Calm—Spiritual.
In the harbor of a large port you may see ocean liners moving majestically along, and round them a swarm of tiny craft scurrying here and there on trivial errands. He who is assured of God’s will move calmly along amid the fussiness of others.
Calvary.
A minister was reading the story of the crucifixion to an old woman, who exclaimed: “It’s very sad; let’s hope it isn’t true.”
Care—God’s.
Luther saw a little bird preparing for sleep. “See,” said he, “how it teaches us a lesson! He takes hold of his twig, tucks his head under his wing, and goes to sleep, leaving God to take care of him.”
Casting all Your Care Upon Him.
In the French New Testament the word for ‘casting’ (1 Peter 5. 7) may be rendered ‘unloading.’ Did you ever see a cart unload? The man takes out a little iron pin, then with a slight pressure on the cart, it tips back and lets the whole load slide to the ground. Just take out the little pin of your endeavors to help matters, and with hands of faith and committal unload the big burden upon Him.
Character Revealed.
A certain painter was noted for his ability to discern the character of a person and to portray on canvas the impression made on his mind. He sometimes made enemies because of this. A handsome Boston (U.S.A.) lady had her portrait painted by him, took it to her room and studied it closely. She recognized that the artist had laid bare her true character and indignantly cut out her face from the canvas and destroyed it. She did not want that nature of hers to be confronting her from the wall all the time.
Chastening—Divine.
She and her husband lived in a village in Surrey, and whilst they lived there an epidemic of scarlet fever and diphtheria broke out in their midst. Both had worn themselves out in attending to the people, and just as the epidemic was abating their own three children were stricken down suddenly. Within a fortnight the three were dead—Griselda, Irene, and Launcelot. When the last child died, the Bishop led his heartbroken wife into the garden on that soft summer evening. Speech was difficult, whilst sorrow was sore. He finally found his voice and whispered, rather than spoke, these words: “My wife, there is one rope to which we must cling steadfastly, in order to keep our heads above water amid these overwhelming waves of sorrow. It has three golden strands. It will not fail us. GOD—IS—LOVE.” Continuing her narrative, she said: “The house was empty. There was no more patter of little feet; no children’s merry voices shouting about the house. The three little graves in the churchyard bore the names Griselda, Irene, and Launcelot; and on each we put the text, spelled out by the initials of our darlings’ names: GOD IS LOVE. We were sustained by the certainty of the love of God.”
The record of this story by the widow of the Bishop was the means, in God’s good pleasure, whereby Rodney Steele came to put his trust in Christ for salvation. We cannot always see the purpose of the dealings of God, but it is sometimes evident to us that ‘whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth’ (Heb. 12:66For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)). At present our view is generally that which may be likened to viewing the rear side of a piece of fancy woven fabric. The side we see shows a variety of colored threads, but the design on the face is hid from us. ‘Now we see through a glass darkly.’
Chastening—Effect of.
At a Palestine Exhibition in London, a missionary, dressed in native shepherd’s costume was telling about pastoral life in the East. He said: “You may wonder why the shepherd carries a sling and stones. Not so much to defend from wild beasts. A wandering sheep, nibbling the grass, leaves the flock. How to get it back? To send the dog would perhaps drive it farther away. As he browses heedlessly, crack goes a stone against the rock beyond. The startled sheep jumps, turns, and looks towards the flock. Crack! Another stone, now close behind. Scared, the sheep begins to run towards the flock. The fusillade continues; the cracks of stone against rock, always behind the sheep, afford sufficient stimulus to bring the wanderer safely home. But is not that rather a cruel discipline for one silly sheep? That last stone went so close that it almost struck it! Yes; almost, but not quite! And it brought the sheep right back to the place where the shepherd wanted it.”
Chastening—Fruit of.
A celebrated artist, whose children had sometimes to be punished by being made to stand in a corner, with his own hands painted fair pictures in those corners, so that, even when under punishment, they might look upon proofs of their father’s love and wisdom.
Chastening—Fruit of.
Two countrymen were discussing a sermon on ‘Divine Chastening,’ to which they had listened. “What does it mean?” asked one of the other. Pulling out a great old-fashioned silver watch, he replied: “I can’t say much about the matter except this: Do you see all these beautiful lines on the case of my watch? Well, they call that chaste work. And I think what we call chastening is the Lord putting the marks of beauty in our character and lives.” He was not far wrong!
Chastening—Wisdom in.
The cocoon of an Emperor Moth is flask-shaped. A lady once watched a moth striving to squeeze through the narrow opening. It seemed to struggle in vain. With the point of her scissors she enlarged the opening a little. Immediately out crawled a swollen body with shriveled wings. The tiny opening is a provision of nature for forcing the blood into the wings. The moth never flew; it crawled through its brief life painfully. But for the lady’s misguided interference it might have flown on rainbow-colored wings.
Chiding—Necessary.
Some Christian natives in South Africa used to go for prayer to a spot away among the bushes near their huts. Their constant tread wore paths in the grass. A Christian woman said to another: “Sister, I fear you are getting cold in your heart.” It was said lovingly and meekly, and was not resented. But the other asked how she knew. “Because the grass has grown over your path to the bush.”
Children—Conversion of.
Savonarola, the Italian reformer, used to say: “We must fish with nets that have meshes small enough to catch the smallest fish.”
Chosen to be Servants.
