Echoes of Grace: 1959

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Best Evidence

Years ago an infidel lecturer gave an opportunity to anyone to reply to him after his oration. He expected that one or two rashly zealous young men would rise to advance the common arguments in favor of Christianity; and he was quite prepared, by hook or crook, to argue with them or laugh them down.

Instead of debaters, an old lady carrying a basket and an umbrella and dressed in a style indicating both age and poverty, came upon the platform.

Putting down her burdens she began: "I paid three pence to come in here to hear of something better than Jesus Christ, and I have not heard it. So let me tell you what Christ had done for me. Then you tell me of something better, or else you've cheated me out of the three pence I paid to come in here.

"Now," she said, "I have been a widow for thirty years. I was left with seven children, and I trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. In my poverty He has sustained and comforted me. He has helped me to bring up my children in the way they should go. Now they are all grown and have turned out God-fearing and respectable.

“None of you can know what the troubles of a poor, lonely woman are; but the Lord has made His grace all-sufficient. I was often sore pressed; but my prayers were heard by my Father in heaven, and I was always delivered out of my troubles. Can you tell me of something better than that—better for a poor woman like me?

"I have been to the Lord sometimes when I was very low indeed, and when there was scarcely anything for us to eat. I've always found that His providence has been kind and good to me. And when I lay so ill that I thought I was dying, and my heart was ready to break at leaving my poor fatherless boys and girls, there was nothing kept me up but the thought of Jesus and His faithful love to my poor soul. Do you tell me that was all nonsense? The young and foolish may believe you; but after what I have gone through I know there is reality in Christ! It is no fancy. Can you tell me of something better?”

The lecturer was a good hand at an argument, but this mode of controversy was new to him. He had no answer, and merely said: "Really, the dear old woman is so happy in her delusion that I would not like to undeceive her.”

"No," she said, "that won't do. Truth is truth, and your laughing can't alter it. Jesus Christ has been everything to me. I could not sit still in the hall and hear you talk against Him. I ask you whether you can tell me of something better than what He has done for me. I've tried Him and proved Him, and that's more than you have done.”

Herein is power, logic invincible, reasoning not to be refuted. The testing and proving of God— knowing His love is shed abroad in the heart: this is the great internal evidence of the gospel.

"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.

Straight to Port

Have you ever wondered how sailors find their way across the tossing waves? On land we can easily follow road maps whether journeying in town or across country; but at sea one wave looks just like another.

Recently some of us took a sea trip. Rising early one morning just before dawn, we saw two fishing boats making across the water toward shore.

The white beam from the lighthouse and the red light at the harbor mouth were shining brightly. Steering the fishing boats was easy work when we saw them; but what about the many miles they had traveled from the fishing grounds with no guiding light in sight?

Ah, but they had a tested chart and a good compass, and a skillful pilot who knew how to read both correctly. That was the secret of their sailing so peacefully straight to port.

What is the secret of peacefully steering straight to heaven? Why, first of all, believing in and trusting to the best of captains, the Lord Jesus Christ. To you He has committed God's holy Word, the Bible, which is an infallible chart. And He enjoins you to maintain a good conscience, which, will serve you even as a mariner's compass.

"Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." Isa. 30:21.

If you have really believed in Jesus and accepted Him as your Savior and Lord you have begun the heavenly journey. Then by listening to His voice and obeying His Word you will have a very happy voyage by the way. Thus you will not only head for heaven somehow, but you will be able to steer straight for port!

The Answer

One evening a number of soldiers gathered around me as I stood on the street reading from the New Testament. One of these began an argument, criticizing the divine Book. I concluded from what he said that he had at some time heard the gospel preached, and I asked him if that was not so. He admitted it, and added that his father had been converted through Moody's preaching.

This gave me an opportunity to speak of the mighty work accomplished on the cross. All those listening to me seemed greatly surprised at the magnitude of this perfect work. I had never before seen such a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. But one of the men then said: "Well, friend, we do not wish to argue the matter further now.”

"No, we will not argue," I answered. "But after what you have heard, it is a question of yes or no for each one. What is your response, men?”

One of the men, with tears coursing down his cheeks, said, "My answer is `yes'.”

By the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit a number of these soldiers unconditionally surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. Taking the hand of a silent one, I asked what was his answer.

"Well, sir," he said, "I cannot answer tonight. I must consider the cost.”

He promised that he would settle this great question without loss of time, and I left him for the night. The following day he returned, bringing three soldiers with him. His testimony was very touching.

"Well," said he, "we have gone fully into the question that was before us last evening and we have arrived at this conclusion: there can be no answer given other than 'Yes.'”

These men were shortly after sent to the front and one of them wrote to me of his joy in the Lord Jesus as his Savior and constant Companion in the midst of turmoil and strife.

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36, 37.

A Broken and a Contrite Heart

I was visiting the General Hospital. A nurse said to me: "There is a patient here who is very ill. Will you speak to him?" I replied I would; and as we were walking down the passage to "No. 15", she told me that the case was a singular one. The doctor had been unable to make it out. On seeing the patient, I soon understood the reason: the science of medicine made no provision for sin-sick souls.

The patient was a man apparently about thirty-five years old. He was so overcome with emotion that the bed on which he lay was shaking. His eyes were swollen, his face wet with tears. His voice, when he attempted to answer my inquiry as to his health, was so broken and incoherent that it was impossible to gather any meaning from his disconnected words. I sat down by his bed and finally succeeded in quieting him somewhat sufficiently at all events for me to know that he was making very strong and sweeping charges against someone, and that the someone was himself.

Will it appear strange to you, dear reader, that I could have satisfaction in such an exhibition of unhappiness and distress of soul? Would not the natural disposition be to soothe and quiet? But God was working by His Spirit to convince this soul "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8.

I could but "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.”

The solemn reproof should now more than ever be applicable: "They have healed the hurt of my people slightly, saying, peace, peace; when there is no peace." I remember when I was going through an exercise of soul much less deep than that of my hospital friend. I knew myself to be under condemnation for having broken God's laws, but I was assured by one whom I consulted that, to regain His favor, I must be very good. I saw by God's Word—and well for myself that I did—that "there is none good but One.”

So, instead of telling our patient in "15" that there was no occasion for so much anxiety, I attempted to put before him the remedy which God had so freely and so fully provided.

"Oh, but," said the distressed man, "I have been such a hypocrite.”

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

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

"There has never been such a Savior as the Lord Jesus." But he could not see Jesus: he could only see himself a moral leper; and he could only cry "unclean, unclean.”

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

As soon as circumstances permitted I found my way again to the hospital. On entering ward 15 my heart sank when I saw not only a vacant bed but an unknown name where I had seen so wonderful an exhibition of the Spirit's power two weeks before. My disappointment was brief, however. I soon learned that the patient had been removed to another ward and I found him in a distant corner, sitting clothed and in his right mind, reading his Testament.

"Well," I said, "are you rejoicing in the finished work of Christ?" With some hesitation he replied, "At times I am filled with joy, and then again clouds arise.”

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

"Oh, I would surely be with Him.”

"Then," I said, "let us thank God for the salvation of your precious soul," and on our knees our hearts went up to Him for all His love and grace.

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

Fragment: What the Devil Dreads Most

"Concentration of purpose—making Christ our one object—is what the devil dreads most, for us as Christians.”

The Great Election Day

The whole place is in an uproar. Nothing but canvassing and election speeches! What excitement! What a great ado! And soon it will be voting day. Then the excitement will reach its height.

Meanwhile the cry is: "Who will be the man?”

Strange to tell, that was just the cry in a certain city many hundred years ago. It was voting day in Jerusalem. What! You say you did not know there was any voting day there? Oh, but there was. And what crowds, what excitement there was then! You could have numbered the people by the thousands—aye, by the tens of thousands.

It was election day! There never had been a day like it before, nor has there been a day like it since. The governor of the city presided and took the vote of the people as to whether they were for Barabbas or Christ—Barabbas the murderer, or Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of lost sinners.

"Who will be the man?" That was the question—and it would soon be settled.

"Whom are you for?" said the governor. "Are you for Christ?”

"No," they cried out as one man. "Away with this Man, and release unto us Barabbas.”

Their choice is made; their vote is recorded. They have elected Barabbas. They will not have Christ. They will have anybody but Him; rather Barabbas, murderer though he be. Then what should be done with Jesus which is called Christ?

"Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Barabbas, the people's choice is elected! He is set free; and Christ, the rejected One, is led forth and nailed to a cross on Golgotha's hill. There between heaven and earth He is lifted up as if unworthy of a place in either!

Friend, behold Him there. On that cross of shame He is willingly bearing your guilt and mine. But your own heart must answer: What will you do with Jesus which is called Christ?

The Good Confession

Years ago in an eastern city lived a well-known Jewish merchant. He had a warmhearted Christian friend who earnestly desired the eternal welfare of the merchant. As business men the Christian and the Jew frequently used to meet at lunch time to discuss their affairs together, and the Christian plainly and faithfully put forward the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ. His Jewish friend would listen politely but never would he make any comment.

By-and-by this Jewish merchant became very ill. At last word was brought to his Christian friend that he was dying. The Christian longed to go to see him, but was told that he would not be allowed to do so. Finally the message came that the Jew could not live much longer, and his friend determined to make a last effort to see him. When he introduced himself at the door, he heard the doctor say: "Let him in; he cannot do him any harm now." Promising not to try to talk to the sick man, the Christian entered the room and slipped to the bedside. He knelt there, taking his friend's poor, thin hand in his own. Silently he lifted his heart to God on behalf of the dying Jewish merchant.

At first the sick man lay there with closed eyes, breathing heavily, apparently unconscious. Suddenly there was a change. His eyes opened. The glaze of death gave place to recognition as he beheld his friend. Then his lips parted; and just before he slipped into eternity he uttered distinctly the words, "Not Barabbas, but this Man.”

Forty Years Ago

"It is more than forty years since I heard of the Lord's coming," said an old friend to me. I could see she had a story to tell, and was as ready to speak as I was to listen.

After a word of encouragement, she began: "I was a very worldly girl and never thought of eternal things. However, one day I was walking along a street and I saw on a board outside a theater in big letters this notice: 'Come in here, and bring your Bibles.'

“‘What an extraordinary thing!' I thought. 'Bring your Bibles to a theater? What can it mean?'

"I had often been to a theater, but had never been told to bring a Bible. Indeed, I did not own one! However, I made up my mind to go that night, to see what it was all about. I would borrow a Bible, just for once. I did so; and returning in the evening, full of curiosity, I entered the hall.

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

"There I sat unable to find one verse. I had never read the Bible. I could hear the flutter of the leaves as the people turned from chapter to chapter, and I listened to the preacher's voice. He told us of the Lord's coming again. 'He may come,' said he, 'at any moment.'

"How terrified I was! For the first time I learned I was a sinner, and I felt the great burden of my sins.

“‘Suppose it should be true,' I said to myself, 'that the Lord is coming quickly. Amos 1 ready to meet Him?'

"I knew I was not; so I sat with my head bowed down, feeling that God's wrath was hanging over me! One thought occupied me: 'The Lord Jesus is coming soon.'

"I left that place and sought out a neighbor whom I had more than once insulted because she had tried to speak to me of my eternal welfare. She and her husband gladly received me and thanked God for my soul's distress. They told me what they knew themselves; and I learned that the Lord Jesus had died upon the cross for sinners. My heart opened to Him when I learned that He had died for me. Yet I was not at rest, for I had not learned that the Lord is now in glory, and that God can righteously forgive a sinner; but felt that my safety depended partly upon myself-upon my being good and doing good.

"Sometimes I was bright and happy, and would say to myself: 'I wish the Lord would come today; I am sure I am ready to meet Him now.' At other times I would say, 'I hope He will not come today; I believe He would leave me behind.'

"I went on like that, up and down, for forty years.

At the end of that time a neighbor to my daughter invited her to a meeting. She went just to please her, and the Lord saved her soul. Then she came to see me and urged me to attend those meetings.

"I did not want to go! So accustomed had I become to my doubts and fears that I thought there was nothing better. But my daughter persuaded me and on the next occasion I went.

"I shall never forget that preaching! The subject was John 5:24: 'He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.'

"The preacher explained so clearly that the work was finished. I had but to believe what Christ had done. I could doubt no longer and, half rising from my seat I exclaimed: 'I believe it!'

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

"Then the preacher spoke of the coming of the Lord. I had heard nothing of His return since that evening in the theater forty years before. Now I live in daily anticipation of seeing Him, and comfort myself with the thought that His coming is forty years nearer than when I first heard of it.”

May my friend's story speak to your heart, dear reader. May her Savior be your Savior, and may you, with her, look daily and hourly for His return.

"Surely, I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.

"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.

February

A Lost Opportunity

A bereaved sister, a Christian, was telling a friend who was visiting her about the death of her brother. She had nursed him devotedly in his illness.

"And was he saved?" anxiously inquired her friend. The sister shook her head sadly in the negative.

"But did you not put the way of salvation before him?”

"Well you see," said the grieving sister, "I did not like to disturb his last days!”

And so the brother passed "undisturbed" into a lost eternity! His sister, devoted to him in life, had thought it better that he should die a lost soul than that his last days should be "disturbed" by his being urged to accept Christ. How sad that He who had shed His blood and died in order to bring salvation to him and thus save him from an endless eternity of woe should thus have been ignored!

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace." Heb. 10:29.

A Brand Saved From the Fire

For many years old Billy had lived in the little village, and each year he had descended lower in the social scale and sunk deeper in the mire of sin. Even his drunken companions had at length abandoned him. His family, unsuccessful in every effort to lead him aright, had ceased to take any further interest in him.

Billy slept on a miserable pallet in a wretched hovel where the parish had permitted him to take shelter along with a number of others as degraded as himself. To describe his condition would be impossible. He was dying in the midst of filth and repulsive surroundings. Worse than that, he was dying without God.

But there was One in heaven who thought of poor Billy. Long ago He had "devised means to bring His banished one back again" (2 Sam. 14:13,14). He sent one of His servants with a message to that poor old man. This man knew nothing of Billy, and had another object before him in coming to the house. Going from room to room he came to the one where the dying man lay. Nor did he, like the priest and the Levite in Luke 10, turn away from the sight of the miserable outcast. Day after day he came to visit him in the character of the good Samaritan.

"Do you know the Lord Jesus?" he asked.

"No.”

"Do you know who He is?”

"Oh, I have heard of Him, but I don't know Him." He added: "I am not a Christian." To all his visitor's efforts Billy assumed absolute indifference. He did not want to hear anything about God.

Poor Billy! Time was so short for him. After many appeals, his visitor tried at length to arouse his conscience by the remembrance of the past, and to appeal directly to his heart. "Tell me," he said, "What about your soul?”

"It seems to me that there is a great barrier between me and God.”

"But, Billy, there is no barrier on God's side, for He loves you. Remember that all your sins are no hindrance to your being saved today. God is love and Christ died for you. Do you fear God, Billy?”

"Yes," responded the dying man; "but," he added, "I don't want to know Him.”

Solemn words. He did not want to have anything to do with God. Job tells us that in a moment the wicked cometh to destruction.

"They say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." Job 21:14. Such was the case with Billy.

"I have no desire," said Billy. "But God, who is rich in mercy," had desire to him. So it transpired that there was a bright side to the picture.

What was the astonishment of the visitor, the day following this conversation to hear, coming from Billy's room, the words of a hymn pronounced with trembling voice:

"Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.”

Could it be possible? Yes, it was indeed Billy singing as the door opened, and his face was illumined with heavenly joy.

"I am another man," said he. "I have passed such a happy night.”

Little by little all was explained. Billy had had another visitor, one of his former companions who had recently been converted. Having heard of the deplorable condition of his old friend he felt impressed to come and speak to him of the Savior's love. In truth there was joy in heaven that night.

On his previous visit, Billy's first visitor had left burdened with a sense of his own weakness. He could present Christ to Billy, but he could not lead him to trust in Him. As he thought of the hardened sinner, upon whose forehead the death dew was already gathering, he had cried in agony of soul to God. Oh, that He would look in pity upon the dying sinner! Now his prayer had been answered. Now Billy told him how God had used his old friend to speak to him in simple language of Jesus "who died for such chaps as we.”

"You know what I was once, Billy," he had said. "But the Lord spoke peace to my soul. Now I have come to tell you about Him. God has often spoken to you too by His Holy Spirit, but you have always turned away. Now I want you to hear Him this night.”

All at once Billy manifested his opposition. All this noise about his bed tired him! He wanted to sleep! But his friend would not be discouraged.

"You are a dreadful sinner, a miserable wretch, he continued. "What would become of you if Jesus had not died on the cross for you?”

Then Billy mentioned his previous Christian visitor.

"Yes, I know," replied his friend. "Through him I heard of you. He wants you saved, and I also desire it. You can't do anything, Billy; but God tells you now that He has sent His Son to die for sinners. We are all sinners. You are a sinner yourself, Billy.”

The old man began paying a little attention, and his friend unceasingly presented to the dying man the Person and work of Christ. Finally the friend said: "Billy, I want you to pray.”

"I cannot pray," groaned the old man.

"Then listen; I will pray for you.”

And while the words of faith and supplication ascended to God, the heart of old Billy melted within him. Great tears rolled down his emaciated cheeks, evidence to the repentance to salvation being wrought in his heart.

It was late when the messenger of good news left the wretched hovel, and he left with a heart overflowing with praise and thanksgiving. Had he not won a soul for Christ? Throughout the dilapidated tenement the report spread that old Billy was a changed man.

He spoke little, but the expression on his face testified to his inward joy. To those who asked a reason for his hope, he replied very simply that he had been a great sinner but that he had found a wondrous Savior.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." Psa. 103:12.

The First and the Last

"The first Adam," said an old writer, "closed the door upon us, but there was a last Adam to open it. If this last Adam (Christ) close the door, there is no other Adam to open it.”

Instant in Season

Some of the most fruitful testimonies ever given for Christ have been given on the highway of life. One of the most indefatigable Christians I have known ' was ever on the watch, when journeying, to speak a word for Christ. He carried tracts, cards, printed buttons—all sorts of devices to use, as occasion served, to put in a word for his Lord.

One summer evening we were walking together down a village street. We drew near a group of young people who were idly talking and laughing. When we were just opposite them my friend turned suddenly to me and said in a loud voice: "You know the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I was astonished. I thought he was momentarily daft. When we were past the young people, he said, "I like to get a word in for Jesus that way. It takes them by surprise.”

The next morning we spoke privately to a young man about his soul. He replied at once, "Oh, I heard what you said about the wages of sin last night as you passed us on the street! I have been thinking about that.”

The way was now fully open to show this young man God's way of salvation. The soil was prepared, the seed was sown, and a life converted to Christ was soon our blessed reward.

"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.

Ole the Atheist?

Ole Muthaus, like his name, was Norwegian. As a young immigrant he had settled in Minnesota. He was a carpenter by trade, a good one; but as for religion, he was an atheist. To him it was superstition to believe in a God who was over all. His boast was that he believed in "none of those things." He manifested no concern about a future life nor had he any desire for enlightenment in the things of God.

When he was twenty-five years old Ole was married. In the course of time and while he was still a young man, he was taken with an illness from which the doctors said he could not recover. Some of his Christian neighbors knew of his condition, and were distressed because of his unpreparedness for death. One of them, a native American, said to a Norwegian woman: "Why do you not visit poor Ole? You can speak his language. He might listen to you if you talked to him about his soul.”

With many misgivings she went. When she broached the subject of God and eternity, death and judgment, Ole answered carelessly and confidently: "Oh, I will soon get well! I'm not going to die. I'm not as sick as you think.”

"But," said she, "even if you do get well, 'now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.' Why not turn to God now anyway?”

Ole seemed utterly indifferent. The Christian's words were lost upon him; and without hope for his salvation she left the house.

When her husband, also a Christian, returned from his work that night, she told him of her visit with Ole. "Will you not go over and try to reach his conscience," she pleaded. But her husband thought: "If Ole would not listen to my wife he is not likely to pay any heed to me!" Besides he was tired and needed rest. So Ole was let alone.

