Messages of God's Love: 1921

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, 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 Romans.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Abhor,” ‘‘Cleave.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Avoid them.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The wrath of God.”

“Write in full the verse containing the words, “Justified by His blood.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “‘Vengeance is mine “

Write in full the verse containing the words. “Justified freely.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The judgment of God.”

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

Books of the Old Testament

THE great Jehovah speaks to us

In Genesis and Exodus;

Leviticus and Numbers see,

Followed by Deuteronomy.

Joshua and Judges sway the land;

Ruth gleans a sheaf with trembling hand.

Samuel and numerous Kings appear,

Whose Chronicles we wondering hear. Ezra and Nehemiah now.

Next Esther’s deeds her goodness show.

Job speaks in sighs, David in Psalms;

While Proverbs teach to scatter alms.

Ecclesiastes then comes on,

And the sweet Song of Solomon.

Isaiah; Jeremiah then

With Lamentations takes his pen.

Ezekiel and Daniel close

The greater prophets’ hopes and woes.

Hosea, Joel, next, and Amos

Begin the lesser prophets famous.

Obaliah. Jonah, Micah come,

Nahum and Habakkuk find room.

Zephaniah to Haggai calls;

Rapt Zechariah builds the walls,

While Malachi, with garments rent,

Concludes the Ancient Testament.

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

A New Year's Greeting

We greet you all, dear children!

Again another year

Has dawned, and with its opening days,

May hearts afresh resound the praise

Of Jesus, ever dear.

Through this new year, dear children,

May you more truly prize

The story of the Saviour’s love.

Who came to save you from above,

And thus be really wise.

For, sad to say, dear children,

Too many try to turn

A new leaf o’er, and think to win

A way to heaven in all their sin;

O, may you not so learn!

This would we wish, dear children,

That you may truly know

‘Tis only Jesus’ precious blood,

That from His side so freely flowed,

Can make you white as snow.

A happy year, dear children,

Will this to each one be,

Who seeks to know the Saviour more,

Yes, even better than before,

And for eternity!

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 1-2

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” In ten words the Bible tells us nearly all God has caused to be written down about when and how the world, and the great big sky, with the sun, moon and uncounted stars that roll on and on through space, were made. Many thoughtful people have tried long and hard to find out when the world was made; but God has not told us. He has told us in Psa. 33:6, 9. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “He spake, and it was clone; He commanded, and it stood fast.”

“He commanded, and they were created.” Psa. 148:5.

“In the beginning’’, when there were none of Adam’s children to see Him do it, God created. And that, dear children, is the answer to all the infidel statements that are so common nowadays about how this world and all we can see came to be. God created them, made them out of nothing.— that is how He made them. There is a wonderful little verse in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 11 verse 3. Will you find it in your Bible? “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Many men and women have sought for a long time to prove that the world made itself, that it just happened, but we know that all those thoughts come from Satan. Nothing ever “just happens”, there is always a cause, and God was the cause of this world’s being created.

And now we come to the second verse, and find that what men call a great catastrophe, has happened since verse one. We are not told what it was, but something came in to spoil what God had made. The earth was (or became) waste and empty, and all was dark. And with it that way God began to fit the world up for man to live in it. He has told us a lot about what He did. All of the first two chapters of Genesis, after the middle of the second verse of the first chapter, tell the story. Isn’t it wonderful that God has told us so much? And notice how nearly every verse, especially in the first chapter, says “God said”, “God called”, “God made”, or something else about God, for He was alone in making the world. In something else, long, long after creation, God was all alone too,—in making a way for us to get to heaven, by faith in Jesus’ blood.

First He commanded light to be where all had been dark, and so we have our days of work and play and nights of rest and sleep; next the fog or mist that the world was covered with was moved away to form the clouds over our heads. On the third day the water that seems to have until then covered the whole earth, was made to run away into the lakes and seas and oceans, and the rivers and creeks were made, no doubt by the earth and rocks being thrown up, so there was dry land. Next God caused the grass, the bushes and the trees to grow. How beautiful the world must have looked then! It is beautiful now, where people haven’t spoiled it with ugly buildings and signs and other things, but not as beautiful as when God made it. There were no sinners then to spoil what God did. Next He causes the sun and moon and stars in. the sky to divide day from night, and to give us months and years; and spring, summer, fall and winter, as well as to give light on the earth. Four days were past, and God created the birds and fishes on the fifth day. Then on the sixth day He made everything that walks or creeps on the land; first the lower animals, and then man. And when He tells about man, God shows us in His Word, the Bible, that He didn’t think of us as being just like the lower animals. In a certain way we were to be like Him; we were to have intelligence far beyond what the lower animals have, to rule over the fish, the birds, the cattle and all the creeping things.

Man was made out of the dust of the ground, but God breathed into him the breath of life, so that we have spirit, unlike the lower animals, can never die. Somewhere you and I are going to live forever. Where shall it be, heaven or hell? God has offered us heaven, to share it with His clear Son, who died for lost sinners on the cross, if we will just own our badness and receive the Lord Jesus as Saviour. Have you, clear young reader, clone that? Don’t put off, but come to Him now.

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

The Visit to the Armorer

SOME children of English nobility, many years ago, had their bow and arrows, so something went wrong with the bow and they took it to what was called in those days the Armorer. That was a man who mended broken armor.

I expect these children just used it to amuse themselves, shooting at a target to see how near they could come to putting the arrow in the center of the target, but, you know, it would not stop there when they would get older, and war would come on, the boys would take their bows and arrows and go to kill their fellow men just as it is done now on a much larger scale with their terrible weapons of war.

War is a terrible thing, and God allows it as punishment on man. There are four sore judgments which God sends upon this earth to punish man for turning away from Him—the sword, famine, noisome beast, and the pestilence. (See Ezek.14:21.)

Let us bow before God now who is the One whom we should fear; walk before Him” and accept the blessed Saviour—the Lord Jesus Christ—as our own, and our blessing will be for time and eternity.

What a blessed thing to have the peace of God ruling in our hearts! Then we shall manifest that peace all around us which is the opposite of the desire for war.

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, TO DEPART FROM THE SNARES OF DEATH.” PROV. 14:27.

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

Forever

Could you each drop of water count

In ocean, lake and sea,

And to each one add millions more,

How great the sum would be.

Then count the blades of grass that grow,

The leaves on every tree,

The sands upon the ocean’s shore,

The sum would greater be.

Then keep on counting miles between

The earth and every star,

How this would make the total swell

To numbers greater far.

Then count the many millions who

Upon this earth have lived.

And all the words that they have said,

Could you the total give?

Count blossoms from the trees that blow,

And drops of morning dew,

And all the atoms in the air,

What is the sum, think you?

Then count the moments that have fled

Since time at first begun,

And all the moments yet to come

Before time will be done.

To this vast total millions add,

Then millions of years more;

Forever goes beyond them all,

It means forevermore.

Redeemed sinners, saved by grace,

Will spend forever where

The Lord Himself will be their joy;

I ask, will you be there?

The lost will spend forever in

Hell’s dreary dark despair,

0, let me say, dear friend, be wise,

Don’t spend forever there;

Trust in the Lord while now you may,

Plead now His precious blood,

And then forever you will be

With Christ, the Son of God.

Messages of God’s Love 1/2/1921

The Two Dogs

HOW intelligent some dogs are! They look into each others eyes, just as if they understood each other, and as if they were about to talk; but God has not given them that ability, for He has reserved it for man.

We must ever remember that each one of us is responsible to God, who gave us the ability to speak, to use that ability for God’s glory or praise. Some boys, and even girls, think nothing of taking God’s name in vain, and that is using their ability that God has given us in a wrong way, so God’s ‘Word says,

“THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.” EX. 20:7.

It is a very solemn thing, then, to take God’s name on our lips, and if we use the power of speech, which God has seen fit to give to us, to dishonor Him, He will certainly deal with us.

The Lord Jesus goes farther than this when He said, “Even- idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt he justified, and by thy words thou shalt he condemned.” Matt. 12:36, 37.

There is a word by which we shall be justified, and that is, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, an 1 shalt believe in thine heart. that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

May each one be ready to use the gift of speech in this way, and believe on the Lord Jesus in’ the heart.

Messages of God’s Love 1/9/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 1-2

Do you notice how God is called the Lord God in verse four of chapter two and thereafter? It is because God was thinking of man,

His noblest creation. Adam and Eve were to be in a nearer place to God than any other of the creatures of whose forming the first chapter of Genesis tells. God was to be the Lord of human beings with whom He could talk and visit. Kgarden was made, somewhere, we cannot tell exactly where, in the valley of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Mesopotamia, that flow into the Persian Gulf, and this garden the man was set to care for.

Adam gave names to all the beasts and birds, but none of them would do for a companion for him. God then caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and while sleeping, God took from him a rib which He built into a woman, Eve, whom He brought to Adam as his wife. Here we have a little picture of the Lord Jesus dying on the cross for those whose sins He bore who should afterward be made fit to be with Him in glory.

But now comes Satan, that wicked one, who always tries to spoil what God does; he seems to have said to himself, something like this, “I’ll see what I can do to ruin the beautiful creation God has just finished; I’ll bring in sin and sorrow and death there, and rob God of His pleasure in that happy couple.” So he came in one day, O so slyly, and said to Eve, “Yes, has God said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Poor Eve little knew what an enemy that person was that was speaking to her, or she would have been more careful about answering him; in fact she should never have listened to Satan at all. It should have been enough for her to know that God had said that there was one forbidden tree; all the rest were free to them to take the fruit and nuts growing so thickly and so beautifully from their branches. But Eve even added to what God had said, for He had not forbidden Adam and herself to “touch” but only to “eat” the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan now said to her, “You won’t die; God knows that when you eat that fruit you will know more: you’ll be as gods, knowing good and evil.” This was partly true, for Satan mixes his lies with some things that are true; it was true that their “eyes” would be “opened”, they would know good and evil; but in getting to know evil in addition to the good which only they knew before, Adam and Eve changed from innocent beings into sinners, fell under the power of evil, or sin, their very natures becoming sinful. Of this dreadful prospect Satan told Eve nothing, of course. She looked at the fruit, it seemed to be good for food even though God had said they must not eat it, and had told them they would die as a penalty for eating; it was “pleasant to the eyes” too,—beautiful; and she wanted to be wise as Satan had said; she wished to have that which he made her think God had selfishly kept back from them, and so, listening to Satan and turning away from God, Eve ate, and Adam coming up did the same.

Now a change came over Adam and Eve; they knew they had done wrong, they felt they couldn’t meet God again as they had before; they were indeed sinners. Satan had deceived Eve and God was right. The first thing they did though, was to sew for themselves clothes made out of the thick shiny leaves of the fig tree, feeling that they could no longer meet God openly as they had before. Yet when His voice was heard, walking in the garden in the cool of the day, Adam and his wife hid among the trees; the fig leaves wouldn’t do, they were afraid.

When God spoke, Adam’s answer showed that he was in his heart away from Him; “The woman Thou gayest me,” he said, “she gave me to eat,” as much as to say, “It’s all your fault.” Eve, too, throws the blame on another, Satan,—”The serpent beguiled me and I did eat.” How sad all this was,—having done wrong, and then to try to excuse themselves even at the expense of God. It shows what hearts we have, surely, because we are children of Adam and Eve, and have the same sinful nature.

In the face of the ingratitude of His disobedient creatures, God at once speaks of a Saviour. (Verse 15). There should be enmity between the woman’s child, which we know could only be the Lord Jesus; and Satan, whose “head” would be bruised though he should bruise the Lord Jesus’ “heel.” These things were made true in principle at the cross. The Lord Jesus won the victory over Satan there, though He was made to feel the hatred of Satan in all that Satan, and men led by, him, were permitted to do to Him. By and by Satan will be put in that dreadful hell that was made for him, but he will have beside him all those who are not saved.

God now turns to Eve, first, and then to Adam, both of whom had been listening, no doubt, to the words. God had spoken to Satan, and tells them of the results they and their children would always feel of their disobedience; they should have sorrows all their lives, and death would surely come just as had been foretold; Satan was proved a liar, and God their only true friend. God is your only true friend, too; have you believed what He has said and taken the Lord for your own Saviour?

The story ends with God sending Adam and Eve out of the garden they couldn’t be in any longer, but now fitted with clothes of animal skins instead of fig leaves. In this way God showed the need for blood to be shed; sinners can only be received by God on the ground of their lives being forfeited, and someone having died for them. The Lord Jesus has died for us.

Turn over the pages of your Bible to the Epistle to the Romans, 5th chapter, 6th, 7th and 8th verses which tell us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Have you:thanked Him for doing that? 0 what trouble and sorrow, what sin and sadness that first sin of Adam and Eve brought on us all! But we are all sinners ourselves, and not only the children of sinning first parents; we need to be saved, each one of us. Are you saved?

Messages of God’s Love 1/9/1921

Three Little Texts

“Ask, and it shall be. given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall he opened unto you.” Matt. 7:7.

This verse has three texts in it. The first tells us to ask; the second says, seek, and the third, knock.

Very simple, is it not?

Even a little child can understand what it is to ask for anything. If a little boy is hungry, he asks mother for something to eat; indeed, all day long little ones are asking for many things. Well, this verse wants you to ask God for something, perhaps you will find out presently what it is.

Seek, and ye shall find. Ah! who does not know what it is to seek. We are always seeking; from the girl who loses her needle or thimble, to the man who has mislaid some important paper or book, and has to seek for it, perhaps for a long time before he finds it. Yes, this text says we must seek, and we shall find. Have you guessed yet what we are to ask for, and seek?

Lastly, the word is knock, and it shall be opened to you. That must be at a door then, if we knock and it is opened, like father knocks when he comes home at night. Is it difficult to knock? O no, it’s very easy; many little children knock at their mother’s door every day. But what can the text mean by knocking can you tell me?

Here is the whole verse

Ask, and it shall be given you,
Seek, and ye shall find,
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Now do you see that the first letters of the three lines make the word, “Ask?” And that so beautifully links the three together. So, I hear a boy or girl with earnest tones, saying, “O, Lord Jesus, do save me! and make me Thine own”—I should say that boy is asking for salvation, he is seeking salvation, yea, he is knocking at the very door of heaven. The texts mean the same, but are put in three different ways, that all may understand and see their importance. But stay, there are also three promises:—

Shall be given,
Shall find,
Shall be opened.

Is not that encouraging for anyone who wants salvation? O, reader, if you do not yet have it, think of the threefold text, and also of the threefold promise, for when God says Shall, He means it.

“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 1/9/1921

Not Yet

A lady had a dream one night,

That filled her spirit with surprise;

She stood in fields of azure light,

Before the gates of paradise.

With gracious mien, and love benign,

A Being on the threshold stood;

Within those realms of joy divine

The guest might enter, if she would.

“There now is room,” He said “today!”

Slowly she answered, “O, not yet.”

With faltering step she turned away—

Her heart on this poor world was set.

Alas those words! How they forget

Who utter them (one scarce knows why)

That they who say in life “Net yet,”

In throes of death may cry “Not now!”

* * * * *

Time wheeled with rapid flight his course,

And twice six years passed quickly by;

A fell disease of potent force

Proclaims to all that she must die.

Once more she dreams, and now again

The pearly gates of paradise,

Where enter neither death nor pain,

Appear before her gladdened eyes.

Desirous now to enter in,

Loud the procrastinator knocks.

The Porter’s air of deep chagrin

At once her sanguine spirit shocks.

Anticipations all are chilled—

No time that moment will efface—

He said, “Too late, your seat is filled;

An earlier comer has your place.”

* * * * *

Death claimed its prey, the end had come;

The woman, unrepentant, died;

Procrastination robbed of “home”

One who would not for Christ decide.

How true! “God speaketh once, yea twice;

In dreams, in visions of the night,

But man perceiveth not”—the vice

Of indecision dims his sight.

Come NOW, “if ye will hear His voice,

While it, is called to day,” saith He.

Who on to-morrow set their choice

May rue it through eternity.

Messages of God’s Love 1/9/1921

Stepping Stones

JUST one step at a time, from one stone to the other, takes them safely across the little stream; but the little child is too small to step from stone

to stone, and she does not feel safe to take these steps all alone, so she has her mother take hold of her hand, and hold her up.

Dear children, this is just the way with us, all through .life; we start to school, and then we go from class to class, as time goes on, until we reach the last class.

Then we graduate, and take another step in some line of business; last of all, the end comes, and we have to leave this world, and step into eternity. Many step into eternity long before they get through with school. Indeed, we never know what moment we may have to leave. this life.

This is the step of all importance, and as this article must be short, we shall just say a little about this step. When you step from time into eternity, clear friend, WHERE WILL IT BE? God’s Word lets us know that some go away into eternal punishment, and others go to be with the Lord. WHICH WILL IT BE?

All are lost by nature and practice, and are unable to save themselves, but God’s Word tells us,

“WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.” ROM. 5:6.

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

We can see by these two verses, that Christ did not die for good people, but for ungodly, and sinners.

Now, we all know we are sinners, an 1 The Scripture shows us that we are without strength, so we cannot save ourselves. What then are we to do in order to take the step from this life into eternity to be with the Lord? Do just like the little child who put her trust in her mother to take her safely across the stream. ‘We must put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ who alone is able to save, is willing to save, and is ready to save all who will come unto God by Him.

If you take that step into eternity without Jesus, you will be lost forever.

Where, dear friend, will you spend eternity?

Messages of God’s Love 1/16/1921

How an Old Man Learned To Know the Lord Jesus

Farmer F.———was an industrious and hardworking man, and he administrated his large farm in a very capable way. Although he possessed quite a lot of land, and a well filled purse, still he had never learned to write, or to read. So the Bible was a closed book to him and although he might have learned the goodness and might of God through the song of the birds, the waving fields of wheat, and the seed yielding fruit, yet he never let himself be taught by the manifold proofs of God’s goodness that surrounded him. Without thinking of God and eternity, or of the danger in which he was, he had reached the age of seventy years.

Some Christians, who had visited the village, driven to it by God’s love, spoke to him of the truth as it is in Jesus. But there was no greater mocker to be found, than farmer F——-.

“I am a good man. No one can say of me that I don’t work and do my duty. I don’t need this new way of speaking, and I won’t put up with it.”

He shut his door to all visitors who wished to speak to him of salvation in Christ. He did not acknowledge that these preachers were servants of God, whose persons and affection he would not accept. Later on God sent him another messenger.

It was summer. A lady who wished to enjoy the country air, rented rooms at the F— farm. She had a little girl with her of six years. When the guests came, the farmer took their carriage himself to the large barn. He saluted the lady very politely and taking the little girl by the hand, led the way to the guest-chambers. The polished oak-floor, the ceiling with dark oak beams, the large clock and the high-backed chairs, all looked strange to little Anna; and looking around, she said: “Old man, what a queer looking house this is.” She then looked at him from head to foot, while he was standing next to her, with his blue stockings, coarse shoes and white blouse, and said; “You are not at all like my papa, where is the master of the house?”

“I am the master, little maid,” was his answer, in a tone of offended dignity.

In two days Anna and the old farmer were inseparable friends. He had so much to show her and to tell her, and her merry curiosity amused him exceedingly. The novel wonders of country-life were inexhaustible for Anna. The coarse clothing of the farmer she did not see any more; and she began to love the “queer house,” and himself. Nor did she object to his calling her his “little maid.”

One day, when everybody was at work, the farmer found Anna alone in the little front room. She was looking up at a high shelf, as if she wanted to get something from it. “What are you looking at, little maid?” he asked kindly.

“I’m looking at that thick book, I’m so fond of reading.”

The farmer looked surprised. “Can you really read?”

“Well certainly, I can read.”

“I can scarcely believe it, I can’t read.” “Now let me try, Farmer F.—”

God, in His grace, sent this little messenger to him. He would not listen to the Word of God in the church, nor from the mouth of any man or woman; now God spoke to him through the mouth of a child. The farmer took down the large book, which was once his mother’s, and Anna seated on a high chair, began to read, proud of her cleverness, and pleased, that she had such an attentive listener, not imagining that God was using her in His service.

I do not know, in what part of the Bible she read, for it is so many years ago, that Anna has forgotten. One thing is certain, that the Holy Spirit, who blessed the Word, led the little hand to the right place. The farmer held his hand to his right ear, and listened with the greatest attention, admiring the smartness of the child. While he listened to the sweet, childish voice, his slumbering conscience was aroused, or rather the light of the Holy Spirit shone into the darkness of his soul. The old man arose and stood by the open window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the blue sky with its snow-white clouds. When the little girl had been reading for some time, he suddenly left the room without saying a word. Anna remained for a while in the room, feeling rather cross, that he had not praised her once; but never busy long with one thought, she went to look at Mrs. F. making cheese.

The next morning Anna went with Farmer F.——to look at the rich fields of corn. On the way home, he asked if his little maid would read a little again for him. She granted willingly his request. When she began to read, he stood at the window, and appeared to be much moved by it. He sighed, began to weep, and again suddenly left the room.

Anna, who was very much astonished at this way of acting, climbed up on the window-sill to see if he was outside. There he stood, with his arms crossed, leaning against a fence, and to all appearance looking at the waving corn.

“How queerly he acts,” she thought. “Why does he weep, I’ll go and ask him.”

(To be continued.)

Messages of God’s Love 1/16/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 4

I suppose you know the name of the first baby that ever lived—it was Cain. But can you tell me what kind of man he grew to be?

His father and mother had sinned, as we have seen, but we are very sure they confessed to God and were truly sorry, and looked forward to the time when there would be a Saviour, as God had said. I am quite sure Adam and Eve are among the millions of young and old that have died in faith in God and will not be sent to hell in the day of judgment. So I think their oldest boys, Cain and Abel, must have often been told by their parents about their being sinners and of the promised Saviour.

When the boys grew to be men, Abel raised sheep, but Cain cultivated the ground. Cain brought an offering to God, but what he brought would not do, because it was the fruit of the ground, which God had cursed on account of Adam and Eve’s sin. Abel, instead. brought as an offering, the first born ones of his flock, and God long, long afterward in the Epistle to the Hebrews chapter eleven, has told us that Abel’s was “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s.” Abel knew and confessed. in bringing his little dead lamb, that there was no other way to come to God by faith, but in connection with the death of an innocent one instead of himself. Of course, it was only as looking on to the true Lamb of God, that God could receive a lamb of the flock whose death couldn’t save anyone from hell.

Cain got very angry because God was not pleased with what he brought, and God spoke to him about it, but he was just the same hard-hearted, rebellious man as before, and when Abel and he were in the field, Cain killed his brother because Abel pleased God, and his own ways did not. It does not seem that Cain was ever sorry for his horrible crime; he even lied to God about it in his impudent speech that is given us in the ninth verse. But nothing is hid from God. He sees everything, knows all our thoughts and hearts, and said to Cain, “What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.” Cain said to God that his punishment was greater than he could bear, but, as before, his heart was not changed. He went away to the east to live, his conscience making him unhappy to live near his parents and the others of his family.

We read of no more offerings or sacrifices to God; I think Cain wanted to forget God, like so many are doing today, and, as far as we can tell, God let him have his wish. About the Cain family, we are only told of their building a city of their own; of one of his descendants (a son in the fifth generation who proved to be a murderer like Cain) having two wives; and of the family making and using harps and organs, and of brass or copper and iron workers among them.

If you or I had been alive then, and could have gone to visit the city of Cain’s children, we should have found them busy trying to drown out the memory of their father’s terrible crime, the memory of that murdered brother, with harps and organs and singing, and with the first factories at work making various things out of iron and copper. We might have enjoyed their music, and admired their industry, but we should have remembered the sin unrepented of, and wondered how the Cain family expected to meet God.

You and I have to meet God some day; perhaps soon, it may be today. Are you ready? Do not turn away, and say, “I’ll think about that another time.” God’s time is now.

Messages of God’s Love 1/16/1921

You Can Never Blot It Out

ON a certain afternoon a lady was sitting with her little son, a fair little fellow of five years. The mother was sick and the child had given up his play out-of-doors, to keep her company. He was amusing himself by writing his name on a piece of paper. At last his fingers were still, and wetting his finger, he tried to rub out the letter, as he was in the habit of doing on his slate.

“My son,” said the mother, “do you know that God writes down everything that you do, in a book? He marks down every cross word, each disobedience, every time that you are angry, and pull up your shoulders or make faces; and think well of this: You can never blot it out.”

The boy blushed, and soon tears rolled down his cheeks. His mother looked earnestly at him, but said nothing. At last he came gently to her, put his arms round her neck, and whispered: “Can the blood of Jesus blot it out?

Dear children! The blood of Jesus can blot out all your sins, for in God’s Word is written: “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Messages of God’s Love 1/16/1921

The Watering Place

What a beautiful cool spot the farmer has for his cattle to get their refreshing drink! He drives them there morning, noon and night, and takes the best of care of them. Have you thought of how God takes care of us? He watches over us in every step of our path. So the apostle Paul, writing to Timothy says,

“WE TRUST IN THE LIVING GOD, WHO IS THE PRESERVER OF ALL MEN SPECIALLY OF THOSE THAT BELIEVE.” 1 Tim. 4:10.

God has not only done everything for us His creatures; and supplied our needs here, but He has gone beyond that, and has done everything for us for eternity; but just as man abuses what God has given him for time, so many despise what God has done for them for eternity. Which are you dear reader, are you despising the wonderful offer of a Saviour for you, or have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour? If you do-not accept Him, God’s provision for you would do you no good. The farmer may take his comes to water but it will do them no good unless they partake and thus make it their own. “He that believeth on the Son path everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not sec life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36.

Messages of God’s Love 1/23/1921

How an Old Man Learned to Know the Lord Jesus

But while she was putting on her hat, Farmer F.——-disappeared. In the evening he whispered in her ear, that she was a dear child, that she could read so well, and he would like to hear her often when they were alone, but she must tell nobody.

Anna went on with the reading during the rest of her stay, then one day to the great grief of the farmer, his little maid left. What did Farmer F.——do now? He did as Nicodemus did, who cane in secret by night to the Lord Jesus. We know not, if in his long walks (to all appearance taken for his affairs) he attended gospel-preaching, or if he met with Christian brethren, and spoke with them, whom he had formerly despised. One thing is sure, that the Lord had broken his hard heart, and made the seed take root, planted by the little messenger.

All at once there came an unexpected blow. An invisible hand brought the farmer to the edge of the grave. He was dying, and his friends, moved with a vague, dim feeling of the seriousness of appearing before God, consulted together about sending for the village-preacher, but suddenly the farmer cried out with a clear voice:

“No, no, I don’t need anybody. My little maid taught me to know the Lord Jesus.”

All were surprised and astonished: they listened to hear if he would say anything more. He cast his eyes upwards, and said; “There are the angels!” His eyes closed, and his soul went to Him to whom little Anna had sent him.

Happy old man! But no less happy was little Anna! After “teaching him about Jesus,” her heart had been often gladdened at the thought of his happy departure.

What had little Anna read for the old man, by which he had been brought to the Lord? Was it one of these striking stories in the gospel so attractive for little children? Very likely it was.

Perhaps the story that we read of in Mark 1, where Jesus event through Galilee, showing mercy to the sick and sorrowful, and when the unclean leper came to Him, and said: “If Thou wilt, Thou cans’t make me clean.”

Perhaps Farmer F.——-thought for the first time in his life, that he too needed to be cleansed by the Lord. And when Anna read, how willing the Lord was to cleanse him, his heart was perhaps softened, and drawn to Him who had shown so much grace and love to lost sinners.

“My little maid taught me to know Jesus!”

Dear reader! Have you learned to know Jesus?

If not, I tell you seriously, that you have neither peace, nor happiness, because you are not saved. Just ponder this. Although in this world I may never press the hand of him or of her, who reads this little paper, although I may never behold your faces, you must still. one day, meet God. Believe then, that God loves you so, that He gave His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to this earth, where you now are, to reveal God’s love. He died on the cross, and bore the judgment for sin, and now you may go to Him, and He will save you.

Today the glad tidings comes to you. God says: “Through this Man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 13:38.) But God says also that He will judge all those who reject Jesus. (Acts 17:31.)

Do not put off, going to Jesus: now is the time. It will soon he too late.

O, come now to Jesus, That dear loving Saviour; Receive Him this moment, And peace shall be thine.

Messages of God’s Love 1/23/1921

Tell Jesus

Mark 6:30.

“Tell Jesus”—tell Him everything

About yourself, and all

The daily cares that trouble you—

The great ones and the small.

None are too large for Him to take,

He weighed them all before,

He gave them you to bring to Him,

That you should love Him more.

None are too small to take to Him—

He listens to a sigh,

He knows each wish, He sees each tear,

For He is always nigh.

“Tell Jesus”—tell Him everything,

The past, the present, too,

He’ll send new strength with every care,

And soothe, and comfort you.

Messages of God’s Love 1/23/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 5

A third son, Seth, came to Adam and Eve after Cain had killed his brother. We do not know very much about Seth, but God tells us that while Adam was made in His likeness, (verse 1), Seth was born in the likeness of his father, and after his image. (Chapter 3, verse 5). Sin had come into God’s fair creation, and put its stamp on everything. Adam and Eve had become sinners, and their children were like themselves.

None of us are born good; some that we love, or think very much of, may seem to us to have no faults, or very few, but when we turn over the leaves of our Bibles to Romans, chapter 3, verses 10-12, we learn what God thinks about us:

“There is none righteous. . . none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God . . . none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Indeed, as time went on, it seems certain that the generations, or families that were born, were getting worse and worse, for by and by God set a time when He would destroy man and beast from the earth with a great flood.

God told Adam and Eve that the punishment or penalty of sin was death. And while chapter 5 does not mention very many people by name, it tells of all of them except two, that they died, and the death of one of those is mentioned at the end of chapter nine. “All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.”

In the very last verse of the sixth chapter of Romans you will find these very important words from God Himself: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

You see, there are wages, and the cemeteries which we see everywhere remind us that the wages are paid. So many do not want to take the gift which God offers; they would rather try to get it for themselves, but, children, eternal life can be had only by trusting in Jesus. Have you trusted Him?

I notice, too, that while we can at least hope that most, perhaps all, of the ten people whose names are given in the fifth chapter of Genesis were God’s children through faith, of only two of them is anything said that lets us know that they tried to please God in their lives. It is very sad to see so many nowadays just satisfied to be saved, and seeming to forget the Lord Jesus who died for them on the cross. If they really love Him, they would be thinking about Him sometimes, don’t you think so too? And if they are thinking about Him, they would sometimes talk about Him as though they liked to.

Do you remember that verse—O, there are several of them—that tell us that God is having a record kept, of all that we each of us, saved or unsaved, think or sav or do? In Rev. 20:12 we react of books written about the “works” done here, as well as the book of life, which contains the names of those who are saved. If you are saved, if you know the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour, I am sure you will want to please Him, and not have nothing good written down in those books that are going to be opened in heaven. We may not be able to do very much, and it is surely very, very little after all, when we think how much love we owe to God for saving us, but if we are saved, we ought to seek to please Him, shouldn’t we.?

One of the men this chapter tells us of didn’t die. You will find the short story of his life of three hundred and sixty-five years, (just as many as there are days in the year) in verses 19 and 21-24.

God just says about Enoch, that he “walked with God” for three hundred -years; and further, that he “walked with God; and he was not; for God took him.”

Let us try to imagine the day when, perhaps, Enoch’s wife, and Metbusaleh, and the rest of the family were terribly alarmed; they couldn’t find Enoch anywhere! They probably searched all around, and asked everybody, and even had the neighbors hunting for him, but all in vain. He had been taken away by God.

Do you know that this is a picture of what is going to happen to a lot of people,.both old folks and young, and some boys and girls, and babes, too? Yes, the Lord Jesus is going to descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we (the saved ones, not every one) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we (the saved ones) ever be with the Lord.

I have repeated this for you from First Thessalonians, fourth chapter, and sixteenth and seventeenth verses, so that you will know that it is God’s word. What a terrible thing it will be to be left behind, never again to be with the saved ones! Perhaps your papa and mamma are saved, and you are not. O, be wise! own yourself a sinner now, and receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 1/23/1921

Suffer the Children to Come Unto Me

The Master is weary; Ah, trouble Him not!

In search of repose we have come to this spot.

Take home, then, your children, you surely must see,

Such little ones only fatiguing can be.

So spake the disciples, and thought that they knew

Their care for His person was tender and true.

But little they felt like their own blessed Lord.

His voice and His words struck a different chord.

In His arms, on His breast, babes have naught to fear,

His tender compassion would ne’er cause a tear.

And in words that their parents loved to repeat;

He uttered the sayings, for us too, so sweet!

“Suffer the little-ones,” quite gently, said He.

“Suffer the little ones to come unto Me.

For in that radiant kingdom of heaven,

My Father to Me such children has given.”

Messages of God’s Love 1/23/1921

Whiter Than Snow

NOW flakes are falling everywhere, carpeting the ground in spotless white, resting on the boughs of leafless trees, and glittering in the moonlight.

This is not a suitable night for little folks to be out of doors, yet one little girl could be seen speeding along in the snow from the town to her home in the country.

Daisy—for such is the little traveler’s name—has been on an errand of mercy to a poor wee sick child, who has few comforts, and no companions.

Daisy’s mother had given her some tempting things for the sick child to eat, and Daisy, out of her own little store of money, had purchased a few toys and had taken them to the little sufferer; and with them, had left her a pretty text card to learn, with the words upon it,

“COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD: THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW.” ISA. 1:18.

She also, softly and sweetly, sang the favorite hymn,

“Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,

And I shall be whiter than snow.”

Daisy delivered her message, and returned home happy, because she had been able to make a lonely one glad, and to bring the glad tidings of salvation to a little sad heart. Daisy herself had known for three years that she was cleansed by the blood of the Lamb from all her sins, and made “white as snow;” and ever since, she has tried to make others happy by telling them of Jesus. and denying herself of little luxuries in order to be able to gladden others who do not often share such things.

Even the robins and sparrows are her care in the winter; she rises early in the stormy mornings to feed them.

To return to our little sick girl: the words of the gospel song, together with the text which she had learned, and had been repeating over and over, were words of life to that sad little heart, and she was led to Him whose precious blood cleanses the soul from sin, and makes it “white as snow.” She was able to sing,

“Yes, at once, and that completely,

Through the blood of Christ I know,

All my sins, though red like crimson;

Have been cleansed as white as snow.”

Messages of God’s Love 1/30/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 6-9

Very quickly after Adam and Eve died, their children, and their children’s children got more and more sinful, and at last things got to such a condition that God said He would not let the wickedness go on; and He also cut down man’s days to one hundred and twenty years. He saw what bad hearts those people had, and that all they thought about, and all they said and did, was only evil all the time, yet He was so patient, and so slow to anger that He did not leave them without someone to speak to them about their ways and to warn them of the certainly coming day of judgment.

‘Noah’s great-grandfather Enoch, about whom we read last time, had spoken to the people of his day in a very solemn way. God has told us in the Bible, part of what Enoch said to them; it is written in the short little Epistle of Jude, verses 14 and 15. Will you take your Bible and find it?

“Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” ‘

Noah, too, was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5.) We don’t know how many listened to his preaching, but we can be sure that hundreds, and it may be thousands, came to see the ark God told him to build, and not very many of them, we would think, went away without hearing his solemn warnings. Perhaps they laughed at what they may have called Noah’s crazy notion, that a great flood was coming to drown them• all, but the time came when there was no laughing left.

God indeed had said to Noah, “The end of all flesh is come before Me make thee an ark of gopher wood”. It. was to have many rooms, and it would need to have very many to allow a place for each kind of creature that would have to find a home in the ark for a year. It had to have a place for all that would believe Goo’ and be saved, too. This big house-ship was to be painted inside and outside with pitch: it was about four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high, with three floors. There was just one window and it was about a foot and a half, on the roof of the ark. I don’t suppose this ark was very much like the “Noah’s arks” that boys and girls, when they arc not too big, sometimes have to play with; when the ark was built. God told Noah and his family to come into it. Do you notice that word “Come”? not “go” into the ark. God, through Jesus, invites us to come to Hirai and be saved, foo, not from being drowned, but from the judgment that is surely coming soon, and that will be to be shut out from Him and shut in with Satan forever.

During the week that was left before the door of the ark was shut such a strange procession of creatures came from the fields and the forests, from jungle and mountain,—every kind of animal and feathered thing, and crawling worms and snakes too, came walking and flying and creeping to the ark, two of some kinds and seven pairs of others. Who but God could have made them all come there? And we can be sure that every kind of thing (except those that live under the water) was found in the .ark, because verses 19 and 20 of chapter 6; and verses 2, 3, 14, and 15, of the next chapter, tell us so.

But did any boys and girls or men and women go into the ark? Sad to say, not one person outside of Noah and his wife, -their three sons and their wives! All they needed was to believe what God said; the door was open, and it was just to walk in! Perhaps some of them wait-. ed for others to go in, and the others didn’t go, and so they were outside when -the door was shut. In verse 16 see those words, “And the Lord shut him in”; Noah and his family were surely safe then, but what about those that were outside? They were shut out, just as those who believed God were shut in. Very .likely as the terrible down-pour of rain came on, and kept on day after day until presently the houses began to be covered with water, some would call out to Noah to open the door and let them in, but it was of no use,—Noah couldn’t open the door, for the Lord had shut it. The time -of pleading with those that were outside was past; they had been offered salvation .but didn’t take it at God’s time, and now it was too. late. Be wise, dear children, and make sure now that you are saved, -that you have put your real heart’s trust in Jesus through His word. There is a dreadful time, far wcrse than the flood, -coming and then it will be forever too late to be saved.

The great deluge of rain kept on until the mountains were covered, and there was no height left for anyone to climb to, and every living person and every creature that moved on the earth was dead, except those who were in the ark.

After five months the rain stopped and the water gradually went down until the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat; some weeks later the mountain tops could be seen; after another few weeks, Noah opened the window of the ark, and sent out a raven which flew far and near, but did not come back to him. Next, he sent out a dove, to see if the water had become low, but she found no resting place, and came back to Noah into the ark. A week went by and Noah sent the dove out again; at evening she came back with an olive leaf in her mouth, showing that the trees were to be seen out of the water; still another week passed and the dove was let loose once more, and this time she did not come back; there was a clean, dry place for her to make her home.

When they had been shut up in the ark very nearly eleven months, the water was all gone, and Noah took the covering off the ark, but still he waited for God to tell him to leave, and to bring out the many creatures that had been shut up so long, so it was ten days more than a year after the rain began to fall, when the door of the ark was opened.

Noah, now in thankfulness for being saved from the death that had come to all the world, built an altar to the Lord and offered on it both beasts and birds of every clean kind, and the Lord, while saying that the thoughts of men’s hearts are evil. from youth, yet said that He would no more curse the ground for man’s sake, and no more strike every living thing as He had done; as long as the earth remains, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night would never cease. And then, as a sign of His promise to not destroy the earth with a flood again, God gave the rainbow in the sky that we so often see when the sun shines after rain.

I would like to end our story just here for this time, but I must tell you first that Noah planted grape vines, and afterward got drunk from the wine he made. Man cannot be depended on by God;, he always spoils what God gives him, and God keeps our salvation for us, because we’d lose it if it depended on us to keep it.

Messages of God’s Love 1/30/1921

Lost and Found

Lost God’s creatures were through sin,

Good and fair He’d made them,

Satan schemed their souls to win,

Basely then betrayed them;

God still loved and sent His Son,

Jesus Christ, the Holy One.

Down He came in lowly grace,

All God’s love He told them,

In eternal love’s embrace

Yearning to enfold them;

Thus the Saviour’s gracious ways

Won their hearts in olden days.

Little children Jesus took

In His arms, and blessed them,

Chiding those who would rebuke,

As He thus caressed them;

“Suffer them to come to Me,

And forbid them not,” said He.

Then His precious life He gave,

Bore the judgment for them,

Shed His blood their souls to save,

As in death He saw them;

Meeting every sinner’s need,

“Son of God” He is indeed.

Jesus rose from death’s domain,

There no power could hold Him:

Yes! He lives on high again,

Where His saints behold Him

Honored now, with glory crowned,

Given a Name o’er all renowned.

Jesus’ love is still the same,

Winning, precious, tender;

Naught but good surrounds the Name

Of the world’s Befriender.

He the love of God has shown,

God as “Father,” too, made known.

Now His Spirit He has given,

All this love to teach them,

Causing all the joys of heaven

By His power to reach them;

Satisfied—they now can raise

Songs of gladness to His praise.

Messages of God’s Love 1/30/1921

A Crushed Finger

J. R. put his finger too near-the rollers of the mangle,. and the result was that one of his fingers was badly crushed, and pained him very much.

Sally W. who was much older, and who had trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. as her own Saviour, tried to comfort. him. Then turning to J. R. said,

“Your finger pains you, does it not,

“Yes, it does,” he answered.

“Well, J., that is nothing to what people suffer when they go to hell. Just: think of any one hurting all over, only ten thousand times worse, burning forever and forever in fire. Why, there is nothing like it.”

J. R. was deep in thought now, and thankful he was not in that awful place prepared for the devil and his angels, and that night he put his trust in the blessed Saviour of poor hell-deserving sinners like himself. He said,

“It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul—the blood!—the blood!”

May you, dear young friend, put your trust in Jesus now, and not only’ escape the terrible consequence of your sins, but have the hope of soon seeing Him, and being like Him and with Him forever.

Messages of God’s Love 1/30/1921

Bible Questions for February

Answers to Bible Questions for December

“And by Him,” etc. Acts 13:39.

“Neither is there,” etc. “ 4:12.

“And as he reasoned,” etc. “ 24:25.

“Be it known therefore,” etc.” 28:28.

“Which also said,” etc. “ 1:11.

“Then Agrippa said,” etc. “ 26:25.

“Because He had,” etc. “ 17:31.

Bible Questions for February

The Answers Are to be found in 1st Corinthians.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Such were some of you.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “He was buried.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Head of every man.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Perfectly joined together.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Till He come.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The glory of God.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The dead shall be raised.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/6/1921

The Fiery Furnace

IN the third chapter of the book of Daniel we read about three men who were cast into a furnace of fire with all their clothes on.

They were bound hand and foot, so that they should not escape while being thrown in, but the fire burned the men who put them in. The three men were not hurt, not even their hair singed, nor their clothes burned, only their bands with which they were bound, were burned off them, so that they were loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and another was seen walking with them. God had sent His angel to be with them, and protect them.

The reason these three men were put into the fire was because they would not bow down to an image and worship it which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and given a command that at a certain time all should bow down and worship the golden image.

They feared God, who had created them, and who only should be worshiped, so they put their trust in Him who was able to deliver them. They did not know whether God would see fit to deliver them, although they knew He was able. but whether they would be delivered or not, they would not bow down to that image and give to it what was due to God. God honored them for that, so not only did He deliver them, but caused the king to give them high positions in the kingdom.

If God had seen fit to allow them to burn, He would have rewarded them at the resurrection, and great would be their reward, but we know God will never allow faithfulness to Him to go without rewarding for it, for the Scripture says

“THEM THAT HONOR ME I WILL HONOR, AND THEY THAT DESPISE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED.” 1 Sam. 2:30.

Messages of God’s Love 2/6/1921

Just As I Am

A POOR little boy once came to one of the Mission rooms, and holding up a dirty piece of paper, said that his father had sent him to ask for a clean copy of the same.

The paper was opened, and found to have printed on it that well-known hymn:

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come.”

The boy was asked where he got this dirty and crumpled copy from, and why he wanted a clean one? He said it had been found in his sister’s pocket after she had died. She used to sing it often while she was ill; and her father wanted to get a clean copy of the same to have it framed.

It was not known where the little girl had got the hymn from—perhaps at the Sunday school, or given to her in the street, but when she was ill, and perhaps no one to tell her of the Lord Jesus, here she could read this hymn and learn it, and sing it, and do it, that is, go to the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God; and go to Him just as she was—a poor lone girl.

But how did she know Jesus would receive her? The hymn tells her He had shed His blood for her and had invited her to come. How simple!

Jesus had died for her, Jesus had invited her, and she had come, she came just as she was.

And thus a poor child could die happy and safe, and go to be with Jesus forever.

Will all our little readers learn this verse; and if they say the last line when they come to Jesus, then they also will be happy, and go to be with the Saviour, the Lamb of God.

Messages of God’s Love 2/6/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 10-11

For a hundred years after the flood was over, all of Noah’s children lived pretty much together, and there began to be very many of them. Just as it had been before the flood, in forgetting God and going on in sinful ways, so it was afterward; only now they seem to have very, very quickly forgotten the lesson of the ark and the awful flood of waters which God had sent on the earth to destroy every person that was not safe in •that ark. I expect they thought that they were pretty smart people, and in a few verses in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, verses 21 to end of chapter, God has told us something about what they thought of themselves, and what He thought of them, which wasn’t the same at all. I want you to read them all, but I can only find room here for part of the verses:

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things”. So you see they began making pictures and images of people and things, in order to pray to them, and make sacrifices or offerings to them, because they didn’t want to believe in the true God.

Among the things these early people found how to do, was making day bricks to build With, instead of stone, and Satan seems to have made use of this to get them to go a step further from God. They were getting to be so many, and the world was so big, it was certain the people would get scattered over the whole earth, which God surely meant them to be, but in peaceful quietness. But having no wish to please God, but only themselves, and determined to make themselves independent of Him, they thought they would build a big city, and a great high tower of brick as a kind of grand gathering point, or capital city of the world. But though they wanted to forget God, He did not forget them, and so we read (verse 5): “And the Lord came down to see the city, and the tower which the children of men builded”.

I don’t suppose anyone saw Him, or thought of Him, but He was there and just as now He sees into every heart, and knows what we are doing and saying, so it was then. God saw that the city and the tower were only a beginning; they would, with Satan as their leader, get worse and worse very fast, and God would soon have to punish the world in some dreadful happening like the flood. So He had a way to ruin their plans, and to hold back Satan’s wicked schemes, and that was to alter their speech so that they could not understand one another. Well, of course, just as soon as there were different languages spoken, which is just• what God caused to happen, the building stopped, and the people separated. by languages into groups, and so there came about nationalities: each nation went off in search of a home for itself, and they were soon scattered all over the world. From this time, Egypt and China had their beginning, but those countries claim to he very old, older than Adam and Eve.

Other nations, too, came to be then; many of them we know very little about. Now this is the way God tells us the nations began, and I am glad the Bible tells us, because otherwise we would have to depend on what the histories tell, that men have written, both on stones and in books, which have been found untrue many a time.

Adam and Eve, when in the garden of Eden, had been given for their food, you will remember, the grains and nuts and fruits that grew on, plants and trees, and when God sent them out of that garden He had (chapter 3:18) told them again that these things were to be their food. But after the flood, God told men that besides what I mentioned, their food should include every moving thing; there was one thing prohibited,—the blood could not he used for food, but only the flesh of the creatures: Thirty years after the tower of Babel, came Nimrod, who began to be a mighty one in the earth, and we are told that he was also a mighty hunter before the Lord; he hunted wild creatures for the pleasure of hunting and killing them, and not just for food for himself and his family. Not only that, but Nimrod became, as it seems, the first king; and Babel, where the tower had been begun was the first city of his kingdom. And so the world went on without God Who made it, Who gave its people life and breath and all things. I wonder if my reader is trying to live without. God. Nimrod. and those of his day, could not know of the precious blood of Jesus, but we do, you and I. Are you trusting Him for salvation?

Messages of God’s Love 2/6/1921

When?

WHEN will you do as I tell you?” is what parents are often heard to say to their children. One little boy I heard answer, “When I am as big as father.” This answer was not good. We read in the Bible of a great and wise man who served God all his life. His name was Samuel. When did he begin? When he was a very little boy; and God honored him in many ways. Samuel had a good mother, and she brought him to the Lord as soon as. he was old enough to be left.

Perhaps my little reader also has a good mother, and is saying, “I would like to serve• God.”. See then what the Bible says about Samuel. First he obeyed his mother. When? While he was yet a little boy. And he did what Eli, God’s priest, told him to do.. When? While he was still a little boy. And God called him. When? While he was still a little boy. And Samuel feared and obeyed God. ‘When? While he was still only a boy. It is a beautiful story, and you can read it for yourself in 1 Samuel 3. Tt begins by speaking of him as the child Samuel.

God at different times, and in various ways, spoke in olden time by His prophets (and Samuel when grown up was one of them); but now in our time He speaks to. us by His Son, Jesus, the Saviour. ‘Will you be obedient to God, and listen to the loving words of Jesus? You are not too young for God to call. You are not too young to listen and obey Jesus, and answer, like Samuel, while Jesus says, “Come unto Me,” “Here am I.” When? Now.

“Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” Isa. 55:3.

O God, thou art my God; early will I see Thee. Psa. 63:1.

Messages of God’s Love 2/6/1921

The Gypsy Boy

A DEAR little gypsy boy who knew very little about comforts in this life, and was poor, like the most of them, had to live in tents and sit outside some times, and make baskets. He had not the opportunity to hear about the Lord Jesus, like my readers, and so knew nothing about his need of the Saviour, nor what He had done for poor sinners. He may have been contented with his lot as a gypsy, and may have preferred to be outside in the open air, and not have any fine chair to sit in, so in that way could have been an example to many city boys who have every comfort, yet are not contented.

This dear boy took sick, and was in the tent dying at the close of a day when a Christian man went in and found him there and told him of the Lord Jesus who came from the bright glory above, down to this earth to die for us poor sinners, so that we may be made fit to go to heaven, having all our sins washed away in His precious blood. I do not know just what words were used, but Jesus, as the Saviour, is the One he spoke to him about, and he said, “Nobody ever told me.”

You, clear readers, may not be able to say that, for 1 know most of you have heard again and again of the Lord Jesus as the Saviour for sinners, but he only heard it once, and he believed in the Lord Jesus and was saved.

Are you saved, dear children? Are you glad that the blessed news of salvation has been sounded in your ears, an glad to tell the message to others as well? How terrible must the judgment be for those who have heard the blessed news of salvation, and spurn the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus.

The gypsy boy accepted Christ as his Saviour the first time he heard of Him, and then desired that the message should be told to others.

If you have accepted the Lord as your Savour may you

“GO HOME TO THY FRIENDS, AND TELL THEM HOW GREAT THINGS THE LORD HATH DONE FOR THEE.” MARK 5:19.

Messages of God’s Love 2/13/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 11-13

Beyond the broad Euphrates, the great river we. have talked of before, which flows into the Persian Gulf, lived Abram, and Sarai his wife, with Nahor and Haran his brothers, and Terah their father. Haran died sometime after his son Lot was born. All of them, and I suppose nearly everyone in their country, and all over the world, both prayed and made presents to idols; they were idolators, as we say. Probably only three hundred and seventy years had gone by since the flood, but Satan had been very busy, and the whole world nearly, was by this time given up to worshiping false gods that men had made with their own hands.

And now God chose one man out of all this idol-worshiping world,—this Abram that I mentioned first,—made Himself known to him, and told him to get out of his native land, away from his relations and from his father’s house, to go to another country that He would tell him of afterward. It could not have been because Abram was any better than other people that God did this and I don’t think he was any better. I think it was just as, long afterward, God did with Saul of Tarsus, in the Acts, chapter 9, when He took a man who cared nothing for Him, and after bringing him to see how bad he was, and that God alone could save him, giving him something to do in the world for Him.

It could only have been because Abram believed what God had said to Him, that he gave up his home and started off for an unknown place with nothing but God’s spoken word to depend on. We have more than Abram had; we have God’s written word to tell us about God, and if we believe in our hearts what His word says about. us, and God’s way of salvation, we are saved, and going to a better country than Canaan, the land to which Abram was sent. Do you remember the verse in Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”? God has made it very easy for us to be saved from His anger in that coming day of judgment, but do not put off, dear children; “Now is the accepted time,” as God’s word itself says.

Well, Abram started from his home with his wife and his father and his nephew Lot. This was not doing exactly what God had told him, and so they stopped at a place named Haran, and did not go all the way to the promised land until after father Terah was dead. Then the three, Abram, Sarai and Lot, set out again, and coming into the land of Canaan from the north, they went through it to a place not very far from Jerusalem, though there was no Jerusalem then, I think. The maps in the back of your Bible will show you about how Abram must have journeyed.

There were several nations living in the country they went through, and like those who lived where Abram had,—like Abram himself had been, too, they did not know or care about the true God, and worshiped idols. Abram had come to Canaan on a simple promise from God, and He now appeared to him again, saying, “Unto thy seed (or children) will I give this land”. And there Abram built an altar,—a place on which to offer sacrifices,—to the Lord who appeared unto him. When he moved to another place, he built another altar, and from what the latter part of the eighth verse tells us, I am sure that Abram was learning more of God, and his life was showing it too. If you are one of the Lord Jesus’ lambs, your words and ways ought to show it too, shouldn’t they?

Wonderful man as Abram was, though, he failed when trial came. God let him be tried by a famine in the country. Perhaps there had not been enough rain to make the farmers’ crops grow; there certainly wasn’t much food to be had, either for themselves or their animals, and there was plenty in Egypt, and so Abram, forgetting to trust God to take care of him, as surely would in the place He had sent him to, went down there to stay until the famine was over in Canaan.

Now it is something I have proved many times, and perhaps my readers have too, that one wrong thing leads to another. That was the case here, for Abram didn’t get further than the boundary of Egypt, before he and his wife fixed up a lie to tell when they were down there. Sarai was a pretty woman, and Abram was afraid the Egyptians would want to take her from him and would kill him, so he asked her to say that she was his sister. It happened as Abram feared; the king, or Pharaoh of Egypt, took her for one of his wives. and gave Abram many valuable presents of cattle and servants and donkeys and camels for Sarai’s sake. And now again God came into what was going on.

Abram and Sarai were in serious trouble, and only God could help them. If we are saved, we ought to ask God in the Lord Jesus’ name to help us in every trouble. He will, just as surely as can be. The seventeenth verse tells us that He made a lot of trouble for Pharaoh and his household; we don’t know just what it was, but something that made the king of Egypt send Sarai away, and Abram, too, very quickly. It wasn’t very nice though, that someone who didn’t know God, should have to tell one of God’s children about his ways not being just right or truthful.

Back they came, all the way to Bethel, the place they had started from in the middle of Canaan. They were rich now with cattle and silver and gold, hut they had not been happy while they were away. There is no mention of Abram’s praying to God in Egypt, or building an altar there, but when he got back to the place he should not have left, then he began to be a testimony for God again.

God has told us this that we have been reading about Abram, so that if we have believed in our hearts the glad news that Jesus died on the cross for us on account of our own sins, and so are saved, we may be encouraged to try with His help to live by faith like Abram did, and to avoid Abram’s mistake of acting without God. No one is, or has been, perfect in his life here on earth, but the Lord Jesus, and He is the only perfect example.

If we are the Lord Jesus’ boys and girls, shall we not try today, tomorrow and all the time, to live just as though He were walking and sitting beside us wherever we are?

