Echoes of Grace: 1941

I know not what the New Year
Holds in store, I cannot tell,
But Jesus is my Shepherd, and
He doeth all things well.

I know not what a day may bring,
One step I cannot see,
But Jesus knows the pathway, and
He leadeth you and me.

I know He goeth on before,
To be my daily Guide,
And He will not forsake His child
Whatever may betide.

If trial, sorrow, burdens, care,
Tomorrow I may face,
I know He has abundant power
To give sufficient grace.

I know that happiness and joy
'Tis His delight to bring,
For everything we bless His Name,
And grateful praises sing.

It is enough that Jesus knows
The path from day to day,
For He will take me by the hand
And lead me all the way.

"The Lord, He it is that Both go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." Deut. 31:8.

"I, the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee." Isa. 42:6.

My Time Is Not My Own

“Go with me to the concert this afternoon,” said a city salesman to a new assistant at the warehouse.

“I cannot,” was the reply, “my time is not my own. It belongs to the firm during business hours. ” The next Sunday afternoon the same salesman said to the clerk, “Go with us and have a good time this evening, ” but the same reply came, “I cannot; my time is not my own. It belongs to One who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Years passed and the godly clerk lay dying. He had risen to an excellent place in business, and life lay fair before him.

“Are you ready to go?” asked a friend.

“Certainly,” was the triumphant answer, “I have tried to obey God. He has directed me thus far, and I am in His hands—my time is not my own.”

“We thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:14,15.

“Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price.” 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

The Gospel in an Express Train

“A coach to myself! O how delightful—as delightful as it is unexpected. The Lord Himself must have known how tired—how very tired, I am.”

Helen Grant, who had been spending time and strength in seeking to win souls for the Lord she loved, settled herself contentedly in the corner of the train, as the train drew out of a big and busy station. There were two or three stops on the long run, but it was the depth of winter, and very few people seemed to be traveling. Helen just closed her eyes, glad to rest—to pray, for the work she had left behind—the work which lay ahead.

The great station was busy as usual: folks came crowding to the train. But still, Helen was hoping to be left alone, for most people had taken their seats—the train was just off, and then—

"Well, good-by lass! Hope you'll find—”

The last words were lost, as the handle of the door was seized, and the door wrenched open by the practiced hand of a young railroad man in uniform. But it was no casual passenger to whom he said good-by—it was his young wife, whose eyes were sad as she gave him a kiss—sad with the parting—and, as it came out afterward, sorrowing for something more. She leaned out of the window to wave her husband farewell, then sat down in the corner opposite to Helen Grant, and closed her eyes.

It was not very long before Helen saw big tears creeping under the closed lids—tears rolled slowly down the girl's cheeks. This would never do! There was a long non-stop run before them. Helen felt she must find out what was the matter. The young woman had left the window wide open, and Helen knew it wasn't everybody who shared her love of fresh air, even in winter time.

So, first of all making some excuse to ask the girl if she would prefer the window partly closed, Helen tried to draw the stranger into conversation.

By and by it all came out; and now the tears came unbidden, "I've left my home at an hour's notice.

“My father is dying! They've sent for me!”

How cold even words of sympathy seemed just then—though Helen Grant herself had not long before lost her own mother.

The Way of Salvation

Then she said: "If that dear father of yours is ready to meet God and his sufferings are great—you cannot wish him to linger in his pain!”

"No, O, no! I know he's all right! I have a good Christian father, I know, for him it will mean heaven!" Then Helen laid her hand on that of the girl in the opposite corner, and said gently, "Thank God for that! But what about you, if God's call came for you instead of your father? Is it well with your soul?" Her head was bent still lower now, and the tears fell more quickly than ever.

"No! I can't say I am saved. I wish I could. I know there's something I do not have.”

"But it's something you may have, here and now—if you will," said Helen, pulling out her little pocket Bible. "See, here is God's own Word for it! 'All have sinned'—and that includes you, me, and everybody else. But since all of us are under sin, and sin cannot enter the presence of a holy God, the Lord Jesus gave Himself that He might become the Way to Heaven! There is His way of salvation, clearly enough.

"Come now and let us reason together:. . . Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." He says 'Come' —will you 'Come'—here and now?”

The express roared on at 40 or 50 miles an hour—but there on the floor of the railway coach the two knelt down—Helen Grant and the girl whose name she did not even know till afterward.

Simply taking God at His Word—”Coming' because He invited her to come; giving herself to Him, just as she was; the porter's young wife sought and found the salvation Christ offered her, through His shed Blood upon the Cross of Calvary.

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy Blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!”

Very softly came the words—the plea for pardon-the surrender of a soul to Him who had bidden her come. Then Helen Grant pointed to her Bible again.

"He has said, 'Come—and you have just told Him you do come, here and now! Now, what has happened, Look at this.

`Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' Has He cast you out? No. Why not? Because He says He will not cast you out, and His Word can never be broken. Then what has He done?" Very softly came the words, while God's own peace and joy suddenly transfigured her face.

"He's taken me in!”

A strange place for the seeking Savior to meet a seeking sinner; in a Northern Express as it thundered on its way! But God can save the soul of a man or a woman anywhere—at home, at work, on a journey! Yes, you, just as you are, and where you are, here and now; if you will give yourself to Him and believe His Word. Those two in the train that winter's morning, talked together long and earnestly, until the train slowed down and stopped. With a clasp of the hand, and a whispered, "God bless you"; the two whom God had brought together that morning parted—never since to meet again. Afterward Helen Grant received a letter.

"I was just in time to see my dear father! He died triumphantly, knowing he was going to be with Jesus. * * And I?—well, if I never meet you again on earth, I know I shall see you up in Glory.”

So wrote the girl who, on her way to her father's deathbed, found Christ as her own personal Savior in a railway train.

A Friendly Neighbor

Some years ago there lived in a town two men who had become neighbors. One of them who had been living some years there, invited his neighbor to tea in order to make his acquaintance. He was a Christian and desired to lead others into blessing.

During the meal the conversation ran on in different subjects. As they arose from tea the Christian asked his neighbor if he believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The neighbor replied, "Why yes, certainly I believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not take me to be a heathen, do you?”

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

At this question the neighbor answered, rather indignant,

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

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

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

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

The neighbor stood for a little apparently amazed, and then replied, very deliberately and with much earnestness: "Well, I am saved!”

Thus in a moment God's Word sent light into his soul, and he passed from death unto life.

"The entrance of Thy Word giveth Light.”

"Born again by the incorruptible Word of God.”

"I feel," he afterward said, "that these words bring me into the very presence of God—enclose me, so to express it, within a ring fence of pure and unadulterated truth from which there is no escape—God's own words. I will not, I dare not, withdraw my confession which I have made, of believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and now I dare not say I have not eternal life, for I would thus 'make God a liar' as declared in 1 John 5:10, which I surely fear to do, therefore there is no alternative but to accept of God's gracious gift, eternal life, the assurance of which He has placed on record in that wonderful 11th verse of this wonderful chapter. Throughout it, self is set aside, withered up in that bright light, and God's wondrous character of love stands out in marvelous relief. In its contemplation I can only rapturously exclaim, how wonderful!

And now that blessed Book has changed to me entirely in its aspect.—As the bright light from the excellent glory shines out to me individually through its pages, a wondrous revelation of God's infinite love; and myself, a poor, lost sinner, saved by grace, on whom that love and grace was and is displayed, I am thus brought into His immediate presence by the light and power of the Word, applied by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Reader, do you believe God?

"He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

Extract: Prayer

Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness.

"The Bible Doesn't Say That, Does It?"

The question was asked by a woman visited by me. She had been persuaded to attend some simple readings of the Scriptures held in a Christian's home, and for more than a year she had been coming, and had been startled by what she had heard.

She was, as we say, a decent, respectable sort of woman, but for all that she had to learn that she was a sinner in her sins; one who had forfeited her life through sin—

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20)—one who had exposed herself to the just judgment of a holy God, "After this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

Is this your case? It is if you are still unconverted.

The Holy Spirit of God wrought in her soul from time to time in the meetings, and she became disturbed about herself, and could not seem to get relief.

It was in this state I found her. There was evidently something keeping her back from salvation, joy, and peace in believing.

Feeling that it was a serious moment in her history, a distinct crisis, I pleaded with her to tell me what it was that was hindering her. At last she hesitatingly said, "You see, sir, I have lived all my life in forgetfulness of God, the Bible has been neglected, and I've had little or no thought about my soul or my sins, and it does not seem possible for me to get blessing from God now.”

Solemn confession indeed for anyone to have to make, but instantly I quoted from memory those magnificent words which fell from the lips of the Son of God: "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men,”

"That takes you in and your sin." Then it was the question was asked, "The Bible doesn't say that, does it?”

No longer from memory but opening the Holy Book, I read from Matt. 12:31:

"Wherefore I (Jesus) say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.”

"And shall I tell you why?" I inquired.

"Yes"' she said.

"Because the Blood of Jesus Christ His (God's) Son cleanseth us from all sin' (1 John 1:7). That is why.”

The next moment the anxious look was gone; her countenance was bright with joy; she had entered into life and peace.

"Wonderful, wonderful love of God to save me," she said. "And what a plea I've got now to answer Satan with when he comes along again and says, 'It is not possible for you to be saved.' All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.”

The Word of God applied by the Holy Spirit had done its work according to Psa. 119:130, "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Christ

The successful business man declares, "To me to live is fortune.”

The unsuccessful, "To me to live is toil and labor.”

The philosopher, "To me to live is knowledge.”

The ambitious one, "To me to live is fame.”

What should be the ruling passion of the Christian young man, and young woman of the 20th century? Does this voice ring out amid all the voices of the world, "To me to live is not fortune, nor toil, nor knowledge, nor fame, nor glory—but Christ.”

Let Christ be first, last, everything, always and perpetually—Christ.

"Christ shall be magnified in my body... For me to live is Christ." Phil. 1:21, 22.

Can You Say It?

Why should I wait? I look within,
And nothing there I see but sin:
And Thou alone canst make me clean,
O! Lord, I come to Thee.

A sinner, lost, unclean, undone,
Of good or merit I have none:
To Thee for refuge now I run,
O! Lord, I come to Thee.

“THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT SENT ME, THAT EVERY ONE THAT SEETH THE SON AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

John 6:40.

"WE HAVE KNOWN AND BELIEVED THE LOVE THAT GOD HATH TO US."

1 John 4:16.

February

The Neglected Treasure

A traveler one day called at a cottage to ask for a drink of water. Entering he found the parents cursing and quarreling, the children trembling, crouched in a corner; and wherever he looked he saw only marks of degradation and poverty. Greeting the inmates, he asked them, "Dear friends, why do you make your home so miserable?”

"Ah, sir," said the poor man, "you don't know the life and trials of a poor man, when, do what you can, everything goes wrong.”

The stranger drank the water, and said softly (as he noticed in a dark and dusty corner a Bible), "Dear friends, I know what would help you, if you could find it. There is a treasure concealed in your house. Search for it.”

And so he left them.

At first the cottagers thought it a jest, but after a while they began to reflect. When the woman went out therefore to gather sticks, the man began to search, and even to dig, that he might find the treasure. When the man was away, the woman did the same. Still they found nothing—increasing poverty brought only more quarrels, discontent and strife.

One day, as the woman was, left alone, she was thinking upon the stranger's word, when her eye fell on the old Bible. It had been a gift from her mother, but since her death had long been unheeded and unused. A strange foreboding seized her mind. Could it be this the stranger meant? She took it from the shelf, and opened it, and found the verse inscribed on the title page in her mother's handwriting, "The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" Psa. 119:72. It cut her to the heart.

"Ah!" thought she, "this is the treasure then, we have been seeking." How her tears fell fast upon the leaves!

From that time she read the Bible every day, and prayed, and taught the children to pray, but without the husband's knowledge. One day he came home as usual, quarreling, and in a rage. Instead of meeting his angry words with angry replies, she spoke to him gently and kindly.

"Husband," said she, "we have sinned grievously. We have ourselves to blame for all our misery, and we must now lead a different life." He looked amazed.

"What do you say?" was his exclamation. She brought the old Bible and, sobbing, cried, "There is the treasure. See, I have found it!”

The husband's heart was moved. She read to him of the Lord Jesus, and of His love. Next day she read, and again and again; she sat with her children around drinking in the blessed Word of God.

A year later the stranger returned that way. Seeing the cottage, he remembered the circumstances of his visit, and thought he would call and see his old friends again. He did so, but he would scarcely have known the place; it was so clean, so neat and orderly. He opened the door, and at first thought he was mistaken, for the inmates came to meet him so kindly, with the peace of God beaming in their faces.

"How are you, my dear people?" said he. Then they knew the stranger, and for some time they could not speak.

"Thanks, thanks, dear sir, we have found the treasure," they at length cried out. "Now dwells the blessing of the Lord in our home and His peace in our hearts.”

It was indeed to a transformed home the stranger had returned. They had found that precious treasure—the Word of God, and as they searched through it, they found that supremely glorious treasure—the Lord Jesus. They saw their ruined state, that they were guilty before God, and that sin had caused their misery and wretchedness. But they had found, too, that "God hath made Him to be sin for us, He who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

They had received that Savior as their own and had become children of God (see John 1:12), and were taken out of darkness and brought into His glorious light.

What about you, dear reader? Are your sins gone? Do you stand before God as a poor, condemned, guilty one?

"He that believeth not, is condemned already" John 3:18. But blessed be God! His well-beloved Son has taken the guilty sinner's place, and was condemned in our stead; "for Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6) is His word. Own yourself as ungodly, for that is what every sinner is, and take the Savior who died that you might live.

"In Christ, or Out of Christ"

Let me ask you what there is in the present day, in the heart and eye of the thousands around us, that they should so neglect and despise this Jesus—that they should listen to any voice, or follow any person, rather than the One only, who can do a poor soul good—more than do good to him—One who can save him—save him from his sins, and all the dire consequences of sin—can take him to heaven.

Reader, do you know of anything better than this? Is there anything that professes to be so good? This blessed Person is the One in whom Pilate "found no fault." This is the One Who died for sin—that by dying, made it possible for a sinner to be saved; yea, made it certain for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you, my dear reader, in Christ; or out of Christ?

The Work Which Saves Is Done

"Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." John 19:28.

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished, and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:30.

"I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do." John 17:4.

"This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, forever sat down on the right hand of God." Heb. 10:12.

Do you believe in that finished work? Have you accepted what the Scripture says about it?

"Don't Use the Old Road"

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12.

For many years a man had trodden the old road—the way which "seemeth right unto a man.”

Strong drink had ensnared and was now ruining him. It robbed his purse. It robbed his prospects. And it threatened to rob him of his soul.

He was, as to his age, in the prime of life; but as to his condition he was in the bondage of corruption. Moreover, he was content to be there, for, as yet, he was un-awakened to a sense of the peril in which he stood.

A strange means was to be used to arouse him.

On going to attend a funeral, he was walking along a country road, when his attention was attracted by a notice board.

Inscribed upon it he saw the words, "Don't use the old road. It is dangerous. Keep to the new one.”

The sentences only referred to the branching roads before him. They had nothing to say to spiritual matters. But "all things serve His might." The message on this board made him think. It made him look ahead. Was not he traveling on the old road of sin? It had been in his eyes, but what was it in the sight of God? And what was to be its end?

"The end thereof are the ways of death.”

The death of another had brought him to the district. His own death was not far off-nearer perhaps than he thought. And beyond that dread event, which would fix his destiny, lay eternity. Eternity, with all its bliss for the saved, but with all its woe for the ungodly.

He was using the old road. It was "dangerous" indeed. It would mean destruction in the end.

As yet it was not too late. He might be saved. The new road was open. He might tread it. Christ Himself is the way of salvation and of peace. God gave Him to be the path of blessing and of happiness for men, and He calls all to tread that way today.

There and then the folly of the past became plain to his view. He was missing the gladness which God had provided for him. The paths of pleasantness and peace he had never trodden. Instead thereof he had been on the hard way of the transgressor.

Why should he pursue it further?

The result of that simple statement on the board was that he was converted. He turned to God from all the idols he had hitherto served. He fled to the Savior of sinners who was waiting to welcome the wanderer. He received from His hands forgiveness, full and free, without money and without price. And today he keeps to the new road and rejoices as he treads it—while ever nearing are the glorious courts of everlasting blessedness.

Which road are you treading? O, friend, be warned in time.

"Don't use the old road. It is dangerous. Keep to the new one.”

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." John 14:6.

