Echoes of Grace: 1979

It was sudden death and sudden glory for a Christian stewardess on board the Pacific Southwest jetliner which collided mid-air with a small plane over San Diego on September 25, 1978.

The stewardess, whose home was in Holland, is known to have been "saved through the blood of Jesus" only two weeks prior to the crash which resulted in 144 deaths. What can match the importance of being ready for death should it come? It matters little where we came from; but where we are going is of vital concern. How many more believers died in the disaster is unknown.

The huge Boeing was making its approach to the San Diego terminal. As it banked to line up with its designated landing strip, a small Cessna 172, deviating slightly from its flight-path, put itself on the same heading as the PSA jet.

The collision, which demolished the Cessna and killed its two occupants, disabled the jetliner which crashed in less than 30 seconds after the impact. The terrific explosion and fire resulted in "no survivors". The last communication from the pilot was "We are going down!"

A Christian near to whose home the crash occurred wrote: "What a solemn warning to us all! They who were almost to their destination were suddenly hurled into eternity.

"The writer arrived at the scene minutes later and with his back to those terrible flames, helped the police control the crowds. Stunned by the tragic scene, he could only think of all the precious souls perishing in the flaming wreckage—and in the smashed and burning homes. How helpless we were! As someone said: 'There is not a single thing we can do to help them.' They were beyond rescue, too late for first-aid, and above all, too late for spiritual help if they died without knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Well may these questions be asked: "If you, reader, had been on that plane or in one of those destroyed homes, where would your soul be now? Would you have been ready? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your own precious Savior? If not, be warned before it is too late! If you die in your sins, you will be forever lost, with no hope of being saved.

"Had that jetliner at the last moment turned to the left rather than right, it could have been the writer and his house that were destroyed. But what a difference to be ushered into the Lord's presence where there 'is fullness of joy' and to be forever with Him "Who loved me and gave Himself for me!'

"Perhaps the Lord in His mercy saw fit to spare us so that you may read and heed this warning if you are not saved. Let me urge you, dear reader, in all the seriousness that came over me as I worked so close to those engulfed in flame—in the presence of death—to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior before it is too late."

Since the above was written, the worst aviation accident in the United States joined the gruesome list of major air disasters.

On May 25, 1979, 273 people were killed when a DC-10 jetliner crashed and exploded shortly after take-off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

"It looked like a fire swept through a clothing store and burned all the mannequins," a rescue worker said. "Only they weren't mannequins."

No, they were precious souls—all hurled suddenly into eternity. Yes, reader, ETERNITY. And where will you spend it?

"Behold, now is the day of Salvation." "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." 2 Cor. 6:2; Heb. 4:7.

Love Your Enemies

During a recent Gospel meeting in Macari, Peru, an aged native farmer was joyfully converted to God. Following the meeting he fervently prayed: "Lord, forgive those who have done me much harm. They have taken away my land and my money. I should be rich, but now I am poor. I pray, forgive them."

It was the first time on his knees as a Christian. Precious fruit of grace in a newborn soul!

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:43-45.

"He Giveth Power to the Faint"

"I tell you again, mate, 'religion' may do finely for women and children; but it will not do for men."

Such were the words of Jonathan Winters, a rough old miner, to one of his comrades who had lately determined to follow Christ.

"And as for you, Roger," continued Jonathan, "I'm sure you don't need making any more of a woman than you be already. You are the softest, most chicken-hearted chap I know. And if you really are going to be pious and 'Bible-reading' into the bargain, you'll turn so soft that a shadow will frighten you.

"Give it up mate; give it up. You're only half a man as it is, but whatever will you become if you stick to religion, I should like to know?"

"Something better than I have been," replied Roger, in a voice scarcely heard amid the jests and laughter of his fellow-workers.

Roger and Jonathan, with about a hundred others were employed in the operation of a coal mine. Roger was the only Christian among them. Months passed since the above tirade, and though jeered at and annoyed, Roger had never given up ‘religion'.

It was a bright day at noon, when Roger was let down in the bucket to the bottom of the shaft. When he reached the floor he began handing some tools and stores to "Little Ben", a lad sometimes employed below. The bucket was soon emptied, and Roger was stepping out.

But hark! What sound was that which made his cheeks turn pale? It was the rushing of water. His long experience told him that the water from a neighboring stream had found its way into the mine. In a few minutes his fellow-workmen might be overwhelmed and lost.

One foot was yet in the bucket. A jerk of the rope and it would be raised and he would be saved. It was the supreme challenge to his timid nature. Then he remembered his comrades; their unfitness for death; their willful ignorance of the love of Christ.

The thought of the Savior nerved his heart. He would not save himself while they were unwarned.

Quickly jumping out, he seized "Little Ben", placed him in the bucket, saying as he jerked the rope: "Tell all the town that the water is coming in and that we are probably lost. We will seek refuge at the far end of the right gallery. Be quick. Good-bye." The next moment the bucket and "Little Ben" disappeared.

The mine was a series of long, narrow passages from which the coal had been dug. Hurrying along these, Roger soon reached the working crew and told them of their danger.

It was a terrible moment. Each one would have rushed madly away in vain efforts to save himself. But his noble purpose made the timid Roger firm and calm.

He told them of the message he had sent to the surface and bade them follow him with their picks to the end of the right gallery. It was the highest point in the mine, and the trapped men succeeded in hollowing out a chamber higher up still. Here they hoped they would be above the level which the fast-rising water would reach. Into this chamber the men hurried, to await slow deliverance or to perish by hunger, drowning or suffocation.

A few provisions had been saved, though little enough for one day's rations.

During the long, dismal hours which followed, Roger prayed and entreated; and after the first excitement had passed, the men listened, as men will listen, when face to face with death.

Meanwhile, far above, relief operations had begun. Guided by Roger's message, rescue teams toiled night and day sinking a new shaft above the right gallery. On the morning of the fifth day, faint sounds of hammers below greeted the weary men above. With new vigor they toiled, and soon the entombed miners were reached. Several were dead. But more than half, and among them Roger, were yet alive.

Eventually all of the rescued recovered from their awful ordeal. With many the impressions then made on their souls were never erased, but brought forth fruit in their lives afterward as converted men.

Among these was Jonathan Winter, who had been the first to sneer at Roger's confession of Christ. When he learned how Roger might have saved himself and "Little Ben", leaving others to their fate, he exclaimed: "I said that religion would make Roger more of a 'softy' than he was before; but it seems to me, mates, that it has made him do what many of us would scarce have dared. The 'Bible-reading' that can make a timid chap like him risk his life for the sake of telling us about a Savior, must be good for us all. I cast in my lot with Roger. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13.

Salvation for the Needy

An American Indian and a white man were brought under conviction of sin by the same Gospel sermon.

Shortly afterward, the Indian was led to rejoice in God's pardoning mercy. The white man, on the other hand, was under great distress of mind for weeks, and at times was ready to despair. But at last he also was brought to a happy knowledge of forgiving love.

Some time later, meeting his red-skinned brother, he asked: "How was it that I should be so long under conviction, when you found peace so soon?"

"O, brother," replied the Indian, "me tell you. There come along a rich Prince. He proposes to give you a new coat. You look at your coat and say: 'I don't know; my coat pretty good. I think it will do a little longer.'

"He then offer me a new coat. I look at my old blanket; and I say: ‘This is good for nothing: I fling it right away, and accept the beautiful garment. Just so, brother, you try to keep your own righteousness for some time; you loath to give it up. But I, poor Indian, had no righteousness; therefore, I glad at once to receive the righteousness of God, the Lord Jesus Christ."

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

"I Will Give Up"

The following story concerns a man named "Frank" who was well known in his community as an exceedingly wicked and careless fellow.

His wife had been converted during some recent revival meetings and prayed much for her husband. But the more she prayed, the worse he became.

Night after night he came home either drunk or swearing about the revival in the church or about her prayers.

He especially hated William Haslam, the evangelist, who was holding the meetings and made terrible threats as to what he would do if ever he caught him in his house. He had a vile temper and was troubled with an artificial leg which made him even worse.

The local authorities employed him for road work. Frank Haslam wrote: "Notwithstanding his bad temper and ill-feeling towards me, I always stopped when passing and talked to him.

"One day when coming along I noticed Frank ahead of me, busy as usual. I began to think what I would talk to him about, but when I came to the spot, to my astonishment, he was not there.

"I looked around on all sides and called, but in vain. No one answered. There was no hedge or tree within sight where he might hide; where could he be?

"All at once I remembered a small gravel pit, some 20 or 30 yards off. I went towards it, still calling, "Frank—Frank!" but received no answer.

"On looking into the quarry, sure enough, there was my man, lying down in the pit, close up to the side, with his face to the ground. I said: "Frank, is that you? What are you doing there? Are you ill?"

" ‘No, I'm not, what do you want with me?'

"Nothing in particular, but I was so surprised at your disappearance, that I could not pass on without looking for you. I wondered whether I had seen your ghost instead of you. Are you hiding away from me?"

Getting up, he said: "I had a terrible dream last night which frightened me very much. A voice said to me: ‘Go and see Mr. Haslam about your soul'.

"I will, I will," I said, "first thing in the morning! When morning came, I thought the evening will do. And when I saw you coming, it made me tremble so, that I hid myself."

"Frank," I said, "it's no use for you to fight against God or stand out against your wife's prayers. You had better give in."

"He told me that his dream referred to something in his past life, and sitting down on the bank, he said: ‘When I was ill the doctor told me that I should die. I then cried to the Lord to have mercy on me, and said that if He would raise me up, I would give my heart to Him.

‘I began to recover from that day, and kept intending and intending to give my heart to God; but I never did it.

‘I got quite well in health, but ever since that time I've been getting worse and worse in mind.

When my wife was converted, it seemed as if the devil took possession of me altogether, and the Lord warned me again last night.'

"Come now!" I said, "you had better kneel down here and give up!" It was a lonely road through a bare field. Kneel down and let us pray."

He did so, and after prayer he said:

‘By God's help, I will give up.'

"No," I said, "that will not do. Say 'Lord take my heart. I do! not I will give up.'

After a short pause he solemnly said: ‘I do give up Lord. Take my heart!' And then he began to cry.

"I gave him the text: "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. 'Think over that,' I said, 'and come to the school-room meeting tonight.'

He did so and was saved, to the joy of his soul.

"After his conversion he came one morning to beg my pardon for having forbidden me to his house, and to ask if I would not come and hold a meeting there for his neighbors. I did; and there was such a crowd inside and also outside the house and so much blessing, that I was not satisfied with one visit, but went again and again. Every time we preached there, souls were saved."

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Taxi Driver Saved

Some time ago a London newspaper told how a piece of paper left in his cab made a startling change in the life of a taxi driver named Albert Jones of Montreal.

The piece of paper was a copy of the Gospel of John.

"I began to read it while hanging around stands waiting for a fare," recalled Jones. "I became interested, got hold of a Bible and spent the next six months reading it."

That was several years ago and it launched the 45-year-old bachelor on a new career. From then on he spent all his time spreading the Word of God among the seamen on the Montreal waterfront.

Mr. Jones bought a used car to make his rounds.

"You can imagine I was very hesitant at first," said Jones. "This was all new to a landlubber like me. And, O boy! those sailors let me know where I stood in their eyes. They were pretty scornful to say the least.

"I always asked permission of the captain or mate before going aboard. Most were courteous, but some looked at me as if I had rocks in my head.

A taxi driver most of his life, Jones had not been near a church for 20 years when he found his new vocation.

"I'm perfectly content to make this my life's work," he said.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." Rom. 12:1, 2.

The Wrong Place

A German nobleman was so convicted of his sinful life that he determined to become a monk. He was directed to seek admission to a monastery 1500 miles away, where the penance was severe and the discipline exceedingly strict.

Under the scorching sun he made the journey and came to the monastery. He rang the bell and an aged monk opened the gate. Learning his business the monk admitted him to shelter for the night.

He then told the old man his story and received the following counsel: "If you want to be saved, you have come to the wrong place. Christ has finished the work, and there is nothing left for you to do."

"The young German believed the old man's message, and returned home to Germany—a sinner saved by grace alone.

O Sleeper, Arise!

The way through the Peruvian mountain pass was long and steep, and it was late in the day. The weather was bitterly cold and snow was filling the pass, while two weary natives urged their laden donkeys up the last lap of their journey to a house at the top.

But at this point one of the travelers, overcome with cold and fatigue, gave up the struggle and sat down in the snow to sleep.

Knowing that it would be a sleep which ended in death, his companion endeavored with sternest warnings to urge him on; but his direst threats were in vain. So he continued the journey with the donkeys alone and finally reached the house on the summit.

Later, another traveler up the pass found the sleeping man; but unable to arouse him, he too left him behind and reached the house. When his companion learned from the newcomer that the sleeper was still alive, he pulled on his coat and boots, and taking his donkey whip, returned to the scene.

Finding the man still asleep, he proceeded to belabor him with the whip and finally succeeded in waking him and standing him on his feet.

Then with constant yelling, threatening and whipping he managed to literally drive the drowsy fellow up to the safety of the house, thus saving him from his fatal sleep. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend"!

When a missionary from Peru related this story, we could not but think of the multitudes in our land, who, overcome by the prince of this world, are asleep to the awful doom that awaits them if they die in their sins. They are as the sailor in the Proverbs, who totally insensible to his danger, "lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast." Prov. 23:34.

God in His mercy and love often employs the sternest measures to awaken those He has determined to save. It may be through accident, illness, loss of loved ones, loss of property or other financial reverses.

Assuredly this is God by His Spirit going out into the highways and hedges and compelling them to come in that His house may be filled. Luke 14:23.

Have you, reader, come in? There's room in God's house for you. Through Christ Jesus He welcomes you today.

"What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God!" Jonah 1:6.

Happiness

‘Tis Jesus only that can give

Sweetest pleasures while we live;

‘Tis Jesus only can supply

Solid comfort when we die.

The only one who has a right to be happy is the Christian, he, and he alone being delivered from the bondage of sin, death and judgment. Well might the Psalmist say: "Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord." Psa. 144:15. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psa. 16:11.

Lost Islands

According to a persistent ancient legend there once existed an inhabited island called Atlantis, which was destroyed, the legend says, by an earth-quake thousands of years ago. Recently, Soviet ocean explorers reported having uncovered the huge land mass 200 to 300 miles off the coast of Portugal. They claim to have photographed parts of it at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.

In more modern times, we are told, there stood a now lost island in the Indian Ocean. It had many people living upon it. Over it shone the sun by day and the moon and the stars by night. Round it rolled the waters of the tropical sea, and across its mountain heights and groves of palm trees swept the fresh sea breezes.

But now no one can find that island. Waters roll where once it stood—waters that tell no tale of the awful catastrophe that once they witnessed.

None lived to tell the story of the moment when the fierce volcanic fires burst forth upon the dwellers there; but ships sailing many miles away were shaken by the terrific roar. The sky was darkened, the firmament shook, and never more has human eye beheld that island with its woods and hills.

Men living in Ceylon at the time, which was more than a thousand miles away, claimed that they had distinctly heard the roar of the terrible explosion when the water and the fire met and destroyed that sunny land with all its inhabitants.

And lest it should be considered that tales of such catastrophes belong only to the imaginary, divine history records the catastrophic judgment poured out by a sin-hating God upon great cities in the land of Canaan about 2000 B.C.—as we read in Gen. 19:23-25:

"The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground."

And why this consuming judgment? God turned "... the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." 2 Peter 2:6. What a warning to our wicked world!

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10.

O delay not, my reader, if unsaved, to flee from the wrath to come! Pause not, while the love of God for a fallen and doomed world still stays its certain judgment.

"Of that day and hour knoweth no man" said the Son of God. Not even the angels in heaven know the awful secret. God keeps the knowledge of that dreadful day from even the most trusted of His creatures, so solemn is the event.

"Be ye therefore ready" is the Savior's warning, in view of the suddeness and unexpectedness of that fearful day.

"Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1 Thess. 1:10. Is He your Savior?

"A Word Fitly Spoken"

A worldly socialite, having spent the evening at a card party, returned home to find her maid absorbed in a book.

Looking over her shoulder and observing the title she exclaimed: "Poor melancholy soul! What pleasure can you find in pouring so long over that book?"

Without waiting for an answer, she retired to her bed; but not to sleep. In the providence of God, sleep forsook her. And what was it, in this particular night which so suddenly disturbed her spirit and drove sleep away? Was it the gaiety and excitement of the evening, or the weariness which followed?

No, it was none of these. It was a word.

At times, how much hangs upon a single word; what vital, unalterable issues! The Bible says: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Prov. 25:11.

And so it was; a word, a sharp arrow from God's quiver, had pierced the heart of that pleasure-loving lady. Its first effect was to give her deep anguish of spirit. She found no rest. All night she lay under the hand of God, sighing and weeping from the smart of that one word.

Again and again her maid begged to know the cause of her distress.

At last, the lady could restrain herself no longer. Bursting into a fresh flood of tears she exclaimed: "Oh, it is one word which I read in your book which troubles me. I saw there the word 'ETERNITY'. Oh, how happy I should be if I were prepared for ETERNITY!"

Face to face with that one word, with all that it conveys, with all its tremendous significance, what could the frivolities of this passing world do for the guilty soul of this poor lady? She could but loathe them from the bottom of her heart.

But God had mercy upon her soul as He ever has upon such as truly turn to Him. Her heart rested by faith upon the precious blood of Christ which alone can cleanse from sin, and give a troubled conscience peace.

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15.

"What Doest Thou for Me?"

Count Zinzendorf, while standing before Stenburg's great picture of "The Crucifixion," upon the frame of which these words were written:

"This I did for thee,

What doest thou for Me?"

yielded himself, his fortune and his lands to Christ and served Him from that day onward. What is your answer to the claims of Christ?

The Two Doctors

I was settled in the coach of a train which was about to start when a young man sat beside me and began humming a hymn. I listened while four times over he repeated the tune. That being the length of the hymn, I thought to myself, Anyone who hums one of Sankey's hymns in a train is probably not a bad sort.

As the train moved away, a lady handed around some gospel tracts, and the young man, noting the title of one, said: "May I pass it on?"

"Certainly", replied the lady.

Observing the title myself I said to him:

"Do you know the meaning of that?"

"Yes," he replied.

"The real meaning in your heart and soul?"

"Yes, thank God, I do."

"How did it all come about?"

"Do you see that farm through the trees?" he said, pointing through the window. "That's where I come from. Have been there for some time now. My first boss was a Christian who thought a good deal about us fellows and was always trying to do us good.

"He had gospel meetings every week for us; but I couldn't be bothered with them. I didn't want to be a Christian, like some of my friends.

"Yet I wasn't a bad sort of fellow. I liked my glass of beer and a quiet game of cards; but I hated all the things the boss was so keen about.

"So things went on until I found that a strange complaint was affecting me. I could not get through my day's work as I used to do. I did my level best, but it was not good enough.

"At last the boss saw that there was something wrong, and one day he said: 'Tom, drive to see the doctor; let him overhaul you. You are not right; you can't get through your work as you used to. When you come back, let me know what the doctor says.'

'Now its certainly all up,' I thought. 'The doctor will probably say: 'Young man, you haven't long to live.'

'Then the boss will turn me off, and there I'll be—just done.'