Messages of God’s Love 2/13/1921

Love Without Faith

A gentleman was once riding in a train, when at one of the stations a lady and her little boy came in.

As the train moved off the little boy took his place at the window to look out on the fields and houses. which were being passed so quickly that they all seemed to be in motion as well as the train.

But he had not stood there long before he turned round and said, “Mother, you won’t get out of the train, and leave me behind, will you?”

“O. no,” replied his mother. The little boy turned again to the window. Presently he looked round again, and said, “You won’t leave me in the train, will you, mother?”

“O no, Charlie,” she replied. And again he was satisfied for the moment, but to the gentleman’s surprise, he looked round and said for the third time, “Mother, you won’t leave me behind in the train, will you?” and this time he put out his hand, and took hold of his mother’s dress to be sure that while he was occupied in the objects out of window, his mother could not move away without taking him with her.

The gentleman was much surprised at the incident, because it seemed as if the boy did not trust his mother, or believe that she spoke the truth when she told him the first time that she would not leave him.

However, as he saw the lady and her boy get out at one of the stations, and walk away hand in hand, he had this happy thought, that although there was an evident want of faith on the part of the child in the love of his dear mother, yet he was but a little fellow, and the gentleman was pleased to see how anxious he was to be close to his mother’s side; he must have loved her, he must have had some confidence in her; it was like a mixture of love and fear.

This is the way, I think, with some of us who are Christians: we believe that God loved us so much as to give His Son to die for us, we delight to be close to Him. and yet there are some things we are so slow to trust Him about. Well, let us remember that as the love of this mother was no doubt perfect in its way, so God’s love is most assuredly perfect towards us, not only when we most feel it. but when we least feel it too.

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord happy is he! Prov. 16:20.

Messages of God’s Love 2/13/1921

Bringing to Jesus

A LITTLE girl had heard her father give an address on the text “He brought him to Jesus” (John 1:42), and told him afterwards how much she enjoyed it.

“Well,” said her father, “whom are you going to bring to Jesus?”

“I think, papa,” was her earnest reply, “that I will just bring myself to Him.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/13/1921

The Captive Maid

Only a little captive maid

From Israel’s land exiled,

She often to Jehovah prayed

Though but a little child.

A hopeless leper was her lord,

Nor knew God’s sovereign grace;

She softly spoke to him the word,

“Go seek the prophet’s face.”

Her master listened to her voice

And to Elisha sped;

Now cleansed, how did his heart rejoice!

He lived, who once was dead.

O say not then, “I’m but a child,”

But seek the Saviour’s face,

He’ll make you clean and undefiled,

A monument of grace,

And then to others you may go,

To tell them of His love;

Through you the gospel streams may flow,

Which have their source above.

Messages of God’s Love 2/13/1921

Androcles

Many years ago, a Roman slave by the name of Androcles was found guilty of some misdemeanor and was ordered by his master to be put to death. Androcles escaped to the Numidian desert. One day, when sitting at the entrance of a cave, he was much surprised and terrified to see a large lion coming towards him; but instead of pouncing on him, the lion quietly came up to him, and lifted his paw, and at the same time licked Androcles’ hand. There was a thorn in the paw, and the lion seemed to realize that a man could take it out and relieve him of his suffering. Androcles took the thorn out and the lion bounded off.

Sometime after this Androcles was captured, and condemned to fight a lion in the arena. When the hungry beast was let loose, he sprang towards Androcles, but stopped suddenly, crept quietly to him, and licked his feet, It was the same lion from whose paw be had pulled the thorn, and though the circumstances were entirely different, the lion remembered the kindness, and showed his gratitude.

I am sure no one would have expected such gratitude from such a ferocious beast; but what a lesson it may teach us. If a beast can show gratitude for kindness received, how much more should we! Our parents have done many kind acts for us, and have denied themselves many things, so that they could give to us, and yet, how often children turn around and speak disrespectfully to their parents; and disobey them. They act as if they had less sense of kindness shown them than that poor dumb lion.

There is something more than this, for there is no one who has loved us as the Lord Jesus has, for He has given Himself for us, and died in our place, and bore what we deserved. How much do we love Him, and show gratitude for all that He has done for us? Are we willing to please Him? Is it our delight to talk often to Him, and read His Word, and thus have Him talk to us? O, may we each one seek to please Him in all our ways, and thus show that we love Him.

“WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM.” HEB. 11:6.

Messages of God’s Love 2/20/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 13-14

You will remember that God had told Abram to go away from his relations, as well as from his home, and that he had not left his father or his nephew, but they started off with him on that journey that was to end, he didn’t know where, but in the place to which God would guide him. When his father died at Haran, Abram had started off again, God having patiently waited for him, and no doubt stirred him up again to be obedient to Him. Well, when Abram. Sarai and Lot came back from Egypt to the place they had left in the land of Canaan, the nephew Lot, who, though a child of God, was not a man of faith like Abram, was still in his company, but presently he ceased to be a hindrance to Abram’s spiritual life. It happened this way: the uncle and nephew had now so many cattle that they could not very well live together, and Abram who believed God and was content to just quietly wait for Him to give his children the land as He had promised, told Lot to choose first where he would like to live, and then he, Abram, would go to some other place. So Lot, when he had looked around, chose for himself a very good part of the country close to the one river that Canaan has, the Jordan, and removed down there.

When we choose for ourselves, without thinking of what may please God, we are likely to make a choice that proves to be a bad one afterward, and it was so with Lot. He thought about the nice place he was moving to, where there would be plenty of feed for his animals, and so on. and he either didn’t know that the men of Sodom were “very wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly,” when he pitched his tent toward that city, or else he thought it didn’t matter very much, as long as he didn’t go on with them in their bad ways.

I have often thought of a story my Sunday school teacher, who is now in heaven with the Lord Jesus, told the class one Lord’s day about thirty years ago. It was about a gentleman who wanted a man to drive his carriage (there were no automobiles then). Three men came to his house to apply for the position, and the gentleman took them by turns into a room to talk with them before he decided which one to hire. After asking the questions anyone would think proper, to be sure they knew how to drive horses, and do the work he wanted a coachman to do, the gentleman asked them each how near they could drive to the edge of a certain place he named, where the road passed close to a precipice. The first one thought he could go within six inches of the edge; and the second one, after learning what the first one had answered, said he could drive three inches from the edge of the bluff; but the third one told the gentleman, “I’d keep just as far away from the edge as I could”, and his answer was the right one; he got the place. Now this was the trouble with Lot; he thought he could go near to danger and still be safe, but if we are the Lord’s, we can’t take any chances. The very first Psalm tells us where we are safe and happy:

“Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law cloth he meditate day and night”, so we should always keep away from bad companions.

The next thing we read, is, (in verses 14 to 17 of chapter 13) that God appeared again to Abram, who was at last free from his worldly-minded nephew, and repeated His promise, and made it stronger and clearer than before. That is always the way with God; if His children try to live for Him, no matter whether they are boys or girls, or grown men and women, God always finds a way to let them know He is pleased with them, and encourages them to go on. ‘Abram was very likely feeling sad because his nephew had gone into a bad neighborhood where he could make more money, and Abram may have been saying to himself, (if he was, Satan put it into his mind,) “I just wonder if it pays to try to please God; other folks seem to get the best of things by going after them, and I wait for God to give me what He thinks is best for me, and don’t get anything.” Now if Abram did think so, and we were living then, and knew what God knew we could have said to Abram, “You just wait, and you won’t be sorry,” because in a very short while Lot lost everything he had in this world, and Abram went on experiencing one thing after another, that told him of God’s love for and care over him; and that is the way with every boy or girl or grown person who wants to please God; it may look for a little while, just down here in this world, as though the unsaved people and the worldly Christians have the best of everything; sometimes they seem to have here, but don’t forget that life is not even long enough, big enough, to be counted as a drop of water in comparison with an ocean for eternity. Some time I would like to talk to you about Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man who lived to please himself, and Lazarus the poor beggar who was one of God’s children, but you can read the story for yourself now, without waiting for me.

Genesis 14 tells about a war between several kings and you might wonder why God takes up so many verses in His precious Bible for that, until you get clown to verse 12;

“And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in. Sodom, and his goods, and departed”. That tells why; it was because God still cared for poor Lot.. who had first gone near Sodom, and then went to live in the city. Mind you, Lot was one of God’s children, but he was not where God would have him, and I think he ought to have felt that Sodom was the wrong place for him. It was a good thing for him that Abram could and did come after him and set him free, but it is sad to see that he went right back to Sodom again to live.

Another king, who had not been in the war that brought Lot into trouble. Melchizedek, the King of Salem, a man who feared God, was sent by Him to meet Abram when he came back with all the captives and all the property, which the victorious armies had carried away. Abram was in danger; he would be tempted to give up his place as standing separate from the wicked world around him, and to join hands with the king of Sodom, but strengthened by his meeting with Melchizedek, Abram refused to take any reward for what he had clone. He would receive from God, but not from men who did not know God, and indeed hated Him. We shall learn more about Sodom and its people, and Lot, too, in Genesis 19.

Messages of God’s Love 2/20/1921

A Friend In Jesus

A DEAR girl, when told what a true, real, and ever-present Friend Jesus is, said:

“I have wanted a Friend like that for so long!”

Alice had lost her mother when quite a little girl, and she was now an orphan; her father having died two weeks before this. She had no brothers, and her one little sister lived with friends a very long way off. She did not know the Lord Jesus, and was therefore lonely indeed!

But O! what a change took place in her whole life when she received Christ for her own Saviour, and proved the truth of God’s word,

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble.” Nahum 1:7.

When she was told how Jesus would never leave her, nor forsake her, she believed His word; and He has made Himself so precious a Friend to her, that she told me, only a week after her conversion, that it had been the happiest week of her life.

Dear reader, have you also “wanted a Friend like this for so long?” If so, think how very much Jesus loves you. He left His Father’s home in glory, that we might share it with Him. He died that we might live. He bore the awful load of our sins, that we might never bear them. He suffered on the cross, that we might escape the wrath to come; as 0, beautiful hymn expresses it—

“I gave My life for thee,

My precious blood I shed,

That thou might’st ransomed be,

And quickened from the dead.

I gave My life for thee;

What bast thou given for Me?”

There is one thing God asks you for, only one thing; He says, “Give Me thine heart.” What will you answer?

I do beseech you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to come to Him now; for He says, “Boast not thyself of to-morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov, 27:1.

We never read one verse, from the beginning of the Bible to the end, where God says, “Come to-morrow.” In Isaiah 1:18 is the gracious invitation. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

This invitation is to you; will you accept it? Will you come to the Saviour, that your sins may be washed away in His precious blood?

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

Messages of God’s Love 2/20/1921

Faithful in Very Little Things

“I cannot do great things for Him,

Who did so much for me;

But I would like to show my love,

Lord Jesus, unto Thee:

Faithful in very little things,

O, Saviour, may I be.

There are small things in daily life

In which I may obey;

And thus may show my love to Thee,

And always—every day—

There are some little, loving words

Which I for Thee may say.

I ask Thee, Lord, to give me grace

My little place to fill;

That I may ever walk with Thee,

And ever do Thy will;

And in each duty, great or small,

I may be faithful still.”

Messages of God’s Love 2/20/1921

What a Predicament

BOYS do love to ride on a horse’s back, and two may ride quite comfortably, but when more attempt to get on we may be sure they are apt to all slide off, and especially when there are four. It is natural for the last one, as he finds himself sliding off, to hold on to the one in front, with the hopes of keeping himself from falling, not thinking that it only means that all four will fall to the ground. No doubt, you will say it would be better for the last one to drop off, rather than pull all the others down with him.

How this may speak to us of many boys, and girls too who are not contented to do wrong things themselves, but they will try all they can to get others to go with them, and share with them in the wrong they want to do..

“MY SON, IF SINNERS ENTICE THEE CONSENT THOU NOT.” PROV. 1:10

The poor boy in our picture I suppose is not desiring to pull the others down, but he wants to hold himself up at the expense of the rest, and that shows he is not thinking of the good of the others. This too is as common as can be in this world. Many care not what may happen to others, just so they get along. It was not so with the Lord Jesus. His desire was for the good of others, and that is what brought Him down from the glory. He thought of our need, and loved us so much that He gave His life for us, and thus died in our stead, and bore the awful punishment we deserved. He, being holy, exhausted the judgment that would have held us forever.

May we who know Him as our Saviour, seek in every way to manifest to others the character of our blessed Lord. Seek to do for others, seek for their good, remembering what our blessed Lord has done for us.

Messages of God’s Love 2/27/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 15

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a’ vision, saying, `Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward,” (verse 1),—just the very words Abram needed, though perhaps, and very likely, no one knew it but God Himself.

You and I would feel a lot better if when we were afraid or sad and lonely, some person big and strong and rich and kind should say to us (and mean it too), “Don’t be afraid, I’ll do everything for you that you need”. But that is only a very poor likeness of what God has said, and will do, for those who love Him.

Open your Bible at the sixteenth chapter of John’s gospel, and read the last verse, “These things I have spoken unto you that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” These inspiring words were among the last, the blessed Lord Jesus said to those He loved, on the night in which He was betrayed to the wicked men who had long planned to kill Him. “Fear not”, “Be of good cheer”,—it is Jesus Who says the word, and that is why we believe it, isn’t it? But now let us look again at the first verse of our chapter in Genesis.

‘We all know what a reward is; it is something that someone gives you that isn’t wages or pay, when you’ve done something that other folks are very pleased with, isn’t it?

Now what is a shield? Some of you will say very quickly, “I know”, but as I can’t wait with this story until you tell me, I asked two boys that I know, and they told me that “I am thy shield” means, “I am your protector.” That is right, God was taking care of Abram, protecting him from wicked men and from Satan, but the verse says too, “and I have a reward for you in eternity,” because Abram had refused to take a gift from the world, when the king of Sodom met him.

But Abram had been thinking of the promise God had made to him in his old home, far away across the desert, and so he asked Him about a son, for he was past seventy-five years old, and his wife was only ten years younger than he, so they were not exactly young people, even in those days when people lived much longer than they do now. After the flood, lives grew quickly shorter, but they were not yet as short as now-a-days. God told Abram he should indeed have a son, and He even brought him outdoors at night, and told him to look up in the sky and count the stars if he could—so many would his children be for number. Before this, in the thirteenth chapter and sixteenth verse, God had spoken of Abram’s children as to be like the dust of the earth for multitude, and as we are sure there is a meaning in all the Bible tells us, we can think God, when speaking to Abram, had in mind, first, the saved ones of the people of Israel, and others who are going to be God’s earthly people; and then in the fifteenth chapter, verse five, God was thinking of those that are His heavenly people; but all of them, both earthly and heavenly people, saved through the precious blood of Jesus. Of course, not every one that has been saved since. Abram was an Israelite: no indeed, and God did not mean that, but as a verse in Romans (4th chapter, verse 11) says, Abram was the father of all them that believe, the head of the great family of faith.

“And he believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him for righteousness” (verse 6.). Have you believed in Him to the salvation of your soul? 0, don’t throw this paper away, or pass this by to read something else. Have you believed, confessing your sins, your badness to God?

Abram was I think now quite as ready to wait for God to act for him as he had been before, or as he was later on, for he asked God, How shall I know that I shall inherit this land? Well, God graciously told him how it would be with himself, and with his children after his death, before they were given the land of Canaan for their own. Abram himself would die in a peaceful old age, a stranger in the country God had promised, but his descendants at the end of about four hundred years would be brought out of a strange land—Egypt, it was—in which they would be treated very cruelly, (but the Egyptians would be punished by God) and taken back to Canaan, the land of God’s promise.

The second half of the sixteenth verse we must notice, too; it tells us that the wickedness of the nations which lived in Canaan when Abram did, was not yet “full”. Surely they were very wicked even then; let us turn back again to the thirteenth chapter and thirteenth verse which tells us about Sodom’’, that its people were “wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly”. God was going to wait four hundred years more, not on Sodom, which was soon to be destroyed, but on the rest of the people of the land, as He had waited many more years on the people who lived before the flood. Perhaps none of them would repent and turn to God, but, at least, they were given plenty of time to own their badness to Him, and they must have known they were wicked, but would not own it to God. Have you done that, dear young reader? I want to point you to two very solemn verses in the seventeenth chapter of Acts, verses 30 and 31. There we are told that God now commands everyone to repent, because He has appointed a day of judgment, and ordained a Man, (it is the Lord Jesus) to be the judge.

God told Abram too of the boundaries —the Mediterranean sea and the river Euphrates—of the promised land, which was then the home of the ten nations named in the last verses of chapter 15.

Before we close let us notice that just as the precious blood of Jesus had to be shed before those who believe in Him could, beside knowing they are saved, be told of what God is going to do, and the course of things in the world, in the same way when Abram had offered as a sacrifice to God those animals and birds that the 9th and 10th verses tell of, He told him of the future of his children. Of course we know that those Old Testament sacrifices could not take away sins, (the tenth chapter of Hebrews, verse 4 says that), but until the Lord Jesus came down into this world, and died on the cross, bearing the punishment instead of all those who believe in Him, God was pleased to receive those sacrifices which were offered in faith to Him in prospect of the cross.

Because Jesus has died, God can make us His children, His friends, and tell us about a glorious home in the sky, better than any country or home in this world. O children, but are you ready to go there? It is not enough to believe that Jesus has died; to be saved, you and I have to know that our badness is so real that God has had to punish Jesus on the cross for it. What would it have been for us if the Lord had not been willing to die for our sins, taking a far bigger punishment for them than any of us can ever know, and so satisfying God when He hung on the cross, that God can forgive us all the things He had against us?

Messages of God’s Love 2/27/1921

Me Too

WE had been speaking to a little company of people one Sunday afternoon. After the meeting, as was usual, we exchanged a few words with some of them. I remarked,

“I am glad the Lord Jesus loves me. It is not so much that I love Him, but what makes me happy is that I know He loves me.”

Then a voice sweetly chimed out, “Me too.”

I wonder how many of my young friends can say, “Me too”! How blessed it is when you meet a little boy or girl who can truly say, “I love Jesus.” The thought at once passes through the mind, “Then Jesus loves him or her, for we love Him because He first loved us.” And as the little hymn, we sometimes sing, says:

“Jesus was the first to love us,

Earth’s foundations long before.”

Yes, dear children, as we read in Proverbs 8, before the mountains were settled, before the hills were, before God made the earth, or the fields, or the highest Part of the dust of the earth, there was One, His name is Jesus, delighting in us. He wanted us for His pleasure, for His happiness. Yes, boys and girls, men and women, He wants us for His own joy and delight.

Then, coming to this earth of ours, He went everywhere making God’s love known. Jesus came here to show love, the love of God to men. How blessed it is to have a Saviour like that! Jesus has loved me and died for me; He has shed His precious blood for me, and now He lives for me. Do you wonder that I love Him? Soon He is coming for me, He de lights in me so much that He wants me to be with Him. I am necessary to His happiness. He has done more for me than I can tell. He is more to me than I can express. Every believer in Jesus is more to Him than worlds, and soon He is going to prove in the fullest possible way how precious I am to Him, and He to me. He will receive me to Himself. As we delight to tell you that He is all this to us, I wonder if you can say, “Me too.”

Jesus, Lord Jesus,

Thy name is sweet, my Saviour:

Soon shall I see Thee face to face,

My wondrous, blessed Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 2/27/1921

Now Is the Accepted Time

Now is th’ accepted time,

Now is the day of grace,

O, children come, without delay

And seek the Saviour’s face.

Now is th’ accepted time,

The Saviour calls today,

Tomorrow it may be too late,

Then why should you delay?

Now is th’ accepted time,

And Jesus bids you come,

And still we hear His blessed word

Declare, there yet is room.

If you reject that call,

And all the Saviour’s love,

You’ll lose the place that you might have

In th’ palace home of God.

Then you shall have your lot

Where Christ rejectors go,

Then rest for thee shall ne’er be found,

In th’ awful pit of woe.

Messages of God’s Love 2/27/1921

Bible Questions for March

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“Let love be without,” etc. Romans 12:9.

“Now I beseech you,” etc. “ 16:17.

“For the wrath of God,” etc.” 1:13.

“Much more then,” etc. 5:9.

“Dearly beloved,” etc. “ 12:19.

“Being justified freely,” etc. 3:24.

“And thinkest thou this,” etc.” 2:3.

Bible Questions for March

Rewards will be given (D, V.), for correct answers received until May, 1921, 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 2nd Corinthians.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Things which are. not seen.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “A sweet savor.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The image of God.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Not grudgingly.”

Write in full the verse containing the words. “Touch not.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Live in peace.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Absent from.” “Present with.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/6/1921

The Dead Robin

POOR little girls, they had a robin confined in a cage and thought they would he able to keep it there for time indefinitely, but the little thing died in a short time after being put in the cage, and when they came to give it some more seed and fresh water, there they found it lying on the bottom of the cage, and when they took it out they had to cry. It was not only they were disappointed, but death is a sad thing, so both together caused them to cry.

“DEATH PASSED UPON ALL MEN, FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED.” ROM, 5:12

This is what we may be concerned about, and how sad it is to see death in the human family. What sorrow it brings to the loved ones! It must have been a dreadful thing to Adam and Eve when Cain killed Abel. They no doubt, felt it keenly, for they knew if they had not sinned, death would never have come in, and they saw there the awful results.

All the ruin and suffering in the world, as well as death, is the result of sin. God created all things beautiful, but these things have come in since, and one can readily see that such things are not a part of God’s creation. God has not left us under the power of it, for His beloved Son came down to this earth to “destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Death will in no sense hold the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. We may die, like many Christians before us, but it cannot hold us, for the Lord will come and raise the sleeping saints, and take the living ones up with them to meet Him in the air and be forever with Him. The second death will have no power over such, but those who are unbelievers will have it in the lake of fire.

How is it with you, young friends? Are you believers in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you among those who will not have the second death; or will you be overtaken by it? It rests with you, and if the second death, which will be in the lake of fire, overtake you, it will be because you have refused the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Messages of God’s Love 3/6/1921

God Speaketh Once, Yea, Twice in a Dream

Job 33:14

A LITTLE boy was living with his father and mother in a small town. On Sunday they used to go to a larger town, about three miles away, to a meeting where they heard about Jesus.

One of the things that was often spoken about at the meeting was, that soon Jesus will come, and take all who believe in Him to be with Himself forever; but those who do not believe that Jesus died for them will be left behind, and go to hell.

This little boy used to think about what he had heard, and he even used to dream about it. One night he dreamed that Jesus had come, and that his father and mother had gone to heaven, but he was left behind. How unhappy he felt! In his dream he went round to the house of some friends who believed in Jesus, hut he found they had gone too. Then he dreamed that he walked to the meeting, calling out along the road, “Jesus, won’t You take me, too?”

At last he came to the meeting, and went into the room, and then he found his father and mother, and the other friends who believed in Jesus. This made him feel so happy that he woke up.

The dream seemed so real that this little boy was afraid it might come true. He knew that God is holy, and cannot have sinners in heaven with their sins, and he was in fear that Jesus might come, and he would be left behind.

If Jesus should come today would you go to be with Him? O! believe now that Jesus died for your sins, and is risen again.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures: and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

“The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8.

Messages of God’s Love 3/6/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 16-17

NOW we turn to chapter sixteen in which we come to the end of this part of Abram’s history. He had believed God in giving up his home in the East, his native land and his false gods; he had come into a strange country peopled by many nations, and there God had told Abram the land should be his by and bye, meanwhile he was to wait as a stranger in the country. God had not given Abram and Sarai any children though they had been married for many years and were now no longer young, yet all that God had told Abram was founded on a promised son.

One of the things God’s children have to learn is to have patience, to wait for God’s time to come. And we don’t like to wait. That is why, I think, He makes His children sometimes wait long for something that has been in His mind to give them all the while, it isn’t that He doesn’t love them, but because He loves, and He wants to keep them from trusting to themselves and making sometimes terrible mistakes. As far as we let God into our plans and our lives we shall not go wrong.

Sarai thought she never would get the promised boy baby of her very own, since so many years had gone by—ten at least since they came into Canaan, and she and her husband agreed that it was time to act. Abram should take Sarai’s Egyptian maid, Hagar, as a sort of second wife, and if Hagar should have a boy baby that would surely be the promised son. But they didn’t ask God what He thought about their plan; He gave Hagar a boy baby, so that part came true, but Ishmael was only the cause of grief and bad temper, lots of trouble for Sarai and Abram, and his children the roving Arabs, have never been friends of the children of Abraham.

We must specially notice before we go on to the seventeenth chapter, what Hagar called God when He had so kindly sent an angel after her out in that lonely place that she ran away to, when Sarai was so hard on her,—”Thou God seest me”, Wherever we are whether in need or in trouble, self-willed and rebellious, in sin perhaps, or pleasing God in our conversation and our ways, it is always true that He sees us. O how careful we ought to be. Thou God seest me!

Thirteen years more went by while Ishmael was growing from a baby into quite a big boy, I suppose, and when it was now just about twenty-four years since Abram, Sarai and Lot first arrived in Canaan, God appeared again to Abram.

How long the time must have seemed, waiting for that promised baby. Abram and Sarai will have very soon been sure that Ishmael was not the child God had meant, when He had spoken to Abram again and again about his “seed” or children. They surely were sorry they had acted in their own wills in the unhappy marriage to Hagar.

In the sixteenth chapter, we read mostly about Sarai, Abram and Hagar, making plans and having troubles, but in this chapter, and the next one, God is the One we read mostly of, and there are no troubles to tell of now. The long years of waiting for God to act had done no good to Abram; if there was willfulness in the sixteenth chapter and planning without God, this chapter we are looking at today, shows us a man who had learned a lesson.

“I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.” When Abram heard these words he fell on his face; he was humble now and quite willing for God to lead him. And God went on to say that Abram should be a father. of many nations; his name even should be changed to Abraham, meaning father of a great multitude. God promised all the land of Canaan to Abraham and to his descendants after him for an everlasting possession. And do you know, children, that that land has never been worth much to anyone else than the descendants of Abraham? Turks and others before them have had it, but that land is waiting for God’s time, and God’s earthly people Israel, saved and obedient, to come back to it.

But though it was God’s covenant, God’s solemn agreement, to make of Abraham a great nation, and to be their God, the ninth verse goes on to say “Thou shall keep My covenant therefore, thou and thy seed after thee in their generations.” God could say. “I will make”, “I will establish”, “I will give”, for all the blessings that He told Abraham of, were what He was going to give without Abraham or his children doing anything to get them, except to believe God. This was and is what God laves to do, to give even eternal life without our doing anything to earn it from Him, but He says too, “Thou shalt keep My covenant therefore.” It is just as we would expect in the, case of some poor homeless boy who had been brought into a fine home and adopted into the family: his talk and his behavior would have to be fit for the family he belonged to, wouldn’t they?

So God’s Word in effect says to us, who are saved, that because we are His children, members of His family, we ought to be like Him in our lives. What was the sign of the covenant then? It was circumcision, a mark of death then required by God to show that we deserve to die, and that there isn’t anything in us by birth or training that God can use in our salvation; we “must be born again” (John 3:7). The “old nature” that we are born with is no good in God’s sight and He won’t have it, we must have a new nature in which to please Him, and we get that when we receive the Lord Jesus as our Savioui. But we still have the old nature, and we find it out too, because it comes out in different kinds of naughtiness. But the Bible says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God.” Rom. 6:11.

Sarai’s name as well as Abram’s was changed. She was to be Sarah, “princess”; the old name, Sarai, meant “my princess”, but she was to be “mother of nations”, not merely Abram’s princess; she was indeed, though ninety years old, to have a son, and his name should be Isaac, meaning “laughter”. Ishmael should be a great nation, but with Isaac the covenant should be, and he should be born the next year. When God has said this, He ceased talking with Abraham this time.

Messages of God’s Love 3/6/1921

The Young Birds

Have you noticed young birds calling for food? How pitiful. it seems, but most likely the mother bird has gone to find some food. Such is God’s way of taking care of these young birds.

“HE GIVETH TO THE BEAST HIS FOOD, AND TO THE YOUNG RAVENS WHICH CRY.” PSA. 147:9

Then again another ‘scripture says, “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have store house nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? Luke 12:24.

God, who is the creator of all things, is the One who takes care of His creatures, but He lets us know there that we are of greater value than the fowls, and that is why He sent a Saviour for us, for we live forever. If we were to pass into eternity with all our sins upon us, we would be banished from God’s presence; but if we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we are saved for the glory, and to spend eternity with Him.

We can easily count upon Him to supply all our needs, seeing that He gave His only Son for us. Trust Him as your Saviour, dear children and trust Him for all things.

Messages of God’s Love 3/13/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 18

Again the Lord appeared to Abraham. He was one day sitting in the opening of his tent at noon; on looking out, there were three men to be seen standing nearby. When he saw them, with nice courtesy, Abraham ran to meet them, and bowed very deeply as he asked them, and One of them in particular, not to go away until they might wash their feet, and rest under the shadow of the nearby tree while a little food was brought out for them. And they said, “So do as thou has said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to his wife, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it and make cakes on the hearth,” then he ran to the barnyard, and picked out a tender and good calf, and gave it to one of his servants to prepare at once for dinner.

It doesn’t seem that Abraham knew yet who these strangers were, but when the One Who had led the party began to speak (verse 10) he found that this was that God who had spoken to him, and had appeared to him again and again before, the One Who had promised him that land, and in whom he trusted.

I love to read this chapter; it shows us again God coming. down to this world, coming near to us to talk with us, and see what we are doing. He had done this in the garden of Eden, you remember, after sin came in, and He had come again after the flood when the city and tower of Babel were being built, and now a third time He is seen here, this time with two angels all three appearing as men, and sitting under Abraham’s tree and eating the food Abraham brought out. Nov we hear His voice (verse 10), “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life, and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.” Sarah hears inside the tent and laughs to herself, not believing, and then the Lord said to Abraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee . . . and Sarah shall have a son.”

Nothing is too hard for God; it must have been the hardest thing He ever has done, to give up the Lord Jesus to the death of the cross, but I think it cannot be an easy thing to get boys and girls and especially older folks to believe in Jesus, and to bring them all safely to God’s home in the sky, yet God is doing those very things, and all the saved ones will be brought right home to heaven. Will it not be hard, too, to send the lost ones to hell? yet they must go there because they have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Saviour there is for anyone.

The three rise from the meal and start toward the wicked City of Sodom, Abraham going part way with them. And now the Lord speaks as though to Himself (verses 17 to 19), “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” Abraham should surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations should be blessed in him, but that was not all,—”For I know him”, said He, “that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment, etc.” How important it is for Christian parents to train their children in the fear of God; sometimes it is not easy for them, and sometimes even saved boys and girls find it hard to be willing and obedient, but God is taking notice of these things, and His books will tell in that day that is not far away, just how both children and parents have done about the things His word speaks of.

Then in verses 20 and 21 God is telling Abraham where He was going, and why; it was to Sodom and Gomorrah, because the “cry” of them was great, and their sin very grievous, “I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me, and if not, I will know.” O I wonder what He thinks of the world now, in this day of His patient grace, since Jesus has died, the Just One for the unjust ones, while it seems as though more and more, young and old, care for nothing of God, while the end of His grace is drawing nearer and nearer.

In the latter part of the chapter Abraham speaks alone with God, the two ‘angels going on toward Sodom, while God waits to listen to Abraham’s pleading for that doomed city. Perhaps, he said, there are fifty righteous ones within the city— forty-five even, or only forty, or just thirty, even twenty, ten perhaps, the last number Abraham speaks of—would it then be destroyed? Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? Indeed He would and He will, but there were not ten in Sodom that feared God, and before the next day was really begun, that wicked city, which was Lot’s home and Gomorrah too, was utterly destroyed.

In God’s Word there are many warnings of judgment on sinners who don’t turn to Him while they have the chance. I wonder if you are unsaved, my dear young reader, who hold this paper in your hand. If you have not fled for refuge to God through Jesus, let me urge you, don’t delay. Don’t let Satan fool you into waiting. Like the people in Noah’s time, and those in Lot’s day, you may wait a day or an hour, or a moment even, too long, and the door of mercy be forever closed to you.

Jesus is calling the children

Unto His side;

Opens His arms to receive them,

Opens them wide. Gently to lead them,

Guard them and feed them, Jesus is calling

The lambs to His side.

Messages of God’s Love 3/13/1921

Help in Time of Need

WITH a friend I went to a hospital, and as usual in such places, there were many and varied cases of suffering. In the corner of one of the wards lay a young girl,. whose bright face and rosy cheeks were a striking contrast to the pallid looks of several around her.

Drawing near to her bed, I said, “You look very happy; why are you lying here?”

Elsie soon told me her story: she had been taken to the hospital with a bad foot, and the doctor had found it necessary to amputate it. After a few words of sympathy I said,

“How glad you must be that the operation is over; did you feel very nervous about it?”

“No, not at all,” she said, and the same bright smile with which she had greeted us, lit up her face.

“Then I think you must have known where to look for strength and help?”

“Yes, I did,” she replied, and in a few simple words told me that she had come to Jesus just two years ago, and now she was proving Him to be “a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Ah! there was the true secret of happiness. Elsie had found in Jesus, a living, loving Saviour, One who could help her in every time of need, so she was just rolling her burden upon Him. I think she must have known that sweet verse in 1 Peter 5:7, which says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.”

Have you, dear young friend, trusted in Jesus for salvation? Then lean upon Him day by day, and you will find, as Elsie did, that He will never fail you. He loves to be trusted, and He is the only One who can always help you.

When I was a little girl, I was once very much frightened about something, and my mother said to me,

“Remember, you can honor Jesus by trusting Him;” I thought that was just what I should like to do, and so I prayed that I might, and the Lord Jesus took away all my fear. He loves to hear and answer the prayers of His little ones.

“To my weak steps He cloth give heed,

He watcheth me, my Saviour,

He helpeth me in every need,

He loveth me, my Saviour.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/13/1921

The Little Girl Who Did Not Want to Be Miserable

ONE evening there was a Special Service for children to be held in a school room, and a gentleman was going to talk to the little ones about the love of Jesus, and how He wants all dear children to believe in Him, and to be made as white as snow.

I want to tell you about a little girl, only ten years old, who went to the meeting that night. Her name was Emily. She came to the room, and took her seat among some little girls whom she knew.

The address was given, and then we had some singing, and the meeting closed with prayer. The kind gentleman told the children that he would like all those who wanted to come to the Saviour that night, to stay behind, and he would speak to them before they went home.

Little Emily was among those who stayed behind, she was utterly unconcerned about her soul; but she was not to go to bed till she knew her soul was saved through the blood of Jesus. She was spoken to about her never-dying soul, and it was found that poor Emily had not stayed behind because she wanted a Saviour, but rather because a friend was there; but the gentleman who spoke to her was not satisfied to see her so careless, for when he had spoken to her, he stood up and prayed that she might be miserable about her sins, and not get any sleep until she had confessed them to Jesus.

She told a friend who went home with her after the meeting that she was not miserable, and did not want to be; but God answered prayer for that dear child the very same night. She was indeed miserable in spite of herself, but afterwards, O, so happy!—as well she might be—when she knew that Jesus was her own dear Saviour.

You, like Emily, dear reader, may not want to be miserable; but you may want to be happy, and the only way to be really happy is to believe on the Lord Jesus—now—just as you arc—and just where you are. If you say you are too bad for Jesus, He says, “Whosoever [that means every one, and so it must mean you] believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Messages of God’s Love 3/13/1921

Let The Little Children Come

Let the little children come,

Let them come to Me!

There is room for everyone,

There is room for thee!

I have died for little ones,

Sinners though they be;

God will call them His own sons,

If they come to Me.

God has loved the children dear,

So He gave His Son,

To Himself to bring them near;

Come, then, every one!

Soon I will return again,

All Mine own to take,

Where no sorrow is, nor pain;

E’en the dead I’ll wake.

with Myself and like Me, too,

Beautiful and glad;

All My glory they shall view,

None shall e’er be sad.

Messages of God’s Love 3/13/1921

Puss and the Crab

WHAT a dangerous position puss is in, just look at her she seems to be wondering if it will be safe for her to play with that crab. If the crab does not advance to her, she might think it will be all right to slap it with her paw, but if she does, we know the danger she is in, for if the crab gets hold of her with these claws puss would yell terribly, for crabs have great strength in their claws and can pinch so hard that puss would not be able to get away.

It is evident that the best thing for Miss Puss to do, is to go on her way and leave Mr. Crab alone.

Do we not get a good lesson from this? I am sure some of you are thinking already of some .lesson, so we will offer a good prize to the three best answers received by April 16th, and a card to all the others who will answer.

“ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED, AND GO NOT IN THE WAY OF EVIL MEN, AVOID IT, PASS NOT BY IT, TURN FROM IT, AND PASS AWAY.” PROV. 4:14, 15.

Messages of God’s Love 3/20/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 19

In chapter 13 we began at noon; now it is evening of the same day, as two angels, appearing as men, go in at the gate of Sodom. There in the gate sits Lot, like one of the principle men of the city, and from what we read in the ninth verse, I think it was what he wanted to be. Just as courteous as his uncle, Abraham, Lot meets these two strangers with an invitation to his house for the night. The Lord has been in Sodom this afternoon, and the angels too, no doubt, but no one saw them, and He has gone back to the sky, leaving the angels behind, for they have work to do to-night and to-morrow.

The Lord had visited Abraham, sat under his shade tree, eaten his food, and talked with him this afternoon, but does He call on Lot in the city down in the beautiful valley? No, Lot, though one of His children, was too much at home in the world. What was the angels’ answer to Lot’s invitation? “Nay, hut we will abide in the street all night.” How different from the answer to Abraham in verse 5 of the previous chapter, “So do, as thou hast said.”

This gives us something -Co think about, doesn’t it? At one man’s home, God would stop and talk face to face as to a friend, but at another’s, who was as surely going to be in that heavenly home in the sky as Abraham was, even His angel said, “Nay, but we will abide in the street all night.”

I want my home to be of the Abraham kind, and not like Lot’s that even angels didn’t want to go into, don’t you, too?

Let us be much in prayer, desiring to be pleasing to God, not just while we are in Sunday school, and in meetings of the Lord’s people, but in our ways and our words at home, at day school and wherever we may be. God knows what sort of people we are, whether anyone else does or not.

The angels were persuaded by Lot to go to his house, and they ate the meal he had prepared, but we can’t help noticing that not a word is told us of the conversation at the table. I think those angels didn’t feel very much at home in Lot’s house.

Presently a great crowd of men from all over the city came to the house, shouting out to Lot to bring out the two men he had taken in for the night. How ashamed and grieved Lot must have felt as he went to the door, that his guests should know that Sodom had such people in it. If this chapter tells us all that Lot said to the crowd when he went outside, and shut the door behind him so the angels shouldn’t hear, he knew it was of no use to politely ask those lawless men to go quietly away, for they would not listen to anything, but started to break in the door. Nov the angels opened the door, drew Lot in and shut it again, and smote all the crowd with blindness, so as I suppose they soon began to go away from Lot’s house.

Lot knew quite well that Sodom was a very wicked place, but it seems to me pretty sure that he had not been trying very much to find out what God would have him to do, or where He wanted him to be because then, I think, he would not have ever gone into, or even near Sodom to live, neither would he have been trying to make Sodom, or the world better, as he appears to have been doing.

God, long, long afterwards, in 2 Peter 2:6-8, has told us how Lot felt while he was in Sodom, but I suppose he wasn’t any real testimony in the place. The wicked men, when they surrounded his house that night, didn’t say,

“He’s been telling us about God, and a day of judgment,” no, they as much as said, “He came in to stay just a little while, and now he wants to be a judge.”

Perhaps someone will say, “But the world isn’t as bad now as Sodom was in Lot’s time.” Well if you mean that there are laws now, and prisons and policemen, and so on, and we don’t often hear about such wicked deeds, I agree with you, but it isn’t just because people are afraid they will be sent to prison, or hanged, or put to death in the electric chair that there isn’t so much open wickedness. Let God give us the explanation: we shall find it in Second Thessalonians 2:7, where He tells us that there is One who restrains or holds back the tide of evil until He be taken out of the way. That person is the Holy Spirit, and when the Lord Jesus comes in the air, and calls away all those who are saved, to go with Him to His heavenly home, the Holy Spirit will go too. We must not forget that however peaceful and quiet it may seem in our part of the world now, the whole world has been charged by God with the rejection of His Son. If you, my reader, have not received Jesus as your personal Saviour, you are going to have a harder judgment than the people of Sodom will have. Just open your Bible at Matthew 11:20-24, and see that Jesus’ coming into the world has made a great difference as God sees things.

The angels now said why they were there (verse 12), and Lot was told that if he had anyone outside of his home that he cared for,. they must be brought out of Sodom, so he must have said to himself, these men are angels, and the city is going to be destroyed at once! Whatever might have been true of him before, there was no time now to be lost, and Lot set out to visit his married daughters’ homes, but their husbands only laughed at him, and the daughters evidently decided to stay with them; if they had children, they stayed too, because Lot went home alone. We are not told anything about Lot’s wife, except that she looked behind when they left the city, and judgment fell on her then.

After thinking about it a long time, I have concluded that Lot’s wife was a woman of Sodom, and not a believer, and’ that the family couldn’t have been brought up in the fear of God..

We are sure that what God said about Abraham, in the chapter before this one, and verse 19, could not have been said of Lot, and I am afraid that Lot had not been faithful to the men who had married his daughters, either. Perhaps we had better not say more, when God says little, but it certainly is sad to see Lot going back alone, and to think of those he loved and warned of the judgment, being swallowed up in that terrible destruction the next morning.

As the dawn appeared early the next morning, the angels told Lot to take his ‘dear ones, his wife and his two daughters, that were in the house, out of the city at once, but the poor man could hardly make up his mind to go. I suppose all his treasures were in Sodom, and it was pretty hard for him to leave.

The angels had to take each one of the four people by the hand and lead them out of Sodom. Now escape, they said, for your very lives; don’t look behind, or stay in the plain, but go quickly to the mountain, lest you be consumed in the destruction.

Poor Lot was afraid to go to the mountain, and begged to be allowed to make his home in the little town of Zoar, but when he got there his fear moved him to go on to the mountain after all.

As soon as Lot got into Zoar, a terrible storm of Sulphur and fire came down from God, and utterly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, with their people and everything that grew there. Today there is the Dead Sea where that beautiful valley lay; no fish can live in its waters, and nothing grows near its shores, so travelers to Palestine tell us.

Lot’s wife looked back; her heart was in that city, and she died looking back, and was changed to a pillar of salt.

Now I am going to stop, but first I want you to open your Bible at one of the very shortest verses. It has just three words in it. It is Luke 17, verse 32, but read all the verses from the 26th to the end of the chapter, for there the Lord Jesus is comparing Noah’s day and Lot’s day with what is coming on the earth.

Here too is a key verse for what we have been thinking about today.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.

“Remember Lot’s wife.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/20/1921

Little Japs Who Pray

I WANT to tell you about a little Japanese boy and girl who believed in prayer. The boy tried to pass an examination, but failed; of course he was greatly disappointed; but, like a plucky little Jap, he felt he must try again.

Somewhere he had heard of the true God, and how His worshipers were allowed to ask Him for what they needed, and how He answers them. So he prayed, and this time he passed his examination, feeling sure that God had helped him.

Have you ever asked God in this simple way, and received an answer? And when He answers your prayers, do you give Him the praise?

Little Miss Jap, the boy’s sister, had also a desire. Hearing how God had answered her brother’s prayers, she wanted to know more, and was determined, if possible, to go to a school where she would be taught more about prayer, and about the God who answers prayer. But her friends who were heathens, did not like the idea, and put obstacles in her way.

What do you think Miss Jap did?

She prayed—prayed to the God she knew so little about, that He would make the way plain for her to go where she could learn more about Him, and He answered her prayer. One by one the hindrances were removed, and as she still prayed on, they were all removed, so that she was free to go to a school conducted by Christian missionaries. Her relatives, at last, gladly consented.

The lady at the head of the school of nearly 100 girls, many of whom are young Christians, writes of this one thus:

“If there is one fact more than another that she has taken in with her whole heart, it is, that God hears her prayers, and one sees the effect in a bright Christian life.”

Now let us take our Bibles, and find texts in which God promises to answer prayer.

“All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” Luke 11:9.

“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” John 16:23.

.”What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24.

“O Lord, the children come to Thee,

For Thou the children’s life did’st share;

Their thoughts and feelings Thou did’st know,

And Thou wilt hear the children’s prayer.”

Messages of God’s Love 3/20/1921

The Young Tiger

A STORY is told about this young tiger when he was about six months old. They wanted to take his photograph, so they allowed him to kill a duck, and he kept his eye on it long enough to get his picture taken. They soon had to put him in a cage, for he fought with the clogs, and even would pounce upon the legs of the children. His ferocious nature was soon manifested, and all that man can do with such, is to put them where they will be hindered from injuring any one.

The time is coming when all these wild beasts shall be delivered from the terrible power of Satan for a thousand years, for the Lord is going. to chain him in the bottomless pit for that length of time, and then that scripture shall be fulfilled.

“The wolf also 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. That will be a blessed time for this earth, and there will be no war then either, for another scripture say,

“He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and 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. That peace is what the Lord, Jesus shall bring to this earth. He manifested it in all His ways down here, and the word to those who know the Lord Jesus as their own Saviour is,

“LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS.” COL. 3:15.

This is for the present, amidst all the trouble, and quarreling in this world.

Messages of God’s Love 3/27/1921

How Jesus Found Me

One evening, there was going to be held in our Sunday-school some special services for children. My
dear Sunday school teacher asked me if I would try to come, and I told her I would. I went to the first meeting, and enjoyed it very much. There was another meeting held afterwards for those who wanted to come to Jesus, and find Him as their Saviour; and of course, my dear teacher pressed me to stay, which I did, just for her sake, not knowing I was going to find Jesus to be my Saviour and Friend that night, but I did.

And now I must tell you how it all came about. After those were gone out who were not going to stay to the second meeting, I was sitting next to my teacher, and she began to speak to me about the love of Jesus—how He left His Father’s bright home above, and came right down into. this wicked world, and went to the cruel cross of Calvary, and died, and shed His precious blood to wash all my sins away.

I listened’ to all she said. Soon I forgot all about my friends and the other people who were around me, for I could only think of my sins. I could not see that the Lord Jesus had died for me, and I sat and wept. Then the servant of God, who had been speaking to us, came and opened his Bible, and asked me to read from Isaiah 1: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

After I had read that, I did come to Jesus and speak with Him about my sins, and I did not have anything to do before I came to Him, but I went just as I was, and He received me. My sins, which were so black when I went into the room, were, before I left, made whiter than the snow by His precious blood. And not only that, but the gracious Lord filled my heart with joy and peace, by the means of one more text, which the preacher asked me to read: “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name’s sake.” 1 John 2:1i.

I went home rejoicing that night, with Jesus for my Saviour and Friend forever. It is over five years ago now, and the Lord Jesus has been a faithful and true Friend to me ever since, and He will be unto the end; and I have been able to sing,

“Happy day,’ happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away.”

These are His own beautiful words: “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28.

Messages of God’s Love 3/27/1921

Robert in the Snowdrift

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

It was winter time, and a good deal of snow was on the ground, deep drifts being in some places. Robert was told to go over the hills on an errand, and to keep to the lower, well-beaten road for greater safety, but instead of doing so, he took a pathway higher tip on the hillside. He thought he would be all right, and perhaps tried to do what others could not easily do.

How easy it is for boys and girls to turn out of the right pathway, and do what they are told not to do.

“Children, obey your parents,” says the Word of God.

Well, when Robert had gone some distance along this forbidden pathway, he suddenly, without any warning, fell right into a thick snowdrift. He had gone out of the path without knowing it, as a blinding snow storm had come on.

Do you not think he would wish he had kept to the proper road, as he was told at first? There he was, all alone, far away from any habitation, no one near to hear his cry for help. He struggled in the drift, and tried to fight his way out of it, but could not do so. He did not despair, however, but tried and tried again to regain the pathway, yet all his efforts to extricate himself were in vain.

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

Robert answered, “Me—a boy.”

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

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

Robert is now a man with boys of his own—he is saved, too, and sometimes preaches the gospel—but he has never forgotten his fall into the snowdrift on that hill, and his deliverance from it by the good, kind-hearted shepherd.

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

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

Messages of God’s Love 3/27/1921

What Can We Do for The Lord Jesus?

IS there anything I can do for Jesus, teacher?” wistfully asked a little girl.

“Do for Jesus, Annie dear? I think you do many things for Him,” her teacher answered. “You take care of the baby for mother, and help her in the house, and brine your little brother to Sunday-school; and I am sure you do much more that I do not know of,” and she stroked the little earnest face lovingly.

“But that is not what I mean,” urged Annie. “I want to do something to help other people to know Jesus. I am so small, and I can’t say much, and it makes me feel sad to think that I am not bringing any one to Jesus.”

“I will tell you of something that you may do, dear child—small and weak though you are,” answered the teacher kindly; “you could give away some tracts among your neighbors, or to persons passing along the street, and pray to God to bless the little, silent messengers to those who take them.”

“O, yes I could do that,” said Annie, her face flushing with pleasure; “but how shall I get the tracts?” she added.

“I will bring you some very nice ones, dear, next Sunday, when I come to school, and you shall give them away just as God guides you,” replied the kind teacher, who loved Annie dearly, having been the means, through grace, of bringing her to the Saviour. She was now very glad to see her little scholar eager to serve Him, and she was most willing to help her to do so.

Thus the bargain was made, and the next Sunday Annie was ever so happy when a packet of books and tracts was put into her hand.

It was not without an effort that the little girl carried on her new work for her Lord. She was but thirteen, small for her age, and not at all strong. She was very shy, too. and her heart beat terribly when, with a trembling hand,, she would hold out the tracts to the passersby, but then Annie did so want to bring others to the knowledge of her precious Saviour.

On her knees, by her bedside, she prayed for courage before she went out; and when she reached home again, she once more knelt down, and earnestly prayed for blessing on the papers she had given away.

God has said, “My word shall not return unto Me void,” so if we scatter the precious seed, He will add His blessing to it.

Dear workers, in the Lord’s vineyard, take courage, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psa. 126:6.

Messages of God’s Love 3/27/1921

Disobedience

LITTLE boy eight years old, that we will call Charlie, went with his father on a voyage. He made a fishing rod and took it with him, and in spite of his father’s orders, he continually held it over-board hoping to catch fish with it. At last they told him that he was risking his life, as what he was doing was very dangerous, and he was strictly forbidden to do so again. He was carefully watched, but he was determined to disobey. One day he locked himself into one of the Cabins, and in order to carry out his intention, leaned out of the window on a rotten plank, which probably broke under his weight.

However it was, he fell into the sea. Everywhere they searched for him, but the Steam-ship went on rapidly, leaving the disobedient child far behind. The father nearly beside himself, with anxiety called out: “Charlie! Charlie!” He opened all the doors, and when he came to the locked one, he forced it open,—and there—there, my dear readers! he saw the broken plank, and a piece of the fishing-rod. Unhappy father! unhappy child!

O, my dear little friends, ask God to keep you from the spirit of disobedience. How terrible to die like that!

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

Messages of God’s Love 3/27/1921

Bible Questions for April

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“And such were some,” etc. 1 Cor. 6:11.

“And that He was,” etc. “ “ 15:4.

“.But I would have you,” etc. “ “ 11:3.

“Now I beseech you.” etc. “ 1:10.

“For as often as ye,” etc. “ “ 11:26.

“Whether therefore ye,” etc. “ 10:31.

“In a moment,” etc. “ “ 15:52.

Bible Questions for April

The Answers Are to be Found in Gal., Eph. Phil., Col., and 1St and 2nd Thess.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Riches in glory.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “In word and deed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “In due season.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Abound in love.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “By Him and for Him.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Forgiving one another.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be not weary.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

Spring Time

SPRING has come, and in many parts of this country the trees and bushes are looking beautiful. All rejoice to see the trees come out in full leaf and the pastures in beautiful green. Death seemed to mark all in the winter months, and now one is reminded of resurrection, and our picture shows this.

Some say there is no resurrection and ‘ask the question, “How are the dead raised up?” God’s Word answers. “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die.” We see this all around us in creation. God’s ‘Word shows us that all are to be raised again.

Some shall be raised again for the resurrection of life, and some for the resurrection of damnation. John 5:29.

What a solemn thing, that although we die, we must rise again. Every eye shall see the Lord Jesus yet. Some shall see Him as their “judge; and others shall see Him as their Saviour.

How shall it be with you, dear readers? ‘We need not have the Lord Jesus as our judge, for He is offered to all as a Saviour, and He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’’ John 6:37.

“THE HOUR IS COMING, IN THE WHICH ALL THAT ARE IN THE GRAVES SHALL HEAR HIS VOICE.” JOHN 5:28.

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

What Would the Lord Jesus Have Me Do?

LITTLE girl was seated in a large school-room, trying in vain to fix her attention on a problem in arithmetic she had to solve. For over a half an hour she had been working to get the right answer, but for some reason he could not succeed.

Raising her eyes, she caught sight of a book-near her on the corner of the teacher’s desk. Yes! it was the very one the problem had been taken from, and the answer must be there. If she could take just one glance, (and no one might notice) that would be the end of her dilemma!

She rose hastily, stretched out her hand to take it; then she suddenly stopped, saying in an undertone to herself:

“What would the Lord Jesus have me do?”

Quickly she returned to her seat to try and try again. Just then the bell rang for letting out school, and the children all hurried out, leaving Ada alone. Little by little the problem was worked out, and Ada, glad to have at last accomplished her task, rushed out too.

Leaning against the gate of the school yard was a gentle looking girl, as if waiting for someone.

“O, Lucy,” said Ada, “how kind it was of you to wait for me!”

“I should not have waited,” said Lucy, “if it had not been that I was thinking of our motto, ‘What would the Lord Jesus have me do?’ “

“Well, it was the thought of that also that kept me, Lucy, from doing that which was wrong in school,” and she told her young friend of the trouble she had had, and of the temptation she passed through.

“And didn’t you think of asking the Lord Jesus to help you?”

“No, I didn’t; you see, Lucy, I’m not half as good as you are,” and she gently squeezed Lucy’s arm. “Sometimes I’m afraid I don’t love the Lord at all.”

“I don’t think that can be so, Ada; for if you didn’t love the Lord, why would you have thought of our motto, and acted upon it? But you see, my clear, it is of His love to us, and not of our love to Him, that we must think about, for as soon as we look at ourselves, we begin to doubt.”

As they came to this point, the young girls had to part, each to go to her own home, and so the conversation ended.

Several years passed after those young scholars had finished their school days, and they had followed their different paths in life, when they heard from each other.

Lucy sometimes wondered what had become of her school mate. At last a letter came to her in which Ada told Lucy how, in the midst of the sorrows and temptations of sin which reign in the world, the Lord had kept her in the narrow way, and how the motto of their school days was still her guide as to her actions and her ways.