The Major’s Hiding Place

During the Revolutionary War in 1789 Major Andre, a British officer, was taken prisoner. He was charged with being a spy and was executed as such.

He had served his King and country well, but this was not his confidence as he looked ahead into eternity.

What was?

Some verses, which he wrote a few days before he was hanged, will tell their story—

"Hail, Sovereign love, which first began
That scheme to rescue fallen man;
Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace,
Which gave my soul a Hiding Place.

"Against the God who built the sky,
I fought with hands uplifted high;
Despised the mention of His grace,
Too proud to seek a Hiding Place.

"Enrapt in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure without a Hiding Place.

"And thus the Eternal counsels ran,
`Almighty love, arrest that man.'
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no Hiding Place.

"Indignant Justice stood in view,
To Sinai's fiery mount I flew,
But Justice cried, with frowning face,
`This mountain is no Hiding Place.'

"On Jesus God's just vengeance fell,
Which would have sunk a world to hell;
He bore it for a sinful race,
And thus became their Hiding Place.

"Should sevenfold storms of thunder roll
And shake this globe from pole to pole,
No thunderbolts shall dart my face,
For Jesus is my Hiding Place.

"A few more setting suns at most
Shall land me on fair Canaan's coast,
Where I shall sing the song of grace,
And see my glorious Hiding Place.”

Blessed indeed is the soul that finding out his need flees to the Savior. He is then able to say, with David of old, "Thou art my Hiding Place." Psa. 32:1. Is Major Andre's Savior yours?

"Die Like a Dog"

I met an old schoolmate in a railway train whom I had not seen for years. We talked of old times for a while, and then I spoke to him about his soul. I found he had been associated with atheists and freethinkers. He told me that he should die like a dog. He maintained there was no future for the soul— that all the life he would ever know, would be here; that when he died that would be an end to him. I was glad to be able to tell him that I had everlasting life—that I should never perish. His eyes had that hopeless look in them that told their own tale. His was poor philosophy, the philosophy of despair.

Others try and argue away the eternity of punishment, and fly in the face of the teaching of the Bible in so doing.

Others endeavor to reason away the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Devil sets all these people to work. Before the cold eyes of these false reasoners, no glories shine beyond creation's range. To their deaf ears no voices sound apart from earth. Their impassive hearts know nothing of the rapturous throbbing of eternal life.

"In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." Luke 16:23.

But to those whose eyes are opened, what endless glories shine! The vistas of eternity open out in scenes of surpassing splendor; and as glory upon glory bursts upon the enraptured vision, they tell of others still to come, until the eternity of it all absorbs the soul, where all in all is God.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ." Eph. 1:3.

The Harvest Is Past

"Lift me up to see the fields once again father, the fields in which we reaped the corn a month ago.”

The dying man's request was granted, and then exhausted by the effort, he sank back upon his pillow, and covering his face with his hands mournfully said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved." Jer. 8:20.

The closing words were repeated slowly with a trembling voice, and then he lapsed into unconsciousness from which he never woke. That night he entered eternity, I fear, poor fellow, by the gaping door of procrastination. Once and again he had been awakened to see himself a sinner, in need of a Savior, but he was so fully occupied with football and other amusements, that he seemed to get his convictions stifled as soon as they arose, and soon forgot all about God and eternity. After a short, unsatisfactory career, he was laid down to die, and passed away into the eternal world as I have told you.

What an end for a bright young fellow such as he was! What a death! What an eternity! Are you following in the same course, dear reader? How will it be with you when your thread of life is snapped, when you are called into eternity? Pause a moment and think. He was not ignorant, for his early years were spent in a godly home, where they taught him the truth of God, and sought to lead him to the Savior. But he did not like to be restrained. He would be his own master; so he left his father's house, and went in heart and soul for pleasures of every kind. Very soon, he showed indifference to the things of God, refused to go to hear the Word, and became a scoffer. Then he was brought home to die, and after a short illness, he passed into eternity.

"He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed." Proverb 29:1.

Let God Rule

Oliver Cromwell's secretary was dispatched to the Continent on some important business. He stayed one night at a seaport town, and tossed on his bed, unable to sleep.

According to old custom, a servant slept in his room, and on this occasion, soundly enough. The secretary at length awakened the man, who asked how it was his master could not rest.

"I am so afraid something will go wrong with the embassage," was the reply.

"Master," said the valet, "may I ask you a question or two?”

"To be sure," answered the envoy.

"Did God rule the world before we were born?”

"Most assuredly He did.”

"And will He rule it after we are dead?" "Certainly He will.”

"Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?”

The secretary's faith was stirred, peace was the result, and in a few minutes both he and his servant were in a sound sleep.

Beloved in Jesus, your heart has been aching within you. You were busy at work for the Master; many depended upon you. You seemed almost to be the mainspring of the machinery. But sickness comes, and you lie helpless on the couch, and unbelief creeps in. Dear friend, let God rule the present. He allows your affliction. He sits by the refiner till He can see His own image formed in you, and there is some gracious purpose to be accomplished in the present dispensation.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4:17.

THIS IS MY BLOOD OF

THE NEW TESTAMENT,

WHICH IS SHED

FOR MANY

FOR THE REMISSION

OF SINS"

Matt. 26:28.

"IT IS THE BLOOD
THAT MAKETH
AN ATONEMENT
FOR THE SOUL."

Lev. 17:11.

March

Six Warnings and a Seventh

Traveling one day on the Underground Railway, I found myself alone with a middle-aged man, to whom I offered a little paper, entitled "The Red Signal," or something like that.

This soon led to a conversation, for after reading the first line or two, he looked up and said, "How strange that you should have given me that paper, for only this morning I was counting up the striking warnings I have had, and I ran up to six, so I think I may say this is the seventh, for I see the writer says he wishes to send out a warning.”

And then he went on to tell me of his hair-breadth escapes. He had been very near death down a deep well, and had only been saved by holding on some projecting bricks by his fingers till he nearly dropped down into the water below from the agony, and then help came and he was pulled up.

Another time he was all but smashed in a railway accident, his companion being killed by his side.

On another occasion he was in the greatest danger when doing something to the gigantic wheel at Earl's Court, being one of the engineers employed.

After listening thus far, and fearing our journey together might soon end, I interposed with the question, "May I ask, have you heeded these repeated warnings? God is very good, and speaks to us loudly sometimes in this way, that we may be prepared should death overtake us.”

"Well," he replied, "I suppose it is a matter for surprise that so far I really have done nothing; it has made me think a little seriously for the time, but business and other things put it out of my head, but I think I must begin now.'

"Begin what?" I asked. "Why, to think about it.”

"But," I said, "while you are thinking, you may meet with another accident which may prove fatal. What then?”

"Of course that would be a bad job," was the reply, "but I've escaped so often, I get almost to expect I always shall.”

"Let me beg of you," I urged, "to prepare in the only way possible; go to the Lord Jesus Christ as a poor guilty sinner, cast yourself on Him as utterly helpless to do anything, trust in His finished work alone, and His blood will cleanse you from all your sins, and fit you for God's holy presence.”

"Be it known unto you therefore, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39

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

Care-Free

Cares divide our heart, and distract it in many directions. It is almost impossible to settle to prayer or Bible study or Christian work or to the culture of the soul life while questions intrude.

What shall the worried Christian do? He must take his cares to his Father, and by one act deposit them in His safe keeping. Thereafter, as care tries to break in on the peace of his heart, he must treat it as a positive temptation, handing it over to God.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

"Call Upon Me"

One warm spring day, many years ago, the sun shone brightly upon a group of merry children at play, in the pretty garden of a cottage in the suburbs of a busy city.

Within the home, a slender boy of twelve sat curled up in a cushioned chair, poring over a book.

"William, my child, why do you not leave your book, and run out in the sunshine and play with the other children?" And the fond mother bent over her handsome boy, stroking his fair curls, and gazing lovingly into his shining blue eyes.

"O, mother darling, the children are so rough in their play, and I am tired-tired,” and, throwing his arms around her neck, he drew her to him.

The mother sighed deeply as she turned away, for her pale delicate boy was the object of her constant tender care and solicitude. But as usual he had gained his point, and was left to pore over his loved book, in peace. Thus it was day after day and while the other children grew sturdy and strong, William remained frail and delicate. His bright, active mind seemed to develop at the expense of his tall slender body. His devoted mother mourned and lamented over this fact, but was unable to change it.

William's mother was a true child of God and, wishing that her children should be taught the Word of God, she allowed them to attend a little Sunday School in the neighborhood. One of the verses that he learned at this time clung to his memory, and through it God was surely speaking to him in "a still small voice." It was this: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Psa. 50:15. But to William there seemed no "day of trouble" then, so he felt no need of calling on God.

"But though he did not realize it, he really was in a "day of trouble," for he was not a believer in the Lord Jesus, and God says in His Word: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

Surely to have "the wrath of God" abiding on one, would make it a "day of trouble," but William was unconscious of this, and so the years slipped by quietly and peacefully, and he was happy in the loving care and companionship of his fond mother, whose tender love he returned with all the ardor of his young heart.

William was now seventeen years old, and he had entered the university, when a sudden change came. His devoted mother was taken from his side, leaving him sad, desolate, and inconsolable. It seemed as though the light of his life had gone out, and he was plunged in darkness and despair. In his grief, he lost interest in his studies, and seemed unable to apply himself to anything. Surely God was again speaking to him, this time in louder tones, though with a voice of tenderest sympathy and love.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." But he heeded not the gracious invitation.

One of his sisters took him into her home, to care for and comfort him, and while there he met a number of navy officers, who tried to interest him with thrilling tales of their adventures on the great deep, but he grew only more restless and unhappy.

Just at this time, his brother, who was a sea-captain, returned from a long voyage, bringing his vessel into port. It was decided that William should go with him on his next voyage. He was cheered by the prospect of a free life on the ocean wave, thinking to drown the sorrow of his aching heart in the excitement of this new venturous life. Little did the poor boy realize at this time that the eye of God was continually looking down upon him in pity and love, guiding his every move.

It was the month of November when the vessel set sail, and for a time all went well. But one morning, as their vessel was plowing the waters of the Baltic Sea, the clouds began to gather, and the wind blew stronger and stronger as the hours wore away, till at last the storm burst upon them in all its fury. The great waves rose mountains high, carrying the little vessel in their arms, curling over it, and then dashing it down into the foaming abyss below, threatening each time to crush it like an egg-shell. These giant arms of wind-tossed waves tore away the sails and rigging, and splintered the masts, and finally, in fiendish glee, battered a hole in the hold of the vessel, and the water began pushing its way in. Every available man was called to the pumps, but in vain, for the vessel was filling faster than the frantic efforts of the sailors could pump the water out. All this time the cruel wind was driving the helpless vessel towards the rocks. Darkness had now settled down upon them, and the fury of the storm was unabated. The hopeless horror of the situation filled every heart with sickening terror and despair.

Verily God was once again calling to William, not now in the still small voice, nor in the gentle tones of tender sympathy, but with the voice as of a trumpet. Clearly it might be heard, above the mighty roar of wind and waves, louder even than the peals of thunder that rolled across the face of the angry heavens, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify Me.”

Suddenly there came a shock! The vessel had struck and fastened itself on a sand-bar. Amid the darkness and tempest, the anchors were hastily cast. The boats were lowered, but they were crushed to pieces by the violence of the waves the instant they came within their grasp. Now the last hope of being saved was gone, for the ship would soon be broken to pieces by the pitiless waves that pounded her decks.

Sick at heart, faint from exhaustion, and trembling with terror, William came dragging himself up from the pumps in the hold, hopeless, helpless, nothing before him but a grave in the black, icy waters of the deep. But fiercer than his bodily suffering was the anguish of his heart as he thought of his never-dying soul, which would then be lost eternally.

Suddenly, like a flash, above the roar of the elements, there sounded in his heart the voice of his God, reverberating down into the depths of his inmost being, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”

Crawling into his cabin, he fell on his face, crying to God in all his misery, weakness, and fear, pleading to be "delivered" in this his "day of trouble," promising the Lord that, if He would only save him from this cruel death, he would search out the way of salvation for his soul, and spend the rest of his life for Him. Even as he called, a great calm stole over his tempest-tossed heart, and simultaneously, a great calm settled over the raging waters of the angry deep. It was almost a repetition of that scene of old, when the Master's voice rang out over the storm-tossed sea.

"Peace, be still, and there was a great calm.”

That long night of storm and suffering in the ship and on the sea was drawing to a close, and the day was beginning to dawn. One of the sailors, climbing a spar still standing, lighted a piece of cloth, and waved a signal of distress to the distant shore. This was seen by the watchers there, and soon the lifeboats were alongside, and strong arms and kind hearts, were waiting to rescue the poor, exhausted, half-frozen crew, as they dropped, one by one, into the boats. At last it was William's turn, and though he had scarcely strength enough to move, he managed to climb out and drop to safety. As he crept away into a little corner of the lifeboat, though his shivering body was full of pain and misery, yet his heart was filled with deep, sweet peace, and joy and gratitude to his God, who had so marvelously heard his "call," and "delivered" him, and saved him. The strong arms and kind hearts of their rescuers soon bore them to a place of warmth and safety, and ministered to their every need, nursing them back to life.

True to his promise, as soon as William was able, he found his way to a company of the Lord's own people, and from them he heard the sweet story of the love of God in His provision for the salvation of poor lost sinners, through simple faith in the atoning death of His beloved Son. With the faith of a little child, he eagerly and joyfully accepted God's priceless "gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Thus his soul, like his body, was saved from perishing, 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.

Through his long life of eighty-seven years, William never faltered in the path of faith, and he did indeed fulfill the latter part of his verse, "thou shalt glorify Me." He loved to tell to saint and sinner the thrilling story of the marvelous goodness of God in so miraculously saving him, body and soul, from the very jaws of death.

O reader, if you have not yet heeded His call, let this story be a voice from God to you. Do not refuse to listen to this "still small voice," and so compel Him, as in William's case, to use the voice of thunder in some fierce trial before you will heed. Listen once more to His gracious invitation.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Psa. 50:15.

It Cost the World

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

"That's just what it cost me," she replied. "I gave the world for it.”

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

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

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

The Fool's Creed

The wish is father to the doctrine. Men don't want to have anything to do with God, and next they persuade themselves that there is "No God." They say so in their hearts.

There was a certain blustering young man who was one of the fools who say, "There is no God." He was continually arguing and showing his cleverness in the workshop among his fellows, sneering at their foolishness in believing there is a God, and the like. But one day a huge beam fell and crushed him to the ground. While his fellow-workmen were trying to extricate him, they heard him crying

"God have mercy on me.”

Ah! yes, the prospect of death and what follows it—the judgment—makes men throw off the mask, and appear as they are.

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

"The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psa. 14:1.

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:10-13.

Lines of a Converted Infidel, William Hone

"The proudest heart that ever beat
Has been subdued in me;
The wildest will that ever rose
To scorn Thy Word, and aid Thy foes,
Is quelled, my God, by Thee.
Thy will, and not my will, be done;
My heart be ever Thine;
Confessing Thee, the Mighty Word,
I hail Thee, Christ, my God! my Lord
And make Thy name my sign.”

None Other Name

Acts 4:12

When sin-sick, weary, and oppressed,
The longing soul doth crave for rest,
For power from sin to cease;
One Name alone can all supply,
One Object wholly satisfy,
And give the yearned-for peace.

And when, from sin, and shame, and grief
The guilty conscience finds relief,
In Jesus—Crucified;
One object still, one aim and goal,
Is placed before the ransomed soul
Jesus—the Glorified.

Thus, in that vast, unnumbered throng,
Treading 'mid scenes of light and song
The mansions of the blest,
One peerless Person, pure and fair,
Is all the joy and glory there,
By every tongue confessed.
"None other Name" to men is given,
"None other Name" adored in heaven,
The Christ is first and last.
Before His throne all kings shall fall,
At His blest feet, both great and small,
Their crowns of gold shall cast.

"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.

April

The Prisoner's Deliverance

The Count of M. was found guilty of treason against the realm and violence against the king, and was imprisoned for life in the impregnable castle of G. That mountain fortress is almost unequaled in its natural facilities, and has been fortified yet more by human skill.

For a year the Count lay in his frightful, lonely cell, without one star of hope in either his outer or inner sky, for he was a skeptic. If forced by consuming weariness and the monotony of idle time, to take up the one book left him—the Bible—he read it with anger and gnashing of teeth against the God it reveals.

But sore affliction, the agent which has brought to the Good Shepherd many a sheep, was effectual in his case. The more he read the Bible, the more he felt the pressure of the gentle hand of God on his forlorn and hopeless heart.

