Messages of God's Love: 1909

Do not say you have always done your best, and God will be too merciful to punish you “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isa. 44:6.) God is just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Do not say you are too wicked. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15.)

Do not say you have not been invited. You have heard the invitation many times:

“Come; for all things are now ready.” Those invited in Luke 14, all began to make excuse; if you do the same, one day you will stand before the great white throne “speechless,” without excuse.

“Come! for angel hosts are musing

O’er this sight so strangely sad:

God beseeching, man refusing

To be made for ever glad!”

ML 01/03/1909

The Soldier's Dismissal.

A SOLDIER of foreign origin who enrolled in the Prussian army, had become very tired of his calling, and had asked many times for his dismissal, without success. Each time he returned from drill, his anger vented itself in coarse language and abuse against the citizen with whom he was placed to board. At one time he was sent to make his home-quarters at the home of a pious widow.

One day, as he was entering the house, swearing as usual, his eye caught sight of an open Bible on the table. He glanced over it and read these words of the Lord Jesus: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.

These words struck him: “What is this book”? said he.

“The word of God,” answered his hostess.

“The word of God! Then what it says must be true!”

“Most certainly.”

“Well,” said he, “all that is promised in it must come to pass, not excepting what I have just read.”

“Surely,” replied the widow, “all that we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus we shall obtain, if we believe.”

“For a long time I have wanted to be freed from the army. If the Bible is true, I have then but to pray to God to obtain my dismissal.”

“The word of God teaches us to ask for the things of this life with certain conditions. None but spiritual blessings dare we ask unconditionally.”

“What you say is not the words I have just read. It says, All that we ask shall be given to us.”

“So it does, and the word of God cannot lie.”

The soldier pondered over this, day and night. Finally, thought he, “I shall try; I can lose nothing, and who knows but perhaps I shall get what I want?”

He went to his room, knelt down, intending to pray. But hardly had he begun, than his many sins came before him, and frightened him. “How,” said he, “can the Holy God answer the prayers of a sinner like me?” The realization of his lost condition came upon him, and made him forget all about his great wish.

He cried and groaned, imploring aloud for mercy and pardon from God. The Lord heard him, and through faith in Jesus Christ, his sins were forgiven him. He became a new creature; formerly a drunkard, a blasphemer, brutal and disorderly, he now became quiet, a model of obedience and good behaviour.

The change in him could but attract general attention. His associates asked him the reason for it. He confessed the Lord, witnessing to His great mercy in saving his soul. His words awakened many hearts and they became uneasy about their souls salvation, and the work of the gospel gained ground from day to day in that regiment.

Most of the officers saw with displeasure the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of their subordinates. They looked upon their piety as a weakness unworthy of their military calling, and were indignant to be able to count in their files so many religious cranks, as they called them.

They reported it to their colonel, naming the guilty author of all this change, who was brought in and made to undergo a severe cross examination. But he, far from becoming intimidated, took this opportunity to confess Jesus Christ, his Lord and Saviour.

He added that he had not enticed his comrades, but had simply told them what the Lord had done for him, and sought to show them the path of life.

He was asked why he did not seem to care anymore to obtain his dismissal from the army.

“As long as I was unconverted,” answered our friend, “I wanted to choose my own way, but since I have become the Lord’s His blessed will is mine. I trust Him and He will lead me as a father leads his child.”

As punishment for his piety, he thus was dismissed from the army. He learned that the word of God is true and that all His promises are Yea and Amen, and that He does all things in His own good time.

ML 01/03/1909

Green Pastures.

SOME of our young readers may have seen flocks of sheep with their lambs being taken from one place to another by their shepherds; but it is not very usual to see these shepherds carrying the lambs in their arms, which is not an uncommon sight in the land where the Lord Jesus lived.

Again, the shepherds in this country are seen not to go before, but behind the sheep; to drive, not to lead them. This is not the case with the eastern shepherds; they always go before, and lead the sheep where they want them to go.

They also give every one of their sheep a name, and the sheep get so familiar with the shepherd’s voice that when their name is called they follow the shepherd, just as your little dog will follow you when you call him by his name.

Then again the good shepherd in the East loves his sheep, and he has often been known to expose his life to great danger in order to save the poor sheep from being killed and eaten by the wild beasts that live in those lands. You will remember that David did this when a lion and a bear came to take a lamb out of his father’s flock. I Kings 17:34-36.

Now, when we think of all this, we can better understand the parable which the Lord Jesus spoke in John 10. As the Good Shepherd, He has a flock; and in that flock there are, not only sheep, but lambs, which He loves and cares for specially; for He has laid down His life to save them from being devoured by the wolf (Satan). So He said to Peter

“Feed My lambs.” No doubt Isaiah refers to this when he says, “HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD. HE SHALL GATHER THE LAMBS WITH HIS ARM, AND CARRY THEM IN HIS BOSOM.” Isa. 40:11.

Hundreds of years after the prophet wrote these words, we find the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, doing this. Do you ask us when? Well, turn to the Gospel by Mark, and the tenth chapter, for there we read these wonderful words that He spoke: “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God” (verse 14). “And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Verse 16).

Now read in Isaiah 40. “He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”

Do not these words of Isaiah show us that the Lord Jesus was thinking of the time when He would gather the lambs in His arm, even before He became a little child Himself? Who is, then, the shepherd Isaiah wrote about? It is Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life on the dreadful cross for His poor lost sheep and lambs.

But it says: “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd.” We have seen that there are both lambs and sheep in His flock, and that He said to Peter, “Feed My lambs.” Can you say with the psalmist, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters”?

Where are these green pastures and still waters to be found for us? They are, dear children, in His blessed word. If any of you have not yet come to Jesus, listen now to His loving call, and you will then be one of His lambs, whom He will love and care for until He takes you to be with Himself forever.

ML 01/03/1909

Do You Ever Pray?

Children, do you ever pray?

Hark! one answers— “No, not I,

‘Twill be time enough to pray,

Just when I’m about to die.”

Say not so! how many pass

Quickly from this world below;

In a moment some are called

To the dark, dark grave to go.

You may perhaps yourselves have known

Children young and light and gay,

In a moment called to go

From this wicked world away.

Oh, bethink you! turn to Jesus!

Listen to His voice today;

Only those who Christ receive

Can with true acceptance pray.

Then shall faith and prayer and praise.

Cheer you as through life you roam;

Heir of glory, child of grace,

Peace your portion, heaven your home!

ML 01/03/1909

Plowing in Olden Times.

HOW differently plowing was done in olden times from the present. People were not in as great a hurry, either, as they are now, and the oxen suited them very well. They went along slowly and steadily, pulling the plow, and the plowman did not have to walk so fast and get worn out; he had plenty of time to meditate, and could think of God and His word, if he was a Christian, and his heart could go up to God in praises as he went along. But now they have steam plows, and there is a great deal in them to occupy the mind, and so, indeed, in nearly everything to day, the mind is so occupied that one gets little time for thinking of, or reading the word of God.

As we look at this peaceful and calm picture, may we seek to have time for the reading of the word of God, and then in the midst of our work we may be rejoicing in God and His wonderful love in the gift of His Son, and seek to do all to the glory of God.

ML 01/10/1909

Found Again After Many Days.

A BOY who had been brought up in a Sunday-school was persuaded when young to go to sea, by an ungodly relation, who led him to think that such a life was best. Now we know that sailors are very useful men and very necessary, but unhappily they are often very bad in their ways; and for a youth to go from the care of his parents and teachers, to be shut up in a ship with men who have no fear of God before their eyes, who use bad words and laugh at good things, is very bad indeed. Once out at sea in such company, he has no escape from seeing and hearing their wickedness; and if, as is often the case, he is unkindly used, he has no fond mother or father to appeal to, but must bear hard treatment and vile language as best he can. He will often wish that he was home again beneath the care and protection of his parents, but the wish comes too late.

Now the young sailor whose little history we are going to tell you found himself surrounded with wicked companions, and soon forsook the teaching he had received in the Sunday-school. The truth. he had there heard seemed for a time to have been blessed to him, at least, so far as to convince him of his need of a Saviour and of the “beauty of holiness;” but shut up day and night with ungodly men, who hardly ever spoke without an oath and made a mock at sin, these convictions soon passed away, and his own confession is, that for eleven years he sailed on the ocean “in daily rebellion against God.” How shocking for one who had once been “not far from the kingdom of God!” Does the little reader feel his need of Christ? Has he been awakened to a sense of his danger as a sinner? Is he conscious that there is no safety, no hope of salvation but in Jesus? If so, do not turn from these convictions and put off going to Christ to some future time, as is too often done. Go to Him at once, and confess Him your Saviour and Lord, believing that His precious blood is all-sufficient to put away your sins forever. Many have had bitter cause to regret having waited and waited from day to day only half in earnest about their souls, intending to go to Jesus soon but not now, until at last something or other has come in and turned their hearts quite away, and all concern about Christ and salvation has been blotted out altogether.

This was the case with the young sailor. All the impressions he had received in the Sunday-school passed away, and the knowledge of the truth which still remained with him, only aggravated his sin in the sight of God. During the eleven years which were thus spent in open sin, he sailed to almost every part of Europe and Africa, South America and British North America. In these voyages he was of course exposed to many dangers, indeed the life of a sailor is one of continual risk, and it is wonderful that such men can live on from day to day with “no fear of God before their eyes.” And yet it is not wonderful, because you know the carnal mind is enmity against God,” and mere dangers, however great, can never change the heart. No. Nothing but the grace of God can make any one a “new creature in Christ Jesus.” Do you know this, little reader? If so, why do you keep on waiting from day to day for something to make you better, instead of going to Christ at once? Well, this sailor did so, although he knew better. Yet God in His mercy spared him. In many a danger from storms and battles (for he was in a ship of war) God preserved him. Many a time did he see other men shot down by his side; some, it may be, were washed overboard in the wild storm; or in climbing the rigging to furl or unfurl the sails, fell and were killed or maimed for life, yet he was still preserved. But all this did not touch his hard heart. Perhaps, at such times, he may have felt, just for the passing moment, some sense of God’s goodness, and if he did, it is not unlikely that he thought it was very good of him to feel so, and that such good feelings made up a little for his bad ways. Ah! that is just one of the tricks that Satan and our own hearts (“deceitful above all things”) play with us, to keep us in darkness and away from Christ. But at last a new and strange danger befell him. Accustomed dangers had ceased to have any effect upon him; he had got, used to them, and so God in His great mercy sent him, a danger he had never been in before. You shall hear all about it in his own words. It happened long ago, in the days of the old war, when England was at war with France. The sailor thus tells us about it.

“In May, 1812, we were sailing to the East Indies, from London, being near the equinoctial line. Two ships were in company, with a detachment of soldiers on board of each, and it being a fine day, and our ship and her consort not more than three-fourths of a mile apart, the crews and soldiers of both ships obtained leave from their officers to go a-swimming. I, then a daring sinner, plunged into the water, in company, perhaps, with one hundred more. A man from the other ship, at the same time, with a bottle of rum in his hand, while swimming, challenged any of us to meet him half way between the two vessels. A soldier, who was a better swimmer than I, agreed with me to meet him at the distance of nearly half a mile, when our mate, who was up in the rigging, saw a shark coming astern of our ship, and called to us to make haste on board. Those who were near, got immediately on board, and a boat was lowered down for the rest; but she could not hold all the soldiers, and I, who was furthermost from the ship, was, in consequence, left. By this time, some had thrown overboard a hook, with an eight-pound piece of pork on it, with the intention of decoying the shark from us; it seemed to take no notice of it, but steered directly for us. By this time my companion, who outswam me, had reached the head of the ship, and taken hold of a rope that hung from thence, but was so exhausted that he could not climb it. While he was trying to climb the rope, I came up to him, and caught him by the leg as he hung about half out of the water. My clenching him caused him to slip down, and being more expert than he, I caught hold of the rope above his hands, and, placing my knees upon his shoulders, made an effort to reach the head of the ship: but at that instant the rope broke, and plunged us both into the water alongside of the shark. I then swam round the stern of the ship, and took hold of another rope, and was soon on deck, and out of danger. Looking down at the soldier, I saw the shark open his mouth to receive his prey. The men on deck called at the same time to the man to kick with his feet. He did so, and struck the shark on his nose, when he directly turned away from the man, who at that instant was caught by a rope with a noose on it, and hauled up into the ship.”

Thus the man was saved. As to the shark, finding that his prey was gone, he took the bait which the sailors had cast to him, and was soon hoisted on deck. His size was enormous, being about sixteen feet in length, while his terrible jaws, when extended, would admit of a bulk nearly as big as a barrel. As the sailor looked on the destructive creature, he shuddered to think of the horrible death he had so nearly suffered; and his reflections were, by God’s grace, made a blessing to his soul.

Early impressions received in the Sunday-school came fresh to his mind. His long course of sin and rebellion against God in the face of those impressions filled him with alarm. Convicted of sin, he fled to Christ for salvation, and that precious blood which God declares “cleanseth from all sin,” met his deep need. A sinner saved by grace. He says, “I consider a Sunday-school, properly conducted, a great blessing to the poor of our land. I am a living witness of its benefits.”

ML 01/10/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 1. Genesis 1:2. The Creation.

MANY years ago, there was no earth, nor plants, nor animals, nor sun, nor moon, nor people. But God was. God is eternal; He had no beginning, and He will have no end.

God spoke in the beginning and created the heaven and the earth by His wonderful power. Sometime after that, we know not how long, the earth was in darkness, and was without form, and void (or empty) and water covered the whole earth; then God began to prepare the earth for man. The first day, He created light; the second day, the blue sky; the third day, the seas and dry land, and trees; the fourth day, He said, Let there be light; the fifth day, the birds and fishes; the sixth day, beasts, and insects and creeping things and man. Then all was finished, and “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” The seventh day, God ended His work and rested on that day. The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. God gave to the animals beautiful bodies, but to man He gave more; He gave him a soul also, which could never die. God gave wonderful instinct to the animals; but He gave reason to man; power to know, and love and worship Him. He created him in His own image, after His likeness, without sin and happy. The man’s name was Adam.

The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put man. The garden was full of beautiful trees and flowers, the little birds sang sweetly, and the animals all played together upon the green grass, they did not fight, nor hurt one another; all was love and happiness, because there was no sin.

The Lord God took man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it, and to keep it. But God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet.” When Adam was asleep, God took a rib from his side, and made it into a woman, and brought her to Adam, and she was his wife. Her name was Eve. She, like Adam had a soul, and was innocent and happy. God said to them, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Adam and Eve walked in the beautiful garden without pain or sorrow, or fear of God, who spoke with them. It is sin that makes us afraid of God, for He is so holy that He cannot bear sin in His presence. That is why He had to give His dear Son, the Lord Jesus, to die, that His precious blood might wash us from all our sins. For God loves us and did not want us to perish, so He chose rather to punish the Lord Jesus in our place, and now all we have to do is to receive Him in our hearts. Was not that a wonderful way of saving our souls? How we should thank Him and seek to please Him in return for His great love!

“THROUGH FAITH WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD OF GOD.” Heb. 11:3.

ML 01/10/1909

Getting His Picture Taken.

A PHOTOGRAPH gives us an exact representation of the appearance of the outside of what is being photographed just as we see in our picture of the little colored boy. He seems to have fixed himself up for the purpose, although he looks rather sober. But there is something that takes a picture deeper than a photograph, and that is the word of God— “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12. It gives us a true picture of our hearts and shows them up to be much darker than the face of the little colored boy. In Matt. 15:19 we get a number of dreadful things that come out of the heart and those evil things defile a person. Then in Rom. 3:10-18 we get a very full account of what we are by nature. Oh, what a dark picture it is. It shows us there is nothing there that is suitable to God, but, precious thought, in the 21St verse—God has come out to us with His own righteousness, seeing we have none of our own, and He puts it upon all those who believe. How good of God to let us know how black we are with sin, and how unfit we are, by nature, for His presence; and then let us see that in grace He has come out to us with all that we need and offers it to us freely, but at the expense to Himself of the giving up of His own Son to bear what we deserved.

May each reader believe and praise and thank Him, and ask for grace to live to the praise and glory of Him who has so loved us.

“BY HIM THEREFORE LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD CONTINUALLY, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME.” Heb. 13:15.

ML 01/17/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 2. Genesis 3. The beginning of Sin.

THE happiness of Adam and Eve did not last long, for sin soon came upon the scene through disobedience. In that beautiful garden, everything grew without any labor from the hand of Adam; God made all plants grow. “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and a river went out of Eden to water the garden.” It was of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God said to Adam and Eve, “Thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Of every other tree God said they could freely eat.

There was a serpent, whom God calls “The devil” and “Satan” which deceives the whole world. (Rev. 12:9). The same said to Eve, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” And Eve answered, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. The serpent said to the woman “Ye shall not surely die.”

How much better it would have been, had Eve not listened to the serpent, but feared God! How much sorrow and suffering, little boys and girls, and grown people, too, would be spared if they would fear God, and not give their ears to Satan, when, he whispers, and tells them to disobey, and do wicked things! When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He said of Satan, “He is a liar, and the Father of it.” (John 8:44).

Eve believed what Satan told her, rather than God, so she looked at the tree, and tasted the fruit, and gave unto her husband and he, also ate of the fruit.

Then their eyes were opened, that is, they realized what they had done, they knew they had disobeyed God. Then they heard the voice of the Lord God while He walked in the garden, and they were afraid, and hid behind the trees. God said “Adam, Where art thou?” He knew where they were, and had seen them when they ate. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Prov. 15:3. Adam answered, “I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, and hid myself.” It is sin, dear children, that makes us afraid to meet God, who is so holy that He cannot look upon it.

When God’s only Son was put upon the cross to die for sinners, He had to hide His face from Him, because Jesus had the sins upon Him of all those who put their trust in Him. Little reader, is your trust in that Blessed One, whom God sent as your Saviour? God had to curse the whole earth, because of that sin of disobedience. He also cursed the serpent, and told Adam and Eve they should have much sorrow; that they would have to work hard to get their daily food, and that thorns and thistles would grow.

Children, when you prick your fingers or feet with a thorn, remember it was made to grow to remind us of Adam’s sin. Then God killed some animals and made Adam and Eve coats of skin, for they were naked. He showed them by that, that the wages of sin is death, but that He loved them, and promised that He would send a Saviour who would die in their place, and not only for them, but for all, old or young, who, knowing that they are lost sinners, will look in faith to the Lord Jesus, the promised Saviour.

After that, God drove Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. How sad they must have felt! Now they must go and plow the ground and keep out the weeds so that they could have food.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5:12.

ML 01/17/1909

An Easy Lesson.

GOD declares that “the way of transgressors is hard,” also, that “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” How often souls in their distance from God, prove the truth of these verses!

Mr. and Mrs. J. were no exception to this; over and over again it was their bitter experience. They could only reap what they had sown. (Gal. 6:7). Drunkenness, with its attendant quarreling, made their home everything but what a home ought to be. Their only child, of whom the father was very fond, had been sick for several weeks, and had been visited by a Christian lady.

When this little Mary was recovering, she called as usual, and was surprised to find the home changed. Mrs. J. neatly dressed, received her with a happy face and hearty welcome. All this so struck the visitor, that she congratulated her on her altered appearance.

“Fresh people live here now,” Mrs. J. explained, and then she told what had brought about the change. Mr. J. had come home sober the same day that little Mary got up, and to please her, he said he would play with her.

“O, papa, let us have a game of Sunday-school, will you?” Mary said. “I’ll be teacher, and you be the scholar; you stand there, and I’ll give you an easy lesson first. You must say what I say; won’t you, papa?”

“Yes,” answered the father, his mind going to years ago, when he was in a Sunday-school class.

“Now, papa, say ‘Jesus.’”

No answer came from the scholar, but a something like a rising in his throat.

“Now, papa, you promised you would say what I told you, and it is an easy lesson.”

Mr. J. stood still; for that name he had only mentioned when using it in oaths and cursing. How he wished the lesson was over, and as little Mary sat on her cot, patiently waiting, he, in a snappish and quick manner, repeated the lesson.

“O, papa, you mustn’t say His name like that; you must say it soft and low like this”—and little Mary said His name in her sweetest manner, and the father softly repeated the lesson, till little Mary said, “Papa, I don’t want to play no more, I feel so tired,” and with that she dropped her head on her pillow and went off to sleep.

But not so with Mr. J.; he found no rest till God by His Spirit led him to cry for mercy and forgiveness to the One who has never turned a seeking sinner away.

Dear reader, I will ask you to repeat little Mary’s lesson. What does that name speak to you of? Does it cause your heart to rejoice at the sound of the Saviour’s name? Does it speak to you of forgiveness of sins, through His blood? (Col. 1:14). Does it remind you of One who was delivered for your offences and raised for your justification? (Rom. 4:25).

Do you own Him Master and Lord, for He is such? (John 13:13). Are you waiting for that Blessed One to come again to receive you unto Himself? (John 14:1-4).

If the above be true of you, praise and worship to God will fill your heart for such wondrous grace and mercy.

A young convert writes: “I can never cease to thank God for what He has done for me through His Son Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you how great is my joy; neither tongue, nor pen can express it. My heart is too full for words, but I know this, that I am far happier than I was before I found my Saviour.”

ML 01/17/1909

Katie.

KATIE was the only daughter of a Solway fisherman, a blithe cheerful maiden of “sweet seventeen.” Her father and mother were decided Christians, and diligent workers in the Gospel, but to their great grief, their own Katie was still unsaved, and showed signs of hostility to the Gospel of Christ. This may be accounted for in her case, as in many others who have been brought up under its continual sound, in the fact that she was in deep soul trouble, conscious of her guilt before God, yet unwilling to yield, confessing herself a lost sinner and accepting Christ as her personal Saviour. During a season of blessing in the village, several of Katie’s companions were saved, and some of them even younger than herself had spoken to her about her soul. Waiting for the incoming of her father’s boat on the shore one morning, a newly converted fisher lassie told Katie how happy she was, since she had trusted Christ and been saved.

“Tell me what you felt when you were saved. I have tried to feel saved many a time, but it never came to me, as you and the others say it has come to you?”

“It’s not feeling at all, Katie, it’s just believing; believing that Jesus died for you on the cross, and that by ‘His stripes you are healed,’ as it says in Isaiah 53:3.”

“I believe that as well as you, Jeanie, but I’m not saved,” said the now thoroughly awakened Katie.

“Well, that’s strange,” remarked the young convert, astonished that there should be any difficulty in Katie seeing what appeared so simple to her. “But have you believed on Jesus, and believed that you have everlasting life, because He says it,” asked the earnest lassie. “Where does He. say that I have everlasting life? I never saw that in the Bible,” said Katie. “In John 6:47, Jesus says, ‘He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life’; I’ll let you see it in my Testament, and that’s how I know I am saved.”

This was something new to Katie. She had no doubt heard the same before, but now she saw her need, and how that word of Jesus met it. They talked together for a good while, and at length Katie said, “I see it now, Jeanie, it’s just believing what Jesus says, whether I feel or not. I see it now, and to think that it is all so simple. Oh, I wish my father’s boat would come in, that I may tell him I am saved. He will be so glad.” The boat did come in, and Katie told the good news to her father, causing great joy. Believing and having, go together.

ML 01/17/1909

Playing Children.

HOW pleasant is the scene where children are happy and going, on with their play in peace, seeking in every way they can, to do what is for the others’ good. In our picture this week we see the older brother helping to amuse the younger. They certainly have conceived a very amusing trick to make horses of two little pups and a wagon out of their barrel kennel. But it does not seem as funny to the pups nor their mother, for she is looking up at the two children as much as to say, Have pity on my babies; for it looks as if the handful of weed-stems might be brought down on the pups. But, no doubt, it is all play, and there will not be anyone hurt.

It is evidently God’s intention that children should play. It is marked so with the young of all animals, as well as in the human family, and we read in Zech. 8, of the time when the Lord will have returned to Zion, and Jerusalem will be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. All the people will be dwelling in peace and happiness at that time, “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.”

The reason for all this is, the Lord will gather His people Israel in that day from the east and from the west, and He will delight to call them His people, and He will be their God in truth and righteousness. Ah, that is it; when God will be owned by, them as their God and they will go on in truth and righteousness before Him, all will be well: but when people forget God, and go on in that which is not right, there can be no real happiness.

May you, then, dear children, remember God in all your ways, whether at work, at school or play, and remember that God is ever watching, and He it is who is giving you all things, and it is your duty to fear Him, and to hear what He has to say to you in His word. In play, it will teach you not to cheat or take advantage of the other. In your work, not to be an eye servant, that is, not to be working only when you think Papa or Mamma are watching, but doing it faithfully as to the Lord, and the same thing in school with all your studies, and towards your teacher. If you walk in these ways, happiness will be the result in your path.

“WHATSOEVER YE DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD AND THE FATHER BY HIM.” Col. 3:17.

ML 01/24/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 3. Genesis 4. Cain and Abel.

AFTER Adam and Eve were driven from the garden of Eden, God gave them two sons, and they named them Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve surely had not forgotten that beautiful garden which was their first home, and no doubt as their two boys grew up, they often had them on their knees, telling them over and over again, that sad story, how they had listened to the voice of Satan, instead of God, and how He had to kill an animal to get its skin for clothes for them, and, no doubt, they learned that God must have blood to shelter a sinner from His judgment against sin. Both these boys were sinners too, born of sinful parents; for, as you know, a good tree brings forth good fruit, so, a bad tree, bad fruit. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me,” says David in Psalms 51:5. So is everyone who is born into this, world.

As time went on, and they grew to manhood, they, also, had to go out to work, and so it has been ever since. We have to work, and our bodies grow weary; we have aches and pains. Boys and girls wonder sometimes why they are sick; why their parents get worn out; their hair turns gray. All this, dear children, is because of sin. God’s word tells us that the whole creation, animals as well as people, suffer and groan.

Now, the time had come when they must bring an offering to God. Cain, the eldest, who was a tiller of the ground, or as we might say, a farmer, brought for his offering, some of his choicest fruit, and Abel, who was a keeper of the sheep, brought a little lamb. God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. Why?

Cain had forgotten the lessons he learned from his parents about sin, and the curse God had put upon the earth, and that a sinner could not bring to God, any of his own works. But his brother remembered that the only way to approach. God was by blood. So Abel slew the little lamb and offered it up to God. That spoke to Him of His own dear Son who was to come many years later, to offer Himself as a lamb, for a sacrifice for lost sinners, like these two young men, who could not put away their own sins. If we believe that Jesus, God’s lamb, died for us, then we have eternal life and shall not come into judgment, but have passed from death unto life. It was not because Abel was a better boy than Cain, that God accepted his offering. There was no difference in God’s sight. God says, “There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:22, 23.

Hear what God says about these two offerings, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. Heb. 11:4. Did Cain, when he saw his brother’s sacrifice accepted, and his rejected, own to God his awful mistake? No, he did not. God tried to reason with him about it, but he was angry, and one day, while he and his brother were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him.

What wicked things come out of our hearts, and what dreadful results, angry thoughts indulged in and nourished, will bring! Does it not prove that we cannot bring to God anything of our own. God says: “The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Eccl. 8:11.)

God saw Cain kill his brother, and asked, “Where is Abel?” And wicked Cain answered, “I know not.” God said “Thy brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground.” “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4: 13.)

God cursed Cain and told him he would be a wanderer on the face of the earth; that he might till the ground but it would not give its strength for him. Cain thought his punishment too great and feared that those who saw him would kill him. But God put upon him a mark, so that no one dared hurt him. So Cain went and built a city, and had children, and tried to forget God. He may have succeeded for a while but when he is brought to stand before God at the last day, he will be judged according to his works.

ML 01/24/1909

"Sow Thy Seed."

I REMEMBER a little book being taken by a dear child at a children’s meeting, and when she had read it, and found it a blessing to her own soul, she took it, and read it to two friends of hers, both of whom received peace through its pages. Many a tract has been passed from hand to hand, read and reread, and, doubtless, could it but speak, could give quite a history of its journeyings.

In New York, a lady placed in the hands of a merchant a copy of the well-known hymn, commencing:

“My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Saviour Divine.”

He put it in his pocket, and took his leave of her.

Riding in a car towards his home, he sank into profound thought. He had but a few hours before seen a physician, who told him that a swelling, which had been somewhat troubling him, would prove a malignant tumor, and would probably end his life ere many months had gone by. The blow had almost stunned him, for though believing in the historical facts of Christianity, he had never yet believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of his soul; and now, face to face with death, he had no hope. His whole life, filled with divine goodness, seemed to pass before him, his neglect of the “so great salvation,” and his disobedience to the Gospel.

Sorrowing thus over misspent years, he remembered the leaflet, and taking it from his pocket, read and re-read its simple lines, and, by faith, adopted its language, and passed from death unto life, from sorrow into joy.

The physician’s warning proved correct: in a few months he departed to be with Christ, having the hymn which had proved such a blessing read over to him at the very last.

It may be that one of your little books may be used thus of God to open the eye of some blind sinner, or to give peace to an anxious soul. Sow, then, the seed; distribute what Gospel books you have to those who probably have never heard the message. Water by prayer the seed that is sown, and in “that day,” when sower and reaper rejoice together, there may be found some to whom the books, now lying idle in your room, may have been the greatest boon.

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

ML 01/24/1909

Lizzie Lee.

IN a village laundry, where some twenty girls are employed, a blessed work of grace has been in progress for several months. Half the workers have been saved, and are seeking now to serve the Lord and lead their companions to Him.

The work began in the following way. A girl named Lizzie Lee was brought under deep conviction of sin, by the sudden death of a companion. She was in great distress about her soul, and knew not where or how to find peace. Her Bible Class teacher noticed that something was troubling Lizzie and invited her to come up to her house one evening. She opened up her mind, told her trouble, and her teacher who is a born-again Christian, and a true lover of the

Lord, took her Bible and from Isaiah chapter fifty-three, showed to the awakened girl, how Jesus suffered and died for sinners, such as she, in order that they might be saved. That beautiful verse, which has been God’s message to so many sin-burdened hearts— “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed,” was the word that showed Lizzie how she might be saved. She read it putting in “my” for “our” and claimed it as her own. That is faith. It simply takes and appropriates to itself, makes a personal possession of what has been procured for sinners. It says “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Lizzie told in the laundry next day, what the Lord had done for her, how He had forgiven and saved her, and there was a great commotion among the girls. Soule said it would only last a few weeks, others declared it was “the height of presumption” for anyone to say they were saved, but a few listened to Lizzie’s testimony. There are always some weary hearts and thirsty souls to whom the Gospel is good news, and so it was in that laundry. Lizzie sang as she walked to her work—

“What can wash away my stain?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

and as she had opportunity told her companions the way of life and peace. One after another became concerned, and Lizzie’s teacher had the joy of leading several to the Saviour. Then a week night meeting was begun, and the Gospel was preached to quite a number who gathered there, the result being that many have been saved.

ML 01/24/1909

Responsibility.

IT is good from the early days to have some responsibility, something to care for and something to do. It keeps one out of mischief. In our picture we see the little Miss caring for the little kittens and very likely carrying them to the house where she can feed them and care for them better.

There is quite a lesson we may learn from this as it brings before us the need there is all around us, and reminds us of the fact that there are others to think of as well as ourselves.

Responsibility and industry are described to us beautifully in the last chapter of Prov. from the 10th verse to the end, but perfection in any line is to be seen alone in the Lord Jesus. So, if we want to see self-sacrifice and one thinking of the needs of others, let us think of the Lord Jesus. He came, not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him, and that was to glorify God in meeting poor sinners in all their need. Ah, dear reader, it is only as you know how that blessed One has done all things for you, that you will truly delight in self-sacrifice, and seek to meet the need of others. Have you weighed well what the Lord Jesus did for you? If you think of how He left the glory and came into this world of sin, and looked upon man in his ruined state, and felt for man as none other had or could have done, so that He was the “Man of sorrows;” how He willingly went to the cross and gave Himself a sacrifice in the sinners stead, and will take safely to the glory all who put their trust in Him; then if you believe that all that was for you, you will seek to go and do likewise. That is you will seek that His character will characterize you. The needs of others, rather than your own needs, will fill your thoughts if what He has done for you, is believed and occupies your minds.

“TO DO GOOD AND TO COMMUNICATE FORGET NOT: FOR WITH SUCH SACRIFICES GOD IS WELL PLEASED.” Heb. 13:16.

ML 01/31/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 4. Genesis 6, 7, 8. The Flood.

THE earth was gradually being peopled by the descendants of A lam and Eve. Men in those days lived longer than they do now. Adam lived to be nine hundred and thirty years old. One of his sons, Seth, was nine hundred and twelve when he died. Methuselah the oldest man that ever lived died at the age of nine hundred and sixty-nine years. As they multiplied, they became very wicked and God saw, if was not good they should live so long. So he said they should live only about one hundred, and twenty years. Among all those men up to that time, very few feared God. Of one we read, whose name was Enoch, that he walked with God; that is, that in everything he did, he tried to please God, and to obey Him. This pleased God indeed, for He always takes notice of obedience, so He did not let him die and be buried like the others, but He took Him to heaven without dying.

As the wickedness of men increased, God was grieved in His heart, and was sorry He had created them. So He said, “I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth; both man and beast, . . . for it repenteth Me that I have made them.

There was at that time a man named Noah, who was just and perfect before God. God did not want to destroy him with the others, so He told him His purpose of destroying by flood everything living on the earth, and He commanded him to make himself an ark of gopher wood, and to pitch it with pitch, or tar, inside and out. It, was to be four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy feet broad and forty-five feet high. It must have a door on the side and a window on the roof and be built in three stories. What an immense building! But it needed to be large, for Noah was to take, beside his wife, his three sons and their wives, two of each kind of every living thing, whether of birds, or beasts or creeping things; and plenty of food for them all. It took many, years for Noah to build the ark, and while he worked at it, he told men what God was going to do. But they did not believe him, but kept on in their evil ways, and eating and drinking and marrying as if they had not been told what was going to happen. Is not this like the. days in which we are living? We hear about that great judgment which God is to bring upon this earth, not by flood, but by fire, and yet people do not care enough about it to find out whether it is true or not.

But the day came when the ark was finished, and Noah with his wife and his sons and their wives, all went into the ark, and God shut the door. Think of the few inside, sheltered from judgment, and of the many outside, left out, without shelter when that great storm came! How many readers will be found trusting in the Lord Jesus, of which the ark is the type, when this earth will be judged? Will your portion be in or out? Is it not an important enough question to investigate? Will it pay to wait until tomorrow to look into it? God tells you in His word to flee from the wrath to come. If you neglect to do so, you will have an eternity of woe to repent of it. And the way is simple enough for the smallest child to follow. As men would have been saved, had they entered the ark, so will you be saved, if you simply accept the Lord Jesus as the Saviour, God has provided for you.

The very day Noah and his family entered the ark, the fountains of the deep were broken up, and the rain began to come down, and it rained for forty days and forty nights, until the highest mountain was covered. But as the waters rose, so did the ark. It floated on the water and all those inside were safe.

Not so with those left outside, for everything that had breath, whether man, or bird or beast or creeping thing was drowned. Noah only, remained alive and those that were with him in the ark.

For one hundred and fifty days the water remained on the earth. But God remembered those that were in the ark, so He sent a wind on the earth to dry it. As the water decreased, the ark rested on Mount Ararat, in the seventh month. At the end of ten months, the tops of the mountains were seen. Forty days later, Noah opened the window of the ark, and sent out a raven, which went back and forth until the water was dried off the earth. Then he sent a dove, but she found no place for her foot, and she returned to him, and he put out his hand and took her in. Seven days later, he sent the dove out again. This time, in the evening, she brought in her beak an olive leaf. Noah knew by that, that the water was almost gone. After seven more days he sent the dove out again. She did not return to the ark any more. Then Noah took the covering off the ark, and looked and saw that all was dry. Then God told him to come out with his family and the living things that were with him. They were glad to see the dry ground again, and the sun and trees and flowers. They were all well; for God had kept them safely in the ark from the wind and waters. Then Noah and his family thanked God and built an altar and offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord.

And God set a beautiful rainbow in the sky and He told Noah that when it should rain again upon the earth, and the clouds should hang over the earth, then the rainbow should be seen in the cloud, that people might know that God would not again drown the earth. The sun shining upon the little drops of water in the rain-cloud makes the bow and its beautiful colors.

ML 01/31/1909

Early Love for the Bible.

MANY years ago, the committee of the Bible Society, at the suggestion of Mr. Hugh Stowell, unanimously resolved to present to every emancipated negro, capable of reading, a New Testament of a suitable size. A special fund was raised for this purpose, and public meetings were held in furtherance of this design. On the morning after one of these meetings, in a town where Dr. Steinkopff was the guest of a friend, one of his little daughters, accompanied by two or three of the younger sisters, presented him with a sealed package, requesting that it might not be opened until he should have left the house, saying, “We hope it may be accepted as a small contribution from four little girls to assist in the supply of the Holy Scriptures to the poor negro children.”

Her parents had left the room, but there was a gentleman present, who had breakfasted with them—an intimate friend of the family—who listened to the words of the dear child with marked interest. That gentleman was Dr. Steinkopff’s only companion in a long journey during the rest of the day, and shortly after taking seats in the coach, the seal of the little packet was broken, and to his surprise, the doctor found it contained nearly twenty dollars. On his alluding to the scene they had just witnessed, his companion’s eyes filled with tears, as he said, “Yes, sir, she is indeed an interesting child; but she is much more, for she is an earnest Christian.” And after a pause, he said, with evidently deep feelings, “To that child, sir, I am indebted for all my happiness upon earth, and all my hopes, for eternity.”

He added, that he had been in business with her excellent father, but, unlike him, was not a believer in the truths of the Bible, and had made no secret of his unbelief. On one occasion, this dear child, then only nine years old, was present when her father was endeavoring, but in vain, to convince this gentleman of his fatal error. When the painful conversation ended, and her father had left the room, she asked this gentleman to take a walk with her in the garden; and when no one could over hear them, she inquired whether she might ask him a question.

“Certainly,” he replied; “any question you please.”

“Then,” said she, “have you ever read the New Testament through with a desire to understand it?”

“No,” he answered, “I never have.”

“I thought so,” she said; “for I am sure you would not have spoken of it to my father as you did just now, if you had.” And in an earnest manner she added, “Oh! do read it, and do wish to understand it.”

His concluding words were, “My dear sir, that child’s entreaties and tears did far more than any argument had ever done; they led me to the Bible, and the Bible led me to my Saviour.”

ML 01/31/1909

I Fear No Evil.

O that I were a little child

To whom the Lord gives grace,

To lie within His loving arms,

To look upon His face.

If all around is dark and drear,

That child’s whole soul is bright,

Because it loves the Saviour dear,

And He cloth give it light.

If father, mother, go away,

The child is not alone;

For God will be its comforter,

Its Friend when all are gone.

And if in all the wide, wide world,

It has no home of love,

The Lord will lead it by the hand

To His bright home above.

Through many a dark night lead it on,

And if the child should cry,

He gently wipes the tears away;

He says, “Thy friend am I.”

And everything the child may want

It tells the loving Lord,

He lends His ear to hear its cry

And marks the smallest word.

And when the child has journeyed far

And longs to be at rest;

He takes it home to dwell with Him,

For ever safe and blest.

ML 01/31/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

1.“And that He was buried.” 1 Cor. 15:4.

2.“But I would have you,” etc. 11:3.

3.“Watch ye, stand fast,” etc. 16:13.

4.“What is my reward then,” etc. 9:18.

5.“Upon the first day of. the,” etc.16:2.

6.“Wherefore let him that.” etc. 10:12.

7.“And if Christ be not,” etc. 15:17.

Bible Questions for February.

Answers to be found in the Epistle to the Galatians.

1.Write the verse in which these words are found, “Soweth,” “Reap”.

2.Write the verse containing the word’s, “The curse of the law”.

3.Write the verse containing the words, “Gave Himself for me”.

4.Write the things that are the fruit of the Spirit.

5.Write the verse containing the words, “Under the curse.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Weary.” “Faint.”

7.Write the verse in which the words, Any other gospel,” are found.

ML 02/07/1909

"Have Faith in God"

Mark 11:22.

I WONDER if any of you have heard of Billy Bray, the Cornish miner, who, though he was poor in’ this world, was rich in faith; and his prayers were wonderfully answered by Him whom Billy always addressed as “Father,” and who says, “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

A little boy of seven years old, who lived, in Cornwall, was brought to know the Saviour; and having heard, of the faith of Billy Bray, he said he wished to be like him. Being in need of boots. this dear child prayed to his “Father” (now known as such in Christ Jesus the Lord); and not only one, but two pairs were shortly sent to him. Then, remarking the scanty provision in his mother’s house, he prayed again; and soon a message was sent from a house where it was said there was so much cooked that the family could not use it, as they seemed to have lost their appetites; and the little boy’s mother was to send and fetch some of this extra provision.

May this little story encourage any dear believing child to trust in that gracious God who does not despise even the least of those who belong to Jesus, and who says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7).

ML 02/07/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 5, Genesis 11. The Tower of Babel.

AFTER Noah came out of the ark, he lived three hundred and fifty years longer, dying at the age of nine hundred and fifty years. His three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, each had many children, from whom came all the nations of the earth.

At that time they all spoke the same language, and as they were traveling from the east they came to a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there.

They said to one another: Let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly, and build a city and, a tower with the top reaching up to heaven, and we will make a great name for ourselves and shall not be scattered over all the earth. So they made the bricks and used them for stones and took slime for mortar and began building their great city and tower. How soon they forgot God who had brought their fathers through- the flood! Now that they thought all danger was past, they wanted to get along without Him. Although man forgets God and his need of Him, God does not forget His creatures. He provides for them, and watches over them, but He wants us to remember that all we have comes from Him—life, health, food and clothing, and sometimes He has to remind us of this by withholding these blessings from us. So when God saw what these men were doing, and the city and the tower they were building, He said These are one people speaking the same language; if they are allowed to do this, and become strong without Me, they will do all sorts of wicked things that their evil hearts will prompt them to do. So I will go down and confound their language. So the Lord changed their speech, and each spoke a different language and they could not understand one another. So instead of remaining together as they had purposed to do, they had to scatter from that place and the city and tower were never finished. It was called Babel, which means confusion.

The different languages we hear spoken today, although very different from what they were these thousands of years ago, date then from that time and must ever remind us how hateful to God is man’s self-will, and independence of Him.

“IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” Prov. 3:5.

ML 02/07/1909

The Rainy Day.

AS the time drew near for the children to be let out of school, the rain began to come down so fast that the roads were soon covered with water, so the mammas and older sisters went as fast as they could to the little country school house with umbrellas and extra coverings for the children.

What thoughtfulness and kindness with those mammas and sisters to go through the rain so as to shelter the others. Some had better shelter than others, because of the difference of the circumstances at home, but the mammas did the best they could.

What a lesson we may gather from this of the thoughtfulness and love of God. He looked down on men on this earth and saw what their state of ruin was, and the awful judgment that must follow, because He is holy and righteous; but as God is love as well, He sent down His Son, who was willing to come, to die in our place, to be forsaken of God with all the load of our sins upon Him, so that we might be protected from that awful storm of judgment which we deserved for our sins. If love is seen in protecting the children from the rain, and going through it in order to get to them, how much greater is the love of God and His Son, when He braved the storm for us by entering into the distance that sin had put us from God. O, dear reader, have you responded to such love as that? Have you thanked Him and gladly confessed Him to others as your Lord and Saviour? If you have not may you do so now, and be proud of Him, seeing He has loved you so much.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32, 33.

ML 02/07/1909

A Young Believer's Song.

I HEARD about a dozen young lads praying the other night that God would help them to live for Christ before their classmates, and show by their ways that they were truly converted. I thought that was just what every saved boy and girl should seek. Then they all joined in singing so sweetly:—

“And help Thy little pilgrims, Lord,

Along the narrow road,

So that our ways may honor Thee,

And glorify our God.”

This is just what we have been saved for—to tread the narrow way briskly and happily, to honor and glorify God in all our ways. Are you making it your aim to do this, young believer?

ML 02/07/1909

My Little Marguerite's Pincushion.

I WAS in bed on the morning of my birthday. It was very early and I was half asleep and half-awake when I heard little feet approaching my bedside, and a gentle voice, saying, “I am bringing you a birthday present. I made it all by myself!”

I felt the little fingers put a tiny package into my hand, but sleep overcame me. In about an hour I awoke, finding something in my hand, and then it all came back to me, and I understood that my dear little girl had got up early, on this cold January morning, to show me her affection, having done what was in her power for me.

I opened the small parcel, and was, indeed, surprised when I saw the contents. It was a birthday present, such as had never seen before. As I looked at it, I did not know whether to cry or laugh, I was so deeply touched. My little darling’s present was simply a pincushion made from the mended heel of an old stocking she had taken from the rag bag. The stitches she had put in were long and irregular, and on the edges were knots and long threads—the whole thing was the most original piece of work any one had ever seen.

How do you suppose I received it? Did I tell my little girl it was useless? No! nor did I say, “It seems to me you might have put in smaller stitches,” nor, “Why did you not cut the ends of thread off before bringing it to me?” No, indeed! What touched me so deeply was that my child had done it for me. She had done her very best, and instead of throwing it aside as worthless, I kept it as a precious treasure, and today I would not exchange it for its weight in gold. It was a proof of my child’s love.

And, now, dear ones, who believe in Jesus, what lesson can we learn from this little account? Are not we the objects of the Father’s love? Does He look upon our little efforts to serve Him with less tenderness than I looked upon my child’s work? No, indeed! The love of God is far, far greater than mine for my little girl. We cannot compare His love, for He gave His only Son for us, and now that we are His children, He takes notice of every little effort on our part to please Him. Our work may be very poor, like the long and irregular stitches, the knots and the ends not cut off, yet we may have tried to please Jesus— “We love Him, because He first loved us,” and in His tenderness and love, He does not repulse us, nor send us away, saying, “I cannot accept it, because it is not perfect;” but He takes account of the smallest service done for Him, even a cup of cold water given in His name.

How glad we shall be if He will be able to say about us, “She hath done what she could,” (Mark 14:8) or, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.” Matt. 25:21.

The word of God tells us that people look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart, so when He sees that we are really trying to please Him, it is that which gives Him joy, and we must remember that we need to ask Him each day for strength to walk pleasing to Him.

We have a loving Father, One who appreciates any little act done for Him, much more than I did my little Marguerite’s pincushion.

ML 02/07/1909

The Winter.

THE cold winter brings its sorrows, as well as its pleasures, and there are many of my young readers who have comfortable homes and warm clothing, who rejoice to see the snow come and the hard frost so they can have some fun with their sleighs, just like the children in our picture.

It is very good to enjoy all that God has given to us, but may we all remember that sin and the awful results, have come into this world, so there are many people suffering, and when the cold winter comes, there are many who do not have proper clothing and food, and are without comfortable homes, and, consequently, cannot enjoy these pleasures, but suffer and cry from being so cold.

Don’t you think we ought to consider those in need, and see what we can do to help them? All, that is what the Lord Jesus has done for us. He did not stay in the glory, and enjoy His wonderful bliss, and leave us down here to suffer in all our misery and sin, but He laid aside His glory and home above, and came into this world of sin, to suffer and die for us that we might never have to bear what we deserved; but that we may be brought to God, to be lifted from a scene of suffering and sin like this, and to share the glory with Himself. Do you believe He did all this for you—that He has so loved you? If so, He would have you go and show that kindness to others, as well as receive it from His hand in connection with eternal things for yourself.

There are various ways we may show that kindness to others; by praying for others; telling them of Jesus and His love that they may be saved; by seeking to correct wrong ways, tenderly and lovingly, when we see one and another going in the wrong path.

The needs of others, instead of our own needs, should concern us and we know it will please the Lord to see us manifesting that grace to others which. He has shown to us.

The temporal needs, too, we will think of, and seek to relieve all we can, but the temporal needs are by no means the most important. It is the eternal needs.

As the snow falls fast around us, and the frost bites our faces and fingers, may we then think of the sufferings of those around us and seek to give relief, and above all take the opportunity to tell of Jesus and His love to poor sinners, and point them to Him as their Saviour.

ML 02/14/1909

An Important Question.

MR. Baedeker says, in his book, “I once met a Tartar, a Mohammedan, who addressed the usual question to me,”

“What do you think of the prophet Mohammed?”

I said, “I have a much more important question for you than that.”

“What is it, then?” he exclaimed.

“It is, what do you think about sin?”

“Oh, we are all sinners,” he replied.

“Then you are a sinner, too,” I said.

“Yes, certainly.”

“Can one sinner save another sinner?”

“No.”

“Well if he is a prophet?”

“No.”

“Well, then, what are we to do—all sinners?”

He had no answer to that question; and I told him of One who knew no sin. Who was made sin for us. The Tartar bowed down his head, and his eyes filled with tears. He had never before heard the sound of the Gospel. He was only one of the millions of these men, fine men, beautiful in stature, walking like giants or kings, but enslaved by sin, and no one to tell them of Him whose blood can set them free.

There is no power on earth that can save sinners from the Satanic power that holds them in its deadly grasp, except the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who died and rose again. I long to go back and tell the people in these dark, dark regions. of this wonderful love—the love of God in Christ Jesus. That is the story worth telling. And they listen to it. The men have embraced rile and kissed me, so glad were they of the message I was able to give them. If you have a real sinner before you, much eloquence is not needed, nor a very long sermon.

ML 02/14/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 6. Genesis 12. The Call of Abram.

THE terrible punishments that God had sent—the flood, and the confusion at Babel —did not make men fear God, for they continued in their wicked ways paving no attention to God’s will.

On the contrary, they began to make themselves images of gold, silver, stone or wood, called them gods and worshipped and prayed to them. Some worshipped the sun and the moon; some worshipped serpents; and men, women and children were killed and their bodies offered in sacrifice to these false gods, which are called idols, and those who worship them, are called idolaters. The first idolater we read of was a man named Terah.

From the time of the first disobedience God had tried by promises, warnings and punishments to remind men of their duty to their Creator, but always in vain.

Now in His love and patience, He would get for Himself a people; would teach and lead them in a special way and see if they could not live to please Him. So He called Abram, the son of Terah, and said to him: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee, and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Abram believed God and went away, not knowing where, but trusting that God would lead him. He took with him Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his nephew, with all that they had and went into the land of Canaan. When they came to a place called Sichem in the plain of Moreh, God appeared to Abram. and said to him: “Unto thy seed,” that is, to thy children and grandchildren, etc., “will I give this land.” The Canaanites were then in the land, and Abram might have doubted that it could ever belong to him, but he trusted God, and God counted his faith for righteousness, and called him His friend, and promised that through him, the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, should be born.

It was not for any great thing he had done, that Abram was so honored, but for his simple belief in God’s word. Nor is it by anything we can do, that we shall ever be able to enter heaven—our land of Canaan—but by our simple trust in God’s word, which says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER; FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.” Acts 4:12.

Abram went from Sichem toward the south to a mountain near Bethel. There he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

ML 02/14/1909

Links in a Chain.

FOUR boys are in the schoolroom, and it is time for their Scripture lesson. They open their Bibles at the second book of Kings, chapter 22, and commence to read.

At the end of the first verse the Christian governess quietly says, “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he served the Lord ... ..I wonder when you boys will begin to serve the Lord?” After pondering these words for a long time, one of the boys formed a silent resolution. “Josiah was eight years old when he began to serve the Lord,” thought he; “I am not eight yet, only seven and a half; when I am eight, I, too, will begin to serve the Lord.”

Who put into his heart the determination to delay this great decision, and so cunningly used the very words of Scripture to enforce his argument? God says “Today,” but the devil says “Tomorrow.”

Four and a half years pass away. Two of the boys are in the garden. They are twin brothers, and one of them has just returned from I., where services were being held in connection with the Children’s Mission. A new joy has come into his life, for at one of the services he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. How greatly he desires that his brother may know the same Saviour. So, as they stroll side by side in the garden, he turns to him and shyly says, “When I was at I., I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus. Won’t you come to Him, too?”

But the boy, who four years ago made up his mind that when he was eight years of age he would come to the Saviour, now got angry, and said, “It is very wicked of you to talk about such things; you ought never to speak about that kind of thing.” His brother persisted, and spoke of the happiness that now was his, and pleaded with him to come to Christ. At length, exasperated, and fighting still against the Holy Spirit, the angry boy struck his brother in the face. Contrary to expectation, and perhaps for the first time, that blow was not returned.

Only a few weeks passed away, and this boy, with his heart still unchanged, was himself journeying to I. for a holiday.

A lady got into the train in which he was traveling, and as soon as the train started she began to speak to him. After a while she plainly put the question, “Have you come to Jesus?” The boy turned his face to the window, and made no answer, and the lady was unable to get any further response from him.

He reached the house of his grandfather where lived a Christian aunt. He determined that under no circumstances would he allow himself to be alone with her, if he could help it, so greatly afraid was he that she would ask him the question he so little wanted to hear. He knew now that God was calling to him, but he did not wish to come. He could not exactly tell you why. He wanted to go his own way and not to be bothered about these things.