His Christian neighbors went to bed leaving Ole to his restless dreams.

But GOD? Was He indifferent to this dying one, or had He any pleasure in the death of the sinner? Oh, no! Hear what happened to Ole at the midnight hour.

There appeared at his bedside one—whether man, angel or demon, who can tell?—who told him he was sure to die and must go to hell. Ole was certain he was wide awake at the time, that it was no illusion or dream. Horror filled his soul.

Late though it was, he sent immediately for his Christian neighbor, who responded gladly and came with his Bible. After hearing the sick man's story, he turned to John's Gospel, third chapter and sixteenth verse, and read to him these words, the words of Christ Himself spoken to Nicodemus: "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.”

Oh, how Ole Muthaus listened to those wonderful words of love and life! And to make sure, he asked to have these words of the Son of God read to him again.

"Is that the way it reads?—'Whosoever believeth in Him'?" he eagerly asked.

"Yes," said his neighbor, "it says, 'whosoever believeth IN HIM.'”

That very night Ole's unbelief was shattered. He believed in the only begotten Son of God. Peace like a river flowed into his soul, and his neighbor left him with his new-found joy.

This is no mere religious tale, my reader, but a narrative of facts. It is repeated here so that you, if not yet saved, may profit by it, and like Ole Muthaus, obtain everlasting life.

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

True Riches

Poor old John and his wife lived in one of the smallest cabins in the village. Direst poverty was written upon everything, from the solitary broken chair and the two or three rickety stools to the barely rain-proof roof. Poverty was John's excuse—and who has not an excuse?—for not listening to the riches of God's grace and the love of Jesus.

John would say to us: "Oh, Ma'am, if you were in as great poverty as I am, you'd maybe have other things to think about than what you have just been saying to me.”

So, instead of listening to the sweet story of the love of God, poor old John would fret and would lie awake in his bed at night sorrowing over his troubles. His poverty was quite a business with him. He had no time to think of better things; he was too poor!

We longed that the poor man should have something lasting—yea, everlasting. We read to him how a man may receive everlasting life, not by doing but by believing.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:36.

"John," said we, "believing in Jesus is having! These two always go together in Scripture. Mind, hoping is not having. It does not say, believe and hope—but it does say, believe in Jesus and have.”

"Well, Ma'am," exclaimed old John, "I'm just a poor old man. Many a preacher I've heard, but I never knew before how to be saved. I'd rather hear what you've told me than to get a handful of gold.”

The riches of God's grace began to unfold before the old man's soul. He saw that the mercy of God extended even to him, poor as he was. He now believed that Jesus had died for him, and His blood had cleansed away his sins; and this faith brought peace and quiet to his soul.

And now, although old John was as poor as before, he was not fretting and lamenting over his poverty. Far from it! "I am happy, quite happy," were his words.

'To test him we inquired: "And what is it that makes you happy, John?”

"Oh, Ma'am, because Jesus died on the cross for sinners; and I believe He died for me.”

"Christ died for our sins." 1 Cor. 15:3.

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

Christ and Pilate

When Christ, the Lord of glory,
Stood in the judgment hall,
"What shall I do with Jesus?"
Said Pilate to them all.
"What shall I do with Jesus?
I find no fault in Him.
Shall I release Barabbas
And the faultless One condemn?”

They said, "Release the guilty,
And Christ we'll crucify!"
Barabbas got his liberty,
But God's dear Son must die.
"I wash my hands," said Pilate,
"To free myself from guilt;
I will not be responsible
When Jesus' blood is spilled.”

But when the Judge immortal
Who stood in Pilate's hall
Shall sit upon the great white throne
To judge both great and small,
Then Pilate shall be summoned
From dusky shades of gloom,
To hear His voice in judgment
Pronounce eternal doom.

Oh, with what fear and anguish
He'll meet those flaming eyes,
As all the scenes of Calvary
Afresh before him rise!
Then He shall say to Pilate,
"What have you done with Me?”
Oh, in that solemn moment
What can his answer be?

Now what think you, my reader,
Of Christ, God's well-loved Son?
Will you accept the Savior,
And rest on what He's done?
Or will you be like Pilate—
Reject the Christ of God?
He came in love and mercy,
The way to Calvary trod.

If you despise this Savior
Whom Pilate crucified,
In dark and wailing regions
Forever you'll abide.
O sinner, don't reject Him;
Believe in Christ and live!
Eternal life and glory
To trusting ones He'll give.

This Fact Affects You

Christ Jesus the Lord is risen and exalted. He is ascended and glorified. Do you accept this great fact? Whether you pay heed to it or not, there it is! You cannot gainsay it. You might as well try to pluck the sun out of the heavens as to try to escape the application of this great fact to your own spiritual condition.

The great characteristic teaching of the apostles in the book of Acts is the need of sinners to apply this fact to the conscience. In Acts 17:31, Paul proclaims: "He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance to all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

The risen Savior is set of God for judgment and for salvation. "Him God raised up the third day... and He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:40, 42, 43.

Salvation is thus assured to him who puts his faith in the risen Christ. But in equal certainty destruction is due the soul that despises or rejects Him. "Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." Acts 13:40, 41.

You cannot escape the positive application of this to yourself. Each one of us, individually has to do with it—or rather it has to do with us. The question is: What are you doing with the risen Christ of God?

"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. 2:9-11.

"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.

"To Him (the Lord Jesus
Christ) give all the
prophets witness, that
through His name whosoever
believeth in Him shall
receive remission of sins:'

Acts 10:43.

March

For Thee

The Savior died and by His blood
Brought rebel sinners home to God;

He died to set the captives free;
And why, my soul—why not for thee?

The blood of Christ; how sweet it sounds,
To cleanse and heal the sinner's wounds:

The streams thereof are rich and free;
And why, my soul—why not for thee?

Thus Jesus came the poor to bless-
To clothe them in God's righteousness:

This robe is spotless, full, and free;
And why, my soul—why not for thee?

Eternal life by Christ is given,
And ruined rebels raised to heaven;

Then sing of grace so rich and free,
And shout, my soul —'tis all for thee.

Fortune Tellers

A colporteur was returning homeward one evening through the heart of a large oriental city. Suddenly he was accosted by a tall, fine-looking young Turk, with the words, "I'll tell your fortune.”

Our friend was so taken aback that for the moment he did not reply. The man explained: "I am a fortuneteller; I can tell you what will happen in the future.”

"But how am I to know that you tell the truth?" "Oh, I have books. I tell by astrology.”

"Well, I would like to ask you a question first, so as to test whether you can really tell the truth or not. If you can tell my fortune truly, you certainly can tell your own. Where will you be in a hundred years?”

The Turk looked greatly annoyed, and replied: "Oh, I don't know that! But you let me look at your hand, and I will tell your fortune for you.”

"But," replied the colporteur, "I also am a fortuneteller. I also use books; and if you will tell me one thing I will tell your fortune for you.”

"What do you want me to tell you?”

"Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son?”

"No! He was not God's Son.”

"Now," replied our friend, taking a New Testament from his bag, "I will tell your fortune. My Book tells me, '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.' This is your fortune: Now you have the wrath of the living, true God ever abiding on you; and if you continue as you are, you will surely spend eternity in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. There is just one way of escape: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.'”

A long talk ensued on the side of the street, and the fortuneteller asked, "May I have one of your: books?" The request was gladly granted.

The next question was, "Where do you live? When may I come and see you?”

The following day he and a friend came and had a long talk with the Christian, and departed with a copy of the Bible. What the result may be God alone knows.

Let me ask you, reader, have you ever thought about your fortune, your eternal fortune? You need not remain in doubt as to that. Thank God we have a Book that leaves no room for uncertainty in these matters. Where will you be in a hundred years? Aye, where will you be tomorrow?

What could be more brief, more pointed, more precious, and yet more awful, than those solemn words: "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.

I Come

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

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

Why Delay?

In ancient history is found a story that parallels a fault of many—the peril of delay.

The army of one nation was marching to war against that of another. The general of one army sent a message to the general of the other demanding unconditional surrender. The reply came back: "I will think about it.”

On receiving this answer the challenging general's lip curled with scorn. With a grim smile he turned to his staff. Said he: "Aha! let him think! While he thinks, we will march.”

At last, when it was too late, when his army had been vanquished by the marching foe and he himself was a prisoner, the thinking general wished he had acted instead.

The most blatant lie with which Satan deludes men and women is this: "You have plenty of time to think about salvation." While his dupes are swallowing his bait, he is congratulating himself upon their folly. Scornfully he is saying to Death: "Let them think! While they are thinking, we will march.”

All unperceived by the procrastinating victim, Death —grim, certain, inevitable death— draws nearer and nearer. Meanwhile a Voice utters the warning to delaying men and women: "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:7, 8.

Jesus Christ, in tender sorrow and reproof, is crying, "How often would I have gathered you, but ye would not.”

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1.

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. He and several others were seated on a train recently. To this man a gospel booklet entitled, "A Preacher of the Old School," had just been handed.

"I am an agnostic," he boasted. "You can understand why it does not appeal to me at all," he continued.

"I very much appreciate your frankness," said the man Who was distributing the tracts. "It is so much better than false profession. Now since you have been good enough to declare your stand, 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 ask another question? Have you any hope of future happiness?”

"None whatever," he replied. "The only thing I am certain about is that sooner or later all must die.”

"Then I would like you to consider 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!”

The agnostic seemed inclined to listen, and his questioner continued: "Let me tell you what, through the grace of God, I have received through the gospel. First I have knowledge of God—God Himself revealed in Christ His beloved Son—as the living and true God. Then in this knowledge I have a true and deep JOY which increases as the years go by. This joy will last forever! Beyond this I have a sure and certain HOPE through the atoning work of Christ on Calvary. Believing that His precious blood was shed for me, and has cleansed me, and made me fit for heaven itself, I am assured of a blissful eternity with Himself. That is what Christianity is to me! And all this is offered as a free gift to you if you will receive Christ as your Savior.”

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 at the station. The professed agnostic departed, leaving the Christian to continue his happy work. Who can say but that the encounter was ordered of God to awaken true repentance toward Him and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ in that dark, unbelieving heart? Surely the day will declare the results.

"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.

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

From Darkness to Light

A young man who had been a leader of gaiety among his associates was persuaded by a friend to go with him to a Bible reading. It was the young man's first venture into such a gathering for many years. At this time that precious Word went like an arrow to his heart; but stifling the rising conviction, he rose nonchalantly from his knees. Alone he sauntered to an adjacent saloon. There several young men of his acquaintance had assembled for their evening revelry and waited impatiently for his arrival.

His talent for singing made him doubly welcome there, but in the midst of a ribald song the words vanished from his memory. Every effort to recall them failed. Instead he could only remember the words of a hymn which had been sung at that quiet little meeting where he had been such a short time before.

A mind at perfect peace with God;
Oh, what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled through blood;
This, this indeed is peace!

Hurriedly he left his friends and hastened homewards. In the cool night air and beneath the quiet sky he poured out his heart to God. He confessed his sinfulness and longing for peace. God heard the cry of that poor, distressed soul, and turned his heart to Calvary. Alone under the stars he received the Savior.

From that night this young man rejoiced in the Lord Jesus Christ and had the joy of telling his worldly friends of Christ and His love. Happy in knowing now that his many sins were all washed away in the Savior's blood, he through grace could tell them: "My former pleasures seem as nothing now, compared to the joy of knowing that the Savior of sinners is my Lord. He has pardoned me and will love me forever.”

God grant, dear lost one, that this joy may be yours. Do not waste another day. You may never have another opportunity of hearing of a Savior's love.

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46.

Christ the Object?

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

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

The philosopher's aim: "To me to live is knowledge.”

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

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

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

"Christ shall be magnified in my body... For me to live is Christ." Phil. 1:20, 21.

My Time Is Not My Own

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

"I can't," was the reply. "My time is not my own. It belongs to the firm during business hours.”

The next Sunday afternoon the same salesman said to the new clerk: "Come with us and have a good time this evening.”

The same reply came: "I cannot; my time is not my own. It belongs to One who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Years passed. The Christian was nearing the end of life. He had risen to an excellent place in business, and life offered much before him.

"Are you ready to go?" asked a friend.

"Certainly," was the triumphant answer. "I have sought to make Christ my object. He has guided me thus far and I am in His hands. My time is not my own!”

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

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

The Fleshly Mind

Whenever God has set up anything good, the first thing man has always done has been to spoil it. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God.

Strong Faith

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment. For she had said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?... And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." Mark 5:25-34.

What a state of matters to come to the attention of the blessed Savior! Twelve years ill, the woman had "suffered many things," had "spent all," was "nothing bettered," but "rather grew worse.”

Twelve is the number that speaks of completeness in matters of human administration. Here it was complete misery. Every human resource had been found to be a source of vexatious disappointment, not of healing. Complete poverty was the result for she had "spent all.”

This is just the case for Jesus! Have you, my reader, found out your true condition? Are you a poor weak sinner, needing salvation, and unable to save yourself, spite of all the remedies which incompetent spiritual physicians prescribe in the shape of good resolutions, amendment of life, almsgiving, attendance on the means of grace, observance of ordinances, prayers, tears, penitential imposts, and perhaps even body flagellation? You cannot do better than follow her footsteps.

What faith was hers! How beautifully simple! She had heard of Jesus; and what she had heard had begotten in her heart the full conviction that to get into contact with Him, even remotely, meant sure and certain blessing. So convinced, her course was simple. May yours be the same. She "heard," she "came," she "touched," and "straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up"; and, as a very simple consequence, she "felt" that "she was healed.”

Now this is always the way the soul comes to Jesus. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." It is what you hear of Him in God's Word that leads you to cast yourself simply on Him. The moment faith does that, the blessing is sure, and present too. Faith always secures the blessing because it has Christ for its object and not "self" in any shape or form. There was no virtue in her touch; all the virtue was in Him whom she touched, though it flowed forth bounteously in response to that touch of faith.

But there is a point of immense importance here. Not only is she sure she has touched Him, though it were only the hem of His garment the sense of healing being "straightway" communicated; but He knew He had been touched and by whom.

Yes, Jesus knows if you have come to Him in simple faith or not. He is not unobservant of the heavings and throbbings of the weary, restless heart. That heart may scarcely itself know what it needs: yet it finds all that need answered in Him.

"Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him,... said, Who touched My clothes?" In vain do the disciples speak of the throng. The multitude had thronged, but not "touched" Him! Faith alone did that. Yet did He not know who it was? Clearly; for "He looked round to see her that had done this thing." Why these queries, then? Because the Lord loves to confirm faith wherever He finds it. The woman, healed thus perfectly, was about to retire without any confession of Him whose grace she had tasted.

Thus is it with many souls. They have trusted Jesus, got a sense of relief, perhaps even the half-hope that they are forgiven; but they have never got full peace or assurance. Why? Because they have never simply and fully confessed Christ, and hence never got to the point where they were free to listen simply to what He has to say to them. Till this moment is reached, two words describe the condition of such souls: "fearing" and "trembling," which is just what we read. "But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.”

What unreserved committal of one's self to Jesus! And the result? What one can call the finest "confirmation service" in all Scripture. Had the Lord allowed her to go off without what now follows, she never would have had peace. Satan would have followed her and whispered: "Oh, yes, it's quite true you are better just now, but your trouble will be sure to break out again. You are relieved, not cured." The fear of the impending plague would have corroded the joy which she rightly had.

How gracious is the Lord! He does not want any soul that has trusted Him to be duped, deceived, and distressed any longer by Satan. He speaks words which forever calm the troubled heart: "Daughter, thy faith had made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

Not only is she made whole, but peace fills her heart as she thinks of the future. "Be whole of thy plague" are His last words to the one with whom He now owns relationship by the exquisite title "daughter.”

She had therefore, the divinely given certainty that she could never relapse into that state out of which the virtue which flowed from Jesus had drawn her. How comforting to one who trusts Him! That one is entitled to know that forgiveness and eternal life are present possessions, and never can be lost. What He gives in grace He does not recall even though the recipient be faulty and failing.

"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, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13.

God's Call

God calls on all men to repent; but if they do not they must answer Him under judgment.

"GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE
TOWARD US, IN THAT,
WHILE WE WERE YET
SINNERS,
CHRIST DIED FOR US.”

Rom. 5:8.

April

Jehovah Tsidkenu?

(The Lord Our Righteousness)

Jer. 23:6

"I once was a stranger to grace and to God:—
I knew not my danger, I felt not my load;
Tho' friends spoke with rapture of Christ on the tree,
`Jehovah Tsidkenu' was nothing to me.

"When free grace awoke me by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me—I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see;
`Jehovah Tsidkenu' my Savior must be.

"My terrors all vanished before that sweet name;
My guilty fears banished; with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free:
`Jehovah Tsidkenu' is all things to me.

" 'Jehovah Tsidkenu!' My treasure, my boast;
`Jehovah Tsidkenu!' I ne'er can be lost;
In Thee I shall conquer by flood and by field—
My cable, my anchor, my breastplate and shield!”

A Startling Confession!

Sir Francis Newport was taught in early life to understand the great truths of the Gospel. While he was still a child his parents hoped that he would become a blessing to family and nation, but his course resulted far otherwise.

In his early manhood he fell into company that corrupted his principles and morals. He became an avowed infidel, and a life of dissipation soon brought on a disease that was incurable. When he knew that he must soon die, he threw himself upon the bed in hopeless despair.

After a little while he exclaimed to a friend: "Whence this war in my heart? What argument is there now to assist me against matters of fact? Can I assert there is no hell while I feel one in my bosom? How can I be certain there is no after-retribution when I feel a present judgment? Should I affirm my soul to be as mortal as my body when this languishes and that is as vigorous as ever? Oh for the years that the locusts have eaten! Who can restore to me that early piety and innocence? Wretch that I am, whither shall I flee from the anguish in this breast? What will become of me?”

His infidel companion tried to dispel his gloomy thoughts; but to him he replied: "That there is a God, I know! I continually feel the effect of His wrath. That there is a hell, I am equally certain, for I have received an earnest of my inheritance there already in my breast. That there is a natural conscience I now feel with amazement and horror. I am continually upbraided by it because of my impieties and all my iniquities. All my sins are brought to my remembrance. Why God has marked me out as an example of His vengeance rather than you or any other of my acquaintances, I presume is because I have been more religiously educated, and so have done greater despite to the Spirit of grace.”

"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Heb. 10:29.

Later, Sir Francis said: "Oh, that I might lie a thousand years upon the fire that never is quenched to purchase the favor of God, and then be united to Him forever! But it is a fruitless wish. Millions of millions of years would bring me no nearer to the end of my torments than one poor hour. Oh, eternity, eternity! Who can discover the abyss of eternity! Who can soften the words: FOREVER and EVER?”

Lest his friends should think he was insane, Sir Francis said: "You imagine me melancholy or distracted. I wish it were either! But it is part of my judgment that I am not. No; my apprehension of persons and things is more quick and vigorous than when I was in perfect health. It is my curse because I am hereby more sensible of the condition I have fallen into.

"Would you like to know why I became a skeleton in three or four days? Listen then. I have despised my Maker and denied my Redeemer! I have joined myself to atheists and the profane! I have continued this course against many convictions, till my iniquity was ripe for vengeance. The just judgment of God overtook me when my security seemed the greatest, and the checks to my conscience the least.”

As his mental distress and bodily disease were hurrying him into eternity, he was asked if he would like to have prayer offered in his behalf. He turned his face to the wall, crying: "Tigers and monsters! Are ye also become devils to torment me? Would ye give me a prospect of heaven to make my hell more intolerable?”

Soon after, his voice failing, he uttered a groan of inexpressible horror, and cried out: "Oh, the insufferable pangs of hell!" and died.

What an awful earnest God gave him of the depths of eternal loss! May his terrible end be a constant warning to multitudes of careless sinners.

"Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.

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

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

What Think Ye?

Your state for eternity hinges on your estimation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"What think ye of Christ?" is the test
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of Him!

The Chart to Heaven

"One day I was seated behind the counter," said a clerk in a book store. "An old sailor entered and, regarding me with a serious air, he said, 'Young man, I want a chart.'