My dear young friends, the Lord knows you, loves you, and calls upon you to turn your young hearts to Him. May each of you answer His call, “Come unto Ale!” After having taken Him as your own Saviour, take for your motto too, “What would the Lord Jesus have me do?”

Study His Word, and thus find instruction for every step of your path down here; also watch and wait for His soon return to call home all His redeemed ones.

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

He Knows and Loves Us Still

HOW many little ones, yes, and bigger ones too, can enter the feelings of a little girl I want to tell you about.

She had been sent, at her own request, to a boarding school, and, having a willful and naughty temper, was soon in disgrace with all at the school.

One day, having been unusually rebellious, she was banished from her school-fellows for the rest of the day.

The following morning, she was utterly ashamed to meet any one, and remained in her room as long as she dared. Reaching the dining-room, however, she was greatly surprised to be greeted with a kind “Good morning” from someone seated there.

“Ah.” she thought, “he does not know about me, how naughty I have been, or he would not speak to me.”

She afterwards found he did know, and he held a warm place in her heart after that.

Children, are you afraid to meet God because He knows all about you? Do you wish He did not know? Listen then, He knows and loves you still. No sinful thought or deed is unknown to God, but he sent His own dear Son to die for the naughty ones, like you and me, and Jesus bore the punishment for us.

“O’ twas love, twas wondrous love!

The love of God to me;

It brought my Saviour from above,

To die on Calvary.”

If we can sing these lines from our hearts, then we can thank Him that He knows all about us and loves us still.

“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.” Isa. 66:2.

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

The Wondrous Story

Dost thou know the wondrous story,

Of the One who came

Down from Godhead’s highest glory

To the cross of shame?

Though the Son of God the Father,

He a child became;

Grew in wisdom and in stature,

Jesus is His name.

In a stable, in a manger,

Lowly was He laid;

Who the earth itself created

And the heavens had made.

Hast thou viewed the path of Jesus

He obedient trod?

Every thought and word and action

Pleasing unto God.

From His holy lips were flowing

Words of truth and grace;

Beams of loving kindness shining

In His blessed face.

Hast thou marked the ways of Jesus?

Known His perfect love?

Love that ever thought of others,

Love, all thought. above,

Hast thou heard the groans of Jesus

Seen the tears that flowed?

Caught the sigh that issued from Him?

Rising up to God.

Ponder o’er the cross of Jesus,

Why was it He died?

Gave Himself a willing Victim,

And was crucified.

Hast thou heard the voice of Jesus

Telling “It is done?”

All God’s holy will accomplished,

Finished by the Son?

Hast thou viewed the grave of Jesus,

Where His body lay?

Into death’s domain descending,

All our debt to pay.

Hast thou seen His bright arising

From among the dead,

Over death and hell triumphant,

Glorious, living Head?

Lo, the opening clouds receive Him,

He ascends on high,

Earth-rejected—heaven-accepted

Never more to die.

Dost thou know He now is seated

On the Father’s throne,

Witness that His work’s completed,

And the vict’ry won?

His the triumph. His the glory!

His the Conqueror’s fame!

His the highest place in heaven,

Glory to His name.

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

This Do in Remembrance of Me

THE following letter was written to a child of God.

“Dear Maggie:

If mother were dying and she asked you on her death-bed to do something for her, would you not, at least, try to do it? The night before Jesus died for us, He asked us to remember Him, by taking the Lord’s supper.

Yours Lovingly,

Jennie.”

Are there not many among our dear young readers who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and thus are made children of God, who are not obeying this request, this loving request of their blessed Lord and Saviour,, just before He went to that cross to die for them?

Is He not worthy?

As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.” 1 Cor. 11:26.

Messages of God’s Love 4/3/1921

Astonished

THE story is told of a monkey and a cat who were kept at the same house. The
monkey took great delight in tormenting the cat, and she was very much afraid of him, and would run away from him to keep out of trouble. One day. she was lying asleep on the window sill, and the monkey spied her, and quietly sprang up and pounced on her. There was no way for her to escape, so, to defend herself, she slapped him on the ear with her paw, and at the same time scratched him, which astonished him very much, and made him jump back, and then she made her escape.

It is quite natural to all animals, also boys and girls, to defend themselves, but there was one person on this earth that did not have that fallen nature, and He reacted very differently. I suppose you can all tell me who He is. He was the Lord Jesus Christ.

“When He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Pet. 2:23.

All who know the Lord as their Saviour are called upon to follow in His steps, and they shall find, if they do, that their life will be a happy one, and to the Lord’s glory. Such will find they have no strength in themselves, but the Scripture says, “He giveth more grace.”

“GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE.” JAMES 4:6.

If we do not have the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we cannot count upon Him to give us grace to be like Him.

To have Him as our own Saviour, and then walk in His ways, is to have a happy life down here and at the end, a happy home with Himself.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

Do Good to Them That Despitefully Use You

MANY years ago a negro in the West Indies, who by his good and Christian behavior had gained the confidence of his master, was taken by him on a certain day to a slave market; he received orders to choose out the best. After several were bought, he perceived an old man.

“Massa,” he said, “Massa must also buy that one.”

“Why?” asked his master. “O, Massa! that one Massa must have.” The slave-dealer sold him for a small sum. Not long afterwards the old man fell very sick in his new service. The godly negro nursed and fed him with child-like care, so that it could not escape the master’s eye.

“What is that old man to you?” he asked one day. “You treat him with such tender care, is he perhaps your father?”

“No, Massa, he is not my father.” “Then. perhaps, a relation of yours?” “No, Massa, he is no relation of mine.’ “Is he your friend, then?”

“No, Massa, he is not my friend either.”

The master became impatient, and asked: “But what is he then to you?”

“He is my enemy, Massa! This man, when I was a small child, took me away from my father, and sold me as a slave, and I have read in God’s Word: ‘If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink?”

What a picture we get in this of our blessed Lord Jesus! He taught the lawyer, as recorded in Luke 10, what grace was, and when he had learned it, then the Lord told him, “Go, and do thou likewise.” Luke 10:37.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

Little Edith's Conversion

EDITH was twelve years of age, and being a troublesome little girl at Sunday school, her teacher often found her very difficult to manage.

One Sunday afternoon, Miss A. had a very great desire to speak even more earnestly than usual about the things of God. She prayed that the seed she scattered that day might fall into good ground. and bring forth fruit to God.

Arrived at the school, she found Edith sitting with an angry frown on her face. Noticing this, she felt rather discouraged, but looked to God for help, and cheerfully began the Scripture lesson. Then she talked to the girls about the verses they had read, and told them that God was Himself speaking to them in His word, and that in His great love He was willing to save any one of them who would come to Him through Jesus:

On the following Sunday, she again sought earnestly to press home the truth of the Saviour’s love, and was glad to notice that Edith was listening eagerly. After school she drew her aside, and said kindly,

“I hope there’was nothing seriously wrong with you last Sunday, dear, that you looked so upset?”

“O yes, there was, teacher,” the little girl answered. “I was in such a bad temper all the afternoon, because they `crossed’ me at home, and I came determined not to listen to you. But when you spoke about the love of Jesus, and said He would forgive all who came to Him by faith! it broke me down, and I felt miserable and so sinful, but too proud to own I was a sinner and wanted forgiveness. Now I am happy, for I do believe that Jesus died for me,” and her face, beaming with joy, made her teacher’s heart glad, and she praised God that her prayer had been answered in the seed falling on good ground.

Several weeks after this, Miss A. had to go from home for a short time. Edith missed her teacher’s help very much, and bit by bit fell away, and lost her joy and the desire to live for Jesus.

On Miss A.’s return, she asked the little girl how she was getting on, and was grieved to hear her sad confession, but said encouragingly; “You must learn to look to Jesus daily, dear, and He will give you grace and strength to live for Him. Do not lean on me, for I, also, am full of sin, and have to turn to Him for help in times of temptation. Go to Him with all your failings, He knows how feeble you are, and He will teach you how to please Him, while you cling to Him.”

The dear child carried her teacher’s advice into practice, and is now going on gladly, living for the Saviour in whom she believes, and learning day by day to follow Him. Though temptations often come, Edith proves that she can be more than conqueror, through Him who loved her, and gave Himself for her.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

It Is Only for a Time

“WELL,” said a lawyer, when he was passing by an old woman, who was sitting in her stall in the market, selling fruit, “don’t you think it tiresome to sit here these cold days?” “It’s only for a time, Sir;” answered the good old woman.
“And in warm days, in the dust?”

“Only for a time.”

“And in days of sickness?”

“Only for a time.”

“And in rainy days?”

“Only for a time,” answered the fruit-seller for the fourth time.

“And what will you do after that?” continued the lawyer. .

“After that I shall enter into rest,” she answered smiling, “and that glorious prospect, gives me strength to do my work with courage and joy.”

“Yes, that is true; all’s well that ends well. But who gives you the assurance of that?”

“Why should I not have the assurance of it, sir, as Christ is the way to eternal life, and I belong to Him? He is mine, and I am His. Life is full of trouble, but soon I shall be with the Lord, and then He will give me perfect rest.”

“O.” said the lawyer, “you know more about it than I do; law has never taught me what you have taught me.”

“That is because I read the Bible.”

“Well, I must learn from it too,” said the lawyer, and lost in thought he went on his way.

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God, hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son, hath life, and he. that hath not the Son of God, hath not life. These things have I written
unto you that believe bn the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” John 5:9-13.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

Little Charlie

I FIRST saw little Charlie at the Sunday school, he was then a pale-faced boy of about eight years old; he walked on crutches. There was something wrong with his hips which caused one leg to be shorter than the other; sometimes his kind elder brother would carry him into school. I noticed how clearly and loudly he sang the hymns, and how attentive he looked when his teacher spoke to him; but there came a day when poor little Charlie was too ill to come to school; he was obliged to lie in bed and every day he grew thinner; he was very happy, always ready to be read to and to hear about Jesus.

I left the place for some months and wrote to him during my absence; when I returned he showed me my letters and some cards I had sent him, treasured up carefully in a little box. His kind mother had placed his bed near the window, so that it might be more cheerful for him when she was obliged to be out of his room attending to her household duties; he was very fond of his mother, and always wanted her to dress his leg, which by this time had become very painful.

He knew he could not get well, and used to talk about being in heaven with Jesus, and soon the Lord took him to be with Himself. One morning when I called to see how he was, his little sister told amid her sobbing and tears, that his little tired body was at rest.

Dear young friends, are you, like little Charlie, happy in the love of the Lord?

O, seek Him now. He may come very soon to take us to be with Himself for ever, then may He find you ready and waiting for Him.

“They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

The Saviour Calls

The Saviour calls, O, come and see

What things He hath prepared for thee!

Life, love and joy from God on high,

By Christ Himself to thee brought nigh.

Thy Saviour calls, O, can it be

That call has no sweet charm for thee?

Wilt thou not turn and give Him heed?

Wilt thou not come while He doth plead?

Thy Saviour calls, He knows thy sin;

But trust Him now, He’ll enter in;

And He thy heart will satisfy,

And ev’ry needed grace supply.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

Jesus Is Very Near to Me

A LITTLE boy once said. “We have soiled our characters by sin.”

Adam and Eve, when they were put in the beautiful garden of Eden, were told they might have the fruit of every tree in the garden but one, which God commanded should not be eaten; this was to test their obedience to God. Sad to say, they were tempted by the Serpent. Eve listened to the voice of the tempter, and disobeyed God, then it was that God drove them from the garden, and man became at a distance from Him. God however promised a Deliverer, (Gen. 3:15), and in due time Christ came, and now, dear children, you may draw near, and come to God through Christ.

A little girl was lying very weak and ill and said to her mother, “I am not afraid to die, Jesus is very near to me.”

You see, when we are near to Jesus, and we love Him, how different we feel, how glad we are, because Jesus makes us happy. When we keep away from him, when we are at a distance from Him, we feel very unhappy. We want Jesus, dear young friends, in life and in death.

“I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:38-39.

Messages of God’s Love 4/10/1921

Discouraged

POOR girl! she has worked so hard at churning, and cannot get the butter to come. The milk has spattered all over the floor, and she has become tired and discouraged. I wonder if she has not thought to tell the Lord Jesus about it, for if she knows Him as her Saviour, she should know to go to Him about everything, and He is interested in all our circumstances. It may be she has not believed in the Lord Jesus, so carries all her own burdens. Even some who know the Lord Jesus, carry their burdens and troubles, and do not go the Lord about them.

There was a little girl who worked hard to bring eight children to the Sunday school, for then she would receive a nice Bible with her name on it in gold letters. She succeeded in getting seven to come, but she could not find an eighth. She told the superintendent that she could not get any more to come, and she was so anxious to receive a Bible. She was one who had accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, but she had not thought she could go to the Lord Jesus about her difficulty, till she told the superintendent, so he asked her if she had told the Lord Jesus about it, and she replied that she had not. He told her to go and tell the Lord Jesus all about it, and told the other children to pray about it too. The result was the next Lord’s day she came with five children, so she had enough to get her Bible, and four more to start another reward.

It is good to know the Lord Jesus as the One who died for us, also we need to know Him as the One to go to about all our difficulties, whatever they may be.

There are two very important scriptures for us ever to remember in connection with prayer. One is,

“IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.” PROV. 3:6.

The other is, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7.

Messages of God’s Love 4/17/1921

The Little Evangelist

IT was a beautiful spring-day, when little Frank came from school. Close by his home, he saw an old woman carrying a heavy branch of a tree, that had been blown off by the wind some days before.

“Let me help you,” said the good natured child, and with difficulty he carried the other end of the branch.

“Many thanks Frank!” said the old woman. “O! if someone could help me, to bear the burden of my sins, how happy I would he, but I carry them day after day, and they seem to get heavier and heavier.”

“But,” said the child, “mother says that we need not carry the burden of our sin; that if we believe in Jesus, it is He who has carried them for us.”

The poor woman told afterwards, that, at that moment everything became clear to her.

“I had always, tried, to please God, and in that way to rid myself of the burden of my sins; and every day I felt myself more unhappy, but the child’s words brought to my remembrance these words out of the Bible, ‘Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ I went home, believing in Jesus and full of joy.”

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise.”

Messages of God’s Love 4/17/1921

Preserved By God Is to Be Well Preserved

Early one morning a kind mother dressed both of her children, a little boy of five, and a little girl of four years of age, and gave them all they needed for the length of time she and the father would be away doing some necessary work for their living. The parents were God-fearing, industrious and much respected people.

‘When they left their dear little children at home alone, there was no thought of the great danger they would soon be in, but before locking the door she quietly commended her dear little ones to the care of their Heavenly Father. They then set off, trusting in God’s love and care. They soon reached the place where they were to work that day.

While they were at work, so far away from their children, a heavy hurricane and rain came up, which caused great damage both by wind and water. The rivers rose and flooded the whole country. The water continued to rise till only the roofs of some houses were to be seen. Many houses were lifted from the foundation and floated away, and the people in them were full of anxiety and terror.

Hundreds of people took refuge in boats to escape death, but only a few succeeded in this, as the boats were too full, and the hurricane too severe. Many were to be seen on the roofs of houses, crying for help, and many called to the Lord for mercy.

The destruction caused in that short time was enormous. Houses were thrown down, bridges destroyed, and the streets filled with rubbish. Hundreds of people lost their lives, besides many were crippled for life, but in many instances the Lord’s mercy was shown in His care for those who put their trust in Him.

About four o’clock in the afternoon, just when disaster was at its height, there appeared the bow of promise. Dear children, get your Bibles, and read Gen. 9:11-17. There you will find that after the flood which destroyed the earth and all who lived in it, except Noah and his family, God placed His beautiful rainbow into the sky, as a witness from heaven to the mercy and faithfulness of God, the same God who had promised Noah, that the waters should never again destroy all people from the earth.

Encouraged by this sign of peace, the rainbow, everyone looked around, and behold! the water had come to a standstill. Hope revived in many hearts, and those who feared the Lord, praised His name, and glorified Him for His wonderful care of them.

The parents of our dear children saw to their horror and amazement, that the streets were covering with water, and rising higher and higher. What an experience for the unhappy parents! Their children all alone, a prey to the waters, and no one to help them.

The father’s first thought was, notwithstanding the high water, to go to his home, and if possible, to save his children from death. But this was a desperate thought; for not only did the high water prevent him from passing through, but his house being situated so far below the city, the flood had certainly entered with out resistance, and clone its fatal work! And then his dear wife, what would become of her, if he left her? They looked at each other, cast down and dismayed; what must they do? Nothing remained to the unhappy and deeply sorrowing parents, but to lift their voices to God, whose arm was not yet shortened. There they sought comfort and strength, so that in the hour of trial they might bow to the will of their Father. Their hearts bled at the thought that most probably they would find their children dead; but they sought .strength from the Lord, so that in the hour of temptation they might say like Job, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!”

Slowly the day passed, and the parents looked forward with earnest tonging to the moment when the water would reach its height. As I have already mentioned, at four o’clock in the afternoon the storm ceased, and the water went down perceptibly. Their hearts were filled with gratitude at their own safety; but their joy was not a little saddened by the thought that they should find their children, pale, cold and lifeless in the flood. Three painful hours passed away, before it was possible for the parents to wade through the waters to their home Driven on by anxiety and fear, they reached the place at last. The mother’s heart felt as if it would burst, when the door was opened. They looked in, and there they saw their little darlings lying on a round table. Not a sound was to be heard; motionless they lay in one another’s arms; there was no water on them. Still it could plainly be seen, that the flood had reached much higher than the table, and ruined all the furniture; but the table was quite dry, and their little darlings lay . then so quietly, as if they slept. Was the work of destruction over, had their children already breathed their last? The father drew near with a beating heart; the mother, tormented by fear and anguish, waited outside. The father looked at them attentively,—they were breathing; he laid his hand on their faces, they were warm; they were sleeping as peacefully as if there was no such thing as danger. What a surprise! What joy!.

“God be praised,” answered the mother, hurrying to the little ones, and she aroused them out of their sweet slumber. When they opened their eyes, and saw their parents standing before them, they jumped up with joy, although they were worn out with hunger, and threw themselves into their arms to be embraced. Then the mother gave them some cookies to still their hunger. After that, they tried to draw out of them the secret of their preservation, by asking them what they had been doing all that time.

“When you and father,” the boy said, “were gone away, we played in the room. The water came in under the door and I hunted up some bits of wood and paper to make boats, and they sailed around so nicely, and we had such fun! Then the water came above our shoes, and we climbed on the chair, but when it got higher and higher, we were afraid and climbed on the table, and then we were so hungry we fell asleep, and slept on till you and father came home and woke us up.”

From all this one could plainly make out, that the table had floated around like a little raft with its precious burden: so that the sleeping children, unconscious of their danger, were saved in this wonderful way. If the table had not remained evenly balanced, they would certainly have been drowned, but the Lord had arranged all that, and kept these little ones, so as to give them back safely to the arms of their praying parents. Their hearts over flowed with joy and their mouths with thanksgiving and praise to Him, who had done beyond all they had thought of, or hoped for. Their neighbors too, shared in their joy.

Does this not remind us strikingly of the words of the Psalmist:

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge, and my fortress: My God; in Him will I trust.”

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

“Because thou hast made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation.” Psa. 91:1, 2, 5, 9.

If any of my readers, who read this story, do not yet know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, then I advise them, seriously, to read the third chapter of the 2nd Epistle of Peter with attention, and to learn from it, that although the world will no more be destroyed by water, it will still be burned with fire, and all that is therein. How will it be with you at that time? 0, if you are not saved before then, through faith in the blood of Jesus, you must go through that terrible judgment.

“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10.

Messages of God’s Love 4/17/1921

O, Children Come!

Today the Saviour calls,

O, children come!

He longs to save your souls,

Why longer roam?

Today the Saviour calls,

O, listen now,

Before fierce judgment falls,

To Jesus bow.

Today the Saviour calls,

For refuge fly,

Before the shout which calls

The saints on high.

Messages of God’s Love 4/17/1921

The Silk Cotton Tree

DID you ever see a tree like this one? I am sure very few of the readers of “Messages of Love” have ever seen one. The one in our

picture is in the little town of Nassau in the Bahamas. This one is nearly two hundred years old, so about. ten generations have seen that tree, and very likely about seven of these generations have all passed away. How true is God’s Word,

“ALL FLESH IS AS GRASS, AND ALL THE GLORY OF MAN AS THE FLOWER OF GRASS.” 1 Pet. 1:24.
How very, very soon this life will be a thing of the past, so it is very evident that what is of the greatest importance is, where we are going to spend eternity, rather than to be concerned about this short life.

Are you prepared, dear reader, for the future? In other words, have you Christ for your Saviour? If not, you are not prepared, but if you have Him, you are.

Another thing I would like to mention as we look at this picture, and that is, the immense variety of things that grow. What a God we have who created such an immense number of different trees, plants and flowers, and all things in this world. Then, when we look above into the starry sky, and see all His handiwork there, we are lost in wonder.

Yet there is one wonder that excels all these things, and that is, that the All-wise and powerful Creator, loved us so much as to give His only Son for us on Calvary’s cross. That surpasses His wonderful creation. How terrible must the judgment be for those who despise, or refuse that blessed Saviour!

Which is it with you, dear reader? Are you an accepter, or a rejecter of the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest gift God could have given to us?

Messages of God’s Love 4/24/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 20-21

We don’t read very far into the Bible before we find it isn’t like any other book. Do you know why? Well, one says, Because it is God’s book, and says another, It is because it tells about our badness. Yes, both answers are correct. Some of you perhaps have read a good many story books, and books written to tell -about a man or a woman’s life. Some of these books are good as far as they go, but all that I have ever read tell just about nothing of the badness of the person they want to tell us most about; the books tell how wise, how good, and kind and courteous and brave, and all that the man or woman or boy or girl was that is the principal character in the book, and nothing at all, or just the very least the author thought he needed to put in, about the selfishness and other mean things that are in everyone’s heart.

God tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If He chooses to tell us about Abraham, so ready to listen to His word, and to leave home and country for an unknown land and there to be a man as we might say, without a country, for he lived in a tent all his life and didn’t buy any land or settle down, and we think and . rightly too, what a wonderful man Abraham was, then we find a chapter like that one in which we read about his going down to Egypt and telling a lie about his wife,—do you remember?—the twelfth, it was. And today we read another story about Abraham that shows us like that one, that when he didn’t keep near to God he got into trouble. Just like ourselves that is, —you and I, if we love Jesus because God first loved us and sent Him to die in our stead,—you and I, I say, we hardly hope to climb as high up the ladder of faith as Abraham did, do we? but we certainly make just as bad mistakes as he when we get our thoughts away from God, and forget it is He we have to please and not ourselves.

I think there’s more than one reason for God telling us both sides . of Abraham’s character. If we read only of his believing God, and doing what He told him, we might say too, God only takes good people to heaven, as I myself have heard some children say in Sunday school. But God loves had people, sinners, the Bible calls them, and He loves them still when they show some of their old bad ways after they are saved. But does He love the bad tempers, the lies even, and the other mean things? Indeed He does not, and in one way or another He makes us sorry for them, I mean, of course, if we are really saved. Are you?

Abraham we last read of in chapter nineteen, verses 27 to 29. Now we find him going away toward the south again. Perhaps he felt rather proud about God’s visiting him the day before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed and he may have been comparing himself with Lot, and thinking “I’m the one that does what God says; I’m safe!” I don’t know, but I think he wasn’t praying with all his heart to God when he went down to Gerar, because the first thing we find out is, Abraham’s gone and told that old lie about his wife again! God’s people don’t have to tell lies! When they are in trouble, even if it is their own fault, He will always help, and we don’t have to do or say more that’s wrong to get out of our troubles.

The king of that place thought if Sarah was not married, he would like to have her for his wife, but God stopped him and spoke to him in a dream at night in such a way that the king and all his servants were very much afraid. But wasn’t it too bad that Abirnelech should be able to speak to Abraham as he did at the end of the ninth verse? And Abraham too, in the thirteenth verse let out the secret that when they had left their home where they used to worship idols, he and Sarah had agreed that they should tell people they were brother and sister when they were really husband and wife, because he was afraid somebody would kill him to get Sarah for a wife. That wasn’t trusting God, was it? It surely wasn’t, but God didn’t give Abraham up for all that. He gives nobody up, who comes to Him by faith and says in his heart “I’m just bad, I deserve to go to hell, 0 let the Lord Jesus be my own Saviour.”

Now we’ll go on to the twenty-first chapter. “And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken, at the set time of which God had spoken to him”. So at last the little boy baby, Isaac, came to live at Abraham’s and Sarah’s home. How happy they must have been and so much the more because they had had to wait so long for him. Older folks than you, perhaps (only I don’t know how old you are), have found many a time that God answers prayers, God does what He says He will, and not just in Bible stories, but in our own lives right now, today. A Christian man said to me one day a few years ago when he was feeling sad and lonely, and thought. God wasn’t caring about him very much: “Do you think God answers prayers?” And because I have had so many, many answers to my own prayers, I answered just as quickly as I could “Ask me instead if God ever doesn’t answer prayer!” I just love to read those words at the beginning of chapter 21: “And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken”. Our bad ways and cold hearts may make- Him slower than He wants to be to give us answers to our prayers, but depend upon it, if we take our cares to Him and ask to be taken care of, to be given what is good for us, He will answer us, and we shall know without His saying a word, that God has answered us.

But when Isaac came, Ishmael had to go. Sarah rightly said that the son of the bondwoman could not be heir along with her son. Abraham found it very hard to say to Hagar that she had to go, but God told him Sarah was right, for “in. Isaac shall thy seed be called.” So early the very next morning as I suppose it was, after God spoke to him, Abraham gave a lot of bread and water to Hagar and she went away with her boy and wandered in the wilderness to the south. By and bye the water was all gone, and Ishmael was dying from thirst, and Hagar put him in the little shade that a bush gave and went quite a distance away from him and sat down and cried very sadly. Poor Hagar! sent away from the place that had been home so long, with no husband to care for and protect her and the fourteen-year old boy, lost in the wilderness and apparently no one cared! But as the angel of the Lord had found the mother before (chapter 16:7) when she was hopeless and helpless in the wilderness not very far from this place she was now in, so now we read that “God heard the voice of the lad” (verse 17). Isn’t that encouraging to us? Notice it doesn’t say ‘He heard the sound of the mother’s crying, though of course He did, but that boy Ishmael,— I wonder if he was praying to God as he lay there apparently soon to die? There came a time while the Lord Jesus was on earth when mothers brought their children, and little ones too, to Him, and the disciples roughly said to them, O take your children away; Jesus hasn’t any time for any but grown folks, but the Lord not only rebuked his disciples but said, “of such” (little children, and grown folks who would trust Him like them) “is the kingdom of heaven” and took them up in His arms and blessed them.

So the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and told her “Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.” And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water and got the water her boy needed so badly. “And God was with him” the twentieth verse says. He must have learned at home about God, don’t you think? I do; Ishmael I think had trusted God for salvation.

The next thing we read is that King Abimelech of Gerar, about whom we read in the twentieth chapter, came over to see Abraham from the land of the Philistines with Phichol, the general of his army. But not to complain this time! No, it was to ask Abraham to promise not to do him harm, that Abimelech came to God’s servant, because he saw, as verse 22 tells us he said, that God was with Abraham in all that he did. That’s what comes of those that are saved earnestly trying to please God.

Messages of God’s Love 4/24/1921

What for God?

Two men were standing at the corner of a street in one of the busy towns.

While they stood there, a wagon went by full of men, evidently intent on spending a gay time, regardless of the fact that it was the Lord’s day. As they passed, one of the men standing there said to the other, “That’s it, work all the week, and enjoy yourself on Sundays.”

A Christian lady near, overhearing this remark, turned, and looking earnestly at both men said, “And what for God?” They both looked surprised and ashamed. May we not hope that this question was used in causing them to think seriously of their godless lives?

How many there are in the world like these poor men, of whom it may be said that “God is not in all their thoughts,” and that they are living, “without God,” and spending their lives for this world and for themselves. And yet God has given His very best for us—His only begotten Son—that He might die to save us from that eternal ruin which is our just due on account of our sins, God could not do more.

Dear children, are you living your life with no thoughts of God in it? How solemn for you if, in one moment, He were to call you away from this world, saying to you “This night thy soul shall be required of thee,” and afterwards to have “to give an account of the deeds done in the body.”

0, will you not turn to Him ere it is too late? and you will find Him now to be what He says Himself He is, “A God ready to pardon,” because “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleamseth us from all sin,”

Messages of God’s Love 4/24/1921

Accept The Lord

Once again the gospel message

From the Saviour you have heard;

Will you heed the invitation?

Will you Now accept the Lord?

Many summers you have wasted,

Ripened harvests you have seen,

Winter snows by spring have melted,

Yet you linger in your sin.

Jesus for your choice is waiting;

Tarry not, at once decide!

While the Spirit now is striving,

Yield, and join the Saviour’s side.

Cease of fitness to be thinking;

Do not longer try to feel;

It is trusting, and not feeling,

That will give the Spirit’s seal.

Let your will to God be given,

Trust in Christ’s atoning blood;

Look to Jesus now in heaven,

Rest on His unchanging Word.

Messages of God’s Love 4/24/1921

Bible Questions for May

Answers to Bible Questions for March

“While we look not,” etc. 2 Cor. 4:18.

“For we are unto God.” etc. “ 2:15.

“In whom the god of,” etc. “ 4:4.

“Every man according,” etc. “ 9:7.

“Wherefore come out,” etc. “ 6:17.

“Finally brethren,” etc. “ 13:11.

“We are confident,” etc. “ 5:8.

Bible Questions for May

Rewards will be given (D. V.), for correct answers received until May, 1922, 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 1 and 2 Tim., Titus, Phil. and Heb.

Write the verse in full containing the words, “Thy love and faith.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “Be gentle.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “Upholding all things.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “One Mediator.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “Blood.” “Eternal.” “Living.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “The everlasting covenant.”

Write the verse in full containing the words, “Live soberly.”

Messages of God’s Love 5/1/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 22

This chapter tells of a very, very hard trial that God gave Abraham before he had had that boy Isaac very long. But Abraham didn’t really have to give his boy up to die, though God didn’t tell him he would not, until the very last. And while we read and think of this story today, let us try to think of that God Who gave His only begotten Son really to die, and not as. people die in this world, but to die for sinners, bearing the dreadful punishment of our sins on the cross of Calvary.

God doesn’t take pleasure in telling of bad things, but He has to tell them, because He tells what is true, and what we need to know. But I think He loved to tell in the Bible the stories we come to again and again of men and women, and children too, who did what pleased Him. There was Abel, you remember, the young man who brought the kind of offering to God that He could accept, and there was Enoch who “walked with God,” and Noah who did “according to all that God commanded him, so did he.” And we have read quite a little about Abraham that shows that he too pleased God. There are many more stories like these we have been reading, and everyone is different. God is taking notice of us all, everyone and none of us can say I’m too little, or too poor, or too something else. Perhaps some little colored boy will read this and say God doesn’t see or care about me, but it isn’t so. God cares about and loves every one. And if you have really believed in Jesus so you are saved, He has something to say about you.

This is a story about how Abraham pleased God when it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to do what God asked him.

In our ordinary Bibles the word in the first verse is “tempted,” but that is not quite the right word. It should be “tried” or “tested”, for God does not tempt any one to do wrong.

“Abraham, take now ‘thy son; thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest”—you see God knew how Abraham loved that boy—”and get thee into the land of Moriah and offer him• there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Never was a harder thing asked of any body in this world than that! That he should have to give up that dearly loved son, for whom he had waited so many years, and actually have to lift the knife to kill his own child, must have been fearfully hard for Abraham to face. But he had learned to obey God, and we can say too, that he knew God, and by this time was willing to trust Him altogether. There is an old hymn which says

“Behind a frowning providence

God hides a smiling face”

and Abraham knew that all would be well at the end of the journey, though the way there might be a hard one.

Had we been at Abraham’s house very early that morning we should have found him up, at least as early as usual, and getting ready to go away with Isaac, and the two men servants. The wood was soon split and the donkey they took along was saddled, and away the little party went. It was enough for Abraham that God had spoken; it was better to please Him than to please himself.

Perhaps someone will say, “Why doesn’t .the Bible tell us about Isaac’s mother, Sarah, and how she felt about giving up her boy?” Well, there isn’t any doubt in my mind that Sarah loved Isaac, loved him as much as Abraham did. But in very few cases in the Bible has God told us all the story. And there is a reason every time. The reason why we only read about the father in this story is, I think, because God wants us to think of Him giving up His Son while we read about Abraham and Isaac, It wasn’t an easy thing, a little thing, for God to give up that only and beloved Son to die the dreadful death of the cross. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” and in the twelfth chapter of Mark, verses 6 to 8 we are told of God that having sent a lot of servants, but “having yet therefore one Son, His well-beloved, He sent Him also last unto them saying ‘They will reverence My Son. But they took Him and killed Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard.” Yes, Jesus was willing to come. O how thankful you and I ought to be that Jesus took the place of us guilty ones on the cross so we, if we believe in Him as our very own Saviour, might not be sent to hell.

Now let us follow our story closely. The men servants didn’t know what Abraham was thinking of, nor did Isaac as they walked on until the third day. On that day Abraham saw the place (Mount Moriah) far away, that God had spoken to him of, and then he took Isaac and the wood and went away from the men, saying to them that they were going over there to worship, and would come again to them. Every step on the journey must have been harder, one would think, than the last one, for Abraham, and when Isaac asked that question in the seventh verse it must have made it harder than ever to go on to the place where Isaac was to be offered. But still trusting in God Abraham quietly answered “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering,” so they went both of them together. Isaac didn’t understand though he quietly went along but the Lord Jesus knew all that was before Him from the beginning, so about Him we are told not only that God gave Him, but that the Son of God loved us and gave Himself for us. (Galatians 2:20.)

After a while father and son got to the place and Abraham set to work to build an altar, I suppose of either earth or stones, and when he had that made, laid the firewood in place. Next he fastened his boy’s arms and legs so that Isaac couldn’t move, and laid him on the wood, and now there was nothing more to be done until the boy was dead. Abraham therefore reached out his hand to take the knife he had brought along to wound his dear son to death, when—O, hear that shout from heaven,—”Abraham! Abraham!” It is God that is speaking. “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou halt not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” How gratefully must those words have been heard by Abraham, and just at the last moment, too, for I don’t doubt at all that the father would have obeyed to the very last, even in the heartrending act of killing the child he loved!

There are three verses (17 to 19) in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews that tell us about this time in Abraham’s life, how he was sure God would give his boy Isaac life again; if he had had to kill him, God would raise him from the dead.

Abraham now looked behind him and saw there in the bushes a sheep caught by his horns. God had provided a lamb as Abraham had said to Isaac. So he took the sheep and put it instead of his boy on the altar, offering it to God, and called the name of the place “Jehovah-jireh,” which in our language is “The Lord will provide.” But we who live in this day can say more than that,—”The Lord has provided,” for Jesus had died on the cross as God’s Lamb for everyone that will believe in Him. Let us not forget our verse in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, though He pitied Abraham and would not let him suffer long.

Do you know that the Lord Jesus is spoken of as a lamb in a good many places in the Bible? In Isaiah 53:7 it is “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” At the beginning of the gospel of John “Behold the Lamb of God” is John the Baptist’s word about Jesus (John 1:36), and in the First Epistle of Peter, chapter 1:19 “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” is what the Holy Spirit has caused to he written. One more verse is in Revelation 5:6, where the Lord Jesus is seen in heaven going to be the great Judge and the King of kings, and there it is “a Lamb as it had been slain.” Surely God wants everyone to know what Jesus has done.

We have been talking about Jesus, and mentioning some verses that tell about Him, but let me ask you, Is He your Saviour? I hope you can truthfully say “Yes, He is.” Nothing else will count in that moment when the Lord comes in the sky and calls on all that belong to Him to meet Him in the air.

As we close for today let us notice verses 15 to 18 of our chapter in Genesis where God promised Abraham what before He had said to him, only now it was “because thou hast done this thing.” How He must be pleased when one boy or girl gives his or her heart to the Lord and sets out on the road to heaven.

Messages of God’s Love 5/1/1921

The Distance Brought Near

SUPPOSE many of you, dear readers, have looked at the distance through a telescope, and were able to see people in the distance, who could not be seen by the naked eye. You could see what they were doing, but could not hear what they were saying. Very likely they had no thought of anyone looking at them.

This may well remind us that God’s eye is ever upon us. He is able to see everywhere, and He knows even our thoughts, so the Scripture says—

“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psa. 139:2.

This is very solemn! If we remember His eye is upon us, we shall be kept from doing many wrong things, and it will also keep us from allowing our thoughts to run on foolish and wrong things.

There is also another needful word for us to remember-

“THERE IS NOT A WORD IN NY TONGUE, BUT, LO, O LORD, THOU KNOWEST IT ALTOGETHER.” Psa. 139:4.

It will be well for each one to often read that Psalm, as there are in it so many needful words of warning and instruction.

Messages of God’s Love 5/1/1921

The Sea Grape Tree

No doubt the sea grape has not been seen by many of the readers of “Messages of Love”, so the picture of the tree (not a vine) will give a little idea of it. The grapes are very small and sweet, but it was not time for the fruit when this picture was taken. All we see on the tree are leaves which are rather large, and make a very pretty picture; but pretty pictures can only please the eye, and if a tree is meant for food, it should bear fruit.

The Lord Jesus, while here on earth, spoke of the fig tree, in a parable, that is, as an illustration, of the Jews. (Matt. 13:6-10) It is so again in Mark 11:12-13—the Lord Jesus came to a fig tree (a picture of the Jews) to find some fruit, but when He got there He found nothing but leaves, for the time of gathering figs was not come, but it should have had figs on it at that time.

The Jews, those whom the Lord came to, should have had fruit for God, but they had none, and as the Lord cursed the fig tree for not having fruit on it, so a curse was pronounced upon the Jews. The greatest mark that they had no fruit for God, was their rejection of His Son.

The Lord expects fruit from all those who have accepted His Son as their Saviour, for to such the Scripture says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Eph. 2:10.

Those who have not accepted Christ as their Saviour, cannot bear fruit to God, any more than the Jews could, who would not have Jesus. Seeing that the Lord pronounced a curse on them as a nation, be careful that a curse may not fall upon you, if you are still without Christ! God will not always strive with you, dear children. The time will come when God will not offer salvation any more to those who have heard it again and again, and have refused it. God is not to be mocked.

If you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, remember, He wants you to bear fruit for Him, that is, to be pleasing to Him in all your ways, doing His will.

“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” John 15:8.

“THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.” John 15:12

Messages of God’s Love 5/8/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 23

One hundred and twenty-seven years old was Isaac’s mother, Sarah, when she died. Isaac must have been thirty-seven at the time, and Abraham was one hundred and thirty-seven, for he was ten years older than his wife as we have noticed before.

Death comes sometimes to our homes; never a day passes but He calls at many a house here and across the sea. Hardly anywhere is death invited to come in, but it makes a great difference to the ones left behind when the dead mother or father, sister or brother is saved. Then we are glad to think of the One he or she has gone to-be with, and the place where they have gone,—that bright and happy home in the sky that the Lord Jesus went to prepare. A dear old man who loves the Lord was telling me about his sister’s death which happened not long ago, and he said “She is happy, now, happy to be with the Lord,” and then after a pause he added “And the Lord is happy to have her there.” That is true of all those that are saved, when they die. But I think there must be a good many like Balaam who said (Numbers 23:10) “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his,” but as for being saved when they have health and long life ahead of them perhaps, neither Balaam cared nor do they. Nobody I suppose wants to go to hell; I am quite sure I don’t. But Satan says Forget about God and Jesus and heaven and hell until you die, and then will be time enough to get saved, so I want to tell you that Satan knows you may not have a chance to get saved when you (lie, because God’s time is now and He might not give you a chance when you are dying, and because if the Lord Jesus comes before you believe in Him, and He may come at any time, it will be too late for you to be saved then. Don’t let Satan persuade you to forget God’s solemn word in Matthew 25:10 “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut.”

The second verse of our chapter tells us that Abraham mourned and wept about the death of his wife. He didn’t know all that God’s children now may know about Him and what He has done and will do for those who love Him, still I think if you or I had been at Sarah’s deathbed, or at the funeral, we would have noticed a difference between how Abraham acted and how other people did whose dear ones died. For they had “no hope,” as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, while Abraham had a hope in God, for his wife and he were both believers, so his sadness was nothing but grief because his dear wife was gone, while he could be cheered by thinking of her being in God’s home in the sky, to which he too was soon going.

But Sarah’s body, the house she had lived in so long, must be buried, and where? Abraham had lived all those sixty or more years in the promised land as a stranger and a sojourner—that-is, as one who never bought a place and settled down to make it his own. God had promised the whole country to him and his children after him, but as yet it was his only in promise, so he would only buy a parcel of land in which to bury Sarah, and to be himself buried in afterward, while waiting for the day of resurrection. And he would pay the full price for the ground he wanted, too, so as not to be indebted at all to the people who had the land then.

The sons of Heth must have thought it very strange that Abraham should be so set on owning a piece of land for a graveyard, when he had never bought any other ground, but they couldn’t have understood Abraham’s life as God saw it, at any time.

Ephron the Hittite owned a field in the end of which was a cave called the cave of Machpelah, and this cave Abraham wished to have for a burial place. So ne asked the children of Heth to speak to ‘Ephron about selling him the land for whatever it was worth. Then at a meeting of the townspeople a bargain was made and the ownership of the land was passed from Ephron to Abraham.

First, in the eleventh verse, Ephron offered to give the land to Abraham without any money. Perhaps that was just the polite way of starting a sale in those days, and perhaps Ephron really meant to give his field away. But Abraham as I said would not be a debtor to the world; he would pay what the land was worth, and so he said “I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.” Ephron then said his price was four hundred shekels of silver, and that amount Abraham paid. The last verses of the chapter tell of the burial of Sarah after the sale of the field and what was in it, both the cave and the trees, had.. been “recorded” and made binding, not quite the same way as is done in the United States and many other countries, but just as surely, I suppose.

These chapters we are looking at, taken together, give us something to think of, besides what we have been noticing. It is this way: In the twenty-first chapter Sarah got Isaac in her old age. Sarah is called a “type” (a person or thing, or happening that God has set out in the Old Testament as showing a likeness to some person or thing or event that the New Testament tells of) of the people of Israel, and it was when God was soon to set Israel aside that the Lord Jesus came into the world. Next, in the twenty-second chapter Abraham is called on to sacrifice his son, and the twenty-third chapter brings us to the death of Sarah, while the twenty-fourth tells of the seeking of a bride for Isaac. These things are paralleled by the dying of Jesus, the Jews being given up by God for the present, while the gospel is going out to the Gentiles, and the Holy Spirit is in the world finding a bride for the Lord Jesus, —but of this last I shall try to say more next time, if the Lord will.

Messages of God’s Love 5/8/1921

The Poor Boy Who Became a Judge

JIM was the name of this boy. His father and mother were dead, and he was now left to get a living any way he could. He felt he had no friend but his heavenly Father.

He had gone to sleep on the doorstep of a large house one Saturday night, wishing he had one of the nice cakes he had seen in a bakery.

He slept till about five o’clock next morning, when he awoke, and began rubbing his eyes. Presently someone pulled his old coat. It was one who knew him. He said, “Come, Jim, wake up; it is long past daylight, and I am getting hungry. If you come with me, I will tell you where we can get plenty to eat, for I saw a storekeeper close his blinds without locking them.”

Jim asked if the. things would be given to them. “No, but we can take them,” was the answer.

“I shan’t steal,” said Jim; “and you cannot make me anymore; for I promised my mother just as she died, I wouldn’t. You may go, but I shan’t.”

The other said he should not starve, and went off.

Nine o’clock came, and the bells began to ring for Sunday-school. Jim saw the boys and girls going in, and thought he would like to see the inside. So he pulled off his cap, and wiped his bare feet on the mat.

One of the teachers asked him if he had come to school, but he was too much astonished to answer. He was however put into a class.

When school was over, the teacher came and questioned him, to find out his history, and liking the account he gave, she took him home and gave him some breakfast.

Her father was a lawyer in the city, and being in want of a boy in the office, they resolved to try Jim. He did very well, and kept the office clean and tidy. Then he was sent to school, and learned so well and steadily, that he was employed in the office as clerk.

He kept on with his studies, and became learned in the law, until he became partner in the business.. Eventually he became a judge.

Of the other poor boy, it is recorded that he was caught and sent to prison.

Thus you see it is a good thing to trust in God at all times and in all circumstances. God did not allow this poor boy to starve, but raised up friends for him, and took care of him all his life.

There may be some poor boy who reads this, who will never become a judge. But let him trust in God, who will not turn away from any who trust in Him.

“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7.

Messages of God’s Love 5/8/1921

God Knows Best

A FRIEND went to visit a child who was very sick. Her mother was saying how hard it was that she should suffer so much, when the little girl interrupted her, saying, “God knows best, mother.”

Do you pity her, children? You need not, for I am sure that in the midst of her pain and weariness she was calm and happy, knowing that “A Father’s hand will never cause His child a needless tear.”

Some of you who love the Lord may have had long and painful illnesses, and perhaps you have been tempted to think that He does not care for you; but have you ever thought that by bearing that illness patiently, you may bring glory to the name of the Saviour who loves you, and who will never forget you?

Remember the words of that little girl, “God knows best.”

“My kindness shall not depart from thee...saith the Lord.” Isa. 54:10.

Messages of God’s Love 5/8/1921

Why Not Come to Him Now?

O! why do you wait, dear children?

O! why do you tarry so long?

The Saviour is waiting to give you

A place in His heavenly throng.

O! what do you hope, dear children,

To gain by further delay?

There’s no one to save you but Jesus:

There’s no other way but His way.

O! do you not feel, dear children,

God’s Spirit now striving within?

Why not accept His salvation,

And part with your burden of sin?

O! why do you wait, dear children?

The harvest is passing away;

The Saviour is waiting to save you;

There’s death and sure doom in delay!

Messages of God’s Love 5/8/1921

A Nassau Native Hut

WHAT a beautiful scene we have here, with the beautiful banana and cocoanut palms in The distance, near the native hut.

God’s creation is indeed wonderful wherever we may look, and in whatev’er clime we may be. It is good for us to see the finger of God, the all-wise Creator, and rejoice in all His wonderful works. We who have eyes to see, can readily tell the difference between what man has made, and what God has made. There is a vast difference between the house and wagon, and all else that is around them. God created the materials that the house and wagon are made of, but man made both of these.

There is the same difference between what man writes, and what God has writiten. God’s book is the Bible, and those who have their eyes opened, can say, No man ever wrote that book! He gives us the account from the beginning of time, to the end of time. He alone was able to tell us how sin came in, and He was alone able to devise the plan whereby we could be saved. This latter is one of the grand marks that the Scriptures are from God.

Man’s thought about getting saved is that he must do something; but God’s way of salvation is simply and solely by faith in Christ Jesus on our part, and altogether by grace on His part, so the Scripture says—

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9. And again—

“NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US.” Titus 3:15.

Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 24

Many, many years before Abraham had left as instructed by God the land of his birth lived and from his own relations there. Now he was old and Sarah his wife had died. His son needed a wife, but there were none of his race where he lived.

So Abraham decided to send his oldest servant, the one he trusted to look after everything for him, back to his old home to take a wife for Isaac, and bring her to the promised land. The servant asked only one question, it seems, and that was, what should he do if the woman would not come back with him,—should he take Isaac back to that country? And Abraham answered “Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.” If Isaac was not to be taken back, and the lady refused to come, there would be no bride for him, so we can see a good deal depended on what the servant could say about Isaac, when he got across the desert among Abraham’s people. It was certainly the most important thing this chief servant ever had to do, we may be sure, but I expect Abraham knew that the servant would be faithful to the trust he put in him. How confidently he spoke of God, didn’t he, in the seventh verse? God would be with the servant he said, and send His angel before him. Abraham trusted in God first of all and knew Him as his best Friend.

Abraham had a trusted, eldest servant who ruled over all that he had. He decided to send his servant back to the land of his birth to take a wife for his son. The servant was not to take a daughter of the Canaanites for his son. So the servant gave his solemn promise to take a wife his kindred.

The servant prayed to the Lord to direct him to speak to only the one person, for he had asked God to guide him to the right one, and He did. The young woman he spoke to, asking for a drink for himself, answered just as he had prayed the right one should, saying that she would not only give the servant a drink, but draw water for the camels too. I suppose that meant a good many trips down the steps to the water with the empty pitcher -and up again to the trough. So we can say she was a willing person, as well as very nice looking or pretty as the sixteenth verse says.

While she was bringing water for the camels, the servant was wondering if God had not only led him to the right person to speak to, but if He would make her willing to go back with him. As she finished supplying the thirsty camels, the servant took a gold ring, and two gold bracelets, and gave them to the young woman, at the same time asking her whose daughter she was, and if there was room in her father’s house for them to stay. And then he learned that this was Abraham’s grand-niece, Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor; there was straw and food for the camels, and room for them all to stay too. And again the servant prayed, but now it was a prayer of thanksgiving to God Who had led him to his master’s brother’s home. Rebekah ran home to tell of the stranger, and her brother Laban ran out to the well to invite him in as soon as he had seen the gold ring and the bracelets his sister was wearing and heard what the man had said to her.

The servant then went on to the home of Rebekah and Laban with the camels and attendants, and when the camels had been cared for and the men had washed their feet, food was set out for the servant to eat, but he would not eat a thing, he said, until he had told why he had come.

“I am Abraham’s servant,” he said “and the Lord has blessed my master very much and he has become great; He has given him flocks, and herds and silver and gold, and men-servants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys.” Abraham was rich indeed: And Sarah my master’s wife had a baby when she was old, and to that baby, now grown to be a man, he has .given all that he has.” Everything Abraham had was Isaac’s. And the servant went on to tell of his orders to go to Abraham’s home land and to his relations there and take a wife for Isaac, told them too about what had happened during the last hour or two, and at the end he said “Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master tell me, and if not tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand or the left.” He wanted to know if he was a welcome visitor or not, because if the errand he had come upon was nothing of interest to them, he was going right away to someone else. Laban and his father then answered “This is something that comes from God; take Rebekah and go; let her be your master’s son’s wife, as the Lord has spoken.” Hearing these words, the servant was filled with thankfulness and praise to God, and brought out splendid and expensive presents of gold and silver things and clothes which he gave to Rebekah; even her brother and mother were given presents. After this they ate and went, to bed, but the next morning the servant said “Send me away to my master.” What a servant that was! He didn’t want to do anything for himself; he had an errand to attend to, and nothing must come in the way of doing it. Laban and the mother wanted to keep Rebekah for a few days, but the servant said “Don’t hinder me, since the Lord has blessed my journey here; send me away that I may go to my master.” So they called Rebekah and said to her “Wilt thou go with this man?” and she answered, “Yes, I will go.”

So back across that dreary desert went the servant, with Rebekah and her maids following on the camels. How long did it take, and did anything happen on the way? Well, I suppose that no matter how long and how dreary and troublesome a journey it was, Rebekah was thinking about the wonderful thing that had become true, that she was to be the wife of the great and rich Abraham’s son, though she had never seen him nor been in that place where was his home. That is why I suppose the sixty-first verse tells about the beginning of the trip, and there isn’t a word said about any troubles on the way, nor how long it took, for the very next thing we come to about the bride is in the sixty-fourth verse “And Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac she lighted off her camel.” Isaac had come out in the field and met. them before they got all the way to his home. The servant told the whole story of his doings, and Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent and they were married, and he loved her and was comforted after his mother’s death.

All of this very interesting story is true, as I surely do not need to say, but it is also a lovely picture or type of something we learn from the New Testament) and that is the Holy Spirit’s being sent into the world to gather out a lot of people, men, women, boys and girls, to form a bride for the Lord Jesus in the glory. Jesus has gone home to heaven, and will not come back to this earth while the Holy Spirit is telling about Him, telling of His greatness and His love—much more than Abraham’s servant could tell about Isaac. And some are believing what the Holy Spirit says and of them it was that the Lord Jesus spoke when he said to Thomas in John 20:29, “Because thou hast seen Me thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.” The Lord Jesus is coming to meet His loved ones in the air very soon; turn to the last chapter of your Bible and the seventh, twelfth and seventeenth verses and you will find not only the promise of the Lord to soon come, but the wish of the Holy Spirit down here acting as God’s servant, together with the saved ones that are going to form the bride of Jesus: “And the Spirit and the bride say `Come’.”

So, my dear young friend, what is your answer to the question “Wilt thou go with this man?”

Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1921

Because I Am a Sinner

LITTLE boy was sick and was supposed to be dying, yet during the whole time, his peaceful state of heart was noticed by those around him, and, at length, through mercy, he was restored to health.

Soon after this, his father in speaking to him of his dangerous sickness, said to him,

“Charlie! were you not afraid of dying when you were so sick?”

“O, no! not at all.”

“Why, how is that, my son?”

“Because I am a sinner.”

“But how could that give you such peace?”

“Because, father, Christ died for sinners, and I know He died for me, because I am a sinner!”

This is the reason for peace. I know I am entitled to the perfect result of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, because I am a sinner. How opposed this is to the way of thinking that one must be good in order to live or die happy.

You must be saved, dear young reader, and you can only be saved as a sinner’.

Have you found out that you are a lost sinner? If so, Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

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

Do accept Him as your own personal Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1921

Make Them Thine Own

Those who are young, O God,

Make them Thine own;

Hear from Thy blest. abode,

Make them Thine own;

Now in their early days,

Turn them to Thy blest ways,

Save from the giddy maze,

Make them Thine own.

O, let Thy love abound,

Make them Thine own;

Now may the lost be found,

Make them Thine own;

Soon will all praying cease,

O, Lord their hearts release,

With Thee may they have peace,

Make them Thine own.

Then shall they happy be,

All made Thine own;

Shout then the victory,

All, all Thine own;

Satan shall lose his, prey,

Mercy shall win the day,

Each shall with rapture say—

“All, all Thine own!”

Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1921

A Halt on the Oasis

The poor Arabs have traveled a long Way across the desert, and have now come to a green spot where there is a well of water and a little pool. It surely is a good place to rest and be refreshed.

There is very little real rest known in this world. Indeed, it is full of unrest on account of sin. The Scripture says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest.” Isa. 57:20. There are wars between nations, and quarreling between-one and another, and law cases and even the clear children in school have their fusses with one another. What a condition this poor world is in!

We can find rest and peace in the midst of it all, but not as a part of it, but by what the Lord Jesus has brought into it. He has said,

“COME UNTO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Matt. 11:28

If we feel the burden of our sins, the One to go to is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will relieve us of our burden and give us rest about them by letting us know that He took all our sins upon Him, and bore the terrible judgment that we deserved.

We then can find rest in our circumstances by taking His yoke upon us and learning of Him. He was one who did not do His own will, but always did the will of His Father. If we, who know what it is to have rest about our sins, lay aside our wills, and just seek to do His will, we shall have rest in all our circumstances. (Math. 11:29).