A wet evening set in, and he wandered about the corridors of the house and into the conservatory, reluctant to enter the dining room where his aunt sat at her work. But when at last he did go in, sure enough, before long she looked up, and said, “When your brother was here last month he went to the children’s meetings that were being held, and before he left he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was so happy, and seemed to enjoy the services more than anything else. You do not seem very happy. When are you going to ... ..? The boy would hear no more, rushed to his bedroom, and threw himself upon the bed. “Why won’t these people leave me alone?” he said. It is impossible to describe the fierce struggle that followed. To the bitter cry, “Why won’t they leave me alone?” echo seemed to answer, “Why not come now?”

Long into the night the fight went on. “Why not” seemed to get more loud and clear, and every excuse suggested by the devil was more and more unsatisfactory.

Why not come to the Lord Jesus? Why not? Why not now?

About midnight the boy got out of bed and kneeled at the bedside, while the tears streamed down his cheeks. In simplest language he told the Lord Jesus that he will come to Him now. Only a boy of twelve years, and there was no one there to see, and no one to hear—no one but Jesus.

He spoke peace to the young heart, and gave the assurance that his sins were forgiven. The earlier part of the night was spent in anguish of soul, and in struggling against God; the latter part was spent in joy and gladness, the long siege was over, the heart was surrendered, and the Lord Jesus Christ had taken possession of his own.

ML 02/14/1909

The Rustic Bridge and the Stepping Stones.

IN our picture this week we see three children on a rustic bridge, evidently gone out to have a good time fishing and in the woods. They little think of the danger they are in; how easy it would be for them to slip off and fall into the water. It reminds me of a little incident I once read, but there was this difference, there were stepping stones across the little stream instead of a bridge.

A mother was knitting under the porch of her house one autumn afternoon. Her boy was playing with other children on the village meadow.

Beyond the meadow was the river, and on the opposite bank of it was a wood frill of nuts and sweet-smelling leaves and flowers. “Let us cross to the wood” said one of the bigger children.

“I shall cross too,” said the little boy whose mother was knitting at the door.

There were stepping stones all the way across, and the little party got safely to the other side.

But the clouds had been darkening over the sky since the morning, and now it began to rain. First it came in heavy drops, then there was a peal of thunder, then torrents of rain came down. The bigger children hurried back to the ford, and one by one got over safely.

The little boy was last. The river had by this time risen. The stepping stones were beginning to be covered. The little fellow took one step, then a second, then he came to a stone over which the river was flowing swiftly, and his heart failed. He wrung his hands with fear and cried with a piercing cry.

The mother saw him, and ran to him, but she was too late. She could not reach him, as a broad, black flood of water came thundering between her boy and her.

“My child! my child!” she cried. “Mother! mother; come for me” cried the boy.

At that moment a young shepherd, leading his flock from the hills saw the danger of the child. He left his sheep and ran to the river. He stepped from stone to stone, but in the center the flood had carried some away. He plunged into the stream and swam over to the boy. With one arm he clasped the child, with the other one he grappled with the flood and brought the boy to his mother.

That was a boy who found a saviour, and what the brave young shepherd saved him from was death.

But God was the real Saviour that day. He sent the shepherd at the very tight moment. He made him brave and strong.

Death is constantly coming near to the little ones; but by brave swimmers, faithful nurses, wise doctors, loving mothers, by kind friends and unseen angels, He brings deliverance.

And He has given Jesus to save us from death more terrible than the death which threatened the little boy. He saves from the second death, which those who die in their sins must endure forever.

Jesus will save you from being shut out of heaven, nothing that’s naughty can enter there.

You have often been naughty, but Jesus will save you and wash your sins away, and open the door of heaven to you, if you will trust Him. He is willing to save you now, just as you are. Cast yourself into His arms. He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

ML 02/21/1909

Links in the Chain.

Great was the joy in the first boy’s heart when his brother returned and confessed that he too was now “on the Lord’s side.” During the next term of school, they commenced a weekly boys’ meeting at their father’s house, to which they invited their schoolfellows, a few of whom responded to the invitation to come. Then they had straight boy-to-boy heart-chats, seeking to win these boys for Christ. It seems wonderful to the writer, who happens to be one of the boys himself, to write of this eighteen years afterwards. Most people would consider it presumption for two boys of twelve years to do such a thing; but they were in real earnest, and saw only the solemn side as they set about the work to which they truly believed the loved Master had called them.

One evening, at the close of one of these little gatherings, the elder boy, whom we will call Arthur, put to one of the boys almost the same question that he had first asked his twin brother Edward. He knew that his schoolfellow had been touched by what had been said during the evening, and he hoped to lead him then and there to a decision for Christ; but he was not yet willing to decide. His schoolfellow avoided the issue, and when he felt he had done all he then could to persuade him, Arthur said, “Well, Frank, don’t put it aside; let us have another chat tomorrow afternoon. which is a half-holiday. Come for a walk with me then.” But Frank refused. Some power seemed to keep him back. Alas! the same power, the power of evil, has kept back, and is still keeping back, thousands from entering into the narrow way, which is the only path of life, and leading them on the broad one to the destruction of their precious souls.

The next afternoon Frank called at the house and asked to see Arthur. He was out, but Edward came to him.

“I called,” said Frank, “to see Arthur; he asked me to go for a walk with him this afternoon, but I refused; and now I wish I had not, and it is too late, for he is gone out.”

“Well, old man, I will go with you,” replied Edward heartily, and off they started for a good ramble in the country.

It was a lovely autumn afternoon, and after a while they reached a field in which was a pond surrounded by bushes and trees. The spot commanded a splendid view of the surrounding country; and as it was quite dry and warm, they sat down to rest.

Presently Frank broached the subject that was uppermost in his mind.

“Arthur tried to get me last evening to decide for Christ, but I could not.” He said quietly but distinctly, “You know, I’ve been an awfully bad fellow, and it seems I’m too bad for God; I can’t tell you all, but I’ve been a dreadful trouble to my mother, and I feel I’ve made a bad start.”

“Well,” said Edward, “if that means you feel yourself a sinner, you are surely one of those whom Jesus came to save, for He distinctly said, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ Then, again, think of that poor thief who hung on the cross beside the Saviour, with all his life of sin and wickedness. You would not say that he was not forgiven, would you? Why Jesus Himself said to him, ‘This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.’”

Quietly and earnestly the two young fellows talked of these momentous things, until presently Frank said, “I see it all now; oh, how slow I have been to understand that Jesus really bore my sins! I have always thought of it in a general sort of way: I never understood it was for me—my very self; but now I do understand: I know that ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me’; and because of this, if I trust Him, as I can and do, God will forgive me for His sake. Oh, I should now like to thank God for making me to see and understand His wonderful love; cannot I do so now?”

Edward gladly agreed, and there upon the grass another life was yielded, another precious soul passed from death unto life, and was made safe for time and for eternity, through the precious blood of Christ.

Seventeen years after, Edward was giving a gospel address at a small town not far from his early home. At the close of his address a lady came forward and said, “Mr. X., I feel I must tell you what was the first incident in a chain of circumstances that led to my conversion. Do you remember, many years ago, sitting with another boy by a pond in a field, and having a very earnest conversation, and the result?”

“Indeed I do,” said Edward; “it is an incident in my life that I shall never forget.”

“Well,” said the lady, “strange though it may seem, I myself was sitting only a short distance away, painting, and although hidden from view by bushes, I overheard all. Before I knew any one was near, you had commenced talking, so that I did not like to make a noise; but I heard every word that was said, and when you were gone, I made up my mind that I, too, would someday yield myself to the same Saviour, and by His grace, so I have—not then, nor for some months after; but I never forgot the scene, of which I had been such an unsuspected and unintentional spectator.”

These are links in the great chain of God’s wonderful workings of grace-links forged, one by one, and by no means wholly understood at the time; but nevertheless they were God’s work, and in them He was accomplishing His great desire of bringing sinners to Himself.

Some of those of whom I have written have now passed away to be with the Saviour they learned to love on earth; but the three boys, now young men, are still living, and although, no doubt, there have been many failings in their lives, to the glory of God it may be said that they continue to witness for Him.

“Saved by His grace, kept by His power.”

Dear reader, the chain is not yet completed, though no one but God knows when it will be, or how soon the door of salvation may be shut. This true story is perhaps one of the links that will draw you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

“Why not? Why not?

Why not come to Him now?”

ML 02/21/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 7. Genesis 13. Abram and Lot.

ABRAM was very rich; he had silver and gold, and flocks and herds and tents. Lot also, his nephew, possessed great riches, so much so that there was not enough pasture for all their cattle. This caused the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle to quarrel with those of Lot’s. When Abram saw it he said to Lot: “Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand then I will go to the right, or if thou depart to the right hand then I will go to the left.” Fully trusting that God would lead him where he should go, Abram could well afford to let his nephew choose. But Lot wanted the good things of this life. He did not care whether God wanted him to go or not, nor did he Seek to please his uncle. He was selfish and tried only to please himself. So he lifted his eyes, and saw the beautiful plain of Jordan. It was well watered, so must be productive. There would be plenty of food for his cattle; they would grow healthy and strong and increase greatly. In such a place his riches would increase. So thought Lot and he chose that plain, where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were built, and went east with all he had and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But he was not happy, for the men of Sodom were very wicked, and the Lord was not pleased with his choice. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and the Lord said to him, after Lot had gone away: “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, southward, eastward, and westward, for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it and to thy children forever. And the people that shall come from thee shall be as the dust of the earth. So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length and breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”

Then Abram removed his tent from there and went to live in the plain of Mamre in Hebron and built there an altar to the Lord.

Many children and grown people too, fear that if they turn to the Lord, they will have to give up pleasures and good times, and, so they, like Lot choose this world, although away from God, enjoying “the pleasures of sin for a season,” but those who, like Abram, choose the better part, will find that in His presence is fulness of joy, at His right hand there are pleasures for ever more. Ps. 16:11.

“SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” Matt. 6:33.

ML 02/21/1909

The Rejected Supper.

HOW naughtily the little baby is acting; he does not want to take his supper from his kind sister. Very likely he wants to get someone else to feed him, perhaps, his tired mamma. Don’t you think he should be thankful that any one, is willing to take the trouble to give him his food? I am sure you will all say. Yes, he should be thankful, and take it willingly. Yes, he is the one who is to get the benefit and so should, with gladness and thankfulness. receive it from the hand of the one who is so willing to give to him.

Well, dear children, there is a wonderful supper God has provided for man and He would have all come to it. What may we call that supper? I think we may call it the supper of salvation.

If we turn to Luke 14:16-24, we shall see what the Lord Jesus says about it. You will notice that the man He speaks about made a great supper and bade, or invited, many. Then he sent a servant, when all was ready, to tell them to come. They acted something like this naughty little baby, they would not come, and they made excuses. Is not that very bad? Ah, surely, it is, and that is the way a great many are treating God. He has provided salvation for all who will accept it and how many there are who will not believe in Jesus.

How is it with you, dear reader? Have you taken salvation through Christ Jesus, which God is so willingly offering? Oh, think of it, how much worse it is to refuse, or treat with indifference, God’s offer of salvation, than to refuse food that we need for our bodies, from the hand of some kind friend. The latter would only be an insult to a kind friend, and a temporal loss to the one who would refuse; but the former would be an insult to God and an everlasting loss, and not only so, but God must punish forever the one who persists in refusing. May you not refuse, but accept salvation freely from God. and remember that it cost Him the giving up of His Son to die on the cross that you might have that salvation.

“Ho, 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.” Isa. 55:1.

ML 02/28/1909

A Child's Prayer in Heathen Land.

IN the midst of some of those wild tribes in Africa, there was some years ago, a missionary, with his family, seeking to present Christ, the Saviour, to those poor heathens, whom they so much needed. For a long time he labored without any apparent results, so that he was often much discouraged; instead of the hearts of these people being drawn to Christ, they were filled with hatred and bitterness, and often threatened the lives of the little family. The most bitter of all was one mighty chief, who, with his warriors, had more than once surrounded the little house; but the missionary ever made God his refuge and strength, who so far had prevented the worst.

It was, therefore, no small joy to the missionary to receive word one day that a certain man, whom he had instructed in God’s word, some years previous, wanted to see him, being very sick and not expected to live much longer.

Glad as our missionary was over this invitation, yet he entertained very grave fears for his wife and children. Should he leave wife and children and expose them to the surrounding dangers and leave them unprotected among these savages, or should he let that sick one die without making an effort to reach him and tell him of the One mighty to save? He decided to go, though it was with fear and trembling. In fervent prayer he commended his dear wife and children to God, their refuge and strength. His wife was joyful and of good courage, and thus he bade them all farewell.

Had the missionary known of the awful plan which his enemies had planned after his departure, he would not have gone away so cheerfully to bring words of comfort to that dying man. His bitterest enemy, the thief mentioned above, had noticed his going away, and decided to do away with the hated white family.

But God is nigh to them that call upon Him. Let us see how He cared for them:

Toward evening the mother with her oldest daughter sat in the small wood-house heir husband. had built. It was almost time for them to retire for the night. The little girl said: “Mamma, does the Lord Jesus love everybody?” “Yes, my child, He died for all,” was the reply. “For these heathen also who give Him so much sorrow?” “Yes, for those also.” “Oh, if they were only here that you might tell them of Him, that they would not be so hateful and bitter against us. . . Mother, may I pray that the Lord Jesus may bring them here this evening?”

What should the mother say? If the Lord should answer the prayer and bring these wild men to the house and that on this evening when they were atone!

But and if she said, “No,” was she not of little faith and a poor example for her little daughter?

It was only in a halfhearted way she said: “Yes my child, you pray for this.” The little girl was already on her knees, saying the little prayer she had learned, and then added: “Dear Saviour, bring these poor heathen here, that they may listen to mother’s words, and that they may learn that Thou dost love them.”

At that very moment was the heathen chief with six of his murderous companions around the house to carry out their dark plans. They came there just in time to hear the fresh clear voice of the child say: “Dear Saviour, bring these poor heathen here, that they may listen to mother’s words, and that they may learn, that Thou dost love them.”

But what is this; this rough and cruel man who has not shrunk from a thousand dangers, trembles at hearing a child’s prayer.— “Amen!” says a soft voice within the house.

The chief commanded his men to fall back, and he who a few minutes before had murderous thoughts in his heart, asks now modestly at the door if he might enter for a few minutes.

Joy spread over the face of the child, terror over that of the mother; but the chief had already entered with two of his men, and seating themselves begged earnestly to be told something of “the Great Spirit” as they called God.

Tremblingly the mother began, but soon her eyes sparkled, and her voice grew clearer and stronger, until that dreaded chieftan burst out in tears and asked them for pardon for all the sorrow he had caused them, asking them also to pray for him and his people.

From that time on there were houses and hearts open to the missionary, and God also granting His blessing to the words of His grace.

Thus the Lord hearkened to the prayer of a child. How He delights to hear and answer our prayers, too; all the more when we ask Him for precious souls. Fellow Christian, we must be on our knees before Him in prayer, if we would see sinners converted to God.

“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found.”

“THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR CRY.” Psalm 34:15.

ML 02/28/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 8. Genesis 14, Melchizedek.

SOON after Lot went to live in Sodom, the king of Elam, Chedorlaomer and three other kings with him, came and fought against the city and the people of Sodom. The king fled and fell into a slime pit of which the plain was full. Chedorlaomer took the goods of Sodom with the provisions and carried many of the people prisoners. Among these was Lot, Abram’s nephew. He had gone to Sodom, hoping to enjoy the riches that were there, instead, he lost all he had and was made a prisoner besides. How vain to love and trust in riches and worldly things!

When Abram heard what had happened to Lot, he armed himself and three hundred and eighteen of his trained servants and went after Chedorlaomer’s army, and smote them, and brought back all the people and the women and his nephew Lot, and all the goods that had been taken. Lot returned to Sodom.

Should he not have learned by this, that he ought not to have anything to do with these wicked people?

When Abram returned, the King of Salem, who was priest of the Most High God, brought him bread and wine, and blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be the Most High God who has delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” And Abram gave him the tenth part of all he had taken. The king of Sodom, went to meet Abram and said to him: “Give me the people and keep the goods for thyself.” But Abram would take nothing from him and said “I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, lest thou shouldst say: “I have made Abram rich.”

The riches of Sodom could not satisfy a man who was blessed of the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth. Neither have the pleasures of this world any attraction for those who know what the Lord Jesus has for them. When Melchizedek, the high priest, reminds Abram of God’s blessing, for fear he might feel tempted by Sodom’s king, he is a type or likeness of the Lord Jesus, our high priest, in heaven, who is ever praying for those He has redeemed, that they may not fall into the temptations of this world. For Satan, like the king of Sodom, offers us many things in many pleasant ways which can never give us real joy, but can only bring us sorrow and disappointment. Let us remember what a blessed portion have the children of God. The “Possessor of heaven and earth.” All belongs to Him and surely He will give us all we need. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights.” James 1:19.

ML 02/28/1909

"Road Stopped."

JUST outside the house where I write, there is a long pole across the street. It rests on two supports, and has a board tied to it with the notice thereon—

“Road Stopped.”

This is plainly to prevent an accident. Excavations are going on in the street to a depth of perhaps fifteen feet or more, and there is no room for vehicles to pass.

None are so foolish as to attempt to make a passage past the notice; they go round another way.

Now, God has written “Road stopped” upon the way of works for salvation, and in infinite mercy has provided a way of blessing through the one Mediator. Christ Jesus. by which sinners can be saved from eternal destruction.

Yet what we see every day is that men will endeavor to make their own way of salvation, and so disregard the only true way. They pass on to certain judgment. Oh, that they could see where they are going, and flee to Christ! 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.”

ML 02/28/1909

"Behold I Come Quickly."

“Behold I come quickly”.

Yes, that is the word,—

The promise once given

By Jesus our Lord.

“Behold I come quickly”.

E’er sweetly the same,

Then why should I care

For earth’s riches and fame?

“Behold I come quickly”.

If sorrow is mine,

With this cheering promise

Why should I repine?

“Behold I come quickly”.

Have I joy below?

What greater delight

When to Jesus I go!

“Behold I come quickly”.

Then let come what may:

This comforting promise

My spirit shall stay.

“Behold I come quickly”.

His word must abide.

I’ll soon be with Jesus,

Safe, safe at His side.

ML 02/28/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

1.“Blessed be God,” etc. 2nd Cor. 1:3

2.“And he, said unto me,” etc. 12:9

3.“For he saith,” etc. 6:2

4.“In whom the God of,” etc. 4:4

5.“For ye know the,” etc. 8:9

6.“For we must all,” etc. 5:10

7.“Finally, brethren.” etc. 13:11

Bible Questions for March.

Answers to be found in the Epistle to the Ephesians.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “forbearing, threatening.”

2.Write the verse in which the words, “grace,” “saved,” “faith,” are found.

3.Write the verse containing the words, “submit yourselves.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “redemption,” “forgiveness.”

5.Write the verse containing the words, “grieve not.”

6.“Write the verse containing the words, “this is right.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “fear and trembling.”

ML 03/07/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 9. Genesis 15. Abram’s Vision.

THE Lord spoke to Abram in a vision to comfort and encourage him. God promised to do great and wonderful things for him at some future time, but not yet; for He was pleased first to try Abram’s faith and patience.

One night, God brought him out into the fields, and told him to look upwards. The stars were shining in the sky, and God told Abram to try to count them; but there were more, many more than Abram could number. Then God said, So shall thy children be. Abram had yet no children, but he believed God still. He felt sure that the Lord could and would do as He promised. He is an example of faith for us. God speaks to us in the Bible, which is His own word, and He makes many beautiful promises to His children, and we know that He will fulfill every one of them.

God promised Abram that He should inherit the land of Canaan; and He told him what would happen to his children when he himself was dead. Then God commanded Abram to take an heifer three years old, a goat three years old, and a ram three years old, a turtle dove and a young pigeon, to divide the three first in pieces and offer them in sacrifice, and when the birds came to devour the dead bodies of these animals, Abram drove them away. That same night, God spoke to Abram again, and told him that his children should go to a strange land, and be afflicted there; but that after four hundred years they should come out of that land with great riches. “And thou,” said God, “shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”

And when the sun went down and it was dark, Abram saw a smoking furnace and a burning lamp, which passed between the pieces of the sacrifice which Abram had offered at God’s command.

What was the meaning of this? Perhaps the vision was meant to teach Abram what should happen to his children, in that strange land in which they were going. The smoking furnace might teach him that they would be afflicted; and the bright lamp, that they would be comforted. God often afflicts His people to teach them lessons which they could learn no other way; but He always comforts them too, and so we shall soon see, if the Lord wills, how He afflicted and comforted Abram’s children, the people of Israel in the land of Egypt. “But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” Lam. 3:32, 33.

ML 03/07/1909

The Twenty Third Psalm.

THE Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

What should I want?

Rest? —No: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

Refreshment? —No; “He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Healing? —No; “He restoreth my soul.”

Guidance? —No; “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.”

Communion? —No; “Thou art with me.”

Protection and Comfort? —No; “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Food? —No; “Thou preparest a table before me.”

Power? —No; Thou anointest my head with oil.”

Joy? —No; “My cup runneth over.”

Anything in this life? —No; “Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

Anything in eternity? —No; “I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

ML 03/07/1909

Mending Their Nets.

WHEN the Lord Jesus was here on earth there were just such scenes as we have in our picture this week. No doubt the style of their dress was very different, so there would be quite a different appearance to the picture; but in those days there were fishermen and they had their boats and their nets, for we read in Matt. 4:18-22 That Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee and saw two men there who were brothers, named Peter and Andrew, casting their nets into the sea and Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” So they left their nets and followed the Lord Jesus. He went on a little further and saw two other brothers, James and John by name, they were with their father in a boat mending their nets and the Lord Jesus called them and they left their boat and followed the Lord Jesus too.

These were the kind of men the Lord Jesus chose to follow Him and send them out to tell others of Himself. He chose the poor and the ignorant, and used such who were looked upon as nothing in this world, to tell the wonderful counsels of God.

What grace of God to come to man at all and to use any one to be His servant. Ah, yes, it is God’s way, for the Scripture says, “Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:26-29.

We often see the wealthy and well educated despise the things of God, but the poor and humble are far more ready to listen to the word of God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ whom God has sent.

I trust none of my young readers may be filled with pride and be seeking for honor in this world, but may take their proper place before God as needy sinners, and accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and the day of honor and great blessing for such will be when the Lord comes again.

As we look at our picture and see these fishermen of low degree, and remember how the Lord took such up, may we rather rejoice if our place is nothing in this world, that we do not have the wealth and honor to hinder us from coming to the Lord Jesus, and if we have come to Him, rejoice that our portion is far better than if we had all that this world could give us.

“YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.” 1 Peter 2:9.

ML 03/07/1909

The Rosebush.

SOMEBODY planted a rosebush near the garden wall. In spite of careful nursing it never bloomed. Again, summer time came and again the owner saw no buds. One day his neighbor on the other side of the wall called to him: “Your rose is blooming in my garden, come over and see it!”

Sure enough, one of the shoots had worked its way through a crack in the wall and was now in full bloom.

If you are discouraged and faint-hearted, perhaps you too will find your roses blooming on the “other side” in God’s presence. Keep, on working in faithfulness to your Master, for the Scripture says “Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9.

ML 03/07/1909

A Storm on the Ocean.

A GENTLEMAN who journeyed on the English barge “Heathfield” passing through a fearful storm relates:

“We left Shanghai on Sept. 1. About noon on the fourth day there were indications of an approaching storm. He who is familiar with that part of the world knows of the dreadful storms they are having there every fall called typhoon, in one of which the German warship “Iltis” had been sunk. Toward evening the sky became like copper, leaving the sailors no longer in doubt what conflict with the elements was awaiting them. “Scarce had the ship been gotten ready for the storm when it broke in upon them, tossing the ship from side to side, stripping it of all its boats and everything which was loose. Through the violent tossing the ballast got loose in the hold, grinding up the inside of the ship. The crew, which was immediately called down, found it was a hopeless undertaking to bring order into the chaos, and had to abandon their task. All hope was now gone of saving the ship.

The captain, Mr. Mackenzie, who had one of his children with him on board ship, was an old experienced mariner, who had braved many a storm; but as he looked at this storm, saw the ship tossed, and looked into the waters churned into a foam, he thought: “Soon will you, with your daughter in your arms, be swallowed up in this awful flood, and no one will know anything of us.”

The child seemed to know her father’s thoughts and said: “Wait, papa, till I pray.”

How poor and helpless one feels to be on this raging sea; how great and mighty is the loving Saviour who commanded the storm on the sea of Galilee “Peace be still,” and who saved Paul, with all on board, from a watery grave.

The child kneeled down before us all and prayed so simply and yet so full of confidence, that we were all convinced this prayer went up through all this storm before the throne of God, by Him to be heard and by Him to be answered.

Through God’s mercy the storm abated, and we were brought into the desired haven. But we all believed that God heard and answered the prayer of Jessie. the little daughter of the captain.

ML 03/07/1909

Uncle Silas.

EVERY one in the little town of Grandville, knew Uncle Silas, for he had lived there many years and had been a great help to the people. There was no bridge over the river, which ran through the town, and he owned a ferry and faithfully carried the people across.

There is a load in the boat now and Uncle Silas is standing on the end ready to push off. These people are not afraid. for he will carry them safely across to the other side. Then there will be others on that side who wish to return with him, and so he is kept busy most of the day carrying men, women and children from shore to shore. He asks but a very little pay for his work and is kind to all with whom he has to do.

We can learn a lesson from these people. Think how they trusted Uncle Silas. The Lord tells us to trust Him for all things, both in this world and the world to come, and we know, “IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN MAN. IT IS BETTER TO TRUST IN THE LORD THAN TO PUT CONFIDENCE IN PRINCES.” Psalms 118: 8-9.

We are not only told that it is better to trust the Lord than man or princes, but in another psalm we read that’ those who do trust in the Lord are blessed.

ML 03/14/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 10. Genesis 10. Hagar.

SARAI, the wife of Abram, had a maid who was also Abrams wife. Her name was Hagar. She behaved disrespectfully to her mistress, and this made Sarai angry, wherefore she treated her harshly, and Hagar ran away from her mistress and fled into the wilderness. There, an angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water, and said to her: Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going? And she said: I have run away from my mistress, Sarai. And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to thy mistress and be obedient to her. This was her duty, and she could not be blessed, nor happy while she forgot this, and gave way to her own pride and self-will. Was it not gracious of the Lord to seek her in that lonely place and give her this wise advise? How much sorrow we would spare ourselves if we would always hearken to God’s word and obey, as Hagar did. We like to have our own way and if not given it, we show our displeasure in many ways. God has told us what the end will be if we refuse to listen to His word. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 14:12. How needful then, that we should pray, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord.”

The angel of the Lord promised Hagar she would become the mother of a great nation, and the son who would be born of her should be called Ishmael, which means, “God shall hear,” because the Lord had heard her affliction. “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him.”

Ishmael was born not long after that, and from him are descended the Arabians, who have always been a wild people, as the angel had foretold.

So Hagar was comforted, and she did as she was commanded, and returned to Sarai. But first she gave a name to the Lord who had appeared to her; she called Him, “Thou God seest me” for she said “Have I also here looked after Him that seeth me?” The well was called, “Beerlahairoi,”—which means, “The well of Him that liveth and seeth me.” The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good, and He is as ready to comfort and help now, as He was in the time of Hagar.

And Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born.

ML 03/14/1909

The Blessedness of Confession.

QUITE a number of years ago a very little girl, who had been taught by her loving mother to love and trust. Jesus, committed a very great sin. She was with her auntie, who was also a little girl, and while with this auntie, little B.— told something which greatly displeased God; for His eye was upon her, What did she do? She told an untruth. Yes a lie!

After a while her conscience began to trouble her greatly. She was not happy —not happy in anything. She could neither play nor work with pleasure. Her heart was heavy; she could not get her great sin out of her mind. All was roaring and heaviness within; she was trying, as I fear many of us sometimes do to be silent. She dreaded to make it known that she had told a lie.

She remained in this unhappy state for some time. At last the sin weighed so heavily on her conscience she could bear it no longer, and she asked the Lord to help her to remember at the right moment to make confession to her mother.

Dear little girl, she knew she must confess or there could be no peace. That very day, just as she was reaching for the towel with which to dry the dishes, she told her mother, while the bitter tears of repentance rolled down her cheeks, all about the lie which she had told. Later I believe it was also made known to the auntie that what she had told her on that particular day was untrue.

Jesus, the loving Friend of sinners, who saw those bitter tears and knew all about the throbbings within that little heart, had led B.— just where He wanted her, that is, to make confession of her sin, and all was forgiven. All was out now; she had peace: the roaring ceased, and quietness reigned in its place.

This little incident brings before us the words found in the 32nd Psalm, the third and fifth verses, “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” Verse 3. “I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” Verse 5. As long as B.— “kept silence” there was “roaring all the day long.” That is, her conscience was troubling her and showing her the greatness of the wrong which she had done. But when she acknowledged her sin and tried no longer to hide her iniquity, but confessed all to the Lord, what then? Forgiveness! Ah, yes, forgiveness was hers. Oh, how blessed to know our transgression forgiven, our sin covered. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32:1.

ML 03/14/1909

An Afternoon in a Ragged School.

IT was a bright Sunday in July, as Susan Morley made her way through some narrow bye-streets, to the little ragged-school that was so dear to her heart, and from (Original Material Illegible) which on Sunday afternoons for the last four years nothing had ever kept her away.

It was a rough-looking place, which had formerly been used as a coal shed; but loving hands had hung the walls with sweet texts and pictures, and transformed it into a pleasant looking place within, while the humble appearance of its exterior had this advantage, that it attracted, while a grander building would have frightened away the very class of children it was so desirable to get hold of.

As Susan opened the door, a group of children followed her in, and one little girl said, “Please, teacher, you told us last Sunday that we were to try and say, ‘come’ to somebody else, and I have found two little girls on the street corner, who would like to come, may I bring them in?” The eager request was soon granted and two poor ragged, little children were brought in. Oh! how thin and wretched they looked. They seemed frightened at first, but Susan spoke kindly to them, and asked them some simple questions, amongst others, whether they had ever heard of heaven? The elder of the two looked at her thoughtfully and then said, “Isn’t that the place where nobody wants nothing to eat or drink?” Deeply touched by an answer which told so much, in a few short words of suffering and want. Susan answered, “quite right; heaven is a place where nobody wants for anything; every one there is quite happy. But can you tell how we may get there?” The strangers shook their heads, but a little girl named, Jane Hardy, said, “Please, teacher, for Jesus’ sake.”

“Now, tell me,” said Susan, “what you mean when you say, ‘for Jesus sake.’” “Please, teacher,” replied the child, “because Jesus came down from heaven to die for our sins, and if our sins are forgiven for His sake, we shall go to heaven when we die.”

“That’s right; it is only because of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’s great love in leaving His home above, and coming down to this earth to die for us that we can have any sure and certain hope of reaching heaven, as the little hymn says,

‘And this, not for any good thing we have

done,

But all for the sake of His well-beloved Son.’

And, now, tell me, if Jesus is willing to receive little children into His beautiful home?”

Almost with one voice the children answered, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.”

Then Susan read to the children the story of the Good Shepherd, who goes out after the lost sheep, and never rests until He has found them; and she explained that by the “lost sheep” are meant those who have not known the love of Jesus in dying for them. Sheep are weak and unable to protect themselves, she said, and so, how feeble and helpless we all are in ourselves, and how we need the care and love of the Good Shepherd, to lead and protect us day by day.

Then she spoke to them of the tender love of the Good Shepherd for everyone, even the least and feeblest of His lambs; how He knows each little one by name, keeps His eyes always upon them, watches over them by night and by day, goes after the wandering ones, and brings them to Himself, and at length receives them into His own glorious home. The children all listened attentively, but perhaps the most interested were the poor little strangers, to whom it was so new. When school was over all stood up and sang together the sweet hymn beginning:

“Jesus is our Shepherd

Wiping every tear

Folded in His bosom

What have we to fear.”

Then the children went to their homes, but Susan took care not to lose sight of her two new pupils. She soon found they were homeless and motherless and had to beg for what food they could get, so she took them home with her, and after feeding them well, and procuring for them some better clothes, she found a place where they would be cared for, and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Perhaps another day I may be able to tell you more of them, and of Susan’s ragged school.

ML 03/14/1909

Jesus the Lord.

Light of my gladness,

Joy of my soul;

Solace in sadness,

Making me whole;

Robe of pure whiteness,

Faith’s free reward;

Sun of all brightness;

Jesus, my Lord.

Hope of tomorrow,

Strength of today;

Comfort in sorrow,

Succor and stay;

Mine of real treasure,

Mercy’s free hoard;

Sum of all pleasure,

Jesus, my Lord.

Bright Star of Morning,

Hope of the heart;

Soon come the dawning

When we depart.

Then shall we meet Thee

With one accord,

Joyfully greet Thee,

Jesus, our Lord.

Son of the Father,

Gift of His love;

Then, all together

With Thee above,

We shall adore Thee,—

Harps in full chord,—

Fall down before Thee;

Jesus, the Lord.

ML 03/14/1909

Her Own Book.

WHAT a big book for such a little girl as Jessie to be holding. She is very proud of it, for her papa gave it to her on her birthday. She keeps it in the library with all of the other books, and when she gets tired of playing with her dolls and other toys, she takes it down from the shelf and looks at the pictures and plays that she can read.

When she is a few years older she will learn how to read and will spend many hours studying in this beautiful room.

If her parents are Godly people they will want her to learn more and more about the Lord Jesus and so they will teach her to read the Bible, for while on this earth, the Lord said: “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39.

We get our spiritual food from the Word of God. We need food for the body daily, and how much better to feed the soul each day, for that will last forever.

“ALL FLESH IS GRASS, AND ALL THE GOODLINESS THEREOF IS AS THE FLOWER OF THE FIELD: THE GRASS WITHERETH, THE FLOWER FADETH: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOREVER.” Isa. 40:6, 8.

ML 03/21/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 11, Genesis 17. The Covenant.

AFTER Ishmael was born, the Lord appeared again to Abraham and again promised to bless him and make him the father of a great nation, and to give him the land of Canaan for a possession. And God changed his name and called him Abraham, which means: “The father of a great multitude,” because many people should descend from him. Sarai’s name was also changed to Sarah which means “A princess.” Then the Lord appointed a sign in Abraham’s family, to mark them as a distinct people. This sign was the circumcision of every son who should be born in the family of Abraham.

Were the children of Ishmael to possess the land of Canaan? No. Ishmael was not the promised seed who should inherit Canaan. He was only the son of a bondwoman, that is almost a slave. But God told Abraham that Sarah should have a son, who should be called Isaac, and that He would make with him and with his children an everlasting covenant. What is a covenant? An agreement and promise between two parties. The promise God made to Noah never to drown the world again was a covenant, and the pledge or the sign of it was the rainbow. And now this promise of God to Abraham was a covenant, and the sign of its circumcision. It was the mark of separation between them and the other nations who did not know God, but worshipped idols.

So now God would have a mark of separation between His people and the people of the world. The death of Christ ‘s what makes the separation from this world which is away from God, for, “In that He died, He died unto sin once,” and all who are identified with Christ in Hi, death can be appealed to not to continue in sin. They are separated from it and stand in a new position in this world.

“Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father.” Gal. 1:3, 4.

ML 03/21/1909

"This Do in Remembrance of Me."

“I AM my Beloved’s and His desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10.

How blessed to know that not only has Jesus died to save us, but after giving up His own precious life on the cross, He is now in the glory and His desire is toward us. His loving heart never forgets us for a moment. But oh! how often we forget Him! Do you think, dear young saved souls, that when we forget Him, and our love grows cold, that the Lord Jesus is disappointed? No, for He knew all about us when He died for us. He knew that He would over and over again (as long as we are in this world) have to remind us of His great love, manifested toward us on the cross.

If your own dear mother, was about to die, and called you to her bedside, and asked you to do something for her after she is gone, would you not be happy to do so? I am sure you would leave everything else undone until you had fulfilled your promise, and your doing it would show others that you really loved her.

Did you ever think that the Lord Jesus desires us to show our love and obedience to Him by remembering Him while He is away from us?

“The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said: Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also, He took the cup, when He had supped saying: This cup is the New Testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” 1 Cor. 11:23-26, also Luke 22:15-20. How very sweet to Him must be this simple obedience to His request: the remembrance of His death, in the midst of a world that rejects and spurns His love!

ML 03/21/1909

Jesus Called a Little Child Unto Him.

SUSAN Morley used often to visit the homes of her little Sunday school scholars; and one afternoon she set out for this purpose, with the wish too, of seeing one who had been absent from the class the day before.

For some time the child had come regularly but when a little friend called for her as usual on the previous Sunday, she found her in tears, because her mother had said she should never go to the school again. As soon as Susan heard this, she decided to go at once and visit her little pupil, though from what she had learned of her step-mother, she had not much hope of inducing her to let little Bessie come.

Turning down some narrow streets, she made her way into the close, dingy-looking alley, in which was Bessie’s home. Groups of dirty children were playing about in the gutters; and women with untidy hair, lounging at their doors, stared at her as she passed; but quietly looking up to the Lord for guidance, she made her way through the midst of them, and at last reached the door of the miserable house, in a garret of which she had been told her little scholar lived.

The staircase was narrow and steep, with scanty light, but at last she reached the top. To her surprise, while pausing for a moment before knocking at the door, she heard a little voice inside singing. It was the old familiar hymn, sung so often at the Sunday-school, “There is a Happy Land,” and the little singer seemed to sing with such heart, that Susan did not like to interrupt her till she had finished. When at last she knocked, no one said, “Come in,” and she knocked again, saying, “Bessie, dear, I’ve come to see you.”

The door was not opened, but a little voice answered, “Oh, please, teacher, mother’s taken the key, and I’m locked in with the babies. I’ve got to take care of them till she comes home.”

“Never mind,” replied Susan, “but tell me why you did not come to school yesterday!” The child did not answer, and there was a sound of sobs. At last she said, “Mother won’t let me come; but I do so want to hear more about Jesus, and I’m trying to speak to Him as you told us.”

You may be sure Susan did not lose such an opportunity of telling a needy one, of the precious Saviour. She spoke to her, as well as she could through the closed door, about the loving Saviour who died for little children, and who would wash away her sins, if she asked Him, in His own blood and give her His Holy Spirit, to teach and guide her in the right way, and would, through His own great love, bring her to the happy land, she had been singing about. Then taking a little card from her pocket, she slipped it under the door, and told Bessie to try and learn it by the next time she came. Bessie read the words on it aloud, “I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me.”

“Do you know who says that?” asked Susan.

“It doesn’t tell, teacher; but I should think it must be Jesus, because you said He loves us.”

“And do you love Jesus, Bessie?”

“Oh, yes! I do love Him.”

“Why do you love Him, dear child?”

“Oh, Teacher, because He died to save us from going to that dreadful place, and because He’s so good to us.”

“And do you know what the verse means, when it says, ‘Those that seek Me early shall find Me?’”

“Does it mean early in the morning, teacher, before we think of anything else?”

“Yes, we should think of Him, as soon as we wake in the morning; our first thought should be of Him and of His love; but it means something more,—that while you are young, quite in the morning of life, you should seek Him as your Saviour and your Friend; not wait until you are grown up, because you may never live till then; and the sweet promise for children is, ‘Those that seek Me early shall find Me.’ I am glad, Bessie, you are seeking Jesus early.”

“Yes,” answered the little one, “and I hope I shall see Him some day. I often lie awake at nights, and through the cracks in the roof, I sometimes see the stars, and they look so bright, and I know Jesus made them, and I say to myself, Jesus’ home is brighter even than those stars; and someday I hope I shall be there, if my naughty heart is washed clean. And when the babies are cross, and my arm aches with nursing them, I sing my hymns, and say my verses over, and I forget I’m tired, I’m so happy!”

Before Susan went down the rickety stairs, she promised to ask Bessie’s stepmother to let her come back to the school, but told her to try to be gentle, obedient, and patient, and thus show her love to the Lord Jesus, who had loved her with so great a love. Then she carefully made her way, through the dark passage to the house door, hearing as she went, the little voice singing the old hymn once more, and with feelings of deep thankfulness, she thought to herself, Truly “of such is the kingdom of heaven,” so simply had this little child received the message of

Christ’s love into her heart and as a little palm tree flourishing in the midst of a desert land, because its roots are watered by a hidden spring, was bringing forth in an ungodly home, and with every outward disadvantage, the fruit of holiness, to the glory and praise of God.

ML 03/21/1909

Love to God's Word.

A FATHER and his son of fifteen years of age were working deep under the earth in the coal mine. The father was a God-fearing man, who loved the Lord Jesus and His word and sought to live by it. He was in the habit of carrying a pocket Bible with him, and the son, who had received one in the Sunday-school he attended, walked in his father’s footsteps. and would often read in idle moments by the light of his pet lamp.

One day father and son were working beside each other, when the former started to go some distance after a tool, and the roof fell in behind him, Alarmed, he ran back thinking that his son had been killed by the falling slate, and called him by name. At last the son answered in a feeble voice.

“My boy” cried he, “are you alive yet?” “Yes, father, but my legs are buried underneath the rocks.”

“Where is your lamp, my son?”

“It still burns, father!”

“What are you doing, my son?”

“I am reading my Bible, father, and the Lord is strengthening me!”

These were the last words of our Sunday-school scholar. He died for want of air, but his soul went up to Him, who in His word showed him the Way.

ML 03/21/1909

Only One Way.

MANY fords to cross the brook,

Stepping stones where e’er you look.

Many fair ways through the woodland to pass,

Down by the brooklet or over the grass.

Many the ways from the sea to the land,

Over the cliffs or along by the sand.

Many the trails to the mountains tail height,

Up through the vale, to the left and the right.

But, seeking salvation, just ONE road God gave,

There’s only ONE PERSON who’s mighty to save.

“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.” John 14:6.

ML 03/28/1909

A Remarkable Providence.

A DEEPLY interesting circumstance is related in the life of Breutius, the chief reformer of Wurtemberg. Compelled to flee from the rage of persecution, he entered the first house that he found open, went unobserved upstairs to the part under the roof, and creeping on his hands and knees between it and a pile of faggots, sought in one corner a refuge from his enemies. To this place, however, he was pursued; and his feelings must have been indescribable when he heard their spears thrust through the wood-pile that concealed him, and had even to shrink aside from one of the thrusts.

In this situation he continued for fourteen days, and during that time he was sustained by very extraordinary means. On the first day he was there a hen came at noon to a spot near his feet, laid an egg, and then went away quietly, without the peculiar cry made by a hen after depositing her egg, and which in this case might have proved fatal to Breutius. This faithful sufferer for the truth’s sake received the egg as from the hand of God, and ate it with a piece of the single loaf he had brought with him. As long as Breutius remained in this place the hen came daily and laid her egg; and it is equally remarkable that on the day when the Spanish soldiers who were ordered by the Duke of Wurtemberg to take him, dead or alive, left the town, she did not come.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15.

ML 03/28/1909

Joy in God.

(1 Peter 1:24, 25.)

How frail is man! his life a span;

The creature of a day;

The Spirit blows, his beauty goes.

And quickly fades away.

Bliss is his aim, by wealth or fame,

Or pleasure’s keen pursuit;

But all he gains for ceaseless pains

Is Sin’s unhallow’d fruit.

Though man, alas! is but as grass,

A vapor, or a flame,

Yet God, who’s great, did him create

For glory to His name.

And though true joy, without alloy,

Is found on earth by none;

There’s purest bliss, yea, joy and peace,

In God’s beloved Son.

His Son He gave, who came to save,

And bear our guilt and woe,

That perfect peace and happiness

To us might freely flow.

He who believes, and Christ receives,

Has reach’d the Fount of joy;

And God will praise to endless days,

And love the blest employ.

ML 03/28/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 12. Genesis 18. The Angels’ Visit.

ONE day, while Abraham was camping in the plains of Mamre, he was sitting in his tent door in the heat of the day. Looking up he saw three men standing by him. He rose up directly and ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed toward the ground, saying: My Lord, if I have found favor in thy sight, pray, pass not away, but allow me to refresh you before you pass on. And they consented. So Abraham hurried to the tent where Sarah was and said to her: Make ready quickly, three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. Then he ran to the herd and brought a calf, tender and good and gave it to a young man to prepare. And he took butter and milk and the calf when it was ready, and he stood by them while they ate under a tree.

And they said to him: Where is Sarah thy wife? and he answered, “In the tent.”

And the Lord who was one of the three told Abraham that very soon his wife should have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door behind him, and she laughed for she was very old and Abraham was nearly one hundred years old, and she did not believe that what the Lord said was true. But the Lord said, Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord? Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah was afraid and denied that she had laughed, and He said, “Nay, but thou didst laugh.” The men went away and Abraham went with them towards Sodom, and the Lord told Abraham He would not hide from him what He was about to do, “For,” said He, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord.” Because Sodom and Gomorrah were so wicked and their sin very grievous the Lord said, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether as I have heard; and if not, I will know. So the men kept on their way toward Sodom, but Abraham thought at once of his nephew Lot, who had gone to live in Sodom. So he stood yet before the Lord, and drawing near said: Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous people in the city? And the Lord answered: I will not destroy the righteous with the wicked. If I find fifty righteous people in the city, I will spare all the place for their sake. But Abraham knew how very wicked those cities were and he was afraid there might not be even fifty people in them who were righteous, and he asked the Lord again, five times, if there were forty-five, or forty, or thirty, or twenty or only ten righteous people in Sodom, to save the city. And the Lord answered: If I find ten righteous people there, for their sake I will not destroy the city. Then the Lord went His way and Abraham returned to his place. How thankful Abraham must have been that God should confide in him as in a friend! But Abraham had shown his trust in God by believing His promises. “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the Friend of God.” Jas. 2:23. When the Lord Jesus was on the earth He said to His disciples “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

What a grand thing that the Lord of heaven should call His friends, the poor, unworthy people for whom He died! And to those who love Him and seek to find out His will in His blessed word, He tells them many secrets hidden from the others. He tells them what He is going to do with this wicked world. He will utterly destroy it. “The heavens shall “pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. Many, like Lot, although they know the Lord, prefer to seek their enjoyment among those who do not love Him, but like him too they shall suffer great loss as you shall see later, the Lord willing.

Dear children, you may be laughed at, for confessing the Lord as your Saviour, or for reading your Bible or going to Sunday-school, but if those who laugh are left for judgment when the Lord comes, they will see that you have made the wiser choice. Like Abraham, you must pray the Lord for them, that He may in His grace save them from the judgment coming upon this earth.

“Pray one for another. . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Jas. 5:16.

ML 03/28/1909

Jesus Called a Little Child Unto Him.

Part 2

SUSAN Morley made many efforts to see little Bessie’s stepmother but without success. When she called at the house, she nearly always found the child locked in, but she had many happy talks with her, through the closed door, and week by week, the little girl learned the verses which her kind teacher slipped under the door, and was treasuring up in her heart a store of precious texts which no one could take away from her. After some time, Susan managed to send her a Bible by her little friend, Jane, and the joy of the child at having one of her own, was unbounded. “I can read all about Jesus now,” she said, “and perhaps someday mother will let me read to her.”

But one evening, a few months later, as Susan was sitting in her own home, little Jane came running in, the tears pouring down her pale frightened face. As soon as she could speak, she said, “Bessie’s mother has sent for you, Bessie has been badly hurt, and is in the hospital, and asking for ‘teacher’.” Susan was ready in a moment, and set off with her little companion for the hospital, where she found poor little Bessie in the accident ward, the doctor and nurse standing beside her, with very grave faces. She had been run over by a wagon, while out selling violets; both legs were broken, and no hope of her recovery was entertained. Susan bent over the little sufferer, and said gently, He shall carry the lambs in His bosom. The child’s eyes opened for a moment; and she smiled as the familiar words fell on her ear, and held out her hand to her teacher. Then looking up with a bright smile, she whispered, “I’m so happy. Tell mother, I’m going to Jesus, and I hope she’ll come too.” She made an effort to say, “He shall gather the lambs, with His arm,” and then with one little sigh, turning her head on the pillow, she was gently gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd above.

But little Bessie’s life had not been without effect on her stepmother. Soon after the child’s death, she began to read, in earnest; the Bible Bessie had loved so dearly, and as soon as her little twins were old enough, she brought them to the school, that they too, might learn about Jesus and the way to heaven. She often grieved over her unkind treatment of little Bessie, but her kind friend, Susan Morley, pointed her to the Saviour, and told her that “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin,” and that the Lord does not despise a broken and a contrite heart. And there is good reason to believe that this poor woman was one of those repentant sinners, over whom there is “joy in heaven.” Dear little Bessie, her life was a short one, but in it, she brought forth fruit to the glory of God, and we can now say of her, that being dead, she yet speaketh. Heb. 11:4.

ML 03/28/1909

Our Saviour's Care.

Did you ever think, dear children,

Of your tender Saviour’s care?

How He watches, guards, and keeps you

From the danger everywhere?

He is with you in the morning,

At the dawning of the day,—

With you while the hours are passing,

While you work and while you play.

Unseen dangers oft surround you,

Dangers great, and dangers small

But while His strong arms uphold you

You can never, never fall.

Then when day at last is fading,

And the twilight shadows fall,

He is with you in the evening,

And will hear your faintest call.

Nestled warmly neath the covers,

Little eyes all closed so tight—

Still His care unceasing hovers

Fondly o’er you through the night.

Yes, dear children, this kind Saviour

E’er will guard with loving eyes,

Till He comes, now soon, to take you

To His home beyond the skies.

ML 03/28/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for February

1.“Be not deceived,” etc. Gal. 6:7.

2.“Christ hath redeemed.” etc. 3:13.

3.“I am crucified with,” etc. 2:20.

4.“Love, Joy,” etc. 5:22.

5. “For as many as are of,” etc. 3:10.

6. “And let us not be weary,” etc. 6:9.

7.“But though we, or an,” etc. 1:8.

Bible Questions for April.

Answers to be found in the epistle to the Philippians.

1.Write the verse containing the words. “defense of the Gospel.”

2.Write the verse containing the words. “every tongue.”

3.Write the verse containing the words, “riches in glory”

4.Write the verse containing the words. “murmurings and disputing’s.”

5. Write the verse containing the words, “every knee shall bow.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “We look for the Saviour.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “Christ is preached.”

ML 04/04/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 13. Genesis 19. Sodom Destroyed.

IT was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. They did not find ten righteous people there and the city could not be saved. But the Lord remembered Abraham’s prayer, and for his sake He sent down His angel’s to warn Lot who, although righteous, should not have been found, in company with wicked people, for the Lord is not pleased to see His people seek their pleasure among those who do not love Him. he says to such, “Come out front among them; and be ye separate.”

When the angels arrived at Sodom; Lot, who was sitting in the gate, saw them, and rose up, bowing to the ground, and invited them to his house, to spend the night there. They would have preferred to remain in the street all night, for they knew that Lot had displeased God, and they had not come to visit him, but to save him. However he pressed them greatly, and they entered into, his, house and he made them a feast, and based bread, and they ate. But before they laid down, the men of Sodom surrounded the house, and called to Lot to bring out the men. He went out to them, shutting the door behind him, and begged them not to ill-treat his guests. They only told him to stand back, saying: “This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: Now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. They pressed him sorely and would have broken the door, but the angels pulled Lot into the house, and shut the door, and struck the men outside with blindness, so they could not find the door. Then the angels said to Lot: “Hast thou here any, besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out, of this place, . .the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, saying: “Up, get you out of, this place for the Lord will destroy this city.” But they did not believe him.

When the morning came, he angels hurried Lot, and said: “Take thy wife, and two daughters, lest thou; be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” But as he lingered, they took him by the hand and brought him and his family out of the city. How hard it was for the poor man to leave all his goods, all he possessed, behind him! His heart was there, and not with the Lord, whom he had set aside for riches of this life. But he must leave them, for the angels said: Escape for they life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain, escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. But Lot begged to be allowed to go to a little city nearby, called Zoar, and he was permitted. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah a shower of fire and brimstone from heaven, and the cities, and all that grew in the plain was destroyed. But Lot’s wife looked behind her, in disobedience to the angels command, and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Soon Lot went out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountain, in a cave with his two daughters, for he was afraid to remain longer there.

In the morning, Abraham rose very early, and went to look toward Sodom. No beautiful city was there, now; it was all black with smoke; the houses destroyed, the people killed. All was gone, swept away by the judgment of God! Consumed by His fire and brimstone! His judgment hangs now over this wicked world! The day is very near and the cry is now: “Escape for thy life:” Escape to the mountain which is Christ! He is the “Rock of salvation.” Happy they who hear and believe the story of grace which is now told in many an ear! Happy they who flee to the mountain of God’s salvation!

ML 04/04/1909

Matty and the Miser.