"Very well, sir," I replied. "What chart do you wish? We have them all from the Gulf of Gascony to the Mediterranean.”

" 'Stop, stop,' said he. 'How ready you young folks are! I want a chart; but these you mention would be of no use to me. I want a chart which will guide me to heaven. The one I have been using up to now is out of date. Do you understand me, young man?'

"Two Scriptures came to my mind: 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.' Psa. 119:9. 'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' Psa. 119:105.

"I understood at once he wanted a Bible. Taking down several I placed them before him. He selected one, evidently happy that I had so soon caught his thought. He asked the price and paid it. Then before leaving the store he turned to me and said with earnestness of voice and manner, 'Do you understand this chart?'

"I often read it," I replied.

"'That is good,' said the old man. 'I am glad to hear it; but remember, young man, that is not enough. You must follow the chart.'”

Reader, perhaps you are also one of those who often read the Bible as a matter of duty or habit. But the question is this: Has it made you wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus? (2 Tim. 3:15.)

The Blotter

During the late World War many soldiers enjoyed the hospitality of the U. S. O., and in these places of relaxation and entertainment for the lads on leave there was sometimes found an opportunity for Christian workers to speak a word for Christ. On such an occasion one of the hostesses came to a minister who had been on duty for several hours and was preparing to leave. Said she: "There is a soldier here who wants to see a minister. May I bring him in?”

The minister gladly consented. Taking his seat he awaited his caller. Soon in came a fine looking young man greatly agitated. He said: "I sat down just now to write a letter, but on the desk blotter was written a message—a message for me. It said: 'Here is a blotter; but a better one is found in the Bible.'

"'I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for My own sake, and will not remember thy sins.'" Isa. 43:25.

Much disturbed, the soldier continued, "How can I have my sins BLOTTED OUT?”

In the ensuing conversation he made a long confession of sin and the consequences he had suffered. Indeed the lad was a truly sin-sick soul and ready for the Savior. He listened reverently as the Christian read portions of God's Word to him. He applied each Scripture to himself, humbly admitting his unworthiness and his need. Then Isa. 44:22 was read to him, and the joy of a ransomed soul shone from his face.

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." Isa. 44:22.

He repented of his sins and now took the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. In that verse God gave him a clear witness that his sins were blotted out.

Dear sin-sick soul; will you not come to the Savior whose blood can wash you clean?

"Come now, 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.

Who Is This Man?

"Good evening, sir. Does something trouble you?”

"Yes. I must take a long journey.”

"When?”

"That I don't know for sure, but a car will call for me at any time. I must go immediately, for it will not wait.”

"And when will you return?”

"I shall not return.”

"How long have you known this?”

"Oh, for quite some time.”

"What preparation have you made?”

"None.”

"But where are you going?”

"I don't know.”

Who would not smile incredulously at such neglect, and call it folly?

But let us listen to a similar conversation!

"Good evening, sir. I am sorry to hear you have been taken with a sudden illness.”

"Yes. I am afraid I must take a long journey.”

"When?”

"I cannot say for sure, but Death will call for me at possibly any moment; and then I must go immediately, for Death will not wait.”

"And when will you return?”

"Never.”

"How long have you known this?”

"Why, for years, of course.”

"And what preparation have you made?”

"None.”

"But where are you going?”

"I don't know.”

Ah, no laughing matter this! It is a tragedy enacted every day, if not in just so many words. What says the answer of the Lord? "He that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." John 12:35.

"Jesus cried and said,... I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness." John 12:44, 46.

"No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

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

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

"And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Matt. 25:10.

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

Who is this neglecter?

An Unusual Appeal

Thomas Doolittle, many years ago, was known as an eccentric preacher. On one occasion he looked round upon the congregation and observed a young man just entering one of the pews. The man appeared very ill at ease in his situation and likely to slip out again.

Doolittle adopted an unusual expedient to awaken his interest and detain him. Turning to a known Christian sitting in the gallery, he called to him: "Brother, do you repent of coming to Christ?”

"No, sir," the Christian replied. "I never was happy till I came! I only repent that I did not come to Him sooner.”

The preacher then turned to the opposite gallery, and called to an aged believer in the same manner: "Brother, do you repent of coming to Christ?”

"No, sir," said he, "I have enjoyed the salvation that is found in Christ from my youth upwards.”

The preacher then looked down upon the young man, whose attention was now fully engaged. Fixing his eyes upon him, Mr. Doolittle said: "Young man, are you willing to come to Christ?”

This unexpected address from the pulpit so affected him that he bowed his head and concealed his face. The question was repeated: "Young man, are you willing to come to Christ?”

The person who sat next to him encouraged him to rise and answer. With a tremulous voice he replied, "Yes, sir.”

"But when, sir?" added the preacher in a solemn and loud tone.

Almost whispered the answer came: "Now, sir.”

"Then stay," said Mr. Doolittle, "and learn the Word of God from 2 Cor. 6:2. 'Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.'”

By this message the young man was greatly affected. His face bathed in tears, he went to the preacher after the service. His reluctance to stay, which had been evident, was caused by the strict injunctions of his father. He had threatened that if his son went to hear "the fanatics" he would turn him out of doors. Having now listened to and received the message of life everlasting, he was afraid to meet his parent.

The preacher sat down and wrote a touching appeal to the lad's father. It was so used of God that both father and mother came to hear for themselves. By the Spirit of God they too came to a saving knowledge of the truth and with their son rejoiced in Christ as their own Savior.

Peace Within

Not what these hands have done
Can save this guilty soul;
Not what this failing flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers, my sighs, my tears,
Can bear my awful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.

How Is Your Soul?

One day as Felix Neff was walking in a street in the city of Lausanne he saw at a distance a man whom he took for one of his friends. He ran up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder before looking in his face, and asked him, "How do you find your soul, my friend?”

The stranger turned. Neff perceived his error, apologized, and went his way.

About three or four years later a man came to Neff, saying he was indebted to him for his inestimable kindness. Neff did not recognize the man and begged him to explain.

The stranger replied: "Have you forgotten the one whose shoulder you touched in a street in Lausanne? You asked him, 'How do you find your soul?' That man was I! Your question led me to seek the Lord, and now I can answer, 'It is well with my soul.'”

Friend, I ask you: "How do you find your soul?" May you, through God's mercy and grace be able to give this man's answer: "It is well with my soul.”

The Barometer

It was before the days of radio, and weather forecasting was scarce and not very accurate. Captain Oldrey was commander of the Hyacinth, a goodly vessel working up for the Barbadoes.

He had been on deck and had commented that it was the finest weather he had witnessed in that climate. Now he was admiring the beauty of the evening.

The atmosphere of the horizon was perfectly clear. Not a cloud obscured the sky; nor was there the least probability of a change as far as could be judged from any appearance observable in the heavens or on the ocean.

Going below to his cabin, the captain flung himself upon a sofa. A minute or two afterward, glancing at a barometer suspended near, he observed that the mercury was falling.

This was a time when he would not ordinarily have thought of consulting the instrument for any purpose. So strange did he think the circumstances that he rubbed his eyes, imagining he was deceived. Still the mercury fell. He rose from the sofa and approaching the instrument, discovered that the quicksilver was falling with a perceptible motion.

He went again on deck but the weather was as lovely as before. He descended again to his quarters and shook the instrument. Still the descent continued. A fall so rapid and remarkable, of which he had never seen a parallel instance, convinced him that something was about to happen.

He called the first lieutenant and master, and stated what he had seen. These officers protested that no storm could be likely, with sea and sky so clear and beautiful.

The captain was not of their opinion. The falling of the barometer indicated a storm, and it was his duty to prepare for one with speed and energy proportioned to the singular rapidity of the indication. He ordered everything to be instantly made snug, the topmasts to be struck, and all to be cleared or secured upon deck.

Night had closed in by the time operations on board ship were about completed. Captain Oldrey did not relax until all preparation for the worst was accomplished to his satisfaction. An hour or two elapsed, and his mind was at rest with the reflection that his ship was as ready as possible for whatever might come.

Suddenly he had proof of the value of the barometric warning. The storm struck and reached its peak almost at once. The wind blew with a fury so great that the sea could not rise into waves, but became one vast plain of foam, on which the ship lay driving furiously along. Providentially, there was ample sea room.

Such is the narrative. Why is it given here now? Listen. The Holy Scriptures are the barometer which warns of a coming storm, the storm of God's wrath and judgment soon to be loosed on this scene.

Scoffers scoff and mockers mock! They say: "Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Peter 3:4. To them the sky is clear; there is no probability of change. All will go on as it has gone on. They have no fear. They close their eyes to the knowledge of the many upheavals which the earth has known. They hear not the voice of the deluge which once overwhelmed the world that then was. They harden their hearts, and in their folly go on, themselves deceived and deceiving others.

But God's barometer gives plain warning. Hear its solemn declaration: Because "there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke." Job 36:18.

Now is your time to escape. Now is your only time to prepare. Tomorrow may be too late.

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

Isa. 55:6.

May

Short for Time”

"The time is short"! 1 Cor. 7:29.

How short? Have you the answer? No; man has not the answer to that question, nor is the answer to be found in the Bible. God alone is TIME'S arbiter, and "our times are in His hands." That is the only possible answer. That is why the Word of God so urgently states the great truth that, "Now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. That is why Almighty God invites: "Come now, and let us reason together." Isa. 1:18. That is why the Holy Spirit pleads in notes of solemn warning: "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:15. Oh, beloved, the time is short.

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

"Time is short"!... So says Scripture. It is shorter than you realize. It is too short to be wasted in sin and ruined in iniquity. But it is just long enough for your soul to turn in "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21. It is just long enough for that soul to say "Yes" to Jesus and to enter into the blessedness of "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." 2 Cor. 5:17. TIME and LIFE are far, far too short for anything less than that!

"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.

Rescued

It was long years ago, out in San Francisco, that a group of us went to the beach by the Cliff House. We were having our Sunday School outing as was our custom there on Washington's birthday.

That morning we got to the beach about nine o'clock. The fog was just beginning to lift, and in a little while we were amazed to see all kinds of wreckage on the shore. Where did it all come from?

Later we learned that a great ship, the "Rio de Janeiro," on its way home from China, had sought sanctuary from a blinding blanket of fog, and had attempted to enter San Francisco harbor. In the thick darkness of the fog the mighty vessel had run upon a rock and was broken to pieces. Hundreds of passengers had drowned; some few had escaped.

The newspapers told this story: Among the rescued ones was a young American journalist. Both of his legs had been broken when the ship crashed against the rock. Only partly conscious, he dragged himself to the deck. There he lay until the surging waves washed him into the cold waters of the bay. The icy shock probably restored him to full consciousness and he began to float. Hours afterward that utterly helpless man was drawn out of the water by a rescue party.

What a picture of God's grace to needy sinners! There were some, strong, hearty men, who swam for hours before they were picked up. Many others became exhausted and drowned. But this man, seriously injured, yea, half dead, could not save himself. He was totally helpless. Yet through God's wondrous mercy he was saved.

What a picture of you, of me! We too were lost in trespasses and in sin. But God, in His great love wherewith He loved us, sent His own dear Son to rescue us by dying in our stead. And now all who believe on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

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

How the Best Became the Worst

"When you came here I thought I was the best man in the village! Now I know I am the worst." These were the words spoken to a friend of mine a few years ago. He had been conducting gospel meetings in a fishing village, and was soon to leave.

No one who knew William Thompson, the hearty young fisherman who was speaking, would have called him a "bad" man. On the contrary, he was upright, sincere, and conscientious. The change in his views regarding himself had been effected through hearing the evangelist preach from the familiar words of Rom. 10:3. "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

The preacher had shown that one might, as the Jews referred to, say prayers, do good works, observe ordinances, and all the time be on the highway to ruin. Thus William had discovered that he had been trying to work out a righteousness of his own in which to appear before God.

The next day the evangelist had a conversation with him, and found him completely broken down. "I am all wrong," William said. "It has been all works with me, and no faith.”

What a mercy he made the discovery! He learned that all his "righteousnesses" were as "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). He longed to have the perfect righteousness of God. Now he was shown that "Christ is the end of the law to every one that believeth" (Rom. 10:4), and that by believing on Him who bore sin's penalty and gave Himself for him, he would receive eternal life.

By faith he gazed on that Blessed One who was wounded for his transgressions and bruised for his iniquities. Thus he passed from death unto life, from darkness into light. No longer did he attempt to obtain a righteousness of his own in which to stand before God, for he was now clothed in Divine righteousness, "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Rom. 3:22.

My reader, have you seen yourself as you are in God's sight? If so, you know that every child of Adam is lost, ruined and undone. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. I pray you, look to Jesus, God's holy Son, and trust in Him who is God's righteousness. He alone can save you and make you "meet to dwell with the saints in light.”

The Power of Love

While a Christian lady was visiting a relative ill in a southern sanitarium, her attention was attracted to a young man in the same ward. As the earnest, troubled look on his face met her eyes, her heart went out in sympathy and she felt a desire to comfort him in some way. Lifting up her heart to God in prayer for guidance, she walked over to his cot. Noting the sunken eyes, the hollow cheeks, and the difficult breathing, she realized that he would soon be beyond reach of earthly comfort.

Speaking gently, she inquired if she could do anything for his comfort; but he told her that he was now too sick for help and nearing, the end of life. She then asked him concerning his hope for eternity. His countenance seemed to darken, his voice rose angrily as he said, "Lady, don't talk to me of Christianity. I hate Christians. They have caused me nothing but trouble. My father is a Christian, but I hate him. I will never forgive him for the trouble he has caused me. No, I don't want to hear about your Christianity. I hate it.”

Wisely the lady waited in silence. Soon his rage spent itself, leaving him quite exhausted. Very calmly she replied: "Yes, due to human frailties, we Christians often disappoint and fail those we love best. I am sorry to have to admit that, my friend. But I see that you have mistaken the purpose of my visit.

"Listen! I want to assure you that I do not wish to talk to you about Christians or Christianity." He looked up with an expression of surprise and relief as she continued: "I want to talk to you about a Person who is fully able to meet your need in this solemn hour.”

He seemed to ponder her words for a moment. Then with more interest than he had before shown, he asked: "Who is that Person?”

"He is the Son of God," she answered. "He said concerning Himself, 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.'”

She then continued: "You have accused Christians of harming you. Justly or unjustly I cannot say; but I ask you, can you bring any such charge against the Son of God?”

He considered this question for a moment, then replied hesitantly, "I don't know that He ever harmed me.”

"Well, I know that He never, never harmed you. He loves you even now, as you are, in your sins, with your heart full of hatred and rebellion.”

Then without interruption she poured forth the old sweet story of God's love manifest in Christ. She told him of the love that took Him to Calvary for helpless sinners, where He was forsaken of God for their sins. She explained how He died in agony on the cruel cross with the heart-broken cry, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

The young man listened as if spellbound until she stopped speaking. Suddenly his countenance changed. He seemed to be struggling with the forces of darkness. When he opened his eyes he said defiantly, "I do not believe you! No, I don't believe that God loves me. No one loves me. Don't talk of love to me! My life has had nothing but the bitter.”

At this angry, defiant outburst the heart of the lady was filled with compassion. In her imagination she envisioned herself lying there in blindness and unbelief with only a few brief days between her soul and eternal condemnation. The horrors of it all and her own helplessness caused great scalding tears to flow from her eyes.

She tried to control her tears, but they would not stop. Again and again she tried to speak; but her voice was so choked with grief that she could not utter one word. She stood weeping silently for some moments. Then with a feeling of defeat and embarrassment she turned away unable to utter even a good-by. She left the ward with the burden of a lost soul upon her heart.

After a few days she visited the hospital again. Asking about the young man, she was taken to the isolation chamber where he had been removed.

What a sight met the lady's eyes! Those large bright eyes which had gleamed with hatred and defiance a few days before, now shone with an unearthly light. His pale countenance radiated a heavenly joy as he lifted a thin hand in recognition.

His greeting was: "Oh, Lady, I'm so happy in here!" He indicated his heart as he dropped his hand upon the hollow chest. "Yes, so happy," he continued. "The hate is all gone now and when I think of my heavenly Father I feel so good in here." Again he indicated his heart.

The lady was so happy as they spoke of the wonderful love and grace of God in sending His Son to die for the lost. Then with a few comforting promises from God's Word she turned to go; but he said, "Wait, Lady! Do you know what broke me up and led to this peace?”

"No, my son, I have no idea," she replied.

"It was your tears that melted me down. That day you stood weeping by my bed I began to ask myself the question: Does that stranger love my soul so much that she is really concerned about me?

"At last I had to admit that you must love me; and at once came the conviction that the things you had told me about God giving Christ to die for my sins were true too. I believed it and peace came into my troubled soul and now I am so happy.”

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

Blind, Deaf and Dumb

In a great institution for the handicapped, one of the inmates is remarkable for her happy outlook. She suffers under a triple affliction, being blind, deaf and dumb. The only way of communicating with her is by the touch, through her fingers.

One day a Christian visitor asked her to express the hope that carried her above her sad affliction. She at once spelled on her fingers these texts of Scripture: "I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content." "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Truly the knowledge of Christ compensates. To have Him as Savior, Companion and Lord is to have "peace that passeth understanding" and "joy unspeakable and full of glory." To be without Him is loss eternally.

A Friendly Neighbor

Some years ago two men became neighbors. The one who had been in that neighborhood for some years invited the newcomer to tea. He wanted to get better acquainted, and as a true Christian he desired the same blessing for all.

During the meal the conversation touched on various subjects. As they arose from the table the Christian asked his neighbor: "Do you believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

The neighbor replied: "Why yes, certainly I believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You don't take me to be a heathen, do you?”

"Well then, you can rejoice in the knowledge of your salvation. You are saved, aren't you?”

At this the neighbor became rather indignant and answered sharply: "No one can say that while still in this world! Not till we pass out of it shall we know. Some people say they know they're saved; but I look upon that as the height of presumption, and downright cant. All we can do is live the best we can, and God will take care of the rest.”

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

"Where do you get that?" retorted his neighbor.

The Christian, taking his Bible, read 1 John 5:10: "He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar.”

Then he read to the 13th verse of the chapter. When he came to these words, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God," he stretched out his hand toward his friend as though identifying him with the confession he had made. Continuing he read, "that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”

The neighbor stood for a moment apparently amazed. Then very deliberately and with much earnestness he stated: "Well, I am saved!”

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

"The entrance of Thy Word giveth Light.”

"Born again by the incorruptible Word of God.”

"I feel," he afterward said, "that these words bring me into the very presence of God—enclose me, as it were, within a hedge of pure and unadulterated truth from which there is no escape. I will not, I dare not, withdraw my confession of believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither dare I say I have not eternal life, for I would thus 'make God a liar' as He declares in 1 John 5:10. Therefore my only alternative is to accept God's gracious gift, eternal life. Its assurance I find on record in that wonderful chapter.”

Reader, do you believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you saved?

"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.

Fragment: Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is weakness, because it asks no help from God! Self-distrust is strength, when it casts itself on divine power.

Interference

Oh, how we hate interference! Everyone enjoys having his own way without any check or hindrance. Still, in this present era of huge populations and much legislation, nobody goes very far without being pulled up and checked in innumerable directions. We do not like it, but we have to endure it.

During the Great War some people seemed to feel that God should interfere on the side they favored. They would have liked for Him to interfere in their way. But God says: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. 55:8, 9.

A Russian leader who once attained a transient notoriety declared: "The Communist party cannot tolerate interference by God in these critical moments! For candidates who hesitate to renounce God we have no room.”

Is God and His ways, His interference, then a thing to be always dreaded? Oh, no. Many of us bear witness that His interventions in our lives have brought greatest blessing. God loves to interfere in grace, for it is only by His grace that He can show mercy to a God-hating world.

Thus it was with George Mason of Winchester, England. At the early age of eight years George lost his mother, the only tender influence in his life. His father brought him up as an atheist, and from his earliest years he found his companionship among infidels. They sometimes discussed the Bible verse by verse, but it was only that they might make it the subject of ridicule. So George grew to manhood with no faith in God, no anchor for his soul. His own will was his god.

