the water, struggled for a while, and sank, leaving a disconsolate widow and several helpless children to mourn his fate. Weeks elapsed before his body was found.

Here, said Gotthold, when he heard the story, we have another instance, which may serve as a mirror to show us what we are. Children of men, alas ! what is your life but a soft and slippery sheet of ice, which breaks, now here, now there, and plunges you, one after another, into the flood of death and oblivion. This you see, but do not take to heart ; and you pace heedlessly along, although at every step the ice bends beneath your feet, till in a moment you disappear. Wherefore, be at all times ready ; and while life lasts, prepare a refuge for your soul, that if suddenly called upon to depart, it may know whither to fly.

Lord God ! be not angry with me. Behold, I take upon me to speak unto Thee, although I am but dust and ashes. 1 Surprise me not by a sudden death, lest it find me unprepared ; neither keep me too long in the mortal struggle, that my patience do not fail. But I will be dumb and hold my peace, for Thou wilt order it aright. 2

1 Gen. xviii. 27. 2 Tsalm xxxix. 2.

40 THE TWO MIRRORS.

VII

YOUNG lady, otherwise well-behaved and esteemed, made an idol of the beauty which she had received from nature, and often labored by ornaments to improve it. For this purpose, she had two mirrors in her chamber, placed opposite to each other, so that when she stood between them, she could see her figure behind as well as before ; the one at her back reflecting the image into the one in front, and there presenting it to her view. Gotthold saw this with some surprise at the ingenuity of the device. At the same time he said: Are you aware that beauty when unadorned and left to its own native loveliness, is often more admired than that which paint and ornament have been used to set off. The rose is of itself beautiful and fragrant ; sprinkle it with balm, and you will injure its innate perfume. . Over-anxiety to be beautiful is to be half-ugly. Be moderate, therefore, and delight not too greatly in the verdant gourd of your comeliness, lest God prepare a worm to smite it that it wither. I will, however, recommend to you two other mirrors, in which you may contemplate yourself with profit, — the one is the Past, the other the Future. That will show you how great the mercies you have, all your life long, received from God, and how small

THE SENSIBLE WIFE. 41

the returns of gratitude you have made him ; this will exhibit the various changes which still await you, viz., pale sickness, sorrowful old age, certain death, and at last the terrors of judgment. Or would you prefer two other mirrors ? In that case, set up continually before your eyes the Divine Justice, which sees all things, even our most secret thoughts, and will, in due time, bring them to judgment ; this will guard you against pride and security. On the other hand, look also at the Divine Mercy which incessantly follows after the sinner, and consumes his transgressions in the flame of love ; this will keep you from despondency and excess of sorrow. Such an employment will be as much more profitable than that in which you are now engaged, as the immortal soul is nobler than the vile body.

>O^OC ■

VIII. (The jScitsiMc Wilfo

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RECOLLECT, proceeded Gotthold, having been told the following story: A prudent and pious lady observing her husband deeply dejected on account of some misfortune which had befallen him, so that he could not sleep at night for care, pretended in the morning to be still

42 THE SENSIBLE WIFE.

more disconsolate than he, and gave way to lamentations and tears. As she had spoken cheeringly to him the evening before, and exhorted him to dismiss his sorrow, he was astonished, and asked the cause of her sudden grief. Hesitating a little, she replied that she had been dreaming, and that it seemed to her that a messenger had come from heaven, and brought the news that God was dead, and that all the angels were weeping. " Foolish woman," said the husband, " you know right well that God cannot die!" — "Indeed," replied the wife, " and if that be so certain, how comes it that you are now indulging your sorrow as immoderately as if He really did no longer exist, or, at least, as if He was unable to set measure and bounds to our affliction, or mitigate its severity, or convert it into a blessing. My dear husband, learn to trust in Him, and to sorrow like a Christian. Think of the old proverb,

' What need to grieve, If God still live.' "

Verily, my Father, didst Thou not live, 1 would not myself wish to live another hour ! And if sometimes Thou feignest to be dead, I will not cease to rouse Thee with my prayers and tears, until I sensibly experience again that Thou art the health of my countenance, and my God.

THE CHILD REX OF THE RICH. 43

IX

(L be pottcrtn of the & bilurcn of tbc llicb.

