Messages of God's Love: 1919

MANY MILES away from here, lie the islands called the New Hebrides. You will find them, if you look on the map in the Pacific Ocean, somewhat to the north of Australia. Not much more than fifty years ago, these islands were entirely heathen, but that noble missionary, John Paton, worked there for many years, and the Lord blessed his labors and many of the natives became earnest Christians. However the group contains about thirty islands, and in a number of them the gospel had never been preached. I want to tell you now, how a poor native woman brought the glad tidings of Jesus Christ to several villages. She was born in, the Island called Pentecost, but when grown up, she crossed over to Queensland, Australia, with her husband, and they worked there for about three years. During. that time she first heard the Gospel, the seed fell on good ground, and Rebecca was brought to Jesus. What a difference it made in that poor ignorant woman; she had found One who could not only forgive her sins, but satisfy her heart. At the end of three years, she returned to her native islands, but desiring to be amongst Christians she went to the Mission station, on the large island of Ambrim. They had not been there long, when the doctor in charge of the station discovered symptoms of leprosy on poor Rebecca. You have often, I am sure, heard of this terrible disease, and that there is no cure for it, it is also very infectious, and Doctor B. felt that it would not do for a leper to be in the Mission Station where so many people were coming and going and would be exposed to this dreadful disease. But where could he send her? With a sad heart he told her what he had discovered, and asked her what she could do. Do you think this poor woman gave way to hopeless despair? O, no, she had a brave heart, for she knew the Lord Jesus as her friend and helper, and more than this, she had a great longing after the souls of her fellow countrymen. It did not take her long to decide what to do.

On the opposite side of the island was her husband’s native village, where the whole population was living in the darkness of heathenism. She had several times visited the village, and it had made her heart sore to see the wretched condition of the people. How she longed to teach them the saving truths of the Gospel. Rebecca told the doctor that she did not know very much, but she would like to go with her husband to Willis, and tell the people about Jesus.

When they arrived they found the people all heathen, they knew nothing of God, and had never heard of the Lord Jesus and His love to sinners, shown by dying for them on the Cross. • And more than this they were like those of old, who loved darkness better than light. They did not seem to mind having a women amongst them who was a leper, but they fiercely resented what she told them about God and His Son Jesus Christ.

The Chief said that Rebecca, was spoiling the place and told her husband he must either make her leave off talking about God or leave the village. Nothing daunted, they managed to build a small grass house, and much to the anger of the chief, people began to come to it, to inquire more of the wonderful message.

Sometimes their good friend the doctor would come over the hills to the wild coast, where Willis was situated, and then there would be a little meeting and Rebecca felt encouraged to go on once more with her difficult and lonely work. On the occasion of one of these visits, Rebecca asked Dr. B. if he could not send some Christian man to preach in Willis, as there were many who were now ready to listen, she also mentioned the name of James Kaum, a native Evangelist, who was at that time preaching in the neighborhood of the Hospital. When the doctor spoke to Kaum, he said he would visit Willis before deciding, so he came and spent a wqek with these humble children of God, but he soon saw work in plenty around him, and returning for his wife and child, he gave himself up to preaching the gospel in this part of Ambrim. Rebecca helped hiin as long as she was able, but about a year ago, she died if the ,terrible disease, she had so long. In spite of all she suffered, she did a great work amongst the people of the place, and her name will long be held in affectionate remembrance by those whom she first led to Jesus. But I must tell you the story of James Kaum and his adventures next week.

Messages of God’s Love 1/5/1919

The Mirage of the Desert

TELL us a story of the war, was a very common request of the Colonel’s grandchildren, as they climbed upon his knees and stroked his long gray beard. He had been in many dangers, and had proved the Lord’s delivering hand, even in his unconverted days, when as a dashing young officer he delighted in the roar of the cannon. After God saved him he saw things in a new light, and sought m spread abroad the name of Jesus.

“I’ll tell you a short story tonight. my boys, which I would like you to remember and in order to keep it in your minds, I want you first to learn and repeat a nice text from God’s own Word. You will see the connection when you hear my story The text is,

“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

Now for my story: When I was out in foreign service, we were on a long march through the desert. Our supply of water was completely finished, and we were all very thirsty. Some of the soldiers were actually sucking the sand, wherever they saw a little moisture, in hope of finding water.

Day after day passed, and we began to fear that many would die for want of water. We had been told of certain “pools somewhere about the line of our march; and we hoped every hour to reach them At last one of the officers gave the cheering signal of water within sight, and we strained our eyes to catch the first glimpse of it. We thought it would be the “pools,” but to our amazement a beautiful lake appeared in the distance with palm trees growing luxuriantly around its edge. The thirsty soldiers could not restrain their delight, but burst into a song. But, alas, the lake turned out to be a mirage of the desert.

A mirage is a picture thrown upon the desert from the clouds above it. It has all the appearance of real water, but is only a shadow. How disappointed we were. Our tongues seemed to cleave to our mouths as we found that the mirage had deceived us.

I learned a lesson that day, my dear boys, that I shall never forget. Fair appearances often deceive. The world’s pleasures, its honors, its wealth, are like that mirage in the desert. They promise much, but give nothing to satisfy. Just as we were preparing to camp for the night, ,without any appearance or display whatever, we suddenly came upon a river of beautiful clear water. O joyful sight! And all free, without money and without price. Never before did I enjoy a drink of water as I did that evening. The men knelt down and drank their fill, and our camp that night was a scene of gladness. We valued the water because we were thirsty.

Now, my dear boys, for the lesson: We are all in a thirsty desert. This world has nothing to satisfy. Its fair promises are like the mirage. But the blessed Gospel flows like a river, giving life and joy and peace. Best of all, it is free, and the invitation of God is,

“Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” Isa. 55:1.

“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.

The boys listened attentively to their grandfather’s story, and they will not soon forget the meaning of that “mirage of the desert.”

Dear boys and girls, there is nothing to satisfying you in this world. You must come to Jesus, and receive Him in order to have life and peace.

“Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not. yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Pet. 1:8.

Messages of God’s Love 1/5/1919

Give Ear

WITH GREAT attention John (we will call him) listens to his little brother’s secrets. Very likely it does not amount to much, but no doubt he has great delight in thinking of some kind act he wants to show to his dear father or mother and wants his brother to enjoy the thought along with himself. So John gives his ear fully to him and takes it all in and delights to please his younger brother because he loves him. There is a verse of Scripture I should like to have you learn that asks God’s people Israel to give their ear to Him:—

“GIVE EAR, O MY PEOPLE, TO MY LAW: INCLINE YOUR EARS TO THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH.”—PS. 78:1.

There is wisdom in listening and going according to God’s word, and if we love Him it will be our delight to please Hilo and we will reap good results from giving ear to God’s word.

Messages of God’s Love 1/5/1919

Jesus Loves Me

DOES ROSIE love Jesus?” asked an aunt of her little niece whom she was nursing.

“No,” was the reply.

“O, but Jesus loves Rosie,” said the aunt.

She then began to speak to another person, but on looking at the child a few minutes later, she found her earnestly gazing up into her face.

“What is Rosie thinking about?” asked the aunt.

“Jesus loves me,” replied the child softly.

The next day the little girl was again lying in her aunt’s arms, with the same earnest, thoughtful expression in her eyes as she gazed up into her aunt’s face.

“What is Rosie thinking about now?” again asked the aunt.

“Jesus loves me,” murmured the little one.

It seemed such a wonderful thing to Rosie that Jesus loved her; and I have n. doubt when she learned that He loved her. she could love Him too.

Do you, my little reader, know that Jesus loves you, and do you love him? “We love Him because he first loved us.” I John. 4: 19.

Messages of God’s Love 1/5/1919

January 12

Gentleness and Care

IT IS good to see children manifest gentleness and care towards all God’s creatures and we see this shown in our picture to the dear little bird.

Do you remember as you look at little birds that God cares for these little things?

In Matt. 10:29 we read Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” He cares for such and we should seek to care for them too and remember if God cares for such how much more will His care over us be . So he says:

“FEAR YE NOT THEREFORE, YE ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS. “ Matt. 10:31.

What a wonderful Creator. God has made all these creatures and provides for them so we may well trust Him for all that we need, for He let us know we are of more value than many sparrows.

When we remember that Ile loves us so much that He gave his own Son for us then we can say “How shall Ile not with Him also freely give us all things. Rom. 8:32. May we trust Him with everything in our path and remember that He cares for us and it will make us gentle and careful towards all of His creatures.

Messages of God’s Love 1/12/1919

Stories of the New Hebrides. The Story of James Kaum

I told you last week of the poor woman, Rebecca, who was so anxious to bring her fellow countrymen to Jesus, and you will remember that a native Evangelist called James Karim came to Willis, where Rebecca and her husband lived, to preach to the many people who were longing to hear of the love of God and what the Lord Jesus had done for them. But though a number of the natives desired to bear the Gospel, there were a great many more who hated the sound of it, and they fiercely opposed the coming of James Kaum, and did all they could to hinder his settling among them. He had got a few men, who were friendly to him, to help him build a house, but the heathen arrived with tomahawks and knives and Muskets and tore the posts out of the ground. Then the chief commanded Kaum to leave the village, but he bravely replied that he had come on the business of God, and he could not leave until God told him to. When the trouble was at its height, an old man with a painted body, and as heathen looking as any of the others, approached Kaum and his wife very kindly, and told them not to be afraid, that he was owner of a piece of ground in the center of the village and would give it to them as a site for a dwelling house. Kaum felt that the Lord had touched this man’s heart and thankfully accepted the offer. and after countless difficulties and interruptions, a small house was built. Soon after it was finished his enemies made a raid upon it and tried to burn it.

Kaum and his little family had to leave in a hurry. not being able to take anything with them. Thinking that they had him at their mercy, they approached in a threatening manner, and ordered him to clear out of the place. But the brave man did not heed either threats or attempts at violence, his one desire was to tell these very men of the Saviour he had found. As they would not allow him to preach he went from house to house, asking each one to come tto Jesus. In course of time the number of those who accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour increased, and the heathen around began to find it useless to try to hinder the work. It is now going on without any particular opposition.

But James Kaum and his friend and helper Rebecca were not satisfied with telling the inhabitants of one village the good news; as soon as the work in Willis was fairly established, they turned their thoughts to the neighboring heathen village of Konkon, where all were still ignorant of God. One Sunday, after the little meeting at Willis was over, Kaum, Rebecca and a number of converts set out for Konkon, and there they held a meeting. Many of these people had heard of the work which had been going on in Willis, and they were interested in hearing the message for themselves. They received it so gladly, that Kaum decided to move over to Konkon in order to help them better, and before very long the whole village had turned to Christ, except the old chief, who refused to listen to the Gospel or to attend the school which was begun. In this School they were taught more about the things of God, and also to read His word.

After the winning of Konkon, Kaum went on farther and visited two more villages, Fawnwar and Fangbang. At the time of his arrival the natives were engaged in a heathen ceremony called “Manki”. At this sort of festival elaborate images are set up, and a large number of pigs are sacrificed. The Evangelist and his friends moved on the spot, in the middle of this strange performance. Kama walked straight in amongst them, and told them to had come with a message for them. They all listened while he preached the gospel to them. At the close he asked them if they would not throw away the “ Mankis” or idols. The people were so impressed by what Kann had told them, that they asked him to throw the “Mankis” into the sea. But Kaum told them that they must do that for themselves. With one accord the people cast down the graven images, and from the brow of the hill on which the village is situated the Mankis were thrown into the sea. A school was soon opened and the whole population came to it, to learn more of;Jesus. Kaum still goes on preaching Christ, and some of his converts are beginning to help him. The whole country is crowded with heathen villages, but by degrees one and another are becoming interested. Numbers of people from the village of Harimal have been coming over in their heathen dress and paint to hear the Gospel. They say, “Your ‘word is good.” They are tired of heathen ways and practices and long for something better. And dear children, this is not a story of long ago, but it is going on now. Would you not like to pray for that brave and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, James Kaum, and for the poor heathen who are longing to hear of Jesus Christ? Next week I must tell you of that wicked old Chief, of Konkon, Wunburang, and how he was brought to God.

Messages of God’s Love 1/12/1919

What Is the Time?

WHAT is the time, please?” asked two bright lads of a passer-by.

“The time, boys?”

“Yes,” replied the older, “I want to put my watch right,” and he proudly drew from his pocket a nice watch, which a kind parent or friend had evidently given him, but which apparently did not beat quite true with standard time.

“It is exactly twenty-five minutes past three by mine,- responded the man, “and I believe it is fairly correct; but wait a moment, boys, this is only standard time, and I must tell you of another.”

The man then held out his Bible and said, “Here in this I look eye read of Heaven’s time, God’s time,’ and slowly he repeated the well-known but wonderful words in 2 Cor. 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation.” “O boys,” continued the man, “people, even young folks, are careless about GOD’S TIME, the time of salvation, and neglect to look into His Word, but whenever you take out your watch again, think of this verse, ‘Behold, now is the accepted time.’

These boys, who at first were tempted to smile at so unexpected an answer to their question, became interested and serious, and as they parted from the stranger, promised to carry out his wish and remember the word of the Lord which says. “Behold, now is the accepted time behold, mow is the day of salvation.”

Have my youthful readers ever paused to consider why God says “Now is the accepted time”? Let me tell vou. In the book of Revelation, chap. 11, verse 18, we read of “the time of the dead, that they should be judged,” and each tick of Our watches brings the world nearer that solemn moment. But most hors and girls want to escape the coming judgment and be received into heaven; and, best of all, God wants them there. Now the question you may rightly ask is, “How may I be saved in the ‘time accepted,’ so as to escape the ‘time of the dead, that they should be judged”?

When the Lord Jesus Christ was here upon earth, He once said, “MT time is at hand” (Matt. 26:18). What did He mean? He was approaching the moment of His betrayal, when He was to be taken by wicked hands and crucified. He was nearing the time of greatest sorrow and agony, for He was about to offer Himself unto God as a sacrifice for sin. The blessed Saviour, in true and deep love to our souls, suffered and died at Calvary in our stead, and from those three hours of darkness which Jesus called “My time, there have come life, light, and love to all who have repented and believed on His Name.

O children, God is so willing to bless you! and this is why He sent His dear Son to die on the cross. Boys and girls in this and other lands are receiving the forgiveness of their sins through faith in His cleansing blood. Will von not join the happy number by believing on the Saviour for yourself? Do!

Time is earnest, when ‘tis o’er,

Thou returnest never more.

Soon to meet eternity—

Wilt thou never serious be?

Christ is earnest, bids thee come,

Paid salvation’s priceless sum,

Do not spurn the Saviour’s love.

Pleading with thee from above.

Messages of God’s Love 1/12/1919

Saved by a School Girl

LENA was one day running to school with her books under her arm, when she suddenly heard the sound of carriage wheels behind her, and upon looking round. saw a carriage and pair of horses being driven at a furious rate down one of the principal streets.

Of course this fact alone would not have had much impression on her, for it was such a common occurrence, but for the fact that right in front, and but a few yards off front the horses’ heads, was a little child crossing the road, and would no doubt have been knocked down and probably killed, but for the strength and courage of Lena, who instantly threw her books to the ground, and sprang forward just in time to save the frightened child from death; for the carriage dashed over the spot in a moment, although the driver stopped as quickly as possible to inquire if anyone was hurt, and a crowd soon gathered round the pale and nervous schoolgirl, and the child’s mother thanked her again and again for saving the little one from being run over.

Lena remembering that it was now already past school time, hurried away to avoid the crowd, and the sincere thanks of the child’s mother.

But the brave girl’s action was not allowed to pass unnoticed, and when one of her teachers at school, spoke of her courage and commended her, it certainly looked as if everyone had noticed the heroic net which had saved a child’s life.

When we were lost and undone and really trodden under foot with sin and iniquity, and only death and judgment before us. the Lord Jesus Christ saw us in this sad condition, and He came just where we were to save us from the dreadful danger we were in. He not only risked His life, but went clown into death, (the wages of sin), and rose triumphantly out of it, and now says to all:

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

“He that believeth. on Me hath everlastg live. John 6:47.

Messages of God’s Love 1/12/1919

A Teacher's Prayer

As forth we go to labor, Lord,

Among the children dear,

We ask rich harvest from the Word

Their little ears shall ‘hear.

And that their little hearts may yield

While drinking in the tale

Of Jesus Christ, their only Shield,

Whose love can never fail.

Messages of God’s Love 1/12/1919

Hagar and Ishmael

I SUPPOSE most of my readers have read of Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 21: 12-21.) or at least have heard about them in the Sunday school. There are different lessons for us in this case but there is only one I want to bring before you and that is in connection with how God watched over them, supplied their needs and purposed that a nation would come from Ishmael, which were called Ishmaelites.

It is good for us ever to remember that God is in everything and He is and will work out His wise purposes and the end is ever with blessing. You may find many difficulties arise in your circumstances even when you are quite young, but may you remember how God undertook for these. two and remember too a verse of Scripture in the New Testament so I want you to learn it by heart.

“WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD”. ROM. 8:28.

Messages of God’s Love 1/19/1919

Stories of the New Hebrides. Wunburang Chief of Konkon

I TOLD you last week how the village of Konkon was “turned from idols to serve the living and true God,” all but the old chief Wunburang, whose heart remained hard and unmoved. He was very angry at seeing the villagers going to the preaching and attending the school, and he sought some way to hinder the work. and to injure that faithful servant of God, James Kaum. One day he met Kaum in the bush as he was traveling from one village to another, and in angry words abused him for the havoc he was making with the old religion of the people, “One day”, he said, “you will get what you deserve.”

Soon afterwards a Christian lad informed Kaum that the chief was very angry and had determined to kill him. On the following Sunday Kaum again met Wunburang in the bush, and knew by his scowling face that he was plotting mischief. Fortunately the Missionary had several converts with him, so the old man did not dare to injure him. As it was, Kaum stepped boldly up to him and offering to shake hands said, “Good-day”. But Wunburang refused the friendly greeting and again accused Kaum of spoiling the people and destroying their religion. When he had finished speaking Kaum replied that he was sorry he was nursing in his heart and added kindly, “The best thing you can do is to give your heart to Jesus.” So saying he left him, and the old chief went back to his home. But Wunburang felt heart-sick and ill at ease, the spirit of God was working with this sinful old man, his conscience had been touched and he began to feel the burden of his sins. He sat at his door watching for Kaum’s return, and as soon as he appeared he ran out and offered him seven shillings. Kauni was the first to speak and he said “Why should I take your money”! Then the, old Chief began a confession of all the plots and evil designs he had planned in order to bring about the death of Kaum. “Now, “he said, “I feel sorry, I want to make peace with you, I want you to take that money and let us be friends.” Kaum replied, “If I take your money the money cannot wash away your sins, only the blood of Jesus can do that. Give your heart to Jesus and He will take all the bad thoughts away.” The old Chief still insisted on Kaum taking the money, but the only reply he made was “Give your heart to Jesus.” With these words Kaum left him, and proceeded on his way to Willis.

There was no sleep for Wunburang that night. He sent his wife to Isaiah, one of the Christians in Konkon, to ask him to come and tell him about Jesus. But Isaiah knew that Wunburang was angry with all Christians, and thought that this was a trap to catch him, so he refused to go. The old man felt very sorry when he heard the footsteps of his wife returning alone. and asked her to go back and request Isaiah to come at once, as he was sorry for all his evil deeds, and wanted now to hear about Jesus, and find out how his sins could be forgiven. Isaiah came this time, and as soon as the old chief saw him he said “I want to give my heart to Jesus. I am sorry for all the evil things I have done and the evil words I have spoken.” What a joy for the Christian native to tell his chief of the One who had died on the cross, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Wunburang listened to the good tidings, and received the message, and since then he has shown out by his life that he is a changed man. What a change from the darkness of heathenism to the glorious light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You, who read this story have never been a worshipper of idols, but if you have never come to the light, you are still in darkness even like that poor old chief of Konkon. Have you ever give’ your heart to Jesus?

Messages of God’s Love 1/19/1919

Margaurite

IN a mountain village toward the south of France, there lived some years ago, a young girl named Margaurite. Her parents and indeed most of the villagers were Romanists, and not one of them possessed a copy of the Bible. By some means or other, this young girl had heard of this wonderful book that told the way to heaven, and that people might be saved and happy here on earth.

She tried hard to find a Bible in her native village, but without success. At last someone told her that a copy could be procured in N., a town about seventy miles away, and that it would cost her three francs—that is, about sixty cents.

This gave little hope to the anxious maiden, as she had no money of her own, and the journey was expensive and difficult to make. Yet she longed for the desire of her heart, and thought of the following plan to obtain it. She had two pretty pet rabbits of a very rare kind, with which she was willing to part in exchange for a Bible. The difficulty was, how to reach N., where she could sell the rabbits, or exchange them for a Bible. Weeks past by, but no colporteur or merchant came to the mountains with the Book of books.

One fine summer morning, Margaurite started off, carrying a basket on her arm, along the road that leads to N. How many days it took her to tread that long journey, I do not know, but I am sure she must have been very tired before she reached her destination. Resting often by the wayside, gathering green food for her pets, and sharing the shelter of the hospitable peasants’ cottages along the way, she reached the place at last, and entered the town a perfect stranger with her two pet rabbits in the basket under her arm. Margaurite wandered along the streets, looking in at all the windows to see if she could find the Book of God, but it seemed to be almost as little known there as at her home.

At last she heard of a small book store where Bibles were sold, and tired and hungry as she was, she hurried along to the place, and went straight in. The bookseller heard her story, and was deeply interested in the anxious girl. She told him she had no money, but opened her basket, and showed her pair of pretty pet rabbits, saying she would give them in exchange for a Bible. The offer was accepted, and Margaurite stroking her pets, handed them to the kind-hearted bookseller, who in exchange gave her a copy of “The Holy Bible.”

Margaurite clasped the treasure to her bosom, and tripped out as proud as a queen. The seventy long miles lying before her were forgotten in the joy of her newfound treasure, and many a half-hour did she spend on the homeward journey, sitting under the shadow of a tree by the wayside, reading in her own dear Bible the wonderful words of God.

At length she reached her mountain home, and there every day she read a portion from the Book of God, and spoke to others of the Saviour whom she had learned to trust, and own as her Redeemer and Lord. From her lips many of the dwellers in that mountain village heard the story of a Saviour’s love, and it will be seen in a coming day how many believed the message and trusted in Him also. Margaurite did not read her Bible in vain, for many others were led to the Lord by her means.

It is much easier for most of our readers to procure a Bible for themselves than it was for Margaurite, but do they have the same love for it as she had? Has its precious words led you, dear young friend, to the Saviour? To read the Book of God without believing what it says is only to increase your condemnation.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35.

“The Word of the Lord endureth forever.” 1 Peter 1:25.

Messages of God’s Love 1/19/1919

A Friend

A LITTLE boy was asked if he could say what a friend is. It is not an easy question to answer. I fancy, when we try to answer it instead of drawing a picture of some perfect friend we have never met, we begin to describe some friend that we honor and love, and I fancy that as boys and girls read this, the picture of a friend• that will be taking shape in their minds will be a very good likeness of their own father or mother. The little boy’s answer was this:

“A friend is a chap what sticks to you even after he has found you out.”

That is a good definition. But it is not the way of the world. More often people give up their friends when they find out something ugly and unlovely in their characters. They say,

“So-and-so was my friend, until I found out that he had given way to such and such an evil practice, and then I dropped him... The world doesn’t help its sinners; it drops them when it finds them out.

So the saving of sinners was left to heaven, and from heaven a Saviour came whose glory is this, that He sticks to us even after He has found us out.

“While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

As Jesus went about in Palestine, He made people feel two things. One was that He had found them out. They might have hidden their true character from their neighbors, and even from themselves, but they could not hide it from the Lord Jesus. He knew, and they knew He knew all about them. Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, the woman of Samaria, Peter, who denied Him, all knew that Jesus knew just what sort of people they were, and they made no excuses to Him.

Perhaps others had found them out as well as Jesus, but what made the difference between Jesus and everybody else was that He stuck to them. He was the guest of Zacchaeus; He made Mary Magdalene and the woman of Samaria, His messengers; He trusted Peter to feed His lambs!

And so the Lord Jesus saved them and changed their lives. And what He did for them, He is still doing for all who come to Him to have their sins washed away in His precious blood. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

He knows just what we are, and yet He holds on to those He has saved, and never gives them up.

Dear children! we want you all to know what a happy thing it is to have Jesus for your Saviour and Friend, for:

Earthly friends may fail and leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve as,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us—-

O how He loves!”

Messages of God’s Love 1/19/1919

Those That Seek Me Early Shall Find Me

Prov. 8:17.

Little ones with cheeks like roses,

Eyes so sparkling bright,

Little lips with smiles so ready,

Shining as the light.

In these early days of childhood,

In these budding years,

I n. these hours, some bright with sunshine,

Others dimmed by tears.

Little one, these words are written

In God’s Book for you;

They are words of One who loves you,

Won ‘t you love Him too?

Little children did He welcome

To His arms of love;

Let them come to Me,” said Jesus,

Now and then above.

Still He calls the little children,

Still He seeks to save,

Still He loves, and still He’s waiting,

You He wants to have.

What a Saviour! O, receive Him!

Make Him now your choice,

Early seek, and you shall find Him,

Now obey His voice.

Messages of God’s Love 1/19/1919

Rabbits

MANY OF my readers are no doubt familiar with rabbits, as they are so common, both wild and tame, so I will not write of their habits, save one.

We all know they are very destructive in the fields and to young trees, and in his, one is reminded, this is all the result of sin, as God has made all animals for man’s use and not to be pests, and tit day is not far distant, when the Lord Jesus will come back to this earth and will take Satan, who now is the prime and power of the air, and put him in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, then this earth and the creatures in it will be delivered from his destroying power. What a glorious time that will be for this poor world. But for those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour they are looking for a still better time, for before that good time will come for this world, the Lord Jesus will come in the air to take them to Himself and change their bodies to be like His own and they shall be with Him forever. This may take place at any moment, and let me ask you, dear reader, are you ready and watching for the Lord to come? If you are one who can say “Jesus is my Saviour” He will take you when He comes, but if not ,you will be left behind for the terrible judgments that are to come on this earth, previous to the time of blessing when even the animals will be delivered from Satan’s power.

“THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.” JAMES 5: 8.

Messages of God’s Love 1/26/1919

The Substitute

A SCHOOL has been founded for poor boys who, without parents, are found wandering about the streets of a large city. They are taught all sorts of outdoor and indoor work, and have regular seasons for recreation and play; and although there are more than one hundred of them in this institution, the order maintained is exceedingly good on account of the singular discipline exercised.

When any scholar commits a fault requiring serious punishment, all the boys are assembled as a sort of council, to deliberate and decide on the kind of punishment to be inflicted. This generally consists of imprisonment in a dungeon for a number of days, without, of course, sharing in the recreation of the school. After the sentence of imprisonment has been passed by the boys, under the approval of the director, the following question is put:

“Will any of you consent to become the substitute of this offender: that is; to take his place now, and suffer in his room and stead, while he goes free?” .

It sometimes happens that someone is found to step forward and ransom the wrong-doer, by undergoing his punishment for him. In this case the guilty one is required to act as warder to his substitute, and carry his bread and water to him in his dungeon, during the time of his captivity.

A remarkable case occurred there not long ago, which serves as an illustration of what the Lord Jesus has done for us. A boy whose violent temper and bad conduct had caused him to be turned out of several schools, was received into this school. For a time new scenes and constant occupation seemed to subdue his temper; but at length his evil disposition showed itself. In a fit of anger he drew a knife on a boy, with whom he had quarreled, and stabbed him in the breast! The wound was severe, but not mortal. While the bleeding boy was being borne to the hospital, the rest of the school was summoned to decide on what was to be done with the guilty boy. It did not take long to arrive at a decision; unanimously they agreed that he should be instantly expelled from the school. The director opposed this. He said: “This will certainly ruin him, and bring him in a little while to the gallows.” He then asked them to change their decision. At length they fixed upon a long imprisonment. Then came the usual question of a substitute; but no one offered to take the place of the wicked boy, so to the prison he was marched.

In like manner we all have got beyond control, our evil has indeed showed itself, not merely towards our fellows, but towards our God. Sentence has been pronounced against us—we deserve to be expelled from God’s presence for ever. But, like the director, mercy has interposed. Is there no way of escape, or could not a milder form of judgment be inflicted? No. God cannot, in righteousness change or reverse His verdict. It is written, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

After some days the director reminded the boys of the sad case in the prison, and asked, “Will no one become the. substitute of this unhappy boy?”‘ The short silence which followed was broken, a voice was heard to say, “I will.” Astonished to hear this, the boys looked round, to see the very one come forward who had been wounded, and was just discharged from the sick ward of the hospital. To the dungeon he went, willingly taking the place of his would-be murderer, who was thereupon released.

What a touching picture of the grace of God, who desires that the sinner should live. In order that we might not die, as under God’s judgment, He gave His dearly beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. By His becoming a man and dying, He plainly said, “I will take their place, suffer in their room and stead, while they go free.” To the prison-house of death He went, and having suffered on the cross the judgment we deserved, He has risen again. God was thereby satisfied, and we may well be also.

At first the hard-hearted boy seemed unmoved by the great kindness shown to him, but after he had carried the food to his generous friend for some time, and had seen him still pale from the effects of his wound, and suffering for his sake, his stout heart began to melt. For awhile he struggled against it, but at last he gave in; and casting himself at the feet of the director, confessed and bewailed, with bitter tears, the wickedness of his heart, expressing at the same time his wish and determination to lead a different life henceforth.

If the generous kindness of the boy’s substitute brought him to repentance, surely the death of Jesus has greater power to produce it with us. Let the Gospel take possession of your heart. Believe in Jesus as the. One who suffered for you, and died in your stead. This will melt your heart, and bring you to Jesus’ feet in the confession of what a sinner you are. There you will find a full and free forgiveness.

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

Messages of God’s Love 1/26/1919

Saved by a Lamb

A TOUCHING incident is related by the venerable Pastor Funke in his charming sketches of travel: “In the month of August, 1865, I was one of a party of tourists who set out to visit the Cathedral of Werden. When we arrived we found the door locked, and we had to wait till it was opened.

When the sacristan’s wife, who was quite absorbed in weeding her little vegetable garden, was at last induced to go for the great key, we had nothing to do but to examine the majestic architecture of the outside of the church. Looking up, we perceived, at the top of a high tower, the figure of a lamb, sculptured in stone. We were observing it with interest and surprise when our guide returned, bringing the large key. Her wrinkled face looked like a chronicle; and hoping that she knew the history of her cathedral, we pointed to the sculptured lamb, and asked why it was placed at the top of the tower.

We had touched a long familiar string. At once her interest and eloquence were awakened.

“O, gentlemen, you are looking at the lamb. Long years ago a tiler, occupied in repairing the roof, stood where that stone lamb now stands. Suddenly the rope which held the scaffolding broke and the man fell from that great height. Everyone who saw him fall expected only to find his corpse, for the church was surrounded with large, sharp stones, collected for the repairs. They were sure that the poor man would be dashed to pieces. What was their surprise when they saw him get up without even a scratch!

A little lamb had been quietly nibbling the grass among the blocks of stone, and the man had fallen exactly upon it. The lamb had been crushed to death, but the man was saved. He never rested till he had employed a sculptor to make a stone lamb and place it where you see it now, in token of his gratitude.”

I was so much interested by this touching incident, and especially by its resemblance to Christ. “the Lamb that was slain” for us—”the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.”

I entered the Cathedral with the rest, and saw its paintings and carvings, its rich decorations and magnificent monuments; but I felt utterly indifferent to them all. I could think of nothing but the tiler and the lamb; and, above all of the Lamb who had given His life for me.

Messages of God’s Love 1/26/1919

Saved Through Obedience

Wait Muriel! Do not come back; stay where you are!” The little girl spoken to was in great danger at the moment, and but for her prompt obedience would very likely have been killed. She With her sisters and brothers was walking with a friend through some fields, which were divided from each other by stiles. They had been asked to deliver a message at a farmhouse. A little way up one field they saw a cow-shed; but as the path leading through the fields was public, they had no thought that there was a vicious bull in it. On hearing the voices of the children it ran out, and, lowering its horns, appeared to be coming straight to the little girl mentioned above. She had run on in front of the others, and did not see the bull coming towards her. She got over the next stile, but on seeing her danger then, was about to get back again to the friend who was with her. So, had she not obeyed the command given, she would possibly have been tossed and seriously hurt or killed. This simple incident is an illustration of the consequences which often result from obedience or disobedience.

When we remember the perfect obedience of our Lord Jesus here, when He was a child, He who made the heavens and the earth, yet would be subject unto His parents, does it not show us how GOD LOVES OBEDIENCE in children? He has commanded them to obey, and says that “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure or whether it be right.” If He looks for them to obey their earthly parents and teachers, how much more does He expect them to obey Him, and listen to what He says to them in His word? He tells them that they can only be saved from eternal death by trusting in Jesus, and His precious blood shed for them that they might be saved—that there is no other Saviour. But how many go on day by day without thinking anything of Him, alai perhaps have never really thanked Him for what He has done for them. No one else can save them, no one else could have died for them. God expects and wants them to obey Him by believing what He says of the Lord Jesus.

By one act of disobedience, little Muriel might have lost her life, but by one act of obedience she was saved. By one act of disobedience Adam lost his happiness in the garden of Eden, and brought sin. into the world. Of what an awful consequence came of that one act! But what happiness was brought to poor, disobedient man by the one deed that Jesus, the Son of God, accomplished when He suffered on the cross for sinners to save them from the second death—which is God’s final punishment for sin. It is now that God is, in love, commanding people to repent, and now He gives them the opportunity to obey Him. Will you not then, dear children, come now to the Lord Jesus before it is too late to do so? Then you will, through Him, be saved eternally!

“God . . . now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that MAN whom He hath ordained” Acts 17:30, 31.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.” Isa. 55:6.

Messages of God’s Love 1/26/1919

Bible Questions for February

Answers to Bible Questions for December.

“For the wages of sin is,” etc. Rom. 6:23.

“For I am not ashamed ot,” etc. “ 1:16.

“O, the depth of the riches,” etc. “ 11:33.

“Who is he that condemneth,” etc. “ 8:34.

“For what if some did riot,” etc. “ 3: 3.

“Wherefore receive ye one,” etc “ 15: 7.

“And hope maketh not,” etc. “ 5: 5.

Bible Questions for February

The answers are to be found in 2 Corinthians.

Write the verse containing the words: “Weakness,” “Power.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Blinded the minds.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Glory in the Lord.”

Write the verse containing the words: “A time accepted.”

Write the verse containing the words: “So great a death.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Ile became poor.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Who knew no sin.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

The Bible

THE MOST wonderful book the world has ever seen, or will see, is the Book of God—the Bible. It is the oldest book. The five books written by Moses were written at least a thousand years before the first historian, Herodotus by name, wrote his first book; and seven hundred years before Rome was built.

It is the truest book. Other books may err the Bible cannot, simply because its Author is the eternal God—the God who cannot lie. All that He says is truth.

It is the most widely circulated book. It is estimated that there are over 200,000,000 Bibles, in 350 languages, in existence at the present time. Placed side by side, they would form an area of 700 acres. Placed end to end, they would make a line 17,000 miles long.

It is the most hated book in the world. Infidels, scoffers, many scientists and critics oppose, and seek to deny or destroy the Bible. It has been burned, imprisoned, exiled, and prohibited; yet it exists, and is more read to-day than ever.

It is the best loved book. Men have laid down their lives for it, purpled the heather on Scotland’s hills with their blood; died in Italy’s valleys, in Spain’s Inquisitions, in Rome’s prisons, rather than give it up. The rack, the gallows, and the stake have each failed to make the Lord’s saved ones give up, deny, or cease to love the Bible.

God is its Author, Christ its Theme, the Spirit its Teacher, the heart its home, the world its field of operations. It is to be reverenced, read, believed, obeyed, treasured in the heart, practiced in the life.

“Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name.” Psa. 138: 2.

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

Confidence in God

DR. BAEDEKER, a missionary much used of the Lord in Russia, used to tell a story of an adventure that befell him on one of his journeys. He had gone to conduct a series of meetings in a remote Armenian village among the mountains. It was in the end of December. The lateness of the season, the awful loneliness of the district, the risks of sudden snow storms blinding the venturesome travelers, and covering tracks and way marks, all united to make the journey unattractive to those who knew the country. But the villagers had pressed him to visit them on so many previous occasions, when it w is impossible for him to do so, that he could no longer refuse their request.

On a memorable Christmas morning he bade them farewell, and with his Armenian interpreter and guide, began the return journey. A few of the Christian brethren of the village went with them a little way to point out the track. Presently these also were left behind, and the two proceeded on their way alone.

How long they had been wandering in the wide solitudes before the guide began -t-) fear that he had lost his bearings, I do not remember. The signs of night were beginning to appear—and when night falls, it falls suddenly in those regions when the Armenian at length stood still and said:

“I can go no further. I am spent. We have lost our way, and we are walking in vain!”

“Is there nothing you can recognize? Nothing to show us our whereabouts, or the direction we should take?” the doctor inquired.

“I have been seeking and watching for some sign or mark in vain! Alas! we shall perish here of cold before morning comes. The sun will set in a few minutes.”

“Then let us just kneel down where we are and tell our Heavenly Father about it.”

“Alas! that I was so foolish as to venture on such a journey, so unfamiliar and at such a season!” said the poor guide.

“God can take care of us and direct us. We will pray about it.”

“Most likely we are many hours journey from a human habitation, and my limbs are very weary. I shall never see my home again!”

“If you don’t know the way, God does. Come, cease lamenting, and we will pray together.”

The two men knelt silently side by side for a few minutes. Then the doctor turned his face to heaven, and prayed in his glad familiar manner to Him in whom he trusted with such triumphant faith.

“Father, we cannot be lost, for we are in Thy hand all the time, and under the shadow of Thy wing. Thou knowest the way that we take. Send us help in our” need, and guide us to safety!”

The prayer was interrupted by the distant barking of a dog.

“Listen! There is our Father’s answer,” said the doctor. “Praise His name. He hears, and does not keep us in suspense.”

The welcome sound gave new strength to the fainting guide. They turned in the direction of the sound, and following it, arrived as the night was closing in upon them, at a small Tartar encampment.

The surprise of the Tartars on seeing the new arrivals was very great.

“How did you come this way?” they inquired. “We never see travelers here in December. Are you not afraid of the

“My Master, who guided me here, can control the snows so that they shall not hurt us; and you can see He has done so, for no snow has fallen.”

“Who is your Master?” they inquired. “The Lord Jesus Christ,” the doctor answered.

And there and then he opened his mouth and began and preached unto them Jesus. Although they were Mohammedans, they listened attentively to their venerable visitor, who afterwards told how they gave him and his guide the best entertainment in their power. His Christmas dinner that evening consisted of a piece of the common hard black bread, eaten by the Tartars, and a pomegranate! Writing home to his wife on the following day, the doctor told her he was certain that no body at home ate their Christmas dinner with more gratitude and joy in the Lord, than he ate his. In the morning, with much good-will, the Tartars sent one of their number along with them to put them into the right road.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3: 5, 6.

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

The Pets

MOST OF children love to have pets, and our picture this week reminds us of that as the dear little girl before us is carrying the two little pups while mother shep shows her deep interest, and is not a bit troubled about the care her little ones are having. She knows the little girl will not hurt them.

It is good for us to look at such a scene and think of the love and care God has planted in the heart of the lower animals as well as in the human breast. He would have us be kind and gentle to all. These characters were seen in all their perfection in the Lord Jesus.

Have you ever thought of what a happy state there would be in this world if all were like Lord Jesus? Towards others He ever manifested gentleness, love and care, and when any treated Him badly He never resented. Quarrels would never come if there were no harsh words spoken, nor if harsh words were spoken and a soft answer was returned. The Scripture says:

“A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH; BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER.” Prov. 15: 1

While it is good for us to seek to cultivate these traits let us remember such will not make us fit for God’s presence. There is nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son can blot out our sins. Death is the portion for our sins and the Lord Jesus was the only One who was able to go there for us and rise again. In order therefore to be fit for God’s presence, we must come to God through Jesus, and He gives us Eternal Life; a life by which we are able to please God, and He will give us grace to manifest that life, and thereby be like the Lord Jesus in all our ways?

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

How Little Lina was Saved

I WAS BROUGHT to the Lord when a girl of ten years old. It happened in this way: I was passing along the street one evening on my way home from my music lesson, when I saw a circle of people standing around a man who was preaching. Curiosity led me to go up and hear what he was saying. Just as I got to the place, I heard the words,

“How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? If death should overtake you tonight as you are, how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” This the speaker said in great earnestness.

I walked away, but that question followed me. I could not forget it. All that night the words came to my mind again and again.

There was a girl in my class, whom I had heard spoken of as “saved.” I thought I would tell her what had occupied my thoughts. I watched an opportunity. and one day I met her outside the playground and did so. She put her arm in mine, and told me how she had been in the same way herself. She told me of the wondrous love of the Lord Jesus and that He died to save us and make us His own. She told also that she had accepted Him as her Saviour; and He had saved her and made her happy. It was all new to me. I had never heard of any one being saved and sure of heaven before. I accepted Mary’s Saviour as mine, I believed He died for me, and I was saved.

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

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

Little Lottie

LITTLE LOTTIE was very busy singing to her baby brother.

“What is that you are singing?” inquired a lady.

“I am singing to him, ‘Jesus died,’ “ replied Lottie, “because I know He died for me.”

O! I can sing that Jesus died,

For Jesus died for me;

He on the cross was crucified,

For then He thought ‘of me.

O! I can sing that He is love,

For Jesus loveth me,

Though seated on the throne above

He looks and smiles on me.

Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1919

A Shelter From the Storm

BENEATH THE old thatch roof the dear little birds take shelter from the fast falling snow. They have wisdom given to them of God, for this and therefore take advantage of this protection.

This reminds me of a dreadful storm that is coming on this world. God’s sore scourges are going to sweep over this world and then at the end there will be everlasting judgment; but He has provided the way of escape, a shelter from the dreadful storm and that shelter is Christ.

Are you wise, dear reader, like the little birds, by taking shelter? In other words have you accepted Christ as your own Saviour, as the One who died for you to shelter you from the awful judgment that you deserve for all your sins? If wise you will settle that matter now, and I trust you will be able to say from your heart:

“I do believe, I will believe

That Jesus died for me.”

If you can say, “Jesus died for me”, you are not only saved from the awful judgment of being separated from God because of your sins, but you are saved to share the glory with the Lord Jesus into which He has entered.

“CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.” 1 Cor. 15: 3.

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/1919

Caesar's Warning or, The Neglected Letter Which Cost Him Life

OVER TWO thousand years ago the city of Rome was decked in gay colors. Banners floated in the breeze, and arches of triumph spanned the streets. Julius Caesar stepped from the portico of his marble palace and was stepping into the finely-gilded chariot which awaited him when a messenger rode in great haste, and holding out a folded billet to the General said, “Great Caesar! I beseech thee to read this letter without delay; great matters depend on it.”

“1 cannot tarry now,” replied Caesar, “I will read thy missive later on.” With this he placed the letter in his embroidered belt, stepped into his chariot, drawn by three horses in trappings of gold, and followed by his escort of gaily-dressed lictors and soldiers, rode away. As he was passing Pompey’s Statute at the door of the Senate House, a band of conspirators who had sworn to kill the great soldier, sprung upon him and stabbed him to death. When his body was carrried into the palace, that unread letter was still in his belt. It contained a friendly warning of the plot which had been secretly made against him, with an earnest appeal to keep himself out of the path of danger. Had that letter been read, that warning obeyed, Caesar would have been saved. The neglect of it cost him his life.

A great deal to lose surely, yet not half so much as thousands are losing day by day, by neglecting to heed the warnings of God, which He has given them in His Word of impending death and judgment, ‘upon all who are unsaved. These are treated by the many as of little importance. Pleasure, gain, and what concerns the present life, receive due attention; but the threats of coming wrath, the warnings of impending judgment, sent by a God of pity and love, are thrust to one side till a more convenient season, which alas! to very many, never comes. Death cuts them down in a moment.

Are you disregarding these warnings? Are you neglecting God’s great salvation? Then you are in greater danger than the Roman general was that day, for the arrows of death are flying thick and fast, and maybe you will be ushered into the eternal world , there to meet your God, at a moment when you least expect it. Flee to Christ the sinner’s Refuge, the Saviour of the lost, while you may. Time there is, but not an hour, not a moment to spare.

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/1919

Indian Sarah

POOR SARAH was an Indian woman, brought up in heathen darkness, without the advantages which our young readers enjoy. She had never heard of Jesus, as you, dear young reader, have so often done. And long after she was grown up, she lived as having no hope and without God in the world. When she became a woman, she was married to a man, who like herself, knew nothing of the one true God. He treated her very: unkindly and she became very unhappy. To use her own simple language.

“I go sorrow, sorrow all day long. When night come, husband come home awry. Then I think, 0, if Sarah had a friend! But Sarah have no friend! I no want tell neighbor I got trouble; that only make it worse, so I be quiet; tell nobody, only cry all night and day for one good friend. One Sunday, good neighbor came and say, “Come, Sarah, go hear about God? So I call my children, tell them stay in house while I go. When got there, minister tell all about Jesus; how He was born in a stable; how he suffer all His life from bad men, and at last die for sinners on cross; how His precious blood cleanse from all sin, every one that believes in Him; how He rise again from the dead, and go up in heaven, and so He always sinners’ Friend, if sinner believe in Him. He say, too, ‘If you have trouble, go to Jesus, the best Friend in sorrow. He know much sorrow. His love cure you sorrow; He bring you out of trouble, make you happy in Himself; give you peace.’ So when I go home, I think great deal what minister say—I think ‘This is the Friend I want; this is the Friend I cry for so long.’ Poor ignorant Sarah never heard so much ‘bout Jesus before! Then I try hard to tell Jesus how I want such a Friend, but 0! my heart so hard; can’t feel; can’t pray; can’t love Jesus, though He so good! This makes me sorrow more and more.

When Sunday come once more, I want to go again. Then I sit down at the door, and hear minister tell how bad my heart is, ‘Deceitful ‘bove all things and desperately wicked;’ no love God; no love Jesus; no love prayer. So then I see why I can’t have Jesus for Friend—got bad heart. Don’t know what to do; can’t make heart better if try ever so much. Minister say too, ‘Ye must be born again.’

Can’t do this either; can’t do anything! When got home, feel very, very sorry for bad heart. When go to bed, keep thinking all night what that mean, ‘Ye must be born again.’ When husband go to work, I run to my good neighbor to ask her if Bible say so too. Then she read me where that great man (Nicodemus John 3) go to Jesus by night, ‘cause afraid to go in day time, and I think he just like Sarah, got bad heart, yet Jesus did not turn him away from Him; must come to Him, just 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.’ So Sarah feel comforted, and ask neighbor what I do. She tell me, go to Jesus. When come home, poor Sarah kneel down and tell Jesus all about bad heart; can’t bear bad heart; can’t make it better; can’t stay away from Him; must come to Him, just as I am; can’t do anything.

So Sarah go many Sundays to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ, and every day to hear good neighbor read Bible. At last Sarah believe what God say about Jesus and His precious blood, and God make all my mind peace. Sarah love Jesus; love pray to Him; love tell Him all her sorrows. God take away sorrow, and make soul all joy. God did it all; poor Sarah do nothing.”

Thus poor Indian Sarah was, through the grace of God, brought to Christ, and gave all the glory to Him. Her desire now was to learn more of Him who loved her, and gave Himself for her. She could not read, and she was not satisfied, as some Christians are, to wait from one Lord’s day to another to hear about Him. She wanted to learn of Him from day to day. Her first care was to procure a Bible. There was no kind friend to give her one. She had no money, and she dared not ask her wicked husband to help her, but her love for the truth found itself a way.

“I make great many brooms, and get Bible for them. Then I go ask good neighbor if she teach me to read, and she say, `Yes.’ Then I go many days, learn letters, pray God all the while to help me to learn to read His holy Word. So I learn spell out good words in Bible. So every day I take Bible, tell children that be God’s Word; tell them how Jesus died on cross for sinners, then make them all kneel and pray God lead them all to believe in Jesus. Pray for husband, too. 0, how sorry for him till he die! And Sarah live a poor Indian widow for great many long years, always found Jesus, Friend, Husband,.

Brother born for adversity; and He make me willing to live in this bad world if He see best, and give me good hope through grace of everlasting glory, when He come to take me home.”

Poor Indian Sarah! What a lesson her simple story tells to believers, young and old. She knelt down with her children, prayed for them in their hearing, and taught them of Him who “came into the world to save sinners.” And this she did every day. Her love for Christ, and her desire to learn of Him, overcame all difficulties. She labored hard to get a Bible, and she labored hard to learn to read it, and she had other work to do besides.

When her husband was alive, she had both to attend to the house and also to go into the field to hoe corn, as Indian women do. Yet she could find time to learn to read, and then to teach her children about Jesus. And when her husband was dead, she had, if possible, to work harder still for her living. She used to carry sand in bags to the village, and sell it for food. Sometimes she took grapes and other kinds of fruit, and as she went along she took little notice of anything except children, of whom she was very fond, and whom she seldom passed without an affectionate word, telling them to believe in Jesus Christ, and to learn to read God’s precious Word; often adding to these kind words, a bunch of grapes or an apple.

Dear young reader, in hearing about Indian Sarah, you may see how the grace of God brought her to Jesus; how she went to Him just as she was; how she could do nothing to make herself better, but by simply believing in Him was saved at once —washed from all her sins. So she went on a happy Christian, patient amid all her trials, till the Lord took her to be with Himself.

This same Jesus, who was such a Friend to Sarah, is waiting to be a Friend and Saviour to every one of our little readers, who will come to Him as poor Sarah did, and have their souls made white and clean in His precious blood. Won’t you have Him for your Saviour and your Friend now? Don’t put it off; don’t wait. If you leave it till tomorrow you may be a day too late.

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.”—Isa. 55: 6.

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

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/1919

I Have Found a Friend

O, I am happy, full of praise,

For I have found a Friend:

His heart is love, His precious ways

Of kindness never end.

I love Him, for He first loved me;

He told me, thou art mine;

And I through all eternity

Shall in His likeness shine.

Should trouble be my portion here,

This Friend is near at hand,

To soothe my heart and bid me cheer,

Through all this weary land.

O would you know His lovely name,

‘Tis written in God’s Word;

To-day and evermore the same,

‘Tis Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Receive Him in your grateful heart,

And He will ever stay;

If once your Friend, He’ll ne’er depart,

Nor let you go away.

Messages of God’s Love 2/9/1919

The Gazelle

THE GAZELLE, or roebuck, is a small deer or antelope. Its tail is short; the fawn color on the back is separated by a brown or nearly black band from the white of the stomach. The horns of the male, stronger than those of the female are simple and annulate, and are curved so as to form a lyrate or lyre-shaped figure.