When George entered the army during the terrible years of the "blitz," he resented violently any interference with his own ongoing; and in a black mood of rebellion against authority, he shot and killed an army sergeant. When George was sentenced to death for this murder, he cursed the judge from the dock. Now George's life was about to end and a lost eternity seemed to be before him. BUT GOD INTERFERED.

Shortly after conviction George was soundly converted to the God whom he had hated. To the prison chaplain whom God had used to turn the young man's heart, he said: "I never knew what happiness or kindness was until I came here and heard of the great love of God to poor lost sinners.”

To the clergyman who accompanied him to the scaffold George gave this message: "I thank you for your kindness to me, a condemned criminal. Please use the story of my life to help others to the right road. He whom you have visited has been an atheist and a murderer; but now, by the blessed interference of God in grace, he is a penitent, and a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This was an extreme case, but GOD INTERFERED AND SAVED HIS SOUL!

More than nineteen centuries ago one Saul was born at Tarsus in Asia Minor. He was no atheist! Rather, he was fanatically religious. Yet no greater opponent of Christ ever lived, and his hatred was vented on His humble followers.

As the leader of a whirlwind crusade against Christians, Saul was riding posthaste to Damascus to seek to capture all believers in Jesus. BUT GOD INTERFERED!

While he was on the way, Saul saw the very Christ whom he hated in a blaze of heavenly glory that was indescribable. The effect was instantaneous and revolutionary. He who had been "a blasphemer and a persecutor, and injurious," obtained divine mercy and could now say: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Tim. 1:15.

Friend, has God interfered thus in your life? Do not resent it, but welcome it. It is the hand of love that interferes. Let that love reach your heart, and your life will be transformed.

"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.

Dear reader, an hour of divine interference rapidly approaches for everyone of us. The world grows old and weary in sin; but it is still "the acceptable year of the Lord." Soon will come "the day of vengeance of our God." How can you face that day unless you receive in this day the salvation He freely offers through faith in the precious blood of Christ?

God says: "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you." John 15:16.

"TO HIM THAT
WORKETH NOT, BUT
BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT
JUSTIFIETH THE
UNGODLY, HIS FAITH
IS COUNTED
FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Rom. 4:5

"THIS IS THE WORK
OF GOD,
THAT YE BELIEVE ON HIM
WHOM HE HATH SENT."
John 6:29

June

Himself He Could Not Save!

Himself He could not save!
He on the cross must die,
Or mercy cannot come
To ruined sinners nigh;
Yes, Christ, the Son of God, must bleed,
That sinners might from sin be freed.

Himself He could not save!
For justice must be done;
Our sins' full weight must fall
Upon the sinless One;
For nothing less can God accept
In payment of that fearful debt.

Himself He could not save!
For He the Surety stood
For all who now rely
Upon His precious blood;
He bore the penalty of guilt
When on the cross His blood was spilled.

Himself He could not save!
Love's stream too deeply flowed;
In love Himself He gave,
To pay the debt we owed.
Obedience to His Father's will,
And love to Him did all fulfill.

And now exalted high—
A Prince and Savior He,
That sinners might draw nigh
And drink of mercy free;
Of mercy now so richly shed,
For Jesus liveth who was dead!

A Hidden Grave

Probably many who peruse this little paper are well acquainted with the story of the mighty Alaric, the Goth. But as some details of his history may be unknown to my readers I will add a few words concerning him.

About the year 409 A. D. the Romans had a very weak-minded, indolent king named Honorius of whom the surrounding barbarous nations took great advantage. The Goths at this time had a mighty warrior called Alaric. He made war with the Romans, conquered them, pillaged their city, took many of them prisoners.

But after he had sacked Rome, Alaric's avarice was not satisfied. He then coveted the beautiful island of Sicily, and determined to acquire it. He therefore prepared his troops for this purpose; but the first fleet was scattered by a furious tempest, and before he could renew the attempt he fell ill and died.

It was the custom among these heathen nations to hide their warriors' graves lest the enemy should find them. So the Goths employed a number of the captives to turn the course of the river Busentimus. In its bed they made a grave for their valiant warrior; and there Alaric, with some of his richest spoils, was buried in this singular tomb. The waters were then restored to their usual channel, and all who had been engaged in the work were slain on the spot, that the place of interment might remain forever secret. (A. D. 410.)

While thinking of the hidden grave of the mighty Alaric, we would do well to remember that solemn day, fast approaching, when the sea shall give up its dead, and the small and great who have died in their sins shall stand before God's throne of righteousness to be judged according to their works. Alaric's grave will have to give up its contents, for everyone shall give an account of himself to God. None can escape that tribunal. (Rev. 20:11-15.)

Remember, there is only one hiding place from the judgment which is coming. That is in the Lord Jesus. He is the only safe refuge. There every soul that comes may hide, for Scripture has said: "A man (the Lord Jesus Christ) shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest," (the dreadful judgment of God that is coming on all who have not taken refuge in the True Hiding Place). Isa. 32:2.

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." 2 Thess. 1:7-9.

Lame on Both Feet

Many years ago a godly young mother was dying. Knowing that she was nearing the end, she committed her new-born babe to the Lord, in faith that her child would be converted. This was her confidence as she departed to be "absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

For seventy years there was no sign of answered prayer. The child grew to manhood—careless, ungodly, blasphemous;—a captain of a man-of-war. This vocation ended only when he had both his heels blown off by a shell-splinter.

Now aged and lame the old man was brought to hear the gospel. He was carried into the crowded room and heard for the first time the story of Mephibosheth.

The preacher was led by the Spirit to describe the sinner's utterly lost, helpless condition. Then he spoke of the love of God to all the world and of His great kindness in giving His Son Jesus to die for our sins. Then he told how Christ would now fetch the poor, contrite sinner, just as he is, in to own presence even as David sent and fetched Mephibosheth, who was lame on both his feet.

Suddenly the preacher paused. When all was perfectly still he cried out: "Now, you poor, lame old sinner, you who have been fetched into the presence of God tonight, where are you?”

The startled old captain felt that God was speaking to him—that He knew all about him! Trying to get up, he cried out, "Here I am!”

God saved his soul that night, and thus in His own way and time answered a mother's prayers.

It was a happy sight to see the old captain, now a believer, rejoicing in Christ Jesus. Helpless he still was as he sat at the King's table, "accepted in the Beloved," the King's Son. "And he was lame on both his feet.”

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us." 1 John 5:14.

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rorn. 5:20.

A Brand from the Burning

One afternoon, wearied from making house-to-house visits, the air of the overcrowded houses having been so oppressive, I turned into a quiet little street. Opening my Bible, I read aloud the story of Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5).

Attracted by such an unusual proceeding, several persons gathered around me. Others stood at the doors or at uplifted windows, and listened to the wonderful ancient story.

I next told of sin, of its leprous character, of the blood of cleansing, and in conclusion urged each hearer to—

"Prove the value of the blood of Jesus crucified.”

I was about to leave when a woman with a pleasant face, and neatly dressed, came out of a house opposite to where I had been standing, and approached me, saying respectfully: "Pardon me, sir, but will you come and speak to my brother?”

"Gladly, madam," I replied, and followed her into the house.

"None of your preaching here; a lot of canting hypocrites! None of it here; that's what I say." Such were the words which greeted my ears as I followed my conductress into the room from which the sounds proceeded. There, on a bench, sat a big man about forty years old clad in a butcher's blouse. There also were his wife and three children, one a little crippled girl about six years old.

My entrance put a stop to the man's loud talk. Sitting down beside him I took from my pocket some books, and gave one with pictures to the little cripple. Then selecting a copy of a monthly magazine I read to them one of the interesting stories it contained.

"How pretty!" said the little cripple.

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed the wife.

"Not much the matter with that," added the man.

Folding up the paper, I offered it to him. "You are welcome to this, my friend; and I will soon come and read to you again.”

For many weeks I called regularly. Each time I read other interesting stories. The man was quite civil, and the little cripple was delighted to see me.

Very soon the wife began to attend the mission services. After a year of earnest and persevering prayer, the husband too came to the meeting and heard the story of redeeming love.

About this time the wife saw that he was making great efforts and forming strong resolutions to leave off his wicked habits, and was trying to free himself from his evil companions.

Their eldest daughter (a fine young woman about nineteen years of age) came home from the service very ill. She rapidly grew worse, lingered a few weeks and died. Her death was a sad blow to the little family, but the father's heart was not yet ready to receive Christ.

A few months after the death of his daughter, something occurred which showed that the Holy Spirit was working mightily to turn the man. I missed him from his usual place at the meeting Lord's Day evening. On the following Tuesday he was again absent from the Bible class. The next day I called at his house to inquire after him, fearing he was ill.

With downcast looks and stammering tongue, he said, "Mr. Fuller, I am a bad man.”

I shall never forget his look of horror and penitence as he continued, "On last Saturday I cursed my children; I am a wretch to do such a thing." As the tears started in his eyes, again he said, "I cursed my children, I did.”

He had returned from the slaughter house very tired and despondent. In the little back yard he lay down on a bench and fell asleep. The children were sent to awake him. While thus sleepy, muddled, and annoyed at being aroused, the old nature showed itself in oaths and curses; but the Holy Spirit was there also, and His convicting power was felt. Horror-stricken at what he had done, the man felt himself to be "vile," and in bitterness of soul he now said, "I am a bad man.”

Brought now to feel his state, to see his condition as guilty and perishing, I showed him his desperate case was met by the boundless love of God in saving the lost through Christ Jesus. When by faith he saw that the Lord of glory had taken his place and suffered in his stead, with trembling voice he confessed, "I am like one of them things took out of the fire!”

"Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Zech. 3:2.

A gentleness of manner and a kindliness of speech became habitual to him; love filled his breast, and peace and concord dwelt at home. His wife and family felt the change, and praised the name of the Lord. He was now an "epistle of Christ" and a wonder unto many. With him "old things had passed away." (2 Cor. 5:17.)

"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.

A Hard Case

A voice calling: "Is that Doctor Parker?”

"Yes, I am Doctor Parker.”

"Well, can you spare me a minute or two? I would be very grateful. I have been to several of your meetings, and last night I wanted to confess Christ. You explained it all so well, but something seemed to hold me back.”

"Well, friend," Doctor Parker said, "I am very glad to hear you are interested about your soul. Why don't you accept Christ as your Savior? You can do so right now just where you are.”

"Yes, I know that. But I am a very hard case. If you can make it plain to me, I will thank you very much.”

"Are you a sinner?”

"I am a great one.”

"But do you believe what God says?”

"Yes, sir; God is saying to me all the time, 'unless you are saved you will be lost'”

"But," Doctor Parker said, "God tells us something more than that we are sinners. He tells us that 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,' 1 Tim. 1:15. Do you believe that?”

"Oh, yes; but I am a hard case. I am very ignorant.”

"Do you not see that your very ignorance and sinfulness are the reasons why God sent His Son to seek and to save you? Do you believe that Christ is willing to save you? Ought you not to surrender to Him at once?”

"How am I to take Christ as my Savior? If I come to the meeting tonight, will you explain it?”

"You need not wait till tonight. You may take Him here and now. He says, 'Behold, NOW is the accepted time; Behold, NOW is the day of salvation.' God loves you! Christ wants you. Don't put Him off.”

Tears came into the man's eyes and looking full in the doctor's face he said: "Now I understand! It's all His love; HE LOVES ME! I confess Him now as my Savior, and I take Him with all my heart.”

"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.

"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.

Which Thief?

"Oh, of course, I intend to be saved sometime! But there is no use in being in a hurry about it. I'll take my chance, even at the eleventh hour. Remember the dying thief!" Thus carelessly said a young man at the close of a gospel meeting when spoken to about his soul.

"Which thief?" pointedly asked his questioner.

"Why, I had really forgotten there were two. I mean the saved one," was the reply as an anxious expression came over his face.

"Yes, one was saved and is in heaven now. The other who had an equal opportunity for salvation is wailing in hell. What warrant have you that you will not spend eternity as he will rather than as the other?”

It was a word fitly spoken, an arrow that pierced the joints of his harness. The young man was led to see the folly of further procrastination and that night he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was saved for eternity.

Thousands like him forget there were "two thieves." They remember the mercy of God that saved one while forgetting the judgment of God meted out to the other. Carelessly they wander on hoping to be saved at last; but oh, how many to whom the gospel was often presented are cut off in their sin and damned forever! Too long they have presumed on the patience of God and rejected His grace until "there was no remedy.”

Which thief, reader, we affectionately ask, would you be like? We remember asking this once of a very refined and lovely young woman on a steamer. Her indignant reply was: "You do not mean to say I have got to go to heaven like the dying thief, do you?”

"No, madam," we replied, "you do not have to. If you reject Christ, you will have to go to hell with the other.”

And so we would remind the reader: The saved thief believed on the Son of God, and is with Christ now.

The lost thief scorned a Savior, and is in the depths of woe.

You must be with one or the other for eternity.

"Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee." Job 36:18.

Self or Christ?

"I would go regularly to church, if only they would abolish preaching. I like the rest of the Jervice, especially the music; but the preaching always annoys me." So said a clever lawyer one afternoon as he sat in a pleasant room with a friend.

"I call myself a churchman," he continued, "though I seldom go to church. The last time I went I was irritable all day afterward. It positively made me worse!”

Warming to his subject—he was a most entertaining conversationalist—he proceeded to express his "views" on religion in general.

"My views may be very unorthodox," he said, "but I hold to them anyhow and try to practice them. I don't believe God will reject any man who does this in sincerity, even if he does not worship in the way that some people prescribe. Tell me, do you think God will reject a man for all eternity who is just in all his dealings with others, simply because he has not worshiped Him at church service?—A man who has never done a mean action, and has always done his best for every one?”

His friend thought for a moment, and then said that certainly attendance at church would not be the deciding factor. "But," he continued, "on the other hand, do you answer to all your conditions? Can you say that you have always done the right thing, never done a mean action, and always done your best for everybody?”

This was a rather new thought for the lawyer, and he murmured hesitantly that "we all fail.”

"Of course we do," was the reply. "Our only hope is to own it, and accept the mercy of God and what He offers through the atoning death of Christ—pardon and salvation. God will never reject one who does this. In His great love for sinners He sent His own Son into the world 'not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved' (John 3:17).

"To make this possible, 'Christ died for the ungodly,' Rom. 5:6. Now all who cease to justify themselves, and own that they have 'come short of the glory of God,' Rom. 3:23, can be 'justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' Rom. 3:24.

"All your dependence for salvation and justification must be through faith in the atoning sacrifice of God's own Son.”

My reader, will you look only to Jesus for your soul's eternal gain? You must settle this question sooner or later. Sooner—you cannot be too soon! Later—you may be too late!

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

Almost

The vessel failed to make harbor.

In the raging storm it was driven by the wind's fury away from the entrance to the place of safety and was wrecked on a lee shore.

There the remnant of a once fine ship lies. It is a warning to mariners to beware of the rock-bound coast.

The derelicts of the world are living warnings to all of us who are sailing on the sea of life. The great storm of "the wrath to come" is at hand.

Have you made the harbor? Are you safe for eternity?

Christ is the shelter. He is the refuge for the sinful. He is the only refuge.

Oh, before the storm breaks, flee to Him.

Many a ship has been just too late to make the harbor and has been wrecked just outside. Many a soul has heard the warnings of the Spirit of God and has postponed the settlement of the greatest of all questions. The world with its gay voice has called; its attractions have allured; and the promptings of conscience have been unheeded. Part of the world may have been gained for a time, but the soul has been lost for eternity. Almost saved— TOTALLY LOST.

"Almost!" Oh, the agony of remorse for those who were so near the glory but chose the pit!

Under which heading do you belong— "Almost”

or "Saved"?

ALMOST

So near the door—

the door stood wide!

Close to the refuge—

but not inside!

Near to the fold—

not within!

Almost persuaded to

flee from sin;

Almost persuaded to

bear the cost;

Almost a Christian—

yet finally lost.

SAVED

So near the door—

and Savior, I come! I cried

to Thee;

And now this word is

true of me.

but Thou hast brought me

to Thee today:

Thou would'st not have

me turned away;

I could not rest till I

should be

Within the refuge—safe

in Thee.

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

"IT SHALL BE WELL
with them that fear God,
which fear before Him:
but
IT SHALL NOT BE WELL
with the wicked.”

Eccl. 8:12,13

July

"Excused"

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse." Luke 14:18.

"And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.

It is very seldom thought that God will excuse you if you want to be excused. He does not wish to do it, but He will do it.

Look at the Jewish nation. They wanted to be excused from the feast. It is easy to say, "I pray thee have me excused." But by and by God may take you at your word and say, "Yes, I will excuse you.”

In that lost world, oh despiser of God's grace, while others who have accepted the invitation sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, you will be crying in the company of the lost: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved.”

O sinner, thine ears have been deaf to His voice,
Thine eyes to His glory been dim;
The calls of thy Savior have so wearied thee,
Oh, what if they should weary Him?

The Substitute

Many years ago a fierce war raged in India between the English and Tippoo Sahib. On one occasion several English officers were taken prisoners, among them one named Baird. He had been severely wounded, and was suffering from pain and loss of blood.

One day a native officer brought in heavy fetters to put upon each of the prisoners. Baird, the wounded one, was not excepted.

A gray-haired officer said to the native official: "You do not think of putting chains upon that wounded man?”

"There are just as many pairs of shackles as there are captives," was the answer. "Every pair must be worn.”

"Then," said the kind-hearted officer, "put two pairs on me. I will bear his as well as my own." This was done.

Strange to say, Baird lived to regain his freedom. He lived to capture that very city; but his noble friend had died in the prison. Up to his death he wore two pairs of fetters—his own and Baird's.

But what if he had worn the fetters of all who were in the prison? What if, instead of being a captive himself, he had been free and great, and had willingly left a glorious palace to live in a loathsome dungeon, to wear prisoner's chains, to bear their stripes, to suffer and die in their stead, that they might go free? That very thing has been done.

"There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2:5.

"Our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity." Titus 2:13, 14.

Can the reader say: "Jesus bore my sins in His own body on the tree"? (1 Peter 2:24.)

Only Two Stiles

It is now nearly four hundred years ago since Rowland Taylor, the preacher of Hadley, England, proved that he was willing not only to suffer, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

As the sheriff was taking him away to be burned at the stake, his daughter Elizabeth cried out, "Oh, my dear father!... Mother! Mother! There is my father being led away." It was very dark that night, and peering through the gloom his wife called out, "Rowland! Rowland! where art thou?”

The answer came, "I am here, dear wife.”

When the soldiers would have led him away, the sheriff said, "Let him stay and speak to his wife." Thus he was allowed to kneel down, and he prayed with her, and with his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. After they had prayed, he kissed his wife and said, "Farewell, my dear wife; be of good comfort... God is still a Father to my children." Calmly his wife answered, "God be with thee, dear Rowland.”

"All the way," says the chronicler, "he was as merry and cheerful as one going to a most pleasant banquet or bridal.”

"Why, master doctor," said the amazed sheriff, "how do you now?”

Rowland answered: "Well, God be praised, master sheriff, never better; for now I know I am almost at home. I lack but two stiles to climb over, and I am even at my Father's house.”

Reaching Oldham Common, he asked what place it was. They told him it was the place where he was to suffer, and that many people were come to witness it. Again he said, "God be thanked! I am even now at home.”

He was not allowed to speak to anyone further. But after praying, he went to the stake, kissed it, and set himself in the pitch-barrel. Thus he let himself be burned.

One of the executioners threw a burning fagot at him, which wounded his head. Another struck him with a halberd. And so he died, a martyr to his faith in Christ. He sealed with his blood the truth that he had preached.

Once a sinner in danger of eternal wrath, Rowland Taylor had fled to the Lord Jesus the Savior, and had proved that He was able to save to the uttermost.

Would you not like to know what could give such peace and confidence in the presence of death? It is because Christ has died, and thus robbed death of its sting, that now nothing can separate His own from the love of God.

The same peace and joy which Rowland Taylor knew when facing a martyr's death may be yours, my reader, through repentance toward God, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust this mighty Savior now, and you will receive the gift of God, even eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Halt-Right, About-Face!

