Messages of God's Love: 1925

No doubt you will be saying to your friends, when you meet them, on this New Year’s morning, “A Happy New Year to you.” Well, we join with you most heartily, and trust that both yourselves, and the dear ones you love, will indeed have a very, very happy one; and not only so, but that throughout the year, if it so please the Lord, your happiness may increase.

We have been thinking, dear children, what makes true happiness, and we believe that bur motto will help us to answer the question. Let us look at it in its four parts.

First, it is an appeal to us all.

“Come, ye Children.”

Ah! how graciously the blessed Lord Jesus, when He was down here, showed His love to children, saying,

“Suffer the little children to come unto. Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

In our motto it is not simply saying— Suffer them to come, but there is a direct invitation: “Come, ye children.”

You may rely upon this, that, if Jesus invites you, He has something very blessed to speak to you about; so He says,

“Hearken Unto Me.”

We may learn from this that He would have us to value His word, and so He says elsewhere,

“Blessed is the man that heareth Me.” Prov. 8:34. O! will you now, on this New Year’s Day, if you have never done so before, just receive His word into your hearts, and trust in the virtue of His precious blood to make you clean from all your sin? If you do, we can truly say that it will be the happiest New Year you have ever had.

To all who come to Him, and hearken unto Him, He says further,

“I will Teach you the Fear of the Lord.”

This word “fear” does not mean that we should be afraid, like Adam, when he heard God’s voice in the garden (Gen. 3:10); but now, His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). It means that we should reverence Him, and not like to do what would grieve Him. He looks for our loving obedience to His word.

And then, lastly, our motto says,

“Blessed is the Man that Trusteth in Him.”

What does this word “blessed” mean? Well, another word for it is happy; and so we may read it this way, “Happy is the man (or child) that trusteth in Him.”

Ah! dear children, we who write this were called to follow the Lord many years ago, and we can indeed commend earnestly this invitation from the blessed Lord to you all this New Year, and if you accept it, and make it your motto, we are sure you will not need any one to tell you about this true happiness, but you will prove it for yourselves.

May He bless you indeed, and make you truly happy by constant trust in Him.

ML 01/04/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 18

THE priests the Levites (in Deuteronomy, priests are not separated from Levites, as they are in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers) were in a special way cared for by God. They were His servants, and His offerings were shared with them. If the people were going on in a godly way, their offerings to God would be bountiful, and His servants would be well provided for; while if they were going on badly, the offerings would be poor, and God’s servants would suffer. This is a principle that holds good today. If the believer’s heart is right toward God, the Lord’s servants will be provided for in abundance, and when the servants are poorly cared for, it is a sure sign of coldness of heart toward the Lord.

Verses 9 to 14 and on to the close of the chapter, have a lesson for today also. Christians should have nothing to do with card-readers, astrologists, spiritualists and others who claim to be able to tell the future, “for all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.”

God has raised up the Prophet of verses 15 and 18, in the person of the Lord Jesus: “unto Him ye shall hearken . . . and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto My (God’s) words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.”

ML 01/04/1925

About the River Folk in China

Part 1.

AS I daresay you know, China is a very large country, and has a great many men, women and children living in it. They do not all live in houses, as we do, but a large number live on boats. There are many rivers in China, and near the towns these rivers are crowded with boats. On parts of the river near Canton, you can hardly force a passage between them. They are of all sizes, but as a rule are pretty small.

One can hardly understand how a whole family can live in such a small space. There are often, besides a father and mother and three or four children, the old grandparents, and the boat is not much larger, though perhaps wider, than an ordinary rowing boat.

You see, they have not many possessions; one or two “pais”, or quilts, to keep them warm on cold nights; a mat to sleep on, and two or three little stools to sit on; a small crockery stove, aid a couple of pots to boil rice and vegetables in. These and a few bowls and chopsticks are about all they need, besides the clothes on their backs, which, in the warm weather, are very few.

There is one other thing I must not forget to mention—that is, the idol in its shrine, at one end of the boat. Perhaps this idol is cut from a piece of wood with a knife, but it occupies an honored place, and every day an incense stick is burned before it, evening and morning, and rice or fish is offered to it.

The word of God tells us that things sacrificed to idols are really sacrificed to devils (1 Cor. 10:20). These poor, ignorant people know nothing about God and His great love to man, and they live all their lives in fear of some evil spirit doing them harm, so they feel that if they offer food to the evil spirit, and worship him, he will not be so likely to do them evil. And these poor creatures live on in ignorance in their boats. Little children are born on the boats, and old people die, and there is no knowledge of God amongst them. They very seldom come on shore, and hardly any of them can read, so how are they to learn?

Well, there are some missionaries, but only a few, who give up their lives to teaching them. They live on a boat somewhat larger than the ones around them, and spend their time going about in a small boat or “sampan”, and teaching these poor river folk about God and. His great love to them. They are hard people to reach; they are so dark and so ignorant. They have to be told the “Sweet Story of Old” over and over again before they can understand it, and it is difficult to collect even a few for a preaching or Bible meeting, and then just when one thinks they are beginning to learn something, off goes their boat to another part of the river, and you may never see them again. Yet the Good Shepherd loves these poor lost sheep, and goes on seeking for them, and now and then there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. It takes a great deal of courage to go on living amongst these dirty ignorant people, and only those whose hearts are filled with the love of God, and a longing after the souls of men, can stand it. Shall we not pray that God may bless these brave men and women, and save many souls through their means?

ML 01/04/1925

Step by Step

DO we not learn many lessons, dear children, from the animal creation? God has given the animals intelligence, but He has given boys and girls more, —He has given them a soul, and that soul never dies; it lives eternally.

This, dear ones, makes you all responsible before God as to your steps.

In our picture today, we have many stepping stones before us. The mother dog is trying to teach her puppy to mount the first step, which appears to be a trial and difficulty. The little girl, with her pitcher, is much interested, and no doubt feels wishful to see puppy succeed.

How important, dear ones, for you to take the first step, —that is, to come to the Lord Jesus while you are young, to be able to say from the heart,

“I do believe, I will believe,

That Jesus died for me,

That on the Cross, He shed His blood;

From sin to set me free.”

Then you will hear Him say, through His word,

“Thy sins are forgiven.”

“Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 7:48, 50.

What a happy day that would be for you, if you, dear children, would come to Him today. You would be able then, through grace, to trust Him for every step of the way.

We have trials and difficulties down here, but always remember, dear friends, the One who loves us dearly, is the Lord Jesus, who is now in glory, watching and guarding us, holding us up, and ordering our steps.

“DOTH NOT HE SEE MY WAYS AND COUNT ALL MY STEPS?” Job 31:4.

“Order my steps in Thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psa. 119:133.

ML 01/04/1925

Fear

GOD has implanted in His creatures the feeling of fear in connection with danger. If men, or women, little boys, or little girls, see danger approaching they fear it, and will seek to avoid it. And the same is true of the lower creatures, such as horses and cattle. The rabbit is especially a timid little creature, and it will flee, or hide, the moment it sees danger near.

Here in our picture we have a little group of these timid creatures both old and young. One of the younger ones, and a tiny little baby rabbit, are munching away at a leaf, while the mother rabbit sitting close by, is taking satisfaction in seeing her little ones enjoy their dinner. But the father rabbit is sitting up like a sentinel, both eyes and ears open to catch the first sight or sound of danger, so that, if need be, they may hide, or run away.

In this world of sin and evil, the different kinds of creatures have their enemies, which prey upon them, or destroy them; and so they need to be on the watch against these.

Rabbits burrow in the ground so as to have a place where dogs cannot reach them. Scripture tells us

“The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies.” Ps. 104:18. The coney is a creature very much like the rabbit, feeble and timid, but they make “their houses in the rock.” Prov. 30:26.

To these timid little creatures God has given wisdom to make their houses in a place of strength and safety.

And is there not a lesson here for us, dear children? I think you will say, Yes, there is. We have a greater enemy than any of these little creatures have, and we need a place of safety, where we can be secure from danger. Our enemy is the devil, but in Christ Jesus we have a place of refuge.

We are sinners too, and there is a day of storm and tempest coming for every sinner who is not sheltered in Christ. O! how terrible it would be to be overtaken in that storm.

Let me ask you, dear children, have you fled to Jesus for refuge? If you have not, will you not take warning now, and be as wise as the little coney, or the rabbit? Flee at once from the coming danger. Flee to Jesus Christ, and He will shelter you from all danger.

“THE LORD IS MY ROCK, AND MY FORTRESS, AND MY DELIVERER: IN HIM WILL I TRUST.” 2 Sam. 22:2, 3.

ML 01/11/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 19.

THE fourth chapter told us of three cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan, to which one who unintentionally killed another might escape; now in this chapter we find God’s appointment of three more cities within the land, or across the Jordan river.

It was the land their God gave them, as each of the first three verses declares. and the tenth likewise, and as we have before noticed, the people were tenants on good behavior, for it was God’s land after all, and it must be kept in a way pleasing to Him.

To kill another, even unintentionally, was no light matter, as we see here. Immediately the unhappy man, who had killed another, knew what he had done, he had to go with all speed to the nearest city of refuge, even though the avenger of blood might be pursuing him.

If we turn to the New Testament, we shall find that there were two classes of people who had part in the death of Christ, —those who did it knowingly, and with hatred to that blessed One who came in lowly grace to a world of sinners; and those who in ignorance were led by the wicked men who wanted to see Him put to death. One of these classes is seen in Matthew 26:3-5; 27:1-4,20; and the other is shown in the Lord’s prayer on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34): and in Peter’s address to the people in the temple in Acts 3:17. Matthew 21:41 and 22:7 foretold what actually took place about forty years afterward when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. For the ignorant ones there is mercy, and that not only now, when Jews and Gentiles alike hear the Gospel, but in a later day Israel will turn to God, and be His earthly people.

The chapter closes with God’s mind about dishonest and untruthful ways. Evil had to be put away from among His people; sin must be punished.

ML 01/11/1925

About the River Folk in China

Part 2.

I TOLD you something about the boats on the Chinese rivers last week, and the people who live in them. Today I am going to tell you about a dear little girl who was born and lived all her life on a boat.

Little Kum Tai was born on just such a boat as I have described to you. Her father and mother, a brother, and after a bit, a little sister, also lived in it. I do not know whether they had a pig or some chickens, but many of the boats have. When Kum Tai was quite small, she spent most of her time on her mother’s back, while the poor woman poled the boat backwards and forwards, carrying passengers and goods from place to place. When the little child was old enough to walk alone, a large wooden float was tied around her neck, or sometimes she was tied by a rope to the, “pang”, or covering of the boat.

When she was four years old, and her little sister two years old, a great change came into their lives. Their mother had been attending the meetings on the Gospel Boat. She had indeed professed to be converted, and one day she came to the lady missionaries, and asked them if they would not take her two little girls. She said she could not earn enough to buy rice for them to eat. After some consideration the ladies agreed to do this: Miss Trent took the little one to her boat, some twenty or thirty miles away; and Miss Rowe kept the elder one with her. It was a nice change for little Kum Tai, to live on the big boat where she had plenty of food to eat, and space to run about in, and comfortable clothes to wear.

At first she was a very troublesome little girl. She would scream with passion if she could not have what she wanted, and if any one offended her she would get a stick and try to hit him, but by degrees she learned better. Miss Rowe taught her about Jesus, and she loved to hear the Bible stories. If she saw her with a Bible in her hand, she would run up and ask her to tell her something about Jesus.

When even a little girl learns to love Jesus, she tries to do what pleases Him, and so this dear little child became so gentle and sweet that everyone loved her. She was very merry and lively too, and was always jumping and skipping about, so she was great company for Miss Rowe who had only her Chinese servants on the boat with her. She loved to sing hymns, and the one she liked best was, “If I come to Jesus, He will make me glad.” The Chinese have a very nice tune for this hymn.

For nearly two years Kum Tai lived with her kind friend and then her mother came, and said she must have both her little girls back, and for such a dreadful reason. I am sure you will hardly believe me, but she wanted to sell them. She said she must have some money to buy a wife for her son and that was the only way she could get it. The two ladies were very sad; they did their best to persuade her not to do such a wicked thing, but she had made up her mind and would not listen to them. They could not bear to think of their dear little girls being sold into a heathen home, where they would be taught to worship idols, and do all kinds of wicked things. But the ladies had no, power to hinder the mother from doing as she pleased with her own children, and so one day the children were both given back to her. It was a sad day for their kind friends, but the little ones did not understand what was happening, and went away quite cheerfully with their mother. Then came the evening time, and when they discovered that they were to go back no more, their poor little hearts were nearly broken. They cried and sobbed and begged to go home, until they could cry no more, and then dropped asleep. The mother’s heart was softened, and she said, “I will take the little one back,” and as soon as the child wakened she went with her to the big boat, leaving Kum Tai asleep. They were still talking and arranging the matter, when there was a scream and a splash. Poor little Kum Tai; she had possibly tried to follow her mother. They never knew what happened, for by the time the child was rescued from the waves, the little life was extinct.

We say “Poor little Kum Tai.” Should we not rather say, “Happy little Kum Tai.” No heathen home for her now, but instead, the Father’s house. The Good Shepherd could not let His little lamb go into such surroundings, so He took her home to Himself, by way of the swift waters.

Now, I want to ask the children who read this true story, what makes us think little Kum Tai is with Jesus? Was it because she was a good little girl? The Bible says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Not even the good child who reads this story. Perhaps then, it was because she sang hymns, and repeated verses? No, that would be doing good works for salvation, and the Bible says again, “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” There is only one way by which grown up people, or little children can be saved; it is God’s own way, and there is no other. God loved us, and He wanted to have us with Himself, but He could not have us with Him, if one spot of sin was upon us. And so in His great and wonderful love, He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to be punished for our sins upon the cross. Our little Chinese girl believed this, and so she loved the One who had saved her, and loving Him, made her want to hear about Him, and to sing hymns of praise to Him, and also made her want to please Him by being gentle and obedient.

Perhaps you would like me to write out the chorus of the little hymn she first learned to sing, and was so fond of.

“Ngoh yeuk Chan chau. Ye Slo

Slam Chung mo paai ai

Kei yat yat fuen shing kiu

Ngoh tei slui yi lai.”

Translation

“I if come to Jesus

Heart middle not sad

He day day gentle voice calls

My little children come.”

English

“If I come to Jesus

Happy shall I be;

He is gently calling

Little ones like me.”

ML 01/11/1925

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Where will you spend eternity?

This question comes to you and me!

Tell me, what shall your answer be—

Where will you spend eternity?

Many are choosing Christ today,

Turtling from all their sins away;

Heaven shall their blessed portion be—

Where will you spend eternity?

