Echoes of Grace: 1964

The gospel message had gone forth and the preacher had commended all to God. As he was leaving the platform, a man stood up at the back of the hall and asked if he might give his testimony to the saving power of the gospel of Christ. In simple, touching words he told the story of his life.

"I was brought up in a home where the name of God was never heard except in blasphemy. Strong drink was my portion from infancy. I learned to swear and was encouraged to steal while I was but a little child. My playground as a boy were the most notorious parts of the city. There is not a lane, not any alley that I do not know. I was only once in a place where the gospel is preached before the night God reached me with His Word.

"A poor working man had a group of us ragged boys to meet in his mother's house. He taught us to read and to repeat some verses of the Bible. For that I am deeply grateful, and honor that godly man for his loving service. Another Christian man who preached the gospel on the street in summer sunshine and in winter snows told me I would either end my days on the scaffold, or in preaching Christ. I believe if I had been left to myself, and to follow on in the ways of sin and crime as I had begun, the gallows would have got me. But the grace of God reached down to me. He plucked me as a brand from the burning. He saved me, and I can at least tell to others what His gospel has done for me.

"I was converted on a Sunday night. I had been drinking and carousing all Saturday night. I was feeling very miserable—sick, cold, and disgusted with life when I crept into the hall after the meeting had begun.

I thought the preacher must have been told all about me, for he described my wayward course, and showed that it ended in hell! Then he told of God's love to sinners and how Christ came 'to seek and to save that which was lost.' Luke 19:10.

" `And,' said the preacher, raising his voice, `Jesus can save the worst, even the devil's castaways.'

"That's me,' I said, half aloud.

"I believe God's Spirit fixed that word on my soul. It was the first time I ever saw myself as a lost sinner and it was the first glimpse I ever had of a God of mercy. I used to dread God. I believe all sinners do. But when I learned that He `is rich in mercy' (Eph. 2:4), and that He loves His enemies, even the devil's castaways, my heart was softened, and I longed to know His love for myself.

"After the meeting I had a long talk with some Christian men there. Although I did not `profess' to yield myself to Christ, I have no doubt it was then that the love of God reached my heart. I knew that only in His Son could I find a Savior; and in my heart I knew He died for me.

"Out into the starry night I walked with a new hope in me. I could not tell what it was then, but I know now it was God's love being shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 5:5.) I was born again! Christ was mine, and I was His. He has been my Keeper all these years, and I can say to the glory of His grace that He is `mighty to save.'”

"Ile is able also to save them to the uttermost that come 'unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.

Bread Upon the Waters?

It was years ago—1874, in fact that—Dwight L. Moody and his song leader, Ira D. Sankey, were holding evangelistic meetings at Burdett Road in London. One Saturday afternoon they decided to drive out to Epping Forest where a gypsy band was encamped. Two brothers of the group had already been converted at the meeting in the city and, like every newly saved soul, desired the same blessing for their brethren. So they had asked Mr. Moody and his singer to come for this visit. These two devoted servants of God were delighted to avail themselves of this unique opportunity and looked forward with pleasure to such an outing.

It was a beautiful afternoon for a drive, and Mr. Sankey in particular enjoyed the warm sunshine and fresh air of the English countryside. Arriving at the camp, they found a large company of these swarthy nomads living there, some in tents pitched among the trees and some in caravans. These were quickly emptied of their inhabitants who gathered around and listened intently to Mr. Moody's sweet story of the Stranger of Galilee. Mr. Sankey also took part in this informal out-door meeting, "singing the gospel" without benefit of musical accompaniment.

The service over, the two men returned to their carriage and prepared to depart. Several of the gypsies accompanied them to the vehicle, loath to bid them farewell. Among the group were a few bright-eyed lads, one of whom stood close to the carriage and near Mr. Sankey. As a good-bye gesture, the singer placed his hand on the boy's head with the expressed wish that the Lord might use him to witness for Christ.

Fifteen years later, the great evangelist-singer, Gypsy Smith, made his first visit to America. When he was in Brooklyn, Mr. Ira D. Sankey was his delighted host. One afternoon he took his guest for a drive through Prospect Park. To his surprise, his visitor asked him: "Do you remember driving out from London one day to a gypsy camp at Epping Forest?”

"Indeed I do," Mr. Sankey responded.

"Maybe you do not remember a little gypsy boy standing by your carriage," he said. "You put your hand on his head as though in blessing, saying that you hoped he would become a faithful witness for Christ.”

"Oh I do remember it well.”

"I am that boy," said Gypsy Smith. "That was the beginning of days for me. I did give myself to the Savior and have sought to be a true testimony for Him.”

Mr. Sankey was greatly amazed to learn that this renowned evangelist and great gospel singer, of whom he had heard much and greatly admired, was the little boy whom he had met in the gypsy camp. Truly God had heard his heart's desire of fifteen years before, and had made a mighty witness for Himself of the gypsy boy. Once more was proved the truth of Ecclesiastes 11:1—

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

Abide With Me”

Henry Francis Lyte was tired—so tired! For some time past he had realized that, though only fifty-four years old, the twenty strenuous years of his ministry to a lowly congregation in Devonshire, England, had taken sad toll on his health.

How he loved his little flock! In their many vicissitudes over the years he had partaken as a father with his children. In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, he had tried to be ever present, ever faithful, soothing, comforting, exhorting as seemed needful for them.

And now, in 1847, Henry Francis Lyte was tired, and he was sick and growing old. Maybe, he thought, if he could spend the coming winter in the balmy sunshine of southern Italy, the Lord might use the rest and the warmth to invigorate again the weary body. Yes, he would go before the cold and dampness of winter set in.

On a Sunday in September, weakened by an early cold and against the advice of his friends, the aging minister preached a farewell sermon to his beloved people. In the evening of that same day, as he sat in meditation, he penned the words to a hymn that has comforted and cheered many others down through the years. Who would not say but that they were the heart's cry of Henry Francis Lyte? A few weeks later he went to abide forever with the Lord he loved.

"Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.”

Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, another devoted pastor, has related an instance he was permitted to witness of the power of this hymn. He has remarked, "During my pastorate I often got better sermons from my people than I ever gave them.

"A most touching and sublime scene I once witnessed in the death chamber of a woman of the nobility, who was also a dear child of God. She had suffered excruciatingly for many months from an incurable malady; but those who loved and sought to serve her and to ease in some small degree the wracking pain, were amazed and humbled by her submission and patience throughout the trying ordeal.

"Finally it was apparent that the end was near, and soon the bright spirit would be released from the tortured body. As she grew weaker, she seemed to catch a foregleam of the glory that awaited her. In the solemn quietude of that room her faint whisper fell clearly on the ears of loved ones. With trembling tones she began to recite Henry Lyte's matchless hymn. One line after another was feebly repeated until, with a rapturous sweetness, she exclaimed:

" 'Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee!
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.'

"As I came away from that room which had been as the vestibule of heaven, I understood how the 'light of eventide' in a Christian life could be only a flashing forth of the overwhelming glory that plays forever around the throne of God.”

"He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psa. 116:15.

A Happy Young Man

"How are you getting on today, Tom? Are you still happy in the Lord?" I asked this of a young man who had been converted at our meetings.

"Thanks be to God, I am happy, sir; but Satan has been at me, as you said he would be. He tries to make me doubt as to whether I am really saved or not.”

"Well, Tom, I hope you realize that there are only two sources of doubts:—Satan, and your wretched heart. You can't trust either one. Never will you get one doubt from Jesus and God's Word. But tell me, when Satan attacks and causes doubt, with what do you meet him, on these occasions, Tom?" I asked this desiring to know on what he rested for his salvation and the assurance of it.

The young man drew from his breast pocket a Testament, and opening it said: "I just gave him the verses through which I was led to the Savior that night in the old schoolhouse. The first is Rom. 5:8: `While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us'; and the other, John 3:36: 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.' When I read these aloud my soul is happy and Satan gives over.”

These are the true weapons of warfare wherewith to meet the Great Adversary. He cannot stand them: the work of Christ as the cause and rock of salvation, the Word of God the ground of its assurance.

But like that young man, you must first discover your need of Christ, and then receive Him as your personal Savior. Thereafter you can stand firm on the Rock, and thus meet the adversary, Satan, with the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit.

"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 is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

"Where Is Judgment?"

The door of the book store opened slowly and a shabbily dressed man entered. He had been looking with deep interest at the window display where many copies of the Scriptures and books relating to them were arranged. He walked directly to the rear of the store where the shopkeeper sat at his desk, and said: "I live in Denton, but I was told that here in this city is a place where poor people may obtain a Bible free. Is this it?”

"What do you want with a Bible?" asked the bookseller.

"I want to read it," quietly replied the man. "I have owned only a New Testament before, and now I want a whole Bible.”

"Do you pray for God's help when you read it?" Thus the proprietor questioned the man. "Do you realize it is the Word of God, and that you need the Holy Spirit to lead you to a right understanding of it?”

The man discerned that the bookseller was interested in his soul, and he hastened to assure him that he had not read his New Testament in vain by saying: "Sir, I have been a professor of religion for years.”

"Ah, but that does not necessarily mean that you are a child of God," insisted the storekeeper. "I am anxious to know if you are saved?”

"Well, I hope so," was the hesitating reply; "but you know none of us can be sure of that while here." "Are you sure of judgment?”

"Oh, yes; I am sure of that!" And the man began to look very earnest.

"Well, then I ask you," continued his questioner, "on which side of you is the judgment—before or behind?”

Quickly he replied: "It is before me, of course, for the judgment is only at the end of the world. That hasn't come yet.”

"How do you expect to escape it?”

"Well, I am trying earnestly to live a Christian life. I am doing what good I can in my poor way, and hoping in that way to be found worthy to have eternal life.”

"Now, let me tell you something," said the bookseller. "I also believe in judgment at the end of the world. No, it has not come yet; but I can also tell you that judgment is behind me! I am sure of it for Hebrews 9:27 says: 'It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.'

"Then by God's Word I found that I was 'condemned already!' He that believeth not is condemned already.' John 3:18.

"If I waited for judgment at the 'great white throne' I would be forever condemned—eternally lost. Then in that same Book I read that Christ died for sinners. I saw that it was for my very sins that Jesus had suffered God's judgment upon the cross. He, 'the Just' had suffered 'for the unjust'—for me. Besides, He was no more on the cross, nor in the grave, but at God's right hand up there in the glory. By the sacrifice of Himself I was forever free, if I accepted Him as my Substitute.

With what joy I can say: 'Thank God! Judgment is past for me since Jesus has passed through it in my stead!'”

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

The man's eyes now shone with joy. Taking hold of the bookseller's arm with both hands he said earnestly: "I see it! He bore my judgment too.”

He had found a new treasure, and the proprietor of the store was happy in the knowledge that the "whole" Bible he gave him had new value to one who was indeed past judgment.

Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
"Buried" in His grave we lay,
One with Him in resurrection,
Now "in Him" in heaven's bright day.

This Very Moment

Soul, whoever you may be, look at your watch or at the clock. Whatever the hour, whatever the moment indicated thereon, you can say: "This very moment I am in Christ or in my sins!”

Soul, you are either saved or lost, destined either for heaven or for hell. You may not believe it; you may very much dislike to think of it and do your best to speedily forget it. Nevertheless it is true. Ahead lies "everlasting punishment" or "life eternal.”

"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment." Matt. 25:46.

O soul, This very moment, God has power to call you into His presence. He can at this very moment command cold, cruel death, the king of terrors, to cut you down, a worthless cumberer of the ground. What would then be your destiny?

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

At this very moment, O soul, God's record is being made in that book from which every sinner is to be judged. That record is true and in it God records your words, your deeds, and the very thoughts and intents of your heart. Will you welcome their display in that day? Ah, no!

"He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world." Acts 17:31.

Soul, this very moment is even now passed into eternity to witness against you. Are you still in your sins, uncleansed by the precious blood of Christ? THINK! This very moment He longs to rescue you from the pit of despair and to save you for a glorious eternity with Him in heaven. Then, "why will ye die?”

This very moment, I pray you, yield your heart, your life, your soul to Christ. This very moment you are hardening or softening under the weight of these solemn facts. Are you turning to or from our Lord Jesus Christ? This very moment may determine your eternal destiny. Eternal hell or eternal heaven hangs upon your own decision.

May the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and by His love, at this very moment turn your rebel will to Himself.

"Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezek. 33:11.

Just to Please Jesus

Paying a visit to sorrow's abode,
Helping a burdened one o'er a rough road;
This sweet thought making duty delight,
Turning the shadows of gloom into light—
Just to please Jesus.

Staying at home with the children, perchance,
Watching the sick one's oft-wandering glance;
Sweeping and dusting, and tidying home
Deeds not recorded 'neath Fame's painted dome—
Just to please Jesus.

Turning the eye from the vanity show,
Sparkling and flashing with glittering glow;
Turning away to the quiet and calm,
Singing in secret a thanksgiving psalm, —
Just to please Jesus.

Swinging the hammer if duty demands,
Plying the needle with quick, willing hands;
Using the pencil, the pick, or the pen,
Serving my Lord and my own fellowmen—
Just to please Jesus.

Giving a smile or taking a hand,
Leading lost feet to a far better Land;
Doing and thinking, and hearing and seeing,
Eating and drinking and working and being—
Just to please Jesus.

"Life's Aim."

"For me to live is—"? Answer, friend, what is it?
For some, 'tis fame;
For others, sin, or wealth or passing pleasure;
Where is man's heart, there is his one chief treasure.

`Tis well while there is time, to weigh and measure
Thy life's real aim;
For in the Great Assize when God shall visit,
In praise or blame,
"According to their works," what shall it say—

The answer of thy life, in that last day?
For thee, will death be loss,
Eternal shame?
Or gain— through Calvary's cross
And Jesus' name?

"For me to live is —"?
"To die is—"?
What shall the answer be?

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Phil. 1:21

"That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the L or d Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Rom. 10:9.