"What is this conversion that you talk so much about, and say that people must have?" So asked an officer one day of a private who was an earnest, active Christian.

"Sir," was the reply, "this is how it is: the Captain of our salvation cried 'HALT!' Then when we halt His order is 'ABOUT-FACE!'”

Someone has said that "conversion is taking sides with God against self." It is certainly more than theory, or head-knowledge, or talk. It strikes deep. It hits and influences the heart. A reformed man is not a converted man. Conversion is not beginning to amend or trying to be better. It is a great cure done at once, and done forever; and all is effected by the Great Physician.

I Have My Ticket

As our train was passing Walton station, a young man entered. As he sat down beside me, I took out my ticket and showed it to him. I said: "Young man, I have my ticket.”

"Yes, sir," he replied; "I see you have.”

Continuing, I said: "I do not hope to have it sometime. I don't have to ask for one now, nor wish later that I had a ticket. I have it—that is a certain fact. And just so, also, I have salvation!”

The young man looked at me in astonishment. "Well," he exclaimed; "this is very strange! I could have gone to Barton for about half the fare by another route; but somehow I could not make up my mind to go that way. I felt impelled to come by this train, and I felt I must get into this coach.

"Now I'll tell you: there is a man who works in the same shop with me, and he says the same thing you say. He says he has eternal life; and, mind you, he not only says so, but everything he does bears him out. Bless you! He has no fear of death at all. And if he has any sorrow or trouble, this having 'eternal life' gives him such quiet and peace that I cannot help feeling that he has something that I lack. Do you see? And no matter how we razz him about it in the shop, we can't rile him. He is happy in claiming he has eternal life. He tells us he found eternal life by reading what God says about it in the Bible.

"For myself, I must confess to you, I used to read Tom Paine and Voltaire; but once when I was reading at night, I said, 'Tom Paine, you can't give me eternal life!' Then I felt so miserable I just banged the book on the floor.”

As he said this, he suited the word by action. Then with great earnestness he put his hand in his side pocket and brought out a beautiful edition of a pocket Bible. Holding it reverently, he said, "I now have the Book that makes known to me eternal life, but I still don't feel that I have it!”

I answered him: "When the clerk laid your ticket on the window ledge this morning, did you say, 'I must first feel that I have it, before I take it'? Or did you first take it, and then feel that you had it?”

"Oh," he said, "how simple that is! I must first receive salvation, and then I shall feel that I have it.”

Friend, let me ask you: Are you still standing at the window, waiting to feel that God is offering you salvation, and all the time you are refusing the grace of God? What do you want to feel?

Perhaps you say: "I must feel very sorry for my sins, and I must feel that I have forsaken them, and I must feel that now I love God. I have often tried to feel all this, but I have always failed. And yet I must feel all this before I can be saved-must I not?”

No, my friend! If feelings were God's conditions of salvation, not one soul would be saved. Nowhere in Scripture do I find one place where it says: "If you feel sorry for your sins you shall be saved.”

Paul's answer to the Philippian jailor's question, "What must I do to be saved?" was not "Be, or feel, sorry for thy sins, and thou shalt be saved." Nothing of the kind. He pointed the trembling sinner to a very different object from himself or his feelings-even to Jesus. The positive answer is: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." And that same hour "He rejoiced believing in God with all his house." Acts 16:30,34.

Immensity of Creation

"About the time of the invention of the telescope, another instrument was formed," says Chalmers, "which laid open a scene no less wonderful, and rewarded the inquisitive spirit of man. This was the microscope. The one gave me to see a system in every star. The other leads me to see a world in every atom.

"The one taught me that this mighty globe, with the whole burden of its people and its countries, is but a grain of sand on the high field of immensity. The other teaches me that every grain of sand may harbor... the tribes and the families of a busy population.

"The one told me of the insignificance of this world I tread upon. The other redeems it from all its insignificance, for it tells me that in all the leaves of every forest and in the flowers of every garden there are worlds teeming with life and as numberless as are the glories of the firmament.

"The one has suggested to me that beyond and above all that is visible to man there may be fields of creation which sweep immensely along and carry the impress of the Almighty's hand to the remotest scenes of the universe. The other suggests that within and beneath all that minuteness, which the aided eye of man has been able to explore, there may be a region of invisibles; and that, could we draw aside the mysterious curtain which shrouds it from our senses, we might see a theater of as many wonders as astronomy has unfolded; a universe within the compass of a point so small as to elude all the powers of the microscope, but where the wonder-working God finds room for the exercise of all His attributes, where He can raise another mechanism of worlds, and fill and animate them all with the evidence of His glory.”

"Lo, these are parts of His ways; but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?" Job 26:14.

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom. 8:31.

But if God be against you because of your sin and of your sinful rejection of His Son, Jesus Christ, then what must your end be? His judgment, awful and eternal, awaits all who refuse Him.

God's Great Love

"The doctor says I have only three weeks to live, and that is far too short a time to do what those preachers tell me is needful!" So said a tall, pale and wasted-looking young lady about twenty years of age. What did she mean?

Her visitor had asked as to her health, and she had frankly told him the doctor's opinion. Let us listen to their conversation.

"Then I suppose you will be thinking a great deal of where you are going after death?”

"Oh, no! On the contrary, I try to banish that thought from my mind. I have had a gay life. I have enjoyed the pleasures of the world in every form. It's no use my thinking of anything else now. Besides, no less than five clergymen have been here to see me. Every one of them has told me that I must make myself good in order to be fit for heaven. I can't do that; indeed, I have no inclination to try! in any case I have only three weeks to live, and that is far too short a time to do what these good men tell me is needful to fit me for heaven. So why should I make myself unhappy with the thought of it now?”

"My dear young lady, I have only fifteen minutes before I must catch a train. But I can assure you that in that fifteen minutes you can be made fit for the presence of God. Why do you laugh?”

"Pardon me! I did not mean to be disrespectful; but I could not help laughing at the idea of me—me—being made fit for God's presence here and now in fifteen minutes!”

"Well, here in this old Book, the Bible, I will show you what God says. Listen: 'But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved).' Is that not your state—'dead in sins'?”

"Yes, indeed it is, exactly.”

"Then hear God speak: Tor His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins.' You say that is you. Don't you see that God loves you just as you are? It is true you cannot make yourself good—not in thirty years, much less in three weeks. BUT GOD! He meets you with His great love just where you are.”

What power there is in God's holy Word! Under cover of seeming indifference lies many an aching, yearning heart. As the healing balm of God's love reached her heart this young lady, so apparently careless as to eternal things, burst into tears.

"Oh, why did the others not tell me this?" she exclaimed. "Only to think of God loving me!”

After a few more words as to the gospel of God's great sovereign love, her visitor had to leave for the station. On his return to that town a few days later, he called again. This time she was in bed, but her face lit up with a glad smile as she welcomed him.

"Oh," she said, "since you were here I can think of nothing but God's great love. But I cannot find the verse you read to me. Please show it to me, so that I may read it again.”

Reader, have you believed the great love of God? Calvary is God's witness to it.

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

"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.

"Know Thou?"

In Oliver Cromwell's army there was a regulation that every soldier must carry with him a copy of the Holy Scriptures. A profligate young man had enlisted among the troops in the hope of dissipation and plunder. He among the rest was given a Bible.

After a day's fighting he was retiring to rest. When he took his Bible from his pocket he found a hole in it. Endeavoring to ascertain how far the hole penetrated and what had been its cause, he found that a bullet had struck the book, and had pierced to the ninth verse of the eleventh chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

These words of divine inspiration struck home. They marked the great turning point in his life. He saw how near he had been to death. Had it not been for that blessed volume he would in all probability have been killed, and in his lost condition he would have passed into eternity unprepared to meet God.

You who now read this may have been as near your end except for the merciful intervention of God. How often may fever, disease, or accident have been near you! But God has given you yet another chance. Have you come to the great turning point?

How terribly significant were the words that met that young man's eye!—"Rejoice, O young man... but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment!" That soldier immediately saw the vanity of all beneath the skies. He fled to Christ, and became a consistent follower of the Savior. He lived for many years after the termination of his enlistment, and he was wont to say, in narrating his conversion: "The Bible saved me, body and soul.”

Friend, mark what God says—"Know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.”

No Back Numbers

A woman in the city of Dayton had been very wicked, but through faith in Christ had been wondrously saved and happily confessed it. She was answered by a sneer from a self-righteous woman to whom she sought to testify of God's grace. Said this woman: "Do you remember what you used to be when I knew you years ago?”

"Yes," was the new convert's answer. "And you do not know the half of it; I was worse than you or anybody else knows. But you forget one thing: 'The blood of Jesus 'Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.' How many sins are left after that?”

This silenced her accuser, as it does Satan. He cannot stand before the all-cleansing blood.

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

Three Pointed Questions

A young Scotsman, not long out from the old country, attended some meetings in a district of the Rocky Mountains. A friend of young men observed the young stranger, and at the close of the service shook hands with him. He spoke to him about his soul, asking him three questions:

(1) "Are you saved?" With tears in his eyes he confessed he was not.

(2) "Are you willing to be saved?”

"Yes," was the quick response.

(3) "Are you willing to be saved now?"

"Yes, I am.”

God had been dealing with the lonely young man. Far from home, away from friends and relations, a stranger in a strange land, he was in a condition to hear God's message. He knew he was not saved. He needed no one to tell him that he was unsaved. Conscious of the fact that he was a sinner, unprepared to meet a sin-hating God, he was not only willing, but anxious to be saved.

When one sees himself guilty and lost, he is usually willing to accept salvation on God's terms. That night this lad accepted Christ as Savior, and left the hall rejoicing in the assurance of salvation.

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

"Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return
unto the LORD, and He will
have mercy upon him;
and to our GOD, for
He will abundantly
pardon." Isa. 55:7.

August

Such an Offer?

"Such an offer!" Full and free!
Was it really meant for me?

That all my sins on Christ were laid,
That all my debt by Him was paid?

Yes: He says it, who has died—
"Believe," and thou art justified.

"Such an offer!" Pardon now
For hidden sin, and broken vow!

For years of cold neglect and scorn—
Can mercy's ray upon me dawn?

Yes: Jesus died instead of thee;
His death for thine must be thy plea.

Oh, what goodness! Lord, I take
This offer thou dost freely make!

My one desire shall henceforth be
To live for Him who died for me,

Spread glad news through every nation!
Instant, free, and full salvation!

The Light Shines Out

Two infidel neighbors lived among the hills of North Carolina. One of them heard the gospel and was convicted of his sins. Soon he believed the Word unto eternal life. A few days later he went to his infidel neighbor's house and said: "I have come to talk to you. Perhaps you know that I have been saved.”

"Yes," sneered the other, "I heard that you had been down to the meetings. And so you went forward for prayers. I am surprised! I thought you were as sensible a man as any in town.”

"Well," said the first, "I have a duty towards you. I haven't slept much for two nights thinking about it. I have four sheep in my flock that belong to you. They came two years ago with your brand mark on them. I took them and marked them with my brand. I know you inquired around, but could not find them. They are in my field now, with their increase. I want to settle with you if you are willing, or you can settle with me by the law if you'd rather.”

The other infidel was amazed. He told his neighbor that he could keep the sheep—only please go away! He trembled at the thought that something had got hold of his old friend which he could not understand. He repeated: "You keep the sheep, but please go away.”

"No," said the Christian, "I must settle this matter. I cannot rest until I do. You must tell me how much I owe you.”

"Well," replied the other, "pay me the worth of the sheep when they went to you, and six percent interest. Then please go away and leave me alone.”

The Christian laid down the amount and then doubled it. He went away, leaving his old friend's heart heavily burdened. The full result of that scene is only known to God. But today the second infidel is no longer an infidel. He too is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is a bright testimony to his Lord.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16.

The Blood of Christ

A Spanish priest relates that some years ago a wooden case was sent to the police authorities at Valladolid. It had been shipped by railway and contained the dead body of one of that city's residents who had suddenly disappeared. Inquiries were made which led to the arrest of two women suspected of having murdered him. They practically confessed the crime and were sentenced to death.

"I was," said the priest, "one of a company of priests appointed to attend such unhappy criminals in their last days and it was my duty to pass two nights and a day in the chapel to which the condemned were sent just before their execution. It was from this custom that the Spanish expression comes, 'to enter the chapel,' which signifies the fate awaiting them.

"One of these women, called Jane, the Navarise, was specially put in my charge. The despair of this unhappy creature was most pitiable. Fear of her approaching death and the judgment of God without any opportunity of redeeming her crime by good works gave her excruciating torture. I tried in vain to calm her by telling her of the confession she was about to make, of the cruel death she was about to suffer in expiation of her deed, and especially of the absolution which she would receive at my lips when the end came. All this made little impression, and wringing her hands, she exclaimed: `Who knows that this will be sufficient to obtain God's pardon? Oh, what can I do to get His forgiveness for my sins, lost and ruined as I am?'

"Time was passing; night was nearly gone and the rays of the morning sun began to illumine the eastern sky. I had exhausted my consolations and felt keenly the insufficiency of man's words in the presence of such anguish. At length, but without realizing the import of my words, I said: 'But the blood of Christ should be of some avail.'

“`Ah,' she said, as she seized with the avidity of a drowning man the rope I held out to her. 'Yes, the blood of Christ should be of some avail.'

" 'Not only,' I replied, 'is the blood of some avail, but it is all availing; for the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin.'

“‘Is that true?' she said eagerly, between hope and despair.

“‘Yes,' I replied. 'It is the apostle John who gives it to us in the name of God.'

“‘Oh, why did you not tell me that sooner?' said the woman, and I was surprised at the calm expression which came over her pale face as the result of hearing these words.

"After a moment's silence she again said: 'The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, but what have I to do that my sins may be cleansed by that blood?'

“‘My daughter,' I answered, 'look to Jesus upon the cross, and pronounce the words uttered by His divine lips as He expired: 'Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.' Jesus died thus, and you may also, for none can pluck you out of the hands of God.'

"The poor condemned woman cast herself down upon the stone floor, repeating again and again: `Forgiven through the purifying blood of Jesus! O Lord, receive my soul.'

"Some hours later I stood with this penitent woman at the fatal gallows. The terrors of divine judgment returned and she cried out: 'But I have sinned, and I am about to appear in the presence of God! Oh, what will become of me?'

“‘Jane,' I said, 'you can do nothing; but the blood of Jesus does all.'

"As though this assurance restored her courage she faltered no more as she ascended the gallows, but said: 'The blood of Jesus has washed my sins away; I commend my spirit into Thy hands.'

"A moment later and human justice had satisfied its demands.”

Five years later the same priest was walking on one of the principle streets of Madrid. As he was passing along a stranger accosted him and after a few friendly remarks handed him a little book. On being asked what it was about the stranger replied: "It concerns the precious blood of Christ." And so saying he quickly disappeared.

The priest then looked at the tract and he saw that the title read: "Surely for you also there is a Savior." Just at that moment another individual who had seen what was transpiring approached him. Alarmed at being seen reading the tract, he hastily tore it up and scattered the pieces abroad. He continued his walk with the relief which one feels on being delivered from a calamity ready to break upon him. Yet although satisfied as to the escape which he had made, the soft, grave voice of the first stranger still rang in his ears: "The blood of Christ." This brought back vividly to his recollection the remembrance of the prison scene with all the details of the horrid crime, the sentence and the gallows. This led to the personal application of the question: "Why, if the value of the blood of Christ availed for the consolation and assurance of the woman who was executed, should it not also for you? And if so, why have you destroyed the paper which has thus recalled this truth to your mind?”

He retraced his steps; but the torn pieces had been scattered by the wind and he could find only one small bit of the red cover. Upon it was printed: "Surely for you also there is a Savior." This he read again and again with deep emotion. Back came the solemn and disturbing questions: Did you deceive this poor woman as she was on the threshold of eternity by telling her there was pardon through the blood of Christ? Were your words senseless consolations? Were they merely the cold and lifeless remembrance of what you had read and which in your own soul you did not believe? And especially the word which strengthened her for the dark passage, as with her eyes turned toward the unseen world, upon the brink of which she appealed to Jesus and committed her spirit into God's hands: did this cry find no response? And would the flames of hell be the cruel answer to her ardent faith, to her childlike confidence? No, no! That is not possible, that cannot be! That word was true. But if it is so why do you reject it for yourself, and seek pardon for your own sins by other means?

He could not disengage his mind from this serious consideration, and the words of the tract resounded unceasingly in his ears—they pressed upon him so heavily that a few weeks later he went to a gospel preaching. There, strange to say, though surely it was of God, the preacher took for his text, "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

"My conversion," says the priest, "dates from that day. The words which years before I had spoken to the poor criminal, by the grace of God became the foundation of my joyful hope, my present calm and profound assurance.”

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

Choose!

On one side or the other you must be if you play in the game of football. You cannot be on both sides at once, sometimes kicking the ball for one team and then for the other. You would be disqualified and dismissed from the field with dishonor.

In the game—no, the reality—of life, you must be on the side of right or on that of wrong. The Lord Jesus has said most clearly: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Luke 16:13. Nor can any man serve two masters. No! You cannot walk at the same time in the broad way and in the narrow way. You must either be for Christ or against Him.

More than nineteen hundred years ago the world cast out Jesus, the Son of God. The world still rejects Him today. Its character has not changed though it may appear in another garb. The world wears a dress of religion and culture, and power is its god.

The most religious nation of its time crucified Christ, and so-called culture was then at its height under the powerful hand of Rome. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin were the three languages in which our Lord's accusation was written and placed over His head upon the cross. Hebrew represents religion. Greek represents culture. Latin represents power. Thus mankind, Jew and Gentile, learned and ignorant, rough and gentle, all joined in the rejection of the Son of God.

Reader, whatever your place in life today, you have a goal. Is the goal Christ? In the language He Himself used: "What think ye of Christ?" Do you, like Paul, "count all things loss" that you may win Christ? The question is still, whose side are you on?

"One Door, and only one—
And yet its sides are two.
Inside and outside!
On which side are you?”

The Delayed Train

Several years ago an engineer brought his train to a standstill at a little town in Massachusetts where the passengers were given a few minutes for lunch. A lady came along on the platform and said, "The conductor tells me the train at the junction leaves fifteen minutes before our arrival. This is Saturday, and that is the last train. I have a very sick child in the coach and no money for a hotel, nor for a private conveyance a long way in the country. What shall I do?”

"Well I wish I could tell you," said the engineer. "Would it be possible for you to hurry a little?" said the heart-broken mother.

"No, madam. I have my time-table, my schedule, and the rules, and I must run by them.”

She sorrowfully turned away, leaving the bronzed face of the tender-hearted engineer wet with tears.

Presently she returned and said, "Are you a Christian?”

"I trust I am," was his reply.

"Will you pray with me that the Lord may in some way detain the train at the junction?”

"Why, yes, I will pray with you, but I have not much faith.”

Just then the conductor cried, "All aboard!" The poor woman hurried back to her sick child and away sped the train, climbing the steep grade.

"Somehow or other," said the engineer, "everything worked like a charm. As I prayed, I couldn't help letting out my engine. We hardly stopped at the first station half a minute, and then away again. Once over the summit, it was easy to give her a little more. The more I prayed, the more steam was let on, until at last we seemed to shoot through the air. Somehow I could not hold her, knowing I had the road; so we dusted up to the station six minutes ahead of time. There stood the other train, and the conductor with his lantern on his arm.”

"Will you tell me," said he, "what I am waiting for? Somehow I felt I must wait till you came tonight, but I don't know why.”

"I guess," said the brother conductor, "it is for this poor woman who has a sick child, and is very anxious to get home tonight." But the man at the engine and the grateful Christian mother knew why the train had waited. Thus our God hears and answers prayers. One train held, the other hurried on, that this child of God might reach her destination.

Beloved, God's Word says we are "hasting unto the coming of the day of God." Are you ready?

This cheering incident suggests another scripture. The delayed train is like "the long-suffering of God." "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Here we learn why "the gospel of the grace of God" still goes out, why the gospel train is still held, and kept from moving off; why the Lord tarries; why the rapture of the saints does not take place; why this train of grace does not move away, and leave you to perish. You, dear loved one, are not on board.

