Messages of God's Love: 1918

WE will call the little girl in our picture this week, Mary. She has been washing cloths in the river, but only stopped for a little while to look at the dear little ducklings. There is a verse of Scripture this act reminds one of, and that is, “‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Eccl. 9:10.

Children, and even some grown up people sometimes, need this verse very much. They neglect their duties and do not care if they have finished or not. Such must reap the result, as the Scripture again says, “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Prov. 13:4.

This we all know is very true ‘in temporal things but let us not forget, it is true in spiritual things as well, and there are more who are negligent about spiritual things than are negligent about temporal things.

Some even neglect the salvation of their souls, and spend all their time and energies in connection with the things of this life. God calls such a one a fool. (See Luke 12:20, 21.)

“WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” 1 Cor. 10:31.

ML 01/06/1918

I Won't Go Home Till I Am Saved.

THE above words were uttered by a young woman in deep anxiety of soul, to whom I had spoken a few days before about the love of God.

She came to the village chapel, where a series of gospel meetings were being held, and there was brought to deep conviction of sin.

The last meeting came to an end, but she found no rest. She lingered for a few moments, and then left the building. On going up the street, I heard someone running behind and calling out my name; it was a Christian lady, the mistress of the young person referred to.

“Will you return, and speak to my maid, for she says she cannot go home till she knows she is saved?”

So we all went back together; and after prayer I read these words, “Having made peace through the blood of His cross,” (Col. 1:20,) and I asked the anxious inquirer, “Who made peace?”

“Jesus,” she replied.

“When did He make peace?”

“When He died,” was her answer.

“By what means did He make peace?” “By His blood.”

I then showed her that since the peace was made, and that God was glorified by the blood of His Son respecting sin, she had not to do anything herself, but only to trust to what the Lord had accomplished.

“If He made peace, surely you were not left out?”

“No,” she replied.

“You believe then that He made peace, and that the salvation of God is for you, do you?”

“Yes.”

“Will you not praise Him for it?” I asked.

How suddenly her countenance changed! Though her face was still wet with tears, and her eyes red with weeping, yet above it all there shone a radiance that spoke of peace within. We knelt to praise God. On rising from our knees, I said, “My dear girl, let me say this to you, the secret of peace is, ‘looking unto Jesus.’ If you look in at yourself for comfort you will soon be miserable, but if you look out to Jesus you will always be happy;” and so we parted.

Sometime after this I had a happy letter from her, telling me of her continued joy and peace in Christ, and how He assisted her in her work, and of her longings to please Him who had done so much for her.

Reader, do you believe on the Son of God? By His blood shed upon the cross, peace has been made. Have you peace?

ML 01/06/1918

Forgiveness of Sins.

NOT long since two women sat talking together about the possibility of knowing the forgiveness of sins in this world. One of the two believed it to be possible; the other did not. The one who did believe it, endeavored, upon the authority of God’s Word, to show her friend that God had laid upon Christ, when He was upon the tree, the sins of all who believed in Him, and that He put them all away forever before He left the cross; that He is now in heaven without them and, therefore, they are all gone forever from Christ, and forever from all who trust Him.

Did not Jesus say to the woman in Luke 7, “Thy sins are forgiven;” and does not the apostle John, in 1 John 2:12, say, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake;” and Eph. 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;” Col. 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even for forgiveness of sins;” and Rev. 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” prove beyond a doubt that all saved persons ought to know that their sins are forgiven them, and to praise God and the Lamb for it?

Annie W., a little girl of about twelve years of age, the daughter of the woman who believed, sat and listened to the conversation between her mother and her friend, and drank it all in; anxious about her soul, she went upstairs, shut the door upon her, and kneeling down, asked God to forgive her all her sins, and to let her know it before she rose off her knees. Sweetly came the words of Jesus to her soul, “Thy sins are forgiven,” which she fully believed, and she thanked Him for His wondrous love to her.

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

ML 01/06/1918

"Jesus Died for Me."

The keen cold breath of winter

Was blowing sharply round,

And every crack and crevice

In door and shelter found.

The trees were shorn of beauty,

The edges black and bare;

And the cheery little robins

Found only scanty fare.

When hips and haws have vanish’d,

Then Master Robin comes

So boldly to our doorstep,

In search of scatter’d crumbs.

And then old Frost is busy—

Indeed, I think he loves

To nip the little fingers

That never yet wore gloves.

He seems to follow closely

Those little girls and boys,

Who’ve only bits of tippets

And tatter’d corduroys.

I know it’s very pleasant

To see the drifting snow,

When in a snug warm parlor,

Where wild winds seldom blow.

To hear the pattering rain-drops

Against the window-pane,

Or see the hoar-frost clothing

The meadow and the plain.

But it is far from pleasing

When coals are scarce and dear,

And shoes are thin and scanty,

And little toes appear.

And hands are deep in pockets,

To warm the finger-ends,

And hungry mouths are waiting

For food from loving friends.

“Ah me!” I said, whilst musing,

“How hapless is the lot

Of parents and of children

In many a humble cot!

“But God is good and gracious,

And knows the need of all,

And tenderly He listens

To those who on Him call.”

I sought a collier’s cottage

On such a wintry day,

Where a poor Sunday scholar

In helpless sickness lay.

A kind and ready welcome

I met with from the boy,

And something seemed to whisper

His heart was full of joy.

Though painful were his struggles,

And hard and short his breath,

Though life seemed slowly ebbing—

He had no fear of death.

I spoke to him of heaven

And heaven’s eternal day,

And of that precious Saviour

Who washed my sins away.

And when I spoke of heaven,

Where soon I hope to be,

“And so do I”, he answered,

“For Jesus died for ME.”

Whene’er I spoke of Jesus

Upon the cursed tree,

He said, “He died for sinners,

But, sir, He died for me.”

Long time I sat conversing

With this dear, happy youth,

So pleased to find his spirit

Rejoicing in the truth.

He seemed so calm and happy,

His heart from fears so free—

The secret of his gladness

Was “Jesus died for me.”

ML 01/06/1918

Alone, but Not Lonely.

SOME years ago a godly shepherd lived in an isolated place in the country. A lady called upon him one day, and said,

“Shepherd, you must feel very lonely in this out-of-the-way spot, deprived as you are of nearly all company. You seem to have a very faithful friend in your dog.”

He replied, “Yes, but I have a more faithful friend here,” placing his hand upon his Bible, which was lying on the table, “and while I have this precious companion I shall never feel lonely.”

ML 01/06/1918

Beautiful Snow.

WHEN one is in a good warm room and looks out on the beautiful snow, he can enjoy it and think of God’s wonderful creation. But we must also think of those who have insufficient clothing, and have little or no fire in their homes, and God would have us think of them, for He tells us, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor.” Psa. 41:1. We all will have good opportunity this winter to sacrifice, and help the poor.

There is another needful lesson we may gather from the beautiful snow in all its dazzling brightness, and that is, that God looks at the sinner who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as being whiter than snow. The psalmist could say,

“WASH ME AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” Psa, 51:7.

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

Our sins require death as the penalty, or as the Scripture gives it, “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. This is why Jesus died for us, so the shedding of His blood cleanses the believer from all his sins before God, and we can say he is whiter than snow.

ML 01/13/1918

"Let Us Alone!"

WHY can’t they let us alone? They never come to the house but they torment us about our souls, and I don’t see the fun of it at all,” so said a proud, unconverted young man to his mother. And possibly the reader of these lines has thought the same, if he has not said it.

Now, dear children, shall I tell you why we do not let you alone—why we speak to you, and why we write to you? It is because we see you standing upon the slippery brink of an everlasting hell, yet unconscious of your danger! You live as though there were no God to meet —no sins to answer for—no hell to shun, and no heaven to reach. And how can we let you alone? We should be cruel, heartless, and inhuman if we did.

Perhaps you dare to say, like many, “There is no hurry; I can take salvation at any time.” O, what a delusion of Satan’s this is! His first device is, “Let us alone!” Then, when that fails, he says, “Plenty of time yet, plenty of time!” He is a liar from the beginning, and a murderer too. No, dear children, no! you cannot be saved when you like. God says, “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. God’s offer is for today. Tomorrow may be too late forever.

Listen to the cry of One who was “left alone,” that you might never be left alone. “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken He? . . . O My God, I cry . . . . but Thou hearest not.” Psa. 22:1, 2. Jesus was forsaken of God. And why? Because He was on the cross bearing sin; and God, the Holy One, could not look upon sin. Jesus, God’s spotless Lamb, was making atonement for sin, therefore God had to turn His back on His Son.

Blessed be God! Jesus is no longer on the cross, or in the grave. Sin was atoned for, and God was glorified in its perfect settlement by His Son at the cross. Now God says to everyone who puts His trust in Jesus, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember NO MORE.” Heb. 10:17.

God has proved His satisfaction by raising Christ from the dead, and exalted Him to His right hand. He is not left alone now. The glory of God shines in His face. What a proof the sins are gone, is it not? And whose sins? Every believer can say, MINE!

Seeing that God has such blessing for all believers, do not say to Him, “Let us alone;” but accept Christ at once, and then seek in humility of heart to live for Him, and serve Him, while you await His return from heaven.

ML 01/13/1918

You Need the Blood.

A FRIEND of mine had been preaching, and, at the close of the meeting, was wishing good-bye to some of his audience. Among others, he shook hands with a young woman, just as she was going out of the door. She was one, who had attended the meetings pretty regularly, but did not appear to have received blessing. Four words were all the evangelist uttered, as, taking her hand, he looked her full in the face. “You need the blood.” The girl was half inclined to be offended, yet, as she wended her homeward way, over and over again the words rang in her ear, “You need the blood.” “Well,” thought she, “many are worse than me, but that does not mend matters, and I am afraid to die. Did not the preacher say, ‘All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God’? I am sure I have sinned thousands of times, so that I really do need the blood.” Then, quick as lightning, flashed into her mind the words she had lately heard, “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” (1 John 1:7,) and again, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” (John 3:36.) There and then that young woman was led by the Spirit of God to apply to the blood for cleansing and for peace. She believed herself lost, and received Christ as her Saviour, and thus received the knowledge of redemption through His blood, and the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, and went on her way rejoicing.

The father of this girl was ill, and had kept his bed for some time. Upon her return she went straight to his bed-side, and exclaimed, “Father, you need the blood.” Much surprised at such a salutation, he requested an explanation, and she, with lips made eloquent by the Spirit of God, told how Christ had saved her soul; how that “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,) how that “He hath made Him to be sin for us, He who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21.) She told her father that “as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12.) The poor, weary man believed the glad tidings, and, realizing the truth of the Saviour’s words, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out,” (John 6:37,) proved that “at even time it shall be light.”

The following day the son paid a visit to his sick father, who, seizing hold of the young man’s hand, exclaimed, in a broken voice, “Charlie, my lad, you need the blood!” Through God’s great mercy, these words led Charlie also to see his lost condition, and to flee for refuge to the only Saviour. Thus, within a very short space of time, sister, brother, and father were all rejoicing in word of God is quick and powerful, and Christ Jesus! How true it is that the that the blood of Christ is still efficacious to atone for the sins of both young and old! We can find pardon and acceptance with God, the very moment we receive His salvation, as a free and utterly undeserved gift.

O! you, whose eyes are just now upon this paper, you need the blood, for you are a sinner, “and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Although man, in his arrogance and blindness, may dispute this fact, it is a fact still. If you have never yet proved “that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth from all sin,” prove it now, for “you need the blood,” and only as justified by His blood can you be saved from wrath.

ML 01/13/1918

Put Your Name in.

AT the close of a gospel preaching, a young woman came to me in deep soul-trouble, inquiring the way of salvation. After a little conversation, in which I found that the Spirit of God had deeply convicted her of sin, I took her Bible, and turning to John 3:16, and asked her to read it. She did so, and read, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I then said to her,

“Go home to your room, and in the presence of God, alone with Himself, go down on your knees and turn to this verse, and instead of the word ‘world,’ and the word ‘whosoever,’ just put your name in each place, and see how it will fit you.”

The following week, at the close of the meeting she came to me with a beaming face, and said,

“I want to thank you, sir, that I am saved now.”

“Thank God!” I replied; when did that take place?”

“Last Sunday evening,” she said. “I went home and read the verse you told me, and put my name in, and it just fitted me, and I thank God for it.”

Dear child, have you found out yet that you are a guilty sinner, exposed to the wrath of a sin-hating God? And are you trying to love God, or trying to serve God in order to be saved? If so, you are altogether wrong. You must cease your efforts, and do as the young woman did—put your name in that verse, and see how it fits.

Now just insert your name in the spaces, and I am sure it will fit.

“God so loved—, that He gave His only beloved Son, that if—believe in Him,—should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is not your love to God, but His love to you. Not your gift to Him, but His gift to you. His part was the loving and giving; yours is the believing and having. God loved and God gave; we believe and we have everlasting life. God says so in the verse we have given, also in many others.

ML 01/13/1918

The Little Girl Who Took Out the "If"

A LITTLE girl was awakened to anxiety about her soul, at a meeting where the story of the leper was told.

Leprosy is a dreadful disease which soon covers the whole body. When any one became leprous in Israel, they were obliged to go outside the camp, and when any one came near to him to cry “Unclean! unclean!”

Leprosy is a marked emblem of sin. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; from the crown of the head to the soul of the foot, there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

One day a poor leper came to Jesus and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saving, I will; be thou clean, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Well, this dear little girl, who was anxious, said, “I noticed there was an ‘if’ in what the man said, but there was no ‘if’ in what Jesus said; so I went home and took out the ‘if,’ and I knelt down and I said, ‘Lord Jesus, Thou canst, Thou wilt make me clean; I give myself to thee.”

ML 01/13/1918

Love One Another.

A little girlie, with a happy look,

Sat slowly reading in a precious book,

All bound with velvet and edged up with gold;

Its weight was more than the dear child could hold.

Yet loved she dearly it to ponder o’er,

And every day she prized it more and more;

It said, said she to her dear grandmother,

“Little children should love one another.”

She thought it over, prized the blessed book,

The precious lesson to her heart she took;

And on her way she walked with trusting grace,

And dove-like look upon her gentle face,

Which spoke, as plainly as the words could say,

“The Holy Bible I must e’er obey;

So now I’ll kindly be to dear brother;

For ‘children now must love one another.’

How sad he’s naughty, will not with me play;

I’ll love him still, for that is now the way

To make him gentle, kind and good to me;

T’will better be shown if I let him see

I strive to do what I now see is right;

And thus, when we kneel down in prayer tonight,

I’ll put my arms around my dear brother,

Say, “Little children, love one another.”

The little girl did as her Bible taught,

And pleasant, was indeed the change it wrought;

The boy looked up in gladsome, bright surprise,

To meet the light of her dear, loving eyes;

His heart was full, and he could not now speak,

But pressed a kiss on his dear sister’s cheek;

And God looked down on that happy mother,

Whose “Little children loved one another.”

ML 01/13/1918

His First Letter.

HOW glad the dear boy was to stop his play and write a letter to dear kind grandma and thank her for the beautiful presents she had sent. We know, too, that grandma will be pleased to have it, although it is full of mistakes and blots. She knows as he gets older he will do better, and just now he has done what he could.

Such is the way with us all through life; everything we do is imperfect and marked with failure; but there is one place we can turn to where there are no mistakes, and that is the letter which God has given to us—the Bible. It is there we learn how vile we are, and there we can see God’s wonderful love in sending His Son to take our place, and meet God’s holy claims that stood against us. It is there we can get perfect instruction for our path, and find true happiness if we walk according to its precepts.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psa. 1:1, 2.

“BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.” Psa. 2:12.

ML 01/20/1918

Edith's Prayer.

THE western sky was all aglow with the golden sunset, and the distant hills had a misty, purple hue spread over them. The birds were twittering their softest notes, and such a peaceful calm seemed reigning, that even merry Eva, generally so talkative, had scarcely found anything to say.

She had spent the afternoon with Edith, who had come to the country for her holidays, and who was now accompanying her half-way across the fields to her home in the little town nearby. To Edith, just fresh from a large, busy town, noted for its iron foundries, all country sights and sounds were delightful; and at length, pointing at the setting sun, she exclaimed:

“Look, Eva, isn’t it lovely! But does it remind you of anything?”

“No,” said Eva, “I don’t think so.”

“And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass,” Edith quoted.

Eva said nothing; and then Edith began to wonder if her friend knew the Lord Jesus. She was very shy at speaking about these things, but she loved Jesus and longed to tell others of Him; so, slipping her arm round Eva’s waist she said almost in a whisper:

“Eva, shall you be there, and I?”

But Eva did not answer; and although Edith told her she knew that heaven was her home, and asked her again and again if she could say the same, she could get nothing out of her. As they said goodbye that evening, Edith said:

“Eva, dear, I shall pray for you, and I do hope that next time we meet, you will be able to tell me you have trusted in Jesus.”

But no! Eva was just the same as before. Not a word would she say about the Lord Jesus, whilst she could chatter merrily enough about other things.

The two children often saw each other, and each time Edith managed to get alone with Eva, when she would plead with her, and beg her to tell her something—to own it if she were not the Lord’s and not to treat the matter so indifferently.

“O, Eva! think how dreadful if Christ were to come, and you not ready!” she would say.

It grieved her very much to see how Eva laughed it off or tried to change the subject. And oh, how often and earnestly she prayed that her dear friend might be brought to feel her need of a Saviour before His coming.

At last the day came for Edith to go home. As she took leave of Eva at the door she managed, unseen by others around, to whisper, as she pressed her little friend’s hand, “Must I go without knowing that you are saved, Eva?” Eva only smiled as usual and made no reply, and Edith had to leave her.

Four years after, she heard from the friend at whose house she had stayed, that Eva had at last confessed Christ. She was at a gospel preaching where a hymn was being sung, in which the words occur, “Take me as I am” and suddenly their meaning was brought home to her by the Holy Spirit, and she sang them from her heart, and there and then “came to Jesus as she was.”

So dear little Christians, do not weary of praying for your playmates, and ask the Lord Jesus to give you courage and wisdom to tell of His love to others.

And oh! let me intreat you who are unsaved not to put it off any longer. It is now eight years since Edith first spoke to Eva, so it is eight years nearer the coming of Christ than that was, and “some guest will be the last!”

ML 01/20/1918

Gracie's Two Wishes.

WHAT is your greatest wish, Gracie?” asked Agnes, as her little friend tripped along clinging to her arm.

“Well,” began Gracie, “I should like to be very rich, and live in a grand house like that,” pointing, as she spoke, to “The Hall,” which stood on the hill surrounded by tall, ancestral trees; “and of course,” she continued, tossing back her long fair ringlets, “I should like to be very beautiful, and I should like a white pony all of my own to ride on, and pretty dresses to wear, and—and—be the queen!”

Agnes laughed very much at this vain, fanciful wish, but she did not tell Gracie what hers was, though she afterwards wished she had done so, for she had learned that nothing in this world can satisfy, and that in Christ alone all true happiness is found.

Soon after, Agnes left the town where Gracie lived, and did not see her again for two years; but during that time she heard from her little friend that she had believed on the Lord Jesus, and when she went there on a visit they had many nice talks together about Him. One day Agnes remembering Gracie’s former foolish wish, said:

“Gracie, if you tell me your greatest wish, I’ll tell you mine.”

“To live in heaven, because I shall be with Jesus there,” was Gracie’s answer.

“And mine is for His coming!” said Agnes, “and our wishes will be realized, for ours is a ‘sure and certain hope.’”

How glad she was to find how Gracie’s wish had changed since she had known the Lord. It showed she had learned of Him, did it not?

Now, if I were to ask you your greatest wish, I wonder what your answer would be? Are you building hopes on all sorts of earthly pleasures, or have you found out that they do not give lasting happiness’ Your childhood’s games and pleasures will soon be over, for

“Childhood’s years are passing o’er you; Youthful days will soon be done.”

O! dear little one, put your whole trust in that gentle Jesus, who took the children up in His arms. Then He will carry His own blood-bought lamb safely and happily through whate’er betide in this scene of change and disappointment.

“We should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us.” Titus 2:12-14.

ML 01/20/1918

The Father's Love Known.

O Father of my Saviour, hear!

A little child to Thee draws near;

For He has washed me from my sin,

Opened the door, and called me in.

He says that Thou wilt let me be?

For all eternity with Thee;

In Him, beloved, my peaceful heart

Says, “Thou, O God, my Father art.”

Thy blessed Son, Thou lov’st so well,

Prepares my home where I shall dwell,

And sing why God in love has smiled

Upon a little sinful child.

And when He calls me home above,

Where saints and angels praise His love,

My Father, though a babe I be,

Will give a little harp to me.

I’ll sing Thy love which Jesus gave,

From all my sins my soul to save;

I’ll sing His love upon the tree,

Not to forget a babe like me.

I’ll sing about the Spirit, too,

Whose love my heart to Jesus drew;

And made it, though so full of sin,

The temple which He dwells within.

Lord, teach me by such love as this,

Until I reach that home of bliss,

In every little thought and way,

To seek to please Thee all the day.

ML 01/20/1918

Caught in the Tide.

THE quiet little town of C. is a pleasant resort for visitors. During the summer months it is much frequented by pleasure-seekers, and especially on the Lord’s day. Trains full of young men from the towns and cities arrive at an early hour on the Sunday morning, much to the annoyance of the fishermen, who live quietly, and prize the first day of the week as a season of rest from their calling on the deep, to be occupied solely in the worship and service of God.

On a lovely Lord’s day morning, a company of young men arrived in the town to spend the day. Some of them went to bathe in the sea, and others sat on the rocks or amused themselves on the shore. Two young men of my acquaintance were among them. One of them was a bright and happy boy of fifteen, who had gone without the consent of his parents. He had been pressed to go by others in the party, and, after much persuasion, he went.

Unacquainted with the sea, he had, along with another, gone out in a dangerous place, and in a short time they were surrounded by the rising tide. A desperate effort was made to rescue them from a watery grave; and, at the risk of the lives of those who did it, one of them was saved, and brought safely to the shore exhausted and feeble. When they turned to look for his fellow, he was nowhere to be seen; he had been carried away in the heaving billows, and sank beneath them into a watery grave.

Never shall I forget that quiet Sunday evening when the train returned to the city without the well-known form of James G. His body was left in the depths of the ocean, and his soul was in its eternal dwelling-place.

Often, as I think upon it, it brings to my mind a picture of more dread realities; and tells me, again and again, how souls are lost eternally, and engulphed in the depths of hell—caught in the tide of that woeful eternity at a moment when they least expect it, and carried out from time’s fair shores never to return again. Engrossed in the scene around them, absorbed in the pleasures and pursuits of the world, they think not of eternity, until suddenly it encircles them, and they find themselves within its tide, without a way of escape.

Dear young reader, how is it with your soul? Are you wholly taken up with pastime and pleasure, forgetful that you must one day meet the living God? Are you today so busily living in the enjoyment of the pleasure of the world that you are unmindful of the fact that you must die? How sad will be your awakening, if it be to find yourself encircled by the waves of death, with your soul unsaved and your sin unpardoned! Who can tell how near that hour may be!

Today, the Son of God, with arms so full of power, and heart so full of love, is ready to save you. Tomorrow you may be beyond His reach, and lost forever.

There is a present and full salvation offered to you now. You are not to buy it, or weep for it. It is freely offered and pressed upon you. Christ died that you might have it. He died that you might be saved. O, then turn to God as a lost and helpless sinner: cast yourself upon His grace.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Jno. 6:37.

Flee from the coming wrath!

ML 01/20/1918

Daniel in the Den of Lions.

IN our picture this week we have an artist’s idea of how Daniel and the lions appeared in the den. But we do not know whether it looked like that or not, but it matters very little; let us see what lesson we may gather from this wonderful account.

Daniel was one who was very faithful. He truly believed in God and he feared Him, so that he wanted to obey Him as well as put his trust in Him.

There are three words in connection with Daniel that I would like to bring before you.

The first word is, “Purposed.” (Dan. 1:8.)

The second is, “Prayed.” (Dan. 6:10.)

The third is, “Prospered.” (Dan. 6:28.) Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food. That was a decided and settled intention with him. All who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour should follow Daniel in this, and not defile ourselves with the things of this world. Have that settled in our hearts.

The next was that Daniel prayed. That was the mark of dependence. He suffered for it, and was thrown into the den of lions, but God took care of the dependent man, and closed the lions’ mouths so that they did not harm him.

The last word is “Prospered.” God caused Daniel to prosper, because first, he feared God, and decided in his heart to stand fast for God, and then, he was dependent on God, and so God prospered him. Don’t forget these three words and their order, — “Purposed,” “Prayed” and “Prospered.”

“THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT FEAR HIM.” Psa. 25:14.

ML 01/27/1918

Robert in the Snowdrift.

ROBERT was an energetic, lively boy of about fourteen years old, and like most boys, and girls too, was self-willed and fond of having his own way.

It was winter time, and a great deal of snow was on the ground, and there were deep drifts in some places. He was told to keep to the road at the bottom of the hill which was well beaten, and was more safe, but instead of doing so, he took a pathway higher up on the hillside. He thought he would be all right, and perhaps anticipated some little adventure. How easy it is for boys and girls to turn out of the right pathway, and do what they are told not to do.

“Children, obey your parents,” says the Word of God. Can you find that text in your Testament?

Well, when Robert had gone some distance along this forbidden pathway, he suddenly, without any warning, fell right into a thick snowdrift. He had gone off the path without knowing it, a blinding snow-storm having come on. Do you not think he would wish he had kept to the proper road, as he was told at the first? There he was all alone far away from any house, no one near to hear his cry for help. He struggled in the drift, and tried to fight his way out of it, but could not do so. He did not despair, however, but tried again and again to regain the pathway, yet all his efforts to get out were in vain.

But what was that which startled him so? The bark of a dog close by him, yet above him. He heard the dog barking, though he could not see it; but soon a big man appeared, and called out, “Who is there?”

Robert answered, “Me— a boy.”

The man went near to him, and, reaching out a long pole, with some little effort pulled young Robert out of his bed of snow, and without asking him a single question, lifted him up on his shoulder, like the good shepherd did the poor, lost sheep in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, and carried him right away to his home. There this good man placed him before the bright, warm fire, gave him some hot milk to drink, and some food to eat, and Robert soon recovered from the effects of his dangerous adventure in the snow.

After a good rest, and under the kind man’s guidance, he set off again on his journey—this time on the right road—and at last arrived safely at his destination.

Now, what does the story of this boy remind you of, dear children? When I first heard it I thought Robert in the snowdrift was just like what we all are in God’s sight. You know what that is, do you not? Lost and unable to save ourselves, for we are all lost, and in danger of perishing. But Jesus came to die for sinners, that we might have life in Him, and be made fit to be with Him in heavenly glory.

Do you love Jesus? Has He saved you?

If you get your Bible, and find the tenth chapter of the gospel of Luke, you can there read of the “certain Samaritan,” who, when he found the poor man that had been nearly killed by the robbers on the roadside, attended to his needs, and took him to a place where he would be cared for, just like the kindhearted man did to Robert.

Do you see, dear children, that you need salvation, and that God loves you, and that Jesus died to save you? I hope you will all learn to love and trust in Jesus, who loves you so much, and that you will be able to say that the Lord Jesus has washed all your sins away in His own precious blood.

“Redeemed . . . . with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

“The blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 01/27/1918

"Mind Where You Step Father!"

ONE morning, in the winter when the snow lay on the ground about two inches deep, a little boy was going with his father to a neighboring village, about four miles distant from the town in which they lived, to see some friends, and to scatter the gospel tidings of God’s great salvation.

Ascending a hill, the little son of eight, who was walking behind his father, said, “Mind where you step, father. I am coming behind, and am putting my feet right into your marks.”

The father, turning to the little preacher, replied, “All right, my boy; that means a good deal, and has a word of caution to every father.”

Little boys, you can preach the truth to others. You go, perhaps, to children’s meetings sometimes, and hear many things about God, and His wonderful love to the world. (John 3:16.) Now, remember what you hear, and carry the news away to others. The message that you carry may say, “Mind where you step,” and those who hear may “mind.”

But do you know what it is to be saved —saved by Christ? The little fellow of whom I tell confessed the Lord, —that boy of eight knows the Lord, and has eternal life! Have you?

Jesus died, Jesus lives, and He wants all to believe in Him.

ML 01/27/1918

The Red Apples.

I SHOULD think Charley Patterson was a likely Christian! He is the stingiest, greediest boy I ever knew.”

“This is rather a severe assertion, Willy,” said his mother. “I think you are not practicing charity that thinketh no evil.”

“Well, mother, the Bible says, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ Just as we were passing Mr. Swett’s store, Charley came out with two bouncing red apples; and we (Johnny and Dickey Rea and I) called him, and asked for just one bite all round; and all he said was, ‘I can’t. A stingy thing!”

“Stop, stop, my son! hear me! And, because he refused you for reasons that he had a perfect right to keep to himself, you call him names,” said his mother. “I am grieved that my Willy should so far forget himself as to speak of a little companion so unkindly, and for such a trifle as a bite of an apple.”

Willy was sullen. He was displeased with his mother for reproving him, and displeased with himself for being so hasty in accusing Charley; but he was not yet humble enough to confess the wrong.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Merriam, Willy’s mother, called upon a sick boy who had been confined to his bed for a month on account of a fall from a horse, that had so injured his back as to render it doubtful if he would be able to walk for many weeks.

As she entered the room, the first object that met her eye was a large red apple upon the mantel.

She sat down by the boy; and after asking poor Johnny Lee how he was, and giving him some fine grapes, she spoke of the beautiful apple.

“O, yes’m!” said Johnny. “Charley Patterson brought me that, and another one just like it; and I do believe he saves every penny he gets, and spends for me. I don’t believe he has spent a cent for himself since I have been sick. If he is a Christian, as they say he is, then I should like to be one too, and just like him; for he is always doing good to everybody.”

In the evening, just before Willy went to bed, his mother said, “How about Charley, my son?”

To tell the truth, mother, I am sorry I called him names; but still I think he was stingy.

“I have been to see Johnny Lee this afternoon,” said Mrs. Merriam; “and, while there, I saw a red apple on the shelf; and Johnny said that Charley Patterson brought him that, and another just like it, yesterday afternoon.”

“Then why didn’t he tell a fellow,” said Willy in an excited tone.

“Because the Lord Jesus has told him when he did good not to let his left hand know what his right hand did,” said Mrs. Merriam.

Willy sat looking at the fire for a moment, and then said, with tears in his eyes, —

“Mother, I did wrong Charley; and I do believe, after all, he is the best boy in the school. But I did feel cross today because he had a perfect lesson, and I failed; and it made me feel better to call him names. But I am sorry for it; I will ask Jesus to help me to be a better boy, and never do such a mean thing as call anybody names again.”

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32.

ML 01/27/1918

"My Book."

LITTLE Emmie was left in a room for a few minutes with a gentleman. Wishing to entertain him in her father’s absence, she took up from the table his pocket Bible, and said, “Would you like to read a little from this—this is my father’s Book, Mr. H—. I don’t often see him reading any other.”

Emmie grew up, and at twelve years of age found the Lord Jesus as her own Saviour; and then the Bible became her Book, as it had been her father’s. From it she gained the guidance and direction she needed day by day. By it her heart was cheered in trouble, and her sorrow turned to joy. Through it she grew in grace, and in the knowledge of her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and when, as years passed on, she was to leave her earthly home, she said to her husband, “I’m going to my heavenly home now. I shall soon see Jesus. I have loved Him nearly all my life; now I am going to be forever with Him.”

Can you say, “It is my Book too—the Book of books to me”? Treasure its words and precepts more and more. Remember the words of the aged apostle Paul to his beloved child, Timothy, “From a child thou hast known the Holy

Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

ML 01/27/1918

The Dove.

Genesis 8.

There was a lonely ark

That sailed o’er waters dark;

And wide around

Not one tall tree was seen,

No flower or leaf of green;

All—all were drowned.

Then a soft wing was spread,

And o’er the billows dread

A meek dove flew;

But on that shoreless tide

No living thing she spied,

To cheer her view.

There was no chirping sound

O’er that wide watery bound,

To soothe her woe;

But the cold surges spread

Their covering o’er the dead,

Now sunk below.

So to the ark she fled,

With weary, drooping head,

To seek for rest:

Christ is thy Ark, my love,

Thou art the timid dove,—

Fly to His breast.

ML 01/27/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

1.“But when ye sin,” etc. 1 Cor. 8:12.

2.“But the natural man,” etc. 2:14.

3.“In a moment,” etc. 15:52.

4.“Neither let us tempt,” etc. 10:9.

5.“Watch ye,” etc. 16.13

6.“For as the body is one,” etc. 12:12.

7.“For the preaching,” etc. 1:18.

Bible Questions for February.

The answers are to be found in Gal. Eph. Phil. and Col.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “Gave Himself for me.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “Gave Himself for it.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “Let your requests.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “The whole armor.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “By Him and for Him.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “Save in the cross.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “Word of Christ.”

ML 02/03/1918

Young Lives Lost.

IT is with the boys that I wish to have a little special talk this time; though the words of warning will apply to the girls, also. All children like to have their own way, but I think that you, dear lads, are the most likely to try to be independent, and to seem like men; and if it be so while children how many dangers may you not fall into as you grow older? Remember the words of the wise king, Solomon, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Proverbs 1:8.)

And now I am going to tell you a true story of what happened only three weeks ago. At one of the seaport towns of New Zealand, a boy was fishing one Saturday off the breakwater, when by some means he fell into the sea, and was drowned. I know nothing more about him than that he was buried on the Monday afternoon; and surely God spoke, by this sudden death, to the hearts of those who attended his funeral. Amongst those were two boys, brothers, aged about twelve and thirteen, who little thought that the sun had risen on them that day for the last time. The same evening they slipped out, unknown to their parents, to bathe in the river nearby, and both were drowned! We know not whether, while sinking in the water their hearts may have cried to the Lord for mercy; but this we do know, that their life here is ended, and their eternity begun. “The spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Are you ready to meet Him?

It is quite true that many thoughts may pass through the mind of a person who is drowning. A well-known preacher of the gospel has told us that, when a lad, he went on one occasion to bathe in a canal, contrary to his mother’s wishes; and while apparently drowning, the last lie he had told her was brought on his conscience. But, through God’s mercy as he rose to the surface, he lifted his arms out of the water, was seen, and rescued.

But who would peril his salvation on such an uncertainty?

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow.” (Prov. 27:1.)

“Escape for thy life.” (Gen. 19:17.) “Flee from the wrath to come.” (Matt. 3:7.)

It was while pondering the story of the three boys who were drowned within such a brief space of time, that the following verses were brought to mind, as perhaps suitable for this little paper, being addressed by a sister to her young brother, many years ago, after the death of one of his companions. Thank God, the one to whom they were addressed has, we trust, long been safe upon the Rock, Christ.

May God graciously bless to others their loving appeal even now!

I need not say I love you well,

I’ve told you so before;

But, O! indeed, I want to tell

Of one who loves you more:

Of Him who left His throne on high,

For you to live, for you to die,—

Of Christ, my brother.

I know you think the world is gay,

Religion dull and grave;

But, O! remember, while you may,

Him who alone can save.

Just think, how short your life may be;

Unceasing is Eternity:

O, think, my brother!

Remember him whose childish head

Was laid but yesterday

Within a dark and narrow bed—

A lonely house of clay:

Thou art not now so young as he,

And think—the summons next may be

To thee, my brother!

My God, I cannot change his heart,

I only look to Thee:—

Then, O! to him Thy grace impart,

As Thou hast done to me.

Lord, deign to make his soul Thy care,

Accept and bless a sister’s prayer

For this my brother.

ML 02/03/1918

The Little Caged Bird.

WHAT an interesting picture we have this week. The children are delighted with their treasure, but, poor little thing, it is in a prison and very likely dreadfully afraid because so many children are standing looking, and it does not know what is going to happen to it. Very likely the poor little bird has been born and raised in a cage and does not know anything about the liberty that God intended it to have.

This gives us a good picture of what it is to be born and raised in this poor world of sin. Man, who has not the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, is under bondage to sin and Satan, and knows nothing of true happiness. Many think that the path of the Christian is a dull and sad one, but those who have lived in that path know it is the only path of true happiness. Sin has the appearance of happiness at the time, but the end is sorrow. True happiness is in knowing Christ as our Saviour and walking in His ways. This is how we can be delivered from the bondage of sin and Satan.

“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” Rom. 6:23.

ML 02/03/1918

The Stranger Not a Stranger.

IN the early settlement of the city of Cincinnati, there was only one way for persons to get there and that was by means of the flat boats that passed up and down the river.

On one occasion a boat landed there. It had come down the river from Pittsburg. There was a company of people on board that boat who were going to Cincinnati to live. Their friends were expecting their arrival, and had met down by the side of the river to welcome them. As they left the boat, their friends gathered round them to shake hands with them, and give them the warmest kind of a greeting.

But in that company which had just arrived, there was one who was a stranger. He had no friends, or anyone who knew him in Cincinnati. There was no one there to shake hands with him, or bid him welcome to the place. He had been feeling lonely before, but he felt ten times more so now.

The crowd was beginning to scatter, leaving that stranger alone on the boat. Leaning over the railing of the boat, he called out, saying,

“Friends, if there are any of you who love the Lord Jesus Christ, I am your brother.”

In a moment half a dozen of them were at his side. They shook him warmly by the hand, and bade him welcome to their homes.

How different Cincinnati seemed to that stranger now, than it did a moment before! The place indeed was the same; but O, how different the company seemed! He was among friends now, who made him feel at home.

How real and precious is the bond that the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith in Him, makes. The word of Christ to His Father that all might be one, is acknowledged with joy. For each one to have been taken out of all bondage and guilt, and judgment, and made a son of God, makes them know each other as well as if they had always lived together.

There is really nothing on the earth like this, in closeness. And then to think that directly all shall be with the Lord Jesus Himself, in heaven, knowing Him, and each other in Him! There will be no strangers there.

Can you say what this man said, that you are a brother to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ? You can say so if You are a believer in Him, for then you are in Him. You do not have to do something to get there. It is only to know you are lost and sinful and to rest on the precious blood of Christ, who was offered for sins.

He is fast gathering out His own. Do, therefore, now take Him as your Saviour, made for sinners, made to be sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus:” Gal. 3:26.

ML 02/03/1918

Jesus Came to Save.

MY dear young friends, I once heard of a little outcast girl whose father and mother had died, and left her all alone in the world. She had no home, on one to love her, and no one to care anything for her. She had to go about the streets and beg, and was often tired wandering about, and oftentimes very hungry. One day she came to a large farmhouse and pleaded for a piece of bread, being so hungry, and to be allowed to sit awhile at the warm kitchen fire, for it was bitterly cold, and she was but thinly clad—the torn tattered garments scarcely sufficing to cover the shivering child. The little pleader’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke to the lady of the house.

“Tell me,” said the lady, “where is your mother?”

“O!” said the little, cold, weary, hungry child, “I have no mother—no mother; I have no kind father or mother—no one cares for me—no one loves me at all. O! if someone would only love me, I would be so happy.” And again the tears ran down the thin, wan cheeks of the child. Softly and gently the lady drew the little outcast to her, kissed her, wiped her tears away, and whispered in her ear,

“Dear child, I will be a mother to you.”

This is sweet image of a love that has sought, found, and saved little outcasts just like you. Ah! my dear young readers, the love of Jesus far surpasses a father or a mother’s love; for to seek, save and bless you He came from the bosom of His Father. He has died on the cross because He loved you. Now, won’t yon love Him? Your sins He died to put away; but, unlike the poor outcast little girl who sought a home and someone to love her, Jesus is seeking your love—your heart. He came just to save.

Will my young readers think on what Jesus is, and on what He has done, and look to Him and be saved? “In this was manifested the love of God toward, us because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” ¤ Jno. 4:9.

ML 02/03/1918

A Letter From Papa.

With delight the eldest daughter reads the letter from papa to her mother, and the little brother is interested too. We do not wonder at their being so interested. Papa is the one who loves them all and is still caring for them while he is away, so all they have they are receiving through him.

I wonder if each one of my little readers are as interested in hearing what God has written to us, as the mother, daughter and little boy are in what the father has written to them?

This is what God wants from us. He has given us all we have, and we are dependent upon Him for all we need. How good God is to us to provide us with so much food in so many varieties, and also a measure of health and strength.

Sometimes He has to take health from us to make us realize that He is the One who gives us health and to make us thankful. And sometimes He has to put us in positions where we do not have enough to eat, and it may be to teach us to be dependent on Himself. Or it may be to teach us to be thankful to Him and rejoice in Him. If we have learned these lessons we take delight in reading His letter to us, which is the Bible.

Are you glad to read His letter, and meditate on all that He has said to us?

If you love Him, because He loved us so much as to give His only Son to die for us on Calvary’s cross and has given us all the temporal things that we need, then you will delight in reading His letter to us.

What an ungrateful heart many have, they take all the good things God in His grace has given them in this life, but they don’t care to read and meditate on what God has written to them. Which is it with you, dear reader?

“HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE; AND HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE.” 1 John 5:12.

ML 02/10/1918

"I Do Trust Him."

MY dear young readers, I wish I could pay each of you a short visit in your various homes, that we might have a little talk together about your precious soul, and the things which are unseen, and eternal. Perhaps you think, because you are young, and, it may be, in the full enjoyment of health and strength, that, therefore, death and judgment must needs be a long way off, but what if it should not be so? And what if God should say of thee, “This night shall thy soul be required”? For—

“On a narrow neck of land,

‘Twixt two unbounded seas you stand;

A moment’s time, a little space,

May launch you in yon blissful place,

Or shut you up in hell.”

No doubt you can think of some of your dear young friends who died when quite young; or, it may be, a little brother, or sister has been taken away from your loving circle; much younger than you are now, and has passed away into eternity. And, perhaps, as you looked upon the cold, still body, so soon to be laid in the grave, you have thought, Where is he now? or, Where is she now? And God has come and spoken to your heart about your own soul. O! my reader have you heard His voice? or have you closed your ears, and hardened your heart? Which?

Some time ago we were visiting in a village, and called to see Mrs. F—. She was out, and the only person in the house at the time was her youngest daughter, Alice, whom we had not met before. We had a very solemn talk with her about her soul, and about eternity. After some time she wept bitterly, for God had opened her eyes to see that her sins were Upon her and that she was unfit to meet Him. Then we repeated those precious Words to her in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life;” but still she wept, and did not speak. Before leaving, we told her about the jailor at Philippi, who suddenly, at midnight, found out that he was lost, and called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” and how they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus’ Christ, and thou shalt be saved;” repeating those words again, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

The following week, being in the village Mrs. F—asked us to go and see a woman who was dying. Alice seemed greatly pleased to come and show us the way. Having paid our visit; we were walking back together, when she looked up earnestly, and asked, “Do you think Mrs.—is saved?

I told her that she said she was trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ; and remarked how solemn it was to leave the question of salvation till the very last hour. Then turning to her, I said, “But, Alice, what about your own soul?”

She looked straight up in my face, and her whole countenance beamed as she replied, “I am saved, for I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“How long have you been saved?” I asked.

She answered, “Since the first day that you and Mr. R—spoke to me about my soul, and asked me where I was going to spend eternity. That verse settled it— ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ And the little book you left helped me too, for there I read over again what you had been telling me.”

The last time we met was about seven weeks ago, when she sweetly and simply confessed the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fall assurance she enjoyed of being saved.

A few weeks after, one dark, foggy Saturday night in March, Alice was sent on an errand to a neighbor’s house. She had been there before, carrying a lantern, but this time begged to be allowed to go without it, as she knew the road quite well, saying she would be back in a few minutes. As she went out of the house, a dear Christian present made some remark about trusting in the Lord. With her hand on the handle of the door, Alice turned round, looked brightly up, and said, “I do trust Him.” And these sweet words were almost her last on earth, for, she went swiftly to the neighbor’s house, delivered her message, and was heard running quickly back; but the night was very dark, and she took the wrong path, running under the bridge, instead of over it, and fell right into the river. Her brother who was walking near the bridge at the time, heard one loud scream, and one splash, and he knew that someone had fallen into the river, but little thought that it was his own dear sister.

Then the people living near came with lights, and tried to find her, but the fog and darkness hindered them, so that, after some hours of fruitless search, they reluctantly returned to their various homes but not before they knew who the missing one was. When the light broke on the Lord’s Day morning, beginning their search again, they soon found the body, and carried it home to the bereaved ones there. But, long before that time, Alice herself was “with Christ,” for there, beneath the cold, dark water, her soul had passed away into eternity, and she found herself “absent from the body”, and “present with the Lord,” where there is fulness of joy, and pleasure for evermore.

Tell me, dear reader, do you think Alice ever regretted that day, when she took God at His word, and accepted His salvation? Never. Do you think she will ever regret it? No, never.

And now, my dear young reader, I turn to you, and ask, “If God were to call you thus suddenly into eternity, where would you spend it? Would you find yourself ‘with Christ,’ or would you lift up your eyes in hell? Would you spend eternity in the Father’s house, or in the lake of fire? Would you find yourself with those who will strike the harp, and wear the crown, and sing the song of joy and victory; or, would you pass into the regions of black despair, and there join in the weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; “where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched?” If you have never been anxious about your soul’s eternal destiny, may God make you so now; and may God give you to decide for Christ today, lest tomorrow find you in a lost eternity.

If you are unsaved, go alone into some quiet place, and there, in the presence of God, ask yourself this one question, “Where shall I spend eternity?” But if you are really anxious about your soul, and want to be saved, then God sends you this message today, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” God grant that you may let it into your heart as Alice did; and may you decide for Christ now, this very day; and may you too be able to say, “I do trust Him.”

No doubt many of my young readers have been “born again”, and are children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And now I should like to turn to you and ask, “Have you confessed Christ? Do all in your home and at school know that you are saved?” If you have not yet confessed the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for you, and bore your sins in His own body on the tree, then go, and do so now, for God links confession with salvation: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9.) And the Lord Himself said, when down here, “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.)

May nothing hinder you from confessing Christ, so that, if He should call you suddenly away to be with Himself, a, sweet fragrance may be left behind, and that your last words may not be those of some silly song, or foolish jest, but a simple, precious word of confidence and comfort to speak to many hearts, such as “I do trust Him.”

ML 02/10/1918

Trust in God.

When langour and disease invade

This trembling house of clay,

‘Tis sweet to look beyond our cage,

And long to fly away;

Sweet to look inward, and attend

The whispers of His love,

Sweet to look upward to the place

Where Jesus lives above;

Sweet to look back, and see my name

In life’s fair book set down;

Sweet to look forward, and behold

Eternal joys my own;

Sweet to reflect how grace divine

My sins on Jesus laid;

Sweet to remember that His blood

My debt of sins has paid;

Sweet on His faithfulness to rest,

Whose love can never end;

Sweet on His covenant of grace

For all things to depend;

Sweet in the confidence of faith

To trust His firm decrees;

Sweet to lie passive in His hands,

And know no will but His;

Sweet, blessed hope! and I at last

Shall see Him and adore;

Be with His likeness satisfied,

And grieve and sin no more.

ML 02/10/1918

A Little Lamb.

I WAS walking across the fields, some time ago, and found a little lamb in a deep trench. It couldn’t help itself, and its mother couldn’t help it. The other sheep appeared unconcerned.

We were like that lamb, helpless, and our fathers and mothers couldn’t save us. Many other people, careless of our danger, and thinking themselves safe, were unconcerned. But Jesus came down to the place where we were; He even bore the punishment which we deserved, in order to deliver us, and set our feet upon a rock, and to save us from going down to the pit from which there will be no deliverance.

I lifted that lamb out of the trench, but it may have fallen in again. In any case it will probably go to the butchers.

But of His sheep Jesus says, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.

ML 02/10/1918

A Birthday.

A YOUNG girl who was doing house work in the home where a servant of God was stopping, had a birthday at that same time, so he took advantage of the opportunity to present her with a Bible.

When he presented her with it he asked her how long it was since she was born, so she replied sixteen years. Then he asked her how long it was since she was born again. To this question she burst into tears, and after a little told him that her father and mother were with the Lord and had been earnest Christians, but she was not saved.

She had been trying to become better and be a good Christian but had found out her helplessness.

The servant of God said to her, “My child, God does not expect you to save yourself, for He has declared that you cannot take away one stain of your sins, but He has provided His beloved Son to be your Saviour, and He now declares that the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Now, to make it simple to you, you know what a gift is; you have received several today, and you have been made happy by receiving them. I have just given you this Bible. When I held it out to you, you understood what I meant by saying, ‘This is a little birthday present’, and you simply took it, and said, ‘Thank you sir; it is very kind of you.’ You did not need to prepare yourself to take the gift, nor do you require to work for it, or to pay for it. You know that a gift means something for nothing—something given by one out of kindness—and that nothing is required from the person to whom it is given, but just to receive it. If there were anything more, it would not be a gift. Do you see?”

This was used to give her to see the love of God to her, and all she needed to do was to accept the gift of eternal life from God and praise and thank Him for it.

Dear reader, are you one who has accepted Christ as your Saviour? If not may you do so now, and you shall have eternal life through Him.

“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.

ML 02/17/1918

Too Bad to Be Saved.

ONE morning, a young man, a stranger, knocked at my door saying that he had been advised to see me. “I cannot work, I, cannot sleep, I cannot eat,” said he, with a look of intense anxiety; “I am in such misery about my soul,” adding that he felt so ill he thought he must die, and yet that he dare not die, lest he should go to hell. The doctors he had sought had given him medicine, but still he could not rest, for no sooner did he fall asleep than a text of scripture would seem to appear upon the wall, and then, before he could read it, it would be snatched away as by a hand.

The young man, I heard afterwards had called upon everyone whom he had reason to think was a Christian, and who knew the forgiveness of sins. He took every opportunity of being alone to kneel down and cry to God for pardon, but something ever seemed to say to him, “You are too bad to be saved.” He said he felt he was dying as he talked to me.

“You are dying to the pleasures of this sinful world,” was my answer. To which he replied that he could not forsake sin, for the devil had such a hold on him.

I asked him to tell me some of the sins that troubled him most. Spending his wages in the pot-house appeared to be the chief burden on his mind. Then, as he spoke of his sins, he exclaimed, “O, you do not know what I feel! I am too bad to be forgiven. There never was such a vile wretch as I am.”

To this I answered, that I had been just such a wretched sinner myself, until I came to Jesus, and owned to Him my lost state. I assured the young man that we are all on a level before God. That all have sinned, and come short of His glory, for there is none righteous, no, not one. Those who are without Christ are altogether lost, from the beggar on the dung-hill to the king upon the throne Having given him these texts, I assured him the Scriptures declare that there is the one Saviour for all, for “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”

The young man attended some gospel services on the following Sunday, but merely said that it was too beautiful for such a sinner as he. Shortly afterwards he returned to his home by the seaside his soul’s salvation still the one overwhelming consideration with him.

Would God, dear reader, that you, if unsaved, might be as much in earnest as he was. You must find Jesus as your Saviour while you are here in this world and have everything as to the forgiveness of sins settled with Him, or you can never dwell with Him in heaven. O! be real and true; bring yourself into the true light.

This young man’s distress of soul continued for about six months. He had an unusually keen sense of his lost state before God, and he earnestly longed “to get Christ for himself,” as he expressed it. A few weeks after his return home, he saw that all his sins were atoned for by the Lord Jesus Christ. He was enabled to trust in the Saviour, and to rest in peace upon His sacrifice. He knew through the Holy Spirit’s teaching, that “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” and, since that glad reality has been his enjoyed portion, he has been telling of the love of Christ to poor sinners.

Dear reader, God’s salvation is for those who see themselves lost and ruined in sin. In this condition it is we want mercy, and Christ has died that we may have it.

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

ML 02/17/1918

Bethlehem's Star.

(Num. 24:17. Matt. 2:2.)

Brightly shone a beauteous star,

In the firmament afar,

Telling of God’s love and power

In the very darkest hour.

Wise men watching saw its light,

Hailed its advent with delight;

For it heralded the birth

Of the King of kings to earth.

Long His advent was foretold,

In the prophecies of old;

Now they haste as on the wing

To behold the promised King.

To Jerusalem they came,

Bringing with them, in their train,

Costly treasures rich and rare;

Thus His worth did they declare.

Where is He who’s born thy King?

We desire to worship Him;

In the East we’ve seen His star,

And for this have traveled far.