On a stormy night when the mountain gales howled round the fortress, the Count lay sleepless on his cot. The tempest in his breast was as fearful as that without. His whole past life rose before him; he was convicted of his sins; he felt that the source of all his misery lay in his forsaking God. For the first time in his life, his heart was softened, and his eyes wet with tears of genuine repentance. Rising from his cot, he opened his Bible, and his eyes fell on the verse, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Psa. 50:15.

This word of God reached the very depths of his soul; he fell upon his knees, for the first time since he was a child, and cried to God for mercy. God, who, full of grace and compassion, turns not any away from the first movement of faith toward Him, heard the cry of the sufferer in dungeon, and gave him not only spiritual but temporal deliverance.

That same night the king lay sleepless, tortured by bodily pains, and in utter exhaustion he begged of God to grant him one hour of refreshing sleep. The favor was granted, and when he woke again, he said to his wife, the gentle queen, "God has looked upon me very graciously, and I may well be thankful to Him. Who in my kingdom has wronged me most? I will forgive him.”

"The Count of M.," replied Louise.

"You are right," said the sick king, "let him be pardoned.”

Day had not dawned when a courier was dispatched to bear to the prisoner pardon and release.

It is the usual way of our Good Shepherd, in gathering His lost flock, for whom He died, to do it, "without observation," and when He holds up to us a marked instance like this, no doubt it is that our dormant faith may be quickened in His power to save in the face of every obstacle.

Is there one reader, who, though not in a dungeon, has yet hard thoughts of God? Be assured that God is love, and He can pardon us on a just basis because His holy Son bore our guilt.

"This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40.

Jesus Christ Said -

"I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me." John 12:32.

A man got a spark of iron in his eye; surgeons tried in vain to extract it; at length the eyelid was held open, and a loadstone drew out the iron spark.

This man was like the woman we read of in the 8th of Luke, who spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any. At last she came to Jesus, and was healed immediately.

Many who know they are lost sinners go from preacher to preacher, to find peace, and after all, they prove that peace cannot be known to any but those who believe that Jesus bore their sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).

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

God's Lamb for Me

"What can be the matter with S—?” I asked of a friend, "she looks so miserable, and wears on her face so different an expression from the bright, happy one which a short time since told of a purged conscience, and a mind at perfect peace with God.”

"Ah," replied my friend, "she says she is not saved; that she does not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that her sins are not forgiven.”

Being much interested in my friend S—, this intelligence sent me to my knees before the Lord, to ask of Him wisdom to deal with her case, and to teach me to know how to speak "a word in season" to the weary one.

Soon an opportunity for an interview occurred, and the following conversation, so far as I can remember, passed between us:—

"My dear S—, I am much grieved to see you so troubled. What is the matter?”

"O, my sins are not forgiven, and I am so very unhappy.”

"But this is a very different tale from what you told me some time since, when you said you were sure your sins were all forgiven, and that you were happy in the Lord. What has made the difference?”

"O, I am afraid I said what I did then to make you pleased with me; and now I fear I don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ at all, and I am not saved.”

"What you say grieves me very much indeed; and I must ask you, in the presence of God, one very solemn question. When you told me before that your sins were all washed away by the precious blood of Christ, did you say so only to please me, or did you really think it was so at that time?”

"O, I could not tell a lie about it. I did think really it was so then, but now I know I was mistaken.”

I turned to the first chapter of Leviticus, and read the following words, "If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own voluntary will, or (for his acceptance) at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make an atonement for him" (verses 2, 3, 4.)

"Now, S—," I said, "if you were called to die today, what would be your hope?”

With a burst of tears she replied, "I should not have any.”

"Come," said I, "let us look at this Scripture. You are a poor guilty sinner, are you not?”

"O, yes.”

"You cannot therefore approach to God trusting in yourself?”

"O, no.”

"This man who came to God brought a lamb, we will say, and you remember of whom it is written, `Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world?' " John 1:29.

"O, yes—the Lord Jesus Christ.”

"Very well. When the Israelite brought his lamb, he put his hand upon its head, which was the same as if he had said, `O God, I am a poor sinful man, but I bring this innocent lamb as my substitute; please accept it for me.' Can you this morning say, 'O God, I am a poor sinful girl, but please accept Thy Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, for me?'”

"O, yes, I can indeed; it is just what I want.”

"That is right. Now tell me, what does God say here?" and with my finger I pointed to the words, "And it shall be accepted for him to make an atonement for him." She looked at me more brightly, and I said, "Who is the 'him' here?”

"The man who laid his hand on the head of the lamb.”

"And whose words are these?”

"God's.”

"Are they true?”

"O, yes.”

"Now, look, I want to show you another Scripture:

`He hath made us accepted in the beloved' (Eph. 1:6). Who is the Beloved?”

"The Lord Jesus Christ.”

"And who are the 'us' here spoken of?”

"Those who lay their hands on the head of God's Lamb.”

"This, you say, is your position; and now, though Satan says you are not accepted, God says here you are 'in the beloved.' Which will you believe?”

"O, I must believe God." "Now read on.

`In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.'

You said just now your sins were not forgiven; see what God says here. There are one or two other places where our sins are spoken of, which I would like also to show you." I turned to Isa. 53:6, "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." I pointed to the first words, and asked, "Is that you? Have you gone astray?”

"O, yes," she replied.

Then, still pointing to the following words, "Have you turned to your own way?”

"Yes," she said again.

"Then you see your sins were laid by God on the Lord Jesus Christ (pointing to the last clause); for the 'us' in the last clause refers to the same persons as the `we' in the first and second. Let us see when this was done: 1 Peter 2:24, tells us `Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.' Then it was He bore our sins on the tree. Is He bearing them now?”

"O, no; He is on the throne of God in heaven, and they cannot be there.”

"Quite true. Let us see what He has done with them, `As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.' Psa. 103:12. Do you know how far the east is from the west?”

"No.”

"Quite so; it is a distance which cannot be measured. If God had said 'as far as the north is from the south,' I should know the distance was about 8,000 miles; but no one has ever measured the distance between the east and the west. They can never come together, and God says, 'so far hath he removed our transgressions from us;' and again,

`Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back' Isa. 38:17-that is, where God cannot see them. Now you see that in Christ Jesus we are 'accepted in the Beloved,' and that 'we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,' and God Himself tells us so in Eph. 1:6,7. Shall we kneel down now, and bless God together that He has 'accepted us in the Beloved,' and for given us all our sins for Christ's sake?”

"O, yes, please.”

We knelt, and the sorrowful and despairing one rose from her knees with the assurance of salvation, and knowing "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." To the God of all grace be the praise forever!

And now, if any poor doubting, fearing sinner, tempted sorely by Satan, should read this paper, let him remember that Christ is God's Lamb; that "He has offered Himself without spot to God;" that "He loved us, and gave Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, of a sweet-smelling savor" (Eph. 5:2); and that through the sweet savor of His person and work ever ascending to God, everyone who can in faith say, "O God, accept Thy Son for me!" is accepted certainly by God according to all the preciousness of that Beloved One to God, "for unto you therefore who believe is the preciousness" (see Greek, 1 Peter 2:7).

May God seal these consolatory and establishing truths upon the soul of every distressed one, and he shall have "joy and peace in believing," even a present, personal, perfect salvation, such as the dying thief received, when the Lord said to him, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:43.

Put Your Trust in the Lord

Psa. 4:5

In the measure in which we truly recognize Him as our Lord, and ourselves as His possession, will it be easy to "put our trust" in Him.

Do not we all take the charge of those things that we purchase? If the shepherd purchase a flock of sheep, does he not intend to provide for and take care of them? And the more they cost, the more carefully will he tend them.

Our Good Shepherd has paid for us an infinite price, and we are not merely the sheep of His pasture, but we' are members of His body.

"I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

"I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish." John 10:11, 28.

From Time into Eternity

An actor is upon the stage. He has been perfectly successful; the audience has been thoroughly delighted, and now, as the climax is reached, the excitement is intense. Impersonating Satan—the destroyer, he seizes one of the other actors as his prey, and is about to hurry away with him, when he pauses, hesitates, stumbles, falls, and is carried from the stage, a corpse.

Reader, would you like to die thus?

A well-known singer stands before a large company. The house is thronged with an entranced multitude. Arrayed in the habiliments, and acting in the character of a judge, he asks for the third time the solemn question, "Are you guilty?" Suddenly he leaves the stage, and in a brief space of time has passed into eternity.

Reader, you are guilty before God. You, too, must cross the threshold from time into eternity; it may be today.

An evangelistic company are in the street. One of the number stands forth, and earnestly exhorts the assembled crowd, telling of the Savior's love, and of God's so-great salvation. He stops, drops to the ground, and expires. The servant's work is done. Absent from the body, he is present with his Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8.)

A servant of Christ is reading Phil. 4 to his congregation. Long and faithfully he has labored for his Master.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, Rejoice," he reads. With this as a parting message upon his lips, he sinks before them, and departs to be with Christ, which is far better. (Phil. 1:23.)

Reader, these are no fables, but simple and solemn facts. Surely they have a voice for you, for before another sunset, you may have passed away. Whither?

There is no time to waste; not a moment to lose; "Now is the accepted time,... now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

"To-day, if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart." Heb. 4:7.

Flee at once to the arms of boundless mercy, extended wide to welcome all who will come.

The Lord Jesus says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

The Glorious Gospel

How glorious is the Gospel
Of Jesus Christ our Lord,
That He the mighty Savior died,
And we believe His Word:
It is all about our Savior,
The blessed Man who came,
From God the Father He was sent,
Emmanuel His name.

All heaven owned His love and power,
The eternal God was He,
Grace made Him poor, to reach lost man
That we, too, rich might be.
‘Twas for ungodly enemies
The loving Savior bled,
For strengthless sinners who were vile
His cleansing blood was shed.

His work is gloriously complete,
On Calvary's cross He cried,
"It is finished," (the perfect work,)
And bowed His head and died.
Now every one who'll take His Word,
Need never have a doubt,
But with a perfect certainty,
Rest on that dying shout.

“I AM THE GOOD
SHEPHERD:
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
GIVETH HIS LIFE
FOR THE SHEEP.
MY SHEEP HEAR MY
VOICE,
AND I KNOW THEM,
AND THEY FOLLOW ME:
AND I GIVE UNTO
THEM ETERNAL LIFE:
AND THEY SHALL
NEVER PERISH.”

John 10:11, 27, 28.

May

Ingersoll the Infidel

At a meeting once, where both Colonel Robert Ingersoll and Henry Ward Beecher were present, the noted agnostic, Colonel Ingersoll, had spoken at some length and had brilliantly put forth his agnostic views. It was expected by those present that Beecher would have replied to these attacks, and would have defended Christianity, but not a word did the old man say.

At last Colonel Ingersoll remarked, "Mr. Beecher, have you nothing to say on this question?”

The old man slowly lifted himself from his attitude and replied, "Nothing; in fact, if you will excuse me for changing the conversation, I will say that while you gentlemen were talking, my mind was bent on a most deplorable spectacle which I witnessed today.”

"What was it?" at once inquired Colonel Ingersoll who, notwithstanding his peculiar views of the hereafter, was noted for his kindness of heart.

"Why," said Mr. Beecher, "as I was walking downtown today I saw a poor lame man with crutches slowly and carefully picking his way through a cesspool of mud, in the endeavor to cross the street.

"He had just reached the middle of the filth, when a big, burly ruffian, himself all bespattered, rushed up to him, jerked the crutches from under the unfortunate man, and left him sprawling and helpless in the pool of liquid dirt which almost engulfed him.”

"What a brute he was!" said the Colonel. "What a brute he was," they all echoed.

"Yes," said the old man, rising from his chair and brushing back his long white hair, while his eyes glittered with their old-time fire as he bent them on Ingersoll. "Yes, Colonel Ingersoll, and you are the man. The human soul is lame, but Christianity gives it crutches to enable it to pass along the highway of life. It is your teaching that knocks these crutches from under it and leaves it a helpless and rudderless wreck in the slough of despond.

"If robbing the human soul of its only support on this earth—the Word of God—be your profession, why, ply it to your heart's content. It requires an architect to erect a building; an incendiary may reduce it to ashes.”

The old man sat down, and silence brooded over the scene. Colonel Ingersoll found that he had a master in his own power of illustration, and said nothing. The company took their hats and departed.

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psa. 14:1; 53:1.

"The Word of the Lord endureth forever." 1 Peter 1:25.

Rest for the Sinner

The only thing that can give rest, once and forever, to a guilty sinner is a personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ: and accordingly He is the object, and the only object, presented to a sin-burdened soul: He says, "Come unto Me.”

If by any means Satan can keep the soul away from this great Savior, his end is served, and the soul continues burdened, deceived.

It makes little difference what is employed as the separating thing. It may be the world in the form of its riches, its pleasures, its amusements, its science, its learning, its literature, or its lawful occupations. He makes use of religiousness and what is termed "the means of grace.”

He may put the study of theology and even that of the Bible itself, the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, between the soul and its salvation, it matters not what, if so be he can keep up some separating medium between Christ and the sinner. His end is accomplished, if the separation is kept up.

None but God could love sinners as God does. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and to give rest to conscience, mind and heart. May the reader know the joy and gladness of trusting Him fully.

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

"Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee." Job 22:21.

"Coo-Ee": A Bush Story

At the close of a meeting a young man asked me for an interview.

"I want to have a little talk with you," said he, "if you don't mind. I am a skeptic. I don't believe in anything.”

"Lots of fellows are skeptics nowadays, and it's not very easy to help them. What do you want to know?”

"Well, would you kindly try and prove to me that Christ really exists.”

"Why should I? He doesn't interest you at all, if you are a skeptic.”

"Well," he said, "I am very miserable, and find things unsatisfactory. I have been wondering whether I could get any proof about this.”

"Supposing you did; what next?”

"Well, I might become a Christian.”

"Is it worth your while—being a skeptic?”

"Well, I am utterly miserable and wretched.”

"That's no wonder," I said, "and I'm not going to waste two minutes in trying to prove to you that Christ exists.”

"Why not?”

"Because I'm not sure it is possible to do so to a skeptic." I answered.”

"I wish you'd try. You have no idea how dark and miserable I am.”

"Perhaps I will, if you will kindly prove to me something first.”

"What's that?" said he.

"That you are your mother's son!" "That's easy enough.”

"All right; fire away. How will you begin?”

He sat thinking for some time, and then said, "I'm blest if I know how to begin!”

"That's just my fix, too, about proving Christ exists. I don't know how to begin. Look here. All you can tell me is, that so far back as you can remember someone taught you to call her mother, and she called you her own son; and you have both gone on doing it ever since. Has it worked all right?”

"Certainly it has.”

"Are you satisfied that she is your mother?”

"Perfectly so.”

"Can you prove it?”

"No, but I'm perfectly satisfied she is.”

"And so am I, that Christ exists. Many years ago I first began to call Him my Savior, and to obey Him as such; and He has called me His, and it works perfectly. I have no further proof for you than that.”

"How can I find Him out for myself, then?" he asked.

"Very quickly and simply," I answered, "if you are thoroughly honest in the inquiry.”

"Yes, indeed I am.”

"Suppose you were ever to be lost in the bush, you could only do one thing—stand still and 'Coo-ee' (a New Zealand call). Then if one of whose existence you had no knowledge, heard your 'Coo-ee', he would answer, and you two would keep it up until he found you and took you out. You've got to 'Coo-ee' to the Lord Jesus Christ. If He exists, He will hear. If He hears, He will answer. He will come to you and lead you out of the dark.”

"That is simple enough!”

"Will you Coo-ee?" I asked him.

"Yes.”

"When will you begin?”

"Here and now," he said.

"Then just kneel down and begin right away." He dropped on his knees, and began in some such words as these, "O Lord Jesus, I don't know whether You exist or not, but I am lost, I am 'bushed.' Can you save me?”

He paused, and I then began to pray with him, watching his pale, anxious face. Presently I saw a great smile steal over it, and I stopped, feeling sure that God was working.

"Does He exist?" I asked him.

"Of course He does."

"How do you know?”

"He has taken me out of the dark, and I am His. He has saved me. He is my Savior.”

"Are you satisfied?"

"Perfectly.”

We rose, and after a few words we parted. More than a year passed away, when I was accosted on a train by a young man with a good-sized Bible under his arm.

"Do you remember me?”

"No," I said, "I can't say I do.”

"The Coo-ee fellow at H—! That was a grand night's work. I have been reading this Book ever since, and it is just grand.”

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:12,13.

