Echoes of Grace: 1957

Just when Thou wilt, O master, call!
Or at the noon, or evening fall,
Or in the dark, or in the light
Just when Thou wilt, it must be right.

Just when Thou wilt, O Savior, come,
Take me to dwell in Thy bright home!
Or when the snows have crowned my head,
Or ere it hath one silver thread.

Just when Thou wilt—Thy time is best—
Thou shalt appoint my hour of rest,
Marked by the sun of perfect love,
Shining unchangeably above.

Just when Thou wilt! No choice for me!
Life is a gift to use for Thee;
Death is a hushed and glorious tryst,
With Thee, the King, my Savior, Christ!

Frances R. Havergal

Ever the Same

We stand at the floodtide of another year. As yet its waves have barely flowed in, and the fresh sands have few footprints to indent its smooth surface. God grant that our footprints for the next twelve months over those sands (if it be His will we remain here through that period) may be beautiful as those that bring glad tidings of salvation. May no rougher print indent its surface than those of the good soldier of Jesus Christ, one who is shod with "the preparation of the gospel of peace"—or the pilgrim foot which has cast off the shoes of earth, because the ground on which it stands is holy, as trodden in the omnipresence of JEHOVAH.

Dear reader, we cannot forecast the future! For you it may be gentle breezes and fair sailing into the desired haven. Or perhaps you will encounter stormy winds and tempest driving your little craft hither and thither through rough waves and deep waters. But we have one sure word of Scripture to sustain the believer in the Lord Jesus through it all. That word of promise is: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb. 13:8. No change in Him! It matters not what changes here, He is steadfast, unchangeable—JEHOVAH JESUS—"The Rock of Ages.”

Whatever the incoming year may hold for you, our earnest plea is that you settle first of all the question of your status before God. Receive Jesus as your Savior. Let Him be the sure foundation of all your hopes for time and for all eternity. To His own He gives the promise: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5.

"Trust the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you!
He will carry you through.”

Wait

Wait for what? And why do you say: "I'll settle the question of my soul's salvation later"?

You speak of the New Year. That is the time when many people "resolve" to do this or to do that; to go here and go there! Scripture says: "Our times are in His hands." Maybe you, my reader, have planned to "turn over a new leaf" this New Year, to lead a better life. Let me warn you: no resolve of yours without Christ will be of any avail in the eyes of God. That is why I urge you not to put off believing in Christ. Turn to God, as did the Thessalonians of old. Put aside every plan, every resolve that leaves Christ out. First come to Him. Entrust your precious soul into His keeping. Make Him your object in this life. Receive HIM as Savior and Lord, and He will gladly be your constant Friend and Guide in every step of the way ahead.

Are you like Felix of old with whom Paul "reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come?" Felix trembled and answered, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:25.

When will your convenient season come? When was Felix's? We never read of one.

God's time is "NOW." Your "convenient season" may never come. I pray you take Christ! Take Him NOW, and this will be the beginning of years for you-your very happy NEW YEAR.

"Oh, do not let the Word depart,
And close thine eyes against the light,
Poor sinner, harden not thy heart;
Thou would'st be saved—Why not tonight?

“Our God in pity lingers still,
And wilt thou thus His love requite?
Renounce at length thy stubborn will,
Thou would'st be saved—Why not tonight?”

Qualification for Salvation

It is surprising how near some people are to salvation, and yet they do not have it. They seek it earnestly, yet they do not obtain it. Why is this? Because they seek amiss and not according to God's will. If salvation is provided and ready for the helpless sinner, it is obvious that he should come to God in that character, and that alone. Our sinfulness is our qualification, so to speak, for receiving blessing, not for being debarred from it. The excuses people make for not being saved are often the very reasons why they should be, if they only knew it.

A Brief Warning

There is nothing more dangerous than for one to speak of truth, when not living in that truth. It is the road to a fall.

The Delayed Train

The engineer brought his train to a standstill at a small town in Massachusetts. A lady hurried along on the platform to his cab and said: "The conductor tells me that the train at the next junction leaves a few minutes before our arrival. This is Saturday, and that is the last train from there today. I have a very sick child in the coach and no money for an overnight stay at the hotel. Nor could I pay for a private conveyance to go so far across country. What shall I do?”

“Well, I wish I could tell you," said the engineer. "Would it be possible for you to hurry a little?”

“Why, madam, I have a train schedule and the railroad rules. I must run according to them.”

She sorrowfully turned away, leaving the tenderhearted engineer feeling quite upset. Presently she returned and said to him: "Are you a Christian?”

"Indeed I am," was his prompt reply.

"Then will you pray with me that the Lord will in some way hold that train at the junction till we get there?”

“Why, yes, I will. But I don't have much faith it'll be there!”

Just then the conductor cried, "All aboard!" The poor mother hurried back to her sick child and the train gathered speed for its climb up a steep grade.

“Somehow or other," said the engineer, "everything worked like a charm. As I prayed I couldn't help letting out my engine. We stopped at the first station for scarcely a minute and then away we went again. Once over the summit it was easy to give her a little more. The more I prayed, the more steam was let on. We seemed fairly to shoot through the air. Somehow I just couldn't hold her! Knowing I had a clear road I let her go and we dusted up to the junction six minutes ahead of schedule. There stood the other train and the conductor with his lantern on his arm.”

“Will you tell me," said he, "what I am waiting for? Somehow I felt I must wait till you came tonight; but I don't know why!”

“I guess," said his brother-conductor, "it is for this woman. She has a very sick child with her, and is very anxious to get him home tonight.”

But the Christian engineer and the grateful mother knew why the train waited. God had answered their prayer.

Dear soul out of Christ, God's "Gospel Train" too is waiting—waiting for you to accept the Savior's "All aboard" and become His passenger to the realms of eternal bliss. Your ticket is paid for—"bought with a price," the blood of Jesus. Your seat is reserved—"kept through the power of God." And God's "Gospel Train" will bear you safely all the way to your happy destination—the Father's house.

Jesus said: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." Will you not claim His promise now and cast yourself upon Him?

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

"I Am Saved"

It was in a stable that a young fanner came to Christ. Long he had been in anxiety of soul, for he knew he was not right with God.

"Not right with God." Yet he was religious. In his attendance at church he was most regular, not only on Sundays but at the weeknight prayer meeting. Never was he absent.

"Not right with God," for he knew that he was a sinner, unforgiven.

It was a preacher who had himself been recently converted whose ministry finally led to his conversion. He told how he himself had received the blessing of salvation. No sermon did he preach that Sunday evening, but gave a simple account of his journey from death to life and from the power of Satan unto God.

Stirred to the depths of his being, the young farmer returned to his home. He was alarmed at his lost condition. He realized as never before his unfitness to meet a holy God; but no one as yet had told him of the simplicity of God's way of salvation.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

The next morning he remembered another fanner in the neighborhood, one who was converted. He thought: "If that man can be so blessed, there is surely salvation for me.”

Leaving his work in the stable he went into a stall. Falling on his knees on the straw, he repeated the well-known verse:

"Just as I am without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.”

This was his prayer. He felt he could not utter anything else. With these words on his lips he came just as he was to Christ.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

In his heart he knew that the Lord Jesus had received him.

At once the light of life filled his soul and he cried, "I am saved!”

Reader, are you saved? You cannot come to Christ a day too soon. Come now, I beg of you, just as you are.

The Robin's Message

My college days were over and now I had entered upon the profession for which the long years of study had well prepared me. My future was bright before me and promised success in every aspect of life.

But did it satisfy my soul? The years of close contact with the irreligious elements abounding among those of "higher education," had robbed my soul of the peace of God and the joy of trusting the Savior of sinners unto eternal life.

One snowy winter day I began to take stock. All was dull without and within, and I myself was in misery of body and mind. I had been a companion of infidels and had tried to forget what I had learned at home in my childhood about God and eternity. In fact I did not want to believe it. I wanted to enjoy the pleasures of sin. This is what makes many embrace infidelity: it makes them feel free to go on in sin.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psa. 14:1.

No God! No judgment! No hell! You may do then as you like.

I was never altogether at ease among my infidel friends. The teaching of my boyhood often haunted me in the hours of night, and I would lie awake. Mine was a miserable life.

That wintry Sunday I sat alone by the fire. Musing and wondering where my life would end, I said to myself half aloud: Is there a God? If there is, let Him send me some proof that He lives, and that He can provide for me in time and in eternity, if such there be!

Just then a robin alighted on a nearby window sill. Picking up a few scattered crumbs, he hopped about, chirping as merrily in the snow as if it had been a May day.

Joyfully I exclaimed: "There is a God! Who but Him could give that little bird so blithe a song on a day like this?”

I arose and went into the town. For the first time in years I entered a place where the gospel was preached. There I heard again the sweet story of God's love for a world of lost mankind. That night my soul found peace and rest on the Rock, Christ Jesus.

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isa. 45:22.

The Gospel by Which We Are Saved

A man whom I met casually one day told me how he got peace with God. For years his wife, a Christian, took him here and there to hear the gospel preached. He knew the plan of salvation well; and being afraid to die in his sins, he became increasingly anxious to have peace with God.

“About three months ago," he said, "I stayed behind at the close of a gospel meeting, and told the preacher what I wanted.”

The preacher asked him: "Did the Lord Jesus die for you?”

“Yes, I believe that," he answered.

“And was He raised for you?”

"Yes," he replied.

“What more do you want?" was the preacher's earnest question. At once the scales fell from his eyes. He appropriated to himself the blessing by faith, and he went away rejoicing in salvation.

The Lord Jesus Christ had died for him, and was raised for him: What more did he want? Surely nothing!

And what more do you want, anxious reader? And what more can you have? Surely nothing.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3, 4.

Christ is the figure that makes the cypher (ourselves) of value.

No Fear of Death

Extract from Frances Havergal's Manuscript, in answer to a remark: "Death, which we ALL dread.”

No, not "ALL!" One who has seen and accepted God's way of salvation does not dread death. Perhaps I shall best express myself by making it very personal—just giving my own experience.

I do not fear death. Often I wake in the night and think of it, look forward to it, with a thrill of joyful expectation and anticipation. This would become impatience were it not that Jesus my Savior is also my Lord; and I feel I have work to do for Him that I would not shirk. And I know that His time to call me home will be the best and right time. Therefore I am content to wait.

One night I became conscious of certain symptoms which once before had attended an almost fatal attack of erysipelas of the brain. I knew, if earthly means failed, that would probably be my last night in this world. My mother attended to me, but alarmed no one. Then I was left alone in the bed. There, alone in the dark, I was fully aware that I might be nearing my last conscious hour on earth. Either healing sleep or fatal coma would soon set in.

I never spent a calmer, sweeter hour than that. I had not one shadow of fear! My soul rested in happy confidence in Him "whom I have believed.”

Was this a delusion? Could I be so deceived in the face of death, that great unmasker of all uncertainties? I knew it was not delusion, for "l know whom I have believed.”

Now how has this come to be the case with me? It was not always thus. I know as well as anyone what it is to "dread death." In past years I too had to put away the thought of its absolute certainty because I dared not look it in the face.

There was a time when as a lost sinner I saw clearly that I could not save myself. I deserved hell in many ways, but in one most of all—I owed the whole love of my heart to God and had not given one iota to Him. I knew that Jesus had so loved me as to die for me; and yet I, unmindful of it, had treated Him with daily, hourly ingratitude. I owed all my life—future and past—to God, and I had literally "nothing to pay." Nothing I could do, present or future, could atone for the past.

I saw the sinfulness of my heart and life and I could not make my heart better. "The soul that sinneth it shall die." So, unless my sin were taken away, my soul must die and go to hell! Anyhow, I must "stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Where was hope for me? In the same blessed Word of God, 1 John 5:10, it is written, "He that believeth on the Son hath the witness in Himself." John 3:36 says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Did I believe, and what?— that God must keep His word and punish sin; that He has punished it in the person of Jesus, our Substitute, "who His own Self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24.

If Jesus has paid my debt, and borne the punishment of my sins, I must simply accept this and believe Him. It became a real and true transaction. It is no theorizing but acting. I did this! I believed Him; I cast myself, utterly hopeless and helpless and lost, at the feet of Jesus. I took Him at His word and accepted what He had done for me.

Result? Joy, peace in believing, and a happy, full trust in Him, which death cannot touch.

Now my faith in Him is a reality of realities to me. It is so intertwined with my life that I know that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ.

I cannot do without Jesus. I cannot and I do not live without Him. Mine is a new and different life in Him. This life and light which takes away all fear of death is what I want others to have and enjoy with me. F. R. H.

The Little One

A gray haired medical man once said to me: "I could never doubt the immortality of the soul after my thirty years' practice in my profession.”

“Why, doctor?" I asked.

“I have seen too many children die—children whose little faces, distorted with lingering agony, have lit up with a light so glorious that there could be no question as to the transplanting of these buds from this withering, destructive world to a garden of fadeless blooming." There were tears in the strong man's eyes as he added: "They manifest a faith which would put many of us aged Christians to shame.”

Recompense

"Blessed are ye when men shall hate you," etc. Luke 6:20-26. If you can make yourselves happy and comfortable in this world which has rejected the Lord Jesus, count not on His blessing.

"Christ Jesus came into
the world to
save sinners.”

1 Tim. 1:15.

February

What Think Ye of Christ?

“What think ye of Christ?" is the test,
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of Him:
As Jesus appears to your view—
As He is beloved or not,
So God is disposed to you,
And mercy or wrath is your lot.

Some take Him a creature to be—
A man, or an angel at most;
But they have not feelings like me,
Nor know themselves wretched or lost;
So guilty, so helpless am I,
I durst not confide in His blood
Nor on His protection rely
Unless I were sure He is God.

Some call Him a Savior in word,
But mix their own works with His plan,
And hope He His help will afford,
When they have done all that they can:
If doings prove rather too light,
(A little they own they may fall)
They purpose to make up full weight
By casting His name in the scale.

Some style Him "the Pearl of great price,”
And say He's the fountain of joys;
Yet feed upon folly and vice,
And cleave to the world and its toys;
Like Judas, the Savior they kiss,
And while they salute Him, betray;
CH what will profession like this
wail in that terrible day?

If ask'd what of Jesus I think,
(Though still my best thoughts are but poor)
I say He's my meat and my drink,
My Life, and my Strength, and my Store;
My Shepherd, my Trust, and my Friend,
My Savior from sin and from thrall;
My Hope from beginning to end
My Portion, my Lord, and my All.

The Unfailing Remedy

"In 1864," relates a Spanish priest, "there was delivered to the tribunal of Alar del Rey by the Valladolid Railway a box containing the body of a man. He had been well known in Valladolid, and had suddenly disappeared.

“The inquest resulted in the arrest of two women suspected of the crime. They confessed it, and were sentenced to death. I was one of the priests selected to attend these poor women in their last days. In that duty I spent two nights and one day in the chapel which receives all who are condemned to die.

“One of the women especially was committed to my care. The despair of the poor creature was painful to witness. The thought of nearing death and the judgment of God—without means of redeeming her crime by some good works—tortured her. In vain I sought to comfort her by reminding her of the confession she had just made, of the cruel death with which she was going to expiate her crime, and especially of the absolution which at the supreme moment she would receive from my lips. All this brought but fleeting comfort. Soon she was again wringing her hands and in her distress repeating, 'Who can tell me if this is enough for the forgiveness of my sins? Oh, what can I do to get pardon from God, pardon for me, a miserable, lost sinner!'

“Time was pressing. The last night of her life was wearing away and the fatal hour of execution drawing near. I was at the end of all the comfort I could offer her, and in the presence of such anguish I cruelly felt the insufficiency of it all. '

"All at once, and without then understanding myself the full portent of my words, I said, But the blood of Jesus Christ must count for something!'

“As a drowning man seizes the line thrown out to him so were the words which had escaped my lips to that poor woman. `Ah! she cried, 'sure, the blood of Jesus Christ must serve some purpose.'

“'Not only does that blood serve some purpose, but it does all,' I answered confidently. 'The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses from all sin!'

“'Is that true?' she cried. Her excitement was as of one hanging between fear and hope.

“'Yes,' I answered. 'It is the Apostle John who affirms it in the name of God.'

“'Oh, why did you not tell me before?' said the woman; and I was surprised at the expression of calm peace which at once spread over her pallid face.

“There was a moment of silence. Then she said, 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin; but what must I do that it may wash mine away?'

“‘My daughter,' I replied, 'look to Jesus on the cross, and use the words which came from His own holy lips as He breathed His last: Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit. Die thus, and none can pluck thee out of the hand of God.'

“Then she threw herself down upon the damp floor of that dark chapel, and several times repeated: 'Pardon through the blood of Jesus, which cleanses! Receive my soul, O Lord!'

“A few hours later I stood upon the gallows by the side of my penitent. For a moment the terrors of judgment overtook her again. 'I have sinned,' she cried, 'and now I am going into the presence of God!'

“'Daughter,' I said, 'you can do nothing; but the blood of Jesus Christ can do all!'

"At these words her courage returned. Her quiet utterance became, 'The blood of Jesus Christ has washed away my sin; Lord, I commend my spirit into Thy hands.' The sentence of justice ended her life there.”

Reader, have you rested your soul upon the efficacy of the precious blood of Christ? He is waiting to cleanse you too from all sin.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18.

Perishing!

George Kent was probably as well and favorably known as anyone in town. His genial manner and pleasant ways had won for him many friends. Upright in his dealings, of temperate habits and good morals, why should he not be fairly well satisfied with himself? He was soon to find, however, that while all this served well for time, much, very much more was required for eternity.

Returning home from his office one day he felt very ill. A physician was called. After a careful examination he gravely advised him that the condition of his heart was very bad—so bad that only a brief time remained for him in this scene. Now for the first time in his life he considered the future seriously. For days he wept as he thought of what must be before him. He had through God's mercy been taught in early days to reverence His Word. To it he now turned, but only to find that with all his outward morality the demands of a holy God were far greater than he could meet. He, when thus "weighed in the balance, was found wanting.”

Reader, have you discovered that you, yea, that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God?”

George Kent, having learned the truth about himself, like Job of old, wondered, "who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" He received the same answer as Job, "Not one.”

Man's extremity, however, is God's opportunity. Just when all seemed hopeless, George's eye fell upon that blessed verse, John 3:16. He read it over and over again. At last a light brighter than the sun broke into his soul. Calling his nurse he read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“Perish," he exclaimed. "Why I have been perishing all my life, and did not know it! Now by believing Jesus I have everlasting life and I can never perish.”

His sorrow now gave place to joy. During the short period that remained to him it was his delight to tell all his dear ones the good news of God's salvation through His blessed Son, Jesus.

Reader, may you also turn to and believe God's precious Word while it is yet today. If you neglect this, it may soon be too late. That word, "Come unto Me," will not always be sounded out. Instead you may hear, "Depart from Me; I know you not.”

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

The Only Way

There are not many ways of salvation—only one. That one way has been appointed by God, and is revealed in His Word. Man has many religions, many creeds; God has just one. This makes the question of how a sinner may be saved both simple and sure. Since God has appointed the way of salvation, man has no voice in the matter. He has made known in His Word what that way is, and there is no room left for others.

God's salvation is in Christ alone. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

“Salvation is of the Lord." Jonah 2:9. It is in virtue of the atoning death of the Lord Jesus on the cross. Salvation thus procured is proclaimed in the gospel; it is "the gospel of your salvation" to every creature. There is salvation for all, without merit, without price.

“The way of salvation" is clear and plain. It is not left for each to choose his own way. It has not been given to "the church" to devise or appoint how sinners are to be made possessors of God's salvation. He has caused it to be recorded in the Word, that all may know it; and He will never alter, never modify, never add to His plan. It is this: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

What Are You Seeking?

“Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." Jer. 45:5.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33.

A Skeptic Saved

Mr. Cross, a true child of God, was much disturbed to find living in his neighborhood a notorious infidel. He longed to have friendly contact with the man that he might present Christ to his soul. However his every overture of neighborliness was vigorously repulsed.