Then the guilty Herod feared,

Asking when the star appeared;

Go and search in Bethlehem,

Come and bring me word again.

Then departing, lo, a sight

Filled their hearts with great delight,

For that star now led the way

To the place where Jesus lay.

Over Bethlehem it stayed,

O’er the house where He was laid;

Faith discerns God’s promised King,

Falling down, they worshipped Him.

Opening out their treasured store,

At His blessed feet they pour;

Gold and frankincense and myrrh,

What prophetic gifts they were.

For though glory was His sphere,

He would be an outcast here;

Yet His life to God how meet,

Every step a savor sweet.

Unto death obedient still,

He would do the Father’s will

Stooping to a cross of shame,

All God’s glory to sustain.

Now with glory He is crowned,

And His praise the heavens resound;

Soon the earth will own Him King,

And with loud hosanna’s ring.

For the Lord will come again,

Every eye shall see Him then;

Every tongue confess Him Lord,

Bow to Him with one accord.

Still amidst the darkness here,

There are watches far and near,

Witching through the long dark night,

For the morning star so bright.

For before that coming day,

When the earth shall own His sway;

To the watchers near and far,

He will give the morning star.

“I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star!” Rev. 22:17.

ML 02/17/1918

Little Bessie's Faith.

A LITTLE girl seven years old, was sitting by her mamma’s side in a drawing room, and her mamma looked up at her, and saw that she looked very sorry about something almost as if she were going to cry. So her mamma (a nice, kind mother she was), asked her what was the matter; and this was what she said: “O, ma, I was thinking what a lot of naughty things I’ve done; and if I were to die, and had to go before God, I don’t know whatever I should say.”

Now, little Lizzie was only seven years old, and everybody thought what a good girl she was; but Lizzie knew that, however good she seemed, she had a naughty heart, and had often done what was wrong. Do you not think she was right, and that you have done what is wrong sometimes, too? But before mamma could answer, a small voice from down on the hearth-rug said, “I know what I should answer, mamma. “It was Lizzie’s little sister, Bessie; she was only three and a half years old, and could not speak quite plainly, but there she was lying down all alone on the hearth-rug. She had heard what Lizzie said and lifted up her little head quite in a hurry to speak.

“Well, Bessie, what should you say,” said mamma.

“Remember all the dying pains

That my Redeemer felt:

And let His blood wash out my stains,

And answer for my guilt.”

“And then,” said Bessie, “God wouldn’t have a word to say, would He?”

Young as little Bessie was, she knew how we had all done something wrong and how God must punish people for being naughty. But she knew, too, how much God loved us—so much that He gave His only Son to die for us. And then you know Jesus loved us too, and so He came down here and lived as a baby and a little boy and a big man.

But it was such a sorrowful life. He had nowhere to go to bed at night, no one to take care of Him, and very few to love Him. And then when He had done good to everybody, some wicked men took Him, and fastened Him up to a great cross of wood, till He died. And then little Bessie knew that He need not have died if He had not liked, but He came to die, so that God might not have to punish us.

“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.” Isa. 53:5.

ML 02/17/1918

The Cost of an Estate.

WHAT is the value of this estate?” said a gentleman to another, with whom he was riding, as they passed a fine mansion and rich fields.

“I don’t know at what it is valued; I know what it cost its late possessor.” “How much?”

“His soul.”

A solemn pause followed. And well it might—he to whom the words were spoken had himself all his good things in this life.

“God said unto him, Thou fool, this this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God . . . . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12: 20, 21, 34.

ML 02/17/1918

The Converted Sailor.

THE Sailor I will tell you about was one who had godly parents who went to be with the Lord while he was quite young. After his parents’ death he went on in a wild course till one day while talking to some others he used bad language, and a Christian man standing near heard him, and stepped up to him and said, “Young man if God had taken you at your word, where would you spend eternity?” He endeavored to get rid of that word, but it abode with him, as it had gone home like an arrow to his heart. He got no rest till he found Christ as his Saviour. It seemed, one day, as if a voice said to him, “Only believe, only believe.”

“Yes, Lord, I believe, help Thou my unbelief,” he said, and sprang out of bed. At that moment he believed, and peace filled his soul.

He was faithful in telling of Jesus to the rest of the seamen, and he was put into punishment for preaching without permission. But God used him there to bring many to the Lord Jesus. The fact that Jesus had shed His precious blood for him, took such a hold of him, that, he in response gave the rest of his life for the Lord.

Can you, dear reader, say, “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” If you can, may you say from the depths of your heart, “For me to live is Christ to die is gain.” It well becomes everyone who knows the Lord Jesus to give their all to Him.

“Were the whole realm of nature ours,

That were an offering far too small;

Love that transcends our highest powers

Demands our soul, our life, our all.”

“I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE.” Rom. 12:1.

ML 02/24/1918

How Can I Believe?

FOR three or four years Bertha had been anxious about her soul—but, at the same tithe, was full of frolic and vanity; she was quickly approaching that age when she expected to go more into society, but almost daily the thought pressed upon her, “I am not a true Christian; if I die, I shall be lost forever. O that God would send someone to show me how to be a Christian!”

Sometimes, as she laid her head upon the pillow, she would think, “If I die before morning, I shall go straight to hell!” Then, immediately, Satan would whisper this lie into her ear, this awful suggestion — “But you will be quite happy there, many of your friends will go, too.”

Satan’s aim, dear reader, is ever to make the word of God of none effect. Remember, it was the Lord Himself who said of the abode of the lost, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”; and again, in the last, solemn book of Holy Scripture, we read of the unspeakably terrible doom of him who now tries to persuade men that eternity with the lost is a mere dream.

Bertha then tried to believe that there is no God, but it was of no use; the Holy Spirit had convinced her of her, sinful condition, and would allow none of these lies to find any resting place in her heart, and again and again she would kneel down and ask God to send someone to show her how to become a Christian and not to let her grow hard and indifferent.

In her anxiety she sought help from a spiritual adviser; but he simply told her, to read her Bible—to be much in prayer adding that, in time, she might hope for a happier frame of mind, and that she was young to talk so sorrowfully. Bertha replied, in the distress of her soul, “But I am just as likely to die tomorrow as you are!”

Being thus thrown back on herself, she almost gave up seeking, and feeling conscious that her prayers were all mixed with sin, she, from this time, became more wilful and reckless. She was trying to drown the voice of conscience.

But God, in His pity, had been mindful of this troubled child, and, when she was just seventeen, He sent across her path one of His children. Bertha saw at once that her new friend was a Christian who had that blessed knowledge of salvation, which once she had so earnestly desired to possess.

She said to him, “You go into the cottages and tell the poor of these things; O! tell me, too; I want to be saved from hell.”

Ah! with what joy did that evangelist tell her of God’s love to the poor world in giving up His beloved Son to die for sinners, how that Jesus, the Lamb of God, being “delivered for our offences,” had borne the punishment due to our sins, how He had been “raised again for our justification,” and was now seated at God’s right hand, “crowned with glory and honour.” For hours she sat and listened to the story of God’s grace, all new to her, for she had never been thrown with Christians, nor had she read her Bible with understanding.

Bertha now became troubled as to how she was to believe. She heard that all was finished “long, long ago” and there was nothing for her to do; but her cry was, “How can I believe?”

Bertha’s friend read to her these texts; “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14, 15.) “And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived,” (Num. 21:9.) explaining that the brazen serpent was put upon a pole, so that all who felt their wounds and knew their need of healing had but to turn away from themselves and look at the serpent, and that as many as did so were made whole. “In the same way,” he said, “any poor sinner, weighed down with the burden of his sins, has but to turn from his feelings or strivings and look at Christ for He Himself said, ‘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.’ It is only a look—a look is sufficient.”

These words, so simply spoken, were used by the Spirit of God to set Bertha free. It had seemed so difficult to her to believe, but she thought, “I can look: Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief”; and at once, the heavy, heavy burden was gone.

Her joy was so great that she hardly closed her eyes that night. That which filled her heart with deepest wonder was the thought that God should save her. Had He saved anyone else she would not have been surprised, but that she should be saved, just as she was, without doing anything, this was what she could not understand; she could only lift her heart in praise to Him.

Bertha now lives to bless God that He had mercy on her and saved her before the world had secured a tighter hold on her heart, and she now not only joys in her salvation from hell, but in a measure she is able to “joy in God,” and in the Lord who has brought her to Himself.

Dear reader, how is it with you? Are you anxious? Are you longing to be saved? Your anxiety and fears will be gone when you believe what God tells you about His Son. There is joy and peace in believing.

ML 02/24/1918

Eternity.

IT was only one word that a boy had written on the sidewalk, but it attracted a good deal of attention. The word was “Eternity”, and it was written in plain capitals that could be easily seen and read. There was also a cross underneath it. I am not sure what was the meaning of that; but suppose it was added to attract the attention of passers-by more easily.

Now if there is one thing more than another which most people, and most boys and girls put aside and do not think about—it is eternity; but the boy, having been brought to a knowledge of Jesus as his own Saviour, had a desire to do something for Him, and hoping that someone might be led by it to look at Jesus and be saved, he had written it there on the ground.

Sometimes a single word has done much good, and I hope this may be the case with the word before us. The present time of our lives is given to us to think about and prepare for eternity. Oh! may we not forget the vast importance of being saved, and not rest till we know we are ready for eternity.

I hope, dear reader, this word may be fixed on your memories, like the man who tore up a tract that was given him; his eye caught sight of the word eternity, and he could not forget it. He had no rest till he could rest in Jesus, which is the best of all rests, for it calms and satisfies the heart in a way that nothing else will.

ML 02/24/1918

Little Willie.

‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength.” Ps 8:2.

WHEN little Willie was three years old, he had the great treat of spending part of a day on the hills, with the old family nurse to take care of him, and keep him company. Now, this dear old nurse still lived with Willie’s grandmother, and loved all her grandchildren; though I think little Willie was a special favorite. Most likely his mother and grandmother drove them up the hills that day, and then left them to enjoy themselves together.

By-and-by a lady came up, and began talking to the little boy, whose intelligent face and pretty speech might well attract a stranger. Speaking of his father, Willie said: “My papa p’eaches.”

“On Sunday?” enquired the lady.

“We call it Lord’s day,” replied the child; and he went on to tell the lady how they sang hymns, and that his favorites were those which began,

“We’ll sing of the Shepherd that died,” and,

“Thy name we bless Lord Jesus.”

How much he may have said to the lady about the blessed Saviour, I cannot tell; but she never forgot his words; and was so taken with him at the time that she asked if he would come and stay with her, when he should have a nurse and a nursery! But Willie answered, “My mamma can’t spare me!”

And so they parted, never to meet again in this world. But it was joy to hear, sometime after, from a Christian doctor, that he knew the lady had been truly brought to Christ. And, moreover, at a social meeting of Christians, at which the aged nurse was present, the very same lady was there, and told the story of meeting with the little boy upon the hills, and of the blessing she had received through the lips of that dear child.

The aged nurse and the little boy have gone to be with their Saviour; and it is sweet to think that, together with the one of whom we have been speaking, they will join in the eternal song of praise,

“Unto Him that loves us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood. . . to Him be glory.” Rev. 1:5, 6.

ML 02/24/1918

White as Snow.

Dear little readers, do you know

Of anything as white as snow—

The snow so pure and fresh and white,

Which glistens in the morning light?

“Ah no,” you say, “there cannot be

One thing on earth besides, so free

From all defilement as the snow,

Not one thing else so white we know.”

Well, do you know that you may be

As white as snow, as pure, as free?

If on the Saviour you believe,

This wondrous blessing you’ll receive.

Your sins are dark, but Jesus died,

The cruel soldier pierced His side,

From whence His precious blood did flow:

And that can make you white as snow.

It washes all our sins away.

And we who trust in Christ can say—

“We once were black with sins, we know

But now we are as white as snow.”

Now little reader, can you say

That all your sins are washed away?

If not, oh come to Jesus now,

And He will make you white as snow.

ML 02/24/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

1.“But we all with,” etc. 2 Cor. 3:18.

2.“Wherefore come out,” etc. 6:17.

3.“The grace of the Lord,” etc. 13:14.

4.“For we must all,” etc. 5:10.

5.“For ye know,” etc. 8:9.

6.“And he said unto me” etc. 12:9.

7.“In whom the god,” etc. 4:4.

Bible Questions for March.

The answers are to be found in 1 and 2 Thess., 1 and 2 Tim., Titus, and Philemon.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “At His coming.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “Depart from iniquity.”

3.Write the verse containing the words, “Good works.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “Toward all saints.”

5.Write the verse containing the words. “Wait for His Son.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Know not God.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “Manifest in the flesh.”

ML 03/03/1918

Wounded and Healed

IT was no convulsion of nature, no midnight earthquake, as at Philippi, that woke up Miss W—of the town of B—. But she was ill, very ill, indeed she thought she was dying, and so did her friends, who, seeing her distress, sent for the writer to come and speak to her about her soul.

Esteeming it a privilege to tell of a known Saviour to one in need, I embraced the first opportunity to go and see her. On reaching the house, I found that though, on her mother’s testimony, she “had always been a good girl,” she was greatly disturbed at the thought of meeting God. The waters of Jordan (death) struck terror into her soul, and it might well be so, for she did not know One beyond that dark river who had died to put her sins away. Finding that the wounding of conscience had been already done, after kneeling down with the mother and others by the bedside in prayer to Him who alone can heal, I read to her those well-known, and I doubt not, often used, words in Isaiah 53, “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.” (verse 5).

I then simply and tenderly pleaded with her to look away from self to Christ, and His peace and healing would be hers. I had to take leave of her, however, without receiving any assurance that the desired peace had been obtained. But I found, on calling the next day, that the blessed One who had wounded had healed, having spoken the word of peace to her soul, and a heavenly calm had taken possession of her once troubled spirit. Her heart had been won by His love, and expressing her gratitude in her own simple way she said, “I feel I could take Jesus in my arms.” We again knelt by the bedside, this time to unite with her in giving Him thanks.

She lingered on for several weeks, and suffered a good deal, and although I never had the opportunity of seeing her again, she gave abundant testimony before she fell asleep, to the reality of the work, the name of Jesus being frequently upon her lips. Her friends, too, spoke of the great change in her.

And now, dear children, a word in conclusion to you. Let me plead with you to face eternal realities while in health. Death is a reality: and you must face it. God is a reality, you will have to meet Him. Your sins are a reality: if you die in them they will rise up against you at the judgment day. Eternity is a reality: you will have to spend it either in heaven or in hell. Ponder these things, dear reader, be wise in time. Look to Christ in faith now, and peace and healing will be yours, and you will spend eternity with Him.

“Man’s life is as the grass,

Or like the morning flower;

If one sharp blast sweep o’er the field.

It withers in an hour.”

ML 03/03/1918

Hoping.

ARE you a Christian?” said we to a young girl the other day, who we knew was anxious about her soul’s salvation. ‘“I hope so,” was the reply.

“Have you eternal life?”

At this second question the countenance dropped, and the tongue was silent.

Again we asked, “Did you ever thank God for the gift of eternal life?”

“I pray,” was the response.

“Christ is God’s gift to sinners; those who possess God’s gift have eternal life, and the forgiveness of their sins. Believe in Jesus, and give thanks to God for His gift of eternal life.”

We proceeded to this text: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life”: and, having read it, enquired of our young friend, “Do you believe on the name of the Son of God?”

“I do,” she answered; and we believed she did so most truthfully.

“You believe that He died for your sins upon the cross?”

“I do,” was the response.

“Let us read the text again. ‘These things have I written unto you—now put your own name here—that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.’”

The darkness rolled away; God gave faith to our young friend, and she appropriated the gracious word to herself. Long afterwards she looked back with thankfulness to that night, as the occasion on which she passed out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.

ML 03/03/1918

Little May's First Star.

How pretty you are,” said little May,

Looking up in her sister’s face,

Who was dressed for a dance that night,

In tinsel and in lace.

She placed on her head a brilliant crown,

The centre of which was a star,

Which dazzled the eyes of the wondering child

As it scattered its rays afar.

May greatly admired that jeweled crown,

But she heaved a heart-felt sigh

As she thought of the crown on the Lord

When men passed scoffing by.

And she seemed to see the crown of thorns

As He hung upon the tree,

Till the darkness veiled the most awful sight

That eyes could ever see.

Then she thought of a crown though not of thorns,

But the crown of glory bright,

Which adorns His brow, who for sinners died,

Midst heaven’s eternal light.

And her mind recalled the oft-told truths,

Of those who win the lost,

Having crown to cast at His pierced feet,

Who redeemed at tremendous cost.

In wistful tones she murmured low:

“I wish I some soul could win

To the Saviour who for sinners died,

To wash away their sin.”

The simple words of a little child,

Were winged as an arrow’s dart,

And her conscience reached: they were sent by God,

And they pierced that sister’s heart.

She went to the ball in her grand attire,

But the words of the little child

Were re-echoed again and yet again,

In that heart by sin defiled.

She vainly tried to forget the words,

And enjoy the dance as before,

But no, the Saviour was standing there,

And knocking at her heart’s door.

And a vision rose of that eager face,

And those eyes so full of love,

It seemed like a heavenly finger-post,

To direct her gaze above.

Again she heard that murmur low:

“I wish I some soul could win

To the Saviour who for sinners died,

To wash away their sin.”

She thought of the time so vainly spent

In gaiety, sin and show;

She thought of the life she was wasting away,

Leading downward to death and woe.

She thought of the Saviour’s boundless grace,

In dying for her on the tree;

She thought of the times she had slighted Him,

And longed to His side to flee.

She hurriedly left that ball-room gay,

Went home in her soul despair,

And pardon found, through a Saviour’s love;

For she sought it in earnest prayer.

Then she went and kissed the sleeping child

As the silvery moon shone bright,

And softly said, “She has won a star,

I am saved by grace tonight.”

How good of God to give His Son,

How good of Christ to die,

That sinners young and sinners old,

Should know eternal joy.

This love is boundless, full, and free,

And you its power may prove,

So turn to Him through Jesus Christ,

No longer from Him rove.

ML 03/03/1918

Tired Out

IN our picture this week we have a little tired-out girl and she has gone to sleep. It is not with heavy burdens that have been bestowed upon her, but just with play. Such is the way with us, we get tired out and have to take rest in sleep. Then the time comes that these bodies of ours give out entirely and the Lord separates the soul and the spirit from the body. If sin had not come into the world these bodies would not have worn out but I judge we would have become tired and would have needed sleep but we would not have died for God tells us— “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. And again

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

For those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and thus have Him as their Saviour, the Scripture says “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Heb. 4:9. So if you are resting on the Lord Jesus for the salvation of your soul, it is a blessed thing for you to look forward to the time when you shall be with the Lord and know no more of what it is to be weary. There all evil will be done away and there will be nothing to mar our rest.

ML 03/03/1918

The Sweetest Name.

I asked a little darling child,

“Which is the sweetest name?”

And from her lips without a pause,

The accents “Jesus” came.

“And do you know,” continued I,

“One who that name doth own?”

“I do, I do!” she sweetly said,

“He sits on heaven’s bright throne.”

“And why does He, my precious child

The name of Jesus bear?”

A smile at once lit up her face,

So pleasing and so fair:

“He bears that name,” her answer was

“Because He shed His blood

To save the wretched and the lost,

And bring them nigh to God.”

“THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS: FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.” Matt. 1:21.

ML 03/03/1918

The Place of Safety.

POOR pussy, old bright eyes, you have found a resting-place now, have you not? There seems to have been some mischief about. That little fellow on the floor, jumping up and barking must have been the cause of it. O, these dogs, there is no trusting them when cats are about. It seems to be their nature to chase them. But here there is a friend and a place of safety. Now, old Bowser, just do your worst, bark your loudest, jump your highest, you cannot reach her.

See the other cat, though she is above his head she does not feel so settled and so perfectly at peace. She has her back up about it yet. The old pony is not much afraid either. He looks around inquiringly, and that is about all. But you can see that Miss Puss is his friend. He looks after her interests.

It is blessed to have a place of security, is it not? In time of peril or fright how often have you, darling children, found your mother’s arms the place of places for you, and how soon you quieted down, seeming to get her courage and strength and peace.

One Sunday a man was walking along one of the dusty roads outside a city, and he saw a flock of sheep coming along, and behind them a great dog. He barked and worried them a great deal.

But one poor little lamb who had strayed out from the rest a little, learned something of what the dog could do, for he ran off after it, which frightened it so that it bounded along, looking every way for some shelter, till at last it saw a cottage door open into which it rushed for safety. Then it could turn round and face the dog with great bravery, for the door was shut behind it and the dog could not follow. He might bark, but it was all outside, and the little thing was inside. Soon the dog gave up and ran away.

You see it was not in its own strength that it found safety; neither, was it so with the cat, but into the place into which it had fled. That was substantial, and the result of knowing safety was perfect quietness.

Now, Satan is spoken of as a roaring lion, who walks about seeking whom he may devour. That is, he leads into sin and he would destroy us. And we have no strength in ourselves. But, in Christ there is perfect safety, and in Him alone. He is stronger than Satan, and His work on the cross is greater than our sins.

But then these little animals had to be in the place of safety, so we must be in Christ, that is there must be a link between us and Christ and His work. And that link is faith. We are to believe on Him. If you believe on Him, you are safe.

Then you find these creatures were no stronger when they were protected than they were before, in themselves. They stayed where they were because they were weak. We never become strong in ourselves, but our strength is perfect weakness.

But in Christ we can say, “When I am weak then am I strong; Christ has become my strength.” That is it: Christ is all—all for the sinner, all for the saved one; all, all the time. We can say to Satan:

“O thou destroyer, see the blood

That makes the vilest clean;

No prey of thine, the soul on which

This token once is seen.”

O, if people only knew their danger, and their place of safety! We must tell them of these things.

A little bird chased by a hawk once flew into a man’s bosom for protection. Did the man give it up to the hawk? No, indeed, but held it and soothed it as if it had been his child. So Christ never gives up those who rest in Him. He came on purpose to deliver and He has all power in heaven and on earth. No one shall ever pluck those who are His out of His hands. Blessed assurance! May you all rest in Him alone.

“WHOSO PUTTETH HIS TRUST IN THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.” Prov. 29:25.

ML 03/10/1918

A Young Man's Decision for Christ.

I HAVE recently heard of the conversion of a young man, whom the Lord was pleased to save in answer to much prayer.

His father, mother, and sister were Christians, and he went with them willingly to gospel services, prayer meetings, and Bible-readings. He seemed to have a great desire to know Christ as his Saviour; still, on being asked if he was saved, he would say “he hoped to be.”

The enemy thus hindering him from entering into peace, I asked him on one occasion why he did not decide for Christ. He answered that he did not know what it was, but felt that something was holding him back.

I invited him to attend a meeting at a few miles’ distance, and he accompanied me by train. We had to walk back, and as we went along I was much impressed to ask him to decide there and then, believing that the Lord was only waiting to hear his “I will.”

After some hesitation, he said, frankly, “Yes, I will decide.” Light broke upon his soul as I repeated this text to him, “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,” and, fully trusting in Christ, he was enabled to say that he knew he was saved.

He has since taken his stand with the people of God in his neighborhood.

ML 03/10/1918

No Time to Lose.

WE were passing rapidly along a country road, on our way to a railway station. Standing outside a barn, adjoining the road, were two men, of whom we inquired the time of the departure of the train, which we had been unable to ascertain before. One of them replied that it started at half-past eight. It was already more than that; but, thanking him, we passed on: In a few moments the rush of the train was heard, followed by the hoarse laugh of one of the men, as he knew that we had missed our object—the last train, and that nothing now remained for us but to walk to our journey’s end.

On we plodded, weary and wayworn. As we did so, I could not but think of the derision in which every lost soul is held by the enemy.

To how many he suggests, “It is already too late,” that it is of no use seeking salvation now—that they have gone too far, and sinned away their only chance of salvation; doing this in order that they may become careless and indifferent.

Then for those who, anxious and troubled about their sins, press on when too late, in hope of yet gaining salvation—only, alas! to hear the distant sound of a closing door—what a laugh of triumph,— what a shout of derision, will be raised by him who has sought and compassed their destruction.

Push on, push on! unconverted soul; linger no longer—delay no more. Waste not the precious moments, for the sands of time will soon be run out, the last grains will quickly fall, the last up-train will start. Will it convey you to the glory of God, or will you be carried by the down-train to destruction and despair?

At the commencement of our journey we had walked a steady, easy pace, and then, when too late, increased it considerably. So today many are thinking there is plenty of time yet, and are indifferent to the warning voices around.

Some had told us it was two-and-a half miles to the station, but others had said it was about a mile and a half only, and we had acted as though the latter were the truth, and thus lingered until too late.

“Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.” Job 22: 21.

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

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 1: 18.

The world, the flesh, and the devil whisper, “Plenty of time yet.”

To which will you give attention? Which will you obey?

ML 03/10/1918

Winter.

Drear, dark and cold, the winter comes,

With storms, and ice, and fleecy snow;

We bless the Lord for cheerful homes,

While chilling winds around us blow.

Some children have but tattered clothes,

And straw to lie upon by night;

No comfort cheers them to repose—

Cold, weak and shivering to the sight.

The travelers roaming o’er the waste,

And sailors on the mighty deep;

How many sufferings do they taste,

While we, secure, in comfort sleep.

May we be grateful, Lord to Thee,

And thoughtful as each season rolls,

And now at once to Jesus flee

For grace to save and bless our souls.

ML 03/10/1918

This Is the Happiest Day of My Life.

IT was a happy time for Walter when the doctor said to him, “Walter, what would you say if I were to tell you that God is going to take you home soon?”

Brightly, with a smile he answered, “I shall say, ‘Thank God;’ not that I have a bit too much pain, not a bit. I was a regular heathen before I was taken sick; was I not, mother? But I have often thanked God for making me sick, and sending a Christian doctor. I am quite prepared to go. Jesus died for me and I long to see Him and be with Him.”

Soon after this Walter said, “Call in all those who are in the house to hear the good news. I wish to tell them, this is the happiest day of my life. I am soon going home.”

Dear children, do you know the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep? If you were told that you were soon to die, could you say, “This is the happiest day of my life”?

The Apostle Paul said, “Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” We cannot say this if we do not know Him as our Saviour.

ML 03/10/1918

Jesus Loves the Little Ones.

I’m just a little child,

But six years old today,

I don’t know very much,

But I have learned to pray.

And I have learned to trust

In Him who died for me;

He put my sins away

While hanging on the tree.

God says in His own Book

That if I do believe

In Jesus that I shall

Eternal life receive.

That I shall go to heaven,

That bright and happy place;

I’ll never be sick there,

I’ll see my Saviour’s face.

I’ll never sin up there

As I do often here;

I’ll never cry again,

Nor ever have a fear.

When Jesus lived down here,

He loved the children so,

He bade them come to Him

That round them He might throw.

His arms so kind and strong.

And on each little head,

He gently laid His hands,

And words of blessing said.

He’s just the same today,

So loves us just the same,

And when we trust in Him,

He keeps us from all shame.

To please Him is our song,

At lessons or at play,

He sees all that we do,

And hears all that we say.

I wish that every one

Would trust in Jesus, too,

He’d make them, O, so glad,

And give them life anew.

Souls that will turn to Him,

And trust His precious blood,

He’ll save and keep them, too,

For He is wise and good.

And when He comes again,

He’ll take us all away

To His fair home above,

Where it is always day.

ML 03/10/1918

Harvesting Poppies.

MOST of our little readers might think it strange to have a picture of harvest at this of the year. But in some places where the poppies grow and farmers raise them in great quantities, March is the month they have harvest, as no doubt you all know, when it is winter north of the equator, it is summer south of it.

But I want to tell you about a harvest that is soon to take place, and it will be all over the world at the same time. It will not be a harvest of poppies or any kind of grain, but a harvest of people. The Lord Jesus is coming again, and is going to take all His own people away from this earth in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. All those who have died and were saved shall be raised up, and the living ones shall all be changed, and they shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, and then they shall be forever with the Lord. He will take them to the Father’s house.

Now I would like to have you turn to 1 Cor. 15, in your Bibles and read from the 51St verse to the end of the chapter, and also to 1 Thess. 4, and read from the 51St verse to the end, and there you will get what I have been telling you about. When you are through reading these portions, answer to yourself the question, Will I be one of those who shall be caught up?

If you know the Lord Jesus as the One who died for you, you are one of His, and the Scripture says, “Christ, the first-fruits, afterwards they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:23.

If you are not one of His, you will be left behind, and those who will be on the outside shall say, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” but He will answer, “|iI| know you not.” Mat. 25: 11, 12.

If you are not His, take Him now as your own Saviour. There is no time to waste, then when He comes He will take you along with all the rest who are His, to be forever with Himself, and there you will be able to praise Him for all that He has done for you.

“I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF.” John 14:3.

ML 03/17/1918

Too Cheap.

A PREACHER of the gospel had gone down into a coal mine, during the noon hour, to tell the miners of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ. After telling them the simple story of God’s love to sinners—man’s state and God’s remedy—a full and free salvation offered—the time came for the men to resume work, and the preacher came back to the shaft, to ascend to the world again. Meeting the foreman, he asked him what he thought of God’s way of salvation?

“O, it is too cheap; I cannot believe in such a religion as that.”

Without an immediate answer to his remark, the preacher asked—

“How do you get out of this place?” “Simply by getting into the cage,” was the reply.

“And does it take long to get to the top?”

“O, no; only a few seconds!”

“Well, that certainly is very easy and simple. But do you not need to help to raise yourself?” said the preacher.

“Of course not!” replied the miner.

“As I have said, you have nothing to do but get into the cage.”

“But what about the people who sunk the shaft, and perfected all this arrangement; was there much labor or expense about it?”

“Yes, indeed; that was a laborious and expensive work. The shaft is eighteen hundred feet deep, and it was sunk at great cost to the proprietor; but it is our only way out, and without it we should never be able to get to the surface.”

Just so. And when God’s word tells you that whosoever believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life, you at once say, “Too cheap!” “Too cheap!” forgetting that God’s work to bring you and others out of the pit of destruction and death was accomplished at a vast cost, the price being the death of His own Son. Men talk about the “help of Christ” in their salvation — that if they do their part Christ will do His, forgetting or not seeing that the Lord Jesus Christ by Himself purged our sins, and that their part is but to accept what has been done.

“Redeemed .. with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.

ML 03/17/1918

"You Never Came."

A GENTLEMAN, a servant of the Lord, was in the habit of visiting one of the large hospitals in S—on Sunday afternoons, for the sake of telling the glad tidings of Salvation, and speaking words of comfort to the sufferers in the different wards.

Some listened to the blessed message with great attention, as if drinking in words they had never heard before; others were careless and indifferent, while a few would not listen at all, or simply made light of the glad tidings.

Belonging to this last class was a man who, having heard the tale of mercy week after week, seemed to turn a deaf ear to every entreaty.

It happened that one Lord’s day the gentleman was prevented from paying his usual visit. During the whole of that afternoon the man waited and waited, hoping to see him enter, but in vain.

The next Sunday he again watched, apparently longing for his arrival.

He came at last, and the first he noticed was this man staring eagerly at him.

As he approached the bed, he was startled by the words, spoken loudly and distinctly, “You never came, you never came.” No sooner were they uttered, than he sank back, and the spirit fled—Where?

Dear children, do not put off accepting God’s offer of salvation until it is too late, for God is not mocked. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

ML 03/17/1918

The Story of a Little Boy

I WILL now speak of a little boy, whom I had under my care a short time ago.

The first evening we were alone I read the word of God with him, and he thanked me heartily, saying he loved to hear the Bible. “Do your parents read the Bible at your home?” I asked, and he quickly answered, “O, yes” I then inquired, if he understood the Scriptures. “Some parts,” he replied, and then I asked him if he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Yes,” was his answer.

“But as you know you are a sinner, tell me what you have to say about your sins.”

“O, Mrs. T.,” said he, “it is three years since my sins were forgiven. O! you don’t know what a night that was, I shall never forget that night as long as I live. It makes me feel so sad when I think about it. It was my wicked temper, I can’t half express to you how vile I felt, and how I acted towards my dear mother, who I loved so truly.”

“But that evening I treated her so badly, for I was determined to have my own way. I stood out to the extreme, for I thought I would be master. At last my mother had to push me quite from her, and she left me alone. My governess gave me a great talking to, but I did not mind at the time. When bedtime came, I went as usual to say good night to my mother, but she would not see me. That was the dreadful part to me; my mother would not see me for the first time in my life. I could not say good night to her, and kiss her. I went to my bedroom, but I cannot tell you what I felt. I fell upon my knees and cried bitterly. I thought if I had grieved my mother, how I must have grieved God! O! how I cried to God to forgive me, and pardon all my sins! I could not leave off praying until I felt He had forgiven me. That was a night never to be forgotten.”

“But what about your sins since that night?” I asked him.

“I have never felt a doubt since that night when I was pardoned. O! I was so glad, when the morning came, to see my dear mother. I told her all, and received her forgiving kiss, too.”

This little boy was ten years old. My heart was drawn to him, as he told me the story of his life. These were very favorite words of his:—

“Thy way, not mine, O Lord,

However dark it be;

Lead me by Thine own hand,

Choose out the path for me.

“Smooth let it be, or rough,

It will be still the best;

Winding or straight, it matters not,

It leads me to Thy rest.”

Dear young readers, have you met God. and told Him all about your sins, alone with Him, as this dear boy did?

ML 03/17/1918

God's Looking Glass.

SUSIE ran to a store on an errand for her mother, when a gentleman waiting in the store noticed she had a dirty face. As Susie did not know it, she was surprised when he told her. Then he pointed to a looking glass, in which she could see herself clearly; and so she saw her face was blacked with black lead.

The gentleman, sometime afterwards, was speaking to a number of young people, when he told them about little Susie, and said that we could all see ourselves in God’s looking glass. Then, holding tip a Bible, he said, “This is God’s looking-glass.”

When you want to see if your face is clean, what do you do? You look in a looking glass, do you not?

If you want to see yourself as God sees you, you must look in the Bible, God’s looking-glass; for there God has given some true pictures of us, so that if we look at them we see our very selves.

One picture is that of a leper, who had to cry of himself, “Unclean, unclean;” and “we are all as an unclean thing.” As there were baby lepers, so are there little sinners. We all were born in sin.

Susie, we were told, ran back at once and washed her face clean; but the leper could not cleanse himself, and you cannot wash your sinful self. It was the sense of this that led David to say to God, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

His blood can make the vilest clean;

His blood avails for me.

ML 03/17/1918

Hoping and Having.

TWO boys were lying side by side in a hospital, a visitor asked one of them, “Are you, saved?” he answered, that he hoped someday he should be. Then turning to the other bed, the visitor repeated the question: the boy lying there, with a bright look and voice, replied—

“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.”

Is yours a hope to be saved, dear reader? Are you quite close to Christ, or is there a break between Christ and your soul? Is the world between you and Him? Or are you like the boy—the second spoken to—who came to Jesus, the living Saviour, just as he was? He had proved that His word is true, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

O, try that selfsame love. You shall prove its sweetness in your own soul. Keep not back from Jesus. Your happiness for eternity depends upon your coming to Him, of whom, in pain, and upon the bed of sickness, the young believer said,

“He hath made me glad.”

ML 03/17/1918

Heaven's Door.

I ONCE heard of a very little girl who set off to walk to heaven’s door.

She thought the door to some vaults in the cemetery was heaven’s door; and she toiled on till she reached the place.

Then she knocked and knocked; but no answer came.

She thought that heaven must be on the other side of the door, because many people who died were taken there.

Little Katie was disappointed when no one answered her. She waited and waited, and knocked till her little hand ached; and then she turned wearily homewards, thinking the angels were too busy to hear her.

But a loving friend was able to tell her of the true Door to heaven, and to direct her to Him who said, “I am the Door;” and who also said, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”

These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was dead, and is alive again for evermore in heavenly glory. Have you come to Him yet?

ML 03/17/1918

Lost.

I WILL now tell you of a little girl who lived on a farm, many, many miles away. The farm stood on the edge of a large forest. One day the little girl went too far into the forest. She wandered about for hours trying to find her way back, but could not. She tried this way and that way, but all to no purpose. Poor little girl, she was lost! She cried aloud “Father! mother, mother!” but the father and mother could not hear; so the little one, footsore and tired out fell down beneath the branches of a large tree and fell asleep. The poor child was lost.

In a while after, her kind father and mother, missed her, and at once began to seek her. They searched a great many places, all about the farmhouse, in the neighbor’s houses, and wherever they thought she could be. At last a number of friends resolved to search the forest; so they took lanterns, for it was quite dark and commenced an active and persevering search for the little one.

One by one they returned, sad and disappointed. Fear filled their hearts; they began to think that the wolves had killed her. The parents were almost distracted with grief; the mother, especially, wrung her hands sobbing bitterly, and crying, “My child is lost; my child is lost.”

I wonder if every reader of this little paper knows that he or she is lost! It is a terrible thing to be lost in a forest, in a dark night, with no food, and no father and kind mother near you; but it is an awful thing, and much worse, to be a lost sinner. Now you are a lost sinner; but I can tell you of a Saviour—Jesus the Lord. He came to save. He could only do so through death. He died for the sheep.

“THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” John 10:11

You need a Saviour, for you are a sinner; you need salvation, for you are lost.

“And I, a little straying lamb,

May come to Jesus as I am,

Though goodness I have none;

May now be folded in His breast,

As birds within the parent nest,

And be His little one.”

The night was nearly past, and yet no tidings of the lost child. What a night they spent! The anxiety and distress of the agonized parents were dreadful. How terrible the thought of losing their little one, in that deep, dark forest; perhaps dying for want of food, or devoured by the wolves which roamed about the forest.

Suddenly three short, quick blasts of a horn were heard. “Hark!” cried one; “hark! she is found!” “She is found!” was the joyful cry. Yes, the lost one is found. A man, in the careful search, had just found a little bit of ribbon—it is enough. He traces the small tiny footmarks, until he found the dear child sleeping, with her cheeks still wet with tears. She is found.

With what joy the strong man took up the lost child in his big arms and hastened home! The child was lost, and is now found.

Do you think, my little reader, the man complained of the toil and trouble he had endured? No, no; he would have borne as much again, if only he could rescue the little one, and restore her to her sorrowing parents.

All in the house were happy. Why? Because the lost one was found! Jesus, in like manner, has suffered even unto death for us, such was His great love; and such it is, too, for He ever loves the sinner.

The shepherd, when he bore home the sheep, rejoicing made all in the house happy. He said, “Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost;” and so, were you to give your heart to Jesus now, without waiting until another time, you would make everyone in heaven happy.

O that every little reader may fly to the kind and open arms of Jesus—the Shepherd who loved the sheep, and gave His life for them.

O, dearest Saviour! take my heart:

Where can such sweetness be

As I have tasted in Thy love,

As I have found in Thee?

ML 03/24/1918

Obedience.

IT is on my mind to write a few lines on “Obedience,” a word which we sometimes don’t quite like to hear, because we are by nature “children of disobedience.”

No doubt you will think directly of man’s first disobedience. Adam and Eve did the only thing God had told them not to do. Perhaps you think you would not have done it; and yet we all like to do the very thing that is forbidden.

I heard the other day that a gentleman went into an office on business, and found nobody there, but presently saw a card on the mantelpiece with the words, “Don’t look on the back” (or something like that) on it. When he turned it over, he found, “Don’t you think you had better be going?”

The people belonging to the office knew that anyone who saw the front would do the very thing he was told not to do. Are you obeying God now? He says in His Word, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” If you have not believed, read 2 Thessalonians 1:7 to 9, telling us what will happen to those who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then read Philippians 2:5 to 11, showing what it cost Him to obey, so that we might be saved.

If you do believe, God also tells us to confess the Lord Jesus. Have you told your father or mother (for instance) that you believe on Him? If so, are there not other things God’s Word tells us to do? But, although we ought to be obedient, we are not under law, but under grace. It is one thing for a child to obey its father, and quite another for a slave to obey his master. If we believe, we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. “We love Him because He first loved us,” and “If a man love Me, he will keep My words.” So when the Lord Jesus says “Do this” (whatever it may be), we should obey, not merely as a duty, but because of His great love.

Obedience and Happiness Go Together.

ML 03/24/1918

Believe First.

GOD has not said, feel and be saved, but believe and thou shalt be saved. Feelings never paid a man’s debts, but when he believed that another had paid them for him, he could not but feel happy. So when a person knows that God now accounts him righteous, in the way of faith, and justifies him by the blood of His Son, how can he but have peace? But it is not joy and peace before you believe; and the difference is very important. As long as a person is looking at his feelings, and looking for feelings, he cannot find peace; but when he looks to Christ, and believes what God says, he has peace with God.

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

ML 03/24/1918

The Bible.

MOST children are fond of reading; but how many care to read the Book of books, Do not think, dear children, that the Bible is only for grown-up people to read.

When little Samuel lived in the Temple, he read the Word of God; and Timothy also knew the Holy Scriptures from a child.

Some of you have doubtless read a little book called “Mary Jones and her Bible,” which narrates the pleasant story of a Welsh girl, who walked fifty miles in order to procure a Bible for herself.

The Bible! the Bible! more precious than gold,

The hopes and the glories its pages unfold:

It speaks of a Saviour and tells of His love,

It shows us the way to the mansions above.

The Bible! the Bible! we hail it with joy;

Its truths and its glories our tongue shall employ;

We’ll sing of its triumphs, we’ll tell of its worth,

And send its glad tidings all over the earth.

ML 03/24/1918

More Than My Necessary Food.

A lady, once reading the Word of God to a dying Christian, said to him, “I fear I am tiring you.”

“If you went on until you tired me,” he replied, “you would be worn out yourself.”

“My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.” Psa. 104:3-1.

ML 03/24/1918

Wonderful Love.

THERE was once a poor African mother who was starving with her children. There were five children, and she and her husband resolved to sell one of them for a slave, and to buy food with the money they would get for it, and so to save the rest. So all the five were placed in a row, and father and mother looked at them.

“Well, we cannot sell Sam,” said the father; “he is so strong and active, we could not do without him.”

“Cassy certainly must not go,” said the mother; “she minds the children, and is my greatest comfort.”

“Well, poor Tom shall not be sold; he is so patient and gentle, and could not bear hard treatment,” said the father, “and I am sure I will never part with Chloe, who is the life of us all—she is so merry.”

“And would you have me give up my baby then?” said the mother.

“No we cannot spare one of them; we had better starve a little longer first.”

These poor African parents had five dear children, and they could not spare one; but God gave His only Son for our sakes. O, what love!

And then the love of Jesus! He came and died such a cruel, shameful death, to wash away our sins in His precious blood, that I am sure we should love Him all our lives for it.

We find out what a dreadful thing sin is, when we see that nothing but the blood of the Son of God can blot it out; and now if we believe in Him our sins are washed away in His precious blood, and God will remember them no more.

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

ML 03/24/1918

Nothing New to Tell.

Now, we have nothing new to tell,

It’s just the same old story:

How Jesus died to save the lost,

And take them home to glory.

It is our theme, it is our song,—

No other we desire:

We’d listen to it all day long,

And never, never tire.

‘Twill be our song in heaven above,

This same sweet gospel story;

The story of God’s wondrous love

Will be our theme in glory.

Now, boys and girls, tell me the truth,

Do you love Christ the Saviour?

‘Tis good to love Him now in youth,

And show by your behavior

That you are His, bought with His blood,

To please and serve Him ever;

With disobedient, sinful ways,

To grieve Him never, never.

The old, old story of the cross,

Received will bring you gladness;

Rejection means eternal loss,

And everlasting sadness.

ML 03/24/1918

The Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd.

A silly sheep had strayed,

O’er many a barren wild,

Her fleece was soiled and torn,

And she was all defiled.

The night was dark and lone,

The wolves were prowling round,

Hungry and faint and sick,

She sinks upon the ground.

“Ah, vain, presumptuous sheep,

To leave my shepherd’s side,

And wander off alone

To roam in pastures wide.

“Now I am lost, undone,

I lay me down to die,

For there’s no arm to save,

Alas, no pitying eye.

But lo, she hears a Voice,

“I know My sheep,” It cried,

And looking up she sees

The Shepherd by her side.

With words of wondrous love,

In pitying, tender tone,

He soothes the trembling sheep,

And bids her fears begone.

He speaks no word of wrath,

But in His hands she spied

Some trace of what it cost

To bring Him to her side.

In feet, and side, and brow,

The nails, the spear, the thorn,

Leave marks of what His love,

For His poor sheep has borne.

Then on His shoulders strong

He bears the lost one home,

And now she knows His love,

She’ll seek no more to roam.

Her fleece no more defiled,

For from His wounded side,

To wash away her stains,

There poured a crimson tide.

No more in pastures wide,

Her foolish feet will stray,

She follows her dear Guide,

In the straight and narrow way.

And now, dear little child,

Christ is that Shepherd good,

Who died to save His sheep,

And wash them in His blood.

‘Tis you He seeks to save,

So far, far off from God,

He fain would have you nigh,

Washed in His precious blood.

Come to Him now, dear child,

His arms are open wide,

And cleave forevermore

To that dear Shepherd’s side.

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD: THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.” Jno. 10:11.

ML 03/31/1918

"Jesus Loves Lizzie."

LIZZIE L—was a child of four-and-a-half years old. An evangelist visited her town, and set up his canvas tent on the town links Lizzie spent much of her time on these links with her little playmates, and when the “good man’s show,” as she called it, came, they all attended the children’s service in the tent.

There the thought of Jesus’ love to her came with a power as great as it was new. No words were so often on her lips now as, “Jesus loves Lizzie, mamma.” In pure, childish joy she would, when, as she thought, alone and unobserved, clap her little hands, and say to herself, “Jesus loves little Lizzie.” Sometimes she would be overheard telling her little baby brother, as if he should understand her, and enter into her joy, “Yes, Willie, Jesus loves little Lizzie.”

It became more and more manifest that the Holy Spirit was the child’s teacher, and love to Jesus filled her heart.

On the Lord’s Day, seeing the people going to hear the Word of God, she went to her mother, eagerly asking that she might be dressed to go. None from that house had ever gone; but so earnestly did she press her mother to get her ready, that her mother promised when she got a new dress for her, she would not only let her go, but would go with her.

Thinking over her lack of a new dress, and that such a thing should stand between her getting to a place where she could hear about Jesus, she said to her mother— “Well, mamma, father won’t bring me a new dress, but Jesus is going to give me a dress.”

“Did you tell her of these things?” we asked the mother sometime after.

“No, I did not,” was the reply.

“Who, then, spoke to her of them?” we asked, The mother did not know.

Wishing to know if the dear child knew anything of prayer, we asked, “Did Lizzie pray?”

“O yes,” was the reply. “And even when she was so very ill with the croup in her wee throat, I did not wish to remind her of her prayer, lest the effort to pray should hurt her; but she herself remembered it, and prayed so sweetly.”

Are you a young worker in the Lord’s vineyard? Then never consider any case hopeless, and no living person too ignorant or too young to be the subject of the saving change. Remember, that it is yours to sow the seed. ‘Tis God’s to give the increase.

Are you a believer? Then let the truth that thrilled Lizzie’s heart be more heartily and fully received by you. The Lord Jesus loves thee.

Are you still ignorant of His love? O, hear Him who says, “As I live . . . I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezek. 33:11. “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.

O, what love! To have provided such a Saviour; and now He offers Him to you with all that He is. Is that not love?

“Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

ML 03/31/1918

One More Chance.

THE Christian parents of a little girl one evening spoke to her for a long time of the Lord Jesus. They told her of His love in dying for sinners, and of His speedy return to take all who believe on Him to be with Him forever. They said too, that then the door of mercy will be shut; and earnestly entreated their little daughter to come to the Lord Jesus before it was too late, that she might be ready to meet Him at whatever time He might come.

After having gone to bed and slept for some time, she awoke, and wondered at the silence of the house. She listened, hoping to hear some familiar voice, but no sound fell upon her ear save the solemn ticking of a large clock on the stairs. She thought of the conversation of the evening before, and of her parents’ entreaties and warnings.

“Could it be that the Lord had come? Had her father and mother gone to be with Him, and left her behind?”

The thought filled her with fear, and, running to her mother’s room, she called gently,

“Mother, dear!”

There was no answer. Only the clock kept on counting out the seconds as they sped. Again she called, now more loudly,

“Mother, dear!”

Again no answer. She felt almost sure now that she was left behind for judgment, and that her last chance of salvation had passed away.

Overcome with terror, she shook the handle- of the door.

“Who is there” asked a voice from within.

“O, it is I,” was the answer, “and I am so glad you are there!”

She entered the room, and told her mother of her terrible fears. She needed no entreaty now to bring her to the feet of Jesus, so thankful that she had one more chance of accepting Him as her own personal Saviour.

The Lord has not come yet, but He is coming very soon. The last gospel message will soon be given, the last invitation to poor sinners to come to the Saviour. How terrible it will be for those who refuse it.

Dear children, you have one more chance. Accept at once God’s message of love to you, so that you may join those who are saying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” in answer to His promise, “Surely I come quickly.”

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 2, 3.

ML 03/31/1918

Who Loved First?

I SUPPOSE you are like other little boys and girls, fond of being first, and of saying, I did it first, or, I saw it first. But have you ever thought who LOVED first?

A little boy named Willie was very ill. One Sunday evening he heard at his bed room window the sounds coming from an open air gospel meeting that was being held nearby. Then Willie wanted his mother to go and ask one of the preachers if he would come up and sing to him the verses: “I love Jesus, Hallelujah.”

So one of these servants of the Lord went and saw Willie, and sang the words to please him. But afterwards the kind visitor explained that it would be happier for Willie if he were to think who loved FIRST.

It is not because we love Jesus that He loves us; or that God loves us because we love Him. O, no! “We love Him, as the Scripture says, “because He FIRST loved us.” (1 John 4:19.) “God is love, and “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.

From time to time such precious truths as these were read to Willie, who listened to them, and believed them. He believed that God indeed sent Jesus; and one day, on his mother suddenly speaking to him, he replied, “Mother, I am with Jesus;” showing thus that he really loved the company of the Son of God who “FIRST loved” Willie.

ML 03/31/1918

Nearly Lost.

A LITTLE boy of about six or seven years of age, in company with other boys, went down to the side of the river Thames, one summer afternoon, with the idea of having a bathe. When he had stripped off his clothes he began to walk down to the water’s edge; but the way was covered with mud, left by the ebbing tide.

Soon, without being aware of it, he stepped on a spot where a boat had been lying, and where the mud was therefore much deeper. Then, to the little fellow’s great dismay, he began to sink; and, of course, he struggled to get out, but the more he did so, the more deeply he sank in; till at length I saw that the black mud was almost up to his shoulders. He was now really in danger of losing his life, for in a few moments, unless help reached him, he would be sucked under the surface, and suffocated.

What was to be done? He needed a saviour, for he was utterly helpless himself. He could do nothing. What a picture of a poor sinner away from God; in all his need, “without strength,” undone!

What a mercy that God has provided just that which suits us—Jesus, the Saviour.

Fortunately, help was not far off; for a man who saw what had happened, ran and got a rope, and threw it to the little lad, who clutched it tightly, and in this way was pulled out of his perilous position.

Oh! how pleased he was to be saved, and how thankful, too, to the one who had saved him!

Jesus is ready, and willing, and mighty to save.

Have you come to Him just as you are, without attempting to make yourself one whit better?

Just hear what He says: “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”

ML 03/31/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for February.

1.“I am crucified,” etc. Gal. 2:20.

2.“Husbands, love your,” etc. Eph. 5:25.

3.“Be careful for nothing,” etc. Phil. 4: 6.

4.“Put on the whole armor,” etc. Eph. 6:11

5.“For by Him were all,” etc. Col. 1:16.

6.“But God forbid,” etc. Gal. 6:14.

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

Bible Questions for April.

The answers are to be found in Hebrews and James.

1.Write the verse containing the words. “Separate from sinners.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “Pray one for another.”

3.Write the verse containing the words. “The chastening of the Lord.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “A more excellent name.”

5.Write the verse containing the words. “After this.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Crown of life.”

7.Write the verse containing the words. “Time of need.”

ML 04/07/1918

"I Want You to Love Jesus."

LITTLE Emma is very poor, she has few playthings, is seldom able to go down the lanes flower-gathering, and is very delicate. But little Emma loves Jesus and Jesus loves her, and she is bright and happy.