The Word Which Saves Must Be Believed

A servant of God was speaking to a woman about this great salvation, and seeking to show her the completeness of the work of Christ for sinners. But she still had doubts as to her own salvation.

"I do believe in Him," she exclaimed, "and I am sure He died for me, but I would not like to say I am saved.”

"Are you sure that He died to save you?" was then asked.

"O yes, He came to save sinners, and I am one of them. There is therefore no doubt that He came to save me, but to say one is saved appears like presumption.”

"If you said so and based it on some merit of your own, it would be a great presumption, but if the Lord says so because of what He has done, then all depends on the value of His work and the faithfulness of His word.”

"Still I would not like to say I am saved," she responded.

"Is it what Christ will do, or what He is now doing, or what He has done, which can save you?”

"It must be what He has done, for it is His death alone that can save," she replied.

"Think of that grand fact, that it is what Christ has done that saves, the work He accomplished on the cross. It was there that sins were atoned for, it was there the power of Satan was broken, it was there all the claims of God's holiness in regard to sin were met, and it is that work alone which saves. When He had borne the divine wrath against sin, in triumph He cried with a loud voice, It is finished,' and gave up the ghost.”

"That is all true, but I would not like to say I am saved.”

"If you desired the apples gathered off that tree, and your husband did it, and came and said, 'I have finished picking the apples,' would you say it was done, or would you be afraid to say so?”

"If my husband told me he had done so, I should have his word for it, and so I should know it was done.”

"So you would believe your husband, but when the Son of God has said that He has done the work that saves, you hesitate to believe him.”

"O, I see I have doubted His word. He has done the work, and He says so, and I believe His word. How simple and plain! I thought I did believe Him, but I see now I did not. He finished the work that saves me, and I believe in Him who has done it, and therefore know from His word that I am saved. His work did it, and His word gives me the knowledge of what He has done.”

"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isa. 53:5.

Perfect Holiness

The connection of perfect holiness with perfect grace is that which characterizes the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. God must be holy, even though it should be in the eternal condemnation of impenitent sinners; but the full display of His holiness, in the salvation of sinners, calls forth heaven's loudest and loftiest note of praise.

True Heroism

We read that when one of the most famous of the victors of the Great Indian Mutiny—Sir Henry Havelock—was felled by an attack of malignant cholera, and was told that he could not survive, he calmly replied:

"I have been prepared for this for forty years.”

Wise man he!

In early days of health, strength, vigor, and opportunity, he did what every man, soldier, sailor, or civilian, should do. He did not wait till he had reached the fag-end of life, or the dull, feeble, powerless evening of his days to achieve, by the grace of God, the one all-important act of existence.

He turned to God! He accepted Christ as his Savior.

Yes, and so genuine was the turn that the long period of forty full years of constant and severe testing, in the awkward conditions of army life, witnessed no cowardly retreat, nor disavowal of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here, then, is one well-known witness to the saving power and grace of God; one, but there are thousands on all hands, not confined to civilians who may retire into the shelter of their sweet family circle and thus escape the banter and scorn of the godless, but who could face the storm of opposition, and keep the flag flying right on to the end. Let this fact be noted.

None dare say, with these witnesses on all hands, that such a life is impossible. It is not impossible. It is incumbent!

When I was a young soldier of hardly twenty I asked my soul this question: "Soul! shall it be forty years of sin and an eternal hell; or forty years of salvation and an eternal heaven?”

Answer I must—definitely and finally.

Well, which? There I stood before God, a sinner in need of pardon, faced by eternal consequences of weal or woe, unable to save myself by any act of mine, however meritorious, the only question being would, could God save me?

All I can say, and that to His praise, is that He could and did.

Call this my preparation for death and eternity if you like. Anyhow, more than fifty years can witness, amid all their changes, that the blessed God can pardon, reconcile, and keep any and every man who only turns in faith and repentance to Him.

Let me (as I surely may) recommend to you, my reader, this glorious salvation—to be secured now, so freely; but on the other side of death not to be obtained by the price of ten thousand worlds, and then when most wanted!

Mark the word "now" which occurs twice in this one verse: "Behold, Now is the accepted time; behold, Now is the day of salvation" 2 Cor. 6:2.

What Do You Say?

The evil servant says: "My Lord delayeth His coming." Matt. 24:48.

The scoffer says: "Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Peter 3:4.

The Christian should say: "Come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.

"Christ, the Wisdom of God"

Ere God had built the mountains,
Or raised the fruitful hills;
Before He filled the fountains.
That feed the running rills;
In Thee, from everlasting,
The wonderful "I AM"
Found pleasures never wasting,
And wisdom is Thy name.

When, like a tent to dwell in,
God spread the skies abroad,
And swathed about the swelling
Of ocean's mighty flood,
He wrought by weight and measure;
And Thou wast with Him then;
Thyself the Father's pleasure,
And Thine, the sons of men.

And couldst Thou be delighted
With creatures such as we,
Who, when we saw Thee, slighted
And nailed Thee to a tree?
Unfathomable wonder!
And mystery divine!
The voice that speaks in thunder,
Says, "Sinner, I am thine!”

"JESUS CHRIST: WHOM NOT HAVING SEEN, YE LOVE; IN WHOM, THOUGH NOW YE SEE HIM NOT, YET BELIEVING, YE REJOICE WITH JOY UNSPEAKABLE, AND FULL OF GLORY." 1 Peter 1:8.

June

"Come, and Bring Your Bibles"

" 'What an extraordinary thing!' I thought. `Bring Bibles to a theater! What can it mean?' I had been often enough to a theater before, but had never been told to bring a Bible. Indeed, I had not one in my possession! However, I made up my mind to go that night to see what it was all about. I would borrow a Bible just for once. I did so, and returning in the evening, full of curiosity, entered the hall.

"I never shall forget my astonishment! On the walls, near the stage, were charts, and a gentleman stood up to explain them. He had a long cane in his hand and pointed to the different diagrams as he spoke. He continually referred to the Bible, and asked his hearers to turn to the different verses for themselves.

"There I sat, unable to find one verse, for I had never read the Bible. I could hear the flutter of the leaves as the people turned from chapter to chapter, and I listened to the preacher's voice.

"He was telling us of the Lord's coming again. 'He may come,' said he, 'at any moment.'

"How terrified I was! For the first time I found I was a sinner, and felt the great burden of my sins. 'Suppose it should be true,' I said to myself, 'that the Lord is coming quickly, and am I ready to meet Him?' I knew I was not; so I sat with my head bowed down, feeling that God's wrath was hanging over me! One thought occupied me, `The Lord Jesus is coming soon.'”

Dear reader, are you ready for His coming, or are your sins still heavy upon you?

"I left the place," my friend continued, "and sought out a neighbor, whom I had more than once insulted, because she had tried to speak to me of eternity.

"She and her husband gladly received me, and thanked God for my soul-distress. They told me what they knew themselves; and I learned that the Lord Jesus had died upon the cross for sinners, and I loved Him, believing that He had died for me. Yet I was not at rest, for I had not learned that the Lord is now in glory, and that God can righteously forgive a sinner; but felt that my safety depended partly upon myself. So sometimes I was bright and happy, and would say to myself, `I wish the Lord would come today; I am sure I am ready for Him,' and at other times I would say, 'I hope He will not come today; I believe He would leave me behind.'

"I went on like that, up and down, for some time when a neighbor of my daughter's invited her to a preaching.

"She went, just to please her, and the Lord saved her soul.

"She soon came round to me. 'Mother,' she said, 'why have not you told me the same as the man told us at that room last night? What he said is quite different from what you have always told me. It was so simple, so plain. Do come yourself, mother, for I do not think you can know what they know there, or you would have told me long ago.'”

"I did not want to go; so used had I become to my doubts and fears, that I thought there was nothing better. But my daughter over-persuaded me, and on the next occasion I went.

"I shall never forget that preaching! The subject was John 5:24, `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.'

"The preacher explained so clearly that the work was finished and I had but to believe what Christ had done, that I could doubt no more, and, starting from my seat, exclaimed, `I believe it.'

"From that moment I knew that I had passed from death to life! I turned my eyes from myself to the Person of the Savior in glory. Do you think I have ever doubted since?”

"You ought not," I answered, "since God Himself is satisfied with the work of Christ on the cross, and has exalted Him to His own right hand.”

"Jesus Christ: Whom not having seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Peter 1:8.

Not Afraid to Meet God, and Why?

A servant of God recently called at a small cottage, the sole inmate of which he found to be an aged woman.

Noticing her visitor's tired appearance, she very courteously asked him to rest awhile, and share her simple meal. The invitation was gladly accepted, he deeming it a fitting opportunity of speaking for his Master. Accordingly, he soon asked her how matters stood between her and God.

"What about eternity? Where will you spend it?" he inquired.

The dear old woman, who had learned, and was realizing the blessedness of simply taking God at His word, and resting in what He said, readily responded, "that the Lord Jesus Christ had settled the matter for her, having died for her sins according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:3.)

On being told that the same blessed Lord Jesus was coming to take those for whom He died, to be forever with and like Himself; and that seeing He Himself said He would come quickly, the grave might never receive her body, she expressed great gladness; and tears of joy trickled down her wrinkled cheeks as she thought of Himself, and of the depths into which He descended in order to win her soul.

"Were He to come now, as we are talking together, would you not be afraid?" asked the servant of God.

"Afraid!" she exclaimed, "No, indeed! Why, I love Him!”

Surely in her case, 1 John 4:19 was verified,

"We love Him, because He first loved us.”

Who dares to speak of fear to one who is the conscious object of the love of God.

His "perfect love casteth out fear." (1 John 4:18.)

An Atheist’s Doom

The man who built the hull of the Titanic was an atheist, and he carved on the hull below the waterline, the words, "No God.”

The man who did this was on board at the time of the crash with the iceberg, and went down with the vessel, and like Judas, "he went to his own place.”

Atheism, in its bold defiance of God, challenges judgment, and when calamity falls furnishes no comfort for the bereaved, and no hope for the dying. This man inscribed his motto below the waterline. Very few people would want to sail on a vessel openly flaunting the flag of atheism with that inscription on her figure head. The fear of God is still a wholesome factor in the life of the people.

"The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works." Psa. 14:1.

"The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit." Psa. 36:3.

Great fools not only say it in their hearts, but carve it on vessels, and say it right out.

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

"Not Always Strive"

"My spirit shall not always strive.”

I was conducting services in—. On the first Sunday night of the mission, a tall, fine-looking, elderly man came up to me, and said: "Mr. L—, I would like to have a talk with you." I said to him, "Come in.”

We went in and he began the interview by saying, "I want, in the first place, to tell you who I am. I am an employer of labor in this city, and have hundreds of men and women on my payroll. I am well known, and have a measure of influence in this city. But it is not that I wanted to talk about; it is concerning my spiritual condition." And he went on to say something like this: "Three years ago I was deeply convinced of my need of Jesus Christ. One night I was in my room alone with God—an unsaved man. I was as conscious of the Divine Presence as I am of your presence now. I knew God was in the room, and I knew, as in my inner consciousness, that if I yielded to Him that night I would be saved. I was just on the threshold of the kingdom, but I began to count the cost, and deliberately and willfully got up from my knees and walked out of the room, as conscious that I had left the presence of God as if I were to leave your presence now. A few months after this, one of the ministers of the city came to me and said, `We are appointing elders in the church, and the people are very anxious to have you as one of them.'

"I refused at first. I felt I had no business, as an unsaved man, to be an elder of any church, but he pleaded with me, and others came and pleaded, and I finally consented. From that moment I became a self-conscious hypocrite, and despised myself.”

"About a year later God came to me again; the pleading of His Spirit was overwhelming; the conviction of sin was appalling, and I felt that God was giving me another chance. But the devil came and whispered, `Don't make a fool of yourself. You are an elder of the church; everybody believes you are a converted man. Don't begin to say now you are not. You will have all the people laughing at you.'

"I yielded to this subtle temptation of the devil, and once more resisted the Holy Ghost. In a moment, when I had chosen, I was conscious, as conscious as I am of your presence now, that I had resisted for the last time. I went out of God's presence, banished even as Cain was banished from the Divine presence.”

"Then," he added with a strange look in his eyes that almost froze my blood: "Mr. L—, listen. Standing before you tonight is a lost soul. I believe I am as much lost tonight as I will ever be in hell, only I am not there. I have walked the streets night after night. I have not slept a whole night for months. I would have plunged myself into the lake before this, were it not for what lies beyond." "Then," he continued: "I have not told you because I want you to help me. My dear sir, I am beyond all human help, and Divine help too, I want you to tell my story wherever you go, that men and women may be warned against the awful sin of resisting the Holy Ghost.

He went out from the building, and I never saw him again.

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

"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.

Tell Him All

"In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6.

God has never yet forsaken one who entrusted himself to Him. But to know God as your Father, you must behave toward Him as children. You must talk to Him every day. A child that does not speak to its father soon becomes estranged from him. You must never neglect prayer. And if it seems that you cannot make a fine prayer or that you cannot pray at all, just talk to Him about your needs and cares, and He will understand.

A Miner’s Story

Tom had received a religious education, but his conduct showed that he really did not know the Savior. Sometime ago he and a number of other miners, including myself, were gathered at the afternoon station waiting to receive our lamps to descend into the mine where we had been working. In the meantime Tom was telling the young men in our crowd, that he had just passed his military examination so that as soon as he would enter a regiment he would be in line for the office of corporal, then sergeant, and continue in the army for a career. While listening to his words so full of confidence in himself and the future, I could not help but think of these words in the Bible, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." Prov. 16:9.

Well, we all went down in the mine, and after working there for two hours, a man came running all out of breath, asking for the boss.

"Tom is caught under a rock slide," he said, "and ten men are trying to get him out, but they don't think he will be alive.”

And so it proved to be when they finally lifted the rocks from him.

"Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1.

At his funeral, his short life, his courage, his ambitions, and plans for the future, were mentioned, but nothing could be said of his spiritual life, and his hope of eternal blessings beyond the grave.

A sudden death, especially under such sad circumstances, makes us think how very important it is to be always ready and we know that if we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, know that His precious blood had washed away all of our sins, we can calmly wait for the summons of death, or the coming of the Lord, and know that all shall be well for us here and hereafter.

"Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James 4:13, 14, 15.

"What Is the Meaning of Grace?"

Such was the question once put to me, when a boy, by a Godly man, and I was to write the answer on paper, and bring it to him in a few days; so I took down from my father's bookshelf a large Cruden's Concordance, and copied down a page or two on Grace; but the dear man put his pen through it all, and said, "O, I don't want all that! Grace is free, undeserved favor.”

What a lovely answer! I have salvation not because I deserved it, or because I have earned it by my goodness. No; it is undeserved and free favor. I paid nothing for it; and more, that salvation is for all. The eleventh verse of the second chapter of Titus says: "For the grace of God, which carries with it salvation to all men, hath appeared." (N. T.)

There is then no excuse. Salvation is brought to your very door, and if you won't have it, there is nothing left but judgment. You will never be able to blame God, for His grace has brought salvation within your reach, but you will not have it. You are spurning His grace, and throwing away the only means of salvation.

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

Rich Beyond Telling

"The unsearchable riches of Christ." Eph. 3:8.

Had we not a friend in all the world but the Lord Jesus, we should yet be rich beyond all telling. He only can help in every time of trouble. His infinite tenderness and boundless sympathy meet our every need. His wisdom and guidance are ever at our disposal. His presence sheds light and joy wherever He comes. The touch of His hand has still its soothing, healing power, and His voice still brings a sense of rest and comfort and strength.

The Guilty World

"Not this Man but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber." John 18:40.

The world has never been the same
Since Jesus died—
Since He, the peerless, spotless Lamb,
Was crucified.
Earth chose instead sedition's son,
With loud acclaim,
And meted to the sinless One
The cross and shame.

No wonder crime, and hate, and war,
Creation knows!
O'er it there burns the blood-shot star
That then arose.
Rebellion lifts its rebel arm,
And claims the spoil,
Oblivious to the dread alarm-
The sure recoil!

Weep, weep, O Earth, weep bitter tears
For this thy crime;
Against thee stand two thousand years
Of sin-stained time;
Ere judgment falls, repent thy sin,
For He must reign;
And let the cry, "O Lord," begin,
"Come back again.”

"BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM; AND ALL THE KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM."

Rev. 1:7.

July

"I Am Going to the Theater"

"I am going to the theater; So-and-so is to act: you must be there.”

These words were addressed by a young man to a companion of his.

"O, no," said the other, "I cannot go, as I promised my mother that I would not. I would like to go very much; but I cannot, since I made her the promise.”