His concern for the skeptic's spiritual welfare was greatly increased when this unbeliever in the love of God became very ill. Several times Mr. Cross attempted to see him; but the wife, obeying her husband's orders, refused to admit any Christian to his bedside. The good man was not discouraged, but looked to God for a solution to his difficulty.

In his Bible class of young girls was one whose voice was particularly sweet and impressive in song. She too was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to her Mr. Cross appealed in his dilemma.

“Mabel, would you mind singing a hymn in the bedroom of a very sick man—sick in soul and body?”

Like every truly born-again soul, Mabel was happy to have opportunity to bring Christ before the lost, and readily consented to do his service. Carrying some beautiful flowers for the sick man she was promptly and graciously admitted to his presence. Placing the flowers on a bedside stand Mabel introduced herself, saying, "I have a message for you, but I must give it in my own way.”

With a prayer in her heart she began her hymn. Line after line, verse after verse she sang, and the Spirit of God softened the hardened heart and opened the rebellious ear. As she finished the last word of the hymn, she was overjoyed to see on the erstwhile skeptic's face a tender smile and in his eyes the tears of penitence. Quickly she told him of the deep interest her teacher, Mr. Cross, had in him and was commissioned to bid him to call.

What is the sequel to this story? It can be told in few words: "A brand was plucked from the burning.”

Are you who read this true incident still among those who scoff at the blessed reality of a saving faith in the shed blood of Christ? If so, I beg you to open your hearts to the words of the hymn that Mabel sang.

"There is a stream of precious blood
Which flowed from Jesus' veins;
And sinners washed in that blest flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That Savior in his day;
And by that blood, though vile as he,
Our sins are washed away.

E'er since, by faith, we saw the stream
Thy wounds supplied for sin,
Redeeming love has been our theme,
Our joy and peace has been.

Soon in a nobler sweeter song
We'll sing Thy power to save;
No more with lisping, stammering tongue,
But conquerors o'er the grave.”

Phil. 3:20

Our ways and habits should be those of strangers, citizens of a foreign country, whose language and laws and customs are but poorly known here. Flesh and blood cannot appreciate them, and therefore it is not well with the saints of God when the world understands them.

"If Then, Why Not Now?"

Sir James Young Simpson, M.D., who introduced the use of chloroform in surgical operations in England, became well known in Christian work as well as in the world of surgery and medicine. The story of his conversion to God is interesting.

His outward life had been markedly consistent in religious observance. He knew and practiced the external forms of Christianity, but its vital power was unknown to him. 2 Timothy 3:5 would apply: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

A patient of his, a lady who was often a recipient of his kindness, was an earnest and devoted Christian. She prayerfully sought his conversion. Again and again she wrote pleading with him to accept the Savior. In one of her letters she asked a question of mighty import: “What is to fill your heart through all eternity? When benevolence shall have run its course; when there shall be no sick to heal, no disease to cure; when all you have been engaged about comes to dead stop; what then is to fill your heart, and thought, and powers of mind?

“If in your heart you would have eternal peace then, and wondrous joy throughout the endless ages, only God can be your Resource. If then He can, why not now? BUT if not NOW, it cannot be THEN.”

Through this question he was led to Christ and soon began to engage in definite Christian service.

Do you too intend to be saved at the end? "If then, why not now?" Christ alone can meet the claims of your conscience or satisfy the longings of your heart. But He can do both, and He can do them NOW.

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:7, 8.

"God Is His Own Interpreter."

What an unsolved mystery to Jacob's mind was that blood-stained "coat of many colors"! It was once the witness of his supreme affection for Joseph. Now it was associated with the bitterest sorrow his heart had ever known.

He never dreamed that, in the mind of God, it was associated with one of the brightest days his wondering eyes could possibly see—the day when he would behold Joseph once more, exalted and honored, a blessing to his own family and to all the nations round.

When the poor frightened, disappointed disciples stood by the cross in inexpressible grief, how blind they were to its majestic import! It was the most inexplicable of all mysteries, the most crushing of all their sorrows, the most ruthless dashing of all their hopes. Yet what eternal blessedness did they find in it when the Spirit of God brought the light of heaven upon it! Love expressed, sin removed, Satan silenced, man delivered, God glorified.

In God's ways with us, we too may be brought face to face with what, to our short-sighted vision, are unsolvable mysteries. None but the Spirit of God can explain our inexplicables. But when He does, what light, and joy, and blessing spring forth from what we counted our darkest dispensations! Our mourning is then turned into dancing, our sackcloth into a garment of gladness!

What a day of joyful interpretation will that be which finds us before His judgment seat, notwithstanding the solemn disclosures there! GEO. C.

"All in All"

Some time ago the editor of a daily paper offered a prize to the one who would send him the sweetest word in the English language. Within a few days he was swamped with hundreds of answers.

A beggar selected the word gold. A young man, ambitious and with fair prospects opening before him, chose the word glory. A sailor just returned from a long voyage suggested the word home. A fourth proposed mother; and the jury debated a long time over this one, wondering if it could be surpassed.

At length, however, they came upon a piece of paper on which was written in large letters the word JESUS. At once they decided to award the prize to the person who had sent in this answer.

Would this be your decision?

God's Word proves that although each word mentioned has its worth, the name of Jesus is not only much sweeter in sound, but it embodies them all in a higher sense.

Do we not find gold in Jesus?

"Riches and honor are with Me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and My revenue than choice silver." Prov. 8:18, 19.

Do we not find glory in Jesus?

"Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dolt embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." Prov. 4:8, 9.

Do we not find a home in Jesus?

"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." Psa. 91:9, 10.

Can we not say that even the word mother finds its realization in Jesus?

“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." Isa. 66:13.

When one has Jesus, he may enjoy all other things in Him. Without Him, one may be the possessor of mines of gold; but what can they profit the soul about to enter eternity? Without Him, one may acquire earthly glory; but what good would it be in hell afar off from Jesus?

Without Him, one may have a home in this world. But in the next, where is it? It must be in one of two places—heaven or hell.

Even without Jesus, one's natural mother is dear to the heart. But however tender the bond, it must one day be severed.

Oh, how blessed to believe in Jesus! In Him and through Him one finds gold, glory, home, and all things needful for time and eternity.

"Are You Ready?"

Josephus tells us of the order of the Roman army. He says that when the camp was to be changed three trumpets were sounded.

At the first one, the tents were taken down and the wagons were packed.

When the second trumpet sounded the troops fell into rank in their proper positions.

Then a herald cried: "Are you ready?" And the host of men answered, "We are ready." Again he shouted, "Are you ready?" And again they answered, "We are ready." Once more he challenged them: "Are you ready?" As the voices of the massed men responded, "We are ready," the third trumpet pealed forth and the army moved forward on its way.

Christ is coming. Are you ready?

The first trumpet has been blown. Has it awakened you from your sleep of sin and folly?

The second has sounded. Have you fallen into line? Are you numbered with those whose "blessed hope" is the expectation of Christ's return?

Soon the last trump, "the trump of God," will call all His own into His presence. Will you not challenge yourself three times over, "Am I ready?”

“Are you ready" in conscience? Is the question of your sins settled? Are you at peace with God?

“Are you ready" in heart? Are your affections set on Christ, "on things above" where He is?

“Are you ready" in your surroundings? Are all your matters in such order that you would gladly welcome Him this hour?

Perhaps as you read these lines, "the Lord Himself" MAY "descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." Are you ready?

“We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:51, 52.

"If thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in
thine heart that
God hath raised
Him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 10:9.

March

The Son of God

He came, the mighty Son of God!
He came, creation's only Lord!
The Holy One.
He came—men cried again, again,
"We will not have this man to reign,"
Let Him begone!

He came such wondrous grace to prove.
He came in tenderness and love
Fully expressed.
He came, but found no place, no home,
Except a manger, and a tomb—
The cross, His rest.

He comes! the clouds shall part in twain,
And midst them He will come again
To gather home
The few who love Him here below,
That follow Him through weal and woe,
Lord Jesus, come!

O Miki San

In a girls' Bible school in Yokohama, O Mild San, a small Japanese girl, had won the award offered by the school for diligent study and successful Bible work. It was a beautiful copy of the Book of books.

O Miki San had come from Shinshin. A Japanese evangelist had started a Sunday school there and this little girl became a deeply interested pupil. She always waited for him at the gate of the tiny Japanese house where the Sunday school was held. Ere long she brought a companion whom she had introduced to come to listen to the story of the "beautiful Jesus." "Not Yasu, as bad people called Him, but Yesu, who loved children and took them in His arms.”

Thus she was, though unconsciously, doing "Bible work." She had given her heart unreservedly to Christ; and her consistent life was a testimony to her faith in Him. Now her friends rejoiced with her as she received the copy of the Bible bearing her name in gold letters on the cover. They knew her desire that God would "use me and my blessed Book for leading others to know the Savior.”

A few hours later a very different scene took place in her dormitory. O Mild San had read a few verses from her precious Bible and marked them as her favorites. Then she placed the Book beneath her pillow and was soon sleeping peacefully. In the night she was awakened by a hand drawing something from under her head. She sprang up and ran for a light. A hasty search revealed no one; but her Bible was gone! It was apparent that a robber had been in the building.

“But why should he steal a Bible and what could he want with it?" The question came again and again to poor O Miki San. Her conclusion was that "he wanted money, but had obtained something more precious than gold." She lifted her heart to God that He would bless the stolen treasure to the salvation of the thief.

Several years passed. In Kolu a Christian Japanese gave his life to prison rescue work. He often read to and prayed with the inmates. In one of the prisons he came across a man condemned to die. He interested him greatly by his intelligence in regard to Bible truths. In explaining to him the way of salvation he felt sure it was not new to him.

One day he quoted to him John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The man's eyes filled with tears, and he showed great agitation. Only two days remained before the execution of his death sentence, and the missionary pleaded earnestly with him to receive the Savior. On the last evening after bidding him "Good night," a sound arrested his attention. Turning, he saw the man with head bowed to the floor, and heard sobs which, now uncontrolled, seemed to rend his very soul.

Lifting his head the poor prisoner said, "You have come to me as the angel did to Peter to open the door of my prison—my soul's prison. I do respond to your earnest knocking—or is it God that is knocking through you? Of all the sins of my life, none has so pierced my heart these last days as the one done to a girl in Yokohama. I stole her treasure—her Bible. Yet it was her Bible which first taught me the meaning of sin. The verses which she had marked seemed written for me. I would waken at times repeating them. 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' 1 Tim. 1:15. `Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white snow.' Isa. 1:18. 'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' Rev. 22:17.

“At first I was enraged and determined to destroy the book, but could not. Here it is. Her name is on it. If the girl is living, will you give her back her Book? Tell her that the words which from mere curiosity I read have through God's blessing and your teaching saved my soul. My life is lost, but my soul is God's.”

“The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

True Faith

Dear reader, the first lesson a poor sinner has to learn is to trust in the Lord with all his heart, and not to his own understanding; to trust God not only for what he does understand, and for what is explained, but also for what he does not understand, and for what is not explained. This is faith—and such faith honors God and saves the soul. This is receiving the kingdom of God as a little child, who always believes that things must be right if one he loves and trusts says them and does them.

“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3.

Eighteen Today

It was Alice Mason's eighteenth birthday and this year it had fallen on a Lord's Day. She had lingered over her presents, and it was late when she went to her room to get ready for the morning meeting. The clock struck eleven before Alice left her looking glass. She was sorry to be late on her birthday; but when she came in sight of the town clock it was twenty minutes past eleven.

Very quietly she opened the door of the meeting place she attended every Lord's Day, and determined to wait till they were singing before she entered. A scripture was being read. As she waited, the first words she heard were: "Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" Luke 13:16.

The Holy Spirit sent these words of the Savior straight home to the heart of that young girl standing at the door.

“Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years," she said to herself. "That is I. I am eighteen today, and I know that I am not the Lord's. If I am not, I must be serving Satan; and if so, I am his slave.”

Little she heard that morning except these words. She saw she had spent all her life—those eighteen years in which God had given her health and comfort and countless other blessings—in forgetfulness of Him. She remembered He had often called her, and she had refused to listen. Yes, she saw it all now; she had been bound by Satan for eighteen years. She was bound still. How could she be "loosed"?

The meeting ended, and Alice returned home. Still those words filled her mind. She went to her room, not now to spend her time at the mirror, but on her knees before God. Earnestly she prayed: "Lord, I am bound; I am all wrong. Oh, show me what to do!”

Even as she prayed, a ray of God's sunshine shone into her soul. "'Ought not this woman to be loosed?'" she said. "Oh, that I might be!”

More and more God's blessed light crept into her dark heart. It showed her that though she was a captive to sin, bound by sin for eighteen years, yet that "One mighty to save" had come "to preach deliverance to the captives, and to set at liberty them that are bound.”

When Jesus was upon earth, He said to that poor woman, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." He laid His hands on her and she was made straight and glorified God. How very simple and natural it all was, Alice thought to herself. Why should He not do the same for her, and even more, now that He was in heaven? She determined to trust Him; and in faithfulness to His Word He delivered her from Satan's fetters. She too was "loosed" that very day!

Nurture and Admonition

To instruct even an unconverted child in the Scriptures is of great value. It is like laying a fire well, so that a spark alone is needed to kindle it into a flame. It is a good and wholesome thing for Christians to be most particular in the training of their children in a thorough knowledge of the Word of God.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6.

Mutual Agreement

"Well, is it all settled for Christ?”

“No, indeed. I wish with all my heart that it were." This was the sad reply I got to my query. The speaker was a tall, well dressed young man, about twenty-five years old. We were leaving a large hall in the south part of London where I had been speaking on the Lord's second coming. His grave and intelligent face was marked by deep emotion denoting the soul-exercise he was passing through.

He had listened intently to the tale of grace which the Spirit of God unfolded that night, and had been deeply moved by the solemn appeals to the unconverted. I had presented, to them the possibility of the Lord's immediate return and of the sure fate of eternal woe that must be the portion of every unprepared, unsaved soul.

Arrested by my question he stood still as if inviting further conversation. Encouraged I went on: "But, if you wish the matter settled, why is it not settled?”

“I really don't know; but I fancy I don't understand it.”

“Tell me, now," I asked, "do you take your place as a really lost sinner before God? Are you anxious to be saved?”

“Indeed, I do. I am most anxious to be saved.”

“Are you willing to receive Jesus as your Savior, just where you stand"?

“I am most willing. I wish heartily I could say He is my Savior. I am quite prepared to receive Him.”

“Do you think He is willing to receive you?”

“Ah! That is just the question. If I were only sure of that, I would have peace.”

"My dear fellow, rest assured on that score. Have you never read, 'This man receiveth sinners'?”

Further conversation followed, but still he saw not the truth. Finally fancying that he might be in business and that an illustration might help him, I said: "Are you in business?”

"Yes.”

“What line?”

"Woolen goods—wholesale," he replied, rather astonished at the sudden change from things eternal to earthly matters.

"Suppose I turned up at your warehouse tomorrow. Would you be prepared to do business with me?" "Certainly.”

“Well, suppose that I come wanting so many bales of cloth of a certain quality and price. You would be prepared to sell them?”

“Most decidedly.”

“And when I have agreed to take and pay for, and you to sell and deliver these goods, what would you say about the matter?”

“I would call it settled.”

“And settled by what?”

“Mutual agreement," was the reply.

“Exactly so! I agree to take and you to deliver. Now, see here. You stand and tell me you are willing to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and God's Word says He is willing to receive you, a 'sinner.' What do you call that?”

“I should call that mutual agreement, also," was his slow but firm reply.

“Yes! Christ has agreed to receive you, and you have agreed to receive Him. Are you not at one in this matter? Are you not both of the same mind?”

“Oh, how simple that is," he cried. "I see it all clearly now. Thank God, I just receive Christ simply by faith, and He receives me!”

“That is just it. Exactly as it is in John 1:11-13, 'He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.' You believe on His name, don't you?”

“Yes, I most sincerely believe in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

“Then God says that is how you receive Him; and receiving Jesus, you become a child of God; for again it is written, 'Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' Gal. 3:26. The moment you believe in Him really, you receive Him, and become a child of God.”

The cloud disappeared from his face and the anxiety departed. His face lit up with a new-born joy. Seizing and wringing my hand most warmly, he said: "Thank God. Thank you, too. I see it all. It's so simple. It's a mutual agreement. He receives me, I receive Him; and now I'm a child of God. Goodbye, and God bless you!”

Reader, can you say "it is settled"? If not, why not? It must be that you are not willing, because Jesus is. He said to some who listened to Him once, Ye "search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:39, 40.

Trying to Enter the Wrong Door

A man who had long been anxious about his soul obtained peace with God through hearing a gospel address by Robert M'Cheyne. At the close of the service he went to the minister to tell him the good news. The joy of the Lord so filled his soul and caused his face to glow, that Mr. M'Cheyne simply asked: "How did you get it?" And the friend replied, "All the time I have been trying to enter by the SAINT'S DOOR; but while you were speaking I saw my mistake and entered in at the SINNER'S DOOR.”

This is what many are doing. They desire to enter by the saint's door, instead of the sinner's door. They try to give up this, that, and the other sin and bad habit. They vow and resolve that they will act differently in the future from what they have done in the past. In other words, they are seeking to better themselves and make themselves fit for God's presence. All the while they are turning their back on the door by which they are to enter.

The Lord Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). So long as you seek to do, or bring some meritorious thing for salvation, you will find a closed door. Come as you are. Come to Jesus with your sins, and accept the sinner's Savior. YOUR NEED IS YOUR CLAIM. Come to Christ as a sinner—not as a saint.

“I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." John 10:9.

“And him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Justified by Grace

Wm. Cowper, for many years a close friend and associate of the devoted Christian, John Newton, of Olney, England, was, like him, a sweet singer of hymns of prayer and praise.

Not until he was thirty-three years old did Cowper find peace in the Savior's love. For a long time he had thought he was too wicked—that it was impossible for him to be saved.

One day in July, 1764, he was sitting in his garden with the precious Word of God before him. Idly turning the pages his attention was arrested by Romans 3:24, 25: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

The light of the gospel contained in these wonderful words illuminated Cowper's darkened, groping spirit. By faith he received the Savior and his soul found rest. Here we give you his own words expressing what he felt at that happy moment: “Immediately I received strength to believe," he says, "and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me. I saw the sufficiency of the atonement that Christ had made, my pardon in His blood, and the completeness of my justification. In a moment I believed and received the gospel.”

Yes! In the moment we believe "the gospel of our salvation" we do "pass from death unto life.”

Reader, are you anxious to be saved? One look by faith at Christ and you are made a child of God. By faith right now you may receive Him to the saving of your soul. Then you too will joyfully sing with William Cowper:

“Of all the gifts Thy love bestows,
Thou Giver of all good!
Not heaven itself a richer knows
Than the Redeemer's blood.

Faith, too, that trusts the blood through grace,
From that same love we gain;
Else, sweetly, as it suits our case,
The gift had been in vain.

We praise Thee, and would praise Thee more,
To Thee our all we owe;
The precious Savior, and the power
That makes Him precious too.”

The Hottentot's Prayer

A poor heathen Hottentot in South Africa worked for a God-fearing Hollander. He, with the other servants, was daily present at the reading of God's Word and prayer. One day Luke 18 was the portion to be read—the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The Hollander read:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray.”

The poor heathen in whose heart the Spirit of God had been active listened.

“Perhaps," he whispered to himself, "perhaps I may now learn how to pray.”

The Hollander did not hear him and read on: "God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.”

Here the poor man whispered: "This is not me! I can't pray like that. I am worse than everybody else.”

The reader went on: "I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.”

“I don't do that. I can't pray like that! Oh, what shall I do?" Thus the unhappy man talked with himself.

After this followed the description of the publican's attitude and prayer. "He standing afar off"—

“That's me," said the Hottentot audibly, "that's where I stand!"— "would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven," continued the Hollander.

“That's me again," said the poor heathen.

His master read on: "But smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Here the deeply touched African could restrain himself no longer, but cried in a loud voice: "That is me, and that is my prayer!”

He smote his black breast and cried in the anguish of his soul: "Yes, God be merciful to me, a sinner!”