IN a bright summer morning a young girl of sixteen might have been seen climbing a steep footpath, that led up to an old house, half hidden among the trees, the owner of which was an old man of seventy. He was said to be immensely wealthy, but nobody would have guessed it, by looking upon his surroundings. Everything seemed to indicate the greatest frugality, and the old man’s housekeeper complained that she was hardly able to get from him sufficient money to keep them supplied with the very bare necessaries of life. The old man was a miser. His money was his god, and on it his whole heart was set. Do you think he was happy? Oh, no, the very opposite. He thought everybody was seeking to rob him, and you had only to look on his haggard countenance, to learn that he was a miserable man. With all his wealth he was unsatisfied, for you must know, dear reader, that wealth is not enough to satisfy the heart. Like the grave it never has enough; the more it gets, the more it wants, and it never knows what it is to be satisfied. The world with all its wealth and pleasure, is not enough to fill it; to a sinner without God it is all “vanity and vexation of spirit.” There is none but Christ can satisfy.

As the young girl tripped along the lane that led to the miser’s house, she was singing the lines of a sweet well-known hymn, and nature around basking in the summer sunbeams, the birds on the trees, and the lambkins in the fields, seemed to listen to the song. Shall I tell you who the singer was, and what the subject of her song?

Matty was the aged man’s granddaughter.

She had just come home from school on her summer holidays; and only a few weeks before, she had been made a sharer of the joy that comes to the heart of those who receive Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Matty had been born again, and as God’s child, she was rejoicing in the knowledge of His salvation. As she tripped along that morning, she sang in the gladness of her heart,

“Heaven wears a brighter blue,

Earth a robe of sweeter green

All around a happy hue,

By my former eyes unseen.

Brighter suns around me wheel,

Brighter stars around me shine;

Everywhere I only feel,

I am Christ’s and He is mine.”

When she entered the house of her aged grandfather, she found him sitting all alone, brooding sadly over his lot—a strange contrast to her joy in the Lord. After a general talk about schools and lessons, Matty said, “I have come home happier this year than ever I did before.” “How is that?” inquired the aged man with interest, as if the words, “happier than ever,” had fallen strangely on his ears. “Because I can say, Jesus is mine. He has saved me and satisfies me, and I cannot tell how happy I am since I trusted in Him.” Then she added, “I am sure dear grandfather, that if you only knew Jesus and His love, many of your sorrows would be gone.” Before she left, he asked her to sing to him. Delighted at the request, Matty sang, as only a young convert in the fulness and warmth of their first love can.

“My heart is fixed, eternal God; fixed on Thee,

And my immortal choice is made; Christ for me;”

The old man listened eagerly, especially at the lines, so well suited, as God’s message to his soul, were sung.

“Let others boast of heaps of gold; Christ for me,

His riches never can be told; Christ for me;

Your gold will waste and wear away,

Your honors perish in a day.

My portion never can decay—Christ for me.”

The Lord fixed those words on the conscience of Matty’s grandfather. Hardened and full of earthly things as he Was, he could not forget it. What if after all, his earthly gains would waste and wear away, and leave him a beggar for time and eternity? He tossed restlessly on his bed all that night, thinking of the world beyond the grave—a subject that had hardly occupied his mind since the days of his boyhood.

He had gone in for this world, gold had been his object in life; in it he had hoped to find the satisfaction of his heart, but he had been sorely disappointed, as every worldling has been; for there is no satisfaction, no solid lasting joy apart from Christ.

Morning came, and he longed for Matty to come. Again he asked her to sing to him; and, contrary to his usual custom, he invited her to wait for tea. He opened his mind to her; told her how unhappy he was, and what had occupied his thoughts during the night. She told him the story of her conversion, and sought to make plain to his dark mind, God’s “wonderful words of life.” He knew nothing of the gospel of God, although he had lived seventy years in what people call “a Christian country,” but such is God’s love and compassion for sinners, that he now heard it from the lips of his own grandchild, and it reached and won his heart. There, on the brink of the grave and eternity, with the world enshrined in his heart, God’s gospel reached the aged miser, and won him for Christ.

Surely this was a miracle of sovereign grace and all who heard it wondered. The old man lived to prove that Christ can save and satisfy; but he had the sorrow of looking back over a life spent in the service of mammon, which yielded only sorrow. Do not be beguiled by the world’s fair promises. “The world has nothing left to give.” Its gold, even should you gain it, “will waste and wear away,” and you will be left in the hour of death, alone and empty handed on the dark confines of a hopeless eternity.

ML 04/04/1909

Courage.

Have the courage to take another road, if you see the old one is wrong! Have the courage to walk alone, if for the sake of companions you feel tempted to leave the right one! Have the courage to tell the truth, but do it in humility and grace.

ML 04/04/1909

Mother Love.

Baby’s sitting, as you see,

Safely on his mother’s knee;

Now, the daily bath is o’er,

And she’s dressing him once more.

Safe, secure from every harm,

Clasped by mother’s tender arm;

Where could baby safer be,

For she loves him tenderly?

God, who over hill and plain,

Sends the sunshine and the rain,

Watches o’er us from above,

With a more than mother’s love

“O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD: BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN HIM.” Psalm 34:8.

ML 04/11/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 14. Genesis 21. Ishmael.

WHEN Abraham was one hundred years old, Isaac, the son of the promise, was born. His name means laughter. Sarah was so happy to have this son, that she said: “God has made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” The child grew and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Ishmael, the son of Hagar, was fourteen years old when Isaac was born. He was old enough to protect and care for his baby brother, but instead of doing that he was unkind and persecuted him. This grieved Sarah, who said to Abraham: “Cast out this bondwoman and her son.” God commanded Abraham to do as Sarah. said; and he rose early in the morning, and called Hagar, and gave her bread and a bottle of water, and her son Ishmael, and sent her away. They went into the wilderness of Beersheba.

The water in the bottle was soon spent, for it was very hot, and Ishmael was faint. His mother, thinking the boy would die, cast him under a bush, for she could not bear to see him suffer. She went a little further where she sat down and wept.

But God heard Ishmael’s cry, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, saying: “What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation.” And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the bottle and gave the lad a drink.

What patience, what kindness the Lord had for poor willful Hagar and her naughty son! He looked down upon them in pity, and said as it were: “These poor creatures have brought upon themselves this distress: they deserve it, it is true. But I will have mercy upon them and save them from death.”

And the same God, as full of love and pity now as in the days of Hagar, looked down upon us from above, and saw us in all our sins; He saw the sorrow, the trouble and distress that sin has brought into the world, and He said: “These poor sinners are worthy of death, but I love them, and I am not willing that they should perish; so I will find a way to save them.”

But it was not as easy to do this, as it was to open Hagar’s eyes that she might see the well of water. No, for God is a holy God, and He cannot pass over sin. The wages of sin—death—must be paid, and if we are to live, another must die in our stead. So in His great pity and love, God gave His own beloved Son, the only one He had, to bear our punishment! Was there ever love like His? He saved Hagar from temporal death, but he saves us from eternal punishment. “They shall never perish.” Oh! dear unsaved child. dare you turn aside from such love, and refuse the offered Saviour? You may think you are not very much of a sinner, but God is so holy that one small sin would shut you forever from His presence and send you to everlasting punishment. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?”

Hagar gratefully took the water offered her, and gave the lad a drink. And God was with him. and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. He became an archer, and his mother gave him a wife from the land of Egypt, and, as God had promised Hagar when she fled to the wilderness, he became the father of a great nation called Arabs.

ML 04/11/1909

"I've Never Done Anything for Him."

ONE stormy winter evening, about three years ago, as my sisters and I were sitting around the fire congratulating ourselves that we need not be out on such a wild. stormy night, we were suddenly startled by the violent ringing of the door-bell. Upon answering it, we saw the figure of a little girl huddled in the door-way.

“Please Miss,” she began, “my sister would like to know if you would come over to our house and sing for her.”

When she had spoken, we recognized her as little Ruthie O. — who lived but a few steps from us on a back street. The sister of whom she spoke had been very low with consumption for some time and was expected to pass away at any moment.

“How is your sister tonight, Ruthie?” one of my sisters asked as we were hurrying into our wraps.

“She is much worse tonight,” replied the child with a brave attempt to keep back the tears. “She says she is going to die and wants to see you, and she sent for the I, —girls, and for Lillie and Nellie N. —too.”

Hurrying through the darkness, we were soon at the little girl’s home. We found the house quite filled with friends and neighbors who had been sent for by the dying girl. Never shall I forget the thrill which passed over me, as, upon entering her room, I caught sight of her thin wasted figure propped up among the pillows on the bed, with her mother and sisters around her. I had not known her very well, but from the few times that I had seen her, I had thought her to be a very quiet and reserved, if not rather proud, girl. Because of this I was all the more shocked at the change in her. Her naturally large blue eyes seemed larger than usual and were almost black with excitement. Her thin cheeks and drawn lips were scarlet, and her wax like fingers worked nervously with the folds of the sheet. I heard her asking for us as we entered the room, and when she saw us, she fastened her eyes upon us as if fearful of losing sight of us. After they had all come, we sang several hymns in which she joined feebly.

After we were through singing, she asked us all to come up near to the bed, as she wished to say something to us. I cannot remember the exact words in which she addressed us, but the impression they left on my mind can never be erased, and I wish to write them that others may read them. She was very weak and spoke in gasps, stopping at short intervals to regain her breath. I shall quote her words as nearly as I remember them.

“I suppose you are all wondering why I sent for you tonight,” she began, “but I wanted to tell you something. It is almost too late,— but I told the Lord —if He would give me just one more chance—I would try to do something for Him—even now before I die,—and He has—and that is why I sent for all of you tonight.”

Here she stopped for a moment, while her great anxious eves wandered from face to face and we listened in breathless silence for her to go on. She seemed to be struggling with herself, and trying to conquer her weakness and natural timidity, while the pained, almost agonized, look in her eyes was pitiful.

“Yes—yes,” she went on almost wildly.

“It is almost too late—the devil has been telling me for days it was too late,—he has been taunting me with it until I almost believed him. But the Lord has given me one more chance. I have been a believer for years.” Here she paused and the agonized look in her eyes increased and her voice rose to a wail. “Yes—for years, but I don’t suppose any of you knew it,—no, I was almost ashamed of it—ashamed of Christ! —and I’ve never done anything for Him—and now I am going to die—I can’t do anything more. I had a chance—yes, lots of chances—and I didn’t take them. Now I must be taken away, because I’m no good here. I know I am going to heaven—yes, I’ll get in, but that will be all. The Lord can’t say, ‘Well done,’ to me because I haven’t done anything—and now it is too late—my chance is gone. But oh, if I had only known! If 1 had only realized! Oh, how differently I would have done.”

Overcome by her emotions, the dying girl paused and gasped for breath. Her strength was fast leaving her, and when she resumed, her voice was so faint we could scarcely catch her words.

“I wanted—to tell you this—so that you wouldn’t do as I have done. Don’t wait—until—you are on your death-bed —before you speak—for Him. You have your health—and strength—oh, use it for Him,—and then when you come to die—it won’t be like this. Oh, if I could only make you realize—how awful this is!— to die, knowing you have done nothing—nothing- for Him—and He has done so much for us—so much. I know most of you are Christians—and I want you to live for, Him—to do something for Him—don’t he ashamed of Him—and your end won’t be like this—for some time—you’ll be in my place—some time you must die—and then will you be like this?—or will you be rejoicing that you have fought a good, fight and know that He is waiting to _take you by the hand and say— ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’?”

“Good bye—all of you—don’t grieve for me for I am glad I am going home—where I won’t grieve Him any more—for I know just how it would be if I were given another chance. But learn a lesson—from me—and don’t wait—until, it is too late.”

Here her strength failed her completely and we were asked to leave. We did so and as we moved slowly and sadly from the room, the words, “Don’t wait until it is too late,” kept repeating themselves over and over in my mind, and to this day they do whenever l think back to that sad scene.

Her soul passed away soon after, to be with the Lord. But it was not a happy death-bed, as she felt that she was being taken away because she had been an unprofitable servant. “I have done nothing for Him—nothing, and now it is too late,” was the burden of her cry until the last.

Oh, let us all learn a lesson from this case, as dear Martha (for that was her name) pleaded that we should. The time in which we may do something for Him is short at best, and may he much shorter than any of us realize. And when we think of it, what a wonderful privilege it is to be allowed the opportunity to do something for Him down here—for Him who has done so much, and suffered so much for us, and who loves us with such a deep, longing love. How it must grieve His loving heart to see us go on from day to day, as we often do, indulging in thoughtless frivolities and follies far from Him. We may think they are little things and it does not matter. But it was those little weaknesses, those frivolities and follies, as well as the darker crimes, that rung from our blessed Lord those drops of bloody sweat and those agonized words, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Oh, let us think of this, and turn from all such things to Him. How truly those lines of that hymn express it, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” And how rich will be our reward if, at the end, we are counted worthy to receive from His own lips those sweet words, “Well done.”

ML 04/11/1909

The Chief Corner Stone.

2 Peter 2:6.

A LEARNED man whose delight it was to gather together all kinds of rare stones, took sick; and he remained so for a long time; conscious that his strength was fast giving way. But a crisis came in his life; he was converted to Christ, the Son of God. He then often spoke of his approaching death with quietness and joy. The hour of his death had however not yet come; the Lord rebuked the sickness and he recovered, gaining daily in strength. When he was well again, his physician asked him how it was that he could look forward to his death with so much quietness. With a happy smile the professor replied: “I will gladly explain this to you. You see I have found a Stone, much more precious than any I had found hitherto; I have it with me and shall take it long into eternity; it is the “Chief Cornell Stone” of which it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on Jim shall not be confounded.’” 1 Pet. 2:6.

Yes, dear reader, everything that man is building his salvation upon, must come to nought; but he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded or ashamed.

ML 04/11/1909

Alma's Curls.

WHERE are these children? Look carefully at the picture and you will see that they are in a carpenter’s shop, picking up shavings. I think the man who is standing near the bench, likes to have them come, for he has stopped his work to talk to them.

The little colored, girl’s name is Alma. She met the children on the way to the shop and asked them if she could go too.

They told her she could, for she is a good girl and they have lots of fun with her.

Do you see what she has done? To the tight little twists of her curly black hair she has fastened long white shavings, so that they hang down on either side of her face. Then she looks at them as much as to say, “How do you like my new curls”? She is laughing, so I suppose she is saying many funny things to them. The little boy does not know whether to laugh or not, for he does not know Alma as well as his sister does; but he is watching her closely.

How happy Alma seems. Do you think she has as much in this life to make her happy as you have? Do you think those who have riches are the happy ones? No, but all those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and put their trust in Him should be happy, for they have something far better than anything this world could give them. In Psalms 146:5, 6, we read: “HAPPY IS HE THAT HATH- THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP, WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD: Which made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth forever.”

ML 04/18/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 15, Genesis 22. Isaac.

AFTER Hagar and Ishmael were gone away, God called to Abraham, and said: “Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee, of.” Was it God’s wish to make Abraham unhappy, and to kill his son? No, God wished to try Abraham’s faith; to see if Abraham would be obedient, and if he loved God more than his dear child. Abraham obeyed directly; for he knew God’s command must be right, and he believed that God had power even to raise Isaac to life again after he was dead. All God does is good and right. When He sends us main or sickness, or sorrow, He does it wisely, for good, not for evil; we do not always know why, but God knows. Let us ask Him to make us as obedient to His will as Abraham was.

Nor, was Abraham’s obedience slow, for he rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his servants with: him and Isaac his son, and the wood for his burnt offering and went unto the place of which God had told him. As they walked along and Abraham thought what he was to do to his dear son, his obedient child, he must have felt very sad; but Abraham loved God more than Isaac, and God gave him strength willingly to obey His command. After three days, they saw afar off the mountain where Isaac was to be offered. Then Abraham said to his servants. “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” So the servants stayed and Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father, Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb.” And they came to the place God had told him of and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And he stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham,” and he said, “Here am I”. And he said: “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked behind him and saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And he went and took the ram, and offered him instead of his son. And Abraham called that place Jehovah-jireh, which means; “The Lord will provide.”

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven the second time and said: Because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: I will bless and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore and in thy seed (or thy children) shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.

So Abraham returned to the young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba where Abraham dwelt.

This is a beautiful picture of the sacrifice which God was to offer many years later, when He gave the Lord Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. If it was hard for Abraham to give up his dear son in obedience to a God he loved, how much harder was it for God to give up the One who was His delight through eternity! And if the sacrifice was so great how great must have been the love that prompted it! “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.” When Abraham’s faith and obedience were fully proved, God stayed his arm that he should not harm the child, but oh! if we poor sinners, were to be saved, God’s arm could not be stayed, and the sacrifice must be accomplished. Shall we not render to God who gave His son, and to the Lord Jesus, the willing victim, all our love and obedience?

Surely, He is worthy!

ML 04/18/1909

True Happiness.

FATHER,” said Edward, “you do not know what a number of beautiful things James has.”

“Yes,” added little Henry; “you know we paid him a visit yesterday, and he took us up to a room so filled with playthings, it looked like a store.”

Edward continued, “He had two guns, two drums, a fife, and they were real drums, the same as the soldiers use. And, father, there were trains and a steam engine, and railroad tracks.”

“And soldiers,” continued Henry, “and all kinds of blocks for building. Then he took us outside, and showed us a real live pony, and a whip that must have cost several dollars, and such a lovely saddle and bridle. And that is not all; a garden filled with beautiful flowers, white rabbits, and a dear little squirrel that plays all sorts of tricks in his cage, and a parrot that talks like a person.”

But, after all, though James had everything to make him happy, Edward and Henry had to own that he was one of the most unhappy and disagreeable boys they knew. Their father showed them plainly that it was because nothing had been denied him. All his wishes had been granted, and that he had become exacting and selfish, consequently he had grown dissatisfied and gloomy.

Mr. Thompson told his boys that the next day he would take them to see a happy boy.

“Is this the place?” said Edward, as the carriage stopped in front of a small brown house with a very plain exterior.

“Yes, my children, get down and follow me.”

They entered the small two room cottage. In one of the rooms, lying on a poor little bed, they saw a pale, thin boy, for disease had left its stamp on his features. His hands were outside the covers, and they were so emaciated, they looked almost like polished glass. A few playthings were scattered over the bed, and on a small table close by there was a pot of flowers, a Bible; and a hymn book. Neither of these were in very good condition.

It was over a year since this child had been able to stand, but for four months he had been lying on his back, and it was impossible to change his position.

“What is the matter with him?” Henry asked the mother.

“The Doctor says his bones are decaying,” answered the poor woman. “Two years ago he felt intense pain in his foot, and it had to be cut off in hopes that it would be the end of the trouble, but it did no good, the disease goes on getting higher all the time. Soon it will be the death of my dear child. His sufferings are terrible, especially at night. and for days he cannot sleep at all.”

“O, father, this is dreadful!” said Edward hugging close to his father.

“I thought you were going to sh.my us a really happy child,” said Henry.

“Wait a moment, my children,” said Mr. Thompson. Then turning to the sick boy, he said, “My brave boy, are you not tired of lying on that bed so long?”

“Sometimes,” said the poor child with a sweet smile; “but when I see all the pretty things I have, it drives away my weariness.”

“What are they?”

“Why, I have this knife, I can cut wood with it, and a lady gave me this china dog a little while ago, and it gives me so much pleasure. And don’t you see that lovely bed of flowers in the front yard? My good mother planted those flowers last spring to surprise me. She waters and tends to them every evening when she has finished her work. The flowers are so sweet, and how I love to look at them! I can see them from my bed, and here are some in this vase, are they not beautiful?”

“Yes, indeed, they are; but are not your sufferings terrible?”

“Sometimes; but sir, I remember that the Lord would not let we suffer so if it were not for my good, so I try to bear them patiently, knowing how much more my Saviour bore for me. There are some lovely hymns in my hymn boo’s; I never get tired of singing, and my Bible is full of promises that fill me with joy, but without them I do not know what I should do.”

“But are you never impatient and envious, when you see other children running and jumping outside?”

“Never! God knows what I need. I leave it all with Him. My Saviour is close to me. I love to think of Him when I am alone and all is quiet.”

“Do you not hope to be well someday, and be out again?”

“Oh, no! I know I cannot get well, everyone says so.”

“Don’t you fear death?”

“Not at all, I shall be so happy to die. I long to see my Saviour! What makes me feel badly, is the thought of my poor mother being so lonely when I am gone.”

“Is there nothing I can do for you? Don’t you need anything? How I would love to be able to add to your comfort.”

“Thank you, sir; I assure you, I don’t need anything. I know God would raise me up right now, if it was best for me. I know I am much happier than when I was well.”

“But how can that be?”

“Because, before I was sick I did not love God; I did not read my Bible; I had no pleasure when I thought of heaven. Oh, I have had so much joy since I have been sick.”

Edward and Henry looked at each other with astonishment. When they were outside, Mr. Thompson said, “Well, my children, that boy seems really happy, though poor, sick, suffering, and with few things to attract him. What a contrast from James I it is easy to see the reason,” continued the father; “James is selfish, proud, dissatisfied and unthankful. From morning till night, he thinks only of himself, and that is the source of his misery. Then this dear boy we have just seen, knows the source of true happiness. He has found Jesus to be his own Saviour, and the Good Shepherd leads him beside the waters of quietness, and lets him feed in the green pastures of love, and so, he can rejoice, in the midst of his awful sufferings. Truly the Lord upholds and sustains him.”

Dear readers, do you know anything of this happiness? Youth does not always last; suffering and trial may come. Will you not let Jesus be your Saviour, too? Then you will learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, and words cannot express the joy of being able to turn to Him in every time of need.

ML 04/18/1909

"Are the Children Safe."

SOME time ago a fire took place in one of the poorest districts of a large city. When the alarm was raised, the inmates were obliged to leave everything they possessed to the fury of the flames, and they made their escape with difficulty, even then. It was supposed that every life had been saved, and the firemen were confining their exertions to stopping the progress of the flames, when they were startled by a shriek which rose above the noise even of such a scene, only to be repeated again and again and again with ever deepening intensity. It was that of a poor widow woman, who, having a room in the house, had a short time before left her children asleep, to go some distance to see a sick sister, and now returned only to find them in the midst of a horrible fire. With the energy of despair she cleft her way through the crowd, and, seizing one of the ladders, planted it against the wall, its top being below the window of her little room.

It was with difficulty she was prevented from rushing up the steps of the ladder; nor did she desist from the attempt till she, saw one of the firemen actually entering by the window. It was a time of awful suspense—the flames in the flat below making fearful progress, and threatening not only to destroy the children, but to arrest the progress of the heroic man who had gone in search of them.

In a few seconds, however, he appeared again at the window, with a child in each arm, and commenced the descent of the ladder; a few seconds more and descent would have been impossible, the steps of the ladder being already licked and blackened by the flames. But the full power of several engines being brought to bear upon the spot, he at length descended in safety, amid the shouts of the multitude, and returned the trembling little ones to their mother, who, now that her intense agony was relieved, fell in a swoon at his feet.

Reader! Mother! what of your little ones?

Are the children safe, soul as well as body?

What have von done to save them?

And with what energy of faith and love and effort? How fearful, that while the endangered bodily life of a child should fill a whole multitude with the wildest excitement, the peril of its immortal soul should often give even its parents no concern!

Let no parent think that the good seed sown in youthful hearts is ever’ thrown away. Teach your children, pray for and with your children, and your instructions and prayers (though you may not see it in time) will be rewarded in eternity. Your little ones may grow up apparently thoughtless, may find their homes or their graves in distant lands, but God will own and bless the father’s earnest prayers, and the mother’s loving teaching of a crucified Saviour.

“I once met” says a writer, “with a little sailor boy who had pious parents. We were far out at sea in a terrible storm, and I will tell you of a feat he performed in the midst of the tempest. The ship was rolling fearfully. Some of the rigging got wrong at the mainmast head, and it was necessary that someone should go up and put it right. It was a perilous job. I was standing near the mate, and heard him order that boy to do it. He lifted his cap and glanced at the swinging mast, the boiling seas, and the steady determined countenance of the mate. He hesitated in silence a moment; then rushing across the deck, he pitched down into the forecastle. Perhaps he was gone two minutes, and when he returned, he laid his hands on the ratlines, and went up with a will. My eyes followed him till my head was dizzy. I asked, ‘Why did you send him?’ ‘I did it,’ replied the mate, ‘to save the ship. We’ve sometimes lost men over board, but never a boy.’

Again I looked till tears dimmed my eyes, and I was compelled to look away, expecting every moment to catch a glimpse of his last fall.

In about fifteen or twenty minutes he came down, and straightening himself up with the conscious pride of having performed a manly act, he walked off with a smile on his countenance. In the course of the day I took occasion to speak to him, and asked him why he hesitated when ordered aloft? ‘I went, sir,’ said the boy, ‘to pray.’ Do you pray? ‘Yes, sir; I thought that I might not come down alive, and I went to commit my soul to God.’ ‘Where did you learn to pray?’ At home; my mother wanted me to go to Sunday-school, and my teacher urged me to pray to God to keep me; and I do.’ ‘What was that you had in your jacket?’ ‘My Testament, which my mother gave me, I thought if I did perish, I would have the Word of God close to my heart.’” I read the other day of another sailor lad, whose lifeless body was washed ashore after a terrible storm. Inside his jacket, close against his bosom, was his little. Bible with his name and a photograph of his mother inside. They sent the Bible to his mother, who received it with tears of agony and joy. Her boy was dead, but he was faithful to Christ. She could have a firm hope that the Book thus highly prized in the time of awful peril had been loved and read in quiet moments, and had led her son to trust in Jesus for pardon. She could rejoice amid her sorrow, for though parted from her boy now, she knew she would meet him again, where there is no more death, or sorrow, or tears.

Mothers, fathers, I ask you, are you training your children for God? Are you yourselves living for God? Oh, if not, be reconciled to Him through the blood of His Son, seek to do His will, and to live for His service; then will the blessing of God rest on your efforts for the salvation of your children, and you will rejoice to see them giving their young hearts to Christ.

ML 04/25/1909

The Lighthouse.

Another year of our paper has run its course, and we have come that much nearer to the end of our life’s journey. Every one’s journey has its destination, whether a good or evil one. Many of our friends and acquaintances are with us no more in the journey, but have died, and as many as knew the Lord, are now at home with Him.

Some of you perhaps have been sick and near death’s door, and you could see how quickly one may be called from this life into eternity. But you are still alive and God in His grace, still gives you faithful warnings and true way marks.

No doubt, you all know what waymarks are. You find them on the roads in the country pointing the way to towns and cities, and especially where two or three roads cross. In the old country you will see many of these sign boards painted in colors which tell the country that they represent. showing the traveler the right way, that he may not go astray.

The lighthouse is another kind of way-mark, which is built on the shore or on a rock out in the ocean, to show the seaman the dangers of the stormy sea and warn him of rocks and crags nearby or the vessels would he dashed to pieces.

We would like to give von a short description of the lighthouse, with the prayer that the Lord may bless this little paper to you and that it may be a light in your path to lead von to Jesus, the True Light.

The most necessary instrument for the seaman is the magnetic needle or compass, which always and in all places points very, nearly northward, so that by it he can guide his ship through the wide ocean. On clear nights, the fixed stars in the heavens point out the way to the pilot, nevertheless the lighthouses are of the greatest importance.

It is near the shores, where the waves of the ocean break with thundering roar, where sandbanks and rocks are constantly threatening to destroy the ships, that the most of accidents occur, and it is there that these special waymarks are needed.

Lighthouses existed in ancient times. The one erected opposite Alexandria at the mouth of the Nile was one of special renown, and was one of the seven wonders of the world.

It stood on the small island of Pharus, from which it received its name. From a tower 600 feet high, shone the great fire torches far into the ocean. It withstood the waves and billows more than 1500 years, till, at last, it was destroyed, either with an earthquake or in a great storm.

At the present time, the lighthouse which stands opposite the city of Plymouth, (the Lighthouse of Eddystone) is of importance. It is built on a rock in the Midst of the sea, and, though built scientifically and very solid, was destroyed several times.

One can hardly imagine the great power of those storm-tossed waves. Solid buildings are thrown from their foundations, and the lighthouses often shake so tremendously that they rock like a ship, and those who live in them become sea sick.

Most of the modern lighthouses are built of the hardest granite, fastened securely into the rock in which they stand.

Inside the strong tower there are storage rooms for coal, oil, drinking water and victuals, also rooms for the dwelling place of the keepers whose duty it is to keep the lamps clean, and fill them with oil and light them. The lamps, of course, are of great importance. They are generally covered with a roof of bright metal and have several burners with large flames. The light shines through a broad circle of glass prisms, by which means the power of the light is considerably increased, so that it may be seen for many miles.

Arrangements have been made so that the seaman may be able at night to distinguish which lighthouse is before him.

In some of them the lamps are kept going in a circular motion by means of a clock work, and at certain intervals, the light is for a second or two hidden from view. By observing the length of time the light is hidden and the intervals, the pilot is able to tell which lighthouse it is and with the aid of the chart, he knows where he is.

How many eyes may look for the light of the lighthouse in dark and stormy nights and with what feelings of gratitude do they hail its shining light. Many precious lives have, no doubt, been spared from an early and terrible death in the sea, by being guided by its brilliant fays to enter safely into the desired harbor. How good, therefore, is the purpose of the lighthouse, and how necessary its service as a waymark.

We, who travel in the dangerous and trackless waters of life’s ocean on the way, to eternity, also needed a lighthouse —a waymark—though of a higher order, so God sent His own Son into this dark and evil world to be the great Light to shine in the midst of darkness.

Jesus says of Himself, “I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12.

The light of this great and eternal Lighthouse is never hidden and never goes out. No storm can overcome it; no power can conquer it. Fie who is this eternal Lighthouse, is also the “Rock of Ages.” At one time—on Calvary’s cross —all the waves and billows of God’s judgment went over Him, and He bore the storm for us, but He arose victorious out of the awful waters of death.

His light shines out to all countries, and He guides those who follow Him into eternal glory. He has already led thousands, yea, millions into it.

During this past year many of our dear little friends have been brought into the rays of His light and have put their trust in Him, have been made free from the power of sin, death and Satan, and while still are left here amidst the storms of life, they enjoy the rest and peace of His presence. God’s grace and strength are their portion from day to day.

Are you among the number of these blessed ones, dear reader? Perhaps you are yet floating around in a frail bark in life’s wide ocean, not knowing where you will land.

Oh, turn to the Lord. Trust in Him! Away from Him is only night and misery, and then comes torment and outer darkness. Come to Him today. Look to Him now.

“I AM COME A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON ME SHOULD NOT ABIDE IN DARKNESS.” John 12:46.

ML 04/25/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for March.

1.“And ye masters,” etc. Eph. 6:9.

2.“For by grace are ye,” etc. 2:8.

3.“Wives submit yourselves,” etc. 5:22

4.“In whom we have,” etc. 1:7.

5.“Anil grieve not the Holy,” etc. 4:30

6.“Children obey your,” etc. 6:1.

7.“Servants be obedient,” etc. 6:5.

Bible Questions for May

Answers to be found in the Epistle to the Colossians.

1.Write the verse containing the words “All wisdom.”

2.Write the verse containing the words “All the fullness.”

3.Write the verse containing the words “All the Will of God.”

4.Write the verse containing the words “All pleasing.”

5.Write the verse containing the words “All saints.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “All things created.”

7.Write the verse containing the words “All the body.”

ML 05/02/1909

A Letter From the Editor.

To Our Dear Readers:—

As this is the beginning of our eleventh-year, we would seek to express our deep thankfulness for the increased number of readers, and for their fellow-ship in having assisted in putting the paper into the hands of others; and for the prayers of so many, to which we attribute the blessing which has resulted from its pages.

Much prayer and thanksgiving have been offered to God for this work, realizing that it is through His grace that He has given us the privilege of sending out so many papers, and into so many homes; and that He should permit us to know that He has seen it to use them with blessing to souls.

We trust if we are left here for another year, or any part of it, that the writers will take fresh courage, and, in dependence on God, seek to write short and pointed articles accompanied with prayer.

We are glad to make known to such that we have an edition of nine thousand papers per week; but what are these among so many perishing souls, if they have not His blessing, but with His blessing how far reaching they may be. Many of the papers, after being read, are passed on to others, and in one case, we learned that one paper was all a little Sunday-school had, and the teacher read it to all of the children.

We trust the eleventh year will be with increased blessing, and for this we ask much more prayer.

ML 05/02/1909

May Flowers.

THE winter has passed and now we have reached the beautiful month of flowers, with which God has decked and adorned this creation. How delicate some of them are, unable to withstand the cold blast that sometimes comes during the nights in May. In the morning, we see them wilted and their marvelous beauty all gone; but in a few days, some more come up, just as beautiful, and we forget about the withered ones, but we are occupied with the fresh and beautiful ones that are before our eyes. The children, like the little girl in our picture, go outside the cities and delight to gather the wild flowers, but they, too, in a few days wither and have to be thrown away.

What a picture we get in this of our own lives! We come upon the scene, young and fresh; sometimes a cold blast, or some disease cuts off our dear ones in early life, but whether or not, the end comes to all down here in time, and we may well be reminded of that Scripture, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” 1 Peter 1:24.

But there is this difference between us and those beautiful things God has made for us; when they come to their end here, that is the last of them, but not so with us. God lets us know we shall live on forever and ever, either with Him, or separated from Him, but He has provided a way so that none need be separated from I lim. Our sins would have called for us to be cut off from Him forever, because He is holy; but God gave His only Son, who alone was able to bear the awful results of sin, to die in our stead—to be separated from God. So He took that place on Calvary, and gained the victory for sinners; and all who believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” John 3:36.

May each dear reader, young or old, consider how quickly the beautiful flowers are gone, and think how soon, too, we will be done with this life, and if you have not put your trust in Jesus as your Saviour, I beg of you to do so now. He is ready and willing to save all who will come to Him. Tomorrow you may be gone from this life, and if without Christ as your Saviour, the wrath of God will remain upon you.

ML 05/02/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 16. Genesis 24. Rebekah.

SARAH was one hundred and twenty-seven years old when she died in Hebron, Abraham and Isaac mourned for her. Abraham bought the field of Machpelah in which was a cave where he buried his wife. The inhabitants of the land would have given it to him, for they looked upon him as a mighty prince and would have been glad to do him a favor, but he, to whom all this land had been promised for an inheritance, would not receive anything from the people of the land. He looked to God alone for possession of it.

Abraham had a faithful servant named Eliezer who had lived with him many years. Abraham called him one day and told him to go and find a wife for his son Isaac. But first, he made him promise not to take a woman from the Canaanites, who worshipped idols, but to go to Mesopotamia, his native country, where his relations lived, and from there to bring a wife for Isaac. Eliezer promised what Abraham desired, and took the camels he wanted, for he had full charge of his master’s riches, and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor.

Before entering the city, he made his camels to kneel down by a well of water, at evening time, when women were in the habit of going to draw water. And Eliezer prayed, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast showed kindness unto my master.”

Eliezer’s faith in God was not disappointed, for God ever takes notice of it. He wants us to go to Him for all our needs. Nothing is too small for Him to notice, and nothing too great for Him to do. “Ask and ye shall receive,” said Jesus when He was on the earth. With such a precious promise, we need never fear anything, since God wants to undertake for us. He also said, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”

Before Eliezer was through praying, a beautiful young girl came to the veil to till her pitcher. He ran down to meet her and said: “Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water from thy pitcher.” And she said: “Drink, my lord,” and she put the pitcher down to let him drink, then added: “I will draw water for thy camels also,” and she emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran and brought enough for all the camels. Eliezer wondered whether the Lord had already answered his prayer. He drew out an earring and two bracelets of gold, very heavy, and gave them to her, asking: “Whose daughter art thou? Is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?” She told him she was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, (Nahor was Abraham’s brother). “We have both straw and food enough, and room to lodge in.” On hearing this, Eliezer bowed his head and thanked the Lord for having brought him to the house of his master’s brother. Rebekah ran to her mother’s house and told her people these things.

When Laban, Rebecca’s brother, saw the earring and bracelets in his sister’s hand, he ran to the man at the well, and invited him to come in, and bring the camels. Eliezer followed and they gave food and straw to the camels, and washed Eliezer’s feet and those of the men with him, and placed meat before them. But Eliezer said: I will not eat until I have told my errand ... .I am Abraham’s servant. The Lord has blessed my master greatly, and he is become great: and he has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, men-servants, maid-servants, camels and asses. In his old age, God gave him a son, and to him, he has given all. And my master has sent me to get this son a wife from among his kindred, and to bring her to him. When I arrived at the well, I prayed to God to send the young girl appointed for my master’s son. Before I had done speaking, Rebekah came and gave me a drink and my camels also.

Bethuel and Laban saw it was the Lord’s doings, and said: “Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.”

Eliezer worshipped the Lord again, for His wonderful help and guidance, and brought jewels of silver and gold, and clothing to Rebekah, and her mother and brother; then he ate and drank, and the men with him.

In the morning, when he would have started on his homeward journey, they sought to detain him; but he said: “Send me away unto my master.” They asked Rebekah “Wilt thou go with this man?” She answered, “I will go.” Was it strange she should be willing to go, after hearing of the wonderful riches of Isaac’s house, and seeing the gifts he had sent? What manner of man must he be, who could draw such love and faithfulness from his servant? When we read in God’s word of Christ’s great love for His own; of His desire to have them with Him to share His glory in the Father’s house for ever, our hearts are so drawn to Him that we can but exclaim: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

So Rebekah left her father’s house, and became Isaac’s wife, and he loved her, and was comforted after his mother’s death.

“Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. 10:37.

ML 05/02/1909

The Barn Yard

In the barn-yard, free from care,

Chickens wander here and there;

Here a mother with her brood,

There a rooster pecks for food;

And the sparrows flutter round,

For the meal upon the ground;

Not a thought for future needs,

For they trust the Hand that feeds.

Let us learn a lesson here:

Live each day with joy and cheer,

For the Father over all,

Sees the little sparrow fall;

And the heart that loves each one,

Well can guard till life is done.

More than fowl He loveth thee,

Then why should you anxious be?

“SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.” Matt. 6:33.

ML 05/09/1909

The Orphan's Friend.

THE world is not worth living for, Jane. I am tired of life and would gladly put an end to it, were it not that it will only be worse in the future. I feel so lonely no one cares for me. I have no friends on earth. I once had, but they are all gone, and I have been tempted many a time to throw myself over the rocks and end it all. Indeed, I have gone down more than once to the Gull cliff with that intention, but each time an unseen hand seemed to keep me back, and an old verse my mother taught me long ago, flashed across my mind:—

‘Days, mouths and years will have an end; Eternity has none.

‘Twill always have as long to spend as when it first begun.’

If it were not that I fear the future, I would do it, but I know that I am not a Christian, and that I would not go to heaven.

The words were spoken by a young shop-girl to her companion, as they walked along the busy street, after the day’s work was done. They were both orphans; both friendless in the world, and both working hard all day for very small wages, barely enough to keep them in lodgings. Yet, although so much alike in circumstances, there was a vast difference between the two girls. One had Christ, and knew herself safe in His keeping for time and eternity. She told Him all her sorrows, and He carried her and her burdens, too. The other girl had known better times. She had been well brought up, but on the death of her parents, was cast into the world, to earn her own living. She thought hers was a hard lot, and in the words quoted above, she wished her life was ended. Putting her arm into her companion’s, Jane replied, “I am sorry for you, Mary, and would help you if I could. You know that my circumstances are much the same as your own, and I once had the same hard thoughts of life as yourself. But, ever since the day of my conversion to God, all has been changed. I look upon my lot now as the very best God could choose for me. I am sure He so loves me, that He would never do less for me, than the very best, and I praise Him for the privilege of living here on earth, to learn to trust Him for earthly things, as well as for salvation, and to prove His love and goodness in providing for me. If you had Jesus, Mary, you would be happy, I know, but without Him, you must be miserable here and without hope, as to the hereafter.”

The two young women walked on for several minutes in silence, neither caring to say more. But Mary’s heart was too full to let that continue. So pulling her companion into an open entry, she burst into tears, and grasping Jane by the hands, said, “O Jane, I wish I had the peace that you have. I have watched you in the warehouse for many a day, and wondered what made us to differ. I know you are a good girl, and I have been sinful and foolish, but do you think Jesus would help me, and make me as you are?”

The distress of her companion had caused Jane’s tears to flow also, but wiping her face, she said, in earnest, tender tones, “Mary, I am not good. I am a sinner as you are, and deserve to be sent to hell. But God loves sinners, and Jesus came to save them. I came to Jesus as I was, and He saved me. I know He will save you, too, if you come to Him; for He says, ‘Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out,’ John 6:37, and, ‘Whosover believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,’ John 3:16. Then for the future, He says, ‘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. 40:11.

O, Mary! I do not know what I would have done without Christ all these years, but I can say, to the praise of His grace, since the day that I came to Him, trusted Him, and became His own, He has cared for me, with more than a mother’s love, and a father’s care.

Sometimes when I lie down wearied at night, I cannot help singing, in the gladness of my heart—

‘I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary and worn and sad,

I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made me glad.’”

The girls now resumed their walk, and had gone far beyond the street corner, where they should have parted. They had reached the outskirts of the city; the full moon shone out in all its brightness.

There was no one near, none but God, and He was watching from His holy heavens the struggles of that burdened heart sighing for deliverance, and listening to His child witnessing for Christ, and testifying to the triumph of His grace. For you must know, loved reader, that such things are of great account in heaven. More than the rise and fall of empires, is the decision of a soul for Christ or the world, for sin or salvation, for heaven or hell, to God.

“Let us kneel together,” said the awakened girl, to her Christian companion, “I cannot pray, but you might pray for me, Jane.”

“I will Mary, with all my heart, but, mind, you must not depend on my prayer, but trust Jesus for yourself,” said the Christian girl. And she did pray, pouring out her soul in earnest supplication for her companion, and the burden of her prayer was, that Mary might “there and then be born again.” As she finished, Mary said in broken accents, “Lord Jesus, I do trust Thee. I am a sinner, but it was for sinners Thou didst die, and now I believe in Thee as my own personal Saviour. Take me now, just as I am.” That moment was the moment of her deliverance, her heavenly birth, her passage from death to life. Glory be to God. No sinner ever thus trusted Christ, without these being wrought for them, by God the Spirit. They are as sure as the Word of the eternal God can make them. Do you doubt it? Taste and see. Ten thousand witnesses there are to prove it.

The two girls arose. Mary kissed her companion, and hugged her to her bosom. She was now her sister in Christ, and the winner of her soul as well. A new love had sprung up within her heart, and that newly formed link, was the beginning of a companionship in Christ for many days. The orphan girls were much in each other’s company. They shared the same humble room, and spent many a happy night in the service of the Lord, seeking out the lost ones, and pointing them to that Saviour, known and loved by them, as “The Orphan’s Friend.”

Reader, are you the Lord’s? Have you been converted? Can you say with Mary, “Lord Jesus, I do trust Thee?”

ML 05/09/1909

What She Saw.

TELL me,” I said to a little girl, “what is it that makes you so happy? You say you have been happy for some time?” “Yes, I am quite happy,” she replied, and evidently with much feeling. “But do you think you could tell me distinctly what it is that gives you such joy?” After a moment’s pause the following reply was given, and such a reply for fulness and simplicity. “I see the love of Jesus to me a sinner.” “Bless the Lord, that is something to see; may you never lose sight of it. But in what way do you see His love to yourself now?” “I now see that He died for me on the cross and put all my sins away there.” Amen my heart replied; surely you are taught of God. “And now, once more, tell me, How do you feel towards Jesus Himself, after seeing and believing all this?” Her reply was natural and beautiful, “I love Him, and I find it easy to give my heart to Him.” I had nothing more to ask of the young Christian, and turned away, with a praising heart, and these three answers so engraven on my memory as never to be forgotten. “I see the love of Jesus to me, a sinner. I now see that He died for me on the cross, and put all my sins away there. I love Him, and find it easy to give Him my heart.” Can you say truly what she said? I have heard many confessions from many lips, but I never heard one more simple, more concise, more complete, or more satisfactory.

ML 05/09/1909

Our Blessing.

“Come,” said Bessie, eagerly,

“Come, and take a walk with me,

All the fields are fresh and green,

Many pretty flowers are seen;

See the sun shines warm and bright,

All the world’s a pretty sight.”

“We will walk on soft green grass,

Birds will sing as on we pass,

And the brook will murmur low,

As along its banks we go;

How it sparkles in the light!

All the world’s a pretty sight.”

So the children went so free,

Singing in their childish glee,

Stopping here and there to play

On this lovely summer day,

Showing, in their glad delight,

All the world’s a pretty sight.

Let us, like these children gay,

Praise our Father every day,

For these words are very true,

All God’s blessings are for you,

And He adds a greater one

In the gift of Christ, His Son.

“THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” 2 Cor. 9:15.

ML 05/16/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 17. Genesis 25 and 27. Jacob and Esau.

GOD gave two sons to Isaac and Rebekah. Their names were Esau and Jacob. Esau, the eldest, was red and covered with hair, and as he grew up, became a cunning hunter; while Jacob was quiet and liked to remain in his tent. Isaac loved Esau best, because this son brought him venison, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

One day, when Esau had been hunting, he came home tired and hungry. He found Jacob in his tent eating pottage, and begged him for some. But his brother said: “Sell me this day thy birthright.” Esau answered “Behold, I am at the point to die; what profit shall my birthright do to me?” And he sold his birthright to Jacob, who gave him bread and pottage of lentiles, and he ate and drank and went away. He thought only of the enjoyment of the moment caring nothing for the future. Wasn’t he foolish to give up so much that was to have been his for a mess of pottage? By the right of the first-born, Esau would have received the title to the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham and his children forever.

Many people, like Esau, think only of the present, neglecting or despising God’s word and promises. He tells those who have become His children through faith in Jesus’ blood, that they have become His heirs, joint-heirs with Christ, meaning that the glory which the Lord Jesus will receive from God, we shall share with Him, if we accept Him as our Saviour. But if we prefer everything else to the Lord Jesus, and put off thinking about Him, we are despising His offer, and His warning is: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Esau despised his birthright and preferred “a morsel of meat” to God’s promises, but Jacob looked forward, by faith, to the time when these promises should be fulfilled as he knew they must be, since God had said so.

When Isaac had become very old and blind and he knew he must soon die, he called Esau, and said to him: “Take thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field and take me some venison; and make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” When Rebekah heard Isaac speak to Esau, she called Jacob and said: “Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father such as he loveth and thou shalt bring it to thy father that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.” But Jacob said: “Esau my brother is a hairy man and I am a smooth man; my father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing.” But Rebekah answered, “Only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.” So he went and brought them to his mother, who cooked them and made savory meat such as Isaac loved.

It is right for children to obey their parents, when the parents tell them to do right, but not when they tell them to do wrong. Jacob knew it was wicked to try to deceive his blind father, and although he had now the right of the firstborn to the blessing, and although Rebekah had been told by God, at Jacob’s birth, that he should rule over his brother, both forgot God’s power to give Jacob the blessing, without their help and scheming to bring it about. If he had trusted God, he would have spared himself many of the sorrows which he had to bear afterwards. “Be not deceived,” says the Apostle Paul to the Galatians, “God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Rebekah took Esau’s clothes and put them on Jacob, and the skins of the kids on his hands and neck, and sent him to take the meat and bread to his father. Jacob went in and said: “Arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may blessing.” Isaac answered: “How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?” And Jacob said: “Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.” Isaac, then told his son to come near him and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are lie hands of Esau.” And Isaac said, “Art thou my very son Esau?” and Jacob said, “I am.” Jacob now brought the meat and wine, and when Isaac was refreshed, he called Esau to come and kiss him. Jacob came near and his father kissed him and smelled his garments, and blessed him, saying that God would make him rich, and people would serve him, nations would bow down to him and he would be lord over his brethren. Blessed would be everyone who blessed him, and cursed, those who cursed him. All this was fulfilled when the Israelites, Jacob’s children, afterward possessed the fruitful land of Canaan and became a powerful people.

Isaac finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob went away. Esau was now come home, and he brought the venison to Isaac; for he did not know what his brother had done. When he asked for his father’s blessing, Isaac asked him wondering: “Who art thou?” Esau answered, “I am thy son, thy first-born Esau.” Then Isaac trembled when he realized he had given away the blessing he intended for his first-born. Esau wept bitterly, and begged for a blessing too; but Isaac told him, that although his blessings would be many, Jacob would be greater than he. This made Esau very angry and he thought his father would soon die, and then he would kill his brother. When Rebekah saw that Esau hated Jacob, and wished to kill him, she told her younger son to flee to her brother Lahan in Haran, and to remain there until Esau’s anger should have spent itself. But to Isaac she said she did not wish to have Jacob take a wife from the daughters of the land where they lived, so Isaac blessed Jacob and sent him to Padan-Aram, there to get a wife for himself.

“He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within My house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in My sight.” Psalm 101:7.

ML 05/16/1909

A Sailor's Story.

THE voice that first told roe of my need of a Saviour, that first bade me look to Jesus, is silent now. It was a young cabin-boy on board the ship I first sailed in from England. We had a rough voyage, and out in the Atlantic met with such a storm, as made my coward heart quail.

I remembered how, in days gone by, as a little child, my mother had taught me of God, and told me I need not fear in the dark, because He would be near and take care of me; but now this thought did not quiet my heart. I felt that God was near, and that it was His voice speaking in the storm; but I could not look up to Him as a friend, and the thought of His being near only made me tremble with fear.

I had lived so long in sin and without God in the world, that surely He would not listen to me now, or take care of me in the storm. All my past life seemed in a moment to stand out before me, and the thought of what a dark picture it was, filled me well-nigh with despair. As I heard the wind and waves roaring, and looked out into the thick darkness, I felt there was not a glimmer of hope for me. Just then, this young cabin-boy who had often spoken to me of the Saviour, but whom I and another man on hoard, had never lost an opportunity of jeering at, came past me. As he passed me in the dark, I thought I caught sound of the words, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” At any other time I should probably have laughed at him; but I was in no mood for jesting now and something forced me to call out, as he went by, “Aren’t you afraid, Charlie?” for was trembling from head to foot. The boy stopped and said “No, master, I’m not afraid. When the storm in the heart’s once been stilled, the outside storms can’t alarm one; if one’s heart is only in the harbor, there’s no room for fear.”

“Amid the howling, wintry sea,

We are in port, if we have Thee.”

Ah! I would have given the world at that moment to have felt as that young lad did; though many a time when he had spoken to me before of the sure haven for storm-tossed souls, I had told him there would be time enough to seek the harbor when the storm came. How well I remember the sad look which came over his face when I spoke so, and how gravely he would say, “Ah! Master Smith, you should put into that port in bright weather, if you’d know how to find it in the storm.”

He had hardly passed by when a tremendous wave broke over the ship, and it was hard work for the men to stand at the pumps. In the roar of the wind and sea, I heard the young boy’s voice “Call upon God, Master Smith, call upon God! He says, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee.’” And then and there in the darkest night I have ever spent in my life; and yet not quite the darkest, for before it ended a gleam of light had shot across my heart. I did call upon God, as I clung for my life to the side of the ship, and prayed to Him to have mercy on my poor benighted soul. But the lad’s voice I have never heard again; the wave that washed over the ship had borne away with it the soul that was most ready of all on board to meet death. Those words, “Call upon God, Master Smith, call upon God!” must have been well-nigh his last on earth. The storm that was my call to the Saviour was his to go home, and he was ready. I never knew a lad so fearless in danger, so ready to witness for the Lord, so little afraid of man. There wasn’t a man on board that didn’t respect him, even if he did not think with him. I found his jacket the next morning. He had taken it off to help at the pumps, and there in the pocket was the little Bible I had so often seen him reading. I couldn’t help a tear or two when I opened it, and saw how well-worn and used it was. I have kept that Bible ever since; and blessed be God, through reading that Book, I have found pardon and peace, and I know that I shall one day reach the home that dear lad has gone to, through the love of the Saviour who came into the world to seek and to save sinners such as I, and I can sing a hymn which I have often heard little Charlie sing:

One who has known in storms to sail

I have on board;

Above the raging of the gale

I hear my Lord.

One has come by and said unto my soul all tossed with sin and misery “Peace be still and now there is a great calm.”

“I came to Jesus as I was

Weary and worn and sad:

I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made me glad.”

I looked to Jesus, and I found

In Him my Star, my Sun;

And in that light of life I’ll walk

Till traveling days are done.

ML 05/16/1909

Springtime.

Out beneath the summer sky

Where the sun shines warm and high,

Sister and the baby, too,

Pick the violets, fresh and blue.

Violets growing all around,

Rich blue patches on the ground,

Buttercups and roses bright,

Every one a pretty sight.

Sister’s basket holds her part,

Brother fills his little cart,

Well and happy, full of joy,

Merry little girl and boy.

Little one, I ask of you,

Are you well and happy, too?