A preacher, much discouraged by apparently fruitless toil, was inclined to give up. He dreamed that he was hired to break stones. But, after hitting away, the stones would not break. He gave up in despair. His employer called to him: “Did I not hire you to hammer stones?” “Yes.” “Don’t I pay you for hammering stones?” “Yes.” “Then go and hammer them.” He did; and by and by the stones cracked and broke. He awoke and cried: “O God, I will go back to my hammering.” He did; and soon the stony hearts began to break, and there was a wave of blessing.
J. MANAHAN
Christ—Always in View.
I have heard of a gentleman who had a faded, water-stained lifebelt hanging on his bedroom wall, and when asked the reason, said: “That isn’t an ordinary lifebelt to me; it kept me afloat for ten hours after the steamer on which I was sailing had been sent to the bottom of the ocean by a submarine. I keep it where I can see it last thing at night and first thing in the morning. It helps to keep me thankful and appreciative.” And if we Christians kept Christ more clearly and constantly before us, we would be far better Christians, and more grateful.
Christ—Appreciation of.
Dr. Stuart Holden was admiring Thorwaldsen’s statue of Christ in Copenhagen Cathedral. The Dean said: “You have not yet seen it at its best. You must kneel down if you would see its real beauty.”
Christ—Desire of.
A lady was disturbed by continued tapping on the door. She opened it and found her wee girl there. “What do you want?” “Nothing; only to come in and be by you.”
Christ—His Claims.
Theodosius, Roman Emperor in Fourth Century, favored the Arians. He made Arcadius, his son, aged sixteen, partner with him on the throne. The great people of the Empire came on the appointed day to offer their congratulations. Among them came Amphilocus, an old bishop who had suffered much in the Arian persecution. He made a very handsome address to the Emperor and was about to leave when Theodosius exclaimed: “What! Do you take no notice of my son? Do you not know that I have made him the sharer of my throne?” Upon this, the old bishop went up to young Arcadius, put his hand on his head, and said: “The Lord bless thee, my son.” The Emperor exclaimed: “What! Is this all the respect you pay to a prince that I have made of equal dignity with myself?” He replied: “Sire, do you so highly resent my apparent neglect of your son because I do not give him equal honors with yourself? Then, what must the eternal God think of you, who have given leave to have His co-equal and co-eternal Son degraded in His proper divinity in every part of your Empire?”
The Emperor held the reproof to be just, and gave orders to have all the Arian chapels shut up, and would not suffer one to exist.
Christ—His Demands.
We are walking with a friend. He stops, and we ask: “Is this your house?” “Yes.” He takes us into a room, and we soon realize that it is the only part of the house that is his. He has no right of entry to any other room; nor can he give orders in that house. Has Christ got houses like that? He has entry into the room called ‘Faith,’ but what about the room called ‘Love’? What of the Library? Does He choose the books? What of the room where consultations are held and decisions made? Is He asked to be present?
Christ—Hope of Glory.
In a cherry orchard in Kent each tree is clothed in the glory of its beautiful blossom. If we had stood there some months before, in winter, the trees would have had bare, leafless limbs. Could we have asked them what was their hope that someday they would be clothed with the splendor of spring blossom time, they might have answered: “The cherry life in us is our hope of glory.”
Christ in You.
A gardener removed a wild briar from the ditch. The briar said: “What is he doing this for? Doesn’t he know that I am a worthless briar?” But the gardener took it to his garden and planted it among his flowers. The briar said: “What a mistake he has made, planting an old briar like me among these lovely roses!” But the gardener came again, and made a slit in the briar, and grafted into it the stem of a choice rose. When summer came, sweet roses were blooming on the old briar, and the gardener said: “I took you, and planted you, not for anything that I could get out of you, but for what I could put into you.”
Christ Liveth in Me.
You probably know the old illustration about a man conscripted to serve in Napoleon’s army.
Being a married man, an unmarried friend took his place. After some time, the substitute died in battle, and a further conscription taking place, the original man was again called up. When he did not put in an appearance he was challenged, but he stated what had happened and said that he had died in the person of his substitute.
There was a sequel to this of which you may not have heard. The matter was referred to Napoleon, who decided in his favor, saying his legal position was unassailable, but that he could not have it both ways. He could not claim to be legally dead in the person of his substitute, and yet go on living as before. He decreed that he must change his name. Both he and his family had henceforth to live in the name of the man who had died for him. That illustrates my point, but with us it has to go much deeper than a mere change of name. There has to be a change of life— ‘Christ liveth in me!’ The One Who died—the One in Whom crucifixion was an actuality—that One is now going to live in those for whom He died.
Christ—Moral Influence.
A young Christian lieutenant finding in officers’ messroom indecent and filthy pictures on the wall, just hung up a picture of the head of Christ by Leonardo da Vinci. One by one the others disappeared.
Christ—our Receipt.
A man was in prison for something done in his unconverted days. He had not been able to pay the fine. Some Christian friends joined to pay it for him. One of them saw the Governor of the prison and paid the money. Instructions were given for the prisoner to be brought from his cell, and he was told that he was free. Mr. asked the Governor for a receipt. He replied: “You don’t need one; the living man is your receipt.”
Christ—Possession of.
When I say a thing is mine, I mean one of two things. I may mean that it belongs to me as ‘my handkerchief.’ Or I may mean that I belong to it, as ‘my native town,’ ‘my country.’
Christ—the True Center.
The old astronomers found the motions of the planets quite inexplicable because they regarded the earth as the center of the solar system, if not of the universe. Not till a bold, free mind (Galileo) traveled forth into space and found a new center were harmony and order seen to reign where all had seemed confusion before.