February

God Speaks

During World War 1 soldiers were being moved about pretty rapidly. In a town in the south of France a regiment had halted briefly for a period of rest. A Bible colporteur was there too, carrying on his work of distributing and selling small Bibles. He was surrounded by a group of soldiers, among them a young man of open and intelligent countenance. This soldier stepped forward, and said to the colporteur in a cordial manner, that he was touched by his serious and affectionate exhortations. "They have convinced me," he added, "of my need of possessing the Word of God. But, oh!" he continued with a deep sigh, "I have not a cent to purchase it with.”

"That need not matter," the colporteur at once replied. "If you have such a desire to possess God's Word I shall not allow you to go away without giving you one, even though I pay for it myself.”

Taking a small book from his packet, the Christian handed it with pleasure to the soldier. But to his surprise and sorrow, scarcely had the rogue got possession of the book, when he burst into a loud laugh. "You are done for, my fine fellow!" he cried. "I am jester Number One, of the regiment. It is plain as the nose on your face that I am not a bad hand at fooling you. When I am dead, do you see, my dear friend,—”

Here the colporteur interrupted him by exclaiming:... "After death, poor miserable man, the judgment will follow; and what a judgment!... 'Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.'" Matt. 25:41.

For a moment the young soldier appeared to be silenced; but his levity quickly returned, and he called out to the others: "I verily believe that the old boy wants to insult me.”

"Give me back the book," exclaimed the colporteur with earnestness.

"Oh, no, old fellow," replied the soldier. "Whatever was given was given willingly, so I shall keep it. It may be of use to me. Isn't this what you wish? It will serve nicely to light my pipe. Much obliged to you!”

The young man departed hastily, though not before hearing this serious warning: "Take care what you are about, for 'it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.'" Heb. 10:31.

The poor colporteur went away, his heart heavy with deep sorrow and intense compassion for the young man for whom he cried in prayer to God: "Lord, pardon him! O God, cause Thy Word to penetrate into the depths of his conscience. Convert him—save him!”

After several months in which he continued to distribute his Bibles, our colporteur stopped in a small village and went in to an inn to rest. He had scarcely entered the house when he saw that the landlady, an elderly woman, was in deep distress. Our friend inquired sympathetically its cause, and she replied: "Only a few hours ago my son—the happiness of my life—was placed in the grave." Her voice failed in agonizing sobs.

"Do not grieve so, my good woman," said the colporteur. "Let me read to you a few lines out of a book which I never open without finding some comfort there.”

He drew from his pocket a small New Testament, and read Heb. 4:14-16. On hearing this passage, the woman snatched the Book out of his hand, and exclaimed: "You wicked man! You have taken from me the most precious thing I have remaining of him.”

Then casting a hasty glance at the book, the poor woman dropped it on the floor in her astonishment. "No, this is not my precious book," she said. "Mine is torn. Forgive me.”

"Does your book resemble mine?" he asked. "And is it a legacy from your dear son?”

"Yes," she said, "and I praise God for it.”

She left the room, soon returning with a New Testament of the same version and size as the one the colporteur had. But it was not complete. Many pages had been torn out of it. The colporteur opened the little Bible and read: "Received from a Bible man in France. Despised at first, and badly misused, but afterward read, believed, and loved as the instrument of my salvation. J. L., fusileer of the 4th Company of the 6th regiment of the line.”

The colporteur remembered, after a little thought, the young mocker to whom he had given such a solemn warning of the judgment to come. And he remembered his earnest prayer for him. Now he could lift up his heart in praise to God, for giving him evidence from the young man's own mother that he had departed in peace. He had told her that, on the eve of battle, serious thoughts came into his mind. The words of the man whom he had tricked came back like a thunder-clap: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

"What if tomorrow I should fall into His hands!” he in an agony exclaimed.

This haunted him during the night, and as soon as it was light he took out the book to read it. What was his astonishment, when, instead of the threats which he expected to read in its pages, he found appeals such as: "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved!" John 3:17.

"By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8.

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

This last verse deeply affected him, and he kept it in his heart as he faced the enemy, and received his death wound.

Though on the verge of the grave, the badly injured soldier recovered sufficiently to be sent home. Ere he breathed his last he rejoiced his mother's heart with the news and evidence of his eternal salvation. Even in her sorrow the bereaved mother was comforted in knowing that her boy had found rest and peace in the Savior's love.

The Supreme Test

"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 in your view—
As He is beloved or not,
So God is disposed to you,
And mercy or wrath is your lot.

Eight Old Men

He was a wicked old man, a profligate and abandoned character. Why should he go to church? But he did, and at God's appointed time.

As the old man seated himself, the scripture was being read. The chapter chosen was Gen. 5. It is not, if judged by human standards, one of the most interesting portions of the Word of God; nor would one have considered it likely to be used of the Spirit of God to the blessing of this man's soul.

"This is the book of the generations of Adam," the preacher read, and continued through the genealogy down to Noah. One could well wonder, "What can be of interest in those dry names and ages?" Even an evangelist might find it difficult to preach the gospel from such a scripture. Yet from all eternity had it been ordained, in the counsels of the God of grace, that this apparently mere historical record should be the means of bringing everlasting blessing to the soul of a poor profligate.

One solemn phrase occurs eight times over in the chapter and it was used of God to effect a blessed result. This phrase consists of only three words, and three shorter words would be hard to find together anywhere in your Bible. They are these—"And he died.”

Eight old men are named in the chapter. One of them lived to be 777 years old, more than ten times as old as men of full age now. But the end came—"and he died." That was Lamech, the son of the oldest man that ever lived, and the grandson of a man who never died at all! But Lamech "died.”

Another of these old men, Mahalaleel, lived to be 895 years of age; yet we read, "and he died.”

Enos, his grandfather, lived ten years longer, but "he died.”

His son surpassed him by five years. This was Cainan, but he also "died." Cainan was a most remarkable man, for about 250 years before his death he could have said, what no man but he could ever say, that he was the great-grandson of a man who had never been born (Adam, whom God created), and that his own great-grandson had gone to heaven, but had never died (Enoch, whom God translated). But again, "he died.”

Seth, the brother of Cain and Abel, lived no less than 912 years, "and he died.”

Adam lived 930 years. Poor Adam had no childhood and no youth; and it would appear that the years of his manhood were therefore more in number than those of any man who ever lived. Yet of him also it is recorded, "and he died." Physical death had been pronounced of God to be the direct result, both to him and to his seed, of the sin he had committed. How sad that this chapter is full of the testimony which each death afforded of the truth of the divine verdict and the reality of the divine penalty upon man's transgression!

Jared, the father of Enoch, lived to be 962, "and he died." But Methuselah, Enoch's son, lived to the unprecedented age of 969, lived to be nearly a thousand years old! Why, if a man were to live to such an age now, men would say he would live forever; but God never forgets. "It is appointed unto men once to die," and even Methuselah was no exception; for we read, "and he died.”

Eight times the solemn words fell upon the ears of this poor lost man: "and he died." Although these eight old men lived on an average over 900 years each, they died, every one of them; and he who listened to the brief narrative of their lives and their death was deeply impressed that he also must die. The Spirit of God drove these three words eight times over into his soul. He could never forget them or escape them. His conscience was stirred to its depths. The plowshare penetrated his soul; and He who made those furrows did not forget to pour the oil and the wine of His richest, sweetest grace into the gaping wounds He had made.

Thus a Savior's precious love and a Savior's precious blood were apprehended by faith. The old sinner's heart melted under the discovery that God in His grace had given His Son to die, on behalf of those who were on the highway to an eternal hell; and that His Son the blessed Man Jesus Christ, agonizing under the terrible load of our sins, gave His life and His life's blood for our redemption, the Just One for the unjust to bring us to God.

This blessed discovery gave peace to his aroused and troubled conscience, the work done upon the cross was so precious and so complete. And He who did that work became thenceforth an object, a worthy, blessed object, for the present and eternal rest for his heart.

"As 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.

No Tomorrow

The doctor was puzzled. He hardly knew what to tell his patient. I knew I was very sick, and I felt sorry for the doctor's indecision. I decided I would relieve him of his difficulty by inquiring: "What do you think of me, doctor? Tell me honestly if you think I am going to die. I must know.”

With some hesitation the doctor replied: "To tell you the honest truth, unless you take a decided turn for the better within the next hour, I fear you cannot last more than two or three hours.”

"Thank you," I answered. "Now, kindly leave me by myself. Come back to see me at the end of the hour.”

I was very ill; and I was in a foreign land, far from home and loved ones. From my earliest years I had determined to enjoy life in my own way. As for my soul and eternity, I had resolved that I would cry to God for mercy on my death-bed. "And now," I said to myself after the doctor had left, "the time has come at last. It came sooner than I thought, and I have only an hour or two to cry for mercy.”

I lay quiet for a few moments to compose myself. A quarter of an hour slipped by. My thoughts flew to my home, and I wondered how those I loved would hear of my death.

I again glanced at the clock. Only twenty minutes left! How did one cry to God for mercy? What words should I use?

Strength was failing. I could not collect my thoughts. Making a desperate effort I pulled myself on to my knees. With stammering lips I said: "Our Father which art—." But I could go no further. Helpless, wordless, I fell down upon my bed in anguish. What a realization! On my death-bed it was too late to cry to God for mercy. I sank into oblivion.

It pleased God to spare my life. He brought me back from the brink of death, and gave me another opportunity to learn of Him in the land of the living. Some time later I heard the gospel of free and full salvation. The preacher pointed out that, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

For the first time I learned that if one came as a sinner to Christ, believing in Him, trusting in Him, that very moment Christ would receive him. However vile, however sinful he might be, a gracious, merciful God would give him everlasting life.

"'Now'" cried the preacher, "'is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.' 2 Cor. 6:2. There is no promise of salvation tomorrow—there may be no tomorrow!”

It flashed across my mind, "What folly to delay!" Through grace I came to Christ, and as a guilty lost sinner I accepted His wondrous offer of mercy. I became a new creature in Christ Jesus. Since that moment I have been blessed with the assurance of my perfect safety for time and eternity.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1.

Friend, you also may have this great salvation. God offers it to you. Will you not take it now?

"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.

A Friendly Neighbor

Some years ago there lived in our town two men who had become neighbors. One of them who had been living some years there invited his new neighbor to supper in order to become better acquainted with him. The older resident was a Christian and delighted in leading others into blessing.

During the meal the conversation ran on different subjects. As they arose from the table, the Christian asked his neighbor if he believed on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The neighbor replied: "Why yes, certainly I believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You don't think I'm a heathen, do you?”

"Well, you can rejoice in the knowledge of your salvation; you are saved?”

At this question the neighbor answered, rather indignantly: "No one can tell that while in this world—not till we pass out of it shall we know for sure. I have heard of people who said they knew! I look upon that as the height of presumption and downright cant. All we have to do is the best we can, and God will do the rest.”

"Oh, then you make God a liar," the Christian answered.

"Where do you get that?" asked the neighbor in astonishment.

The Christian, taking his Bible, read 1 John 5:10: "He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar." Then reading on down to the 13th verse, he came to these words: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God," (stretching out his hand toward his friend as identifying him with the confession he had made, he read on), "that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”

The neighbor stood for a moment apparently amazed. Then, very deliberately and with much earnestness he stated: "Well, I am saved now!”

Thus in an instant God's Word had sent light into his soul, and he received assurance of salvation.

"The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.”

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God." 1 Peter 1:23.

He afterward said: "These words bring me into the very presence of God—enclose me, so to express it, within a fence of pure and unadulterated truth from which there is no escape—God's own words. I will not, I dare not, withdraw the confession I have made of believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; and now I dare not say I have not eternal life, for I would thus 'make God a liar' as declared in 1 John 5:10. That I surely fear to do. Therefore there is no alternative but to accept God's gracious gift, eternal life, the assurance of which He has placed on record in that wonderful eleventh verse of this wonderful chapter.”

Reader, do you believe God?

"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." John 3:36.

It Cost the World

"I would give the world to have your happy outlook," said a rich man to a Christian lady.

"That's just what it cost me," she replied. "I gave the world for Christ, and my outlook is blest eternally with Him.”

The Bible says that we are enemies of God, if we are friends with the world (James 4:4). In 1 John 2:15 we read: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

When we come to Jesus, we should gladly give up all those things which He hates, and He hates the wicked sin of the world. But in return He gives us everlasting life, and more happiness than the world could ever offer.

"Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." Psa. 2:12.

One Life

Only one life, 'twill soon be past;
Only new life in Christ will last.

Without Christ

What will you do without Him?
When death has sealed your fate,
And the word of doom tolls through your soul,
That terrible "Too late!”
WHAT will you do without Him
When the Great White Throne you face,
And speechless you stand before Him,
A rejector of His grace?

Come and Rest

(Matt. 11:28.)

Oh, soul perplexed with doubt and fears
Of future woes and wasted years,
Remember One, who can restore
Those blasted years, who looks before
And plans and loves; His way is best,
"Come unto Me—I'll give you rest.”

When sorrow threatens to submerge,
And life is like a dreary dirge,
Forsaken and alone you stand
And no one lends a helping hand;
Just lean your head on Jesus' breast,—
"Come unto Me—I'll give you rest.”

When Satan's darts fall thick and fast,
The nerves unstrung, and strength is past;
When brightest day seems darkest night,
And on the life a bitter blight;
Oh, listen then, 'tis His behest,—
"Come unto Me—I'll give you rest.”

In every sorrow, every grief,
In every fear and unbelief,
One finds in Him a cure complete,
A peaceful home, a safe retreat;
So lean, and love, be fully blessed—"
Come unto Me—I'll give you rest.”

"CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.”

1 Tim. 1:15.

"BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM.”

Rev. 1:7.

March

Only One

There's only one way by which sinners are saved,
And that's by the way of the cross;
No works of our own, be they ever so great;
With God they are nothing but dross.

There's only one Savior who's able to save,
That Savior is Jesus the Lord,
The One who is human, and also divine,
Whose title we read is "The Word.”

There's only one path! It is narrow and strait,
But it leads to the glory of God;
It's pleasures are lasting, they fade not away:
'Tis the path the Nazarene trod.

There's only one Book that can guide you aright—
The Bible, God's treasure so true;
Its precepts are binding, its teachings are pure,
This Book God has given to you.

