Echoes of Grace: 1958

The following lines were written by a dear girl and found under her pillow after she had departed to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, who was very precious to her.

H. W.

"I Shall Be Satisfied”
Psa. 17:15

I shall be satisfied,
But not while here below,
Where every earthly cup of bliss
Is wisely mixed with woe.
When this frail form shall be
Forever laid aside,
And in His likeness I awake;
I shall be satisfied.

"He Shall Be Satisfied”
Isa. 53:11

He shall be satisfied,
When all He died to win,
By loving-kindness gently drawn,
Are safely gathered in.
When in the glory bright
He views His glorious bride,
Sees of the travail of His soul,
He shall be satisfied.

A Football Captain's Story?

The triumphant roar of the thousands who followed the fortunes of the football club of which George was captain was sweetest music to him. He lived for the game! Too, he was a very popular fellow, "a good sport" his friends called him. He had a strong, rollicking voice, and was always ready with a song or a smart story. Many of "the boys" knew that George could be relied upon to help a man who was "down on his luck"—a trait that always draws a crowd of friends.

Lately George had begun to lose interest in the game, and his jollity settled down into that forced kind that lacks sparkle. The cause was this—his wife had been converted to Christ and George was upset about it. She was so different from him now; yet he felt that she was right and he was wrong. She prayed to God. George didn't. She read the Bible. George didn't. She loved the Lord Jesus Christ and owned Him as her Savior. George became angry at the very sound of His name. He did realize his sinful condition; but he told this to nobody, least of all to his praying wife.

She often asked him to go with her to hear the gospel preached. He as often refused. But one Lord's day night she was more persistent than usual, and to please her George said, "All right. I'll go with you this time if you'll let me alone in the future. But first you must go with me to get some beer.”

He did not think that she would accept this condition, but to his surprise she did. George left her outside, having too much respect for her to press her to join him inside his favorite tavern. In fact, he now felt like a cad for having brought her so near it.

George called for his drink, and raised the foaming glass to his lips; but he put it down again without even tasting it. That was a queer thing for him to do, and at that moment he could not have given a reason for doing it. Again he took it up, and a second time he put it down untasted. A third time he raised it, determined this time to finish it. But a third time down came that glass of beer onto the counter; and though he had paid for it, he left it there untasted and turned on his heel and joined his wife outside. He told me afterward that the thought of his wife praying for him outside made him feel that if he had drunk that beer it would have choked him.

They said nothing to each other, and reached the place of the preaching some time before the time for the service to begin. He took up a Bible and began idly to turn its pages. Suddenly he was arrested by some words that seemed to stand out upon the page as though they were—embossed words that seemed entirely for him. Eagerly he read them over and over again. Light and joy entered his soul as their meaning dawned upon him. His misery passed away, that misery that had been like a canker for weeks. Turning to his wife, he exclaimed, "I'M A SAVED MAN!" Yes, before even the service began that night, sitting there by the wife who loved him and was praying for him, the Spirit applied that one solitary verse of Scripture, and George could say, "I'm a saved man.”

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

Wonderful words are these. They revolutionized his life. They made him a happy man; and he rejoiced in Jesus the Savior who spoke them. For the rest of his earthly life George lived only to proclaim: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Rom. 1:16.

God Speaking

That is a solemn word in Heb. 12:25. "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.”

Reader, God is speaking to you. What answer are you going to make? Are you going to tell Him that you will enjoy the world for a while yet, and when eternity is drawing near you will think about being converted?

If such be your answer, have a care. "God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7.

You may be cut down as a cumberer of the ground: you may go down very suddenly into a lost eternity. "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1.

He That Shall Come Will Come

(Heb. 10:37)

IF CHRIST should come in "fifty-eight,”
Would you go with Him through heaven's gate?
O parents, brothers, kindred too,
Is Christ the Lord still naught to you?
He who His glory laid aside,
For sinners came, and for us died;
Who God's great love—His hatred too—
Revealed to all, to me, to you:
Love that would not His own Son spare
That we with Him might glory share;
Strong hatred! yes, but not of man,
No! but of sin that him must ban
From God, from peace, from heav'n above,
From His blest home of matchless love.

Yes! thus it was and e'er is true
That Jesus died for me, for you,
Was crucified on Calv'ry's cross,
Sin's judgment bore at such a cost
For us who ev'ry one aside
Has turned from Him, the Crucified,
Without the willingness to bow
Before that Lord and Savior now
In this, the day of God's rich grace
That gives lost man in heav'n a place
Before Christ's coming shuts the door
And mercy's voice sounds forth no more;
Then wrath instead of peace shall fall
On all who disobeyed His call.

Do we His overtures still scorn,
Tread our own way to judgment morn?
When all the fearful and profane,
The Christ-rejectors and the vain,

The liars, murd'rers and the proud,
With terror filled, without a shroud
To hide their naked souls from God,
(Whose judgment Christ once met with blood,)
Stand speechless in His holy sight,
Their works, their thoughts, all brought to light—
Is there no hope? The Lamb's own book
Of life is brought; in vain they look
To find their names inscribed therein;—
God's Son they once refused!—This sin
Cannot be pardoned. They must go
To outer darkness, endless woe,
The lake of fire, the second death,
And not to God who gave them breath.

O parents, brothers, kindred too,
Will this dread end, say, o'ertake you?
God's name is LOVE; repent just now;
Before His Christ, believing, bow;
Receive HIM whose own blood has brought
Salvation! Can you count it naught? (J. H. S.)

"THEY THAT WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM." (Matt. 25:10)

The First Offer

Some time ago a preacher of the gospel was calling on a business man. This man had never professed faith in the Lord Jesus, and his Christian friend had expressed his anxiety for his eternal welfare.

"It is true," said the merchant, "I am not of settled mind in religion. Still I am not utterly hopeless. I may yet enter the vineyard, even at the eleventh hour.”

"Ah! You refer to Christ's parable of the laborers who wrought but one hour at the end of the day. But you have overlooked the fact that these men accepted the first offer.”

"Is that so?”

"Certainly. They said to the Lord of the vineyard: `No man hath hired us' They welcomed his first offer immediately.”

"True; I had not thought of that before. But then the thief on the cross, while dying, was saved.”

"Yes; but is it likely that he never rejected an offer of salvation as preached by Christ and His apostles? Is there not reason to believe that he, too, accepted the first offer?”

"Why, you seem to want to quench my last spark of hope.”

"Why should I not? Such hope is an illusion. You have really no promise of opportunity to be saved at some future time. Now is the accepted time. Receive Christ now. This may be for you the last offer of God's salvation.”

"How shall I begin?”

"Just as the leper did when he met Jesus by the way. He committed his body to the Great Physician in order to be healed. So commit your soul to Him as a present Savior. Your eyes are open to see your peril. Beware of delay.”

The merchant was aroused to a knowledge of his present need and recognized his foolish error in procrastination. He received Christ as his Savior and found in HIM his best offer.

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

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

Dear reader, have you accepted the first offer?

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

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

"Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, then vanisheth away." James 4:14.

The Power of God

How often have we seen evidence of the power of the gospel of God! Men's lives have been changed by it and their souls inflamed with desire to tell others of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

At a meeting where men arose to tell how they had heard the gospel and had accepted Christ, one stood up holding a New Testament in his hands.

"My story," said he, "is unlike that of you others. I was a pickpocket, a thief. One day I saw a man with a definite bulge in his hip pocket. 'A fat purse,' thought I; and soon it was in my pocket. But when I arrived home, lo and behold, I found out it was only a book. In disgust I threw it aside.

"Some days later, out of curiosity, I opened it, and began to read. Before many days had passed I found in this little book Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior.”

Listening to this testimony was a colporteur who had distributed many Bibles throughout the land.

After the service he went up to the man and asked to see his New Testament. It was the same one that for many years he had carried in his own hip pocket and had considered lost! Now he rejoiced to find that it had been used of God to save a precious soul.

"God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." He makes the wrath of man to praise Him (Psa. 76:10), and in like manner He was able to make the wickedness of this man redound to His own glory and to the man's eternal blessing.

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Eccl. 11:6.

The Signalman

It was night and the road across the flat Illinois plains was lonely and monotonous. The weary driver of the little car followed mechanically the long ribbon of concrete.

Anxious to reach her destination before midnight she had just stepped on the gas. Suddenly a red light roused her to a sense of something unusual on the road. Applying the brakes, she slowed until she could discern a man swinging a hand lantern in a frantic arc. As she stopped in obedience to his signal she became aware of a slow freight train crossing the highway. The automatic flasher was out of order, and the signalman had been obliged to resort to his hand lantern. Thus he had warned of danger and had prevented a fatal accident.

Was the driver of the car angry at this interruption of her journey? How foolish, you say. Of course she was only grateful for the warning.

Yet, dear fellow-traveler on the highway of life, you too are hastening toward an eternal destruction. Have you heeded the warning of "danger ahead"? Or, furious with those who would humbly and earnestly warn you, are you rushing headlong into the blackness of darkness forever?

Surely the railroad watchman at the crossing had no feeling of heroism as he stood with his red lantern between the speeding car and the slowly moving train. To him it was just a duty well done. But God, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, has given every believer in His dear Son the privilege of holding forth the Word of life to warn men of the wrath to come upon this earth.

Sinner, heed the red lantern of "danger ahead." See the signal flash! Have you not heard God's warnings in the gospel hall, in your home, on the street corner? Have you not read the tracts, the gospel stories that warn you of danger on your life course? They tell you of Him who is mighty to save. Will you not believe His message? Accept God's Word to the saving of your soul! Heedless of these urgent warnings your way will end in eternal punishment.

"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezek. 33:11.

Necessary - and Enough

He was very ill and in a hospital ward, this undersized, undeveloped little Irish boy. His white, wizened face and emaciated form belonged to a lad about fifteen years of age, but he scarcely looked to be twelve.

A Christian visitor sought to win the lad's confidence by gifts of flowers and fruit, and she soon found him very willing, even eager, to listen to the story of the sinner's Savior. At first his interest seemed quite impersonal, but gradually he began to see that he himself was concerned. His own soul's need was put before him, and he was awakened to some sense of his lost condition. Soon he commenced to consider seriously how he might be saved. Brought up a Romanist, he thought and spoke of penance and the confessional, of sacraments and church; yet he never wholly left out Christ Jesus and His atoning work.

One morning the Christian lady visited him again. She found his face aglow with a new-found joy. Inquiring the reason, he replied with assurance born of faith in the revealed Word of God: "Oh, Lady, I always knew that Jesus was necessary; but I never knew till yesterday that He was enough!”

It was a blessed discovery, and I would that every reader of these pages had made it. Mark it well: Jesus is enough!

Scripture asserts that He "of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." "Ye are complete in Him." "God hath made us accepted in the Beloved." These are only a few of the precious declarations of Scripture which show clearly that Jesus is indeed not only necessary, but ENOUGH. Have you, my friend, made this great discovery?

The Right Way

How terrible are the results of misdirecting the souls of men! Yet it must be evident to all that amid the babble of contradictory voices which are heard today, many of the directions given must be false and misleading, even when given by well-meaning men. All cannot be true.

We should then, one and all, be on our guard against being misdirected for eternity. It is far too solemn to rest on uncertainties with such an important matter as our soul's salvation, and as to where we shall spend eternity—in heaven, or in hell. It must be one of the two places.

Thank God, there is no need for us to depend upon doubtful counsel. In His own sure Word, He has Himself given the plainest directions as to the way to heaven. The way He indicates is not the way of "doing our best," or of "observing the golden rule," or of "trying to be good.”

We are assured at the outset that none of these will lead us to heaven. We have all of us wandered too far astray from God for any such directions to help us.

The Word of God points to Christ as the only way. He Himself says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

He suffered at Calvary, not merely as a martyr, but as a Sin-bearer making atonement by the blood of His cross. Now that He is risen from the dead He is proclaimed to all as the Object of faith. The way to receive blessing for the present and to enter into glory for eternity lies in trusting Him.

The Scripture says: "To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43. Could words be plainer?

The course of true wisdom is to give heed to the sure directions of the Word of God and thus escape the awful peril of being misdirected.

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

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

Lean Hard

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

What shortsightedness in refusing to cast all our cares upon Jesus! He is never-failing in tenderness, wonderfully efficient, ever wise, all seeing, and His heart is full of compassion.

It is possible to fuss and fume from early youth until hair turns gray, and find at the end that no progress has been made whatever. But those w h o really learn to cast all their care upon Him are ever content and the happiest people that can be found on the face of the globe.

"These things have I written
unto you that believe
on the name of the
Son of God; that
ye may know ye
have eternal
life.”

1 John 5:13.

February

The Solemn Day

What will you do in the solemn day,
When earth and sea shall flee away,
When the rending heavens in fire shall roll,
And shrivel up like a parchment scroll?

Oh what will you do when the sins of the past
Shall rise like clouds that gather fast,
And stand before you in dread array;
Oh sinner, tell me, what will you say?

His Own Book

Rogilio was a bright young Mexican lad. His early childhood was spent in the northern part of his native land at a time when Bibles were very scarce there. His father, not a very devout man, found one of the sacred volumes among his own books. Glancing over the pages he found that it contained "good moral teaching," and presented it to his young son. Rogilio in turn showed it to the village priest who, wonderful to relate, assured him that it was "the best book in the world.”

After his father's death, Rogilio studied his Book with great delight. He learned to repeat verse after verse of the melodious writings and found comfort and pleasure in the beautiful phraseology. But one day he made a grave error. He took it to the village school to show to his teacher.

"Ave Maria!" the teacher exclaimed, "where did you get that book? It is an accursed Protestant work.”

Poor Rogilio! A new and younger priest had replaced his old friend who had so heartily approved of his treasure; and now the teacher showed the volume to him. Zealous for "the church," he cast the boy's beloved Book into the fire.

As its pages curled and blackened in the flames, so Rogilio's broken heart shriveled and changed within him. After many nights of tearful loneliness and grief for his lost volume, the boy sought forgetfulness among the dissolute youths of the village. He lost all interest in higher things and was content to live only for the pleasures of the day.

Some years later Rogilio, now a grown man, had drifted to El Paso, Texas. One night, out of curiosity, he and a companion entered a hall where an evangelist was preaching the gospel. As the two young men were making their way to a vacant bench the evangelist was reading aloud from a large volume. Familiar words fell on the ear of our friend Rogilio. Before his companion could restrain him he rushed forward before the whole assembly, crying, "Sir, have the kindness to give me back my book! That is my book you are reading from. They took it from me years ago, but it is mine.”

It had not occurred to Rogilio that there could be more than one copy. He stretched out his hands confidently, fully expecting to receive his own book again.

The amazed evangelist stood speechless. Finally he said: "My dear young man, please explain. Why do you say this precious Book is yours?”

"It is mine," Rogilio answered more calmly, "and I can prove it." To the astonishment of all assembled he recited passage after passage that he had memorized in his boyhood, proving to them that he had, in some measure, made the Word of God his own.

After further conversation with him, the evangelist presented to Rogilio the volume from which he had been reading, and pointed him to the portions that, if he received them into his heart, would bring eternal blessing to his soul.

Again the sacred scriptures brought comfort to the young man's heart; and through belief in Him of whom they speak he has become a true child of God.

"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.”

A Common Mistake

It was during a period of spiritual awakening. One of the anxious, a person of considerable intelligence and having much knowledge of the Scriptures, called to see a preacher. She was in agony of mind as she realized that she was utterly unfit for the holy presence of God.

She seemed to know every passage of the Word of God which the servant of Christ could quote as he sought to help her. At last he contented himself by pressing home the simple yet glorious truth expressed in the words: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

Though her tears flowed as the gospel in the verse was dwelt upon, she remained silent; and soon she left, still weeping. But later she returned, filled with joy.

"Why did you weep when you left?" she was asked.

"I wept for joy.”

"And what gave you the joy?”

"I saw as you were speaking that Jesus 'came into the world to save sinners"'

"But you knew that before?”

"No!”

"Then what did you think?”

"I always thought that Jesus came into the world to save saints! My tears of joy flowed when I saw He came to save sinners.”

Which are you, my reader?

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

Praying and Doing My Best”

An old man was very ill. I went to see him and said to him: "You are very ill. Perhaps you are going to meet God. What about your soul? Are you ready?”

With unmistakable earnestness, the poor man replied; "I am trying to be ready. I am praying and doing my best.”

Shocked at his reply, I said: "My friend, there is no salvation upon these terms. You are setting the death of the Lord Jesus aside. If a person can be saved upon the ground that you are now acting on, then there was no need for Christ to die. I urge you to stop.”

I said this very quietly; but no sooner had I spoken than the sick man threw up both his arms and his whole body seemed convulsed. He raised himself upon his bed, crying aloud with intense earnestness: "Oh, God, I do believe in the death of Thy dear Son Jesus as a sacrifice for my sins!”

Shortly after this I left him, having first knelt down and prayed for him.

Calling again the next morning, I found the man in an entirely different state of soul. He seemed calmly happy and his handclasp was firm, though clinging. Holding his hand in mine I said: "You are better in body, too. Yes, my friend, God has made Christ your Savior and your mind is at peace.”

Presently the doctor arrived. To his astonishment he found that his patient, whom he had given up for death, was in a fair way to recover.

The man got well, and lived to tell others that by Christ all who believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses; that grace is grace, and works are works, and that by grace are ye saved through faith, not by works.

Reader, is it by doing your best that you are trying to get to heaven? We urge you to stop: you are deceiving yourself and denying Christ. Give up your fatal endeavors; you will never reach glory by that road.

Death is the pit at the end of the road called works, and thousands fall into the pit and are forever lost. Do not set aside the work of Christ, for if you could be saved by doing your best, then the suffering of Christ in the stead of sinners was utterly useless. Beware of trying to save yourself; it is a fatal mistake. Will you not use the old man's words so earnestly uttered?

"Oh, God, I do believe in the death of Thy dear Son Jesus as a sacrifice for my sins.”

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

A Blessed Blunder

He entered the hall shortly after the gospel address began. Looking around in some confusion, he finally chose a vacant seat and slipped quietly into it.

After the meeting in which I had preached the Word of the cross, I encountered this young man as he sought to elude me. After a short conversation I persuaded him to come with me into a small adjoining room. Here I learned that it was through what he called a blunder that he had entered the hall and heard the gospel.

Scripture says: "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Jer. 10:23. And "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." 2 Chron. 16:9. Surely the Lord was watching over this man, and His heart yearned to bless him.

The young man, I found, was a Jew. In coming into the hall he had believed he had the right address for a concert he had intended to hear. When he discovered his error courtesy, or perhaps timidity, kept him in his seat. But one thing was soon made plain: he was thoroughly indifferent to the Christian religion and was anxious to terminate our interview as soon as possible.

God had so ordered it that I had in my pocket a small Testament. Taking it out I opened it to the Gospel of John and marked with my pen chapter 5, verse 24. Handing it to him I said: "Friend, if you will promise me that tonight before going to bed you will get on your knees and read this verse, I will make you a present of this Testament." Perhaps to get rid of me, or maybe through curiosity, he made the promise and went on his way.

Years went by. In my work for the Lord I had traveled to a distant city. While waiting for a meal to be served I glanced through a newspaper. There in bold type was an announcement that brought joy to my heart: "Albert Nathan," a converted Israelite, was holding Bible studies in that city.

"Albert Nathan!" This was the name of my Jew—the one to whom I had given my Testament. Could it be—?

I went. As I entered the hall he saw me. As recognition flashed between us he sprang over to me, crying out: "I kept my promise! I read that verse and I found the Lord Jesus.”

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

From Doubt to Assurance

When a man realizes that he is thoroughly bad, lost, in utter darkness, and despairs of helping himself, he is then a fit subject for the grace of God.

When the Holy Spirit has done His work in his conscience and convicted him of sin, then he may learn that Christ is the "end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." Oh, how precious then is the work of His cross! Then the soul, having learned what its true condition is one of sin and strengthlessness discovers the perfect suitability of Christ: His blood purging the conscience, and His boundless love filling the heart. Then it rests! Light divine shines in and dispels the clouds.