In your early childhood days,

Give our Father all the praise

In His word we often read

That He’ll meet our every need,

Let your praise forever flow

To the One who loves us so.

ML 05/23/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 18, Genesis 28. Jacob’s Dream.

FLEEING from the face of Esau, Jacob left Beersheba, beginning already to reap the fruit of his conduct toward his brother.

When night came, he took some stones for a pillow, and laid down to sleep on the hard, cold ground.

As he slept, he dreamed; and in his dream he saw a ladder set on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and angels were going up and down upon it. Above it stood the Lord, who spoke to Jacob, saying: “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy children.” And then the Lord told Jacob that a Saviour should come into the world who would be a blessing to all the earth, and added: “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

In those days God had not yet given men His written word, the Bible, as we have it today, and He spoke to His servants in dreams and visions. So Jacob knew that the Lord had sent him the dream and had truly spoken to him. Feeling deeply how he had sinned, and knowing that he, in no way deserved this grace shown him, he was afraid, and when he awoke out of his sleep, he rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and he called the name of the place Bethel, meaning, “The house of God,” for he said: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

He could not realize God’s deep love and mercy to him, a poor sinful man, who deserved nothing but punishment. And so it ever is; the moment we begin to realize what we are before God, we are afraid to meet Him. Our conscience tells us we are sinners and deserve judgment and we, like Jacob, must exclaim: How dreadful, dreadful to stand before Him, a Holy God, and answer for our sins! But, oh! God is love, and in His grace, He comes to meet us as He did Jacob that night, and has opened a way whereby we may stand before Him in the person of our blessed Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our stead on the cross! Then having accepted Him, He tells us “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Jacob could not understand this grace, and instead of falling on his face and thanking God for these wonderful promises, and accepting them in faith, he vowed a vow, saying: “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God; and this stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that Thou shalt give me, I will surely give the ‘tenth unto Thee.”

God does not ever make any promises, that He cannot or does not fulfill, and when, like Jacob, we doubt and fear Him, we dishonor Him. He wants our full trust; that alone can please Him, and instead of saying as Jacob: “if God does this and that for me, I will serve Him and do this and that for Him in return,” let us bow our hearts in thankfulness and praise, and say: “I thank Thee for all Thy love, and the portion Thou hast given to me, who deserves nothing but death and judgment.”

“WHAT SHALL I RENDE.C. UNTO THE LORD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS TOWARD ME? I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SALVATION, AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.” Psalm 116:12, 13.

ML 05/23/1909

The Just for the Unjust.

IT was Sunday afternoon. The fishing boats were lying at anchor in the little harbor, and the fishermen were scattered on the wharf or along the beach in the sand enjoying the Sunday rest. But not all, for, at the point where the only street of the fisher village extended to the beach, a number of men and women had gathered around a young man, almost a youth, who was standing on the top of a herring barrel, and was reading aloud the words of a hymn which the little company began to sing.

“It sounds real nice, doesn’t it, Dieter?” so spoke one of two men who sat on the edge of the bridge.

Dieter Lange, a strongly built old man, with snow-white beard, was a person of influence among the villagers, and he had refused to listen to the preaching; because of this Henry Lehman had spoken somewhat shyly.

The former nodded carelessly, and Henry continued, “It is really strange—the son of Whiskey John, wants to preach to us. They say he speaks very nicely. My wife was there last Sunday, and she wanted me to go with her this time.”

“I have nothing against the boy,” said Dieter, thoughtfully. “As far as I am concerned, he can preach as often as he wishes, but I don’t see that I need his preaching. How can this young fellow tell me anything that I have not known long before him. I have done well without these religious notions until now, and do you think I would let a young boy like him instruct me?”

Henry rose slowly and in embarrassment murmured, “Well, I have promised my wife, so I had better go.”

After a little while, Dieter was the only one left on the bridge, for the singing had attracted the rest towards the group. The quietness of the day was interrupted only by the soft splashing of the waves, and the voice of the young speaker, so that many words were heard plainly by Dieter. “He gave His life for you!” “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!” “Ile died, the Just for the unjust!” Thus he pointed all to Christ who gave His life a ransom. His words were simple, but were spoken in living power. One could feel that the young man had experienced what he was speaking about—the saving love of Christ. They all listened quietly and with good attention. When the circle broke up, Henry came back to sit again with his friend.

“It is the sheerest nonsense,” growled the old man, as they arose, and loitered along the beach. “It goes altogether against reason, that One should die for those who hate Him, and seek to injure Him at every chance.”

“Well, it sounds nice; it’s too bad if it was not true,” answered his friend somewhat saddened.

Monday morning the boats were still at anchor, for a storm had risen during the night, and the waves were tossing furiously. At noon Henry went to the bridge to look at the weather, but old Dieter was there already, looking through the telescope. He called Henry to him, saying “Whose boat do you think that is out there?”

Henry looked through his glass. “It is making straight for the rocks,” he cried.

“That fellow seems to be beside himself. It is Whiskey John’s boat. I saw him drunk this morning.”

The two men were watching the boat with great interest. “Now, it is all right; it is out of the current. But, no, he is too much intoxicated; he does not know what he is doing. No boat could get to him in such a storm.”

“There goes a boat out! Who can be so thoughtless as to risk his life in such an undertaking. It is the boy!”

Yes, it was the young “preacher” of yesterday that ventured out to save his step-father—Whiskey John—if it were possible. A crowd of men and women gathered together, who, with accustomed eyes were watching the proceedings on the sea, and asking each other if there was a chance to save them. The little boat disappeared every little while among the high waves, and several times it seemed as though it had gone down to rise no more; but again it could be seen carried on the crest of a mighty wave, and now—now, it has reached the large boat. But, alas, too late! They will both be thrown against the rocks and perish.

“Pray for the boy! pray,” cried one of the women, and one and another went on their knees. Another moment of great suspense. Dieter Lange cried, “They are in the water! Now the brave boy stands on the rock and he is pulling his father out of the water. A rope! a rope! Run with the rope. They cannot hold out long in such a sea!”

“They have gone down,” cried a woman.

“No, no! they are there yet! Now the rope! Thank God, they have taken hold of it!”

“Now, pull, as if it meant your own life,” Dieter cries out, taking hold with his own strong hands.

During the sobs and prayers of the women, they pull the rope with great difficulty, on which is tied an old sin-stained man, who has been given a little longer time for repentance. But his son, they shall not see until the Lord shall come, and the trump of God shall call the dead in Christ, and the sea shall give up the dead.

There is still preaching in the village, on the beach on Sunday afternoons. It is not now a youth, but an old man, whose gray head looks above the little circle—it is Dieter Lange.

“It is all true what the lad has told you,” he said the first Lord’s day. “You know how I mocked, and said it was nonsense, that one could give His life for His enemies. But the boy has done it himself for the one who treated him so cruelly. And, now, I know Who gave him the strength to do it; I too know Him as my Redeemer and my Saviour. Comrades, we are without excuse, we must all lay ourselves at the feet of Him who gave His life to save from death, eternal death, such sinners as we are.”

ML 05/23/1909

Only Eyes for Him.

OF Cyrus, the great King of the Persians, it is told that on one of his tours of conquests he captured a prince with his wife and children. When they were brought before him. he asked the prince “What will you give me if I set you free?”

“Half of my Kingdom,” was the answer.

“And if I set your children free?” “The whole of my Kingdom,” responded the ruler.

“And for your wife?”

“Myself!”

Cyrus was so pleased with the answer that he released the whole family without ransom.

Going home the prince said to his wife: “Isn’t Cyrus a noble and a fine looking man?”

“I have seen nobody but him who offered to give himself for rue as a ransom,” responded his wife.

Let us too, dear Christian reader, have only eyes for Jesus, who was not only willing to give himself as a ransom, but who HAS done so—redeemed our souls and brought us to God.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus: who gave Himself a ransom for all.” 1 Tim. 2:5, 6.

ML 05/23/1909

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear.

THE young woman in the picture does not seem at all afraid of the soldier. I wonder why?

Many years ago a Christian officer in the British army was endeavoring to have his wife put her trust in the Lord. She could not see how she would not be brought into judgment for her sins. Taking his sword from his side he pointed it at her breast. She did not shrink and was not at all afraid. “Why are you not afraid? How do you know I am not going to kill you?” asked her husband. “Because I know the one who holds the sword, and he loves me too well to harm me.” she answered smiling.

He told her then of the wondrous love and mercy the Lord showed in bearing God’s judgment of sin that we might go free. His death on Calvary’s tree fully satisfied God on the question of sin. It was our sins heavy load that caused our blessed Saviour to cry out “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

So the sword of Divine justice will never descend on one who puts his trust in Jesus, and can say, “He bore my sins in His own body on the tree.” Just so, the children of Israel sheltered under the blood of the slain lamb were saved from the judgment which came to Egypt.

The Father loves His children and will not bring us into judgment, for we stand free in the Son. He sees us perfect through His own well-beloved Son. The Lord has said “Thou hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:23.

“BEING JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, WE SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM.” ROM. 5:9.

ML 05/30/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 19. Genesis 29-31. Jacob and Laban.

JACOB went on his way from Bethel to Padan-Aram where his uncle Laban lived. He soon came to a field in which there was a well, around which flocks of sheep were waiting to be watered. The shepherds rolled away the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the sheep and put the stone back again. Then Jacob asked the men, “Do you know Laban?” They said “Yes, we know him. He is well, and his daughter Rachel is coming with the sheep.” Jacob was glad to see her, and told her his name and watered her sheep for her. Then Rachel went and told her father, who ran to meet him and invited him to stay with him.

Jacob loved Rachel and wanted his uncle to give her to him for a wife. Laban promised her to him if he would work for him for seven years. At the end of that time, instead of giving him Rachel, he brought Leah, his eldest daughter to Jacob, telling him, when he remonstrated, that in his country the younger daughter could not be married before the elder. But Laban said if he would work for him for seven more years, he would give him Rachel also.

Jacob kept on working for Laban after this, and God blessed him and gave him children, and much cattle and sheep and goats and camels, so much so that his uncle became quite jealous, and did not feel as kindly toward him as before. But God did not allow Laban to hurt Jacob for He remembered His promise at Bethel, “I am with thee,” even though Jacob often forgot it, and planned and schemed to get rich. God told Jacob to leave Laban and to go back to the land of his fathers and He would be with him. Jacob went and called his wives and told them how their father had deceived him, ten times changing his wages, and of his jealousy. Leah and Rachel were willing to go with him. So Jacob and his wives and their children, with all the cattle and possessions left Laban secretly. Three days after, Laban heard that he was gone, and ran after Jacob and overtook him in Mount Gilead. But in the night God came to Laban and told him not to hurt Jacob. So they made a covenant, and taking a stone for a pillar, promised each other they would not pass the place to harm one another. In the morning Laban rose up and after kissing his daughters and their children and blessing them, he returned to his place.

Poor Jacob! When he was so deceived by his father-in-law, he must have often remembered his own like sin toward his father and brother. We remember that in Jacob’s dream, God said to him: “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed (children) and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south, and in thee and in thy seed (children) shall all the families of the earth be blest.” Gen. 28:13-14. Jacob, very soon forgot this great promise, for instead of trusting in God, he plans everything for himself. Is not that just like our own hearts? After God has shown His great love for us in giving up His own Son to die for us, and telling us in His Word, “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. s:32), He wants our full trust and confidence, and truly He is worthy, “For He is faithful that promised.” Heb. 10:23.

“Blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jer. 17:7. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Prov. 3:5.

ML 06/30/1909

Saved First.

THE old minister, Henhofer, could not emphasize enough that one had to believe first, before one could live a holy life. “I used to think that you would have to become nice and good before coming to the Saviour. But that is not so. Eat first, and then work. In the year 1817, there was almost a famine over a good part of Europe; the misery was great. The authorities in one place decided to make a new road, just to give some of the poor people work. ‘They were furnished with the needed tools—shovels, spades, etc., to work with, and the promise of a good meal at the end. But after two hours they all came and laid down their tools, saying: “We are too weak to work; give us something to eat first!” Well, these men were well fed, and after that they worked faithfully. So it is; first grace, peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ—to have the blessed assurance first, that you have eternal life, that you are saved, and then work, that is, live true and holy with and for Christ.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9. But when we are saved we learn that “Are are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Verse 10. Salvation first; works afterwards.

ML 05/30/1909

The Dying Singer.

A NURSE relates the following occurrence in her private practice.

They called for me one day to take the case of a sick young lady. She was a. singer and but twenty-one years of age. Through over-exertion in singing, she had brought upon herself a dangerous throat trouble, and was now lying on a sick bed, from which, as I could judge, she would never rise. On my arrival, the father of the sick lady received me with the words: “Nurse, two things I would like to ask of you; first, do not talk to my daughter about religion, and, second, do not speak to her about dying.”

I gave no answer to his requests and, therefore, he repeated them once more. Again I did not answer. The young lady had no idea of the serious nature of her disease. She was a refined, tender-hearted and lovely young lady, and received me with much kindness.

The next morning I sat in her room reading the word of God as my daily portion. She looked attentively at me. The next day I did the same, and the third day, she said, “Dear Nurse, tell me, what are you reading?”

“I am reading the word of God, the food for my soul,” I said.

Then she said, “Please read aloud.” I did so, and from that time she asked me to read it to her every day.

We had now come to the story of the sufferings of Christ, our Lord, on the cross, and she listened with great attention. Her father came to see her often and was very kind to his daughter and was very much concerned about her temporal needs, and he was continually saying, “Dear child, you will soon be restored, and then we will go to a watering place,” and this he repeated daily.

One day, when her father had left her, she turned to me, and said, “Dear Nurse, my dear papa speaks constantly of my getting better; what do you say? Do you think I will recover?”

This was the dreaded question, but what could be done? “Dear young lady,” I said, “your condition is serious, but with God nothing is impossible. He can, if it be His will, restore you to health and strength.”

She was not quite satisfied with my answer, as I noticed, and the next day she commenced again, “Dear Nurse, do you think I am going to die?”

I was frightened at this bold question, and answered, “My dear young lady, you are very sick, and if God should not work a miracle, it might be so, but as He wills, He is Almighty.”

To this she said, “I see you are afraid to tell me the truth of the matter, but it seems to me I shall never get well again. Do you not think so? Dear Nurse, what would you do in my position? Oh, please tell me!”

“I would seek to have my sins forgiven, and have peace with God,” I answered.’

“How am I going to do this?” she quickly replied. “Oh, please help me.”

I pointed her to the word of God, and to our blessed Lord and Saviour who died for our sins, and to God who gives eternal life to all who put their trust in Him, and we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I prayed with her and continued to read to her out of the word of God. After a few days of patient suffering, she found salvation and peace in Christ, through the finished work on the cross; she was cleansed by His precious blood, and went home—a child of God— with a blessed and happy smile.

The father of the dear saved young lady, was comfortless in his bereavement and mourned much for her. She had told him before her departure that she was not afraid to die, because she was going to her Saviour, and begged him to follow her. He came to me after her death and said, “Nurse, what have you done to my daughter, that she, although so young, could die so peacefully? Please, tell me all. I would like to have such peace, too, so that I may die as she did.”

I told him to read the word of God, and in it he would surely find the way to secure such peace, which could be found only in Jesus. He promised he would read it, and he did so. Thus the death of his child was the cause of the old father asking the question: “What must I do to be saved?” and to him came the answer—as it will to every sincerely seeking soul— “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

ML 05/30/1909

A Notice to Our Young Friends.

We are sorry that the sending out of the rewards, to those who have been answering the Bible Questions for term ending last month, has been unavoidably delayed.

We hope, D. V., to send them out, during the first part of June. We suppose you have been looking for them in each mail, but the young, as well as the older ones, have need of patience, and we trust when you do receive them, they may prove of blessing to you, and draw your hearts to the Lord Jesus, who loves you and gave Himself for you.

ML 05/30/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for April.

1.“But the other of love,” etc. Phil. 1:17

2.“And that every tongue,” etc. 2:11

3.“But my God shall,” etc. 1:19

4.“Do all things without,” etc. 2:14

5.“That at the name of Jesus,” etc. 2:10

6. “For one conversation.” etc. 3:20

7.“What then?” 1:18.

Bible Questions for June.

Answers are to be found in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “Clouds.” “Air.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “Lord Jesus.” “God.” “Men.”

3.Write the verse containing the words, “Give thanks.” “Will of God.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “From heaven.” “From the wrath.”

5.Write the verse containing the words, “Hope.” “Joy.” “Crown.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Faith.” “Love.” “Hope.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “Sleep.” “Watch.”

ML 06/06/1909

"Surely I Come Quickly."

Rev. 22:20.

HOW happy the children are at their father’s return. They had been waiting and watching to see who would meet him first. Some time had passed, the father did not come, so they began to play.

At the moment of arrival they were surprised by their father’s presence on the steps. These children are French. We will call the boys Armand and Louis and the girl Pauline. Armand is running to tell his brother Louis, while Pauline cannot let her father go, so delighted is she to be with him again.

What a pleasant time a home-coming is!

The Lord is coming, children, very soon. Will He find us waiting and watching? We are waiting for Him but do not forget to watch or He will surprise you.

He is coming soon to take us to His Father’s home above.

Are on all ready to meet Him? If not, why not? There is no love like His and no true happiness apart from Him. Then children,

Come to Jesus, come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus, just now,

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you just now.

“BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS, WHOM THE LORD, WHEN HE COMETH, SHALL FIND WATCHING.” LUKE 12:37.

ML 06/06/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 1. The Log Cabin and Its Inhabitants.

IN the early part of the 18th Century, there lived, at the border of a dense and extensive forest in Germany, a wood-chopper by the name of Robert Hartmann, with his six sons. William, the youngest of these, was, at the beginning of our story, about five years old. His mother had died shortly after his birth, and so he grew up like a wild tree of the forest. His father and five brothers, who were much older than himself, were engaged in chopping wood in the forest, which they brought in small donkey carts to the nearest town, and sold to the people.

William’s father was an industrious man, who had always earned a good living. For the privilege of gathering the dry wood and chopping down certain trees which the owner would select, he paid a small sum of money annually. Wood, in those days, was not as scarce as now in Germany, and so the owner was glad to have a man to cut down the dry limbs and dead trees, and still receive a little money for it.

When the sons grew up and were able to help their father, the circumstances of the family improved even more. All five of the sons were strong and healthy and soon knew how to handle the ax as well as their father. The income naturally increased from year to year, and one could notice the signs of prosperity in the old log cabin.

But were those who lived there really happy? Ah, no; one thing was lacking to make this family really happy. The old wood-chopper was altogether unconcerned about his soul’s salvation, and he never spoke to his children about God, nor His word; or ever thought of taking them where they could hear the word of God. Schools were very poor then, and no one was compelled to send his children to school, and whenever anyone could read and write, he was considered somewhat of a learned man by the country people; so the sons of our woodchopper grew up in utter ignorance; their only desire was to earn money and have an easy life.

This condition of things was so much sadder, since the father had, in his young years, been shown the way of salvation by his own dear God-fearing mother, and had heard many earnest words from her lips, but he had not, for many years, thought about the Lord Jesus, the salvation of his soul, or of his dear. mother’s teachings, till God Himself brought him to think about these things through a serious accident. It happened one day while he was chopping down a tree that it fell unexpectedly to the ground, just in the direction where the old man was standing. Although he quickly stepped aside, one of the strong branches struck him to the ground, hurting him so badly that his sons had to carry him home. William, who was helping his brothers to gather the dry sticks and bind them into bundles, was looking on when the accident happened, and, crying aloud, he followed the sad procession home. The old man soon became conscious again, but complained of having dreadful pain. The older sons bound him up as well as they knew how, and left him, going back to the woods, where they stayed for a whole week.

William was alone with his father, who suffered a great deal, and the thought of death came with great power ever his soul. The sins of his whole life seemed to awaken and condemn him. One thing, especially, troubled him much—the thoughts about his poor mother, whom he had secretly left many years before, and about whom he had never bothered himself since. What might have become of the poor and lonely widow? Was she still alive, or had she died of a broken heart, sorrowing over her prodigal son?

These were sad days for the old woodchopper. The troubles of his soul were harder to bear than the pain of his body. With fear, yes, horror, he thought of the dark, never-ending eternity he was going to enter. What his mother had so long before told him, came back to his memory in living power. He knew he was a wicked and lost sinner, who had righteously deserved eternal damnation. Deep sobs constantly come from his burdened heart, and the tears ran down his sunken cheeks in streams. No one was able to speak a word of comfort to him. His elder sons thought only of themselves, and left the sick man to his fate; they even laughed about his soul-troubles and mocked him when he wept. Only William, who was now nine years of age, clung to his unfortunate father, with a tender love. For hours he would sit at his bedside, and did all that he was able to do according to his little strength, but he was not able to comfort him in his great distress, as he knew nothing of the Lord Jesus, the only One able to bring comfort at such an hour.

Many weeks passed thus in fear and sorrow. Many times William heard his father sob: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Once in a while William would slip away into the near forest, and fall on his knees and entreat the Lord for grace and mercy for his dear father. He began to tell William what he had once heard from his dear mother about the wonderful love of God and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son. He would tell as well as he could remember—for he had no Bible—the story of the birth of Jesus, His life and His works here on earth, and of His death on the cross. Later, he told him of the creation of the world, of Adam and Eve, the fall of man; of Cain and Abel, of the flood, and the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, and of Moses and Joshua. William listened with the closest attention, and the words of his suffering father made a deep impression on the tender heart of the boy.

By and by a change came over the sick man; the expression of his face became quiet and peaceful; at times a happy smile crept over his haggard face, while he would tell of Jesus and His love; and his eyes would turn in gratitude heavenward. William was very happy to see this change in his father, although he did not understand the cause.

One day, when the sun was shining brightly, the sick Man ventured once more to leave his bed, and father and son sat at the door of the cabin, while at their feet was lying the faithful dog, Caesar. The older sons had gone into the forest to shoot game. Before the father’s accident, they had done it secretly, but since he was obliged to stay in the house, they went poaching whenever they chose; of course, keeping a good look-out for the game-keeper. The old man noticed it with sorrow, but his admonitions and warnings were not heeded.

As the two were comfortably seated together the father began, “O, my child, my darling! how wrongly I have acted towards you, and your brothers when they were young. I have never spoken to them about the Lord Jesus. I never drew their attention to their responsibility towards a holy God, and now I am reaping the fruits of my unfaithfulness. My sons do wickedly, without fear; and my word has no power. They mock me and turn their backs on me, and walk in the paths of sin, but I have deserved all this.”

A sob arose from the heart of the old man, and the tears were running down his pale cheeks. William noticed it, and asked with deep emotion, “Why have you deserved this, father?”

“Alas, my dear child,” said the sick man, while fondly putting his thin hand on his son’s head; “for several reasons. I was a naughty and disobedient boy, and for this alone, I deserve to have disobedient children. My mother was a widow, who loved the Lord Jesus and feared God. Her little house was on the other side of this forest, several days’ journey from here. I was her only child; she brought me up with great love and tenderness, and early instructed me in the word of God, but I would not mind her. When I grew older, I spent most of my time loitering through the field or forest; at last, I drifted into bad company, and committed all kinds of roguish tricks, and to escape the reproof of my mother, I ran away. Since that time I have not seen her, nor heard of her. I only had the strength to go to her, and ask her forgiveness; but it is too late, forever too late!”

“Is she still alive?” asked William, greatly interested.

“I do not know, my boy,” responded the wood chopper; and again came a heavy sigh over his quivering lips. “I hardly think so; she would be very old now. But even if she still lives, I shall never see her in this world again. My days are numbered. Only, I desire one thing; if she is still on the earth, that she might know how deeply I have repented of my sins, and that I have found refuge in Jesus, who is now my hope, and who has washed me from all my sins in His own precious blood.”

ML 06/06/1909

The Old, Old Story.

THE dear old lady is telling a story. Her face is so happy I am sure she is telling of the Saviour she loves. It is the old, old story of Jesus and His love. The little girl is so attentive, her heart, too, must be won by the love of the One who gave His life a ransom for many.

“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” JOHN 15:13. “BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US.” ROM. 5:8.

The picture reminds us of that beautiful old hymn:

Tell me the old, old story,

Of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory,

Of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story simply

As to a little child,

For I am weak and weary,

And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the same old story,

When you have cause to fear

That this world’s empty glory

Is costing me too dear,

Yes, and when that world’s glory

is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story:

“Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

ML 06/13/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 20 Genesis 32.-33. Jacob’s Return.

WHEN Laban had returned home, Jacob went on toward Canaan. And God sent angels to meet him, that he might be reminded of that great promise, that wherever he went, God would be with him and keep him. But instead of Jacob being comforted, the poor man thought of his brother Esau, and the hatred he had provoked, and was greatly afraid. His conscience accused him of wrong doing, and instead of confessing his fault to God, and trusting Him for the result, he tried to appease Esau by sending messages, and telling him what a rich man he had become, and humbly begging his brother to be kind and friendly to him. But the messengers came back and told him his brother was coming to meet him with four hundred men. Then Jacob was very much afraid and divided his people into two bands, thinking that if one fell before Esau’s anger, the other would be preserved. Then he prayed to God to keep him and deliver him from his brother.

What could poor Jacob have done with the wives, and children against four hundred strong men? God alone could help him, as He alone is able to meet us in all our difficulties. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15. But Jacob was not content to let God act, but thought evidently he must do something too; so he took two hundred she-goats, twenty he-goats, two hundred sheep and twenty rams, thirty camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she asses and ten foals and gave them to his servants, commanding them to take them, each drove by itself, to his brother, when they should meet him, and to say: “Behold thy servant Jacob is behind us for he said; I will appease him with the present that goeth before me and afterward I will see his face.” So the present went before him, and that night he rose up and took his wives and women servants and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok, and sent them over the brook with what he had. When he was left alone, a man came and wrestled with Jacob until the breaking of the day. It was the Lord Himself, who wanted to teach Jacob to cease to trust in self, and to count on God alone for blessing, and to see that he was nothing but a poor feeble man. When Jacob held out, God touched him on the hollow of the thigh and the sinew dried up, and Jacob was left a lame man.

When morning broke, Jacob would not let the Lord go till He had blessed him. So the Lord blessed him, saying: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, (the supplanter) but Israel (a prince of God).” What a lesson that was for Jacob to learn! When he becomes lame, when he is helpless, then he becomes a prince! The apostle, Paul says, “For when I am weak, then am I strong.” That means that, once we see we cannot do anything for ourselves, and trust the Lord fully, then He acts, and delivers us. Did Jacob learn that lesson? Not entirely, for when he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Esau and the four hundred men, he arranged his household to meet him—those he cared least about, the handmaids, and their children, first; then Leah and her children, and last, his beloved Rachel and her son Joseph. Then he passed before them and bowed to the ground seven times before his brother. And God touched Esau’s heart, and he ran to meet and embrace him, falling on Jacob’s neck and kissing him, and they both wept.

Then Esau saw the women and children and inquired who they were. Jacob told him the Lord had given them all to him. So the handmaids and the wives and the children all came and bowed to Esau. And Jacob gave Esau the camels and cows and sheep and goats. Esau refused at first to take them but Jacob urged him and he took them. Then Esau would have remained with la cob, but he told him he could not journey fast because of the children, and the young cattle, who would die if he did, but he told Esau to go before him and he would follow slowly to Seir. So the brothers parted in peace and Jacob once more proved how faithful God was in keeping His promise to him.

ML 06/13/1909

The Best Use.

MY mother gave me a Bible for my gift last Christmas,” said a little girl complacency, “and Aunt Lou gave Cousin Harry one at the same time. Just look at them now, and see the difference!”

Harry’s was a little worn. Its gilt edges were tarnished, and the newness was gone from the cover, but it looked as if it had been read very often. Here and there I saw pencil marks near favorite verses, and in one or two places it seemed as if tears might have fallen. Little Harry Gordon had become a Christian lately, and his Bible had evidently been very precious to him.

Minnie said triumphantly, after I had finished my look at Harry’s, “Now, see mine!” She unfolded the tissue paper from it, and there it was just as fresh and fair and uninjured as when it came out of the shop.

“I’ve never had it out of the drawer but once,” said Miss Minnie, “and that was to show it to somebody.”

“Minnie,” said I, “if your father were away from home, and should send you a letter, telling you just what he wanted you to do and be, would it be good treatment never to break the seal, or to lay it away in a drawer unread? Would it not rather be better to take it out every day and to read it over and over, trying all the more each time to obey its injunctions?”

“Yes!” said Minnie, blushing and hanging her head, as she began to see my meaning.

“This is God’s letter to you, my love! Like the man who folded away his talent in a napkin, you have folded up your precious Bible. Hereafter, my child, use it as God wants you to. “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me.”

ML 06/13/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 1. Part 2.

The old man was silent, but after a little while he said, “Alas, my sons, my sons! It is my fault they are so wicked and hard-hearted. I have not been a faithful father to them. I have neglected their training, and allowed them to grow up like trees of the forest. I did not instruct them in the word of God, nor bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Now they despise and mock me, and are deaf to my pleadings, and harden their hearts against God. 0, God! Thou art just, but terrible are Thy judgments!”

The feeble body of the sick man trembled because of the great emotion. He wept no more, but stared to the ground in agony. William did not know what to say to his sorrowing father. At last he whispered, “Father, could not the Lord Jesus change their hearts? Would He not do it if we asked Him?”

The old man started up out of his brooding, and while relieving tears filled his eyes, said, “My dear child, you are right; the Lord can change their hearts. I have often asked Him for this, and t have confidence that He will answer my prayers in His own time. But let us now together ask the Lord for this again.”

Both knelt at the door of the cabin, and in touching words, the sorrowing father prayed for his lost children. Although William did not understand all the father said, this hour never left his memory all through his life.

After this talk with his little son, the father did not live many days. His condition became worse and he was not able to leave his bed. William was more attentive than ever in serving his dying father. He would leave him for only a moment at a time to get water or anything—the sick man needed. He was continually at the bedside of his beloved father, while Caesar was lying at his feet. It seemed as though the faithful animal knew what was going on.

Again and again the old wood-chopper would lift his eyes and voice heavenward, and then William would fold his hands, too, and join in prayer.

When the last morning began to dawn, he said to William that the Lord had given him the full assurance that his prayers would be answered. “My sins are forgiven,” he whispered, “and I am going to Jesus, my Lord. He will keep you, my dear boy, and, also, save your brothers, through His grace. O, forget not thy Creator in the days of thy youth, as I have done! Give Him your heart, my child; trust Him fully, and do not forget to pray for your brothers.”

Towards evening William’s brothers came home, bringing a deer with them which they had shot, also they had a jug of brandy. After making a hot fire, they roasted a portion of the venison and partook of it, and, also, freely of the brandy. They did not look at their dying father, but asked William to eat with them. Nothing could induce the boy to leave his father, and he remained at his bedside till he could keep his eyes open no longer and fell asleep.

When he awoke early in the morning, his first look was towards his father at his side. He was lying so quietly, that William dared not stir for a long time. At last he whispered, “Father!” There was no answer. He called again, a little louder, “Father, are you asleep?” Again no answer. He took the father’s arm, which hung loosely down the bedside. Alas, it was cold and stiff the life was gone. While William slept, his father went to sleep, never to waken again on this earth. He had gone to be forever with his Lord.

When the truth of this came to the little fellow, he cast himself on the bed, crying most bitterly, and covered the face of the dead one with kisses. William’s crying awoke his brothers who were sleeping in the next room. They came and looked at their dead father without one expression of sorrow, and no tears came from their eyes; their hearts were untouched. They conferred together about what to do with the corpse—whether to let it lie a day, or bury it right away. They concluded to bury it the same day, and with the most heartless indifference, they made preparations to commit the mortal remains of their father to the grave. After filling it, they put a few grass sods on the top, and went back to the cabin, as if nothing had happened.

William remained at the grave, crying and lamenting.

He felt so forsaken and lonely. What should become of him now? He could expect nothing good from his brothers, but rather feared the worst. His only friend on earth that never left him, and even now was at his feet, was his faithful dog. Overcome with grief, he threw his arms around the neck of the creature, Ind, as though he understood the difficulties of his young master, began to whine, and lick the face of the little boy. But was William really altogether forsaken?

Did he not know a truer and mightier Friend than even his father had been to him? The thought of this Friend in heaven, suddenly brought him to himself again, and kneeling down he asked this Friend in simple, childlike manner to help him, and show him what he should do now.

ML 06/13/1909

Too Late.

FOR He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

This man has been running and doing his best to be in time for the train. But the train would not wait. It is a common saying that time and tide wait for no man. So the train leaves on scheduled time. How anxious he looks! The station master is sorry for him but that does not help matters. The train is gone and the man is left behind, despite all his efforts.

I once heard of a servant of the Lord who was hindered by an unforeseen occurrence from travelling on a certain train. This train that left him behind was wrecked, and many souls ushered into eternity.

Thus the Father showed His watchful care over His child. Death would but have taken him into the presence of his loving Saviour. It would have brought sorrow to his family and anxious thoughts among his friends. The Lord had more work for His servant to do, so in love and mercy preserved him.

Now let us return to our picture. It is very sad to be too late. Were you ever too late for anything, my little reader? I trust you will not be left behind when the Lord comes. If such should be the case, there would be no one to blame but yourself. The Gospel message is sounding out and, “Yet there is room.” If you do not accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you will have to say throughout an eternity of endless woe, “It might have been, had I but believed that the blood shed on Calvary’s cross was for me.” Jesus died that you might live. Do not delay, but come!

Let none of our readers realize the last two lines of that hymn:

“Too late, too late will be the cry,

Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.”

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” Heb. 4:7.

ML 06/20/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 2. The Wicked Plot.

WHILE William had been occupied with dismal thoughts outdoors, his brothers were busy eating the remnants of their evening meal and emptying the whisky jug. They were considering together what to do with their youngest brother. He was too young to go with them on their long hunting expeditions, and to leave him at home for days, and often weeks would not do either. Besides their hearts were full of hatred towards him, because he would admonish them at times, although so young, not to go “poaching.” He had told them that poaching was stealing, and that God said: “Thou shalt not steal!” His father had taught him so.

His childlike prayers were very disagreeable to them, because they constantly reminded them of their condition before God. The question with them was how they could most conveniently rid themselves of the boy. Poor William! His father had been dead only a few hours, and his brothers were already considering how to do away with him.

“We can’t take him along when we go hunting,” said the oldest one; “he would betray us as soon as he would get a chance.”

“But what shall we do with him?” asked the second one. “He’d be better off in the grave with his father.”

“Hold on!” broke in the third brother; “he’s our brother, and we must not touch him; not a hair of his head shall we hurt, it I can help it.”

“What shall be done with him then,” growled the eldest one.

“I know what we could do,” replied the fourth one. “The best way would be to take him a few days’ journey into the forest and then leave him to his fate. He may then go where he chooses. He won’t find his way back to us very soon.”

“But then we must see to it that Caesar stays in the cabin, otherwise we will have trouble, because William himself can’t drive him off. Besides this, I would advise you to take the boy almost to the other side of the forest, and from there he may be able to find someone to go to.”

“Very well,” said the youngest of the five brothers; “let us take him into the forest. We can take one of the donkeys along and put him on it, so that we may be able to walk fast; when we have gone far enough, we will leave him at night.”

After a little more talk back and forth, they concluded to start the wicked plan the next morning. It was now late, and as they decided to be off very early in the morning, they all went to rest. William, too, after eating a morsel, went to bed.

The day had hardly dawned when all was astir in the log cabin. The breakfast was prepared in haste. A sack full of provision was laden upon the strongest donkey. William, too, was wakened early and after dressing, and washing himself, he stood and looked on, thinking no evil, awaiting the preparations.

When all was ready for the journey the oldest brother took the little one by the hand, ordered him to put on his hat, and lifted him on the donkey which stood in readiness outside.

“Where are we going?” asked William who would rather have stayed at home, but he dared not make any objections.

“Into the forest to chop wood and chase deer,” responded one of the brothers, with a laugh.

“What! are you going to steal the good forester’s game again? Don’t do it!” begged William, with a sad look.

The brothers gave no answer but looked at each other.

Caesar was ready to follow the donkey on which his young master was sitting. Wagging his tail gladly, he waited impatiently for the company to start on the journey. At this moment, one of the brothers came with a strong cord, tied it around the neck of the dog, and dragged the unwilling and resisting animal into the cabin; and locked the door.

“Can’t Caesar come along?” asked William.

“No,” replied the oldest one.

“Then give him a little bread and water, so that he won’t starve while we are in the forest,” said the little one.

“Do not mind things which are not your business,” replied the second one in a rough manner; “we will take care of the dog.”

William said no more, but with difficulty he kept the rising tears back.

At length, they began their journey —up hill and downhill, to the right and to the left, and about noon they came to an open space where they stopped and built a fire, cooked and ate their dinner. After a few hours, they started forward again and in the evening they came to a large cave, near which a fine spring was bubbling. Here they spent the night and William was so tired that he fell asleep without taking any supper.

The following day, they went on their journey through thick forest, the same as the day before. There seemed to be no end to it. As it was getting dark, they came to a place where four paths met. Here they halted and built a fire because of the wolves.

“I do not understand why you have come so far. We must be now many miles away from home,” said William timidly.

“To shoot deer,” replied one of the brothers.

“But not very far from our cabin there is plenty of game. Why have you gone so far?”

“You shall soon know why,” was the short answer, and when he would have asked more questions, he was told to keep quiet. After supper, the brothers soon stretched out on the grass and were fast asleep. William, too, selected a place near the fire to sleep, but before lying down, he knelt and folded his hands as his father had taught him, and whispered, “Dear Father, think of me, and take care of me. Thou knowest my father is dead, and my brothers do not love me. I have nobody on earth that loves me, only Caesar, and they have locked him up in the cabin. O, blessed God, remember me and protect me. I ask it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

After praying, he laid down and soon went to sleep. Then it seemed to him, as if someone said to him, “Fear not, I will take care of you.” Sleep in peace, poor boy! the faithful, never slumbering eye of thy mighty and loving Father watches over thee.

How it would have frightened him, if he had seen his brothers rise cautiously, very early in the morning, and saddle the donkey and quietly slip away. Their wicked plot had succeeded. Soon they were hidden in the forest and William was alone. Our little friend slept, undisturbed, till the sun was quite high, throwing his warm rays right into his face. He could not, at first, remember where he was, and how he got to this place, but when he saw the smoking embers at his side, the two days experience came before his mind. But where was the donkey which had carried him so faithfully, and where were his brothers?

He jumped up and called his brothers as loud as he could, but the only answer he received was the echo of his own voice. Suddenly, the thought came to him that his brothers might have wickedly forsaken him. He could hardly believe it, but when noon came and nothing could be seen or heard of them, he began to cry bitterly. What should become of him—alone in the great forest, among wolves, and, perhaps, other wild beasts!

“O, how wicked you are!” sobbed the little fellow, when he thought of his brothers. “You have brought me here and left me. What would father say, if he knew it!”

Thus William mourned for some time, but gradually grew more quiet. The thought of Jesus, who saw him, and was caring for him, comforted him; and, at last, he did what all children who are in need, or in trouble should do—he knelt down and prayed earnestly to the Lord for His help and protection. After praying, he wondered what he should do. To follow his brothers was impossible, for they had intentionally selected a spot where several paths met, so that he would be at a loss to know which one to choose to follow them. His heart was very heavy, and from time to time, he would whisper, “Lord Jesus, help me! I am alone and forsaken; and I am hungry and thirsty. O, Lord, help me!” and he felt comforted.

ML 06/20/1909

Are You Satisfied?

HOW many dear boys, and girls who love the Lord Jesus have had longing of heart, as they commenced another year, to know more of Him! Perhaps, like the psalmist, you have said, “My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee.”

Now, I think we learn from Exodus 16 that each one of us may have as much of Christ as we wish. The manna which God gave the children of Israel to feed their bodies while they were in the wilderness is a type of Jesus, the manna or bread which God gives us now to feed our souls. And as the Israelites were to gather the manna according to their eating, some more, some less, so the Christian may have just as much of Jesus as he desires. The less his heart is taken up with the things of the world, the more he will want of Christ; and the more his heart is taken up with the things of the world, the less he will want of Christ.

The Israelites who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no lack, because “they gathered every man according to his eating.” So it is with the Christian. The more he feeds upon Christ, the more he will want of Christ: he will gather much, and have nothing over. And the less he feeds upon Christ, the less he will want of Christ; he will gather little, and have no lack.

Perhaps some of us are satisfied with just a little bit of Christ in the morning and a little bit in the evening; if so, we gather little, and feel no lack, because we want so little, whilst others want Him all through the day; they gather much, and have nothing over.

“He satisfieth the longing soul.”

ML 06/20/1909

Build Upon the Rock.

THESE children are playing in the sand. How happy and free from care they look. They can mould the sand into any shape and many pleasant hours are spent here. How delighted the baby is with what brother and sister make for its amusement. The little one is much pleased to break down the little castle made near the flower-pot. How easily broken it is! There is no foundation. Long ago in the days when castles were built, a rock was chosen for a strong fortress. So it is now, a good builder would not build a house on the sand.

The sand may be used for play houses, but a house to live in must have a good foundation. Now, children, this world is just like shifting sand. Nothing is stable and can be depended upon. Riches can take wings and fly away in a night. So there is no good foundation to be found except on the Rock. That rock is Jesus. He is a shelter in the time of storm. Neither is there salvation in any other.

Dear child, build on that Rock at once, while it is yet the day of grace.

Oh, build upon the Rock,

The only sure foundation,

On Christ alone, the Cornerstone,

The Rock of our salvation.

“It fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.” Matt. 7:25.

“O COME, LET US SING UNTO THE LORD; LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION.” Ps. 95:1.

ML 06/27/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 3. Alone in the Forest.

WHILE the poor boy was sitting there, the thought came to him: Perhaps my brothers have not left me, but have gone hunting and will be back in the evening. This faint hope gave him courage, and he made up his mind to wait till night. Meanwhile, hunger and thirst made their demands, so he stood up to see if there was anything in the grass, that had been left. Much to his pleasure, he found a large piece of bread and a piece of meat; perhaps one of the brothers left it there purposely with a feeling of pity.

With a thankful heart William ate it, and looking around him, he saw a creek, clear as crystal where he satisfied his thirst. Thus God had already answered his prayers, and given him a meal in the forest. William was thankful for it and his confidence in the Lord increased and he believed that God would lead him out of the forest to someone who would direct him to his home, and not allow him to die of hunger.

My young reader, are you thankful for the blessings which God gives you from day to day? Remember, God is the sustainer of man, and every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Do not forget to thank Him for all these blessings, even the smallest, for God loves thankful hearts.

The day was declining: the sun was far in the west and the trees began to cast long shadows. At last the fiery ball disappeared altogether, and the evening twilight set in. The birds ceased their singing and went to their nests; the owl started her dismal call, and large bats were flying around William. The little fellow lost all courage and had given up the hope that his brothers might return.

Having been raised in the forest, he knew he should find some place where the wolves would not get him, so he searched for a suitable tree in which he might spend the night. Most of them were too thick for him, or the first branches were too high for him to reach. At last he found one right near the path which looked safe, and he began to climb it immediately. After reaching a comfortable place, he sat down, and tied his left arm to a branch, fearing he might fall asleep and fall down.

Night came on getting darker and darker. The wind started to blow and shook the trees, but this did not frighten him because he was used to its howlings; he had often listened to it at home with a quiet enjoyment. Of course, it was quite different to sit near the warm hearth at home, protected from the storm, than to sit in the branches of a tree swinging to and fro. William was very brave for his age, but one sound made him afraid, which was the howl of a wolf in the distance, just like he heard the evening before.

He lifted his eyes upward and from his heart arose a quiet prayer to his Father, which gave him a little courage and looking around him, he saw a light in the far distance, which he followed in the direction of the path. The light disappeared for a moment but again he saw it on the same spot. He jumped down from the tree as quickly as possible for he thought there would be someone where the light was and ran as fast as his feet could carry him over. the uneven path, fearing to meet the wolf he had heard just a short time before.

After running for a quarter of an hour or so, he reached a point from which he could see the light again but it seemed larger this time because he was closer to it.

William stood still for a moment to breathe, then he began to run again. Just as the moon came out from under a cloud, he noticed a brook too wide to jump across, but he could not stop to think what he should do, for he heard an animal coming towards him through the underbrush. Just then he stumbled over a root of a tree, and fell unconscious, but when he came to himself again, the animal was so close, he could feel the warm breath, and expected any moment to feel the sharp teeth in his flesh, but instead of it being a wolf, it was a dog, and began to lick William’s cheeks and bark for joy. When William arose, the dog jumped upon him, as he was so glad to see his loved companion once more.

“Caesar, my dear, good Caesar,” said William, and he noticed a piece of the cord his brother had tied him in the house with three days ago. He wondered how his dog got to him, but knew the Lord directed it all, and he was so thankful to the Lord for bringing to him his best friend on earth. He soon forgot all his fear, and anxious to get out of the woods started again for the light, but with Caesar by his side. He started to wade through the brook, but when he got out into the current, the water was up to his hips; the current threw him over, and good, faithful Caesar swam to him, took his clothes in his teeth and carried him to the shore. Once more William loved and caressed his dog, then went on with his companion by his side.

They had almost reached the top of the hill before them, when the boy noticed, not very far from him a pair of fiery spots and at the same time he heard a low howl of a wolf. William stood still, but Caesar, who also saw the wolf, put himself in front of his master ready to fight, and growled savagely. In a few minutes the wolf gave a powerful leap upon the dog, but Caesar, who was accustomed to fighting with wolves, took his enemy by the throat and both fought desperately. William could do nothing and would not leave his faithful dog, but he could pray to his heavenly Father, who had already led him in such a remarkable way, and he did, while the two animals were fighting. Both seemed to be of equal strength, till at last Caesar broke out in a victorious howling and the wolf disappeared in the underbrush.

Caesar went to William and seemed to say, “Come out of here quickly,” so they both ran on as fast as they could for a while, and when they reached the top of the second hill, William again saw the light coming from a cabin like his father’s and ran on till he reached the fence. Not taking time to look for a gate he climbed over the fence, and Caesar bounced over.

He was so rejoiced to be once more so near a house, that he knocked loudly and called out, “Open, please open!”

ML 06/27/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 21. Genesis 35 and 36. Jacob at Bethel.

WHEN Jacob and Esau had separated, Jacob went to Shalem and stayed there. His family soon forgot God and began to worship idols; his sons were disobedient, passionate and cruel, and caused him much sorrow. But God said to Jacob: “Arise go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God.” It was at Bethel that Jacob had seen the ladder, many years before, when God had promised to keep him and be with him wherever he went. We saw how faithfully God kept his promise, in spite of Jacob’s distrust and unfaithfulness.

Jacob obeyed God’s command and told his family to put idols away from among them, to be clean and change their garments, for they were going to Bethel, to build an altar there unto “God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.” So they gave Jacob their idols and their earrings, and he hid them under an oak tree in Shechem, and they went to Bethel, where Jacob built an altar, and called the place El-Bethel, meaning, the God of Bethel. God came to Jacob and blessed him in Bethel. He called him by his new name, and told him again that his children should possess the land of Canaan.

Soon after this, death came into Jacob’s family. First, Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse died, and was buried under an oak at Bethel. And when they came to Ephrath Rachel, too, died, and Jacob buried her, and set a pillar upon her grave. She left a baby boy called Benjamin.

Jacob had now twelve sons, who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their names were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob and his family went on to Hebron, Jacob’s old home, where Abraham and Isaac had lived so many years. Rebekah had died—Jacob never saw his mother again; Isaac was alive, and was now one hundred and eighty years old, but he died soon after, and his two sons, Esau and Jacob buried him.

Although the two brothers had become reconciled, they could not live together, for, like Abraham and Lot, they were both very rich, and there was not room enough for all their cattle. So Esau went back to Mount Sier, where he lived like a king, and had great possessions and became very powerful. He is the father of the Edomites. Jacob remained in Canaan where his fathers, Abraham and Isaac had lived, in the land which God had promised to give them and their children. He was now an old man, and had known much sorrow in past years—Esau’s hatred; Laban’s unkindness; his long journey far from his home; the death of his dear wife, Rachel; and of his parents. But through them all he could see God’s gracious care and love, and, had he known these lines, he might have sung as we do:

“How good is the God we adore,

Our faithful, unchangeable Friend;

Whose love is as great as His power,

And knows neither measure nor end!

‘Tis Jesus, the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;

We’ll praise Him for all that is past,

And trust Him for all that’s to come.”

ML 06/27/1909

Where Will You Spend Eternity.

ONE morning at a railroad station, two young women entered the waiting room. They stopped to take a drink of water and as they passed out one said, “Oh, wait a minute.” On a small paper pasted to the wall close by, were these words, “Where will you spend eternity?” The girl read aloud, “Where will you spend—oh! eternity—I thought it was something about vacation.” They hastened out to the train laughing.

Oh! what heedlessness, I thought. To them their vacation trip was a much more important question than eternity. How is it with you, reader? God is long-suffering and in love and mercy stays His hand of judgment. But we know not the day nor the hour when the door of mercy will close. He still holds out to all a free and full salvation. Take this gift of salvation.

“Take it now and happy be.”

ML 06/27/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for May.

1. “Let the word of Christ,” etc. Col. 3:16.

2.“For in Him dwelleth,” etc. 2:9.

3.“Epaphras who is one of,” etc. 4:12.

4.“That ye may walk,” etc. 1:10.

5.“Since we heard,” etc. 1:4.

6.“For by Him were all,” etc. 1:16.

7.“And not holding,” etc. 2:19.

Bible Questions for July.

Answers are to be found in the second Epistle to the Thessalonians.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “Rest with us.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “Brightness of His coming.”

3.Give the verse following the words, “His mighty angels.”

4.Write the verse containing the words “Man of Sin.”

5.Write the verse containing the words “Received not.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “Believed not.”

7.Write the verse containing the words “Be not weary.”

ML 07/04/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 22. Genesis 37. Joseph and his Brethren.

OF Jacob’s twelve sons, ten were grown up when they came to Hebron to live. Joseph, Rachel’s son, was seventeen years old, and Benjamin his brother was yet a baby. The ten eldest were wicked men, but Joseph feared God, and would bring his father evil reports of his brethren. Jacob loved Joseph better than all his other children, because he was the son of his old age, and he gave him a coat of many colors. The ten brothers were jealous when they saw their father’s preference, and hated Joseph for it.

One night God sent a wonderful dream to Joseph. He thought he was binding sheaves of corn in the field with his brothers, and his brothers’ sheaves stood around his sheaf and bowed to it. God told Joseph by this dream that his brethren should obey him, and that he should rule over them. When he told them his dream, they hated him the more for it. Soon after, he dreamed again and saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bow down before him. Joseph told his father and brothers this dream also, but the brothers envied him the more, while his father thought much about it.

Jacob’s sons were shepherds, and took care of their father’s flock. They went to feed the sheep in Shechem while Joseph and little Benjamin stayed with Jacob. One day Israel called Joseph and said, “Go I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again.” So Joseph went from Hebron to Shechem, but his brethren were not there. He was told that they were in Dothan, where he went, and there found them. When they saw him afar off, they conspired against him to kill him, saying to one another: “Behold this dreamer cometh, come now, therefore, and slay him, and cast him into some pit; and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But Reuben, the eldest, heard it and said: “Let us not kill him, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him.” He thought that he could in this way, deliver him out of their hands, when they were away and send him back to his father. So they stripped Joseph of his coat of many colors and took him and cast him in the pit which had no water; then they sat down to eat bread. While these cruel brothers were eating, they looked up, and saw a great many people coming toward them. The people were Ishmaelites, children of Ishmael, the son of Hagar. They came from Gilead, and had camels, which carried the spices they were taking to Egypt.

When Judah saw the Ishmaelites, he persuaded his brothers to sell Joseph to them, rather than to kill him. So Joseph was taken out of the pit and sold for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites took him and brought him to Egypt, where they sold him to a man named Potiphar.

Reuben was not with his brothers when Joseph was sold; and when he came back to the pit, and did not find him, he rent his clothes (a custom people of old had to show they were very sorry), and ran to his brothers, saying: “The child is not; and I wither shall I go?” But they cared little for Reuben’s sorrow, and killed a kid and dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood, and went home, and showed the coat to their father, and said: “This have we found; know now whether it be thy son’s coat or not?” Jacob knew the coat and said: “It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him.” And Jacob wept and rent his clothes, and refused to be comforted.

God has given us this sad story of Joseph and his brothers’ wickedness, as a picture of the Lord Jesus rejected by His own people, the Jews, to whom He came in love. As we know they hated Him, and would not receive Him, because their works were evil, and His were good.

As Joseph was thrown into the pit, so was Jesus nailed to the cross. “We will not have this man to reign over us,” they cried. Oh! The Son of God, rejected and crucified is coming again with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him, (Rev. 1:7), and “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:10, 11. The one who has so suffered is going to get the highest place in heaven, and sit as a judge over those who have rejected Him. What a solemn time that will be! Everyone who has not accepted the Lord Jesus and bowed the knee to Him as his Saviour, will be judged by Him, and condemned to everlasting punishment. Children, will you bow the knee to Him now, or will you wait to be judged?