This animal’s activity and powers of leaping have procured for it its familiar name of “springer.” It is celebrated in Scripture for its beauty, gracefulness, swiftness, and gentleness. The eyes of the gazelle are so beautiful and so kind, its movements so graceful and nimble that the animal often serves as a subject for the Arab poets.

The gazelle is abundant in Palestine and is always met with in herds, often of a hundred, thus forming a sure prey to lions, panthers, hyenas, wolves, and eagles. They are inoffensive creatures, gentle and timid, which have as a defense against their enemies only their rapid flight to some high and secure place on the mountain. Sometimes, however, if surprised, they show a desperate courage. They press close to one another, in the form of a circle with their horns toward the enemy. The ravisher, a lion for instance, then may take his time to choose his victim; he springs upon it, and the rest of the band, terror-stricken, disband and flee.

God tells us in His Word that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Let us not, as these little creatures, try to stand in our own strength when we meet with temptations, but let us flee to Christ who is our Rock, our Secure Hiding place.

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my Rock; my Fortress, and my Deliverer, my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my Buckler and Horn of my Salvation and my High Tower.” Psa. 18: 1-2.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

The Best Assurance.

“He that heareth My word,

And believeth on Him

That sent Me,

Hath everlasting life.”—John 5: 24.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

How Many Sins?

ALL MY young readers would, I am sure, be astonished, if they could number their sins.

Let me ask each of them three questions.

1. Do you think a wicked thought once a day?

Do you speak an evil word once a day?

Do you commit a sinful deed once a day?

Supposing you have to answer “Yes,” to each of these questions, and every honest child must do so, then you have committed three sins each day, and this would make in a year one thousand ninety-five sins.

Perhaps you have gone on sinning ten years. Then you may reckon at the rate of three sins a day, over 10,000 sins have been marked against you, and will come up in the Day of Judgment.

Is it not an awful thing to have all those sins upon you in the sight of God?

The Lord Jesus is willing and able to blot them all out.

He has died for children on the cross. There His precious blood was shed, which cleanseth from all sin, and all who trust in Him are washed from all sin.

When here upon earth, He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10: 14.)

Do not think that they were specially good children who were brought for His blessing then. It may be that they were naughty, and so the parents took them that the Lord might pray on their behalf. At any rate, they were taken to Jesus, and although their nature was sinful, and they doubtless had stubborn wills and evil tempers, yet they were not refused by Him; “but He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.”

You, with all your sins, though they be ten thousand in number, yea ten thousand times ten thousand, may be blessed by Him and fitted for His glory. His heart is just as loving now as then, and His power is just as great.

Not one of your sins can enter heaven; for it is written, “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth.” (Rev. 21: 27). But the blood of Jesus can cleanse you, and make you whiter than snow.

Though your sins are red like crimson
Deep in scarlet glow.
Jesus’ precious blood can make them
White as snow.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

Disobedient Nellie

ELLIE LEFT her home on a winter morning for school, happy and gay, giving her mother her usual kiss.

“Do not go on the ice, Nellie dear, it is not safe,” were her mother’s words, as she ran down the avenue after her child, warning her of a danger she feared might tempt her by the way, Nellie waved her hand and nodded her head, then started off again over the crisp snow. By the side of the road there was a lake, and as Nellie came up alongside of it, she saw several school-girls sliding on the ice.

“Come on Nell,” shouted one, but Nellie remembering her mother’s words shook her head.

“Ha, you’re afraid the ice will break,” shouted the other, “poor little coward; if it bears us, it will bear you.”

This was the tempter’s voice, and if Nellie had been wise, she would have taken no notice; but foolish girl, she leaped over the fence and jumped on the ice, to show them she was no coward, and thought herself very brave no doubt.

But her triumph was only for a moment or two; disobedience does not go unpunished, and while Nellie was showing her bravery by sliding along in front of her schoolmates, she did not observe a crack in the ice until she plunged into the water. Her shrill cry brought three men from an adjoining field, who with difficulty got her out, dripping wet, shivering with cold. She was wrapped in a heavy coat and carried home, much ashamed.

Nellie never forgot that morning’s disobedience; she learned how unsafe it is to listen to the tempter’s voice; and now saved by believing on Christ as her Saviour, she is often warned by the remembrance of that incident of her school days, not to take one step of the narrow way, into forbidden paths, which, however pleasant, always end in sorrow. By fair promises, Satan seeks to lead the sinner down to death and hell. Beware reader, lest he lead you there.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

All Things Ready

YES, READER, “all things.” Salvation, forgiveness, life, and glory. These are all ready. They have all been provided for you by another. God has secured them. He invites you to “come” and share them. You do not require to ask them. They are “ready.” Ready now at this very moment; all waiting for your acceptance. All ready for sinners just as they are. You do not require to wait. You need not tarry. You are invited by the God of heaven to “come” now, just as you stand, in your present condition, whatever that may be. You will never be more welcome than now. You cannot make yourself more worthy. No barrier can be raised. No hindrance on heaven’s side will be raised. The door is open. The feast is spread. “All things are ready,” fully ready, and to you, this day, the gracious word from the God of grace is, “Come, for all things are now ready.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

Little Annie

LITTLE ANNIE was suffering from a severe attack of rheumatic fever, and was very weak and ill. She particularly wished to see me. and when I sat by her bedside, she asked me to read to her. “What shall it be, Annie?”

“The first chapter of John, please,” she said.

“It is always the first of John or ‘Rock of Ages’,” said her grandmother. “She is a regular little woman, and without her I don’t know what we should do. May God raise her up! She is the little housekeeper, who knows what everything costs, —how much for coal and bread and rent, child though she is. She minds the little ones, too, and is mother to them when I am out at work.”

So we read a verse or two from the first of John’s gospel—”Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.”

“Behold the Lamb of God!—that is, Look at Jesus. This is the first word to us all. Look at Jesus as the Lamb of God. And why the Lamb, Annie?”

“Because He was sacrificed for us.”

“Yes, and God’s Lamb, because God gave Him to die, and because Jesus was holy.”

“Then Jesus said to those who listen to these words and follow Him, “Why do ye seek Me?” And what answer would you give, Annie?”

“Surely this—That I may live with Thee, dear Lord Jesus, that I may reach Thy home above!”

And Jesus says, ,”Come and see;” so “they came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” And so shall everyone who looks to Him by faith follow Him here, and dwell with Him above through the long bright day of eternity.

This was little Annie’s portion in God’s word, and may its blessed truths be found in the heart of every one of our little readers—to look to Jesus—to follow Jesus— and to live for Jesus!

Little Annie is restored again to health, and is busy once more at housekeeping for grandmother, useful, handy girl as she is.

The Saviour has invited

The youngest to His love,

And deigns to smile delighted

Upon them from above.

All things are His in heaven,

And all on earth beside;

His life was freely given

For those for whom He died.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

I Do Want to Love Jesus

ONE SUNDAY afternoon little Edith told her mother that their Sunday school teacher had invited any children to his Bible class who wanted to love the Lord Jesus, and become lambs of the Good Shepherd.

“Will you ask my teacher, mother if I may go to the Bible class, for I do want to love Jesus?”

“Well, Edith,” answered the mother, “if you go, you will have to go alone, for your sister does not want to be converted, and your playmate is as careless as your sister. So there will be no one to go with you.”

“I don’t mind that, mother,” said the little girl, “as long as I get home before it is dark.”

“What is the use of your going to a Bible class?” said her sister; “you cannot read your Bible.”

“Never mind that,” answered the little girl, “I can hear about Jesus; and, sister, if you don’t love Jesus, when He comes again, He will take father and mother and me to heaven, and you will be left behind with Satan.”

But as the sister would not listen, little Edith, on this and many other occasions, went to her bedroom in the day time to pray to God to make her sister love the Saviour.

“WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” 1 John. 4: 19.

Messages of God’s Love 2/16/1919

Convalescence

IN MRS. White’s cottage there was an unusual stir one lovely May morning. Elsie, who had been confined to her room was to be brought out to sit in the sun.

First, Grandfather’s chair, then a stool for her feet, a light blanket, and a pillow were brought to make her comfortable. Finally Elsie, in her mother’s arms made her appearance. Her pale face, her thin hands and her hair cropped short showed she had been very ill.

The dear little girl was too weak to enjoy all the beauty around her. The birds filled the air with their songs, the bees hummed busily, the flowers spread their most gorgeous colors, yet Elsie paid no attention to them. She was so very, very tired! How nice it would be to go to sleep and not wake up until she found herself with the Lord in heaven. For Elsie knew that Jesus was her Saviour, and she was not afraid to die, but rather rejoiced at the thought of being with Him.

While deep in her reflections she felt on her hand a cold, damp nose. It was Rollo her good old dog, happy at sight of her, yet restraining his joy by a strange instinct. His big brown eyes looked straight at her, and his tail beat the ground.

“Rollo, Rollo, if it were not for dear mother and you, how. glad I would be to go to sleep and not wake up any more. I am so tired.”

Mother heard her little girl and came out to comfort her. “Do you really wish to die, and leave me, me} darling? Have, you thought that perhaps the Lord wants you to stay with me and be my comfort, that He may have some work for you to do a while longer? When the apostle Paul was alive he said, ‘To die is far better,’ but felt that God wanted him to remain to be a help to those who had been saved through his preaching. So he was content and said, ‘For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ Phil. 1: 21. May you be able to say the same, my darling child!”

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

Four Calls of the Spirit

“My Spirit shall not always strive with man.”—Gen. 6: 3.

The Spirit came in childhood,

And pleaded, “Let Me in!”

But 0, the door was bolted

By heedlessness and sin.

O! I’m too young,” the child said,

“My heart is closed today!”

Sadly the Spirit listened,

And turned and went away.

Again He came and pleaded,

In youth’s bright, happy hour;

He called, but found no answer,

For fettered by sin’s power,

The youth lay idly dreaming;

“Go, Spirit; not today;

Wait till I’ve tried life’s pleasures.”

Again He went away.

Once more He came in mercy,

In manhood’s vigorous prime;

He knocked but found no entrance,

“The merchant had no time;”

“No time for true repentance;”

“No time to think or pray”—

And so, repulsed and saddened,

Again He turned away.

Yet once again He pleaded—

The man was old and ill—

He hardly heard the whisper,

His heart was sear and chill;

“Go, leave me! when I want Thee

I’ll send for Thee,” he cried;

He, turning on his pillow,

Without a hope he died!

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”—Prov. 27: 1.

“Today if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts.”—Heb. 4: 7.

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

Saved in a Blacksmith Shop

EVERY DOOR was closed against the Gospel of Christ, the devil seemed determined that his slaves should not hear the glad tidings of full and free salvation, in that dark parish at any rate. The only available place was a blacksmith’s shop, after the day’s work was over. So it was transformed into a meeting place every evening, and seated with planks. Horses were shod, and farm implements repaired during the day, and, at night, sinners heard the joyful message of. God’s salvation, and passed from death to life. The sound of this very quickly spread abroad, large crowds gathered there, and great work was done for eternity.

Out of pure curiosity, I walked down to the blacksmith’s shop one night, to see the strange proceedings there. I got a seat close by the large bellows, and thought I would escape unnoticed. The preacher had scarcely begun his discourse, when I perceived someone had told him all about me. He described my career, and even my secret life, as if he had got a minute description of it. I was angry at first, but as he went on, I saw it was impossible any one could have told him some of the things, as no one knew them but myself—and God. Yes, that forced itself upon me. God knew my secret life. I trembled ‘at the thought. And then I must meet Him, sooner or later. I vowed I would never enter that blacksmith’s shop again, but, when the hour came, I was there. Somehow, I could not stay away. I know now it was because God had hold of me, by His Word and Spirit. I was deeply awakened, but, how to be saved, I knew not. I had heard of people being converted, but laughed at it. Now, I wished from my heart, I could be saved. A young farmer spoke to me at the close, one night. Sitting down by my side, he read, “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death into life,” (John 5: 24), several times. I was afraid to say I believed, lest it might be a sham, but I think I wanted to feel I had the new life, before believing in Christ.

“Believing and having go together,” said the young farmer: “God says it—surely that’s enough.”

“Yes, it is enough,” I said, and believing God, I was saved.

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

Lucy and Mary

TWO LITTLE girls, the children of Christian parents, went out one Sunday afternoon as was their custom to attend Sunday school. They had both been often prayed for and spoken with about the Saviour, but neither of them had trusted Christ as their own personal Saviour. They were in different classes, but read the same portion, and were spoken to by their teachers on the same subject. The “Memory Text” that afternoon was John 3: 16. —that well-known, but wonderful verse, on which so many precious souls of all ages have rested, and found salvation through Christ the gift of God. Lucy, the elder girl, had repeated the verse to her teacher, and in order to make its meaning plain, she asked Lucy, “What does whosoever mean?” “It means anybody and everybody,” said Lucy. “Yes indeed,” said the teacher, “and it means you.” Lucy had never thought of it in that light before. She knew that “whosoever” meant “anybody and everybody,” but that it applied personally to herself, she had never considered it in that way. The teacher asked her to repeat the verse in that way, putting in her name instead of the “whosoever,” so she began, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that Lucy Brown believing in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The insertion of “Lucy Brown” in place of “whosoever” cast a new .light on the well-known text, and gave her a personal interest in it. She put in her own individual claim, taking possession of the gift of God, the “everlasting life,” and the assurance that she “should not perish”, given by God in that precious verse to all who believe it. Lucy ran home, and with great joy told her father that she was saved by believing in Christ, and that she had put in her own name in place of the “whosoever.” Before she had finished her story, in ran her sister Mary crying out, “I’m saved! I was saved at school while repeating John 3: 16.” The father’s heart was full of gladness, and lifting his two saved girls, one on each knee, they sang a song of praise to God together.

Reader, will you open your Testament at John 3: 16 once again? Put in your own name in place of “whosoever,” believing on Jesus Christ, God’s Son, as your own personal Saviour, and claim that everlasting life given to all who thus believe on Him. You have a right to that glorious word, for you are part of “so loved” world. You are included in that great, though guilty, circle of persons who arc the objects of the love divine. You have not been omitted. God has loved yon; lie loves you now. If you exclude yourself from that love by deliberately rejecting it, then the folly and the doom of this will be your own choice.

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out

THIS STORY was told on the death bed of one who had been much used of God, as he handed a piece of paper to his sister as a treasure he had long valued, and that had been the means of leading him to Jesus forty years before.

He was only a little boy, when one day he stole from the cupboard a piece of cake he had been expressly told not to touch. He took it to bed with him, but while eating it, he fell asleep with the half-eaten cake between his fingers.

Later on, when his good mother came for a good night and kiss, there was the little sinner caught red-handed.

In the morning when he awoke he found the cake was still in his fingers, but neatly folded in white paper.

On it in his mother’s hand-writing he read the solemn words: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Num. 32: 23.)

Not a word was said; never till the close of his life did he mention it, but then he told his sister, as he gave her the paper, how he had kept it hidden deep in his desk. Years had passed away, and still the solemn words had remained until he sought to know “The Way” (John 14: 6), in which sin, so sure, so certain to find the sinner out, could be forgiven, and the memory of it blotted out.

He learned in due time that One, who had never sinned, and was without sin, had taken the sinner’s curse, and borne the sinner’s sins, and that for His sake the sinner turning to God in His name received forgiveness, and the sin was blotted out. Sin found the sinner out, but the Saviour found the sinner, and having borne his sins, bade him believe the goodness of God, which says: “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” (Heb. 10: 17.)

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

The Little Boy and the Stars

With twilight shone a brilliant star,

And as the twilight grew,

A host unnumbered, silv’ry bright,

Appeared to Edgar’s view.

“Mamma,” said he, “is heaven away

From earth so very far?”

“Ah, yes, my child, a long way off—

Beyond yon evening star.”

Awhile he paused, then sadly said,

“I thought the stars the floor

Of heaven, mamma, where angels walked,

Must not I think so more?

“I thought that Henry ran and played

Upon that floor so white;

And heaven always seems so close,

Whene’er the stars shine bright.”

“Dear boy,” his mother made reply,

“With Jesus Henry lives,

Above the starry firmament,

And ceaseless joy is his.

“Yet heaven is not far away,

Since Jesus is quite near,

Abiding with us on this earth,

Till we in heaven appear.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/23/1919

Bible Searchers for March

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“In a moment, in the,” etc. 1St Cor. 15:52

“But to us there is but,” etc. “ “ 8:6

“For the preaching of,” etc. “ “ 1:18

“For the earth is the,” etc. “ “ 10:26

“For other foundation,” etc, “ “ 3:11

“And now abideth faith,” etc. “ “ 13:13

“For ye are bought with, “ etc. “ “ 6:20

Bible Questions for March

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1919, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

Bible Questions for March

The answers are to be found in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

Write the verse containing the words: “Hath loved us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Hath translated us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Hath redeemed us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Hath blessed us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Might deliver us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Open unto us.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Let us therefore.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

What Is a Christian?

ONE DAY, as I was walking from M., I met two little girls coming home from school, and asked them if I was on the right road for G. The elder of the two said,

“Yes, you are.”

Being struck by the bright, pleasant way she answered me I offered her a little book, saying:

“Take it home to your parents and ask them to read it,” adding, “It is a great thing to be a Christian; do you know what a Christian is, my child?”

“Yes,” she said, in a very confident manner, “my father is a Christian.”

“Indeed,” I said, “I am very glad to hear it—but again I ask you, what is a Christian?”

Her reply was most unexpected, “A Christian is a man who neither swears nor drinks.”

I need not say I did not leave the little girl until I put before her what a Christian was —one who put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepted Him as his Saviour, and knew his sins were forgiven.

Now, I fear there are thousands of so-called Christians in this land who, like this little girl, are trusting to their outward morality to bring them to God. We who read God’s Word know that we have to learn that we are guilty, lost sinners, and must look to “Jesus only” for salvation.

“There is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be sav3d.” (Acts 4: 12.)

Outward morality, however good for this world, is not sufficient for the presence of a holy God.

“Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” God said long ago, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

The blood in all its solitary dignity has settled the question between God and the sinner forever.

“Cleansed by the blood of Jesus,

Clean in God’s holy sight;

Jesus can make the vilest,

Whiter than snow to-night.”

Then there will be seen by everyone the results of this cleansing in an entirely changed and godly life. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and the man that fears God will indeed neither drink nor swear.

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

Poison Ivy

ONE day a father showed his little boy where poison ivy grew, and then told him never to touch it, as it would poison his hands, and then, getting to his face, would harm him and make him ill. “Do you think you know the plant now, my boy?” inquired the father.

“Yes, father,” was the answer.

“Well, go over to that oak tree and see if you can pick it out.”

“Here it is, father,” the boy called out in a few moments.

“That’s right. Now go over and find some under that tree.”

“Here it is, father,” he cried again as he saw the green, shiny leaf of the little bush.

“That’s right. Now you know where it is; remember about it, and be careful and not touch it.”

It was not many days after this warning that little red spots came out upon the hands and face of the boy.

When the father saw them he knew that they were the effect of the poison and of the ivy of which he told his child to beware.

“Why, this is poison ivy. How did this happen, my boy, after father warned you of it?” he inquired.

And the boy told the whole story of his disobedience. “Me and Willie thought we would like to see if it would poison us, and so we picked some and rubbed it on.”

His sin found him out. The spots told their own tale. The effects of the poison were soon seen.

And sooner or later all sin will show itself upon all, “for all have sinned.” We all have touched the poison plant.

The poison of evil marks the face and hands very readily.

Look at an angry child—the eyes flash, the brows knit, the cheeks flush, the fists clench or the nails scratch. These are all marks of sin, and ugly marks they are indeed. And these show the evil within. The heart is sinful, and so the face and hands express it.

The father could provide a remedy for his child’s trouble, an antidote for the poison of the ivy, and it would not cost a great deal.

And God has found a remedy for us—but at infinite cost—a cost which we can never tell. It has cost God the gift of His own beloved Son. He has given Him to die, in order that sin might be put away, and that we might be saved. If we come

to the Lord Jesus He will cleanse us from our sin, and He will give us the Holy Spirit, so that our lives may be spent for Him in happiness and peace. And if our hearts receive Him, our face and hands will soon show the difference. Eyes that give kind looks, lips that speak gentle words, hands that do loving deeds will tell the story of what the Lord Jesus has done in us by His grace.

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

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

Charlie's Card

A BRIGHT little school boy received a nice text card sent him by his aunt who was a lover of the Lord Jesus, bearing the words,

“By grace are ye saved.” Eph. 3:5.

He had just been converted at some children’s meetings held in the town where he lived, so when he received the card, he at once replied telling his aunt of his conversion, and how happy he was, and adding the following lines, which are very simple, and sweetly expressed the faith of one who had just come to the Saviour. What do you think of them, dear children? Can you say as much of yourself? Here they are,

“I am not saved by ‘doing,’

My ‘works’ receive no place;

But I delight in telling

That I am saved by grace.

And when in heavenly glory,

I see the Saviour’s face,

I’ll tell the same glad story,

That I am saved by grace.”

Charlie hung his text on the wall, and people who came into the house went forward and read it. This gave Charlie a nice opportunity of telling how God saved him, and of repeating his verses.

Not long after, his mother became anxious about her soul, and she also was “saved by grace.” A meeting was begun

in the house, and for many a Thursday evening, the grand old story of Jesus and His love has been told out there. And Charlie leads the singing, making melody in his heart to the One who saved him by His grace. How grand it is to be saved in early years, and to give the best of one’s days to the Lord Jesus, and His service.

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

Teaching the Children

HOW our picture speaks to us of the loving interest the mother takes in the instruction of her children, and also of the attention shown by two of them.

It reminds us of those verses in ‘2 Tim. 3:14, 15: “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that 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.”

May you, dear children, be eager to hear what God has to say to you in His word, for there we get instruction for our whole path, and it shows us the way of salvation.

I expect most of our readers have learned before this how we can be saved—that God has provided the Saviour and all we are asked to do is to accept Jesus, God’s beloved Son, as our own Saviour. If we have done so, it is for us to learn how we should act, by looking at the Lord Jesus in His path while in this world.

He was a little child, a servant and a master, so we can have His life as an example for us.

“MY SON, HEAR THE INSTRUCTION OF THY FATHER, AND FORSAKE NOT THE LAW OF THY MOTHER.” PROV. 1:8.

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

Jesus and His Love

Come, listen to a story, friend,

I want to tell to you;

A story, very, very old,

But still as good as new.

I learned it at the Sunday school.

And now would have you prove

The joy that such a story gives

Of Jesus and His love.

We all had wandered far from God,

And gone like sheep astray.

And though so very young you see

I, too, had turned away.

But God, who set His love on me,

My little heart did move,

For through His Holy Word I learned

Of Jesus and His love.

He left His home in heaven, I read,

For sinners such as I.

He must “be lifted up,” He said,

On Calvary’s cross to die.

I never could have gone to heaven

To dwell with God above,

But for the blessed, joyful news

Of Jesus and His love.

I trusted Jesus’ precious blood,

Which cleanseth from all sin.

That blood has made me pure and white,

As though so sins had been.

And, while in journeying through the world,

His daily grace I prove,

I love to think, and talk, and sing

Of Jesus and His love.

My story isn’t finished yet.

He’s coming soon, He says,

To take me home, to dwell with Him,

Through everlasting days.

And, when the sweet, new song I sing

With all His saints above,

‘Twill be the dear, old story still

Of Jesus and His love.

Messages of God’s Love 3/2/1919

Destitute

HAVE you ever thought what it would be to be without a home, and without loving parents and friends around you to care for you day by day? Alas! there are many boys and girls who have no place they can call home, and no friends to look after them. They have been left by their parents to wander about and to shift for themselves as best they can. They are what is called destitute. Without money and without any to help them, they beg from passers-by and pick up what food they can find, and shelter at night it sheds or arches.

The Lord Jesus is the great and only Shelter for the sinner, and He never refuses any one who comes to Him. He delights to welcome every destitute sinner who comes to Him. We are all destitute of goodness and merit. We all need to come to Him.

Children need to come to Him as well as grown-up people. Some of the most tender words of the Lord Jesus are written for us in Mark 10:13-15. Young children had been brought so that the Saviour might bless them, and some of His followers had said they should be taken away. The Lord Jesus would not have them sent away and was much displeased, and said:

“SUFFER

the little children; that is, let them, allow them, do not hinder them. He had come for all, even for

THE LITTLE CHILDREN

They were just as welcome as the older people. He had room in His heart for them

TO COME UNTO ME

Yes, it is to Him they were to come! He is the Blesser of the children, and children may still come to the Saviour. He is not far from any one of us.

AND FORBID THEM NOT:

Do not frown upon them, do not speak unkind words to them or to those who long for their blessing,

FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

Every one must come to Christ as a little child. It is not that little ones must grow bigger to be blessed. No; it is big ones who must become smaller, that is, to be simple and dependent, if they are to be saved! The door of God’s Kingdom is only big enough for little ones to go in by.

Then we read how in wonderful grace

HE TOOK THEM UP IN HIS ARMS,

He drew them nearer to His heart of love, giving them to know how much He cared for them,

PUT HIS HANDS UPON THEM,

Those hands that were soon to be nailed to the Cross of Calvary, where He died in His love to the children,

AND BLESSED THEM.

Yes, He blessed them abundantly, and He is just as willing to bless you today. His loving heart is the same now as then.

I know of many little boys and girls who have come to Jesus and found Him as a Saviour in their early days. Their lives have been made happy and useful. Look up to Him now. Speak to Him now. Do not wait an hour longer, but come to the Saviour at once. Say to Him:

“Saviour, I come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I pray

Cleanse me and save Thou me,

Take all my sins away.”

“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. “ 1 John 1:7.

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

God Loves You

“FOR God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” You may not be lovely, dear child, but you are one of that loved world; neither may you desire to be loved, and yet you are one of that “so loved” world.

Nor do you deserve to be loved; yet still you are loved in spite of all; yes, loved by God, and you do not know it, and have never yet believed it.

But, dear child, you are not left without proof of it (John 3:16). God gave His only begotten Son as a free gift unasked, undesired and undeserved. 0! the amazing love of God! Some say we get the gift of eternal life if we ask for it; but the truth is, dear reader, God has given the gift already—the gift of His Son. As I write these lines to you, unsaved one, I hold in my hand a gift; it was offered me six months ago by a child of God. I accepted it with thanks on the spot. I did not ask for it; nor did I offer to pay for it; nor did I reject it. No; I prize it much. It is to me a token of the giver’s love. But, dear reader, God’s priceless gift He offered and pressed me to accept for many years, and I all that time kept rejecting it until I saw without Him I must perish eternally.

But, dear reader, mark these words “Whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” “He that believeth on Him is not condemned.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” Mark this, dear reader, for you may be saved as you read. It is not needful for you to weep one tear, to pray one prayer, do one good work, or take one step to the right or to the left; but where you are, and as you are, all you have to do is to ac-accept God’s gift, Christ, and you are saved for ever. Then you will pray, and praise, and work for Him who died for you on Calvary’s Cross, and tell other poor sinners that they, too, are loved of God.

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

Five Points for Young Converts

Five things, if remembered,

Will help you each day;

Obeyed, they will keep you

From going astray;

Though Satan may tempt you

And trials betide,

You surely will conquer,

In peace will abide.

“KEEP LOOKING TO JESUS,”

He never can fail,

And walk in His footsteps

In every detail;

The world’s vain allurement

Will vanish from sight,

By “looking to Jesus,”

Your Saviour and Light.

“READ DAILY YOUR BIBLE,”

If you would be strong

To witness for Jesus,

And overcome wrong;

The Author, the Book,

and The doer abide;

But they who neglect it

Will surely backslide.

“PRAY, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING,”

Cleave closely to Him,

Who keeps you and fills you

With joy to the brim;

There’s nothing so great that

Our God cannot do,

And nothing so small but

He’ll undertake too.

“CONFESS HIM TO OTHERS,”

And thus you may win

Some soul from the bondage

And darkness of sin.

What help can you better

To all recommend

Than Jesus your Saviour—

The needy one’s Friend?

“DO SOMETHING FOR JESUS,”

He did all for you;

Your joy find in willing

His sweet will to do.

So speak to please Him

Through life day by day,

His presence shall gladden

Each step of your way.

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

Honest John

I ONCE read of a poor boy, named John. His father was dead, and his mother was very poor, and had some children younger than John. Often they did not have enough to eat, and sometimes they were quite badly off.

John learned to make clothes pins, and used to go round and try to sell them; but often he had to walk far, and come home quite tired without having sold any. When he did sell any, it did not produce much, but every little was a help, because they were so poor.

- Well, one winter they were badly off, with no tea in the house, and scarcely a crust of bread. His mother, too, was so poorly that she had to remain in bed. John did not like to leave her, but felt compelled to go and try to sell some pins and buy food with the money.

John went forth, and prayed to God to help them in their trouble, and give them something to eat. Presently his foot struck against something on the ground, which turned out to be a purse with money in it.

John was very glad, but soon thought that it would not be right to keep it without trying to find the owner. It was a great temptation for John to keep it, but he saw a little way off a gentleman who might have dropped it. He looked to God for strength, and then ran off as fast as’ he could to the gentleman and asked him if he had lost a purse.

The gentleman thought he had not lost his purse, but, feeling in his pocket, found that he had lost it, and described it as dark blue with steel beads.

It was the same that John had found, and he at once gave it to the gentleman.

The gentleman supposed he had drawn it out with his handkerchief. He called John an honest lad, and spoke of giving him something for bringing it back. But John thanked him, and said he did not want to be paid; but he would be glad if the gentleman would buy some of his pins.

The gentleman knew nothing about clothes pins, but he took John home with him, to see if his housekeeper wanted any.

The housekeeper bought all the pins he had, and paid him double the price he usually had. She also gave him some bread and meat to eat, and while he ate that the gentleman asked him all about himself and his mother, and at last sent him home, and said he would come and see his mother.

John’s mother was cared for from that day, and when she was well enough her new friend stocked a small shop for her, by which she was enabled to earn a living for herself and her children.

John, too, was cared for, for as soon as he was old enough he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and became a steady, pious young man.

This, you see, was far better than if John had kept the purse and its contents. He knew it was wrong to keep it, and God helped him to give it up, and all this good was the result. Thus God helps those who look to Him and trust in Him, with the desire to do that which shall please Him.

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

Opening the Door

A LITTLE girl was given a pretty text-card by her mother. Upon it were the words:

“Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20).

She thought a great deal about it, and talked with her mother as to its meaning. When she went to bed she took the card with her to her room.

In the morning she said, “Mother, I lay awake a good while last night, thinking of Jesus outside the door. And, mother, I prayed to Him, 0, so earnestly, that He would come into my heart, and stay there always! And, mother, I believe He has come in, and I am going to be His little girl.”

Now this little girl opened the door at the knock of the Lord Jesus, and I have no doubt she was right in thinking that He entered, for He says, “If any man” (and any man means any one—old or young) “open the door, I will come in.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

The Bible

No book is like the Bible,

So holy and so true;

And when you read, remember

It is GOD who speaks to you.

Messages of God’s Love 3/9/1919

Jeremiah Buying the Field

Jer. 32:8-15

WHAT a strange thing to ask a man to do while he is in prison and does not know if he shall ever come out! To buy a piece of land that he may never see again: and that at a time when the place is going to fall into the hands of the enemy, and he knows it. Still he obeys the Lord’s word to him, and weighs out th3 money in the balances, seventeen shekels of silver; and the deed of purchase is signed, sealed and delivered. He knows he shall have to wait at least “many days” before there can be the “redemption of the purchased possession,” that is, the actual taking possession of the field he has bought. But he has the Lord’s word for it, that although the land will be given up to the Chaldeans and the people will have to go into captivity, yet the time will come when they will be brought back and have possessions in their own land.

And O, my reader, if you are not waiting for Christ, He is waiting for you. Every day you live you are passing by His open arms; despising His love; grieving His heart; neglecting the “great salvation;” forsaking your own mercy (Jonah 2:8)! How long will you go on in such a course? Jeremiah believed God about the good time coming, and he acted upon it.

A better time is coming for “them that are Christ’s shall be outside it all, with neither part nor lot in the matter.” A far “sorer punishment” waits for those who “will not repent.” Will it fall in all its terrors upon you?

“BLESSED AND HOLY IS HE THAT HATH PART IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION: ON SUCH THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER.”—REV. 20:6.

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

Winning Stars

A YOUNG LADY was preparing for a dance.

As she stood before her large looking-glass she placed a light crown ornamented with silver stars upon her brow.

Then it was that her little sister, climbing up onto a chair, put out her tiny hands to touch the crown.

Turning to the fair-haired child the elder one said, “Sister, what are you doing? You should not touch that crown!”

“I was looking at that, and thinking of something else,” said she in response.

“Tell me what you are thinking about?”

“I was remembering what my teacher said, that if we are used in the salvation of sinners, we would win stars for our crown in heaven; I wish I could win some soul!”

The young lady went to the dance, but could not find any joy in its brightness and gayety. Her little sister’s words had found an entrance to her heart. She felt she was unsaved, unfit for God. Solemn thoughts filled her mind, and everything around her seemed unworthy of her thought. Leaving early, she went back to her home, and going to the room where her little sister lay sleeping peacefully, she imprinted a warm kiss upon her soft cheek, saying, “Precious sister, you have won one star for your crown.” Then bowing on her knees at her bedside she poured out her soul, crying to God for that mercy which He delights to bestow.

Are you saved? If so, are you seeking to win stars for your crown? Or better still, are you seeking to win souls who .shall be for the glory of your Saviour?

“Only a word for Jesus

That you, little child, may speak;

A word that will reach some sinner

Whom Jesus once came to seek.

Only a word for Jesus,

Only a whispered prayer,

Seeking His help and blessing,

Is heard by our Lord up there.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

What's the News?

“The Lord has pardoned all my sin:

That’s the news!

I have the witness now within:

That’s the news!

And since He took my sins away,

And taught me how to watch and pray,

I’m happy now from day to day:

That’s the news!”

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

The Saviour and the Sinner

IT is the beginning of boundless blessedness in the soul, when one is brought by the Spirit of God to know that he is indeed a sinner—to feel the burden of his sins, and to cry for mercy—for then hears with joy that there is a Saviour, he learns with delight that Jesus came to seek and to save such as he is: and he, by faith, claims that Saviour as his own. Thus the two meet who are exactly suited to each other. The Saviour wants the sinner, and the sinner wants the Saviour. O, what a meeting! The Saviour rejoicing that He has found one who was lost; the sinner rejoicing that he “was lost, but is found.” The Holy Spirit confirms their union, and heaven celebrates it: “There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

Going Into God's Arms

WHEN Bertha E. was quite a child, she always made it a rule at bed-time to wash her face and hands, before she knelt down to offer her evening prayer, giving as a reason, “that she did not like to go into God’s arms a dirty little girl.” What a beautiful idea of prayer is this!going into God’s arms—there to thank Him for His mercies, to seek His forgiveness, and to ask His blessing, then to lie down peacefully and securely, under His loving care, through the lonely hours of the long, dark night.

Bertha, who is an only child, is now growing a big girl, quite a treasure to her parents. When they are in trouble (and they have had a great many troubles lately), they always tell Bertha about it, and then find her such a loving, gentle comforter. Since she has been home for the summer holidays, we are told that one day, after her mother had confided to her some new trial, she was very grieved and looked so sad. She first spoke a few consoling words to her mother; then, after remaining silent for a few moments, she rose from her seat, left the room and went upstairs. Her mother guessed for what purpose, for she knew that her dear child loved to make known her wants to God in prayer.

In a short time Bertha re-entered the dining-room, and with a bright face, she threw her arms round her mother’s neck, saying:

“O, mother dear! I have told God all about it ,and I feel so much better, I am sure all will be well.”

Happy Bertha! to know the blessedness of “casting her care upon God.”

But it has just occurred to us, that if Bertha could peep over our shoulder, and see that we were writing of her, she would at once say:

“O pray do not write about me, for I am sure that nothing I ever do is worth printing.” But we have told you this little about her, dear readers, hoping that you may think her example worth following.

Perhaps some of you are saying:

“Yes, but what about the washing?”

Well! if the holy angels veil their faces when they worship God, surely it is right for sinful children to honor Him in every possible way. Remember, however, that washing faces and hands before approaching God in prayer, is very far from being the all-important thing. Much more than this is needed, for “God looketh beyond the outward appearance, right down into the heart.” And you know that you and every other child have a heart covered all over with dirty spots of sin, and God says that all these spots must be washed out, before you can be really happy in His love. And God says, too, that you cannot make your own heart clean. 0 no! none but the Lord Jesus Christ can do this: and He is both able and willing to do it. It was for this very purpose that He came down from heaven and died on the cross, that by His precious blood He might take away sin. Dear little reader, have you ever been to Jesus, and asked Him to make your heart quite clean? If not, then go to Him without delay, and say:

“Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark spot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come.”

Yes! “The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

The Kind Shepherd

Within a pretty meadow green,

Where all was bright around,

Some very happy little sheep

Were feeding on the ground.

They nibbled up the sweet, soft grass.

They drank the water clear;

Their shepherd kept them safe from harm,

They never knew a fear.

But once a naughty little sheep

Got weary of its home,

Disliked to stay within the fold,

And so he wished to roam.

To leave his loving shepherd’s side,

And wander right away,

To go wherever he should choose,

No longer to obey!

He heeded not the shepherd’s voice,

But disobeyed his word,

And left the happy pasture-land,

To wander in the world.

At first he thought it very nice

Whilst all around was bright;

He played about so merrily—

But soon came on the night!

The darkness thickened round his way,

He could not see ahead,

And though it was so very cold

He had no sheltered bed.

Poor little lamb! what will you do

‘Mid darkness, cold, and frost?

You chose to wander from your home,

And now you’re lost! yes, lost!

But as he stood there helplessly,

In fear at every sound,

He thought he heard a footstep near,

Resounding on the ground.

0! could it be the shepherd kind,

With whom he would not stay;

The one from whom he’d wandered so,

And dared to disobey?

Yes, matchless love! ‘twas really he;

In search of that stray sheep.

A long and weary way he’d trod

A thorny path and steep!

Yet when the little wanderer found

The shepherd drawing near,

His little heart went pit-a-pat,

And he was full of fear.

He knew he had so naughty been

In choosing thus to stray,

To one who’d caused him so much toil

What would the shepherd say?

But hark! in tenderest accents soft

He speaks to him in grace,

And lifts him in his powerful arms,

And whispers to him “Peace”.

Then on his shoulders, strong and firm

He sets him with delight,

And bears him safely home with him,

Dependent on his might.

Do you know who the Shepherd was

Who went to fetch the sheep,

Who loved it, though it wandered thus,

With love so strong and deep?

‘Twas Jesus—Jesus Christ the Lord—

Who sought the straying one,

And laid him near His loving heart,

And pardoned all he’d done.

So we will praise our Saviour-God,

And thank Him for such grace.

He’ll surely bear us safely home,

‘Till we shall see his face.

We then shall bless Him ever there

With naught to mar our song;

We’ll sing His love in seeking us,

Through endless ages long.

Messages of God’s Love 3/16/1919

Don't Tease

HERE we see a picture of baby sitting on grandpa’s knee. What a kind face the old man has, and how tenderly he holds his curly-headed little grandson! Sister is sitting in front of the baby and is holding something out of his reach and looking at baby, as if to say: “Get it if you can.”

We cannot help but hope that she will let the little boy have what he wishes, or take it away where he cannot see it, for he looks as if he might cry in just a minute. The grandfather looks very much as if he were saying “Don’t tease baby.”

Perhaps some of us have just such a dear baby in our homes, and no doubt our mothers are often so busy that some of us are often asked to tend baby for a few minutes. It is very good when we can help our mothers, if it be ever so little, for a mother’s hands are always busy and we should save her as many steps as we possibly can.

It is a pleasant sight to see a happy looking girl or boy carefully watching a little brother or sister—not teasing him, but making him laugh and crow with pleasure. Remember that God tells us:

“WHATSOEVER YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM.” MATT. 17:12.

And again: “Be ye kind, one to another.” If mother asks any one of us to watch her baby for her, let us remember these words, and treat him as gently as we should wish to be treated if we were weak and helpless.

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

What a Bible Can Do

A CHRISTIAN traveling through an out of the way place had occasion to call upon a shoemaker, and fell into conversation with him while he was at work. He found him a thoughtful person, and sensible of his own mental darkness. He talked freely, and seemed glad to meet one who could understand him. He felt fettered and helpless in heart and soul, he said. Could his visitor prescribe anything to relieve his benighted condition.

“I see one of the ‘patent medicine almanacs here, so I conclude you can read?” said the Christian.

“I can read a little,” said the shoemaker.

“And you find no medicine there such as you need. Has it ever occurred to you to go to the Bible for instruction, and also for sympathy and help when anxieties press heavily upon you? Christ is the great Teacher. A man who studies His sayings cannot be an ignorant man. If he accepts them, he cannot be without hope in this life, or without cheerful anticipations of the life that is to come. The New Testament tells you about Him,” said the visitor.

“Well, to be honest with you, I have no Bible,” said the shoemaker.

The Christian gave him his own pocket Bible, and left his address with him, expressing the hope that he might hear from him. Two months after, while at home in

the city, he was told a stranger wished to see him. He was admitted, and was surprised by the warmth of his greeting, for he did not know him.

“Don’t you remember giving a Bible to a shoemaker?” naming the place and time. “Yes, I do.”

“Well, I am the man. Your Bible has been the Bread of Life to my heart. I have brought you a little present, and I hope you will accept it, though it doesn’t half tell how thankful I am,” and he opened a bundle and showed a handsome pair of shoes.

The Christian tried on the shoes, and to his surprise they fitted him nicely.

“Why, how did you guess my measure so well?” said he.

“You left your footprints in the soft clay near my house; I measured the tracks and then I made the shoes,” said the shoemaker.

The Christian was delighted, and declared he had never before received so pleasant a token of friendship.

“But, my friend,” he added, “the best of all is the change in you. You are quite a new man. I did not know you.”

The fact was evident enough: The shoemaker was a new and a happy man, and he was doing good to others as had been done to him.

When he went back to his distant home, he took a supply of Bibles with him. His neighbors, seing the marvelous change on him, wanted them now as much as he did.

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

Sought and Found

MANY years ago I became acquainted with two sisters, one of whom (named Emily) was already a Christian, but the other not.

After some time, however, the good news reached me that the other sister, too, had been brought to confess Christ as her Saviour. It was of this one that I heard the following story, which shows God’s gracious care over her in time of great danger.

She was to walk through the woods (about three miles) to meet her mother and sisters on the other side. Instead of doing this, she amused herself scrambling about, and finally lost her way. She got down to the banks of the river, and when it was getting late, she tried to get up through the woods back to the road, about one hundred and eighty feet above her. Darkness came on, and suddenly she found she could get no foothold,, and was caught in a tree. She put her hands behind her and caught hold of some ivy hanging down over the rock. So she clung till dawn; and then imagine her horror at finding she was half-way down a precipice, only saved from being dashed .to pieces by the ivy and the branch.

All night the police and her sister Emily and her brother-in-law had been searching the woods, but it was not till seven in the morning that she was discovered; then a shepherd swung himself to near where she was, threw her over his shoulder and, swinging himself on his long stick from one jutting in the rock to another, he brought her down in safety.

Those looking on thought that they must both have been lost!

Thus we see how this dear girl was sought and found; and how the kind shepherd risked his own life to save her, while both were wonderfully preserved, in God’s mercy.

Does not this story remind us of the parable in Luke 15:4-7?

And Jesus is still the Good. Shepherd, seeking lost sheep, and rejoices to save even one little lamb; and if you know what it is to be safe in His arms yourself, I want to ask if you have a brother, or a sister, or a friend, whom you would like to be in the same happy place? Then you must pray for them; and if you have to wait for an answer, I would say to you in the words of a dear departed servant of Christ, “Pray on, and thou shalt surely prove that God is power, that God is love, and loves to answer prayer.”

Then, too, you must seek by your ways, even more than by your words, to show that you belong to Jesus; being obedient, truthful, humble and gentle, following Him, who, as a child, was perfect in all things.

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

Carrie

CARRIE was a happy little Italian girl of ten years, with a pair of black, sparkling eyes and curly hair. She attended a Sunday school held by a Christian lady, who told the little Italian children the story of Jesus’ love.

One day Carrie came to the school downcast and sad. The kind teacher took the little girl apart from the other children, and said to her, “My dear Carrie, you look very sad today. What is the matter with you?”

The little girl looked up mournfully in her face and said, “Because, teacher, I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

“What were you thinking about, Carrie?” said the teacher.

“O teacher, I was wondering whether Jesus cares for me or not—do you think He does?” asked the little girl, the tears coming to her eyes.

“Yes, Carrie, Jesus loves you. Did He not come down from His happy home to show His love for sinners? And did He not say, when He was down here, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me’? How, then, can you doubt whether He loves you? Can you repeat the verse that tells you so, Carrie?”

Carrie repeated the verse slowly, which she had learned, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

“Well, Carrie, who do you think that means, you or me? Is it big folks like me, or little ones like you He invites to come to Him?”

The little girl clapped her hands with delight, and said, “It’s for me, teacher, and not for you; for you are not a child; it’s for me, for me. Jesus loves me. I know it now.”

From that day, Carrie believed that Jesus loved her, and she loved Jesus in return. She became a lamb in the Good Shepherd’s flock, and followed Him.

Now if this little Italian girl, who had few opportunities of knowing and hearing about Jesus, compared with you, was so anxious to know if Jesus loved her, why should not you? But, perhaps, you know quite well that Jesus loves you, for you have often sung:

“Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.”

Well, then, let me ask you, have you, like Carrie, believed the glad tidings and received His love into your heart? Have you said, “It’s for me, for me,” and come to Him trusting His love, and accepting Him as your own and only Saviour? If you have you will love Him in return, and follow Him, saying, “I love Him, because He first loved me.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

Birds and Their Nests

HARD-HRARTED AND cruel must the boy be who robs and destroys a bird’s nest. Who does not admire the skill and diligence with which these tiny creatures construct their little houses? The downy nest of the skylark among the grass, over which she soars and sings; the mossy nest of the linnet lined with hair, with its four eggs of bluish white, speckled with purple; the well-built nest of the bull-finch, near to which he sits whistling on a bough, are all familiar sights to many of us.

The robbing of a bird’s nest was made the means of awakening a school boy to a sense of his sin and need of a Saviour.

On the way home from school one afternoon, he and several others found a nest with five spotted eggs in it. The cruel boys robbed the nest and divided the eggs. Willie’s conscience spoke loudly to him for that deed; and the text hanging above his bed, “Thou God seest me,” seemed to say in tones of thunder,

“God saw you steal the eggs this afternoon.”

He did not sleep any all night, and the next morning when his mother asked what was the matter, he told her the whole story. That event was the first step towards deeper conviction of sin, and the result was, he was convinced of his need of a Saviour, and was led to Jesus.

“Christ died for our sins.” 1 Cor. 15:3

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9.

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

The Love of Jesus

His heart full of kindness,

Sweet words He hath to tell;

Come listen to Him, children,

For He loves children well;

And many to Him gather,

From every clime and land;

Come welcome, happy children,

And join the holy band.

He on the cross once suffered,

Nails pierced His hands and feet;

But through His pain and sorrow,

Makes us for heaven meet.

His blood our sin-stain cleanses,

And takes our guilt away;

Come welcome, happy children,

For Jesus says you may.

He, He Himself, will keep you,

He’ll hold you in His hand,

He’ll never let you perish,

But you shall reach His land—

The lovely, lovely country,

All bright, and sweet, and fair.

Come welcome, happy children,

And all His glory share.

Messages of God’s Love 3/23/1919

Your Picture

A LADY said to me the other day “I never can have a photograph of myself that I like. Either I look cross or old or something like that.” She did not want to see herself as she was, but wanted to appear better. We are all like this lady; but, wishing to look or be better does not make us so.

God tells us the truth about ourselves, (and we do not like it either) that we may know what we are in His sight.

“THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT?” Jer. 17:9.

He also says “There is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” He wants us to know just how bad we are, that we may realize we cannot hope to win salvation by our own efforts, and that we may turn to the Lord to receive, through Him, the forgiveness of our sins.

Messages of God’s Love 3/30/1919

The Little New Testament

I WAS past twenty-one years of age when I left home. Mother put a New Testament into my hand, making me promise to read it often, and that I would try to attend church service every Sunday. I promised reluctantly, but did not keep my promise. Why should I? The Bible was not attractive to me, neither was church-going. I preferred to read novels, and to attend places of amusement, so the little Testament was put down in the bottom of my trunk, and all my other belongings were put on top of it. I went to church at times, not because I felt any spiritual need or duty, but because at those times I had nowhere else to go.

How free the soul seems to be whose fears have never been aroused about “that great and notable day of the Lord,” and the part it would have in it all.

At one time, I heard a man preach who took for his text, “Thou art the man!” and I felt like God had singled me out to tell me this, and to give me to know how unfit I was to go to heaven when my course here was run. The effect of that sermon wore away to some extent, still, things of the world did not seem the same to me as they did before. The arrow of God had wounded me.

Thus I went on for years, till I went to a different town to find employment. I boarded with a family where were several other boarders.

Now, there was a certain preacher who used to come at intervals to talk with us, and before departing would always read a portion of God’s Word. One evening he sought to do the same, but found he did not have his Testament with him. He then appealed to each one of us men to lend him a Testament, but all denied having such a book. At last he asked me. I owned that I had a Testament, but that it was underneath everything else in my trunk, and therefore hard to find. He said:

“I’ll wait till you find it.”

The book was found, the portion was read, and the man went his way, but the Testament was never returned to the bottom of the trunk. I read it daily, beginning with Matthew, and I was mightily convicted of sin and guilt before God. I was now greatly alarmed.

About this time I heard a sermon from the first chapter of Ruth, about how Ruth chose Israel’s God as her God. and placed herself under the shadow of His wing. I resolved to do as Ruth had done.

I was in much perplexity as to how to come to God, and those who sought to enlighten me, seemed to be unable to make it clear to me. I believe now that their mistake was in not bringing Christ and His finished work before me. Christ came down from heaven to manifest God, and as He said,

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6.

But He who reads the heart, and makes no mistakes, saw both my distress and my earnest desire to be saved, and He saved me. Yes, by His grace I was saved! How wonderful it was, and how wonderful it is, and ever more it will be —a soul, held by the god of this world, in darkness and distance from the living and true God, brought into light and liberty and relationship to God.

Well, it was after this that I found out I owed all my salvation to the Lord Jesus. ‘Twas He who came down from heaven to earth to seek and save the lost; ‘twas He who loved me and gave Him self for me. Yes, I learned that God was just and the Justifier of him who believes in Jesus, whoever he may be, or however guilty he may be.