Leaving the straight and narrow way,

Going the downward road today,

What shall the final ending be—

Where will you spend eternity?

Turn, and believe this very hour,

Trust in the Saviour’s grace and power;

Then shall your joyous answer be—

“Saved” through a long eternity!

ML 01/11/1925

Which Will Be You Portion?

“Come, ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

“Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matt. 25:34,41.

ML 01/11/1925

Just a Peep

AH! they have caught him, just taking a peep while playing at blind man’s buff. But this is not fair, it is cheating they say, because he is uncovering his eyes so as to see where they are, while he pretends to have his eyes covered all the time. He is trying to deceive them. Some may think that does not matter much, because it is only at play, but acting a lie is as bad as telling a lie, and if it is allowed in play, it will soon be thought nothing of in connection with what is not play.

Sometimes the tongue is used as well as actions, for deceiving. That is, things, are said in such a way as to lead others to believe something different than what is said, and yet it may not be a lie, but it is just as bad, because others are deceived.

God has spoken of that in His word as one of the things that is true of all. He has said, “With their tongues they have used deceit.” Do you think you have never done this? All must say, “Yes, I have.”

Well, God is so thoroughly just and right in everything, that He cannot allow even that sin to go unpunished; so what will we do, dear children? Must we bear the punishment ourselves? No, we need not, for the word is,

“WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” 1 Pet. 2:24.

And “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” Jno. 3:16.

Do you know when He gave His only begotten Son? I am sure many of you can answer—it was on the cross, in the three hours of darkness when He was forsaken of God while bearing sins. But can you say, He bore my sins there? Notice what the next part of the verse says:

“Whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

O, what a wonderful thing this is, and how thankful we, who believe, should be to Him who has borne the punishment from God for our sins, so that we should never have to bear it. He said on the cross, “It is finished.” Then instead of perishing, we get “everlasting life.”

If you believe in Jesus as your own Saviour, may you not only thank Him for what He has done for you, but may you seek in all your ways to please Him, and remember that even deceit is one of your sins that the Lord Jesus died for, and if the thought comes in your mind to deceive, turn away from it immediately.

ML 01/18/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 20.

THE close of the nineteenth chapter and almost the whole of the twentieth, seem quite different in spirit from the teachings of the New Testament, and they are, but both are of God. The difference is not that God’s principles change, but that in our chapter today He was proposing to punish His enemies, and from the time that His son came to earth until now, He is showing mercy, and delaying the punishment of His enemies. When the day of mercy ends, judgment will fall on every sinner who rejects the salvation of God.

There were two classes of enemies of God, as chapter 20 shows. These classes were, those to whom mercy was to be held out (verse 10); and those to whom it was not (verse 16). All deserved judgment; all received the judgment of God, if they neglected or refused the offer. It was not a question of trying to do better, with the people of verse 10; it was to accept or refuse peace offered in the name of God. Just so is it now, in the day in which we live; God is offering peace. Have you accepted it?

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5.

Verses 2 to 9 show how God’s service calls for devotion to Him. Those whose hearts and minds are set on earthly things can be of little use to Him in the war against the power of sin and Satan. This war is always going on; the Christian does not fight with human enemies, but Satan’s power.

ML 01/18/1925

Close to a Refuge, but Outside

THE following short paper has been sent by a collier: he says, “The subject of our narrative was a miner. And notwithstanding the many deliverances he had witnessed when in danger, yet he was a rejecter of that blessed One, who came to “seek and to save the lost.” The writer had many times spoken to him about his soul’s salvation: to which he was always indifferent, at the same time thinking the eleventh hour to be time enough.

“In November 1881, he left his home for his usual work; while going along a narrow road in the pit leading to his work place, he was overtaken by a water car that had broken loose some distance above. He was knocked down and killed in a moment, as it were, close to a refuge hole, but outside of it. What a fulfillment of God’s word, ‘He that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy?’ Had he accepted Christ as his Refuge, then the sudden change would have been sudden glory. This paper may be read by some who are saying ‘Time enough yet, I am not exposed to those dangers referred to: and I am in health and strength’ just think for one moment. Should the Lord call His own to meet Him, while you are reading these lines, and find you a rejecter, what would your health and strength avail you?”

Yes, the poor miner was near to a safety hole, cut in the side of the narrow path. Away from that safety, there was no escape from destruction of the body. Just outside the ark, when God shut Noah in, was sure destruction, and no escape. Have you not heard the gospel? Are you near the place of refuge, but not in Christ, still outside? How dreadful to be exposed to everlasting destruction. There is no other place of refuge. And how soon the roll and thunder of judgment will be heard on this doomed earth.

Are you in the place of safety—in Christ? There all is eternal peace. There are two words, one of which you must hear from Christ, “Come unto Me,” or “Depart from Me.”

If not “come,” then it will be “depart.” Do you say, When may I come to Christ? When may I enter the place of safety? Now, now, He says, come unto Me, and I will give you rest. There is not a moment to be lost. It was too late for the miner to step into the refuge, though close at hand. Forever too late. May the Holy Spirit, as you read these simple lines, bring you to take eternal refuge in Christ.

ML 01/18/1925

Candles and Rabbits

A LITTLE boy earned some money by running errands, and with the money bought a pound of candles for his mother. On his way home he passed by a large brightly illuminated house, into which many people were going. Curiosity led him to enter. A meeting was being held there that evening by a missionary who had come from India, with two converted natives, and he was giving an address describing the need of those poor heathen. He spoke with so much enthusiasm that the little boy decided to give his pet rabbit to help the good cause. When at the end, a collection was taken up, our little friend donated the pound of candles. This gift provoked some smiles, though unnoticed by him who caused the smiles. Upon his arrival at home he said to his mother,

“I have heard a missionary speak, and I gave those candles to the cause, but I believe God will give us thirty-fold in return. For the missionary said in the meeting that whatever is done for the Saviour and the heathen, God will return him thirty-fold.” Then he went out to his pet rabbit, put it in a basket while tears rolled down his cheeks, and took it to the house where gifts were being received for the mission.

A wealthy Christian lady soon heard of the poor boy’s gift. She bought the rabbit and two others with it, and the next day her carriage stopped in front of the house where the boy and his mother lived. As soon as the boy saw the carriage he called out,

“See, mother, here it is already. How good is God! How good is God!”

Sure enough, the lady alighted from her carriage with the little black rabbit, and also two white ones; and for the mother a basket of provisions and two pounds of candles.

This does not end the story. The wealthy lady kept her eye on the boy, and saw with pleasure how he cared for his mother and helped her in every way he could. She gave him a good education. But the best of all was that he took Christ as his Saviour, gave Him his heart, and finally went out among the heathen himself as the Lord’s servant, to tell them of that Saviour.

Is it not a happy thing to see how the Lord saved this boy while he was quite young, and how he sought to serve Him and tell others about His love and grace.

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19.

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.

ML 01/18/1925

Who Loves You?

WHO loves you? “My mother does,” some dear child may say; for when I was ill she nursed me kindly, and took care of me, sitting all the day by my bed, to comfort me when I was in pain; and now that I am well, mother is very glad, and often tells me how good God was to her in making her little one strong again. I know mother loves me very, very dearly.”

Who loves you? “Father does, I am, sure,” replies another; “for he works hard all day, and yet, when he comes home at night, he lets me read and talk to him, and never seems too tired to listen to what I have to say.”

Who loves you? “My teacher loves me,” answers a Sunday scholar; “for she often tells me, with tears in her eyes, that she prays that God will show me what a sinner I am, and give me faith in Jesus, and she talks as if she really loved me very much.”

Who loves you? “Alas! I have no home, no parents, no kind friends; my clothes are old and thin, and I can get but little food! It seems as if no one cared for me!” So may some poor child exclaim.

Ah! you may think that no one cares for you but there is One who loves you very much, and I am going to tell you who He is, and what He has done for you.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is His name. He laid down His life on the cross for poor lost sinners; He died on earth that sinners might live in heaven. He knew that everyone was a sinner, that all had done wrong in the sight of God, and He came and shed His blood to wash away sin: He looks upon ‘you now, and His heart is’ full of love for you; although you are but a weak, sinful child, the Lord Jesus is your Friend; and if you believe in Him, your sins, from this very instant, will be forever forgiven.

ML 01/18/1925

The Call Obeyed

God, and can it really be

That I Thy mercy slight,

And from Thy counsels turn away?

Thou God of truth and light!

I know that I am lost—undone,

That I must shortly die,—

And yet to think vain mortal man

Can pass salvation by.

Thy love, so wondrous, full, and free,

Has lengthened out the day,

When sinners lost may be brought nigh,

With naught to do or pay.

Lord, I trust Thy grace divine,—

E’en now I come to Thee,

cleanse me by Thy precious blood—

Which flowed on Calvary.

By faith I look from self to Christ

My Saviour, He alone,

I see Him dying on the tree—

I see Him on the throne.

What heights! what depths of love divine!

O! boundless full supply!—

I’m pardoned, and I wait to share

Thy glories bye and bye.

ML 01/18/1925

The Lost One Found

WHAT child has not experienced that feeling of utter loneliness which takes possession of one on finding that friends or relatives, supposed to be somewhere within sight or hearing, are nowhere near; and the desolation and fear which fill the mind, when, on running hither and thither, no traces of them can be found, when hope is almost given up, and all sorts of evil seem to threaten?

Many have been lost in woods; others in the crowded thoroughfares of our great towns and cities; while others on the sea beach have wandered to and fro in a vain search for the well-known face and smile.

Then, when the heart is sick, and the limbs are weary, the fruitless wanderings abandoned, the tears trickle, the sobs burst forth, and strangers showing pity, undertake the charge of the lost little one, who forthwith is conveyed to some friendly house, to await the inquiries of anxious parents or guardians.

Have you found out your lost condition, dear reader? Has your deep need ever pressed itself upon your conscience, and forced you to cry, “What must I do?” All your efforts are without avail; all your endeavors are but fruitless. Give up, then, your useless labor; dead works can never please a living God. Let “Lost! Lost!” be your cry. That cry is ever heard, ever answered by the Saviour Himself. For such He cares, for such He came, suffered and died.

“THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.” Luke 19:10.

Your cry of “Lost!” will be answered by His cry of “Found!” as, rejoicing, He bears you home.

His work upon the cross meets the whole need of the sinner, for it has answered the whole claim of God. Believe on Him, and all the value of His atoning blood will he seen upon you, and you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in newness of life, and to be here for His glory and praise, who was here for your salvation and peace.

May you be among the company of lost ones found again, and thus be one over whom there is joy in heaven.

ML 01/25/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 21

THIS chapter contains some more rules for the children of Israel to follow after they would get into their land, and in that way God’s care is shown over His people, and His determination that the land of His people should be kept clean of wrong-doing in every form. As the Lord Jesus said, speaking of the Old Testament scriptures, “They testify of Me” (John 5:39), so let us consider our chapter in connection with what He did.

Verses 1-9. Jesus has died, and the guilt of His death is upon the people of Israel (Matthew 27:25). When God sets about again to have an earthly people, the rejection to death of His Son will be brought before them; it will be a new generation of Israelites, and they will say (verse 7) “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.” Nevertheless, “the city which is next unto the slain man” (verse 3) is Jerusalem, —Israel is concerned. and the only atonement for the willful sin of shedding the blood of Jesus, is that blood itself. So, both the “one found slain” (verse 1). and the heifer (verse 4), typify Christ. The rough valley is this world, and particularly the land of Israel, to which Jesus came down.

Verses 15-17. Israel and the Gentiles have both been chosen in turn, and Israel is at present the forsaken one, but not forever. When repentance comes to Israel, the inheritance will be theirs.

Verses 18-21. Israel is the rebellious son; this is said over and over again in Scripture. And when the dawn of Israel’s great day begins, most of the nation will be more rebellious than ever, and will be given up to worship the man of sin. They represent this stubborn son whom the godly remnant refuses and reject. Death is his portion.

Verses 22-23 remind us of the place the Lord of glory took in dying on the cross. He was made a curse for us who receive Him by faith. (See Gal. 3:13).

ML 01/25/1925

Taken or Left

SOME time ago I was waiting on a railway station platform. I saw a train come in on the other side, and after it had waited a few minutes it began to move off again.

Just then I heard such a loud and pitiful cry, “Mother, mother, O! mother,” which seemed to come from some little girl.

The train was stopped, and I ran round to see what was the matter. I had often heard of people falling under trains, and being killed in a minute, and I made sure that was the case with the little girl.

“Well,” you say, “was she killed?”

No; I am happy to say it was not as bad as that. It appeared that this little girl and her mother and baby were going by the train. Well, mother and baby had just gone in, and before the little girl had time to follow, the train started, and she was left behind. And so she cried out, “Mother, mother!” until they stopped the train again.

I felt very sorry for the little girl, because it would have been very sad for her to be left in the station all by herself, and mother and baby gone.

But as I walked away I could not help thinking of the time when the Lord Jesus will come and take away all those who are ready, and leave behind all those who are not.

How very sad it will be if some little girl or boy should be left behind, and father and mother and brother and sister all taken away to be with Jesus.

Let me ask you, my little friend, should you be taken or left, if Jesus should come now?

Perhaps you say, you do not know. But I can tell you how you may know. If you believe in Jesus as your Saviour, the One who died for you because you were a sinner, and trust in His precious blood to cleanse you from all sin, then you are saved; and if He should come now, at this moment, even while you are reading this, He would surely take you with Him.

But if you do not believe in Him, and love your sins, and bad ways, you would be left behind.

O, how very sad that would be. It would be of no use to cry, “Mother, mother, father, brother, sister,” for, if they believed in Him, they would be gone in a moment.

But He does not want to leave any behind, and although you are wicked and sinful, He is willing to receive and pardon you, if you will only come as a sinner, and believe in Him and His word. And He says,

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

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

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.” Matt. 25:10, 13.

ML 01/25/1925

The Conversion of Annie and Mary

“COME on, Mary, else we’ll be late. We were told to be in time, or the door would be shut,” and the bare thought of being excluded from the New Year Treat, to which the two girls had been looking forward all that week, and for which they had been learning some verses to repeat, made them scamper along the crisp, frozen road, upon which a slight shower of snow had fallen that afternoon.

The Sunday School to which Mary and her younger sister Annie went, had been the scene of a most wonderful visitation of grace. A great interest in eternal things had been awakened among the young people of that district and for three months, Sunday after Sunday, without a break, there had been conversions; boys and girls, and young men and young ladies led to Christ by means of the Gospel simply and faithfully spoken, personally to some, and to others in classes; but in the greater number of cases. Christ was received (John 1:12) and, confessed (Rom. 10:9) through reading God’s Word, or being pointed to the Saviour by companions and friends at home.