ML 07/04/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 4. An Unexpected Meeting.

FINALLY, William heard shuffling feet nearing the door, and a voice from within: “Who is there?”

“A poor little boy,” responded William, “who was lost in the forest, and the wolves would have torn to pieces had it not been for the dog.”

“Come in” was the welcome sound from within and at the same time he heard the bolt being moved back and in another moment the door opened with a creaking sound and the bent figure of a woman appeared. “Come in, you and your dog are both welcome.”

As William entered the narrow hallway and Caesar following him, he noticed, through an open door, an old lady with a light blue woolen shawl around her shoulders, and a white cap on her head.

“Step into the room, my boy,” she said in a kind tone; “how you must have been frightened in the forest, but now your troubles are over.”

William did not have to be told twice, but quickly stepped inside, while the old lady again bolted the creaking door. It was a tidy and cozy room; just like the old lady herself, thought William. In an open hearth, such as you may find yet, here and there among the old farm houses, burned a bright light. On the table stood a low oil lamp and near it lay a large open book. It was the Bible, as William found out afterwards. He had not, until now, ever seen a Bible. Near the warm chimney sat a gray cat and blinked with astonishment at the new comers. At the other side of the room stood a large bed, covered with pure white linen; close to this was a roomy closet with glass-doors, behind which stood a number of plates and cups, and shining tin dishes.

William’s eyes wandered from one object to the other. How much better it was here than in the forest! The sudden change from fear and sorrow to rest and safety, overwhelmed the little boy that he fell sobbing on his knees, and thanked God for His wonderful help. Then he turned to his faithful dog and said:

“My good and loving Caesar! Where would I be now if you had not followed me. Twice you have saved my life. Had you not come, I would have drowned or the wolf would have torn me to pieces.”

The old lady, who had meanwhile entered the room again, looked at the scene with a touched heart, and when she heard how kind and thankful he spoke to his dog, the tears came into her eyes.

“Now, my boy tell me, had you no other friend in the forest than your dog?”

“None other!” said William sadly.

“All alone in the forest?” continued the kind old lady in sympathetic manner;” poor child, but you can tell me tomorrow where your home is, and how it happened you got lost in the forest. Oh,” she said, in astonishment and fright, when touching the little fellow’s clothes, “you are all wet, how did that happen?”

“I waded through the creek, which, not far from here, crosses the path.”

“Through that swift brook? How is it possible?”

“I heard the wolf behind me and so there was nothing left for me but to go through it,” responded the boy; “but I would surely have been drowned had not Caesar pulled me toward the shore.”

ML 07/04/1909

Creation.

THIS is a picture of the Zoological Garden in Paris. The children are happy and seem to be not at all afraid of the animals. They have their mothers and keepers of the animals with them, so they have nothing to fear. Even the large elephants and camels are gentle and obedient. The Scripture says, Man shall have dominion over every living creature and so it is in this happy scene.

What a wonderful work of God, creation is! “GOD SAW EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD MADE, AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS VERY GOOD.” Gen. 1:31.

Yes, God made every beast of the field and fowl, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof.

Now in the creation of man there is a great difference. God formed man of the dust of the ground, but He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. God said “Let us make man in our image.” Gen. 1:26. This was not said of the animals.

How intelligent some animals are! We become very much attached to them. Yet, when the animal dies that is the end of it. The animal returns to the ground from which it was formed. With man it is quite different. He has a never-dying soul. Man is a responsible being and must give an account to God.

This is why, dear children, we persuade you all to accept God’s way of salvation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. If He is your Saviour, you will spend eternity with Him in glory.

ML 07/04/1909

Kindness to Animals.

“EVEN A CHILD IS KNOWN BY HIS DOINGS, WHETHER HIS WORK BE PURE AND WHETHER IT BE RIGHT.” Prov. 20:11.

THE girl in the picture must be very kind to the animals. How soon these dumb creatures know the one that loves them. This girl is no doubt on her way for the milk for breakfast. The calf and the geese run to her to say good-morning in their own way. The calf seems to be sure he’ll find a handful of nice fresh grass in the hand at her side. The geese are inquisitive to know if there are not some crumbs in the basket specially for them. I am sure this kind girl does not forget any of them and will greet each one in turn.

She is without a doubt kind and thoughtful of the dear mother she may have left behind in the quaint little cottage. Her countenance has an expression of contentment and happiness. We may learn from this girl a lesson of kindness to God’s creatures and whatever our circumstances, to be happy and contented. No matter what our circumstances the Lord can be everything to us if we so desire.

But anyone who is not the Lord’s does not know what real joy and happiness is. So let each one who reads decide now to whom he belongs. Are you on the Lord’s side or Satan’s? “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.

ML 07/11/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 23. Genesis 40. Joseph in Prison.

JOSEPH was a faithful slave to Potiphar, who had bought him from the Ishmaelites, and the Lord blessed him and made him prosperous, so that Potiphar saw that the Lord was with him and made him overseer over his house and all that he had was put under his hands. And from that time, God blessed the Egyptian house for Joseph’s sake; Potiphar had such confidence in him that he did not even know what he possessed for he had left all with Joseph.

But Potiphar’s wife was a wicked woman who went to her husband with a false accusation against Joseph, and his master believed it and in his anger, cast Joseph into prison. But God could be with him there as well as in Potiphar’s house, and while it must have seemed very hard to be so unjustly treated, God had allowed it for Joseph’s great blessing, as we shall see later, for that is often the way the Lord works with us. Were we never to have trials or sorrows, there are many sweet lessons we should never learn, and many blessings we should miss: “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8: 28.

God blessed Joseph in prison and caused him to be well liked by the keeper of the prison so that he put under his authority all the prisoners, and did not look to anything himself, any more. And the Lord was with Joseph in all that he did and made him prosper.

While Joseph was in prison, the chief butler and the chief baker of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt offended their lord who sent them both to prison. One morning when Joseph went in to see them, he found them sad and asked them: “Why do you look so sadly today?” They answered: “We have had dreams and there is no one to tell us the meaning of them.” Joseph answered: “God sends the dreams. He only knows the interpretation. Tell me your dreams, I pray you.” And the chief butler told his dream and said: “I saw, in my dream, a vine before me, and in the vine were three branches with the blossoms shooting forth, and the clusters brought ripe grapes. And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed the juice into the cup and gave it to Pharaoh.” Joseph said: “This is the meaning of your dream: The three branches are three days; in three days Pharaoh will restore thee to thy place and thou shalt give the cup into his hand.” And Joseph added “Do not forget me when it shall be well with thee. Speak for me to Pharaoh and bring me out of prison, for I was stolen away from Canaan and brought to Egypt, and I have done nothing that they should put me into this dungeon.” Then the baker told his dream and said: “I had three baskets upon my head, they were full of baked meats for Pharaoh; and the birds came and ate the meat out of the uppermost basket on my head.” Joseph answered: “The three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will hang thee upon a tree and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.” All happened as Joseph said, for God had given him the wisdom and power to interpret the dreams aright. In three days was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he made a feast for all his servants and called the chief butler and the chief baker out of prison. He restored the butler to his place and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; but the baker was hung as Joseph had said.

Did the butler remember Joseph and ask the king to take him out of prison? No; he quite forgot him. When happy and safe himself he thought no more about Joseph. But God did not forget his servant, for he never leaves nor forsakes His own, though He may see fit, for their good, to make them pass through suffering.

What a beautiful example of faithfulness and honesty under the most trying circumstances! Joseph feared God and sought to serve Him “not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Col. 3:22-24.

ML 07/11/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 4. Part 2. An Unexpected Meeting.

While the boy was yet telling her, the old lady got a woolen blanket out of her closet and began to strip the poor lad of his wet clothes. She looked at him so pitifully and lovingly, that the tears came again to William’s eyes.

“Why do you cry, my boy?” she asked him.

“Because you are so kind and loving toward me, and I am so thankful God has led me to you. Alas, I was afraid I would never see a man again. I was alone and so afraid of the wolves.”

“Dry your tears, my child,” said the old lady with much feeling; “you are now in safety, and the bad wolves cannot harm you.” With that she kissed him several times on his pale cheeks.

After putting the clothes up to dry and rubbing William’s body thoroughly, she wrapped him in a woolen blanket and laid him in her bed. Then she placed a pan of milk on the fire and gave him some, feeding him herself, because his arms were wrapped up in the blanket.

William relished the warm milk very much and soon felt his blood circulate again. Being satisfied, he fell back into his pillows. but said:

“I can’t go to sleep until I have thanked the Lord for His gracious care and protection, and until I have kissed you, dear lady. This I have been doing since my father was sick, and you are just as kind and loving as my father has been to me.”

“But haven’t you a father anymore?” inquired the kind lady.

“Ah, no!” answered William with a deep sigh; “he died a few days ago. I still have five brothers, but they do not love me. When father was dead—he died in the night, while I fell asleep on a chair, close to his bed—they buried him close to our cabin and took me with them on a donkey into the forest. Two days we marched till we came to a place where four paths met. Last night, while I slept, they left me, and have probably gone home again. When I awoke this morning I did not know what to do. Then I asked the Lord Jesus to help me; He has helped me and has brought me here. O, if I only could stay here; it is so nice here, much nicer than in our cabin, at the other side of the forest.”

“Yes, you shall stay here my child,” she replied, very much touched; “I am all alone and have often desired to have somebody with me. Since my son has left me I have always been alone; and now I am an old woman, and have nobody in this world. Yes, stay with me, my boy; we will work together and thank the Lord together for His kindness. You must love the Lord very much since you know how gladly He answers the prayers of the young. Don’t you?”

“Yes, I love Him; my father has told me much about Him, how he came from heaven to die for sinners; and how he loved little children so much and pressed them to His bosom. O, it was so nice when father told me such lovely stories, like that of Moses in the little ark, or of Abraham and Isaac, or David and Solomon. He said that all this was in a large book that is called the Bible. We had no Bible, but he said his mother had owned a Bible and had often told him all these nice stories, when he was young. But that was many years ago, and for a long time he had not thought of them and did not care for them. My brothers, too, did not care for them and laughed and mocked when father spoke to them of the Lord Jesus.”

The little narrator paused, because his eyes became heavy with sleep. But the old lady, whose curiosity had been excited, desired to know more. She had followed the boy’s talk with the closest attention and begged him now: “Tell me a little more about your father, my lad.”

William told in his child-like and true-hearted manner, all that had happened in the last months and weeks before his father’s death. He did not neglect to tell what his father had said about his young years, what a naughty boy he had been and how he had run away from his God-fearing mother, a widow. He told further with clearness—for it had made a deep impression on him—how thoroughly his father repented of the sins of his youth and how he had longed to see his mother once more before his death, and to ask her forgiveness, and how he had become so happy through faith in the Lord Jesus and had, in peace, gone home.

While William spoke the eyes of the old lady opened more and more and bending over him, she listened to the tale of the little one. When he had finished, she began to tremble violently, so she sat down on the edge of the bed to keep from falling. Was it possible that William’s father ... ?

Ah, she feared to finish the thought. Her son, too, had left her many years ago in disobedience and stubbornness, and she never had heard a word from him again. For several minutes she was not able to speak a word; and only the heavy sobs, rising from time to time, gave evidence of the inward feelings. William noticed the terrible excitement of the old lady, but did not know what to think of it. At last she asked with trembling voice:

“What was your father’s name?”

“Robert Hartmann,” replied the boy.

“Gracious God,” she cried, lifting her eyes heavenward and folding her hands tightly together; “is it possible? O, how wonderful! Thy ways are past finding out! Robert Hartmann was my son, my only son! And he died as you have said? O, then my prayers are answered. God be praised! My son has not died in his sins, but come to himself and returned, like the lost son to the father’s house.”

ML 07/11/1909

Whiter Than Snow.

SOME years ago while walking in Chestnut Hill a suburb of Philadelphia we passed through a small Italian settlement. We stood and watched just such a washing as you see in this picture. The water in a small stream had been blocked up by stones for wash day. The top stone on a slant was used for a wash board. Here one Italian woman after another came out and rubbed away until satisfied her clothes were clean. To me it seemed hard work, but the women enjoyed it. This washing, dear children, might be very clean but it could not be whiter than snow. I once heard the story of a little girl on her way to Sunday-school, who returned the second time to her mother for a clean handkerchief. Snow was on the ground and it was so much whiter than her handkerchief, she thought a mistake had been made. There is but one thing in this world whiter than snow and that is a sinner washed in the precious blood of Jesus.

If there is any reader who cannot say,

“I’m a poor sinner

And nothing at all,

But Jesus my Saviour

Is all and in all”—

then just believe what the Word of God says, “WASH ME AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” Psalm 51:7.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 07/18/1909

A Paternal Correction.

THE children of royal parents need to learn obedience, the same as those in more humble life.

Happy the children, who, like Edward the VII, now king of England, have parents who are capable of bringing them up with wisdom and firmness. Some parents may say they have not the ability, but to old and young, God says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5.

Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, followed the word of God in bringing up his children.

The Prince of Wales was six years old when the following little incident happened. Instead of learning his lessons, he was making a drum of the window pane, and his pious governess, Miss Hylliard, told him gently, but firmly to get to his studies.

“I will not,” answered the prince. “Then I shall be obliged to put you into the corner.”

“I will not learn my lesson,” said the child in a determined way; “and I will not go into the corner, either. I am the Prince of Wales!” As he spoke, he lifted his foot, and broke a window pane.

Miss Hylliard went to him, and spoke even more firmly: “You must learn your lesson, or go into the corner.”

“But I will not!” said the prince, breaking another pane of glass.

The governess rang the bell, and respectfully called Prince Albert. He came directly and was told all that had happened. He placed his son on a tabouret, and told him to remain there till he returned. He soon came back with a Bible.

“Now, listen,” said he to the little prince of Wales, “I am going to read to you what the Apostle Paul says to you, and to all children: ‘The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.’ It is quite true you are the prince of Wales, and after the death of your mother, you will be king of England. Now, you are only a little boy, and must obey those who are put over you. There is another verse in the Bible, I want you to understand. Solomon, the wise king, says, ‘He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.’” After this, the father took the rod and chastised the future king of England very severely; then put him into the corner, and said, “You remain there, and learn your lessons until Miss Hylliard allows you to come out, and remember, you are to be subject to those over you, for you must submit to the will of God and the laws of your country all your life.”

ML 07/18/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 4. Part 3. An Unexpected Meeting.

The old lady stopped a moment. The surprise was too great, the excitement too much. William was sitting in the bed and stared speechless at the old woman. She continued again after a while:

“And you are the son of Robert Hartmann, my boy? Then you are my grand-child and I am your grandmother! Has the Lord sent you, poor child, to me to find a home and that I might have comfort and help in my old days? O Lord, how great is Thy kindness. Thy name be praised forever!”

After saying this she took William in her arms and kissed him tenderly. The dear boy did not know what was happening to him. He had experienced so many things, and now, so late at night, this unexpected meeting with his grandmother! He could not comprehend it and could find no words to express his feelings. When he recovered at last from his amazement, he said:

“This is a wonderful day; how good it was my brothers took me into the forest. Otherwise I would not have come here, nor ever- found my grandmother. O, how good! I thought I had no friend on the earth except Caesar, and now God has led me here!”

Both shed tears of joy together. After the first excitement was over, nature made her demands and our little happy friend’s eyes began to close, and the next minute he was sound asleep. His grandmother did not think of sleeping for a good while; her heart was full of joy and thanksgiving, and all traces of fatigue were gone. She sat down at the table and put her horn eye-glasses on and read in a low and trembling voice the 103d Psalm. Yes, the Lord had done great things for her and had satisfied her with good things in her old age. Again and again, she would say in a low voice: “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Then she knelt down to thank and praise the God of all grace for His boundless goodness. O, her son, who had once caused her so much sorrow, and grief, but for whom the mother’s heart had reserved the same love, had gone home with faith in his Redeemer; had gone where she would soon see him again, and, also, the Lord had sent this dear grandchild to her in such a wonderful way.

She would spend her days in loneliness no more, young strength and energy would now take the burdens of labor from her, which had already become too heavy for her shoulders. Bright pictures of a happy future arose before her mind, and she marveled at the kindness and mercy of God. One circumstance put a taste of bitterness into her cup of joy, and that was the thought of William’s older brothers. But her faith could trust the grace of God concerning them too; that grace was sufficient even for these wicked and strayed young men.

The morning began to dawn before the happy old lady sought her resting place to get a few hours’ sleep, and the sunbeams had long been shining into the room when the two sleepers awoke. After rising quickly and preparing the breakfast, grandmother began afresh to ask the boy many questions, and the boy went over the past few months again, till it was noon. In the afternoon, grandmother showed William her goats and chickens and geese, and also the garden, in which grew all kinds of vegetables for her own needs. The care of the goats and poultry she put immediately into the boy’s hands, and he did his work with energy and skill.

A new life had begun in the little cabin near the forest. Grandmother, who was already more than seventy years of age, but rather robust, evidently grew young again, because of the presence of the child of her only and much-loved son. She taught him, as he grew older, how to work the field and garden; at the same time she instructed him in reading and writing and sent him into the next village, where they had a small school.

Several years passed by thus, and William had grown up to be a strong youth and walked in the fear of the Lord.

His grandmother dealt with him in much love and tenderness, but also with the proper severity when needed. Quite often she would say: “I have sinned deeply against your father. He was my only child (her husband had died shortly after the son’s birth), and I was too weak to punish him when he had been disobedient. Yielding to him in a false love, I left his naughty ways unpunished and so God punished me. Now, may God preserve me from making the same mistake with you.” When William had become big and more thoughtful, he was very, very thankful to his dear grandmother for having trained him thus, and truly, every child has cause to be thankful when God has given them faithful parents who bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and who spare not the rod if needed.

Thus one year after another went by in happiness. But no happiness is lasting on this earth. William was to experience this. The first change which brought grief to his heart was the death of his faithful dog. Many years Caesar watched faithfully the old lady’s possessions, but finally grew weaker and weaker in spite of the best care from the hands of his young master. The teeth began to fall out and finally he became blind, and one morning William found him dead in his house. He was not able to keep the tears from his eyes, and we can understand it very well. Had not Caesar been faithful to him when he was in great peril and forsaken by his own brothers and saved his life twice? He dug a grave for him under an old tree in the garden and buried him as he had deserved it.

But this grief was small compared with what was yet before our young friend. The dear old grandmother, who had meanwhile passed her eighty-fifth year, felt more and more the hardships of old age. But she was still quite strong and able to do the lighter work in the house. All at once she became sick and a few days afterward she passed away in the arms of her grandson. The reader can imagine the grief of William. Now he stood a second time in his life all alone. The little cabin and the garden and field were now his own, of course; but how lonely and forsaken he felt after putting the mortal remains of the dear old woman into the place of rest in the cemetery of the village! Everywhere he missed the dear grandmother and could not comfort himself for a long time. For several years he remained single and worked in field and garden. He had little intercourse with his neighbors, because he found very few like-minded with himself. But at last he felt too lonesome, and asked the Lord if it be His will, to give him a God-fearing helpmate. Not long after he got acquainted with a good girl, who had not so much in earthly goods, as rather a rich treasure of love and faithfulness, and a heart devoted to the Lord.

William asked her if she would become his wife and live with him in the little cabin near the forest. She consented, and a few months afterward the young woman entered her new home. Who was happier than William? Now he was alone no more; a faithful and God-fearing wife stood now at his side to share with him the joys and sorrows of life. The Lord was with the young couple and blessed the labors of their hands; in the course of time, He gave them several children, too, which William endeavored to train like his own grandmother had trained him, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

If for each blessing we would thank God, there would be no time left us to murmur and fret.

ML 07/18/1909

End of Day.

Now the day is over,

Night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening,

Steal across the sky.

Jesus, give the weary

Calm and sweet repose,

With Thy tend’rest blessing,

May our eyelids close.

The man in our picture is slowly wending his homeward way after a hard day’s work in the sun. We may expect that when he reaches that pleasant little white house in the distance, his family will be glad to see him, and a good supper is ready for him. We hope he will thank the Father of all mercies for the many blessings He daily bestows. You know it is God who maketh the plants to grow. He sendeth the rain and sunshine, “for the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.” Heb. 6-7.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below.”

“PRAISE YE THE LORD. BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, THAT DELIGHTETH GREATLY IN HIS COMMANDMENTS.” Psalm 112:1.

ML 07/25/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 24. Genesis 41. Pharaoh’s Dream.

FULLY two years after the butler came out of prison, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, had a dream. He thought he stood by the river and saw seven fat cows come out of it and feed in a meadow. Then seven other cows came out, very thin and ill favored, and they ate up the seven fat ones. Then Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time. This time, he saw seven fine, good ears of corn came up upon one stem, and soon after seven ears more, very bad and thin, and the bad ears devoured the seven good ears, and the king awoke.

In the morning, Pharaoh wondered what these dreams could mean, and he called all his magicians and wise men, and asked them to interpret them. But no one could do so.

But the butler said to Pharaoh “I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker. We dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. There was with us a young man, a Hebrew servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was: I was restored to my office, and the baker was hung.”

Joseph had been a long time in the prison; but though the butler had forgotten him, God had not, and He was doing wonderful things for Joseph which he did not yet know.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was hastily brought out of the dungeon. He shaved, took off his prison clothes and put on new, and came to Pharaoh.

Then the king told his dreams and asked Joseph to interpret them, but Joseph answered: “It is not in me. God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” And God taught Joseph rightly to interpret the dreams. He said the dream is all one; the seven fat kine, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years of great fruitfulness, and the seven thin kine and the seven poor ears of corn are seven years of famine. Seven years are coming of great plenty in the land of Egypt, and then seven years of famine will begin, when there will be no corn. Now, let Pharaoh look for a wise man and set him over the land, and let him gather up the corn in the seven good years, and keep it laid up in all the cities of Egypt, that when the seven years of famine come, there may be food to eat.

Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph’s wisdom and advice, and he said to his servants: “Can we find such a one as this, a Man in whom, the spirit of God is?” Then to Joseph he said: “For as much as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house and according unto thy word shall all my people be rule. Only in the throne, will I be greater than thou.” Then the king took his ring off his finger and put it on Joseph’s, and dressed him in fine linen clothes, and put a gold chain about his neck and made him ride in the second chariot and the servants cried before him, “Bow the knee!” What a wonderful change God had brought about for Joseph! The pit in the wilderness, the slavery in Potiphar’s house, the dungeon, all was forgotten! It reminds us of this beautiful verse in Rom. 8:18. “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

As we saw in a previous lesson, Joseph is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus. In the pit he spoke to us of Jesus put to death by the Jews, His own, and now, this exaltation at the hand of Pharaoh, tells us of the Lord Jesus in the glory. In the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians we are told, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Vs. 9-11.

ML 07/25/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 5. After Thirty Years.

WE could close our story now, but the young readers doubtless would like to hear something about William’s brothers, and what became of them, and whether they ever repented of their wicked lives and evil deeds. Gladly we will satisfy your curiosity, so much the more as the grace of God overtook even these great sinners, and, thus the many fervent prayers of their father and grandmother were answered.

We pass over a number of years, during which William and his family lived happily and in quietness in the little cabin. It is a beautiful warm Sunday afternoon. Approaching the house, we see William, who has meanwhile become forty years of age, sitting in front of the door of his cabin; near him sits on a low stool his youngest daughter, reading a book, two boys running around on the lawn, and the mother, holding in her arms the baby boy, is leisurely walking up and down in the warm sunshine. It is a lovely scene. The house itself looks so pretty and inviting with the bright windows and the fresh vines creeping up on its sides, that one feels tempted to enter and stay a little. All is breathing rest and peace.

The book the little girl has on her lap, is grandmother’s old Bible. She is just reading a” chapter to father, who is listening in quietness, rejoicing over, the blessed words which the young girl is reading with a clear and pleasant voice. A little noise just now is drawing William’s attention, and turning to the side, he sees, to his astonishment, five poorly dressed men come out of the forest, in slow and tired steps, approaching his cabin. They wore neither shoes nor stockings and their ragged clothes would hardly cover their body. It was indeed a very sad sight. The men were not young anymore; two of them had white hair, and the youngest seemed to be at least fifty years of age. Gradually they came nearer and when reaching the garden gate, one of the old ones uncovered his head and asked humbly for a piece of bread.

William arose to meet them. “We are poor people,” said the old man, “and for several days have had no food but berries and roots, which we found in the forest. At night we slept on the bare ground. We are in misery and homeless.”

“I feel sorry for you,” replied William, “for I know from my own experience what it is to spend a day and night in the forest, to be without food and drink and without a home. When I was a little boy I too was a day and a night lost in the forest, and doubtless would have been torn to pieces by wolves, had not my faithful dog saved me.”

When William said this, the men looked at each other. He noticed this, but did not know what it meant, and continued:

“You must be very hungry and thirsty if you have been so long a time in the forest. Come in and lie down on the grass, I will bring you something to eat.”

So saying, he turned toward the house; but his wife, who had listened to the conversation, had gone in before him. Moved by pity, she had gone to get bread and butter ready. Her husband went down to the cellar to get a large bowl of milk, and the two boys brought the things to the men.

They had followed William’s invitation and were resting on the lawn. When the boys came out, they fell greedily over the eatables and milk. One could see they had not had such a relish for a long time. When they were almost through with the meal, the oldest one stood up and thanked William for his kindness, asking him at the same time if he would not allow them to sleep in the stable. “We have,” he said, “for several days slept outside and have not had decent sleep; in our young days we did not mind where we would spend the night, but now we are old and weak and to sleep outside is hard for us.”

“There is hardly room enough for all of you in the stable,” replied William, “but I have a small barn, in which I keep the hay for my goats. There is room enough in it, you can sleep in the soft hay, and I will give you some blankets to cover yourselves with. Just sit down and eat till you are satisfied.”

The old man made a low bow and sat down with his comrades. William got his chair and sat near them. After enjoying for a while their hearty appetite, he asked:

“Now tell me where you come from and why you travel five together? What are you intending to do tomorrow and where are you journeying to? You cannot go very far anymore, for some of you look very poorly and seem to be sick.”

The men did not answer immediately. At last one of them commenced, a sigh escaping his lips:

“Sir, it is a sad story: We are five brothers, all sons of one father. We were wood choppers and lived on the other side of the forest, about three days’ journey from here. Our father died more than thirty years ago. For a small yearly sum we had the right to gather all the dry wood in the forest and to cut down trees marked by the forester. But a number of years ago we lost the favor of our landlord; they burnt our cabin, took all our possessions and put us in prison. Many years we were kept in a damp dungeon, which undermined our health and strength. When at last released, we were unable to do hard labor; besides, nobody would give us any work. We were in great need and in order to keep alive we were compelled to beg. We traveled from place to place, and concluded at last to come to this district where nobody knows us, with the hope to find work and help in our need. In our travel through the great forest we suffered unspeakably, because we are destitute of everything. We have been hungry and frozen and have at last come this far.”

ML 07/25/1909

Victory to Jesus.

HOOMESH Baboo, a Christian native of India, was dying, when a friend asked, “Do you pray for your recovery?”

He replied, “I pray saying, ‘Lord; let Thy will be done.’”

“Are you prepared for death?”

He replied, “What do you mean by preparation? Jesus Christ is my only preparation.”

While he was ill and near death, he cried out— “Victory to Jesus, victory to Jesus! let it be said everywhere in the world, victory to Jesus!”

O yes! victory to Him who died and rose again—to Him who is in glory, having finished the work His Father gave him to do. Are you, my reader, making preparation for meeting God?

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

ML 07/25/1909

Answers to Questions for June.

1.“Then we which are,” etc. 1 Thess. 4:17.

2.“Who both killed,” etc. 2:15.

3.“In everything give,” etc. 5:18.

4.“And to wait for,” etc. 1:10.

5.“For what is our,” etc. 2:19.

6.“Remembering without,” 1:3.

7.“Therefore let us,” etc. 5:6.

Bible Questions for August.

Answers are to be found in the first epistle to Timothy.

1.Write the verse containing the words “One mediator.”

2.Write the verse containing the words “Temptation,” “Snare.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “For all men.”

4.Write the verse containing the words “Mystery of godliness.”

5.Write the verse containing the words “To save sinners.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “Food and raiment.”

7.Write the verse containing the words “Shamefacedness and sobriety.”

ML 08/01/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 25, Genesis 42. Joseph’s Brethren in Egypt.

THE famine was in the land of Canaan, as well as in Egypt. Jacob and his sons had no bread, and when Jacob heard there was corn to be had in Egypt, he told them to go down and buy some. The ten eldest sons went, but Benjamin stayed with his father, for Jacob dearly loved him, and feared that something might happen to him.

Joseph was, as we saw, governor over all the land, and he, it was, that sold corn to the people; and the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy corn of him. They bowed down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth, and Joseph saw them and knew them, although they did not know him, and he spoke roughly to them, saying: “Where do you come from?” They answered, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Joseph said: “You are spies, and have come to see the nakedness of the land.” But they denied it and tried to convince him, saying: “We are true men, and not spies; we are twelve brothers: but one is not, and the youngest is with his father in the land of Canaan.” Nevertheless, Joseph appeared not to believe them and answered “Hereby you shall be proved: You shall not go from here unless your younger brother came hither. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and the rest of you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you.” And he put them all together in the ward three days. The third day Joseph said to them “This do, and live, for I fear God: If ye are true men, let one of you be bound in prison and let the rest go to carry corn to your houses, but bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know that your words are true, and you shall not die.”

At this the brothers turned to one another saying: “We are truly guilty concerning our brother. We cared not about the anguish of his soul; when he besought us, we would not hear. Therefore is this distress come upon us,” and now, “his blood is required of us.”

God was speaking to their conscience and they were afraid. They did not know that Joseph understood them, for he had spoken to them through an interpreter. But when he heard them, he turned from them that they might not see him weep. Then he had Simeon bound before their eyes.

Joseph, then commanded to have their sacks filled with corn and to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the way.

After they had started on their journey home, one of them, wanting to give his ass some food, opened his sack and espied his money at the sack’s mouth. He spoke of it to his brethren, and their hearts failed them, for they were afraid, and said to one another: “What is this that God has done unto us?”

For years these men had gone on hiding their guilt, and probably thinking that all was right. They had forgotten God’s all-seeing eye. But He sent these seven years of famine to bring them down and confess their sin. Oh! we may think that things done in secret cannot possibly be found out, but God has ALL means at His command and He will shape circumstances so as to bring it out, for He says: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Num. 32:23. “The Lord . . . . will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” 1 Cor. 4:5.

When Jacob’s sons had returned to him, they told him all that happened to them in Egypt. And when they emptied their sacks, every man’s money was at the mouth of it, and when they and their father saw it, they were afraid and Jacob said to them: “Ye have bereaved use of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin: all these things are against me.” Reuben said to his father “Slay my two sons, if I bring him not back; I will take care of him and bring him back to thee.” But Jacob said: “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If anything should happen to him, ye would bring my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.”

ML 08/01/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 5. Part 2.

The man stopped, and William looked thoughtfully from one to the other. A thought arose in his heart: Might not these ragged old men be his brothers, who had once treated him so cruelly? Was it not possible that God had sent them in their misery to him, that he might show them love and return good for evil! To be sure of this he continued his questioning and asked:

“What was the cause of losing the favor of your landlord? Did you do anything wicked?”

It was quite a while before an answer came. Finally the oldest of the men said with a trembling voice: “Yes, sir, it is as you have said. We had been poaching for many years and had killed many deer and other game. They had been suspicious of us for a long time, but could not prove it. At last the whole thing came to light through a dealer to whom we had sold venison. We were, as my brother already stated, arrested, and, having carried on the poaching so long a time, we were punished severely. At first we were full of rage and anger, but by and by other feelings arose in our hearts. We remembered our father, who had often admonished us, because of our evil doings, and reminded us of the righteousness of God. This righteousness had overtaken us now, we felt; but at the same time, we saw that instead of being angry and rebellious, we had every reason to condemn ourselves and to confess our sins to God. After our release we desired to live honest lives; yes, sir, it was our earnest desire so to do; but nobody would have anything to do with us; not so much as a few hatchets would they loan us, so we had to give up the plan of going back to our old occupation.”

“Well,” said William, in whose heart the conviction was growing stronger that these men before him were his brothers, and being moved by deep pity, “haven’t you any relatives in the neighborhood where you came from? Isn’t there anybody who could take care of you?”

“No,” responded the elder one, “we are all alone. Our father settled in that district years ago, coming from another place. He was a wood chopper and his name was Robert Hartmann.”

“And did you not have another younger brother?” asked William, who was hardly able to control himself.

The men looked at each other in fright and then stared to the ground, but not one said a word. After a pause William jumped up, and, going with outstretched arms toward his brothers, said:

“Yes, you had yet another younger brother, and I am this brother! You meant to do me harm, as once the sons of Jacob did when they sold their brother Joseph, but God has turned all for good. He has kept me alive and led me in a wonderful way to this place, to my old grandmother, the mother of our father, which at that time still lived, and who brought me up in motherly love and care. She lived here in this little house which is now mine, in which I have now lived many years in peace and quietness. God has given me besides these earthly possessions, a faithful wife and dear children. And now you are all welcome here with me! I have enough to keep you till you have gained strength, and are able to make your own living. I forgive you for what you have done to me, and hope that God, too, will forgive your evil deeds.”

ML 08/01/1909

Little Cleaners.

THE two girls have been spending some pleasant hours together in this field. Now they are going home to mother with their gleanings. They will most likely return to the same field the next day. The poor woman on the hill is bending to gather the grain. The children may have done this for pleasure, but with the woman, we may be quite sure it is a necessity. The bending woman makes every one of us think of. Ruth.

Ruth, you know, gleaned in the fields of Boaz for Naomi, her mother-in-law and herself. They came back from the land of Moab penniless. Naomi left her own land full but came back empty. Ruth loves Naomi and decides where Naomi goes, she will go; Naomi’s people shall be her people and Naomi’s God shall be her God.

Boaz showed kindness to Ruth, the stranger. He told her not to go to any other field to glean. To his young men he said, “Let her glean even among the sheaves and reproach her not. And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them and rebuke her not.” Ruth 2:15, 16. So we may expect her gleanings to be considerable. When she beat out what she had gleaned, it was about an ephah. An ephah is supposed to be eight gallons. This was quite a rich harvest, don’t you think? So Naomi advised Ruth to continue with the maidens of Boaz in his fields until the end of the harvest. Ruth obeyed Naomi and continued to be favored by Boaz.

When a near kinsman of Naomi did not choose to do as the law of Moses required, Boaz stepped in and bought the field that belonged to Naomi and also married Ruth.

Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus. When the law could not save us, then grace came in. Jesus came all the way from glory to die for sinners like you and me.

Ruth, the poor Moabitish damsel, was united to Boaz, the mighty man of wealth. So we who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour are united to Christ.

“IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.” Col. 3:1.

ML 08/01/1909

Brittany Sheep.

“THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.” Luke 19:10.

Tenderly the shepherd

O’er the mountains roam,

Goes to bring His lost one

Back to His home.

In our picture we have some Brittany sheep. Brittany is a province of France in the north-western part. The shepherd has left the sheep in care of the dog. His shepherd’s crook is lying there. See how watchful and on the alert the faithful dog is. The shepherd can trust the sheep with this wise animal till his return. Maybe one little lamb has strayed away and the shepherd has gone to bring it back. The sheep are gentle creatures but very foolish. For when once they begin to go astray they never turn in the right direction. They are always going farther and farther away.

God has likened poor sinful man to sheep. Isaiah says in the 53rd chapter and 6th verse, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”

The following lines show us the love the Good Shepherd has for his wayward sheep:

“But none of the ransomed ever knew,

How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night that the

Lord passed through

Ere He found His sheep that was lost;

Out in the desert He heard its cry—

Sick and helpless and ready to die.

But all through the mountains thunder-riven,

And up from the rocky steep,

There arose a cry to the gate of heaven:

“Rejoice! I have found My sheep!”

And the angels echoed around the throne,

“Rejoice! for the Lord brings back His own!”

ML 08/08/1909

The Little Wood Chopper.

Chapter 5. Part 3.

The five unfortunate men sat there like statues. While William spoke they did not once lift their eyes to him. His words had struck them with terror and shame. So that kind man which stood now before them, and meeting them in such a loving manner, was the brother they had once treated so cruelly and shamefully? And this brother, instead of rebuking them sharply for their awful deed, and driving them off his place, had only kind and forgiving words for them, even stretching out his hands to help and save them. Quite a while they sat there without saying anything. At last the eldest one stood up, went to his young brother and fell down on his knees, tears flowing from his eyes. William begged him to stand up. “Not until I have heard once more from your lips that you will forgive us our terrible sin,” he sobbed.

The other brothers began to come, and they, too, with many tears, begged forgiveness from their youngest brother. It was a touching scene. “Yes, I forgive you,” said William again and again, for he was deeply touched. “Let the past be forgotten and come into my arms as my brothers.”

Then he lifted his oldest brother from the ground, and embraced him with much feeling also his other brothers. Then his wife and children, which hail until now stood around them, listening to the conversation, came near and shook hands with the strangers, making them feel they were welcome and showing them kindness.

When the storm of emotion had somewhat passed, William and his wife went to the barn to make it as comfortable as could be done under the circumstances, for there was no room in the house for all of them. On the hay, of which there was an abundance, and by the aid of woolen blankets they made a temporary sleeping place on which the overtired men could sleep, but first William asked them to kneel down with himself and family and thank God for His gracious and wonderful leadings. They all obeyed the request, and William’s Voice exalted the grace of God which had made the lost ones come to themselves, though through bitter experience, and when adding to this the prayer that God might still work in their hearts and give them true repentance, and forgiveness of their sins, then the tears began to flow again from these melted hearts. With the assurance that the God of all grace would answer his prayer, William returned to his house. I do not need to say that there also he fell on his knees to praise the Lord, who had done above all that he could ask or think, and pray for blessing to come upon his brothers.

The next morning he began without delay to erect near his own house, a plain little cabin for his brothers, they helping him as much as they were able to.

In the meantime his wife procured stockings, shirts and underwear, and a tailor was called from the nearby village to make trousers and jumpers for the new arrivals. Until the house was completed they slept in the barn, but had their meals with the family. Regular work could not be thought of as yet, as the poor men were so weakened that they needed care for a good while to come, so that they might regain a little strength.

When the house which, of course, was very plain, was finished, it was fitted out with the most necessary things, as beds, chairs, table, etc. Then William bought axes and hatchets for them, that they might take up their former work again. The brothers returned the love and care of their youngest brother with deep gratitude and respect, showing it too in their quiet ways and diligence. The two oldest of the five brothers were so weakened that there was no possibility of making their own living, as they suffered most during their long imprisonment and the hardships afterwards, and only lived a few years longer, but going home, believing in the virtue of the precious blood of Christ, which had cleansed them from all their sins. To the others also the wonderful and saving power of the grace of God was made known. The untiring efforts of their brother William for their salvation were not in vain. One after the other came to the knowledge of their condition before God, lost and ruined, and not long after received living faith in Christ. From this time on it was their joy to read the word of God in fellowship with William and his family, and bow their knees before the God of their salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus the fervent prayers of their father and grandmother were answered, and although neither had received the answer in this scene, yet God did according to their desires in His own good time and way.

William and his wife outlived his brothers many years and enjoyed the privilege of seeing their children’s children grow up, instructed in the truths of God. William often told his grandchildren the wonderful ways in which God had led him in his childhood, and often cried out with the Apostle: “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.

Now unto the young readers of this narrative, may God, in His grace, lead you early to seek Jesus and His light, that you may be kept from the paths of sin, and to go through this world with Him, as His possession, to the praise of His glorious name. The Lord is ever rich in grace and mercy toward all that call on Him while it is called Today.

Translated from the German.

ML 08/08/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 26.

Genesis 43, 44, 45. Benjamin sent to Egypt.

WHEN all the corn was eaten and Jacob and his family had no more food, he said to his sons: “Go again to Egypt and buy us a little food.” But Judah answered: We cannot go without Benjamin for the man solemnly commanded us to bring him, and said we should not see his face unless our brother is with us. Send the lad with me, and we will go that we may not die, we, thou, and our little ones. I will be surety for him. At last, Israel consented: If it must be so, go; take the best fruits of the land and carry down a present to the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices, myrrh, nuts and almonds; and take double money with you and that which was found at the mouth of your sacks. Take also your brother, and go again to the man. And God Almighty give you mercy before him, that he may send back your brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. So they did as Jacob told them and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

When Joseph saw Benjamin coming with his brothers, he said to the ruler of his house: Bring these men home, and go and make ready for they shall dine with me at noon. So the servant obeyed and brought them to Joseph’s house; but they were afraid and said: It is because of the money in our sacks. He seeks occasion against us to take us for bondmen. And to the steward of Joseph’s house they said: We found the money at the mouth of our sacks, but we brought it back, also more money to buy food. We cannot tell who put the money in our sacks. But the steward comforted them saying: Your money came to me, do not fear; it is God who gave you the treasure in your sacks. And he brought Simeon to them, and gave them water, and washed their feet and fed their asses.

When Joseph came home, his brothers gave him the presents they had brought, and bowed before him. He asked them about their father: Was he well and alive? And they said: He is well. Then he asked again: “Is this your youngest brother of whom ye spake unto me?” And to him he said: “God be gracious unto thee, my son.” Joseph could not restrain from crying and he went to his own room, that they might not see him weep. He washed his face and went to them again and told the servants to set on food. And they sat before him according to their ages, at which they marveled, and he sent them each a portion but Benjamin’s portion was five times greater. And they drank and were merry with him. When they had finished, Joseph said secretly to his servant, Put the men’s corn money into their sacks again; and take my silver cup and put it in Benjamin’s sack.

ML 08/08/1909

Little Children.

Jesus can all our sins forgive,

And wash away their stain,

And fit our souls with Him to live,

And in His kingdom reign.

To Him let little children come,

For He hath said they may;

His bosom then shall be their home,

Their tears He’ll wipe away.

For all who early seek His face

Shall surely taste His love;

Jesus will guide them by His grace

To dwell with Him above.

ML 08/08/1909

Mary's Apple Seed.

A SHORT time ago, a little girl in New Hampshire got an apple seed in her windpipe, and as it could not be removed, it was decided that the doctor must come and take it out. Mary was much frightened when they told her the doctor was coming that afternoon. She commenced to cry, “O, Mamma! don’t let him cut me! O, Mamma! I can’t bear it!” and her mamma felt very badly to hear her.

“Mary,” she said, “don’t you remember reading how Jesus carried our sorrows? He tells us to call upon Him when we are in trouble, and He will deliver us. If you ask Him to help you to bear the pain, He will give you strength, and it will not hurt so much.”

So Mary went into the parlor alone to pray, and in a few minutes she came out smiling with the apple seed in her hand.

“I thought Mamma,” she said, “that Jesus could help me get out the apple seed just as well as to help me bear the pain. So I asked Him to help me get it up, and then I coughed, and it came up just as easy.”

God’s word says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”—Ps. 50:15.

ML 08/08/1909

The Sail Boat.

THESE three children do not seem to be enjoying their sail. They are not happy, and now the angry waves frighten them. I think the older boy must have taken his young brother and sister out for a sail in the small boat, contrary to father’s wishes. They were overtaken by a storm, and thus he is getting the due reward of his disobedience. He was indeed anxious, but now is thankful his father came out after them. I suppose the father is in the front of the boat. The sail is up and the wind is taking them to their desired haven. The dear little boy has been comforting his little sister. I trust they will all reach home safely, for the mother will be anxiously awaiting their arrival.

What great sorrow disobedience brings into the world. The scripture says,

“FOR AS BY ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, SO BY THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE, SHALL MANY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.” Rom. 5:19.

God said to Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat.” If Adam did so he would surely die. He ate the forbidden fruit and so death passed upon all men for all have sinned. God’s provision is “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

ML 08/15/1909

The Bible in Madras.

ABOUT twelve years ago, narrates a missionary from India, a native came to me saying, “I have often heard you speak. I believe what you say, but I would like to know more. Please sell me a Bible.”

“But neither you, nor any in your household can read,” I answered; “to what use would you put it?”

“Oh! I know several people who can, in our village, and they will be glad to read to me.” I sold him the Bible and left the country. For several years I lost sight of him, until a few months ago, while on a trip to the interior, I came to his house. I remembered him and asked him what he had done with his Bible. He immediately went in to get it, and 1 Saw at a glance that it had been used a great deal.

His nearest neighbor who was in the habit of reading to him was sent for, and he said to me: “I have often read the book, and its contents are precious to me!”

I put several questions to him and wondered at the clear understanding he had of the Scriptures. He had read the whole Bible, and said he believed fully that the Lord Jesus was his Saviour. A little later I went back to the village and found that the one to whom I sold the Bible was happy in the Lord, and clear as to his salvation, and the members of his family as well. I had the joy on that occasion to baptize seven adults and three children—fruits of the simple reading of the words of life.

In another town (Bookapalnam which is one of my stations) is now found a company brought together by a young man who had never received any instruction from Christians, but, who, having found a Bible, read it, believed its teaching, and went to preach the glad tidings to his friends and neighbors.

In that meeting was an old man who, on account of trials and circumstances, had been absent several weeks. First he had lost his wife, then his eldest son on whom he had counted as the stay of his old age. At each trial his neighbors would say: “The curse of the gods is upon you. The gods of your fathers, whom you should worship, do not allow you to prosper. The new God whom you now serve is unable to deliver you out of their hands.”

He was so under the weight of his trials that he could not be induced to go outside of his house. One day a Christian native woman came to see him, and asked: “How is it that we have not seen you at our meetings these past weeks?”

He very simply stated his doubts and fears, to which she answered: “Have you forgotten the history of Job and of all his trials? Yours are not compared to his, for even his wife was against him. But what did he answer? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? And later he said to his friends: Though He slay me yet will I trust in Him.”

The words of this Christian woman fell as dew on the soul of the poor simple man, and he answered: “Yes, though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him!”

This same woman was greatly persecuted by her husband because of her faith in the Lord. I knew the facts, but never heard a word of complaint from her. One day I asked her: “What do you do when your husband illtreats you because of your faith?”

“I seek to show him that a Christian should be more patient, more kind and loving than one who does not know the Lord, and that the Words of Life are bearing fruit in my heart.” Her husband became dangerously ill. During that time, she devoted herself wholly to him, thinking especially of his need of a Saviour. At his death she said to me, her eyes shining through tears of joy: “I believe, sir, that my husband died full of trust, and faith in our Lord Jesus.”

Until then, she had not been baptized, for her husband had forbidden it. But as soon as she was free, she spoke about it for herself, and her young daughter. Then she said: “I shall have to give up our farm and the ground which produced our income.”

“Why so? can you not cultivate it yourself?”

“I cannot do it,” she replied, “for the ground was given my husband for services which he rendered in the idol’s temple, and as I cannot conscientiously do that, I shall not touch the ground.” “What shall you do to live?”

“I have two hands and am strong; I can carry burdens, work as a laborer, and at whatsoever my hand findeth to do. We do not need much to live.”

And so she did, and her life is a witness for Christ.

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39.

ML 08/15/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 26. Part 2.

The servant obeyed, and in the morning they were sent away. When gone, Joseph told the servant to run after the men and accuse them of having stolen the cup, the silver cup out of which his master drank. The brothers were soon overtaken and told what Joseph had commanded. They wondered very much at this for they knew they had stolen nothing, and they said: “With whomsoever of thy servants the cup is found, let him die, and we will be slaves to my lord.” They took down their sacks, and the servant looked and found the cup in Benjamin’s sack. They rent their clothes and went back to Joseph and fell down before him. And Joseph asked them: “What deed is this that you have done?” Judah answered: “What shall we say unto my lord? God has found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants.” But Joseph said “The man with whom the cup was found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, go back in peace to your father.” Then Judah came near to Joseph and told him how unwilling their father had been to send Benjamin with them and how much he grieved to let him go, and added: “I became surety for the lad unto my father; saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father forever: Now, I pray thee, let me abide instead of the lad and let him go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come to my father.”

Then Joseph could not restrain himself any longer and commanded everyone to go out that he might be alone with his brethren and make himself known to them. And he wept aloud and said: I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt; is my father yet alive? His brothers could not answer him, but Joseph called them near to him and said: Be not grieved, for God sent me here to preserve life. Two years of famine have already past, but there are yet five years in which there shall be no crop. So it was not you that sent me here, but God, who made me as a father to Pharaoh, and a ruler over all this land. Now hasten to my father and tell him his son Joseph is alive, and to come down to me without delay; and you shall dwell in the land of Goshen with all that you have, and I will nourish you during these five years of famine. And tell him of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen.

And Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and kissed him and all his brethren, and they talked with him. I think they must have told him their sorrow at having treated him so cruelly, and must have felt deeply ashamed of their ways toward him when he forgave them so freely. I trust too that they thanked him for his love to them. What a beautiful example for us! “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” There was but One who did this perfectly: The blessed One of whom Joseph is a picture, the Lord Jesus, who, when we were yet His enemies, died to reconcile us to God. And His forgiveness is so thorough, so perfect, that God says of those who have accepted Him as their Saviour: “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. 10:17.

ML 08/15/1909

The Indian Boy's Friend.

A MISSIONARY went to see a little Indian boy who was dying of consumption. He found him in an old hut with a few leaves for his bed, and a dirty blanket for his covering.

“What can I do for you, my poor boy, to relieve your wants?” he asked.

“Nothing, sir,” said the boy. “I want but little; I am very happy Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, died for my sins; and I trust only in Him.”

“Do you find comfort in your Bible?”

“That sir, is my dear friend,” said the dying boy, raising himself on his elbow, and pressing the book to his heart. “Last year I went to visit my sister, two hundred miles up the lake. When I was half way back, I remembered I had left my Bible. I turned directly round; and myself and my canoe were nine days tossing on the lake before I reached the house. But I got my friend at last; and I never mean to part with it till I am dead; and then, sir, I want you to give it away, so that it may do good to others.”

Children, which have you, a dusty or well-worn Bible? Once a good man offered a little boy the choice between a present of twenty-five dollars or a handsome Bible. Said the little fellow: “My mother used to tell me the law of the Lord was better than thousands of gold and silver. If you please, sir, I will have the Bible.” May you all make so wise a choice.

ML 08/15/1909

Come to Me.

Jesus calls to little children,—

And His words are words of love,—

“Come to Me, receive My blessing,—

Come to Me, and live above.”

“But,” you say, “He lives in heaven,

How can I approach Him there?”

Listen, then, to what He utters,

Thus His gracious words declare:—

“Though in glory I am seated,

E’en the softest word I hear,

And the voice of little children

Soundeth sweetly in Mine ear.

“For My love to ruined sinners

To this wretched world I came;

Here I died to make atonement,

Justice now no more can claim.

“Sinners now in Me believing,

Everlasting life receive;

Come, in faith, to Me for pardon—

I have died that thou may’st live.”

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

ML 08/15/1909

David.

When a simple shepherd boy,

David sang his Maker’s praise,

In his God was all his joy

From his very earliest days.

Then, as Israel’s chosen king,

In his splendor and his might,

Still he tuned his harp to sing,

Still God’s praise was his delight.

“O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME, AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER.” Ps. 34:3.

ML 08/22/1909

A Tavern Keeper.

IN the City of C, not far from the cathedral, there lived, a few years ago, an inn keeper. His life was like that of many in his calling, neither better nor worse. He was diligent in business, “looked after the main chance,” as men say, was civil and obliging to his customers, and he was not above taking a glass with them from time to time, “just to encourage business,” and although very seldom drunk, he certainly drank enough to undermine his constitution and prematurely age him. All through the week he was in the house, save when he took a short walk or drive for fresh air, and when Sunday morning came he spent it in bed to get a little extra rest, and to prepare him for the work of the after part of the day. Thus passed the days, months, and years, without one thought or word of God; without his ever coming under the sound of God’s gospel of grace. As far as he was concerned, there might be no God, no hereafter, no bliss or woe. Nothing beyond that which went to make up each day’s sense of comfort or discomfort. In a word he was a heathen in a so-called Christian land. Alas he was not alone in this.

One day his usual place was vacant and many inquiries elicited that he was not very well, and thought it better to keep his bed for a day or two. The days came and went but still he did not appear; yet the business went on, and his busy wife was able to keep matters going as well almost as though he had been there; but what of him? In the little bed room above, the sick man was lying, pale and feeble. At first he had chafed much, but now he was quiet, and, if not resigned, at any rate he did not murmur. An experienced eye would have seen at a glance that death was working rapidly. and that the quiet was that of helpless weakness. He was even then treading the border land ‘twixt this life and the great eternity which lies beyond.

There is something inexpressively sad in one passing away like this. His ever busy wife was not unkind, but she had a busy house to look after, and people to keep at their work; from time to time she would look in, or send one and another to attend to the wants of her sick husband. Was there no one to sit by him and smooth his pillow? No friendly voice to breath words of comfort and love? None to point him to the Refuge of sinners, the Saviour of the lost? None. It was a sight over which Satan might glory; at which angels might weep.