His companion urged him to go; but finding his entreaties in vain, he went to the theater himself.

The other young man went home and found his mother going out to a prayer-meeting.

She persuaded him to go; and at the meeting he was convinced of sin, and found peace through believing on Jesus.

The first thing that occurred to him when he awoke next morning was that he should at once go and tell his companion what the Lord had done for him. He went to his friend; and, after knocking at his room door several times without any answer, he went in. He was startled to find that death had been there. His companion was no more! He had been suddenly called into the presence of God.

It was a time of great revival—a time when the Lord was saving souls on the right hand and on the left. Yet that young man preferred the theater to the gospel-meeting, and spent his last night on earth witnessing the acting of hired performers! What a preparation for entering into the solemn realities of eternity!

"Ah," you say, "if he had known how soon and how suddenly he were to appear before God he would have spent his last night on earth in a different way.”

Yes, if he had known. But he did not know. And you know not what a day may bring forth. Are you ready to meet God? If your soul is still unsaved, what madness to be making merry on the brink of a lost eternity! Is it a time to make mirth while you stand in jeopardy every hour?

The other young man listened to entreaty and was brought under the power of the gospel and saved. What a happy day for him!

Unsaved one, the lesson in all this is plain, "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart." Heb. 3:15.

See that you resist not the Spirit. See that you refuse not Him that speaks from heaven.

"I Crave for Pardon"

In a one-roomed cottage lived an old woman, who had for years been crying to God about her soul. One day when visiting her, a friend asked her if she knew that she was a sinner.

"O, yes! yes!" she answered, "night after night as I lie awake, I crave for pardon.”

Little she seemed to know that God delighted in mercy, and that pardon was offered to her; that, through Christ Jesus, the risen Savior, is preached that for which she so longed, even the forgiveness of sins; and that by Him all that believe are justified from all things. She knew her danger, and was alarmed as to the future, but as yet had not relied upon Christ's finished work.

And surely there is enough for every unsaved soul to be alarmed at. Every moment is carrying us nearer and nearer to eternity. We know not at what hour death may lay us low, and we are warned by the solemn scripture, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth," not to count too surely upon any future at all.

And what will eternity be for those who have never repented before God and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? A never ending existence away from God, away from Christ, away from light and love, purity and peace, holiness, and happiness, beyond the reach of mercy, and not only shut out from God, the true source of blessing for His creatures, but shut "in torment" with the devil and his angels. May your eyes be opened to see your danger.

If you were to see yourself as God sees you for a moment only, you, too, would "crave for pardon." Thanks be to God, that besides showing your awful and imminent peril, His Word presents the Savior whose work alone can meet your need, and whose presence in heaven today is the assurance that God has been glorified about sin, and can righteously receive the vilest sinner who pleads the precious name of Jesus. The repentance of one sinner towards God makes heaven's courts to resound with joy, for our Lord tells us, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

Will not you cause joy there today?

A Narrow Escape

An incident was told of a young fisherman, who with two companions, went in a boat to a certain fishing place for a day's fishing. They had in their vessel a rather heavy anchor attached to a long coil of rope, for the purpose of anchoring their boat, and preventing the wind and tide from causing them to drift away from the fishing area.

Upon arrival at the location, the young man dropped the anchor overboard and watched the rope run out as the heavy weight sank, but just then the boat gave a lurch and he stepped back directly into the coil of rope running out, and in a moment the fast moving rope twisted around his leg and drew him overboard and down under the water. Fortunately he was not taken down very far, and he could be seen by his astonished companions, frantically struggling to get free from the ensnaring coil, but without avail—he was held fast and securely.

There was only one thing to do, and without loss of time his companions did it, and that was, to haul in the rope with the anchor, until the young man could be reached, when he was dragged back into the boat, by his friends, half drowned, and somewhat bruised by the rope. If he had been alone, or if his friends had not been able to draw him back as they did, he would surely have lost his life, for, struggle as he would, he was unable to free himself, and he needed a power outside of himself to draw him back to safety.

Here is an excellent illustration of your position and mine, in regard to our soul's welfare, for every man, woman or child is held in bondage by sin under the "waters” of death, and none can by any means redeem his life, or set himself free by his own efforts, from the deadly bondage in which he is held. Many may, and do, try their best, to free themselves, but all without avail, sin holds them, and the "wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23).

Some lay great stress upon the law, holding that as the law was God-given, it must of necessity be the correct manner by which man might be justified before God, and find pardon and life.

It is true, that under the old dispensation, the law was given to God's chosen people Israel, and they were told, "This do and thou shalt live,"' but did man keep the law? We know he did not, for with the exception of the Lord Jesus, not one was able to do so, and as we read in James 2:10, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," so all the world has become guilty before God. But we also read, "Christ is the end of the law,... to every one that believeth." Rom. 10:4.

If man had been able to keep the law, and so earn the right to life as long as he continued keeping it, there would have been no necessity for Christ to have come into this world to die for mankind, indeed, Galatians 2:21, tells us very plainly, "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

"By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight." Rom. 3:20.

Now, the young man, held by the anchor rope underwater, in the place of death, needed a power other than his own to take him out of that place. Do what he would, he was unable to free himself, and could only struggle helplessly and hopelessly, but when a power other than his own, drew him up into the boat, he was safe.

So it is with you, my friend, you are in the place of death—death all around you,—death before you, and do what you may, you cannot escape it. But there is One, who once went into that place of death and conquered it, who is able and willing to save you from it, and who is ready to heed any cry to Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, gave Himself for you and me, and by the shedding of His own blood on Calvary's Cross, has established a sure way of escape by which we may come into the very presence of God, "cleansed from all sin." All may come, none are denied, from the highest to the lowest, the invitation being to "whosoever will," and that includes you and me.

You cannot do anything for yourself; your salvation consists in simply trusting yourself to Him who is able and willing to save you. Never mind the law, or the works of the law, when your salvation is in question, for it is entirely a matter of faith.

"A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law," Rom. 3:28 tells us, and can anything be plainer?

After you have been justified by faith in the risen, living, Savior, then will be the time to show your faith by your works, quite apart from any question of your salvation, for when you are justified before God, and accepted in the person of His beloved Son, your sins and iniquities have gone, and will be "remembered no more" (Heb. 10:17), and we become "debtors" to cease from "living after the flesh" (Rom. 8:12,13), and in chapter 6:14; addressing those who have been saved by grace, the apostle says, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

"I beseech you therefore... that you present your bodies a living, sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1.

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord." Col. 1:10.

To sum the whole matter up, First; you are held in sin's bondage.

Second; you cannot free yourself.

Third; someone outside of yourself must intervene, who is able to save.

Fourth; in the person of the Lord Jesus, One has intervened.

Fifth; by ceasing all your doings, and leaving your case entirely to Him, you can be saved.

Sixth; the salvation which He gives, is yours forever. He never has and never will, lose any who have entrusted themselves to Him.

Seventh; being thus saved, your reasonable service is to serve Him, who has saved you.

Some Fell by the Wayside

It was nearly nine o'clock one lovely Sunday evening, when, as I stood talking with a relative on the pavement in front of his residence, we saw a young girl whom we knew, approaching. After inquiring of her welfare, our conversation took a different turn, and little heeding the continuous, rush of the passers-by, we proceeded to "the old, old story of Jesus and His love," and entreated her to yield her heart to the Lord.

For a few moments she stood, apparently halting between two opinions, and then expressed a great desire for salvation. She went on to explain that being in service, her mistress would expect her to be in by nine o'clock, so that she could not linger longer that evening. We felt almost unwilling to let her depart until she had found that rest for the weary and sin-stricken soul, which the Lord Jesus has promised to give every one that comes unto Him.

Finding that Lizzie would be at liberty on one evening during the week, we obtained her promise for that evening. But when the evening came we waited in vain for her.

"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside." Matt. 13:19.

So it proved to be with Lizzie; though the seed had been sown only on the Sunday evening before, and though she had appeared to be so much affected by the story of salvation, the enemy had succeeded in catching away that which had been sown in her heart in the few days that intervened. And all this happened at a time when she was softened by a recent bereavement, and we knew the sorrow she felt at the death of a tenderly beloved brother.

By placing before her an attractive picture of this world's pleasures, the enemy succeeded only too well in persuading the young girl to close her eyes and ears to the truth, and the door of her heart to Him who had knocked and sought admission. Having once yielded herself to the suggestions of the tempter, Lizzie soon became indifferent to the truth, and soon after coolly informed me that if life only were before her—that is, if there were no eternity to dread—she would not think of the Savior.

Alas, how many at this moment are pursuing the same downward course! It may be that you, my reader, can remember a moment in which you were almost persuaded to cast yourself at the feet of Jesus, and claim His proffered mercy; but you did not improve the golden opportunity and now, where are you? Consciously afar off from God, with less desire for salvation than you then experienced. And what has the enemy given you in exchange for all the countless blessings which will be yours, if you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior? Nothing! Nothing but the judgment of God for refusing such a precious Savior, and an eternity of woe and misery.

We beseech you, dear friends, do not do as Lizzie did, in allowing the enemy to catch away the Word of God that has been sown in your heart. Gladly receive His Word; believe what He says and peace and joy shall be yours, both now and for eternity.

"Choose you this day whom ye will serve." Josh. 24:15.

The Old Mistake of “Doing My Best”

Some time ago a Christian was out giving away little books containing good news about the One who saves sinners. While thus employed, he met an acquaintance, who, he had every reason to believe, was unsaved. Having shaken hands, he offered him a little book, bearing on its outside the words, "Are you a Christian?”

The book was accepted, and they separated. The next day they again met, their daily occupation being at the same place.

"Well, S—," said the Christian, "did you read that little book and are you a Christian?”

"Yes, I hope so," was the reply; and then something interfering, the conversation had to cease.

An hour later, however, the two were standing side by side once again.

"S—, you told me an hour ago that you hope you are a Christian; may I ask you on what grounds you base your hope?”

"O, I really do think I am one. I always go to church, and do the best I can; and I can't do more than that.”

"And is that all that you have to build your hopes upon?”

"Well, God is merciful, and if one does his best, I don't see what else can be expected of him.”

"Ah, S—, it is indeed true that God is merciful. He has shown His mercy by providing a way of salvation; but what claim can you have to His mercy, while you are neglecting the one channel through which it flows? God's mercy will not flow through your channels, but it flows fully and freely through Christ; and if you are to be saved, it must be through Him. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Galatians, `If righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain?'

For what was the use of the Son of God suffering for sins, if 'doing your best' is all that is needed.”

I cannot now relate all that was said, but if one among my readers is trusting to 'doing his best,' may he at once abandon every such thought, and look to Christ, and to His finished work, for salvation.

"Verily, Verily"

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

"Verily, verily," Jesus, Lord,
Were Thine own words when here;
The soul that hearkens to Thy word
Need never doubt nor fear.

All who believe, in simple faith,
From God that Thou wert sent,
"Life everlasting" surely "hath",
For which Thine own was spent

To condemnation ne'er shall come,
For Thou hast borne it all;
The perfect work that Thou hast done
Can never change nor fall.

Passed they are from death to life,
Before the throne of God;
And all that can against them rise,
Atoned for by Thy blood.
Then make each seeking, anxious heart
Bow low before Thy word:
And, by Thy Holy Spirit taught,
Own Thee as Savior, Lord!

"TO HIM THAT WORKETH IS THE REWARD NOT RECKONED OF GRACE, BUT OF DEBT." "BUT TO HIM THAT WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." "BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED." Rom. 4:4, 5, 7.

August

I'm Going by the Book

Two men, the one a foreman, the other one of the carpenters under him, were standing on the deck of a steamship then on the stocks, in one of the shipbuilding yards.

"Well, S—," said the foreman, "I have been anxious to have a conversation with you. I'm told you are one of those people who say they know for certain that they are saved. Is that true?”

"Yes," said S—, "quite true; thank God, I know I'm saved; in fact, there is nothing I'm more sure of, than that I'm saved.”

"Well, now," said the foreman, "that is something I cannot see through, how any man can say that he is saved as long as he is in this world. I think it is rather presumptuous for anyone to say so. I used to attend Mr.—'s place of worship, a good many years ago, and several of the leading men in it pressed me to become a member, but I could not, for I knew I was not a Christian, and told them so. In fact, I was disgusted with them. I knew so many who went to that place, and pretended to remember the death of Christ, who were just as bad as I was. I left them, and have never gone to any place since, for I concluded the whole thing was a sham, and that there was no reality in Christianity at all.”

"Well," said S—, "I'm not surprised at you, but there is a reality in being saved, in being a child of God, and in knowing it. What is the breadth of this waterway?" The foreman, astonished at the apparently sudden change in the conversation, said, "Why, 14 inches all round, to be sure; what makes you ask that, when you know?”

"But are you quite sure that it is to be 14 inches?" said S—.

"Certainly," said the foreman. "But what makes you so sure?”

"Why, I'm going by the book," and as he said so, he pulled a book out of his pocket, in which were marked the sizes and position of the various things on the deck. "I'm sure it is 14 inches, for it is here in the book, and I got the book from headquarters.”

"O! I see," said S—; "now look here; that is exactly how I know I'm saved. I'm just going by the book. It came from headquarters—it is God's Word. I found in here that I was a lost condemned, sinner, worthy of nothing but the Lake of Fire; but I also found that `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.

I took God at His Word, and I'm saved; and you may be saved too, if you—a lost condemned, sinner—will simply believe in Jesus and trust Him as your Savior. Then you can say without presumption, I know I'm saved for I'm going by the book.”

Reader, can you say, on the authority of God's Word, "I know I'm saved"? Before it is too late, hear the voice of Jesus calling.

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

"He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:24.

A Mother's Prayers

Who can pray like a thoroughly Christian mother? Such a mother will continue to pray for her bad boy long after the father has given him up as hopeless.

Many years ago there was a mother in—, whose son, a young man, had begun to lead a dissolute life. One evening she begged him not to spend that evening away from her, but he declared that he would. He said, "Mother, I'm not going to be tied to your apron-string; I am going to go.”

"Please try and remember every moment tonight that, until you come back, I am going to be on my knees asking God to save you.”

The son, with a rude gesture and muttered oath, rushed from her presence and spent the night in a shameful carousal.

It was four o'clock in the morning when he got home. He had managed to keep his mother out of his mind during his revelry. As he got to the house he saw a light shining through the shutters. Turning the blinds down and looking in, he saw his mother on her knees, and heard her pray, "God save my wandering boy.”

Going to his room he threw himself on his bed, but could not sleep. After awhile he arose, then knelt down, and it seemed to him as though Christ's power proceeded from the room where his wrestling mother was pleading with God, and it led him to cry out, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" And that very morning he accepted Christ as his Savior.

The news of his salvation soon spread in the neighborhood, and in three weeks from that time a number of young people had been converted.

Could that young man doubt that Go hears and answers prayer?

"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" John 15:7.

"The Word of God"

"Did I ever tell you," said the Colonel to me in course of conversation, "how I was converted to God?”

"Well, you may have done so," I replied, "but, if so, I have quite forgotten it, and should be charmed to hear it once more.”

What a mercy that "God is love!”

"Thirty-five years ago," went on my friend, "I was coming home from India on leave, an utterly careless fellow, thinking only of fun and folly. I noticed on board our ship a certain young officer, who was likewise returning on leave, and who always carried about with him a Bible. This seemed to me a most extraordinary thing. What could he want with a Bible at all hours of the day? It is certainly not just the book that young men in general hug in that kind of way. Well, on a certain occasion he and I happened to be sitting together on a seat on deck. He held out the Bible and said to me rather abruptly, `Do you know what book that is?'

" 'A Bible,' I replied.

" 'It is the Word of God,' he answered, and added no more.

"'The Word of God'— `the Word of God,' I repeated to myself, 'then, if so, it is the truth, and all it says must be true.'”

Yes and how could it be otherwise, my reader? How could "God, who cannot lie," declare in His Word that which is false? Impossible!

"Let God be true and every man a liar." Rom. 3:4.

Believe me, it is an immense thing to give God His proper place as true, and also to take ours as guilty and sinful.

The Bible is the Word of God, written by Him, through inspired human instruments, for the very object of reaching us, alienated as we are from Him by wicked works and evil hearts.

Thank God for the Bible! It is the Word of God! Now, this fact was the first arrow of conviction that ever reached the soul of that careless young man.

"All that the Bible says must be true!" Several days passed without further conversation, and then they met again.

" 'Do you believe the Word of God?' was the next query of the young officer.

"said I.

"'All of it?'" 'Yes.'

" 'The fifty-third of Isaiah?'