His distress of soul, and his cry for mercy were not in vain. He soon found peace in believing. God granted him the consciousness of the forgiveness of sins and he received eternal life—God's free gift to those who believe on His Son.

How is it with you who read this? You may say daily with your lips: "God be merciful to me a sinner," and find no relief. But if you say it once from your heart, filled and burdened and heavy laden with a sense of your sins and guilt, you will find the rest He has promised to all who truly come unto God by Him.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:13.

"To Him (the Lord Jesus
Christ) give all the
prophets witness, that
through His name whosoever
believeth in Him shall
receive remission of sins.”

Acts 10:43.

April

That Name

That Name I just heard is delightfully sweet,
Jesus is Christ! And Him you must meet;
Now He is meeting poor sinners in grace;
He knocks at your heart—oh, give Him a place.

He hears you blaspheme; but oh, if you knew
How much He loves sinners, how much He loves you,
You would fall at His feet and adoringly sing:
Jesus! my Savior! my Lord! and my King!

'Twas for this that He died on Calvary's tree,
That sinners, the chief, might from judgment be free.
He's now up in glory—a Man on God's throne;
But He's coming again—it may be quite soon.

He left us this message, while He is above,
A message of mercy—a message of love;
"Tell sinners I love them—tell Adam's whole race,
And this is the day of My patience and grace:

“Yea, more—go, beseech—beseech them for Me,
Beseech by My blood—by My death on the tree;
It cleanses from sin and fits them to be
At once and forever in glory with Me.”

Oh, these are sweet words, and wondrous to tell
How God in His mercy saves sinners from hell!
The story's so simple—so plain to the lost,
To be saved without DOING—saved at God's cost
To be saved as ungodly, unrighteous, undone;
To be saved by faith in the blood of His Son.

Money

Some years ago a newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. Out of the hundreds who competed, the winner gained the prize by the following answer: “Money is a universal provider for everything but happiness; and it is a passport to everywhere but heaven.”

The definition is well worth considering. Its fullness and completeness as an answer proclaims the poverty of that which all the world worships—money.

Without happiness in this world, or heaven in the next, what do people have? The husk without the fruit, the shell without the kernel, the tinsel without the reality! And when all ends, and heaven is not to be our dwelling place forever, the very comforts of this life will mock us in hell as they really mocked us on earth.

The golden key is well-nigh omnipotent on earth; but it has no power with Him who says: “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine." Hag. 2:8.

“He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isa. 55:1.

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

Insurance

One evening I was inviting the passers-by to come into a hall where a servant of God was telling

"Of a Savior's love and a home above,
And a peace that all might know.”

Among the number to whom I spoke was a young man. His answer was that he had no time to come in! He was very busy canvassing for an insurance society.

The immense difference between his business and mine struck me at once. I said to him: "You are very busy insuring people in case of death. We are, by the grace of God, insuring sinners for life, for all eternity.”

This busy young man is only a sample of a large majority in the world. Perhaps you who read this are among the number. Men are very busy thinking of this life and planning how best to secure their own interests. One insures in an accident insurance society, in case he should be injured. He insures his house and furniture in a fire insurance society, and himself in a life insurance society. I know a man who was insured in a burial society by his parents before he was seven days old.

How very eager men are to secure their own interests and comforts in this poor sin-stained world! Yet how exceedingly careless they are in view of eternity! Reader, have you ever looked your ETERNITY in the face?

The desert of Sahara is 3000 miles long by 1000 miles broad. No sane man would ever think of setting himself the task of counting the grains of sand which make up that immense desert. Yet if each grain counted as a million years, and you lived through that incomprehensible stretch of time a million times over, you would only have begun eternity; you would be no nearer the end than when you began.

If my reader is saved, what an unspeakable happiness to look forward to—an eternity of joy in heaven with Christ! But if unsaved, how terrible to spend eternity with the devil and his angels! There, in the blackness of darkness, is that awful twofold occupation: weeping in unquenchable grief, and gnashing of teeth in the bitterness of despair.

Oh, reader, pause and trust in what the Son of God says: "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

What Are You?

"Are you all children of God here?" This question was asked by a gentleman who called on a group of ladies visiting together. One replied: "That is what I am trying to be every day.”

“May I ask your name?" This was his next question. "Mrs. Evans," she told him.

"And you were always Mrs. Evans?”

“No," she replied; "only since I married Mr. Evans." "And since then you have been always trying to be Mrs. Evans?”

“No," she again replied; "I am Mrs. Evans.”

"Tell me," he asked, "what is it that makes one a child of God?”

“Faith, or believing on the Lord Jesus Christ," was her answer.

“Do you believe on Him as your own Savior?" "Yes," she said.

“Then are you a child of God, or are you trying to be one?”

“Well," she said, "I see my mistake. I did not see so clearly before that I am a child of God.”

Dear ones, we may try to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing"; but we need first to make sure that our relationship as children of God is firm and unchangeable. We believers in the finished work of Christ are already made fit "to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1:12.

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26.

Not an Uncommon Mistake

In a country village an old man was anxious to know how he could obtain that forgiveness of which he felt his need.

A local preacher had visited him from time to time, and had taught him that he must pray as long as he lived, and hope in the end for God's mercy through Christ. He told him that he could not know that his sins were forgiven till the Day of Judgment.

A servant of the Lord heard of the old man's case. He went to see him, and this conversation took place: “How do you expect to be saved?”

“Well, sir, I keep on praying, and I hope God will have mercy on me.”

“Because you pray?”

“Well, yes, sir; I cannot expect to be saved unless I do pray.”

"Then your prayer is to save you?”

"Why, as to that, I suppose it is Christ who must save me; but I continually pray for forgiveness.”

“That is, YOU must have a hand in it. But now, if I were to hold out a dollar in my hand and ask you to accept it, would you beg and pray me to give it to you, or would you take it?”

“Why, TAKE it, of course," said the poor old man, smiling at the apparent absurdity of such a question.

“My friend," I said, "God Himself offers you full forgiveness of sin. He holds it out to you and bids you to believe Him. He declares that 'the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.'

“Instead of taking what He offers and believing His blessed Word, you keep on asking Him to give you the great Gift He has been offering to you these many years.

“He bids you look to Christ! You look to prayer. He declares to you forgiveness through the blood of Christ! You tell Him in return you don't believe Him, for if you did you clearly would not ask Him to give you that which He freely offers you. Thus, you make God a liar, and hope to be saved for doing so!”

The old man's eyes were opened. He was astonished at himself; his conscience was exercised; a real conviction of sin against God followed; and he finally believed and was saved.

Opposition

Whatever God is most set for, Satan is most set against. Human arrangements interfere with divine power.

God's Gracious Grace

The Lord that I have known as laying down His life for me is the same Lord I have to do with every day of my life. All His dealings with me are, on the same principles of grace. The great secret is in looking up to the Lord as gracious.

How precious, how strengthening it is to know that Jesus is at this moment feeling and exercising the same love and grace toward me as when He died on the cross for me! J.N.D.

Talking Business

A Christian minister was passing a large department store, and followed a sudden impulse to go in and talk to the proprietor about his soul's salvation. Finding him, he said: "Mr. Thomas, I've talked beds and carpets and bookcases with you over a period of many years; but I've never talked my business with you. Would you give me a few minutes to do so?”

When seated in the private office, the minister took out his Bible and showed the storekeeper passage after passage which convinced him of his lost condition. Then he brought before that business man his duty to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Finally the tears began to roll down his cheeks and he said to the pastor: "I'm severity years old. I was born in this city, and more than five hundred church officers have known me as you have in a business way. But in all these years, you are the first man who has ever spoken to me about my soul.”

His heart was touched by his friend's concern for his salvation and before the visit ended he was praising God for giving His dear Son for him.

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living." Psalm 142:4, 5.

Divine Love

What does God's love mean to you, my reader? Have you opened your heart to that love? Have you believed and been wooed and won by such well-proved love? "The love of Christ which passeth knowledge!" It is beyond knowing fully, and it surely passes rightly telling, too. The tongue fails and lips prove all too feeble to tell out such love.

This is how an old man once learned that love. The great preacher, Chas. Spurgeon, had been preaching to a vast audience. When they had left the building a solitary man of advanced years was found weeping in a seat in the rear of the hall. He was asked what part of the sermon affected him so. "Ali," he sobbed, "I am partially deaf, and did not hear the sermon. But when they sang that hymn, 'Jesus, lover of my soul,' it was too much. I thought, 'If He so loves me, why should I live any longer at enmity to Him?' It's that love that makes me weep.”

Oh, sinner, may that love touch your heart, Live no longer as an enemy of Jesus. He has never been your enemy. He loved you even unto death. No man ever loved like Him.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10.

Are All Men God's Children?

They are not; for of some the Lord Jesus said: "Ye are of your father the devil." John 8:44. And of all mankind the Word of God declares: "By nature the children of wrath." Eph. 2:3. It is only by means of a new and heavenly birth that those who are by nature "children of wrath" become "children of God."

1 John 3:1, R. V.

Baptism is not the new birth, for thousands upon thousands who have been baptized have not been "born of God." Their ways and their works most plainly speak for them. No ordinance, or outward rite administered by man can bring one into God's family. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

New birth is the work of the Spirit of God. John 3:5. According to John 12:14 when one truly believes the gospel and truly receives Christ personally as Savior and confesses Him as Lord, that one is born again. This is the real beginning of Christian life.

There may be religion apart from the new birth; but it is only outward form without inward power. There may be morality and a high ideal of what a Christian ought to be; but until spiritual life is begotten in one, he is "dead in sins." Eph. 2:1. His works are "dead works." Heb. 9:14. His righteousnesses are as "filthy rags" before God.

The way in which this new birth is effected God has left in no obscurity. It is so plain that none need miss it. Let God Himself tell us how: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." 1 John 5:1.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 6:47.

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26.

When a sinner, having learned his ruined condition before God, hears the good news of a Savior provided, a Redeemer sent, a sacrifice offered, a satisfaction accepted by God on account of sin, and that there is nothing further demanded, nothing else to be waited for since God is satisfied and Christ raised and glorified as sign and seal of His finished and accepted work on our behalf, and commits himself simply and solely to Christ, relying on what He has done, that is believing—that is faith. And to that believing soul comes LIFE, spiritual life, eternal life.

Does the reader know, is he sure that he is born of God, and is, therefore, one of His children?

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Rom. 8:15, 16.

Calvary

A college student in England listened for a few moments to an open-air service one Sunday. On that same day he heard Canon Liddon, Dr. Oswald Dykes, and C. H. Spurgeon, three stalwarts of the religious world of that day.

Later he said that while he could not recall a single word of these famous preachers, one sentence of the untutored open-air preacher had clung to him through all the years:— "I have not been to college, but I have been to Calvary.”

Beloved, have you?

Profit and Loss

The World's Question:

"What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?" Job 21:15.

God's Answer: “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," 1 MM. 4:8.

But— "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

Peace!

The first word spoken by the Lord Jesus to the assembled disciples after He was risen was, "Peace!" What He first showed to them was the evidence of peace—"His hands and His side." They heard, and looked, and "then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." John 20:19, 20.

“Peace to you" is still the Savior's word, and the ground of that peace is unaltered.

Perhaps you say, "Would that. I could realize what He says. I must have evidence!" There is no evidence beyond what is given. If you lack joy, it is because you lack faith. Instead of listening to the Lord's word, Peace, you hearken to the difficulties which your own heart raises.

Thomas too had difficulties: he wanted evidences! What did the Lord give him to satisfy his heart? Was it a new revelation—a different word from that which He had given to the other disciples? No; it was the very same word and the very same evidence over again.

“Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing." John 20:27.

May the Spirit of God open your ear to the Lord's words, and then you will have "peace that passeth understanding.”

Joy

"That your joy may be full." 1 John 1:4.

Dear soul out of Christ, you are robbing yourself. Your rejection of the salvation provided by the death of God's Son on Calvary is costing you the sacrifice of the highest joy. Not that a Christless man can have no joy. He may know the joy of health, friendship and domestic life. He may acquire money, power and fame; for God in mercy allows these blessings. It is "the goodness of God that draws men to repentance.”

There are nobler joys than these. A lost soul cannot know the joy of sins forgiven, nor the comfort and companionship of the Lord Jesus Christ, nor the joy of becoming like Him. It is God's purpose that all His children should be joyful—full of joy.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy night remain in you, and that your joy might be full." John 15:11.

“In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore." Psa. 16:11.

How different for the Christless one!

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God; and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

Flee now to Christ from the coming wrath.

"What Am I to Believe?"

A lady once wrote to a servant of Christ: "Will you put it down in black and white what I am to believe? I have been told of many different texts; and they are so many that I am bewildered. Please tell me one text, and I will try to believe it.”

The answer came: "It is not any one text, nor any number of texts that saves the soul. It is by trusting the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus that we are saved." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

Extract

Let these striking incidents remind you that nothing short of reality will do in your dying hour.

Religious make-believe, callous indifference, and flippant infidelity will all collapse like a child's sand-castle when the death waves roll high. Get right with God! Hold aloof from Him no longer. Come to Christ as a sinner this very hour, and prove for yourself the truth of His own words; "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

"I go to prepare a place
for you, and... I will come
again, and receive you
unto Myself.”

John 14:2, 3.

May

"What Must I Do to Be Saved?"

Nothing, either great or small,
Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus did it, did it all,
Long, long ago.

When He from His lofty throne
Stooped to do and die,
Everything was fully done;
Hearken to His cry—

“IT IS FINISHED!" Yes, indeed!
Finished every jot.
Sinner, this is all you need;
Tell me, is it not?

Weary, working, burdened one,
Wherefore toil you so?
Cease your doing; all was done
Long, long ago.

Till to JESUS' WORK you cling,
By a simple faith,
"DOING" is a deadly thing—
"Doing" ends in death.

Cast your deadly "doing" down—
Down at Jesus' feet;
Stand "IN HIM," in Him alone,
Gloriously "COMPLETE!”

Roosevelt's Mistake

During the Spanish War Theodore Roosevelt, much attached to his men, was greatly concerned when a number of them became ill. Hearing that a nurse, Clara Barton, who was devoting her skill to the work of nursing wounded soldiers, had received a supply of delicacies for those under her care, Colonel Roosevelt requested her to sell a portion of them to him for the sick men of his regiment.

When his request was refused the colonel was very troubled. He loved his men and was willing to pay for their needs out of his own pocket. He asked the surgeon in charge of the Red Cross headquarters: "How can I get these things? I must have proper food for my sick men.”

“Just ask for them, Colonel," was the answer.

“Oh," said Roosevelt, his face breaking into a smile; "that is the way, is it? Then I do ask for them." And he got them at once.

How often the colonel's mistake has been repeated in connection with the matter of salvation! Many expect to receive it in exchange for something that they can offer: one brings an earnest prayer; a second brings a vow or a promise to turn over a new leaf; a third brings an inwardly-made resolution to live a better and purer life; a fourth thinks that before he can receive salvation he must produce improvement in his conduct; a fifth imagines that he can obtain it by adherence to an orthodox creed and conformity to certain religious observances.

But, friend, God's salvation can only be had as a free gift. Why should there be any difficulty in understanding this? The words of Scripture are very plain. "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6.

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Pride is humbled by such terms. Arrogant man will strive to pay, whatever the price. But the value of God's gift is too great for feeble man to buy. Nor can any man merit salvation in the smallest degree, however long he may try. God is prepared to meet the sinner with His hands full of the richest blessing, if only the sinner will come with empty hands to receive it as a free gift. Will you?

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5.

Far Too Easy a Way”

Many are stumbled at the simplicity of the gospel. When it is presented to them in all its fullness and scope, they declare that believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is "far too easy" a way to be saved forever.

Thank God, it is an "easy" way for sinners to be saved. Well might the poet Cowper sing: "0, how unlike the complex works of man, Heaven's easy, artless, unencumbered plan.”

Though an "easy" way for lost mankind, yet surely it is not "too easy," since it is obtained by believing in another by whom the difficult work has all been done—the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was not "easy" for Him to be mocked and insulted by men.

It was not "easy" for Him to be scourged, spat upon, and crucified.

It was not "easy" in the moment of His humiliation and agony, to be forsaken by God.

It was not "easy" for Him to be "wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.”

Though an easy way in man's view, it is God's only way of saving sinners. If you are not saved in that way, dear reader, you can never be saved at all.

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4: 5.

Jesus Bore My Sins

"Oh death and hell, I cannot dread your power!
The debt is paid.
On Jesus, in that dark and dreadful hour,
My sins were laid.
Yes, Jesus bore them! Bore, in love unbounded,
What none can know.
He died, but rose again; and so confounded
The awful foe.
He's now up there! Proclaim the joyful story—
The Lord's on high!
And I in Him am raised to endless glory,
And ne'er can die.”

To Heaven in a Jiffy”

A gospel preacher was addressing a group of railroad men. He presented to them their need of believing in the Savior who said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

“The only way to true happiness here and to heaven hereafter," he told them, "is by way of the cross of Christ. How suddenly accidents can happen, especially in your line of work! Let me urge you to accept the Savior. Know you are saved. Then if an accident should be allowed to take place and you are killed you will 'be in heaven in a jiffy!' The moment you are absent from the body you will be present with the Lord.”

Among the listeners were two Christians, John Thompson and Joe Smith. At the close of the meeting John asked his friend Joe: "What did you think of the preaching?”

“I did not like his idea of 'going to heaven in a jiffy, '" replied the other.

“Just what I did like," said the first. "It was an odd expression, but it will not be forgotten. You and I can praise God that it is blessedly true. Instant death here to the Christian will be instant glory yonder.”

Little did John think that in a few short hours he would know the reality of this. But so it proved. Very soon after the two friends separated, John was on his train journeying toward the south. All went well until B station was reached. There, as usual, they were shunted on to a siding to let the express, then due, pass.

On it came through the night and in a few moments had whizzed by and was out of sight. But for some unknown reason, John had failed to get clear of its way in time. His crushed and lifeless, body was found between the rails over which the train had passed. The train crew gathered around and tender hands carried their companion's remains to the station. But the happy spirit was with the God who gave it, and had redeemed it by the blood of the Lamb.

Take Me As I Am”

"Oh, take me as I am;
Oh, take me as I am,”
My only plea Christ died for me;
Oh, take me as I am.”

The sweet voice sang carelessly on as the singer busied herself about her household duties. In an ad, joining room lay her sick husband, a scoffer and unbeliever in the love of God.

During his long continued sickness time hung heavily upon his hands. Anything that broke the monotony was welcome. Often his wife’s tuneful voice Was' a source of, entertainment end cheer to him. He listened idly as she sang her favorite songs. As yet she knew not Christ as her own Savior, but she: was interested in the affairs of the church she attended, and frequently sang the hymns. One hymn particularly she liked to sing.

"Helpless I am, and full of guilt,
And yet for me Thy blood was spilled;
And Thou can!st make me what Thou wilt,—
Oh, take me as I am.”

Over and over the words were sung. At first it was only the melody that attracted the attention of the sick man; but he began to think of the message expressed in the poetry. Though he judged himself clever in his power of argument, these tender words condemned him as they sank deep into his conscience. He began to feel the need of something which he had never known.

The Holy Spirit was working. Little by little his self-confidence was shaken and he acknowledged to himself that he was a sinner guilty before God. As his wife sang thoughtlessly,

"My only plea, Christ died for me;
Oh, take me as I am,”

he broke down and cried out: "Will He really take me as I am? Will He receive one who has so often spoken against Him and lived all his life in hatred and opposition to Him?”

Turning to the Lord he said: "Take me as I am!" In simple trust he cast himself upon Him who said: "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.”

And so it was that a blasphemous infidel was at once received and blessed. Joy and peace in believing filled his soul. He had passed from death to life—from Satan's power unto God. Thus the grace of God was shown and another trophy of God's long-suffering was won.

“This Man receiveth sinners," was said of the Savior in derision. But the message is blessedly true.

Have you come to Him?

An Arrow from God's Quiver

In a large Canadian city during a long and severe winter the snow had fallen heavily. Only the constant exertion of the snowplow could keep the streets open for traffic. On one of the main streets drifts had accumulated against some advertisement boards till they were quite hidden from view.