The poor man was in the valley of death with eyes and heart alike blinded. Perishing, and he knew it not! Could even the grace of God meet such a case? While listening to the old familiar sounds which came up from below, he fell to wondering when he would take his place in the bustle and din of life below? Then the thought came, would he ever be there again? And should he not, would it all go on as usual? Probably it would; then he tried to picture to himself what it would look like without him. Such a thing must be some day, and where would he be then? Was there anything beyond this life? Strange that he should not have thought of this before. His old mother—here his heart was strangely moved, and as tears, unwonted visitors, filled his eyes, his heart leaped back with a mighty bound, and again in thought he was a boy. Again in the simple home of his childhood he heard the loving voice of his widowed mother, long since stilled in death. Once more he gazed on her dead face, which bore the marks of many a sorrow, yet ever beamed with love for him, and he longed, oh, how he longed once more to see her. How willingly he would have wiped out all the years which had passed to be able once more to be at her knee. Were she living now would she not be beside him? Oh, what rest to have her near. Was she living now, and where? Again he heard her voice, and although the words seemed to have utterly died out in long years which had passed, they came back now in life and power.

Once more he was a boy standing at his mother’s knee; and she spoke of Jesus, of His mighty power, of His tender love, of His great salvation, yes, he heard it all once more, and his heart burned within him.

But now solemn words followed, once more in spirit he was gazing in her face, and listening to her entreaties to trust in Jesus with all his heart, and never be ashamed of Him who died the cruel death of the cross to save us in His love. Then from her lips he once more took the words of that dear old hymn, which so appealed to his boyish heart.

“Jesus, and shall it ever be,

A mortal man ashamed of Thee?

Scorned be the thought of rich or poor;

My soul shall scorn it now no more.

Ashamed of Jesus! sooner far

May evening blush to own a star,

Ashamed of Jesus! just as soon

May midnight blush to think of noon.

Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend,

On whom my hopes of heaven depend,

No; when I blush be this my shame,

That I no more revere His Name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may,

When I’ve no guilt to wash away,

No tear to wipe, no good to crave,

No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then, nor is my boasting vain,

Till then I boast a Saviour slain!

And O! may this my glory be,

That Christ is not ashamed of me.”

As these words came pouring into his mind, his conscience and heart were at work, and with heart-rending earnestness he cried, “O God! O, God! how have I treated Jesus!” and burying his face in the bed clothes, he sobbed aloud. Yet, strange to say, with the fullest conviction of his fearful sin, and his utter forgetfulness of Christ, there was not despair in his heart. The Saviour of his mother, the One of whom she had spoken, was One to be trusted. One to whom the guiltiest could come. One who would not cast out the vilest who came to Him. One who would save to the uttermost. Even when his heart was broken with anguish, and his conscience condemned him most ruthlessly for his sin against God and His Christ, faith arose in his heart, his mother’s precious faith was now his, and like a wearied child, ashamed of its naughtiness, and yielding to love, he nestled down on her Saviour’s bosom, his too now, and was at rest. Like lightnings flash, for the time was short now, the wondrous power and tenderness of that sweet love filled his soul, and again and again he murmured, as though the thought were now one of utter amazement,

“Jesus, and can it ever be.

A mortal man ashamed of Thee?”

But others must share his joy; and with eager, though trembling hand he rang the little bell by his side, and his wife came at the call. He cried, “Quick, Quick! tell all in the house to come, never mind aught beside, I must have all here for I have not many minutes to stay!”

Soon a wondering group stood around that dying bed, and listened in astonishment as the saved one told the wondrous tale, of how the grace of God met a poor, perishing, hell-deserving sinner like him, that through the death and blood-shedding of God’s beloved Son who died “the just for the unjust” his sins were washed away; “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;” He was a vile sinner and could take his place before God as such and there God’s grace met him. Hallelujah what a Saviour!

Then with quivering lips he gave forth the words of a verse of the hymn and bade them sing with him. There was something in his words and manner which made it impossible for them to refuse this. They sang with him, and as they sang, the precious words touched their hearts. The rough stableman with choking sobs tried to join in, but was fain to desist for very sorrow, sat, and cried as though his heart would break. The hymn was sung, verse by verse and when finished he told each to come near; he took them by the hand and bade them farewell, entreating them the while to trust in Jesus, “and never, never be ashamed of Him,” and lastly he took leave of his wife. Kindly, lingeringly, he pleaded with her, to give up, “all, yes, all for Jesus.” With tearful earnestness she promised to follow him to the bright home whither she was sure he was now going. A few minutes later, and those eyes which had pleaded with such fervent love before, were closed in death: those lips which had pleaded with such thrilling earnestness were stilled; that voice was hushed as the weary one fell asleep on the bosom of his Saviour. “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” There as a trophy of the grace and power of our Lord to save. His testimony remained and shall remain.

O! mothers, who love the Lord, take courage. Cease not to point your dear children to your Saviour. Tell them oft of the love of God, and the work of Christ, plead with them earnestly, morning, noon and night; it will not be in vain. Keep the Word of God before them, you shall reap if you faint not.

The word of God so lovingly told; the hymn so sweetly taught the little one at your knee, shall not be lost, like bread on the waters, it shall be found “after many days.” O! wayward, wandering, forgetful children of godly mothers, remember them who once taught you, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever.

O! mother, father, children, all ye who read this, and have never known, and have never been taught the Saviour’s love, may you learn your need of Him; you are needy! “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

“All are gone out of the way,” “None righteous no not one.” Hear His Word, know your need and come to Him. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

Surely God is far above thee, but humble thyself and He will stoop down to thee and dwell in thy heart.

ML 08/22/1909

Jesus Has Got Me Now.

AT a children’s service, a little girl was listening eagerly to the words of the speaker, as he pressed upon his young hearers the joy of accepting the Lord Jesus as their own Saviour, the child was deeply anxious, and when spoken to burst into tears.

“And are you trusting the Lord Jesus?” she was asked, and at once replied, “Oh, yes.”

“Why, how long has that been?”

The reply was, “Only just now, when you were telling us to trust Jesus, just where we were sitting; and I did.”

As they were about to say, “good night,” the speaker put the following little test before her:

“Now J. —when you came to the service this evening, you did not belong to the Lord Jesus, but you are going out of this place a believer in Him, and belonging now to Him. But tomorrow morning you will perhaps be tempted not to believe that Jesus has really saved you. If Satan does so worry you, what shall you tell him?”

A smile instantly lit up her happy and thoughtful face, and she replied in a simple and yet confident manner, “Oh! I shall tell him that Jesus has got me NOW!”

The ungodly fall over a straw on the way to heaven, but climb mountains to go to hell.

ML 08/22/1909

Not Satisfied.

JUST look at that little miss; she has gathered as many of her toys as she can possibly carry! Her arms are filled, and do you think she is satisfied? Oh, no, soon she will want to put them down, and have something else; and as she gets older she will not want them anymore. She will put childish things away from her, and learn some of the cares of this life. But I trust that such will also learn that there is rest and satisfaction for the soul in believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who has undergone the judgment of God for their sins. Seeing there is no judgment left for them, what rest that gives, and enables them to say, All fear is gone.

Then as to circumstances all through the life, the Lord would have us cast all our cares upon Himself, remembering He is ever ordering all things just as He sees is best.

Then in regard to these weary and tired bodies, the Scripture tells us, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Heb. 4:9.

What a blessing comes to those who accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. If you have not accepted Him yet, do so now, dear reader, and satisfaction and rest shall be yours for time and eternity.

“I SHALL BE SATISFIED, WHEN I AWAKE WITH THY LIKENESS.” Psalm 17:15.

ML 08/29/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 26. Genesis 45-47. Jacob in Egypt.

WHEN Pharaoh heard that Joseph’s brethren had come, he was pleased and sent word to Joseph. Tell your brothers to go back to the land of Canaan to fetch your father and all your house-holds and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and take wagons from Egypt to bring your little ones and your wives and your father, and come. So Joseph gave his brothers wagons, as the king had commanded, and provisions for the way, and to each a change of garment, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments. To his father, he sent ten asses loaded with the good things of Egypt and ten with corn and bread and meat for the way.

The eleven brothers went home rejoicing, and eagerly told their father that Joseph was alive and governor of Egypt. Jacob could not believe the good news at first, but when they had shown him the presents and the wagons sent to carry him to Joseph, he said: “It is enough, Joseph my son, is yet alive, and I will go and see him before I die.” Jacob and his sons began their long journey to Egypt. When they came to Beer-Sheba, Israel offered sacrifices to the God of his fathers. In the night, God spoke to him saying: “I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt: for I will make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.” Then Jacob arose and went to Egypt with all his family; his sons and their wives and their children, in all, seventy people.

When Joseph saw the wagons coming, he commanded his servant to bring his chariot and rode to meet his father. Joseph fell on Jacob’s neck and kissed him, and they both wept a long time. Jacob said: “Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.”

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I will go up and show Pharaoh and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house . . . . are come unto me: and they have brought their flocks and their herds, and all that they have.” And when he asks you what your occupation is, tell him, you are shepherds, that he may give you the land of Goshen to dwell in, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Joseph went and told Pharaoh that his father had come and was in the land of Goshen. He took with him five of his brethren to present them to the king who asked them: “What is your occupation?” And they answered. “We are shepherds like our fathers before us. We have brought all our cattle with us, for there is no pasture in the land of Canaan where the famine is sore. We pray thee, therefore, to let us dwell in the land of Goshen.” Pharaoh said to Joseph: “The land of Egypt is before thee; let thy father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen.” Joseph brought also his father to Pharaoh who asked him how old he was. Jacob answered: “I am one hundred and thirty years old. Few and evil have been the years of my life, and I have not attained unto the age of my fathers.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out.

Joseph gave the land of Goshen to his father and brothers for a possession in the land of Egypt. He fed them with bread all the years of famine. The people still came to Joseph to buy corn, but now all their money was gone. Joseph took it and gave it to Pharaoh. Then the people brought their cattle and gave them for corn, and when they were gone, they sold their fields; so all the land of Egypt became Pharaoh’s, except the land of the priests, which was not sold. Joseph told the people that now they belonged to Pharaoh, and he gave them seed and commanded them to go and sow the land. They were to give the fifth part of all they grew to the king and the rest was their own.

Israel and his people multiplied exceedingly, and had great possessions. Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt, when he felt he must soon die and sent for his son, Joseph, and made him promise he would not bury him in Egypt, but take him out of it and bury him with his fathers in Canaan.

The story of Joseph is wonderful. He knew not, when he was sold and brought to Egypt why it was; nor why he was put in prison; nor why he was so many years alone and sorrowful, far away from his dear father. But God knew why. He is wise and knows the end from the beginning, and never makes a mistake. Shall we not trust Him fully? Since we know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28.

ML 08/29/1909

Sbuzda.

A true story of China.

In that far-off Land of China,

(Where teeming millions dwell)

God’s grace hath wondrous trophies—

Of one I fain would tell.

‘Twas a golden, Lord’s Day morning,

The flowers were sweet and fair;

And the happy birds above them

With music filled the air.

When forth from their humble dwellings,

And into the narrow street,

Some children passed in the sunlight

With swift and eager feet.

They paused at an open doorway–

Then entered noiselessly;

While amidst them toddled Shudza,

A bright-eyed boy of three.

His face was sweet and winsome,

(He loved that House of Prayer)

So he passed within unchallenged,

For all were welcome there.

Then, down on a lowly footstool

He sat most reverently;

He wanted to heat of Jesus—

This Chinese boy of three.

The Teacher smiled on Shudza,

Her face was calm and sweet;

Her heart was full of the lesson

Just learned at her Master’s feet.

So her voice grew low, and tender,

In the Lord’s Day morning-tide,

As she read to the listening children

Of Jesus crucified.

She told them again the story,

How the Saviour came from above;

How willing He was to save them—

So great His infinite love.

And again she read from her Bible,

That Jesus had set them free,

By bearing the whole of their burden,

And dying on Calvary.

As dear, little Shudza listened,

A tear stood in his eye;

So new was the sweet “old story,”

Why Jesus came to die.

Then his spirit stirred within him

(This tiny boy of three,)

As there dawned on his childish vision—

“Then this was all for me.”

And his bosom heaved in wonder,

A light came in his eyes,

While his little hands were lifted,

In strange, yet glad surprise.

Then his burning words came quickly,

And yet most fearlessly—

“O many thanks to Jesus,

Because He died for me.”

Did the angels carry the tidings,

That in that quiet room,

A little child to his Saviour,

In simple faith had come?

That a Chinese boy had trusted,

A little child of three;

And to his faith in Jesus,

Had witnessed fearlessly?

I know not, for such sweet visions

Are hid from mortal eyes;

But I know that a few days later,

(To Shudza’s glad surprise)

His spirit went straight to Jesus,

The Saviour He loved, and knew—

And the pearly gates were opened

To let little Shudza through.

And that pure, and white, and stainless,

From pain and sorrow free,

Through the merits of the Saviour,

There he shall ever be.

O ye, who have heard of Jesus,

Who love His peerless name,

Will ye spread the Gospel wider,

And tell abroad His fame?

Till boys and girls in China,

And men on land and sea,

Have heard the wondrous story,

How Jesus set them free.

ML 08/29/1909

Emily.

ONE day, I saw a little girl twelve years old lying in one of the beds of a hospital, and I asked her, “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“No,” she said, “but I want to very much.”

“Why?” I enquired, and her reply was.

“Because I am a sinner. I have tried to be good, but I do want to come to Him, and to love Him.”

“Well, dear,” I said, “think for a few moments of these two verses, ‘God hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all,’ and ‘His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree’—Now, if God laid your sins on the Lord Jesus, and He bore them, where are they?”

“Well,” she said very slowly, “if God put them on Jesus, and He bore them, I can’t bare them, too.”

“No, dear,” I answered, “but let us look at it like this. God hated sin. He could not look upon it, and must punish it, but the Lord loved little Emily, and bore her sins, and her punishment instead of her, upon the cross.”

She looked up so brightly, and said, “Is that what trust or believe means?

Then I do trust, and will give Him my heart now, and try to be good.”

“But you must leave off trying to be good, and only believe or trust the Lord, and He will give you power to be good after you have truly trusted Him.”

She waited a moment before speaking, and then said, “Is that really all? I want Him to take my heart now. I do trust Him!”

I believe little Emily, then and there, really put her trust in the Lord Jesus, her Saviour; and to you who know your need of the Saviour, I would say, Come to Him, as Emily did, with all your sins, for He will save you. Take your place before God as a sinner, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who bore your sins. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

Jesus shed His blood for sinners, and all who trust Him have their sins washed away, and are made whiter than snow.

ML 08/29/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for July.

“And to you,” etc. 2 Thess. 1: 7.

“And then shall,” etc. 2:8.

“In flaming fire,” etc. 1:8.

“Let no man,” etc. 2: 3.

“And with all,” etc. 2:10.

“That they all might,” etc. 2:12.

“But ye, brethren,” etc. 3:13.

Bible Questions for September.

Answers are to be found in the Second Epistle of Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “Inspiration of God.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “My prayers.”

3.Write the verse containing the words, “That blessed hope.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “Raised from the dead.”

5.Write the verse containing the words, “Disobedient to parents.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Ashamed,” “Testimony.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “Depart from iniquity.”

ML 09/05/1909

The Rose and the Sailor.

LITTLE Emma lived in a sea port town which was constantly filled with sailors from all parts of the world. One beautiful spring day, Emma went into her little garden and found one lovely rose in blossom. For some time she had watched the petals unfold day by day with longing eyes. She had counted on giving it to her teacher, whom she loved and respected very much for all the pains she took to instruct her. With a heart full of joy, she started for school, with the fresh and graceful flower in her hand. On her way she met several sailors who had left a ship just in port. One went this way, one another, but one of them stopped looking at her with longing eyes, and saying in an imploring tone, “Little girl, will you give me that lovely rose?” Not answering, Emma went slowly on her way. Could she give her precious flower to a stranger after having watched and waited for it so long in hopes of giving her teacher pleasure? After a few moments she turned back, and saw the man looking sadly at her. To which should she give it? The fight was hard, but short. With a sweet smile she put the flower into the sailor’s hand. In a trembling voice the sailor said, “I have not seen a rose for years, little girl and this reminds me of home and my dear old mother, whom I may never see again on earth. I hesitated to ask it, as you have only one. May God bless you for giving it to me!” Emma ran on to school, her heart full of joy, for who does not know the pleasure it gives to make others happy. “After all,” she said, “I shall soon have another rose for my teacher.”

The following Sunday Emma went with her parents to the meeting, and on her way, among others, she saw the sailor to whom she had given the rose. Her father invited them to come and hear the preaching from the Word of God. “Not now,” said one of them, “we have just arrived on shore, after being many years at sea. We want a little pleasure now.” They all moved off, but the one to whom Emma had given the rose. Then she said gently, “Come with us I beg of you.” “Well, if it gives you any pleasure, little Miss, I will go. You did not refuse me your rose and I will not refuse you.”

The Saviour-God, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, had ordered all. The servant of God spoke from those precious verses in Math. 11:28, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Speaking to those who were bowed under the weight of their sins, and feared the just judgment of God he pleaded with them to come to Christ, the Saviour of sinners. None could ever say to God that He had not loved them, “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. Many other words followed, tenderly and lovingly the preacher pleaded with his hearers to come to the Saviour. Many hearts were touched, even our sailor wiped away his tears, and he was melted as he went out. He asked Emma’s father for his address. A few days later his ship left for sea. Two years passed, and no sign of life from the sailor. One day Emma received a letter. It was very badly written on a large sheet of paper. This is what the letter contained: “My dear young lady: Perhaps you have forgotten the sailor to whom you gave a rose two years ago. He has never forgotten it and now desires again to tell you how grateful he is. That rose reminded me of my dear mother, who had prayed constantly for my conversion, and when you asked me to go with you to the house of God, I consented, to please you, and out of love to my mother. The preaching was addressed to weary and heavy laden sinners. I was one of them, and God in His grace led me to accept that gracious invitation, and now I rejoice in that Saviour “who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20). Lately, I have thought perhaps I shall never see my native land again, so I now write, what I would so much like to tell you with my lips, also your parents; knowing the joy it will give you.

May God bless you, and enable you to do much good for Him in the world. If I never see you again in this world, we shall meet in the Father’s house on high, Till then, Au revoir!”

Your grateful,

“Richard H.”

Dear children, you see how a little act of kindness was owned of God. The giving of a flower seemed such a trivial act, but what a blessed result followed, being the instrument in the hands of God in bringing a poor sailor to Christ. Do you remember that story in 2 Kings 5, of the little captive maid who told about the true God, and led Naaman captain of the host of Syria to go to be cured of his leprosy, and he went, and thus heard, and believed? There is a verse in Heb. 13:16, I am going to give you, and may God bless it to you all. “But to do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Tell others of Jesus, but you must know Him as your own Saviour before you can talk about Him from your heart, and then you can please God by “doing good” to any. around you. It may be some simple act, like the little girl you have read about. How happy you would be, if you have brothers and sisters, if you tried to help them in any way you could, as well as the dear parents God has given you. Just do it all for Jesus, who first loved you.

ML 09/05/1909

No Time for Jesus.

“What, could ye not Watch with Me one Hour?”—Matt. 26:40.

No time for Jesus! The one who loved you so,

That He left heaven’s glory, that you God’s love might know;

He gave His life a ransom, on the cross of Calvary,

That you by trusting in Him, from sin might be set free.

No time for Jesus! And yet you say you know

That you belong to Him; yet never do you show.

To poor lost souls the way to heaven,

Nor how their sins may be forgiven.

No time for Jesus! The place where He

does meet

His saints, and gives His presence sweet,

Does not know you. At home you stay,

Content to go your selfish way.

No time for Jesus, nor for the hour of prayer;

The only way to escape the tempter’s awful snare.

With business cares you’re taken up,

Or deep you drink of pleasure’s cup.

No time for Jesus, nor for His precious Word,

Which tells you how to live for Him, your dear and loving Lord.

Yet hours you spend on books galore,

Which only wean you from Him more.

No time for Jesus! Yet time you find to spend

For children, home, and loved ones, and pleasures without end.

But when it comes to service for Christ, your Lord the King,

You say you are too busy; you cannot do a thing.

No time for Jesus! If this is true of you,

There’s no reward awaiting for faithful service true.

You will be saved, “just as by fire,” and heaven simply gain,

Because you trusted Jesus, the Lamb for sinners slain.

No time for Jesus, O, child of God, awake,

The Bridegroom’s surely coming, the hour is growing late,

The Word of God commands you, not for yourself to live,

But, “Unto Him,” who did for you His life so freely give.

ML 09/05/1909

The Deer.

WITH fondness the children go to the deer parks, and look through the bars at the deer and watch their graceful and quick movements. They are so timid, and fearful of coming too close. They are not as accustomed to the hand of man or his care as some other animals, and that no doubt is the reason for their timidity.

God’s word also speaks of this gentle and inoffensive animal in a number of places, and there is one of those places I would like to draw your attention to. It is— “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.” Ps. 42:1.

This hart is a species of deer which is not now definitely known. Its desire for the water brooks is used as a symbol of a soul panting after God. I wonder if there are any of my young readers who are in this state, having learned that there is nothing in this world that can satisfy, and finding, also, that there is no good thing in self and are seeking for God?

If there are, I would say to such, God is now seeking after you, and asking you to come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. So the Lord Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.” John 14:6. God has come out to man in all the love of His heart, revealing Himself in the Lord Jesus, and, now, if you desire God, you must come to Him through the Lord Jesus as the One who has died for you. You must accept Him as your own Saviour and then you will no longer be panting after God, as the hart panteth after the water brooks, but you will know what it is to be before Him, accepted in the Lord Jesus, and be able to address God as your Father.

ML 09/05/1909

The Path Through the Wood.

No doubt some of my readers have been in the wild woods, where no path was to be seen, and no mark of man’s work; for the paths we know are made by man or by animals. Man has made, not only paths through forests and over plains, but down into the ground, and has brought out many precious things. He cuts rivers through rocks, and binds up floods from overflowing. All these things show us the wisdom of man, but yet one may ask, where is wisdom? God understands its way, and He knows its place. The whole creation is not too great for Him; He sees, not only in, but under the whole heaven. Nothing is too great for His knowledge and power. He has measured out all and controls all and He has laid down the foundation of all righteousness, and has marked out the path for us to get into His presence. That is wisdom beyond man’s. Man may make many paths on, and under, the ground but God alone can tell us, and make the way for us to get into His presence. Do any ask how has He done it? Or what is that path or way? Jesus, is the answer. God has provided Him for us, and He was the only One who was able to meet the claims of God, and stand in the sinner’s place, so that the sinner could come to God through Him. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the path, then, from earth to heaven, and He is the One who has marked a way for those who have come to God through Him, to walk in down here, and that is, as He walked, or, in other words, His ways.

“TEACH ME THY WAY, O LORD, AND LEAD ME IN A PLAIN PATH.” Psalm 27:11.

ML 09/12/1909

Bible History.

Chapter. 27, Genesis 48-50. Jacob’s and Joseph’s death.

ONE day the word came to Joseph, saying: “Thy father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to his father., When Jacob saw him. he sat up in bed and began to talk to him of that gracious God who had been so kind to him; of His wonderful promise to give him the land of Canaan for an inheritance.

Jacob’s eyes had become dim, and when he saw Joseph’s two sons standing by their father, he did not know them, and asked: “Who are these?” Joseph said: “They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place.”

Jacob told them to come to him, that he might bless them. He embraced and kissed them, and put his hands upon their heads, blessing them both, and their father, saying: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; . . . . and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” “God shall be with you, and bring you again into the land of your fathers.”

Jacob called also his other sons and blessed them, and, by faith, was able to prophesy to each of the things which would happen to them. He told them that through Judah, the One who was to rule the people Israel, the Lord Jesus, would come. Then he commanded them to carry his body, after his death, to the land of Canaan, to the cave of Machpelah and to bury it there, by Abraham and his wife, and Isaac and his wife and his own wife Leah. When Jacob had finished all he wished to say, he lay down again on the bed and died.

Joseph felt the loss of his father very much and wept upon him. All the people mourned for Jacob seventy days. Then Jacob said to King Pharaoh, My father commanded me to carry him to Canaan to his own grave. Let me go now and bury my father and I will come back again. Pharaoh gave him leave, so Joseph and his brothers and their servants went up to Canaan with chariots and horsemen, but their little children and their flocks stayed in Egypt. When they reached Canaan they mourned for Jacob again seven days with great lamentations, so much so that the Canaanites said, when they saw it: “This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians.”

When Jacob’s sons had buried him in the cave of Machpelah, as he had commanded them, and when they had returned to Egypt, Joseph’s brethren began to fear that now their father was gone, the brother, they had so deeply wronged, would requite them, so they sent a messenger to him begging his forgiveness. Joseph wept when he received the message, and they came and knelt before him, saying: “We are thy servants.” But Joseph said: “Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now, therefore, fear ye not: I will nourish you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

How like the Lord Jesus this was! When He was on the cross, nailed there by His enemies, He cried: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And now from the glory where He is, He calls to you, who, by your indifference, by your cold neglect of Him, are crying “Away with Him!” and says, “Come now and let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.” But when His day of grace is at an end, when every place is filled in the mansions He is gone to prepare for His own; then will He say to you if you are not made white in the blood of the Lamb:

“Depart from Me” and “I know you not” “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” Ps. 95:7-8.

Joseph lived one hundred and ten years, and he saw his grandchildren to the third generation. When he was dying, he said to his brethren; “God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” And he took an oath of the children of Israel saying “God will surely visit you and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.”

So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

ML 09/12/1909

What Can I Do for Jesus?

HAVE my little readers ever asked themselves this question? The Lord Jesus has done so much for us. He could not have done more. He not only left the glory above, but He gave His life—Himself—for us. He says: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Those who have tasted the love of Christ, love Him in return; and those who know what great things He has done for them, will ask themselves: “What can I do for Jesus?” It is well too that such questions should rise in our hearts, for His people are entreated to not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.

I read something recently about a little Armenian boy, who with many other Armenian children had been taken into an orphans’ home in Marash. The little boy of whom I want to speak was not only poor, but he was always sick. He had bad blood and had to be in bed a great deal. Well, this boy had heard of the love of the Lord Jesus, and it had won his heart, so that he often asked himself this question: “What can I do for Jesus?” But he was a poor, sick orphan boy; what could he do? He had nothing and could do nothing.

Finally the boy thought of a way, but to carry out his plan would need the cooperation of the nurse who waited on him. He had purposed to refuse the dessert at every meal, which according to the custom there consisted of dry bread and walnuts, or raisins and almonds, or cheese or some fruit, and once in a week he would fast altogether to save money for the home. After a certain length of time, he handed the head man of the home a slip of paper on which he had written: “For the value of 68 half meals, and 16 whole meals which I did not eat, please buy a Bible, and give it to whoever would like to have one.”

The head of the establishment, who, by the way, was a God-fearing man, and who knew nothing of the boy’s plan and fasting was astonished, yet he gladly owned the claims of the boy. He writes afterwards as follows: “It was not hard to find someone to give the Bible to, for there has been an awakening here; souls feel their need of a Saviour, and there is a hunger for God’s word. May the Lord bless the boy, who purchased a Bible with the value of the food he denied himself of, and the recipient of that Bible especially, and may the question rise up in many a heart: ‘What can I do for Jesus?”

Do you, who know the Lord Jesus as you Saviour, not want to ask yourselves this question? The lust of the flesh and the lust of eye is so great in these days, even in children, they want to see all, want to have all. Could you not deny yourselves one or another of your pleasures, and use the money for the work of the Lord, or for His poor? You will Have more good, more joy, more blessing and eternal gain if you really do it for the Lord Jesus. The very words of the Lord Jesus are that it is more blessed to give than to receive; moreover the first mark of His disciples is to deny themselves, etc.

It is undoubtedly true that we cannot really do anything for Jesus until we have learned to know what He has done for us; until we have surrendered to Him and tasted His love. But where the soul enjoys the Saviour and His love, that soul will find a way to serve Him and serve His people. The little boy found a way, and what a sweet savor it must have been to the Lord Jesus to see him denying himself food which naturally he would have relished so well.

ML 09/12/1909

Faithfulness.

A.B. was for several years in the army, and during the latter portion of the time, he was converted to God. When he had finished his term of service, he preferred to claim his discharge as he felt his position was a hindrance to his glorifying God. Being a husband and father, he had to find employment in order to provide for his family, but having no trade, he did not know what to turn his hand to, but trusting in God, he was provided for. In due time he was taken into a house of business as a messenger, and for general useful purposes; thus his temporal wants were supplied, also he was happy in the assurance that he was giving satisfaction to his employers.

One morning the head of the firm asked him to tell a gentleman whom he expected, that he was not at home.

This greatly troubled A. B. He did not like to disobey his master, and, as a consequence lose his position, but his conscience would not permit him to tell a falsehood, and for two or three hours he was very unhappy. But he lifted up his heart to the Lord, and found grace to act as He would have him. A short time before the gentleman was expected, A. B. went to his master, and told him respectfully, but plainly, that he could not say his master was out, when he was at home. He then left the room, leaving the result with the Lord. The master made no comment, either at the time or after, so things went on for some weeks as before, except that when a trustworthy person was required to do anything, or to be sent anywhere, A. B. was chosen oftener than anyone else; the master remarking that he chose him because he could trust him.

A few months after this occurrence, he called A. B. to him, and said he had been asked to find some trustworthy person to fill a certain post, where his attendance would only be required occasionally, and, as he did not know a more suitable person, he had recommended him; adding, “You can go on with your usual business the same as before.” Of course, A. B. expressed his thanks to the gentleman. But how his heart was lifted up with gratitude to the Lord for His mercy in thus abundantly rewarding him for his little act of faithfulness, in not telling a falsehood for gain, or to please his earthly master! Dear children, this needs no comment. I will only quote 2 verses from God’s word, “Them that honor Me, I will honor.” 1 Sam. 2:30.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psa. 118:8.

ML 09/12/1909

Harvest Time.

THE farmers are gathering in the harvest. The horses and colt are grateful for the shade of the tree. They are resting, for their work is not done. Soon they must pull the load home to the barnyard and then return to the fields.

There is much more grain to be cut down before the day is over.

The fields of waving grain make us think of the words of the Lord, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone. But if it die it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24.

The seed is buried in the earth, the root goes down, the stem comes up, grows and grows until the harvest, when many grains are reaped from the one stalk, and all from the one tiny seed that was placed in the ground.

Yes, Jesus the Son of God died, the Just for the unjust, went down into the grave but He rose again, burst the bands of death and is now seated at the right hand of God, bringing many sons unto glory. The Lord says, “Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me.” Heb. 2:13.

Christ is risen so He is the first fruits of them that slept.

It is near harvest time now, but there is a greater harvest coming. The earth is ripe for it, so let us each be up and doing the work of the Lord. At the end, when the sharp sickle is thrust in, may each reader be found at home in glory, forever with the Lord. Working time will then be over.

“BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY; AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME TO GIVE TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE.” REV. 22:12.

ML 09/19/1909

Janna.

JANNA was three years old when her father died, leaving her with her mother in poorest of circumstances. Because mother was compelled to go out working, she had to be put in a Kindergarten. Here the little one, through a Christian teacher, heard for the first time of the Lord Jesus as a, Saviour, who is now in heaven, and loves little children so much. This made a deep impression upon Janna, and at the first opportunity, slipped away from her teacher to go to the Lord Jesus. In her childish simplicity, she thought there must be somewhere on the horizon, a door opening to heaven; but, alas! she had to return without having her desire satisfied. The way was longer than she had thought it to be. At another time she began crying when teacher was speaking in glowing words on the glories above, and the joys of the saved ones. On inquiring why she was crying, she said: “I do want to go to heaven too!”

In course of time mother took her home again. They lived in a small room in a large village near the border of Holland. In those days, they often lacked the necessaries of life, and more than once the little one had to go hungry to school. The earnings of mother were so small that people nowadays could hardly think it possible to be true. In summer time, she worked from four o’clock in the morning, till ten or eleven o’clock at night in the farmers’ fields.

In winter time she would knit stockings. But work was not always to be had, which was indeed hard for the poor. How good it was for Janna to know the Lord Jesus, and to learn more of Him daily in school, and learn to know Him, too, as the one to whom she could tell all her troubles, and whose pleasure it is to show His grace and power in sustaining and comforting the poor and needy, widows, and orphans. A little to one side of the road on the way to school, there stood a tree that had grown crooked along the ground. Here was Janna’s retreat for prayer; here she told Him when she was hungry, and again and again she experienced that God answers prayer.

“Here, Janna, take my lunch. I am not a bit hungry,” said Talka to her. Talka was the daughter of a well-to-do farmer, but she, too, loved the Lord, and He had drawn the hearts of the two together in tender and loving friendship. Sometimes Talka would ask Janna to take a walk with her into the woods. and would. never neglect to take a big sandwich along for her friend. Selecting some secluded spot, they would sit down on the soft moss, talking to each other about the Lord and heaven. Kneeling down they would ask the Lord to take them too, to be with Him. Janna had another friend, Folkea; she was as poor as Janna,’ but she, too, knew the Lord as her Saviour. One day these two girls went to glean wheat in the harvest fields. Already the wheat had been mowed and the fields were being gleaned by the workers; but the poor girls thought there might be a little left that had not been seen. Before going to work, Janna suggested that they ask the Lord to help them find much; so they hid behind some sheaves, knelt down and brought their desires before the Lord in child-like simplicity and faith. Just as they had ended their prayer, and beginning to work, a rough voice made them look up in terror. A big strong man, with a stick in his hand, came cursing and scolding towards them, saying with a threatening gesture: “What are you doing in my wheat field?” It was the owner who thought the children had come to steal. The two stood trembling, not knowing at the first what to say; finally Janna took courage, stammering: “We only asked the Lord Jesus to make us find a great deal of wheat in the fields where we may glean.”

The simple words of the child softened the heart of the man. He could read in the innocent look that she had spoken the truth; besides, he knew her mother to be an honest woman. In a different manner, and voice he said: “Well, if it is so, you may glean on my whole farm, and where my workmen have not yet gleaned, you may gather as much as you can carry.”

What joy filled their little hearts! How the faithful Lord had answered their prayer! Janna gathered on this and the coming days, enough to last them for some time.

Winter was especially hard for Janna and her mother. In those days poor people had no stoves, but an iron plate above which was the chimney. On this they burned dry sticks which they gathered in the woods; but the fire was not sufficient to give them comfort, besides they were poorly clothed.

The mother took suddenly sick, which burdened her heart, and she wondered what would become of them now. It had been hard enough when she was well, but how. would they fare while she was sick. Again, Janna knew what to do; she went to the same source from which they had already received innumerable blessings. She asked the Lord to restore her mother to health again and behold the Lord heard and soon the sick one could leave her bed. Still another trial was before them. All food had gone, because mother had not earned anything for some time. With tears in her eyes, she was compelled to send Janna, to school without breakfast, and how should they get a dinner? On the way to school Janna went to her old retreat for prayer, knelt down and said: “Blessed Lord Jesus, give us something to eat this noon.”

Meanwhile mother went to look for work. She went first to a farmer’s wife, asking her if she had some knitting for her to do.

“No, I have nothing for you at present,” she said, at the same moment the thought came to her, the poor woman might not have anything to eat, and therefore put the question: “I suppose you haven’t many potatoes left?”

“No,” came the answer, “I have no more.” The kind woman got an apron full of them and gave them to her. With a thankful heart she went home, and how the eyes of Janna beamed when she saw a dish of them steaming on the table when she came home at noon. They tasted so much better to her than ever before, because the Lord had provided them.

At eleven years of age Janna took care of a farmer’s cows. Quite often she could be seen driving the animals to the meadow with the big Bible under her arm. She used her spare time in reading the precious book.

Through constant reading in the word of God, Janna learned more of the Lord Jesus, and what is pleasing to Him, striving faithfully to act as He wished her to do. In doing this she had to learn something that all children of God have sooner or later to learn, that is, that we are not able to do the good we should. Over and over again she would do that which was wrong and would bring dishonor to the Lord’s name and disturb her own peace. Then she thought she was not fit for heaven because nothing impure can enter there, and yet it was her heart’s desire to be with the Lord. The poor child did not yet know that all whet believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and found forgiveness of their sins and peace with God through believing in Him and His work on the cross, are in God’s sight holy, spotless and without blame. During this time the Lord gave her a nice dream. One night she saw herself lifted up into heaven by a multitude of angels, where she was surrounded by an inexpressible glory.

The dream made her very happy for a few days, but as time went on she lost her joy, being at times very unhappy and crying much. This did not do her any good either. As sincere as her sorrow over past failures was, neither her tears nor her prayers and good resolutions could bring lasting peace and joy to her heart. This state of her soul lasted till she by faith understood that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus alone makes us fit for heaven; then rest and peace entered her heart and she understood now the meaning of the verse in 1 John 1:7: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

Janna is a gray-haired old lady now; her heart is still loving the Lord and enjoying the peace of God, longing for the moment when the Lord shall come to take His own home to be with Him and then to see Him as He is and to be like Him, never to grieve Him any more.

ML 09/19/1909

"I Did Not Know Where I Was Going."

IT WAS a lovely morning. The July sun sparkled on the dancing waters of a beautiful lake, as a merry party rowed across it to a quiet spot, where they were soon enjoying themselves in the water, with all the exuberance which is peculiar to the most attractive recreation of bathing.

But how quickly such scenes may change! An incautious leap into the water, a smothered cry for help, and a young girl was struggling face to face with death. It is needless to dwell on these three or four minutes of intensified agony, that appeared so long, until, through the mercy of God, friendly hands were able to lift into a boat the unconscious form, which a few minutes before was bright with young life.

Presently they could rejoice to see breathing restored; she was resting quietly, and then she began to realize how she had been on the very threshold of eternity. Solemn were the thoughts that pressed on all amidst our thanksgiving, while a special gravity was in the young heart of her, so recently snatched from death. These were the words that fell from her lips: “O, the agony of mind I felt when I saw no escape from drowning, and I did not know where I was going. O! I shall never forget it—may I never forget it!”

And why should not this incident that spoke so loudly to my young friend, have a voice for you, dear reader? Will you not let it bring to you the moment, which may be much nearer than you think, that shall usher you into the presence of God? Who can tell the dreadful agony of facing that moment with no assurance of acceptance, but, on the contrary, with a fearful looking for of the judgment that follows death. For “it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment.” Are you content to drift on to that inevitable hour, without thought, or, it may be, with putting the thought away because it is unwelcome?

God, who in your heart you dread, my reader, loves you, pities you, and sends you warnings to disturb your false peace, so that you may find true rest in His own love, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray you do not put off these things till you, too, have to face death, and then learn by awful experience what it is to have no hope.

ML 09/19/1909

The Pet Lamb.

THIS picture makes us think of the poem you all know so well “Mary had a little lamb.” When asked why the lamb loved Mary so, the answer that Mary loved the lamb, makes us think of a verse in the Word of God you all know. “We love Him because He first loved us.” Yes, children, His, love for us drew us on. He came in love to seek and to save that which was lost. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way. But that Good Shepherd came out from glory to find us and save us.

The lamb in the picture is dependent on the girl for its food and shelter. She loves her lamb, and I’m sure never forgets it. She loves to feed it and would not think of leaving it out in the cold. She also finds great pleasure in her iamb. She marks it with the ribbon round its neck, so all who pass by it know someone loves and cares for it. She enjoys playing with it and they have many happy frolics together in the sunshine.

The girl finds great delight in bestowing love on her pet. But children think of this:

“BEHOLD, WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD.” 1 John 3:1.

ML 09/26/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 29. Exodus 1, 2. Moses.

MANY years passed since Joseph’s death, and that of his brethren. A new generation of Israelites now lived in Egypt; they were very many, the country was full of them. A new king was reigning who did not know Joseph. He was cruel and hated the Israelites.

When he saw how they multiplied and were growing strong, he said to his people:

The children of Israel are more and mightier than we. We must deal wisely with them, less they multiply and it happens that when we go to war, they join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and go out of the land. He therefore set hard task masters over them, and commanded them to do hard work in the fields and to make bricks. But the more they were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew.

God was fulfilling his promise to Abraham many years ago: “In blessing, I will bless thee, and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore.” God never forgets His promise to His people, for He is ever faithful. But had He not forgotten His promise to Jacob to bring him back to the land of Canaan, which He had given him for a possession? Ah! no. We read that God told Abraham that his children should go to a strange land and be afflicted there till the end of four hundred years. God knew the time. Soon the four hundred years would be over, then the Israelites would be sent home to their own land again. God saw fit to teach His earthly people patience, and dependence upon Him. It is in trials and afflictions that we often have to learn God’s wonderful power and love, and He is able to make us happy through it all.

But Pharaoh, the cruel king, neither knew nor feared God, and he tried again and again to destroy the Israelites. He commanded that every boy born to them, should be thrown into the river and drowned.

There was, in the tribe of Levi, a man named Amram, and his wife Jochebed, to whom God had given a baby boy. He was beautiful, and they loved him, and tried to save him from the cruel king. For three months, the mother hid her child that he might not be drowned. But as he grew larger, she could hide him no longer. But she knew God could keep her little boy if she could not. He can help us, no matter what trouble we happen to be in, and He can take care of us when our dearest friends cannot. He was pleased now to help this poor woman who trusted in Him, and to take care of her child.

The mother gathered some bulrushes, and platted them into a little basket or ark; she daubed it with slime and pitch; then she gently placed her baby into it, and carried it to the river, and left the ark among the high grasses and reeds on the river’s brink. In faith, she gave him up to God who alone could keep him.

Her daughter, Miriam, stood afar off to see what would happen to the child. Soon she saw some people coming—some young girls, Pharaoh’s daughter and her maids. They walked along by the river, for the princess was going to bathe. The king’s daughter spied the ark among the bulrushes, and sent one of the maids to fetch it. The young girl ran, and took up the ark and brought it to her mistress, and when she opened it, she saw the poor babe crying. The princess was filled with pity for it and said: “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Miriam drew near and asked: “Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?” Pharaoh’s daughter said: “Go.” Miriam ran home for her mother, to whom the princess said: “Take this child away and nurse it for me and I will give thee thy wages.” The mother brought him home, and, we may feel sure, praised God for His goodness. She nursed her boy and he grew. When he was a little older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son, and she called his name Moses, for she said: “I drew him out of the water.”

ML 09/26/1909

Content and Happy in the Lord.

MANY years ago there lived in the neighborhood of Magdeburg, in Germany, in a little house, a poor widow and her only son, twenty-eight years of age, having been blind thirteen years.

The few necessities of life, the mother earned by selling small articles, and by working for the village people. The blind son remained at home all alone, praying and spinning. Evenings, when mother came home, the old handed-down treasures were brought out; these were the large Bible, a singing book, and a few other good books of a Christian character. Then mother read to herself and her son, and the blind man’s soul was lightened, and warmed by hearing the word of life. To their mutual sorrow, the old woman had been compelled to read very loud of late, for the ears of her beloved son were beginning to close, also.

It was the end of the year 1848 when one Lord’s day after the meeting, our blind man, led by a boy, appeared at the village school-master’s house to see the preacher who was stopping there. From passing strangers, our friend had heard that a young girl was performing wonderful cures on many sick, and such as could get no more help from physicians were made well. Now he desired to know if the word of God would allow him to ask the help of this girl. The minister who had to go to another place just then to preach the gospel, promised to see him and talk with him about this matter some other more convenient time.

A few days afterward he was able to redeem his promise, and appeared in the little room of the blind man, who sat in a dark corner, occupied with the yarn he had spun. The servant of the Lord sat down and began to talk about his plan more in detail. In a loving way he told him how it might, after all, be a deception, and not of God; but yet that God was able to do wonderful things, and often through weak vessels shows his power to deliver and to heal.

“It is not impatience at the sufferings that God in His wisdom has allowed to come upon me, has made me wish to be healed. I have been, as you know, blind about thirteen years, but the Lord has not left me without comfort in this time of darkness. You gave me a verse shortly before my eyes began to trouble me: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’ Ps. 119:105. I am not sad or discouraged because I am blind, for I know Jesus and His light. I sit here all day alone, for mother must go out and earn the living, but the Lord is near me while I spin, and He refreshes my soul with the precious verses and songs I have learned in my youth. And I meditate upon what mother has been reading the night before. Our meals are plain and sometimes very little, but we have always had enough to satisfy our hunger; I know, too, that the Lord will provide in the future, even should He take mother before me. I am altogether content and happy in the Lord. It is another reason which has made me desire to seek the help of this girl. Some time ago my hearing, also, became affected, and it is probable I may become entirely deaf. You will call to remembrance the great thunderstorm we had last summer. Mother had gone out and left me locked up in the house. After a few hours she returned with some women, and they spoke together of the awful thunder and lightning. Then a great fear and anxiety came over me, because I had not heard anything. And since all around us seems to indicate that the Lord’s coming is very near at hand, I was afraid I should not be able to hear the sound of the trumpet which will announce His coming. You see, this is my only burden, and I had wished to be healed of my deafness at least, though I might not get my sight back.”

At this point the Lord’s servant could, not refrain himself any longer. Taking hold of both hands of the blind, he said with tearful eyes: “When the Lord Jesus comes, He will open wide your ears and your eyes, and reveal Himself to you in His grace and glory. He will never leave you here and will not forget you.”

Then the face of the blind began to brighten up and tears of joy filled his eyes. From that time on he desired no more to be cured by that young girl; the anxiety of his heart had been taken away from him.

The Lord’s servant has not forgotten this little incident in the cottage of the blind. Often, when he would get impatient, and life’s burden and cares press heavy on him, he would think of the simple words of the blind man: “I am content and happy in the Lord,” and with shame and humility he would confess how far he was yet behind even this poor blind man, and instead of murmuring, thanksgiving and praise would go up to the Giver of all good.

ML 09/26/1909

"Must I Believe Before I Feel?"

SOME years ago, as I was leaving my home, a woman requested me to visit her aged mother. As we entered the room, the old lady said, “I know you will tell me the truth; I want to know what I must do to be saved.”

“We will look into the word of God,” I answered, “for there we shall find a true answer to the question. An account is given there of a man who once asked the same question, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ and if we could find out by what means he was saved, then you could surely rest on that foundation.”

We turned to Acts 16, and read the story of the jailer at Philippi, how he asked this question, and the answer which was given him: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

“But must I believe before I feel?” my aged friend inquired.

“Yes,” was the answer. “God never speaks in His word about our feelings as affecting our salvation, for they are not the same for even one day. He says, ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.’”

After speaking to the old woman for a little longer on the importance of trusting simply to the word of God, and not to our thoughts or feelings, I left her, praying that the Lord would bless her soul.

The next time I visited her she put up her feeble hands as I entered the room and said, “I am very weak, but, O! I am so happy, for I am trusting in Jesus.”

Soon after she passed away to be forever with the Saviour, in whose finished work she had trusted.

Dear reader, can you say her Saviour is your Saviour, too? If not, trust in Jesus now. The Lord may not allow you to remain for a, long time on a sick bed, as He did this aged one, and if called away suddenly to meet the Lord, how precious to be able to say, “It is well with my soul, for I am going to meet the One who died for me.”

ML 09/26/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for August.

1. “For there is one,” etc. 1St Tim. 2:5.

2.“But they that will be,” etc. 6:9.

3.“I exhort therefore,” etc. 2:1.

4.“And without controversy,” etc. 3:16.

5.“This. is a faithful,” etc. 1:15.

6.“And having food and,” etc. 6:8.

7.“In like manner,” etc. 2:9.

Bible Questions for October.

Answers to be found in the epistle to the Hebrews.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “It is not possible.”

2.Write the verse containing the words “Be content.”

3.Write the verse containing the words “The living God.”

4.Write the verse containing the words “Escape,” “neglect.”

5.Write the verse containing the words “Despising the shame.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “For ever and ever,”

7.Write the verse containing the words “Will not tarry.”

ML 10/03/1909

A Young Man's Story.

ONE fine autumn day, the inviting weather drew two voting men to engage in their favorite pastime—a row up the river. After rowing for a considerable distance, they came to a bridge, where they stopped, and, being hot, they agreed to have a bathe. After swimming for some time, they began to vie with each other, when one of them climbed one of the posts supporting the foundation of, a part of the bridge, which was under repair, and into the river he dived. Little did the young man know what he had done! He had plunged in amongst the woodwork below the surface of the water, and there he was fixed, and could not stir! He gave himself up for lost, and in a moment, all the darkest events of his life crowded into his mind, and he felt he must perish forever.

God was gracious, however. His friend succeeded in pulling him out of his perilous position, and he was saved just in time.

A few weeks passed away, and there was no turning to God, or true thankfulness in the young man’s heart. Once more he was on the river in a racing boat, when, through inexperience, he was upset. He just managed to clutch hold of the overturned boat, and to hang on, as the stream carried him away with it. Presently a boat put off from the shore, and he was rescued, and strange to say, on the very spot where he had seen a man drown.

This second deliverance made him really afraid. How would it be with him, he felt, should God cut him off? When the following Sunday came, the weight of his guilt hung heavily upon him, yet he did not ask God for forgiveness, but continued in misery for weeks.

A young man of his acquaintance at this time called upon him, with the greeting, “Well, old fellow, how are you?” and then added in a tone of deep earnestness; “and how is it with you and the Lord Jesus?” To this question no answer was returned, but they both started at once for a Bible class for young men, which was followed by a short prayer meeting, at the close of which this same God fearing fellow invited those who did not know the Lord Jesus to hold up their hands. Some did so; others had not the courage, and amongst these was he of whom our story tells. Again, such of the young men as did know the Lord were asked to hold up their hands, but still from A. came no response.

That evening, on his return home, A. prayed God to forgive him his sins, and to accept him as a servant of His, and this, such as God’s grace, we are sure He did there and then.

When the young men’s Bible class next assembled, what we have recounted here was told by A. Now, to the question, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” he is glad, indeed, to answer, “I am!”

Young men—it is a young man who addresses you—do not hold back, as A. did at first, if you really desire salvation. You will never regret a bold front for Christ. Christ will keep you, and He will stand by you, and through Him you shall overcome. Whatever our temptations are, the Lord will keep us, and one thing is certain—the joy He gives, and the pleasure of serving Him, is better than everything else.

ML 10/03/1909

The Loving Mother.

BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE; IN HONOR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER.” ROM. 12:10.

Here we have a girl who has hurt her, foot while gathering shell fish along the coast of a country far over the sea. Her brother and she were likely helping mother when the accident occurred. Their sharp eyes and willing steps would soon help to fill mother’s basket. The fishing is over now. The other fishers are left behind and mother and children are hastening home where the foot will be properly cared for. The foot has been hastily bound up and, look, how carefully the mother carries her daughter, so that the foot will not be injured any more.

The girl, I am sure, is heavy, but the love in the heart of the mother keeps her from feeling the burden.

The boy willingly carries the net and basket of fish. His face shows how sorry he is for his sister. I am sure they are happy playmates. He seems to wish it had been his foot, rather than his sister’s.

Love like this should make us think of the wondrous love of the Lord for us.

God loved the world of sinners lost,

And ruined by the fall;

Salvation full at highest cost;

He offers free to all.

O, ‘twas love, ‘twas wondrous love!

The love of God to me;

It brought my Saviour from above,

To die on Calvary.

ML 10/03/1909

Talks with the Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Ass.

