Echoes of Grace: 1951

1951 lies before us. It lies before us still un-darkened by a single crime; a deep hush rests over it. Printers are putting into type the date of the New Year, authors are busy about it, but as yet it has not issued from the eternity of God. The first hour of its time has not struck: it is still the future; and whether we shall breathe the breath of this New Year through an hour—a day—a week—a month—is unknown except to God. Its changes, joys, and sorrows are known to Him alone.

Who else can foretell the events of this coming year? No one. All is dark before us, save for one bright hope. This New Year—this very 1951—may be the great year when the Lord shall come to take all those "that are His at His coming" to be forever with Himself. A happy, happy moment for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! But that same moment will be the closing of the door of opportunity to all who have heard and rejected—or just neglected—God's grace and salvation.

What will that moment mean for you? Will you be "caught up... to meet the Lord in the air"? Or will you be left behind for the judgment that will soon fall upon this scene?

Time is passing very swiftly. Today there is still salvation and pardon offered freely to all who will come; tomorrow it may be too late. "Now is the day of salvation"—before the end of this coming year that day of salvation may close. Won't you accept God's offer of eternal life—eternal joy and peace—and accept it now? Then you can face the New Year confidently and unafraid, with your heart kept in "perfect peace," even though in the midst of "wars and rumors of wars." And—better still—can look forward joyfully to the coming of the Lord for His own, for He has said, "Surely I come quickly!”

Extract: Following Conscience

A man may make his conscience his director, and act up to it; but such a life is spent in vain. That man does not please God, since he follows himself and not God.

Savior, Teach Me

Oh, teach me what it meaneth—
That cross uplifted high,
With One, the Man of Sorrows,
Condemned to bleed and die.
Oh, teach me what it cost Thee
To make a sinner whole;
And teach me, Savior, teach me
The value of a soul.

Oh, teach me what it meaneth—
That sacred crimson tide,
The blood and water flowing
From Thine own wounded side.
Teach me that if none other
Had sinned, but I alone,
Yet still Thy blood, O Savior,
Thine only, must atone.

Oh, teach me what it meaneth—
Thy love beyond compare,
The love that reacheth deeper
Than depths of self-despair.
Yea, teach me, till there gloweth
In this cold heart of mine
Some feeble, pale reflection
Of that pure love of Thine!

Oh, infinite Redeemer,
I bring no other plea;
Because Thou dost invite me,
I cast myself on Thee!
Because Thou dost accept me,
I love and I adore!
Because Thy love constraineth,
I'll praise Thee evermore!

Good Feelings”

"Must I not experience good feelings," you ask, "before I can be saved?”

Imagine a ship at sea. The wind gets up, the waves rise, a storm is coming.

"Furl the sails!" shouts the captain.

"It is done, sir," answer the men.

"Drop anchor!”

"Done, sir," answer the men.

But still the ship rolls about, and is drifting on towards the rocks.

"Have you dropped anchor?" asks the captain.

"Yes, sir.”

"Where have you dropped it?"

"In the hold," say the men.

What a foolish thing! They drop the anchor inside the ship instead of outside, and it is drifting on to certain destruction.

Are you dropping anchor in the hold—looking into your own heart to seek "good feelings" on which to rest? Cast your anchor on Christ. He is the only safe anchorage for the soul. Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Coming Famine

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." Amos 8:11, 12.

Brief: The Devil's Gospel

God's gospel is today, the devil's gospel is always tomorrow.

Fifty Years a Convict

"Well, my friend, you have not much longer to serve! What will you do when you leave here?" The speaker was a tall, broad-shouldered policeman, with a pleasant, open face and a winning, though somewhat authoritative, manner.

A very striking contrast was presented by the person addressed. It would be very difficult to find a more hard-featured face, or a more repellent manner. He wore the unmistakable dress of a convict, and the experienced eye of the policeman could see by his worn clothes that his term of imprisonment had nearly expired. The convict was standing by the edge of the water, preparing the boat which was to take his fellow convicts to their toil on the other side of the harbor.

The sea rippled and sparkled in the early morning sunshine, gently rocking the boat to and fro, and as the policeman stood and watched the hard, set face of the man bending doggedly over his work, his heart was moved with a tender, yearning pity. If this old man knew the love of God, how it would alter that hard, unyielding face! Perhaps something of his feeling found expression in his voice as he repeated his question, for the old man looked up and gruffly asked, "What?”

"You are getting to be an old man now, and it is not everyone who would employ you. What do you think of doing when you leave here?”

The old man straightened himself up, and his face took on, if possible, a more defiant expression as he answered, looking his questioner full in the face: "The first thing I'm going to do when I leave here is to murder a policeman.”

"Oh! the first thing you will do when you leave here will be to murder a policeman?”

The man's own words were repeated slowly and questioningly.

"Yes," answered the convict, "that will be my first work. He gave false evidence against me, and he will pay for it with his life.”

"Well, and after you have murdered the policeman, what then?”

"Then I will be caught and locked up again. You know I can't get far away from the bars." He spoke recklessly and with a bitter half laugh.

"Yes, and after you are caught and locked up, what then?”

"Then I will be tried and sentenced.”

"Yes, and after you are tried and sentenced, what then?”

"Then I will be hanged.”

"And after you are hanged, what then?”

There was no answer. The man's thoughts had apparently never traveled beyond death. He was evidently startled.

"Have you a Bible in your cell?" the policeman asked presently.

"Yes, and I've read it through hundreds of times to kill time.”

"Well, have you ever read, 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life'?" The living words were spoken slowly.

"No! That ain't in MY Bible! I've read it through over and over, and that ain't there.

`God so loved the world—' " and the man was thoughtful. "No, that ain't in my Bible.”

"Well, when you go back tonight you look in John 3:16, and you will find those words.”

"John 3:16," the man repeated. "Yes, I'll look! I'll look, but IT AIN'T THERE; not in MY Bible.”

There was no time for more conversation now; but the good seed had been sown, and the policeman prayed earnestly that it might take root in the hard, unlikely soil.

There was an indescribable difference in the appearance of the old man as he walked down to the side of the water the next morning, where the policeman was watching anxiously for him.

"Well, my friend," he said in his pleasant, cheery way, as the old man stepped into the boat, "did you read John 3:16?”

"Aye! I've read it," he answered, "and 1 didn't know it was there, although I've read it over and over. But do you mean to tell me," he continued with intense earnestness, "that it means ME? Me—a convict of fifty years standing?”

The heart of the policeman burned within him as he answered, "Yes, oh, yes! It means you. It's God's Word, you know, and God always means what He says. You are one of the world, aren't you? And 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'”

The old man stood up in the boat and stretched out his arms. "Sir," he cried, "they might have burned my finger-joints off—they might have burned my hands off—and I would not have given in. But oh! such love as this breaks my heart." And he sank down in the boat and sobbed aloud.

The policeman stood silently by. His heart was filled with exceeding joy. He had asked that this soul might be saved, but that he should see it was more than he had asked or thought.

Presently the old man looked up. "Oh, sir," he said, while the tears still ran down his cheeks, "if you knew my past life you would not be surprised that this wonderful love of God breaks my heart. I have never known what love is since my mother died. I was only five years old then, and my father kicked me out of doors, telling me to go and get my own living—he had kept me long enough. Ever since then I've knocked about in the world, and every man's hand has been against me. Sometimes I begged—at least, when I was a little chap—and when I couldn't get enough I stole. Fifty years of my life I've spent in jail, so you may guess I was not long out at a time.

"Ten years ago I was charged with setting fire to a farm, but the policeman gave false evidence about it; and yesterday when you spoke to me, I had murder in my heart. But oh, sir, I shan't murder the policeman now! God, in His wonderful love, has stopped me.”

The policeman was deeply touched. God, who knows the end from the beginning, had given him a message from His own never-changing Word for the convict; and the Holy Spirit, true to His office, had convinced him of sin. Here he was, clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. He was eager to hear more of His words, so the policeman quoted different passages, telling him where to find them, and the man scratched the numbers of the chapters and verses on the side of the boat, longing for the time to come when he might be able to read them in his cell.

For several days afterward the policeman watched by the side of the water, hoping to see the old convict again, but he came no more. His fifty years as a convict were ended, and he had gone out free—free, in body and soul.

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

Faith Counted for Righteousness

Just as a dollar bill is in itself worth nothing, but is valuable through what it is connected with, and is counted to the person who has it for the wealth it stands for; so faith, deriving all its value from what it stands connected with, is counted for righteousness to that sinner who believes in Jesus. We are saved, not by virtue of believing only, but by the virtue of what we believe.

"Flee from the wrath to come." Matt. 3:7.

Suddenly Cut Off

It was New Year's Eve. In the slums of a large city, a gospel service was to be held in a little mission room at midnight. After praying together, three or four young Christians had gone round the neighborhood and collected a few men who were just leaving the bars at closing time.

These poor, wretched, drink-sodden fellows were invited to the gospel meeting, and were promised coffee and hot rolls free at the close. It was a bitterly cold night, and several responded to the invitation. In the little hall about fifty men, women, and children gathered to hear the gospel of the grace of God.

First a few hymns were sung, and then two brief addresses were given. The hearers were reminded that, only through God's mercy, they had been spared to see the close of another year. Yet none could say where the close of the incoming year would find them. It was pressed upon them, as we would affectionately press home to the reader, how uncertain are our days here, and the importance of having the question of our soul's salvation and eternal welfare settled without delay.

Most of those present listened very attentively; but one, evidently under the influence of drink, was disposed to be troublesome. Another, apparently his companion in drink, but not so far gone, sought to quiet him. In fact, he appeared comparatively sober and anxious to hear the address. Because of his interest, the writer, who was present, hoped the Word might have reached his conscience in some measure. How little the poor fellow, or any of us, realized how near he was to the end of his life here! Ere three days had passed, the sad news came that after a day's hard drinking he had died suddenly in his chair. The Lord only knows whether the Word spoken may have found a place in his heart. "The Lord knoweth them that are. His." Surely, he was not brought to that meeting by chance; but, as far as we know, he died as he had lived—lost.

A solemn warning—the reader may say—to his companions. Yes, dear friend, and may God in His grace use it to them. But has it no voice for you, if still unsaved? How would it be with you if you were thus called away? Oh, be warned now, ere it be too late! As the tree falls, so it lies. "Flee from the wrath to come." Luke 3:7. The warning of the Word of God is: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1.

It may be that you are not a drunkard living in filth and vice, but God says, "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

If one has the assurance of sins forgiven and knows Christ as Savior, sudden death will be but sudden bliss. If still unsaved, to die is to be eternally lost.

In closing, we would entreat you to listen to the voice of the One who in wondrous love says, "Come now, and let us reason together... though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

"Is That True, Mary?"

For a long time a man had been seeking to gain a righteousness of his own. By his earnest works and laborious efforts he had been trying to be right with God.

One day he was at home with his wife, who had already given up all hope of being her own Savior, and had cast herself upon Christ to be saved by Him alone.

She sat singing over the well-known verses of the hymn, "Just as I am without one plea." When she came to the words,

"Just as I am Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,”

her husband broke in, inquiring, "Is that true, Mary? Will He receive a sinner just as he is?”

"Yes, surely!" answered his wife.

"I never knew that before! That's where I've been wrong. Well, He'll get me just now.”

And there and then, without waiting any longer, he trusted the Savior to save him, and knew what it was to be received, welcomed, pardoned, cleansed, and relieved. Believing His promise, he came and was not refused. And still God's Word stands: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

"COME UNTO ME, ALL YE
THAT LABOR AND ARE
HEAVY LADEN, AND I
WILL GIVE YOU REST.
"TAKE MY YOKE UPON
YOU, AND LEARN OF
ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND
LOWLY IN HEART: AND
YE SHALL FIND REST
UNTO YOUR SOULS.
"FOR MY YOKE IS EASY,
AND MY BURDEN IS
LIGHT."
Matt. 11:28-30

February

The Change of Masters

It was striking to observe the alteration in faithful old Collins, on the change of masters where he worked. His former master was remarkably mean in the management of his estate, and the old servant had grown gloomy and down-hearted under the influence of his master's ways. He felt the discredit of them as if they were his own.

Old Collins worked for him in the thankless spirit of drudgery, ashamed of himself and of his master as well.

In course of time the estate was bought by another, a master who proved to be a complete contrast to the former proprietor. Immediately there was a change in old Collins. His face brightened; his movements became so light and blithesome that people said, "Old Collins has grown young again.” Never did he tire of praising his new master.

Every day he had some good or great thing to mention concerning him, and he took special delight in getting employment for all trusty hands of the village on his master's premises. Old Collins, in short, was a new man, for as one field after another was purchased, and one project after another was set on foot, the old man basked in the reflected glory of the wealth, and generosity, and new possessions of his good master.

As I watched this poor man's happiness, I thought of the change of masters every converted soul has known. Dear Christian reader, you and I could not have served under 'a worse master, nor in a more degrading service, than we did as servants of sin in our unconverted days. But who can compare with our new Lord and Savior, who has bought the estate, and 'us with it, to be His happy bond-slaves for evermore? The meanest of drudges before, how are we exalted in belonging to the Lord Christ! His glory and goodness fill the highest heaven, and His dominion will soon be manifested over all things in heaven and on earth.

Brief

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is Made unto salvation." Romans 10:10

He Calleth Thee

Jesus Christ is passing by;
Sinner, lift to Him thine eye;
As the precious moments flee,
Cry, "Be merciful to me!”

Lo! He stands and calls to thee,
"What wilt thou then have of Me?”
Rise, and tell Him all thy need;
Rise! He calleth thee indeed.

"Lord, I would Thy mercy see;
Lord, reveal Thy love to me;
Let it penetrate my soul,
All my heart and life control."

Oh, how sweet! the touch of power
Comes—it is salvation's hour;
Jesus gives thy soul release;
"Faith hath saved thee; go in peace!”

Extract: Forever Saved or Lost

Without Christ you are lost—forever lost.

Accept Him and you are saved—forever saved.

"What think ye of Christ?”

Too Late

"Come at once, your father is asking for you." The young man read the telegram with a frown on his face. He wondered why his pleasure was always spoiled. Last week wasn't he going for a day down the river with a lot of friends, when a letter came telling of his father's illness? And when he got home there was no great cause for alarm. Now he was just off to the races, and this had come it really was too bad! What should he do?

"I suppose I'll have to miss it all again!”

he muttered. "If he's worse, why don't they say so? And if he's not worse, what do they want me for?”

He began hunting for a time-table, when two other men burst into the room.

"Hurry up, old man," they said breathlessly, "we haven't too much time." Then as they saw Archie's downcast face, they asked: "What's the matter now?”

For answer he pushed the telegram to them to read. "Isn't that rotten?" he asked "Last week's fun spoiled, and now today's!”

"But do you have to go today? Wouldn't tomorrow do?”

"That's what I've been wondering, but I wouldn't like the old man to die. I wonder if it would be too risky to wait till morning?”

A moment's silence; duty and pleasure fought together in his heart, but pleasure won. Presently Archie said with an uneasy laugh: "I'll put it off till tomorrow, and go down by the first train. Come on, we'll have a good time today, at any rate!”

And off they all went down the stairs with a rush, only just in time to catch the train.

Everything passed off well at the races; all their friends were there; the horses they backed won, and yet Archie Hendon was not happy, for over and over again a voice kept saying: "You ought to have gone home.”

It was very still in the room where the old man lay dying; a great 'hush, as if an angel paused there, waiting to take the tired spirit home to God.

Presently a feeble voice whispered, "Has Archie come yet?”

"Not yet, but I am 'sure that he will soon be here," and under her breath Mrs. Hendon added, "God grant that he come soon, or it will be too late.”

There was silence for a while, only the labored breathing and the short, feeble cough broke it, telling of a struggle between life and death. The moments passed, and once more the old man whispered: "Archie is not coming; tell him to meet me there—give him my love—and—blessing.”

It was a very tired, cross young' man that caught the first train next morning. The day's pleasure had proved exhausting, and his head ached. "It's a nuisance having to come down again so soon," he said to himself as he stepped out at his destination.

The station master looked at' him very gravely, but he never noticed it; and went whistling along the road. He was thinking so much of himself as he turned in' at the gate that he never noticed the drawn blinds, nor the stillness that hung over the house.

The front door being open, he bounded in, put his bag down, and, running upstairs; opened the door of his father's room, and was just beginning to say cheerfully, "Well, Father, I hope you are better," when, with a sudden exclamation, he stopped in horror.

What was it he saw? There lay his father in the sleep of death! The room reeled around him, and as he stood thus, someone came, and putting her hand on his arm, whispered, "My son, you have come TOO LATE!”

With a passionate exclamation, as if the words stung him, he turned and fled down the stairs, across the garden to a nook well known since his boyhood days. Throwing himself down in an utter abandonment of grief, Archie Hendon prayed. No one ever knew what passed through his mind during that darkest hour of his life. No one ever knew the depth of the agony of remorse that shook him as he realized that his father, his good, kind father, had asked for him in his dying hour, and he had not come!,

It was a few days later, and he listened to his mother's account of his father's death, and the last precious words. When she had finished, she laid her hand on Archie's shoulder and whispered: "My boy, don't wait until it is too late before listening to your heavenly Father's call," and with broken words he answered, "It will not be too late: I will come NOW!”

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

Get Rich, Live Easy, and Die Happy”

A colporteur was passing in his usual way from door to door, seeking to sell Bibles, New Testaments, gospel books, and to speak to one and another of the Savior whom he loved. Calling at one of the houses, he entered into conversation with a man who, when asked to buy a book, said, "If you have a book which will show me how to get rich, live easy, and die happy, I will buy it.”