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

The double need is thus met, the guilt and the weakness. To be ungodly is, alas! our state by nature, and to be without the strength to aid or alter that state is our condition; and yet, when both without strength and ungodly, Christ—blessed be His name!—died for us.

Now, let us find in Scripture—in the written Word of God—a passage that sheds great light on this matter. I will adduce one which has proved helpful to thousands of souls who desired the knowledge of salvation. Indeed, I cannot do better than cite a case in point. It was that of a man, John Anderson, who had been led to see that salvation could not be obtained by works of righteousness which he had done; but how to know for certain that he could be, and was saved, he could not tell.

I read to him these words: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

"Here are two conditions, and on the fulfillment of them," I said, "God assures salvation. First, 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.' Now, are you," I asked, "ashamed of the blessed Lord who died for us—afraid to confess Him as Lord?”

"No," he said, "I am not.”

"Then, second: 'If thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead.' Do you believe in your heart this great truth of the gospel?”

"I do," said he.

"Truly?”

"Yes, truly.”

"Then you fulfill the two conditions. Now let me read the consequences—'Thou shalt be saved.' Mark that! Whose words are these?”

"God's.”

"Then they are sure words of promise and cannot fail. But are you sure it is not `Mayest be saved? '”

John shook his head.

"No, 'shalt be saved.' Again, mark that! Not feel saved, nor think, nor hope, but shall be. And God's promise and the fulfillment of it are identical. God cannot fail. Do you take Him at His word?”

"I do," he replied; and this was his first confession. "Well," I said, "I hope to see a friend of yours shortly; may I tell him that you trust in the Lord?”

"Yes," said he, without hesitation. And I did so. Accordingly, after the lapse of three weeks, I received from that friend the cheering message: "I saw John last night. You will be thankful to hear that he is getting on very nicely. He told me that after all his struggling he saw the truth just in a moment; and that it was so simple!”

This man had confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart, and now he rested on the word of assurance—"Thou shalt be saved." Thus he "saw the truth just in a moment," and found the peace that rests completely on the perfect work accomplished by the Savior at Calvary.

God's A. B. C.

"What must I do to be saved?" So said the Philippian jailer to Paul many years ago. From that time to the present day doing has been the first thought of man.

Would not even you who read these pages, if asked about salvation and the way to heaven, say, "Oh, we must all do our best"? Or if you were pressed for something further, would you not bring up your good deeds—"a good father, a good mother, or a good child; a churchgoer, honest, and industrious," and so on?

Now, if I say you are all wrong, do not immediately throw this paper away. Read on to the end in order that by God's grace and from His own Word you may see His way of saving you, the only right way.

No doubt there are good works; but you must be saved before you can do them.

When as a little child you learned the alphabet at your mother's knee, she taught you that A, B, and C all come before D. D is in the alphabet, but its place is fourth, not first. In Matt. 18 Jesus says, "Except ye... become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." And as a little child you must begin with God's A, B, C, before attempting the doing.

"First, you must believe God's "A". What is it?

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

Read no further until you have set to your seal that God is true, and that you are indeed in His eyes a lost sinner.

Then what is His second letter? "B" is God's remedy for our ruined state.

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

Believe—not that you are saved, but—on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. If you rest for salvation on Christ, and on Him alone, you will obtain it.

The letter "C" tells you of the glorious work He did to win salvation for you.

"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18.

Now, if you own that you are a sinner according to "A", and if you believe on Christ according to "B", "C" tells you that Christ has once suffered for your sins. You committed the sins. Christ took the wages. Now God can give you—not the wages, which have been paid to Christ—but His free gift, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Can you now go on as before—without God and without hope in the world? Or will you become as a little child, and learn God's "A", "B", "C" for the first time? It is truly God's way of salvation.

Not a word of doing yet, for Christ has done it all. All what? All that is necessary for your salvation; and you need now to simply rest your soul on His finished work. Trust in Him. The moment you do so, you are saved. You see you have not reached "D" for Doing, nor "E" for Experience, nor "F" for Feelings. These all come later. Beware lest Satan occupy you with them before you have learned God's "A", "B", C”.

To those who by faith have received God's salvation, comes "D"—"Created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10.

To live for Him who died for you! Doing is in its right place now as the result of your having received eternal life. You will never get it by good deeds; but they show out the fact that you do not merely say you have life, but that you really possess it.

In God's alphabet, from "A" to "Z", "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord." Psa. 3:8.

"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.

"Because It Works"

A college professor, a modernist in religion, observed a mechanic reading the Bible during his dinner hour. He said to him: "I'm surprised to see an intelligent man like you read that Book. Why, you don't even know the author of, say, the book of Ecclesiastes, for instance!”

The mechanic replied, "Do you use the multiplication table, sir?”

"Why of course," was the answer; "but what has that to do with it?”

"Do you know the author of it?”

"No, of course not.”

"Well, why do you use it?" the mechanic asked. "Because it works," came the answer again.

"That's why I read this Book—because it works," said the delighted believer...

The great test of all theories, remedies, or devices, is—DO THEY WORK? Detailed explanation and perfect understanding of them is unnecessary; if they work they are accepted and sought after.

So it is with the Gospel! The wisest sage or most holy saint cannot adequately explain or fully understand the ways of God in saving a soul; but it has worked in numberless cases. As a dear old saint once said: "God does not tell us to understand it; He tells us to believe it.”

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

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

"IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH
THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS,
AND SHALT BELIEVE IN
THINE HEART THAT
GOD HATH RAISED
HIM FROM THE DEAD,
THOU SHALT BE SAVED."
Rom. 10:9.

March

A Savior for You

Afar off from God in the broad downward road,
The soul may have wandered 'neath sin's heavy load;
Yet still there's a message for Gentile and Jew,
And this is its purport—There's a Savior for you.

Though burdened with sin, and though laden with care,
E'en now there is hope, so you need not despair;
For Jesus has met all the penalty due
To sin, and in glory—He's the Savior for you.

Oh, why quench your thirst at the rivers of earth
By drinking from streams of unsanctified mirth?
Oh, why not the world and its pleasures eschew,
And heed the glad tidings—There's a Savior for you?

A Savior for you? Oh, how precious the word
That God hath declared Him both Savior and Lord!
He's done all the work God assigned Him to do,
And now rest assured—There's a Savior for you.

Saved

The name of Paul Rader is known and loved by many who still honor him for his earnest Christian walk. In his pathway of loving service to his Savior he encountered needy men in all walks of life and his ear seemed ever attuned to hear the Lord's "this do" or "go ye" in behalf of lost souls.

One man, a New York banker, was often on Paul's heart. Many a soul-searching talk did they have together; but always the banker would conclude: "Yes, Paul, I know you are right. But I am too busy for religion.”

Perhaps he was "too busy for religion," but not too busy for God who makes man's busy doings to accomplish His own purposes. In the midst of his busy strivings for place and power, the overworked body of the banker collapsed and he was sent to a quiet sanitarium for a complete rest.

One day Paul Rader received a message. He knew it was from God for the word was distinct and clear: "Go, speak to the banker.”

Rader caught a train and went with all speed to see his friend. As he approached the sanitarium he saw the banker standing in the doorway. "Oh, Paul," he called, "I am so glad you are here.”

"I received your telegram," Paul answered with a smile.

"No," said the banker; "that is impossible. I wrote one begging you to come, but I tore it up. I did not send it!”

"That may be so," said Mr. Rader; "but your message came by way of heaven.”

Paul Rader found his banker-friend under deep conviction of sin. How happy he was to point him to Christ as the perfect Savior! That man accepted the Lord Jesus, and his heart overflowed with joy. "Rader," he said, "did you ever see the sky so blue or the grass so green?”

"Ah," said Rader, "to you all things have become new. We sometimes sing:

" 'Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen.'”

Suddenly the banker leaned against Rader, and fell into his arms dead.

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

Unsaved

Hearing recently that a certain young woman was to play the organ at a church reception, I said to my informant, "Is she indeed such a person as you would desire for a church service?”

"Oh, yes!" was the reply; "Mary joined our church last week, and it is different now.”

Mary was one of those known as "the professional class," such as are reckoned among artists, musicians, and actors. She did not have the reputation among those who knew her of being the godly, sober person that one would expect to be found with those who profess to be children of God. So I determined to ask her about her church affiliation the next time I met her.

The opportunity soon came and I asked her: "Mary, I hear you have joined the church recently. Have you been saved also?”

"Oh, no! I can't say I'm saved," she answered. "When I lived in Greenville I did not like the church there, so I never joined it. But I made up my mind that if I ever came to the city I would join St. Mark's. So when I moved into town recently I became a member here.”

And that was all. There had been no realization of her condition as a sinner away from God, and consequently no sense of need of a Savior; no anxious question of, "What must I do to be saved?" No blessed message to her soul, "Thy sins be forgiven thee." No knowledge of how God justifies the sinner that comes to Him in the name of Jesus; no precious word, "Be thou clean!" No good news of salvation to one owning herself lost; no reaching forth the hand of faith to receive "the gift of God [which] is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). No! none of these things. Only this: "I thought I would join St. Mark's when I moved into the city, and I did so.”

My reader, does your so-called church membership rest on such flimsy basis as that? If so, let me say to you earnestly, solemnly, and lovingly: "You are building on a sandy foundation that will not stand in the coming day." There are many today who deceive themselves by joining a church without being converted. They have thus a name to live whilst they are dead to God. (See Rev. 3:1). They think themselves to be "all right" because they have "joined the church." God saves sinners who put their heart-trust in the Lord Jesus, but never promises salvation because of joining a church.

AWAKE! AWAKE, unsaved church member! God says to you: "Thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev. 3:17. AWAKE! You are going into eternity a lost soul with your name on the books of a church instead of its being written in the Lamb's book of life. AWAKE! You are going into eternity with all your sins upon you, instead of their being borne by Christ as the Lamb of God.

AWAKE! For "God commandeth all men everywhere to repent," to confess their sins to Him. Then He commands them to believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. AWAKE to your terrible danger of dying in your sins. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him, the Lamb of God that was crucified for sinners; and the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, shall cleanse you from all sin.

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

Repentance

All that the hypocrite desires is escape from punishment. When he thinks this end is secured, he feels no concern respecting his sins.

A true Christian desires to be saved from sin. His hatred of sin and repentance for it increase in proportion as his assurance of heaven increases. The repentant sinner is willing to lie at God's feet and confess his sins, without even one thought of excusing them.

"The Lord's Got Me"

When I rejoined my regiment after a long furlough I found there a young lieutenant whom I had known as an active Christian. I called on him in his quarters, and expressed my hope to have his help in my work for the Lord.

"No, no!" said he. "I've given up all that stuff. I know now there's no truth in it, and I don't want to hear a word on the subject.”

How tempted I was to argue the point with the backslider! But I simply said: "You are not saying now what you believe, Lieutenant.”

He showed he was startled and that my quiet statement was totally unexpected. His assurance was all gone as he asked in genuine surprise: "What do you mean?”

"I mean that I know you well enough to understand that what you said and did for years has not suddenly been given up in your inmost heart. You can talk this way to me now to try to stiffen up your courage of resistance; but when the camp is quiet and you are alone in your bunk in the darkness, you would never talk in this way to God, who you know is near you always.”

"Well," he said somewhat gently, "I don't want to talk about this subject, at any rate.”

"But I must talk about it," said I. "It is very real to me. And I am here because of my belief. I shall keep in touch with you and I will not refrain from speaking to you.”

After a short time we engaged in a battle in which our regiment lost severely. Field hospitals were opened in many different parts of the area. As I was occupied in one of these hospitals, I heard that my friend the lieutenant lay wounded in another.

As soon as I had opportunity, I went to see him. He lay on a cot among many wounded. His right leg had been amputated near the hip. Looking up as I appeared, he said cheerily: "Well, Captain, the Lord has got me. I wouldn't serve Him with two legs, so He took away one. But now, please God, I'll be more of a man for Him with one leg than I was with two.”

I expressed my sympathy and interest in him, and he told me of his experience and exercise of soul.

"You were right that day you came to my quarters. I never really gave up my belief, or had any rest in my soul trying to live without God. As my leg went out from under me and I felt I was gone, I said, 'The Lord's got me, and I'm glad of it.' And now I believe I shall live nearer the Lord than ever, and have more comfort in Him.”

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." 1 John 5:10.

"Inside" "All"

"It seemed to me that possibly most of my sins could be forgiven. They were bad enough! But then they were only the same sort of sins other people commit; and if others could be forgiven, why could not I?

"But there were some very dark spots in my life—sins that I was ashamed to think of; I could not bring myself to believe that there could be forgiveness for such sins as those.”

Hours passed, hours of darkness and sorrow, over this anxious one; and then at last the light broke in. A verse of Scripture was brought by the Holy Spirit to his mind.

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

"Ah, sir," said he as he continued to tell the story to the preacher whose ministry had been used to awaken him, "I just left the whole lot, little and great inside the word 'ALL.'”

Thank God for His message of assurance! He would not have us doubt. That word "ALL" is large indeed, though it be made up of but three letters.

"ALL sin"—Yes! Sin of every character and shade "the little sins," as people speak of them and the great ones too.

"ALL sin." None is too dark or desperate. The soul that comes to the Savior is completely cleansed.

"ALL sin." Oh, flee to the Savior now. He wants to bless. The door of mercy stands open wide. Soon the Master of the house of blessing will rise and close that portal of salvation. Think what it will be to have missed the cleansing, and to be linked with your sin and its doom forever.

"ALL sin." Let the words ring in your soul now and ever.

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

"After This"

"How silly to put a thing like that up there! Some of that tent preacher's work, I daresay; and just like him. I wonder if he thinks that will do anyone any good. Come on, Bess; I wouldn't stand and read any such rubbish.”

The speaker was a young woman; and with her was her girl companion. Together they had been taking an evening walk after the work of the day was over, and had strolled beyond the country town where they both lived. As they were leaving the wood path to enter upon the public road, their eyes fell on a small white board fastened to the trunk of a tree nearby. Upon it was plainly printed the words: "AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT," Heb. 9:27. It was concerning this board and the scripture she read there that the young woman spoke so scornfully.

The other girl stood reading the short sentence over and over again. Her companion losing patience, called out again: "Come on, Bess! If you stand there much longer you'll be converted.”

"I wish I were, Nancy," said the girl wistfully as she rejoined her companion.

"What makes you say that, Bess? I'm sure you don't believe in tent meetings and singing at street corners. You enjoy having fun too much to join with that kind of thing.”

"You're right, Nancy. Still, I'm not always happy. I do stay awake many nights thinking about the hereafter, and I can't help it. In spite of having fun all evening my conscience troubles me when I go to bed.

I can't help thinking of the eternal future.”

Nancy was amazed at the turn the conversation had taken, and listened silently as her companion continued. "I once worked in the same room with a girl who was a real Christian. I can never forget her nor some of the things she said to me. She would not go to theaters nor to dances. She said she didn't need them to make her happy; she had Christ.

"You have no idea, Nancy, what a sweet girl she was. She once said those same words to me that are on the tree: 'After this the judgment.' It made me think of her when I read them, and I wish I could be as sure as she was of being ready for eternity.”

The conversation ended at the corner where the girls had to part. With a relieved and hurried "Good night," Nancy went one way and her companion the other.

When Bessie arrived home she found a yellow handbill lying on a table. On one side it invited her to hear the gospel in a tent pitched just outside the village. On the other side was printed a tract which ended with the familiar words: "After this the judgment.”

Again the Spirit of God used this solemn statement to bring home to her conscience her state as a guilty sinner in the sight of God with death and judgment awaiting her. When she went to bed sleep would not come. Like the Chaldean king of old, her thoughts upon her bed were concerning "what should come to pass hereafter." (Dan. 2:29.)

Bessie knew full well that she had to meet God, and for that she was unprepared. In time with the slow ticking of the clock the dreadful words throbbed through her mind: "After this the judgment.”

How she longed for the next night to come! Then she would go to the tent in spite of Nancy's ridicule. But that was a long time to wait. What if death should come before? Just then a verse of a hymn flitted across her mind. It was this: "Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee: O Lamb of God, I come.”

Bessie repeated it aloud and the Lord hearkened and heard. He knew the contrite heart of this awakened sinner who would cast herself upon Him, trusting in His precious blood alone. In His love and mercy He dispelled her fears and dark forebodings. Peace entered her troubled spirit and Bessie knew that the "great transaction" had been wrought. The following night she went to the meeting in the tent and heard the word proclaimed: "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47. This gave her intelligent assurance of her salvation; and with confidence in God's saving grace she bore witness by her life that she was a "new creature" in Christ.

Reader, does coming judgment trouble you? If unsaved, you may well tremble; for the day of God's wrath will soon descend upon this world. Why? Because it has refused His blessed Son Jesus, and His mighty work on Calvary's cross. Flee to Him before it is too late. Acknowledge Him as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." Rest your soul on Him and you will escape the coming judgment.

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

Jesus - Heaven

A fellow Christian long known to me went to a hospital a short time ago to visit a dying man. In health, this sick man had lived in total forgetfulness of God.

"You are very near to eternity now," said my friend the visitor. "Can you tell me where you are going to spend it?”

"Heaven," was the simple utterance of the dying man.

"I'm so glad to hear you say that! But tell me," continued the visitor, "upon what authority do you expect to enter heaven? What is your passport there?”

"Jesus," was the sole reply.

"That's right," answered the visitor. "Cling to that name, the name of Jesus. For 'there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.'”

Yes, Jesus went down into death, and there met all the claims of divine justice in regard to sin.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:9, 10, 11.

Have you, my reader, as a lost, helpless, guilty sinner, bowed the knee to Jesus? And have you in heart as well as by mouth owned Him as your Savior and your Lord?

Bow the knee now in this day of God's grace. It will mean "eternal salvation" to you. If you wait until the day that's coming, it will mean "eternal judgment.”

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

In Christ Is Eternal Salvation

Sinner friend, do you long for eternal salvation? Then you must put your whole trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement He made for sinners on the cross. In Him is pardon and peace. Out of Him there is none. Remember this. It is the very pith and marrow of Christianity. Put your whole trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is by the grace of God only, and by the blood of Christ only, and through faith only in the risen and glorified Savior. If you want to be saved forever, to live forever, and be blessed forever, you must of necessity trust Christ to save you. You must entrust your soul wholly to Him. And when you know Him as your living and loving and divine Savior, you will love Him in sincerity and in truth. Then you will delight to obey His will and honor His holy name.

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord." Jer. 17:7.

"GOD... NOW COMMANDETH
ALL MEN EVERY WHERE
TO REPENT.”

Acts 17:30.

"REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD,
AND FAITH TOWARD OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

Acts 20:21.

April

He Is Able

Able to save—unto the uttermost!
Oh, why art thou fearing to trust in the Lord?
Think not that the arm of His might can grow weary;
His power is almighty; oh, rest on His word.

Able to break every chain that may bind thee,
Although for long years thou a captive hast lain;
A crimson-dyed sinner the Savior may find thee,
But the blood of His cross it shall cleanse every stain.

Able at last in the hour of His triumph
To take His redeemed ones, resplendent and fair,
And thus to the Father in glory present them:
Then farewell forever to sorrow and care.

Able to do—"exceeding abundantly,”
Far above all that the heart can conceive;
Then why dost thou tarry?—the Mighty One waiteth;
His message of mercy, say, wilt thou receive?

What More Can I Do?

A young man of high caste, a Hindu, stood for a few moments on a street in Calcutta. He was listening to a gospel preacher. This preacher had seen little fruit from his years of labor in India; but there had been blessing which came to light many years later.

The young Hindu heard the servant of God as he made plain the question of sin. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. He walked away with the knowledge of personal sin on his conscience, and he could not shake it off. However, he received not nor heeded God's way of salvation.

This young man was prosperous in business, and for a time his convictions seemed to sleep; but when adversity came, again the sense of sin bore heavily on his conscience. He sought relief by entering upon a religious life. For several years he wandered over India, and prayed at many shrines; but he found no rest nor peace.

