Echoes of Grace: 1971

What a pitiful creature he was, this poor debauched product of sin! A big man, originally possessed of a strong body and a keen alert mind, Joe had attained to a high position politically. As an elected official in the big city where he had lived for many years, he was sought after socially and he was also popular among his business colleagues. Prodded by his own ambition as well as by his family's desire for prestige, Joe was climbing, step by step, up the ladder of worldly attainment and power.

Friend, have you followed the false light of Will o' the Wisp in your own search for fame or fortune? If so, you know something of the quagmires and pit-falls that beset the way of the unwary.

As Joe progressed up the ladder of success, he built his life on part of Proverbs 18:24, according to the King James Version: "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly." Many other misguided sons of Adam have made this brief portion of Scripture their slogan too, forgetting-or never knowing-that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Tim. 3:16. This latter portion would draw the attention of the aspiring ones to such words as the Apostle Paul's advice in 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Sad to say, our friend Joe gave no thought to the claims of God nor to His holy precepts themselves. Thus it was that if drink were the "order of the day" with certain groups to whom he catered, he too would have a social glass, a fine cigar, or a "fling" at the racetrack— what harm was in these so-called pleasures? Certainly a "man of the world," such as he, could safely indulge—and he did. Then as the increasing weight of duties and obligations produced more and more tensions in Joe's daily life, the occasional glass became habit, and the habit called for more and stronger indulgence. Soon duties were neglected and obligations grew to unbearable proportions. Joe began to slip down the ladder he had so blithely set out to climb.

As the habit of drink took firmer hold, Joe's erstwhile friends and even his family forsook him. As he sank lower and lower in the estimation of his former associates, drink became, in his now warped thinking, his one object in life. Thus he was classed as a hopeless drunkard, unfit for and unwelcome in any decent society. Found most often pandering for "one more drink," Joe, the gutter-snipe, became a continual nuisance both in and out of the city jail.

Yes, Joe became what was known as a "jailbird," one who was more constantly in than out of the city stockade. Sad it was that one who had showed in early life such promise of worldly success should have made total shipwreck apparently of himself and his future. Broken in health, no friends, no family, no hope of bettering himself, the only sober moments of this poor derelict's life were the few days in jail following each bout with Demon Rum. And so regularly was Joe in and out of the Big Rock, as the huge stone house of detention was called, no wonder he became known as "In Again Out Again Joe."

"But God"! Oh, the power in that Name, and what love for such as "In Again Out Again Joe"!

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins." Eph. 2:4, 5.

One Sunday night, when Joe had fairly sobered up and was sitting, sick and despondent, on the side of his cot in the prison cell, a group of young Christians came into the "block" where he was. Soon their fresh voices rang out in prayer and praise to Him who came to "seek and to save that which was lost."

Pleased with the sound of the singing, Joe was drawn to the metal door where through the grating he could get the words more plainly. Simple words they were, but to the intent listener in the jail cell they seemed most profound.

"Precious, precious blood of Jesus,
Shed on Calvary;
Shed for rebels, shed for sinners,
Shed for me.
"Precious, precious blood of Jesus,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Telling that the work is finished;
All is done.
"Though thy sins are red like crimson,
Deep in scarlet glow,
Jesus' precious blood can make them
White as snow."

As the singing ceased, a young man stepped forward and in a clear voice proclaimed the good news of salvation. Several different times he quoted 1 John 1:7: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," and often repeated John 3:16.

The drink-befuddled brain of In Again Out Again Joe could finally comprehend that the "whosoever" embraced poor Joe, and that complete cleansing of his sin-blackened soul could be his through the efficacy of the shed blood of God's Lamb. The marvel of such a gift from God Himself to such as he was slow in penetrating the drink-numbed brain; but when, through the power of the Spirit, the light of life shone into his sin-darkened heart, Joe's whole being responded in worship to the blessed One who had so loved poor, lost sinners.

Do you ask, "Then what?" Well you may, for sorrowful struggles and trials awaited this awakened soul. Like every newly converted child of God, Joe was a fresh target for the arrows of Satan. When he left the city prison, for the last time, as he thought, Joe's heart was full of joy. What a wonderful message he had for all the poor drink-sodden outcasts, the sinful dregs of society in its lowest strata! He would use every ounce of his strength to reach them and tell them what great things God would do for them.

While he was still in jail, the reality of Joe's conversion had become known to several Christian workers. Desiring to help "set him on his feet," they had assembled a wardrobe of decent, warm clothing—not an easy matter for one so large. Especially suited to the winter winds outside the Big Rock was a huge, dark overcoat that wrapped Joe's big frame in warm comfort. Also hated and shod, Joe immediately made his way to the haunts of his old companions.

Poor Joe, how little he knew of Satan's wiles and devices! The Scriptures were still almost unknown to him, and the Book of Proverbs (heavenly wisdom for the earthly pathway) held the very treasures he so much needed now. In his own strength and wisdom he was poorly equipped to contend with the enemy of souls; and to lean on his own understanding—or lack of it—was to insure failure in his very admirable undertaking. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Prov. 3:5, 6.

Scarcely had he contacted a group of his old companions before Joe realized that now his outward respectability and decent appearance antagonized them toward him. Taunts and sneers greeted his efforts to speak well of Christ; and everywhere he went among his old haunts, jeers and derision discouraged and silenced him.

Finally, weary and disheartened, Joe sought out a "free lunch" place. There, with the good food, he was served a tempting glass of beer, a satanic snare for any one like Joe. Ignorant of Satan's devices, Joe's appetite for drink was whetted by this seemingly innocent beverage and coin after coin of his small store was soon spent for more and stronger refreshment.

Heartbreakingly sad it was to watch again the downward path of poor Joe. Again the habit of drink overcame him, and, piece by piece, his garments of respectability were sacrificed to Demon Rum.

Ere long the joy of his salvation was but a memory; and time after time he was "In Again Out Again Joe" at the city jail, always repentant, always eager for another chance to prove his sincerity. Deep in his subconscious mind was rooted the knowledge that God loved him, while equally persistent in his sobering-up days was the humiliating fact of his utter unworthiness.

Where were his Christian friends now? Had they given him up to Satan? Or had they forgotten him? To both questions we can answer an emphatic "no." Joe himself, in his new sense of degradation and unfaithfulness to God, shrank from any further contact with those who had helped him. Indeed they were ready to help him again, but not in their own strength. They too had learned a lesson and had been brought to realize as never before that only the Savior of sinners has power to shepherd and to keep His sin-battered ones. The very helplessness of these Christians to aid poor Joe had cast them on their knees at the throne of grace. Many and fervent were the prayers ascending for him, and God graciously heard and answered in His own blessed way.

So it was that Joe was "in-again," following a long bout with drink and the thievery that supported him in his vicious habit. The time for his discharge was near, and, in these almost sober moments preceding the day he would be free, a sense of dread and of frustration engulfed him.

Seated on the side of his cot, Joe took stock. What awaited him now? Out in the world all he could anticipate was his overwhelming urge to drink. These degrading sessions were increasingly hard on what had been a strong physique; and Joe still had sense enough to know that the poison of liquor would someday take its full toll of both mind and body. What could he do?

As this question presented itself, he heard the noises that accompany the advent of a new prisoner—shuffling feet, muttered curses, clanging doors and grating keys. An unaccustomed feeling of pity rose in Joe's heart, a sense of oneness with another slave of sin. Was he on the same downward path Joe had followed so long? Who would warn him of its final bitterness?

Who, indeed? Joe remembered with sorrow the jeers and taunts that he had received when attempting to tell other down-and-outers of Christ. He had accepted all their insults for himself, not knowing that in such rejection the blessed Son of God was also identified (Matt. 10:40). Now, he dreaded another such rebuffing, yet longed desperately to interpose himself and his broken life between others and a prospect such as his.

How could he reach them? Poor, failing Joe knew that, once beyond the shelter of the Big Rock, his opportunity to speak for Jesus would inevitably be nullified by his own rank failures.

Then, why go beyond his present shelter? In the natural course of their dissolute lives, practically every one of his old companions eventually fell into the hands of the law. The Big Rock became their way-station to the stockade or other places of punishment. Here, Joe reasoned, he would be on a level with the lowest, and able to talk freely to any of them. And only here, in the shelter of "the law" could he find refuge from the overwhelming evils that beset him outside. So he reasoned—and so he acted.

Next day, when the "turnkey" came to set Joe free, he requested to see a judge who had often "sent him up." To this man, a kindly soul, well-acquainted with the frailties of humanity, Joe entered his plea. Almost weeping, he begged for a little corner in the prison, a place of refuge for himself. Eagerly he promised to earn his "board and keep" by doing odd jobs of cleaning and up-keep within the huge building.

"Well, Joe," the judge finally said; "if the warden takes you in on your terms, do you expect to get anything more out of this job?"

His face shining and his voice now firm, what an answer Joe gave! "Yes, your honor. Every chance I have, when you send my old buddies up, I want to speak a word for Jesus."

Needless to say, Joe got the job! In the years that followed, he contentedly mopped and swept, scrubbed and cleaned throughout the Big Rock. Many were his opportunities to "speak a word for Jesus." In his frequent exercise of what he daily gleaned from the Bible, Joe himself "grew in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord." He used these precious portions of holy writ to advise, admonish, and to encourage his humble listeners, trusting the Lord for the results. Who can say, till the judgment seat of Christ, how many poor souls were thus stopped in their sinful course and saved from going down to the pit?

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psa. 126:6.

Washington's Mistake

A gale was blowing as George Washington rode forth one December morning on his homeward way. His faithful horse had carried him safely through all sorts of conditions, on all kinds of errands, at all hours and seasons. It was no new thing to horse and rider to be caught in a snowstorm; so onward they plowed their way over the countryside, blinded by driving snow and benumbed by the piercing wind and cold. At last, however, after five strenuous hours in the saddle, home was reached.

That same day, with storm unabated, that hardy man must again ride forth, attending to other important business. "In the evening," his friend and secretary records, "excepting for a slight cold, he had been remarkably cheerful."

The general made light of his cold and said, "Let it go as it came."

The next day proved otherwise, for serious complications set in. Washington neglected to take necessary precautions at once, but went on with his manifold pressing duties. The result? On the third day, December 14, the father of his country passed away.

Through attention to a matter of seemingly small importance, this valuable man's life might have been prolonged. How much more he might have been able to accomplish, we shall never know. Through carelessness and neglect he perished, and the young nation lost a valuable leader.

You too, dear reader, are riding forth over the storm-swept scene of life, with all its benumbing blizzards, with all its piercing winds of adversity, of constant dangers and surrounding perils. The road is not always smooth. For the most, life is one long battle. Dangers, temptations, lusts, sins, snares, meet us every day. The biting winds of infidelity blow full in the face and blind many of us to the realities of eternity, of sin, and of our accountability to God for all things done in the body. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.

Every day seems a veritable blizzard in some form or other; but onward we plow our way in a determined effort to reach our destination. What destination? Friend, make sure that you are headed the right way, for "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:25.

Good for us all it would be to make that worthwhile resolve, that by God's grace, despite all the difficulties, our faces would be turned heavenward and homeward.

With George Washington, no thought of concern was entertained for a moment; death was not envisioned as possible. The case was simply—neglect. Let us meditate on that last word, viewed in this light, and enforced on our minds so vividly by Hebrews 2:3: "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"

This verse proves three great facts. The first is that God has provided salvation for all mankind, without exception. All men need salvation! God in grace has provided and offered it to the highest potentate or president, down to the lowest pauper. His salvation is within reach of all, without money or price.

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

How solemn it is that this great salvation is NEGLECTED by many! The King of kings, the Lord of all, is ignored and His offer of eternal life and joy utterly neglected by those Christ died to save. Friend, how can you escape the wrath, the doom He must accord to those who neglect so great salvation?

Bow to the Word

"I felt better every time I heard that man preach," were the words of one who had listened to man, but had not heard God. He had been attending a series of gospel meetings; but, like many others, was not convicted of sin.

"But did you not learn that you are lost?"

"Oh, no. I am not so bad as that."

"Ah, it is only the lost man who gets the Savior, Tor the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.' Do not miss the thought: it is only the sinner who is sought. For 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance' ". Luke 5:32.

"Of course I must repent and be sorry for my sins."

"Then why not repent at once?"

"I have, for a long, long while."

"Then your sins are forgiven?"

"No, I can't say that; I don't feel as I've been sorry enough."

"My dear friend, you will never feel enough sorrow to merit pardon. Besides, how can you be sorry for your thousands of sins done long ago and long since forgotten?"

"Then hasn't a man got to repent?"

"Every soul must repent, but it is 'the blood of Jesus Christ His Son that cleanseth us from all sin,' and not repentance. Repentance is not sorrow for sins, though that may be involved in it. It is self-judgment in the light of God's testimony which I have believed. The Ninevites believed God, and repented at the preaching of Jonah. Therefore, you are to hear, believe, and bow to what God says to you in His word. He says, 'All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Rom. 3:23.

"This condemns you as guilty, lost and undone. Now your only course is to bow to the sentence, acknowledge the exposure of your guilt by the Word of God, and as a self-judged sinner (the true state of a repentant soul, brought about by the Holy Spirit using God's Word) believe that He was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.

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

"Justification is freely offered, not through repentance and good works, but through the accomplished redemption of Christ. Will you take it, by faith, as it is offered freely, and thank God for it?"

"Well, if that is the scriptural plan, and it seems it is, any sinner may be saved?"

"Precisely. 'Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' "

Will you take it, reader? Salvation is free, full, and everlasting.

A Savior for You!

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

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

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

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

Ah, soon will this day of God's favor be o'er,
When He will forever have shut to the door;
How bitterly, then, all the past you'll review,
In hearing no longer—There's a Savior for you.

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?"

Hebrews 2:3

I Don't Care

In the early months of World War I came the shocking news of the loss of H. M. S. Pathfinder. Torpedoed off Harwich, she sank immediately, and two hundred and fifty men perished with her.

Two hundred and fifty souls hurried into eternity! This was the outspoken burden on the heart of the nation. What about those souls? Where are they now?

If any message from the other side could have been received, telling of their eternal safety, half the weight of that burden would have vanished. But listen! Just such a message has come across the waves from the lost ship. To the eternal glory of God we can now repeat the story of one of the crew who, only shortly before the disaster, found the path of life that leads to everlasting joy.

As far as his soul was concerned, our young friend began his career in anything but a hopeful manner. "The things that are not seen" had apparently no place in his outlook. As a boy, he was the despair of his school teachers and neighbors. Even his own parents could do nothing with him. It seemed that he came to Sunday school for the sole purpose of displaying the most outrageous conduct. It was often a question between his teacher and the superintendent as to how long his disturbances ought to be endured. There is no denying the fact that when he finally took his inglorious career into his own hands, and disappeared, the neighborhood sighed with relief.

Years went by. No word came from the troublesome boy. Then one week-end, about a month before the war broke out, he returned for a visit.

The preacher, as was his custom, was holding an open-air service. "He careth for you" was his text. Twice over, in a ringing voice, he repeated the four wonderful words. Valiantly trying to ignore a low whistle almost in his ear, he proceeded to tell the old, old story of God's love and pity.

"Remember this, however careless you may be about the future of your soul, God cares what becomes of you. He cares so much that He sent His only Son to die, so that He might make a way from earth to heaven for those who have sinned."

"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.

In simple words the preacher endeavored to touch the heart and conscience of the crowd around him. All the while the whistling grew louder and more insistent. Finally it merged into a definite song: "I don't care what becomes of me."

Obliged to turn round at this, the minister saw that the disturbing element was a young blue-jacket, with "H. M. S. Pathfinder" on his cap. Beneath the gilt letters, in spite of added years and altered dress, were the unmistakable features of his old unruly scholar. As he had gone, so had he returned, precisely the same wild, reckless, audacious spirit that in the past had created so much trouble.

Delighted at having attracted attention to himself, our blue-jacket renewed his charge with added vigor. "I don't care what becomes of me," he chanted. "I don't care what becomes of me"; and he accompanied his song with the fantastic steps of the hornpipe.

The preacher, full of concern at such flagrant behavior, dismissed the interrupted meeting. Before the sailor could make his escape, he grasped him by the arm and led him away. Once clear of the crowd, he began to reason with him on his behavior. The only response to his appeal was the same refrain: "I don't care what becomes of me."

"Do you care about nothing?" the minister asked at length. "Wouldn't you care if you knew you must die tonight?"

"Not I," was the saucy rejoinder. And again the song began: "I don't care what becomes of me!"

Feeling that words were useless, the preacher turned sadly away. A second thought came to him. "Wait a moment," he said, and from his pocket he produced a little book on the back of which he wrote in large clear letters: "IF I DIE TONIGHT I SHALL GO TO H—." Then he handed it to the sailor.

"If you really do not care what becomes of your soul," he said, "before you go to bed tonight finish writing that last word. Then sign your name to it. Only remember, there are two ways in which that last word can be spelled."

Defiant and unsobered, the young fellow put the little book into his jumper. He swaggered down the street, singing: "I don't care what becomes of me."

The minister went his way, slowly and sadly, wondering if he had been wise and praying with his whole heart and soul that the rebellious young life might be transformed by the grace of God.

To tell the truth, not much faith was in that prayer; but it is not always according to a man's faith that answers are bestowed. The very next day the answer came. At the morning service, who should be at the service but the disturber of the previous evening! At the close of the meeting a very subdued, humbled young man made his way down the aisle and followed the minister into his study. He wasted no time on preliminaries.

"I am utterly miserable," he volunteered with a shudder. "I couldn't go to sleep last night. I couldn't finish that last word, for I do care what becomes of me. I know where I should go, if I died now."

There was no need for the servant of God to point out his utter unfitness for heaven. Sin lay like a heavy burden on the man's mind: sin that deserved punishment—sin that must keep him forever outside the Golden City where "naught that defileth can ever enter in." The very thought that such as he could expect admission there drew from him a bitter laugh.

"If I died tonight, I should go to hell," he said miserably.

"But Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners from hell," answered the preacher triumphantly. "It was because He knew the horrors of that awful place that He died to deliver us from it."

Glancing down at the ribbon on the man's cap, which was revolving nervously in his roughened hands, he went on: "The Lord Jesus is our Path-finder. He found a plan by which He could make a path for sinners from earth to heaven. It cost Him His very life to make that way; but He thought it worthwhile to die in our stead and open the gate of heaven to all believers.

"Listen to this: 'I am the Way,' says the Savior Himself. 'No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.' You see, He Himself is the Way that leads to heaven, and the wonderful part is that 'whosoever will' may come to Him."

The sailor did not speak, but the anxiety on his face deepened. "I do care what becomes of me" was written all over it.

"Here is a comforting verse," the minister continued in dead earnest: "CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY."

`He died that you might be forgiven,
He died to make you good,
That you might go at last to heaven,
Saved by His precious blood.'

"You used to sing that when you were a little boy. Do you remember?"

Not all at once, but bit by bit the man's countenance cleared. By the grace of God, and the comfort of the Spirit, he gradually saw that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is all that God requires from sinners for admission into His family and His home. After a few broken words of humble, thankful prayer, the forgiven sailor went on his way rejoicing.

Two days later the young sailor appeared again. This time he came to say good-by. His whole attitude was expressive of the miraculous change that had taken place. He gave every evidence of one who did most earnestly repent and was heartily sorry for his misdoings. By the grace of God he intended from henceforth to lead a new life in Christ, walking in God's holy ways. After a last handshake, a last "God bless you," the boy was off to rejoin his ship.

For just one month after the outbreak of war the Pathfinder took her share in guarding the coast. For just one month that young convert to Jesus Christ was given the opportunity to tell his shipmates what God had done for him; and then in one moment he was summoned into the presence of his Maker.

Before the casualty lists were published, his friend, the minister, seemed to know by instinct that his old scholar's name would appear among the dead. How he longed with unutterable longing to know how that last month had been lived! Had the change been real? Had his life altered with his faith?

It was only a day or two before an answer was sent that silenced all questionings. A survivor from the lost ship came himself to tell the friends in the village the very things they longed to know. Making no secret of the miracle that had changed him, the once godless sailor had humbly endeavored to tell his comrades the good news of salvation for sinners. The change in his life was so striking that his words bore weight. They were listened to with real interest; and several of his shipmates were led to look to the Savior as their only hope of salvation.

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

Strength for the Year

Over all the unopened year God casts His light. There can be no experience till the year ends for which there will not be strength. God never gives a duty, but He gives also the needed power to do it. He never lays on us a burden, but He will sustain us under it. He never sends a sorrow, but He sends the comfort to meet it. He never calls to any service, but He provides for its performance. We need only to be sure that we wait upon God, and then all the strength that we need shall be given, as we go on day by day.