Soon, the day of salvation will end and then will dawn "the day of God." While it is the day of grace, I pray you, be ready! For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

The Thought Reader

Where could so many people be going? The road leading to the Assembly Hall was crowded with all sorts and conditions of men and women. On inquiry we were told that there was a "Thought-Reader" at the hall. His fame had spread throughout the town; and now a full half-hour before the time of service, everyone was hurrying to make sure of getting a seat.

We were even more puzzled. This was Sunday evening, and our informant had spoken of a service. We had always heard of thought-reading as a seance, or a performance, suitable, perhaps, for a week-day but not for a Sunday.

Soon we learned the facts. A young man was conducting a series of evangelistic meetings in this place. During the afternoon service he had noticed two young ladies sitting at some distance from the platform and engaged in a whispered conversation with each other. The young preacher had acquired the art of reading the movements of the lips. He easily read in this way what those ladies were saying and he took occasion in the course of his address to remark about it.

"My dear friends," he said, "a curious little incident has occurred since I commenced this service. It has impressed me very much. There are two persons in this building—I shall not say whether men or women, neither shall I look in their direction at all, or otherwise betray them—who have been holding a whispered conversation with each other. And this is what they have been saying:—Here the speaker quoted a few criticisms that had passed between the two in reference to himself and the friend who was assisting him in conducting the services.

"How do I know all this?" he continued. "I read their lips! They know that I have read them correctly. Now I have been thinking: if I can read their lips, how much more surely has God been reading their hearts, your hearts, my heart!”

With this thought in view he proceeded to put before his audience the need of personal salvation. The incident made a profound impression upon them, and the Word of God came home with power to many souls. At the close of the afternoon service, they went to their homes in every part of town, speaking of the preacher with wonder as being a "Thought-Reader." Hence the excitement in anticipation of the evening's meeting.

What are your thoughts, my reader, about God, your soul and its safety, about heaven—hell— eternity?

Are you saved—converted? God says in Matt. 18:3, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Whatever you may think, God knows your thoughts and your heart. Of the one He says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. 55:8, 9.

As to your heart, God says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jer. 17:9.

The only cleansing is through faith in the shed blood of Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Come now! For Jesus waits to save you and God says, "I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace and not of evil.”

"Whosoever"

"I thank God for the word 'whosoever.'

"If God had said there was mercy for Richard Baxter, I am so vile a sinner that I would have thought He meant some other Richard Baxter; but when He says, `whosoever,' I know that includes me, the worst of all Richard Baxters.”

So said the well-known servant of God as he rejoiced in the fullness of God's great salvation.

We may rejoice too that "whosoever" is a word of widest meaning. It opens the door to any who will enter in.

The first "whosoever" recorded as falling from the lips of the Lord Jesus when He was on earth is in John 3:14,15: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

The last "whosoever" comes from His lips when in the glory of God: "And WHOSOEVER will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

Oh, sinner! The way of blessing and eternal life is open for you. Will you not say—

"It was for me, it was for me,
The Savior died on Calvary,
Though lost and ruined, deep in sin,
God's WHOSOEVER takes me in.”

"Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous
man his thoughts: and let
him return unto the LORD,
and He will have mercy upon
him; and to our GOD, for He
will abundantly pardon.”

Isa. 55:7.

September

The Two Corps: a Contrast

The Unconverted.

"March! march! march!
Earth groans as they tread,
Each carries a skull, going down to the dead;
Every stride, every stamp, every footfall is bolder,
`Tis a skeleton's tramp, with a skull on its shoulder;
And, oh, how it treads, with high tossing head,
That clay-covered bone going down to the dead.”

The Converted.

"March! march! march!
How lightly they tread,
Looking up to that One who arose from the dead;
Every stride, every step, every footfall is bolder,
`Tis a sinner draws nigh, with a load off his shoulder;
And, oh, how he treads, looking up to his Head,
Who triumphantly rose from the midst of the dead.”

Lost in Sight of Port

At daybreak on the 22nd of February, 1901, the magnificent steamer, Rio de Janeiro, struck on the hidden rocks while entering Golden Gate, the channel leading into San Francisco harbor. She had been riding at anchor outside the Gate for more than twenty-four hours until the dense fog should clear sufficiently for the captain to steam ahead. Now the way seemed open and the great vessel was making port.

Suddenly the fog again rolled in around her, and more dense than before. Doubtless the captain was anxious to land so that his passengers might join their friends and relatives in the day's celebration of Washington's birthday. But he had miscalculated. In the thickening fog he lost his bearings and that living cargo of immortal souls was driven by the flow tide, upon the submerged rocks. In a moment the mighty vessel was engulfed in the icy jaws of death. Of over two hundred souls aboard only twenty survived.

What a picture this is of a more dire moral shipwreck in which myriads of souls have been engulfed! Like the Rio, many have succeeded in crossing the tempestuous sea only to be lost in sight of port.

Every soul is like a ship at sea—some drifting aimlessly, some in despair, but some heading surely for port. If you, my dear reader, are unsaved, you may navigate the tide of this life peacefully, but you cannot pass the narrows and enter harbor without Christ. What will it avail you to have brought your ship, laden with treasures, over many a league of ocean if you cannot make port at last?

"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. 16:26.

On the ill-fated Rio was a lad whose aged father had traveled many a weary mile to greet him in port; but instead of a father's greeting the son was embraced by the arms of death. Have you, my friend, a loving mother, a kind father, awaiting you in port? Perhaps you have; but there is another One waiting there whose love you shall never know unless you take Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, for your pilot. If you are not trusting in Him you will surely strike the rocks and meet eternal destruction.

In sailing down the beautiful St. Lawrence River, for years one had to navigate the angry waters of the Lachine Rapids. Just before entering these rapids the steamer would take on a skilled pilot, one who had "shot the rapids" many a time and knew every rock in the river. In his hands the ship was safe. This experienced pilot stood on the bridge and scanned his well-known chart. He had sailed those troubled waters and knew the reefs upon which many a ship had been stranded.

Sinner! You need such a pilot. Jesus Christ is that pilot. He alone can bring your ship to the desired haven. Will you have Him for your pilot?

He's watching! He sees you storm tossed. His Holy Spirit urges you to receive that pilot.

"Come," saith the Savior, "come enter the gate, I've watched by the portals both early and late, Lest some precious soul, Not far from the goal, Should wander away into darkness and hate, And miss it forever, the pearly gate.”

My Need

One hot day in July I left that part of the city given up to business and pleasure. Through the heat I walked toward the residential section. On a back street I finally stopped before a small tavern. I went in and asked a waitress who was there if a man named Barron lived in the house.

"Yes, sir," she said; "you will find him in a room upstairs, but he is very sick.”

"I have been sent here by one of his friends who thought he would like me to see him and have a little visit with him. I have been a sailor too.”

She showed me the way upstairs and into a large room. As I entered I was much struck with the appearance of the poor sailor. He was a young man, attractive in features, but greatly wasted, and his prominent cheek bones were red with fever. He was lying on a bed where he had been for two long years, unable to move because of a severe and continued attack of rheumatism. Near his bed on a table was a dirty pipe; and on his bedspread was a weekly paper of the lowest sort. His appearance was such that it was painful to see him. Not a smile greeted me—only a dark, despairing look which made me think of these words: "As others which have no hope.”

"You are a sufferer, my friend," I said, as I seated myself near him. Then after some kind words I asked him to tell me something of his past life. His confidence was gained, and he told me that he had served on board a man-of-war. When he was off the coast of Newfoundland he had caught a cold which he had neglected. Severe pains followed; and from the hospital where he had been taken, he had come home a few years before crippled and helpless with his health completely gone. "And here I am, sir, always getting worse, and without any hope of getting better.”

"Now, my friend," I said unto him; "where, are you as to eternity? Are you ready to meet God?”

At this question he was greatly upset. A cloud passed over his face and he turned his head away without an answer.

"What about all your sins," I continued; "the innumerable sins which you have committed?”

"I have done my best," he said; "I have done my best." And then he stopped.

"But you are afraid to meet God as you are, and eternity is before you. You are traveling thither at a rapid pace.”

His face became flushed. He breathed heavily, and, unable to control himself, he gave way to sighs and groans, saying: "I need to be reconciled with God. Oh! I need to be reconciled with God!”

"Blessed be God for that!" I exclaimed. "It is a cry of need. It is your sins which trouble you; those frightful sins which are weighing upon you and dragging you down to hell. You feel that you cannot meet God as you are, and that there is a barrier between you and Him.

"Well, listen, and I will tell you how God, who is light, has manifested His love. That is to say, how God, who is pure and holy, makes known His love to a miserable sinner. Let us go back over nineteen hundred years, and consider a scene which took place at Jerusalem.

"You see there three crosses. Look at those on each side of the center one. To each of these is nailed a malefactor, men who deserve their punishment. Look at the cross in the middle. Who is nailed there? It is One who has done nothing wrong. Who is He? He is the Son of God, His well-beloved, become a man. But He is a man without sin; yes, a man without a stain. He lived as a man here upon earth. He walked among men. The path He took here below, blessing and doing good to every needy one along the way, led on to the cross. To that He was nailed; upon Him our sins were laid; the punishment that we deserved fell upon Him. There, by the sacrifice of Himself, He has taken away our sins, removed them forever from before God and from His remembrance. Yes, those sins which trouble you now, and which are a barrier between you and God, Christ has completely put away the moment you believe in Him. Don't you see that to accomplish this, God could not spare His Son?”

After prayer I left him, promising to send him a text to put on the wall of his room, and that I would return in two days.

I came as I promised, but what a change! No pipe, no trashy paper! Instead, there was a text on the wall, and on his bed were an open Bible and a hymn book. And his face! All care and all fear had disappeared, giving place to an expression of profound peace.

"Oh, sir," he cried, "I am reconciled, completely reconciled with God. Christ has done it all. He is my Savior. And now I am not afraid to die, for He sees me in His dear Son, and has put all my sins away.”

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." Eph. 2:4, 5.

A Wash Woman's Gift

She was a poor woman of Glasgow, Scotland—one of a number who earn a scanty living by washing clothes at the riverside. Her only possession was the tub in which her daily task was performed.

One day she had the near-tragic experience of falling into the Clyde; and as the river was deep and the current strong, she was in imminent danger of drowning. No help apparently was at hand. But suddenly a man, a renowned swimmer who had saved many lives, saw her struggles. He plunged into the stream; but only by extreme exertion and well-nigh the cost of his own life, did he succeed in rescuing the drowning woman. She herself had been so long under water that life seemed gone, and only with great effort was consciousness restored.

And now, my reader, what do you think were the first words issuing from her lips?

Do you think it was some expression of anxiety as to her home? Some disclosure of her feelings while in the jaws of death, or on her discovery that she had been rescued? No, nothing of this! Her first words should be a touching lesson for us who have been nearer than she to a far more terrible ending, and who have been rescued, not at the almost, but at the actual cost of another's life.

Her words were, "Oh, how I want to see the man who saved me!" Beautiful exclamation from one who had nearly perished. And now her overwhelming gratitude led her to concern herself about him whose selfless work had brought her back from the brink of death.

The man came at her call. "Oh, sir," she said, "you saved me, a poor washwoman, and I have naught in the world worth giving but my tub. But, oh, if you'll take it, you're welcome, with all my heart!”

The man, no less astonished than pleased, made no reply; but taking his hat, he went round collecting from the assembled crowd. Speedily coming back, he poured all he had received into her lap, enriching her as she never in her life had experienced or expected.

Is it not thus, though in an infinitely higher and more blessed way, that God, having given us eternal life in Christ, with Him also freely gives us all things? Have we, redeemed by His precious blood, experienced deep longings of heart to see the One who has saved us? Then have we made Him indeed Lord of our lives and laid all we possess with all our hearts at His feet? If so, surely we have found that, since "it is more blessed to give than to receive," He will be no man's debtor! Taking to Himself the higher blessedness which is His due, He will pour out to us all that He has received, to share with us the spoils of His own great work. Thus to us shall belong the double and lasting indebtedness which our story illustrates. May we who have been so wondrously saved sing with all our hearts:

"Unto Him who loved us—gave us
Every pledge that love could give;
Freely shed His blood to save us;
Gave His life that we might live;
Be the kingdom,
And dominion,
And the glory evermore!”

Feelings

"Faith" comes before "feelings" in the dictionary! So it does in the matter of spiritual blessing.

Many would like to reverse the order. They would seek to feel happy before in simple faith they have taken God at His word.

But God would not have assurance of salvation rest on such a flimsy foundation as feelings. He would have us rest on Christ and His atoning sacrifice alone.

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3:11.

Feelings ebb and flow. They come and go like the tides of the sea shore. Christ's work abides. God's way is unchanging.

Christ did it—God says it—I believe it—that settles it!

Christ did what? "After He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.”

God says what? "That whosoever believeth in Him (in the Lord Jesus) shall receive remission of sins.”

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

Why did the Lord Jesus do it? Because there was no other way in which we could be blessed.

Why does God say it? Because the Lord Jesus did it all at Calvary.

Why do I believe it? Because God says it. Not because I feel anything this way or that. Simply and only because God says it.

Happy feelings depend upon hearty faith in Christ's sacrifice and in God's word about it.

Which Door?

A well-known servant of God was giving an address to Christians. There was at least one in his audience, who, when he came in, was outside the blessing that believers enjoy. He had been long troubled about his soul, but as yet had found no rest nor peace.

But after this service he went to speak to the preacher, his face glowing with the joy of salvation. The minister needed not to inquire whether he had found peace, but simply asked: "How did you get it?" "All the time I've been trying to enter in at the saint's door! While you were speaking I saw my mistake, and entered in at

`THE SINNER'S DOOR'!”

Is not this the difficulty of many? They want to enter by the saint's door. They believe they can make themselves a great deal better. They break off evil habits. They become religious. They are outwardly moral and respectable; but they know they are not good enough in themselves. They cannot go in. They strive desperately to fit themselves to enter by the saint's door instead of coming just as they are, and going in by the way which God, in His rich grace, has opened for the vilest and most unworthy.

"I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

A Religion Lost

"I lost twenty years religion here," so the old lady said, as she took a farewell look around the little cottage that had been her home for many years. "And here," she said, "I was born again after twenty years of a religious life." We ventured to ask how she came to sustain such a loss, or if she had received anything instead. So she told me the story.

"I live quite near your hall—so near that I could hear you folks singing. I sometimes raised my window to hear the hymns. I wondered what sort of folks you were—everybody seemed so happy.

"I was a member of the established church, and lived a religious life; yet it was evident that you had something that I had not. Half through curiosity, half through anxiety, I finally ventured in one Sunday night. I sat down near the door so I would not be noticed.

"The preacher spoke of 'being born again.' He said that one might be 'religious' and 'pray,' and 'do the best he could,' and yet be outside heaven at last. I felt that was me, for I never had been 'born again.'

“The Word of God stripped me of my false religion; and there I sat, conscious for the first time that I was a lost and ruined sinner. Then came the gospel—the story of the brazen serpent, and that there was life in a look to Jesus. I looked and I live. I thought I could not leave here in peace until I told you, and now that burden is off my mind.”

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

A Song in the Night

During the Civil War, an earnest evangelist who had gone to preach Christ to the soldiers, was returning, weary and tired after a hard day's work in the camp. As he looked up to the bright stars, sparkling in the firmament far above the scene of war and bloodshed, he thought of the peaceful home of the redeemed in heaven, and of those who were saved on earth, now resting with Christ in that fair and peaceful home. His weary spirit mounted upward, and he burst forth in singing "How bright these glorious spirits shine!—

Whence all their bright array?
How come they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?
"Lo, these are they from sufferings great,
Who came to realms of light;
And the blood of Christ has washed
These robes which shine so bright.”

Next day as he walked toward the camp, he met a soldier almost in rags, his shoes so worn that his naked toes were seen. Speaking a kind word to the poor fellow, he gave him some money to procure for himself a pair of shoes. The soldier warmly thanked him, remarking, "I am not what I was last night!" "How's that?" asked the missionary. "Last night," said the soldier, "I was so miserable that I loaded my gun and came out to commit suicide. As I came round the point I heard someone singing, 'How bright those glorious spirits shine!' It brought back to my mind my childhood days when I sang it in Sunday school, and many of the words I heard there. I returned to my tent, convinced that, if someone could be so happy in this place as to sing that song, so could I.”

"Do you know who the singer was?”

"No," said the soldier.

"Well, it was I," said the other, at which the soldier burst into tears, and requested him to take back the money, saying: "I can never take it from you, sir, after what you have been the means of doing for me.”

It was the turning point in that soldier's life, for he was truly converted to God. He put his trust in the precious blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, and fits the soul for the inheritance of "the saints in light.”

All who go to that blessed place have been cleansed from sin by Jesus' blood. They have been born again by the Spirit of God.

Reader, no matter what your past may have been, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all sin. Forgiveness of sins and assurance of eternal life are yours simply by placing your faith in Christ as your Savior. He is willing to save and able to keep you. He makes no hard conditions. He asks no pledge nor covenant. He will take you as you are, for of Him it is said: "This Man receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2.

Profit and Loss.

The World's Question.

"What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?" Job 21:15.

God's Answer.

"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.

But "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

"Jesus our Lord... was
delivered for our offenses,
and was raised again for
our justification.”

Rom. 4:24, 25.

October

The Road of Lasting Fame

I have been told by men of lore—
And poets sing it o'er and o'er—
That "the road to fame is long and steep!”
Yet men will tread that weary way,
They'll labor hard both night and day,
Till eyes are dim and hair is gray,
To gain the longed for prize.
And if they gain what they pursue,
It disappears like morning dew,
When death life's string unties.

I am informed by Truth Divine,
That mortals may with honors shine
In brilliant courts of fame;
And yet no labor is required:
It is by grace alone acquired!
Then why are humans not inspired
By offers such as this?
These honors last forever too;
Then why, oh, why, are there so few
That crave eternal bliss?

Hindu Sammy

A regiment of "Tommies" fresh from the British Isles were encamped just outside a town in India. Everything was very novel to them; and one morning soon after their arrival they were amused to see, trotting along the road by the camp, a converted Hindu, a preacher.

Sammy, as he was called, carried a big Bible under one arm; an umbrella was under the other. He was a quaint little figure as he ran along in the dust and glare of the sun. Some "Tommies" hailed him as he went by with a question that sounded more irreverent than they intended.

"Hello, Sammy, how's Jesus this morning?" they called.

The little fellow pulled up short and looked at them with his bright, dark, piercing eyes. Then, holding up the Bible, he said slowly: "Do you sahibs mean to say that you, who sent us this holy Book, talk of the Lord Jesus. like that? Do the people of your great country send the gospel to us heathen and yet insult the Savior?”

The men looked a bit uneasy at his words, but he went on: "You say, 'How is Jesus this morning?' I reply from Heb. 13:8: 'Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.'" And making the men a polite little bow, the Hindu pursued his way with dignity.

That evening Sammy's wife was startled to see coming up the little garden path of their home, which was near the camp, two British soldiers. Her heart nearly stopped with fear, for she was sure that her husband had somehow offended the great British rajah. The men inquired for her husband, and he came to the door. They at once seized him by the hand and very earnestly thanked him for his plucky speech of the morning.

"After you had gone," they said, "some of us felt ashamed. We had a talk about it, and my mate and I, we went off into the woods. Well—there we gave our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. We've come to tell you so, feeling that it is all through what you said.”

Those British soldiers found out that, although they were ungodly sinners, meriting the righteous judgment of God, yet in boundless grace He had sent His Son to the cross of Calvary to die in their stead. And now, by faith accepting Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, they found peace for their troubled souls.

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

Tearing off the Bandage

The name of John Randolph, of Roanoke, Virginia, may be found in any good dictionary of biography. First a congressman, and then a senator of the United States, he was an orator and statesman of no small talent. Brilliant, sarcastic, witty, his incisive speeches became the dread of his opponents, and before long he had earned the name of "The Schoolmaster of Congress." His great abilities marked him out for promotion; and in 1832, the year before his death, he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Russia.