The colporteur replied that he had the very book for him. He handed him a New Testament and told him it would give him all that he had required.

And surely it is a wonderful book if it will show all that. But it does, and multitudes have proved the truth of what the servant of God declared.

It shows the way to "get rich" really rich, rich with true riches which will give enjoyment now and forever:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8, 9

It shows the way to "live easy." It gives those who believe on the Lord Jesus to know that His precious blood has redeemed them and has cleansed them from all their sins. Thus their conscience is set at perfect rest and they have peace with God. They have come to Christ and He has given them that which He promised to all who come to Him—rest.

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

It shows the way to "die happy." It shows that the future has no sorrow for Christians; that Christ has borne the judgment; that He has died and risen again; that He now is in heaven living for His own, and that soon He is coming again for them. Thus they may never die at all, but if they do, they can "die happy," for they know that if their spirits leave their bodies, they will be present with the Lord. All this God's Word shows.

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psa. 16:11.

The man bought-the Testament, and found it to be a lamp to his feet and a light to his path. Have you found it to be such?

Fragment: Brought into Fellowship with the Father

God could never forget what is due to His holiness and glory. A ruined sinner could never have appeared in the light of His presence if that living Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, were not on the throne of God—that One who, before He took that place,' went to the cross and bore the whole' ruin' which sin brought. And now a stream of life flows down from that risen Man to me: I am brought into fellowship with the Father, and can stand in the light in. God's presence, rejoicing with ever-fresh delight at the blessedness of His having given that Son to bear all my ruin. G. V. W.

O Miki San

The more we know of the Bible, the more we are compelled to admit that "there is none like it." The stories of its victories over the lives of individuals "lost in sorrow, sunk in sin," fill us with assurance that there is a power behind that Book with which nothing else can compare.

In a girl's Bible school in Yokohama, O Mild San, a small Japanese girl, was receiving the congratulations of her companions on having won the reward offered by the school for diligent study and Bible work. She had come from Shinshin. A Japanese evangelist had started a children's meeting there, and this little girl, a deeply interested pupil, always waited for him at the gate of the tiny Japanese house where the meetings were held, with another companion whom she had induced to come and listen to the story of the "beautiful. Jesus." "Not `Yasu,' as bad people called Him, but `Yesu,' who loved children and took them in His arms." Thus she was, though unconsciously, doing "Bible work." She had given her heart unreservedly to Christ, and her consistent life was the admiration of all who now rejoiced with her as she received the copy of the Bible bearing her name in gold letters on the cover, and knew her desire that God would "use me and my blessed Book for leading others to know the Savior.”

A few hours later, a very different scene was being enacted in her dormitory. O Miki San had read a few verses from her precious Bible, and marked them as her favorites.

Then she placed it beneath her pillow, and was soon sleeping, peacefully. In the night she was awakened by a hand drawing something from under her head. She sprang up, and ran for a light. A hasty search revealed that her Bible was gone. It was apparent that a robber had been in the building. "But what could he want with a Bible?" was the question that came again and again to poor O Miki San. Her conclusion was that "he wanted money, but had gotten something more precious than gold," and she lifted her heart to God that He would bless the stolen treasure to the salvation of the thief.

Several years passed. In Kolu a Christian Japanese gave his life to prison rescue work, reading to and praying with the inmates. In one of the prisons he found a man who interested him greatly by his intelligence in regard to Bible truths. In explaining to him the way of salvation, he felt sure it was not new to him.

One day, as he quoted John 3:16, the man's eyes filled with tears, and he showed great agitation. Only two days remained before the execution of his death sentence, and the missionary pleaded earnestly with him. At last, on the last evening, as he told him "good night," a sound arrested his attention. Turning, he saw the man with head bowed to the floor, and heard sobs, now uncontrolled, which seemed to rend his very soul.

Lifting his head, the poor prisoner said, "You. have come to me as the, angel did to Peter to open the door of my prison-my soul's prison—and I will respond to your earnest knocking or is it God that is knocking through you? Of all the sins of my life, none has so pierced my heart these last days as the one done to an innocent girl in Yokohama, and yet it was her Bible, which I took from her pillow, which first taught me the meaning of sin. The verses which she had marked seemed written for me. I would wake up sometimes repeating them. 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.' Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' I would have destroyed the book, but could not. Her name is in it—if the girl is still living, give her back her book and tell her that the words, which from mere curiosity I read, have through God's blessing and your teaching saved my soul. My life is lost, but my soul is God's, and shall be amongst her jewels in His Kingdom.”

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

The Cables Will Ring Tomorrow”

Such were the words used by one of the leaders of a coal strike at Newcastle, Australia, some years ago. He referred to the cable messages the strikers were going to send abroad for help to enable them to carry on their industrial war.

But what if the cables ring tomorrow with the news that thousands of men, women, and children are missing from their homes and places of business? Such will be the case when “the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and 'remain shall be caught up together with them in 'the clouds, to met the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

Blessed Hope for the believer! The Word of God further tells those in Christ that they are to "comfort one another with these words:" Will you. be among those to be "caught up?" Or will you be one who will remain on the earth and read the newspapers, announcing the solemn fact that so many are missing?. If you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, you will be "caught up," as the Word of God plainly declares; caught up to glory. If left behind, you will be left for judgment. Does this comfort or distress you? God offers you the comfort, and He is the God of all comfort. It rests with you yourself whether you are to be comforted or distressed:

You say, When is this going to take place? Let God Himself answer that question: "In the twinkling of an eye." Think of it! But what day or hour? He has not told us when, but has left Christians to expect Him at any moment.

It may be today! Are you prepared to go and meet Him as your known Savior? Or will you await that time when you will have to appear before Him and know Him as your Judge? Assuredly He must be one or the other to you when that time has come.

Think again—how shall you escape if you neglect so great salvation? Don't, I beseech you, neglect or delay. Today is God's word to you, one and all. Tomorrow is Satan's delusion. Now we beseech you in Christ's stead, "Be ye reconciled to God," for "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We are told by the Lord Jesus, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Can you resist such a loving appeal? It will bring you everlasting happiness both in this world and that which is to come. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”

"THE LORD IS GOOD
UNTO THEM THAT
WAIT FOR HIM, TO THE
SOUL THAT SEEKETH
HIM.”

Lam. 3:25.

"I WAIT FOR THE LORD,
MY SOUL DOTH WAIT,
AND IN HIS WORD DO I
HOPE... FOR WITH
THE LORD THERE IS
MERCY, AND WITH HIM
IS PLENTEOUS
REDEMPTION.”

Psa. 130:5, 7

March

Missing a Train to Make a Start for Heaven

As Mr. Worth, an evangelist, was one day traveling, several farmers who were in the same coach with him were complaining of the bad times. One said he did not see how it was possible to continue to farm, unless the government reduced taxes. He had raised three calves, and had just taken them to market and had to sell them for less than they cost him.

Another young farmer broke in: "I've lost more than $5,000, and I'm tired of farming in this country. I am going to Australia.”

This statement brought forth a general chorus of contrary opinions and remonstrances.

"There is a black crow everywhere," said one. Another remarked that those who could not do well in this country were likely to turn out failures in other countries. At this the intended emigrant looked rather depressed. Mr. Worth put his hand upon his shoulder, saying earnestly, "It is far better to be sure of going to heaven.”

"Ah, it is, sir," answered one fervently. "There is no sorrow there; here there is plenty of disappointment and trial.”

Mr. Worth began to talk with the young man, who paid careful attention to what he said, and when they got out at the station he exclaimed: "Well! I'll miss a train to know how to make a start for heaven.”

So they walked up and down the platform together, and the evangelist explained to the earnest inquirer the way of salvation through "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." As they were looking together at the third chapter of John's Gospel, the eyes of the young man brightened, and he cried out eagerly: "I see it all! Jesus has died for me, a sinner, and I must trust Him. "Yes," continued he, "and I do trust Him; and whether the journey to heaven be short or long, I will take Him as my Savior and Guide.”

How the heart of the faithful servant of God rejoiced as he said good-bye to the young man who had taken Jesus as his Savior, and who on his journey to a distant land would now have for his Friend Him that "sticketh closer than a brother.”

Dear reader, young or old, if you do not "see it all," without one moment's delay, as you sit, or stand, or walk, come at once to Jesus, for He waits to save you.

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It was while reading this fourteenth verse of the third chapter of John's Gospel that the young farmer exclaimed, "I see it all!" May the Lord lead you to see it too.

Isa. 32:2

As the shadow of a great rock
In a weary, weary land;
Or as rivers of refreshing
Flowing through the desert sand;
As a covert from the tempest,
As a shelter from the wind,
All in all in Thee, Lord Jesus—
More than all in Thee I find.

My Hiding Place

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.

Enwrapt 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 thunderbolt shall daunt my face,
For Jesus is my Hiding Place.

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

Andre

These lines were found in the possession of one who knew what it was to be a fugitive from justice with no adequate "hiding place." Major Andre, who cherished the words of this poem and found in Christ his refuge, was executed as a spy during the revolutionary war in the United States.

Extract

He appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. That work is finished. It can never be added to, nor taken away from. Its value does not change. But the Spirit of God works in us to show us our need of it; and makes us see that we are sinners, that we are lost in ourselves; leads us (perhaps by deep and painful convictions) to the sense that there is no good in us, that when even to will is present with us, how to perform that which is good we find not. We find not only that we have sinned, but that there is a law of sin in our members, warring against the law of our mind, and bringing us into captivity to the law of sin in our members. But when—really humbled about this, and convicted in our own hearts, removing all pretensions of righteousness in ourselves—we turn to Christ, we find that He has died for this, that He has been a sacrifice for sin, as for the sins that burdened us—has been made sin for us, has put it away for us by the sacrifice of Himself.

Thus we get peace and liberty of heart before God, because the sin is put away between us and Him; Christ has made a full expiation. Sin does not exist as between God and us.

When He looks on the blood of Christ He cannot see sin in the believer, because when Christ shed that blood He put it away. Thus we get liberty and power too, because submitting thus to the righteousness of God, having Christ for our righteousness, we are sealed with the Spirit, which gives us power and shows us Christ, so that we get strength and joy, and are able to glorify Him.

A Broken and a Contrite Heart

While visiting the General Hospital a nurse said to me, "There is a very sick patient here; will you speak to him?”

I replied I would, and as we walked down the corridor to "No. 15" she told me that it was a most peculiar case. The doctor had been unable to make it out. On seeing the patient, I soon understood the reason: the science of medicine made no provision for sin-sick souls.

The sick man was about thirty-five years old. He was so overcome with emotion that his sobs shook the bed on which he lay. His eyes were swollen, his face wet with tears. When he attempted to return my greeting, his voice was so broken aid incoherent that it was impossible to gather any meaning from his disconnected words. I sat down by his bed and finally succeeded in quieting him somewhat, enough at all events for me to learn that he was making very strong and sweeping charges against someone, and that the "someone" was himself.

Is it strange to you, dear reader, that I could take satisfaction in such an exhibition of unhappiness and distress of soul? Would not the natural disposition be to soothe and reassure?

I remember when, years before this incident, I was going through an exercise of soul much less deep than that of my hospital friend, and knowing I was under God's just condemnation, I sought help from a Christian friend. He assured me that, to gain God's favor, I must be very good. But I knew by His Word— and well for me that I did!—that "there is none good but One.”

Now realizing that God was working by His Spirit to convince this man "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment," I looked to Him for the Word that He could use. So, instead of telling our patient in "15" that he need not be so distressed, I attempted to put before him the remedy that God had so freely and so fully provided.

"Oh, but I have been such a hypocrite," was the anguished cry.

"Granted," I replied. "But 'the blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin.'”

"There has never been such a sinner as I am.”

"There has never been such a Savior as the Lord Jesus.”

But the poor man would not look to Jesus: he could only see himself—a moral leper—and could only cry "unclean, unclean.”

Assured that He who had bruised could and would heal, I left. Business took me out of town for a few days; but I wrote to my friend and sent him a New Testament with many passages which I thought applicable to his case marked for him. I was very much before the Lord about him, and on my return was anxious to know of his state.

As soon as circumstances permitted I went again to the hospital. On entering Ward 15 my heart sank when I saw not only a different person but an unknown name on the bed where I had seen so recently the manifestation of the Spirit's power. My disappointment was brief, however. I soon learned that the patient had been transferred to another ward. There I found him sitting, "clothed, and in his right mind," reading his Testament.

"Well," I said, "are you rejoicing in the finished work of Christ?”

With some hesitation he replied, "At times I am filled with joy, and then again clouds arise.”

"But if the Lord were to call you at this moment what would be the result?”

"Oh, I would surely be with Him.”

"Then," I said, "let us thank God for the salvation of your precious soul." And on our knees we praised Him for His mercy, love, and grace to poor lost sinners like us.

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psa. 34:18.

Follow the Line

It is said that travelers in Venice can easily find their way. The streets are narrow, and the canals have many twists and turns; but there is in the walls by the canals and the foot-paths a thin Line of Red Stone.

If that line is followed, it will lead the traveler to the center of the city.

In the Scriptures there is the thin red Line of Redemption by Blood. Wherever you turn in the holy pages, you will find it near you. It leads to Christ. He is the Center— the ALL— of God's thoughts: the Center— the ALL— of our Salvation.

An Alarming Discovery

Robert Brown was a young business man living in Detroit. He had prospered financially and was recognized as a righteous and honorable man. He was a good husband and kind father, and everyone knew him as a generous man, ready to give to any good cause. He had little time to think about religion, though he went to church frequently. But he was not saved and of him, as of young Samuel, it might be written, he "did not yet know the Lord." 1 Sam. 3:7.

All his good qualities could not give him real peace or gain salvation for him, for in God's sight "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6.

Wearied by close attention to business, he and his wife took a trip to Scotland. They toured the country, finally locating themselves in a pleasant little village in the south. Every morning they went out for a walk; and having taken a longer walk than usual one day they turned into a little cemetery to rest. Mrs. Brown had brought a book with her, and soon Robert began to wander around the graves. Presently he came to a large flat stone covered with ivy. He pulled aside the leaves to see what was written there. To his amazement he read his own name, and saw that the one buried there had died at his present age!

Hastily replacing the vine, he passed' on; but the memory of his own name on the tombstone haunted him and made him restless and unhappy. He could not help but think of it and wonder where his soul would be if it were his body lying in the grave. He knew he must spend eternity somewhere:—if not in heaven, then where?

He had heard that, to be ready for heaven, it was necessary to be born again, but he knew that experience had not been his. This weighed on his mind so much that he soon returned home to Detroit, determined to prepare to meet God. He began to attend church regularly, but all seemed useless. Finally in despair he turned to a New Testament that he had and learned there that God had good news for sinners who are lost. These are some verses from God's Word that impressed him: "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."... "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:6, 8. "Lost" he realized he was; and though not "ungodly" in the eyes of men perhaps, still God said it of him. He was a sinner, he realized, as the Spirit of God taught him his condition; and he confessed, "It's all sin, Lord, all sin!”

But, oh! the joyful news that Christ the sinless One had died for such as he, and that God could, through that work on the cross, pardon the guilty. Christ, raised from the dead, is a living Savior for dead sinners, and therefore the sinner believing on Him has eternal life. All this and much more he found in his Testament and gladly and thankfully rested his weary soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the lost.

Years have passed since that memorable trip, but Robert still tells from a glad heart of his awakening to the state of his lost condition of soul, and of the full and free salvation he received by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross.

If a sudden summons should come to you tonight, "This night thy soul shall be required of thee," would you be ready for it? Remember, you must meet God whether you will or not; and, prepared or unprepared, when the summons comes you must go. Then where will YOU spend eternity? At this moment God is waiting to be gracious and Christ is saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. Refuse His call and you will perish forever.

What Is Repentance?

Repentance is owning the truth of your condition and guilt as a sinner.

Repentance is accepting your true place before God.

Repentance is taking sides with God against yourself.

Repentance is justifying God in condemning you.

Repentance is being above board—honest—in all you have done and are.

Luke 15:10

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

A Straight Line to Christ

An Emperor of Russia, when the railway was to be built between Moscow and St. Petersburg, employed many engineers to draw the plans. When the maps were shown him, he looked them over and laid them aside. Then, like the practical man that he was, he said, "Here, bring me a ruler.”

With ruler and pencil he drew a straight line. "This," he said, "is the way to engineer it. We want no other plan than one straight line.”

Many ways are practiced in "engineering" souls to heaven, but the only one worth considering is this: Draw a straight line to Christ at once.

Did some awakened soul say, "I would like to talk to Mr.—about it"? By all means talk to him, but do not stop for that. Go to Christ first.

"Oh, but I want to talk to some good woman—some Christian lady," you say.

Go to Jesus Christ at once and see the lady afterward. There must be nothing nobody between the soul and the Savior. It is with Him alone you have to do. Go straight to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

"The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath." Prov. 15:24.

I Am Persuaded”

A soldier in one of the base hospitals was near the end of life. A visitor addressed him thus: "What church are you a member of?”

"Of the church of Christ," was the answer.

"But I mean of what persuasion are you?”

"Persuasion!" said the dying Christian soldier. "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord." Rom. 8:38, 39.

Reader, turn to the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, to His precious blood shed on Calvary, to His finished work, to His empty tomb, to His persuasion. For "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.

JESUS SAID:
"I AM
THE
GOOD SHEPHERD:
THE
GOOD SHEPHERD
GIVETH HIS LIFE
FOR
THE SHEEP.”

John 10:11

April

"Until"

The shepherd seeks the lost sheep "until he finds it." And it is only the lost sheep that lies in the pathway of the seeking shepherd. If I take the place of a lost sinner, and nothing else, it is not so much my part to seek. Christ as His to seek me. This is grace. He seeks until He finds; He does not stop in His search until He and we meet. Alas, our part is only straying.