At length he joined a society of persons dissatisfied with Hinduism. They were a sort of modernistic group who did not receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Their belief was: "Do what is just and right, and all will be well.”

While this sounded good, it brought him no peace. To use his own words: "The remembrance of past sins kept rushing into my mind. Something seemed to say: 'Without an atonement for past sins you will perish.'”

This modernistic society rejected the teaching of atonement. Hinduism acknowledges the need of some sort of expiation. Our friend returned to his old religion and again wandered from holy spot to holy spot seeking peace. At Benares with its two thousand shrines he fairly gave way to despair, exclaiming: "What more can I do other than that I have done? Yet there is no peace!”

He returned to Calcutta to visit a sick nephew. His nephew had been converted to Christianity. He had a Bible, portions of which he read to his troubled uncle and besought him to go hear the preaching of a missionary. There again he heard of God's way of salvation, and this time he received it. With joy he exclaimed: "This is what I have been longing to hear for many years.”

He obtained a Bengali Bible and devoted himself to its study for two months. From the Word itself he learned that "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Though he well knew that if he became a Christian he would also become an outcast among his own people, he gladly became a humble follower of the lowly Nazarene. With the peace of God in his heart he could now say with Paul: "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phil. 3:8.

Repentance

Repentance is the judgment we have passed upon ourselves and all that we have done and have been in God's presence under grace.

The Lord Is Risen Indeed!

About the middle of the eighteenth century Lord Lyttleton and Gilbert West were the authors of two books which became famous. Both men were professed infidels. Swayed by the type of unbelief popular in their time, they felt the time had come to administer a death blow to Christianity.

To accomplish their purpose they chose two themes: the conversion of Saul of Tarsus and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Believing these to be the most vital points in the line of Christian defense, Lord Lyttleton attacked the former and Gilbert West the latter subject. If the resurrection could be proved a myth and Saul's conversion a delusion then the defeat of Christianity would be assured.

The two men agreed upon their individual tasks. They separated to study their themes and to write their books. Sometime later they met to discuss their completed works. But wonderful indeed is the work of the Spirit of God! EACH MAN HAD WRITTEN IN EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE VEIN TO THAT TO WHICH HE HAD COMMITTED HIMSELF! Searching the Scriptures if these things be so, they had been convinced of the truth of that which they had disbelieved! Saul's conversion had about it every mark of reality. Evidence for the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ was complete and convincing. With what great confidence and exultation they could now say: "the LORD is risen indeed!”

In the earlier days of the Soviet regime in Russia a certain "comrade" named Lunatcharsky lectured for an hour and a half against Christianity. His aim was to prove it to be a superstition without any basis in fact. As he concluded his attack on the preciousness of simple faith in the work of Christ, he proposed a discussion. However he stipulated that no speaker should occupy more than five minutes.

A young man in the audience was deeply moved. He leaped upon the platform, saying he would not require so long a period as that. Standing in front of the throng, he gazed at them for a moment. Then in a stentorian voice he proclaimed the well-known Russian Easter greeting: Brothers and Sisters: CHRIST IS RISEN!" As one man the whole audience arose and the traditional response thundered out: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

The young man turned to the lecturer and said: "I have nothing more to say.”

The lecturer was effectively silenced, and his daring infidelity rebuked.

Dear doubting soul, turn to the Scriptures and believe God's own "good news" concerning His Son.

"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 Cor. 15:3, 4.

The Answer for All

The more difficult the times are, the more we find that the Word of God meets every need. All sorts of things are arising, in these days especially, but the Word of God has the answer for all.

The Three-Legged Stool

Near a large city lived a woman who boasted of her own goodness. Mary was outwardly religious and inwardly self-righteous. Nothing that Mr. Parks, an earnest Christian preacher, said to show her her need of Christ seemed of any avail. She clung to her own imagined goodness and would not let it go.

Now the Word of God makes clear and plain that the only true way of salvation is through our Lord Jesus Christ. It tells us: "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Yet how many trust to themselves and not to Him! They rest on their own religiousness, making a difference between themselves and others. But God says in Rom. 3:22, 23: "There is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

At length a friend of Mr. Parks offered to visit this woman and to see if he could help her at all. When she answered his knock he told her he had come from Mr. Parks, who had said that she was glad to receive anyone who would talk on religious subjects. The introduction set Mary at liberty to unfold a history of her long continued church-going and prayer-saying and good living.

The visitor sat still and let her tell her story. It showed him how very self-satisfied she was and unaware of her true condition.

At last she came to a conclusion. He got up and stood pointing to an old three-legged stool on the floor in front of the fireplace. At once Mary the self-righteous exclaimed: "Yes, indeed! It's an old worthless thing, fit only for the fire. It should have been burned long ago.”

The visitor now looked her full in the face, and in serious tones he said: "And you are just like that three-legged stool, fit only for the fire." Then taking his hat and without saying another word he left the house.

Dumbfounded, Mary was thus left alone to her thoughts. At first she questioned: "What could the man mean?”

Then as she thought back over all she had said to him, she came to the conclusion that he had meant that all she was and all that she had professed was no whit better than her old, good-for-nothing stool, "fit only for the fire." Her temper rose high, and to relieve her feelings she went to her next door neighbor to tell her how she had been insulted, and to seek her sympathy.

Now the neighbor was a humble-minded Christian. She long since had given up all trust in herself and, taking the guilty sinner's place, had claimed the guilty sinner's Savior.

Mary told her all, indignantly saying as she closed: "And he had the impudence to tell me that I was no better than my old three-legged stool, fit only for the fire.”

Her neighbor listened quietly and tried to calm her, praying secretly that God would use the visitor's words to show Mary her need of Christ.

Returning home, Mary kept repeating to herself: "Fit only for the fire—fit only for the fire.”

She was deeply distressed and soon went to bed. But she could not sleep. She began to go over her life's history. Little by little she saw how her religiousness had been but an outward show. She realized that though she had drawn near to God with her lips her heart had been far from Him. She was convicted of her sinfulness: that she was not right with God. Her conduct might have been correct enough in the sight of those around her, but God judges our hearts while man looks only at the outward appearance. Seeing herself now in the light of God's holiness Mary began to cry aloud for salvation. Her neighbor heard her. She dressed at once and went in to find out what was the matter.

"Is there any mercy for me?" cried Mary as she entered. "Oh, tell me! Will God save a sinner like me?”

The Christian neighbor pointed her to the Savior of sinners-to Him who came not to "call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The value of His precious blood which "cleanseth us from all sin" was presented to her.

Mary heard with the hearing of faith. She gave up all hope in herself and cast her soul unreservedly and only upon Christ. Peace came and filled her heart; for He who heard the cry of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner," had heard her cry and now answered it. Thereafter Mary's boast was no longer in her own goodness. With the apostle Paul she humbly sought to live the truth of Gal. 6:14:

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

In Paradise

A nameless man has blazed an historic trail. We have heard of a place—paradise: of its peace and cloudless joy; of its river of pure pleasure undefiled; of its inhabitants who never say, "I am sick." We know that in this place, if in none other in all God's vast universe, there is no death, no pain, no parting, no sorrow, no sin. Among its everlasting hills 'and pleasant valleys, in eternal sunshine, there is no cemetery, no madhouse, no hospital, no prison, no sound or threat of war, no siren, no bomb. If it is true that one man has already reached there, we would gladly take the same road.

But how do we know that he has reached it? In this materialistic age we want facts, not theories.

Paradise is a fact, for the Savior of the world, the Son of the living God, has made a solemn statement. He said: "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise," Luke 23:43. As surely then as Jesus Christ went into paradise when His eyes closed in death upon the cross, so surely did the man to whom He spoke.

Who was this man then, signally favored as to accompany the Son of God thither? You may be surprised at the reply. He had done nothing to merit such an astonishing reward. He was dying a cruel, well-deserved death. He was a rebel against lawful constituted authority, who had taken up arms in support of a murderous robber. He had a lifetime of evil deeds to his discredit; and it was useless for him to promise reformation, for he now had only an hour to live. He performed no penance, he passed through no purgatory, he received no dispensation. But he turned to the Savior of sinners, and on the basis of his simple faith in that One he went straight from a robber's cross to paradise.

If, then, he received such wonderful unmerited favor from the hand of God, may not we, too, have hopes of similar treatment when we remember that He is a God of love, not willing that any should perish? Indeed we may; and the paradise of God is open free to all who come in the same way the dying thief came.

How then, did he come? This evil man spent his waning strength and his gasping breath in blaspheming the silent Sufferer at his side. He expected a blistering retort; but as he railed on and on and no word of rebuke came from those kindly lips, no flashing fire from His compassionate eyes, the cruel venomous words trailed off into silence.

Then the conscience of the dying thief was awakened. Perchance he remembered that when he and his companion had been thrown upon their respective crosses, they had cursed their executioners; but that when the gentle King of the Jews had been rudely maltreated, roughly hurled upon His cross and nailed to it, He had ejaculated only: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.

This could be no ordinary man! What if that were true which he had heard whispered in the byways of Jerusalem—that Jesus had claimed to be the Son of God? Miracles enough He had done to support that claim. None had ever heard Him say an unkind word or seen Him do a wrong. Never had He to recall a sentence or apologize for a misdeed. Could He be the Son of God? And now to think of those words of forgiveness for His enemies! Surely here was God, if ever deity had visited this sin-stained earth!

He heard the rabble screaming derisively: "The King of the Jews!" And as he listened, the Holy Spirit convicted him of his own sin. He thought: "I deserve my fate, but this Man hath done nothing amiss. If He really is the Son of God, if He really is the King of Israel, this cannot be the end. God may be silent now; but some day God will vindicate this just Man and give to Him HIS kingdom.”

All around Him thousands screamed out hatred against the holy Sufferer. In a lull, one voice was heard, the voice of the dying thief. It said: "Lord, remember me—when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”

What joy these words must have brought to the broken heart of the Savior of the world! He recognized the simple faith behind them. Here was no recital of good deeds or promise of betterment. Here was a helpless, hopeless sinner casting himself unreservedly upon the Savior of sinners. How else could He respond save in His own princely fashion? This poor dying sinner need not wait for a kingdom which even now, more than 1900 years later, has not been set up. He should go with the Savior Himself into paradise!

So he died. As his eyes, glazing in death, closed upon a dim and dying world, they opened upon his Savior's face, and his ears heard his Savior's voice. For him there is endless joy, though he deserved the blackness of darkness forever.

And for us, may we too tread this path? The way is plain: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

You pay nothing for a gift; you receive it in empty hands and thank the giver. So it is with salvation: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The thief offered nothing, promised nothing; he accepted as a gift Christ's promise of immediate entrance into paradise, and entered therein.

You too must come to Christ as a guilty sinner, acknowledging "I know that in me... dwelleth no good thing." Make no excuses for your past sins, no promises for the future. Do not attempt to bargain with God. Do not imagine you can turn over a new leaf or lead a better life or pay your way to heaven with good deeds or prayers. By His death on the Cross, Christ has satisfied all God's righteous claims against the sinner. God "hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all." "Himself bare our sins, in His own body on the tree." He cried, "Finished!" and God now can righteously pardon the sinner who believes in His Son and His perfect work.

Christ has Himself promised, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." As you come in faith confessing your sin and guilt to Him, He receives you "without money and without price." He cleanses you from sin, for "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:5.

He makes you a child of God—"born again." And with your new birth into the family of God, you share with every other child of God the Father's Home in heaven.

That is the way; that is the only way. None who ever walk that path of faith in Christ can miss heaven, for they are "kept by the power of God through faith.”

"Just Trust the Plank"

Dr. Chalmers was once going to visit a woman who was anxious about her soul. To reach her cottage he had to cross a small stream of water. Over this there was placed a plank, the only means of passing to the other side.

When he came to the frail bridge the doctor, who was a heavy man, began to test its strength by pressing his stick upon it. He hesitated to risk himself upon the board. But soon he heard a shrill voice from the house calling out, "Just trust the plank, Doctor; just trust the plank!" He trusted it and crossed in safety.

He found the troubled one doubting Christ. Was He able to save such a sinner as she was? Could her guilt be forgiven through Him? Had she not gone too far ever to be blessed?

The doctor listened for a while to her story, and then cried: "Just trust Christ, Maggie; just trust Christ!”

He was the plank of her salvation. He could bear her weight. He could save her, for He had already saved the chief of sinners.

Maggie trusted Christ and was blessed.

Just trust Christ, sinner; just trust Christ!

"Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.”

"AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM
(JESUS), TO THEM GAVE HE
POWER TO BECOME THE
SONS OF GOD,
EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE
ON HIS NAME.”

John 1:12.

May

This Is the True God

The maker of the universe
As man, for man was made a curse,
The claims of law which He had made
Unto the uttermost He paid.

His holy fingers made the bough,
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands, were mined
In secret places He designed.

He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung,
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.

The sky that darkened o'er His head,
By Him, above the earth was spread,
The sun that hid from Him its face,
By His decree was poised in space.

The spear which spilled His precious blood,
Was tempered in the fires of God,
The grave in which His form was laid,
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.

The throne on which. He now appears,
Was His from everlasting years,
But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow.

Then to Him, sinner, bow e'en now,
At that blest name of Jesus bow;
E'en though thy sin and guilt is great,
He with a pardon now Both wait.

But soon He'll come in judgment sore,
E'en when His "waiting time" is o'er;
And those who have refused His grace,
Will bow in fear before His face.

Robert Annan of Dundee

Robert Annan was one of the worst men that ever trod the streets of "Bonnie Dundee"; but when his heart received the grace of God he became a shining light for the Savior whom he loved.

Leaving his cottage home early one morning to go to his mission work, Robert took a piece of chalk from his pocket. Bending down he wrote on the sidewalk this single word: ETERNITY.

Soon after, as he walked along the harbor he saw a child fall from one of the vessels into the water. Annan immediately threw off his coat and jumped in. He was a strong swimmer; but the sea was rough and it was with difficulty that he rescued the child. He did so at the cost of his own life!

Robert Annan's dead body was then carried home over the word he had written but a few hours before—ETERNITY. But how blessed an eternity for Robert! At home with the Lord he loved, his earthly pilgrimage was over.

Today, on the very spot where Annan chalked the word it may be seen cut into the stone sidewalk. This was done by the direction of a wealthy young man whose soul was saved and his life made useful through Robert's simple act.

The Hon. James Gordon, son of the Earl of Aberdeen, read the story of Robert Annan. He was so impressed by it that ETERNITY seemed burned into his very soul. Go where he would the word rang in his ears. Finally in his soul's deep distress, the cry wrung from the Philippian jailer was also his own expression: "What must I do to be saved?" And to him came the answer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

The healing balm of Jesus' name calmed his soul. He learned the value of Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary, and soon he rejoiced in the knowledge of salvation.

After leaving home for Cambridge he wrote requesting that ETERNITY be carved upon the sidewalk in Dundee at his expense, that it might stand there a silent but eloquent preacher to every passer-by.

A few days after his letter was received by his mother, the young nobleman was accidently shot and killed!

Thus the one of humble origin and he who was of noble birth were gathered by divine grace into God's heavenly garner.

Reader, think of that word ETERNITY, and remember! You too must spend it—WHERE?

ETERNITY! where? ETERNITY! where?

With redeemed ones in glory, or fiends in despair? ETERNITY! where? oh, ETERNITY! where? With one or the other ETERNITY! WHERE?”

The Name of Jesus

An old man lay seriously ill in the infirmary of the almshouse. A woman for whom he had worked in his younger days requested a Christian friend to visit him for her. She wanted to know if he was happy, and if there was anything he needed.

On inquiring at the almshouse, the visitor was told that the old man was near death. He could no longer understand what was said to him; but if she wished, she could see him. Desiring to be able to tell her friend something about the poor old man, the visitor went to his bedside and said to him: "I have a message for you.”

"Don't bother me now, Molly," was his answer. His mind was wandering to other days, and to one who had shared them with him.

Thinking that the name of his old employer might strike a chord in his memory, the Christian said: "Mrs. Bentley sent me to ask if -you wanted anything. You know who she is, do you not?”

"No," was his answer in bewildered tones, "I don't.”

Wondering how to discover under these circumstances if the old man were really happy in his soul, as a last resource the lady said to him: "Do you know the Lord Jesus?”

No uncertainty or perplexity now! To this question came at once the clear and beautiful answer, "Yes, I know Him, and He knows me.”

Reader, do you know as your own the Good Shepherd, who says, "I know My sheep, and am known of Mine"? If not, I pray that the simple testimony of this feeble old man to the known love of the Lord Jesus may lead you to long to know such a Savior, and to possess such a Friend.

You or Christ

You cannot have your eye open on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not hate yourself as a sinner.

"CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY”

I knew an Irishman who, on discovering his lost condition, took his Bible and went into a quiet corner of a field. As he searched God's holy Word, longing to know how he could obtain forgiveness, he read the scripture: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY." Rom. 5:6. On seeing it he leaped into the air, and clapping his hands exclaimed, "Christ died for the ungodly! Christ died for the ungodly! Christ died for the ungodly! adding, "That's me! Do you hear that, Devil?" And there and then he rejoiced in Christ as his Savior. And now, dear reader, why should you not also rejoice?

A Highlander in the isle of Skye once said to me, "If I knew that Christ died for me I would be all right." The dear fellow had been taught that Christ died for the elect alone, and not knowing he was one of them he could not believe that Christ died for him.

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. You are a sinner; Christ died for sinners, therefore Christ died for you. Believing that Christ died for others won't do your soul any good. You must believe that He died for you, ere you can obtain eternal life.

The gospel which Paul the Apostle preached to the Corinthians when they were unbelievers, and by which they were saved, is contained in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. What was the gospel which was the power of God to their salvation? "Christ died for our sins... was buried... and... rose again." The "glad and glorious gospel" does not speak of what He is going to do for us when we believe. It tells us of what He did for us centuries ago. He gave Himself "a ransom for all." 1 Tim. 2:6. He tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:9). "He died for all." 2 Cor. 5:15. Christ so put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself that all God's holy claims have been fully met, and those who believe on the Savior are pardoned, justified, and made meet "to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Col. 1:12).

Although "Christ died for the ungodly," and therefore for you, oh fellow-traveler to eternity, His death will avail you nothing unless you believe the good news. What the Lord Jesus did and suffered has satisfied all God's holy claims. Nothing meritorious is necessary on your part. "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38,39.

You can, as you read these lines, have the free forgiveness of your innumerable sins by simple faith in the finished work of Christ. Forgiveness cannot be obtained on the ground of your doings. The work that saves was accomplished at Calvary, and no efforts of your own can procure the pardoning mercy of God.

May the unsaved reader take his place among the "ungodly," and believe on that blessed One who died for all his crimson sins, and be saved for eternity.

"I seek no other argument,
I want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.”

The Puzzled Woman

"What is your object in giving these tracts out?" said a respectable farmer's wife in a puzzled tone to me one market day.

I told her that those tracts call attention to what vitally concerns every one of us. They point the way of salvation of our souls and tell us how we must be saved for eternity with Christ.

Still she looked puzzled. It seemed strange to her that one should so lower herself in the eyes of others for—to her—such a useless object.

Perhaps at home she would read the tract I had given to her. From it she would learn, maybe for the first time, that Christ had died for her, a sinner. Would she turn to Him and trust Him as her Savior? If so, she too could have a sense of her own eternal security and happiness, and her heart would go out in pity to those who "heedless of their souls immortal" are hastening on to a lost eternity. Then her longing cry for them would be:

"Oh, will somebody tell them?
Tell them of Calvary's tree;
Tell them the story of Jesus,
What a great Savior is He!”

If this be the blessed result of her reading that gospel leaflet, she will have the answer to her question: "What is your object in giving these tracts away?”

"So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isa. 55:11.

Faithfulness

Dr. H. Pritchard, who was fond of dogs as well as of preaching, once taught his congregation a good lesson by a simple remark on the faithfulness of this animal. He went to his pulpit, and had begun his sermon, when his dog, which had gotten out from home, slipped into the church, walked up the aisle and into the pulpit, looked up at his master, and began to whine.