Then take this sure way by which sinners are saved,
This Savior so loving and true,
And walk in the path that will lead you to God—
And remember, this Book is for you.

Found

Corporal James Douglas was sick, very sick, as he lay in his narrow hospital bed. It was the first time in his life that he had known a day's illness, and to him it was terrible. His condition was not helped by his knowledge that he had brought it upon himself by his dissolute life and arrogant, unruly ways. No; he was sick, and he didn't care who knew it.

As he lay day by day in the hospital—for he had many relapses—he thought much about his parents and of the happy home he had willfully left when he enlisted. Then came the remembrance of his life since he had left them. He hoped they would never hear of some of his outrageous doings during that time.

"This won't do," he muttered to himself one night. "I will not think. Oh, for a good old drink and some jolly fellows to cheer me! With them I could soon drown these thoughts.”

In the next bed lay John Small, a young man from another regiment. He was suffering greatly: but Jimmie resented his patience, and repelled his attempts at conversation.

One night, however, all was very still in the little ward. Jimmie had tried in vain to sleep, and thoughts of his past life were making him very miserable. He raised himself to see if his neighbor was awake, feeling it would be a comfort to break the silence, if only to grumble in a whisper to his fellow-sufferer. He saw that Small's eyes were closed, but that his lips were moving. By close listening Jimmie heard him repeat over and over the words:

"Out in the desert He heard its cry,
Sick, and helpless, and ready to die.”

More and more slowly Small repeated them, then Jimmie knew he had dropped asleep. It would be cruel to awaken him; so Jimmie went over the words himself, wondering where they came from and what was their meaning. When the night nurse passed noiselessly up the ward, Jimmie beckoned to her. Laying a finger on her lips, she pointed to Small and whispered: "Hush, he's asleep. He's suffered terribly today.”

As she smoothed Jimmie's pillow, he said: "Do you know these words, Nurse, " 'Out in the desert He heard its cry, Sick, and helpless, and ready to die'?”

"It seems to me that I've heard them sung, and that they are in a hymn," she whispered, "but I don't know where. Perhaps Small could tell you; he's a religious fellow, and he has the right kind, too. I wish I were as happy as he is. Now, try to go to sleep.”

But sleep would not come; and that night, and for a couple of days, try as he would, Jimmie could not forget those two lines. Nor could he get rid of thoughts of his own sinfulness.

One night he could bear it no longer. Seeing his neighbor was awake he whispered, "Small, who was out in the desert?”

"I was," answered the sick man in a low tone.

Jimmie paused. The answer had surprised him, but presently he said, "Who heard its cry?”

"The Lord Jesus," was the quiet reply.

That was all. The conversation ended, but those brief words gave Jimmie plenty to think about.

A few days later Small was much better, and Jimmie suddenly told him of his trouble. He ended by saying, "I am downright miserable. Tell me what's wrong. Your description, 'Sick and helpless, and ready to die,' fits me to a 'T.'”

"Praise God," answered the other invalid. "It's all right! Why, God the Holy Spirit is showing you that you are a poor lost sheep! Now He wants to point you to the Good Shepherd, who `goeth after that which is lost until He finds it.' I see that nurse is signing me to stop talking, but I will tell you more tomorrow. Say over and over again to yourself: 'The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.'

"Here is my Testament. Find that verse for yourself; it's in the nineteenth chapter of Luke's Gospel.”

Jimmie took the well-worn little volume and, propped up with pillows, he read Luke 19:10. In fact, he read the whole chapter.

Half an hour later Small said to him: "Look at the fifteenth chapter.”

Jimmie was unaccustomed to handling a Bible, and his fingers fumbled with the thin pages. Turning back to Luke 15, he read the parable of the lost sheep. Then came that beautiful story of the prodigal son and the father's love. Seeing himself in the picture, Jimmie broke down completely. The next morning Small had the joy of hearing from his friend's own lips that he who had been a "sheep going astray" had now been found by the Shepherd and was safe in the fold.

Reader, will you not search your own heart in the light of God's Word? If still out of Christ, now is the time to seek Him who so diligently is seeking you.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

The Way of the World”

The following lines, under the above title, were displayed through a large town in connection with the visit of a theatrical company:

"Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep and you weep alone;
For this solid old earth must borrow its mirth,
It has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will echo it,
Sigh, and 'tis lost on the air.
For they want full measure of all your pleasure,
But nobody wants your care.

Feast, and your halls are crowded,
Fast, and they'll pass. you by;
Succeed and give, and they'll let you live—
Fail, and they'll let you die.”

Yes, this witness is true and perhaps the reader has experienced it to his sorrow, just like the poor prodigal in Luke 15:11-17.

Men in every sphere of life, and in all ages, have proved this at some point in their life's history; but what a contrast this is to the "way of the Lord," for:

"Joy, and your Lord joys with you,
Weep, and He sees your tears;
He came down to earth to give you true mirth,
And to banish your sorrows and fears.

Sing, and the heavens will sound it;
Sigh, and 'tis caught by His ear;
He gives full measure of all His pleasure.
He will carry your burden and care.

Feast, for there's peace and plenty;
Fast, still your Lord is nigh;
Succeed and give, for Him thou dolt live,
His grace your unfailing supply.”

This is the portion of all who have trusted in Christ, for our blessed Lord Jesus not only saves us from our sins by His most precious blood, but He lives to keep and care for us through all life's journey.

Reader, have you tried this poor world and found it lacking? Is there still within your breast that unsatisfied desire? Do you long for rest and joy? Thank God if this is so, for there is One who loves you—even when you don't love Him.

There is every reason why you should love Him, for He has died that the way of salvation might be opened up for you. Despise not the way of peace that He has opened for you. Receive Him, the Prince of peace, and eternal glory awaits you.

An Exception

The train was moving towards Savannah, and two young men were happily engaged in conversation. They had discovered that they had a mutual Friend, the Lord Jesus, and were fellow-travelers to glory. With deepest interest they were talking together of the riches of God's grace in saving them, and in bringing them into eternal association with His Son. With real regret they ended their discussion when, at one of the railway stations, one of the young men had to leave.

The Christian who remained had noticed that a young lady passenger had listened attentively to the conversation as though she too had an interest in these divine realities. He therefore addressed her, inquiring if he could ask her a question. She promptly consented.

"Are you saved?" he then asked.

"Oh, yes," she replied; "I have always been saved." Knowing that Christ, the Son of God, had said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3), the young man remarked: "That is very interesting, but I do not understand, how you could always have been saved!”

"Oh," she said brightly, "I have lived a good life; I was brought up to attend Sunday school, and Pm now a teacher in the school.”

The other, knowing that his arguments were valueless and that God's Word alone could cause divine light to enter her soul, now opened his Bible. He read aloud, pausing slightly after each verse before adding his own appendix.

"There is none that understandeth,"—except you!

"There is none that seeketh after God."—except you!

"They are all gone out of the way,"—except you!

"They are together become unprofitable,"—except you!

"There is none that doeth good, no, not one,"—except you!

"Stop," she cried; "you do not believe that.”

"It is God's Word," was the reply.

"Yes, but if that is true, I am not saved.”

"It certainly is true, for God says it.

He makes known to us in His Word how He regards us. He says, "There is none righteous, no, not one.' Rom. 3:10." "How then can I be saved?" she inquired.

"If you desire to be saved, the remedy is outside of you; it is the precious blood of Christ that can cleanse from all sin. That is the only remedy that can meet our need, and God Himself declares that 'the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.'”

When they parted, probably never to meet again on earth, their sure hope was that they would meet above.

Dear reader, will you be there? Remember, there is only one road to heaven, one remedy for sin. Without that perfect provision for soul-cleansing which God Himself makes known, no child of Adam is fit for His presence. Every saved soul has had to do with God as to the sin question, and has been washed from his sins in the precious blood of Christ.

"Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

A Grand Old Time

Standing on the platform of a railway station one day, I watched a fine automobile pass over the level crossing nearby. A man who was waiting for a train saw it too and turned to me saying: "I wish I owned that car and $5000.00 a year as well.”

"Why do you wish that?" I asked.

"Oh," he replied, "I'd have a grand old time rushing around the country; I'd enjoy myself.”

"Would that completely satisfy you?" was my next question.

"I think so," was the reply, "until old age crept on.”

"And then?”

"Oh," he said, "I should die with the knowledge that I had had a grand old time, and I suppose that would be the end of me.”

"But, sir," I said, "how can you say that would be the end of you, when God's Word declares that 'it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment'? (Heb. 9:27). You will have to meet God; and what will it benefit you to know that you had a grand old time while on earth, and failed to prepare for eternity?”

"Ah," he replied, "I hadn't thought of that.”

Oh, how like the natural man! His only thought was for the pleasures of this world. He was careless as to his soul's salvation—totally indifferent towards God, who in love and grace had sent His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die in the sinner's stead at Calvary.

I shall never forget the solemn look on his face as I spoke to him of the terrible judgment that must fall on the one who would have to stand before God, a holy righteous God, without Christ as his Savior. I stressed the eternal loss of the soul who prefers the pleasures of this world to the Lord Jesus Christ. I trust the Lord blessed His own word which was spoken to arouse his conscience so that he might see his own ruined state, and God's grace which provided a Savior to meet him in it. He held out his hand and shook mine, as his train steamed into the station, saying: "Good-bye, and thank you." Perhaps I shall meet him in the glory.

And now, my dear reader, a word with you. How do you stand in God's sight? Have you ever thought of the fact that you too have to meet God? If you are not sheltered by the blood of Jesus, you will then hear your eternal doom pronounced. Now, while there is time and opportunity, flee to that precious Savior who died, whose blood was shed to save you. Do not let the pleasures of this poor, guilty, condemned world, or any of Satan's devices, hinder you from being saved.

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

He Was Wounded”

Wounds, according to the definition of the surgeon, are divisions of the soft parts of the body by a mechanical force applied externally and they are classified by their different characters as (1) contused, (2) lacerated, (3) penetrating, (4) perforating, and (5) incised wounds. It is remarkable that in the simple statement, "He was wounded" (Isa. 53:5), there is included each kind of wound, as we may readily see from the examination of the Scriptures concerning the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1) The contused wound: A wound produced by a blunt instrument. Such would result by a blow by the rod, as foretold in Mic. 5:1: "They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek," and fulfilled, as recorded in Matt. 26:67: "They smote Him with rods," (Margin-Newberry), Matt. 27:30: "They took the reed, and smote Him on the head," and John 18:22: "One of the officers struck Jesus with a rod." (Revised Trans. and Newberry margin.)

(2) The lacerated wound: A wound produced by a tearing instrument. Laceration of the tissues was the result of scourging. Scourging had become a fine art among the Romans at the time of our Lord's submission to its infliction. The Roman scourge was a many-tailed lash, each thong tipped with metal or ivory, so that in the hands of a cruel expert, the sufferer might truthfully say, "The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows" (Psa. 129:3). The torture, the laceration, and the consequent loss of blood, often resulted in the death of the victim; but scourging, while part of our Lord's sufferings, was not to be the means of His death. Thus the prophetic word of Isa. 50:6: "I gave My back to the smiters," finds its fulfillment, as recorded in Matt. 27:26, and in John 19:1, where we read, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him." And let us remember that upon His back, thus lacerated, the cross was laid as He went forth to the place called Calvary.

(3) The penetrating wound: A deep wound caused by a sharp pointed instrument. This we have exemplified in the wounds upon the head produced by the crown of thorns. The Jerusalem thorn, from which the "victor's crown" was platted, bore spicules four inches long, and, as the soldiers pressed down that cruel diadem upon His head (Matt. 27:29-John 19:2), a circlet of wounds ensued, wounds that were deepened by the blow of the reed when they "smote Him on the head" (Matt. 27:30).

(4) The perforating wound: From the Latin word meaning "to pierce through." "They pierced My hands and My feet" (Psa. 22:16). The iron spikes were driven between the bones, separating but not breaking these. Crucifixion was not practiced as a means of capital punishment by the Jews, and the words must therefore have puzzled the writer of the Psalm; but at that early date God was thereby "signifying what death He should die," for, to Him who knows the end from the beginning, the Roman subjugation of the Jews at the time of Messiah's advent, and His "cutting off" by the exquisitely painful death of crucifixion, were all foreknown. Yea, and to our Lord by anticipation, and at last in fearful reality, "the decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem" was a matter of perfect knowledge. The prophetic question in Zech. 13:6: "What are these wounds in Thine hands?" was ever before Him, and thus we can truly sing—

"'Twas love that nailed Thee to the tree,
Or iron ne'er had bound Thee.”

(5) The incised wound: A cut produced by a sharp-edged instrument. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34. This wound was inflicted after the death of the Lord Jesus, inflicted by the practiced hand of the Roman soldier to make certain that whatever vestige of life was present would be extinguished; but while it did not cause death in His case, it is an assurance to all men that death had actually occurred, and it is also a fulfillment of the scripture which saith, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

And from the wound (so large that Thomas could have thrust his hand into it), "came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record and his record is true." This wonderful sight awakened surprise and deep interest in John and may surely engage our attention also; namely, the water that flowed from the pericardium and the blood that flowed from the heart. The pericardium is a closed sac encasing the heart and lubricated by a small amount of fluid (about a teaspoonful) to facilitate the motions of the heart. How could John, it may be asked, distinguish such a small quantity of water? In answer let me quote a significant statement from a standard work (Mallory and Wright's Pathological Technique): "The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is about a teaspoonful, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24 teaspoonfuls) where the death agony is prolonged." Here then is a confirmation by scientists of the mute testimony borne by "the water" to the intense sufferings of our Lord Jesus. Christ. And what shall we say to the fact that, contrary to nature, blood flowed from One who had died? Is it not to show that in death, "He vanquished death and did not see corruption"? Thus the last wound, the last indignity offered to the body prepared for Him, proclaims both purification and redemption, for, "The very spear that pierced His side, drew forth the blood to save.”

Israel is described in Isa. 1:6 as exhibiting to God's eye, "From the sole of the foot even unto the head... wounds"; and our Lord Jesus Christ, in submitting to this perfection of wounding from head to foot, was made in one sense like unto His brethren and "perfect through sufferings." (Heb. 2:10.)