The holy, just and good law of God came demanding from man love to God, and proved that what God justly demands from man He has not got, and cannot get; so that, without exception, it may be said of all men who ought to have sought after God, “There is none that seeketh after God.” Rom. 3:11.

Grace comes in now, and says, I will seek you, and I will seek until I find. Thank God! It is He who breaks in upon us, and not we upon Him. We would willingly remain among those who forget God. Our wills are free only to wander, and get further from Him. In fact, the first thing God does in breaking in upon our enmity is to make us "willing.”

Our part is to take the place of a sinner, and nothing else. Most people believe they are sinners, but comparatively few believe that they are sinners and nothing else but sinners. As truly as He has shown us that we are lost, and nothing but lost, so surely can we claim that seeking Shepherd, for He seeks until He finds.

Nothing stops Him in His search;—not all the hatred of man nor devils;—not all the malice and spite and envy of the chief priests;—not all the murmurings of the Pharisees and scribes;—not all the waywardness of the wandering sheep;—not the indifference and degradation of those for whom He is searching. He will have His joy, that joy that rejoices not until He finds.

But there is another "until" in Luke 17:27. “They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”

That little word "until" tells out the sad story of what man is. Men will please themselves, let God's claims or God's grace be what they may. And thus they go on “until"!

But every history has its until. The course of the vilest infidel is brought to a close by an until. The world's race to destruction will be consummated in that until. Vain are the thoughts of those who think of the gradual conversion of the world. They go on as Jesus said they would: careless, and wholly engrossed with their own affairs, until the Lord comes.

Jesus will remain away until this time of mingled salvation and destruction: salvation to all who were sought out and found by Him; destruction to all who rejected Him, it being one of God's impossibilities to renew such to repentance. Solemn words! May we take heed while it is yet the day of His grace.

He came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Thus called and thus saved, we can patiently await His coming. We rest on the precious promises of His Word, while even some who profess His name are leaning to their own understanding.

A godless, reckless world is rushing blindly, madly on to destruction until (and what an until it will be!) until He comes in righteousness, to make this earth His footstool. Then He shall gird His sword on His thigh, to slay, and not to heal; and, in the midst of their calamity and dreadful fear, His word is: "I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” Prov. 1:26.

Be Honest With God”

These were the words of one young man to another as he leaned out of the window of a railway coach saying "Good-bye" to his friend.

An arrow shot at a venture—it was good advice for all. "Be honest with God." Let me add a word as I pass it on to you: "Be honest with God"—TODAY.

You will HAVE to be honest in the Day of Judgment.

Wait on

To talk with God no breath is lost;
Talk on!-
To walk with God no strength is lost;
Walk on!
To toil with God no time is lost;
Toil on!
Little is much if God is in it;
Man's busiest day not worth
God's minute.
Much is little everywhere
If God the business doth not share.
So work with God, then nothing's lost;
Who works with Him doth best and most.

Dnyanodaya

Only Believe

How encouraging are the invitations in the Bible to come to Christ and be saved! We read of some who came who doubted His willingness, but believed in His power. Another doubted His power, but trusted in His willingness. We read of some who asked earnestly, and of others who never uttered a word, but only touched the hem of His garment: the little faith, and the strong. Yet all had their need supplied, none were sent away.

And what do all these varied and expressive figures teach us? Just this: that it was not the way in which they came that was important. It was that they came, and came to Jesus. Their believing was not what it ought to have been. Their asking was not what it ought to have been; all was faulty, yet Jesus sent none away.

Yet how often we hear people say, "I am afraid I have not come—or believed—or asked—as I ought!" This is possibly true, and all may be faulty. But it is not your coming rightly, or believing rightly, or asking rightly, that saves you. It is Jesus—Jesus only. You are making a savior of these instead of Christ. The Lord Jesus says, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." Look not at these, but at Christ, and believe. "Only believe.”

Extract: The Bridge to God

It was impossible for the Lord Jesus to escape the cross if sin was to be atoned for. The mighty distance between God and the sinner is thus bridged over, and the boundless river of His love is free to flow down to the lost.

No Hiding Place

Who can estimate the mischief that has been done in the world, the dishonor to God and to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the misery brought to many of God's dear children, and the ruin to souls by the imaginations and reasonings of men?

The following instance is but a sample:

A Christian woman, greatly burdened about the soul of a man, her neighbor, asked a brother in Christ to call on him. The man was a professed infidel and a most unhappy person.

On going to see him, the servant of the Lord found that, as usual, this man had “many and weighty difficulties" against the inspiration of the scriptures.

“Well, what are they?" asked his visitor. “Let us have them one by one.”

And so they were presented.

The result may be anticipated by those who know the divine, exact, consistent power and marvelous adaptedness of the Bible to meet every "difficulty.”

The infidel was not one of those who make pretensions to the intellectual superiority so often claimed by his class, and he advanced his "objections" with the air of one who distrusted them himself. He finally acknowledged that he got them out of a book. He produced this volume from under his work-bench. In it—as in all works of the kind—were found misrepresentations, suppositions, and statements founded on gross ignorance of the true Word of God.

Instead of struggling to maintain his ground, the man seemed to find relief, even gratification, in the demolition of the infidel author's false "facts" and reasonings. In fact, at the close of the interview he begged his visitor to come again as soon as possible. When he did return in a few days, the truth came to light: the man was not truly what he claimed, what he really feared, and what he had styled himself—an infidel; he was but the victim of other men's reasonings.

“Why, then, did he pretend to be?" you may ask. Well, you shall hear.

As a little boy, this man had been a happy part of a godly family. When about seven years old, he had in childish faith received the Lord Jesus as his Savior; and until young manhood he had given evidences of being a "born again" soul, a Christian. Then came the time to prepare for a vocation. The young man entered college.

Heretofore surrounded by those whose love for the Lord was unquestioned and whose continual purpose was to shield him from evil and to lead him in the way of righteousness, our young friend was ill prepared to withstand the "wiles of the devil." Now "on his own" as it were, away from friends and loved ones, his lonely heart craved youthful companionship and the approbation of his fellows.

And well did Satan know how to conform the lad to his own purposes. Through the most amiable, the most popular of his college mates the boy was drawn almost imperceptibly and irresistibly into the worldly atmosphere of college life. When he finally protested that a Christian could not enter into some of the more flagrant of these “pleasures," he was derided for his "narrow” views. At his attempts to quote Scripture to uphold his position, he was met with the declaration that the well-informed college man could not believe the Bible. And to prove this statement he was dared to read infidel books which his mates produced.

Thinking himself to be proof against any attack on his faith in the Word of God, our young friend accepted the challenge. How true the Word: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall"! 1 Cor. 10:12. Scarcely had he read the first pages before doubts crept into his mind; but ere long he was reading avidly the scoffing, taunting words of godless men whom Satan would use to harass the Lord's own and to destroy the weak and wavering sons of men.

In a little while the "shield of faith" was lowered, "the fiery darts of the wicked" had found entry through the unprotected armor, and the lad had fallen prey to the unholy reasonings of men.

But the One whom he had known as Savior would not let him go. Though grieved and quenched, the abiding presence of the Spirit of God continually prodded him with remembered portions of the once precious Word, and frequently on his lips were lines of faithful old hymns, too true to be stifled.

Years went by. In his unhappy state the poor chap began to take pride in the appellation, "an infidel," forgetting that "the fool hath said in his heart, NO GOD." Psalm 53:1, (N. T.). Yet his heart, his true affections, were with the people of God, those whom the Savior of sinners deigns to call “brethren.”

What conflict, what torture did he endure! All the lonely, wasted years his heart cried out for assurance, for certainty of salvation, for the enjoyment of lost fellowship. Instead, the emptiness of a life without Christ, the bitterness of death, the hopelessness of eternity seemed to be his portion.

And you, dear unbelieving friend, are in that very same condition. Perhaps you are one of those who seeks to stifle conscience with the paltry frivolity of worldly pleasure, or, maybe, your pride sustains you in your course. From a heart of love for your never dying soul I cry to you, I beseech you Go to the Book that cannot lie. Eternity is a LONG time, and there are no atheists in hell! Listen to the Voice of authority: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3.

Dear friend, as eagerly as you have adopted the opinions of men—ungodly men—I beg you to "turn about" NOW. Put first things first. Your eternal destiny is at stake. Cast down all imaginations, all reasonings. “Search the Scriptures" with the unprejudiced simplicity of a little child. "Let go, and let God." He will show you His salvation. Otherwise I warn you: the day of His wrath, fast approaching, will come and find you with NO HIDING PLACE.

Behold, He Cometh!

The devil has many "lines," all of which lead to hell. Only one road leads to heaven. Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

You may say, "Do not bother me. I will not travel on any line." In that you are greatly mistaken. Travel you must. Every day is a day nearer heaven or hell.

Look at the crowd about you and let me ask: "Where is the crowd that thronged this world a hundred years ago?" But hark again: One speaks from heaven, "Behold, I come quickly!”

His words are fast being fulfilled. The professing church is as He said it would be: “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” Some are saying, "We will not believe He is coming." Others: "We will not have Him to reign over us." Few, very few, are waiting for the Son of God from Heaven.

The 'Word of God assures us that He will suddenly come and take the world with as great surprise as the flood in the days of Noah, or the destroying fire of God that fell on Sodom. Men may laugh now, as men laughed then. Scorners may say, “Where is the promise of His coming?”

But after years of careful searching of the Scriptures, I find that God is faithful and His Word is true.

Dear friend, take God at His word. Christ is coming! How soon no one knows—but, perhaps today. First Thessalonians tells us, “The Lord Himself shall descend... and so shall we ever be with the Lord." What an event!

Ah, reader, are you ready? Can you say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly"? You tremble at the thought. Your sins! You cannot bear to meet the Lord with them unpardoned. Oh, bring them at once to the cross. Jesus said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." None ever sought forgiveness and were denied. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

There are thousands who profess to be Christians, but have never received Christ as their Savior. Their lamps have no oil in them—they are going out. Think of the midnight cry! Awake from that fatal slumber! Fellow believer, trim your lamp! Gird up your loins! Be like one that waits for your Lord. "For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." C. S.

Briefs: Working for My Soul

I cannot work my soul to save,
For that my Lord hath done;
But I may work like any slave
From love to God's dear Son.

“Hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" Num. 23:19.

Four Things He Knew

"I want to tell you something, sir!" said an old man. He took me by the top button of my coat and drew me into a corner of the large hall at the Old Folk's Home.

“What is it?”

“I know four things, sir!”

“Well, what are they?”

“God is my Father, the Lord Jesus is my Savior, the Holy Ghost is my Comforter, and Heaven is my home.”

Happy old man! He had more wealth than all earth's millionaires. Blest indeed are those who can say, "My Father, my Savior, my Comforter, my Home." All that is needed for time and for eternity is wrapped up in those words.

“Whether... life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.” 1 Corinthians: 3:22, 23.

Go, Chain and All!”

One who was anxious about his soul's salvation was talking to a Christian Scotsman. He told him that he had felt bound by a chain, and could not go to God.

“Eh, mon!" said the Scotsman, "why not go, chain and all?”

That was good advice. If the chain of your sins fetters you and you cannot break it, bring the chain with you. Cast yourself and your bonds at the feet of the Savior. He can set you free. HE is the Savior.

He does not tell you to save yourself and then come to Him. He calls you to come to Him for the salvation you need. He does not bid you to cleanse yourself from your sins and make yourself fit for His holy eye. He has died that He might cleanse you; and if you come to Him He will make your sins as white as snow and make you meet for the glory of God.

“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.

Fragment: Amusements

The so-called innocent amusements of the world are only contrivances to forget God.

JESUS SAID:

“HIM
THAT COMETH
TO ME
I WILL
IN NO WISE
CAST OUT.”

John 6:37

May

The Lord Jesus: or the Sage

It was an Eastern city nearly nineteen hundred years ago. A funeral procession had just passed out through the gate. The dead man was "the only son of his mother and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.

And there came a fear on all; and they glorified God.”

It was another Oriental city some twenty-four hundred years ago. A funeral had just passed out through the gate. Much people of the city followed and the mourners wept as only those without hope can weep. China's greatest sage was passing and heard the wails for the dead and saw the procession slowly wend its way to the hills outside the city. He passed on to his house—not to eat—but to mourn and fast in bitterness of soul for his helplessness.

For nearly twenty-four hundred years China has held the teachings of her dead sage. Today China herself lies prostrate—dead in sins. Both the sage and his teachings have proved helpless and hopeless.

My reader, do you know where to find help and hope for such a state? Do you know the Savior who giveth life and joy?

"Jesus said... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” John 11:25, 26.

The Four Calls

The Spirit came in childhood
And pleaded, "Let Me in.”
But ah; the door was bolted
There's time enough for me.
And barred by childish sin.
The child said: "I'm too little;
Today I cannot open.”
The Spirit turned away.

Again He came and pleaded
In youth's bright happy hour.
He called, but heard no answer,
For, fettered in sin's power,
The youth lay idly dreaming
And crying, "Not today;
For I must have some pleasure.”
Again He turned away.

He came again in mercy
In manhood's vigorous prime,
But still could find no welcome.
The merchant had no time
To spare for true repentance
No time to praise or pray.
And thus, repulsed and saddened,
The Spirit turned away.

Once more He called and waited.
The man was old and sad;
He scarcely heard the whisper:
His heart was scarred and bad.
"Go leave me! when I want Thee,
I'll call for Thee," he cried.
Then, sinking on his pillow,
Without a hope he died.

Extract: Things Which are Seen

Amid the shows and shams of earth "look ever at eternal things. The things which are seen are but vapors which appear for a little and then vanish away.

"All for Christ"

"Now, girls, I have news for you!”

The speaker was a handsome, fashionably dressed young woman. She was just entering a room where several of her cousins, young ladies like herself, were gathered.

"What is it, Ada?" they cried.

"You'll never believe it! Lina Ashcraft has professed religion," was the half serious, half laughing reply.

"Lina Ashcraft?" The girls repeated the name more or less in surprise.

"Lina Ashcraft!" The eldest cousin repeated the name seriously. "Why, she was forever making sport of the subject. And such a fashionable girl! She would hardly look at a person who was poorly dressed.”

"Her father an infidel, too. What will he say?”

"I heard that he turned her out of the house," said Ada.

There was a long silence. It was abruptly broken by the youngest of the girls. "Now we shall see if there is any reality in Christianity. Lina has a hard time ahead. I wouldn't be in her place.”

"Pshaw! There's no such thing as persecution in these days. It would be a rare thing to see a martyr." This was lightly spoken by Ada who had been Lina's dearest friend. Poor Ada felt that her friend's conversion had erected an insurmountable barrier between them, and she bitterly resented it.

But martyrs are not rare, even in these days; aye, there are real martyrs to religious persecution, as we shall see.

Lina Ashcraft was engaged to be married to George Phillips, a thorough man of the world. George loved his gay life—parties, cocktails, the races, the theater, the convivial and free and easy club. Sunday was his day for pleasure, and many times had Lina joined him, radiantly beautiful, on that day.

He had a pleasing manner, a keen mind, much wealth, and was welcomed and admired everywhere.

His brow darkened when he heard the "news." "What! The girl of his choice, the one who would be mistress of his home, now a canting Christian? Nonsense; he wouldn't believe it. It was a ridiculous hoax! What! The daughter of Henry Ashcraft, the freest of free thinkers—a Christian? Ha! It was a joke, nothing more.”

George called upon Lina immediately. Unsmilingly he scanned her lovely face; but how gently, how sweetly she met him! Her voice, always pleasant, was deeper, richer in its tones now. In her face was winning grace, and settled peace. A happy smile dimpled her cheek. But there was something, a subtle something, that filled him with apprehension, because it was unlike her old self. What could it be?

Lightly, scoffingly, he referred to the report he had heard. For one moment her face paled, her lips refused to speak. This passed, and something like a flash of sunshine crossed her beautiful face. It lightened her eyes anew, it touched her cheek with soft crimson as she replied, "George, please don't treat this as a jest, for truly, thank God, I have become a Christian. Oh, George!"— her clasped hands were laid upon his, "I have only just begun to live! If you knew—”

Impatiently he sprang to his feet, throwing her hands from him in his abrupt movement. He did not dare to trust his voice, for an oath was uppermost. He walked swiftly back and forth for a moment, and then he came and stood before her. Angrily he exclaimed, "Do you mean that you will really cast your lot among these people, that for them you will give up all—ALL?”

"I will give up ALL for Christ." The words were very soft and low, and not spoken without reflection. But they angered him still more. There' was fury in his voice as he pronounced his ultimatum: "Lina, if this is your intention, you and I are through. We must go different ways.”

This was cruel a terrible test. That young girl, as it were, had placed her very soul in his keeping. Before a higher, a purer love had been born in her heart, she had almost worshipped George; and the thought of giving him up even now seemed unbearable. Tears came to her eyes.

As he saw this, his manner changed to entreaty. He placed before her all their hopes and plans, the position he would give her. He lured her with every argument that could appeal to her womanly heart. But his ultimatum stood:—George Phillips or Christ.

The gentle spirit of the young Christian felt as if she must yield; but help direct from the Fountain of Life sustained her. The blessed indwelling Spirit of God brought to her mind a verse of scripture she had recently read: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3. And who had said, "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me"? It was the enemy of souls and of Christ. There could be no compromise:—it was Christ or—. And standing there with her new-found faith shining in her heart and lighting her pale features, she said with a firmness worthy of the martyrs of old: "CHRIST.”