C. A. COATES
Christian—Building.
A miser lived in his little shack on a large corner site in the best part of an American city. Many offers had been made for his property, but he asked an exorbitant price, and went on living there. The roof leaked, floors were broken and the windows were stuffed with rags. The agent of a millionaire called on him and asked him his price for the lot. “£100,000,” he replied.
“Then sign this paper; here is a check for £10,000 to bind the contract, and I’ll be back here in ten days with a check for the remainder.”
The old miser’s conscience hurt him for asking such an exorbitant price, and he set about making improvements. When in ten days’ time the agent came, accompanied by the purchaser, and witnesses, he called the new owner’s attention to the fresh paint, new boards in floor, glass in windows, etc.
“But,” said the purchaser, “I am going to pull the shack down.”
“But, why? I have spent money and time in repairing it.”
“I don’t want the shack. What I want, and what I have paid this tremendous price for, is the situation, and on it I am going to erect a building to my own taste.”
PAUL RADER
Christian—Carnal.
The chicken, living on the land, eats one kind of food. The fish, living in the water, eats another type. But the duck, like some carnal Christians, tries to feed in both realms; but, unlike that fowl, the carnal Christian never flourishes on the dual diet.
Christian—Clear Cut.
We have seen coins whose superscription had been so worn away as to become illegible.
Such coins have diminished value. Place two coins side by side, one battered and misshapen, the other fresh from the mint with the image and inscription standing out in relief, and let us decide to be ‘clear cut Christians.’
Christian—Dummy.
Special meetings were being held at Nanking, and there was a deep realization of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. At one meeting a man rose as if in prayer. He was a believer, well-known among the brethren there. Those present were surprised to hear him begin to cry out with groans and tears. When at length he found utterance, he prayed: “O God, forgive me, I have been a DUMMY CHRISTIAN. I have thought that as there were preachers to do the preaching I need not trouble about it. So all these years I have been a dummy Christian living in ease while souls have been lost.”
J. GOFORTH
Christian—Earthbound.
A certain Christian, very consistent in his life, and looked upon as a very holy man, was described by one who knew him as “an airplane that never rises from the ground.”
Christian—Inconsistencies of a.
A gentleman was conversing with an atheist when another man passed. “That gentleman,” said the atheist, “is the founder of our Atheist Club.” “Why! that is Mr. So-and-So, an influential man in the Church!” “Yes, I know; but his inconsistencies have driven many of us into atheism, and led to the founding of our Club.”
Christian—Judging.
I was taken round a famous school by a very inky little boy, whose heart swelled with pride as he told me: “We’ve got six scholarships this year.” When I asked if he had got one, he scornfully replied that he was not the sort of boy who would get a scholarship! Though the school had five hundred boys he wished me to concentrate on the six unusual ones if I wished to know what kind of school it was. Similarly we must not judge of Christians by the 494, but by the six, and above all, by the ONE.
Christian—Make-believe.
A gentleman went aboard a big liner. In a sitting room he saw a fire of leaping and dancing flames. He put out his hands to warm them, but felt no warmth. It was make-believe. Electric lights were made to play on pieces of glass shaped like logs.
Is our Christianity real or make-believe?
Christians—Outlook of.
Many Christians seem to have much the same attitude as a postal clerk who, discovering a Christmas card bearing the words, “Rejoice evermore,” in the space reserved for the address, stamped it: “Contrary to regulations.”
Christian—Perpendicular.
When the great obelisk in front of St. Peter’s at Rome was being raised by the combined strength of hundreds of slaves, the men pulled and hung upon the ropes with all their might, and stretched them almost to breaking point, but could not do more than raise the great pillar to within a few degrees of the perpendicular. There was a danger of its falling and breaking, perhaps killing many in its fall. Dead silence fell on the assembled throng. An old sailor cried out: “Drench the ropes with water.” This was done; the ropes absorbed the moisture and tightened up, and thus brought the obelisk to the perpendicular.
Christian—the Reflector.
You stand gazing at the reflection of the moon on the surface of a pond. Someone flings a stone at it, and the reflection is shivered. Do you cry out: “Oh, the moon is broken to pieces.” If so, someone would say, “Look up! What has happened to the reflection of the moon has not affected the moon!”
Christian—Rocking-Horse.
Imagine one in a rocking chair singing “Onward, Christian soldiers.” Onward, then backward! Onward at meetings, backward at home or in business. Don’t be a rocking-chair Christian!
Christian—Too Busy.
A busy woman, entering her room at dusk, sat down to write, and wrote on and on. At last she leaned back, and, turning her head, saw her dearest friend there. “You here! Why did you not let me know?” “You were so busy; you did not speak to me!”
Christian—Too Cool.
Two metal figures are seen in a workshop—one perfect, the other marred. In the case of the latter, the metal had been allowed to grow a little too cool. Many a newborn soul might be molded into the likeness of Christ, but, allowed to cool, the image is blurred.
Christian—Types of.
Some Christians are like canal barges—they only go when towed. Other Christians are like sailboats—they wait for favorable winds. The best kind of Christians are like steamboats—they travel through all waters and all weathers because they have the ‘power’ within. May you and I be the latter by the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Christian—Value of a.
It used to be a custom in India, and is sometimes done today, to celebrate the 25th birthday of a native ruler, or the 25th year of his reign, by weighing him against gold; and distributing the weight in gold among the poor. The Aga Khan weighed twelve stone; that weight of gold is worth about £25,000. People were all anxious to know how much he weighed. How much do I weigh in the balances of the sanctuary? How much am I worth to the assembly of which I form a part.