I will tell you how it was that Emma first came to know the Saviour’s love. One day she was taken very ill, and she thought, perhaps, she might die. The naughty things which she had done came before little Emma’s mind, and she said,

“Father, how dreadful it would be for me to die, and never to go to the beautiful House above Jesus will not forgive my sins, I fear. I am a bad and naughty child, what shall I do?”

“None are too bad for Jesus, my child,” said her father, “He loves sinners. He loves to wash away their sins, and to make them fit to live with Him in His beautiful House.”

Emma believed what her good father told her, she trusted to God’s word, and became happy in the knowledge that Jesus loved her, and had washed her from her sins in His own blood. Emma would now often say, “I wish Jesus would come and get me, and dear father and mother also, so that we might be all together at Home with Him.” What a change this was in Emma’s heart from that time when she said, “Jesus will not forgive my sins, I fear.”

When the child became well again she would sit in a corner of the room in her little wicker chair, and, rocking herself to and fro, would speak of the love of the Lord Jesus, and she would tell the people who came to see her father of the good kind Saviour.

One day, hearing a number of persons merry-making together, Emma slipped in among them.

“I want you to love Jesus,” said she to one of them in a quiet little voice, and then to another,

“I want you to pray to Jesus,” and so she spoke to one and another until the people clustered around her and stopped their music and dancing. And the people said in astonishment to the little girl’s father, “Your child has learned such beautiful things.”

Yes, God’s Spirit has taught the child beautiful things indeed, and now, dear little reader, let me ask you whether you love the Lord Jesus. I want you to know how kind He is, how He pities little children, how He forgives their sins and makes them His Lambs forever.

Think how He suffered and how He died upon the cross for us. And He is calling little children to Himself still. “Come unto Me,” are the words of the Lord to you my young reader. “Come unto Me.” Come in your heart; come with your sins; come, as you are, come even now. When you call to baby, come, and he stretches out his little arms to you it is just as if he really came; his heart comes to you, though his feet cannot bring him, for he is too young to walk. Now it is the heart’s coming which the Lord Jesus asks for, and none of you are too small or too young to come thus. I have seen baby turn away his little face from the word “Come,” and though he cannot say words, yet we all know what that turning away means. So it is with those who turn their hearts from the “Come” of the Lord Jesus, for it is not in a loud voice children say, “No, I will not come,” the heart can say, “No,” to Him.

“I want you to love Jesus.” Why? Because then you will be happy for ever; because, too, the Lord Himself is longing to have your heart.

ML 04/07/1918

Wild Flowers.

“When the Lord Christ to Salem passed,

And sweetly everywhere

Fresh fragrant leaves the people cast

And boughs out-budding fair,—

O, May! had I been with them too,

Not shadowy branches dim,

But richest flowers that drank the dew

I would have brought to Him!

“Yes, close beside Him, looking up

Into His tender face—

The lily’s gold and silver cup,

The rose’s heart of grace,

And every bud most bright and gay,

In love I would have given;

I could have gathered flowers all day

For Christ, the King of heaven.

“I wish He were on earth once more,

Within this forest-dell;

Would we not bring Him shining store

Of hedge-rose and bluebell?

He gave us all their scented breath,

He gave this summer morn:

O, could we only twine a wreath

For Him who wore the thorn!”

“Still we may gather flowers for God,”

Said softly sister May;

“The wild flowers of this woodland sod

Are sweet to Him today:

For, Ernest darling! think again—

Where are these flowers to go?

To little children full of pain

And weakness, want, and woe.

“The hospital at eventide

Shall shine like fairy-bowers,

And little hearts that long have sighed

Shall smile to see the flowers:

O, gather blossoms for the sad,

The weary and the lone,

And make the dear Lord Jesus glad

By caring for his own!”

ML 04/07/1918

Going to School

WE see in our picture a mother’s care over her dear little girl. She has been dressed, and a nice lunch put up for her, and Rover has her bag of books in his mouth. The mother has even came out to the gate to watch her little girl start off for school.

Have you thought, dear children, of how wonderful God’s care is over us. He is watching us at every turn, and it is He who has given us all that we have.

Someone may say, “Then, why do we have unpleasant things happen to us?” Perhaps they may come to us as the result of not being dependent on the Lord; or from our disobedience.

Once I read about a little girl, by the name of Nellie, who stopped on the way to school to look into a river where she could see fish, and her books and lunch basket fell into the water. The little girl in our picture has the dog to carry the books for her, but little Nellie was all alone. She disobeyed her mother for she was told not to play on the way, so that sad trouble happened to her.

This is generally the reason things go wrong with us, but there are other reasons that God permits trouble to happen to us, and we may be sure disobedience must be punished. Do not forget God is always watching over us, and He is the One who is taking care of us, even more than our dear mothers can do, so we must seek to obey Him. He tells us,—

“CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS, IN ALL THINGS: FOR THIS IS WELL PLEASING UNTO THE LORD.” Col. 3:20.

ML 04/07/1918

The Good Shepherd

IT was so nice to hear Grandma’s stories, and finding her alone one afternoon, little Teddie and May said, “Grandma, do tell us a true story.” So after seating themselves beside her, she began:

“Many years ago, a Shepherd in Palestine had a great many sheep, which He loved very much, and knew everyone by name. He fed His flock, and led them. He gathered the lambs with His arm, and carried them in His bosom. But the sheep were often wilful, and in danger of a fierce enemy, who would worry, or steal, or destroy them.

To show His great love, and save them, this wonderful shepherd said He would become as a sheep, in order that He might meet the enemy, and suffer and die instead of His sheep.

This Good Shepherd said, I will lay down My life for the sheep; and He allowed Himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He let Himself be killed without a struggle. Does it not show His great love and power, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death?

Shall I now tell you His name? It was Jesus.

“O! Grandma,” said Teddie, “that is a Bible story. But you said the Shepherd became as a sheep. How was that?”

Grandma explained in her simple way Heb. 2:14: As the children are flesh and blood, Jesus also Himself likewise took part of the same. And while He was here on earth, He was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isa. 53:7.

So Grandma’s true story is to teach the great love and power of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, in becoming a man, and going down into death, even the death of the Cross, to save us forever.

ML 04/07/1918

"Condemned Already."

HE that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.

“But is it not too late?” said a distressed inquirer to a Christian; “I am condemned already.”

“Condemned, and for that reason a pardon, is the one thing you need. You are one of those to whom Jesus offers it. Suppose He were here, holding forth to you a written pardon: what would you do?”

“I would take it.”

“Dare to take it, even when you are condemned already?”

“Yes; for I should know that it was meant for me.”

“Very well,” said the Christian holding out a New Testament: “here is the written pardon, or the written assurance of it. It reads,

‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’

‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.’

‘There is therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.’ Take these offers; they are made to you. Believe them. Claim the pardon.”

She was so delighted with these truths, and so ready to accept them in faith, that she eagerly took the Testament from his hand, saying, I will take God at His word. I see what I never saw before. One may be condemned, and yet pardoned. How clear it all seems!”

ML 04/07/1918

The Nightingales.

THE nightingale is a small bird and has a beautiful song in the night. Is not that a strange time to have a song? I am sure most of you will think so, but God has made some to sing during the day, and others to sing during the night.

So it is with us—the Lord can give us a song in the night. That does not mean simply the literal night, but the night is the time of darkness. We all get our dark times in this life, and we get sad, but when we go to the Lord about the trial, and remember that He loves us with the same measure of love that caused Him to die in our place, then we can sing and praise Him, and say, “He doeth all things well.”

Now, my young reader may not know much about sorrow but you have difficulties, and if you know the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, it is your privilege to tell Him all the little trials that come across your path, then you can sing, “One there is above all others—

O how He loves!

His is love beyond a brother’s—

O how He loves!

Earthly friends may fail or leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve us,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us—

O how He loves!

Joy and peace it is to know Him

O how He loves!

Think, O think how much we owe Him—

O how He loves!

With His precious blood He bought us,

In the wilderness He sought us,

To His loved ones safely brought us—

O how He loves!”

“YEA, I HAVE LOVED THEE WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.” Jer. 31:3.

ML 04/14/1918

"I Have Eternal Life."

ONE afternoon, I was sent for to visit Ellen A—, a young girl of about 15 years of age, who had attended our Sunday-school for several months.

I had often noticed Ellen’s serious manner and earnest attention to the things of God, especially during the address; and now, upon entering her room, her countenance evidenced such sorrow as I cannot easily forget, as, looking at me, she said, “I am such a sinner!”

“Ellen,” said I, “Jesus died for sinners upon the cross, and His blood is able to cleanse away your sins now, even as upon the moment it was shed, and He is as willing to save you now as when He was here upon earth. Do you believe this to be sufficient?”

“I think I can,” said Ellen; then, shortly after, “I cannot now.” Showing that Satan was trying to snatch the good seed of the Word from her young heart. After praying for her, I went away, leaving behind a little book in which were these words of the Lord: “My sheep hear My voice, and I give unto them eternal life; they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand—none is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Ellen read these words, and, by grace, believed what Jesus says. She believed that Jesus gives life, and she rejoiced in the forgiveness of her sins by His blood. She sent for me, and upon entering her room, instead of seeing a sad face, I saw one lit up with joy.

“I am happy, happy,” said Ellen; “I shall soon be with Jesus and see Him. I have eternal life.”

She called her relations and friends together, urging and exhorting any who did not know the blessedness which she did, to believe, and by grace to obtain it. One day, when her mother was arranging the pillow, Ellen said,

“I cannot fall out of Heaven:” meaning that, in Christ, she was there already, safe in Him who is risen from the dead and seated above.

What a change from doubts and fears, to the sense of perfect security in Christ and joy in Him. Perhaps our young reader, like Ellen, is moral, amiable, and religious: but have you Christ? Have you eternal life? Can you rejoice in the Lord? None are too young to learn the Lord’s love. Our dear Ellen speaks to you from this page, biding you believe that the Lord Jesus gives life and forgiveness of sins through His blood to those who believe in Him.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, hath everlasting life.” Jno. 6:47.

ML 04/14/1918

The Microscope.

ONE day, when I was a boy, my uncle invited me with some other young friends to have tea and spend the evening at his house.

During the evening we were asked to have some fruit and figs. Now I was very fond of figs, nothing was a greater treat to me. Well, while we were enjoying these good things, someone said, “I should not be much surprised if the dust on these figs is alive with insects.”

This seemed to me impossible, as I had never seen anything of the kind from figs before. I knew that rotten cheese and bad meat had insects, and stagnant water, too; but figs—the nicest of all things to my taste—could not, I thought, be like this.

“Let us see,” said my uncle; and he fetched his microscope from the next room, and soon had it adjusted on the table. He then took some dust from a fig and put it on a slip of glass, and placed it under the microscope.

After looking for a minute or two, he said, “Come and look for yourselves.” I ran to the table and looked through the tube, and to my surprise saw two or three insects that looked like tiny fat pigs. They seemed to be turning it over, and eating the best of the food.

Seeing us look so disappointed when we found that the sweet figs had such insects crawling over them, my uncle said, “Why, what has the glass done?”

We knew that the glass had done nothing except to open our eyes to the actual state and condition of the figs. My uncle said, “Surely it is better to know the truth than be deceived, though I fear by your looks that you wish you had not seen the insects, so that you might enjoy the figs more.”

I have never forgotten that evening, or the microscope and what it taught us, and I sometimes think whether the Bible is not a kind of microscope for us now, because it shows us the truth about everything; it reveals the true state of our hearts, and the true state in the world in which we live.

One of the things that the Bible tells us is, that by nature our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. This is very unwelcome knowledge, but how much better it is to know our true state than to think we are all right and pleasing to God. Then it tells us the other side of it, how we may be cleansed from all our sins and evil ways —how we may be made fit for heaven and the presence of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9.

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

ML 04/14/1918

Obey at Once.

LITTLE Daniel was particularly fond of having his own way, and though not on the whole disobedient, he had a habit of not doing what he was told at once. Thus if he were looking at pictures in a book, and his mother called him, he would answer “Yes, mamma,” but would not come, until he had finished looking over the pictures. He did what he wanted first, and what his mother wanted by-and-bye. Daniel had been told many times that this was wrong, and at last he began to try and leave it off, and to obey immediately, and it was well for him that he did, as you shall hear.

He was staying on the sea-coast, and one day he went with a kind friend to a pretty little bay where the sea runs into a hollow in the land, and where all round the water there are high cliffs. The flowers and grass grow on the top of the cliffs and you may walk almost to the very edge before seeing the water underneath. When Daniel came to this place and saw the smooth green grass sloping down like a beautiful lawn, he thought it would be a nice place for a run, and off he set skipping and racing, and in a few minutes more, he would have run right over the edge of the cliff and have fallen into the sea.

The lady he was with, called loudly to him to stop, which he did at once, and waited for her to come up. She then gently led him to the edge of the precipice, and little Daniel was amazed and terrified when he saw the deep water far below where they were standing. “Now,” said he, “if this had happened six months ago I should have been killed, because instead of stopping at once when you called, I should have said, “I will just have my little run first, and then come back.”

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Col. 3:20.

ML 04/14/1918

Substitution.

NOW what does that mean, I wonder?” some little girl may ask.

Well, if I tell you the story of a little girl who found Jesus, you will perhaps understand the meaning of substitution better.

Fannie was nine years of age, and a very bright child. One day when she was out for a walk on the sands at the seaside, she met a gentleman who looked very kind and thoughtful, so she went up to him and timidly said, “Will you please accept one of these tracts, Sir? And do you love Jesus?”

The gentleman smiled and said, “I do, dear, and would like to have one of your booklets.”

The little girl was very pleased, and as they were near a seat they sat down, for Fannie’s new friend was longing to hear her talk of Jesus. He knew about it, but he loved to hear the lambs talk of their Shepherd.

“Why do you love Jesus?” he asked. “O Sir, because He died for me and was a substitute for my sins,” she answered. “That is a very long word,” he said; “can you tell me what it means?”

“O yes, Sir! it is instead of me dying for my sins, Jesus died for them, and washed them away; so I did not have to die, because He died instead of me.”

Thus she explained in her childish way the meaning of substitution; for Christ was a Substitute for her and died in her stead, that she might be brought nigh to God, and justified from all things by His precious blood.

Even so are all who have faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.

ML 04/14/1918

The One That Can Help the Many.

I once was speaking to my class

Of some one very poor,

Whose home I often had to pass,

And oft called at the door.

I said that “many could help one,

When one could not help many;”

While waiting for me to be done

Sat earnest little Fanny.

“O, teacher,” said this little child,

“There’s One can help the many,

For Jesus who was meek and mild

Uncared-for left not any.

“My Bible says He died for all,

And, teacher, that is true,

And when He comes His lambs to call,

Won’t He take me and you?”

Now was not that a soft rebuke?

The teacher then was taught,

And down upon the child did look

Quite lost in love and thought.

For though she was but eight years old.

Attention she did give,

She knew the Lord the truth had told,

When He said all might live.

“Now when the sun was setting, ALL they that had any sick with divers diseases, brought them unto HIM: and He laid His hands ON EVERY ONE of them, and healed them.” Luke 4:40.

ML 04/14/1918

A Refreshing Drink.

“ONE man can lead a horse to water, but ten men cannot make him drink,” is an old saying, and a true one. Except horses are thirsty, though the water may be near, they do not care for it, and will not draw up one drop. They are only thirsty horses which drink.

How thankful must many poor horses be on a hot, dusty, summer day, for the clean, cool and refreshing drinking fountains provided for their use in many of the large towns and cities, and how slow they often are to leave the water given to them freely.

The water of life has been provided freely for men and women, boys and girls.

At infinite cost the blessed God has provided salvation for needy sinners. In order that the water of life might be free for all who come, the Son of God has suffered, the Son of God has died; and now that God has been glorified about sin, and Jesus is risen and glorified as the result, the message is sent out to you, now, as you are,

“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.” Jno. 7:37.

“I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Rev. 21:6.

“Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

Dear children, are you not thirsty for God’s salvation? Do you not wish to have Jesus as your Saviour? Come to Him now, just as you are, and accept what is freely offered to you.

Today the Saviour calls; today He bids you come. May you be able to say, truly from the heart,

“I heard the voice of Jesus say,

Behold I freely give

The living water, thirsty one,

Stoop down and drink and live.

I came to Jesus, and I drank

Of that life-giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

And now I live in Him.”

God has provided the fountain of the water of life, that lost and guilty sinners may freely partake. Will you not drink now?

ML 04/21/1918

"Prepare, to Meet Thy God."

(Amos 4:12.)

ALBERT and Arthur are two boys who like to speak to each other about the Lord Jesus; for they know Him as the One who, by His death on the cross, has saved them from their sins.

One day, while out for a walk together Albert told Arthur of a gentleman who used to say in a loud voice to those whom he met, “Prepare to meet thy God.”

As they walked on, they overtook a man going the same way. This man, though a stranger to Albert, was well known to Arthur, as he lived in the village where Arthur was brought up.

Then the thought came into Albert’s mind to say these solemn words, “Prepare to meet thy God,” loudly enough for the man to hear them.

He did so twice, and the man stood suddenly still, as if something had struck him hard, and made him unable to move. Perhaps he was thinking deeply of the warning words he had just heard. May God have blessed them to his soul.

Only a few days later, someone came into the room where I sit as I write these lines, and said, “Such a sad thing has just happened. Mr. R— has fallen down dead in the road outside here, and there is a large crowd gathered.”

Wonderful to relate, it was the very same man who, two or three days before, had heard Albert say, “Prepare to meet thy God.”

Dear children, the only way to meet God with joy is to meet Him in Jesus whose words are, “Suffer the children to come unto Me.”

Have you come to Him yet? If not, come now.

ML 04/21/1918

In Which Color Are You?

LOOK, teacher,” said a big boy in my Sunday school class (we were alone, having come in early that afternoon), “look what I have had given me.”

It was a card painted in three colors—black, red and white.

“Yes,” said I, “that’s very nice, and what does it mean?”

He replied, “The black part means sin, the red Christ’s blood, and the white when the sins are all put away.” Then he showed me the other side of the card, where were a number of verses relating to each color, and very clearly pointing out the way of salvation.

“Well, John,” I said, “you seem to understand your card very well; in which color are you?”

He answered solemnly, “In the black, teacher, but I don’t mean always to stay there.”

“I’m glad of that, John,” I added, “but when are you going to get into the white?”

“When I’ve left off some of my old sins, teacher,” said he.

Ah! how many there are like poor John, putting off the day of salvation, and trying to make themselves white or holy that God may receive them, instead of trusting in Jesus’ blood to put away the sins.

You see he knew that the red came between the black and the white, and yet Satan was blinding his eyes.

There is a well-known verse which says—

“If you tarry till you’re better,

You will never come at all.

Not the righteous;

Sinners, Jesus came to call.”

Dear children, learn by John’s mistake. If by dropping old sins you could make yourselves fit for God, the red would be of no value, but we must learn to have God’s thoughts about Christ’s blood. It is one of the things He calls precious redeemed....with the precious blood of Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:18-19.)

Now, let each answer the question, “In which color are you?” and if you are still in the black, remember the only way into the white is by Jesus’ blood—for “all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” (Isa. 44:6.)

ML 04/21/1918

Meekness

Someone asked a little boy: “Who are the meek?”

“Those who give soft answers to rough questions,” he answered.

“A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Prov. 15: 1.

“Learn of Me for I am meek and lowly of heart and ye shall find rest to your souls.” Matt. 11:28.

ML 04/21/1918

After a Battle

“CHAPLAIN, one of our boys is badly wounded, and wants to see you right away.” Following the soldier, I was taken to the hospital, and lead to a bed, where lay a young man, pale and blood-stained from a terrible wound above the temple. I saw at a glance that he had but a few hours to live.

Taking his hand, I said, “Well, my brother, what can I do for you?” He looked up in my face, and placing his finger where his hair was stained with blood, he said: “Chaplain, cut a big lock from here for mother—for mother, mind, Chaplain.”

I hesitated to do it. “Don’t be afraid, Chaplain, to disfigure my hair. It’s for mother, and nobody will come to see me in the dead-house tomorrow.” I did as he requested me. “Now, Chaplain,” said the dying man, “I want you to kneel down by me and return thanks to God.” “For what?” I asked. “For giving me such a mother. O! Chaplain, she is a good mother; her teachings comfort and console me now. And, Chaplain, thank God that by His grace I am a Christian. O, what would I do now if I was not a Christian! I know that my Redeemer liveth. I feel that His finished work has saved me. And, Chaplain, thank God for giving me dying grace. He has made my bed feel ‘Soft as downy pillows are.’ Thank Him for the promised home in glory. I’ll soon be there—there, where there is no more war, nor sorrow, nor desolation, nor death—where I’ll see Jesus and be forever with the Lord.” I knelt by him, and thanked God for the blessings He had bestowed upon him—a good mother, a Christian hope, and dying grace to bear testimony to God’s faithfulness. Shortly after the prayer, he said, “Good-by, Chaplain; If you see mother, tell her it as all well.”

Children, you have heard the gospel. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Are you a true believer in Christ? Is your mother saved? And your father saved? And you yet unsaved? How long is this to continue? Will you go to the Lord Jesus and thank Him that He is your Saviour. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Mothers be encouraged to go on teaching your children. Look at this, young soldier. Do not say, “I have nothing I can do for Christ.” How important is your work, raising these boys and girls in the fear of the Lord. You are weak and have no wisdom. Yes, but the Lord gives us all we need to go on to serve Him. And the hum-drum of life is brightened by going to Him for grace to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus: “And 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. If the Lord was on earth standing by your side, would you say to Him, “No, I cannot do it?” Would you not rather say, “Yes, Lord, by Thy grace, I will.” You will have the glorious answer in the day of rewards.

Drawn by such cords well onward move,

Till round the throne we meet,

And, captives in the chains of love,

Embrace our Saviour’s feet.

ML 04/21/1918

Hidden Treasure.

SOME years ago we knew a young girl who, we are glad to say, used to go to Sunday school. It was the teacher’s custom to get all her class to learn a text in the week, and repeat it to her on the next Lord’s day. By that means this young girl learned a great many portions of Scripture by heart.

A time came when she was taken very ill, and had to keep her bed; in fact, she did not get well again, but after a rather long illness the Lord took her to Himself.

The reason why we write about her is this. As she became very weak, and unable even to read for herself, she used to lie and think of the beautiful words of Scripture which she had committed to memory. The Lord spoke to her soul in this way, and she was saved through true faith in Him who had died for her.

One day she said to her mother, “O! mother, I am so thankful I learned so much of God’s Word when I was well; for now I can think upon it, although I am too weak to read; and it makes me so happy.”

Let us all imitate this young girl, and so make God’s blessed Word our “hidden treasure,” and if there should be any one of you who has not believed in the Lord Jesus before, may you come to Him now, and thus belong to His “hidden treasure.”

ML 04/21/1918

"Almost."

“ALMOST thou persuadest me.” “Thou at not far from the kingdom.”

“Behold, NOW is the accepted time.”

So near the door—and the door stood wide!

Close to the port—but not inside!

Near to the fold—yet not within!

Almost resolved to give up sin!—

Almost persuaded to count the cost!

Almost a Christian—and yet lost!

Saviour, I come, I cry unto Thee,

O! let not these words be true of me.

I want to come to the point today,

O! allow me not to turn away;

Give me no rest till my soul shall be

WITHIN THE REFUGE! SAFE IN THEE!

“Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out.” Jno. 6:37.

ML 04/21/1918

Work and Play.

HOW many boys, when they are sent to do a little piece of work or on an errand, forget their little bit of responsibility, and turn to play. God’s Word tells us there is a time to every purpose under the heaven. We may be sure it would not be the time to play or have pleasure when we are sent to work. A very little child could not do anything else but play, but a big boy like we have in our picture can do lots of work, and he ought to be glad to occupy his time for profit. He is not thinking that he is responsible to God for his time nor thinking of his duty to obey and do the work he has been sent to do.

But there is another important verse which speaks of a time in connection with salvation, and I would ask the question, dear reader, ‘Have you paid attention to that time?’ The word I refer to is, “Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6: 2. Have you taken Christ as your Saviour? If not, remember you have no promise of salvation any other time than now. You may think a little time of play is good, but you will never know what real happiness is until you have accepted Christ as your own Saviour. It is a dreadful thing to be trying to make yourself happy and at the same time refusing to accept the Saviour who alone can make you happy. Remember there is a time for every purpose, and the time to get your soul saved is NOW. Any moment it may be too late.

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

ML 04/28/1918

Yes or No.

“I WONDER, Harry, that you are not afraid to die; I am terribly afraid!”

Such were the words an old man addressed to a little boy who lay on the next bed to him in a large ward of one of our city hospitals. Harry was about eleven years old; his fevered cheek, too bright eyes, and quick breathing, telling plainly that this short life was fast nearing its end.

A faithful minister had just left, after pressing on the old man an immediate acceptance by faith of pardon and eternal life, as the free gift of God’s great love in Christ Jesus.

“I know it all,” he had replied, “but I do not understand how I can get it, how I can make it my own.”

“How did you get it, Harry?” said the visitor, turning to the dying child.

“Why,” said the boy, “when the Lord Jesus said to me, ‘Come unto Me, .... and I will give you rest’ (Matt. 11:28), I just said with all my heart, ‘Yes, Lord, I come,’ and He was true to His word, and gave me rest. And when He said, ‘Come now,’ I just said, ‘Yes, Lord, now; not tomorrow.’ And when He promised to forgive me freely, to make me His own, and fit me to be with Him forever, I just said,

‘YES, LORD,’

for I knew He could not break His word. How could I say, ‘No’ to Him?”

Tears filled Mr. Clayton’s eyes as he listened to these simple childlike words of unquestioning faith, and he remembered the scripture, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3.)

“Yes, Thomas, Harry has told us the truth; it is just saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to God’s own words. It must be one or the other. It is a solemn thing to know, if we are not saying ‘Yes’ to His gracious invitations, to His blessed promises, we are saying, ‘No, Lord, I do not believe Thee. No, Lord, I will not come to Thee.’”

After praying with them he left. Just as he did so, the old man himself turned to the child to know why he was not afraid to die.

“I have nothing more to tell,” said Harry, “nothing but just that I say, ‘Yes, Lord,’ to whatever Jesus says to me. If you are afraid, Mr. Browne, it must be that you are saying ‘No.’ He says, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ (Isa. 43: 2.) And I just say, ‘Yes Lord; yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’ (Psa. 23: 4.) He says, ‘It is I, be not afraid’ (John 6:20.), and I say, ‘Yes, Lord, I am not afraid.’”

“You are right, Harry. I have been saying ‘No’ all my life to His gracious words; but it is too late now. I wish I had known before that it was just that, saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ O, that it had been ‘Yes’ that I had said!”

“But, Mr. Browne,” said the child, “it is not too late; Jesus is able to save them ‘to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.’ (Heb. 7: 25.) Uttermost will surely reach as far as you, as far as now. ‘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.) That ‘whosoever’ must mean you as well as me. Will you not now say, ‘Lord Jesus, all my life I have been saying “No” to Thee, but now I will say “Yes”? Yes, Lord, I believe Thy words, that whosoever believeth shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Yes, Lord, I believe.’”

He took the promise and the invitation as addressed to him personally; and often as the precious words were repeated or read, you could hear him say, “Yes, Lord, Yes.” The unbelieving “No” was no longer his utterance; he received God’s words with a grateful “Yes.” And as one redeemed by Christ’s precious blood. throughout eternity he will join his praises with those of the dear child, whose simple words and childlike faith had been blessed by God the Holy Ghost to open his eyes, and to turn him “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” (Acts 26:18.)

ML 04/28/1918

The Robe of Beauty.

I SUPPOSE almost every little boy and girl, as well as larger ones, are very happy, now that the dull days of Winter are gone and the bright Spring sunshine has come, with the singing of the birds; and seeing the grass springing up so green, and the little flowers that venture to put their little heads above the ground so early, and the trees and shrubs which have stood all the Winter looking so lifeless without their green foliage, now sending forth their leaves and flowers to us.

It seems wonderful when we look at the rose trees in the Winter time and remember what beautiful flowers we picked from that now dead looking tree in the Summer.

But this all reminds us that there is a power that does this beautiful work, which we cannot see with these natural eyes. And let us remember, how dependent we are upon Him who exercises that power, and causes’, the earth to send forth her fruit.

Let us also remember how faithful God is in bringing everything in its order, sending the rain as it is needed, and the hot sunshine, and the snow to keep the earth warm in the Winter. Everything is brought in its order, and if it pleased Him to withhold one of these blessings from us when it is needed, we should soon realize how helpless we are, without His watchful care.

I have no doubt, too, that when the trees and the earth are clothed in their new foliage, that the little boys and girls are thinking that they must appear in their new clothes as well as the trees and the earth.

I remember a little girl who was always very glad when the time came to have new clothes on, but I am afraid it was only a proud heart that made her glad, for she was always glad to go out and show them.

But, dear children, let us remember that those of us who are in God’s fold have a better robe than all the silks or velvets that money can buy; a robe which costs no less than the blood of God’s only begotten Son. “Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30.) “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become God’s righteousness. in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21.) And all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ shall shine in this robe throughout eternity.

Little ones who do not know Him, and have not this robe, come now to Him.

He is waiting to welcome you, too as His own, that you may dwell with Him forever. May your hearts bow to Him now in grace, before whom God says every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10, 11).

But while it is very nice to know that God has clothed us with such a rich robe as His own righteousness, our hearts must not be occupied with that, but with the One who has purchased it; with Him who, though He knew no sin, when He knew that it was God’s will to make Him to be sin for us, and that He should suffer and bleed, and die, in our stead, said, “Not My will, but Thine be done.” He is the One who loved us, and gave Himself for us, and who is coming again to receive us unto Himself, that where He is, there we may be also. (John 14:3.) And it is with Him our hearts are to be occupied now, and all through eternity.

ML 04/28/1918

The Text on the Wall.

“THAT is not a nice text,” said a little friend of mine, pointing to some words on the wall of the hospital ward. The text that did not please him was: “I am Thine, save me.”

“Why is it not nice?” I asked.

“Because,” he answered, “if any one can say, “I am Thine,” he does not need to say “save me,” for he is saved already.”

Little Justus had perhaps never read Psalm 119, or if he had read it, he had not understood its meaning; but what he could understand were the Lord’s own words in John 10:27-29: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.” My little friend believed these words, and could say, “Lord, I am Thine, Thou hast saved me.” He knew that what the Lord said must be true.

He is quite well again, and when I last saw him, he told me that he was still happy, because the Lord Jesus is his Saviour; and I believe he is trying to live down here for the One who died for him.

Dear young friends, can you say, “Lord I am Thine?” Or are you still unsaved? If so, go to the Lord Jesus now, ere it is too late, and ask Him to save you. I know He will, for He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Jno. 6:37.

ML 04/28/1918

Precious Jesus!

A LITTLE boy who had learned, by God’s grace, that Jesus Christ was his Saviour, and that God had cast all his sins into the depths of the sea, exclaimed, “O, precious Jesus!”

My dear little reader, have you learned that Jesus is a precious Jesus? Well, He is precious to all who believe on Him. Do you believe that He died on the cross for you, and that He there blotted out all your sins by the sacrifice of Himself? If so, you too can now exclaim, “O, precious Jesus!”

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7.

ML 04/28/1918

Look, Come, Rest.

Look to Jesus, look and live;

Mercy at His hands receive;

He has died upon the tree,

And His words are, “Look to Me.”

Come to Jesus, come and live;

He has endless life to give;

He from sin will set you free;

For His words are, “Come to Me.”

Rest in Jesus, there repose;

Shelter find from all thy foes;

Let His name be all thy plea,

For His words are, “Rest in Me.”

ML 04/28/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for March.

1.“For what is our hope,” etc. 1 Thess. 2:19.

2.“Nevertheless the,” etc. 2 Tim. 2:19.

3.“This is a faithful,” Titus 3:8.

4.“Hearing of thy love,” etc. Philemon 5.

5.“And to wait for His Son,” etc. 1 Thess. 1:10.

6.“In flaming fire,” etc. 2 Thess. 1:8

7.“And without controversy,” etc. 1 Tim. 3:16.

Bible Questions for May.

The answers are to be found in 1 and 2 Peter, 1 and 2 and 3 John, and Jude.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “Come to repentance.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “Hath not God.”

3.Write the verse se containing the words, “Precious blood.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “It knew Him not.”

5.Write the verse containing the words, “That which is good.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “Precious promises.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “Eternal fire.”

ML 05/05/1918

The True Ark.

IN the twilight of a winter’s day three little boys sat at their mother’s knee by the cheerful fire, the fitful gleams of which played in light and shadow amid the growing darkness which stole in through the window.

Their father had been called away from home, and their mother was telling them the Bible story of “Noah’s Ark” as they sat in the firelight.

She told of God’s judgment upon the wicked men and women of the old world, and pictured the waters, rising higher and higher, and the terrified people trying to escape by climbing the roofs of houses, high trees, mountain tops, until all were lost in one watery grave. As all this was related, a deep awe filled the children’s hearts. At length the second boy burst into tears, no longer able to restrain himself; the other two followed, and their little hearts seemed ready to burst.

Their kind mother then explained that the ark was God’s way of escape from the flood, and told them how safe Noah and his family were when God had shut them in; and how, after many days, the dove was sent forth from the ark, and returned; how Noah sent her forth again, and how she came back with an olive leaf in her mouth; and how delighted Noah and his family must have been when they saw the fresh, green leaf.

But, dear children, the Lord Jesus is the true Ark for us, —God’s way now for us to escape the terrible judgments which are soon to come upon this poor world that has crucified and cast out His beloved Son. He can never forget the dreadful hatred that was shown to the Lord Jesus when He was here showing nothing but love and kindness to everyone, healing the sick, opening blind eyes, raising the dead, etc., and saying to all, “Come unto Me.... and I will give you rest.”

And after man, in all the hatred of his heart against Him, put Him on the cross thinking to get rid of Him, God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His own right hand in glory, He now says to all, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

O, children! flee at once to Him the only place of safety; and outside of Him there is no possible means of escape from the judgments. He longs to save you and give you eternal blessing.

All this made a deep impression on these dear children who were listening and especially the eldest boy, but it was some time before he knew what it was to be in the true Ark. Later on he went to another place and began to attend a Bible Class. One afternoon, as the school was closing, the teacher said to him,

“Some of the elder boys are going to stay behind for prayer, according to our usual custom; may I ask you to pray?”

“Me to pray?” thought he; the question pierced his soul like a dart, and he who had never ceased to say his prayers regularly, since he learned them at his mother’s knee, now discovered, for the first time, that he was a religious hypocrite; and with faltering lips he said,

“I don’t know.”

“Then you ought to know,” replied the teacher. “When can you come to my house to see me?”

An appointment was made, and this was the beginning of several interviews He became more and more anxious about his soul, until at length he was led to cry out,

“Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner; a hopeless, lost, helpless, ruined sinner!”

One night, alone in his room in the dark, he was pleading for “mercy, mercy!” when a light direct from heaven shone into his very soul; the load of misery was gone, and his heart was filled to overflowing—Jesus was his Saviour. His desire was to

“....tell to all around,

Of the dear Saviour he had found.

Sweetest note in seraph song,

Sweetest name on mortal tongue,

Sweetest carol ever sung—

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”

It is my joy to tell you that the other two boys, his brothers, are now safe in the Ark, and his sincere, earnest desire is that every reader of this little paper may he saved before the night of judgment comes—safe in Jesus, as Noah was secure from the storm which overwhelmed all those who were not shut within the ark.

“Come to the Ark—come to the Ark,

To Jesus come away;

The pestilence walks forth by night,

The arrow flies by day.

Come to the Ark—the waters rise,

The seas their billows rear;

While darkness gathers o’er the skies,

Behold a refuge near!

Come to the Ark—wake ye that sleep!

Wake from the death of sin!

Arise! for danger is without,

But all is safe within.

Come to the Ark—ere yet the flood

Your lingering steps oppose;

Come! for the door now open stands,

But soon— soon it will close.”

ML 05/05/1918

The Next Train.

ENTERING the station some time before the hour at which I expected my friend, I was able to watch the people passing to and fro. The train was just about to leave, when a man and woman hurried to the platform, the man leading a big dog, the woman carrying a large bundle. The man had just time to jump into the train with his dog, when it started off, leaving the woman behind. She called out to her companion, “I’ll come on by the next train.”

This made me think of the time now fast approaching, when those who are “too late” will have no hope of “coming on by the next train.” Perhaps tonight the signal may be given, the Lord Himself may come in the air, and all who are ready will go to meet Him. What of those who are left behind? There is no hope for them, no other chance if they have rejected Christ now, no “next train” to take them to glory.

The Lord may come at any time. His coming is more certain than death. Are you ready for Him? “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” How those who are ready, and waiting for Him, long for that moment.

Do you long for it? Are your sins washed away in His precious blood?

Dear reader, do not put it off any longer. We read in Hebrew 10:37, “For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” That was written 1800 years ago; and the “little while” is nearly over, but still the door of mercy is open, and you may now enter in.

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

That loving invitation will not long be given. Now it is addressed to you. Will you accept it?

ML 05/05/1918

The Gifts of God.

THE children in our picture are very much interested in the flowers which the little girl is holding in her hands. I wonder whether they are thinking of the One who has given us the flowers and other beautiful things of nature, or whether they are like many children, and older persons too, who enjoy all the blessings which God has given them but never stop to thank the Giver.

There is something far more serious, however, than neglecting to thank God for His temporal gifts, and that is to neglect to thank Him for the gift of gifts, His own beloved Son. “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. We cannot thank God for this gift until we make it our own. No child will thank God for giving everlasting life to someone else, but when one sees himself as a lost, guilty sinner, and believing “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” (1 Tim. 1:15,) accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his very own Saviour, he cannot help thanking God for the gift of His dear Son.

Do you know, dear children, you do not need to reject, or turn away, from God’s message of salvation in order to be lost forever. All you need to do is to neglect His loving offer. Many people intend to be saved some time but neglect this most important question until it is too late. May it not be so with any of my little readers.

“HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION.” Heb. 2:3.

ML 05/05/1918

Come to Jesus Now.

I HEARD of a dear little girl, who, after attending a children’s service in a village on the sea-shore, became very anxious about herself. She was told that, although she could not get rid of one, of her own sins, whatever she did, the Lord Jesus could, and would, take them all away, if she came to Him. She was urged just to trust in Jesus at once, as there never would be so good and easy a time in her life to become a Christian. That night the little girl trusted Jesus to save her. She believed that His blood was shed upon the cross to wash away her sins, and from that moment her face was bright and happy.

ML 05/05/1918

The Child's Question.

“Mamma, does praying save the soul?

Can prayer remove my sin?

Can it atone for guilt, and make

Me clean and pure within?”

“No, dearest child, ‘tis not by prayer

That souls from sin are freed;

Prayer never can one sin efface

Or meet the sinner’s need.

“Remission is by blood alone,

And only blood can save;

The soul which would sweet pardon know

Must in the blood believe.

From Calvary’s cross the precious stream

In rich profusion flowed.

And, by its cleansing power divine,

The soul is brought to God.

“‘Tis sweet to pray; ‘tis sweet to bow

Before the Saviour’s face;

But they alone can thus draw nigh

Who know the Saviour’s grace.

Dear child, believe in Jesus Christ,

And peace and pardon know;

Then, from the heart by grace made glad,

Shall prayer and praises flow.”

ML 05/05/1918

Biddy and Her Family.

BIDDY, we will call, the mother hen, who is so faithful in taking care of her little chicks. She keeps watch that they don’t run off from her and get lost and when they get a little further off than she wants them, she just says, “Cluck, cluck, cluck!” and how obedient they are, for they come running to her right away. No doubt they expect they are going to get something to eat. But with this we may be able to learn a needful lesson, and that is in connection with the promptness of the obedience of the little chicks. Many children delight in obeying their parents, but think that their time will do, and in that way they get themselves into trouble. Then too when they go to work they do the same thing, as they get into the habit of it, and their employers won’t keep them. So it is a bad thing not to be prompt in obedience. But if it is bad, and it surely is, not to obey, or to be prompt in obeying our parents or others whom we are under, what do you think it must be not to obey God? He has told us in His Word what He wants us to do. The first thing is to work, and the first work is to believe on His Son. He says:

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

Have you obeyed this word from the Lord Jesus? If not, remember what the result will be of that disobedience. For again the Scripture says “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. The first step in obedience is to believe on His Son, and if you have not done so, remember the wrath of God abideth on you. If you have believed on Jesus as the Son of God, then the Word of God in the Epistles are the direct words to us, and we should seek to be prompt in obeying every part of it. To obey His Word He tells us is better than sacrifice that is better than giving to the Lord, or working for Him.

ML 05/12/1918

Jack and His Bible.

A WIDOW left with eight children, one son and seven daughters, devoted all her care to bring them up in the fear of God. Her efforts were successful with her daughters, but the young man turned a deaf ear to all her exhortations. Led astray by gay companions, he at length sank so low that he was obliged to leave the country.

His poor mother, at parting, gave him a Bible, in which she had written his name and her own, and entreated him in the most solemn manner to read it if he had still any love left for his mother.

The young man set off, and for many years nothing was heard of him. Anxious and sorrowful, the widow applied to the sailors who came to the port for tidings of her son. At length she met with one who informed her that the vessel in which the young man sailed was wrecked.

“And what of my son Charles?” asked the agonized mother.

“O, Charles! I knew him,” replied the seaman, with unfeeling bluntness; “he was a bad fellow; if all such as he were at the bottom of the sea it would be no great harm.”

The poor woman went home overwhelmed with grief. She often said, “I shall go down to the grave mourning for my son.”

Years passed by, and one day a sailor knocked at her door. A sailor had always an interest in the eyes of this poor widow, and she listened to his story with deep emotion. He had been through great dangers by land and sea, and several times had been shipwrecked.

“But,” said he, “I was never in such miserable plight as once, some time ago, when I escaped with only one companion out of a whole ship’s crew. We were cast upon an uninhabited island, and at the end of seven days and nights I had the pain of closing the eyes of my companion. Poor young man! I shall never forget him;” and here the tears ran down the sailor’s weather-beaten cheeks. “He was constantly reading a little book his mother had given him, and which was the only thing he had rescued from the waves. It was his great consolation; he wept for his sins, he prayed, he clasped the book to his heart. He only spoke to me of his book and his mother, and at last he gave it to me, thanking me for my poor services. ‘Here, Jack,’ said he, ‘take this book, keep it, and do not forget to read it; and may the Lord bless it to thee, as He has to me.’ Then he pressed my hand and died in peace.”

“Is that all true?” cried the mother, trembling with surprise and emotion.

“Yes, madam, every word.” And taking a little much worn book from his bosom. “This is the book,” said he “which I have told you about.”

The mother took it, recognized her own handwriting, and read the name of her son beside her own. She wept, she rejoiced, she was almost beside herself. She seemed to hear a voice from heaven saying to her, “Thy son lives.”

“Will you sell me this book, my good friend?” asked the mother.

“No,” replied the sailor, “not at any price, not for all the world. He gave it me with his dying hand. I have more than once since then lost everything, but I have faithfully kept this Bible. I have learned the value of it myself, and I will not part from it but with my life.”

When any of your children leave the paternal roof, let them take the Bible with them. Your eye can no longer watch over them, but the Word of God can go with them everywhere, to enlighten and preserve them from evil. You may have reason to fear that your son will not read the Bible; give it him nevertheless, in the sweet confidence that God will bless it to his soul by means which you cannot foresee.

Ever remember the blessed promise “Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.”

ML 05/12/1918

Trust and Try.

ONE Sunday afternoon one of God’s sowers went forth to sow the word of truth into the hearts of his little scholars. He sowed in faith and believed that God would bless it.

“Trust the Saviour’s precious blood first,” he said, “then try to please Him. for He has a work for all who trust in Him, and His holy name.” His words fell on the hearts of four little girls who meant to do as he said, trust first and try after; but only one succeeded.

Little Amy knew that she must have faith first, for, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” She knelt by her little bed and asked to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake, and made one of His little servants. Her prayer was real, and that is what God loves.

Reality for Christ is a living reality.

Her little friends soon noticed the change in her, and as they did not possess the same faith, they made fun of her, but afterwards asked her if she would tell them why she was always so gentle and loving and did not get angry.

Her answer was very real, “Because I first trusted in Jesus, and then tried to please Him.” The little girls were very much struck by the answer, for they had tried first, and not trusted, which they found was useless.

One Sunday afternoon their teacher spoke of the beautiful path of faith in Jesus which is open to all who will believe and be saved. These little ones soon told “teacher” they longed to be saved, and he told them to believe and then confess their sin to Jesus, who would forgive them and take them into His service, to be used of Him and bear fruit to His glory.

They did believe, and made their teacher’s heart rejoice, for now he saw that his labor had not been in vain.

Dear children, you will see by this that it is useless to begin by pleasing God by your deeds of righteousness, for you have none. For we are all as an unclean thing, and our righteousness as filthy rags: but the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

ML 05/12/1918

What Is Your Name?

I HAVE a book in my pocket with your name in it,” I said to a young girl.

“Indeed,” she said, “how is that? We never saw or heard of each other before.”

“I am quite sure it has your name in it,” I continued, “because it contains the name of every person in the world.”

The little girl seemed to think either that I had a very large hook, or that I was quite mistaken; but when I showed her that my book was the Bible, and that in it there was a record of man’s ruin and God’s remedy, she could not doubt my word any longer, for in the Bible it is distinctly said that “All have sinned.” (Rom. 3:23.) So that “Sinner” is the name of every child of Adam.

Now my dear young friends, my little book is specially written for those who bear the name of sinners, and it will describe some, who I am sorry to say, lived and died sinners; and others who came in their need and misery to Jesus, and had a new name given to them, written in another book, which is called the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Rev. 21:27).

Here I must warn all my readers that God has books in heaven, in which are recorded our every action, thought and word; and if these solemn records are not blotted out in the precious blood of Christ, they will all appear against us at that day when the great white throne will be set up, and when He who sits upon it, will summon all, both small and great. young and old, to stand before it. (Rev. 22:11, 12.)

ML 05/12/1918

Certificates Will Not Do for God.

“YES, sir, I have had one or two certificates for Scripture,” said a boy to me the other day, in answer to my question as to whether he knew the Saviour.

Perhaps my reader is like him, thinking it is all right, because he has taken the Scripture prize at Sunday school, or obtained a few certificates. But these will not do for God. He says there is none other name for salvation but Jesus, and it is His name, through faith in His name alone, can save your soul.

Can you say, like the apostle Paul, when speaking of the Lord, “He loved me and gave Himself for me”? If not, with all your religious knowledge, certificates, and prizes you are lost. Christ is coming quickly. Look away to the Lord Jesus on the cross as the Saviour. His precious blood can cleanse you from all sin, and then you will be able to say, “He loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20.)

ML 05/12/1918

Praise the Lord, All Ye Children.

Psalm 148:12.

Precious, peerless name of Jesus,

Sweetest sound on human tongue,

Who can utter half the praises,

Which to His dear name belong?

Who has ever found His equal?

Surest guide, unfailing Friend;

Of His love, so strong, so tender,

Who has ever reached the end?

Little ones proclaimed His praises

While His dwelling was with men;

Childish voices filled the Temple

With their loud hosannas then.

And how graciously He listened

To their simple, joyous strain,

Quieting those who, in their malice,

Would have hushed the sweet refrain.

O! how Jesus loved the children,

Loved to call them to His side:

Tired and weary though He might be,

Never once were they denied!

And His love to little children

Is for evermore the same;

Naught of changefulness He knoweth—

He who bears that great, sweet name.

Little children, seek to know Him,

Who has given His life for you:

Then in His unending praises

You will soon be joining too.

For the eyes that see His beauty,

And the hearts that know His love,

Cause the lips, with truth and gladness,

Ceaselessly in praise to move.

ML 05/12/1918

Feeding the Horses.

KINDNESS is one thing that becomes us and we have a nice illustration of it before us in the dear children giving an apple to the horse. We can see that the horses and dog and kitty all are accustomed to the kindness of the children.

I once heard a converted Indian tell of the happiness which was brought into their family through their finding the Lord Jesus. His father, before he was saved, used to be very cruel to the animals around him, and I expect it was so with the rest of the family, but they heard of God’s great love in giving His Son to die for sinners, and they believed the good news, and they were turned to God, and their hearts were filled with happiness, and he said even the cat knew the difference in the home, for before they knew the Lord Jesus as their Saviour it used to be afraid, come near them, but after they knew their sins forgiven through believing in the Lord Jesus the cat soon learned their kindness and gentleness with it, and would come to them.

If we know what God’s love and grace is to us, we will delight in showing that to others, and this is what the Lord asks us to do.

In Luke 10 we get the beautiful illustration of our blessed Lord in the case of the certain Samaritan who did everything for the poor man that had fallen among thieves, and after the Lord got through telling him, He asked him the question, which one of the three—the priest, the Levite, or the Samaritan — found his neighbor. The lawyer answered, “He that showed mercy on him.” Then the Lord answered “Go and do thou likewise.” So if we know what the Lord Jesus has done for us in taking our place on Calvary’s cross, we must seek to show that same grace to others and as we become more like Him in our ways, even the animals around us will be treated kindly.

“BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE.” Rom. 12:10.

ML 05/19/1918

Always in the Light.

THE sweet summer flowers were blooming gaily, and filling the air with their perfume; while numerous birds made the garden resound with their songs of praise.

There was, however, no responsive echo in the heart of one who sat amidst it all. The mourning dress she wore harmonized but too well with her sorrowful face. Birds, flowers, and sunshine only seemed to jar upon her feelings. She could think of nothing but the recent loss of her beloved and only brother.

As long as she could remember anything distinctly, Edward and herself had been inseparable companions. In childhood they had played and studied together; and as they grew in years, they had still shared many pursuits in common; their tastes were similar; they loved the same earthly friends, they believed in and obeyed the same Lord and Saviour. But now this cherished brother was gone, and she missed him more and more every day, while over and over again the longing arose: “O, that he were but still here!”

Helen’s little nephew, a boy of about three years old, had been playing quietly on the floor by her side. The blocks which had long kept him amused now lay spread all around; he was tired of them at last, and something else had attracted his attention.

“Auntie” he began, breaking the long silence, “what are those wooden things on each side of the window?”

“Those are called shutters, my dear,” she replied, rousing from her reverie, and turning at the sound of his voice. “Shutters, because they are shut at night.”

“Shut at night?” repeated the little one.

“Yes,” was the answer. “When you are lying in your little bed, fast asleep, it gradually becomes darker and darker. We call that darkness night, and we shut all the windows and doors, and soon go to bed too.”

“And then it is dark everywhere,” said the child, thoughtfully, as though his little mind were taking in some new idea. “But, Auntie, do you mean that it gets dark even up in heaven? Do they have to close the shutters there?”

“No, darling, there are no shutters in heaven. They never need them, for there is no darkness, no night there! Where God and the Lord Jesus are, it is always bright day!” (Revelation 22:5.)

Looking earnestly at his aunt for a moment, and clasping his little hands together, Teddie cried, joyously: “O! how glad I am! How happy dear uncle Edward must be! Mother told me he had gone to live with Jesus, so he is always in the light!” At the same instant he caught sight of a butterfly, and, with an exclamation of delight, sprang to his feet, and was very soon at the other end of the garden.

But the words spoken by the tiny child had, through divine grace, turned his aunt’s thoughts from herself and her loneliness to her God and Father’s love, and to her brother’s heavenly bliss. She had mourned for him as dead; now she could rejoice that he was alive for evermore.

“Always in the light! Always in the light!” she whispered to herself. “Yes, I may indeed take comfort! I have been faithless and rebellious to give way so long to this despondent grief. My dearly-loved brother is forever in the light, and even here on earth, the soul that knows and loves God need not remain in darkness. His light overcomes it all; and out of the mouth of babes and sucklings He has perfected praise.”

ML 05/191/1918

The Bible.

THE Bible is a wonderful book, and in it are many wonderful things. The Bible, too is a very beautiful book, full of striking pictures, though sometimes little boys and girls do not see them. I think one of the most beautiful pictures in God’s Word is where Jesus says “I am the Good Shepherd.”

Now, no doubt, most of you know what a shepherd is, though some of my little friends in large towns and cities, who are shut in with bricks and mortar, (as we sometimes say,) and who never get a taste of the fresh and beautiful country air, may not have seen one.