" 'Yes.'

" 'The sixth verse?'

" 'Yes—but what is it exactly?'

" "All we like sheep have gone astray—" Do you believe that?'

" 'I do, and I own it, too. I know that I have gone astray.'

" "We have turned every one to his own way—" And that?'

"Yes indeed! I have, alas, turned to my own way!”

" "And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Observe it says, "hath laid," "HATH LAID," not "shall lay" at some future time! The work is done! Christ is dead and risen! Atonement was wrought in the shedding of His precious blood! God asks for nothing more from the repentant sinner! Do you believe that?'”

"I rose from my seat, and went straight down to my cabin, and there, alone, on my knees, I poured out my heart to God and blessed Him for having laid my sins on Jesus and for having saved me.”

How simple, how perfect! Such was the story of that colonel's conversion to God.

Thirty-five years were surely long enough to test the genuineness of his conversion to God. Had it been mere excitement, or aught else of the kind, the wear and tear of over a quarter of a century would have swept it away. But no! the Bible was still, and more than ever, the Word of God in his soul; the force of its truth, and the solidity of its foundation, being only the more fully realized! He was safe and ready.

"The Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:25.

Extract: God's Ways

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

Faith and Works

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:17.

Many an earnest believer has puzzled over this plain statement of scripture which seemed to be so contrary to what one had previously learned and believed.

"How can this be?" Such a one might say, "I have always understood that it was by faith I believed unto salvation, and not of works, and yet here it says faith without works is dead, I cannot understand it.”

The apostle is addressing those who had been brought up under the law, when the keeping of it, together with the various ceremonies and ordinances of the Jewish economy was the object of every pious Jew; and he was bringing before these converts to the Christian faith, the fact that if they "said" they had faith, when their daily lives and conduct showed no sign of it, they did not in reality possess that faith at all!

The conduct and works of those who claimed to have "faith" was a plain indication of whether that faith was real, or otherwise; in other words, if faith was there, the works would follow; and if no works were manifest, it was a sign that the faith was dead.

Some years ago a little circumstance was brought to my attention, which made this matter very plain to me, and it was this: A certain person owned a garden of which he was very fond, and in particular, he was very proud of a fine collection of roses of many varieties, which occupied an important place in it.

He heard of a new variety, grown in a foreign country which was not only extremely rare, but was also very difficult to cultivate, even under favorable conditions, and desiring to try it, he sent off for one.

In due time it arrived, carefully wrapped and packed, and when giving it to the gardener to plant, he gave minute instructions as to the care needed in the planting and tending of the important rose tree.

For weeks after the planting, there was no indication of life, and to all appearances the rose tree was nothing but a dead stick, and the owner of the garden, disappointed at the failure of the plant to grow, quite forgot it. However the gardener did not forget it, but with constant and careful attention he tended it day after day.

One day the gardener rushed up to his employer in great excitement, crying out,

"O! sir, the tree is alive! The tree is alive!”

For a moment the employer was unable to understand to what he was referring, but it was soon made clear that the rose tree was alive! Two or three leaf buds had made their appearance, and though very tiny indeed, they showed that there was life in the tree, and that soon it would be growing along with the others in the garden.

Now, here we have an excellent illustration of the truth contained in James 2:17.

If we liken the rose tree to "faith,' and the buds to "works," we find that if the tree had never produced any buds or other sin of life it would rightly have been accounted as dead, nothing other than a withered, lifeless stick; but when the buds appeared, how different it became, for it was then a thing with life!

The buds did not give the life, but the life in the tree produced the buds, and these became the outward and visible sign of that life! In themselves, apart from the tree, they were useless; and the tree also, if it never produced buds for leaves and flowers, would be useless and dead.

So it is with faith and works—your works will never produce life, but the faith in you, if real, will surely produce works!

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

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

Here we have the basis of salvation, (life), it is the gift of God, and works have nothing whatever to do with its implanting or introduction. On the other hand, works have a great deal to do with the manifestation of that life, for, if there are no works whatever exhibited by one who "says" he has faith, would we not be justified in doubting if any real faith exists in such a one?

Dear friend, we are convinced that if a person turns to God, and in simple confidence accepts God's gracious gift of the Lord Jesus Christ, and is born again (receives life), such a one will not be able to avoid showing it in one way or another, for the life that comes with the new birth, will sooner or later produce works to the glory of God. Mark carefully, however, these works will not bring life, but are the manifestation of the life that already exists, but if no works are produced, how can we do otherwise than add our full agreement to the apostle's statement that "faith without works is dead.”

Jesus

I know of a world
That is sunk in shame,
Where hearts oft faint and tire;
But I know of a Name,
A precious Name,
That can set that world on fire.
Its sound is sweet,
Its letters flame;
I know of a Name, a precious Name—
'Tis Jesus!

I know of a book,
A marvelous book,
With a message for all who hear;
And the same dear Name,
That wonderful Name,
Illumines its pages clear.
The book is His Word,
Its message I've heard;
I know of a Name, a precious Name—
'Tis Jesus!

I know of a Home
In Immanuel's land,
Where hearts ne'er faint nor tire;
And His marvelous Name,
His own dear Name,
Inspires the heavenly choir.
Hear the melody ringing,
My own heart singing,
I know of a Name, a precious Name-
'Tis Jesus!

A Gracious Invitation

"Come," is the loving, gracious, winning word that falls from Christ's lips today. It is a word of invitation to the sinful and weary, to encourage them to come to Him. He promises to give them rest.

You need rest. Where can it be found? In the pursuit of pleasure? in the race for earthly honor? in the eager scramble after gold? or in the serener paths of science and philosophy? A million voices answer "No.”

These indeed may suffice for awhile, but will not always do so; more, much more will be needed when you reach the narrow gate through which men pass from this world of shams and shadows into that world where all is real and everlasting.

Rest, in the presence of the shroud, the coffin, the grave in the lonely cemetery, with judgment and eternity overshadowing all. Ah, who can give it? Christ: no one and nothing else.

Is He speaking now? Yes. To whom? To you. Listen to His word, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. Are they not sweet?

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

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

"SURELY I COME
QUICKLY. AMEN.
EVEN SO,
COME, LORD JESUS."

Rev. 22:20

"GOD SHALL WIPE ALL
TEARS FROM THEIR EYES;
AND THERE SHALL BE
NO MORE DEATH,
NEITHER SORROW,
NOR CRYING,
NEITHER SHALL THERE BE
ANY MORE PAIN:
FOR THE FORMER
THINGS ARE
PASSED AWAY."

Rev. 20:4

September

"I Am Saved Now"

As we were driving through a distant village, a woman crossed the road in front of us. Though bent on another errand, I could not help going to speak to her, and finally I followed her into her cottage. I had known her for many years as one always more or less anxious about her soul, but never able, as people say, to "lay hold," or, in other words, never having "received with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save the soul." After a few minutes' talk, which ended in her telling me how great a sufferer in body she often, and even then was, I asked her, "Are you ready for a better world than this?”

"Ready," she replied, "O, no; not any more than when you used to come and see me.”

"But whose fault is that, Joan?" I asked. "Has not God made salvation ready for you?”

"Yes, but somehow I can't see it, and yet H. (naming a Christian man in the neighborhood) comes in to read and pray with me, and he explains it all, but I can't see it.”

"Do you remember," I asked, "that Jesus said, `Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest'? Are you heavy laden?”

"O, yes, I am," she replied, and in such a tone that I could not doubt that my poor friend felt the weight of her sins to be indeed a heavy load, and that she longed to be free from it. So I turned to that verse—

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18; and I repeated it to her several times.

"Joan," I said, "There is no reason why you should not know now that you are saved. Do you believe what that verse says? Let me try to explain it to you. Suppose one of your children had been naughty, and you were going to punish her; and suppose that another child came and said, 'Mother, punish me instead,' would you punish both of them?”

"O, no.”

"Of course not. You would, I suppose, punish the one who wanted to take her sister's place, and this, as the little hymn says, is what Jesus did for His people.

"'He knew how wicked men had been,
He knew that God must punish sin;
So, out of pity, Jesus said
He'd bear the punishment instead.'

He was the just One, God's Son, and He took the place in death which we deserved.

`He bare our sins in His own body on the tree,' and now we who believe on Him go free, and are saved. You are 'unjust,' you are a great sinner, but "'God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Can you believe that?" To my surprise—(and, O, shame, that I was not expecting such a blessing,) she replied,

"Yes, I believe now.”

The whole expression of her face had changed, her suffering was forgotten; she was leaning forward, and again she, said, "O, I do believe now; I see it all!”

Together we turned to some other passages of Scripture, one being that never-to-be-forgotten 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." Wishing to test her belief, I said, "Shall you ever perish?”

"No," she replied, "for I believe what God has said.”

"Have you everlasting life?"

"Yes, I have.”

"But," I said, "when I came in here you told me you were not ready.”

"No more I was, but since you have been here, I see it all so clearly, and I am saved now.”

"What makes you ready?" I asked.

"Because I believe that Jesus died for me.”

I asked her if she could thank the Lord for what He had done, and it was beautiful to see her kneel down and to hear her voice joining with mine in heartfelt praise to God for His mercy.

And now, dear reader, ask yourself, "Am I saved now?”

I cannot speak to you face to face as I could to this poor woman, but let these words speak to you, or, rather, hear God's words. God commends to you His own love, a love that sent Jesus, nineteen hundred years ago, from a throne of glory to a cross of shame. If He took the place there that you deserved, you may be saved now by believing Him.

Your believing or not believing makes no change in what God has done; His work will stand for eternity, but it does make a change in you. If you believe, you are saved, have passed from death to life, and are privileged to say, Jesus died for me—the Just One for the unjust.

If you do not believe, you are unsaved, without hope, condemned already, because you have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The Lord give you to receive His Word and go on your way rejoicing.

"Such an Offer"

Such an offer! Full and free?
Is it really meant for me?
That all my sins on Christ were laid,
That all my debt by Him was paid?
Yes: Jesus says it, who has died:
“Believe,” and thou art justified.

Such an offer! Pardon now
For hidden sin, and broken vow!
For years of cold neglect and scorn;
Can mercy's ray upon me dawn?
Yes: Jesus died instead of thee;
His death for thine, must be thy plea.

Such an offer! Peace and joy
Untainted by the world's alloy;
The sweet assurance of a Friend
Who, loving, loves unto the end;
The knowledge now of sins forgiven
And of a Home prepared in heaven.

O, what goodness! Lord, I take
This offer Thou dost freely make!
My one desire shall henceforth be
To live for Him who died for me.
Spread glad news, through every nation!
Instant—free—and full salvation.

What Think Ye of Christ?" Part 1

JUDAS ISCARIOT

This question of five words puts everyone to the test. It determines exactly where each is with reference to the all-important matter of the soul and eternity, in a way which no other question could possibly do. It meets the most religious man in the world, and it meets the most profligate sinner; and it puts each to the test.

On the answer to this question—the true answer as before God—hangs your fate for eternity.

It did so from the moment Christ was in the world, healing the sick, cleansing the leper, raising the dead, and, above all, dying to save the sinner; and it will continue to do so till the end of time.

Let us look at the effect of this test on a few of those whose history is recorded in the Bible, and let us first take up some who were near our Lord when here.

Judas Iscariot

What was his estimate of Christ? If we had asked him the question just after he had betrayed the Savior, "What think ye of Christ?" what answer would he have given?

Whatever he would have said in words, his action showed that in his heart he valued the Lord at thirty pieces of silver.

"O, yes," says someone, "but Judas was a very bad man, you do not want to class us with him, surely!”

It is true that Judas was a man with a particularly hardened heart, and no doubt a special case, but are there not many people selling Christ today?

Judas was ruled by covetousness; by the love of money; and do not many sell Christ and salvation for some temporal advantage in this world?

"A goodly price that I was priced at of them," says the prophet (Zech. 11:13).

O, it is a terrible thing to sell Christ for money, or position in the world! And yet, are there not many who say in their hearts, "When I have made a little more money, when I have attained such and such a position, then I will think seriously about my soul.”

Joy

Not to be a Christian costs the sacrifice of the highest joy. I do not say that the Christless man will have no joy. He may know the joy of health, friendship and domestic life. He may acquire money, power, and fame, but there are nobler joys than these.

He cannot know the joy of sins forgiven, or the comfort and companionship of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the joy of becoming like Him. It is God's purpose that all His children should be joyful—full of joy.

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

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

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

Flee now to Christ from the coming wrath.

A True Picture of Life

Some years ago on the Gaspe coast, we saw a strange sight one evening. Four of us were paddling near the shore, enjoying the mirror like calmness of the sea, when we noticed a very long line of cork floats indicating the presence of nets, and at each end of the nets which extended from side to side across a bay, men were working, slowly drawing in the ends of the net, as they gradually drew it towards the sands at bay's end. Enclosed within the net were vast numbers of a small fish called "caplin", which the fishermen had enclosed outside with their net, and were now drawing ashore.

The closer the net was drawn, the more crowded became the narrowing space, till the pressure from outside was so great that thousands of the fish were forced ashore by their fellows, and lay gasping and struggling till gathered by the fishermen with scoops and shovels into baskets and containers, for their use.

Is not this a true picture of human life? Are we not enclosed inside the net of time with innumerable numbers of our fellows, all being drawn closer and closer, day by day, to an inescapable destination? True, we have a certain amount of freedom as we go about from place to place, but each day the freedom becomes more restricted, and we awaken to the fact, sooner or later, that there is a something, irresistible in its power, which is taking us along with it, which we cannot avoid, and as we see thousands of our fellows disappearing from among us, we realize that our turn must come in time, and we too will be called upon to leave our places here, and follow those who have gone before.

This is a true picture of life down here for all of us, but what about our destination? From earth's earliest history of human life, we read one ending, "And he died!" Gen. 5.

Yes, with two exceptions, that is the termination of man's career down here, until such time as the coming of Christ in the air for His Church.

Such being the case, where are we bound for? What is our portion after death? The only authoritive means by which we may know for a certainty, that which befalls the human race after death, is God's Word, —the Bible! In this we read that it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.

"The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." John 5:22. Now hear what this Judge Himself said, when He was here on earth, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, Hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment): but is past from death unto life." John 5:24.

Thus we have these authoritive assurances from God's own Word:

First: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

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

Third: "It is appointed unto men once to die." Heb. 9:27.

Fourth: "After death—judgment." Heb. 9:27.

Fifth: "A second death for those whose names are not in the Book of Life,—who are judged according to their works." Rev. 20:12.

Sixth: "God loved the world, and sent His Son." John 3:16.

Seventh: "Whom He appointed judge of all." John 5:22.

Eighth: This Judge has promised that all who hear Him and believe on Him who sent Him, will not come into judgment, but are past from death unto life (John 5:24).

And on what ground should this great Judge promise this? Read the following: "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

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

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

"None in Hell"

"Tracts everywhere!" said a young man, with a sneer, as a young Christian boy handed him a tract one Lord's Day afternoon.

"No," said the boy quietly, "there will be 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 soon after that he was converted.

Dear reader, there will be no tracts in hell-neither gospel invitations, nor gospel entreaties.

How eagerly the lost multitudes, in the hopeless region of despair, would welcome the first invitation of mercy; but their day is past, their time of grace is over.

They will remember how many times, while here on earth, they heard of the wondrous love of God in the gift of His Son, and through Him salvation was offered to them; but instead of gladly accepting Him as their Savior and receiving rest and peace for their souls, and all eternal blessings in Him for eternity, they turned away and refused God's love and mercy. Many invitations were offered to them while they were on earth, but there are “None in hell!”

How are you, my dear friends, treating these golden opportunities, solemn warnings, and loving invitations, such as, "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.

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

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

Accept these invitations speedily, while you have the opportunity, for O, remember, there will be "None in Hell!”

But if you will not heed your doom is fixed, "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. 1:24-27.

Extract: See Him

The Lord give us, while resting in His precious blood, to contemplate Him, feed upon Him, live by Him. See Him, the lowly, blessed, patient One at God's right hand now, the One that God has given to keep our hearts right in the world of folly and pride.

"FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB: FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME: AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?" Rev. 6:16, 17.

October

After a Gospel Service

Two servants of the Lord had been together preaching the sweet tidings of grace, and the audience mostly had left, when our attention was drawn to a middle-aged lady, who was evidently interested in the good news she had been hearing. Taking a seat by her side, I said, "Well, is it settled?”

"No, I can't say it is; I wish I could say that.”

"What is the difficulty?”

"I don't see things clearly. I have been a church member most of my days, but that goes for nothing I see, and I don't feel as I would like to.”