For such there is a rest that remains for them at the end of all their labors on this earth. (Heb. 4:9.)

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 25

We learn here of the second wife of Abraham’s—Keturah was her name. Abraham lived thirty-eight years after Sarah died. All the children of Keturah, and of the concubines, of whom the sixth verse tells, were sent away from Isaac before Abraham died, though they were given presents. There were no presents for Isaac, because everything was his. Abraham was one hundred and seventy-five years old at his death, and Ishmael joined Isaac in burying him in the cave of Machpelah beside Sarah’s body.

Verses 12 to 18 tell of Ishmael’s family and when he died, but we can see that God was mostly thinking about Isaac and his family. And that was not because Isaac was any better than his half-brother. No, it was just God’s doing what He chose to do, because neither Isaac nor Ishmael were naturally good, or deserved to have God love them, take care of them, and take them to heaven. Indeed not, and if God had been looking for people that deserved to have something done for ‘them, to have Him love them, He would have found none, because there is not any, and there never has been any. We just have to turn back to John 3:16, and say, “God so loved.”

Isaac and Rebekah were married for twenty years and had no children, but when in the twenty-first verse we learn that he prayed to God about it, God listened, and answered his prayers, for they got two boy babies, twins; Esau was the older one, and Jacob the younger.’ Esau was a strange looking baby, covered all over with red hair. As he grew up he became very fond of hunting, but Jacob always liked best to stay at home, and their mother liked him better: while the father loved Esau because of the food he brought home from his hunting trips.

Isn’t t sad to have to think that Isaac’s thoughts didn’t rise higher than the food he ate? He wasn’t much like his father Abraham who, in spite of all his mistakes, was a wonderful man of faith in God.

But if we don’t see much to admire Isaac, we see, as we read about Esau, that he was a man who cared nothing at all for God’s promises to his father and grandfather. One day when Esau came home from hunting he was very hungry.

Jacob had cooked some lentils, and Esau begged for them, but his brother, anxious to get something for himself, said, “Sell me this day thy birthright” Jacob wanted to have the rights of the older brother, and to get the blessing which his father would give the oldest son, and God meant that he should, but surely He did not like Jacob’s ways. Esau said to. himself, I am going to die if I don’t get something to eat right away, and what good is this birthright to me? So he said All right to Jacob, and gave up his rights as the oldest son, for the meal the last verse of the chapter tells about,—bread and lentils. Many years after, God caused what Esau had done to be again written about in the Bible,—in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 16, 17.

Children, God does not forget what we say and do! He knows what you think about Him, and about what He says in His Word.

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

Look Unto Me

Look to Jesus, weary one,

Look at what the Lord has done;

See Him lifted on the tree,

Hear Him say, “Look unto Me!”

Lost, unworthy, vile, unclean,

Look away from self and sin:

Long by Satan’s craft enslaved,

Look to Him, ye shall be saved.

Wanderer now though far away,

Harden not thy heart today;

‘Tis the Father calls thee home,

Whosoever will may come!

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

Dead to the Voice of the Bible

While riding through some of the pretty woodlands near the town of S——, I came
to a farmhouse. Being thirsty, I dismounted, and asked for a glass of milk.

On entering the house I was pleased to see several texts and Scripture Almanacs hanging on the walls.

“Surely,” I thought, “these people must be children of God, having texts hung upon the walls.”

Having drunk the milk, I stepped across the room to where this portion of. Scripture was hung: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Placing my finger on the word “sinners,” I said to the woman who had supplied me with the milk—-

“Can you read this scripture, and instead of saying ‘sinners,’ say ‘me’?”

She looked at me with surprise, and said—

“What do you mean?”

I repeated my words: “Can you say `Christ Jesus came into the world to save me?’“ and awaited the answer.

How solemn! the word of God was on the walls of the house, but no entrance into the heart.

The woman’s answer came at last; it was a slow decided “No.”

It seemed that such a thought had never entered her mind before.

After a few words more I left her, hoping that God might use that simple pointed question to show her her need. Like too many others, she could read the words, but had left out the application of them to her own soul.

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

Come and Welcome

Come, and welcome to the Saviour,

He in mercy bids thee come;

Come, be happy in His favor,

Longer from Him do not roam!

Come, and welcome—start for glory,

Leave this sin-stained world behind;

Christ will spread His banner o’er thee,

Thou in Him a friend shalt find.

Come, and welcome, do not linger;

Make thy happy choice today:

True, thou art an undone sinner,

But He’ll wash thy sins away.

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

Names of Those Answering Bible Questions in Messages of Love for Term Ending April, 1921

To our many friends:-

As we think of one more year having passed away, with its manifold blessings from the hand of God. who has never forgotten even our smallest needs, we have everything to be thankful for, and are constrained to say He has blessed us far beyond all we have deserved.

It has pleased us much to see the interest so many have taken in these Bible Questions, and for the many letters we have received from time to time, showing that it has pleased God to make it a source of blessing, and now as we enter upon another year, it is in the hope that many more will take an interest in this work, and that our old friends will continue with us, and that much blessing will continue to follow the reading and writing of the Word of God.

There are a few who have omitted to send their proper address, as will be seen at the end of this list, and if these, and those who do not receive their reward by the end of Alay, and any who think they should have received a better reward, will send word to Mr. E. B. Hartt as soon as possible, our earliest attention will be given to it.

We would once more remind our friends that it is necessary that you should send your name, age and address plainly written, and always to notify us of any change of address.

If there are any that you know of, whether young or old, that you could interest in looking up these Bible Questions, we would be glad if you would do so, for we feel that our time is short, and that we are near the coming of the Lord, and the reading and writing of the Word of God is sure to prove a source of blessing, strengthening the confidence and faith of those who are His people, and arousing those who are not, to a sense of their need of a Saviour.

We desire the prayers of God’s people that this work may be carried on according to His leading, and that it may result in bringing glory to Him throughout eternity, and that all who, in this way, are encouraged to read and write the Holy Scriptures, will find much blessing to their souls.

Messages of God’s Love 5/22/1921

The Word of God

The one who meditates on the Word of God is always blest. In the first Psalm we read, Blessed (or happy) is the man that has his delight in the law of the Lord and meditates on that law day and night.

If we know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and want to be happy in our path down here, it can only be obtained by meditating on the Word of God and walking according to its precepts.

It is the Word of God that alone can give guidance for us in all our path, and it is there we can get true wisdom.

“THE ENTRANCE OF THY WORDS GIVETH LIGHT: IT GIVETH UNDERSTANDING TO THE SIMPLE.” Psa. 119:130

Ever take God’s Word for your guide in all your ways and you shall have true wisdom.

Messages of God’s Love 5/29/1921

We Live For Ever

Though I am young, I have a soul

The world can never buy;

And while eternal ages roll,

It will not, cannot die.

For it must soar ,to worlds on high,

Where happy spirits dwell;

Or, buried with the wicked, lie

Deep in the depths of hell.

Messages of God’s Love 5/29/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 26

Another famine came on, and Isaac went to the same Abimelech that his father had gone to years before. Egypt was not very far away and it must have been a temptation to Isaac to go down there to get away from the famine for God appeared to him, and told him not to go there, but ‘to stay in the land where God would be with him and bless him. God further repeated to Isaac His promise to Abraham his father, that the land should be his and his children’s who should be as many as the stars in the sky, and in those children every nation should be blessed. Still You will notice God said that these wonderful things would become true, because of what He could say (in the fifth verse) about Abraham. He couldn’t say as much about Isaac as He could about Isaac’s father. Perhaps like some boys and girls, and older folks, too who may read this little paper, Isaac may have thought it didn’t matter very much whether he lived to please himself, or to please God, since he had trusted Him to forgive his sins, and to take him to heaven when he should die. He may have said to himself. “My father served God faithfully a long time, and I’m ,his son, so it will be all right anyway.” In this and different ways Satan tries to catch us, and if we are not on the watch all the time he will succeed. Every one of us has soon to give account to God for himself, and besides that, there is trouble and sadness for us here in this life we are now living, if we don’t put God first.

Isaac ought to have stayed where he was, and should not have gone to the Philistines for help, and while God stopped him from going still further away, He let Isaac get into trouble, and though lie got out of one difficulty, he soon got into another, until, at last, he went away back where he belonged, a separated man like his great father Abraham. The first thing that worried him was that the men of Gerar asked about Rebekah, and Isaac told them the same lie that his father had told in the same place, saying that his wife was his sister. Isaac was afraid the men would kill him, and take Rebekah, because she was nice looking. But after they had been there some time, King Abimelech saw Isaac and Rebekah acting very affectionately, I suppose, so he thought they couldn’t be brother and sister; he called Isaac to tell him Rebekah certainly was his wife, and Isaac had to own it was so. God took care of him, and so the men of the place didn’t kill Isaac, but God’s children. and no one else, are never really better off for telling lies. It is always best to trust God and not ourselves when we are in trouble.

Then we read of Isaac’s getting richer and richer, so that the people around there envied him and King Abimelech at last told Isaac to go away; he went away just a little distance at first. After Abraham’s death, the Philistines had filled up the wells his servants had dug, and Isaac had them dug out again, and then there was trouble. between Isaac’s servants and the herdmen of Gerar about the wells they dug. Isaac moved from one location to another to get away from their disputes. At last when he went back to Beersheba, God appeared to him the very same night and spoke to him, telling him not to be afraid, for He would bless him and give him many children, or children’s children. Now at last we read of an altar, the first and only time we hear of Isaac’s building one, on which no doubt he offered sacrifices to God. For a time at least Isaac now seems to have lived in the fear of God, but when he was out of trouble for a while he, like so many of God’s people, just drifted back into an easy life. Was Isaac as happy as Abraham? No, I am very sure he was not. Let us learn from the mistakes Isaac made, and seek to live for God always.

After this Abimelech, and Ahuzzath, his friend; and Phichol, the general of his army. came to see Isaac and got him to promise not to do them any harm. They saw now at least that Isaac had the true God for his Friend.

Esau took two wives, named Judith and Bashemath, both Hittites, that is, people of the country around, when he was forty years old. These women made Isaac and Rebekah very sad. I suppose they cared nothing for God, and led Esau further and further away from Him. We couldn’t expect much else, because these women belonged to one of the ten nations (see chapter 15, verses 19 to 21) who were to be judged by God. Abraham in chapter 24 was very particular that Isaac should not marry one of these people, and we may suppose that Esau knew this.

Messages of God’s Love 5/29/1921

Roy

ROY was five years old, only a little boy, and such thin, pinched little cheeks, and black eyes,—eyes that always seemed to be dancing with mischief. His mother was dead, and his father had got tired of him, and had gone to Mexico, and just left him behind, to get on the best he could. He soon took sick, and was sent to a Hospital for sick children—that was where I first met the little boy.

He was a little mischief, too; I can still remember the other children crying, “O! here comes Roy; look out for your toys;” and the nurses, “Roy is more trouble than any other six boys put together;” and the teacher, “Roy is so naughty in school, that none of the other children can learn anything when he is there;” and the doctor, “Roy is a perfect little nuisance,” and so it came about that poor little Roy spent a good deal of his time locked in a room by himself, so as to be kept out of mischief. You will say, “What a bad boy!” but then you see he had no mother, or anyone to love or really care for him, like you have; and besides, God sees your heart just as bad as naughty little Roy’s heart, and He says there is “no difference,” and God knows.

One Sunday morning when little Roy was shut out of Sunday school, because he was too bad to be allowed in, I happened to find him, sad and lonely and crying, for the little child often felt sad and lonely, and I said, “Roy, you and Marguerite and I will have Sunday school by ourselves.” (You would have loved Marguerite. She loved the Lord Jesus, and was one of His lambs, but was too ill to be allowed in the regular Sunday school.) This pleased Roy very much, and soon we were all sitting in a row on a bed, and Marguerite was repeating a verse. When she had finished Roy said,

“Roy can say a verse too.” I hardly could believe this, as he spent all his time usually teasing the other children when he was in Sunday school, or else he was locked un in a room, but I thought I would give him the chance, and he said proudly, “Jesus loves me.”

I had not the heart to tell him these words were not in the Bible, so asked him what it meant. This was a new thought to Roy, that it meant anything, so after thinking a long time, he looked up and said,

“It just means, Jesus likes Roy.”

Yes, that was just what it did mean, and it was a wonderful new thought for naughty little Roy to find out that there was anyone who “liked” him. Even as he said it, a queer little smile came over his face as much as to say, “That sounds too good to be true.”

Perhaps you will say to yourself, “I am sure that Jesus wouldn’t like a bad little boy like Roy, He likes good boys and girls.” All! that is just where you make a Mistake, for it was for bad boys and girls Jesus came. He says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” and so little Roy was one of the very ones that Jesus came for, he was bad and he knew it.

The more Roy thought about this the better it seemed, and he thought to himself, “If Jesus likes Roy, then Roy likes Jesus.” He thought, “The other children don’t like me, the teachers don’t like me, the nurses don’t like me, nor the doctor; my own father doesn’t like me, and yet Jesus likes Roy. Roy does like Jesus, Roy will just do all he can to please Jesus.”

It was not very long after this that the nurse said one day, “Roy has been such a much better boy lately, that if you don’t mind, he may go in to Sunday school again.” Well, you may be sure I didn’t mind that, and it was a real pleasure to have him there listening so quietly, and drinking in all he could about the only One in all the world who “liked” him.

A few months after this, the children were saying their verses, and also giving the chapter and verse in the Bible where they could be found, when suddenly a little voice asked, “Where is Roy’s verse?”

I knew well what the child meant, but to see if he remembered the words, asked, “What is Roy’s verse?”

“O! don’t you remember, you know, Roy’s verse. Jesus likes Roy.”

I hardly knew what to say, for you know there is no verse in the Bible with those words in it, and yet I could not bear to think of letting the little boy think it was not true, so I said, “Roy, your verse is in Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20.” I thought Roy would be satisfied with this, but no, the next question was, “Let Roy see.” Well, I thought, he can’t read, so I will just show him the place in the Bible, so I found the place and gave him the Bible in his own hands, and went on talking to the other children, rather glad that at last Roy was satisfied; I had forgotten all about the little child, when suddenly I was interrupted with the question,

“Where’s the R? ‘Where’s the R?” “What R?” I asked,

“The R. Where’s the R? the R for Roy. Where’s the R?” I suddenly realized what the child meant, someone had taught him the letter R., and told him that stood for Roy, and he had been hunting for the R for Roy in Galatians 2:20. I felt stuck. What could I say to the child? At last I said,

“Roy, it doesn’t say anywhere in the Bible, ‘Jesus likes Roy,’ but in Galatians 2:20, it does say, ‘The Son of God,’ and that means Jesus, ‘loved me,’ and that means Roy. Suppose it did say, ‘Jesus likes Roy,’ you would never know for sure that it meant you, for there are other boys called Roy, who are much better boys than you, and you would be sure to think, ‘O! that doesn’t mean me, it must mean someone else,’ but when it says, ‘The Son of God loved me’ then it can’t mean anyone else, but just your own self.” Roy listened so hard, and at last’ said, “O! I see. Yes that’s much, better, it must mean me,” and then little Roy learned his verse over again, with a little more on the end, and he never wearied of hearing and telling that “THE SON OF GOD.... LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” To Roy this was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard, and it changed his whole life, even at five years of age.

Many a time since then has “Roy’s verse” brought comfort to my own heart, when perhaps I was tempted to ask, “Carest Thou not?” and the thought, “Jesus likes me,” has come so sweetly. Now, dear child, have you ever found out yet that Jesus likes you? We get accustomed to the sweet old hymn, “Jesus loves me”, and we all admit that, but did you ever think, the Lord Jesus likes you, just as you are? Doesn’t it make you think to yourself, “I like Jesus?” Yes, “We love Him, because He first loved. us.”

May we each one, old and young, learn to know more of the sweetness of Roy’s precious new verse, “The Son of God.. loved me, and gave Himself for me,” and like him, may our whole life be changed by it.

Messages of God’s Love 5/29/1921

Bible Questions for June

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“But my God shall,” etc., Phil. 4:19.

“And whatsoever ye do,” etc. Col. 3:17.

“And let us not be,” etc. Gal. 6:9.

“And the Lord make,” etc. 1 Thess. 3:12.

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

“And be ye kind,” etc. Eph. 4:32.

“But ye brethren,” etc. 2 Thess. 3:13.

Bible Questions for June

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

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The crown of life.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Precious promises.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “More precious.”

Write in full the verge containing the words, “That which is good.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Receive him not.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The love of God.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “That we might live.”

Messages of God’s Love 6/5/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 27

A good many years have passed since the happenings of the twenty-sixth chapter.

Isaac was now and old man, for he must have been, at least 130 years old, and lie may have been 150. His twin sons were seventy years old or more. Esau we know was married, but Jacob was still single. Isaac’s eyes were already dim, so that he could not see, though he lived for more than twenty years after this, perhaps thirty or even more, but thinking he would soon (lie, or his mind would not remain clear, he thought of giving Esau his blessing, so he asked his favorite son to go hunting, and bring him some of the “venison” he loved, that having eaten it, he might bless him.

Did Isaac forget that God had said, before the boys were born, (Gen. 25:23) that the elder (Esau) should serve the younger (Jacob)? And did he know of Esau’s parting with his rights, as the older son, to Jacob in return for a dish of lentils?

Rebekah had evidently been listening when Isaac spoke to Esau, and she thought at once that some way must be found to have Jacob get the blessing. She doesn’t seem to have thought of asking God about it, though He could easily have kept Isaac from giving the best blessing to Esau. He could, for example, have made Isaac cross his hands while blessing his two sons, in the way Jacob did while blessing Joseph’s two sons, in a later chapter in Genesis.

Though Rebekah surely trusted in God, she now made a plan, and presently told it to Jacob, which meant that the old blind father should be deceived into ‘giving his younger son the blessing he would think he was giving to Esau. Isaac with his “venison”, and Rebekah in shameful deceit, don’t seem a very godly couple, do they? But as we have seen before, and if we are privileged to go. on together through God’s Word, we shall see again that “God is not mocked.” Isaac was made to feel-that he was going against God, and to please himself, and Rebekah had to part from her favorite son Jacob, never to see him again. Jacob, too, suffered, for he had to go away from home for more than twenty years, and be deceived himself, and suffer wrong after wrong. But I am getting ahead of the story. Jacob, at his mother’s bidding, killed two fine young goats of the flock, and brought them to his mother, and she fixed up an imitation of her husband’s “venison”, and she sent Jacob in to his father with it, after dressing him in some of .Esau’s clothes, and trying to imitate Esau’s hairy skin by putting the goat skin on his hand and neck. One lie followed another, as Jacob talked with his father, who was suspicious that the man who stood beside ‘him was not Esau. Finally Isaac seemed to be satisfied, and went on to give him the blessing he meant for Esau, but which God meant should be spoken of Jacob.

There is no doubt that God gave Isaac the words to say, and if we turn to the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 20, we find that God has there recorded that Isaac’s blessing was “by faith.” What Isaac said in verses 28 and 29 of our chapter in Genesis, was partly true long. ago, and it will all be made good when God brings the people of Israel into their land again, as He has said He will.

Scarcely had Jacob gone out of his father’s presence, when in came Esau., who quickly went to Isaac with the “savory meat” he had been asked for. Now the deception which Rebekah had planned, and Jacob had carried out, became known to Isaac who “trembled very exceedingly.” (ver. 33) He was startled as it came into his mind that he had been trying to do the opposite of what God meant should be done. Jacob received the blessing Isaac had meant for Esau, and God had meant that it should be so, though the way it was brought about was wrong, of course; so the thoroughly awakened Isaac now said of Jacob, “I have blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed.”

But because of the wrong done to Esau by his mother and brother in their deceitfulness, Esau received a blessing that told of some trouble for Jacob later (ver. 40). This was according to God’s ways, as we have noticed already, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,” and the actual breaking of Jacob’s yoke from Esau’s neck is told us in 2 Chron. 21:S-10, though other books—Obadiah 18-21, and 9:12 tell of a day when Esau’s nation, the Edomites, shall come under God’s hand in judgment, and their lands be given to Israel, while Jacob’s nation, the Israelites, will be restored and blessed.

Esau must have felt very bitter towards Jacob after this, and we read that he said that when their father died, he would kill Jacob. Rebekah heard of it, and told Jacob that lie would have to go to her brother Laban’s house at Haran for a while, until Esau was over his angry feelings, then she would send for him and bring him back home. She also persuaded Isaac to send Jacob away, as our chapter closes.

Messages of God’s Love 6/5/1921

Meet Me in Heaven

It is a sorrowful task for a mother to write the particulars of the last days on earth of a beloved daughter, but it is a privilege, and a duty which I owe to my precious Saviour, and I earnestly pray that the account of her death may be, in the hands of God, the giving of life to some young reader.

My dear daughter left us to spend a week in a village about five miles from her home, and left in good health, and with a joyous spirit. But she was soon seized with a very serious illness, and on her return said she felt very ill indeed, and asked me if I thought she would get better.

“I think not, dear,” was my sorrowful reply, ‘adding, “I believe it is the Lord’s will to take you to be with Himself.”

Then she replied, “O, I’m so glad,” adding, “I could not stay with you and go to Jesus, too, and I would rather go! Mother,” she said, “I have been one of God’s children since Mr.——was here. I wanted to tell you, but I have been such a coward; but the Lord will forgive me, I do so love Him!”

On another occasion she said, “If I do get better, I will work for Him, and tell all my friends of Jesus.” Several of her companions called to see, her, and she would not allow one of them to leave until she had asked if she would meet her in heaven.

One of them replied, “I hope to do so.” “O, don’t say, hope; do come!” was the answer.

Every day found her weaker and weaker in body, but brighter and brighter in soul. She called her brother and her sisters near her, and, putting her arms around the neck of each one, gave a parting kiss, asking each one to meet her in heaven.

Her father, amidst tears and sobs, asked if there was anything she would like.

She answered, “Speak to Jesus for me!”

All knelt down; and, while her father prayed at the throne of grace, she pressed his hand each time the name of Jesus was mentioned.

A few more hours passed away, and then her spirit took its flight to the presence of her Saviour.

My young readers, you may be called suddenly out of time into eternity, and should it be even today—this hour, would you be ready? I end with my darling child’s words, “Meet me in heaven.”

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

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Eccles. 12:1.

Messages of God’s Love 6/5/1921

Passing Pleasures

WITH delight and surprise the little children are looking into the store at all the pretty toys, but the older people pass on along the street, and pay no attention to these things. The toys are nothing to them anymore, and they rush on with other thoughts and desires, to find out later on, that all the things in this world can never satisfy the heart. The Scripture therefore says,

“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. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

“INCLINE YOUR EAR, AND COME UNTO ME: HEAR AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE.”

“I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” Isa. 55:1-3.

This is the only way to be satisfied, to be at rest about our sins, to have peace in our souls, and real joy in our hearts.

The Lord Jesus is the One to come to. He is the One who alone can give the water that will be a well of water springing up into eternal life. Then there is no more thirsting after the poor things of the world.

Have you come to Him, dear reader? If not, come now, and know your sins forgiven, and what it is to be at peace with God, and to have Him as your Father.

Messages of God’s Love 6/5/1921

I Love to Sing of Jesus

I love to sing of Jesus,

The story all so true;

To me most sweet and precious,

The old but ever new.

He came from brightest glory,

From radiant courts on high;

How matchless is the story

Of Him who came to die!

The babe in Bethlehem’s manger,

The lowly One on earth;

Rejected, and a stranger,

Few-cared to know His worth.

My soul would now recall Him,

In all His perfect love;

Which only Calvary’s victim,

Its wondrous depth could prove.

‘Twas there my Saviour suffered,

And tasted death for me;

Yes, there the work He finished.

That sets me ever free.

My sins all laid upon Him,

The wrath and judgment borne;

The power of Satan broken

In Jesus’ death of scorn.

And now the Lord is risen,

His travail ever o’er;

Seated in highest heaven,

Alive; to die no more.

And soon He’s coming for me,

To take me home above,

Where still I’ll sing the story

Of Jesus and His love.

Messages of God’s Love 6/5/1921

Pasture by the Sea

IT is not often that such beautiful green pasture is found so near to the sea shore as we have before us, but God provides wonderfully for His creatures in one way or another, and what we have to do is just take the proper advantage of what God has given to us.

We do not think anything of it when one sees man or woman taking advantage of beautiful pasture for their cattle wherever they can find. it, for if they did. not, we would think them very stupid.

God has given them understanding, and eyes to see. Indeed, if the cattle were left to wander, they would find the green pasture for themselves. When they are led to the pasture and cared for, they very soon learn who is their owner or master. They seem to have enough sense to know by whom they are cared for and protected and fed.

Strange it is, that many people take all they can get, and yet never seem to realize that God is the One who is supplying all their needs. They are just like what God said about His people Israel.

“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, My people ‘cloth not consider.” Isa. 1:3.

How sad it is when some say they don’t know God. When they sit down to their meal, they do not thank God for it; they forget that God is the giver, and they just eat it up as if they had a right to it. May we recognize God in all our ways, and thank Him, for He is the One who supplies all our needs.

“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 6/12/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 28

Isaac blessed his son Jacob; and sent him away, as Rebekah wished, to her old home, telling him to find a wife there among his cousins.

Though an old man, and not having been as faithful to God as his father, yet Isaac’s thoughts were on the promises, and on God, whose word has never been broken.

Four verses are enough now to tell of Esau, until Jacob meets him as he returns from his wandering. Esau did not know or care about God. Jacob, though not a very lovable man, did have God in his thoughts. He might seem no better than Esau at times, because Jacob’s heart, and Esau’s, and everyone’s else were, and are just alike, but Jacob was “born again,” (John 3) and in due time we see in his ways that he was one of God’s children.

There was not much to tell about Esau, whose ways were unchanged to the end, but there is much for us to learn in reading of Jacob’s life, and God has given us eight or nine chapters in Genesis about him that we can study, and get good from. We can trace out on a map of Palestine part of Jacob’s route as he traveled, on foot, no doubt, except where someone going his way might be kind enough to give him a ride on a donkey or a camel. Beersheba, where his home was, is a village even today. It is in the southern part of the Holy Land, as we have perhaps noted already, and from Beersheba Jacob went north, past where Abraham and Lot had lived before Lot went to live in Sodom, the city now under the water of the Dead Sea. \Vest of the northern end of that body of water, you will find Bethel on a map of Palestine, in Old Testament times. This is the place, called Luz at this time, where Jacob, the wanderer from his home, is seen in the 11TH verse, hunting for a stone for a pillow for his head, to lie down to sleep, for it was getting dark. All alone, with no friend or relative near, to cheer h;ro, Jacob falls asleep, but God’s eyes were upon him, and presently he dreams. In his dream, Jacob saw a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were going up and down the ladder. God stood above it, and spoke to him so kindly, repeating his promise to Abraham and Isaac, of the land and of the great nation that his children, and children’s children should afterwards become, and closing with those encouraging words of the 15th verse,—shall we read them again? Notice how in all that Jacob heard God say, it was what He had promised to do, without any conditions whatever.

“Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee, . . . and will bring thee again into this land; I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” These were God’s promises, and He was true to His word.

Jacob waking up from his sleep, and afraid, said, “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

He rose up early, and set up, as a pillar or monument, the stone he had used for a pillow, and poured oil on the top of it, and then he called the place, “Bethel,” which means the house of God. Last of all, Jacob made a promise to God that if He would be with him, keep him safely, and give him food and clothes, so that he should be brought safely home again, when his wanderings were over, then God should be his God, and he would give Him one tenth of all God should let him have. He wanted to bargain with God in spite of God’s promises, which had no “if” in them.

Dear children, see if you can count how many things God promised this poor wanderer in the three verses, 13 to 15. I can count seven, easily, and all were Jacob’s, because God loves to give. Jacob could not pay Him back, but he seemed to have thought he could and have would almost think that Jacob had not been attentive when God was speaking, that he should think of saying, If God will take care of me, and see me safely home again, (he was, I suppose, thinking of Esau) I will have Him for my God. God had promised far more than what Jacob said in his vow, and I wonder if Jacob ever kept his part of it—if he ever gave back one-tenth part of all he received? God does the saving of our souls (Romans 5:S, 9), and whatever there is in us who are saved that pleases Him, is His doing, too, (Philippians 2:13). Soon it will be to live together with the Lord Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:10).

Dear young reader, are you saved? When His shout is heard, (1 Thess. 4:16, 17) will you be caught up? It all depends in whom you are trusting.

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20.

Messages of God’s Love 6/12/1921

A Lost Lamb, Sought, Found and Set Free

WE were on a visit to a friend, a farmer, on the banks of a river, about seven miles from the city. One morning at his desire, we went to the field to count the sheep and lambs. The lambs, we may say, were nearly full-grown.

We were sorry to find that one lamb was missing in the count. Close search was therefore at once made at the pools; open ditches and other dangerous places, and the stray lamb was at last found caught among the thorns and briars of the hedge, and a good deal out of sight.

It was most interesting to see that when set free it scampered off across the field to its own company, where it was evidently very happy, and its companions seemed not less pleased to see their young friend liberated and with them again. We noticed, too, that where this poor lost creature was found, it had eaten every particle of green food within its reach, and it must have soon perished of hunger, if it had remained there much longer.

God looks upon everyone who has not been found and set free by the loving Shepherd of our souls, as still lost and bound with Satan’s thorns and briars. The Lord Jesus, as you know, in love and grace “came to seek and to save that which was lost,” and “died the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”

Dear young reader, have you yet really known yourself lost, found, freed and have you reached your own company? “If the Son . . . shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

How delighted God’s dear children always are to see others saved and brought to be ‘with them. _Love likes company and heaven is full of it. “There is joy in the presence of the ,angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

Jesus seeks, saves and satisfies forever and He only can. Then, dear one, make quite sure of your heavenly portion and enjoy it on- the road with the Lord’s beloved people! You cannot regret it!

The Shepherd sought the sheep,

The sheep that went astray;

He followed me o’er vale and hill,

Along the weary way.

He found me nigh to death,

Famished and faint and lone;

He drew me with the cords of love,

He saved the wandering one.

He brought me to His flock,

Beneath His rod to pass,

He led me by the crystal spring,

To eat the tender grass,

There, with His sheep redeemed,

I know His watchful care,

I rest encircled by His love,

And none can harm me there.

“I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:11.

Messages of God’s Love 6/12/1921

Clean Every Whit

I could not wrap my guilty soul

In any robe of mine;

Since naught can make me fit for God

But righteousness divine.

No other covering would do

For that most fearful day,

Which all our wretched, filthy rags,

Will sweep like chaff away.

But if I learn, by precious faith,

What Christ to me is made,

To stand before the throne of God

I shall not be afraid.

For pure and white, without a spot,

The washed one there is seen,

As much as if he never had

In filthy garments been.

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

Messages of God’s Love 6/12/1921

Let the Little Ones Come Unto Me

How blessed to “read that sweet story of old

When Jesus was here among men,

When He called little children as lambs to His fold”—

How precious to hear His voice then!

The children would flock to His tender embrace,

And blessing was poured on their head;

The sick were made whole, the sorrowers soothed,

And others He raised from the dead.

Wherever He trod He made sorrow to flee,

He healed both the lame and the blind,

And then little children He took in His arms—

None, surely, was ever so kind!

Yes, Jesus shed blessing wherever He trod,

And called all the weary to rest,

And all who came to Him He never cast out,

But made them so happy and blest.

He had come in compassion the lost ones to seek,

When He saw them all ruined by sin,

For He knew it was only His own precious blood

That could make the poor guilty ones clean.

He came to redeem us, and had He not died

Our sins could be ne’er washed away;

All finished His work, He arose from the dead,

But not in this world could He stay—

God set Him in glory, and Jesus we see

Made higher than heavens above,

And there we can tell Him our sins and our cares,

And bring every want to His love.

For Christ is the same as He ever was here,

When He healed both the lame and the blind,

As gracious and tender, though glorious on high,

As loving, as gentle and kind.

O! have you believed in His most precious blood

Which was shed upon Calvary’s tree?

When, instead of the sinner, Christ suffered for sin—

God sent Him our Saviour to be.

Now Jesus the Saviour is coming again

To fetch all His loved ones away,

And take them to dwell in His own home above,

That with Him they ever may stay!

But what of the children who keep far away,

And Jesus refuse, and His Word?

How awful to find in that soon coming day,

They are all left behind by the Lord!

For none enter heaven defiled by sin,

And mercy’s day then will be past

O, hasten to Jesus while yet there is room,

Lest you find yourself shut out at last!

Yes—shut out from Jesus, from heaven, and from God,

Hell only your portion to be;

But now Christ is calling in accents of love,

“Let the little ones come unto Me.”

O! join then His lambs who are waiting for Him

When He in the air shall descend;

Let us welcome our Saviour, our Lord and our God,

Whose love never, never will end!

Messages of God’s Love 6/12/1921

At The Well

The thirsty ones love to go where they can get a refreshing drink, whether man or beast.

It may be that we can get plenty of water to drink, and vet we may thirst for other things. We may want or thirst for the pleasures of this world, and think that they will satisfy, but only to find out later that there is nothing in this world which can bring satisfaction to our hearts; so the Scripture says, “Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isa. 55:1.

That word “Ho” was well understood by the travelers in the desert. They would go out in companies in search of water, and each one would go at a different angle and when one would find water, he would call to his right and then to his left, “Ho”, and the one who would be nearest to him would hear the call, and he would turn to the next one, and call, “Ho,” and soon everyone in the camp would hear that word, and would rejoice. for they knew then that water had been found.

We who are Christians can call to all who have not yet found Christ as their Saviour, and say, “Ho.” That means we have found that which satisfies the heart.

The Lord Jesus has said,

“IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME, AND DRINK.” John 7;37

We have found Him, and that not only as our Saviour, but as the satisfying portion for our hearts, and therefore we invite others to come to Him.

Have you come to Him, dear reader? If not, come now, and you shall be saved and satisfied.

“Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear and your soul shall live.” Isa. 55:3.

Messages of God’s Love 6/19/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 29-30

Leaving Bethel, the place where God had appeared to him in his dream, Jacob went on his lonely way to Haran, and it is there, or close to the place that we next find him. There was a well in a field, and three flocks of sheep were lying beside it, but a large stone blocked the way to the water. Jacob talked with the shepherds and found out that they were from Haran and knew his uncle Laban, and that Laban’s daughter, his own cousin, Rachel, was even then bringing her flock of sheep to the well. All this was good news to the wanderer from his father’s home. While he was speaking to the shepherds about watering their sheep, Rachel came, and Jacob rolled the stone away and got water for her sheep. He told Rachel he was her aunt Rebekah’s son. I suppose that Jacob’s crying as he spoke to his cousin was because he was thinking of his having had to leave his home, and why it was so, may have been in his thoughts too.

Rachel ran home to tell her folks of Jacob’s coming, and Laban came out quickly to greet his nephew, and bring him to the house. When Abraham’s servant had been there in the days when La-ban was very young, he could tell of his master’s riches, his flocks and his herds, but when Isaac’s son Jacob, came as a visitor, he was poor, having nothing, and an outcast from home.

A month passed, and’ as Jacob was in no hurry to go home—we know why, but perhaps Laban did not, unless the end of the thirteenth verse means that Jacob told of his deceiving his father, which I doubt. Laban said because he was a relative of his, why should he work for him without pay? And he asked him what wages he wanted.

Already Jacob had set his mind on marrying Rachel, and she was beautiful. There was an older sister, Leah, who had weak or sore eyes, but he didn’t care for her. So Jacob said he would work for Laban for seven years if he would give him Rachel for his wife, and Laban agreed to this, but when the seven years were over he deceived Jacob, and gave him the older sister instead of the younger.

This was paying Jacob in his own kind of money, wasn’t it? Yes, “God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7), as we have noticed before. Did Jacob think of that at this time? I think he must have he was many miles from the home where he had acted so shamefully, but his conscience, that still, small voice in his breast, told him of his sin.

Laban gave Jacob Rachel, also, but he had to work another seven years for her. When God saw that Jacob hated Leah, He did not give the loved wife any children, but gave Leah four baby boys. These boys were Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. After them came Dan and Naphtali, whose mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant. Two more boys, Gad and Asher, were born to Zilpah, Leah’s servant. Then Leah got two boys again, Issachar and Zebulun, and a baby girl, Dinah. Long had Rachel been praying to God for a baby of her own, but there were eleven other children in the family before she had one. But that one was to be the chief of them all; this was Joseph, of whom we shall, if the Lord will, soon be reacting. Rachel didn’t forget, as some do, when their prayers are answered, to thank God for the answer. She knew who it was that had heard her prayers, and she said, “God hath taken away my reproach,” for she had felt very sad to not have a baby of her very own to clasp in her arms; and she felt sure God would give her another one too. He did, but that belongs to the next chapter.

When Joseph was born, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away that I may go to my own place, and to my own country,” but Laban wanted to keep him. No doubt Jacob was a good worker, but it was not that only, for Laban had only a few animals when his nephew had come to live with and work for him, and by this time he had very many, so he said to Jacob (verse 27), “I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.” So they made a bargain that Jacob should take as his pay the odd looking cows, sheep and goats—the speckled and spotted cattle and goats, and the brown sheep—all the rest should be La-ban’s. So the flocks were divided, and Jacob’s older boys took his animals three days’ journey away, while Jacob himself looked after Laban’s flocks.

Jacob now set to work to get the best of his uncle, but it was only God that made the last verse of this chapter come true: “And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid-servants, and men-servants, and camels, and asses.” But God was not finished with Jacob yet. He was watching over him, and giving him lessons to learn that were harder than any he had at school—if they had schools in those days!

Messages of God’s Love 6/19/1921

The Bridge

YOU cannot pass over without paying,” a man cried out, who was sitting in a small house close to the entrance of the bridge. “No one can cross over without paying.”

“But we have no money!”

“Well, children, I can’t help that. The ordinance forbids anyone passing over without paying.”

“But we want to go home.”

“Give, then, your pennies.”

“We have no pennies.—Must we stay here all night?

“O! what will our parents say?” and the children began to cry.

A man, who also wanted to cross the bridge, went to the little house, laid down his money, and took some steps forward, when he noticed the weeping children.

He stood still, spoke kindly to them, and was soon made acquainted with the cause of their tears.

He sat down next to them, and asked them: “My little friends, do you know the way to heaven?”

“The way to heaven!” they answered in astonishment.

“Yes.”

“The way to heaven! Well, sir, is that not prayer?” said one of them.

“Prayer?’ But when you asked the bridge-keeper to let you pass over the bridge, did he allow you?”

“No, for we are still here. Then perhaps it is tears?”

“But it seems to me, that you are weeping, and have your tears opened the gate of the bridge for you?”

“No, sir! but our asking, and our tears are still a proof that we want to cross the bridge and go home!”

“That’s true, but you are still at this side. What is necessary for you to get to the other side?”

“Well, sir, to pay the money.”

“And can’t you do that?”

“We haven’t a cent!”

“So you need somebody who will pay it instead of you.”

“O! sir, could you not do it?”

“Yes, my little friends, I could do it.

But it must be somebody who will do it.”

“O! you will too, won’t you, sir?”

“Yes, dear children, I can do it, and I will do it.”

The gentleman went back to the little house and paid for the children, who joyfully went over the bridge with him, thanking him again and again.

“Listen, my little friends!” said he, when they got to the other side, “you haven’t told me yet, what the way to heaven is.”

“O! yes, that’s true, sir, we forgot all about it.”

“And yet,” said one of them, a little boy, “it is something we ought to know. I should like to know the way.”

“O,” said the other, “didn’t Jesus say: I am the way?”

“Yes, my child! So you kn6w the way, but are you walking in it? Just now you knew the way home. but you didn’t get there.”

“O, because the barrier was closed.” “And what is the barrier that shuts out heaven from us?”

“Our sins, I think.”

“Yes, our sins; we have, through our sins, a large debt towards God, and we have nothing to pay. How is the Lord Jesus the way to heaven for us? What has He done for us?”

“He gave up His life,” said one of the boys.

“He died for us,” said another.

“He was crucified for sinners,” added a third.

“Are you then pardoned?”

“O, I don’t know about that,” said one of the children.

“You don’t know? But how can you believe that Jesus died for sinners, and you who are a sinner, do not believe, that He died for you, and opened the way to heaven. for you?”

“You mean, sir, that in the same way that you paid for us, so that we might pass over the bridge, so also We can go to heaven, because Jesus died for sinners?”

“Exactly so.”

“O! sir, what a happy thing!”

“Do you then believe that I paid for you?”

“But we saw it, the gate was opened, and we passed through it.”

“Well, now, my child, if you, through faith, look to Jesus, who died on the cross to pay our debt to God and to open the barrier that shut us out from heaven, then you are saved. The one, that through faith understands this truth, has the forgiveness of his sifts, great and many though they be; he is then cleansed’ by the blood of Jesus, and the way to heaven is open to him.”

“O, sir! how happy I am to ‘know this.”

“Is that so, in little friend? Then I hope, that from this day forth you will live for Him, who loved you so.”

“O! sir, how fortunate that you came here, and that you were so good as to tell us all this. Many thanks!”

The children went joyfully on their way.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8.

Messages of God’s Love 6/19/1921

The Bible

The Bible! the Bible! more precious than gold;

The hopes and the glories its pages unfold!

It speaks of a Saviour, and tells of His love;

It shows us the way to the mansions above.

The Bible! the Bible! blest volume of truth,

How sweetly it smiles on the season of youth!

It bids us seek early the Saviour so kind.

Who came down from heaven, the lost ones to find.

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

Its truths and its glories our tongues shalt employ;

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

And send its glad tidings afar o’er the earth.

Messages of God’s Love 6/19/1921

A Plot

WHAT do you think these children are up to? One seems to be wanting to go and torment the big boy that has gone fast asleep leaning against the tree, and the other wants them to go and hide down in the cave, so that when he wakes up he will wonder where they have disappeared to. Just like children, up to some mischief and fun, though generally very harmless; but as they grow older their mischief often turns to harmful pleasure. That is, it is harmful to the one the joke is played upon, and strange to say that it should give pleasure to the one who plays the joke. Such is. human nature and it shows itself in early age. It is not in the human race to love our neighbors as ourselves, nevertheless, that is the word God gave to His people Israel.

“THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.” Lev. 19:18

The law was not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and disobedient, etc.

The law is a rule of right and wrong, and is a sword for the conscience. Christian ground is higher, and is with grace, and therefore calls on us to show to others the grace which the Lord Jesus has shown to us. He has said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Then He wants us to forgive one another when we have suffered a wrong. Do you know what it is to have your sins forgiven?

Messages of God’s Love 6/26/1921

A Watch

HOW different are the means used by one and another to spread the glad tidings, and words of warning to the unsaved.

A friend of mine whose watch was out of repair, left it at a country watchmaker’s to be put right. On opening the case, the watchmaker found neatly pasted on the inside of the cover the following message:

“Come, sinner, timely warning catch

From this small instrument, a ‘watch,’

That life is brittle as the glass,

That all thy springs are very frail;

Apt to vary; prone to fail.

That all thy movements soon may stand, ‘

Till touched by the Great Maker’s hand.”

He had already, through God’s mercy, to him, realized the truth of it, and had turned to the Saviour for refuge, and found in Him the True spring of life and blessing; and now, come what may, nothing can touch or alter in any way the joys that are found in Christ.

Dear children, take heed to the warnings you hear; remember that our lives are indeed as “brittle as the glass.” Very little seems to end this poor, frail life; but God knows all this, “He remembers we are but dust,” and has provided such a loving, tender, sympathizing Saviour for us to put our trust in, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died that we might live eternally with Him. It is His precious blood that cleanseth from all sin.

“What is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.’ “ James 4:14-15.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psa. 90:12.

Messages of God’s Love 6/26/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 31

Laban’s sons’ words in the first verse, and Laban’s own face in the second, showed Jacob that his uncle’s house was not the home of friends any more. They were jealous of him because he had increased so much in herds and flocks, and Laban’s animals were not nearly so many by this time as they had been. There is only one Friend that never changes; that is Jesus, God’s beloved Son. In the Epistle, to the Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 8, we read about Him that He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” How good it is to know Him, and put all our trust in Him. He is my best, my truest Friend. Is He yours too? He is the One about whom the hymn was written which says,

“Earthly friends may fail or leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve us,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us,

O, how He loves!”

But now God said to Jacob to go back to the promised land, and to his father’s home, and “I will be with thee.” So Jacob sent and called his two wives to come out to the field to talk with him, and there he told them what God had said. “The God of my father hath been with me,” said Jacob to Rachel and Leah, “and ye know that with all my power I have served your father. And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times, but God suffered him not to hurt me.... God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.” And Rachel and Leah answered, complaining about their father, and telling Jacob to do whatever God hath said to him.

So, secretly, for Jacob’s trust in God was not very great, and he was afraid of Laban, Jacob got camels ready and put his twelve children and his wives on them, and started away from Padan Aram for home, with all the cattle and all the goods that he had. Laban was away seeing about the shearing of the wool from his sheep, and did not know anything about Jacob’s leaving until the third day. Then he took his “brethren” with him, and went after Jacob for seven days until he caught up with him in Mount Gilead. The land of Gilead was the name of the country east of the Jordan from about the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, so I suppose Jacob and his family were by this time about half way home.

No doubt Laban would have been very mean to Jacob, because God, who knows every human heart, and had undertaken to see Jacob safely home, spoke to Laban in a dream as he slept the night before the two men met in Mount Gilead. “Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.” No mother ever watches over her children as God watches over and takes care of those who receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. God was training Jacob, and letting him have a good deal of trouble in order to make him trust, and let God lead him, but He would not let any one harm Jacob, for he was one of the children of God by faith.

When Laban got to talking with Jacob about his going away (verse 26 to 30) he tried to make his nephew think that he would have made a big feast and had music and a good time if he had .known that he wanted to leave his service, but Jacob evidently didn’t believe what he said. Laban said too that the reason Jacob was going away was that he was very homesick for his father’s house, but Laban couldn’t have really thought so for he must have had a conscience about his mean ways with Jacob. What perhaps worried Laban the most, though, was that the stone or metal images he had, for he was an idolater, had been stolen.

The nineteenth verse tells us who had taken them, for I am afraid that Rachel prayed to idols still, although she had been Jacob’s wife for thirteen years. Surely she knew the true God, but I think that her early life, having been spent without knowing about Him and His love to us, poor lost sinners, had left a deep impression on her heart.

O, boys and girls, come to Jesus now, while you are young. Don’t delay a moment! The Lord Jesus wants to be your Saviour, wants you to know His love, that He died for you, and He wants to have you with Himself, and made like Himself, in His own glorious home in the sky.

Because Rachel had hidden the images under the saddle of her camel, and sat on them in her tent, telling her father when he came in where she was that she was sick, and couldn’t get up, Laban never found his gods. Of course Jacob could not have known that, Rachel had brought Laban’s gods with her, and had them in her tent, when he spoke to his father-in-law again. He wanted to know what his sin was that caused his father-in-law to so hotly pursue after him, and after he had searched all his stuff there was nothing found. Then he went on to tell Laban how long, and how faithfully he had worked for him, while Laban had treated him hardly, and changed his wages ten times in six years, trying to get the best of him. No doubt it was true that Laban would have robbed Jacob of everything he had earned, and Jacob told him that it was only God that had kept him from doing that very thing.

Laban could not answer Jacob’s true words, except to say that Jacob’s wives were his daughters, their children were his grandchildren, and all the animals were his, but what could he do? “Now let us make a covenant.” So they made a sort of treaty of peace, each promising the other that he would not pass the heap of stones they made there on the road to do harm to the other, and the next morning Laban said goodbye, and went back to his home.

Messages of God’s Love 6/26/1921

The Obedient Child

SOME days ago I passed a school. It was just twelve o’clock. The school was out, and the children ran from all sides to the playground. I need not tell my little readers, what happens then, how they run around, laughing and shouting, springing and jumping. Among the playing boys I noticed two who were holding a third by the collar and were dragging him along unmercifully. The poor boy was crying and trying hard to get loose. As soon as the two big boys saw me, they let him go, ‘fearing perhaps that I would tell their parents. The little fellow dried his eyes, and looked at me in a friendly way, as if he wished to thank me for coming.

“The boys were very rough with you,” I said to him, but how surprised I was, when he answered:

“My parents tell me to come directly from school. But the boys always tease and make fun of me, because I will not play with them in the street, and they laughed and mocked at me so, because I said, “It is written in the Bible that we must obey our parents in the Lord.”

“Don’t you like to play with the children?” I asked.

“O, yes, very much,” he answered, “but I don’t want to be disobedient. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He obeyed His parents in everything.”

“Do you know then, where that is written?”

“I don’t know the chapter exactly; but in the gospel of Luke I think, it is written —that Jesus was subject to his parents. I heard this some months ago at Sunday school, and since then I ask the Lord every day to make me obedient like my blessed Saviour.”

Again I asked him, “Do you know nothing more about the Lord Jesus, except that He was subject to His parents?”

“O yes,” answered my little friend with a bright expression, “He is the Son of God and came on this earth to save sinners; He gave His life for them.”

“But,” said I, “you are still very young; have you then sinned?

“I have sinned a great deal, and often been disobedient, but the Lord Jesus has forgiven me my sins. He shed His blood for me, and now I want to obey Him, for it is written—`Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Eph. 6:1.

“You are quite right, my dear boy, I hope that through, the grace of God you will go on obeying the Lord and your parents; and whenever your comrades mock you and try to hinder you, trust always in the Lord Jesus. He will be ever near you and ready to help.” I then gave him some tracts and children’s books with which he was pleased, and shaking hands we parted.

Dear reader, I have related this simple incident in order to show you, how the grace of God can work in the heart of a boy of ten years. Do you too, know what it is to be obedient to your parents in the Lord? If you believe in the Lord Jesus and love Him, you will know it, otherwise not. Those who do not believe in Him, who are not born again, obey only for fear of punishment. Come to Him, He will save you!

Messages of God’s Love 6/26/1921

One Offer of Salvation

One offer of salvation

To all the world make known:

The only sure foundation

Is Christ the Corner-stone.

One only door of heaven

Stands open wide today;

One Sacrifice is given.

‘Tis Christ, “the living way.”

My only song and story

Is “Jesus died for me;”

My only hope of glory,

The cross of Calvary.

Messages of God’s Love 6/26/1921

Bible Questions for July

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“Hearing bf thy love,” etc. Philemon 5.

“And the servant of the,” 2 Tim. 2:24.

“Who being the,” etc. Hebrews 1:3.

“For there is one,” etc. 1 Tim. 2:5.

“How much more,” etc. Hebrews 9:14.

“Now the God of,” etc. Hebrews 13:20.

“Teaching us that,” etc. Titus 2:12,

Bible Questions for July

The Answers are to be found in Revelation.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Blessed is he.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Till I come.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Surely I come.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, ‘Every eye.”

Write in full the verse containing the-words, “Hold that fast.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “My reward is with me.”

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

Messages of God’s Love 7/3/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 32-33

Now Laban was gone, but Esau, the wronged brother, was yet to be met.

How kindly God sent his angels to meet Jacob, as though to welcome him back to Canaan, the promised land, and to remind him that God had never forgotten, and would always watch over him. Jacob ought to have before this prayed to God for help about meeting Esau, but if he did he kept on planning and worrying, instead of waiting in prayer for God to do what He would. He sent some of his servants on ahead to tell Esau, who lived in the South, that he was on his way back home from Laban’s country with flocks and herds, and men and women servants, and in his message to his brother, Jacob was very careful to say, “Thy servant Jacob,” and “My lord Esau,” for he was afraid; as he had a guilty feeling in his breast. And the messengers coming back with the alarming news that Esau was coming to meet Jacob, and bringing with him four hundred men, Jacob was now greatly afraid and distressed. He thought very likely that Esau was coming to kill him, or to do some other bad thing to him, and so he divided his party into two bands, thinking that if Esau came to the first one, the other would get away safely. But when he had done this with his flocks, Jacob was still as much afraid as ever, and so we find him in verses 9, 10, 11 and 12 praying to ,rod. And then set to work planning again, as though he could not depend on God. All the verses down to the twenty-first tell us about Jacob’s present for Esau, for he said he would make him forget his angry feeling with a present. No less than 550 animals, probably 580, did Jacob pick out of his possessions. and sent them on the road before him for his brother, to make him feel kindly towards him.

Evidently Jacob had intended to keep his family with himself on the north side of the little river Jabbok to which they had now come, but in the night he sent his wives arid children over to the south side. Then left alone, “a man” wrested with him until daylight. It was God who stood against Jacob in those dark hours of the night, and the reason was that poor Jacob needed to know and to trust God more. very much more, than he did.

We have seen all along about Jacob how he schemed and planned for himself, and seems to have given little of his time and thoughts to God. He did not know that his strong will needed breaking before he could be happy with God. At last the heavenly visitor touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh so that it got out of joint, and then Jacob asked for a blessing, struggling no longer against God. Now God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, a prince of God, the name means. But even then Jacob only said, when left alone, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved,”—but not a word of His goodness to him.

Now came Esau and his four hundred men, and seeing them coming, Jacob divided up his family, each mother having her children with her, with those he cared the least about first, I suppose; and certainly the one he loved the most,—Rachel —and her child, the little Joseph, last. Then he went ahead of them to meet Esau, and how polite he was,—bowing right down to the ground seven times until Ile came near to his brother. No doubt all this was done to make Esau feel kindly towards him, but Esau’s behavior to Jacob was as though he had forgotten all about the past, for he ran to meet Jacob and kissed him. Then he asked about all the animals he had met, and when Jacob told him they were for a present to him, Esau said he had enough, hut he finally took the animals home, when Jacob urged him to. Here again, though, I am sorry to say, Jacob showed his old bad ways, for he told Esau that he was so pleased to meet Esau, that it was like his seeing the face of God, which can’t have been true; it was only said for a purpose, though of course, Jacob was glad that his brother didn’t hate him as he had feared. Then to there was deceit in Jacob’s saying to Esau that he would follow him to his home at Mount Seir, for he didn’t mean to. Esau at last started back for his home, and Jacob followed along slowly, but presently stopped at a place called Succoth where he built a house and made shelters for his cattle. Next we find him across the Jordan, back again in the land of God’s promises to Abraham and Isaac and himself. He settled down at Shalem, a city of Shechem, buying a piece of land, and building an altar to God there. Jacob’s father and grandfather had always been like strangers in the country, never buying land except for a cemetery or building houses and Jacob was wrong, and we shall see what trouble it brought on him. He ought indeed to have gone on to Bethel, and to his father’s home at once, and he would then have missed the disgrace, and other things of the thirty-fourth chapter.

Well. it’s very easy to point out other folk’s mistakes, sometimes. A. servant of God once said, when talking about Jacob and his ways, as God has told of them in His word, “Did you ever see Jacob in the mirror?” He meant that we all easily forget how bad we are, for the old selfish and bad ways come out sometimes after we are saved, but we should not let them, should we?