A shepherd is one whose work it is to take care of the sheep—to feed them and watch them, lest they should stray away. Sometimes a sheep strays away into some dangerous place on the mountain, where the shepherd has to follow, until he hears the poor thing bleating, and then he brings it safely back again to the fold. We read of sheep in many places in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6. And again 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.)

What does Jesus mean, when He says, “I am the Good Shepherd?” Surely He was not a real shepherd; we never read about Jesus having to keep sheep, and yet He claims to be the Good Shepherd. I just now said, a shepherd’s work was to feed and take care of the sheep, and Jesus meant, when He said, “I am the Good Shepherd,” that He was the Shepherd of men, women, and little children. If we read the Bible, we shall find that Jesus did take care of men, women, and children. Once He fed five thousand people who were hungry, and at another time four thousand. He raised the little daughter of Jairus, who was dead, to life again. O, what a comforter Jesus must have been to the little girl’s father and mother, when they found that He had brought their little daughter back to life again. When the only son of the poor widow of Nain was being carried to the grave, followed by his sorrowing mother, Jesus had compassion on her, and raised the dead son to life.

O, what tender compassion Jesus must have had, when He said to the mothers of the little lambs, (as we call them,) after the rude disciples had pushed them back, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 10:14.

My dear children, the Saviour wants all of you to be His lambs. He wants you to let Him take you in His arms, and shield you against the storms of life. Won’t you be the Saviour’s lambs? He has loved us, and given Himself for us and now He wants to save all of us and have us for His own.

ML 05/19/1918

Telling God.

A CHRISTIAN mother had to put to bed her two little girls whose ages were about five and seven years. The elder had been naughty; and when her mother had left the bed-room, the child was still crying and sobbing. With a mother’s love and care, she lingered on the landing a short time, scarcely liking to leave her child in so unsettled a state, and while she was waiting, she overheard them speaking thus to each other,

“Why don’t you be good, Lilly?”

“I can’t.”

“Then why don’t you pray?” said Jessie.

“I don’t know how.”

“Well, if you want bread and butter, you know how to ask mother for it. Why don’t you tell God that you are naughty, and ask Him to make you good?”

God wants you, my dear children, first to take the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, for He loves you and gave His blessed Son to die for you; He wants to save you. But even then you cannot keep yourself from doing wrong. Just go to Him and ask Him to keep you from displeasing Him, and He will give you strength.

Whether Lilly acted upon the suggestion of her sister, I am unable to say, but the advice which was given sets before us, in a simple manner, the true nature of prayer, and reminds us of such scriptures as these:

“The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” Psa. 145:18.

“Thou calledst in trouble. and I delivered thee.” Psa. 81:7.

ML 05/19/1918

The Road to Heaven.

What though I’m but a child,

And little can discern,

Christ is a Teacher meek and mild,

And bids me come and learn.

When Jesus dwelt below

The infants He caressed,

He prayed for them, and blest them too,

And surely they were blest.

Then let me not delay

To learn the road to heaven,

For Jesus tells me He’s the way,

And grace is freely given.

ML 05/19/1918

Is Jesus There?

WILL little Grace run into the dining-room and get mamma’s book?”

Off trotted the three-year old baby, but at the dining-room door she stopped, and presently we heard little steps crossing the hall again.

“It’s very dark in the diny-room; is Jesus there?”

“Yes, Jesus is there, and He will take care of baby.”

“O, then I’m not fitened,” and away she went again and brought the book safely out of the dark room.

Is Jesus there? —is that the question which arises to our minds when fear comes? And is His protecting love and care so real to us that it soothes our hearts and relieves us from all anxieties? Yet we have the sure promise, “Lo, I am with you alway.”

On whom can we more surely rest than on Him who has told us to cast all our care on Him, for He cares for us?

ML 05/19/1918

Have Patience.

PATIENCE is one of the great lessons of life, and one that we are so slow to learn. In our picture this week we see how impatient both the little baby and the cat are to get a piece of what has been cooked in the big kettle. But we know they will have to wait until the girl is ready to give it to them.

How often we hear children say, “I want that, I want that,” then they have to be told they must have patience. They are not always allowed to have what they want just when they want it; they must wait until the time the giver sees it is best for them to have it.

So it is often with those who know the Lord. They ask the Lord for something, and fret because they do not get the answer right away, but they must wait His time, and seek to learn the lesson He has to teach. The fact that we do not always get an answer to our prayers immediately, may not be because the Lord is not going to answer, but because He may have different lessons to teach us first, and patience may be one of them.

Let us seek to be patient in connection with everything; patient when something goes against our wishes; patient when someone says harsh things to us; yea, seek for grace from the Lord that we may be more like Him.

“WHO, WHEN HE WAS REVILED, REVILED NOT AGAIN; WHEN HE SUFFERED, HE THREATENED NOT.” 1 Peter 2:23.

ML 05/26/1918

God Always Gives Us What He Sees Is Best.

A CERTAIN little girl suffered at times with the toothache; she was but a child and found pain hard to bear. One day an aged Christian came to the house where this child lived, and it happened that while the family dined together, the child cried out with pain.

“Do you know what I do when I am in pain?” the aged Christian gently said; “I say, God, I thank thee for this pain.”

“And I,” answered she, “say, Please, God, take the pain away; but God has been a very long time taking my toothache away.”

“God always gives us what we like,” chimed in a younger brother.

“Does He?” asked the aged Christian. “Think, now, does your mother always give you what you like?”

“Always, yes, always,” was the answer, and given with great emphasis, for the little fellow’s love to his mother was unbounded.

“Does she never punish?”

Here the little ones hung their heads, and said no more.

And, beloved Christian reader, to us it is written, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Heb. 12: 5, 6.

“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 05/26/1918

Why Delay?

WHY delay longer, children: why not come to Christ now? Will it be easier tomorrow, or one hour hence, than now? Will your sins be fewer?

Will you be in a better state to receive mercy later on than now?

No, you know that for each day spent in sin’s service your heart becomes more hard, your sins more numerous, and the concerns of eternity more difficult to heed. Besides this, you know well that death may find you, and then it will be too late to turn to the Lord.

Eternity is before you. Why then do you still delay? The Lord Jesus is graciously calling, “Come unto Me!” He longs to save you, and have you spend your eternity with Him, where all will be joy and peace.

May it never be said of you, dear reader,

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

ML 05/26/1918

Johnny.

JOHNNY was a faithful boy and much beloved by his Christian master, Mr. Gould. For some time he had been very sad, and one day Mr. Gould said, “Johnny, why don’t you tell me the cause of your sorrow?”

“Dare not tell you, master.”

“Dare not! Why, Johnny what have you done?”

“O! I am such a sinner that if you knew all about me you would never care for me anymore.”

“What are the sins that trouble you most?”

“I cannot tell. All my sins trouble me.”

But does not the Bible say, “There is none righteous, no, not one?”

“Yes; but I did not know I was so very wicked. I never felt my sins before.”

“What has led you to feel them now, Johnny?”

“I read one day the account of the publican smiting on his breast, and saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” I thought to myself, He must have been a very wicked person, for I have never been so troubled about my sins. Soon after this we were in the meadow together, and you said, ‘Johnny, it isn’t everybody that gets to heaven. Heaven is a sinless world, and we are sinners; we must get rid of our sins in some way, or we shall never get there.’ And you will remember, I said, ‘Well, master, how do people get rid of their sins?’ You said, not before they feel them. The publican knew he was a sinner all his life, but when he smote his breast, he felt he was one. Master, that went to my heart. Every day since then it seems as if all I had done was coming back to memory, and everything appears sinful, till—.” And here Johnny burst into tears.

“Johnny”, said Mr. Gould, “you have been looking at your sins only, and the longer you look, the blacker they seem. Look at the Saviour who was ‘wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.’ He says in Matthew. ‘Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’ You know that when Tim broke his leg, he didn’t sit looking at it, and brooding over it; he sent for the doctor. Will looking at your sins all day do you any good? Look to Jesus!”

“O, master! I do try to look to Him, but He seems so far away, I can’t get near Him.”

“It isn’t only crimsoned sins, Johnny, that shut men out of heaven, but impenitent hearts. If with a broken heart you bring all your sins to Christ, His blood cleanses from all sin, and Jesus says, “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jno. 3:15.

The word “whosoever” laid hold of Johnny’s heart, and he pleaded it that night at the throne of grace.

That night Johnny never forgot. Sin. doubt and sorrow gave way to pardon, faith and joy; and the next morning Johnny was singing when his master found him.

“Ah Johnny! is that you? ‘Weeping endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’. Is it all right now?”

“Yes, master! When I went to bed I told Jesus “whosoever” included me, and therefore I came to Him as my Saviour. I don’t know how, but at last I found I was really loving Christ, and so happy could not sleep for joy, and now I can only sing.”

“Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice.” Psa. 5:11.

Happy Little Shoe Black.

PATTIE was hired to shine shoes in a country boarding house. It was a humble sphere, and he only received wages enough to keep himself in clothes, but he was as happy as the day was long; he sang and smiled as he brushed away in the back yard, and as a visitor remarked, “That boy is far happier than if he wore a crown.” But I am not so sure that everyone knew the true secret of Pattie’s contentment and happiness. It certainly was not his wealth, for he had none. It was not his circumstances, for he had long hours and hard work. What then made the poor boy so continuously happy? He has Christ as his Saviour, and heaven as his home.

Yes, Pattie was a Christian; he had been converted, and his life proved that he was a disciple of Christ. Many think that wealth gives happiness, but this is not so. Some of the world’s millionaires are the most miserable people. True joy is found alone in Christ. and it was because Pattie knew Him and belonged to Him, that he was so cheerful and happy.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Phil. 4:4.

ML 05/26/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for April.

1.“For such an High Priest,” etc. Heb. 7:26.

2.“Confess your faults,” etc. James 5:16.

3.“And ye have forgotten,” etc. Heb. 12:5.

4.“Being made so much,” etc. 1:4.

5.“And as it is appointed,” etc. 9:27.

6.“Blessed is the man,” etc. James 1:12.

7.“Let us therefore come,” etc. Heb. 4:16.

Bible Questions for June.

The answers are to be found in Revelation.

1.Write the verse containing the words, “Shall feed them.”

2.Write the verse containing the words, “The holy angels.”

3.Write the verse containing the words, “A new name.”

4.Write the verse containing the words, “Small and great “

5.Write the verse containing the words, “My new name.”

6.Write the verse containing the words, “The great day.”

7.Write the verse containing the words, “No more death.”

ML 06/02/1918

The Message; or, "It Is Written."

WEE Kitty was only five years old, but she wished to help mamma, and felt proud one day when mamma told her she wanted a message taken to a store nearby. Mamma wrote the message on paper, which was mamma’s word to the storekeeper.

When Kitty arrived at the store, she, (thinking she knew) began telling the storekeeper mamma’s message in her own words; but the storekeeper could not understand her. You see, Kitty was only repeating her own thoughts, not mamma’s words. Presently the storekeeper, seeing that Kitty had a piece of paper, asked for it, and then he found that the message was quite different from what Kitty had said.

Now, this is the mistake many of us make as to God’s Word, and it is very wrong.

We trust our own thoughts, and say what we think about the Lord Jesus Christ, while all the time we have the truth written down for us in the Bible, which is God’s Word.

God has caused it to be written so plainly that you, dear little reader, may understand that God loves you so much that He has given Jesus to be your Saviour.

If you think you do not need Jesus, read for yourself, or ask someone to read to you, God’s Word about it. Or if you think you are too good, or too naughty for Jesus, read what God says about you. Or even if you, like little Kitty, think you know the message (God’s message), still read what God has written; for God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts . . . for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

The Lord Jesus Himself answered Satan with the words, “It is written,” so we can only be safe by keeping close to God’s written word.

This then is the message, and Jesus brought it from God, and caused it to be written down for us in 1 John 1:5, “God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Do you believe this message, that nothing escapes God’s eye, and no one can bide from Him? It is written, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place;” so this message from God, and about God, is

A MESSAGE OF LIGHT.

It tells me that God, who dwells in the light, knows me through and through. It is not, I think God knows me. It is written, “GOD IS LIGHT.”

If I am naughty, I may be ashamed; or I may be afraid of the light; but this message from God also tells me that if I come to the light, there is love to meet me in the light; for “God is love” (1 John 4:16); and God would have even little children know and believe the love that He has toward them. This then is

A MESSAGE OF LOVE.

for it is written, “God so loved the world.” It is not, I think, or hope, that God is love. He has shown His love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God has shown His love to us in sending His Son Jesus into the world (1 John 4:9). If I believe God’s message, His perfect love casteth out all fear, for God is love.

God tells me what to say,

God hears me when I pray,

God sees me while I play,

God loves me all the day.

What a comforting message is written in 1 John 2:12. the youngest believer; “I write unto you, little children, because your sins ARE forgiven you for His name’s sake”—that is, for Jesus’ name’s sake. So this is

A MESSAGE OF FORGIVENESS.

It is not because you may have given up this sinful habit, or that naughty way; nor even because you may be very, very sorry for your faults. O, no! What is written is, FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE your sins are forgiven. All the sin that the LIGHT shows to us, His LOVE is ready to FORGIVE, for Jesus’ sake who died.

In 1 John 5:13 the message is

A MESSAGE OF LIFE.

It says there, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” God has had it written down for us. Do you believe the message?

ML 06/02/1918

Any One That Likes.

IN a little cottage on the high road an old woman lay dying. A little girl was sitting beside her bed, reading aloud the third chapter of John. She read on until she came to the sixteenth verse, when the old woman, who had been listening intently, stopped het. “Read that verse again,” she exclaimed. The child read again those wonderful words, “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.”

“Stop!” cried the old woman. “What does ‘whosoever’ mean? Tell me what that word is.”

The child hesitated, and said she did not know; so the old woman continued in eager, tremulous tones, “I must know what ‘whosoever’ means. Go out into the road, and ask the very first person you meet what it means.”

The child ran down the stairs, and stood at the cottage gate, shading her eyes with her hand, as she looked up and down the road, but there was no one in sight. At last she noticed something coming, and as it drew nearer, she saw it was a man on horseback. She ran to meet him. Seeing the child running towards him, he reined in his horse. “Please sir,” she said, “can you tell me what ‘whosoever’ means?”

The gentleman was surprised at the strange question, and looking down at the little, eager, up-turned face, he asked her why she wanted to know; but she only repeated her question; so he replied, “It means any one that likes.”

Repeating to herself over and over the answer, “Any one that likes, any one that likes,” the little girl ran back to the cottage, and up the stairs to the room where the old woman lay dying. As she came in, the old woman raised herself, and looked towards her. “What is it? tell me quick,” she said. “He says it means ‘anyone that likes,’” replied the child. “Read the verse again, and put that in,” said the feeble voice.

The child took the Bible, and read slowly, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that ‘any one that likes’ to believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The old woman clasped her trembling hands together, and with the tears rolling down her cheeks, she exclaimed with her weak, dying voice, “Thank God I like, thank God I like!”

Reader, do you “like” to believe in God’s Son? That is the only way of salvation. God offers eternal life to all who believe in the Lord Jesus. Will you take His free gift, and join that dying woman in thanking Him?

ML 06/02/1918

Watching.

HOW intelligent the little dog in our picture looks. He is watching over the baby while she sleeps, and I am sure he would take good care of her if anything should try to harm her.

I wonder how many children can think of someone who watches over us whether we wake or sleep. Some may say, mother. That is true, in a way. A mother’s care is very tender and constant, but there is One who takes care of us and preserves us from dangers, when mother or father would be powerless to help us. That one is God. He never slumbers nor sleeps, but is ever caring for His own.

But how sad mother would feel if she saw that, even with all her loving care, you were always afraid and did not trust her. So it is with God. He loves to have little children trust Him perfectly. And why should we not trust Him?

“HE WHO SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” ROM. 8:32.

Cannot God who made the worlds, Who gave us life, and what is more, Who gave His only begotten Son: to die for us that we might be saved for all eternity, I say, cannot this same One preserve and order for us the little while He leaves us in this world?

“O! to trust Him then more fully,

Just to simply move

In the conscious, calm enjoyment

Of the Father’s love.”

ML 06/02/1918

"Where Art Thou?"

Genesis 3:9. “Where Is He?” Matt. 2:2.

“Where art thou?” O, sinner, listen!

‘Tis the still small voice of God;

Lovingly He seeks to find thee;

Bring thee to His own abode.

“Where art thou?” O, let Him show thee

Where thou art, and where He is—

How He stooped, that He might raise thee

To that dwelling place of His.

“Where art thou?” O, son of Adam—

Cursed, and ruined by the fall—

If the Christ has not released thee,

Thou art still in Satan’s thrall.

Still in “miry clay” imbedded,

Built on naught but sinking sand;

Still within the grossest darkness,

Still outside “Immanuel’s land.”

“Where is He?” The Man Christ Jesus

Who Himself for sinners gave;

Laying by His Kingly glory;

Came the perishing to save.

Where was He? O, wondrous story,

He was nailed to Calvary’s tree;

Sinner, He was there in judgment!

In the place assigned to thee.

“Where is He?” The Cross is finished.

There behold an empty tomb.

Jesus Christ the Lord has risen,

Conq’ror over death and gloom:

Throned far above all heavens,

Now He ever lives to bless;

As of old, to win poor sinners

By His love and tenderness.

In this Covert from the Tempest

Hide thee, storm-tossed one, today;

To this Hiding-place from judgment

Hasten now, no more delay.

Gladly will the Saviour raise thee

To a place of blessedness;

Seat thee, with Himself, in glory,

There all fulness to possess.”

ML 06/02/1918

Mother's Comfort.

My dear children, I think many of you have seen mother reading God’s Holy Book and finding comfort from it, as this aged lady is doing in our picture. And no doubt she is seeking to lead her daughter to see the beauty in the Scriptures which she has been led to see. There are many portions of God’s Word which speak of the wisdom of taking heed to the advice of our parents. We will look at one in the book of Proverbs, which shows how it makes us attractive even to others.

“MY SON, HEAR THE INSTRUCTION OF THY FATHER AND FORSAKE NOT THE LAW OF THY MOTHER.”

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.” Prov. 1:8, 9.

ML 06/09/1918

The Land Owner and His Tenants.

A LAND-OWNER who had been converted to God, sought to preach Christ, and to tell of a full and free salvation through simple faith in the finished work of Christ among his tenantry. He found them very unwilling to believe in salvation through grace alone, or to receive, as a free gift from God the forgiveness of all their sins for Jesus’ sake. (1 John 2:12.) Some of his tenants through adverse circumstances and bad crops, had fallen considerably into debt. With a desire to help them in temporal things, and at the same time to illustrate in a manner they were likely to understand how God forgives the poor lost sinner, he caused his land-steward to have posted upon the walls of his office, and in several prominent places through the village, where the tenents would be sure to see it as they passed to and fro, a notice which caused great excitement, and not a little merriment among the crowds who soon began to gather around the land-steward’s office, and the other places where it appeared. The following is the sum of what it contained:

“The owner of the estate will be at his office in the village on Thursday the 14th instant, between the hours of nine and twelve o’clock in the morning, and will clear all debts, to whomsoever due, of any who cannot discharge their obligations. Applicants must present their accounts, containing the exact amount and nature of the debts owing to each creditor, and they must also give a statement of their own means and of whatsoever property they have.”

As the date mentioned on the notice drew near, the curiosity of the people increased, and various opinions were passed concerning it. Some laughed it to scorn. Others thought it a trick to find out how much they possessed. A few made up a full statement of their affairs, but resolved to wait until they saw how others succeeded before presenting it, in case it should turn out a “sham”.

A few minutes before nine on the morning of Thursday, the 14th, the landowner drove up in his carriage, and entered his office. The people looked at each other, but none would enter in, lest they should be laughed at by the rest. At last an old man and his wife appeared, and after reading the notice over, as if to again assure themselves of its genuineness, and of the land-owner’s signature at the foot of it, they walked into his office.

“They’ll find themselves fooled,” said one of those who stood outside, but all the time he had a hope it might be true and waited eagerly for the old couple to return. The old gentleman produced his accounts and said,

“I was so glad to see your notice: I have always tried to keep my accounts squared up, but in my later years, I cannot work as I could once, and some due bills have accumulated that have made me feel very bad.”

“But why should I pay your debts?” inquired the land-owner.

“I do not know: but it says so on the notices.”

“And so it does, my good friend: It is just like the promises of God; it means just what it says.” Whereupon he proceeded to look over the accounts, and then gave the delighted couple a check on the bank. They had all their debts paid off, and as much more given them as would carry them through the hard times. The happy pair started for the door, eager to tell others the good news, but they were requested to wait a few minutes until the hour expired.

As the clock rang out twelve o’clock, the door opened, and the old couple appeared. They were at once surrounded by an eager crowd asking, “Is it true?” The old man held up his check, and just then the land owner stepped from, the door into his carriage and drove off, while the office was besieged by excited men crushing to get inside, but the steward’s reply to each and all was,

“Too late, the time is past. and my master is gone.”

Dear reader, this is only a true illustration of how thousands are treating God’s gracious offer of salvation, and peace, through the “redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 3:24. Are you one of them, reader? Soon, very soon, the accepted time, the day of salvation, (2 Cor. 6:2) will expire, and the Master of the house will shut the door. (Luke 13:24-25) “They that were ready went in, and the door was shut.” (Matt. 25:10.) Be wise, there is no time for delay. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow: for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1. or

“Too late, too late will be the cry.

Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.”

ML 06/09/1918

The Happiest Day of My Life.

IT was a happy time for Walter, when his Doctor said to him,

“Walter, what should you say if I were to tell you God is going to take you home soon?” Brightly, with a smile, he answered,

“I shall say, ‘Thank God;’ not that I have had a bit too much pain; not a bit.” (He had had years of suffering, and spent many months in bed.) “I was a regular heathen before I was ill; was I not mother? But I have often thanked God for making me ill, and sending a Christian Doctor; And now I am quite prepared to go. I long to see Jesus, and be with Him.”

Soon after, Walter said: “Call all in the house to hear the good news. I wish to tell them this is the happiest day of my life: I am soon going home.”

Walter lived some days after this, suffering very great pain, but always bright and during his last hours of suffering, he was able to say, “I can trust Him to the end.”

Walter was eighteen years old when he died. He had not been brought up, as some of my readers have been, in Christian surroundings, but the Good Shepherd found him where he was, and put him on His shoulders, and carried him home. Do you know the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep? And, if told you were soon to be with Him forever, could you say, “This is the happiest day of my life?”

ML 06/09/1918

Just as I Am.

A CHRISTIAN lady had a Sunday afternoon class for girls. It was largely attended by farmers’ girls, and daughters of shepherds from the neighboring hills. By means of the gospel earnestly and lovingly spoken by the devoted teacher, who was a woman of great faith and mighty in prayer many were led to the Saviour. One afternoon at the close of the lesson, the teacher, as was her custom, invited all who desired to be personally spoken with to remain. Only one girl sat still, and she was the only daughter of a farmer living near, well known as a careless girl, fond of worldly pleasures. But God had awakened her to see her guilt and need of a Saviour. When they were left alone the girl burst into tears, and burying her face in her hands, she asked with great earnestness,

“O, Mrs. B. you have told us about the Saviour receiving sinners, but will He take me as I am?”

The Christian lady was glad to be able to tell her, on the direct authority of God’s Word, that Jesus would take her just as she was. His own faithful word is,

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”

“That’s grand, Mrs. B.” said the girl, smiling through her tears; “that’s just what I need. I’ve tried to make myself better many times, and always failed, but if He will take me as I am, then I will just let Him have me now.”

She did go to Him just as she was, trusting in His promise, and He did receive her and save her.

Dear children, Jesus will receive you just as you are. You do not need to make yourself different from what you are at this moment, for the Lord Jesus to receive you. He receives sinners. Is that not your name? He does not restrict His invitation to certain kinds of sinners; it is extended to sinners everywhere, anywhere, of all ages, colors, nations and tongues. Whether anxious, careless, ungodly, or religious, His word is, “Come unto Me.” And you will find, dear children, if you obey His invitation, that He will receive you warmly, “just as you are.”

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee

O Lamb of God, I come.”

ML 06/09/1918

A Lord in the Family.

A POMPOUS, silly schoolboy was one day boasting of how many rich and noble relations he had; and having exhausted his topic, he turned with an important air and asked one of his schoolfellows,

“Are there any “lords” in your family?”

“Yes,” said the little fellow, “there is one at least; for I have often heard my mother speak of the Lord Jesus Christ He is the ‘Lord’ in our family.”

Blessed are they who have the one Lord in their family, and who know Him as their Saviour and Friend.

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psa. 34:3.

ML 06/09/1918

A Little Girl's Letter to Her Brother

THE following letter was written by a little girl, of eight years of age, to her brother. The child was in great trouble lest her brother should not love Jesus. This is the letter: —

“Dear brother, —I write this letter and hope you are quite well. I hope you feel the need of a Saviour. Do believe Jesus died for you. It is so simple; you have only to believe on Him, and confess your sins to Jesus, and He will pardon you. Think how sad it will be if you do not believe on Jesus now. You will be cast out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. O! do come to Jesus now. Do not put off till tomorrow. Tomorrow may not come. I am sure you have had Christ and His cross put to you so many times, yet you have rejected it. O! how sad if all the family went to heaven and you were left out!

“I am your affectionate sister....”

“I could not wrap my guilty soul

In any robe of mine.

Sure naught can make me fit for God,

But righteousness divine.”

ML 06/09/1918

The Fading and the Unfading.

Who gave the rose its beauteous tint,

Its fragrance rich and rare?

Who decks the earth with varied green,

And blossoms bright and fair?

The flowers are His, whose mighty hand

Created all of old;

Sweet tokens of His love, that man

His wonders might behold.

And when, through sin, the way was barred,

To shut us out from God;

His love devised an open way,

Through Jesus’ precious blood.

Take thy young heart to Him, that He

May fill it with His joy,

And treasures more than earth can give,

Which time can ne’er destroy.

ML 06/09/1918

Give a Share.

IT is good to teach the baby from the early day to share with others. The dear children in our picture are asking baby brother for a share, not because they really want a piece, but just to teach the younger one to consider others and thus not to be selfish. So when he grows older he may think of the needs of others. The Scripture says, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” Prov. 28:27. And again,

“HE THAT HATH PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD; AND THAT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN WILL HE PAY HIM AGAIN.” PROV. 19:17.

We get the great example of this in the Lord Jesus Christ. He thought of us in all our need, and laid aside His glory and came down into this world and became like one of us, apart from sin. Then He took our sins upon Him and died in our stead on Calvary’s cross. What self-denial; what wonderful love for us! Do you think you would like to be charged with wrong things that someone else had done? I feel sure you would not, and far less would you like to take the place of an enemy of yours, and take upon yourself willingly his crimes as if they were your own. But such is the wonderful love the Lord has shown to us. May we seek to manifest that character to others.

ML 06/16/1918

Read John Five Twenty Four.

LILLY had been anxious about her soul for a long, long time. Sometimes she felt happy, thinking she was saved; at other times her mind was full of doubts and fears.

She often thought to herself,

“I do not feel like a Christian; I often do not act or talk like one; so perhaps I’m not one after all.”

What was the trouble with little Lilly? She was looking at her own poor, changeable feelings instead of at Jesus, who said “Come unto Me ... ..and I will give you rest.”

One day a Christian gentleman came to visit in Lilly’s home. She decided to keep out of his way for fear he would talk to her, and ask if she were a Christian; and she would not know how to reply.

However the gentleman did not trouble her with conversation on the subject, but in parting he said to her, “Read John 5:24.”

“How strange of him just to give me a verse like that,” thought Lilly; and away she hurried to read it.

“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.”

Lilly had heard the words of Jesus, and believed Him to be the sent One of God to put away her sins. She saw them all laid on Jesus, and said she, “I have everlasting life, because God says so.” She just knelt down and thanked God and then all her doubts fled, and she rejoiced. She can always say now “I know that I am a Christian, for I have passed from death unto life. I could not save myself. My feelings could not save me; but Jesus is my Saviour.”

ML 06/16/1918

Christ Is the Way.

A LITTLE boy, who was much concerned lest he should not go to heaven, came to a minister, and earnestly inquired of him the way to heaven.

The minister was struck with the child’s eagerness, and after telling him of God’s goodness and readiness to receive the young and old to His rest above, he told the child to run quickly home, and kneel down and pray earnestly to be saved, for Christ’s sake.

With a mournful voice the little fellow said,

“O! sir, but suppose I should die before I reach home?”

The minister, who felt rebuked at the child’s simple answer, said;

“You are right, my child,” he said at once, “and I am wrong. I ought not to have told you to go home and pray to be saved, but, as the Scripture, God’s own Word, shows us, I should have told you. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’”

The dear child wanted to know the way of salvation, and God, through the lips of the minister, met his desire. He received the text pointed out to him as God’s own Word, believed it simply and found rest.

Has our reader the same earnestness as this little boy? Do these precious words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” satisfy your heart, and have you thanked Him for giving Himself for you on Calvary’s cross?

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

ML 06/16/1918

A Little Child.

AND the Lord set “a little child” in their midst, and said, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3.)

We find that “little children” have a part in Scripture. and seeing this, should we not remark more than we do that the Lord also now uses them to teach others more of Himself; and, instead of scorning, as we older ones often do, to learn from “a little child,” recognize the great power that God often gives them over others?

We read, in the millennium God wills that those animals which are now the fiercest shall obey “a little child,” and “a little child shall lead them”; and why then should we be unwilling to be led by a little believer, or to learn a lesson from anything, however small we may think it, the Lord would choose to lead and teach us by; for nothing that helps us to follow more closely after Himself could be unimportant.

I once knew a dear little boy, who was much used of the Lord in his simple way to those around him. His mother recognized the Lord’s voice of comfort and exhortation to herself many a time through her child. He was only six years old: and the first time his words impressed her was after a workman in their house had had a bad fall from a ladder. Someone, who was talking of it before the child, said, “O, poor Will, I hope he won’t die now!”

The little one was playing, and, to her surprise, looked up gravely, and said, “Then you must pray for him,” and was quite quiet. After a while he quaintly added, “I have,” thus showing he had learned the simple lesson of faith, so hard to learn by us. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matt. 21:22.)

Once when his mother was sick he said, “Mamma, are there any harps in heaven?”

“Yes, dear,” she said; “it says in the Bible, ‘And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps; and they sung as it were a new song before the throne.’” (Rev. 14:2, 3.)

“O,” he said, with great stress, “if it’s in the Bible it must be true, and, they’ll never wear out!”

The dear sick mother had been fading away some time, and had been most anxious about leaving this little son, hoping he was the Lord’s. When the child spoke thus it seemed like an answer to her prayers straight from the Lord, while it taught and reminded her that she also ought to have more of his childlike trust.

Soon after, he came up and laid his little curly head by her side, and said, wistfully, “O, mother, I shall cry when you go—I know I shall; only sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I was going. too, and if I do I shall never cry again!”

“Yes, darling,” she said, marveling at her little son, and softly added, “‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’” (Rev. 21:4.) Truly this sweet little one was a living example of the Lord’s words, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise” (Matt. 21:16), and used of Him day by day unconsciously to convey words of encouragement and hope to his mother; thus was he the little instrument to teach her more of His heart.

ML 06/16/1918

Saved by a Dog.

THIS is a true story told me, by a minister, who knew the circumstances:

An old man who was unconverted had a good Christian wife who had prayed constantly for her husband’s conversion for years, with no visible success. She could not even get him to go to church with her. She had a pet dog she liked very much who always went with her to church, went under the seat and remained perfectly quiet through the service.

In time the old lady died. The dog seemed heart broken, as well as the husband, who could find no consolation anywhere without his old companion.

For several Sundays he noticed the dog leave the house at a certain hour and come back at a certain hour. One Sunday morning he thought he would follow the dog, so he started after him. The dog seemed delighted to have his now only master go with him. He trotted along until they came to the church door. The old man stopped as the dog bounded up the steps, waiting at the top for his master. After standing a few moments, he said, “I’ll go in to please the dog; won’t do any harm.” He went again the next and the next Sundays and found the dog in his wife’s accustomed seat at the church. One morning after services he arose with tears streaming from his eyes, and told the story of the faithful dog leading him under the sound of the gospel, and that he now had accepted the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour. So we see He uses many ways to lead precious souls to Himself.

Have you, dear little reader, accepted Him as your Saviour?

ML 06/16/1918

Little Gertie.

DO you love Jesus?” I said, one day, to a child. “Yes, I do,” she replied.

“But, does Jesus love you?”

“Yes, He does. I know Jesus loves me, because He died for me.” Her face brightened up, as she continued, “Please will you tell me about Jesus?” And, when I paused, she said, “Do tell me more.”

Dear reader, do you love Jesus? Do you want to know more about Him, or do you dread His name?

Gertrude was in a great deal of pain at the time I was speaking to her, but she said, “Jesus suffered much more pain than I ever have, didn’t He? and Jesus makes my pains better sometimes, when I ask Him to.”

After a little she said, “Please, do you know why Jesus made me ill? I know. Shall I tell you? When I was well I never thought about Jesus at all. I was always playing about, and having games; but since I have been ill, I have heard about Jesus, and love Him.”

Dear young reader, is it with you as it was with Gertrude? Are you so engrossed with your pleasures that you cannot spare time to think about the Lord Jesus Christ, the One who died for you? Or can you say, as Gertrude said, “He died for me”?

ML 06/16/1918

Praise.

Glory, my Father, be to Thee,

Who loved me ere the world was made,

Who sent Thy Son to die for me—

On Him my every sin was laid.

Glory, my Teacher, be to Thee,

Who hast redeemed me by Thy blood,

Who bore such suffering, all for me,

To reconcile me to my God.

Glory, my Teacher, be to Thee,

Who teachest me the blessed Word,

Grant that I may so learn of Thee

As still to abide in Christ my Lord.

Eternal Trinity, to Thee

Be glory, praise, and power divine;

Thou Three-in-One, and One-in-Three,

For evermore Thou wilt be mine.

ML 06/16/1918

The Shrimper.

ONE day while the children were on the shore with Aunt Emily, they noticed a man with a basket on his back, walking in the sea near the shore, pushing something before him.

“What is he doing?” asked the children.

“He is catching shrimps.”

“Shrimps like we have for supper?” asked little Owen: “how does he catch them?”

“He has a net attached to a strong frame, and this he pushes before him along the sand, and catches the shrimps that are hopping about there. When he thinks that the net must be pretty full, he lifts it up, and putting the shrimps in the basket he goes on again.

Owen was very eager to see what had been caught, and the fisherman good-naturedly took a shrimp out of the basket, and showed it to the little boy.

“Is that a shrimp?” he exclaimed. “Why, it is not a bit like the shrimps in the stores; they are red, and all curled up.”

“That is because they have been boiled. This is how a shrimp looks when it is in the sea, it is the boiling that makes it curl up.

“You see it wears a sort of coat of mail to protect it; it is not as hard as the crab or lobster, but it just suits the shrimp, for it is a light, little thing, and dances along the edge of the sand as happy as can be.”

These things may well remind us of what God’s Word says, “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, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.” Psa. 104: 24, 25.

However wonderful all His works are on the earth and in the sea, none are to be compared to His wonderful love in the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die for us, so that we should not bear our own judgment for our sins.

Have you thought of this wonderful love to you? Perhaps you doubt that God loves you. I suppose each one of my little readers is ready to own that he has sinned. If so, I have a good verse for you, that will show you that God loves you. It is,

“GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Rom. 5:8.

Do you believe that? If you do, you can say, “God loves me for He gave Christ to die for me, a sinner.” That wonderful act of God’s surpasses all the wonders in His creation.

May we, who believe in Jesus, have responsive hearts for all that He has done for us and seek to live now for Him.

ML 06/23/1918

The Old French Shoemaker.

A GOOD many years ago, in Nantes, a Bible was given to a beggar. Unlike the most of his class, the man could read, and when he found that the book was not known in the towns and villages which he passed through in his wanderings, he conceived the idea of adding to his meagre income by reading a portion to those who would be willing to pay for it.

One day he stopped before the little shop of an old man who made shoes worn by French peasants, and begged alms of the shoemaker.

“You ask charity of me!” exclaimed the old man, “I am just as needy as you are.”

The beggar replied: “If you are not willing to give me alms, then give me a sou (a French coin of the same value as our penny,) and I will read a chapter of the Bible to you.”

“A chapter of what?”

“Of the Bible.”

“What book is that? I never heard of it before.”

“It is a book which speaks of God.”

The old shoemaker, curious to know something of the contents of the book, gave the beggar a sou, upon which the latter produced his wonderful book, and sitting down on a stone seat in front of the house, began to read. He opened the Bible at the third chapter of John’s Gospel, and the poor old man listened with delight to the words of grace and truth, which fell on his ear with all the attraction of something entirely new.

The narrative of the interview of Nicodemus with the Lord Jesus deeply impressed him, and especially was he struck with the words which Luther called “the Bible in miniature.”

“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.” Before the reader concluded the words: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him,” the old man was full of anxiety to hear more, and cried, “Go on! go on!”

“O! no,” replied the beggar, “only on chapter for a sou.”

Another sou was quickly handed over, and then the old man hearkened with speechless joy to the sweet story of the Saviour at Sychar’s well, and felt as he had never felt before when he heard for the first time the Divine words: “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The time soon came, however, when the fourth chapter of John had been all read, and the beggar would read no more without another sou.

The old man could not go on paying sous, for he was very poor; but he begged the man to tell him where he had got such a marvelous book. The beggar said that he had got it from a pastor in Nantes and then went his way.

The book went with him, but its words remained, and through the night as well as by day the old shoemaker repeated to himself, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

One morning, about two weeks after the beggar passed through the village, he rose early and told his son that the little shop would be left in his care, as he was going to Nantes.

“To Nantes, father,” said his son, “you cannot think of it. It is much too long a journey for you, for it is more than sixty miles.”

“I know, but I have made up my mind to go to Nantes.”

All efforts to dissuade him from his purpose were unavailing, so he started off on the long walk to Nantes, where he arrived at length. He sought out and found the pastor who had a depot at which Bibles were sold.

“What do you wish?” asked the pastor, as he entered the depot.

“Sir,” he replied, “I have been told that one could obtain from you a book that tells about God.”

“Is it a Bible you wish?”

“O! yes, sir, that’s it! I should like to have one.”

“At what price?”

“Price sir,” said the old man.

“Certainly; we do not give away Bibles.”

“Well, I am unable to buy one, sir. A beggar told me that you gave him one, and I am as poor as he is.”

“Where do you come from, my friend?”

He told the name of the village in which he lived. The pastor knowing it was at a great distance, inquired, “How did you come?”

“On foot.”

“How are you going back?”

“On foot again.”

“What! Have you, old as you are, undertaken a walk of more than a hundred and twenty miles to get a Bible?”

“Yes, sir; and I shall think myself amply rewarded if I get one.”

“If that be so, although I should never give away another Bible, you shall certainly have one. What size would you like to have? Probably one with fairly large type? You read pretty well, I suppose?”

“Ah! no; I do not know a letter.” “But what are you to do with a Bible if you cannot read?”

“O! sir, my daughter can read, and there are three other people in our village who can read. I do beg you to give me the Book.”

The pastor gave him a Bible, and after thanking him heartily, he carried it homewards with joy. On reaching his native village, he invited the people to come to his house in the evenings, when those who could read did so by turns, while the others listened.

The old shoemaker followed all that was read with the greatest attention, and committed many parts of the Scriptures to memory. The words, however, did not rest in his mind only, but touched the inmost chords of his heart.

Some six months after his journey to Nantes, he is found there again. The pastor, astonished at seeing him, exclaimed: “My old friend! Whatever brings you so far again?”

The old man replied, “O! sir, I’ve been all wrong—all wrong, sir.”

“But who told you that you were wrong?”

“The Book, sir; the Bible says it.”

“O, really, and what does it say?”

“It says that I’ve been wrong all my life I, a poor sinner, have been praying all my life to the Virgin Mary.

I find in the Book that she needed a Saviour just as much as I do.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, sir, the Book says that she rejoiced in God her Saviour—her Saviour. So she needed a Saviour just as I do.”

The pastor proceeded to ask the old man a number of questions.

“What do you know of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

He answered: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“What have you to say about His death?”

“The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

“What are the privileges of those who believe in Christ?”

“There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

“What would you say was the duty of the believer in Christ?”

“Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.”

The old man showed, by the confession of his lips and the change in his life, the wonderful results that follow on hearing the Word of God, if received in simple faith.

ML 06/23/1918

A Simple Prayer.

THERE is nothing too small for you to speak about to God. God hears the prayers of a child quite as truly as He hears those of a man. In the family your father or mother listen to the requests of the little ones as readily as they do to those made by the grownup sons and daughters. Take all your cares, small and great, to your Father, who is in heaven—He will listen to all you have to ask Him.

Two little boys of six and seven years of age were busy one afternoon, with their governess, making some candy. She was suddenly called away, and on leaving the room said, “You must not touch the candy till I come back.”

It was almost more than the fingers of the eldest could do not to touch it, so he said, “I shall ask the Lord to keep me from touching it, or I am sure I shall.” He and his little brother very simply spoke to God about their temptation, and I know none of you would say their prayer was too trifling for God to hear and answer. He heard them and kept them obedient.

“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.” Psa. 16:1.

ML 06/23/1918

The Spring of Water.

WALKING down a country road one day I saw a tiny stream of water running out from the hedge at the road side; and the silver stream could be seen going down the road some distance, till it turned again into a field, and so was lost to sight.

It came from a spring of ever-flowing water and let the summer be ever so hot and dry, you could always count on a cup of cool water there. The fountain in our picture is something like it, only a stone trough has been placed there to catch the water as it flows, to prevent it running away.

Little Mary has come to fill her pitcher, while Bobby loves to dip his hands in the cool water. In some countries there is a scarcity of water, and then the value of it is well known; but in our land we generally have plenty, so do not think so much of it.

But I know God would have us prize it, as He so often refers to it in His book, the Bible. We read that “Like water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country”.

Have you ever seen how those who have friends in a far country welcome the postman’s knock, and how eagerly they run over the contents of the letter when at last it comes, after many weeks of weary waiting? Yes, the two things are alike. A thirsty one is very glad of a drink of water, and friends are equally glad to hear from absent ones.

There is another text with reference to water that is a very important one. It says in John 7, that he that believeth on Jesus should have living waters flow out from him. The woman of Samaria is an example of this; she no sooner knew Christ as her Saviour than she longed to tell others of Him. This is how it should be with boys and girls who have learned to love Jesus.

God Himself, the source, the Fountain,

Christ, the Way, the waters flow

By the Spirit down from heaven,

To the thirsty heart below.

“HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE.” Phil. 2:16.

ML 06/30/1918

Why Do I Say I Am Saved?

SOME friends of mine often drive to the towns near them, and distribute gospel books and tracts. One afternoon they stopped in front of some cottages, from one of which an aged woman came out to take the offered book. My friend said a few words to her as to her feebleness and great age; and went on to speak of eternity, which she was nearing. They were glad to hear in reply that she was saved, and had been so for years. They asked why she believed herself saved. Drawing herself up straight, she said,

“Why do I say I am saved? Because Christ died for my sins, and was raised again for my justification.”

Happy Christian! She knew more than all the philosophy or science of this twentieth century can teach! When this scene has passed away forever, she will be reigning with Christ, who was everything to her.

ML 06/30/1918

Old Jenny of Glen Immeren.

UP the Glen, far from any neighbor, lived old Jenny The few cottages round her had fallen into ruins, for their inhabitants had long ago moved away, but she remained on, her heart filled with memories of those she had lost, and better still with the sense of the presence of her Heavenly Father who did not leave her alone, but cared for her, and supplied all her need.

She was known and loved in all the country round. There were few houses where her help in sickness was not known, especially as she had a long list of cures, made from plants and roots which in those long-ago days were the only medicines used in the Highlands of Scotland, the scene of this story.

A goat and a few hens were all Jenny’s property. But then she received wool from one family, and meal from another, and peats to burn from a third, and so she lived in comfort, and felt that every gift was a sign of kindness. Spring was the trying season, when the winter had almost exhausted all her means of living. The meal was nearly gone—potatoes were not then common among the poor—the pasture was scanty for the goat, and Jenny was sometimes forced to take a journey to visit her kind neighbors who were always ready to replenish her stores.

Well, it so happened that one day a dreadful snowstorm came on just as she was planning an excursion to get some meal, and when her but was almost empty of food, except the little milk she could get from her goat. For a long time that snowstorm was a sort of date in the country round, and people counted so many years before or after “the great storm.” When the heavens at last became clear, the whole face of the country seemed changed. The neighbors thought of old Jenny, and wondered what she had been doing all this time, but for many days such was the state of the weather that no mortal foot could wade through the snow-wreaths, or buffet the successive storms which swept down with blinding fury from the hills. Jenny was given up as lost. On the first day the attempt was possible, three men resolved to proceed up the long and dreary glen to search for Jenny. They carried food in their plaids, and whatever comforts they thought necessary, and resolved to bring the old woman home with them, if they found her alive. So off they went, and many an eye watched those three black dots amidst the snow, slowly tracking their way up Glen Immeren.

At last they reached a rock at an angle, where the glen takes a turn to the left, and where the old woman’s cottage ought to have been seen. But nothing met the eye except a smooth white sheet of glittering snow, surmounted by black rocks; and all below was silent as the sky above! No sign of life greeted eye or ear. The men spoke not, but muttered some exclamation of sorrow.

“She is alive,” suddenly cried one of the shepherds, “for I see smoke”. They pushed bravely on. When they reached the hut, nothing was visible except the chimneys, and even they were lower than the snowdrift. There was no immediate entrance but by one of the wide chimneys, very different to those we see now-a-days. A shepherd first called to Jenny down the chimney, and asked if she was alive, but, before receiving a reply, a large fox sprang out of the chimney, and darted off to the rocks.

“Alive!” replied Jenny, “but thank God you have come to see me! I cannot say, Come in by the door, but, Come down, come down.”

In a few minutes her three friends descended by the chimney, and were shaking Jenny’s hand warmly. Hurried questions were put and answered.

“O, woman! how have you lived all this time?”

“Sit down, and I will tell you, “said old Jenny, whose feelings now gave way to a fit of weeping. After composing herself, she continued, “How did I live?” You ask. “I may say just as I have always lived—by the power and goodness of God, who feeds the wild beasts.”

“The wild beasts, indeed,” replied Sandy, drying his eyes, “did you know that a wild beast was in your own house? Did you see the fox that jumped out of your chimney as we entered?”

“My blessings on the dear beast!” said Jenny, with fervor. “May no huntsman ever kill it, and may it never want food either summer or winter!”

The shepherds looked at one another by the dim light of Jenny’s fire, evidently thinking that she had become slightly insane.

“Stop, lads,” she continued, “till I tell you the story. I had in the house, when the storm began, the goat and the hens. Fortunately, I had fodder gathered for the goat, which kept it alive, although, poor thing, it has had but scanty meals. But it lost its milk. I had also peats for my fire, but very little meal, yet I never lived better, and I have been able, besides, to preserve my bonny hens for the summer. I every day dined on fresh meat too, a thing I have not done for years before.”

Again the shepherds were amazed, and asked, “Where did you get meat, Jenny?”

“From the old fox, Sandy.”

“The fox!” they all exclaimed.

“Ay, the fox,” said Jenny, “just the dear old fox, the best friend I ever had. The day of the storm he looked into the chimney, and came slowly down, and set himself on the rafter beside the hens, yet never once touched them. He hunted regularly, and brought in game in abundance for his own dinner—a hare almost every day—and what he left I took, and washed, and cooked, and ate, and so I have never wanted! Now he has gone, you have come to relieve me.”

“God’s ways are past finding out!” said the men, bowing down their heads with reverence.

“Praise Him,” said Jenny, “who giveth food to the hungry!”

Does not this true story remind us of the ravens whom God sent with bread and flesh to the prophet Elijah? And does it not show us too that He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will with Him also freely give us all things?

ML 06/23/1918

"I'm Not Too Young."

THESE are the words of a little girl named Emma. When only a child, Emma was sent away from home to a private school which was conducted by a Christian lady, and while there she often heard of Jesus, and His love to little children; but Emma did not care to listen, and liked playing with her schoolfellows a great deal better.

After a short time, however, God made her feel how sinful she was, and also how kind Jesus had been to die for her. Then little Emma gave her heart to Jesus, and believed that He had washed away all her sins in His precious blood. Little girl as Emma was; she clearly understood the simple story of the Gospel, and it made her very happy to know that Jesus was her Saviour.

What do you think was the first thing she did after this? She wrote a letter to her mamma, telling her how happy she was, because she knew that Jesus loved her and had saved her; and Emma also said,

“Do you love Jesus, mamma?”

But Emma’s mother wrote to her, and said that she was too young a child to think about such things.

Then Emma sent a sweet, simple letter, containing these words,

“Mamma, dear, I’m not too young to die, so I’m not too young to believe in Jesus and be saved.”

I wonder whether any of my readers are boys or girls at school, and do they like to hear about the Lord Jesus, or do they not care for Him. Think of little Emma’s words,

“I’m not too young to die, so I’m not too young to believe in Jesus and be saved.”

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt he saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML 06/30/1918

Why Did Jesus Die?

Many wonder why the Lord

Should come from heaven and die,

Till from God’s holy, precious Word,

They learn the reason why.

He gave His life to ransom souls.

He died that they might live,

He paid the heavy debt for sin

When we had naught to give.

And more, His righteous soul endured

The fearful wrath of God,

That sin—man’s sin—might be forgiven

By His atoning blood.

And this is why the Saviour died,

That souls to Him might flee,

And all who come to Him by faith

Will ever welcome be.

ML 06/30/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for May

1.“The Lord is not slack,” etc. 2. Peter 3:9.

2.“Whosoever,” etc. 2 John 9.

3.“But with the precious,” etc. 1 Peter 1:19.

4.“Behold what manner,” etc. 1 John 3:1.

5.“Beloved, follow not,” etc. 3 John 11.

6.“Whereby are given,” etc. 2 Peter 1:4.

7.“Even as Sodom and,” etc. Jude 7.

Bible Questions for July

The answers are to be found in Matthew.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “Glorify your father.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “Enter not into temptation.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “Power and great glory.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “Better than they.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “Hear ye Him.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “God with us.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “The furnace of fire.”

ML 07/07/1918

"This Is What I Want."

A CERTAIN man, on the Malabar coast, had long been uneasy about his spiritual state, and had inquired of several devotees and priests how he might make atonement for his sins. He was directed to drive iron spikes, sufficiently blunted, through his sandals, and on these spikes to walk a distance of 480 miles. He undertook the journey, and travelled a long way, but could obtain no peace.

One day he halted under a large, shady tree, where the Gospel was sometimes preached. While he was there, a missionary came and preached from the words, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.) During the preaching, the poor man’s attention was drawn, and, rising up, he threw off his torturing sandals, and cried out aloud, “This is what I want!” and became thenceforward a lively witness to the healing efficacy of the Saviour’s blood.

Are there not thousands throughout the length and breadth of Christendom trying to get peace by walking on iron spikes? May God lead them to rest in the precious blood of Christ.

ML 07/07/1918

Jesus.

ALMOST every boy or girl in this country has heard about Jesus, and knows why His name is called “Jesus.”

If you open your Bibles at Matt. 1:21 you will read these words, “Thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins.”

His name means SAVIOUR.

What kind of people does He save? He came into the world to save SINNERS! O, what a great Saviour He is!

It was a wonderful day in my life when I first knew Him as my Saviour, and, dear boys and girls, I want to tell you, I found Him to be just the Saviour I needed.

Now let us take each letter of His name, and with the addition of other letters make sentences.

	Jesus	Jesus
	Eternally	Exactly
	Saves	Suits
	Unworthy	Undone
	Sinners.	Sinners.
	Sinners.

So we learn that He exactly suits sinners because He eternally saves them; none will ever be lost who trust in Him.

Let me then earnestly beg of you to put your trust in Jesus, this wonderful, loving Saviour, while you are young, He died to save you; He lives to love you, and make you eternally happy.

Dear young reader, as I close, let me once mote entreat you to trust in Jesus the Saviour who loves you and is waiting and willing to save you now.