As spring advanced the welcome thaw set in. Slowly the snow melted. Inch by inch the advertisements were uncovered.

Morning by morning a bank manager passed down that street to his place of business. One morning to his astonishment he read on the advertisement board the words:

“ THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.”

Months before some earnest Christians had utilized the boards to put up a large Scripture text. It had been placed in a prominent position where all the passers-by would behold it. Doubtless they had prayed fervently that God might use this service for His glory and the blessing of souls. The first line of the text was now uncovered and met the astonished gaze of the bank manager. Like a barbed arrow this message of conviction from. God's own Word was carried by the Holy Spirit to its lodging place—straight into the heart of this man of, business. Day by day these terrifying words met his gaze as he journeyed to and fro.

“Terrifying! I don't see anything to terrify one in those words. We must all die sometime." Thus the reader may reply. Mere words may not alarm you. The reality will. As a sinner you are earning the wages of death. God in righteousness must pay you your wages—not merely death, but judgment, for we read in God's Word:

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

Friend, think! Every beat of your heart, every throb of your pulse, each rising and setting sun brings you nearer to the day of reckoning. Are you ready?

God used these words as the means of arousing the bank manager to his great need of salvation. The question of all questions was wrung from the very depths of his troubled soul: "What must I do to be saved?" He longed for peace. Where could it be found? He little dreamed that the thaw that had uncovered the soul-disturbing, conscience-convicting words would likewise bring a peace-giving message.

One morning on his way to business he read on the board:—

“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom. 6:23.

Blessed sequel! He feared the wages of his sinful life—death. But God now offered him a gift— eternal life through Christ. How much these sweet words meant to him! They brought peace to his soul.

Do these words mean anything to you, reader? If you are still in your sins, think what the reckoning will be! Eternal death. I pray you accept now God's gift of eternal life. "Believe on the Lord Jesus. Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

Not Death, but Life

Years ago some Nihilists came to live in a continental town. Unknown to themselves they had selected a Christian for their doctor. One day returning earlier than usual from his rounds of visits to his patients, he found one of the Nihilists waiting impatiently for him. "Do come," he was urged, "to see one of our women. She must be dying!”

A glance told the doctor that no medicine could be of any avail to the sick woman. Days, nay, hours, might be the measure of her earthly existence. What could he do? Ah! he could tell her of One who "so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The woman's earthly existence was fast ebbing away; but there is a life beyond the grave, and God was sending His message of love and life at the eleventh hour. Would she receive it? It would be for her everlasting blessing.

Very earnestly the doctor spoke, not heeding the angry countenances of the bystanders. They were pacing up and down the room in their anger. At last, unable 'to contain themselves, they went outside to await the doctor. When he appeared they accosted him. "Sir," said they 'angrily, "we sent for you to heal her, not to tell her she was dying.”

“My friends," replied the doctor, "I have two things to say to you. In the first place, it was the Lord who brought me here! In the second place, I have spoken to her of eternal life and not of death.”

The men still looked 'fierce and threatening, but at this moment their chief stepped forward. Addressing his comrades he said, "Let the gentleman alone. You who profess to believe in nothing, what can you say to him? He knows everything, and he fears nothing.”

Ah! They feared death, though they professed to fear nothing. They could miserably attack God's servant who was seeking to bring a soul into contact with the only One who could take away death's sting.

Once more the doctor visited the dying woman. She had then lost all power of speech; but with tears in her eyes she took his hand and kissed it. He could only hope that the message had not been in vain, and that God in His infinite grace had bestowed upon her the precious gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dear reader, do you have eternal life? Can you face death without a fear? Have you something to rest on for eternity which is outside this changing scene altogether? Remember, "The things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18.

"What Think Ye of Christ?"

William Dean was a believer in Christ. His life testified to the reality of his faith. His walk and ways were consistent and exemplary. But William's heart was sad and burdened.

His wife was a stranger to the grace of God, and made very plain her dislike to that which he most valued. Her unpleasant, ungracious manner repelled any attempt on the part of Christian friends to set the truth before her. In fact she avoided them as much as possible, or else she met them with such signs of aversion that the solemn truth of God's Word was verified: "the carnal mind is enmity against God.”

It happened one day that her husband went to the village shop and bought some bacon. It was given to him wrapped in a piece of printed paper torn from a gospel publication containing an article on the scripture: "What think ye of Christ?" Matt. 22:42.

William did not notice what was on the paper; and when he returned home he took the bacon out of its wrapping, gave the meat to his wife to use for dinner, and then threw the paper into the fire.

The embers happened to be very low, and, indeed, were almost burned out. As the piece of paper lay smoldering before bursting into flame the bold headlines caught Mrs. Dean's eye: "What think ye of Christ?" "What," said she to herself, "do I think of Christ?”

She pondered the words as she bent over her cooking. The Spirit of God applied them to her conscience. She could not get rid of them. They were constantly coming before her and gave her no rest until she realized, through grace, her own hardness of heart. Then with a broken and contrite spirit she confessed her sin and cast herself on Him whom she now knew as "altogether lovely.”

Dear soul, have you turned from self to the Savior? Can you say from your heart: “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God." Matt. 16:16.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

The Source of Happiness

On the outskirts of a summer resort we saw an old man walking slowly along. He appeared to possess little of this world's goods, but his face beamed with joy. As he came nearer a woman at a cottage door said: "Why there's old Mr. Cary! Who would have thought ever to see him again!”

From this we gathered that the old man had been very ill. Watching his slow progress we saw that he had a greeting or a word for everyone he met. What could he be saying? We thought perhaps he was not in his right mind.

As he drew nearer we heard the words: "Do you love the Lord? He's the One to make you happy.”

Again, to the next group: "Do you know the Lord? He is the Savior.”

As Mr. Cary passed a couple farther on, we heard again: "Do you know the Lord Jesus? He's the One to make you happy!" His own bright face told plainly that the Lord had made him happy.

What a beautiful testimony! Right in his mind or not, the dear man was right in his heart. He had "Christ dwelling in his heart by faith," and he had learned indeed to "rejoice in the Lord.”

Have you, have I? Have we found in Him "enough and to spare," so that "He's the One to make you happy" comes with reality from our lips?

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Phil. 4:4.

“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore." Psa. 113:2.

"Thou wilt keep him in
perfect peace whose mind
is stayed on Thee: because
he trusteth in Thee.”

Isaiah 26:3.

"Blessed are all they that
put their trust in Him.”

Psalm 2:12.

June

Calvary

"They came unto the place called Calvary." Listen, oh, friend!
A place where all thy sins and stains
May end.
A place where heaven and earth have met;
A place which hell can ne'er forget;
A place of direst battle set,
Which love has shadowed, tears have wet,
"Called Calvary.”

Why gather such a mighty throng
At Calvary?
The maddened crowd, the tumult strong,
Defiles the air.
The cruel taunts of sinful hearts
Enclose Him there.
They crucified the Savior there;
They stilled the Life, could still their care;
They pierced the hands with blessing fair
At Calvary.

Thy God and Christ cry out to thee, My soul!
Thy estimate of Calvary.
The whole
Black tragedy was steeped in love to thee,
As though thy sins alone had raised that tree;
His head was bowed in death and shame for thee,
At Calvary.

Pioneer Preaching

In the early days of the settlement of Canada many young men came out from England to seek their fortunes in the vast new territory. Some staked out claims in the rich farming areas; and for the most part these pioneers had to endure the unaccustomed hardships of a rigorous climate and isolation from their widely separated neighbors. It was indeed an event and a pleasure when one came from the home land for a visit.

Among those who came to the new colony was a young man but recently converted. In his new-found joy Edward longed to tell others of the Savior and of the treasure he had found in His love.

Shortly after he landed in Canada Edward met a Christian farmer who invited him to come out to his place. This man too desired the salvation of souls and hoped to get some of his neighbors in so Edward could tell them of Jesus.

Some time went by before Edward was free to go. He traveled by train and then had a long walk to his friend's farm. There he found everyone gone. What should he do? Picking up his bag he continued his weary journey to the next farm and inquired about his friend. He was told that the whole family was away but were due back late that night.

Edward started to leave; but with the courtesy and hospitality so well known in rural Canada his informant cordially invited him to stay for supper and to wait there till his friend came home.

After supper Edward learned that the neighbors round about had been invited in for a social evening. And soon they came. In those days entertainment was very simple and was usually supplied by the guests themselves. So it was on this night, as one after another, they were asked to sing. After a while the host said: "We have a stranger here. Perhaps he would sing something for us.”

“I don't mind," said Edward, "if I can only sing what I like best." They readily agreed to this and he began:

"There is a Name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear,
The sweetest name on earth.”

When he finished the hymn he sat down. There was an embarrassing silence. To break it the host said: "If you are so fond of the One you were singing about, perhaps you would tell us something about Him.”

This opportunity delighted Edward. Rising to his feet he told the sweet story of the Savior and His great love in going to the cross to die for sinners and to put away the sins of all who would receive Him and put their trust in Him and His finished work.

When Edward was through very little was said, and the guests soon left for their homes. Perhaps for the first time some of them had heard of the blessed Savior, and we hope that some, at least, put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior.

How about you, dear reader? The Word of God says: "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Don't put it off; but confessing yourself a sinner tell the Lord you trust Him and the work that He has done; and He will save you.

"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. (This is an incident in the early life of Mr. Edward Hayhoe. It was written by his son, our late brother, Mr. Robert B. Hayhoe, and intended for use in "Echoes of Grace." May the desires concerning it now be achieved and the Lord be glorified in it.)

A Pipe Lighter

A dissolute young man was offered a tract on the streets. He took it from the distributor's hand and thrust it into his pocket. With a sneer, he said: "It will do to light my pipe.”

Later that same night he put his hand into his pocket. Finding the crushed tract, he pulled it out. Folding it up he proceeded to do with it as he had said. As the flame lighted the burning paper, one bold word flashed out before his eyes. That word was "ETERNITY.”

He tried to forget it, but could not. It haunted him day and night. At last he came as a lost sinner to God, and found rest in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.

What does that word eternity mean to you, reader?. "These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." Matt. 25:46.

Peace Is Made

Some years ago a group of young Christian men decided to make of a holiday a holy day. Well equipped with gospel tracts they started out early in the morning. They walked to the near-by villages distributing "the precious seed" on the way, remembering the Word: "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccles. 11:6.

Visiting the cottages in pairs, two of them knocked at one of the doors. "Come in," was the kindly invitation given, and our two friends stepped in. They were gladdened to see an aged woman sitting at a table with her large old Bible spread out before her.

“Well, Mother," said one of them, "what are you reading that old Book for?”

“Eh, lad, I'm tryin' to see how to make my peace with God.”

“Well," replied our friend, "if you can find that, I will buy you a brand new book, bigger and better than this one.”

She searched in her book, but without success.

“Mother, you cannot find it in that book," said the first speaker after a while of waiting. "It isn't there.”

“Hush, lad," said she. "Ye are only a striplin'; didn't the parson tell us last Sunday in church to go home and make our peace with God?”

Ah, how many such well-intentioned "parsons" make the sad mistake of advising the impossible. He might as well have told them to create a world!

Taking the book, our friend said, "Shall I look for it, Mother?" Turning to Colossians 1:20 he read: "Having MADE PEACE through the blood of His cross.”

“Eh? Let me see that," said the aged woman, taking the Bible from his hand. She wiped and adjusted her spectacles, and read with her very soul in her eyes the blessed message. Could it be true? Was it possible that what she had striven to do for years had been done by Another?

Again she wiped her spectacles fearing there might be some mistake. But there it stood in what she owned to be God's Word: Peace made through His blood!

Wonder and joy filled her heart as with the simplicity of a little child she received the record which God has given as to the work of His Son. The weary years of fruitless effort were over. Peace was hers— not peace of her own making, but made by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.

Suddenly the back door opened. An old man, bent with age, came in and eyed the group. It was her brother.

“Come here, man," said she, "and read this verse yourself.”

Taking the pair of spectacles which served for them both, he too read those blessed, life-giving words. As he read them they made their way into another poor desolate heart, and he also was able to rejoice in the knowledge of God's present salvation.

Praise and thanks now filled all their hearts, and our young friends felt it was indeed a holy day.

Reader, has heaven rejoiced over your salvation, or is it that you too are still trying to make your peace with God? If so, you are 1900 years too late!

Peace has been made! The conflict of Calvary is over. The Lamb of God has made peace by dying for our sins upon the cross. By His resurrection from the dead God has publicly declared that, by Him, all who put their trust in Him "are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39.

Peace being made, it is now proclaimed by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven. Now, those who believe can declare: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.

Peace is possessed by those who in simple faith rest upon the work of our Lord Jesus as told in the unchanging Word of God.

Reader, is it yours? If not, cease your fruitless effort, and believe this blessed testimony.

“We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:20.

The Faith That Saves

It may be inquired, "Is it not possible to believe with the head and not with the heart?" It is to be feared there is too much of it. What, then, is the difference? To believe on Christ in your heart is simply to believe on Him with the consciousness in your heart that He alone is the One who can meet your case, and that without Him you will perish forever; and so confide in Him. It is more than a mere assent to the historical fact that He died and rose again. It is to see yourself without His precious sacrifice, hopelessly shut up to judgment; and so to believe in Him. G .C.

Joy and Peace in Believing

A telegraph clerk had been aroused to a sense of his lost condition and was very anxious to be saved. He could find no peace, comfort or rest, although he sought it one Sunday by listening attentively to three preachers. He went home to his room greatly distressed. How could he be saved? Knowing his sins were unforgiven, he had little sleep that night.

Monday morning he went to his work in a telegraph office at a railway station. Shortly after he arrived his station signal was called. As the message came over the wire, he wrote down the name of the sender and addressee. Then came the message:—

`Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" John 1:29.

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7.

Amazed, he dropped his pencil and again read the telegram. Though it was designed for a young woman who was also troubled about her soul, surely it was God's message to him.

He said afterward, "The words—Lamb of God Redemption—Blood—Riches of His Grace—went right into my poor heart! No one in the whole world could have had greater joy than I that Monday morning." My reader, do you have this peace and joy? May "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." Rom. 15:13.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"The Letter"

There was a time of spiritual awakening in a small manufacturing town. The foreman in a department of one of the factories became anxious about his soul.

He was directed to Christ as the sinner's only refuge by many, and by his own employer among the rest, but it seemed to be without result. At last his employer thought of a way to reach his conscience and to bring him to see the sincerity of God's gospel. He wrote a note asking his foreman to come to his office at six o'clock after he left his work.

He came promptly with the letter in his hand. As he entered the room, his employer inquired, "Do you wish to see me, James?”

James was confounded. Holding up the note requesting him to come, he said: "The letter! The letter!”

"Oh," said his employer, "I see you believed that I wanted to see you. When I sent you the message you came at the appointed time.”

"Surely, sir! Surely, sir!" replied James.

"Well, here is another letter sending for you by One equally in earnest." The employer held up a slip of paper with some verses of Scripture written on it. James took the paper and began to read slowly: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

His lips quivered; his' eyes filled with tears; he stood for a few moments, not knowing what to do. At length he inquired: "Am I to believe that in just the same way I believed your letter?"

"Just in the same way," rejoined the Christian. "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater." 1 John 5:9.

This expedient was owned of God in setting James at liberty. He became a happy believer that very night and has continued to go on his way rejoicing in God his Savior.

Reader, if you are anxious about your salvation, believe God when He speaks to you in His Word. You would credit the word of an honorable man. Will you not trust the One who died to save you?

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:13.

Not Able to Buy

An Indian chief went to a railroad station to buy a ticket and offered wampum and beads in payment. When the agent refused him the ticket he was very indignant, saying: "I am the richest man in my tribe. Why can't I buy a ticket over your road?”

He was very rich at home, but very poor when among civilized men. The railroad company requires money for their tickets, not wampum and beads.

What will the world's riches avail for eternity? They cannot buy admission to heaven by-and-by. Salvation is a free gift. All of earth's money cannot purchase it.

Remember the Savior's call! It is, "Come now." Oh, listen to His call, and come to Him at once.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot." 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

"Healed by His Stripes"

A man was very ill and near death in Paris. Several times his clergyman had been to see him. He had read to him prayers for the sick, and told him what a great sinner he was. But the clergyman himself did not know God's great love to sinners, so all he said only made the poor man more miserable.

These visits had been repeated several times, but the sick man had received no comfort; he could only moan about the weight of his sins.

One Sunday morning he sent his little child to bring the clergyman on his way from church. "It is no use for me to go," said he. "Your father never seems any better.”

“Oh, sir," answered the child, "Father said I was not to come back without you.”

“Well, I'll take my sermon to read to him." And he followed the child. He found the poor man in great distress about his lost condition.

“I've brought my sermon to read to you," said the clergyman. He began reading the scripture from which he had taken his text—that beautiful fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, fifth verse: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

“Wait," called out the dying man. "Read that again, sir. 'Wounded for our transgressions.' Then He was wounded for mine! I have it!" he exclaimed, starting up. " 'Bruised for my iniquities.' Why did you not tell me that before, sir? But I have it now, thank God! With His stripes I am healed.”

That night in full assurance of faith he fell asleep in Christ, resting on His finished work.

The day following the clergyman called on a friend and asked what there was in that scripture more than another. "Why," said his friend, a believer in the Lord Jesus, "this verse contains the whole gospel. Now, I pray you, believe it. Can you say, 'He was wounded for my transgressions; the Son of God bore my sins in His own body on the tree'?”

“Now I see," exclaimed the clergyman. "How blind I have been all along, knowing the Scriptures with my head, but never before have I believed with my heart.”

Next Lord's day his congregation was amazed at the intensely earnest way in which he preached. Then he told them that he had been a blind leader, but that God's grace had shone into his heart. Now he was a new creature in Christ Jesus. He begged them all to trust Him as their Savior.

Kept by the Power of God

1 PET. 1:5 "The Lord will go before you." Isa. 52:12.

"The glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." Isa. 58:8.

"The Lord is round about His people." Psa. 125:2. "Underneath are the everlasting arms." Deut. 33:27. "His banner over me is love." Song of Sol. 2:4.

The Wrath to Come

In one of George Whitfield's meetings he preached on "the wrath to come." In the middle of his sermon he abruptly broke off from his discourse. Bursting into a flood of tears he cried: "Oh, my hearers, the wrath to come! The wrath to come!”

“These words," said a young man, "sank deep into my heart, like lead in the waters. I too wept, and when the sermon was ended I went away alone. For days and weeks I could think of little else. Those awful words would follow me wherever I went. 'The wrath to come! The wrath to come!'”

It was God's voice by His servant to that young man, and it became effective in him to his soul's salvation. And God warns you of judgment soon to fall. Beware lest it fall upon you. But He has provided a shelter—all—sufficient and sufficient for all. He would have all hide therein.

Put your trust in Jesus! He is the shelter from the judgment which is about to fall on this world of unbelievers.

“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Ezek. 33:11.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:27, 28.

"Christ Jesus came into
the world to save
sinners.”

1 Tim. 1:15.

July

The Pathway

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Prov. 4:26.

Pray halt! as you pass on your journey through life,
For great are the issues at stake;
The choice is before you of life or of death;
Oh, which of these ways will you take?
Tomorrow no choice may be open to you,
So ponder the path of your feet;
Be wise and consider the word of the Lord,
In the place where the two ways meet.

Two ways lie before you, the narrow and broad;
One leads to the city of God;
The other to death and the pangs of remorse,
Where many have foolishly trod;
The steps of the righteous are ordered of God,
His Word is a lamp to their feet;
And looking to Jesus a Savior they find,
Where mercy and righteousness meet.

In faith look to Jesus and learn how He walked,
Your way to the Shepherd confide;
For Christ is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life,
And He is the only true Guide.
Now God has appointed a time unto all,
A Judge or a Savior to meet;
Each heart is laid bare to the eyes of the Lord,
So ponder the path of your feet.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:25.