"I asked for strength, for with the noontide heat
I fainted, while the reapers, singing sweet,
Went forward with ripe sheaves I could not bear.
Then came the Master, with His blood-stained feet,
And lifted me with sympathetic care.
Then on His arm I leaned till all was done;
And I stood with the rest at the set of sun,
My task complete."

"Let him dip his foot in oil [i. e., walk in the power of the Spirit]. Thy shoes shall be iron [strength] and brass [discernment]; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Deut. 33:24, 25.

Without a Whisper

It was a solemn moment. A hush settled over the august company as their monarch, Louis XV, King of France, raised his hand to issue a royal proclamation.

"I command that, from henceforth, the subject of death is never to be mentioned in my presence!"

A deeper silence, if possible, greeted the royal proclamation. Could a king's word blot out death? The tide of time soon proved the folly of such a decree. There might never be the "whisper" of the word DEATH before his royal face, but surely, surely, there was the constant whisper of a voice deep within the soul. As it was for a king, so 'tis for all men. The Word of God has definitely declared, "It is appointed unto men once to die." Heb. 9:27. The whisper of the warning can never be stilled by any act of mortal man.

A short distance away is a beautiful home. It is now vacant, for the owner and sole occupant has passed away. Going through the rooms one is instantly struck by the sense of something wrong, something missing. What? It cannot be placed at first. Then one realizes that there is not a single clock, nor calendar, nor mirror anywhere! The owner dreaded the thought of time's swift passage... and, how dreadful! The soul is now passed beyond this life, through death and into eternity beyond.

"Saying so don't make it," is an old saying; to which we can append, "not saying so, don't make it so." The fear of death is the blighting mark of sin. It brands its shadow across the whole of living unless there is a drastic change and the personal entrance of the Lord of life into the heart through the marvel of new birth (John 3). Is He therefore real to you? Is His "so great salvation" a living blessedness for all these days, in this kind of a world? Why live in the blight of bondage when the Son of God would make you free indeed?

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:55, 56, 57.

Lost in the Church

"What did the preacher mean by saying there are many lost in the church? I thought the church was the place where we were to get saved, and that taverns and gambling dens were the kind of places to get lost in." So said a young man to his Christian friend.

"You are right in thinking that numbers of people go to hell by the way of the tavern and gambling den. There can be no want of charity in saying that these are not the haunts of saved people, who are said to follow the Lord, and walk in newness of life. The frequenters of such places plainly show 'whose' they are and whom they serve. They belong to the devil. His service is their employment; and unless they are converted to God, born of the Spirit, and cleansed from sin, they will be shut out of heaven, and spend eternity in hell.

"But you are entirely wrong in the idea that connection with a church will secure your entrance into heaven. I know full well that many think so, and I do not altogether wonder at it. In many cases they are publicly taught that membership in 'the church' is the way of salvation. In other cases where this is not said in so many words, there is a tacit understanding that 'church membership,' partaking of the sacraments,' and attention to 'the means of grace,' partly, if not wholly, secure salvation, so that the people are really taught to expect salvation by being connected with 'the church.'

"That is all a delusion. Sinners go to hell through the church as surely as through the tavern, only the devil can more easily deceive them there. A false religion serves his purpose admirably; and so long as he can keep sinners from Christ, and thus hinder them from being saved and made fit for heaven, he will not find any fault with them for being 'in the church.' On the contrary, I believe he will favor making sinners church members, so long as they remain unconverted. In other words, 'Lost in the Church.' "

"I never heard the like before. It is high time that some of us church members were looking to our whereabouts."

"Yes, high time. I wonder you have been so long in beginning. Lose no time. Eternity is drawing near. The judgment is coming. How fearful, then, the doom of those who remain Christless-`Lost in the Church!"'

"Hell is deep and everlasting,
Turn, poor sinner, turn and flee;
Deeper down than Tire and Sidon,
Shall the false professor be."

Scripture says: "I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly." Prov. 5:14.

A Simple Offer - a Simple Acceptance

I must say (wrote Dr. Chalmers in a letter to a friend) that I never had so close and satisfactory a view of the Gospel as when I have been led to contemplate it in the light of a simple offer on the one side, and a simple acceptance on the other. It is just saying to one and all of us: "There is forgiveness through the blood of My Son: take it"; and whoever believes the reality of the offer, takes it. It is not in any way the reward of our own services; it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are apt to stagger at the greatness of the unmerited offer, and cannot attach faith to it till we have made up some title of our own. This leads to two sad consequences: it keeps alive the presumption of one class who think that something in themselves confers a right to salvation. And it confirms the discouragement of another class, who look into their own hearts and their own lives, and cannot find a shadow of a title to the divine favor. The error of both lies in their looking to themselves, when they should be looking to the Savior.

"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." Isa. 45:22.

If I were to come as an accredited agent from the upper sanctuary with a letter of invitation to you, with your name and address on it, you would not doubt your warrant to accept it. Well, here in the Bible is your invitation to come to Christ. It does not bear your name and address, but it says, "Whosoever." That takes you in. It says, "all"— that takes you in. It says "any"— that takes you in. What can be surer or freer than that?

The Lord Jesus, or the Sage

It was in an Eastern city, nearly nineteen hundred years ago. A funeral cortege had just passed out through the city gate. The dead man was the only son of his mother and she was a widow. Much people of the city were with her.

And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother. And there came a great fear on all; and they glorified God.

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

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

Have you any knowledge of help and hope for such a state?

Do you know a Savior who can give life? I know of a world that is sunk in shame, Where hearts oft faint and tire, But I know of a Name, a NAME, a NAME! That can set that world on fire!

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

Dear to God

Oh, that when Christians meet and part,
These words were graved on every heart,
They're dear to God!
However willful and unwise,
We'll look on them with loving eyes,
They're dear to God!
Oh, wonder! To the Eternal One,
Dear as His own Beloved Son;
Dearer to Jesus than His blood,
Dear as the Spirit's fixed abode,
They're dear to God!

When tempted to give pain for pain,
How would this thought our words restrain;
They're dear to God!
When truth compels us to contend,
What love with all our strife should blend!
They're dear to God!
When they would shun the pilgrim's lot
For this vain world, forget them not;
But win them back with love and prayer,
They never can be happy there,
If dear to God.

Shall we be THERE so near, so dear,
And be estranged and cold whilst HERE—
All dear to God?
By the same cares and toils oppressed,
We lean upon one faithful breast;
We hasten to the same repose;
How bear, or do, enough for those
So dear to 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

A Brave Pilot

In a cemetery in Buffalo, N. Y., there is a magnificent marble monument with the inscription in letters of gold:

To the Pilot, John Maynard,

from

The grateful passengers of the "Swallow."
"He died for us."

John Maynard was a pilot on a steamer plying between Buffalo and Detroit. One beautiful day in summer, the boat was loaded with passengers. Suddenly the terrible cry of "Fire! Fire!" was heard. Soon everybody became aware of volumes of smoke arising from the hold. All hands rushed on deck, and torrents of water were soon pouring on the flames; but to no purpose. The cargo of tar had caught fire and was blazing fiercely.

The passengers crowded around the pilot. "How far are we from Buffalo?" they asked.

"A mile and a half," was the reply.

"How long will it take to make it?"

"At the rate we are going, about three quarters of an hour. But look, the smoke is getting worse. Stay in the front of the boat, if you want to save your lives."

They all rushed to the bow, passengers, crew, men, women, and children. The after-part of the boat disappeared amid the smoke and fire which came whirling upwards.

"John Maynard!" shouted the captain through his megaphone.

"Aye, aye, sir, what's the course?"

"East south east," rang the answer.

The fire grew worse and worse, but the shore was nearer now. "John Maynard!' the captain called again.

"Aye, aye, sir," came the answer through the raging flames and smoke.

"Can you hold 'on for five minutes more?" shouted the captain.

"I'll hold on, with the help of God." But those were the last words he was heard to utter. At that moment the brave man's hair and beard were burning and his clothes were on fire. His right hand was a cinder, but his left still held the tiller fast and guided the boat to safety.

All got ashore. Only John Maynard was dead.

The crew, the passengers and many of the people of Buffalo followed the body to its last resting place. Many tears have been shed on that tomb by those who lived because he had died; and the golden letters on the black marble were the expression of full and grateful hearts.

"He died for us."

And you, who read these lines, have you ever given a thought to Him who died on Calvary? He was insulted by men, forsaken by all, even by God Himself! Have you realized that the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was your deliverance, your salvation? And have you written, not in letters of gold on a tomb, but in burning letters on the tablet of your heart:

"He died for me"?

An American Millionaire

George M. Pullman, president of the "Pullman Palace Car Company," died leaving a fortune of several millions of dollars. He was what the world calls a "self-made man," having amassed his wealth through his own unaided exertions. At the age of twenty-one he left Brockton, New York, and moved to the city of Chicago. Being of an inventive turn of mind, he constructed the palatial railway car which bears his name. The land on which the town of Pullman (now a part of Chicago) is built, belonged to him and, not unnaturally, he took a great interest in its prosperity.

A representative of the Chicago Dispatch interviewed the millionaire not long before his death. In answer to questions put to him, Mr. Pullman is reported to have made the following statement: "I believe I am no better off, certainly no happier, than I was when I did not have a dollar to my name, and had to work hard from daylight to dark. I had only one good suit of clothing then, and I can only wear one now. I relished three meals a day then a great deal more than I enjoy my three meals a day now. I had fewer cares; I slept better, and I may add that, generally, I believe I was far happier in those days than I have been on many days since I became a millionaire. And yet," he added, "it is a comfortable feeling to be rich."

According to the millionaire's confession the possession of wealth did not increase his happiness. When he worked hard in the carpenters' shop from daylight to dark he was a "far happier man." His sleep was sweeter, his cares fewer, and his appetite better. Even though now a millionaire, he could only wear one suit of clothes at a time, and was unable to eat more than three "square" meals a day!

What advantages did he claim to possess that he did not have when for his daily bread he worked in his shirt sleeves as a journeyman joiner?

"And yet it is a comfortable feeling to be rich!" The "comfortable feeling" Mr. Pullman attained did not relieve him from care and anxiety. It did not assist him in obtaining refreshing sleep, nor did it lead to an improved appetite. "I am no better off, and certainly no happier, than when I had not a dollar to my name."

You who have set your hearts on "getting on" in this world, ponder Mr. Pullman's testimony. It may cause you to be less anxious to acquire wealth. True indeed are the words of Scripture: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." Ecclesiastes 1:8.

It is a common belief that the possession of riches brings happiness in its train. What a great mistake! With increased wealth come increased cares, and with increased cares increased trouble. It is a wicked delusion that the soul of man can be satisfied with material prosperity.

The rich farmer spoken of by the Lord Jesus addressed his soul in the following words: "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Luke 12:19. The soul, however, cannot be silenced in that way. Eating and drinking may satisfy animals, but this cannot satisfy the longings of an immortal spirit. Wealth, honor, pleasure, nor fame can quench the soul's thirst.

Hearken to the testimony of King Solomon: "Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy: for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was the portion of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun." Eccles. 2:10-11.

Solomon had all that this world could give, but his testimony was that there was no profit "under the sun." Love, and life, and lasting joy can only be found in Him who once died for us on Calvary, and is now enthroned in the glory.

Ponder His words to you, O unsaved reader! "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33.

Christ's Sympathy

It is well to know that this is not the day of Christ's power. It is the day of His grace and sympathy.

When passing through the deep waters of affliction, the heart may at times feel disposed to ask: "Why does not the Lord display His power and deliver me?"

The answer is, "This is not the day of His power." In the time of His child's deep need, "He giveth more grace." He could avert that sickness—He could remove that difficulty—He could take off that pressure—He could prevent that catastrophe—He could preserve that beloved and cherished object of your heart from the cruel grasp of death.

But instead of putting forth His power to deliver, He allows things to run their course. He pours His own sweet sympathy into the oppressed and broken heart in such a way as to draw out the acknowledgment that we would not for worlds have missed the trial because of the abundance of the consolation.

Such, my reader, is the manner of the Lord Jesus just now. By and by He will display His power. He will come forth as the rider on the white horse. He will bare His mighty arm. He will avenge His people, and right their wrongs forever.

But now His sword is sheathed. His arm is covered. This is the time for making known the deep love of His heart, not the power of His arm, no, nor the sharpness of His sword.

ARE YOU SATISFIED TO HAVE IT SO? IS CHRIST'S SYMPATHY ENOUGH FOR YOUR HEART, even amidst the keenest sorrow, and the most intense affliction?

The restless heart, the impatient spirit, the unyielded will, would lead one to long to escape from the sickness, the difficulty, the pressure. But this would never do. It would involve incalculable loss to the one in affliction's ways.

We must pass from form to form in the school of life, but the Master accompanies us. The light of His countenance and the tender sympathy of His heart sustain us under the most trying circumstances.

"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior." Isa. 43:1, 2, 3.

Does It Say 'Lost!' Ma'am?

Mrs. Cook, a Christian worker in Newcastle—on—Tyne, with a friend had just finished distributing notices of an evening gospel meeting to be held in a hall nearby. As they started home for supper, tired in but not of the work, Mrs. Cook suddenly said to her friend, "I must go and call at number—."

"Oh, very well," said her friend, "but not till after supper."

"The Lord tells me to go at once, and I will; supper can wait."

So they parted. Mrs. Cook walked towards the number indicated. When she got to it, there stood an anxious looking woman on the doorstep, gazing about. Mrs. Cook stopped and looked at her.

"Oh, ma'am,' the excited woman said, "do you know where I could get a minister?"

"Not just now," said Mrs. Cook; "but if it's anyone seeking the Lord Jesus, I'll be glad to talk to them."

"It's a dying girl," said the woman. "Will you come in and see her, ma'am?"

Mrs. Cook followed her upstairs and into a bedroom. There lay one of the most beautiful girls she had ever seen, and evidently she was dying. The Christian worker's heart went out to the poor girl in an instant. She sat down by the bedside and spoke to her of Jesus and His offer of salvation. The girl would not listen, and seemed angry that anyone should enter her room and speak to her like that.

Mrs. Cook left the house with an aching heart. That night she could not sleep for thinking of that poor unsaved, dying girl. Early next morning she got up, and filling a basket with some delicacies likely to tempt the appetite of an invalid, she set off in a downpour of rain for the sick room. She was soon at the house and was shown upstairs. On the landing she said, "I'll just take off my raincoat. It is dripping, and it might be bad for her if I sat in it by her bedside."

The sick girl heard this kind comment, and it touched her heart. She raised herself on her elbow as Mrs. Cook entered, and cried out, "Oh lady, why do you come to see a person like me on such a morning?"

"Why, that's nothing at all, my dear," said Mrs. Cook. "I'd do very much more than that for you."

"Ah! but lady, if you knew how wicked I am, you wouldn't come near me," said the girl.

"Wouldn't I?" said Mrs. Cook. "Didn't our Lord Jesus Christ come all the way from heaven to seek and save that which was lost? And if He came that distance, why shouldn't I come this little way?"

"Does it say lost, ma'am? Does it say lost, in the Book? Did Jesus Christ come to save the lost?" she cried out as if she had heard something delightfully sweet for the first time.

"Yes, my child, I'll read it to you out of the Book," and Mrs. Cook read from Luke 19:10: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was LOST."

Then the dying girl for the first time in her life grasped what the Lord Jesus Christ had done and that it was for her. Raising herself in the bed and stretching her arms upwards, she cried, "Oh God, how I thank Thee! You know I'm lost."

In a little, she became composed. She rested her sin-stained soul on Christ and His finished work. Jesus had sought and saved this lost one at the eleventh hour.

"Lady," she said, "please do one thing more for me. Will you write my mother, and ask her if she'll take me home to die?"

Mrs. Cook was glad to do this small service for the repentant wanderer, and in a few days her loving mother came and took her child home. She did pass away very soon; and, continued Mrs. Cook, with a happy ring in her voice as she told the story, "I'll meet that dear girl in heaven."

"Poor thing," your heart may say; "she was lost indeed." Keep your pity for yourself, my reader, for if you are Christless, you are as much lost as she was.

"All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way." Note the words, "All we... have gone astray." She strayed, and so have you.

"We have turned every one to his own way." She turned to her own way, as you have turned to yours.

She was lost, and so are you. There is no difference. Has Jesus found you, as He found her? Can you say:

"I was lost but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way."

"Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." Luke 15:7.

The Unlocked Door

As long as men are given to stealing, safes and locks will be needed. The harder they are to unlock, the better. Yet a strange thing happened a short time ago.

A notorious thief was caught with a bunch of keys, fifty-six in number. He was attempting to unlock a door with the express purpose of robbery. How many of the keys he had tried, or how long he had been attempting to unlock the door, we do not know. A watchman, however, caught him at it and handed him over to the police. He was fined for malicious trespass.

However, he might have tried all day and all night, and for the rest of his life to unlock that door. He could never have succeeded in his purpose for the simple reason that it was already unlocked. All he had to do was to turn the handle and walk in.

This reminds us, however, of a mistake made by hundreds of thousands, even millions, of honest people in a matter where a mistake is absolutely fatal, not only for time but for eternity, not only for the body but for the soul. We refer to the matter of the soul's salvation. If men only realized the seriousness of sin and their lost estate before God, how anxious they would be to enter the door of salvation! Indeed' many are thus anxious, but they make the serious mistake of thinking that the door is locked, and that they have to find the key with which it may be unlocked.

Many keep bungling at the door of salvation with the key of good works. They think this will unlock the door, and insure their reaching heaven at last. But good works can never merit heaven. The Bible is plain on that point. We read that salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2: 9.

The prophet Isaiah goes further, and stigmatizes in plain and forcible language the efforts of the unregenerate sinner: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6.

Friend, that door is already unlocked. What unlocked it? The Savior cried, "I am the Door: BY ME if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9. He did the work of salvation at the cross. He cried, "It is finished." John 19:30. The work is DONE.

A Christian lady said to an earnest but unconverted religionist, "The difference between your religion and mine consists of TWO letters."

"Whatever do you mean?" he replied.

She answered, "Your religion is a hopeless religion, summed up in one word, DO. My religion is summed up in one triumphant word, DONE. Christ has DONE the work at the cross that has saved my soul."

Some actually are trying to force the door of salvation with the key of money. Was that not what Luther fought against when a representative of the church was telling the people that at the instant their money clinked at the bottom of his capacious alms-box, the soul of their dead relative would be released and ascend to heaven?

Money cannot buy salvation. Not all the money of the multi-millionaires can wipe away ONE sin, while "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from ALL sin." 1 John 1:7.

There is a fine church, towering as a handsome landmark. It was built by a wealthy retired ship-owner in his old age, and was intended as a peace offering to God. A person passing by when it was first built jerked his head in the direction of the church, saying sarcastically, "A big fire premium!" If the ship-owner thought that by erecting it he would earn salvation, he would find, to his eternal cost, that his act would not save his soul, nor hinder his being cast into the lake of fire.

All keys are useless in opening an unlocked door. The DOOR to life eternal swings wide when approached by simple faith in the Savior. We read that "the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. What can you do with a gift? You cannot buy it, you cannot earn it. All you can do is to ACCEPT it, and give grateful thanks. Why not do so here and now?

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

Behold the Man!

Behold the Man—with thorn-crowned head,
See Him in purple robe arrayed;
The Gentile fain for Him would plead,
Rebellious Jews His fate decreed.
"He must not live," they cried aloud,
"He calls Himself the Son of God."

Behold the Man—with visage marred,
Whose form the cruel scourge had scarred;
It pleased the Lord to bruise Him sore,
The penalty for sin He bore.
Now hanging on the cursed tree,
Hark at His cry of agony.

Behold the Man—whom God forsook
Because on sin He would not look;
That holy, blessed, sinless soul
For three dark hours must bear the whole
Of what was due to guilty man,
And thus work out redemption's plan.
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Behold the Man—with glory crowned,
At God's right hand now see Him owned,
As source of God's supreme delight,
In scenes of glory none so bright!
O sinner, look to Him and live,
'Tis He the bread of life can give.

Behold the Man—O waiting saint,
Whose heart is turning weak and faint;
Tho' tarrying still, He soon will come
And take thee to His glorious home;
Look off to Christ, keep Him in sight,
His presence is this dark world's light.

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

Ezekiel 33:11

Won by Love

A soldier was about to be brought before his commanding officer for some offense. He was an old offender, and had often been punished. "Here he is again," said the officer when the culprit's name was mentioned. "Flogging, disgrace, solitary confinement, everything has been tried with him."