Christian—Value of a.
Mrs. Ralph Norton, of the Belgian Gospel Mission, had a beautiful stone, found in the deserts of Arizona, a fine agate, glowing with colors of purple and gold. She took it to a jeweler and asked that the stone should be given a simple silver setting. As he regarded it, he sniffed superciliously, saying: “It has no commercial value.” It was beautiful, but of no worth in the markets of the world.
Christian?—What is a.
What is a Christian? Well, how do you spell the word Christian? Take the ‘a’ out and you read ‘Christ in.’ A Christian is a boy or girl, man or woman with CHRIST IN. You see, you must have either HIM or Sin in your heart, and of course you know that you cannot have a place in Heaven if you have Sin there.
Christianity—Divorced from Christ.
Out in Boston, there appeared before a minister’s conference the head of a settlement in the midst of the poorest class of people, among which population the name of Jesus was not used. The use of that Name prejudiced the Jews, and kept the infidels from permitting their children to come. “So,” he said, “we do not use the name of Christ at all. We have to go down there and teach these wicked people what fatherhood means. You speak of fatherhood, and they will think of a drunken, wicked father; that is all they have known from infancy. They have been raised in the midst of drunkards. And we go down and live with them. After we have lived there as Christians a few years, those children will know what fatherhood means.” Someone made a very wise reply, and said: “My brother, go down into that neighborhood, get those children together, and preach Jesus Christ to them, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’; they will then learn more about fatherhood in half-an-hour than studying for ten years.” To cut off Christianity from Christ is to kill Christianity.
DR. DIXON
Christianity—False.
Private James Henry put on his fatigue uniform and went about his business. The first private he passed snapped him a salute. Private Henry thought that was odd, but he returned the salute.
After about ten more privates had saluted him in the same way, he became suspicious. He soon discovered that his fatigue jacket bore a shiny gold bar on the shoulder. An officer had worn it and forgotten to remove his insignia. So everyone who saw him thought he was a Second Lieutenant.
And in the same way, many people today are being saluted as Christians when they are not really Christians at all. They may have joined some church, and possibly may live a decent, respectable life; attend all the meetings and support the good cause; and still not be ‘born again.’ They may even teach a class and preach in the pulpit, and not have ‘eternal life’ themselves. For these things do not make people real Christians any more than the little gold bar on Private Henry’s jacket made him a Second Lieutenant.
Christianity—Fully Appreciated.
A lady was returning from India with her child when the gray cliffs of England came into view she lifted the child so that she might see the country of which she had heard so much.
Looking through the cold, gray mist, the child said: “Is that England? It doesn’t look much.”
It was England, but it was not all England. We might say: “You must land and explore it, North, South, East and West. You must visit her great cities; her beautiful rivers and hills; the lanes of Devonshire, the gardens of Kent, the orchards of Worcestershire. You must see her ancient castles and stately cathedrals. You must get to know the home life of her people in town and village.”
So Christianity must be known from the inside. Some have looked at it and thought that its essence was renunciation rather than appropriation. While they have left the far country and come to their fatherland, they have known little more than its gray cliffs.
Christianity—Immune to Real.
Sometimes we are so inoculated with a weak dose of Christianity that we become immune to an attack of the genuine thing.
Christianity—Influence of.
“How is it.” asked a man of a Christian, “that your religion has been going for nearly two thousand years and has not influenced more people than it has done?” For reply, the Christian asked another question: “How is it that water has been flowing for more than 6,000 years and many people are still dirty?”
Christianity—Inward Principles in.
As the weights of an old-fashioned clock move all the wheels, many Christians are moved and influenced by things without them. They want an inward principle.
Christianity—Living Faith.
A converted Mohammedan was charged before the authorities with forsaking the faith of his fathers for Christianity. He begged permission to ask a question. “I am traveling,” he said, “and I look for someone to direct me. There are two persons, one dead, the other alive. To which should I go for direction?”
“To the living, of course,” they replied.
“Then why require me to go to Mohammed who is dead; instead of to Christ, who is alive?” He was dismissed.
Christianity—Proof of.
A man who did menial work in the house of a rajah was converted. After conversion, he went to a missionary and said: “While in the rajah’s service I stole some gems and buried them in the palace grounds. Now I am a Christian I must confess. And if I do, I may lose my head.” The missionary advised him to follow the dictates of his conscience. He journeyed to the rajah’s capital. The rajah thought him crazy, but remembered the loss of the jewels. “They are buried at the foot of the large tamarind tree, your Majesty.” The rajah gave instructions to his servants to dig, and the jewels were found. “What made you tell me,” he asked the man, “when no one in the world knew but yourself? Why have you thus put yourself in my power?”
“I confessed because I am a Christian. There is no peace of heart to a Christian who hides sin in his life.”
The effect upon the rajah was immediate. He said: “Go and tell your missionary to send some teachers here, and make some Christians for me if this is what your religion does for you.”
Christianity—Responsibility of.
“Yours must be a very responsible position,” said a Christian to a man of some eminence.
“Yes, but nothing compared to yours as a Christian!”
Christianity—Works.
In a room in Chelsea Barracks a few N.C.O.’s and men were discussing the Bible. One was very clever in trying to prove that Christianity is all wrong. When he had finished, a soldier who had been a miner in the north of England said with a yawn: “Well, all I know is, it works!”
Christian Life—its Goal.