The Mark

Rows of large mud bricks belonging to a mighty Eastern monarch were baking in the scorching midday sun. There could be no mistake as to whom the bricks belonged. Each one was marked with the seal of the king's name.

One day while the brick makers were away resting or taking their noon meal a dog silently stole into the brickyard and put one of his paws on an unbaked brick right over the king's name.

When the men returned and examined the bricks, then dry and hard, they found one brick which bore instead of the clear imprint of the king's name the unmistakable mark of a beast. The dogs of the East are dirty and diseased, and a brick bearing such a mark could never be used for the king.

When God created man He made him in His own image (Gen. 1:27). He placed him in a garden where everything grew that was good for food and pleasant to the eye. Like the filthy dog of our story, into the garden crept the serpent and left his mark upon man. Sinful and unclean, he was no more suited to the presence of a holy God.

In that garden was one tree that God had seen fit to withhold from Adam, saying, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen 2:17.

But Satan in the form of the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely die." Man believed Satan, disobeyed God, and brought sin and death not only upon himself but upon the whole race of man. (Rom. 5:12-19.)

What became of the spoiled brick? It lay useless for many years beneath the walls of Babylon. Hundreds of years later it was unearthed. It may now be seen in the British Museum. But it still has the same despised brand upon it—the mark of a dog.

And what of guilty man? Although God knew that man under sin and death could never make himself fit for His presence, yet for many years He in His grace tested man in various ways—in innocence, without law, under law, under judges, under kings and under prophets. The mark of the serpent still remained. Mankind was proved to be lost—ruined under—sin. (Rom. 3:9.)

Then God said, "I will send My beloved Son" (Luke 20:13; Gal. 4:4). That holy One came down and was made in the likeness of men. He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:7, 8). Even as by Adam's disobedience sin and death came upon man, so by Christ's obedience in going into death all who now receive HIM may be set free from sin and death, and have eternal life in Christ (Rom. 5:12, 21).

Dear reader, whose mark do you bear—the serpent's with the scars of sins unforgiven, or the blessed sign of the cross of Christ? Can you say with the Apostle Paul: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Extract: Worldliness

Worldliness is heartlessness toward Christ.

The Best Thing in the World

"My friend, can you tell me what is the best thing in this world?”

So spake a servant of Christ, as he placed his hand lovingly on the shoulder of a young man. The man turned around; and looking into the face of the Christian, said: "Yes, sir, I can. Though I never learned to read, yet God has taught me by His Spirit. I know what is the best thing in this world." Then slowly and feelingly, the man's answer came. "The best thing in this world, sir, is to be ready for the next.”

Reader, is there a better thing than that? Are you ready?—ready for glory and eternal blessedness with Christ in heaven? Thank God, there is such a thing as being ready, and such a thing as knowing it, too.

But are you ready? If not, do you want to be ready? Do you long to be ready now? Then turn to God. Repent now. Believe in Jesus now. Have faith in His blood now. Now "confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus," and say, "O Savior of the guilty, I do believe Thou didst die for me, even for me," and thou shalt be saved—now.

A Branch of Flowers

Mrs. Lowe was a happy Christian and delighted to do all she could for the poor and sick. She also sought to interest her children in such deeds of kindness by having them gather flowers for her to take to the sick.

Her little daughter Mary loved the Lord Jesus and entered heartily into this small service. One day to a branch covered with fragrant flowers she tied a card on which she had written the following verse: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Mrs. Lowe put all the flowers in a basket, not forgetting Mary's branch, and took them to a hospital. There she went from bed to bed distributing the flowers and speaking words of encouragement and exhortation to the sick. Her earnest desire was to direct the tried and afflicted to Jesus who alone could save their souls and give them rest.

When she had finished her visits in the hospital, Mrs. Lowe's basket still contained the beautiful branch gathered by Mary. As she walked toward home she asked herself, "To whom shall I give it?" She thought of old Jacob. He had been ill a long time and his days on earth must now be few. Sad to say, he was an infidel who had always persisted in the blind folly of saying, "There is no God.”

How miserable he was at heart, and how full of bitterness! With no knowledge of the love of God nor the saving power of the blood of Jesus the poor man must die unsaved.

Mrs. Lowe went to the little house where he lived. He was lying with his eyes closed, apparently asleep. Mrs. Lowe quietly placed the fragrant branch of blossoms on his pillow and waited with his wife until he wakened. Soon Jacob slowly opened his eyes, and saw with astonishment the flowery branch on his bed. He asked, "Who sent me that?”

"GOD!" was the brief response of the visitor. The sick man closed his eyes and said no more and in a few minutes Mrs. Lowe left.

Who can tell what happened in the heart of Jacob? God spoke to him and in a few hours wrought a marvelous change in his soul. The following morning, to the great astonishment of his wife who had also been an infidel, he said: “Emmy, I want to see again all my old acquaintances, all who have known my infidel belief. Go and tell them to come. Don't miss any.”

Emmy went without a single word to fulfill the desire of her husband. Soon all the former companions of Jacob were assembled about his bed.

“My friends," said he in a feeble voice, "I have asked you to come here that I may tell you that I am no longer an infidel. I have become a true believing Christian. I will tell you how it came about. Since I have been here in bed I have often wondered about God. Yesterday I said to myself, 'If there is a God I ought to be able to find Him, and He should be able to hear my prayer.' So I pondered what I should ask to prove Him. At last I thought, I will ask of Him a very simple thing, a flower.

“I did not for a moment think of any one bringing me a flower. I rather thought if God heard my prayer He would send the flower down the chimney or through the window. I had just been dozing a bit when I smelled a sweet odor. I opened my eyes. Can you imagine my astonishment when I saw before me, not merely a single flower, but a branch covered with flowers?

“I asked: 'Who sent me that?' And a lady who was standing near my bed said: 'God!' She said no more and went away.

"Yes, God had pity on me, a senseless old infidel, and has shown me that He is a living God who hears every word and who knows every thought. As though the flowers were not enough, I found attached to the branch a card, and on it these words were written: `Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out!'

"What a word for me, the old wicked sinner! Yes, I understood at once that Jesus, the Savior of sinners, had said it. That spoke so strongly to my soul that here, upon my bed, and just as I am, I have turned to Jesus. See, my friends, He has not repulsed me; He has given me peace and pardon. You have known me as an atheist, a denier of God. Now I am a believer in Christ my Savior.”

He was silent a moment. A profound quiet reigned in the room until Jacob continued: "Oh, my friends, listen to me! In times past I have said, 'We only believe what we see.' That may do as long as there is health and strength, but when death comes there is need for pardon and eternal life. Ah! if I could only lead some of you to Jesus!”

His old infidel friends and companions remained silent. They were deeply moved and one after another wordlessly shook Jacob's hand and left. We know that several of these men later turned to Jesus, and will be with Him in heaven.

Dear unsaved reader, most likely you are not a professed infidel, but in your vigorous state of health are you going on day after day without Christ? You may not be given a sickbed with opportunity to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Take Him NOW!

“As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Rom. 14:11.

Soul Satisfaction

"No, Sir," said the nurse who attended Voltaire in his last illness. "No, Sir; not for all the wealth in the world would I see another infidel die.”

What a testimony to the horrors of infidelity! Thomas Paine, that low-lived debauchee, died crying, "Christ have mercy on me!" Infidelity will not soften a deathbed. Men may live without religion, but they do fear to die without it.

Even with the most profligate and hardened, conscience at last makes itself heard. It speaks in tones of thunder to their terror-stricken hearts. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." There may be a species of pleasure in the pursuits of the ungodly; but it is evanescent and short-lived, and its light too often expires amid the blackness of darkness forever.

Only God can satisfy your soul. When Alexander the Great conquered the whole known world, he was not content, but sat down and wept like a babe because there was no other world to conquer. The whole world did not satisfy him. And a Roman emperor who had exhausted the whole round of worldly delights offered a large reward to anyone who discovered a new pleasure. Would that have given him lasting joy?

No, dear friend. Be assured of this one thing; without the love of Christ in your heart there is no peace, no joy, no happiness for you. Having Him, you will have that which alone can satisfy the yearnings of your soul, and afford you in every scene and circumstance abiding peace and joy and happiness.

“He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psalms 107:9.

God's Message

It was such a pretty village. The trim cottages with thatched roofs were grouped on the side of a hill. Its winding paths were bordered with sweet brier and honeysuckle, and a rippling brook coursed through the little valley below under a canopy of spreading trees.

I was visiting my brother who had recently been appointed rector of the parish. On my first walk with him I could not but express delight at the charming scene.

“To judge by appearances," said my brother, "it is an ideal village. These thatched roofs appear to cover only contented people, but misery and sorrow are concealed here as well as elsewhere. To convince you, you have only to enter the first house you reach on your road: this, for instance, on our right. There lives in this house a woman who is the picture of despair. The neighbors look upon her as insane. She believes she is lost, and all my efforts to bring before her the consolation of religion have so far been in vain.”

We had now reached the gate of the little garden and my brother opened it. He bade me to enter the house alone, as he must go on for a visit elsewhere.

Surely God alone could avail for such a case, I thought. I lifted up my heart to Him, praying that He might give me a message from Himself for this agonized soul.

At my tap on the door a woman's voice invited me in. She was at work when I entered, but s h e ceased when I told her I had come to see her. She placed a chair for me so that we sat face to face. We were in a large room with a big fireplace and slabs of stone for a floor.

Looking to the Lord to open the conversation, I spoke of the beauty and peace of the little village. My eulogies produced only a look of gloom, and she replied with a solemn voice, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

“No," I replied, "no peace, if it is sought within; but there is perfect peace in Jesus. 'He is our peace.”

The poor woman turned away her head, and I saw the tears roll down her pale face.

I spoke to her of the love of Jesus who came to seek and to save that which was lost. I reminded her of the price paid for our ransom. I felt that the Lord was giving me each word. At length I asked, "Will you not now accept the salvation which the Lord offers you?”

“I must wait His appointed time for that," she replied. "It may be that He will give me peace at the moment of my death. He has His own time.”

“Let us see in the Word what is His time," I answered as I opened my Bible. "I do not ask you to believe my word, but God's. Do you believe that all He has said is true?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. God says in 2 Cor. 6:2, 'Behold, now is the day of salvation' You see the time indicated by God is now.”

“Yes," said she hesitatingly.

“I believe that God has sent me to you this after-
noon, and the message I bring is from Him. Will you not believe it?”

The expression on the poor woman's face showed the struggle going on in her soul. Satan was striving to hold his victim while I was lifting up my heart to the Lord that He would accomplish His work of deliverance in her. After a short silence she said, slowly and seriously: "If you have been sent by God, and your message is from Him, I must accept it.”

"Then you now accept Jesus as your Savior?”

"Yes," she said with emotion. We kneeled down on the stone floor and I asked the Lord not only to give her sustaining grace in coming to Him, but to grant entire confidence in His power to keep her.

I returned the following day and found her peaceful and happy. She was no longer occupied with her own sentiments, but with the One who had died to give her life and peace.

She then told me that the Lord Jesus had drawn her to Himself three years before, but that Satan had been unceasing in his efforts to disturb her peace. He had succeeded in turning her thoughts away from Christ and in occupying her with her own sad state. Now Christ at length had broken the chains and set her free.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36.

What Time Have You?

The time is short. It is the time of God's long-suffering now; and Peter says, He "is ready to judge the quick and the dead.”

Something Beyond

Long ago the country of Spain had for her motto: "Ne Plus Ultra." This means, "Nothing beyond.”

In those days Spaniards had sailed the length of the Mediterranean. They had passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Seeing nothing beyond but a vast expanse of the great Atlantic they imagined they had reached the confines of the habitable earth. Hence the adoption of the "Nothing beyond" which was engraved upon their Coat of Arms and the coins of that monarchy.

Spain had, however, to learn that this motto was not founded upon fact. When the brave and adventurous Columbus landed in the Western Hemisphere it became very clear that instead of their being "Nothing beyond" there was indeed a great deal beyond. Accordingly they dropped the first word from the maxim, leaving the two words—"Plus Ultra"—Much beyond or Something beyond.

Something beyond! What wonderful possibilities seem to dwell in these words! They were proved to be true in the physical world by the adventurous Columbus in the long ago. They are equally true in the spiritual world. There is something beyond this present life. This truth is taught in the Scriptures, and was especially emphasized by the Lord Jesus Himself.

Yes, beyond this life lies ETERNITY—LIFE that will never end. And there are only two places to spend this future life—heaven and hell. Toward which are you headed?

Jesus said: "He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John 11:25.

BUT—"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17.

Blessed Hope

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8.

Every writer of the New Testament speaks of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, Peter, Jude, all proclaim this glorious advent.

The Lord is coming for His own first, and then the Lord is coming with them.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory." Col. 3:4.

Who is this coming One?

“The Lord Himself." 1 Thess. 4. "This same Jesus." Acts 1. "If I go... I will come again." John 14. When is He coming?

"Behold, I come quickly." "Surely I come quickly." Rev. 22. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1 Cor. 15:52.

Why is He coming?

"To receive His own to Himself, that where He is, there they may be also." John 14. To catch up His loved ones, "they that are Christ's," that they may "ever be with the Lord." 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thess. 4.

This, not death, is the Christian's blessed hope. He may come today! Are you ready?

"GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE
TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE
WE WERE YET SINNERS,
CHRIST DIED FOR US."
ROM. 5:8

August

Only a Touch

Only a touch—but every hope was in it,
For all she held as dear was now at stake.
Within her view the prize, but could she win it?
Only a touch!—would she the venture make?

Only a touch—behold her hand extended,
Constrained by power beyond her pressing need,
Oh, grace divine, to human woe descending!
Only a touch—and straightway she was freed.

Only a touch—but oh, her Savior felt it;
Each weary sigh had found His wakeful ear.
Her heart He knew, the fears that still indwelt it;
Only a touch—but now His Word of cheer.

Only a touch—why should you miss the blessing?
Why stand aloof and let it pass you by?
Stretch forth your hand, your need to Him confessing;
Only a touch—the Savior now is nigh.

Only a touch—to Him be all the glory!
The mighty work by Him alone was done.
Praise, praise His name, and tell again the story—
“Only a touch"—the path of life begun!

Whether This or That

There were four of us, all men, sitting close together on a train. Quite suddenly the door was opened not by the conductor but by a young man evidently timid and nervous. Before any of us had time to speak he had put a gospel tract into each of our hands and passed on.

“Well," said one of the men, "I call that impertinence. What right has any man to thrust his religion at you like that? It's the second time that has happened to me recently.”

I waited until he quieted down and stopped talking. Then I said: "You may think it strange, but it did not strike me like that at all. I felt glad that there was somebody on the train who wanted to do me good! I intend to read the tract and see what it is all about. It looks all right, for listen to this, 'God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' What do you think about that?”

"Are you another of them?" he asked.

"Well," I said, "I'm evidently just one with you today. The young man surely didn't see any difference between us, for he gave me the same sort of tract that he gave you. I suggest that we read them; and if they are not true and good, then we'll complain.”

The man sitting opposite me had thrown his tract on the seat. Now he took it up again and began to read it with marked interest. When he had read it through we exchanged tracts, and he read mine as well. By this time our train had reached a station and the angry passenger along with one other went out. The man who had read the tracts and I were left alone.

“What do you think about them?" I asked. And it was not long before he began to unburden his heart to me. He was sure of nothing, and as miserable as he was uncertain. He knew that he was a sinful man; and he had tried, had often tried, to give up his sinful habits. With only himself to lean on he had failed; and he was afraid of death and God.

How glad I was to tell him that once I was also afraid of death and God, for I too had known that I was a lost sinner; but I had found the way of salvation and peace. I had found it in the Lord Jesus Christ. I told him of the death and resurrection of this great Savior, and how because of His death and blood-shedding, He could save the greatest of sinners. If one would only cast himself on Christ He would save and give peace to the troubled and anxious heart.

How eagerly he listened! It was just what he had been needing to hear for a long time. Before he left the train he gave God thanks for saving his soul and for that tract distributor who had not been idle on this Saturday afternoon.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:9.

Morning Light

Was it coincidence or part of the wonderful ways of God that these two men should enter the hospital on the same day? They bore the same name, they occupied in civil life similar positions, and they were scheduled for the same operation. Outwardly their lives were much the same, but inwardly the difference was infinite. What was the difference? One was a believer in the Lord Jesus and the other was simply a man of the world. On the same morning they were operated on and were returned to their beds in the same ward. From this point we learn how God began to speak to both these men.

As the effects of the anesthetic began to wear off, the agony of suffering took its place. The voice of the Christian was heard in prayer for strength and grace for himself and for his fellow-sufferer in the other bed. This was a complete revelation to the worldly one, and he questioned in his heart: "How is it possible that this man should pray for me? I cannot pray for myself! Yet he forgets his own suffering in thinking of mine.”

The days passed by and each man gradually grew stronger. Their intercourse became more confidential, and many, many times God's way of salvation was the subject of conversation. The Christian yearned for the conversion of his new friend. When they were permitted to get up and sit in a wheel chair, the Christian made his way to the piano in the center of the ward. He had a pleasing tenor voice and soon everyone was listening as he sang a well known hymn:

"There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the blest Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.”

He was too weak to sing all the song, but many eyes were wet with tears as his voice expressed what he felt in the words:

"We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains He had to bear,
But we believe it was for us,
He hung and suffered there.”

The hymn and his previous testimony entered into the heart of his fellow sufferer. When they were at last discharged from the hospital they parted with sincere regret, promising to keep in touch.

The days that followed were often days of suffering for them both, but the Christian had Christ for his strength and comfort. His friend endured his pain stoically, but recalled again and again the solemn and serious talks in the ward. He remembered gratefully the Christian's prayers for him and realized in his own soul that he was moving toward the light.

A couple of weeks later after a very uncomfortable day and a restless night, in the light of early morning, a sense of God's love flooded his soul. He waked his wife as he cried out, "I believe it was for me He hung and suffered there.”

It was indeed glad news the Christian received in a letter from his friend telling of his conversion. As soon as he could he went to see this newborn soul, to rejoice with him in their oneness now in Christ.

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:6.

Welcome News!

A servant of the Lord was preaching in a park. Lying on the grass, apparently careless like others, was a young man. But he had been convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit. He knew he was a sinner! He dreaded the intensely solemn fact that after death he had to stand before God. He was convinced there was no hope for him. He was too bad.

The preacher was joyfully proclaiming: "There is a living Savior in heaven, Christ Jesus! He came into this world to save sinners. Now Paul says that he, the chief of sinners, has already been saved. Therefore no one else is too bad to be saved!”

Our friend, forgetting himself, forgetting everything else, sprang to his feet and shouted: "That's what I needed to hear.”

He now knew that a living Savior in heaven would save him if he would trust in Him. He received the Lord Jesus and entered upon a new life. He was a changed man, and rejoiced in Him who had come into the world for the purpose of saving such as he.

Dear reader, can you thank Him for having saved you?

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:23, 24.

Saved or Lost

You will never know what it is to be saved until you know what it is to be lost.

"You Are Lost"

He was a coarse, blaspheming, intolerant skeptic, this traveling salesman of whom I write. Dissipation had interfered with his success and brought him at last to the verge of destitution. Now his godless life had landed him in a low grade lodging-house.

Somewhat to his surprise he found that this lodging-house was visited each Sunday evening by a group of Christian men who came to preach the gospel to all who would listen.

At first our friend was inclined to resent this as an outrage. To think that a "religious service," as he called it, should be tolerated in the place where he chose to stay! He sat, however, and listened.

One evening the preacher laid stress on the fact that men are lost and that it was lost sinners that Christ came "to seek and to save." Luke 19: 10, which affirms this, was quoted.

At the close of the meeting a question was addressed to the skeptic concerning his soul. He immediately began to air his infidel notions and poured forth a torrent of blasphemous abuse. The preacher turned from him in pained silence.

As the skeptic stood near the doorway another man came up to him and said loudly, "GOD says you are lost!”

Remembering what had been said in the address the unbeliever became very angry, imagining himself to have been insulted. He determined that he would knock the speaker down at his first opportunity. But while waiting with this purpose in his mind, the words kept ringing in his ears, "God says you are lost!”