/^^ HIS happened one clay to be the subject of conv f : versation in a company, and almost all who ???fL r, were present had instances of it to relate. iv§j On inquiring into its causes, some maintained ^ that it was owing to the foolish love of wealthy parents, who trained their children in youth more to luxury than labor, more to wasting than thrift, and thus made them bad economists. Others supposed the cause to be. that great wealth is seldom amassed by one man, except at the expense of many others, and without the tears of widows, and the sweat of the poor, — in short, without injustice: and that for that reason the curse of God cleaves to it, and fritters it away. To these views Gotthold did not object, aware, in particular cases, of their truth. He insisted, however, that to the children of the rich, poverty is a secret blessing, inasmuch as it takes from them the key which opens all the doors of sin ; or, in other words, wealth. Nurtured, he said, as they have been, in superfluity and self-indulgence of all kinds, in total ignorance of the cross, and insensibility to the hardships and miseries of others, they would, if left in this state, care little or nothing for heaven. God. therefore, permits their temporal possessions to melt awav, that they may thereby be led to

44 THE OPEN SMELLING-BOTTLE.

despise earthly things, and seek, with all the greater ardor, those that are heavenly.

God! vouchsafe to my children Thy enduring grace, and even in the midst of poverty, they will then be rich enough.

X

>0R some purpose, Gotthold had taken from a cupboard a vial of rose-water, and, after using it, had inconsiderately left it unstopped. Observing it some time after, he found that all the strength and sweetness of the perfume had evaporated. This, thought he with himself, is a striking emblem of a heart fond of the world, and open to the impressions of outward objects. How vain it is to take such a heart to the house of God, and fill it with the precious essence of the roses of paradise, which are the truths of Scripture, or raise in it a glow of devotion, if we afterwards neglect to close the outlet, — that is, to keep the Word in an honest and good heart ! * How vain to hear much, but to retain little and practise less! How vain to excite

l Luke viii. 15.

THE DIAMOND. 45

in our heart sacred and holy emotions, unless we are afterwards careful to close the outlet by diligent reflection and prayer, and so preserve it unspotted from the world. Neglect this, and the strength and spirit of devotion evaporates, and leaves only a lifeless froth behind.

Lord Jesus, enable me to keep Thy word like a lively cordial in my heart. Quicken it there by Thy Spirit and grace. Seal it, also, in my soul, that it may preserve for ever its freshness and its power !

XI

OTTHOLD, inspecting the operations of a goldsmith, who was setting a diamond, saw 5> ^_r, him place a dark leaf in the capsule, which sO^b it was intended to fill. On inquiring for what purpose this was done, he was told that it improved the brightness and sparkling of the jewel. Reflecting upon the matter, he found that such would naturally be the effect, and exclaimed : My God, here I have a type of Thy grace, which shines most brightly and beautifully in our deepest distress, or when employed to overlay the blackness of our guilt. I do not wonder so much that it irradiated cv

THE CHURCH SPIRES.

an Enoch, a Noah, a Daniel, and a Virgin Mary, as that it shed its enlightening and quickening rays on David the adulterer, on Peter, who denied his Master with an oath, on Paul the persecutor and blaspl ^v k and on that great sinner Mary Magdalene.

XII. ®Ij* Cljwrrlj Spires

EEING, in a certain town, the church spires mounting almost to the clouds, Gotthold began to wonder that our forefathers had expended so much industry and wealth upon an object which seems to minister to nothing but superfluous pomp and outward show. After some reflection, however, he remarked, that their intentions were no doubt good, and their object praiseworthy. Does not such a tall and stately spire seem like a giant figure pointing upwards ! There can be no doubt, our worthy ancestors meant that every church should direct our eyes to heaven, and thereby admonish us that the doctrine preached in the sanctuary below, is the only way to the mansions above. As often, then, as we see such a spire, let us recollect that here we have no continuing city, but must seek one to come. 1

1 Hebrews xiii. 14.

THE MOTE IN THE EYE. 47

XIII. £Ij* gtoh hx tin 6g*

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-

48 THE LOCK.

science ! How it aches and weeps ! And, in such a case, 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, my God ! to walk at all times cautiously and circumspectly, and guard me by Thy grace from ever wounding my conscience.

XIV. Cju fork

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 7 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. 49

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

t ©oltmt Canblcstith.

^T^OTTHOLD proceeded: Among the furniture of the tabernacle, under the Old Testament, ^y^ not the least conspicuous article was the ° 1 <S^ 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.

50 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, 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, 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.

-oo^Koo-

XVI

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.

TEE MONK IN SOLITUDE, 51

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 ?

-OO^OO-

XVII. Oc JHonh in j?olitubf

<SA'

§ RE COLLECT, said Gotthold, a pleasant story. told by a pious minister, about a monk of former , days. He resolved to leave his monastery, on ^2) tne ground that he there too frequently met with r 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 dav, however, his pitcher happened to be upset, and, when lifted up, fell a second time, which kindled his anger

52 THE UNKNOWN FRIEND.

to such a pitch, that he dashed it to the ground, and broke it into a thousand pieces. He soon, however, came to himself, and said: I now see that I cannot be at peace, even in solitude, and that the fault lies not in others, but in myself. He then returned to the monastery, and, after many strenuous efforts, succeeded in subduing* his passions, not by flight, but by mortification and self-denial.