The congregation tittered. Instantly stopping, the doctor walked out of the pulpit, and down the aisle to the door, and letting out the dog, returned. Leaning over the pulpit, he said, "Oh that this congregation were as faithful to their Master as that dog is to his!" Quiet reigned, and he proceeded with his sermon without further interruption.

Saved by a Thread

A tall chimney had been completed and the scaffolding was being removed. One man remained on the top to superintend the process. A rope should have been left for him to descend by, but somehow had been forgotten.

The wife of the man remaining on top of the chimney was at home washing. Suddenly her young son burst in with: "Mother, mother, they've forgotten the rope! Daddy's going to throw himself down!”

She paused. Her lips moved in the agony of silent prayer as she rushed forth to the new chimney. A crowd was looking up at the lone man. He was moving cautiously along the narrow cornice, terrified and bewildered. It seemed that at any moment he might fall. Would he throw himself down in despair?

His wife from below cried out: "Wait, John!" The man became calm, and again she cried: "Take off your stockings; unravel the wool." And he did so.

"Now tie to the end a bit of mortar, and lower gently.”

Down came the thread weighted by the bit of mortar. Lower and lower it descended, eagerly watched by many eyes. Now it was in reach, and was gently seized by one of the crowd. Quickly he fastened some twine to the thread.

"Now, pull up." The man got hold of the twine. The rope was now fastened on. "Pull away again." He at length seized the rope, and made it secure.

There were a few moments of suspense as he slid down. Then amidst the shouts of the crowd, he threw himself into the arms of his wife, sobbing: "You saved me, Mary!" The wool thread had not been despised: It had drawn after it the twine, the rope, and the rescue.

Ah, my friend, you may be sunk very low down in sin and woe; but there is a thread of divine love waiting for you to grasp. It comes from the throne of heaven and reaches even to you. Seize that thread. It may be small, but it is golden. "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed." Matt. 17:20.

That cord of love, if you will take it, will lift you from sin's depth up to God and glory eternal.

"Coming Tonight"

"How good it would be if He came tonight!”

These words fell on my ears, as I looked up from the book I was reading. "If who came tonight?" I wondered. Perhaps we were going to have a visitor, and my curiosity was aroused.

As I listened further I found out it was JESUS of whom my two friends were talking. Quick as a thought the answer rose in my own mind: "Oh, no! It would not be good if He came TONIGHT. I am not ready to meet Him.”

Right well I knew that Jesus is coming back again. And I knew that only those whose sins are forgiven will go to be with Him, and that those who are not ready will be left behind for judgment.

But "coming tonight!" Somehow I hadn't even thought that possible. And as for death, was I not young and well, and likely to live a great many years yet? Thus I had believed Satan's lie: "There is plenty of time.”

After thinking it over for a few moments, I turned again to the book I had before thought so interesting. Now it had lost its charm and in my ears were ringing the words: "Coming tonight, coming tonight.”

Time sped on and these solemn words were, ever before me. I was awakened to see my danger. I knew I was not converted and I really meant to be—some day. But what if that were true—He's coming tonight? Everyone seemed so unconcerned while many a night I lay awake, unable to go to sleep lest Jesus should come and leave me behind.

At last I went to a gospel meeting. Previously I had been glad when the preaching was over, but tonight I listened to every word as for my very life. Nothing the preacher said seemed to fill my need. Afterward a gentleman said to me: "Do you know Jesus?”

He opened the Bible I had been reading so diligently during the past months, and read: "He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes I am healed." (Isa. 53:5).

That night I put myself in that verse and I learned that Jesus had died for me. Still I could not say that I was saved. I tried to feel saved and to act saved but I did not know.

This continued for weeks. On Sundays I was hoping; on Mondays I was doubting; and at last I was almost despairing of ever knowing the peace I longed for. At length, when I think I must have done everything I could to hinder Jesus from saving me, I shut myself in my room and told Him I had tried to make myself better and I had failed. If He would just take me as I was, guilty, lost, and helpless, I would give myself to Him. I knelt there in the deep consciousness that I was in the presence of a holy God and that my only plea for salvation was Jesus and the cross of Calvary. Would He receive me? Sweetly the words from Isaiah came into my mind: "I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine." Isa. 43:1.

This time I did not doubt; I just BELIEVED GOD. Joy such joy as I cannot describe, nor could you understand unless you had experienced it yourself—filled my heart. I wanted everybody to know that Jesus was my very own personal Savior.

More surely than ever I know that Jesus is coming; but still in love and tender mercy He is waiting for YOU to come to Him and trust Him also.

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and 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 meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

A Deserter's Mistake

Some years ago, I met Walter in a little English town. Here, after years of wandering in both hemispheres, he had taken up his abode.

When he was a young lad Walter had a longing for a sea-faring life. He finally left his home and enlisted in the Royal Navy. Years later he grew tired of a sailor's life and resolved to desert when opportunity offered.

When his ship was ordered to Australian waters the opportunity came. While the fleet was at anchor in Southern Australia, Walter obtained shore leave and escaped to the interior. For many years he remained in hiding.

Then the late Queen Victoria to commemorate the 50th year of her reign issued a Royal Proclamation. It was addressed "TO ALL DESERTERS” and it promised a free pardon to any who reported to the divisional officer.

In telling me his story Walter said: "Of course I am free since pardon has been granted to all.”

"But did you fulfill the conditions and report?" I asked.

"No," was the reply.

To this I answered, "Then you are a deserter still!" For in spite of the fact that a Royal Proclamation had been made, he was still an offender against the law and liable at any moment to be apprehended and punished. The year of Jubilee had passed and he had not reported.

I relate this incident, my reader, to illustrate the import of another proclamation which has been issued by the King of kings and Lord of lords. It tells of the pardoning grace of our God and of free salvation offered on this one condition: "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9.)

God delights to pardon. But He waits for the offender to own his guilt before bestowing upon him the priceless boon of salvation.

Reader! Put in your claim NOW, ere the day of grace ends. God offers pardon and salvation to "whosoever will," in this the day of His grace. Soon that day will be over. The door then will be closed, and the eternal destiny of every soul shall be fixed forever.

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

UNSAVED SOUL!

"Behold, now is the
accepted time; behold,
now is the day
of salvation.”

2 Cor. 6:2.

June

What Shall I Do With Jesus?

"What shall I do then with Jesus?”
A question most solemn and true,
For God will require an answer;
Then what is the answer from you?

"What shall I do then with Jesus?"
A question for young and old,
Which sooner or later will meet you,
Your state and condition unfold.

"What shall I do then with Jesus?”
The One who in Bethlehem lay,
Despised and rejected, a stranger,
What will you do with Him, pray?

"What shall I do then with Jesus?”
Accept or reject Him today?
How then shall you answer this question?
What are you going to say?

The issues of this are eternal,
Accept or reject Him you must;
Go on in your sins and your folly,
Or place in that Savior your trust.

"What shall I do then with Jesus?”
Oh, do not the answer delay;
But gladly, adoringly tell Him,
"Lord Jesus, I'll trust Thee today.”

Professor or Possessor

Harold Vogt was born in Germany but left there as a young man to make his home in California. He obtained employment and settled in the city of San Francisco.

Possessed of a considerable sum of money, he was courted by those whose company he ought to have shunned; and through gambling and speculating he soon lost his means. Though taught to respect and reverence God's Word, his Bible was laid aside, and for years was left unread.

During this time Harold Vogt was most unhappy. His life was one long attempt to escape thinking of God, judgment, and eternity. In this he partially succeeded, but only so long as he was in the company of others. Right well did he know he was sinning against light and love; and deep down in his soul he knew that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

To prevent the recurrence of such unwelcome thoughts, "I often," to use his own words, "stayed up late at night and on to the hours of morning with other fellows gambling just to get out of my room; for no sooner was I alone in my room than my conscience would accuse me.”

Is this so with the reader? Are you attempting to get away from God? Do you shrink from being alone? Have you been heedless of your soul's interests, allowing your mind and heart to be absorbed with the pleasures, amusements, business, or cares of this life? If so, remember that a day of reckoning is at hand.

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

A famous evangelist came to San Francisco and was conducting services in a large building. Vogt thought he would like to hear him and, accordingly, attended several of the meetings. One evening, through curiosity more than anything else, he went into the inquiry room and was asked by one of the workers if he were a Christian.

"I don't think so," was the reply.

"Would you like to be one?”

"I would not mind," he answered.

The worker then read a portion of Scripture, prayed, and asked him to do the same.

Vogt left under the impression that he was a child of God. But, like many others, Satan had deceived him with a spurious conversion.

He had "prayed" for salvation and imagined that he had obtained it through his praying. He "felt happy" now—much happier than he had formerly been. But his "happiness" was obtained through believing a lie—through believing that his sins were forgiven when they were not. Thus it is that, "A man may think that all is well,

And every fear be calmed;
He lives, he dies, he wakes in hell,
Not only doomed but damned!”

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12. Vogt, believing that he was now a Christian, joined a religious association; but, as he says, he was only happy when at the meetings. "Perhaps," said he, "I ought to do more for God and I shall feel better." He "worked" and "worked," trying to do good to others in order to obtain peace with God. But the "earnest Christian worker," as he was now considered, had yet to learn that he was on the wrong track.

Late that year, walking along one of the leading streets of the city, he saw a crowd of people listening to a street preacher who was telling out the "old, old story" of Calvary's cross. He listened for a while and then, with others, went to a hall in an adjoining street.

Vogt thought that the preaching was pointed and rather personal. He imagined that the preacher had singled him out and he went home in a miserable condition. Could it be possible that after all he was not a Christian? The evangelist had dwelt on the necessity of regeneration and had emphasized the fact that there are but two classes in God's sight—saved and unsaved, justified and condemned. Where did he stand? What was he? To which class did he belong?

Reference had been made in the course of the preaching to the fact that on the broad road to hell there was both a clean and a dirty footpath and that many were traveling religiously and respectably to eternal ruin on its clean side. Was he? He was afraid so, but was too proud to own it.

On the following night, with Bible in hand, he was back at the hall. He was even more wretched than on the previous evening. On the next night he saw himself to be a lost, guilty sinner, under the wrath of a holy God. He hurried to his home and, sitting reading, for the first time in his life's history he perceived that the Lord Jesus, by bearing the punishment due to him, had done everything necessary for his soul's deliverance. When he learned what Christ's death had accomplished he fell on his knees and thanked God for giving Christ to die for him.

Next morning Satan was on his track with his fiery darts. "Are you really born again?" "Are you sure you have got the right kind of faith?" were the arrows shot.

Satan, however, was defeated. Vogt rested his weary, sin-burdened soul not on what he had done or felt but on the finished work of Christ; his assurance of salvation depended not on the testimony of a fallible creature but upon the Word of the living God.

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:10, 11.

Is the reader of these lines merely a "professor of religion?" Or is he also a possessor of Christ? Where do you stand? Are you white-washed or washed white? Be honest. Get down to the foundation and ascertain whether you are building for eternity on the sandy foundation of your prayers, good works, happy feelings, resolutions, sacramental observances, or on the "Rock of Ages." Flee at once to Him who is able and willing to save all who come.

"He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25.

"All in All"

In a small country town there was once a poor man who was of ill repute among his neighbors. He was known as a hopeless drunkard and blasphemer.

One day, walking along the street, he heard a woman singing:

"I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

The words hit his conscience and stayed with him till they led him, by the Holy Spirit's teaching, to see his own great sinfulness and his dire need of a Savior. At length he came to Christ and could rejoice in knowing Him as his own personal Savior.

Then he went to some Christians and said that now he wished to be numbered among them. They were astonished, remembering his past sinful life. "We must have some evidence of your conversion. You have been a great sinner," said they.

"Well," replied poor Jack, "I know it. I confess I am a great sinner.

`I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ is my all in all.'”

This was his passport and so he was received among them. Once he was asked how he was "so uniformly joyous.”

"Well, I ought to be," he answered, "for,

`I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ is my all in all.'”

"Well, but," said a Christian friend, "I am at times miserable, when I remember my past sinfulness.”

"Ah," said poor Jack, "you haven't yet begun to sing, `I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all; But Jesus Christ is my all and all.'”

"And are your thoughts and feelings never variable?" he was asked. "What do you think of then?”

"Think of! What better than this can I think of?" said the simple believer:

“‘I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all;
But Jesus Christ is my all in all.'”

He Would Never Deceive”

One Sunday night several years ago two servants of the Lord were holding gospel meetings. The hall was very crowded, and it being a hot summer evening all the windows were wide open.

The preacher was speaking from John 6, and was seeking to impress upon his hearers the truth of that verse: "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”

The audience was very attentive, but apparently no further effect was produced.

The following day, the speaker of the evening before went to visit a poor woman who lived in a little cottage in a lane close to where the service had been held. She was bedridden and very old—ninety-eight years of age.

He went up to her bedside, and after greeting her, said: "You are very old, and cannot have many more years to live. How is it with you? Are you saved?”

"Yes," she replied, "for I have everlasting life.”

"How long have you known that?" he asked.

"Since last night," she answered. "I was lying here in bed as usual, and it was very hot. I had the window wide open. A service was being held close by, and I could hear a voice shouting out several times over, 'He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.'

The voice seemed to come right through my window and drop down onto my bed. I just took those words home to myself, for I do believe on the Son of God. But," she added, "I cannot find the verse. Will you show it to me?”

The preacher took the Testament she held out to him, and turned over the leaves to the sixth chapter of John. He showed her the text (verse 47), marked it plainly underneath so that she might always be able to find it easily. Some who visited her afterward, and who knew her past life—for in her younger days she had been rather a frivolous person, and had never shown interest in the things of Christ—were disposed to doubt the reality of her salvation. She always answered them by pointing to the Testament lying beside her on the bed, open at that marked verse and would say: "It is written there, and it's quite true, for He has said it: 'He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.' He would never deceive a poor old woman like me.”

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

Reliance

Faithfully tender,
Graciously true;
Understanding all things,
Understanding you.
Infinitely loving, Inseparably near:
This our God and Father;
What have we to fear?

An Agnostic's Admissions

"I may as well be frank with you; I am not in the least interested in these things.”

The speaker was a man nearing middle age, seated in an express train recently. A gospel booklet entitled, "A Preacher of the Old School," had just been handed him.

"I am an agnostic, so that kind of thing does not appeal to me at all," he continued.

"I very much appreciate your frankness," I replied. "It is so much better than false appearances and professions. Since you have been good enough to express yourself, will you allow me to ask you one question?”

"Certainly," he replied, "ask what you will.”

"Are you really happy?”

"Well," he replied, hesitatingly, "tolerably.”

"Which means, to be frank again, that you are NOT!" "That is so," he admitted.

"May I add one more question? Have you any hope?" "None whatever," he replied. "The only thing I am certain about is that sooner or later I have to die.”

"Then I would like to sum up to you that in a few words you have admitted three sad facts about yourself: you have NO GOD, NO JOY, and NO HOPE. It certainly does not commend agnosticism!”

As he seemed prepared to listen, I took the opportunity to continue.

"If you will allow me, I will tell you what, through the grace of God, I have received through the gospel. First, the knowledge of God, God Himself revealed in Christ—His beloved Son—as the living and true God. Then I have a true and deep joy, which increases as the years pass by, and will last forever. Beyond this I have a sure and certain hope through the atoning work of Christ on Calvary, and by His precious blood shed for me, of a blissful eternity with Himself. That is what Christianity means to me! And all this is open to you through faith in Christ.”

He winced and tried to evade the issue; but after a few minutes' silence he said: "I will read your book; I think you Christians ought to speak to people. Indeed, you are responsible to do so!”

The train drew up to the station and we parted. I breathed a silent prayer that God might awaken true repentance toward Him and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ in that dark heart.

May God grant that the scales of darkness, doubt, and unbelief may fall from the eyes of any doubter or unbeliever who may read this incident. May you be brought to know Him as your GOD, to possess present and eternal JOY, and to have that HOPE "both sure and steadfast" as the stay of your soul in life or in death.

"He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.

Seek the Good

When I hear a person say, "I do not see the harm of it," then I answer, "It is just because you have not learned enough good.”

It is only the worldly man who can say, "I do not find it does me any harm.”

"A Man of the World"

"But, my dear sir, these things do not apply to me! I am a man of the world, you know. My cousin is, as you say, a splendid fellow; and though he is an evangelist, there is no one whose company I enjoy more than his. And then there are my sisters. I know they are right. I have a great deal of light set before me; yet here I am a man of the world, as I said, with no wish to be any other just at present.”

"'Just at present.' Then you do think of altering your course some day?”

"Oh, yes! I'm not going to be such a fool as to neglect my soul altogether. I hope to turn to God before I die.”

This "man of the world" was, while speaking, riding on a train for a two weeks' vacation. A hale, hearty man he then appeared, with the flush of health upon his cheeks; but disease had already entered his splendid body.

And what a boast! "A man of the world." Such it was who had slain the prophets of God! They had beheaded the forerunner of Jesus! Their consummate guilt was in crucifying the peerless Son of God upon a gibbet between two thieves. Such is the world and the "man of the world." Scripture says, "The whole world lies in the wicked one." 1 John 5:19, (J. N. D. Trans.).

Who is this wicked one? Satan, "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4).

Do not boast of your liberty then, O man of the world. You are the dupe of the devil and the slave of Satan! And, what is more, you are the "ENEMY OF GOD.”

A strong indictment, you say. No stronger than Scripture puts it: "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4. Just a few weeks later this "man of the world" found himself suffering from a disease which, the doctor assured him, would end in death. Now, when he could have the world no longer, he remembered his word and turned to God. He prayed for forgiveness, and, amazing grace! He was forgiven and rejoiced in the knowledge of it.

For many years he had known that God could righteously justify the ungodly through the work of Christ. Still he had gone on enjoying "the pleasures of sin," and only at the very last had he turned to God as a sinner to become the object of His bounteous grace!

I pray you, dear reader, don't go on in your sins, boasting allegiance to the world which has crucified Christ. Your sovereign, the devil, has succeeded so well with his words, "Too soon!" He may blast your soul throughout the endless ages of eternity, and whisper in your ear at life's close, "Too late! too late!" "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

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

In the Hands of the Master

Have you heard the story of the great musician Mendelssohn? Once he wandered into a cathedral in Germany. The organist, an old man, was practicing on the great organ. Going quietly to the organ loft, Mendelssohn asked if he might try the keys. The old man refused, fearing the stranger might not know how to manage the priceless instrument, and so might injure it.

The great master insisted, urging that if the organist would but let him try he would prove that he would not harm the organ. By and by, though reluctantly, the organist consented. Then began such music as the old man had never heard! He was enraptured, entranced! He sat with eyes streaming with tears.

After a while the great musician rose to go.

"Who are you? Who are you?" cried the old man, holding him fast.

"Mendelssohn," he replied simply; and passing down the silent aisle he left the building.

"But, oh," said the old organist, as he told the story, "to think that I had almost refused to let Mendelssohn the master, touch my organ!”

Ah, have not many of us refused to let the Great Master have our lives? Be sure that He will not harm the life given to Him, but will only bring out its wondrous harmonies as God meant them to be! In His hands our poor souls will render music, the glory and beauty of which we can only dream. Then like the old organist with his organ will you not give yourself over to Jesus? He will save your soul for all eternity, and with tender care He will carry you in His arms of love all the way to the Father's house. Will you not trust Him?

"This is a faithful saying,

and

worthy of all acceptation,

that

Christ Jesus came into the

world to save sinners."
1 Tim. 1:15.

July

The Father's Heart

Oh, the wonderful love of the Father's heart
That would send His beloved Son
To this world of hatred, and sin, and strife,
To redeem guilty sinners undone.

It was fathomless love, unspeakable,
That so moved the Father's heart
That His only begotten Son He sent
To take the poor sinner's part.

For we were afar off, straying, lost;
But in mercy God sent His Son.
Has this marvelous gift of the Father's love
Your heart and affections won?

And Jesus so willingly left the throne,
So willingly went to the cross;
For though He was rich, for our sakes became poor,
To redeem our poor souls from loss.

It was love, matchless love, held Him on the cross,
Till for sin He did fully atone;
The nails could never have held Him there,
But 'twas love, wondrous love, alone.