The sergeant stepped forward, and apologizing for the liberty, said: "There is one thing, sir, which has never been done with him."

"What is that?" said the officer.

"Well, sir," said the sergeant in trembling tones, "he has never been forgiven."

"Forgiven!" exclaimed the colonel, aghast at the suggestion. He reflected a few minutes, ordered the culprit to be brought in, and asked him what he had to say to the charge.

"Nothing, sir," was the reply; "only I am sorry for what I have done."

Turning a kind and pitying look on the man, who expected nothing else than that his punishment would be increased with the repetition, the colonel addressed him, saying, "Well, we have tried everything with you to no avail. Now we are resolved to—forgive—you."

The soldier was struck dumb with amazement. The tears started in his eyes, and he wept like a child. He was humbled to the dust, and, thanking his officer, he retired—to be the old refractory, incorrigible man? No! From that day forward he was a new man, for loving—kindness had won him. He who told the story had him for years under his eye, and a better-conducted man never wore the country's colors.

The incident just related is but a faint picture of the way in which God is dealing with sinners. Man has been repeatedly tried by God, but in every instance has failed. Then the question arises: Oh, what shall be done with him? Mercy would fain answer, "Forgive." But Justice says, "No," for the "wages of sin is death." "Without shedding of blood is no remission." The cry of Justice is, "Blood! Blood!"

What is to be done? Evidently death must be meted out as the punishment of sin. Though the love and grace of God desire the sinner's salvation, yet His justice—which is infinite as His mercy—must be satisfied. To whom shall we look then for deliverance? To man? No! We have already seen him to be a complete failure under every trial, from first to last.

Listen! Let God speak: "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." Job 33:24.

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38, 39.

Reader, are you forgiven? If you are still in the power of Satan, you are liable at any moment to be launched into hell! Trifle not. Time is very short. "Now is the day of salvation."

Divine Intervention

While I was but a young schoolboy, I had a most frightening experience. I had seen other boys, my playmates, climb up a high stone wall that held a railway embankment. There they would hang over the edge for a few minutes before dropping to the ground. It was a foolish thing to do, and earned only the plaudits of other foolish boys.

To prove that I could do whatever the others did, I determined to make the climb too. I would make a grand name for myself, also! Without counting the cost, up the wall I went, there being fairly easy toeholds up the side.

When I reached the top, I dropped down on my knees as the others had. Gently I let myself back over the wall, hanging onto the top with my hands. Glancing down, I came to my senses. What a drop that would be!

Scared through and through, I sought how I could save myself; but it was too late. To pull myself up I could not, and to let go was like dropping into death.

Frantic with fear, I hung in mid-air, sure that death was awaiting me at the foot of the wall. Why did I not pray? I could not even call on God, for I did not know Him. In fact, I was so far away from Him that the thought of prayer never entered my mind.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Rom. 11:33.

In spite of my ignorance of Him, the God of all wisdom and knowledge took note of me. In His wondrous overruling providence, He undertook on my behalf. A man working nearby had been aware of my foolish endeavor and now saw my helplessness and distress. Like the Good Samaritan in the case of the half-dead man on the road to Jericho, he came where I was. Bending down, he took fast hold of me, lifted me up and set my feet on top of that solid wall. I was saved by one who saw and pitied me, and who stooped down and picked me up.

That is a lesson I could not forget; and God applied it, spiritually, to my case in later years. For a time came in my life when I was overwhelmed with a sense of sin and guilt in the sight of God. How I longed to lead a godly life! But my striving was all in vain. I dared not die in my sins, and nothing I could do gave peace to my soul. In my misery I cried to God; but not until I had proved all my ideas of fitness to be worthless, not until I learned my own utter helplessness, did I find any relief. When I gave up my own efforts for salvation and submitted totally to the saving of the Lord Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of His precious blood, only then did I learn the joy of being "only a sinner saved by grace."

"I would rather be poor and know Jesus,
Than own all the world and be king;
For only those who know Jesus
In heaven His praises shall sing."

The Question Answered

What is life? What was its beginning? Where can one find the answers? They still escape students, philosophers, and scientists today as they did yesterday. For the Christian, the answer is CHRIST. He alone is the answer.

In godless Russia, a newspaper correspondent sat on a bench in a boulevard. Next to him was a woman reading a New Testament. "An interesting book?" he asked.

Startled, she replied: "It is a holy Book." In her youth she had been a member of the Communist League of youth, for she wanted to learn all about the origin of life, why we live, and where we go. From communism she got no satisfaction. Her questions were always ignored, but eventually the inference was that everything was material. She absorbed the teaching that LIFE was only matter, and that for her there was nothing else except vibration.

"Horrible," she exclaimed, with a shudder of disgust.

The questioner sneered, "And now from that Book you know the origin of everything?"

She replied: "Yes, now I know. Everything is vanity except the gospel of God. It is like a cool well, full of stillness. In it I find all the right answers, and it gives rest from the desires of the world."

What a contrast to a young millionaire whom we knew! He had drunk deeply at the miserable springs of this poor world. Did he thus find joy or peace? No. He ended his life on this earth by his own hand! Before doing so he wrote his own obituary: "Died: of old age at 21."

Reader, Jesus Christ is the SOURCE of life. Indeed, He SUPPORTS the life which He brings. Through His death alone His life is available to all who will appropriate it (make it their own) by faith in the once crucified but now risen and glorified Son of God.

He has said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

Dancing for Joy

Undoubtedly the lady with whom I was conversing was a Christian, and it was with deep concern that she inquired, "Have you heard of my daughter Martha going in for dancing?"

"No, indeed," I replied. I then asked her, "Have you ever heard of the joy in heaven over every poor sinner that repents and returns to God the Father; and we never hear of that joy ceasing. We must pray that Martha's heart be given to the Savior and then worldly joys will have no hold."

Earthly pleasure is not lasting. It ceases in a very short time! "The pleasures of sin" are only "for a season" (Heb. 11:25). The world has nothing satisfying to offer, nor anything that will stand the test in God's Day of Judgment.

Let us see what God has to offer us: First, His Son, Jesus, as a Savior, a shelter from the coming storm.

Second, eternal blessing. We read, "In Thy presence is fullness of joy: at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psa. 16:11.

Two young ladies attended a gospel meeting one Lord's Day. God spoke very loudly to them through His Word, and they realized they were sinners and needed the Savior. They intended to be saved, but they said: "Not till next Sunday night!"

They were invited to a dance the following Wednesday night, and that is why they postponed a decision for Christ. The dance was given first place, and their soul's salvation was secondary.

After the dance was over on the Wednesday night, they left to go home. They had to traverse a railway crossing to reach their destination. They watched one train coming; but, sad to say, another train was approaching from the opposite direction. They were quite unaware of this. When they stepped on the rails, the engine crashed upon them, and they were both cut to pieces.

Reader, this story is true, sadly true. They both left the Gospel Hall saying, "Next Sunday night." They put off everlasting blessing for a paltry dance.

Reader, think of the solemn possibility of your soul being lost forever—for eternity! Are you going down to hell with your eyes open? Are you still dancing on the way there? Is Satan luring you on by his so-called pleasures?

Let me appeal to you: stop dancing for the devil, and start dancing for joy in communion with God— for the joy of your heart that your soul is saved from hell, and that you are saved for heaven through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work of redemption on Calvary's Cross.

Wrath is coming for the godless. In the midst of life we are in the midst of death. But "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." John 3:36.

Last Call for Supper

"What time is your last call for supper?"

A Christian on a train was distributing Gospel tracts among his fellow-passengers. He had reached an elderly man whose attention was absorbed in reading the evening paper. Mechanically, without raising his eyes, he took the proffered tract. Evidently thinking that the "tract passer" was the dining-car attendant distributing copies of the "bill of fare," he then hurriedly asked the question: "What time is your last call for supper?"

The Christian quickly informed him that the little paper he had just received was a call from the Lord of glory, and that it was for the Gospel supper. After a few words more, he passed on to others.

As he took his seat again, the question he had just heard kept ringing in his ears: "When is the last call for supper?" He too now questioned: Why wait for the last call? The invitation to the "great supper" has been going out to this world of poor, perishing, hungry sinners for more than 1900 years—the supper which God has provided. It is recorded in Luke 14: 1624: "Come, for all things are now ready."

It is a personal invitation. Have you responded to it yet? If not, let me warn you today of your danger. "The day of grace" will soon end, and the last call will soon reach the ears of Christ-rejecting sinners.

Only God can answer the question, "What time is the last call for this supper?" No one on earth has this knowledge. Therefore, there is the utmost necessity for unsaved ones to make ready for the feast by coming to Christ now.

Friend, the day of grace is soon to end. The Lord is coming! "The Master of the House" will soon rise up, and shut the door, and they that are ready will go in with Him to the feast. His call sounds out: "COME."

Are you ready?

What God Can Afford

What God does for sinners He does FREELY, for He has everything, and needs no payment. We have not anything, and can make no payment. His terms of business are in Isaiah 55:1: "He, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

A story is told of Sir Spencer Wells, a famous surgeon. He was consulted by a lady of limited means who was advised that an operation was necessary. The fee mentioned would be much beyond her ability to pay. "Can you not take less?" asked the patient, thinking of her very inadequate resources.

"No, madam," was the physician's reply. "I cannot afford to take less, but I can afford to take—NOTHING."

How like the Great Physician! Of HIM we read: "And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind Him and touched the border of His garment, and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.

And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Luke 8:43-48.

The Lord cannot take less than the full price, and he who would attempt to pay must remember that Jesus said: "Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing." Matt. 5:26.

What is the price of salvation to one who would work for it? Perfect obedience is God's demand in such a case. He says, "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." Gal. 5:3, 4.

The Great Physician takes no part payment for His work—it is all of grace: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work." Rom. 11:6.

Blessed truth! He will not take less, but He will take—NOTHING.

Love for nothing? "I will love them FREELY." Hosea 14:4.

The Water of Life for nothing? "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life FREELY." Rev. 21:6. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life FREELY." Rev. 22:17.

Justification for nothing? "Justified FREELY by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Rom. 3:24.

Everything for nothing! "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also FREELY give us all things?" Rom. 8:32.

Are you poor enough to accept God's terms? Or do you want to pay part? Not till he had "spent all," did the prodigal begin to think of his father. Did he pay a part of the bill of fare at that home-coming feast? No! Nor need I.

God cannot take less than all. Christ paid all: now we get all for NOTHING. "FREELY ye have received, freely give."

Only Two

ONLY TWO CLASSES. Many sub-classes, no doubt, but only two in God's sight. The difference between them is very plain. "He that believeth on Him (the Son of God) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already." John 3:18. The former class is on the narrow road; the latter on the broad. To which do you belong?

ONLY TWO SIDES: Which are you on? Christ says, "He that is not with Me is against Me." Matt. 12:30. The old cry of "Christ or Barabbas?" has not died down yet. Its terms may alter, but its meaning is ever the same. Christ or the world? Christ or self? This world or the world to come? The issue is very plain. Which side are you on?

ONLY TWO DEATHS. The death of the righteous and the death of the wicked. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." Rev. 14:13. "As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." Ezek. 33:11. The brightest spot in this world is the deathbed of a triumphant Christian; the saddest sight in this world of sad sights is that of a sinner passing into the gloom of an eternal night without the shelter of the precious blood of Christ. If the Lord does not come, one of these two deaths will be yours. Which would it be if you were to die this moment?

ONLY TWO PLACES—heaven and hell—in eternity. To which are you traveling? Time carries you swiftly on. Once you cross time's boundary, "the great gulf fixed" is set up forever, and then mistakes are irrevocable and indifference fatal. Heaven will be the home of those who have trusted Christ as their own Savior. Alas, the unbeliever seals his own doom.

To Judgment on Horseback

"Can you tell me how far it is to hell?"

This question was asked one Lord's day by a young man on horseback, as he dashed past a child of God. At the next turning the horse threw the scoffing rider. The fall broke his neck—and he was dead. He found out, more quickly and suddenly than he expected, how far it was to hell.

Reader, are you a scoffer? If so, beware. God may answer your sneering questions in the thunders of judgment. We know that this is a scoffing age, for it is written, "There shall come in the last days scoffers." 2 Pet. 3:3.

Reader, see that you are not among those who question God's Word, for He has set it above His Name; and He has said that the wicked shall be turned into hell. He knows where it is!

"He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar." 1 John 5:10.

Not Down, but Through

When thou passest through the waters,
Deep the waves may be and cold:
But Jehovah is our Refuge,
And His promise is our hold.
For the Lord Himself hath said it;
He the faithful God and true:
"When thou passest through the waters,
Thou shalt not go down, but through."
Seas of sorrows, seas of trials,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain;
Rolling surges of temptation,
Sweeping over heart and brain.
They shall never overflow us,
For we know His word is true;
And the waves and all the billows,
He will safely lead us through.
Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us,
Out to ocean depths of woe.
For His promise shall sustain thee,
Praise the Lord whose word is true,
We shall not go down, nor under;
For He saith, "Thou passest through."

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

1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

A Miner's Sermon

It took but three minutes to deliver the sermon I want to tell you about. It was preached in no church or chapel, and it had "first, second, third," in it.

"Had it a text?" do you say.

Yes, it had. It was a three-minute sermon on a three-worded text, and it was given to a congregation numbering only ten. But the vast result of that one little sermon will be known only in eternity.

A small group of miners were standing near the entrance to a large coal pit. It was "pay day", and they were waiting to receive their wages. A well-built man, about six feet two inches tall, joined them. His pick was on his shoulder and his lamp in his hand. "Why, Fred," exclaimed one of the group, "we were just talking about you. They say you turned saint last week."

"Or is it angel?" said another; "if it is, you will soon have white wings, Fred, and must never again go down to blacken them in a coal mine."

"No, no, don't chaff him," said a third collier. "I tell you it's parson he'll be turning, and he'll be after preaching to us all."

"Good, let him begin at once!" So remarked the oldest man among them. "Come, Fred, here's your congregation before you. Can you make shift with this block of coal for a pulpit, and preach us a sermon?"

"Yes, yes," echoed a little chorus of voices. "There's five minutes before the pay window opens."

"Now, then, Fred, mount the pulpit. Preach us a three minutes sermon," said one; "I'll be clerk."

All this time, the collier addressed as "Fred" had not spoken. He stood listening with a good-natured smile to the lively banter of his mates. Then very quietly he stepped on the block of coal, amid exclamations of, "Ah! ah! a good joke indeed. Fancy Fred Sharpe, of all people, turning preacher!"

The bright light from a large iron brazier of burning coals lit up the features of the tall miner, showing the peaceful, happy look in his dark eyes. For a moment he bowed his head, and a silent cry went up to God for help. Then he said, quietly: "Well, mates, I—"

"No, no, a sermon," they cried; "you must begin with a text, your reverence."

There was a moment's pause. Again, after a swift upward glance, the miner said in a low, earnest tone: "My text shall be Christ's words to Saul of Tarsus: `I am Jesus' (Acts 9). During the last ten days those words have been constantly in my mind. You said, boys, that you wanted to know about my conversion, and I've been longing to tell you what God has done for me. You may well say Fred Sharpe is the last man you would expect to see on the Lord's side. Two weeks ago I was cursing and swearing, and saying I didn't believe there was a God. Now today by His grace I can say I know there is a God, and I know that He's my Father! I know there is a Savior, and that He has saved me! I know there is a Holy Spirit, and that He is willing to teach and enlighten me!"

By this time the little group of miners had gradually drawn nearer to the speaker, listening in amazement to their fellow workman, as he continued: "Boys, do you say, 'How did all this happen?' Well, I can scarcely tell you; but do you remember how Saul was changed into the Apostle Paul? Do you remember he suddenly heard a voice speaking from heaven? Well, mates, it was like that with me. I was journeying fast on the wrong road. I'd had warnings and kind words from my friends, but I wouldn't listen to them. But then God spoke to me!

"Maybe you heard that last Wednesday week I missed the last train from the town where I had been shopping. For a wonder I was quite sober. It was a pitch dark night, and I had to walk that nine miles back. You know how bad the road is, and a bad time I had of it to find my way. In the bitter wind and snow I thought I'd never get through.

"Suddenly there flashed into my mind a few words my mother once said to me. It was something about two roads—one to heaven, and one to hell. She said the one that led to God was lighted by His presence. Then all at once I thought: 'Fred, you are certainly not on that road. Your life can't bear God's light on it.'

"Then, boys, I shall never forget how I seemed to see before me all my sins. As I stumbled along in the dark, my whole past life seemed spread out before me, and I couldn't bear the sight. For hours I stumbled on. Once or twice I cried out—yes, and the words came from my very soul—`Lord, it's true, quite true. I am a lost sinner. But O, Lord, save me!'

"I don't know how time passed, but suddenly I seemed to be a little boy again, standing at my mother's knee. I could hear her saying, 'Jesus said, Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.'

"And I who had cursed His name and mocked at His people, heard Him saying to me: 'I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.'

"All this time I was floundering around in the darkness, and didn't know where I was. I was lost, both physically and spiritually. Tears flowed down my cheeks, but with those words, 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest,' light came into my soul. Ah, and I was rescued, too, as you know, and brought home."

Not one of Fred's "congregation" moved or spoke. The falling of the burning coals in the fire basket was the only sound heard as he continued most earnestly: "Now, boys, you know I am no preacher. I wish I were, if I could reach your hearts, and just compel you to come to this wonderful Savior. He's standing by your side, and He says, 'I am Jesus,' and Jesus means Savior. Oh, boys, you know what I've been. Yet He has saved me, as He did that persecutor Saul. I tell you, He longs to do the same for you. Oh, won't you let Him?"

The sermon was done. There was a solemn hush as the young miner ceased speaking. He buried his face in his hands, and cried to God to save his companions. Then quietly he slipped down from his coal block pulpit.

As he started to walk away one of the men went up to him, saying: "You said, 'Won't you let the Lord Jesus save you, as He has done me?' and I want to say before them all, 'I will,'—that is, if He will have the likes of me."

With a heart overflowing with thanks to God, Fred answered: "He has said, 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out,' and you've got His word to depend on."

It wasn't many months before Fred knew that, through God's blessing on his words that afternoon, three of his "congregation" were happily converted and were humbly serving and following Christ.

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

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

The Bible

From the address of the Translators of the Bible (1611) to their readers.

(Copied from an old Bible)

The Bible, in the hands of the Holy Spirit of God, is not only an armor, but also a whole armory of weapons, whereby we may save ourselves and put the enemy to flight. It is not a herb but a tree, or rather a whole paradise of trees of life, which bring forth fruit every month, and the fruit thereof is for meat and the leaves for medicine.

It is not a pot of manna, or a cruse of oil which were for memory only, or for a meal's meat or two, but as it were a (copious) shower of heavenly food sufficient for a whole host, be it never so great, and as it were a whole cellar full of oil vessels, whereby all our necessities may be provided for, and our debts discharged.

In a word it is a pantry of wholesome food against stale traditions; a physician's shop (as Basil calls it) of preservatives against poisoned heresies; a treasury; a code of profitable laws against rebellious spirits; a treasury of most costly jewels against beggarly rudiments.

Finally, it is a fountain of most pure water springing up into everlasting life, and what marvel, the original thereof being from heaven, not from earth; the Author being God not man; the Indicter the Holy Spirit, not the wit of the apostles nor prophets; the penmen such as were sanctified from their birth, and endued with a principal portion of God's Spirit. The matter-verity, purity, uprightness; the form-God's Word, God's testimony, God's oracles, the word of truth and the word of salvation.

The effects—light of understanding, stableness of persuasion, repentance from dead works, newness of life, holiness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost.

Lastly, the end and reward of the study thereof, fellowship with the saints, participation of the heavenly fruition of an inheritance, immortal, undefiled, and that never shall fade away. Happy is the man that delights in the Scriptures, and thrice happy he that meditates in them day and night.

"From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

I Am Satisfied Too

Annie, a bright, intelligent girl, was her widowed mother's only child. Through her Christian mother and aunt, she had been under the teaching of the Word of God from her very infancy. Sad to say though, it appeared to have made no real impression upon her. She was thoughtless and frivolous and, when spoken to about her soul, was always ready with a light and careless answer. "Time enough to grow good," was her favorite reply.

In her early childhood Annie was a frail little thing; and as she grew into young lady-hood she was by no means constitutionally strong. A severe cold, which she found it difficult to throw off, finally settled in her lungs. Poor Annie became a very sick girl. Doctor after doctor was tried, but to no avail. Finally, it was evident that Annie's time on earth was short—and still she was unsaved.