Of course, I have learned much more from my little Testament—what my portion as a child of God is; what my inheritance and my hope. To tell of all would make my paper too long, for my joy was unbounded.

I mention these few facts from my life, as they may appeal to some of my readers who perhaps find themselves in similar circumstances. If you have a little Testament, neglected and unread, stored away, bring it to light and read it. God will bless the reading of it to your soul, for it is the Word of Life.

Now, I would ask my readers in concluding, Do you think it would be the thing for me, after all this has been done for me, to go on as I did before, or should I alter my course? Could I consistently still go to places of amusement, and read novels as I did before I was saved? Could I still go on with my former companions?

No! You who read this know full well, even if you are unconverted, that this would not do. My course should be in the opposite direction. I was on the road to hell and following all its ways. Now I am on the road to glory and desire to walk in the narrow path that leads to it, and to please the One who is waiting for me there. I must become a follower of Christ, a witness for Him, and a learner of Him. He is my Lord and my Master.

“They which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:15.

Messages of God’s Love 3/30/1919

Those Naughty Fingers

DOROTHY Day was a dear little girl about five years old, the daughter of a Christian gentleman. One of the delights of the day to father and daughter was the little prayer time at its close, and the confidential chat after, before Dorothy pillowed her curly head and went to sleep.

One evening, after the prayer time, Dorothy held up her little hand and said:

“This finger and this thumb have been very naughty today, father.”

“Why, what have they done?” inquired Mr. Day.

“Can you not guess?” said the child, thinking that her wise father knew everything about her day’s doings. But though he thought of many of little Dorothy’s childish doings, he failed to tell the exact thing to which she alluded.

“They took some raisins out of the cupboard,” confessed his little daughter, and, after a pause, she added, “and put the raisins into my mouth.”

Hiding an amused smile at the sincerity and simplicity of his darling, Mr. Day inquired;

“Did anybody tell those naughty fingers to do it?”

“I did not hear anybody tell them,” replied the child simply.

“What part of my little girl caused those naughty fingers to take the raisins?” again asked the father, in the hope of teaching his little daughter a profitable lesson. “Was it her curly hair, her head, or her heart?”

“Her heart,” quickly replied Dorothy, realizing that it was something within her which caused the fingers to act. Then, in simple language, her father set before her the Scripture truths, that “out of the heart are the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23) that God, who knows “the secrets of the heart,” (Psa. 44:21), has declared that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jer. 17:9.) Like a faithful father, he explained to her that as the source or spring of herself was wicked, therefore she was a sinner, and included in the great “all” when God says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory cf God.” (Rom. 3:23.) Then taking a piece of black cloth, he wound it round the naughty finger and thumb to indicate their black character. Mr. Day put the matter in such an interesting and simple way (he would have made a first-class infant school teacher), that the child nestled closer between his knees, and looked inquiringly into his face.

“But what made my Dorothy know that those fingers were naughty, and what led her to think of confessing to father?” Dorothy could not answer this question, so her father went on to tell her that it was her conscience that told her her act was sinful, and that it was her conscience that brought before her when speaking to God in prayer that sin and holiness could not dwell together.

Thus, sweetly, Mr. Day was able to set before his darling child, her need of knowing her sins forgiven, for if conscience led Dorothy to confess to father at the close of day, what about the time when “every one of us shall give account of himself to God”? (Rom. 14:12.) Surely the desire must be implanted in each heart to know their “sins forgiven”; and any boy or girl may rejoice in this now, for God’s word says,

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10:9.) If you, my reader, have not already done so, why not take Him now as your Saviour?

Messages of God’s Love 3/30/1919

His Mother's Lesson

A YOUNG soldier was mortally wounded on the battlefield, and by a comrade was dragged aside to die. He shut his eyes, and all his past life flashed before him. It seemed but a moment of time, and he saw before him Eternity, like a great gulf, ready to swallow him up, with his sins as so many weights to sink him deeper and deeper. Suddenly there was brought to his remembrance his mother’s lesson, taught when he was a little boy at her knee, and the only legacy she was able to leave him when she died.

“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.

In the gaiety of his life he had forgotten it. But the seed sown, and watered by the mother’s prayers and tears was now to show sign of life. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26.) Now he cries out. “Lord, I believe, save me or I perish!” Till he died, a few hours after, he continued thus to call on the Lord.

The Lord is merciful, but His Spirit will not always strive with man.

“Today, if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.

Messages of God’s Love 3/30/1919

Bible Questions for April

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“For though He was,” etc. 2nd Cor. 13:4.

“In whom the god of,” etc. “ “ 4:4.

“But he that glorieth,” etc. “ “ 10:17.

“For he saith, I have,” etc. “ “ 6:2.

“Who delivered us from,” etc. “ 1:10.

“For ye know the grace,” etc. “ “ 8:9.

“For he hath made Him,” etc. “ 5:21.

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1919, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the “next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

Bible Questions for April

The answers are to be found in 1St and 2nd Thess., 1St and 2nd Timothy, Titus.

Write the verse containing the words, “Waiting for Christ.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Love His appearing.”

Write the verse containing the words, “When He shall come.”

Write the verse containing the words, “In due time.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Glorious appearing.”

Write the verse containing the words, “To meet the Lord.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Against that day.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/6/1919

Palestine, or the Holy Land. Part I

THERE are very few children in the United States, Canada, or England, to-day, who have not heard of the taking of Palestine by the British. But perhaps it has not struck you, how wonderful it is that God should be carrying out what He has promised so many years ago, and by this victory over the Turks enabling His ancient people, the Jews, to return to their own land. For Palestine, or Canaan, as it was once called, was given to the Jews by God, thousands of years ago.

In Deuteronomy, we read, (Chapter 32:8) “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” So we see that from the very beginning, Canaan was intended for the Children of Israel, or as we call them now, the Jews.

About three hundred years after the flood, God chose Abraham, and called him to go into this land, and told him that He was going to give it to him forever. These are ‘His words about it.

“I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession.” Gen. 17:8. Time passed on, and Abraham’s grandson Jacob, and all his family went down into Egypt, but God had not forgotten them, nor His promise, and when the right time came, He brought them back to the land He had told Abraham should be his. Not one man now, but six hundred thousand men, besides women and children.

When God gives man anything, it is always very good, and Canaan was a land, as we are told, “flowing with milk and honey.” Think what that means, the beautiful pasture lands, where the cows and goats would feed; the wonderful profusion of lovely flowers of every kind and color for the bees to gather honey from. If you look at Palestine on the map, you will see that it is not a very large country. Its length from north to south is about 290 miles, but it is situated, one might say, where three continents meet, and yet it is protected on all sides, by the sea, the desert or lofty mountains. Two high chains of mountains run from north to south; between them is a wide and fertile valley, and there is also what is called, “the maritime plain,” that is a large stretch of level land beside the sea.

In these valleys grew figs, grapes. olives—everything which we get from a hot country; but as you went up higher and higher, the climate got colder, until on the top of some of the mountains, there was always snow.

The Arabs say, “Lebanon bears winter on its head, spring on its shoulders, and autumn in its lap, while summer lies at its feet.”

From the snow fields of Mount Hermon, to the lowest levels of the Jordan valley, is less than a hundred miles; and yet in one part it is always winter, and in the other there is never a trace of snow or even hoar frost. And this was the wonderful and beautiful land that God brought His people into. But He not only gave them the land, He also promised to dwell among them in it, to care for them, to protect them, to bless them, to do everything that could be done to make them happy,—on one condition, that they would obey Him. And did they obey Him? Alas! No. In a very short time they had turned aside, and were worshiping the false gods of the heathen nations around them.

In many ways God tried to bring them back. He punished them, by sending enemies to fight against them, and when trouble came upon them, they returned to the Lord, and He many times forgave them and helped them; but as soon as the trouble was over, back they went to their evil ways again. Then the Lord sent prophets, as He says in His word.

“The Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending them; because He had compassion on His people. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, who slew their young men, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: He gave them all into his hand, and he brought them into Babylon, where they were servants unto him and his sons.” 2 Chron. 36:15-20.

And so ended the story! What a sad ending, you will say, and perhaps you wonder why they would not obey the Lord, and live happily in that beautiful land. Well, the reason was, that each one of those men, women and children had a sinful heart which was opposed to God, and all that was good.

And do you know, my dear child, that you, too, have just the same kind of a heart? It does not love God, or want to obey Him. The apostle Paul gives us an exact account of our hearts in Rom. 3, and ends by saying, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The Jews lost their beautiful land, and we have lost all our title to heaven. How can we thank the Lord Jesus enough for coming down into this world to bear the punishment of sin! He knew how helpless we were, and came down to be our Saviour and Redeemer, and bring us back to God.

Messages of God’s Love 4/6/1919

Something Worth Reading

A BOY walked into a book store and asked the man in charge,

“Have you got anything worth reading?”

“It all depends what you mean by `worth reading,’ “ replied the man.

“O, I mean a boy’s book,” was the answer; and a moment or two later the boy walked away with a cheap book which he had bought.

That boy would have been greatly surprised if the man at the bookstore had handed him a Bible as “a boy’s book.” Yet it is quite true that the Bible is a book for boys and girls as well as for men and women. Most boys and girls look upon the Word of God as a very dry and uninteresting book, and only read it because they have to learn certain lessons set from it.

Here is what a Christian boy of thirteen writes about his Bible:

“It was my Sunday school teacher who urged me to read my Bible. The more I came to the class the more I came to prize and read it. I have used it for about two years now, but I have one regret, and that is that I did not use it more. For the short time I have used it, however, I have been greatly blessed and helped in my Christian life.”

How is it that boys don’t love to study God’s Word? The following words, written by a boy, will explain the reason:

“It was not until August last that I really began to love my Bible. And why? Because it was only then that I gave myself entirely to Christ—spirit, soul, and body.” And another boy says:

“It was not until I came to the class and accepted Christ as my Saviour, that I got right into touch with my Bible and used it.”

So you see, if you want to really love and understand the Bible, you must get to know and love its Author; and the only way to do that is to come to Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 4/6/1919

Watchful Waiting

ONE Sunday morning, my friend, Mr. Lewis, entered a church and sat down to wait for the service to begin. He had left, as usual, his big dog Medor, at the door. All at once Mr. Lewis realized that he did not have his umbrella with him; he must have left it near the door, but, not wishing to disturb anyone, he decided to wait and inquire before leaving.

At the close of the service, we went toward a bench not far from the door. to our great satisfaction, we saw the umbrella leaning against it, and in front of it was Medor, who, evidently had stayed there the whole time without moving. He was resting his head on the seat and was perfectly still. He must have recognized his master’s umbrella, and felt that he should guard it.

Are you, little saved boy or girl, as faithful to your Lord and Master as Medor was to his?

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

Messages of God’s Love 4/6/1919

Whiter Than Snow

There’s a beautiful word I often have heard,

Its meaning I wish much to know;

I think if we look we shall find in God’s Book

About being “whiter than snow.”

It puzzles me much to think there is such,

For whiteness there’s nothing I know

With the snow to compare, so shining and fair:—

Then what can be “whiter than snow”?

Perhaps angels’ wings, or some beautiful things

Which I as a child cannot know;

If I think all the day, I never could say

What there is that’s “whiter than snow.”

The snow-drop looks brown with its head drooping down

On white winter border below,

And the lily, though white, I’m sure has not quite

The claim to be “whiter than snow.”

But a child cannot find the depths of God’s mind;

To a wiser than I, I will go,

And ask Him to tell, for I’d like to know well,

Of this wonderful “whiter than snow.”

But can God behold, as I have been told,

A child who’s so little and low?

And can it be true, if I am made new,

That I shall be “whiter than snow?”

I thought of the flowers, raised up by the showers,

Of the clouds with the bright sunlight glow;

I could not have thought it was I who was brought,

And washed, and made “whiter than snow.”

How sweet!—it is true that I am made new

Since washed in the blood that did flow

So freely to cleanse away the dark stains,

And make me far “whiter than snow.”

And now that I’m Thine, 0! teach me to shine,

And in love and wisdom to grow;

From sin undefiled, 0 Lord, keep Thy child,

Who is washed, and made “whiter than snow.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/6/1919

Temptations

THE celebrated musician Haydn tells the following story, “When I was young, I went, one hot summer day, with some friends to the top of one of the high mountains which surround Lake Major, in Italy. We stopped to rest on the way and while sitting down, a large flock of sheep, led by their shepherd, went slowly up the steep incline browsing as they went.

“One of the young men of the party pulled a flute out of his pocket and began to play. To everyone’s surprise, the sheep, who had been following obediently their shepherd, raised their heads toward the direction of the sound, then all together pressed toward the musician, and when near, stood still, listening attentively. In vain did the shepherd call, in vain did he throw clods of earth to make them move, they paid no attention to him.

“The player, much amused, continued his music which became more and more lively, until the shepherd begged him to stop. Then with much trouble, he succeeded in making the sheep move forward to their pasture.”

Satan ever seeks to allure people with pleasures and sin away from the good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, who wants to save them and lead them where they will find food for their souls. There is but one way of being preserved from our great enemy Satan, and that is by doing what the Lord told His disciples to do in Luke 22:46.

“WATCH AND PRAY LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/13/1919

Palestine, or the Holy Land. Part II

I TOLD you that last week, how God punished His people, the Jews, by giving them into the hands of the King of Babylon, who carried them away to his own country, and made servants of them. How sad they were there! In one of the Psalms we read, that as they sat by the rivers of Babylon, they wept when they remembered their own country, and hung their harps on the willow trees. They said,

“How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Psa. 137:4. Do you think the Lord had forgotten them, or changed His mind about giving them the land of Canaan? No, the Lord cannot change, and He never forgets. He loved these people, not because they were a great nation, or because they were a good nation, but He tells us in Deut. 7, that He loved them, because He loved them, for no reason in themselves.

I am so glad that God loves us in just the same way, for if we had to make ourselves great or good before He loved us, there would be no hope at all for us. But it was, “When we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

Now, I must tell you what God did for His people. After they had been seventy years in Babylon, He put it into the heart of the king to send them hack to their own land. How glad they were, and at first they really tried to serve the Lord, but though they never worshiped idols again, their evil hearts were not changed. Years and years passed on they had many wars, and many troubles, and at last came under the dominion of the great Emperor of Rome, and they had a Roman governor, and Roman soldiers in their towns. But still they were in their own land, and had their own beautiful temple at Jerusalem.

All through the many years I have been telling you of, the Jews had been expecting that God would raise them up a great king, who would come and deliver them from all their troubles. The prophets had often spoken of Him, and they even knew that He would be born in the little town of Bethlehem. One night He really did come, but hardly anyone knew anything about it. Some poor shepherds, who were protecting their sheep from the wild beasts, were the first to be told of it. An angel came to tell them the great news, and he told it very simply.

“To you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord.” And he told the shepherds where to look for the King; not in some great palace, but in a stable.

I need not tell you this story; you all know it well, I am sure, and you could tell me, how He grew up in the little town of Nazareth, (not in Bethlehem, where He was born) and how He obeyed His mother Mary, and never grieved her, or made her sad by wilful, naughty ways. For He was a holy child, there was no evil heart in Him, and He never desired to do anything hut what was pleasing to God, His Father; for you must never forget that though He was really man, He was also really God. That One, who could say He had nowhere to lay His head, was the One of whom the apostle Paul could say, “All things were made by Him and for Him.”

For three years and a half, He walked about in Palestine, visiting the cities and towns and villages, going many a ‘time upon the lake in the boats of His disciples, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry, even raising the dead, and preaching to the people, trying to bring them back to God. But as you know, they would not have Him. They did not want the Son of God, and at last they crucified Him. Even the Roman governor said, “Shall I crucify your king?” But they only answered, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” So you see their hearts were still unchanged; they did not want God, and they did not want His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

My dear child, do you want Him? Or are you like those Jews? You say, “I would not have crucified Him.” But are you receiving Him into your heart now? God always brings good out of evil; As the little hymn says,

“The very spear that pierced His side Brought forth the blood to save.”

The Jews thought they were getting rid of the One they hated, but they did not know that on the cross He was bearing the punishment of sin; that God was laying “upon Him the iniquity of us all.” That is, of all who accept Him as their Substitute. And when the work was finished, and on the third day he had risen up again, and then showed Himself alive to His disciples for forty days, He went back to that beautiful Home He had left thirty-three years before. God set Him at His own right hand, and gave Him a name which is above every name.

Messages of God’s Love 4/13/1919

Anna Miller

THE newspapers some time ago told the following incident of a little child, “Battered by icebergs and floes in the Atlantic Ocean where the steamship ‘Titanic’ sank, the passengers on board the steamship `Niagara’ momentarily expected for more than twenty hours that their steamer would go to the bottom. Perhaps the coolest person on board that steamer was little Anna Miller, eleven years old, of Newark, N. J. She went amongst the women and children, cheering them with words of assurance and comfort. When the excitement reached the highest pitch, this little girl fell on her knees on the deck and began to pray aloud. She was joined in this by nearly all the women and children and not a few of the men. The child led them in praying.”

This reminds us of another child, of whom we read in the Bible—the child Samuel, whom God used. It says, “And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of His words fall to the ground.” (1 Samuel 3:19.)

And we read too of a little maid carried captive from Samaria who was used for blessing to her master, Naaman, the great captain of the host of Syria, who was a leper. (2 Kings 5.)

So to-day, also, God can use little children who love Him, to bring blessing to grown-ups. Won’t you ask Him to use you?

Messages of God’s Love 4/13/1919

God's Care

ONCE a poor man and his wife sat in their little room; they I were in great need; they had a miserable room, nothing to sit upon but two stools. The weather was bitterly cold; worse than this, their fire was going out, and they had no more coal or wood to put on it; besides this, they had eaten their last crust of bread at noon; it was Sunday and they did not expect to get any more money until Tuesday.

Thompson, for that was this man’s name, had partly to blame himself for his present misery, for when he had his money he often wasted it. He sat on his stool thinking, and very sad thoughts he had. How could he and his wife live from Sunday to Tuesday in the bitter cold, without any fire or food? Then another question came into his mind. “Why were he and his wife in such misery?” He began to remember his sins, and some words came into his mind.

“Wife,” he said, “have we not heard somewhere, ‘The face of the Lord is against them that do evil’? I believe that God is against us, because of our evil ways.”

God was not against this poor man, much as his ways may have deserved it; God was for him, and so He let him feel cold and hunger that he might “consider his ways” before it was too late. God, in great goodness was teaching this poor man and his wife. Soon he spoke again; he was learning his lesson, for who teacheth like God?

“I think,” he said, “God has allowed this misery to draw us to Himself. Let us kneel down and confess our sins and ask God to have mercy upon us.” This man wanted more than some coal or a loaf of bread, and so does every one, for “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth,” and that room, which a few minutes before seemed to contain nothing but sin and misery, soon showed the sight over which heaven rejoices—the poor man and woman kneeling down confessing their sins, and praying that they might find mercy through Christ, and might know how to live so as to please God. They were not praying for food, for the dreadful misery of their sins seemed to have shut out the other misery from their remembrance, but ‘God remembered all their need. They had only just risen from their knees when a neighbor came in. He had been sitting down to his own comfortable tea, when the thought of poor Thompson came into his mind, and he wished to go and see how he was that cold afternoon.

This neighbor kept a store, and was well off—he soon saw the need, and sent food and fuel. But the man and his wife had found a supply in that time of starvation which was to last them forever. While they praised God for the needed food He sent them, they could praise Him, too, with tears of joy for His mercy in providing a Saviour for them.

Messages of God’s Love 4/13/1919

The Bible

THE Bible declares itself to be written “not with the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth.” It calls itself “the Word of God,” “the Words of God,” “the Voice of God,” “the Oracles of God,” “the Lively [living] Oracles of God,” “the Holy Letters of God,” “the Scriptures of God.” A scripture or writing is made up of letters and words, and not of mere invisible thoughts. But we are told, “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.” What is written therefore, is inspired of God; and that which is inspired of God is all Scripture —it is all that is written.

Messages of God’s Love 4/13/1919

Labor

WHEN Adam and Eve were created, they did not have to plow the ground, nor to sow the seed to get food for themselves; everything grew of itself, for God wanted them to enjoy His goodness in making all things on earth for their use. But, after they disobeyed Him, the Lord said to Adam that, because of his sin, He cursed the ground; henceforth thorns and thistles should grow where only good and beautiful plants had been; and man should have to work hard to make the earth produce the food he needed.

While this was a punishment, it was also a blessing, for it is certain that

“Satan has some mischief still,

For idle hands to do.”

So God wants us to work with our own hands as we are commanded to do, and says if anyone will not work he should not eat either.

But many people work hard, and plan and scheme that they may get rich, forgett.ng that some day they will have to leave all behind; to such the Lord says,

“LABOR NOT FOR THE MEAT WHICH PERISHETH, BUT FOR THAT MEAT WHICH ENDURETH UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE.” John 6:27.

Messages of God’s Love 4/20/1919

Palestine, or the Holy Land. Part III.

WE saw last week how the Jews rejected their King and their Deliverer, crying out, when the Roman Governor wished to spare His life, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” They little knew what a terrible doom they were calling down upon themselves. The Lord Jesus in His love and pity, His heart yearning over His people, had foretold some of the terrible things which would happen to the beautiful city of Jerusalem, and its wretched inhabitants, and as He gazed over the city, He wept, saying, “If thou hadst known the things which belong unto thy peace.” But they did not know, their hearts were hardened, and their eyes darkened. Then the Lord went on to tell how their enemies would come upon them, and compass the city round, and lay it even with the ground. All this came to pass about forty years after our Lord’s death. Titus, with his strong Roman army, came against Jerusalem, and sought to overthrow it. It was surrounded with three walls, but against these he set his battering rams, and by degrees they were broken down. The people inside the walls were starving to death, and fighting among themselves. It is said that a million Jews perished during the siege, and thousands and thousands were taken prisoners, and afterwards sold as slaves. About a thousand took refuge in one of the strongholds among the mountains, but this, too, was taken, and none escaped. Titus had wished to save the magnificent temple, but a soldier threw a lighted torch upon the roof, and it was entirely destroyed. So our Lord’s words were fulfilled that the days should come when not one stone should be left upon another. Matt. 24:2. For a great number of years no Jew was allowed to enter the city on pain of death.

What a sad story it all is. A story of sin, and its punishment. That is all we can see, but God sees so much farther than we do, and as we said before, He can never forget what He has promised, or change His mind. He told Abraham that the land of Canaan should be his for an everlasting possession. Gen. 17:S. Then again, He told David that his throne should be established forever, 2 Sam. 7:16, and this must come to pass. The children of Israel are scattered now all through the world. They have endured terrible trials for hundreds of years, without a country and without a king, but some day, and perhaps very soon now, God will bring His people back again to their own land.

In Jeremiah we read, “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, a great company shall return,” Jer. 31:8, and it goes on to say, “They shall come with weeping.” Why do you suppose they will come with weeping? Are they not glad to get back to their own beloved land? Another prophet, called Zechariah, tells us why they are so sad. He says, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn,” and again they shall say, “What are these wounds in Thine hands?” Is it any wonder they weep, when they find out who it was they crucified? Who it was they pierced with the spear, which drew out blood and water? But that blood was to cleanse away sin, so we read further, “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for all uncleanness.” Zech. 13:1. Ezekiel says, too, “I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh.” Eze. 36:25.

We saw that from the beginning it was the evil heart, full of sin, which the people possessed, which hindered them from obeying the Lord, and so getting the blessing. And when our Lord came, that same evil heart prevented them from receiving Him. It was sin all the way through which brought them into sorrow and judgment. But when at last they own their sin, repent of what they have done, and accept their Lord and Saviour, God will give them a new heart, and what joy and gladness will be theirs!

Many parts of Palestine are desert now, but then “the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” The temple will be once more built, and the Lord shall be King in Jerusalem. Everyone will be happy, and all will be obedient and holy, even the bells of the horses shall have, “Holiness unto the Lord” upon them. But they will not be sad or gloomy, for “the streets shall be full of boys and girls, playing in the streets of Jerusalem.” I do not think the children will quarrel or hurt one another, though in their play, for even the animals will be gentle; the wolf will dwell with the lamb. “The cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together.” And again, “They shall’ not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain.” Isa. 11.

That time has not come yet, hut now that Palestine has been taken from the Turks, and the Jews are once more able to return to their own country, the children of God who study the Bible, believe that the end must be very near, and that the Lord will soon be coming back; first, to call all His children to meet Him in the air; and, then, to come down to the earth to judge the nations who have refused to “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,” (Phil. 2) and to set up His kingdom at Jerusalem.

Now let me ask you just one question, Will you go up to meet the Lord in the air, or will you be left behind to meet Him in judgment? Do not rest until that is settled.

Messages of God’s Love 4/20/1919

The Parable of the Virgins

HOW often it has been said that delays are dangerous, and yet people delay time after time to do that which they know should be done.

A man may know that there is a leaky spot in the roof of his house, and fully intend to have it mended; but he delays a little; and somehow time slips away, and it is not done, till one night there is a very heavy storm, the little hole is quickly made larger, and much damage is done by the water coming into the house.

Many incidents like this occur, and still we are slow to learn the important lesson; but the things of time are as nothing when compared with those of eternity.

Think for a moment of the parable of the ten virgins. The five virgins, called foolish ones, had delayed to provide themselves with oil in their vessels at the proper time, and while they went to buy the bridegroom came, and those that were ready went in to the marriage, and the door was shut; afterwards came the other virgins, seeking to gain admittance, but the answer was, “Depart, for I never knew you.”

The parable is given us that we may see the contrast between the wise and the foolish ones, and that we may not be found outside in a day that is coming. I do not think any one intends to be lost, but many put off the question, not know-mg how near they may be to eternity. Then the last time for hearing the gospel comes, and if it is put off once again, there is no hope any more.

God does not tell us when we shall die, or when the Lord Jesus will come. But we find in His word that He speaks of to-day in a very special way, and I should like my readers to look up all the passages they can find where the word “today” occurs; and also some other texts where the word “now” is used. You will then have before you some very important passages which speak of the present time as being the day of, salvation.

The Lord says, “Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isa. 1:18.

Messages of God’s Love 4/20/1919

The Reward of Obedience

I WANT to tell you a story of a boy who was staying with his uncle and aunt. One evening some young friends asked him to join them the next day in an excursion on the river. This, of course, sounded very pleasant to him, and returning to his uncle’s house he told his aunt of his proposed plan .

His aunt was a very timid person and not at all fond of boats and rivers herself; when she went to bed that night her fear about her nephew and the boating excursion prevented her from getting any quiet sleep. Very early in the morning she went to her nephew’s room and told him her fears and how much she had suffered all through the night. He felt no fears, besides, he had promised to join his friends, and what excuse could he give them for not going with them?

“Write to them,” said his aunt, “and say that I am ill, and you will not leave me;” for indeed the fears and the restless night had made the poor aunt quite ill Now, her nephew could see no danger, nothing but pleasure in the expected boating, and it was not at all pleasant to him to disappoint his friends, or to give up the expected treat, but he had learned to be obedient and, although a young man, he respected his aunt’s wishes, and wrote the note, and his young friends went without him.

And then, what do you think happened?

O, how glad that boy must have been that he obeyed his aunt, and how thankful the uncle and aunt must have been to have him safe at home, for in the very middle of the river the boat upset, quite suddenly, as boats often do, and not one of the young men who were in it ever returned home; all were drowned in a few moments. O, what a terrible pang of sorrow would have pierced the nephew’s heart had he despised the word of advice and gone with his friends and found himself, with them, sinking into the deep waters.

The child who obeys God’s word, “Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord,” who is most careful to say, “Would this please my father? or would my mother like this?” will best learn how to find and follow that safe, lasting pathway through obedience, God’s way.

Messages of God’s Love 4/20/1919

Coming to Jesus

GO to the Lord Jesus and speak to Him just as if He were close by your side. And indeed so He is, though we see Him not. This is the happy way of coming to Him. You need not be shy or afraid of speaking to the Lord, for He is so kind and so tender that He will listen patiently to all you have to say. Only do not doubt Him. Believe what He says, and ‘ He says He hears you. He loves to hear little children speak to Him. No one loves little children as does the blessed Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 4/20/1919

Building

O you know, dear children, from our early day till we leave this world, we are all building something. The little child delights to have building blocks, and while building with them may seem to be only play, nevertheless, his little mind is developing by it, and such things are no doubt the first steps towards doing something better. It is important that we should be always building something good, then we will have good results. The Scripture says, “Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon; for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 3:10, 11. According to what we do, we shall get results. I will give you an instance of a young boy about sixteen years old. He said, “I do not care the snap of my finger for what my father says.” That was a very foolish boy.. He thought he knew better than his father, and he was forgetting what God has told us in His Word,

“HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER, THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE.” Eph. 6:2, 3.

That was poor kind of building he was doing, for he was despising his father instead of honoring him, and he is bound to suffer for such a statement, unless he owns it and judges himself for it. God sometimes allows such to go very far wrong, and do some terrible things so that they might be humbled, and learn the foolishness of their own hearts.

Our life here is very short, and it is very necessary that we should take heed to God’s Word, and go according to it from our early day, and that will be good building, and good results, for that building will stand. The foundation is Christ. That is, you would begin with Christ as your Saviour, and by taking and acting upon all the wise instructions that God gives in His Word, you would be building on that foundation.

Messages of God’s Love 4/27/1919

John Patterson

DURING the fiery persecution that swept across the South of Scotland, during the reign of Charles the Second, there lived an honest man named John Paterson, on a farm in Ayrshire.

From his early days, John had full sympathy with the persecuted Covenanters, and frequently attended their meetings on moors or mosses, where they were obliged to meet to worship God, and hear His Word, often scattered by the cruel dragoons, who were sent out by the king to hunt them down.

When it became known that Paterson was in the habit of attending meeting of the Covenanters, the Laird of Camlarg, from whom he rented his farm, told him that if he continued to do so, he would eject him from his home. This threat did not seem to have disturbed Paterson, for we are told that when he returned home and told his wife what the Laird had said, they agreed together not to act the coward, but to suffer loss rather than give up what they believed to be the truth of God.

In order to be prepared for a surprise from the persecutors, who frequently entered the houses of the Covenanters by night, Paterson dug a hole in the gable of his house, through which one person at a time could creep, and placed before the opening a large wooden seat to hide it.

It was not long till a party of soldiers made their appearance on horseback, and Paterson well knowing what was the object of their mission, crept through the hole in the wall, and made his escape to the moss, where he lay in a deep trench for several hours until the disappointed troopers had gone.

I may here say, that although John Paterson was at this time thought to be a Covenanter, and was very zealous in his defense of the principles of the persecuted people, he was not himself a Christian. Like many then and now, he had read his Bible, and was determined to stick to what he believed to be the truth, but he had not yet personally been converted to God, or known the peace and joy of His salvation in his own soul.

For you must know, reader, there is a vast difference between an outward form of godliness, and a personal knowledge of Christ. Need we wonder at the host of lifeless professors- in these peaceful times, when during the “killing time” a man like John Paterson could suffer and endure privation and persecution, all the while without Christ?

But the Lord’s ways are wonderful, and so Paterson, at a most unlikely time, and in a most unlooked for way, was brought into personal possession of Christ, and made to rejoice in His salvation.

Being now a marked man, and constantly in danger of being caught by the persecutors, he resolved to leave his home, and stay in a cave at Ben-beech Craig, a high rocky hill, a short distance above his farm. From here he could view the country for miles, and when safe made secret visits home.

One day, just after he had left his hiding place, he saw a company of troopers approaching. He fled toward his retreat, but in crossing a ridge of loose stones, he fell, and rolled down into a cave, where the great rocks completely hid him from the troopers.

There he lay, in utter astonishment at his remarkable deliverance, and could scarcely persuade himself it was not a dream. As he lay, he heard the troopers moving about the loose stones on the hill in search of him, but he was safe under the shadow of the rock. Lying there, reflecting on God’s goodness in thus shielding him from his enemies, his mind was led to think of God’s great love to him as a sinner, and of the gift of His only Son, to be his Saviour.

Never before had he so seen the simplicity of God’s salvation. It was only to trust himself to Jesus Christ. Only to take shelter under the Rock of Ages. No works, no toils, no tears were needed. Just as that cave of salvation was prepared for him, and he had only to enter it, so was God’s salvation waiting his acceptance, and he did accept it willingly and joyfully as he lay in that lone cave on the mountain side. What a season of joy and thanksgiving followed! That cave became a Bethel, and next day when he crept out into the sunshine, the first one he met was his wife, earnestly searching for him, fearing that he might have been killed.

With tears of joy they clasped hands and kneeling down together, Paterson thanked God, not only for his remarkable deliverance, but for his salvation, and the full knowledge of it he had received while in the cave.

To his dying hour, he loved to tell of that never-to-be-forgotten day when God gave him a double salvation; first from the wicked dragoons who sought his life, and greater far, from the wrath to come.

Dear children, are you saved?

Messages of God’s Love 4/27/1919

Ask Him

WE heard of a little boy, not quite four years old, whose mother was very, very ill. Little Ernest fondly loved his mother, and he began to speak to the Lord Jesus about her sickness. After some anxiety, the little boy was taken away from home by his aunt, so as to make the house as quiet as possible. But Ernest prayed to Jesus to make his dear mother well, if such were His will; and, after a short time, the post brought joyful news. When Ernest heard that his mother was getting well, he said,

“Yes, gentle Jesus did it—I asked Him.”

“I asked Him”—this is true prayer. This is what we wish our dear young readers to do—ask Him. You need not make a very long prayer, nor need you say other words than those you would use to your own parents if you were really wanting something very much.

Now what do you want? I hear some little voice reply, I want to be more obedient, more loving, more like the gentle Jesus; then, ask Him! He Himself says, “Ask and ye shall have.” And Jesus
means every single word He says. There is not a word in God’s Word which is other than all true.

Some children ask God to help them in their lessons, and in many other little things, and He hears and answers their prayers. “Help me not to be selfish or unkind”—”Help me not to be angry,” are the little prayers of other children we know, and they do not ask God in vain.

God has such loving care over His people, that Jesus tells us, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered;” and as He so cares for us, let us take our wants to His throne of grace, and ask Him.

Messages of God’s Love 4/27/1919

The Little Boy That Was Afraid of God

WHEN Charlie was a little boy, he did not like to be alone in the dark. When he was put to bed, he would generally begin to sing hymns, because, he said, they put the fear away. One day he said to Eliza,

“Do you know what makes me afraid to be in the dark?”

“No,” she replied.

“Well,” said he, “it is my wickedness.” “How do you know that, Charlie?”

“Why, my auntie taught me a text when I was staying there, and I know what it means.”

“What is the text?”

“The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

“What do you think it means?”

“When I am doing anything naughty, I think God is looking at me, and that He will punish me, then I get so frightened I try to hide myself. Now, if I were doing and thinking good I should not run away from God, but be as bold as a lion.”

Eliza did not know how to comfort Charlie, for she felt she was just as much afraid of God as he.

Years have passed away, and Charlie and Eliza are grown up. They are not afraid of God now, for they have learned that “perfect love casteth out fear.” (1 John 4: 18.) They know also that when they were yet sinners Christ died for them, and they love to tell little boys and girls that God is light, and God is love. Though God does show us how naughty and unfit for His presence We are, He tells us to believe on His Son, whose blood cleanseth from all sin.

Messages of God’s Love 4/27/1919

Happy News

God loved the world. His Son He gave.

Happy news! Happy news!

And Jesus died our souls to save.

Happy news!. Happy news!

Yes, on the cross His blood was shed.

He suffered in the sinner’s stead.

Ascended now, He’s Lord and Head.

Happy news! Happy news!

From heaven He’s saying unto all,

“Come to Me! Come to Me!”

O, hearken to His gracious call:

“Come to Me! Come to Me!

Come ye who are by sin oppressed,

Recline upon My loving breast,

And find in Me eternal rest.

Come to Me! Come to Me!”

He welcomes now, He calls today.

Hear His voice! Hear His voice!

Why should ye tarry, why delay?

Hear His voice! Hear His voice!

Soon shall His own to Him arise,

To dwell with Him above the skies.

Come now to Him; today be wise.

Hear His voice! Hear His voice!

Soon every knee to Him shall bow;

Jesus, Lord! Jesus, Lord!

How blest are they who own Him now,

Jesus, Lord! Jesus, Lord!

For all who have confessed Him here,

With Him in glory shall appear;

While all His foes shall own with ‘fear,

Jesus, Lord! Jesus, Lord!

Messages of God’s Love 4/27/1919

Bible Questions for May

Answers to Bible Questions for March

1. “And walk in love,” etc. Eph. 5:2.

2. “Who hath delivered us,” etc. Col. 1:13.

3. “Christ hath redeemed us,” etc. Gal. 3:13.

4. “Blessed be the God,” etc. Eph. 1:3.

5. “Who gave Himself for,” etc. Gal. 1:4.

6, “Withall praying also for,” etc. Col. 4:3.

7. “Let us therefore, as many,” etc. Phil. 3:15.

Bible Questions for May.

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1920, to those not getting help from others or concordance. Answers to be sent in not later than the first of the next month, with age and address plainly written. Address, E. B. HARTT, 40 Galley Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

The answers are to be found in Philemon, Hebrews and James. ,

Write the verse containing the words, “Endured the cross”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The suffering of death”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Every perfect gift”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The grace of our Lord”.

Write the verse containing the words, “One sacrifice for sins”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Easy to be intreated”.

Write the verse containing the words, “That come unto God”.

Messages of God’s Love 5/4/1919

A Little Sunbeam

WE missed little Maggie from her usual seat in our Sunday school, and wondered what had become of her. The kind superintendent asked me to go and see the child; and fearing she was ill, he added, “Take her this bottle of jelly, with my love.”

Maggie’s home was a dark little cellar, under a small grocery store. The daylight found its way into the cellar indeed, but never did the sun’s bright rays peep and play between the iron bars of poor Maggie’s window.

I found the little girl lying upon a heap of dirty rags—the only bed in the room; and upon seeing me, she raised herself, and looking towards her mother, exclaimed,

“That’s one of the teachers of the school, what talks to us and tells us about God.”

“Maggie, dear,” said I, “Mr. James sent me to see you, and gives you this nice jelly, with his love.”

“O! ain’t he kind, mother?” cried the child, looking very delighted.

“And why is he kind to you?” “‘Cause, perhaps, I am very ill,” said Maggie.

“That is one reason, dear, but not the first. He is kind to you, because he loves the Lord Jesus. Mr. James looks over the names of the children in his school, like a shepherd looking upon his flock, and he wants them all to be the lambs of the Good Shepherd. Now, Maggie, tell me the truth, do you indeed love the Lord Jesus?”

“Yes, I do love Jesus,” she said.

“But why? You have never seen Him. , How can you love one you have never seen?”

“In the Bible it says, Jesus loved me and died for me, long, long ago, before I was born.” Then looking round upon her mother, she said, “Mother, Jesus died on the cross for me.”

Before leaving I sang that pretty hymn—

“Jesus loves me! this I know,

For the Bible tells me so;

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak, but He is strong.

Jesus loves me! loves me still,

Though I’m very weak and ill;

From His shining throne on high

Comes to watch me where I lie.”

I then knelt down and commended the sick child to God’s care. Poor little Maggie was suffering from a sad pain, brought on from running about in the wet, barefooted and very thinly clothed.

My next visit found little Maggie much better, and, notwithstanding all the wretched surroundings of her poor home, looking quite bright and cheerful.

Her mother said the child was always praying or singing hymns, and, indeed, the love of Christ in poor little Maggie’s heart was a brighter sunbeam in the dark, dirty cellar than those which lighten up the grandest rooms of most palaces.

Dear little friend, if you are like this little girl in knowing that Jesus loves you, are you like her in brightness and happiness? Think of her little bed of dirty rags, and her dark, damp room. Remember, she had no pretty books; no nice toys to cheer her in her sickness; she only had her Sunday school hymns and her dear Saviour, and tell me whether, if I were to call upon you, I should find you as happy as little Maggie?

On my, last visit to the child—it was late in the evening—the store was shut up, and the street looked dark and cheerless; but I heard arising from the cellar several children’s voices, singing in good measure—

“Shall we gather at the river,

Where bright angels’ feet have trod?”

I made a little noise at the door, which was quickly opened and out came a band of little ones, with Maggie at their head.

“We are having a meeting,” she said. “We’ve been singing ever so many hymns.”

“That is nice; let me come and help you,” I replied; and we had a happy time together.

Thus, did little Maggie shine for Jesus in her little home, and try to bring her young friends and companions to her own dear Saviour. Dear reader, seek to be a bright little shining star for Jesus now.

“Sing unto the Lord, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.” Psa. 96:2.

Messages of God’s Love 5/4/1919

Our Pets

JOHN and Mary, we will call them, loved to go to the well with mamma to get water, not only because they loved to be with their mother, but their favorite pet pigeons would come there to meet them. They were so tame that they would fly onto their hands, and would allow the children to pet them and hold them. The children were very careful not to hurt them, and would take food to them, and would give them water. It is good to see children gentle and kind to God’s creatures. Nearly all animals love to have kindness shown to them, but not the wild animals, for they are under the power of Satan, but God has given us some animals for our use, and such we should care for and treat with kindness.

The wild animals will, someday, be tame and gentle like the doves, for the Lord Jesus is going to come and put Satan in the bottomless pit, and then,

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isa. 11:6.

What a difference that will be from the present time, for we do not only find animals wild and trying to devour one another, but some men even love war, and delight to go and kill one another, and they know too it makes lots of fatherless children and broken-hearted widows but they do not care for that. Then, too, we find children, yes, even brothers and sisters, quarreling and hitting one another, and making their home unhappy , instead of being kind and gentle and loving to one another. You know, we read in the Bible, about the Lord Jesus when He was a child, and the first thing that is given to us about Him is that He grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him. Then, the next thing we read about Him is when He was twelve years old. His parents went up to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover and they took Him along with them, and He remained after His parents and kinsfolk had started back home, and sat among the teachers of the Scriptures and asked them questions. You see, He was interested in God’s Word, and, when His parents found Him, they told Him they had been seeking for Him sorrowing, and His reply was, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” God was His Father, so from a child of twelve years, He was pleasing God His Father. The next thing that is told us about Him is that He was subject unto His parents. A long time after that we read that He said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” He was always meek and lowly. His meekness kept Him from hitting back, or giving harsh words back, when any one gave such to Him. His lowliness kept Him from offending anyone. What a happy world this would be if everyone was like the Lord Jesus. So, dear children, you who believe in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, may you seek to be like Him, and then you will not only be gentle and kind to the animals around you, but to your brothers and sisters too.

“THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, AND EASY TO BE ENTREATED.” James 3:17.

Messages of God’s Love 5/4/1919

All Light There

NESTLED by the side of their loving mother sat two little boys, listening with earnest attention while she read to them the description of that beautiful city “whose builder and maker is God.”

When the mother had finished, the elder of the two said,

“Mamma, we shall want no candles in heaven.”

“Why not, dear?”

“O, because Jesus will be all light there.”

The younger, after pausing awhile, added, “And mamma won’t be troubled to give out any more candles there.”

The little fellow knew that his mother was weak, and it was often a worry to her to have to attend to the household duties. Perhaps he had also, heard that “There the weary are at rest.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/4/1919

Whither Bound?

Where will you spend eternity—

In heaven or in hell?

Will you among -the blest be found,

Or with the lost ones dwell?

Choose now, at once; make up your mind,

The Saviour says, to-day.

He loves you well; He pleads with you,

And will you tell Him nay?

O, look at Him on Calvary—

Behold His bleeding side!

It was for you, in deepest love,

For you that Jesus died.

His love so great, so boundless, free,

Himself He would not spare;

And now His loving heart is pained,

To see you do not care.

O, scorn Him not,—turn not away,

Reject not love so great;

Nor listen to the tempter’s voice,

Which often bids you wait.

Reject Him not, the one true Friend,

Untiring in His love;

O! taste its value here on earth,

Then deeper drink above.

Messages of God’s Love 5/4/1919

The Shepherd

WHAT a beautiful sight it is to look on the green pasture and see the shepherd with his flock of sheep. He has sent his dogs out over the pasture to drive them all up to him, and he looks them all over to see if there is any thorn sticking into the flesh, or any scratch that needs attention, and he counts them, to see if they are all there.

In the land of Palestine the shepherds do not send dogs after their sheep, but they call them and they will come right to the shepherd.

The Lord Jesus says,

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEN, AND THEY FOLLOW ME.” John 10:27.

Are you one of His sheep, dear reader? If you believe in Him, (this is hearing His voice) you are one of His sheep. The next thing is to follow Him. Let Him be the leader and He will direct you into the paths of righteousness. He will never lead you astray, but always into the right paths where you shall reap good fruit, and it will be a happy path. Such may be called “Green pastures.”

There He wants you to lie down, that is, to rest in such a place, and there also He will put you beside the still waters. Do you know where all this is to he found? I will tell you, it is to be found in reading and meditating on God’s Word, and if we do according to His Word, we shall be following Him.

Messages of God’s Love 5/11/1919

Come, or Don't Come

LUKE 14, gives us “a great supper,” and a Divine invitation, “Come, for all things are now ready.” All provided, and all invited.

Chapter 15, shows us the guest— the prodigal. “He arose and came,” and all is forgiven, and all forgotten.

Chapter 16, unfolds the misery of a man, who, though invited, did not come. He goes to hell, and sends up a message, saying,

“Don’t come here!”

Earth, heaven and hell are in these three chapters.

Dear children, may you heed this solemn warning and come while the invitation is still going out. Soon the word will be for you, “None of those which were bidden shall taste of My supper.” Then it will be too late for you to accept of God’s invitation.

Jesus has died on the cross; the whole work of redemption has been accomplished, and all that is left for you is to accept God’s offer of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

“All things are ready,” Come, Tomorrow may not be;

O children, come; the Saviour waits This hour to welcome thee!

Messages of God’s Love 5/11/1919

God Sees Me

THERE was once a little girl who had a Christian mother, who, among other things, taught her the text,

“Thou God seest me.”

This made the little girl very sad. The thought of all her naughty ways, her bad tempers, cross words; and then to think that God saw it all. This made her very sorrowful. The holy God saw all. She would sigh and say,

“God sees me! God sees me!” and she wept and was in sorrow.

But through mercy she was led to see that God was a forgiving God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. This brought such relief, that one day she ran into her mother’s room, saying,

“God sees me! God sees me!”

God knew it was all true, and now she was filled with joy. There was nothing to hide. She had been a bad child, but God forgives through Jesus Christ, and God could see she was believing in Jesus. And what was a sorrow before was now a joy.

Little reader, it is true that God sees you. Does this cause sorrow or joy? It should make you sorry, if you love not the Lord Jesus Christ; but if you love Him, and are forgiven by Him, then it will be joy to you also, that God sees you.

Messages of God’s Love 5/11/1919

The Little Shepherd Boy

A LITTLE shepherd boy in Africa heard of Jesus, and how He had been born a babe in Bethlehem, and this boy told the sweet story to a little friend of his, who was also a little shepherd. The child was so surprised to hear about it, that he listened with great attention, and believed every word he heard. He longed to see the Babe of Bethlehem.

“Can I see Him?” he cried; “tell me, O tell me where, He is!”

“At the station at Kuruman,” said his little friend.

“Have you seen Him?”

“No, I never saw Him, but I know He is there, for they sing to Him, and talk to Him.”

So the little boy made up his mind to go and see the Babe. It was a long journey, more than a hundred miles over hot plains, but he found his way, and arrived one Saturday evening. A kind Christian woman took him into her hut and gave him supper. Next morning he heard the chapel bell and followed the woman. The little shepherd boy looked around, hoping to see the glorious Babe, and as he looked, he saw a little fair child, with light hair, and blue eyes—such a child as he had never seen before, for all the people he knew were black.

It is the Babe of Bethlehem, he thought. After the service was over, he told the woman so. At first she could not understand him, and then she told him it was the missionary’s child, and she also told him who the Babe of Bethlehem really was, what He did, and where He is; of His love in dying upon the cross, that we who trust in Him, might live with Him in glory for ever more.

The boy believed her words, and soon learned to love Jesus, though He could not see Him. He did not wish to leave the mission station, but stayed there, and learned to read his Bible, and he grew up to be a Christian man.

“A beautiful place, He has gone to prepare,

For all who are washed and forgiven;

And many dear children are gathering there,

For of such is the Kingdom of heaven.

But thousands and thousands who wander and fall,

Never heard of that heavenly home;

I should like them to know that there’s room for them all,

And that Jesus invites them to come.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/11/1919

NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ANSWERING THE BIBLE QUESTIONS FOR TERM ENDING APRIL 1919.

To our many friends:

We are deeply thankful to God as another year for our Bible Questions closes, to be able to publish the names of more who have sent in their answers than any previous year, there being in all more than 1500. If it is the will of the Lord to leave us here for one more term, we hope the number will be greater still. During the past term most encouraging letters have been received from many of our friends with clear confessions of Christ as their Saviour, which show the work of God progressing, and our prayer is that, if we are left here a little longer: many more will be led to take up the study of the Word through this means. The importance of reading and writing the Word of God is of inestimable value, and we would seek to encourage our young friends not to merely glance over its sacred pages in search of the answers, but to think of what you are reading and ask God to enlighten you as to its meaning.

If we are able to help you at any time by way of correspondence, we will be most happy to do so, and hope you will always be free to write us.

It may be that some of our readers have not yet accepted Christ as their Saviour, and we would implore all such to remember what God has said ‘in 2 Cor. .6: 2, “Now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation.” The day of God’s long-suffering grace will soon be over, the door of mercy be shut, and all hope of salvation will then have passed away.

But, thankful to say, many of our readers have found in Christ an object that satisfies their affections, One who has met their needs for all eternity, and we would say to all such, Make good use of the few fleeting moments you are still to be left here in learning of Hint through His word and bearing testimony

for Him before saved and unsaved. Make His word your daily companion, be often before Him in prayer, remember that His coming is very, very near, that soon we are to hear that shout in the air and be called into His presence, and then our service for Him will be over and we will enter the “rest that remains to the people of God.” Heb. 4:9.

Messages of God’s Love 5/11/1919

Patience

LET us take a look into the barn where Teddy keeps his five dogs, and watch him at breakfast time feeding them. How well he has them trained, for he can mix up their food for them, and cook it in the big kettle, and then pour it into the shallow tub, but not one must eat it till he tells them to do so. One of them is just about to put his nose down into the tub, but Teddy says, holding up his finger, “Rover, you have patience, and wait till I tell you.”

All the others are holding back, and waiting for the word, “Now go ahead.”

If dogs can be trained to have patience, and not go at their food till they are told to do so, how much more little children should not rush at their food before thanks is given to God who provides all things for us.