Yes, Jesus was willing to take our place,
He was willing to bear our sin;
This holy, spotless Lamb of God
Paid our debt, our poor hearts to win.

The way back to God is open now
For all who receive His Son,
For all who accept Him as Savior now,
And acknowledge the work He has done.

Through ages to come in the Father's house
He will riches of grace impart;
But we never will fathom or comprehend
The love of the Father's heart.

The Christian and the Infidel

An infidel blacksmith, well-read in infidel literature, rejoiced in his power to defeat in argument any opponent.

A Christian in the same town had a great longing for this man's salvation. He read up on infidel literature and the arguments in reply. When he thought he had mastered the subject he called upon this blacksmith to persuade him that he was wrong in his infidel opinions. But he proved no match for the blacksmith. In a few moments the blacksmith had shattered his arguments and defeated him utterly.

The Christian, although defeated, knew that he was right even if he could not prove it to the blacksmith. In his deep yearning for the salvation of his soul he burst into tears and said, "All I can say is, I have a great spiritual concern for your soul.”

He then left, went to his home, burst in upon his wife, and cried: "Emmy, I am a botch on God's work. God knows I really love that blacksmith's soul. I went down to prove to him that he was wrong, and in a few minutes he beat me utterly in argument. I am only a botch on God's work.”

He then went to his room and knelt down to pray, saying: "O God, I am only a botch on Thy work. Thou knowest that I have a real desire for that man's salvation, but I have failed utterly in my attempt to convince him.”

Soon after he had left the blacksmith's shop, the blacksmith went into his house and said to his wife, a godly woman, "Mary, Dave was just over talking to me. He used one argument I did not understand; he said he had `a great spiritual concern for my soul.' What did he mean?”

His wife, who was a wise woman, said, "You had better go ask him.”

The blacksmith hung up his apron, and went across the fields to Dave's house. Just as he ascended the steps and was at the door, he heard the Christian in prayer saying he was a botch on God's work. He pushed open the door and cried, "Dave, you are no botch on God's work; I thought I knew all the arguments for Christianity, and that I could answer them all; but you used an argument this morning I never heard before, and I cannot answer. You said you had 'a great spiritual concern for my soul.'”

This was the Christian's opportunity to lead that man to Christ, and the Lord gave him the words and the privilege.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Zech. 4:6.

A Contrast

Lord Byron, the poet, wrote in sorrow:
"My days are on the yellow leaf,
The fruits and flowers of life are gone;
The gall, the canker, and the grief, Are mine alone.”

The Christian may say, in joy:
"My name is on the golden leaf,
My brightest days are yet to come:
My gall, my canker, and my grief, Christ took alone.”

A Last Warning

I was spending the afternoon of the Lord's day distributing tracts in a mining town. The men were out of doors enjoying the pure air and sunlight after working all week in the dark unwholesome atmosphere of the mine.

Crossing the last field that separated me from my own garden gate I met two young miners strolling toward me. I stopped as we were about to pass each other. Selecting two little books from the few that remained in my hand, I held out one to each. Each took the booklet and thanked me. One, a fine, strong, healthy, and handsome young man of about twenty-five, stood still and read out the title of his: "Just in Time.”

A deep feeling of solemnity crept over my soul. Looking up into his frank, open countenance, I said, "Yes, my friend, may God grant that you may be just in time for heaven." Going home I prayed, "Lord, save him.”

Tuesday night I had retired to my room. A loud knocking at the door made me throw open my window, and call, "Who is there?”

"Sir, are you the gentleman who gave a young man a booklet on Sunday afternoon called 'Just in Time'?" "Yes, I am.”

"He's badly hurt," he said; "please come at once.”

Hastily I dressed and went out into the summer night, guided by my companion. On our way he told me that his friend had gone down the shaft that afternoon as usual; but he had jumped out of the bucket ere it reached the bottom and had been caught and crushed. His breast bones were broken in. Now he was lying there at home, his friend said, in terrible agony. He was unable to speak and could only gasp for breath while his life seemed to be fast ebbing away.

By the time the young man had finished his story we reached the cottage. There lay his friend, the once strong young man whom I had seen only two days before in the full vigor of health, but now absolutely helpless.

He looked fixedly at me as I entered, and tried to speak. It was useless.

"Shall I read with you and pray?" I asked.

He made a low hissing sound, the nearest approach to "Yes" he could make.

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

I told him of the love of God in desiring his salvation; of the efficacy of the blood of Christ to save him. I told him he was lost and ruined by nature, but that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost; that Jesus had been seeking him, wanted him! Having done the work by which sin could be put away out of God's sight, Jesus could now give him the full benefit of forgiveness of all his sins through His precious blood shed on Calvary.

I read to him the story of the father and the prodigal in Luke 15, and the brief prayers of the Pharisee and the publican in chapter 18. As I repeated this verse, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out," his face changed. Hope lighted it up and despair fled. He motioned for a drink of water and his wife held the glass to his lips. He drank a little; and then to the amazement of us all, he who had been unable to utter a sound other than the low hissing said in a clear voice and with eyes lifted up as though he saw the One to whom he was speaking: "Just in time! God be merciful to me a sinner, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen!”

He had scarcely uttered the last word when his head fell back on the pillow. A little shivering sigh escaped him, and we were in the presence of the dead.

Never shall I forget the scene. To many a one present it was a warning word from the brink of eternity. God used it for the blessing of their souls.

"Behold, now is the accepted time." 2 Cor. 6:2. "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:15.

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

The Body Is … for the Lord?

The body is the place in which all the evil has been done; but now the Lord says, "I have redeemed it; it must now be My place, My garden. It has been growing all the weeds that Satan could plant in it, but now it must grow flowers for Me.”

Christian, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

A Radical Change

Standing on a railway platform I overheard a brief conversation. A gentleman speaking from the train asked a porter who was near the door of the compartment how he was "getting on.”

The reply came quickly and clearly. "There has been a radical change, sir! I am a Christian now.”

As one who knew the porter, I could testify to the truth of his statement. There had been a "radical change" in his life; indeed a change that only the Christ of God through the operation of the Holy Spirit could have effected.

Wife-beater, drunkard, swearer, he had been the terror of his home and the byword of the village; but through the preaching of the gospel and the testimony of a fellow worker, he had been led to see himself as a guilty, lost, hell-deserving sinner, and had turned to Him who is the sinner's Savior.

Now home was home for the wife and the little ones. Swearing lips had become praying lips, and Christ in his life was realized and enjoyed and manifested.

Have you been the subject of such "a radical change"? If not, whatsoever your condition is, be it moral or immoral, religious or irreligious, you are, to use the words of 2 Cor. 4:3, "lost.”

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.

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

Jesus Is Lord

Some years ago I was in a large western city holding gospel meetings. One night in the audience I noticed a Scotch boy deeply burdened and distressed. One of his friends brought him to me after the meeting. He was under great conviction of sin. His face was the picture of gloom, almost of despair.

After trying to lead him into the light in several different ways I finally said to him, "My boy, do you believe that Jesus of Nazareth lived on this earth?”

"Oh, yes," he said, "I do.”

"Do you believe He is the Son of God?”

"Yes," he replied.

"Do you believe He died on the cross?”

"Oh, yes.”

"Do you believe God's Word is true when it says that He died for the whole world?”

"Yes," he said, "I believe that.”

"He must have died for you then?”

"But, sir," he said, "I can't get hold of it.”

I then proceeded: "Do you believe He rose from the dead? Do you believe that Jesus is now Lord over all?”

"Oh, yes, indeed," he said.

I said to him: "Every creature will have to acknowledge Him as Lord; for Paul says in Phil. 2:9-11 that at some time 'every knee shall bow.. and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord' Of course, most of the world rejects Christ as Lord now, and their confession of Him in the day of judgment will be a compelled, and not a willing act. Their hearts will not be in it, though their mouths must confess that He is Lord. Now, my friend, would you like to have Jesus as your Savior and Lord here on this earth—now tonight?”

"Yes, indeed," he said. "I wish I knew Christ as my Savior.”

"Now listen to God's Word," I said. I turned to Rom. 10:9 and read: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

"Now," I said, "you have told me that you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.”

"Yes," he answered, "I do believe that. I believe Jesus is living tonight.”

"Are you willing then to confess with your mouth before me and before your friend here that Jesus is your Lord? You know He is really Lord of all the universe but most men are unwilling to confess Him for themselves. Are you willing?”

"Yes," he said, "I am willing. I want Jesus as my Lord.”

"Yes," I said, "but will you definitely declare that He is your Lord? Will you say these words: 'Jesus i. my Lord'? These are the words Paul says we must confess. You know Christ is living; you know that He died for your sin upon the cross. You have heard God's promise that if you will confess Him with your mouth as your Lord you shall be saved. Will you do it?”

He said, "I will. Jesus is my Lord!”

I wrung his hand hard, and went away.

The next night at the meeting I looked for him, and was astonished at the transformation. His face fairly beamed with joy. All his doubts and perplexities were gone. He came around to me after the meeting.

"Oh," he said, "Jesus is my Lord. I see it now! It is so simple. Jesus did all the work. He bore my sin and rose again to be my Savior. Now He simply asks me to acknowledge Him as my Lord. I have given my life to Jesus. He is my Savior, and I am His. I am confessing that Jesus is my Lord, and God says I shall be saved! I am simply believing His Word. I am so happy!”

Night after night thereafter, as we saw the beaming face and earnest life of this young man, we could not but think how literally fulfilled to him had been that promise of Rom. 10:9. Shall we not quote it again?

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

The Up Line or the Down

"You don't think he'll get better, doctor, do you? I'm sure I don't; he seems likely to die tonight.”

"While there is life there is hope in a fever case, so we must relax none of our efforts," was my reply.

The sick man and his frail young wife had recently come from New Zealand. He had contracted typhus fever and his condition really warranted the remark just quoted. The speaker was a kindly but shrewd lodging-house keeper. He had offered to relieve both the worn-out wife and the nurse of the sick man, and to wait for my midnight visit. He had promised to receive any instructions I might give while they got rest.

Much interested in the welfare of his lodger, he was cheered by my reply and readily took my orders. Seeing this, I added: "Whether he lives or dies is very doubtful. Much depends on the nursing of the next twenty-four hours. Anyway, I can tell you this: this man is ready to die. He is a true, simple believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and knows he has a present and eternal salvation. If he departs, it will be to be with Christ forever.”

"Oh yes, sir. I am sure he's ready to die, for he's a very good man," was the rejoinder.

"And I hope you are ready too, my friend," I said, turning to him. "Typhus fever is an ugly occupant of a house, and is no respecter of persons.”

"Well, as to that I really can't say. In fact, I don't think anyone can really know that he is ready in this life," he replied.

I did not stop to point out to him the contradiction of his last two speeches—in one breath asserting that he was sure the dying man was "ready" and in the next claiming that no one could know he was "ready" while in this scene. How very common is this curious condition of matters!

"Then," I went on, "in plain language, you are not saved?”

"No; I could not take it on me to say I am," was his reply.

"I see. But if you are not saved, have you found out that you are lost?”

"Lost? Me lost? No; God forbid. I shouldn't like to think I was lost.”

"Well," I argued, "that is strange. You are not saved, and you will not own that you are lost.”

"Certainly not. Of course, I am not as good as I ought to be—no one is—but I am respectable and religious. That is, I go to church now and then; and though I can't say I'm saved, I shouldn't at all like to think I was lost.”

At that moment a shrill whistle of a railway locomotive about to move in the station nearby disturbed the midnight silence of the air. "What is that?" I exclaimed, seeking to turn the conversation to a subject which would aptly illustrate a point.

"That is the whistle of a railway engine," he said. "So I thought. And can you tell me how many lines there are on a well-appointed railway?”

"Two, of course.”

"And what do you call them?”

"The up line and the down.”

"Exactly so. Now, tell me, did you ever see a man with one leg in an up train and the other on the down.”

"No, of course not—and I never expect to. If a man is on the trains at all, he is either on the up train, or on the down train; he can't be half on one and half on the other.”

"I quite agree with you," I answered. "Now I would just ask: Which line are you on? You are either an unbeliever or a believer. If still an unbeliever, you are in your sins and steadily going on your way toward death, judgment, and the lake of fire—the awful terminus of the down line. If on the other hand you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are certainly on the up line and will find yourself in the glory to which the Savior's blood brings every redeemed sinner at last. Now, be honest with yourself: which line are you on?”

This appeal laid hold of his conscience. After a moment's silence, during which I saw he was convicted, he replied: “I admit your illustration is very apt. I never thought of it that way before; but I see I must decide the question one way or the other.”

Whether the Spirit of God used this conversation to his awakening and conversion, I cannot say. I did not meet him again; but my patient through mercy recovered.

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

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

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

God's Free Gift

Every one born into this world is a bankrupt sinner, owing to God a great debt, having nothing of his own with which to pay Him. There is no such thing with God as "liquidation by arrangement." There are no assets to divide. It is just as if a merchant owed five million dollars to his creditors, and he had not one cent to hand over to them.

In the midst of man's extremity and need, Christ comes in. He goes to the cross. God is satisfied with His own well beloved Son and with His finished work. Christ is raised; a discharge is given; the debtor who accepts it goes free.

This is salvation! This is redemption! Very simple and plain: it is God's free gift to man.

"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

"SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE
MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE
UPON HIM WHILE
HE IS NEAR.”

Isa. 55:6.

August

Mighty to Save

"Oh, I have been at the brink of the grave,
And stood at the edge of the dark, deep wave;
And I thought, in the still calm hours of night,
Of those regions where all is forever bright;
And I feared not the wave
Nor the gloomy grave,
For I knew that Jehovah was mighty to save.

"I have watched the solemn ebb and flow,
Of life's tide that was moving sure though slow;
I've stood on the shore of eternity,
And heard the deep roar of its rushing sea;
Yet I feared not the wave
Nor the gloomy grave,
For I knew that Jehovah was mighty to save.

"And I found that my only rest could be
In the death of the One who died for me;
For my rest is bought with the price of blood
Which flowed from the veins of the Son of God;
So I fear not the wave
Nor the gloomy grave,
For I know that Jehovah is mighty to save.”

A Convict Converted

"Well, my man, you haven't much longer to serve. What will you do when you leave here?" The speaker was a tall, broad-shouldered policeman with a pleasant face and a winning, although somewhat authoritative, manner. He addressed his question to a convict in a British penitentiary.

This man, whose worn clothing bore mute testimony to his many years of serving a sentence "at hard-labor," was a striking contrast to the hearty police officer. His sullen, rebellious face spoke loudly of the unrepentant spirit within. He gave no answer as, standing by the edge of the water, he continued his work on the boat which was to take him and his fellow convicts to their daily toil on the other side of the harbor.

The sea rippled in the early morning sun, rocking the boat to and fro. As the policeman stood watching the hard, set face of the man bending doggedly over his work, his heart was moved with tender pity and yearning. If this old man, grown old in the service of Satan, could know 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 convict looked up and grunted, "What?”

"You are an old man now, and it isn't everyone who would employ you. What do you think of doing when you leave here?”

The old man straightened up. His face took on, if possible, a more defiant look as he replied: "The first thing I'll do when I leave here will be to murder a policeman.”

"Oh, so the first thing you will do is murder a policeman?" The words were repeated slowly and questioningly.

"Yes," replied the convict; "that will be my first job. He gave false evidence against me. That is, he swore to more than the truth. He'll pay for it with his life. I had a letter from a chum of mine and he said he had my old 'Bess' (his gun) at home safe and plenty to 'eat and drink' (ammunition).”

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

"Then I shall be caught and locked up. You know I can't get away from you cops." He spoke recklessly and with a bitter laugh.

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

"Then I shall be sentenced.”

"And after you are sentenced, what then?”

"Then I shall be hanged.”

"And after you are hanged, what then?”

There was no answer. The man's thoughts had apparently traveled beyond death. He was evidently startled. Did he know that Scripture says, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"? Heb. 9:27.

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

"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'?”

"No, and that ain't in my Bible.”

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

The convict slowly repeated: "should not perish—have 'everlasting life," adding, "Yes, I'll look it up. And I can tell you, you are the only one that ever spoke kindly to me except once. I'll look, but it ain't in my book." There was no time for more; but the seed had been sown, and the policeman prayed that it might take root.

The next day there was an indescribable change in the old man as he walked down to the water. The officer was there anxiously looking for him. "Well, my friend," he said in his pleasant way, as the old man stepped into the boat, "did you read John 3:16 last night?”

"Aye! I read it," he answered, "and I didn't know it was there, though I've read it over and over. But do you mean to tell me," he continued with great earnestness, "that it means me, a convict off and on for fifty years?”

The heart of the policeman burned within him as he replied, "Yes, oh yes! It means you. It is 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.”

The old man stretched out his arms and said, "Sir, they might have cut off my finger joints, or burned my hands off and I wouldn't have given in; but such love as this breaks my heart." He sank into the bottom of the boat and sobbed aloud.

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

Presently the old man looked up. "Oh, sir," he said while the tears ran down his cheeks, "if you only knew my past life you wouldn't be surprised that this wonderful love of God breaks my heart. I've never known love since my mother died. I was only five years old; and my father kicked me out of doors, telling me to go and get my own living. Since then I've knocked about the world and every man's hand has been against me. Sometimes I begged, sometimes I stole.

"All my life I have been in and out of jail, never long out at a time. Only one man in the world was ever kind to me and he was warden of a prison.

"I had picked up gardening here and there, and the warden gave me his garden to tend to. 'My man,' he says, 'I trust you with my garden to keep it, and what seed you want ask me for. If you don't know what you want ask me and I'll give you what I think is best.' Oh, sir, do you think I ever let a weed grow in that garden? No! I was true to his trust. They tried to get me out of it—told him I was lazy and they had caught me sitting down. But he bade them leave me to him—said his garden never looked so good. But the time came when he was moved on, and since then I've not had a kind word spoken to me.

"Ten years ago I was charged with setting fire to a farm; but the policeman told much more than the truth about it and I was, sent up for hard labor. Yesterday when you spoke to me I had murder in my heart. But oh, sir, I can't kill that man now. God and His great love have filled my heart. Now all I want is more of Him.”

The policeman was deeply moved. He gave him a number of scriptures and told him where to find them in the Bible. The old man scratched on the boat the chapters and verses to remember to read when he returned to his cell.

For several days the officer watched for him at the boat landing, but he never came again. Upon inquiring he found that he had been discharged.

Friend, if you have never turned to the Savior God, turn to Him NOW, for this is the accepted time. "Behold NOW is the day of salvation.”

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10.

Going Where?

Passing through a city some time ago a series of advertisements drew my attention and suggested some solemn thoughts. The first placard read

EVERYBODY IS GOING THERE!

At once it brought to my mind that bourne from whence no traveler returns. None can delay the hour nor put off the "inevitable" when the moment has arrived to say the last "good-by.”

"For every mortal has his day down here, And when his time is up he must be going; Death puts an end to willful man's career, However stupid or however knowing. From human haunts all men must disappear, And reap beyond what here they have been sowing.” GOING WHERE? read the next advertisement. I had no personal interest in whatever destination it pointed to. However since I desire your eternal good, my reader, let me ask you: "GOING WHERE" are you?

Where, oh where, will you spend eternity? The choice is yours to make now. Hell and eternal darkness lie at the end of a Christless life. From such an end I earnestly desire to turn you away.

As I traveled further I saw upon a board words rudely lettered. They needed no embellishment, for their charm lay in the message they conveyed:

JESUS SAVES!

Ponder their meaning, my friend. Received in your heart, it is your passport to glory! By His sacrifice on Calvary JESUS SAVES every soul that puts its trust in Him. And not one shall enter that glory but by Him.

"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. Going where? How blessed to be able to say: "Beyond the storm I'm going,

Beyond this vale of tears,
Beyond the floods o'erflowing,
Beyond the changing years.
I'm going to the better land,
Long since by faith possessed;
Where JESUS reigns in glory—
A home of peace and rest.”

Out of Paradise

Man got turned out of Paradise into a world of sin. Christ came out of Paradise into a world of sin.