The New Year gathering had been looked forward to and much prayed for, that it might be a night of conversion to souls still undecided, but anxious. Among these were Mary and Annie, two bright girls, daughters in a Christian family, whose home was some little distance from the Sunday School. They had heard the way of life from their earliest years, but, like many who have had the same privileges, they were still unsaved, still without Christ, and the chief cause of their Christ less condition was lest they should lose the world with its pleasures, and be laughed at by their companions.

As the meeting opened, one of the teachers announced,

“All who have trusted Christ during the year, might stand up, and sing together that grand old hymn beginning—

‘O happy day that fixed my choice

On Thee, my Saviour and my God.’”

At this request from an aged teacher a fine band of young folks stood up and sang, as only young converts, in the freshness of their earliest love, can, until the echo rang again,

“Happy day, happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away.”

Tears of joy filled the eyes of many of the older ones, as that glorious song rolled on. It was not difficult to see, that of those who could not stand to sing it as new born children of God, some were very uneasy. Mary and Annie, usually bright and cheery, sat with their heads bowed, while every line of the hymn sung with fervor and manifest enjoyment by those who had trusted in Christ, went like a sword to their hearts. There was real power with the simple story of the cross of Christ, and some were “added to the Lord” as the result of that New Year night’s meeting.

As the children filed out from the hall into the clear moonlight, they were given a paper telling of the conversion of two boys. Mary and Annie sat up and read the story of the conversion of these boys.

“If they were both saved by trusting in Jesus, so may we,” said Mary. And kneeling side by side, the two girls yielded themselves to Him, and were saved.

“Faith in Christ will save me;

Trust in Him, the risen One;

Trust the work that He has done;

To His arms I now may run: —

Faith in Christ will save me.”

ML 01/25/1925

Love One Another

It was Saturday night, and two children small,

Sat on the stairs in the lighted hall,

Vexed, and troubled, and sore perplexed,

To learn for Lord’s Day this beautiful text.

Only three words on a gilded card,

But both the children declared it hard.

“‘Love’, that is easy—it means this,”

(A warm embrace and a loving kiss).

“But ‘one another’, I don’t see who

Is meant by ‘another’,—now, May, do you?”

Very slowly she raised her head,

Our thoughtful darling, and gently said;

As she fondly smiled on her little brother,

“Why, I am, only ‘one’ and you are ‘another’.

And this is the meaning, don’t you see?

That I must love you, and you must love me.”

Wise little preacher, could any sage Interpret better the sacred page?

ML 01/25/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for December

1. “There hath no temptation,” etc. 1 Cor. 10:13.

2. “For Christ sent me not,” etc. 1:17.

3. “Therefore, my beloved,” etc. 15:58.

4.“For as often as ye eat,” etc. 11:26.

5.“What is it then?” etc. 14:15.

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

7. “Put when ye sin so,” etc. 8:12.

Bible Questions for February

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

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “No corrupt communication.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Better than themselves.”

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

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Because ye are sons.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Walk worthy of the Lord.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Have no fellowship.”

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

ML 02/01/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 22 and 23

PERHAPS some of us are finding these chapters long and not so very interesting. But remember that it is out of God’s deep interest in a people He loves, that these rules are given. Think how much He must have thought about them, to tell them of even the smallest matters, like lost clothes (22:3), bird’s nests (22:6), and eating grapes in a neighbor’s vineyard (Chap. 23:24)! Surely, He has as deep an interest in those who believe in the Lord Jesus in these days. With loving thoughts, He concerns Himself with all our affairs by day and by night! Knowing this, in the twenty-third Psalm, David records of God as his Shepherd, “Thou art with me” “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

These chapters show us not only things that are right, and things that are wrong: they go further and tell us what God’s will is about even the smallest matters in our lives: what is pleasing to Him, and what He cannot be pleased with. How, shall anyone know what he should do or should not do? By studying the Word of God, of course. The Bible is a mine of wealth, as someone has said very truly.

In the twenty-third chapter we find people of some other countries mentioned: Ammonites and Moabites, Edomites and Egyptians all come in for mention, and we notice that God does not forget the past. The children of Ammon and those of Moab might come to live among the people of God for many years, yet they were not allowed to join God’s people in their meetings; the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of these strangers, even though they were born in the country, were just as much shut out when the people of God came together to speak to Him. Ten generations is a long time, —at least 200 years. If left to ourselves, without the Word of God, in a question like this, you and I would, in a very short time, say, “It is a long while ago that this trouble happened; we might as well forget it, and admit that we have made mistakes too; we must not be too severe”, but since God’s Word is to be the Christian’s guide. we must look to learn what is His mind. Not only here in this 23rd of Deuteronomy do we find instruction on this subject, but in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, verse 15, we get these words:

“God requireth that which is past.”

Verse 14 of chapter 23 is another important one to guard God’s people against everything not suitable to His presence. Shall His keen eyes, as He “walks” among them, see any unclean thing in them? Let nothing he left unjudged, and not put away, that the Bible condemns.

ML 02/01/1925

God's Care

A YOUNG man who was leaving home for a few days on a business trip, had a dear Christian mother who had brought him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His mother, in bidding him goodbye, commended him to the Lord’s care.

In reply, he said, “Mother, I will return the week end, so do not have any anxiety about me,” and he left his home, taking a steamship to O—. For a few days he found much to do, and finally the day for returning came. It was now nearing the time for the last whistle of the boat, so the young man realizing this, began to walk more briskly. At last he started to run, but reached the dock just as the vessel pulled out. He was much excited, and called out several times for them to return, but they took no heed, and he was left standing on the dock, a disappointed young man. His first thought was his dear mother at home, what distress she would be in. A verse of Scripture came to his mind, that he had so often heard his mother quote,

“All things work together for good to them that love God.” He wondered how this could be among the “all things”, but dear ones, God’s Word is sure and steadfast. He knows them that are His, and watches over and cares for every sheep and lamb of His flock.

The next morning the news spread that this same vessel had caught fire. The sailors worked hard to save her, but were unable. She sank and many passengers went down with her.

The dear mother at home was calm and quiet, knowing that she had left her son in her loving Father’s hands, whose promises never fail. Her faith was strong, and she felt sure he was not among those who were burned or drowned. As soon as possible he sent her a message, then took the first boat homeward. What a meeting that was: the son once more in the dear mother’s arms.

What do you think, dear ones, was the first thing they did? They knelt down, and thanked their Father for His preserving care. This dear young man never forgot God’s over-ruling mercy toward him, and this experience was used of the Lord in drawing him more closely to Himself.

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psa. 34:7.

ML 02/01/1925

The Little Shepherd Boy

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

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

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

“Have you seen Him?”

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

So the little boy made up his mind to go and see the Babe. It was a long journey, more than a hundred miles over hot plains, but he found his way and arrived one Saturday evening.

A kind Christian woman took him into her hut and gave him supper. Next morning, he hear the chapel bell and followed the woman. The little shepherd looked about, hoping to see the glorious Babe, and as he looked, he saw a little fair child, with light hair and blue eyes. such a child as he had never seen before, for all the people there are black. “It is the Babe of Bethlehem,” he thought; and after the service was over, he told the woman so. At first she could not understand him, and then she told him it was the missionary’s own child, and she told him who the Babe of Bethlehem really was, WHAT HE did, and WHERE He is; of His love in dying upon the cross, that we who trust Him might live with Him in glory for evermore.

The boy believed her words, and soon he loved Jesus though he could not SEE Him.

He did not wish to leave the station, but stayed there and learned to read his Bible, and he grew up to be a Christian man.

“In that beautiful place He has gone to prepare,

For all who are washed and forgiven,

And many dear children are gathering there,

For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

“But thousands and thousands who wander and fall,

Never heard of that heavenly home;

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

And that Jesus invites them to come.”

ML 02/01/1925

Sympathy and Comfort

POOR little girl! she has dropped her doll, and the head has come off. That is not much to cry over; nevertheless, it has hurt her feelings so badly that she could not help crying and dear brother sympathizes with her.

One is reminded that this is the way the Lord Jesus has acted toward us. He was in no trouble Himself, but He saw what great trouble we were in, through our sins, and His heart was moved with compassion towards us, so He went to the extent of giving up His glorious home above, where He was ever dwelling with the Father, and He came into this world of sin where He had no home, and where He was hated, shamefully treated, and finally He went to the cross in love for us, to bear the awful penalty for sins, so that our dreadful condition could be met, and we could be saved. Who has loved us as He has? Who is so high and so holy as He, and who so competent and willing to save us as He?

Do you respond to such sympathy and love, and praise Him and thank Him for having so thought of you?

He is worthy of all praise, and if we love Him, we will seek to please Him in all our ways.

“O MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME, AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER.” Ps. 34:3.

ML 02/01/1925

Life, Rest, Joy, Peace.

Life in a scene of death,

Rest in a world of care;

Joy in a land where sorrow dwells.

And peace instead of fear.

Life through a Saviour’s death,

Rest through His finished toil,

Joy through the sorrow He endured.

And peace that none can spoil.

Our life is hid in God,

We enter into rest;

And joy in God through Christ our Lord,

With peace eternal blest.

And all through grace alone;

We worship and adore:

Life, rest and joy in Christ possess.

And peace for evermore.

ML 02/01/1925

Timothy

THE aged apostle Paul, in the very last letter he wrote before he went home to be with Christ, said to Timothy,

“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother and they taught him to love the Word of God, but you see it was not being their child that saved him. They were persons of faith, but it was not because they had faith in Christ that could save Timothy, but it was his own faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that saved him.

He was a very useful man in the work of the Lord, and much loved and valued by Paul, as we see almost every time Paul speaks of him. (Romans 16:21; 1 Cor. 16:10; Phil. 1:1, 2:19-22; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:5).

Paul tells us that the man of God could find all the instruction he would need for his work in the service of God in those very same Scriptures that he had known from a child.

The Lord wants to have a people in this world who will confess Him before men, and prove that they are not their own, but His, for He has bought them with His precious blood—that He has died for them, that they should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him, their living Lord and Master in heaven. “YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN, FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.” 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

ML 02/08/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 24 and 25

IT was indeed a hard-hearted people (see Matthew 19:8 and Mark 10:5) to whom God gave these rules. The Holy Spirit in our day has a deeper message, because of the finished work of Christ, and divorce could not now be justified among Christians on such grounds as those of this chapter.

If the people were hard of heart, God was not like them, and the greater part of this chapter speaks in kindness of the poor and defenseless, whether it were one’s brother or a hired servant, or a stranger, or an orphan, or a widow.

“Thou shalt remember,” not how great thou art, or anything of the kind, but “that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence.” (verse 18)

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus, dear reader, do you remember often enough that you were a slave of that cruel tyrant Satan until God, in Christ, redeemed you? Turn to Ephesians 2:1-9, and read that wonderful statement, true of everyone who trusts in Jesus.

Chapter 25:3, God lays down a rule regarding punishment of wrong-doers, and in the next verse He thinks (how good and how gracious He is!) of the humble ox treading out the grain.

Verses 5-10. It was important for an earthly people that the family name should be kept up: this would have no force with a heavenly people, the Church of God. They have no proper hopes on earth, but in heaven.

Honest weights and measures are commanded in verses 13 to 16, and the enemies of God were not to be made friends of (verses 17-19). Amalek cared nothing for God, —did not fear Him and attacked the weaker ones of the flock. It is the true character of this world under the leadership of its prince and god, Satan.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in Him.” 1 John 2:15.

ML 02/08/1925

Only Believe

A YOUNG man who was in trouble about his soul had been opening his heart to a friend, and telling him his difficulties.

This friend discerned very quickly that he was striving to acquire what God offers as a gift. He spoke of “sincere prayers” and “heartfelt desires” after salvation, but continually lamented that he did not “feel any different in spite of it all.”

His friend did not answer him at first, but presently he interrupted him with the inquiry, “W—, did you ever learn to float?”

“Yes, I did,” was the surprised reply. “And did you find it easy to learn?” “Not at first,” he answered.

“What was the difficulty?” his friend pursued.

“Well, the fact was, I could not lie still; I could not believe or realize that the water could hold me up without any effort of my own, so I always began to struggle, and of course down I went at once.”

“And then?”

“Then I found out that I must give up all the struggle, and just rest on the strength of the water to bear me up. It was easy enough after that: I was able to lie back in the fullest confidence that I should never sink.”

“Well, do you know what God says to a man who feels himself a sinner? Read this: ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’ Isa. 53:5. Can you lie still and trust in that? It is God who speaks, and the moment you only believe Him, you will find for your soul what you found for your body when you trusted the waters.”

“The gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:23.

ML 02/08/1925

Are You Ready?

I WAS standing one day in an orchard, when a little tom-tit came and settled on a bough within a foot or two of where I stood, and began to sing.

I don’t know whether you have ever seen a tom-tit. It is a small blue-winged bird, much less in size than a sparrow, very active and bold, and always in motion. jerking his little body hither and thither, with an energy that is amusing as its appearance is pretty—especially to children, with whom it is a great favorite.

But I cannot say much for its song, if song it can be called. It is neither soft nor musical, but consists of four notes only which it would puzzle the most clever musician to find in the music scale. In fact they are more like words jerked out with the great rapidity that marks all the ways of this funny little bird, and uttered three times in succession.

Some birds have been taught to speak, like parrots and canaries; but this little tom-tit, living on the hills of Somerset, had never been taught at all; yet, as he sat perched on the bough beside me, he seemed to be saying as plainly as possible—

“Be ye ready—be ye ready—be ye ready!”

Sometimes he varied it a little, and then it seemed to be— “We be ready—we be ready,” which if not good English, was quite in keeping with the ways of this little bird, as he jerked himself here or there on his perch.

Now I don’t mean to say that this tom-tit either understood or intended to convey what the sounds expressed to me; but it is a message that is certainly worth listening to, because it reminds us of the words of the Lord Jesus when He said, “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.”

Ready for what? perhaps you will ask. Ah! it means ready to meet the Lord Jesus, for you know we shall all have to meet Him one day, either as our Saviour or as our Judge.

That is a tremendous fact which we do well to consider, for it is one thing to meet the Lord as a friend and Saviour, but quite another to have to do with Him as a judge; but we must meet Him, for we read that every eye shall see Him.

But to return to our little tom-tit who was sitting on the bough, as I have said. If he had seen a hawk overhead, do you think he would have remained where he was? No! Indeed he would have darted away in a moment to some thick hedge, or a hole in the thatch, or some other place of refuge, and thus he would have been ready, because he would be safe from the danger that threatened him, safe in his secure retreat.

Well now, Are you ready to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes? —is the question; for if not ready to go to be with Him you will surely be left behind when He comes, and those who are left behind will have to face judgment and condemnation.