"So I drove off. The doctor lived 10 miles away, and I didn't hurry, I can tell you. I got turning things over a bit, and it seemed as if I were talking to myself in this sort of way: 'Look here, Tom, you are in a bad way. Probably you'll get bad news from the doctor. He may tell you that you haven't long to live. And if you've got to die, you'll just wish you were a Christian. Then it will be awful mean to try and give yourself to Christ just because you are scared and have got to die.

'But then Tom, if the doctor says you will be all right in six months, you won't mind, and you won't want to be a Christian then, will you?'

"And so I got working it backwards and forwards in my mind till I saw that there was only one right and honest thing to do, and that was to give myself up to the Lord Jesus Christ before I got to the doctor and knew what my future might be.

"So I pulled up by the roadside and got down on the grass and said, 'Lord Jesus, it's no use my going on like that any longer. I am all wrong. I am a big sinner. I am lost and I know it. I've just got to go and see the doctor, and I don't know what he'll say to me. But I want Thee, Lord Jesus, to take me just now and here, if Thou wilt, and forgive me, and change my life. Take away my sins, and keep me from sin. O, take me as I am!'

"And the Lord just did it. And I just trusted in Him then and there as my own personal Savior.

"And then didn't I go joyfully over the road the rest of the way! I didn't care what might happen now. Going along, the Lord seemed to talk to me just as distinctly as if He were sitting by my side. He seemed to say: 'Tom, you are Mine?'

"Yes Lord"

'All Mine—spirit, soul and body?'

"Yes, Lord."

'Well Tom, I want to send you on some errands for Me—to take some messages for Me. But I want My messengers to be as much like Me as possible, and be holy.' So the Voice seemed to whisper: 'I want you to give up taking any kind of strong drink, for I don't like My servants to touch it. It is not a good example to others; and it ruins so many.'

'Lord!' said I, 'I'll never want to touch it again.'

'And then, Tom, I want My messengers to have sweet breath when they speak My messages; and I do not want them to waste their money.'

"No. Lord, I can see that plainly enough now."

'So, Tom, just for My sake, give up your smoking.'

"Away went my pipe, pouch and tobacco into the field, for I really felt that God was claiming me altogether.

"I got to the doctor and he examined me all over. Then he said: 'Young man, I can put you all right if you will attend to my instructions. You must give up all alcoholic drink; it is bad for your complaint.'

"I've given it up already," I said.

'And then you must try and do without tobacco smoking.'

"Well, doctor, that's given up, too."

'You'll be all right if you are careful, young man.'

"Thank you, doctor, but I seem all right now! I got put right on the way here."

'Then why did you come to me?'

"Fact is, doctor, I met another Physician on the way to you."

Another doctor— what do you mean? There's no other doctor within forty miles of me. What's his name?'

"Reverently, and with tears coursing down my cheeks (for I could not keep them back,) I said: "His name is the Lord Jesus Christ, doctor; and I up and told Him all that happened. He took my hand and said: 'Young man, I thank you for your honest and bold confession. I wish I could say the same as you can; but I can't. Still you have helped me, and I thank you. God bless you. You'll be all right before long in every way.

"That's how it all came about, and I've been praising the Lord ever since. And I am glad to help in the Lord's work any way I can.

God Struck My Limbs

"This wooden leg of mine," said a poor handicapped Christian miner, "is a monument of God's mercy."

"How is that?" inquired a visitor.

"Several years ago, I was playing cards and cheating in order to win. The man I was playing with said; 'You would not have won that money if you had not cheated.'

"I swore at him, and said:

" 'God strike my limbs if I did so!' "

"I knew that I had cheated; and the man would not believe that I had not. So we parted.

"Next morning I was working in the mine. Close by was a very large piece of rock which had been loosened by blasting. It slipped from its place and carried me along with it into the shaft.

"As the heavy end was uppermost, it turned with its own weight, fell across the shaft and pinned me against the side.

"This rock weighed not less than two or three tons. Notwithstanding the fearful shock, I regained my senses; but one leg was smashed, and the other severely wounded.

"God struck my limbs!

"I cried for help; and when the men found me, they saw at once it was impossible to get me out without moving that rock.

"There I remained for two hours, till they had put a sling around my body. Then they adjusted a strong chain to the rock and lifted the end.

"As soon as they raised it, down it went, carrying everything before it to the bottom of the shaft, while I was left hanging in the sling.

"They drew me up. I was taken to the hospital. One leg was amputated and the other set; but I was ill for a long time.

"Oh, just think, if that rock had not pinned my legs to the wall of that shaft, I should be in hell now!

In God's time the miner was converted and became a very zealous Gospel preacher.

"As for God, His way is perfect." "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." "I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness halt afflicted me." Psa. 18:30; Psa. 19:7; Psa. 119:75.

"I Cannot Feel Saved"

Martin Luther, in one of his conflicts with the Devil, was asked by the arch-enemy if he felt his sins forgiven?

"No," said the great Reformer, "I don't feel that they are forgiven, but I know they are because God says so in His Word."

Paul did not say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt feel saved," but "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

No one can feel that his sins are forgiven. Ask that man whose debt was paid by another: "Do you feel that you debt is paid?" "No", is the answer, "I don't feel that it is paid; I know from this receipt that it is paid. And I feel happy because I know that it is paid." So with you.

The Most Ungodly Man in Town

"Years ago in the city of St. Louis," related W. R. Newell, "I was holding noon meetings in the Century Theater. One day I spoke on the verse: " ‘To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' Rom. 4:5.

"After the audience had gone, I was addressed by a fine-looking man of middle age, who had been waiting alone in a box seat for me. He immediately said: " 'I am Captain G—' (a man very widely known in the city). When I sat down to talk with him, he began: " 'You are speaking to the most ungodly man in St. Louis.'

" 'Thank God!' I said.

" 'What!' he cried, ‘Do you mean you are glad that I am bad?'

" 'No,' I said, 'but I am certainly glad to find a sinner that knows he is a sinner.'

" 'Oh, you do not know the half! I have been absolutely ungodly for years and years, right here in St. Louis. I own two Mississippi steamers.

Everybody knows me. I am just the most ungodly man in town.'

"I could hardly get him quiet enough to ask him: " 'Did you hear me preach on ungodly people today?'

" ‘Mr. Newell,' he said, 'I have been coming to these noon meetings for six weeks. I do not think I have missed a meeting. But I cannot tell you a word of what you said today.

" 'I did not sleep last night. I have hardly had any sleep for three weeks. I have gone to one man after another to find out what I should do. And I do what they say. I have read the Bible. I have prayed. I have given money away. But I am the most ungodly wretch in this town.

" 'Now what do you tell me to do? I waited here today to ask you that. I have tried everything; but I am so ungodly!'

" 'Now,' I said, 'we will turn to the verse I preached on.'

"I gave the Bible into his hands, asking him to read aloud: ‘To him that worketh not.'

" 'But,' he said, 'how can this be for me? I am the most ungodly man in St. Louis.'

" 'Wait,' I said, 'I beg you to go on reading!'So he read: " ‘To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly.' "

" 'There!' he fairly shouted, 'that's what I am ungodly.'

" 'Then this verse is about you,' I assured him. " 'But please tell me what to do, Mr. Newell. I know I am ungodly. What shall I do?'

" 'Read that verse again, please.' He read:

" ‘To him that worketh not'—and I stopped him.

" 'There,' I said, 'the verse says not to do, and you want me to tell you something to do. I cannot do that.'

" 'But there must be something to do; if not I shall be lost forever.'

" 'Now listen with all your soul,' I said. 'There was something to do, but it has all been done!' Then I told him how that God so loved him, all ungodly as he was, that He sent Christ to die for the ungodly, and that God's judgment had fallen on Christ who had been forsaken of God for his, Captain G—'s sins, there on the cross. Then, I said, God raised up Christ and sent us preachers to beseech men, all ungodly as they are, to believe on this God who declares righteous the ungodly, on the ground of Christ's shed blood.

"He suddenly leaped to his feet and stretched out his hand to me.

" ‘Mr. Newell,' he said, 'I will accept that proposition!' And off he went without another word.

"Next noon-day at the opening of the meeting, I saw him beckoning to me from the wings of the stage. I went to him.

" 'May I say a word to these people?' he asked. I saw his shining face, and gladly brought him in. I said to the audience: " 'Friends, this is Captain G— whom most, if not all of you know. He wants to say a word to you.'

" 'I want to tell you all of the greatest proposition I ever found,' he cried. 'I am a business man and I know a good proposition. But I found one yesterday that so filled me with joy, that I could not sleep a wink all night.

" 'I found out that God, for Jesus Christ's sake, declares righteous any ungodly man that trusts Him. I trusted Him yesterday, and you all know what an ungodly man I was.

" 'I thank you all for listening to me, but I felt I could not help but tell you this wonderful proposition; that God should count me righteous. I have been such a great sinner.'

"This beloved man lived many years in St. Louis, an ornament to his confession."

Sin-burdened reader, God makes the same proposition to you at this moment: "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

William Cowper

In the Memoirs of William Cowper, the poet writes of his experience in coming to Christ through Rom. 3:25:

"The happy period which was to afford me a clear opening of the free mercy of God in Christ Jesus was now arrived.

"I flung myself into a chair near the window; and seeing a Bible there, ventured once more to apply to it for comfort and instruction. The first verse I saw was the 25th of the 3rd of Romans.

‘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.'

"Immediately I received strength to believe it, and the full beams of the Sun of Righteousness shone upon me.

"I saw the sufficiency of the atonement He had made, my pardon sealed in His blood, and all the fullness and completeness of His justification.

"In an instant I believed and received the peace of the Gospel. Unless the Almighty arm had been under me, I think I should have died with gratitude and joy.

"My eyes filled with tears, transports choked my utterance. I could only look up to Heaven in silent fear, overwhelmed with love and wonder. But the work of the Holy Spirit is described in His own words: it is

‘Joy unspeakable and full of glory.' "

There is a stream of precious blood

Which flowed from Jesus' veins;

And sinners washed in that blest flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

E'er since, by faith, we saw the stream

Thy wounds supplied for sin.

Redeeming love has been our theme,

Our joy, and peace have been.

William Cowper

Eternal Life—The Gift of God

"In a ghoulish showcase at the London Museum this summer," states a recent news report, "are the yellowed plaster casts of the heads of five men who were hanged on the public gallows in 18th century England."

They had been brought from the vaults of Scotland Yard for a major exhibition to mark the 150th anniversary of London's famed metropolitan police.

In the 1700's, visitors were told, about 200 offenses were on the statute books which drew the penalty of death by hanging. They ranged from treason and murder to sheep-stealing and shop-lifting.

But since then the laws have changed drastically. In 1970 the death penalty in Britain was abolished in all cases except for certain crimes against the state.

Man-made laws are subject to change from generation to generation and from year to year. Divine laws remain inviolate; they never change.

"The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23.

"And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. The wages of sin have never been reduced.

In 1979 there was a public outcry against the death penalty imposed upon a convicted murderer in Florida. However, there was no report of anyone offering to take the condemned man's place in the electric chair. But the essence of God's glorious gospel is that "Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Lost, guilty, condemned sinner, will you not accept God's verdict and receive the pardon which He has wrought for you through the death of His Son at Calvary's cross? God now accepts the death of His Son in place of the sinner's death. This full and free salvation is for "whosoever will believe." It is offered to you on the principle of faith and faith alone. Believe it; receive it now.

Reuben Johnson's Pardon

The following story, told by Dwight L. Moody, points up God's grace—and the sinner's incredulity.

When I was in Ohio, I was invited to preach in the State penitentiary. Eleven hundred convicts were brought into the chapel. After I got through preaching, the chaplain said to me: "Mr. Moody, I want to tell you of a scene which occurred in this room.

"A few years ago our commissioners went to the Governor of the state and got him to promise that he would pardon five men for good behavior.

"The Governor consented, with this proviso: that the record was to be kept secret, and at the end of six months, the five men highest on the roll should receive a pardon, regardless of who or what they were.

"At the end of six months the prisoners were all brought into the chapel. The commissioners came. The president stood on the platform, put his hand in his pocket, and brought out some papers.

"I hold in my hands," he said, "pardons for five men."

The chaplain told me he never witnessed anything on earth like it. Every man was still as death. Many were deadly pale. The suspense was awful; it seemed as if every heart had ceased to beat.

The president went on to tell them how they had got the pardon, but the chaplain interrupted him.

" 'Before you make that speech,' said the chaplain, 'read out the names. This suspense is awful.' "So he read out the first name: " 'Reuben Johnson will come and get his pardon,' he called, and held out the document. But no one came forward.

"He said to the Warden:

‘Are all the prisoners here?'

"The Warden told him they were all there. "Then he said again: " 'Reuben Johnson will come and get his pardon. It is signed and sealed by the Governor. Reuben Johnson is a free man.'

"Not one moved. The chaplain looked right down where Reuben was. He was well known; he had been nineteen years there. Many were looking around to see the fortunate man who had got his pardon. Finally the chaplain caught his eye and said: " 'Reuben, you are the man.'

"Reuben turned around and looked behind him. The chaplain said the second time: " 'Reuben, you are the man,' and the second time Reuben looked around, thinking it must be some other Reuben. He had to say three times, ‘Reuben, come and get your pardon.'

"At last the truth began to dawn on the old man. He got up and came along down the hall, trembling from head to foot. When he got the pardon, he looked at it and went back to his seat, buried his face in his hands and cried.

"When the prisoners got into the ranks to go back to the cells, Reuben got into the ranks, too, and the chaplain had to call to him: " 'Reuben, get out of the ranks; you are a free man; you are no longer a prisoner.'

"And Reuben stepped out of the ranks. He was free!"

"That is the way," said Moody, "that men make out pardons; they make them out for good characters or good behavior. But God pardons men who haven't any characters.

"He offers a pardon to every repentant sinner on earth who will accept it. I don't care who he is or what he is like. He may be the greatest libertine that ever walked the streets, or the greatest blackguard who ever lived, or the greatest thief or vagabond. Christ commissioned His disciples to preach the gospel to every creature. Whosoever will may come."

What Shall It Profit a Man?

Charlemagne, King of the Franks (766-814 A.D.) built the largest, empire in western Europe since that of ' Rome.

He fought to unify all German peoples into one empire by seizing Saxony, Bavaria and Lombard, Italy, and fighting Avars, Moors and Slays in border battles. He relentlessly pushed his empire boundaries east to the Elbe and Danube rivers and south into Spain.

At Aix-la-Chapelle remains his tomb. He was buried in the central space beneath the dome.

The manner of his burial is said to be one of the most impressive sermons ever preached.

In the death-chamber beneath the floor he sat on a marble chair, wrapped in his Imperial robes. The chair was that in which kings had been crowned.

A book of the Gospel lay open in his lap. As he sat there, silent, cold and motionless, the finger of the dead king's hand pointed to the words of the Lord Jesus: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort In the things that soon must pass away? If I gained the world, but lost the Savior, Would my gain be worth the toil and strife? Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing With the gift of God—eternal life?

Jesus Is Enough

In a large hospital lay a' little Irish lad of about 15 years of age but who looked less than 12.

His body was emaciated and undersized. His small, pinched face was white and sad. Small wonder that he immediately excited the sympathy of a lady missionary visiting the ward! Winning his confidence with some flowers and fruit, she soon found him willing, even eager, to hear the story of the sinner's Savior.

When he was awakened to some sense of his own lost condition, he began seriously to consider how he might be saved. He spoke of penance and the confessional, of sacraments and church—yet never wholly leaving out Christ and His atoning work.

Calling again one day, the lady found his face aglow with new-found joy. When she inquired the reason, he replied with assurance born of faith in the Word of God: "O miss is! I always knew that Jesus was necessary; but I never knew till yesterday that He was enough."

It was a blessed discovery. Mark it well, dear reader: Jesus is enough! It is believed by most people that Jesus is necessary; the whole fabric of Christendom is built upon that. But how few realize that He is enough!

It is not Christ and good works, not Christ and the Church that save. It is not through Christ and baptism, or Christ and the confessional that we receive forgiveness of our sins. It is not Christ and doing our best, or Christ and the Lord's supper that will give us new life. It is Christ alone.

"Christ and—" is a perverted gospel which is not the Gospel. Christ, without the and is the sinner's hope and the saint's confidence. Through trusting Him and Him alone, eternal life and forgiveness of sins are yours.

The saved soul is exhorted to maintain good works, and thus reflect the life of Christ. But for salvation itself, Jesus is not only necessary—He is enough.

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim. 2:5, 6.

On the Value of Time

It is said of Pythagoras, a famous Greek philosopher of the 6th century B.C., that he was so anxious to pursue his studies to completion that to fight sleep, he tied his hair with a string to a beam in the ceiling. Immediately he started to nod, the sudden tug aroused him. This way he was kept awake until his task was done.

King Edward VII of Great Britain said shortly before he died: "I could do with thirty-six hours in my day. Time is so short."

A certain queen desired her portrait painted. After careful thought, she chose an able and promising artist. The appointed time arrived for the first sitting, but the artist failed to appear. Ten minutes later he dashed in with profuse apologies, only to be told that her Majesty had gone. His greatest opportunity was missed by a few minutes and never returned.

On the one hand is the drowsiness of sin, which renders men unconscious of their condition before God. It is like the sleepiness that comes over the traveler in the cold just before he freezes to death.

On the other hand is life's golden opportunity. Reader! The Savior of sinners is passing by. Hear Him say to you: "Come now, and let us reason together,... though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isa. 1:18. "Behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

To delay is an insult to Him and grave danger to your immortal soul. While time and opportunity are yours, receive Him gladly, confess Him openly, and serve Him devotedly.

He Settled It Last Night

When Moody and Sankey were conducting gospel meetings in a mining region in England, coming out of the service one night, they noticed a man sitting just underneath the gallery. Although everybody else had left the church, he still remained.

Mr. Moody sat down beside him. He found that the man had been a constant attendant at the meetings, but this night he had determined not to leave the building until he had settled the question of his soul's salvation.

After prayer and the study of the Bible the matter was settled.

He returned to his home, a saved and happy man. The next day he entered the mine. During his working shift there was a terrific explosion and he, among others, was brought to the surface, more dead than alive.

As he lay on a stretcher a little way from the mine head, one of his friends stooped down to moisten his lips. He was too weak to speak, but his lips were moving and finally they made out his speech. Over and over again he was saying: "It's a good thing I settled it last night."

Reader, is the matter of your soul's salvation settled? If death should claim you today, would you be ready?

Tomorrow's sun may never rise

To bless thy long deluded sight;

This is the time, O then be wise—

Thou would'st be saved—

Why not tonight?

"Two Strings to Your Bow?"

He was an old man of 97 years. He looked the picture of health, was sound in mind and did not even wear glasses. Unknown to him I had been asked to pay him a call.

I was a complete stranger to him. Offering me a chair, he asked why I had come. When I told him it was to read the Word of God and speak to him about his soul and eternity, he told me I might as well save my breath.

He did not believe in anything of the sort, he told me, and was not troubled in the least about the future.

"I am ninety-seven," he said, "and no thanks to anybody but myself. I have lived a most careful and abstemious life, and I mean to live three years more. When I am a hundred years old I shall have had enough of life. Then I shall quietly lie down and die."