Though his heart was filled with rage, never had she seemed so dear, so lovable to the young man. Her earnest, upward look, her attitude so self-possessed yet so modest, filled him with a strange, admiring awe. But his hostility towards "religion" was so strong in him that it bore down all tenderness, all love. He parted from her for the first time coldly and like a stranger.

The engagement was broken off. This was the first trial. Then came another while yet her heart was heavy.

Lina Ashcraft's father had never shown her much love. He was proud of her. She was an ornament to his beautiful home and an asset to himself. Her beauty and brilliance gratified his vanity. But for her to break with the wealthy, dashing young George Phillips was unthinkable. He called her into his study and required a minute account of the whole matter. He had heard rumors, he said, and had seen a surprising and far from agreeable change in her: she had grown "mopish,” quiet. What was the cause?

What a testing for the poor girl, so newly converted! Before that stern, unbelieving face she must stand and testify for Christ. But He who has promised, "I will never leave thee," was with her, and she told the story calmly, resolutely, kindly.

"And do you intend to follow this course?”

"Yes, Father!" A gleam of hope entered her heart. She did not expect his approval, but she could not think of his refusal to sanction this important step.

"You know your Aunt Eunice has long wanted you to share her home.”

"Yes, Father," the gentle voice faltered.

"Well, you can go there now. Unless you give up this absurd notion and become reconciled to George Phillips, I do not wish you to remain with me. Be as you were before, and I will give you all I have. Hold to your present course, and I shall be your father only in name.”

Again she was faced with the ultimatum: CHRIST OR—. And still, though her heart was breaking, she answered as before: "CHRIST.”

Lina Ashcraft did forsake all for Christ; but grief for her loved ones broke both heart and health. The gentle, tender girl was unfitted to cope with such overwhelming sorrow. Swiftly she went down into the valley of the shadow, but it was not dark to her. The presence of her Lord sustained and comforted her.

As she neared the end of the way, George Phillips heard that she was dying. His heart was again stirred by memories of her gentle dignity when, as opposed to him, she had chosen Christ. Could there be such power in HIM? George longed to know. Hesitantly he visited the dying girl and implored her forgiveness. Too late? No, not too late for his own salvation, for in that hour his eyes were opened to his own sinfulness and to the uselessness of his life. By her side he knelt and gave his lonely heart to God.

Her father, too, proud infidel though he was, looked on his child with wonder and awe.

Such a scene is the privilege of but few to witness. She had given up all for Christ, and in her last hour the Spirit of God seemed to fill her. Her sweet face glowing with heavenly light, she testified to her father of the power of Him who has triumphed over death, hell, and the grave, and is now seated at God's right hand in the glory. With a contrite heart and a reverent spirit he heard her whisper:.

"Rock of Ages! Cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in Thee.
There the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Are of sin the double cure,
Cleansing from its guilt and power.”

The room was still, the girlish form lay quiet as one word—her last—scarcely more than a breath was— heard. It was—"CHRIST.”

John 3:16”

"For God so loved the world," I find it written In verse sixteen, John's Gospel, chapter three:—

"He gave His Son" Who was for sinners smitten When nailed upon the cross at Calvary.

Such wondrous love, it passes human knowledge;

For Jesus died that we might ever live. Eternal life! So none need ever perish, This life to all believing souls He now will give.

"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.”

Brief

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

The Barber's New Sign

One Lord's Day morning two Christian men were out giving printed invitations to a Gospel meeting to be held that same evening. As they went along one street they came to a barber's shop. It was open, for on that morning very often his best trade was done. They went in and handed the barber an invitation.

Looking at it he quickly said: "No use to me. Here, take it back; I'm not coming.”

One of the men answered, "Why not? The meeting is not till evening, and you will be closed then. Why not come? The seats are free and there's a welcome for you.”

"That's true, I do close my shop before then," answered the barber; "but if I did come you would just tell me to close my shop and keep the Sabbath.”

"Nothing of the kind! You come tonight and you will not hear a word about shutting your shop. But you will hear the Gospel.”

Assured again that he would hear nothing about closing up, he said, "Well, I'll not promise, but I may come along." As they passed on, their prayers went up to God that He would incline him to be there.

When the meeting began, the barber was sitting among the others. Not a word was said about "shutting shop." Indeed, nothing was put before the sinner as needful to be done; but the fact was stressed that man is a sinner before God, guilty, condemned and that no effort on his part can suffice to cleanse that guilt away.

The barber had feared but one thing: "shutting shop." Now he saw his own heart in the presence of God a heart poisoned with sin and an enemy of God. No doing was required, for the very "doing" of a sinful man is an abomination to God. "Ye must be born again," the Lord Jesus had said. His own precious blood must be shed, Christ must die in our stead, or sin could never be forgiven.

That night the barber listened, entranced, to the story of God's love. He saw himself as the sinner that Christ died to save; he owned Him as Savior and Lord; and he left that hall "a saved man, rejoicing in Christ,” as he said to those who had invited him.

The following Lord's Day morning those two Christians were around with invitations again. As they came to the barber's shop they looked—it was his best, morning for business. What would he do? The answer was before them. The door was shut. Customers had come as usual and were startled to see, not the well-known pole, the usual sign, but a new and singular one. In large letters was posted the following text:

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

The wondrous love of God for poor, lost sinners had so filled the heart of the barber that his shop, his prosperity, all he had was not enough to lay at His, the blessed Savior's, nail-pierced feet.

Have you, too, my reader, seen the precious Savior "lifted up" upon that cruel cross—for you? Will you not believe it, receive it, and enter into the good of it while it is still the "day of salvation"?

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

Hardness

Both luxury and religiousness help to harden the heart, and they give it a peculiar callousness toward the Gospel.

The rough man who swears at and scorns God's mercy is hard in his own way. His hardness is like that of the rock that requires the blow of hammer and chisel to break in pieces.

The polished, religious man is hardened to his need of God in a different way. His heart is like a lump of India-rubber. Hit it as you will, it only flings back the stroke of the hammer.

The ancient battering ram which could crush down stone walls and iron gates was often baffled by bags of straw and sand placed in front of walls and gates.

It is this India-rubber kind of hardness, this respectable, religious-hardness of heart which is so difficult to overcome. It repels, flings back, the blows of the Gospel.

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart." Psa. 95:7, 8.

"AS MOSES LIFTED UP
THE SERPENT IN THE
WILDERNESS, EVEN SO
MUST THE SON OF MAN
BE LIFTED UP: THAT
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH
IN HIM SHOULD NOT
PERISH, BUT HAVE
ETERNAL LIFE.”

John 3:14, 15.

June

Their Latter End”

The following lines were found among the papers of one who had devoted his life to the quest of honor and fame: a life which would no doubt be highly commended by the children of the world. The lines speak for themselves with a seriousness and intensity that cannot be overstated, and stand as a solemn warning to all who would walk ambition's glittering pathway:—

"Why labor for honor? Why seek after fame? Why toil to establish a popular name?

Fame! aye, what is fame? A bubble—a word, A sound that's worth nothing, a hope that's deferred; A heart-sickening hope that's too often denied Or withheld from the worthy, to pander to pride.

"Then out upon fame! Let her guerdon be riven. Nay—hold—let me strive as I always have striven.

Out, out upon fame! Too late will she come;

Her wreath mocks my brow. Will it hang on my tomb?

Too much have I labored; too willingly gave My thoughts to the world,—and HAVE EARNED BUT A GRAVE.”

Such lines need no comment; and we turn from them to an extract from the last writings of one who had renounced the most brilliant career in order to take up the cross and to follow the Lord Jesus into the place of rejection.

At the end of a life of trial and suffering such as few are called upon to undergo, he was cast into a Roman dungeon. Almost all his earthly friends had forsaken him; he had appeared once before that cruel tyrant Nero; and before him lay the lions, or perhaps some other fiendish torture. Truly it was "a latter end" to be, naturally, greatly dreaded. But what had HE earned? No thoughts of the grave filled his soul when he wrote to his young friend Timothy, as follows:—

"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

Again no comment is needed; the language of Paul the apostle is too sublime to require human praise.

Now we would earnestly ask every reader of these lines to ponder well the striking contrast, remembering always that he cannot serve two masters. It must be Christ or self: God or Satan. God wants you to be wise. He presents to you the truth, that you may consider "the latter end" of these things.

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

Extract: The Immensity of Sin and Grace

The way I come to the knowledge of the immensity of sin is by contemplating the immensity of the grace that has met it.

"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus." This is the way the angels will learn, and the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, the meaning of "the exceeding riches of His grace." They will see the poor thief on the cross; the woman of the city that was a sinner; ourselves, too, seated in the heaven-lies in the same place and glory as God's dear Son!

The Lord of Love

It is the "voice" of Jesus
That bids the weary rest.
It is the "blood" of Jesus
That makes the sinner blest.

It is the "eye" of Jesus
That guides us all the way.
It is the "ear" of Jesus
That hears us as we pray.

It is the "hand" of Jesus
That toucheth when in pain.
It is the "arm" of Jesus
That makes us strong again.

It is the "feet" of Jesus
That marked the way we go.
It is the "heart" of Jesus
That bears the wide world's woe.

It is the "will" of Jesus
That we have perfect peace.
It is the "love" of Jesus
That causeth strife to cease.

Brief

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

Their Future Is Safe!

Perhaps you have seen the above words on a billboard in your town, and a picture of a mother with her child in her arms. It is an advertisement of a Life Insurance Company, seeking to impress on the reader that the father has taken out a policy, and if death should take him suddenly his wife and child are provided for. The picture gives the impression that they are happy because they know "their future is safe.”

But for how long? Are we wise if we only look ahead for a few short years? "We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away... so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psa. 90:9, 10, 12

Are you numbering your days, reader? They are passing quickly, and, life insurance or no life insurance, you are passing into eternity. Is your future safe for eternity, as well as for time? Or are you like the rich man in Luke 12, who thought his future was safe because he had much goods laid up for many years? God called him "a fool," because he was not rich in faith, and consequently not rich toward God. The Lord asks the question, "Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:19-21.) Read the whole story as told by our Lord Himself. It is all about one who imagined his future was safe.

Is your future safe? I don't mean only for a few short days, or months, or years, in this passing scene, but can you look along the stream of time, whether it be long or short, and see yourself at the end of your brief life going out into eternity? Will you still be able to say, "My future is safe"? If not, remember that God calls a man a fool—no matter how well off he may be for time—who is not "rich toward God" for eternity. Think—make yourself think—"Soon I must leave here!”

Leaving wealth behind you, and knowing that those who survive you are set free from any pinch of poverty, will not make your eternal future safe, nor insure the eternal future of the loved ones you are leaving here.

Many a man has left enough wealth behind to send his family to hell at breakneck pace! No one blames people for being thrifty and laying up for their children, but what about eternity? Eternity! Are you neglecting your real future by being so engrossed with the present? Into eternity you must go.

What can make my future—your future—safe? This: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9.

Think of it! To make your future safe the holy Son of God left His home in glory and came down into this scene of sin and sorrow. He was born in a stable and cradled in a manger. Later He had no place to lay His head, and finally He was nailed to a cross and laid in a borrowed tomb.

To make your future safe He suffered, and bled, and died, and if you come to Him as a needy one, a helpless one, and trust His precious blood, your sins will all be "blotted out" (Isa. 44:22, 23), "all forgiven" (1 John 2:12), remembered "no more" (Heb. 10:17). Nothing but the blood of Christ can do all this for you. Trust that blood now, just as you are, and where you are, and then "your future will be safe" and you will be happy, knowing it is so from God's own Word, for Jesus says, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28.

A Hidden Minister

At one of Mr. Moody's meetings in Chicago, a young Swede was converted. Happy in his love for the Lord, he came to the evangelist to ask him what he could do for Jesus. Mr. Moody thoughtfully observed the young man. He was awkward and illiterate. Finally Mr. Moody said: "How would you like to be a sandwich?”

"Anything, anything for Jesus," said the lad, not knowing what it meant. It was arranged for him to report the next morning for duty.

At the appointed time he came, and two boards strapped together were placed on his shoulders. On one board was printed John 3:16 in full. On the other was printed a notice of the meetings then being held. "Now," said Mr. Moody, "you just walk up and down these streets for Jesus, and advertise the meetings!" The young Swede went off smiling, happy that he could do something for the One who had saved his soul.

As he was walking down Clark Street—the boys throwing mud and stones at the boards—a traveling man saw him, and stopped to read the signs and watch the happy Swede. That night the traveler attended the meeting and was converted to God.

This traveling man had a beautiful voice, and after his conversion he was happy to sing the Good News of God in the missions of the cities which he visited. One night he was in the Bowery Mission in New York City singing the Gospel. Presently he saw a young Jew come in and take a seat in the audience. Attracted by the singing, he had entered the hall not knowing the character of the meeting.

When the Jew heard the name of Jesus, he became restless, for he had been taught to hate that name. The traveling man was watching him, and when finally the Jew started for the door, he was there to meet him. He led him into an adjoining room and spoke to him about Jesus as his Messiah and Savior. The result was that the Jew accepted Christ and received God's salvation.

The young Swede lies in an unmarked grave in Chicago. The traveling man, too, has passed away. But that Jew became a missionary to Africa, and was used of God to turn many souls to Christ. In speaking of his conversion in Bowery Mission, he said: "When we all stand before Him to receive our rewards according to works, shall I receive all the reward for souls won through my preaching Christ in Africa? How about the traveling man who led me to accept the Savior? How about the Swede who did what he could for Jesus? Will they not receive their full share?”

"Behold I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12.

Christ Is All-Sufficient

No one can look upon the Savior dying on Calvary's cross and say, "He is not enough for my sins.”

A Golden Chain

"Every one—any man whosoever."

"Look unto Me, and be ye saved" Isa. 45:22.

"Come unto Me, hear, and your soul shall live" Isa. 55:3.

"Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" Acts 10:43. Salvation, life, and forgiveness of sins are free gifts of God through Jesus Christ our Lord to everyone that looketh, cometh to, hears, and believes in Him. This is God's way. Man's way is to strive, work, feel, pray, experience, hope.

"The Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Number 21: 8, 9.

Jesus said: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15.

"Every one," "any man," and "whosoever"; "looketh," "believeth," "liveth." Simple words, but the words of the living God who cannot lie. Blessed words they are to everyone who has felt the bite of "that old serpent," Satan, the plague of his own poor heart. To you is this word of salvation sent. The lifted-up Son of man, He who knew no sin, was made sin on the cross. God made His soul an offering for sin, and there on that cross He bore the sins of every one that believeth in Him. There too God condemned sin in the flesh. This is God's remedy for today; and now if the eye of faith rests on Him, the ear listens to His word, the heart believes what He says, and the mouth confesses Jesus as Lord, that one has "everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

Mark, dear reader, God's order:—"heareth," "believeth," "hath," "shall not," "is." This blessed chain of five precious links reaches to the sinner in the lowest depths of his degradation and woe. If it is received, laid hold of, it lifts him into a region of peace and light and eternal joy.

The children of Israel, bitten by serpents, besought Moses to pray for them. God's command to them was: "LOOK AND LIVE.”

Two men stood side by side on the deck of a steamer, outward bound. One was a believer, the other unsaved but anxious about his soul. "What is God's way to be saved?" he asked. Someone answered, "Pray to God, and believe on the Lord Jesus.”

"Reverse that order, and you have it," said the believer. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and praise God for the gift of His Son.”

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Rom. 10:10.

"What is Hell?"

Old Judge Roberts loved his Sunday School class of young men. Each one of them, well known to him in the small town, was dear to his heart; and their souls' welfare was the continual burden of his prayers. The old judge loved the Lord, and his heart's desire for "his boys" was that they should love Him too.

How he yearned over care-free, fun-loving Jimmie Johnson! A happy testimony he would be to the saving grace of God. And there was brilliant Harry Camp, an orator in the making. Oh, that his gift of speech might be used of God to turn other young men to Christ! Quiet, dependable "Chuck" Davis, too, so steadfast of purpose as he shouldered the responsibility of an invalid mother and younger brothers at his father's death, what a blessing to him to be yoked up with Christ, the Christian's ready Burden-bearer!

But most of all Judge Roberts longed for the salvation of bitter, scoffing Dave Summers. Ever-questioning, doubting, refusing to accept the teachings of Scripture, why did he continue to seek the companionship of these earnest young men?

Such thoughts as these occupied the judge that Lord's Day morning as his class assembled in the little room. Prayerfully he opened the Bible to the day's portion. Slowly and distinctly he read: "Luke 16:19-31.

`There was a certain rich man'—." Down to the twenty-third verse Judge Roberts read. Then, as he read, "And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments,'" automatically the Judge himself looked up, glancing around the circle of young faces.

Serious thought was depicted on all but one. Sneeringly, Dave Summers was muttering, "Aw, what is hell?”

The Judge's quick ear caught the question. His piercing eyes seemed to bore straight through the scoffer. Almost in a whisper, but with such solemn power from on high that it struck fear to at least one soul present, the answer came: "'What is hell?' Dave,—it's hell!”

Throughout that morning hour and on through the day, that whispered word reverberated in the heart of one lad who heard it. With deep conviction he realized that he himself had never accepted the One who alone could save him from such a dread destination—the One who loved him so much that He came from the glory to die for him.

At last, in its true light he beheld Calvary, and what it must have meant to that sinless Man on the center cross when He who knew no sin was made to be sin for him—God's Lamb, whose blood shed on that cross cleanses from sin the soul who believes and receives Him.

