The Lamb.


Ruth had a lamb, a very white and pretty

lamb. She used to feed it every day with her

own hand, and was never tired of playing with

it. She called it Snow-drop, because it was so

very white. One day she made a beautiful

wreath of clover-blossoms and daises and 

butter-cups for Snow-drop's neck: there were no

green leaves in it, but Ruth thought it was the

prettier for that; and when Snow-drop frisked

about, shaked his head very merrily, she was

sure there could be nothing in the whole world

more beautiful than he was.

Ruth and I sat together on the door-step just

at night. Snow-drop was tired with play, and

had lain down on the grass. Ruth was tired

too, and she laid her head in my lap. At such

times she would like to be talked to, and often

asked me for a story; but tonight, as I had

been gazing upon her sweet little play-fellow,

my thoughts had wandered to "the Lamb of God”.

Jesus was likened to a Iamb when the prophet

foretold his coming; and when John saw him

he said, "Behold the Lamb of God" and in

heaven, when all the thousands, and "ten 

thousand times ten thousand" of glorious saints

 shall bow before him, they will say, "Worthy is

the Lamb." So I told my dear little friend of

that Lamb of God, who on earth was so gentle,

and meek, and pure; who was always loving

and kind; who bore insults and poverty and

toil without an angry feeling or a murmur; who

was without spot or blemish, pure from all sin;

and who at length was slain by wicked men,

to save us from our sins. "It would seem a

very cruel thing," I said, "to take your innocent,

gentle Snow-drop, and bind his limbs with

cords, and plunge a bloody knife into his heart;

but Jesus the Lamb was fastened to a cross, and

his flesh torn with cruel nails; yet he was meek

and gentle and loving to the last. He loved

even his murderers, and wished they might 

become good men, and be happy. Their hearts

must have been hard indeed, who looked upon

his perfect meekness, and heard his words of

love amid such agonies, without being softened

by the scene.

"Can you think of this dying Lamb of God

without loving him? Remember, it was to save

you and me from sin and its punishment that

he died upon the cross. We will not forget his

love, his gentleness, his purity. We will be

grateful for them, and seek his protection and

his guidance. Now he is in heaven, he calls us

to be lambs of his fold; to be gentle and kind

as he was; to be meek and patient, pure and

spotless. Come unto him now, and at that day

he will own you as his, and will 'lead you into

green pastures, and beside still waters.'" 





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