I knew a young girl who felt she was not ready and was afraid to sleep at night, lest the Lord should come before morning. She knew her parents were Christians and they would be taken.

She would sometimes ask her parents to pray with her before she would venture to lie down to rest. But the moment came when she was able to rest on the finished work of the Lord Jesus and to know that He had died for her, and that her sins were washed. away in His own precious blood.

What then became of her fears? They all vanished. The Lord Jesus is now her best friend, and if He comes He will take away all His own, and she knows she will be among the number.

In the fourteenth chapter of John’s Gospel we get the precious promises about the Father’s house. And the Lord Jesus said. “If I go away I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” But we can only be sure of going to the Father’s House by being ready to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes.

We all know something of the joy of going to meet a dear friend, from whom we have been separated perhaps for years; but who can tell what joy will be ours when we see the Lord in glory for the first time?

May that joy be yours, dear reader, as well as mine.

ML 02/08/1925

Inside or Outside?

WE were looking in your shop one day, sir,” said a little girl, who with her brother were talking to me, “but we did not see you.”

“And I wonder,” I said, “when I get to heaven, if you will be looking in to see if I am there?”

“No, no, we shall be inside, then,” said the little girl with a meaning look, which seemed to say she had no doubt about the matter. And why should there be any doubt, even in a little child’s heart, when God says in words which a tiny boy or girl can understand,

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life?”

Many little ones of my acquaintance do believe God’s Word, and are happy in doing so, and they are quite sure when the door is shut that they will be inside, for God says that everyone who believes in Christ shall not perish. If my little readers are not quite sure that they shall be inside, let them quietly meditate on and believe a wonderful verse in God’s Word, and the matter will be settled at once.

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

ML 02/08/1925

Jesus Our Friend

‘Tis sweet to know we have a Friend

Whose love can ne’er decay,

Whose faithfulness can know no end,

Or ever pass away.

Whose sympathy quells every fear.

Bids every sorrow cease,

Dries up each bitter flowing tear.

And fills the soul with peace.

Jesus the true, the faithful Friend,

No change can ever know:

He loves and loves unto the end

Who trusts His Name below.

ML 02/08/1925

Life

WHAT is it, do you think, that the girl in the picture is, holding in her chubby little hands? It is something that seems to be engrossing the attention of the three little folks. Look at the faces of the little boys! They seem to be full of expectation and pleasure. Do you guess what it is that is so absorbing these little children? There is a fine nest made out of an old basket; in it is a hen, and on its edge is perched a little chick; all about it are broken shells showing the prison houses out of which the little chicks have come. Our picture shows the little chicks coming into life. Did you ever think, dear children, what a wonderful thing life is? God gives life to all His creatures.

“In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” Acts 17:28.

But interesting and important as this life we now live is, there is another life that is of vastly greater importance.

If I were to ask you what this life is, I think most of you would quickly answer. “It is eternal life.”

God has given to you, my young reader, the natural life. Have you the eternal life? If not, would you not like to have it? Do you ask, How may I obtain eternal life? God’s Word gives the answer,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36.

ML 02/15/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

THIS chapter, the last of another section of Deuteronomy, suitably comes at the close of fourteen chapters, mostly warning against sin of various kinds. If the believer has examined himself in the light of the Word of God, and judged and put away everything that the Bible condemns, he is ready to take his offering to the place where God sets His name, to be a worshiper in His presence, and to that place he is directed to come. (Verses 1-11).

We learn from, these verses, and of course others that tell of the mind of God, that He wishes those who are His people to make themselves acquainted with all that He has done for them; to live in heart and ways near to Him. All that they have they owe to Him, not only in earthly things, but particularly in heavenly hopes and joys.

If their hearts are right toward God, their minds will be engaged in all their spare moments with “the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee”, —that it, with. the things of God, rather than the objects of this world. Then if the believer’s thoughts are on the things of God, there will be “fruit” to God.

There are many New Testament passages in which this word “fruit” is found, and the reader will be well repaid in searching them out; I mention only Luke 6:43,44; Galatians. 5:22; Hebrews 13:15. Yet, after all, Christ is the first fruits, and it is of Him that the Christian thinks first and best, and of His worthiness he should always be ready to speak, both to God the Father and to his fellow men.

It is sad when Christians are found very ready to talk about their pleasures and their business, yet are almost silent when there is occasion to speak about the Lord. It is the fruit of the condemned world, and not of the “land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” that they have been gathering, is it not?

The chosen place (verse 2) for many years of Israel’s history was Jerusalem, but today there is no earthly city where the Lord has set His name. The place which He honors with His presence now is named in Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three are gathered together unto My Name, there am I in the midst of them.” It may be in some humble home, or on a back street in a great city, for this is the day of small things.

The priest (verse 3) now is the blessed Lord Himself, for since the cross of Christ, a human priesthood has no more place. (See Hebrews chapters 9 and 10. and in particular chapter 10:11-25).

Verse 5. Jacob, the beginning of the nation, was the “Syrian ready to perish” —from famine, who went down to Egypt with his family to be cared for by his great son Joseph, —type of the Lord Jesus. There is little to be said of man at best, but his needs, his sad case upon which God looked with pity, and then brought salvation by power greater than anything this world knew. But this God-fearing Israelite has much to say of the One Who has done everything for him (verses 7-9). Before (verse 7) there was prayer; now (verse 10) there is praise.

Verse 11. There is room for all—even the “stranger”, who longs to be one with the worshipers.

ML 02/15/1925

The Children's Task

MANY of our little readers know something about country life, and the pleasure of being out in the fields scattered with daisies on a sunny day. No doubt, you have often been much interested in the turkeys, as they plumed themselves, spreading their fanlike tails in the sunshine. You know turkeys wander away from home, and therefore have to be watched.

There were two little girls in the country, who loved father and mother dearly, and were wishful to help them, for their parents had much to do, so they were sent into the field to care for a flock of turkeys. They loved their work, and always appeared to be happy.

Do you know, dear children, why they were so happy? Because they loved the Lord Jesus, and knew His eye was upon them.

We wonder how many of our little readers, when given work to do, can do it for Jesus’ sake? If you are one of His little lambs, as I trust many of you are, it will be your delight to please Him. How often boys and girls are forgetful of that little portion of scripture.

“Thou God Seest Me”. Gen. 16:13. No matter what we are doing, or where we are, His eye is upon us.

But some may say, “I do not know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour, and therefore cannot do my work well, or for Jesus’ sake.”

No, dear one, your first step is to see your lost condition. Your next one is to know that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

“The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10, and your last step is to look by faith unto the crucified One, resting on His finished work, and to know that by His grace, you are saved.

May the Holy Spirit work in the heart of each boy and girl, and older ones too, of our readers who are unsaved, and bring each one of you to confess the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Then all you do will be done, I trust, unto the One who so loved you, and gave Himself for you. “WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.” 1 Cor. 10:31.

ML 02/15/1925

Repentance Toward God, Illustrated in a Little Child

I SAT with a young mother, and her boy of three years old at her feet. His back was turned to her, and his face still crimson with the passion he had given way to, perhaps because his mother had not allowed him to have his own will and way in something he wanted—or wanted to do. His sobs had given way to silence, and the large tears waited on his cheek for others that filled his eyes, ready to fall anew!

From time to time, he cast a glance at his mother, whose grave face was turned away from the rebellious child, who understood not the deep pain he had given to her heart. The silence was broken by an occasional sob, but soon even this ceased. At last, in a subdued voice, the little fellow said,

“Mother, I know what would make me good! If you would look at me again, and take me on your knee and kiss me, and call me your own little son!”

In other words, this little boy felt and owned, he had been naughty and rebellious, and was sorry for it. He wanted to be forgiven, and to enjoy his dear mother’s love again; the enjoyment of which he had lost by his naughtiness, and maybe he felt, like the prodigal son in Luke 15, he was not worthy of it. At once his mother looked at him, opened her arms, and enfolded her child to her bosom where his last tears of repentance were shed, and her tears fell on the face that nestled there.

Is God, whom we have too often grieved by our naughtiness and disobedience to Him, is He as ready to forgive and to draw us close to Himself like that, if we judge ourselves and own our sins? Yes! dear child, or children. Read the 15th chapter of Luke, or have someone read it to you, and notice how gladly the Father runs to meet the repentant prodigal, and how he kisses him, and rejoices over his son’s return back to him, whom he had before, and for so long, turned his back upon.

This is what our beloved Lord tells us God is like towards any repentant one, young or old. Notice too, what our Lord Jesus tells us about joy being in heaven, joy in the presence of the angels of God —up there—over one sinner that repenteth.

Let me add that the way back to the Father, is the Lord Jesus Himself! For He says in John 14:6,

“I am the way . . . no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

He went to the cross to atone for our sins, and to tell God the Father’s love, or there would not be, and could not be, any forgiveness at all for anybody.

ML 02/15/1925

Auntie's Great Reward

SOME, years ago a dear mother, —the subject of this story was called away from this earth to be with the Lord.

When this mother died, not one of her children was saved; all were apparently in total spiritual darkness. The burden of these children was felt heavily by their aunt, who earnestly prayed God to bring them to Himself, and who also did her utmost to lead them into the way of grace and salvation.

The eldest girl seemed much impressed by the earnest and loving words she heard, and O, how rejoiced was her aunt some little time after, when this niece paid her a visit. She heard her say she had found Christ, and wanted to serve Him, and to praise Him. And all this was true indeed, as the girl’s changed life and desires, most happily witnessed.

Her younger sister accompanied this happy Christian girl on this visit to her aunt, who, on hearing the good news, inquired of her,

“And how is it with you, dear?” “Auntie,” was the cold answer, “you must not talk to me about these things.”

A few months passed away, and the aunt again saw the younger sister, and again said to her, “Well, dear, and how is it with you now?”

Her bright, happy face gave me the answer before she replied,

“O! dear aunt, I have found Jesus. I know all my sins were laid upon Him when He died, and I am so happy.”

“You surprise me,” said the aunt, “for I did not know you were even anxious, dear.”

“O! auntie I have been wanting to know how my sins could be pardoned from the time I was a little girl, and sometimes I have been very unhappy, and since my dear mother died it has been a real, deep longing, I assure you. I have only known I was saved the last three weeks: I believed, but did not see it was for myself. And now, auntie, how I wish dear father was saved, and my brothers. Do pray for them.”

It was joy indeed to see her joy, and her deep longing for all whom she knew.

God is faithful who has promised. May we not count upon Him to hear all our prayers for our loved unsaved ones, while we make every effort to bring them to the Saviour’s feet, let us take God at His word, and not hinder His work by our unbelief.

“Seek ye the Lord while yet His ear

Is open to your call;

While offered mercy still is here,

Before His footstool fall.”

ML 02/15/1925

Clearing Away the Snow

THESE dear children are clearing away the snow for their mother, and making a pathway for her when she will go out on her errands. The snow has been falling everywhere, carpeting the ground in spotless white, resting on the boughs of leafless trees, and glittering in the moonlight.

Dear children, tell me, What is whiter than snow? You know, if we put a white garment on the newly fallen snow, it will look grey and dingy, and we feel almost ashamed to call it white, by the side of the pure white snow.

What must sin be in the sight of a holy and righteous God? He says,

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23.

“We are all as an unclean thing, and our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isa. 64:6. So how can we be cleansed, and be made fit for the presence of such a holy God? Listen to what He also says to us,

“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.

Then turn, dear ones, to the Lord, own your sins, and in simple faith, accept Him who shed His precious blood to wash away all your crimson stains that sin has made upon your soul.

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW.” Psa. 51:7.

ML 02/22/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 26:12-19

THE subject the twelfth verse takes up seems quite detached from what we have been considering, but it is not. If verse 11 shows the obedient people of God, happy in His presence, rejoicing in every good thing He has given their; verse 12 bids them show that unselfishness! which we can see in its fulness only in the Lord Jesus, who, “though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.

Deuteronomy 14:28,29 has already told us of the tithe of the third year, when the people of Israel stayed at home, and gave to those who had not, out of their bounty. The Levite who was in the service of God; the “stranger” who was not an Israelite but had come among them; the fatherless and the widow were not forgotten by God, and He graciously reminds His people in this chapter that their happiness is not complete without care for the friendless, the neglected and the needy. What do you do with what God has given you, Christian reader?

Verse 13: notice the latter part of this verse, and of the next one. The whole Word of God should be observed; there are true Christians who are not willing to obey where it cuts into their pleasures, and in other ways takes from them what is clung to, but is contrary to the mind of God. Personal holiness should characterize the believer, as is brought out in verse 14. “Mourning” in this verse is elsewhere many times translated “iniquity” or “vanity”, and this seems to be the true meaning.

Then follows the prayer of verse 15, for, “No matter how God may bless us, to whatever extent He is pleased to make us a means of blessing to others, there is this further consideration that we are not taken out of the place of dependence.” Heart and soul (verse 16) are to be engaged for God.

What nearness to God the closing verses tell of! Reader, are you saved? If saved, are you seeking to please Him who has bought you with His blood?

ML 02/22/1925

A Child's Confession of Christ

I WANT to tell you of a little girl, from whom I learned a lesson, and who made a nice little remark, which proved a blessing to myself and many more besides.

The great God, the Father of the Lord Jesus, loves children, and is saving a great number; and sometimes little children learn His love more quickly, and His kind ways more clearly than older people.

So it was with the little girl I am going to tell you about. It was not in a railway train, nor in the busy street, nor at a great meeting that I first met her. O, no. Where do you think it was, dear children. It was in a sad place!

Picture to yourselves a small room, and a tiny bed, and in it a little child, pale and wasted and weak, and hardly able to speak a word. How she suffers! And there is her fond, loving mother, weeping and sad. and expecting every hour to be her last.

Yet, dear little ones, is not this a common sight? The youngest of you, if you think but a moment, would readily tell me of some little companion, perhaps a brother or sister, or some of your friends, even younger than yourselves, who once were well and as bright and happy as you, but now their little bodies are in the cold grave, and you will see them here no more forever! Is not this very sad? How is it that so many, even little children suffer so much, and then die, and have to be buried out of sight? O! there is one little verse in the Bible that tells all about it, and it is this:

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

Yes, that is it. Sin is the cause of it all. What a dreadful thing then, sin must be.

Well, I knelt by the side of this dying little one, as I then thought, and spoke to her of Jesus, and His dying love. I told her I thought she would soon be with. Him (both mother and child knew Jesus), but she opened her little languid eves, and to my surprise, said,

“Yes, sir, but if Jesus has any little work for me to do, He can raise me up again, even yet.” I wondered much at the child speaking in that way.