Before the hour for the Gospel came, this dear lad had come to see himself as the guilty sinner for whom Christ died. With broken heart he cried to Him for forgiveness, pardon, and peace; and with thankfulness and joy he found that "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

Dear unsaved reader, have you realized the awfulness of hell, the destiny that awaits those who do not receive Christ as their Sin Bearer? Remember, hell is eternal torment, eternal night, eternal loss the blackness of darkness forever. I beseech you, accept God's Lamb on Calvary's cross as your own Substitute while it is yet the day of grace. Receive Him who was crucified; laid in the tomb, arose the third day victorious over death, hell, and the grave; and is now in the glory longing for your salvation.

God "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

"WHOSOEVER THEREFORE
SHALL CONFESS ME
BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL
I CONFESS ALSO BEFORE
MY FATHER WHICH IS
IN HEAVEN. BUT
WHOSOEVER SHALL
DENY ME BEFORE MEN,
HIM WILL I ALSO DENY
BEFORE MY FATHER
WHICH IS IN HEAVEN."
Matt. 10:32, 33.

July

I Have No Time”

Many people say, "I. cannot give any attention to religion, for I have no time." A Christian once answered a person who spoke thus, "But you have all the time that there is!”

It's true. No one has more than twenty-four hours in a day, and you have no less. Each day you receive just twenty-four hours to use properly. What do you do with them?

"I have no time," you say. You have plenty of time for ordinary matters. You do not meet anyone who says in the evening: "I have not had time to eat today." You do not meet anyone half-dressed who says, "I have not had time to put my clothes on." As little as one may be occupied with the proprieties of life, they find time to wash, to comb their hair, and to look at themselves in the mirror.

You have not the time! What, then, have you done with it? How much time have you spent in talk that has been utterly valueless and sometimes perhaps positively bad? Is it not because you have wasted time thus, that you have not more? How do many of those who say they "have no time" pass their time, and what is the object of their lives and what the result? To whom or to what have they been of any use?

You have no time, you say, and yet you find means to widen your sphere of occupation. You have a business: you wish to enlarge it or to open another. How can you do it? You will find the time for it. When a man wishes to do anything, if he has not the time, he finds it—he makes it. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Ah, if God were to ask much ceremony, much service, many and varied performances, I could understand your lack of time; but when Jesus says to you: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest," He surely does not wish to place upon you another burden. No, He came for those who have no time; for those whose life is overburdened, and He has placed His relief at their very doors. He humbled Himself to meet your very condition, and as such He still offers Himself as your Savior.

He understands that sigh, that secret prayer. You may pray to Him on the street; in the workshop, in the factory, on the bus, in your kitchen. He is everywhere with you, and will hear and respond. It is not deeds that he asks of you in order to save you, but He asks your confidence; not your time, but your heart.

"It is time to seek the LORD." Hosea 10:12.

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

Two Gifts

Not only the work of Christ but the way it was done showed the Father's heart. The Father in His great love for us gave the best Gift He had—His beloved Son. And the Son would not give anything less; so in love He gave Himself unto death. See how the two gifts coincide on the cross. The Father gave the Son, and the Son gave Himself.

Consider Him

He wrought for God,
He wrought for me,
He did it once, forever;
When hanging on the accursed tree,
A willing victim there for me,
A perfect sacrifice was He,
My soul can perish never.

He lives to God,
He lives for me,
A Great High priest forever;
No longer now upon the tree,
In highest heaven enthroned is He,
Able to help and feel for me,
His power can fail me never.

Gone back to God,
Gone back for me,
His home is mine forever;
The meaning of His work I see,
That I might like Him, with Him be
In God's own house eternally,
To praise His name forever.

Extract

"Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world." Acts 15:18.

The Atheist's Torn Bible

John Moulton was the proprietor of a "general store" in a small village. He was considered to be an honest man (especially when he was obliged to be) but he was an avowed atheist and regarded himself as above all "religious nonsense." He despised the counsels and commands of God, and ridiculed the Christian religion and its professors as well. Consequently, it was not surprising when his father died and left him a handsome family Bible, that he should at once declare his intention of using its sacred leaves as wrapping paper.

"In the first place," said he, "Father made a fool of himself in buying that old Bible; and in the second place, in giving it to me. He gave ten dollars for it. It has never been read—none of any consequence— and it isn't of any account now surely in a literary or religious way. I couldn't sell it in the lump for more than a dollar if I should try, but it will bring me in much more than that if I retail it out by the ounce and pound. That thin soft paper is just the thing to wrap small parcels.”

"I don't think I would dare to use the old family Bible that way, John," said his wife. "It seems, somehow, as if it would be wicked. Besides, it would make talk among the go-to-meeting folks, and some of them are your customers, you know.”

"Let the hypocrites mind their own business," snapped out John Moulton. "Mine is the only store in these parts, and they've got to trade with me"; and this open reviler of God's Word stripped off the handsome, substantial cover from the old family keepsake and, putting the thick mass of leaves under his arm, strode across the street to the store.

It did indeed "make talk" in every house in town when small parcels from John Moulton's store were brought home wrapped with the inspired words of Moses and the prophets.

John was, however, studiously left alone, so far as any controversy with words was concerned, until one evening a God-fearing old farmer from the outskirts of the town ran into the store to get an ounce. of nutmegs. After the storekeeper had placed a leaf from the old Bible in the scales and, having weighed out the nutmegs, was proceeding to do them up, the farmer called out in an abrupt manner characteristic of him, "No, no, Mr. Moulton; no, no! Don't use that to wrap up anything I buy here. That won't do at all for my nutmegs.”

"I have nothing else handy," replied the storekeeper with a contemptuous laugh.

"Hand them right over here then; I'll put them loose into my coat pocket," and suiting the action to the word, with a grieved, sorrowful look toward the storekeeper and the torn Bible lying on the counter, he turned towards the door.

He had proceeded but a few steps when John Moulton, standing with the rejected leaf still in his hand and exchanging sly glances with a few of his cronies who were in the store at the time, called after him, "A good many of your brethren and sisters in this vicinity, sir, have had parcels done up in that kind of paper, and you are the first person who has ever objected to it.”

And absently folding and re-folding the leaf, he put it into his pocket.

After every customer and hanger-on had left the little store for the night, and John had finished posting his books and was arranging his papers, he found that folded leaf among his other papers. Smoothing it out on his desk, he read it over slowly and attentively.

The leaf spread out before him happened to be the last chapter of the book of Daniel. The hardened infidel read it over again and again, but he could not understand it. His lifelong ignorance of God's Word made this portion of it all the more puzzling to him. The last verse in particular impressed him: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." Dan. 12:13.

He read these words over and over until he seemed to feel them like coals burning into his heart. He sat at his desk with bowed head, pondering them, until his wife became alarmed and crossed the street to the store to see what had delayed him. He heard her tap at the locked door and, opening it, drew her in.

Pointing to that last verse, the letters of which now seemed to him to stand up from the crumpled page, he asked her, with trembling voice and blanched face, "What shall my lot be at the end of the days?”

"Oh, John! that you should ask me such a question! How can I tell you?" And she bent in her turn over the torn leaf. "This verse has references in the margin though, to Isaiah, and to the Psalms, and to Revelation. Let's look them up," and she turned to the coverless, mutilated old Bible. He knew nothing, and she little, of the order of the books, but after considerable searching they found that the two first named books were missing. Presently they came to the Revelation, and eagerly read the thirteenth verse of the fourteenth chapter, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

"I've done no works that I want to follow me," said the husband. "That's one great proof to me that it is wrong to lead such a life as we do. If what little we have read here be true, and we die as we are, won't we be among those mentioned here in the second verse on this page, 'some to shame and everlasting contempt'?”

"I don't know," said the wife again, and weeping now. "But I do believe this must be God's Word, and maybe, even in what there is left of it, we can find out how to live so that we won't be afraid to die.”

"We will look for it, then," said John Moulton, "and we will never stop studying this Bible until we have found out the best way to live.”

And carefully placing the remnant of the soiled, mutilated book in a basket, in which were a few little articles for their own household use, he carried it back across the street to their dwelling. He was as good as his word. The precious Bible was studied, first the old, torn one, and then a new and perfect copy, until the way of life and salvation was found; and his wife was only too glad to join him in the now sweet exercise of prayer and reading of the Holy Scriptures, and in walking with him in the heavenly way.

And so that old family Bible finally accomplished its mission, and all there was left of it, up to the time of that protest of the stranger customer, lies to this day beside a newer, but already well-read copy, in John Moulton's house.

"The holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

A Roadside Meeting

A man sat by the roadside eating his lunch. Another came by, and stopped to talk a bit.

"You seem to know how to take care of you body," he said. "I wonder if you feed your soul as well?”

"We don't think much of that," was the answer.

"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? How do you think you are to get your sins forgiven?”

"By asking God for it.”

"Do you ask God?”

"Yes—night and morning.”

"Have you got them forgiven?”

"No one can tell that until they die.”

"But the Bible says, `Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.' Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.' Thy sins are forgiven.' Do you believe the Bible?”

"Yes, I do.”

"Well, if you owed some rent, and a friend came in and gave you the amount you needed, should you continue asking him for the money?”

"No”

"What, then?”

"I would thank him for it.”

"Certainly. Have you ever thanked God for giving His Son to bear your sins so that He might forgive you?”

"I thank Him every night for His kindness to me.”

"What has He done?”

"He died on the cross for sinners.”

"How many of your sins did He bear then?”

"I don't know.”

"All, or none. If you believe on Him, He bore them all in His body on the tree. If you don't, you must bear the judgment of them forever. Now, if God tells you, who believe, that His Son has borne your sins, is it right to keep on asking Him to forgive you?”

"No.”

"What then?”

"Thank Him.”

"And shall you do it?”

"Yes, indeed, I do now, and thank you for telling me.”

The Helpless Helped

The Lord takes up none but the forsaken.

He makes none well but the sick.

He gives sight to none but the blind.

He makes none alive but the dead.

He saves none but sinners.

He Said It

Luke 7:36 50

A great sinner once came to the Lord Jesus. She stood weeping at His feet. What a blessed place for a sinner to be found in!

She knew she was a sinner; the proud Pharisee knew she was a sinner; but more, God knew she was a sinner, and Jesus was God.

What brought her to that house? Surely, Simon the Pharisee had not invited her! Is she not afraid to enter unasked? "When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house,"—this was enough; this gave her boldness; this inspired her with confidence. Jesus was there. She came and "stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment.”

But why was she not afraid of Jesus? Did He not know all her sins? Did He not know them to be MANY? He did; but listen! She hears Him say, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven." Mark, He did not say, "Her sins are too many to be forgiven"; no, no, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.”

Ah! I think I hear her say, "But is this really true of me? Is it of my sins He speaks, when He says they are forgiven? Mine surely are many, but are they not too many? too black? Can it possibly be my many sins that are forgiven?”

Again that blessed One speaks, but this time He turns to her; He looks straight at her; He speaks to her, and "He said unto her, THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN.”

Now there can be no doubt, "Thy sins are forgiven.”

What blessed words! But what had she done to deserve it? Nothing. She just simply came with all her sins to Jesus. He knew them all, and He knew they were many. He does not make light of them; He could not. To bear the heavy burden of sins was no light matter, and He had come to bear them;—yes, to suffer and to die for them.

Reader, are your sins forgiven?

"Ah, I wish I could say that, but I cannot feel they are!”

And how do you suppose she knew her sins were forgiven? Was it because she felt it, or because He said it? Surely because He said it. Mark, it does not say she felt it, but "He SAID unto her, Thy sins' are forgiven.”

This settled everything; she had His word for it. Could that deceive her? Her feelings might change; His word never would.

She knew her sins were forgiven, because He said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven.” She felt her sins were forgiven, because she believed what He said.

Now, dear anxious soul, do you believe that your sins are forgiven? Or are you trying to feel it first? Many try to feel their sins are forgiven before they will believe it, but you must believe it before you can feel it.

"By Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:39.

Extract

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." Matt. 25:13.

"THE WAGES OF SIN
IS DEATH;
BUT THE GIFT OF GOD
IS ETERNAL LIFE
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
OUR LORD.”

Rom. 6:23.

August

The Magnet

A large steel factory in Hamilton, Ontario, bought truck-loads of scrap metal to melt down in their furnaces. Among the larger pieces of scrap was mixed a quantity of fine steel turnings which, when put into the smelter, were so light that the blast of hot air carried them right up the chimney and they fell in a pile on the ground outside.

For a time it did not seem worthwhile to bother with them, but soon the pile grew so large it was in the way. Then it was taken away by truckloads to another furnace to melt down. The work progressed well until they came to the bottom of the pile, and there the fine bits of steel were so mixed with the mud that it was difficult to gather them up.

The first attempt to solve this problem was to have the workmen put them in pails; but this was so slow and they gathered so much mud as well that the idea was dismissed as impracticable. The next suggestion was to bring a large powerful magnet and, suspending it from a crane, move it slowly over the ground in question. This was done, and in an instant, as if by magic, those steel turnings which were so imbedded in the mud as to be unnoticed by the casual observer separated themselves from the miry clay and sprang up into the air to meet the magnet as it passed slowly by.

A Christian who was watching remarked to another beside him: "And that is just what will happen when the Lord Jesus comes for His own. He knows all hearts, and everyone who is truly His will respond to His drawing power just as the steel turnings did to the magnet, and will be gathered to meet Him in the air.”

And how about you, dear reader? Are you ready for the Lord to come? Have you the kind of life—God's life—that will answer to His shout when "they that are Christ's" rise to meet Him in the air?

To have this life you must be a child of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Acknowledge yourself a sinner in God's sight, for He tells us in His Word, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. Then through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ when He died on Calvary's cross, God can and will cleanse you from your sins. Oh, come to Him now, confessing your sin and guiltiness! You will not be turned away, for John 6:37 tells us: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

Then when the Lord does come—(and it may be today, for He says, "Surely I come quickly," Rev. 22:20)—you too will hear that shout, and with all His own you will be "caught up" to "meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:17.

Quick and Powerful

A young woman who loved her Bible, and knew it well, was the maid in a large house. A young man who used to come to the house laughed at her because of her religion, for he was an infidel. He would mockingly ask for her Bible, saying that he would open it anywhere and prove that it was not true.

At first she indignantly refused to allow him to touch it; but one day, after repeated assurances that he would treat it very carefully, he took it from her to "read aloud and refute the first verse his eye lighted upon.”

He opened the Book, and read: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psa. 14:1.

In silence he returned her Bible and went his way, never again to laugh at religion or to question the Bible. One verse was enough to convict him of his own folly.

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

Present Rest

"COME UNTO ME!" It is the Savior's voice—
The Lord of life, who bids thy heart rejoice;
O weary heart, with heavy cares opprest,
"Come unto Me," and I will give you rest.

Life, rest, and peace, the flowers of deathless bloom
The Savior gives—and not beyond the tomb,
But here and now: on earth the taste is given
Of joys that wait us through the gates of heaven.

A Changed Life

In the Belgian Congo, a young man employed by the government to collect native taxes considered himself a "good Christian." One day he was handed a booklet entitled "The Way of Salvation." In it he read what the Bible has to say about sin and salvation. He soon came to the conclusion that if the words of this book were true he must be still unsaved. In great distress of mind he went to the missionary who had handed him the booklet and asked just what would become of him if he died in his present state. When told that he would be lost forever, he became more alarmed, and it was not long before he again came, now asking the great question: "What must I do to be saved?" He was shown God's way, and soon afterward was rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven and the hope of heaven.

From that day his life was completely changed. As he went about his work from village to village collecting taxes, the natives soon became aware of the great transformation that had taken place. Immediately he began to witness for Christ and to read to them the New Testament which told of the living Savior Who is the only Mediator between God and man. Soon a few others turned from sin to the Savior, and a little company of believers was formed at the chief's village where our friend was stationed. This, as was to be expected, aroused the wrath of some; but all their threats failed to intimidate the young Christian, or to stop him from witnessing to the saving power of Christ wherever he went.

Before long, however, a trumped-up charge was brought against the clerk, and he suddenly found himself under arrest. Without any explanation he was transferred to another district and warned that he must not speak there about the Bible. The clerk replied that though it might mean the end of his work for the State, he intended to continue his work for God. The chief with whom he was now working was instructed that the clerk was on no account to be allowed to hold services nor to speak to the natives about his Lord. The young Christian, however, went calmly on witnessing always and everywhere to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus.

One day while preaching Christ he was thrown down and publicly whipped. Aside from the great physical suffering, this meant considerable humiliation for one in his position. Without a sign of anger or resentment, he got up and addressed the three chiefs, the other clerks, and the people standing around. He said: "This that I have received is but a little of this world's sorrow. There is only one way in which you can prevent my witnessing for my Savior, and that is to cut my throat.”

For three years this splendid young fellow has lived Christ, he has suffered for Christ, and he has spoken for Christ both to Europeans and to his brother natives whenever there has been an opportunity. Indeed, through his upright life, his honest service, and his consistent Christianity, he has won the respect of several of the government officials. Just recently the chief who has most bitterly opposed the young man in his Christian pathway these three years unwittingly bore eloquent testimony to the One Whose he is and Whom he serves. The chief wrote to headquarters requesting that they send to him immediately "another such Christian clerk"!

Dear young soul, are you still undecided for Christ? Does Satan whisper in your ear the word to Timothy that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution"? 2 Tim. 3:12. Ah, but the Word also says, "Blessed (or happy) are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad"! Matt. 5:11, 12. Satan isn't fair, dear lost soul, or he would tell you, too, that "the way of transgressors is hard." Prov. 13:15. With Christ, you choose the "happy" path that leads to the Father's house. Without Him, you are on the road to everlasting doom. It is one or the other.

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

His All-Sufficiency

"Art thou hungry? Christ is Bread:
Feed no more on husks instead.
Thirsty? He is Drink indeed,
He can satisfy thy need.
Christ has riches—art thou poor?
Come to Him, and want no more.”