Young Randolph in his early years had the great blessing of a Christian mother, who carefully taught him portions of Scripture and sought to instill into his heart the truths of God's holy Word. On arriving at manhood, however, he turned from his mother's faith and became a deist. He procured a large library of infidel books, and for many years argued against and denounced Christianity. However, later in life, Randolph confessed that with all his arrogance he had never been able to shake off entirely the influence of those early teachings.

At the age of sixty John Randolph was dying. The end was rapidly approaching. As a few friends gathered in his room, the old man—old before his time—sat up, haggard and worn with misery. A blanket was wrapped around him, head and all. With despair in his eyes, and with pinched lips and trembling voice, he cried: "Remorse! Let me see the word! Get a dictionary; find it! I must see it; that word, Remorse!”

A dictionary, however, was not at hand.

"Write it!" he shrieked. "I must see it.”

The word was written on his card, under his name.

"Write it again, above," he shouted.

It was done. He took the card, and read with despair and anguish—

Remorse

John Randolph

Roanoke, Va.

Remorse

With horror in his face, and the card still in his hand, the brilliant statesman and diplomatist breathed his last. The bandage that the enemy of souls had bound around his eyes was torn off, and before he died he was given to see the ghastly sham of infidelity. He was made to realize how powerless the honors of earth are to satisfy the heart; and how utterly lonesome in the presence of death is one who does not know Christ, the Savior.

My friend, if there is any bandage closing your eyes against the light of the gospel, may God in mercy remove it. To have one's eyes divinely opened means not only to see oneself as God does—in the true light as a vile, offensive sinner—but it clears the vision to behold Christ as a willing and mighty Savior. To behold Him and to trust Him thus means eternal salvation for the soul, and satisfaction for the heart forever.

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Psa. 16:11.

Sins Forgiven

Do you ever long for the sense of the forgiveness of sins? I speak to you who are really in earnest in the matter, you who are conscious that you have sins, great and manifold; you who sigh and long for the sense of being unburdened of the load.

Before the cross, the consciousness of the forgiveness of sins was a blessing yet to come. Now every Christian ought to know that present forgiveness of sins is his joyful portion—not something to be enjoyed in the future, but now.

The Apostle John says, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." 1 John 2:12. They did not have to wait for this at some future moment. John addresses them because their sins are forgiven. What rest for the soul when God the Father can instruct His children because He has forgiven their sins for His name's sake!

Until the cross of Christ forgiveness of sins was looked forward to. How could it be a promise anymore, now that Jesus has borne them in His own body on the tree, and put them away? Hence when Jesus died and rose, the announcement went forth, not that forgiveness of sins was now promised, but: "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins." Acts 13:38.

Has my reader believed God and accepted forgiveness of sins as his present portion? Or is he taking the ground that although he believes in Jesus, his sins are not forgiven—that they have not been put away? How dishonoring to Christ's finished work!

"Without shedding of blood is no remission." Heb. 9:22. Jesus' blood has been shed, and God's righteous claims against poor sinners have been met. He has declared His satisfaction by raising up Jesus from the dead and putting Him at His own right hand in heaven.

His claims are all satisfied in the perfect work of Calvary. His testimony by the Holy Ghost to us is, "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. 10:17. Sweet and glorious news for the poor burdened heart! Now faith can say, "They are remembered no more," and the soul can rest in this assuring testimony of God.

I pray you then, dear reader, be in earnest, and today accept God's salvation, if you have not yet done so.

"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.

A Miracle of Grace

A few years ago a "Gospel Tent Campaign" was being carried on in the city of Auckland, New Zealand, and many were brought to accept Christ as their Savior and Lord. Among them was Bill Martin, an inveterate gambler, who made his living by conducting a gambling saloon. His conduct had been so bad that his wife had been compelled to leave him.

One night, penniless and broken, a regular "down and out," Bill was walking along the street toward the wharf, with the intention of dropping quietly over the end into the darkness. He said afterward, that he intended to "escape the misery of his wasted manhood." Passing down Queen Street, he saw the gospel tent and was attracted by the singing. He had never been under the sound of God's Word, but that night he found the Savior and the Savior found him!

He wrote immediately to his wife and told her of the happy change that had taken place in his life. Letter after letter was written to her—and ignored; and when she saw him on the street she took no notice of him.

At the converts' meeting at the close of the mission, Bill was present. Under deep emotion, he said: "I entrusted my soul for safe keeping into the hands of Christ five weeks ago. I have been thinking hard since then, and it seems to me that if it is worthwhile to commit my deathless self to Him, it is worth committing all that I am and have. I here and now dedicate my life to Him to do with it what He wills.”

Martin had remarkable faith in his prayer-answering God who began to give him most wonderful answers to his petitions. The first prayer God answered was to find suitable employment. Then he began to pray for his wife. The night he was baptized, the first person who met him at the door was his wife. Sobbing, she said: "Bill, I want you to come home and to pray for me." Soon she was soundly converted.

A year later, when the American fleet was at Auckland, Bill gave a gospel message before some of the men. He said, "Men, if you doubt the power of the old gospel, find out from someone what I was a year ago! Then come with me to my home and see my wife and happy children. Then you will know there is a deep reality in the things we have been presenting to you." How true it is that "the gospel of Christ... is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:16. Through believing the gospel of God's matchless grace, even the vilest sinner becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus—cleansed from sin, clothed in Christ, and meet to dwell with Him in glory.

God's salvation is great, but it is also simple—so simple that a little child can grasp its meaning—and trusting the Savior, he finds eternal life and abiding peace.

A Criminal Made New

A man who had been a thief and was very violent and wicked was brought to know Christ as his Savior. He was asked, one day, the cause of the wonderful change in his life.

He said, "It was the crucifixion did it. Punishment did me no good. That only made me so bad, although I was bad to begin with. Punishment could not change me. I was flogged and handcuffed. I had irons on my legs. I was locked in the 'dark' and solitary for many a day.

"I just kicked against those who did it. I cursed and swore at them. When I was silent, I seethed more in my heart. Every stroke brought out a fresh sin. Nothing that I bore could pay my debt, for I broke the law at every turn. It was no use laying the lash on me.

"But, oh, when I read of Jesus, how He was bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, I saw that He, God's Son, had borne everything. I was often dumb with my mouth, like a man: and bit my lips till they bled! But He was dumb within, like a sheep. When He was nailed to the cross He did not threaten. He submitted without a notion of fighting back. This was the way He was able to pay up instead of us. Oh, He was the Son of God, and had no sin. I saw it plainly, and believed it. 'The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.' We could not bear it without becoming worse. This is what broke my heart and made me a changed man.”

What power the gospel works in the lives of those who believe it! It is, indeed, "the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:16.

`Law and terrors do but harden,
All the while they work alone;
But a sense of blood-bought pardon,
Soon dissolves a heart of stone.”

It is only to him that "believeth" that the gospel becomes the power of God unto salvation. As a matter of history everybody believes about Jesus Christ; but if we are to be saved and made fit for heaven, we must believe "on" Him. As a guilty sinner in need of salvation, I urge you to take Him as your own personal Savior, and then you will be able to say: "The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

The Two-Edged Sword

John Wesley, the great evangelist, once visited Kings-wood College for boys. In an address he gave them this text: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:6.

The boys were dismissed. All left but one lad. He went to his room, knelt in prayer, and gave himself to the Lord. For forty years he preached the gospel.

In his old age this faithful minister of Christ visited the school dear to him as the scene of his conversion. Being asked to speak to the students, he told the story of his own conversion, and closed by asking them to repeat John Wesley's text.

Again the boys were dismissed, and again a young lad remained behind; and that day he was at the feet of Jesus a true penitent. He too became a preacher and a teacher. From his school was graduated a young man who had done splendidly in his studies, but his godly teacher feared that he had not yet accepted Christ.

With loving solicitude the teacher wrote him a letter telling him of his own conversion through Wesley's text passed on to him. In addition to this proverb he quoted another scripture; "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU." Matt. 6:13.

The letter probed the young man's conscience. "Did his teacher feel so keenly for his eternal welfare that he would send him a note like that? Then by all means he should have an equal interest in it himself." So he reasoned; and from that day he was an earnest follower of Christ.

Now comes the strangest part of all. In May, 1906, Jas. Flanagan was holding a mission in York, England. The students of the college came, and their governor asked if Mr. Flanagan would address the boys. He did so, and told them the story of Wesley's text. The service ended with the same text, and the boys were dismissed.

When the college was quiet, the governor as usual, went through the rooms to see that all was in order. In one of the class-rooms, alone and weeping, knelt a boy.

Believing that the text was accomplishing its blessed mission, the governor stepped quietly out. Soon a knock came at his door. The "Come in," was spoken, and the student whom he had just seen, entered. He had come to tell the governor that he was saved. The text had again been blessed of God. There, governor and scholar knelt in thanksgiving at the throne of grace—the gate of heaven.

Reader, a text has often been used of God to do His blessed work. Scripture is indeed the Sword of the Spirit, and He uses it freely in His divine mission.

"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.

Receiving and Giving

Well do I remember trying to "give up" the love of the world, its society, its amusements, and its joys. It was no use. I have stayed at home from them—that was easily done with a little resolution; but all the time I was at home I was wishing I was in the midst of the world's pleasures.

Some seem to think that men of the world do not enjoy it. That is a mistake. They do enjoy it, and ask for more. They indeed drink of its pleasures, but they thirst again. I was told to give up the attractions and the company of this world, and I did try it; but you might as well have tried to stem Niagara or to send the St. Lawrence backward in its flow.

There is no use preaching to a young man to "give up." It is the wrong end of the line. Give up the theater, give up dancing, give up cards, and all such worldly amusements! How can he? These he enjoys. His nature likes them.

We must "receive" before we can "give up." There is no use for a man to try giving up the world till he has something better—a Person—Christ.

There is no use for a man to say he has faith in Christ who is going in for the pleasures and joys of this world. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6.

"I believe," says Dr. Chalmers, "in the expulsive power of a new affection." And this comes from God. When a man takes God at His word, and believes he is saved (Acts 16:31), and that he is an heir of God (Rom. 8:17), and he is to be forever with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17), as surely do the pleasures of the world drop from him as snow from a coat in a warm room.

Show me a man who has received Christ, who has believed in the gospel, in whom God has planted a new nature which has Christ as its object! There you have a man who has given up the pleasures of the world. He has learned that its joys are but for a season. He has come out from worldly company, for in Christ he has satisfying companionship at all times. He is living a new life, because old things have passed away. Friend, if you have not renounced the pleasures of the world, to find your delight in God and the Word of His grace, you give no evidence whatever that you have received "the Light of life.”

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15.

Not Sure of Tomorrow

"I am not sure of tomorrow, I must have it settled tonight." These were the words of a young man at the close of a meeting where Christ crucified had been preached; and an immediate acceptance of Him had been urged upon all who had listened.

A companion was trying hard to persuade him to leave, telling him he could come back and hear the message again tomorrow. But the anxious lad would not risk the chance of that "tomorrow." He accepted Christ and was saved that night.

How many put off their acceptance of God's gospel till a "tomorrow" that never came? The devil seeks to ruin souls, getting them to delay—to trifle with God's gospel—until death and judgment overtake them.

Reader, are you putting off your salvation until some fair tomorrow? "Today" is God's appointed time; tomorrow you may be in eternity.

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

THE GOSPEL:

"Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures ...
He was buried, and... He rose
again the third day according
to the Scriptures.”

1 Cor. 15:3, 4.

November

He That Receiveth Me

(John 12:48)

"He that rejecteth Me!" Herein is condemnation.
He who hath heard the call,
Yet hath but mocked God's gracious offer of
salvation—
On him the final curse must fall.

(Matt. 10:40)
"He that receiveth Me!" There is no condemnation!
Christ is the living way;
And all who will may take the gift of free salvation,
And pass from death, through Him, today.

"He that receiveth Me!" Oh, not by vain endeavor
Eternal life is won;
One only sacrifice atoned for sin forever,
And life for us is in God's Son.

The Colonel's Question

During World War II, I was visiting a small summer resort. One day I walked into the post office for my mail and, at the same time, an old army colonel with whom I was slightly acquainted came in. Recognizing me, he asked why I was in that part of the country. My answer was: "I am here to preach the gospel of the grace of God." He immediately questioned: "If He is a God of grace, why does He allow such a terrible time of bloodshed and sorrow?”

"That question is easy to answer," I replied. Looking around on the lovely landscape, I said: "Colonel, suppose you owned all the property around here. You had built a beautiful house on it, planted fruit trees, shrubs and flowers. Then suppose you told me that I could have the full use of everything you have provided. You would supply all the food I needed, as well as all the clothing and the fuel necessary to keep me comfortable. You would not charge me any rent. You only ask that I thank you for your kindness, and honor your name.

"I therefore accepted your bounty, and took possession of the estate. But strange to say, I did not feel any responsibility to you whatever. I never gave you thanks; and if anyone mentioned you with a word of praise or a thought for your honor, I asked that the subject be changed. I took your name in vain, and I ridiculed anyone who sought to live in loyal obedience to your wishes.

"One day my boy took sick. In my need I called for you, and, in spite of my broken promises and neglect, you kindly came and helped me. And you continued to aid me and supply me with good things. Yet there was no change in my ways—no desire to comply with your wishes.

"At last you sent your only son, whom you love deeply, to visit me. He brought a large basket of provisions, and tried to make your love known to me in every way. Such kindness and his likeness to you only aroused enmity in my heart. I seized him and put him to death in the cruelest way possible. Colonel, how much longer would you let me live on the property?”

The colonel could easily see that I had drawn a true picture of this world and its attitude toward God and His Son. I well remember how he threw up his hands, saying, "You are doing a good work.”

We cannot brush aside the matter as easily as that. The answer to the colonel's question involves every one of us. This world has cast out and crucified as a criminal the blessed, precious, eternal Son of God. Those who now reject Him are as guilty as the ones who crucified Him, and are held accountable to God for that awful act. Judgment is sure and certain, "because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." Acts 17:31.

Professing Christendom is rapidly giving up the truth of the Bible. The whole world is falling into infidelity and the exaltation of man. This is foretold in 2 Thess. 2:1-12. The rights of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in this world are trampled into the dust. All this is hastening on the coming of the Day of Judgment.

The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to take His redeemed ones to heaven will precede the awful judgments of that time of tribulation. Afterward He will come in power and great glory, and throughout His millennial reign He will judge the world in righteousness. Then "that great and terrible day of the Lord (will) come." Joel 2:31.

In the final judgment of the unsaved at the great white throne every one of them will be judged "according to their works." Rev. 20:11-15. How tremendously serious it is for a soul to have had the opportunity of salvation and to have refused it! For that, he must be confined forever in the lake of fire under the just judgment of God.

Now God is waiting in long-suffering patience to save all who will come as lost, guilty sinners and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as their Savior. He "bare the sins of many" on Calvary's cross that ruined sinners might be saved. Do not delay! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

God will not allow evil to go on in this world forever. He is a God of Light as well as a God of Love. I pray you, accept Christ as your Savior in this day of grace, or you must surely meet Him as your judge.

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

The Substitute

During the Boer war, one of the youngest defenders of Mafeking was a tall lad only sixteen years old, Percy Markham. He had enlisted in a Colonial Volunteer Corps, and very soon found himself in the defense of Mafeking.

One evening the young soldier had just returned to quarters exhausted from two or three days' special duty outside the town. He was called by an officer and told they must have one more man for picket duty. Asked if he would volunteer, he answered: "I will go for two hours, but I am so worn out that I must have rest after that.”

He went, and the two hours had passed; but no relief had come. Feeling unable to ward off sleep much longer, he sent a special message to the captain saying he wished to see him.

When the officer arrived the young soldier explained the situation, and asked if he could not get a substitute. "Oh, yes, my boy, I can," the captain said cheerfully, and promised speedy relief.

Shortly afterward the substitute arrived. Percy was astounded to see the captain himself in the uniform of a regular trooper, ready to take the weary soldier's place.

Writing home to his mother, the boy told her of this incident. He ended with, "what a fine man! Eh, Mother?" And thereafter the captain possessed the whole-hearted devotion of the young soldier.

Reader, do you know this beautiful verse? "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:9. It was not we that asked for a substitute; but it was God the Father who sent the Son, who offered Himself to take our place.

"When blood from a victim must flow,
This Shepherd by pity was led,
To stand between us and the foe,
And willingly died in our stead!”

I ask: "Is He your Substitute? Have you received Him as such?" The answer lies with you.

Gladly the soldier found rest through the self-sacrifice of his captain. So with you, reader! God, in Christ the perfect Substitute, waits for your decision. Will you receive that precious Savior, or go on heavy laden and exposed to the judgment of a sin-hating God? Why not receive Him now? If you have never before believed and trusted Him, say:

"Jesus, I do trust Thee—
Trust Thee with my soul:
Guilty, lost and helpless,
Thou dost make me whole.
There is none in heaven
Or on earth like Thee:
Thou hast died for sinners,
Therefore, Lord, for me!”

No Wedding Garment

Mrs. Brown, a Christian woman, was seriously ill and had to be rushed to the nearest hospital. The doctor, speaking to his staff, stressed the seriousness of her case. He also told the padre that Mrs. Brown, in room 12, might not live long and would need spiritual consolation.

One day when Mrs. Brown awoke from sleep, the padre was sitting at her bedside, reading out of a little book. "What are you doing?" she asked him.

"I am praying for you, dear madam," he replied.

"It is indeed kind of you to pray for me, but what are you praying for me to get?" inquired Mrs. Brown. "That the good God may be gracious to you when your last hour comes," was the reply.

Mrs. Brown rejoined: "You need not pray for that for me. I am already pardoned; I am sure of my soul's salvation. I know for certain that I shall go to heaven.”

The padre now inquired: "Of what faith are you?”

"I belong to the people of God," Mrs. Brown answered.

Said the padre: "But we all belong to God's people!”

"No," replied Mrs. Brown, "only those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb. By nature all men are lost and must be born anew, whether priests or laymen.”

The padre's reply was, "Be calm, my dear lady! You are very ill and must not excite yourself. I will see you again tomorrow.”

Meanwhile a marked improvement in Mrs. Brown's condition took place. When the padre called on her the following day she was able to speak to him very earnestly. He listened most attentively, and his occasional objections were met one by one from the Word of God.

Suddenly he reached out his hand, saying, "Oh, pray for me! I am still without peace in my heart!”

After this interview the padre did not appear again for several days. Mrs. Brown gradually gained strength, and one day the bright sunshine tempted her to go on the veranda. As she sat there, she heard a voice from a room nearby, praying: "Oh God, have mercy on me, that I may not be like the man who entered without the wedding garment. Oh God, have mercy on me!”

These words reminded her of the conversation with the padre and she now recognized the voice as being his. She returned to her room and after an hour or so the padre entered there, his face beaming with joy. He said: "Now I have found the same peace that you have." From that day, as long as Mrs. Brown was in the hospital, he came often to talk with her of things concerning Christ, of His all-sufficiency, of the sacrifice of Himself, and of His last three hours upon the Cross. They rejoiced together in Him, the perfect sin offering and propitiation.

When Mrs. Brown was leaving the hospital she reminded him that they were now one in Christ and that they should have before them the same love that the Apostle speaks of in Rom. 9:1-3: "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing the witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

"What Shall It Profit"?

"Five hundred yards below the surface and three miles from the pit's mouth, it was that the Lord spoke to me, sir.”

Thus said the young miner in answer to my question as to how he was converted.

In a few words he told the story of the grace of God which had plucked him as a brand from the burning and given him a place of nearness and dearness in the Son of His love.

With all the vigor of his manhood, he had been working early and late in order to make money sufficient to enable him to get married. Stinting himself even in his food and clothing, only taking the barest necessities, he was adding sovereign to sovereign right rapidly.

Long hours and short rations were telling, however, upon his strong frame, when a letter from a dear friend reached him one morning. In it this solemn verse was quoted: "WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?”

Pick in hand, in the darkness of those coal "facings," the all-important question pressed its way into his very soul. "'What shall it profit,' indeed?" he thought. Resuming his work, he endeavored to shake from his mind the newly awakened 'convictions.