Should That Not Cover the Worst?

"I know I cannot get better." As I looked at the wasted form and face of the speaker leaning forward in her chair, I could only listen in silence, for my thoughts echoed her words.

"I have been told so twice, soberly and earnestly. They call mine a fatal disease; but the end is not expected to come very soon. My heart is quite strong.”

A pause followed this statement of her case.

"Do you suffer?" I asked.

"At times I do a great deal.”

"How good it is to be able to say, 'It is well,'" I said.

Her face lighted up wonderfully, and its earnest expression gave depth and strength to its very thin outline.

"Oh, yes!" she answered. "And how one turns to the Sacrifice." "But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." Heb. 10:12.

Quickly and with increasing earnestness she continued: "His righteousness, His love demands it, demands the pardon of the soul who trusts in that Sacrifice. Think of His being forsaken by God. In righteousness to Christ, God pardons all who trust in that Sacrifice. What a Sacrifice!" Looking bright with certainty, she added: "Should that not cover the worst?”

Has the mighty sacrifice of the Son of God covered you, dear reader?

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Covered by God! not covered by myself. No, we cannot cover our sins! On the contrary, we are to uncover them! To whom? To God. Then we learn, and not till then, that God Himself had covered them by the blood of His own Son.

I repeat the question asked me only this morning, "Should that not cover the worst?”

"Certainties"

Sir Ambrose Fleming, a renowned British scientist said: "We must not build on the sands of an uncertain and ever-changing science, but upon the rock of the inspired Scriptures, which do not comprise the guesses of fallible minds, but utterances of holy men of God who spoke by the Holy Ghost.”

Friends, listen to the witness of some of these "holy men of God." They speak with delightful certainty. SOLOMON, who was wiser than all men, said: "Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee KNOW THE CERTAINTY of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?”

LUKE, the Evangelist, wrote: "It seemed good to me... to write... that thou mightest KNOW THE CERTAINTY of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

JOB, the Patriarch, said: "I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”

PAUL, the Apostle, said: "I KNOW whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

JOHN, the beloved Disciple, said, "We have KNOWN and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love.”

Let the authoritative "pronouncement" of the Apostle Paul be accepted and believed: "Be it KNOWN unto you... that through this man (Christ Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by HIM, all that believe are justified from all things.”

An Impertinent Question

On the train a young girl was fairly boiling over with indignation. The reason? A preacher had been asking her some plain questions about her soul.

"Why, he even asked me if I were sure that I was really on the road to heaven," she said. "He had no right to talk like that to me. He made me feel perfectly dreadful.”

"What did the conductor say to you when you boarded the train?" her friend asked.

"Why, he only asked me where I was going.”

"And you didn't mind that at all, did you? You knew that he was asking you to save you from a possible mistake. The preacher had the same motive, only the case was a great deal more serious.”

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

"Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." John 12:35.

Speak Plainly

"My Word... shall not return unto Me void." Isa. 55:11. This precious promise is a constant encouragement to every earnest seeker for souls for God. So it was to a Christian woman some months ago.

I had called on this woman one afternoon and after a brief salutation she said: "Oh, I must tell you my joy this week. Something has so cheered me up. What good may not a little word do!”

About seven or eight years ago a poor, ragged, shoeless man had come to her house begging. She gladly gave him a good meal. While eating, his eye fell on a Scripture text hung on the wall: "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Josh. 24:15.

This aroused in him a volley of abuse on Christians and "religion," as he called it. With scorn he said, "Ah, I see you are one of them.”

"Thank God, I am," she answered, adding, "I hope, my friend, if I ever see you again, God will have changed your wicked heart. Remember, His Word says: `He that believeth... shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.'" Mark 16:16.

This only made him more angry. He went off uttering fresh oaths and imprecations against her whom the Lord had used as an instrument of mercy for the salvation of his precious soul, although he knew it not.

Years passed on. The episode had almost been forgotten by the Christian woman. But a few days before my visit to her a nicely dressed man had called upon her.

"Don't you remember me? Years ago I abused you about your religion," he said. "Now," he continued, "God has used your plain words in blessing to my soul. Where's your text on the wall? (It had been removed because of its soiled and torn condition.) 'As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.'

"And don't you remember the solemn word you said to me in parting? 'He that believeth... shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.' Oh, how that plain speaking rang in my ears afterward!”

For some little time they sat talking and weeping together for joy while he told her how the Lord had saved him.

It was in a small town one Sunday afternoon. He had wandered into an open-air preaching, and the preacher's text recalled to him more vividly than ever the words the woman had spoken.

He left the meeting condemned in his heart. He could not sleep that night, and for weeks he fought against the Spirit's pleadings.

At last he cried to God for mercy; but unbelief, as he expressed it, hindered him from getting peace, though all the time his mind re-echoed: "He that believeth... shall be saved.”

Finally he cast himself upon the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and peace and joy entered his soul. Now he could happily speak of "Him who loves me and gave Himself for me.”

When his Christian friend spoke of the contrast of his present appearance to his former ragged state, he replied, "Oh, it's that blessed One who has done it all.”

"Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Tim. 4:8.

On parting with her he urged upon her the solemn responsibility of speaking earnestly and plainly to anyone who might visit her thereafter.

A Preacher's Parable

A celebrated preacher called Billy Bray was once preaching with telling effect to a large congregation of miners.

In that neighborhood there were two mines. One was very prosperous and the other quite the reverse, for there the work was hard and the wages low. Billy represented himself as working at that mine, but on payday going to the manager of the prosperous one for his wages.

"But have you not been at work at the other mine?" the manager inquired.

"Yes, I have," Billy answered, "but I like the wages at this good mine better." He pleaded very earnestly, but in vain, of course. He was dismissed at last with the remark from which there was no appeal: "You must come here to work if you want to come here for your wages.”

And then Billy Bray turned upon his congregation with almost irresistible effect. "Friends," he cried, "you must serve Christ here if you would share His glory hereafter. If you serve the devil now, to him you must go for your wages by and by.”

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

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. 6:24.

"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.

September

A Welcome for the Worst

If I could boast a life that knew no equal
'Mongst all the multitudes of fallen men,
Judgment at last would be the solemn sequel;
The best must perish if not born again.

Could I e'en reach ambition's highest summit,
And tower above the rest of Adam's race,
Measured by God's all-righteous line and plummet,
Down with the lowest I must take my place.

But had I sunk so low that angels wonder
Why one so vile should be left to sin,
Coming through Christ my chains are snapped asunder;
The worst of wanderers God welcomes in.

Yea, could my crimes be worse than all before me,
More deeply dyed my soul than Calvary's thief,
Calvary's blest Lamb would still in grace receive me,
And change to endless joy my hopeless grief.

An Officer's Message

The young officer, well-known to all his men as reckless and careless, fearing nothing, was near death. When one of the men of his regiment, Sgt. Taylor, visited him in the hospital, he gave him many last messages for loved ones at home.

"Promise me, Taylor, that you will go to Easton and see my mother. Tell her all about me.”

"Your mother, sir?" The look of sorrow and regret on the dying man's face made the trooper say gently: "May I tell your mother that you died trusting in Christ, sir?”

"No, no," was the bitter answer. "She is a wonderful mother and a real Christian. It will break her heart, I know; but no, it is not true of me!" He turned his face away.

"But Christ will receive you now just as you are, sir. Why not come to Him?”

"Taylor," was the bitter answer, "I have lived only for myself, and given God no thought all my life. How could I be so low as to turn to Him at the end? No! It's too late. I set my course and left God out.”

"Wait a minute, sir. Look at it this way. Look at it from Christ's side. After all He has done for you— and He died for you, didn't He?— give Him the chance of reaping your soul. He has suffered enough for you. Don't cause Him still more disappointment! Give Him at least the chance of saving you now, late though it is.”

The man's eyes opened in astonishment. This was a new way of looking at it— that Christ would be disappointed if he were lost, and that he would be grieving Him still further— that was a new thought.

"Leave me, Taylor; but come back tonight. I must think this through.”

That evening, when the sergeant again stood by the bed of the dying officer there was no need to ask a question. The light in the man's eyes told the tale. He had not disappointed Christ! The lost sheep had let the Shepherd find him "to the uttermost.”

"Tell mother that my trust is in Christ, and that He is not disappointed," he whispered.

Listen! lost soul! Jesus says: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

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

Life is found alone in Jesus,
Only there 'tis offered thee,
Offered without price or money,
'Tis the gift of God sent free.
Take salvation,
Take it now and happy be.

"Just in Time."

The porters at the railway station had cried, "Take your seats for the South!" From the window I observed a man making the utmost exertion to reach the train before it started. It was a struggle.

"All right!" shouted the guard. The engineer answered with a whistle. The train moved. The man sprang aboard just in time. He took his seat by my side. Bang went the door. I said, "And the door was shut." I do not remember that another word passed between us.

Two years afterward, when I had quite forgotten the incident, a friend of mine met the same man. He told him that those words, "And the door was shut,” produced such a solemn impression on his mind that he could not forget them. When he awoke in the morning, and all day long, they sounded in his ears. The madness and danger of delaying his salvation to the last moment became so evident that he believed that the circumstance had been used of God in bringing him to Christ.

Those are, indeed, solemn words in that prophetic parable of the ten virgins. "And the door was shut." Matt. 25:10. The gospel train is fast filling; the last passenger will soon be in it. Then how will you feel, not to be just in time, but just too late? Will you be one who shall cry, "Lord, Lord, open unto us"? Then the only answer will be, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7:23.

Hark you! The gospel porters still cry, "Take your seats!" Perhaps you will say, "I have not paid my fare; and, worse still, I cannot pay it.”

Do you really own, this to be true? Have you tried to pay your fare to heaven by good works? Or do you own that you are still a vile and worthless sinner? Whether you say so or not, God says so. "The Scripture hath concluded all under sin.”

Yes, you stand at the station, and the price required to pass you from the kingdom and power of Satan to God is immense. Yet; strange as it may seem, only those can take their seats who have nothing of their own to pay. The full price has been paid, even the precious blood of Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Accept the fare! the price He paid, and be saved before the door is shut!

"Jesus the Messiah."

There was a general meeting in progress. On several occasions a Jewess was seen in attendance. Her husband, a gay man of the world, was in the habit of spending his evenings with congenial friends at the theater and other places of amusement. His wife, more serious-minded, most often remained at home.

To relieve the monotony of an evening alone, she had slipped out, and impelled by curiosity, attended one of our services. The first evening's message left no particular impression. The question simply arose in her mind, just as a cloud floats over the sky: "Suppose that Jesus was the Messiah!”

The next night Jesus again was preached. Before the gospel was over the question became more than a question. She said to herself: "Jesus was, perhaps, the Messiah;" and it greatly distressed her.

On the third night the thought seized her soul and shook it through and through: "Jesus was the Messiah.”

Of course there came with it—inevitable to a Jewess—the conviction: "I am lost forever, for my people slew Him." And in that spirit she went home sobbing and wailing.

Her husband returned at midnight. She met him in tears and said at once: "Go to some Christian neighbor and borrow for me a Testament.”

He tried to laugh her out of her depression, or argue her out of it; but it was no use; and so for the love he bore her, he went out at half past twelve in the morning and rang up a Christian neighbor. When he came to the door, the caller said: "I beg your pardon for disturbing you; but will you be so kind as to lend me a New Testament?”

You may be sure the request was most cheerfully granted. The neighbor thought: "There is a work in that house to be done for Jesus tonight." As soon as he could get dressed he hurried to the home of a Christian brother, and together they went to the Jewish home.

The door was instantly opened, and the mistress of the house met them with a welcoming smile. Her greeting was: "I have found Jesus!”

And then she told the story I have told you with this addition: she said that when her husband gave her the New Testament she could not speak. But she went into her room, and kneeling, lifted up her face toward heaven, crying: "O LORD GOD of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, give me light! Give me light!”

Keeping her eyes closed she opened the Testament. When she opened her eyes the Scripture before her was the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans.

She read slowly, and the verses went tearing through her soul like hot thunderbolts, until she came to the sixteenth verse: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first"—there she stopped. Her flowing tears blinded her. She looked again.

"It is to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

As she read these words she believed them, and she knew her Messiah must be Christ Jesus, the Lord.

When the Christian brethren came, she was rejoicing in her new-found hope, and ready to confess Him before men.

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

The Plank That Will Bear

Many years ago a vessel was wrecked on the stormy coast of Cornwall. It was a time of much danger and distress, but the Lord was merciful and no lives were lost. On the following Sunday the rescued sailors attended the preaching in a hall nearby and thanks were publicly returned for their deliverance.

The preacher that day was deeply conscious of the solemn circumstances and endeavored to impress them on his audience. Near the close of his sermon he spoke with much earnestness of the sinner's danger and the Savior's love.

"Imagine," he said, "the situation of a drowning man. He knows now that all his efforts are unavailing and that he is fast sinking beneath the raging waters. Suddenly a plank floats within his reach. Seizing it he finds it will bear his weight. My fellow-sinners, this is your case; it is my own! We are like the drowning sailor. Christ is the plank of safety. He is near. He is the plank that will bear you up. Oh, refuse not, delay not to seize it! This plank will bear! Yes, sinner, this plank will bear!”

The preacher's own heart was much moved and he felt that he had spoken with unusual power. However he heard no more comments about that appeal than he was wont to hear about others, and by degrees the whole incident seemed forgotten.

Many years later he received an urgent message. He was urged to hasten to see a man who was near death in a village some distance away.

He went immediately, glad to answer such a call. On entering, he saw at once that the sufferer was a total stranger to him and also his moments on earth were almost gone.

The minister knelt beside the bed. "My friend, you have sent for me and I am come. You are on the verge of eternity. Will you tell me what is your hope?”

The dying man was evidently conscious but the power of speech seemed gone. "My friend," continued the preacher urgently, "if you can no longer speak, will you give me a sign, a token, to tell if your hope is now in Christ?”

Then with what a thrill of joyful, grateful recollection came to the listening ears of the preacher from the lips of the dying man: "The plank bears.”

Yes, that long-forgotten sermon had not been preached in vain. In this soul, the good seed had borne fruit to everlasting life.

Reader, this plank will bear! Have you taken hold of it? Jesus is the all-sufficient, the only Savior.

"There is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?”

Repentance: What Is It?

Two friends traveling together by rail were discussing repentance. One insisted that it is profound conviction of sin, pungent sorrow for the evil of our nature, and for the iniquity of our life. The other took the ground that it is a change of mind, whether there is much or little feeling, producing, of course, a change of behavior, and that it follows the belief that comes through hearing the gospel.

At length one of them remarked: "I am sorry that our conversation must soon end. You leave at -the next station, I believe.”

"No," was the reply; "at the second station from this I take another road for the place I am trying to reach.”

Again they fell into earnest talk. The conductor soon passed through the car: He was calling:"All passengers for—change at the next station." The man who had argued that repentance was deep contrition and a long preparatory struggle to be saved, instantly seized his handbag and overcoat and hurried to the door. "I think you have repented," said his friend pleasantly.

"Yes," he answered with a smile, "I have;" and he was gone.

When a man repents he changes his mind about SIN. Once he rolled it as a sweet morsel under his tongue, or thought nothing of it whatever, or at best regarded it as an error to be condoned rather than guilt to be punished. But now the law flashes its truth into his: conscience; and sin, that it may appear sin, works death in him by that which is good: "that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." Rom. 7:13.

He now learns for the first time that the Bible is right when it says "fools make a mock at sin" (Prow. 14:9), and that it means something when it says: "Be sure your sin will find you out." Num. 32:23.

In the second place he learns that he must change his mind about SELF. Formerly he had a very high opinion of his own character and conduct, with a strong dash of conceit as to his superior gifts or attainments. Especially on religious subjects he was quite confident that no one could teach him anything, and his views of God and the Bible and the eternal state were eminently satisfactory to his intellect, and settled conclusively in his mind all such annoying questions. _

But now he begins to think that the Scriptures are correct when they classify him with a broken-necked ass (Ex. 13:13); and then, brought face to face with God, he cries out: "Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6.

In the third place, he has a change of mind about his STATE. He spoke boldly of his safety and of his exemption from the fear of death, and probably lied when he claimed entire indifference to the results of his present life. But if he was then altogether careless, he now recognizes his unconcern as spiritual stupidity, proving that he was "dead in trespasses and sins." Eph. 2:1. He sees that the mind of the flesh with which he was born into the world is "enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

In the fourth place, he has a change of mind about his WORKS. Formerly he plumed himself upon his benevolence and beneficence, and excellent deportment. If he contributed five dollars to a charitable institution, or put a quarter in the weekly collection basket in church, or rendered his neighbor a kind service, he was like a turkey cock stretching his wings to the earth, gobbling out his splendid achievements. But he has been led to accept the testimony of the Word: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6. At last he esteems all the things of which he once boasted but loss, saying with the apostle: "I... count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phil. 3:8.

In the fifth place, he has a change of mind about GOD. He discovers that he had no conception of a divine being. He may have entertained doubts as to His very existence, or thought of Him as indifferent to the actions of men, or too merciful to punish the sinner, or too just to pardon.

But now he grows serious when he listens to Jehovah's proclamation: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,... forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty." Ex. 34:6, 7. Then he hears or reads the inspired testimony: "The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Rom. 2:4. He finds that repentance does not follow the looking at himself, but at God's infinite love.

In the sixth place, he has a change of mind about the LORD JESUS CHRIST. For years that blessed One was to him as a root out of a dry ground; but at length he sees the absolute necessity of the sacrifice of Himself offered upon the cross of Calvary. He bows with adoring gratitude before Him who is exalted to be "a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31.

In the seventh place, he has a change of mind in his thoughts of ETERNITY. He believes that Christ is coming back; and in view of this, "God... now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man." Acts 17:30, 31. Unsaved reader, repent! Change your mind regarding God's way of salvation. Take the lost sinner's place and claim the lost sinner's Savior. "Repent ye and believe the Gospel" of God's matchless grace.

Refusing the Remedy

Yonder lies a man dying of some deadly disease. But before him is placed a cup containing a healing draft. He has simply to drink and live! Yet he refuses to drink, and dies. People will say he died of the deadly disease. This is true in a sense. But it would be more correct to say that he died because he rejected the remedy. Thus it is with the soul. Men are perishing on every hand. They are going down to the chambers of eternal death. What is their disease? It is sin.

The great—the only Remedy—has been put within your reach. Christ is the Gift of God to you. Do you push Him from you, and say you will not have this Savior? Or do you receive Him?—and thus enter upon life eternal.

Two Places

There are two places where your sins may be hidden: in your own bosom or under the blood of Christ!

Job declared that he had not covered his transgressions after the manner of men by hiding his iniquity in his bosom. (Job 31:33.) Your iniquity may be hidden from the sight of men in your own bosom, while you present a fair or even deceptive appearance. But the day speeds on in which God will judge not only your works and words, but the secrets of your heart. If you now hide your iniquity there, depend upon it, it will all be found there to your everlasting confusion. Better, better far that you come to God by Jesus Christ, owning all the pollution, the folly and wickedness which defile your heart, saying to that Savior of sinners—

"Just as I am—and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come.”

Washed in that precious blood, you will be in God's sight "whiter than snow." No longer then a mere professor, making a fair show in the flesh while the soul's deep stains of sin are unremoved, you will be justified by grace, appareled in divine righteousness, and made complete in Christ. Then if Infinite Holiness searches you, it can only find that Infinite Love has removed in righteousness every stain of sin.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psa. 139:23, 24.

"GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE

TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE

WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED

FOR US." Rom. 5:8.

October

Love Not the World

Love not the world: its smiles, its hopes
May lure thee on;
But cup of joy, and dream of bliss
Will soon be gone.
Those dreams will fade, as mist in morn,
Those hopes will die;
And in that cup of seeming joy
Deep sorrows lie.

Love not the world: it, with its lusts,
Must pass away;
Its pleasures sweet, its hopes so bright,
Must all decay.
Its glories, too, must have an end,
Must pale and die,
And all its empty bubbles burst;
They're Satan's lie.