May the contemplation of these wounds, whereby His body was broken and His blood was shed, deepen our love for Him who was wounded in the house of His friends, "wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities," and cause each of us, like Thomas, to worship and acclaim Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28).

'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

April

Hell in the Way

A young lady was so strongly moved under the sound of the gospel that she often wept. But she gave her heart to folly. Her sinful pleasures, however, could not guard from the assault of death. Not many weeks after having listened to a solemn gospel message, she suddenly dropped her needle while busy sewing, and cried out: "Oh, I'm dying!”

Her friends gently carried her to a bed and sought to make her comfortable. But looking wildly around she exclaimed: "I see heaven and hell! They are both before me, but I can't get to heaven; Hell is in the way!" Not another word did she utter as death closed the scene.

My reader, face the momentous fact that you are, if unsaved, in jeopardy every moment. Terrible words were those, but not more terrible than true. Would not the same words be applicable to you, an impenitent sinner, if you were on your death bed? Would not hell be in your way too?

Take heed, then, that you do not procrastinate, for "how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" This very day turn to the Lord with purpose of heart, having faith in His precious blood unto eternal salvation.

"As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. 9:27, 28.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

A Midnight Conversation

It was nearly midnight. Two men were so deep in talk that they scarcely realized how late it was. Their animation showed how greatly affected both were by the subject being discussed. One was a naval officer. The whole bearing of the other revealed the military man.

Both of these men had been present at an open-air service some hours before. The naval officer had taken it upon himself to heckle the evangelist. Now they were privately threshing the matter out between themselves.

The naval officer pooh-poohed the whole idea of religion. For the life of him he said he could not understand why anybody should worry about such a belief at all. Why make fools of themselves by preaching it in the open-air?

"Parsons! Oh well," he cried contemptuously, "that is their job; they are paid to preach. People expect them to hold services. But for anybody really believing it—why, surely everyone knows what nonsense religion is! Intelligent people have no use for it, my dear fellow.”

"Put your hand on the back of my head, just here," said the other. "Now tell me what you feel there." The officer complied, and then exclaimed: "How in the world did you get that deep scar just there?”

"I was a man of the same mind as yourself once. I had no use for religion either. I hated it, and wished everyone else did. But my father would write to me about it, although he knew I had entered the army purposely to get away from all Christian influence, as I thought. His letters never ended without an appeal to me to consider my need of a Savior. Then my mother died, and the memory of what she had taught me of the love of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, kept coming back to my mind. My father's letters too kept it all constantly before me.

"One day in desperation I wrote my father a long letter—a lying letter. It was full of pious phrases from end to end! I wrote him that I had taken Christ as my Savior, and was now a real Christian believer. Every word of it was a lie!

"For a bit of sport I read this letter out in the barrack-room, to the amusement of some but to the disgust of others. As I was reading it, somehow I tripped and fell backwards towards the fire-place. My head struck on one of the spiked bars of the fender,—that accounts for the deep indentation you felt on my skull just now. I was completely knocked out.

"They hurried me off to the hospital, where I lay near death for weeks. One night the medical officer, thinking I was still unconscious, remarked to the nurse: `He won't last the night, Nurse; he'll be gone before morning.'

"Gone! I heard his verdict. And then there came to my poor mind the urgent question: where should I be gone before morning? As my faculties cleared, I realized that ETERNITY was just before me. Also I knew, if I had my deserts, it would be hellfire for me for certain! That is what I knew I deserved for my wicked life and for mocking at God and His people.

"I tell you, I prayed to God that night. I promised to reform and to be a better man if only my life were spared.

To the doctor's surprise, in the morning the fever had completely gone. I was out of immediate danger of death, though of course I was terribly weak.

"I did recover, but I did not reform my ways. Indeed, with returning health I threw off all my fears of the future life, and put God out of my thoughts.

"But God did not put me out of His thoughts. When given a few days' leave, I determined to visit my father. Arriving at the cottage in the dusk of the early evening, I lifted the latch and entered the room. I had stepped inside when, to my horror, I saw several people kneeling there in prayer. I had blundered into a special prayer meeting, and there knelt some of my father's friends praying for me. I tried to slip out from this awkward situation, but my attempt failed. A slightly deformed little man whom I knew as Tommy Marks, had grasped my arm. 'Don't go, don't go, Edward,' he whispered. We love you, and God loves you, too.'

"Exactly what happened, I can never clearly remember; but the thought that these friends cared about my worthless soul, and that God loved me enough to send His own Son to die that I might not perish, absolutely broke me down. I knelt there by an old chair, and there I confessed my sins, taking Christ as my own Savior with a thankful heart.

"That's the difference between you and me. I felt my need of a Savior, and I thanked God for the Savior He provided. Will you not do the same, friend?”

The naval officer was indeed touched, and to hide his feelings, was turning away; but he paused to say: "I am all bad, my friend, I've treated my wife shamefully. She's one of your sort. She believes in this kind of thing. She prays for me and I ridicule her. Is there any chance for me, do you think?”

His heart filled with joy, as the other promptly told him the story of the way God has provided so that none need perish.

"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.

After further heart-to-heart talk, the naval officer said to his friend: "Thank God, thank God! I do believe He has forgiven me for Christ's sake. Now I am going to write to my poor wife and tell her. Maybe she will forgive me too.”

They parted, the one going into his quarters at the Naval College, the other to his home, each with a heart full of joy and thanksgiving for God's great love.

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Accept Everything”

A young man of the world once accosted a lady, well-known as a Christian, with the words: "I suppose, Miss Mary, that you are at your old work of trying to persuade us to give up dancing and card-playing and all these things?”

"No," she answered. "No, my friend. I want you to accept everything—to accept everything in Christ, and to do it right now! Then when you have accepted Him, you will judge all these things you mention from the standpoint of one who is accepted in God's beloved Son.”

Forgiveness, salvation, eternal life are all the gift of God. We cannot purchase them by "giving up" anything. "The wages of sin" is what we deserve; but "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

The young man did "accept everything," and came out boldly and clearly on Christ's side. He found in Him complete satisfaction, and he delighted to proclaim to others the rich blessing of God that is bestowed upon everyone who receives His Son. Then having received Christ Jesus the Lord, he was content to walk with Him.

"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.

God's Gift

A person on whom an emperor was about to bestow a valuable present, declined the gift on the ground that it was too costly for his acceptance.

"But not too costly for an emperor to give," was the reply.

None of us are really worthy of the gifts of God— especially of His one "Unspeakable Gift." Blessedly they are not bestowed according to our merit, but rather by His ability to give. And it pleases God to accept meager thanks as their full acknowledgment.

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:32.

Not Worthy, but Welcome

The Spirit of God had been working in the little town. During the gospel meetings being held there, souls were saved, Christians were refreshed, and backsliders had been restored.

Among the latter, James Brown was an especial object for prayer. He had at one time manifested Christ in his life; but when adverse circumstances entered, he, like Peter on the water, and many others since, became occupied with conditions to the exclusion of the Lord. James' heart grew cold and indifferent to the claims of Christ. Gradually, to the grief of his Christian family and brethren, he drifted back into the world.

While these gospel meetings were in progress, it was noted that on several occasions James Brown slipped unobtrusively into the back of the gospel hall.

Equally unnoticed, apparently, he left the building before the final prayer. Surely the Holy Spirit must have been working in his soul to draw him back to the Lord.

This proved to be the case. Towards the close of the series of meetings, the evangelist was visiting in the home of a well known Christian of the community. In answer to a knock at the door, the minister heard his host say: "Come right in, Mr. Brown. It's a long time since you were here.”

After the introductions, James humbly confessed, "I feel I'm not worthy to come in.”

Promptly the evangelist remarked: "I shall speak for our host. Though you say you are not worthy, I'm sure he will say you are perfectly welcome. Isn't that typical of our God and Father in His attitude towards His wandering child in Luke 15?”

Not worthy! No, prodigal son; nor can you ever be, in yourself. Not worthy! These are words that rejoice the Father's heart, for, when spoken in truth, they make nothing of SELF and exalt the mighty work of His dear Son Jesus. And through such an expression of self-abasement, His boundless grace finds a channel to flow out to His wandering child in perfect welcome.

"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.

Ah, poor backslider, that is meager fare indeed in the far country to which you have gone. Does your heart not echo the cry of the prodigal?

"Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”

Not worthy! True; but right welcome, when with contrite heart you confess to God your failure and your lack. Hear His gracious words: "The Father said to His servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand,' and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." Luke 15:21-24.

Not worthy, do you say? Then, are you surfeited with the husks of the world's providing? Does your soul long for the comfort and safety of the Father's house? Make the plea of David, king of Israel, your own prayer: "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation." Psa. 51:12.

Unworthy one, whether an unsaved sinner or a backsliding Christian, open your heart to the Savior. Own your own unworthiness and that He who died for you is the alone worthy One. Accept Him in all His perfection, and receive through Him from the Father a perfect welcome.

The Simple Way

A physician, an avowed infidel, had as his patient a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the doctor took no stock, as he said, in "religion," his heart longed for peace and rest.

One day on a visit to the sick man, he asked him: "How can one get the faith that gives rest and peace?”

The Christian answered: "When I became sick, I committed myself into your hands, trusting you to do for me what I could not do—the healing of my body. In the same manner, finding myself a helpless sinner, I looked to the Lord Jesus to undertake for my soul, and in Him I found salvation and rest and peace.”

The physician was surprised at this simple way, and exclaimed: "Is that all? Oh, now I understand! Jesus is the Savior, the soul's Physician. He has done everything, and it just remains for us to submit ourselves into His hands.”

He too found peace and rest in believing—simply trusting in the finished work of Christ.

Faith in Christ will save me;
Trust in Him the risen One,
Trust the work that He has done;
Faith in Christ will save me.

"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.

Why Worry?

A short time ago I overheard a conversation between two young men. The subject was death. In view of the intense solemnity of such a subject, I was shocked at the light and careless way in which they discussed it.

"I don't worry about death," said the one. "What does it matter whether I live a month more or less? I would rather die at once than spend a month in sickness.”

"You have overlooked one thing," I remarked. "What is that?" said he.

"Once to die, but after this the judgment," I replied.

"But I don't believe in anything after death.”

"That may be; but refusal to believe in anything after death doesn't in the smallest degree alter the fact that when you die you must meet a holy God in judgment. God said it! If you are wise you will believe it; furthermore, you will not rest until you are ready for it.”

How many there are who, like this young man, are speeding down the broad road to hell, blinded by their unbelief, and deceived by the devil as to a matter which concerns their soul's eternal welfare! Oh, my reader, I do solemnly warn you of these three tremendous realities-death, judgment and hell! I heed not your assertions of unbelief. God loves your soul, and your immortal soul's salvation is at stake.

Fleeting time is taking you with rapid strides to the first appointment-death. You may soon reach the grave. But remember, "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth." John 5:28.

Whose voice is this; my reader? The voice of the Son of man to whom has been given authority to execute judgment (John 5:27). It is the voice of Him who has been lifted up upon the cross, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:15.

Ah, yes! All those eyes sealed in death, who are slumbering amid the dark caverns of the tomb, shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. Listen to these terribly solemn words: "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:12. Reader, will you form part of this ghastly throng? See them as they start from their graves—their unbelief forever gone, as they find themselves before the great white throne, and hear their awful doom pronounced: for "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

But listen still: the voice that then will speak in righteous judgment, now speaks to you in tenderest love and grace. Hear His own words, and may the Spirit of God apply them to you this moment in soul-saving power: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [or judgment]; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

Plenteous Grace

2 Cor. 12:9

One evening I was on my way home after an unusually busy day's work; I felt exceedingly wearied and sore depressed. Swiftly and suddenly as a lightning flash, the scripture came to me: "My grace is sufficient for thee.”

I reached home and looked it up in my Bible, and then it came to me this way: "My grace is sufficient for thee," and I said, "I should think it is, Lord!”

Then I burst out laughing, for it seemed to make unbelief so absurd. It was as though some little fish was very thirsty, but was troubled about drinking the river Thames dry. Then Father Thames said: "Drink away, little fish! My stream is sufficient for thee.”

Perhaps a mouse in the granaries of Egypt, after seven years of plenty, feared it might die of famine. Joseph might say, "Cheer up, little mouse! My granaries are sufficient for thee.”

Again, a man away up yonder in a lofty mountain might say to himself: "I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year. Now I fear I shall exhaust the oxygen in the atmosphere.”

The earth might well answer, "Breathe away, O man! Fill your lungs to the full. My atmosphere is sufficient for thee.”

Oh, Christian friends, be great believers! Little faith will take your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.

Christ Is the Way

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

That being so—and our Lord Himself says it—clearly our own doings can never save us. The Word of God tells us that "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," Rom. 3:23; "The wages of sin is death," Rom. 6:23; "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

How then can we escape the judgment of God? Graciously God's Word answers the question thus: "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

Do not these words exactly describe our state in nature? Are you without strength? Ungodly? The very verse that states "The wages of sin is death," goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

The Word of God tells us too that "Christ died for our sins"; He bore "our sins in His own body on the tree": He "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification"; and "The blood of Jesus. Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

"Oh what a Savior is Jesus the Lord!
Well may His name by His saints be adored!
He has redeemed them from hell by His blood,
Saved them forever and brought them to God.”

"FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME.”

Matt. 3:7.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”

Prov. 18:10.

May

Not Your Own

Arthur Strong had come of age. On this, his twenty-first birthday, there had been quite a celebration in his honor—a dinner and dance at the country club. What fun it had been! But now the last guest had departed, and Arthur and his parents, weary but proudly elated at the success of their social efforts, had arrived at their own home.

Still enjoying the thrill of the prominence that had been his for the past few hours, Arthur had gone to his room to prepare for bed. Removing his coat, he, almost automatically reached into the pocket. And there he found it—a folded bit of paper that he himself had placed there when he dressed for the evening festivities. Standing with the folded paper in his hand, Arthur remembered a request made of him during the day just past.

