8th. Never refuse any teaching because it is new to you; but never accept anything till you see it for yourself in the Word of God! Inability to receive is not tantamount to rejection. Do not judge the doctrine of an address by the man who delivers it, or gauge the truth of an article by the initials at its close.
Make sure of Truth,
And truth will make you sure;
It will not shift, nor fade, nor die,
But like the heavens endure.
Man and his earth
Are varying day by day;
Truth cannot change nor ever grow
Feeble and old and gray.
9th. In connection with private Scripture study there are five important things:
Practicing (James 1:22-2722But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:22‑27))
In reading you skim the surface—a pleasant exercise. In searching you let down your line into its depths. In finding you bring up something which makes you tingle all over with holy glee. In meditating you feed upon and enjoy what you have. In practicing you show it all in your life before others.
A glory gilds that sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
Which gives a light to every age—
Which gives but borrows none.
10th. Beware of evil speaking, in all its multiplied and invidious forms. Prudently, kindly, and alone tell your brother or sister the fault, and speak to God about it, but do not whisper it to another. Evil speaking is a most prolific cause of sorrow, and always betrays a soul out of communion, as it always grates upon a soul in communion. “If we come forth from the closet of communion, the atmosphere of evil speaking will be to us as the tainted air of some great city to one that has been breathing the pure air of a mountain-top, or the fresh breezes of the seashore.” (1 Peter 2:1, 21Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:1‑2); James 4:1111Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. (James 4:11); Eph. 4:25, 2625Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (Ephesians 4:25‑26)).
Seek grace to speak so as to help and not to hinder.
If any little word of mine
Can make a life the brighter
If any little song of mine
Can make a heart the lighter.
God help me speak that little word,
And take my life of singing.
And drop it in some lonely vale,
To set the echoes ringing.
11th. Keep a warm gospel heart. Christian experience, according to Philippians, is full of the gospel. (See the epistle.) Paul was as hearty in gospel work at the close of his course as at the commencement. (Compare Acts 9; Philemon; and 2 Timothy.) Never deceive yourself by the thought that because you are getting on in higher lines of truth, therefore your interest in gospel work must flag. The joy of Father, Son and Spirit in Luke 15 is essentially a gospel joy. Muse well on that word— “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.” Take care not to follow in the wake of the elder son— “he would not go in.”
Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
And love that soul through me,
That I may nobly do my part
To bring that soul to Thee.
O Saviour, heed my fervent cry,
Since Thou hast died for me;
I long Thy name to glorify
In bringing souls to Thee!
12th. Finally, never take your Christianity from Christians. If you want perfect Christianity, get your eye on God’s perfect Christ. “Without Me ye can do nothing,” said He. Tell Him this, and seek grace so to abide in Him that you shall intuitively follow in His steps, and walk as He walked. Avoid asceticism—monkish piety—on the one hand, and worldly conformity on the other. View all down here in the perspective of Christ crucified, risen, and ascended; and live in sweet and present association with Him where He is. Let Him daily bring you, in spirit, into His banqueting house, there to feast and to commune under the shadow of His banner, Love. Thus others will “take knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus,” and a gentleness of spirit, combined with all the outward activities of inward devotedness, will plainly mark you out as His.
Let us together breathe the prayer—
Lord, may our walk and service be
An image bright, of things above—
A glass to show the unity
Of Father, Son, and Spirit’s love;
A living picture to display
The love that we can ne’er repay,
(Continued from page 122.)