THE HUNTED HART by Forbes

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1889

THE HUNTED HART.

By Forbes

I ONCE stood and watched a hart being pursued by hunters, and a most painful sight it was. The poor creature staggered along, its eyes hot and bloodshot, while the great tears streamed down its face. Its flanks were torn by the prickly foliage through which it had rushed. It knew its only safety was in the hills, and laboriously it staggered upward. By the time it had reached comparative safety, it was thoroughly exhausted, and wildly sniffed the air for water. Soon it came to a stream, into which it plunged. There it stood, almost immersed, and when it stepped from the water it looked quite fresh and strong, and began quietly to nibble the herbage on the bank. And I thought: This is just a picture of the sinner as he rushes through this life, pursued by the world, the flesh, and the devil. He is torn by the briars and thorns and evil habits. With bloodshot eyes and gasping breath, on, on he goes; the pursuers close in upon him; his only safety is on the blessed hill of Calvary. There he will find security, and plunging into the living stream which flows from the cross, he will emerge a new man, and his cry will be, "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."—Forbes.