During a march for the conquest of Mexico, the Spanish soldiers of Fernando Cortes became disaffected. He drew them up in a line, and said: “Men, some of you are grumbling, and want to know what rewards you will have. This is my answer.” Then he drew a line upon the ground with his sword, and pointing to the east, he said: “On that side of the line are ease and comfort, home and friends in beautiful Spain.” Then, pointing westward: “Yonder are sickness, privation and hunger. But yonder is the golden capital of the Montezumas. Choose as befits Castilians.”
Church—Function of.
A picture in a Canadian paper shows a hand holding out a loaf. Inscription under the picture: “She has nothing else to offer.” Hand labeled “The Church”: loaf marked “Christ.”
Church and World.
“I looked for the church, and I found it in the world; I looked for the world, and I found it in the church.”
H. BONAR
Cleansing Blood, The.
An old herdsman was dying in a hospital in London. His grandchild used to go and read to him. One day she read 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). The old man raised himself up and stopped her, saying with great earnestness: “Is that really there?”
“Yes, grandpa.”
“Then read it again; I never heard it before.” She did so. “Now read it again.” She did.
He then said: “If anyone should ask how I died, tell them I died in the faith of those words: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth from all sin.’”
Cleansing Blood, The.
John Williams stood by the deathbed of poor, blind, old ME, who had formerly been a famous warrior in Raiatea and, in the days of his heathenism, a terror to all. “I saw an immense precipice,” said the dying ME, “with steep sides up which I tried to climb; but when I had got to a considerable height, I lost my hold and fell to the bottom. Perplexed and exhausted, I sat down and wept. While weeping, I saw a drop of blood fall on that mountain, and in a moment it was dissolved. That mountain was my sins, and the drop which fell on it was one drop of the precious blood of Jesus, by which the mountain of my guilt was melted away.”
Cleansing Blood, The.
“We don’t want any black boys with us.” So said the boys at a school to one who had come from India. He was shut out from their games and walks, and one day excluded from a picnic.
He went for a walk by himself, and saw an advertisement: “Matchless Soap: splendid for the complexion. Gives a beautiful white skin.” He eagerly sought and found a shop, bought a cake of it, and ran back to the school and up to the bathroom. Imagine his disappointment!
Another day, on a lonely walk, he noticed a crowd of people. They were singing, “Whiter than the snow.” He listened, and followed into a hall to hear how black skins might be made white. Afterward the preacher finding him in tears, drew his story from him, and said: “Do you know you have something blacker than your face? It is your SINS” (The verse 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) was quoted). Preacher and boy knelt in prayer and the boy sought cleansing.
He went back to the school and told the whole story, adding: “I have come to Christ.”
Which of those English schoolboys would have had the courage to do that? One by one their hearts were touched, and before long several of them were led to trust the Savior.
Coal—The Lesson of.
A lump of coal may be dealt with so as to make it give: (1) light and heat, or (2) only soot and smoke.
God deals with a man one way, the devil in the other.
Come! Old Mr. F— was very ill. A Christian was asked to visit him. He began: “John says...”
“I don’t want to hear about John and what he says.” “Well, the Apostle Paul...”
“I don’t want to hear about him.”
“Then let me tell you of what the Lord Jesus said: ‘Him that cometh unto Me, etc....’”
The invalid lay motionless and silent, evidently thinking. “Very good, I’ll come,” he said at last; and he did.
Coming of the Lord.
A widowed mother stands on the pierhead of a seaport, eagerly gazing seaward. She has heard that transports, bringing troops home from a war in a distant land, are soon to arrive, and in one of them she ardently hopes to see her much loved son. Preparations for a grand review, to take place soon after the men have landed, are being made on a magnificent scale. And her boy is to have part in all the honor. She will be there to see it. But just now she is waiting for him, to take him to her home and have him all to herself, for the day or two preceding the review. Day and night since he departed she has looked forward to his return. She will rejoice to see him honored, but the thought uppermost in her heart is— “He is coming.”
GEORGE CUTTING
Coming of the Lord.
During Nansen’s last attempt to reach the North Pole, he was lost to the world for many weeks, marooned in a wilderness of ice and snow. It was thought he must be dead. One day a little bird flew in through the window of Nansen’s home and dropped into his wife’s lap. It was a carrier pigeon bringing news that her husband was alive and hoped soon to return.
Coming of the Lord.
Experience should teach us that the world will not be converted in this age. Take any street in any city and send a score of picked Christian workers to preach there, will the whole street be converted? By God’s grace many may be saved, but experience, as well as Scripture, shows that ‘men love darkness rather than light.’
Coming of the Lord.
Harry Brown, formerly in Jamaica, was walking down the corridor of a train and saw the Emperor of Abyssinia, Haile Selassie, sitting alone in a first class compartment. He was so taken by surprise that he stood still, looking at the Emperor. The Emperor looked up, and perhaps observing Mr. Brown’s clerical collar, beckoned to him, and after some conversation asked for his name and address, and said he might call on him. Mr. Brown told his young people at home, and for quite a while afterward they kept the house very tidy, and spick and span, thinking the Emperor might come. He never came. But Christ will.
Coming of the Lord.
In Swansea, old brother MacArthur—whose life was a bright testimony for Christ—crippled, maimed, semi-paralyzed, was greatly sustained by the words of the motto card, ‘Perhaps Today,’ hanging on the wall by his bedside. Do you know them?
Coming of the Lord.