Jesus Saviour, precious name

Of the Son of God who came;

Ruined sinners to redeem.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Lost and in our sins were we;

Spotless, sinless, holy He,

Bearing guilt upon the tree.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour.

ML 07/07/1918

The Wild Duck.

IN our picture this week we see a dog with a wild duck in his mouth. The hunter who shot the duck we hope did not do it for pleasure, but for the sake of food, for God has given these animals for food, and we should not take pleasure in killing, but only do so when it is necessary.

It is wonderful the variety of food God has given to us, as well as the abundance. Sometimes people suffer from a lack of food and in all cases man is to blame for it. It may be because he is wasteful, or it may be that he is going on without thought of God, and God may then withhold the food to give him to realize his dependence. God does not want man to suffer any more than a parent wants his child to suffer, but sometimes the parent has to punish the child for wrongdoing, and often to put him through difficult lessons to fit him for the future, so God deals with His creatures and He wants all to fear Him, and to remember that He has to say to us about every step in our path.

He wants us to know,

“THE LORD IS....NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Pet. 3:9.

So if anyone is lost, it is his own fault. The Lord has died for sinners so that they may not perish, and all that is asked from us is to believe on Him—take Him as our Saviour.

We can see then that God has not only provided abundance of food for us, and in great variety, but a wonderful Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ so that none need perish.

ML 07/07/1918

In a Month's Time.

A YOUNG lady whose life was devoted to this world and its amusements, was induced by a Christian friend, to accompany her to a Gospel Meeting. After the service was over, someone spoke to her at the door, and questioned her as to her soul’s salvation, but failed to get a satisfactory answer.

The next Sunday her friends again persuaded her to go, though much against her will. Blinded by Satan, the poor young lady did not see her need of a Saviour.

A ball had been arranged for the following month, and this was the one thing present in her thoughts. As before, she was spoken to at the close of the meeting, and on their pleading with her, she replied,

“I’ll tell you what; I can’t come to Jesus now, I’ll come in a month’s time.”

Alas! could anything be worse than putting off? when life is so uncertain that you may never see another day. The opportunity rejected, seldom, if ever returns, and sad to say, it never returned in this case.

Having dressed for the ball, she was passing very near a lamp, when the flame caught her light dress, setting it on fire, and before anyone could help her, this poor young lady was burned to death.

“In a month’s time!” Little did she think when she made that promise, that she would never live to fulfil it. Taken from this earth without a moment’s warning, what time had she for repentance?

And now, dear reader, I do plead with you before God, will you any longer reject the blessed Saviour, who stands so patiently waiting with open arms to receive you? Will you still refuse His salvation? He loves you, and has proved His love in giving Himself to die for you.

God gives you now, one more chance of accepting salvation. Do not put it off; You may never have another. Will you take Him at His word, and own Him as your Saviour?

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

ML 0707/1918

Bobby's Faith in Prayer.

LITTLE Bobby was only five years old, but he had learned about the Lord, and how God answers prayer. Bobby had a brother who was very sick. The doctor came to see him, and said he must stay in bed for several days until he was well. Mother thought best to send little Bobby to Grandma’s home, so that the house could be kept perfectly quiet for the little sick brother. Bobbie did not forget to pray for him each day, and said he knew that God would make him well again. It was not long before the little brother was able to be out in the yard again playing with Bobbie.

Bobbie prayed for many things especially when he was in trouble. One morning Aunt Celia went into the kitchen after breakfast and found Bobbie on his knees praying.

“Why, Bobbie, what are you doing? You have already said your prayers.”

Holding up a pencil case, into which the lead had slipped too far to allow him to write with it, he said,

“I was asking God to help me to get this out.”

Thinking the little one’s faith might be shaken in the Lord, Aunt Celia remarked,

“Yes, but dear, you can’t expect God to come down from heaven to do those things for you. He expects little boys to use means to help themselves.”

“I know,” he replied, “but I was just asking God to show me a way to get it out myself.”

I need hardly say, Bobbie soon found a way, by means of a little piece of stick being pushed through the other end of the pencil-case, and Bobbie was soon happily writing again.

This story is quite true, and is written to teach little children to trust in the Lord at all times, for He is always near and ready to help us in time of trouble.

If you want to know any more about Bobbie, you will have to go to Denver, Colo., for that is where he lives.

ML 07/07/1918

A Heart's Desire.

O blessed God, how kind Thou art,

To Thee we bow the knee,

O, may Thy presence fill our heart,

And keep us true to Thee.

When cares and griefs beset our path.

And fears arise within;

O may we see that blessed One,

Who died our souls to win.

Our risen Lord is coming soon,

To take us to our home;

Where we shall ever he at rest.

And never more shall roam.

O, come, Lord Jesus, quickly come;

We long Thy face to see;

To dwell within the Father’s house,

And ever happy he.

ML 07/07/1918

A Timely Warning.

WHILE the merry group area busily occupied upon the dry bank of sand, the rising tide will often creep up unseen, and, quietly flowing higher and higher, will, if they are still unwatchful, quite surround them.

I can remember several occasions when this happened to my brother and myself. We had built and decorated our castle, and were watching the rapidly approaching waves, which soon surrounded our sandy building; and then we had taken it in turns to stand on the top while the waves swept round us: waiting until the waves went back to make again for the shore. This we would often do until our castle was nearly leveled, and then we would think of our return. It was then we found that the water had encircled us, and nothing was left but quickly to take our shoes and stockings off, and paddle through the water back to the shore.

The boy in our picture is shouting out to those busy little ones by the water’s edge, to warn them that the water is surrounding them, and to hasten them in towards the shore.

Children ought to be very thankful for such warnings, for many, many a little life has been lost through tarrying too long near the ruins of their castle, instead of being watchful as to a way of escape, and returning before the sand is covered.

How many people there are who do not seem to be on the look out as to the safety of their precious souls; and many are far more foolish even than that, for though they have been warned again and again of their danger, they still go on careless and unmoved.

Do you, young readers, know your peril? Do you know that judgment is coming? Have you not been warned to flee to the Saviour who waits to receive you? Then why do you still tarry? As the rising tide deepens every moment, and makes it more and more dangerous to wade through, so as every day goes by, it becomes more and more difficult for you to escape.

Now God’s messengers are going out, and are calling to lost sinners, who linger in the place of danger, to come to the Lord Jesus now, while the door of salvation is still open—while it is still the accepted time, and the day of salvation.

“HE, THAT BEING OFTEN REPROVED HARDENETH HIS NECK, SHALL SUDDENLY BE DESTROYED, AND THAT WITHOUT REMEDY.” PROV. 29:1.

ML 07/14/1918

A Contrast.

BRIGHT and witty, was M. V., the youngest daughter of rich parents. But she loved this world, with its verities and pleasures. Her parents were very fond of her, for she was the only daughter at home. Until the age of twenty-three she had enjoyed good health, but one day, while getting out of her carriage, she stumbled, and bruised her knee.

Some parties were to be held in the neighborhood not long after this accident happened, and to them she had made up her mind to go. She went, and danced until late into the night.

A few short months after this, her parents saw that her strength was failing. Skillful physicians were called in, but they said that consumption had set in, and that her days were numbered. Then, if never before, it must have dawned on the soul of poor M. V., how unsatisfying, in the face of death and eternity, the pleasures and vanities of this world are. Also, she was surrounded by those who, like herself, loved the world and its passing joys.

Shortly afterwards the solemn fact was announced that M. V., was dead, and that she had died in the greatest agony.

Dear young reader, if you are living for this world, pause and consider. If God should call you away as He did poor M. V., would He find you ready? Remember He says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” (2 Cor. 6:2.) and “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 28:1.)

In a town a few miles away from the one in which M. V. lived, we knew another young lady called L. N.

Consumption had already made rapid progress on a frame never very robust. Her alarmed mother took her to a very clever doctor. After making a thorough examination of the case, he very gravely said,

“My dear young lady, I am very sorry for you. You are in a serious state of health. I am afraid there is no hope of your recovery.”

To his intense surprise, she replied, with a smile, “Do not be sorry for me; I am soon going to be with Jesus, which is far better than living down here.” Not long after, we heard that dear L. N. had gone to be forever with the Lord.

Reader, why should there be such a contrast between these two young girls? They were about the same age, they died of the same disease, yet they were so unlike. Not that L. N. led a very religious life, and did a great many good works in order to reach heaven. No! She took God at His word She believed His verdict, that the world and its so-called pleasures last but “for a season.” and accepted for time and eternity the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. God grant that you may do the same!

“For the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:17.

ML 07/14/1918

"The Eyes of the Lord Are in Every Place."

WE all know, dear children, that nothing is hidden from God. We may sometimes do wrong, and forget that it is so, but all the same it is true that “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4:13).

The word conscience means to know together with. You have done something wrong. You know it. And God knows it too.

Now I shall tell you about a little boy’s conscience. His name was Walter, and he lay awake one night for a long, long time after his mother had put him to bed.

Thinking that he would be asleep in a few minutes, she had gone downstairs to see some friends in the parlor.

Poor little Walter! he could not sleep nor even rest. He turned his pillow over and tried to make his bed more comfortable, but the fault was not in the bed, and not in the pillow, but in the child’s own heart.

He had been doing wrong that day; his conscience told him of it; and that was why he could not sleep.

As he lay on his bed he could hear the murmuring of a waterfall and it seemed to speak to him, of his sin. Ah! conscience may well be called a faithful monitor; it would make itself heard by little Walter. The very stars seemed to be looking in at him with sorrow. At last he could bear it no longer; and getting out of bed, he went downstairs and called his mother, who followed him quickly.

“Mother,” he said, “I am very unhappy. I promised you that I would take no more fruit at dinner time; but after you left the room I took a bunch of grapes and three apples, and I hid them in my box in the nursery. I am very sorry, mother, and I want you to forgive me. I could not go to sleep, because I had disobeyed you, and told a lie too.”

His mother did forgive him freely, and was thankful that he had not hidden his sin. But she reminded Walter that he had grieved the Lord, His Saviour and his best Friend, and that her child could not be happy without confessing his sin to Him. So they knelt together acknowledging the transgression, and asking the Lord Jesus to keep him from sinning again.

Then Walter went to sleep; for the Word of God says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

The Sheep That Knows the Shepherd.

WHILE looking at some prize sheep, the writer had a conversation with the shepherd. “What fine sheep!”

“Yes, very.”

“They appear quite comfortable and happy.”

“O, yes.”

“Do they know you?”

“Yes, indeed they do! No matter where they are feeding just let me come near, they’ll soon talk, and call out, Baa, baa.’”

“What, do they know you as well as that?”

“Yes, sir.”

Dear children, those sheep teach us all a lesson, and remind us of other sheep, those spoken of in the 10th of John, where a Shepherd says, “I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep. and am known of Mine.” (v. 14.)

The prize sheep knew the shepherd because of what they received. He feeds them, and they cry for him when they are hungry. Do they get disappointed in their food? No; for they belong to an owner who is very careful over his sheep.

Dear soul, there is One who is even a better master: that One is the Owner and Shepherd of all the sheep spoken of in the 10th of John. He is the sole Proprietor of the sheep—the Lord Jesus Christ, “the great Shepherd of the sheep.” They follow Him, “for they know His voice.”

What a faithful Shepherd He is! O, to know His voice so well that we will not follow “a stranger.”

Perhaps my reader is not one of Christ’s sheep, and does not know the voice of “the Good Shepherd.” Well, if so, look! the door is open; NOW is your time; enter in. Read the 9th verse of the 10th of John: “I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Saved! Enter in! The blessing is yours. Christ says, “If any man.” Thank God, there is no entrance fee.

No, He knew you had “nothing to pay,” so He presents His salvation without money and without price. How wide the invitation! “If any man enter in, he shall be saved.” These sayings will never change, they are the words of Divine truth.

What a blessed assurance it is! Not, “hope to be,” “may be,” “perhaps,” but, “will be saved.” Christ’s words are always full and clear and definite. He says, ‘He shall be saved.”

Now dear reader, have YOU entered in? Take care lest, too late, too late, the door be shut. Shut forever! Ten million years? Longer—much longer— “forever”: shut for ever.

Christ is the door: by Him “if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”

ML 07/14/1918

A Little Child.

Luke 18:15-17.

“A little child” may rest

In God, whose name is Love;

Who, in His Son, His love expressed

The sent One from above.

“A little child” may pray

To God, in Jesus’ name;

He loves to hear us “Father” say,

And owns His children’s claim.

“A little child” may sing

Of Jesus’ worth and ways;

And worship to the Father bring,

With those who hymn His praise.

“A little child” may learn

To do God’s holy will;

And if for this his bosom yearn,

His wish will God fulfill.

“A little child” whose heart

To Jesus has been given,

Shall rise, when all the saints depart.

And dwell with Christ in heaven.

ML 07/14/1918

Dear Grandpa.

GRANDPA has just come in and is sitting down in the kitchen with the children, and of course, the youngest gets the most attention, and he takes him on his knee, to his great delight. They love grandpa, and grandpa loves them, so the dear children are always glad to see him come.

What a happy world this would be if there was no hatred, and all loved each other.

Love is of God, but hatred is of Satan. God it is Who has planted love in our hearts, so the parents love the children, and the children love the parents, yet we see the children act very badly some times and grieve their parents, and in these acts they do not show love.

But the thing that is needed is to know the love of God for poor sinners, yes, for each one of us to say, “His love for me, a poor sinner.” If we know and believe that God so loved us as to give His only Son to die for us, we will seek to show love to one another. He loved us when we were enemies, when we had no love for Him, so God tells those who believe in Him to love their enemies.

Some might say, surely we must defend ourselves, and think the way to defend ourselves is to retaliate — give the one who has wronged us just as much wrong as he has given us, but God’s Word shows us a better way by telling us to love our enemies, and again God tells us,

“A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH; BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER.” Prov. 15:1.

May each one who knows the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, seek to manifest more of the love, meekness and gentleness of our blessed Lord, and if we ask Him, He will give us grace, so that we can do so.

ML 07/21/1918

Faith, Not Feelings.

AN old lady, whom I visited frequently, would often appear restless and uneasy. She seemed much exercised, and it was evident that the Lord was working in her soul. I asked her if she was saved.

She said, “No; it has been my desire for a long time to know that.”

“Do you not know,” I asked, “of One who also has a great desire for your salvation, and who has been waiting for it a much longer time than you have? He left His glory that you might know your sins were forgiven, and He would willingly receive you if you will trust yourself to Him.”

“I would give anything,” she answered, “to feel as happy as you.”

“Stay,” I replied; “God wants you to accept, not to give; receive salvation as you would receive a gift from a dear friend.”

“Well, I’ll think about it; but something seems to tell me I am too old to serve the Lord.”

“God says, ‘Whosoever will may come. and take the water of life freely,’ I answered; “‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Is that not enough? Can you not believe?”

“I can believe,” replied the old lady, “but I cannot feel I am saved.”

“If you want to be saved, you must be saved in God’s way, and not in your own. Lay aside your feelings, and take God at His word, and peace will follow. ‘Being justified by faith, we have peace with God.’”

“Sometimes,” she said, “I think I am saved, and at other times I am so miserable that I begin to despair.”

“Give up all your own efforts to save yourself,” I answered; “come simply trusting in Jesus, and I can assure you, on the authority of God’s word, He will never cast you away. ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’”

After three weeks I saw her again, and she told me how happy she was then that she could fully rest and trust in the Lord.

ML 07/21/1918

"The Lord Will Provide."

A CITY missionary, one Saturday night, was going home with a basket of provisions on his arm. Meeting a policeman, he asked him if there had any families moved in the bounds of his beat during the week. He answered, “Yes;” and pointing to a building up an alley said, “A woman and some children are living there now.”

The missionary went to the house, rapped at the door, and was admitted. The woman was sitting by a small light, sewing. In the corner of the room were two little girls, apparently from nine to twelve years of age, playing.

The missionary said, “I am here to see if you will allow your girls to attend Sunday School tomorrow morning.”

“I would; but what you see on them is all the clothing they have, and you would not wish them to go as they are now.”

“The Lord will provide. Have you no money?”

“Not yet, but I have committed my case into the hands of the Lord.”

“Have you anything to eat?” “Nothing, sir!”

“What will you do for breakfast?”

“O, sir, I once had a husband; he provided when he could. These children had a father; he supplied their wants; but he is dead now. Yet my Maker, even God, is my husband, and He has promised to be a father to the fatherless. We have committed all to Him, have called upon Him in this our day of trouble. I am trusting in God to take care of a poor widow and her children in a strange place, and I know He will provide.”

“Thank God for such faith!” said the missionary; and handing her the basket, said, “Here is your breakfast, and you shall have the clothing for your children.” With tears streaming down her face she replied:

“O, thank God for His faithfulness! He heareth and answereth prayer. May He bless you!” And, said our dear brother to us, “I felt the promise was sure, for if she was blessed in receiving, I was more so in giving.”

ML 07/21/1918

Playing Sunday School.

IT was raining hard one Sunday, and a little girl was looking anxiously out of the window, afraid it might prevent her from going to Sunday School.

She had learned to love the Saviour and knew that her sins had been washed away by the precious blood of Christ. Her mother was a Christian, and they were a great comfort to each other. —Her father was not saved, but let his wife and child do as they pleased, for he loved them both fondly.

This rainy Sunday he told his little girl it was too wet to go out, and said, “Suppose we have school at home today, you and I.”

She said, “Then you will be teacher and superintendent both, and I will be your little class.”

So she got her Bible and two hymn books, and put two chairs opposite each other, and then said, “Now, father, school is ready.”

He sat down on a chair opposite his little girl, and asked, “What must I do?”

“You must be superintendent first, and he always gives out a hymn to begin with.”

“But, my dear, I don’t know any of these hymns, and I don’t know the tunes.”

“Perhaps, then, you will let me give out a hymn that I can sing, and you can help me.”

She soon found a hymn that she knew well. It was her favorite, and it told of the Lord Jesus coming from heaven to seek and to save the lost, and how that on Calvary He shed His blood for the cleansing of sins. She commenced singing, and the words of the hymn were carried home in power to his heart. He could not sing for a choking sensation in his throat, and it was hard work to conceal his tears. He did not know what he was bargaining for when he offered to be Sunday School teacher, and as soon as the hymn was over he was going to leave the room.

“Father, we are not done yet.”

“I think we have had enough,” he said, as he sat down on the chair again. “What must we do now?”

“Father, you must pray.”

“My child, I cannot,” he said.

“But father, you are the superintendent, and he always prays after we sing a hymn, and you wanted to have Sunday School,” she said, looking up pleadingly into his face.

A great conflict was going on in his heart, which was softened under the words of the hymn that was just sung, and now what was he to do. Would he break his word, or yield? The beseeching look of his little girl brought him to his knees, but his heart was too full to allow any words to escape his lips.

His little girl, seeing he did not begin, gave him a nudge with her elbow, and said, “Father, pray.” He could hold in no longer, and gave vent to his feelings in tears and sobs.

Just then the room door was opened by his wife, who had been praying for him for years. Quickly she kneeled at his side, and earnestly united her prayers with her husband’s; and God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shone into his heart, and he was saved. Many times after did they thank God for that wet Sunday that brought about such blessed results.

ML 07/21/1918

"The Home of the Narrow Way."

A LITTLE Hottentot girl in South Africa, who had been trained in a missionary school there, became ill, and her teacher went to visit her. The first thing she said to him was, “Uncle, I want to go home.”

The young Africans of that district always call their teachers “uncle” and “aunt.”

“You are at home, my dear; this is your home,” he replied.

“I want to go home; I want to go home,” she repeated.

“What home is it you want to go to?” “The home of the narrow way,” she cried.

For some minutes after saying this, being in great pain, she could not utter a word.

As soon as her pain stayed a little she spoke again, repeating the words three times, as these Africans always do when they wish to speak very strongly: “Jesus receiveth sinners, sinners, sinners. Joy! Joy! Joy!”

That little Hottentot knew Jesus as “the Way,” and her heart overflowed with joy at the thought that He “receiveth sinners,” and casts out none who come to Him.

She did not then die, but rallied again, and was easier for several hours, during which time she spoke to her mother.

Her last words were, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Thus peacefully did this little African go home, to be forever with the Lord. Far wiser was she than many in this more favored land, who tell us that they “hope to go to heaven when they die,” and yet forget, or will not see, that heaven is “the home of the narrow way.” (Matt. 7:14.)

Do my young readers believe, as the little Hottentot girl did, that Jesus is the Way, and the only Way, to God? He says, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). And again He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6: 37).

Seeing, then, that Jesus is so willing to bless you, I do trust you will come to Him at once.

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

ML 07/21/1918

Pets.

IT IS good to see children act kindly to all animals. God would have us with gentleness and affection for all, and the animals, also, appreciate kindness shown to them.

If we are kind to the animals, we will be kind to one another, and we know what happiness is the result; but when we are selfish, and determined to have our own way, we make trouble for ourselves and other people.

What an example we get in the Lord Jesus for the happy path. His path was marked with lowliness, meekness and gentleness. His whole life was manifesting love. He left His happy home above to come down here into this world of sin and sorrow because He loved you and me, and He even gave His life for us, so that we would not have to have that terrible death of separation from God on account of our sins. What a loving Saviour He is. May each reader, who knows that blessed Saviour as his own, seek, from Him, the needed grace that he may be more like Him in showing love and gentleness to others.

“BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN; AND WALK IN LOVE.” Eph. 5:1, 2.

ML 07/28/1918

The Lost Child

THE Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What an easy text for you to read, dear little children, is it not? All words of one syllable! And easy to understand, too, because you all know what it is to seek everywhere for something you have lost, don’t you? O, dear! what tiring work it is, hunting in every corner for some little thing that has got out of its own place, and cannot be found! How one does wish the thimble, or the pair of scissors, or the glove, or the bit of money that one is looking for, could just call out, “Here I am!” and then all the trouble would soon be over. But it cannot, so we have to “seek diligently” until we find it.

Now, this text tells us about Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Man, seeking that which is lost. Perhaps some of you dear children are thinking that it must be to seek something worth a great deal, that God’s Son has come all the way down from heaven—something very beautiful and very good. Well, what Jesus is seeking He does think worth a great deal, though not at all good, quite the contrary; He is looking for lost souls, that means lost men and women, and little lost children. They have grieved and pained Him all they can, and yet His heart is so full of love for them that He cannot bear them to be lost forever; therefore He goes after them and takes, O! so much trouble, seeking even one little lost child, and is so glad when He has found it. Just think, if one of your brothers or sisters were lost, how you would feel about it; that will help you to understand how the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, feels when He goes after one of His stray lambs.

Last summer, a family of tiny children went to the seaside with their mother and grandmother. It is such fun to play on the sands with spades and buckets, is it not? I daresay nearly all of you have been to the seaside, and have built sandcastles and picked up shells and seaweed, and paddled barefoot in the water; and you, who have not been, have often heard all about it, and can guess how wild and full of fun children get there, and how difficult it is sometimes. to keep them in order.

Well, Harold, Katie and tiny Lucy, each had a bucket and spade, and they enjoyed themselves as much as any other children, while mother, with baby on her lap, sat on the sands with grandmother, watching the play. So passed a happy week; but, alas! a sad day was to come.

Harold loved the games on the sands, and was always in a hurry to run off there as soon as he had swallowed his food, and in his haste, he sometimes forgot to do what mother bid him. He was only six years old, but quite old enough to know how to obey, was he not? This afternoon that I am telling you about, he was as usual in a great hurry to start for the sands, and was not at all pleased when mother having dressed wee Lucy, told him to take care of her outside the house, while she got the others ready. Now Harold never liked waiting, and mother seemed a long time coming, and he got more and more impatient, at last he thought Lucy might just as well stay there by herself until the others joined her, while he amused himself on the sands. So off he ran, and never looked back, nor found out that his little sister was toddling after him, as fast as her very short legs could carry her.

On he ran, and soon turned one corner and then another, making his way to the great sea beach, where the pretty shells lay, and the little crabs crawled about so funnily. But Lucy did not know the road so well, and, when she lost sight of Harold, she soon went wrong, trotting on, down one street and up another, every step taking the poor wee thing further out of the right way.

When mother and grandmother came out presently with Katie and baby, they were very vexed to find that Harold had not done as he was told. They hurried down to the sands, and there they soon found him at play, but no little Lucy was with him! Now do you think mother said, “Ah, well, we have two boys and a girl left, that is quite enough?” O, no! you all know mother’s love better than that, don’t you? And Jesus’ love for His little stray lambs is far greater than even mother’s love, so that though He may have ninety-nine sheep left, He will still go after that one which is lost until He finds it.

O! how ashamed and how unhappy Harold was when he found out what sad consequences had come of his disobedience, for he tenderly loved his little sister, although he had deserted her so naughtily. He and Katie both cried bitterly as they ran along by the side of their mother, who hurried here and there, asking all she met if they had seen the lost child. Grandmother went in another direction, vainly inquiring after her, but no one knew anything of poor little Lucy.

O! how glad they would have been if they could have heard her call out, “Grandmother! mamma! here I am!” but no cry did they hear. And I am sure this is just how Jesus longs to hear some of you call out, “Lord, save me,” and O! how quickly then He would find you and save you.

Two very long hours passed away in fruitless search for Lucy, hours that seemed longer to the unhappy seekers than a whole day. Poor mother’s heart was sick and heavy as she went back to the house, hoping to hear her child had come home, and then hurried again to the beach, vainly searching among the merry groups of children for her tiny Lucy. O! what would father say when he heard what had happened? How they all wished he was there to help them, and to tell them what to do—the strong, young father, who had stayed at his daily toil, while he sent them to enjoy this holiday, which now seemed ending so terribly.

And now what do you guess suddenly changed all the tears into smiles? Ah! I see you know. Yes, it was little Lucy, in the arms of a stranger, who had picked her up, and was now carrying her to the police station, hoping her parents would go there to inquire after her. What delight all the little family were in, as they each in turn hugged, and kissed, and laughed over the little one that had been lost and now was found!

Now this is just a faint picture of the dear Saviour’s joy, when He finds a poor lost sinner—one for whom He has bled and died on Calvary’s cross, and whom He has long sought.

Dear children, will you give Jesus the joy of finding you? Will you call out to Him to save you? Do you know that you are lost, and that you need Him to seek you and to find you? How gladly He would pick up His little stray lamb, and lay it on His shoulders rejoicing! How happy you would be, too, if you were found by Him, the tender Shepherd, and could sing from your heart: —

“I was lost, a little lamb,

Out of Jesus’ fold,

Faint with hunger and with fear,

In the dark and cold.

Jesus missed me, though a lamb,

Little, lone, and weak,

And He could not rest for love,

He the lost must seek.

“Now I’m safe, a little lamb,

Safe in Jesus’ fold,

Jesus found and brought me in

From the dark and cold.

Is He glad, and am not I—

I, who went astray,

Glad that He has brought me back

To the heavenly way?”

ML 07/28/1918

"Must I Not Pray to Be Saved?"

SCRIPTURE nowhere states that salvation is to be had by prayer; it only speaks of sinners being saved in one way —through simple faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Did the Lord Jesus tell Nicodemus to “pray and be saved?” No. “Whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish.” (John 3:14, 15.)

Did Paul, in answer to the question, “What must I do to be saved?” reply, “Pray earnestly for forgiveness, and you will get it?” No; it was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31.)

You do not need to pray to God for salvation; He is at this moment praying you to take it. (2 Cor. 5:20.) If you expect to be saved by prayer you will be deceived, as it cannot possibly take you a step nearer to heaven. How can you dare ask God for salvation so long as you are guilty of calling Him a liar? (1 John 5:10, 11.) Of him who has not faith it is written, “Let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord.” (James 1:7.)

Cease praying for salvation, and even now stretch out the hand of faith and take it as a gift from the outstretched hand of the Lord Jesus.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

ML 07/28/1918

The Way to Conquer.

ANNIE B. had received the. Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and was earnestly trying to serve Him, but time after time she grieved Him by giving way to a natural hasty temper. This caused her much sorrow, and earnestly she prayed for strength to conquer it. Now Annie was obliged to associate every day with Mary E., who treated her unjustly and tried to make her lose her temper, and thus dishonor the Lord. She mourned over this in secret, and sought and obtained pardon, but this was not known to Mary.

One day, as usual, Mary charged Annie with making a false profession of religion, and instantly received a hasty and passionate reply. “So that’s your religion, is it?” said Mary tauntingly.

The tears sprang to Annie’s eyes, and hastening to a place where she could be alone, she burst into a flood of tears and sobbed out her confession to the Lord Jesus. “Go and tell Mary you are sorry,” a voice seemed to whisper within.

“I cannot,” Annie answered: “besides she had no right to say what she did.” “Blessed are ye when men shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake,” came at once to Annie’s mind, and for some minutes the struggle lasted. Then Annie went to Mary, and frankly confessed her fault, and asked forgiveness.

Mary looked at her in astonishment; this was something she could not understand. “I have nothing to forgive; it was all my fault,” she stammered.

From this time Annie had perfect control over her temper given to her from the Lord, and soon afterwards Mary also gave her heart to Jesus, and thus the two girls became close friends. Mary dates her first serious impressions from the day when Annie asked her pardon.

The Lord Jesus will not only save but keep those who put their trust in Him, for He is able to keep us from falling.

ML 07/28/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for June.

1.“For the Lamb,” etc. Rev. 7:17.

2.“The same shall drink,” etc., 14:10.

3.“He that hath an ear” etc. 2:17.

4.“And I saw the dead,” etc. 20:12.

5.“Him that overcometh,” etc. 3:12.

6.“For the great day,” etc. 6:17.

7.“And God shall wipe,” etc. 21:4.

Bible Questions for August.

The answers are to be found in Mark.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “Hardness of heart.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “The wind and the sea.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “With the holy angels.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “Men should repent.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “Take up his cross.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “A solitary place.”

7. Write the verse containing the words: “Beginnings of sorrows.”

ML 08/04/1918

A Simple Story of God's Grace.

G.T. was naturally a kind-hearted young man, but, like many others, he was fond of gay society, and sought satisfaction in all kinds of worldly amusement. When entreated by his friends to attend to the concerns of his soul, he would carelessly reply, “That will never trouble me.” After a while G. commenced reading infidel books; he gave up attending any place of worship, anti it became his delight to scoff at God’s people. One day he called on a Christian friend for the express purpose of arguing her belief in Jesus out of her, but, finding his errand fruitless, he turned to blasphemy. But God had already opened His ears to the prayers sent up from His believing children for the salvation of G’s soul.

Soon after this, G. having left his home, a friend would occasionally send him gospel books, but these were seldom read.

However, one night, while on his duty, G. picked up one of these books. At first he read simply to beguile the time, but he soon became interested in it, and, before the book was finished, G. T. had become convinced of his state as a sinner before God, and of the awful consequences of his sins. He sought pardon, and pleaded the merit of Christ, and in the end peace and joy filled his soul. He realized that his sins, which were many, were forgiven him. This was the text on which he rested: “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:5.)

To all who had previously known him the change was most evident. Instead of spending the Lord’s day in the saloon, he earnestly engaged himself in the Lord’s work with people whom he met about the concerns of their soul. Instead of his mouth being filled with oaths and curses, he spoke the praises of God. He was a testimony to the truth of this Scripture: “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.”

May God bless this simple story. We long that others may prove, as did our friend G. T., that joy can be found alone in Jesus. Come to Jesus, dear reader, and seek peace through His death. He is far more willing to save than we are to be saved. It is not by working or doing, but by simply trusting in the finished work of the Lord. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” and “by His stripes we are healed.”

ML 08/04/1918

Faith.

WILLIE was a little boy about seven years old. His father was a drunkard, and his mother had a very hard time to get along.

One day in winter Willie said—

“Mother, can’t I have a pair of new shoes? My toes are all out of these. The snow gets in, and I feel very cold.”

The tears came into his mother’s eyes as she said,—

“Well, Willie, my dear boy, I hope soon to be able to get you a new pair.”

After waiting for some days Willie said, —

“O mother, it’s too bad! Can’t I get some shoes somehow?” He stood thinking a moment, and then said, “O, I know what to do. I’ll ask God to get them for me. Why didn’t I think of that before?” Then he went up to his own little room and knelt down by his bed, and covering his face with his hands, he said, “O God, father drinks; mother has no money; my feet get cold and wet; I want some new shoes. Please, Lord, get me a pair. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Then he went downstairs and waited for an answer.

Shortly after this a kind Christian lady who lived near them called in and asked Willie to take a walk with her. Willie went. Pretty soon the lady saw Willie’s toes coming out of his shoes.

Then she said,—

“Why, Willie dear, look at your feet. They’ll freeze. Why didn’t you put on a better pair of shoes?”

“These are all I have, ma’am.”

“But why don’t you get a new pair?”

“Mother has no money to get them with. But I’ve asked God to get me a new pair, and I’m waiting till He sends them.”

Tears filled the lady’s eyes when she heard this; and leading Willie into a shoemaker’s shop, she had him fitted to a nice pair of new shoes.

This made him happy, and he thanked the good lady for her kindness. As soon as he returned home he went up to his mother and showing her his new shoes, said,—

“Look, mother! God has heard my prayer and sent me the shoes. Mrs. Gray’s money bought them, but God heard me ask for them, and I suppose He told Mrs. Gray to get them for me.” Then he kneeled down by his mother’s side and said, “O God, I thank Thee for these nice new shoes. Make me a good boy, and take care of dear mother. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Willie had just the same kind of faith that Abraham had. We can think of him as an example of prayer and an example of faith. And we need not have a better illustration of how we are to pray and how we are to have faith in God than this story of Willie gives us.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6,19.

ML 08/04/1918

Looking for Papa.

IN OUR picture this week we have two children looking out of the window, no doubt, watching for someone, and very likely the artist made it to illustrate what we have said, “Looking for Papa.”

With what eagerness and delight two little girls, I know, watch for their papa to come home. They stand at a different window than the one in our picture, but that will not alter the little lesson I want to bring before you.

You all know what pleasure it is to look for papa, and when he comes there is more delight than ever. This is what the Lord Jesus wants with all those who know Him as their Saviour. He desires to have us watching for Him, for He has told us that He is coming again. Coming to take us up to be forever with Himself in that bright glory above, where sin and sorrow shall never enter.

How great is the love of the Lord Jesus, not only to die for us to save us from hell, but to take us to be in the glory with Him.

Now you all know how glad you are when it is time for papa to come home, and how pleased you are to look and watch for him, because you know he loves you.

Are you as glad to think of the Lord Jesus (who loves us more than father or mother ever has or can) coming back again, and that for us?

O may we each one he looking with delight for that moment to come when we shall see our Lord and Saviour.

“WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.” Matt. 25:13.

ML 08/04/1918

The Power of God's Word.

A POOR little girl applied for admission into an Industrial school, and was received. Here she learned to read and sew, and was rather a promising pupil.

One day she refused to read the Bible, saying, “My mother told me not to read it.”

The teacher then said, “Tell your mother the Bible will do you no harm, but will make you wise unto salvation; and the rules of the school, which must be observed, require that every scholar able to read should read the Word of God.”

The mother, unwilling to deprive her child of the industrial training she was receiving, at length consented, and her little girl read the Bible daily, and committed portions of it to memory. With maternal anxiety for the welfare of her child, she resolved to keep a strict watch on what she learned, and counteract at home any influences of the school. For this purpose she had her each evening repeat the lessons she was taught, and questioned her regarding them. She was both surprised and disappointed. One evening she heard of Christ’s conversation with the woman of Samaria; another of His discourse with Nicodemus; another of His love for the family of Bethany, of His sympathy with Mary and Martha; and the death of their brother Lazarus, and of His raising him from the dead; again she heard of the full and free forgiveness of the repentant sinner, while the proud and self-righteous Pharisee is reproved; and so on. There was nothing against the Virgin, the Pope, or “the church” in all this. She had never heard these precious things before; they had all the charms of novelty, and, with a power peculiar to the Scriptures, commended themselves to her mind and heart.

After some time, the little girl was regularly absent from school. What had become of her? One evening a gentle knock was heard at the teacher’s dwelling, the door was opened, and there stood with anxious countenance the little pupil. After a kind recognition, she said, “Will you please lend me a Bible?”

“What do you want with a Bible?” asked the teacher.

“I want,” said the little girl, “to read it to my mother. She is sick now, and I cannot go to school. I used to tell her all my lesson every day. I have told them over and over, and now she wants that Book of which she has heard so much.”

The Bible was willingly given. The teacher visited the woman, and often found her little pupil reading the Word of God to her dying mother.

The woman departed, giving bright evidence that she received and rested on Christ, and Him alone for her salvation; no earthly priest attended her death-bed, and her anointing was that of the Holy Spirit. Thus she bore witness that the Word of God makes wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

ML 08/04/1918

Time and Eternity.

WITH bright prospects before the young man he comes to bid his dear old friend good-by before going to a new country where he expects to do well in this world’s things, but is forgetful of what comes after death.

How many there are who are so faithful in regard to the things of time, and they make their mark in this life, yet never consider where they are going when they leave this world.

The Scripture says:

“FOR WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” Matt. 16:26.

It is all very good to attend faithfully to all our duties while we are here, but it would be thorough folly to neglect eternal things. Eternal things are of more value than the things of time, inasmuch as there is no end to eternity and the things of time are soon over.

I trust that each of my young readers may consider the verse we have just quoted. Where is the profit if we were to gain the whole world and lose our own souls? Suppose we reached the highest notch in education, and paid no attention to the salvation of our souls, what would it profit?

Suppose we were to get very rich in this world, and lose our own souls, what would all the wealth be worth when we reached the end of our life?

These are solemn questions, and necessary for old and young to consider.

There is no need for any to be lost; for God has provided a Saviour, and the Saviour has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

He saves on a righteous basis, for He has borne the punishment for sin, so if we are lost, it will be our own fault.

ML 08/11/1918

Heart Questions.

1.“What is thine occupation?”

2.“Whence comest thou?”

3.“What is thy country?”

4.“Of what people art thou?” Jonah 1:8.

‘Tell me, children, time is flying,

Is it your delight,

All you can, to do for Jesus,

Morning, noon and night?

Is it all your “occupation”

Through this “little while,”

Just to work, and win from Jesus

His approving smile?

Are you His? He’d have you bidding

Others welcome, too;

O! there’s much that even children

May for Jesus do.

Patience, love and swift obedience

Every moment yield.

Be the Lord’s own little workers

In the harvest field.

Next the question, “Whence thou comest?”

Searches well the heart,

If you all are seeking truly,

Each to do his part.

Has an earnest prayer each morning

Winged its way above?

Do you come from sweet communion

With the God of love?

Rest assured that simplest accents

From the youngest one

God will listen to, if pleading

His beloved Son;

This, and this alone will keep you,

This the promised word;

Strength shall be renewed if always

Waiting on the Lord.

Tell me, should I ask your “country,”

Are you now a band—

Youthful pilgrims trav’ling onward

Through a stranger-land?

O’er this very earth your Saviour

Did, uncared for, roam.

Tell me, can you call this country

“Fatherland” and “home?”

Sorrow, pain and death around you,

All so sadly drear;

Hollow pleasures, quickly fading,

Nothing good is here.

Answer true, “We’re going to Jesus,

For He bids us come,

Bids us call His own fair country

Fatherland and home.”

Once again, O! say what “people”

Claim you for their own?

Are they those who follow Jesus,

Who God’s grace have known?

Those who take God’s Word and use it

As their light and guide?

Those who seek His mind and counsel,

And in Him confide?

Children, to these plain “heart-questions”

Give an answer clear;

God will strengthen, God will keep you,

He is always near.

Spread abroad the name of Jesus

All the journey through,

Then how sweet will sound His welcome,

When He calleth you.

ML 08/11/1918

He Was Wounded: We Are Healed.

PREACHING once in a country district, the writer perceived one among the congregation wearing a very self-satisfied air. The preaching, however, had not proceeded far, before self-satisfaction gave place to indignation, for the gospel does not flatter the flesh, but rather brings it to nothing, in order to exalt Christ. It was no wonder then that our self-satisfied friend left the place, determining, as she afterwards told me, never to enter it again. Had she ever missed going to her church? Had not she attended the sacrament regularly? Was not she a good wife, mother and neighbor? and what more could you want? Lost, indeed! A pretty state of things when a respectable woman like herself was talked to in that way! So she took herself off.

Up to this time, while taking herself very much into the question, she had left God out, but He was about now to deal with her, and, accordingly, on the Sunday following, in spite of all her resolves and righteous indignation, she felt more and more uneasy as the hour for the preaching approached, till, at last, she could bear it no longer, put on her things and went to hear. Again the message was given of a Saviour who had come to seek and to save that which was lost; of One who received sinners, and ate with them; and the disagreeable thought kept forcing itself upon her, “What if, after all, you are lost?”

In a very different frame of mind she left the preaching that second Sunday night, and the anxiety which had then commenced was only deepened by her subsequent attendances.

It was soon after this that the writer, happening to get an opportunity of speaking to her alone, elicited from her the facts just narrated. Thankful at this evident work of the Spirit in her soul, he gave her text after text, proving the perfect safety of every lost sinner who believes on Jesus; but all in vain, for though she was thoroughly sincere and her need evident, she seemed quite unable to appropriate God’s message to herself.

Now it happened, that late in the ensuing week, a near relative of the writer’s was taken seriously ill, and he accordingly had to ask a friend to go and preach in his stead. He seized, however, the first opportunity afterwards to call on our anxious friend, and found her in the enjoyment of peace with God. Surprised at the sudden change, he asked how she had acquired her new-found joy, when she replied as follows:—

“That young man,” said she, “who came to preach instead of you last Sunday, took as his text the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and when he began to preach there was one verse that he didn’t seem to be able to get away from. He kept saying, ‘It’s this way: He was wounded, and we are healed. It is very simple! Don’t you see, that if He was wounded for our transgressions, we must be healed? It’s plain enough; for all that believe He was wounded, we who believe are healed.’ And, at last, I began to think, if He was wounded for me, I am healed.”

Now I daresay, if the writer had happened to have entered during this gospel address, he would have said, “Dear me, he’s getting on very badly; this will never do. If he goes on like this he’ll scatter all my congregation.” But then, you see, God does not work by the grand discourses, and eloquent addresses, but by His Spirit; and I think I have somewhere read that that honored servant of the Lord, Mr. Spurgeon, relates that his own conversion was of a similar character to that just described.

Now, why I relate it is this: I want to press on any who are harassed with doubts or fears, what a perfect security is the portion of every believer in Jesus.

Yes, He was wounded, and we are healed. Jehovah’s sword awoke against His fellow, and He never sheathed it till justice was satisfied. Ah, but you say, “That’s just what I want to know. How am I to know that God is satisfied?” I’ll tell you.

“Is Jesus on the cross?”

“No.”

“Is He in the grave?”

“No.”

“Where is He, then?”

“He is in the glory.”

“Quite so. And He died for your sins?” “Yes.”

“You are sure of that?”

“Quite sure.”

“Then are your sins in the glory?”

“No; they could not be there.”

“But the One who bore them is, and that is the proof that God is satisfied, and that your sins are forever blotted from His sight. If ‘God were not satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice for your sins, He would be still in the grave. He is not in the grave, but on the throne—the eternal proof to all that God is satisfied. Are you?”

ML 08/11/1918

The Secret of True Happiness.

THAT is happiness? Can you tell me, children?

“Well,” says noisy Ben, “I was happy, I tell you, last holiday, a deal happier than I am now, when I have to go to school. I went fishing and riding and swimming and sailing, and it was just splendid. Now it’s all books and study from morning till night. I am getting almost tired of it already. I would like holiday time all the year round.”

“I am most happy,” says gentle Annie Ashton, “when I am helping mamma. I like my school ever so much. We have a nice teacher, and there are some very pleasant girls there. We have real good times together. But I think I am the happiest, the deepest-down kind of happiness, you know, when I am helping mamma. It seems to make her so glad.”

Annie comes nearer it than Ben. No doubt Ben had a grand, good time, and found his sport very enjoyable. But Annie’s happiness goes deeper; and lasts longer.

Is there any better kind of happiness than Annie’s even?

“I feel very happy,” says sweet Mary Minton, “when I think I love Jesus and that He loves me.”

That is all she says; but you can see in her daily conduct how happy she is. She goes singing about her work; she is lively in her play; she tries to help her mother all she can; and if you watch her, you can see that she has real deep happiness coming from something within.

Now, children, it is just where Mary finds it that we all must find it. Ben’s happiness is a good kind, so far as it goes. I like boys, and girls too, to enjoy themselves at their sports. But this kind of happiness does not go very far. Annie’s happiness goes farther, because it’s a deeper and better kind. It is a kind of happiness that don’t stop, as Ben’s does, when the play is over. Annie carries the satisfaction of being helpful to her mother with her even when she is engaged in other duties, or is at her play, and it helps to make her happy.

But Mary has found out the secret of true happiness. She loves Christ, and knows that Christ loves her. So she carries her happiness with her wherever she goes and into whatever she does.

Are there not many of the dear children who read this who want to find the true happiness? I hope that there are. It is to know and believe that Jesus loves you.

ML 08/11/1918

Scatter Seeds of Blessing.

IT WAS a busy scene one morning on board a troopship with hundreds of soldiers on board.

In spite of the excitement and bustle, a hearty reception was accorded to some ladies who had come to distribute books and papers among the men.

Something to read was not to be despised, and as the books were handed around many an opportunity was offered for a little talk with one and another which, with God’s blessing, might prove “Words of life.” More than one bright face spoke of the peace and joy which Christ alone can give. While eagerly taking the offered paper, one added to his:

“Thank you, miss, if you have any to spare, I could give them to my comrades on the voyage.”

Another said: “There are a lot of men down on the lower deck, miss, and they haven’t had any yet; shall I show you the way down?”

Down accordingly the ladies went, among a still denser crowd of men, and here, too, hands were eagerly stretched out on every side to take the offered papers, and again earnest words were spoken of a loving Saviour, who saves to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. For there is no other way, He is the only Saviour and He has said: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”

On that same vessel there was a young man who had run away from home on account of his parents being too good for him; he did not like to hear of Jesus, but the papers he received were used to exercise his conscience and finally he went home and kneeling beside his mother, he yielded himself to the Saviour and cried out: “It is done! Christ has saved me, the precious blood is applied; bless His name.”

The remaining weeks of his life were marked by an eager desire for the salvation of those about him, and God so blessed his efforts that he was the means of leading four souls to his newly-found Saviour.

In closing, we repeat the last words of this young man, and may they be used in blessing to every unsaved reader: “I am going to be ‘with Christ, which is far better won’t you trust Him, too?”

“BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.” Psa. 2:12.

ML 08/18/1918

The Happy Farmer

FARMER H—was a very happy man. He was prosperous, and had everything that this world could give that would increase his happiness. But with all this he did not know the real, lasting happiness which is given to those who trust in the Lord. (Prov. 16:20.) He was opposed to anything that tended to religion, and made his boast in following in the paths of unrighteousness, and delighted in the “pleasures of sin.” He never thought of going to church, although he was the churchwarden, but spent his Sundays in walking over his farm or reading his newspaper.

Many times did his friends seek his reformation, but when spoken to, he would always laugh and say, “I am quite happy; I am the happiest man in the world.”

The village was something like the farmer, without the knowledge of the gospel, so a few young men determined to go and preach there. One of them was a bright, happy Christian, whose heart yearned for those who were living without hope; but as he lived some distance, the farmer thought he could not do very much harm if he invited him to stay at the farm house, so he could continue his cottage meetings, which were so much liked by his laborers.

The farmer watched his visitor rather closely, and found him to be very happy; and in course of conversation he found out that it was not money made him happy, for he had not any, and was entirely dependent on the Lord for his support. It was a paradox for the farmer; he could not understand it, for the young man had had trials without number, and still he was happy; and as he could not solve his problem, he determined to ask his visitor when the opportunity offered.

Seeing he was alone one day, the farmer asked, “Are you happy?”

“Yes,” he replied; “I cannot help being happy.”

“Is it your friends who make you happy?”

“No.”

“Is it money?”

“No, I have none.”

“Is it because you have plenty of pleasure?”

“No.”

“Will you tell me what it is, then?” he asked.

“Yes, I will gladly,” he replied.

He then showed the farmer how that his happiness did not consist in the enjoyment of an outward object, but of an inward one.

“I am happy,” he said, “because I know that all my sins are forgiven; and you may have the same assurance by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.”

As he reasoned of sin and its punishment, and of the wondrous work of Jesus at Calvary, when “He bare our sins in His own body on the tree,” and the result of His finished work, the farmer’s heart was opened to receive the truth as it is in Jesus, and he there found the source of true joy and happiness.

He was made happy, and with his heart and voice he sang—

“I am so glad

That Jesus loves me.”

ML 08/18/1918

Letter to a Christian Boy.

On the Fourteenth Anniversary of His Birth, Written by His Teacher.

DEAR PAUL:

I have thought of you several times, and wished I could be at that birthday dinner today. I cannot resist letting my studies go for a little while and having a visit with you through a letter, since I cannot be there in person.

I am sure you noticed your verse this morning on your “Cheering Words” calendar. I know it was placed there especially for you. Isn’t it wonderful that God can take note of such a little thing as the birthday of one of His children and send a special message to you?

He says, “Be not weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6: 9.

Do you see, it is just in the language that a farmer boy could best understand? You know so well that if you grew tired of preparing the ground for the seeds and gave up and said:

“I won’t plant any seed this year,” you could not reap any crop in the fall.

It is just so with your path through this world. You must not grow tired of bearing the cross of Christ; of turning away from all things that other boys, who do not love your Lord, would seek to lead you into, but just go straight forward “in well doing,” for “in due season” (that means at the time the Lord sees fit), He will reward you. How much greater will be His approval than all the world can offer? Then comes the last verse on the calendar leaf:

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Prov. 20: 11.

You see, the first verse was not intended only for grown people or preachers, but the Lord would have you to know it is for you. Others watching your conduct would be able to say:

“That boy acts like a Christian, like a child of God.”

Today you start on a new year of your life; your new year didn’t really begin January 1St, did it? I wonder if you have looked back to see all that the past year has brought you? I think if the Lord should tarry till you grow to be a man, you would always look back to this year of your life—to the time when a tent was set up, and night after night you heard the Wonderful Words of Life. You would be able to say:

“The year when I was thirteen I confessed the Lord as my Saviour before men.” So this has really been the beginning of years for you.

Do you remember when the children of Israel were to pass out of Egypt (Egypt means the world to us), the Lord said they were to count it the beginning of months? Exo. 12:2.

Perhaps, before you have another birthday, we shall all be safely at home with our Lord, for He has said, “Behold, I come quickly.”

I would wish you the return of many happy birthdays, but I can wish something far better—that the Lord may come and take us home to be with Himself.

Your Loving Teacher.

ML 08/18/1918

"It Stings."

HOW pretty!” cried little Sam, as his little fat hand grasped a bunch of white lilac which grew near the gate of his father’s mansion. The next moment the child’s face grew red with terror, and he dashed the lilac to the ground, shrieking, “It stings, it stings!”

What made it sting? It was a bright, beautiful, and sweet-smelling flower. How could it hurt the child’s hand? I will tell you.

A fine little bee, in search of a dinner, had just pushed his nose in among the lilac-blossoms, and was sucking the nectar from it most heartily, when Sammy’s fat hand disturbed him. So, being vexed with the child, he stung him. That’s how Sammy’s hand came to be stung.

Sammy’s mother washed the wound with hartshorn, and when the pain was gone she said: “Sammy, my dear, let this teach you that many pretty things have very sharp stings.”

Let every child take note of this: Many pretty things have very sharp stings. It may save them from being stung if they keep this truth in mind.

Sin often makes itself appear very pretty. A boy once went to a circus because the horses were pretty and the riders gay; but he learned to swear there; and thus that pretty thing, the circus, stung him.

Another boy once thought wine a pretty thing. He drank it, and learned to be a drunkard. Thus wine stung him.

A girl once took a luscious pear from a basket and ate it.

“Have you eaten one?” asked her mother, pleasantly.

Fearing she would not get another if she said “Yes,” she replied “No,” got another pear and then felt so stung that she could not sleep.

Thus you see that sin, however pretty it looks, stings. It stings sharply, too. It stings fatally. The Bible says: “The sting of death is sin.”

If you let sin sting you, nothing can heal the wound but the blood of Jesus. If you feel the smart of the sting, go to Jesus with it, and He will cure it. After that, never forget that many pretty things have very sharp stings.