"It is not what you feel that is so important, but what you believe. Are you anxious to be saved?”

"Indeed, I am, very anxious.”

"And when do you wish to get salvation?”

"O, at once. Tonight surely if I can," was her eager reply.

"Well, you may have it now, if you believe what God says in His Word.

"The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is the Word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:8, 9.

"Do you understand that? Do you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from the dead?”

"I do indeed.”

"Tell me for whom He died.”

"He died for me.”

"You believe that?”

"Indeed I do.”

"And did He die for your sins?”

"I believe He did.”

"And has He done all that was necessary for your salvation?”

"I believe He has.”

"Yes, and God has raised Him from the dead, because all is done. Do you believe that also?”

"I do, I really believe in Him.”

"And are you prepared to confess—you do confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth?”

"Yes, I gladly do.”

"Good; then God says, 'Thou shalt be saved!' Will you be saved do you think?”

"I would like to be.”

"Hear what God says, "Thou shalt be saved.”

"That is delightful!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, indeed it is; if any one asked you, are you saved? what would you say?”

"I don't feel that I could say that I am.”

"It is not what you feel, but what God says about the one who believes and confesses with the mouth. He says to such, "Thou shalt be saved," and if He says, "Thou shalt be saved," is it not equal to saying, "Thou art saved?" She did not quite see through this, so I said, "Would you rather have a promissory note for $5.00, or a $5.00 gold piece?”

"They are both like in value.”

"True, but one is gold, and the other is, "I promise to pay $5.00." Now, God's Note is, "Thou shalt be saved," whereas the gold might stand for, "Thou art saved." This is just what Eph. 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved." Again in Luke 7, the Lord gave a woman like you, the knowledge of pardon, salvation and peace, in twelve words. It was a short sermon, but what a complete one, "Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." What wonderful words, "Thy sins are forgiven." Are you the woman He is speaking to now?”

"I am. I believe He will forgive me." "Go on. What next does He say?”

"'Thy faith hath saved thee.' I believe it. I see it distinctly. It is so plain. I am saved. Thank God." And her tears of joy fell fast.

Thus she entered into peace and rest of conscience, and we bowed the knee, and thanked God for His wondrous salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reader, can you thank God for so great salvation?

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

"Neither is there salvation in any other (the Lord Jesus Christ): for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

"What Think Ye of Christ?" Part 2

THE TWO THIEVES

Here were two men equally near the Savior,—at the same time, and in the same circumstances. Let us stand at one side of the center cross, and ask this thief, "What think ye of Christ?”

His reply is this—He is not the true Christ at all; if he was, He would save Himself and us. Now here we have the skeptic, the unbeliever, the infidel, the man who speaks of Christ with an "If." He has no real faith, and consequently he has no right thought about himself or about Christ; his soul is filled with darkness and unbelief.

But let us proceed to the other side of the center cross, and ask the same question of the other thief. What a different answer we get.

Faith has entered his heart, light has shone into his soul, and in that light he has seen his own vileness and guilt. Let us ask, then, penitent thief, "What think you of Christ?" He says in effect, I am here because I deserve it; but the One who hangs by my side is here, though He does not deserve it, for He has done nothing amiss.

It was the darkest moment in the whole history of the world. All had conspired against Christ— religious men, politicians, godless men, heartless mockers and infidels; all were agreed for once in relentless hatred to Christ. Here were chief priests, scribes, Roman soldiers, passers by, all heaping indignities on the Son of God; and the only voice lifted on behalf of the blessed Savior at that moment came from a most unexpected quarter. The voice of the penitent thief rings out clear and distinct, "This man hath done nothing amiss.”

If he had a low estimate of himself, he had a high estimate of Christ. For him, He is a King, and coming into a kingdom, and he wants to be remembered then.

Could the Lord turn a deaf ear to such a request? No, bless His name, He never does so! His answer is complete, and full of blessing for every troubled soul; it is, in effect, you will not have to wait for the kingdom; this very day you will be with Me in Paradise.

The thief repented, he believed, he was saved on the spot, and he had the assurance of it from the lips of the Savior.

A Perfect Savior

A crucified Christ took my place in death and judgment; and gives me His place in life and righteousness (1 Cor. 2:2; Rom. 6:10,11; 2 Cor. 5:21.)

A risen Christ, having defeated all my foes, is the everlasting witness that God is for me (Rom. 8:34.)

An ascended Christ has broken all my links with earth, and formed them all afresh in heaven (Eph. 4:10.)

A glorified Christ is the divine answer to every accusation of sin and Satan; and is the One to whom I am now livingly united by His Spirit. (1 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor. 6:17; 12:12, 13.)

A coming Christ will change me, in a moment, into His own heavenly image and likeness, that I may, through God's eternal day, be the perfect expression of His own divine will and pleasure (Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 John 3:2.)

The Atheist's Terror

A violent storm overtook a vessel on one of the lakes. Among the passengers were Volney, the atheist, two men, and several ladies. The danger became imminent, but no one exhibited such terror as Volney, who threw himself on the deck, now imploring, now cursing the captain, and reminding him that he had engaged to carry him safely to his destination. At last, as the probability of their being lost increased, he loaded his pockets with dollars, and prepared, as a last resource, to swim for his life.

One of the men remonstrated with him on his folly, pointing out that he would sink like a piece of lead with so great a weight. After this Volney became so noisy, and was, besides, so much in the way of the sailors, that they pushed him down the hatchway. He, however, soon came up again, having lightened himself of the dollars, and he once more threw himself on the deck, exclaiming with uplifted hands and streaming eyes, "O, my God! My God! What shall I do?”

"What, Mr. Volney!" said one of the passengers; "so you have a God now!" Volney replied, with trembling anxiety;

"O, yes! O, yes!”

He then became so ashamed of himself that he hid from his fellow-passengers, who had previously heard his boastful scoffing against Christianity.

It is comparatively easy, when in health and safety, to protest loudly against the possibility of the existence of a God; it is altogether another thing when grim death stares one in the face. Ah! Be wise, and recognize the truth in time. God is, and your eternal interests depend on your relation to Him. By nature and through actual sin you are His enemy, and there is but one way to that reconciliation with Him in which lies our safety.

Unbelieving reader, will you take Christ as your Savior now?

"We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

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

Where to Junction

Returning from town by train the other evening I had to alight at a junction in order to change trains. While waiting I entered into conversation with a porter, who informed me that it had taken him a year to master the intricate time-table of his line.

"But these time-tables are useful things to understand, sir, and I have just shown a man with a quantity of luggage the way to go. I can direct you anywhere you want to go, but the great thing is to know where to junction.”

"Well," said I, "you are a great help to travelers, indeed, and as you can direct us everywhere, I should like to ask you if you could show a lost sinner the way to heaven.”

"Well," he said, "I think I could do that, sir. I don't, like a good many, neglect my Bible, given to us when we were married, and it lays on our best table. My wife, too, is very serious. I'm not as good as some, and not as bad as some.”

Thus the man began to justify himself instead of speaking of God's way of justifying a sinner. I told him that he was really on the wrong line, the downward road, and, though he could tell travelers, "where to junction", on earthly journeys, he was not able to tell me where to junction for Heaven.

Before my train left I had just time to tell him of God's way of salvation so simply and so plainly set out in His Word.

May I solemnly apply this little incident to the conscience of my unconverted reader, You are a traveler going out of this world, journeying it may be by pleasant ways, enjoying the scene, and making the most of it. Every comfort may be yours as you pass station after station on life's journey; or it may be the very reverse, you may be needy on life's journey; but the important question is, “What is your condition spiritually?” Without God, in the world, you are traveling the broad way that leads to destruction, of which Hell is the terminus.

You may say, that is not where you intend to go, but thither you are going as fast as the wheels of time can carry you, for if you have not come to "the junction" where the change for Heaven is made, you are still on the broad road. Satan has many lines on the broad way, but the terminus of each is at the same place—Hell. They all run to the same, disguise it as he may. O! Do not be ignorant of his devices!

Some of his travelers say they are doing the best they can; others, that they never did any particular harm, like my porter friend—others hope God will be merciful—but none of them speak of that which Christ has done, and they will all have to find out their mistake.

But, O! Dear reader, there is a junction at which you may change. The porter knew not where to junction for glory, but I can tell you—"Calvary, Calvary." Had my friend, the porter, readily and humbly read the Word of God, he would have found in it the plain direction for a sinner to reach glory. He would have found that "I am not as good as some, and not as bad as some," will never take a soul to heaven, but that,

"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God"—that all are "lost"—and that for the lost, who are out of the way, Jesus died.

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, but Christ was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

May you leave the old train which is hurrying you down to death, and may you stop at the cross of Christ, and, believing on Him, you shall be saved for glory.

"Be it known to you therefore, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39

Is That All?

A soldier in one of the hospitals was visited by a minister, who saw that his life was ebbing fast.

"Young man," said he, "you are soon to die; are you saved?”

"No, sir," was the earnest reply; "what shall I do?”

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

"Say that again." He repeated, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

Steadily and earnestly looking at the minister, the soldier asked, "Is that all?”

"Yes, that is all. I can say nothing more—there is nothing, nothing more.”

Closing his eyes for a few moments, the young fellow at length opened them again, and raising his right hand, exclaimed: "Lord Jesus, I surrender.”

Instantly his face shown as if it had been the face of an angel.

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

Today

When Mr. Moody was holding meetings in Hartford, Conn., many years ago he pressed a man one night to accept Christ as his Savior at once. Finally the man replied, "Well, Mr. Moody, I will promise you this. I will attend the meeting tomorrow night, and I will accept the Lord as my Savior then.”

That man never reached his home alive. The train on which he traveled ran off a bridge and many lost their lives, among them was the man who promised Mr. Moody he would accept Christ the next night.

"That Experience," said Mr. Moody, "taught me a lesson: never to let anyone off with a promise, but to press them hard to give an immediate decision for Christ, and if that failed, seek to show them the peril of even a night's delay.”

Tomorrow is the devil's time. Don't trust him; he is a deceiver and the father of lies from the beginning.

Dear reader, remember as you read this paper, it may be the last appeal from God to you. God longs to save, you; Christ died to save you, will you not come to Him now?

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3. There is no escape.

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 4:7.

Extract: Need-Be

Not everybody is passing smoothly through this life, though some may be more so than others. But after all, it is only "for a season," and "if need be." Do not make yourself uneasy: the One who holds the reigns of the need-be is God. He does not take pleasure in afflicting. If there is the need-be for it, we go through the trial with Him, but it is only for a moment.

"THOU ART WORTHY... FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE AND NATION: AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS: AND WE SHALL REIGN OVER THE EARTH." Rev. 5:9, 10

November

Acquitted

A farmer who cultivated a quantity of watercress in a corner of one of his fields, had one day a man brought before him charged with stealing the cress. The poor fellow had the evidence of his guilt in his hand, and he hung his head for shame.

The farmer, who was a Christian man, said,

"What made you steal my cress?”

"I am sorry, sir," the man began. "I do hope you will pardon me. I have a wife and three children, and I am out of work. I've tramped all day, trying to get a job, but can't. I have no money, and the children are without bread; and when I saw the cress I thought I might sell a few cents worth, and thus get a loaf. I do hope sir, you will pardon me." The farmer said, "Give me the cress," and as the man did so he placed in the hand of the culprit a half dollar, saying, "Here, take this and get bread; I forgive you.”

Such unexpected kindness was too much for the poor man's feelings; he burst into tears, and, thanking the kind-hearted farmer again and again, he departed a free and happy man.

This incident illustrates the state and condition of unsaved men and women. Just as this man was guilty of taking that which was not his by right, so they have taken time, gifts, opportunities, position, and influence, as if they had a right to them, and they have used them for their own ends and purposes, thus incurring fearful guilt. They are "guilty before God." (Rom. 3:19.)

Reader, still unforgiven, pause a moment and think of your state before God; confess your transgressions. Is it not written, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13. Again, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. And again, "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Psa. 32:5. If you take the sinner's place, and put up the sinner's plea, "God, be merciful to me a sinner," you will obtain a present and full pardon for your sins, whatever they may be.

The poor man of whom I wrote obtained money to buy bread as well as forgiveness, and God gives grace for the day as well as pardon of sin. This man obtained pardon for sin, received provision for need, and went away in peace.

Even so you may get from God this moment present pardon and future need, and possess perfect peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"What Think Ye of Christ?" Part 3

SAUL OF TARSUS

Let us ask him the question, "Saul, what think ye of Christ?”

There is no name, he says, which I hate so much. I am just going to Damascus with letters authorizing me to bind everyone who calls on that name, and bring them bound to Jerusalem.

But O, here is another trophy of saving grace! A light from heaven shines round his path, and in that light he learns that he is the chief of sinners, and that Jesus is indeed the Savior. He is converted, turned right round, changed.

People often have a very strange thought about conversion. They can understand that the thief, or the drunkard should give up his past course, and become a reformed man, they see the need for such a change. But that the religious man needs any change is just what they cannot see. Yet Saul of Tarsus was a most religious, upright man, while all the time he was the "chief of sinners.”

And what put Paul to the test is the very same question that puts the reader to the test too, "What think ye of Christ?”

Can you say, "I think of Him as the One who has saved my soul, and washed me from my sins in His own blood"? If not, you need conversion just as much as Saul did.

It has been often said that no one ever yet came to Christ for salvation and regretted it afterward. Let us put this statement to the proof in the case of Saul, now changed to Paul, and let us ask him, just at the close of his life, "Paul, what think ye of Christ?" He says in reply, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ.”

Yes, but Paul, you have had many sufferings and privations; you have been beaten and stoned almost to death. Yes, he would reply, but I have found Christ such a treasure for my heart, I have experienced His love in such a wonderful way, that it far outweighs and compensates for all.

Here, then, is the issue plain and clear, "What think you of Christ, what is your estimate of Him?" Everything hangs on the answer to this.

On the one side stands present peace, life and salvation, to be had by believing on Him; and an eternity to be spent in all the joys of heaven, with Christ and with the saved of every age and clime.

On the other side stands the solemn issue for the Christ-rejector, more solemn, more awful, than our poor words can adequately describe. For he can find no genuine, lasting peace and joy now; and as for the future, it is to be spent in hell, with the devil and the damned of every age, with those whose company we would shun most of all now, in banishment from God's presence forever.

Reader, let us ask again, "What think you of Christ?”

Did He Not Say: "Him That Cometh"?

Up to the age of sixteen, I was quite heathen as far as the Gospel was concerned. I never went to a place of worship, and thought all who did go were hypocrites. I was never made to read the Bible. I knew there was a God, but nothing more. I could not have told you who Jesus Christ was. You marvel at this, but it was true of many girls who were situated as myself.

One Sunday night, however, I had such a longing to go to a place of worship. I said to my brother: "O! Sid, I feel as if I would like to go to chapel; do come with me.”

My brother laughed at the request.

"Why Edith," he said, "what has put that in your head?" and my family were immensely amused that I, of all persons, should want to go, as I was such a wild girl, and the leader in all the fun.

After a deal of persuasion my brother came with me. We went to a large chapel, and sat in the back seat. My brother thought the preacher was never going to leave off; it was all new to him; and during the service he said: "If this is coming to church, I will never come again. I was silly to come." At last the service ended.

"O! Sid," I said, "that man did make me feel uncomfortable.”

"Now, Edith, don't you begin, for I have had quite enough; never do I come again.”

"Nor will I," I said.

I thought no more about it till the next Sunday came, when I felt I must go, so again I pleaded with my brother to come with me. It never dawned on me to go by myself. So I pleaded with him to come with me.

At last he put his best clothes on and came. We went to the same chapel, sat in the same seat. The same thing happened again. I felt so uncomfortable; my brother annoyed with himself for coming.

When the service was over I said to him: "I will never, never come again.”

"You said that last week," he said. "I know that nothing or nobody will get me to come again.”

So home we both went. I forgot to mention that my father was practically an atheist.

I never thought about it all the next week till the time for evening service came on. Again I felt I must go. And, O! how I pleaded for Sid to come with me. He did, but very unwillingly, as you can imagine.

We went to the same chapel, sat in the same seat. And as I sat there I knew I was a lost soul. Now nobody had spoken to me, but I knew if I had died that night I should have gone straight to hell. I think the text must have been: "Ye must be born again," from what followed. I knew I was a sinner, but as yet I knew nothing of Christ's salvation.

As soon as we got outside, I said to my brother:

"O, Sid, if we die tonight we shall both go straight to hell." He looked at me and said,

"O! whatever is the matter with you?”