When the Duke of Windsor was Prince of Wales, he paid a visit to Kingston, Jamaica. The Mayor issued a call for a ‘Clean up’ and ‘Brighten up’ campaign. You should have seen how busy the people got, cleaning, tidying, painting, etc.
Company—Bad.
A farmer saw a lot of birds picking up seed he had sown, and went out with his gun to shoot. All flew away except one that lay wounded. It was his own pet parrot which had escaped from its cage. Its wing was broken with the shot. He picked it up gently, saying: “Ah, Polly, this comes of your keeping bad company.” He put it under his coat and took it home. His little girl, when she saw it, asked what had happened. Before he could reply, the parrot put its head out and said: “Bad company! Bad company!” Don’t keep company with crows!
Companions—their Influence.
Sophronius had a fair daughter named Eulalia, and she asked his permission one day to visit the gay Lucina. “I cannot allow it,” said the Greek father.
“Then you must think me exceedingly weak,” said the daughter indignantly.
Sophronius picked up a dead coal from the hearth and handed it to his daughter, but she hesitated to accept it. “Take it, my child; it will not burn you.”
Eulalia obeyed, and the milky whiteness of her hand was instantly gone.
“Father, we cannot be too careful in handling coals,” said the vexed daughter.
“No,” said the father solemnly, “for even when they do not burn, they blacken.”
So it is with evil companions and communications, as Lot found to his cost.
Confession of a Sinner.
A young man, a millionaire, who sought satisfaction at earth’s springs, committed suicide, and before ending his life wrote his own obituary notice: “DIED OF OLD AGE AT 21.”
Contentment with Second Best.
A child from one of our big cities was having a day in the country, and while walking along the road saw some heather which someone passing along before had gathered and dropped. She picked it up and carried it quite contentedly, although it had lost its freshness, and was seemingly unaware of the vast stretches of beautiful fresh heather close at hand which she might have gathered. Some may say: “Foolish child,” yet so many of us are content with a little truth second-hand. We go through life poverty-stricken, our lives stunted and warped, while always within reach are the unlimited resources of the eternal world on which to draw.
Conversation—Chill of Worldly.
Chill after warmth is always dangerous. How many, after being warmed up at a meeting, directly it is over begin some worldly conversation, and lose all the warmth.
Conversion—a Change.
After his conversion, one of Augustine’s old companions in sin met him with a smile and said: “Augustine, it is I.” He looked at her and replied: “But it is not I,” and turned away.
Conversion—a Change of Flag.
In the Napoleonic wars there were more than once encounters between one British and one enemy warship. Usually the British ship was victorious and the enemy surrendered. What transpired? The enemy ship changed masters; it took sailing directions to a new destination—some British port. But it had placed on board it a British officer, and as many men as were needed to dispossess the old captain and crew from any effective control of the vessel, by assuming control themselves. The illustration is easy of application. Each of us when converted changed our flag, owning Christ now as our Lord.
Conversion—Effect of.
A visitor asked an old, bedridden woman, who said she was trying to be a Christian: “Are you trying to be. C?”
“No, I am. C.”
“How long have you been. C?”
“Ever since this ring was put on my finger.”
“That is how it is with me. I do not try to be a Christian. I have been one ever since I put out my empty hand and received Christ as my Savior.”
Conversion—Individuality of.
At a grand reception, given by the wife of an American ambassador, some Chinese princesses were attended by their retinue of no less than 461 attendants, all of whom had to be entertained according to the laws of Chinese hospitality. People seem to think they must secure a large retinue (of prayers, efforts, etc.) before they come to Christ. The opposite is the case. You are invited. Dismiss your attendants!
Conversion—a Revolution.
A minister who was a bachelor was presented with a shining oak bookcase. He was a man whose mind was his kingdom, who was more at home among thoughts than things. Certainly no one would ever have called him house-proud. But the gift set him a problem. It seemed to put the rest of the room to shame. Not till then did he notice how shabby were his old bookshelves, how worn his carpet, how faded his wallpaper. The new bookcase worked a revolution in his study. Sheer decency demanded the refurnishing and redecoration of the whole room.
A similar revolution takes place in the inner life of everyone who honestly faces the claims of Christ.
Conversion—Sudden.
If you were to listen to a French sergeant drilling his troops, you would hear him say: “Convertez!” (right about face). Suppose one of the soldiers said to the sergeant: “I don’t believe in sudden conversions; could we not do it gradually?” What do you think that sergeant would say?
Converts—Counting.
After preaching one night, D. L. Moody was asked how many converts he had got. He replied: “Two and a half.”
“I suppose you mean you got two grown-ups and a child?”
“No; I got two children and one grown-up.”
“How do you make that out to be two and a half?”
“The two children have got a whole life before them, whereas a grown-up person has only got half a life before him.”
Cost—Counting the.
“How much should you say this estate is worth?” said one friend to another as they passed a lovely park. “I don’t know; but I know how much it cost the owner.” “How much?” “His soul!”
Courage.
Captain Scott met his death in returning from the South Pole. Months later his frozen body was found. Beside him was a letter he had been writing to Sir James Barrie, the well-known writer. The last word penned was ‘courage’.
The letter was brought home and given to Sir James. Not long after he lost the use of his right hand, and was helpless and unhappy. Feeling very low, he took up the letter and said to himself: “If Scott could write about courage when things were so bad for him, why can’t I have it, and learn to write with my left hand?” And he did. Five times ‘Be of good cheer’ in the Bible equals ‘Take courage.’
Creation—a New.