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment," I rejoined.

"All nonsense," he said. "When a man is dead, he is done with; there is no hereafter for him at all."

Then for nearly an hour he quoted to me the most blasphemous passages from his favorite infidel authors.

The blood seemed to curdle in my veins as I listened to his infidel tirade. Here is a man on the brink of eternity, I thought. Surely God has sent me with a message to him, and I must wait for the opportunity to deliver it.

As the old man paused for breath, I told him that I had listened to him for nearly an hour. Now he must listen to me for ten minutes.

Quickly I began quoting the Scriptures which I knew were the sword of the Spirit: "The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psa. 53:1.

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

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16.

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

"And the blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

I then fell on my knees and asked God to bless His Word to the old man, to open his eyes to his danger, to deliver his soul from the power of Satan, and let me meet him in heaven, washed in the blood of the Lamb—a brand plucked from the burning.

As I stood up our eyes met, all full of tears. He grasped my hand and said: "If there is a heaven, I hope I shall meet you there. If you are wrong and I am right, you are still as right as I am. But oh, if you are right and I am wrong, I am wrong indeed. You have two strings to your bow; I have only one to mine."

I was unable to call again for two weeks. When I knocked at his door and asked how he was, his Christian wife bade me follow her.

As we entered the old man's bedroom, the mortal remains of her husband met my eyes. Death had suddenly closed his long career on earth. That day, God had suddenly cut down the impious old boaster who had planned to live three years more.

I learned from his wife that she had a slim hope of her husband's salvation. After my visit, he had found no comfort in his infidelity. Although his friends, and even his doctor, all of whom were skeptics, urged him to "stick to his guns and die like a man," his infidel philosophy became to him but the blackness of darkness forever.

In his final moments, as firmly as his fastebbing strength would permit, he had clasped his wife's hand, and looking steadfastly at her proclaimed: "I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and in heaven and hell. These were his last words.

Dark, cold infidelity has nothing to comfort its deluded followers in the hour of death.

Christianity has everything to cheer its happy followers in sickness and health, in poverty and plenty, in life and death, in time and eternity.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.... surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psa. 23:4, 6.

Better Than Lighting His Pipe

A man named E. J. Kennedy, years ago, was handed a tract by a man named George Arrow-smith. The tract was entitled "Tonight or Never." Kennedy took it with a laugh, saying, "Oh, well, it will do to light my pipe." Being wakeful that night he rose to get something out of his pockets, came on the tract, and for lack of anything else to do, he read it. The true, tragic story it contained arrested him, and he did not sleep till he had the peace of God in his heart, with the assurance of salvation. The little tract had served a better purpose than lighting Kennedy's pipe; it had lighted his life—for time and eternity.

"Thou Art the Man"

The court-house was packed. The occasion was the trial of one, William Freeman, charged with the murders of the Van Ness Family in the vicinity of Auburn.

He confessed to the crime but showed no signs of regret. On the contrary, he freely described all the details of the murders, and laughed continually during his recital.

The District Attorney arraigned the prisoner on the several indictments for murder.

Freeman's appearance was said to be that of a man deaf, stupid and unable to speak connectedly or to any sensible purpose. He had a foolish look on his face, and apparently was ignorant or indifferent of his own situation.

To the questions:

"Have you any counsel?" the accused replied:

"I don't know."

"Who is your counsel?"

"I don't know."

The judge asked the usual question:

"Will anyone defend this man?"

A death-like hush fell upon the audience, which was broken when Mr. Seward (later Governor of New York State), rose and said: "May it please the court, I shall remain counsel for the accused until his death."

Seward had studied the case and become convinced that the prisoner was hopelessly demented.

The plea of the defense was insanity. Among the witnesses was the eminent alienist, Dr. Brigham.

Under his direct examination Dr. Brigham described in great detail the signs and symptoms of dementia and gave his reasons for concluding that Freeman's was a special form of insanity.

With passive countenance and in the most quiet, self-possessed manner the witness answered all the questions of the Attorney General without betraying the slightest irritation as his method of diagnosis was held up to ridicule. The climax was reached when the Attorney General exclaimed with startling emphasis: "What! Do you affirm that you can diagnose insanity at sight?"

"I do," was the calm but emphatic response. Turning towards the jury the Attorney General demanded of Dr. Brigham: "Point out to the court and jury an insane person!"

The challenge was accepted.

It is almost impossible to describe the scene which followed. A breathless silence fell upon the court-room.

The venerable Judge raised his glasses to his forehead and surveyed the excited mass of people about to undergo an examination as to their sanity!

The large number of lawyers within the bar stood up and gazed at the crowded hall and passage ways with intense curiosity.

The spectators were awe-struck when they realized that the crucial test was to be applied to them. I still feel the thrill of horror I experienced.

Dr. Brigham arose from his chair and stood for a moment surveying the people, as if to decide where to begin his scrutiny.

He was white and motionless. Turning slowly to the first tier of seats, he began a deliberate survey of the spectators, scanning the features of each with apparent confidence that he could detect the faintest trace of insanity.

As his keen, searching eyes glanced from tier to tier of seats, the suspense became almost unendurable. He had reached the middle aisle and yet no one had been pointed out as insane. Five hundred faces had been scrutinized.

An incredulous smile lit up the features of the Attorney General, while a greater earnestness of manner and intensity of scrutiny were apparent in the witness. Deep furrows appeared on his pallid face, and his eyes assumed a piercing brilliancy from which every subject shrank.

A sigh of relief followed along the rows of seats as the eyes of the great expert swept over them. The area of faces yet to be examined was rapidly diminishing, and but one-quarter of the audience remained to be scanned.

It was apparent that thus far either there was no insane person in the crowd, or if there was, the witness had failed to detect him.

But suddenly the penetrating eyes of the expert became fixed. His features relaxed. It was evident that he had discovered the object of his search.

Stretching out his long arm and pointing with his finger toward a person on one of the rear tiers of seats, he quietly said: "There is an insane man."

At that instant, the man, as if struck with a bullet, sprang from his seat. Wildly gestulating and shouting a volley of oaths against anyone who would call him insane, he rushed down the aisle towards the bar.

The Judge rose hastily from his chair, as if about to escape. The lawyers were panic-stricken and mingled with the crowd. But Dr. Brigham stood perfectly self-possessed, while the officers struggled with the lunatic in their efforts to remove him from the court-room. The great alienist had proved his point to the satisfaction of both judge and jury.

The insane person is unconscious of his insanity; the unsaved soul is usually likewise unconscious of its ruin. The all-seeing eye of God sweeping over companies of faces, be they many or few, at once detects the individual whose heart has never been opened to believe the gospel. His eyes are as a flame of fire. (Rev. 1:14) It is the Word of God that discloses to the sinner his awful state and danger„ and the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25) reaching his dead soul declares: "Thou art the man."

"The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men" and His verdict was: "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psa. 14:2, 3.

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

"Coals of Fire"

Romans. 12:20

OM 12:20{During some gospel meetings in Egypt, a big lusty sergeant in a Highland regiment was asked how he was brought to Christ. His answer was: "There is a private in our company who was converted in Malta before the regiment came to Egypt. We gave that fellow an awful time.

"One night he came in from sentry duty, very tired and wet. Before going to bed he got down to pray. I struck him on the side of his head with my boots, and he just went on with his prayers.

"Next morning I found my boots beautifully polished by the side of my bed. That was his reply to me. It just broke my heart, and I was saved that day."

Telling Others About Jesus

A lady in New England who had been gloriously saved under the preaching of George White-field was peculiarly burdened in prayer for others.

But she could persuade no one to pray with her but her little daughter of about ten years of age. After a time God opened the heart of the child and she too, received the joy of salvation. In a transport of holy delight she then exclaimed: "O mother, if only all the world knew this! I wish I could tell everybody. Do let me run to some neighbors and tell them, that they may be happy and love my Savior."

"Ah, my child," said the mother, "that would be useless. If you were to tell your experience, there are none within miles who would but laugh at you and say it was all a delusion."

"O mother," replied the little girl, "I think they would believe me. I must go over to the shoemaker and tell him."

She began by telling him he must die, and that he was a sinner. Then she told him that her blessed Savior had heard her mother's prayers for her and forgiven all her sins. Now she was so happy she did not know how to tell it.

The shoemaker was struck with surprise. His tears flowed like rain. He threw aside his work and knelt down and prayed. The Lord opened his heart to receive the blessed news of a full and free salvation through Christ Jesus, and he was saved that day.

Soon the whole neighborhood was awakened. Within a few months more than fifty persons were brought to the knowledge of sins forgiven, and rejoiced in the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"All"

I am not told to labor

To put away my sin;

So foolish, weak, and helpless,

I never could begin.

But blessed truth—I know it!

Though ruined by the fall,

Christ for my soul has suffered,

Yes, Christ has done it all!

And when in heavenly glory

My ransomed soul shall be

From sin and all pollution

Forever, ever free,

I'll cast my crown before Him,

And loud His grace extol

“Thou hast Thyself redeemed me;

Yes, Thou hast done it all!"

"O that the saints of God would just sit still and let the Lord love them!" Captain J. Dunlop.

A Moment of Time

It is in a moment that the most solemn of all decisions is made—the soul's surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. The soul itself, amid the conflict of emotions, may scarcely be able to tell the precise moment when the Yes is spoken; or it may have been back in early childhood and be forgotten.

There may have been long preparation going forward, and the soul may have been hesitating and trembling on the verge of surrender, but the Yes that means acceptance of Christ and brings salvation is spoken in a moment.

A moment may make the difference between life and death. 'Too late' may be too late by a moment only. The missing of the right moment may be the missing of the "accepted time."

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

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

Why Was the Epistle of John Written?

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye Have Eternal Life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13.)

The Unkindness of Skepticism

The following story of Washington McLean was reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer: One terribly snowy, sleety day in Washington, McLean was sitting in the Riggs House reading-room, looking out upon the dreary scene on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Presently in came Colonel Bob Ingersoll, the great agnostic. As he entered the apartment he held out his hand, saying: "Hello, Wash; How do you do?"

Mr. McLean took his hand, and as he did so, said: "Bob, I wish you could have been here a little while ago. I saw a scene out there which made me wish I were twenty years younger.

"A poor, old crippled soldier was limping across the Avenue, when a young, lusty fellow ran by him, and, as he did so, kicked the crutch from him and tumbled him down in the slush."

"The villian!" said Ingersoll, "he should have been sent to the penitentiary."

"Do you really think so?" said McLean.

"Why certainly," replied the colonel. "What else could I think?"

"And yet, Bob," said McLean, "that is what you are doing every week in the year. Here are poor, old, infirmed Christians, with nothing to aid or support them but their faith in Christ; nothing to keep them out of the mire of despair but faith. And yet you go about kicking the crutch from under them, worse even than the fictitious fellow did to the fictitious soldier."

The example is true with one exception. The true Christian's faith is a living thing and can never be knocked away.

First Anglo-Saxon Translation of John

History records the following touching account of the completion of the first Anglo-Saxon translation of the Gospel of St. John.

It is the evening of May 26, 735 A.D.

In the old monastery which stood near the site of the present South Shields, reclines the Venerable Bede. Over his aged form are fast stealing the shadows of death.

By his side sits a young scribe, who with open scroll and pen in hand writes as the aged saint dictates.

"Now dearest master," says the youth, "there remains only one chapter; but the exertion is too great for you."

"It is easy, my son, it is easy. Take your pen and write quickly. I know not how soon my Lord will take me," was the reply.

The dying man dictates sentence by sentence as the scribe swiftly records the same.

Now there is a pause. Strength seems tq have departed; the tongue tires of speech.

"Dear master," cries the scribe, "only one sentence is wanting!"

Then, as if snatching each word from the grasp of Death, Bede dictates the wanted words.

"It is finished!" exclaimed the writer.

"It is finished," replied the dying man. "Lift up my head; place me in the spot where I used to pray."

He is removed to the fondly loved spot. Then, clasping his hands and looking heavenward he whispered: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son..." and at once passed into the presence of his beloved Lord.

An Empty Tomb

In one of the villages in northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. Afterward a Mohammedan came up and said, "You must admit that we Mohammedans have one thing that you Christians have not.

We at least can take our people to Mecca where they can see the coffin of Mohammed; but when you Christians go to Jerusalem, you have no coffin. You have an empty tomb."

To this the missionary replied, "Praise God, you are right! That is the difference between our faith and yours. Your leader is in his grave; but Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is to include all nations and kindreds and tribes, is not in any grave. He is risen! And He says from the resurrection side of an empty tomb, "all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." Matt. 28:18.

Our risen Lord is our ever-living Savior. And His promise is, "Because I live, ye shall live also." John 14:19.

You ask, "Did Christ really live?"

That is one thing that all agree upon—that this Person who claimed to be the Son of God really lived here on earth among men.

We know when he lived—from about 5 or 6 B.C. until about 30-32 A.D.

We know where He was born—in Bethlehem of Judea, a real town, not a mythological one. We know where He lived for most of the years of His life—in Nazareth, in northern Galilee. There He worked as a carpenter.

We know many of the characters of His day—their names appear in other historical writings outside of the Bible: Herod the Great, his son Herod, Agrippa, Salome, Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar, Gamaliel, Felix, Festus.

Every history of the ancient world, every encyclopedia, records the fact that Jesus lived during the first century of our era. H. G. Wells, the historian, had a contempt, indeed a hatred, for almost every article of the Christian faith; but he was compelled to give pages to Jesus of Nazareth in his Outline of History.

All dates of history are now designated by the letters B.C. or A.D., both of which refer to the time of the birth of CHRIST—not Plato, not Julius Caesar, not Mohammed.

JESUS CHRIST LIVED!

And now "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" who believe on Him (Heb. 7:25).

"You Call Me … Yet"

Upon a tablet in the cathedral in Lubeck,

Germany, are found the following words:

Christ the Lord says, (forget it not):

You call Me Savior, yet saved you are not;

You call Me the Light, yet believest Me not;

You call Me the Way, yet enterest it not;

You call Me the Life, yet seekest Me not;

You call Me "Master," yet followest Me not;

You call Me Lovely, yet lovest Me not;

You call Me wise, yet inquire of Me not;

You call Me "Lord," yet servest Me not;

You call Me Almighty, yet trustest Me not;

Therefore if sometime "I know thee not,"

Let it astonish thy hardened heart not.

Tracts Everywhere

"Tracts everywhere," said a young man, with a sneer, as a Christian lad handed him a leaflet one afternoon.

"No," responded the lad quietly, "there are none in hell," and passed on.

God fastened that single sentence as a nail in a sure place and he could not get rid of it. "None in hell!" seemed to echo in his ears every time he saw a tract, and ultimately it led to his conversion.

No, there will be "none in hell"—neither Gospel invitations nor Gospel entreaties.

How are you treating them on earth—these golden opportunities and solemn warnings, these loving invitations of God?

Accept them speedily, for oh, remember, there will be "none in hell."

"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; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me." Prov. 1:24-28.

"So as by Fire"

A woman in Scotland was determined to have nothing to do with "religion.", She threw her Bible into the fire, together with a few tracts she found in the house.

One of the tracts, a sermon by Spurgeon, fell out of the flames. She picked it up and thrust it in again. A second time it slipped down to the hearth and once more she put it back in the fire. Again her evil intention was frustrated. The third time, however, was more successful, though even then only half of the tract was consumed.

Taking up the portion that had escaped the flames she exclaimed, "Surely the Devil is in that tract, for it will not burn!"

Her curiosity was aroused. She began to read it, and it was the means of her conversion to God! Truly the portion of the sermon and the woman, too, were saved yet "so as by fire."

Possibly you think you are not as bad as this woman who threw the Bible into the fire. But if you are rejecting Christ, what is the difference?

If until now you have resisted the pleadings of the almighty God, and refused His great salvation, your case could hardly be worse. The matter of highest concern to you is the salvation of your soul. Are you saved?

Are You Converted?

What do you mean by being converted?

To be converted is to be turned, or turned about, or turned back again. What I mean by the question is, Have you turned to God? In his unconverted days a sinner has his back upon God and goes his own way on the downward road to destruction. The gospel is preached to show him his condition and his danger, to call him to judge himself, to repent, and to turn to God, for the door of repentance and salvation is open to all.

Does everyone need to be converted?

Yes! the words of the Lord Jesus are as clear as can be on that point. He has said, "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3. The people to whom He spoke were religious. But it is not enough to be outwardly religious, or professed learners at Christ's feet. We must be inwardly renewed. As the Lord said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." Being born again is the renewal which leads to the return to God. The term, Conversion, covers both the renewal and the return.

Where does conversion take place?

When the good news of the gospel is believed and tjle heart judges its folly and sin and turns to God—that moment conversion takes place. So we read of a great number who believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21). The Thessalonians "turned to God." (1 Thess. 1:9). They were converted. So Paul was sent to the Gentiles to open their eyes (to show them their need and peril) that they might turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. (Acts 26:18.) When they turned, then they were converted.

Is conversion always brought about in the same way?

No! God in His goodness uses various means. We read of Lydia (who heard the gospel at the riverside prayer meeting), that the Lord opened her heart and so she received the message. In the same chapter we find an earthquake took place before the prison jailer was awakened as to his peril. The one was as quiet as a sunrise, the other was as noisy as a thunder-storm; but both were real.

Do you believe in sudden conversion?

Indeed I do. Could anything be more sudden than the conversion of Saul of Tarsus? One minute, in his hatred of Christ, he was riding in hot haste to seize the Christians of Damascus so that they might be cast into prison, and the next minute he was crying, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" The one-time opposer becomes the champion for the truth he had tried to destroy.

Is there any other sudden conversion in Scripture?

Yes! the thief on the cross is a very clear case. He left prison to be crucified. He reviled Christ when hanging by His side. Then suddenly he condemns himself as a sinner and proclaims the sinlessness of Christ and is blessed there and then, taken to be with Christ in Paradise that day.

When is the time for conversion?

Now is the time. And only now is yours in which to be converted. If you miss the tide today, you may be on the rocks of everlasting woe. Why should you delay? Do you not see your danger? Do you not know your need? Then now, just as you are, turn to God, own your sin, believe on His beloved Son, who is waiting to receive you and fill you with joy and peace in believing.

A Straight Line to Christ

Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, when the railway was to be made between Moscow and St. Petersburg, employed a great number of engineers in making plans. He looked over many of their maps, and at last, like the practical man that he was, he said, "Here, bring me a ruler."

They brought him a ruler; he took a pencil, and, drawing a straight line, he said, "This is the way to make it; we want no other plan than one straight line."

There are a great many ways of attempting to engineer souls to Heaven, but the only one that is worth considering is this: Draw a straight line to Christ at once.

Did I hear one awakened soul say, "I should like to talk to Mr. So-and-So"? By all means talk to him, but do not stop for that. Go to Christ first.

"Oh, but I should like to talk with a good woman—a dear Christian lady." I recommend you to go to the Lord Jesus Christ at once, and see the lady afterward. There must be nobody between a soul and Christ. Go straight to Christ.

"Which way?" do you say. Look and live.

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

Nine Religions

A man said he had tried nine religions, and had even been baptized in three different faiths, but none had helped him.