There was a little girl about eleven months old who was sitting at her grandpa’s table, and something caused a delay in beginning supper, and she had learned that she should not begin to eat until thanks had been give to God who had provided us with the food, so she said to her grandpa,

“May men, bampa.”

She was hungry, and wanted to start to eat, and knew that when thanks had been given, .and that it was closed with “Amen”, then she could eat. The dogs don’t know anything about giving God thanks, but they have been taught patience and that they must wait till they are told to eat.

A little boy, who did not know the meaning of the word patience, asked his papa at the supper table one night for sugar to be put on his pudding. His papa was busy waiting on the other children, so the little boy asked again. His papa said,

“Have patience.”

He said, “I don’t want patience, I want sugar.”

You see he was very impatient, and that was naughty. Not only little ones like these are impatient, but older children, too. Sometimes they want something that some one else has and they get impatient about it and get angry. Some say, “I, can’t wait.” Such need to learn patience. The Scripture says,

“LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK.” James 1:4.

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

Messages From Heaven

AS I was passing along a beautiful road, my attention was drawn to a singular looking object which was floating irregularly in the air, at the height of perhaps a hundred feet from the earth. Not knowing what it was, I was examining it attentively, when my curiosity was greatly increased by observing a number of small fluttering things falling from that strange object to the ground. What was my further astonishment on seeing sixty• or seventy children, who till then had been hidden from my sight by the hedge which separated the road from the meadow in which

they were, all eagerly endeavoring to obtain possession of one or more of the little papers—for such I found they were. Presently, too, I heard loud exclamations of delight from the children, showing that something of much interest to them was engaging their attention.

Probably my young reader has already guessed what it was which so puzzled me; but for the sake of any who may not have found it out, I will explain it. The strange object which first attracted my attention was a small balloon, and the small fluttering papers which fell from it had short Scripture texts printed upon’ them, and the children who were so eager to obtain the papers belonged to a Sunday school, and were enjoying their annual treat in the open air. Thus the mystery is solved.

As I pursued my walk, after having stayed a few minutes to enjoy the sight of the group of delighted children, I thought that what I had just witnessed was a little picture of what God, in His great love to sinners, is constantly doing. He is sending messages of love and mercy from heaven to us all every day. He Himself tells us that He “hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,” “who is on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Heb. 1.) And is not the gospel of His grace, which He is again and again presenting to us from His Word, and by His Spirit, truly a message from heaven?

As one of your own hymns says,

“Here’s a message of love

Come down from above,

To invite little children to heaven:

In God’s blessed Book

Poor sinners may look,

And see how all sins are forgiven.”

Now, just as there were a number of pieces of paper with a short text upon each, and they were scattered from the balloon, so God, in His kind consideration for the littleness of our minds, breaks up His Word into small pieces for us, so that even the youngest may be able to learn something of the great love which He has shown in the gift of His dear Son. Let us look at a few of these precious portions, one of which is enough to save the soul of the one who receives it as indeed and in truth the Word of God. Our first favorite passage is,

“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. Another much like it is,

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

“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:18. Then there is that sweet statement,

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

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. And then there are those well known words of encouragement, which the Lord Jesus said concerning children,

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14. We might continue quoting such precious words by hundreds, but we can only now refer to these few, as specimens of the rest.

You noticed how anxious the Sunday school children whom I saw were to possess one of those pieces of paper which descended to where they were. Happy, indeed, was the boy or girl who obtained one!

O, how blessed it would be if each child who reads this, was as eager to lay hold of the precious words of God, so that he might know Jesus as his Saviour, and God as his heavenly Father! It seems that this is just what Timothy did, for it is written of him,

“From a child thou bast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15. May this be your case, dear young reader, as it will if you receive in your heart God’s message of love in the gospel of His dear Son.

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

Now I Cannot Come

SOLEMN indeed are the words of the Lord Jesus to those who would not come to Him that they might have life—“I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.” (John 8:21.)

When too late they would look for the Saviour, but in vain.

Do not put off the day of salvation to the future.

“O,” perhaps you say, “I have heard that Christ the Saviour will receive sinners whenever and wherever they turn to Him. I mean to turn to Him by and by.”

But you forget you are making your bed, and may have to lie upon it.

Hear what an aged man of great wealth said to an earnest preacher:

“I would give all the money I possess if I could have faith. But it is too late. I turned from all the pleadings of God when I was young, determined that I would be rich, and now I cannot come.”

He was held fast by a golden chain which was costing him his soul.

He had resisted and refused and rejected the grace of God until he felt past salvation. His soul was bound now, and he had to say, “I cannot come.”

Now come to Christ. Now receive Him. Now confess Him as your Saviour and Lord, lest the day arrive when you too will have to say, “I cannot come.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

Behold, I Come Quickly

Soon shall the Saviour descend to the air,

Calling His own with a shout to Him there;

Then shall the sleeping and living arise—

Millions upspringing to Him in the skies.

There shall they see Him who here shed His blood,

Saviour of sinners, the Sent one of God;

Him in His beauty, they then shall behold,

Love who hath proved such as ne’er can be told.

O, what delight! Him to see in His home,

Never from Him for a moment to roam;

Tasting of pleasures which never can cloy,

Filled to o’erflowing with heavenly joy!

Praises are pleasant when sounded on earth,

Jesus the subject, His work and His worth.

What will they be when the Lord, in His love

Sings in the midst of the ransomed above?

Say, shall we all who are singing this song

;Worship on high with the heavenly throng?

Yes, we shall all who believe in the heart,

Have in the anthems of heaven a part.

O, ‘twill be joyful the Saviour to see,

Like Him, and with Him, forever to be!

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

Naughty Tears

I KNOW a little boy, at times a very naughty boy, and often crying. One day he came into my store with tears running down his cheeks; so I said,

“Why are you so often crying?”

“Because,” said he, “my mother won’t let me do as I want.” So I knew they were naughty tears, rebellious tears.

“Neither would my mother,” I replied, “when I was a little boy; because my mother knew what was best.”

You see this little boy’s naughty heart showed itself by his naughty will in wanting his own way, and crying because he could not have it. So I told him what the Bible says,

“Children, obey your parents in all things.” Col. 3:20.

I have known little children to cry because they were sorry for their sins; but this little boy did not know it was sin to show such naughty temper. When he can read, he will find in the Bible that God says,

“By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” Rom. 5:19.

So you see the sad consequence of disobedience, and it caused Jesus to die on the cross that He might put sin away by the sacrifice of Himself.

Jesus was always obedient, He always did those things that pleased His Father. In Him was no sin.

Now, dear children, to obey your parents is always pleasing to the Lord Jesus, and not in some things, but in all things.

“Even Christ pleased not Himself.” Rom. 15:3.

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

And That's Me

JOHN three sixteen is my verse,” said a happy school boy; “I like it better than any other. Do you know why? Because it tells that `God so loved the world’—that includes the biggest sinner in it—`that He gave His only begotten Son’—wondrous gift! Then the grand conclusion is—`that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,’ and that’s me.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/18/1919

The Older Brother

SCHOOL was out for the day, and John was running home with his bag of books, glad to be out in the fresh air. He was thinking of having some fun out of doors after spending so many hours in school.

But when he reached home, his mother told him that she had to go out for an hour or so, and he would have to stay in and take care of little sister and baby brother. Without a murmur, he gave up his own plans and gently cared for the dear little ones, and when mother came home she found him rocking the cradle with little sister asleep in his lap.

How happy it must have made his mother feel to see how faithful he had been during her absence. And do we not always feel happier when we have been serving others than when we have been selfishly seeking our own pleasure?

And now can you tell me of One who never sought to please Himself, but always did the will of His Father? I know you will say, It was the Lord Jesus. Yes, He came down from heaven to do the Father’s will. And the will of God was that He should go to the cross and there suffer and die for sinners, that all who believe in Him might have their sins put away, and become children of God. Put your trust in Him and believe that He died for you, and you will have the joy of knowing that you belong to Him. Then you will seek to please Him by being kind and gentle to others.

“EVEN AS THE SON OF MAN GAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” Matt. 20:28.

Messages of God’s Love 5/25/1919

Little May

I WILL talk to you about God, my dear little May, before you go to bed this evening. God is very great, my child. You think that your father is very big when you sit upon his knee and put your little hand in his, and measure your tiny finger with his long, thick one. But look, my child, at this. What is it? It is a grain of sand—one grain. Even your little finger looks quite large as you touch that small speck. Now keep your finger touching that speck, and as you do so look up out of the window.

See that point of light in the sky up there? Yes: you see it. It is a star, and it seems to you about the size of the grain of sand upon the tip of your little finger. But that point of light is really a world as big as this where we live, and you know, when we climbed to the top of the high hill the other day and looked around us on every side, the world, or what we saw of it, seemed very large indeed. The reason why the star seems only as big as the grain of sand is that the star is a very long, long way off.

Do you understand me? Not quite. No. But look out of the window again. Tell me what is that little dark spot moving along the road, ever so far off.

“That is my brother.”

“How so? See how small the spot is!”

“No, he is not a spot; he is not small; he is only a long way off.”

Ah! now you see what I mean about the star, which seems so small, but is so great.

Now, my child, God made the stars, and He made the sea and the sand; He can see all the beautiful stars in the sky, and all the grains of sand on the seashore, and He sees my little May, and, what is more wonderful, God sees all that is in her heart, and He knows all that she wishes. No one but God can tell what we think: but God is very great.

You asked me to print a text, for you the other day. What was the text you chose?

“We Love Him.”

Yes, this is a wonderful text, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19.) There is always a because in our love to God. Do you know what a because is? Why do you love your father?

“Because he is my father!”

Yes, my child, you could not give a better answer. And why does your father love you?

“Because I am me.”

A very good answer, too, little May. But if anyone was not kind to you, you would not love them?

“No; I should run away.”

Just so, and because God is kind, and because God loves us, we love Him. No one would wish to come to God, but all would try to run away from Him, if He were not love.

God is very great, and God is love.

How is it that we know God is love? We could not guess who God is; we could not tell what He thinks about? O, no; but God has told us what He is, and so we know.

Messages of God’s Love 5/25/1919

Bible Questions for June

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“And the Lord direct,” etc. 2 Thess. 3:5.

“Henceforth there is,” etc. 2 Tim. 4:8.

“When He shall come,” etc. 2 Thess. 1:10.

“Who gave Himself,” etc. 1 Tim. 2:6.

“Looking for that,” etc. Titus 2:13.

“Then we which are,” etc. 1 Thess. 4:17.

“For the which cause,” etc. 2 Tim. 1:12.

Bible Questions for June

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

Write the verse containing the words, “Only Begotten Son”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Chief Corner Stone”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Only Wise God”.

Write the verse containing the words, “My Beloved Son”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The Word of Life”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The Chief Shepherd”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The Son of the Father”.

Messages of God’s Love 6/1/1919

Manners And Customs of the Holy Land

The Bridegroom’s Procession. No. 1

MANY of the customs of the East are very curious, and quite different from ours. I will tell you about a procession I saw when in Egypt.

I had been to visit the governor of a city, and had stayed very late in his house. Now it is very dark in the East after sunset, and before the moon rises; so my men had lanterns, and walked before me to show me the way.

We were passing a large open space in the town, when we heard a great outcry —shouting and music; and soon we saw a large procession coming up, men in front carrying, on high poles, iron pots full of blazing wood, which gave a great light; then followed musicians with flutes and drums, and others with flags, all coming rapidly up and making a great noise. I found it was a procession of a bridegroom on his way to the bride’s

I thought I would see what was going on, so went a little way with the procession. Presently, from round a corner came a great cry, and soon some women came out of the darkness, carrying their lamps, to meet the bridegroom. These women, like most Eastern women, had black veils over a portion of their faces; you can never tell what a woman looks like, as you only see her eyes and a part of her forehead. Soon they all came to a house, and went in. The door was shut, and I saw no more of them.

I wish I could show you the curious little lamps these women carry. They have been used for hundreds of years, and sometimes they are dug up out of the ground. They are made of earth, then baked in an oven. They look like a little covered pot, with a knob at one end, and a little spout at the other. There are two small holes in the middle of the upper part. They pour the oil into these holes. A bit of wick or cotton is put into the spout, then holding it by the knob, they light it. The lamp is so small that it can only hold a very little oil, so a small vessel with oil in it, is always carried along too.

Now, I am sure this reminds many of the children who read “Messages of Love,” of a story or parable the Lord Jesus told the people, when He was down here. You remember how ten “virgins,” or women, went out to meet the bridegroom with their lamps. Five of them had no vessel to carry oil in, and when they heard the cry, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh,” they found their lamps were going out. It was too late to get more oil, and the door was shut, and sad to say, they were outside.

We are expecting the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, the Heavenly Bridegroom, very soon, perhaps, He may come. I wonder if you are like the wise virgins, who made sure they were ready, or are you like the foolish virgins, who put off getting the oil until it was too late. We all mean to be ready, but the longer it is put off, the less likely we are to make an effort to secure it.

Messages of God’s Love 6/1/1919

Once Upon A Time

WHAT a lovely scene it is to look into the humble cottage and see dear grandma telling her grandchildren of what happened a long time ago, and we know how the children love to hear of things that took place long before they were in the world; so I will tell you about a little boy over fifty years ago. He was troubled about his sins, and he had heard about the Lord Jesus coming back to take all His people from the earth to be with Himself forever, and he had heard that when the last one would be saved, the Lord would come, and the door would be closed.

He thought that meant just his father’s family. His brother and oldest , sister were saved, and had been for some time, and the other four sisters were all troubled about their sins, and having to meet God, so he thought they would very soon be saved, too, and the Lord would come and take them away, and as he was so little the Lord would not wait for him. He was very foolish to so think of the Lord, but the Lord used such a thought to cause him to be much troubled, for he did not want to be lost forever.

He spoke to his mother about it, and she told him about how the Lord Jesus came into this world to die for sinners. After two days he said he knew he was saved. It was not because he thought he was better, and became very good, but because he saw that Jesus was his Saviour. He had believed that word,

“CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.” 1. Tim. 1:15.

Remember, dear children, that God has said, “All have sinned,” so no one can save himself. We all need the Saviour, the Lord Jesus. Have you accepted Him?

Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1919

Manners And Customs of the Holy Land. The Feast. No. 2.

I WAS often invited to dine with rich people in the East. Once the governor of a town invited myself and friends to a great feast.

It began with dinner. After we had dined, we were taken into a large room, at the upper end of which were raised sofas, or divans, covered with yellow silk. The Governor, a judge, the commander of the soldiers, and other men of high rank, and ourselves, sat on the sofas and drank coffee. But what appeared very strange to us was, that everybody in the place seemed to have been invited, but they were at the lower end of this large room; some sat on low wicker seats, others on the ground. I noticed several of my own native men, and even the boy who drove my donkey.

From time to time the Governor would get off the sofa, walk down to the lower end of the room, and bring up some man or other. He always introduced them to us, and made some remark about them, such as, “This is a friend of mine.” In the course of the evening the governor brought up about six persons, and made them sit on the sofa near us.

If you look in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14, you will see that they had the same customs in our Lord’s time, for We read there, that He, seeing the people choose out the higher seats, told them that when they were asked to a feast, they should choose the lowest “room” or place, and wait until the giver of the feast should see them, and then if he knew them he would say, “Friend, go up higher.”

I wonder if you can tell me who it was, who took the very lowest place in this world, and is now exalted to the highest place in heaven? Was it not the Lord Jesus? He came down from heaven, where He “thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” and humbled Himself to become a man, and being a man, He went down to death, even the death of the cross.

Why did He go so low, and suffer so much? Because He loved us, you and me, and that made Him willing to suffer the punishment of our sins.

But when the wonderful work of redemption was finished; God raised His Son from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might, and every name that is named, and He says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Have you confessed that? Do you own Jesus as your Lord? How can you resist Him, when you think of where He came to, in order to pay the debt you owed!

Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1919

I Am Very Bad, But He Died For Me

OUR darling little Adie was very ill; so ill that we felt she could not be much longer with us. She had been ill for many months, and we had at times hoped that the child would one day be quite well again; but now we saw plainly that our hopes were not to be realized, and that our darling must leave us. Her illness was a very trying one, and unusual for a child. She had been obliged to undergo several painful operations, after each of which she seemed better for a short time, and then the tryjug symptoms would appear again, and the dear child had to go through fresh suffering resulting in but shorter periods of relief. Notwithstanding all this, we often said to one another, “She is far the brightest in the house.” When all those who loved her were sad at seeing her so ill, and often full of dread at the thought of what she might have to suffer, she was bright and cheerful, and at times quite merry.

And why was this? Ah! there was a bright side to this sad picture. Adie was “safe in the arms of Jesus”; she had trusted in His precious blood, and she knew that when His time came He would take her to be with Himself forever. This was what helped her to be so patient and uncomplaining. Never, never, from the first day of her illness, had we heard her even express a regret that she was not able to run about and join her brothers and sisters in their games; and even when they were willing and anxious to give up some pleasure so as to stay with her, she did not wish that they should do so, for she was a very unselfish child.

But I have not told you this about her for the sake of praising her, or of saying how good she was. I must tell you what she thought of herself. One day a friend of ours, and one who had often spoken to darling Adie of the Lord Jesus, came to see her. After talking to her of different things which she thought might interest her, she said—

“Now, Adie, if the Lord Jesus comes today, will you be afraid to meet Him?”

Adie looked up with a bright, happy face, and said, “O, no!”

Then her friend asked, “Why, my child; is it because you are good?”

The darling child answered, “O, no, I’m very bad; but He died for me.”

Ah! this was the secret of the bright, happy smile, and the wondrous patience all those weary months. It was not because she was good that Adie was happy; O, no! she knew, though she was so young, that she was a sinner; she knew that she could not think without fear of the coming of the Lord Jesus because she was good, but because she knew One who so loved her, though she was “very bad,” that He was willing to bear the punishment due to her sins on the cruel cross of Calvary; and still realizing that her little heart was full of sin, she could trustingly say, “He died for me.”

Ah! dear children, it was for sinners Jesus died; it is those who can truthfully say as that little one did, “I’m very bad,” that He came to save, for He says, “I came not to call the righteous (or good people), but sinners to repentance.”

I would say to each child who reads this, Remember, you are not too young to be a sinner, or to know that you are a sinner; remember that you are not too young to die; and if you die without coming to the Lord Jesus to take away your sins,•where will you spend eternity? 0, do come to Him now! Do not wait till you are older or better; H’e is able and willing to save you if you come to Him as a sinner needing a Saviour. He says,

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37); and we have the promise.

“Those who seek Me early shall find Me.” (Prow. 8:17.)

Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1919

My Prayer Is Heard

THERE was once a little black boy living in Africa, who had been a slave, but he had been taken from his cruel masters by some kindhearted men who loved God, and who taught the little boy about Him and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

One day his schoolmaster heard him praying in a low voice outside the schoolroom. This was the little boy’s prayer,

“Lord Jesus, I thank Thee that the wicked men came and took me from my parents, and made me a slave, and that the English ship brought me here where Massa Thompson has taught me to read, and to know Thee. But I have a great favor to ask of Thee—Let other bad men take away my father and mother, and let an English ship bring them here, that they too may learn about Thee, and that we may all go to heaven.”

The master was much surprised to hear this prayer, and thought about it a great deal. That evening, as he was walking by the sea-side, he met the little praying negro. In a kind voice he said, “What are you doing here, my boy?” The little fellow replied,

“I have been praying that the Lord Jesus will bring my parents to this place, and I am come to see whether He has brought them here.”

That evening no parents came. The child went every day to visit the shore, and to watch all the ships that arrived. One evening he came to Mr. Thompson, leaping and dancing, and clapping his hands, saying,

“My prayer is heard; my prayer is heard! My father and mother are come!”

Then he drew Mr. Thompson by the hand to the seashore, and showed him two negroes who had just arrived.

“These are my parents! My prayer is heard!”

This poor little black boy, when he heard of Jesus and His love for little children, believed in Him, and longed to know that his father and mother believed in Him, too.

Many little white boys hear of the Saviour from their parents, and at the Sunday-school. They hear how He was born into this world as a little baby, and grew up an obedient, holy child, and how, when He was a man, He went about making poor sick people well, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and making the lame walk.

And these children hear how at last He gave up His own life for them, how the nails were put through His hands and feet, and the spear through His side, that the precious blood which flowed from Him might wash poor sinners from their sins, and make them whiter than snow. And yet many little boys and girls do not think much about Him; do lot thank and praise Him as the poor little negro did. But I would like you all to remember that it is only in this life;hat God will pardon your sins. If you refuse to come to Him now, it will be too Late in eternity. So come to Him now and be washed in the precious blood of Jesus, and then He will take care of you all the time you remain in this world, and teach you to love and praise Him; and when He comes He will take you to Himself to be happy forever, singing His praises through all eternity.

“Thousands have fled to His spear-pierced side,

Welcome they all have been, none are denied.”

Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1919

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—our 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.

Messages of God’s Love 6/8/1919

The Song of the Nubian

EVEN a slave tries to make himself happy in this poor world, with his harp and his song, while the passers-by stop to listen. If such could only get to know the Lord Jesus, then they could have real happiness, and a song that is worth singing. All kinds of things are tried, by, not only slaves, but, by many classes of people to endeavor to make themselves happy, but all they can possibly find in this world,—that which belongs to it—cannot give them real and lasting joy, for everything down here brings disappointment and sorrow.

Do you ask, “Where can real joy be found?” The answer is, first, by having the Lord Jesus as your Saviour; and, second, by walking according to His Word. Then, and then only can you be really happy, and it will last forever. Then is when we can truly sing with joy—

“Happy they who trust in Jesus;

Sweet their portion is and sure,

When the foe on others seizes,

God will keep His own secure.

Happy people; happy people;

Happy, though despised and poor.”

“IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM.” John. 13:17.

Messages of God’s Love 6/15/1919

Manners And Customs in the East. Stoning. No. 3

ONE day, traveling on camel-back through that portion of the desert of Sinai; called the “Desert of Sin,” my Arabs all of a sudden left their camels and me, running on in front, leaving the caravan to come on as best it could. When I came up to them I found them gathered round a heap of stones and sand. They were crying out with loud voices, throwing stones too, at the heap, and kicking up the sand with their feet; even spitting violently, which is an Eastern way of showing contempt or hatred. It was some time before I could get the Arabs to tell me what was the matter, but when at last they quieted down one man told .me this story,

“Once upon a time a bad man, a very bad man, lived near here, but thanks be to God, he was killed, and his body put in the sand. And everybody was so glad, that whenever a native passed by he threw sand and stones at the grave.”

This was my Arab’s story and as we went on our way, I began to think of many instances in the Bible where people were stoned, and they became very real to me. Among others, we read of Achan in Joshua 7, who disobeyed God, by taking a Babylonish garment and a wedge of gold, and hiding them in his tent, but God brought his sin to light, and he, and all that belonged to him, were stoned, and a great heap of stones put over them. Then I thought of Absalom, David’s ungrateful son, who rebelled again his father, and tried to make himself king. We read in 2 Samuel 18: 17, 18, that after he was defeated and slain, they buried him in a wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon his grave. How different this was to what he had arranged for himself, for it says, “Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance; so he called the pillar after his own name.” In the valley of Kedon, near Jerusalem, there is a building called, “The. tomb of Absalom.” All around it lies a great heap of small stones. I have often watched Jews passing it; when they came to it, they would pick up stones and throw at it with every expression of hatred and contempt.

We know that this so-called tomb, is not the actual pillar which Absalom raised, but it may have been built at some later time to mark the spot. But what I want you to notice is, that this rebellious and disobedient son is only remembered with contempt and hatred by his fellow countrymen, the Jews. One of the first commandments God gave to His people, was

“Honor thy father and thy mother,” and in the New Testament we again read the same thing,

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Eph. 6:1 and in Col. we are told,

“Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

What a wonderful thing, that a child can please the Lord, and please Him well, and in such a simple way—just by doing what his father or mother tell him. A little boy or a little girl is able to give pleasure to the Lord up in heaven. He loves you so well, that He takes notice of what you do, and when you obey, without murmuring and disputing, without saying “why,” or “I don’t want to,” it pleases Him well. Try to remember this, the next time you are told to do this or that.

Messages of God’s Love 6/15/1919

Lost and Found

A LITTLE boy, named Freddie, had just come to live near a grocery store. He had been in to purchase what he had been sent for and started home, but he had forgotten his way. He was a nervous child, and in great distress of mind, was running up and down excitedly crying, “I’m lost!”

Several passers-by stopped and asked him his name, but were helpless to make him happy, for they could not show him the way to his home. What could he do? He did not know where his mother was, to call her, so he just cried, “I’m lost!”

A few days after this a little girl, named Jessie, strayed from her home, which was near the same grocery store, and she wandered into the dangers of a busy street. A kind policeman found she had strayed, and took her to the police station until someone came to claim her. Jessie was lost but did not know it. Freddie was lost, he knew it, and was troubled.

Jessie’s mother missed her, and began to inquire about her from each one she met. She finally went to the police station, and there she found Jessie quite content, eating some candy the kind policeman had given her, and unconcerned about being away from home. Both of these children, after a time, were found by their mothers, who had been so anxious about them. Why were they so anxious? For two reasons: first, because they were lost; and, second, because they were loved.

Now do the dear little girls and boys who are reading this, know that they are in the same condition (that is, as God sees them, away from Him) as Freddie and Jessie were, helplessly lost; like them also, tenderly loved with divine love?

What did Freddie and Jessie both need? Someone who knew the way, and could take them home. That is just what Jesus is, and what Jesus does.

This may help my small readers to understand the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples,

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

They Son of Man (that is Himself) is come (because He loved) to seek and to save (because we were lost and helpless) that which was lost, (that means us.)

How happy to know that Jesus is the Saviour and Friend of little children now living to bless each little one who trusts in Him!

“Jesus, when He left the sky,

And for sinners came to die,

In His mercy, passed not by,

LITTLE ONES LIKE ME.”

Messages of God’s Love 6/15/1919

The Indian's Hymn

A SCOTCH Evangelist who labored among the Indians in Dakota, and preached God’s gospel to the dwellers of the far North West, told the following touching story,

“I have a little cotton handkerchief, of little value in itself, which I would not part with for gold. It was the gift of an Indian squaw, who is saved and loves the Lord Jesus. When I was leaving, she came with it in her hand, and gave it to me with tears, saying, “This is all I have to give. Will you accept it? And when you look at it, remember me.’ It was given with the love of her heart, and that makes it of great value to me.”

This is how God regards our gifts. Whatever is given out of love to Himself, is well pleasing, but nothing else is. And before we can love Him, we must believe that He loves us.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

One of the most touching and beautiful expressions of the Indian’s faith and true piety that I have ever come across, is found in a native hymn which must have been composed by one of these converted warriors of the prairie. I shall never forget the effect that the hymn produced upon a crowd of working men when it was sung in the open air by a dear Indian Christian, his dark face beaming with heavenly joy, such as is only known to those who have Christ dwelling in the heart. The following is the hymn,

Down in de dark wood, no Indian nigh,

Den me look up to heaven and send up cry,

Upon my knees so low:

Dat God on high, in de shiny place,

See me at night wid a teary face.

My Bible tell me so.

God send His angel, take me care,

He come Himself to hear icily prayer,

If de inside heart do pray.

God see me now: He now me hear:

He say, “Poor Indian, never fear,

Me wid you night and day.”

Den me love He, wid inside heart,

He fight for me, He take me part,

He save my life before.

God love poor Indian in de wood,

Den me love He, and dat be good,

Me praise Him two times more.

When me be old, my head be gray,

Den He no leave me, so Him say,

“Me wid you till you die.”

Den take me up to de shiny place,

See white man, red man, blackman’s face,

All happy like on high.

Messages of God’s Love 6/15/1919

Dear Jessie

ON the beach, under the shadow of a great rock by the deep blue sea, a circle of boys and girls were in the habit of gathering in the evenings for a short children’s meeting. At first only a few came, but gradually the number increased.

A nursery girl, with her charge of two little girls, stood there frequently listening to the Word. At first she was ashamed to be seen near the circle, but as the truth of God got a grip of her conscience, and as the realities of eternity began to dawn upon her, she came nearer and nearer, until she formed one of the inner circle.

God was evidently dealing with the girl, but it was difficult to get a word with her, or to know in what condition of soul she was. One day the speaker said, “Just as the waves of the sea flow out and cover the sand, so that you cannot see it if you would, so when a sinner puts his trust in Jesus Christ, and the precious blood that He shed, God covers his sins, and wraps up the sinner in the pure blue of heaven. He stands accepted in the Beloved, covered in the righteousness of God, so that it can be said of him, ‘Thy righteousness is as the waves of the sea.’ “ Isaiah 48:18.

Jessie looked at the uncovered grains of sand at her feet, they could not be numbered. They were like her sins. Then at the rolling waves as they covered these many grains of sand, burying them in the depths, and showing not their own color, the blue heavens above reflected as it were instead. She saw in that simple, yet telling illustration, the way of life, and how God covers the sins of all who believe.

And Jessie did believe, and there, by the deep blue waves of the sea, she learned God’s great love to her, and confessed Jesus Christ as her Saviour and Lord.

Reader, have you? There is no other way. You cannot hide your sins from God. No effort of yours can cover them. Nothing you can do will ever atone for, or purge them away, but the precious blood of Christ, shed on Calvary, can cleanse them all away. It will, if you trust Him who shed it. Then you will stand before God, covered in the beauty of the Saviour and accepted in Him. Your sins put away, cast into the depths of the sea to be remembered no more. All this and much more is the portion of the saved sinner.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.” Eph. 1:3.

Messages of God’s Love 6/15/1919

The Young Artist

EDWARD, we will call him, has started in quite young to try and represent on paper the various things he sees around him. It is quite interesting to his sisters and brother, so they watch him to see what kind of a job he will make of it. We are all representing something, or someone, in our lives down here, so we are either good or poor artists.

God and the Lord Jesus are the only original ones, and a certain class of people are told, “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.” (Eph. 5:1.) To be followers, or imitators, would mean the same thing, but remember it is not every one who is told to be followers of God. All those who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are saints of God, that means, separated ones, and it is to such that verse is given. You must be one of His children to be a follower, or an imitator. You know if you are His or not, and if you are, may you seek to imitate the Lord. Jesus Christ in all His lowliness and meekness, His gentleness and love, His perfect obedience to His Father, and His delight to do His Father’s will. Let all those who know the Lord Jesus seek to be good imitators of Him, for He was the perfect One in everything, and was the full revelation of God to us. True happiness is alone to be found in this path, so this is another incentive for us to follow the Lord.

“HAPPY IS THAT PEOPLE, WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.” Psa. 143:15.

Messages of God’s Love 6/22/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Farming. Part I.

IN reading the Bible we very often find agriculture, or as we should call it, farming, mentioned. When the Jews came into the land of Canaan, or Palestine, each man had his own piece of land, and cultivated it. Sometimes a man would get poor, and have to sell his land, but the Lord commanded that every fifty years, all the land should be returned to its original owners. But when we speak of farming in Palestine, you must remember, that it was not carried on at all in the same way as we farm.

The soil of Palestine is exceedingly fertile. I have read that a great many small lime stones are scattered over the ground, and when the rain comes part of, the lime is dissolved, and this makes the soil very rich. The farmer does not begin to plow until the rain comes, for the ground would be too hard, as it says in Lev. 26: 19, “I will make your earth as brass”. God promised in this same chapter, (verse 4) that He would “give rain in due season”, if the people would obey Him and keep His commandments. The rain does not fall in the Holy Land, as it does in America.

There is a dry season commencing in April, and lasting until October, and during this long period not one drop of rain falls. Then, you may guess how glad the farmer is to see the rain coming to soften his land, and enable him to plow. For you must remember what a poor little plow he has, so light and small, he can hold it with one hand, and it only scratches up the earth to the depth of one or two inches. The plow is generally drawn by oxen, and they are fastened to it by means of a yoke. Some of you have seen a yoke of oxen, I dare say, and you know that the yoke is a heavy piece of wood, going over the necks of both oxen, and fastened underneath.

We hear a good deal about the “yoke” in the Bible. One thing the Jews were forbidden to do, was to yoke an ox and an ass together. (Dent. 22:10.) This is still done in the East, and must be very uncomfortable for both animals. I have even heard of an ox and a camel being fastened together.

In 2 Cor. 6:14 the apostle Paul, warns the Corinthians not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” I expect he had often seen two animals of different size and strength yoked together, but in speaking to these Corinthians, who were Christians, he meant to show them how unsuitable it was for those who believed in the Lord Jesus, and knew their sins were forgiven, to be going in any way into partnership with those who did not own Jesus as their Lord and Master. The prophet Amos asks, (Chap. 3:3) “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” And if a boy or girl loves the Lord Jesus, and desires above everything else to please Him, they would not want to make a great friend of one who did not care anything about Him. That would be two walking together who were not agreed, I think.

The Lord Jesus speaks about a yoke too, in Matt. 11. He calls all those who were tired and weary to come and take His yoke upon them, for it was easy. The yoke is the sign of service and restraint, and the Lord tells us that if we bear His yoke, that is, serve Him,’ and obey Him, we shall find rest to our hearts. Perhaps you think this is only for grown-up people, but there is a verse in Lamentations (3:27) which says, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” None are too young to take the Lord’s yoke upon them.

In reading the story of Elijah calling Elisha in 1 Kings 19, I dare say, you have wondered how any man could plow with twelve yoke of oxen, (verse. 19.) but this means that Elisha was plowing with eleven other men, each of whom had a yoke of oxen. Farmers club together still in this way, partly for protection against robbers, and partly on account of the size of their fields.

In the book of Job, we read that Job’s servants were plowing, and a band of robbers came down upon them, and killed the servants, and stole all the oxen.

Whips are not used for the oxen, but the plowman carries a long pole, called a goad. One end has a metal point, with which he pricks and goads the animal on. The other end containing a flat piece of iron he uses to scrape off the soil from the plowshare.

Solomon tells us that “the words of the wise are as goads.’ What do you think that means? There is a verse in Ephesians which may explain it. “Let -no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” That is, we must not talk about naughty things, which may make those who listen to us do wrong, but try to only speak what is right and will help the ones who hear -us to do right. I do not mean that you are to be preaching sermons to your -companions, and never have play or fun, but in your fiin be careful not to speak of evil things, or of anything which can tempt another to do wrong. I remember one evening walking along the street, and I heard one little girl say to another,

“Come over and play in my yard.”

“No,” said the other, “my mother said I was not to go out of our own yard.”

“O, never mind that,” said number one, “she will never know; you can -come back before she gets home.” And I am sorry to say, both little girls ran off together. Now I leave you to decide whether that little girl’s words were “as goads”, helping her companion to go on in the right path, or would you call them “corrupt communication”?

Messages of God’s Love 6/22/1919

Two Ways of Receiving Kindness

WHEN David sent for Mephibosheth in order to show him the kindness of God, restoring him to all his father’s possessions, and,

above all, giving him a place at the king’s table, Mephibosheth bowed himself in the presence of such grace, and said,

“What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead- dog as I am?”

Here we see the beauty of faith, coupled with humility. He did not doubt the grace that had been shown him, but neither did he allow the knowledge of it to make him forget that it was grace. Thus he was in an attitude of soul to continue to enjoy it. (2 Sam. 9.)

2. When the king of the children of Ammon died, David sent ambassadors to his successor with a message of sympathy. He said,

“I will show kindness unto Haman the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me.”

The messengers were treated with indignity and subjected to disgrace. Thus the king of Ammon showed his utter contempt for the kindness which had been offered him. The contrast between the two is complete. Having refused the kindness, he follows it up with preparations for war—a war which resulted in his complete overthrow. (2 Sam. 10.)

So too is it today. The kindness of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, is offered to men. If they receive it with the sense that they are indeed utterly unworthy of it, they find a place at the King’s table to eat bread there continually; but if they despise and reject it, and array themselves in opposition to Him who has sent His message of kindness, they must reap the fruit of their contempt. Complete and eternal overthrow is the portion of those who thus despise the kindness of God.

In which way is the reader treating the kindness of God?

Messages of God’s Love 6/22/1919

Little Georgie

A CHRISTIAN mother lay sick in her room. The only effort she could make was to thank the Lord for saving her, and pray to Him for her three dear children. Almost unable to speak, she was happy in knowing that her Lord could see her heart and read the thoughts there. At this moment the door opened softly, and in tripped a fine boy of seven years. Climbing up beside his much-loved mother, he put one arm very gently around her neck, and with his other soft, warm hand stroked her face. Kissing her very affectionately, he said:—

“Mother, dear mother, you any better?” “Not very much, Georgie dear,” said his mother.

“O, I am so sorry, mother; and this is my birthday, too.”

“Yes, dear; and you are how many years?”

“Seven,” quickly answered Georgie.

His mother, seeing he still wanted her to speak, took him close to her and said, “You are a big boy now; but, Georgie, you may never see another birthday. Are you trusting in Jesus?”

“Yes, mother, I am trusting in Jesus. I am saved, for Jesus died for me.”

“When were you saved?” asked his mother.

“To-day,” answered Georgie, his bright face growing brighter.

His mother was anxious to know if her dear boy had really trusted in Jesus, so she asked him some simple questions. To them all he gave the same answer, that he was saved by trusting in Jesus, and Jesus died for him.

“Now, Georgie,” she said, “will you thank the Lord for saving you?”

“Yes, mother,” and Georgie putting hig little hands together and his face close to his beloved mother’s, said, “Dear Jesus, I thank Thee that You have died for me.”

Then kissing his mother, he slipped away. Some time has passed, and Georgie can answer without hesitation that he is forever saved.

Dear young reader, whose eyes may be drawn to read about Georgie—children especially do like to read about little ones like themselves—are you saved? Have you trusted in Jesus? You are not too young to die, and you are old enough to know that you cannot get to heaven but by trusting in Jesus. You may be like little Georgie, a very kind, gentle child, which is very good. Georgie knew he could not get to heaven unless he trusted in Jesus. His loving ways could not find him a place there. No more will yours. You may be very obedient to your parents—go to the Sunday school—sing hymns about Jesus dying for sinners `read in your Testament that He said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me”—hear your teacher tell you about trusting in Jesus, and you can perhaps answer the questions put to you about salvation—yet if you, dear young friend, do not pig your trust in Jesus as your Saviour, you will never be in heaven. You do not know if you will grow to be a man or woman. And though you do, you will find it all the better if you are saved in your childhood. Jesus loves you: He is still waiting to receive you. Now is the accepted time.

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

Messages of God’s Love 6/22/1919

Summer Holidays

AS the summer has come with its bright sunny days, how the children delight to go into the country and get a ride in the hay wagon, and wade through the running stream, and enjoy the beautiful scenery, trees, flowers and the lovely refreshing fruits in all their varieties! I wonder how many of my young readers, who enjoy these things, think of the One “who giveth us richly all things to enjoy”? I fear many take all these things and have what they call “A good time”, and very seldom, if ever, think of the Creator. May you be enabled to see His all-wise handiwork wherever you may look; and adore Him for it.

You may say, “I see thorns and thistles growing and many other such things that are a nuisance. Did God give us these things?” Yes, God’s Word lets us know that He sent these things on account of our sin. When we disobeyed God, and wanted a higher place than God had given to man, which was sin, then God sent all the pests as punishment, and thus His beautiful and fair creation was all spoiled. Let us remember, God did not stop there; such things may prevent us from settling down here as if everything was all right, but He has also shown us that sin put us at a distance from Him because He is holy. There was no hope for us ever to deliver ourselves from such a condition, so God sent His Son, who was the only One who was able to enter into the full results of sin, and rise triumphant out of it all, to deliver all who would put their trust in Him. He then gives us to share with Him what belongs to Him in that bright scene above. It is only those who will accept Him that will get the benefit.

May you dear children, as you enjoy your summer holidays, think of these things.

“O LORD HOW MANIFOLD ARE THY WORKS! IN WISDOM HAST THOU MADE THEM ALL.” Psa. 104:24.

Messages of God’s Love 6/29/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Farming. Part II.

THE Farmer, in Palestine, begins to plow as soon as the first or early rains come, to soften the earth, and this is generally about the beginning of October. It would be of no use his trying to plow before the rain begins, as the ground is baked so hard with the great heat of the long summer, that his small plow could not turn up the ground, nor would the seed grow if it were planted. But when, once the rains have come in sufficient quantities, he must start plowing at once. He may have to plow in the very face of hail and snow, storm and tempest, but plow he must; for if he does not plow and sow with the early rains, he will not reap after the latter rains. We are reminded of this in Eccles. 11:4, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” And again in Prov. 20:4, “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold.”

As soon as the plowing is done, the sowing of seed begins. Very different it is to our sowing. No seeders, or helps of that kind. The farmer, dressed probably in a long white shirt, has fastened round his waist a bag of wheat or barley; he puts his hand into the bag, takes a handful of grain and throws it out upon the land; first with one hand, then with the other, taking a step forward with every throw. From long practice he can scatter the corn evenly. He will go all over the field in this way. As from time to time he empties his bag, he goes to a sack he has under a tree or big stone and refills the bag.

Now, in Palestine the fields are not level, with fences or walls around them, but are mostly on hillsides. Large stones lie about; the ground is so rocky, it is full of stones just underneath the soil. The little stones do no harm, the moisture collects under them, and so helps the tender shoots, and nourishes them till they are grown up. Some of the grain falls among the large rocks, however, and some among the brambles and thistles, and as there is not much earth there, it soon dies away when it comes up. Then, too, there are flocks of birds. One big bird with long legs, we call a stork. Sometimes quite a flock of these birds follow the sower. Then there are flocks of wild pigeons, and many other small birds, and as they fly after the man, they pick up a great deal of wheat. So, quite a gOod deal is lost, but still much more falls on the good ground, and grows up and comes to the ear; and then the farmer at the right time reaps it.

Now I know that by the time you have read all this, many of you are thinking of our Lord’s parable in Matt. 13, about the Sower. Is it not wonderful to think that He, as a Man, walked about in Palestine, and watched the farmers plowing, and sowing and reaping, just as you and I might do, if we were there to-day. And is it not wonderful too, to think that though He looked like other men, He was really the Son of God, who had made the earth, and the seed to put in it, and the bright sun to shine upon it, and caused the rain to come down to water it and make it grow.

One day as He sat by the seaside, with the fields all around him, sloping up from the water, and perhaps some farmer sowing seed in the distance, He told the multitude of men and women, who had come out to hear His gracious words, a parable: A simple story of what they saw around them every day in seeding time. Our Lord said that He, with His words, was like that sower and his grain. Men and women and children often heard His word, but paid little heed to it, and so soon forgot it. That was like the wheat that the birds picked up. When you go to church, or meeting, or Sunday School, and pay no attention to what you hear, that gives the birds a chance to pick up all the good seed. And what are the birds a picture of Why, Satan, he is always ready to snatch away from you the good things God is offering you.

But some children do listen, and understand what they hear, and they have a great wish to serve and obey the Lord Jesus, but it only lasts for a little while, for when other children begin to laugh at them for caring about these things, they give it all up. They are like the rocky ground, with no depth of earth, and when the hot sun of persecution, (or teasing) comes, the plant withers away. And again there are other children who also would like to be Christians, but lessons and play, and “other things” take up all their time. The word is choked in their case by the thistles and brambles.

But, thank God, there are some who receive the seed into good ground, and it springs up and grows and brings forth much fruit.

My dear children, let us all pray that we may be like the seed that fell on the good ground; and may we by the grace of God, bring forth in our life, fruit to His honor and glory.

Messages of God’s Love June 29, 1919

Trailing Serpent's Captive

NEAR the Indian frontier a white man lived peacefully with, his two daughters. The younger, a fair-haired child of five, was her father’s joy and pride. Their mother died when she was an infant, and the elder sister had nursed her with unceasing care.

There lived across the frontier, a war like tribe of Indians, headed by a powerful chief, who bore the name of “Trailing Serpent”. The white settler had incurred the hatred of this chief, and he found a cruel plan of revenge. “Trailing Serpent” watched his opportunity. One day he saw the white man’s little girl playing by herself in the grounds around her father’s house, and skillfully persuaded her to follow him a little way, he seized the child and carried her off. Away far over the prairies “Trailing Serpent” carried his prize, far from her happy childhood’s home, and from those who loved her dearer than life.

When the white man missed his child, he was frantic with grief. His hair became quickly white, his manly form bowed with the weight of his sorrow, yet his heart was set on the recovery of his lost child.

For fourteen long years he sought in vain. At last a trapper from the Far West brought him the news that his daughter lived in the midst of a tribe of Indians many miles away, that she wore their dress, and was in every way as one of themselves. The father started off with a heavy ransom in his hand, hoping to redeem his long-lost loved one. After many a weary mile, he reached the Indian town, and had an audience of “Trailing Serpent”, with the braves of the tribe.

The chief eyed the offered gold, yet he was unwilling to deliver up his prey. At last he made a proposal,

“The girl”, said he, “is an Indian in heart and life; she loves her people; she is our’s body and soul. She will refuse to leave us, or to go with you. However, you shall have her for a month. If, in that time, you can win her back, the gold will be mine. If she wishes to return, you shall let her go, but the gold shall still be mine,” said the chief with a malicious grin.

The father willingly agreed to this proposal, and his daughter was brought forth. But, O, how changed! An Indian in dress and in heart, she did not recognize in the one who had purchased her, her own father. Nay, more, she looked upon him with hatred and scorn. as one who was forcing her from her people and her home. She would not listen to his story; she would not believe his love. This was the bitterest pang of all, and it wrung that father’s heart with anguish. As they neared the home of her childhood, his eldest daughter, who had come to meet them, and who had tried in vain to win her sister’s heart, began to sing a well-known hymn, that she had often sung to her when a babe in the happy days long gone by. Over and over again had she rocked her to sleep in her cradle, with the strains of that lovely hymn. The first verse passed unheeded, but as the sweet voice of the singer continued, the eyes of the lost one fixed themselves upon her, and a strange light began to spread itself over her countenance.

“Go on,” whispered the father to his elder daughter, as, he saw the wonderful effect of that song of childhood days; and thus hymn after hymn rose on the evening air.

When the singing ceased, the girl heaved a heavy sigh as if some great deliverance had been wrought within. With her eyes fixed, first on the singer, and then on the man who led her by the hand, she burst into a flood of tears, and cried out, “My father,” and sprang into the outstretched arms that soon enfolded her, and clasped her to his bosom.

There was great joy that night—the joy of the father who had found his lost one, the joy of the lost one who had been welcomed home, and the rejoicing of the friends and servants who had gathered to share the common joy.

This is a faint picture of what takes place when a lost and captive sinner is released from Satan’s chains, and, believing the love of God, is brought into the children’s place, redeemed, regenerated, and reconciled. Reader, has there been such joy in heaven over you?

When the month had expired, “Trailing Serpent” sent his messengers to bring back his captive, but to their astonishment they found her clothed in a modern dress, sitting by her father’s side, holding his hand. In answer to their demand, she replied,

“I am my father’s child; he sought and found me, redeemed me, and brought me back, and I will remain with him forever.”

This touching story illustrates the truth of a worse captivity, and a greater redemption. Another “Trailing Serpent” has carried away his captive. “That old serpent, the devil,” who entered Eden long ago, has carried sinners far from God and heaven, into captivity. But God has set His heart upon them. He has paid a mighty ransom for their deliverance, even the precious blood of Jesus Christ, His Son.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,....but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1: 18, 19.

God brings the wondrous tidings of that love and redemption to all of you this day, and He wants you to give it a welcome in your heart.

“Precious, precious blood of Jesus,

Shed on Calvary,

Shed for rebels, shed for sinners,

Shed for me.”

Messages of God’s Love June 29, 1919

Bible Questions for July

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“Looking unto Jesus,” etc. Heb. 12:2.

“But we see Jesus, who,” etc. Heb. 2:9.

“Every good gift and,” etc. James 1:17.

“The grace of our,” etc. Philemon 25.

“But this man, after,” etc. Heb. 10:12.

“But the wisdom that,” etc. James 3:17.

“Wherefore He is able,” etc. Heb. 7:25.

Bible Questions for July

The answers are to be found in Revelation.

Write the verse containing the words, “Great and marvelous”.

Write the verse containing the words, “The keys of hell”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Supper of the Lamb”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Heareth”. “Come”.

Write the verse containing the words, “Key of the bottomless pit”.

Write the verse containing the words, ‘ “Supper of the Great God”.

Write the verse containing the words, ° “Stand”. “Knock”.

Messages of God’s Love 7/6/1919

Manners and Customs of Bible Lands. The Harvest.

WE were speaking the other day of the Lord Jesus Christ, when a man down here, sitting by the side of the lake, and talking to the people who surrounded Him, about the Sower, and the different kinds of ground the seed fell upon.

To-day we can think about the same Jesus, sitting this time on the side of a well, near the city of Sychar, and from where He sat, He could see the fields all around Him “white unto the harvest”. The seed which had fallen upon good ground had sprung up, the sup had shone upon it, and the rain had watered it, and now it was ready to be cut, and used for food.

Let us consider a little the way grain is harvested in Palestine, for it is not at all like the way it is done in America. First, the grain is cut with a sickle, bound into sheaves, and carried on the backs of camels or asses to the threshing floor,—a field with a hard surface, if possible on a hill. Sometimes a flat, smooth rock is chosen for the purpose, or they clear away all the loose stones to make it flat. Often one threshing floor is used by the whole village. After the grain has dried for a time, it is spread over the rock to a good depth; oxen are then driven round and round, until the constant pacing of their feet over the wheat has trodden it out. Sometimes three or four oxen are used and a man walks behind to urge them on, or to guide them. Sometimes he stands on a board, which is fastened to the oxen, and being pulled over the ‘grain, helps to crush it out. Then another man is busy with a long wooden fork, to put the wheat back into the proper place on the floor, and prevent it scattering, Or to put more sheaves on when necessary.

When the grain is all trodden out, they collect the broken straw and remove it. Then a man with a long wooden spade will toss the wheat into the air; the wind carries the chaff away, and the good grain falls on the floor; lastly, that is collected and carried away. Is .it not strange to think that threshing was done in this very way, hundreds of years ago, in the days of Abraham, and David, and it was just the same when our Lord was walking up and down in Palestine, 1900 years ago, and if you were to be in that country now, you would find it just the same still.

We often rend about threshing floors in the Bible. I think the first time they are mentioned is, when Joseph carried the body of his father, Jacob, from Egypt, to be buried in Canaan, (or the Holy Land). A great company of people went with him, and they all stopped at “The threshing floor of Atad,” and mourned there with a great lamentation. (Gen. 50:10.) In Deut., we are told, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.” Deut. 25:4.

The poor oxen were to eat what they needed while working, you see, and not have anything put on their mouths, to prevent them.