Not of Works”

Man's proud heart rebels against the need of the GRACE OF GOD. He thinks that in some way or other his own arm can bring salvation to him.

But how clear is the Word of God! Salvation is "NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:9.

If by our own amendment, or goodness, or merit we could gain salvation, then we might well glory in what we had done.

But this can never be. "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." Rom. 4:4 ,5.

GOOD WORKS do have a most important place. But they cannot gain salvation. Salvation is first, as a gift, by the free grace of God. THEN, and not till then, GOOD WORKS which flow from that salvation will be known and enjoyed. The TREE of salvation first:—then the FRUIT of good works will grow on that tree.

O Happy Day!”

What English speaking Christian does not know the hymn,

"O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God"?

It was written by a minister, Philip Doddridge. He was born in London, England, June 26, 1702, the youngest of a large family of twenty children. So small and weak was he at birth that the nurse thought he could not possibly live. She wrapped the wee baby in cotton and laid him in a little box.

But the Lord uses "the weak things of the world to confound the mighty," and little Philip was a chosen vessel for Himself. The child lived and grew into godly young manhood. When barely out of his teens he was known as a consistent Christian and able preacher of the Word. For the rest of his forty-nine years he served God both in his preaching and with his pen. He was a gifted hymn writer, having written in all 364 hymns for the use of God's people. Perhaps the best known is "O Happy Day," the new convert's outburst of joy in finding peace, rest, and full satisfaction in his Savior-God:

"O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.

“'Tis done! The great transaction's done,
I am my Lord's and He is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on,
Glad to confess the Voice Divine.

“Now rest, my long-divided heart—
Fixed on that blissful Center, rest!
Nor ever from thy Lord depart,
With Him of every good possessed.”

In connection with this hymn we quote the following interesting narrative:

“It was prayer meeting night—a freezing, rainy, January night in 1898. In an old St. Louis church Dr. Mathews, the pastor, rose to dismiss the faithful group who had braved the weather to attend the service. But, with a heart for lost souls, he invited anyone who desired the prayers of Christians to go forward while a last hymn was being sung.

“A well-dressed, earnest-looking young lady came timidly forward and quietly knelt at a chair. Intense interest was manifested. Several prayers were offered in her behalf, and her own tears indicated great depth of seriousness and conviction of sin.

“At about ten o'clock some were on their knees in silent prayer for this exercised soul, when, without book or organ, others began to sing softly:

'O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God.'

"Soon the entire audience was singing in sweet unity. When the stanza,

"Tis done, the great transaction's done,
I am my Lord's, and He is mine,'

was reached, the penitent woman still on her knees lifted her clasped hands in prayer, while her face was as radiant as if from the throne of God.”

One who was present that night said later, "To see this woman of culture and modesty rejoicing in the revelation of God's love was worth more than all the books written on the evidences of Christianity.”

But stop! Can you say, as Philip Doddridge wrote,

"'Tis done, the great transaction's done!
I am my Lord's and He is mine"?

If not, oh may you give yourself to Him now; let Him be your Savior. Then you can truly sing

"Happy day, happy day!
When Jesus washed my sins away!”

The Pharisee and the Publican

Luke 18:9-14

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray" (v. 9). Here we have that which is in harmony or discord with the character of things suited to the day of grace. The Pharisee and the publican set forth, not the doctrine of atonement nor of justification by faith, but the certainty that self-righteousness is displeasing to God, and that lowliness and sorrow because of sin is most acceptable in His sight.

The Pharisee does not set God aside (v. 11). He "stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee." But then he thanks God for what he is, not for what God is.

The only hope of the publican was in God Himself. He was very ignorant, no doubt, but he had the right spirit to get at God. Light had broken in and shown him he was a sinner. He submitted to the painful conviction, and confessed the truth of his state to God.

He was cast on God's mercy to his soul. He dared not appeal to justice, he did not ask indifference, but that mercy which measures the sin and forgives it. The revelation of grace had not yet come in; the work of reconciliation was not yet done, so that the publican stood "afar off"; but his heart was touched, and God was what he wanted.

If a soul is brought to a sense of sin now, it need not and ought not to stand afar off. The grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared. Nevertheless, though he did not, could not thus know grace, the publican gives God and himself their true character. It was not full knowledge, but the knowledge as far as it went was true.

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (v. 14). Universal truth! But where so shown as in Jesus? For if the first man, Adam, exalting himself, was abased, Christ Jesus, who was God, made Himself of no reputation, humbled Himself to the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him.

What is so humbling to the proud heart of man as to see himself through God's eyes: a soul dead toward Him in trespasses and sin? This, too is universal truth, for Romans 3:23 tells us that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But this same God, who is rich in mercy, through His great love wherewith He loved us even while we were yet sinners, has given His own beloved Son Jesus to die for us. By humbling ourselves, by owning that His judgment was what we deserved and that His mighty work on the cross is the all-sufficient payment for sin to all who believe, we are granted, not only mercy, but through His matchless grace (unmerited favor) we are given God's own life—everlasting life.

“For by grace are ye saved." Eph. 2:8.

Extract: How to Carry Peace

If the love and grace of God which set us in close connection with heaven fill our hearts, we will know how to carry to distracted souls that calm and peace which nothing in this world can destroy.

"WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL
UPON THE NAME OF THE
LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
Rom. 10:13.

"BEHOLD, NOW IS THE
ACCEPTED TIME;
BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY
OF SALVATION."
2 Cor. 6:2.

September

Sovereign Grace”

It is beyond one's power to write adequately of the grace of Christ. The holiness of His nature, the dignity of His person, the greatness of His power, the magnificence of His glory, are seen in Him of whom it is written: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9.

I see this "Holy One of God" deigning to come into this sinful scene to save poor fallen man: Condescension unequaled, unparalleled! See Him associating with publicans and sinners that He might win their hearts. What sovereign grace!

I see Him asking a drink of a Samaritan woman (a mixed race despised of the Jews), that He might discover to her her sinful condition and thus reach her conscience; that He might display unexampled grace which brought out the confession: "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" John 4:29. What sovereign grace!

I see Him allowing a woman of the city to enter His august presence unbidden, to wash His feet with tears, to wipe them with the hairs of her head, that she might hear the forgiveness of her many sins. What sovereign grace!

I see the wicked, murderous crowd come out with swords and staves to take Him, the high priest's servant's ear cut off, and even at such a time He puts forth His hand and heals. What sovereign grace!

I see a dying robber meeting with his just dues, yet turning to the Savior with the, look of faith. I hear his words, "Lord, remember me." And in a moment the gracious heart of Christ responds, "Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise." What sovereign grace!

Scourgers, scoffers, mockers, robbers, murderers, all were present to witness the indescribable death of that blessed One, and to hear such words which only the eternal Son of God could utter:—"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." What sovereign grace!

Everything in every place speaks of God's wondrous grace to man. Even a silver coin of this land, a nation founded through and blessed by the "unmerited favor" of Almighty God, reminds us by its motto, "In God we trust," that He is the Giver of all good to unworthy, fallen man. The flowers of the field, the sunset's glow, bountiful harvests, and comforts of home proclaim with loud voice the omnipotent Hand of the God whose goodness should draw men to repentance. If, again, we think of the favored privileges of Israel all these were by the grace of God. Yet this grace would not be limited to that nation, but would reach to one and another outside its commonwealth; as we may note the case of the widow of Sarepta for one, and Naaman the Syrian for another. I see the character of it in David and Mephibosheth. The manner of it I see displayed in the Gift of God's love—Christ, who meets the sinner's deepest need.

Dear unsaved one, you are like Naaman!

You can be like Mephibosheth!—made like unto a king's son, to eat bread continually at the king's table, by the sovereign grace of God. C. H. C.

Have You - ?

Have you thought of the future, sinner?
I would kindly ask today,
Have you pondered the fact that quickly
You must pass from earth away?

Have you thought of your sad condition
As "ungodly," "lost," "undone"?
Have you pondered the fact that surely
You must meet the Holy One?

Have you thought of the fatal moment
That's approaching, oh, so fast?
Have you pondered the fact that judgment
Shall be met when time is past?

Have you thought of the glorious Gospel
That is sent to guilty men?
Have you pondered the wondrous tidings
Of a "love" beyond our ken?

Have you thought of the death of Jesus
On the cruel, shameful cross?
Have you pondered the "grace" which led Him
To endure such awful loss?

Have you thought of the blessed offer
Of "eternal life" so free
Through the "finished" work of Jesus,
At this moment pressed on thee?

Out of Every Kindered, and Tongue, and People and Nation”

Many years ago in Russia God by His Spirit was working mightily to draw hearts to Himself and to gather them around the Person of His dear Son. Who shall not say that, because of His foreknowledge of the present God-less state of that vast country, our gracious God and Father was then visiting that land in power, and shedding upon it the full brightness of the glorious Gospel while hearts and doors were open to Him? In view of the happy testimony of those few years it is indeed sad that one must now record: "And the door was shut.”

Among those whom God used in Russia to carry the good news of salvation through simple faith in the Lord Jesus was Major Paschkoff. He was a zealous and wealthy believer in Christ who devoted all his strength and resources to the furtherance of the Gospel. In his home near Moscow many dear children of God gathered in the name of the Lord Jesus poor ones, rich ones, those despised by the great, and the most eminent of the nobles. To one such, a young French governess in Major Paschkoff's home, we are indebted for the following incident extracted from a letter to a brother:

"Before closing I must tell you an event which happened last Lord's Day, and which shows again the wonderful ways of God.

"Major Paschkoff was driving with one of his friends to a distant village to preach the Gospel. Having got about half way, suddenly one of the horses became lame and it was impossible to continue the journey. The meeting was announced for a certain hour, but they were helpless.

"While they asked God's guidance, a countryman came out of the woods which were along the way. Seeing their predicament, he offered to provide a conveyance and drive them himself to their destination. They willingly accepted the kindness.

"Scarcely were they seated and on their way, when the driver, a toil worn man of seventy years, turned in his seat to face Major Paschkoff. He had just learned who his passenger was! He told the major that he had tried to find him for more than three years, but that he never succeeded because he always arrived too late after he heard where a meeting was being held. Several times he had gone to a distant village expecting to find Major Paschkoff, but each time he was disappointed as the meeting would be in a different place.

"The poor man was almost discouraged when God Himself ruled the circumstances so that he could now hear the glad tidings of salvation. He told with trembling voice and bitter tears the troubles of his soul—his fear of death and his burning desire to find forgiveness for his sins. He said he was `willing to do anything' to find peace.

"Major Paschkoff began to read to him some of the passages of scripture that tell of God's free grace, of His gift of His Son, of His great love and mercy, and of the willing sacrifice of Christ.

"The old man listened with close attention. His heart began to apprehend the meaning of those precious words. His face shone with joy. Suddenly he exclaimed, 'Oh, it is enough—enough! Now I have what I have longed for! Thanks be to God!' In his joy, the good man forgot his duty as driver. The reins and whip fell out of his hands, while big tears rolled down his cheeks—tears of joy and thanks to God. His lips were unable to express his gratitude his happiness had made him dumb.

"Major Paschkoff's friend took the reins and the old man, now our brother in Christ, listened with 'joy and sorrow mingled' to the wondrous story of Christ's finished work for us on Calvary. He cannot read, is very untaught; but now he possesses all he needed for eternal salvation. He does not know anything but that Christ died for him, that He has washed him from his sins in His own precious blood; and that suffices to fill his soul with joy.

"Is not that wonderful, dear brother? Yet God is worthy to be admired in all His ways.

Who would have thought that the laming of a horse would have led to the bringing of a soul to Christ?”

Not Pity, but Faith

It is not the compassion of men the cross seeks, but their belief in the One on the cross. A dying Savior does not want your pity: He meets your need. You are a lost, guilty sinner, and He is there facing the storm that will surely fall on your head unless you bow the knee to Him.

None Too Vile

In John 3 Nicodemus, the Pharisee, found that all his own religiousness was totally inadequate to take him into the blessing he was hoping to reach by his merits. "Ye must be born again" was a sudden deathblow to every such hope. It has been well said that one of the most religious men, belonging to the most religious sect in the most religious city in the world, could not gain a title to glory by his own goodness.

In John 4 the best of blessings—"living water"—is held out to a poor guilty woman just for the asking.

In John 5 the friendless man at the Pool of Bethesda, too weak to secure by his own efforts the healing he longed for, got all he wanted when Jesus came on the scene.

What does all this teach us? Why, just this, that if a man's own goodness cannot take him into the blessing, neither his badness nor his weakness, or both put together, can keep him out if Christ is trusted.

George Cutting

In Season

A Southern evangelist had been holding Gospel meetings in the rural sections of the South. Some of the roads in this area are still unpaved, and often the rocks and ruts in them put the best of cars to the test. Our friend had not spared himself nor his car in his desire to reach the lost with the "good news" of salvation, and now the car must be overhauled before further use.

It was quite a distance to the city over rough roads, and on the morning set for his departure the rain was falling in torrents.

Nevertheless, after prayer, he set out on the muddy road. Ten miles out of the town the car slipped into a ditch. The evangelist had felt certain that God had led him to start, so he committed this mishap to Him.

In pouring rain and mud he walked to a small farm-house. His knock was answered by a call,."Come in.”

There sat a man with a group of little children around him. He was trying to dress one little fellow. The preacher asked if the man could get a mule and help pull his car out of the mud. The man looked up. Tears were running down his face. "I'll help," he said, "as soon as I can dress these children. I buried their mother yesterday.”

With silent sympathy the servant of the Lord took one little girl on his lap and put on her ragged stockings. Helping with others, he sought to comfort the father with the story of the love of Jesus.

"I ought to be a Christian," said the man.

"My wife talked to me a lot about it, and now I have these kiddies to raise. I surely need the Lord.”

Putting his arm around him, the evangelist said: "Let's settle that right now!" On their knees they looked to God for the salvation of the man's soul, and He graciously answered their prayer. God has said: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

As the two men and the awe-struck little ones rose from their knees rejoicing in the fact that "this day is salvation come to this house," a feeble sun-beam struggled through the window. The rain had ceased and only a few clouds were scattered across the blue sky. With the aid of the farm mule the evangelist's car was soon back on the road, and he went on his way rejoicing in the "mishap" that had been used of God to bring a sin-sick, sorrowing soul "out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9.

Almost”

"ALMOST thou persuadest me.”
"Thou art NOT FAR from the kingdom.”
"Behold, NOW is the accepted time.”
SO NEAR the door—and the door stood wide!
CLOSE to the port—but not inside!
NEAR to the fold but not within!
ALMOST resolved to give up sin!—
ALMOST persuaded to count the cost!
ALMOST a Christian—and yet lost!
Savior, I come, I cry unto Thee,
Oh let not these words be true of me.
I want to come to Thee today
Oh suffer me not to turn away
Give me no rest till my soul shall be
WITHIN THE REFUGE! SAFE IN THEE!

Extract: Faith Tested

Faith tested is faith strengthened.

A Loud Voiced Clock

A young man was working alone in a large room. It was after hours, and the only sound that disturbed the stillness of the usually noisy office was the steady "tick—tock" of the clock on the office wall. In vain the young man tried to concentrate on the work in hand. His attention was held by the measured sound: "tick—tock, tick—tock.”

Determinedly he bent over the big ledger but the loud ticking suddenly seemed to him to frame itself into words: "Eternity!— where?" Unable to endure long the reflections thus awakened, he soon rose from his stool and stopped the clock.

But not so easily could he stop the train of thought the voice of the clock had awakened. The question, "Eternity! where?" still so haunted him that he put aside his work and, hurrying home, determined that he would not allow anything to engage his thoughts until he could satisfactorily answer that searching question, "Eternity! where?”

The following lines were sent anonymously to a servant of the Lord a few days afterward:

"Eternity—where?" It floats in the air,
'Mid clamor or silence, it ever is there!
The question so solemn, "Eternity—where?”
"Eternity!—where?" oh, "Eternity!—where?"
With redeemed ones in glory? or fiends in despair?
With one or the other,—"Eternity!—where?”
"Eternity!—where?" Is aught worth a care?
Oh, shall we oh, can we e'en venture to dare
Do aught till we settle "Eternity!—where?”
"Eternity—where?" Oh, friend, have a care!
Soon God will no longer His judgment forbear;
This night may decide your "Eternity!—where?”

What Is the Gospel?

Many people think that the Gospel is "good advice." Let us never forget, as someone has truly said, that "the Gospel is not good advice but GOOD NEWS.”

It does not tell us what we ought to do for God. It tells us what God has done for us.

It does not offer us lessons from the life of Christ. It offers us life through the death of Christ.

It is popular to attach the word "gospel” to all sorts of activity and work and rules of health and methods of efficiency and success, all of which depend upon our faithful doing of certain things. There is no gospel of salvation in what people do for Christ, but only in what He has done for our sins by His death and resurrection; for "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works.”

Eph. 2:9.

When we have believed this good news for ourselves and have passed from death unto life, then we can work as we never could before. Then we work in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Worker, and empowered by Him in a way that would never have been possible by our own works.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel.... how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3, 4.

Have you believed the Gospel? Do you KNOW your sins are forgiven through trusting in the death and resurrection of the Son of God? Today you can be saved... be a possessor of eternal life... by receiving Christ for "as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God."

John 1:12.

H. P. B.

What Is Your Hope?

My reader, did you ever stop to consider what you are doing with God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God in His infinite love is offering to all mankind, and therefore to you? God tells us in His Word that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Therefore sin has to be judged, whether in the sinner or in the sinner's Substitute. Eternal thanks be to God that the Lord Jesus Christ has suffered, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, and the word now is, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15.