In an old cathedral, a valuable stained glass window, shattered by the storm, lay on the marble floor in a hundred fragments. These were gathered up, put in a box and stored in a cellar. One day a visitor came to see the window. Hearing of its fate, he inquired for the fragments, and asked if he might have them. “Take them; we can do nothing with them.” He carried them away. Weeks passed, and an invitation came to the custodians of the cathedral to view a work of art by a famous artist, celebrated for his skill in glass work. In his studio they stood before a veil of canvas, which dropped and displayed a stained glass window surpassing in beauty anything they had ever seen. “This window,” said the artist, “I have wrought from the fragments of your shattered one, and it is now ready to be replaced.” Once more a great stained glass window shed its beautiful light into the ancient building. But the splendor of the new far surpassed that of the old, and its fame spread far and wide.
PAUL RADER
Creator.
Many years ago in the old town of Utrecht two men were engaged in earnest conversation. The elder of the two, silver-haired and venerable, was known as Father Martin. The younger was Van Bremen, a student at the University.
“Now, let me hear what your difficulty is, Mr. Van Bremen,” said the old man.
The student replied: “Why, it appears to me that the whole teaching of Christianity is at variance with the most simple rules of order and proportion. You allow that this globe is but a speck in the immeasurable universe, and that there are myriads of others a thousand times greater than ours. Can you really believe that the Creator Himself has visited this small, insignificant world, and that He has actually chosen out this little ball, which swims among the gigantic heavenly bodies like a drop in the ocean, that He might manifest Himself in a remote corner of its surface?”
“I know,” replied the aged man. “It is not the first time that the Gospel has been accused of this. A learned astronomer, fifty years ago, had a conversation on this subject with my cousin, Peter. Shall I tell you the story?”
“Yes, if you please, Father Martin.”
“My cousin for more than thirty years had been employed as steeple-watch in the tower of the cathedral. Do you see yonder small window on the first gallery? That is the window of the cozy little room where he spent nearly two-thirds of his life. His Bible was his inseparable companion. He knew this precious book from its first page to its last page, yet he said he read it every day with fresh delight.
“It happened one winter evening that my cousin Peter was sitting in his little parlor with his open Bible on the table, and his stove burning by his side. To his surprise he heard steps upon the stone stairs, and the door was opened by a gentleman, breathless from fatigue and shivering with the cold. It was none other than the famous astronomer, Dr. B—.
“Why, Doctor!” said Peter, rising to greet his unexpected visitor, “How is it you are here so late, and in such weather?” The doctor said: “I have a task in hand that must be done tonight, for such an opportunity will not return for 200 years.” “What opportunity, sir?” asked Peter.
“Why, a conjunction of certain stars will take place at 12:30 tonight, and I would rue it all my life if I missed so rare a sight. It is 11:30 now, so I must go up and fix the telescope.”
As the doctor spoke he viewed the comfortable little room.
“A snug little place this, Peter, but how can you be happy living here all alone?”
“I am not quite so lonely as you suppose, sir. You know I am fond of reading.”
“Yes, I never come here but I find you at your Bible. How can you fill up your whole life with the contents of that one book? Only compare this small volume with the infinite book which I peruse. The whole firmament lies open before me, and every day new discoveries delight me. But you know nothing of the stars, Peter. Do you really believe that the Creator of all these magnificent orbs lowered himself to become a man? Can you suppose that the Prince of Heaven would pass by those magnificent worlds to take interest in such a paltry particle of the universe as this earth?”
“Sir,” answered Peter, “I read that a shepherd will leave his sheep to seek one that is lost, and such is Christ. The sun may be a large body, and the earth a small one; but would God be truly great if He could not care for the former except by neglecting the latter? And if no way to save His fallen creatures could be found but by Himself taking their place and bearing their dues, He is great enough to do it, even though it cost Him His life.”
Just then the heavy blows of the clock hammer striking midnight reminded the astronomer that the precious moments were flying. He seized his lantern and began to climb the steps that led to the top of the tower.
Scarcely fifteen minutes had gone when Peter was again roused by a violent push at the door. The Doctor in great agitation stood before him.
“Quick, Peter,” he cried, “there is not a moment to lose. Bring your lantern and help me to search. A small screw slipped from my cold fingers when I was fixing up my instrument. It must have fallen on the balcony outside this room.”
“A little screw, sir? In what direction did you drop it?”
“Round the corner at the north side. Be quick, I beseech you, for unless that screw be found all will be lost!”
They hurried out. The lantern was put on the floor, and the two men got down and groped over the cold stone pavement of the balcony. The Doctor, unmindful of the keen, frosty wind that was chilling him to the bone, rubbed over the stones with his hands as if he were polishing them. At length, after crawling and groping for some minutes, he came upon the object of his search.
“Ah, here it is!” he cried, and, jumping up, he bounded up the steps to his telescope.
An hour passed. The tower clock struck one, and the Doctor appeared. “I have seen it all,” he said, “it was most beautiful. I shall get a report printed that will interest the whole astronomical world.”
“I am glad, sir,” said Peter, “for I feared you would miss it altogether through that screw. And how surprised I was to find you making such an ado about a tiny screw!”
“Why surprised?” asked the astronomer, “did you not understand?”
“Well,” said Peter, “I said to myself, there is that famous Dr. B.—, the most learned and wealthy man in this town, one to whom everybody bows respectfully, running down our stairs, panting and coughing, at this late hour of the night, and all for the sake of a little screw.”