Messages of God’s Love 7/3/1921

Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet

TEDDY, like many other boys, was willful and wayward, but he had Christian parents who brought him up in the fear of the Lord. At this time he had left school and gone out into the world, and you know clear boys and girls, that the world seems very attractive. Things look very nice to the eye, but God’s Word says it “lieth in the wicked one,” and therefore it is a sinful world.

Our young friend became very unhappy, and his sins pressed very heavily upon him. He thought of judgment; of having to do with God. This was the cause of all his uneasiness; but God had• His eye upon him.

For six long, weary months he went about trying to find satisfaction in the world and in himself, but it was not to be found in this way.

No, dear boys and girls, satisfaction and joy, salvation and rest, are-4o be found alone in One whose name is Jesus, and this our young friend had to prove. Trying to do better in the future was all in vain; the sins of youth, big sins and small sins, would come up before him like a giant mountain.

“God requireth that which is past.” Eccles. 3:15.

Just about this time a book was placed upon the table by his father, and being struck by the title of the book, which was, “Though our sins be as scarlet,” he took it up and read it.

This book was about a young man who was going, one Sunday evening, to enjoy himself at the house of some friends who were, like himself, bent upon the pleasures of the world. As this young man was hurrying along, the above named tract was put into his hand by a passer-by which was the means of his salvation, and God used it for our young friend’s salvation also.

Teddy was very fond of reading books that commenced with a story, and if it chanced to touch upon the subject of salvation he would put it down and read no more; but somehow the story was continued to the end, but interwoven along with it were the words which occurred several times over, “Though your sins be as scarlet.”

Night after night he went to bed but not to sleep. Over and over again the words kept ringing in his ears, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

At last, the night of decision came. The clock had struck eleven; Satan whispered. Time enough yet, wait till you get a little older. But God has said. Now He came down stairs and was met by his parents. who had been upon their knees, praying to God for him.

Our young friend burst into tears, saying. “I’m a great sinner.” To which his father replied, “Jesus is a great Saviour.”

He was told that the Lord Jesus had borne all his sins, and satisfied God on Calvary’s cross. He accepted Him as his Saviour, and since then has been rejoicing in Him and His finished work.

Let us take our Bibles, and read the whole verse, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

May those who read these lines follow our young friend’s example, and “Come now.”

O! say, if He should come to-night,

Would you in terror be,

Or would you lift your heads with joy T

he blessed Lord to see?

O! children, seek the Saviour now.

The Saviour full of love;

And when He comes He’ll take you up

To His bright home above.

Messages of God’s Love 7/3/1921

A Heavy Load

A HEAVY load is rather trying but when done with cheerfulness and pleasure, it seems to be lightened considerably. We see that difference in the boy and the girl as they come from the orchard carrying their dear little sister in the basket along with the apples.

The boy is evidently not so very well pleased about his burden, but the girl is carrying it with good will, and the is making a pleasure out of it.

I suppose they both took tip little sister in the basket with good will,. but the boy got tired of his job very soon, and the burden was too much for him.

The Scripture says

“A MERRY HEART MAKETH A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE, BUT BY SORROW OF THE HEART THE SPIRIT IS BROKEN.” Prov. 15:13

It is good to start out with a happy heart in all that we have to do, and the only way to have a happy heart is first to have the Lord Jesus as our own Saviour, then we shall be free from the burden of our sins; and the many burdens of our life will become much lighter to us, and we shall be!able to do whatever we have to do with cheerfulness, and we shall be ready to do some act of kindness to someone.

“Only an act of kindness

That you, little child, may show,

While seeking to please the Saviour.

And more like Himself to grow.

Only a feeble effort

To lighten the heavy load

Of some weary, way worn trav’ler,

While wending his toil-some road.”

Messages of God’s Love 7/3/1921

Naughty Kitties

WHAT have they done! They have gone where they had no business to be and one has even gone into the sewing box, but they do not know any better, so just have to be chased away from there, and be told to stay down on the floor, though they will not understand that either, for they really are not responsible.

With us it is very different, we are responsible for what we do, and we have to say to God about our life from the time we knew right and wrong till the end of our days.

The thing we have to answer about that as above all else is, what have we done with the Lord Jesus? We all have done one of two things with Him. We have either accepted Him. as our Saviour, or rejected Him. If we have rejected Him, what will’. He say to us when we stand before Him? He will have to say to us, “Depart from Me.” If we have accepted Him as our Saviour, then we shall spend eternity with Him, and be able to praise Him fully for all that He is, and for what. He has done for us.

“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

Which will your portion be?

Messages of God’s Love 7/10/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 34-35

The first thing I want you to notice about the thirty-fourth chapter is that God’s name is never mentioned in it. It is a story of the wicked human heart nearly all through. You remember we learned from chapter thirty-three that Jacob bought a piece of land, and in a way settled down to live near a little town, perhaps the first one he came to in the land of Canaan, which was not doing what God had told him to do. What a lot of trouble Jacob got into, and how much he displeased God by his doing his own way so much! Anyone but God would have been angry with him and ‘given up trying to help him. But God is not like us. He had thought of this “stiffnecked” Jacob before he was born, and was going. to take care of him all the days of his life and make him praise God for His love and kindness, which he didn’t deserve at all, once and again on the journey he was taking, (just. like we are taking one, you and I from babyhood to eternity), and then God was going to take Jacob at the end of his life straight to heaven itself, because Jacob, in spite of his self-will, believed God.

We shall first talk about a few of the verses of chapter 34. In verse one we learn that Dinah, the only girl in Jacob’s family, went out to get acquainted with the girls of the country round about her home. This was the second wrong step; Jacob, when he bought the farm, and took up his home in this place, had been untrue to the character God meant him to have, of being a stranger and keeping separate from the wicked world around him, which was soon to be judged and. punished by God, and when the father shows a bad example, the children may very likely go on in the same way. You know we are all examples to each other; when we do right, we, without knowing it, perhaps, are encouraging others to do right, and when we dci wrong, we are giving others who see us, encouragement to do the same. Jacob should have kept on his way, and not settled down among those godless people, and Dinah should not have made friends among enemies of God, and these two wrong steps led to great shame and sorrow. The people of the land too, seeing nothing. about Jacob and his family that differed very much from themselves came .around, and said, we would like to make marriage between your children and ours. Then we find two of Jacob’s sons deceiving as their father had done, and presently murdering all the men of the place, stealing their wives and children and all their property and destroying the. town; the other ‘ brothers, or at least the older ones, joining in the work. How dreadfully wicked all this was! And we can’t wonder at Jacob being very angry and very grieved, and afraid too, as we read what he said to his sons in the thirtieth verse. We wish though, that Jacob had thought about God, and the dishonor to Him, and confessed his own share in it, for he had not been walking with God like his grandfather and others had done.

A word from God Himself set Jacob right at the beginning of chapter 35. “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there:. and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” Bethel had been forgotten again; God or at least. ways that pleased Him, had been forgotten too, and these things came. into Jacob’s mind now very clearly. If he was going to obey God in going to the place He told him of, the family and the servants must change their ways,—things that Jacob knew about all along the way, as we may suppose. For he said to them, “Put away the strange gods that are among you, and clean, and change your garments: and let us rise, and go up to Bethel.” Jacob buried their images and their rings under a tree before the new start was made for Bethel and home. God in His mercy protecting them from the people around, whom He made afraid of Jacob and his sons, they got safely to Bethel, and there Jacob built an altar to which he gave the name of “God of the house of God,” because it was there that God had appeared to him when he was go-. ing away from home for fear of Esau’s killing him. Here Rebekah’s nurse died, and was buried. God again appeared to Jacob, and repeated to him his change of name from Jacob to Israel, telling him again of His promise that his children should be a great nation, and that the land of Canaan should be his and theirs.

On the way, the loved wife Rachel died as her second baby was born. She called him, “The son of my sorrow,” but her husband gave him a different name, “The son of my right hand” (Benjamin).

At last after another stop, and more sin and sadness in his family, Jacob came to his old father at Mamre, but Isaac died, and Esau came home to join Jacob in burying• him. Before this, Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother, had died.

How little of Quietness and happiness there was in Jacob’s life, and so much of his worry and sadness was due to his own self-will. If he had been like Abraham his grandfather, as we have seen was in most of his life, Jacob would have had far less trials and sorrows. It is best to please God in everything, best for both this world, and for eternity. First though we need to be saved.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 7/10/1921

A Good Lesson

WILLIE hurry! or else you will be late for Sunday-school,” said Emily one morning to her brother, who was making no preparation for going there.

“I am not very well, and I am not going out today,” answered the boy.

“But a walk in this beautiful .weather will do you good,” said his sister, who could not understand that Willie was sick, but thought to herself, that he wanted to stay away from the Sunday school for once.

“No, I am too tired,” declared Willie.

“But then I would advise you to speak to father about it, and ask if you may remain at home,” said Emily.

Willie, however, did not listen to his sister’s advice. He had made up his mind to remain at home, and preferred not to speak about it to his father. He was afraid of a rigid examination, by which it would come out that his so-called indisposition was not so bad as to remain at home for it.

Willie remained at home. When the whole family had gone to hear God’s Word, and a great silence reigned around him, it seemed to him that he heard the words; “You are a liar.” He did not hear them with his ears, and no one spoke them. God had spoken them through the boy’s conscience; and they were so insistent within him that he could hear his heart beating. Poor Willie!

Uneasily the boy walked through the room. He thought of the solemn things that he had heard of in the Sunday-school; he thought how other children were listening at that moment to their godly teacher, while he must remain in his room. He thought of how his father would reproach him, and of the judgment of God, to whose eye nothing is hidden, but everything is naked and open. Sadly he gazed out of his window. It was such lovely, glorious weather; the fields and meadows so green; the trees so rich in fruit and . giving abundant shade. No, he could no longer remain in the stuffy atmosphere of the little room!

When his glance fell on the cherry-tree in the neighboring meadow, 0! how much the more was he tempted to go out in the free, beautiful out-of-doors. His indisposition vanished in a moment. And just like a bird from its cage, the boy flew from the room.

But where to? How tempting the red cherries looked! They belonged to the neighbor, but he was at church; and a handful of cherries he would not miss. So thought Willie, and walked slowly to the fence. But where was the all-seeing eye of God? The boy thought of that, and the voice of his conscience said: “You are a thief!”

So it goes. If you give the devil a finger, he takes the whole hand. One sin follows another. If Willie had listened to the voice of his conscience, if he had confessed his sin to God, we would not see him now on the way to his neighbor’s cherry-tree. Why does he walk so slowly? Why does he look all around him? Why does he stand still now and then? Ah, that bad conscience! He knows very well, that he is on the wrong path; and the voice of his conscience is still whispering: “You are a thief!” But the beautiful cherries smiled at him in such a friendly way, as if they were saying: “Come to us!” And this voice had a much pleasanter sound to the boy’s covetous heart, than the voice of the holy God.

He went there; the tree was soon reached. A flock of sheep was grazing in the meadow, and when they saw him approaching, they came trustfully to him, perhaps hoping to get something from him. But when they saw their mistake, they stood at a little distance, watching every movement of the boy, who, as several branches of the tree hung very low, could pick the cherries with ease. But scarcely had he filled his pockets, when he got such a violent blow from behind, that he was thrown on one side and fell on the ground.

Imagine Willie’s fright! His bad conscience told him in the first place, that the blow of an invisible hand came as a punishment for his bad conduct, and for quite a time he dared not open his eyes. O, if he could only undo everything now When he didn’t get a second or a third blow, and everything was quiet around him, and when the fright and the pain allowed him to rise up, what do you think he saw standing next to him? The ram of the flock with his two powerful horns, who stared at him with great dignity. Nov he understood who it was that had punished him for his theft. He waited no longer for the ram to give a second proof of his strength, but went home as quickly as possible. It was only when the danger was over, that he felt a severe pain in his right leg.

“The way of the transgressor is hard,” says the Word of God. O, if he had only gone to Sunday-school!

When the family came home, they found Willie in a pitiful condition. He was crying with pain, for his foot was so swollen up that he could scarcely move it. But there was still another reason for his tears. He acknowledged that it was God who had been acting with him. No one had seen his evil deeds, but God had seen right into the deepest recesses of his heart, and warned him by the voice of his conscience. He had not listened to that voice. This pained him deeply, and without making any excuses for himself, he told it all to his father. The latter shook his head, but said nothing, as he perceived, that God himself had spoken to his son. The next Sunday Willie limped on his still painful foot to—Sunday-school. He had had a good lesson.

“Nov therefore hearken unto Me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep My ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Prov. 8:32-33.

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 7/10/1921

Hard Times

WHAT a sad picture! Without the necessities of life, and weary in body with their long tramp, they rest by the roadside.

One might wonder why God allows hard times to come and why not give us all that we might wish?

We must first remember that this whole scene is ruined by sin and the Lord allows us all to share in its results while we are here.

When we who are His own go on without Him, or act as if there was no God, His dealings are sure to come to us in one way, or another, sooner or later.-He often allows those who are not His to go on in their bad ways to the end of their life and not have any bad results but then they have an eternity of woe.

The Psalmist could say he was envious at the foolish when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, but when he went into the sanctuary of God, then he understood their end.

In Isaiah 3:1 we learn why God brought judgment on His people the Jews, “for behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Both take away from Jerusalem, and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.” The reason is given in the 8th verse—”Because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory.”

May we each one walk in His fear, for the word is

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.” PSA. 111:10.

No good thing will be withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Ps. 84:11.

The first thing to do in order to walk uprightly, is to own our need of a Saviour and accept the Lord Jesus who is the only Saviour. Have you accepted Him? If you have and walk with Him your path will be a happy one.

Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 36-37

In the thirty-sixth chapter we read the names of Esau’s children, and of those who were great people in the land where Esau went to live.

In the twelfth verse you will notice the name of Amalek, one of Esau’s grandchildren; we shall, if the Lord will, find this name again as we go on through God’s Word.

God has given us this list of people who once lived on this earth, and He has told us only their names here, but I wonder what His record books tell about them? And what has He written, down about you and me? That gives us something to think of, doesn’t it? for it is all going to come out, and many a secret will be known “in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” (Romans 2:16 ).

In chapter thirty-seven we begin the story of Joseph, now 17 years old. Joseph seems to have been a good boy, but his older brothers were not. especially Dan.

Naphtali, Gad and Asher, it seems from the second verse. All the older brothers hated Joseph when they saw that their father loved him more than he did themselves, and they hated him more when Joseph told them of his dreams.

He dreamed that they were all out in the field at the harvest time, and tying the wheat into bundles, and Joseph’s sheaf stood upright, while the sheaves of the others bowed like one would to some great man. He dreamed too, that the sun, moon, and stars bowed to him. Jacob, his father, also was not pleased about his boy’s dreams, but he thought that God might have made Joseph to dream these strange things. I am sure God did, and the day came when everybody had to go to Joseph for food, or else starve to death.

This is also giving us a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must come to Him, and we must bow. before Him either in this day of His grace, or in the day of judgment, for we read in Phil. 2:10, 11: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth! and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Have you bowed your knee to Him?

The brothers, all of the ten, I suppose, that were older than Joseph, went away north to feed their father’s flock in Shechem (verse 12). Strange place for them to go to, after killing so many people there, as we read they did in the thirty-fourth chapter! They must, indeed, have been hard hearted, wicked young men; and when we see what they did to Joseph, we shall certainly agree that that is just what they were.

Jacob sent Joseph to the place where the brothers were with the flocks, and when he got there, he could not find them, for they had gone further, to Dothan, but a man who found Joseph, told him where they were. Joseph was told to see if everything was all right with his brothers and the flocks, and go back home again, but when the brothers saw him coming, and he was still a long way off, they said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”

The eldest son, Reuben, heard what the others were saying, and he would not agree to killing Joseph, but told his brothers to put him in a pit nearby, .because he meant to get Joseph out, and send him home again. So when Joseph came where his brothers were, they took his coat away from him that his father had made, and pushed or threw him into a pit; after that they sat down to eat. But presently they saw a train of camels, loaded with spices and balm and perfume, coming along the road on the way to Egypt, and the fourth. son, Judah, said to the others, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come. let us sell him to the Ishmaelites.”

So they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit and sold him, just like people sell cows and horses and hogs, for twenty pieces of silver, and soon he was loaded on to one of the camels, and on his way. poor boy, down to that far away country of Egypt. How very sad he must have been, but no matter how much he might have cried, or struggled to get free, it would do no good. He might have said to himself, “Why has God let my wicked brothers treat me so mean, when I did nothing to deserve it?”

What a picture we get in this also of the Lord Jesus. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” “They hated Him without a cause.” He too, was sold. The wickedness of men’s heafts was told out at the cross. They killed Him, but He arose from the dead. and so Joseph was taken up out of the pit.

He may have thought that God had forgotten him, but it was not true, as we shall see. The very thing that seemed the worst, proved to be the best thing that could happen to Joseph.

Reuben, the oldest of the brothers, had not been with the others when the Midianites went by .with their camels, and when he came back and looked in the pit they had pushed Joseph into, he was very much worried, but his brothers told him what they had done, and it doesn’t seem as though he cared after that.

They took Joseph’s coat, and after killing a baby goat, dipped the coat in its blood, and deceitfully ‘and cruelly sent or took it to their father, to make him believe that Joseph had been eaten by some wild animal’. Poor Jacob grieved for Joseph many days, and his children tried to comfort him, but they couldn’t make him feel better. The wicked brothers never told him what they had done, but God was going to bring out all the truth.

Joseph went down into Egypt with the men on the camels, and they sold him to one of the king’s soldiers.

We shall see how true is that word, “Be sure your sin will find, you out.” Num. 32:23.

Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1921

The Bee and the Spider

ONCE when I was in my garden, my attention was attracted by a loud buzzing. I turned round to see from whence it came, and saw a bee that was caught in a spider’s web. It was a large, strong cobweb, and a fat black spider sat in a corner of it, watching the bee attentively, waiting for the moment that it could pounce upon its prey. The poor bee made every effort to get loose; but the more it moved backwards and forwards, the more it became entangled in the fine threads of the web. The bee was an industrious and useful little creature, that spent its time gathering the sweet syrup from the flowers, and making honey out of it, but with all its cleverness it could not free itself.

Do you think, that it would at last succeed in saving itself? O. no. if I had not been there, the big snider would have rushed upon it, sucking out its blood, and would have carried it off to its hiding-place and finished it there. Still the bee had wings, fine, shiny little wings; but the threads of the cobweb were twisted around them so that it could not use them. It was fortunate, that not only did it struggle to get out, but that it began to buzz too. The distressed humming attracted rely attention, and its desperate efforts to get free, excited my pity. Must I leave that poor little creature to such a cruel death? No, no, not even, if in its. terror it should sting my fingers. When the spider saw me approaching, it moved a little farther away from its prey, and immediately took flight,— when I broke the web. A slight touch of my hand released the prisoner. It flew joyfully to its hive and there its companions soon cleaned its wings of the cobwebs.

Do you understand, dear children why I tell you this little incident? The condition of this poor bee is like that of every child. that is not yet released from Satan’s power by the Lord Jesus. If you are caught in his snares, then he is waiting, like the ugly black spider, for a favorable moment, to bring you into the place “where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Like the bee, you can try to release yourself, but all your efforts will only show you that it is impossible, and will make you desperate.

The power must come from on high, and the Lord Jesus possesses that power. He has only to stretch out His hand, to deliver you. When dying on the cross, he conquered Satan. To release you and give you life, he is waiting at your side for just one look to Him. 0, go to Jesus, before it is too late, let Him break your bonds, and then released and joyful, you can follow Him on the way to heaven. His blood is sufficient, to wash away the sins of all who believe in Him, and He has the power to preserve you from the snares of the devil.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14.

Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1921

The Little Evangelist

It was a beautiful day when little Frank came out of school. When he had nearly reached home, he saw a poor woman carrying a heavy branch of a tree that had been blown off some days before.

“Let me help you,” said the good-natured child, and with difficulty he carried the other end of the branch.

“Many thanks, Frank!” said the woman. “Ah! if somebody could help me to carry the burden of my sins, how happy I would be, but I carry them day after day, and they seem to get heavier and heavier.”

“But,” said the child, “mother says that we need not carry the burden of our sins, and that if we believe in Jesus, He it is who has carried them for us.7 The woman told us later that at that same moment everything became clear to her.

“I had always tried to please God, and in that way to get rid of the burden of my sins; and each day I was more unhappy. but the child’s words brought to my mind what the Bible tells us: “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou bast perfected praise.” Matt. 21.26.

Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1921

He Carries the Lambs in His Bosom

See the kind Shepherd Jesus stands,

With all engaging charms:

Hark, how He calls the tender lambs,

And folds them in His arms.

Permit them to approach, He cries,

Nor scorn their humble name,

For ‘twas to bless such souls as these

The Lord of glory came.

The feeblest lamb amidst the flock

Shall have its Shepherd’s care,

While folded in the Saviour’s arms,

‘Tis safe from every snare.

Messages of God’s Love 7/17/1921

The Good News

HILE busy at’ work, an interesting conversation goes on, and we trust the good news that one woman has to tell the other is the best news that could possibly be told.

I believe the best news that could be told is that God sent His Son into this world to die for us. He bore on the tree, on Calvary, the sins of all those who would believe in Him, so if you are one who believes in the Lord Jesus, it is for you to say, along with the rest who believe in Him—

“WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” 1 Peter 2:24.

What could be better news than that? That is better by far than telling people how they might get their bodies healed, or how people could get rich, for these things are only for time, but having borne our sins, means that we shall not have to bear them for eternity, nor the judgment we deserve for them. What could be better news than that? There is much more to be connected with that, that is just as good, but may we ever make that blessed news the main theme in our life.

Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 39-40

Passing by the thirty-eighth chapter which is another sad story of sinful ways, we come to the story of Joseph again in the thirty-ninth. Here is Joseph now in Egypt, and though he must have been often lonely and sad, wishing he was at home with his kind and loving father, we learn from the second verse that God was with Joseph, and the third verse tells us that his master saw it too. Isn’t it nice to read that about Joseph? for it shows us that he acted like one of those that belong to God; he wasn’t ashamed, though .he was in a foreign land, and had no one of God’s children to speak to as far as we know.

By and by the master made Joseph to be over everything in his house, and trusted him with everything, and then God’s blessing was more seen than before. But Satan had his eyes on Joseph, and so through a wicked woman, Joseph’s master’s wife, he was one day put in jail, though he hadn’t done anything to be put there for. This must have seemed very hard to Joseph, to be sent to prison because that bad woman told lies about him, but God was still looking out for Joseph, and what Satan planned to do, and God let him, was only going to lead the right way after all. So we read in the last two verses of this chapter that Joseph was given charge of all the prisoners, and all that he did the Lord made to prosper.

Joseph suffered for wrongs which he did not do. and he took it all meekly, and with no thought of revenge. We see these characters in all their perfection in the Lord Jesus. “When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23. This is what Cod delights in, and if we belong to the Lord, we shall seek to follow His example.

Two of the servants of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had made him so angry that he sent them to the jail where Joseph was; they were the head butler, and the head baker. For a while these two men were kept in prison and Joseph had to look after them. One night each of them had a very strange dream, and in the morning when Joseph came in where they were, both were sad. They told him they had dreamed, and there was no one that could tell them what their dreams meant, and of course they were worried, because they thought that the dreams might have something to do with their positions in Pharaoh’s house. In those days, before any of the Bible was written, God spoke to people in dreams, and Joseph wisely said, “Is not God the One that can tell what dreams mean? Tell me your dreams.” So the chief butler told his dream which was about a grape vine that had three branches, and grapes grew on them: he had Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, and in his dream the butler took the grapes, and pressed them into the cup, and gave it to Pharaoh. Joseph told him the dream meant that in three day’s Pharaoh would put him back in his old place as chief butler again, “but think on me,” he said. “when it shall be well with thee.... and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this prison,” and Joseph told him how he had been stolen from his home, and had been put in prison without a cause.

When the chief baker heard’ what Joseph had to say to the other man, he told his dream which was about three baskets that were on his head; in the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked or cooked dishes, and the birds ate them out of the basket. Joseph had bad news for this man, for he told him that in three days Pharaoh was going to have him hanged.by the neck from a tree, and the birds should eat his flesh. And so it was on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday. He made a feast for all his servants, and the chief butler he took back, but the chief baker was hanged.

And did the butler remember about Joseph. and tell the king about him? No, lie forgot all about him, and so two whole years went by, with Joseph still in the prison. Poor Joseph! how sad he must sometimes have been, far away from home, and a prisoner, with no one at all, as it seemed, to take an interest in him. and get him out of jail and let him go home to his father. But we can say that God never forgot Joseph; He saw him, and took care that he wasn’t too much discouraged, kept him safely, but His time had not come yet. We shall see next week how Joseph made a great change one day.

Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1921

Are Your Sins Forgiven?

THIS, dear children, is a very important, personal, practical question. This question deeply concerns each one of us, and upon it hangs our eternal destiny. Think soberly on it, I beg of you, and answer it in the presence of God. Four points are made very clear on this subject in God’s word.

1. Your Sins NEED to be Forgiven. You have sins, for “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). They are “your sins” (Isa. 59:2), because you have committed them. You cannot deny them; you cannot cover them; you cannot put them away. They must be pardoned now, or punished hereafter.

2. Your Sins MAY be Forgiven. God is “ready to forgive” (Psa. 86:5). He will “abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). And “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3). He is now exalted to “give forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31) to all who believe. In the gospel. God proclaims “forgiveness of sins” (Acts 13:38) to every creature, in virtue of Christ’s death, so that none need perish or die in their sins.

3. Your Sins ARE Forgiven. (1 John 2:12). These blessed words of assurance, written by John to “little children” who believed, are true of all, small and great, young and aged, who simply and truly rest on Jesus Christ alone as their Saviour and Redeemer, saying in faith. “Who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). How many of my little friends can say so now?

4. Your Sins ARE Forgotten. God says to all who believe, that He will remember their sins “no more” (Heb. 10:17). He casts them behind His back (Isa. 38:17): into the depths of the sea (Micah’ 7:17) where none can find them.

O! how blessed it is to be able to sing, truthfully and joyfully,

“Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!”

Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1921

The Shepherd and His Dog

A YOUNG shepherd, one night, instead of tying up his dog indoors as usual, put him in a shed near his house, and went to bed. After awhile the dog began to bark loudly. The shepherd, seeing no possibility of sleep with such a noise, got up and went to see what was wrong with the dog, and let him out. No sooner had he opened the shed door, than the dog, possibly in his fury, not knowing his master, flew at him, and bit his hand.

What horror in a moment filled the young man’s mind! He remembered all the terrible stories he had read in newspapers, of people dying from dog bites. and thought he should die thus, and he was not saved! Wholly overcome he went indoors, and lay down on his bed, almost stunned at the thought that shortly he might have to meet God.

This event was the turning point in his life. He realized fully what it was to be a sinner in the presence of a holy God, and began crying to Him to be saved. After this, when alone with the sheep, he would pray till he was really exhausted. Sometimes he would think he was saved, and then again he would be plunged into the depths of despair.

After this a gospel meeting was held in a cottage two miles away; and the young man went to it, to see if he could get any help for his poor soul. He sat eagerly listening while the speaker said,

“Now, friends, if you want to be saved, you must look away from yourselves entirely. Jesus has accomplished on the cross all that is needed in order that sinners might be saved. Look not inside at your feelings, but look to Jesus, and at what He has done.”

The shepherd’s eyes followed the speaker’s upraised hand, and the truth flashed into his mind directly,

“Jesus has finished the work, and, by my believing on Him, God says I have eternal life.”

Dear children, you should have heard him putting such stress on “I have eternal life,” when telling his neighbors what the Lord had done for him. You may guess that he did not want much pressing to go down on his knees and thank the Lord for this full salvation.

Dear children, do you understand anything of this joy? Do you know the Saviour’s love, and can you rejoice in His salvation?

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

Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1921

Eternity

WHAT a solemn word is this!

Who can measure its length, or fathom its depth?

Count the grains of sand which gird the sea, the blades of grass in the green meadows, the leaves upon the trees, the drops of water in the ocean and the stars of the firmament. Add up the grand total and they will not express one day of eternity.

Some years ago a young man of only seventeen years of age was suddenly called away in all the vigor of youth, but to him it was to be forever with the Lord whom he had very recently learned to love and own as his Saviour. His body was found in a river under circumstances of mystery, so that foul play was strongly suspected. But some may say.

“How could God allow such a death to happen to one who loved Him.”

This we can only leave with Him who is perfect in love, and who is infinite in wisdom. So, although his family and friends were nearly broken-hearted by the shock of such a sorrow, yet they could rejoice that their dear one was “safe from the world’s temptations.”

Some weeks before being called away so suddenly, he was in the garden, and being there alone for some time, his mother joined him, and found him chiseling with his penknife, on a narrow window-sill, the word Eternity.

“There mother,” he said, “now when we leave this house, those who come to it will know that some who lived here thought of eternity, won’t they?”

How little did he think that he would so soon enter that eternity, for him, of happiness. His father had the word sawn off afterwards and framed, and it is now kept on his bedroom mantelpiece; he has often shown it when preaching the gospel; so “he being dead, yet speaketh.”

But it is not to speak of the young man that this incident is told, but that some who read the word chiseled by his hand may think of the reality of “eternity, and of where they will spend it.

What a single drop of an. immense ocean is the longest life down here compared with those endl6s ages, and, dear reader, they must be spent by you either in eternal happiness with God, or at an eternal distance from Him. Constantly does He warn those in this world of how uncertain their time here is, and constantly does He speak to them of the Saviour that He has provided for lost sinners.

But remember, “God is not mocked,” and although “He speaketh once, yea twice,” yet if man perceiveth it not, there will come a time when He will cease His speaking until you stand before the Lord Jesus, not then as a Saviour, but as a Judge. O, how will you answer Him then? Where will you spend ETERNITY!

Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1921

Poverty and Humility

THE potato diggers have turned aside for their noonday meal which is very scant; but it is good to see that they have sought to make their table on the ground as attractive and neat as they could. The father has just finished giving God thanks for the provision, and has taken up a bag in which he has something the mother at home has prepared for them.

It is good to see gratitude to God who is ever mindful of us, and who supplies all our needs. He is watchful over all His creatures, but especially over them that believe. The Scripture says, “We hope in the living God, who is preserver of all men, specially of those that believe.” 1 Tim. 4:10. (New Translation).

Are you one of those who believe in Him? Do you thank Him for the gift of His Son as a Saviour for you? and do you thank Him for the many things He gives to you day by day?

May you never forget that He is the giver of everything you have. You may think only of your parents, because they are the ones whom God has used to supply your needs. He has given them the ability to earn the money to buy the food and clothing you receive, so God provides for you in that way. May you never forget to .give Him thanks for all you receive, but especially for the Lord Jesus Christ who died for you.

“GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” ROM. 5:8.

Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1921

Outcasts for Christ

AT Monghyr, near the banks of the River Ganges, there lived a family of korees (weavers). With a few simple implements they made stuffs and cloths, such as are used by Hindoos. The koree caste (or class) was one of the lowest, poorest, and most despised.

The husband of the family had heard the gospel of Christ; he believed it, and became a sincere Christian. At once his wife and family deserted him. Then in the middle of the night, when he was fast asleep, they set his house on fire, and he was awaked by the burning embers falling upon him. He instantly started up, seized his loom, and happily made his escape, through God’s mercy; but his house, clothes, and bed were burned to ashes.

He was denied shelter in the village, and was compelled for several months to remain outside under a tree. Here he worked his loom, and supported himself as best as he could.

While living in this exposed situation, his wife returned to him, and declared her determination to be a Christian too. He was soon afterwards joined by his brother, and his wife and children, who also made up their minds to follow the Lord Jesus.

With no better protection than the tree afforded, they all lived together for a considerable time. The village people refused to allow them to live with them, and the zemindars (land-owners) would not give them another plot of land on which to build a house outside the village. Thus they really became outcasts for Christ.

But the Lord, in whom they trusted, supplied their simple wants, comforted them in their difficulties, and enabled them to say, “We were living very happily under the tree.”

These poor outcasts were full of joy, because of the precious portion they had by faith in a Christ whose riches are unsearchable and everlasting.

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?” James 2:5.

Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 41

Two long years slowly went by, and Joseph still in the prison, was now thirty years old. He must have been away from home 13 years.

One night Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the great river of Egypt, the Nile, and as he looked, there came up out of the river seven fine fat cows, and they fed in a meadow. Then seven other cows, thin and bony and starved-looking, came up out of the river after the fat cows, and stood beside them on the river bank. Pretty soon the thin cows had eaten up the seven fat ones, but they were just as thin and bony as before.

Pharaoh had another dream after this one, and in it he saw seven splendid ears of wheat that grew on one stalk, and after them seven thin, dried up ears grew, and they ate up the first seven ears.

When Pharaoh awoke, he was troubled about his dreams, and so he sent for all the magicians, and all the wise men of Egypt, to tell him what the dreams meant, but none of them could say. But now the chief butler remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh how the prisoner gave both the chief baker and himself the true meaning of their dreams when they were in prison. Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they brought him in a hurry out of the prison, but he took time to shave himself and change his clothes for better ones, before he went in where Pharaoh waited for him. We can be sure that Joseph was praying to God that he should not have to go back to the prison again, as he went to Pharaoh’s palace. No doubt he was praying too for the right answers to give the king when he should meet him and hear the full story of his dreams.

Pharaoh said to the young prisoner, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it, and I have heard say of thee that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.” Joseph quietly answered the great king. “It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” So with this beginning, Pharaoh told Joseph about his dreams, and at the end he said. “And I told this unto the Magicians, but there was none that could declare it to me.” As Joseph was listening to the king’s words, God was putting into his mind what the dreams meant, and when Pharaoh finished speaking Joseph began to tell what he had learned. There were seven good years with big crops coming. and then seven bad years when there would be hardly anything growing, and people and cattle would be starving, Joseph said, and he told Pharaoh that the right thing to do was to appoint a careful and wise man to be over all the country, with men under him to do what he should tell them; then to gather all the grain that should be raised in the coming seven years of plenty in the fifth part of Egypt, and store it away for the seven year of famine.

In this also, Joseph is a picture of the Lord Jesus. He is the One who alone is able to reveal secrets, and solve all our difficulties. The word is “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb. 4:13.

If any of our dear readers are in trouble about his or her sins, He alone can meet our difficulty. He has said, “Come unto Mc.” So the one thing for us to do is to go to Him, and He will save us. He loved us and died for us, He has been in judgment for us, and has borne what we deserved.

All who put their trust in Him shall be saved from the wrath to come.

Pharaoh and his servants talked together about what Joseph had said, and they felt that what they had heard about the dreams was right, and that Joseph’s plan to have one man over all the country to take charge of the food, and to store away what was not really needed, was just what ought to be done. Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such an one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” Perhaps the people of Pharaoh’s court didn’t quite like it, but Pharaoh’s mind was decided; Joseph
should be the next person to himself over all the country. He took his ring off his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, dressed him in fine clothes, and put a gold chain about his neck. Then Pharaoh made him to ride in the second chariot, and servants shouted as Joseph went out, “Bow the knee!” Without Joseph, no one could lift hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh called Joseph a new name which meant “The man to whom secrets are known,” and he gave him a wife, Asenath, the daughter of a priest. Joseph went all over Egypt, and during the seven good years, when the wheat and everything else grew so well, he had great storehouses packed full of food for the seven bad years. Two boys were born to Joseph and Asenath—Manasseh and Ephraim.

Soon the seven years of plenty were ended, and the seven years of famine began. The people began to beg for food, and not only the Egyptians, but from all countries they came after grain, because they had heard that there was plenty in Egypt, and all of them were sent to Joseph.

How God had looked after the poor boy who was stolen from his home! First a slave, and then in prison for a good many years, and now next the powerful king of the rich country of Egypt, and all the world coming to him for food!

As Joseph was exalted to a place of great honor after having been in prison and judgment, so our blessed Lord is exalted to the highest place in glory, and soon He shall have everything put under Him, both in heaven and earth.

Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1921

I Cannot Pray

ON board a large East-Indian trading-vessel, in the harbor of H.., a sailor lay sick in his hammock. He was suffering from a disease, that one could plainly see, would soon end in death.

One day one of his comrades came to his sick-bed, and began in a sympathizing way to inquire how he felt.

“Poor Frank, you seem to be suffering a good deal.”

“Yes,” was the answer; “but Tom, my bodily suffering is nothing in comparison to what my soul is passing through, I’m a dying Man, and on my way to bell! O, pray for me!”

To Tom, it seemed as if that all at once he was deprived of speech. Not knowing what to do, he stood before his comrade, who kept on imploring him to pray for him. Finally Tom said, in a sad and melancholy tone:

“I cannot pray, Frank; I have never prayed, and don’t know how to do it.”

But the dying sailor would not be silenced. Again and again he implored him. All at once Tom remembered a text from the Bible that he had heard as a child at Sunday-school, but had never thought of it since then. It was the seventh verse of the first chapter of the first Epistle of John: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” Immediately falling on his knees, he cried:

“O, Lord! here are two dreadful sinners; save my comrade and me! One drop of Your blood is enough for us both.”

They wept together, and a prayer arose from their hearts which although not expressed in fine words, still reached the ears of Him whose joy it is to listen to the sighing of a heart that is too full to find vent in words. He heard their weeping; He saw their tears of true contrition, and gave His peace to the anxious heart of the dying sailor. A little while later Torn asked him:

“Do you really believe now?”

“Yes, I believe. Everything is clear to me. I am going to Jesus,” was Frank’s happy reply.

Shortly afterwards Frank left this earth in perfect peace, and in the firm conviction that the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. had cleansed him from all sin, and had made him fit to appear in the presence of God.

Tom still lives, and praises the Lord who had drawn him, a lost sinner, to Himself. He never forgets to praise the wonderful grace of God, that had snatched him as a brand from the fire. Yes, God
often works in a wonderful way. He knows where each precious stone is to be found that belongs to the building, of which Christ is the cornerstone; and if it be on land or sea, near or far, He will draw all to Himself, that they may be to the praise of the glory of His grace.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1921

Hear, and Your Soul Shall Live

Now the Lord of Glory’s calling;

“Who hath ears, O, let him hear!”

Though, alas! for many a careless,

Or a disobedient ear.

Is your Bible read but little?

Is the Gospel heard in vain?

While the God of grace and mercy

Speaks again, and vet again!

Dear boys! how my soul is yearning

For your blessing even now;

Ere the weightier cares of manhood

Leave their impress on your brow.

While your hearts are fresh and tender,

Hear the loving Saviour’s call;

He is waiting, He is pleading—

He has room for one and all!

Messages of God’s Love 7/31/1921

Bible Questions for August

Answers to Bible Questions for June

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

“Whereby are given unto,” etc. 2 Peter 1:4.

“That the trial of,” etc. 1 Peter 1:7.

“Beloved, follow not that,” etc. 3 John 11.

“If there come any,” etc. 2 John 10.

“Keep yourselves in the,” etc. Jude 21.

“In this was manifested,” etc. 1 John 4:9.

Bible Questions for August

The Answers are to be found in Matthew

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Buried it.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come to worship.”

Write in full the verse containing the words,—“One of the least.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Confess Me before men.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou shalt not tempt.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “I am with you.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Day of judgment.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/7/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 42

The famine we read about in the last chapter was soon felt in the Promised Land, for the first three verses of this chapter tell about Jacob’s knowing that there was food in Egypt, when there was not enough to live on in their country, and saying to his sons that they should go down there to buy some, after which the ten men who had been so mean to Joseph, went to Egypt. Benjamin, the youngest boy, stayed at home.

Did the ten brothers think of their other brother, Joseph, taken as a slave over the very road, I suppose, that they now rode over to go to Egypt for food? I should think their consciences must have troubled them a little, at least, but they very likely thought that Joseph must be dead by now.

Next we see the ten brothers coming to Joseph, but not knowing him at all, and bowing down to him with their faces to the ground. Joseph knew them, but he made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them on purpose. He said, “Whence come ye?” They answered truly enough, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”

Remembering his boyhood dreams, of which we read in chapter 37:5-11, Joseph spoke more roughly to them, saying, “Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land are ye come!”

Rather a little worried, we may well think, they answered again, telling Joseph that they had come only to buy food; they were all one man’s sons, and they said they were true men, and not spies. There were twelve brothers.

Just think of them telling Joseph that they were true men. He knew all about them, but they did not think of that. How often people talk about their good deeds, and make promises to the Lord Jesus of what they will do for Him, and will not own that they have had their part in crucifying Him, for they too, have said, “Away with Him.” We all have preferred anything rather than the Lord Jesus, and that is the same as saying, “Away with Him.”

Presently they were telling him the youngest was with their father, and one was dead, but Joseph still said that they were spies, and put them all in jail for three days. Then he said that one of them should be bound in prison, and the rest of them go home with the food they needed, but when they came back to get more food, they must bring their youngest brother with them to Joseph, so that he should know that they were telling him the truth.

They said one to another that they were truly guilty about their brother, because they saw the anguish of his soul, when he begged them to let him go, and they would not listen to him, and they realized that was why they were in all this trouble now. Reuben, who, you will recall, was not with his brothers when they sold Joseph to the traders on their way to Egypt, reminded them that he had said when Joseph was coming to them from their father that day, and they wanted to kill him, “Do not sin against the child,” and that his brothers would not listen to him, and now he said, “His blood is required,” that is, God was now going to punish them as the murderers of their brother.

Joseph was listening to their talk, but they didn’t know he understood, for he had spoken to them through an interpreter, who understood both the Egyptian, and the language of the people of Canaan. His kind heart was stirred deeply, so that he had to turn away, for the tears ran down his cheeks. Then he came back and talked again with his brothers, and made a prisoner of Simeon, who was the second in age.

How this is like the Lord Jesus! His heart yearns over us, yet He must get at the conscience, and make us feel our sinful condition, and have us own our sins to Him.

Then Joseph had his men fill the brothers’ sacks with grain, and put every one’s money back in his sack, and give them food for the journey. Then the brothers loaded their donkeys, and started for home, but on the way, when one of the brothers opened his sack to give his donkey some food, he found his money in the top of the sack. This made them all afraid again, and they said to one another, “What is this that God hath done to us?

It would have been right to take payment for the food he gave them, but he was dealing with them on the ground of grace, and therefore, he could take nothing from them. If he had given them what they deserved, lie would have punished everyone, but he did not want to do that, so it is all grace.

That is the way the Lord Jesus does with us. Many are so afraid to believe it is all grace. They are like Joseph’s brothers.

When they reached home, and had told their father about what had happened to them in Egypt, they emptied their sacks, and found each one his money. Now both the brothers and their old father were afraid, and Jacob said very sadly, “Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.”

Reuben, the oldest son, as we have noticed twice before, showed that he felt rather sorry sometimes, said to his father, “Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again,” but Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Poor Jacob! what sadness he had, but down there in Egypt his boy Joseph, whom he thought was dead, was the nearest one to the king, and the very one who had treated the ten sons so strangely when they went to buy food.

Messages of God’s Love 8/7/1921

The Two Masters

1 Sam. 30:1-19.

I once had a master,

He kept me a slave,

He held me in bondage,

No rest could lie give.

He left me to perish

When weak I became;

Such, such was his treatment,

And Satan his name.

When lost my condition

The SAVIOUR passed by;

He pitied my misery,

He heard my sad cry;

He told me He loved me,

And died on the tree,

That He might redeem me,

His servant to be.

And now I’ve a Master,

And CHRIST is His name;

He gave HIMSELF for me;

He’s ever the same.

Soon, soon He is coming,

To call me above;

Then I shall behold Him,

And bask in His love.

Lord, while here awaiting

Thine advent so bright,

Be Thou my sole Object,

Thy will my delight;

Thy word my direction.

Thy Spirit my Friend;

Thine arm my protection,

Thy glory my end.

Messages of God’s Love 8/7/1921

Beyond Repair

HOW disappointed the girl seems as the shoe cobbler tells her the shoe is beyond repair; she needs to get new shoes.

This is just what God has had to say about us. He has looked at us in all our sin, and has had to say, “Ye must be born again,” that is made entirely new. We cannot be patched up to be made fit for God: we must receive His life and nature to be suitable for His presence.

Some may ask, “How can we get this new life and nature?” It is certain we can do nothing for them; these must be given to us of God, and we must receive them from Him, or remain in’ our unfit condition for His presence.

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

He lets us know the awful result of sin (its wages) but tells us also what He has brought in, so that we might not have the eternal result, but be suitable for His presence. No life is so perfect as His, and think of God giving His life to His fallen creatures. Think again; How can God give His life to us? If we deserve death for our sins, His righteous claims must be met, and it is certain we cannot meet that awful debt and deliver ourselves. It is left to this—a competent substitute must be found. It is all expressed in this word.

“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not

henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again,” 2 Cor. 5:14,15. He has paid the debt for us, and He gives eternal life to those who believe on Him. See John 3:16.

Have you accepted this wonderful gift from God?

Messages of God’s Love 8/7/1921

Too Late

Late! late! too late!

Ye cannot enter in;

The door is shut—in vain ye wait;

The bridegroom’s gone within;

The hour of mercy now is o’er,

Judgment hath closed the open door;

Judgment from Him, whose grace before

Ye spurned from love of sin.

Late! late! too late!

Why came ye not before?

Did He not long with patience wait

An open keep the door?

Did He not many a message send?

Did He not woo you like a friend?

Why did you not His voice attend?

The day of grace is o’er!

Late! late! too late!

Ye cannot enter now;

Barred, and forever, is the gate;

Mercy avers her brow.

His voice, who called you to repent,

Hath sworn, and He will not relent,

Your day of grace, alas! is spent:

Ye cannot enter now!

“They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matt. 25:10.

Messages of God’s Love 8/7/1921

Going To Pasture

IT is always pleasing to the eye to iodic at a picture of sheep. They are such gentle creatures and so inoffensive.

They can be led better than driven.

The Lord Jesus likens His people to sheep, and He desires they should be meek like sheep, and that they should hear His voice, just ‘as sheep hear their shepherd’s voice, and follow Him.

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME”

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” John 10:27-30.

Do you listen to His voice? Perhaps some may wonder how they could hear His voice. The only way is through the Scriptures. There we may hear Him speaking to us, so we need to read it and meditate upon it, as words coming from Himself.

He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

Have you listened to that word coming from the Lord? If you have, and have acted upon it, then you can say you are one of His sheep, and then consider all that He has done for His sheep. He will never give them up.

Messages of God’s Love 8/14/1921

We Know; Not, We Hope

“I HOPE so,” is a most common answer that the Lord’s servants receive when enquiring of people whether they are saved: but the Scriptures (Eph. 2:12) show that as long as we are in the unconverted state, we have

No Hope

No, children, your case is utterly hopeless apart from the grace of God; so you had better discard “I hope so” at once. But believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then you may know; for the language of faith is not, We hope; but, We know.

“We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding.” 1 John 5:20.

“We know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.” 1 John 3:24.

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” 1 John 5:19.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” 1 John 3:14.

“We know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” 1 John 3:19.

“We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him,” etc. 1 John 3

“We know that, if our earthly house... were dissolved, we have a building of God.” 2 Cor. 5:1.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that

Ye May Know That Ye Have Eternal life.” 1 John 5:13.

Children, do you know?

A poor dying girl said, “I’m only a poor sinner, but Jesus (lied for me, and I believe in Him; and God says I’m saved, and so I know I am!”

Again I press it upon you, that as long as you are in your sins you have no hope; but if you are a believer on the Son of God, you arc saved—saved in hope of the glory of God. And this is what the Word of God calls “a good hope through grace,” based on His promises (Who cannot lie), which are all in Christ, Yea, and in Him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us. The Christian, knowing he is saved, rejoices in hope of the glory of God. (Rom. 5:2.)

Messages of God’s Love 8/14/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 43

The famine grew worse; nothing was growing in the land of Canaan, and when they had eaten nearly all the food they had brought from Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Go again, buy us a little food.” But Judah, told his father that the man solemnly told them it was no use coming for food unless Benjamin was with them. If Jacob would send him with them they would go, but if not they would not go down to Egypt. Jacob asked them why they did such a thing as to tell the man they had another brother. and they told how lie had asked them about themselves and their families, so that they had to tell him about Benjamin, and that they didn’t have any thought then that the man would say, “Bring your youngest brother unto me.”

Joseph was wanting to get at their consciences as to what they had done to him, and this is how God does with us. The people in this world have crucified His Son, and He wants to get at our consciences as to which side we take, for we are either accepting Christ, or refusing Him.

At last, after Judah had promised to take great care of Benjamin, the old father consented to his going to Egypt, but he told them to take a present to the man who was over the food supply; the best fruit, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, myrrh, nuts and almonds, and twice as much money as they should need to pay for what they wanted, so they could give back the money they had found in their sacks. All this, of course, was to pacify the great man and keep him from making them more trouble. They didn’t know what love there was in that man’s heart for them, and that love, like God’s to us, was the more because of their very real need.

God is not asking for anything from us, any more than Joseph was looking for a present from his brothers, while they had not owned nor judged their rejection of him. Nor does God want us to pay for anything He gives to us, for it is all of grace, free grace, but if we have judged ourselves for the time we have gone on without Christ, and owned it to Him, and have now accepted Christ, then we should give Him our whole hearts, in response for such great love, but not as payment, for we cannot pay for that.

Again they stood before Joseph, and when he saw Benjamin, he said to his servant who had charge of his house. “Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.” But the brothers, instead of being pleased, were afraid when they were brought into Joseph’s house. They thought it was on account of the money they had found in their sacks when they went home the last time, and that they would now be taken for slaves. So they went to the steward of Joseph’s house and talked with him at the door, telling him how they had come the first time to buy food, and on the way back when they opened their sacks, every man’s money was found in the mouth of his sack, and how they had .brought it back with other money to pay for more food. They did not know who put the money in their sacks, they said, so anxious were they to be known as honest men.

The steward quieted their fears a little by saying, “Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money.” They must have wondered a good deal at what the steward said, but perhaps they thought of it no more when he brought out Simeon, who had been locked up while they were gone, and gave them water to wash their feet, according to the custom of those Eastern countries, and fed their donkeys. The brothers then prepared the present ready to give to Joseph, for they had heard that he would come home at noon, and that they were to eat there at his house. When he came, they brought out the present, and bowed down to the ground as they gave it to him. Joseph asked his brothers, still not telling them who he was, who they were, and if their father was well—the old man of whom they had spoken, and as they answered, they bowed down to the ground again. Then he saw Benjamin, and asked, “Is this your younger brother?” But his loving heart was full, and Joseph had to go into another room to cry tears of joy; he was so pleased to see his own brother Benjamin. Coming out again he told his servants to set out the meal, and they had one table for Joseph. one for his eleven brothers, and one for the Egyptians in his house. The brothers didn’t know what to think when they were seated in order according to their ages from the oldest to the youngest. Joseph sent food from his table to his brothers, but to Benjamin, he sent five times as much as to the others.

Probably the brothers, the ten guilty ones, thought that their troubles were over now, when Joseph, though they didn’t dream it was he, was so friendly; but he was not done with them yet. He was surely showing kindness to them when they only deserved to be punished. In this his ways were like God’s who has been so kind to all of us when we didn’t deserve anything but to be sent to hell.

Messages of God’s Love 8/14/1921

Where Are Your Sins?

ONE of my friends related the following: • One evening, some months ago. I was preaching the gospel in a certain town, and when it was over I spoke to some of those present about the salvation of their precious souls. Nearly all those to whom I spoke, gave the same answer: “I hope so, sir; I hope so.”

Some gave this answer unhesitatingly, as if it was a lesson learned by heart; others answered in uncertain tones, that painfully affected a heart that burned with the longing to see their precious souls saved.

In rather a melancholy mood I turned to a little boy of about eight years of age, and said to him:

“‘Well, my little man, where are your sins?”

He looked at me and smiled without answering. rearing that he had not heard, I repeated the question: still there was no answer.

His mother said , “Come, Harry, don’t be so impolite; give Mr. B. an answer.”

He looked at me again and smiled, but didn’t answer.

Thinking that he was shy, I said a few more words to him, then wished them good-night.

When they reached home, his mother said: “Why didn’t you answer Mr. B. Harry?”

“Because I could not.” replied the boy. “I’m sure you could have answered him,” said the mother.

No, mother, I could not.”

“And why not; Harry?”

“Because I don’t know. I know that Jesus bore my sins and put them away, but where He put them, I don’t know, and I believe that no one knows.”

O, what a treasure of precious, peace-giving truths flowed then from the lips of a little child! O0, that you all, dear readers, could repeat the words of little Harry from your hearts:

“I know that the Lord Jesus has borne my sins, and has put them away.”

I shall add a few texts, to show you where the sins of believers are:

“Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,” Micah 7:19.

“Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” Isaiah 38:17.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psa. 103:12.

“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 10:17.

Messages of God’s Love 8/14/1921

The Lord Himself Is Calling Thee

O! come, poor, needy children,

Come, turn aside and see

Christ’s. wonderful redemption,

The fruit of Calvary:

The Saviour sits exalted.

Salvation now is free.

And the Lord Himself is calling—

Calling Thee.

O! come, poor, thirsty children,

Come, turn aside and see

The wells of free salvation

O’er flowing now for thee.

Our God is still dispersing

His grace and mercy free;

While the Lord Himself is calling—

Calling Thee.

Poor, helpless, doubting children,

There’s blessed news for thee;

All strength belongs to Jesus,

He gained the victory:

He breaks the bonds of Satan,

He sets the captives free;

O! the Lord Himself is calling—

Calling Thee..

No longer doubt the message,

No longer stay away;

A full, a free salvation

His blood provides today.

O! trust thy soul to Jesus,

If thou would’st happy be:

While the Lord Himself is calling—

Calling Thee.

Messages of God’s Love 8/14/1921

Can You Fix This?

DOLLY’S cradle has been broken, and, like everything else in this world, needs repairing in a very short time. Nothing here lasts forever, any more than we do.

A few things on this earth last longer than we do, but after this life there is eternity for us. Cod breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, so man is in contrast to all the beasts of the field, and therefore he lives forever. He has spirit as well as soul. The great question is. Where are we going to spend that eternity?

We cannot get fixed up, so that we can spend eternity on this earth. The oldest man that ever lived on this earth was Methuselah, but he died at the age of 909 years. There is an end here. It is well for us to think of it, for eternity has two sides to it; one of bliss and the other of woe: Which will it be with you, dear reader?

God has provided the salvation for us that we needed, so that we might have the eternity of bliss, and all that He has asked us to do, is simply to believe On the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who took our place, and bore what we deserved while He was in the three hours of darkness on Calvary’s cross: `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.

“THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE” 1 John 5:13

Messages of God’s Love 8/21/1921

The Blood of Jesus Christ

MAN sets God’s word at nought, yet that word still calls upon him to be reconciled. Man, in his pride, is seeking to trample the blood of Jesus under foot, unmindful that it is his only means of salvation, not knowing its atoning and cleansing value, that it has answered before God, and avails for him who has even spurned it. That blood has opened up a hew and living way, and gives boldness to draw nigh to God, for Christ has made peace by the blood of His cross.

Dear children, lay hold of that word of God: “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from-all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Messages of God’s Love 8/21/1921

The Lost Boy

WE had just started our meeting for the young, one Friday evening, when we were interrupted by the appearance at the door of a little boy, brought in by someone who enquired if any of the children knew him or where he lived, as he was lost.

None of them seemed to do so. Evidently he had wandered from home farther and farther until he could not find his way back again, then he began to cry, thus attracting the attention of the person who had brought him to the door of the school room.

No doubt his friends were sorrowfully seeking him and how anxious they would be until the little wanderer was found. Our enquiries were soon rewarded and the little boy was taken back to his brothers and sisters. How pleased they were to see him again and how glad was he to be at home in safety.

Does not this remind us of the Lord Jesus, who came to seek and to save that which was lost? He is the tender Shepherd who went after His lost sheep until He found it. He left the brightness of His home above that He might have the joy of bringing us there Cleansed from all our sins and made fit for His presence. Have you found out that you are lost, and are you glad to flee to Him for refuge? If so, you can sing joyfully, “I was lost but Jesus found me.”

Five children were once lost in a large city, but one only was crying; why was this? He had discovered that he was lost, and this made him anxious. All were really lost, but one only had found it out. It is a very necessary thing that we should learn that we are sinners in God’s sight and thus need a Saviour. David had learned this lesson when he said to God, “Against Thee, Thee only, hare I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.” Then he cried unto the Lord, “Have mercy upon me, 0 God, according to Thy lovingkindness.” (Psa. 51:1)
God loves you, He loved David, but He could not love David’s sin, He must punish that. It was God’s loving kindness that gave Jesus to die for us, to be punished in our stead. What wonderful love He has shown us, who were lost and in our sins, away from God. Will He hear you when you cry? He will, He heard David and answered him, and He will answer you too. He says, “Call upon:11e in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” The day of trouble is when we discover that we are helpless and the Lord Jesus is the only one who can save ‘us. 0, He is such a precious Saviour, just the Saviour you need. You need Him, clear boy, dear girl, and He desires you should give your heart to Him.

It is sad to be lost in this world, to be wandering away from home and from those who love and care for us, but 0, how terribly sad to have turned away our faces from the God who loves us and has given His own Son for us. He died on the cross to show us God’s love and His own, and in order that our sins might be put away forever; and now He lives for us at God’s right hand. Listen to what He says, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return. unto Me.”

“No longer delay,

But come back today.”

“One there is who loves thee,

O, receive Him now,

He has waited all the day,

Why waitest thou?”

Messages of God’s Love 8/21/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 44

The brothers started for home again at daylight the next morning, their donkeys loaded with sacks of wheat they had bought. How relieved they must have felt when they were outside of the city, and on their way. and perhaps they said to one another, “See how full our sacks are; we have all we can carry. That man was very good to us this time.”

But now along the road behind them comes a man driving very fast; he comes along side and says, “Wherefore have ye rewarded evil. for good?” He charged them with having stolen his lord’s cup out of which he drank, and with which he could tell secret things. They replied they should not be charged with doing such a thing, and reminded him that they brought back their money which they found in their sacks, and they were willing that the one who had the silver cup should die and the rest of them be servants.

Joseph had told the steward the night before to put the cup into Benjamin’s sack. This might seem strange, but Joseph’s object in doing this was to gradually get at their consciences, and he saw he could more quickly reach them by dealing with Benjamin, and holding him, than by taking any of the others; and then to charge them with being thieves, was nothing like as bad as that which they were guilty of. The terrible sin they were guilty of, was getting rid of Joseph; they really were guilty of murder.

They quickly took down their sacks, and opened them, very sure that the cup was not there. The steward wisely began at the eldest and ended at the youngest. which was Benjamin’s sack. and there was the cup! Now their happiness was changed to deepest sadness! The brothers tore their clothes, as people did in those days when they were very sad or angry, and loaded their sacks on their donkeys again, going back with gloomy faces to the city from which they had started but an hour, perhaps, before.

We next see them at Joseph’s house, for Joseph had not yet gone down to the storehouse, as it was still early. Once more they dropped down on the ground before him, now to beg him to be merciful. Joseph said, rather sternly. I suppose. “What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?” that is, he was able to understand things which were hidden from others. In all this he is a type of the Lord Jesus. We can hide nothing from Him, and whatever we have done that is wrong, we had better tell Him all about. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

Judah, conscience stricken about that old sin of selling Joseph to be a slave, speaking both for himself and his brothers, answered in a hopeless way. “What shall we say unto my lord ...or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants.” Surely they were remembering now their bad behavior to their lost brother, and their consciences were telling them that God had found it out; it wasn’t just Joseph who was making trouble for them.

The time is coming when all this will be fulfilled with the Jews who crucified the Lord Jesus. They shall yet bow down before Him, and shall look on Him whom they have pierced.

He also wants each one of us to own before Him what we have done with Him; whether we have taken part with those who have said, “Away with Him,” or with those who have accepted Him as their Saviour. If we own it now, we shall get His grace shown ‘to us, but if we wait till the day of judgment we. shall bow the knee before Him, and receive His judgment by being banished from His presence.

Joseph said he would not take all the men for slaves, but just the one with whom the cup was found, but the rest could go home in peace to their father.

Judah then went close up to Joseph and pleaded with him not to be angry; also told him about the old father, who could not bear to part with the youngest son; and of the other son of the same mother, that was gone, and that Jacob their father, would die from the sorrow if they went home without Benjamin; how he, Judah, had made himself the surety for the return of the little brother, and would bear the blame for ever.

“Now therefore,” he said, “I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go with his brothers.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/21/1921

The Magnet

WHAT child is there, who, being the happy possessor of a magnet, has not enjoyed some of the many and various ways in which it can be used?

The magnet, as most will know, possesses the peculiar power of attracting to itself, so that when placed near small objects, such as steel filings or needles, it causes them to cling to itself at once.

If a number of pins and needles were together in a saucer, and a large magnet were lowered into it, all the needles would at once rise and attach themselves to the magnet, but all the pins would remain unmoved: they are not of a material which answers to the magnet, and so would not be affected by its presence.

Now, the Lord Jesus Christ is like that magnet to many in this world. All boys and girls, and men and women, are divided into two classes—those who love Christ, and those who do not love Him; those whose sins are blotted out by His precious blood, and those who are still unforgiven.

If the Lord Jesus were to return according to His own word, “I will come again,” all who are Christ’s, all who are loving His appearing—looking for His corning—would be caught up to he welcomed by Him into the Father’s house. These would be like the needles clinging. to the magnet. Those who know Him not, and who have despised His work, would be left behind, shut out forever.

“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be

caught up

together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be

With The Lord.”

May you be even now so attracted to Christ, the true Magnet, that you may follow Him closely day by day, and be waiting for the moment of His return_ He says,

“Surely I Come Quickly.”

Messages of God’s Love 8/21/1921

In Great Distress

POOR little fellow has just left the house with his slice of bread as happy as can be, but he is no sooner outside the gate than he meets with the geese who dispute the right of way, and one of them is just about to catch the bread out of his hand. The troubles of life have already begun with him, and, no doubt, seem as great to him as the greater troubles are to those who are older. The mingling of the bitter with the sweet begins in the early day, and continues all through life.

God did not create us to bear sorrow and have lots of trouble, but we disobeyed God’s’ word, and all the sorrow and trouble came in as the result. So we can see what a terrible thing disobedience is.

Children should obey their parents.

Servants should obey their employers, and we are all responsible to obey God’s Word.

When children disobey their parents, they have to be punished.

When servants disobey their employers, they have to be discharged; and if we disobey God, we must receive a terrible result.

We would never have seen such a picture as we have this week, if sin had not come into the world; no animal would ever have hurt us; they would all obey us. Everything is in disorder, and sorrow and trouble are on every side.

The Lord Jesus came into this world to take away sin, so He died for us that our sins might be blotted out of God’s sight forever, and He; too, by His death redeemed the whole creation, and when the time conies, he will blot out sin and all its results from this world.

May we not forget that the first sin was disobedience, and therefore, let us seek to obey, whether it is our parents, or our school teachers, or our employers, but above all let us seek to obey God’s Word.

“WHOSO HEARKENETH UNTO ME SHALL DWELL SAFELY AND SHALL BE QUIET FROM FEAR OF EVIL” PROV. 1:33

Messages of God’s Love 8/28/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 45

Joseph’s heart was full; he could not wait any longer to tell his brothers who he was and so he called out for everyone to go out but themselves. When the place was empty, Joseph began to weep, and not quietly either, for the people outside heard him, and he said, “I am Joseph. Does my father still live?” He was happy, but his brothers were just the opposite, they were terrified and could not speak to him. This news was far worse, they thought, that Simeon’s being made a prisoner while they were away before, or threatening to keep Benjamin for a slave. Would Joseph kill them all, now that they were in his hands?

“Come near to me,” said Joseph, and they came near. This is what the Lord wants with each one of us—to draw near to Him. He is not saying now, “Depart from Me.” He will say that when it is too late for you to come to Him, but now He is saying, just like Joseph, “Come near to Me.”

Joseph’s brothers obeyed him. Have you obeyed the call of the Lord Jesus? They came near, and Joseph said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” There had been two years of famine in the whole land, and there were to be five more.

Joseph was the one who was able to meet all their needs, just like the Lord Jesus for us. There is a famine in this world, for there is nothing here that can satisfy us; the Lord Jesus alone can fill our hearts, and fully satisfy us.

Joseph also told them that God had made him a father to Pharaoh, and lord of his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. He told them to hurry back to his father, and tell him what his son Joseph had said, and how that God had made him lord of all Egypt, and that he should come to him without delay, and they and their children should live in the land of Goshen near him, and he would take care of them there.

He fell on Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck; he kissed all his brothers, and wept on them, and after that his brothers talked with him.

This gives us a beautiful lesson of how the Lord wants us to do with Him. He wants us to talk with Him in prayer, seeing He has so fully expressed His love upon us.

“Perfect love casteth out fear,” and that love is love of the Lord Jesus. The glad news reached Pharaoh, and he said, as Joseph had, that the brothers should bring down their father and all their families, and make their homes in Egypt.

When the brothers left, they took wagons for the children, and the mothers, and Jacob to ride back in. New suits of clothes for each brother, and five suits for Benjamin, who received three hundred pieces of silver, too. Ten donkeys carried the good things of Egypt, and ten more were loaded with grain and bread and meat for Jacob and the others to eat on the way down from Canaan.

Joseph gave his brothers good advice when he said as they left. “See that ye fall not out by the way.” Brothers and sisters too, are apt to get cross with one another very easily.

When they reached Jacob and told him about Joseph, he couldn’t believe it, and was quite overcome, but when they told him all that Joseph had said, and he saw the wagons, he revived, and he said, “It is enough: Joseph my son is yet alive: will go and see him before I die!’

Thus Joseph’s dreams were fulfilled, and he was a type of the Lord Jesus who will vet reign over this whole earth; and His brethren, the Jews, will be restored to Him, and bow before Him, as well as other people.

Messages of God’s Love 8/28/1921

The Victory of a Child

SOME time ago I visited some friends of mine. The little daughter, Emma, was a very self-willed child. If anyone contradicted her in any way, she would all at once, become furiously angry, and remain for hours sitting in a corner grumbling. Every effort that the parents made to correct her of this stubbornness, appeared to be fruitless.

Emma had to learn every day a small portion out of the Bible. While I was staying there, she did it generally in my presence. One morning she came as usual and sat down next to me. By her half-uttered words I perceived that she was learning the 23rd Psalm. After a half-hour had passed she asked me to hear her repeat it. I did so, but soon perceived that she did not know it as well as she thought she did, and so I said: “You don’t know your Psalm very well yet; I should like so much for you to know it without one mistake, by the time your mother comes back.”

Emma’s parents had gone out, but promised that they would soon return.

“Yes, yes,” she said “I must know it by heart before mother returns, so that I can recite it for her.”

I knew that this would cost her some trouble, as she learned with difficulty, and had a poor memory.

She began to repeat the Psalm in a low voice, but always made the same mistakes in the fourth verse. This, as the most of my readers will know, reads as follows: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

“Emma,” I said, “you must repeat the fourth verse over and over, until you can say it without a mistake.”

When she had repeated it three times, but always with the same mistakes, she ceased, and said in a tone that showed me that she was in earnest: ‘Now, I won’t repeat it any more. I cannot learn this verse, and I don’t have to.”

Without paying any attention to her words, I told her to repeat it once more. She looked at me angrily, and cried out:

“I told you that I will not say it over again; I won’t do it, and I won’t learn it by heart.”

With these words the little face, that a moment before was bright at the thought of reciting the Psalm perfectly to her mother, had such an angry expression, that I was shocked at it. I saw with pain that Emma had one of her fits of anger, and for that reason asked her very gently to repeat the verse once more. She refused, however, obstinately to do it.

As I saw that for the present it was quite useless to go on with the subject, and knew too the difficulty of handling in the right way a case of obstinacy and self-will, I thought it better to direct her thoughts into another channel. and then afterwards when her anger was over, to take up the matter again. I had said that she was to repeat the verse again and again, until she could say it without a mistake, and I felt that I must insist on this, although I was aware that I needed the help of a higher power to break this strong will.

I was silent for a little while, praying to the Lord to show me what I must do and say. At last I said:

“Emma, can you tell me, what the Lord Jesus did, when He was on earth, and the devil came to Him, and tempted Him to do what was not right, and which would have dishonored God?”

“No,” she answered.

“Shall I tell you?”

“Yes.”

Then I told her in a few words, how the Lord Jesus had been tempted of the devil, and how at last He had sent him away with the words; “Get thee behind Me, Satan!” My story seemed to impress her, for by degrees the angry expression faded from the little girl’s sweet face, and full of expectation she looked at me.

“Does the Lord Jesus wish us to be like Himself?” I now asked her.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Yes,” I repeated, “it is God’s wish that we should be like His Son in every way. He is busy with that all day; and everything, even the smallest, that God’s children go through down here on earth, serves to make us more and more like Him. That is God’s desire for all who have been washed in the blood of Jesus.”

“If the devil came to me,” I continued, “and tempted me to be very angry, and I should say to him: ‘Get thee behind me, Satan!’ do you think that he would leave me?” She looked at me thoughtfully for some time, and then said:

“Yes, I believe he would; for God Himself would command him to go.” With these words she turned away, folded her little hands and bent her head.

She had understood me. With great joy I saw that her lips were moving in prayer. But what was my joy in comparison with the joy of God over this little girl of not yet six years of age, that had by the power of the Holy Spirit conquered her evil passion.

A moment later Emma looked up, and said with tears in her eyes:

“I will learn my verse; I will repeat it, just as often as you wish, until—until I know it quite well.”

The victory was won; the child was happy, and God was glorified. Quietly I thanked the Lord, that He had revealed Himself so powerfully to this little one, and that His word had not returned to Him void. I felt, that this hour for Emma, as well as for myself, had contained a good lesson, that we would not easily forget.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” (James 4:4), is the word for us, and that is what that little girl did, for she said God Himself would command him to go from her.

Messages of God’s Love 8/28/1921

Jesus Died for Me

If Jesus came to seek and save

The wretched and the lost,

I know He came to rescue me,

By sin and misery tossed.

If Jesus died upon the cross

That sinners might be free,

I am a sinner, and I know

That Jesus died for me.

If Jesus bids the weary “Come,

And I will give you rest,”

I, a poor weary one, will go,

And in His love be blest.

I know that what He says is true,

He never can deceive;

He says, “Believing, life is thine,”

And I His word believe.

“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 8/28/1921

Bible Questions for September

Answers to Bible Questions for July

“Behold, I come.” etc. Revelation 22:7.

“But that which ye,” etc. 2:25.

“He which testifieth,” etc. 22:20.

“Behold, He cometh,” etc. “ 1:7.

“Behold, I come.” etc. 3:11.

“And behold, I come,” etc. 22:12.

“And God shall wipe,” etc. 21:4.

Bible Questions for September

The Answers are to be found in Mark.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Went away and prayed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Prayer and fasting.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “When ye pray.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “And there prayed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “When ye stand praying.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Into a mountain to pray.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Fell on the ground and prayed.”

Messages of God’s Love 9/4/1921

That Word - "Eternity"

One evening, a young man was aimlessly wandering along the busy thoroughfare of a northern seaport, utterly dejected, sin-sore, and heart-weary. He had come to that blessed point where the sinner and Saviour meet—an end of all trust in self.

A few months before, this young man had been the gayest of the gay. The world and sin had held him captive. But one evening, in company with some godless companions, had to pass through a square, in the center of which one of the Lord’s messengers was proclaiming the glad tidings of a free and full salvation. Laughing and jeering they passed on, but one word had caught this young man’s ear, and that word was “ETERNITY”.

Ever since, whether mixing with his gay companions, whether in the crowded. workshop, the busy thoroughfare, or alone, whether waking or sleeping, that one word— “Eternity” —kept sounding like a death-knell in his soul. An eternity there must be, he said; an eternity there was. Where should. he spend it? How soon should he be ushered into it?

But surely, he thought, God would be merciful if he gave up his old life, his old companions, his old sins, and from henceforth led a different life. So he altered his whole course of behavior, and tried to reform, but his efforts in that direction proved a failure—even while he sought to change his ways, his past life rose up against him; and then, as he remembered how God had said that nothing that defileth shall ever enter in, he cried, “0! that I knew where I might find Him.”

Such was the burden of the cry from this sin-stricken heart, on the evening we have referred to, as, all unconsciously, he turned his steps to the place where God had first spoken to his soul.

Hark! what words were those? Not eternity, with its terrors to him. no; but words of balm and healing to his weary soul were those he heard, as, standing rooted to the spot, the sweet refrain—

“Him that cometh.. . Him that cometh ... Him that cometh to Me.

I will in nowise—I will in nowise—I will in nowise cast out”—

fell upon his ears. Jesus Himself had said it— “Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out,” and through these words did this young man find rest, peace,, and joy. O, it was rest and peace indeed for him , as he came to Jesus with the simplicity and trust of a little child that lays its weary head upon its mother’s breast.

Eternity has now no terrors to him, but is joy to his Soul, for he looks forward to spending its endless days with his loving Saviour.

Dear reader, where! O, where! will you spend eternity? Jesus loves you, He gave Himself for sinners. He is now waiting to receive you. Why delay? Cease from trying to better self; come, just as you are, to the Lord Jesus Christ, and in coming you shall find rest and peace.

Messages of God’s Love 9/4/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 46

Jacob, who is here called Israel, his new name, now started from the place which had for many years been his home, on the long journey to Egypt to see his long lost, but now exalted son, Joseph. When he came to Beersheba, the border of the land which God had promised to Abraham and Isaac and himself, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac, as though to say to Him that he would not go further without being sure God wanted him to, and God answered Jacob’s unspoken question that night, saying to him in a dream, “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”

So Jacob was ready to go on now, and we get a list of all those who went into Egypt. If you read the list carefully you will see that the children and grandchildren are counted up in groups according to their grandmothers. First Leah’ children, six, and their children; then Leah’s maid Zilpah’s two; then Rachel’s two; and finally Bilhah’s two. There were “little ones,” as well as big folks, but all their names are there.

Judah went on before the others to learn from Joseph the way for them to go, and Joseph went. out to meet his father. What a meeting it must have been, when Jacob saw his lost boy again, now the very next person to Pharaoh, and the one in charge of the food for all the countries around.

How glad Joseph must have been to see his father, from whom he had been separated for many years. How they must have talked about God’s kindness and wisdom too, in all the days when it had seemed so dark and so sad for Joseph, first sold as a slave, then sent to prison for some thing he hadn’t done, and left there for years, to at last come out as the greatest man in the great kingdom of Egypt, under Pharaoh.

God’s object in telling us this wonderful account is to give us a picture of His beloved Son, for He was to be sold, He was to be taken from prison and from judgment and He will yet rule over the whole earth. His Jewish brethren are to be restored to Him, and they shall look on Him whom ‘they have pierced. Every knee shall bow to Him. How good it is to bow to Him now, and own Him as our Lord and Saviour. Have you done so, clear reader?

Messages of God’s Love 9/4/1921

Love's Sacrifice

IN a narrow street of a large city, there lived an industrious workman with his two little sons, Harry and Jack. The man worked in a gas factory; and as he belonged to the gang that worked at night, he put his boys to bed, before leaving home to go to his work, a little before six in the evening, and they slept safely until their father’s return at six in the morning.

One evening Harry and Jack had gone to bed as usual, and their father locked their door before going to the factory. Many a time before, the boys had heard the key turning in the lock, and -had listened to the sound of their father’s retreating footsteps, then quickly falling asleep, only to wake up at the second sound of the key opening the door. On the occasion that I am now writing about, they were as usual left alone, and soon fell asleep. Suddenly, however, they were aroused in the middle of the night by the loud shouts of men down below in the street; and to their horror and fright they perceived that the house they were in, was on fire.

They knew not what to do the locked door prevented their escape in that way, and the window was too high from the ground. They were in a terrible position, and must wait until help came from outside.

At the first alarm a neighbor had gone to tell the boy’s father, who, of course, did not need to be told to make haste.

He rushed home, but when he reached the house, found it was impossible to go up the stairs, on account of the flames and smoke.

The boy’s bedroom was at the back of the house, and looked out into a narrow passage, too narrow to allow the fire-escape to be used there. Many children had been rescued by the fire-men; but it was impossible for them to reach Harry and Jack.

Then the father quickly formed a plan, by which he could save his children from the frightful death which threatened them. Harry had opened the window and looked down, calling loudly for help. Then the father ran into the house opposite theirs, and opened a window that was just at the height, as the one where his children were. Climbing on the window-sill, he put his feet at the outer edge, reached across to the other side, and seized the sill of the window, where his children were. Then he told Harry that he must clamber over his back to the other window where he would be in safety. After Harry had crossed, he called to Jack to do the same thing. The latter was afraid when he looked down, but his father called to him: “Hurry up, I can’t hold on much longer; my fingers are burned to the bone.” Then Jack followed his brother, and both were saved, but the poor father was unable to retain his hold, and, with a cry, he fell to the pavement below, and was taken up dead. The boys were saved, but at the cost of their father’s life.

Do you think that they ever forgot that night? Would they ever cease to remember the love of him, who had saved them? And should we then forget the love of Jesus, who gave His life to save our souls? Should we not remember, that for our sakes He suffered death? Jesus is the only way, by which we can be saved.

May all my young readers use this way, and they shall be happy for time and for eternity.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

Messages of God’s Love 9/4/1921

Generosity

THIS scene of poverty may well draw out pity. Look at the poor old grandmother and her grandchild!’ They had to resort to begging: not from the rich, but from those in humble circumstances.

The readiness to respond to the call,. which the wife shows by immediately rising to cut off a thick piece of bread, gives us a good lesson. Often those who have plenty of money are not so ready to help the poor, as those. who have only a little, but God would have us to be generous, and ever ready to meet the needs of others as far as we are able.

This is what the Lord Jesus has done.. He could have stayed in the glory, in that bright home .above, but He thought of us in all our need, so He left that scene, and came down here to meet us in our ruined condition, by sin, and lift us up out of the ruin, and even give us to share all things-with Him.

When we think of this, and how great our need was, and what it cost the Lord. Jesus to redeem us and make us His own, for He redeemed us with His precious blood, we may then be glad to show love and kindness to others.

“BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER” ROM. 12:10

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

Only an act of kindness

That you, little child, may show,

While seeking to please the Saviour,

And more like Himself to grow.

Messages of God’s Love 9/4/1921

Children's Party

JUST look at these children! What a fine time they are having under the arbor which is rustic and elegant. They have had a good feast, and now they are eating some fruit and cake. They all seem so happy, and they look like children who are not poor, but evidently have homes and circumstances, similar to this one.

No doubt, those who have prepared the feast, will soon be bidden to a feast at the homes of the guests, so in that way they are repaid again. This may be all right at times, under certain circumstances, but we ever need to remember that scripture, “When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.” Luke 14:13.

The poor children do not often have this opportunity, and we should be glad to take advantage of any opportunity to do good to all, in temporal things, and more than that, make such an opportunity the time to tell them about the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

But if we do not know the Lord Jesus as our own Saviour, we cannot be pointing others to Him; but if we know Him. and can say, “He died for me,” or in the language of Scripture say,

“THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” GAL.2:20

Then it will be our joy to speak of Him to others, that they too may be attracted to Him, and say, “He died for me.”

It is well to be doing good to others in the temporal things, but that which is of the greatest importance is the eternal welfare.

May we who know the Lord Jesus be faithful, so that we: may not miss an opportunity to speak for our blessed Lord, and so love our fellow companions, also that we may be glad to hand out tracts, that will point them to the Lord Jesus.

Messages of God’s Love 9/11/1921

A Simple Story of the Grace of God

ONE bright afternoon, some years ago, a young girl stood at the window of a pleasant sitting-room watching the sun as it slowly disappeared in the west, and, as she watched it, one great longing desire arose in her heart and expressed itself in these words,

“O God, when wilt Thou convert me?”

All around her was beautiful, all spoke of the goodness of God, but to His love she was a stranger. A few Sundays before, she and her sister had been called into their mother’s room to thank God for the conversion of one of her brothers. The mother rejoiced that three out of her eight children now knew Christ as their Saviour, but while she thanked God on behalf of the three, she cried to Him to have mercy speedily on the five others who were still unsaved.

C.’s tears flowed fast as the mother poured out her soul in praise and prayer to God; she was glad that her brother was happy, but the thought of his happiness only made her long more for the aching void in her own heart to be filled.

And yet C. knew something of the happiness of the world, for God had given her loving parents, and her earthly surroundings were such as might well gladden her; but all this was not enough, for God had awakened a desire in her heart to know the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and she could not rest. Still she went on day by day proudly, speaking to no one of the great sorrow that was in her heart; yet, in her ignorance, crying to God to meet her in some way. Little did C. think how He was waiting to be gracious, and for her to surrender herself to Him.

But O, the grace of God! He knew the desire in C.’s heart for rest, mixed as it was with self-will and pride; He saw the yearning for forgiveness, and having allowed her prove her own utter weakness and helplessness, He revealed His love to her in His own way.

Shortly after the circumstances thus described, C.’s mother. received a letter from an earnest evangelist, proposing that he should come to the place in which they lived and give some gospel addresses. This proposal was gladly agreed to. C. then cried to God that He would make this preacher, whom. she had never seen, the means of bringing her into rest.

Upon the night of his arrival, having heard that C. and her sister taught in the Sunday school, he asked if they loved the Lord Jesus, and receiving no answer, added, “How can you try to tell others of what you know nothing yourselves?”

Then, as they were still silent, he went on to speak of that love, and to tell them how that the Lord Jesus was waiting to receive and welcome them. During the gospel addresses this one question kept ringing in C.’s ears, “How can you try to tell others of what you know nothing about yourself?”

Satan was about to lose one of his tools, and he could not do so without a struggle. In C.’s mind arose a vision of all that, as she thought, she might lose by coming to Christ; so she tried to laugh off the effects of the conversation with another young friend who was staying in the house. This succeeded for a time, but at last the little party began to separate, and C. went round to say good-night. When she came to the preacher of the evening, she paused, for his words.

“How can you try to tell others of what you know nothing yourself?” came back to her with great force. She felt convicted in God’s presence, and walking hastily out of the drawing-room, hurried up to her room, knelt down, and there alone with God she unburdened her soul to Him.

What did she say to Him as she. knelt there? She scarcely knows herself; perhaps not much, but God saw the bitter tears of real humiliation which she shed, and God had much to say to her.

A deep tide of joy poured into her soul as she believed Christ had received her, the weary, restless one, and had made het His own for time and for eternity. She need no longer go about sad and discontented, for He had. made the storm a calm. His own presence had dispelled the gloom once and for ever from her heart. She -rose from her knees, knowing that she was forgiven, and had been welcomed by the One who promises never to cast out those who come to Him. (John 6:37.) It pleased the Lord in His mercy to bring .C.’s sister also to Himself that evening, and a few hours later the mother and the two daughters knelt together again. But this time the mother was not praying for the conversion of the dear ones beside her, but was thanking God, with tears of gratitude, for thus bringing two more of those children who were so precious to her to Himself.

Several years have slipped by since the events mentioned in this simple little paper took place. Does C. ever regret that eyeing, when, alone with God, she forsook the service of Satan, and was received by the Lord? No, nor will any do so who come to Jesus.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

Messages of God’s Love 9/11/1921

Now Is the Accepted Time

DEAR children, if you are in earnest about the salvation of your souls, you will not be content without knowing you are saved, and surely it is high time you were in real earnest over such an important matter.

God is in earnest in His desire to save you.

Satan is in earnest in his efforts to cause you to go to hell.

I am in earnest in my anxiety to see you brought to God; and you are the only one careless in the matter, and it is your own soul which it at stake for eternity.

What an awful thing, a sinner unconcerned about his eternal salvation!

God was so concerned that He sent His only begotten Son; that you might not perish.

The Lord Jesus was so concerned that He came into this world, and suffered and died, the Just for the unjust.

The moment you take your place as a sinner, owning your guilt, have done with confidence in yourself and your doings. and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, trust in Him, accept Him as your own personal Saviour, that moment you are saved, and become a child. of God.

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

Messages of God’s Love 9/11/1921

Call Them In

PART 1
The New Sunday School

IT was a chilly day in the end of March. A mist was coming up from the river, and filling the streets, in one of the poorest and dirtiest neighborhoods of a large city. It was between two and ‘three’ in the afternoon, when a group of dirty children who were playing in one of the small yards, were interrupted in their games by a girl, about 11 years of age, suddenly rushing among them calling out at the top of her voice,

“Ada, Lizzie, Polly, are you coming to the new Sunday-school? Me and my Alice are going.”

She stopped short, quite out of breath with running and shouting. The children stopped their games, to listen. Sunday was generally a very dull day to them.

“New Sunday-school!” exclaimed a big, good-tempered looking, untidy girl, of 13. “Where is it?”

“Up at the Mission Hall, just by the railway arch. I’m going now; it ain’t far. Come, Alice.” And, seizing her little sister by the hand, she started off at a quick pace, followed by about twenty boys and girls, and soon reached the door of the Mission Hall.

Here they stopped, shyly, but a kind-looking lady, who stood at the door, smilingly invited them to enter. A few ran away, but about a dozen went in. A kind of fairy land it seemed to the poor children. They went up a short flight of stairs into a large, bright hall, spotlessly clean, with a large fire burning brightly, and on the walls, texts in large letters, and printed so plainly that all could read them. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life;” and many others. The service began by the singing of hymns, and very heartily did the little rough, untrained voices join in singing the words--

“I am so glad the Father in heaven

Tells of His love in the Book He has given;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see;

O, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!”

Then the classes were formed, six or eight chairs were placed in a circle round the teacher, and the children were like mice, as they sat and listened to the story of the Good Shepherd, who left His bright home of glory above, to come and live a life of sorrow on this earth, and then to die a shameful death on the cross, that He might gather in all the lambs, that none might be lost.

School seemed over very quickly that after-noon, and when the closing hymn and prayer were over, the superintendent, a young bright, and earnest Christian gentleman, asked all those present, if they would not only come again next Sunday, but try to bring some more children with them. The children readily promised, and were soon hurrying through the streets to their homes. Among them were our two little friends, Carrie and Alice Baker.

“Call them in”—the poor, the wretched,

Sin-stained wand’rers from the fold:

Peace and pardon freely offer;

Can you weigh their worth in gold?

“Call them in!”—the weak, the weary,

Laden with the doom, of sin;

Bid them come and rest in Jesus;

He is waiting: “call them in!”

“Call them in!”—the broken-hearted,

Cowering ‘neath the brand of shame;

Speak love’s message, low and tender,

“Twas for sinners Jesus came.”

See! the shadows lengthen round us,

Soon the day-dawn will begin;

Can you leave them lost and lonely?

Christ is coming: “call them in!”

Messages of God’s Love 9/11/1921

The Bible

Human books are only finite,

Soon you reach the close;

But the book of God is perfect.

It no limit knows.

Mines of unexhausted treasure

There are ever found;

lCnows it naught of stint or measure,

Limit or of bound.

Human words are soon forgotten,

Binding but for earth;

They as soon are lost forever

As are given birth;

But the Word of God is changeless,

Not a single jot

Ever can be lost or altered,

For it passeth not.

Messages of God’s Love 9/11/1921

Happy Childhood

WHAT can these eight little girls be doing? It seems they have come with flowers to present them to someone, and they have brought along their little pet lamb, and kittie, too. There is no expression of care on their faces; some seem thoughtful as to how their friend will accept the flowers; others anticipate their friend’s delight, others occupied with the whole appearance.

Soon all shall he changed. It will only take a few years when marks of care, and wrinkles will be on their faces, and some will wear the expression of sorrow. What do you think it is that has brought such a condition of things in this world? The answer is sin.

The first sin was disobedience to God. God told Adam that he must not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and he disobeyed. The result is that sickness, sorrow, pain and tears and even death have been brought in on this once fair creation. But God has triumphed, over it all, for He has brought in something far better through the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, and that is a new creation and He gives eternal life in connection with it, and that gift is given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ..

We get eternal life while we are in this world, but our bodies are still a part of this ruined scene. The Lord Jesus is coming again, and He shall take away all those who love Him, and take them to be with Himself, and change their bodies to be like to His own body of glory. Then such shall know no more sorrow or pain or death. it will be a condition of perfection for ever and ever.

Are you one whom He will take up? If you are His, He will take you when He conies, but if you are not one of His, if you have not believed in Him; you will be left behind for judgment. He says now, “Come unto Me.” In the coming day He will say, “Depart from Me,” to those who would not come to Him now.

“LET HIM THAT IS ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.” REV. 22:17

Messages of God’s Love 9/18/1921

The Children's Feast

IT was a lovely summer’s morning, the sun shone brightly, birds were singing, and wild flowers were growing in the hedges, when a little boy hurried along a country’ road. His shoes were white with dust, and his face red and perspiring. He did not stop to rest under the wide spreading branches of an oak-tree, that cast a , refreshing shadow on the grass that grew on the road side, but he hurried forth, although he was very tired and quite out of breath. His clothes were very dirty and torn, and as the sun was burning his bare head, he seemed to long for the end of his journey.

Why was he there? and why did he not stop to rest? I will tell you.

A very rich man, who lived about two miles from the village in Which this little boy’s home was, had sent a man on horseback the day before to go around and invite all the children of the village to come and spend the next day in his beautiful grounds and park. They must come at ten o’clock and no one would be allowed in, who came after half past ten. The children could play under the trees and amuse themselves as they wished all day, and their host promised them a supper before they left.

The parents were to take their children first to the house, where each child would be dressed in new clothes, so that they all could go into the park, looking clean and neat.

The man on horse-back went to the village, as his master told him, and gave the invitation to all the children.

Now there was one boy who had no parents, and who was playing in the middle of the road, with some rude boys, when the man came along with the good news. And what do you think they did? Do you think that they said:

“Thank you; we shall be there in good time?”

No, they laughed and made fun of him, and said that the man was only trying to make fools of them; that they were not so silly as to walk all that way for nothing; and they went on with their play.

The man rode home—his duty was to take his master’s message to all the children.

The next day many children went to the beautiful park, but this boy Tom, was fast asleep. He did ‘not believe the good message, and so did not think about rising early; at last he woke up hearing some people talking about the fine feast for the children. They had come across the fields, and had seen the happy groups of little ones through the railings of the park; they heard music, and saw flags waving and heard the merry laughter of the children. Tom pulled on his clothes, and a few minutes later he could be seen running along the warm road just as I have described him to you.

Long before he was there, he could see the large gates that formed an entrance to the park, and could hear the music. Tom went to the gate, and pulled the bell, and in a moment the porter came. Now he could speak politely, and he said:

“May I come in and play with the children, if you please?”

“You are too late,” the man said; “You ought to have been here two hours ago. Did you not hear my master’s kind message?”

“Well yes,” said the boy, hanging his head and getting very red, “but didn’t know if it was true.”

The porter looked very angry.

“You did not believe my master’s word? Then you certainly don’t deserve to be let in. If he was kind enough to send the message to you, you had only to believe it and come to him.”

“Perhaps he would let me in now, if you ask him,” said Tom.

“O, no,” answered the man; “he would gladly have seen you at the appointed time, but it is now too late; and look at your clothes, they are not fit to be seen. The good master would have given you a new suit, if you had come when he asked you! But I can’t stand here talking; you should have come when you were told. Now be off!”

Poor disappointed Tom! He turned around once more, to give a last glance at the joyful children—some of whom, were gathered around their dear friend, some were swaying in the branches of the trees, and others were feeding the swan on the borders of the lake—and then he went away, and throwing himself down on the side of the road, wept bitterly, but it was too late.

After some time Torn heard the sound of a horn, and saw the children gathered round the kind owner of the place, who talked with them for a while. As he was lying close to the fence, they were quite near him, and he could hear everything that was said.

“Children,” said their host, “I should like to know if you have enjoyed yourselves today?”

“O, yes, we have, thank you,” they all cried out.

“What time did you come here?”

“Ten o’clock, sir!”

“Was that the hour that I invited you to come?”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you had come to the gates at eleven, would you have been let in?”

“No, sir, then we would have been too late.”

“Suppose that I gave you another invitation to a much more beautiful place, and told you very exactly, when you must go, would you go then?’

“O, yes,” they cried out impetuously.

“Now, then, listen. Someone there is. who lives in a glorious place, called heaven, who invites little children that dwell on earth, to spend a long time with Him, a time that will never end. He sees them down here, often unhappy, often naughty, caring very little for Him, and yet lie loves them, and wants to make them forever happy.

“Did I come myself to invite you yesterday.?”

“No, sir, you sent your man with a message to us.”

“Well, today the Lord Jesus sends you a message by me. What are you going to do about it? Will you turn away without troubling yourselves more about it? Will you go on with your play and work and despise His goodness? Or will you thank Him with your whole heart, believe His message, and wait longingly for the day, when you shall be happy with the Lord Jesus?”

Many of the little ones held up their hands, to show that they liked to hear about it, and would like to go to that glorious land on high.

Their host smiled kindly at them.

Messages of God’s Love 9/18/1921

Call Them In

PART 2
“Home Sweet Home”

NOT a very bright place to call home was the house to which Carrie and her sister Alice hastened. First of all they turned down a lane, that looked poor and dirty enough, and out of this lane ran a vacant lot, that looked more like a backyard than anything else.

There were no paths; half-starved dogs were trying to find a bone among the heaps of rubbish, and rough men and boys stood in groups, smoking and talking.

Half way down this vacant lot Alice stopped—No. 6. was her home; such a tiny house, with four tiny rooms, and they had not even these for their own use, for the upstairs rooms were let to another family, so that twelve children and four grown-up persons lived in that little house.

As soon as she entered, her baby sister Rosie—but whose face was certainly not like her name—ran up to her, and wanted to be nursed. Rosie was a pale-faced little thing, two years old, with brown curly hair and bright eyes, but such a tired, old, little face. “My Rosie,” her eldest sister always called her.

“Well, my girl, and what did you learn at your new Sunday school?” asked her father, kindly.

“O, father, lots of things,” was the excited reply. “Alice, say the text the lady told you.”

Alice, half shyly, half proudly, stood before her father, and repeated it: “I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

You will find out what it was made home so sweet to poor little Carrie. She had a kind father and mother. They were very poor; both father and mother had to work hard all the week, and it was Carrie who took care of her little sisters while mother was at work. Carrie, who tidied up the room, and got supper ready for her father and mother, and big brother George when they came home late at night. Carrie was the one who was always up first in the morning, to get her father’s breakfast ready by five o’clock. It was a hard life for the little girl, and perhaps some of you, little friends, who read. this story may feel less inclined to murmur, because all your time is taken up with those tiresome lessons and that troublesome music practice every day. It was a great treat to poor Carrie to be able to go to school in the afternoon, but this could not be, if her work was not all done in the morning.

One of her friends was Annie Blake; she was a year older than Carrie, and worked all day chopping wood at a firewood factory. Poor little children! No time for play; but a kind, heavenly rather had His eye upon them. He knew that they were worth more than many sparrows, and could even use these poor children as His chosen messengers.

“Even a child is known by his doings,. whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Prov. 20:11.

Messages of God’s Love 9/18/1921

Great Events

VERY likely, by the time this paper is in your hands, your vacation will be over, and you will be back at school again. I can just fancy how you had been looking forward to the summer, waiting for the time to come when you would have two months or perhaps more to enjoy yourself. Now this. great event has come and gone, and no doubt some of you feel sorry it is over.

This reminds me of another great event. that many men, women, and, I trust, some of my young readers too, are waiting for, an event which might happen even before you go to sleep to-night, and that is the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus, when He will take all those who love Him and whose sins are washed away in His own precious blood, to dwell with Him, not only for a week, or a month, or a year, but forever.

There will be no sorrow for those who take part in that great event, and the youngest reader may take part in it, if you only come to Jesus now; but if you delay, Jesus may come, and, not finding you ready to go with Him, leave you behind. How great then would be your disappointment!

O! come to Jesus now

Jesus is here:

Before Him lowly bow,

Jesus is here:

Too many go away,

Too many still delay,

Then hasten while you may,

Jesus is here.

Messages of God’s Love 9/18/1921

You Naughty Boy!

THAT is little Fred up to now? He has found a horribly ugly mask, and it has suggested to his mischievous mind to go into the house and frighten, mother and little sister. He has succeeded in frightening little sister, but mother gives him a good scolding for amusing himself at the expense of the feelings of others.

It is evident he had not thought of how others might feel, but he just thought of his own pleasure. How common this is, and how it shows what the human heart is!

In this instance it might be said, This is innocent fun, but the same thing, in principle, comes later on in business life, when one tries to get advantage of his neighbor for his own benefit.

How unlike it is to the Lord Jesus. He delighted in coming into this ‘world for our good, and that we might not bear what we deserved, so He took all our sins upon Himself, and bore the dreadful judgment we deserved for them, and that unasked by us.

Timotheus was much like his Lord and Saviour, for the apostle Paul could say. “I. have no man like minded, who will naturally care for your state.”

“FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE JESUS CHRIST’S.” PHIL. 2:20, 21.

We who know the Lord Jesus do not need to wait till we are grown men and women to show the character of Christ. At school, at play or wherever we are, we can find opportunities to do good to others, and not to be attending to our own selfish interests. We should ever attend to our own duties, and that faithfully, but never to the harm of others, and seek to find opportunities to do for others, even at a loss to ourselves.

“Let no one seek his own advantage, but that of the other.” 1 Cor. 10:24. (New Translation.)

Messages of God’s Love 9/25/1921

The Children's Feast

(Continued.)

“Many,” said he, “say, that they will gladly go, but very few will listen to what God has to say about the way in which they must go.” .

“Now I beg of you to listen attentively, while I give you God’s message, and you must try to remember three things.

First: The message is to all. God invites all children, as well as men and women. It doesn’t matter, how bad they have been, and if they are black or white, He says: Whosoever will, may come.

Secondly: There is nothing to pay. There was something to pay, but I shall show von now, how Someone has paid for you. I did not ask you to pay me, for letting you come here today, as I knew that you had not the money. God does not ask you to give Him anything: On the contrary. He wishes to give you everything. Tell me, did I give you anything today?”

“Yes, sir, you gave us all new clothes.” “Would my porter have allowed you to come in dressed in dirty, ragged clothes?” “No, sir.”

“Much less will heaven be opened for man, woman or child that is not spotlessly white and clean. But did I say that you were to fix up your old clothes at home, before coming to me?”

“No, sir,” the children cried. out, “you said that we were to come just as we were, and that you would give us clean clothes.” “Quite true, and just so God says when He invites you, that you must not wait until you are better, not try to improve your life, before coming to Jesus. You must come to Jesus just as you are, with all your sins, with all your bad thoughts; for if you wait until you are better, you will never come. Just when you come .to Him, acknowledging that you are full of sin, that you deserve to be lost, but that He died for you on the Cross—if you come to Him thus, He will not send you away, but will take you in His arms, and bring you into His glorious home, dressed in beautiful garments that He will give you. Your old rags will be taken away, they are the bad things that you did, and the good that you tried to do, before you come to Him.”

“Don’t put off coming to Jesus. I heard today of a little boy, called Toni, who did not believe my message yesterday. He laughed, and said that it was not true. Today he rang at the gate, and asked to be let in, but it was too late. I cannot break my word, although I am sorry for Him. Just so, many boys and girls who hear from time to time God’s message, turn away and despise it. They don’t believe it in their hearts; and those children shall one day beg for mercy, they shall call on God to hear them, but then it will be too late—the door of love and grace will then be eternally shut, and they shall be in everlasting misery. God gays of that day: ‘Then shall they call upon Mc, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me.’ Prov. 1:28. Once more, before you go back to your play, I will tell you that Jesus loves you, and shed His precious blood to save you.

‘The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.’

I do not love you as much as He does. The pleasures of today will soon be over; but Jesus gave Himself for you; He paid the debt, that you could not pay, and He alone can bring you into that glorious land, whose joys shall never ‘cease. But you must believe in Him; you must take Him as your Saviour. Let us sing a few verses before you go back to your play.”

And under the shadow of the trees the little ones sang:—

Jesus is calling the children,

Unto His side,

Stretches His arms to receive them,

Opens them wide.

Gently to lead them,

Guard them and feed them,

Jesus is calling the lambs to His side

“Jesus is calling the children

Calling today;

Hasten each one for the blessing,

Do not delay.”

Tom rose up slowly, and walked home. He felt happier than he did an hour ago. He had heard of the love of Jesus; and he said to himself,

“Although I missed today’s feast, I’ll take care not to be too late for the one above.”

Children, you who read this, do not put off coming to Jesus till it is too late. Jesus is ready to receive you now, and He asks you to come to Him. He who died for you is risen again, and is seated at the right hand of God as Prince and Saviour, ready to give forgiveness to all who go to Him in faith. But He will not remain there always. He is coming again to take those who believe in His name, to be forever with Him, and to cast those that have rejected His good message of glad tidings, into outer darkness.

“Too late, too late:” how sad the sound

On anxious human ears,

Of those who’ve waited long, a prey

To doubts, and hopes and fears.

“Too late” they’ll find the door will shut,

Which now stands open wide;

“Too late” they’ll have to meet their God

With no place then to hide.

O! children, pause, ere yet “too late;”

Now is the day of grace,

Now Jesus calls, O! do obey

His pleading. loving voice.

Messages of God’s Love 9/25/1921

Call Them In

PART 3
The Wood-Yard

CHOP! chop! chop!” from weary morning till night. O, how the little backs ached, and how weary the little fingers grew of the incessant toil.

If you had been at the factory door at eight o’clock in the morning, you would have seen, groups of children, from twelve to fifteen years of age, and mostly composed of girls waiting to be let into the wood-yard. Many of them lived a long distance from their work, and had to start from home soon after seven. They did not leave off work till eight o’clock at night.

It was the dinner-hour, and the girls were chatting away to their special friends, as they ate their dinner, and enjoyed a brief rest from labor.

Side by side sat two friends. Annie Blake and Ellen North. Poor Ellen had not a happy home. Her own father was dead, and her step-father was harsh and severe to the poor children. The mother was kinder, but she, too, poor woman. had a hard life, and was obliged to work all day.

The conversation between the two children was about the Sunday-school. “I shall go to Carrie’s Sunday-school next Sunday;” said Annie; “the lady there gives away such pretty little books, with pictures;” and Annie pulled out of her pocket a little book which had been given to her friend Carrie.

“Will you come too?” she continued, eagerly. Ellen gave a _ quiet, half-sad smile, as she answered, “I must ask father.” She was a quiet, gentle child of twelve, with a sweet, serious expression in her eyes. She never complained of the hard life she led. She had three little sisters, all delicate and gentle-looking children, like herself, and a look on their faces as though they pined for fresh air and better food than they were accustomed to enjoy.

On the following Sunday, Annie Blake with Ellen and her three little sisters were at the Sunday-school. They were not both in the same class. Annie, soon after she arrived, looked round the class with a very self-conscious and self-satisfied air. Presently the teacher noticed one of the little ones in tears. “Why, Lottie dear,” she asked, kindly, “what is the matter—why are you crying?”

At this gentle inquiry, the poor child quite broke down, and sobbed out, “That girl says I’m a beggar, ‘cause my hat’s so old.”

“Why, Annie,” said her teacher, “you surely did not mean what you said.”

“Yes, teacher,” said Annie; “her father can’t afford to buy her a feather; I always have a feather in my Sunday hat.”

The teacher smiled, as she replied. “I have not a feather, and I think .Lottie’s hat quite as nice without one.” But she felt cad at heart. at the thought of what had passed. She told them how God looked at the heart, and not at the clothes they wore, and that the thing for them to be certain about, was whether they had that robe of righteousness which God provided for all who love Him and trust Him; but they must come just as they are—poor, wretched, and helpless—for He is ready to save all who come to Him, however bad they may be, for He Himself says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

The next week Lottie had a new hat, which her teacher provided for her, and very pretty and comfortable it looked, although there was no feather.

“Be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Pet. 5:5.

Messages of God’s Love 9/25/1921

Unable To Sleep

STANDING on the roof of a house close by, I witnessed a great fire, and I shall not soon forget the sight.

The heat was very great, and almost scorched my feet, while the shower of sparks that flew up, and were scattered by the gentle breeze all around, formed a sight, the like of which I have never before witnessed; not to speak of the great body of flame bursting forth towards the sky in all its awful grandeur, now and again subdued and darkened by the immense body of water that was being thrown on the burning pile.

I gazed, with rapt attention, on the changing scene, and at length turned my steps homeward; but my mind was full of what I had seen, like an immense picture it was before me. I lay down to rest, but not to sleep, for I could still see, in my mind’s eye, those sheets of flame rising in rapid succession, and it was far into the night before I fell asleep.

This was the effect of the burning up of five or six houses only; and I asked myself the question, What shall that other scene he like, spoken of in 2 Peter 3:10, when the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up?

Messages of God’s Love 9/25/1921

O Precious Words

O, precious words that Jesus said:

“The soul that comes to Me

I will in no wise cast him out,

Whoever he may be!”

O, precious words that Jesus said:

“Behold, I am the Door;

And all who enter in by Me

Have life for ever more!”

O, precious words that Jesus said:

“Come, weary souls oppressed;

Come, take My yoke and learn of Me,

And I will give you rest!”

O, precious words that Jesus said:

“The world I overcame;

And they who follow where I lead

Shall conquer in My name!”

Messages of God’s Love 9/25/1921

Bible Questions for October

Answers to Bible Questions for August

“And His disciples,” etc. Matt. 14:12.

“Saying, Where is He,” etc. “ 2:2.

“And the King shall,” etc. “ 25:40.

“‘Whosoever therefore,” etc. “ 10:32.

“Jesus said unto him,” etc. “ 4:7.

“Teaching them to,” etc. “ 28:20.

“But I say unto you,” etc. “ 12:36.

Bible Questions for October

The Answers are to be found in Luke

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Pray Always.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “All night in prayer.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “And praying.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “I have prayed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “As I prayed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “He prayed more earnestly.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “And prayed.”

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

Saved Through Grace

IN the time that Napoleon was First Consul of Prance, a young girl appeared at his palace in Paris, and entreated permission to have an interview with him. Moved by her tears and entreaties, the porter, who was a humane man, allowed her to pass. The First Consul was just passing through a splendid hall with some of his ministers, when the young girl rushed in, and throwing herself at his feet. cried out excitedly,

“Pardon, sire, pardon for my father!”

“Who is your father?” asked Napoleon kindly, “and who are you?”

“My name is Lojolia, and my father must die!” was the answer.

“Yes, my child.” said Napoleon, “this is now the second time, that your father has conspired against the State; I cannot help you.”

“Ah, sire!” cried the poor child, “I know it, but the first time father was innocent; today I do not beg for justice, I implore for grace, grace for him.”

Napoleon’s lips trembled, his eyes filled with tears and taking the little girl’s hand in his, he said,

“Rise up my child, I will pardon your father for your sake.”

This story makes it clear to us, that justice requires the condemnation of the sinner. The girl knew this very well, therefore she begged for grace for her father, knowing that according to the law he must die.

Dear reader: Have you ever thought about this, that according to God’s holy law the sentence of death has been pronounced upon all men!

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

“Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” And this sentence is unchangeable as all have sinned, and God’s holy law may not be broken.

But is there then no way of salvation? O, yes, there is. one, and that is by grace! The girl in our story begged for grace! She acknowledged:

“My father is guilty, but I beg for him grace!” And the Consul allowed grace to triumph over justice.

So the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus:

“By grace are ye saved through faith.” Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son, the sinner receives grace. God in His great love has prepared a way that agrees with His love and grace, as well as with His righteousness and holiness. He has sent His Son into the world and delivered Him into the hands of sinners, and on the cross He became an offering for sin; so that all who believe in Him should not be lost, but have eternal life.

In grace God sees the sinner in Jesus; but only in Jesus. Outside of Him there is no salvation..

O, dear young reader! flee to this loving Saviour; let nothing keep you back, cast yourself at His feet, and accept freely His grace!

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

Just As You Are

An artist had with skill begun,

A picture of “The Prodigal Son:”

The Father’s house \Vas painted in,

The fatted calf its stall within;

Servants with robe and shoes and ring,

The Father running, welcoming.

And now the picture to complete,

The artist sought, but ne’er could meet,

A model for the center space,

None in such plight to fit the place

At last, he found inside the town,

A ragged wretch so broken clown.

“Here’s just the man I want,” said he,

“The picture of true misery.”

At once he told the man his quest,

Said, “If .you’ll come just as you’re dressed,

And sit while I your portrait take

I’ll pay you well. But do not make

The least improvement, or you’ll mar

My every hope, ‘Come as you are!’

“And here’s a sovereign, that, in sooth,

You’ll know I’m telling you the truth.”

The beggar gladly gave consent,

With his good fortune well content.

The artist left him. Long he gazed

Upon the coin, well-nigh amazed

At so much wealth, and then and there

He went and dined on goodly fare.

But, as he rose to go—oh well!

His glance upon a mirror fell.

He stared, disgusted at his face,

Shocked to behold his dire disgrace.

“The gentleman could never mean

That I should meet him so unclean,”

He thought. “No, this will never do!”

So thinking, without more ado,

The dirt from hands and face he cleared

A barber soon trimmed hair and beard;

The money left he did invest

In clothes to be the better dressed.

Before a mirror then admired

Himself, he thought, so well attired.

The hour arrived, his way he bent,

And boldly to the house he went.

He rang the bell. The footman came

Who asked his business and his name.

“Please, sir, the artist wanted me

To come for him to paint,” said he.

The footman said, “You’re not the man.”