But he who does the will of God
For aye will live,
And drink the streams of heaven's delights,
Which Christ will give.
He'll weep no more on that blest shore:
No marvel this,
For joys well up, and fill his cup;
Naught, naught but bliss.

Dear fellow pilgrim in the path,
Look up! Look on!
There waits above, a home of love,
Where Christ is gone.
And pleasures bright, in courts of light
Shall ever be,
Throughout a happy, long and blest
Eternity.

J. C. Rule.

Painted Sticks

Sir Titus Salt commenced life as a factory boy in a Yorkshire town. By industry, perseverance, and strict attention to business he became one of the wealthiest manufacturers in the county. Upright, honorable, and considerate of the interests of his workers, he built a model town for them and called it Saltaire. Eventually he was elected to Parliament and a baronetcy was conferred upon him by Queen Victoria.

After such achievements and attainments, was the baronet satisfied? Indeed he was not! God's Word declares that, "the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Eccl. 1:8). All that Sir Titus Salt had heard, seen, and possessed did not and could not afford him real satisfaction. The same Book declares that, "he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase" (Eccl. 5:10). Earth's riches, honors or pleasures cannot satisfy the thirst of an immortal spirit.

On a never to-be-forgotten Sunday Sir Titus listened to a preacher of the gospel. This man showed by Scripture that soul rest and satisfaction are to be found only in Christ.

In the course of his sermon the minister said: "I have sat in my garden and watched the caterpillars climbing the painted sticks. I have seen them reach the top and look this way and that in search of some juicy twig on which to feed, only to be disappointed and to return slowly and wearily to the ground again. There are many painted sticks in this world," continued the preacher. "There are the painted sticks of pleasure, of wealth, of power, and of fame. All these are calling to men and saying: 'climb me for satisfaction!' And men are climbing them, only to prove that these gaudy dead sticks cannot fulfill their promise.”

On the following day the baronet visited the preacher. He said to him: "Sir, I was in your congregation last night. I heard what you had to say about the painted sticks. I want to tell you that all my life I have been climbing them. Today I am a weary man. Tell me, is there rest for a weary millionaire?”

The herald of the Cross had the joy of pointing the sin-burdened soul to Him who says: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

"I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad.”

Weary one, are you trying to quench your soul's thirst at the brackish streams of earth? In your bosom there is an indescribable longing after rest of heart and conscience which, doubtless, God Himself has planted there.

"Now none but Christ can satisfy!
None other Name for me:
There's love, and life, and lasting joy
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.”

Where Do We Go From Here?

The bravery of American soldiers was evidenced at the time of the sinking of a troop ship off the coast of Ireland some years ago. It is said that as the ship heeled over for the fatal plunge many of the soldiers on board lustily sang, "Where do we go from here?”

The bravery of these men cannot be questioned; and if death ended all, we might commend their attitude. But as death does not end all, and is but a change of condition—as the Scriptures declare, "After death the judgment"—we cannot laud their action.

The preacher, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 8, says: "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death, and there is no discharge in that war." When death, that dread enemy of man, lays siege to the citadel, no amount of "camouflage" will keep him at bay. Unconditional surrender is a foregone conclusion, for man has "no power in the day of his death." He must GO, for "there is no discharge in that war.”

The great question in that hour is—

"Where do we go from here?”

Skepticism is out of date wowed infidelity no longer wins the applause of any except the licentious and profane. Satan has other tactics today, and his emissaries are always busy to cover the real issue. Surely every demon rejoiced when, at the commencement of World War I, the word of deceit went forth from the father of lies: "Tell them that blessedness in the future life is secured BY DEATH IN BATTLE!”

In the town where I live, a preacher told his audience that "our brave soldier boys are going to their Gethsemane and Golgotha to suffer for humanity, even as the Savior." One word alone characterizes this soul-destroying statement: it is "BLASPHEMY.”

This is only an instance of the same Satanic narcotic daily administered elsewhere, to lull to sleep the consciences of men who must soon meet God. One blind guide has stated that "death in such a cause is but a reacting of the sacrifice of Christ Himself!”

From whence came this deceitful teaching? It is not a twentieth century invention, as one might suppose. An old heathen idea is thus resuscitated and daringly substituted for the Savior's atoning work. Mohammedan leaders tell their soldiers: "The gates of paradise are under the shades of swords; he who dies fighting for the faith will surely gain admission there.”

Men, you surely know that a deed of valor does not secure eternal bliss with God. As you value your immortal soul, let me beseech you to turn away from these false guides to the Holy Scriptures. God has clearly pointed out the way to the sure and certain hope of a glorious future. It rests upon the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, "finished" on Calvary. He alone is the Savior.

"There is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

New Creation

God is the Creator of two creations. In the beginning He created the heavens and the earth first, and man last. In the new creation the order is reversed—God is now creating men anew in Christ Jesus, and hereafter He will fashion a new heaven and a new earth. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:1.)

It is an immense blessing for a soul to lay hold by faith of the truth of the new creation.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

In Christ there is a new creation. "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17.

Adam was created in innocence, and being tempted, sinned. The Christian, created anew in Christ, has a new nature which cannot sin. The old Adam nature in the believer is not one bit improved; but every one who is in Christ is a new creation. Thus God sees him forever.

Those who are "in Christ" are also spoken of as, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," Eph. 2:10; created in righteousness and true holiness [or, holiness of truth]." Eph. 4:24.

"God... hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, "created in Christ Jesus unto good works," Eph. 2:10;

"And that ye" [or having] "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:24.

The new creation is God's own perfect handiwork. And "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever." Eccl. 3:14. Are you a new creation in Christ?

Is There a Hell?

Many unbelievers deny it. Skeptics have scoffed at it. Professed Christians question it. Decidedly, it is an unpopular doctrine today. Preachers seldom mention it; some of them openly reject it. In view of this array of opposition what shall we say? Simply this; that men are but men, who of themselves know nothing beyond this present life on earth.

Now, God is GOD: He who made all things, who put man upon this earth, and to whom man therefore is accountable. As He is the Eternal I AM, let us inquire of Him; let His Word be our guide. What has He said?

"I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him." Luke 12:4, 5. He who knows there is a hell which "is prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41), tells us that men also may be cast into it.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Matt. 5:29.

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt. 10:28. It is possible, then, for the body as well as the soul to be cast into hell.

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet ... .These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." Rev. 19:20.

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works ... .And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:13-15. In this we see that being cast into hell—fire is after the dead are raised out of the sea and out of the graves: and the judgment is passed upon "whosoever is not found written in the book of life.”

The character of those cast into hell is described thus: "The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:8. "The lake of fire this is the second death." Rev. 20:14.

There is no need of comment upon these statements of God's Word. God is too great, too good, too holy to deceive any of His creatures. It is the "God who cannot lie" that in love warns men lest they come into that place of torment.

From these few passages of Scripture (a few out of many others) we learn that there is a hell, the future doom of the lost who die in their sins unconverted to God; that their souls remain in conscious misery, apart from the body, until the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29). Body and soul reunited, they will be raised: death and hades deliver up their dead to stand before the Great White Throne, God's last assize, from which they are cast into the dread Gehenna, or hell of fire, the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, the final doom of the devil and of the lost. Now it is the profligate's byword and the scoffer's jest: then it will be the awful answer to the slighted grace and love of God.

Reader, there is a hell. Flee from it while you may, to Christ, the only Savior. "This Man receiveth sinners.”

"By the Grace of God"

Two or three years before the death of Mr. John Newton, a devoted Christian preacher, his sight became so dim that he was no longer able to read. An aged friend and brother in the ministry visited him at breakfast one morning. Family prayers followed and the portion of Scripture was read to him: "By the grace of God I am what I am." 1 Cor. 15:10.

It was the preacher's custom on these occasions to make a short exposition on the passage read. After the reading of this text he paused for some moments and then uttered an affecting soliloquy.

"I am not what I ought to be. Ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be; soon, soon, I shall put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say I am not, what I once was a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the Apostle, and acknowledge, 'By the grace of God I am what I am.”

The Finished Picture

"I have been seeking salvation for twenty-five years, and I have not found it yet." So said a man to a Christian friend.

Now seeking is very well; but he who seeks with blinded eyes may seek forever without finding. Especially is this true if he seek in the wrong place. This seeker after salvation, earnest as he was, had been seeking in the wrong place and with darkened eyes.

"And there are so many difficulties in the Bible," he added.

"Yes," replied his friend, "difficulties which an archbishop cannot explain. But the gospel of our salvation is simple. God made man; man sinned against God, and so deserved punishment. But God loved man, and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who became a man that He might suffer for sin and bear its punishment in man's stead. And now since God's Son has borne the punishment due to sin God can righteously forgive sinful man and still be just”

"I have been to church services over and over again, and still I'm not saved," sighed the seeker. He had not heard what had been said to him.

"Very likely. But God does not say going to church will save us. We are saved through belief in Christ. Now, I can't solve all your difficulties, but this may help; at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, God the Father said: 'This is My beloved Son: hear Him.' Mark 9:7. So then we are to hear His words. Now turn to John 5:24. Will you read it?”

"He that heareth My word.”

"Stop a moment. Who was the speaker at the transfiguration?”

"God the Father.”

"Right. And who is the speaker here?”

"Christ.”

"Yes, and what does He say?”

"Then all depends upon hearing Christ's word, and believing on the Father who sent Him?”

"It looks like it," was the reply.

"Then have you heard? Will you believe?”

In answer to this question, like many another seeker, our friend once more wandered from the Scriptures, and so missed the point.

"My wife was a believer," said he. "I left her in perfect health, one morning. When I came home that night she was ill and soon died." Then tears came as he told the sad story. "She was a believer. I am sure she is now with Christ.”

"You want to go where she is, do you not?”

"That I do," said he.

"She found peace through believing the Lord Jesus who died for her. So must you.”

But the appeals were in vain; the poor man's eyes were still blind to the simple truth. Two weeks later the Christian called upon him again and asked how he was getting on. "Trying to make my peace with God," was the benighted reply.

"Give it up, man; give it up!" cried the Christian. "Peace has been made, peace by the blood of Christ which was shed on the cross. He said, 'It is finished,' and how can you try to make it in the face of His finished work?

"There is a picture on your wall which is complete. If your neighbor, the shoemaker, came along with his knife and began scraping off a bit of the paint, and then your neighbor, the whitewasher, brought his brush to put some color on—fancy such a scene! You would not allow such things in earthly matters.

"Now, Christ says of His work, 'It is finished.' All you can do is admire it, not try to add to it.”

Still the man could not perceive the truth, so he was left to think the matter over until the next visit. Then there was evidently a great change. "How is it now?" said my friend.

In reply the good man sang lustily a hymn learned when he was a boy:

"Not all the blood of beasts
On Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away its stain;
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb,
Took all my guilt away.
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.”

The Old Sign-Post

Have you ever reached a crossroads and found nothing there to indicate which way would bring you to your desired destination? How you needed a sign-post on such an occasion!

The oldest known sign-post in the world is in Britain. It stands at a junction of the road at Chesterholme, Bardon Hill, in Northumberland. This old servant of the wayfarer is made of solid stone and was erected by the Romans about seventeen centuries ago.

In spite of the many severe winters it has come through, the old sign-post still stands on duty directing the travelers. Though its wording is somewhat blurred now, its letters are still legible and its aged arms still point the way.

We all reach a crossroads of life at some time or other, do we not? Sooner or later we must each make a decision that affects our whole future pathway. And there we find a sign-post, one that points the way to safety for all eternity. That sign-post is the cross of Calvary. It points the way to God, to heaven and to life. It tells us of the Savior who died for us, who shed His own life's blood as the basis of man's redemption and eternal bliss.

God hates sin. No evil can ever enter His presence. Then how can we, with all our sins? How can He in His holiness receive us? Only by having our sins removed, their punishment borne! This is exactly what Christ did on Calvary. Now that cross stands as the witness of divine love—pointing men and women to God.

Will you be guided thus? Will you take the first step by faith on the road that leads to all that is most blessed in this life and in that which is to come? Then trust the Savior today.

"This is a faithful saying,
and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came
into the world
TO SAVE SINNERS.”

1 Tim. 1:15.

November

Bidden

You are bidden to the great feast of salvation. (Matt. 22:2-13.)

What are you doing with the invitation?

You remember the parable. The invited ones made excuse. They had other engagements. They cared nothing for the great supper. Their business matters, their family concerns filled their thoughts.

But the feast was furnished with guests without them.

And God's house of blessing will be filled whether you are there or not. But if not there, where will you be?

We cannot trifle with God's invitation without danger.

It is a small matter to slight the offer of hospitality of a fellow mortal. "But God." Dare we treat Him with such scant courtesy and not be condemned?

"None of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper," was the decision of the provider of the feast. They might choose to change their minds and come, after all. They were to be excluded, however. No further message was dispatched.

You have been invited to the supper. What have you done about it?

Fisher Joe

Joe was a soft-hearted fellow, but easily led into bad company. Thus he was often found in the saloon, although next day he would hear to his shame that his wife with his little child had waited outside the door to lead him safely home.

Joe's home was in a fishing village, and he often joined his friends and neighbors on their fishing trips. At one time a large number of the boats belonging to the place where Joe lived, with their crews, had arranged to go for three months' fishing. Several of the fishermen were earnest Christians; and immediately when they arrived at their destination they began to read the Word of God, and to commend themselves and their comrades to His care in prayer in their lodgings—which were all under the same roof—ere they went out to their night's work on the deep sea.

Joe had never been with such a group before. At first he was rather taken aback, and would have absented himself; but before long he was just as anxious lest he should miss the "reading," as they called it.

It was a pleasant sight to see these crews of converted fishermen, their bronzed faces all beaming with a joy the world knows not, leave the harbor on a summer evening. The setting sun gleamed in golden splendor on their sails as they put forth to sea, singing in chorus:—

"Shall we meet in that blest harbor,
When the stormy voyage is o'er?
Shall we meet and cast the anchor
On the fair celestial shore?”

Joe soon saw that these men possessed true happiness. They had something infinitely better than he had for TIME, and they continually sang and spoke about their "happy home" in ETERNITY. No doubt the Spirit of God uses the testimony of the lives of genuine Christians to arouse sinners and draw them to Christ, as well as the words spoken by their lips. When both are combined their influence is great among the unconverted.

Joe lost his desire for the saloon. He now preferred the company of these godly fishermen. Although he certainly was not yet converted, he was being silently convicted of sin, and made to see his need of Christ as his Savior.

It was on a midsummer night at sea that the great crisis in Joe's life came. He was in the boat with four comrades, three of whom were Christians. Another boat was alongside them, whose crew were all on the Lord's side. They were telling, one after another, the story of their conversions. Joe at the boat's helm sat listening attentively. Then one told how far gone he had been in sin, a drunkard and a wife-beater; but, said he: "Christ took me as I was.”

Joe's interest was thoroughly aroused, and unconsciously he said aloud: "Would He take me too, Jim?”

"Aye, Joe; just as you are, sitting there at the helm," said Jim.

A number of voices chimed in: "Yes! Trust Him just as you are, Joe.”

Unhesitatingly Joe stood up. Lifting his cap from his head as if he realized that he stood in the presence of God, he said aloud: "Here I am, Lord Jesus, a poor sinner, deserving nothing but hell fire. But I come just as I am to Thee, and to Thy blood that cleanses from all sin.”

A song of praise on the deep at that midnight hour burst from these happy sailors. Joe joined in though he sang through fast falling tears. A week later they returned home; and Joe's first word to his wife, who met him on the shore with little Mary in her arms, was: "God has sent you a new man, Jess, saved on the deep by the grace of God.”

For years Joe lived to testify to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus, and many a weary soul was led to Christ by his words, and his Christian life.

Reader, will you come to Jesus, just as you are, and now?

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

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

A Solemn Warning

"YOUR RACE IS RUN; PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD.”

This notice was printed on a board and was displayed at the races. Probably the earnest man who carried it never knew any result from his humble service. He was contented to await the coming day when it and every effort for Christ's glory will receive His reward.

The simple but striking message reached the conscience of a young prodigal. He was sowing his wild oats. Giddy and careless, he pursued the path of pleasure and sin. Eternity was of small account indeed to him.

In the midst of such a scene with its noise and excitement, could one hope that conviction of sin would be forced home to a man's conscience? Yet so it was. By the Spirit of God, the plain, solemn words of warning did their mighty work. The young man, condemned in heart, left the multitude to go its way. He would go no farther on the road to eternal doom.

Earnestly he sought to make himself fit for God. But all his efforts at reformation did not meet the demands of his conscience. How could he prepare to meet God? This was the question uppermost in his mind. After all his endeavors and failures, his feelings could be well expressed by the words of the hymn, as he cast himself on Christ for salvation:

"No preparation can I make,
My best resolves I only break,
Then save me for Thine own Name's sake,
And take me as I am.

"Helpless I am, and full of guilt,
And yet for me Thy blood was spilled;
And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt,
And take me as I am.

"Behold me, Savior, at Thy feet,
Deal with me as Thou seest meet;
Thy work begin, Thy work complete,
But take me as I am.”

Thus he found joy and peace in believing. He cast himself on Christ and believed God's Word. He knew that his many sins were blotted out, washed clean in the precious blood, and that he was clothed in all the beauty of Christ before God.

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

John Spencer Saved

John Spencer was born and brought up in the lap of luxury. His parents were professing Christians but had never shown their son God's way of salvation and he had never received Christ as his Savior and Lord.

After his mother's death John gave up all pretense of interest in Christianity. He professed to be a skeptic and a socialist. For years he never entered a church building and if he saw anyone preaching in the open air he would cross the street lest his conscience be troubled by what he might hear.

Eventually he got into financial difficulties through speculation, and disgrace lay ahead of him. This his proud spirit could not stand, and his skepticism afforded him no comfort.

In his desperation he determined to commit suicide. But God had His eye upon him, and desired him for His own.

While John was considering how to accomplish his purpose, he took a walk. As he passed a theater he was invited by a Christian worker to come to the gospel service that was being held in it. At first he refused, but eventually consented.

The preacher, a devoted servant of God, was immediately struck by the appearance of the man, and felt as if the message he had that night must be for him. At the close of the service he sought to converse with any who were anxious about their souls. On reaching the seat where Spencer sat, he saw that he was deeply troubled and was trying to conceal his emotions. As the preacher was about to speak to him, John rose and left the hall. The evangelist followed him, grasping his hands, and said: "My dear man, how do matters stand between your soul and God?”

Spencer's heart was too full. He could not utter a word. Shaking his head, and with tears running down his cheeks, he pulled his hand out of the preacher's and rushed downstairs. He took the middle of the road and ran until he reached a park. There he wandered about all night. All thoughts of self-destruction were gone. The night was spent reviewing his past life of sin and folly, and wondering if God would save such a wretch as he.

The next night he went to the meetings again, and there he learned God's way of salvation. The blessed fact was shown him in God's Word that, in spite of his many sins, God loved him and longed to save him. He learned that He so loved him as to give His dear Son to die for him on Calvary. He saw the work of atonement was completed; that God's justice was satisfied, and all who believe on the Lord Jesus are saved and have eternal life.

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

An Old Mistake

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

The book was accepted, and they separated. The next day they again met. "Well, friend," said the Christian, "did you read that little book? Are you a Christian?”

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

An hour later, however, the two were standing side by side once again. "My friend, you told me an hour ago that you hope you are a Christian. May I ask you on what grounds you base your hope?”

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

"And is that all you have to build your hopes upon?" "Well, God is merciful; and if one does his best, I don't see what else can be expected of him.”

"Ah, my friend, it is indeed true that God is merciful. He has shown His mercy by providing a sure way of salvation; but what claim can you have to His mercy while you neglect the one channel through which it flows? God's mercy will not flow through your channels. It flows fully and freely only through Christ. If you are to be saved it must be through Him. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Galatians, that `if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.' Gal. 2:21. For what was the use of the Son of God suffering for sins, if 'doing your best' is all that is needed?”

If one among my readers is trusting to "doing his best," may he at once abandon every such thought. Look to Christ, dear friend, and to His finished work for your soul's salvation.