CHILDREN in this country do not know much about the donkey or ass, as we very seldom see one in Canada, owing perhaps to the fact, that the donkey cannot well stand the cold weather. But English children all know the little grey or brown donkey, with the black cross on his back. He is used to draw small carts, and carry loads, and in every sea side town you see numbers of them, with pretty little saddles on, waiting to be hired; and what fun it is for the children who get a donkey ride. However if we were to visit Egypt, or the land of Canaan, we should see far more asses than even in England; in these warm countries they seem to thrive better, and to grow larger. They are perhaps treated better, and are not so lazy and stubborn as we are accustomed to think them. Indeed, if a donkey is well treated he is an intelligent, as well as a useful and faithful beast. We read a great deal about asses in the Bible. They were kept in large numbers, and constantly used to ride upon. In times of war, horses were oftener used, but asses in the time of peace, and so our Lord who was the “Prince of Peace,” made His entry into Jerusalem on an ass, while the little children ran beside, crying, with the older people, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The people of Israel did not want the meek and lowly Jesus; they would have liked a grand soldier, ready to go to war, and mounted on a tall war horse, and yet, they ought to have expected their Messiah to come riding upon an ass, for the prophet Zechariah had told them long before. He would come in this way. He says, “Rejoice greatly, O, daughter of Zion; behold thy King cometh unto thee, lowly and riding upon an ass.” Zech. 9:9. Ah, the people did not want the lowly Jesus, the One who had humbled Himself, and came into this world to bring peace; and how did He bring it? “He made peace by the blood of His cross.” It would take too long to mention all the people who rode upon asses in the Bible days. There was Abraham, when he took his son to the mountain God told him of, there to offer him up; and Joseph’s brothers, when they went into Egypt for corn, and found the ruler of the land to be their own brother; and in the times of the judges, we read of one named Jair, who had “thirty sons, that rode on ass colts.” Judges 10:4, And do you remember the rich woman of Shunem, whose little son was taken ill in the harvest field, and he lay on her knees until noon, and then died, and she laid him on the prophet Elisha’s bed, in the little room she had built for him on the wall, and then, telling her servant to saddle an ass for her, she rode to meet the prophet, to tell him all her sorrow. And could he comfort her? Yes, indeed, for he came back with her, and by the power of God, raised that little boy from the dead. But while we are talking of asses, we must not forget Balaam, the covetous prophet, who was hired by the heathen king Balak to curse the people of Israel, while they were travelling in the wilderness. Balaam knew he should not do it, but then he wanted the rich presents of gold and silver the king offered him, so off he set on his faithful ass. He had ridden her many times before, and she had always gone steadily and quietly along, but on this journey, she behaved in a different way, and when we know the reason, we cannot wonder. All at once the ass saw in front of her, an angel, with a drawn sword in his hand. Poor ass, she felt frightened, and she stepped aside into the field by the road. Then Balaam, who was carrying a stick, hit the ass, to make her come into the road again. You see, God did not show him the angel; only the ass saw him. Now, they came into a narrow path between two walls, and again the angel appeared, but the poor ass could not turn aside, but she squeezed herself against the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot, then he hit her again. The angel moved back a little to a very, very narrow place, where there was no room at all to turn either way, and when the ass saw the angel the third time, she fell down, and Balaam hit her again, in great anger. Then a wonderful thing happened—the Lord had opened the ass’s eyes to see the angel, but now he opened her mouth, and she spoke to her master, and said, “What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” You would think Balaam would have been terrified to hear his ass talking to him, but he felt so angry, he just said, I wish I had a sword and I’d kill you. Foolish Balaam, to be so carried away with passion and wicked Balaam, to be disobeying the Lord for the sake of gold and silver. But now the Lord opened the man’s eyes, as well as the beast’s, and he, too, saw the angel, with a sword ready to kill him, and you may be sure he was frightened, but, now the angel spoke to him, asking him why he smote his ass, and telling him she had saved his life by turning aside. I wish I could tell you that Balaam grew good now, and obedient, but alas! he did not; the love of money was too much for him, and we read later on that he was killed fighting against God’s people. I do not know any more about the ass, but we can learn from this story that God uses whoever and whatever He pleases to do His bidding.

ML 10/03/1909

Sunday Morning.

THIS is the name the artist gave this picture. It is early morning and the shepherd begins the day aright. Do all our readers do the same? “My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3.

The sheep have spent the night safely in the fold. The faithful dogs have done their duty.

While their master offers up prayer and thanksgiving to God, they remain at his side awaiting orders.

The shepherd has rested during the night in this covered wagon. Notice that the end of the wagon toward the sheep is open. The least stir in the fold, or bark of the dogs, would awaken him. He is a good shepherd, like David of old, who took such good care of his father’s sheep, that when a lion and a bear came out to devour them, he slew the lion and bear. No hireling would do this. David was not, neither is this shepherd.

The sheep know his voice. Though sometimes stupid, the sheep learn quickly to know when a stranger calls them.

On a farm in the west, one evening, I tried calling the sheep into the fold from the darkening woods. The shepherd was standing close by, but the more I called, the farther they ran away. Then the voice they knew called them. The sheep came at once and entered their fold.

What a peaceful scene this picture shows us! Many of the sheep are still resting, while others are ready to leave at the shepherd’s bidding to go out and find pasture.

This teaches us a good lesson. What a sense of security to be under the Good Shepherd’s care. There are lambs in this flock too, and they will get the special care of the shepherd. So the Lord cares for the young believers. He knows better than any the temptations of this world. But if any reader is not a believer he cannot claim that special care. The unsaved have none of that peace, which those have who trust in the blessed Saviour and they cannot know what real happiness is. The reader who trusts in Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, is indeed happy.

“HAPPY IS HE THAT HATH THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP, WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD.” Ps. 146:5.

ML 10/10/1909

Bible History.

Chapter, 30. Exodus 2. Moses in Midian.

PHARAOH’S daughter nourished Moses as her own son and had him taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, so that he became mighty in words and deeds. The Egyptians knew many things, and had much wisdom, but not the wisdom of God. They did not know that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov. 9:10. They worshipped animals: bulls, sheep, crocodiles, dogs and cats. But the Israelites remembered the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the mother of Moses, no doubt, taught him holy things, true wisdom, when he was a very little boy, for when he was fully grown, he remembered it and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (Heb. 11:25.) The apostle John says: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Jesus said to His disciples: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” Matt. 6:19, 20. When Moses was forty years old, he went to visit his brethren, the Hebrews, who were suffering so much in Egypt, and looked on their burdens.

One day, he saw an Egyptian, cruelly beating one of the Hebrews. He looked this way and that way, and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. He supposed his brethren, the Hebrews, would understand that God, by his hand, would deliver them. But they understood him not. The next day, Moses went out again, and that day he saw two Hebrews fighting. He said to him that did the wrong: “Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?” But he answered: “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?”

Moses was very much afraid at these words for he thought the people knew what he had done. When this king heard this, he sought to have Moses killed, but Moses fled from Egypt into the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. As he sat there, there came to the well seven maids, the daughters of the priest of Midian. They filled the troughs to water their father’s flock, but the shepherds came and drove them away. Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock.

When they came to Jethro, their father, he said to them: “How is it that ye are come so soon, today?” They answered: “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and also drew enough for us, and watered. the flock.” Jethro asked “Where is he, why is it that ye have left the man? Cali him, that he may eat bread.”

Moses lived with Jethro, and sometime after married one of his daughters who was named Zipporah.

Moses had not now the riches of Egypt which he had in the king’s house; he was a poor man, keeping his father-in-law’s sheep in the wilderness. But the Lord was with him, teaching him what he could not have learned from the wise men of Egypt and preparing him for the great work, He had for him to do. For he was God’s instrument to be used to deliver Israel from Egypt.

It come to pass that, as time went on, the king of Egypt died. But it did not lighten the Hebrews’ trials, for they continued to be afflicted, and their cry came up to God, and He heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He looked upon the children of Israel and had respect unto them.

We may be sure that God hears our cries and prayers. He knows all our sorrows and sees all our tears and will help us bear them if we cry to Him for help.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Ps. 50:15.

ML 10/10/1909

Talks With the Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Bear.

YOU have all seen pictures of bears, and I daresay many of you have seen a real live bear. Did you ever see a big white bear, a Polar Bear, they call him, because he comes from the cold countries near the North Pole, where it is all snow and ice? How cold we should be up there, but Mr. White Bear, has such a thick fur coat, he does not mind the cold a bit; he just enjoys sitting on an iceberg, waiting for a fat seal to come along. Poor seal, he feels very frightened when he sees the huge white bear, but he is caught, and eaten too, so fast that he has not much time to think about it. I think it must be very hard for the bears who are used to such a cold climate to come down to warm countries. Their fur coats must feel very hot and heavy in summer time. Did you ever notice, little children, how God provides each animal with food and clothing, according to the part of the world He means them to live in? When He put the white bear up in the cold frozen North, He dressed him in a heavy coat, quite able to keep him warm, and made him able to eat the seals, which live up there in great numbers. Now, the brown bear, whose home is in the woods, where the climate is much warmer, has quite different food, and not nearly such warm clothes. He eats roots, and berries, which grow in the woods, and he likes honey, too, and often robs the wild bees of the sweet food they have made with such care. Some friends of mine were once camping on the hills, near a large river. They had a tent, and outside the, tent was a little cooking-stove. One day when they were out, a brown bear came to see what the camp was like. Near the tent was a sack, which had bread, and pork in it. The furry visitor liked the smell of this sack, and he shook it, and ran round with it, trying to get the pork, until he upset the stove, and everything in the tent. What a mess the poor young men found their camp in when they returned. and every bit of food gone. I do not think a bear is a pleasant visitor, do you? Bears are very, very strong. They can carry heavy loads—a cow even, or a sheep. They sometimes walk on their hind legs, and men have taught them to dance, by catching them very young, but they teach them in a very cruel way, and are often unkind to them, as they lead them round the country to perform.

There is a very sad story in the Bible about bears. Many, many years ago, in God’s land of Canaan, there was a town called “Bethel.” It was built on the same spot where Jacob had his beautiful dream of a ladder going up to heaven, and the Lord standing at the top. When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, . . . this is none other but the house of God,” so he called it Bethel which means “the house of God.” But at the time I am going to tell you about, it was a very wicked city, for a golden calf had been set up there, and the people worshipped it, instead of the Lord their God, who had done so many great things for them. In the streets of Bethel were lots of little children running about and playing, as children do in the streets of our cities today. These children had no fear of God before them; they had been taught to bow down before the golden calf. All they thought of was play and fun. Now, play is a good thing in itself but when it leads children to laugh at God’s people or mock at holy things, it is very bad, and if you desire to please the Lord, you will keep away from children who do such things. Well, as these boys and girls were playing just outside the city, one day, they saw an old man, with a bald head, coming along. They knew very well who he was; it was Elisha the prophet, and he had just returned from seeing his friend and master Elijah caught up into heaven, by a whirlwind. The naughty children ran up to him, but not to welcome him; O, no; bad words came from their lips, “Go up, thou bald head. Go up, thou bald head,” they shouted in mocking tones. They meant, “You had better go up to heaven too; we don’t want you here.” Did God hear those naughty children? Yes, indeed, He did. and He punished them on the spot. Near the town was a thick wood, and in the wood lived savage bears. No doubt, they had dens there and little cubs, but when the wicked words had been shouted by the boys and girls, two bears came from their hiding place. O! how big and savage they looked; how frightened the children were; how they screamed and ran, but it was of no use; in a few moments forty-two little children had been torn by the savage beasts. What a mourning there must have been in the city! how sad the parents must have felt. Perhaps they wished now, they had taught their little ones to fear God, and have respect to His holy prophet. Children, do you do these things? do you remember that God is looking at all you do, and listening to all you say, and do you fear to displease Him? And do you pay respect to His servants, and listen to what they have to tell you? Remember that though punishment may not come to you as it did to these bad children, it will come by and bye, to those who do not repent of their sins, and seek forgiveness for them from God.

ML 10/10/1909

His Love.

Do you know the Father’s love

Little one?

‘Tis a love that He did prove

By His Son;

When for us that One He gave

On the tree

And is waiting now to save

You and me.

Shall we let the time go past

To believe?

Do we want to be the last

To receive

God’s salvation freely given

From above

And a future home in heaven

Through His love?

ML 10/10/1909

The Cousin From Town.

THE little boy does not feel at all at home. It is certainly not the fault of the country cousins, for they have brought out toys, and books, and now he has a rosy cheeked apple offered to him.

The merry ways and strength of his cousins have made him ill at ease, so he seeks protection, and feels safe at his mother’s side.

They will soon gain his confidence, and when he becomes acquainted will be quite happy. As long as there is fear in his heart he will not be comfortable. The kindness and love shown him will dismiss all his fear, and soon they will all be happy at play.

“THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR.” 1 John 4:18.

Our sins would make us afraid and keep us forever from the presence of God. God hates sin, but loves the sinner. When once we, in a feeble measure, see the love of God for us, the giving up of His well-beloved Son to die on Calvary, our fear is gone and peace in believing takes its place.

Eternal life by Christ is given,

And ruined rebels raised to heaven;

Then sing of grace so rich and free

Rejoice, dear soul—tis all for thee!

ML 10/17/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 31. Exodus 3-4. The Burning Bush.

FOR forty years, Moses had kept his father-in-law’s sheep in the wilderness. He had been much alone with God during that time, and he had learned more of God’s holiness and greatness, and of his own unworthiness than he could have learned during all his life at Pharaoh’s court. It was, as it were, a school where God sent Moses to prepare him for the great work He had for him to do.

Now the time had come when he must be sent to do that work; so one day, while Moses was keeping the sheep in the back side of the desert, he came to Mount Horeb. There, he saw a bush, burning with fire. But the bush was not consumed; it did not wither away; the branches and leaves did not blacken not crumble to pieces: Moses wondered, and said: “I will turn aside and go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” As he turned to go, he heard a voice from the bush, saying: “Moses, Moses!” He answered, “Here am I.” The voice said again, “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground ... .I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard that, he hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. The Lord said: I have surely seen My people’s affliction; I have heard their cry, and I have come down to deliver them, and to bring them out of the hands of the Egyptians unto a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The cry of the children of Israel is come up unto Me, and I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come, now, and I will send thee to Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.

But Moses was very much afraid, and said, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” Moses acted differently from forty years before, when he had killed the Egyptian, thinking his brethren would understand that he would deliver them. Then, unsent, he wanted to go and do the work, but now, when God sends him, he is afraid!

The Lord says in the 15th chapter of John, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” And Paul says to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” (4:13.) So while in ourselves there is no strength to do God’s will, nor to please Him, yet If we ask Him, He gives us the power to do His will. Let us then go to Him for everything and COUNT on Him alone for strength.

The Lord very patiently answered Moses: “Certainly, I will be with thee.” This assurance should have been enough, but still Moses feared, and said unto God: “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me: What is His name, what shall I say unto them?” God said: “Thus shalt thou say. . . . I AM, hath sent me unto you.” A strange name was it not? God meant He was the self-existing One—He would be everything to them. They needed a deliverer; He said: “I am your Deliverer.” They had no strength, they were oppressed, God said: “I am your strength, I am your comforter.” To us, He says: “I am the good Shepherd,” “I am the bread of life,” “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Whatever our need, He says: “I am the One, the only One, who can meet your need.”

The Lord continued: Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them; The Lord God of your fathers, has surely visited you and will bring you into the land of Canaan, and they shall hearken to thy voice, and you shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him: ‘The Lord God, of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go three days’ journey that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ But the king of Egypt will not let you go, and I will stretch My hand and smite Egypt and after that, he will let you go. And when you go, you shall not go empty, for every woman shall borrow of her neighbors, jewels of silver and gold, and clothing, and you shall put them on your children.

Even after this, Moses was still unwilling to go and said to the Lord: Perhaps they will not hear me and say: “The Lord has not appeared unto thee.”

Then the Lord said to him: “What is that in thine hand?” He answered: “A rod.” God said: “Cast it on the ground.” Moses obeyed, and it became a serpent, and he fled from it. The Lord said: “Take it by the tail,” and he put forth his hand and caught the serpent and it became a rod again. The Lord said further, “Put now thine hand into thy bosom.” Moses did so, and when he drew it out, it was leprous as snow. Then God said, “Put thine hand into thy bosom again.” He did, and plucked it out again, healed from its leprosy. Now, said the Lord, if they do not believe, show them these signs, and if they do not believe these two signs, take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land; and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

Should not Moses have been willing to go to Egypt now? Surely he should, but, he was still afraid, and said: “Lord, I cannot speak well, my tongue is slow, I have no words.” God answered: “Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

But still Moses wished not to go. Then the Lord was angry, for though God is patient and long suffering, unbelief displeases Him, for it dishonors Him. “He that believeth not God, hath made Him a liar.” 1 John 5:10.

God would have sent Moses alone to Pharaoh. He would have given him the privilege and the honor to be His sole messenger to His people and to Pharaoh, but now Moses would have to divide this honor with another. We are always losers when we do not take God at His word.

God said: “I will send thy brother, Aaron, with thee; he can speak well, and thou shalt tell him what to say, and he shall be thy spokesman to the people.”

Moses went to take leave of his father-in-law, and called his wife, Zipporah, and his two sons, and put them upon an ass, and returned to Egypt. And the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” Aaron went into the wilderness and met him and kissed him.

Moses had much to tell him about their mission and the wonders and signs. They went together to the elders of Israel, and Aaron told them what God had said to Moses, and did the signs before the people, and they believed that God was going to deliver them, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

ML 10/17/1909

"I Have Got Christ Tonight!"

IN a little country town, lived one, who, for years, had been in trouble of mind concerning her eternal future. She was truly anxious to find peace with God, but she was hindered by the false doctrine that some are born to be saved, others to be lost; yet she was unwilling to give up hope. She would frequently send for me, and ask me to pray for her, which I ever most readily did, taking the opportunity to earnestly plead with her to cast herself on Christ, and to fully trust Him. The answer would invariably be, “I can’t; I wish I could; but don’t give me up.”

This distressed soul constantly attended the preaching of the word, and eagerly drank it in, but the only effect apparently, was to make her inure miserable. I almost despaired of her conversion but at length God’s time came for answering prayer. One Sunday evening I was about to conduct a service in the town, and, on retiring beforehand for prayer, the burden of souls pressed so heavily upon me, and especially the case of this woman, that I said, “Lord, Thou art surely going to bless tonight; let Mrs. —be saved.”

At the very moment that the preacher was thus alone with God about the woman, she was alone with the devil, who tempted her spirit, whispering these thoughts into her heart: “You are a fine hypocrite, going to hear the gospel preached, making people believe you want to be saved, and you know you never will be.” “Well, after this night I will never go any more, but I will go this once,” she said.

During the address this verse was quoted, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:8, 9.

As the people were leaving, a voice whispered to the preacher, “I have got Christ tonight!” and there stood before him the woman for whom he prayed, saying, “Lord, let her be saved”—the very woman, who had told the devil she would go to no more gospel meetings after that night.

“It was that verse that did it,” said she; “how was it you never told me these things before? I could not help myself; but just said in my heart, ‘I do confess Thee, Lord. I do believe in my heart that God has raised His Son from the dead, so I am saved. I will tell them at once, I will confess Him with my mouth.’ Then the devil whispered, ‘Don’t do it now, there’s your neighbor behind you.’ I was nearly yielding to the temptation, and felt a darkness coming over my soul so I hastened to confess Him to you.”

She did not rest with telling me; she went home and told her husband, and then her friends, what great things the Lord had done for her. She still rejoices in the Lord.

ML 10/17/1909

"Mary Sunshine."

MARY was always happy and ready to sing, so that you could justly call her Mary Sunshine. She was very busy, with carrying water, washing, cleaning, building fires in stoves cooking, etc., but each additional work seemed only to make her more happy. She was once asked: “Why are you always so happy Mary? When one sees your rejoicing face, and hears your singing, one would think you had just received some extra ordinarily good news.”

She replied, “Yes, indeed, there came very good tidings, the best of all, to me. I have found the Lord Jesus, or He has found me. Now, I can be happy every day, and do my work for Him and with Him. When I clean the house, I hear Him say, ‘Mary, do it for Me!’ When I set the table, it seems to me, as if He was invited, and I could arrange all for Him; and if I should take care of the children, then I remember His word, ‘Shepherd My lambs!’ I used to do everything just because I had to, but now, I do all things with a happy heart, for my Saviour, therefore everything goes so easy.”

“Rejoice in the Lord alway.” Phil. 4:4. “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Prov. 15:15.

ML 10/17/1909

The Storm.

THE Lord is slow to anger, and great in power. The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm.” Nahum 1:3.

Would you like to be out in a storm like this? See the waves dash up against the rocks. How often when out in a storm, people cry to God for mercy. Then when He maketh the storm a calm, they forget God all together. The still, small voice of conscience often causes unrest but that is sometimes stifled. Yet God is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. He willeth not that any should perish.

He has provided a shelter from the great storm that is coming when the day of grace is ended and the door is shut. The door is open now and all who will may enter in.

Jesus is the strong Rock and house of defense. He says “I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9.

“THE LORD IS MY ROCK, AND MY FORTRESS, AND MY DELIVERER: THE GOD OF MY ROCK; IN HIM WILL I TRUST.” 2 Sam. 22:2, 3.

ML 10/24/1909

Wadrokola.

MANY of you have read of those beautiful islands, far away. in the great Southern Ocean, which have been built up by the labor, age after age, of the little coral insect. And if you knew something about these tiny creatures, you would wonder how they could do such magnificent work. If you could see one of these green islands with its dazzling ring of white coral gleaming in the sun, and its stately palms reflected in the clear water, you would think such a lovely spot must indeed be a paradise, if one could be found on this earth. But living in so fair a place will not change the heart, nor make people any nearer God, and missionaries who have gone to these islands carrying the good news of God’s love to the poor heathen people, have found that they are indeed, in spite of their beauty, dark places of the earth, full of cruelty and oppression.

I think the following letter written by a boy who had been born and brought up in one of these islands, and who was only just beginning to leave off his heathen customs, may interest you. It will show you how much in earnest this poor ignorant boy was about a matter which, perhaps has never cost many boys brought up in Christian homes, one serious thought.

I will tell you a little of his history, so that you may understand how he came to think of what a solemn thing it would be for him to appear one day before God, and give an account of himself to Him. Wadrokola’s father had taught him that the hideous idol, the only god he knew, was pleased by cruel deeds, of which it would frighten you to read. But by and by a missionary landed on his island, and asked leave to take him with some other boys away for a time and teach them. Wadrokola became very fond of his teacher, and it was because he was grieved at something he had said to him in fun, which the poor boy took in earnest, that he wrote down on his slate what he felt too shy to say. His teacher, noticing that he wore a very old pair of trousers, had said, laughingly, “I see you are keeping the nice clothes I gave you, to take home.” This is what Wadrokola wrote in reply, in the Neugone language, “Mr. Patterson. This is my word. I am unhappy because of what you said to me, that I wished for clothes. I have left my country; what is the use of clothes? Can my spirit be clothed with clothes for the body? Therefore, my heart is greatly afraid.

“But you said, I greatly wished for clothes, which I do not care for. One thing only I care for, that I may receive the life for my spirit. Therefore, I fear. I confess and say to you that it is not the thing for the body I want; but the one thing I want is the clothing for the soul. For Jesus Christ’s sake, our Lord.”

Joyfully did Mr. Patterson read this letter. This was an answer to his earnest prayer that God would touch the hearts of those Neugone lads, for whom the Lord had given him such great love that he longed to be the means of bringing them to the knowledge of Christ. Wadrokola wanted “life for the spirit,” and his teacher could point out to him those wonderful words, “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” He wanted “clothing for the soul,” and how gladly did he hear of the best robe, even the righteousness of God, with which alone the sinner can be clothed, so as to be fit to appear in God’s presence. I should like you to think a little about this. Do you remember how very early in the Bible we read of people being afraid to meet God, “because they knew that they were naked?” That was the first feeling of Adam and Eve after they had disobeyed God, and it was right they should be afraid to meet His holy eye. They tried to cover themselves, but you know then they were still “afraid,” in spite of their fig-leaf clothes, and hid themselves among the trees of the garden. It must have been a terrible moment for them when they were obliged to come forth and give account of themselves to God. We read that, afterwards, “unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them,” so they had garments of His providing which would really cover them, and these were a sort of picture of the way in which God now clothes a sinner with Christ. All those who are not “found naked” by and by, will have this robe; no other covering will be of any use. You will be surprised, if you look for them, to find how many, times “white robes” are spoken of in the Bible. We read, also, of “garments of salvation,” of “white raiment” and of “change of raiment,” all of which refer to the clothing suited to God’s presence and provided by Him.

You will understand the Lord’s parable in Matt. 22, better, if you remember that in the East, wedding garments are provided by the host for all his guests, so that there was no excuse for the man who appeared among them without one.

We are not told whether he was clad in costly or poor raiment; it was enough that it was something of his own, not the robe provided by the king and suited to his presence. We read that he had no answer to the question, “Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless;” solemn words, and terrible doom of one who dared to insult the king by coming into his presence thus unclothed; outer darkness was his portion, everlasting banishment! How different his reception from that of the poor prodigal. kissed, and clothed with the best robe, and welcomed home with rejoicing. “Christ is a path, if any be misled;

He is a robe, if any naked be.

If any do but hunger, He is bread,

If any be but weak, how strong is He.

ML 10/24/1909

A Savior and a Friend.

ANNIE W. came to Jesus. and found Him both a Saviour and a Friend. By reason of her attention, and the pleasure she took in saying her text every Sunday for some time. I had thought that little Annie had something the other girls in her Sunday-school class had not. So one afternoon I wrote her a little note, asking her whether she could say that Jesus was her Saviour.

The next Sunday afternoon, Annie brought me a note as follows:

“Dear Teacher:

In reply to your note, the Lord Jesus is to me a Saviour and a Friend; He died on the cross to save me from my sins and has washed me whiter than snow.

‘Whiter than snow’

‘Christ died for the ungodly’

‘The wages of sin is death.’

Your affectionate pupil,

Annie W.”

I have given her answer in her own words. Is it not a beautiful answer from a little girl of eleven years old? I wonder how many of the girls and boys who read Messages of Love can say the same. It may be some of you are like another little girl, who wrote to me to the effect that she had no part nor lot in this matter! What a solemn thing to say!

O, girls and boys, if you did but know what is in the heart of this precious Saviour who died on the cross for sinners. how gladly would you come to Him to receive blessing, and say,

“I hear Thy welcome voice,

Which calls me, Lord, to Thee,

For cleansing in Thy precious blood,

Which flowed on Calvary.”

He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML 10/24/1909

Talks With Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Camel.

WHAT a queer fellow the camel looks, with his long legs, and his long neck, his small head, and the hump on his back. But though he may not be very beautiful, he is perhaps one of the most useful animals man possesses. How should we ever cross the hot sandy desert, if we had no sure footed camel to ride. “The ship of the desert,” I dare-say you have often heard him called. The same God who gave the bear his warm, thick coat to withstand the cold of the far North, made the camel in every way suited for his appointed work. His foot consists of two long toes resting upon a hard-elastic cushion, with a tough horny sole, so that he is able to walk upon the loose hot sand without difficulty. His mouth is so hard, that he can eat the thorny plants he meets with in the desert, and his long neck, enables him to reach them as he is passing by. He is also able to drink a large amount of water at one time, as much perhaps as ten or eleven pails full, and this he can store away inside him, and it lasts for three or four days. Sometimes when travelers are crossing the wide sandy deserts of Arabia, all the water in their skin bottles is used up. No well is to be seen, what can be done? Must they all die of thirst? There is just one thing left to do; a camel must be killed, and inside him is found the precious little store of water, which perhaps saves the lives of all the party. I daresay you think nothing would persuade you to drink it, but you do not know what a terrible thing it is to be dying of thirst. The camel can scent water for a long, long way, and on some occasions when all hope has been given up, he will prick up his ears, and suddenly gallop off towards a well or spring which he has discovered in this way.

When a camel is going to have a rider on his back, or a load put on him, he is made to kneel down. He has large strong pads on his knees so it does not hurt him. Most camels dislike very much to have a load put on their backs, and they groan and moan all the time, as I have seen children do when they are asked to do something useful. Of course, the poor camel does not know any better, but children can understand that if they wish to please the Lord Jesus, they must “do all things without murmurings and disputings.”

It is not at all pleasant to ride on a camel’s back. Even men are sometimes thrown off, and as for women and children, they are often put in large boxes, which are strapped on to the camel’s back.

We read in the book of Genesis, that Rebekah, was brought from her home in Padan Aram, to the tent of her husband Isaac, on the back of a camel. Rachel, too, rode on a camel when traveling with her husband Jacob. We read a great deal about camels in the Bible. Some of the old patriarchs owned a large number. Job had 3000, and do you remember what happened to them? Why, they were all stolen from him in one day. But Job did not complain against God, though this was only one of the many trials he had. Job bore his trials patiently, and when the Lord had taught him the lesson He had for him to learn in them, He gave him back twice as much as he had at first. For God does not send us troubles for nothing. He cares too much for us to do that. Each trouble is for some good purpose, and we must ask the Lord to teach us our lesson in it.

I could tell you much more about these bid ugly beasts, if I had time—how the Arabs drink their milk, and eat their flesh, and make their hair into cloth for tents or wraps, and we read that John the Baptist wore a mantle of camel’s hair. Then I should like to tell you what cross disagreeable tempers they have, and yet how fond their masters are of them, and how, when they lie on the road, instead of beating them, they often sing songs to them, but all my time and space have gone, so I must just say, good night, dear children, hoping that you will all try to be as useful as the camel, without grumbling as much as he does.

ML 10/24/1909

Be Content.

WHAT is all this trouble about in the orchard? Four boys want the same apple and it seems the boy with his pocket full is going to get it.

Each boy, we may believe, has had a good share of the apples, and, not content with what they have, all are trying to be the owner of this one too.

This shows us what your heart and mine is naturally. We are not content with what we have, but striving for something else.

“A LITTLE THAT A RIGHTEOUS MAN HATH IS BETTER THAN THE RICHES OF MANY WICKED.” Ps. 37:16.

Discontent is a great source of unhappiness. We hope all our readers are free from it, for Scripture says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim. 6:6.

God knows all our circumstances. He knows our hearts better than we do ourselves. He knows how helpless we are. It was this that led Him in wondrous love to give His well-beloved Son to die for us.

He says to you “Be content with such things as ye have . . . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

I know ‘tis Jesus loves my soul,

And makes the wounded spirit whole;

My nature is by sin defiled,

Yet Jesus loves a little child.

How kind is Jesus, oh how good!

‘Twas for my soul He shed His blood;

For children’s sake He was reviled,

For Jesus loves a little child.

Though I offend by thought and tongue,

Omit the right, and do the wrong,

I have to Him been reconciled,

For Jesus loves a little child.

To me does Jesus now impart,

Although so young a trusting heart;

I have a soul by sin defiled,

Yet Jesus loves a little child.

ML 10/31/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 32. Exodus 5-7. Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh.

MOSES and Aaron went together to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and said to him: “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness.”

But Pharaoh answered “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?....I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” They said, “The God of the Hebrews hath met with us. Let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.” The king answered, “Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.” That same day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people not to give them any more straw to make their bricks; but to let them gather their own straw, and to see that they should turn out no less bricks than formerly. When the message was carried to the Hebrews, they went to Pharaoh, to plead with him to lessen their burdens, but he told them they were idle, and that was the reason they said, “Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.” Pharaoh was acting very much as Satan does with souls when he sees they are feeling the weight of their sins. They cry for deliverance, but Satan renews his efforts to keep them, and will not let them go. And as they, like the poor Hebrews, cannot deliver themselves from Satan’s power, where is help to come from?

“I will lift tip mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Ps. 121:1, 2. God alone could help those poor enslaved people, and the Lord alone can save the sinner from Satan’s power.

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

The Lord Jesus, who saw our helpless and lost condition, came down to redeem us. from Satan. He bought us with His blood, for on the cross, He stood in our place and died “the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

The poor Israelites felt the increased burden very much and went to Moses and Aaron and told them how they had made them to be abhorred by Pharaoh and his servants and they said: “The Lord look upon you and judge.” Moses and Aaron felt very badly, and cried to the Lord who answered them, saying, “Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.” He had not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He had heard the groaning of the children of Israel, and He would redeem them from the burdens of the Egyptians, and take them to the land He had sworn to give to them. And God said to Moses “See I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” He was to speak all that He commanded him to say, but Pharaoh would not hearken, for He would harden his heart, that he may learn that He was God.

God gave Moses power to do wonders and to work miracles before Pharaoh. They went to him, and Aaron threw down his rod before him and it became a serpent. But Pharaoh called his wise men, and told them to try to do the same. They did so with their enchantments but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. Pharaoh did not care for this, nor did he obey the command to let Israel go; and God said He would punish him by turning his river into blood.

The river Nile is very useful in Egypt. No rain falls there to water the ground; but in the summer, the river rises, and overflows the country and makes the land soft, and then the people sow their seed, and the grass and corn soon spring up. Did Pharaoh and the Egyptians thank God who gave them the Nile to water their land? No, they made their river a god, and worshipped it. But the Nile had no power to make the country fruitful; it was God who made it and who swelled up its waters, and watered the land.

God told Moses to go and stretch his rod over the waters when Pharaoh goes to the river. As soon as he had done so, it became blood in the sight of the king and his servants. And the fish that were in the river died, and the river smelled badly, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river, but they dug round about the river for water. Yet Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

ML 10/31/1909

Philosophy or Jesus.

THE name of Richard Jeffries is well known. His writings are widely honored for their grace. He found endless stores of delight in the simple beauties of nature, and what his observant mind rejoiced in, he had the art of making a joy to others. But neither elegance of idea, nor keenness of mental eye, can open to the soul the glories of the kingdom of God. Nay too often the natural powers of a man become to him but giants holding the entrance of the way that leads to God.

For a long time the Bible was an unread book by Mr. Jeffries; he held it in no reverence, but when in much suffering, during the later months of his life, a lady induced him to read the holy Scriptures, and by them his eyes, so familiar with the beauties of nature, were opened to the revelations, and the glories of the kingdom of God.

The story of the life of the Lord Jesus had great attractions for him, and upon his dying bed he found great peace by believing on the Lord Jesus, and His work on the cross.

On one occasion, when his end was near, he begged his faithful wife to read to him in Luke’s Gospel, chap. 8:22-56; that bright cluster of accounts telling of the mighty power of Jesus in hushing the stormy wind and in stilling the tempest; in casting out the demons from the distracted and despairing man of Gadara, and in leading him by the power of His love to sit at His feet; in healing the sickness and calming the fears of the trembling woman; and in raising the daughter of Jairus to life, and giving her back to her parents.

It was towards the close of his life that he thus spoke, “I have done wrong ant thought wrong; it was my intellectual vanity!” But more solemn than his regret, was his testimony respecting the Lord, used on one occasion when listening to the Scriptures, “These are the words of Jesus; they are true, and all philosophy is hollow.”

This witness we commend to our readers. A volume of truth lies in it, and coming as it did from the heart and lips of one so well known in the literary world, and so beloved by the many who read his books, the testimony has additional weight. When this short life comes to an end, would that the wise as well as the unlearned, who have in their hands the gospel records of the words of Jesus, might say from their hearts, “These are the words of Jesus; they are true.”

True wisdom is in God, comes from God, leads to God and rests in God.

ML 10/31/1909

Pray for Your Enemies.

“When I was young,” narrates an old colored ex-slave, “my master’s son used to teach me each evening, what he had learned during the day. In this way, I learned to read. We read together verse by verse, the whole of the New Testament. The reading of God’s Word soon brought us both to feel we were sinners before Him. We began to pray for the salvation of our souls, and the Lord heard us, and, by grace, gave us to put our trust in the Lord Jesus. Sometime after, I started meetings for prayer and reading of the Word, among my fellow slaves. My old master heard of this, and was greatly angered by it, especially when he saw that his son had turned pious.

Under threat of a whipping, he forbade me to continue the meetings. Without paying any attention to this threat I continued to preach the Gospel every Lord’s day, and every Monday I was regularly beaten with a leather thong, so that my back could scarcely heal from Monday to Monday. It was with great difficulty that I accomplished my daily work. In this way, I spent a year and a half.

One Monday morning, my master, as usual, ordered some slaves to strip me and tie me to a tree. He was obeyed while he stood before me looking darkly at me, the whip hanging in his hand on his side. His conscience was stirred.

“Jack,” he said, “your back is covered with wounds and scars. I do not know where to strike, any more. How much longer will you be stubborn and persevere in this way?”

“As long, Sir,” I answered, “as my Saviour gives me life.”

“What makes you so obstinate?”

“Because I wish to hear the Lord say to me on, the resurrection morning ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’”

My master remained silent for a moment, then ordered the slaves to untie me and sent me to work in the fields. Later in the afternoon he came to me.

“Sit down, Jack,” he said, “and tell me the truth frankly. Your back has been lacerated for a long time past; you have hard labor to do, and are but a low down slave; tell me, in spite of all this, are you really happy?”

“Sir,” I said, “I do not believe there is in the whole world a happier man than I.”

He was silent for a long time, then continued: “You told me once, that your religion teaches you to pray for your enemies. Will you pray for your old master?”

“With all my heart,” I exclaimed. We knelt down together, and I prayed for him. From that day forth he frequently came to see me in the field and always requested my prayers. Sometime later, he was able to rejoice in the one who had died for him. We then lived together like brothers. On his death bed, he made me a free man, so that I might go and preach the gospel as long as I live. I saw him depart, knowing he was going to be with the Lord, where I have the assurance of seeing him again, when my Saviour calls me hence.”

“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44.

ML 10/31/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for September.

1. “All scripture,” etc. 2 Tim. 3:16.

2. “I thank my God,” etc. Philemon 4.

3.“Looking for that,” etc. Titus 2:13.

4. “Remember that Jesus,” etc. 2 Tim. 2:8.

5. “For men shall be lovers,” etc. 3:2.

6.“Be not thou therefore,” etc. 1:8.

7.“Nevertheless the,” etc. 2:19.

Bible Questions for November.

Answers to be found in the Epistle of James.

1.Write the verse containing the words “What is your life.”

2.Write the verse containing the words “Enemy of God.”

3.Write the verse containing the words “Faith.” “Works.” “Dead.”

4.Write the verse containing the words “Precious fruit.”

5.Write the verse containing the words “A little member.” “Great things.”

6.Write the verse containing the words “He will flee from you.”

7.Write the verse containing the words “Double minded.”

ML 11/07/1909

"How Do You Know That?"

I MET a girl to whom I said, “Do you know that Jesus loves you?” Her face lit up with a happy smile of confidence, and the ready answer came, “O, yes, sir.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because the Bible says so.”

“But the Bible tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that there is none righteous, no, not one.”

“But Jesus said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me,’” she said.

“But you are a sinner. You have done many bad things. What makes you think He would receive you?”

“The Bible said He died for sinners, and therefore He died for me.”

“But this is a very great thing for you to say. How can you be so sure about it?”

“Because the Bible says so.”

“The Bible also says that Jesus will come again and take His people up from the earth in a moment someday. What will become of you then? How would you feel if He were to come now, while you and I are talking?”

“I would be very happy, because He would take me up to be with Himself forever.”

“And how long have you been able to say this?”

“For some time, sir.”

This was true faith, and I found that she showed by her ways that the confession of her life was a genuine reality.

ML 11/07/1909

Tiberias.

THE town of Tiberias is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.

In ancient days the town was a noted seat of the Jews There was a celebrated school here.

Scripture does not say that the Lord Jesus ever visited Tiberias. We know He spent much of His time on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Many wonderful works were done here. He walked on the waves; He slept in the storm; He rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. Not far from the shore was the desert place where the Lord fed five thousand hungry souls. Mary Magdalene, out of whom the Lord cast seven devils, came from Magdala along these shores.

From the shores of the Sea of Galilee the Lord chose the patient fishermen who were to be His servants and become fishers of men.

After Robert M. McCheyene visited this sacred spot, he penned these lines:

“How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave,

O See of Galilee!

For the glorious One who came to save,

Hath often stood by thee.

It is not that the wild gazelle

Comes down to drink thy tide,

But He that was pierced to save from hell,

Oft wandered by thy side.

Graceful around thee the mountains meet,

Thou calm reposing sea;

But oh! far more, the beautiful feet

Of Jesus walked o’er thee.

Those days are passed—Bethsaida, where?

Chorazin, where art thou?

His tent the wild Arab pitches there,

The wild reed shades his brow.

Tell me, ye mouldering fragments, tell,

Was the Saviour’s city here?

Lifted to heaven, has it sunk to hell,

With none to shed a tear?

O Saviour! gone to God’s right hand,

Yet the same Saviour still,

Graven on Thy heart is this lovely strand

And every fragrant hill.”

“GOD HATH MADE THAT SAME JESUS, WHOM YE HAVE CRUCIFIED, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.” Acts 2:36.

ML 11/07/1909

Talks With Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Dog.

THERE is an old legend which tells us that when Adam and Eve were driven forth from the Garden of Eden for their disobedience, then the dog alone of all the animals followed them. I cannot tell you whether this is a true story, but it does seem as if God had made the dog to be man’s special friend and protector. From the huge St. Bernard, down to the tiny terrier, we find the dog faithful to his master. He may show his teeth and have angry growls for strangers, but for his master, nothing but affection and devotion.

I remember a story of a big, rough dog called Tartar, who belonged to a delicate little Loy. He would let the child pull him about or do anything he liked to him, and during his last illness, scarcely left him for a moment. One day little Arthur said to his mother, “Mamma, I shall soon be with Jesus now, in the beautiful home He has for me in heaven, and you and papa and my brothers and sister, though I know you will be sorry to have me go away, you will be comforted when you think how happy I am, but what will Tartar do, for he does not know about God and heaven?”

Well, a few days after this, little Arthur’s spirit did go to that bright home above; and what did the faithful dog do? He never left his little master’s body, and when it was laid in the ground, he would not leave the place, and a few days afterwards, the other children coming to look for him, found poor Tartar lying dead upon little Arthur’s grave. Dogs are not only faithful and affectionate but they are also very wise, and can be taught to do many things. I daresay you all know, or perhaps possess dogs, who can beg and do other tricks. I have heard of a dog who used to go to the Post Office, with a little basket in his mouth, and bring home the letters; and another dog would carry a cent, in his mouth, and buy himself a biscuit or cake. The big St. Bernard dog, who lives in Switzerland, has been taught to go and look for travelers, who have been lost in the snow, carrying warm rugs, and a little bottle of spirits on his back, and many lives have been saved in this way. The Newfoundland dog, too, has saved many people from drowning. The Shepherd dog, looks after his master’s sheep, knowing each one, and seeking diligently for them when lost. The Collie dog, will, if properly trained, go and fetch the cows home from any part of the farm. Indeed, nearly every dog has his own use, and is valuable to his master. And yet, strange to say, in one part of the world, dogs are hated and despised, and that is in the East. We never hear of Abraham, or Moses, or David owning a dog. In Palestine where they lived, no one had a good word for the poor animal. If the Jews wanted to speak with contempt of any one, they called him “a dog.” “Am I a dog?” the great giant, Goliath, asks David, and again in 2 Sam. 9:8, Mephibosheth says to David, “What is thy servant that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” Owing to this feeling, the dogs of eastern towns are so unlike our dogs. They can hardly be recognized as belonging to the same species. As the traveler walks the streets, he finds all are alike— all gaunt, hungry, savage and cowardly—more like wolves than dogs. They prowl about the streets in great numbers, living as best they can on any scraps of food they may happen to find. They have no masters and no homes. Sometimes kindly people will feed them, but no one will ever make companions of them, and yet they are very grateful and affectionate and easily trained, if any one shows them kindness.

When the Lord Jesus was here, walking up and down in the cities and villages of Palestine, we find the Jews still looking with disgust and loathing upon the dog. When He told them the parable in Luke 16, of the rich man, and Lazarus the beggar, who lay at his gate, He adds, “Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores,” as showing a state of the greatest misery, and in Matt. 7, the Lord says, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs.”

The Jews in their pride looked upon the outside nations as only dogs, but in Matt. 15, we read how a poor Gentile woman was willing to take even that place, in her humility. She had a very sick child, and in her distress and anxiety, she heard of One, who, in the land of Israel, was healing all who came to Him; of every sickness. Oh, she thought, if only I could bring my sick one to Him. Presently her opportunity came. Jesus was passing by, near to her home, and she could not let the chance slip. She came to Him, crying out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David. But Jesus did not answer a word. How was this. Had He no pity for this poor, sorrowful woman? Yes, indeed, His heart was full of love and pity, but this poor Gentile woman must learn her true place. She had no claim upon Jesus, as the Messiah, the Son of David, for she did not belong to the house of Israel. Finding she can get no answer, she falls down before Him. “Lord,” she cries, “help me.” But he answered and said, “it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs.” The children, you see, were the Jews, to whom Jesus had come, and the “dogs” were the Gentiles around them.

Was this woman angry at being called a dog? No! indeed, she was too humble, and too such in earliest to mind that.

She answered, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs cat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” She was sure there was a crumb of mercy to fall for her from that loving heart, and that all powerful hand. And she made no mistake. Jesus exclaims, “O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Do we not see in this how greatly the Lord values our faith. He likes us to have such confidence in Him as this woman had, which was not shaken even when it appeared as if her request was to be refused. He has told us Himself, “If ye have faith and doubt not, . . . ye shall say unto this mountain, He thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and it shall be done. And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:21, 22.

ML 11/07/1909

The Proteges.

THE little chicks are the objects of care here. Mr. Dog and Mrs. Puss have turned their backs in disgust at being thus slighted. They have had all the attention heretofore. The dog in particular looks offended.

What a quaint old kitchen and what an immense fireplace! All are interested in the feeding of the little chickens. The old grandmother has stopped reading to watch them. It is likely her old Bible which we see lying on her lap. The two boys are all attention while the kind mother scatters the crumbs on the stone floor.

In Psalm 84 we read that the sparrow hath found an house and the swallow a nest for herself. Here the little chickens have found a home and will be well taken care of.

Most of our readers have good homes where the Bible is read. We should all value this blessing and each one for himself give the Scriptures much attention. Years ago people suffered for having a copy of the book anywhere about their houses, and some traveled miles to read a chapter.

In John 5:39 we read “Search the Scriptures, they are they which testify of Me.” Let us each be diligent in this search.

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.” Ps. 119:105.

ML 11/14/1909

Bible History

Chapter. 33. Exodus 8. Plagues of Frogs, Lice and Flies.

AFTER God, through Moses and Aaron had turned the water of the river into blood, Pharaoh, instead of fearing longer to disobey, hardened his heart, and would not let the people of Israel go. So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Go unto Pharaoh, and tell him: Thus saith the Lord, Let My people go that they may serve Me. And if thou refuse I will send frogs all over the land, and they shall be in thy house, thy bed chamber and that of the servants, in the ovens and the kneeding troughs, they shall be everywhere on thee, thy servants, and thy people. At the Lord’s command, Aaron stretched his rod over the streams, the rivers and the ponds; and the frogs came upon the land of Egypt. The magicians did the same through their enchantments. Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said: Intreat God to take away the frogs and I will let Israel go. Moses asked: When shall I do so, that thou mayest know there is none like unto the Lord? Pharaoh said: Tomorrow. Moses cried unto the Lord to take away the frogs from the land, and leave them in the river only. And the Lord heard, and the frogs died out of the houses and villages and fields and the people gathered them into great heaps. But Pharaoh, seeing the frogs were gone, hardened his heart as the Lord had said, and would not let Israel go.

The Lord commanded now that Aaron should smite with his rod the dust of the land, and it became lice on man and beast, all the dust became lice. The magicians tried to do the same but could not, and had to acknowledge it was the finger of God. But again was Pharaoh’s heart hardened, and he would not let the people go, and God had to send a swarm of flies upon the Egyptians; but upon the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt, there was not a fly, to the end that the king might know that the Lord is Lord over all the earth.

When Pharaoh saw the grievous swarm of flies, he sent for Moses and Aaron and said: Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.

But Moses answered: We cannot do that. We cannot sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God; but we will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and there, we shall sacrifice to our God as He shall command us. Pharaoh answered: I will let you go, and sacrifice in the wilderness, only do not go far away. Intreat for me. Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh’s presence and intreated the Lord to take away the flies, and the Lord did according to their request. But when Pharaoh saw the flies all dead, he hardened his heart and would nor let the people go.

Satan, of whom this wicked king is a type, is a most untiring foe. He will not let a soul go from under his power without using every means at his command. He has plenty of temptations to place before boys and girls to keep them occupied with everything else except their need of a Saviour. He hates them and wants to keep them his slaves. But, thanks to God, Jesus went down into death to vanquish Satan. He rose victorious, and His victory is ours through faith. We are as helpless to save ourselves as the poor burdened Israelites were against their foe; but Jesus, our Moses, or Deliverer, has undertaken for us and we have but to thank, and adore Him in return for all His love.

ML 11/14/1909

Reading the Bible With the Lips.

In France an aged woman dwelt,

Who was both poor and blind;

Yet she the beams of mercy felt,

For God on her had shined,

In Christ, His Son, whose blessed face

His radiant glory, love, and grace,

In fulness are combined.

Thus, though she was deprived of sight,

And all was dark around,

She yet in Christ had heavenly light.

And blessing in Him found;

With eyes anointed she could see

The One who set her spirit free,

And made her joys abound.

The Bible was her treasured book,

A sure resource in need,

And though thereon she could not look,

She yet its truths could read;

With raised type, by touch of hand,

Its language she could understand,

And found it food indeed.

Her lowly lot required that she

Should labor for her bread,

And so, although her heart was free,

A life of toil she led;

And as her work was rough and hard,

The softness of her hands was marred;

To feeling nearly dead.

The living, telegraphic wire,

Which long had been her aid,

Thus idle, like a slackened lyre,

No words to her conveyed.

She keenly felt the bitter loss,

Which was to her indeed a cross,

And on her spirit weighed.

One morn, on parting with her Book,

Whose truths she so much missed,

The treasure in her hands she took,

And lovingly she kissed,

As t’were a friend who held her heart,

Saluting it, still loth to part,

And scarcely could desist.

But, oh! how tender are the ways

Of God unto His own,

Her grief He quickly turned to praise,

For mercy to her shown;

For as the Volume she caressed,

She found that on her lips were pressed

The words her heart had known.

Thenceforth her mouth—to her delight—

Supplied her fingers’ place,

And soon she learned to read aright

The word of truth and grace.

Thus did the Lord, in love divine,

Upon her clouded spirit shine,

And re-illume her face.

His words—the kisses of His mouth—

Which with her lips she traced,

Refreshed, like breezes from the south,

And were of sweetest taste;

While in the Lord did she rejoice,

And raised to Him the heart and voice,

Whose love her soul embraced.

ML 11/14/1909

Talks With the Tiny Ones About the Elephant.

THE elephant is, I suppose, the largest animal we know of at the present time, though many hundreds of years ago, there were huge creatures, which were even larger than the elephant, living in the woods and forests, and feeding on the wide plains. These enormous beasts are generally called mammoths, but they are all gone long ago and we should not know anything about them, if men did not occasionally find their bones hidden away in the caves where they died, or sometimes one is found far up in the North, frozen into the great ice fields. And these even have their flesh and hair upon them, so we can tell exactly what they looked like. At the present day we often see elephants, but in our part of the world, they are not used for work, and riding upon, as they are in the hot countries of India and Africa. There they roam in the thick woods or jungles, feeding on the tender branches of trees, or the grass, either of which they can reach with that wonderful trunk. The head of the elephant is so large and heavy that it could not be supported by a long neck, and how could it reach any food without its trunk? This trunk has, I am told, forty thousand muscles, so he can move it in any direction, stretch it out, roll it up, in fact do anything he wishes with it. At the end of the trunk is a little finger, with which he can pick up even a pin. Did you ever hand an elephant a bun, and see it take it with its finger, and then, bending its trunk up, put it into its mouth? I remember some years ago, seeing an elephant in the Central Park, in New York. It was a cold day, and though the huge animal was in a nice warm stable, I suppose he was chilly, for he kept picking up the straw around him, and laying it on his back.

Elephants are very strong; they can lift enormous weights, and they are so intelligent that they can be trained to do a great deal of hard work. Long ago, they were used in war, in the East. They were brought into battle covered with bright colored trappings, and a sort of small tower upon their backs, in which three or four men stood, and fired their arrows at their enemies. Now, however, we do not hear of their going into battle, but hunters often ride upon them, when they go out to shoot the terrible tiger, who so often infests the jungle.

Do we get anything of value from the elephant? Yes, his huge tusks are made of ivory, which is much sought after. As far back as the time of king Solomon, we read of ivory. This king not only built the beautiful temple for the Lord, but also a large and magnificent palace for himself. In this palace he had a wonderful throne made of ivory. It had six steps up to it, and on each step stood two lions of gold. This throne must have been one of the things which the Queen of Sheba saw, when on hearing of the fame of King Solomon, she came to see it with her own eyes. “She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices and very much gold, and precious stones.” She brought these beautiful things as presents to the king, but what she gave him, was as nothing to what he gave her, for he gave her all her desire, everything she asked for, “besides that which he gave her of his royal bounty.”

Is not this like the Lord Jesus? Of His “royal bounty” He has given us a free and full salvation. We never thought of such a thing! We could not have imagined that the Son of God would leave His throne and glory to come and give His life for us, but He did it out of love for you and me. And now even as King Solomon gave to that Eastern Queen all she asked for, so He has promised to give us what we ask for, and at the same time, though everything is His, He is willing to take from us, what we have to give Him. Did you ever offer the Lord Jesus anything? Do not say you have nothing to give. If you love Him, you will find something; look in Hebrews 13:15, 16, and you will find two things that He is willing to accept from you, and there are many more.

But we must go back to our subject, and try to think where Solomon got all his beautiful ivory. The Bible says he sent ships once in three years to a place called Tarshish, and brought from there, “ivory, apes and peacocks.” 1 Kings 10: 22. This place is thought by some to have been Spain, and by others, India. Other kings besides Solomon brought ivory into Canaan. We hear in 1 Kings 22:39 that King Ahab built an ivory house, which probably means a house, the walls of which were inlaid with ivory. But I do not think all this extravagance was pleasing to the Lord, for in the prophet Amos we read, “The houses of ivory shall perish, . . . saith the Lord,” and the same prophet also says, “Woe to them . . . that lie upon beds of ivory.” How different those wicked kings were from our blessed Saviour, Who, though He was “King of kings” had not where to lay His head.