Another very interesting story of a threshing floor, is in 1 Chron. 21. King David had disobeyed the Lord, and begun to number the people, but the Lord was displeased with him, and for a punishment He sent a pestilence in the land, and many people died. “And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it; and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and He said to the angel, ‘It is enough, stay now thine hand.’ And the angel of the Lord, stood by the threshing floor of Oman, the Jebusite. And David saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand.” After this the Lord commanded David to set up an altar in the threshing floor. Now, Orman the owner of the floor, was threshing wheat, with his four sons, and turning round, they saw the angel, and feeling very frightened, they hid themselves, but seeing David, they came out of their hiding place; and David bought the threshing floor from Orman, for 600 shekels of gold, and he had an altar built there and offered sacrifices. And when Solomon, David’s son, built the beautiful temple, he put it on that very spot. (2 Chron. 3:1).

Before we leave the subject of the harvest, I must tell you about the “Lodge in a Garden.” This is mentioned in Isa. 1:8. “The daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers.” During harvest time many of the farmers leave their villages and live in their vineyards or olive yards, in booths made of reeds. In the booth or tent the farmer and his family live. This is the “cottage” of the above verse. Should he have any field in which some inferior vegetables or fruit, such as leeks, onions, cucumbers or melons are growing, he sets his servant, or a laborer to watch there. The watchman takes four long poles, which he cuts from some trees close by,

fixes them in the ground so as to form a square of about eight feet. Fastened to these he fixes a platform of wood about four feet from the ground, which he covers with an old mat, and branches of trees. This shelters him from the burning rays of an Eastern sun, and is the lodge. As soon as the harvest is over the people return home, leaving the booth (or cottage), and ,the lodge to it fate. The winds blow away part of the branches or matting, and there they remain, true pictures of desolation; a striking illustration of a nation without God. The Jews have rejected their Messiah. They said, “Away with Him, Crucify Him,” and ever since, they have been left, as that desolate lodge, to themselves. We feel how they sinned in refusing the One who came to save them, but are we any different? Shall it be said of any of us, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved”? Jer. 8:20.

Messages of God’s Love 7/6/1919

Wanted, A Christian

SOME time ago there appeared in a city newspaper an advertisement for a clerk, with the unusual condition that he must be “a decided Christian”. A number applied for the place, but when asked for “a reason for for the hope that was in them,” concerning Christ, scarcely any could give a Scriptural answer.

These facts were brought to the notice of a Christian who related them to his children, and asked them how they would have replied. He asked them to write their answers. Harold, a boy 12 years old, gave the following answer:

“I am a Christian because I love Jesus, and want to be a missionary, and work in His service, to do all I can for Jesus. I love Him because He first loved me, and has done so much for me.”

Harold W. O1iver.

Harold was a school boy, like many who will read it. Suppose the question were asked of you,

“Are you a Christian?” what answer would you give? And if still further you were asked,

“How do you know that you are a Christian?” what answer would you give?

Consider the question very seriously, quietly, alone with God and your own heart. God reads the secrets of all hearts. How are you treating the Lord Jesus? Can you say you know Him, and love Him?

I well remember the thrill of joy I had when first I gave a clear, decided answer to that question. It was just a year after I first knew the Lord Jesus. I was having a music lesson with a dearly loved teacher, when she laid her hand on mine and said,

“My child, I hope you love the Lord Jesus Christ?” I answered,

“Yes, I do.”

“I mean you know Him as your own personal Saviour?” she continued, and again I replied ,

“Yes,” and then she went on to tell me what Christ was to her—dearer than all the world besides.

Messages of God’s Love 7/6/1919

The Dead Lamb

HOW sad these two little girls are as they stand beside their pet lamb. Only a day or two ago it was gamboling about in the meadow, or following them around the yard, and now it lies there dead, and their hearts are filled with sorrow.

I wonder how many of my little readers have had some dear little pet to die. Perhaps, worse still, some member of the family has been taken away in death. Death is an awful thing, and you know, dear children, it has been brought in by sin.

“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.

You know how Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, and thus sin came into the world, and every one since then has been a sinner, except, of course, the Lord Jesus. Even the animals have to suffer and die as a result of man’s sin.

But the Lord Jesus came to be a Saviour for all who believe in Him. He came to redeem creation, too. That means that because of His death on the cross, when He comes to reign in this world there will not be sorrow and suffering. The curse brought in by sin will be removed, and its sad effects gone from this world.

But before that time comes, terrible judgments must fall upon those who have been guilty of rejecting the Son of God. Trust in Him now, dear children, and you will be among those caught up to meet Him in the air before the judgments fall.

Messages of God’s Love 7/6/1919

The Boy King

THE boy-king Joash “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.” Is not that a beautiful thing to be said of a seven-year-old boy?

And it may be said of each one of us. He looks,- at us day by day and delights to see us seeking to please Him. We can do everything for Him—obey our parents, be kind to our brothers and sisters, and be truthful and loving to all around us. Thus shall we be His servants and glorify His name.

Messages of God’s Love 7/6/1919

Darling Baby

JUST see what baby is doing! Someone has left a basin of water on the floor, and he has crept up to it and is amusing himself by splashing it about with his little fat hand. How serious he seems, as if he were wondering why the water splattered so when he struck it. No doubt his little mind is full of questions.

There are so many things for little folks to ask questions about. As they grow older they have so much to learn, and one way to find out about things is to ask.

There is one question which children, and grown people too, would do well to ask and to have settled. That is,

“What will become of me when I leave this world?”

You will not always be here. Time is passing, and children as well as grown people are dying. Also the Lord will soon come, and take all who believe in Him away from this world. 0, how important to have that solemn question settled!

Our sins would shut us out from God’s presence, but if we take our place as sinners, and believe in the Lord Jesus as the One who died to put our sins away, they will all be forgiven.

“WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” 1 Peter 2:24.

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Clothing. The Mantle and the Girdle.

FASHIONS in the East do not change as they do with us. There is every reason to believe that the people we meet with in the Holy Land today, are wearing almost exactly the same garments as worn in the days of Abraham or David, or in the time of our Lord. One thing we must remember, clothing in the East, always marks the rank of the wearer. It does so today, and it did so in Bible times.

In Matt. 11:8. our Lord, speaking of John the Baptist, says, “What went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” We know from Matt. 3:4. that John. was “clothed in camel’s hair,” and had a “leather girdle about his loins.” This mantle made of camel’s hair woven into rough, cloth, is the commonest, and probably one of the oldest garments. It is very coarse and rather shapeless, generally in two colors, white and brown, or brown and black.

Red ones, are worn by women only, and a man would sooner go without a mantle, than wear anything belonging to a woman. It was forbidden by the Law, (Deut. 22:5,) “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment; for all that do so are an abomination unto the Lord.” It is still an abomination to the people of the East.

This mantle of camel’s hair, forms the only covering of the poor man by night. Ii we look at Exo. 22:26, 27, we shall see that it was used in the same way, in those far off Bible days. A mantle pledged, had to be returned at sunset,. “For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep?” And it is repeated in Deut. 24: 13. “That he may sleep in his own raiment.” How this makes us think of the gracious tenderness of our God, the very same One who made the world, and upholds all things by His power, taking thought of how a poor man should be comfortable when he slept.

A coat without a seam, such as our Lord wore, (John 19:23) is a mantle of the same material, shape and color, but consists of one piece only. They are still worn by the peasants in the North of Palestine. If you look at the map of Palestine in your Bible, you will see that Nazareth, where our Lord Jesus was. brought up, was in the North.

The rich people, also, wear mantles of the same shape, but made of softer. materials, and their girdles are made of soft leather, but the very rich wear girdles—girdles of silk, or linen sometimes even: worked in gold. A linen girdle is mentioned in Jer. 13:1.

Everybody in the East wears a girdle—men, women and children. When resting, they are taken off; when preparing for work or a journey, they “gird up their loins”.

We find a great deal about girdles in the Bible. I dare say you can remember some passages. Elijah, when he ran, before Ahab’s chariot, girded up his loins. How could he run in loose flowing garments? (1 Kings 18: 46.)

Again, in the New Testament, when. Peter was brought out of prison by the angel, (Acts 12) he was told to “gird” himself”. The girdle he wore was, no • doubt, a thick leather one, such as John the Baptist wore. Sometimes the girdles contain small pockets where money can he carried. Our Lord told the disciples not to carry gold or silver in their “purses”, or as the New Version reads in their “girdles”.

When the Lord Jesus wanted to tell the disciples to be ready and waiting for His coming, He used this figure, “Let your loins be girded about,....and ye yourselves like men that wait for their Lord.” Luke 12: 35. That is to say, Do not spend your time down here in ease and amusement, but be always ready, expecting the Lord at all times. What a wonderful promise He gives in the same chapter, to those who are ready, He says He will “gird Himself, and make them sit down to meat, and come forth and serve them.”

Does not this show how much the Lord Jesus values the love which leads us to watch for His coming! And it may be very soon; everything points to these being the last days. He may come any day now, and the children who read this little paper, may be called away before they grow up into men and women.

But will you all be called up to meet Him when He comes. Are you all ready? It need not take long to get ready, there is no work to do. The Lord Jesus did all the work upon the cross; there He bore the punishment due to sin.

“He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Did He bear your sin then? Can you say, “He loved me, and gave Himself for me”?

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

For Which World Are We Living?

A CHRISTIAN says that when he was, a boy, while passing by an •Insane Asylum, a woman stretched her arm through the iron grating, and called to him in solemn words, “Young man, live for the eternal world!”

“These words,” said he, “were never effaced from my mind, and when I grew up they kept ringing in my ears.”

What more appropriate words could be sounded in the ears of any one! What is there in this world worth living for? We must soon leave everything that is here.

“The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:17.

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

Bertie's Prize

From school, with merry ringing shout,

Our Bertie bounded in—

“Look, mother, look, I am so glad

This handsome prize to win.

“For early I at school have been,

Each Sunday through the year—

Had marks for lessons, conduct too,

I knew I need not fear.

“But I’ve been thinking, mother dear,

Of what my teacher said;

He looked at me so lovingly,

His hand laid on my head.

“ Bertie,’ he said, ‘we’re glad to give

The prize you’ve earn’d so well;

But list to me a moment, for

I have good news to tell.

“ ‘I have a Friend who loveth, more

Than earthly friends can love;

He tells me I shall share His home

Of glory bright above.

“ ‘My Saviour is the Friend I mean,

His love is full and free;

He tells me in His blessed word,

A prize He’ll give to me.

“ ‘He bought it me and paid the price,

When His own life He gave,

To make atonement for my sin,

My priceless soul to save.

“ ‘And gladly from His hand I’ll take,

His gift of love to me,

And praise His name and join the song

Of those His death set free.’

“Mother, I know I’ve trusted now

My teacher’s changeless Friend,

The glad new song I’ve learned to sing,

Of love that ne’er will end.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

We're Two Busy

NOT very long ago, I was staying in a house next door to two little children. Spanish children they were, and like all others, whether English or Spanish, very fond of play. Pepe and Luisa used to play for hours together with other children in the street.

One morning, as I was coming home from a walk, their mother was standing at the door looking at a group of happy children playing. Preslently she espied her own two.

“Pepe! Luisa!” she cried, “Come! Dinner is ready!”

Now the game was a very interesting one, and I heard Pepe call out to his mother a long Spanish word which means ‘We’re too busy.”

Yet they were only playing. But their play seemed to them so important that they did not want to leave it for their dinner. They were too busy!

If I were to speak to you about something far more important than dinner, I wonder if you would pay heed. Or would you be too busy? Too busy with your games, or your lessons, or something else?

The “something’s that I should like you to think about is Salvation. You have a soul, and if it is not saved it will be lost forever. And your soul is really yourself. When your body is in the grave, your soul will be somewhere else; and where your soul is, you are

Do you know how to get your soul saved? The Bible tells us. It speaks about believing, to the saving of the soul. This means that the work of our salva tion has been done by the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may obtain it by believing in Him.

Even grown-up people are sometimes foolish enough to say they are “too busy” to think about these things. They are more foolish than Pepe and Luisa, because it is not a dinner they are missing, but eternal joy.

I hope none of my young readers will ever be too busy to come to the Saviour, and trust Him for Salvation.

“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.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Heb. 2:3.

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

The Little Child's Prayer

“Lord, teach a little child to pray,

My heart with love inflame,

That every night and every day

I may adore Thy name.

My Bible says that Jesus died

For sinners, old and young;

I am a sinner, though a child,

But babes Thy praise have sung.

My parents, Lord, are kind to me,

They tell me of Thy love;

O may they both be dear to Thee,

And all Thy goodness prove.

Lord Jesus, when I’ve run my race,

Grant me a place on high;

I’m not too young to seek

Thy face, I’m not too young to die.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/13/1919

The Shepherd's Care

AVE you watched thy shepherd, how he looks at each sheep as he puts the flock into the barn? He looks to see if any are injured by the thorns, or by any other means. If one is hurt, he will carefully attend to it, and the gentle little sheep will quietly wait, and submit to the treatment, knowing that the shepherd is doing it for her good.

There is a beautiful verse of Scripture that speaks of God’s tender care over His people Israel, and I should like to have you learn it. We may take it for ourselves, too, if we are one of His sheep or lambs.

“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.

How beautifully this describes the Lord’s tender care over His own. He is ever watchful and mindful of us. We may expect this when we know that He loved us so much as to give Himself for us and to die in our stead. He offers salvation to all, and saves all who put their trust in Him.

May all my dear readers put your trust in Him as your Saviour, then you can count on His tender and loving care as your Shepherd all through your life. You may go to Him about every trial and difficulty, and remember that He cares for you. Nothing is too small or too great to tell Him about.

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Clothing. Shoes

WE were speaking last week about the mantle and the. girdle, which are worn by everybody in the East. The only difference being, that those of the poor are made of rough camel’s hair cloth, with a leather girdle; and the rich wear “soft clothing.”

Under the mantle is worn a tunic very much in the shape of a dressing gown. The poorest people wear them rather short, not reaching much below the knee. The rich wear colored ones, longer, and with long sleeves. The longer the sleeves, the more respectable the wearer.

You all remember the beautiful story of Joseph’s coat of many colors. This was really a long-sleeved robe, worn by the chief and his heir. It was not because Joseph’s coat was more beautiful than theirs, that the brothers were so jealous and angry, but because the coat of many colors was a sign that Jacob had chosen him to be his heir. (We find the proof of this in 1 Chron. 5:2.)

Another interesting reference to a boy’s coat, is in 1 Sam. 2:19. Hannah brought her little son, Samuel, to the old priest Eli, to be brought up in, or beside, the tabernacle, but once a year she came to visit him, and then she brought him a “little coat.” What pleasure it must have given her to fashion that “little coat;” each year, a size larger, and, no doubt, as she worked at it, many a prayer went up for the little lad, given to her in answer to her prayers, and given back by his mother to the Lord. And then, while he was still quite a little boy, the Lord called him, one night, by his name, “Samuel, Samuel,” and instructed by the old priest, Eli, the little boy answered, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” Samuel had lived quite close to the Tabernacle as long as he could remember, and he had heard a great deal about the Lord. No doubt, he knew just when the sacrifices should be offered, and when the lamps should be lighted, and yet, we are distinctly told, that he did not yet know the Lord. There are many little boys and girls too, in our day, in the same case, they know a great deal about the Lord, and can perhaps repeat many verses out of the Bible, but they do not know the Lord, they cannot say, as one little girl did, “He is my own dear Saviour.”

But we must go back to our subject, and find out what the people in Palestine wear on their feet. Poor people never wear stockings or socks: in the desert, they wear sandals; in town, slippers. Rich people wear a soft inner shoe over the stocking, putting on a thick outer shoe over the thin one when they walk; if they enter a house they leave the thicker shoe at the door.

When rich people ride, it is common to see a servant walking behind, carrying the outer shoes, so that when the master dismounts they can be put on at once, and so preserve the inner shoe from being spoiled.

Whenever you wish to enter a church, or a mosque, in the East, you have to remove your shoes; you may carry slippers with you, and put them on if you like, but you must not enter with shoes on. On the other hand, they become quite annoyed if you take off your hat.

These customs will help you to understand what some passages in the Bible mean. When Moses was keeping his sheep in the desert, we read that he saw a bush burning with fire, and yet it was not burned up. Moses went towards the place to see what this strange sight meant, and he heard a voice out of the midst of the bush, and God called him, “Moses, Moses.” And what was the first thing He said to him? “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”

And again in Josh. 5, when the Lord appeared to Joshua as “Captain of the host” He said the same thing. The priests always served in the Temple, barefoot. To walk barefooted was a sign of mourning. When David fled from Jerusalem on account of his wicked son Absalom, it says, (2 Sam. 15:30) “He wept as he went, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot.”

Another custom connected with shoes, was, to hand over a shoe, when property passed from one man to another, as in the story of Ruth, when Boaz bought the field from Naomi, it adds, “So he drew off his shoe.” Ruth 4:8. This custom, which was also found amongst the Indians and ancient Germans arose from the taking possession of property by treading upon it, as the Lord said to Abraham, in Gen. 13:17, after promising him all the land he could see, for a possession, “Arise, walk through the land.” And again, the Lord says to Joshua, when he brought the children of Israel into Canaan; “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given you.” Josh. 1:3.

I think we may all learn a lesson from this; God has given us many great and precious promises, but He wants us to take possession of them, make them our own, take Him at His word. I remember a little boy once reading to me from Acts 13:38, 39, “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by Him all that believe are justified from all things.” He stopped and said,

“Does that mean just what it says?” “Certainly,” I replied.

“Then,” he said, “I am saved, for I believe.” That little boy took hold of God’s promise, took possession of it. Will not you do the same?

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

Prayer

AT a special service for children, before the speaker prayed. all the boys and girls bowed their heads, closed their eyes, and softly repeated:—

“If prayer is made without true feeling,

It goes no higher than the ceiling;

But if ‘tis earnest and sincere,

It reaches heaven, and God will hear.”

As you know, both girls and boys have trouble as well as the older folks, and if they know Jesus as their Saviour, they will feel the importance of praying to Him, and He will hear in their time of need. Our Lord Jesus once said:—

“Ask, and it shall be given you
Seek, and ye shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

The Saviour's Appeal

“My little lambs,” the Saviour says,

“I’ve washed your sins away,

I’ve saved your souls from death and hell,

And put you in the way.

And since I’ve done so much for you,

Will you not show your love,

By sending to the perishing

My mesasge from above?

I did not think it was too much

To leave My throne on high,

To come and hang upon the cross,

And in the grave to lie.

For more than thirty years I bore

A painful lingering life,

Amidst a thoughtless ruined world

All full of sin and strife.

It is not long you’ll have to work,

Since I’ve atoned for sin,

And soon I’ll come and take you home,

From all this world’s sad din.

Thousands there are the ocean o’er

Who never heard of Me,

My invitation never heard

Them bidding Come and see.

They every day each other rob,

They steal and cheat all round;

It grieves Me sore when I it see

And wish the lost were found.

They do not know how great the wrong

To cheat and steal and fight;

Their evil deeds have not been brought

Into My glorious light.

You cannot go and there teach them,

But you can pray at home;;

And all your prayers by Me are heard

At heaven’s gracious throne.”

Your kind and loving actions all,

Your sympathizing words;

Are noticed all by Jesus there,

And will get their rewards.

Let us each chance of working use,

And speaking for the Lord;

His Word can pierce the conscience through,

The Spirit’s two-edged sword.

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

Why Everybody Should Love Jesus

IT is related of one of Dr. Doddridge’s children, who was a general favorite, that she was one day asked by her father why everybody loved her? She simply but beautifully replied,

“I do not know, unless it be because I love everybody.”

Is not this sweet child’s answer the very reason why everybody should ‘love Jesus, because He loves everybody? Was it not a great proof of His love shown in a wonderfully earnest way when He came down from heaven, took upon Himself our sins; yea, verily, bore our sins in His own body on the tree; so that by His stripes we are healed? Let us add to this the remembrance that, while we were yet sinners, rebels, cold hearted towards Him; when not a spark of holy love lodged in our hearts, nor a thought was lifted up towards Him; nay, more, were hardening our hearts against God’s truth and love—even then He loved with a yearning love, and “gave Himself for us.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

God Is Good

The flowers which deck my pathway round,

And skirt the shady wood,

Proclaim, as with a thousand tongues,

That God is very good.

The ripened fields of waving grain,

For man and beast assigned,

Tell that the great Creator is

Not only good, but kind.

The glorious sun and peerless moon,

And stars which round them wait,

Prove God to be not only good

And kind, but very great.

But O! the cross where Jesus hung,

Doth yet more strongly prove

That, though so good, and kind, and great,

The mighty God is LOVE.

Messages of God’s Love 7/20/1919

The Three Enemies

WE can see in the picture that the poor little rat has three powerful enemies—the dog, the cat, and the trap. We see too that it has been caught in the trap, and the dog and the cat would both like to have a meal off of it, but instead, are quarreling with each other.

Now, dear children, all who believe in the Lord Jesus still find themselves very weak, and have three strong enemies—the world, the flesh, and the devil. A dear brother was explaining to us about them thus: It is like a fort with one enemy, the flesh, inside; and two outside, the world and the devil. Now Satan comes to us, and presents something of the world that the flesh likes very much, and unless we are on our guard, the door of the fort is opened, and we have been caught. But, dear children, there is no excuse for us being caught, because the Lord Jesus conquered that great enemy of our souls when He died for us, and now we can always draw strength from Him to meet every temptation. In order to do this, we must have our minds set on Him, and that will keep the flesh in the place of being dead to the world, so we can say with the apostle Paul,

“GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.” Gal. 6:14.

Messages of God’s Love 7/27/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Clothing

WE have been talking about the way men dress in the Holy Land, but we must not forget to mention the dress of the women. In many ways it resembles that of the men, —a long robe, or mantle, gathered in at the waist with a girdle, when working or walking. You remember the man’s robe, however, is as a rule, brown and white, or brown and black, while a woman’s is generally red, or white. But one thing a woman in the East always wears, and that is a veil. Some veils, called “mufflers” in Isa. 3, fitted closely over the head and face, with holes over the eyes; others, called “wimples” in the same chapter, were more like shawls, and covered the woman all up. It was a veil of this kind that Rebekah covered herself with, at the end of her long journey, under the care of Abraham’s servant, when she first saw Isaac in the field coming to meet her. (Gen. 24:65.) Ruth too, had a veil, or shawl, and the kind hearted Boaz told her to bring it to him, and he filled it with six measures of barley.

Women in the East are also very fond of ornaments, especially earrings and nose rings. Some of these in the olden days were very valuable. Do you remember that while Moses was up in the mountain, receiving the tables of stone from the Lord, the children of Israel made a golden calf, and began to worship it? If you look at Exo. 32:2, you will see that this calf was made of the golden earrings worn by the women and children in the congregation. The poor people in these days who cannot get golden ornaments, wear glass rings and bracelets, or sometimes glass beads and seeds, strung together. They are very fond too, of “tinkling ornaments,” Isa. 3:18, containing small bells and worn on the wrists or ankles.

We must not forget to speak of the “toilet bottles” also, full of black powder, which is used to paint the eyebrows and eyelashes, to make the eyes appear large. The wicked Jezebel, King Ahab’s queen, is said to have painted her face, or as the marginal reading is, “Put her eyes in painting.” (2 Kings 9:30.) But I do not think all this finery was pleasing to God. He speaks of it in Isa. 3 as all coming to nothing, and in Jer. 4:30 we read, “Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face, (or eyes, margin) with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair.”

Many long years after these words were written, the apostle Peter wrote to women on the same subject. And I think what he said is perhaps just as much needed by the women and girls of to-day, as it was by the women 1900 years ago.. He says, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel. But let it be the hidden man of the heart;... even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Pet. 3:3, 4.

A very peculiar headdress used to be worn by the women in the north of Palestine, called the Syrian Horn, but it is very seldom seen now. The white veil was thrown right over the horn and hung gracefully down the shoulders, making the woman appear very tall.

One more thing in great use among the Jewish women, we must mention, that is, the mirror, or looking glass. These were made of pieces of polished metal, so they only gave a dim reflection of the face. We have spoken about the women giving their earrings, to make a golden calf. In Exo. 38:8, we read of their giving their looking glasses for a better purpose. It says, “and he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women.” I daresay these may have been some of the very women who had given their earrings for such an evil purpose a short time before, but here we see them devoting their treasures to the service of God How much happier they must have felt on this occasion, now they were pleasing the Lord who had done so much for them. Before, they had been disobeying and grieving Him.

I think I have told you now all I know about the dress of the women of the East, but before we stop I will copy you out a little hymn on the subject of clothes, by Dr. Watts.

Why should our garments, made to hide

Our parents’ shame, provoke our pride?

The art of dress did ne’er begin

Till Eve, our mother, learned to sin.

When first she put the covering on

Her robe of innocence was gone;

And yet her children vainly boast

In the sad marks of glory lost.

How proud we are, how fond to show

Our clothes, and call them rich and new,

When the poor sheep, and silk-worm wore

That very clothing long before.

The tulip and the butterfly

Appear in gayer clothes than I;

Let me be dressed fine as I will

Flies, worms and flowers exceed me still.

Then will I set my heart to find

Inward adornings of the mind;

Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,—

These are the robes of richest dress.

No more shall worms with me compare,

This is the raiment angels wear;

The Son of God, when here below,

Put on this blest apparel too.

It never fades, it ne’er grows old,

Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould;

It takes no spot, but still refines,

The more ‘tis worn, the more it shines.

In this on earth would I appear,

Then go to heaven and wear it there;

God will approve it in His sight,

‘Tis His own work, and His delight.

“Let women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but with good works.” 1 Tim. 2:9, 10.

Messages of God’s Love 7/27/1919

Helper or Saviour?

REMEMBER reading a story of two boys who were spending a holictay at the seaside. One day they started for a long walk along the shore, but they forgot to inquire as to the tide, and did not notice how it was creeping towards them as they walked on.

All at once they saw that they could go no farther. The sea was already lapping the foot of the cliffs before them. They turned to retrace their steps, but found that they could not go back. Their retreat was cut off by the incoming tide. They thought that perhaps they could climb the cliffs and so escape. But that was impossible. What should they do?

The water was by this time up to their feet. There was no time to be lost. They saw that by wading a few yards they could reach a high rock where they would be safe for an hour or two at all events. To this rock they ran, and climbed to the top.

The sea came on, and soon the spray began to dash over their place of refuge. Higher and higher rose the tide. And to make matters worse, it began to grow dark.

Both the boys were terribly alarmed. The younger one was shivering, partly with cold, but still more with fear. What was to become of them? The elder boy did all he could to cheer and help his

friend. Taking off his coat he wrapped it round the shoulders of the trembling boy, and supported him in his arms as he sat on the edge of the rock.

A willing helper he was, in this way, but a Saviour he could not be. He was in just the same danger, just the same need, as his younger companion.

You, my young friend, need a Saviour, like these two boys. We may help one another in various ways, but none of us can save any one else. A mother cannot save her child’s soul for eternity. A father cannot save his son from the penalty of sin. Only Christ can save.

The two boys of our story did not forget to pray to God in their distress. They quite understood that what they needed was not the mutual help that they might give to each other, but salvation brought to them by someone else.

God heard their prayer, and sent salvation. Some men passing in a boat observed the peril of the two boys, and rowed to the rock and took them off. An hour later they were at home, safe and sound.

Perhaps you have never been exposed to a danger of this kind. But you are a sinner, and your sins have brought you into terrible danger. What I want you to understand is that you need not merely a Helper, but a Saviour. And there is a Saviour, One who can save you. Jesus is His Name, and He came from heaven to seek and save the lost. He will save you if you will trust in Him.

Messages of God’s Love 7/27/1919

The Robin

One day a little robin

Came hopping on my wall,

His breast was very pretty,

His eyes were bright and small.

He peeped into my window,

As much as though he’d say,

‘Tis cold, and I am hungry,

Please put some crumbs this way!

So ‘I got some crumbs, and quickly

I placed them on the wall,

And I watched the little fellow

The while he ate them all.

And then the little robin

Seemed full of thanks to me,

He chirped, and hopped, and jumped about,

As happy as could be.

It seemed if only he could speak,

That this was what he’d say,

“Be thankful for whate’er you have;”

And then he hopped away.

And so I asked the Lord that I

Might more contented be,

And take whatever He has given,

And take it thankfully.,

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:20.

Messages of God’s Love 7/27/1919

Bible Questions for August

Answers to Bible Questions for June.

“In this was manifested,” etc. ¤ John 4; 9.

“Wherefore also it is,” etc. 1 Peter 2; 6.

“To the only wise God,” etc. Jude 25.

“For He received from,” etc. 2 Peter 1; 17.

“That which was from,” etc. 1 John 1; 1.

“And when the Chief,” etc 1 Peter 5; 4.

“Grace be with you,” etc. 2 John 3.

Bible Questions for August.

The answers are to be found in Matthew

Write the verse containing the words, “Learn of Me.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Lo, I am with you.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Be of good cheer.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Exceeding great joy.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Shall see God.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Gathered together.”

Write the verse containing the words, “Leadeth unto life.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Houses.

EASTERN houses are as unlike Western houses as they can be; so we must learn all we can about them, for every part of an Eastern house is mentioned in the Bible.

First, let us look at the outside. You see four bare, ugly walls. There may be one or two windows, and they are generally covered with lattice work. You also see a very uninviting, low street door. And this is more or less the custom all over the East now and always has been. So from the outside, you would think an Eastern house very uninteresting, ugly and dirty. But it is only the outside, after all, let us go through the door, and the inside may be beautiful, clean and comfortable.

We will suppose we are visiting the house of a rich man. We have come through the door, and the first room we come to is the “porter’s lodge.” The porter is called “Bawab,” meaning a door keeper. All gates of cities, temples or palaces had the “door keeper.” (2 Sam. 18:26; 1 Chron. 9:21.) When the doors are shut and anyone knocks, the porter does not open at once. He first calls out, “Who is there?” If he does not recognize the voice, he continues questioning until he is satisfied that “all is well.”

Which of you remembers the story of Peter, when the angel brought him out of prison? He came to a friend’s house, and knocked, but the doorkeeper, Rhoda, knowing his voice, was so full of joy, she forgot to let him in. Our Saviour’s promise was, “to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt. 7:8.) He is always willing to open the door. He does not ask if we are good enough to be let in; all who come to Him are welcome. “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.”

But while we have been talking, the porter has opened the door, and now we find ourselves in a court. It is not a covered hall, such as we have, but a •court open to the sky. Every house has a court, some very large ones, two, or even three; the house we are visiting has its court paved with beautiful marble slabs. Look at those pots of beautiful flowers, and a vine is growing over this trellis work at the side, and in another part we can see fig trees, with their rich ripe fruit. It is probably to the fruit trees growing in the courts, the Scripture refers, when it says, “They shall sit, every man under his vine and under his fig tree.” Micah 4:4.

We must not forget to look at the well, before we leave the court. It is a cistern in which the ‘rain is collected. During the dry season of the year the well is often empty, and forms a capital hiding place. There is a very interesting story of two boys hiding in “a well in a court” and so escaping their pursuers, in 2 Sam. 17:16-21, but you must read it for yourselves.

The rooms of the house we are examining, are built round the court, with all the doors and windows opening on to it. They are built entirely of stone,—walls, floor and ceiling. There is not much furniture in these rooms, to us they look very bare, some rugs on the floor, low couches, called divans, round three sides of the room, and a very small low table. We are reminded of the prophet’s chamber on the wall, which the rich Shunamite woman built for Elisha. You remember all it contained was, “a bed, a table, a stool and a candlestick.” (2 Kings 4:10.)

Now let us take a peep into the bedrooms, and see what is in them. I do not see any bed, or bedstead, but here is a raised stone platform built against the wall. It has a mattress upon it, but no pillows. People in the East are not particular about pillows. I think we shall find most of the bedding, however, in the cupboard off the room, where it is hidden away for the day.

The house we are looking over belongs to a rich man. If it were a poor house, there would be no separate room for sleeping, the couch used for reclining upon by day, serving for the bed by night.

The poor man’s bed consists of a rough cotton or woolen quilt. When our Lord said to the impotent man in John 5:8. “Take up thy bed and walk,” this was, no doubt, the bed he had to carry. It was a great contrast to the royal beds, of which we mad in Esther, and the Song of Solomon. These are described as having pillars of marble or silver, the bottom of gold, and the coverings of purple and divers colors. We also read of “beds of ivory.” Amos 6:4.

In Deut. 3:11 we find the account of a giant’s bed; it was thirteen feet long, and six feet wide, and was made of iron. It needed to be strong, for such a big man to sleep in. He was a king, too, and his name was Og, but in spite of all his strength, and grandeur, God gave him and his kingdom into the hands of the Children of Israel. The Lord said of him, as he said of a man long afterwards, “Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7.

Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1919

What a Difference!

ALL that a man hath will he give for his life.” Job 2:4. “A kingdom for a moment of time,” exclaimed a dying queen.

A young girl in a hospital said to a lady visitor,

“I believe I am getting better; and do you know, I can’t help feeling disappointed.”

What made the difference between these two? The one had no hope beyond this world; the other had life eternal, and a happy home in heaven.

The young girl had trusted in the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, rejoiced in His love, and was longing to go to be with Him. The queen had gone on without Him and at the end of her life here, all was dark. And well it might be, for nothing but judgment and an eternity in hell awaited her.

Dear children, which will it be with you? An eternity with the Lord; or an eternity in everlasting punishment?

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1919

The Parting

WHAT a sad picture we have this week. Most of our young readers will know what a sad thing it is to part with loved ones during these past days of war and pestilence, and especially so, when loved ones leave and we do not expect to see them again here on this earth. Does it not speak to us that we should seek a better country where Good-byes will never be? ‘How thankful we should be that such a place is prepared for all those who have learned to trust the Lord Jesus as their own Say* four, for He has said,

“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU.” John 14:18.

Does not that cause your young hearts to love Him more, the One who has died for you that you might live with Him forever? Even now He knows all about our sorrows and sympathizes with us in them, and would have those of us who are Christians listen to what His blessed Holy Spirit would teach us of the Lord Jesus, that we may be “strong in the Lord.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1919

Lottie's Present

LOTTIE’S father was a commercial traveler, and had often to go long distances on business. Leaving home one evening he kissed Lottie as she was going to bed, and said to her,

“I will send my little Lottie a nice present through the mail tomorrow. When the postman calls out your name at the door, be sure you run and get what he brings.”

Lottie kissed her father, and went off to bed with great expectations. She knew her father would keep his word and send her present. The next day she was full of hope, and when the postman came, Lottie ran to the door, holding out both hands and exclaimed,

“That’s mine!”

When the parcel was opened, it was found to contain a pretty doll, which the child grasped at once, and ran off telling each one she met,

“Papa’s present has come!”

In her haste she did not observe a pretty little box with her name on the lid, and inside it a “Birthday Text Book” with her birthday text,

“The gift of God is eternal life.” Holding it up her mother said,

“This is yours, too: it has Lottie’ on the lid, and there is only one Lottie here.”

Then the Christian mother took the child on her knee, and sought to show her that God’s gift of “eternal life” was sent to her, just as her father’s gifts had been, and that she had only to claim it and say,

“That’s mine!”

Years have rolled on. Lottie is now a tall, handsome girl, and she is saved, and can truthfully say of eternal life—God’s gift, “That’s mine”!

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/3/1919

Young Calves

I AM sure all city children love to get out on the farms in the summer time and enjoy the beautiful scenery, and see the young calves in the pasture. We are able to see God’s work in creation so much better there than we can in the city, where there is so much of man’s work.

We May learn many lessons from all we see around us. The young calves are allowed to be with their mothers for a certain length of time, and then they have to go and find their food in the pasture for themselves. We all know they cannot make the grass grow, God has provided that for them, but they have to go to the good places, and eat it for themselves. So it is with us, we cannot always stay with our parents. We have to go out and earn our own living someday.

We must ever remember that while our parents supply us with the different things while we are young and under their care, it is God who gives all these things to our parents. Then when the time comes that we have to earn our own living, it will still be God who will take care of us, and we must be dependent upon Him.

Sometimes He withholds things from us that we need, to teach us dependence’ on Himself, then we have to ask Him for what we need. We must remember to thank Him for all He gives us, because all we receive are mercies from His hand. May we have grateful hearts for all His goodness.

“GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS UNTO GOD AND THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Eph. 5:20.

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Houses Continued.

The Upper Room

HAVING examined the rooms of the house, which open off the court, we must now go up the stairs, which are generally outside. These lead us to the roof, which is almost flat. A wall, two or three feet high, runs round it, forming a very necessary protection. People often spend the night on the housetop, as being cooler than the downstairs rooms. It was on the housetop Peter was praying, when God showed him a wonderful vision; and it was on the housetop, many hundreds of years before, that Rahab hid the spies, covering them over with stalks of flax. (Josh. 2:6.) And houses in Palestine are still built with flat roofs, which can be used as balconies, or sleeping apartments. Sometimes the housetop is paved with stone, and in the villages of the North, the roof is composed of mud, which has to be frequently levelled and hardened with a stone roller, one of which may be seen on most housetops, where it is kept always ready for use. When the first rains come in the autumn, the mud softens, and the rain soon finds its way through the cracks, and presently there is a very unpleasant drip, drip, drip, perhaps just on the spot where people are trying to sleep. Sometimes there are one or two rooms on the housetop. These are called upper rooms. They are generally the best rooms—the largest and coolest, and would be used as Guest Chambers.

It was in such a room as this our Lord sat down with His disciples to eat that last Passover. He sent two of His disciples into the city of Jerusalem, telling them they would there meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. When they met this man, they were to follow him to a certain house, and when he entered it, they were to go in too, and say to the goodman of the house, “The Master saith, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?” Then the goodman of the house would show them a large upper room, furnished and prepared, and there they were to make ready. You may wonder at this man being so ready to lend his best room, but hospitality was part of the Jew’s religion. In Jerusalem no man was to account a house as only his own, and it was said that at the time of the feasts, no one ever wanted ready reception. It seems to have been a custom in that city to hang a curtain in front of the door, to show that there was still room for guests. Some went so far as to suggest, there should be four doors to every house, to bid welcome to travelers from all directions.

And so in that guest chamber, that furnished upper room, our Lord sat down to eat the passover with His disciples. I daresay you all remember why the pass-over was kept. It was to remember the wonderful night in Egypt, so many years ago, when the Angel of the Lord passed through the land, slaying the first born in each house, and you know how it was that the children of Israel were safe in their houses. Was it because they were good men, and the Egyptians, bad men? By no means, it was because a little pure white lamb had been killed, and its blood sprinkled upon the door posts of each house, and the Lord said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” And now the Lord Jesus Christ was going to suffer, the One whom all those little lambs pointed to, was to die. He was to be the passover Lamb, as it says in 1 Cor. 5:7. “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

The Lord Jesus knew, as He sat there with His beloved disciples, that it would be the last time, and He spoke many comforting words to them, and best of all, He told them a way to remember Him. He took bread and broke it, and told them each to take some of it, for He said, “This is My body which is given for you.” And aqerwards He gave them the cup, and said, “This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.” Anl afterwards He gave them and drink of the cup, or see others do it, we know that it is to remember the Lord Jesus, and how His body was broken and His blood shed, for sin, for our sin.

The Lord Jesus loves to have us to remember Him. He values the love of our poor hearts, and so He gave this precious remembrance of Himself, and told His people to go on doing so until He comes back again. Then all these who are, like the Israelites, under the shelter of the blood, will go to be with Himself for ever, so then we shall not need a remembrance of Him any longer.

“Till Thou shalt come in glory,

And call us hence away,

To rest in all the brightness

Of that unclouded day,

We show Thy death, Lord Jesus,

And here would seek to be

More to Thy death conformed,

As we remember Thee.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

Our Hope

The Lord is gone before,

A mansion to prepare.

For us, who love His holy name;

That we His home may share.

‘Twill not be long, we know,

Ere Christ again will come

To claim His Church, His spotless bride,

And take His loved ones home.

There in that realm of light,

With ransomed throngs above,

We’ll praise our Saviour, and extol,

His matchless, wondrous love.

How sweet, how blest our hope,

Of being with our Lord;

Nothing in heaven or on earth,

Can greater joy afford.

Lord Jesus, keep our hearts

Inclined to wait for Thee,

Each moment longing more and more

Thy glorious face to see.

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

Have You a Friend?

“There’s a Friend for little children

Above the bright blue sky,

A friend who never changes,

Whose love can never die.”

DEAR children, do you know the Friend of whom this little hymn speaks? I am sure you all know that it is Jesus who is spoken of, the One who came into this world, and suffered and died in our stead. But do you know Him as your own Saviour?

Some time ago, I went to see a little girl who was very ill, and suffering great pain, from which she could get no rest.

After talking to her a little while, I repeated the lines at the beginning of this paper, and asked, “Who is the Friend for little children?”

“Jesus,” was the ready answer.

“And what has Jesus done for us, to show He is our Friend?”

“He died on the cross,” was the reply. “Why did He die? What did He do on the cross?” was the next question. “He bore our sins,” answered the little sufferer.

“Did He bear your sins?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Dear children, how would you answer these questions? Can you say, Jesus has borne my sins, and put them all away in ‘His own blood?

This little girl loved to think of Jesus. She knew He was ever near her, helping her to bear her pain. He was her Friend and she knew, too, that even death was only going to be with Him—the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. (John 10: 11).

“And now, dear little children, The Shepherd’s up on high, Who came to seek the straying, Who all deserved to die.

“For sin each lamb had ruined, And far from God had led, But 0! what love unbounded, He suffered in our stead.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

A Child's Question

I SHALL ask her if she loves Jesus, Mamma,” said a little girl, upon hearing that a stranger was coming into the house. And, dear little reader, let me ask you the same question, “Do you love Jesus?”

You must answer in your heart, when quite alone, when none but God is looking at you. He looks into your heart, and you will not reply lightly, but truthfully.

What a beautiful reason this text gives for truly loving the Saviour, “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20.)

Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let a little child come in.

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

The Need Met

Question.

Will Jesus bless me if I come

Just as I am to-day?

I am so sinful and so weak,

And like a sheep I stray.

Answer.

Yes! yes! He calls you now to Him,

His words are “Come to Me”;

He will in no wise cast you out,

His grace is full and free.

Question.

Will Jesus save my guilty soul?

Will He forgive my sin?

Will He remove my’ ev’ry fear

And give me peace within?

Answer.

Yes! yes! He suffer’d on the Cross,

Himself for us He gave,

That we might peace and pardon know,

That He the lost might save.

Question.

Will Jesus fit me for His home

If I am called to die?

Or if He come to call His own

To dwell with Him on high?

Answer.

Yes! Jesus’ blood can make you white

And fit in heav’n to be

With Him above in perfect love

For all eternity.

O! Jesus Lord, I come to Thee,

I call upon Thy name,

I rest upon Thy faithful Word

And Thee “my Saviour” claim.

Messages of God’s Love 8/10/1919

The Forging of the Shaft

WHAT a busy scene we have before us as we look into the great forge, and where they have the large steel hammer. No doubt in those days, about fifty years ago, they thought they had a wonderful forge but many improvements have been made since that time, and such a shaft would be handled in a very different way. The crane and hammer too would be worked by steam power.

God has given man the intelligence to do many wonderful things, but the sad-thing about it is that man generally leaves God out of all that he does, and gives himself the credit, as if he had made himself. The Scripture says, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Prov. 16: 3. He is the One we need to be dependent upon for everything, and should commit all our ways to him.

“IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” Prov. 3:6

Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Walls and Gates

HAVING examined the house, we will now visit the City wall. There is always a great distinction in the East, between cities and villages, not so much on account of size, as in the fact that all cities of any importance, have walls. We find this in the Bible, in Lev. 25: 30, 31, where it speaks of “walled cities,” and villages which have no wall round about them.”

The walls are very high and strong. They are so thick that people can comfortably walk on the top. Many of the stones the wall is made of are very large. One stone on the east wall of the city of Jerusalem measures thirty seven feet in length.’ Houses are sometimes built close to the wall, and form part of it, even containing a window looking outwards Rahab’s house in Jericho, must have been like this as we read, “She let the spies down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall.” Josh. 2: 15. And years afterwards the apostle Paul escaped from his enemies in a similar way, “And through a window in a basket was let down by the wall.” 2 Cor. 11: 33.

Jerusalem has always been a walled city, and has four large gates, which until about forty years ago, were closed at sunset, and not opened until sunrise. When once the gates are shut, they will not be opened except to let in some very important person. But as people have to leave the city, or come into it occasionally by night, there is a smaller door fixed into the large one, and this is called “The Needle’s Eye”. Now, who can remember a verse about this? “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”. Matt. 19: 24.

Try and picture the scene to which our Lord refers. Camels laden with large sacks of wheat, barley, char-coal or wood, are brought into the town daily. They are the beasts of burden, for there are no carts in Palestine. The burdens are evenly balanced on either side of the camel’s back, and stand out perhaps three or four feet on each side. A camel therefore needs a wide gate to admit it, and its burden. Every traveler in the East knows from experience what it means to meet a camel, laden, coming up a street only just wide enough for it to pass through. He could not even stand against the wall; his only plan is to stoop low, and allow the camel to pass by, whilst the burden just grazes his back. So a camel with its burden could not possibly enter the “needle’s eye”. Its only chance was to go through with nothing on its back. And in like manner, when v-e come for salvation to the Lord Jesus, we must not bring anything with us. We may be rich in many things. We may have money, or talents, or wit, or beauty, but we are not saved by any of these things. They must be all laid aside, and we must trust wholly and solely in the work of Christ.

Gates in the East always open into large squares used as Market Places. Here the people meet together to talk over the news of the day, and often to do business.

The city gate is indeed the center of life and activity in a town. Here the judge sits, to administer justice. Here laborers sit, waiting to be hired. Women bring their baskets with fruit and vegetables for sale. The wealthy townspeople sit here on low stools sipping their coffee, which they order from a small coffee-shop nearby. To be spoken of highly in the gate, means that a man is respected by high and low, by the rich and poor, who are gathered round. In Prov. 31 where the wise woman is described, it says. “Her husband is known in the gate, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” There are a good many passages in the Bible where “the gate” is mentioned. One very interesting case is in Ruth 4 where Boaz went up to the gate to settle the business about Naomi’s land. He waited there until the man he wanted to see came by, and then he called him and ten elders of the city, who were evidently also on the spot, and said to them, “Sit ye down here”, and they sat down. And when the business was concluded, by Boaz buying the land, and agreeing to marry Ruth, he addresses himself not only to the elders, but to all the people congregated round, and “all the people that were in the gate, and the elders said, “We are witnesses.” Ruth 4.

In 1 Sam. 4. we get a much sadder story. Here we find the old priest, Eli, -ninety-eight years old, sitting upon a seat by the gate, watching anxiously for news of the beloved ark, God’s ark, of which he had the care. Eli’s two wicked sons had carried it away into the battle against the Philistines, and the old man’s “heart trembled for the ark of God.” And indeed it well might, for as he sat sorrowfully there watching, a man came running towards him, with his clothes rent, and earth on his head, and what terrible news he brought; this is what he told Eli: “Israel is fled before the Philistines, thy two sons are dead, and the ark of God is -taken”. And when Eli heard that the ark of God was taken, “he fell from off the seat backward, and his neck brake and he died.” What a sad, sad ending for one of God’s chosen priests.

There is a very interesting account in the book of Nehemiah of the building of the wall of Jerusalem by the men who -returned from Babylon, after the seventy years captivity. They found the wall -broken down, and they bravely set- to work to build it up again, and they had so many enemies that they had to work with their swords by their side, and every one held his weapon in one hand, and worked with the other; a man with a trumpet kept watch, and when he saw the enemies coming, he blew the trumpet, and all the builders collected together to fight.

I think we may learn from these brave men, for we too have many enemies—evil passions, and disobedience, and deceit, and pride and envy. And like these Jews, we must “keep a watch against them day and night”, and also “make our prayer unto God.” Neh. 4: 9.

One more thing we must not forget about these builders, and try to follow their example in. It says in the same chapter, verse 6,

“The people had a mind to work.” Is that the way we do our work, our lessons, our errands and our little home duties?

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto ‘men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Col. 3: 23, 24.

Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1919

The Evidence of Things Not Seen

A NUMBER of years ago when I was visiting in W. I called upon a blind man who had been known to the family for many years.

He had met with a terrible accident when he was just entering his young manhood, which deprived him of his sight.

In the course of the visit, he called my attention to an enlarged picture of his little son which was hanging on the w all. The picture had apparently been taken in a most informal occasion, for he was wearing very old clothes and shoes.

The father pointed out every detail of the picture with great pride—even to the little toes which protruded through the holes in the shoes. My heart was wrung for the poor man’s affliction, and the incident made a deep impression on my mind. He had never seen the picture, nor the loved child which it represented, but he had heard it described so minutely by his wife that it stood out most vividly in his mind. In other words he accepted the evidence of things not seen.

God tells us in His -Word that faith is the evidence of things not seen. Jesus shed His blood upon the cross to provide a way whereby we might have our sins forgiven, if we have faith in Him; as we read in Acts 10: 43, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

If the blind man of whom I have told you, accepted a human evidence so implicitly, how much more should we, with all boldness and confidence, accept God’s Word—it is God speaking to us.

I trust that my readers will take God at His word, accept His many precious promises—appropriate to themselves, by faith, the cleansing, efficacy of His blood, and rejoice in the knowledge of sins forgiven.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Heb. 11:6.

Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1919

Old Joe

AN old fisherman, who was an earnest, happy Christian, used to spend his afternoons on the sea beach, giving away gospel papers among the children, and speaking to them about Jesus, as he had opportunity. The children were very fond of “Old Joe”, as he was familiarly called; he had such lots of stories to tell of the sea and its dangers.

Perhaps the one he told most frequently was the story of his own conversion, which took place at sea one stormy night, by resting his soul on Christ through the words of Jno. 3: 16,

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

“My anchor holds there”, Joe would say, and I know of no better anchorage for a sinner than that grand, glorious verse. Many a weary, storm-tossed soul has anchored there, and found rest and peace through believing that God loved them, and gave the dearest object of His heart to die for them.

Dear children, have you anchored your soul there? or are you tossed about, afraid to meet God, because you do not know His love for you?

Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1919

Jesus

Matt. 1: 21

Jesus means the Saviour,

Just the One you need:

All who trust in Jesus

They are saved indeed.

None but He can cleanse us

From our crimson guilt;

Naught can wash away our sins,

But the blood He spilt.

Jesus Christ the Saviour,

Came from heaven above

Gave His life that we might live,—

Such His precious love.

Jesus is in heaven,

On His Father’s throne;

Every knee to Him shall bow,

All His lordship own.

Precious Name of Jesus.

Name of power, and love,

Written on His cross of shame.

Dome by Him above.

Precious, precious Jesus,

Lord and Saviour. Thou;

Gladly we confess Thee.

Low before Thee bow.