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

Christ Alone

On a Sunday evening in a northern seaport town a young man spoke to me just after the service, and said that a young lady wished very much to see me. I at once acceded to her request and in accordance with her wishes appointed the following evening for an interview.

Exactly at the time she appeared, and very soon the reason of her desire was seen. She told me that she had long been under a deep sense of sin. In her anxiety she had many months before gone to her minister in the South and that he had enjoined her to take the Sacrament while fasting, and regularly to confess her sins.

Instead of getting better, however, she only got worse. Her sins troubled her more than ever. Though she most religiously trudged morning after morning a great distance to early communion, her load was never lifted nor her heart cheered for an instant.

At last after a whole winter of this routine she came north at the solicitation of a friend. Here as in the South salvation was her chief concern. And here, as there, she was led away from Christ by church rites and rules.

One night, quite by accident as she confessed afterward and with no little misgiving, she came to our humble gospel hall. There in a moment the simple reading of the Scripture accompanied by a brief paraphrase of it was used of God to bring light into her soul.

"Instantly," she said, "I felt I had been on the wrong track for years. I was trying to provide righteousness for myself. Now I find in Christ my righteousness.”

Christ took the place of her own strivings; and resting entirely on Him she entered into peace.

The portion from which the message was given that night was Gal. 2:16, 17. Its whole drift was to shut men up to Christ only, and its conclusion was that Christ is a complete Savior, or else He is a minister of sin. Which?

This woman with all her heart said, "God forbid," to the latter alternative, and took Christ as her all.

Reader, what have you done with Him? Or, if you are undecided, what are you going to do? If you put one atom of trust in yourself, if to faith in Christ you add one good work as a ground or condition of salvation, Christ has become of none effect to you. You are maligning His redemption. You are saying it is not sufficient, when God says it is sufficient.

This woman found it sufficient. The unrest of years fled. She was at peace with God, being justified by simple faith. My reader, trust what God says is true; that is, that Christ has fully answered for you, and that you have only to accept His sacrifice to be immediately and eternally saved.

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

Your Position

With whom do you feel most at home—with worldly society, professing Christians, or separated, uncompromising Christians?

No Time

Walking along the street one day, I was distributing little gospel books to the people I met on the way. All received them very kindly, some with apparent pleasure, as if they understood the real desire of my heart and appreciated it. Only one man refused me. He was a gentlemanly person, affable in manner and address. As I offered the little book, he asked what it was.

"A little paper which tells the way of salvation," I replied.

"Well really, sir," said he, "life is so short, and time is so full, that I cannot stop to read such things.”

I was dumfounded at such an awful excuse. Before a suitable answer came to me, he had bowed himself politely away and was gone.

"Life's so short!" I thought as I went slowly on. That's so. And what follows?

DEATH AND JUDGMENT!!

"Time so full!"—with what? With everything that shuts God out!!

Reader, listen to the words of the Lord Jesus concerning one who, like this gentleman, found life too short and time too full to think about God and his soul.

"The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." Was there any hope there? Hear again: "Beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." Luke 16:19-31.

Beloved reader, be wise in time. We who have found in Christ the living water which quenches all thirst, which sets the conscience at rest forever, we can yet "pass to you" and beseech you to drink before it is too late. Think of the folly of crowding time with what you must leave behind! From those things you can get no more comfort when this short life is over. Think of the stupendous word—ETERNITY.

Think of your sins. Think of the holiness of God, who cannot have sin in His presence. Think of the day when you must surely give account of yourself to Him.

Then think, THINK of the grace He has shown in sending His only begotten Son into this world "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Think on these things! Accept Him as your Savior, and you will find this short life just the beginning of a blessed eternity. TIME will be so full of things which perish not that the things which perish will be compelled to take their place in the far background.

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

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

The Way of Acceptance with God

The work of Jesus on the Cross stands out in its divine and solitary grandeur as the only way of salvation from the judgment of God. In man's thoughts, good works, human righteousness and religiousness count for a great deal; but in God's estimation, as a means of salvation they stand for nothing. God has provided only one way whereby we can be saved: through faith in. Christ, whose blood has atoned for sin.

This note sounds throughout the entire New Testament. It is recorded in the history of that blessed God-Man who took the sinner's place at the cross. The Old Testament abounds with prophecies, shadows and symbols of the same glorious Person, the promised Deliverer and Savior of men. It could not do otherwise; for, in the counsels of God from everlasting, the redemption of the sinner was to be by blood— the blood, or life, of the Son of God. It is not singular, therefore, that in God's communications to men all through the Old Testament history He should continually point forward by type and figure to the coming of the One in whose wonderful work on the cross God Himself should rest, and the sinner find salvation.

As early as Gen. 3 we find Him teaching that only through death could a naked sinner be clothed, for He clothed fallen Adam and his wife with skins from animals. In chapter 4 we see Abel appropriating God's way. He sought a way of approach to God, found it, and was accepted through the blood shedding of a sinless substitute. "Without shedding of blood is no remission." Heb. 9:22. That is the statement of God's Word.

The great question, therefore, before each individual soul is: "Amos 1 sheltered beneath the blood of Christ?" Reader, be honest with yourself. Ask yourself the question as in the presence of God; and rest not till you can say with the poet:

"Conscience now no more condemns me,
For His own most precious blood
Once for all has washed and cleansed me—
Cleansed me in the eyes of God.”

"I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

John 10:9.

December

The Gift Supreme

Of all the gifts thy love bestows,
Thou Giver of all good!
Not heaven itself a richer knows
Than the Redeemer's blood.

Faith, too, that trusts the blood through grace,
From that same love we gain;
Else, sweetly as it suits our case,
The gift had been in vain.

We praise Thee, and would praise Thee more,
To Thee our all we owe;
The precious Savior, and the power
That makes Him precious too.

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

The Colporteur's Story

A colporteur, one who sells or gives away Christian literature, was traveling in Brazil. His mule was laden with his precious books, many of which had been given into eager hands that day. The shades of night were beginning to fall, and he was very tired. When he saw in the distance a company of merchants who had stopped to camp for the night, he approached them and asked if he might make camp with them. They readily agreed and invited him to share their evening meal by the fire.

As they sat around the cheerful blaze after their frugal repast, the colporteur drew a Bible from his pocket and asked if they would allow him to read to them. They gladly consented, and he read several portions. Then a lively conversation ensued concerning the things he had read from the Book of books.

They were on the point of settling down for the night when the sound of galloping hoofs was heard in the evening stillness. Very soon a well-dressed stranger rode up and alighted from his horse. He also begged leave to share their camp. One of the merchants showed him a place, and the newcomer seated himself by the fire.

During the conversation which followed, the stranger spoke with deep emotion of his troubles. He had just lost his wife and was feeling very lonely. A remark by our friend the colporteur brought out the admission from the stranger that he knew nothing of salvation but that he wished he had it.

"Is it not strange," he added, "that a man must make so many sacrifices for his own salvation and that of his dear ones, and still never knows at any time if they are sufficient?”

"Well," said one of the merchants, "this man's Book tells of an altogether different way of getting salvation." He pointed to our friend who still held his Bible in his hands.

"And what Book is that?" asked the stranger, greatly interested.

"It is the Word of God," replied the colporteur. "Although it is getting late, I should like to read you a few passages, if you will permit me.”

The stranger listened intently. He heard with great surprise that it is not with silver, nor with gold, that we are redeemed, but with the precious blood of Christ. How amazing to him to be told that he could have the salvation he desired freely, without money! It seemed too simple that all he need do, according to God's Word, was: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

The man seemed dumfounded to hear such good news. It was so different from all he had ever been told before. At last he begged the colporteur to give him the Book from which he had been reading; and a little later the weary travelers were all asleep. The next morning they parted company, all going their several ways.

It was many months before the colporteur returned to that district. In the meantime a retired sea captain had bought a property in the area. Every day at a stated hour he gathered his family, his servants and his neighbors in his house and read to them the sacred Scriptures. The colporteur went to the house and recognized in the owner of the estate the stranger who had received the Bible that night by the campfire. God in His mercy had led that man to Jesus Christ, and in Him he had found the salvation and peace for which he had longed.

Have you, dear reader, found this salvation and this peace?

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

The Snow Text?

A lady gave a soldier a gospel paper. Somehow it got back to her highly decorated. She handed it to me for inspection. The art-loving soldier had drawn across the inside page a portrait of his sergeant. Various writings were on the margins. One of these was, "Mark, learn and inwardly digest." This was written over an incident entitled, "Deeper than scarlet—whiter than snow.”

The story told about a young man who had been given a verse in Isaiah. "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.

The receiver had sneered; but the text stuck to him. He professed infidelity; but he could not get rid of the words: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

He denied responsibility, and said he didn't care if his sins were "scarlet," He did not want them made "white as snow." But even as he repeated the words, they gripped him. They drove him to a gospel meeting. There the preacher gave out as his text: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

The story continued: "This convinced the young man that he had to do with God. He left the meeting a believer in the Lord Jesus, saved and cleansed from his sins.”

The text was repeated ten times on the page; and the soldier had so read and marked it that each time it occurred he had underlined it. As I saw these markings I said: "The man who has thus played with God's Word will be caught.”

"For 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.

Soon afterward we received a postcard from the lady who had given me the paper.

"I must send you a line, dear friends, to tell you the joyful news. That dear khaki-clad boy who so highly decorated thee tract we showed you has turned up soundly converted. He is now one with us at the Hall.”

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together," and let us never be discouraged.

HAVE YOUR SINS BEEN WASHED WHITE AS SNOW?

The Reason

God does not say, Come to Me because you are a sinner; but, I come to you because you are a sinner.

Like Mother

A Christian woman living in a large city was passing a saloon some time ago. As she reached the door the saloonkeeper pushed a man out into the street. He was quite a young man but on his face were unmistakable signs of drink and debauchery. He was on the way to ruin.

As he stumbled onto the sidewalk he was swearing horribly. Shaking his clenched fist at the man who had thrust him out of the saloon he vowed vengeance. So blinded was he with fury that he failed to see the lady who had stopped near him until she touched his arm. In a gentle, quiet voice she asked: "What is the matter?”

The young man started as if he had been struck. He turned quickly to look at the speaker. Hardly able to control his voice, he stammered: "Oh, I thought it was my mother's voice! You sounded so strangely like her. But—her voice—she is dead.”

"You had a mother then that loved you?" said the lady.

He burst into tears as he answered: "Oh, yes, a dear mother! She loved her boy. But since her death everything has gone against me. I am a lost soul—lost to everything that is good—lost forever.”

"No, not lost forever! God is merciful and gracious, and His pitying love can reach the chief of sinners," said the lady as she went on her way. Her words seemed to deeply affect the young man, for he followed her down the street.

He noted the number of the house she entered, and the name on the door plate. As he went on his way what thoughts and feelings must have stirred in his soul!

Years rolled on their course. The Christian lady had almost forgotten this incident. It was only one of many kindnesses she had shown in her life. One day a stranger knocked at her door and sent in his card, asking permission to see her. Wondering who it could be, she greeted the gentleman as he entered.

Holding out his hand to her he said: "Pardon me, madam, for taking this liberty. I have come many miles for the pleasure of thanking you heartily for a great service you rendered me some years ago.”

"I am puzzled to know what you mean, sir. I can't remember ever having seen you before.”

"I do not wonder that you have forgotten me," replied the man, "for I have changed so much. Though I saw you only once, I would have known you anywhere. Your voice, too, is so much like my mother's.”

The moment these last words were uttered the lady remembered. This was the same young man to whom she had spoken kindly in front of the saloon long ago. He seemed deeply moved as he wept and she wept with him. However their tears gave place to happy smiles when he told her that her timely words that day had been the means of saving his soul and turning him-from eternal ruin.

"Those words, 'not lost forever,' followed me wherever I went. It always seemed to be my mother's voice speaking to me. I have repented of my sinful way, and have cast myself upon Jesus. Now I am thankful to say by the grace of God I have become a new creature in Christ. The turning point from death to life: dates from the moment you spoke to me.”

"I never dreamed God could use those few words of mine," said the lady, "but I praise Him for it.”

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Zech. 4:6.

Finished

These three wondrous words, "IT IS FINISHED," contain the essence of the Gospel. No unsaved person can properly understand their meaning. The gospel of the grace of God which tells what Christ has done for sinners—not what they are to do for Him—when believed, is the power of God unto their salvation. (Rom. 1:16).

"It is finished" were the dying words of our truest, best, and dearest Friend. The dying words of loved ones are long remembered and are not easily forgotten. When Christ uttered this triumphant cry, He was in the act of pouring out His soul as an offering for sin.

Reader, WHAT WAS FINISHED?

Ended was His life of shame, of suffering, and of sorrow. He had been "despised and rejected of men," as He still is by the world. How many times had He been faint, weary, hungry, and thirsty! That is all over. "For our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." The types and shadows of a past dispensation are completed. It is no longer necessary that the high priest of Israel should enter into an earthly sanctuary with the blood of goats or bullocks. It is no longer needful that lambs should bleed on Jewish altars. It is now needless to offer up sin offerings, trespass offerings, and peace offerings. We need not the "shadow" when we have the substance, the type when we have the antitype, the picture when we have the Person.

The Lord Jesus appeared to "put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF." Heb. 9:26. When He died at Calvary a full and perfect atonement for sin was accomplished. Christ "poured out His soul unto death." Isa. 53:12. He "bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24. The ransom has been paid. The penalty has been met. The cup of wrath has been drained to the dregs. Sin has been "put away.”

Now the veil is rent and the way into the holiest is open. Peace has been made. The law's demands have been fully met. The sin question has been eternally settled. God is fully satisfied with Christ's finished work, and He desires that you, my reader, should be satisfied with that which satisfies Him.

"Christ did His part and left us to do ours," say some. In what part of Scripture is it stated that Christ did "His part" of the work of atonement? It was surely on account of our sins that He suffered, and bled, and died. If, then, God is eternally satisfied with what Christ did for you, what is left unfinished for you to do?

Don't insult God by bringing your prayers, works, vows, tears, good resolutions, or happy feelings to supplement the work of His beloved Son. Can you add to a "finished" work? Salvation has been purchased at an infinite cost, and is now offered to you as a free gift.

"Then said they (the Jews) unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:28, 29.

Time Enough

A strange dream was told long ago. I do not know who the dreamer was, but the dream may be a warning to you.

A man dreamed that he saw Satan seated on a throne. All his evil spirits were gathered round him awaiting his commands. Suddenly the question was asked by their master: "Who will go forth to ruin souls on earth?”

The answer came readily enough from one: "I will."

"What will you tell them?”

"I'll tell them that there is no God.”

"That will not do," Satan returned gloomily. "Men know there is a God. Sometimes they deny it to their fellowmen; but deep in their hearts they know there is One, and that they must face Him some day. They may try to stifle the thought; but when sickness or death comes, they have to admit that truth. That story will not ruin them.”

Again he repeated the question: "Who will go forth to ruin souls?”

"I will," a second spirit replied.

"And what will you tell them?”

"I'll tell them that there is a God, a just and holy God; but that they are too bad to come to Him.”

"That will not do," repeated Satan. "Their very need will drive them to Him. Besides, while there are Bibles left in the world, they have only to read how God invites them, sinners though they are, to come to Him and receive everlasting life. Something more clever than that must be devised to ruin men.”

Once more the dreamer heard the terrible question ring through the courts of darkness: "Who'll go forth to ruin souls?”

There was a pause. At last he saw in his dream a third spirit come forward and stand before the one on the throne. He heard him repeat the words: "I will.”

"And what will you tell them?”

"I'll tell them," he answered, slowly, "that there is a God. I will let them hear the gospel as often as they like. They may know the story of God's love in giving His Son for lost sinners. They may read of the Son of God giving Himself to die for them. They may listen to the free invitation, 'Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.' I will not hinder them from hearing that salvation is the gift of God-'not of works.' They may hear it all.”

"But how will that ruin them?" his master inquired, impatiently.

"I'll tell them that it is all true! But," he added, with a look of fiendish malice, "I'll tell them that there is time enough to think about accepting God's offer.”

A murmur of applause passed through the caverns of despair. "Go forth," said the Prince of Darkness, "you will be successful.”

And he went forth! Day by day, and to this day, the message of destruction has ever been, and is being whispered to thousands.

This—only a dream? Surely not! Long, long before the dreamer entered this world, that plot to ruin souls was planned in hell.

You have heard God's salvation proclaimed. You have felt your need as a sinner, and have heard of the terrors of judgment. Does not the enemy of souls whisper into your ear, "TIME ENOUGH"? You are well and strong now. Does he not say, "wait till your dying bed? No need just now. Time enough!”

Yes; and "lost!" "lost!" will be your cry. Remember, eternal life is offered to you today. There is no promise for tomorrow.

"Behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

The Danger of Delay

Three young women had been to a gospel meeting. Afterward they had discussed together what they thought of it. Said one: "I never heard anything like that before! If what they say is true, very certainly we are not saved.”

"No," responded the second; "indeed we are not. What should we do?”

"Let us go back again," said the first speaker. "There's an inquiry meeting; perhaps we could be saved tonight.”

Here the third one broke into the conversation: "Let us go for a walk and forget it, I say.”

After a little more conversation her voice prevailed. They had not gone far, however, before the first one stopped, saying: "I shall go back. I know those people are praying for us. If the blessing they tell of is to be had, I want it. Will you come with me?”

The girl who had before counseled the walk refused. The other two went back to the meeting. Through the mercy of God whose Spirit was leading them, both girls received the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved that night.

Many years have passed. Now one of those young women is still a happy, rejoicing Christian. The second one has passed into the Lord's own presence. The third, the one who had counseled forgetfulness of the Spirit's prodding, is living yet, unsaved. She is known to be a person whose heart has grown so hard that nothing seems to touch it and whose ear is so closed that the pleading voice of mercy never appears to reach it.

Let me warn you, my readers, not to trifle about this important matter.

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

Crowns for Christ

It is said that a chaplain of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, had been preaching on the second coming of Christ. Afterward in conversation with the preacher the Queen exclaimed: "Oh, how I wish that the Lord would come in my lifetime!”

"Why," asked the chaplain, "does Your Majesty feel this very earnest desire?”

The Queen replied with quivering lips, and her whole countenance lighted up by deep emotion. "I should so love to lay my crown at His feet," was her simple but heartfelt answer.

Reader, Christ is coming, and coming soon. Are you ready?

"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha" (that is, accursed at His coming). 1 Cor. 16:22.

"The gospel of Christ...
is the power of God unto
salvation to everyone
that believeth.”

Rom. 1:16.

Echoes of Grace: 1958

Table of Contents

January

Satisfied

A Football Captain's Story?

God Speaking

He That Shall Come Will Come

The First Offer

The Power of God

The Signalman

Necessary - and Enough

The Right Way

Lean Hard

February

The Solemn Day

His Own Book

A Common Mistake

Praying and Doing My Best”

A Blessed Blunder

From Doubt to Assurance

God's A. B. C.

"Because It Works"

March

A Savior for You

Saved

Unsaved

Repentance

"The Lord's Got Me"

"Inside" "All"

"After This"

Jesus - Heaven

In Christ Is Eternal Salvation

April

He Is Able

What More Can I Do?

Repentance

The Lord Is Risen Indeed!

The Answer for All

The Three-Legged Stool

In Paradise

"Just Trust the Plank"

May

This Is the True God

Robert Annan of Dundee

The Name of Jesus

You or Christ

The Puzzled Woman

Faithfulness

Saved by a Thread

"Coming Tonight"

A Deserter's Mistake

June

What Shall I Do With Jesus?

Professor or Possessor

"All in All"

He Would Never Deceive”

Reliance

An Agnostic's Admissions

Seek the Good

"A Man of the World"

In the Hands of the Master

July

The Father's Heart

The Christian and the Infidel

A Contrast

A Last Warning

The Body Is … for the Lord?

A Radical Change

Jesus Is Lord

The Up Line or the Down

God's Free Gift

August

Mighty to Save

A Convict Converted

Going Where?

Should That Not Cover the Worst?

"Certainties"

An Impertinent Question

Speak Plainly

A Preacher's Parable