I took a folder of safety matches out of my pocket, put a match in his hand, and told him to light it. "Lend me the folder," he said.

"Oh, no; do it without the folder," I replied. "Strike it on a brick or stone or anywhere else you like."

He tried to light it, but failed. I gave him more matches to try to light on anything but the proper composition on the folder. Again he failed.

Then I said, "Just like that match and its folder, God has ordained and made known His one way of salvation. By a fixed and unalterable law our precious souls can never be converted by coming into contact merely with religions, whether nine or ninety. Nothing can set the soul on fire with lasting life and light and love unless it comes in contact with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is vain to touch anything else for salvation but the Son of God. Of course those nine religions were no good to you. Here, take this folder and strike the match on it."

He did so and instantly the match was ablaze.

"Even so," I said, "The Son of God alone can quicken us into life, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from our iniquities."

Are you trying "religion" or church membership to give life to your soul? They can't do it. Let the Son of God set your soul ablaze with the light of life eternal!

Sir Walter Scott and The Bible

No name is better known wherever Scotsmen dwell on the face of the earth than that of Sir Walter Scott. His "Waverly Novels" have found their way into every corner of the world, and been translated into most major languages, and his poems recited wherever civilized language is used. Yet though he made his name and won enduring fame by fiction, it did not even suffice for himself in his last moments. Shattered in fortune and health, he turned at last to fact—the great facts of the Word of God, of which he has well written:

Within this wondrous Volume lies

The mystery of mysteries.

Happiest they of human race

To whom their God has given grace

To read, to fear, to hope, to pray;

To lift the latch, to find the way.

And better they had ne'er been born,

That read to doubt, or read to scorn.

Lying in lovely Abbotsford during his last illness, he said to his son-in-law, Mr. Lockhart, "Bring me that Book."

"What book?" asked Mr. Lockhart.

"There is but one Book," replied the famous author. "Read to me out of the Bible."

And he was right, for whatever may seem to satisfy during life, "God and the Word of His grace" alone can satisfy in death and for eternity. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27), it is well to be prepared for the day of reckoning. Works of fiction may do to spend the moments of Time; words of truth and grace alone can prepare for Eternity.

For My Neighbor

Some years ago a Christian doctor on a visit to a patient gave a little gospel tract to an elderly farmer. He sought to press upon the old man the great importance of his getting right with God at once, in view of the endless eternity which he was fast approaching.

The old man received it and the doctor's remarks in a kindly and apparently interested manner. But the next day when he called to see his patient, he was met by the old farmer and was surprised by his excitement. With the air of a man who was conscious of having made a real discovery, the farmer said, "The very thing for my neighbor! That little book, sir, you gave me yesterday was the very thing for my neighbor; it must have been written on purpose for him."

The poor man evidently thought his neighbor really needed salvation! He appeared not to have the faintest idea that he was equally in need of it. And truly this is the state of thousands of people in this day. Perhaps you, yourself, are of the class who think they see great spiritual need in others.

A preacher may say, "My sermon was the very thing for my congregation." His wife replies, "Yes, my dear, and for the one who preached it also." The listeners may say, "What a pity it is that our parson does not act up to what he preaches!"

Wives may see a great need in their husbands and husbands in their wives, parents in their children and children in their parents. Masters and mistresses see great shortcomings in their servants, and servants are no less quick to see the failures of those who employ them. All see and deplore the sins of their neighbors. But few—oh, how few—see their own guilty and lost condition!

Dear reader, face this all-important matter. Apply the infallible Word of God to your own heart. See yourself as God sees you, for unless you are born again, you are still guilty before God-a lost sinner. The Word of God declares: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:20.

"The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23.

Tomorrow

"Tomorrow," he promised his conscience,

"Tomorrow I mean to believe;

Tomorrow I'll think as I ought to;

Tomorrow the Savior receive.

Tomorrow I'll sever the shackles

That hold me from heaven away;"

But ever his conscience repeated

One word and that only, "Today."

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow—

Thus day after day it went on,

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow—

Till youth like a vision was gone;

Till age and his passions had written

The message of fate on his brow;

And forth from the shadows came Death,

With the pitiless syllable "Now.

Put off your repentance until tomorrow, and you will have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in. "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts."

Why Not You?

A man had two dogs, and he liked them to go in and out of the house freely, therefore he cut two holes in the door. When he was asked the reason for this, he answered, "The little hole is for the little dog, and the big hole is for the great dog."

Then said one, "But the little dog might have gone through the same hole as the big dog, surely."

"There now," said he, "I never thought of that!"

I want you to think of it, dear reader: the little dog can pass where the big dog has entered. If the dying thief came to Christ and was saved, why not you? If Saul of Tarsus, "the chief of sinners," found room, there is room for you. Write yourself down as black as you like, but still remember that others even blacker have been saved, and why not you?

The Time Is Short

"The time is short!" 1 Cor. 7:29. How short? Who knows? Who can tell? Not you—not I. But we I can be sure of this solemn fact: time is shorter than we think. What God by the Spirit calls "short" cannot tie made "long." No man can stretch out the span of his appointed life, and it is disastrous to attempt to evade the final issue by denial, presumption or procrastination.

How short? Man has not the answer to that question, nor is the answer to be found in the Bible. God alone is time's controller, and "our times are in His hands." That is the only possible answer. That is why the Word of God so urgently states the great truth that, "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

That is why almighty God invites: "Come now and let us reason together." Isa. 1:18.

That is why the Holy Spirit pleads in notes of solemn warning: "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:15. The time is short!

It is shorter than you realize. It is too short to be wasted in sin and ruined in iniquity. But it is just long enough for your soul to turn in "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21.

It is just long enough for that soul to say "Yes" to Jesus and to enter into the blessedness of "therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." 2 Cor. 5:17. TIME and LIFE are far, far too short for anything less than that!

Whiter Than Snow

One winter day in Canada some children were amusing themselves during the noon hour at a country school by asking riddles. They had some good ones, but their stock soon ran out. Just as they got stuck for a new riddle, one of their school mates came back from her dinner and there was a general cry: "Mary, ask us a riddle! Ask us a riddle!"

Mary thought a moment and then asked, "What is whiter than snow?"

"My handkerchief!" cried one boy, but when he compared it to the snow, it looked quite yellow.

"Fresh whitewash!" guessed another boy, but all agreed he was wrong.

"My best dress!" ventured a small girl, but she was wrong.

"I don't believe there is anything whiter than snow!" said one of the older children indignantly.

"Yes, there is," said Mary. "There is just one thing in all the world that is whiter than snow, only one thing."

At last they all cried, "We give up. Tell us!" "A sinner washed in the blood of Jesus!"

Yes, Mary was right. There is one, and only one, thing in all the world that is whiter than snow. Think of a black-hearted sinner, a swearing, drinking, useless waster. That same man can be washed whiter than snow. All the past can be blotted out, so that God Himself says, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."

As the year draws to a close, stop and take stock of how you have spent it. What has there been for God in the year that has gone? How about those deep, dark sins of the past year? How can you do better than to end this year by coming to the Savior? By trusting in His precious blood you can start the New Year with a clean sheet, all the old blotted out. Then even in the sight of God you will be whiter than snow.

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psa. 51:7.

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

A Young Soldier's Testimony

At one time I feared to meet God, but now all is changed. I long to see Him. What made the change? I certainly did not, by much effort and self-denial, make myself more fit to meet Him. No; as a poor sinner I came to Him and owned that I was lost without Him and wanted to know such a Savior, Who so loved me and gave Himself for me, that I might be with Him. He saved me, and now I shall never cease to praise Him!

What Is Salvation

It is not a religion to profess.

It is not a church to join.

It is not a creed to accept.

You may have all these, and yet be without the salvation of God.

Salvation is deliverance from judgment, and emancipation from sin.

It is a known and enjoyed justification from the guilt of sin.

It is freedom from the mastery of Satan, the dominion of sin, and the claims of the law.

It was for this end that Jesus came. The word first uttered by the angel on the plain of Bethlehem was, "Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

It is not a helper, but a Savior, that sinners need, and it is such a Savior that God has provided. "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.

If ever you are saved at all, it must be by Jesus Christ. There is no other Savior. Neither reformation nor religion can save. Neither sacraments, prayers, nor good works can do it. "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord." Psa. 3:8.

Are you willing to be saved in this way and on these terms?

Christ is the Savior of sinners,

Christ is the Savior for me;

Long I was chained in sin's darkness,

Now by His grace I am free.

Just as I was He received me,

Seeking from judgment to flee,

Now there is no condemnation,

This is the Savior for me.

"How Much Does Sin Weigh?"

An open-air preacher was telling out the old, old story when a thoughtless youth rapped out, "You tell us about the burden of sin. I feel none." Then he added flippantly, "How much does it weigh? Eighty pounds? Ten pounds?"

The preacher answered the fool according to his folly: "Tell me, if you laid a four hundred pound weight on the chest of a dead man, would he feel it?"

"No, because he is dead," answered the youth. The preacher responded, "And the man who feels no load of sin is DEAD spiritually."

The lad's remarks only proved what he was. How true is Scripture: "DEAD in trespasses and sins." (Eph. 2:1.) Do you feel the burden of your sins? If you do not, you may well feel alarmed. You are DEAD spiritually.

Picture a man lying dangerously ill. He is suffering intense pain. Suddenly the pain leaves him. He tells the doctor that he is much better. The pain has left him. He will soon be well.

The doctor shakes his head. He knows better. The sick man is doomed; he is physically dead as to feeling pain. Soon the end will come.

Is this a picture of you spiritually? You feel no concern about your guilt. You have no apprehension as to your eternal future. The situation is alarming. Wake up, before it is too late.

Possibly you already have awakened to the fact that you are a sinner and have to meet God. If so, you will be glad to know that God has anticipated your need and has provided a Savior in the Person of His Son. Listen to His words of grace: "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Always Confined

"Pop" Brown lived in the southern section of the United States. The unusual thing about him is that he spent most of his life behind the bars of jails and prisons—over seventy years, in fact. Pop Brown called such places "home". Escape or release from one merely opened the way for being put into another. Again and again the story was repeated until a lifetime was gone. The opportunities and joys of freedom lost forever. He was always confined!

You say, Nothing could be worse!

But wait a minute—did you ever think about the confinement of HELL?

NOTHING COULD BE WORSE! In the Bible this place is called the "Lake of Fire", lake because of confinement; fire because of judgment. Such is the end of the road for everyone who leaves this world without the salvation of God. You and I have sinned. Hell is what we deserve. "For all have sinned." "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 3:23 & 6:23.

HERE'S GOOD NEWS: Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from the confinement and judgment of hell. He suffered for our sins. With His own blood He paid the full price for our salvation. "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;... He was buried,... He rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3 & 4.

By receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you get freedom now: PERSONAL FREEDOM—"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36.

FREEDOM FROM SIN—"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Rom. 6:18.

FREEDOM FROM JUDGMENT—"No condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus... free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:1, 2.

True Faith

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

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

That Little Word "Alone"

In 1540, in the heat of the Reformation controversies, Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg, sent his ambassadors to a religious council at Worms. As they were leaving he said to them, "See that you bring back that little word 'Alone’ do not dare to return without it."

Both parties were prepared to confess that salvation was to be received "through faith in Christ Jesus," but the Reformers added the little word "alone"—

Salvation "through faith in Jesus Christ ALONE."

And so this word became the pivot of the contendings of the Reformation period.

It may be that round this "little word" the conflict between the Spirit and our own self-righteousness is being waged. We are willing, perhaps, to trust Christ if we may add to that reliance a trust in ourselves, in our good works or in our religious emotions. But this cannot be. Christ's merits stand alone. Calvary is God's eternal witness to our ruin, as well as to the only provision of His grace for our salvation.

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

Ring out the Old!

It was New Year's Eve. A large number of loafers and drinkers were crowded into the bar-room of The Wilson House to celebrate. Liquor flowed freely and everyone was loud and boisterous.

Among them was Samuel Russell, the local preacher's son and the black sheep of that family. He had drunk considerably but his reason was not yet impaired; it always took a lot to intoxicate him.

During a lull in the bar-room din Joe Allen entered. He was a hardened drinker, with a terrible hatred for all kinds of religious things.

"They're having a watch-night service over at the Gospel Hall," he shouted as he stamped the snow off his boots and called for a drink; "and I don't see why we can't have one here. We can each do something to give the meeting a lift. Brother Eldridge, will you please lead us in prayer?"

"We will now sing a hymn," intoned Allen, in a voice which so exactly impersonated a certain affected young preacher in the town that it brought roars of laughter from the crowd. Then he paraphrased one of the popular hymns of the day with profane variations, while the others joined in uproariously.

"Brother Samuel Russell, will now preach the sermon," announced Joe, "and we trust it will be for the spiritual good of us all."

It was a terribly disagreeable suggestion to young Russell and he tried in every way possible to evade it. But when he attempted to rush to the door, he was caught and stood up at the end of the room behind a table.

"Preach now, or treat all round!" they all shouted. As he had not sufficient money to do the treating he reluctantly consented to "say a few words;" but complained that he had no text.

"Try, 'The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' " shouted Joe Allen. So the miserable young man commenced.

He remarked that the spirit seemed very strong that night, and they would find that the flesh would, as a result, gradually grow weaker; that they were all on the broad road to death; and as a New Year was about to begin they had better make a break with the old sinful things and start a new era in their lives.

"Why, I believe the young fool's in earnest!" exclaimed Joe Allen in his usual loud, sneering voice.

If Sam Russell, the preacher's son, was not already in earnest, something in Joe's words and tone went far towards making him speak sincerely. He began to utter thoughts which had lain deep in his heart for years, but had been covered by his wicked careless life.

Things he had heard his old father say; fragments of prayers, which fell from his now dead mother's lips; Bible verses he had learned at Sunday school; all came back to him now with new force and meaning, faster than he could utter them. The other men looked at first resentful, then surprised, then interested. Even the most drunken seemed suddenly sobered, and soon all were listening in tense silence.

As Russell continued his "sermon," strange to say, he began to feel that his own words were having their effect on himself. He knew that they were true. Soon he was asking himself: "If they are true, why do you not get down on your knees and pray to a merciful and offended God for forgiveness?" And there and then in the midst of his impromptu "sermon," that is just what he did.

Among the company present, two were converted to Christ before they left the bar-room. They went home sober, serious and saved. And Joe Allen, though he did not make a public confession, was never again heard to say anything against "religion," or ever suggest another sermon!

"As I turned the corner on my way home," concluded Samuel Russell, the hero of this strange but true story, "I overtook my aged father who was feebly making his way home from the watch-night service. And I never experienced any happiness on this earth equal to that which I felt when I took his arm and told him that his prayers had been answered, and that I had found Christ.

"My father spent the rest of the night on his knees thanking God.

"That was my first sermon. I have preached many since, with varying success. I have served Him who that New Year's Eve snatched me like a brand from the burning, and made me His own forever."

"I Don't Feel Right"

"Yes, I do believe on Jesus, but I don't feel right." Such is the honest expression of many an anxious soul. To such let me say a few words.

A few years ago a friend and I went down into a coal mine. As we descended we experienced peculiar feelings. After we had gone down a short distance I felt precisely as though we were going upwards; and I could have been sure that such was the fact if I had not positively known that we were going downwards.

We explored the mine and returned, the cage coming down to where we were to lift us from the darkness and smut of the pit into the light and freedom of the outer world. Then my feelings were exactly reversed. I felt as though we were dropping downwards, but I KNEW that the powerful engine was bearing us upwards as fast as it could, and we soon stepped out on the ground in the open air.

Now this is somewhat similar to the experience of souls. When they are going downward at a rapid rate to the pit of everlasting despair, Satan does his best to give them happy feelings; and when they are questioned as to their salvation, their reply is, "Oh, we certainly hope to be saved! We feel quite happy!" Sad delusion! No hope is to be relied upon which is not grounded upon the sure Word of God; no happy feelings are to be trusted which are not produced by faith in the Scriptures of Truth!

But when the conscience is aroused, and the poor sinner sees himself in all his guilt before God, what a change! No flippantly expressed hope will satisfy him now; he must KNOW that there is a Savior for him. How can he know? The Word of God replies, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." As the cage descended to lift us from the bottom of the coal mine, so this blessed Savior descended into this dark world to save your soul, poor sinner. As we stepped into the cage, trusting it to carry us every inch of the way, so may you trust that precious Savior who died for you; the Word which tells of Him is "faithful," and worthy of your acceptance.

"I do accept it," you say, "and trust Jesus as my Savior. Yet I feel as though I must go to hell, for I am so vile a sinner." Ah, this is Satan's work again! When you were going to hell as fast as time could carry you, he sought to make you feel as if you were going to heaven. Now, when Jesus is bearing you to glory by His mighty power, Satan would make you feel as if you must drop down to hell.

What is the cure? Let go your feelings; do not consider them; just hold fast to what you know. God's Word says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; THAT YE MAY KNOW that ye HAVE eternal life." Blest knowledge! Whatever your feelings may be, God would have you know that you have eternal life. The One who died for the poor sinner upon Calvary's cross is a perfect, eternal Savior. Trust Him unwaveringly every step of the way. Meet all Satan's temptations with the words God has put into your lips; not "I feel," but "I KNOW." Sooner or later, every timid soul that has trusted Jesus will have the joy of stepping into the bright glory of God, to sing forever the praise of a faithful Savior.

"Everybody's Doing It"

Just as they reached a bridge which spanned a river running into a rocky ravine, something alarmed the whole flock.

For a moment the sheep stood still in a state of panic. Then one of the number, bolder than the rest, took a big jump, cleared the bridge railing and disappeared.

In a flash another had done the same thing. Then another, and another, and another, and another. The shepherd did all he could to stop them, but it was too late. Each sheep seemed to be suddenly possessed with the idea that it must be a right thing to do since everybody was doing it.

Only a very few were restrained; and in a matter of seconds the rocks below were covered with dead and dying sheep.

At present it is fashionable to ignore the gospel. To be popular with the crowd you must live as though you had no soul to be lost or saved, no sins to account for, no eternity to spend. But let us remember that the biggest crowds cannot make the wrong thing right.

If you ignore your soul and its needs, you are wrong. If you shut God out of your life, you are wrong. If you regard the Lord Jesus Christ as a mere historic Person of no particular interest to you, you are wrong. If you just live for your own pleasure, thrusting your sins into some dark corner of forgetfulness, you are wrong. And it is not a valid excuse to say, "0, but everybody's doing it."

"Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:... And narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13, 14.

Christ, Not Krishna

Into a distant region of India, where little preaching of the gospel had ever been heard, several evangelists came to sow the good seed. Their surprise was great when a young Hindu came to them and asked for a certain tract, calling it by name.

"How had he heard of it?" they asked.

He answered, "Two years ago my father went to market, three days journey from our village. There he met an old acquaintance of his who said to him: 'I have here three little books which teach a new religion.' He showed them to my father and gave him one of them.

"Upon coming home, my father sat down to read the booklet. It interested him immensely, so very much, in fact, that he became engrossed with it. After a few days he lost his appetite; whenever he read the little book, we saw tears on his cheeks. He seemed completely changed, and his face was always sad. We thought the book must be bewitched and planned to burn it and give him the ashes, mixed with water, to drink. This should drive away the evil spirits. But he guarded it as a great treasure, and we were not able to secure it.