"Don't talk to me," I said, "we are both sinners. Why, think we have done more than one sin, and he said that whoever had done one sin could not enter. What shall we do?”

We went home. My brother hung up his hat and coat, but I paced up and down our large kitchen with my things on. At last my brother came out and said; "Edie, take your things off and come in.”

"Sid," I said despairingly, "I am going to see that man who preached tonight." My brother looked at me and said: "All right, Edie, I will go with you." I never felt such love for him in all my life as I did at that moment.

So together we proceeded to the chapel, and as it happened, the preacher was then coming out. I went up to him and said: "O! sir, I want to be baptized.”

I thought baptism would save me. The good minister looked at me, and then, O! how can I write it, for the first time in my life I heard with understanding the story of Calvary. He spoke to me of the Savior, and told me of His love, how He loved me! I said, "O! sir, but I have not given Him a thought all my life; I have cared nothing for Him.”

Very tenderly and lovingly He said, "My child, the Lord loves you, and died for you.”

For me! for me! O, I could not tell you how I felt. In my joy I shook my brother and said: "O, Sir, listen to the Good News! O! what must I do?”

The minister took out his Bible and read me some verses; this was one: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" John 6:37.

"O! sir," I said, "I will come this moment," and my first prayer was: "Lord, save me, a sinner; and save my brother too.”

I rose from my knees, and the minister said to me; "Have you trusted Him? Do you believe that you are saved?”

"Why, of course!" I replied, "did He not say 'Him that cometh?' and I have come.”

In my joy I ran all the way home with my brother, burst in upon our astounded family circle, and said: "I am saved; I have found Jesus Christ." I went everywhere telling them. I thought nobody knew the Good News. I believe today as I believed then: if only they knew Christ they must love Him.

Someone reading the foregoing might say, "But does it last?”

Well, it is nine years since I came to Christ. I can say from the depths of my being that ever since I heard the wonderful message of God's redeeming love, it has been the joy of my life to tell it to others. There is no joy in the world like watching and seeing its power to transform lives as it transformed mine. I have seen drunkards, gamblers, swearers—men and women of all kinds and conditions come—under its influence, and the result has been wonderful. A new creature in Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ does not reform them merely, but makes them anew, pardoning and forgetting their past. Wonderful message—saving and raising all—all who will accept it. I have seen these things.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17.

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

"Come unto Me... and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

Awake! Awake!

A traveling salesman had business engagements which sometimes brought him to a small iron-working town. When business is brisk at this town, the mills are kept running night and day. The steam hammers, some of them several tons in weight, are constantly kept working, beating out the huge masses of molten iron, thereby causing the very ground to shake beneath their heavy and oft-repeated falls.

To this constant noise the inhabitants of that little town had grown quite familiar; so that in spite of the heavy thuds of the ponderous hammers, men, women, and children could sleep quite soundly through the night without the least disturbance. The salesman, however, could not sleep. The din of this heavy hammering drove all sleep from his eyes so that whenever he was called into that locality he always arranged for sleeping accommodations somewhere outside the iron-mining town.

One night, however, from some breakdown in the machinery, these steam hammers suddenly stopped working; and the consequence was that nearly the whole of this town woke up.

What awoke them? Not the oft-repeated stroke of the heavy hammers, but their sudden cessation.

How this reminds one of the state of multitudes of precious souls in the present day. While the gospel hammer is kept at work—and "is not My Word a hammer? saith the Lord"—thousands within sound of it are fast asleep. Let the "hammer" come down ever so heavily, they slumber on. They seem to find a lulling comfort in the idea that they live in a Gospel land where the Gospel is preached all the time.

But the time will come when the true workmen shall all be summoned away. "Call the laborers home" shall be heard from their Master's lips. The hammer of the Gospel of God's grace and glory shall suddenly cease, and never give another stroke. Then shall there be a great waking of gospel hardened slumberers, and throughout the length and breadth of Christendom shall the bitter cry be heard, "Lord, Lord, open unto us.”

How solemn all this is! It is a matter of prophecy today; yet, before your earthly sun is set, it may become a matter of history, it may have taken place.

Beware, therefore, "lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping" (Mark 13:36).

Remember the waking-up day will come. If you never wake before, you will certainly wake up in the Day of Judgment.

O friend, wake up now! While the Father's arms are still open to welcome, while the Spirit is still here to strive, while the Savior still waits to bless, O come!

An Incident of the War

After a great charge, a search party went out to look for any wounded men. They found many dead and many wounded. Among the former was a bugler, lying dead, with a pencil in his right hand and a paper in his left, on which he had written the following lines, which were copied and brought home by a young soldier.

"Hark! What means that heavenly music,
Sounding sweetly on my ear?
Can it be that I am dying?
Heaven seems so very near.
Come, dear mother, come yet closer,
Kiss me as I suffering lie;
Jesus calls, and I must answer,
But I'm not afraid to die.

"You have often prayed dear mother,
For your loved and wandering child,
And your heart was well-nigh breaking
O'er his conduct rough and wild.
But at last the loving Savior
Heard your earnest, pleading cry,
Now He calls, and I must answer,
For I'm not afraid to die.

"Since I joined the army, mother,
In the battle I've been true,
And though tried by sore temptation,
My dear Lord has helped me through.
Now I come to Jordan's river,
With the angels standing by,
Take me, Jesus, I'm Your soldier,
And I'm not afraid to die.”

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED."

Acts 16:31.

"NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED."

Acts 4:12.

December

"Only a Dozen Left"

During the first great war of 1914-18, an officer of a certain regiment while walking, noticed a line of people, and being curious to find out what they were waiting for, he went up to the front of the line, and found they were trying to obtain tickets for seats in a theater, where some popular play was being presented.

As he passed by the door, two of his fellow officers came out, and seeing him, greeted him, and one of them said, "Just look at the crowd! A lot of them will be disappointed, for they told us inside that there were only a dozen or so more seats left.”

"A dozen more seats left!" When there would be no room for any more!

Has it ever occurred to you, reader, that there will come a time when there will only be a "dozen or so" more places left in heaven, before the Lord Jesus will come in the air to take His own to be with Him?

Suppose an authoritative, unimpeachable informant were to bring you word that there were only twelve vacant places left in heaven, and that when these were filled by those on earth accepting God's offer of salvation, no more would be received, and that the Lord Jesus would at once come for His own; what would you do? Would you stay idly by, and say,

"O, I will take my chance"?

Would you not rather make sure of your own place, and then hasten to warn those near and dear to you, of their impending danger? If you believed your authoritative informant, of course you would do this very thing, and rightly so! You would be in real earnest, and would do all you could to persuade your loved ones to lose no time, but to accept God's offer of salvation, while there was still time!

Dear reader, while you are reading these words, is there any "authoritative or unimpeachable informant," who can tell you that there are any more than a dozen places left in heaven? Remember! the time is coming, and we believe, very shortly, when the number of the redeemed will be completed to the last one, and then the door will be shut, and the day of grace will be over forever!

Are you in the happy position of having your place secure and certain, in that abode of joy and happiness? If you are, what about your friends? Must they be left out for lack of warning?

And if you yourself are not in a position of security, why do you delay?

If there are at this moment, only a "few places" left, these may be taken at any moment,—and what then? Think of it, friend, then act upon it, at once, without delay; and when you have one for yourself, tell others!

And how is this place obtained? Read what Paul told a man who was in a great hurry, and who thought he had not long to live. This man asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" and the answer was, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31. Just as simple as that, and it is just as simple today and for you!

The man in question asked, heard, believed, received, and then gave proof of sincerity in his actions, all within the space of a very short time, and you can do the same! He did not wait till the following week, or even till the next morning, but there, and at once, at midnight, this man heard the message, believed it, and went on his way rejoicing.

Dear reader, just ponder for a few moments what your feelings would be, if you, knowing of God's gracious offer of salvation through Christ Jesus, and neglecting it till some future time, should suddenly find out that the Lord has come, and you have been left behind! If you will only think this over seriously for a few moments, surely you will realize the terrible and unnecessary risk you are taking with the welfare of your immortal soul!

The Spirit of God urges you to enter that place of safety, at once.

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

"Flee from the wrath to come." Matt. 3:7.

A Soldier's Story

"You ask me how long I have known the Lord Jesus as my own personal Savior. Well, I have known Christ as my Savior since July.

"I was working at the time in a shop, and I found the place too quiet for me. I wanted to see some life." As he was unable to get the excitement he desired he became restless and says, "I was very miserable." Nothing seemed to satisfy his longings.

One of the men was a Christian, not simply in name but in reality. He found his enjoyment in meeting with some of his fellow Christians, and was often found with a young blacksmith as his companion "where prayer was wont to be made.”

One morning these two friends came together into the shop. They seemed full of joy, and spoke about the happy time they had had at a Christian gathering the night before. This made the young man wish he was like them and that he had been with them the previous evening.

"I waited," he says, "until the blacksmith was gone, and then I asked my shop-mate where he had been and what he had been doing. He told me. So I asked him if I could go along with him the next time. He said, 'Yes,' and I went along with him, and I had a good time for a month or so.”

But though he was more satisfied, it was with himself, and not with Christ. He had become more religious, and thought that he was improved, and so could be more restful. This, however, was not to last. His conscience was not purged. He knew something was lacking.

One day in one of the meetings he was asked to tell what he knew of the Savior, and of His grace in saving and keeping those who put their trust in Him. This, however, he felt he could not do, and so he definitely refused.

"How could I talk about my Christian experience if I was not a Christian?”

This led to fresh anxiety, and he became miserable and had a most wretched time of soul agony.

"I was afraid to sleep at night for fear I should die and not be saved. I knew that should I die I was lost and should go to hell." The two friends noticed his anguish, and, as he now tells us, "One night they asked me to go for a walk down by the seashore with them. I went. We got right down on to the pebbles of the beach, and they said, let us have prayer together.' I looked around to see if anyone was observing us. I thought that it was out of place to pray in the open air, so I did not pray.”

The next night they walked on to the shore again, and again knelt to pray, and now he did not stop to look around, but got down on his knees and confessed aloud that he was a lost sinner and cried to God for salvation. Then as he saw that Christ had died for sinners, and had finished His redemption work at Calvary, he there and then trusted in Him. The outward look gave the inward peace.

"We got up from our knees and started to walk back, but no one spoke until I blurted out, 'I'm saved.' They said, `When?' I answered, `Down during that prayer on the beach.' I went home and confessed it to my people.”

They were Christians, but as yet they had seen nothing in their son to make them think that he was really converted. So the father said, "I don't believe it.”

It seemed too sudden a change. The young believer did not know what to do, and going to his room cried bitterly. However, he had learned to make God his refuge now, and he cried to Him for guidance for all his pathway, and that he might show others what the grace of God could do. As he rose to his feet the thought came to him, "Live the Life”

By God's grace he was enabled so to conduct himself in his home that his loved ones soon saw that they had no cause to doubt his statement. The fruit on the tree showed that the tree was good. The Lord gave him power as well as pardon.

"Although I have failed many times," he adds, "the Lord is still faithful and His love is still the same. And it is through Him and by Him I am what I am.”

"They which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15.

"Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

A Great Invitation

"Come Unto Me", the Son of God, the Savior of sinners, is the One who speaks, He knows how burdened, how weary, and unsatisfied you often are. He sees how you fail to get the satisfaction and rest that you vainly seek, first in one thing, then in another. He looks upon you now. He speaks to you, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

You have His invitation now before you. How will you treat it? You may never have another like it. The world has no such rest to offer. It cannot be found in sin. Satan has no rest, and there is no rest in hell. If you obey God's invitation now, you will receive it at once from Him. If you believe His Word, you will enter into rest. But if you refuse and reject it, you will go on a burdened weary sinner through life, you will die a Christ-less death, and you will be lost to God and heaven forever.

"We Are All Miserable Sinners"

People, as a rule, are quite ready and willing to admit themselves as sinners along with others as "we," but very slow to single out themselves from the crowd, and say, "I am a sinner," "I am convicted of sin," "I have done wrong," "I am guilty," and pick out individual sins, and say, "I have done this!”

Yet how important it is that we each see ourselves as individual sinners! not, "Have mercy upon 'us' miserable sinners," but, "God be merciful to 'me' a sinner.”

One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to convince of sin, but to convince me of my sinfulness, and to make me see myself as vile, and to abhor myself, and confess that in me dwelleth no good thing.

Unless the light of God's Spirit shines into our hearts, and shows us the darkness and uncleanness within, we cannot understand the meaning of Christ's words, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," or, that He is "The Friend of sinners." Luke 7:24; 5:34.

No Mistake after All

"Well, my dear friend, how is it with your soul?”

It was a startling question, especially when asked by a complete stranger.

The surprise of the one questioned was scarcely as great, however, as the surprise of the questioner.

Mr. M. had mistaken the man whom he had thus addressed, for an intimate friend of his. Seeing him passing down a street, he had touched his shoulder and asked the question.

An apology was offered, an explanation being given, and so the matter appeared to end.

But it was not to be thus concluded.

The awkward position in which Mr. M. had been placed was soon to be recalled to him.

He was called upon by the man, who reminded him of the occurrence, and said; "Sir, to that question I owe, under God, the salvation of my soul. The question that you asked me, as you believed, by a mistake, was really asked me by God Himself: 'How is it with your soul?' and from that moment it seemed to haunt me. I could not get it out of my mind; it kept returning as often as I banished it.

"I knew only too well that things were not as they ought to be with my soul, and the more I thought of it, the more distressed I became. At last the conviction of my need and the sense of my guilt drove me to the Cross, and I sought, until I found, salvation in Christ Jesus. And now I can answer your question. It is well now with my soul, thank God.”

He had discovered who the questioner was and had at once come to thank him for the blessing brought in such a strange way to his soul.

May I ask you who read these lines the question,

"How is it with your soul?”

You care for your body. The things of time and sense claim and receive your attention. But are your soul's interests of no account? Soon the place that now knows you will know you no more. You will be gone from your home and your business. The summons will come and you will have to respond. And then what? "The mourners go about the streets" here. Your body will be in the grave. But your soul-where will it be? Do not resent the question. It may be the last time your eternal welfare is brought under your notice. Give yourself no rest until you can say:

"My sins, O, the bliss of the glorious thought,
My sins, not in part, but the whole,
Were nailed to His cross,
And I bear them no more,
Blessed rest, blessed peace to my soul.”

Land’s End

"I have had the desire of my heart fulfilled," said my fellow-passenger—a young man of twenty-one—as we traveled together.

"What is that," I inquired.

"I have seen Land's End. I have wished to see it since I was a boy, but never was able to go till now.”

"Do you know what my first thoughts were the first time I stood there looking out on the wide stretch of ocean beyond?”

"No," said my fellow-passenger, "what were they?”

"I thought of the coming hour when I would stand on the last stage of earthly life and look out on the great eternity beyond, and I was glad and thankful to know that when that "Land's End" was reached, I would go direct to heaven to be With Christ which is far better.”

"I never heard anybody say that before," said the young man. "Don't you think it is presumption to be so sure?”

"No, not when God says it. If my certainty of heaven depended on myself, or my works, I might well tremble to say so, but when it all depends on Christ and His atoning death for sinners, accepted by God on my behalf, then I can speak with certainty, because Christ and His precious Blood are forever the same. I am quite sure that He will never fail me.”

We had a long interesting conversation together on the Gospel of God and its saving power in all who believe it; and as we parted at our journey's end, the young man grasped my hand and said, "I shall never forget my excursion to `Land's End;' not only for what I saw there, but for what I have heard about the end of life's journey, and the eternity beyond; and above all, for the Gospel. It has been all new to me.”

"Receive it then, dear fellow, as your own," I said, and then he was off into the crowded streets of the city.

"The end of all things is at hand." 1 Peter 4:7.

"Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:12.

The Sin Bearer

Behold the Lamb! 'tis He who bore
My sins upon the tree,
And paid in death the dreadful score—
The guilt that lay or me.

I'd look to Him till sight endear
The Savior to my heart;
To Him I look who calms my fear,
Nor from Himself would part.

Gold could not give the heart relief
The malefactor craved.
Ah, no! 'twas Christ, the Christ of God,
That dying sinner saved;

Faith's view of Him who bleeding hung
A victim by his side,
He saw, he knew the Lord was there,
The Lord for him had died.

I'd look until His precious love
My ev'ry thought control;
Its vast constraining influence prove
O'er body, spirit, soul.

To Him I look, while still I run—
My never-failing Friend!
Finish He will the work begun,
And grace in glory end.

"HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES: THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM: AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED." Isa. 53:5.

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD." Eph. 1:7.