Messages of God’s Love 8/17/1919

The Sparrow's Song

I’m only a little sparrow,

A bird of low degree;

My life is of little value,

But there’s One who cares for me.

lie gave me a coat of feathers—

It is very plain, I know;

With never a speck of crimson,

For it was not made for show.

But it keeps me warm in winter,

And it shields me from the rain;

If bordered with gold or purple,

Perhaps it would make me vain.

And now that the spring-time cometh,

I will build a little nest,

With many a chirp of pleasure,

In the spot I like the best.

I have neither barn or store-house,

And I neither sow nor reap;

God gives me a sparrow’s portion,

But never a seed to keep.

If my meal is sometimes scanty,

Close picking makes it sweet;

I’ve always enough to feed me,

And life is more than meat.

I know there are many sparrows—

All over the world we’re found,

But the Father in heaven knoweth,

When one of us falls to the ground.

Though small, we’re never forgotten,

Though weak, we’re never afraid,

The Father in heaven keepeth

The life of the creatures He made.

I fly through the thickest forest,

I light on many a spray,

I have no chart, nor a compass,

But I never lose my way.

And I fold my wings at twilight,

Wherever I happen to be,

The Father in heaven watcheth,

And no harm can come to me.

I’m only a little sparrow,

A bird of low degree;

But I know my Father loves me,

Dost thou know His love for thee?

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” Luke 12: 6.

“FEAR YE NOT THEREFORE; YE ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.” Luke 12:7.

Messages of God’s Love 8/24/1919

Influence

I WANT to have a little talk with you about the word, “Influence”. If you will look in your dictionary you shall see that it means “a flowing in or upon.” It is a power, and an effect that we exercise over one another, either for good or evil.

In 2 Kings 5. we read what a beautiful influence the little captive-maid had in the house of Naaman, the leper. She was a useful girl. When all the physicians in Syria could not restore her master, she told him how he might he healed.

She was of more value to him than all his bags of gold and silver.

A very young Christian may tell the most important of all truths to a sinner —that Jesus is the only Saviour, and that all who believe in Him shall be saved.

I know some boys and girls in our Spanish day and Sunday School, in the dark, dark land of Northern Africa, from whom, by the grace of God, a good influence is flowing out to others. Two little girls especially, by their sweet and loving spirit, were largely used of God in bringing their sisters to Jesus.

The mother of one of our Sunday School children told me that her little boy, who is about five and a half years old, loves to sing the hymns we teach the children. He is especially fond of the chorus of one.

“O, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!

There is room in my heart for Thee.”

When his father, who is a Mohammedan, came home from work one day, he heard his little son singing this chorus, and his heart was greatly touched. We pray that this little boy may be used of God to the conversion of his father.

“In this world of darkness we must shine,

You in your small corner, and I in mine.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/24/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Tents.

THERE is so much about tents in the Bible, that I think we must give one chapter to considering them.

The tent in Palestine is not made of white canvas, like our tents, but of thick, coarse material woven out of goats’ or camels’ hair, dyed black, always black. The cloth is made by “tent-makers.” The apostle Paul was a tent maker, and so were his friends, Aquila and Priscilla. Even when he was preaching, he supported himself often by working at tent making. We know he worked in this way at Corinth; and to the Ephesians he said that he had worked with his own hands, to supply his needs, and the needs of those who were with him.

When a tent is to be put up, you will be surprised to hear that the women do the work. But in all Eastern countries, the women do most of the hard work. First they get some rough poles, and put them in the ground, and then stretch the cloth over them. The poles are held up by ropes fastened to them on all sides, and then fastened to the ground with long tent pegs, called “nails” in the Bible. (Judges 4: 21.)

Tents are generally divided into two parts. One completely closed in, for the women. The other open, for public use. No strange man is allowed to enter the female part of the tent. When men are being entertained, the women go into their own part, where they can not be seen, and yet they can hear all that is going on.

We get a good example Of this in Gen. 18. where we find Abraham entertaining the three angels at his tent door. They asked him, where his wife was, and he answered that she “was in the tent”. Then the angel told Abraham, his wife should have a son, and when Sarah heard that she laughed. For she could hear all that was going on outside.

There are a great many tents spoken of in the Bible, but the most wonderful and beautiful, was the Tabernacle. That was God’s tent. It was not like an ordinary tent, for it had boards covered with gold to support the curtains, and make the sides. Then it had four different coverings: one of pure white linen worked with blue and purple and scarlet.

Then another of the ordinary goats’ hair cloth: thirdly it was covered with rams’ skins, dyed red, and lastly there was a covering of the rough skin of the badger.

This tent was divided into two parts; one called, “The Holy”, where there was a table, and a small golden altar, and a candlestick, for, of course, it was quite dark under all those covers. This holy part was divided by a most beautiful curtain or veil, from the “holiest of all”, where the ark of God was kept, and where the glory of God was.

No one was allowed to go into this most holy part, but once every year the high priest went in. What did he take with him? Some wonderful present to devote to the Lord? No, there was only one thing he could appear before God with, and that was blood. You see the priest was a sinner, and the people he represented were sinners, and they deserved to die, for God had said, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Now when the priest brought the blood, it showed that something had died, (for the blood is the life) something had given up its life for the sinner. And though the blood of lambs and goats could not take away sin, that blood pointed on to the precious blood of Christ, which many hundreds of years afterwards was shed on the cross for us. And by His blood, dear children, you can come to God, for “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin.” 1 John 1: 7.

The first mention of tents in the Bible, is in Gen. 4. where we read of Jabal. “He was the father of such as dwell in tents and of such as have cattle.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all lived in tents, and all kept cattle. They would pitch their tents in some place where there was good pasture, but very soon the sheep and cows and camels, would have eaten all the grass up, and they would have to move again.

When the children of Israel went down into Egypt, they lived in houses, but when Moses brought them out of Egypt, to go to their own land of Canaan, (or Palestine) they lived for forty years in tents, in the wilderness.

When they had conquered Canaan, they each had their own portion of land, and their own house, but the Lord did not want them to forget how they lived in tents in the wilderness, so once a year they were commanded to build booths, or little huts, of the boughs of trees, palm trees, olive trees, and others, and live in them for seven days. In the city of Jerusalem, the booths were often built on the flat roof of the houses. This was called the “Feast of Tabernacles”, (or tents) and was held at the end of the summer, when the harvest had been gathered in. It was a time of great joy. One custom they had was to draw water from the pool of Siloam in a golden goblet, and pour it into a silver basin by the side of the altar, repeating at the same time these words from Isa. 12: 3. “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” This custom was not ordained of God, and we find in John: where it speaks
of Jesus being present at the feast, that He turned the thoughts of the people from the customs of men to Himself. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: any man thirst, let him come unto .11( and drink,’ “ No doubt in the midst of all this outward joy. there were many sad hearts, but Jesus was inviting- them to come to Him, and He would satisfy them, for as He says in John 4: 13, 14 “ Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh or the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst.”

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.

Messages of God’s Love 8/24/1919

Trifle Not

A GROUP of young girls on their way to play a game of tennis, were met by an aged lady, who invited them to her house to rest and have a luncheon after their game. She was an earnest Christian, and being saved in early years herself, she made it her business, in season, out of season, to recommend her Saviour to the young people around her.

Referring to her great age, while seated at the table, she said,

“My long life has been an exceedingly happy one, even amid its trials; for the love of Jesus has been the joy of my heart.”

One bright girl said,

“I wish I could say, ‘Jesus had saved me some day I may.’ “

Ten days later she lay in her coffin. Alas! her “someday” never came.

Trifle not. Come to Jesus now.

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov. 2: 1.

“To-day if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts.” Heb. 3: 15.

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

Messages of God’s Love 8/24/1919

An Exact Representation

THE scupltor is making a very good representation of his little baby boy, although it it very much larger. The artist may be able to make a perfect likeness so far as the eye can trace, but it takes God to be able to look deeper and tell us what is in our heart.

If we turn to Romans 3: 10-18. there we get an exact moral picture of ourselves which •God could alone see, so it took Him to tell us. Who would have thought of it! “There is none righteous no not one.” That is a hard thing for one to believe, and the reason is we cannot look into our own heart, and far less into the hearts of others. Once one has his eyes opened, and he’ gets into Gods presence, then he is enabled to say what God has said is true in these verses, for God is measuring man by Himself, so He has to say to us,

“ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” Rom. 3:23.

It is not a question of how far short we come, but the fact is stated which no one should deny, that we come short of God’s glory. None but God could ever let us know our true sfate by nature, and now He lets us know also what He has done to make us fit for His presence. He has come to us with His own righteousness, and offers it to every person, and puts it upon all them that believe; as verse 22 reads, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference.”

It is good that God has first given us a true picture of our hearts, and also providing for us in our great need.

If anyone is lost, it is his own fault, for God has supplied a Saviour, and offers to us His righteousness through Jesus the Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 8/31/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. Food.

IN Palestine, as in our own country, bread is the chief food, but it is not made quite as we make bread. Every household has its handmill, consisting of two very heavy millstones, the upper and the lower. The mill is always worked by women or slaves, they sit facing one another, and grind together. When enough flour is produced, it is mixed into bread in the kneading trough: this is made of wood. If you were in Palestine, you might see women going along with their kneading troughs on their heads very often. Do you wonder where they are going? It is to the public bake-oven, as there are no ovens in the houses.

We read about kneading troughs, being used many hundreds of years ago. Do you remember when the Lord sent frogs upon the land of Egypt, as a judgment, because the king, Pharaoh, would not let the children of Israel go? These frogs came up out of the river and found their way into all kinds of places, even going into the ovens, and into the kneading troughs. Exo. 8: 3.

And again in the twelfth chapter we read, “The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.” They left Egypt, you see, in such a hurry, there was no time to prepare provisions for the way, so they took their bread just as it was in the pan, and in verse 39, we find that “They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt.”

Unleavened cakes have no yeast in them, and when the people of the East are in a hurry for their bread, they make it in this way. In Gen. 18. Abraham prepared a hasty meal for the three men who came to visit him, as he sat at his tent door. First he told his wife, Sarah, to take three measures of meal, to knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. While she was doing this, Abraham ran to his herd of cattle, and chose out a nice young calf, which he ordered one of his servants to kill and prepare for the feast. Then he got some butter and milk, and presently the meal was ready, set out under the tree, and the three men ate of it, Abraham standing by. I suppose there was never a more wonderful dinner party, for as it says in Heb. 13: 2. “Angels were entertained unawares,” and more than angels for Abraham that day entertained the One who is “So much better than the angels”.

And this makes us think of a time, many, many years after Abraham, when our Lord Jesus, who had been dead and was alive again, appeared in the midst of His wondering disciples, and said to them, “Have ye here any meat?” They did not give Him meat and bread, as Abraham did, but “A piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.” Yes, He was a man, a real man, and, as such, He went up into heaven; and, as such, He is up there now, listening to our prayers, delighting in our praises, and “ever living to make intercession for us.” Rom. 8: 34.

The butter which Abraham used, and which is mentioned in other places in the Bible, was not quite like ours. It was almost liquid, more like very thick sour milk. It was often made by putting the milk into a bag made of a whole goat skin. This was hung on a bar, between two poles, and the bag shaken backwards and forwards. Something like churning, after all, wasn’t it?

Meat is not eaten a great deal in the East. In that hot climate it is hardly needed. Beans and lentils are largely used, and herbs of different kinds. They also boil down grape juice until it is quite thick. This is called “Dibs”, and is constantly eaten with their bread. Grapes and figs are also pressed into cakes and eaten. Children are given plenty of butter and honey.

Canaan was a land full of flowers, and the bees seem to have been very plentiful. It was indeed “A land flowing with milk and honey”. Sometimes the honey was found in very unexpected places. You remember the story of Samson, the strongest man who ever lived? We are told that one day, when he was walking in a vineyard, a young lion came rushing out, and when it saw him, it sprang upon him, with a fearful roar. How frightened we should have been, but Samson just picked up the lion, as if it had been a little kid, and tore it to pieces, and threw its body among the vines. After a time he came back to the same place, and there he found a swarm of bees had made honey in the carcass of the lion, and he picked up the honeycomb in his hand, and ate all he wanted. Then he made a riddle about it, the first riddle we ever read about. I will tell it to you, and you must try and answer it, and if you think very hard, I fancy you can find the meaning of it, as well as the answer. This is the riddle: “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” Judges 14: 14.

In Deut. 8: 8, the Lord promised His people “A land of oil, olive and honey.” We have spoken of the honey, and we must not forget the oil, which was made from the olive. The olive tree was formerly one of the most common and useful trees in the Holy Land, but now every olive tree is taxed, and when a farmer is too poor to pay the tax, he will often cut down the tree and sell the wood which is very useful for ornamental purposes, and takes a beautiful polish. However, it seems a pity to cut it down, as the berries are used daily for food, and the oil which is made from the berries is also largely used. To this day the Arabs dip their bread in oil. This custom of dipping the bread in a dish of oil or grape juice or gravy is very common. The bowl or dish is put in the middle of the table, and all dip into the one dish.

When mutton is cooked, it is cut into small pieces and served in the same way. No one uses a knife or fork, but each one puts his hand in and takes out what he wants.

Not long since, a friend writing from Arabia, spoke of a feast, at which she was present, where a sheep was roasted. When cooked, it was placed in the center of the table, and each one broke or tore off what he could. Being very well cooked, it easily came to pieces.

I could go on telling you much more about the food used in the East, but I think we shall have to say, good night, now. If you want to know more, you will find a great deal about food in the Bible, especially in 1 Kings 4: 22, 23; 1 Sam. 25: 18, 2 Sam. 17: 28, 29.

Messages of God’s Love 8/31/1919

Love Jesus

I HOPE you will remember your Saviour in the days of your youth, dear little friends. Unless you love Him, you cannot be really happy. There is no happiness out of Christ. You must never expect to enjoy peace unless you give Him your heart. This is what He requires, “My son, give Me thine heart.” This it is to ‘which your Sunday school teachers try to lead you.

“Come to Me.” says Jesus, and promises you that peace of which the world knows nothing.

Love Jesus now. Time is passing away very rapidly, therefore you should seek the Saviour while time is given you. The blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all sin, and then I trust you will do all in your power for Jesus while you are in the world.

Messages of God’s Love 8/31/1919

Pardon For Nothing

A FEW days since, when visiting an old man who seemed anxious about salvation, I found great difficulty in making him understand that pardon is the the gift of God, through the precious blood of Christ.

At last 1 Said to him, “Now, suppose I were to go to a store, and buy something for you, and pay for it, and tell you to go and get it, need you take any money with you?”

“No,” said the old man, brightening up; “it would be paid for!”

“Need you make any promises to pay at some future time I then asked.

“No,” ‘he replied, “I should have it for nothing.”

“So,” I continued, “it is with forgiveness of sins. The Lord Jesus has paid the full price for it! He has had the groans—the sighs—the tears—the Wrath —the pain—the punishment—yea, all that sin deserved! He bore it all! He paid the whole! Yes, bought forgiveness with His precious blood; and now He gives it as a gift to all who bring their sins to Him.”

“Yes,” said the old man, as his eyes filled with tears, “I see it now; it is pardon for nothing! Pardon for nothing! Christ has bought it, and He will give it to me!”

Messages of God’s Love 8/31/1919

A Christian Soldier

CHAPLAIN of the army once related an incident of a young soldier who, on one occasion, had consulted him on the subject of prayer.

“Last night,’’ said the young man, “before getting- into bed, I knelt down and prayed suddenly my comrades began to throw their boots at me, and raised a great laugh.”

“Well,” replied the chaplain, ‘‘but suppose you defer your prayers till you get into bed, and then silently lift up your heart to God.” A week or two afterwards the young soldier called again.

“Well,” said the chaplain, “you took my advice, I suppose? how has it answered”

“Sir,” he answered, “I did take your advice for one or two nights, hut I began to think it looked rather like denying my Saviour, and I once more knelt at my bedside. and prayed as before.” .

And what followed?”

“Not one of them laughs now, sir; fifteen kneel and pray too.”

“1 felt ashamed,” added the chaplain in narrating the story, “of the advice I had given him. That young man was wiser and bolder than myself.”

“Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My word, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9: 26.

Messages of God’s Love 8/31/1919

Bible Questions for September

Answers to Bible Questions for July.

“And they sing the song, etc.” Rev. 15; 3.

“I am He that liveth,” etc. “ 1; 18.

“And he saith unto me,” etc. “ 19; 9.

“And the Spirit and the” etc.” 22; 17.

“And the fifth angel,” etc. “ 9; 1.

“And I saw an angel,’ etc. “ 19; 17.

“Behold I stand at the,” etc. “ 3; 20.

Bible Questions for September.

The answers are to be found in Mark.

1. Write the verse containing the words,”Lose his reward.”

2. Write the verse containing the words, “One mighter than I.”

3. Write the verse containing the words, “One thing thou lackest.”

4. Write the verse containing the words, “Poured it on His head.”

5. Write the verse containing the words, “Lose his own soul.”

6. Write the verse containing the words, “All that she had.”

7. Write the verse containing the words, “He is not here.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/7/1919

Manners and Customs of the Holy Land. The Shepherd.

MOST children know that beautiful twenty-third Psalm, which begins, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”. That Psalm was written by King David, and he was indeed a good shepherd. Perhaps you think it strange that a shepherd boy would become a king, but the Lord does not choose as we choose. He looks at the heart of a boy or a man, not at the outward appearance.

An old man by the name of Jesse who lived in the town of Bethlehem, had eight sons. The Lord sent His prophet, Samuel, to anoint one of these sons. The three eldest were tall, fine looking men, soldiers of king Saul, who was then on the throne. When Samuel saw these good looking men, he said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said, “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Seven of Jesse’s sons were made to pass before Samuel, but he Lord had not chosen any of these. Then the prophet said to Jesse, “Are here all thy children?” He said, “There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.” So he sent for him, and the Lord said to Samuel, “This is he,” and he was then anointed king, with his seven brothers standing round.

Long afterwards another Psalm was written by Asaph, in which he speaks of this time, he says “He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;....to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.” (Psa. 78: 70) So you see David was the Lord’s servant, even as a boy, feeding his father’s little flock of sheep. And it was because he was the Lord’s servant, that he made such a good shepherd. If we are trying to serve and to please the Lord Jesus, because we know how much He has done for us, we shall do our work just as well as ever we can.

It was not an easy matter being a shepherd; the sheep had to be taken to fresh pasture each day, and as they went they had to be guarded from robbers and from wild beasts. A good shepherd often risked his life in the care of his sheep. Then water must be found for them. The shepherd had to know where there was a stream or a well, and take them to it, to drink.

Perhaps the worst thing was when a sheep or lamb strayed away, and the shepherd had to leave the rest of the flock, and wander, maybe, for miles, seeking the silly sheep which had run away. No ,doubt David had all these difficulties to meet, indeed, we are told by himself, that a lion and a bear came down from the hills one day, and seized a lamb, and he says, “I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and slew him.” What a brave boy! but in the next verses we find out what made him so brave; he was trusting in the Lord, and he can say, “The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear.” 1 Sam. 11: 35-37.

David is not the only shepherd we read of in the Bible; first we hear of Abel, in the early chapters of Gen., and later on we hear of Abraham and Isaac having large flocks of sheep, and many servants to care for them. Isaac’s son Jacob, when he left his home, and went to live with his uncle Laban, took care of sheep for him for twenty years, for very strange wages; he loved Laban’s daughter, Rachel, very much, and when Laban asked him what his wages should be, he said, “I will serve thee seven years for Rachel”, and afterwards he served seven more years for her sister Leah. He did not have an easy time, minding those sheep. He said that he watched them day and night. In the day time it was very hot, and in the night very cold, and in spite of all his care, robbers would swoop down and carry off sheep or goats, and then he had to pay for them. It was a hard life, and yet we are told that the seven years he passed working for Rachel, seemed to him but as a few days, because of the love he had for her. Does not that make you think of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of how much He suffered for us, and yet He loved us so much that He was willing to bear it all. “He loved the Church and gave Himself for it”. Eph. 5: 25.

There are many more shepherds mentioned in the Bible, but I have not time to tell you of them all. Our Lord calls Himself the Good Shepherd, and He says He calls His own sheep by name. That was the custom in Palestine. A traveler writing about a shepherd he often met in that country says, “Twice a day he led the sheep to the water to drink; after they had drunk he would lead them back to the hillside for more food. He always went in front of them, and used to put his hand up to his mouth, calling them as he went on. They would all run after him, some bleating, and the little lambs kicking up their heels, and jumping over one another in their play. I was so interested seeing him do this so often, that I one day asked him if he would teach me the ‘call’ he used, and he was willing. After trying some time, I thought I could do it, and I went in front of them, imitating his ‘call’. They looked up as if surprised, stopped, looked well at me again, then turned round and scampered away.” Does not this remind us of another verse in that same chapter, “When He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10: 4, 5.

I wonder if you know His voice, and are following Him, or are you still wandering away from Him, not wanting Him to find you? Will you not stop and listen, and you will find He is calling you by name; and let Him take you on His shoulders, and bring you safely home? He does all the work, you know. All you have to do is to trust Him, as those silly sheep trust their kind shepherd.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 9/7/1919

Will You Come?

EVERY boy and every girl is a sinner. So every boy and every girl needs a Saviour: and the Lord Jesus is the Saviour we need. God loved us and gave His Son, the Lord Jesus, so that He might suffer and die for us. He is the Saviour for everyone, and calls all to come to Him. Do you know His loving words, “Come unto Me. all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”? He speaks those words to you. They are an invitation which you may accept. None need stay away from the loving Saviour, for He calls all to come to Him.

How swiftly the months roll on, bringing us nearer and nearer to eternity. Surely heaven is filling fast. Soon all the guests will be there. The loving invitation is again sent to you; “Come, for all things are now ready.” How good of the great God to ask such as we to His feast of love. What is the answer of your heart to Him? Have you trusted in Jesus? Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Do you know His precious love, and love Him in return? It will prove an awful thing to neglect God’s invitation. Are you ready?

O! children, pause, ere yet “too late;”

Now is the day of grace,:

Now Jesus calls, O! do obey

His pleading, loving voice.

Messages of God’s Love 9/7/1919

Naughty Pussy

NAUGHTY pussy, what have you done? You played so nicely with your little mistress for quite a while, and then you scratched her arm!

I expect pussy did not intend to do that, but such might be expected by little girls and boys if they play with pussy. There are always consequences to all that we do. You know it would not do at all for locusts to play with chickens, nor kitties with lions; so you see we too must choose our company to play with. In Acts 4: 23 we read, “Being let go, they went to their own company.” That shows us that those who are Christians should keep company with Christians; then there are those who are Christians who may not obey God’s Word, and the Christians who want to please the Lord are exhorted to have no company with such. In Psa. 1: 1. We are told,

“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 we should love all, and seek to do them good, although we cannot keep company with all. Are you a Christian?

Messages of God’s Love 9/7/1919

Three Golden Links

“SHALT CONFESS.”

Who confesses Christ the Lord?

They who know His precious Word—

They who life in Him possess—

These alone. His name confess.

“SHALT BELIEVE.”

O, the joy of knowing this—

Christ the only source of bliss!

Not what I can “do” or “give”,

Life is in the word “believe”.

“SHALT BE SAVED.”

Precious link! the last of three,

Forged for all eternity:

Every link with mercy laved—

“Shalt confess”, “believe”, “be saved”!

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 9/7/1919

Faithful Shep

THE shepherd-dog has been sent after the flock of sheep and goats, and now he is bringing them home. They run in front of him because they are afraid of him, nevertheless he will bring them to their shepherd and the place of pasture the shepherd has for them.

How different this is from the way the Lord Jesus does with His sheep. He goes before them as He knows the way and He leads them. If we are His sheep and we follow Him we shall be led in paths of righteousness and we shall have a happy path and shall be to God’s glory pleasing Him in all our ways. We shall also be able to say—”The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Ps. 23: 1, 2.). That would be a good and happy place for the sheep, and it is such a place the Lord ever leads His own if they are willing to follow Him. On the other hand, there are those who do not love the voice of the Lord Jesus, they do not know Him, and they like to follow in the paths of sin, and thus they reap bad results. The Word of God tells us--

“ THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD”. PROV. 13:15.

Dear children, do not rest till you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Shepherd, and then seek to follow Him closely and you will not only please Him, but your path will be one of happiness.

Messages of God’s Love 9/14/1919

Sheltering Wings

“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” Psa. 91:4.

N Scotland, about two hundred years ago, a cruel king made a law that everyone in Scotland was to worship God after the form which he commanded, and all who refused to do so, were to be treated as rebels against the government, and executed. The people in Scotland were very angry at this law, and Justly so. They had been used to pray to God without having all they were to say written down in a book; and those of them who were real Christians, felt it would be very wrong to obey the king rather than God. I am sorry to say that there were many among them who had not learned to trust in God only, in the hour of trial, and rather than suffer the wrong, and go on quietly serving God in the way He wished, and braving the king’s anger, they took up arms, and fought for their rights.

This made matters worse and worse. Jesus said, “They that take the sword shall perish by the sword,” (Matt. 26:52) and so it was: and many who would not have taken the sword, suffered with those who did; for the king thought they were all rebels, and forbad anyone to shelter them, or give them food; and sent his soldiers out to ride about the country and shoot them wherever they found them.

Peden was a man who would not have taken up arms, for he had learned to trust his God; but after preaching the gospel all his life, he was turned out of his home in his old age, and had to escape into a desolate part of the country where he could hide from his persecutors. It was in the winter, and what was he to do. None of his friends might take him in, and no one might give him food. Poor old man! it must have been difficult to have trusted God in such circumstances, must it not? He wandered about as others did of old, “destitute, afflicted, tormented.” There was nothing left for him, but to hide in the dens and caves of the earth.

There is a wild and lonely glen in Scotland, called Glendyne. A brawling stream runs through it, and dark lofty mountains frown down on either side of it. There, among the trees that covered the glen. Peden fled, and there he found a dreary cave which no one would be likely to discover. It may be the poor old man had a few comforts in his lonely cave, for there were many who loved him, and who would have risked their lives to help him. I do not know how he got through the long cold winter, but one morning in May he ventured out of his hiding-place and stood enjoying the bright sunlight and beauty of the scene around him. Far down the glen there was a cottage, in which there lived a Christian man, who frequently helped him in his need. To this cottage he decided to go, and spend a few hours with his friend. With his staff in his hand, he crept down the mountain side, and arrived in safety at the house.

What a treat it must have been to him to sit by the cheery fire, and have a nice warm meal, and above all to have someone to speak to about the Lord he loved,

for whose dear sake he thus cheerfully suffered! It is not surprising, that being there, he stayed till the sun set, and the shadows of evening gathered over the mountains, but he dared not stay all night, for the king’s troopers might come and search the cottage at any moment. So he started for his dreary home in the mountain side; but as he trudged along, staff in hand, several troopers rode suddenly up: he ran as well as he could to the margin of the stream, and slipping into a cavity which the winter rains had worn in the soft bank, was completely hidden from his pursurers, who galloped over the very spot where he lay, and one of the horses hoofs went through the soft soil, and grazed the old man’s head.

How thankful to God he must have been, when he knelt down in his cave that night; and while the wind moaned over the bleak mountains, tossed the branches of the trees without, how his praises must have risen up to the One who had delivered his from a cruel death! Surely the “sheltering wings”• had been over him!

On another occasion, a few friends had joined him,—men hunted like himself from every shelter—and one day, when they were all quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger, they ventured to a farm-house where one lived who would feed and care for them for Christ’s sake. The farm house and its offices were built in the form of a square, with narrow openings at each corner, and while the poor weary sufferers were enjoying themselves within, a party of dragoons dashed into the enclosure, and took possession of the yard. What was to be done? There was not a moment for thinking over or planning any way of escape, so they boldly rushed out among the horses, waving their hats and shouting loudly. The startled horses plunged and reared, nor could their riders dismount, till every one of the men they sought had escaped to the hills. Then the troopers galloped after them; but they had had time to clamber down a very steep bank where the horses could not go, and had crossed a stream beyond, and were hurrying away to the woods. What a chase it was! It was life or death with them, for the troopers showed no mercy. For a little while it seemed as if they would escape, but the horsemen galloped hard to a spot where they could safely force their horses over the stream, and then they turned in full pursuit. Peden was old and feeble; he could not run far or fast, and the horsemen were hastening toward them. All hope was gone, a cruel death was before them, there was no earthly shelter into which they could run for refuge.

“Lads”, said the old man, as he gazed at the troopers as they swept along beneath the hill; “Lads, it is only praying people that can get through the storm”. But his friends wanted to cover him up in some hole, and to trust to their own legs for safety; but he would not let them, and kneeling down upon the heather, he thus prayed to God.

“Lord, we are ever needing at Thy hand, and if we had not Thy command to call upon Thee in the day of trouble, and Thy promise of answering us, we wot not what would become of us. If Thou hast any more work for us in this world, cast the lap of Thy cloak over old Sandy and these poor things, but if this he the day Thou wilt take us to Thyself, our souls will sing forth Thy praises to eternity for what Thou hast done for us”.

Then he rose, and ran forward a little way, but came quickly back to his friends, saying,

“Lads, the bitterest of the blast is over: we will be no more troubled with them this day.” He was right, for God had heard his cry in the hour of his distress, and covered them with His sheltering wings. High up upon the mountain ridges, the soft white mists had been lying in swelling masses; but as he prayed they came rolling down the steep hill-side—a silent but effectual answer to the prayer of faith. Down they came—till the troopers were shrouded in their folds, and could no longer pursue their

prey. Shouts of rage and blasphemy rose out of the midst of that sheltering cloud, but vain was the rage of man, and the rescued children of God could go on their way rejoicing.

Dear children, do these “sheltering wings” cover you tonight? Are you going to lie down in peace, covered with the feathers, and trusting in the wings of this loving Father?

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

Messages of God’s Love 9/14/1919

The "God is Love" Sunday School

GENTLEMAN was walking along the street, when a boy accosted him and said,

Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning,” replied the gentleman, “but I don’t know you.”

“Yes sir, you do,” said the boy, “you know me at school.”

“What school do you mean?”

“Why the ‘God is Love’ school,” said the boy. Then the gentleman knew that he meant the Sunday school, because there had been this short text “God is Love” hung at the end of their schoolroom many years past, and it being the only text in the room it was the more prominent.

He was pleased to find that the boy remembered it, and hoped that he might know God’s love.

Well, the superintendent of that same Sunday school was traveling abroad one summer, and with a number of friends he entered a large underground stone quarry.

Of course being beneath the ground it was quite dark, and therefore they had to take candles with them. While exploring the vast depths to which it penetrated, he noticed the names on the roof of the quarry of many persons who had visited the place before. Now what do you think he wrote there instead of his own name?

Holding up his candle to the stone roof of the quarry, he gently guided it while the smoke slowly formed the letters “God is Love.” A message to any who may follow his footsteps and explore the quarry. Many people know as a fact that “God is Love;” they learned it perhaps at Sunday school themselves, but need to be reminded, and how striking would it be to find these words in such a place! May we believe that God has loved us, and given His Son for us, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Messages of God’s Love 9/14/1919

He Is Waiting

When you really want the Saviour,

His great love is wanting you;

If you seek Him you shall find Him

To His Word He’s ever true.

He is waiting—longing for you

To receive His richest grace;

Come, and you will know the gladness

Of the children’s happy place.

He will give you strength and wisdom.

Pleasures sweet and lasting, true, I

n His hands are treasures golden,

Richest gifts thy path will strew.

If you do not think you need Him,

But have all you want below,

You shall have both want and misery,

And a cup of endless woe.

O be wise, now trust the Saviour,

And your heart will find repose,

Then the kiss, the joy, the gladness,

As the Father’s arms enclose.

Messages of God’s Love 9/14/1919

The Parents' Love

HOW good it is to look into a happy home where all is in peace, and where love is shown. It lets us see what God has planted in the human heart. Everyone loves the baby, but none love him as much as the father and mother, when there is a proper state. If they are proper parents they will do all in their power for the good of their children.

There is a love that has surpassed a parent’s love, and that is God’s. He has one Son whom He dearly loves, but He loved us poor sinners so much that He gave Him to die for us, and had Him charged with our sins. Who do you think could ever have thought of love like this? It was God’s love, and it took God to tell us of it, for man could not have thought of it.

“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.).

If we know what it is to have accepted that love, then we should love one another so then the next word is-

“BELOVED IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER”‘ 1 John 4:11.

There is evil also in the human heart, that came in through Adam’s fall, and so we see hatred and enmity also shown where there is the lack of the fear of God; but if we believe that God sent His Son to take our place and bear our sins and our judgment, then He has shed abroad in our hearts His love, and wants us to manifest it to others.

Messages of God’s Love 9/21/1919

A Brave Boy

AMONG the scholars in a college in a small country town were two boys—James Hartley and Edward Jemson. Hartley was a new scholar, and his parents were honest and respectable people, but not very rich. He was a bright, manly boy. Most of the other boys were the sons of wealthy parents.

One morning, as a number of them were going to school, they saw Hartley driving a cow to a field a little beyond the school.

“Halloo, Hartley,” said Jemson, “what’s the price of milk?” “What do you fodder on, Jim?” asked another. “Well, done, boys,” said a third, “if you want to see the latest Paris style, look at those boots”

Hartley waved his hand and smiled pleasantly as he passed, without saying a word. He drove the cow to the field, took the bars down, and then went into school with the rest.

At the close of the afternoon, he let the cow out, and drove her off, none of the boys knew where. He did this every day for two or three weeks.

It caused great wondering among the boys. They knew that Hartley’s father didn’t keep a cow, and as he did not choose to explain why he did this, they couldn’t tell what to make of it. Most of the boys were of that foolish class who look upon any honest labor as a sort of disgrace. And so they made all sorts of fun about Hartley and his cow.

“Well, Jim, how’s the ke-ow to-day?” was a question they often asked him.

“I suppose, Hartley,” said Jemson to him one day, “I suppose your daddy means to make a milkman of you.”

“Why not?” asked Hartley.

“O, nothing; only don’t leave too much water in the cans when you rinse them—that’s all,” said he.

Then the boys all laughed. Hartley never got angry. He bore it all with the greatest good humor, and only said, “Never fear, boys; if I ever rise to such an honorable position, you may be sure of one thing—I’ll give you good milk and good measure.”

The day after this conversation there was a public examination in the college. A number of ladies and gentlemen, parents of the children, were present. After the examination, prizes were given to the best scholars, and Hartley and Jemson, who were the smartest boys in the school both received prizes.

After these had been distributed, the principal of the school said there was one prize consisting of a gold medal, which was not often given, because it was seldom that any one was entitled to it. It was the prize not for scholarship, but for Heroism. The last boy who received it was young Manners, who, three years ago, saved a blind girl from drowning at the risk of his own life. And now I wish to relate a story.

Not long since, some of the scholars belonging to this college were flying a kite, just as a boy on horseback rode by, on his way to the mill.

The horse took fright and threw the boy off, injuring him so badly that he had to be carried home, and was confined to his bed for some weeks. None of the boys who had occasioned the misfortune were gentlemanly enough to inquire about the wounded boy. One scholar, however, not among the kite flyers, saw the accident. He went to inquire after the boy who was hurt, and ask if he could be of any help.

He found that the boy was the grandson of a poor widow, whose only support consisted in selling the milk of a very fine cow, of which she was the owner. When she saw her poor boy brought in wounded, she said, “O, what shall we do? I am old and lame, and now there is no one to take care of the cow.”

“Never mind, good woman,” said the scholar, “I’ll drive your cow till your boy gets well again.”

“God bless you, my boy,” said the old woman, while she wept the thanks she could not speak. But the scholar’s kindness did not stop here. He found that money was wanted to buy medicine.

“I have money that my mother gave me to buy a pair of shoes with,” he said, “but I can do without them for a while.”

“O, no,” said the old woman, ‘I can’t consent to that; but here is a pair of heavy boots that I bought for Henry. He can’t wear them now, and if you would only buy them, we could get on nicely.”

The scholar bought the boots, clumsy as they were, and has worn them up to this time.

Well, when it was discovered by the other boys of the college that our scholar was in the habit of driving a cow, they heaped all sorts of ridicule upon him. They especially made fun of his clumsy cow-hide boots. But he kept cheerfully on, day after day, not foolishly trying to keep out of sight, but bravely doing his duty.

The laughs, and jokes, and sneers of his companions were a temptation to him to give up, but he resisted this temptation. He persevered in driving the cow, and wearing the thick boots, because he knew he was doing right. He would’nt tell the boys why he was doing this, because that would look like praising himself. And he didn’t mind the fun they made of him, because he knew it was a feeling of false pride which led them to think that it was a disgrace to be engaged in any honest employment. I only found it out by accident yesterday.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen,” said the teacher, “I appeal to you, if there was not true heroism in this boy’s conduct? Nay, Master Hartley, don’t creep out of sight behind the blackboard! You were not afraid of ridicule. you musn’t be afraid of praise. Come out, Master James Hartley, and let us see your honest face.”

Hartley came out blushing and the whole company broke out into loud applause of his noble conduct. The ladies stood and waved their handkerchiefs, and the men clasped their hands and gave three cheers for the brave boy. Even the clumsy boots on Hartley’s feet seemed like a brighter ornament than a crown could have been on his head.

The teacher called him up and put the gold medal round his neck, to honor him for resisting temptation, and doing right.

We judge this dear boy knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and he sought to follow Him “who went about doing good,” and who “pleased not Himself.”

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10.

Messages of God’s Love 9/21/1919

Hold Me! Hold Me!

ONE bright summer morning two boys were on their way to the school at F___. They had to pass a rapid stream, which was much flooded by recent rains.

The younger of the two, a thoughtless, giddy boy, amused himself by jumping on the banks overhanging the stream, much to the alarm of his companion, who kept warning him of his danger.

The boy, to show his vaunted courage and independence, took an extra run and a jump, which, however, proved one too many, for away went the sod, and the boy with it, into the rushing torrent below.

Helplessly he was carried down the stream, his courage all gone now, and his rescue depending solely on what another could do for him.

His companion was speechless with terror; but it suddenly struck him that a little way down the river was a footbridge, and hastening with all speed, he found, as he expected, that the water nearly touched the bridge. He accordingly laid himself flat upon it, waiting till the drowning boy should reach the place, when, with an energy of grasp and determination, he seized him by the collar of the coat, and held him fast.

“Hold me! hold me!” cried the frightened boy, in trembling consciousness that he was powerless to help himself. “Hold me! hold me!” was all he could say, and only by giving himself over to the other’s strength and ceasing to struggle was he rescued from a watery grave.

Just such is the state of a poor, helpless sinner; his rescue from the waves and billows of God’s judgment depends entirely on what another—Christ Jesus —has done for him. It was not the boy’s prayer, “Hold me!” that saved him; his prayer was only the outflow of his heart, realizing his needed deliverance; but it was the work of the other boy who saved him, not because of his prayer, but because of his own ability and willingness to save one from death, who, but a few moments before, had scoffed at his warnings and despised his entreaties.

And, in like manner, it is not prayer that saves us, but “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God!” (Eph. 2:8.).

Messages of God’s Love 9/21/1919

Why We Love Him

A LITTLE girl was playing with her doll in a room where her mother was busy engaged in writing.• When she had finished her writing, she said,

“You may come now, Alice; I have clone all I want to do this morning.”

The child ran to her mother, saying, “I am so glad for I wanted to love you so much.”

“But I thought you were very happy with dolly.”

“Yes, mother, I was, but I soon got tired of loving her, for she cannot love me back.”

“And is that why you love me—because I can love you back?”

“That is one why, but not the first and best why.”

“What is the first and best why?” “Because you loved me when I was too little to love you back.”

Mother’s eyes filled with tears as she said, “We love Jesus because He first loved us and died for us.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/21/1919

A Shepherd Jesus Is

A Shepherd Jesus is, so kind!

And all God’s sheep are His,

And by His power He leads them on

To everlasting bliss.

No eye but His could e’er survey

A flock so large, so vast;

No heart but His could seek and find,

And love unto the last.

No arm but His could it defend

From dangers all around,

And lead it to the pastures green,

Where living streams abound.

Large as the flock of Jesus is,

His power is greater far,

And every lamb amidst the flock,

His power and love doth share.

Messages of God’s Love 9/21/1919

The Singing of Birds

I HOPE there are not many of my little readers who are not delighted by the singing of birds, even if it be but the chirp of the city sparrow.

And I hope there are no little children who do not love birds, for even if they were not so charming in themselves, we ought to love everything which God saw was of importance enough for Him to make.

You remember, in the first chapter of Genesis, when it tells about God making the earth, and getting it ready for the man, it was on the fifth day that He made the fowls that Ely above the earth. He had been making the grass and trees and fishes, and the sun, moon and stars; but before He made the cattle, He made the birds. Now would you not have thought that when He made grain and grass and cattle, and all those useful things, He would have thought the world was ready enough for man, without the birds and flowers?

One time a little bird taught Luther a lesson. He was filled with care and anxiety about various things, so that he was quite depressed, when a little bird came along, and went to bed in a tree under his window. He just smoothed his feathers, tucked his feet under his wings and went to sleep.

“Well,” Luther thought, “that is just how my Father would have me to be—without care”, and then the Lord preached a sermon to his heart about, “Consider the ravens: for they sow not, nor reap; which have neither storehouse. nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls.” Luke 12: 24.

Some years ago I was in a place where each morning there was such exquisite music of birds as only you who live in the country can know. But what do you suppose my thoughts about it were? I thought these little creatures are doing God’s will as I cannot do it; each day they exactly obey those instincts which God has implanted within them, and their music, as it rises up to God’s ear, is very sweet to Him. But, as for me, I can only make discord. There is not a single harmonious note which ever ascends from my heart to God, and I wept tears of agony at the thought.

Can you tell me how it was that my heart, your heart, the hearts of all, got so out of harmony with God? It was not always so, surely for “He looked upon all that He had made and pronounced it very good.” It was sin, was it not, that brought discord into the world?

But then God could not bear that it should be always so. He wanted to hear songs again from His creature, man, that He had made so good, and He planned it so, (and I must tell you that it is just like God to do so,) that there should come to His ears far sweeter, richer songs from His vile creatures, washed in the blood of the Lamb, than ever came from Adam, even from the angels. For instance, this is one of them,—

“Unto Him, who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God. even His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.” Rev. 1: 5, 6.

Now, dear child, will you not ask the Lord Jesus, (if you have not already done so,) to take the discord out of your heart so that you may sing the New song? It is a song that never was heard before in all God’s creation: even the angels listen to this song in adoration and wonder. And what is so wonderful about it is that none but blood washed sinners can sing it.

God does not invite any righteous people, only sinners. He does not invite good children, but bad children, and when such come to Him, He never turns them away, but puts this song into their mouth! Will you come?

“AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG, SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY,—-FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD, OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE, AND NATION.” REV. 5:9.

Messages of God’s Love 9/28/1919

The Bible, the Best Guide

A LIGHTHOUSE is very valuable to the mariner, to warn him from the rocks and quicksands. A rudder is very necessary to steer the ship through the ocean; but the Bible shows to immortal souls the haven of eternal rest. No other book can do this. but the Bible is God’s book. The Bible is the only lighthouse to warn off the rocks and sinking sands of error. The Bible is our rudder, by which to shape our course through the sea of life. May we value our Bible more.

Messages of God’s Love 9/28/1919

The One At Sychar's Well

Dear children, I’ve such a sweet story to tell,

Of a wonderful person who sat on a well—

After walking a distance of thirty miles,

With no one to cheer Him, or give earthly smiles.

But there was a sinner in that distant place

Whose heart He must fill with His wonderful grace;

He knew that she came in that hour of the day

When others who knew her would not come that way.

So weary and worn with the journey and heat,

That wonderful Man on the well took His seat.

Then on came the woman, He knew she would come,

He knew all about her, her life, and her home.

Then she let down her waterpot on the well’s brink,

And this wonderful Person said, “Give Me to drink.”

This greatly surprised her, for He was a Jew,

And Jews with Samaritans have nothing to do.

So she asked Him His reason for asking of her—

A Samaritan woman, a drink of water.

Then at once He commenced to unburden His heart,

And tell her of One who living water imparts.

To the sinner who knew the great burden of sin,

And a stranger from God all her lifetime had been—

He made her to feel that she stood before One

Who knew all about her, and all she had done.

He caused her to own all her lifetime of shame,

And He made her to trust in His own blessed Name.

He so filled her heart with His wonderful grace,

That she could not contain herself in this place.

So she left her water,pot just as it stood,

And went to the city to tell all she could,

Of the wonderful Person who sat on the well—

He must be the Christ who her life sins could tell!

So many Samaritans then came to hear,

From His own blessed lips the message so clear—

Of the life-giving water which He had to give

Which quenches all soul-thirst, and causes to live

To the glory of God, and constrains us to tell,

Of the wonderful Person who sat on the well.

Now this wonderful Man is the blest Son of God,

Who came to this earth for the glory of God.

To tell out to sinners His great heart of love,

That they all might be saved for the glory above.

Dear ‘Children, if you will believe on this One,

Who knows all about you, and all you have done,

You too will be saved, and this story may tell,

Of this wonderful Person who sat on the well.

Messages of God’s Love 9/28/1919

God Can See

FOUR o’clock, one bright Lord’s day afternoon. The superintendent’s bell had just given the signal for closing lessons, so the class books were marked, and library books given out in the various classes. Teachers and scholars then joined in the closing hymn.

During prayer the teacher of the first class girls saw something that grieved her much. Ruth Grey was reading her library book, though not openly; her head was bowed as if really praying, and the book almost hidden away under the corner of her jacket.

Very gently but firmly Miss A. laid her hand upon the book, closing it as she did so. As soon as prayer was ended, drawing Ruth close to her, she said,

“I want you to tell me something, Ruth; did God see you were reading your book during prayer?” The bright color that came into Ruth’s cheeks and her silence told that the little girl knew that she had been doing wrong.

Miss A. waited for an answer; it came at last, in Ruth’s whispered “Yes, teacher.”

“Now, dear, will you tell me why you held the book, as you thought, out of sight or shall I tell you? It was because you did not wish me to see. It was Satan who put the thought into your heart of hiding from your teacher that You were doing something she would not like, and you forgot that ‘The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.’ “ (Prov. 15: 3.)

We read in chapter 4. of Matthew’s Gospel how Satan once came to the Lord Jesus when He was a man upon earth and tempted Him to do wrong, but did he succeed? 0, no! I cannot stay to tell you all the story now, only a little of it.

It was a lonely desert place, where there were not any houses or stores, that Satan came to Jesus. The Lord Jesus was very hungry. He had been without food for a long time. Now Satan knew this, and he wanted the Lord to turn some stones that lay scattered about, into bread. Jesus could have done it with a word, for you know He is the Son of God, but He would not, for He knew His Father in heaven would supply His need at the right time. How did He answer Satan? With God’s Word. He said, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4: 4.)

“Now Ruth dear, the very next time you are tempted to do wrong, will you overcome by keeping close to God’s Word?”

Four little words—”Thou God seest me,” (Gen. 16: 13,) will win many a battle if you say them just looking to Jesus, and asking Him to keep His little lamb from being naughty.

Messages of God’s Love 9/28/1919

Divine Wisdom

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me:

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

What man is he that desireth life,

And loveth many days, that he may see good?.

Keep thy tongue from evil,

And thy lips from speaking guile.

Depart from evil and do good:

Seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,

And His ears are open unto their cry.

The face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Psa. 34: 11-15.

Messages of God’s Love 9/28/1919

Bible Questions for October

Answers to Bible Questions for August .

“Take My yoke upon,” etc. Matt. 11:29.

“Teaching them to,” etc. “ 28:20.

“But straightway Jesus.” etc.” 14:27.

“When they saw the,” etc. “ 2:10.

“Blessed are the pure,” etc. “ 5:8.

“For where two or three,” etc.” 18:20.

“Because strait is the,” etc. “ 7:14.

Bible Questions for October.

The answers are to be found in Luke.

Write the verse containing the words; “Come” “Now ready.”

Write the verse containing the words; “Be ye therefore ready”.

Write the verse containing the words; “Strive to enter in”.

Write the verse containing the words; “Watch ye therefore”.

Write the verse containing the words; “Good tidings of great joy”.

Write the verse containing the words; “Thy faith” “Saved thee”.

Write the verse containing the words; “Thy sins are forgiven”.

Messages of God’s Love 10/5/1919

By the Truth, and Sell It Not

Proverbs 23: 23.

It was a glorious day, and the warm sun shone brightly upon the smiling faces and gay dresses of the crowds of men, women, and children who thronged the streets of an old Portuguese town. A festival was being held in honor of one of the many saints to whom Roman Catholics pay so much homage, so shops and schools were closed, as the day was a general holiday.

Two school boys had been for some time walking together, When they got outside the town, the elder of the two drew his companion into a shady nook, whispering as he did so,

“Alfredo, I have something to show thee. See!” At the same time drawing a small, thin book in paper covers from his pocket. Alfredo’s love of reading w as well known among his school fellows, and his companion noticed, well-pleased, the look of delight that came into his face, as he turned the pages of the Gospel of St. Matthew. To Alfredo it seemed indeed a treasure not to be lightly parted with.

“Where didst thou get it, Pierre?” Alfredo asked after some time spent in a still further examination of the book. “At the fair,” replied Pierre; “I won it in a half-penny raffle.”

“Wilt thou sell it?” Alfredo asked eagerly.

“I care not to do so,” Pierre replied in a tone of assumed indifference. “What hast thou to offer?”

Alfredo drew a small silver coin from his pocket, but Pierre shook his head. A pocket-knife (one of a school boy’s greatest treasures) was next offered and refused. Alfredo felt that to give up the book would be a real trial, for again and again, as he turned its pages, his eye had rested upon the words “Jesus Christ.,” and the volume was, he felt sure, unlike any he had ever seen. He had read stories and legends of Romish saints, but this book would tell him of Christ, he must make one more attempt-to secure it. Drawing a fine, white handkerchief from his pocket, he offered it in exchange for the Gospel. The offer-was accepted, and the book changed owners, and the boys parted, each well pleased with his bargain. Carefully placing the book in his pocket, Alfredo crossed a field, and turned into a quiet footpath. He did not stop till he reached a lonely spot, then throwing himself down upon the grass beneath the shade of a large mulberry-tree, he became absorbed in the book, so that time and place were soon forgotten as he read on and on, the wondrous story (to him all new) of the birth, life, death and • resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He did not close the book till he came to the last verse of the last chapter, and then, surprised at the lateness of the hour, started up and hastened to his home.