Among the visitors in the afternoon had been an elderly uncle of his—"my religious old uncle," Arthur laughingly styled him. The aging man had earned this title since, on the few occasions when the two had to meet, this uncle had always spoken faithfully to him about eternal things. And this was the last subject that the pleasure-loving young nephew cared to hear about.

However, this uncle was a very wealthy man and Arthur desired to keep himself in his good graces. Therefore, on this occasion of his twenty-first birthday, Arthur had made sure that this "religious old uncle" was invited to the celebration. He was not surprised when his elderly relative presented him with a very generous check; indeed, perhaps it was that very gift which made Arthur more kindly disposed than usual towards the gentleman.

Immediately on his arrival, after presenting his gift, the uncle asked to be excused from the festivities, saying that those things were not in his line. Then he asked Arthur to go with him for a short walk.

Arthur could not refuse such a reasonable request, though he greatly dreaded to be alone with his uncle for fear he would speak to him about his soul. Evidently the older man guessed his feelings and quickly assured him. "My boy," he said, "I shall not say anything of a religious nature to you today. But please take this piece of paper and, before you go to bed tonight, read it and fill in the one word that is missing.”

Arthur had readily taken the paper and given his promise, only too pleased to get off so easily, as he thought. And now as he stood alone in his room he prepared to keep his word. Filled with curiosity, he unfolded the scrap of paper and read the few words: "To me to live is—.”

"What in the world does that mean?" The bewildered fellow gazed at the piece of paper, uncomprehending its meaning. Then at the bottom written in small letters, he read: "Phil. 1:20.”

"Ah, a scripture text! That explains it. What funny notions my religious old uncle has!”

Now for the missing word. From the top shelf of a cupboard he retrieved his neglected Bible. It too was a gift long ago from this same uncle. With some difficulty the Scripture reference was located, and Arthur read aloud the brief sentence: "To me to live is Christ.”

"Poor old codger!" he thought. "How dreary! That may suit him, but it's not my aim. I intend to enjoy myself, and I'm not ashamed of it. That's what I'll write—’To me to live is to enjoy myself!" Then with a flourish and a sigh of relief, Arthur Strong signed his name and tucked Bible and paper away. His promise was fulfilled.

The years passed. Arthur had married and the union had been blest of God with a child, a little girl, but other earthly blessings were few. Pursuing his course of seeking a good time, Arthur finally realized that his life was not yielding the enjoyment and satisfaction he had anticipated. Instead, his pursuit of such passing pleasures was rapidly depleting what had seemed to him an abundant inheritance. Inevitably, the time came when even his home and its furnishings must be sold.

As he stood in the dismantled house gloomily watching as the packers and transfer men busily removed his household effects, what a contrast he presented as a man of the world to the happy care-free young fellow of twenty-one! A lean hardness and bitterness had replaced the pleasant lines of eager anticipation which had distinguished the youth. Even his voice expressed only gloom and hopelessness as he muttered: "My whole life is a failure.”

In the confusion of the dismantled rooms, only Arthur's little girl, too young to realize the tragedy of it all, could find excitement and pleasure in examining the now unfamiliar looking furniture. Suddenly she came running to her father holding up to him a folded bit of paper. "Look, Daddy! Look what I found,” she cried. "And it has writing on it.”

Absently taking the paper and unfolding it, the father read: "To me to live is—to enjoy myself," and his own signature underneath. Ah, what a miserable failure it had indeed all been! Arthur turned away, unable to bear the questioning gaze of his little daughter. As he left the room his past years came before him in review.

"He had lived for himself,
He had thought for himself,
For himself and none beside,
Just as if Jesus had never lived;
As if He had never died.”

And what had been the end of it all? God spoke to him then and there, through that message from the past.

He fell on his knees, owning his sin and folly and the miserable mistake he had made. "Henceforth," he purposed in his heart "to me to live shall be Christ." In true humility and contrition Arthur Strong gave himself to the Savior who had loved him and had died to save him.

"The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

"Ye are not your own—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.

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

Come Just As You Are

Queen Victoria once sent a telegram to one of the workman—a mason—employed upon her estate. She wanted his presence immediately and the words she inscribed upon the form were "Sandy, come at once, just as you are.”

When Sandy received the message he was at work, covered with dust, in his rough clothes. At first he thought, I must go home and tidy up and change my clothes in order to go to the Queen.

But as he read it again he saw that he was called to go at once, and just as he was.

The Queen knew that he might be untidy and consider himself unfit for an interview with her. That was why she had used those words: "Come at once, just as you are.”

Friend, come at once, just as you are, to Christ. He knows your sinful condition better than you do. Yet in His grace He calls to you: "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 4:7.

All things are now ready. He has prepared a proper garment for you to wear, and your place is set at the fully furnished table of salvation. Do not delay, striving to make yourself better fitted for His presence. Delay is one of the devil's wiles to keep you from Christ. You will never find a better opportunity to come. Indeed you may never have another. Come now.

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

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

Heavenly Comfort

It was during the first Great War and many homes were saddened by the tidings of disaster in the early stages of that conflict. Knowing that God's message of peace, through belief in the blood of Christ shed on Calvary, according to the gospel, is the one grand cure for man's sorrows and distress, a servant of God sought to bring this heavenly comfort to his burdened countrymen. He had in times past seen much of the Spirit's work in the salvation of souls in the villages round about, and he wanted to begin meetings in an abandoned school house in an isolated area.

The few people who lived in the neighborhood were notoriously irreligious. They cared little for the gospel or for their own souls; but their children flocked to hear the glad tidings. God in grace touched the hearts of quite a number of them and they were saved.

Then the stir began, for these boys and girls began to tell in their homes and among their companions what great things the Lord had done for their souls. In fact, the village rang from end to end with the hymns they had learned to sing.

But as is always the case, where the Spirit of God is manifest, there Satan exercises its opposition toward the preacher and his preaching. Influence was soon brought to bear on the owner of the school building, and he refused to allow further use of it. Had Satan won? No! God can turn the heart of His own to accomplish whatever He desires.

A farmer, whose young helper had been brightly brought to the Savior at the meetings, heard of the enemy's attempt to stop the gospel work. Pleased as the lad's employer was with the happy changed life of the employed farm hand, the farmer said: "Never let it be said that the good work of saving sinners was brought to a stop here for want of a place to meet. If nothing else can be had, I will clear my barn and fit it up as a place for the gospel to go out.”

And he did. With long plank seats, lit up by oil lamps suspended from the roof, the barn was filled night after night with a congregation of earnest hearers. Old and young came to know their need of God's salvation, and were not ashamed to be ridiculed by those openly ungodly ones who had combined to molest the gospel preachers, and hurl abuse at them.

One of the most active in harassing the servants of God was a young lad, embittered because his brother had been killed in the Argonne. He was present one night when the evangelist spoke from the ever precious words of Isa. 53:5: "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." The speaker told of a soldier who had taken the place of his brother in the firing line, and was slain in his stead.

"What would you say if that young soldier who owed his life to his brother's death, should speak only evil of his dead brother? And what would you think if he abused all who honored his brother's memory? Friend, that is what you are doing to the Lord of glory. You scoff at the message of peace we preach, through the death of Christ, and ill use those who confess Him as their Peacemaker and Redeemer.”

These words went home to the conscience of the young scorner. The arrow of conviction pierced his wicked heart. He "saw his sin, and was shocked at its greatness.”

But it did not end there. He came forward in the barn that night, and before all present he confessed his faith in "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

The rafters of the old barn rang again that night with the voice of praise. It was shared by a new-born soul who for the first time could sing:

"I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood;
I see the mighty sacrifice,
And I have peace with God.”

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.

Always the Same

I was once staying where the villagers had to bring all their water from a well. "Is this well ever dry?" I inquired of a young girl who came to draw water.

"Dry! Yes, ma'am, very often in hot weather."

"And where do you go for water then?”

"To a spring a little way out of town.”

"And if the spring dries up?”

"Why, then we go to the stream higher up, the best water of all.”

"But if the stream higher up fails?”

"Why, ma'am, that stream never dries up. It is always the same, winter and summer.”

I went to see this precious brook which "never dries up." It was a clear, sparkling rivulet coming down from the hill—not with torrent leap and roar, but with soft murmur of fullness and freedom. It flowed down to the highway side. It was within reach of every child's cup. It was enough for every little empty vessel. The small birds came there to drink. The thirsty beast of burden along the dusty road knew the way to the stream that "never dries up.”

How like the waters of life and salvation flowing from the "Rock of Ages," through the one offering of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary! Every other brook may become dry in the days of drought and adversity, but this heavenly spring never ceases to flow in rich abundance.

Thirsting soul, you may come and drink. Wearied and fainting ones, lingering disappointed around the broken cisterns of human hope and consolation, Jesus calls you to Himself. Take the low place as a sinner before God. Stoop down and drink of that water now. Jesus says: "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37.

"And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

Time and Eternity

Every second, every movement of the heart, every beat of the pulse, every breath we draw, every tick of the tireless clock witnesses an immortal soul departing this life.

Every minute, as the second hand turns around upon the dial-plate in its circuit and testifies that sixty seconds are passed and gone forever, it witnesses the solemn procession of more than sixty souls leaving this earth, and through the article of death entering into eternity.

Every hour, as the minute hand describes a circle around the dial-plate, upwards of four thousand people leave the habitable earth and enter the unseen world, never to return till the resurrection of the dead.

Every day of twenty-four hours, a multitude of men, women and children, comprising an army of about ninety thousand people, leave this world where they were born and where they lived. They go through the gates of death, pass through the dark waters and enter the next world, there to abide forever. In addition to this, consider also that time is short, "swifter than a weaver's shuttle." Job 7:6. "It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14.

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten;... for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Psa. 90:10. And if we deduct from the allotted period the days of childhood and of sickness and the hours of sleep, how very brief are our conscious moments, the season of opportunity here on earth!

Eternity furnishes us with an immense contrast: the very thought baffles the greatest intellect. Millions and millions of years may roll on, as we count time, yet the vastness and immensity of eternity abides the same, and becomes no shorter. None can fathom nor measure its duration—it will abide forever and forever.

How great the contrast then between time and eternity! One, the present, with all its golden opportunities and blessings—rich provisions from the good hand of a Savior-God, who is rich in mercy and tender in love towards all the creatures of His hand. With divine accuracy, He measures the sinfulness of man's heart. Yet, notwithstanding His perfect knowledge of our sinfulness, He offers to all, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, a free, present and eternal salvation. And this rich gift of His love and grace is all embraced and enshrined in the one all-glorious Person of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Weigh well in your mind, dear reader, these facts of vital importance. Let them exercise your conscience; let them reach your heart; and, as I ask a solemn question, be prepared to answer. If you should join that number who will pass away this day, this hour, or the very next moment, where would you spend eternity? Upon what shore would you land? What would be the name of your eternal abiding place? Would it be heaven, with Christ the Savior, who died to save sinners—or hell, with the devil and his angels, and all who refused the Savior, refused to repent and believe the gospel, and have turned every one to his own way?

Friend, as you read these lines, let eternity be to you a subject of immense importance. Time is short, and life uncertain. Be not careless. Be not deceived. Your everlasting blessing and happiness, or your eternal shame and misery, hang in the balance. God calls today; the Savior waits upon you, the Spirit strives. This may be your last opportunity, the last earnest appeal. There may be but one step between you and death (1 Sam. 20:3). You may be standing upon the very last inch of time, and at the very verge of eternity. A God of love and grace, "not willing that any should perish," calls you, my reader, my friend. Make this day, this hour, this moment, the time of your turning to Christ.

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

"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.

Better on Before

Recently we offered an old man a gospel tract. He thankfully took it and said, "I'm ready.”

"What made you ready?" we asked.

"What was done on the cross," he answered simply. "Who did it?" we questioned again.

He pointed upwards and replied, "The One who is on the right hand of God.”

He added, "I have not long to be here. It's better on before!”

Sinner, would you like to say that? You can be "ready" through the same work of Christ on the cross.. Believe on Him and be saved! Then you too can say: 'It's better on before.”

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:40.

The Questions

What has the world to give thee,
That thou boldest its hands so fast?
It gives thee pleasure and laughter;
Can it give thee peace at last?
It calls—and thou followest after,
In the track of its car with speed;
Its pathways are strewed with earth's flowers;
Dost thou know where those pathways lead?

What has the devil to give thee?
Thou hast wrought for him faithfully;
Thro' life's morning, and noon, and even,
None has been thy master but he.
Thou hast worked and hast played—art thou weary?
He will give thee thy wages, he saith;
They come at the end of the journey;
And what are the wages?—Death.

What can thy heart do for thee?
Is it strong enough to save?
Is it wise enough to guide thee
To the land beyond the grave?
Thou thinkest it strong—it is feeble;
Firm—it is tempest-tost;
Free—'tis the slave of Satan,
Thou thinkest it safe—it is lost.

What has the Savior to give thee?
He gives Himself to thee,
He gives thee peace and pardon,
And life for eternity.
His presence for life's rough pathway,
His voice through the din of the strife,
His smile at the end of the journey,
And His love which is "better than life.”

"Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.”

Job 36:18.

June

Don't Wait!

The huge truck had gone out of control on a sharp curve in the road. Striking an embankment it overturned and pinned the driver, a young man, under it. Quickly a crowd gathered. Many of the spectators tried with all their strength to help him, but the mass of metal could not be budged.

"Get this off me," the driver was screaming in agony. "Somebody help me!”

The would-be rescuers re-doubled their efforts; but to no avail. The heavy truck could not be moved. The pleadings of the imprisoned young man were in vain. He wanted desperately to live; he begged them to ease his pain and get him free from the truck. The heaving men were no match for the mighty truck, and gradually the driver's voice grew weaker until the tormented pleas finally ceased.

The victim of this tragedy had been unaware of his extreme peril. He had been unable to concentrate on his soul's need. His pain was too great. He died pleading for help to save his life—not his soul!

Friend, are you putting off the matter of your soul's salvation? Are you still unconverted to Christ? Don't wait too long! Don't depend on finding the faith, when you are dying, to save your soul. Usually it is not easy to become a Christian when the death angel is at the door. Tragedy often strikes without warning and finds poor lost souls unprepared for death.