All that night he lay sleepless upon his hard bed. All the following day these five words haunted him. The misery of a convicted sinner was now his.

At length, after three days, the scripture quoted so many times by the preacher came back to his memory: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

These gracious words brought peace to his wretched soul. If he was lost, he was the one whom the Savior came to seek! There was salvation for him.

In this way, wonderful in its simplicity, the blasphemer became a child of God.

On the Mountain Top

One summer day with a party of friends, I climbed a high mountain. Reaching the summit we found ourselves beneath a cloudless sky in brilliant sunshine. Gorgeous butterflies flitted about and birds of lovely plumage perched on the trees. The clouds lay beneath us, rolling around the mountain sides like foamy waves. We were high above them and were looking down upon cloudland.

By and by the clouds grew thicker and we heard the ominous roll of thunder. Lightning flashes followed one another with increasing rapidity and torrents of rain were seen falling on the valleys and plains below. But we on the mountain top were high above the storm. To us the wild tempest was a thing afar off, left behind us.

A similar thing has taken place in the spiritual sphere. A terrible storm raged around the Savior when He hung as the Sin-bearer on the cross of Calvary. All the judgment due to us fell on Him. In bearing our sins He bore the full weight of the penalty due to those sins: an awful storm indeed!

But all this passed. The storm spent its full strength on Him. Rising from the dead He has left it behind Him forever. And He has left it behind Him for us as well as for Himself. Now the believer may know that his sins are gone forever, and that he belongs on the mountain top of resurrection life and glory where his Savior is.

Such is the place that Christ the Son of God has won for us. It is as certain as if we were actually there. If we but take our stand by faith along with Him, where He is, we may look down and back on the blackness of the storm into which His love made Him willing to go for our sakes. The storm has spent its strength and fury.

Now as believers in the holy, spotless Lamb of God we are brought, as it were, into all the sunshine of the mountain top. There God's great love is the very atmosphere that we breathe. And this is not because of what we are, nor anything that we have done. It is because of the dying and rising again of our great Savior. We can truly say, if we belong to Him, that the storm of God's wrath is behind us forever.

Our future is bright. "We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil. 3:20. He will surely fulfill His promise in John 14:3: "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself."

"Grace"

"What is the meaning of grace?" Such was the question once put to me. I was but a boy, and my Sunday school teacher was the questioner. I was told to write the answer on paper and bring it to him the next Lord's Day.

At home I took down from my father's bookshelf a large Cruden's Concordance and carefully copied a page or two on "grace." When I handed it to my teacher he put his pen through it all, and said: "Oh, I don't want all that! Grace is free, undeserved, unmerited favor.”

What a wonderful answer! Salvation is by grace alone. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9. I am saved, not because I deserved it, nor because I have earned it by my goodness. No, it is by grace, God's undeserved and free favor. I paid nothing for it, nor can you. Furthermore, that salvation is for all. "For the grace of God, which carries with it salvation to all men, hath appeared." (J.N.D. Trans.)

There is then no excuse for a lost soul. Salvation has been brought to every door, as it were. If one will not have it, there is nothing left but judgment for that one.

But God offers freely to all salvation through His Son.

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption -that is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 3:24.

Hook, Line and Sinker”

Adam sinned and shut himself away from God because he thought more of what Satan offered him. He thought Satan a better friend to him than God; but he has since found out to his cost that the devil was a liar; that he never had the power to give him what he promised; and that by catching at the devil's bait he has received his hook, and that is: "The wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23.

A Simple Message

He had not been an immoral man, this sick man whom I was visiting. Indeed he was quite the opposite: a kind husband, an indulgent father, and outwardly quite religious. He went regularly to the parish church with his family, but he never really had to do with God. The fact that he attended church had lulled his conscience, and he had been quite satisfied with his spiritual state.

Now he knew he was very ill and mere religious form no longer satisfied him. He knew that he must soon meet God, and he was not ready. To enter into the presence of God—unprepared! How dreadful! What folly to have spent seventy years in this scene, and to have left eternity out of his calculation!

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:26.

On this visit I found some relatives had come to see him. I was shown in, and found the sick man evidently alarmed, believing that death was near. And well he might be concerned since he knew not whether the eternity before him would be spent in heaven or hell.

As simply as possible I brought before the poor lost soul the gospel of God's salvation. Earnestly I begged him to believe God's judgment on him as a ruined sinner, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. He refused to see himself in such a hopeless plight, and constantly referred to his charity and morals.

“But you have sinned," said I. "Therefore you are a sinner. God's Word declares that Christ did the work that saves sinners. Therefore the living God also says in Titus 3:5, 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.'”

“Do you not see it?" exclaimed his brother. He too had been listening most attentively to all I had been saying. "It is so simple; nothing could be plainer. Christ came to save sinners, and has finished the work, and therefore you have only to believe and confess Him and be saved.”

While I had been putting the gospel before the dying man, the brother had believed it and was saved.

Reader, will you not do the same? It is very simple. The Word of God says Christ did all the work. Will you believe it? Receive Him as your own Savior and peace that passes understanding shall be yours forever. It is so simple!

As far as I know, the dying man was never saved. If not, what an eternity awaits him! Seventy years he had lived where the gospel was preached, and then he died—perhaps unsaved! If so, he was forever shut out from God's presence in outer darkness.

Reader, will that be your portion for eternity?

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

The Great Physician

A doctor whom we know was once visiting a Christian patient. He had himself been seeking to find peace with God. The Holy Spirit had convinced him of his sin and need, and he yearned for that peace which passes understanding.

On this occasion, speaking to the sick one, he said: "Will you tell me just what you mean by 'believing' and being saved? How does one have 'faith in Jesus,' and all that sort of thing that you say brings peace?”

The answer was simple and to the point: "Doctor, I have found that I could do nothing to make myself well. I have put my case in your hands—I am trusting you to use your skill in my behalf. This is exactly what every poor sinner must do—just put himself in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. On Calvary's cross He did all that is needed to save those who believe on Him.”

“Is that all?" he exclaimed. "Simply trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ? Oh, I see! He is the Great Physician. He has done the work that will save my sin-sick soul.”

“Yes, Doctor. Jesus said on the cross, 'It is finished.' His promise is, 'Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.'”

Jesus said: "If ye believe
not that I am He,
ye shall die
in your
sins.”

John 8:24.

September

I Know Not

I know not what of trial or of joy
May lie before me in the untrod way;
But this I know: sufficient grace is mine
For each succeeding day.

I know not whether there may partings be,
The rending of earth's ties that are so sweet;
But this I know, that rest for breaking hearts
Is found at Jesus' feet.

I know not whether I shall serve Him where
The praise of man sheds glamour over toil,
Or, in the lonely field of faith and prayer,
Wait for the share of spoil.

I know not!—Yet I know that He plans all,
All that God chooseth is forever best;
And this He gives to those who only seek
His will, and in Him rest.

The Dancer

With skillfully dancing feet but heavy heart a young immigrant from Yugoslavia entertained the pleasure-mad crowds in Hollywood, California. He had come to America when quite young and in his childhood had known much of hardships and loneliness. As he grew into manhood he sought satisfaction in a round of gaiety;—but in vain.

Someone noticed his look of unhappiness and told him that, to be happy himself he must give happiness to others. His love for dancing and natural agility led him to the stage, where, after much training and instruction, he became a professional dancer. With easy money coming in he plunged into a round of gambling and other questionable pursuits, only to find the truth of the words of Solomon: "All is vanity and vexation of spirit." Eccles. 1:14.

But now he has danced before Hollywood notables for the last time. No longer can he enjoy "the pleasures of sin for a season," nor contribute to such fleeting enjoyment for others. Why? He has found "something more than gold," and his heart is filled with love to Him whose favor is more to be desired than much fine gold.

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform," wrote Cowper, and never was it more evident than in this case!

An actor with whom he had worked had seen the young fellow's dissatisfied air and had given him a Bible. It was at once diligently read, and his memory went back to childhood days. He remembered his old grandmother in Yugoslavia secretly reading a Bible which had fallen into her hands. She taught him that it was God's Word and ought to be heeded. Day after day he read a portion, groping in spiritual darkness for the light.

One day he saw in a paper an announcement of evening Bible classes. He at once enrolled, but somehow was never questioned—as is usual—as to his own spiritual condition. On his first evening there no one knew or guessed the anguished longing of his soul.

“He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psa. 107:9.

He heard for the first time in his life the sweet gospel story and it wonderfully soothed his troubled spirit. It was the dawning of a new day for the Hollywood dancer, though the Sun of righteousness had not yet dispersed the darkness on his horizon. He went on with his dancing—and reading his Book, even while continuing his attendance at the night classes.

A few weeks later all the Bible class was invited to join the other students at dinner. It proved to be a great event in our friend, the dancer's, soul-history. He was there and saw all the day-students file in with happy faces. The young men, friendly and clean, and the quiet, modest young women seemed so totally different in spirit and appearance to all he had met before. He was deeply interested.

Then someone started a hymn in which all joined:

"What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.”

The arrow found its mark. The young Hollywood entertainer covered his face with his hands and silently and earnestly prayed: "Oh, my God, help me to find that Friend.”

Has He ever refused to hear such a cry? Never. That night, without disclosing his anguish of soul, he promised a young man to go with him to some evangelistic meetings. Again and again he went and found the Savior!

His joy in believing was over-abounding. He had danced for a Hollywood audience for the last time! Henceforth his feet must tread the paths of wisdom, paths of happiness. Says Solomon: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Prov. 3:17.

Now the question of Saul of Tarsus was constantly upon his lips: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" The answer came too plain to question: "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." Mark 5:19.

He left for his native land to labor in the harvest field of Yugoslavia. He finds great happiness in telling of the grace, mighty to save, which means everything to him!

To you, dear reader, is the word of this salvation sent. Perhaps you too have tried the world only to find like this young man how unsatisfying is its pleasures. Will you not today turn to that blessed Savior who said: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

After Many Days

One summer morning two Christian women had walked to the village to give out tracts. Returning home they saw sitting under a hedge in the country lane an old woman making nets. Feeling interested in her, they sat beside her and spoke of Christ. She listened; seemed pleased, but evidently did not know Him as her Savior. When asked if she could read, she answered: "No, not me! But I have a little grandson who is a good scholar.”

The women had given away all their tracts; so taking a piece of paper one wrote out this verse: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Reading this to her, they told her to be sure to get the little grandson to read it to her often. Then telling her of God's pardon for sin through the precious blood, and that even an old person like herself, living so long without Christ, might find cleansing and peace through the shed blood of God's dear Son, they went on their way.

Two years went by. One day the two Christians were again walking in this town. When they were about two or three miles from where they had met the old woman, an aged bent form approached them. Making a low curtsey, a feeble voice said: "Oh, ladies, I have been praying to the Lord that I might see you again.”

They exclaimed: "Do you know us, then?”

"Oh, yes," she cried. "Don't you remember two years ago you met me in the lane, and gave me a little paper?”

Fumbling in her basket, she produced the little scrap, very dirty, very thumbed, and one of the women, recognized her own handwriting. With joy the old woman said: "I can now say, the blood of our Lord Jesus has cleansed me from all sin.”

The Lord had cared for the seed sown, and others too had told her of Jesus. Though she could not read, she always enjoyed a word of prayer and a bit of Scripture.

She never forgot her text. On one visit she said:, "I have got a big Bible, and I want you to mark that verse. When people come to see me, I want to point out the text and say: 'That is the verse which brought me to Christ.'”

And now, safely housed, the dear old woman can look back and rejoice in the light that knows no shadowing over the way God sought and won her.

From the Life of George Whitefield

In the year 1740, the members of a drinking club had a Negro boy serving them. This lad was adept at mimicking people, and often amused his masters with this skill. One day they bade him mimic Mr. White-field, a famous Christian evangelist. This the boy was very unwilling to do. When the men insisted upon it, he stood up and in Mr. Whitefield's dynamic manner cried out: “I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not; unless you repent, you will all be damned.”

This unexpected speech struck home. The two-edged sword pierced every heart there. The club was entirely broken up, and many of its members turned to Christ.

The Right Ticket

"So, John, you're really saved. You have been seeking salvation for a long time. How did you get saved at last?”

“Oh, it was the simplest thing in the world! I just presented the right ticket. I held it out; the door was opened and I entered.

“The strange thing is, I found that the ticket of admission had been in my possession since childhood. I had carried it in my breast pocket for the last twelve months and never had the sense to use it.”

“That is strange, for you were so anxious to be saved. What kind of a ticket was it, and what was written on it?”

“Why, it was as plain a ticket as you ever bought for a public meeting. It had nothing on it but the words: "Admit the Bearer, A Sinner." (Luke 18: 13, 14).

"Was that all?”

"Yes. And what kept me so long from being saved was that I always added something to the words on the ticket when I presented it. Whenever the Lord saw anything of my adding, it was refused.

“The first time I went, I wrote at the bottom: 'But not so great a sinner as many of my neighbors.'

“That would not do, so I rubbed it out and put down: 'But is doing the best he can to improve.'

“That would not do either, so I became more anxious. I prayed and wept awhile; and then under the words, `Admit the bearer, a sinner,' I wrote, 'who is praying and weeping for his sins.'

“Even that wouldn't do. After that I began to despair, and wrote down: 'Too great a sinner to be saved.'

“That only made matters worse. I had almost given up when I looked at Christ and heard Him say: 'I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.' John 10:9.

“'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' John 6:37.

“'And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.' John 5:40.

“'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' Rev. 22:17.

"I looked again at the parable of the Pharisee and publican, and saw that it was simply as a sinner that the publican went and was justified. He did not make his sins too great to be forgiven, nor too little to need forgiveness. He went just as he was, 'a sinner.' Trusting to the promised grace of God he went down to his house 'justified.'

“I remembered that Jesus had said: "I came to call sinners to repentance.' So I pulled out the old ticket, and without adding a word, I presented it. It was accepted, and I entered.”

"I Am the Lord's"

What comfort the Christian finds in these words! The Lord Jesus has redeemed us with His own precious blood. Titus 2:14; "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

He set such a value upon us that He bought us for Himself. "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." 1 Cor. 7:23. He will assuredly keep us. "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:5. None shall pluck us out of His hand. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28. Our life is safe beyond all contingencies, for it is "hid with Christ in God." Col. 3:3.

“Whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Rom. 14:8.

Tossed about though we may be by ever changing circumstances, trusting in Christ we are entitled to say, "I am the Lord's." That will keep the soul in abiding peace. Come what will—pain or weariness, poverty or persecution, bonds or imprisonments, fire or flood—still the sweet words, "I am the Lord's," should enable us to say: "None of these things move me." Acts 20:24.

What strength will it impart if these words, "I am the Lord's," become an abiding thought running perpetually through the heart! It will detach us from an evil world. It will keep us calm and patient amidst all its tumultuous commotion and disturbances. It will raise us above earth's empty pleasures, and protect us from Satan's dangerous devices. We can then be anxious about nothing, careful only to please our Father. Whatever troubles may threaten or assail, we can come with confidence, making our requests known unto God; and His own peace, according to His Word, "shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Death itself is not death to the believer. It is the entrance into life, unhindered by any of the clogs that press us down here in this lower world. Not only will peace be our portion, but joy will be ever bubbling up, knowing that, "He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry," Heb. 10:37; and then we shall be "forever with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:17).

When He does come, then those who are the Lord's will realize their Blessed Hope— to be "forever with the Lord.”

Are you the Lord's?

He came, the mighty Son of God!
He came, creation's only Lord!
The Holy One.
He came— men cried again, again,
We will not have this Man to reign,
Let Him begone!

He came, such wondrous grace to prove!
He came in tenderness and love
Fully expressed.
He came, but found no place, no home,
Except a manger, and a tomb—
The cross, His rest.

He comes, the clouds shall part in twain,
And midst them He will come again
To gather home
The few who love Him here below,
That follow Him through weal and woe;
Lord Jesus, come!

The Journey to Heaven

Two acquaintances were saying "goodbye" after a few days spent in the same house. One was a child of God; the other was a lost man.

The one who lived only for this world said: "I wonder if we shall ever come across each other again?”

“I don't think it's very probable," replied the Christian. "Can you give me any assurance that we shall meet in heaven where the Savior is whom I love?”

“Heaven! Why, that seems a very long time off; I haven't begun to think about it." And thus they parted.

At a cab stand some men were waiting. Another one joined them and, greeting an elderly man, said; "Hello, John! You here? How's your rheumatism?”

“Oh, I reckon we'll not part till I get to heaven," was the answer.

"Heaven! Why, that's a far-away place.”

"Yes, and I believe it'll take me all my time to get there at all," said the old man.

These thoughts of heaven are natural to man. To him it means departure from this life, and so he hopes to postpone it. It may be a long time, a long way off!

To the Christian, heaven (or paradise) is "with Christ, which is far better.”

To the dying thief the crucified Savior said: "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43.

To the first martyr, Stephen, when being stoned, it appeared very near, for "he... looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:55.

No unforgiven sinner can enter into heaven. Naught that defileth can enter there. Many are content to go on in uncertainty knowing neither how to be made fit for heaven, nor the right road there. Only the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, can cleanse from all sin. (1 John 1:7.) Washed in its crimson tide even the vilest is made fit to dwell in this blest place; and Christ Himself is the passport there.

Beloved, heaven or hell is very near to you. God can either say to you, "Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee," or He can say: "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

Remember that "When once the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door," not all your tears and prayers will gain you an entrance. You have had your offer of Christ and heaven. Have you rejected it? The Bible says: "Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:15.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

Useful When Applied

A soap manufacturer, not a Christian, was walking down a busy street with a Christian minister. Said the soap maker: "The gospel you preach hasn't done much good. There is still a lot of wickedness and wicked people in the world.”

The preacher made no immediate reply, but they soon passed a child making mud pies. She was exceedingly dirty. It was now the preacher's turn, and he said: "Soap hasn't done much good in the world, I see; for there is still much dirt and many dirty people." "Oh, well," answered the manufacturer, "soap is useful only when it is applied.”

“Exactly," was the Christian's reply; "and so it is with the gospel.”

“All have sinned." Romans 3:23.

“Christ came into the world to save sinners." 1 Timothy 1:15.

'The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Remember! Remember!!

To Youth— "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Eccles. 12:1.

To the Professor of Christianity:—"Remember Lot's wife," Luke 17:32; and "flee from the wrath to come." Luke 3:7.

To Pleasure Lovers— "Remember (know thou) that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." Eccles. 11:9.

To the Believer in Christ— "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead," 2 Tim. 2:8; and He says, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14:19.

To 'Unbelievers— "Abraham said, Son, remember... between us and you there is a great gulf fixed." Luke 16:25, 26.

Dear Aged One—"Remember how short my time is." Psa. 89:47.

Remember! REMEMBER!! REMEMBER!!!

"He that believeth on Me
hath everlasting life.”

John 6:47.

"He that believeth not, shall
be damned.”

Mark 16:16.

October

Jesus Lives

The terrors of the cross are past—
Jesus lives!
Redemption's work, so grand, so vast,
Jesus lives.
Although a crown of thorns He wore
And all man's wicked hatred bore,
Those dreadful suff'rings now are o'er;
Jesus lives.
Captivity is captive led;
Jesus lives!
Death and the grave bear naught of dread,
Jesus lives.
Released from sin and Satan's hold
We soon shall enter joy untold—
With rapt delight His face behold;
Jesus lives.

The Mystery of God's Ways

In a little village lived a very godless man, a tavern keeper. His boast was that he never entered a church nor read the Bible.

It so happened that someone presented the village church with a new and very fine organ. Its dedication was a great event in this small place, and everyone was anxious to be present on that first Sunday and hear it played. Now our friend the tavern keeper was exceedingly fond of music. When he heard of these fine doings, he began to wonder if he too might not go to hear the music.

“I could go to the church and just hear the music," he remarked. "That would be very well; but I have no intention of sitting there listening to prayers and Bible reading.”