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Rom. 4: 7, 8.

ML 08/18/1918

Closer Than a Brother.

I have a Friend, a loving Friend,

He’s not like any other;

This Friend I’ve tried and proved Him oft,

He’s closer than a brother.

He never disappoints my hopes,

He never has deceived me;

I know He never will forsake,

He says He’ll never leave me.

I want you all to know this Friend,

And in Him to find favor;

To yield your hearts and lives to Him,

And let Him be your Saviour.

And then whate’er your pathway be,

Through trial or temptation,

In danger or perplexity,

You’ll find in Him salvation.

He’ll save you from the guilt of sin,

He’ll save you from its power;

And having Jesus for your Friend,

You nothing then need fear.

ML 08/18/1918

A Strayed Lamb.

A little lamb strayed far away,

It left the happy flock,

It wandered all the dreary day

O’er mountain, waste and rock—

Till, weary, ‘mongst the thorns it fell,

And there it feebly cried.

Poor hapless lamb! I know full well

That left there it had died.

But lo! a stranger o’er the braes

Is wandering all alone;

He stops, he listens; “Hark,” he says,

“I hear a plaintive moan;

“What is this sound? Can child be here,

Lost on this mountain side?

Affliction, O! I sorely fear,

Doth some lost one betide.”

He hastens o’er the wilderness,

Sure guided by the cry,

Till bound with thorns, in sore distress,

The wanderer meets his eye.

He gently bears it on his arm,

And softly down it lays,

Then seeks to soothe the lamb’s alarm;

But vain his voice and ways;

For, knowing not the stranger kind,

The lamb is filled with dread;

And though against his will inclined,

‘Twas thus the stranger said:

“So leave thee, helpless thing, I must,

Since all my care is vain,

The Shepherd soon will come, I trust,

To soothe thy fear and pain.

“The stranger’s voice thou knowest not,

Ah! from me thou wouldst flee;

Poor lamb! This rough and lonely spot,

A lesson teaches me.”

Then as the stranger turned again

And climbed the rugged brake,

With thankful heart and joyful strain

‘Twas thus aloud he spake:

“In yonder lamb myself I see,

A wandering one was I,

And in my guilt and misery

I feared that I must die.

“Nor die as sheep, and be no more,

Such end, thought I, were sweet;

The death I feared so dread and sore

With every woe’s replete.

“The pow’rful briers, shame and sin,

Both tore and held me fast,

Alas, wept I, my woes begin

Eternally to last.

“Then hasting down my mountain side

To where I bleeding lay,

A loving Shepherd I espied,

Who thus did gently say—

“‘Poor helpless soul, I come to save,

The weak, the lost are Mine,

Wilt thou a Mighty Shepherd have,

And I be ever thine?’

“He raised me with His arm so strong,

My wounds He quickly healed.

‘Thy Shepherd I, to Me belong,

My own thou now art sealed!

“‘I am thy Shepherd!—lo! My hands,

Once nailed upon the tree;

I am thy Shepherd! —see the bands

That bind thy heart to Me.

“The bands are love; His love, not mine;

Healing and strength, the same.”

Know’st thou this Shepherd? Is He thine?

For Jesus is His name.

“No stranger’s voice, nor stranger’s love,

Was Thine, O! Lord for me,

And now Thou bearest me above,

And with Thee I shall be.”

“THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.” Luke 19:10.

ML 08/25/1918

Found After Many Days.

ONE morning while a Sunday-school teacher was engaged with her pupils, she was informed that a young man wished to see her. She went to the door and found a well-dressed person waiting there.

As soon as he saw her he smiled and addressed her in a very familiar manner, calling her by name, offered her his hand and inquired of her welfare.

Seeing that she did not recognize him, he said:

“You do not know me?”

“No, I do not,” she said.

“I am one of your old pupils; my name is Joseph H.”

She then knew him immediately, took him to her home and had some conversation with him. She soon found, to her great joy, that he was a Christian and that her labors had not been in vain with him, though while in her class there was not the slightest appearance of such a result. No! he was truly a misbehaved, troublesome boy. He often grieved her by his misconduct and nothing seemed to move him, so hardened did he appear to be. Hence she was somewhat glad when he left the school, and when he left the town to enter the world for a living she never expected to see him again, or to hear of him. But God’s ways are not ours, neither are His thoughts ours.

“He moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform.”

What He pleases, when He pleases, how He pleases, that He does; and when He works no one can prevent Him.

In conversation Joseph referred to his behavior when at school and expressed deep sorrow for it, greatly lamenting that he had given her so much trouble. He also told her that often he and a companion, after they left the school, had gone into a field and sat down under the hedge and cried because they had given her so much trouble and behaved so badly.

After he had left the town and was a little settled, much which she had said in the Bible lesson was, by the Holy Spirit, brought home to his mind by which he was convinced that he was a lost, ruined, helpless sinner, and for months he was so deeply affected and distressed that he often despaired of salvation.

Soon after this the Lord was pleased to manifest Himself to him and showed him that He had died for him and that His blood had washed away his sins, that he was clothed in righteousness, and accepted in Him, his heart was filled with joy and he was able to rejoice in Christ and His salvation. And now for a few years he had been living a life of faith, was a Sunday-school teacher and was adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour.

His teacher rejoiced greatly with him and they had a blessed time together. They parted believing that they shall meet again in the presence of their Lord.

“Be not weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9.

ML 08/25/1918

The Indian's Confession.

IN a dense forest near to one of the great sugar plantations there lived an aged Indian. Many years ago some of the Lord’s servants, in whose hearts their Master’s love was dwelling, went out to the place to tell the slaves and Indians the story of redeeming love. Among others who came to hear the Word was this aged Indian, whose younger days had been spent in plunder and violence. The Spirit of God used the Word to work deep conviction of sin in His soul. Stealing quietly from his home in the forest, he came to a hut occupied by the missionary, and knocking at the door, desired to speak of Christ. In his own simple way he told how sad he felt because of his sins and wondered if the great God would have mercy on such a sinner as he was.

It is always a delightful service to point a weary sinner to the Saviour, more especially in these lone wilds where the gospel is seldom heard. The missionary sat down by the door and the aged Indian sat by his side. Opening his New Testament, he read the words of John 3: 16— “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”; also Isa. 53.

These he read slowly over several times, telling of God’s love for the world and Christ’s death for sinners. The Indian listened attentively, and then, rising slowly, walked away in deep thought.

He came the following day and heard the same words. The third day a bright smile played on his countenance, and as he took his seat by the door the missionary asked:

“How it is now?” To which the aged Indian replied:

“Happy, happy now; all sins gone.” Then laying his hand on his heart he said: “Peace, peace.”

Desiring to find out on what he was resting, the missionary asked:

“How do you know?”

“You read in Book, God love me, give His Son for me. Then take and beat, beat, beat Him to save Indian.”

He had rested, where every weary sinner, old or young, must rest—in the death of Christ, and, as his changed life and ways made plain, the aged Indian was saved.

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

“Faith in Christ will save me; Trust in Him, the risen One, Trust the work that He has done; To His arms I now may run—Faith in Christ will save me.”

ML 08/25/1918

Faith.

A GENTLEMAN in search of wild flowers saw a rare plant growing from the edge of a cliff at some distance off and much wished to possess it. Seeing a shepherd boy near, he offered him a sum of money if he would go down the steep cliff and gather the rare flower. The boy steadily refused; the gentleman tried to induce him, but in vain, until at last the boy said: “If you will let my father hold the rope I will go down.”

The gentleman gladly consented; the boy ran to get his father, who held the rope by which he was lowered down the precipice, returned with the plant in his hand and received the reward.

“Why did you not let me hold the rope?” said the gentleman as he gave the boy the money.

“Ah, sir,” he replied, “I did not know you, and you might have let it slip, but I knew my father would not let it go.”

Now this was faith; the boy knew his father loved him and so he could trust him.

Dear children, Jesus has proved His love to us in a far greater way; He has really given His life for us, He has gone to Calvary’s cross and has borne God’s punishment for all our sins, so that if we believe in Him we shall not bear the judgment which we truly deserve to bear for all that we have done against God.

He is offering salvation to you now and is waiting for you to accept it. Will you trust Him? If you do:

“He will save you,

He will save you, just now.”

ML 08/25/1918

Come to Jesus!

SOME boys and girls think that there is something terrible in coming to Jesus. Now, the children whom the Saviour invited to come to Him when He was here on earth did not think so. On the contrary, it was quite easy and natural for them to come and trust themselves to Him and receive His blessing. And he is still the same kind, loving Saviour now that He was then. He is still saying, “Come unto Me,” and is waiting and longing to receive you and to bestow upon you the many blessings He has for all those who accept him as their Lord and Saviour.

Will you not come now, before the door of mercy closes on you forever? Then it will be too late.

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

ML 08/25/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for July.

1.“Let your light so shine,” etc. Matt. 5:15.

2.“Watch and pray, that ye,” etc. 26:41.

3.“And then shall appear,” etc. 24:30.

4.“Behold the fowls of the air,” etc. 6:26.

5.“While He yet spake, behold,” etc. 17: 5.

6.“Behold, a virgin shall be with,” etc. 1:23.

7.“And shall cast them into,” etc. 13:50

Bible Questions for September.

The answers are to be found in Luke.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “I say unto you, fear Him.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “Him only shalt thou serve.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “Shall not pass, away.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “All night in prayer.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “Praising and blessing God.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “The Throne of His Father.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “Thou shalt forgive him.”

ML 09/01/1918

Sunshine.

It was a cold, windy day that Helen Turner chose for visiting poor, sick Ruth Morris, who had just met with such a frightful accident—an accident which had thrilled the tiny village heart with truest sympathy, for Ruth’s sweet, patient, Christian life was not unknown or unnoticed, and she was beloved by all who in any way came in contact with her.

Helen Turner was the daughter of a leading business man in W—, a well-disposed girl, not a decided Christian, but yet loving to do deeds of kindness for their own sake, and hence she might be found today trudging through the muddy streets and facing the bitter east wind with a brightly-bound volume under her arm, intending to lighten an hour of Ruth’s sufferings by reading aloud to her.

She entered Ruth’s room, on the north side of a small, bleak house. It had not looked pleasant without, but it was scarcely more cheerful within doors. The window looked out on a bare wall, with a peep of sky above three chimneys, and the yellow and green leaves of an old tree, were the only objects that Ruth’s eyes could rest upon. Yet the girl’s face was bright and cheerful, and she greeted Helen with a grateful smile. After a few remarks, Helen burst out with the thoughts that had filled her mind ever since she entered the room.

“Poor Ruth! How I pity you. What a cheerless life yours is, and what a pity your room is on the north side of the house.”

Ruth looked so astonished that Helen went on: “You see you never get any sun —not a ray comes in at these windows. It’s too bad! Sunshine is everything. I love the sun, and I could not live as you do, without it.”

Helen has never forgotten the sweet, still smile that flooded Ruth’s pale face with the light of an autumn sunset, as she answered:

“O! my sun pours in at every window and every crack—I am in the sunlight all day long.”

Seeing Helen’s surprised, questioning look, she continued softly—

“The Sun of Righteousness, you know—Jesus. He shines in here all day long, and makes everything bright and beautiful to me.”

No wonder that Helen watched Ruth with wistful eyes as, when her hour was ended, she trudged homeward with the heaven-born wish growing in her heart that Ruth’s Saviour might be her Saviour, too. Then she could tell others that the sunshine Jesus gives will make us able to rejoice even in sickness and sorrow, and make a bare, dingy room a happy place.

Dear children, are you happy in Him in the midst of sickness and sorrow? Does He make everything beautiful to you all day long? Or are you still “all in the dark?”

Will you not “pull up the blinds of your soul” and just let Jesus shine in?” If you want light, tell Him so and “Christ shall give thee light.”

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jno. 8:12.

ML 09/01/1918

True Happiness.

Happy the child whose tender years

Receive instruction well;

Who hates the sinner’s path, and fears

The road that leads to hell.

When he devotes his youth to God,

‘Tis pleasing in His eyes;

A flower, when offered in the bud,

Is no vain sacrifice.

ML 09/01/1918

It Was for Me.

ONE stormy Sunday afternoon, at the hour when a class of young women usually gathered in a little mountain cottage, one young girl only waited for her teacher.

She had been learning during the week the sweet words contained in the 53rd of Isaiah; and as she toiled up the hillside she had been repeating the verses to herself; but they were only to her then as the “very lovely song of one who had a pleasant voice.” She did not know the meaning of “being healed by His stripes.”

After prayer, with which the hour of teaching always began, Mary repeated the first four verses of the chapter. When she reached the fifth verse:

“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,” the tears filled her eyes, and before reaching the end of the verse her head sunk down, and the fast-falling tears dropped on the open Bible before her as she sobbed out:

“It was for me, it was for me.”

The intense solemnity of that moment prevented any other words being spoken than these, in answer to her words:

“Let us thank Him, dear child, that it was for you;” and they knelt down, and after the teacher had thanked the Lord for opening the blind eyes of her dear scholar to see Jesus as her substitute, the weeping girl in broken words said:

“Lord Jesus! I thank Thee that Thou didst die for me, that Thou didst take my punishment;” and then the sweet calm of conscious acceptance in the Beloved stole into the broken heart, and peace with God was sweetly realized.

Rising from their knees, the teacher saw a troubled look pass over the bright face upon which “the light of His countenance” was shining, and in deep distress the poor child said:

“O! my father, my mother, my brother, they do not know this joy!”

So they knelt again to plead for those still “far off,” and rose up comforted.

The joy of resurrection life filled the heart of that young girl with unspeakable joy, but it was only when by faith she could say, “It was for me, it was for me.”

Till the disciples saw for themselves that the grave of Jesus was empty, the words of the women who returned from the sepulcher were like “idle tales.” Have you, who, it may be, are reading these words, ever known the joy of the realization that “He was wounded for your transgressions, that He was bruised for your iniquities, that the chastisement of your peace was upon Him?”

If not you are far from God—outside in the darkness of unbelief and death—and till you accept the love of a living, loving Saviour, and see Him as your Sin-Bearer, there is no peace, no life, no joy for you.

O! believe this love that is yearning over you—that was stronger than death, and is infinite as God Himself.

ML 09/01/1918

Awake!

IN our picture this week we have a dear little girl asleep and her older sister has evidently been up and dressed for quite a while, and even Shep has come to her bedside to see why she is still asleep.

It is a sweet picture to see a little child fast asleep. But there is another kind of sleep that it not good and one may feel sad as he thinks of it. There are lots, of people, old and young, who are asleep as to God’s things and as to where they are going to spend eternity.

Are you, dear reader, truly awake to the facts that you have to meet God, and that there is eternity ahead? Have you thought of where you will spend eternity? Many are going on asleep as to these great facts, and God would have such awake while there is still the offer of salvation through Christ Jesus.

“THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.” Acts 4:12.

That name is Jesus Christ. Have you taken Him as your Saviour? If you have, you are awake as to these two great facts, and you will be able to say: “I will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.” But if you have not, you are still asleep. O, may you awake now, for the time is near when the Lord Jesus will no longer offer to be your Saviour. He will soon take the place of judge of all those who have despised and rejected Him.

Then, too, for those who may be awake to the two facts just mentioned, there is a danger of being asleep as to the reality of these things. So the Scripture says: “It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent and the day it at hand.” Rom. 13:11,12.

ML 09/01/1918

God Answers Prayer.

DEAR little Eliza’s parents had died and she felt quite lonely, but she knew and loved the Lord Jesus, and told Him all her troubles.

She became a little servant maid and one very hot summer day she was sent out upon an errand. Eliza lost her way and wandered about for a long time, not knowing where to go. She was afraid to ask the passersby lest she should be directed wrong; and the child began to be in trouble.

Then she thought, I will ask the Lord Jesus, for He knows quite well just where I am and the house to which I want to go and the nearest way to it. So the little girl prayed Him, in His kindness, to show her the way.

She had hardly spoken to the Lord in her heart before a lady drew near and Eliza at once asked her to tell her the way to Mrs. B.’s.

“Follow me, little girl, and you will soon be there,” said the lady. “I live next door.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” replied Eliza. “I knew you would show me, for Jesus told me to ask you the way.”

What the lady thought of such an answer I do not know; but Eliza was quite happy and was soon at the house she wished.

Will our young readers, like little Eliza, remember to ask God for everything? For He listens to little children’s prayers. You would find it a pleasant task to look in the Bible for the answers to prayer there recorded. The more you speak to God about all your wants the more happy you will grow.

There’s not a little sparrow falls

But that my Father knows;

And He the scented lily clothes

And every flower that blows.

He gives the hungry bird its food,

The drooping bud its shower,

But I am dearer far to Him

Than sparrow or than flower.

Because He made His creatures all,

He guards them ‘neath His eye,

He made me, too; but O, good news!

For me His Son did die.

When troubles cause my heart to droop

Or wet my cheek with tears,

My Father’s love, my Fathers’ care,

Shall soothe away my fears.

ML 09/01/1918

Sailing Down Stream.

Carelessly sailing, and onward they go,

Borne to the depths of eternal woe;

Gliding along on the swift stream of time,

Onward fast speeding past mercy divine.

Laughing and sporting with judgment ahead,

Duped by the devil, his captives they’re led;

By sinful pleasures, still onward beguiled,

The world, flesh and devil upon them have smiled.

Nearer they journey to hell’s awful gulf,

Piloted there by the devil himself;

Soon will the ocean of terror be reached,

Soon all their pleasure and folly have ceased.

Then, when too late, will their madness appear,

Loud their entreaty when help is not near;

Then will their weeping and wailing begin,

As hell they enter, the fruit of their sin.

O, sinner, hasten from judgment to flee!

While God in mercy is calling to thee;

Flee to the shelter of Christ’s precious blood,

Still it availeth to give peace with God.

“IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL.” Lev. 17:11.

ML 09/08/1918

Little Beattie.

I WANT to tell you about a dear little boy who lived very near the beautiful Niagara Falls, which are justly called the “thunder of waters,” for their sound is so great that they can be heard at the distance of many miles.

At the infant school there were about sixty or seventy pupils assembled each Lord’s day.

Some of these children were very unruly and disobedient, but there was one—a little fellow of eight years old—who was always a marked contrast to the others, by his attention to what was being taught. His name was Beattie. Sometimes my friend gave the children a short and simple address, speaking to them in easy words, and trying to get them to listen to the “sweet story of old”—the love of God to this world in giving His Son to die for sinners; and, while some of the scholars “cared for none of these things” little Beattie always sat with his large eyes fixed on the speaker, and a lovely expression on his face, as he heard about that blessed One who died on the cross and rose again. Little Beattie really loved the Bible, and it was a pleasure to him to learn verses correctly or to search for answers to the questions put by his teacher.

Dear child! it was God’s will that he should suffer pain. God was his Father—his loving, gracious Father, but He saw fit to make this little one pass through affliction. Those large and beautiful eyes of little Beattie’s that had looked wonderingly on the mighty waterfall, and that had often read the Bible, were struck by a disease which soon deprived them of sight, and the dear little fellow became blind.

It was after this that the brightness of his character and the depth of his faith grew rapidly, affording another proof that “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.” (Matthew 21: 16.) Not only was he blind, but very ill, and it became plain, to all who saw him, that he would not live in this world much longer. Often when his father and mother sat in his room he would make great efforts not to show the pain from which he was suffering, because he feared to distress their tender hearts, for his own heart was so loving that he could not bear to afflict them.

“Do not cry, dear mamma,” he would say; “do not fret. Be happy. I am quite happy. I am going to my heavenly home, going to be with Jesus, and I don’t want you to fret about me. You must be happy, for I shall be so happy there.”

One day, shortly before little Beattie’s death, he heard his brother John quarreling with another brother. Now, he loved John tenderly, and he knew that his love was returned so he called him to his bedside, made him feel how much his conduct had grieved him, and told him that as he was considerably older than the other boy, he ought to set him a good example. Then he begged John to come to the Lord Jesus for the pardon of all his sins, and entreated him to become a follower of Christ. My friend said he believed that John never forgot that lesson, and the gentle, pleading voice of his dear little dying brother; and there is reason to hope that he has since really come to Christ, and found Him as willing to receive him as He was to make little Beattie His own.

Little Beattie’s sense of hearing became most acute as he lay on his sick-bed. He knew, by the step, all who came to the house before he heard their voices, and for everyone who spoke to him he always had a sweet and loving word in reply. There was no fretfulness, no murmuring; but a constant sense of the Lord’s presence with him, made him so full of joy that he seldom said a word about his pain and suffering, talking only of the love of God, and of the bright home to which he was going. My friend told me that he thought the sick chamber of that precious boy was, through God’s mercy, as the very gate of heaven to more than one poor sinner. There they learned something of what the love of God is, and that He can give joy and peace in believing to the youngest as well as to the oldest of those who trust in him.

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

ML 09/08/1918

The Good Shepherd.

See the tender Shepherd treading

O’er the rough and thorny way,

Down into the awful chasm

Where the wandering sheep doth lay.

Thorns and stones His path do cover,

Wounding Him at every step;

But the Shepherd’s heart is yearning

O’er His naughty, erring sheep.

Though deep sorrows weigh His spirit

Yet His heart with love abounds;

Love which cannot be contented

Till its object it has found.

Onward in His course He presses,

Over mountains steep and drear;

Then a feeble cry of anguish

Falls upon His list’ning ear.

Now behold His glad rejoicing,

“I have found my long-lost sheep;”

On His shoulder strong He bears it,

And the Shepherd’s joy’s complete.

O, what love it was that brought Him

Down from heaven’s eternal bliss;

Shame and death for us to suffer!

Was there ever love like this?

Each to his own way has turned,

We like sheep from Him have strayed;

But the Lord upon that Shepherd

Our iniquity has laid.

Nails His hands and feet have pierced,

Wounded, too, His holy side;

Tell me, reader, do you know Him,

He who thus for you has died?

ML09/08/1918

How a Little Boy Found Salvation.

W. WAS a bright little fellow of eight, who used to live in a large seaside town. His great delight was to go down to the beach with his nurse and dig in the sand or throw stones into the sea. Sometimes his father would take him out for a row, and this he greatly enjoyed.

Now, although W. was quite a little boy, he was old enough to know that he had done a great deal that was wrong. Often would he lie awake at night in terror. He feared that he might die, and knew that only those whom God had demised might go to heaven. So anxious was he to have his sins forgiven that every night he used to repeat over and over again very earnestly, “Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.”

One evening his cousin took him on her knee and asked him if he was one of God’s little lambs. But W. could only hang his head and answer, “No.” That night he was more frightened than ever. He felt sure that he should die, and knew that he was not saved. The next day was Sunday, and W. went to church with his parents.

Suddenly, as he was coming home, he felt that his sins were forgiven. He could believe that Jesus had died even for him. O, what joy was his! With difficulty he restrained himself from calling out, and it was only shyness that prevented him from telling his parents what had happened. But as soon as home was reached he exclaimed to his nurse:

“You know that happy feeling that comes over you when your sins are forgiven; well, I feel that now.”

Yes, W. was saved, and when he knelt by his bed that night he could no longer ask God to wash him “whiter than snow,” as he had already praised Him for so doing. But he could ask for help in his new life, and this he did. Years have gone by since that eventful Sunday and W. is no longer a little fellow, but he can never forget the joy of that day, the happiest in his life.

Little readers, do you know that your sins are forgiven, or are you, as was W., afraid to die? If so, remember what God has said in His word:

“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.)

ML 09/08/1918

The Best Weather.

MOTHER, it rains,” said a little girl, who was looking out at the window. “I am sorry not to make a visit to Emma. She invited me twice before, but it rained, and now it is raining hard again.”

“I hope you will not be unhappy, my dear,” said her mother. “I trust you will be patient, and wait pleasantly for good weather.”

“Mother, you have told me that God knows everything, and that He is always good. Then He certainly must know that there is but one Saturday afternoon in the week, and that this is all the time I have to play with my little friends. He must know that it has rained now these three holidays, and when I wished so much to go visiting. And can He not make sunshine whenever He pleases?”

“We cannot understand all the ways of God, my child; but the Bible tells us He is wise and good. Look out into your little garden, and see how happy the rose-buds are to catch the soft rain in their bosoms, and how the violets lift up their sweet faces to meet it. The cattle too will drink at the stream and be refreshed. Should it be dried up, they would be troubled; and were the green grass to grow brown and die, they would be troubled still more, and some of them might perish for want of food.”

Then the good mother told her daughter of the sandy deserts in the East, and of the camel who patiently bears thirst for many days; and how the fainting traveler watches for the rain cloud, and blesses God when he finds water. Then she showed her a picture of the camel and of the caravan, and told her how they were sometimes buried under the sands of the desert. Then she told her a story of the mother who wandered into the wilderness with her son, and when the water was spent in the bottle, she laid him under the shade to die, and went and prayed in her anguish to God; then how an angel brought the water from heaven, and her son lived. (Gen. 21:17.) Then they sang together a hymn or two, and the little girl was surprised to find the afternoon so swiftly spent, for the time passed very pleasantly.

So she thanked her kind mother for the stories she had told, and the pictures she had shown her. Then she smiled, and said, “What pleases God is best.”

Her mother kissed her, and said, “Carry this sweet spirit with you, as long as you live, and you will have gathered more wisdom from the storm than from the sunshine.”

ML 09/08/1918

All Ye That Pass by.

All ye that pass by, to Jesus draw nigh;

To you is it nothing that Jesus should die?

Our ransom, our peace, our surety He is;

Come, see if there ever was sorrow like His.

The Lord in the day of atonement did lay

Our sins on the Lamb, and He bore them, away;

He died to atone for sins not His own;

The just God has punished for us His dear Son.

Love moved Him to die; on this I rely;

My Saviour hath loved me, I cannot tell why;

But this I can tell, He loved me so well

As to lay down His life to redeem me from. hell.

With joy I now prove, divine was the love!

A wonder to all both below and above!

When time is no more, I still shall adore

The One who once died, and lives evermore!

ML 09/08/1918

Decision for Christ.

THE case of Ruth and Naomi gives to us a wonderful picture of one who has decided for Christ. There are many more lessons, and we may have another at another time about gleaning.

Ruth heard about Naomi’s God and her country and her people, and she was set on going to that country and dwelling there. Her heart had been filled with sadness in her own land, so she wanted a better country.

Have you found this world to be a sad place, dear reader? There is nothing here to satisfy, and I trust if you have so found it, that you may be desiring a better place. If you do, we will not ask you to go to this poor world to find pleasure, as Naomi wanted Ruth to go back to the land of Moab, where she had found so much sorrow, but we desire to have you go with us to the home above by the only way that God in His grace has provided for us, and that way is Christ. Have you decided for Christ? Can you say:

“THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND THY GOD MY GOD.” Ruth 1:16.

This is decision in the right way. If you have so decided, listen to these words of the Lord Jesus:

“No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6.) You must come through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only Saviour and He died for us poor sinners, so that we could come to the Father through Him. Then there is another verse that shows that any one may come to Him, and no one will be refused.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37.)

Decide now for Christ. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2).

ML 09/15/1918

Two Josephs.

TWO cousins, both bearing the name of Joseph, were left fatherless at a very-early age. Their mothers were Christians.

Joseph R—’s mother used to gather her seven children around her every Lord’s day evening, to teach them, and to hear them repeat the ten commandments and the catechism, closing with the hymn:

“The light of Sabbath eve is fading fast away.”

There was in her teaching a mixture of law and grace.

These weekly gatherings were very distasteful to the children, for they were afraid of God, and had hard thoughts of Him, thinking that to obtain salvation, they had to keep the commandments. and of course, they found themselves unable to do so. The gospel tells us of God’s love and grace. Through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, God can freely forgive the sinner; can give to him eternal life, and make him His own child. (Rom. 3:24, 25; 6:23; Gal. 3:26.)

Joseph was the youngest member of this family, and as time passed on, religious teaching became more and more wearisome to him. He could not be induced to enter a church or chapel, and went on carelessly till the age of eighteen. He was then seized with typhus fever, in so severe a form as to leave him, after six days, in a dying condition.

On the morning of the day on which he died, his youngest sister, on entering his room, was struck with the great change that had come over him. She saw that he was dying. The nurse was sitting with him, but his mother had gone to breakfast. His sister was not a Christian, but her heart was tender; and hurrying downstairs, she cried, “O! mother, Joe is dying; and you have not said one word to him about his soul!”

The mother instantly returned with her to his bedside. He was apparently unconscious. His mother whispered, “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7.) The sister was surprised to hear Joe repeat the words after his mother.

Immediately, fearful convulsions set in, and during the slight intervals between the fits, poor Joe’s agony of soul was dreadful. He would cry out, “I have been such a wicked boy, mother!” and would be off in another fit. On returning to consciousness, this was still his cry; and all day long he kept on in this manner, until about five in the evening, when he cried:

“O, mother! Etta! the gates are open! Carry me through! Quick! Quick!” The fits were now so frequent and so strong that there was scarcely time between them to speak one word to him. Then, in an easier moment, he repeated:

“Jesus, Lover of my soul,

Let me to Thy bosom fly,

While the raging billows roll,

While the tempest still is high

Hide me, O! my Saviour, hide,

Till the storm of life is past.

Safe into the haven guide,

O! receive my soul at last.”

Rarely, perhaps have the words of the last line—

“O! receive my soul at last,” been uttered with such intense earnestness, as they were then uttered by poor Joe. It was, indeed, a cry of anguish and longing from the depths of his soul. The young fellow was face to face with eternity, and he wanted that Saviour, whom he had slighted in life, to receive his soul now. Was he saved? One cannot speak with certainty.

After battling with death for about two hours, Joe was gone, so there was no life to testify to the reality of his change of heart. But if Joe really “called upon the name of the Lord,” and came as a poor undone sinner to Jesus, then he was assuredly saved, for it is written:

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13.)

Jesus Himself has said:

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37.)

But O! what an awful risk was his!

Let none of my readers think that he can come to Christ when he likes, and that there will be time to find Him on a death-bed, for death sometimes comes very suddenly. The six days granted to Joe are not granted to all, and what I have to relate of his cousin will show the truth of this.

The mother of the second Joseph of our narrative, although a Christian, had not obeyed God’s word concerning ungodly alliances, for her second marriage was with an unconverted man. He was not kind to Joseph, who, in consequence, left his mother’s roof.

Joe was an ungodly young man, desiring to see something of the world, and to be his own master. Alas! there are many such, and they think not that they are the slaves of Satan.

Soon after the death of his cousin, Joe met with an accident and was taken to St. G. Hospital. His mother was sent for, and proceeded quickly there, to receive the awful intelligence that nothing could be done for her son—he was dying! The poor mother went to his bedside, and tried to tell him gently of his danger, and of the love of Jesus, but there was no response in Joseph’s heart.

His mother, knowing he was unsaved, in the anguish of her heart, told him plainly that he was dying. He sprang up instantly from the bed, and shouted out, “I won’t die! I can’t die! I’m not fit to die!” and fell back dead.

So died Joseph P—, at the age of twenty-one. No ray of hope here. Notwithstanding God’s love and God’s great provision for sinners in giving His only begotten Son to die in their stead; notwithstanding the fact of an open Bible with the way of salvation clearly revealed therein—salvation through simple trust in the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ—Joseph died without Christ—without hope.

His poor mother was heart-broken. Wherever she went, whatever she did, her dying son was always before her. She fancied she could still hear his groans, and his last bitter cry—and in about five weeks death came to her also.

O! my dear reader, let me ask you to profit by this terrible story. Do, I pray you, think of eternity. You may be younger than either of these young men, and your days are swiftly speeding on, like the grains of sand running in an hour glass. How mad to risk your eternal welfare for anything this world can offer! Nothing can really satisfy but Christ, and if you accept Him, as your Saviour, you will find that He gives not only salvation, but joy that can never be found in the world.

To the Christian mother who may read the account of these two sad death-beds, I would say, seek grace and wisdom from God to win your children to the Saviour while they are yet young. Let the story of His love and of His finished work be very tenderly dwelt on, and let the need of the little ones of such a Saviour be faithfully pressed. God will own your efforts, and will bless and save your children; thus you will never have to taste the bitterness of the sorrow, experienced by the two unhappy mothers of my story.

ML 09/15/1918

Help in Trouble.

I REMEMBER getting into trouble one day, when quite a little fellow. My mother, being busy, said I might take my younger brother for a walk; but I was not to go far.

Well, I led him in the direction of the seashore, which was a long distance from our house.

We had not been on the beach very many minutes before dark clouds appeared in the sky, and there was a heavy thunderstorm.

I then felt that I had disobeyed my mother, and thought how displeased she would be with me. I was in distress; but I had learned what a friend the Lord Jesus was, and I thought He would help me, even though I had grieved Him in acting as I had. So I offered the following simple prayer:

“Please, Jesus, forgive me for being naughty, and don’t let mother be angry for doing what she told me not to; and please, Jesus, make it leave off raining, and I will try and be a good boy afterwards. Amen.”

I shall never forget those few words, and, above all, how the Lord answered them; for almost directly afterwards the rain stopped, and the sun broke out again.

When I reached home my mother did not say much to me, and I felt that God had forgiven me.

“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.” (Psa. 32:5.)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (¤ Jno. 1:9.)

Have you put your trust in Jesus? It matters not how young you may be; if you put your simple trust in Him, He will help you in any time of trouble.

ML 09/15/1918

Jesus Loves Us.

Jesus lived—He lived for sinners,

Outcast, in the world He made;

Lived, that in His blessed person

God’s full grace might be displayed.

Jesus died—He died for sinners,

On the cross He cried, “Forgive;”

Died, that lost and ruined rebels

Through His precious blood might live.

Jesus rose—He rose for sinners,

Proving that the work was done;

Sweet assurance that the Father

Wes well pleased with His Son.

Jesus lives—He lives for sinners,

High upon the Father’s throne;

Liveth, evermore to succour

Those who make His love their own.

Jesus loves—He loveth sinners,

Loveth more than tongue can say;

Prove Him now, accept His mercy,

Turn not from such love away.

ML 09/15/1918

The Sad News.

HOW many there are today all over the world who are receiving sad news. The brother, father, cousin or friend has been killed or injured in the war. Man has made this world an unhappy place for himself to live in. Yet there seems no way out of it.

God has good news for us. He delights to give us blessing and He loves us. The good news He has for us is that He sent His Son into this world that we might live through Him.

“THE LORD IS . . . NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Peter 3:9.

Then there is that grand verse that is so well known:

“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.) Is not that good news? That is the kind of news God likes to give us.

We may notice, too, how attentive all are when sad news is brought to us, and the expression on each face shows it too, but how is it as we think of the good news that God has given to us about His Son? Are we attentive to it? Are we filled with gladness and thanksgiving to Him for all this wonderful love? We surely ought to be, and if we are not, O, dear reader, do listen now! for the time is fast approaching when it will be no longer good news.

For those who have been indifferent, and have not paid attention to His good news, they will hear sad news:

“Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matt. 25:41.) This need not be Your portion, but if you will not believe the good news God has given us, you must take the sad news.

ML 09/22/1918

A Child's Trust.

THE summer sun was shining brightly, the birds were singing sweetly, and everything seemed speaking of God’s care, as two little girls trod lightly the well-known road to their Sunday School. A pretty picture they made, in their cool print dresses, with such sweet, happy little faces and dark curling hair. They had not far to go, so the school door was soon reached, and the children seated in their classes.

Nellie, the youngest, was very fond of her teacher, and listened eagerly to every word that was said. The lesson was about answers to prayer.

“Dear children,” the teacher said, “God wants His little ones to come to Him, with all their little troubles and trials. He will not send any one of you away, no not one of you, and not any of your troubles are too small for Jesus. Do you want anything? Just go to Jesus in the same way as you would go to your mother. If you were hungry, and said, ‘Mother, please may I have some bread and butter,’ perhaps she might say, ‘in a few minutes we shall be having tea, so you must wait a while, darling: but she would give you what you wanted in due time. Now, God sometimes, as it were, says to His dear children, ‘You must wait a little while, it is better for you.’ But He always answers prayer, and does it in the very best way.” As little Nellie’s large dark eyes were fixed upon her teacher, in simple faith, she believed God, and she felt that Jesus was her loving Friend.

A few weeks glided by, bright, happy weeks to the sweet trusting child, and then she was suddenly called to the death bed of her loving mother. Poor mother! she gazed very sadly at her dear little ones, so soon to be motherless.

“Good-bye, my own darlings, I am going to God,” she said, and then she prayed: “O God, take care of my children when I am gone.”

After that, she turned to the weeping children, and said to them:

“Take care of your father, my darlings, when I am gone. Always have the house tidy, and his meals ready, when he returns from work.”

“Yes, dearest mother,” sobbed the children; “but O! do stay with us. What shall we do without you?”

“God will be a Father to you, and a mother also,” she said. Poor thing! too well she knew their earthly father was fast losing all love for home through drink.

In less than a week after this, two little figures, clad in black, with a tall man, bowed down with grief, followed all that remained of the dear wife and mother to its last resting place in the quiet country churchyard, and then they went back to their lonely home.

The children tried hard to fill their mother’s place. The poor little things did miss her so deeply! Perhaps Julia felt it most, for she was the eldest. Nellie was only eight years old, and she would go to Jesus, and there pour out her grief and sorrow, “for He loves to hear me pray,” said the child.

The bright summer days had passed; chill winter was creeping on. The father was rarely at home. Most of his time was spent at the “Crown” inn, and his money too, yet he always expected his tea at night, while the poor children might go hungry to bed.

At last there came a day when the cupboard was empty, and the children had no means to fill it again.

“How shall we get father some tea?” asked Julia.

“Let us go to Aunt Fanny,” Nellie replied. So away they trotted up the street.

“Poor little things!” the neighbors said, and shook their heads as they passed. But Nellie did not feel floor for she was thinking of Jesus.

“Aunt Fanny, we have nothing to eat,” were the words that wrung the heart of their poor, but kind-hearted aunt. It was often as much as she could do to find food and clothing for her own little ones—she would go without herself that they might have enough—and the tears filled her eyes as she listened to the children. Then Nellie said, “Don’t you think if we asked God, He would send something for us?”

“I daresay He would, dear,” the aunt said, but to her, God seemed a very long way off, though her little niece’s words recalled other days—happy days when she had prayed to the Saviour—but that was long ago. So they all knelt down, and little Nellie began to pray:

“O God our Father, we are all so hungry, and the cupboard is empty, and there is nothing for father’s tea; please send us something before he comes home, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.” Then, one by one, the others prayed also, sobbing and crying between the words. But the Heavenly Father looked down tenderly upon them; He heard and answered their prayers, as you will see.

They all arose, and the aunt kissed the children, drying her eyes, as she did so, and, with the words, “God bless you,” they returned to their lonely home; yet they did not feel alone, for Jesus was with them.

In a house near the cottage, that afternoon, all was warm and bright, and there was plenty there. In her beautiful room a lady sat thinking, or, was it God who was speaking to her? She arose and dressed for a walk. Then, going to the kitchen, she returned with a basket laden with good things, and walked down the street. This lady was not in the habit of taking things to the poor, and we cannot explain how it was she thought of these little children; but she went to the house where they were, for God had sent her to answer Nellie’s prayer.

Was little Nellie surprised to see a well filled table that night, do you think? Ah, no! She knew God would, answer prayer.

Several years have passed since this occurred. I will only add that Nellie is now a young woman. She is very much loved, and is still marked by her simple faith and trust in God. The dying mother’s prayer is answered: God has been to her both Father and mother.

ML 09/22/1918

Do You Know the Lord?

DO you know the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour?”

I asked this question of an old country woman who had passed by some years the “seventy” appointed to man, and whose snowy hair showed that the winter of life had settled upon her. Her reply was:

“I trust Him night and day. I’ve no one else to trust.”

No one else! Who else is needed? Who so worthy of our trust as the blessed Son of God? and who so faithful to the confidence placed in Him?

What saith the Scripture: “Blessed (or happy) are all they that put their trust in Him.” (Ps. 2:12.) “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” (Prov. 16:20.)

ML 08/22/1918

"Save My Father."

A boy about eleven,

Residing in a court,

Had learned the way to heaven,

As in the Bible taught,

That by the blood of Jesus

Our sins are washed away;

And found, too, that He sees us,

And guards us night and day.

His father, fond of pleasure,

And fond of drinking, too,

Cared nothing for the treasure

Which little Robert knew.

When he had done his labors,

Cared not for homelike joys,

But oft disturbed his neighbors

By midnight cries and noise.

One night, when sleepless lying,

When all was calm and still,

I heard young Robert crying,

“O help! my father’s ill.”

And sorrowful and weeping,

There stood the loving wife,

To see her husband reaping

The fruits of reckless life.

And Robert, very fearful,

His father’s danger felt,

And sorrowful and tearful,

He in the passage knelt;

And so continued crying,

In agony and pain,

“ Jesus, father’s dying,

But raise him up again.

“Forgive his bad behavior,

O please to let him live,

Do hear me, gracious Saviour,

And health my father give;

My naughty father’s dying,

O raise him up once more,”

Poor Robert still kept crying,

While kneeling on the floor.

And God, who lives in glory,

And loves to give relief,

Had heard the simple story

Of little Robert’s grief;

God saw his tears of sorrow,

And understood his pain,

And so, upon the morrow,

His father raised again.

For though so high and holy,

And dwelling in the light,

Yet with the poor and lowly

God findeth His delight.

And whilst the earth He’s filling,

With life, and light, and joy,

Yet Robert found Him willing

To help a little boy!

ML 08/22/1918

Confidence.

A Christian sailor, when asked why he remained so calm in a fearful storm, said “Though I sink, I shall only drop into the hollow of My Father’s hand; for He holds all these waters there.”

“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” Isa. 40:12.

ML 08/22/1918

The Stone Breaker.

IN days of old, stone breaking used to be done with just a hammer, and men would sit all day and break stones, but now they break them with large machines that they call stone crushers, so the work is done much faster. Sometimes the men who broke the stones would not sit, but would get on their knees, and that not because they wanted to change their position, but when they had very hard stones to break, they found they had more strength that way, and so could break them easier.

Now, there is a lesson we may learn from this that is of more importance than breaking stones. We find many difficult things in our path, and we try hard to accomplish them, but forget to get on our knees and ask the Lord to enable us, for we can do nothing of ourselves?

You may say, Did the stone-breakers, when they got on their knees, pray to God to help them? I am afraid many of them did not, they simply did so because they could put more of their strength to the work, but I am simply using it as an illustration for us to go before God about everything in our path.

The first thing for us to do is to accept God’s salvation through Christ Jesus, for e is the only Saviour. Do you have Him as your Saviour, dear reader? If you have, it is your great privilege to go to Him about everything in your path. But if you have not accepted Christ as your Saviour, you need not expect God to listen to your prayers, for Christ is God’s wonderful gift as a Saviour for sinners, and if we refuse such a gift from God, could we expect that He should answer our prayers? May you accept Christ now, and then trust Him with all your difficulties.

“ALL THINGS, WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE.” Matt. 21:22.

ML 09/29/1918

Now.

NOW. (2 Cor. 6:2.) NOW. (2 Cor. 6:2.)

NOW. (Rom. 8:1.) NOW. (1 John 3:2.)

Dear Children:

These scriptures each have to do with the

Present

time. Salvation is offered through Christ now This is the time! today! tonight! Nothing is said of tomorrow being “the accepted time;” but it is

Now.

Every one of you who receive Christ by faith is saved now, and then you are brought into a new position, not of self, and in Christ, and being brought there, there is

Now

no condemnation; in self there was, “condemned already,” God has made us to know, we who believe, that

Now

are we the children of God; it is a present blessing, and of such a character that when it is received fully into our hearts, makes us happy and delighted. What a wondrous truth for a child to know, and because God has said it! Ah, that is what makes it so valuable. What comfort to poor doubting souls. God says, Behold! Few, indeed, fix their eyes upon the word which says, “Now are we the sons of God.” O! make room in your hearts for such tidings!

“No condemnation! precious word!

Consider it, my soul,

Thy sins were all on Jesus laid,

His stripes have made thee whole.”

ML 09/29/1918

The Children's Party.

IT was the evening of a children’s party, and after having taken tea with them, I retired to my own room, to give them more freedom to enjoy themselves. The house was a wide, broad, rambling one, where they could have hide and seek, and run from room to room and from hall to hall. I daresay the game was of this kind, when one of the little girls slipped into my room to hide, not knowing I was there.

She was a tiny, delicate girl, scarcely able to enjoy a game, or a romp, for she had fallen while at school as a child, and injured her spine permanently.

I invited her in, for she was about to retire. She was a great favorite with us all, and she willingly came to me, and sat on my knee while I chatted with her. I advised her not to join such a game with strong boys and girls, and said she might just stay with me till their game was over.

Then we chatted away for a little time, and as I sat and looked at the weak girl and thought how there was little or no hope that she would live for more than a few years, I felt anxious about her soul, and longed to have a word with her about Jesus.

“How old are you, Bella?” I asked.

“Just thirteen!” she replied.

“Indeed,” I said, “are you really so old as that?”

Then I added, “Thirteen was to me a very eventful age, for do you know it was just when I was thirteen years old that I gave my heart to Jesus?”

She looked up sweetly into my face, and I added:

“Perhaps you have already long ago given Him your heart?”

“No,” she said in a whisper, “I have not done so yet!”

“Well, Bella,” I asked, “would you believe me if I said that I was sorry that I ever gave my heart to Jesus?”

“No,” she replied, “I am sure you never regretted doing so.”

“But don’t you think, Bella, that I would have been wiser to wait and after I had grown up given Him my heart?”

“No, I suppose the sooner the better,” said the girl.

“Do you really think so?” I asked. “Do you think it a wise thing to give one’s heart to Jesus, and that as soon as possible, and that one never, never regrets such a step?”

“Yes,” she said, “I do.”

“Then, Bella,” I asked again, “would you believe me when I tell you that it was the happiest day in all my life, and that I never knew what it was to be happy until then, and that I have been very, very, very happy ever since, and that now knowing Jesus as my own beloved Saviour, who died for me on Calvary, and who loves me still, just as well as ever He did, although He is now on the throne, and possesses all power in heaven and on earth, would you believe that now, if I had a thousand hearts, I would gladly give Him them all?”

“Yes,” said the little girl, as she heaved a long, deep drawn sign, that spoke to me of a secret longing to be happy, and perhaps a secret unhappiness and dread, deep down in that heart.

“Well, Bella,” I said, “Jesus came to my heart and knocked, and said, ‘My son, give Me thine heart;’ and for a time, a long, long time, I said, ‘No, Jesus, I want to enjoy the world and myself for a while, I don’t want you yet.’ But friends around me died, and I grew sick, and I feared that I too might die unsaved, without Christ; and Jesus came again, and said, ‘My son, give Me thine heart,’ and then I said, ‘Take my heart, Lord, and keep it forever.’” Then turning to the dear child, I said, “Bella, Jesus has often come to Your heart, and said, ‘My daughter, give Me thine heart;’ and maybe you have put Him off again and again, and now He comes once more tonight and knocks, and says, ‘Let Me in;’ and one day you may be knocking at Jesus’ door at heaven’s gate, and saying, ‘Let me in, Jesus;’ and if you do not let Him in, you cannot expect Him to let you in then, for He will have to say, ‘I never knew you.’” “But,” I continued, as I saw the tears in the eyes of my little friend, “if you take Jesus in now, He will take you then, into His Father’s home.” A little more was said, but the end was that Bella and I knelt down, after I had locked my door, and there and then, with tears partly of sorrow and partly of joy, did she give herself up to Jesus, and asked Him to come into her sinful heart and wash it, and make it white as snow by His precious blood.

I knew, I felt that it was a real transaction, that God had brought her into my room, and that that night He was rejoicing over another lost lamb folded in the Shepherd Saviour’s arms, and I thanked Him for having thus drawn to Himself this dear child.

Putting my arms round her as she rose from her knees, I said:

“Bella, Jesus has been holding out His arms for you a long time, and now you have come to them, and He just folds them round you like this;” and I said,

“His are the everlasting arms, and nothing shall ever separate you from His bosom or His love, and no one, neither man, nor angel, nor devil will be able to pluck you from Him.” I opened the door, and she went quietly away to wash a face stained with crying, but bright with the new light of life, and to join the others, who had scarcely missed her. That evening I walked home with her, and had the opportunity of opening up to her more of the love of Jesus, and of what she had in Him.

We saw each other almost weekly, and Bella kept on, as she had begun, loving the Lord. Many a time I knew by the pressure of her hand, when there was an opportunity to speak, that she meant “We love Jesus,” and many a talk we had of His goodness and grace.

“We love Him because He first loved us.”

ML 09/29/1918

The Power of Love.

A KIND Christian lady, on a visit of charity, met with a poor little orphan girl, who had neither home nor friends. She brought her to her own home. But, finding herself among strangers, the poor child felt very unhappy. She sat in the hall of her kind friend’s house, weeping. This lady had three young daughters. They tried to make friends with the little stranger; but she was timid and frightened, and turned shrinking away from them.

“There is a secret,” said this kind mother, “which will act like a charm on this poor child. It will draw her to you, and make her willing to go anywhere with you. This secret lies in a word of four letters. Now see if you can find it out, my darlings.”

Then the children began to think what this secret could be. They looked among their prettiest playthings to find something that would answer. At last the eldest daughter said— “I know what it is; d-o-1-1 is a word of four letters. I’ll try my pretty new doll.” So she took her best doll and offered to give it to the child if she would come into the parlor. But this had no effect upon her.

Then the next in age said to herself, “M-u-f-f is a word of four letters. Perhaps this is it.” So she took her beautiful muff, that had been given to her, and offered to show it to the little stranger. But she only turned away her head and wouldn’t look at it.

Grace, the youngest daughter, tried next; but she was puzzled to know what to do. Yet she was not willing to give up, but stood looking at the child and feeling great pity for her. At last she went and sat down by the side of the crying child, and she cried too. Presently she took the poor child’s hand into hers and stroked and patted it gently. Then she said to her tenderly, “Don’t cry, dear. No one will hurt you here. We only want to love you, and be good to you.” Then she put her little arms around the stranger’s neck, and took her head upon her shoulder, and gently kissed her.

The little girl stopped crying. She looked earnestly in the face of this new friend, and then dashing away her tears she said— “I’ll go anywhere with you.”

So Grace took the little one by the hand and led her into the parlor.

“Well, girls,” said her mother, “Grace has found out the secret. The four letters to which I referred spell the word l-o-v-e. Love has greater power than anything else in the world.”

God is love, and, love is of God.

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

ML 09/29/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for August.

1.“Afterward He appeared” etc. Mark 16:14.

2.“And they feared,” etc. 4:41

3.“Whosoever therefore,” etc. 8:38

4.“And they went out,” etc. 6:12

5.“And when He had called” etc. 8:34

6.“And in the morning,” etc. 1:35

7.“For nation shall rise,” etc. 13:8

Bible Questions for October.

The answers are to be found in John’s Gospel.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “Grace and truth.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “Follow thou Me.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “Bear much fruit “

4.Write the verse containing the words: “The wrath of God.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “Calleth for thee.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “Him that cometh.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “Told me all things.”

ML 10/06/1918

Impudence Punished.

JUST look at our picture this week and there we see little Fido on the bank of the river and barking at the large swan as if he could do her a good deal of harm, but he is not thinking that she is protecting her young ones and will fight desperately for them. Nor does he think that at any moment she will stretch out her long neck and with her sharp bill take a piece out of him. That is just what he will get for meddling with what is none of his business.

We can’t blame the poor little dog, for he does not know any better; but how many boys like to torment others who are younger than themselves and sometimes they escape punishment, so they try it again until someday their parents or their school teacher catches them at it. and punishes them for it. It does not seem so good then. for they had not stopped to think of what the outcome would be of their naughtiness.

May each one remember that it is not only the parents or the school teacher we have to do with, but with the living God who knows all things that we do. for the Scripture says:

“EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCCUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD.” Rem. 14:42.

This is a very solemn thing and I trust that each one will fear God.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10.) The one who goes on doing what is wrong, forgetting that he has to say to God about it, is like the one the scripture speaks of:

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God!” (Psa. 14:1.)

ML 10/06/1918

Playing With the Life Belts.