The choice is yours; you must decide. I pray you, act in time! The Bible says, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

On Time

During the first World War, a man named Tom was a Royal Marine abroad one of His Majesty's warships. Having put into port for a few days, some of the personnel were allowed an evening's shore leave. Men of good conduct were granted leave till 10 p.m., but men of other conduct had to be back aboard ship by 9 p.m.

Tom was an uncertain character, and as he was leaving the warship for the shore, he was told to be back by 9 p.m. or it would mean the brig. Following his usual custom, he stopped at the nearest inn and spent his time and money there very unwisely.

After a while, realizing that it was growing late, he set off to board the pinnace a little before nine. This was the boat which would take him across the water to the warship by 9 p.m. But on the way to the dock, he saw a crowd of people in the street. Thinking there was trouble of some sort, he hastened to investigate.

It proved to be an open air gospel meeting. Tom listened to the speaker who offered to all eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. His words made a deep impression upon Tom. When he heard the bell aboard the warship at five minutes. to nine, he said to himself, "If I stay here, it will mean a few days in the cell; but if I leave here now, it might mean eternal hell!”

Between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. that night, Tom yielded himself to Jesus, the Savior. He now knew he was saved, for the preacher had proclaimed the Lord's own words: "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

With a happy heart Torn proceeded across to the warship with the 10 p.m. group. He was greeted aboard by the sergeant-at-arms with the words, "Tom, you are late!”

To this Tom replied: "Late to come aboard, Sergeant, but I am just in time for eternal life." The handcuffs were put upon him, and the unresisting prisoner was marched off to the cell, and the door was locked.

For Tom, this was a night of deep joy. The burden of his sins, which were many, was gone. They had all been forgiven through faith in the precious blood of Christ. He did not sleep, but spent the night hours giving thanks to the Savior for the gift of eternal life.

Neither did the sergeant-at-arms sleep. He was puzzled by what Tom meant when he said, "Just in time for eternal life!" Going along to the cell in the early morning, he found Tom wide awake. Hesitantly he asked him what he really implied by saying he was "just in time for eternal life.”

Tom was glad to tell him of the offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ, and that he had accepted it for himself. He also sought to lead the sergeant-at-arms to Christ; and great was his joy when his fellow soldier did open his heart to receive Jesus the Lord, and owned Him as his own personal Savior.

The two men knelt down together in humble thanksgiving and prayer to God for His great mercy and love to them. Tom prayed first, and then the sergeant, probably for the first time in their lives. Oh, what joy there must have been in heaven as the prayers and praises of these two newborn souls ascended to God from their hearts and lips!

When the sergeant-at-arms arose from his knees, he waited for Tom to rise also. But the young marine remained kneeling, his head buried in his hands as though in silent prayer.

"Tom!" the sergeant called; but the kneeling man took no notice. Again, his name was repeated louder, with still no response. Then the sergeant touched him and Tom's lifeless body slipped to the floor. His spirit had gone to be with his newly-found Savior.

He was "Just in time for eternal life.”

How is it with you, my dear friend? Trust Him NOW, for "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Not Do but Done

Dan was a rugged individual, a Pennsylvania farmer; but he was also a lost sinner and he knew it. How he did long to know he was saved! Sad to say, his confidence was that prayers and good works were the means to that end. To his sister he insisted that if he said his prayers and did the best he could he would surely go to heaven. No argument she could advance dislodged him from this forlorn hope.

On a certain day his sister quoted this version of John 3:26 to him: "God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever does the best he can and says his prayers, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

She followed this with a paraphrase of 1 Timothy 1:15: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save those who do the best they can and say their prayers.”

"Jennie," Dan asked, "is that in the Bible?”

"No, but that's the way you want it.”

Sometime later he saw his sister again.

"Jennie," he exclaimed, "I'm saved!”

"Are you? How do you know you are saved?”

"Well, it's not what I have done, nor what you have done, but what Christ has done!”

"That's it," Jennie agreed happily. "The work is finished, all done! Jesus paid it all!”

"Safe in Christ, safe in Christ,
They shall perish never;
None can pluck them from His hand,
Never, never, NEVER!”

Going West

During the second great war a dying soldier was brought into a military hospital and gently laid in one of the beds. He realized his condition, for when he had recovered from the exhaustion of being carried in, he turned to the man in the next bed and said: "Mate, I'm going West. Can you help a feller with a bit of religion?”

"I'm afraid I can't," replied his neighbor. "But there's a lady comes here Thursdays to talk to us chaps about religion. P'r'aps she could help you.”

"That's all right," said the dying man. "But I'm not sure that I'll be here Thursday.”

Back came the reply, removing the last gleam of hope from this soul on the verge of eternity: "I'm sorry, but I can't help you.”

But God has His own means of reaching hearts, and possibly someone was praying for this lone warrior in his dire need, for it was evident when he again spoke that the Holy Spirit had been taking his thoughts back over the long years in which he had left God out of his life, back to his childhood, or perhaps to the Sunday school.

These were his words: "There's a bit of a verse comes back to my mind, friend. P'r'aps you could tell me if it's part of a hymn or in the Bible. It goes like this..." Then very faintly he repeated that heart-softening text learned in childhood days, but recalled now in his dying hour: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." Mark 10:14.

"Oh, that's in the Bible all right," was the confident reply, and again a silence fell upon them.

When at length it was broken, it was a very subdued voice which asked the last question that it would ever ask down here, for life's flame was beginning to flicker and would soon be going out altogether. "It's like this, mate: He wanted the little ones to come. I wonder would He have me? Anyway, I'm going to ask Him.”

Then he quietly pulled the sheet up over his head, and-the sheet did not come down again. Surely that petition was not in vain.

For thanks be unto God that the One whom He gave to be the Savior of the world has said, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out!" John 6:37.

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

Forever Too Late

On a gospel tour with a fellow Christian, I was waiting for the train that would take me away from a spot where many happy memories would be left behind. As we walked up and down the platform, my friend said: "Do you see that man over there? He brings to my mind a very sad story.

"My father and that man's father were friends. My father was an earnest Christian, but the other was unconverted. Many years ago there was a time of great awakening in this place, a real revival. My father's friend came at that time under deep conviction of sin. For some time he attended regularly a prayer meeting which was held every Sunday morning at seven o'clock. He evidently desired to become a Christian, and seemed 'almost persuaded' to be one. But at the same time he wished to prosper in the world—to make his fortune, as men say—and then to end his days in peace and plenty.

"The unsaved man was afraid that if he decided for Christ it would seriously interfere with his money-making plans. For some time he turned this question over in his mind, and was quite undecided as to what he should do. The Spirit of God was striving mightily with him, urging him to decide at once for Christ and thus to be assured of eternal blessing. Christian friends, and my father among them, warned him of his danger, and the awful consequences of delay. But in spite of these warnings and the Spirit's strivings, Satan used his desire for worldly possessions to help him postpone his decision for the present, urging upon him the hope that in the end a merciful God would receive him.

"Into this trap he fell. He turned his back upon the prayer meeting and the people of God. He knew he could not go on with Christ and the world at the same time except in hypocrisy. He knew this would only be adding sin to sin, so he determined for the time being to have the world.

"What a dreadful choice! But then, he promised himself, he would take Christ at the last, even though it might not be until he lay on his deathbed. He was by no means a wicked person; in fact, to all appearance he was a very good man. He conducted his business in a straightforward manner, and he was a kind and considerate employer. But he had made his choice. He had left God out.

"From a worldly point of view he got on very well. Everything he did seemed to succeed. The wealth he so longed for became his. His earthly hopes were realized. But what about the heavenly and eternal things? Satan whispered to him: "rime enough to think of those things later. You are not a bad man! Your intentions are good! There is nothing really to fear, for God is merciful. You will be saved at the last.'

"But Satan is a liar, and the father of lies. How mistaken and deceived the poor man was! While apparently in the prime of life, he was suddenly stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage. His case was immediately pronounced hopeless. Eternity in all its reality was upon him, and he was ignorant of its imminence.

"In this condition he passed into eternity. Apparently there had been no opportunity for him at the last to secure that salvation which Satan had led him to believe would be his.”

How solemn a thing it is to trifle with God's grace! Friend, do not stifle the Spirit's voice, for the day may come for you when your eternal sentence may be: "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; "But ye have set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." Prov. 1:24, 25.

Ashamed of Jesus

Some years ago we were on our way by train from eastern Canada to the Pacific Coast. It was monotonous, uninteresting scenery as we crossed the vast regions; but suddenly the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains came into view. In our sleeping car there was a rush for the windows from which the towering peaks could be seen. The train held on its way but seemed to us to be making little progress around the base of the mountains, so vast were they.

Among the passengers silence prevailed, and a feeling of awe seemed to have overtaken everyone. After a few minutes I said to a gentleman whose face had been glued to the window: "And just to think that the blessed One who made these great mountains, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the very One who, on the cross, bore our sins in His own body on the tree.”

To my sorrow, these words elicited no response. Absorbed in his sight-seeing, the man's thoughts and heart had no room for the Creator of this majestic splendor. But there is a day coming "when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." Rom. 2:16.

"Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed." Luke 9:26.

Years later we joined a group being escorted on a tour of the underground caverns of Luray, Virginia. The explanation given by the guide was that at one time an underground river had changed its course, leaving the yawning caves as evidence of its former path.

Here again as we moved along, an awesome silence seemed to have us in its grip. The thought in many minds must have been: "What if the river should suddenly re-appear following its old channel, or the vaulted roofs collapse while we are here?”

At one of the grottoes we had stood for some time in silent wonder. Suddenly a voice exclaimed: "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom past Thou made them all." Psa. 104:24.

Again we were saddened that there was no response. The mention of the name of the Lord brought only resistance to the pleasure-seeking hearts of the sight-seers. Could they be ashamed to own Him?

Ashamed of Jesus! Yes!—Jesus is the Lord! "Without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3.

"By whom also He made the worlds"—who also upholds "all things by the word of His power.”

Heb. 1:2, 3.

"O Christ, the heart rejoices in John one, and verse three,
For by the word of Jesus Christ the worlds came to be;
And those who here confess Him while traveling below,
Will surely have His blessing when they to glory go.”

"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 10:32, 33.

"Jesus, and shall it be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?”

Dear reader, are you ashamed of Jesus "that dear friend on whom our hopes of heaven depend"? Have you heard His voice of tenderness and love seeking to draw you to Himself? And have you been keeping Him at arms' length—conscious that your decision for Christ will mean the derision of your friends, and will be the end of, and progress in "this present evil world"? Gal. 1:4.

Pause, I pray you, and consider that the eternal welfare of your soul is at stake. An eternity—which you can never exhaust—which will last as long as God exists, is before you. Will it be in Heaven or Hell? One sin only in Eden's garden brought sin, death and judgment as man's portion. Are you not among the guilty? "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

Except for the intervention of our precious Savior on our behalf there could have been no salvation for any of us; but, blessed be God, we read in His Word: "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. 9:28.

"Blest Substitute from God, wrath's awful cup He drained," and "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6. Surely, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son At such a cost of infinite sorrow and suffering, to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10. the Savior went even unto death. In His mighty love to you He made this great salvation available; and do you say, "I scarce can take it in?”

Friend, you cannot ignore your own sins and your sinful state; you cannot ignore the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor set aside God's command that you "Repent... and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:19. This is a "must" for you, because God "will by no means clear the guilty." Ex. 34:7.

The penalty for refusing to come to God about your sins is plainly declared in this Scripture: "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.

Oh, friend, may this not be your portion. Instead, may God grant you the blessing bestowed upon the saints who once lived at Colosse: "The hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel." Col. 1:5.

"Till then, nor is my boasting vain;
Till then, I boast a Savior slain,
And may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me!”

T. M.

Unmerited Favor

Weary of earth and laden with my sin,
I look at heaven and long to enter in;
But there no evil thing may find a home,
And yet I hear a voice that bids me "Come.”

So vile I am, how dare I hope to stand
In the pure glory of that holy land?
Before the whiteness of that throne appear?
Yet there are hands stretched out to draw me near.

It is the voice of Jesus that I hear,
His are the hands stretched out to draw me near,
And His the blood that can for all atone,
And set me faultless there before the throne,

Yea, Thou wilt answer for me, righteous Lord;
Thine all the merits, mine the great reward;
Thine the sharp thorns, and mine the golden crown;
Mine the life won, and Thine the life laid down.

Naught can I bring, dear Lord, for all I owe,
Yet let my full heart what it can bestow;
Like Mary's gift, let my devotion prove,
Forgiven greatly, how I greatly love.

"FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.”

1 Tim. 2:5

July

Comfort in Song

A True Story of President McKinley Who Was Assassinated in 1902

What true child of God in this land has not heard of that sweet singer of the gospel of Christ, Ira D. Sankey? His travels with the noted evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, at whose meetings Sankey sought to preach Christ in song, introduced him to a worldwide audience.

One of Sankey's last lectures on "Sacred Song and Story" was delivered before a large audience in Washington, D.C. It was during the administration of President Wm. McKinley, and among those attending the lecture were Secretary of State John Hay, members of Congress, and several judges of the Supreme Court. The audience heartily joined in the singing of several of the hymns with Mr. Sankey, but the favorite of the evening was the soul-stirring "Nearer, my God, to Thee.”

During this visit to the nation's capitol, Sankey had requested Dr. Hamlin, pastor of the Church of the Covenant, to secure for him an appointment for an interview with President McKinley. Two days later the chief executive welcomed the singer warmly and graciously to the White House, expressing his pleasure in meeting personally one whom he had often heard in Ohio and whose gospel singing he had much enjoyed.

Mr. Sankey responded, "I understand that you are quite a fine singer yourself.”

With a smile the President replied: "I don't know about that; but I do try, like you, to sing the songs of Zion in the Spirit and with the understanding. The following day President McKinley went to New York, and while there attended service at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. During the service, "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung, and the President's clear voice rang out as he joined heartily in singing his favorite hymn. As he sang, oblivious to his surroundings, a reporter took a photograph of him which appeared the next day in one of the New York papers.

It was in Buffalo, in 1902, that the martyred President lay dying by the hand of an assassin. As his life was ebbing away, the sorrowing bystanders heard him singing faintly:

"Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me!
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!”