She did not die, nor did I see her again for two years. When I next met her, she seemed well and happy. She had forgotten me, but I wondered if she was still as happy with the Lord. I thought I would search her little heart; and so, looking her full in the face, I said,

“My child, if you were to die this moment, what would become of you?”

For an instant she was startled, but only for a moment, and then in a clear and soft voice, replied:

“I should go right up to be with Jesus, sir.”

“But,” I said, “are you not conscious of being a sinner—of sinning even every day?”

Her eyes fell, a cloud came over her face, and again she said,

“Yes, sir, I know I am a sinner, and I know I sin even every day.”

Then I hastily asked, “How could you be received into heaven?”

The cloud came again, but only for a moment, and then a bright smile, showing real inward joy, shone on her face, and looking fully into mine, she sweetly answered in these most impressive words,

“Yes, sir, I know I am a sinner, but the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

That was enough. How beautiful! How it rejoiced my heart! What a nice bit of service for Jesus it was to bear such a blessed, clear testimony to the value of His precious blood!

Many times I have told this simple story to some doubting, troubled soul, and many times God has used it to strengthen their faith and give them comfort.

Perhaps someone is reading this who cannot say, “His blood has washed my sins away,” and perhaps you are troubled about it. If I could look into your heart, what a sorrowful sight it would be.

“O, yes,” you say, “I know I am naughty. I try to put on a brave look, and I have often tried to forget it. My father and mother think me a merry, careless child, but at times I am very sorrowful. I feel my bad tempers, my self-will my pride of heart, and I have tried to be better, but I can’t; and then when I am alone, I cry, and am afraid of God, and dare not think of death, and O! I do so wish that I was like that little girl.”

My dear child, I have been just like that, and I know all about it. But better still, Jesus knows it, too. Yes, the very One who died for you, is at this very moment seated on the throne of God, crowned with glory and honor. Yes, He knows all your troubles, and He knows you cannot help yourself. He knows the more you try, the more you will break down. What do you think He wants you to do? I will tell you. He wants you to talk to Him; to tell Him everything in your heart.

“What,” you say, “all my bad thoughts; all my wicked tempers?”

Yes, my child, He wants you just to tell Him everything. He wants you to think of Him; to look in His face; to see the tenderness and pity and love that shine there. He wants you to know Himself, and He will make you very happy. O, look up. What do you see on the throne? The Lamb of God Who has been slain. Why was He slain? He died, “the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” God was satisfied; yes, and well pleased, and raised Him from the dead, and has given Him glory, and all this that just such troubled souls as yours might be saved from death and delivered from the power of sin, and made happy now and forever.

ML 02/22/1925

Taken or Left?

A LITTLE girl was reading a book containing a number of difficult articles. One of them was called “Taken or Left?” A question in it was,

“Let me ask you, my little friend, would you be taken or left if the Lord Jesus should come now?”

After she had read the article, she wrote at the end of it, “Taken”. She knew that she had trusted in the Lord Jesus as her Saviour. She knew that He had died for her, and had borne the judgment on the cross that she deserved for her sins, so she now belonged to Him, and that if He should come for all of His own redeemed ones, He would take her too to be forever with Himself.

Now I would press this same question home to the heart of each one of you, my dear young readers,

“Would you be taken or left, if the Lord Jesus should come now?”

He is calling for you to come to Him and accept Him as your own precious Saviour. Do not delay any longer.

But if you can say from your heart that you do believe that He loves you. and has given Himself for you, how happy you shall be to see Him when He comes; and we shall meet Him in the air, and He will take us to His Father’s house, to be there with Him forever.

Surely you can say with us, “Come Lord Jesus”.

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

ML 02/22/1925

Come Now, Dear Children

Come now, dear children, to the cross.

The Saviour bids you come;

Come trusting in His precious blood;

Wait not—there still is room.

O! why delay your long return?

List to the Spirit’s voice,

Yield to the One who died for you,

And make Him now your choice.

He waits to fill your soul with joy,

And all your sins forgive,

His love for you no tongue can tell,

O! trust His grace and live.

ML 02/22/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

1.“For our light affliction,” etc. 2 Cor. 4:17.

2.“And no marvel,” etc. 11:14.

3.“Wherefore come out,” etc. 6:17.

4.“And we have sent with,” etc. 8:18.

5.“In whom the god of this,” etc. 4:4.

6.“So that contrariwise,” etc. 2:7.

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

Bible Questions for March

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

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “So shall we ever be.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The last days.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The latter times.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words. “Patient waiting.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “At that day.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “That blessed hope.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “At His coming.”

ML 03/01/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 27

THE first part of the chapter is a call to keep the commandments delivered to the people from God. They were to be written upon stones “very plainly” (verse 8). Keeping the land which God gave them, depended upon their keeping His words; an altar, too, was to be erected (verses 5-7) for burnt offerings and peace offerings. So far all looks well. Joshua built the altar, and wrote the law on the stones (Joshua 8:30-32) here prescribed.

In Samaria, not far from the well of Sychar (John 4) are two mountains, near enough together for people in the valley between them to hear words spoken from the side of either. Half the tribes of Israel were to stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people; and the other half were to stand on Mount Ebal to curse (verses 11-26). But when we look for the blessing, there is none; if there were one, it would have been given; instead are only the curses, twelve in number, solemnly spread out. This is indeed serious: the law can only curse; man cannot find blessing from the law in the presence of God. The last verse of this chapter is evidently what is quoted in Galatians 3:10.

“As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.”

Then why do many earnest people try. to keep the law, the ten commandments, in order to be saved?

“Christ hath redeemed us from, the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13.

Not any rules to make the natural man good, will ever work,

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely (without a cause), by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23, 24.

Reader, these are God’s words; this is His way of salvation. Is it yours?

ML 03/01/1925

The Bible and the Devil

THE picture in today’s “Messages of Love” is from a photograph that was taken in a heathen temple in the town of Puchu (pronounced “Puk-drew”), in the province of Kiangsu, China.

If you will look carefully at it you will see that there is a man, —a foreigner, —lying on the ground on his back quite helpless. Standing with one foot on his body is a huge, ugly idol; and in the idol’s hands you may see a book that he has taken from the man.

Can you guess the meaning of this? Some of you can, I am sure. That hideous idol represents our enemy, the devil.

How sad to think that in China, and many other countries, the poor people pray to, and worship these idols; and God tells us that then they really are worshiping devils.

The man in the picture represents a servant of the Lord Jesus who has come to China, to tell the poor people in that dark land about the Lord Jesus who can save them from the power of the devil.

The book in the hands of the idol is the Bible, —the Word of God, — and the devil has taken it away from the servant of God, and is going to destroy it.

The devil has made some of his servants carve out this idol, and this man and this book, so as to show what he would like to do with God’s servants, and with the Bible. He is not able to do this, because God is stronger than the devil, and takes care of His dear servants; and He says about His Word,

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

It is not often that the devil shows us so plainly how much he hates the Bible and the servants of God.

Several hundred years ago the devil tried to burn and destroy all the Bibles, and kill the servants of God who read it; but now he usually tries different ways to take the Word of God from us. In some lands he only allows the Bible to be read in a language that people do not understand. This suits his purpose just as well as burning it, because in this way the people do not learn about the Lord Jesus, the Saviour.

In our land the devil has tried a different way still, to take the Bible from us—but it is just as truly the devil, as it is in our picture today, or in the dark times and lands I have been telling you about. Today he comes to us, like he did to Eve, and asks us, “Yea, hath God said?” Or in other words, “Is the Bible really God’s Word?” or “Is the Bible all God’s Word?”

The devil tells us that science contradicts the Bible, but again it is the voice of the devil, and he is a liar and the father of lies. If science contradicts the Bible, then science has made a mistake, and soon will change its mind, as it has done often before.

But, dear children, what I want you to remember is that the picture on our front page today represents the true attitude of the devil. Can we not almost hear him cry, “Away with it,” as he grasps that Holy Book in his hands, and have we not heard that cry, raised by that same enemy of God, “Away with Him,

Away with Him,” when the Living Word, the Lord Jesus, stood on trial, about 1900 years ago.

Whenever you hear a doubt cast on that Word, you may always think of this picture taken in far off China, and remember that the same one who rules behind those idols in China, is one who raises the doubts about God’s Word.

May God help vote and me, dear children, not only to believe God’s Word always, but also to always obey it.

“The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner, (or critic), of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12.

“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.

ML 03/01/1925

Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

THERE lived a prominent writer in England whose name was Dr. Samuel Johnson. This man was once invited where all were prominent people, but he allowed himself to be late. When he finally, at a late hour, put in his appearance, he excused, himself to the lady of the house in the following words:

“When I accepted your invitation, I had forgotten that today was the 21St of November. This day has for me very sad recollections. I will tell you: Forty years ago today, on the 21St of November, my old father said to me:

‘Sam, I do not feel at all well today. Please take the wagon, drive to the market, and sell these books in my stead.’

But I had become vain over the little learning I had, and I was indebted to my father for it all; yea, for the very bread I had been eating from my childhood, so I refused my father’s request. Once more he asked me, and this time with unwonted friendliness, and a winning way that cuts me to the heart to this day.

‘Sam, do me this favor, please me, and be the good child again as in former years. You know we cannot afford to miss a market day.’

But I remained firm and refused him, and so he went himself—that dear, old, sick man! It stormed and snowed as today, but nevertheless he went, and in three days afterwards he died.”

Having reached this far in his narrative, he covered his pale face with both his hands. After a while he continued,

“Forty years have run their course, but on each 21St of November I go to L. I refused at that time to go in a vehicle; now I go on foot, and I fast besides. I stand at the market place for four hours bareheaded, at that very corner where my father had his stand for thirty years. Forty years have gone by, and I am now older than my father was when he died . . . . but I am not ready to die!” He groaned aloud, then lifting up his head with a sad smile,

“Why shed tears now? It is too late, too late.”

Some years later Mr. Johnson died, but before he died, he was relieved of the great load of his sins. He believed that the Son of God had by Himself purged our sins, by His own blood, and he accepted Him as his own Saviour.

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

O, children, remember what God says to you in His Word,

“Honor thy father, and mother: which is the first commandment with promise.” Eph. 6:2.

ML 03/01/1925

Jesus Watches O'er His Sheep

How carefully the shepherds keep

Their flocks within their sight;

So Jesus watches o’er His sheep,

And guards them day and night.

The shepherd numbers twice a day

The flocks beneath his care;

He knows if any go astray,

Or sick or dying are.

So Jesus reckons one by one,

And numbers all His sheep;

He knows if but a lamb is gone,

For He doth never sleep.

The flocks of men are bought with gold

And grass is all their food;

The sheep and lambs of Jesus’ fold

Are purchased with His blood.

ML 03/01/1925

Luxury and Poverty

EVEN among the poor brute beasts there is such a thing as luxury and poverty. Just look at that fat dog sitting on the top of the wheelbarrow! He has been well cared for, and everything eatable seems to be eaten up. The poor, hungry, half-starved dog is looking so wistfully at the empty plate in the basket. and would say, if it could, “I would like one bite to stay my hunger.”

Have you ever thought why it is that there is such a condition in this world? God’s Word is where we get the answer. All this has come in through sin. It is not that the brute beasts have sinned, but man, who was made head, sinned, and the whole creation under him consequently suffered as the result.

What a terrible thing sin is! It always has its bad results, and the worst result is—those who have their sins upon them must be finally banished from God’s presence, because God could not allow sin in His presence; but there is good news for us all, and that is, God is love as well as He is holy, and in His wonderful love He gave His only begotten Son to take our place under the awful load of our sins, and He bore the dreadful penalty on the cross. That is why the Lord Jesus said, when hanging there,

“My God, My God, why past Thou forsaken Me?”

Can you answer by saying, “It was on account, of my sins being laid upon Him, and God being more holy than to behold iniquity, that God could not look upon Him”? If you can say this, you have the great remedy for the awful, eternal result of your sins; but from the results in this life, the Lord has not yet delivered us, but the day is coining when He will.

What a blessed time that will be, and the whole creation shall rejoice. No one then shall suffer because of sin being in the world, but each one who will sin shall be slain, and they shall be abhorred by all flesh. (Isa. 66:24).

The brute creation too, shall be delivered from this groaning condition, and peace shall fill the scene. (Rom. 8:21).

May you rejoice in that Saviour as yours, who has delivered His own from eternal wrath, and will yet deliver the whole creation from its groan.

“GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.” Rev. 21:4.

ML 03/08/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 28

IN chapter 27 we saw man, as a sinner, under the curse of a broken law, ruined and hopeless. Chapter 28 opens a new theme. The rule of God in earthly government is here the subject, dealing with the circumstances of His people. The blessings named in verses 3 to 14 are not those which were to have been pronounced from Mount Gerizim (chapter 27:12); they have their corresponding curses later in the chapter. Here we find what befell this people, in but a few centuries after they entered the land of God’s providing. Obedience offered its rich consequences of blessing beyond measure; disobedience, forsaking God, involved the loss of everything, for a time at least. And of this the sad condition of the nation of Israel is a constant reminder to our own selves.

Say you, I’m a Gentile, and the troubles of the Jews do not concern me? Turn then to the Acts, chapter 17:30,31 and learn that God “now commandeth all men everywhere to repent, because He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man (Christ) whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

Judgment is coming on the Gentile World, more severe than that which fell upon the Jew.

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

ML 03/08/1925

Help at the Right Time

IN the first year of my married life.” relates, a pious German, “I had one day, not a farthing in the house, when my wife came and asked me for a thaler to pay the weaver who was to bring her some cloth in the evening.

The weaver was poor and there was not a person in the village of whom we could borrow money, and my wife unaccustomed to such embarrassments, burst into tears. I tried to comfort her by telling her that our heavenly Father knew what we needed and that perhaps the bad weather might prevent the weaver from coming that day.

I commended the matter to the Lord, for I saw no means of human help. In the evening I heard with sorrow the sound of the doorbell. My wife hastily entered the room and said;

“The weaver is here”!

I was going to sit down at the table, and was just taking down a book from the shelf above me, when at the very moment a piece of money rolled out of it, and fell rattling on the table. My wife and I stood motionless; we felt distinctly the presence of God, who so exactly knew what we needed, and bestowed it upon us at the very moment when we required it.

Sometime after, I remembered that about three months before, when I was carrying this book with several others, from the book store to my home, I met my brother-in-law on the way, who owed me a thaler, and as both of my hands were full of books, I asked him to put it inside the uppermost book. So the thaler’s falling out was quite natural. But that it should have been put in the book to help me in my hour of need, and did not fall out before, was a providential incident, the remembrance of which has cheered my wife and myself in many times of trial.”

Such timely providences are frequent in the experience of God’s people.