About this time her aunt told me with tears of the sorrow which had come upon them. I asked if I might go and see her. She thanked me, and said they would be glad. I did call on several occasions, but failed to gain admittance to the poor girl. Even as she grew weaker, she still refused to be spoken to about eternity. So I could only lift my heart to the Lord, and join with others in prayer for her.

One day there was a marked change for the worse, and Annie knew that she was near death. Did she know she was without Christ? Oh, what awful solemnity in such a position! The very light and truth she had been so long in contact with, only deepened her condemnation! Yes, Annie knew that, without Christ as her Savior, she must pass from the midst of the gospel light which shines out in this day. She knew that only the blackness of darkness awaited her poor, lost soul unless she accepted the message of God's love. But time was short and eternity is forever! How awful to contemplate!

Thoughts such as these arose within her. She was now most anxious for help, and begged her aunt to send for me. I had heard of her extremity, and of her desire to see me, so I arranged to call that afternoon at an hour which would be convenient for her.

When I entered her room, I found her propped with pillows, half lying and half sitting, in a large chair. I sat down near her, and lost no time in coming to the point. "And now, Annie, how is it with your soul?"

Her poor face grew anxious as she shook her head and said, "I am not prepared to die. Can you help me?"

"Is that not a solemn condition to be in?" I said. "A solemn thing it is to have to do with a holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and who is even now looking into the very secret chambers of your heart. He not only knows all that you have done, but He knows what your thoughts have been. What He says of your heart is this: 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart.' Jer. 17:9, 10. What a solemn thing that even now He is searching your heart!"

I could see by her expression that the Word of God was having its effect upon her, and felt sure that she was having to do with the One who was reminding her of all that ever she did (John 4:29). I then solemnly asked her: "Now, as in the presence of God, and in the light of what He has said about your heart, what have you to say for yourself?"

With an energy that surprised me, she answered: "I deserve to go to hell, sir."

"Thank God," I said, "that you have reached this point. Now I want to tell you what God's heart is, and what His thoughts about you have been."

I then reminded her of the love of God who gave His Son to die, and quoted 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."

Then I brought to her remembrance that, in His perfect work of redemption, Christ had so completely satisfied God's holy and righteous claims about sin, that He can now be just, and the Justifier of the ungodly. I told the eagerly listening girl that, upon the ground of that work, He is sending out the blessed message that "through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39.

"Now," I said, "if God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done, I ask you, dear Annie, What have you to say?"

All this time she was listening as one for whom life and death were hanging on what she heard. I repeated my question: "God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done; and now I ask, What have you to say?"

Again, with surprising energy, she answered me:

"I am satisfied too."

Her whole body relaxed as she burst into a flood of tears. The joy which filled her heart could find no richer way of expressing itself, and the happy, settled expression on her face spoke volumes which words could not convey.

Her mother, aunt, and myself could not refrain from tears of joy. We were a feeble expression of the "friends and neighbors" who were called to rejoice with Him who found His sheep; or of those who were called to have part in the "music and dancing," which told out the Father's joy in having His lost one found, this precious one who was dead, alive again.

When visited by a friend, who was surprised to find her thus rejoicing, dear Annie was asked: "What gave you such peace?"

Her answer was: "It was when I came to know that God was satisfied with what Christ had done."

In speaking to another friend, she said, "I always knew I was a sinner; but until that evening I never felt that God was looking into my heart."

And now, dear reader, one word to you: As God is looking into your heart, and sees all that is there, what have you to say? Is it, "I deserve to go to hell"?

As you hear the blessed tidings that God is perfectly satisfied with what Christ has done, can you answer: "I am satisfied too"?

If not, you are yet in your sins; the judgment of God is impending over you; and the wrath of God may at any moment overtake you.

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

Inward Adornings

Why should our garments, made to hide
Our parents' shame, provoke our pride?
The art of dress did ne'er begin
Till Eve, our mother, learned to sin.

When first she put the covering on,
Her robe of innocence was gone;
And yet her children vainly boast
In the sad marks of glory lost.

How proud we are! How pleased to show
Our clothes, and call them rich and new,
When the poor sheep and silkworms wore
That very clothing long before!

The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I:
Let me be dressed fine as I will,
Flies, worms, and flowers exceed me still.

Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind:
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
These are the robes of richest dress.

No more shall worms with me compare;
Mine is the raiment angels wear!
The Son of God when here below
Put on this blest apparel too.

It never fades, it ne'er grows old,
Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mold:
It takes no spot, but still refines;
The more 'tis worn, the more it shines.

In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven and wear it there:
God will approve it in His sight;
Tis His own work and His delight

"Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Pet. 3:3, 4.

The Up-Look

"If the outlook be dark, try the up-look."

The words were passed on by a young Christian. She had been through a time of peculiar testing and difficulty and had found them a valuable soul-tonic.

Let me pass them on to you—they may serve to remind you of your refuge in every hour of trial.

Circumstances may be perplexing. The path may be filled with apparently insurmountable difficulties. The future may be dark with threatening clouds. At such hours, dear child of God, "Try the up-look."

"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of." His wisdom and power and love are all exerted on your behalf. He makes "all things work together for good" to them that love Him. He knows the end from the beginning. And He 'careth for you. He is more concerned for your true welfare than you are, and He who shapes the courses of the stars will shape circumstances for the blessing of His child.

"He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim;
He does the very best for those
Who leave the choice with Him."

Seek His glory in everything. Leave the future in His hands. And "if the outlook be dark, try the up-look."

How Great the Grace!

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

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

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

"But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometime far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

Ephesians 2:13

On Which Side of You Is the Judgment?

Not long ago a man opened the door of a book store. In the windows he had seen displayed copies of the Scriptures and books relating to them. He walked to the rear of the store where the proprietor sat at his desk, and announced: "I am from out of town, and was told that you might know where one may obtain a Bible free. Is this the place"?

"What do you want to do with a Bible?" asked the bookseller.

"I want to read it," quietly replied the man. "I have never owned anything but a New Testament, and now I want the whole Bible."

"When you read your Testament, do you pray over it?" the bookseller continued. "Do you realize it is the Word of God, and that you need the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right understanding of it?"

The man felt at once that the bookseller was interested in his soul. To explain and assure him that he had not read his New Testament in vain, he said: "I have been a professor of religion for some time."

"Ah, but that is not necessarily being a child of God," the salesman urged. "I am anxious to know if you are a child of God."

"Well, I hope so," was the hesitating reply, "but you know none of us can be sure of that."

"Are you sure of the judgment?"

"Oh, yes, I am sure of that," and the man began to look very serious.

"Then do sit down here," continued the salesman, "and tell me on which side of you is the judgment—before or behind?"

"Oh," he replied, "it is before me, of course. The judgment is only at the end of the world, and that hasn't come yet."

"How do you expect to escape it?"

"Well, I am trying earnestly to live a Christian life. I am trying to do what good I can in my poor way, and I do hope in that way to be found worthy to escape and to have eternal life."

"Now, let me tell you my story," said the bookseller; "I also believe that judgment is at the end of the world. Though the end has not come yet, I can tell you that judgment is behind me. Being sure that it is coming, I have anticipated it in my mind. I have found that, being a sinner, I was 'condemned already.' As my sins came out there in the light of the 'great white throne,' I could not but see that all hope for me was over—I was lost; and so, instead of trying to escape, I pleaded guilty. At the same time, however, I saw that it was for these very sins of mine that Jesus had suffered judgment upon the cross. He, 'the Just,' had there suffered 'for the unjust.'

"But I knew He was no more on the cross, but up there in the glory! Thus I could say, 'Thank God, the judgment is past for me. Jesus has passed through it in my stead!'

"Therefore is it written in John 5:24: '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 judgment, but is passed from death unto life.' "

Instantly the man's eyes brightened, and taking hold of the bookseller's hand in both of his, he exclaimed with intense earnestness: "I see it! I see it!"

With his free gift of a "whole Bible," soon off he went, as one who has found a new treasure.

Reader, if you too are able to say, through grace, that the judgment is behind you, there will be no difficulty in appropriating the blessed message of 1 John 3:2: "Beloved, now are we the children of God."

Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
"Buried" in His grave we lay;
One with Him in resurrection,
Now "in Him" in heaven's bright day.

Do You Believe the Word of God?

Several years ago a colonel of the British army was returning home from India. He was utterly careless, thinking only of fun and folly. He noticed on board the ship a certain gentleman who carried about with him a Bible. This seemed a most extraordinary thing to the indifferent Colonel. On one occasion the two men happened to be sitting together on deck when, to the Colonel's surprise, his companion held out the Bible and said to him: "Do you know what book that is?"

"A Bible," he replied.

"It is the Word of God," the man answered, and said no more.

"The Word of God—the Word of God," repeated the Colonel to himself. "Then it is the truth, and all it says must be true."

Several days passed without further conversation. "Do you believe the Word of God?" was the next query by the gentleman with the Bible.

"Yes," said the Colonel.

"All of it?"

"Yes."

"The fifty-third of Isaiah?"

"Yes."

"The sixth verse?"

"Yes; but what is it exactly?"

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

"I do, and own it too."

“‘We have turned every one to his own way.' And that?"

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

“‘And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.' Notice it says, HATH LAID, not shall lay at some future time. Yes, the work is done. Christ has died and risen again. Atonement was made by the shedding of His precious blood. God asks nothing more. Do you believe that?"

The Colonel rose from his seat and went straight down to his cabin. There, alone, falling on his knees, he poured out his heart to God, and thanked Him for saving him.

Will YOU not do the same, dear reader?

Jesus Is Mine

During a week of preaching the gospel, of prayer and pleading with anxious souls, we decided to have a tea meeting, and to invite all who were interested in the gospel.

After tea and before the address, while many were moving about and conversing together as to the concerns of the soul, a timid, frail looking woman came up to me with a sheet of hymns in her hand. Placing her finger on the words, "Jesus is mine," she said, with much emotion: "I could not sing these words last evening. They would have been untrue for me. But oh, thank the Lord, I can sing them tonight."

"Thank the Lord indeed, dear lady," I replied. "And are you happy now?"

"Oh, yes," she said, "but I was so unhappy last night." She continued: "When we all stood up to sing that hymn, 'Jesus is mine,' it was as though someone said to me, 'You can't sing that! Jesus is not yours.'

"There I stood trembling. I could not sing a word. When I saw all of you so happy, my heart nearly broke. I did not know what to do.

"After I went home, all I could do was cry. I could not sleep; I prayed, and prayed that the Lord would save my soul, and give me faith to say 'Jesus is mine.' In His goodness the Lord had mercy on me. He did answer my prayer; and I could say before I fell asleep, `Jesus is mine,' and I am still saying it!"

"I thank the Lord for what you say! You ought to be the happiest woman here. What a prize you have found! But do you remember how you came to feel sure that Jesus is yours?"

"Well, it somehow came before me that Jesus died for me as well as for all of you. I knew that I should believe that, so I put my trust in Him. Now I am sure that He will never cast me off. I do believe that I can trust in Jesus, and love Him for having died for me, a great sinner. I shall sing that hymn tonight if you give it out."

It was plain to see that her faith was real. The Holy Spirit had been her teacher, and could be trusted to be her guide.

At the meeting which followed this conversation, I mentioned some of the circumstances of the dear lady's conversation. When we sang the hymn with great joy of heart, she joined with us heartily. What blessedness such an instance of God's grace produces! It is a sweet foretaste of heaven.

"Now I have found a Friend,
Jesus is mine;
His love will never end,
Jesus is mine;
Though earthly joys decrease,
Though human friendships cease,
Now I have lasting peace,
Jesus is mine."

One Verse Did It

A newspaper editor was in deep soul-trouble. For some time he had been sadly aware of his unfitness for God's presence. Knowing himself to be a lost sinner, he longed to be clean in God's sight. Yet he knew not what to do to obtain His forgiveness.

This man was not ignorant of the facts of Scripture. He had a good knowledge of the doctrines of grace. He acknowledged that Christ's death was absolutely necessary, that the shedding of His blood was the fore-ordained sacrifice, in order that God might be a just God and the Justifier of all who believe on Jesus. While accepting the atonement as a Bible truth, he did not understand what Christ's death had accomplished for him. How could His death on the cross of Calvary have fully satisfied all God's righteous and holy claims against him?

While taking a walk one day on a country road, the troubled man was meditating on these puzzling questions when he observed a piece of paper by the wayside. Picking it up, he found that it was part of a gospel tract, soiled and torn. All that he was able to make out was a verse of poetry at the end.

"Rest, weary soul!
The penalty is borne! The ransom paid
For all thy sins full satisfaction made;
Strive not to do thyself what Christ has done;
Claim the free gift and make the joy thine own.
Rest, sweetly rest."

Reading the precious words over and over, at last the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shone into his soul. He, the object of that sacrificial love, could freely claim its cleansing and saving power. The work was done, and he found rest and peace in believing.

Reader, have you obtained rest for your conscience? Gaze by faith on the bleeding, dying Lamb of God bearing the judgment due to you. On the ground of His mighty, finished work, He says to you: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

Were They Eviction Officers?

We four young Christians were spending a few days on the West Coast. We arranged to go one day to an island for the purpose of scattering gospel tracts and holding an open-air meeting. We happened to be wearing peaked caps, something after the style of a naval officer's; and with satchels, papers and this hear-gear we arrived on the island, looking decidedly official.

We knocked at the door of a cottage, but could get no answer. The next door the same thing happened, and the next, and the next. Our curiosity was aroused. On first arriving we had seen a person here and there, and cottage doors open; but now every door was closed and no sign of a living occupant to be seen. What did it mean?

After trying to get an answer to our knocking we decided to try what effect, if any, a hymn would have. God's hand was leading in the matter, as we soon discovered; and we could not have chosen a more appropriate hymn for the occasion. We began to sing:

"The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide:
A shelter in the time of storm!
Secure whatever ill betide:
A shelter in the time of storm!
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land!
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm!"

The effect of our singing was magical. Doors were flung open; the people came out with smiling faces, and listened appreciatively to the singing.

Interesting explanations followed. The hour of our visit was unusual: it was morning and a week-day. The island had recently changed hands, its only industry having been a slate quarry. The new owner demanded the payment of rent from the cottagers. The cottages had been built by their forefathers, and they had lived rent-free from generation to generation. They had determined to resist this innovation as unjust.

The owner had given them six weeks' notice, and this notice expired on the very day our party landed on the island. Naturally, they thought that we, with our peaked caps, satchels, and papers, must be the eviction officers.

When they discovered our object was not to turn them out of their earthly homes, but to invite them to a heavenly one, they welcomed us and our message, and we had a very happy day in their midst.

This experience, unsaved one, illustrates your case. The Bible says: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

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

Friend, you are a sinner and you are appointed to death and judgment. In other words, like those islanders, you are under notice to move, and the eviction officer is death. Closed doors and refusing to answer a knock might suffice for the cottagers, but you cannot evade your destiny. Are you ready for it?

Though you are under notice to go, here is an invitation for you to come. Go, you must; come, you may. You have no option as to the eviction, but this only emphasizes the urgency of the invitation. It can be declined only at the peril of a lost eternity. Trusting the Savior as your own, He will assure you of an eternal home in the Father's house. Death then could only come, not as an eviction officer, but as the messenger of God, your Father, summoning you to the place of many mansions.

"Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," Acts 20:21, are the two hinges on which swing the door of salvation. Be in earnest; salvation is now offered you if you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Decide now, and do not wait till the great eviction officer, Death, with his skeleton fingers breaks your heartstrings one by one, and flings you, a poor, lost, doomed sinner, into an eternity of perdition.

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

When One Door Shuts Another Opens

George Whitefield, a great gospel preacher, was addressing a large open-air meeting. He emphasized the words, "And the door was shut." Matt. 25:10.

A flippant young man in the audience whispered audibly to his companion: "Well, what matter if that door be shut? When one door shuts, another opens."

Whitefield seemed to know that some in the congregation would reason in that way. His answering remark was: "Some say, 'What matter? If one door be shut, another door will open.' Yes, that is true; if the door of heaven is shut against you, the door of hell will be open. If you are shut out of heaven, you must enter hell."

What a solemn conclusion! It was used of the Holy Spirit to carry conviction to the consciences of both of the young men. They remained for the inquiry meeting; and in conversation with the preacher, both of them accepted Christ as their Savior.

How solemn the words, "And the door was shut!" The verse from which Whitefield's text was taken is as follows: "And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut."

Thank God, the door of mercy is not yet shut upon you, unsaved fellow-traveler to eternity. It is not even standing "ajar." It is wide open for every sinner. All, without distinction or exception, are now invited to enter. There is no time to lose. "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13, 14.

The broad road is crowded, while the narrow way is trodden by comparatively few. Have you entered the narrow gate? You may be very close to it, and yet die on the hell side of it! Jesus said: "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."

"One door, and only one,
And yet its sides are two—
Inside and outside:
On which side are you?"

Christ Got Hold of Me

A converted thief was often tested by Satan, the enemy of souls. This wily old serpent used one of his henchman constantly to distress a young Christian by telling him that he might yet be lost. "If you don't hold on you will be lost," he would assert.

"You are wrong," the Christian answered. "I mean to hold on; but I have learned that, when I was saved, two got hold of each other. I got hold of Christ, and Christ got hold of me. I am sure of one thing-if I let Him go, He will never let me go! He loves me so much He died for me. It cost Him too much for Him to give me up."

The sinner who believes on Christ becomes one of the sheep of Christ, the Good Shepherd. And He says seven things about them in John 10:27-29.

1. "My sheep hear My voice."

2. "I know them."

3. "They follow Me."

4. "I give unto them eternal life."

5. "They shall never perish."

6. "Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."

7. "My Father, which gave, them Me, is greater than all and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand." John 10:27-29.

"He'll not let my soul be lost;
He will hold me fast;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast."

Perfect Confidence

A little deaf and dumb boy, at an examination in London a few years ago, was asked: "Who made the world?"

Immediately he wrote: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1.

He was asked in a similar manner: "Why did Jesus come into the world?"

Again, the little boy, with a bright smile which indicated delight and gratitude, wrote: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

A third question was then propounded. It was evidently meant to call the most powerful feelings into exercise: "Why were you born deaf and dumb, while I can hear and speak?"

"Never," said an eyewitness, "shall I forget the resignation upon that little lad's countenance as he took up the chalk and wrote: 'Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.' " Matt. 11:26.

"For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

Hebrews 10:37

"Prepare to meet thy God."

Amos 4:12

?In a Prison Cell?

"Three months, with hard labor," was the sentence pronounced by the judge. A hardened criminal would not have minded that very much, but to the young prisoner at the bar it was a terrible blow.

He was led away from the dock, and presently found himself in prison garb, and in his cell alone. Then the full shame of his position dawned upon him: this was the result of his waywardness and sin, and what would the end of it be?

The thought of it brought him down to his knees, and he groaned aloud before God. Then and there he made his decision: from that time on he would quit the service of Satan.

Now that was a good decision to make, but it did not give him the peace he sought. He discovered, as many have done before him, that resolutions with regard to the future cannot wipe out the sins of the past. There lay his black record. How could it be met? Could he in any way make amends for that?

"You ought to have prayed before you got in here," sneered the warden, who saw him on his knees; "but perhaps better late than not at all."

But the prisoner heeded neither jest nor scorn; his whole desire was to be right with God.

There were two books in his cell. One of them was a book of instruction on how to live right. The other was a Bible.

To the former the anxious soul turned. He read there deceptive words, for the writer knew not God's way of salvation, and advised his readers to fast and pray in order to secure pardon of God.

"Ah," thought that lonely reader; "I have been praying without fasting. That is why I do not have the peace I seek. I will fast as well as pray."

And fast he did. Much of his food was returned untasted; and while he continued to perform his allotted prison tasks, he felt himself to be getting weaker, his step less firm, until at length it seemed that he must sink to the ground through sheer exhaustion.

In time he seemed to have reached his extremity. He had resolved and sorrowed, prayed and fasted, but he was still a stranger to peace. Then it was with a despairing cry that he took up the Bible.

Ah! blessed Book of God! If he had turned to its pages sooner, how much agony would he have been saved from. It was not a familiar Book to him, and he scarcely knew to what part to turn; but God had His eye on that penitent sinner, and the book fell open at 2 Samuel 12. The first sentence that met his anxious gaze was: "The LORD also hath put away thy sin" (verse 13).

That was enough for him. The heavy burden was eased, the clouds uplifted, and his astonished heart beat forth its gratitude to a pardoning God.