Days and weeks and months passed. Still the words remained with him, and his anxiety increased. His agony of soul almost deepened into despair.

Then, attending one place of religious service after another, he sought rest, but found none. But at last he heard the wondrous message of the grace of God: "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." John 3:16.

The light streamed in. He had already learned that he was a sinner deep in trespasses. Now, convicted before God, he found his powerlessness to redeem himself, or to work out his own salvation. But now he also discovered that God —the God whom he feared, and from whom he fain would have hidden, had loved, "so loved the world," that He had given His only Son, in order that "WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In all simplicity the word was preached, and in all simplicity it was received. The anxious miner learned, on the stable authority of the unalterable Word of God, that he, as a believer on the Son of God, should not perish. Not only so! He knew, too, that eternal life was his.

Reader, what will it profit YOU, if YOU gain the whole world and lose your own soul? A very improbable gain indeed, which, if possible, would not satisfy your aching, longing heart, and a certain loss of your precious, priceless soul.

You may heap together riches, and lay field to field, and house to house, but remember, "shrouds have no pockets"; and those who barter their precious souls for sordid gain, or passing pleasures, will find indeed they have made a BAD BARGAIN.

We brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The folly of frittering away eternal joys for the "pleasures of sin for a season" will be discovered when too late, before the great white throne.

Pause then NOW. Go not one step further into the fool's path to shame and sorrow and woe. Salvation is offered! The Son of God has died, and risen again, and is now glorified at the right hand of God.

The glorious gospel is still sounding out. Will you receive it?

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

A Doctor's Discovery

For many years Dr. E. was noted as one of the most skillful physicians and surgeons the West had known. His fame spread far; and from great distances the sick and afflicted sought him for consultation and to be under his care. His congenial and sympathetic manner, combined with his ability, gained for him a multitude of friends.

The good doctor was apparently gifted too as a shrewd investor. During the early years of his practice he invested his savings in holdings that grew to vast proportions so that he became famous in a twofold way. He was not only renowned in the medical profession; but, as his rating reached the millionaire class, his name became known also in the investment field.

As can be easily understood, Dr. E's time was very much in demand; but, in his eagerness for earthly gain, he, like countless others, neglected the most important issue of life—his own never-dying soul. Dear reader, before going further, God now seeks to bring before you the truth of His own Word in Matt. 16:26: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

When he was in his early fifties, it seemed to many of Dr. E's admirers that he, as it were, had the world at his feet. However, that once healthy body was now giving him considerable trouble. In his pride he sought to hide from those around him the anxiety of his feelings; but marks of failing health were becoming so evident that he was forced to consult another physician.

After a thorough examination at the hospital, it was revealed that his ailment was incurable. It had advanced very rapidly, and Dr. E. was given only three weeks to live. All his skill used for others was no longer of any avail. He must soon leave all and step out into eternity. But where? You may say: "Was he not a good man? Did he not perform many good deeds?" Yes, in the eyes of man; but, in the eyes of God, he was a lost, guilty sinner, having never been to God about his sins. Rom. 3:23 plainly tells us: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"; and Eph. 2:8 and 9: "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.”

Salvation through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross must come before good works. It is only His precious blood, and that alone, that can cleanse us from all sin. It brings us into relationship as children of God, who now have the privilege to work for Him.

The reality of eternity came before Dr. E. in all its terror. Unsaved, he was not ready to meet a thrice-holy God. Where could he find help? In that community there was another man who had renown, but not as a man of skill or of wealth. This man was known as a man of God. Friends were requested to contact this dear, godly old man, now in his eighties, and urge him to come to see Dr. E.

Mr. Mc. was contacted and taken to the hospital. He was directed to Dr. E's room where a closer acquaintance was soon established. The doctor began talking about many of his valuable holdings; but realizing their uselessness to him now, he soon turned to Mr. Mc., saying, "You no doubt know that I am a millionaire, as well as a physician. But now with only a short time to live, I have discovered that I have nothing to lean on." In distress of soul, he asked: "What help can you give me?”

The old gentleman turned the pages of his Bible to 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." John 5:24 followed: "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.”

He concluded by reading Rom. 10:9: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

The saving grace of God was presented in all its simplicity; and, in earnest prayer, pleadings went up to God for the salvation of Dr. E's precious soul.

Reader, pause for a moment if you are unsaved! Whatever your position is in this world, if you are without Christ as your Savior you have nothing to lean on. Your destiny is the lake of fire. How solemn! What a discovery for Dr. E. to find, at the end of his busy life, that all his efforts in time were wasted for eternity! His name was not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But God was very gracious to him, meeting him in his great need and saving his precious soul.

Dear unsaved one, God has not promised to save you tomorrow. That day you may never see; but He has promised to save you now, for He tells us in His Word: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

Reader, face the all-important question: Are you saved? Make your decision both for time and eternity, right now, right where you are. Accept Christ as your own precious Savior, and you will have not only His blessing in this life, but the certainty of joy in the one that's to come.

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

"Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:15.

"He that rejecteth Me, and
receiveth not My words, hath
One that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the
same shall judge him in the
last day.”

John 12:48.

December

The White Man's Book of Heaven

In the early years of the past century, what is now the "Midwest" and the center of our country, was then the "Far West" of American civilization. In its slow advance toward the Pacific, the government, seeking to maintain its costly footholds, set up many pioneer outposts and military forts.

One day in the bleakness of winter, four road-weary Indians appeared in the streets of a settlement which surrounded a fort. They brought a puzzling request to the white settlers—a request that these frontiersmen had never heard before.

"We come," they said, "from the land of the setting sun. We have heard of the white man's God, and we have been told of the white man's Book of heaven. We want it for our people.”

The Indians were presented to the commander of the military post. He received them with the utmost kindness and hospitality. He listened patiently to their story; and when they had rested from their journey, he took them on a tour of the little village. The commander showed the Indians through the newly built church. He explained to them the pictures, and other religious relics, but he ignored their oft repeated requests for the "Book of Heaven.”

Exhausted by the rigors of their long journey, two of the Indians became ill and died. They were accorded every care and honor, and their bodies were buried' near the new church with great pomp and ceremony. The other two, heart-sick and discouraged, prepared to return home.

Ere their departure the commander made a great banquet for his Indian friends. He presented them with many gifts and bade them goodspeed on their journey. One of the Indians was asked to respond. No just idea of his speech can be given, nor of the impression it produced. An English version has been given; but, like all translations, it loses much of the force of the original.

With great dignity and much solemnity the Indian said: "We came to you over the trail of many moons. In days gone by, your fathers were friends to our fathers; and from father to son we heard of the white man's God and of the white man's "Book of Heaven." Now our fathers have all gone the long way, and our people sit in darkness and wait for light. We came to you half-blind-with one eye partly opened, seeking more light. We go back with BOTH EYES CLOSED.

"How can we go back, BLIND, to our people? We made our way to you with strong arms. We came through many enemies and strange lands that we might carry back much to them. We go back with both arms BROKEN AND EMPTY. Two honored fathers came with us. They were braves of many winters and wars. They were wearied through the many moons and their moccasins wore out. They have gone to the happy hunting ground. We leave them asleep by your great water and wigwam.

"Our people sent us to find the white man's "Book of Heaven." We have failed. You showed us where you worship the Great Spirit with candles; but the Book was not there. You showed us pictures of the good land beyond. But the Book was not there to tell us the way. We go back the long, sad trail to our people of the dark land. You have made our feet heavy with many gifts, and our moccasins will grow old in carrying them; but the Book is not among them.

"After one more snow we will tell our poor blind people in the big council that we did not bring back the Book. No word will be spoken by our old men nor by our young braves. One by one they will rise up and go out in silence.

"Our people will die in darkness. They will go on the long path to other hunting grounds. No white man will go with them, for no white man's Book has been found to make the way plain. I have no more words.”

A young man present was so impressed with the touching address that he communicated with some friends in the East. He gave them an account of the fruitless visit, and of the pathetic appeal of the Indians for a Bible. Many Christians were aroused to their responsibilities; and after many months, following a toilsome and dangerous journey, a little band of faithful servants of Christ arrived on the Pacific Coast. At Vancouver, in 1834, they preached their first gospel sermon in the West. Thus was answered the Indian's plea for light for his people; and a work of God was begun which He has prospered through the years.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Rom. 10:14, 15.

Love Unbounded

"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." Isa. 53:5.

In England a certain well-known lady of title always wore gloves; she was never seen without them. One day her young son burst into her room and caught her unawares. In confusion, she sought to cover her hands, but he had seen them! In horror he shrank from the sight, for they were terrible to behold.

Rising up, the mother closed the door, saying: "Now, my boy, we are alone. You are old enough to hear about these terrible scars, and maybe they will help you realize how dear you are to Mother.

"When you were quite little, a fire broke out in the castle. The nursery was in the turret, and you were asleep there. Your nurse had fled for safety from the flames, leaving you to certain death.

"You know the old ivy branches clinging to the tower? Well, up these I climbed to the little window by your bed. I managed to crawl through; and taking you up, I swung you in a coverlet over my shoulder.

"How I prayed for strength as I began to descend! The extra weight was almost more than I could bear, and the ivy was giving way under our weight. Clinging and sliding from branch to branch I reached the ground. The flesh was completely torn from my hands, but you were saved.”

With one bound the boy threw himself into his mother's arms. Then taking her poor scarred hands, he kissed them over and over again. Then he asked for her one favor that when they were alone together she would not wear gloves. He wanted to keep before him what those hands had done for him. To him, they were beautiful hands!

Dear one, have you beheld the nail-pierced hands of the Savior? Have you realized that it was for you He bore the agony of those spikes? Can you now say: "He is altogether lovely"?

"And He showed unto them His hands and His side." John 20:20.

"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." Luke 24:39.

Conversion

An earthly doctor cures his patients by making them better day by day. Conversion is God's work in the heart of man to transform him from being a child of Satan into being a son of God.

Conversion is a complete turning from the old sinful life of Adam nature to the new life that is found only in Christ Jesus. Life in Him gives new motive power, new hopes, desires, relationships, a new road, a new owner, a new destiny.

1 Thess. 1:9, 10, sums up the whole matter: "Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.”

Say It Again?

It was Saturday afternoon, a time for study and preparation for the activities usual on Lord's Day. The quiet of the room was suddenly broken by the phone ringing. Mr. Arthur picked up the receiver and uttered a questioning "Hello.”

From the other end of the line came a rush of questions: "Are you Mr. Arthur, and did you use to teach Sunday School on Gladstone Street about twenty years ago?”

Mr. Arthur confirmed the questions with a quiet, "Yes, that's true.”

The unseen interrogator continued: "Well, you ought to remember me. I am Paul, the bad boy of the class. I went to Sunday school only because my dad made me go, and I was determined to make everybody concerned as miserable as I was. And, boy, I guess I did!

"And didn't I get paid off! You see I wouldn't listen to anybody's good advice. I had no respect for religion and no love for God in my heart. Mr. Arthur, I just have to tell you, chickens sure do come home to roost.

"I guess I was as wild as they come. Then when I grew up, I got married—married a girl as wild as I was—and we both followed the downward course. But, Mr. Arthur, she drank; and when she was drunk, even I couldn't take it. I had to leave her.

"This was a hard blow to me; but worse was coming. My brother—you remember my brother?— was killed in a railroad accident; and just a year later my dad was killed instantly in the same way. Wasn't this enough to make a fellow stop and think? I began to feel responsible, Mr. Arthur, and to think maybe God was speaking to me.

"One Saturday afternoon not long ago I was at my mother's home, just sitting alone in the living room. I was completely discouraged and depressed. What a wreck I had made of my life! My sins just welled up before me, pile upon pile, and I realized my sinful condition before God. I knew I was lost; but what could I do? Then there came to me memories of the little Sunday school, and how you used to say: 'Boys, ONLY BELIEVE! ONLY BELIEVE!' I remembered too, a part of a chorus we sang there, though I couldn't get it just right—something about 'Say it again, say it again' These words kept running through my mind: 'Only believe! Say it again.'

"Man, I was in an agony. There for about a couple of hours I was face to face with God. I saw my own wickedness as He did; and I couldn't do a thing about it. But at last I just fell on my knees before Him and told Him what a sinner I was, and that I did believe on His Son; and if He would have me like that, then I was His. And, Mr. Arthur, from that hour I have been sure that I was saved.

"But some others were not so sure. On Monday at my work one of my mates spoke to me about accepting the Lord. I told him I was saved, and he wouldn't believe me. He said: 'Why, only last Friday I heard you swear and take God's Name in vain a number of times!'

"I was glad to tell him that I had been saved on Saturday. He too was glad and invited me over to his house. There I met his wife and told her about `Say it again.' I knew there was something more to it about a tent, or a camel, and a little boy dying, and she knew it right off. But, Mr. Arthur, I just had to tell you about it!'

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." Eccl. 11:1.

"Into a tent where a Gypsy boy lay,
Dying alone at the close of the day,
News of salvation they carried. Said he,
`Nobody ever has told it to me!'

Tell it again! Tell it again!
Salvation's story repeat o'er and o'er
'Til none can say of the children of men,
`Nobody ever has told me before.'”

"Will You Come?"

As the year ends, many business firms withdraw their traveling salesmen and representatives from the "field." They practically close their business. Not only are the days the shortest, but, as if by common consent, everyone takes a holiday. All business that is not absolutely necessary is laid aside.

One commercial traveler who was being "called in," apparently was not overly well-pleased with the result of his labors. He had taken few new orders, and had found his regular customers little inclined to deal with him. So he was discouraged and depressed and hesitant about reporting to his firm. I felt sorry for him as he, in a friendly manner, opened his, heart to me, a stranger. I longed to lead his heart to the place where disappointment will never come.

Seeking right words to guide his thoughts, I said: "I know a house which never is closed, and its traveling representatives always find more business than they can possibly attend to!”

In surprise, the young man asked: "What house can that be?”

In reply I said: "It is the house of Him who said to His servant: 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.'" Luke 14:23.

To make this clear to my listener, I said: "He who says that, is God. It is therefore God's house, that is, Heaven. The servant, or representative, is sent forth with His message' of cheer, and his one business is to 'compel' people to come in, in order that God's house may be filled. Isn't that wonderful!”

Then I told my fellow traveler, as we journeyed together in the train, that the great privilege of all who belong to Christ is to invite others to receive God's call to the joys of His house. The work of these messengers has gone on continuously now for more than nineteen hundred years, and the house is not yet filled! But soon, very soon, the last invitation will have been issued and the last guest received. "Until then," as I told the interested young man, "that is my happy business and at this moment, ere the year closes, I invite you into that house.

"Will you come?" said I.

"But come where? To a house? Nay, more! To a feast? Nay, more! To la sinner's Savior? Yes, and to pardon, and love, and life! To God! Yes, and far more, to a Father-God, to the Father's house, there to receive all the joys of eternal life and heaven.

"Will you come?" I repeated.

I felt the glorious dignity of being a traveling representative for such a house at that moment, and rejoiced that from my lips went forth such a divine invitation—"Will you come?" For how soon may Heaven's "Come" be changed to eternity's "Depart," and the long, bright "clay of salvation" sink into everlasting night—how soon!

"Will you come?”

I listened for the answer. And it came: "We cannot always answer that question," was the withering reply.

I was disappointed in this case. But who, after all, is the loser? Poor young man!

"Oh," I thought sadly, "if you will not come, someone else will. That house will be filled! Christ's traveling representatives must just go in quest of those who will feel their need, and who by His grace will accept His invitation.”

Oh, ye rejecters, take heed. This call, this "Come, and welcome!" may not wait your time nor your pleasure. You will hear it once for the last time—and then? Then you shall hear the awful words: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt. 25:41.

"Come" or "Depart"—which? "Come unto Me,” or "Depart from Me"? One or the other it must be! But, reader, which?

Once more, "Will you come?”

Wages or Gift

It was the end of the week and some workmen were returning by train from an out-of-town job. They were due to receive their wages at their employer's office.

An elderly man asked them: "Did you ever hear of a day when the worker will not want his wages?”

They looked at each other in surprise, evidently thinking how ridiculous such a question was. Whoever heard of a workman refusing his wages? That was certainly not their experience, for payday was to them a very important day.

"Listen, then," said the old man, breaking the silence; "God speaks of such a day." Opening a well-worn Bible which he had drawn from his pocket, he read the familiar words: "The wages of sin is DEATH." Rom. 6:23.

Reader, are you prepared to receive such wages? Would it not be better to have the gift?

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

God is ready to present you with this gift, even now.

He refuses none who come in repentance toward Himself and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. If you will not accept the gift, you must receive the wages. "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

What Want I With the World?

What want I with the world
And all its treasures?
In Thee alone, Lord Jesus,
Are my true pleasures.
Thou art my soul's delight,
My joy I find in Thee!
My rest and peace art Thou!
My heart's tranquility!
What want I with the world?

The world is as a smoke
Which vanishes in air;
And like a shadow fleet,
That stays not anywhere!
My Savior, though, remains
When all things else decline;
My heart's true confidence;
Jesus alone is mine!
What want I with the world?

The world seeks its renown
Among the grand and great;
Thinks not how quickly glides
Its fantasy and state:
But sweeter far to me
Is Jesus' love alone;
And this my heart's desire,
To see Him on His throne.
What want I with the world?

The world seeks worldly wealth;
Its hope in mammon rests;
Its comforts rise and fall,
With money in its chests:
There is a nobler prize
On which my heart reclines;
The joys of Jesus' love,
Which in my spirit shines.
What want I with the world?

What want I with the world?
As grass it fades away;
The stamp of death is there;
It hasteth to decay;
Health doth itself depart;
All earthly creatures fade;
Jesus sustains! My heart
Is by His love repaid.
What want I with the world?

What want I with the world?
My Savior is my life,
My substance, and my joy,
In this poor scene of strife:
To Him I gladly bow;
I worship at His feet;
He is my heaven, my all!
Therefore do I repeat:
What want I with the world?

Back Door to Hell

Remember the back door to hell! There is a broad way, a public entrance for the (men sinner. But there is a back door for the hoary headed professor of religion who has lived many years in apparent sincerity, but who has been a liar before God.

There is a back door to hell for the preacher who talks fast and loud, but does not in his own heart know the truth he is preaching.

There is a back door to hell for church members who are amiable and excellent in many respects, but who have not really looked unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and found true salvation in Him.

God grant that this may wake up some who would otherwise sleep themselves into perdition.

Spurgeon

"God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto Himself.. we pray
you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God."

2 Cor. 5:19, 20.

Echoes of Grace: 1959

Table of Contents

January

He Knoweth the Way?

The Best Evidence

Straight to Port

The Answer

A Broken and a Contrite Heart

Fragment: What the Devil Dreads Most

The Great Election Day

The Good Confession

Forty Years Ago

February

A Lost Opportunity

A Brand Saved From the Fire

Instant in Season

Ole the Atheist?

True Riches

Christ and Pilate

This Fact Affects You

March

For Thee

Fortune Tellers

I Come

Why Delay?

An Agnostic's Admissions

From Darkness to Light

Christ the Object?

My Time Is Not My Own

The Fleshly Mind

Strong Faith

God's Call

April

Jehovah Tsidkenu?

A Startling Confession!

What Think Ye?

The Chart to Heaven

The Blotter

Who Is This Man?

An Unusual Appeal

Peace Within

How Is Your Soul?

The Barometer

May

Short for Time”

Rescued

How the Best Became the Worst

The Power of Love

Blind, Deaf and Dumb

A Friendly Neighbor

Fragment: Self-Confidence

Interference

June

Himself He Could Not Save!

A Hidden Grave

Lame on Both Feet

A Brand from the Burning

A Hard Case

Which Thief?

Self or Christ?

Almost

July

"Excused"

The Substitute

Only Two Stiles

Halt-Right, About-Face!

I Have My Ticket

Immensity of Creation

God's Great Love

"Know Thou?"

No Back Numbers

Three Pointed Questions

August

Such an Offer?

The Light Shines Out

The Blood of Christ

Choose!

The Delayed Train

The Thought Reader

"Whosoever"