Thus, on the wings of a song sacred to thousands who have heard its comforting words in time of sorrow, passed away one of the nation's noblest men. At the time of his funeral in Canton, Ohio, all the trains, trolley cars, and nearly all machinery in the United States were stopped for five minutes, and "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung in nearly every church in the land.

Friend, do you know the heavenly Source of all comfort, the blessed God who loves you with an everlasting love? If He is still a stranger to you, how can you face the trials of this life? And how will you dare to face the last dread enemy, DEATH? Before it is too late, turn to Him who so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you, and who, because of that precious death on Calvary's cross, can now speak peace to your soul.

"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isa. 55:6.

Found Out and Turned Out

During a recent summer a very wealthy and prominent woman gave a garden party at her beautiful and stately home. Detectives were employed to safeguard the house and the guests, many of the latter wearing valuable jewelry on their persons. These detectives are men of good appearance, who would pass without remark among the guests, and who are trained to know by sight all who are likely to be the guests on such an occasion.

During the course of the afternoon they observed a guest quite unknown to them with a suspicious manner. They approached him and asked politely to see his card of invitation. This not being forthcoming, they inquired if he knew the hostess. He assured them he knew her very well. "In that case," they replied, "she will surely know you. Come this way, and we will see.”

The unhappy man had to go, and soon found himself in the presence of the hostess. The detectives said, "Madam, do you know this gentleman?" She looked at him narrowly, and replied that she was not acquainted with him. Then rough hands were laid on the unhappy man, and he was unceremoniously turned out. He was found out and turned out. Yes, my friend, the day is fast coming when many an unconverted choir singer, many an unregenerate communicant, will be likewise found out and turned out. "He knoweth them that trust in Him," wrote the prophet Nahum long years ago, and his testimony is true today.

Do you know the Lord? Yes, replies many a mere professor. If that is true, then the Lord knows you, for, "He knoweth them that trust in Him." The time will come when you will be thus put to the test.

Soon the Master of the house will rise up and shut to the door. How sad must be the answer to those who will clamor for admittance: "I know you not whence ye are.”

Useless will be their reply, "We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets." Again His crushing answer must come: "I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27.

Just think for a moment. "We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence." Unconverted, unhappy communicant, ponder over that when next you think of partaking of the Lord's Supper.

Unsaved one, the gospel has been preached faithfully in your hearing; the good news of God's love and Christ's work have been again and again pressed upon your acceptance. Receive them now before it is too late. Go to the Lord yourself. Without a card of invitation in your hand He will not fail you, if you go in truth to Him now. He says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

If you leave this life with nothing for Him but a false profession, you will find that He does not know you! You have never trusted in Him, and in His holy presence you will be found out and turned out.

"He knoweth them that trust in Him." Nah. 1:7.

Lost Opportunity

At the close of a brilliant and successful career in the political arena, Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield) wrote this striking epigram: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”

In the days of his youth he had been an eager candidate for honor and fame. Manhood saw his ambitious dreams realized, his efforts crowned with success, and he himself struggling to maintain the high position he had won. Old age crept on; the curtain of death dropped on the story of his life. Evidently he knew something of its regret, and—all unconsciously, perhaps—his saying was but a nineteenth-century echo of the words of Solomon, uttered at the close of a life of worldly glory and pleasure: "All is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?" Eccl. 1:2, 3.

Though Disraeli's words are true, they are not the whole truth. His epigram stopped at old age; but he himself did not. Old age gives place to death, and "after death the judgment.”

Friends, will you be as the myriads who, in leaving this world, have reviewed their past, full of sin and folly, anticipated with dread the future, and discovered when too late that they had made a mistake for eternity? Have you left God and His Son out of your life? If so, you have wasted TIME and face a lost ETERNITY.

Between a misspent life and a lost eternity, there is a wasted opportunity. But, thank God, that opportunity is yet your own. Since your soul's destiny is at stake, I appeal to you with all my heart to take at once your bearings in view of eternity. You have sinned. Eternity is just ahead. Now, in the day of opportunity, God offers you a choice: SALVATION —or DAMNATION: which?

Look past that solemn hour when you must enter into eternity. Now is the sowing, then the reaping, sure, bitter, and eternal

"For He
Whose word on earth was 'Come,'
Shall say, 'Depart! Go, lost one, go!
Reap the sad harvest thou didst sow,
Join you lost angels in their woe;
Their prison is thy home.'”

BUT

What an unspeakable mercy is this opportunity of yours, and how great your mistake if you miss it! Upon the cross Jesus reaped the bitter consequences of sin, in love to sinners; and the fact that God has raised Him from the dead, and seated Him in highest glory proves the value of the work that He has done. Will you choose Christ? Trust Him now. Trust Him and you will never have to look back and say: "My youth was a mistake; my manhood a struggle; and my old age a regret.”

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

That Night of the Lord”

It was such a queer little hall, in a narrow, dingy street in one of our seaport towns where sailors and dockers abounded. The hall had been formed by knocking out a partition, thus making two rooms into one. It had been previously used for some time as a place of doubtful amusement for the young people in the neighborhood, but lately had been rented to some Christian men. They wished to proclaim the gospel in that part of the town. They were not waiting for souls to seek the good news of salvation; they were carrying it into the midst of them. Thus the hall became a mission-room, where many found the Savior.

I had most reluctantly come to the meeting in this hall at the entreaty of an older sister. A young doctor from Edinburgh (he had given up the lancet for the "sword of the Spirit") was holding a gospel service, and this was his last night to speak.

The room was crowded and uncomfortably warm and close. As soon as the speaker appeared he opened a window. Then he asked a man to put out the fire which was burning in an open grate in a corner of the room. This he did with a large pair of tongs, spreading the smoking coals within the fender. They gave off a most unpleasant odor and steaming heat, hard for us to endure, for we were sitting close by, almost within reach of the platform.

This strange beginning did not make me like it any better. I thought I had never been in such a queer little place. Then when the doctor began to preach, he shouted so loud that I was at first considerably disturbed. I hated loud voices, and I compared his with my father's gentle, gracious tones to which I was accustomed to listen. The contrast was not to the doctor's advantage.

The doctor was preaching on the words: "When I see the blood I will pass over you." He described with graphic reality and intensity that awful night in Egypt; not a house where there was not one dead! The Lord had passed through the land in judgment; and the firstborn of wealthy and poor, highborn and humble, had been struck down suddenly by the hand of a just and holy God. Only in the houses where the blood of a lamb had been sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels was there peace and safety.

This was but a faint picture, he said, of the judgment soon to fall on this sinful world; and every unsaved soul in that hall, whatever his outward position, respectability, or attainments, stood guilty before God: exposed to the judgment which was as surely coming as it had come in that long ago night in Egypt.

God "hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained [appointed]." Acts 17:31.

"There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:22, 23.

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:20. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

Judgment (the inevitable consequence of man's sin and ruin) was coming! It was sure, it was certain. We could no more prevent its coming than we could stop the express train rushing to its destruction.

All were guilty; all were in peril. Every soul must meet a holy God who could by no means clear the guilty. All were shut up to the just judgment of God.

How terrible was the danger in which I found myself! To stand before God—a holy God—all alone. A guilty sinner! I knew and felt it now. What should I do?

In my anxiety I listened eagerly and drank in every word. The heat of the room no longer oppressed me. The loud voice of the speaker annoyed me no more. I was only anxious about one thing: Would he explain clearly, clearly enough that I might know how to be saved? Would he make it quite plain how I might be sprinkled by the blood of the Lamb?

"When free grace awoke me with light from on high, Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die.”

And he did explain it all so simply. "The blood of the Lamb means that a spotless life has been laid down—the blood of His own Son has been shed for sinners, for you. The Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, suffered in your stead. Jehovah laid on His beloved Son the iniquity of us all. God is satisfied with Jesus, and His offering of Himself for sin. He asks you to be satisfied with His dear Son and His work on Calvary for you. He bids you come just as you are—in all your guiltiness and need—and accept Him and His word. He is here waiting the response of your heart. Will you accept Him now as your personal Savior? `Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.' You can take Him just as you are, just where you are. Will you?”

Never shall I forget those last words and the extraordinary sense of God's presence and power that came over me. I realized that I must answer a holy God. I saw that I had to do with God, and I must act at once. The present moment of salvation was all that was offered to me. Tomorrow might be too late.

But what doubts assailed me! Though I was deeply conscious of my need and my danger, it did not seem possible to come at once to Christ. It all seemed too simple. I must have misunderstood. There must be something to do, or to feel, or to wait for, before I could be forgiven and accepted.

All the long walk home after the service the Spirit strove with me. I seemed to hear God saying, "When I see the blood I will pass over you. When I see the blood. Never mind what you feel; when I see you trusting only in the blood of Christ, the death of Christ in your stead, I will pass over you. Judgment is passed, it has been borne on Calvary for you, if you will rest in that perfect sacrifice. You can take Him just as you are, and just where you are; will you?”

Praise be to God, I took Him at His word. One more poor sinner proved "that night of the Lord" that God meant what He said: "When I see the blood I will pass over you.”

"For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Lev. 17:11.

A Wicked Wretch Released

A foreign prince, once traveling through France, visited the arsenal of Toulon where the galley slaves were kept. The commandant, as a compliment to the visitor, said he was welcome to set free any prisoner whom he should choose. The prince, wishing to make the best use of this privilege, spoke to many of them in succession, inquiring why they were condemned to the galleys. Injustice, false accusation, oppression, were the only causes they gave. One after the other, they claimed they had been ill-treated and were innocent.

At last he came to one who, when asked the same question, answered: "My lord, I have no reason to complain! I have been a very wicked, desperate wretch. I have often deserved to be broken alive on the wheel. I account it a great mercy that I am here.”

The prince, looking compassionately upon him, gave him a gentle blow upon the head and said, "You wicked wretch! It is a pity you should be among so many honest men. By your own confession you are bad enough to corrupt them all. You shall not stay with them another day." Then turning to the officer he said, "This is the man, sir, I wish to release.”

Let us take this story to our hearts. All the prisoners were offenders, all guilty, but only one owned and confessed it. He was set free. So our gracious God deals with us sinners. If we confess that we are sinners, then we can claim the sinner's Savior, as our Savior. His blood is sufficient to cleanse from all sin.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

He Once Was Here

He once was here in human form, a Babe of lowly birth;
That we might know His Father's love He came from heaven to earth.
He once was here in Simeon's arms. So grand the sight, that he
Could say, "I now can die in peace! I Thy salvation see.”

He once was here in temple grand with scholars at His side,
Astonished they at what He knew, none with such wisdom vied.
He once was here, a Man 'mongst men: His every act was good;
He healed the sick, He raised the dead, gave to the hungry food.

He once was here on Calvary's mount, nailed to the accursed tree,
His holy head was bowed in death to show His love for me.
He once was here, and all the way the weary desert trod,
From Bethlehem to Calvary, back to the throne of God.

He is not here, for death's cold grasp must His command obey,
So from the, silent tomb He rose that resurrection day.
He is not here, for this poor world no place the Savior gave,
He's now upon the throne of God, omnipotent to save.

He will be here, for in His word so clearly we can see
That righteousness will cover earth as waters cover sea.
He will be here and reign o'er earth with His redeemed ere long,
And all creation join to sing the great redemption song.

How great that day when He who once a Man of humble birth—
Now sitting on the throne of God—will reign o'er heaven and earth.
Lord, haste that day when, at Thy feet, all creatures great and small,
With one united burst of praise will own Thee Lord of all!

The Shut Door”

Rejecters of Christ! Cold, empty professors of religion! Foolish virgins! Here are a few more words to strike fear to your hearts. Think of these words: "And the door was shut." Matt. 25:10.

What will this world be to you when that door, the door into God's very presence, is shut?

What will be the value to you of this world's riches then? What pleasure will you find in sin then? What will the praise of men and the enticements of Satan be worth to you then?

Think, oh think, dear reader! Think seriously of that coming, solemn hour! When that day shall come, what is there in the wide range of your thoughts and imagination that is worth having, when compared with Christ?

If Satan's world be your choice here, Satan's hell must be your portion hereafter. And remember, the time is short. The door will soon be shut, and shut forever.

Haste, then! Delay not! Forget not! Right now, with your whole heart, flee to Jesus! He is waiting to receive you. He is ready to pardon you. He is willing to save you. He invites you to Him. Do you not hear His voice of love? He says: "Hear, and your soul shall live." Isa. 55:3.

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

"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

"Seek ye the Lord while He may
be found, call ye upon Him while
He is near.”

Isa. 55:6

August

To Get Faith

Some say, faith is the gift of God." So is the air; but you have to breathe it. So is water; but you have to drink it.

Some desire to have a miraculous kind of feeling. That is not faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Rom. 10:17.

It is not for me to sit down and wait for faith to come stealing over me with a strange sensation; but it is for me to take God at His Word. You cannot believe unless you have something to believe. So take the Word as it is written, and appropriate it, lay hold of it. In John 6:47, 48, we read: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life." There is the bread right at hand. Partake of it. I might have thousands of loaves within my home, and as many hungry men waiting for it. They might assent to the fact that the bread was there; but unless they each took a loaf and commenced eating, their hunger would not be satisfied.

So Christ is the bread of heaven; and as the body feeds on natural food, so the soul must feed on Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Believe and live.

D. L. Moody "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Rom. 1:16.

Be in Time?

The gospel preacher gave out a hymn, but the words which I can recall and which still ring in my ears were: "Be in Time, Be in Time." I had traveled to that town by train. I had had plenty of time to buy my ticket and to watch the train whiz into the station.

I took my seat, and at that very instant I felt the train moving. The porter cried, "Hurry up!" and, hot and panting, a young girl raced along the platform to the vestibule of the coach where I sat. The porter pushed her up the steps and into the train, warning her, as he did so, to "be in time" another day.

Hardly was she seated, when a lady, who had been examining the books on the newsstand for at least ten minutes, turned around. She saw the train moving and sprang forward with a cry. "Is that the M— train?"

"Stand back!" shouted the guard.