But he did not long remain in ignorance as to how God could pardon and yet remain the just God, for that long-neglected Book became his cell companion. In it he read of Calvary, of the precious blood, and of the resurrection of Jesus, whom Christians gladly own as Lord. He read that marvelous story of redeeming love, and all became as plain to him as the daylight which streamed through the grated window into his cell.

Upon this his soul rested as upon a firm foundation. Yes, he discovered that God had freely justified him by His grace, and that the precious blood of Jesus, the basis of all blessing, had made him clean in the sight of God. Thus, through matchless grace, the prisoner of Satan became God's free man, gladly testifying to all around that "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

Christ is the Savior of sinners,
Christ is the Savior for me;
Long I was chained in sin's darkness,
Now by His grace I am free.

Now I can say I am pardoned,
Happy and justified, free,
Saved by my blessed Redeemer,
This is the Savior for me.

Loved with a love that's unchanging,
Blessed with all blessings so free,
How shall I tell out His praises?
This is the Savior for me?

Whosoever Believeth

I had returned home rather late and was trying to relax after a wearying day. My rest was soon disturbed by a messenger who pleaded, "Come, please come! Come see a dying woman—dying and still unsaved. She is very unhappy, and is calling on God for help. We have tried to find someone who could give her comfort. Tonight we thought of you. Will you come?"

"Most gladly," said I. "I do trust that she may receive the truth as it is in Jesus, and find rest and comfort in Him."

As I entered her room, I looked to the Lord to give me the right words for her. The sick one immediately beckoned me near her, saying, "I'm so glad you've come. Surely God has sent you."

"What is your trouble"? I asked. "Are you afraid to die"?

"Yes," she answered. "I am not fit for His presence. Oh, this fearful agony!"

"What agony?" I asked. "Your poor body?"

"No, no," she cried. "The pain of this poor body is nothing. It's my poor lost soul. Help me if you can; oh, do help me."

"Dear Mrs. Gray," I replied, "you must look above and beyond me. I am only a weak creature like yourself; but I can tell you of the One who is able to save you to the uttermost—the Lord Jesus Christ. He says in Matthew 11:28: 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.' Does not this meet your need?"

"I do want rest," she answered; "but what you say doesn't help me. Please tell me more."

"Have you heard the story of the brazen serpent"? I asked. She nodded assent, and I continued: "Those Israelites bitten by the serpents were dying fast, but God told Moses that whosoever looked upon the uplifted serpent of brass would live. And so it was.

"You, dear lady, are like the bitten Israelite-sin has destroyed you, but God has provided a way whereby you may be saved. His Son Jesus was lifted up on Calvary's cross. There He died for sinners-for you and me. The work of redemption is done and salvation is free. All that we need do is LOOK, and LIVE."

"Look and live," she repeated. A ray of light passed over her sad face.

"Yes," I said, "this is God's way of saving the lost. Are you willing to be saved His way?"

"What else can I do?" she replied. "I am helpless, sinful, and ready to perish."

"Then listen to God's Word, Mrs. Gray. 'And 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.

I waited a few moments before I spoke again. Then I asked her if she trusted the Lord Jesus, whose blood paid sin's heavy debt. Then came another pause.

"Bless God!" at length came from her lips. "I can trust Him! Oh, the power of those little words!" "What words"? I asked.

" 'Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,' " she replied.

"And so you can fully trust Him, and believe that you will not perish, and that you have eternal life?" I inquired.

"Yes, bless His name," she responded with fervor. "I do believe all that. Those precious words have opened my eyes."

"Then you are not afraid to die?"

"Afraid!" she replied, her face lighting up as she spoke. "Oh, no. I'm very, very happy! Now I'm quite ready to go. His is a complete salvation. I know I shall go to be with Christ. I shall soon see Him!"

Together we thanked God for His wondrous grace in giving Jesus to die for lost sinners. As I rose to go, she grasped my hand and said, "How can I thank you enough, for coming to tell me such blessed news?"

"Don't thank me," said I; "thank the dear Lord. The work was His alone—

" 'Alone He bore the cross,
Alone its grief sustained;
His was the shame and loss,
And He the victory gained;
The mighty work was all His own,
Though we shall share His glorious throne.'"

The Saving Touch

"But how am I to come to Jesus? This is just what I don't see. If I saw Christ before me, I could arise and come to Him. But I don't really know what to do, nor what I should do. If I knew, I would do it. I want only to know what and how."

This reserved young man was evidently in deep anxiety and unusually earnest. Te help him, I said "I am glad that you have thought about this question. I hope that it can be made clear to you. The best way is to take you to God's Book. You remember what took place when the woman came near Jesus, and touched the hem of His garment?

“Tor she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made the whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.' Matt. 9:21, 22.

"She was aware of her own sad condition. She believed He could cure her. She struggled to get to Him through the crowd. She touched His garment, and immediately was made whole. Now this woman was one who did come to Jesus."

"Yes, that is plain enough."

"But why do you say that it is plain? Tell me this: What was there in that act of hers that leads you at once to perceive that she came to Jesus? It was not her making her way to Him through the multitude. It was not the mere fact of touching Him. Others were touching Him. No; there had to be something more.

"Is it not clear that this was no common touch—a touch not merely by the fingers, but something else? Did not her heart go out to touch the heart of Jesus? Did she not put herself in such contact with Him that the soul was the instrument, and not the fingers? Here, then, is my conclusion. To come to Jesus is to do what this woman did. Try to put yourself into her place. Try to enter into her feelings, and to realize what she felt. If you can do this, you will understand what is meant by coming to Jesus.

"Observe three things about her: she knew how utterly diseased and helpless she was. She loathed herself. Is not this your case? She fully believed that there was within her reach a mighty and a loving Savior, able and willing to save her. This is what I ask you to believe. She did not withdraw until she had touched Him. She sent her soul out to Him in that touch. This is what I urge upon you. This is coming to Jesus."

"You make it very plain. It seems plain enough now."

"I will ask you a question: if Jesus were now here present before our eyes, what would you do? Would you go away?"

"Oh, no! I would go to Him. I would fall down before Him and touch Him. I would cry: 'Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.' "

"But is He not here? I beg you to send out your heart and soul on this errand. Touch Him, and be saved. He is at hand and He is waiting for this touch in faith from you."

The scales fell off the eyes of that man, and he touched Jesus with as true a touch as did the woman of old. The touch of faith was known to the Savior, and the sinner was healed.

And now there was a change obvious to all. That dark, reserved, almost sullen-faced man was eager to speak and tell the good news to all. He had simple joy in his salvation and honest faith in the saving power of that touch. He loved to bear testimony to every one of that which was so dear to his own soul.

Friend, will you only touch Jesus, as the woman did? Let your heart reach out to Him. Touch Him, and be made whole.

"She only touched the hem of His garment,
As to His side she stole,
Amid the crowd that gathered around Him,
And straightway she was whole.
Oh, touch the hem of His garment,
And thou too shalt be free!
His saving power this very hour
Shall give new life to thee."

Sin and Sins

A little crooked s makes a great difference in many things. In the Word of God we find sin and sins clearly distinguished. "Sin" is the root that produces the bad fruit-"sins."

God judged sin; God forgives sins.

God condemned sin in the flesh, making His Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, by His dying in the likeness of sinful flesh on the cross. (2 Cor. 5:21). And now He remits the sins of all who believe on Him.

Do you want forgiveness, and think you must utter many prayers to obtain it? No indeed, God is offering you pardon; beseeching you, by His ministering servants, to be reconciled to Him. (2 Cor. 5:20). Sin has been judged. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and your sins are forgiven for His Name's sake (1 John 2:12), for He bore the sins of all who believe, in His own body on the tree. (1 Pet. 2:24).

And, if you are a believer, you have done with sin. You are to have nothing more to say to it. (1 Pet. 4: 1).

But perhaps you will say: "Suppose I sin again. Do I not then need to pray for forgiveness?"

Let God's own Word supply the answer: "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1.

"If we confess our sins" (not pray for forgiveness), "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

It is very easy for a naughty child to say: "Father, please forgive me." But it is quite another thing for the child to see its wrong as the father sees it, and to come before him in true self-judgment, confessing it.

So it is between God and His children. We ought not to sin; but if we do, we are exhorted to come before Him in self-judgment and heartfelt confession.

Let Us Alone

"Why can't they let us alone? They never come to the house without tormenting us about our souls. I don't see the fun of it at all." So said a proud, unconverted young man to his mother. And possibly you, my reader, have thought the same, even if you have not said it.

"Let us alone." So said the demon in that poor, devil-possessed sinner to the Lord Jesus in the days of old (Mark 1:24). But Jesus did not let him alone. He had to come out.

Just think of that wretched man in his terrible misery, saying to the only One who could deliver him —and who came for that purpose—"Let us alone!"

And yet men follow his example to this day!

Reader, if still unsaved, thank God you have a body out of the grave, and a soul out of hell! Do not say to Him any longer, "Let us alone," lest He answer your prayer.

Perhaps you dare to say, like many, "No hurry; I can take salvation at any time." Oh, what a delusion of the devil this is! His first device is—"Let us alone!" When that fails, he says, "Plenty of time, plenty of time." He is a liar from the beginning, and a murderer, too. No, my reader, no! You cannot be saved when you like.

"Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. Tomorrow may be too late forever.

Listen to the cry of One who was "left alone" that you might never be left alone. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?... O My God, I cry... but Thou hearest not." Psa. 22:1, 2.

Jesus was forsaken of God. And why? Because He was bearing our sins. He was on the cross as the Victim making atonement for our sins, and God, the Holy One, could not look upon sin. He must turn His back on Jesus.

O my friend, consider how holy God is, and how sinful sin is; read its terrible judgment in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then, if your heart trusts that Savior, read, likewise, your complete deliverance from its tremendous curse and shame, by the death of the Son of God.

Blessed be God! Jesus is no longer on the cross or in the grave. Sin was atoned for, and God was glorified in its perfect payment by His Son at the cross.

The believer's sins, too, were put away forever, so that God can say to each, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember NO MORE." Heb. 10:17.

And God has proved His complete satisfaction in that wondrous work by raising Christ from the dead (Acts 13:30). Yes, Jesus is risen, and exalted to the right hand of God. He is not left alone now. The glory of God shines in His face (2 Cor. 4:6). What a proof that the sins are gone! And whose sins? Every believer can say, MINE.

Now God says, "Be it known unto you,... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and... all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39. Now notice three words there: "BELIEVE"—"ARE"—"ALL."

All that believe, (not all who work, or pray, but) all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ raised from the dead, are (not hope to be, or ought to be, but are) justified from all things (not a few, or the greatest part, but) are justified from all things. Yes, forgiveness and justification are the portion of every believer.

And not only so. Christ is their righteousness, and they stand ever and always before God in Christ. "As He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17. Christ is made unto them "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30).

Seeing, then, that God has such blessing for believing souls, do not say to Him, "Let us alone"! Accept Christ at once, and seek in humility of heart to live for Him, and serve Him, while you await His return from heaven.

Nothing and Everything

"What has the debtor-man to bring
As tribute to the Eternal King?
Nothing!

Still let him come to God, and prove
His riches, His abounding love.
What has the sinner-man to bring
As a sufficient offering?
Nothing!

Still let him come to God, whose grace
Has bruised a Savior in his place.
Come then, poor sinner, come and sing;
Come in thy poverty, and bring-
Nothing!

God bids thee in His grace believe;
God bids thee from His grace receive—
Everything! "

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

1 Timothy 1:15

The Devil Dramatized

Years ago on the billboards and in the shop windows in Melbourne, Australia, might be seen the announcement that Gounod's "Faust," the operatic version of Goethe's "Faust," was to be produced at the Princess Theater. The advertisements in the daily papers stated that these performances would be presented with great splendor, eminent artists being engaged, and magnificent scenic representations produced. Public interest was thoroughly aroused, and the spacious and richly furnished house was crowded night after night. The opera was "running smoothly,' when a sudden and tragic occurrence startled the city to its center.

It may be well to state that Goethe's "Faust" has for its plot Mephistopheles (the devil) entering into a pact with Faust, an old, world-weary man. The covenant with hell was on this wise: Faust agreed to sell his soul to the devil, the price being a definite number of years of youth and pleasure. The devil, who ever and anon had dogged the path of Faust, announced to his victim that the time that he should receive his purchased possession had come. The closing scene of the drama revealed the devil in scarlet dress, pointed hat and shoes, prepared to receive his prey. Faust is there; and suddenly Satan wrapped him in a scarlet cloak and carried him away to the infernal regions below.

Remorse, horror and hell close the awful scene. Amid the unearthly glare of blue and red flames and clouds of sulfurous smoke, Faust and the devil descend through the floor into the pictured hell. Such was the scene which crowded stall and balcony, pit and galleries, in the great haunt of pleasure.

But what means that sudden hush behind the scenes, those blanched cheeks, those fear-stricken artists? Hear this, my readers! Frederici in the role of the devil, reaches the floor beneath, still holding Faust in his arms. Suddenly he relaxes his grasp, staggers, and falls down dead!

In vain the terror of the attendants, the sympathy of the fellow actors, and the hurried summons for medical help. Frederici's beautiful deep voice will be heard no more. No human skill can avail to bring him back to life. The dishonored body is fast stiffening into the rigidity of death. There he lies, with the scarlet mantle, and the red dress, the pointed cap and shoes, the grim witnesses of the fact that he who impersonated the devil has suddenly passed into eternity, "to give account of the deeds done in the body."

At the funeral of Frederici another startling incident transpired. The grave was surrounded by a large number of famous singers and actors. The minister, while reading the burial service, suddenly became unconscious, and for some time could not be restored. It is affirmed that just as he reached the words "in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life," he swooned and fell, and had to be carried away. An actor standing near finished the reading of the service at the grave.

May we not ask, Are these solemn occurrences to be treated lightly? Have they no voice or lesson?

The past twenty years have marked the growth of a spirit in which the solemn realities of the world to come and the awful power of the devil have been turned into ridicule and made the subject of ungodly jest. Judgment is with God. We know neither the times nor the methods of His working. This we know, that "judgment is His strange work," that in which the Divine Being has no pleasure. Has He not said: "As I live... I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live"? Ezek. 33:11.

How many who read these pages know of some who may already have entered into the covenant with death and hell? The god of this world, the devil, seeks and finds today thousands of Fausts, prepared to sell their souls for "the pleasures of sin for a season."

Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life for sinners, longs for you to be eternally saved, and is calling to you: "Come unto Me,... and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

If you continue to refuse to come to Him now and accept Him as your Savior, He will someday say to you: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matt. 25:41.

A Hidden Grave

Perhaps many who read this paper remember the story of the mighty Alaric, the Goth. However, as his history may be unknown to some of our readers, a few words concerning him may be in order.

About the year 409 A.D. the Romans had a very weak-minded, indolent king named Honorius. Of this king the surrounding nations took easy advantage, and pillaged and robbed the country at will.

The Goths at this time had a very able warrior called Alaric. He made war with the Romans, conquered them, pillaged their city, and took many of them prisoners. After he had sacked Rome, his avarice still was not satisfied. He then coveted the beautiful island of Sicily, and determined to acquire it. He therefore prepared a mighty fleet to bear his troops to the conquest. This first fleet encountered a furious tempest and was scattered. Before he could renew the attempt he fell ill and died.

It was the custom among the heathen nations at this time to hide their warrior's graves lest the enemy should find them. So the Goths employed a number of their captives to turn the course of the river Busentimus. In the river bed thus exposed they made a grave for their valiant warrior; and Alaric, with some of his richest spoils, was buried in this singular tomb. Then the waters were restored to their usual channel, and all who had been engaged in the work were slain on the spot. In this way the place of interment would remain forever secret.

While thinking of the hidden grave of the mighty Alaric, we would do well to remember that solemn day when the sea shall give up its dead, and the small and great who have died in their sins will 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, and that is the Lord Jesus. He is the only safe refuge. Every soul who comes to Him in this day of grace He will hide, for He has said: "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

"A man [the Lord Jesus Christ] shall be as a 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.

The Clock Without Hands

"I wonder what time it is," I thought, as I was hurrying along the street near my home; and I glanced up at the large clock over the watchmaker's shop to seek an answer to my question.

The clock was there certainly, but it was of no use in telling me the time, for the hands were gone! There were the figures marked clearly enough, and there may have been works inside; the springs may have been rightly placed, and the wheels may have been going round; but, if so, it was no good to me. But, though it did not tell me the time, it gave me a subject for thought during the remainder of my journey.

There are three kinds of clocks. The right kind must have a good mechanism properly working inside, and hands to point the hours outside on the face.

Secondly, there are clocks with hands rightly enough, but with no proper machinery within. This is a very bad kind, for they profess to show the time, but are, in reality, deceiving those who look upon them.

Thirdly, there are clocks like the one I saw, with no hands.

Was the machinery good? I cannot tell. Only its owner knew about that; he could see the interior, and knew whether or not the works were sound. To him it may have been a very valuable clock. To others it was worthless. Among those who are called Christians there are three classes corresponding to these three kinds of clocks.

First, there are real Christians who know that they are washed in the blood of Christ. These can say that God is their Father. They seek (though perhaps in small measure) to bear a faithful testimony to the world around, pointing, as the hours and days go by, to the "Lamb of God," and warning others that the time is short: that "He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." It is not that the rightly pointed hands make the machinery good, but because the machinery is good the hands point correctly.

Again, there are those who make a great profession and say they are followers of Christ; but there is no life in their souls. They have never known the grace and love of God nor the power and efficacy of the work of Christ. They are like clocks with hands, but with no machinery inside. In a day that is coming such people will say: "We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets." And the Lord will reply to them in those terrible words: "I never knew you."

There is yet a third class of people who have trusted Christ as their Savior, and who have tasted the grace and love of God. They have believed in their hearts, but have never confessed with their lips. They bear no testimony to those around of what the Lord has done for them. They are like true clocks without hands. These cannot be distinguished from the "false clocks" by any but the Master Himself. He can read the hearts and knows when there is real faith in Himself; and to Him even they are precious.

My Christian friend, do not be like handless clocks. Your sins are forgiven. You can look up and say: "I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Then what testimony do you bear to those around? Can they, by looking at your life, say: "What great things God has wrought!" Remember that "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Here and There

"Here we have no continuing city." Heb. 13: 14.

"There shall be no night there." Rev. 22:5.

Oh this is a dark scene of sorrow;
For though I may smile today,
My tears may flow fast ere tomorrow,
And my smiles may have all passed away:

But there is the region of gladness,
Where joys do perennially flow;
There, never a feeling of sadness
The blessed in Jesus shall know.
Oh this is a dark scene of sorrow:
I may have heart-treasures today,
But they may be gone ere tomorrow—
Loved objects pass quickly away:

But there is the region of pleasure,
No changes or losses it knows;
There, there all is undying treasure,
And holy, eternal repose.
Oh this is a dark scene of sorrow,
Sweet friendship may greet me today,
But hearts oft estrange ere the morrow,
And sympathy withers away;

But there is the realm of communion,
Unearthly—unbroken—divine;
There Christ is the center of union,
Each breast, Lord, the image of thine!
Oh this is a dark scene of sorrow;
Though happy in Jesus today,
Temptations may come ere tomorrow,
And I may have wandered astray:

But there is the home of my Savior,
To sin and temptation 'tis barred;
I there shall rejoice in His favor,
And "forever" shall be with the Lord.
I shall soon leave this dark scene of sorrow,
Ah, yes, I might leave it today;
For my Lord may be here ere tomorrow,
And take His poor pilgrim away.

On Thee and Thy promise relying,
Oh keep me, blest Savior, while here,
Till "Glory!" with transport, I'm crying,
Uprising to Thee in the air.

God Giveth the Increase

The Sunday evening service was ended. Henry, the young village preacher, wearily wended his homeward way through the chilly autumnal twilight. The road ran for some distance along a gloomy valley; and, as the cold wind swept the damp air past him, a great depression fell on the young man's spirit. He felt, as never before, what a feeble instrument he was for the Lord's service.

He began to question within himself whether he ought ever to have put his hand to this mighty work, for which he judged himself so little fitted. In his despondence he doubted if any had received, or ever would receive, the least blessing through his poor efforts to tell the story of the Lamb of God.

As he neared the town where he lived, the intense melancholy seemed but to deepen, until his sad train of thoughts was interrupted abruptly by a young man who, walking briskly towards him, asked, "Can you tell me if I am on the right road for Jonesville?"

"No," answered Henry. "You must go about a hundred yards back, then turn to your right, when you will easily find it."

He was passing on, but the stranger caught sight of his face, as they came under a lamp-post, and exclaimed, "Surely I have seen you before!"