"As my father read on and on, another great change took place with him. The tears ceased, his face looked happy and he ate again as usual; but into a temple he would not go any more.

"A few months after this my father died. As he was nearing the end we cried to him: 'Father, you are dying, you are dying! Call upon Krishna! Call upon Krishna! You are dying!'

"To our distress, his answer was: 'I have a better Name-the name of Jesus Christ. I call on Christ, not Krishna. He is the Savior of the world; on Him I have called, and to Him I go. Seek him for yourselves, my sons, for the eternal salvation of your souls. His promise is: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" ' (John 6:37)."

A Genuine Gold Coin for a Penny

Captain Barclay, an eccentric Englishman, once bet another gentleman 500 British pounds that he could not sell 20 British sovereigns within an hour on London Bridge at a penny each. The sovereigns were actually worth 240 pennies each.

The bet was accepted, and Captain Barclay with the gold coins in his hands took his stand at a favorable spot.

"Gold, gold, genuine gold, a penny each!" he cried.

But the stream of people hurried along, paying no heed to his marvelous offer. Some smiled at the well-dressed man, doubtless wondering if he imagined that anyone would be foolish enough to believe him. But he continued his call: "Gold, gold, genuine gold, at a penny each!" But the Londoners were unbelieving.

The hour had nearly passed when a poorly-dressed man edged up to Captain Barclay, and riveting his eyes on the sovereigns, bought half-a dozen. On closer examination he was convinced of their true value and would have bought more. But the sixpence that he had invested was all the ready cash he had. Darting off to cash one of his newly-acquired gold pieces, he returned only to find the "sovereign-a-penny" man had gone. Captain Barclay therefore won the bet.

Greater and far more important things are illustrated by this incident: God at infinite cost has provided salvation for the perishing. He presses it on their acceptance as a free gift. But the masses of the people do not accept it on His terms. He pleads with them to take salvation freely, "without money and without price," but they think that this is too good to be true.

The "genuine gold sovereigns" were not offered as a free gift. It was certainly a splendid bargain to be offered a gold coin worth 240 pennies for one penny. But if God offered salvation on the ground of a sinner's heaving one single sigh — or shedding one only tear — or renouncing one sin—or performing a single good deed, then it would not be all of grace. Yet the Bible says: "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.

God is satisfied with what Christ did for us. Now He wishes us to be satisfied with that which satisfies Him. Look to Christ and you will obtain peace, pardon, and eternal life. Do not try to merit God's free gift of a full and present salvation.

Take salvation!

Take it now and happy be.

God's Word Is Sure

If all the SHALLS in scripture meant PERHAPS, And all the HATHS meant simply HOPE TO HAVE,

And all the ARES depended on an IF,—I well might doubt; But, since our Savior God means what He says, and CANNOT lie, I trust His faithful Word, and KNOW that I shall surely dwell throughout eternity, With Him Whose love led Him to die for me; E'en Christ Himself.

"Nothing"

A young man who thought a good deal of himself once came up to an old Christian in some anxiety of mind to know how he could be saved.

"Ah, John," said the old man, "you have three lessons to learn first."

"And what are they?" said John.

"In 'the first place, John, you must learn that

you are nothing.

"And in the second place, you must learn that

you can do nothing.

"And thirdly, you must learn that there is

nothing for you to do."

"Except Ye Repent"

LUKE 13:3

UK 013:3{A French naval officer whose ship had been captured by Lord Nelson, was brought aboard the flagship. Walking up to the great British Admiral the defeated officer offered Nelson his hand.

"No," said Nelson, "your sword first, please."

That is the gospel. Many would take Christ's hand and say that He is a noble character. But what saith the Scriptures?—

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

Surrender your rebellious will first; confess your guilt; own Him as your Lord and Savior; then Christ will take your hand and never let it go.

"Must I Quit All These?"

Cardinal Mazarin was one of those shrewd and clever men, who from a comparatively humble origin have risen to high rank and influence.

Born in 1692 at Piscini, he rose from a Captain in the Pontifical Guard to hold the reins of power in France. His cup of honor was full to overflowing and to him there seemed to be nothing wanting on this earth.

But it was now found that his unwearied addiction to state business had brought on a painful disease. On consulting Guenaud, the eminent physician, he was told that he had but a few months to live.

He received the announcement with sorrow, and was greatly troubled, for his possessions were enormous. All his life he had been hoarding, and his love of pictures being the strongest, he had a choice collection of almost priceless art.

Now he was face to face with the great fact stated in God's Word that—

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

Place, position, wealth, fame count for nothing when the "king of terrors" makes his imperative call. How wise to be "ready" for "we know not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1.

Soon after the great doctor told Cardinal Mazarin what a short time he had to live, the Cardinal was seen, in night cap and dressing gown, tottering along his gallery, pointing to his pictures, and mournfully exclaiming: "Must I quit these? MUST I QUIT ALL THESE?" He realized that he had to leave all his treasures behind.

The Cardinal's last words were: "Oh, my poor soul! What must become of thee? Whither wilt thou go?"

In the light of this historic fact, reader, ponder the words of the true and living God: "What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

You cannot be here forever. Solemn thought: — In 100 years from now both reader and writer will either be "with Christ in eternal glory," or "with Satan in eternal gloom." Your decision now settles your destiny then!

"Under His Wings"

In the wake of a disastrous prairie fire which destroyed several homesteads, a relief party set out to see what help they could give.

Riding on horseback through the smoldering remains of a barnyard one of the party observed a burnt hen still sitting upright on the ground. Curiosity led him to dismount and study the bird, which appeared to have been suddenly scorched to death where she sat.

Struck with the peculiar outstretched position of her blackened wings, he nudged the lifeless form with his foot, turning it over on its side. Instantly out ran several little chickens, unharmed and as active and lively as possible!

He at once saw that as the fire approached, the brave mother hen having called her little ones to the shelter of her wings, had secured them there from the burning heat while the flames devoured every other living thing.

Sitting firm as a rock in the face of the consuming blast she had saved the lives of her chicks, though losing her own.

As we read of the mother love of this dumb creature our minds instinctively turn to the pathetic words of the Lord Jesus in Matt. 23:37:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not."

Reader, as the Savior looks down upon you does He have to say: "I longed to welcome you to the shelter of My wounded side, and to freely give you the salvation which I gave my life to purchase for you, but you would not?"

Surely you cannot be content to let this be true, while there is offered to you such —

"A great salvation,

From a great destruction,

For a great sinner,

By a great God,

Through a great Savior,

At a great price,

For a great end."

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

Life in a Look

Not life as the reward of weary toil — not the result of agonizing efforts — not the purchase of money, or of prayers — but Life, eternal life, as the result of one believing look to the Lord Jesus Christ. How wondrous is the gift of God!

The agony of the lost will be the terrible memory that they might have had life if they had only looked, but would not. The poor on earth will not be able to say, "I could not afford it." The busy person will not be able to say, "I had no time to attend to it."

Life had been offered to them as a gift, if they would only look to Jesus and by Him be saved. But even this was rejected.

Reader, this life is now offered to you on the same terms: life in a look. It works!

Thomas Haddon Spurgeon was one of the millions who has proved it. He wrote of his own salvation: "I thought the sun was blotted out of my sky — that I had so sinned against God that there was no hope for me.

"I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair now, had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snow-storm one Sunday morning when I was going to a place of worship.

"When I could go no further, I turned down a court and came to a little Primitive Methodist Chapel. In that chapel there might be a dozen or fifteen people. The minister did not come that morning; snowed up, I suppose.

"A poor man, a shoemaker, a tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach.

"This poor man was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had nothing else to say. His text was: "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.' He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter.

"There was, I thought, a glimmer of hope for me in the text. He began thus: " 'My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, Look. Now that does not take a deal of effort. It ain't lifting your foot or your finger; it is just LOOK. Well, a man need not go to college to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man need not be worth a thousand a year to look. Anyone can look, a child can look. But this is what the text says. Then it says, Look unto Me.' Ay,' said he in broad Essex, 'Many on ye are looking to yourselves. No use looking there. You'll never find comfort in yourselves. Some look to God the Father. No: look to Him by and by. Jesus Christ says: " 'Look unto ME.'

" 'Some of you say, I must wait the Spirit's working'. You have no business with that just now.

" 'Look to Christ. It runs, Look unto Me.' "Then the good man followed up his text in this way: " 'Look unto Me; I am sweating great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hanging on the cross. Look! I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend; I am sitting at the Father's right hand. Oh, look to Me! Look to Me!'

"When he had got about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes or so, he was at the length of his tether. Then he looked at me under the gallery, and said: " 'Young man, you look very miserable.'

"Well, I did, but had not been accustomed to have remarks made on my personal appearance before. However it was a good blow struck. He continued: " 'And you will always be miserable — miserable in life, and miserable in death — if you do not obey my text. But if you obey, now, this moment, you will be saved.' Then he shouted: " 'Young man, look to Jesus Christ; look NOW'. He made me start in my seat, but I did look to Jesus Christ.

"There and then the cloud was gone; the darkness had rolled away and that moment I saw the sun.

"I could have risen that moment and sung with the most enthusiastic of them of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to Him. Oh, that somebody had told me before.

"Trust in Christ and you shall be saved."

Look! look! look and live!

"You, Me, or Anybody Else"

Following an open-air gospel meeting in Hyde Park, a man in farm laborer's attire asked if he might speak. Permission being granted he addressed the crowd with these words: "I'm but a poor laboring man, so you'll excuse my simple way and let me tell you how the Lord saved my soul.

"I was plowing beside the road, and had just sat down against the fence to have my bit of bread and cheese, when I spies a gentleman leaning over the gate. Presently he came over and said it was a fine day. And I said it was so, with the blessing of God.

"However he pulls me up sharp, though in a kindly voice. Says he, " ‘Do you know the blessing of God in saving your soul?'

"It took me aback, and I says, "Of course, we all wants to be saved, and hope we shall before we come to die.

"Then he spoke a great deal to me as never I heard the likes in my life; about being born again and all that.

"Before he goes, he takes out a Book and says: " 'I should like to give you this Book. Will you read the chapter where I turn down the page?'

"I thanked him with all my heart; but told him I never had no book learnin'.

" 'Well', says he, 'never mind that; you get the first person you see that can read to read this chapter to you.'

"So he left the Book and I've never seen him from that day to this.

"After a bit I hears a boy come sauntering home from school, whistling. Thinks I, 'He'll do!' So I calls: " 'Hey, boy! come here'.

"He comes over and I tells him to sit down and read out of a Book a gentleman just gave me. "I axed him, 'Can you read?'

" 'Ay, can I! And write my name too.'

"He reads away and I sits listening with all my might. He reads about a man what came to Jesus by night. I never knew anything take such hold on me as them words did. I was wholly stunned when he read about being born again, for that was what the gentleman was saying to me before.

"Then I lost what he read for a bit, for thinking to myself... 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God! Now I wanted to go to heaven. And I always thought if a man did the best he could he would surely go to heaven in the end. But this floored me, this being ‘born again'. I was sure I wasn't.

"Suddenly something the boy read made my heart jump. I called out to him to stop and read that last over again. As he read what he told me was the sixteenth verse, the light began to shine, and I thought.

"This explains it! This is what being born again means:

" '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.'

"Yet I couldn't half think it was for me; and there was one word that I couldn't understand, so I axed the boy: " 'Can you tell me what that word whosoever means?'

"But he seemed to know as little as myself and said:

" ‘I can't for the life of me tell you what it means.'

"But I wasn't to be put off and said, 'you're a good scholar, and can write your own name. Surely you know what this word means.'

" 'No, he says, unless it means you, me, or anybody else.'

" 'Why didn't you say that at first?' says I. 'I can understand that easy enough! Read that verse again and put them words in instead of the long one.' So he read over again: " Tor God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that you, me or anybody else, believing in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.'

"I lifted my heart there and then for such mercy to a sinner like me. I says the verse to myself over and over again, enthusiastically, as I went on plowing. The rest of that afternoon my heart was singing with joy as I plowed up and down the field."

"When I went home the first thing I says to my wife was: "Wife, with the blessing of God, my fortune's made! I have received everlasting life.'

" 'Thank God,' she said, 'then my prayers are answered. But how did you come by it?'

"I read to her—or rather said to her, though I opened the book at the sixteenth verse of the third of John.

"I was so full of my new-found happiness that as soon as I had my supper I felt I must go and tell my mates the good news, thinking of course they'd be glad to hear it.

"We were accustomed to meet at the tavern and talk of all the gossip of the country; it was a regular scandal shop. So I goes down there this night with my Bible in my pocket.

"When I gets there my mates, and the landlord especially, begin to cry out how late I am, that I must have something good to tell. Then when they were quiet I tells them what I telled my wife, and pulls out my Bible and says John three and sixteen to them.

"Well! they stared at me and hadn't a word to say. At last the landlord spoke up: " 'Come, we don't want any of that sort of stuff here. We have enough preaching on Sundays by lamed men, without your setting up to be so good.'

" 'Is that the way it is, landlord?' I answers him. 'Well, it opens my eyes to what the friendship of the world is worth. If I musn't speak about my Savior, then I can't come here anymore indeed. Here's the three shillings I owe you, Goodbye old mates, I would to God you would take the words of Jesus and thank Him for it.'

"But the most part laughed at me. Only two, I believe (and thank God for them!), gave any heed.

"In my place now, they call me Whosoever, for I must say it again and again. It's just 'whosoever'— 'whosoever believeth.'

"But let me warn you, there is another 'whosoever' in God's Book, and if you are not a believer, you must be one of the ‘whosoever’s' of Rev. 20:15,

"And whosoever (you, me or anybody else) was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the lake of fire.' "

Here the lowly farmhand ended, leaving each one in his audience wondering: "Which whosoever applies to me?"

Reader, which of these two "whosoever’s" applies to you?

"His Eyes Were as a Flame of Fire"

REVELATION 1:14

EV 1:14{A famous portrait of Christ, painted by the Netherland artist, Hemling, had been lost for years. It portrayed the majesty of the Son of Man in His official glory as Judge of the world—having eyes "as a flame of fire." (Rev. 1:14).

When the masterpiece was recovered it was decided to show it to the famous poet Goethe, who was a widely recognized art critic.

The picture was placed in his room to surprise him, but it failed to have that effect. On the contrary, it so troubled the great Goethe that he was unable to give the calm, deliberate criticism expected of him. After awhile he called a servant and commanded: "Take that picture away. I can't endure it."

Reader, if Goethe, "a child of the world" as he styled himself, could not bear the piercing look of a painted Christ, who could endure the gaze of the living Christ—the piercing, penetrating gaze of the eyes burning as a flame of fire? The answer is: only those who can say with John who saw the heavenly vision: "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Rev. 1:5, 6.

"Behold He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.

A Lost Sheep Found

"Who are you?"

"I am nobody."

"Where are you from?"

"Everywhere."

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere."

"Where do you belong?"

"Nowhere."

"Do you want a job?"

"I would be glad of a job if I could only get away from my present boss, for whom I have worked faithfully for two years."

"And who is your boss?"

"Satan."

"Does he pay good wages?"

"Good wages? No! Big wages? Yes."

"What kind of wages?"

"Hunger enough for a hundred men. Rags, desolation, shattered nerves, ruined character and a burning thirst for the thing that has wrought my ruin."

So ran the dialog between a shepherd and a young tramp early one frosty October morning in the hill country. In his arms the shepherd held a poor sheep which he had spent most of the night looking for. He had just arrived home to find the young man standing beside the barn.

Looking at the sheep the shepherd thought: "I've spent half the night in trying to rescue this four-legged sheep. Dare I drive that two-legged one from my door and make no effort to rescue him?" Looking up he said to the young tramp: "You look as if you could eat some breakfast; how about it?"

Evidently moved by the kindness of the invitation, the young fellow straightened up and replied: "Thank you, sir, I am very hungry, but I am not deserving of such kindness."

"Young man," was the reply, "I have never turned a hungry man from my door, and with God's help I never will so long as my name is Robert West."

At the mention of the name the stranger turned pale, but bracing himself he said: "I appreciate your kindness and gratefully accept your invitation."

Having put the sheep which was lost in the fold with the others, West led the way to the house where Mrs. West stood in the doorway to welcome her husband. Together all three sat down to a hearty breakfast. Before the meal began Robert reverently gave thanks for the food.

Their unexpected guest ate as only a hungry man can, yet with the manner of a gentleman. It was plain to see that he was thinking as well as eating. As he listened to Mr. West's account of his search for the lost sheep, tears welled up in his eyes.

With the meal over and still sitting at the table, Mr. West, as was his custom, opened a Bible and read. He had chosen the parable of the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son in the 15th chapter of Luke. The reading was followed by prayer and earnest supplication for the wandering boy. The visitor, kneeling with the others, was deeply moved. And when West and his wife sang, "Rejoice! for the Lord brings back His own," the wanderer wept aloud. As the song ended he stood and said: "By some strange chance I came to your door this morning, a prodigal, a pauper, a bankrupt clothed in rags. Yet at your table you have treated me as an honored guest.

"Nearly two years ago," he continued, "I turned my back on a beautiful home. I closed my ears to the appeals of my Christian father and mother. I have tried to drown the memory of their prayers, but only to find myself at the end in another Christian home.

"At college I learned to drink. I graduated with the highest honors, but only to gain a consuming thirst for liquor. Every effort of my dear parents and friends failed to break the chains that bound me. At last I fled from home and from those that loved me most.

"For nearly two years I have tramped hither and thither, until this morning, when we were down on our knees I confessed my sins and put my trust in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who promises 'to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.' Sir, the desire for drink has left me and He is able to keep me.

"I said it was a strange chance that sent me here, but I was wrong. It was the Lord that guided me to your door. It was His will that you should bring back this wandering sheep. Do you wonder why? You will understand when I tell you that my name is Robert West Beatty."

"Are you the son of my old college mate, Frederick Beatty?" exclaimed Robert West in amazement.

"I surely am, and my father named me after you in memory of his college chum," was the rep.

"Then God has now enabled me to pay a debt of gratitude I owed to your father", said West. "I never heard Father say you owed him anything."

"Probably not, but now listen to my story: "Fred Beatty and I entered college together and we became fast friends. Like you, I began to drink. One evening I returned to the room which your father and I shared; I was plainly under the influence of liquor.

"Your father waited until I was sober, and then if ever one talked out his heart and gripped the heart of another, that man was Fred Beatty.

"We got down on our knees, and I took your father's Savior as my Savior. And I asked the Lord to help me give up drink.

"Through His mercy I have never touched a drop of it to this day. God helping me, I'll be as true to Fred Beatty's son as Fred was true to me!"

The Spirit of God worked a complete change in the newly converted young man. He lived to please the Lord. Mr. West gave him a home and a job on his farm, and they called him Bob.

Some months later, Robert West, unknown to Bob, sent a long letter to his old college chum, Frederick Beatty, inviting him and his wife to pay them a visit.

"I have a fine flock of sheep," he wrote. "I spent nearly a whole night last October searching for one that went astray. Before I got back to the house I found two sheep; the one that belonged to me and another one. I will give you that other sheep."