"Stop the train, stop the train! I must get to M—!”

"Too late, madam," said the porter, and he laid a detaining hand on her arm.

The train was now well out of the station. I turned from the window and heard an old woman in a corner remark: "Well, now, if she wasn't silly with them porters calling out her station in her very ears!”

She had been silly; but I felt sorry for that lady. She evidently meant to "be in time" for that train, but she missed it.

What a lesson this little incident teaches! May your ears, my friend, be open to the gospel cry going out around you. Hear it, I pray, and answer its call. "Be in time.”

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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.

"For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

A Choice

The late afternoon rays of a summer's sun were fading. In the busy town one who knew the Lord received an urgent message: "Come at once; Mary Cameron is dying, and she is afraid to die.”

These words admitted of no delay to any heart who knew the priceless value of one precious soul, nor to one who possessed the secret which could change the fear of death into a song of triumph. To such a one belongs the cry: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:55-57.

Eager to speak of Jesus to a needy sinner, His servant hastened to follow the messenger, a young woman, to the place where the sick woman lay. Through narrow streets they went until the guide stopped before a dingy old house. She said: "You will find Mrs. Cameron in the right-hand room on the third floor. You can knock, and go right in, for she will be expecting you.”

The house was one where single rooms were rented. It was crowded with tenants-poor, wretched, and sinful. Haggard faces, etched with deep lines of care, told of the need of Christ for comfort now, as well as for eternal salvation. The visitor's heart ached at the sights and sounds around as he thought, "And for such as these my Lord did die!”

In the room pointed out—the right-hand room on the third floor—a young woman was lying on a low bed. Though apparently dying, her great concern was for her soul. As to the hereafter she had only very dim misty ideas, and to enter it was to her like "taking a leap in the dark." This leap she feared to take.

The poor woman indeed appeared to be dying, and if so, she was dying without Christ. Sitting by her bedside, the Christian visitor whom she welcomed eagerly read to her from God's own Word how Jesus came and bled and died to save just such as she. She listened quietly; she asked for prayer; and earnest prayer went up for her that she might put her trust in the Savior.

Jesus and His love, however, seemed to have no power over her heart. She was afraid to die—terribly afraid to die. She wanted to be assured she would not go to hell, and that was all. About this she was truly anxious. Over and over God's offer of salvation through Christ and His finished work was presented to her. His willingness to save, His desire to have her, were pressed upon her. Her heart was touched and almost she was persuaded.

Beyond the "almost persuaded" Mary Cameron did not get. She wept, she seemed in earnest, she did everything but accept Christ. No further would she go.

Promising to return the following morning, her friend at last left her, praying the Lord on the homeward way to remove whatever hindered that soul, apparently anxious, apparently so near eternity, from accepting the offer of the Savior.

Morning after morning God's Word was read to her with the same results—almost persuaded, never quite decided. Jesus was a Savior to her, but not her Savior. Sometimes the point of decision came so near there seemed but a hair's breadth between her and eternal life. As she lingered on the shores of death, deep anxiety and sorrow filled the heart of the Christian visitor.

At last there came a change. She rallied, and seemed improved as to her bodily health. However, as her strength increased, her interest in the things of the Lord decreased. Soon hopes were entertained of her recovery, and then the visits, once so eagerly looked for, were evidently no longer welcome.

With the prospect of a prolonged earthly life, the woman's desire for eternal life seemed to disappear. Only for death had she wanted Christ. She was afraid to die without Him; but she would rather live without Him. She had only been half-persuaded to become a Christian.

There seemed now every prospect of Mary Cameron's recovery, and it became apparent that, though grateful to the one who had visited her and for kindness shown to her, she no longer had real concern about her soul. The subject once so welcomed by her was now irksome. But her Christian visitor was unwilling to give her up, for he longed with intense desire for the salvation of her soul.

It was with a deep feeling of solemnity that her friend again entered her room. He found her full of the joy of recovering health, but with no note of praise to the Lord. Her mind seemed entirely taken up with plans for attending a fair, which was to be held nearby in about a week's time. Mary was full of the thought of going, since she would probably be quite well by then.

Greatly distressed, her visitor listened, and then solemnly and earnestly put this question to her: "Would you give up Christ for a fair?”

"But I am getting well, I am not dying now," she answered; "and I do mean to be a Christian some day.”

It was the world that had won her heart from Christ. And a poor world it was! A dark little room, miserable companions, poverty and wretchedness everywhere. But it was a big enough world, even at that, to close her heart against the Savior, to shut Him out. Do you wonder at her? Weigh for one moment your own world in the scales of eternity. Are you making a wiser choice? Are you taking anything, everything, this world can give, instead of Jesus, and life eternal in Him? If so, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. 16:26.

Mary Cameron chose to give up Christ for "the fair next week," and Satan cheated her even of this poor paltry joy he offered her. The Christian visitor's heart was indeed heavy as he descended the rickety stairs.

Solemnly, as though on the very verge of eternity, with this as her last opportunity, Mary was warned not to risk her eternal salvation for so poor a thing, for this had plainly been the whole reason for her indecision.

It was no new wile of Satan's; he has tried the same with thousands, saying, "Be a Christian, of course, some day, but not today. Do this first.”

Before leaving the now convalescent young woman, her friend had turned back to leave these two scriptures with her: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"; and, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." For a moment once more Mary wavered; but the thought of the fair prevailed. Her decision was made. "I will think of these things another time, but not today.”

A neighboring clock was striking eleven as the Christian went out into the bright morning sunshine. Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, he was returning home, still thinking of his morning call on the sick girl, no power even to pray for her; he yet felt quite unable to think of anything else. A voice called to him suddenly: "Have you seen Mary Cameron today?" It was the doctor who had been attending her who spoke, and his manner was grave.

"Yes, Doctor," was the answer. "I suppose she is getting quite well now.”

"She is dying!" was the doctor's reply. He was a man of few words. His only explanation was: "Inflammation, acute. She may not last an hour." He was hurrying on, but turned back to say: "She may not be conscious; but if you can be of any help to her, you had better go at once.”

No second bidding was needed. Hurriedly, tremblingly, the Christian entered that well-known door, "the right-hand door on the third story." There Mary was lying on the same bed where she had so often listened to the Word of God; but how changed now! Her entire appearance spoke of death as she cried over and over, "'God is not mocked.' Too late! Too late!”

Her friend knelt to pray that even now, at the eleventh hour, she might look to Jesus and be saved. His words of prayer were interrupted by a half-struggle, half-shriek—unearthly, appalling. Mary's face was the picture of despair, and agony, and wild affright. With the terrible words, "Too late! too late!" once more on her lips, she passed into eternity.

Only a few short hours before, she had said she "would think of these things another day, not today"; and Satan, the god of this world, could now glory that, for her, that other day would never come.

Dear reader, if you are unconverted still, if you do not belong to the Savior, may you have no rest till you choose Him for eternity. May that choice be like the choice of another Mary of whom the Lord could say: "She hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her!" For what was that choice? To be close to Jesus for all time, listening to Him, worshiping Him; and to be by His side for all eternity!

God's Ways

God's ways are behind the scenes; but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this, and let Him work, and not think much of man's busy movements: they will accomplish God's. The rest of them all perish and disappear. We have only peacefully to do His will. J. N. D.

There Is a Fountain?

William Cowper, the Olney poet and writer, was in great distress of soul. He knew himself to be a sinner, lost, helpless, and desperate. If he should be called to leave this world, what awaited him?

Almost beside himself with fear, in his desperation he turned to the Bible. Aimlessly he scanned the open page. There, like a special message to him from God, he read: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set 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." Rom. 3:24, 25.

On this scripture William Cowper rested, and found peace for his soul.

He afterward wrote the hymn which is a favorite of many and has brought peace and blessing to souls throughout the world—

"There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins.”

In one instance an ex-convict, recently released from a long prison sentence, was brought under the sound of the gospel after his liberation. At the close of the service, Cowper's hymn was sung by a company of saved sinners. These happy believers knew well through God's grace the meaning of its words, and proclaimed heartily the lines:

"The dying thief rejoiced to see,
That fountain in his day;
And there may I though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.”

Listening intently, the convicted man said to himself, "That admits me.”

He humbly took the sinner's place and claimed Christ as his Savior.

Truly, "this Man [Christ Jesus] receiveth sinners!”

Another trophy of God's grace, a young Irish farmer, used to say: "God has saved me, praise be to His name! And He'll never hear the end of it, for I'll praise Him for all eternity.”

Then he would sing with all his heart:
"Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I'll sing Thy power to save;
Though this poor lisping, stammering tongue,
Lies silent in the grave.”

Numerous others saved under the sound of this gospel hymn have told of their blessing; but in one instance it was a simple chorus sung after the hymn that brought peace and joy to a listener.

It was on the last night of our series of meetings. Time after time the audience had sung verse after verse of "There is a fountain." Then came, as a benediction:

"I will believe, I do believe,
That Jesus died for me;
That on the cross He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free.”

A young man had attended all the meetings, but "could not see" God's simple way of salvation. Later he told us that he was saved while that chorus was being sung.

"It was that 'for me' that did it: I just claimed it as mine.”

How like Saul of Tarsus! He says: "The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

A Middling Man

A group had gone to the prayer-room after the meeting and one of the Christians was trying to show John the truth of Rom. 3:23: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." At last the Christian said, "From what you have said, John, you think yourself a pretty fair kind of a man.”

"Well, Mr. Fraser, I will tell you my thoughts about that exactly. I never did much that was bad, nor can I say that I ever did a great deal of good. I think you might call me a middling man.”

Mr. Fraser answered: "That is your opinion, John. But don't you think that everything that exists must have a cause from which it sprang?”

"Certainly I do, Mr. Fraser. I am not so void of sense as not to know that.”

"Well, John, what do you suppose is the first cause of a good man?”

Promptly John answered: "God, of course, sir.”

"And what do you think would be the cause of a bad man?”

Just as positively John replied: "The devil, most certainly; for God never made anything bad.”

Then said Mr. Fraser: "But, John, how do you determine the cause of a middling man?”

Hesitantly, John tried to answer. "W-e-l-l, I supp-o-s-e—.”

"There, John, you are stuck. You say God is the cause of a good man, and Satan is the cause of a bad man, but you claim to be neither! You are middling! Don't you know that some cause made you what you are? As it is neither God nor Satan, what could have made you middling?”

Recovering himself John replied: "Why, sir, I have heard a great many folks like me say that they were middling—that is, neither good nor bad. But really, now that I think of the matter in the way you put it, I begin to be somewhat doubtful whether I am right. Yet, I assure you, sir, I do not think I should be called a bad person.”

Silently praying for wisdom, Mr. Fraser proceeded: "John, did you ever see a middling silver coin, or a middling bank note?”

Quickly John replied: "No, never, Mr. Fraser. They are always either good or bad. But I have known some bad ones to pass for good ones.”

Said Mr. Fraser: "You are right, John. You never saw middling money, and you never saw middling men—that is, as before God. God is a Being of perfect holiness and infinite purity, and He judges according to a perfect standard. To be accepted of Him we must be perfectly fitted for His approval. He cannot receive `middling' men, and call them good. They must be either righteous or unrighteous, either saint or sinner. A middling man does not exist in God's sight.

"So, friend John, when you go home, think seriously on this subject. 'You cannot serve two masters.' At this moment you are either saved or lost; you are either serving God or Satan. You cannot be a middling man! There is no middling cause, no middling life, no middling death, and no middling destiny.”

Reader, this is true of you, too. You are at this moment either saved or lost, righteous or unrighteous, in God's sight. You cannot be middling. You are either a child of God or a servant of the wicked one. You are pardoned or unpardoned. You are either saved for all eternity by God's grace, or you are now under His condemnation. Which?

"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." John 3:36.

Wounded for My Transgressions

(Isa. 53:5)

Wounded for my transgressions!
Slowly the words I read;
Swiftly the tears will gather,
Truly the heart should bleed.
Wonderful condescension!
Matchless, infinite grace!
Jesus, the Sinless—Holy—
Taking the sinners place.

Wonderful, wonderful story!
Wonderful depth of love!
Laying aside His glory,
Leaving the courts above;
Jesus, the Man of sorrows,
Homeless and friendless He,
Wounded—so cruelly wounded,
Bruised—and broken—for me.

Fiercely the storm sweeps round Him!
Darkly the shadows fall;
Wrath, and anger, and judgment,
Jesus—bearing it all;
Draining the cup of anguish,
Dying on Calv'ry's tree:
Wonderful plan of redemption:
Jesus—dying—for me!

"Dost Thou Believe On The Son Of God?”

John 9:35

"This Is His Commandment, That We Should Believe On The Name Of His Son Jesus Christ.”

Echoes of Grace: 1964

Table of Contents

January

The Devil's Outcasts

Bread Upon the Waters?

Abide With Me”

A Happy Young Man

"Where Is Judgment?"

This Very Moment

Just to Please Jesus

"Life's Aim."

February

God Speaks

The Supreme Test

Eight Old Men

No Tomorrow

A Friendly Neighbor

It Cost the World

One Life

Without Christ

Come and Rest

March

Only One

Found

The Way of the World”

An Exception

A Grand Old Time

He Was Wounded”

April

Hell in the Way

A Midnight Conversation

Accept Everything”

God's Gift

Not Worthy, but Welcome

The Simple Way

Why Worry?

Plenteous Grace

Christ Is the Way

May

Not Your Own

Come Just As You Are

Heavenly Comfort

Always the Same

Time and Eternity

Better on Before

The Questions

June

Don't Wait!

On Time

Not Do but Done

Going West

Forever Too Late

Ashamed of Jesus

Unmerited Favor

July

Comfort in Song

Found Out and Turned Out

Lost Opportunity

That Night of the Lord”

A Wicked Wretch Released

He Once Was Here

The Shut Door”

August

To Get Faith

Be in Time?

A Choice

God's Ways

There Is a Fountain?

A Middling Man

Wounded for My Transgressions

A Good Time

The Empty Chair

The Cabbie's Conversion

God's Own Provision

The Magnet

O Wondrous Love

October

The Engineer’s Sermon

Saving Grace

The Bible Elevator