"I have no recollection of you," replied Henry. "Well, tell me, did you not preach some six weeks back in Belleville?"

"Yes, I did," responded Henry sadly, ready with renewed depression to wish he had not done so. "Were you present?"

"That I was," answered the young man warmly; "and many a time have I longed to meet you again, for the words you spoke that night led me to turn to the Lord. I have now found the Savior of whom you spoke, and I have life in Him. I am a new creature in Christ Jesus.

"I see now why I have been allowed to lose time by going out of my road in this fashion. I hesitated yonder as to which turning I should take, and felt half put out when your words showed me I had taken the wrong one after all. Now I see the Lord led me here that I might meet you. Oh, how good of Him to let me set eyes on you again!"

"Ah!" said Henry, as he heartily grasped the hand extended to him. "You know but half the story of the Lord's loving-kindness in letting us thus meet. I must tell you my side of it."

As they walked on together, with a full heart the young evangelist told his companion of his sorrowful thoughts of that evening, in the deep discouragement he had been laboring under as to his service for the Master; and how, in their unexpected meeting, he had had a fresh proof of his loving Master's tender thought for His faltering and fainthearted servant, by giving him such a mark of His approval of his ministry.

They parted; and Henry, with a light step and glad heart, pursued his solitary path, resolving, by the grace of God, to be "in labors more abundant," believing that these would not be in vain in the Lord, who "giveth the increase."

"Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal. 6:9.

The Swiss Guide

Down the steep slope of a massive mountain-side a little party of climbers was following the guide. It had been a wonderful day: first the toil up the mountain, then the glorious air and far-reaching view from the summit. Now the climbers were unroped. The dangerous places had been passed, and they were almost in sight of their hotel.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, they came to a standstill before a yawning crevasse in a glacier. It must be crossed if they would reach home. Leaping across to the other side, the guide cried: "Follow me!"

One of the party obeyed, and in a moment he stood beside the guide. Another followed, and another, until all but one man were safely over. But the last man stood with white, set face and horror-stricken eyes gazing at the dreadful crevasse. Weary with the day's climbing, and utterly unstrung, all his nerve forsook him as he hesitated there.

"I can't," he cried in despair.

Swiftly the guide stepped forward. Holding out his strong right hand, he said: "That hand has never failed the hand that grasped it."

In a moment the traveler laid his hand in the one stretched out to him, jumped, and was safe on the other side.

Friend, there is One who stands before us on life's pathway. He stretches out the hand that was once wounded for us, to weary, sin-stricken, lost and guilty men. He can truly say: "That hand has never failed the one who has grasped it."

Reader, how is it with you? Do you know this Jesus as your Savior? Have you trusted all to that nail-pierced hand—to the mighty power of the Savior of sinners? He is willing and able to "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

Talking Business

The pastor of a prominent church in a southern city was passing a large department store. Following a sudden impulse, he went in to talk to the proprietor on the subject of his salvation. Finding him, he said: "Mr. Thornton, I've talked beds and carpets and bookcases with you, but I've never talked my business with you. Would you give me a few minutes to do so?"

Invited into the private office, the minister took out his New Testament. From passage after passage he brought before that business man his need of the Savior and his duty to accept Jesus Christ.

Finally the tears began to roll down the merchant's cheeks, and he said to the pastor: "I'm seventy years of age. I was born in this city and know nearly everyone here. More than a hundred ministers, and over five hundred church officers have known me as you have in a business way. Our dealings have been pleasant and profitable, but in all these years, you are the first man who ever spoke to me about my soul.

"Friend, you have sold me a precious bill of goods. I humbly confess my negligence and my need of the Savior. Right now I want to sign on the dotted line that I gladly accept His offer of mercy to the poor lost sinner that I am."

Who is on the Lord's Side?

Who is on the Lord's side,
Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers
Other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world's side,
Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord's side?
Who for Him will go?

Not for weight of glory,
Not for crown and palm,
Enter we the army,
Raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth
Lives for whom He died;
He whom Jesus nameth
Must be on His side!

Jesus, Thou hast bought us,
Not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own life-blood,
For Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling
All who come to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing,
Thou hast made us free.

Fierce may be the conflict,
Strong may be the foe;
But the King's own army
None can overthrow:
Round His standard ranging,
Victory is secure,
For His truth unchanging
Makes the triumph sure.

"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

Ephesians 5:6.

"The wages of sin is death."

Romans 6:23.

A Good Old Love Story

After a double amputation I lay for some weeks in a hospital. One morning the nurse-in-charge inquired if I would like to be up for a short time. She stipulated that I must be back in bed by dinner time to rest before my friends came to see me, as it was visiting day.

"Yes," I replied, "I should much like to do so."

In the bed next to mine lay a very ungodly man. He openly professed that there existed nothing beyond this life for him. He believed that when he died, he would be buried like a dog. He knew well that his life was rapidly passing away, and yet he only used the name of God in oaths and curses. Seeing me up and partly dressed, he exclaimed: "No. 16, will you go to the bookcase and get me some book or other?"

I said I would, if my injured legs would carry me that far. At the same time, looking up to the Lord for strength and wisdom, I asked him what kind of book he would like. His answer was: "A good old love story—a jolly old love tale."

I began to reproach myself for having asked him what kind of book he would like. It would have been better, perhaps, had I made the choice; but I felt I could not go against my promise.

The nurse having left the ward for a few minutes, I managed to get as far as the bookcase. Then once more I looked up to God my Father for His guidance as to the book I should take back to the poor fellow. The moment I opened the bookcase door, John 3:16 came to my mind.

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE."

I reached for a Bible that I found in the bookcase, and opening it at John 3:16 I gave it to the man, fully expecting to have it thrown at my head. I knew the kind of man he was, for I had spoken to him of the Word of Life before.

For some little while he seemed dumbfounded and only stared at me. I do not think I shall ever forget his expression when, at length, he ejaculated: "You are really a knockout!"

The Lord now encouraged me to say a few words, telling him that was "the truest love story" that had ever been written, or ever would be! He seemed to be greatly upset, and I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit was deeply convicting him of sin.

Within an hour I was ordered back into bed by the nurse. My part was done; God in His wondrous love had used me—one of His weakest ones, both spiritually and bodily—to give my bed-ridden neighbor "the true love story." Now it remained for the Holy Spirit to complete the work for the Lord's glory.

For the next three weeks I was not well enough to be allowed out of bed again. During this time I was cheered to see how eagerly my neighbor read the Word of God whenever awake. Often when he fell asleep the Bible would be lying open upon his chest, or be still clasped in his hands. The nurse would sometimes remove it while he slept; but as soon as he awoke, he would give the nurse no rest until she handed it back.

For another three weeks I was convalescent in a nursing home, during which time I had no word to show if my friend was resting upon Jesus as his Savior.

Back at the hospital, I crawled up into the Ward F, hoping to see the sick man. I found, however, that his bed was occupied now by another patient. The sick man I had known had died several days previously. As to how he had passed away I could learn nothing from the floor nurse, but some days later a staff nurse—a true believer in the Lord Jesus—told me that he had passed away rejoicing in the One whose Name, at one time, he had hated and blasphemed. Was not this another "brand plucked from the burning"? True it is that the goodness of God draws men to repentance, and the "good old love story" of John 3: 16 still wins their hearts and lives for Jesus.

Reader, if you have not received into your heart this "Love Story"—if you are still unprepared for eternity—go to God's Word and read of Him who loved you and gave Himself for you. May the Holy Spirit bring home the old, old story with conviction to your heart and soul.

"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.

In the Hands of the Master

Years ago there occurred a touching incident in one of our beautiful parks. In the park one might have seen an aged soldier, a veteran of many battles, seated on an old bench. Near him sat a little poodle dog on his haunches, holding in his mouth his master's tattered old hat which served as a temporary receptacle for what charitable people might cast in. The ex-soldier's meager pension did not suffice for his bodily needs, so he had obtained an old fiddle which he loved tenderly. It was scratchy, and the best he could offer the public was very poor.

On this particular day nobody took any notice of him, and so, very few pennies found their way into the open hat held firm by the little dog. The old man got discouraged, and stroking his pet affectionately, he said to him, "Ah! Pierre, there will be no bone for you tonight!"

Even as he spoke, the tears flowed down his cheeks, for he was not able to check them, and the dog began to whine.

Just then a gentleman who was standing nearby, watching, stepped close up to the old man, and asked for the loan of his old fiddle for a little while. Striking the strings and adjusting them, he soon brought the old thing to somewhat normal condition. Then he began to draw from it such sweet melodies that the people passing by were arrested. Seeing the old veteran with the poodle holding the hat, they began to appreciate the situation, and so the hat was filled more than once.

But the old man did not heed the money flowing into the hat; the fiddle, his dear fiddle, was a miracle to him. How could that stranger draw such exquisite strains from that old fiddle of his? Ah! It was a master who had hold of it: a master violinist, one of the greatest. That was the secret. Kind-hearted as he was, he had appeared so suddenly; and then, his wish accomplished, after laying the old, beloved fiddle in the veteran's lap, he vanished among the bushes as quickly as he had come.

A gentleman who had witnessed this touching scene, told the gathered audience who this violinist was. He passed the hat around, and it was again filled to the brim. Now the old veteran had enough, with what he already had received, to last him to the end of his days. Hugging his fiddle and stroking the poodle, he went home to his attic room, with more than one bone for his little pet.

Beloved, are not our hearts like that old fiddle? How little there is for the Lord! Are you making melody in your heart to Him?

O Lord, we know it matters not
How sweet the song may be;
No heart but by the Spirit taught
Makes melody to Thee.

Then teach Thy gathered saints, O Lord
To worship in Thy fear;
And let Thy grace mold every word
That meets Thy holy ear.

Oh largely give, 'tis all Thine own,
The Spirit's goodly fruit,
Praise, issuing forth in life, alone
Our living Lord can suit.

The Hem of His Garment

She only touched the hem of His garment,
As to His side she stole,
Amid the crowd that gathered around Him,
And straightway she was whole.

She came in fear and trembling before Him,
She knew her Lord had come;
She felt that from Him virtue had healed her:
The mighty deed was done.*

He turned with "Daughter, be of good comfort,
Thy faith hath made thee whole,"
And peace that passeth all understanding
With gladness filled her soul.*

*Oh, touch the hem of His garment,
And thou, too, shalt be free;
His saving power this very hour
Shall give new life to thee!

A Gospel Tract and Its Mission

The gospel of the glory of the blessed God has been declared to be His "power... unto salvation to every one that believeth." "He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." He desires that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (Rom. 1:16; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).

In recent years He has been pleased to open many doors for the publishing of His saving message; and in drawing the attention of the reader to one of these we shall take the liberty of personifying a gospel tract by regarding it as a gospel preacher.

(The vital necessity of the soundness of a gospel tract, and of the Spirit's direction in its use, are in this paper pre-supposed.)

We may say at once that as this "preacher" has no fixed place of preaching, and as his field of service is wherever he is sent (even if not wherever he is wanted), he may very properly be called a "traveling preacher."

One thing, however, has to be borne in mind: he is so powerless in himself that, wherever he goes, he has to be carried. That is, he is absolutely subject to the will of another.

But take him where there is an opening for his message, and he will deliver it on the spot. It is all the same to him whether it is in the poorest slum, or in some stately parlor; by the bedside, or the seaside; in the town, or in the country; by campfire, or in barracks; in the store, or on the farm; by road, by rail, or by air! If there is anyone to listen, no matter where, he is "always ready."

Some preachers have a very decided preference for rich and fashionable audiences. Some are only at home with intellectual hearers who can appreciate a well-studied discourse—brilliant, logical, and mentally entertaining. Others prefer preaching to the poor and to the less learned, these being generally more open and less critical.

Others, again, have no such choice. So long as their congregation is a large one, they seem satisfied. The news they proclaim is so unspeakably blessed, and opportunities for proclaiming so few, that they specially rejoice in getting many to hear it at one time.

But this preacher has no particular preference. He is bound to no special grade of society; he makes choice of no particular class, or creed, or shade of opinion. And as to the question of numbers-few or many at one time—it does not affect him in the least.

Then some preachers are timid and diffident, especially in speaking to individuals. Not so with this one. His unassuming fearlessness impresses you as being a most desirable quality, in any gospel witness. For example, he would be as ready to look a member of the royal family in the face and tell him of another "Crowned Head," as to tell the poorest beggar in the gutter of One who is "rich unto all that call upon Him" (Heb. 2:9; Rom. 10:12).

He would as fearlessly tell a popular modern theologian of the serious consequences of preaching "any other gospel" than the one brought from heaven by the Holy Ghost, as tell a contrite sinner of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God; or tell him that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Gal. 1:8, 9; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Luke 15:7, 10).

Then some preachers occasionally consider themselves "off duty!" This one never does. As long as Jesus is pleased to wait at God's right hand, he knows no "time-limit" whatever! "In season, out of season," he is always ready. Midday or midnight, it does not matter. It is never too early for his services; and never too late. "Always abounding in the work of the Lord," might well be said of him. "Patient continuance" characterizes him. Unfailing readiness, untiring constancy may justly be claimed for him. He will patiently repeat the same message to the same individual the same day, as often as anyone can possibly find time to listen.

Some preachers feel greatly annoyed when the patience of one of their hearers gets exhausted by the length of a sermon, and leaves before it is half finished. Our "traveling preacher" takes offense at no such slight! If only a few words are listened to, and even these opposed by bitter expressions of unmeasured and undeserved anger, he will never answer back. God alone is able "to give repentance" to one who opposes the truth of the gospel. Should such repentance be brought about (and how often it has been), our preacher is as free to calmly repeat his message, as if no affront had ever been offered!

On the other hand, if you should think his message too important to keep from some acquaintance, who is as vitally concerned in it as yourself, and you would like him to share it, this "preacher" will wait, without complaining, until you find your friend and give him the chance of hearing.

Should it further strike you that his message would be a true comfort, or a timely warning, to some loved one over the seas, thousands of miles away, you will find this preacher instantly ready to be sent, no matter where! Nor will the expense of sending him be any serious difficulty; for one of the smallest coins will be sufficient to cover the cost of his journey, even to the other side of the globe.

On such errands he does not wait to be accredited by any human organization. He is as ready to be made use of by the little girl of nine or ten, who might only receive a few pennies weekly, and who delights to devote part of her "spending money" in making known the Savior's love to others, as by the greatest potentate, or the richest millionaire on earth.

One word in conclusion as to the results of his mission. Not until all the Lord's laborers are called into their Master's presence in glory, and the soul-history of each saved one clearly brought to light, will it be fully known how much this "traveling preacher" has been used of God to the awakening of the careless., the restoration of the wandering, the confirmation and comfort of the feeble in faith and the downcast in spirit. Yet what refreshing results has "the God of all encouragement" allowed to come to light even here below. Take a few of the many instances that have come before the writer: The keeper of a country tavern, in turning out a sack of chips and shavings brought from a carpenter's shop close by, discovered a gospel tract among the fragments. The few words read at a glance arrested his attention. He read the whole, was led to the Savior, and gave up his tavern. He read the tract to an organ grinder who stayed with him for the night, and who seemed glad to hear it. This stranger was found frozen to death on the road before the next night; so that our so-called "traveling preacher" was the last he listened to!

A young man was in great distress of soul. He went privately to the minister; but his spiritual adviser thought it was no case for his services, and advised him to see a doctor. The medical man, finding nothing seriously wrong with his body, advised him to try some place of amusement to divert his mind. Shrinking from entering a theater, he went to a religious center where he expected to obtain spiritual help, but only to hear some comic discussion going on! Distressed, and disheartened almost to despair, he left the place. On his way home he found, a gospel tract lying in the road, and to his peace and joy he found in it the very news his heart was craving for!

A Christian man had carried a gospel tract so long in his pocket that it had become too much soiled; he thought to give it away. Not wishing to destroy it, he stuck it one day on a thorn in the roadside hedge. One evening shortly afterward a man, for whom he had been some time specially praying, unexpectedly turned up at the weekly prayer meeting. At the end of the meeting this Christian found that God had both heard his prayer and used his act of service. This very man had found the tract in the hedge, and the Spirit of God had made good use of it, for he had found the Savior through it.

A gospel tract was sent to a lady in India. Feeling no interest in such things, she pushed it into a drawer out of sight. Shortly afterward she was summoned to England by the sickness of a relative. On board the vessel another copy of the same gospel tract was placed in her hand. She read it, and was converted to God. Her husband, left behind in India, went casually one day to seek for something in the drawer just referred to. There he discovered the very tract his wife had slighted, and through it, by God's mercy, discovered the Savior his own soul needed.

This couple learned, by letter, the happy news of each other; but they never met on earth again. When they next meet, it will be where sowers and reapers, in the presence of "the Lord of the harvest," shall rejoice together.

"God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Cor. 1:27. And He has graciously been pleased to honor so weak an instrument as the one we have been describing. And, what is more, blessed be His holy name forever, He is doing so still.

No preacher on earth has been granted such an "open door" as this "traveling preacher." He gets an entrance and a hearing where many could not if they would; and where many others would not if they could.

Having sought to draw attention to this remarkable "door" which, in the providence of God, is now so widely open, we leave it with the reader, counting on the Lord's blessing. By His love alone can ours be effectually drawn forth in any service for His pleasure. It is certain that the looked-for end is very manifestly approaching.

May we who truly love our Lord Jesus Christ, and "love His appearing," be found in ever increasing appreciation of His personal blessedness. Then to make known God's precious gospel concerning Him to those who are destitute of its full comfort will be our ever increasing delight.

That His own heart is in such service in this "day of good tidings," there can be no shadow of doubt. Shall we "hold our peace"? (2 Kings 7: 9).

"The night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4.

"The morning cometh" when "every man's work shall be made manifest." 1 Cor. 3:13.

Indifference

Indifference is a sin of no ordinary kind: it is an offense of great magnitude; it is pure and simple wickedness. To rightly estimate this, we must call to mind what it is that men treat with indifference.

It is the claims of God that are set at naught, and the love of God that is despised. The gift of the Son of God, His work of infinite love at Calvary, the glory which that work has thrown open, and all the present blessings of the salvation of God, are so many trifles to the indifferent sinner. He treats them with contemptuous disregard, if not disdain.

After all the resources of divine love have been taxed to the utmost; after the heart of God has told itself out in the most wonderful way; after all the treasures of heavenly grace have been presented; after the invitation has gone forth in its fullness—"Come, for all things are now ready";— the insulting answer which goes back to the Giver of the feast is: "I pray Thee have me excused. I have other and more important matters in hand; I cannot come." There is more wickedness in this than in all the crimes that stain the pages of any prison's record.

Reader, forget not that
"Into the depths of endless woe
Rejectors of the Savior go;
Forbid the thought that you, who read,
Should longer have no sense of need."

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son."

Hebrews 1:1, 2.

"See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh."

Hebrews 12:25.

I Say Unto You, Fear Him

A Story of the World's Fair, 1893.

Luke 12:5

About nineteen hundred and seventy years ago the Lord Jesus spoke a parable which should be all the more heeded at this time. He told of a rich man (Luke 12) whose fields brought forth such abundance that he had no room in which to store his harvest. Then said he, "This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater." He meant to live many years longer, for no man begins to build without desiring to finish and enjoy. He said, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry."

"But God said." Ah! he had not thought of Him, nor of the Potter who has power over the clay He molds. "God said, Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee." Have we heeded this parable, recorded for us by the pen of inspiration so long ago?

In November, 1893, one man forgot it. Great numbers were gathered together in the now world-famed city of Chicago. Not an "innumerable multitude of people," as on the hill-sides of Galilee when the foregoing parable was spoken, but a worldly, godless company celebrating the glories of the World's Fair. They had that day been exalting the Mayor of the city that the world wondered after. He thus addressed the assembly. Listen to his words: "I believe that I will live to see the day when Chicago will be the biggest city in America. I don't count the past. I have taken a new lease on life, and I intend to live more than half a century longer. At the end of that half-century London will be trembling lest Chicago should surpass her."

The mayor and his city were exalted—yes, his own life he would prolong; he had taken into his own hands the keeping together of body, soul and spirit. To "half a century ahead," in his daring presumption, he looked forward. '

But God still sits in heaven; "and among the inhabitants of the earth" "none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, what doest Thou?" (Dan. 4:35.) Within nine hours the speaker of those impious words met a violent death, and his spirit returned to God who gave it. "If He cut off... then who can hinder Him?" Job 11:10.