Early one morning two weeks later, Robert West drove to the station to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beatty who had gratefully accepted his invitation. Just before they reached the house, Mrs. West said to Bob: "Bob, Mr. West has gone to the station for a present for you. I know you will like it. I want you to go to your room until I call, so we can get the present ready for you at breakfast."

The company arrived, and just as they were sitting down at the table Bob descended the stairs and entered the room.

"Fred and Mary," said Robert West, "here is the other sheep I found. Bob, here is your present."

Words cannot describe the joy of that reunion. The lost sheep was found."

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

How Far?

"As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psa. 103:12.

How far was the east from the west? The sun was 95,000,000 miles away when he arose in the east and still 95,000,000 miles away when he set in the west; but east and west were still farther off than that. Beyond the sun were other worlds stretching far away into infinite space; but east and west are further away than that.

None can measure it, and yet on the authority of God's own Word believers in Christ can say: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." 0

Are You Sure?

Are you sure you are on the right way? Do you know where you must go for the pardon of your sins? Do you know where forgiveness is to be found? There is a way both sure and plain, and into that way I desire to guide you.

The right way is simply to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. It is to cast your soul with all its sins unreservedly on Christ to cease completely from any dependence on your own works, either in whole or in part, and to rest on no work but Christ's work; no righteousness but Christ's righteousness; no merit but Christ's merit, as your ground of hope. Take this course and you are a pardoned soul.

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

The Lord Jesus Christ, in great love and compassion, has made a complete satisfaction for sin, by his suffering and death upon the Cross. There He was offered as a sacrifice for our sins. There He allowed the wrath of God, which we deserved, to fall on His own head. For our sins He gave Himself, suffered and died—the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty, that He might deliver us from the curse of a broken law, and provide a full unqualified pardon for all who are willing to receive it.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. Come to Him now with all your sins and wickedness, with all your doubts and fears—with all your feelings of unfitness and unworthiness, and He will not cast you out, nor refuse you. He has said it. He will stand to it. He never breaks His word.

"Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. COME NOW!

Because the sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God the Just is satisfied,

To look on Him and pardon me.

Choose Now

"Some day," you say, "I will seek the Lord;

Some day I will make my choice;

Some day, some day, I will heed His Word,

And answer the Spirit's voice."

God's time is now, for the days fly fast,

And swiftly the seasons roll;

Today is yours, it may be your last;

Choose life for your precious soul!

Choose now, just now! there's a soul at stake!

O what will your answer be?

'Tis life or death; and the choice you make

Is made for eternity.

Choose now, just now, for the Lord is here,

And angels your answer wait;

Choose now, just now, while the call is clear:

Tomorrow may be too late!

Almost

Near to the door, and the door stood wide,

Close to the port, but not inside,

Almost persuaded to give up sin,

Almost persuaded to enter in;

Almost persuaded to count the cost,

Almost a Christian, and yet lost.

"Main Street" and What It Means to Me

Christopher Knapp, author of "Who Wrote Our Hymns", also wrote the following account of his own joyous conversion to God. His story was first published in tract form some years ago under the title of, "Main Street And What It Means to Me."

"MAIN STREET!" What memories fill my mind and thrill my heart at the mention of this often repeated name. Next to the street of gold in glory, Main Street will ever be the street of all streets to me.

For it was on a street of that name in a mid-west town that I received Christ as my Savior. It was there my soul was saved. It was there that I took my first step heavenward.

It happened this way. Born and brought up in Albany, New York, I lived on there in my sin and unbelief, until, (impelled by I knew not what) I left home and started West. I got off the train at South Bend, Indiana.

I was charmed with the place, with its cozy homes set back from the street—so different from the houses built flush with the streets or sidewalks to which I had been accustomed. It was in the month of June, and the apple and cherry trees were in bloom in many of the front gardens and lawns.

But it is not of memories (pleasant as they are) of tidy houses, springtime blossoms and frank, warm-hearted hospitality that I wish to write.

It is the recollection of a different springtime, the springtime of my real, my spiritual life, that I would tell. After the long. dark winter of my deadness and alienation from God, my heart until now utterly dead and unresponsive, was melted by the knowledge of God's love to me. Then the summer of fruitfulness and blessing for me began.

In my soul I could hear "the voice of my Beloved," saying, in the language of the Song of Songs: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Sol. 2:10-13.

But to my story. About the first place I made for after finding a boarding-house, was the YMCA. The "C" stood for something in those days. There prayer was offered; the Scriptures were honored and studied; souls were sought after. As to the reading room, gymnasium, etc., these were only subsidiary, or used as auxiliaries to this great end.

Acquaintances were quickly made, as is common with boys everywhere; and one notable day one of these boys proposed a walk.

We stepped out onto Main Street together, and after going a few blocks my companion turned on me with the question: "Knapp, are you a Christian?"

The question neither surprised nor offended me; it was a perfectly natural one, I thought (and so I still believe), so I answered frankly: "No, I am not."

"Well, you ought to be," he said.

This I acknowledged.

"Well," he continued, "don't put it off; life is too uncertain." And to clinch this statement he related the following event: "The day before, two men were felling trees just outside the town. While at their work a tree fell in a direction they were not looking for, or sooner than they had expected, and one of the men was caught by a broken branch which pierced his chest. There, pinned hopelessly to the ground, the blood spurting from the wound, he turned his eyes, already glazed in death, to his companion and said: "Tom, can you pray? If you can, pray for me; for I am dying, and I am not ready, I am not prepared!"

I do not know if Tom prayed or not; nor how his fellow workman died; God knows. But I do know that the Lord used this incident to turn my soul to Himself as the sinner's Savior.

Standing there on Main Street, on that glorious June day, I submitted myself to Christ. I received Him as my Savior; and in that act of faith I "passed from death unto life." See John 5:24.

Do you wonder then that the month of June is to me the month of all months, as Main Street is the street of all streets... until I shall tread that street of gold in the city of God?

So dear is that spot to me that some years ago. when I could ill afford the time, I broke a journey to stop off in South Bend... to find the hallowed spot on Main Street where my heart made its eternal choice, saying, "Christ for Me!"

Reader, is Christ yours? Is there some spot on earth where you received Him as your Savior? If not, may you receive Him now and sing with me and all who know His love and grace:

'Tis done, the great transaction's done!

I am my Lord's, and He is Mine.

There in God's city on high, "There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Rev. 21:27.

To those who receive Him now, God's Word declares: "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

The Infidel Farmer

An infidel farmer in Illinois wrote to the editor of a state newspaper as follows: "I have a field of corn which I plowed on Sunday. I planted it also on Sunday. I did all the cultivating it received on Sunday. And on Sunday I hauled it to the barn. Now I find I have more corn to the acre than has been gathered by my neighbors during this month of October."

The editor was not a religious man, and the farmer evidently hoped to win some comment favoring his own infidel views. In this however, he was disappointed. When his letter appeared in print it simply carried the following terse editorial observation: "God does not always settle His accounts in October."

The farmer wished to show as proof, that because his crop prospered, and he was not punished for breaking the Lord's day, there was no God to be concerned over—or, if there were a God, He was evidently totally indifferent to man's conduct. What a terrible mistake!

Men judge God by themselves. The truth is that God is "long suffering and slow to anger"; but He "will by no means clear the guilty." (See Ex. 34:7.)

God chooses His own time to settle His accounts with men; but certain it is that, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7.

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

Facts are unalterable; whether a man believes them or not makes no difference; they remain facts. (Read Rom. 3:3, 4.)

Unsaved reader, God is waiting to be gracious. He longs to pluck you from the eternal burning. (Read 2 Peter 3:9, and Ezek. 33:11.)

God has given the Lord Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for your sin. Christ died on Calvary's cross to save you from unending woe.

Through the sacrificial death of Jesus, sin has been so completely "put away" that God can, in divine consistency with His inflexible righteousness and holiness, pardon even the greatest and vilest offender. Hear once more His amazing invitation: "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.

Why do you wait, dear sinner?

The harvest is passing away;

The Savior is longing to bless you;

Why not come to Him today?

In Black and White

While visiting one of the large hospitals the following conversation took place between a Christian worker and one of the patients: "Well, my friend, I believe you have been quite a sick man. I suppose you hope soon to be able to go back to your home."

"Yes, thank you. I don't think I shall be here much longer. I have suffered a lot, but am better. I do hope soon to go home."

"May I ask where you expect to go after you leave this world? It matters little where we come from, but where we are going is the important thing to be clear about."

"You have asked the right man that question, and I will give you a plain answer. I am going to heaven."

"Have you always been a good man?"

"O no, sir; I am a sinner."

"Well, I am glad to hear that, and you seem to be quite sure that you are going to heaven; but may I ask what authority you have for what you say?"

"Well, sir, it was hardly two years ago that I had a vision. I was caught up into Paradise and saw Jesus. He spoke so kindly to me, and His face was so bright and happy. He told me I was not to stay there just yet, but that my sins were all forgiven, and that I was a child of God and would soon be called to be with Him, to be there forever."

"I am glad to hear all you say, my friend," said the visitor, "but that would not be enough to satisfy me."

"Nat enough to satisfy you? What more would you want than to hear the Lord Jesus say your sins were forgiven, and to own you as a child of God?"

"I would want to have it dawn in black and white. Nothing less would satisfy me. It would not be enough to have a verbal agreement with a person about the purchase of a piece of land; I would want it in writing, no matter how true the person might be. The written words would settle all dispute for all time.

"Just suppose what you think was a vision was only a dream. Then what would you have to assure you that your sins are forgiven, and that you are a child of God?"

"O, sir, it was no dream, and you can't shake my confidence like that."

"My friend, I don't want to shake your confidence by any means, nor lessen your faith in what God has said, but only to give you a surer foundation upon which to build your hope."

"Have you anything better than that, sir?"

"Yes, I surely have. I have the Lord's own words in black and white, and without this I would never be certain."

"Then let me see them."

The visitor took from his pocket a Bible, and read to him these words: "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven, for His name's sake." 1 John 2:12, then—

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.... Beloved, now are we the sons of God." 1 John 3:1, 2.

"You surely have the best of it, sir," said the patient. "I can see now that only as we have the Word of God for everything that we believe, can we be fully persuaded that we are right."

"Forever, 0 Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven." Psa. 119:89.

Lord Curzon and the King of Terrors

An incident, said to be without precedent in the history of journalism, was published relative to the deathbed of the British Statesman, Lord Curzon, who was British Foreign Secretary for 5 years following World War I.

"For days the statesman had been lying on his sick bed, fully conscious, his mental faculties made more alert by his suffering. Every morning he appealed for one of his favorite newspapers; but his physicians, fearing the effect on him of their own published bulletins recording the gravity of his illness, were forced to refuse his request.

"Yesterday it was seen he had entered upon the last phase of his struggle with death; his indomitable will alone keeping off the enemy.

"The doctors, seeking every possible means to buoy up the dying Marquis, appealed to the Daily Graphic. It is not usual for a great London Daily to agree to stop its presses, even for the highest in the land. But the editors replied that they would issue a special edition of ONE COPY announcing Lord Curzon's recovery.

"And so, in the early hours of this morning, while Lord Curzon's life was fast ebbing away, this special "bedside edition" was prepared.

It hailed the "great improvement" in the condition of the Marquis. It spoke of his cheerfulness, his bravery, and the almost certain convalescence upon which he would soon enter.

But, almost at the moment the huge presses turned out their message of encouragement, the end came. The one copy edition was never read by the man for whom it was published.

What a pitiable subterfuge! What mistaken kindness! Why hide from those departing that life is ebbing away? Deception cannot ward off the "King of Terrors" and no respecter of persons is he.

Reader, is Death to you a terror, or a servant to bring you to the Father's home of heavenly light and love? Happy the one who can say: "In peace let me resign my breath And Thy salvation see; My sins deserved eternal death But Jesus died for me."

The Fruitless Search

Thomas Hardy was perhaps the greatest English novelist of his generation. He is best known as the author of "Under the Greenwood Tree," but many other novels came from his pen in addition to poetry of considerable quality.

He was a man who had a love for the language of the Bible and he read his Greek New Testament for a quarter of an hour after breakfast each morning.

In spite of this, we find the following entry in his diary: "I have been looking for God for fifty years, and I think that if He had existed, I should have discovered Him."

This is a saddening confession from the heart of one of such eminence, and withal a puzzling conclusion calculated to adversely affect similar seekers.

Perhaps as you read this, you are saying to yourself; "Well, if one of such intellect as Hardy was fruitless in the quest, there can be little hope of my finding God."

It is surely on this very rock that many have stumbled. In the material sphere, the human intellect is of untold importance; but in the matter of man's dealings with God, intellect may be more of a hindrance than a help. The New Testament is very emphatic on this: "The world by wisdom knew not God." 1 Cor. 1:21. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. 2:14.

The hierarchy of earth may be attained by rank, or by supreme ability, but the acceptance of God is bestowed not because of such qualifications. It is open to one class, and only one class: "It pleased God... to save them that believe." 1 Cor. 1:21.

This is a category into which all may come, irrespective of breeding, natural ability or education. It may be hard for a man of learning to adopt the humble place, to give over doing and questioning, and to simply trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation, but for us all, there is only one way.

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

Eph. 2:8.

What Will You Say?

Thomas Hoopoo attended a mission school for Indians. After some time he went with a Christian friend to New Brunswick to a preacher's house to stay.

On the day of their arrival, a select company were invited to spend the evening with a celebrated lawyer whose home was in the town. Thomas, who was about 16 years old, went with them.

The brilliant lawyer, who was not a true Christian, entertained the company for a long time with asking Thomas questions. He quizzed him unmercifully about his people; their customs, manners, pleasures and especially about their religion as compared with Christianity. When at last he ceased, Thomas spoke out before them all.

"I am a poor heathen boy," he said. "It is not strange that my blunders should amuse you. But soon there will be a larger meeting than this. We shall all be there. They will ask us all but one question: "Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?"

"Now, sir, I think I can say, Yes. What will you say, sir?"

He stopped. A death-like stillness pervaded the room. Soon the party broke up and all retired to their respective homes for the night.

But there was no rest for the great attorney. The question asked by Thomas Hoopoo kept ringing in his ears: "What will you say, sir?"

The Spirit of God had touched his conscience, and he found no rest till he could answer in the affirmative the searching question leveled by that poor illiterate boy.

"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha (Accursed; our Lord cometh)." 1 Cor. 16:22.

The Best Thing in the World

"My dear friend, can you tell me what is the best thing in this world?" said a servant of Christ, as he placed his hand lovingly on the shoulder of another man standing beside him.

"Yes, sir, I can"; was the ready reply, "for though I've never learned to read, yet God has taught me by His Spirit, and I know what is the best thing in this world." Then slowly, and with great feeling he said: "The best thing in this world, sir, is to be ready for the next."

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

But are you ready? If not, do you wish to be ready? Then turn to God now. Repent now. Trust Jesus now. Have faith in His precious shed blood now. Now confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and say, "0 Savior of the guilty, I do believe Thou didst die for me, even for me," and thou shalt be saved—now.

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

How Charles Boblitz Was Saved

A well-known building contractor named Charles Boblitz lay dying in the University Hospital in Baltimore. A man for whom Boblitz had built a home asked A. S. Loizeaux to visit him. Of this visit, Mr. Loizeaux wrote the following touching account: I had learned from the surgeon that there was no hope for the man's life, so I prayed that God would save this precious soul so soon to pass into eternity.

I found Boblitz bright and intelligent, and told him that our mutual friend had asked me to call. Mr. Boblitz was an upright business man, a very likeable fellow, who won the friendship of all who knew him.

After our greeting I told Mr. Boblitz of an operation I had undergone in that same hospital, and that I had experienced no fear of death because I knew that the Lord Jesus had died for me, and I was ready to go and be with Him.

The following conversation then took place:

"Have you ever been saved, Mr. Boblitz?"

"No, sir."

"Have you read the Bible in your home?"

"No, sir."

"Do you think you need salvation?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you wish to have your sins forgiven?" "Yes, I do."

"Then you are a sinner?"

"Yes."

There was no doubt about the man's sincerity.

There was no hesitation or qualification in his answers. His wife was sitting at one side of the bed and following every word.

Looking to the Lord for guidance, I read Rom. 5:6-8.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

The sick man listened eagerly to the news of God's matchless love for the ungodly: for sinners. He knew that it applied to him. Although a so-called good man as men say, he was without God, ungodly. And although better than many of his fellows, now that he allowed the Word of God to search him, he knew he was a sinner.

Again I asked the Lord for guidance in leading this wanderer to Himself, and I read the 15th chapter of Luke, that wonderful chapter where the Lord Jesus reveals the heart of God in seeking lost men. Boblitz followed every word, watching my face as I read.

The shepherd went after the lost sheep until he found it and when he found it, he laid it on his shoulders rejoicing. "Boblitz," I said, "if you repent now, and put your trust in Jesus, there will be joy in heaven over you."

Then we read of the woman, seeking the lost coin: taking her candle, and sweeping the house and searching carefully until she found it. "Likewise, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

"Boblitz," I said, "if you yield to God's Holy Spirit now, and repent, there will be joy before God's angels over you."

There were tears in the sick man's eyes, showing that the gracious Spirit was even then seeking the lost soul.

We read the final matchless story of the lost boy, who left his father's home for the far country. He spent his days in sin, until he found the wretched emptiness of this world. He began to be in want, and no man gave unto him.

Then in his distress, he repented of his wicked ways, and arose and went to his father and said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." What a welcome he received! The father's kiss, the best robe, the ring, the shoes, and the feast in the father's home.

"Boblitz," I said, "if you repent just now, God the Father will receive you with rejoicing."

I closed the Bible, and prayed that the wanderer might come to the Father's arms of love.

As I ceased, Charles Boblitz turned to his wife and said:

"Come here, dear."

His wife laid her cheek on her husband's thin, white face. Her tears were dropping on his cheeks already wet with his own. Putting his arm around her he said: "I came to Jesus while the man was praying, and I want you to come, too."

Precious, divine love in a newborn soul! Before this believing soul had confessed his faith, he reached out after another to lead her to Jesus.

There was joy in heaven over a sinner that repented.

Boblitz lived about 6 weeks after his conversion, and gave a bright witness to his Savior. He rejoiced in sins forgiven and looked forward to being with his Lord in Heaven.

Over 300 attended the funeral, for Charles Boblitz had been a popular man. The above story of his conversion was told at the grave, and many tear-filled eyes witnessed to the Spirit's working in human hearts as they heard the story of God's grace.

Reader, will you not come as Boblitz did, to Jesus? Just trust Him with your precious soul. Tell Him, "I have sinned," and He will put His arms of love around you, and claim you as His own.

Come to Him now and there will be joy in Heaven over another sinner repenting.

Roosevelt's Mistake

During the Spanish war Theodore Roosevelt was greatly concerned when a number of his men became ill.

Hearing that Clara Barton, organizer of the American Red Cross, had received a supply of delicacies for the invalid soldiers under her care, Colonel Roosevelt requested her to sell him a portion of them for the sick men of his regiment.

His request was refused, however, which troubled the colonel greatly. He was strongly attached to his men, and was prepared to pay for the supplies out of his own pocket.

"I must have proper food for my sick men," he said. "How can I get these things?"