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

ML 03/08/1925

Because He Loves You so

THE father and mother had given the children their goodnight kiss, bidding them go to sleep. It was quite dark, and getting late, and yet Bessie and Sarah talked on. Sleep was still far from their eyes.

Bessie’s parents were Christians, and had sought in every way to lead their little ones to Christ, “because He loved them so.” Sarah, poor child, who was paying Bessie a visit, had scarcely ever heard of the Saviour’s love, until a year or so before, when her parents came to live in the house next to Bessie. Then Bessie and her little sister spoke to her of Jesus, and often sang about Him. They also went to the Sunday-school, and gained permission from Sarah’s parents to take her with them, and now, for a great treat, they were allowed to have Sarah to spend the night with them.

As the children lay awake, Bessie said, “Don’t you wish you were a Christian, Sarah?”

“Yes, I do, but I can’t be good anyhow,” adding, with a weary sigh, “I wish I could.”

Bessie continued, “The Bible says, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,’ and I do believe, but I am not saved, for I don’t feel saved.”

“So do I,” said Sarah.

Both were silent for a moment, when a sleepy voice, coming across the room from the little white bed, enquired, “What is it; what is the matter?”

The speaker was Agnes, an elder sister of Bessie’s. As Agnes had spoken, the children felt justified in quite waking her up.

“Aggie,” said they, “you are a Christian; tell us the way to be Christians.”

I wish I could tell you all that little girl said, but it is quite twenty years ago, and I only remember part. She was fully awake now, her eyes wide open dark as it was. They wanted to know Jesus, yet how could she best tell them how she came to love Him. She could not remember when she did not. When she was only three, and was very ill, her dear mother had told her the doctor thought she was going to Jesus, and glad she was to think that she would so soon see Him and be with Him. And as Agnes had loved the Lord from the day she was a tiny child, she could hardly understand why Bessie did not love Him as she did. It seemed beyond her. Jesus died for her, He loved her, how could she help loving Him back.

At last, Agnes said, “It is only to believe on Jesus, the Bible says so.”

“Wait one minute,” said Bessie. “I want John to be here.” Then she felt her way to their brother’s room. “John, John,” she called, but the tired boy needed a great deal of shaking before he awoke to the fact that he was wanted in his sister’s room; at last, not knowing why he was going, he followed her.

“Now,” she began, when they were all together, “I think we ought to be saved. Supposing Jesus came tonight, we are not all ready; only Aggie. What do we have to do, Aggie?”

“Why, nothing,” answered the child, “only believe that Jesus died for you, because He loved you so.”

“So we do, but that does not make any difference,” they all replied.

“Then I don’t know what else to tell you;” and the voice was very sad and wistful. “I do wish you could love Jesus.”

“Will you pray for us?” asked Bessie.

Then Agnes sprang from her bed—she knew and believed that Jesus loved her—and there they all knelt down; and the blessed Lord Jesus looked upon them and He loved them. She asked the Lord to tell her what to say. She asked God to show them the way to come to Him, and to teach them how to love Him, and to let her love Him more, for Jesus loved them so much.

God heard that prayer. He loves to hear children pray. When the prayer was ended, the brother went silently back to his room; the others curled up in bed, and soon they were all fast asleep.

Where are they now? John was saved a few years after; and Bessie learned to love Jesus. because she believed in her heart that it was for her that He had died; and now they who know her, see by her life, her many kind, loving, and unselfish deeds, that she indeed has found the Saviour. Aggie, also, is still pressing onwards, still longing to be with Jesus. But Sarah, ah, how can I tell of her; she did not accept Jesus then, nor yet afterwards when told again of His great love.

She went on just putting it off, meaning to come to Jesus some other time, just as many children do. And now she has gone down, down, and I do not like to even speak more of poor Sarah.

Dear children, will you not come to Jesus now, “because He loves you so”?

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

ML 03/08/1925

Lord of Heaven, Bless the Children

Lord of Heaven, bless the children,

From my inmost heart I pray,

Teach them, ever blessed Saviour

Thus from sin to turn away,

May they shun this earth’s attractions

Lead them, gracious Lord, to Thee,

Keep them ‘midst the world’s distractions

Ever following after Thee.

When the wicked wily tempter

Spreads for them, his subtle snares,

Teach them, O, Thou loving Saviour,

To remember Thou art near.

May they learn of Thee, Lord Jesus.

Gentle, kind and true to be,

Ever to Thy word obedient,

From each youthful lust to flee,

Till they hear Thy voice, Lord Jesus

Calling them to meet above,

There to know in all its fulness,

All the wonders of Thy love.

ML 03/08/1925

The Shepherd and His Flock

OUR shepherd is leading his sheep home from the mountains, and in this way they get home much more quickly than if the sheep had to be driven.

I shall never forget, says one, the walk I had with a friend over the mount of Olives. As he went along I heard a man’s voice calling out to us, as I supposed, but as he spoke in Arabic I could not tell what he said, and waited for my friend to answer him. Again and again he called, and still my companion took no notice of him. At length I turned around to see who he was. In a moment I understood all about it. There was an old man with a shepherd’s crook in his hand, walking in front of a drove of sheep of perhaps between one and two hundred in number. It was very beautiful to notice that he had a distinct name for each of them, and as one or another of the sheep lagged behind, he had only to call the right name to cause that one to quickly make tip the lost ground. Close behind the old man were a few favorite sheep, who never wandered from him, but kept quite close to their kind shepherd, and rubbed their noses against his legs.

We read in John 10 of the Shepherd’s own sheep; these must be His own which keep close to Him. Which out of all the flock would have least to fear from the attacks of wolves? Why, the one nearest to the shepherd. If a wolf, urged on by hunger, tried to run off with a lamb, he would certainly attack one of those in the background.

What a lesson for both lambs and sheep of the flock of Christ to keep near the Shepherd, if they wish to be free from danger; and to listen to His voice when He speaks, for Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Have you ever thought that Jesus knows our names, every one of us?

The shepherd knows each sheep by its face and has a name for each, so Jesus knows all His own sheep, and would miss the youngest of His lambs, if absent from His presence. May each of my readers be one of Christ’s lambs, and then always keep close to the Shepherd, and he will be safe.

“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.” John 10:27,28.

ML 03/15/1925

"'Tis Finished!"

When the Saviour said “‘Tis finished!”

Everything was fully done:

Done, as God Himself would have it—

Christ the vict’ry fully won.

All the doing is completed;

Now, ‘tis look, believe and live:

None can purchase His salvation,—

Life’s a gift that God must give.

Grace through righteousness is reigning;

Not of works, lest man should boast:

Man must take the proffered mercy,

Or eternally be lost.

ML 03/15/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 29

THE first, and twelfth to fifteenth verses, are particularly important, for they show plainly that it was not the covenant of Sinai, alone, but something added thereto of the kindness of God, “The covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel . . . besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.”

The law—the ten commandments—could never have brought this people into the place of blessing; it could only pronounce a dreadful curse upon them, but as long as they “hearkened diligently unto the voice of the Lord their God” (chapter 28:1), and walked in His ways, His blessing would be upon them.

How wonderfully they had been delivered, and for those many years led in safety, protected and cared for all the way they had traveled; clothes and shoes had not worn out; food had been provided every day; enemies who came out against them were vanquished, and their land taken for a possession. Why should there be any (verse 18) whose hearts would turn away from God? Yet we know what is the truth about men in this present day:

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

“Today, if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7, 8.

“We which have believed do enter into rest.” Hebrews 4:3.

“This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.

Verse 29: This speaks of what God had, in His purpose of blessing, when all had failed. “The things which are revealed,” were what Moses was telling the people, but behind, to be brought out in “due time” (Romans 5:6) was the hidden, secret purpose of God to provide His beloved Son as a ransom for the sins of the many who would receive Him by faith.

Beloved reader, what think ye of Christ? Are you resting in the one sacrifice He made, on behalf of believing sinners?

ML 03/15/1925

What the Silkworms Teach Us: Glory, or the Lake of Fire?

A KIND friend recently gave the children a small cardboard box, with eight little grey worms, or caterpillars in it. They were silkworms.

There were some mulberry leaves in the box, and the worms were busy feeding upon them. That was really all they did, and almost every day we could see them getting bigger. The children diligently kept them supplied with fresh mulberry leaves, and it was not many days before they were full grown, and then a strange thing happened:

One morning when we brought in their fresh supply of leaves, one of the worms was missing, and in one corner of the box was a queer little case, made of silk. It is called a chrysalis, but we knew that it was the coffin that the worm had made for itself before it departed. It was not long before all the worms followed the example of the first, and instead of six little wriggling, crawling worms, there were only six little motionless “coffins”. (The baby had got hold of the box, and killed two of the eight, leaving us only six!)

Now, I wonder if my young friends can guess what happened next. Half of the worms were appointed to a second death, —to be dropped into a pot of boiling water; and half were appointed to a new life, and before many days, three beautiful, snowy white moths or butterflies, appeared in our little box, —creatures not made to crawl on the earth, but fitted to fly about in the air.

The lesson needs little interpretation. Those worms, —things of the earth, —surely tell us of ourselves by nature. From childhood we are formed by what we feed on. Is it the “sincere milk” of the Word; or is it the trash that abounds all about us today?

Like those worms, whether we realize it or not, we, too, are preparing to leave this earth. Every day, as it passes, brings us nearer the last day to be spent upon it. One day our friends will find us gone; and if the Lord should still tarry, only a coffin and its contents in our place, and the soul, —your soul, —where will it be?

But like those little silk worm chrysalids, the coffin is not the end. One morning we found that beautifully made little coffin broken, and abandoned. It was of no more use or interest. Its inmate was gone, resurrection had come, and a new life, —a life fitted for the heavens, —had begun. Yes, for three of these worms, such a life had begun; but three others were reserved for the awful second death. They also would leave their coffins, but for what a fate.

And, friend, when the resurrection morn awakes, will you be among those who rise to meet the Lord in the air, either from the ranks of those “who are alive and remain”, or from those who are “fallen asleep”; or will you be among those appointed to die, “and after death the judgment”?

If this is your last day upon earth, —if tomorrow you will be in your coffin, —will you leave it to stand before that great white throne, and there be judged according to your works, and then to be cast forever into that awful lake of fire? “This is the second death.”

Reader, if still unsaved, be warned by the silkworm; and today make sure of your portion in the heavens.

ML 03/15/1925

Take off the Tarpaulin

A GENTLEMAN was once traveling through the country, and one day he came to a small town, and was surprised to see a sign-board carefully covered over with a tarpaulin, so that nothing could be read.

He inquired the reason, and at length, found out that boys had defaced the words painted on it so often that the authorities had had it freshly painted, and then covered neatly with tarpaulin.

Of what use was the sign-board?

Alas! how many Christians there are, young and old, who do not confess Christ. They cover themselves over, as it were: they are afraid of showing to whom they belong.

Dear reader, if you are one of these, I would advise you to “Take off the tarpaulin.”

“O, but,” you say, “I cannot speak or teach!”

Perhaps not, but all can be sign-boards. We have been washed in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, and saved through His bearing, in death, the judgment due to our sins, and now before us is all the brilliant glory of being with, and like Him, for ever and ever.

What sort of people ought we be? Ought there be no difference between us and the world? Yes, indeed, there should be. Christ Himself should shine out from us in all our actions, that others, may take knowledge of us, that we have been with Him, and thus learn the right road to everlasting glory, and in their turn, seek to live for Him.

Again, I say, dear young Christian, “Take off the tarpaulin.”

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16.

ML 03/15/1925

Lizzie's Journey

ONE day in the spring, a little girl I knew had to go by train to a large town, and had to go alone. Now Lizzie, had never been in a train by herself before, and she was a little frightened when she found herself among strangers, and began to wonder how she would know where to get out. She could not tell at first what the porters said when they shouted out the names of the stations.

Now what do you think Lizzie did? She loved the Lord Jesus because she knew He loved her, and had taken all her sins away, so she knew He would take care of her, and she just asked Him to do so, as she sat in the train, and then she no longer felt afraid.

When they reached the town, she knew it at once, and got out quite safely. After this whenever she was in any trouble, she remembered to ask the Lord Jesus to care for her, and she knew that what He would do for her would always be for the best.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil. 4:6.

ML 03/15/1925

Lost

THIS little girl and her big dog have been having a play together and seem very happy. They probably have been running to keep warm, for the snow everywhere shows it is cold.

But what have they met out on this prairie—someone’s pet pussy! The poor thing is Lost: she has wandered away from her home and is in trouble. How foolish she was not to stay where she was loved and cared for; just see how frightened she is at the big dog. The little girl is holding him back, lest he harm the kitty in his rough play. What will become of the poor creature? Maybe the little girl will feel sorry for it and take it home with her.

Do you know, children, that there are many people in the same condition as this foolish kitten—they are lost and just as helpless as it is. They are wandering from God, and being attracted by things in this world till they forget all about Jesus, and what he wants to do for them.

They might he among those who have a home in heaven which Jesus has prepared for those who love Him. They might he enjoying the real peace and happiness too that He gives to all who have put their trust in Him: but no, they prefer to stay away from Jesus and to wander on in their own way not heeding His loving invitations to them.

Do not be among this number. Jesus wants you to love Him and follow Him. Think, of all that He did for you while on the cross to save you and give you the forgiveness of your sins.

“IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.” Eph. 1:7.

ML 03/22/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 30

LOOKING on to that time when Israel would, because of neglect of God and His word, he driven out of the land they were now about to enter, their God speaks to them of a further work He would perform on their behalf. How it would he, the people were not here told the law pronounced only a curse upon him who did not keep every jot and tittle of it, but there were secret things, as the last verse of chapter 29 stated, in God’s purposes: clearly, they would become known in His time.

The secret of God’s further dealings with Israel, and in a remarkable use of verses 11 to 14 here, is disclosed in the tenth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, and we are shown that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. The word of faith, (not works) is now preached, that “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall he saved.”

Ruined, hopeless, helpless, but at last humble, the people would, from their far distance, turn to God to obey His voice with all their heart and with all their soul, then would he have compassion on them, return and gather them from all the nations whither He has scattered them on account of their sins. Once more in their land, God would bless them in every way.

Reader, are you clinging to fancied works of your own, —merits of yours with which to buy salvation?

“There is none other name (than the name of Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must he saved.” Acts 4:12.

“I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall he saved.” John 10:9.

“He that believeth on Me, though he were (spiritually and morally in God’s sight) dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.

There is a choice to he made—life and good, or death and evil (verses 15 and 19). Have you made your choice for eternity?

Do not delay: decide for Christ now!

ML 03/22/1925

Epitaph on a Tomb Stone

Bold infidelity, turn pale and die!

Beneath this stone three infants’ ashes lie.

Say, Are they lost or saved?