“Yes, sir, I am,” he then began;

“O, no, my master’s orders were

That if a beggar man knocked here

1 was to let him in—not you.”

“I thought that it would never do

To come so dirty,” he explained.

“You should have in your dirt remained,”

Replied the footman. “Still I’ll see

What now my master’s mind may be.”

On hearing he was at the door,

The artist, without hearing more,

Delighted, ran to lead the way,

But what was his untold dismay

To see his model altered so.

“You’re no good now, away you go,”

He cried, “For all my plans you mar.

I said to you, “Come as you are.”

Dear children, learn a lesson here,

And take God’s Holy Word in fear,

Think not to rid one single jot

From off your soul of sin’s vile spot.

The blood of Jesus Christ alone

Can for every sin atone;

And all have sinned, are lost, undone,

That’s why God sent His only Son.

To bear for sin the judgment due,

To offer pardon free to you.

Then heed His Word sent near and far,

To Jesus come, just as you are!

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

Call Them In

PART 4
The Reaping Time

SLOW, but sure, change was working in Carrie’s home. She had herself found what a Saviour Jesus is. The lessons she had learned at the Sunday-school were not forgotten, and she tried, with all her strength, to let her light shine at home. It is true she sometimes failed, and sometimes she tried to go on in her own strength, instead of going to Jesus for help; and then all would go wrong. We must never try to go on, day by day, by ourselves. We have such a loving, tender Friend, who is always ready to help us, and we need never be afraid of tiring Him, and He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

The children in the Sunday-school had very pretty cards given them every week, with texts of scripture printed on them. Carrie used to nail hers on the walls of their little room, and her father, pleased with the prettiness of them, would stand and read them. He had found out that there was a great change in his little girl, and he began to have a great longing to know more of these wonderful things himself. “Wonderful words of life” they seemed to him. Eagerly he read all the little books and papers that Carrie took home, and each week she went with this request, “Please teacher, give me something for my father to read.”

Soon the little child’s prayers were answered, and she had the joy of seeing her father rejoicing in the knowledge of peace with God. No fear of death, for he knew that whether he died, or the Lord came, he was safe for eternity.

Does it not show that none of us are too young, or weak, or poor to shine for Jesus? Little Christians can make the home so happy; and shed joy and sunshine all round them.

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

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

Farm Life

THE early morning has come, and the young farm wife has taken up her daily duties. and has begun by letting the geese out into the pasture.

They seem to know what it all means for them; and one is made to think, as he looks at such a picture, how God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Gen. 1:26.

When we think of the lion, and all the wild beasts, one might think that man has not full dominion over them. That is true, and that is a mark of the result of sin, and so these poor creatures are under Satan’s power, but the time is coming when the Lord Jesus shall reign over this. earth, and Satan shall be bound, so shall. not be able to exercise power on this earth, and then all the beasts shall be subject to man, and they shall be peaceful and quiet; so that the lamb and the lion shall lie down together. God shall have this earth ruled properly, according to His purpose at the beginning, but it will not be done till the Lord Jesus Christ shall reign.

You might ask why does He not come now, and accomplish this? The reason is that the Father’s house is to be filled: first, so the Lord Jesus is inviting all to. come to Him at the present time. and as soon as the Father’s house shall be filled, the offer of salvation, as it is offered now, shall cease, and the despisers and rejecters; of His love and mercy shall be punished. Which will it be with you? Have you accepted Christ as your Saviour now? If not, remember, judgment awaits you.

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS” HEB. 3:15.

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

Trusting only Thee!

Trusting Thee for full salvation,

Great and free.

I am trusting Thee for pardon,

At Thy feet I bow;

For Thy grace and tender mercy

Trusting now.

I am trusting Thee for cleansing

In the crimson flood;

Trusting Thee to make me spotless

By Thy blood.

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

Never let me fall;

I am trusting Thee for ever

And for all.

Messages of God’s Love 10/2/1921

An English Scene

WE have before us a good picture of an English scene on a large estate of very wealthy people.

The young heir, with his nurse by his side, and groom behind, with the pony to ride on for his regular morning exercises, meets the old parkkeeper who takes off his hat in his respect for him; while every thing else around is marked with the finger of God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

God permits some to be very rich, but if they are His, He tells them not to be high minded, nor trust in uncertain-riches, but in the living God. All their wealth may vanish in a day. if He sees fit to take it from them, but if their trust is in Him. they will never be dismayed and will only seek to learn the lesson He has for them in it. They are exhorted to do good. and be rich in good works, ready to distribute. willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of what is really life.

It is so natural to think of laying up riches for our own pleasures, and to gratify the selfishness of the human heart, and to forget who it is that has given us all things, and forget too that the Lord Jesus in His great love for us gave up all that He had in order to save us.

“Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor. that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

This indeed is true riches. To be without Christ, and have all the wealth this world can give, is to be poor indeed, for the time shall soon come when we must leave this world, and we must leave all behind us, “for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1 Tim. 6:7.

If we have Christ as our Saviour, we are rich for eternity; so, long, long after we have left this world, we shall still be rich: but the one who lays up store in this world, and has not Christ. has lost all. Have you Christ as your Saviour?

“ WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?” Matt. 16:26

Messages of God’s Love 10/9/1921

John, the Happy Deaf-Mute

JOHN B... was deaf and dumb. His parents were poor people, who had not the means to educate their child; and his condition seemed to make it hopeless. They had a son a few years-older than John, and four daughters. They lived from what they could get from two cows, with what the father and the eldest son earned working in The fields.

John B.. was brought to me by a little fellow, also deaf and dumb, in the afternoon of a cold day in October. He was then more than eleven years old. but one would hardly take him to be nine. He had a remarkably mild and agreeable expression in his face, and was as simple as a little child. Although he was poor, he was clean and neatly dressed; and when his little bare feet were placed on the warm rug in front of the fire,. and some friendly glances had convinced him that he had found a friend in me, he was very much pleased with his new surroundings.’ And truly they were quite new for him, for I soon noticed that he had never before seen a room with a carpet, or anything prettier than his father’s cabin. I remember very well, how he climbed up on a chair to look through what he thought was a window, and fell off of it in a fright, when all at once he saw his own reflection in the looking-glass.

John appeared not to have at all learned to make himself understood by signs. In general I have noticed, that deaf-mutes are very clever in that way, and do it eagerly; but John was reserved, and the total isolation in which he lived through the watchful care of his family, had given him little opportunity of developing his mind in this respect. I could get no response to the different signs I made, when trying to encourage him and make him take notice; but a very friendly smile showed me that he thought it nice that I was paying attention to him, and so I was not discouraged.

I took now three letters D, O, G, placed them beside each other, pointed to the word, and then at my dog, just as long until I was convinced that he understood. I showed him a man in the street, then made the word M, A, N, in the same way. and after that the word H, A, T. Then mixed the letters together, and asked him to take out the letters to represent dog, the same way with man and hat. After many efforts I saw that he began to take an interest in the game for I took especial care, by manners and gestures, to let it appear that it was amusing. I limited the lesson to those three words, and then showed him how to make the letters on his fingers, and let him go away with more learning in his head, than he had ever had before.

The position of John was a very singular one. There were many things to his disadvantage, also could expect at any moment to be obliged to leave the place where he lived. I knew very well that there would be nobody to take my place, if I went away, and this made me very anxious about the spiritual part of my task. For this reason I made as many signs as we could establish between us, in order to be able to enrich his mind with what was of more value than even the easiest intercourse with those around him; and God blessed my efforts so exceedingly, that I look back with worship and admiration on what the finger of the Almighty worked out.

The way was made plain and easy for me, and so it will be for every believer, who begins such a work with the firm convictions, that God has no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but has commanded that the gospel should be preached to every creature.

We have one great advantage in this work, that is, that almost without exception, deaf-mutes are warm in their affections, when they feel that they are treated with kindness and sympathy. The number of people who can occupy themselves with them, and help them, is naturally limited. In consequence, their gratitude is, as it were, focused to one point; while their feelings and thoughts, instead of being scattered among the many objects with which all the world is occupied, are confined to their own quiet circle. As they love few people, all the joy of their monotonous lives is concentrated in those few.

This makes the teaching of them quite easy. At least, such was the case with me, for, during my pleasant task, I never had reason to use an angry word, look, or gesture.

John loved me; he could not bear to see me look sad, and could not be merry himself until I smiled again. Naturally all inattention or stubbornness grieved me but when he saw that I was pleased when he was industrious, the boy needed nothing else to spur him on.

John was totally unacquainted with God; he even did not know the name. He had been taught to bow down before a cross, and before the images and paintings that adorn the Roman Catholic churches. But this always embarrassed him, because, as he told me later, he saw that they were made of wood and paper, and that he was better than they, as he could walk and see, while they could do nothing. So he did not show them any respect. But he had not the least idea of the existence of a Superior Being. One of his first questions to me was a proof of this, when he asked me if I had made the sun and moon.

It would be impossible for me to explain how, by degrees, I was able to bring to his knowledge the glorious truth, that far above us, out of sight, there is One. more dazzling than the sun, and that, that One had made the sun, moon and stars, at which he loved to gaze.

Messages of God’s Love 10/9/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 47

Now we go into Pharaoh’s court, first to listen to Joseph telling the great man that Jacob and the others were now in the land of Goshen, which maps will show you is between Cairo and the Suez Canal. Then Joseph presented five of his brothers, and Pharaoh asked them what work they were used to doing, and they told him that they were all shepherds, or cattle farmers, and would like to stay in the land of Goshen. Pharaoh turned to Joseph and told him very kindly, that his father and brothers with their families might live in the best of Egypt, and if any of the men were extra good workers they should be given charge over Pharaoh’s cattle.

Then we read of Joseph’s old father being brought in to see Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed the king. He told him rather sadly, no doubt, that he was not going to live as long as his father and grandfather had, and that he had had a troubled life and then with another blessing on Pharaoh, Jacob went away. Jacob’s life was a troubled one, surely, but he had made much of the trouble himself, by not, trying to keep close to God, and seeking to please Him in his ways. Boys and girls, and grown folks too, would save themselves much sadness and many heartaches. if they told God in prayer all about themselves, and asked Him to guide them through life, for Jesus’ sake.

Joseph now had his father and his brothers and their families near him, and we are told in the eleventh and twelfth verses how he took care of them. But the famine grew worse in Egypt and in Canaan, so that the people were starving, —not Joseph’s people, but all the others. All the money in Egypt was paid in to Joseph for food, and then the poor Egyptians exchanged their cattle and other animals for food; at last they sold themselves and their land to Joseph for Pharaoh, because they had nothing left to pay for food. How dreadful the famine must have been! Nothing grew that could be eaten for seven years. Everything depended on Joseph and his great storehouses packed with food.

God has just given us another picture of Himself, in this true story of the land of Egypt and Joseph. Does He not say to us. “Come to My Son or you will perish? There is a dreadful time coming. and Jesus is the only Saviour.” Indeed now is the time to go to Him and we cannot be saved without Him.

Messages of God’s Love 10/9/1921

A Noble Dog

ONE day a large, strong dog, ran after a boy that was walking on the property belonging to the dog’s owner.

The boy was terrified and ran as fast as he could. But the dog came nearer and nearer. The poor boy was perspiring with fright, and thought every moment that the dog would fly at him. He looked behind him continually, to see if it was near him, and while doing this, stumbled over a stone and falling heavily, broke his arm. He thought, of course that the dog would jump on him and bite him; but to his amazement, it came and looked at him, and seeing that he was hurt, ran quickly away for help.It ran to the nearest house, and by barking and Jumping about tried to let them know what had happened. But the people did not understand him. Then he returned to the boy and licked his hands and tried in every way to show his sympathy. Again he went to the house, and finally by barking and whining, forced some of the people to follow him to find out what the matter was. When they came to where the boy was, they found the dog sitting next to him, as if lie would protect him.

Dear little friends, there is something to be learned from this incident. As soon as the dog saw that his enemy was in trouble and danger, his anger suddenly changed into pity, and he tried to do him all the good he could. Have you ever done just the opposite, and were glad when something happened to a comrade that you did not like? Think how this grieves the Lord. He has said.

“Love your ‘enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you. and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44.

Messages of God’s Love 10/9/1921

The Saviour Calls!

The Saviour calls! O, come and see

What things He hath prepared for thee!

Life, love, and joy from God on high,

By Christ Himself to thee brought nigh.

The. Saviour calls O, can it be

That call has no sweet charm for thee?

Wilt thou not turn and give Him heed?

Wilt thou not think while He cloth plead?

The Saviour calls! He knows thy sin;

But trust Him now, He’ll enter in;

And He thy heart Will satisfy,

And every needed grace supply.

Messages of God’s Love 10/9/1921

The Morning Bath

WHEREVER has mother gone! She has. left Bobbie with little sister, who has just finished taking her bath, and he plunged into the tub before mother had put in some warm water. The water is too cold, so he gives vent to the shock to his nerves, by a loud call for his mamma.

Do you think mamma has forgotten him? 0, no! she had put the cold water into the tub and was going to put in some warm water, when she had to run out to see about something outside, and little Bobbie grew impatient, and climbed into the tub too soon.

How this is just like children, and grown up people, too, sometimes they lack patience, and so have to reap a bad result.

“HE THAT IS SLOW TO ANGER IS BETTER THAN THE MIGHTY; AND HE THAT RULETH HIS SPIRIT THAN HE THAT TAKETH A CITY.” Prov. 10:32

How needful is this word. Some children think it is getting big to fuss and show temper about every little thing.

Kittle Bobbie has not yet learned how ver3k foolish and sinful it is to show temper;-i- a lack of patience, and very likely when mother comes in she will reprove him for his “lack of patience”, and try to show him how much better it would have been for him if he had only waited till Mother was ready for him.

We all need to learn this lesson of patience, and it is good for us if we learn it in our young days, for if we do not, we grow worse until we get into contention with people, and then there are fights. How terrible!

What is needed is, first to take Christ as our Saviour, and then learn of Him who was the meek, lowly and patient One.

Messages of God’s Love 10/16/1921

John the Happy Deaf-Mute

(Continued.)

But I was all at once very much disturbed, on discovering that he had the symptoms of a fatal disease. I had taken him into the house, in order that I might have continually the opportunity of teaching him, but writing took up much of my time and, as I have already remarked feeling that I would soon be leaving him, I confined my instructions more to the heart than to the head.

I saw now more and more that a day must not be lost in making him acquainted with the Gospel, the glad tidings of atonement through the precious blood of Christ.

The opportunity for this remarkable conversation was given me when John showed some curiosity regarding some people who had been buried a short time before. He made signs to me that their eyes were tightly shut: would they ever open again?

I laid down my sewing, and signed to him that he must be very attentive; then I drew on a piece of paper a number of persons of all ages, and near them a large pit out of which flames were coming. I told him that this crowd of people meant himself, myself, in fact everybody, and that all must be thrown into the pit. When I showed him how God must treat those who. despise His love and reject Christ, he seemed very much cast down, and looked anxiously at me for further explanations.

I then drew a simple human form, and told him that it was the Son of God who had come down from heaven, and allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross, and suffer death, to save these people. One can easily understand, that I very much doubted if. the boy could form, a clear idea of the truth, from this sort of object-lesson traced out by drawings. It is however God’s will to use the simplest means in saving sinners, and I had immediately a proof of His power; for John, after a moment’s wondering and consideration, brought forward an objection, that gladdened me, as it showed me that he had taken hold of the great doctrine of substitution. He remarked, that the sufferer on the cross was but one person, while the ransomed were a great multitude; and he doubted if God would be satisfied with the exchange. The Lord helped me; I took off” my gold ring, put it on the table, then taking some faded flowers that were there, I broke them up in pieces,—stems, leaves and flowers-=and asked him with a smile, which he preferred, the one piece of gold, or the many bits of withered flowers? I shall never forget that moment—the beautiful, clear look of understanding—the satisfied laugh—the repeated clapping of his hands—while with excited gestures he declared that the one piece of gold was better than a room-full of withered flowers; that the former was like the One on the cross, the latter like all the men, women and children, and springing up with joy he spelt:

“One! One!”

Then looked up, and said with a lovely expression of gratitude and reverence on his face:

“Good, good One.”

After that, he brought his letters so that he could learn to spell the name, that glorious Name, which, is above every Name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow (Phil. 2:10), I taught him to spell it. I told him that the Lord Jesus Christ had been buried, that He had risen the third day, and had gone up again to His Father, and how He would also make us rise from among the dead, and take us up to be with Himself in heaven. I told him too, that the Lord Jesus could always see and hear us, and that we might continually speak to Him.

To my great, inexpressible joy I saw that my poor boy had taken for himself the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and never from that happy hour to the moment of his death did he appear to doubt the Lord’s interest in him. So beautifully did he realize the apostle’s declaration: “Ye are bought with a price,” that without knowing these words, they were what ruled his life, and protected him from sin in every form; that is to say he did not allow sin to master him, he hated it, feared and fought against it, often with tears and prayers, and that in cases that many would have considered of little importance. It is not my intention to write out John’s whole history, so I shall pass over the seven years, during which he walked with God; a quiet, gentle light, that shining amongst men, drove many to praise his heavenly Father. The arm of the Lord sustained him during the long suffering of a wasting illness; He strengthened his soul; and enabled him to continue in childlike, happy submission. In the days of his health, the Lord Jesus was daily and hourly the subject of his conversation; and later when suffering the severest pains that brought tears to my eyes when witnessing his agony, he would smile to me in a friendly way, and tell me that Jesus loved him. This thought comforted him, and lit up the Clark valley of death. The possibility of escaping hell by any other way than through the work of the Lord Jesus would appear to him as blasphemy, and to doubt the love of the Lord, he looked upon as a crime. Not everyone has the full assurance of faith, but I never saw it so wonderfully in action as it was in John’s case; and I repeat it, to the honor and glory of Divine grace, that he, who as a helpless. condemned sinner, clung to the unmerited love of his Saviour, was a wonder to all who knew him.

This is a mystery that the natural mind cannot understand. The Holy Spirit alone can teach a child of Adam to stand before God as guilty—to feel that he is entirely worthless, and filthy, while God who is of too pure eyes to behold iniquity. cannot allow sin in His presence. And then to know that the same God can be righteous, when He justifies the one who believes in Jesus; and the knowledge of this makes the believer to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us that one can be justified by faith, and not through the deeds of the law.

John’s last moments were as lovely, calm and peaceful, as the faith to which he held fast.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom: 5:1.

Messages of God’s Love 10/16/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 48

We read in chapter 47, verses 28 and following that Jacob lived to be 147 years old, and was now about to die. He would not be buried in Egypt, for he knew God’s promise that Canaan should be his country, and his children’s and no matter how pleasant it might be to be in Egypt, taken care of by his great son, Joseph, his heart was in that land across the desert where he had been born and his parents had died.

Hearing that his father was ill, and knowing that he could not live long, Joseph took his two boys, Ephraim and Manasseh to see Jacob, or Israel. as he is called in this chapter.—the name God had given him on a memorable occasion in his life.

Jacob strengthened himself, and sat upon his bed for the visit of his son and grandsons. He immediately spoke of God, and the lonely place afterward called Bethel. where God had appeared to him when he was running away from home. and what He had said to him. Promising him that land for an everlasting possession. Now Jacob said, Those two boys of yours were born in Egypt before I came here. but they are mine, the same as Reuben and Simeon; all your children belong to the family, and shall share in the inheritance.

But his thoughts went back to his great sorrow, when the much loved wife Rachel, Joseph’s and Benjamin’s mother died, and was buried at Bethlehem where so many centuries afterward Jesus was to be born. Then he asked for Joseph’s boys, that he might bless them. Feeble now, and almost blind from old age, Jacob kissed his two grandsons and put his arms around them, then he laid his hands on their heads to give them his blessing.

Joseph had placed his boys in front of Jacob so that his father’s right hand would be placed on the older one’s (Manasseh’s) head, and his left on the younger one’s (Ephraim’s) head, but Jacob crossed his hands so that his right rested on the younger boy and his left on the older. This meant that Ephraim would receive the greater blessing, and Joseph was displeased and tried to change his father’s hands, but Jacob refused. The younger brother, he said, shall be greater than the older one.

Jacob blessed Joseph too; in ‘verses 15 and 16 we are told what he said of him.

This lesson makes us think how much sadness and trouble Jacob and his mother would have saved themselves, so many years before. (Chapter 27) when they deceitfully got the oldest son’s (Esau’s) blessing for the younger one. Now God was showing how He could have the right one blessed, even when their father Joseph tried to stop it. How simple everything is, when we leave it to God.

Messages of God’s Love 10/16/1921

I Ought to Love Jesus

I OUGHT to love Jesus,” sang a little girl, as she ran down the street.

“‘Why ought you to love Jesus?” I asked her, but she only looked at me, and ran away.

All, dear boys and girls, she is like a great many children, and grown up people, too, singing words but not giving a thought to their meaning. It is quite true, we ought to love Jesus, because He loves us, He died for us.

One summer day, there was a great stir among some children; it was their Sunday-school treat, and you know the bustle there is to get ready and start in time. Then the fun in the park, the nice games, the supper.

One girl went just as happy as the others, and as well as usual she joined in the games, and no one thought of death at that moment. She had just taken hold of her sister’s hand, to join in a game, when she fell back; some thought she had fainted, but O! how sad! she was dead. I do not know whether she loved Jesus or not; if she was one of His blood-washed ones, she is singing in glory now.

“I ought .to love Jesus;” yes, for we do not know how soon He may come back again; will you be ready to meet Him? O, think of His love; He died for you, will you not trust Him?

I did not tell you about the sad, sudden death of this poor girl to frighten you, but that you may ask yourself the question, If I had been that girl, where would I have been now?

You know very well, if you have not come to the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you shall never be in His presence. O! come now, while you are young; it will be much more difficult if you wait till you are older.

Jesus is waiting for you, He wants to save you, to bless you, to make you happy.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

Messages of God’s Love 10/16/1921

Returning Home

WHAT a beautiful scene of peace and happiness. The day’s toil is over and the peaceful, patient oxen do not need to be driven home, but gladly follow their master, for they know the one who feeds them, and takes care of them, and they know too the way to the barn.

The master is happy to have his wife come to meet him with the little baby, so they can walk on to the house together, and then she will soon have supper on the table.

This world would have been a wonderful place if sin had not come into it. All is ruined as the result, and so there are more unhappy homes than happy ones. Many do not know what it is to take everything from God’s hand as the One who is using all the results of sin to teach us many lessons, and to cause us to come to Him and acknowledge Him.

Have you come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you acknowledged Him as the One who is giving you all things. and has even supplied the Saviour who is the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son?

There are many today who do not have even the intelligence of the oxen, for the oxen know their master who feeds them, and many people do not know God, and yet He gives them food and raiment, and they do not even think to give Him thanks for their food.

If we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, we then gladly, not only praise and thank Him for such a Saviour, but we will gladly thank Him for all the temporal mercies, such as, food and raiment and all the things we have in this life, for it is through Him He freely gives us all things.

“ HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” Rom. 8:32

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

The Ground of Assurance

“How do you know that your sins are forgiven?” I asked a dear Christian one evening.

“Christ is at God’s right hand!” was the ready answer. “You see,” she continued, willing to explain her assurance in a way that would make it quite clear to me, “Christ bore all my sins on the cross;. He finished the whole work there, so God raised Him from. the dead, and set Him at His right hand in heaven. If He had not quite finished the work, God could not have raised Him from the dead.”

“But,” said another, “God might have raised Him from the dead, and never let us know that He had clone so.”

“O!” said our friend, “What a dreadful thing that would be for us! Then we might think that we ought to do a little bit of work ourselves, in case the Lord’s work was not sufficient. But now we know that Christ is at God’s right hand, so all the work is finished, and we have nothing to do but believe it!”

“It is finished.” John 19:30.

“When He had by Himself purged our sins, He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb. 1:3.

“All that believe arc justified from all things.” Acts 13:39.

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

Faith in God

“There shall be showers of blessing. Ezek. 34:26.

THESE words remind me of a little incident which took place some years ago. The farmers had been suffering much for want of rain. The lovely cornfields and hedgerows all seemed to be crying out, as we say, for the sweet refreshing showers. At last the hearts of the distressed husbandmen turned in the right direction, and they agreed to come together on a certain day expressly for the purpose of asking God. if it was His will, to send the longed-for rain.

The day on which their meeting took place was as bright and cloudless as usual, yet a little girl was noticed carrying with her a big umbrella. She knew the object of the farmers was to entreat God in prayer for something which she well knew He was able to supply, and she believed He would assuredly answer their petitions.

Hence she came well provided for the answer, in full confidence in the goodness of her Father in heaven, knowing, too, that in His precious Word it is written,

“Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:22.

The simplicity of the child soon drew the attention of “the company, few of whom had come so provided, but nothing daunted, in she went. There was much real prayer and waiting upon God in the assembly, and “He heard in heaven, His dwelling place.” As the scripture says, “While they were yet speaking,” the answer came. Before the meeting broke up the refreshing rain poured down in copious showers. How were their hearts filled with thankfulness and gratitude. He gives liberally and bountifully. These were indeed “showers of blessing” to them.

But what about the little girl? She alone was really expecting a blessing so immediate and so abounding. The farmers were rebuked by the faith of this child. They had not expected so instant an answer from God, and while deeply grateful, were somewhat astounded by its suddenness. They never forgot the lesson they learned that day, and their confidence in God was strengthened by the conduct of the little girl.

May this true story of a child’s faith encourage all our hearts to cling to Him who gave His blessed Son for us, and who has promised that He will “with Him also freely give us all things“, even the refreshing “rain from heaven, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 49

In this chapter Jacob told his sons about themselves, what kind of men they had been and would be, and as he spoke to them, the past must have come into their thoughts more than once. Reuben he reminded of a wrong he had clone; Simeon and Levi heard again about their murdering all those people at Shechem. As they had been, so they would be, but Judah heard a different message. The Lord Jesus was to be of the tribe of Judah, when the time Should come that He should be born into the world, and so, though Judah was probably as bad as the others, the Holy Spirit who is the author of the Bible, thinks of Him first.

We are nearing the end of the first book of the Bible; let us turn to the last book, the Revelation, chapter 5, verse 5, to find one of the many names of the Lord,—”the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Now back to Genesis 49; we can see Who is meant in the words to Judah in verses 8 to 12; it• is Jesus. He is the One to be praised, the conqueror, “and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” But we know what happened; Jesus was refused by His people, the Jews, and crucified. “We will not have this man to reign over us,” they said.

Jacob’s words to Zebulun tell of the after history of the nation. They would not remain a separate people, but mixed with their Gentile neighbors. To Issachar he tells of their serving the Gen: tiles, their national home, the Holy Land, taken from them, just as it is today. Jacob’s words to Dan tell of worse times for the. Jews, a time that has not yet come in their history, but Gad, Asher and Naphtali speak of liberty and blessing to follow when the One whom Joseph and Benjamin were pictures or types of, (the Lord Jesus) shall come again to this world. There is a glorious time coming, when Jesus shall be owned as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, but there is a dreadful time to come before that, the word of God tells us.

Jacob charged his sons to bury him in the cave in the field, far away in the land of Palestine, which Abraham had bought for a burying place, and then he died. He was a stranger in Egypt, and knew no home but the one God had promised.

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

The Busy Ants

I AM going to tell you a little about those active insects, called ants, and which, in summer-time, we see in the gardens and fields in such great numbers. How busy they are. running in all directions! What a confused mass they look to us—all in a commotion about nothing, we should say, if we did not know otherwise.

But we need not long remain in ignorance as to the habits of this little creature. If our clever naturalists had not found out their ways, by carefully watching them, and examining their curiously-built houses, if we have learned nothing from these men, we still have the Bible, and what it tells us respecting the ants.

We read of four things that are little upon the earth, and yet they are exceeding wise. The ants are one of these four. They are a people not strong, yet prepare they their food in summer. We can readily understand that they are not strong, for the tiny foot of my youngest reader would crush hundreds, if its owner were to step on a group of them.. But they are exceeding wise, for they prepare their food in summer. That is to say, while the sun shines, and the weather is dry and warm, they are running hither and thither, collecting and storing all the food they can find, so that, when winter has come, and the frost or snow lies upon the ground, they can stay in their nests, and live on the food thus prepared. If they neglected to get the food in summer, the cold of winter would assuredly kill them, as they issued forth in quest of it.

Scripture also says, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard. consider her ways, and be wise.” Now let us consider her ways for ourselves, that we, like them, may be wise. Their wisdom consists in preparing for the future, and truly they are very much in earnest about this. If we, then, are to be like them, we must think of the future, during the present summer-time, or day of grace. God provides for the needs of the ants, and they seize the opportunity He gives them, and store up that which will be life in the future to them.

God also has provided for our needs—our great needs—not only the needs of our bodies, but the far higher requirements of our souls, and He tells us in His own Word how we may be preserved from the dread winter that is to come to this poor world.

Christ is God’s provision for us, and He calls on us to lay hold on eternal life, through faith in His dear Son.

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

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

And The Door Was Shut

A YOUNG lady went to visit her uncle and aunt, and as she was not saved, she was made the subject of special prayer. On the second Sunday of her visit she was at the gospel meeting, and sat on the front seat.

The strangely fixed expression of her face attracted us while preaching, and this we understood when we returned to the house, as we found she was anxious about her soul.

On presenting the gospel to her she found peace in believing that “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.” She then told us that she had not beard the sermon which we had supposed to have been the means of her conviction. The text we spoke from was, “And the door was shut.” This Scripture went straight to her heart with such power that there was no room for any other words to follow it. Through the solemn words the Spirit of God awakened her to her danger, and persuaded her to flee to the Christ set before her in the gospel.

We never met her again, but had an opportunity of reading a letter, sent to a friend, in which her trust in Christ, and zeal in His service, distinctly manifested that old things had passed away and all things had become new.

To accept the Lord Jesus Christ as He is offered in the gospel, is to accept life. Whoever, whatever, and wherever you are,

“Hear and your soul shall live.”

“This is the record, that God hath given us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son.”

If God is now speaking “Words whereby we may be saved,” there can be nothing to wait for, unless it he the change to willingness or belief, and for this, no course of education or experience will avail, but immediate submission and simple trust in the Lord Jesus. Many who do not see this, waste in sorrowful and Useless self-discipline the years that might have been spent in joyful assurance and fruitful service.

Messages of God’s Love 10/23/1921

The Thief

POOR little Fido, as we will call him, does not understand that he is doing wrong, and indeed he is not responsible. He is hungry and has found a good chance to help himself to a big bite, and so he is off with it as fast as he can go because his young master is after him with the well-worn butcher knife. He can out run his master, so there is no fear about his getting his fill very soon in some secluded place.

How different all this is from ourselves. We know we are responsible beings, and we know it would be very wrong for us to take anything that does not belong to us, and it would be a direct disobedience to God’s command—”Thou shalt not steal.” So it would not only be a wrong thing to do, but doubly wrong because God has told us not to do such a thing,

God wants us to pay attention to His Word and to fear Him, so He has said, “To this man will I. look, even to Him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word.” Isa, 66:2.

If we take God’s Word as our guide, it will be good for us, for we shall then be preserved from ninny sorrows. It can make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

“THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.” Ps. 119:105

May we each one be glad to take it so, and rejoice. first in having it as that which has made .us wise unto salvation, and then go according to its precepts, and find happiness for our path.

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

A Mother's Love

MANY years ago there lived in one of the eastern States a woman with her little boy Johnnie; he was her only child.

The times were bad; her husband left for California, to try and earn better wages there. After months of uncertainty, the expected letter arrived, in which he wrote that he had good prospects, and wished his wife and child to join him at the very first opportunity, so they started for Nev York, and took a boat for California. Sailing out of the beautiful harbor, coasting alongside of Staten Island, all nature seemed to smile at them and filled their hearts with glad expectation.

After two or three days they lost sight of land, and to the far horizon there was nothing to be seen, nothing but the wide ocean.

Johnnie sat on deck beside his mother, when all at once he jumped up in great alarm, hearing the anxious cries of the passengers and crew. The ship was on fire. In spite of all their efforts to .extinguish it, the flames rose up, and the worst of it was, that there were barrels of gunpowder on board. When all hope was over, the captain ordered the boats to be lowered. The last boat was let down and soon filled.

At this moment the mother ran with her little boy to the side of the vessel, imploring to be let into the boat.

“The boat is too full; no room for any more,” was called out by twenty voices, while the oars splashed in the water. The poor woman turned back in despair, and the deck was already in flames.

But the heart of one of the men was softened by her prayers, and the anxious look of the little fellow, who clung to his mother.

“Comrades” he cried, “it is cruel to leave that woman and child to their fate, without making an effort to save them; let us make room for them!”

“We cannot take two; it is impossible to take more than one, and hurry up,” they called out.

The mother looked at her child; he was dearer to her than her own life; she clasped him in her arms, and said:

“Johnnie if you reach California, and see your father again, give him your dying mother’s love, I shall remain on the burning ship, to save you. Good-bye! May God guard you, my precious child!” He kissed his mother, and with a last “farewell” was taken into the boat.

Would he ever forget her last words? Would the impression of her last loving glance not be engraved deeper in his soul, than the flames of the burning ship? Yes, surely, for when I met in California the same boy, then a young man, and said to him,

“John! do you remember your mother?”

“How could I ever forget her?” he answered. But a mother’s love is only a shadow, and fades before that of the Lord Jesus, who gave Himself for His enemies.

The love that Jesus had for me,

To suffer on the cruel tree,

That I, a ransomed soul might be,

Is more than tongue can tell.

The bitter sorrow that He bore,

And O, the crown of thorns He wore,

That I might live forever more,

Is more than tongue can tell.

The peace I have in Him, my Lord,

Who pleads before the throne of God

The merit of His precious blood,

Is more than tongue can tell.

The joy that comes when He is near,

The rest He gives, so free from fear,

The hope in Him, so bright and clear,

Is more than tongue can tell.

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

Bible Lessons

Genesis 50

I think we should have liked Joseph very much if we had known him as God’s word tells us about him How kind he was, and how loving, even to those bad brothers of his who were so mean to hint when they had a chance to be. How tender his feelings were, too, we have seen in the record of his tears when he saw his brothers beginning to feel how wicked they were, and when Benjamin came down to Egypt; again when the brothers were feeling more and more their sin, and now in this last chapter of Joseph’s life and of the book of Genesis, we see him first weeping over his dead father, and again afterward when his brothers were afraid he would hate them. In all these things Joseph was like the Lord Jesus, who loved his enemies, but He, only, died for them, the Just One for the unjust ones, to bring us to God.

A great company of Jacob’s children and grandchildren, besides Egyptians, went with Jacob’s body to the cave in the field where the bodies of his parents and grandparents were buried, far away in the land that God had promised, for Jacob wanted his body to lie there to wait for the resurrection day.

When the funeral was over, Joseph’s brothers were afraid that he would now turn against them. They thought that he might very likely try to pay them back for what they had done to him, and first they sent a messenger to Joseph to ask him to forgive them. This hurt Joseph, because he had only kind thoughts about his brothers, and he wept. Still the brothers were not at rest, and they went to Joseph and fell down before him.

Joseph spoke to them that they should not be afraid; he would take care of them and of their little ones. He comforted them and said very kind words to them. But it must have been hard for them to believe that Joseph could really forgive them for all their wickedness, and never bring it up any more. God has said that about us, who believe in Jesus,

“And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17. Our badness should make Him never forget, but He says He will never remember. Have you confessed your sins to Him?

Joseph, when he died, told his people that God would surely visit them, and bring them out of Egypt, back to the land He had promised to Abraham. Isaac and Jacob. Joseph made them promise to take his bones with them, whenever God would lead them back to Canaan. Not all his honors in Egypt changed Joseph; his thoughts were on . God’s word, God’s promises, God’s country and I am sure too, that he was thinking of the resurrection day. Hebrews 11:22 Says, “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel. and gave commandment concerning his bones.”

Soon the “dead in Christ” shall rise from the dust, and with them, we the living who remain, shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob with the Lord.

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

Childish Faith

ONE day a man was walking along a road with his little boy, where there were cows that were being driven to market. One of the animals took it into its head to turn around to the path where they were walking. The driver tried with his stick to make it come back, but the stubborn creature had just decided to go that way and no other,. and it ran straight to the little boy. Its great head and horns were close to him; its rough breast was rubbing the top of his head, and its hard hoofs were almost on his little feet. But the little fellow did not move an inch; he did not cry out he was not the least bit afraid: but with his hand in his father’s stood there calm and quiet, without the least trace of fear in his face. With the greatest effort the father succeeded in turning the creature’s head to one side, and they passed by safely.

When they reached home the fore-going incident was related, and the family were not a little astonished at the quietness and calmness that the little fellow, had shown under the circumstances.

“I’m surprised, that you were not terrified,” said his mother.

“Terrified!” the child cried out with astonishment. “Why? wasn’t father holding my hand?”

The boy said this with such assurance. that the mother was satisfied, and said no more.

Now, dear young readers, is there not an important lesson for you in this little story? If you always had the consciousness of the presence of your heavenly Father, and if you had the same trust in Him, would you not be very happy? And who can have that trust in their heavenly Father? Only those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus. To believe in the Lord Jesus is to believe that His precious blood has taken .away all your sins; for although you are young, you are a sinner, and need the blood of Christ as much as the oldest and most godless sinner that ever lived. And if you do not trust that precious blood, you cannot be happy in this world; but if you go to the Lord Jesus, then all your sins will be washed away by His precious blood, and you will be saved for all eternity. Heaven is then your home, and God is your Father! Then you can trust Him in every circumstance and say, “My Father is holding my hand.”

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

Take Me Into The Light

A DEAR little three-year-old boy who had lost his sight through an accident could not at first get used to being in the dark. He did not realize what had occurred, so day after day he used to plead with his mother, “Mother, take me out into the light! Take me out into the light!”

And we poor sinners, sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, long for the light. And Jesus says: “I am the Light of the World.” We look to Him and our faces are lightened—the darkness passes, the true light shines,. and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

O, Children! Have You Thought Of This?

Never to be invited more

To enter by the open door,

Never to see the Saviour’s face,

Never to share His wondrous place,

Never to feel the Father’s kiss

0 children! have you thought of this?

Never to thank Him for His love,

Never to dwell with Him above,

Never His likeness true to bear,

Never His glory bright to share;

And joy at His right hand to miss-

O children! have you thought of this?

Never to hear His praises ring,

Never with saints above to sing;

But Christless, in that awful throng

Who to the realms of woe belong;

Never to taste of endless bliss-

O children! have you thought of this?

Into the depths of endless woe

Rejectors of the Saviour go;

Forbid the thought that you, who read,

Should longer have no sense of need

Of th’ only way to realms of bliss—-

O children! have you thought of this?

Messages of God’s Love 10/30/1921

Bible Questions for November

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“And again He went,” etc. Mark 14:39.

“And He said unto them,” etc. “ 9:29.

“Therefore I say unto you,” etc. “ 11:24.

“And in the morning,” etc. “ 1:35.

“And when ye stand,” etc. “ 11:25.

“And when He had sent,” etc. . ” 6:46.

“And He went forward,” etc. “ 14:35.

Bible Questions for November

The Answers are to be found in John.

Write in full the verse containing the words, “I am not come of Myself.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “The Father hath sanctified.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Which is in heaven.”

‘Write in full the verse containing the words, “Where He was before.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Seeth Him that sent Me.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Come from God.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Came forth from the Father.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

An Invitation

IF my little readers will open their. Bibles at Matthew 11:28, you will read of an invitation. You know what the word means, do you not?

When it is your birthday, mother says you may ask a little friend of yours to come and have tea with you. The act of asking your friend is an invitation. Now the verse before is contains an invitation from the children’s Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, asking those who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him.

Many children are laboring, not with their hands, but with trying to save themselves; but you can never save yourselves, dear children; if you could, Jesus would not have died.

What is it to be heavy laden? You are sent to a store sometimes for errands, and you find the load heavy as you go home. How glad you are if a little friend offers to help you!

Now all who are not saved are carrying a burden of sins, and it is those that the blessed Saviour invites to come to Him. After reaching home with your parcels how good it is to rest. But better is the rest given by the Saviour. May you, my children, come to Him, so that you can truly say,

“I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary and worn and sad,

I found in Him a resting-place,

And He has made me glad.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 1

In Genesis we were reading about one person at a time, generally, as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, but we shall find Exodus to be about a people, about their trials in Egypt, how God set them free, and brought them partway to their Promised Land, Canaan. This people was the children of Jacob, here called the children of Israel, and sometimes the Hebrews.

They had gone, you remember, to Egypt because of the fearful famine that left thousands of people without food, and there they had been taken care of by Joseph, their brother, who was next to Pharaoh himself, the king of Egypt. But now Joseph was dead, and all those we read of in the closing chapter of Genesis.

After the children of Israel came to live in Egypt, they grew in number very fast. More and more babies were born, until the country began to be full of these strangers from Palestine, and the Egyptians were not pleased. A new king was over the land of Egypt, and what Joseph had done for the country was perhaps forgotten now. The king saw that Joseph’s people were soon going to be more in number than the Egyptians, and he thought that if there should be a war between Egypt and some other nation, the children of Israel would very likely help their enemies, so he said to his people, “Let us deal wisely with them,” and they set men over them to make them work hard, building two cities at least. Perhaps you will like to know that explorers discovered one of these cities, Pithom, about thirty-five years ago, it was in the land of Goshen, the part of Egypt in which the people of Israel lived.

But the more severely the taskmasters treated the poor slaves (for that is what the children of Israel were made by the Egyptians) the more they increased in number. The Egyptians made the lives of the Israelites bitter, so hard did they have to work, and not that only, but the king said that all the boy babies that were born to the slaves must be killed. The nurses feared God., and would not kill the babies, and God gave the poor women homes of their own. Never a thing is done for God that He does not remember.

Still, with all the king’s orders to make the children of Israel work as hard as possible, (and no doubt his taskmasters were very cruel) so that many of them almost wished to die, God took care of them, and more and more babies were given to them. Pharaoh now told his own people, since the Hebrew nurses did not kill the new born babies, that they must throw the boy babies into the river. Perhaps the mothers were able to hide their babies so that the cruel Egyptians could not find them. We hope none of the little boys were drowned, or eaten by the crocodiles.

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

The Boy and His Boat

POOR man, on going home from his work one day, seeing his little son occupied in cutting a piece of wood, said to him,

“Well, Arthur, my boy, what are you so busy about?’’

“I am cutting out a boat, father,” he replied, “from this fine piece of wood.” “Cutting out a boat!”

“Yes, father, and when it is finished you shall see how pretty it will look on the water.”

“No doubt,” said the father, “it will be a pretty sight. But where did you get the piece of wood? I did not know that I had a piece so large as that.”

“I found it, father,” replied the boy. “You found it! Where did you find it?”

“I picked it up at Mr. Sawyer’s wood-yard, as I came from school.” .

“But who told you to take it?’’

“No one, father; there was no one there to tell me to take it.”

“Was it inside or outside the gate?”

“It was inside, but the gate was open a little way.”

“And so you went in and took it?”

“Yes, father.”

“O! Arthur, Arthur, how you grieve me. I little thought that a little son of mine would ever be a thief.”

“O! father, not a thief; I did not steal the piece of wood.”

“Yes, my boy, you did. You took out of Mr. Sawyer’s yard that which was not your own, and which no one ever gave you permission to take, and that is stealing. O! my son, you make me very, very sad.”

By this time the boy was very unhappy too; and the pleasure which he pictured to himself that he should have with his boat, had all fled.

The father, who was a Christian, and an upright, honest man, was, after this conversation, silent for a few seconds, considering what was the best way to deal with his erring son. At length he said. “Arthur, take up that piece of wood, and come along with me to Mr. Sawyer’s.”

In vain poor Arthur, cried, and entreated to be spared this humiliation. The father loved his son too well to yield on so important an occasion as this; so. although the dinner was waiting for them on the table, they left it and went together to Mr. Sawyer, to whom the boy was obliged to make a humble acknowledgment of the dishonest act which he had committed. The father did not punish him further for this offence, thinking, no doubt, that the shame which he had suffered was sufficiently severe, and that he would not be likely soon to forget it.

That boy afterwards became a man, and the father of a family, and in the midst of many temptations, through which he had to pass, was scrupulously honest and conscientious in his dealings with others.

Who shall say how much the apparently severe act of discipline exercised by his really kind father towards him, may have contributed to such a result? At all events, he himself attached great value to it, and frequently expressed his thankfulness that his father had been so firm with him on that special occasion.

It is indeed a blessing for children to be brought up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” 0, dear children, do not turn against the blessed teaching about Jesus, and His wondrous love to us. But accept Him now as your very own Saviour, while He is still waiting for you to come to Him in simple faith.

“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 ahideth on him.” John 3:36.

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

A Child of the Field

PLAY generally marks a child in all countries and in all generations, but in our picture this week we have a girl, who has been busy at work in the field, and instead of having her energies spent in play, she has given her strength, and received her exercise, in doing that which is for profit. In other words she is making herself useful, and helping her parents who are poor.

How many of my young readers, I wonder, think of how they may be of help to others. So many are selfish, and only think of their own pleasure, and are even forgetful of their mother’s many duties, and only add to them by their carelessness with their clothes.

If we want to see the perfect pattern for our conduct, we must look at the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the only One who was perfect in all His ways. There is not much given to us about Him when He was a child, but there is one very important thing given to us, and that is that He was subject to His parents. He was the only One who knew better than His parents, because He was God, as well as a little child, nevertheless He was always obedient to them.

He was the One who knew what it was to give up all that He had, even His life, for us poor sinners, so it was the opposite of selfishness with Him, so the Scripture says,

“WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.” Rom. 5:6.

May all who have accepted Him as their Saviour, seek in every way to be more like Him.

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

His Unchanging Love

I ought to love the Saviour!

No earthly friend can be

One half so kind and faithful

As He has been to me.

Before my lips could utter.

His sweet and precious name,

Until this present moment,

His love has been the same.

He left His home in glory

To save my soul from death;

And now, in all life’s dangers,

He still sustains my breath:

I lay me down and slumber,

All through the hours of night,

And wake again in safety

To hail the morning light.

And when I reach the mansion

He has prepared for me.

‘Twill be my grateful pleasure

My Saviour’s face to see;

And ‘mid the angels’ music

Which then will greet my ear,

How-eagerly I’ll listen

My Saviour’s voice to hear!

Messages of God’s Love 11/6/1921

Dear Little Winona

WHAT do you think of this little girl? Don’t you think she looks very pretty in her beautifully laundered summer dress, and her carefully brushed hair? Surely, we can detect a mother’s love in this, and in fact, she looks like a girl of whom any mother may justly be very proud, at least, that is what we thought when she came into our Sunday-school some few Sundays ago.

Her name was Winona, and she was eight years old, but now—, but I am getting on too fast. She not only looked pretty, but we were so attracted by her bright and intelligent answers to our questions, Lord’s day after Lord’s day.

Do you know dear children. that there is nothing that gladdens the heart of your teachers as when you are giving attention to the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

On this particular Sunday, our text from the “Messages of Love” was “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

She fully understood the difference between wages and gift.

Do you, my dear young readers, know that every one of you who have not yet come to Jesus, and put your trust in Him—yes, every one may receive your wages in full, which is death, but my heart’s prayer is that many of you may learn to know that Jesus received those wages instead of you.

In closing the Sunday-school, we sang, “Jesus Loves Me,” and dear little Winona sang it so heartily. During the day she gathered her playmates into her yard, and she had them sing, “Jesus Loves Me,” until the neighbors stopped them.

This reminds me that it is not the first time that children have been stopped from singing of Jesus. In Matt. 21:15 they sing, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The chief priests and scribes want to stop them, but Jesus said, “Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?”

Why, even the disciples of Jesus did not want the children to come and bother Jesus with their presence, when their mammas brought them to Him to be blessed of Him. Can you tell me what happened? Did not the hindrance only seem to bring out those precious words of grace and love from the lips of our blessed Lord Himself? those words which I suppose most of you have known for a long time, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the Kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

We remember, on that same Lord’s day, we spoke of the uncertainty of life, the uncertainty of seeing each other again, even for the next Sunday.

O, dear children! how true it is! Now is the time to come to Jesus, NOW! The day of grace will soon be over for the lost ones: and tomorrow we (that is, God’s people) may not be here, but be caught up to be forever with our Lord.

Only a part of one more day was left for this .dear, bright little girl, for on the next afternoon, while she was in the yard playing with her dolls, and other little girls, her mother called her into the house. As she went, she said to one of her little playmates, “Hold my dolly till I come back.”

She was never seen by them alive again. She took suddenly ill, and in a few hours was gone to be with the Lord who had so loved her, and she had been glad to sing of His love to her.

Now, dear children, if you had been taken so suddenly, would you have gone to be with the Lord? Are you happy in singing, “Jesus Loves Me”?

“BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Tomorrow for you and me may be the dawn of eternity. Where shall you spend it? I shall be with the Lord Jesus Christ, will you?

Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 2

Not here, but in the sixth chapter, we find the names of the father and mother of a baby who grew to be a very great man. Amram was a grandson of Levi, one of Jacob’s sons, and Jochebed belonged to the same family. We do not know how many children they had, but the baby that we read about the first thing in this chapter, was not the first child. There was an older boy, named Aaron, and a sister too, whose name was Miriam, and this baby’s name was Moses. We read about all three of these children of Amram and Jochebed in chapters that follow this one, but of Moses we learn something in nearly every chapter, and he it was to whom God gave the work of writing the first five books of the Bible.

When Moses was born, the king had said that all the boy babies that belonged to the children of Israel must be thrown into the river, and Jochebed, to save her baby from death, hid him for three months. When she thought she could not hide Moses any longer, she took a kind of basket, called an ark, made of bulrushes, or reeds, that grew by the water’s edge, which she made water tight with resin and pitch. In this the mother put her baby, and laid it among the weeds on the bank of the river. ‘ Then she must have gone home to pray, and wait to see what God would do. From what we are told in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, verse 23, we know that both the parents of this baby believed God, and trusted in His word, and though it must have been very hard for Jochebed to put her child in the ark of bulrushes and go away, we may be sure that she knew that God would see that no harm came to him.

If Moses’ mother was out of sight of the ark, his sister was not, though she stood a long way off, waiting and watching to see what would happen to her little brother. After a while the daughter of Pharaoh came down to the river with her maidens to wash, and they walked along the river’s side. Then the lady saw the ark, and perhaps she was curious to know what might be inside of it. She sent one of the maids to get it, and when it was opened, there lay a little baby, and it was crying! “Poor little thing,” thought the princess, “this is one of the Hebrews’ children, one of the boy babies that were to be killed,” and she felt so sorry for it, that she could only think of keeping the baby for herself.

By this time Moses’ sister had come to the place where the princess, and her maids, and the baby were, and she said, “Shall I go and call a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?” And that led to her bringing her mother, Moses’ mother, who got her baby back again, now to be nursed for Pharaoh’s palace. A few years after this, Moses, now a boy of perhaps six or seven, went to school where he was taught all that the Egyptians could teach him (Acts 7:22), but we are taken next to see him when forty years old.

Though he lived in a king’s palace, Moses did not forget his own people, and one day he went to visit them. When he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand. He thought his people would understand that God was going to deliver them by him., but when, the next day, Moses tried to stop two Hebrew men fighting, one of them said, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Intendest thou to kill me as thou killest the Egyptian?” Soon Pharaoh heard of what Moses had done, and tried to kill him,- so Moses went away to the land of Midian. God’s time had not come yet, for the people to be set free, and forty more years rolled by during which Moses was a stranger in a foreign land, where he was married to Zipporah, and a baby was born, whose name was Gershom, “a stranger here.” After forly years as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and forty years tending sheep in Midian, Moses knew himself only as one of God’s chosen people, the children of Israel, and thought of them in their sadness in Egypt.

But not only Moses, One far greater than he, was thinking of the children of Israel, hearing their groans, and their sighs, and soon God would punish their wicked oppressors, and bring them out of Egypt.

Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1921

A Parallel To "Daniel In The Lion's Den"

JOHN Scudder, when journeying through forests and jungles, was attacked by jungle fever, and his death seemed imminent. His wife was urged to travel day and night if she wished to see him alive. Accompanied by her son and native porters, Mrs. Scudder began the perilous journey. Of this trip a friend wrote:

“In the worst part of the jungle road, as night drew on, the bearers became intimidated at the sound of wild beasts roaring after their prey, and suddenly fled, leaving Mrs. Scudder and her little one exposed to the most horrible death, and with none to protect them but Daniel’s God. “What could she do?” There was but one thing. She held her little one by the hand, and spent that night on her knees in prayer. She heard the heavy tread of elephants, which could have trampled her and her little one to death. Then came the growl of tigers and other ravenous beasts; the sound approaching and then receding. They seemed to be circling around the little spot where she knelt, ready to spring upon their prey. But God. . . sent His angels, in answer to prayer, to guard these. His dear ones, from the death they dreaded. So they passed the night. Morning came and the cowardly bearers returned and resumed their burden.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1921

What the Coney Teaches

I EXPECT you do not know very much about conies. They are about the size of rabbits, but cannot burrow, as they have-no claws, only nails half developed. They lie in holes in the rocks, and feed only at dawn and dusk. They always have sentries posted by their holes, and at the slightest squeak from them the whole party run away out of sight.

Nov, I want you to find that verse in Proverbs 30. which tells about the conies. It is verse 26: “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” It seems as if they can give us all a lesson in building, and at once we think of the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27 about the same subject.

I think we are all building houses for the future, and day by day the bricks go in and the building grows, although we cannot see it. But you will say to me—”What do you mean?” Let me tell you. By the bricks, I mean our actions day by day; sometimes we build bricks of selfishness and pride, and many other ugly. things, and we build upon the sand foundation, so that our house is sure tr, be swept away, it will not stand the storm.

But then the conies teach us to build in the rock, and the Lord Jesus tells us that the house which is built upon a rock will stand when the storm comes, and nothing can shake it. We know that the Lord Jesus is the only sure foundation, the rock or stone which we read of in Isaiah 28:16. and in 1 Peter 2:6. If you have believed on Him, then you are building your house upon the rock; and when the storm of God’s judgment comes, you will have nothing to fear.

Then I want you to think again of the bricks you should be building; they are like the fruit of the Spirit, spoken of in Gal. 5:22, 23, bricks of love, joy, peace, and many other things.

Will you ask God to help you to show forth more of these things in your daily life?

Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1921

Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild

Gentle Jesus, meek and mild.

Look upon a little child;

Thou wouldst have me come to Thee,

And Thine own dear lamb to be.

Fain I would by Thee be brought,

Gracious Lord, though I am naught,

In the kingdom of Thy grace.

Thou wilt give Thy child a place.

Thou wouldst have me richly blest

In Thy love and righteousness;

Keep me safe from every ill,

Keep me to fulfill Thy will.

Then I shall so happy be,

Loving, serving, learning Thee;

Till I see Thy glorious face,

Radiant in that blissful place.