"Just ask for them, colonel," said the doctor in charge of the Red Cross headquarters.

"Oh," said Roosevelt, his face breaking into a smile, "that is the way, is it? Then I do ask for them." And he was immediately given the coveted supplies.

Often the colonel's mistake has been made in connection with God's gift of eternal life. Many expect to receive it in exchange for something they offer.

One brings an earnest prayer. Another brings a vow or a promise to turn over a new leaf; another, a good resolution to live a better, purer life. Another thinks that before one can receive salvation he must produce some evidence of his sincerity in the shape of an improvement in conduct. Another imagines salvation can be obtained only by strict adherence to some creed or conformity to some religion.

The truth is that God's salvation can only be had as a free gift. Why should there be such difficulty in understanding this when the words of Holy Scripture are so plain?

"I will give unto him that is athirst... of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6.

Pride rebels against such terms. It would rather pay, however small the price. But God is too rich in grace to sell His blessing; and man is far too poor to buy—because, morally, man is a bankrupt.

With His hands full of rich eternal blessing, God is ready to meet the sinner, if only the sinner will come with empty hands and receive it as a free gift. Will you?

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

O gift of life unspeakable
O gift of mercy all divine!

He tells me of a place of rest,

He tells me where my soul may flee;

Oh, to the weary, faint, opprest,

How sweet the bidding, "Come to Me."

The Royal Hunt

The princely Elector of his day once invited Dr. Martin Luther to participate in a royal hunting expedition. Luther would far rather have roamed the harvest fields with his family, but he thought it not well to refuse the royal invitation.

When all was ready, the horns blew and the hunters galloped off into a day filled with sunshine. Deer, rabbits and other game were flushed from cover in field and forest as the eager men and dogs tracked them in hot pursuit.

Unnoticed by the rest of the party, Luther drew back a distance, dismounted and sat down by a hedge.

It had been arranged that in the evening, the blast of the bugle would announce when the hunt was over and all the hunters would then regroup under an oak at the edge of a wood. The last to arrive was Luther.

One by one the hunters related their adventures and displayed their trophies of the chase. When it came to Luther's turn, one of the men asked: "And what did you succeed in bringing down, Doctor?"

"A rabbit!" replied Luther. Whereupon he opened his coat and pulled out a frightened little bunny.

"I took it in, as it was calling for its mother," he went on. "I shall take it home as a pet for my little boy."

Here the prince shook Luther's hand warmly, saying: "A strange and wonderful man, you are, Doctor Luther. Such an iron will as yours welded to such a tender heart brings us music, the strains of which will be heard for centuries."

Luther's heart was but a faint, though true, reflection of his blessed Master, the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

"His heart is filled with tenderness,

His very name is Love."

Dear reader, if unsaved, the Lord Jesus is far more concerned for the salvation of your soul than you are yourself. O come to Him now!

"Today if ye will hear His voice,

harden not your hearts." Heb. 4:7.

Salvation Is for the Lost!

George Whitefield, the famed evangelist who is said to have preached 18,000 sermons to 10 million people had a brother who lived a careless, ungodly life. This brother, when finally aroused to the danger of losing his immortal soul, was overcome with melancholy and despair.

One afternoon while having tea with the Countess of Huntingdon, her ladyship endeavored to raise his hopes by conversing on the infinite mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For awhile all seemed in vain.

"My lady," said the despondent man, "I know what you say is true; the mercy of God is infinite. I see it all clearly. But oh! my dear lady, there is no mercy for me, I am a wretch, entirely lost."

"I am glad to hear it, Mr. Whitefield," said Lady Huntingdon. "I am glad at heart you are a lost man."

"What! glad that I am a lost man?" echoed Whitefield.

"Yes, truly glad; for Jesus Christ came into the world to save the lost."

"Blessed be God for that!" exclaimed White-field, setting down his cup of tea. "Glory to God for that word! 0 what unusual power is this which I feel attending it! Jesus Christ came to save the lost. I have a ray of hope."

As he finished his last cup of tea his hand trembled and he complained of feeling ill. A short time later —that same afternoon — he died — a saved soul — "a brand plucked from the burning."

Reader, has the devil been trying to make you believe that you are too bad to be saved, or too late? Believe it not; but come to Christ just as you are, saying, "I am lost; Lord, save me! I perish!" You too will find it true that —

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." And that, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out!" Read Luke 19:10 and John 6:37.

Time is gliding swiftly by:

Death and judgment both draw nigh

To the arms of Jesus fly.

Be in time!

Oh, we pray you count the cost

Ere the fatal line be crossed,

And your Christless soul be lost.

Be in time!

Sinner, heed the warning voice;

Make the Lord your happy choice,

Then all heaven will rejoice,

Be in time!

Come from darkness into light

From the way that seemeth right,

Come and start for heaven tonight.

Be in time!

Fear of Death or Hope of Glory?

"Death is the absolute terror," wrote a leading Toronto Globe and Mail commentator, shocked by the tragic death of a famed NHL hockey player.

The commentator's candor in describing death as "the absolute terror" simply put in words what mankind in general has felt since the beginning — ever since "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Rom. 5:12.

In what is probably the oldest of the Bible books, the book of Job (written around 1500 B.C.?) death is described as "The King of Terrors."

The popular social concept is to explain death by explaining it away. Frank, open discussion on the subject is now encouraged as a means of removing "this last taboo." But for the unsaved, the sting of death remains as poignant and undeniable as ever, as the following deathbed statements testify: "To what heights of madness is it possible for human madness to reach," wrote a dying man of high rank to a friend. "What extravagance is it to jest at death? to laugh at damnation! to sport with eternal chains, and create a jovial fancy with scenes of eternal misery!"

Another worldling exclaimed as his end drew near: "O that I had been wise, that I had known this, that I had considered my latter end! Death is knocking at my door; in a few hours I shall draw my last gasp, and then judgment, the tremendous judgment! How shall I appear unprepared as I am before the all-knowing and omnipotent God?" Thomas Hobbes, noted English philosopher and infidel, said before he died: "I say again, if I had the whole world to dispose of, I would give it to live one day."

When Hobbes found he could live no longer he exclaimed: "I shall be glad to find a hole to creep out of the world at!"

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the great French statesman, in the last moments of his life was visited by the King of France. Though he had but a few moments to live, he introduced his doctors, nurses and friends to the king with exquisite formality and courtly etiquette.

"How do you feel?" asked the king.

"I am suffering, Sire, the pangs of the damned," was Talleyrand's reply.

How totally different have been the last words of Christians who "walked through the valley of the shadow of death" and felt no fear!

"What a great thing it is to rejoice in Death!" exclaimed Augustus Montague Toplady, author of "Rock of Ages" and many more treasured hymns. "O what delights! Who can fathom the joy of heaven! The sky is clear; there is no cloud. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly."

John Elliot, one of God's ambassadors to the American Indians, when dying was told by a visitor to "Fear not."

"Fear! No, no, I am not afraid. I thank God I am not afraid to die." His last expression was, "Welcome joy!"

Joseph Alleine, author of "An Alarm to the Unconverted," said in the hour of his departure: "This body shall be made like unto Christ's glorious body. O what a glorious day will the day of resurrection be! I think I see it by faith. How will the saints lift up their heads and rejoice!"

To Jeremiah Evarts when he was dying a friend remarked:

"You will soon see Jesus." To which Evarts replied:

"O wonderful — wonderful — wonderful glory!

We cannot comprehend — wonderful glory! I will praise Him! I

will praise Him! Wonderful glory!"

Following are the last words of Dr. James Hope, eminent London physician: "Christ — angels — beautiful — magnificent,

delightful!" Shortly afterward he said: "I thank

God!" and was gone to be with Christ.

Reader, if you should be called to leave this world today, would your last words express heavenly comfort or woe and despair? What soothing words are these to the believer: "Our Savior Jesus Christ... hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10.

Hear now the very words of the Lord Jesus: "He that heareth My word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24.

O would you know my Savior

Ye traveler to the tomb?

He takes the sting of death away,

And drives away its gloom.

Then heed His call while yet you may,

The blessed news from heaven;

That God can say in righteousness:

"Your sins are all forgiven."

Time Enough Yet

A bright boy heard and was deeply impressed by the text:

"My son, give me thy heart;"

But Satan whispered:

"Time enough yet," and the boy put it off.

Years later, a brilliant collegian heard the same text under circumstances which seemed to urge upon him to make that the time of salvation. Again the tempter whispered:

"Time enough yet."

Twenty years later a statesman listened to the same text from the lips of an aged Christian, and felt it was a message to him. This time the tempter said:

"Visit foreign countries before you decide."

Then a traveler was stricken with cholera in Paris. He was in agony of soul because he was not prepared to die. His last words were:

"Too late, too late!"

The boy, the collegian, the statesman, and the traveler were one.

Reader, do not lose your soul for earth's vanities.

Shall You Be There?

We're waiting for Jesus! — His promise is plain,

His word sure and steadfast — He's coming again.

A numberless people will meet in the air The Lord who redeemed them — but shall you be there?

In the home of our Father the banquet is spread;

There the naked are clothed and the hungry are fed;

The house is fast filling — there's room yet to spare;

Not a seat will be vacant — but shall you be there?

Almost Lost

There was a warm discussion in the hotel barroom that evening; several guests were engaged in it. One man present, however, listened in silence though evidently deeply interested.

The discussion centered around the superiority of Christianity over other religions. Some contended that while Christianity had its Superiorities, it was only one religion among many. Its excellencies, they maintained, were owed largely to those people who had accepted Christianity as their faith.

The silent man, after listening for some time, came forward and in great seriousness said: "Gentlemen, I know more about Jesus Christ than any one of you; yet I am willing to sell my claim to Him for five dollars."

The shocking proposition startled the company; but concluding that the man was only "under the influence", some sneered and ridiculed. But one of the drinkers took up his offer.

"Do you really mean it?" he asked. "Will you sell out for five dollars?"

"Yes", was the reply, "for just five dollars cash, and that's mighty cheap."

"Are you ready to sell me, here and now, for five dollars, all your right and claim to Jesus Christ?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I said."

"Very well, I'll buy."

"Where's your money? Hand over the five dollars and you may take my rights. I renounce in your favor all claims to Christ Jesus forever."

"Here's your money," said the buyer, producing a five dollar bill," but you must sign a written agreement."

"Draw up the agreement and I'll sign."

An agreement like the following was written:

"For the sum of five dollars, receipt of which I hereby acknowledge, I, (name), now and for-ever sell my right and claim to Jesus Christ as my Savior. I further agree not to trust in Him at any time, nor pray to Him, nor even ask anything of Him through others; neither will I accept anything He may offer me; neither will I, in any way whatsoever, own Him as my Lord and Savior. This agreement is for eternity."

Taking the pen from the writer of the document, the man sat himself at the table ready to sign his name.

But as he read the agreement his hand was stayed. He read it again and raised his hand from the paper. After a third reading, he laid down the pen, and with trembling hands, took up the document and read it aloud.

He then laid it down, leaned back in his chair, folded his hands and stared at the paper.

"Sign that! Sign that document! Did you hear it? Sign such an agreement as that? No sir, never! Would you have a man — yes, or even a savage — sign that? I might sign my death warrant, but not that! That is for eternity! That would settle my doom without a possibility of hope, much less of escape." Then turning to the buyer, he said: "I do not want your money. I will not take it. If there is a forfeit, I will pay it. But never will I sign that paper."

The on-lookers saw that the man was now both sober and in deadly earnest. They listened in silence while he continued: "Gentlemen, I had a Christian mother, who taught me in my childhood to pray to God and to expect the Lord Jesus to become my Savior. Before she died, she begged me to meet her in heaven. Never until a few moments ago — when in the folly of drink, when I offered to sell my rights — have I lost hope of meeting that faithful mother there.

"To sign that agreement would mean to break all the promises I made to that good woman. It would mean to make useless and vain all that Jesus has done for me; and render void forever the prayers of that blessed mother.

"But I came near doing it. One more glass and my soul would be doomed for eternity. One more, gentlemen! Who tells me one glass will do no harm? If liquor will lead a man to sign away his Savior and hope for his soul, then I'm forever done with drink. I have tasted the last drop. Good-bye, gentlemen. I will not sign; I dare not drink; I cannot remain here. My soul, heaven, my sainted mother, the Lord Jesus Christ, are too dear for me to risk anything further."

Without another word the man hurried away, nor did he ever return to that hotel. From that day he remained sober, and soon became a true Christian, a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The rest of the party stood silent, their faces showing that they had witnessed a great transaction — from a farce to what was almost a tragedy. With never a laugh nor a sneer, each guest retired to his room; while the bar-tender wondered what had happened.

In reading the above we are impressed with the strangeness of God's ways. It was not the preaching in a religious gathering, but a most unusual happening in a low public place by which God spoke. It was an event among the rowdies that God used for the awakening and salvation of that priceless soul.

And how do you suppose this man became a Christian? Was it by leading a different life? No! it is only by the shining in of the light from above that we are blessed of God for eternity.

Unsaved reader, whatever God may use to bring you to the sense of your lost and ruined condition, there is just one way out, and that is through Jesus Christ, who says: "I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

What Price Ransom?

In old times large sums in gold were paid to ransom those taken in battle.

Richard I was ransomed for 100,000 pounds; David Bruce of Scotland for 100,000 marks; and King John of France for 500,000 pounds. But these immense sums were nothing compared with the price of the Ransom paid to redeem the sinner.

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

A missionary in Africa wrote: "I have dwelt four years alone in Africa, have been thirty times stricken with fever, have been attacked by rhinoceri and lions, have been ambushed by natives, have eaten everything from ants to rhinoceri, but I would gladly go through the same experience again for the joy of teaching these people to know the Savior who gave His life a ransom for them."

Be Prepared!

Bobby Leach was the second person to brave Niagara Falls and live. He performed his death-defying stunt when he was 49 years old — sealed in a barrel.

Fifteen years later he met his end in a way least expected, as the following news release records: "Bobby Leach, who achieved fame when he went over Niagara Falls in a barrel, died today of injuries received in slipping on an orange peel. Leach, who made the perilous Falls journey without receiving a scratch, broke his leg when he slipped on the orange peel. Complications set in, following an amputation, causing death"

The case of Bobby Leach is only one of thousands reported, with many more untold. An officer, hero of many battles, escapes the sword, only to die later from an infected pin. A sea captain, who had weathered many a storm, and always reached port safely, was drowned in his bath tub at home.

Ahab, king of Israel who disguised himself in a battle with the Syrians was brought down by a bow and arrow — "shot at a venture," by an unknown soldier. (1 Kings 22.) Israel's King Abimelech's head was crushed when a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him. (Judg. 9:53).

The preservation or continuance of our natural life often seems, and is by some treated, as a gamble. But could we see with eyes of Omniscience, we would be compelled to say: "There is but a step between me and death." 1 Sam. 20:3. The moral is plain: Be prepared, your time may be short — much shorter than you dream or think.

"And Jesus Said"

"I remember a case in Ireland," related J. N. Darby, "where a Testament had been torn up and the pages thrown to the winds. A poor man found one of the leaves on which he read: " 'And Jesus said:' again, 'and Jesus answered and said:' and so on. The man said to himself: "What! has the blessed Lord said so many things and I did not know them?"

"Struck by these simple but solemn words, ‘Jesus said,' he soon went off to a neighboring town and bought a Testament. He believed what Jesus said, was converted, and was happy in knowing the Savior as his very own Savior.

"But you say, 'How did the poor man know it was true that Jesus said these things? Well, God guides the humble, simple soul. Jesus said it, and His word had power over his soul by grace.

"As I have related to you one history, I will tell you another. I was in a cabin in Ireland where I was known and began speaking to the brother-in-law of the man of the house about Scripture. His niece, a young woman who was present said: "But they tell me, sir, that that is a bad book, and that the devil wrote it."

She was very ignorant, and could not read. I said, "That is a shocking blasphemy. But I will not reason with you. I will read you a bit and you shall tell me yourself if the devil wrote it." I read to her what are called the Beatitudes in the fifth chapter of Matthew: "And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying. Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

"Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

"I then said, "Well what do you think? Did the devil write that?"

"No, sir!" she answered, "the devil never wrote that; that came from none but the mouth of God."

The word of God had laid hold of her. She lived and died most happy, dying three years after of a fever in a hospital. That is, the word of God proves its own truth and power to the soul."

Converted by His Own Story

A hometown newspaper reporter where D. L. Moody was preaching, ridiculed some of his stories. He admitted that they were interesting and that Moody had a charming way of telling them; but he felt they were untrue and only told to work in the feelings of the people.

Having been assigned to report the sermons, he one night asked those in charge of the meetings if he might challenge Mr. Moody to supply proof that his stories were true. Permission was granted and the infidel representative of the press took a seat near the platform.

Moody's subject was Spiritual Light, and to illustrate a point he proceeded to tell a story. The reporter had just begun to write when suddenly he laid aside his note book and listened. The substance of the story was this: One evening a man was walking along a street in the shopping center of a city where the stores were all brightly lit and beautifully decorated. At one shop he noticed three little girls, two of whom were intensely interested in what they saw in the window. Having passed by, he asked himself what could have excited the little girls to such a pitch. Curiosity overcame him and he turned back to see. It was then he discovered that one of the little girls was blind. The other two were trying to describe to her the beautiful things in the window. They seemed to forget that she was blind and almost rebuked her for not being as interested as they.

"Why," they said, "can't you see that Teddy Bear and that baby doll? And that pretty pink bow?"

But the poor little blind girl stood with a blank expression on her face, totally unable to appreciate the beautiful things before her.

"Now," said Moody, "this is only an illustration of the efforts which we Christians are making to arouse the unconverted to an interest and delight in spiritual things. The reason we cannot do so is because the sinner is spiritually blind."

Moody had scarcely concluded his sermon when the reporter was on the platform and demanded where he had heard that story.

"O," said Moody, "I read it in one of the daily papers; I have forgotten which one."

"Then," said the reporter, "I wrote that story myself. I was the man who saw that little blind girl. But I never thought of such an application as you have made of it tonight. I see now that I am spiritually blind."

By means of the gospel light he saw himself a sinner in need of a Savior. He also learned that God had so loved him as to give His Son to die for him on the cross of 'Calvary; that God on the third day had raised Him from the dead and made Him both Lord and Christ. He learned that Jesus Christ is not only the Messiah of Israel, but the Savior of the world.

That night the infidel reporter accepted Christ as his own Savior, and found joy and peace in believing.

"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:14. "Open Thou mine eyes." Psa. 119:18.

Hid With Christ in God

Charles Haddon Spurgeon once told of some Christians who had been teaching a feebleminded youth all they could; but it was weary work. He was a little slow, and after long teaching, and especially teaching him the great doctrine of faith, one of teachers began to question him:

"John, have you a soul?"

"No, I have no soul."

The teacher thought he had spent his labor for nothing; but the poor lad went on to say: "I had a soul once, but I lost it, and Jesus Christ found it, and I always let Him keep it, so it is His, and not mine."

Retarded though he was supposed to be, he could say with the great Apostle Paul: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2 Tim. 1:12.

No Relies

The Buddhist has a glorious temple in which they keep a tooth of Buddha. The Mohammedan has a coffin in which is enclosed the dust of their "prophet." The Christian has a living Savior. Is He yours?