From that day the book was his constant companion. The more he read, the better he loved it. Taught by the Holy Spirit, the Saviour’s words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” (Math. 11: 28,) seemed to him a living voice, full of compassion and tenderness, calling him, and though he did not then see God’s way of salvation quite clearly, he was reaching towards the light. He soon longed to share with others the glad tidings of the gospel, so daily, while his school fellows were at play, Alfredo would make his way to the river-side, where the village-women assembled to wash their clothes, and while they washed, Alfredo, sitting upon a stone, would read to them, and soon several began to listen, and to love the book too; and so things went on for Some weeks, till one day Father Andre, the parish priest came along, and finding how the boy was employed, took away the gospel, reproved him sharply for reading it, and threatened that if he was ever found reading such a book again he should be turned out of the true church.

Alfredo felt the loss of his treasured book keenly, but made up his mind that as soon as possible he would buy another. He had in some way found out that the gospel was part of a much larger book, called “The Bible”, and toward the purchase of a Bible, every coin, however small, that he could earn, was saved.. Very slowly his store grew, but it did grow, and when he had almost the required sum, a colporteur passed through the village, and finding that Alfredo really longed for the Word of God, gave him a copy in exchange for his savings. How glad the boy was! How he loved the Book, and pored over its pages! It was not long before he found peace in believing. He still lives, and loves to tell others of the One who sought and saved him.

Has the written Word of God brought peace and joy to your soul, dear young reader?

Messages of God’s Love 10/5/1919

Little Ernest

LITTLE Ernest, who was about eight years old, used to play church, as he called it, on Sunday afternoons, that is, he would take the Bible and read some portions from it, and then speak about the passage to anyone who would listen to him.

“Do believe that God loved His son Jesus, though He sent Him down to suffer and die for us; He really loved Him very much,” said he, one afternoon to his grandmother, who, sitting upon a little stool at his feet, had kindly consented to be little Ernest’s “congregation”. He would often speak to his younger brother, who listened attentively to Ernest’s simple language, and who loved to sing hymns with him.

And Ernest tried to practice what he found in the Bible. One day, when he was staying with friends, some little boys teased him very much, and, instead of revenging himself upoi them, he picked some pretty flowers and made a bouquet for each of them. Thus, you may be sure, his unkind companions were quickly overcome. In a little book, which he made himself, and which he always kept in his coat pocket, we found several short prayers, and very often this petition, “Dear Lord, make me good.”

Young readers, seek, like little Ernest, to return good for evil!

Messages of God’s Love 10/5/1919

Neither Shall They Learn War Any More

LET us look into the old blacksmith’s shop and see what he is doing. How interesting it is to watch him put the iron into the fire then with his big bellows blow it up until he makes the iron red hot, then he puts it on the anvil and hammers it into the shape that he wants it. He can make new things out of old and change their shape completely.

As we look inside this shop we see pieces of armor and different kinds of vessels that he has to repair, and as we look at the armor, which was used in olden times in war-fare, we can only say, How terrible a thing war is, and rejoice that this world shall yet see a time of peace, but not till the Lord Jesus will come back to reign over this earth, and He will have put Satan into the bottomless pit. (Rev. 20: 2, 3.) At that time “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isa. 2: 4:). What a blessed time that will be for this earth!

Since sin came in there has been hatred and murder in the heart of man. Cain killed his brother Abel, and so on it has gone to the present day. Even boys and girls quarrel and fight, then when they get older some of them go as far as to kill one another. How different with the Lord Jesus! He ‘ is the Prince of Peace, and He wants us to know Him, and walk in peace while we are in this world.

To those of us who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, the word for us is—

“LET US THEREFORE FOLLOW AFTER THE THINGS WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE” ROM. 14:19.

Messages of God’s Love 10/5/1919

I Trusted Jesus

I feel so ill and weary,

And cannot sleep to-night,

Please sit where I can see you,

There in the fire light.

Tell me some Bible story,

The glad good news again;

For while I lie and listen,

I quite forget my pain.

Dear mother, when I leave you,

O, do not look so sad,

You know I’ll be with Jesus,

And that should make you glad.

Please, mother, take my Bible,

And send it o’er the sea;

It is for cousin Gracie,

A gift of love from me.

And will you give her, mother,

The message that I send,

Tell her I trusted Jesus,

I found a mighty Friend.

I knew that I was wicked,

A sinful helpless child,

I did not love the Saviour,

I was so hard and wild.

But Jesus loved me, mother,

He came to seek the lost,

He gave Himself to save me,

He counted all the cost.

And so I looked to Jesus,

When I was strong and well,

And now to me He’s precious,

Far more than I can tell.

Ask Gracie to remember,

Her cousin Jessie’s prayer,

That she may trust the Saviour,

And all His kindness share.

Messages of God’s Love 10/5/1919

The Book of Books

MANY years ago, a little boy sat beside his mother as she was reading to him from a large volume that lay on her lap. Not a neat little book such as you and I are accustomed to see, for the art of printing had not then been discovered, and what few books there were had to be written with pen and ink. They were all large and clumsy, compared to ours. Well when the mother had finished reading, the little boy looked up and expressed a wish that the volume were his own. He was fond of books, and thought if this were all his own, then he could read as long as he liked.

Upon this the mother made an offer to her three sons; the two elder ones coming in just then, she saw they would all like to have the book; therefore she said that whichever son learned first to read the volume, should have the book.

But alas! the two elder boys were not at all inclined to take the trouble to learn to read. The younger one, however, set to work immediately; first he mastered the alphabet, and after a time he came to his mother for the purpose of reading a portion from the book and claiming it as his.

This reminds us of another scene of years gone by when another mother had a son standing by her side while she read from a book.

That book was the best of books—the Bible—and she read and spoke of it to her dear boy so often, that in after years he could never forget what he had learned from its pages; as we read of him in 2 Tim. 3:14, 15.

“Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that 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.”

It made him wise unto salvation. 0, how many opportunities we have in these days of being wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We have Bibles ln this country in large quantities, in large and small volumes, in expensive and cheap bindings, so no one can have the excuse of not being able to procure one, and no doubt, several copies are in your own home. May you prize it highly, read it often, and learn God’s way of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

“THE ENTRANCE OF THY WORDS GIVETH LIGHT.” PSA. 119:130.

Messages of God’s Love 10/12/1919

Among the Mohammedans

WHAT curious people you English are! You seem to do everything the wrong way! When you write a letter or read a book, you always begin at the wrong end. Instead of reading or writing from the right hand side of the page to the left as we do, you begin at the left hand side and go to the right! We always shave the hair off our heads and let our beards grow, but you let the hair grow on the top of your heads and generally shave it all off your chins! We always sit down on the ground, but you get a funny little throne which you call a chair and sit upon that! We remain seated whenever possible, but you English people are always moving about! We use our fingers at our meals, but you think it necessary to take up your food with steel or silver claws which you call forks! You always take your clothes off at night when you go to bed, but we just lie down as we are when we want to go to sleep, and have not the trouble of dressing ourselves when we get up in the morning! Our ladies never go out without having their faces closely veiled so that no one can see them, but your ladies never hide their faces when they go out! We wear very loose clothes, and you wear very tight ones; and really it seems as if you do everything differently to what we have been accustomed to all our lives.”

This is the general opinion of the people who live in Mohammedan lands when they see English people for the first time. But perhaps you are not quite sure what Mohammedan lands are, or where they are to be found on the map. Well, Mohammedan lands are, I am sorry to say, the lands in which the Bible was written, and the lands it tells us so much about. Mohammedan countries are the ones through which flow the great river of the Bible. You remember hearing about the Tigris and Euphrates, which watered the garden of Eden. The Nile, into which Pharaoh ordered all the baby boys of the children of Israel to be thrown, and by the brink of which river little Moses was hidden in the ark of bulrushes. You remember hearing about the Jordan, which the children of Israel were obliged to cross before they entered the land of Canaan, the same river in which our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized hundreds of years afterwards. Yes, all these rivers of the Bible now flow through Mohammedan countries—Egypt, Arabia, Syria, Babylonia, Persia, and the Holy Land itself, are all, I grieve to say, under the dark shadow of Mohammedanism, but liberty is now given since the war.

But you will naturally want to know, before we go any further, what we mean by saying that these lands are Mohammedan lands. We mean that the people who live there, instead of rejoicing in the light of the Gospel of Christ, believe in the false prophet Mohammed, who lived about 1270 years ago, and taught them that there was only one God, but that the Lord Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, and that He was not crucified. So you see that Mohammed made two very serious mistakes, and founded his religion upon lies. Mohammed himself was an Arab, and was at first greatly persecuted by his own people for saying that they were wrong to worship idols, but before his death, in A. D. 632, nearly all the people of Arabia had received him as their prophet, and their chieftain. In less than 100 years Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Armenia, Asia Minor, Persia, Egypt, and even a part of India, had been conquered by the Arabs, and the people of those lands had been compelled to become Mohammedans. So you see it was not by preaching, but by persecution; not by love, but by the sword that the lands of the Bible became Mohammedan lands.

Some of the Mohammedans are very earnest indeed, and try very hard to do what they think pleases God. Even in the very hottest weather they will not touch a drop of water between sunrise and sunset during their month of fasting, although they may be suffering terribly from thirst. They are not at all ashamed of their religion, and wherever they happen to be at the appointed times of prayer, they will leave off their work and go through their prayers, no matter who may be looking at them.

I am afraid we are very often ashamed of Jesus. Don’t you think we may learn a lesson from the Mohammedans, who seem to have so little of “the fear of man which bringeth a snare,” to so many of us?

How sad it is that with all their earnestness, they know nothing about salvation from sin, and nothing about the peace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, for we know, do we not, that “there is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” They think of God as one who is far, far away from poor human beings. O, how much they lose by not knowing that Jesus is the “One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” and that all who come to Him may be washed white and clean in His precious blood; have all their sins forgiven, and become children of God. This is the reason we should pray for them, that missionaries may go and tell them about the love of Jesus.

It would take too long to talk about each one of the Bible lands, so I will just tell you about a few Mohammedans who lived in Persia. You must remember that it is difficult for Mohammedans to become Christians, not only because they think their own religion is the only true one, and that Christianity is false, but also because they can only become Christians at the risk of their lives.

Do you remember what the Lord Jesus Christ said? “A man’s foes shall be they of his own household”. A few years ago a well-educated Mohammedan, who became a Christian and boldly confessed Christ, was turned out of the house by his own father because he would not give up reading the Bible. He then went to live with his sister, but she also turned him out of her house for the same reason. When he was baptized, his father was very angry, and, though not a rich man, said he would gladly pay one hundred dollars to have him imprisoned if he did not at once leave the city. A few days afterwards he was condemned to death for becoming a Christian, and when he tried to escape from the city, was betrayed by his own brother and imprisoned, and the father said that if his son was put to death, he would be perfectly satisfied and would not require his blood at any man’s hands. So you see that among his worst enemies were his father, his brother, and his sister.

Another man who became a Christian was constantly in danger owing to the efforts of his own brother to get him into trouble, and when finally he heard that he was to be put to death, he said that he could not on that account deny Christ who had saved him, and that they could only kill his body, but his spirit would go to be with Christ which was far better.

On another occasion he was warned that if he spoke to others about Jesus he would certainly be more and more persecuted, but he replied,—”You must not mistake me for a dark room Christian; I am a house-top Christian and do not wish to conceal my faith in Christ.”

I wonder if we are all “house-top Christians!” I fear we are sometimes very much like “dark room” Christians!

Another converted Mohammedan in Persia was told that he would certainly be killed if he spoke to people about Christ, but he said

“I am quite ready to die, and I think that my death would very likely be more for my Master’s glory than my life, for if I am killed, numbers of persons will read God’s Word to see what I have found in it that I am ready to lay down my life for!” Will you sometimes pray for those who, at the risk of their lives, become Christians and witness for Jesus in Mohammedan lands?

A Persian ambassador, who had been for some time in England, said when he got back to his own country.

“We have not such fine houses adorned with looking-glasses as the English people have; we have no carriages and we are not so rich, but we have better fruit and we always see the sun.”

I ask those, who know the Lord, to pray that the Persians, who are so fond of fruit and the sun, may very soon learn to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and who will come forth in due time as the “Sun of Righteousness,” that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness.

Messages of God’s Love 10/12/1919

I Love Jesus

WAS passing through a busy thoroughfare one evening, when I saw a poor blind girl standing on the edge of the path, waiting

for some one to lead her across the street.

“Will you kindly help me over?” she pleaded. A helping hand was at once stretched forward, and she was guided safely to the opposite side of the road. As she groped her way through the crowds of people, I could hear her singing heartily a beautiful little verse, only two lines of which I remember well enough to write,

“I love Jesus, He’s my Saviour,

Jesus smiles, and loves me too.”

Ah! I thought, here was one who had found a Saviour in the Person of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, and whose heart could flow out in praise to Him in such words. Her blindness was no hindrance, for she had the light of God’s grace shining into her heart, and this it was that caused her to sing with such joy.

Now let me ask you, dear young reader, can you, from the very bottom of your heart, sing the precious words that I heard that poor blind one singing? Can you say that Jesus is your Saviour and that• you love Him? He loves you and wants you to trust Him. He gave Himself to die on that cruel cross to put away your sins and mine, and now all He wants you to do is to believe on Him, and then He has endless blessing for you; blessing which none can ever take away, for the Lord Jesus has purchased it with His own precious blood.

Messages of God’s Love 10/12/1919

Harvest

HOW different harvesting is done in these days from the way many years ago. Both men and women would go into the harvest field and work together. The men would cut down the grain with a large scythe and then the women would gather it up and tie it into bundles. What hard work it was for them. They would all be worn out when night came. The improvements today do not make man any happier although they make the work much easier. True happiness is only to be found in knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and being occupied with Him.

In whichever way the harvesting is done we see the grain cut down and finally gathered into the granary. This the Lord Jesus uses as a picture of the end of this age, there will be the gathering of all the religious people who have not Christ as their Saviour into bundles for burning and there will be the taking of the saved people, who are likened to wheat, into His home above. For the Lord has said “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

Will you be among the bundles of good religious people without Christ or will you be one of those the Lord will take to Himself in His home above? If you can say Jesus is my Saviour then He will not leave you behind. He will take all His own for the Scripture says it is “They that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. ]5:23.

“YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.” HEB. 10:37.

Messages of God’s Love 10/19/1919

How An Idol Was Made in Madagascar

A GOOD many years ago a young married couple in the island of Madagascar were going to keep house. As no home was thought to be complete without a household god they asked a maker of idols to supply them with one. It was to be ready on a certain day; so, dressed in their best lambas, they went to receive it. It was not made. But the idol maker promised that it should be ready by the evening, and asked them to wait in his house. He went to the forest, and brought home the branch of a tree, and set to work to carve the idol, while the young man and his wife sat and watched and chatted with him, and perhaps made a number of suggestions as to what sort of an idol they would like. In the evening he asked his visitors to take their meal of rice with him. They watched him brush the chips of wood, left from making the idol, into the fireplace, and add the small branches of the bough and then light the fire to boil the rice. When the meal was over, they paid about two dollars for their new god and returned home well content.

Shortly afterwards, a young Christian calling at their house was led to read to the wife that part of the forty-fourth chapter of Isaiah, which describes the making of an idol. With part he roasteth roast, maketh a fire, warmeth himself, and the residue thereof he maketh a god.

The woman was astonished at the exact description of what she herself had witnessed. She felt that must indeed be a true Book, she gave up her idol and in time became a follower of the Saviour, and in that humble home the daily worship of the true God took the place of idolatry.

Read Isaiah 44:9 to 20.

Messages of God’s Love 10/19/1919

What Name?

MOTHER,”—

“Well, Albert, what is it?”

“Do tell me the way to heaven, mother.”

“ ‘The way to heaven?’ I am so busy just now, dear, I will tell you another time.”

“But I want to know to-night, mother.”

“Not to-night, Albert, I have not time to explain it just now. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“O, do tell me tonight, mother.” “Well, get into bed, and I will be up presently.”

Albert was only a little boy, he had been hearing people speak about heaven, what a beautiful place it was, and how very happy the people were who were going there; he thought he would so like to go too, but did not know the way, and had made up his mind to ask mother in the evening.

He got into his little bed, and tried very hard to keep awake till mother came up, but his eyes were so heavy he could not keep them open, and at last they closed altogether, and Albert was fast asleep.

He had not been sleeping very long before he began to dream. He thought he was on a strange road all by himself, he had never seen it before, and did not know where he was. It was not an even road, but led up a hill; higher up it looked brighter, but down below it was very dark. He thought he would go to the top of the hill to see what it looked like, so he went on, till he saw two large gates in front of him, which were closed.

Albert thought how much he would like to go in, but was afraid to knock, so he went and sat down by the roadside to watch if any one passed in or out.

He had not been sitting there very long, before an old man came up the hill, a poor old man nearly bent double by age, with a stick in his hand, but 0, such a happy-looking old man, and he went straight up to the gate as though he knew exactly where he was going; he did not stop just outside like Albert, but knocked at the door, and directly he knocked the gates were opened by two angels.

Albert had not seen such a lovely sight before, he just managed to get a glimpse inside, but it was so dazzling bright he could hardly look at it; then he wondered, what could the old man want in such a lovely place, and would they let him in? One of the angels then asked him a question, this he answered, and then he went in, and the gates closed.

While Albert stood looking on, he thought “Surely this is heaven, I wonder if they will let me in? but I’ll wait a little longer, to see if any one else comes.” And sure enough there were others coming, and when they reached the gates they also knocked, and the angels came and asked the same question, which was answered, and in they went, and the gates closed again.

“Well, thought Albert, “I will try, if that is all they have to do to get in.” So very timidly he went up to the gate, feeling rather frightened, and gave a little low rap, he felt half afraid at first that no one would hear it, and then afraid that he had dared to knock at all, but he had not long to think about it, before the gates flew open, and the angel came up to him, and asked him the same question which had been put to all the rest,—”What name?”

“Albert,” he replied.

“That is not the right name,” the angel said, “we cannot let you in;” and then the door was shut.

Slowly he turned away. “How had all the rest got in? it was the same question that all the others were asked, and he had her and hear what she says.” So he crept along behind her very softly; Bessie tapped at the door, and when it opened, such a flood of light came pouring out, and 0, such lovely music, he had never heard anything like it before; he thought to himself, “0, I must get in there.” But the angel was speaking, he asked Bessie exactly the same question.

“What name?”

“Jesus!” said Bessie directly.

“That’s right,” said the angel; and in Bessie went.

Albert did not try to follow any further, he knew now what to say; “Jesus” was the name he ought to have said; and he felt so happy, he knew the way to heaven at last,—it was knock, and then “Jesus,”—he would go back and tell the others about it, he knew many of his little friends would like to know the way too. And then he woke up, and found it was only a dream; but he remembered all about it quite well, he had found the way to heaven at last. But Albert did not, like Bessie, enter the pearly gates then; he has grown up to be a man, and is now telling others the way of salvation, for he knows the way himself. And when he is explaining it to little children, which is his greatest delight, he always says to them, it is—”knock,” and then “Jesus.”

own for the Scripture says it is “They that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:23.

“YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.” HEB. 10:37.

Messages of God’s Love 10/19/1919

The Right Time

IF you look at Ecclesiastes 3; you will find there are twenty-eight things mentioned, and for each there is a time.

Even in our everyday life there is a time set apart for different things. There is a time to go to school, and a time to come home for dinner.

There is one very important matter to which there is given a time in 2 Cor. 6:2, so will you please turn with me, and see what it is. These are the words: “Behold, NOW is the accepted time, behold, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”

Whatever the time may be, when you read this scripture, it always means the same.

God says, Now, but Satan says, Tomorrow. God is true (Rom. 3:4). Satan is a liar (John 7:44). Therefore believe God.

There is a time coming when the chance to be saved will be past; when once God has closed the door of mercy, then it will be too late to be saved, and the unsaved will have to spend that for ever and ever—Eternity—with Satan in hell.

Messages of God’s Love 10/19/1919

God's Love to Children

Little ones the God above

Cares for in His gracious love,

And that they might be forgiven,

He has sent His Son from heaven.

Little ones have gone astray,

And may perish any day;

Jesus as the Shepherd kind,

Came the little ones to find.

Little ones the Saviour’s grace

Early calls to seek His face,

Puts His love within their hearts;

Then the love of sin departs.

Little ones unnumbered rest

On their loving Shepherd’s breast;

Jesus, in their dying hour,

Watched them in His love and power.

Little ones, when He shall reign,

Joyously shall swell His train;

They shall shine in garments white,

In that happy day, so bright.

Come, then, to Jesus, the good tender Shepherd.

Come now to Jesus, He welcomes all that come.

Messages of God’s Love 10/19/1919

From a Child Thou Hast Known the Holy Scriptures

TIMOTHY was one who had learned the holy Scriptures from a child. His mother and his grandmother were women of faith and no doubt they were the ones who taught him the Scriptures. There is another thing about him he had not only learned the Scriptures but he believed them and it proved to be with a rich blessing to him after he was grown up.

It is good to see the little children even before they are able to read, looking at their picture books that give illustrations of the Scripture lessons and while these pictures often are far from being correct the incident is impressed upon their young minds and the godly parents can tell them of what the Scripture teaches and how all the Old Testament incidents point on to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Abel coming to God with his little lamb is a picture of how we can come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ as the One God has provided for us, so He is spoken of as “The Lamb of God.”

God accepted Abel because his sacrifice was a type of the Lord Jesus and He will accept any of us who will come to Him through the Lord Jesus and say “He died for me.”

Then we can have the wisdom of God in all the things we have to do for God gives us instruction for every step in our path. What a wonderful book the Word of God is. May you take delight in hearing and reading it from your early day.

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.” PS. 119:105.

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1919

India - The Tiger Spirit Tamed

ON the mountain rampart overlooking the north-west frontier of India, a fierce, unruly Mohammedan tribe inhabits one district, aptly called the Black Mountain. A young man of the tribe, wandering down to the plains, came upon a copy of the Gospel according to St. Luke. He was charmed with the story, and inquiring of a friend where any other such books might be found, he was directed to a Mission station, where he obtained the other three Gospels. He had not read the little books through twice before he was convinced, not merely of the beauty, but still more of the truth of what he read. The purity, the truth, the love, the wisdom, the goodness of the Prophet of Nazareth convinced him that He was more than a prophet, even the Son of God, and his Saviour and Lord.

He returned to his home on the Black Mountain, and told his people of his new faith, and showed them his books. His father, a fine, tall old fighting man of over seventy years, but bitterly hating Christianity, was so furious with the boy that he wanted to shoot him on the spot. The mother pleaded for her son, so the old man said: “I give him three months; at the end of that time, if he does not give up this accursed nonsense, I’ll shoot him like a dog.” During that period the young man fell ill, and seemed in danger of death, and his father exultingly said: “See! God is laying His hand on the dog; no need for me to kill him.” Then the lad began to mend, and the father was angrier than ever, saying: “I shall have to kill him myself, after all.”

A cousin came to the lad and said: “I don’t believe in your Christianity, but I don’t want to see you murdered; so I’ll help you to get away down to the plain as soon as you are fit to go.” In due time the young fellow escaped to the railway, and travelled as far as Amritsar, where he was introduced to the C. M. S. missionaries, was baptized, and began to work in the Mission hospital as a “compounder.” One day he came face to face with his father in the bazaar. Neither of them knew that the other was in the city. At once the young man turned and fled to the Mission in terror for his life. With great difficulty he was assured that his father could not shoot people in British territory as in the Black Mountain. “Ah! sir,” he said, “you don’t know my father!”

The old man was politely invited to the missionary’s house, where he was asked to remain as long as he wished. Respectful, courteous, and kindly treatment tamed the wild tiger-spirit, and he talked long and often with the doctor on all manner of subjects, day after day, till at last he said he must be going home.

“But what about your son?” asked the missionary.

“He is no son of mine,” replied the father. “I came down here with murder in my heart, intending to kill him. But I cannot do that now. Christians are better people than I thought. Take him and train him as you will.” He took the lad’s hand and placed it in the doctor’s.

“Will you promise me one thing?” asked the doctor. “I want you to read this book.” It was the New Testament in his own tongue.

“Is that all? That’s nothing to promise. Of course, I’ll read it, if you wish.”

So the old man went home, and months passed by. Again he found his way to the doctor’s house in Amritsar.

“I have not come to stay,” he said. “We have been reading that beautiful book you gave me, and as it is called the New Testament, we have thought there may be an Old one. If so, we should like to read that, too.”

He received a copy of the Old Testament and returned home immediately. Some eight or nine months later he came for the third time, and this was now his story:

“We find that the Old Testament tells of our own prophets, Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, and so on. They spoke of a coming One, and in the New Testament Jesus of Nazareth says that they spoke of Him. His teaching is most beautiful and true. He is so pure and good that He has won my heart, and I have come to be baptized.”

So this old man was baptized at the age of about seventy-two, his tiger-heart tamed, his hands, red with many murders, now lifted up in praise to God for His mercy and saving grace.

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1919

Emily and Sophie

EMILY is about six years and Sophie five years old, two sisters. Emily, the eldest, dearly loved Jesus. She would often say to the nurse, “Tell me something about Jesus, or read me some story about Jesus. 0! I do love Jesus!” and the following incident will prove that they were not mere empty words, but the heart went with them, •or, to speak plainly, she knew Jesus as her Saviour.

But Sophie did not love Jesus the same as Emily, she was not so fond of hearing or reading about Him as her sister, but rather the reverse; but we could not say she did not know Jesus, for she, as well as Emily, sought Him in time of trouble.

Well, one day when father and mother were away from home, when little baby sister Ethel, eighteen months old, and nurse, were ‘playing together, little Ethel ran into the nursery and shutting the door, somehow caught the bolt and fastened the door so that they could not get in to her. Well, what was to be done? Baby screamed, nurse tried to open the door. Emily and Sophie cried. The other two servants ran off to get a hammer and chisel. At that time Emily, remembering that Jesus was not only the Saviour of her sins but her Friend in the time of trouble, burst out and said,

“I am sure Jesus will open the door for my dear little sister Ethel if I go and ask Him.”

And off she ran into her room, to ask Jesus to open the door for baby. And coming back she met Sophie, who said,

“I am sure we shall never get the door open for baby.”

But Emily, being disappointed at her sister’s unbelief, said,

“O, Sophie, I shall have to ask Jesus again now, for He won’t do it if we don’t believe.”

The nurse, who I may tell you is also a Christian, hearing Emily, said,

“Yes, dears, both go and ask Jesus, and I will bring baby to you in a minute.”

Both went to ask Him, and while they were telling Jesus about baby, nurse went and threw herself against the door, it flew open, and so the little prisoner was liberated.

Nurse telling a friend about it said, “The door was not opened by hammer and chisel, but by prayer.”

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes; even so; Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

Emily was also looking for the Lord Jesus to come for His saints, to meet Him in the air. As when a young person was leaving their house, wishing her good-bye, Emily said,

“We shall meet again, because you love Jesus, and when Jesus comes we shall go with Him, and we shall meet one another again.”

Now, dear children, do you know Jesus as your Saviour, as Emily did, or are you a stranger to Him? A few days after the nurse arrived at their house, while out with her, she said, “Are you a Christian, Elizabeth? Do you love Jesus?” O, what questions from a baby! May every child that reads this receive these questions as to itself, and answer them. Now little Emily says to each one of you, “Are you a Christian?”

Do you love Jesus? If not, go now and ask Him to reveal Himself to you as He has done to Emily. Do not delay; your .hearts will only get harder, and the name of Jesus will not be as precious to you another time as now. Jesus still says, “Suffer little children to come unto Me.” Do not delay. Come now.

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1919

A Sweet Saying

A GREAT many years ago there lived a little boy whose name I do not know. But it matters little by what name he was known on earth. He was one of those whose names are written in heaven, in the Lamb’s book of life.

One morning he came home from school as usual, and went into the garden to pick strawberries. At eleven o’clock that same night, he lay dying in the arms of his uncle, who was a minister of the gospel. And this dear uncle said he never, to his own dying day, could forget these last words of the darling little boy: “He (Jesus) said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.’ That is a sweet saying, is it not, uncle?”

And the next moment he died, to taste its sweetness.

Dear children, none of you are too young to die, and even should you live to old age, your long lives would be far, far, happier if you accept now the gracious Saviour’s loving invitation. He longs to bless you, as He did the little ones who came to His side when on earth. Not one of these, and not one of you would ever enter heaven had He not died a cruel death, died in the sinner’s stead, and borne the wrath of God that you might be fitted to live in the sunshine of God’s presence.

O! then, does not the thought of His love make your young hearts desire to live for Him and serve Him down here?

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1919

Jesus and the Children

Jesus loves the children,

Loves them every one;

Every child He’s calling,

Telling each one, “Come.”

Jesus is the Saviour,

For them He has died,

Died that He might take them

To His home on high.

Jesus saves the children,

If to Him they come,

They may come and welcome,

They’ll receive a home.

He forgives the children,

Who confess their sin,

Saving them from judgment,

Hiding them in Him.

Then, my dear young children,

Make Him now your choice,

From all sin He’ll cleanse you,

If you’ll hear His voice.

Hear Him, my dear children,

And He’ll make you whole,

He will make you happy,

For He’ll save your soul.

Messages of God’s Love 10/26/1919

Bible Questions for November

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“For whosoever shall give,” etc. Mark 9:41.

“And preached saying,” etc. “ 1:7.

“Then Jesus beholding,” etc. “ 10:21.

“And being in Bethany,” etc. “ 14:3.

“For what shall it profit,” etc. “ 8:36.

“For all they did cast,” etc. “ 12:44.

“And he said unto them.” etc “ 16:6.

Bible Questions for November

The answers are to be found in John.

Write the verse containing the words: “Ye might have life.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Shall see heaven open.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Ye shall see Me.”

Write the verse containing the words: “May behold My glory.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Shall never thirst.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Shall never hunger.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Shall never perish.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

A Letter

MY Dear Friend.

Just a few lines to say how very pleased I was to receive your kind and welcome letter.

Dear N , it was not until last Thursday morning that....I was saved.

I have found it was of no use trying to climb to God. But I came to God as a lost sinner, deserving death and judgment. And I have taken God at His word and received Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour, who died in my stead, and I have found peace in believing and trusting in the blood of my dear Saviour.

My dear N—, for months I have been very unhappy, lest Jesus should come to call His people, for I knew that I should be left. But I thank God I am not afraid of that now, for all who believe are justified from all things, so I rest on what God’s Word says. But, dear, I sometimes feel not quite so happy, but I rest on His unchanging love.....

I have written back soon, because I know you will be pleased to hear I am saved by the blood of Jesus.

I must not forget to thank you for sending me those little books—they were a great help-to me, for-it was the morning after I got your kind letter that I knew my sins were forgiven me.....

Your ever loving friend,

L—

Could you write such a letter?

Are you happy in the knowledge of Christ as she was?

Mark well some of the things she says:

1. “It was of no use trying to climb to God.” She found her own works were not able to save her. They could not form the ladder to blessing. She had to learn that Christ is the only way to God.

2. “I came to God as a lost sinner.” It is only as sinners we can rightly come —any of us. The Lord Jesus welcomed all such. He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” And of Him the Pharisees said, “This. Man receiveth sinners.” You must come as a lost sinner.

3. “I have taken God at His word and received Jesus Christ.” This is what faith does. It believes God, because He speaks. It “takes Him at His word, and asks no questions,” as a child once said. To receive Him is to welcome Him to the heart as one needing Him. To receive Him is to believe in His name.

4. She feared “lest Jesus should come to call His people.” She was not ready —she knew she would be left behind. “But I thank God I am not afraid now.” Yes! Christ dismisses all our fears and fills our hearts with joy. He is coming for His people, but all who receive Him as Saviour now, will be received by Him to glory when He comes. Are you ready if He returns as you read this? If not, come to Him, receive Him now, and then seek to serve Him and help others.

5. She thanks her friend for sending her some little gospel books. “They were a great help to me,” she says. Have you any gospel tracts or magazines? Pass them on to others. They may be “a great help” to some anxious soul, just as the books N— sent were to
L____

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

Ready To Perish

Deuteronomy 26:5.

“Ready to perish”—ready to die,

0, how unutterably sad is the cry!

Sinking down helplessly, hopelessly, where

No arm can rescue—to depths of despair.

O, for a mighty delivering hand,

Stronger than Satan with all his dark band,

Stronger than triumphing death and the grave,

Mighty, poor perishing sinners, to save.

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

Ready To Save

Isaiah 38:20.

“Ready—willing now to save,”

“I myself for sinners gave.”

Hear the Saviour’s voice of love,

Come, ye perishing, and prove

How this mighty One can save

From the power of sin and grave

Come, ye perishing, and prove

All His readiness to love!

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

Wine and Milk Without Money

IT is of no use to me” said Mr. Ford, a baker, as I inquired if he would like to subscribe for a Bible. “I cannot understand the book, and therefore do not want it.”

“Some parts you may not be able to understand,” I said, “but those portions that refer to salvation, are so clear that it is said ‘a way-faring man, though a fool, shall not err therein.’ “

“Ah, that will not do, sir. Why, there was something my little girl learned a few Sundays ago about buying without money.”

“No doubt you mean this,” said I, turning to Isaiah 55:2, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price “

“Yes, I cannot understand it. They told my little girl this referred to salvation, but is not salvation free?”

“Why, yes, salvation is entirely free.”

“Then why does it not say that it is given,” said Mr. Ford, “instead of calling it buying without money?”

“It is not quite the same thing,” I replied.

“Not the same, well, I should like to know the difference between giving a thing away, and selling it for nothing.”

“Look here,” I said, “suppose you stood at your door with a large basket of bread, and gave a loaf to each passer by. The first person might be a rich man, with a well filled purse, he would not have your loaf as a gift; the next a proud lady, who would not deign to carry it home; the third an impudent man who would throw the loaf in the gutter, and all this because these people do not need your gift. This would be giving it away, would it not?”

“Yes, it would,” he replied; “I can understand that.”

“Well now, instead of this, suppose you put a notice in your store window, saying that any poor person can buy a loaf here for nothing. The result of this would be that all who saw the notice, and wanted the bread, would walk in and ask for a loaf, while those who did not need it, or were too proud to ask, would pass on without it. That would be selling it without money and without price. Do you not see a difference, my friend?”

“Well, yes,” said he, “my bread would then get into the proper hands, and would not be wasted.”

“Exactly, and so it is with salvation. It is far too precious to be trampled underfoot. But it is as free as the air we breathe to the hungry, thirsty, or dying sinner, without money and without even a price.”

“Jesus says, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ And again ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ `Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’”

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

The Child and the Stream

Through many a garden, mead, and moor,

A little streamlet glides,

Whose banks the daisies cover o’er,

Where many a violet hides.

And stealthily it flows along,

Each side a flow’ry brink;

The blackbird stops his cheery song,

And hither comes to drink.

While here and there his thirsty team

The careful plowman brings;

The swallow flits along the stream

And often dips his wings.

The little stream pursues its course,

So evenly and still,

But soon moves on with greater force

When drawing near the mill.

And suddenly with sullen roar,

And still increasing zeal—

It rushes through the open door,

And turns the miller’s wheel;

And then with splash, and dash, and foam,

It hurries on its way,

By many a little cottage home,

Where children are at play.

And round a bank and rocky ridge,

And by the willow-trees,

It hastens on towards the bridge,

And to the river flees.

To see the stream a child had stroll’d,

The stream he knew so well,

When stooping, down the steps he roll’d,

And in the water fell.

His mother heard the sudden scream

And fearing something wrong,

She hasten’d on towards the stream

Which bore her child along.

She scarcely gave a moment’s look,

Before a plunge she gave;

And rush’d along the babbling brook

Her darling child to save.

But when she overtook the child,

Her fears were all at rest;

She caught him up with accents wild,

And clasp’d him to her breast.

And homeward by another way,

She bore him safe and sound;

The neighbors, too, rejoiced that day

That she her son had found.

The helpless child was nearly lost,

But for a mother’s love,

Who followed at so great a cost—

How like our God above!

Who saw each poor and helpless one

Borne on by sin’s dark wave,

And sent His own beloved Son,

To rescue and to save.

From such a death to save her child,

The mother dared the flood;

But Christ, the holy, undefiled,

To save us, shed His blood.

Messages of God’s Love 11/2/1919

Blackberrying

YES, I was very fond of blackberrying, and as we lived in a real country place, where hedges were in abundance, I had plenty of opportunities of indulging in that particular taste. My sister and I often rambled out in the fields in search of our favorite delicacy, and a rare time we had of it, you may he sure. But it was not an unmixed pleasure. I often hear that the sweetest rose has the sharpest thorn, which is meant, I suppose, by those who write pretty morals in poetry, to show that there is a little pain connected with the flowery part of pleasure. Be this as it may, I am quite sure—and I speak from experience—that in getting a good handful of blackberries, one does not fail to get a fair supply of little sharp prickles that have a peculiar way of finding out the soft parts of wee fingers; and the question often was, whether the pain did not last longer than the pleasure. Of one thing I am very sure, that the thorns had a way of lingering longer in the fingers than did the juicy berry remain in the mouth. Another thing I particularly remember, that the reception at home after our rambles was anything but pleasant; no doubt it was anything but pleasant for mother, who had spent all a mother’s pains in the adjustment of dresses and aprons—to say nothing of the rosy cheeks that. follow a free application of soap and water, and towel—to see us return what artists call a pair of pictures in “black and white.” Besides, our very efforts to remove the stains that had dyed lips and chin only served to make matters worse, and to spread the inky fluid over a wider space, to say nothing of the tell-tale aprons. It seemed so very provoking that one could not indulge in a feast of blackberries without such after unpleasantnesses. But chastisement and love were happily blended together, and the dear mother who, long, long ago has gone to be with Jesus, knew how to meet childhood’s waywardness in her own loving way, and soon put matters right.

But years came and went, and, like others, I sought pleasure, and found the thorn and the stains—stains of a deeper dye—you know what I mean—but which, I am thankful to say, have been washed away in the blood of Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 11/9/1919

Jesus Loves You

ON a certain Sunday afternoon I was busy teaching in the Sunday school, when all at once an unusual shouting and laughing in the street disturbed our quiet. I looked at my boys inquiringly.

“O! Miss B____ it is only the boys of the gipsy-wagons who are playing out there.”

“Well, we must invite them in.”

“What! Miss B let those gipsies come in here?” they all cried out together.

“Yes, ask them. Open the door.”

“Come in, boys!” I cried out, when the door was open, “I am just beginning to tell a nice story. I am sure you would like to hear it.”

A moment’s hesitation, and then they came in. There were about seven or eight of them, real rough boys, dirty, with torn, ragged clothes, and sticks in their hands. A moment later they were sitting on the benches, looking around them with wondering eyes.

I began my story, and what I had hoped for happened. The new boys listened attentively from beginning to end. Then I questioned my boys about what I had been telling them and heard their answers, while the others listened in amazement. After this a hymn was given out as usual, of which the refrain was:

“O! come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

This refrain was repeated so often that I had no doubt, but that the new boys knew it by heart.

“Boys!” said I, “now you know it certainly by heart and can sing with us.”

To the astonishment of my own scholars, they at once sang with us, loud, clear and pure. When the singing was over I said to them,

“Now I want to ask you something. Will you promise me that when you return to your wagons you will go at once to your father and say: ‘Father, Jesus loves you!’ And then to your mother the same thing: ‘Mother! Jesus loves you’!” They promised and went away.

The following Sunday they were there again, and to my great surprise they looked entirely different. I scarcely recognized them, so clean and neatly they were dressed. From that day forth they came regularly to Sunday-school.

Three weeks later a workman addressed me and said:

“Miss B____ among the gipsies they are talking a good deal about you. Their chief tells to everyone that he is quite changed through a message that you sent him. And it appears to be true, because formerly he was always drunk. He was one of the foremost in fighting and swearing. And now he doesn’t seem to be the same man. He says frankly to everybody that for the future he will serve God. He would like to have a talk with you.”

And so it happened that the following Sunday when the boys were leaving, I saw an old man, standing at the door, strangely dressed in a long embroidered tunic, with a felt hat and an unusually thick stick in his hand. When he took off his hat I noticed that his hair was grey.

“Thanks be to God, Miss!” He cried out, “for all this, and for what He has done for me.”

“And what has He done for you?” I asked, with a friendly manner.

“Well, Miss! You called our boys in here, the boys of the gipsy-wagons, and gave them a message.

My little Mark, when he returned, came right to me, climbed on my knee and said: ‘Father, we have been with the teacher in the school, and they sang there so beautifully, and the teacher told us such a nice story, and she said that I must tell you that: Jesus loves you. 0 Miss! I did not know what I heard, and my first impulse was to push the boy out of the wagon, for you must know that I was a bad man, and had often made a bad use of the name of Jesus. But it did not last long before the boy came back and began singing:

“0, come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t stay in the wagon. I went outside without thinking of supper or anything else, and the whole evening I wandered around in solitude. My whole life passed before me. I had led a bad life, neglected my children and set them a bad example. This all rose up before me and made me miserable. The following Sundays I went to church, first to one, then to another, in the hope of hearing a word of comfort, and on a certain morning I heard some one preach on the “Bread of Life.” That touched my heart. One day the week after, I was in my wagon on the way to the city to fetch, materials for my basket-making. Yes, I said to myself, This is now for the daily bread, but the “Bread of life” where shall I find that? I was so troubled that I remained behind alone, and creeping into the bushes I knelt down and cried to God,

“O, Lord! I am only a poor sinner, but I must have the Bread of Life, or else I have no rest. Yes, I must be delivered from sin. O, God! have mercy on me!” And God had mercy on me. For see, in the middle of my prayer the words of the hymn came back to me:

“O, come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

Yes, Jesus came to me and remained with me. Then I went back to the wagon, and on the way to the city I was the whole time thanking God for what He had done for me. My wife and children were surprised, not knowing what had happened to me: they really thought I was not quite right in my mind. And now Miss! since then I tell everybody about Jesus.”

It was really just as he said. Everywhere he went, (and he traveled all over the country with his wagon), he bore testimony to the love of the Lord Jesus that he had learned to know for himself.

This was one glorious fruit of the Sunday-school, and at the same time a proof that God will also use children to make known to others His message of love and salvation.

Dear young readers, it is not enough to hear regularly about the Lord Jesus and all that He has done. No, we must know Him personally as our Saviour, and be able to cry out, “Jesus loves me, He has saved me from eternal condemnation. He died for me and therefore I am free from the punishment of sin.” And when you have learned this, your heart will compel you to call to others, “Jesus loves you.’“

Messages of God’s Love 11/9/1919

What We Should Be

Like a lovely opening flower

Born to cheer a gloomy day,

May we in our native bower

Shed a fragrance by the way.

As an ever gliding river

Sheds refreshment in its flow,

May we flow as free, and ever

Cheer and comfort where we go

Though a cloud may hide the shining,

Throw a shadow o’er our way,

May its bright and silver lining

Cheer us with its hopeful ray.

Messages of God’s Love 11/9/1919

It Was Not Real

WHEN I was a little girl, I was once taken to a circus where some wonderful performances were taking place. There were men and women, and little children, too, who rode on bare-backed horses, and jumped through paper hoops, and did such wonderful things altogether, that it almost took away my breath to watch them. And O! what beautiful clothes they wore! And how they flashed and glittered as the brilliant light fell upon them.

When I came home I could think of nothing else but these fairy-like creatures. My own simple dress seemed so common and poor after those magnificent spangled garments, and I began to long to possess the same. Our mother, after many entreaties on our part, took my sister and me to the crowded performance another evening. This time we were more enraptured than ever! We watched with breathless interest the agile movements of the actors; and lingered in our places some little time after the performance had ended, loth to leave the fairy-like scene. As we at length were leaving, and making our way out, a side door opened, and a small company passed out. I looked and looked again
at these people—could it be? Yes, there was no mistake—for in the weary, downcast faces of the elder ones, and the pinched, hungry looks of the children, I recognized the countenances of those who had a short time before so fascinated my childish heart. O! where were the beautiful spangled dresses, and the smiling countenances, and the rosy cheeks? All gone! It wasn’t real after all! And with a great pang of disappointment, turned away.

IT WAS NOT REAL! Under those fine clothes were aching hearts most likely, and the smiles were only put on for the occasion to please the public.

God wanted to teach me a ,lesson at that time, but I did not learn it for many years after. He has shown to me now, dear boys and girls, that all that is not of the Father is unreal.

Some of you may be looking forward to taking your place in the world by-and-by, and a bright, unclouded future seems to be opening for you; but 0! when you approach it, you will find the things you thought would bring you so much happiness, will fail to satisfy you. Why? Because we only know what happiness means when we take Jesus as our Saviour.

“In whom, (Jesus Christ) though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Pet. 1:8.

“IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY; AT THY RIGHT HAND THERE ARE PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE.” Psa. 16:11.

Messages of God’s Love 11/9/1919

The Lost Sheep

WILL you follow me to the ridge of a high mountain? On the top stand three men; within a few feet of them is a deep ravine, or chasm, which divides the mountain into two parts.

Two of the men are uncoiling a very long, thick rope; they begin to tie it securely under the arms and around the body of the third, who then very cautiously proceeds to the edge of the precipice, and gradually slides over, down, down, down, such a long, long way. The other two men keep fast hold of the rope, and let it run out very slowly, until they hear a voice from the bottom crying, “Stop!”

Holding the rope fast, they listen anxiously until the voice from below calls out, “All right, pull up now!” They do pull, but it is now much harder work than it was to let him down; the two men have to pull away with all their strength; but before long, to their great delight, the man .appears at the top with something in his arms, which lie very carefully lays on the ground.

Perhaps you wonder what it was which this man had risked his life to fetch. I think I hear one boy say, “It was some stolen treasure hidden there;” another, “Perhaps a lot of gold;” while a third guesses, “Precious stones.” No! All wrong. I am afraid, if you were to guess for some time you would not find it out, so I will tell you.

The men were shepherds. and the burden carried up from the bottom of the chasm, was a pretty sheep, which had wandered away from the fold.

The entrance of this chasm at the bottom. of the mountain was wide, but gradually it became narrower and narrower, until the path was so narrow and rugged that the sheep could not go a step farther, and you know that a poor silly sheep can never find its way back when it has strayed away; so the lost sheep must have perished, had not the good shepherd, who loved and valued it too much to be willing to lose it, risked his own life to save it. He had tried to follow, but found it quite impossible, and the only way to save it from death was by some one being lowered down from, above to the place where the sheep was, that he might bring it up in his powerful arms to a place of safety.

Can my little reader tell me who that sheep is like? I think I hear the reply—

“The sheep is like Adam, who left the good Shepherd in Eden, and like the boys and girls and men and women of the world who have followed in his footsteps.” Yes; the Bible; tells us so plainly; it says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way. (Isaiah 53:6.) Notice the word “all”; there is another “all” (Romans 3:23), “All have sinned.” We have all turned our backs upon God, and are wandering in this dark and sinful world. with nothing but ruin, misery, and death before us. Now notice, in the next place. that no help from below could save the sheep; so God has written, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother,” (Psalm 49: 7), so that if help comes at all, it must come from above. How wonderful to think that, just as the shepherd came down to the very place where the sheep was perishing, so

“Jesus who lived above the sky,

Came down to be a man and die.”

The good Samaritan, as we read in the parable, first of , all came where the wounded man was, and then went to him; so Jesus has been where we are, in all our need; and now it is His delight come to us, and take us under His tender care.

You see the sheep could do nothing to save itself; it was helpless, brit the shepherd took it, in all its helplessness, and carried it in safety up to the top. So we read (Romans 5:6) that “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”; and I can assure you, dear children, that Jesus, who came to seek and to save the lost, is waiting willing, ready to seek and to save you.

“How great is the love

Which Jesus hath shown!

He came from above,

From heaven’s bright throne,

That He might deliver

Poor sinners from hell,

And take them forever

In glory to dwell.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/16/1919

The Bible Tells Us

The Bible tells us Jesus came,

From glory bright and fair;

God’s perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb,

His mercy to declare.

The Bible tells us Jesus died,

A sacrifice for sin;

The gates of heaven to open wide

That all may enter in.

The Bible tells us Jesus rose

And left the silent grave,

Triumphant over all His foes

The mighty One to save.

The Bible tells us Jesus lives

Again upon the throne,

The blessed proof the Father gives

That mercy’s work is done.

The Bible tells us He will come

To take His saints away,

To dwell with Him in His blest home,

Through everlasting day.

The Bible tells us all may come,

And drink at mercy’s stream;

And Jesus soon will share His home

With all who trust in Him.

Chorus:—

Then let us value that blest Book,

And at its pages often look;

The Bible is God’s Word.

“THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME.” Psa.138:2

Messages of God’s Love 11/16/1919

Peter in Prison

Acts 12.

IF you will read over this chapter very carefully, dear children, you will see that it speaks of two men, whose character and circumstances God brings before you. The stories of these two men seem tct be placed side by side, in order that we may compare them. One is the king of a beautiful country, rich and flourishing, at peace with his neighbors, and flattered by them and by his own subjects; the other is a simple countryman, a fisher-Man, shut up in a dungeon, with soldiers to guard him. You may imagine the crowds going on their usual course, and passing by the walls of the great fortress prison without caring who was within; they pushed on to get to Herod’s reception hall, but not one of them cared whether Peter lived or died.

God, however, looked down on the busy city, and saw things differently from man. One of His own messengers was shut up in prison, and the blood of another (James), had just been added to the many whom the city of Jerusalem had murdered. But there were a few in the city whose thoughts were something like God’s thoughts. What were they doing? They were praying—praying that God would get Peter out of prison? You might have said, dear children, How useless to pray! There were thick walls all round the cell where Peter was; could God get him out in spite of them? Yes; those people believed that God was Almighty, and they believed that God loved Peter, and that He loved them, and they wanted Peter back again to teach them and help them. They did not think of the thick walls or of the great gates- with iron bars, or of the chains which bound Peter fast, or of the sixteen soldiers who kept him. They simply looked at God, and thought that the walls, the bars, the chains, and the soldiers, were nothing to God. And God heard them, and sent His angel, who brought Peter out of prison, and restored him to his friends, that they might praise ‘God together.

Some days after, the angel was sent on another message. Herod was on his throne, and the, people were all round him, shouting out their wicked flatteries in his ears, calling his voice “the voice of a god, and not of a man.” And God sent His angel, who smote Herod, and “he was eaten of worms and died.”

Which was best off, dear children? Peter alone in the dark dungeon, or Herod on his throne surrounded by admiring multitudes? You will all say that you would rather have been in Peter’s place than in Herod’s. Peter had the Lord with him, and the Lord’s people praying for him.

Learn another lesson—that is, “There is nothing too hard for the Lord;” Go to Him in all your difficulties and troubles. Stone walls and iron bars are nothing to Him. Another lesson is: “Join together to pray. as Peter’s friends did.” For God’s word says, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19.

Messages of God’s Love 11/16/1919

A Letter from Australia

IN the year 1872 I was crying to God to save an ungodly brother of mine. He had been a great trial to my dear Christian father, who often gave him a word of warning. At last my brother was determined he would have his own way, and left his father’s house for Australia.