The mayor was like Herod who sat on his throne in all the pomp of regal display. He spoke, presumably he boasted, and the people applauded, saying, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." And immediately the angel of God smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he gave up the ghost" (Acts 12). "Vain man would be wise"-but he likes to be so without God.

Great Babylon of the future will do the same. She will glorify herself as she has ever done. She, the empty shell of Christendom, the personification of religion without Christ, will say, "I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." Wherefore, to her in whom is found the blood of all the saints, "shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her" (Rev. 18).

Reader, "God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." Eccles. 5:2.

It is a solemn thing to leave Him out of our lives! He alone can do "Whatsoever pleaseth Him" (Eccles. 8:3). Thankfully may we add that "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). He "sent His Son a propitiation for our sins," and death has no terrors for the lowly, contrite heart that believes the record that God has given of His Son.

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us [that is, to believers] eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12.

Peace for a Priest

I sat in the front part of a room, and a young-looking priest slowly paced to and fro at the other end of it. He was the son of a man of high rank in the army. From a pious mother he had received instruction which wrought deep convictions about his soul's salvation.

"What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" This scripture followed him through all his studies and travels. Tormented by it, he at length entered "the Church," not to satisfy ambition, but, if possible, to find peace of soul.

His lank form, his long face, pale and thin—his entire being—indicated suffering; and, without knowing why, I felt myself drawn to him. I remembered, as if it were but yesterday, the agony of my own heart before knowing eternal redemption. Thinking that perhaps he suffered from the same cause, I finally asked him: "Have you peace with God, my friend?"

"Peace with God!" exclaimed he. "What do you mean by peace with God?"

"It is the result," I replied, "of the known forgiveness of sins. It is like the relief and joy that would envelope the agonized spirit of a criminal condemned to death, to whom a messenger suddenly brings this message from the governor: 'All your crimes are forgiven you; go forth in peace!' "

"Then," said he, "I have not peace with God, for I have never yet received such a message from God. For nearly three years I have been imprisoned between four walls, exercising the greatest severities against myself. I have fasted; I have prayed; I have ill-treated my body until I am reduced to what you see. But I have not yet received this message from God."

"You are a sincere man," I remarked: "You are not one of those religionists who affect a godly air, and within have nothing but lust and wickedness."

"How should I not be sincere, sir, when I know that it is with God Himself I have to do? Appearance, you know, is only for this world. Reality is for eternity. A thousand times a fool is he who sees no farther than this world. For my part, it is eternity that occupies me."

"Blessed be God! Blessed be God, my dear friend! He has shown you the curse of the law of God against every breach of that law. According to Galatians 3:10, `Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.'

You are not a hypocrite, but know well that you are violating this law constantly, even in spite of yourself. So you at once apply the curse to yourself, well knowing in your conscience that you merit it."

"That is it exactly! You have just laid bare my heart. That is my state precisely. I see the just wrath of God against me, and I much desire to be able to appease or escape it."

I took out my Bible and pointed to Galatians 3:13. He read: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

Suddenly his languid eyes lighted up. The message of peace had come to him through the WORD.

"Do you understand now," I inquired, "why Jesus upon the cross must needs cry out, 'My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?' "

"It is clear, quite clear," he replied. "If Christ has been made a curse for me, in order to redeem me from the curse of the law, it follows that He Himself sustained that curse. He thus becomes a substitute for me."

"Exactly! a Substitute—one who takes the place of another. You cannot find a better word. 'He hath made Him to be sin for us, Him who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.' 2 Cor. 5:21. Tor Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.' 1 Pet. 3:18."

The heart of the young priest was evidently quite overcome. A pardon so sudden, a salvation so sure and so free, almost frightened him; he could scarcely believe himself to be in his right mind. He appeared afraid lest he wake himself up and find his anguish had been calmed only by a cruel dream—cruel because of its very sweetness.

It was not a dream. It was the truth which had set him at liberty, according to John 8:32: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." After this he gave himself much to reading the Scriptures. His peace became more settled, and his expression of suffering gave place to one of profound rest.

My reader, are you unmoved by these things? If so, what a terrible awakening will come to you some day! Rouse yourself now while grace abounds; accept Him who stood in your stead before a holy, righteous God, and enter into the enjoyment of a peace which passeth understanding.

Let the peace of God rule in your heart.

The Telegraph Message

Eddie was a telegraph clerk in a little town in the Midwest. He was very anxious about his soul's salvation, but had no idea how he could get peace, comfort or rest. One Sunday he even listened attentively to three preachers. He went home to his room very much upset. How could he be saved? He knew his sins were unforgiven, and he had little sleep that night.

Monday morning he went to his work in the telegraph "box" on a railway line. Shortly after he arrived, there came the signal that his station was called. As the message was received, he wrote down the name of the sender and addressee.

Then came the message: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7.

He dropped his pencil and looked at the telegram. It had been sent to a young lady who also was troubled about her soul, and who found peace in believing the precious words of the message. But to Eddie it was God's message to him, and he accepted it as such.

He said afterward: "The words—Lamb of God—Redemption—Blood—Riches of His Grace-went right into my poor heart. No one in the whole world could have had greater joy than I had that Monday morning."

My reader, do you have this peace and joy? May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing. (Rom. 15: 13).

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

Four Bright Jewels

There are four bright jewels in the crown of forgiveness. The first is a full forgiveness. Whoever God forgives, He forgives all—every sin—be it ever so dark and deep.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. "Our God will abundantly pardon." It is a full forgiveness.

The second jewel also sparkles; it is "freeness."

Yes, thank God, forgiveness is free. Free.

"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake." It is a free forgiveness.

It is neither goodness in man that makes God willing, nor yet evil in man that makes Him unwilling to forgive. It is only and entirely "for His own sake" (His love), that He pardons the guilty sinner. The words in every language which express pardon and forgiveness all imply a free gift.

We have a third jewel in this crown: Christ's forgiveness is final. No after charges. No blotting out today and writing down again tomorrow. The sins of a believer are "cast behind God's back into the very depths of the sea."

But there is yet one more jewel in this crown. Forgiveness is a present blessing. It is not something in prospect, but for present possession. It is not a mere plank on which to cross the stormy waters of Jordan at death, but a staff on which to lean all our journey through life. It is not a promissory note payable in the next world, but a treasure possessed and enjoyed now in this world.

Unconverted men take a different view of forgiveness. They think about it only in connection with the time when they come to die, not before. They only hope to be forgiven then.

Fellow sinner, sin is no trifle, no fancy. It is a dread reality. And thank God, "forgiveness" of sin is also no mere fancy, but a grand truth. It is our first, our greatest need, and obtained only through accepting the substitutionary work of this Man—Christ Jesus—on Calvary's cross.

Afraid of the Consequences

God had been mightily working that night. Sinners had been awakened to a sense of their lost condition—anxious souls had found "peace in believing," and the people of God were stirred up and refreshed.

While passing from one to another during the inquiry—meeting at the close of this gospel service, a fellow-laborer in the harvest field said to me: "Here is a young man who does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ."

"And are you not a sinner?" I asked of the youth in question.

"Oh yes, I suppose I am," was the somewhat careless reply.

"Then, if so, do you not need a Savior?" I continued.

"No, not tonight, thank you," he calmly replied.

"Yes, my dear fellow, you do need Him, but it is evident that you do not want Him. There is a great difference between needing Christ and wanting Him. Every sinner needs Him; but, sad to say, some sinners do not want Him."

It was evidently thus with our young friend, so I felt pressed to point out to him the awful risk he was running in rejecting the offer of forgiveness and salvation that God was making him, through faith in Christ and His work.

"It's no use," said he. "I simply will not even consider it tonight. Why, the fellows down at the works would laugh it all out of me in no time."

"And do you think," I urged, "that if you die in your sins, and enter eternity rejecting Christ, that those young fellows will be able to laugh you out of hell? Take care they do not laugh you into it, for they most certainly will never laugh you out of it."

Oh, my friend, let not Satan rob you of your precious soul's salvation by filling you with the fear of man. Have you ever read the descriptive list of those who find their part in the lake of fire? If not, turn to Revelation 21:8. Read these solemn words slowly and attentively, and may the Spirit of God send them home to you in soul-awakening power! Do you see yourself described there?

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."

Let there be no mistake on this point. Do not imagine that those described in this verse shall by some means or another find their part in heaven. No. "In the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone," is the solemn declaration of God's Word, and remember, that "HE HATH POWER to cast into hell."

But awful as is the doom of the godless, the abandoned, the wicked, and the depraved, it is shared by the "fearful and unbelieving." Is the reader one who is afraid of the consequences of believing in Christ? Then oh, beware! The "fearful and unbelieving," just as much as the murderer and the whoremonger, have their part in the lake of fire—they even head the list!

Away, then, with the moral cowardice that is afraid to believe in and confess Christ, and oh for more of the courage that is not ashamed to confess Him before men.

"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.

Reveal Thyself to Me!

"Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee."

Precious promise! It is a great thing to be "at peace" in a world where there is no peace. "Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain." How vivid the picture these words draw of what is going on around us day after day in a world which by wisdom knew not God, and where the restless, unsatisfied heart vainly seeks happiness outside of Him in whose presence alone it can be found! The cross is the one place where we can acquaint ourselves with Him, "and be at peace." Have you done so, dear reader?

"Oh, God! if there be a God, reveal Thyself to me!" was a cry out of the darkness in which questions and doubts had plunged a would-be infidel. He was on his way down to the country to visit his estates some years ago. He had written a book to try to convince a friend of his folly in believing in Christianity. Before sending it to press he sat down to read it again. Having read it, he asked himself: "Were I a believer in Christ, would such arguments upset my faith? No, they would not." Throwing himself on his knees, he cried thus to God: "Oh God! if there be a God, reveal Thyself to me!"

God heard; God answered; and he rose from his knees a changed man. Instead of publishing his book, the man was converted to the faith he had once sought to destroy. Not only so, but he went forth into the world to tell out to others the grace of that Savior-God who had met him, and blessed him with the knowledge of Himself in so signal a manner. "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." John 17:3.

Continuing his journey, he reached his estates; and there he learned that a number of his tenants had been making his conversion a subject of special prayer.

Again I would ask any who may read these lines, have you made acquaintance with God? Are you at peace? If still in darkness, may light be yet your portion! Jesus says, "I am the light of the world." John 8:12. Perhaps some may ask, "How can I find Him—the Light?" He also says, "I am the door;" "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

"Why 'neath the load of your sins do ye toil?
Christ giveth rest, giveth rest."

That peace, that rest—they are beyond price; neither you nor I could ever buy them. The One who gives this peaceful rest bought it. No words can tell what it cost Him, for He "made peace by the blood of His cross." "He laid down His life for us" (1 John 3:16), is the language in which the Spirit of God tells out the depth of that love—a deep that has no sounding.

Wonderful Love

How matchless is God's wondrous love!
He gave His Son from heaven above,
That none should perish who believe,
But everlasting life receive.

It was for me, it was for me,
The Savior died on Calvary;
Salvation free for me to win,
God's "Whosoever" takes me in.

Herein is love, 'tis love indeed;
A love that meets our deepest need,
A love that passes human thought,
He loves us when we loved Him not.

To sinners lost, our God commends
His perfect love, which never ends;
The death of Christ that love has shown;
Was love so wondrous ever known?

His love dismisses all our fear,
And to Himself He brings us near;
The Father's house we soon shall see,
And dwell in love eternally.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His (God's) Son cleanseth us from all sin."

1 John 1:7.

Uninvited

John, a village blacksmith, was known as a most wicked man. He was saturated with everything blatant and blasphemous in infidelity. He hated everything that is good, and loved everything that is bad. He seemed to study to make himself an irritant to all who believed God, not even sparing his Christian wife, who did the best she could in the patience and kingdom of Jesus.

This man finally was given up by the Christians in the village as altogether beyond moral recovery; and so indeed he seemed. Prayer was made as though he had no existence. Churches were opened and shut, with a reference to him never. The gospel was preached and mercy offered to sin-sick souls, but no one connected him with God's message of love to the world.

A few miles back in the country from the blacksmith's town there lived an old couple, Father and Mother Brown. They were close to ninety years of age. Theirs had been lives of consciously walking with God, and of patient, unremitting devotedness to Him. Without sorrow and without fear, they rejoiced in their Lord's promised home call.

Very early one morning the old man awoke. He was exceedingly agitated, and began to call his wife: "Get up, Mary! Get up!"

"Why? What is the matter?" was her natural query.

He answered: "I can't tell you now what's the matter. I'll just start a fire in the stove. You get breakfast ready as soon as you can. I've got to go to town this morning."

"You go to town this morning!" she exclaimed. "Why, you are out of your head. You can't go to town. You haven't any way of going, and I know you can't walk."

"Don't tell me what I can't do," the old man persisted. "I tell you I've got to go to town! God has told me to go and—well, I'll make the fire. Then I'll tell you about it."

His wife followed him. The breakfast was prepared, and when the meal was over the old man started for town. It was a long and weary walk for one so old to take, but strength from above was supplied him and without stopping to rest he kept on. When he reached the village, he trudged through the main street; then into a narrow cross street and to the shop of "Devil John," the blacksmith, he made his way.

"Father Brown!" he exclaimed, in great amazement. "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

The old man answered: "That's just what I've come to tell you. Let's go inside, where I can sit down; for I am so tired."

Together, they went into the shop. When seated, the old man said: "John, I had a dream last night, and I've come to tell you about it. I dreamed that the hour I have longed for so much and sought to be ready for so long was come. It was my time to die. And it was just like I have thought it would be, just as the Lord has promised it shall be. I wasn't the least bit afraid. How could I be? For in the arms of an angel host I was borne instantly away.

"Beyond the hills and beyond the clouds we mounted through the skies, and it seemed to me that the morning stars sang together. Oh, how they sang! I never heard anything like it in my life. On we swept, and on, till one of the heavenly host said: 'Look yonder, now; there's heaven.'

"Oh, John, I can't tell you how I felt when I was in sight of heaven. How can I tell you what I saw? I don't believe anyone could. All was so peaceful, so beautiful, so pure, and so glorious!

"As we drew nearer, and even faster than we had come, we entered into the city.

"What a welcome! Welcome from everybody, all so glad; gladness everywhere, because I had come— I, only a poor sinner saved by Jesus' blood. Soon I realized that my Savior was the glorious Center of it all, and that I was there with all the redeemed, to the glory of His grace.

"Oh, what joy to see all His dear ones there, and mine. Then, John, all at once it came to me that I hadn't seen you anywhere. I set out to look for you. I went into the street of gold. I asked everybody, and sought you everywhere, but I could get no trace of you.

"Finally I went to the Lord, my precious Savior, and asked Him where you were. And, O John, that you could have seen the sorrow on His face when He told me that you hadn't come.

“‘Not come!’ I said. 'Why didn't John come?’

“What an answer I got! 'Nobody ever asked John to come.'

"Oh, I fell at His feet. I laid my cheeks upon them, and cried: 'Blessed Lord! Just let me out of here half an hour, and I'll go and ask him to come. I'll give him an invitation.'

"Right then and there I woke up. Day was breaking in the east, and I was so glad that I was alive, so I could come and ask you to go with me to my Savior and your Savior, to the Father's house, to the home of the redeemed."

Thus the old man urged upon him the royal invitation; but the blacksmith stood as one petrified. He could not speak nor move. Father Brown got up, and, saying, "Good-by, John; remember you've got the invitation; remember you are asked to come"; then taking his staff he started home.

At last the blacksmith seemed to come to himself. Like one coming out of a trance, he began the labors of the day. But everything went wrong: the bellows would not work right, the hammers would not strike right, the nails would not go in right, the horses would not stand right. "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" he cried.

He began to sob at last. Leaving the shop, he ran home. He told his wife of Father Brown's visit and of the invitation to heaven.

"Blessed be God!" she said. "We will send and have him come back."

"Yes," he added, "for I mean to accept the invitation and to join him on the road to God."

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

Looking for Jesus

Going into a book store one day, I met there a young man who "sought to see Jesus." He was sitting alone, and looked distressed and restless. I learned that he had been awakened at a gospel preaching sometime previously to a true sense of his lost condition. Now he was in deep anxiety about his soul, and earnestly desiring to find peace with God.

Going to him, I spoke of the Savior and His finished work, for other remedy there is none for a soul in such a state. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."

His quivering lip told the depth of his feeling, as he answered, "I am looking for Jesus, and I cannot find Him."

Here was reality, and a soul in earnest. He was looking for Jesus. The sinner was seeking the Savior, and expressing, like one of old, "Oh, that I knew where I might find Him!"

"But where are you looking?" I asked.

The question seemed new to him. After some moments' thought, he said vaguely, "I don't know."

"Where is the One you are seeking? Where is Jesus?"

It was some time before he spoke. With an inquiring look, he slowly said, "In heaven?"

"Yes! Jesus is in heaven. He is the living Savior in heaven. He has gained the victory over sin, and borne its judgment. Raise your thoughts to Him where He is. He is speaking peace to you, and telling you that your sins were all put away when He bore the judgment of them on the cross and died in your stead.

"Now He is in heaven without them, and they can never rise against you again. They are gone in His atoning death, and God sees them no more. Christ bore them in His own body on the tree. He died there for our sins, and rose from the dead without them. They are gone—put away from before God forever."

He was listening eagerly. These few words seemed to lift the load from off him, and, with a look of relief, he exclaimed: "I never thought of that before! Jesus is in heaven—and the sins He bore on the cross are gone—and God sees them no more!"

"Yes! God sees them no more. Fix your eyes on Jesus in heaven, for no one could look up into the face of Jesus Christ upon the throne of God, and have a doubt. Could you? Impossible! No sins could be on Him there."

We spoke further as to the finished work of Christ; and though I never saw him again, I believe these words brought light to him. By faith his eye now rested on Jesus in the glory—Jesus, whom he wished to find, and had been earnestly seeking. By God's Word he knew his sins were forever discharged by Christ's work on the cross.

When a soul is in earnest, and need is felt, faith appropriates the message from God—takes God at His word, and goes on its way rejoicing.

"There is no other name than Thine,
Jehovah Jesus! name divine!
On which to rest for sins forgiven,
For peace with God, for hope of heaven.

Name above every name, Thy praise
Shall fill you courts through endless days!
Jehovah Jesus! name divine!
Rock of salvation, Thou art mine!"

Not Good Enough - Not Bad Enough

"If you were to die tonight, would you go to heaven?"

"Oh, no, I am not good enough for that!"

"If you were to die tonight, would you go to hell?"

"I am not bad enough for that."

This was part of a conversation that took place between two men several years ago.

How many, when asked where they would be if suddenly ushered into eternity, declare that they are not "good enough" to go to heaven, and not "bad enough" to go to hell. Where, then, would they go? Multitudes of persons suppose that it is "good people" who get to heaven—and that it is "bad" persons who are sent to hell. God's Word declares that "there is none righteous, no, not one." Rom. 3:10; "there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:22, 23; "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psa. 14:3.

True, some have fallen farther short of God's standard than others; but ALL have "come short," and "there is no difference" as to the fact of guilt. "All we like sheep have gone astray." Isa. 53:6. Some have wandered farther from the path of obedience than others, but all have departed from it; and "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Jas. 2:10.

All deserve sin's wages, which is eternal separation from God in conscious misery. If we received what our sins merit, not one of us would ever see or enter the abode of bliss. Scripture declares that there are but two classes of people—those who are saved and those who are lost; those who are justified and those who are condemned; those who are traveling on the broad road and those who are traveling on the narrow.

To which class does the reader belong? Don't say that "no one can know." The early Christians knew that they were SAVED (Eph. 2:8,9); PARDONED, (Eph. 4:32); JUSTIFIED, (1 Cor. 6:11); REDEEMED, (Eph. 1:7); and POSSESSED everlasting life. Do you?

It is of no use saying that you have not "the assurance"! It would be very wrong for any one to say that he had the "assurance of salvation" if he were not a real Christian. I had two "assurances." The first one was that I was guilty, lost, condemned, and utterly unable to do anything to save my soul. The second "assurance" I found in God's blessed Word was this, that the Lord Jesus was wounded for my transgressions, and bruised for my iniquities; that the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and through His stripes I was healed!

What a wonderful discovery! How blessed the "assurance" that the Lord Jesus bled, suffered, and died in my stead. I have assurance of the Word of the living God that all who believe on Him who paid sin's debt are eternally saved. (John 6:29, 47).

God is willing to save you as you read these lines. Are you willing to be saved by the Lord Jesus? Are you willing to be saved in God's way? Are you willing to be saved in God's time? God's way of salvation is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," Acts 16:31.

God's time is NOW, for "now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor. 5:19, 20.