The Savior lives, no more to die;

He lives, our Head, enthroned on high;

He lives triumphant o'er the grave;

He lives eternally to save.

Taking or Giving Which?

Following a gospel address, a lady approached the preacher and said, "Sir, you are always saying 'Take, take!' Is there any place in the Bible where it says 'Take,' or is it only a word you use? I have been looking in the Bible but cannot find it."

"Why," said the evangelist, "the Bible is sealed with it: it is almost the last word in the Bible." Then he quoted Rev. 22:17:

" 'And the Spirit and the Bride say, come, and let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' "

"Well," she said, "I never saw that before. Is that all I have to do?"

"Yes, the Bible says so."

And she took it right away.

All of us at some time in our past history have imagined we had to give God something. And did you ever stop to ask yourself, will God take it? Dear reader, do not trust your own thoughts as to this question, for as a means of salvation, God cannot accept anything we have done or may do in the future. God is the GIVER, we must be the receivers, and until we TAKE from Him, all the works of righteousness which we have done are in His holy eyes as "filthy rags." (Isa. 64:6).

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

Oh, take with rejoicing from Jesus at once The life everlasting He gives!

And know with assurance thou never cant die Since Jesus thy righteousness lives.

All Grace―All Glory

"Do you think you will get better?" was a question asked of a young man lying very ill in a hospital.

"If I do, it will be all grace; and if not it will be all glory," was his answer.

Not many months after it was "all glory" for him.

What about you, dear reader, if you should leave this scene in a few months or weeks, or even less time than that?

What if it should be today?

It must be to spend eternity with Christ in glory, or to be lost with those in despair.

"I have set before you life and death... therefore choose life." Deut. 30:19.

To die in your sins

Have you counted the cost?

To die in your sins

And thy soul to be lost?

Remember, if you are eternally lost, it is because you choose darkness rather than light. Our Lord Himself said, "Ye will not come to Me that ye might have life."

If all the Bible were destroyed, there is one beautiful text sufficient to rest your soul upon for time and eternity. Attend carefully to its sweet message: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have ever-lasting life." John 3:16.

Trust

While two young naturalists, named Tom and Robert, were vacationing at a lakeside inn, they spotted a raven's nest on a ledge far down the face of a sheer rock precipice.

Determined to secure some of the raven's eggs for their collections, the young men returned to the spot the next day with a long rope and a helper from the inn.

As soon as the rope was securely knotted around Tom's shoulders and passed around a tree trunk and then to Robert, he backed towards the precipice until he reached the brink.

Then with his feet against the wall of rock and with his body at an angle to it, he proceeded to walk backwards down the face of the cliff, his whole weight supported by the rope held by Robert.

He backed down until he reached the nest; and as the raven flew croaking away he helped himself to two of its coveted eggs. These he placed in his cap which he held tightly between his teeth.

He then gave the signal and the upwards climb began.

But suddenly the pull from above stopped.

Gazing up at the 50 feet of bare rock, to his horror Tom saw that his lifeline was snagged in a forked piece of rock jutting from the face of the cliff.

There he hung absolutely alone and helpless— beneath him only the great depth of several hundred feet where the waves lashed the rocks below. All around him prevailed the dreadful stillness of that horrible, solitary place. His friend, Robert, was lost to sight and sound far back above.

Humanly speaking, Tom's life depended on Robert; his only connection with him was that single rope.

If anyone would learn the meaning of the word Trust, let him imagine himself in what was then Tom's predicament. He could not see Robert; but he could see his own danger. Would the sharp edges of the rock sever the rope?

By this time Robert knew that something was wrong, and concluding that the rope was caught began carefully working it free, while Tom watched anxiously for any cutting or fraying. With much skill and patience Robert was at last able to free the rope and the upwards pull resumed.

Soon the breathless moments of suspense were over, and, thanks to his faithful friend, in a few minutes more Tom was scrambling up over the edge of the cliff, thrilled to find himself once more on solid ground.

Reader, are you trusting the One who can never fail you? You cannot see the Lord Jesus any more than Tom could see Robert as he hung over the cliff, but you may safely trust Him—the One of whom the Bible says:

"He is able to save to the uttermost

all that come unto God by Him."

HEBREWS 7:25

Be Not Deceived!

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:7, 8, 9.

The Great Clock

While preaching one Sunday morning, William Haslam, the London City evangelist, was led (he knew not why) to digress and speak about the endless miseries of hell. With profound solemnity he visualized a great clock there with a dial, but no hands to mark the progress of time. It had a pendulum which swung sullenly from side to side continually saying:

"Ever!... Never! Ever!... Never!"

Many of the congregation were convicted and refused to leave the church until they had been spoken to. Among them was the church warden. He came to Mr. Haslam in a very excited state and said: "Whatever made you say now or never—now or never?" He was like one beside himself when he thought of the pendulum saying:

"Now or never!—Now or never!"

He kept repeating the words to himself, till he went away, too excited to talk about or listen to anything else. The rest of the story, related by William Haslam himself, follows:

The Sequel "Later on in the evening, we were sent for to come in all haste to the church warden's house. There we found him in great trouble of mind, and afraid to go to bed. After talking to him for a short time, he went on to say that he had the following strange thing to tell us!

The Dream

" 'That very morning,' he said 'he was lying in bed (he thought he was wide awake) and looking at a little picture of the crucifixion hanging above the fireplace. As he contemplated the picture, he saw some black imp-like figures walking along the mantel piece with a ladder. They placed the ladder against the wall, evidently intending to remove the picture. He watched them intently. They seemed much troubled and perplexed as to how they were to accomplish their task. They made various attempts to remove the picture but all in vain. At last in rage and disappointment they dashed the ladder to the floor and passed off the scene.

" 'Presently the door opened, and who should present himself but a local Dissenting preacher. He was well known in the community and always went about with a thick umbrella under his arm. Now there he was, umbrella and all, standing at the bedroom door.

" 'What do you want here?' demanded the church warden in his dream. The phantom pointed to the picture of the crucifixion and said in a quiet, confiding way: " 'Now, or never! Do you hear, man? Now or never!'

"The church warden was indignant at this untimely intrusion, and bade his visitor go!. But for all that he still stood at the door and said: " 'Now or never! Now or never!'

"The church warden got out of bed (in his dream) and went to the door, but the figure disappeared, saying: " 'Now or never! Now or never!'

"He got back into bed again and all was still for a little while. But suddenly the door opened a second time and the vicar! appeared. He came toward the bed with an affectionate concern for the church warden's welfare and said: " 'My dear fellow, be persuaded — it's now or never!' Then taking a seat at the corner of the bed, he went on talking and saying again and again, 'Now or never!'

"The poor church warden remonstrated in vain against being visited in this manner, and thought it was very hard; but the vicar sat there and persistently said: " 'Now or never!'

" 'I will now you,' said the church warden, 'if you do not be off!' And so saying the vicar glided to the door, repeating 'now or never!' and went away.

"The poor church warden in great distress of mind, turned to his wife and asked her what could be the meaning of all this; but she only cried and said nothing.

"Then who should come next but a neighbor, a quiet man of few words. He had many thoughts, no doubt, but he kept them all to himself. He came gliding into the room as the vicar had done, and sat in the same corner of the bed. Leaning against the same bedpost, and in the quietest way possible, he repeated the same words: " 'Now or never!'

" 'Do you hear him?—do you hear him?' said the poor distracted man to his wife.

" 'Hear him? Hear what? No! Nonsense! What does he say?'

" 'My dear, there! Listen!'

" 'Now or never,' said the quiet man.

" 'There, did you not hear that?'

" 'No! she replied. I can hear nothing.'

"He got up, and said he would take the poker and punish everyone of them—that he would. The strange visitor made for the door, and like all the rest, said as he disappeared:

" 'Now or never!'

"In the hours which followed the poor church warden continued in a most distracted state, and during the day he met all three visitors—the Dissenter, the vicar and the quiet man. None of them, however, looked at him or spoke as if anything had happened.

"But when he heard me say from the pulpit on Sunday: " 'Now or never!' while I pointed, as it were to the ghostly pendulum, swinging there saying: " 'Ever!... Never! Ever!... Never!' while I at the same time inquired of the congregation: " 'Do you see it? Do you hear it?' it brought matters to a climax.

"He said he turned and looked at the church wall to which I had pointed, almost expecting to see that solemn clock.

Conclusion

"I did not wait to hear more, but kneeling down, I begged him to close in with God's offer of salvation, now.

" 'No,' he said, with a sigh, 'I am afraid I have refused too long!'

" 'Don't say so! Take it at once, now, or perhaps it will be never with you. A man does not often get such a plain warning as you had. You had better take care what you are doing, Now!'

"He yielded himself to the Savior and received forgiveness of all his sins and peace with God. After that he became a very different man."

"For God speaketh once, yea twice... in a dream, in a vision of the night." Job 33:14.

Come then to this Physician,

His help He'll freely give;

He makes no hard condition,

'Tis only — LOOK and LIVE!

God's Glittering Sword

Today, war relics are prized by museums and private collectors. Although never expected to be used again, many such articles bring fabulous prices.

The coat which Napoleon wore at the battle of Waterloo was sold in 1976 for $32,000. It was purchased by the Duke of Wellington, a descendant of the Iron Duke who defeated Napoleon in 1815.

In 1977 Napoleon's sword was bought by a millionaire Texas rancher for an undisclosed sum— believed to be more than 3 times the price paid for Napoleon's hat, which went for $32,000.

Prince Henry of Prussia, during his visit to the United States, had the pleasure of examining the memorable sword which Frederick The Great presented to George Washington. This sword had never been drawn from its sheath, for Washington in his will stipulated that it should never be removed except in defense of the country.

The Prince knew nothing of the will of George Washington as to this, and so unwittingly violated the express injunction of the great general by drawing the sword from its scabbard.

God also has a sword which is referred to several times in the Bible. The first mention of it is made in Gen. 3:24 and the last in Rev. 19:15. It is the awful sword of His righteous judgment. Concerning it God has said: "If I whet My glittering sword, and My hand take hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me." Deut. 32:41.

At the present time God's sword rests in it, sheath, for this is the day of His grace. It the acceptable time when He is showing diving mercy to His enemies and saving poor guilt: sinners.

Just as it was Washington's will that his swore should not be used in time of peace, nor eves drawn from its scabbard, so it is the will of Go( that keeps His sword from being used in judgment today. That will is expressed in 1 Tim. 2:3, 4 "God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge o the truth."

Unsaved reader, do you know that God long for you to be saved? Knowing this, are you still unwilling to accept His pardon? How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? Come to the Savior now lest the sword of Judgment overtake you.

"Flee from the wrath to come." Matt. 3:7

"I Have Sold My Soul"

In Martin Luther's house was a servant who in a fit of anger left without giving the family any notice. Afterward she fell into bad company, and into immorality and became dangerously ill. In this condition she requested that Luther might visit her. Taking a seat at her bedside Martin Luther asked:

"Well, Elizabeth, what is the matter?"

"I want to ask your pardon for leaving your family so abruptly," she replied; "but I have something weighing more heavily on my conscience. I have given my soul to Satan!"

"Why," said Luther, "that's of no great consequence; what else?"

"I have done many wicked things," she continued, "but what oppresses me most is that I have deliberately sold my poor soul to the devil. Oh, tell me, sir, how can such a crime ever find mercy?"

"Elizabeth, listen to me," replied Luther, "suppose while you lived in my house you sold and transferred my children to a stranger, would the sale or transfer have been lawful or binding?"

"Oh, no," said the deeply humbled girl, "for I would have no right to do that."

"Well, you had still less right to give your soul to the arch-enemy—it no more belongs to you, than my children do. It is the Lord's property. He made it; when lost He redeemed it; it is His with all its powers and faculties. You cannot sell what is not yours. If you have attempted it, the whole transaction was unlawful and void.

"Now do this: Go to the Lord, confess your guilt with a broken heart and contrite spirit and entreat Him to take back again what is rightfully His own. And as to the sin of attempting to alienate the Lord's rightful property, throw that back on the devil, for that is his part."

The poor girl obeyed, was converted and died full of joy, faith and hope.

A look to Jesus saves the soul,

So boundless is His grace;

One look sufficeth every sin

Forever to efface.

Thousands today have looked to Him

Who mighty is to save;

And proved the truth of God's own Word

The soul that looks shall live.

Trying to Be Good

"If only we could get people to believe that the work of Christ is a finished work," exclaimed a preacher of the gospel. The Lord Jesus on the cross said, "It is finished."

All was done there to meet the claims of God about sin, and every one who simply trusts in that finished work is saved eternally. "By Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39.

But people turn away from God's message of salvation through the work of Christ, and try, vainly, by some effort of their own to obtain forgiveness and peace.

"Yes, I am quite happy now," said a young girl who had been for some time troubled about her sins. "I came to Jesus today. I was always trying to be good before."

This dear girl had found how useless her own efforts were. Giving up trying, she took the place of a sinner before God and rested on His Word, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6.

At once her soul found peace, and she could rejoice in the forgiveness of her sins.

Are you trying to obtain salvation by any efforts of your own? All has been done, and you have only to receive what God so longs to give you. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

A Crushing Reply

A native chief in the New Hebrides Islands was before his conversion a cannibal. Years later as a happy Christian he was one day reading his Bible when a French trader hailed him. The trader exclaimed:

"What is that you are reading?"

"The Bible," answered the chief.

"O, that's played out: I don't believe it ever did anyone any good."

"Don't you?" replied the chief calmly. "Then let me tell you, sir, if it were not for the Bible, you would be in my oven!"

"Who was before a blasphemer, and persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy." 1 Tim. 1:13.

"Far Too Easy a Way"

The simplicity of the gospel prompts many people to say that believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is "far too easy" a way to get to heaven.

Thank God, it is an "easy" way to be saved.

"Easy" for us, because the shedding of His. precious blood, the enduring of the wrath of God against our sins, the difficult work, has all been done by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

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

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

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

It was not "easy" for Him to be "wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." Isa. 53:5.

Though an easy way, it is God's only way of saving sinners, and if you are not saved in that way, you will never be saved at all.

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

"What Will the Harvest Be?"

"I enlisted in the army and was soon appointed a first lieutenant. I was not yet eighteen and had never been away from home influences. I had never tasted liquor and did not know one card from another. My regiment was principally officered by young men, but many of them were old in dissipation.

"This new life was attractive to me and I entered upon it with avidity. I was soon a steady drinker and constant cardplayer. I laughed at the caution of older heads and asserted with all the egotism of a boy that I could abandon my bad habits at any time I wanted to.

"But I soon found that my evil desires had complete control over my will. Nine years later, being a physical wreck, I resigned, and determined to begin a new life. Time and again I failed, and at last I gave up all hope.

"I abandoned myself to the wildest debauchery, speculating on how much longer my body could endure the strain. In anticipation of sudden death I destroyed all evidence of my identity, so that my family and friends might never know what a dog's death I had died.

"It was in this condition that I one day wandered into this meeting hall and found a seat in the gallery. There I sat in my drunken, dazed condition, looking down upon well-dressed and happy people.

"I soon concluded that it was no place for me, and was just about to go out, when out of a perfect stillness rose the voice of Mr. Sankey singing the song, 'What Shall the Harvest Be?' The words and the music stirred me with a strange sensation. I listened till the third verse had been sung:

" 'Sowing the seed of a lingering pain,

Sowing the seed of a maddened brain,

Sowing the seed of a tarnished name,

Sowing the seed of eternal shame;

Oh, what shall the harvest be?'

"These words pierced my heart. In desperation I rushed downstairs and out into the snowy streets. I soon found a saloon, where I called for liquor to drown my sorrow.

"On every bottle in the bar-room, in words of burning fire, I could read: "'What shall the harvest be?'

"When I took up my glass to drink I read written on it, " 'What shall the harvest be?'

"I dashed it to the floor and rushed out again into the cold dark night. The song followed me wherever I went, and finally drew me back to this meeting hall two weeks later.

"I found my way to the inquiry room and was spoken to by a kind-hearted, loving brother. With his open Bible he pointed me to the Great Physician who had power to cure me and heal me of my appetite, if I would only receive Him.

"Broken, weak, vile and helpless I came to Jesus, and by His grace I was able to accept Him as my Redeemer. And I have returned here today to bear my testimony to the power of Jesus to save to the uttermost."

Such was the testimony of a man who one Friday afternoon walked into one of Dwight L. Moody's meetings in Chicago. All present were deeply touched; there was scarcely a dry eye in the audience.

A week later the man returned and showed Mr. Sankey the following letter from his little daughter: Dear Papa: Mamma and I saw in the Chicago papers that a man had been saved in the meetings there, who was once a lieutenant in the Army, and I told Mamma that I thought it was my Papa. Please write soon as you can as Mamma cannot believe that it was you."

This letter was received by the man at the General Post Office. The mother and their two children were sent for, and with Mr. Moody's help, a home was secured for them and employment for the man. Afterward he labored for over twenty years in the gospel. His name was W. O. Lattimore, writer of the hymn, "Out of Darkness Into Light."

The author of "What Shall the Harvest Be?" was E. S. Oakey, a frail delicate woman, always an invalid, never having known, as she once said, an hour of health in her life.

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

Echoes of Grace: 1979

Table of Contents

Death Over San Diego

Love Your Enemies

"He Giveth Power to the Faint"

Salvation for the Needy

"I Will Give Up"

Taxi Driver Saved

The Wrong Place

O Sleeper, Arise!

Happiness

Lost Islands

"A Word Fitly Spoken"

"What Doest Thou for Me?"

The Two Doctors

God Struck My Limbs

"I Cannot Feel Saved"

The Most Ungodly Man in Town

William Cowper

Eternal Life—The Gift of God

Reuben Johnson's Pardon

What Shall It Profit a Man?

Jesus Is Enough

On the Value of Time

He Settled It Last Night

"Two Strings to Your Bow?"

Better Than Lighting His Pipe

"Thou Art the Man"

"Coals of Fire"

Telling Others About Jesus

A Moment of Time

Why Was the Epistle of John Written?

The Unkindness of Skepticism

First Anglo-Saxon Translation of John

An Empty Tomb

"You Call Me … Yet"

Tracts Everywhere

"So as by Fire"

Are You Converted?

A Straight Line to Christ

Nine Religions

Sir Walter Scott and The Bible

For My Neighbor

Tomorrow

Why Not You?

The Time Is Short

Whiter Than Snow

A Young Soldier's Testimony

What Is Salvation

"How Much Does Sin Weigh?"

Always Confined

True Faith

That Little Word "Alone"

Ring out the Old!

"I Don't Feel Right"

"Everybody's Doing It"

Christ, Not Krishna

A Genuine Gold Coin for a Penny

God's Word Is Sure

"Nothing"

"Except Ye Repent"

"Must I Quit All These?"

"Under His Wings"

Life in a Look

"You, Me, or Anybody Else"

"His Eyes Were as a Flame of Fire"

A Lost Sheep Found

How Far?

Are You Sure?

Choose Now

Almost

"Main Street" and What It Means to Me

The Infidel Farmer

In Black and White

Lord Curzon and the King of Terrors

The Fruitless Search

What Will You Say?

The Best Thing in the World

How Charles Boblitz Was Saved

Roosevelt's Mistake