Messages of God’s Love 11/13/1921

The Beginning and the End

WOW pleased grandma is with her little grandchild; she has even given him a toy before he was out of bed.

We do not only see in this picture, grandma’s love for her little child, but we cannot help but think of the beginning and end of life. The little child has just begun, and is round and plump, but. it will only be a few years when he shall be considered old, and his hair will bet-ray, and face wrinkled just like grandma’s now. She can think back, and remember well. when she was a little child, although not quite as young as her grandchild, and it seems a short time to her.

That is the way with this life: it will soon be a thing of the past.

It is good to consider this, for God has shown to us in His Word that there is an eternity to be spent by us, either in heaven or in hell. This then is what is of importance, and we each one may well ask ourselves the question, Where shall I spend eternity?

The Lord Jesus came into this world to save sinners by dying for them, and He rose again, and is coming hack to take all His own to be with Himself, and they shall spend eternity with Him.

Are you one of His own? If you can say, “Yes, He died for the ungodly, So therefore He died for me,- then you can say, “I am one of His own.”

The Lord Jesus. says:

“I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH.” John 10:28.

The one who is without Him must perish, and spend eternity without Him in outer darkness. Which is your choice?

If you have Christ as your Saviour, it will not matter whether you enter eternity young or old, for it will be eternal bliss for. you, with Christ in glory.

Messages of God’s Love 11/20/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 3

Some boys and girls get anxious to be through with school before their parents think they should say a final good bye to teachers and school days, but Moses went to school for eighty years, or nearly that long. For most of the first forty years he was going to an Egyptian school, and that they taught him well. you will see if you turn to Acts. chapter 7, verse 22.

But when the Egyptians finished with him, God as we might say, had just begun; for Moses had still to be taught how to lead the children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan. He needed, among other things, to learn to depend on God, and to be ready to do what He wished, and not to please himself. Moses, too, needed to learn to be meek and patient, so that God could use him. None of these things could have been taught in the schools of Egypt, and he learned them alone with God and the sheep in the desert.

But how long the years must have seemed to Moses, those forty years with the sheep in the desert! At last they came to an end, when one day he saw a very strange thing. He had taken the sheep to Mount Horeb (which is also called Mount Sinai), and there saw a bush burning, but not burned away.

Moses said, just as we would have, “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” Then there was something more wonderful.— a voice, calling him by his name, “Moses, Moses!” It was no less than God Himself, come down to speak to him. Moses had to take off his shoes, and not to come too close to the burning bush, for it was the place where God was.

To come near to God, we must be like Him, but we are born sinners, and sometimes, especially those who are not saved, sin a good deal. God never makes friends with sin, but He loves ‘the sinners, and long after” Moses’ time, He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to bear the punishment of our sins, as many as believe in Him.

Now God invites those who trust in Jesus to “draw near,” as well as to “enter into the holiest” by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22). He wants us to know Him better than we do. But we must confess our sins to Him, before we can be happy.

Do you remember how God came to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? And then to Abraham as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day? After this visit we read of yet other visits: one in the end of the fifth chapter of Joshua shows us God as the head of an army. Every time, it is in a way that just suits the occasion, and so here, it is that God is seen as a fire out of the middle of a bush, but the bush not consumed. The children of Israel were like a poor desert bush, but God would make His home among them.

Had the poor slaves in Egypt suffered so. cruelly as we have been reading, and God did not notice, did not care? No indeed; He’ had seen the affliction of His people, and had heard their cry, as the seventh verse says.

But there was more to be told to Moses: God was “come down” to deliver them, and to bring them to a good land, even the one promised hundreds of years before to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. Moses, too, was to be sent to tell Pharaoh, and to bring the people out of Egypt, but he who was, forty years before this, quick to act for his people, now said, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

From the thirteenth verse, we learn that the people had about forgotten the true God, who now called Himself the “I AM.” Pharaoh would not willingly let them go, but when God had punished him, he would permit them to leave, and the Egyptians would even give them jewelry and clothes when they left Egypt, so glad would they be to get them away out of their country. In the last verse of this chapter where the word “borrow” is used, we should read “ask”, because that is the true meaning of the word translated “borrow.”

Messages of God’s Love 11/20/1921

Loosen Their Chains

In one of the havens of the Bermuda Islands, some years ago, a ship lay at anchor, and the crew were preparing for their return trip to England.

Affairs had been arranged satisfactorily, and the captain was hastening to take the well-laden ship home. With a cheerful countenance, he walked backwards and forwards on deck, speaking a word of encouragement to this sturdy sailor, and some orders about the cargo to another. At the first glance one could see that there was a perfect understanding between the captain and his crew.

At this moment a cutter approached the wharf, and soon lay alongside the vessel. A tall commanding figure in the uniform of a chief officer, came up to the captain, and said;

“Captain, I have been requested to inform you, that you are to take with you two prisoners, soldiers, the worst cases in the island. They are bound hand and foot with chains, and you will do well to keep them so during the whole voyage.”

“If that is so,” answered the captain, “then I refuse to take them.”

“That won’t help you much,” returned the other; “here are your orders. They are signed by the governor; so you have no choice.”

Unwillingly the captain took the papers, and said he would carry out the orders. The officer bowed courteously and left. Then the captain went to his cabin.

“Why do they give me these villains? What a responsibility they lay on my shoulders, and how annoying to be obliged to have such people on board for weeks together.”

Discouraged he threw himself into a chair, and sat for a long time lost in thought. By degrees he seemed to get other ideas. Deep pity for the poor unfortunates filled his soul, and the sailor hardened by wind and rain sank on his knees, and prayed to God for wisdom for the coming days. He was an upright Christian, that had learned to call on God for help in all things. Now, also, he brought to Him the matter of the prisoners, and very soon peace returned to his heart.

The following morning the sun shone in all its splendor, and everything foretold a beautiful day. All nature seemed to be decked out in festal attire. On the vessel all was activity; in a few hours the anchor would be raised. Merry songs could be heard, and the work seemed to be getting on rapidly.

Suddenly all was quiet. The cutter, that had brought the officer the day before, now came with the two prisoners. There was a horrid rattling of chains on deck. With dark, somber looks the prisoners entered their cell in the back part of the vessel, which was then well fastened up. It was only when the cutter had left, that life and activity came again into the groups of sailors. Quickly the anchor was raised, a fresh breeze caused the sails to swell, and soon the island vanished out of sight. The first day passed without any trouble. The weather remained fine. Towards evening the sharp eye of the captain noticed some dark clouds on the western horizon. His anxiety increased more and more. Suddenly he ordered all sails to be reefed. The sailors looked surprised but obeyed his orders at once. It was scarcely done, when a gale broke over them. In an instant the sky was covered with thick, heavy clouds. The rain streamed down as if all the sluices of heaven were opened. The flashes of lightning lit tip the scene, and the thunder rolled over the heads of the anxious crew.

The captain remained perfectly calm through it all. Fastened by a rope to the mast, lest he should be washed overboard by the waves, he gave his orders plainly. He commended his ship, and those on board, to God’s mercy; and his faith was rewarded. Towards the break of day the storm began to lessen, and about noon the sun was shining brightly, and the sea quite calm.

At sunset the sailors were all summoned on deck. The captain stepped forward with a Bible in his hand. In silence he glanced around the circle, then asked the mate,

“Where are our prisoners?”

“Locked up, Captain,” was the answer. “Send for them.”

There was deep silence, when the two prisoners stood before the captain.

“Loosen their chains!” he ordered. There was a moment’s hesitation, but when the captain repeated his order, it was at once obeyed. As soon as their hands were free, the captain stepped forward, and taking each by the right hand, said quietly:

“Let us pray.”

All knelt down. Utter silence reigned in the vessel, while the captain thanked God for their preservation during the night. His voice trembled as he implored God, to open the eyes of the poor stray sheep, and to lead them from the road to destruction, to the narrow path of life. When they all stood up, there was a visible change in the prisoners. The desperate expression had left their eyes. But the captain did not seem to perceive it. As usual he took the Bible, and opening it at the fifteenth chapter of Luke read the first verse, then passed it on, each one reading a verse, until it came to one of the prisoners. They were then at the eighteenth verse. For a moment he hesitated, but then read with a shaky voice: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him; Father . . . .”.

Here he stopped all at once, the words would not come, tears rolled down his cheeks, and covering his face with his hands, he wept aloud. His comrade too, tried in vain to restrain his tears. The captain picked tip the Bible which had fallen, and finished the chapter. Then in a simple, but thrilling way, he spoke of the joy in the presence of the angels in heaven —the joy of the Father over one sinner that repenteth. A prayer closed this simple gospel address. Each one went back to his work, and the captain took the prisoners to his cabin, and spoke to them of their past lives, and pointed out the One, who never yet rejected the contrite heart. He told them also, that for the remainder of the journey, they would not be chained, if they behaved well.

We will pass over some weeks without comment. As soon as they reached London, and the cargo was unloaded, the captain went to the Director of the prison, and handed over his papers.

“Where are your prisoners?” inquired the latter.

“In the van at the door.”

“Who is guarding them?”.

“Nobody.”

“Nobody?” repeated the Director in surprise. “Then they have certainly escaped.”

“I guess not,” answered the captain smiling. They then went to the prisoners, and he asked them why they had not run away.

“Well,” replied one, “in that case they would have punished you.”

“And we couldn’t allow that,” said the other, “after all the good you have done us. No, we are guilty, but when we have received our punishment, we hope to lead better lives.”

Reader! let me ask you one question: Are you still bound with the chains of sin, or delivered and washed with the blood of Jesus?

Messages of God’s Love 11/20/1921

I See You

THIS little girl has been left alone, and thinking no one saw her, has made up her mind to help herself to the sweet, ripe grapes which hang so temptingly over the edge of the dish.

She looks as if she is saying to the parrot,

“Do you see me, Polly?”

Yes, the bird sees her, and there is Another who sees her too; God’s eye is always upon us, and He sees all our actions, hears all we say. and knows all our thoughts.

Perhaps someone has taught the parrot to say the words, “I see you,” and now they bring to the little girl’s mind, the sin she is about to commit.

I hope she stopped in time, and climbed down from the chair, leaving the grapes untouched, and thus was saved from being a thief. What a good thing it was the parrot should remind the little girl of the naughty thing she was going to do in time to prevent it.

Let us ever remember that the all-seeing eye of God is always upon us where-ever we are, or whatever we are doing. “THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE IN EVERY PLACE, BEHOLDING THE EVIL AND THE GOOD.” Prov. 15:3

Is it not a good thing to be under the care of One who never slumbers? May we all know what it is to be thus kept by Him.

“He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psa. 121:3.

Messages of God’s Love 11/27/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 4

Forty years before, Moses acted for his people in his own strength; now he looks at himself, and says to God, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice.” How much better it would have been if he had simply trusted God. Still God was very patient; first he gave Moses the sign of the serpent; his rod that he carried changed to a real living snake when he threw it on the ground, but changed back to a rod when he took it by the tail.

Next, the changing of his hand to be covered with leprosy, that dreadful disease of some hot countries, and then cleansed again.

Then a third sign, the water of the river —Egypt has only one river, the Nile, and from it they get all their water,—the river should be changed to blood.

Twice again, Moses objects to going when God wishes to send him, and so at last He is displeased with him, and tells him that Aaron, his older brother, should do the speaking part. That was a loss in honor to Moses, that his brother should have to share with him, what God would have given to him alone, and Moses must have felt it afterwards.

Moses now went to his father-in-law to tell him he was going back to see his relatives in Egypt, and then directed by God to go, as all the men were dead who wanted to kill him, he set out with his wife and his sons, and the rod in his hand. But Moses had never circumcised his boy, as God had directed Abraham, in the seventeenth chapter of Genesis, and clearly Zipporah had been the cause. ror some reason it has not exactly been explained to us, but God spoke to Moses about his ways, and he obeys, and so does his wife.

Then they go on, and meet Aaron. whom God had told to go out to meet his brother, and so together they go back to Egypt, and gathering the elders of the people of Israel together, they tell them the grand news that God is just going to set them all free.

Messages of God’s Love 11/27/1921

The Blot of Ink

WHO made this blot on my note-book?” asked a teacher, when he came back in the school-room after a few moment’s absence, for he had been speaking to the mother of one of his pupils. A deep silence was the only reply to his question.

“I ask,” again said the teacher, “who made this blot on my note-book?”

At the first question forty heads were raised and looked at the teacher, but quickly cast their eyes down again, and looked at their slates. At the second question no one moved, and nothing was to be heard but the scratching of pencils.

“When a teacher asks a question,” he said, “it is the duty of the pupils to answer. One of you must be the guilty one. One of you must have left his place, perhaps to see the answer to his sum in my book. My pen was full of ink, and he must have let it fall, and so the blot came on my book. Who is the guilty one?”

The same silence reigned. The teacher sighed; for he loved his pupils, and it made him suffer to be obliged to punish them. But he knew that the souls of these children had been confided to him, to bring them up in the way leading to life. He did not wish to act hastily, so slowly leaving his place, he went to stand in front of the benches where his pupils were sitting, and said:

“I don’t like tell-tales—it is the proof of a mean disposition when a boy betrays the faults of his comrades, but it is necessary for the good,”—and he laid a stress on the word good—”of the guilty one, that I should know who it is. I don’t want you to say: It is this one, or that one, but I wish you all to go out, beginning at the first row, and stand in the hall with the exception of the one who did it.”

So they began to march out. One, two, three benches were empty. The fourth which consisted of smaller boys, went more slowly. All left, with one exception—the one, that remained, was also standing up to leave, but seemed to change his mind and sat down again.

The teacher shut the door, and sat down beside the little boy, taking his two hands in his and said: “So it was you, Paul, who, in such a deceitful way, tried to look into my book to see if your sum was right? It was you who left your place without leave, and then did not answer my question. You are right not to look me in the face, but tell me how will you look in your mother’s, when she calls you tonight for prayer; and what will you say to the Lord, whom you have grieved?”

Two large tears rolled down little Paul’s cheeks.

“My child,” said the teacher, “your conduct grieves me the more, for up to the present time I have noticed your good conduct and love of truth.”

Paul’s cheeks became fiery red. He raised his head, and said:

“I did not lie, sir.”

“Don’t try to excuse yourself, my boy,” said the teacher. “Although you slid not lie, you still allowed your comrades to be suspected of an act that you yourself had committed, and that was dishonorable. I am sorry for it, but I must punish you. This is Wednesday, so this evening, and the following days of this week, you must remain till 8 o’clock, and during the play hours of every day you must copy out ten pages of your reader.”

The teacher opened the door, and as school-hours were over, he allowed the scholars to leave, and told Louis, Paul’s brother, that he must acquaint his mother of the reason of Paul’s remaining. While he was speaking, all the others left, and the Master remained alone in the school with the two brothers. Paul sat still, looking straight before him, so that he did not perceive how pale and disturbed Louis looked, when he heard the teacher’s decision.

Louis was sixteen months younger than his brother. The love of these two boys for one another was so great that it often surprised their fellow-scholars, and even the teacher. Louis did not stir. He seemed nailed to the spot, and his eyes were fixed on Paul, who did not look up.

“Louis, my boy, you must go, it is past five. Paul take your book and begin copying.”

Paul stood up to get his book, and Louis threw himself in his arms weeping, and crying out “O brother, brother!” But Paul, throwing his arms around him, tried to comfort him.

“Don’t be sorry, Louis! be quiet, be quiet, I shall quickly write it out, and be ready at 8 o’clock, and when I come home, I’ll tell mother everything. Be quiet, and go quickly home. I wish you would go, Louis! it hurts me so, to see you crying. Do go, please,” and Paul tried to tear himself away from his brother, but the latter would not let him go.

“I will stay, I will stay!” he cried. “You must go; I dare not go to mother,” and his sobs redoubled.

At last the teacher took him by the hand, saying: “My boy! now you must go your brother has done something very wrong; you understand that he must be punished.” But what was his astonishment, when the little fellow said: “You are mistaken, sir! it was I who did it.”

“Louis,” cried Paul seizing him by the arm, “you are punished enough, without saving that.”

And the two boys again threw themselves in each other’s arms.

The teacher was puzzled and embarrassed as to how he should act. His eyes filled with tears, and after a few moments he said, drawing them towards him:

“Dear children, I like to see the great love you have for one another; that is good, but you should love each other in the Lord. When one commits a fault, the other ought to love him enough, not only to bear his punishment, but also to tell him openly, that he has done wrong. I know that this is difficult for a loving heart. But now I understand what took place today. In a thoughtless moment Louis did the first wrong thing, and he lost courage, when I asked ‘who did it’. And as generally one sin follows another, so he was not brave enough to show his guilt by remaining in his seat. Is that not so, Louis?”

“Yes, sir.” He answered, while the tears rolled down his cheeks.

“But you, my boy,” said the teacher, turning to Paul, “why did you not leave your seat?”

“Well, sir,” said Paul, reddening up to the roots of his hair, “because I said to myself, my brother has done Wrong, and as he will not acknowledge it, I must take his place, or else the other scholars will be suspected. That is the truth, sir! May my brother go home now, and may I stay here instead of him?”

“No, no!” cried Louis, “I must remain;” and he begin to cry again.

“You see, dear boy,” said the teacher, “that it is a good thing always to behave honorably. Solomon says ‘He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.’ Proverbs 28:13.

This is true, like everything that the Bible teaches us, and if you, when I asked: ‘Who made the blot on my book,’ had confessed to me, I would have forgiven you, but instead of that your brother, who was innocent, was forced to take the blame on himself. And as he has put himself quite in your place, then he must bear your punishment, and you are free.”

“No, no!” continued the teacher, as Louis went on imploring, “I cannot take back what I have said; I have punished Paul—he must finish the task which he took on himself through love for his guilty brother. I forgive you, my child, and shall love you just as much as before, for I know that you are sorry for your sin, and that you will show your gratitude to your brother for what he has done for you, and will take care not to fall into the same sin again.”

The good man was right, from that day forth Louis understood better than before, how great was his brother’s love for him. and always showed his gratitude to him.

Dear children, does this not remind us of how the Lord Jesus has been punished instead of us: He loved us so much that He took the place we deserved for our sins: “The wages of sin is death.”

God has accepted Him, and raised Him from the dead, and seated Him in glory at His own right hand, and He tells us to look to Him, the only Saviour.

“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.

Messages of God’s Love 11/27/1921

The Lord is Thy Keeper

There is an eye that never sleeps

Beneath the wing of night;

There is an ear that never shuts,

When sinks the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires

When human strength gives way;

There is a love that never fails

When earthly loves decay.

Messages of God’s Love 11/27/1921

Bible Questions for December

Answers to Bible Questions for October

“Watch ye therefore,” etc. Luke 21:36.

“And it came to pass,” etc. “ 6:12.

“Now when all the,” etc. “ 3:21.

“But I have prayed for,” etc. “ 22:32.

“And as I prayed,” etc. “ 9:29.

“And being in an agony,” etc. “ 22:44.

“And He withdrew,” etc. “ 5:16.

Bible Questions for December

The Answers are to be found in Acts

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thy prayer is heard.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Prayed and sang praises.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “And in prayers.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Prayed with fasting.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “When they had prayed.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Prayed with them all.”

Write in full the verse containing the words, “Fasted and prayed.”

Messages of God’s Love 12/4/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 5-6

What a bold answer was Pharaoh’s, to Moses and Aaron when they came in to him with their message of, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, ‘Let My people go!’”

“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” he said, “I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.”

Pharaoh found out who was the Lord, before long, When He laid His hand on him, but just now he was angry, and instead of promising to let the children .of Israel go, he ordered the taskmasters to no more give them the straw they needed to make bricks. More work was to be forced from the men, for now •they must search for straw, and still make as many bricks each day as before.

Then the officers of the children of Israel who had been set over them to see that the work was done, were beaten because the poor slaves could not make as many bricks while they had to hunt for straw through all the country, and the officers went to Pharaoh to complain. But Pharaoh answered, “Ye are idle, ye are idle .... go therefore now, and work, for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks:” So the officers told Moses and Aaron, as they came away from Pharaoh, that they instead of helping the people, had made their lives harder than ever.

Pharaoh was like his master, Satan, and did not want to lose the people of Israel; he wanted to keep. them working for him without pay. Satan too in particular, wanted to prevent God from keeping His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to Moses. Just so it is with Satan always. Let God promise to Himself to save poor sinners from, hell, and bring them to glory with the Lord Jesus, and Satan determines that none shall be saved, if he can prevent it. So when the message came by Moses, that God was going to set the people of Israel free, Satan moved Pharaoh to make the people’s troubles so much greater, that they would not believe what God had said.

Moses, sad and disappointed, went to God again, to ask why the people’s troubles were worse, and why He had sent him to the people and to Pharaoh, because the people were not set free, and Pharaoh was more cruel than ever. God’s answer in the first eight verses of the sixth chapter was a gracious one; He said nothing to reprove or rebuke Moses, because of his almost fault-finding words. Instead He said,

“Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh,” with a “strong hand.” Pharaoh would even drive the children of Israel out of Egypt.

In the third chapter God had given His name as the “I AM.” the all-powerful One, but in this chapter is another name, JEHOVAH, the name of One Who was interested in and cared for His people.

Then He spoke of His covenant to give them the land of Canaan, and how He would redeem them with a “stretched out arm, and with great judgments.” They, as redeemed ones, were to be His people, and He their God. Again He promised them the land, and at the end— “I am the Lord” (verse 8) stands as a seal that God had spoken, and what He had said He would do. They had only to believe God, and He would deliver them.

But the children of Israel did not listen to Moses when he came to tell them of the new message from God; they were so sad because of Pharaoh’s cruelty to them, through the taskmasters.

The latter part of the sixth chapter shows us God counting up for the last time His people in Egypt, all the heads of the families being named. They were still in the enemy’s country, and Satan might say, “They are mine,” but God had claimed them as His, and in spite of all Satan could do, the children of Israel would soon be on the march to Canaan.

Messages of God’s Love 12/4/1921

Little Andrew's Confession

LITTLE Andrew had kind parents, brothers, and sisters who loved him, a beautiful yard, in which he played, and fine grounds and shady avenues to walk in. He had learned to love his Bible; so we can call him a happy boy. Now we shall see, how by the power of God’s Word he was saved from continuing in a great sin that he had committed.

It happened one day, that Andrew was alone in a room, when his eye caught sight of a dime that had fallen upon the floor; he had just spent the last of his weekly money, and would gladly have some more. How easy it would be to pick it up in that corner. No one could see him. Very cautiously, for he knew that he was ‘doing wrong, Andrew crept to the place, and the next moment the dime was in his pocket. But O! how the boy’s face was changed in an instant.

A few minutes ago, he looked gay and happy, but the fearless, open expression was gone, and he glanced around him, afraid and unhappy; and how heavy that pocket was.! There certainly ‘never was such a heavy dime. Then came the fear of being found out; lie could not keep it any longer in his pocket. He ran as fast as he could to the yard, as far from the house as possible, and after carefully looking around to see if there was anyone near, he knelt down at the foot of a large apple tree, and after making a deep hole with his hands, threw the dime in, covered it up well, so that, as he thought, no one would notice it. But was Ile no longer uneasy? He certainly was still so, for just that morning he had been reading Matthew 25, and had thought about the servant to whom the one talent had been entrusted; it seemed to him that he could hear a voice *saying, that lie too had hidden the Lord’s money in the ground, he tried to put the thought away from him, but again and again it would come back to him.

He tried to act as usual, but could not, and his mother, thinking that he was not well, sent him to bed early; but he could not sleep; he feared God’s anger, he knew that lie had stolen that dime, and had hidden it in the earth, out of man’s sight: but the poor boy felt that he could not hide it, or his sin, from God’s all-seeing eye.

The whole family had gone to rest; his little brother slept next to him; but the words rang louder and louder in his ears: “He went and Jigged in the earth, and hid his Lord’s money.” “Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.” At last he sprang up and slipping out of bed, went softly downstairs, opened cautiously the back-door. and hurried through the yard, until he reached the apple tree, where the boy. dressed as he was in his night clothes, knelt clown and hurriedly scratched away the earth until he found the dime; then the little bare-tooted fellow walked back to the house, and soon the dime was lying where he had found it. Everyone was still quietly sleeping, and he was quickly in bed again; but not before he had confessed his sin to God, and decided that he would tell everything to his mother, who had so tenderly brought him up in the knowledge of God.

Andrew is now a man, and has children of his own, but that night of anguish and repentance he will never forget, nor can he ever read the 25th Chapter of Matthew, without recalling that incident in his youth when he had hidden the dime in the earth.

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

Messages of God’s Love 12/4/1921

The First Plaything

DEAR little baby is amused with his little toy, but does not know how to manage his hands so as to reach it. Everything has to be learned, so all through the life in this world it must be a constant lesson. There are some lessons of greater importance than others. A little play thing might be thought of as only for amusement, yet the child learns a little by it that will be of profit to him later on.

There is one lesson I would like to mention which’ is above all else that we should learn in our early days, and that is, “The fear of the Lord.” This, we know, is not taught in the day schools, but no doubt your teacher in the Sunday school may have brought it before you in the lesson that is the beginning of wisdom.

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM.” PROV. 9:10.

If we want to become wise, the first thing is this which our text brings before us. We know He is over all, and the One with all power, and therefore nothing can take place without Him. In His hand is our breath, and He is the One who punishes the evil doer, and the rewarder of them that do well. We should therefore fear Him. and every one who does not fear Him is not wise, and has yet to learn the most important lesson.

Have you learned this important lesson?

“He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.” Prov. 19:8.

Messages of God’s Love 12/4/1921

The Saviour Loves All Children

The Saviour loves all children,

For He was once a child—

A joyous, happy infant,

And gentle, meek, and mild!

He loves the young in heaven,

He loves the young on earth;

For every child that liveth

Reminds Him of His birth.

O, happy were those children—

We wish we had been there—

Who gained the Saviour’s blessing

And heard His loving prayer.

And wish His hands had rested

Upon our heads as well,

And we had learned the lessons

Which from the Master fell.

And yet we know that Jesus

Is with us every day;

He stands within our bed room,

Whene’er we kneel to pray.

He speaks when we are reading,

Although no voice is heard!

And whispers many blessings

To children in His word.

And if we seek Him early

He’ll lead us by the hand,

Until some day in glory,

We at His side shall stand:

And then with those same children,

Our harps of gold we’ll bring,

And sit down at His footstool,

And endless praises sing.

Messages of God’s Love 12/4/1921

A Winter Scene

In the dense forest a road has been made, and a house has been built, so the hunters have a place to go to, and get some refreshment and warmth in the cold winter, and when they get on to the road they will soon find their way home. But when people go into the midst of the trees, they often get lost for a time, because there are no paths.

A young man I know was once lost just in this way in the woods, and he called out, “Lost, lost,” a number of times till someone who knew the directions came for him, and brought him out.

We say he was lost, because he did not know his way, and now I would like to ask you a question, Do you know the way to heaven? If you do not know it, you are lost. What a terrible thing it is to be lost, and especially for eternity. It is our own fault if we are lost, for there is a Saviour who has been provided for us, and He is the way, so the Lord Jesus said,/, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” john 14:6: If you are lost let the Lord Jesus be your Saviour for He came to save the last.

“THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.” LUKE 19:10..

If you are still lost, it is because you are rejecting that blessed and only Saviour.

Messages of God’s Love 12/11/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 7

God had made Pharaoh to be rather afraid of Moses, and though the king had a hard heart, and rebelled’ against God, he listened to what the two servants of God had to say to him. The people of Egypt were going to learn that those poor slaves that they treated so cruelly, had a Friend greater than their king. their wise men, magicians and armies, and the day was close at hand when the greatness of Egypt would be laid low.

Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and as the Lord had told them, when he said, “Show a miracle for you,” Aaron threw the rod he carried on ... the ground before Pharaoh, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh called for his wise men and magicians, and they threw down their rods which became serpents too, but only Aaron’s serpent had life, and it swallowed the others. But Pharaoh was not willing to listen to Moses and Aaron, though he must have seen the power that was in Aaron’s serpent, the others being only Satan’s imitations—Verse 13 is not correctly translated in our Bibles; there was a time when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, but it was not this early; here we should read, “And Pharaoh’s heart was hard, that he hearkened not unto them, as the Lord had said.”

Next, the first “plague” fell on Egypt. Because Pharaoh would not hear when he was told that the Lord God of the Hebrews wanted His people let go to .serve Him, Aaron’s rod was used to turn the water of the river into blood. The fish in the river died, and the river stank; the people could not drink the water. But again the magicians imitated; they turned water into blood, too, and Pharaoh was hardened and he would not let the children of Israel go.

The Little Rag-Picker

ONE Sunday, as I went as usual to the Sunday-school, I saw close to the door of the school room a little girl of about fourteen years of age, with her pale face pressed against the doorpost. Never had my eyes beheld such a poor, miserable object. I asked her if she would like to go with me to hear the children sing. She pushed back the tangled hair out of her eyes, looked at me stupidly, and followed me without answering.

The following Sunday she came again; then I spoke to the children about the prodigal son. The poor girl looked at me with wistful eyes, and listened with close attention. Slowly she glided along towards me, took hold of my skirt, and held it tightly with her thin fingers, as if she feared that I would go away before telling of God’s love to lost sinners, the children went to their homes, but she remained sitting. When we were alone. I spoke a little more to her about Jesus, and told her, that He, the good Saviour, had died on the cross for sinners. When going home I asked her, if she would return the following Sunday, to hear the story of the Good Shepherd.

“I don’t think so,” she answered, “my father would beat me; he doesn’t want me to go to Sunday-school. But that doesn’t matter; I’ll come back,” she added very decidedly.

She kept her word. The following week, with the other children, my little friend appeared also, and listened with the greatest attention to the parable of the lost sheep. Tears came into her eyes, when I told that the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, left heaven, and Came down on this earth, to seek and to save lost sinners, and that men had scourged Him. crowned Him with thorns, and nailed Him to the cross between two thieves. But soon there was a glad smile on her face, when I described the joy of the Saviour, when He found the lost sheep, and carried it home on His shoulders.

The next Sunday she did not come. At the end of the week I learned that she was sick. I went directly to the miserable hut that these poor people called their home. The whole family consisted of rag-pickers. These rags Served as beds by night: On such a bed I found my poor scholar, so pale and wasted, that I scarcely recognized her. When she heard my voice, she called in. piteous tones: "O,—come, do come, and tell me about Him!" "Who shall I tell you about, my child ?" I asked. She looked at me in astonishment, and said, "Who? Why you know very well. Tell me about Him, the Good Shepherd, the faithful Jesus." When I again told her the story of the crucifixion of the Lord, she lay listening eagerly, with her languid eyes fixed on me. When I came to the end, I added, "He bore all our sins. He has paid our debt. Believe in Him, and you will be saved, and you shall enter into that glory above where a place is prepared for you too." The weak child drank eagerly from that well of living water, for which her soul thirsted. Three weeks before this she knew nothing of the endless love of Jesus, who delivered Himself over to death, in order that He might save sinners, and now her cheeks glowed with inward joy, while she was indifferent to everything around her. The day following, when I again came to her, I was surprised to see what progress the disease had made. I sat down by her, and at her request, repeated in a low voice the parable of the prodigal son which had made such a deep impression on her, when she first came to the Sunday school. She listened attentively and when I came to that beautiful part of the parable, where we read: "But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him," she cried out: "Yes. just as it was with me! Say it again: O, it is so beautiful !" "When he was a great way off ... . "

"As far as I was, so far from the precious Saviour," she interrupted. After a moment's rest, and when I had moistened her dry lips, she continued : "Yes, far away, a great way off! but the father saw him, before he saw the father. Just, as it was with me. But why didn't he put on better clothes, before he returned to his father. I wish. . . . O, I am forgetting?' she said in a sad voice: "they told me, that we cannot make our hearts clean from sin. I wanted to do it; I wanted to show Him, that I wished so much to be good; but O ! it was no use."

"His blood cleanses us from all sin." I answered. "Believe in Him. Do you believe that the Father sent Him for you. and that He died for your sins? If you believe in Him, then your sins are forever washed away; if they were red as crimson, they shall be as white as snow. No one can save himself ; no one can give himself a new life." "O, how good, how good He is !" she exclaimed. Then covering her face with her wasted hands, she began to sob so that her whole body shook and she continued: "I am afraid that I am worse than the wicked son. I have often lied, and you say that no liar can enter into the Kingdom of heaven. I have often said bad, very bad words, and God says that His name must not be taken in vain. I had a book full of bad songs, and I used to sing them. And.... O ! it is dreadful! I have stolen too. When I came to you to school, I thought of all this, and I had a great fear of God. But I thought of the thief, the poor thief, who as you told me, died by the side of Jesus, and found grace at the last moment. One evening when they were all asleep I slipped very quietly out of bed. and took the book of songs and tore it to pieces, the red cover too, that I had thought so pretty, and threw it all in the fire. Then I knelt in yonder corner and prayed, “Dear Jesus, I want to love you, and never again do what is wrong. Help me! Forgive me all my sins, and take away my evil thoughts. O, do this, dear Jesus!'

And I think that He has done so, because all at once I was so happy. But I get sorrowful again, when I think of my many sins." After a short pause she said sadly, "O! I have sinned much and I am often discouraged, but as soon as I look to Jesus, and think of His precious blood that He shed for me, then I am happy again. Then I am no more afraid, not the least bit, and then I feel such love for Him, that I cannot utter it." She grew visibly in grace. God did wonders for her soul. The next day, when I visited her again, I found her very weak; she was quite exhausted. Her breath was so short that one could hardly understand what she said. I told her of the sufferings of the Lord and of His perseverance in the same, and of how ready He was to comfort and sustain us, so that we too could suffer in patience. Her looks directed to heaven, expressed great seriousness, and I shall never forget the words that she stammered softly: "Thanks, precious Jesus !"

Some moments later she looked at me steadily without being able to say what she wanted. "Do you wish me to thank the Lord?" I asked. "O, yes, yes !" she whispered with a pleased look. In the meantime night had drawn on. And death was rapidly approaching. But the child's pale face was still shining in the dark valley. Her feet were ice-cold, as well as her hands that she had folded in prayer. It was a solemn hour. All was quiet for a while, even the child's breath seemed to have ceased; when suddenly she raised herself with unexpected strength and called out, while her glowing eyes were fixed on me: "Call them; let them come in, speak to them about Jesus; O, tell them of Jesus!" Exhausted she sank on the pillow. The end seemed near. I whispered to her : "Precious child ! Jesus has conquered for you!" She understood, and with a cry of joy, such as never had passed her lips during her short and sad life: she cried out,

"Victory! victory! I am washed and cleansed !—Glory !" These were her last words. A few minutes later she went to Him, who had bought her with His precious blood. I was deeply moved, but my heart was full of praise and thanks to the Lord. Who is capable of expressing the greatness of His love and grace? Among millions of people He thinks of a miserable, neglected child, and fits it for His glory. O, that all who read this may with faith go for refuge to that God of love, and partake of His rich grace! He Himself invites them, and receives each one that comes to Him.

Children, Obey Your Parents

ONE great mark of the sad state of the present age in which we are living is, "disobedience to parents" (2 Tim. 3:2 ; Rom. 1:30), and this lies at the threshold of a sinful, unhappy and dishonored life. The first sin was that of disobedience, and thus it is the beginning of all sins. Children are exhorted to obey their parents, because "it is right." God takes pleasure in obedient children, and His blessing rests upon them, even in this world. The blessing of prosperity, and a long life, was attached to it under the law, and though the Christian is not now to look for success on earth, as a special mark of God's favor, yet under God's government, earthly blessing still follows children who are obedient to their parents. "Children, obey your parents, in all things : for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Col. 3 :20.

An Accident

WHATEVER has happened in the kitchen? The milk has boiled over and has frightened the two girls and little boy, and in the excitement, one of the girls has tipped her basin over, and the water has poured on the cat, so you may be sure there must have been considerable noise in that kitchen when all that happened, vet poor old grandma-slept through it all. No doubt she was exhausted with all her work, but it is evident she must have been accustomed to lots of noise or she would never have gone to sleep, and kept on sleeping in the midst of the sizzing milk, screaming children, and yelling cat.

This makes me think of many people today who have become so accustomed to the sound of the gospel that they have gone to sleep about it; that is, it ‘has no effect upon them whether they hear about the love of God in giving His only begotten San for poor sinners so that they may go free; or hear about the terrible judgment that must come to the lost; all these things have no more effect upon them than all the noise does on poor old grandma who sleeps through it all.

How is it with you, dear reader? Have you been affected with the wonderful news of the love of God to the extent that it has won your heart to Him? Have you trembled at the thought of terrible judgment for the despiser and rejector of that love, or have all these things passed off your mind without any effect?

“TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” HEB. 3:7, 8.

Messages of God’s Love 12/18/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 8

Here we read of the second punishment God sent on Pharaoh and his people, because the children of Israel were not set free. Frogs were part of the religion of the Egyptians, who had many things they thought sacred, and so it must have been a greater trial to them than it would have been to other people, when the plague of frogs happened. Frogs in their houses, on their beds, in their baking! How disgusting it must have been to have those clammy things hopping around in such numbers, the like of which was never seen before.

The magicians could cause the frogs to come out of the river too, though they could not make them to go back again, and Pharaoh was moved a little, for he sent for Moses and Aaron and asked them to plead with God to take the frogs away. “Then,” said he, “I will’ let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.” God made the frogs die, and they were gathered in heaps, but Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people of Israel go.

Next, Moses was told by God to have Aaron stretch out his rod and strike the dust of the ground which then became lice, or some other disgusting insects, on the people and on the animals. All over the land of Egypt the dust in a moment became these loathsome little creatures from which there was no getting away. All of us, no doubt, wish to be clean but the Egyptians made cleanliness part of their religion, and in this plague again, as in most, if not all of them, we can see that the only true God was making war on the false gods of Egypt.

The magicians tried to make lice out of dust too, but, they could not. The reason was that only God can create life, and this the magicians seemed to realize when they said to Pharaoh “This is the finger of God.” After this we hear little more of the magicians. They were beaten.

Still another plague we read of in this chapter, the last being swarms of flies, but whether just ordinary house flies or something worse, we do not know. Whichever way it was, they made a lot of trouble for the people of Egypt, going into their houses and everywhere, but not in the land of Goshen. where the children of Israel lived, for God’ made an exception of those who were His own people. Nov Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them. “Go and sacrifice to your God in the land.”

This would never do. The people of God must meet with God in a place which He should choose, and so Moses said to Pharaoh that there must be a three day’s journey into the wilderness. They must’ get entirely away from Egypt. Pharaoh then said that the people could ko, only that they should not go very far away. All this makes us think of our wily Satan who wants to hold God’s children so close to the world, both in having a good time and in other ways, in order that they know nothing about God, and His Word, and will not be happy Christians, as God would have them to be.

The swarm of flies went away so that there remained not one, but once more Pharaoh hardened his heart, and would not let the people of Israel go.

Messages of God’s Love 12/18/1921

Saved By Love

ON a certain wintry day a boy stood at the front-door of a cottage. It had just been snowing heavily, and he looked cold and hungry;—poor boy!

“May I stay here?” he asked the woman, who opened the door. “I will work, chop wood, carry water and run for all your errands.”

“At any rate you can come in, and wait until my husband returns.” said the woman. Then placing a chair in the warmest corner, she continued: “Here, sit down by the fire; you look half-perished from the cold.” Although she showed kind sympathy with the boy, still there was some fear and suspicion about him in her heart, and she could not avoid casting a side glance at him every now and then, while preparing supper. After a short time they heard the stamping of heavy shoes, the door was quickly opened, and the husband entered, tired from his day’s labor. A look of understanding . passed between him and his wife. He had noticed the boy, but did not seem to have a favorable impression of him. However he asked him to come to the table and was pleased to see him eating eagerly his supper.

One day followed another, and every day the boy asked if. he might stay till tomorrow, so that the good couple decided that as long as he behaved well, and worked so willingly, they would keep him.

Once, in the middle of the winter, a pedlar came, as he was in the habit of doing, to visit these people and sell his goods to them. When he was through with his business, and ready to leave again, he said, pointing to the woodshed:” I see, you have a boy there chopping wood.”

“Yes,” said she; “do you know him?” “I have seen him,” answered the pedlar.

“Where? Who is Ile? What is he?”

“A jail-bird,” answered the pedlar, taking up his bundle.

“That boy, as young as lie is, I saw with my own eyes in a court of justice, and heard him sentenced to ten months imprisonment. You will do well to watch him carefully.”

0! there was something so sad in the name of a “court of justice.” The poor woman shuddered, as she put away the different articles that she had bought from the pedlar. She was not at ease until she called the boy in. and told him that all his dark past had come to her knowledge. Ashamed and abashed he hung his head. The blood rushed to his face, and his lips trembled.

“0!” he murmured, while his whole body shook, “it’s no use trying to behave well; every one hates ‘and despises me; nobody care for me.”

“Tell me,” said the woman, “how did you, so young, come into that dreadful place? where is your mother?”

“O!” answered the boy, bursting into tears. “O, I have no mother! If I only had,” he continued, “I would not be tied up, and kicked, beaten with a whip and thrown out; I would not have run away and started to steal, through starvation. O, if only I had a mother!” His strength forsook him,—poor boy! Sobbing he sank on the ground and tried to wipe away his tears with his coat sleeve.

The woman, who was a mother, but whose children had all died, then felt her motherly instincts working in her heart. She laid her hand pityingly on the boy’s head, and said: “From this moment I will be your mother.” Then throwing her arms tenderly round the shoulders of the abandoned and forsaken child, she allowed her mother’s heart to overflow in kind words of tenderness and advice. 0! how sweet was her sleep that night; how soft her cushions! She had taken away some thorns from the path of a little sinner, struggling against the power of evil.

That poor boy has grown up to be a much respected man. His adopted father is dead, the mother old and ailing. but she needs for nothing. The once poor outcast is now her prop and stay. Full of gratitude and love for her care for him, he shows it by surrounding her with every comfort.

I am relating this story to you, as it gives a faint picture of one, who loved us, you and me and all mankind far beyond our conception. These people saved an unfortunate boy, who was without father, or Mother, without a home in the world. from a way that would have had the worst results for him; and they were the means of making a respectable member of society but of a -jail-bird.” He did not deserve it. But their love saved him from the wrong road. 0, dear children! how much greater is the love of the Lord Jesus. You have perhaps a father, and mother, .and a home, where you live happily with your. brothers and sisters. But this is what I want to point out-to you, as long as you do not come to the Lord Jesus, and let Him save you, and take you up to His home in heaven, then you are still without God, without hope, in this world, and on the road to eternal destruction. From this road the Lord Jesus wants to save you. For this reason, and you know it very well, but I will remind you of it, He left the glory of heaven and came down to this earth, and gave up His precious life, dying on the cross All this He did, for us poor sinners, His enemies, because He loved us, and is not willing that one sinner should perish; therefore He bore the punishment of sin Himself, went under the wrath of God and died, that we should be freed from that wrath, and should receive eternal life.

The poor boy asked if he might stay with the woman, and found in her an open ear and a heart full of affection. O, go to the Lord Jesus, you will find that His ear hears your prayer, and His heart is wide open for you, full of love and grace, ready to receive all who come to Him.

“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 12/18/1921

Do You Love Jesus?

AT the close of a children’s meeting, many stayed behind to speak to me about the Lord Jesus. Among these was a bright, intelligent boy, with his little sister. The boy had, in simple words, confessed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and afterwards stated that his little sister Daisy, wished to speak to me.

“Do you love Jesus, Daisy?” I asked; and, as she said,

“Yes.” I inquired.

“And, why do you love the Lord?” She seemed unwilling to answer for a moment, but, being bidden by her brother, “Daisy, speak up,” she said,

“ ‘Cause He loved me best.”

What a simple answer! O, that each of our young readers could say the same!

There were other dear children at the same meeting, who confessed to knowing Jesus as their Saviour, and, in answer to the question, “Why,” they answered,

“Because He died for us.”

Their bright, happy faces told out better than words can speak, the truth of their statement.

My dear young readers, I want each one of you to give your hearts to Jesus, so that you may be able to say,

“He loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

Have you never thought of that dreadful cross, where He was bearing the judgment of God against your sins? Well may we say,

“O, what a Saviour is Jesus the Lord!”

May you, clear little reader, know in the days of your youth, the Lord Jesus Christ as your own precious Saviour, and may this be your heart-felt prayer,

“Lord, in my childhood and my youth

Be Thou my heart’s delight;

0. guide me in Thy precious truth,

And keep me day and night.”

And then your happy future is this—of being with Jesus, of being like Him, and seeing Him as He is.

Messages of God’s Love 12/18/1921

Winter Pastimes

SCHOOL is out, and the boys and girls waste no time in running out to play in the snow. There are all kinds of sports to be enjoyed: skating, sleighing, but best of all snow balling.

See them aim at the target, and see where the balls have landed. Some are far, very far from the Bull’s eye, others very close; with practice and care, one struck the center.

Johnny was very proud when he succeeded in doing so. If he puts the same care in learning his lessons, or doing any other duties, and as he grows older, applies himself to business, he will no doubt make his way in the world.

But there is one thing he will never be able to do by his own endeavor, and that is to make himself fit for heaven. He may try ever so hard to “be good,” and it is right that he should be, but unless he is washed from his sins in Christ’s precious. blood, Johnny will never be in that bright home above where Jesus is. The Lord Jesus knew how helpless men, women and children are to save themselves, and in His great love, He said, I will go and make them fit for heaven. I will die for them that they may live. So He did, and all we have to do now is to accept Him as our Saviour, and thank Him for it. Is He yours? Have you thanked Him?

“BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED, THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES. IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.” EPH. 2:8, 9.

Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1921

Bible Lessons

Exodus 9

Now the hand of God was laid more heavily on Egypt and its stubborn king. If Pharaoh would not let the people of God go, a dreadful disease was next to come on the cattle, the horses, the donkeys, the camels and the oxen and sheep, but not on any of those animals that belonged to the children of Israel. When the plague fell, the poor creatures died by the hundred, but when Pharaoh sent to see how it was with the Israelites, he found that, as God had said it should be, not one of their cattle was dead. Surely he ought to have learned by now that it was the living God, One with whom he could not fight, that he was defying. But no, the seventh verse says, as we have read in other chapters, “The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

So again God punished Pharaoh’s proud and rebellious heart,—handfuls of ashes -from the furnace tossed in the air became small dust which caused boils to break out on both people and animals. And the magicians who had helped Pharaoh against God had boils too, and as it seems, they had a worse attack than the other people had. Six plagues had been visited on Pharaoh and until this one it was Pharaoh who hardened his own heart, but now notice the change,—”The. Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh and he harkened not unto them, as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.” God. had much patience, but the time came when He would wait on Pharaoh no more.

Another plague fell but not without a warning. A very heavy hail worse than ever had been known in Egypt before, was to fall, but Pharaoh was given time to get every person and every animal under shelter first. All who were outdoors when that terrible storm broke, died. What a terrible storm it must have been, when thunder and lightning, fire and hail came clown from the sky striking down people, animals, trees, and a good deal of the growing crops. Again the land of Goshen where the children of Israel lived was spared. God knows how to take care of His own, as well as to punish the wicked. Do you trust Him?

When Moses cried to God to stop the storm, it ceased. but as we read in the last two verses of the chapter Pharaoh “sinned yet more and hardened his heart, he and his servants, and the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go.”

Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1921

Saved From Imminent Danger

“Isn’t that so, mother! father will be ready today with the big chimney?” said little Tom, as he was waiting for his father’s breakfast that he took to him every morning.

“Father said, that he would take down the scaffolding today;” answered the mother; “and I will be glad when it is done, for it is dangerous work; and father must remain the very last on the chimney.”

“Well, I’ll go there quickly, and send this up to strengthen him, before he comes down,” said Tom.

“And,” said the mother, “if all is well, father will be free tomorrow, and we will all go to the woods and spend a pleasant day.”

“Hurrah!” cried Tom, and ran as fast as he could to the chimney.

The mother stood a moment at the door looking after him; then she went in and falling on her knees, asked God to help and take care of her dear husband in the dangerous job he had on hand. Tom came to his father, gave him his breakfast, and went on to school. When he was returning in the afternoon, he went to the big chimney again to see if his father was nearly ready.

The father, with other workmen had been working for many weeks on this huge factorv-chimney, the highest in that part of the country. Tom looked up, and it made him dizzy to see his father standing on the chimney. The scaffolding was gone, and the men down below were busy piling up the beams and boards preparatory to taking them away. Tom’s father stood alone at the top. He looked around to see if everything was in order, and then waving his hat shouted, “Hurrah!” and then the men down below joined in lustily. When the cheering had died away, suddenly a terrible cry was heard,

“The rope! the rope!”

The men looked round, and behold! there lay the rope on the ground. They had forgotten to fasten it to the top of the chimney, and now the unfortunate man could not come down. There was a dead silence. Everyone knew that it was impossible to take the rope up to him, and to climb up the chimney was impossible. There they stood in dismay, not knowing what to do.

And Tom’s father? He walked round and round the small circle, until he was dizzy, and almost lost his presence of mind. Although in general fearless, he lost his courage now, and thought lie must jump down, and be dashed to pieces.

Tom’s mother had been busy the whole day. She had done her usual work, and besides that, all the work of the following day, so that she could spend the day in the country, and was just ready, when Tom, came storming in with a face as white as a sheet.

“Mother! mother! he can’t come down!” cried Torn.

“Who, child? your father?” asked the mother.

“They’ve forgotten the rope,” said Torn.

The mother stood speechless for a moment. Terrified, she covered her face with her hands, as if to hide from herself some terrible picture that rose up before her. Then an appeal to God went up from her heart, for wisdom and guidance and she hurried out.

When she reached the spot, where her husband worked, she found a number of people round the chimney, all looking up with affright, not knowing what to do.

“He is going to jump down,” one of them said, just as she arrived; “he says that he’ll jump down.”

“Don’t do that, John,” called out the woman with a loud, clear voice; “don’t do that, John! Pull off your stockings, unravel them, fasten a piece of brick to the thread; and let it drop down. Do you understand me, John?”

John made a sign that he understood. He took off his long, coarse, knitted stockings, unravelled them and wound up the thread. The people stood in intense expectation to see what would happen. They could not understand what the woman was going to do, or why she had sent hurriedly for a ball of stout cord.

The thread came slowly down and at last reached the outstretched hands of the trembling woman. While Toni held it, the mother fastened the thread to the cord, and then cried out:

“Draw the thread up gently, John!” He did so, and in a few minutes had one end of the cord in his hand.

“Now fasten the rope to this end,” she said to the men. When this was done, she called to her husband, to pull up the cord. This was no easy task, as the rope was heavy; but after much effort the rope was fastened to the chimney.

But John was not yet saved. Tis true the rope was up there fastened to the iron on the chimney. But was John in a condition to use it? After the nervous shock he had had, would he be able to slide down the rope?

She did not know what an amazing influence her voice had on John. How her calmness and firmness had made the hope of being saved, revive in him, and how his trust in God had been strengthened and refreshed. She did not know, that the Lord had comforted him with these words from Psa. 42:11,

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God.”

The poor woman still raised up her petitions to God, imploring His aid. It was all she could do now for her loved husband.

All at once there was a cry of joy, “Mother! he is saved! he is saved!” cried Tom.

“You saved me, Maria!” said John clasping her in his arms. “But what’s the matter? You look more sorry than glad?”

Maria could not speak. If her husband’s strong arm had not held her, she would have fallen to the ground. The sudden relief was too much for her, and she fainted away. John carried her home, and there she slowly came to.

O, what joy when they could embrace each other, and pour out their hearts together to God, to praise, and thank Him for His unspeakable goodness and grace!

“Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou, shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.” Psa. 32:7.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. Psa. 34:7-8.

Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1921

Trapped

A SAD, hut familiar sight met my eyes one morning. A poor little mouse, firmly held in the deadly grasp of a spring trap, its nose just touching the bait that it had lost its life to obtain.

This simple, every-day incident set me to thinking—thinking of the boys and girls who are fear, more foolish than even the little mouse. Not heeding the call of God, they are careless about their soul’s salvation, heedless of the solemn words:

“He that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Attracted by the bait which Satan holds out for them, they are going in the way of darkness, which ends in death. (Prow. 14:12.)

Satan does not use the same bait for all. He uses pleasure for some, money for others; but how many, like the poor little mouse, only touch it, and then die! Many a one has never enjoyed that which drew him on to destruction. God’s Word says that “the expectation of the wicked shall perish.” ( Prow. 10:28.) The solemn words went forth to him who purposed to enjoy himself, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Luke 12:20.

The poor little victim in the trap doubtless knew not of that which hung over its head, as, attracted by the savory bait, it went to its death. But how often you have been warned of your danger!’ Yet the pleasant bait lures you on, and you will not listen to the warning.

Will you still pass on, saying, “Peace and safety,” only to find “sudden destruction” come upon you, with no way of escape, to pass into eternity with your eyes open!

Do not delay, I beg of you, to come to Jesus; believe in His precious name now; and you will be able to say, on the assurance of God’s Word,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”

Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1921

Messages of God's Love: 1921

Table of Contents

Bible Questions for January

Books of the Old Testament

A New Year's Greeting

Bible Lessons

The Visit to the Armorer

Forever

The Two Dogs

Bible Lessons

Three Little Texts

Not Yet

Stepping Stones

How an Old Man Learned To Know the Lord Jesus

Bible Lessons

You Can Never Blot It Out

The Watering Place

How an Old Man Learned to Know the Lord Jesus

Tell Jesus

Bible Lessons

Suffer the Children to Come Unto Me

Whiter Than Snow

Bible Lessons

Lost and Found

A Crushed Finger

Bible Questions for February

The Fiery Furnace

Just As I Am

Bible Lessons

When?

The Gypsy Boy

Bible Lessons

Love Without Faith

Bringing to Jesus

The Captive Maid

Androcles

Bible Lessons

A Friend In Jesus

Faithful in Very Little Things

What a Predicament

Bible Lessons

Me Too

Now Is the Accepted Time

Bible Questions for March

The Dead Robin

God Speaketh Once, Yea, Twice in a Dream

Bible Lessons

The Young Birds

Bible Lessons

Help in Time of Need

The Little Girl Who Did Not Want to Be Miserable

Let The Little Children Come

Puss and the Crab

Bible Lessons

Little Japs Who Pray

The Young Tiger

How Jesus Found Me

Robert in the Snowdrift

What Can We Do for The Lord Jesus?

Disobedience

Bible Questions for April

Spring Time

What Would the Lord Jesus Have Me Do?

He Knows and Loves Us Still

The Wondrous Story

This Do in Remembrance of Me

Astonished

Do Good to Them That Despitefully Use You

Little Edith's Conversion

It Is Only for a Time

Little Charlie

The Saviour Calls

Jesus Is Very Near to Me

Discouraged

The Little Evangelist

Preserved By God Is to Be Well Preserved

O, Children Come!

The Silk Cotton Tree

Bible Lessons

What for God?