If death’s by sin, they sinned, because they’re here;

If heaven’s by works, in heaven they can’t appear.

Reason—ah! how depraved!

Review the Bible’s sacred page—the knot’s untied,

They died, for Adam sinned; they live, for Jesus died.

ML 03/22/1925

The Card on the Flowers

JUST as I was beginning to climb the hill, at the summit of which our house stood, I noticed a poor girl on the opposite side of the way. She was carrying a very large parcel, and trying to reach the top of the hill, though, at every two or three steps, she stopped, and laying down her parcel, gasped for breath.

The thin, wan cheeks, with the bright red spot on each side, together with the low hollow cough, told their tale but too plainly. Quickly crossing the road, I asked her to allow me to carry her parcel up the hill adding,

“You must, I fear, be suffering sadly.”

The only reply my words received was a burst of tears from the poor girl, so violent that her thin frame seemed shaken through and through.

The excess of her sorrow quite frightened me and laying my hand on her shoulder I said:

“Do tell me your trouble. I should be so glad if I could help you. Won’t you come and sit down on the seat under the elm tree, and then you can rest a little bit?”

With a great effort the girl walked a few steps farther, and we sat down together. She did not speak at first, so once more I asked if I could be of use to her. Again she broke out in fresh sobs, till at length, seeing how really distressed I was at her grief, and her continued silence she sobbed out,

“You are too good; nobody ever speaks kindly to me now.”

By degrees she became calmer, and then she told me a sad tale of poverty, sorrow and sin. She was a young country girl, and had come to the city on her father’s death, having been promised a home by a widowed aunt.

The first news that greeted her on arrival, was her aunt’s death. Her mother wrote, begging her to return at once to her home in the country, but to a foolish young creature, such as she was, the city offered too many charms.

She obtained a situation, through the influence of a friend, as barmaid in a large saloon, and, disregarding her mother’s earnest entreaties for her return, she lost the blessing promised to those who honor and obey their parents. (Eph. 6:1-3.)

Naturally delicate, and used to a country life, the confinement, together with the bad atmosphere, soon affected the poor girl, and caused the roses to leave her cheeks. It would take too long to tell all she told me: suffice it to say, her health gave way, and she sank lower, till at last she became very despondent. She was in this condition, when, one day being sent out for change by her employer, she happened to pass one of the large hospitals. Several ladies, with baskets of flowers on their arms were just going in and one of them noticing her wistful gaze offered her a bunch, saying at the same time a few kind words. The card, attached to the flowers had on it two texts. They were,

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

“I will arise, and go to my Father.” (Matthew 11:28; Luke 15:18).

These words were read by the poor girl, and sank deeply into her heart. She determined, if possible, to find her mother, and for that purpose asked her employer’s permission to leave before her month was up. This he refused to do and after treating her in the most heartless manner during the remainder of her stay under his roof, he turned her adrift without a penny in the world.

Thrown thus upon the wide world. the poor forsaken girl resorted to walk if possible to the home of her childhood. She had not proceeded far before her strength gave way, and she was taken to a neighboring hospital. There she lay for several weeks between life and death. After a time she rallied, and her longing to see her mother took possession of her. Once more she started out again on her journey. She was within a few miles of her mother’s cottage when I met her, in the way I have described. A home was found for her that night, and the next day a letter was sent, begging her mother to come at once.

On her arrival the poor girl was found to be too ill to be moved, so a kind boatman generously gave both mother and child a shelter in his little cottage.

I visited her constantly, and on hearing the case the kind clergyman of—— went to see her. His visits, and the study of God’s Word were blessed to her soul. She was led, by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to see how great a sinner she had been, and for some time she was almost overwhelmed with distress.

One day, however, on entering her room, I was surprised to see a bright smile on the usually sad face. Before I had time to speak, she said:

“O, Miss —I see it now, and I’m so happy. Jesus did it all: He died for me, and all I have to do is just believe it, and thank Him: showing my thankfulness, not with my lips only, but in my life. O, it seems too good. I have come now.”

As she said these words, she drew from under her pillow the dirty little card with those blessed words,

“Come unto, me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Handing it to me she added:

“And now, Miss —I’m sure He’ll find mother too, for she is weary and heavy laden, and wants finding—O, so badly.”

From that time notwithstanding intense suffering, I never heard a complaint. Her great joy was in reading her Bible, and being sung to. One hymn in particular she always loved, and never would let me leave without singing this verse.

The sands of time are sinking,

The dawn of heaven breaks,

The summer morn I’ve sighed for—

The fair, sweet morn awakes,

Dark, dark hath been the midnight,

But dayspring is at hand,

And glory, glory dwelleth

In Immanuel’s land.”

On my return borne, I received several letters from the mother and daughter. After the poor girl’s death, her mother sent me, as a little token of loving remembrance, a present her daughter prepared for me. It was a shell, with these words tastefully painted on it,

“I will arise and go to my Father”.

ML 03/22/1925

In the Shepherd's Bosom

THERE is a special blessedness in being saved in early days a place of peculiar nearness to Jesus, that only those that become His while they are children, have the promise of receiving. Concerning those who are in early days converted, and brought into His flock, it is said,

“He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom” Isa. 40:11.

Those “little ones who believe in Him.” He takes into this place of special affection, near to His heart, and carries them safely along the way to the home of His love in heaven.

What a mistake for little boys and girls to refuse such a place, and to say they will come to Jesus when they are older.

Even were this possible and it is not always so, for they sometimes die—they lose the special place that the Shepherd would have given them, had they but come to Him when they were “little children.” How warm and safe is the place that Jesus gives to those whom He carries in His bosom—the lambs of His flock.

ML 03/22/1925

The Donkey

BE ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle.”

“I will guide thee with Mine eye.” Psa. 32:8,9.

I know a little boy who prayed every night for months,

“If it’s Thy will, give me a donkey.” Now I fear the father of this boy scarcely expected it would come, but it did; and not a donkey only, but a saddle and bridle, all trimmed with red, and mounted with brass. There was a whip, too; and everything that could be needed, even to a little stable.

This boy used to have a grand time galloping around the house, and about the garden. But he was only a little boy, and the donkey was very wise, so when he thought he had carried the boy far enough, he would turn and make a bolt for a big, thick hedge and force his way through it, and the poor little boy would be shoved off, and left sitting on the ground on the other side.

The donkey did this because he liked to go his own way, instead of his little master’s way, and, as the habit grew on him, he did not wait very long after the ride started before he would start for the hedge. Then the bit and the bridle had to be used, and there was many a hard pull at the little donkey’s mouth before he would do his master’s will, instead of his own.

You and I are often very much like that donkey, are we not? As the Scripture says,

“We have turned everyone to his own way”, and even after the Lord hath laid on Him our iniquities, how slow we are to learn to go our Master’s way, and to do His will instead of our own!

Then the bit and the bridle have to be called into use, and we can thank our Master for them, even though they make us sore by the pulling, sometimes.

But, dear fellow Christian, what a shame that this should be so! Is this the only way our Master can guide us? No, thank God, there is another way, —He says,

“I will guide thee with Mine eye.”

Sometimes this little boy’s father would take him out riding in the city and when they would come to a cross-road, the boy would need guidance. What did he do? Did he shout to his father, and ask where to go? No, he just turned his eyes towards his father, and without a word from either, the father by his eye would direct his little son. Yes, he guided him by his eye. It was not very difficult. It only took a look.

“Only a look?”

No, more than that, —it took a mind that was willing to go his father’s way instead of his own; and a heart that had perfect confidence in his father’s love and wisdom, as to his path, and as to his safety in it.

May you and I, dear reader, ever be found with our eyes on Christ, “looking off unto Jesus”, for it is sure, He cannot guide us with His eye, if our eye is away from Himself.

“Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path.” Psa. 27:11. “LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH, AND TEACH ME: FOR THOU ART THE GOD OF MY SALVATION.” Psa. 25:5.

ML 03/29/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 31

WE are approaching the close of this deeply impressive book of Deuteronomy, and the aged Moses, now 120 years old, is speaking his last solemn words to that nation which he had led to the border of the promised land. He was not to cross the Jordan, but another would, as his successor in the leadership of the people. To the people, as well as to Joshua, Moses speaks of God’s going before them; they were to be strong and of good courage, with Him to fight their battles: “He will not fail thee nor forsake thee”, is the word both to the people and to their new leader. All power was in their God—but could they follow Him?

Every seven years when the people were called together to celebrate the goodness of God to them, the Word of God, for such it was, was to be read to them, and not to the grown ones only, but to the children too. Notice those important words in verse 12— “hear,”— “learn,”— “fear the Lord,”— “observe to do all the words.” Important indeed, is it to hear the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever, but there is responsibility, too, to “learn”, “to fear the Lord”, and “to observe all His word;” without these, true happiness cannot be known.

God now called Moses to bring Joshua out to the tabernacle to receive his charge. To Moses he tells of the sad future of the people down to the present time. They would take up with the false gods of the people of the land, and give up the true God who had done so much for them, and He would be compelled to turn from them, till they should own their sin. Moses was therefore to write a song, not of the triumph of Israel under God, but as a testimony against them because of their unbelief.

Why should God go on with those whose character naturally, was so very bad, as this chapter plainly sets out? Because He is determined to act as a Saviour. Romans 3 shows that all the world is alike in God’s sight. Has my reader seen his picture in that chapter? There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God can tell nothing good of man; all alike need the blood of Jesus to cleanse them, from all sin. Are you under the title of the blood?

ML 03/29/1925

Justice and Mercy

I HAVE read of a certain king who made a law for his subjects, adding that the first to break it should have both, his eyes put out.

To the horror of the king, his own son was the first to break the law. There was a great deal of talk amongst the people as to what the king would do. Some said he was too just to alter the law, even in the case of his son. Others said he was too kind a father to inflict upon his son the terrible punishment of losing his eyes.

The day came for the trial. Thousands came to witness the case. The son was proved to be guilty of the offence. Amid the breathless silence of the court, the king bade the officer heat the irons; and soon, in the presence of the people, the man appeared with the hot irons, and in accordance with the king’s orders, proceeded to do his terrible work.

As soon as he had put one eye out, the king shouted, “Stop! Justice demands two eyes; now put out one of mine.” And the king in the sight of the assembled multitude, suffered the loss of one of his own eyes. Justice was thereby satisfied, and mercy was blended with it.

But in the death of the Lord Jesus, we see infinitely more than this. If He had sustained only a part of the punishment we deserved, even though it had been the greater part, it would not have met the case at all. The Saviour undertook to do ALL the work Himself, and when it was done He cried, “It is finished?”

By this work God was more than satisfied, and mercy has triumphed. God can now act righteously in proclaiming free forgiveness to all, and receiving into His arms of omnipotent love, every sinner who believes.

Believe then on the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who did all this for you. Your sins will, at once, be blotted out, through His blood, and this unfailing love become your present and eternal portion. Thus you will be the possessor of lasting riches, though you may be found in the poorest of circumstances in this world.

You may have heard of the poor Christian woman who had for her breakfast only a crust and a cup of water. When asked if that was all she had, she exclaimed,

“What! All this and Christ too!”

The Lord Jesus is worthy of your faith and whole-hearted submission today. You will then experience that He is not only your Saviour, but your Lord and your Friend, causing words like this to fall from your lips: —

“I have a friend whose faithful love

Is more than all the world to me:

‘Tis higher than the heights above,

And deeper than the sounding sea:

So strong, so true,

So old, so new;

Before the earth received its frame

He loved me—Blessed be His Name!”

ML 03/29/1925

"Come Unto Me"

SUFFER little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven,” were the words of a loving Saviour to His disciples. who would have hindered the little children being brought to Him for blessing.

Jesus delighted to have them near Him, and would not have them turned away. It is the same now as then, the Lord Jesus still desires the little ones to come unto Him. Surely you will not reject His call, and refuse to come to the One who loves you.

“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” now, before you get hardened, and hear the Gospel of Christ as an oft-repeated tale. Come unto Him, believing. You need not fear a refusal, for Jesus Himself says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out... John 6:37.

ML 03/29/1925

"Whosoever!"

“That whosoever!” Blessed God,

Thy mercy gave the word;

For every dart, my shield of faith

Shall be “Thus saith the Lord.”

Wide is the earth, and far away

Is Calvary’s Mount from me;

Yet “Whosoever” reacheth out

Unto the utmost sea.

Long is the time; and Jesus’ love—

Men call the story old;

But “Whosoever” still remains

To speak the love, not cold.

Great is my sin, God only knows

The “all” that He has seen;

That “Whosoever” plainly tells

The foulest may he clean.

No place, no time, no guilt, blest Lord.

No teaching false shall hide

Thy “Whosoever’s” glorious power,—

My gift from Him who died.

ML 03/29/1925

"What Is Your Life?"

“It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14.

What found I in the year that’s past

To make my heart forget

That this, perhaps, may be my last?

Although in childhood yet.

For little ones, still less than I.

Their short-lived course have run.

Who never, never thought to die.

When first the year begun.

Their faces rosy, just like mine.

Their voices glad and gay;

They did not show a single sign

Of fading thus away.

But I am left while they are gone:

O! shall we meet again,

And on the resurrection morn

Eternal joys obtain?

We shall, if in the Lamb of God—

In Jesus we are seen;

We shall, if washed in Jesus blood.

Which makes the vilest clean.

“Then we which are alive and remain. shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:47.

ML 03/29/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for February.

1.“Let no corrupt,” etc. Eph. 4:29.

2.“Let nothing be done,” etc. Phil. 2:3.

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

4.“And because ye are sons,” etc. Gal. 4:6.

5.“That ye might walk,” etc. Col. 1:10.

6.“And have no fellowship,” etc. Eph. 5:11.

7.“And let us not,” etc. Gal. 6:9.

Bible Questions for April

The Answers are to be found in Philemon,

Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter.

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Pattern showed to thee.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “To do good.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Hated iniquity.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Spake as they were moved.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “To keep himself.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Watch unto prayer.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Making mention of thee.”

ML 04/05/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 32:1-43

THIS is Moses’ song. The heavens and the earth are called to hear its solemn words God is extolled: He is the Rock; a God of truth and without iniquity. As for the people they have corrupted themselves, a perverse and crooked generation.

Verse 8 is an important one, it tells that God, in dividing the world among the nations after the flood in Noah’s day, set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel— a fact the world does not know. This marks a contrast with the Christian’s position; his commonwealth or citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 1), while Israel’s hopes are earthly.