Thinking the matter over for some time he concluded that he would go. While the organ was silent he would keep his fingers in his ears and avoid hearing anything else. This plan seemed an excellent one, and for a while it worked very well. He enjoyed the program of music at the commencement of the service immensely. Then in went his fingers into his ears and he heard not a single word of the prayer which followed. Now came another hymn. This too he enjoyed; but when the Bible was opened by the minister, known to be a godly man, the fingers quickly went in again.

It was summer and the day was hot. The man too was hot; and his skin, moist with perspiration, exuded the odor of the tavern. Suddenly a fly alighted on his nose. It did not sit quietly there, but walked slowly around, tickling him with its tiny threadlike legs. First he shook his head gently, then violently; but the fly kept on tickling his face. He tried blowing. It was no use. He could stand it no longer. Out came his fingers, and he raised his hand to swat the tormenting insect.

God used that one moment to drive an arrow into the conscience of this wicked man. As his ears became unstopped this is what the minister was reading: "He that hath ears to hear let him hear." Matt. 11:15.

Perhaps the tavern keeper for the first time in his life heard God's Word! He knew it was God speaking directly to him, warning him against his evil ways. He dared not close his ears again, but listened intently.

When the service was over, he, a convicted sinner, came to the minister to ask as the Philippian jailer did long ago, "What must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30.

The minister was not slow in pointing him to Jesus, the one and only name by which we can be saved. It was not easy for him to grasp the wonderful fact that Jesus had really died upon the cross as a sacrifice to God for sin, and that now He is offering salvation, eternal life, and full forgiveness of sins as a free gift to all who believe on Him. But at last, through God's infinite grace, the former hater of God and His Word became a happy, consistent Christian.

“The Lord... is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

“He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

A Child of God

During my last year at a boarding school for girls I realized that although I was in the midst of religious learning, yet I myself was a veritable heathen. That was my condition when it was decided by my elders that I should be confirmed. The large group of candidates included seven other girls from our school.

Yes, I was a stranger to grace. Yet for at least three years I had had within me an intense longing to know God. I yearned with all my soul for heavenly light, but I was puzzled. I knew not what it was nor who it was I really needed. Whenever I went home I used to go out to the woods and cry aloud to heaven for help, not realizing there was One in the glory who loved me and had given Himself for me. I thought God must be angry with me, for I saw myself as a hopeless sinner—earthly-minded, nothing spiritual about me.

A month before confirmation a preparation class in the school was begun. In it the catechism and Collect were studied. A few days before confirmation we were each in turn interviewed by the vicar in his vestry and these questions were put to me: "Do you know your catechism?" "Yes.”

“Do you know the Collects?" "Yes.”

“Have you studied the thirty-nine Articles?" "Yes.”

“Do you say your prayers?" "Yes.”

“Well, my dear, you will pass very well," I was told. I received a fatherly pat on my shoulder, and I was shown the door!

Had the vicar said: "Do you know the forgiveness of sins?" I would have answered most emphatically, "No.”

During the intervening days till the time set for confirmation I was most unhappy. I had not a ray of light from above—only a deeper sense of condemnation; and I dreaded to go forward to the ceremony lest I should make a false profession.

It is customary for girls to have simple white frocks for this church service—emblem of holiness, I suppose—but through some mistake my dressmaker did not send my new garment in time. Feeling very wretched, I told my teacher that I could not go as my dress had not come.

She replied: "How unfortunate! Well, that's all right. Some older women will be among the candidates and they wear black. You just wear your black one and you will pass in the crowd.”

There seemed no way of getting out of it! After all, the black dress seemed comforting, quite in keeping with my inward feelings. A black dress covering a black heart!

As we drove in silence to the church, I could not help comparing my black with the other girls' white garments. As I looked at them I said to myself: I dare say your hearts are as white as your frocks; but as for mine, I'm all black!

The church was full. The occasion seemed very solemn; and I at the end of the long pew was truly miserable. I wished with all my heart that I might stay there and not go forward to the communion rails. But what of my teacher up in the gallery? Would she be very angry if I remained in my seat when my turn came?

My mind was busy with these thoughts. I paid little heed to the service—indeed, I do not remember any of it till the bishop paused. Leaning over the pulpit he said so kindly: "I hope none of you who are false mean to come up. Better stay just where you are than be untrue. This service is only for those who know their hearts are right with God. Never mind your friends in the gallery. Be true.”

All right, thought I, now with the bishop's permission I will not leave the pew. Folding my arms in peace I meant to watch the service through to the end. But the bishop once more leaned over the pulpit and in most tender tones asked if there were any unsaved ones before him. I looked up, wondering if he knew all about me!

“Shall I tell you," said the bishop, "what words brought life to my soul long ago?" To this I listened with all my might, just longing for salvation.

“Hear these familiar words, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out' (John 6:37). My dear young people, if He does not cast us out, why, of course He takes us in—into His own family—and henceforth we are 'children of God.”

The Lord, by the Spirit's power, applied these precious words to my heart. All now seemed so simple. Not caring who saw me, I sank right down on the floor on my knees in that high old-fashioned pew and poured my heart out to God. I claimed His own sweet promise: "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." Then and there I received power to become a child of God; and, like the prodigal son, I was conscious of the kiss of forgiveness.

A child of God! Oh think of it! What a joy! My burden was gone, I could have shouted for joy, "All glory to the Lord Jesus!”

Do you know Him thus, dear reader? As a guilty sinner, come to Jesus Christ; accept Him as your own and only Savior.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

The Infidel and the Child

Little ten-year old Mary had learned to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to love Him as her Savior. When she was told that a certain man, a neighbor, was an infidel, she inquired, "What is an infidel?”

It was explained to her and she seemed incredulous that the Son of God could be so discounted. A few days later she saw the man walking down the street. Running up to him she asked, "Why don't you love Jesus?”

He pushed her away; but she repeated the question again and again, and he saw that there were tears in her eyes. At last she left him, but that question remained to trouble him. He could not get rid of it day or night. It came up to him from the sidewalk, from the rustle of the letters on his desk, from the voices of his children at play, and his pillow whispered it to him after he went to bed. He could not sleep, and at last he got up.

“I will get the Bible and find some place where Christ contradicts Himself. That will be a good reason why I should not love Him." Thus he reasoned.

So he took the Book and opened it at the Gospel of John. He had opened at the wrong place! If one seeks a reason for not loving Christ he should not go to that Book. It is filled with reasons for loving the Son of God and not one is there for hating Him. Before the morning sun arose he had begun to seek the Lord with all his heart; and soon he could say with Thomas: "My Lord and my God.”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

The Stutterer's Secret

During a revival in a certain place there might often be seen a man with his finger on a certain text pointing men to Christ. Speaking to him you would recognize him as the soul-winner called Tommy the stutterer.

Someone asked Tommy one day: "Tommy, how do you manage? You can't speak plainly, and yet you lead so many to Christ.”

“Doc-doctor, I give them the Bi-bible. That don't stutt-tut-ter.”

“The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

Out or in?

Evangelistic services were being held in a tent in the city of New York. The principal speaker was Mr. Donald Ross, a gifted Scottish evangelist. Night after night this faithful servant of Christ, in neither measured tones nor bated breath, proclaimed ruin by the fall, redemption by the blood, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and reception by faith as the condition of obtaining blessing.

Among those who attended the services was a Mrs. Gray. She was a member in good standing and a "Christian worker" in an evangelical denomination. She listened night after night to the plain, searching preaching. Ere long she began to see that, with all her "religion," she lacked the "one thing needful"— conversion to God. She became deeply exercised about her spiritual condition.

Mrs. Gray had a son who made no profession of religion; in fact he was careless and godless. Mrs. Gray was imbued by the conviction that if she could get him to the tent he might be blessed. Eventually she succeeded in persuading him to accompany her to one of the meetings. God's Word was carried home in power to the conscience and heart of the young man, and he was led to see that he was a lost, guilty sinner, hurrying to eternal perdition. During the preaching he turned to his mother and said: "That's it, Mother! That is the kind of preaching that suits my case!”

On the following Sunday afternoon the evangelist was asked to visit the young man who was ill and confined to his bed. Mr. Ross found him under deep conviction of sin and longing to know how he could obtain God's pardoning mercy. "Heaven's easy, artless, unencumbered plan" of salvation was brought before him and with blessed results. He was led to see that the Lord Jesus had died for all his sins; that He had paid the ransom for his deliverance; and that by believing the "good news" of the gospel of Christ he was saved and had eternal life. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:36. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

As he laid hold of God's way of peace he turned to his mother and said, "Oh, Mother! Mother! I am saved! Oh, Mother, are you out and I in?”

Mrs. Gray wept as she exclaimed: "If you are saved, I am lost! Many a prayer have I offered for you. I have been a good church member, I have prayed in public and testified in public, but I've never had Christ.”

One day Mrs. Gray picked up a tract which she had received and began to read it. As she did so she learned for the first time in her life that the Lord Jesus by His death on the cross of Calvary had eternally settled the sin question, and finished the mighty work of atonement. He had fully satisfied God's holy and righteous claims. As the truth dawned on her she exclaimed, "The work is all done. I never knew that!”

There are multitudes of sincere, honest souls who have never learned that the work that saves was "finished" by Christ on the Cross. They think, and say, "Christ did His part of the work, and we have to do ours.”

Beloved, the whole work of atonement had been completed by Christ when He exclaimed, "It is finished." John 19:30. Many believe that Christ's death was necessary for their salvation, but they have not yet comprehended that it is enough! Because of what Christ did and suffered on your behalf, a free, full, and present salvation is proclaimed to you as you read these lines.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47.

Should the Lord Come Today, Are You Ready to Meet Him?

"If the Lord comes and takes all of you to heaven, I will become a Jew, and be saved with the remnant." Such was the utterance of an unsaved lad to his mother.

At that time he did not know the joy of sins forgiven. He knew he would be left behind if the Lord came for His waiting saints. He resolved in his mind that his only chance would be when the Lord again takes up the Jews for blessing, after the translation of the Church to heaven. He thought he might have a good chance to be saved during the thousand years of millenial blessing.

Foolish lad! Like many others he discounted 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. Surely he was ignorant of the fact that by refusing the gospel of God's grace, he placed himself with those referred to in 2 Thessalonians 1: 8-10.

According to the Scriptures there is no ground for this lad's hope. Those who have heard the gospel and rejected it will never be partakers of millenial blessedness. Such will be morally blinded like the Jews of old, who, when they had the Light, refused to believe on Him. Therefore they were left in darkness and their minds are blinded, as a people, to this day.

What a solemn reflection for all Christendom! Paul says: "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee." Rom. 11:21.

Reader, you are a part of Christendom to whom that warning is most needful. It is meant for you. If you are Christless, be wise and heed it.

Before the millennium is introduced, the Lord Jesus will come into the air for His true Church. Every person who has been born again by the Spirit of God, has the knowledge of sins forgiven, and is indwelt by the Holy Ghost, forms part of the Church, and only such. It is the blessed hope of the Church to wait and watch for her coming Bridegroom. His last message to her is, "Surely I come quickly." Rev. 22:20.

Her response is, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.

Are you ready?

The Old Railwayman's Address

"I was at my old mate's funeral and with his friends I walked past his grave to take a last look," said an old railwayman to some of his comrades. "As I looked down, I thought; 'If that were my body, where would I be—now?' And my answer was, 'I would be in hell, where no mercy ever comes.'

“I felt rather miserable, and the next Sunday I went to a gospel hall. After hearing the preacher there, a lady said to me: 'Do you love Jesus?'

“I couldn't tell her a lie, mates. I'd drink and swear, and I was rough enough; but I could not tell her a lie. So I said, 'I don't know naught about Jesus; what should I love Him for?'

“But bless His name, He soon found me out. What a blessing He did, for I should never have found Him— didn't know where to look. He, Christ Jesus, came into the world to seek and save that which was lost—ME!

“I thought I would have a lot of trouble with my mates; but I do thank God all things have become new, and He handled them for me.

"My old companions, fare you well; I will not go with you to hell— I'm going with Jesus Christ to dwell: Will you go?”

Will you go, dear friends—any who tonight are out of Christ? Take an old railwayman's advice, and decide tonight for Him. When you take your ticket for glory, you will find the fare has been paid right through. Jesus has done all the work and paid the price, and all He wants is you!

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"Christ hath also
suffered for sins,
the just for the un-
just, that He might
bring us to God.”

1 Peter 3:18.

November

Mercy's Free?

By faith I see the Savior dying
On the tree.
To ruined sinners He is crying,
"Look to Me!”
He bids the guilty now draw near;
Hark, hark! His precious words I hear
So soft, so sweet they banish fear—
“Mercy's free!”

Long as I live I'd still be crying,
"Mercy's free!”
Point to the Lamb for sinners dying
On the tree.
There all my foes He hath withstood,
Washed all my sins away with blood,
Made manifest the love of God
E'en to me.

How sweet the truth! Ye sinners, hear it,
"Mercy's free.”
Ye saints of God, to all declare it,
"Mercy's free.”
Visit your neighbor's dark abode,
Proclaim to all this love of God;
Oh, spread the joyful news abroad,
“Mercy's free.”

A Mother's Prayers

Many years ago eight law students were walking one Lord's Day morning on the banks of a river not far from Washington, D. C. They were heading toward a quiet little park where they intended to spend the hours of morning service in playing cards. Each young man had a bottle of liquor in his pocket.

On their way, engaged in all sorts of frivolous talk, the church bells in a neighboring village began to ring. One of the eight young men, George Nesbit, suddenly stood still. With a serious face, he said to his friend who was walking beside him: "I shall go no farther. I must go back to church.”

His friend, thinking George was joking, called out to the other students who had gone on ahead: "Boys, boys, come back! George is turning pious; we must help him. Come, let us baptize him right here.”

They formed a circle round him, saying that the only way to escape a cold bath was for him to remain in their company and carry out the program of the day.

Quietly but seriously George answered: "I know you can do what you will, throw me in the water or drown me, if you like. But first I must say something to you. Listen, and then do what you may please.

“As you all know, my home is about 200 miles from here, but none of you are aware that my mother is very sick and helpless. She is bed-ridden. I am her youngest child. It was hard for me to leave her, and too, for her to let me go away to school. At last, after much prayer, she consented to my coming here, and the preparations were soon made.

“My mother did not speak another word about it till the day I was leaving. After breakfast she asked if everything was ready. I answered, 'Yes; and I am only waiting now till time to go.' Then she asked me to kneel beside her bed. With her hands on my head, she prayed for me. It was the most solemn hour of my life. I believe that till I die I shall remember every word of that prayer.

“Afterward she spoke to me these words: "My boy, you cannot know how my heart aches to see you go. Your father has not the means to let you come home during your two years study, and I may not live that long. In a strange city you will meet many temptations and your mother can only pray for you. Every Lord's day morning especially, 10 to 11 o'clock, I shall be praying for you. Wherever you may be when the church bells ring turn your thoughts back to this room and know that your mother is in prayer for you. But you must go! Good-by.”

“Boys, I may not see my mother again in this world. But with the help of God I hope to meet her above.”

When George ceased speaking, tears were pouring down his cheeks. He looked at his comrades and their eyes too were moist. The circle that had formed around George opened, and he went back to church.

His friends admired in him the courage they lacked. They followed him to church; on the way they threw away their cards and liquor. That was the last time they made such plans for the Lord's Day.

From that day things were changed for them. Six of them became Christians. George himself, destined to become a well-known lawyer in Iowa, lived for many years a worthy witness for Christ.

At the judgment seat of Christ that praying mother will learn in full the blessed results of her loving petitions for her boy.

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." Eccles. 11:1.

The Fisherman

Around the Bay of Fundy there are many villages occupied by fishermen. They are usually a hardy class of men, and among them are many bright and earnest Christians whose lives testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

“Jamie T.," as he was familiarly called among the fisher folk, was not worse than his fellows. However, most of the fishermen had a religion of some sort of which they were somewhat proud. Jamie had none, nor did he make any profession of Christianity. A careless, godless, yet kind-hearted fellow, he was ever ready to give a helping hand on land or sea in the hour of need. He was admired for his thorough honesty by all the fisher folk. But Jamie was "without Christ" and without peace with God.

Before the boats were to sail for the season's fishing it was customary among the Christian fishermen to have a united meeting for prayer in one of their houses. There they would commend themselves to the God who rules on sea and land, and in whose hand is the "deep sea." Then they would entrust their loved ones to His tender care during their absence.

On the day before the fleet was to sail an aged fisherman met Jamie early in the evening and said to him: "Will you not come to the prayer meeting, Jamie? You should let folks know that you are not an atheist, but believe there is a God.”

The young fisherman hung his head in silence; but, not to be discourteous to his old friend, he said as he turned to go home: "Maybe I will, Sandy.”

That was all. Jamie kept his word and was there, greatly to the astonishment of everybody. And God spoke to his soul in the fisherman's cottage that night.

“What if I never come back?" he thought. "What will it be for me? Where will I be then?" And the thought of meeting God unsaved, unpardoned and unprepared, gripped him as a vise.

While earnest prayer was ascending to God in heaven—and when these fishermen are right with God they can and do pray fervently—the young fisherman was seized with conviction of sin before God, and in such a measure that he could not restrain his cry. So he called out loud: "Pray for me! I am a lost sinner and need a Savior.”

No sound is more welcome to a true Christian than such a cry. So the fishermen knelt in a circle on the clay floor, and in agonizing prayer called on God for Jamie's conversion. A verse of Scripture quoted by one in his prayer pierced the young fisherman's soul. It was to him the word of deliverance.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Jamie gripped it like a sinking man grabbing a rope and made it his own. "Sinners! It was them He died for?”

“Yes," said a chorus of voices.

“Then that's me! He died for ME." And then and there he rested his soul on Christ and was born of God as 1 John 5: 1 assured him. When the boats sailed the next day Jamie's song was heard above all the others across the waters:

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.”

Thirst

"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37.

If any man thirst! What person today does not thirst for that which will satisfy his soul? The world brings no lasting satisfaction—it never does. Multitudes are restless and dissatisfied. They are vaguely conscious of their deep need. Indeed they are thirsting. And to those who feel their need, who are conscious of their failure, this message is one of life and salvation.

“If any man thirst"—that is the sole condition. "Let him come"—that is the simple step. And when we do come, Christ says: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." John 4:14.

Here then is the secret of all blessing: The Lord gives, and I take.

“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

He That Loveth His Life Shall Lose It

Betty Walton sold fashionable millinery in a large department store. Daily contact with the world of style kept her mind occupied with things of earth; and the things of God had no place in her thoughts.

BUT GOD, who gave His dear Son for such as she, had His eye on Betty. Through a Christian friend Betty was invited to attend a Bible class specially arranged for young business girls.

Gay and thoughtless, fond of dress and worldly amusements as she was, Betty came only occasionally to the class. More frequently she was absent. After a longer absence than usual the teacher of the class heard that she was ill and went to see her.

Poor Betty was not pleased. Was she worse than any other young people that it was thought necessary to visit and speak of religion to her? However, her visitor assured her gently that the visit was not from any idea that she was worse than others. Thus soothed, she listened quietly while a few verses were read from the Word.

Betty was soon able to return to work for a while, but she did not come to the class, as she was not well enough to be out at night. Her teacher visited her from time to time, and though the ailing girl no longer objected, she received her caller more from civility than enjoyment.

Finally her health completely gave way, and soon it became evident that a deadly disease was rapidly doing its fatal work. Still there was no evidence that her conscience had been reached by the Word, and those who watched for her soul became doubly anxious.

The first evidence of interest she showed was one day when Romans 4 was being read to her. The reader paused at verse 3, and repeated slowly: "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

With startled earnestness Betty suddenly asked, "Where is that?”

She said nothing more, but her visitor felt assured that a ray of light from God's Word had reached her. This assurance was confirmed at the next visit. The same subject was before them and the caller remarked that Abraham had nothing but God's Word to rest on; he was shut up to faith. Apart from that, all was hopeless impossibility.

The speaker glanced up at the girl's face. She lay with closed eyes and two great tears had forced themselves from beneath the tightly compressed lids and rolled down the wasted cheeks. A deep though silent thanksgiving went up to God from the visitor's heart.