WHEN I was a girl of sixteen, our family spent the summer in a pretty watering place. Quite close to the cottage where we lived, there was a coast-guard station, to which my brother Tom and I often went to see the men practicing with the rocket, and the life-preserving apparatus. Out on the sea a boat was anchored to represent the wreck. We were sometimes allowed on board to act as part of the shipwrecked crew, and we thought if great fun to be brought to shore in the basket, or on a life-belt. Many a calm summer evening was spent in this way to our great amusement. I remember one night the old coast-guard shaking his head and saying to me:

“You find great fun in playing with the life-belts, my girl, but if you were shipwrecked on a stormy coast as I have been, von would make a different use of them.” And then he added in a kind but firm voice; laying his hand on my head:

“And it’s just the same with the Saviour. until you know your need of Him.”

I thought that was a strange remark, but the remembrance of it never left me.

After that calm evening came a sudden storm. The wind blew a hurricane. the waves rose like mountains, and just as we were going to bed, a cry of distress was heard out on the stormy sea.

In a very few minutes we were all on the shore, and found there the whole of the coast-guards with the life-saving apparatus, firing rockets across a schooner which had struck on a rock, and was fast sinking in the surf. Clinging to the mast were several half-clad sailors, and it was feared that others had found a watery grave. As the old coast-guard passed me he gave a meaning look, as if he meant to enforce the word spoken the night before. There was no need, for the sad sight of that wrecked vessel had done that already. In half an hour, one dripping, exhausted sailor was brought to shore by means of the very life-belts I had played with, but O, how different his grasp of them was from mine. Poor fellow, he had been battling with grim death for hours before the life-belt reached him, and when it came, he had laid hold of it with a death-like grip, as his last and only chance of being saved. One after another of the poor fellows were brought to shore, and we were all glad to see them safely housed and cared for before we returned home.

Next morning my father and I were down early and found them gathered around the bright fire, while the aged coast-guard conducted a short thanksgiving service to give God praise for their deliverance from a watery grave. He did not forget to tell them of another Deliverer, even Jesus, who could save them from the penalty and the power of sin, and ended his short discourse by saying:

“But only those who see their need of Jesus will trust in Him; all others play with His message, just as our young friends here do with the life-belts in a calm sea, but the drowning man lays bold on them, and commits himself to them to keep him out of a watery grave,”

The rescued men seemed to feel the force of these words, and others there did also, for I never saw as I did that moment how great my need was as a sinner, of a Deliverer and a Saviour.

Soon after this on a Sunday evening I went to hear a stranger who was in our town on a passing visit, and somehow I felt he would have a word of help of some kind for me, and his message seemed all for me. Whether I ever heard the gospel put so simply before, I do not know—possibly I had, but had not seen my need of a personal Saviour—but the Saviour presented at this time in all His beauty, able, willing and ready to save sinners, and to sustain and satisfy them after He did save them, was just the One I needed. So I cast myself upon Him—just as the perishing sailors cast themselves upon the life-belts—and He saved me. Yes, the Lord saved me there as I sat. I have praised Him ever since for His wonderful love and grace to me, and shall continue to do so throughout the never-ending eternity.

Dear young reader, have you as a lost and needy sinner come to the Saviour, trusting yourself to Him, and to His saving power? Or do you trifle with His gospel message as one who knows no need, and sees no danger?

“Why unbelieving? thou canst be blessed, Jesus will pardon, He’ll give thee rest.

“Why wilt thou longer wait?

Haste to the open gate,

Come, ere it be too late,

To Jesus come.”

ML 10/06/1918

None Too Young to Help Others.

MATILDA COUSINS had a kind and tender mother, who loved the Lord Jesus, and who sought to train her little ones to love Him, too. Thus, at the early age of four years, little Matilda began to think whether she were really fit to go to heaven or not. She knew God could not look upon sin, and that she often did naughty, sinful things, and many times the tears rolled down the little cheeks when she thought that perhaps, after all, she should never go to heaven. But before very long, Matilda saw her sins were laid on Jesus—that He bore them all on the cross, and believing in Him, she began to love Him as her own Saviour.

Mr. Cousins did not know or love God, and Matilda now sought in various little ways to be a comfort to her mother, who had many sorrows and difficulties. When she could read, her first wish was to have a Bible of her own, and this desire was granted to her. One day a missionary, who often called upon Mrs. Cousins, brought Matilda a beautiful reference Bible, and on receiving it her joy was so great that she clasped it in her hands, saying with great emphasis, “Precious treasure, thou art mine.”

This dear child’s love to the Lord was not without its fruit, and she sought how she might be useful to those around her. She had many little brothers and sisters, and hearing one day of a school near, where she might be taught knitting, she thought how delightful it would be to make socks for them all.

Matilda was too useful to her mother to be spared in the day, so the kind person who kept the school consented to have a little evening knitting class for girls who were busy all day.

She always began with prayer, and whilst the little ones were knitting, she would sometimes read a portion of God’s Word. Matilda thoroughly enjoyed these evenings, while some present only listened to make fun of the kind teacher who sought to lead the little ones in the right way.

May this story urge on some little Christian child to serve the Lord—to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, who went about doing good. Who knows how rich the blessing of serving others and forgetting self?

“Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9.)

“Even Christ pleased not Himself.” (Rom. 15:3.)

ML 10/06/1918

Suffer Little Children.

“Suffer little children,”

Softly Jesus said,

As they came before Him,

By their mothers led.

From the hands that held them,

With no shy alarms,

Willingly they nestled

In His loving arms.

“Suffer little children,

For the way is long;

Sins and snares are many,

And the foe is strong.

“I will hold them safely.

Guide them with My hand;

Bring them ere the nightfall

To the children’s land.

“Suffer little children,

Let them come to Me;”

Still the word is wafted

Over land and see.

Pity for the helpless,

Strength for those who fall;

In the heart of Jesus

There is love for all.

ML 10/06/1918

Industry.

No matter how humble the home may be, it is good to see cleanliness and industry, as our picture presents to us this week. God does not want us to be careless about our work. He wants us to do everything, remembering that He is looking at us. So the word to the Christian in that connection is,

“WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO IT HEARTILY, AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT UNTO MEN.” Col. 3:23.

Now that we have found the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, the next thing is that we should seek to please Him in all our ways, and bear a proper character and testimony before others in all that we do.

ML 10/13/1918

Zacchaeus.

MY dear children, I am going to tell you a story about a very rich man, and as it will not be long, I want you to try and pay great attention. It is not a story that I have made up; you can read it in the Bible, in Luke 19, and you know that what some of you call “Bible Stories” are the best of all, are they not? They are quite true, for they are from the book written by God the Holy Ghost.

Once, a very long time ago, when Jesus was here on this earth, as He was going about with His disciples, He came to a city called Jericho. Someday I should like to tell you a story about Jericho, but it is too long for today, and I must not forget that you are waiting to hear about the rich man. His name was Zacchaeus, and he lived in Jericho. Let me tell you four things that I want you to remember about him. He was chief among the Publicans; he was rich; he was little of stature, and he was a sinner. I will explain to you what these things mean presently. Well Zacchaeus heard that Jesus had come to the town where he lived, and perhaps he thought within himself, “I should like to see this man, called Jesus, about whom all the people are making such a fuss. He is only a carpenter’s son, but He seems to be doing; very wonderful things, so I shall try to get a sight of Him too.”

Now the first thing we know of this loan is, that he was chief among the Publicans. At that time, Jerusalem and Jericho, and all the land of Judea, were under the government of a great empire, called Rome. This often made the Jews very angry, because they knew that they were God’s own people, and that no one had a right to rule over them but God, and yet, strange to say, when He sent His Son to be their King, they refused to have Him.

Zacchaeus was a person appointed by the Romans to collect taxes from the Jews, and he was called a Publican: that means a tax gatherer. The Jews despised the Publicans, not only because they obeyed the Romans, but because they were often unjust, and took more than they ought and sometimes kept it for themselves. Perhaps that was the reason why Zacchaeus was so rich. When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through Jericho, he began to consider how he could get a sight of Him. Jesus was surrounded, by His disciples and a crowd of people, who were following Him about, and as Zacchaeus was little of stature, that is, a very short man, it would be impossible for him to see over the heads of the people who were crowding around. So I will tell you what he did, and you will say perhaps that it was a very ungentlemanly thing for a rich man to do; but he was so anxious to see Jesus, that he did not care what people thought of him; he ran on before, and he actually climbed up into a thick tree, called a sycamore, which very likely stretched over the road, and where he could see Jesus as much as he wanted, but where he thought Jesus would be very sure not to see him. But it says in one of the Psalms, “Whither shall I flee from Thy presence?” and Zacchaeus could hot hide himself from God. Think how astonished he must have been, when, as Jesus came under the tree, He stopped in the midst of the crowd, and looking up said, “Zacchaeus” (He knew his name you see), make haste, and come, down, for today I must abide at thy house.” And Zacchaeus obeyed exactly. “He made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”

Think of his delight! he had been trying by his own efforts to get just a sight of Jesus, and here was Jesus noticing him, and coming of His own accord, ready to stay with him, in his own house. Indeed he had good cause to receive Him joyfully. When he went up into the tree the half had not been told him, of all His love and grace, but now he had a chance of finding out all the wonders of this Blessed One for himself. But the people were angry, and said that Jesus was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner.

Poor Zacchaeus, he was indeed a sinner! but dear children, don’t you know that that was the very thing that made Jesus love him? because He “came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

But Zacchaeus did not quite understand this yet, and he begins telling the Lord some of his own supposed goodness in giving half of his goods to the poor, and in restoring four times as much for anything he had ever taken unfairly. But Jesus says to him, “This day is salvation come to thy house.” He meant by that that He was giving him something that he did not need to work for. He gave salvation, even Himself, without money and without price, and Jesus goes on to say, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

It is so beautiful to think of this rich man being saved, because in the chapter before Jesus had been saying, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God;” and He proves this in the next chapter, for Zacchaeus is the first rich man after this whom we read of as being saved, showing so plainly that God can do hard things. This is the end of my story, but there are one or two little words I want you to remember. What Jesus said to Zacchaeus was, “Make haste, and come down,” and I say to you “Make haste.” You need to be saved just as much as Zacchaeus did, and there is no time to be lost; and you must “come down” too, for perhaps some of you think you can help, even though a very little, towards your salvation; but it is a mistake. Jesus must do it all. He saves lost people and sinners. Dear children, are you lost? If so, come to Jesus. He bore the judgment of sin on the cross, instead of you, and His precious blood cleanses from all sin. Are you cleansed in that precious blood?

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

ML 10/13/1918

Hearing by Habit.

THERE was an old man at a toll-gate on a quiet country road whose habit was to shut his gate at night and take a sleep. One dark, wet midnight I knocked at the gate, calling,

“Gate, gate!”

“Coming,” said the old man.

Then I knocked again, and once more the voice replied, “Coming.”

This went on for some time, till at length I grew angry, and jumping off my horse, opened the gate and demanded why he had kept saying, “Coming,” for about twenty minutes, but never came?

“Who’s there?” said the old man, in a quiet, sleepy voice, rubbing his eyes. “What do ye want, sir?” Then awakening, “I beg yer pardon, sir, I was asleep; I gets so used to hearing ‘em knock, that I answers ‘Coming,’ in my sleep, and takes no more notice about it.”

So it is with too many hearers of the gospel who hear by habit, and answer God by habit, and at length die with their souls asleep.

Awake, sleeper! for God “hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained,” then your idle assents will be all brought to light.

“Too late, too late!” how sad the sound

On anxious, human ears,

Of those who’ve waited long, a prey

To doubts, and hopes, and fears.

“Too late” they’ll feel their lost estate,

Which now they don’t believe;

“Too late” they’ll see the grace of God

Which now they won’t receive.

“Too late” they’ll find the door will shut,

Which now stands open wide;

“Too late” they’ll have to meet their God

With no place then to hide.

O! children, pause ere yet “too late;”

Now is the day of grace,

Now Jesus calls, O! do obey

His pleading, loving voice.

Today ‘tis free to all who come,

And take Him at His word;

Tomorrow’s sun may rise “too late”

For you who now have heard.

ML 10/13/1918

Only Trust.

ONE day I asked a little girl, “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“No,” she said, “but I want to very much.”

“Why?” I inquired?

“Because I am a sinner,” she answered. “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 bear them, too.”

“No, dear, but let us look at it like this: God hated sin. He could not look upon it, and must punish it, but the Lord Jesus 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, I will give my heart to Him 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 think little Emily, then and there, really put her trust in the Lord Jesus, her Saviour.

To you, dear children, who feel your need of the Saviour, I would say, Come to Him, as Emily did in all your sins, for He will save you. Take your place before God as a sinner, and ask Him to show you the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, bearing our sins.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Jno. 3:36.

The Lord Jesus shed His precious blood for sinners, and all who trust Him have their sins washed away, and are made whiter than snow.

ML 10/13/1918

Forbid Them Not.

Jesus, behold a little band

Of children at Thy feet;

Before Thee, Lord, we humbly stand,

And here would with Thee meet.

Poor lost and sinful things we are,

The Bible tells us so;

But Thou canst see us from afar,

And bless us here below.

There’s nothing we can say or do,

Thy favor, Lord, to win,

Thou, only, canst our hearts renew,

And wash us from our sin.

And yet we do not feel afraid,

As we draw near to Thee,

Because Thy gracious lips have said,

Let children come to Me.

Man would deny the infant’s claim,

And rudely cast us out,

But Thou art evermore the same,

And say’st, “Forbid them not.”

ML 10/13/1918

Children at Play.

DO you remember any verse in the Bible, that speaks about boys and girls at play? I can tell you of one which says: “The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Zech. 8:5. This city is Jerusalem, which will then be the grandest city in the world, when the Lord Jesus will be King over all the earth, and this will indeed be a happy time, for even the children will know the Lord, as we read: “They shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord.” Jer. 31:36.

And this, dear children, is the only way for you to be truly happy, to know Jesus as your Saviour, who died for your sins; and then, though we might think that He is too high and holy to care for the pleasures of children, yet you may be sure He is always looking down upon you in love, and He cares for you in even the least things that concern you. The Scripture says, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matt. 6:26. And again another Scripture,

“THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED.” Matt. 10:30.

ML 10/20/1918

"You Paid for Them, Sir."

I HAVE a story to tell the readers of “Messages of Love,” one I think they will be as much interested in as I was, when a friend who loves to speak of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, told it to me.

One day this gentleman went into the country. It was a lovely day, the sun shone brightly, the birds sang in the trees, primroses and violets grew along the mossy banks, and Mr. F. walked on feeling very happy and thankful, as he said some sweet Bible words over and over: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1.)

Just then a boy carrying an old rusty bird-cage came down the lane. Even before he got near enough for Mr. F. to see what was in the cage, he heard such piteous chirps, not at all like the song of the free birds around. As the boy drew nearer, Mr. F. saw about half a dozen poor little sparrows all trying so hard to get out of the cage, but in vain. They clew round and round, and beat their heads against the wires, but the door of the cage was tied with a strong string, and there was no way of escape for the tiny prisoners.

Mr. F. put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and said, “My boy, whose birds are those?”

The boy looked at Mr. F. for a moment, then answered, “Mine, sir.”

“Yours, are they; how did you get them?”

“Caught them in a trap in the woods.” “And what are you going to do with them now?”

“Give them to our cat.”

“Poor little things, I should like to buy them. How much will you sell them for?”

“Fifteen cents, sir.”

Without another word Mr. F. took the money out of his pocket and put it into the boy’s hand. He looked as if he could not quite understand why a gentleman should give so much for a few little birds, but he only said:

“Thank you, sir. Going to the station, are you? I’ll carry the cage up for you.”

But Mr. F. did not want the cage taken to the station; cutting the string that fastened the door with his pocket knife, he put his hand into the cage and took out a bird, smoothed its feathers, then let it fly; another, then another, till in less time than it takes me to write it, the cage was empty.

The boy looked on, he could not make it out; to buy the birds only to set them free. he would not have done so he was sure. At last he said:

“O, sir, you have let them all go!”

“Yes, they are all gone; why did you not stop me if you thought I was doing wrong? You said they were your birds when I first met you.”

“So they were, sir, till—till you paid for them.”

“So that makes all the difference. I bought them, then they were mine, and I could do what I thought best with them: is that it?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. F. and the boy stood talking a long time after the birds were set free, for Mr. F. had a very sweet and wonderful story to tell—the story of the life of the Lord Jesus who gave His own life, His own precious blood, because there was nothing else great or good enough to set poor captives of Satan free. Gave it that He might save the small boys and girls, just as much as the grown-up men and women.

And those who have really come to Jesus and trusted Him as their own Saviour do not belong to themselves at all. Are they sorry? O, no, very glad; for they serve such a good kind Master the Lord Jesus Christ. He makes them so happy in trying to serve and please Him here, and His own word tells them that when their work on earth is done, He will send for them, or perhaps fetch them Himself to live in His own beautiful Home, where they will serve Him better and be with Him forever.

Dear little reader, is the Lord Jesus your own precious Saviour?

ML 10/20/1918

I'm Called.

IN a crowded court one day a man was seen pushing his way through the crowd. “What are you pushing for?” sternly inquired an officer of the court.

“Why,” was the reply, “did you not hear? I’m called.”

A call from God has gone forth for you, dear reader. Have you answered it? Many a time you have doubtless listened to the precious gospel, and in that message there was a call from the God or all grace to you.

You Are Called.

“Come; for all things are now ready,” was the message borne by the servant to those who were bidden to the great supper (Luke 14); and a like invitation is addressed to men today, bidding them come and feast upon the rich bounty which boundless grace has provided.

Many there are who would come if only they were addressed by another name. Now when God speaks He speaks plainly, and when He calls He calls people by their right name, and gives them their proper title. Who then are called?

Sinners!

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This is the first call, and in taking your true place before God—that of a sinner—you come into the place where His call of grace can be heard and answered to by you. “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

It is not men’s doings that God wants. He does not, in His call, seek for anything from man. It is the ear He wants, the ear of faith, into which He can tell out what He has done to secure man’s messing; how, at infinite cost to Himself, He has procured salvation for man, a salvation which embraces both present and future, a salvation worthy of God, and perfectly suited to man.”

“Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”

ML 10/20/1918

Do You Know the Lord Jesus Personally?

IN the town of H— six godless young men were sitting smoking and playing cards, when one of them said, “I went to T— yesterday to see my brother, and, after talking to me awhile, he told me he was saved, and then he asked me if I believed in the Lord Jesus. So says I:

“‘O, yes, I believe all that.’

“But then he went on:

“‘Do you know Him personally?’ Now, mates, I can’t make out what he meant.”

One of the six, familiarly known as Joe, replied, “Why, that’s what them folk in Quay Street says, that they are saved. What do you say to going and hearing the preaching down there tomorrow?”

Tomorrow came, and the two friends went off with their dogs for a Sunday morning stroll, but the words repeated lightly enough the night before, “Do you know the Lord Jesus personally?” kept coming back to Joe’s mind, and so, instead of the usual style of conversation, they began discussing the characters and ways of those who said they were saved —Satan’s usual wile to oppose the work of the Spirit. That evening the two men found their way down to the Quay, where the Mission Room is, and spent the time till the door was opened in throwing bricks to try their strength!

The speaker took for his subject that night “Eternal Life,” and the two, who had gone in merely to see what was going on, were arrested by God’s Spirit, and said to each other:

“Mr. — could never stand up and speak in that way unless he was quite sure what lie said was true.”

That night they were both saved, and their translation from Satan’s kingdom to that of God’s dear Son, was so apparent to all their boon companions, that the card-playing parties were broken up, and these two, who were the dread of their wives and friends on a fair-day, are now “living epistles,” known and read of all in H—. They have so consistently testified for Christ for more than two years, that now another of the six is saved also, and will with them by and by cast his crown at the Saviour’s feet.

In man’s estimation, three of the most unlikely subjects in H—have been converted. That question faithfully put, “Do you know the Lord Jesus personally?” has resulted in the salvation of three souls. What an encouragement to God’s people to speak even one sentence for the Master!

ML 10/20/1918

"I Have Neglected the True God."

NEARLY a hundred years have passed away since the little boy about whom I am now writing, used to go to a missionary school in the distant land of Burmah. One day he came to his teacher to ask permission to read only the Bible all the next day, instead of having his usual lessons. Of course, the missionary wanted to know why.

“I want to become a disciple,” said the little fellow.

He meant, a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Christ, whose name this Burmese child had often heard from the missionary’s lips.

“Do you, who are still so young, wish then to become a disciple?” asked the missionary.

“Yes, I do,” the boy replied, “because I see that young persons, as well as others, are exposed to death; and if should die without becoming a disciple, I should go to hell; but if I become a disciple, I have nothing to fear.”

“What sin does your conscience charge you with?” tenderly inquired his teacher.

To this question the little boy gave a most remarkable reply.

“I have neglected the true God,” he said, “who has upheld me by night and by day, and who has fed and clothed me all my life; and I, notwithstanding, have worshipped false gods.”

Think of such an answer from a little heathen boy! His soul trouble was, not that he stole, or even was disobedient to his parents, but that he was guilty of having “neglected the true God,” in whose hand his breath was, and who had done everything for him.

What about yourself, dear young reader? O! remember how much He has loved you when He has given the dearest object of His heart, His beloved Son, to die on the cross for you, and made the way clear for you to come to God through Him. Thus you, too, may become a disciple and follow Him, and be used of Him for blessing to others.

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34, 35.

ML 10/20/1918

A Grateful Heart.

IT is good to see the young taking care of the aged, and indeed showing respect to all who are older than themselves.

Just look at the aged mother with her young daughter, and how gently and lovingly the daughter is caring for her mother. The mother. has spent many a weary night in caring for the daughter when she was a little child, nursed her through many sick spells and now it is the daughter’s turn to show her gratitude and care for her mother since she has become weak and unable to do everything for herself.

The way in which we can show our love for our parents is by obeying them. So the Scripture says,

“CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN THE LORD: FOR THIS IS RIGHT.” Eph. 6:1.

ML 10/27/1918

The Prodigal's Return.

IT was summer time. The sun shone brilliantly day after day upon the bell-shaped tents, occupied by the militia, who were up for their special training on the beautiful downs of M—. A very pretty sight it was to look upon; yet one felt sadly that among that vast number of men were many who knew not the Saviour, and the hearts of a few noble workers for the Master yearned to win some precious souls to Him. Permission having been granted them by the commanding officer to use the temperance tent, meetings u ere at once commenced, which were greatly blessed to the salvation of souls. One evening, when the tent was crowded with eager listeners, the hymn was sung—

“In the land of strangers,

Whither thou art gone,

Hear a far voice calling,

‘My son! My son!’”

An address on the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke followed, in which was tenderly depicted the Father waiting with outstretched arms, ready to welcome the prodigal home.

The earnestness of the speaker touched some hearts, and amongst others that of Robert W. He could hold out no longer, and the pent-up tears burst forth, showing very plainly that a tender chord had been touched. One of the Christians present went and spoke to him about his soul. Robert said, “I have not only wandered from God, but have been a wanderer from my earthly home for many years. My father and mother know nothing of my whereabouts, and tonight I feel miserable.”

The glorious truth was then put before him that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and he was assured that none need perish, for Christ had died.

The evening gun fired, and the workers left the camp, feeling glad that the words spoken had taken root in at least one heart. The work begun in Robert’s soul was continued, and finally resulted in a blessed deliverance. The prodigal found a loving welcome home from his heavenly Father, as had been assured to him, and of this he testified the next evening to those who had been the means of leading him to the Saviour. He was now able to sing with joy—

“The wanderer no more will roam,

The lost one to the fold has come,

The prodigal is welcomed home,

O Lamb of God in Thee.”

During the remainder of the camping season, Robert proved by his life that he had experienced a change of heart. Two days before leaving he said to the writer, “Thank God I am now on the road for heaven, and as soon as I leave here I am going to my parents.” What joy was created in that earthly home, as well as the great joy of the angels in heaven over the prodigal returning!

Such is the simple story of one, who proved that God was able to save to the uttermost all who come unto Him by faith. Reader, are you a prodigal? Are you still wandering away from the Father in sin and misery? Jesus waits to welcome you. O! come home! come home!

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Jno. 6:37.

ML 10/27/1918

"I Did Not Know Where I Was Going."

THE July sun sparkled on the dancing waters of a lake, as a merry party rowed across to a quiet spot, where they were soon disporting 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 deep water, a smothered cry for help, and a young girl was struggling face to face with death. It is needless to dwell on those 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 ago was bright with young life.

Presently they could rejoice to see her breathing restored; she was resting quietly, and then she began to realize how that 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 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—never may I 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 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 these things off till you, too, have to face death, and then learn by awful experience what it is to have no hope. “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.

ML 10/27/1918

Little Curly.

LITTLE Curly was four years of age, and a very intelligent child she was, with golden curls all over her head, and large blue eyes, which often opened very wide when she was surprised. And she was very much surprised one day, when Miss Norten—a young lady who was staying with her mother—asked her if she had ever heard of the loving Saviour, who died for sinners old and young. The dear child did not know who Jesus was, for her mother had not taught her even to say a prayer when she went to bed.

Miss Norten was astonished at the child’s ignorance, and taking her upon her knee said, “Why, Curly darling, I teach little boys every Sunday about Jesus, and that beautiful home He has gone to prepare for little children who love Him.”

“O!” said Curly, “I thought you taught your little boys their letters, for I learn my letters at school.”

“No, darling,” replied Miss Norten, “on Sunday I teach them of Jesus, who came down from heaven, and who died to wash away our sins. He says to all little children, ‘Come unto Me,’ and He will forgive you every naughty thing you have done, and by-and-by take you to that beautiful home, beyond the bright blue sky, for He lives up there.”

“O, up there in the blue sky, I can’t see Him,” exclaimed the child, eagerly gazing through the window. “Did you come down from the blue sky to tell me of Jesus? Do you live up there, when you’re at home? Mother said you came by train; she did not say you came down from the blue sky!”

“No, Curly darling, I did not come down from the sky, but God must have sent me, I think, to tell you of His Son Jesus, and His love. So you must listen to me. One day, a very long time ago, God sent His Son down from heaven to this earth. His Son came into this world to seek and to save sinners. His name was called Jesus, because He saves His people from their sins. Jesus, who was once a little child, like you, grew up to be a man, going about doing good, healing all the poor, sick people, and blessing little children, and doing all sorts of loving things. But men did not love Him, and one day they nailed Him to a cross, and there He died. But now He lives in heaven, and everyone, great or small, who trusts Him, has his sins forgiven. But, if people do not love and trust Him, He cannot take them to His beautiful home, for no one may enter that holy and beautiful place where Jesus lives who is sinful and wicked. All who trust Him He forgives every naughty thing they ever did, and by and by takes them to His home to be forever with Him.”

“But shall I die if I love Jesus?” said Curly.

“No, darling. We love Him because He first loved us, and when we love Him, we try to please Him by doing good, and by obeying His words,” answered Miss Norten.

“O! then I should like to love Him and trust Him,” said Curly, “and if I do die He will take me up in the bright blue sky, and I will tell mother and Teddy of Him, too, and they will love Him, to come to that beautiful home with me, won’t they? And will you tell them all about it, Miss Norten?”

That night, for the first time, Curly was taught to pray to God. She could not understand at first what Miss Norten meant when she asked her to kneel before she got into bed, but on being told that God could hear her, she willingly repeated the infant petition.

The blessed Jesus loves little children, and we do not doubt that He sent the message about Himself to this little child, who had never even heard of Him, nor been taught to pray to God.

“He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” (Isaiah 40:11.)

ML 10/27/1918

Remember the Heathen.

Little children, when you pray

To God to keep you through the day;

When you ask that He would take

You for Himself, for Jesus’ sake;

When you thank Him for your friends,

And the comforts that He sends;

Don’t forget to breathe a prayer

For those who know not of His care.

Many little ones there are

O’er the seas so very far,

Who never heard of God above,

Who know not of the Saviour’s love;

Multitudes who never heard

From Christian friends this blessed Word—

That “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,”

Dearly loves a little child,

And bids them always come and pray

To Him to take their sins away:

This Saviour they have never known,

And therefore kneel to wood and stone.

O, children, ask of Him to send

Someone to be the heathen’s friend;

To guide them from destruction’s road

Into the path that leads to God;

That they may have their sins forgiven,

And when they die may go to heaven;

That you and they at last may be

Blessed to all eternity!

ML 10/27/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for September.

1.“But I will forewarn you,” etc. Luke 12:5.

2.“And Jesus answered and said,” etc. 4:8.

3.“Heaven and earth shall pass,” etc. 21:33

4.“And it came to pass in those,” etc. 6:12

5.“And were continually,” etc. 24:53

6.“He shall be great,” etc. 1:32

7.“And if he trespass against,” etc. 17:4

Bible Questions for November.

The answers are to be found in Acts.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “Through His name.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “The salvation of God.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “With His right hand.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “Thou shalt be saved.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “On my right hand.”

6.Write the verse containing the words: “Through this man.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “Right hand of God.”

ML 11/03/1918

Truth.

WE have had a picture of. Ruth entreating Naomi not to leave her, and the lesson for us in it. Now we have a Picture of Ruth gleaning. She went to the land of Canaan where God’s people were, and there she was a needy one, and went to a mighty, wealthy man’s field to glean ears of grain that the reapers had left behind. We may draw another lesson from all this which is most needful. That field reminds us of a field that God has given to us which is His Word. It is there that we can learn the great and good things that God has for us —the wonderful salvation that He has provided for us through His beloved Son. He looked on us in our lost and ruined condition, and seeing our “utter helplessness to save ourselves, gave His Son to die for us, to bear the awful judgment that we deserved for all our sins. Let me ask you, Have you gleaned that much from God’s Word, and are you enabled to say, “I praise and thank Him for this wonderful Saviour?”

If you have not yet gleaned thus far in the Word of God, may you do so quickly, and learn by heart this wonderful verse,

“THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT. CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

Perhaps some other time we may go a little further in this wonderful incident and learn more lessons that God has for us in it.

ML 11/03/1918

The House Kept by God.

“EXCEPT the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” (Psa. 127:1.)

“Whenever I hear that Psalm read. I always think of the first night I came to your mother,” said an old servant, as the now almost grown-up children followed her into the kitchen, after morning reading.

“How is that?” asked one.

“Tell us about it!” exclaimed another.

“Well,” she answered; “it was just bedtime, and your father called me, saying, ‘Come, Ann, and I will show you how to lock up.’ I quickly took my candle, and went round with him from door to door. When we came to the last, he said, ‘This house has bolts and bars, and we fasten them; but the Scripture says, “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psa. 127); so, except the Lord guard this house we shall not be safe.’”

How comforting it is to timid, nervous children to know that God will guard His own, and also that the darkness and the light are both alike to Him! You remember the Bible says He never slumbers nor sleeps, so, you see, if you wake up at night, and find all dark, or if you are lying awake racked with pain, and feel lonely because everyone else is asleep, just remember God is not asleep, and He sees you.

This reminds me of one of our favorite Bible stories, one which tells how God preserved a certain people from the danger which was all around, when neither bolts nor bars could have saved them. I believe you know which one I mean.

On that dreadful night when the destroying angel went through Egypt, how safe were those Israelites! Still they were only passed over because of the blood, which God had ordered to be placed on the door-posts and lintels; the blood was their safety, not bolts nor bars.

Now this should make us think of those who will be safe from coming judgment, because they are sheltered by the precious blood of Jesus.

Whenever I think of that Egyptian scene, I imagine how anxious the firstborn boys would feel; too anxious about their safety to be able to go on with their play, or work, till they knew God’s word had been obeyed. And you, dear children, are you too anxious about your soul’s salvation to be able to go on with your play? Or have you, by taking Christ as your Saviour, escaped the judgment that God says is coming on all those who obey not the gospel? “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—this is gospel, or good news indeed.

ML 11/03/1918

"I Am on the Line with Jesus."

WE had stepped into a street car, and seeing a few persons there, I was reminded of a few tracts that I had in my pocket, and I gave them each one, a gentleman and three ladies. The car moved on, and they proceeded to read them. The title of the tracts was, “Which line are you in?” I will quote a little from them. “Then in plain language, you are not yet saved?”

“No, I could not take it on me to say that, was his reply.

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

“Lost? Me lost? No, God forbid! I shouldn’t like to think that I was lost.”

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

“Certainly not. Of course I am not good as I ought to be—no one is—but I am respectable and religious; that is, I go to church now and then; and though I can’t say that I am saved, I shouldn’t at all like to think that I was lost. Because a man is not saved, it surely does not follow that he is lost.”

At that moment the shrill whistle of a railway locomotive, about to move in the Station nearby, disturbed the midnight silence of the air.

“What is that?” I exclaimed, hoping to get him to a subject which would just illustrate my point.

“That is the whistle of a railway engine.”

“So I thought. By the way, can you tell me how many lines there are on a well conducted railway?”

“Two, of course.”

“And what do you call them.”

“The up and the down.”

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

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

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

This appeal laid hold of his conscience, and after a moment’s silence, during which I saw he was convicted, he replied, “I admit your illustration is very apt; I never thought of it in that way before, but I must see to the matter in the future.”

The car bell rang and it stopped, the gentleman with others rose to leave the car. On stepping to the door, he returned the tract to me, and said, “Thank you sir, I am on the line with Jesus.” Seeing that we did not quite catch his words, he said, “I am on the line with Jesus.”

This simple, but public confession of the name of Jesus, sent a thrill of joy through our hearts, and as we dwelt upon the words, and as they echoed and re-echoed in our ears, we could only bless God for the honor put upon that name which is above every name, the name of Jesus. “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.

Beloved reader, let me in closing ask you, in the language of the title of the tract, Which line are you on?

ML 11/03/1918

Are You Saved?

“WELL, Jimmy, ‘Are you saved?’” was a question I put one Lord’s Day evening, after a Gospel meeting, to a little fellow ten years of age.

“Yes,” he replied, “I am quite confident now that Jesus died for me. I was not before my illness. I used to think I was all right because father and mother were saved, but I found out that I was all wrong; but now I know for a certainty that Jesus has borne all my sins away.”

“What do you think is the reason why the Lord Jesus does not take us to heaven as soon as we are saved?” I asked.

“O, because He wants us to tell others of His love. We ought not to keep it to ourselves, you know,” he answered.

Earnestly we would ask you, dear young reader, Are you saved? Can you say,

“Jesus has washed all my sins away in His own precious blood?” If not saved, we would urge you to lose no more time, for “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2.)

Come to Jesus where you are, and as you are. He turns none away, but receives all who cast themselves upon Him. No one is too great a sinner for the Saviour to save. “This is a faithful saying . . . that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1:15.) Soon the day will come when the saved will be taken up to meet the Lord, but the unsaved will go into eternal torment. Be wise! Time is short. Decide for Jesus.

ML 11/03/1918

Saying Prayers.

To say my prayers is not to pray,

Unless I mean the things I say,

Unless I think to Whom I speak,

And with my heart God’s face I seek.

In prayer we speak to God above,

We seek the blessed Saviour’s love,

We there confess to Him our sin,

And ask for grace dear souls to win.

ML 11/03/1918

Left in Charge.

THE old gentleman in our picture has been left in charge of his baby grandson, whose mother has. I expect, gone out to do some shopping.

But the old man is better able to handle fishing-nets than feeding-bottles, and instead of pouring the baby’s food into the bottle, he is pouring it over his fingers and clothes, while poor baby lies in his cradle and cries!

What will the mother say when she returns? I expect she will readily forgive grandfather, for, after all, he did his best. He really does not know how to take care of babies.

But I want to tell you about One who does know how to take good care of all who are in His charge. I mean the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, He is able to save. Those who cannot possibly save, nor help to save, themselves, may come to Him and He will save them at once. He died upon the cross and shed His blood, in order that He might save the sinful and the lost.

Second, He is able to help those whom He has saved, in their difficulties. He is a true and faithful Friend in times of need, as well as a Saviour for eternity. There is nothing too small to take to Him in prayer, seeking His help.

Third, He is able to keep. Can you find a verse in the Bible that tells us so? Look in 2 Tim. 1:12. There are dangers and temptations which we all have to face. Left to ourselves, we would meet with disaster and defeat; but in the Saviour we have One who knows how to keep those who trust in Him.

Fourth, He is able to guide. Sometimes we hardly know what to do. We feel we need someone to tell us and direct us. The Lord Jesus can do this; He speaks to our hearts by His Word, and makes us know what is right and what is wrong.

When we are saved through trusting Him, we are in His charge, until He comes again. How glad we ought to be that He knows so well how to take care of us, and to do for us all that we need!

“HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM.” Heb. 7:25.

ML 11/10/1918

Your Name and Address.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

A little boy, nine years old, went one night with his father to a Gospel preaching.

As they walked along the country lane, the father said, “Now, Johnnie, I want you to pay great attention while I am speaking, because in the address I mean to mention your name.”

“My name! father, what shall you say about me?”

“O! you must wait, my boy, till you hear the address.”

So Johnnie fixed his eyes upon his father, and listened very quietly till the service was over, when, as they were walking home together, he said:

“Father, you forgot to mention my name.”

“No, Johnnie, I said it more than once. Walk quietly along. Now try to understand what I mean.”

After walking in silence for some distance, the little boy said softly, “I think I know what you mean, father. Was it when you said ‘sinner’?”

“Yes, my dear boy, for that is indeed your name.”

I don’t think Johnnie will ever forget that walk, and the nice talk he had with his father.

Do you, reader, know your name? Perhaps you are not aware that both your name and address are put down in the Bible; but such is the fact, for your name is sinner, and your address is the world, and both are mentioned in the verse at the head of this chapter.

But there are so many children who do not know their names, like the little boy, three and a half years old, who took up the Bible and said:

“Shall I read to you, auntie?” and then pretended to read as follows:

“God—says: —I — am —a—wery—dood —’ittle—boy.”

Now the little fellow could not read at all, having invented this in his own brain, but his aunt soon stopped him, saying:

“You are quite wrong, for God says you are a very bad little boy.”

You see he did not know his own name. Do you know your name?

Now I will tell you a very sad story of a lady, who went to have her photograph taken. After taking the portrait, the photographer was surprised to find that a number of little black spots came on the face.

He tried again, but with the same result. The lady could not understand it at all, but after two days she became very ill with smallpox, and in a week was dead. She had the disease, and did not know it, but the bright light of the sun discovered the black spots lurking beneath the skin. And I have known the bright light of God’s Holy Spirit to show to thousands of boys and girls that they had the dreadful disease of SIN lurking in their hearts—a deadly, soul-destroying disease.

Now some children look upon SIN (say the sin of disobedience, or the sin of telling lies, or the sin of being selfish or ill-tempered) as a little trifling matter. But God’s word teaches us that SIN is a very horrible thing indeed, and in the sight of God is far worse than the terrible marks of smallpox.

Listen, then, to the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. It is a faithful saying, a true saying, and worthy of all acceptation. Will you accept the great salvation now? Will you send up the earnest prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner?”

ML 11/10/1918

"I Belong to Jesus."

THE shortest sermon I ever heard was preached by the shortest preacher I ever saw on a small steamer on the river St. Lawrence. Ever since the boat left the wharf I had been amused by hearing a clear, high-set voice asking questions, one after another, as fast as the little tongue could go.

A policeman took his place beside the little boy, who turned up his dear sweet face and said,

“Are you a policeman?”

“Yes,” answered the man looking at him kindly.

“Why are you a policeman?” was the next question.

The policeman gave a puzzled laugh, but took out the key of a patrol box and a pair of handcuffs, and told him they were to put on bad boys when he took them away. “You won’t take me away,” said the little fellow bravely, looking him straight in the face.

“No, my boy, I won’t take you; but whom do you belong to?” asked the big man, still smiling.

“I belong to Jesus,” said the child.

The big policeman got very red in the face, and, rising very hurriedly, left his seat.

I shall never forget that little preacher and his little sermon.

The sermon was only four words. Little reader, could you preach it?

“I belong to Jesus.”

“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 11/10/1918

Little Dixon.

DIXON always was a dear, comical little chap, so original in his ideas. He seemed to have an art for getting out of things when he did wrong. His cute little sayings, irresistible little manner, beaming little face, full of joy and animation, invariably got him off easy. Donald, his elder brother, always very sympathetic would cry when I felt badly, but Dixon never seemed to be seriously impressed. After every fresh offense (for he was often getting into mischief) I tried to have him realize what a serious thing it is to do wrong and what a very naughty little boy he really was.

Donald had been given a penknife for his birthday. Dixon was too young to play with such things, so was not allowed to have it. One day he wanted it very badly and begged Donald to give it to him. Donald said,

“Well, go and ask mamma and if she says you can have it, all right.”

Off he ran, supposedly to ask me, but never did, and came back in a few minutes, saying, “It is all right, she says I can have it.” Whereupon Donald gave him the desired penknife. Sometime afterwards I noticed him with it and asked Donald why he had given it to him. He answered,

“You said he could have it. Did you not?” Of course, I had not and said so. Dixon realizing, he was fairly caught this time, began to puzzle his little brain how to get out of it. It dawned on him that this time it would not be an easy matter. After asking him several times why he told and acted the lie, he answered, “I fink, I fink, I must have been dunk.” This produced the desired effect. I had to smile. He thought he would get off easy. But, no! I tried to have him realize it was only making things more serious still to answer like that, so I took him by himself and tried to show him how very naughty he really was, and I might let it go unpunished, but what about God, who has a Book in which everything is written down, and some day God would ask why he did and said these naughty things. Also told him we couldn’t tear a leaf out of that Book to start a fresh page. Whatever would we do about it! I left him to think it over, and went to my work, for I was very busy that day. In fact, it happened at a time when I was very much cast down, vexed on every side, wondering what the outcome of weightier matters would be. With work and worry so depressed, I needed comfort, and it came from the little offender.

I had, I believe, forgotten about the offense, when suddenly he burst into the room, with his face all aglow, thinking he had solved the problem, exclaiming, “O! Mamma, has’nt God got a wubber (rubber)? for if He has, well den, you know, He could wub fings out, so’s dey wouldn’t show.”

I took the child in my arms and I know I wept as I thought of how One could blot them out, and wondered if all the big things that were weighing me down would be wiped off too.

This little song was the result:

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake.” Isaiah 43:25.

“Has n’t God got a wubber?” a wee boy said,

Who had oft quaint thoughts come into his head;

“For if He has, well den (then) you know

He could wub fings out, so’s they would n’t show.”

(For his mother had told how we can’t retract

A single naughty thought or act;

Our deeds are recorded, we cannot tear

Out of God’s Great Book what is written there.)

Ah! yes, there’s One, the Mighty One,

Who can blot things out, my little son,

As a thick cloud wipe them all away,

The One who’s Yea, is Yea alway.

“I am He that blotteth out,” saith He,

Thy sins and thine iniquity;

Nor will He remember any more

The sins which on the cross He bore.

To the depths of the sea He them will cast,

And-judgment is forever past;

For the soul that trusts the blood, my child,

Is accounted pure and undefiled.

Then go, my darling, go to Him,

Ask Him to take away your sin,

He hears the faintest, feeblest call,

He’ll love to have you, though you’re small.

ML 11/10/1918

I Want to Know What It Means.

THE boy I want to tell you about, we will call Oscar. When he was about eleven years old, he was sent to a boarding-school kept by a very good Christian man. After he had been there for some time, the teacher said he had an announcement to make to all the boys.

“Mr. A., a friend of mine,” he said, “is coming to stay here for a few days. He is very fond of boys, and he wants to give you a short address one afternoon, to which I have agreed. I hope you will all listen attentively to what he has to say.”

The day came for Mr. A. to give his address. The boys had no idea what he was going to speak about, but when he stood up with a Bible in his hand, and began by asking God for His help and blessing, they knew that it was not just an ordinary subject, like science, or history, or travels.

Mr. A. read a very short text from the Bible:

“YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.” John 3:7.

Then he told the boys that in order to belong to God, and enter His Kingdom, it was not enough for them to strive to be good, and truthful, and honorable, but in order to have a place in the Kingdom of God they needed to be born again.

Finally he said, “Now boys, I shall be staying in this house a day or two longer, and if any of you would like to have a little private talk with me during your play-hours, you will know where to find me.”

Oscar was a boy who liked to understand things. He felt he had not by any means understood what Mr. A. meant by being born again. Whatever it meant, he felt quite sure that he had never been born again.

That same evening, before the half-past six bell rang, Oscar knocked at the. door of the room where Mr. A. was sitting.

“Come in,” said the voice of the visitor, and Oscar walked in.

“If you please, sir,” he said, “I’ve accepted your invitation to come and have a talk with you.”

“That’s right, my boy, I’m glad to see you. What shall we talk about?”

“I want to know what the Bible means by our having to be born again.”

“I’ll try to explain. You see we are all sinners, and not only that, but helpless, undone sinners, too bad for any turning over a new leaf, or any such thing, to be of use. Our hearts, our very natures are corrupt. And no good thing can come out of one that is utterly bad.

“What we need is not merely a fresh start, but something entirely new to make the fresh start with. This is what God gives us in the new birth.”

“Then I should like to be born again, if you please, sir.”

I don’t know if Oscar thought that Mr. A. could help him to be born again. If so, he was quite mistaken. Only God, by His Spirit, can work this wonderful thing in us. But Mr. A. explained further that what we have to do when we find out that we are sinners and want to be saved, is to put our trust in the Saviour.

The Bible says a great deal about “believing in Him,” and this is just what it means. He shed His blood to atone for our sins, and that precious blood avails to wash them all away. We have but to trust in Him to do this for us.

Whether Oscar understood Mr. A.’s explanations, I cannot say. But this I know, that Oscar has indeed been born again, and can speak of the Saviour as his own Saviour, since he has trusted Him to wash all His sins away by His blood.

ML 11/17/1918

One Taken and the Other Left.

LIKE many others, I was going on the broad road which leads to destruction, not heeding nor taking any notice of what God says in His Word as to salvation. All of our family went to church, and, though I often had serious thoughts about God, I used to pass them off by thinking that all must die and be in the grave till the last day, and then that all will be judged, when the good will go to heaven, and the bad to hell. The good, I thought, were those who attended church, and did not swear, or do evil things, and my heart would reason, “God is very good, and merciful, and will let all in when He hears them ask Him, and He would not be so hard-hearted as to turn and shut the door on me.” I had never heard nor read that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, and so I used to try and content myself with such foolish thoughts.

One day a neighbor asked me to go to Sunday School with her, and after promising several Sundays, I made up my mind to go. All seemed very nice, I thought, till the third Sunday came, when we read, “There shall be two grinding at a mill, one shall be taken and the other left.”

I felt very anxious to understand what that meant. When we were going home, I heard the teacher say to some in the class, “Is it Christ for me?” and all seemed to answer “Yes.”

I was greatly afraid lest I should be asked, indeed, quite dreaded it, as I knew I had never been to Christ and confessed my sins, but all at once the teacher came, and taking hold of my hand, said “Is it ‘Christ for me’ with you?” I knew it was not, and so did not reply.

My teacher then spoke to me about the Lord Jesus Christ coming again, which troubled me greatly; and presently another of the teachers came to me and began talking to me, and then quoted the Scripture we had been reading, “One shall be taken and the other left.”

There were several standing round, and he asked them if when the Lord came they would go? They all said, “Yes,” and he said “I shall go,” and looking towards me, inquired, “What will become of you?”

These words made such an impression on my mind, that I could do nothing but think of them all the way home. “What will become of you? what will become of you?” kept ringing in my ears. I pictured myself in the school, and Jesus Christ come and all gone with Him but me. All the class gone, and the teacher, too, and myself left. I thought it would be better if one or two were left with me, but they all seemed to say, “Yes, they should go when He came.”

On reaching my home, I went upstairs alone, and at first I declared I would never go to the school again. “That is how I expected it would be,” said I. “Why can’t they let me alone?” Surely it was Satan putting thoughts into my mind! But all at once, I thought if the Lord Jesus were to come that night, I should be left, and then what would this world’s pleasure be worth?

Like most young people, I was fond of worldly pleasures, but I longed not to miss everlasting joy. The conflict went on as I thought, “I shall not enjoy myself, or be able to go to places of worldly amusement,” and in the midst of my distress I knelt down before the Lord, and poured out my wants and thoughts to Him. I told Him I was a sinner, and craved for the unspeakable joy that God gives to all who truly repent, and, thank the Lord, He gave it to me, and I have lived rejoicing ever since. I have never wanted the worldly amusements I used so to enjoy since that happy day; no, the Sunday School and the Gospel Service have been my greatest “place of amusement” ever since.

I have written these simple lines for young persons like myself, thinking that the account of what passed in my mind and heart may be of some service to them. May every young reader of these lines find in the Lord Jesus as precious a Saviour and as dear a Friend as I have found.

While God used that verse to arouse the conscience of the writer, it does not refer to the coming of the Lord to take His own to be with Himself in heaven, but when He comes in judgment. The following verses tell us how He will come for those who are His:

“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16,17.

ML 11/17/1918

Little Percy's Prayer.

PRAYER, dear young friends, is just telling God what your heart longs for. Ask Him for what you want in your own words; go to God in faith, and He will attend to your cry, be it forever so small a matter, as you will see by little Percy’s prayer.

Little Percy’s mother was often visited by a lady, who usually took an umbrella with her, and whenever she did so, Percy wanted to play with it, and though often told not to do so—for the lady did not wish her umbrella to be spoilt—still the little fellow seemed not to be able to resist the temptation. But one day, instead of pulling the forbidden umbrella about, little Percy seated himself at the farther end of the room, as far from the umbrella as he could get. The lady was very much surprised at this, and then his mother told her that a few nights before, when praying at her knee, little Percy added, “And please, Lord, keep me from touching the lady’s umbrella.”

Was not that a simple little prayer? Now you can understand how it was that Percy kept away from the umbrella, and I hope you will try and remember the lesson my little story teaches, and pray in simple words from the heart to God, believing that however trifling a prayer may seem, God will hear.

“Little children, come to Jesus,

He has kindly said you may,

When you try to pray and praise Him,

He will teach you what to say;

He will take your hand and lead you

In the way you ought to go;

He will make you wise and happy,

No one else can bless you so.”

ML 11/17/1918

Harry's Song.

LITTLE Harry was the only child of his parents. A bright little boy he was, seven or eight years of age.

His great delight on Lord’s Day afternoon was to go to the Sunday School, where he was a regular attendant. His place was seldom vacant, and oftentimes dear Harry would be moved to tears as he sat and listened to the story of Jesus and His love. Yes, although of such tender years, Harry knew Jesus as his Saviour, and was delighted to go home and tell his father and mother what he had heard at school. Do you do this, dear children?

God loves to hear the little ones lisp the name of Jesus, for this is precious in His ears, for His is “the only name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

It happened after a time that Harry was invited to a tea party on the birthday of one of his friends, and Harry, like most boys and girls, was very glad to go. After tea was over, and they had played a few games, it was suggested that all should sing a song. This most of them did. By-and-by it came to Harry’s turn.

“Now Harry,” say his friends, “it’s your turn.” But Harry says,

“I don’t know any songs. All I can sing is,

‘Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.’”

So that was the song that. Harry sang, the song that had touched his heart, that was precious to him; the song that, though commenced to be sung down here in this world, would be one which he would sing in a louder and sweeter strain throughout eternity.

May you, dear children, know Jesus as your very own Saviour, and so be able to sing this song with dear Harry for ever and ever.

“Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.”

ML 11/17/1918

Pulling the String.

I have heard of a little boy who was very fond of snow. He had a pair of rubber boots with which to wade through it. He had a sled, too, on which to ride. Sometimes he harnessed up the old Newfoundland dog to his sled, and away went the dog with his load, as if he were a reindeer.

This little boy wished that it would snow very often. Frequently he jumped up in his bed and took a look out of the window to see if any fresh snow had fallen during the night; and he hardly knew what to do when the rain came down instead. So what do you think he said?

“I wish there was a snow string and a rain string reaching up to the clouds, so that when I pulled the snow string it would snow, and when I pulled the rain string it would rain. O wouldn’t I pull the snow-string, and down the snow would come!”

We may all be very thankful that neither snow-strings nor rain-strings do exist, in spite of the earnest wish of the little boy.

There is, however, a “string” which we may pull, and it is connected with a very much more important matter than rain or snow.

The Lord Jesus said, “I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9. Here are three things linked together by the Lord, asking, seeking, and knocking. We ask for a gift. We seek for a treasure. We knock at a closed door, that it may be opened.

What gift do we need? Here is an answer,

“THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” Rom. 6:23.