What is your hope? Is it to spend an eternity with God, your sins all forgiven, and yourself made an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ? Or is it to spend an eternity away from His presence, to be judged for your sins? Why should you continue unsaved when you can have a free, full salvation through Jesus Christ, God's Son? Come —"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

"ETERNITY! —WHERE?”

"FOR WHEN WE WERE
YET WITHOUT
STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME
CHRIST DIED FOR THE
UNGODLY.”

Rom. 5:6.

October

Love Unspeakable

A Scotch minister in Glasgow was trying to illustrate the mighty love of Jesus. He told the story of a Highland mother who took her little boy one night and went over one of those Scotch hills. The snow came and she lost her way. Exhausted, she was finally forced to lie down in the snow, after covering the little lad with her own wrap.

The next morning the mother was found dead "but," said the minister, "her baby was found alive. If that boy grew up, he would be a man over thirty years of age now. If he is still living and thinks of that story of how his mother saved him by stripping herself, I am sure his heart would go out in love to such a mother. He would love her memory and would constantly thank God for what she did.

"And you, friend, are worse than an ungrateful son if you do not love Jesus Christ who laid down His life to save you.”

Within a few days the minister was called to visit a dying man who had lived in the depths of sin. He was the son of the mother of his story. He had wandered into the meeting that night and had heard again how his mother had given her life to save his. He could not get away from the fact that the Lord Jesus had died for him, too, a filthy, blasphemous sinner though he was. Now he needed cleansing before he was called into His holy Presence. With great joy the man of God could point this weary wanderer to the cross of Calvary where was shed for him "the blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son [which] cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Precious, priceless love of Jesus!
All-sufficient 'tis for me;
All my sins and all my sorrows
Fully met at Calvary.

Unmerited Favor

I know I'm a sinner,
And Christ is my need.
His death is my ransom:
No merit I plead.
His work is sufficient
On Him I believe.
I have life eternal
When HIM I receive.

Trying

"If only we could get people to believe that the work is finished," exclaimed a preacher of the gospel, addressing a company in the open air, from the text, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. 9:28.

The Lord Jesus on the cross said, "It is finished." All was done there to meet the claims of God about sin, and everyone who simply trusts to that finished work is saved eternally. (John 6:47 Acts 13:38, 39.)

But people turn away from God's message of salvation through the finished work of Christ, and vainly try by some effort of their own to obtain forgiveness and peace.

"Yes, I am quite happy now," said a young girl who had been for some time troubled about her sins. "I came to Jesus today. I was always trying to come before."

"How did you try?" she was asked.

"I tried to be good," she replied.

But this dear girl had found how useless her own efforts were. Giving up trying, she took the place of a sinner before God and rested on His Word, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6.

At once her soul found peace, and she could rejoice in the forgiveness of her sins.

A poor girl lay on a bed in a large hospital.

She had been badly injured by a machine in the factory where she worked, and now lay unable to move. A visitor, passing, stopped to speak to her, and after hearing of her suffering, asked if she knew Jesus as her Savior.

"I am trying to seek Him," was her reply.

"But He is seeking you.”

The suffering girl seemed impressed with this, and willingly listened to the story in Luke 15 of the Shepherd who went after that which was lost until He found it. Her visitor never saw her again, for she was removed to her home as incurable. However, a Christian woman in the next bed said she believed the dear girl had found a Savior in the One who came to "seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

A missionary was giving out tracts among some tenement houses. At one house the door was opened by a young woman with a baby in her arms. She took the offered tract with such evident pleasure that her visitor asked if she were interested in the things of God. "I have not yet given my heart to Christ," was her quick reply. A brief conversation brought out the fact that the young mother had often attended open-air preachings and had been impressed. She had even been brought to think seriously about her soul, but had never taken for herself the salvation so freely offered. "But I must really try to," she added as she firmly closed the door.

Her visitor was obliged to withdraw with the fear that the poor woman was still resting on her own efforts and again putting away from her God's offered salvation.

Are you trying to obtain salvation by any efforts of your own? All has been done, and you have only to receive what God so longs to give you.

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

"Cast your deadly doings down,
Down at Jesus' feet
Stand in Him, in Him alone,
Gloriously complete.”

He Leadeth Me

Psalm 23

"He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
What'er I do, where'er I be,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

"Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
By waters still, o'er troubled sea,—
Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me!”

The above hymn has been a joy and comfort to souls in the Christian pathway. It was written without any thought that believers all over the world would find in it, as they have, a guide and stay in times of trial and difficulty.

Joseph A. Gilmore, author of the beautiful verses, was a young preacher of Philadelphia, Pa. One Wednesday evening at prayer-meeting he felt led to read and express a few thoughts on Psa. 23. Part of the third verse especially impressed him, and he dwelt on it at some length: "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." The thought of being led of God seemed infinitely precious.

At the close of the meeting he went to the home where he and his wife were staying, and there came to him the words of the hymn. Completing his poem, he handed it to his wife and forgot all about it. But not so his wife! Mrs. Gilmore thought so much of the words that she sent them to a Christian paper in which they were printed.

Three years later Mr. Gilmore was in Rochester, N. Y., to preach. He took up a hymn-book to select some hymns. The book opened to "He Leadeth Me." For the first time he discovered that his words had been set to music and published in a hymn-book.

The Gospel A-B-C

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.—Rom. 3:23.

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

Christ died for our sins. 1 Corinthians 15:3.

It Is Not Payment, but Forgiveness”

“‘Save me in Thy righteousness.' What does that mean?" said the anxious Luther. "I can understand how God can condemn me in His righteousness, but how can He save me in His righteousness?”

Staupitz, vicar-general of the Augustine monks of Germany, who was deeply interested in Luther and was watching the conflict going on in his soul, pointed him to Christ dying for him on the cross.

"But how can I come to Christ until I am a better man?"

"A better man!" exclaimed Staupitz; "it is sinners, not just men, that Jesus came to call.”

A poor brother-monk came to Luther's bedside one day, and began reciting with great earnestness the Apostle's greed. Luther then repeated after him in feeble accents, "I believe in the forgiveness of sins.”

"You must not believe," said the monk, "that David's or Peter's sins are forgiven; the devils believe and tremble. The commandment of God is that we believe in the forgiveness of our own sins.”

The decisive word was spoken. The monk's simple words brought to Luther's soul such a flood of light as to the plan of salvation that he exclaimed, "O God, I see it all now: it is not payment, but forgiveness.”

What he had been trying to do, and vainly supposing that he could do, he discovered was already done by Another, and that he had simply by faith to come into the present and eternal benefits of that work. He now understood the meaning of those words that came to him as he was doing penance at Rome: "The just shall live by faith," and the words, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," had a new and blessed meaning for his soul.

It was not works of law, penance, vigils and the like that saved, but the grace of God, reaching him, a poor sinner, through the death of God's Son. It was salvation by grace through faith, not of works. God had opened his eyes to see Christ as the One who had died for him, and, believing in the forgiveness of his own sins, he now could see how God, who is infinitely holy, could save him in His righteousness. Blessed transition from darkness to light!

A Message of Mercy

A man stood looking into the water as a scrap of paper came floating down the stream, tossed from wavelet to wavelet. "I am just as helpless," said he to himself, "borne downwards by a tide which I cannot stem, and from which I cannot escape. There is no one to lift me clear of the tide of destruction as I can lift you, poor miserable scrap.”

As he spoke, he caught the paper with his walking stick and then lifted it from the water. He noticed that it was a fragment of a torn-up letter, and one word upon it attracted his attention as being in thorough keeping with his own feelings. The word was "miserable," and thus the writing read as a whole:

I assure you
I used to be very miserable
and trust Christ Jesus only
Salvation and now
joy and peace.

He read the words over and over. Although but an imperfect fragment, it was not difficult to see its exact meaning. It had been written, as he could see, by someone who had been, like himself, very miserable, but who had been led to trust Jesus Christ as his Savior, and so had attained to joy and peace.

"Oh that I could find the same," said this poor young man. "And yet, why should I not? Christ Jesus came to save sinners, even the chief (1 Tim. 1:15). I believe if He chose He could lift me out of the stream of evil and ruin as I have lifted this scrap of paper. If He chose—I wonder if He would be willing to save me?" And then a verse of a hymn that he had sung in better days came into his mind:

"If I trust Him to receive me,
Will He say me nay?
Not till earth and not till heaven
Pass away.”

"Oh, is it true; is it true?" he cried in an agony of earnestness. "Is it true? I believe it is. When He was on earth He received sinners. And He bade the heavy-laden to come unto Him (Matt. 11:28). And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!”

With the fragment of paper in his hand he stole quietly away among the trees, out of sight and hearing of his gay companions.

There on his knees, sobbing like a little child, he told God of his sin and misery and asked Him for forgiveness and deliverance.

In vain his companions, when they missed him, searched and shouted. They could find no trace of him. And when the next day a companion went to his lodgings to upbraid him for leaving them, the answer he got was to have a small, torn scrap of paper spread out before him with the request to read it.

"What does it mean?" he asked.

"It means that just such a change has come to me. There was not in this world a more miserable creature than I was yesterday when you saw me last. I don't like to speak of my happiness now, it is so recent, and I deserve it so little; but oh, man, I think I know that Jesus is indeed able to save the chief of sinners.”

God has many ways of reaching the human heart, and can employ the very humblest and meanest of instruments. Let none doubt His willingness to save, for the Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

Believe in Him then, whoever reads this incident. There is nothing but disappointment, and sorrow, and weariness to be found in the ways of sin but all who come to Jesus, and trust Him as their Savior, and yield themselves to His constraining love, find in Him peace, and joy, and rest.

The following is a warning written by a convict in the Illinois State Prison

The Bar

The name of each saloon's a Bar,
The fittest of its names by far.
A Bar to heaven, a door to hell:
Whoever named it, named it well.
A Bar to manliness and wealth,
A door to want and broken health;
A Bar to honor, pride, and fame,
A door to grief, and sin, and shame;
A Bar to hope, a Bar to prayer,
A door to darkness and despair;
A Bar to honored useful life
A door to brawling, senseless strife.
A Bar to all that's true and brave,
A door to every drunkard's grave;
A Bar to joys that home imparts,
A door to tears and aching hearts;
A Bar to heaven, a door to hell, -
Whoever named it, named it well!

What Shall the End Be?

A question which is often repeated today!

We all wish, for instance, to inquire: What will be the end of present upheavals? As to their immediate result who can tell? If, however, we inquire as to their ultimate issues, the Bible will tell us. The overturning will not permanently cease until He comes whose right is the crown. He our Lord Jesus Christ will institute authority and judgment in the earth, and He is worthy to do it. (Read Ezek. 21:27).

What will be the end of modern schemes for the abolition of war amongst the nations, and the betterment of men in general? Exactly the same as the end of all previous schemes: Failure! For success men must be fundamentally altered in their very natures—must be born again, and no human scheme has ever proposed to effect this.

And, supposing that you as a solitary individual attempt to improve yourself, until you are so good that God will accept you, what shall the end be? Failure again! You are without strength to accomplish any such thing.

It is indeed good then to read, "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

What amazing grace! What divine love!

The believer in Christ is "justified by His blood" (verse 9), he is "reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (verse 10).

This is an end well worth reaching—is it not? Make sure that you secure it. The only road that leads to this end is that of faith in Christ; not mere head belief, but the heart acceptance of Him as Savior and Lord.

And now for a last question. "What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17. Let that ring in your conscience. What is it likely to be?

What will be the end of the sick man who will not obey his doctor's instructions? Or of the shipwrecked man who will not get into the lifeboat? What then shall be the end of the man who refuses the only real remedy ever offered for sin?

"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.

Here you have the divine answer. Take care that such an end never comes upon you. Obey the gospel from your heart today!

Five Facts from Romans Three

1—"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

2—"There is none righteous, no, not one.”

3—"They are all gone out of the way.”

4—"By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.”

5—"A man is justified BY FAITH WITH-OUT the deeds of the law." "Justified freely by His grace.”

Satan Has a Limit!

Satan has power against pretension. He has power against knowledge. But he has no power against obedience, if we are acting by the Word, with no will of our own. With Jesus, Satan was baffled, the strong man was bound; and the way in which the Lord bound him was by simple obedience to God's Word.

IT IS A FEARFUL THING

TO FALL INTO THE

HANDS OF THE LIVING

GOD.”

Heb. 10:31.

November

Look, Look, Looking!

Hark! A voice from heaven addresses you, dear lost ones. Would you want to know what the voice says? Then listen:—"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isa. 45:22.

Do what you are invited to do—"look" to Jesus. Where is He? Look up, by faith, and in the brightest spot of the glory of God you will see that very same Jesus who bore our sins in His own body on the tree. But you will see Him there without those sins. Buried, He bore them far away. What a work! God could not, would not have sin in heaven:

When Jesus was on the cross He had our sins laid upon Him. In the bitter darkness there He suffered at the hands of God for your sins and for mine. He made full atonement for them with His blood shed on Calvary. He went into the grave, rose again, and ascended to heaven without one of them. He had borne them all away. Now in the glory He awaits the time when He will have with Himself all who have accepted Him and His great work of redemption.

Are YOU one of the beneficiaries of this work of His love and grace? If you refuse to LOOK to Jesus, you will take out of this world with you what you never brought into it—SINS! And if you die in your sins, you will be buried in them; and they and you will have a resurrection together before the great white throne of a just and holy God.

Thank God, dear lost one, that you have a body still out of the grave, and a soul still out of hell. I cry to you in the language of Scripture: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh [or beareth] away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Only a "look" is required:—not into your own wicked heart, but to a living, loving Savior in heaven. Behold HIM there—"a Lamb as it had been slain." Rev. 5:6. The slain Lamb is now the enthroned Lamb.

"How am I to look?" you say. BY FAITH.

Believing in Him is LOOKING. Looking, believing, "thou shalt be saved.”

How wide, how all-embracing is the invitation! It is to "all the ends of the earth.”

This is the Old Testament way of saying "WHOSOEVER." Oh, LOOK to the blessed Lamb of God, and "be ye saved.”

''There is life in a look at the glorified One,
There is life at this moment for thee;
Then look, sinner, LOOK unto Him and be saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.”

At His Coming

Shall we gather at His coming,
When the dead in Christ arise?
Will you hear the Savior's summons
To God's home beyond the skies?

Daily nearer draws His coming:
This makes all His own rejoice!
Who are they that fear to meet Him?
All who now love not His voice.

When the Savior at His coming
Shall His own in glory bring,
Will you be among the number?
Will you, too, His praises sing?

Ere the day of Jesus' coming,
Seek His pardon free to know;
Be your stains of sin like scarlet,
He will wash you white as snow.

D-O-N-E”

A Christian I once knew used to say that it took him forty-two years to learn three things:—

That he could do nothing to save himself.

That God did not require him to do anything.

That Christ did it all.

If you learn these three lessons you will never be concerned about your "doings.” Your part is to admit that you are a helpless, hell-deserving sinner, unable to do anything to save yourself. Your part is to cease thinking of being saved by anything you can do or feel. Your part is to believe that Jesus did everything that was necessary; that He finished the work of atonement, and paid the ransom price with His own blood.

When you cease trying to be saved by your doings, and put your full dependence in the Lord Jesus who did it all and paid it all, you become a child of God, an heir of glory, and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ.

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

That Night of the Lord”

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

I had most reluctantly come to the meeting at the entreaty of an older sister. A young Scotch doctor (he told us he had given up the lancet for "the sword of the Spirit") had been holding Gospel services in the little hall, and this was to be his last night there.

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

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

But after a bit I forgot everything and everybody, and was only conscious that God was speaking to me in a way I had never known before.

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

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

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

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

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezek. 18:20.

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

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

ALL were guilty ALL were in peril.

EVERY SOUL must meet a holy God—a just God, who could by no means clear the guilty.

ALL were shut up to the just judgment of God.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the encouragement of you who are praying for the salvation of loved ones—perhaps you have waited long for the answer -I would relate one more fact of "that night of the Lord.”

My dear father, far from home and very ill, so ill that he wrote what he thought was a last letter to my mother, said in it, "I am specially praying for the salvation of our children who do not yet know the Lord." This letter was not mailed immediately, and arrived some time later. When my mother read it to us, I asked at once for the date on which it was written. It was the very date on which I had heard the Gospel of the saving power of the blood of the Lamb, and had accepted Christ as my Savior.

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6.2

Dear lost soul, I implore you to believe that Jesus died for you, and that His precious blood shed on Calvary will cleanse you from all sin. You can take Him just as you are, just where you are. Will you?

A Market for the Poor

The only thing that commendeth sinners to Christ is extreme necessity and want. Christ's love has made and provides a ransom—all that is needed for a poor soul who has lost his purse. "He,... he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat." Isaiah 55:1. That is the poor man's market.

The Message of the Rose

One evening on my way to speak at a Gospel meeting in a large city, I was hurrying along the banks of a river. About a hundred yards from the hall at which I was to preach, I noticed a young woman standing apparently in deep thought. Her attitude and manner arrested my attention. I hesitated a moment, and then felt prompted to speak.

Asking her to pardon the apparent rudeness of a stranger in addressing her, I invited her to our meeting which was close by, saying that no one would prevent her leaving at any time she pleased. She resented my intrusion and emphatically declined to come to the meeting.

Here I must say that my hostess where I had just taken tea had presented me with a beautiful white rose. I never wear a flower, but she had been so insistent that I had accepted the blossom.

I now removed the rose from my coat, and turned and asked the young woman as a parting favor to accept it. Looking at the rose, then at me, she finally grasped the beautiful flower. The light from the street lamp fell on her stricken countenance, and I saw on her cheek a glistening tear. I gave her the address of our hall and said good-bye, silently praying that she would alter her decision and come to the meeting.