ML 11/14/1909

The Birds.

THE sick man in our picture must be wonderfully wise about birds. Would you not like to see all the specimens he has? You would like to know what he is saying about the beautiful bird in his hand. All his listeners look so interested, it must be a pleasant hour they are spending. Maybe he is imitating the bird calls you hear in the woods.

Did you ever think that birds can praise the Lord? In Psalm 148 they are told to do so. That is what they are doing when they fly up in the air and sing. The higher they go, the sweeter the song. Watch the little bird drinking and see how he throws his head back and looks up. All that God has made is praise to Him as Creator. All creation shows His wonderful power.

In Matthew 10:29, the Lord mentions what care is taken of the sparrow. He takes notice when one falls to the ground. Then He tells us we are of more value than many sparrows. Our very hairs are numbered. What a loving Saviour He is.

“I’m only a little sparrow,

A bird of low degree,

My life is of little value

But there’s One who cares for me.

Though small, we are never forgotten,

Though weak, we are never afraid,

For the Father in heaven keepeth

The life of the creatures He made.”

“O LORD, THOU ART MY GOD; I WILL EXALT THEE, I WILL PRAISE THY NAME.” Isa. 25:1.

ML 11/21/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 34. Exodus 9, 10. More Mantles.

FOUR plagues had already been sent upon Pharaoh and his people. Again the Lord sent Moses and Aaron to tell him: Let My people go that they may serve Me, but if thou wilt still hold them, the hand of the Lord shall be upon thy cattle in the field, upon thy horses, asses, camels, oxen, sheep. There shall be a grievous murrain. And the Lord did so on the morrow, and all the cattle of the Egyptians died, but not one that belonged to the Israelites. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened still. Then Moses took ashes, and threw them towards heaven at God’s command, and it became dust and brought sore boils upon men and beasts. The wicked Egyptian magicians suffered from the boils and could not stand before Pharaoh. But still the king would not attend to. God’s command. The next day, after another warning from God to let His people go, He sent a very heavy hail, such as had never been seen before. The thunder roared in the sky and the fire ran along the ground. All the Egyptians who were in the field and the animals were smitten, the trees broken, the flax and the barley destroyed. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel dwelt there was no tail. Pharaoh was very much frightened now, and sent for Moses and Aaron and cried: I have sinned this time; the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the Lord, (for it is enough) that the thunder and lightning may stop, and I will let you go. You shall stay no longer. Moses answered: As soon as I am gone from the city, I will cry to the Lord and the thunder shall cease, and the hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But I know that thou wilt not yet fear the Lord God. And so it was, when Moses had entreated the Lord and the storm had ceased he would not let Israel go. The Lord now said to Moses: I have hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that I might show these signs and wonders before him, and you can tell your sons, and your sons’, sons what things I have done in Egypt, that they may know that I am the Lord. Go again to Pharaoh and say: If thou refuse to let My people go, I will send locusts into thy coasts. They shall cover the face of the earth, so you cannot see it. What was left by the hail shall be eaten by the locusts. They shall fill thy houses and the houses of all the Egyptians. And Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh. The king’s servants pleaded with him that he would let Israel go, for, said they, don’t you see that Egypt is destroyed? Moses and Aaron were recalled, and Pharaoh said to them: Go, serve your God, but who shall go? Moses answered: We will go with our young, our old, our sons and daughters, our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the Lord. But Pharaoh said: The men alone shall go. And they were driven from his presence. Then God sent locusts, very, very many, to eat all the green things in the land. We have no such locusts in our country, but in eastern countries they are very common, and come in great numbers, and eat the trees, and the fruit, and all they can find. The locusts God sent to punish Egypt must have been very large, for there never had been any like them before, nor since. The land was darkened by them, and they ate everything the hail had not destroyed. The king again sent for Moses and Aaron and asked them to pray for him. They prayed, and God heard them, but when the plague was taken away, wicked Pharaoh said: I will not let you go.

Then God sent a new and dreadful plague over the land of Egypt; this was thick darkness. There was no light from the sun, nor the moon, nor stars for three days, and the people could not see to move from their places all that time. It was not a common darkness, but a wonderful and fearful darkness sent by God; a darkness which might be felt. But the Israelites had light in their dwellings. God knew who feared Him, and who did not, and would not punish His own people. He could make the sun shine brightly upon them, when it was black night for the Egyptians.

Pharaoh called Moses, and said: You may go, only your cattle must stay. But Moses said: Not a hoof shall be left behind, for we need them to sacrifice to the Lord. Pharaoh was so angry, he drove Moses away, and told him never to come before him again, or he should die, and Moses answered; Thou hast spoken well. I shall see thy face no more.

God’s patience and long suffering had been great toward wicked Pharaoh, but it was soon to come to an end. He is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance, but if man will persist in disobedience to His word. His wrath must fall. He is now entreating man to be reconciled to Him, and to accept His way of salvation, through the Lord Jesus Christ, but for those who refuse, there remains but “a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” Heb. 10:27.

ML 11/21/1909

Talks With the Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Frog.

ONCE upon a time an old mother frog laid a large number of eggs, upon a stick, in the corner of a pond. They looked like little white beads as they hung on to the stick, but they did not remain like that very long. Although old Mrs. Frog did not come near to them again, she had, with that wonderful instinct which God has given to all His creatures, put the eggs in a place where they could easily hatch, and where the little ones could be at once provided with food. And so I suppose lots of little frogs came hopping along out of those eggs? Oh! no, you must not go so fast. No frogs appeared, but queer little creatures with large heads, and no legs, and each one furnished with a tail; very unlike our hopping, jumping frog they were. They also lived entirely in the water, eating what they could find there. But by degrees they grew bigger, and by and bye two legs appeared in front, and then two behind, the tadpole was fast changing into a frog; lastly his tail dropped off, and as a fully developed frog, he could leave the water, which had been his home for so long, and find himself quite as well able to exist upon land. There is a big word which is used for creatures which live upon land as well as in water; they are called, “Amphibious animals.”

Frogs are not the only creatures which have to go through several stages in their lives. The beautiful butterflies we see flying. around in the sunshine, came out of the eggs, as little crawling caterpillars. They eat and eat at the leaves where they had been placed, never going very far from the same spot. There worms grow very fast, and soon become too big for their skin, which does not grow, but when this happens, they simply slide out of the tight outer garment, and inside is a new one already. Is not that an easy way to get new clothes? Well, when the skin has been changed five or six times, the worm is full grown, and now it sets to work to spin a little cradle, or as it is called, “cocoon,” for itself, and here it lies, to our eyes dead, for a long time. But at the very right moment, out comes a beautiful butterfly, wings and all, quite perfect. Does not this speak to us of the resurrection? We are down here now like the caterpillar, weak creatures, unable to mount above the earth, and by and bye we shall lie like the chrysalis, in our graves, still and quiet, waiting for God’s time. Men may have forgotten us, but God never forgets one, and some day, we do not know how soon, there will be a great shout, the voice of the Archangel, and the trumpet of God, and then in an instant the graves will open. They may be in crowded cemeteries, or in lonely forests, it will make no difference; and out of the grave will come, not the poor, sick, weary body that went into it, but a beautiful body, far more beautiful than anything we can imagine, for it will be like the Lord Jesus, “We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

But will all the graves open at that shout? Alas, no; many will remain closed, for in them lie the bodies of those who never listened to the voice of the Son of God, when they were alive, and this is not the time to raise them from the grave. A thousand, years must pass away before they are called from their graves and then they will not be changed into the wonderful likeness of the Lord Jesus and go to live with Him forever, but they will be raised, that they may stand before a great white throne, there to be judged for their deeds upon earth, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:15.

But we must go back to the frog, and see whether he is mentioned in the Scripture. I daresay you all remember one place. God had told Pharaoh, king of Egypt to let His people Israel go, for they were as bondmen to that wicked king. But Pharaoh only replied, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice!” He had to be taught who the Lord was, by ten terrible plagues. The first was that their river, the large and beautiful river, Nile, should have its water turned into blood. The Egyptians worshipped their river, and this made the plague more terrible in their eyes. The second plague had also to do with their sacred river. “The river shall bring forth frogs,” said Moses. Now frogs are very abundant in this country, as also in Canaan. Sometimes you can hardly see the water in a pond for frogs. The Lord commanded the frogs, and out they came from the river, from the streams, from the ponds. And where did they go? first, into the houses—all the houses, from the king’s palace to the poorest hut. Then they went further; when people went to their beds, the frogs were there; when the women came to bake their bread, the frogs hopped in hundreds over their flour, into their kneading troughs, even into their ovens. The Egyptians were very particular about unclean things, but now everything was defiled. And even when, at the word of the Lord, they died, it was in the places where they had lived, and the people gathered them in heaps, and the land stank. Ex. 8:14. The common frog in Egypt is the green frog, so most likely these frogs were of that species. This plague is referred to in the Psalms, “Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.” Ps. 105:30.

Jesus can all our sins forgive,

And wash away their stain;

And fit our souls with Him to live,

And in His kingdom reign.

To Him let little children come,

For He hath said they may;

His bosom then shall be their home,

Their tears He’ll wipe away.

For all who early seek His face.

Shall surely taste His love;

Jesus will guide them through His grace

To dwell with Him above.

ML 11/21/1909

The Family Bakery.

ALL little girls like to watch mother on baking day. Very often they are allowed to make little cakes for themselves. Here in our picture the little girl is watching the pies and cakes being taken out of this large oven. In Switzerland there are ovens like this. The people of the village bring their bread, cake and pies to the family bakery to have them baked. A woman is in charge and attends to all who come and go. This little girl watched her mother preparing the good things, and now is waiting to see them taken out of the oven, and will hasten home to mother with them. Another woman stands patiently by, awaiting her turn.

An oven is a very warm place. The fire makes it hot. The Scripture says in the fourth chapter of Malachi, first verse, “For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven and all the proud, yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts.” None of our readers need realize’ this wrath of God upon the unjust if they put their trust in the Lord Jesus.

In 1 Kings 19:4-4, we have about a cake baked on the coals, not in any oven. God’s faithful servant Elijah had gone a day’s journey into the wilderness. He requested the Lord to let him die. He slept until an angel told him to “Arise and eat.” He looked and there was a cake baked on the coals and a cruse of water. He ate and drank and laid himself down again. The angel came the second time. He ate and drank again and in the strength of that meat went forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. This is how God can feed and care for His own.

THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

ML 11/28/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 35. Exodus 11, 12. The Paschal Lamb.

NINE plagues had God sent upon Pharaoh and his people, and yet his heart was hardened so that he would not obey God’s command to let Israel go. But God’s patience was now at an end, and He said to Moses: One more plague will I send upon Pharaoh, and not only will he let you go, but the people shall drive you hence, altogether. Speak to every man that he borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and gold and raiment. The Lord gave His people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent them whatever was asked of them. Moses said to Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, about midnight I will go into the midst of Egypt, and all the first-born of the land shall die, from Pharaoh’s house to that of his servants, and of all the beasts. There shall be such a cry in Egypt as there never was heard nor ever shall be any more. But I shall not touch anything of the children of Israel, that you may know that the Lord makes a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites. Thy servants shall come bowing before me, asking me to go and all my people, and after that I will go out. Then Moses went from Pharaoh’s presence in great anger, but the king would not listen to the warning and again hardened his heart, and would not let Israel go from the land.

The Lord told Moses and Aaron to speak to the children of Israel, saying: This month shall be the beginning of months for you. On the tenth day of this month let each man take a lamb, one for each house. If the household is too small invite your neighbor that all may have their share. The lamb must be without blemish, a male of the first year. You shall kill it in the evening, and take the blood and put it upon the two side posts and upon the door posts of the houses where they shall eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall be ready to depart when they eat it: their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand, and they shall eat it in haste, for I will pass over Egypt this night and will smite the first born of all the Egyptians. I am the Lord. And the blood shall be unto you for a token upon the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you when I smite Egypt. This day shall be unto you for a memorial, and you shall celebrate it each year, through all your generations. For seven days you shall observe this feast of the passover, eating it as I commanded you. And when, in later years, your children shall ask you: What does this mean? Why do we do thus? You shall tell them how the Lord smote the land of Egypt and delivered you.

When the people heard this message from the Lord through Moses, they bowed their heads, and worshipped, and did as the Lord had commanded them.

At midnight, the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, as He had said, those in the palace, those in the dungeon, and the cattle; none escaped. But the Israelites, who had obeyed God’s word, and had sprinkled the lamb’s blood upon the lintels and door posts of their houses were safe inside. The destroying angel saw the blood and passed over them.

Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and his servants and all the Egyptians. There arose one great cry from them, for there was not one house where there was not one dead.

In that night, he called Moses and Aaron and said: “Go out from among my people, you and your children, serve the Lord as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds and be gone.” And the Egyptians urged the people that they go in haste, for they said, We shall all die.

So the Israelites took their belongings, their dough before it had had time to rise, bound their kneading troughs with their clothes and carried them on their shoulders. They carried also with them the jewels of gold and silver and the garments they had borrowed from the Egyptians. There were about six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, who went out of Egypt. A mixed multitude went with them, and also a great number of cattle. The children of Israel had been in the land of Egypt four hundred and thirty years according to the word of God to Abraham. In His wisdom, God saw fit to make them pass through great affliction that they might learn His power, His patience and grace in a remarkable way. And in this beautiful story of the deliverance of the Israelites, God shows us what had to be done in order that we might be saved. Like Pharaoh and his people, like the Israelites, too, all men (women and children too,) are under the judgment of God because of sin. Heb. 9:27 tells us, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” We have but to look around us to see how true this is. Death is the wages of sin. So judgment is hanging over every sinner, and except for what the Lamb of God has done for us, there is no salvation from it. The blood alone of the Lord Jesus, shed when He died on the cross, is that which saves us. God sees it upon each one who believes on the Lord Jesus, and He passes over him. The Israelites did not see the blood when they were inside, eating the roasted lamb, but the destroying angel did, and that was enough, they were safe.

Suppose there had been a house where the inmates in tears, were praying and crying to God to keep them from the destroying angel, but they had failed to sprinkle the blood as commanded, would they have been saved? No, for the Lord had said: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” So those who trust the Lord Jesus are safe inside. Nothing they can do is going to add to their safety. The judgment, the wrath of God, with all its awful consequences, is past. The “Lamb of God” was slain for them and they are free.

O! what Saviour is Jesus the Lord!

Well might His name by His saints be adored!

He has redeemed them from hell by His blood,

Saved them forever and brought them to God.

ML 11/28/1909

The Father of the Fatherless.

A GENTLEMAN while spending a Sunday in one of the New England villages became acquainted with a poor orphan. The child told the gentleman what kind friends he had found, giving him a home, good food and clothing, and showing him much affection; in fact, everything was done for him that kindness could do, and yet all this did not drive away the gloom that hung over him. He was so sad, a smile was seldom seen on his face, and rarely, if ever, could he be persuaded to go and play like other children. Everything about him showed there was something that weighed upon his heart heavily. All his relations were dead; he alone was left to weep for them. The gentleman determined to have a private talk with the boy, and seek to lead him to the one who said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” During the afternoon the gentleman noticed our orphan boy going slowly towards the cemetery where his parents were laid.

He went after him and putting a kindly hand on his shoulder, said very tenderly, “John, is it true you have no father?”

“No, sir, I have none.”

“No mother, either?”

“Nor sister, nor brothers,” and he sobbed so, his voice was hardly audible.

“John, has no one told you that God is a Father to the fatherless, and that Jesus is the friend of the heavy laden?”

John knew something about these things, for his tender mother had taught him some verses from the Bible when he was very young, but he did not answer.

“John, do you think anyone down here needs God for a Father, and Jesus for a friend more than you?”

“No sir, no one needs Him more than I do.”

“And have you never asked God to be your Father?”

“I pray every morning,” said the boy, “but I don’t think I pray right.”

His voice trembled, his eyes turned towards his new friend with a look of anguish, as much as to say, what can I do? His friend invited him to come to his room, and in a few words told him of the promises in the Bible, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” He told him that God never turned a repent” ant sinner away. The boy listened with deep attention, and said, “O! sir, do you think I could be saved?”

“Certainly I do, for God has said, ‘now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation,’” and opening his Bible at Isaiah 55, he read those precious words, “Ho, 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.” “Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good. And let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

As soon as he heard these words, his eyes brightened with hope, and he said, “Sir do you think these promises were written for me?”

“Surely they are, my friend; they are for all those who are thirsty and need the water of life.” They knelt together, and his friend asked God very earnestly to reveal Himself to this poor child; to show him the path of life; to lead him to the source of living waters, and when he had finished, the poor child, from the anguish of his heart, burst out with the publican’s prayer, “O! God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Thus did this generous man take John by the hand, poor orphan that he was, sad and lonely, and lead him to the fountain of life. He who alone can heal the broken-hearted. From that time on, John was another boy; he was calm, and happy. Before this, his spirit was like a landscape where the clouds were so dense that all the beauty was obscured, and now the rays from the sun of righteousness chased all the clouds away—all was clear and bright, and grace and peace, shone out, so all could see the change. He was no longer alone, for the one who has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,” was by his side.

And now, dear children, will you not accept Jesus too? Then you, too, will be happy; you, too, will have one with you if trouble should come, as it did to John.

God’s word says, “Incline your ear and come unto Me, hear and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:3.

ML 11/28/1909

Answers to Bible Questions for October.

1. “For it is not possible,” etc. Heb. 10:4.

2. “Let your conversation,” etc. 13:5.

3.“It is a fearful thing,” etc. 10:31.

4.“How shall we escape,” etc. 2:3.

5.“Looking unto Jesus,” etc. 12:2.

6.“But unto the Son,” etc. 1:8.

7.“For yet a little while,” etc. 10:37.

Bible Questions for December.

Answers to be found in the 1St Epistle of Peter.

1St. Write the verse containing the words “Strangers and pilgrims.”

2nd. Write the verse containing the words “Sober.” “Watch.” “Prayer.”

3rd. Write the verse containing the words “The precious blood.”

4th. Write the verse containing the words, “Refrain his tongue.”

5th. Write the verse containing the words “He careth for you.”

6th. Write the verse containing the words “Reviled.” “Threatened.”

7th. Write the verse containing the words “Suffer as a Christian.”

ML 12/05/1909

Humble and Faithful.

A MISSIONARY Society sent several educated theological students to a mission field in Africa, and with them, a youth of little ability, as shoe maker and servant.

For many years this young man, with a couple of negro boys, sat in the shade of a tree mending shoes. When these students, one after the other, had all died of fever, and there was no one left to do the preaching, he said, “Now it, is time!” and he put his shoe makers’ tools in the box, and commenced to preach Christ. It was evident that no one else was mastering the difficult negro dialect like this youth, and in astonishment the natives heard this shoe maker tell of the wonderful love of God in Christ. Thus this poor shoe maker became a much used missionary, but the secret was, he was humble and faithful, and Christ was his theme.

How soon our short life will be gone! Let us be humble and faithful, and we shall be a testimony for the Lord, and a blessing to others, though we are weak, and with no gift.

ML 12/05/1909

Home.

A LITTLE boy about four or five years old, was returning from school one day. He bounded into the house, exclaiming as he hung his hat up in the entry, “This is my home, this is my home.”

A lady was then on a visit to his mother, and was sitting in the parlor. She said to him,

“Willie, the house next door is just the same as this; suppose you go in there and hang your hat up in the hall; wouldn’t that be your home as well as this?”

“No ma’am,” said Willie, very earnestly, “It would not.”

“Why not? What makes this house your home more than that;” asked the lady.

Willie had never thought of this before. But after a moment’s pause he ran up to his mother, and throwing his arms around her neck, he said,

“Because my dear mother lives here!”

It is the presence, and company of those we, love which make our earthly home; and it is just so with our heavenly home—that home which our dear Saviour has one to prepare, for the children of God.

ML 12/05/1909

Talks With the Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Goat.

IN the eleventh chapter, of the book of Leviticus we read, “And the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, . . . that shall ye eat.” If we examine the goat, we shall find that he is, according to this Scripture, a clean animal, therefore was in much request among the Israelites, both for food, and for sacrifice. The land of Canaan was a land of “valleys and hills,” and on the steep crags of those hills the goats delighted to feed, while the quieter sheep were content to feed on the soft grass of the valleys. The sheep and goats never mixed together, while the, former would follow the shepherd in the pathway, and were glad of his help over rocks or holes, the venturesome goat never remained upon the road, but climbed and skipped on the highest and most dangerous places he could find. Often at nightfall, the shepherd would lead his flocks into one of the large, lonely caves in the mountains, there to be safe from the wild beasts.

We read in 1St Sam. 24, of David, hiding himself in a cave, which was among the “rocks of the wild goats.” This cave is mentioned in connection with the sheepcotes, and no doubt, was one in which sheep were kept at times.

When the shepherd took his sheep and goats to the water, they always remained apart, on either side of the well; so we can understand our Lord’s parable in Matt. 25, where He speaks of the Son of Man, sitting upon the throne of His glory, with all nations before Him, “And He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” We know that this parable refers to the judgment of the living nations, and that we shall not have part in it, but still we may ask ourselves if we should be among the sheep or the goats. The Lord often speaks of His children as sheep, but never as goats, and He says of the sheep, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,” John 10:28, What a safe, happy place a sheep of Christ is in, as the little hymn says, “A sheep may fall and smear its coat,” “But never can become a goat.” The goat was an exceedingly useful animal to the Israelites. First, it was largely used for food. The old goats were seldom eaten, but the kids were a constant article of food.

We read in Judges 6, that Gideon brought a kid to the angel who appeared to him. “The flesh he put in a basket and the broth in a pot.” To this day the same manner of cooking is usual, in the Holy Land, and if you or I went to an Arab’s tent, he would probably kill a young kid, and it would be cooked for us in this way.

You remember, too, how Rebekah made savory meat of the flesh of the kid, (Gen. 27) and in the well-known story of the prodigal son, the elder brother says, “Thou never gayest me a kid to make merry with my friends.” Luke 15. The milk of the goat was also largely used for food, and still is in these same countries. From the hair, cloth was manufactured of a finer or coarser kind, according to the quality of the breed. Some goats, as the Merino goat, having very long, silky hair, from which fine and beautiful cloth was made. One of the four coverings of the Tabernacle was made of goats’ hair. “Thou shalt make curtains of goats’ hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle.” Ex. 26:7.

Another part of the goat which was used, was its skin, and of this many things were made—amongst others, the bottles, of which we so often read in Scripture. The skin was taken off the animal with as little cutting as possible, and carefully tanned. The places where the cuts had been made, were doubled over and sewed, and the bottle was complete. We can think of many places in the Bible where bottles are spoken of. Hannah, the mother of little Samuel, brought a “bottle of wine” to the tabernacle, when she presented her child to the Lord. 1 Sam. 1. Joel opened a “bottle of milk” to give drink to her enemy, Sisera, whom she afterwards slew with the nail (or peg) of the tent. Judges 4:9; and Abraham gave a bottle of water to Hagar, when she and her son, Ishmael, were driven forth into the wilderness, on account of Ishmael mocking his little brother, Isaac. Gen. 21.

ML 12/05/1909

The Sailor's Return.

WHAT a happy meeting we see in this picture. The sailor boy has returned after a long voyage. The mother is thankful for her oldest son’s safe return. Many a prayer she has offered up to God for the boy far away on the sea. Now he is at home beside her at the table, with her hand in his. The love in their hearts shines out of the faces of mother and son. We hope too, this boy knows something of the Saviour’s love which can make him truly happy. No matter then how the stormy billows roll he will have no fear. Maybe this boy, like some others, went away from home because his mother told him of the Saviour who died for sinners. He might be able to get away from his mother, but not from God. The eye of God was ever following him in all the strange lands he visited, and the still, small voice speaks in the night-watches on the lonely sea. We hope he has listened to that voice, and is happy in knowing the Lord Jesus as his own dear Saviour, the Saviour of sinners.

He may have returned home to tell his mother the good news. This makes them a happy company indeed. His brothers and sisters are not forgotten, for he has brought them some of the wonders of the deep—shells, strings of coral and curiosities from distant lands. This causes us to say,

“O, LORD, HOW MANIFOLD ARE THY WORKS! IN WISDOM HAST THOU MADE THEM ALL: THE EARTH IS FULL OF THY RICHES. SO IS THIS GREAT AND WIDE SEA.” Psalm 104:24, 25.

ML 12/05/1909

The Altogether Lovely One.

The Queen of Sheba came from far,

Like those who saw the leading star;

Wishing to learn from David’s son,

What things the God of grace had done.

News of this king had reached her ear,

But she would see as well as hear;

And when she saw his glory bright,

She wondered greatly at the sight.

And if, like her, we prove His love,

The King of kings, the Lord above,

We’ll surely say, as she of old,

He’s greater far than we were told.

More lovely far than we had thought,

Is He by whom our souls are taught;

More grace and goodness from Him flow,

Than any at a distance know.

He loves His little ones to teach,

And put His truth within their reach;

And not the weakest e’er can say,

I came, but I was sent away.

ML 12/05/1909

Eternal Realities Hidden.

A LITTLE boy held a ten cent piece near his eye, and said, “O, mother, it is bigger than the room!” and when he drew it still nearer he exclaimed, “O, mother, it is bigger than all outdoors!”

And in just that way the worldling hides God and Christ, and judgment and eternity from view, behind some paltry pleasure, some trifling joy, or some small possession, which shall perish with the using and pass away, with all earth’s lust and glory.

ML 12/05/1909

Winter in Russia.

WE all know it must be very cold in Russia, as it is so far north. In our picture, the people have made a fire in the open air. In the far north they have a long, long night, not seeing the sun for months.

Here the people are trying to warm themselves. Notice the breath of the horses. It must be very cold. The light of the fire cheers and warms them.

There is another light that shines in dark Russia. It is the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. In the prisons and stations where the exiles to Siberia are kept. New Testaments are distributed. The people are told of the love of God for poor sinners; the death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross to save their souls from hell.

Many of the Russians are poor, and have many hardships to endure. For this reason they emigrate to other countries where there is more liberty. But the same Lord is over all, and He has His testimony even in dark Russia.

“THE LORD IS . . . . NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Peter 3:9.

“God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6.

ML 12/12/1909

Talks With the Tiny Ones About Animals.

The Goat. Part 2.

WE were speaking last week of the bottles made of Goats skins, which to this day are used in the East. These bottles, of course, were likely to tear and become worn out. The cunning Gibeonites, wishing to make peace with Israel, when they first entered the land of Canaan, pretended they came from a long distance, and to prove this shewed “wine bottles, old and rent and bound up.” I daresay you are thinking too, of our Lord’s words in Matt. 9:17. “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out.”

Sacks were also made of the whole goat skin, in much the same manner as the bottles. Can you picture to yourself Joseph’s brothers, with their goat skin sacks filled with wheat, and laded upon their asses? or these same wily Gibeonites with their “old sacks upon their asses”? Josh. 9:4.

One more thing I must mention as made of goat’s skin, and that is the kneading troughs used by the women. If we Think of them as a flat piece of tanned goat skin, we can better understand, how, on their hurried flight from Egypt, “the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.” Ex. 12:34.

We now come to another important use of the goat amongst the Israelites. mean as a sacrifice. Only clean beasts might be sacrificed, and as we have seen the goat was one of these. In many of the sacrifices they might take either a kid or a lamb, in others they were particularly told which it was to be. We find this in Leviticus 16, where we get the account of the “great day of atonement.” On that one day, the tenth day of the seventh month, the high priest entered into the Holy place, alone, carrying with him the blood which was to make atonement for himself and for the people. The tabernacle, as most of you know, was divided into two parts, by a heavy curtain or veil. Into the larger or outer room, the priests came daily, “accomplishing the service of God,” but into the, inner apartment they might not come, for there upon the mercy seat, was the cloud which shewed the presence of God. When that great and solemn day arrived, on which the high priest was to enter the most Holy Place, he was to be dressed in pure white linen, after bathing himself in water, and then he was to take of the congregation two goats for a sin offering, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle. The next step was to cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and one for the scapegoat. The goat upon whom the Lord’s lot fell was then offered for a sin offering, but the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord. But even yet the high priest could not go into that Holy Place. You must remember that he was but a sinful man and before he could make atonement for others, he must have his own sins atoned for, so a bullock was slain for a special sin offering for the priest and his household.

Then carrying a censer of burning coals from off the altar, and his hands full of sweet incense, he entered within the wail, where stood the golden ark and the mercy seat, and as he came thus into the presence of God, he threw the incense upon the coals, and the smoke rose up before the Lord, covering the mercy seat; then he sprinkled the blood of the bullock seven times upon the mercy seat; this was to atone for his own sins. Now he could enter again with the blood of the goat, and do with it for the congregation, as he had done with the blood of the bullock for himself. When this important ceremony was performed, the priest put both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confessed over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel—all their transgressions and all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and sent him away into a land not inhabited. Does not this remind us of that beautiful verse, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us?” Ps. 103:12. There is no vail now to keep us away from the presence of God. When the Lord Jesus Christ made atonement for sin, upon the cross, the vail was rent, and all who trust in His precious blood may come boldly into the Holiest, not once a year, but every day. “Having therefore boldness, brethren, to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.” Heb. 10:22.

“And now we draw near to the throne of grace

For His blood and the Priest are there.

And we joyfully seek God’s holy face,

With our censer of praise and prayer.”

ML 12/12/1909

The Dark Room.

SHALL we take the poor child?” Said Mr. Stein, as he sat at breakfast one morning with his family.

“My greatest fear is, that he may show a bad example to our children,” replied his wife; “let us consider the case well.”

“But could our children not help him to improve?” asked the father, as he looked at his children, who were contentedly eating their bread and milk.

“I will be his brother, and give him my paper kite,” said William.

“He is a little heathen, according to all I hear,” said the father, “and I am really doubtful if we could make anything out of him.”

“But, father,” chimed in the oldest daughter, “we send missionaries to the heathen, and if we believe that one Christian can do good to a big number of heathen, should we seven not be useful to one single heathen?”

“Well, then, we’ll try it,” replied the father; “Jacob shall come.”

Who was Jacob, then? He was the youngest son of a brother of Mr. Stein’s who had died in Jamaica, and before his death, had commended his son to the care of his relations. Jacob was about nine years old, and was already on the voyage to Europe.

About 14 days after the above conversation, Jacob arrived at his Uncle’s. He was small, but well-built and would have been beautiful, if more attention had been paid to his toilet. Even shoes, stockings and caps were troublesome to him. He ran wild about the house and garden and at first would not speak to anybody. After a little, he improved in this respect, but only to make room for worse faults. He became very bad. When he could, he tormented his little cousins and playmates, and when he was in a bad temper, he would break and smash whatever came into his hands. Whippings, warnings and entreaties were unheeded. He did not seem to care when he was scolded and punished. Mr. and Mrs. Stein did their best to improve him, they had deep sorrow for the unhappy boy, as only a father and mother can have. They daily prayed to the Lord that He would soften the poor boy’s hard heart.

Jacob delighted to torment little Susan. She was a loveable, delicate little girl, and tried in her own way to help the poor boy. She thought the worst of it all was, that the poor boy loved nobody, and was loved by nobody.

One day, he was very bad to her, pulled her by the hair to the floor, and bit and scratched her till the blood came.

In his anger, he threw her doll in the fire.

What was to be done to Jacob, who had behaved worse than a wild animal? His uncle said he must be shut up till he would promise to improve.

In the house there was a dark room with an iron shutter before the window, and a very small opening for a door. It was used to keep old, useless articles. Here was Jacob imprisoned, after his uncle had first shown him how bad his conduct had been. But it seemed to have not the slightest effect on him.

Little Susan became quite sad and down cast, when he had been a day and a night in his prison without wishing to be good. On the second evening, she said to her mother with tears in her eyes, “Mother, I could not sleep all night; I was always thinking of poor Jacob who is quite alone and has no light and no nice bed to sleep in.”

The third night came and Jacob still showed no sorrow for his sin. When Mr. Stein went to him to try once more to speak to his conscience, he listened sullenly to the end and then said in an insolent tone, “It is all the same to me.” Mr. Stein was, therefore, obliged to leave him shut in again. He and his wife were troubled about the stiff-nakedness of the boy, but they felt, they must not yield.

On the fourth day came Susan to her mother, and said, “Mother, may I not open the door to poor Jacob, and let him see how beautiful it is here? then you can shut me in; it is so dark up there for him.”

The mother looked tenderly at the dear child and simply answered, “Go, child,” perhaps his heart will soften through the love of the tittle one, thought she.

Susan ran up quickly to the dark room, opened the door and said, “I have asked Mother, if I may sit here in your place, Jacob, and you can go outside and see how nice and beautiful everything is.”

Jacob looked for a while at the little speaker, “You are silly” he then said and went out. The mother came and shut Susan in. “Let him eat downstairs with you,” whispered the child, through the keyhole, “and I will take his food here.”

When the father came home, the mother told him what had happened.

At the table, Jacob took his place opposite the empty chair, where little Susan used to sit.

“You can take the bread, and water up to Susan, Jacob,” said Mr. Stein handing him a jug of water and some pieces of dry bread. He took both and went upstairs, but looking depressed and sad. In the afternoon and evening he went up again with the dry bread and water.

“Must Susan remain there all night?” he asked with quivering voice, when it was time to go to bed.

“Yes,” answered Mrs. Stein.

A stream of tears burst from his eyes. He ran upstairs, knocked at the door, and cried “Susie, you are the dearest child I know. I will never strike and scratch you again. O, I am so sorry I treated you so wickedly. Why are you so good to me?” and then he cried and wept as if his heart would break. When Mrs. Stein came and opened the door of the room, he threw his arms round the neck of the child and covered her face with numberless kisses. Then he went to Mr. Stein and asked for forgiveness, and promised to be good. And he kept his promise. Although his hasty temper still often made him do thoughtless acts, he was immediately ready, when he became quiet, to ask for forgiveness and, if possible, to undo what he had wrongly done.

He had been overcome by love.

How beautiful it would be if all brothers and sisters, and children living together in the same house would behave as little Susan did—not to be quarrelsome, nor to scratch or strike back, but to try to overcome the evil in others with love. The Lord Jesus will bless such children and love will sooner or later gain the victory.

ML 12/12/1909

Natural Affection.

IN the last days, men shall be disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. This is what the Scripture tells us, and we do see much of this around us. But let us look at our picture, and there we see a little girl who has love or natural affection for her dear grandma. Many willing steps will she run for the one she loves, and they enjoy each other’s company very much.

If asked whether you love your parents or not, the answer would likely be, “Yes, I do.” But actions speak louder than words. Are you always as thoughtful, kind and obedient as true love would prompt you to be? There are many ways of pleasing ourselves. We forget “We’ve now to please but One.” Are we lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?

To any of our readers who know not the Lord Jesus, we would say they have made their own choice of pleasure rather than Jesus. We trust they may become aware of their danger before .it is too late, when the voice of this same Jesus will say, “I know you not.”

The love of Christ constraineth us. “WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST’S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.” 2 Cor. 5:20.

ML 12/19/1909

Bible History.

Chapter 36. Exodus 14. Pharaoh Drowned.

WHEN Moses and the Israelites left Egypt in so much haste, they did not forget Joseph’s dying command, but carried his bones with them. Then they went on, and came to the Red Sea. But when Pharaoh heard they were gone, he commanded his servants to bring his chariots, and his horses; and he went with a great army to bring the people back again. He overtook them by the sea where they were encamped. God had gone with them in a pillar of cloud to show them the road by day; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. They were safe in God’s keeping.

But soon they looked back; and what did they see? Pharaoh and the Egyptians coming after them, with their chariots and their horses. The Israelites cried to the Lord, and said to Moses: Why hast thou carried us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? Did we not tell thee to let us alone to serve the Egyptians? How soon they had forgotten God’s power displayed in Egypt! But Moses said to them: Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Fear not, and the Lord will fight for you. Then the Lord commanded the people to go on. But where could they go? The sea was before them, and there was no bridge to go over, and no ships to carry them across. What could they do? Nothing, but God could provide for them a way of escape. The pillar which was before them, went behind them. It stood now between the Israelites and the Egyptians: but the side next to the Israelites was bright to give them light; and the side next to the Egyptians was dark and cloudy, so that they could not see to do the Israelites any harm all that night. Then God told Moses to stretch his rod over the sea; and the Lord sent a very strong wind to blow back the water; and they went into the midst of the sea upon dry ground. The water stood like a wall on each side. Who did this wonder? Not Moses, not his rod, not the strong wind alone; it was God, God who has power to do all things. Not one was drowned, for God held back the water till they were all gone over safely.

Then the Egyptians tried to pursue them; and went in after them; but God looked at them through the pillar of fire and cloud, and made them fear, and took off the chariot wheels so they drove heavily: At this the Egyptians said: Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord is fighting for them against us. The Lord told Moses to stretch his rod over the sea, and the waters came back again upon Pharaoh and his army, and his servants, and chariots, and horses and they were all drowned. In the morning, the Israelites saw their enemies dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed Him and His servant Moses.

God would teach us by this wonderful story that we cannot do anything to save ourselves. Like the Israelites, we must stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. He made a way of escape for them, and He has made one for us, too. We cannot atone for our sins, but the judgment we deserve on account of sin has been borne by the Lord Jesus. He went down into the waters of death that we might come up victorious on the other side. “All Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me,” says the Lord, and, “I sink in deep mire where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow Me.” Ps. 69: 2. He was speaking of the waters of death, the judgment for our sins, He was going to bear on the cross. And now, by His grace, we can “stand still” and just accept His salvation.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.

ML 12/19/1909

Let Us Walk in the Light.

RECENTLY a friend of ours traveled through France. As he walked through the streets of the city of M. at midnight with his host who met him at the Station suddenly he saw at the corner of a street a beautiful, large jewelry store, brightly lighted up and the curtains drawn to the top. Quite surprised, the friend asked his host the reason of this store being lit up, and all the precious and glittering jewelry exposed at so late an hour.

The host answered, “It is on account of thieves. Our city has recently been visited by a gang of professional housebreakers, and now, many of the most important stores are illuminated all night, and the curtains are not drawn down, as the thieves could do their work behind them, but, you know, they shun the light.”

The wisdom in keeping the thieves away by means of the light is very important for us, too, dear fellow-pilgrim. If the world or Satan sees our heart and our path bright illuminated with the One who said, “I am the Light of the world,” they dare not come near us, but if Satan finds a dark spot in us, he will surely make a bold attack upon us, and, alas! many dear ones have been stricken down and robbed on their path!

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

“Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light.” Luke 11:35, 36.

“Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Rev. 3:11.

ML 12/19/1909

A Letter From One of Our Young Friends.

“Dear Brother: —Enclosed I give the answers out of God’s precious word. I made it a point this time, more than before, to read carefully each word in this Epistle, and tried to get the meaning which it wished to portray. I take great pleasure in God’s holy word, and find new truths for meditation each time I read it. It is the only true guide through the wilderness, and when men puzzle their brains over ritualism, we can trustingly look to the word for guidance in all things.

I hope the Lord may keep you well and happy in Him for the furtherance of this helpful work.

Yours in Christ Jesus our Lord,

H. B.”

ML 12/19/1909

Little Annie.

LITTLE Annie had given her heart to the Saviour, and it was her delight to please Him.

When a friend of her father’s heard of it, he laughed about people speaking of the conversion of a little child.

She had been such a sweet, good little thing; why should she want to be better? If old Joseph G. could be made to love the Lord Jesus, then he would believe that a man could be converted.

Little Annie was quite upset about this unreasonable speech. She went to her room, kneeled down at her little bed and said, “Dear, Lord Jesus, they will not believe that I love Thee, because I am so little.” Then she ran away to old Joseph.

He was, without doubt, the most unfriendly, irritable man in the whole village. He worked all day long in his carpenter’s shop, and as soon as anyone came in sight, he began to grumble and to scold. The result was that everybody who was not compelled to do business with him, kept well out of his way.

He was just in the act of sawing a board in two when a lovely child-like voice called out, “Good morning Joseph!”

The voice sounded so sweet, that he turned round, without the usual frown on his face.

“Please, Joseph,” said little Annie, “I must tell you something, but you won’t be angry with me, will you?”

For years, nobody had spoken to Joseph, unless they had business with him, and he wondered why this little girl wished to speak to him.

He laid his saw down, and sitting on a bench, looked enquiringly at his visitor.

“Well, my child, what do you want with me?”

His voice was rough as usual, but it was a great thing that he had permitted himself to be drawn into conversation.

Little Annie sat down near him, and looked at him tenderly with her big brown eyes and said,

“I must tell you, Joseph, that the Lord Jesus loves me, and I love Him in return. But there is a gentleman who is on a visit to our house, who says I am too little to come to the Saviour, and that I do not need to, for I am so good already. He will not believe therefore that I have given my heart to Him. He says if you will begin to love the Lord Jesus, then he will believe it. Now, Joseph, will you not do that? The Lord Jesus loves you so much. Will you not love Him?”

She seized the hand of the old man and went on, “Oh, He loves you very, very, much, Joseph. You do know that He died on the cross for every one of us, don’t you?”

Poor old man! Nobody had ever spoken thus to him since his mother had gone home. The hot tears ran down his cheeks.

“You must not cry, Joseph, for God loves you. He loves us all, even when we are vexing Him so much by our sins, and has sent the Lord Jesus from heaven to redeem us.”

Joseph was deeply moved. He could only cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” While little Annie was speaking to him in her child-like way, the scales from his eyes had suddenly fallen, and he saw what a great sinner he had been.

He took refuge in Jesus, who came to bless sinners, and who could wash him clean in His blood, and before the little one had finally left him, he was praising God for His unspeakable grace.

When Annie got home, she said to their visitor,

“Now, you will believe that the Lord Jesus loves me, for old Joseph has given his heart to Him.”

“Nonsense!” laughed the friend; “who told you that?”

“Well, you will see!” and he did see it, and not only he, but the whole village also saw it. Everybody saw that the old, ill-natured face had become bright and beamed with joy. Cross old Joseph became so friendly that everybody liked him, and anyone passing his workshop could hear him singing of the wonderful love of the Lord Jesus.

ML 12/19/1909

Jesus of Nazareth.

OUR picture is a little sketch of Nazareth. Nazareth is beautifully situated on the slope of a hill, but like most of the Eastern towns of the present day is not very clean. In this town there live some true believers in the Lord Jesus, though many of the sixty thousand people are still in darkness.

In John 1:46, Nathanael asks, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Yes, indeed, that precious Jesus of Nazareth came from here, the One who died to save us.

Jesus was born at Bethlehem, but very soon Joseph and Mary took their Son down to Nazareth. In Nazareth He spent most of thirty years. He is called the lowly Nazarene. The Lord of glory, God manifest in the flesh, takes an humble place in this world.

There is only one natural well in Nazareth. This water flows from the spring, as it did in the time of our Lord’s sojourn down here over 1900 years ago. The Lord, no doubt, drank from this well.

When we think, children, that the Lord Jesus walked down this sloping hillside, drank from this well, worked here in the carpenter’s shop with Joseph, lived a perfect life, our hearts are filled with love and praise to this Jesus of Nazareth, the lowly Nazarene, who travelled all the way from glory to the cruel cross.

There He died to save us and bring us to God. We can but thank and praise Him for love so marvelous.

“O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO.” Ps. 107:1, 2.

ML 12/26/1909

Fannie W.

No doubt, there are very few, if any, among my readers who are afflicted like the little girl I am going to tell you about. She could neither see, nor hear, nor taste, nor smell, having had a violent fever in her childhood, which left her deprived of all these faculties.

Fannie W. was the child of people who were able to send her to school, and she learned to read and write when quite young. After her illness, when the fact of her fearful affliction dawned upon her, the shock was so terrible that in years after, when she was speaking of it to the lady whom God used for her conversion, her whole body shook as she recalled the awful feeling of despair that came over her. This lady became acquainted with Fannie in the most providential way. She was at one of the watering places, and a deep desire came over her to do something for the Lord. She was truly His, and wished to devote the faculties He had given her for His service. She too, had a blind sister, and had learned to read with the raised letters for the blind. This talent was put to good use, as the lady lived very near Fannie’s home.

Fannie was pretty and had a very intelligent face. One could scarcely imagine she was deprived of all intellectual culture, that one acquires by hearing and seeing the things that are around us. One can scarcely conceive the darkness of a mind that is shut into itself, and not able to receive a new thought or see anything new.

Fannie often said it seemed to her as if she was shut up into a black box. Her feelings were so terrible that if anyone had taken her by the hand, she would have fainted; but the poor child found unexpected relief. Fannie had not felt the touch of her father’s hand for some days, and as she received no answer to her questions she feared he was ill or dead, and the thought occurred to ask someone to write on her hand. Her sister wrote a word, but she could not understand. Then she asked her to write one letter at a time, separately, and thus learned that her father was merely away from home. This new way of communication was a great joy to Fannie, but her sister was a seamstress, and had little time to devote to her afflicted sister.

It was just at this time that the Christian lady, of whom we spoke, offered to teach the poor girl to read. A friend who lived in the same apartment, united with her in asking the Lord to help them in this most difficult task, and the answer came, beyond their expectations. Is it not written, “Ask, and ye shall receive”?

Fannie’s sister, Anna, took her to her benefactress, and making her sit down on a chair, the lady approached her, and took her by the hand. She noticed how very diffident Fannie was. In laying her hand on the lady’s wrist, she felt its size, and shook her head, to let her know she was unknown to her. Her sister came to the rescue, and spelt on her hand, “strange lady.”

Now, we will let the lady speak for herself.

“I noticed the afflicted girl do this, and taking her hand, I began to write. She was puzzled by my letters, and said, ‘Please, make the whole alphabet.’ I did so, but she corrected me, asking me to make the abbreviations she was in the habit of using. Though this made it more simple, it took a long time to spell a whole sentence. Fannie repeated every letter, then every word. She was patient, intelligent, and bright, and after the first embarrassment was over, she asked my name. I wrote it on her hand, and she pronounced it fairly well, though it was a difficult name. Then she asked my age, and about my family. When I told her both father and mother were dead, she said, ‘How sorry I am for you,’ and her eyes filled with tears. What a sweet proof of love, afflicted as she was. Fannie could weep with those that weep. When I told her I had a blind sister, she became much interested, and asked me many questions. Thus we spent our first evening. Fannie wanted to return home, and touching my wrist she said my name.

Her ignorance was very great. Deprived as she had been of sight and hearing when ten years old, she had no means of instruction until she was eighteen years old, except being able to communicate with only one person, and that one was constantly busy. Sometimes very simple words were hard for her to understand, then again she would remember more complicated ones. Her sense of touch was remarkable; of the five senses, there remained only one.”

My dear little friends, as you see God’s beautiful creation, and smell the delicious perfume of the flowers, do you ever think of thanking God for these blessings?

Fannie’s friend asked her if she would like to learn to read. She answered, she feared she could not, but when she was told that the lady’s sister had learned, she consented to try. Then the lady said, “We must ask God to help us.” Her young friend did not understand, so she shook her head, but extended her hand. The poor girl knew nothing about God, or prayer, for no one had taught her, either at home or at school. Her sister bore a good character, but knew nothing of these things.

As simply and briefly as possible, her teacher told her of the God who had created her, and that we could tell Him all our need. Fannie accepted this, then the lady told her we were all sinners, but that God had so loved us, as to give His only Son to save us, and to bear our punishment in His own body on the cross, and now, all who believe in Him are saved, and have peace with God. She also wrote upon Fannie’s hand a short prayer, “O, God, make me Thy child, and enable me to understand the things that come from Thee!”

“Every day,” said the lady, “we wrote a verse from the Bible on Fannie’s hand.

This she repeated the following evening, and in teaching her to read we always chose the verse she had learned. At first it seemed a hopeless task, but by degrees she got on, even far better than we expected, and when able to spell her first word, she uttered a cry of joy. As she learned more and more of the Bible, it was not without profit. She accepted the truth with the faith of a little child. Her prayer and ours had indeed been answered—Jesus became her Saviour, and her Friend, and the new life, brought forth the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, and gentleness, to the glory of God.

Her parents noticed the change, but knew nothing of the cause. They would say, ‘Fannie is so patient now, and rarely in a bad humor. She shows us so much affection, and tender care in showing us the way to heaven.’

On account of her health, Fannie could not make great progress, but what she learned seemed graven upon her heart, and she retained the verses in a wonderful way.

Her confidence in God was that of a little child. She never doubted her Saviour’s presence, and would talk to Him as to a near friend. She was no longer afraid of being alone. With her Bible on her knees, she would read, and talk to the Lord about what she had read. Her devoted friend happened in one day, and found her reading the 14th verse of the 15th of John, ‘Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ Looking up, she said, as if the Lord was close to her, ‘Thou hast told me Thou wast my Friend when I knew it not; teach me to do all that Thou dost command me.’”

Her prayers were surely answered, but the time had come when He who had so wonderfully revealed Himself to her, was going to take her to be forever with Himself. Fannie’s teacher left that locality, but through her sister, Anna, she received several touching letters, full of affection, and gratitude for what the Lord had done through her. The sickness that took her home, was of short duration. Her Bible was her constant companion, and her joy knew no bounds. As one or another would approach her, she would say, “Listen to this,” and would read some passage she loved. When she could no longer read her Bible, she kept on holding sweet intercourse with her Lord, asking Him constantly to bring her mother and father and sister to Himself, and she seemed so sure her prayer would be answered. Had she not read in her Bible, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” ? Her departure came very suddenly. Fannie entered into perfect rest with the Saviour she loved.

Dear children, the same One is calling you, who called Fannie W. to Himself in such a remarkable way, though she was so sorely afflicted. He made her sad life happy, and gave her such sweet communion day by day, until the moment when He took her to be with Himself.

“Come unto Me” are His gracious words now, but if you refuse His invitation, there will be a time when He will have to say, “Depart from Me,” so, “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 3:15.

ML 12/26/1909

A Letter From One of Our Young Friends.

“Dear Brother:

I want to tell you something about how I was converted. Before I was converted, the devil was tempting me, and did not want me to go to meeting or Sunday-school, and I always used to cry, and did not want to go, but mother said I was to go, so I went along, and the Lord said to me, You would not come unto Me and get rest. But thanks be to God, on the sixth day of December, 1908, His holy Spirit entered into my heart and gave me victory over Satan and I went to Sunday-school.

Just as I got there, my teacher, Mrs. D. gave out the hymn,

“What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” and after she prayed, and she read “Charley’s Message.”

The verse that struck me, and caused me to be converted was,

“Yes, plase, my Sunday lady tell;

And give her Charley’s love,

And that I’se going to Jesus now,

To Jesus’ home above.”

So I now praise God that I can rejoice with Charley’s hope that I am on my way to glory, washed in the precious blood of Jesus, asking God to keep me unto the day of resurrection.

R. G., 13 years of age.”

Children, go and tell of Jesus.

How He died our souls to save;

How, from bondage to release us,

He himself a ransom gave.

Tell around the wondrous story,

How on Calvary’s cross He died;

There the Lord of life and glory

For our sins was crucified.

ML 12/26/1909

Messages of God's Love: 1909

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for November.

Do Not Say.

The Soldier's Dismissal.

Green Pastures.

Do You Ever Pray?

Plowing in Olden Times.

Found Again After Many Days.

Bible History.

Getting His Picture Taken.

Bible History.

An Easy Lesson.

Katie.

Playing Children.

Bible History.

"Sow Thy Seed."

Lizzie Lee.

Responsibility.

Bible History.

Early Love for the Bible.

I Fear No Evil.

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

"Have Faith in God"

Bible History.

The Rainy Day.

A Young Believer's Song.

My Little Marguerite's Pincushion.

The Winter.

An Important Question.

Bible History.

Links in a Chain.

The Rustic Bridge and the Stepping Stones.

Links in the Chain.

Bible History.

The Rejected Supper.

A Child's Prayer in Heathen Land.

Bible History.

"Road Stopped."

"Behold I Come Quickly."

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

Bible History.

The Twenty Third Psalm.

Mending Their Nets.

The Rosebush.

A Storm on the Ocean.

Uncle Silas.

Bible History.

The Blessedness of Confession.

An Afternoon in a Ragged School.

Jesus the Lord.

Her Own Book.

Bible History.

"This Do in Remembrance of Me."

Jesus Called a Little Child Unto Him.

Love to God's Word.

Only One Way.

A Remarkable Providence.

Joy in God.

Bible History.

Jesus Called a Little Child Unto Him.

Our Saviour's Care.

Answers to Bible Questions for February

Bible History.

Matty and the Miser.

Courage.

Mother Love.

Bible History.

"I've Never Done Anything for Him."

The Chief Corner Stone.

Alma's Curls.

Bible History.

True Happiness.

"Are the Children Safe."

The Lighthouse.

Answers to Bible Questions for March.

A Letter From the Editor.

May Flowers.

Bible History.

The Barn Yard