That wonderful gift, dear children, is for you. God is just waiting for you to want it and ask. Then it will be given, but only “through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“What ought Ito seek?” says someone. Seek the Lord Jesus Himself. Long, long ago Andrew sought Him, and he was saying, “We have found . . . . the Christ.” John 1:41. Philip sought, and he added, “We have found Him.” John 1:45.

The Lord Jesus has His hand on the latch of the door of salvation. He is the Master of the house. Soon a day is coming when the door will be finally shut, and though people knock, saying, “Lord, Lord, open unto us,” it will remain closed, leaving them outside. Luke 13:25. But it is not like that today, for it is the day of salvation.

Turn then to the Lord, own your own sin, and in simple faith knock at salvation’s door. Immediately it will be opened and you shall enter in, cleansed by His precious blood shed on Calvary.

“WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” Psa. 51:7.

ML 11/24/1918

Davy and the Captain.

A ship at sea was suddenly overtaken by a terrible storm and severely injured. All hands were at the pumps, but the water gained on them. The captain bade all prepare for the worst, which must soon come, and the mate uneasily walked the deck. The ship rolled fearfully, and the rigging became entangled, so it was necessary for someone to set it to rights, which was a perilous undertaking; but who would dare do it?

“We are lost,” said the captain; “the ship cannot possible live it out, and it’s worth one’s life to adjust the sails.”

On board was a frail boy of twelve years of age, just entering a sailor’s life, this being his first trial before the mast. Little Davy stepped forward to the mate, and, lifting his cap, glanced at the swinging mast, boiling sea, and anxious faces. Soon he laid hold of the rat lines, and crept up, hand over hand, with a will. He was light and active, and, though his cheek blanched with fear, his bearing was as if something higher had mastered it.

The eyes of all dimmed with tears as they followed the brave boy, while the ship pitched so badly they expected him to be thrown into the boiling sea. The captain, often hard and brutal, remonstrated with the mate for allowing so young a boy to go on such a perilous errand.

“He will never come down alive,” said the captain; but the lad was in the keeping of One “able to deliver,” and he knew it too.

“I did not oppose it,” the mate replied, “for I believe he will save us yet. We carry a secret between us which you shall know in time. It is drawing near the hour we have watched for, Davy and I, and if we can only stem the gale till that, Davy says he knows we shall be saved. See how he holds on, captain, like a squirrel, only more careful. He’ll come down safe, I’m sure. Some One has him in His keeping, he says.”

And, sure enough, in less than fifteen minutes Davy appeared on deck, though so frail, he looked as though a breath would have blown him away.

Amid a round of cheers, and even the stern captain’s commendation, he walked off with a smiling face, as if the very light of heaven were in it. With a peace such as one who in the midst of danger trusts in God alone knows, he approached the captain, who questioned him as to why he went up so readily.

“Captain, I went to pray!”

“Do you pray, my boy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Davy, you put your captain to shame. Where did you learn it?”

“I’ve a praying mother, and she always tells me Jesus is the Friend to go to in trouble. I’ve tried it, and I’ve never found it fail. But I haven’t told you all, sir. Now you’ve asked me, I will. I knew when I went into the rigging it was very near my mother’s hour of prayer, too, and I had told Jack, the mate, all about it, and asked him to tell me when it came. I knew she was praying for me, and when Jack gave the signal to me, I just dropped one hand, and Jesus held the other all the tighter, while I waved my hat and shouted, “We are safe! We cannot be lost now! The wind was so high you could not hear me, but One aloft did.”

As he ceased an old tar, with furrowed face, whispered in his ear, “Pray for me; do; I’m so awfully wicked. You just mind me of my old mother, Davy,” brushing his eyes as he spoke.

Were not these simple prayers answered? They were, in more ways than one.

Little Davy never sailed again; sea life was too rough for him; but the day of parting was blessed to many on board. Often they had seen him get away with God and his Bible. And now he was gone, showing the force of example, even in a boy.

Many a Bible—the gift of mothers and sisters—stowed away in the bottoms of trunks, was brought to light, and it was not long before the love that passeth knowledge began to be known by some of the hardest of that crew—among them old Jim.

With one accord they hung their colors to the mast head and steered for Davy’s port. Many a year they had been steering wrong, but now they would make the harbor of peace.

The captain became a man of prayer and faith, with a word to say for the Master, often adding, “Little Davy first taught me. Ever since that terrible hour, when he mounted the rigging, have his words rung in my ears, ‘Jesus is the Friend to go to; I’ve tried it, and never knew it to fail.’ And I, too, have tried, thanks be to God, in many a trying hour since then, and now ‘the peace that passeth all understanding’ keeps my heart.”

Dear little reader, is it so with you? Have yen found Davy’s secret? “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20.

ML 11/24/1918

"It Just Meets My Case."

A poor little girl, after having been educated, was apprenticed to a dressmaker.

A lady who had formerly taken charge of her, and had been very kind to her, going one Sunday into the chapel before service, found the girl sitting by herself, reading her Testament.

On coming up to her the lady inquired where she was reading.

She said, “In the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.”

“Why do you choose that chapter?” She replied, “O, I delight in it much.” “On what account?”

“It just meets my case. Is not that delightful?” pointing to the sixth verse. “‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly;’” and then added, “I am indeed a sinner, and without strength, but here is the blessed remedy— ‘Christ died for the ungodly.’”

ML 11/24/1918

Little Polly.

ONE Sunday afternoon Annie came home from the Sunday School, and found her little sister, three years of age, sitting on the floor talking to her doll.

“Polly, dear,” said Annie to the little one, “would you like me to tell you what I have heard in the school from my teacher? O, it is so pretty!”

“Yes, I will,” answered the child, getting up and standing in front of her sister, and looking into her face as she put her elbows on her knees.

“Well, Polly, it is all about Jesus. I told you the other day who He was: now let’s see if you recollect. Who is He?”

“The Son of God,” seriously said the little Polly.

“And where do you think He is, dear?”

“Up in the sky,” said the little child, her finger following the words, and pointing to the blue heavens.

“Ah! but, Polly darling, listen: teacher says that Jesus is everywhere, and that He is alive and in this room; and that He can see you and me, and father when he is out at work, and when mother goes out washing; and when we do or say anything wicked, Jesus always sees it. But if we are sorry, when we have been naughty, and we tell Him so, He will forgive us, like mother does when she gives us a kiss, and says to us, ‘Now don’t you do so no more.’ And teacher says that, when we are ill in bed, Jesus looks at us, pities us, and makes us well again if we ask Him. He can give us bread to eat when we are poor and hungry; and that many years ago, when He lived on this earth, He gave such a lot of people bread and fishes to eat when they did not know where to go and buy food, as there were no shops there —it was in a large field in the country. Wasn’t it kind, Polly?”

Polly was puzzled, and, looking into her sister’s face, said, “You say Jesus is here in this room—but where? —I can’t see Him;” and she glanced with wonder all-round the room.

“No, dear,” said her sister, “you can’t see Him, but He can see you.”

“Is He very kind, and does Jesus love me too?” inquired Polly.

“O, yes, dear,” said Annie, “He does love you, and He wants all of us to love Him—father, mother, and all.”

Polly looked up to the ceiling and round the room, opened her little arms, and cried, “Jesus is nice, lock Him in, lock Him in, don’t let Him go out no more.”

Now, my dear little children, this is just what I want for you. I want you to have Jesus locked in your heart always, so that He should not go out any more. Jesus will not keep company in our hearts with sin. We cannot serve two masters at the same time. And the Lord Jesus says, “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14.

ML 11/24/1918

"I'm Not Afraid."

A little girl, just four years old,

One day went out to tea;

On coming home, ‘twas very dark

So dark she could not see.

A kind friend’s hand she tightly held;

“It’s dark,” she softly said,

“And where I go I cannot tell,

But still I’m not afraid.”

“Why are you not afraid,” was asked,

“When the way you cannot see?”

“Because I know,” our Katie said,

“You have tight hold of me.”

“Besides, I know there’s One above

Who keeps us in His care;

We shall not harm while He is near,

For none can harm us there.”

ML 11/24/1918

Answers to Bible Questions for October.

1.“And the word was made,” etc. John 1:14.

2.“Jesus saith unto him,” etc. 21:22.

3.“Herein is my Father,” etc. 15:8.

4.“He that believeth on the,” etc. 3:36.

5.“And when He had so said,” etc. 11:28.

6.“All that the Father giveth,” etc. 6:37.

7.“Come, see a man, which,” etc. 4:29.

Bible Questions for December.

The answers are to be found in Romans.

1.Write the verse containing the words: “The gift of God.”

2.Write the verse containing the words: “The power of God.”

3.Write the verse containing the words: “Knowledge of God.”

4.Write the verse containing the words: “Right hand of God.”

5.Write the verse containing the words: “The faith of God “

6.Write the verse containing the words: “The glory of God.”

7.Write the verse containing the words: “The love of God.”

ML 12/01/1918

"Come Unto Me."

ONE day a minister was walking down a street of a small town, when he met a little girl whom he knew. After speaking to her, she looked up into his face, and with a sweet smile said,

“I can say a text for you, sir.”

“Can you, my dear? Well, I shall be pleased to hear it.” And as the gentleman replied he took the child’s tiny hand in his, walked beside her a short distance, and listened while she repeated the beautiful words so well known to most children, Christ’s own words, spoken so many, many years ago, but still so precious to Christian parents and teachers:

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

“Thank you, my dear,” the gentleman replied, “I am glad that you can say the verse so nicely. I hope you will never forget, that verse speaks to you, and that you will obey the invitation. The words are so very sweet, do you not think so?”

“Yes, sir,” the child replied, with another smile, and after saying good-bye, she ran towards home.

Do you think those words are sweet too, dear little reader? You remember on what occasion they were spoken. Some kind, anxious mothers and friends took their little ones to Jesus, hoping that He would put His hands on them and bless them.

The mothers carried’ some of the children in their arms, others they led by the hand, they went nearer and nearer to the place where Jesus was, and as they drew near, the disciples saw them, and thinking their Master was too much engaged to notice such young children, they rebuked those who brought them. We are not told which disciples wished to send them away; perhaps Peter whispered to some of the others.

“Just tell those women not to bring these children to the Master, He cannot be troubled with them.”

Of course, we can only say perhaps it might have been he; if it was he, he must have thought of it when, sometime afterwards, Jesus gave him that loving charge, “Feed My lambs.”

But whoever gave the word of rebuke, we know the blessed Lord was much displeased with them for doing so. And after He had spoken the precious words of the text above named, He took the little helpless creatures up in His loving arms, put His hands on them and blest them. How glad those dear mothers must have felt when they saw darling Mary or Ruth, John or James, in the Saviour’s arms. And how delighted the children themselves must have been, we mean those who were old enough to understand. Surely, they would never forget that happy day. They would think of His sweet smile, His gentle touch, His loving words, and how the remembrance of those things must have cheered and helped them, when they grew up to be men and women. As some of you read this, are you not reminded of the hymn,

“I think when I read that sweet story of old,

When Jesus was here among men,

How He called little children as lambs to His fold,

I should like to have been with Him then.”

But remember, dear children, though you cannot see Jesus, as the little children did, when He was upon earth, and walked among them, yet He still loves you, and notices all you do and say. And He cares as much for you as He did for the children at Jerusalem and other places where He lived and taught. For though the Lord Jesus is now in heaven, we know the Word of God says He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” He is the same loving, tender Saviour, and is still saying to the children, as well as to grown up people,

“Come unto Me.”

Will you not come to Him now, dear children, and let Him bestow rich blessings upon you?

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

ML 12/01/1918

What the Ant Teaches.

NOW I want to try and teach you some lessons from the ants. They are tiny creatures, but I think you will all agree with me that they are very interesting. They are only spoken of in one book in the Bible, in Proverbs, chapters 6 and 30. In chapter 30:25 we are told, “The ants are a people not strong,” and verse 24 tells us that “they are exceeding wise.” This is what God tells us about them, and He gave them all their wisdom. In chapter 6:6, God tells us to “consider her ways and be wise.” Now most of you do not like considering very much, but go now and find an ant’s nest in your garden. Watch the little creatures for a time, and you will see how busy they are. Each one seems to have some little task before him. Sometimes you will see one trying to carry something almost as big as himself; he tumbles down with it, but is soon up, trying again and again, until his task is done. Sometimes their nest gets partly destroyed, and then all set to work so briskly to put it right again.

Here, then is the first lesson the ant teaches us—diligence. It teaches you all to be diligent in everything, in your little duties at home, in your lessons, and above all and first of all, to be diligent in seeking the Lord. In chapter 8:17, we read, “Those that seek Me early shall find Me.” While you are young is the time to seek the Lord Jesus. As you grow older your hearts will get filled with other things. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

In chapter 6:8 we learn something more about the ants, which teaches us another lesson. They provide their food in summer. They know the long winter is coming, with the frost and snow, so they are wise and gather up a store while they can. Now think for a moment what this teaches you. You all know the sweet story of God’s love and the invitation to come to Jesus, but it will not always sound in your ears. The day will come when, instead of the summer-time of the gospel story, there will be the winter of God’s judgment. Prov. 1:28 tells us, “Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me.”

How important then to learn these two lessons from the ants—to be diligent and to be diligent at the right time. There is a verse which puts the two together for us, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found.” Isa. 55:6.

ML 12/01/1918

Believe and Trust Mean the Same.

LITTLE Annie was but a very little, girl when she first came to Sunday School, and first heard of the One who had died for her, and had lived on this earth doing good. The story told to her so often in Sunday School had impressed itself on her little heart and touched a chord there, and she longed to know more of this loving Saviour who had loved and thought of even her when He hung on the cross, and died to wash away her sins, in order that He might make her His own, if she would only believe on Him.

But little Annie did not know what believe meant, for she was only in the infant class, so the teacher explained that believe and trust meant the same: for instance, the teacher said, if she told Annie to come to her house for a doll, of course she would come, because she would believe her teacher, so when. Jesus said He wanted little children to come to Him and trust Him, why would they not come?

It is only to trust and know they are forgiven and rest in His tender love, for Jesus loves all children, and says, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Now little Annie heard of these things, and longed to know more of the love of Jesus.

When she was seven years old, she went into the second class, and her teacher asked her if she really loved Jesus and was trusting Him, but she hung down her head, though she promised she would trust Him. She then prayed asking Him to forgive her and make her His own. The teacher had explained how Jesus had loved her so much that He died for her sins and bore the punishment of God for them, so she would go free, and after that she kept singing and talking of Jesus and His love.

Now, dear little ones, do you know this same loving Saviour, the One who died for you too?

Trust in Him. Believe what He says, peace and joy shall be yours.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

ML 12/01/1918

The Best Home.

HAPPINESS in a home is not the result of having beautiful things around but by knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Friend. In our picture they all seem to be happy and yet they are in humble circumstances.

Thousands of people are so blinded by the love of money that they see not the surpassing value of their souls.

Such a one was dying, and told his little daughter how ill he was and how terrified he felt because he would have to die.

She could not understand his fear of leaving the world, and said,

“Why, father, you have a beautiful home in the city, and a beautiful home in the mountains, and a beautiful home in the country, and a beautiful home by the sea. Have you not a beautiful Home in heaven, father?”

Alas! he had surrounded himself with homes here, but knew nothing of a Home on high. In his desire to get beautiful homes on earth, he had thought nothing of heaven. Temporal things had hidden eternal things from his view, and now that time was passing, eternity had nothing but sorrow for him.

How is it with you? You may have a happy home here, but sooner or later you will have to leave it, and leave the world altogether. Have you a home for eternity?

“WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?” Matt. 16:26.

ML 12/01/1918

Christ the Lord Will Come Again.

Christ, the Lord, will come again,

None shall wait for Him in vain;

I shall then His glory see;

Christ will come and call for me.

Then when the Archangel’s voice

Calls the sleeping saints to rise,

Rising millions shall proclaim

Blessings on the Saviour’s name.

“This is our redeeming Lord,”

Ransomed hosts will shout aloud:

“Praise, eternal praise, be given”

“To the Lord of earth and heaven!”

ML 12/01/1918

A Letter to Papa.

WHILE Papa is away from home his little son wants to write a letter to him, but he does not know how, so his older brother is helping him out by guiding his hand.

Do you, who know the Lord Jesus, have a difficulty to know just what you should say or what you should write sometimes? If so, let another guide your tongue, or your hand, and that One is the Lord Jesus Just tell Him your difficulty; and wait till He shows you the right word either to say or write. The Lord wants dependence, upon Himself in every turn in our path, and the Scripture says,

“IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWL EDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DI RECT THY PATHS.” Prov. 3:6.

ML 12/08/1918

"Who Is the Thief?"

NO ONE could answer this question, in a school of six little girls, who lived with two kind ladies in a pleasant country home. A little silk bag was lost, and no one could tell what had become of it. Weeks and months passed away, so I suppose the children would never expect to see the little bag any more.

Now, not far from the window of the school-room where these children had their daily lessons, a pair of swallows had built their nest; not made of hay and straw; like, those of many other little birds, but of bits of clay stuck together, and then lined with something soft and warm. Many of you well know that, when the summer is over, the swallows all fly away to find a warmer home for the winter.

So the little nest near the school-room was left behind; and, what do you think? There, indeed, was the little silk bag, which, I suppose, the bird had picked up one day when the window was open and no one there.

Now, we may call the bird a little thief; but then we know that a bird cannot tell when it is doing wrong, for it has not a conscience as you have. And I have now to tell you something sad about the six little girls, who, though they knew that it was wrong, took apples from the garden belonging to their, kind friends. After they had gone on doing this, I am afraid, for some time, they began to feel very sorry for it, and made up their minds they would tell the two ladies all about it. So they wrote three little letters, two children joining at each letter, and confessed what they had done. You may be sure their kind friends forgave them, and I think we may also be sure that they never took those apples any more.

I wonder, dear children, if you know that verse in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

ML 12/08/1918

Saved at the Bottom of the Ocean.

HOW wonderful are God’s ways; they are indeed “past finding out.” Often the simplest circumstances bring about eternal results.

A gentleman was visiting a professional diver at his home one day, and noticed on the mantelpiece the shell of an oyster with a bit of paper held fast.

The diver noticed his attention riveted, and hastened to explain why such a curious ornament adorned his room.

He was once diving near the coast, and observed at the bottom of the sea an oyster on a rock with a piece of paper in the shell. His curiosity was aroused, and detaching the fragment he put it up to the goggles of his headdress and found it to be a piece of a Gospel tract.

Who can tell? —perhaps some careless receiver disdainfully had torn it up and flung it away; but God had His own purposes even in this, and the message, refused by one, became the means of salvation to another. “How can I refuse the mercy of God that follows me to the depth of the sea,” was what filled the mind of the diver, and there in that strange sanctuary that event took place which causes all heaven to ring with joy: the lost one was found.

There may be no possibility of your conversion being as romantic, but it may be just us, as real, and cause just as much joy in heaven. Why not trust Jesus Now?

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

ML 12/08/1918

Jesus Is Our Saviour.

Jesus is, our Saviour,

Full of tenderness;

Now in heaven He liveth

Little ones to bless.

Once He left His glory,

And the desert trod

As a lonely stranger,

Though the Son of God.

If our souls but trust Him

We can surely say,

All our sins so many

He has washed away;

For His blood most precious

Was for sinners spilt,

When He died On Calvary

For our sin and guilt.

Jesus is our Saviour,

What have we to fear?

He will lead us onward

Through the desert drear

Many sons to glory

He will surely bring;

Jesus is our Captain,

Of His praise we’ll sing.

Jesus is our Saviour,

Who for us has died,

Jesus is our Shepherd,

Now to lead and guide;

‘Twas His grace that sought us,

Wandering far away;

‘Tis His grace that keeps us

Near Him all the way.

ML 12/08/1918

Bobbie.

Sometimes in this world of sin,

Little hearts are aching;

Worn by troubled thoughts within,

Almost unto breaking.

O, Thou Shepherd of the sheep!

In Thine arms enfold them;

Guard and comfort, guide and keep,

Till the heavens behold them.

IT was a happy day with Bobbie when he earned his first sixpence. He intended someday to be an engineer, and then he would bring his wages home to his mother; but up to this eventful Saturday the greatest treasure he had ever possessed was a bright sixpence that a lady had given to him for shoveling away the snow from her door. He could hardly believe that the shining piece of silver was his own. Bobbie was only eight years old, and sixpence to him seemed a mine of riches.

But when he placed the coin into his mother’s hand she kissed him tenderly. saying:

“Have you really earned sixpence, Bobbie? I think Mrs. Linton has paid you very liberally.”

“Yes, mother,” cried Bobby in great excitement, “I helped Harry Lester to sweep out her yard, and then I cleaned the lowest window, and then I polished the steps, and Mrs. Linton said you had taught me how to work, and I might come and help her in the store sometimes.”

“I am very glad to hear that, darling; I am so glad you did your best. But, Bobbie, I have just been paid for some sewing, and I do not need to take your money; you may spend your sixpence just as you please.”

“O, mother!” and for a moment Bobbie’s thoughts flew delightfully to the cakes and candies in a store around the corner, but in another moment he felt he must spend his sixpence more wisely than that, and he said, “I keep wanting to spend it every minute, mother; you keep it for me, and then when I want it I can have it.”

Mother agreed to this, and placed the sixpence to a snug corner of her workbasket, where, wrapped in pink paper, it kept company with a tiny pink pincushion.

Bobbie went to school next morning with a heart that felt equal to the hardest sums and the most difficult dictation, for had he not a secret treasure—his own shining sixpence—that would purchase ever and ever so many of the things in the stores he had to pass—candy, balls, pictures, even a jar of Mrs. Linton’s jam! Harry Lester, a bright-faced boy of eleven, nodded to him as he ran past, and said,

“Mrs. Linton says you’re, a little brick, Bobbie; she’s going to find you a lot of work. You know I go there on Saturday’s, but we move next week, so there will be lots of jobs for you.”

Bobbie held up his curly head in expectation of the employment, but the next moment his nicely brushed suit was smeared with mud, thrown by an unseen hand.

“It’s that little sneak, Whiteman,” said Lester indignantly. “I saw him picking up mud just now; he’s stooping down behind that wall.”

Bobbie doubled up his small fists, and made a dart in that direction—then he stopped. He heard Charlie Whiteman; the cripple, (whose infirmity seemed to have soured his temper and made him the most disagreeable boy in the school) call out, tauntingly,

“Coward! coward! Who was it that wouldn’t thrash Hicks last week?”

Bobbie’s fingers, soft and rosy as they were, smarted to slap his teasing face, but he looked steadily away from Whiteman, and his little beating heart spoke to an unseen Friend,

“Do help me, Lord Jesus Christ; help me not to hurt him.”

Harry Lester watched the two; he knew, and so did Charlie, that Bobbie was no coward. Charlie limped away towards the school, laughing scornfully, and declaring that Bobbie was afraid to touch him. Harry said to himself, (feeling a little ashamed of his own readiness for a hasty blow and an angry word when he was “put out,”) “I suppose the little chap is thinking of the superintendent’s address last Sunday about the Prince of Peace, and how He wants His little flock to be patient and gentle and forgiving. Anyway, I do think that Whiteman deserves to be paid back in some way.”

Bobbie was of the same opinion: he was only a little child, but he knew that his Master would have him “pay back” his enemies by doing good to them. And his tiny feet had already begun to follow Jesus, for the dear father whom God had taken, and whom Bobbie had never forgotten, had laid his hand upon the curly head in his dying hour and prayed that his little son might meet him in heaven, and be kept faithful unto the end.

ML 12/08/1918

Loved, Though Naughty.

WHAT a blessing that the Lord’s measure of forgiveness is not according to our fears, or even according to our faith. “He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.

“Ah!” says Satan, “you’ve done it again! Now God will not love you.”

No, He still loves me—loves me when I fall—loves me even when I am naughty,

“Grandmother,” said a little girl, “do you love me?”

“Yes, dear, of course I do.’’

“Do you love me when I am naughty?” “Yes, dear.”

The little one looked up into her grandmother’s kind, forgiving face, with some surprise, and said,

“My mother doesn’t love me when I’m naughty. I wish I lived with you.” “Why, May?”

“Because, if you always loved me, I’d never be naughty.”

What good arguing! Loved, and so kept. Loved when naughty, and so kept from being naughty. May such a life— such a love, be ours. —The love which passeth knowledge. The more we know of that love the more shall we be preserved from evil.

“The love of Christ constraineth us.” 2 Cor. 5:14.

ML 12/08/1918

Without a Care.

JUST look at that boy leaning against the corn shocks perfectly happy, with an apple in his hand and no thought of care or trouble, He may have done a little work, as we see the hoe lying by his side, but we know such a little boy could not earn his living. He is not thinking about that, as he knows his parents will give him what he needs.

Those who know the Lord Jesus can be perfectly happy in the midst of difficult and trying circumstances, as it is not the circumstances that make them happy; it is being occupied with the Lord Jesus, who is perfect in every way, and the One who has said,

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

Then, again, we are told to be “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7.

This is the privilege of all those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, but for those who do not so know Him, their happiness can easily vanish, for it all de. ponds on the pleasing circumstances, which are but for a moment. Then when they get into sorrow they have no comfort.

May those who know the Lord praise and thank Him, not only for saving them, but for all that He is to them every step of the path, and what He will be for them throughout eternity.

“BOTH YOUNG MEN AND MAIDENS; OLD MEN AND CHILDREN LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD.” Psa. 148:12, 13,

ML 12/15/1918

Precious Bible.

A YOUNG Christian writes, “I enclose a piece of poetry which is very precious to me. I love to read the Bible because I find therein that Jesus came from heaven to take away our sins.” The following is the poetry:

Precious Bible, how I love it,

How it doth my bosom cheer,

What has earth like this to covet,

O, what stores of wealth are here.

I was lost and doomed to sorrow,

Not one ray of light or bliss,

Could I from earth’s treasure borrow,

Till my way was cheered by this.

Yes, sweet Bible, I will hide thee,

Ever deeper in my heart,

Thou through all my life shall guide me

And in death we will not part;

Part in death, no never, never,

Through its vale I’ll lean on Thee,

Then in heaven above, forever

Sweeter still thy truth shall be.

ML 12/15/1918

The Armenian Boy and His Testament.

GARABED was born in Tokat. His parents were members of the Greek church, and he was brought up in strict accordance with its principles. He had no Bible; indeed, he had never seen one. A missionary came, and the people were talking much of what he was saying. Garabed had a great desire to go and hear, but his father prohibited him. He somehow got hold of a copy of the New Testament, and in order not to be discovered, he took it into the stable, and read it by the light of a lamp. When he had finished, he put the book into a hole in the wall, and covered it with a brick. Reading night after night in the Book of God, he became deeply interested, and longed to know if there was a Saviour for him.

He searched the whole New Testament to find his name, but he could not. Peter, Paul, James and John he found, but no “Garabed.” While reading John’s Gospel one night, he came upon the word “whosoever” in chapter 3:16. That word gave him the title he sought. It means anybody. So he put in his own name, believed on the Lord Jesus, and was saved. Now, he tells others in that dark land the way of life and peace.

Have you seen your name in the Book of God, dear reader? God has put it there. If you know your name to be “Sinner,” then for you Jesus’ came as “Saviour,” and “whosoever,” gives you a right to claim Him as yours. Will you claim Him now? He waits to save you, and make you His own. But if you reject Him, you will die a hopeless death.

“All things are ready” Come,

Tomorrow may not be;

O! children, come; the Saviour waits

This hour to welcome thee.

ML 12/15/1918

A Mother's Blessing.

MY mother, when I was a little child, used to bid me kneel beside her and placed her hand upon my head while she prayed. When she died, and I was left much to myself, like others I was inclined to evil passions, but often felt myself checked and drawn back by the remembrance of that soft hand on my head. When as a young man I traveled in foreign lands, I was exposed to many a temptation, and should have yielded, but that God used the memory of that hand upon my head. I seemed to feel its pressure as in the days of my infancy, and there came with it a voice to my heart—a voice that must be obeyed— “O, do not this wickedness, my son, nor sin against thy God.”

ML 12/15/1918

Bobbie.

“I must do all I can to help Whiteman,” thought Bobbie, rather unwillingly. He did not like Whiteman—nobody did—but when his little heart thought,

“I must be good to him for Jesus’ sake,” things looked much sweeter and brighter, and though Charlie Whiteman was not in his class during school hours, he sought him out directly they went into the playground, and loaned him his top—the most precious thing he owned next to his sixpence. The spirit of teasing was so strong in Charlie, that after playing with it a little while, a sudden mischievous impulse caused him to throw it over the playground wall, into the garden of an irritable old gentleman, who had declared that any balls or tops that calm, over the wall must be forfeited by their owners.

“Your top’s over the wall, Bobbie,” said Charlie limping away as fast as possible. Bobbie could not believe it for a moment; then tears welled up to his eyes.

“Cry-baby! cry-baby!” exclaimed Charlie, mockingly. Bobbie hurried out of his sight, and in a quiet corner of the playground had the cry he really could not help. That top had been a gift from his father, and he had had it so long. Poor Bobbie could not summon courage to face that tall gentleman next door; he felt bewildered and helpless and disappointed because he had failed to change Charlie’s feelings towards him. He could only whisper out his trouble to Jesus, with whom no sorrow is too small for sympathy, no difficulty too small for help. While he sat there in his helplessness, something came whizzing over the wall and alighted almost at his feet. What a scream of joy rang through the air as Bobbie picked up his top, rather dirty, but unhurt, for it had alighted in going and returning on soft, safe spots of earth. A gardener was working on Mr. Mann’s grounds, and finding the top, sent it back over the playground wall. Bobbie did not know how it was restored to him, but he felt positive that his sorrowful, whispered words had reached to heaven.

“I should let Whiteman alone,” said Harry Lester to him some days after; “it’s no good to be kind to such a fellow as he; if you do him a good turn, he’ll do you an evil one the first chance he has.”

Bobbie did not feel discouraged, but he and his mother were praying for Charlie Whiteman, so they felt sure his heart would not always be so hard and unfeeling.

One evening Bobbie was playing in the court with his top, when Whiteman went limping by, and though his face was turned away, Bobbie felt sure he had been crying, but he knew Whiteman would be angry if he suggested such a thing, so he only said, in a friendly tone, “A Punch and Judy has just gone up North St. Charlie; wouldn’t you like to see it? I. was there just now, but I’ll help you along if you take my arm.”

“I don’t want your arm,” said Charlie, passionately and fiercely; “I don’t want to be helped along all my life by other people. Why should you be able to run about, and why should I limp like this, I should like to know?”

Bobbie was a little frightened, but he, began to see what a great affliction the boy found in his lameness.

“I don’t know why,” he said timidly, “but Jesus knows why.”

“Nobody knows,” cried Charlie, bitterly, “and nobody cares.”

“O, yes, indeed! Charlie,” said Bobbie, earnestly, “Jesus cares. Didn’t He care about the poor lame people when He was down here on earth? And isn’t He just the same—just as kind as He was then?

O, do come to our Sunday School, Charlie; you wouldn’t feel bad like this about being lame if you heard about Jesus. The teacher says, He gives us pain in His pity, to bring us close to Himself; and He won’t ever give us too much.”

“It’s like this,” said Charlie, hopelessly; “you know that great big new hospital in S.? There’s a clever doctor there from E. that understands a lot about bad hips like mine, and you know I’ve never had any proper doctoring to it since I hurt it, for father and mother are always hard op for money. Sam Brooks and Lizzie Webster have been under Dr. B. and he has done them a sight of good. O, if I could only see him, and find out if there is any hope of my hip getting cured! How happy I should be!”

“I believe there is hope,” cried Bobbie joyously. “Mother always says you would get much stronger if you had a lot of good food and a long rest.”

“My mother says as how it’s no good wasting money to go to S., and dad’s out of work just now,” said Charlie. “I’ve saved a penny for nigh five weeks, but I couldn’t get there in time, except by the early morning train, and the return fare is seven pence. I’ve just been to ask Mrs. Linton at the store to let me work a bit for her on Saturday; but she says she has promised all the small jobs to you.”

Bobbie said nothing for two or three minutes; then a higher strength than his own helped him to say, “I’ve got sixpence, Charlie; I’ll run and bring it to you.”

“You! But Bobbie,” hesitated the boy, “it may be ever so long before I can pay you back.”

“I want to give it to you,” said Bobbie, firmly. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

His mother was silent when he asked for his sixpence, that Charlie might go to the hospital; but she gave it to him with a most tender kiss, and thanked God in her heart that her little boy was acting so unselfishly.

“I can’t think how you can do it, Bobbie,” said Charlie. “I’ve been horrid to you; but I tell you what, little chap, whether I get better or not, I’ll never forget how you helped me. There must be something in your Bible-reading, after all, if it makes you care about a fellow like me.”

Charlie went next day, in company with a neighbor, Mrs. Webster and her little girl, who was under hospital treatment, to consult the clever doctor. He saw at once that nothing could be done for the boy unless he had quiet, nourishment, and constant attention for some weeks.

“You must come into the hospital, and lie up for a time, my boy,” he said, kindly; “then we hope to send you away looking another sort of lad altogether.”

Charlie had to wait a little while, till a bed was vacant; but though by the doctor’s orders, he kept quiet at home during those few days, he was full of hope, and asked Bobbie more than once to come in and talk to him about Jesus; who cared about the lame.

And O, when several months later, the children of the Sunday School gathered together one Sunday, and Bobbie came in with Charlie, looking almost as well as Bobbie himself, it would be difficult to say which of the two joined the most joyously in the hymn of praise—Charlie, who had learned in the restful calm of the hospital ward to love the Lord who had healed him; or Bobbie, whose first sixpence, given up for Jesus’ sake, had been so tenderly blest by the Master.

ML 12/15/1918

Catching Fish with a Net.

IT MIGHT seem quite a pleasure to little brother to catch fish with a net in the running stream, but if he is doing that just for the sake of pleasure it is very wrong; but if they need fish for supper at home, and he is trying to catch the fish for that purpose, it is all right, for God has given us fish for food. But how interested the two sisters are watching him They are anxious to see how many, if any will get into the net.

This has brought to my mind a text of Scripture. “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Prov 1:17. So if a bird sees some one setting a net, or a trap, it will not go into it. It is wise in this respect, and the lesson for us to learn from this is, to take heed to God’s Word, and keep no company with those who do not fear God. Read the whole of Prov. 1, and may this verse be specially pressed upon you.

“MY SON, IF SINNERS ENTICE THEE, CONSENT THOU NOT.’ Prov. 1:10.

If you pay attention to this verse all the nets or traps they will set for you to lead you into wrong, will never catch you and you will be preserved from many sorrows.

ML 12/22/1918

The Little Heroine.

I WOULD like to tell you about a girl who studied in a mission school in India. I will call her Dasammah. When she came to the mission school she was about twelve years of age. She was married, but her husband allowed her to attend school. She was a very modest girl, and used to take her seat back in a corner, and draw her cloth closely over her face, so that she would not be much noticed. When questions were asked her she was very timid in answering, but the missionary, lady noticed that when she was teaching the Bible lesson, this girl always leaned forward and drank in every word.

One day when Dasammah went home she told her husband that she did not believe that the idols which they worshiped were true gods, but she believed that Jesus Christ was the true Saviour. When her husband heard this he was much alarmed, for he feared she would become a Christian. So the next morning he said to her, “Get your things ready quickly; I am going to take you to live at “my mother’s house; be ready to leave in an hour.”

If you who read these lines were told that you were to leave your borne and go to a distant village to live, and-that you were to be ready to start in an hour, What are the things you would select to take with you?

This girl thought of her Bible. But she must not be seen in the street at that time in the morning. So she called a little neighbor girl of lower caste, and said to her, “Run quickly to the missionary’s house and get that book we study in the school—the Bible.”

And the little girl ran to the missionary’s house and got a Bible and brought it to Dasammah, and she hid it in her clothes, and that was the only thing she took with her when she went to a distant village to live with her husband’s mother. She was the only Christian in that village; there was not a missionary there, or a native pastor, or a native Christian. But day by day she studied her Bible, and day by day the Christ whom it told about became more real and more precious to her.

After a time her husband died suddenly; and then, as is the custom in India, her relatives treated her very cruelly, and charged her with the death of her husband, saying she had used charms or something which had caused his death. The girl said that she had done nothing to cause her husband’s death, but that it was the will of God that he should die at that time.

Then they said, “It is because you have given up worshiping our gods and are worshiping the Christian God. Now you must come back and worship our gods, and promise that you will not become a Christian.” They talked to her several times on the subject, but she would only give them the one answer, “I am a Christian.”

One day, the men of the house banished all the women to the women’s apartments, and taking this little girl out into the yard, drove four stakes into the ground, and tied the girl’s hands and feet to these stakes. Then they said to her, “Now we will bring fire and burn your feet, unless you promise that you’ll not become a Christian.”

She answered, “I do believe in Christ. I am a Christian.”

They put the fire to her feet and, let it burn them, and the pain was very great. Then they said to her; “Now will you promise that you’ll not become a Christian?”

She answered, “O, I cannot promise. I am I am a Christian.”

Surely He who walked with the three children of Israel in the burning fiery furnace, was with this poor girl, and strengthened her in the hour of her great trial. After a time, the pain was so great she could not bear it, and she fainted away.

When the men saw that they were afraid she would die, and that the English Government might call them to account for their cruelty. So they untied her hands and feet, and then carried her away into a dark room, and left her there. In the middle of the night consciousness returned to her, and she got up and felt for the door, and found it was open. She went out and started for the missionary’s house. It took her that night and the next day, and late into the next night to reach it.

She walked part of the way as well as she could, on her sore feet, and then got down and crawled on her hands and knees.

When she came to the missionary’s house. she knocked. The missionary lady came to the door and looked at the girl, but did not recognize her, she was so covered with dust and looked so wretched. She said to her, “Who are you?” The girl told her. Then she asked, “Why did you come?” “I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I want to be baptized.”

The missionary lady took her in, and when she saw what a condition her feet were in, she was very sorry for her. She dressed her feet, and all the time she was doing this the girl never uttered a single murmur or complaint, but only said, “O, how good you are! how you must love the Lord Jesus, to be so kind to a poor girl like me!”

After a time her feet healed, and she said to the missionary lady, “You have a Bible woman who visits in the homes and teaches the women; I should so like to help her to tell the women about Christ. I could live on very little; all I would want would be rice and salt; two shillings a month would be quite sufficient to buy my food. If you could find someone who would pay that for me, I would spend my whole time teaching the women in their homes.”

The missionary lady furnished her with the needed means, and she is now a Bible woman, and very happy in her work. This girl had only known about Christ for a short time, but He was very precious to her, and she desired to tell others about Him.

I wonder if you who read these lines love Christ as much, and if you are letting your light shine as brightly. If Christ were to stand before you in bodily form, and say to you as He said to His disciples, “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you,” how would you feel in His presence? Would you be able to look into His dear face and say, “Lord Jesus, I do desire to be in the world as Thou wast in the world. Make me more and more to be like Thee.”

ML 12/22/1918

Little Frank.

IT WAS Frankie’s bedtime, so his mamma put him into his little bed after he had said his evening prayer, and sat down by the bed waiting for her four-year-old little darling to go to sleep; whether the heat was too oppressive or not, I do not know, but little Frank could not sleep, so his mamma said,

“Why, darling, what is the matter with you tonight, you do not seem to be able to sleep?”

“No, mamma, I cannot sleep for thinking of Jesus who lives up in the bright blue sky. You told me that I shall see Hine someday. Well, mamma, I want to see Him. I cannot go to sleep until I give you a kiss.” The little boy clasped his mother round the neck, and gave her a nice kiss, as he said, and then he could go to sleep; for directly afterwards he was in a sound sleep, while his mamma gazed with love at his little face, for the childish words had spoken. to her heart, and she murmured thoughtfully,

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.”

One day his mamma said he might have a party on his birthday. A few days after he stood looking through the window, for this was the day he was to receive his little visitors. Presently Frank heard the sound of cabs coming down the street, and said,

“Here they come, mamma; but I didn’t want this sort of children to come to my party, that have nice clothes and can come in cabs. I want poor children who have no nice clothes and no nice food. I will give them some of mine, and they will play with me in the dining room. That’s the sort of children for my party, those that a kind gentleman finds in the street, sleeping on the pavement, and takes to his nice home.”

As Frank finished speaking, the cabs had arrived at the door, and he went down. stairs to play with his little guests. Who knows but what he would have been more pleased to minister to the needs of those poor little ones who had no nice things He would have been happy in doing so, but God was pleased with him for thinking of the poor little ones; and, maybe, some day when he is a man, He will call him forth to labor in His vineyard, where many poor children are waiting to be fed, not only with the bread which perisheth, but with the Bread of Life.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4.

ML 12/22/1918

The Two "Lets."

THERE were two little sisters at the house whom nobody could see without loving, for they Were always so happy together. They had the same books and the same playthings, but never a quarrel sprang up between them—no cross words, no pouts, no slaps, no running away in a pet.”

“YOU never seem to quarrel,” said I to them one day; “how is it you are always so happy together?”

They looked up, and the elder answered: “O, you know, Addie lets me, and I let Addie.”

I thought a moment. “Ah! that is it,” I said; “she lets you, and you let her; that’s it!”

Yes, that is it. The Bible says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21); and His grace can enable even high-spirited boys and girls to do so. Don’t forgets the two LETS.

“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32.

ML 12/22/1918

Death and Life.

Ah what a little thing it seemed,

When first Eve plucked the tree:

And yet it brought the fruit of death—

Poor child—on you and me.

She listened to the Devil’s word,

And on it did rely;

But, O! the day she took the fruit—

She found that she must die.

God could not from His word depart.

And so with all in sin;

The moment life we enter on,

To die we but begin.

Is there no hope, poor little one—

No hope for you and me?

Ah! yes, the Saviour shed His blood

Upon the cursed tree.

That we eternal life might have,

Which never can decay:

Which neither Satan, nor the world,

Can ever take away.

Then little children, come and take

The life which God has given;

For all who have that life on earth,

Shall spend that life in heaven.

ML 12/22/1918

God's Wonderful Works.

HOW wonderful are all God’s works! Wherever we may look, whether in the animal or vegetable kingdoms, the finger of an all-wise Creator is seen.

The dear children in our picture are admiring the beautiful wild flowers, but very likely they are not thinking of who put them there. I trust, dear children, when. ever you look at all the beautiful flowers and trees and beautiful butterflies and all the different insects, that you will think of the all-wise Creator.

There is one point of difference between ourselves and the lower animals that I would like to draw your attention to, and that is that we are responsible creatures and they are not. We therefore must have to say to God, our Creator, about all that we do. As to the extent of our responsibility to God, we need something more that creation to show that to us, so God has given us His Word, the Bible, and it is marked with the same finger that creation is marked. So it tells us,

“EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO GOD.” Rom. 14:12.

This is a very solemn thing, and there is one thing above all else that God will have us answer to, and that is, What have we done with His Son? Have you thought of what you have done with Jesus? Perhaps you may say, “I have not done anything with Him.” But you know God has asked. us to believe on Jesus, His Son, as the One who died for us. Have you thus accepted Him as your Saviour? If you have not, you are rejecting Him, like the people who were at the trial of the Lord Jesus. They said, “Away with Him.” Which of these two are you doing with Jesus? This is our great responsibility, and we must answer to God for what we have done with Jesus, His Son.

“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.

ML 12/29/1918

The Spider and Her Web.

ONE morning a little girl named Daisy was out in the garden playing, when something attracted her attention, and she stopped opposite some tall bushes that grew by the side of the house. It was a spider’s web that was spread out from branch to branch and was gently waving to and fro in the breeze.

This interested Daisy very much, especially as Mrs. Spider was there herself, holding on to the center of her web with three or four of her legs—for the spider has eight legs—while with the others she was turning about a dark mass that looked like the body of a house fly, from which the spider was, no doubt, making her breakfast by sucking its blood.

On calling her father’s attention to the web, he was able to explain some of thy habits of these busy workers, which, we are told by those who study their ways most, must not be called insects on account of their different form, structure, and habits- from those of most insects, and having no antenna or feelers.

It is wonderful how even and exact a spider will make her web, circle after circle being added until the whole is complete. The fine threads are all taken from her own body, and each one is strong enough to bear her own weight. A spider can make three or four webs if necessary, but would then die unless she was able to get food to supply the waste of strength.

Scripture speaks well of the spider, and links it with three others said to be very wise—the ants, conies and locusts.

“The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” Prov. 30:28.

A gentleman was at one time visiting the White House, and he remembered this verse while he was being shown from room to room. When the elegant furniture and bric-a-brac were being pointed out to him; he paid little attention to these, but was looking up into every corner to see if he could find a spider’s web. At last, while he was being shown through a very beautiful room, he looked up at the chandelier, and there he saw what he had been looking for.

The spider (or lizard, as some translate it) teaches us a needful lesson. She taketh hold with her hands and is in kings’ palaces. The king’s palace is not only expected to be a very fine mansion, but the very best. So it brings before us a picture of heaven, and as the spider (or lizard) is an unlikely creature for such a fine house, so we are unworthy of heaven, out it is our blessed privilege. through the Lord Jesus Christ, to lay hold of that blessed home as ours. He is the One who has the right and title to that place, for it is His home, and He has the right to take in with Himself dose who put their trust in Him, for He died for them, and washed their sins away in His precious blood, to make them fit for His presence in that blessed place.

Have you laid hold of that happy home, as it were, with your hands? Are you able to say, “It is mine?” It is your privilege to do so, for the Lord Jesus receives all who will come to him.

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

ML 12/29/1918

Freddie's First Day at Sunday School.

IT WAS a long promise, that Freddie should be allowed to go to Sunday School as soon as his sixth birthday was come. It was New Year week, and the snow lay thick upon the ground. But what of that, to Sunday School Freddy must go. So, well wrapped up in his overcoat, with his Testament, Freddy set off by his brother’s side to school.

They had fully a mile to walk in the deep snow, from the country house where Freddy lived, to the village Sunday School.

When they arrived, the first hymn was being sung, and Freddie thought it was grand. The words were—

“Around the throne of God in heaven,

Thousands of children stand

Whose sins through Christ are all forgiven,

A holy, holy band,

Singing glory, glory, glory.”

He was put into a class and the teacher told them about the paschal lamb slain in Egypt, and how its blood was pm upon the doors; to shelter the firstborn children inside from the sword of judgment; then about “The Lamb of God” dying on the cross, that sinners might be saved from death and hell. At the close, his teacher gave him a pretty text card, on which the words—

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” were printed. He was told to learn the text during the week, and to be able to repeat it when he came the following Lord’s day.

Freddy went home, greatly delighted with what he had seen and heard, that first day at school, and it was found after many days that some of the good seed that was dropped into his young heart that day, took root, never to be forgotten. All through the week the cottage rang with the precious words,

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” until Freddie could repeat them without a mistake. Not only so, but they became so familiar to him that he kept thinking about them every day for long after. But Freddie did not know their meaning then, nor did he know how great a sinner he was, and how he needed the “blood of Jesus Christ” to cleanse him. It was some time after this that Freddie came home from a children’s meeting one evening really anxious to be saved, convinced that he was a sinful boy, unfit to be in heaven.

His first text, these glorious words learned on his first day at Sunday School, were brought to his memory. They had been planted in his dear little heart, and Freddie trusted the precious blood, and was cleansed from all his sins, and made fit to be in heaven. How he loved then to trace along the pages of his Bible the various things which the blood of Christ has done, and is doing, for all who believe on Jesus. On a page of his well-read Bible you may read,

Sheltered by the blood. Exodus 12:13.

Cleansed by the blood. 1 John 1:7.

Peace through the blood. Col. 1:20.

Made nigh by the blood. Eph. 2:13.

Victory through the blood. Rev. 12:11.

Dear boys and girls, have you known, like this dear boy, the cleansing of the blood of Christ? Are you made clean from all your sins and fit for heaven through “the precious blood of Christ”?

“It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

ML 12/29/1918

Are You Ready?

When the Saviour comes to call us

To His happy home on high,

Say, will you, dear little reader,

Go to meet Him in the sky?

Can you say, “He is my Saviour,

He has washed my sins away?”

Happy, happy little children,

Those who truly this can say.

If you have not trusted in Him,

Listen now to what He’s done,

You have sinned, but He was punished—

He, God’s perfect, sinless One.

Do not doubt another moment,

He has died instead of you.

Only trust this loving Saviour,

And believe the message true.

ML 12/29/1918

"I Love Jesus."

A lady was speaking to some children about the love of the Lord Jesus. A little girl named Lizzie sat upon a low stool at her feet. As the lady ceased speaking, Lizzie asked if they might sing “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.”

“Why do you wish to sing that hymn?” said the lady.

“Because I want to feel safe in His arms,” was the reply.

They sang the hymn together, and then the lady spoke again of the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. Lizzie sat with clasped hands, and a bright smile covered her face. Suddenly she started up, and putting her arms around her friend’s neck, she exclaimed, “I love Jesus.”

“Why do you love Him, Lizzie?”

“Because He first loved me,” was her reply; then she added, “and I love you too, for telling me about Him loving little children. Dear Jesus, I will sing to Him now, for He has made me feel so safe.”

This little child would frequently go to some lonely spot, and sing simple hymns of praise to Him who first loved her. And her artless talk and loving smile gave many to know that she had been in the company of the Lord Jesus.

“Do you love Jesus?” would be her simple question; then, while awaiting a reply, she would say, “I love Him, He has made me so safe; will you love Him too?”

God, by His Spirit, thus used dear Lizzie to lead many of her companions to Him.

ML 12/29/1918

Trust in the Good Shepherd.

Jesus, bless thy little lamb,

Weak and foolish as I am;

Bear me in Thy mighty arm

Safe from every fear and harm.

Thou did’st call me to Thy side,

Trembling in the desert wide;

Bad’st me all my bleatings cease,

Hushed my fears, and gave me peace.

Lord, Thou art my Shepherd kind;

All I need in Thee I find;

But I fear my silly heart,

Lest I should from Thee depart.

Call me nearer, then, I cry,

Let me in Thy bosom lie;

Turn these wandering eyes, I pray,

From each vanity away.

Teach me what that sorrow meant,

When those cries to heaven were sent;

When in blood and tears and grief,

Thou did’st call—but no relief.

Let my childish follies be

Drowned in that deep agony;

Let Thy death, Thy wounds, Thy woe,

Make me all sin’s vileness know.

And when’er in folly’s way,

Thy poor lamb begins to stray,

May Thy dying love and pain

Turn my heart to Thee again.

ML 12/29/1918

Messages of God's Love: 1918

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for November.

Industrious Mary.

I Won't Go Home Till I Am Saved.

Forgiveness of Sins.

"Jesus Died for Me."

Alone, but Not Lonely.

Beautiful Snow.

"Let Us Alone!"

You Need the Blood.

Put Your Name in.

The Little Girl Who Took Out the "If"

Love One Another.

His First Letter.

Edith's Prayer.

Gracie's Two Wishes.

The Father's Love Known.

Caught in the Tide.

Daniel in the Den of Lions.

Robert in the Snowdrift.

"Mind Where You Step Father!"

The Red Apples.

"My Book."

The Dove.

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

Young Lives Lost.

The Little Caged Bird.

The Stranger Not a Stranger.

Jesus Came to Save.

A Letter From Papa.

"I Do Trust Him."

Trust in God.

A Little Lamb.

A Birthday.

Too Bad to Be Saved.

Bethlehem's Star.

Little Bessie's Faith.

The Cost of an Estate.

The Converted Sailor.

How Can I Believe?

Eternity.

Little Willie.

White as Snow.

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

Wounded and Healed

Hoping.

Little May's First Star.

Tired Out

The Sweetest Name.

The Place of Safety.

A Young Man's Decision for Christ.

No Time to Lose.

Winter.

This Is the Happiest Day of My Life.

Jesus Loves the Little Ones.

Harvesting Poppies.

Too Cheap.

"You Never Came."

The Story of a Little Boy

God's Looking Glass.

Hoping and Having.

Heaven's Door.

Lost.

Obedience.

Believe First.

The Bible.

More Than My Necessary Food.

Wonderful Love.

Nothing New to Tell.

The Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd.

"Jesus Loves Lizzie."

One More Chance.

Who Loved First?

Nearly Lost.

Answers to Bible Questions for February.

"I Want You to Love Jesus."

Wild Flowers.

Going to School

The Good Shepherd