After this visit the reserve which Betty had hitherto maintained gradually gave way and now she gladly welcomed any who came to speak to her of the Lord. Now she was happy to hear God's Word, and was soon rejoicing in Jesus as her Savior.

Only once afterward did her joy seem to be interrupted. On that occasion her countenance and manner could never be effaced from the heart of the young Christian who witnessed the exercise through which her soul was passing. The contrast to the usually happy, peaceful face and bright greeting was too apparent not to be noticed.

Her visitor asked: "What is the matter, Betty? Has Satan been tempting you to doubt the Lord?”

“No," she replied; "I have neither doubt nor fear. It is not that.”

"And what is it, then? Something is wrong.”

She had not yet raised her eyes; but now lifting them, she said, with a never-to-be-forgotten look and a tone of deepest sadness: "Oh, Miss Gray, I have lost my life.”

At once her friend understood what she meant. It was not that she was dying; it was not that she was being cut down in her youth. No; it was that the brief life with which she had been entrusted had been spent for her own pleasure, and now it was nearly over. It was A LOST LIFE.

There was silence. No word was spoken between those two—one about to be called away just as she had entered the wilderness path; the other with the path stretched out before her still to be trodden.

It was a solemn moment. God was exercising each heart, and she who seemed likely to have many years still before her thought— "If one only lately converted, when dying, feels like this, how must it be with those who have long known the Lord as their Savior, but have lived for themselves, and not for Him who laid down His life to save them!”

“Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

“He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15.

The cloud passed and the sunny smile returned. It may be that the God of all grace permitted that cloud for the accomplishment of His own will, and that dear Betty's has not been altogether a lost life.

"If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23.

The Doctor's Bill

Debt is a great burden. Avoid it. A man becomes a slave to his creditor, and is no longer free. No wonder that some sensitive folks cower down at the fear of getting into debt.

A schoolmaster who maintained a high character for strict honesty and paid his way like a man, fell ill. Worse than that, all his children became ill! Consequently, during a long period in which they were cared for by a renowned physician, a big account was unavoidably run up with the doctor.

The schoolmaster felt great apprehension about this bill, and dreaded to ask for it.

One day there arrived an envelope from the doctor containing his account. The poor man put it aside unopened and spent many weary days dreading to face the large sum which must be due. It became such a burden to him that at last he broke open the letter. To his amazement, he found that instead of a long bill for attendance and medicines, it contained simply a stamped receipt for the whole amount in full. The kind Christian doctor had felt true sympathy for the man's poor circumstances, and frankly forgave him the entire debt.

Then what a turmoil took place in the debtor's mind! He exclaimed, "Oh, it's too good to be true!”

Again he cast his eyes upon the receipted bill and his heart was filled with gratitude and joy as he saw it was not "too good to be true." It was true.

Have you treated the gospel message thus? You have been running up a long account; there is a great bill of sins against you to which you are daily adding. Yours is a perfectly impossible task to think of paying it off. Does it not weigh on your mind? And are you not aware that the day of reckoning must come sooner or later? Poor lost sinner, all the time you have only to open your Bible to find a receipted bill for you there.

“And when they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave them." Luke 7:42.

The Son of man came to proclaim forgiveness—to give His life "a ransom for many.”

Jesus Christ came into the world to save you, to pay your debt—just because you could not pay it, just because you could do nothing to save yourself.

All has been done for you by Him. "It is finished." Everything is made ready for you: you have but to take the bill in your hand to see that it is receipted. See in God's Word the guarantee that your debt is paid. Look at it, man! Look at it! Do not say, "It is too good to be true," but with believing eyes and heart, accept the Lord Jesus as your sin-bearer and ransom, and thank God for such a great salvation.

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Hunting for Heirs

A gospel preacher was walking along a country road. A farmer drove by and invited the Christian to ride with him. He promptly accepted for he saw an opportunity of doing good.

The farmer was very curious to know who his guest was, so he began to question him and finally got this answer: "I will tell you who I am, and I will tell you what my business is. I have a strange business; I am hunting for heirs.”

The other man, in surprise, asked, "What?”

“I am hunting for heirs—heirs to a very great estate. I represent a very great estate, and I am hunting for heirs for it. There are a good many round this neighborhood.”

“Do you mind telling me their names?”

“No. It is a very large family; their names begin with `S'.”

“Oh, the Smiths, I suppose?”

“No," the Christian replied, "a much larger family than the Smith family. They are the "sinner" family. The estate I represent is the kingdom of God; the inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away; and the heirs to it are the Sinners who are willing to own the family name and look to God for pardon.”

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26.

“If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." Rom. 8:17.

Will You Sing?

A beautiful song had just been sung by a young woman. The voice was as sweet as the words and music. It was exquisitely full and clear, and the song had been rendered with great pathos and power.

A devoted servant of Christ was present and he longed for her salvation. He knew that she was but living in pleasure and had not tasted the joys which were his.

Crossing over to her side he quietly remarked as he thanked her for her song, "You have a beautiful voice. But will you sing in eternity?”

It was a message from God to her. She could not forget it. Each song she sang served to remind her. At last, owning her need and wasted years, she was found a penitent in the presence of the Savior.

She now knew that she would sing in eternity. It would be at home in the Father's house with the Savior whose precious blood had cleansed her from her sins. She knew that He Himself would be her song as she joined the choir of the ransomed, saying: "Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood." Rev. 5:9.

Reader, will it be your happy portion to sing in the realms of the blest? Or will you be among those upon whom the sentence shall be passed: "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matt. 25:30.

The Peril of Delay

"There is nothing more perilous than trusting to another day; all the more as to be once excluded is to be forever excluded.”

"Whosoever believeth
on Him
(Christ Jesus)
shall receive
remission of sins.”

Acts 10:43.

December

Profit or Loss

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36, 37.

"To lose your wealth is much:
To lose your health is more;
To lose your soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.

“Not all the gold of all the world,
And all its wealth combined,
Could give relief, or comfort yield,
To one distracted mind.

"'Tis only to the precious blood
Of CHRIST the soul can fly.
There only can the sinner find
A flowing full supply.”

How Jack Was Made Anew

It was the last day of the old year. A few of the men on board ship had met weekly for prayer, and of late they had prayed earnestly for one of their number, one who had carried his dissipation and recklessness beyond all limits. Just before this sailor's watch on the last night of the year, one of his comrades said to him kindly: "Jack, we meet tonight to see the old year out. Shall we pray for you?" Jack turned round in a rage.

“Make me your subject, if you dare, and I'll knock your brains out," was his answer.

Overhead shone the stars, and far away gleamed the lights of the city. Jack was at his post and the parting words of his comrade rang in his ears.

“I wonder what they'll say," he thought at length after his anger had died away. "Well, if they mention all my sins they'll have enough to keep them busy!" One after another many occasions of sinful debauchery came up before him, scenes from which many of the participants had been called away to judgment. Rousing himself he tried to shake off these memories, but in vain.

“We'll pray for you," rang in his ears. All at once brief scriptures learned at his mother's knee from her almost forgotten Bible came up before him. Vainly he whistled and sang, and tried to think of everything else.

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die," said memory. "The wrath of God abideth on him." "Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy," came before him. At last he saw himself a sinner before an avenging, slighted God. Despairing and trembling, he realized his hopelessness.

“Oh, what a list of sins I've got scored against me! he groaned. "I can't ever get them chalked out.”

He saw himself lost and helpless, fast sinking in the waves of sin and shame. But as One of old appeared to Peter walking on the sea—the blessed "Son of man"—so across the cold waves of doubt, of anguish, and despair came the heavenly Comforter into the heart of this poor sailor. To his memory came the gentle words of the Savior: "Be not afraid; only believe.”

Alone at his post Jack fell upon his knees. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, he received Him into his heart, and was saved.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

The far-off city bells tolled out the dying of the year, and merry chimes announced the advent of the new as Jack, a "new creature" in Christ, arose from his knees. Grasping the hand of a comrade who soon came to relieve him, he said, with tears of joy, "Ned, I'm a new man in Christ Jesus.”

His conversion was indeed sincere, and God's Spirit perfected the good work begun in him. As he contemplated the abyss from which he had been snatched, he could not sufficiently praise God's goodness. Jack was unwearied in his efforts to show his late companions the folly of their ways; and more than one had reason to hold in grateful memory Jack's new year.

Will you also believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be made anew?

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

"A Great Way Off"

"Granny, hearing of your great age, I have come to see you.”

Granny grunted. She was evidently in no genial mood. Though the old lady was notorious in the village for her great age and her hard, almost ferocious heart, the newcomer, a stranger in the place, had ventured to visit her in the hope of reaching her soul for the sake of Him "who cutteth out rivers in the rocks" and whose "eye seeth every precious thing.”

Granny sat on her stool in the chimney corner. She offered no chair to her visitor. The mud hut itself was not inviting with such a cold reception, and the visitor received only silence for her few remarks. Finally, after saying she would call again, she heard the surly "You can if you like!" From this unfriendly atmosphere the kindly intentioned visitor departed.

“Granny, I have such good news for you!”

There was her visitor again. Granny looked surprised. It was not often "good news" came to her. She offered her visitor a stool this time. Her caller sat down and without comment read the 15th chapter of Luke's gospel. She read on, and by-and-by looking up she saw tears streaming down the dark, withered old cheeks. Still she read on.

“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Granny's great, hard fist came down upon her knee with a heavy thud. "I never heerd the likes o' that afore.”

Reader, have you? Have you ever heard of such love, such wisdom?

“While he was yet a great way off.”

That watching father knew at once, in spite of the rags and the "hang-dog" step, who it was. Aye! God knows you, dear one, whether starting off with the gay, quick step of independence to the "far country," or returning, weary and wretched, having "spent all.”

“And had compassion and ran.”

He did not sit still to see if he was really penitent or not—to prove him. No, he "ran." No sin-burdened soul crying out for salvation has ever run as swiftly to God the Father as He runs Himself. Are you going toward Him, slowly, lingeringly, with the "buts" and "ifs" of doubt and fear within your heart? Be assured you will soon meet Him, for He is ever "seeking to save.”

“And fell on his neck.”

He did not give him time to finish his speech. Love shut his mouth. God knows our worst. He sees the heart with omniscient eyes; He sees the soul black with the sin that cost the blood of His precious Son; and He knows what that sin must bring: "The wages of sin is death.”

Had the father waited for the lad to finish speaking he would only have proved how little he knew the father's heart.

"And kissed him.”

With those arms about his neck and those kisses on his cheek, do you think any "buts" and "ifs" remained? When the soul has no plea but "I have sinned," then God's love freely flows out. No matter the rags and the plight. It was the returning heart the father wanted. No matter what or who you are, dear reader, it is yourself God wants, just as you are.

Granny was saved and changed. She saw Christ in His beauty revealing the love of God. She had the joy of sitting at His feet, and then went in her great old age to be with Him whom she had kept out of her life so long.

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

A Volume in a Line.

Leigh Richmond, author of "The Annals of the Poor," was urged to write in an album, "Only two lines," was the plea.

He wrote—"Can 'two lines' teach a lesson from above?

Yes! one shall speak a volume:

God is love!”

Wonderful words indeed! The God we have sinned against—the God of whose glory we come short—"God is love." He loved us while we were far away from Him.

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

He has thus shown Himself to be a Savior-God, whose will it is that all men should be saved.

“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezek. 33:11.

Peace.

Have you peace with God? How is it to be obtained? By faith in the Son of God. Man is God's enemy, but God is not man's enemy.

Peace with God has been made by the blood of the cross of His own dear Son, Jesus. (Col. 1:20.) Now God in infinite grace offers peace to all through Him. (Eph. 2:17.)

Do you believe on the Son of God? Can you, in the presence of Him who is the Searcher of hearts, honestly reply, "I do"? Then you are included in the precious words of Rom. 4:25—"Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.

BUT

“The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is NO PEACE,

saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:20, 21.

Many reform (outwardly, not inwardly); turn over new leaves (and blot them with sin immediately); make good resolutions (and break them almost as soon as made). They cry, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Jer. 6:14.

This FALSE PEACE is Satan's snare.

Others believe in the Savior; but they also believe that their final acceptance of Him and entry into glory depend upon their clinging to Him, holding on, enduring, working for salvation. Thus, being self-occupied, and adding self to Christ, they never get beyond a

PARTIAL PEACE.

The believer who ceases from his own righteousness and utterly mistrusts self, takes God at His word. He rests on the finished work of Christ and knows and enjoys

TRUE PEACE WITH GOD.

"Oh, the peace forever flowing
From God's thoughts of His own Son!
Oh, the peace of simply knowing
On the cross that all was done.”

How Does Your Case Stand?

A client eagerly asked his lawyer: "Will my case be called today? Are you sure that nothing is left undone? If judgment is pronounced against me, I am a ruined man.”

Dear reader, if your case were called today for final judgment, is there nothing left undone? Has the blood of atonement been applied to your soul? Are you prepared to meet God? Does the Spirit of God witness with your spirit that you are a child of God? Are you saved, adopted into the divine family, truly regenerate, seeking to walk pleasing to the Lord in all your ways? Has the Advocate with the Father the materials with which He can plead successfully your case?

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

"Redeeming the Time"

As we come once more to the end of a year, it is well to consider how we have spent it. Although we cannot undo what is past, yet as we view it in retrospect, may it turn us to seek the Lord, to be cast upon Him for life eternal; and then be kept for His glory in spending our remaining time for Him.

"All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb. 4:13.

"Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.

'"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

How solemn is our path down here in view of these scriptures! May every one of us be given to go on in our journey through this life with a deeper sense in our souls of three solemn facts.

First: we cannot hide anything from God.

Second: we must give account to Him.

Third: we shall receive for the things done in the body, whether they be good or bad.

On the other hand what a happy path when we walk as under His eye! Truly there is no real happiness apart from this. The Lord who has bought us at such a price—His own precious life's blood—is surely worthy of our whole hearts. If He has our hearts, He will have our time, our strength, our all.

"Were the whole realm of nature ours,
That were an offering far too small;
Love that transcends our highest powers
Demands our soul, our life, our all.”

May we respond to Him for His wonderful love for us. Our time here is short, and it is here we have the privilege of glorifying Him before men.

The Voice of the Lord

Some years ago two of the Lord's servants were engaged in gospel work. At first the work went slowly for in the locality where these men were laboring for the Lord there was much ignorance as to the truths of the Word. The natives had their own strong views as to what was right and wrong, and they were not easily moved.

But when God begins to work, who can stay His hand? Here, from among the hills and glens, He chose to gather out a people for Himself. One and another were turned to the Lord, as they came under the sound of the blessed gospel of the grace of God. The whole district began to be astir as word of these wonderful conversions spread.

At one of the farm houses lived a young woman who determined to have nothing to do with what was going on. She marveled that sensible people were being so taken up with these things.

Soon there came an evening when all her family planned to go to the preaching. She was afraid to go so she decided she would stay at home. After the rest had all gone, she found that she was afraid to stay alone. Throwing a shawl over her head she set out to go where the people were assembling to listen to the good news of salvation. Stopping some distance away, she took her stand behind a large tree where she was hidden from the others.

The speaker was carrying his hearers back to the Garden of Eden. There where Adam and Eve were seeking to hide from God among the trees the voice of the Lord came to them: "Where art thou?”

Ah, this was the voice of the Lord to our fugitive, too. She felt her hiding place had been discovered, and tremblingly she went forward. As the preacher continued, she listened with earnest attention. Now her soul was stirred; the plowshare had entered, and was doing its work. There and then she was turned from darkness unto light, and went home rejoicing in Jesus her Savior.

How is it with you, my dear reader? Has the voice of the Lord, "Where art thou?" reached your soul? Do not try to hide from His all-seeing eye. The darkness and the light are alike to Him. Yes, "the night shineth as the day" and the "darkness hides not from Him.”

“There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed," so you cannot hide your sins from Him. Even "the counsels of the heart" will be manifest and "the secrets of men" will be judged. Come then. Come as you are, in your sins.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

May the voice of the Lord reach you, and may you no longer flee from Him. Heed now His blessed invitation, “Come unto Me." Matt. 11:28.

There Is My Paradise

Some years ago a Christian was visiting a friend of his who owned a beautiful estate. He happened to say something to his friend about paradise. The property owner smiled at the remark, and pointing out of the window toward his extensive estate said: "There is my paradise!”

The prospect was certainly charming. There were vineyards and meadows, fringed with blooming orchard trees stretching away in the sunlight, and sloping by a gentle declivity right down to the margin of a blue lake. On the farther shore a chain of beautiful hills rose into view. Higher still, in the far off azure, towered the sun-clad summits of the mountains. A glorious picture!

A few years later the Christian again visited his friend. The lake was dancing in the sunshine as smilingly as ever, and the trees wore the same emerald hue. But what about the owner of that vast and beautiful estate who but a short time before had gloried in it as his paradise?

Poor man! He sat in his room lonely, broken-hearted, brooding dismally over his sorrows. His beloved son had been drowned before his eyes in that lake. His daughter had married unhappily. An incurable disease had laid hold of him, and he, the once proud owner of his paradise, was slowly dying.

What a change in a few short years! Death had entered the paradise of the man who had boasted in his possessions. Sorrow had blighted the scene. And now bitterness was filling his soul. His joy was gone. That of which he once could proudly boast could now afford him no solace. He was still the possessor of houses and land, but this would not hold back that last dread enemy, Death. This would not give him back the lost son. This would not set the loved daughter free from an unhappy yoke. Is it any wonder that he dismally brooded as he sat in his arm-chair? He, though rich in houses and lands, had nothing to cheer his last days on earth and no hope for eternity.

Very different was his case from that of a poor old, man. He sat shaking with palsy before the fading embers of the fire. Being asked what he was doing, he said, "Waiting, sir.”

“Waiting for what?”

“For the coming of my Lord.”

“Why do you wait for His coming?”

“Because, sir, I expect great things then. He has promised that when. He shall appear, He will give a crown of righteousness to all that love Him. And I love Him, sir.”

Poor in this world's goods, he had learned that in this scene "all is vanity, and vexation of spirit." Here one finds nothing of lasting happiness apart from the blessed hope of Christ's coming.

“Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Peter 1:7, 8.

Yes, poor in this world but rich in faith! He knew he was about to enter upon an inheritance that would never be taken from him, and that very soon he would be with his blessed Lord in an eternal paradise!

Dear reader, where is your paradise?

"Whosoever believeth
that Jesus is
the Christ
is born of God.”

1 John 5:1.

Echoes of Grace: 1957

Table of Contents

January

Just When Thou Wilt

Ever the Same

Wait

Qualification for Salvation

The Delayed Train

"I Am Saved"

The Robin's Message

The Gospel by Which We Are Saved

No Fear of Death

The Little One

February

What Think Ye of Christ?

The Unfailing Remedy

Perishing!

The Only Way

What Are You Seeking?

A Skeptic Saved

Phil. 3:20

"If Then, Why Not Now?"

"God Is His Own Interpreter."

"All in All"

"Are You Ready?"

March

The Son of God

O Miki San

True Faith

Eighteen Today

Nurture and Admonition

Mutual Agreement

Trying to Enter the Wrong Door

Justified by Grace

The Hottentot's Prayer

April

That Name

Money

Insurance

What Are You?

Not an Uncommon Mistake

God's Gracious Grace

Talking Business

Divine Love

Are All Men God's Children?

Calvary

Profit and Loss

Peace!

Joy

"What Am I to Believe?"

Extract

May

"What Must I Do to Be Saved?"

Roosevelt's Mistake

Far Too Easy a Way”

Jesus Bore My Sins

To Heaven in a Jiffy”

Take Me As I Am”

An Arrow from God's Quiver

Not Death, but Life

"What Think Ye of Christ?"

The Source of Happiness

June

Calvary

Pioneer Preaching

A Pipe Lighter

Peace Is Made

The Faith That Saves

Joy and Peace in Believing

"The Letter"

Not Able to Buy

"Healed by His Stripes"

Kept by the Power of God

The Wrath to Come

July

The Pathway

The Mark

Extract: Worldliness

The Best Thing in the World

A Branch of Flowers