“Well, well,” cried the Doctor, “don’t you see, you simple fellow, that everything depended on that little screw? My telescope would have been of no use, and my investigating would have been a failure without it. I shall now have the honor of publishing the report of this remarkable phenomenon—an honor which I would have lost but for that screw.”
“Then, sir,” said Peter, looking at the Doctor with an expression of deep earnestness, “you yourself have experienced what a man will do to recover what he has lost, insignificant in itself, but connected with the delight of his heart and the honor of his name. And if you, the noblest and wealthiest inhabitant of Utrecht, have not hesitated to lower yourself to the dust of this pavement for the sake of a lost piece of brass, why do you wonder that the great Creator should have humbled Himself to find and save His lost creatures, however insignificant and worthless? Can you be surprised that the Son of God, for His glory and His wonderful purposes, did not shun even the death of the cross to rescue a portion of His universe which He loved, and which otherwise would have been eternally lost?”
The Doctor was silent—a tear glistened in his eye, and he seemed absorbed in thought. Then rising, he took Peter’s hand and with an expression of deep feeling he said: “Peter you are better and wiser than I. Your Book teaches you higher things than the stars ever taught me!”
With this, Father Martin’s tale was finished.
The student rose and, taking his hat, said, “I thank you, Father Martin. Your cousin Peter was a better astronomer than the Doctor.”
Critic, The.
Sergeant Broome looked critically at the rusty rifle, and then at the “rookie” private who carried it.
“Darling, has all my talking been in vain?” demanded the sergeant. “Clean that gun and be quick about it, or else K.P. looms.”
In a few minutes Private Darling returned from his quarters with a shiny rifle for the sergeant to inspect.
“Do you mean to tell me that you have that filthy rifle clean already?” challenged Sergeant Broome. “Impossible.”
“No, sir,” meekly replied Private Darling. “You see, sergeant, I picked up the wrong rifle by mistake. This one is mine.”
“And who owns the other one?” pressed the sergeant. “You, sergeant,” came the reply.
This incident, which happened recently at our local Army camp, illustrates a spiritual truth that is sometimes lost sight of. For it is often the case that people overlook their own sins and shortcomings, but they are quick to see and condemn other people’s sins.
Cross—Effect of the.
A missionary in Africa was telling a native audience the story of Christ and His love for us. And how He died on the cross for our sins. He had told them of His perfect life, and he told them how the people rejected Him and led Him forth to crucify Him. Out in the open the crowd was gathered. In the front row sat the native chief, listening intently to the ‘old, old story.’ The preacher graphically pictured Calvary. They could almost see those soldiers drive the nails. Just as the missionary reached the climax, in which he told of Christ saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” the African chief jumped to his feet, and cried out: “Stop! Stop! Take Him down from the cross, I belong there, not Him.”
Cross—Image of the.
Someone bought a house in Scotland. The previous owner had laid out the front garden in the form of a large cross. As the weeks passed, he noticed that the outline of the cross began to fade, and soon was difficult to trace. Nothing had happened save that weeds and tufts of grass were springing up and obliterating the cross.
Cross—Meaning of the.
John Beck, missionary to the Eskimos, was discouraged, for the people were becoming increasingly hostile. He was working at translation, when a group of men burst in. Kayarnak, the roughest and most repulsive, seized a sheet of manuscript and asked the meaning of the ‘black marks.’ Beck explained that they were words, like the words they were speaking. After passing round ‘the talking paper,’ Kayarnak demanded: “Make the paper speak, let us hear its words.” Beck read bits from the Gospels, and was in the middle of the story of the Crucifixion when he became conscious of a dead silence. Looking up, he saw tears pouring down Kayarnak’s face. “Go on,” he cried, “I want to know more about this Jesus.” Beck, greatly astonished, went on to explain in the simplest way the meaning of the Cross. Kayarnak accepted the Savior there and then, and proved a most valuable ally, helping in the translation of the Scriptures. Before long, conversions took place by scores, and people would come twelve, fifteen, eighteen miles to attend the services.
Cross—Obstacle of the.
Napoleon was looking at a map of Europe. Placing his finger on Great Britain, he remarked: “Were it not for that red spot I would have conquered the world.” Even so may the devil speak, when he thinks of the Cross.
Cross—Significance of the.
A critic was standing in Turner’s studio examining one of the latest of the great artist’s productions. Apparently he was perplexed; the picture seemed all mist and cloud, hazy, indefinite and incomprehensible.
But Turner was a master of his art, and the critic did not venture to express his opinion as freely as he would have done if he were surveying the work of a less famous man. He could, however, make nothing of the picture, and was about to turn away discomfited, when Turner himself stepped forward and with his brush added a single dot of scarlet to the picture.
The result was startling. That scarlet dot brought all the parts of the picture into proper relation to one another, suggested the proper point of view, and made the whole work intelligible.
Cross—Triumph of the.
On the roof of Keble College, Oxford, is the carving of a dragon with its mouth wide open. An angel is about to thrust a sword in the shape of a cross down its throat.
Cross—Value of the.
Frances Ridley Havergal tells of seeing a woman kneeling beside a cross of flowers, while she was passing an almshouse. At first she supposed the woman to be a deluded follower of some superstitious system or false cult. When she drew nearer she heard the woman saying, abstracted in devout reverie: “Enough for God, enough for justice, enough for me.” What a summary of the cross of Christ! Yes, Calvary is enough to satisfy all the claims of God against sin and the sinner; Calvary is enough to satisfy all the claims of Justice and the Law against the sinful souls of men; Calvary is enough for me to rest on for all eternity.