Perhaps you have been praying God to be reconciled to you, ignorant of the wondrous fact that all the time He has been beseeching you to be reconciled to Him. The ground on which He can righteously do so is contained in this verse: "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

Believe on Him who loved you and gave Himself for you. Then you too "shall be saved."

A Young Christian's Regrets

When we first knew Mary, she was a bright young Christian. She often spoke of the Lord and signed her letters "saved by grace." In the Lord Jesus she found a truly satisfying Object. He so filled her heart that she disdained worldly amusements.

Being a bright witness for the Lord, Mary became at once a special target of Satan. Even Jesus, when on earth, was opposed by the devil. Today this wily one seeks to ensnare those who confess Jesus as Lord.

He cannot rob them of their salvation, but he delights in having them give an un-Christian testimony and false report of their Savior before the world.

This enemy of Christ and of souls used some old friends of Mary's to persuade her that she was missing something since she had given up the world's pleasures. They urged her time after time to go with them to the 'theaters, and often referred to other Christians who did go as a reason for her following their example.

Under this pressure, Mary finally gave in. She consented to go with them "just once." True to her promise, Mary was found that evening at the theater—the most miserable evening she had ever spent up to that time. How she longed to get out! Desperately, she even thought of getting up and leaving her companions in the theater, but the wily foe reminded her of the laughs and jeers which would surely result.

Satan won that battle, and the following week it was easier for Mary again to go with the crowd. This time she was more easily persuaded; but again she spent the entire evening in regrets for having been there.

As time went on Mary would go with a little more ease; but still her conscience would smite her, and she lost many a good night's sleep. It annoyed her that she could not have as good a time as the other girls with whom she went. She did not heed her conscience, nor the warnings of the Word of God. Finally conscience stopped its prickings, and Mary could now enter whole-heartedly into the pleasures with which Satan leads men and women to hell. The enemy of souls had won his point. He could now use her as an example to entice other Christians. He always has some weak ones he can use for this purpose, but he never tells the sad result his poor dupes suffer.

"Vice is a monster of so hideous a mien,
That to be hated, needs but to be seen;
Seen more often, familiar grown its face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace."

Dear young Christian, has the devil suggested to you that you are missing something by not indulging in the pleasures of this world? Has he told you that the shows, dances, and other worldly amusements are truly worth having? If so, let me warn you that he lies to you. He is hiding from you the sorrow and loss due one who so misrepresents the blessed Savior of sinners.

Today, this once happy Christian is a most miserable girl. The subtle enemy that led her on step by step to dishonor the Lord who bought her is now mocking her with taunts of what she has done. He now says: "Do you believe you were ever converted? You couldn't be a true Christian, and do what you have."

Poor Mary is now in deep, deep distress of soul. She wonders if she were ever saved. She has proved that the devil lied to her, and that what he promised as enjoyment was all a delusion. In acquiring an appetite for "the pleasures of sin," poor Mary has blunted or lost the joy of salvation. She has become a poor representative of her heavenly citizenship.

O, dear young Christian, beware of Satan's wiles! Beware of accepting his lures "just once." If you have already done so, I beg you to confess it at once to God your Father. He "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." He can and will restore your joy in the Lord and give you pleasures forevermore.

"Naught, naught I court as pleasure,
Compared, O Christ, with Thee!
Thy sorrow, without measure,
Earned peace and joy for me!
I love to own, Lord Jesus,
Thy claims o'er me divine,
Bought with Thy blood most precious,
Whose can I be but Thine!"

Not Cast Out

I have never yet heard a single person say: "I came to Jesus, and He cast me out."

There never was such a case. If YOU are not saved and happy in the love of Christ, it is because you have never come to Him. For nearly two thousand years His own words have been on record. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Are you among those who have come? If not, come now. His gracious invitation is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28.

"All things are ready," Come!
Tomorrow may not be:
O sinner, come! the Savior waits
This hour to welcome thee!"

Have You Thought of This?

Never to be invited more
To enter by the open door,
Never to see the Savior's face,
Never to share the wondrous place,
Never to feel the Father's kiss—
O sinner! have you thought of this?

Never to thank Him for His love,
Never to dwell with Him above,
Never His likeness true to bear,
Never His glory bright to share,
And joy at His right hand to miss—
O sinner! have you thought of this?

Never to hear His praises ring,
Never with saints above to sing,
But Christless, in that awful throng,
Who to the realms of woe belong;
Never to taste of endless bliss—
O sinner! have you thought of this?

Into the depths of endless woe
Rejecters of the Savior go;
Forbid the thought that you, who read,
Should longer have no sense of need
Of the only way to realms of bliss—
O sinner! have you thought of this?

"REDEEMED with the PRECIOUS BLOOD of CHRIST."

1 Peter 1:18, 19.

A New Leaf

It was the last day of the year. Others in my office had been busy listing their New Year resolutions. My one thought was a fancy dress ball to which I was invited to "see the old year out." A good time was promised, and I purposed being there. With that intention, I went home early that evening to dress for the ball. I was unusually tired, and entering my bedroom, I sat down in an easy chair.

Somehow I began to think of my past. My thoughtlessness and sins came vividly before me. I realized that instead of improving, I was getting worse and worse. I must turn over a new leaf.

Persistently, the question: "Where would it all end?" probed my conscience, and the thought of what the end might be filled me with a nameless fear. Yes, I must turn over a new leaf. However, just as I was beginning to feel comfortable in my new-formed resolution, I remembered I had turned over many new leaves in previous years, but they were soon black as the old ones. Depressed by my failure, I sat in despair, more miserable than ever.

My thoughts wandered back to my childhood with mother. After I left home, she had often written to me, and pleaded with me to accept Jesus as my Savior. It was generally at the end of the letter; and much as I loved to get mother's letters, I could not bear to read that part, so I used to stop when I came to it. As my thoughts wandered back to early days, they drifted from mother to my mother's God. She would be praying for me this night especially. With a gleam of hope, yet mingled with doubt, I fell to my knees and earnestly cried out to God in my need for Him: "O God, help me." And He heard!

Rising from my knees, I looked at my watch. It was half-past eleven! Five solid hours had I been there, and never once had the ball entered my mind. The realities of eternity had obsessed my soul.

Then I remembered there used to be watch-night meetings at home, on the last night of the year. Wondering if there would be any chance to find one here in this wicked city, I put on my coat and went out to see. I soon found such a gathering in an old theater. The meeting was in progress when I entered. It was just past midnight. Taking a seat in the back, I listened eagerly to catch every word. A young man was preaching: in simple language telling the "good news" that Christ came to save helpless sinners.

Like a flash it came home to my soul that, helpless as I was, He came to save me. There and then I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for sinners, as my own personal Savior. On the way out, at the door, a young man asked me if I was a Christian; and by the grace of God, I was able now to say, "Yes, I am!"

I went home that morning with a new-found joy filling my soul; and as I passed the crowds of merrymakers, I could not help being thankful as I thought, "I've got something far better now!"

Years have passed since then, and He who saved on that New Year's morning has kept, and will keep until He takes all His blood-bought people home to Himself.

Dear reader, I beg you, look to the Savior now.

He alone can save, and satisfy. No conviction, however deep; no resolution, however grand; no vow, however solemn, can save. "Jesus alone can save!"

"Jesus said, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:13, 14.

Suicide or Saint?

One hot summer morning a business meeting was scheduled for a group of Christian men. As moderator, it was my duty to be present and to help secure the attendance of as many of that company as I could.

On my way to the place of meeting, I first picked up my friend, Bruce. I was surprised when he insisted that I wait long enough for him to summon a neighbor for me to meet.

This neighbor, J. T. Holbrook, was a taciturn sort of fellow; and when Bruce volunteered the information that I was a preacher, I could feel the spirit of resistance that J. T. had built up around himself.

Sensing that the challenge was not against me personally, but was evidence of his rejection of my blessed Lord, I was pressed in spirit to present to this rebellious one the legitimate claims of the Savior of sinners on those for whom He has shed His own precious blood.

Silently seeking the Lord's guidance, I came quickly to the point by asking J. T.: "Do you not long to know the love of God in Christ Jesus? Would not your life be happier and more meaningful if you had Christ as your Savior?"

Instantly I saw a puzzled expression on the man's face. Was he resenting my question? Or was he unconscious of his attitude of rebellion against a loving God? I could not at the moment judge satisfactorily just what was the true answer; but desiring to arouse his conscience and to present briefly the claims of Christ, I asked: "Are you a lost sinner?"

To my surprise his expression changed completely. First, momentary shock, then shame, followed by—was it despair?—registered on his face. His voice came to my ears almost in a whisper: "Lost? Oh, God, lost. Man, you hit it on the head!"

Louder, he demanded: "Come in here with me." With a quick glance at my watch I followed him, determined to make short work of this interruption of my morning's schedule.

Inside the little cottage the troubled man turned to face me. Verging on hysteria, he blurted out: "Man, you said it. I am lost, and how lost God alone knows. I'm just about at the end of my tether, and Satan holds the other. Now where do I go? Which way do I turn? Who has the answer?"

The poor fellow was now weeping, and I knew I must try to point him to the only One who has all the answers. One after another I quoted scriptures which by the Spirit of God came into my mind, such as: "Jesus said... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

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

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

Realizing that J. T. was now quieter, I knelt beside my chair and committed him and his problems to the God of all grace. As I bade him good-by, I wondered if he had received the Word he had just heard; but he did not seem inclined for further conversation. However, as I started out he asked if he might ride with us. Gladly we made room in the car, hoping for another opportunity to point him to Christ. But this was not to be, at this time, for, at the little nearby pharmacy he asked to be let out.

All that day I was troubled by thoughts of the weeping man and constantly I cried to the Lord for him and his problems. Oh, that I might have another talk with him! God answered this prayer by a phone call from J. T. It came after supper as I was preparing to leave for a special meeting. "Mr. Jay," he said, "If you are the preacher who talked to me this morning, will you come right now and answer some questions?"

Scarcely knowing how to answer such importunity, yet thanking the Lord for thus granting my prayer, I felt constrained to keep my appointment first. So, firmly but gently, I promised to see him after the meeting. To my surprise his impatient reply came as he slammed the receiver down: "You preachers are all alike!"

Earlier, I had told my wife of the morning's encounter; and now, as she realized the import of this call, she besought me not to answer it. "I have inquired about this J. T. Holbrook," she said. "He is a desperate character, and could do you harm."

How comforting to my heart came the words of the Lord: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." Isa. 41:10.

Immediately after the meeting I drove to the little cottage where I had talked to J. T. Holbrook that morning, and as I drove, I cried to the Lord for wisdom. Again came the precious verse of Isaiah 41:10. Surely I could say, with the Apostle Paul: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil. 4:13.

Nearing the Holbrook home, I saw that the house was dark; but pacing the sidewalk in front was the figure of a man. By the light of my headlights I soon recognized J. T. While I drew up to the curb he stood there silently watching; and as I stepped out, he greeted me almost apologetically with, "I thought you were like the rest: all talk."

Determined to let J. T. take the initiative, I waited quietly while he seemed to be gathering his courage. And at last it came!

"You preachers! All you can do is quote Scripture and pray; and I had told you I was lost-I still don't know where I am nor what to do. I'm at the end of my rope.

"This morning when I left you and went to the drug store, my mind was made up. Death is easy and cyanide is quick; but old John would not let me have it.

"That had been my final resort—to end it all. But some of those verses this morning have given me second thoughts. Maybe there is something more than death for me—and if there is, please, oh please, tell me!"

Together we entered J. T.'s cottage again. With the light turned on, we sat close to each other as we read some of the verses given by the Spirit that morning. Using these same scriptures I sought to show this poor desperate man God's way to eternal life! He quickly laid hold of the fact that his sinful nature as well as his sinful life had separated him from a holy God, and that his only hope of salvation lay in genuine repentance for his sins and a living faith in the efficacy of the shed blood of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we talked of the wondrous love that had brought the Lord of glory into this world of sin and sorrow, small noises from an adjoining room betrayed the presence of an unseen listener. I was just rising to leave when this person entered the room, and J. T. introduced his wife. Her eyes shining with joy, she exclaimed: "Mr. Jay, I've never heard anything like this. You have made it all so plain and so precious. How can we help but love that blessed One?"

Mrs. Holbrook's whole-hearted acceptance of the Lord seemed to be the final touch to break down whatever barriers remained in J. T.'s heart. With his arms around both his wife and myself, we three lifted our hearts in thanksgiving and praise to the Savior of sinners.

Things with Stings

Bees are noted for two things—honey and stings. In seeking the honey, beware of the stings. Sins also have their sweets: "the pleasures of sin" which are but "for a season" (Heb. 11:25) always end in the penalties of sin, which are eternal. Doing wrong may be like eating honey; but when conscience convicts, terrible are its stings. Stings and sins are connected: take away the "t" and the "g" from s-t-i-n-g-s and you have s-i-n-s.

Sins, like bees, are numerous. There are in some hives as many as 30,000 bees. Who can tell the number of sins in our minds and hearts? They are countless. How they buzz around—sins of speech, sins of action, sins of thought! Try to count the bees flying in and out of a hive, and then try to number your sins.

Thousands of bees are inside the hive and out of sight. A young friend of ours, who had made his own wooden hive, opened it one evening and let us see the black swarms of bees moving within, though not a bee could be seen outside.

We cannot see the sins that are in our hearts and minds; but God can, and He says, "I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." Ezek. 11:5.

Jesus, when on earth, knew what was in people's hearts (Luke 9:47). He knows what is in our hearts today. One day He opened the human heart, as my young friend opened his hive, and showed some of the evils working within (Matt. 15:19).

We would not like for the world to know the thoughts within us; yet God says, "I, the Lord, search the heart." Jer. 17:9, 10. This ought to humble us.

A gardener I knew kept bees and bantams. One day an impudent little bantam cock perched on the top of the hive, and prepared to crow. At that moment a bee settled on the top of his comb and stung him. He flew down without crowing, humbled, as we should be.

Did you ever have a bee follow you and try to sting you? One made for a friend of mine. He started beating the air, until he thought he had beaten his attacker off. When he stopped, I saw the bee was quietly crawling inside his coat. It is hard to get away from sin; and when we think we have succeeded, it may be nearer than ever.

I knew a lady who, when a swarm of bees were threatening an attack, shut the garden gate to keep them out! This was just as effectual as our good resolutions to keep away evil thoughts and desires.

Shall I tell you a secret? A bee cannot sting two persons. Its sting is barbed, like a broad arrow, and when inserted, cannot be withdrawn, but is left in the wound. Thereafter that bee is stingless and cannot sting again. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can save from the sting of sin.

My sins the Savior stung,
And caused His painful death
When on the cross He hung,
And yielded up His breath;
My sins will never sting me now,
They left their stings in His blest brow.

They Simply Will Not Believe

At the time of an eruption of a great volcanic mountain some 2,500 persons were rendered homeless! After the eruption had somewhat subsided, they returned to their former dwellings in spite of the fact that now a newly-formed huge basin of boiling lava continually emitted sulfurous gases and great clouds of brownish dust. It is also stated that the temperature, some distance from the volcano, was nearly 900 degrees. Rumblings were constantly heard, and everything indicated continuance of the activity. The account said: "They were warned repeatedly of their great danger but they simply will not believe." So impressed was the reporter with their carelessness, that he repeats: "THEY ARE REPEATEDLY WARNED OF THEIR GREAT DANGER, BUT THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT BELIEVE!"

How like many today! The rumblings of coming judgment are unheeded by young and old alike: "They simply will not believe!"

Yet, at any moment the door of mercy may close. The day of God's grace has nearly run its course. We read in "the Psalm of Redemption" (103): "He will not always chide, neither will He keep His anger forever." (v. 9.). The storm clouds are gathering, and soon God's judgments will be in the earth. Reader! Take heed to the solemn warning, and flee for refuge to the Savior of sinners. Are you among the many who "simply will not believe?" Your position is far more serious than those near that mountain. YOU are in danger of eternal doom, shut out of heaven and shut up in hell for all eternity!

Hear the words of Scripture addressed to YOU: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: 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. 55:6, 7.

The Fury of the Elements and the Soft, Gentle Voice

"Over all, God reigns! The all-wise and beneficent Creator manifestly has fashioned this globe, through countless ages, for the habitation of man, His highest creation. It is unthinkable that God would abandon either this physical earth or man created in His image. The earthquake, the tornado, elemental disaster of any kind, endures but a moment and is a mere ephemeral episode in the long stretches of time. God is good and His mercy and his tenderness overrule even the fury of the elements."

The above quotation is from a California newspaper's report of an earthquake some time ago. The editor, differing from many of our newspaper men today, was neither a skeptic nor an atheist, and the regard with which he wrote concerning God—Creator, and upholder of the universe—is to be appreciated, especially so in a day of widespread infidelity.

When such dread calamities as earthquakes, tornadoes, tidal waves occur, where human life is so suddenly cut off, and many are made to suffer, people need to pause and thoughtfully inquire the reason and the intended lessons. In every such calamity, we cannot always say they come directly from the hand of God, yet we can always say that every such circumstance is permitted by Him, which is quite a different thing.

God has not only created all, but He has established a perfect government in His own universe, over which He is the Superintendent. As it is written, "All things subsist [are held together] by Him." And He "upholds all things by the word of His power."

No natural calamity occurs without His permission, and at times it may be directly from Him. His wisdom and knowledge are higher than our highest thought; so under all such circumstances we will be wise to bow low, listen, and inquire of Him.

God also speaks to men by circumstances. He watches all the various movements and changes in His own universe. His eye is constantly upon nations and men. He observes every change, from crowned head to republic to dictatorship. And every event forges a further link in the mighty chain that leads up to the great finale. When evil shall display itself in the future "Man of sin," then suddenly the once-rejected and crucified Savior will re-appear from heaven and all evil will be put down. Then, blessed be God, He shall be Governor among the nations, "King of kings and Lord of lords."

In the meantime, dear child of God, His eye is on you and He holds you safely in the hollow of His hand. Do you not know that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered?"

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isa. 26:3.

Is It Enough?

Is it enough that Jesus took my place?
Is it enough, that God then hid His face
From Him, the Substitute of sin, my sin?
If not, my soul, how wilt thou pardon win?

Canst find within the treasuries of earth,
Something of deeper value, greater worth
To God, than that most precious blood unpriced,
Another Lamb to bear thy guilt than Christ?

Has heaven a fairer, mightier than He,
Whom angels watched in wonder on the tree?
If He is not enough for thy poor heart,
Then thou, and hope, must aye, forever part.

And in the dark abyss beyond,
Thy soul must cry:
"None strong enough to save,"
Knowing it is a lie.

"Through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."

Acts 10:43.

Echoes of Grace: 1971

Table of Contents

In Again Out Again Joe

Washington's Mistake

Bow to the Word

A Savior for You!

I Don't Care

Strength for the Year

Without a Whisper

Lost in the Church

A Simple Offer - a Simple Acceptance

The Lord Jesus, or the Sage

Dear to God

A Brave Pilot

An American Millionaire

Christ's Sympathy

Does It Say 'Lost!' Ma'am?

The Unlocked Door

Behold the Man!

Won by Love

Divine Intervention

The Question Answered

Dancing for Joy

Last Call for Supper

What God Can Afford

Only Two

To Judgment on Horseback

Not Down, but Through

A Miner's Sermon

The Bible

I Am Satisfied Too

Inward Adornings

The Up-Look

How Great the Grace!

On Which Side of You Is the Judgment?

Do You Believe the Word of God?

Jesus Is Mine

One Verse Did It

Were They Eviction Officers?

When One Door Shuts Another Opens

Christ Got Hold of Me

Perfect Confidence

?In a Prison Cell?

Whosoever Believeth

The Saving Touch

Sin and Sins

Let Us Alone

Nothing and Everything

The Devil Dramatized

A Hidden Grave

The Clock Without Hands

Here and There

God Giveth the Increase

The Swiss Guide

Talking Business

Who is on the Lord's Side?

A Good Old Love Story

In the Hands of the Master

The Hem of His Garment

A Gospel Tract and Its Mission

Indifference

I Say Unto You, Fear Him

Peace for a Priest

The Telegraph Message

Four Bright Jewels

Afraid of the Consequences

Reveal Thyself to Me!

Wonderful Love

Uninvited

Looking for Jesus

Not Good Enough - Not Bad Enough

A Young Christian's Regrets

Not Cast Out

Have You Thought of This?

A New Leaf

Suicide or Saint?

Things with Stings

They Simply Will Not Believe

The Fury of the Elements and the Soft, Gentle Voice

Is It Enough?