-»O^KOO-

XYIII.

Cjj* Eixlutoixnt Jfrbrtir,

N E day a person who, by the calamities of war, sickness, and other affliction, had been reduced from a state of affluence to penury, came to Gotthold in great distress. He complained that he had just met one of his former acquaintances, who was even not distantly related to him, but that he had not condescended to bow, far less to speak to him, and had turned his eyes away, and passed him as if he had been a stranger. 0, Sir, he exclaimed, with a sigh, How it pained me ! I felt as if a dagger had pierced my heart ! Gotthold replied : Don't think it strange at all. It is the way of the world to look high, and to pass unnoticed that which is humble and lowly.

THE COPY-LINE. 53

I know, however, of One who, though he dwelleth on high, humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth, 1 and of whom the royal prophet testifies : Thou hast known my soul in adversity. 2 Oh yes, though we have lost our rich attire, and come to him in rags ; though our forms be wasted because of grief, and waxed old ; 3 though sickness and sorrow hath consumed our beauty like a moth ; 4 though blushes, and tears, and dust overspread our faces, 5 He still recognizes, and is not ashamed to own us. Comfort yourself with this ; for what harm will it do you at last, though men disown, if God the Lord has not forgotten you ?

XIX

N a writing-school, Gotthold observed a boy eyeing attentively the line placed before him as a ~ r> copv, and laboring by his penmanship to emu-

7^ < 7\>

b^V late its correctness and beauty. Mark, said

he to the by-standers, how all perfection is

the offspring of imperfection, and how, by frequent

1 Psalm cxiii. 5, 6. 3 Psalm vi. 7, Luth. ver. 5 Psalm Ixix. 7.

2 Psalm xxxi. 7. 4 Psalm xxxix. 11.

54 THE COPY-LINE.

mistakes, we learn to do well. It is not required of this boy that his writing should equal that of the line. He satisfies his master by the pains he takes, and which are a ground of hope that he will progressively improve, till at last he learns to write with rapidity and elegance. We also have a pattern to copy. It has been left us by the Lord Jesus, 1 and is His most perfect and holy life. And think not that He exacts from us more than the teacher does from the pupil. No, indeed ; if He find us careful in studying His example, and diligent in our endeavors to imitate it, He exercises forbearance towards our faults, and strengthens us by His grace and Spirit daily, to amend. In the school of Christ they are the best scholars who continue learning to the last ; I mean they who sedulously keep their Master's example in view, and are always striving to grow more and more like it, but yet are never satisfied with themselves, or with the progress which they make. We must, therefore, endeavor to avoid two faults, which are negligence and discouragement. The one becomes eventually the parent of indolence and security ; the other of despondency and grief. Heaven is open, not merely to the perfect and strong, but likewise to the feeble and erring, if they will only with penitence and humility confess their faults, and seek in the grace of Christ the supply for all their wants.

my God ! despise not my inability. Remember I

l 1 Peter ii. 21.

DANCING. 55

am but a learner, and be satisfied with my poor performances. My good intentions often miscarry. But ought I on that account to desist ? God forbid ! So long as I live, I will always begin afresh, and in heaven, at Thy good time, will lay my master-piece at thy feet.

-oo^OO-

XX

jg a ti t % tt g .

|E are told, said Gotthold, of one of the fathers of the desert, that seeing a female A Z of loose morals arrayed in rich apparel, he was moved to tears, and lamented that he had never taken half so much pains to adorn his soul with faith and godliness, as she to please the world. And I, too, my God, could almost weep to think that I have been far less diligent to conform my walk and ways to Thy precepts and will, than these dancers are to make their feet keep time to the music. How infatuated are men ! Mere vanities appear to us worth the greatest pains. But seldom and only with reluctance do we reflect upon eternity. Away with folly ! I have so much to do, to mend my heart and prepare for death, that I have no time to think of dancing.

66 THE WATCHMAKER.

XXI

. ,N GAGED in conversation with a friend, who Jr^, had remarked that he was often at a loss to discover any traces of the Divine government and providence in the affairs of the world, t Gotthold said to him, Come, let us go to a watchmaker's. See, he has been making a valuable watch of a number of wheels, springs, pins, etc., exactly measured, jointed, and fitted to each other. There lie the parts, all different in shape, size, and construction, and all having a certain order and place to which they belong. Do you think that you could put them together, and arrange them into one ? I very much doubt your ability. Make the attempt ; expend upon it as much time and trouble as you please, the only result will be to convince you of the impossibility of constructing a whole from parts so dissimilar. Call an artist, however, to the task, and you will soon see what skill can do. It is the same here. God has ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight. He has adapted cause to cause, allotted to all His creatures their definite action, and finally, appended the weight of His omnipotence and