When I had finished my Gospel message and another speaker was following me, I spied in a dark corner of the hall the young woman to whom I had spoken an hour before.

At the conclusion of the address she arose as though she had something to say but was afraid to speak. Presently, however, in clear and distinct though tremulous tones, she told the meeting her sad story.

"I was standing," she said, "at the river edge trying to decide whether again to drown my conscience in the vice and wickedness in which I have lived for five years, or (which seemed far better) to drown myself in the river. I had all but decided to throw myself into the dark water when that gentleman spoke to me and aroused me from my awful thoughts. He invited me to come to this meeting and I insultingly refused. Then he asked me to accept this rose—just like the pure white flower my widowed mother cut from her favorite bush and gave to me when I left her five years ago.

"As she handed it to me, Mother said, `Ellen, you are leaving me against my will to make your own way in the world. I am fearful for you that the ways of sin may ensnare you. But always—and especially whenever you see a white rose—remember your mother's fervent prayer for the safe return of her child. Day and night I shall pray that God will bring you home again a saved soul.'

"I have often thought of my mother and her words, and have had to stifle my conscience many times. While I stood contemplating that awful step tonight I thought of her. The gift of this white rose was like her voice speaking to me. It brought me to my senses, and God has used it to draw me to this meeting. I've been listening to the story of the Savior of sinners, and I dare not go from here unsaved. Will Christ extend mercy to one so sinful as I am?”

We stopped our meeting and brought before her John 3:16: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." She listened eagerly, then burst into tears and fell upon her knees in anguish, imploring the Lord to save her soul. We joined in silent prayer, leaving her with God to whom she was confessing her guilt and sorrow. Her state at times was alarming; but presently she became calm and subdued, and quietly rising she said: "I do receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. I can go back to my mother— SAVED.”

After giving thanks to God for His mercy and for answering prayer, we sheltered her for the night. The next day we communicated with her mother who was almost overcome with joy and thankfulness at the good news. We sought and obtained for her employment among Christians where she still works, happy in Christ and living a consistent life, ever seeking to tell others of the same precious Savior.

This may be read by many who have never seen themselves as so great sinners as the subject of this true narrative. Nevertheless, YOU, unsaved reader, are guilty before God, for "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. The words of the Lord Jesus are: "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3. But "God, who is rich in mercy" has provided a way of escape. The Lord of heaven and earth gave His only-begotten Son that "whosoever"— a greater or a lesser sinner, it may be— "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Still Unsaved! Why?

Not because you have never heard the gospel. That has reached you a hundred times by book and tract and sermon.

Not because you have no time for these things. For with all the rush of life you still have minutes— even hours—of leisure, and it does not take long to be saved.

Not because salvation is "not for you.” Nothing could be more personal than the gospel message, "To you is the word of this salvation sent.”

Then why?

Fragment: Discouragement by Humiliation

Let us not be discouraged by any humiliating discoveries we may make of the evils of our hearts. God knows them all, and has provided the blood of Jesus Christ His Son to cleanse us from all sin.

"HE (JESUS)
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.

December

My Substitute

When I was a boy I saw a sight I can never forget—a man tied to a cart and dragged through the streets of my native town, his back torn and bleeding from the lash. It was a shameful punishment. For many offenses? No; for ONE offense. Did any of the townsmen offer to divide the lashes with him? NO; he who committed the offense bore the penalty alone.

When I was a student in college I saw another sight I can never forget—a man brought out to die. His arms were pinioned, his face was pale as death. Thousands of eyes were upon him as he came into view from the jail. Did any man ask to die in his place? Did any friend loose the rope and say, "Put it round my neck and I will die in his stead"? No; he underwent the sentence of the law. For many offenses? No; for ONE offense.

I saw another sight—it matters not when—myself a sinner, standing on the brink of ruin, deserving naught but hell. For one sin? No; for MANY. Many sins committed against the unchanging laws of God. But again I looked, and saw JESUS, my Substitute, scourged in my stead, and dying on the cross for me. I looked, and cried to Him. I claimed Him as my Savior, and was forgiven. He had taken my place, and I was saved forever.

How simple it all becomes when God opens our eyes! The law demands justice: the Gospel delights in mercy, through satisfied justice. The law came by Moses; but grace and truth subsist through Jesus Christ. Moses' heart was toward the law-keeper; but Jesus pardons the law-breaker, guilty though he be, and saves the lost.

Religion vs. Salvation

Religion is what man does for God. Salvation is what God does for man.—Isa. 53:6.

Religion depends on our behaving. Salvation depends on our believing. Acts —16:31.

Religion is striving for a better attainment. Salvation is secured through a perfect atonement. 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

Grace

O blessed God, how great the grace
That gave to ruined man a place
Of perfect peace with Thee!
Peace through the sufferings of Thy Son!
He, He alone that peace hath won—
Himself hath set us free.

How sweet that grace if tasted now!
Our souls with adoration bow
Before Thy throne of grace.
We gladly worship—long to see
The Leader of our praise to Thee
In glory, face to face.

We'll praise with Him in His own joy;
His praise our ransomed souls employ
Both here and soon above.
No less a place His Grace has given,
No higher joy in earth, in heaven,
For subjects of His love.

Extract: Seizing the Reigns

We are quick at seizing the reins when we see danger ahead; but the Lord knows better than we do what has to be done: in due season He will deliver all who look to Him.

The Druggist’s Mistake

The life-long friend of a young Christian was employed as a druggist, but he was far from sharing his friend's faith. Every time the latter spoke to him of God, the young pharmacist made fun of him. At last the friend decided never to touch upon the subject again in their conversations, but to confine himself to ordinary topics.

As a final word he said: "In future, old man, I shall not trouble you with these matters. You only make light of them. Until you yourself care to re-open the subject, I have only one more word—a word from God to you. It is a verse from the 50th Psalm: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.' Don't forget it!" But the other just laughed.

Some time after this the young druggist was on night duty at the pharmacy. Suddenly he was aroused by the violent ringing of the night-bell. A little girl had brought a prescription which the doctor had just given to her mother who was very ill.

Half asleep and annoyed at being disturbed, the young fellow weighed out the drugs, mixed them, stuck the label on the bottle, and handed it to the child who ran off with it as fast as she could.

After she had gone he proceeded to put the various bottles back in their places when-horrors! What had he done? He had used a wrong bottle! Instead of a soothing drug he had put a violent poison into the prescription. If the patient took any part of it, death was sure—a death of agony!

He did not know the little girl, nor where she lived. If only he could find her! He rushed out of the store into the dark street. He ran to the right, then to the left, but in vain. The darkness had swallowed her. Besides, she seemed in such a hurry, perhaps at that very moment she was giving her mother a dose of the poison he had prepared!

Cold sweat covered the poor fellow. He was at his wit's end. What could he do? Suddenly his friend's verse came to mind: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”

He hurried back to the pharmacy. He threw himself on his knees and... prayed. Oh, he did not make any fun this time. In his terrible anguish he cried to God to help him, for He alone could...

What! Another ring? He rushed to the door and to his unspeakable amazement saw the little girl, her face bathed in tears. She was holding the neck of the broken bottle.

"Oh, sir," she sobbed, "help me! I ran so fast that I fell and broke the bottle.”

We can imagine the emotions of the young man as he took the prescription in hand again and prepared it correctly. But the gratitude of his heart did not vanish like a fleeting, though profound, impression. Conviction had pierced his soul. He realized how unworthy he was of such mercy, such goodness from the God he had so long slighted, mocked, and rejected.

He could scarcely wait to tell his friend what had occurred. Of his own accord he reopened the subject which he himself had closed. By the grace of God he soon learned to know the Savior whom his friend loved. And in a coming day he will find, too, how God has used him to prove true the last part of the verse: "And thou shalt glorify Me.”

Oh, you who are still without Christ in your hearts, it is the GOODNESS OF GOD that turns men to repentance! Behold His mercies which He so freely bestows upon you. Surely, as the Psalmist David says, "They are new every morning." Look at Calvary and see the out-pouring of His love for you. He has withheld from you nothing for your blessing here, nor for your eternal good, if you will but receive into your heart through faith the dear Son of His love, the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, turn ye! For why will ye die?

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

Doubts of a Doubter

A noted infidel, talking to one who shared his views, was heard to say: "There is one thing that mars all the pleasures of my life.”

"Indeed!" replied his friend; "What is that?”

"I am afraid the Bible may be true," he said. "If I could be certain that death is an eternal sleep I should be happy—my joy would be complete. But this is the thorn that stings me—this is the sword that pierces my very soul. If the Bible is true, I AM LOST FOREVER.”

Golgotha

"And they took Jesus, and led Him away. And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified Him." John 19:16-18.

This was the crowning act of man's awful wickedness and shame—the last sad chapter of his trial under law. It tells the whole story of man's boasted righteousness.

Fifteen hundred years before this they had said, "All that the LORD hath said will we do." How was that promise fulfilled? The "golden calf" is the answer. The nation failed; the priesthood failed; the kingdom failed; the prophets were beaten and stoned and killed. Last of all, the Son and Heir was cast out of the vineyard and slain. They crucified the Son of God, and that, too, under the plea of righteousness. They said, "We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God." Thus it was that the character of man's righteousness as under the law was exhibited.

And then the next day, the Sabbath, was a "high day." What a scene for God to look down upon! His murdered Son in a sepulcher under the guard of Roman soldiers, and His murderers keeping "high day"! Pretending to keep the Sabbath when guilty of the blood of Him who was the Lord of the Sabbath. Such was the righteousness God saw in those to whom He had given His holy law.

But there is another thing.—They crucified Him in Golgotha, the place of a skull. Does this convey no meaning to our souls? Surely it does. Does not a skull speak to us of man's pride and greatness and glory brought to nothing? A skull—an empty skull—that is what man comes to, whose lofty pride defies both God and man. What a story it tells of man's utter impotency! They crucified the Lord of glory in the place of a skull. How unspeakably solemn!

Sinner, let this speak to your conscience. Stand face to face with the terrible fact of the death of the Son of God in the place that speaks of all man's pride and glory brought low. Look at it and let it speak to you. Your sins brought Him there. To meet your need He condescended to die there.

"When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Could anything better show that man is without strength than a bleached, empty skull? Could anything better prove his ungodliness than his crucifixion of God's Son? These two things meet at Golgotha: man's utter inability to keep the law, and his awful hatred of the One whose law it was. Man's total impotence was there equaled only by the enormity of his sin and shame. It is the complete laying bare of the whole condition of man as a sinner.

And now, is there any remedy? Is there any door of escape? Thank God, there is. The very cross that proclaims the need is the door of escape. If Golgotha manifests the sinner as "without strength" and "ungodly," it also reveals a Savior for all such—a Savior whose blood answered to the sin that thrust the spear into His side. "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water" expiation and cleansing for all who believe.

This is God's remedy—a remedy which was open for the murderers of Christ even, did they believe on His name. Sinner, this is the remedy—the only remedy—for you. That Savior lifted up on Golgotha is God's remedy for those who are "without strength” and "ungodly." Is that your condition? Then here is the divine remedy. That precious blood which flowed from His side "cleanseth from all sin." GOD HAS SAID IT. Believe and live.

A. H. R.

The Blood Counts for Something

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:7.

An evangelist, injured in an automobile accident, lay for many weary months in a Roman Catholic hospital in a city in California. On a nearby bed lay a young priest, evidently a sincere and earnest man; but he was greatly troubled in view of possible death. An aged priest came from time to time to hear his confessions and to grant him absolution—or to impose penance. The evangelist longed to speak to him, but found him very difficult to approach.

One day, however, as the older priest was about to leave, he overheard the young one say to him: "Father, it is very strange! I have done everything I know to do. I have sought to carry out all that the church has asked, and yet I have no peace. How can I be sure that God has put away my sins?”

The other looked at him compassionately, and then exclaimed, "Surely the blood of Christ ought to count for something!”

As though a flash of divine light had entered his soul, the young priest's countenance changed. He looked up eagerly to exclaim, "Ah, yes, it counts for everything! I can trust that." And it was evident afterward that his soul had entered into peace.

Reader, can you trust the precious blood shed by that Holy Son who drank the cup of judgment for your sins upon the cross? If so, God declares that your sins which are many are all forgiven.

Thus, redeemed to God and justified, you will understand as never before the true meaning of the garden and the cross.

"Gethsemane, can I forget,
Or there Thy conflict see,
Thine agony and blood-like sweat,
And not remember Thee?
"When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember Thee.”

Him That Cometh”

No matter how weak or weary or wicked any poor sinner may be, if he but come in simple faith to Jesus the Lord he will be lovingly welcomed. Yes, and, be everlastingly saved as well.

That promise is as true today as when first it was uttered, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Notice the words: it is not said, "him that doeth," or "him that deserveth," or "him that giveth," but simply "him that cometh.”

A Closing Appeal

The sands in the hour-glass of the departing year are fast running out. Ere they reach the vanishing point, it would be well for all who read these lines to ask themselves the solemn question: "How do I stand with God?”

Your eyes, dear ones, may never witness the dawning of the New Year. Eternity, with all its tremendous realities of life and death, may well arrest our steps as our souls look onward to "tomorrow." The stream of Time is fast approaching the ocean of Eternity; and somewhere in its boundless expanse your destiny and mine draws every moment nearer. The great question, "Amos 1 saved, or am I lost?" demands immediate answer.

During the present year of grace many unexpected things have happened which may well make us "Consider our ways" even in the light of the omniscient eyes of Him who reads us through and through.

Is it not high time, dear reader, to awake out of sleep and seriously to consider where you are going to spend "ETERNITY"? The passions of evil men, the unbroken self-will of countless millions, the ever-increasing greed for wealth, the spiritual wickedness in high places, these have characterized the now closing year. Even the vast amount of mere lifeless religious profession but adds to the conviction that the "perilous times" of the "last days," foretold in 2 Tim. 3, are upon us.

As it was in the days of Noah, so is it now; and the judgment of a doomed and God-rejecting world draws nearer every hour. Everything around us declares in unmistakable tones that "the end of all things is at hand." Notwithstanding all this, and the waxing worse and worse of "evil men and seducers," yet God's long-suffering and grace still lingers over His guilty creatures. Mercy's door still stands open wide. The blood of His crucified Son still pleads for pardon for lost and ruined sinners.

And you, dear one, let me lovingly ask you, "Have you, for yourself, ever yet felt your own personal guilt before God, and your own deep need of salvation? Are you still content, as blinded by Satan, to go on living in sins until you die in sins and are forever lost?" "If ye believe not that I am He," saith the Son of God, "ye shall die in your sins"... and—"after this the judgment.”

Have you ever yet spent even ten minutes at the feet of Jesus, owning and confessing your sins? Have you earnestly cried to Him from your soul, "Lord, save me"? Why not fly at once for refuge to that precious Savior who died for our sins and rose again for our justification? His loving entreaty is still going out: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

If you will not listen to that Voice, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" Nothing in this world can ever satisfy the longings of your immortal soul; surely not the surging whirlpool of fleshly excitement and sinful pleasure in which you are now engulfed. They but drag you down to the depths of everlasting woe and eternal loss.

Jesus alone can satisfy your heart's hunger. Delay no longer, I implore you, but come at once to Jesus, the Savior,—just as you are, just where you are, and just now, for tomorrow may be too late! As risen and glorified, He waits with open arms to receive and save you NOW. The very moment you rest your guilty soul in simple faith on His atoning blood you will be able to sing from your heart

"Oh, depth of mercy, can it be
That precious blood was shed for me?”

Receive Him NOW, dear lost soul. HE IS WORTHY. And in the moment you receive Him into your heart, your eternal destiny becomes the Father's house, the courts of glory, the everlasting Presence of Him who so "loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

"ALL WE LIKE SHEEP
HAVE GONE ASTRAY;
WE HAVE TURNED
EVERY ONE TO
HIS OWN WAY;
AND THE LORD HATH
LAID ON HIM [JESUS]
THE INIQUITY
OF US ALL."
Isa. 53:6.

Echoes of Grace: 1951

Table of Contents

January

The Coming Year

Extract: Following Conscience

Savior, Teach Me

Good Feelings”

The Coming Famine

Brief: The Devil's Gospel

Fifty Years a Convict

Faith Counted for Righteousness

Suddenly Cut Off

"Is That True, Mary?"

February

The Change of Masters

Brief

He Calleth Thee

Extract: Forever Saved or Lost

Too Late

Get Rich, Live Easy, and Die Happy”

Fragment: Brought into Fellowship with the Father

O Miki San

The Cables Will Ring Tomorrow”

March

Missing a Train to Make a Start for Heaven

Isa. 32:2

My Hiding Place

Extract

A Broken and a Contrite Heart

Follow the Line

An Alarming Discovery

What Is Repentance?

Luke 15:10

A Straight Line to Christ

I Am Persuaded”

April

"Until"

Be Honest With God”

Wait on

Only Believe

Extract: The Bridge to God

No Hiding Place

Behold, He Cometh!

Briefs: Working for My Soul

Four Things He Knew

Go, Chain and All!”

Fragment: Amusements

May

The Lord Jesus: or the Sage

The Four Calls

Extract: Things Which are Seen

"All for Christ"

John 3:16”

Brief

The Barber's New Sign

Hardness

June

Their Latter End”

Extract: The Immensity of Sin and Grace

The Lord of Love

Brief

Their Future Is Safe!

A Hidden Minister

Christ Is All-Sufficient

A Golden Chain

"What is Hell?"

July

I Have No Time”

Two Gifts

Consider Him

Extract

The Atheist's Torn Bible

A Roadside Meeting

The Helpless Helped

He Said It

Extract

August

The Magnet

Quick and Powerful

Present Rest