Several years passed away, and then I wrote to my brother, entreating him to come to Jesus. I enclosed a hymn leaflet, every verse ending with these words: “For you I am praying, I am praying for you.” After three months I received an answer from my brother, desiring me never to write to him again, unless I could do so without alluding to religion, or that sort of thing; he was very angry with me.

I took him at his word, and decided that I would not write again, but would pray more for him. I also asked some Christians to carry him to God in prayer. About three months after this sad letter, came the postman and handed me another foreign letter, to my great surprise, And more surprised still was I as I commenced reading the letter, which ran thus: “My dear sister, you shall be the first to whom I will tell the good news that I am rejoicing in the joyousness of Jesus. O! dear sister, your letter made me wretched, but mine will make you glad; for I have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. After your letter came, I went more into sin than ever I had done, till one night I felt very ill, and then made up my mind if I got better I would go to chapel some Sunday. After I recovered I went, but it only made me feel more wretched. I was glad when the service was over. I felt there was no mercy for me. Then I was very ill again, and could not work.

0! what a wretched time this was! I again thought if I got better I would go to chapel. God, in His love, raised me up again, and I carried out my good resolution. I thought the preacher knew all about me, for every word he said was just for me; I could not rise from my seat; there I sat while the people all went out. I could not go; I sat and cried.

A good man came to me, and asked if I was saved; I told him no, neither could I ever be. Several of God’s people knelt clown, and prayed for me, but this did me no good.

At last I left. But I felt I could not go home; I walked about to a very late hour, praying to God to pardon my many sins, and to let me know it. And as I was walking and praying, these words came to me as if someone spoke to me: `This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ I saw it, and went home rejoicing, dear sister.

“I at once went out and told others what the Lord had done for my soul; yes! the very street knew I was a saved in-an; to God be all the praise!”

I would add a word to any of my Christian readers: O! be faithful with your unconverted relations! Never mind making them angry. The word will be a savor of life unto life or of death unto death to them. We can sometimes reach our friends better by letter than by speaking to them; but let us write God’s word and not our own. His words may have a lodging-place in their consciences long before it is made manifest to us, as was the case with my brother. Often those who seem to reject the name of Jesus, want Him in their hearts.

Messages of God’s Love 11/16/1919

A Child's Trust in God

A LITTLE girl of about seven years of age was once taken by her mother to spend the afternoon and early part of the evening at a relative’s house on the other side of the large town in which both lived.

This was a pleasant treat for the child, and she much enjoyed it, till she found out during their homeward walk that her dear mother wished to go as usual to the weekly prayer meeting, and intended to take her almost within sight of home, and then let her run the rest of the way by herself.

There was no real reason why the child could not do so with safety, as it was not dark, but her road ran by the side of a large enclosure which made it rather lonely. So although she had cheerfully told her mother that “of course she could go alone, and was sure not to get hurt in any way,” yet after quite losing sight of her protector, a sudden feeling of fear .came over her, but she hurried on trying to keep up a brave heart. At that moment the loud barking and growling of a large dog began, from within the iron gates belonging to a house which she must pass to get home. This sound was more terrifying to poor little Bessie than almost any other could have been. She was naturally rather afraid of dogs, although of course it was very silly of her to be so, she would at any time pass a whole field full of cows without fear, but dogs she did not like.

To make it worse she had not long before been chased by a dog till she had fallen violently to the ground, too exhausted by running, and too alarmed to pick herself up again without help. The dog only intended it for romping fun, but as poor Bessie did not know this it was no fun to her.

You can now understand that this fright which perhaps to most of you who may be more sensible in this respect would have been no fright at all, was to Bessie a very real thing. She stood still, trembling all over, her heart beating loudly, yet trying hard to be brave. What had she better do? she asked herself. Should she run back, overtake her dear mother, and confess to her that she really could not pass that dreadful dog which she felt sure was only waiting to spring out upon her? If she did so, it would only trouble her kind mother and would of course prevent her from going to the meeting, and this all through her child’s folly. No, she could not do that. There was her home almost within sight of her, yet she dare not take another step towards it by herself. To stand still would not do either; as it was growing later and darker every moment, and she must obey her mother’s word to go straight home at once, yet how could she? 0, if only some kind-looking per son would but come along just then who would protect her, but if any such passed Bessie was far too shy to make known to them her trouble.

Suddenly a very happy thought came into the little girl’s mind. “Why not tell God all about it? He is looking at me now; of course He can take care of me, He can stop that great dog from rushing out at me, and I believe He will if I ask Him.” Instantly up went to God a simple eager little prayer, a child’s cry of distress, to which God ever lends a ready ear.

“0 God, do please take care of me now I am alone, don’t let that big dog run out at me as I pass. You can keep him back I know, and I believe You will. Do, please, for Jesus Christ’s sake, Amen.” God loves such eager, simple little bits of real prayer from the very hearts of children who know not how “to order their words aright before Him,” but whose pressing real need forces them, in their utter helplessness, to cry out for His aid and to lean themselves wholly and entirely upon His strength.

Little Bessie quickly reached her home in perfect safety, thinking all the time to herself, “How very silly it was of me not to think of asking God before; how was it I quite forgot that He was watching me all the time, and would help me directly I asked Him to.” As she laid her head on her pillow that night, she thought she could understand now something of what the Psalmist David must have felt when he sang out so joyfully, “I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.” (Ps. 116:1.)

Little ones, have you ever yet been able to say that? Have any cries of real distress, of felt need, of utter weakness and inability to help yourselves ever gone up to the living, loving Lord from your hearts and lips? Have you ever yet prayed earnestly, that God would for Christ’s sake save you from the jaws of a far more terrible foe than the one which frightened Bessie so much, even from Satan who walketh about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8.) Bessie’s foe was an imaginary one, yours is not! But Bessie s need was very real to her, because her sense of danger was so great.

0, may your sense of danger and deep need be even more real to you, that your cry may be as sincere, your trust in God as true, and your sense of deliverance sweet and lasting. You may not be troubled with any needless fears of any ferocious dog lying in wait to catch you, but 0, beware of that lurking enemy of your souls who lies in wait to take you for his prey. Yet remember, God is both able and willing for Christ’s sake to deliver you out of his power if, feeling and knowing your danger, you cry unto Him to save you.

“THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR?” Psa. 27:1.

Messages of God’s Love 11/23/1919

A Young Hero

THE schooner’ “Cornelia” was in the middle of the Atlantic, and a furious storm was raging. The ship was in great danger and the captain and crew did everything in their power to keep the vessel afloat. All the sails were taken down and fastened, but now the tackling in the top of the high mast broke loose. Then the captain called one of the sailor-boys and said to him,

“Henry, climb up there and fasten up those ropes.”

Henry was a slightly built, weak-looking little fellow of thirteen years. He looked up, then down at the foaming waves beneath and disappeared in the cabin, out of which he emerged a few moments later. One of the passengers watched the boy anxiously as he climbed up. There he was hanging in the rigging. The wind stormed and raged, but Henry held on firmly. In a quarter of an hour he was again on deck in safety. The passenger went up to him and asked him if he had not been afraid, and why he had gone first into the cabin.

“I thought that I might perhaps not come down alive, so I went into my cabin and commended my soul to God.”

“Do you pray often, my boy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where did you learn to pray?”

“At home. My mother sent me to the Sunday-school. The teacher told me to pray to God and ask Him to keep me, and this I have done ever since.”

“The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:12.

Messages of God’s Love 11/23/1919

Dear Little Michael

‘Twas in a garret cold and bare,

That little Michael lay;

He was a humble little boy,

Who suffered night and day.

No earthly comforts had poor Mick,

Yet not one murmuring word,

Escaped his lips; no sad complaints

From him were ever heard.

In summer time his room was hot,

In winter, bitter cold;

It was a little frightening, too,

When thunder o’er him rolled.

But Mick had heard at Sunday school,

Of One who for him died;

The One who put away his sin,

When He was crucified.

He trusted Him who loved him so,

Without one doubt or fear;

And in his lonely garret home,

He knew the Lord was near.

One day a Christian lady called,

To see the little lad;

His sufferings, and surroundings, too,

Made her feel very sad.

“You’re very ill, dear boy,” she said,

“And maybe you will die;

If this should happen, would you go

To mansions in the sky?”

“Yes, I am sure I would,” said Mick

“For Jesus died for me,

My many sins on Him were laid,

When hanging on the tree.

‘I verily, say unto you,

He that My word doth hear,

And in the One who sent Me trusts,

Hath life, and need not fear.

No condemnation shall he know,

From death to life he’s passed.’

Thus Jesus spoke, and I believed—

The death-line I have crossed.

My Saviour never told a lie,

And never, never will;

And every promise He has made

He’ll faithfully fulfil.”

Tell me, can you as truly say,

What little Michael said;

If God should call you from this world,

O, would you he afraid?

Or, could you say, “I fear no ill,

For Jesus Christ, my Lord,

Has borne sin’s punishment for me,

I’m trusting in His Word?

No condemnation do I fear

The ‘Blood’ is all my plea;

If Jesus comes, or if I die

His home, my home shall be.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/23/1919

All Are Welcome

SFFER little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16.

O! I am glad of these words of the Lord Jesus, and that He did not say, “Suffer rich little children,” or “Suffer poor little children,” but simply, “Suffer little children.”

“Suffer little children” means all little children. Perhaps those who were brought to the Lord Jesus were poor little children, or it may be they were rich little children. We know not. We are not told. But this we know, that all who came were blessed.

And today, every child who comes to I-Tim is welcomed by Him, whether he belongs to the cottage of the poor, or to the mansion of the rich.

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

“Blessed are all they who put their trust in Him.” Psa. 2:12.

Messages of God’s Love 11/23/1919

Clemens' Prayer

LITTLE Clemens’ mamma was very ill, and friends felt much anxiety as to her recovery. When the little boy prayed at night, he asked God to make his mamma well again.

What a touching little prayer from the lips of a mere babe! And how pleasing to God to see the dear little heart rising to Himself in this simple petition.

What a lesson for all other children, as well as older people, to bring their trials and anxieties to Him, whose ear is ever open to hear. God has told us many times in His Word and He delights in those who trust Him.

May all who read these lines believe on His blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and trust Him for the salvation of their souls. And also make Him a resource in all the trials and perplexities that come in life’s pathway.

“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.” Psa. 147:11.

“He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” Psa. 32:10.

Messages of God’s Love 11/23/1919

Edith and the Snowflakes

“Come, look at the snowflakes, mother

So pure and white and fair!

They are falling all around us,

And resting everywhere.

No leaves are seen in the garden,

The snow has covered all;

I think I should never weary

Watching the snowflakes fall.

“To me they seem just like treasures,

Strewn by some unseen hand:

By one who delights to spread them

Upon both sea and land.

I wonder not that their beauty

Is far too fair to last,

For their pure and dazzling brightness

Can never be surpassed.”

Then mother drew near the window,

Smiled at the darling fair,

And then smoothed the flowing tresses

Of darling’s flaxen hair.

She gazed at the childish features

(So full of beauty now).

With the grace of childhood playing

On lip, and cheek, and brow.

“The snowflakes are pretty, Edith,

And pure, and fair, and white;

But I know of something fairer—

More spotless in God’s sight.

I’ll tell you about it, darling,

For you would like to know

How aught on earth can be fairer

Than e’en the pure, white snow.

“I have often told you, Edith,

Our hearts are full of sin,

And naught that is pure and holy

By nature rests within.

That God from His holy dwelling

Looks down on all we do,

For He knows our hidden motives,

And reads us through and through.

“He saw we were lost and guilty,

So He devised a plan,

By which to bring full salvation

To sinful, ruined man.

God sent down His Son from heaven,

He spared Him from His side;

And that we may be forgiven,

The blessed Saviour died.

“Yes, darling, He came to save us

By dying on the tree;

And He bore the awful judgment—

Bore it for you and me.

By His blood has made atonement

For all who will believe

And He waits today to bless us,

If we His word receive.

“His blood is so precious, Edith,

It cleanses from all sin,

And it leaves the soul as spotless

As though no stain had been.

It is fit for God’s own presence,

Christ’s blood hath made it so;

The soul that has trusted Jesus,

Is whiter far than snow.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/30/1919

My Conversion; or, Because God Says So

MY parents were children of God, and were anxious that my brothers and sisters, together with myself, should be brought to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. They insisted on our going to the Sunday school, and also to hear the Word of God preached. The preaching on one Sunday night I well remember. When it was over the preacher went to the door, and spoke to the people as they passed out; presently he took my sister aside and spoke to her. I saw the tears flow, indeed I believe my sister was converted that night. In anger I said, “If that’s the way he goes on making people cry, he is not going to speak to me,” and, crossing over the room, I went out by another door.

I lived on without God, getting further and further away from Him after this but at length the Holy Spirit arrested me, showing me that I was a lost, hell-deserving sinner. He also showed me that I could not get salvation by my own works.

I was miserable, and continued in this, state for some time, praying God to save me before it was too late, for I knew that if I died in my sins my portion would be outer darkness for ever and ever. I knew if the Lord should come, and with His voice wake the dead and call the living, and take them to His home, that my parents would go with Him and that I should be left behind. Though the Word told me that Christ came to seek and to save the lost, I could not make. Him my own. Prayers and works were of no avail, and my misery increased,. until God in His grace showed me what does avail.

One Saturday morning„ while getting my breakfast, I was reading in a monthly periodical a piece entitled, “Because Go-1 Says so.” The story was about an old lady questioning a gentleman as how she was to know she had eternal life. The gentleman told her to believe she had it, and on this ground, “because God says so.” Those few words were used to the deliverance of the old lady from her doubts and fears, and, looking into self as I read it, God used it to my deliverance also. I knew I had eternal life, “because God says so.” How well I remember that morning, I could have danced for joy. I took God at His word, and knew I was saved there and then.

Now I can look forward to the coming of Christ with joy instead of fear. I know that I am a child of God, and that my Father has reserved for me a place in heaven. The Lord Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: (or abodes) if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” Thanks be to God, the place is prepared, and blessed truth to know that where Christ is, that is the place where we shall dwell. He will not send an angel to fetch us, but will come for us in His own blessed person, and throughout the endless ages of eternity we shall be with Him and like Him.

“With Thee in garments white,

Lord Jesus, we shall walk,

And spotless in that heavenly light

Of all Thy sufferings talk.”

And now, dear unsaved reader, ask yourself this question, “Where shall I spend eternity?” Where? Where? If God were to stop your heart beating at this moment where would your soul go that must live on throughout the endless ages of eternity? Reader, it is a solemn reality. When your feet touch the cold, dark waters of death, and your soul is on the verge of eternal burnings, you will shake like a leaf in an eastern gale. The moment your soul leaves your body its eternity will begin. What will be the remorse of those who are lost as they recall opportunities rejected, and pleadings spurned! O! shelter yourself under the precious blood of Christ while it is yet to-day. “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” (Heb. 3:15.) “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Prow. 29:1.)

Take God at His word, believe it, “because God says so.” If you spurn the offer, your portion must be weeping and wailing throughout eternity. Eternity! Where shall I spend eternity?

Messages of God’s Love 11/30/1919

Annie's Prize

I WONDER how many of my young readers go to Sunday-school. Perhaps most of you do; and if so I know that you look forward to the end of the year, when very likely you will have a prize.

I am going to tell you about a little girl, nine years old, whose name was Annie. She went to Sunday-school, and at the end of the year she had a prize given to her.

What do you think it was?

Well, I will tell you. It was a Bible.

Now, that surely is the best thing that Annie could possibly have had, for the Bible tells us the way to get to heaven; and I am sure that every girl and boy who reads this story wants to go there.

But you have all done naughty things, and so God says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

He could not allow you to be in heaven with even one sin upon you; so that if you are to be there it must be without your sins.

But then the Bible tells us that God loved us so much that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world, but the people hated Him, and nailed Him to a cross of wood. And while He was hanging there, God laid on the Lord Jesus all the sins of those who believe on Him, and punished Him instead of them; as we read in 1 Peter 2:23: “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.”

So you see that if you come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ and simply believe that He died for you, God will pardon all your sins, and give you eternal life; as it says in John 5:24: “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Then you will be ready for Jesus to come, for He said when here, “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.” And He is soon coming fo take alt those whose sins are forgiven to be with Him in heaven for ever; and you will be able to be there because all your sins will be washed away in His precious blood.

think that little Annie must have had her sins forgiven, for she was not only very much pleased with her Bible, but used to read it very often, not only to herself, but to her big brothers. She also used to sing to them out of the hymn book she received at Sunday-school.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psa. 19:7, 8.

Messages of God’s Love 11/30/1919

What Would You Say?

TWO little girls were talking with their mother about the Saviour, and about their sins. One of them said,

“I wonder, mamma, if I were to die, what I would say to God?”.

“I know what I would say,” said her sister Nellie.

“Well, what would you say?” asked the mother. The child replied “I would say—

`Remember all the dying pain

That my Redeemer felt,

And let it answer for the stain

Of all my sins and guilt.’

That’s what I would say, and then God would not say anything, would He, mamma?”

She had laid hold of the blessed word,

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1. He has borne all the punishment for our sins on the cross, and there is none left for those who put their trust in Him, to bear.

How blessed it is to rest in what the Redeemer has done. Blessed, too, to know that God gave His Son to come to be the Saviour in order that we might have all our sins and guilt answered for, and that we might know Him, and be able to rejoice in Him for ever.

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

“Only trust Him, only trust Him, Only trust Him now; He will save you, He will save you now.”

“BLESSED IS THAT MAN THAT MAKETH THE LORD HIS TRUST.” Psa. 40:4.

Messages of God’s Love 11/30/1919

Bible Questions for December

Answers to Bible Questions for October.

“And send his servants at,” etc. Luke 14:17.

“Be ye therefore ready,” •etc. “ 12:40.

“Strive to enter in at the,” etc. “ 13:24.

“Watch ye therefore, and,” etc. “ 21:36.

“And the angel said unto,” etc. “ 2:10.

“And He said to the woman,” etc. “ 7:50.

“And when He saw their,” etc. “ 5:20.

Bible Questions for Deceinber.

The answers are to hi found in Acts.

Write the verse containing the words: “Salvation of God.”

Write the verse containing the words: “Turned unto the Lord”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Received of the Lord.”

Write the verse containing the words: “The fear of the Lord”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Presence of the Lord”.

Write the verse containing the words: “That made the world”.

Write the verse containing the words: “Will judge the world”.

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

He was Wounded, We are Healed

THE writer, while preaching in a country district noticed a lady 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 she not a good mother wife 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 now about to deal with her, and accordingly, on the following Sunday, in spite of all her resolves and righteous indignatidn, 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 coat and hat, 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 receives sinners. The disagreeable thought kept forcing itself upon her, ‘

“What if, after all, I am lost?”

In a very different frame of mind she left the preaching that second night, and the anxiety which had then commenced was deepened. 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 in Jesus, but She seemed quite unable to appropriate God’s message to herself.

The next Sunday night the preacher took for 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.”

At last she began to think that if Christ was wounded for her, then she must be healed. She rejoiced in the full and complete salvation accomplished for her, and she had nothing to do hut to receive the gift offered to her.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

Jesus Called a Little Child Unto Him

Matt. 18:2.

A DEAR little girl, Grace Lewis, who lived at N___, was one of our most regular attendants at Sunday school, and one whom we all loved. At the age of barely eight years, she sweetly confessed the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and would listen very attentively to the lesson, always being ready to give a simple answer to many questions. She particularly enjoyed the truth of the Lord’s coming.

This dear one has been recently coming to the Lord’s day morning meetings. Her Sunday school teacher being desirous to know how far the dear child’s intelligence went, asked her a few simple questions, viz.,

“Grace, dear, will you tell me why you come on Lord’s day mornings?”

She replied, “To remember the Lord’s death.”

“Can you tell me what we see in the one loaf placed on the table?”

“The Lord’s one body,” she again replied.

“And when the loaf is broken? “His body given for us,” she said. “And the cup?”

“It speaks of His blood,” she replied. She would say to her father, “You should be there, father.”

She asked a sister in the Lord, “When will Mrs.— be at home,” as we had been away for several weeks, and she wished to remember the Lord in His death. A week later we received word that this dear little lamb had gone to be with the Lord. She contracted Diphtheria, and passed away after a few days of suffering, to be with the One whom she loved. Jesus called her home!

Now dear little readers, how sweet if called to die, to know you will go to be with Jesus your Saviour.

Little Grace was ready. Are you ready?

You see, the young are taken, as well as older ones. Can you say, as she did,

“I know the Lord Jesus as my own Saviour”?

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

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

Kindness

KINDNESS is that which should mark us in all our ways. Just look at our picture this week and there we see two sisters and their brother with their little playmate whom we will call Margaret. Little brother is kind to her, and offers her an apple, but just look at the expression on the face of one of the other girls. She does not like it; evidently she would rather have the apple for herself, while little Margaret is rather bashful and does not like to be too quick about taking it.

How much happiness there would be in this world if there was only kindness shown instead of selfishness. God’s Word says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Tim. 6:10.) Men love money, to have it for themselves, and they get to loving it so much, that they try all kinds of schemes to get what belongs to others, and 0, what misery comes as a result!

If we look at the Lord Jesus we get the opposite of all this. He came into this world not to receive, but to give. He gave up the glory He had with the Father before the world was, for the purpose of meeting us in our need, so He came into this world for the express purpose of going to that cross to die for us, His enemies. Was there ever love like that from any other? I am sure we may say, it was impossible for any man, except the Lord Jesus, to do this.

But we find many of His followers who have manifested great kindness, because they had accepted Him as their Saviour, and it became their delight to serve others, to seek the good of others rather than their own. Then there is another thing “Love envieth not.” That little sister in our picture is envying their little playmate, Margaret, and it looks as if Margaret was saying, “This is not for me only but let us divide it.”

Let us think of the love the Lord Jesus has shown to us, and if we believe it in our hearts, we will seek to show it to others also.

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDER HEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER.” Eph. 4:32.

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

Whiter than Snow

HOW beautiful the snow looks as it falls! What a vivid contrast its pure white flakes form with the dark earth around. But spotlessly white as it is, we read in God’s Word that there is something still whiter. Can any of my little readers tell me what it is? I fancy I hear one say,

“It is a sinner washed in the blood of Jesus.” Yes, a sinner who has had his or her sins washed away in the blood of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, is whiter by far in the sight of God than the purest snow-flake.

I wonder how many of you, dear little ones, have had your sins washed in His precious blood? I speak to each one individually now; have you been washed in the blood of Jesus? Have you accepted Him as your very own Saviour? If you have not, I would lead you to Him now, and point Him out to you as the only One who can wash away all your sins in His own blood, if you will only believe on Him.

Jesus loves little children, and when He was on this earth as a man He said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.) Would you not have liked to see Him then; to have been folded in His loving arms and be blessed? The heart of Jesus is just the same towards little children now; and He loves you and wants you to come to Him, just as much as He did those who were brought to Him. If you come to Jesus, He will wash away all your sins, and make you “whiter than the snow.”

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

Jesus Only

Jesus Saviour! in Thy love,

Thou didst come from heaven above:

As a tender little child,

Loving eyes upon Thee smiled.

Thou didst grow in beauty here,

To Thy Father ever dear;

Humble was Thine earthly home,

Though the world was all Thine own.

Blessed Jesus! O, what grace!

Thou didst take the lowly place;

That we might, with Thee on high,

Share Thy home beyond the sky.

Jesus, Thou hast died that we,

Evermore might live with Thee;

Thou art risen in triumph now,

Crowns of glory deck Thy brow.

Jesus, Saviour, heavenly Guide!

Keep us ever near Thy side;

Till in scenes of purest light,

We shall see Thy glory bright.

Messages of God’s Love 12/7/1919

The Shipwreck, or the Importance of "Now."

Some time ago I was staying in a fishing village. One dark November afternoon, as the mists lay heavy and chill on the distant hills, and the waves dashed frantically against the shore, I wrapped a shawl around me and ran down to the beach to watch the splendid breakers as they flung themselves against the rocks, leaving behind them for a moment a perfect mountain of white spray. A knot of rough fishermen and their wives were gathered on a projecting rock eagerly watching a small vessel which was nearing the shore, drifting helplessly and aimlessly towards the rocks. There was no friendly harbor to receive this poor tempest-tossed bark; and on she came riding over the waves, only to meet certain and sure destruction.

Presently, however, some of the rough fishermen volunteered to launch out in their boats, in spite of the tears and entreaties of the wives and mothers, to try and save the crew of the fast sinking vessel.

O, how glad they must have felt when they caught sight of the boats fighting their way against the waves, now rising on the top of the seething spray, now altogether lost to sight. As they neared the vessel, the crew waved and shouted, and the next moment, with a bound, the boats were alongside of her. There was no time to be lost, as she was fast giving way before the violence of the storm.

“Now,” shouted the men from below, “now then,” as with a tremendous heave, the first boat was carried on the crest of the wave, almost to the level of the vessel. One by one, the crew sprang from the sinking craft into the boat, until two only were left behind; but there was still another empty boat, and eagerly they watched their opportunity to leap into it. The opportunity came, the men hesitated, awed perhaps, by the darkness beneath; then with a sudden effort, sprang—but it was too late, the boat had drifted with the receding wave, and with a cry of despair the poor fellows were forever lost to sight in the dark, angry waters.

O! that wild November afternoon, and the horror that filled our minds at the thought of those poor fellows lying all silent and cold now, beneath the cruel waves. One moment so full of health and hope; the next, hurried into eternity. Why? because they had hesitated, and forever missed the one chance of escape.

And O! don’t these things happen every day? How many have been lost by hesitating, and putting off their salvation eternity alone will reveal. God’s invitations to flee from the wrath to come are for to-day.—Now. There are no promises for salvation to-morrow.

How many boys and girls have been brought to a point, when the lifeboat is beneath them, and all they have to do is to make a spring into it. But no! they have hesitated, taken their eyes off their one chance of escape; and have been carried away by the swift strong tide of death, and plunged forever into a dark, hopeless eternity. God says to you to-day, “Come,” and “Come Now.’ His outstretched arms of love await to welcome you.

Jesus, the sinner’s Friend, bids you look to Him, bids you lay your burden of sin upon Him who died that He might forever free you from its load. Others are availing themselves of God’s offers of salvation; one by one they tear themselves away from that which, if they still cling to, will bring them to certain destruction, and you, if you will persist in clinging to your sins, must by-and-by reap what you have sown. Ah! but it isn’t too late. Make up your mind to accept pardon for your sins, and forsake them now, and remember His tender and loving promise,

“HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.” John 6:37.

Messages of God’s Love 12/14/1919

A Heavenly Chart

I WAS at one time clerking behind the counter of a stationery store, when an old sailor entered, and, looking seriously at me said,

“Young man, I want a chart.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied, “you shall have one. Do you want Bay of Biscay, or the Mediterranean, or of the world, sir?”

“Stop, young man, stop!” said the old sailor; “youth is always in a hurry. I want a chart, but I don’t want either of the ones you have mentioned; they are useless to me now. I want a chart which will guide me to heaven, for have lost my old one. Now, young man, do you understand me?”

I immediately thought that he wanted a Bible, so I took down a few, and showed them to him. He selected one, evidently much pleased at my readiness to serve him, inquired the price, and paid the money.

After a moment’s pause, he turned round suddenly, and asked me whether I understood the chart. I told him that I could read it, and did so often.

“Of that,” said the old man, “I have not the least doubt, but, remember, that is not sufficient.”

Dear children, you, like the young man, may often read the Bible, but the question is, has it made you wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus?

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.” Psa. 119:9.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.

Messages of God’s Love 12/14/1919

That Little Hand

TELL us a story, please, Uncle John, tell us a story!” And Uncle John said,

“He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.” Psa. 18:16.

The bright eyes of the children opened wide with wonder as he slowly spoke these words.

“What does he mean, Elsie?” whispered Jane to her cousin.

“We asked for a story, and you know he always has one ready.”

“Well, we shall see.”

“This text,” said Uncle John, “always reminds me of something that happened when I was a little boy. I had a pleasant company of playmates, and we used to enjoy ourselves together, just as you children do now. Near to where we lived was a river, and a bridge across it. We often went there to play, and many times I have stood a long while trying to see the fish as they swam in the water below.

One day while we were playing on the bridge, one of our number, who had climbed on the railing, suddenly slipped, lost his hold and fell. We ran to the side of the bridge and looked over. The water had already closed over him, he had sunk so quickly, and bubbles were rising over him where he went down. We were too young to know what to do, and were too much frightened even to call for help. The little fellow rose once more to the surface, struggling for life, but could only give us a look, when, with his arms uplifted for help, he sank again.

A kind man noticed our movements from a short distance, and fearing what had happened, hastened towards us. When he reached the bridge nothing was in sight but one little hand above the water. We had recovered our voices, and pointing at it, we eagerly called out,

“There’s his hand! O, there’s his hand!”

That outstretched hand! I seem to see it now. I shall never forget how it looked to me. But the man did not wait a moment. As that hand went out of sight under the water, he plunged into the river and soon brought the drowning boy to the shore. He looked into the pale face of our playmate as he held him in his arms, and in a tone of voice that sent a thrill of joy through all our hearts, he said,

“Saved!” Then turning to the rest of us, he added,

“Boys, I know you will never forget that little sinking hand. Remember, when it comes into your minds, that we are all sinking into a darker place than that river, unless we have trusted One to save us who alone can do it. This boy will soon be well, and be able to tell that I took him out of the river.

It is my prayer, that he and every one of you may be able to say of another better Friend, when you think of the dark waters of sin, in which all who do not love Christ are sinking,

‘He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.’ “

“Dear little ones,” said Uncle John, “will you remember that little hand, and the lesson it taught us? Jesus is ready to take hold of those little hands of yours as you lift them up to Him and allow Him to save you and to take you to dwell with Himself for ever in His bright home.

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/14/1919

A Youthful Messenger

A PREACHER was once telling forth God’s message of love, when he noticed several restless children sitting on a front seat, and, in the hope of gaining their attention, he thus addressed them;

“I have never seen you before, but I can tell you your names, children.” Immediately they were all attention.

“Your name,” he continued, addressing the foremost girl, “is in here,” and he held up his Bible. “It is sinner, for God says, `All have sinned.’ “

The service ended, and the child, ran straight home to her father, who was a hardened sinner, saying breathlessly,

“Father, I can tell you your name, for it is in the Bible.”

“Nonsense,” he replied.

“But it is, father,” persisted the child. “What is it, then?” asked the father. “It is ‘sinner,’ for God says that ‘all have sinned;’ the preacher said so tonight.”

God often uses the feeble things to confound the wise, and that simple, artless message was an arrow of conviction, and was the means of leading that Godless father to acknowledge, as the prodigal of old, the solemn but true fact, “I have sinned.” And through God’s boundless grace he shortly afterwards had the glorious knowledge that the Lord had put away his sins by virtue of the

all-atoning blood of Jesus Christ, which “cleanseth from all sin.”

God’s universal remedy for man’s ruin is Christ! and God’s great, full, and free salvation may be yours, dear children, if you rely upon the work Christ accomplished at Calvary.

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

“Who His own self bare our sins, in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

Messages of God’s Love 12/14/1919

Obedience

‘HAPPINESS lies in obedience’ were the words which an old preacher used to teach children in the houses where he used to visit.

Yes! obedience is necessary if we are to be happy. A disobedient child is never really happy. He knows he is doing wrong. Disobedience to parents is sin.

It is written of our Lord Jesus that He was subject to His parents. And He would have us happy also by being obedient to our parents. You know the lines of the chorus,

“Trust and obey,

For there’s no other way,

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.”

Carry them out, dear young friends, trust the Lord Jesus as your Saviour; then obey Him, and those put over you,, day by day. So you will be happy children. .

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/14/1919

A Grandmother's Question

IT is yours to choose. For whom shall your life be spent? Choose Now.

Will you spend it for “Self”; living for your own pleasure, and seeking your own glory and honor, doing as you like, going where you please, turning to your own way? If so, yours will be a lost life. Or will von come to the Lord Jesus, receive Him as your own personal Saviour, and yield your life to Him? He will make it bright and happy and useful in His service. The dear old grandmother has gone through life, and knows that having the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and walking in His ways, is the only path of happiness and real profit. The scripture says,

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD, AND WHOSE HOPE THE LORD IS.” Jer. 17:7.

Messages of God’s Love 12/21/1919

In King's Palaces

UGH! a spider! And those nasty webs that get in the way, hanging from the bushes, stretched across the path, or dangling in the corners of the room to be removed by the broom; dirty and disgusting!”

I suppose there is some mistake here, my child, for the spiders’ webs are not nasty, nor are their houses dirty at all. That dirt, by which you are able to see them so plainly, is on account of your running and playing in the room, and raising a dust that settles on these beautiful palaces.

“Palaces?”

Yes, indeed, and composed of the finest threads—finer than any silk your mother ever used; and as to cotton thread, it is like a great cable to these delicate builders. This pretty house stretched out in the light of the stars, ready for the morning sun to sparkle through it, is it not the fitting lodging-place of the tiny dew-drops that hang like gems all over it?

“Dirty?”

I should think not! Only think of the materials of that mansion. They are not of either earth, wood, weed or leaf. Many of the animals and birds that you think very nice, are contented with such things as these. But the finest of mills, within the builder himself, has been at work to form this spider’s house, and with wonderful patience and industry, he spins and weaves it, clear and pure as the sun’s rays, and almost as fine.

Do you live in a city? If you do, you never saw any streets laid out with the order that these are. I have spoken of the spider’s palace, but there are his grounds also, and no garden was ever so regular. The owner has a sleeping and living apartment that is hidden. Occasionally his lordship comes out to find a thoughtless fly that has been intruding on his premises, and to take it off to his private room, where he stores it away in his stomach to help to form more web-matter, to fill the bushes and the air with these pretty buildings.

Do you know that all things were made by the Lord Jesus, and for Him? The Bible tells us so. And I find that things have a better look about them when I thus see that all things are connected with Christ, for Christ is all. Only think of it! Every blade of grass, every green leaf, every little insect that creeps or skips, were all made by Him and for Him!

Do you know where God has told us about the spider? If you will open your Bibles at the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs, you will find it in the 28th verse.

There are wonderful things all through this chapter, which are meant to tell of God’s thoughts. From verses 25 to 29, we are told of four things that are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise, and then we are told of the wisdom of each one.

The ants prepare their meat (or food) in summer. Does not this teach us that we should use our time to the best advantage, while God in His love and grace invites us now to accept His great salvation?

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

The, conies make their houses in the rocks, and will you not, dear children, a feeble folk like the conies, take refuge in Christ, who is our Rock? That is the way to be wise.

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge. and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psa. 91:2.

Then we come to the locusts, who have no kings, yet they go forth, all of them by bands. They are just like the children of God—not of this world which has Satan as its prince. They are one and should keep together. They have no king here, but their Guide the Lord Jesus is in heaven.

The fourth of the little things is the spider, who “taketh hold with with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” This tells a beautiful thing of those who belong to the Lord Jesus. They may be no more esteemed down here than the spider, may be even despised and hated, but they are in “Kings’ palaces.” They lay hold of the best place, heaven is their home, and they look forward to the time when they shall dwell there forever. The Lord has said,

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 12/21/1919

Having Your Photograph Taken

SOME children went into a studio with their father to have their photographs taken. The two little girls had theirs, and George’s turn came next. The man told him where to sit, how to place his hands, and which way to look; to hold up his head, fix his eye on a certain point, and keep still.

George got beautifully posed and everything was ready. His cap, however, had fallen on the floor, and at the very moment his picture was being taken his little sister stepped forward to pick it up, when George gave her such a look. Well, that look was taken, and presently the photographs were sent home.

“Is this my George?” exclaimed his mother, on examining the pictures and coming to his.

“Horrid!” cried his eldest brother; “horrid!”

“Whose cross, scowling face is that?” asked Uncle Ned. when the photographs were shown to him.

“What young savage is this?” asked Aunt Emily when they were shown to her.

As you may suppose, George was terribly ashamed of his picture. He was so mortified at having it seen with the rest, that he did not know what to do. A more disagreeable picture, perhaps, you never saw; and the worst of it was, there was no doubt about its being a true copy. The sun does not make mistakes. It faithfully pictures all that it sees.

Even the sun, however, does not see everything; God alone can do that. When we come to the Bible, which is the Word of God, we find a faithful photograph, not of the face, but of the heart. All that is within us is truthfully described.

How many times have you read that solemn passage in the third chapter of Romans, verses 9 to 19? It starts by saying all are “under sin,” and ends with the solemn statement that all the world is “guilty before God.” It is a photograph of our hearts and lives.

What do you think of it? ‘Horrid! horrid!” I think I hear you say, like George’s eldest brother. Perhaps though you feel more like his aunt, and inclined to say. “What kind of savage is it that these verses describe?” or to cry out after the fashion of his mother, and say, “Is this a photograph of my heart?”

Ah, but like the sun, God makes no mistakes. You may depend upon it, it is a photograph of your heart, and the best thing you can do is to own its truth. Like George, we may well be thoroughly ashamed of it; hut unlike him, we need not be in any doubt as to what we ought to do, for the very same chapter in Romans goes on to speak of God’s wonderful way of deliverance from this terrible load of guilt.

And so in verse 24 we read that we may be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” and again in verse 26 that God is “just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Let us honestly own then that our hearts and lives are bad, and let us turn to the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, and belie 1.c /a Him; then we may know that God indeed has justified us, putting away our sins, and blotting- out the old photograph forever.

Messages of God’s Love 12/21/1919

Extract from a Letter

DEAR——-,

“If you have come to Christ, and found Him precious to your soul, be entreated to cleave to Him, and follow Him with all, your heart. Be a Christian everywhere, and in everything—alone and in company, at home and abroad, among friends or strangers, at work or at play—be altogether a Christian. Be much alone with Jesus. Trust only in Jesus. Confess Jesus. Follow Jesus. Seek in everything to please and honor Jesus. And let this be your earnest and constant prayer, your ceaseless and unwearied effort, that others may be brought to Jesus.

But O, if you have not yet believed in Jesus as your Saviour, or even so much as felt your need of Him, receive this unexpected letter as the call of Jesus, addressed immediately and personally to yourself from one who loves your soul. Depend upon it, you cannot always do without Jesus. Health is doubly enjoyed in the service of Jesus, but without Jesus what must sickness and disaster be? Think of a death-bed without Jesus! And of entering eternity without knowing Jesus as your Saviour! How will you look Jesus in the face when you see Him on the judgment seat, and stand before Him, guilty of having slighted and despised His love—of having neglected His great salvation? Dear—, be entreated, and come to Jesus, at once. This invitation may be the very turning-point of your life, the hinge on which your eternal destinies depend. Do not, 0! do not, for your soul’s sake, turn a deaf ear to the voice of Jesus, or postpone your reception of Him to a future day. Come at once to Jesus, and come as you are. You may think yourself unfit, but all that seems to you to unfit you for the Saviour, is in reality that for which you need Him. If your heart is hard, bring your hard heart to Jesus. He alone can soften it. Bring your quick temper, your passionate, revengeful spirit, your indolent habits, your readiness to be led astray by others, your whole life of sin, bring all to Jesus, and come yourself. He will receive you as you are, and He will save your soul, and make you His. 0, that you may retire now to your room, fall on your knees at the feet of Jesus, trust His all-atoning blood, receive Him as your Saviour, own Him as your Lord, and be His for ever and ever!”

Messages of God’s Love 12/21/1919

My Holidays

I love my holidays, I do;

But, while my heart is now so light,

I ask myself, Do I love, too,

The One who claims me as His right?

Am I His follower, or not?

Do I confess Him day by day?

Or am I “neither cold nor hot”?

Not walking in the “narrow way”?

O, can I question such as these

Just answer as a lesson said?

Do I my Saviour try to please,

And in His footsteps daily tread?

As I am Thine, Lord, not my own,

And all my time belongs to Thee:

Then, may my life not vain be shown,

Nor these bright days misspent by me.

Messages of God’s Love 12/21/1919

The Fisherman's Return

HOWEVER humble the home, it makes no difference as to the happiness, if there is contentment, and the Scripture says “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim. 6:6.) The fisherman has very little comfort in his home, and he .faces many dangerous storms, but when he gets home how good it is to have his wife and children run to meet him. They can be happy together, but if they know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and thus have all their sins forgiven, how much more happy they would be ,for true happiness is in knowing Him whom to know is life eternal.

Are you, dear reader, really happy: If you are expecting to become happy by having beautiful things and lots of money you are mistaken. These things in themselves do not bring happiness, hut if, in addition to knowing the Lord Jesus as i’ur Saviour, we walk in His ways, that is, in lowliness, meekness, gentleness, and love, which would be doing God’s will, then we can understand the force of that word, “If ye know these, things happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13.1.7.

“MY MEDITATION OF HIM WILL BE SWEET: I WILL BE GLAD IN THE LORD.” Ps. 104:34.

Messages of God’s Love 12/28/1919

He Is My Lord and Saviour

An artist was hired to paint a picture in which Christ was to be the central figure. When he had the rest of his painting done, he desired to give to Him Who occupied such a prominent place an expression worthy of the subject; but as often as he tried he pronounced the attempt a failure.

He concluded he did not know enough about his subject. To get this knowledge he spent days in visiting churches and galleries where paintings were to be seen of our Lord Jesus Christ, done by the old masters. While thinking at times he had found the very face he would like to transfer to his own canvas, no sooner did he make the attempt than the inspiration left him.

What could he do more than he had done? Soon the time which he had promised the picture would be up. True it was weeks ahead, but he had lost much time already.

He thought if he had been a Christian and not a freethinker, he might have stood a better chance to realize his desire. Then he thought that even as an infidel, he could master and make his own all that was to be known of the historic Christ. Why not get his information direct from the Bible?

A Bible? Of course he had no such thing of his own. But, yes—he must get one. It was a brilliant idea. He would read up—study the character of the great Christian Leader. He would do the thing thoroughly, and give his whole mind to it. Less than this would not, could not, bring the result he wanted. Happy thought: he knew a Christian lady. She would lend him a Bible. He would ask the loan of it for a week, and he would shut himself up in his studio, see no one, not read a newspaper, hut diligently read at first hand the history of Christ—trace His life. follow His words; and then, and then to his picture!

Success was the great matter to the artist. What did a little self-sacrifice and inconvenience matter compared with results?

Gladly the lady loaned him a Bible.

“You quite understand my purpose. You will wonder that I, a freethinker, have come to you with such a request, but I always read up my subject when I have an historic subject to paint. I shall plan to read without interruption I will receive no visitors. My mind shall not be diverted into any other channel of thought. I will master my subject, and if it takes me longer than the time I give myself, you will not mind. You shall have your Bible back again in safety.”

Assuring him there was no hurry, as she had others, the lady saw him depart and then she knelt in prayer asking God to use the Sword of the Spirit to his salvation.

The week went by, but the artist had not returned. A few more days, and then he came. Was this the same man to whom she had loaned her Bible? He came into her presence with a bounding step, his face radiant with joy.

“Your Bible I bring you back,” he said, and his words rang with a tone of triumph. “I no longer require it; I have one of my own!”

Then he poured into sympathetic ears his wonderful story.

“He is my Lord and Saviour now How could it be otherwise? It has been impossible to give my whole mind to the study of Christ in the Scriptures, without becoming a firm believer in Him as my personal Saviour! Infidel literature and the inconsistent lives of so-called Christians were the cause of my attitude towards Christianity in the past. To-day am one whom the truth has made free!”

Much more the artist said, with tears of joy. It was so real to him. In God’s light he had seen himself to be a sinner; and he had learned further that no sinner could enter into. and dwell in the presence of a holy God. Then, in the night of despair which shadow s the soul convicted of sin, there dawned the knowledge of salvation through the merits of another—Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 0, blessed Spirit of God, Who thus makes known, to the heart, through the Word, breaking with its burden of sin, these gracious truths.

It was no new Gospel that the artist had read. The long-neglected and unread Bible held it all. The years he had lived in sorrow and darkness might all have been spent in that light which means joy and peace, and in grateful work in the service of Christ Whom to know as Saviour is to learn from as Teacher, and with a whole heart and life surrendered to follow as Master.

With the Divine teaching of God’s Word close at hand, reader, yours to believe, feed upon and make your own, what are you doing with it?

Messages of God’s Love 12/28/1919

The Gospel Borne on the Breeze

GREAT fire blazed merrily. in the Plaza of the little town of ____, around which a crowd of sullen-looking men and women gathered, watching the angry gestures of a big black-robed priest, and listening to his denunciations of the book he was passionately tearing to pieces and casting to the flames. A pile of these books lay at his side, some well-bound volumes, others smaller and in paper covers, but all alike destined for the fire.

The watching crowd did not quite approve of the proceedings, while the children chased and frolicked with the fragments that the wind ever and anon whisked out of the burning mass. Only a few days before there had come to their town a young man with winning speech and a wonderful story, and he had persuaded many of them to buy these books, which, according to him, contained the very words of Christ, and told them how they might be saved.

The priest, however, had terrified them all by denouncing as false, wicked, and dangerous the books which they had bought, and had ordered them to deliver them up, under threat of dire penalties for disobedience. This they had reluctantly done; and there they stood, watching their purchases go up in smoke.

What they had read of the book had not seemed very dreadful, but the priest assured them that it was so, and, as they listened to his bitter denunciations, some of them felt that they had only narrowly escaped.

One by one the Bibles—for such they were—Testaments and portions were torn from their covers and cast to the flames, and the breeze fanned the glowing mass to such an extent that the crowd was glad to fall back from the heat. A gust whirled through the spreading crowd as a fresh handful of leaves was cast, with a malediction, to the fire which seized them greedily—all save one, which, scorched and crinkled, was tossed aloft by the wind and whirled away over the heads of the crowd, and above the house-tops, till on the outskirts of the village it fluttered down into a quiet street, where a final puff of the sportive breeze sent it floating in at the open window of Dona M ____’s little cottage.

She was a good soul and devout, and as she read the fragment that had come to her in so remarkable a way, her heart was strangely moved within her. She showed the scorched leaf from the unknown book to her husband when he returned in the evening, and he, too, was deeply interested. But entirely ignorant of its scource, he gave it again to his wife, saying:

“Keep it, for it must belong to a very religious book, and some day we may find the rest of the story.”

A year passed away, and the village was visited again by a colporteur. This time he came to the street where Dona lived, and, knocking at her door, offered a Bible for sale, explaining at the same time the nature of the book he wished her to purchase.

“O” she exclaimed, ‘are you selling good books? Perhaps you can tell me about this,” and she hurried off and brought her treasured leaf. “This seems to belong to a very religious book, and we should like to get the rest of the story. Do you know it?”

“Why, Senora,” said the colporteur, as he recognized the familiar page, “that belongs to this book that I am offering you; see, here it is.” And he turned rapidly to the New Testament, and showed her the precious leaf in its proper place. And where, think you, had that stray leaf come from? It was the leaf containing the third chapter of St. John’s Gospel, and she and her husband had been reading of Christ and Nicodemus, and of how “God so loved the world.” No wonder they wanted to hear “the rest of the story”!

Gladly she bought the Testament, and when her husband returned she hailed him joyfully with the news that she had found the book from which their leaf had come; and together they sat down to read more of that wondrous story. Earnestly and devoutly they pored over the sacred pages until the light of the Gospel shined into their hungry hearts, and they found peace and salvation in Jesus Christ. One by one the whole family came to know God through the reading of that Bible, and a centre of Gospel light and testimony grew up in that town through the very action of the ignorant and fanatical priest who thought to destroy the good seed.

“The entrance of Thy Word giveth light.” Psa. 119:130.

Messages of God’s Love 12/28/1919

The Little Man Saved

HE was like all of us. He was like some of us. He was like none of us. Who was this strange individual?

You have. probably, heard about him again and again. His story is one which seems to claim a special interest whenever it is told.

He was a Roman tax-collector, and was like none of us because of his office. He was like some of us because of his size—he was short. He was like all of us because he was a sinner. What was his name?

“Zaccheus!” Yes! that is it.

How gracious the Lord Jesus was towards this little man. He well knew what had happened. He saw him running along the road and climbing into the leafy tree.

Zaccheus “wanted to see Jesus.” That was good. But there was something better than that. The Lord Jesus wanted to save Zaccheus. Thus it was that when the spot was reached where the little man had hidden himself, he heard his name called, as the Lord said,

“Zaccheus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house!”

And we read that he made haste, came down and received Jesus joyfully.

His heart was opened, and his house was opened also.

Have we opened our hearts to Christ? We may not have a house to welcome Him to. like Zaccheus had, but we have a heart to which He will gladly come, if we will only invite Him. Then we can place our lives at His disposal and serve Him.

Self-righteous people grumbled when they saw the Lord going to the house of Zaccheus. They said,

“He is gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”

But Christ answered, “This day is salvation come to his house.”

Christ saved Zaccheus and Zaccheus served Christ. Has Christ saved von? If so, then seek to serve Him and please Hint in all your ways.

Messages of God's Love: 1919

Table of Contents

Bible Questions for January

Stories of the New Hebrides. The True Story of Rebecca.

The Mirage of the Desert

Give Ear

Jesus Loves Me

Gentleness and Care

Stories of the New Hebrides. The Story of James Kaum

What Is the Time?

Saved by a School Girl

A Teacher's Prayer

Hagar and Ishmael

Stories of the New Hebrides. Wunburang Chief of Konkon

Margaurite

A Friend

Those That Seek Me Early Shall Find Me

Rabbits

The Substitute

Saved by a Lamb

Saved Through Obedience

Bible Questions for February

The Bible

Confidence in God

The Pets

How Little Lina was Saved

Little Lottie

A Shelter From the Storm

Caesar's Warning or, The Neglected Letter Which Cost Him Life

Indian Sarah

I Have Found a Friend

The Gazelle

The Best Assurance.

How Many Sins?

Disobedient Nellie

All Things Ready

Little Annie

I Do Want to Love Jesus

Convalescence

Four Calls of the Spirit

Saved in a Blacksmith Shop

Lucy and Mary

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out

The Little Boy and the Stars

Bible Searchers for March

What Is a Christian?

Poison Ivy

Charlie's Card

Teaching the Children

Jesus and His Love

Destitute

God Loves You

Five Points for Young Converts

Honest John

Opening the Door

The Bible

Jeremiah Buying the Field

Winning Stars

What's the News?

The Saviour and the Sinner

Going Into God's Arms

The Kind Shepherd

Don't Tease

What a Bible Can Do

Sought and Found

Carrie

Birds and Their Nests

The Love of Jesus

Your Picture

The Little New Testament

Those Naughty Fingers

His Mother's Lesson

Bible Questions for April

Palestine, or the Holy Land. Part I

Something Worth Reading

Watchful Waiting

Whiter Than Snow

Temptations

Palestine, or the Holy Land. Part II

Anna Miller