Verses 11 and 12 Compare God’s dealings with His people to the mother-eagle’s habit of tearing up her nest, driving out her young ones to try to fly, then spreading her wings. When they are about to fall, she catches them, and bears them safely to the nest again. Yet Israel “waxed fat, and kicked”; forsook God; became an idol-worshiping people, and God will move them to jealously with those that are not a people. (This passage, quoted in Romans 10:19, is referred to the Gentiles, in connection with the gospel of God’s grace.) Judgment then must fall, for God will not endure to have sin allowed in those who bear any relationship to Him. At last, however, the Gentiles will provoke Him, by their treatment of His earthly people, to act again on behalf of Israel. Yet this is followed by (verse 13) “Rejoice, O ye nations with His people”, —Jew and Gentile considered together among the redeemed in a coming day.

ML 04/05/1925

Counting the Day's Receipts

I want to tell you today about a boy who counted his day’s receipts. He was not a boot-black, as the boy in our picture is. But he was honest, just as this boy must be, with his bright, pleasant, frank countenance.

Many little boys have to go out on the streets and earn their own bread. Some are boot-blacks, and often rough, bad boys. But this one looks like a good, kind boy.

The one in our story, in order to earn a few pennies. was willing to do any odd job, such as carrying baggage for people from the train to their houses.

Many years ago there lived an old woman who had only a little money. She had to work for her living. After a while trade grew dull, and she was unable to get work. At last, when her money was gone, she decided to go to live with her married daughter whose home was in another town. She went to tell the minister about her plan, and he gave her enough money to buy a railroad ticket, and half a crown besides. (A half-crown is about sixty cents.)

When The reached P—, the town where her daughter lived, a crowd of boys surrounded her, begging to carry her box. She refused them, because all she had was a half-crown and three pennies. But one poor boy begged most earnestly, saying,

“I will carry it to any part of the town. for two pence, —do let me, for it is the only way I can get a bit of bread,— and we’re starving at home.”

The old woman pitied the boy, and so, although her own money was so nearly gone she let him carry her baggage.

When they reached the daughter’s house, the woman knocked at the door, but received no answer, as her daughter was away. She told the boy to put the box down, and paid him for his service.

When the daughter returned, and saw her mother, she cried,

“O, why have you come, for we are starving? I have been out trying to get a morsel for the children, and I can’t. What can we do?”

The mother said, “I have a half-crown in my pocket, and you can take that and buy something, and that will carry us over tomorrow at any rate.”

Then they went into the house, and the old woman took out her purse to get the half-crown. But alas! she found she had paid it to the boy in the dim light of the evening in mistake for the penny. She had given him a half crown, and a penny, (more than sixty-two cents) instead of two pennies. Now she had only two pennies left.

For a time both the women cried bitterly. The mother, however, was a true Christian, and had faith in God.

“Never mind,” she said, “we have two-pence left, and let us be thankful to God for that, and for a roof above our heads. You take it—it will buy bread for you and the children tonight, and I will go on to bed, for I shan’t want anything; and let us hope that God will provide for tomorrow when it comes.”

Early the next morning someone knocked and the daughter opened the door. There stood a boy who said,

“Didn’t I bring a box here for an old woman last night?”

“Yes, you did!”

“Where is she?”

“Upstairs.”

“Then tell her to come down, for I want to see her.”

When the mother came, the boy said, “Misses, do you know you gave me a’ half-crown last night instead of a penny? because you did; and I have brought it back. Here it is.”

“Yes, my lad, I did,—and I am very much obliged to you for bringing it back again. But I want to know how you came to do so, for I thought you told me you were starving at home?”

“Yes, we are very bad off,” said the boy, brightening up as he spoke, “but I go to Sunday School, and love Jesus and I couldn’t be dishonest.”

When our little friend counted his receipts he found he had been given too much. And he faithfully returned the extra money to the rightful owner.

Let us always be honest like him, no matter how great our need may be.

And let us always have faith in God, like the old woman who believed the Lord would provide more, when what they already had was gone.

“MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED, ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.” Phil. 4:19.

ML 04/05/1925

Little Harry

THE little boy’s name was Harry; he has now grown to be a man, so what I am about to tell you occurred a good many years ago, when he was quite a boy.

Like most little fellows, he was fond of visiting the toy stores as well as candy stores. He was not only able to look through the windows and gaze at the pretty things exposed there for sale, but nearly every week he made a small purchase of his own account, because his kind mother used to give him a penny.

I do not think he had a missionary box, as many children have in these days, or else his penny might sometimes have found its way into the box, instead of the pocket of the woman at the store.

Well, one day, early in the week, he was looking in the woman’s window, and he saw a new kind of candy, and immediately he wanted to taste what it was like. Saturday was so long to wait for his penny, and he wanted to enjoy his treat at once. His mind was soon made up, and into the store he went to make a bargain with the woman and to go into debt for the first time in his life.

He told her he would have his money on Saturday, and then he would pay her. He did not stop to think if his mother would approve of his doing this, —all he wanted was to get the candy; and soon he came out of the store, with the prize in his hand. But candy soon disappears, especially with Harry, and before he reached home, all was gone.

I do not think he felt quite happy about the matter, for he did not mention at home what he had done, lest he should be scolded. Saturday will soon be here, and then I can pay her. But alas! when Saturday came, there was no penny for Harry, for he had been a bad boy in some way, and, as punishment, he was to have no money this week.

This made poor Harry feel very uncomfortable, for what would the woman say? Never mind, he would not go past that way till a whole week had gone, then, surely he could meet her, and settle her claims. However, he was not to get off like that, for the woman at the store came to wash, on Monday, for his mother, and she mentioned what Harry had done, and how he had forgotten to go on Saturday, as she supposed.

Here the story was all out. Mother now knew about it too, and when she looked grieved about it, the big tear, would come into Harry’s eyes, and trickle down his face, and he has never forgotten that day.

How well it was for Harry that his fault had not only been found out, but repented of! Faults are easily checked and broken off at the beginning, but if allowed to pass unnoticed, soon become habits which cannot so readily he laid aside.

When I heard him speaking about this incident, he finished up by saying.

“Be sure your sin will find you out.” Num. 32:23.

“Thou God seest me.” Gen. 16:13.

ML 04/05/1925

Why Did Jesus Die?

So many wonder why the Lord

Should come from heaven and die,

Till from God’s holy, precious Word,

They learn the reason why.

He gave His life to ransom souls,

He died that they might live,

He paid the heavy debt for sin

When we had naught to give.

And more, His righteous soul endured

The fearful wrath of God,

That sin—man’s sin—might be forgiven

By His atoning blood.

And this is why the Saviour died,

That souls to Him might flee,

And all who come to Him by faith

Will ever welcome be.

ML 04/05/1925

Little Mary

LITTLE Mary was an orphan, born and brought up in a great city, but after the death of her parents she went to live with a relative in the country. On the evening of her arrival there, she was allowed to sit outside the cottage and eat her supper of bread and milk, in full sight of the sea with its rolling waves.

This was a great treat to Mary, who had never lived in the country before; but ere she began her supper, she did not forget to thank God for having taken her there in safety, and for the food before her. For Mary had learned to know and love the Lord Jesus as her Saviour, and she loved to think of Him, knowing that it is through Him, God gives us all things. The Scripture says,

“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.

“O, GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD; CALL UPON HIS NAME.” Psa. 105:1.

ML 04/12/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 32:44-52

MOSES’ marvelous song ends. It begins and ends with God, and takes in the history of His earthly people Israel—past, present and future.

When Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel, he said, unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life; and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.” (Verses 46, 47).

Thus we find Moses urging upon the people the solemn duty of implicit, hearty obedience to the Word of God. In this lay the precious secret of life, peace, prosperity—all. They had nothing else to do but to obey. Blessed business! Happy, holy duty! May we find it so, dear children, in these days when there is so little of the fear of God and obedience to His Word.

Moses is now called to climb the mountain opposite Jericho, there to die on account of his failure at Kadesh (Numbers 20). This was God’s discipline on His servant; Moses did not, by this solemn dispensation, lose his eternal portion with Christ, but we—believers and unsaved shall appear — though not together before the judgment seat of Christ.

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men.” 2 Cor. 5:10. And if judgment first begins at us (believers); what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17). The believer will learn about his failures, and many other things about his life, at the judgment seat of Christ; but when the unsaved meet Christ in judgment, it will be to meet His unsparing judgment.

O, sinner, flee from the wrath to come! Now is the day of salvation!

ML 04/12/1925

A Narrow Escape

I WELL recall an incident in my life when I was a boy of about sixteen, which I wish to portray as clearly as possible in the following lines, trusting that my experience will be a warning to those who read it, and are still under the power of darkness, and will be the means of bringing home to them the necessity of trusting in Christ, who alone can save them from the brink of everlasting punishment.

Having toiled very hard all morning and partaken of my lunch, I felt that I needed a little recreation before delving into my work again.

I strolled along a railroad track which had a three-track system; one for freight trains, one for northbound and one for southbound passenger trains. The north bound track was being repaired, which made it necessary for the northbound trains to run on the southbound track for a certain distance.

My walk southward was without a mishap, and as it was an exceptionally warm and sunny day, I enjoyed it very much. As my noon hour was almost gone, I began retracing my steps northward on the southbound track, figuring that any train coming toward me would be easily seen in time for me to step out of danger, but the thought never entered my mind that the northbound trains would use this very track, due to the repairing of the other.

I had just passed a sharp turn in the road, when suddenly a northbound train appeared behind me, coming on at a great speed, the whistle shrieking and warning me of my grave danger. A freight train was passing on my left, and the passenger train was only a few hundred feet away!

What could I do! To jump to the track that was being repaired meant certain death, as I was nearer to the freight train. There was but one thing to do, and I did it; I jumped between the freight and passenger tracks, and kneeled down.

Hardly had I done this when the passenger train rushed by me! It seemed to me, although the train was going very fast, that it took hours for it to get by.

Here I was, huddled between two moving trains in fear of being pulled underneath the wheels and ground to death. But praise be to God, He spared me from such a death, and I came out of it all without a scratch, though fearfully nervous and frightened. It surely was a narrow escape, and if it were not for Him who helped me, I would have been in eternity.

What a lesson to you, my dear reader, if you are without God in this world, and have not found Christ to be your Saviour. You may be in the same predicament now, that I was in years ago (as to your soul), near death, —near eternity. You may not receive a warning before you are wafted into eternity. You may not see a sick bed. Your next step may be a fatal one. Why then delay and run the risk of dying without being saved by the precious blood of Christ. Perhaps your life’s cord may be snapped before another sun rise, before another dawn, before you are an hour older: Will you be spared the agony of hell? Are you ready to meet your Saviour?

Just as my whole life flashed before me when I was between those trains, unveiling all my past, has your life flashed before you in the same manner? Are you aware that your life has been wicked and sinful? If not, then flee to God, who will make bare to you your sinful past, and bring before you that precious Saviour who left His glory on high, and bled and died on Calvary’s cross for the remission of your sins.

Accept Him now while you can. Tomorrow may be too late.

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

O, children, come to Him, confess your sins to Jesus, and He will forgive you, and save you for eternity. You have nothing to pay, for He has paid it all.

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

There is but one thing to do. Accept Him as your personal Saviour, and you will find rest and peace for your soul, both now and throughout eternity.

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

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1.

ML 05/12/1925

"Jesus Wept"

WHAT a nice little text! perhaps you will say; I can learn it all myself in two or three minutes. Stop a minute, little one, and remember there are two ways of learning a text. One is to learn the words only; the other is to know the meaning of the words as well.

A short time ago a little boy learned ten verses of French poetry to repeat on his birthday. He did not let anyone know the secret except his teacher, till the day came. After tea he surprised everyone by repeating the verses without a single mistake. Then his father said,

“Ah! Bobby, I fear you have learned the words without their meaning.”

But father was mistaken this time, for Bobby went through them again, and at the end of each line gave the meaning in English.

Now it is something like this in learning texts of Scripture. Some boys and girls learn a whole chapter every week, yet many older scholars would have to confess they had not learned all that this little verse of two words contains. How is that? you ask. Well, we begin to wonder why Jesus wept; He who had been so kind to the widow of Nain, and had raised the ruler’s little girl to life again. Why did Jesus weep? It was because He was so sad to see, all around, the effects of sin. You know that the wages of sin is death. That is why you see so many white stones in the cemeteries, with the words on them to tell us whose body lies beneath. Here perhaps is a man’s grave, there a little girl’s, farther on family graves. These all tell us that sin has been here, and death, the wages, followed. But there are other and worse effects of sin than death of the body; for sin separated man from God, and for any that die with their sins unforgiven, there will be the second death that will shut them out from God forever.

How kind it was of Jesus to weep about Lazarus! and He wept for us too, because we are all born under sin. Afterwards Jesus died Himself to destroy the power of him that had the power of death. Those who now rest in the work Jesus has done will never die. They may fall asleep in Jesus, and their bodies be put in the grave, but they will be raised again, and go to be with Him.

When we read that Jesus wept, it seems to tell us more than many chapters. It tells of His heart of love, how His eyes follow us all the day long, though He is now seated in glory, and we still on earth. Who could distrust such a Saviour, after reading of His sympathy with those mourning for their brother? And those who have learned to trust in Him as their Saviour, how happy for them to have such a friend to go to, to tell all their troubles whatever they may be! He says,

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

ML 04/12/1925

"Remember Now Thy Creator in the Days of Thy Youth." Eccl. 12:1.

In these budding years of promise,

While your heart is light,

O, remember your Creator

Now, while all is bright!

Prospects fair may be before you,

But, O, stay awhile!

What is all the world can offer

To the Saviour’s smile?

While your heart is young and tender,

Trust it to His care;

In these days so bright with sunshine

Live for Jesus here.

Yes, remember Him who made you.

And by whom you live;

O, remember your Creator,

To Him glory give.

He who made you, O, remember

Made you for His praise,

Made you for Himself, then render

To Him all your days.

Now remember Him, and trust Him,

Do not turn away;

He is calling now, O, listen!

Think of Him today.

Now, O, now His word repeats it.

Now this very day,

Come to Him e’en for salvation.

Come in His own way.

Turn away from thoughts of pleasure

And from self, from all:

Think now only of the Saviour.

Listen to His call.

O, remember and consider

Him in all His love!

In these days so full of sunshine

Think of Him above.

ML 04/12/1925

"Pet Me, Too"

POOR steep does not like to see his little playmate fondling the little kittens on her lap, and he is not getting any attention, so he has put his paw on her knee, and looks into her face as much as to say,

“Are you not going to pet me, too?”

We need not wonder at the poor dog being selfish, as it does not know any better, but how sad to see children and grown up people too, jealous of those who have something that they do not have, and you know, that is selfishness.

The Lord Jesus was not that way, for He gave up all that He had, even His life, for poor sinners, as we are, and now He is waiting for that time when He will take all who put their trust in Him to His bright home above to share all that He has.

I am sure we can say there is no one just like Him; but if we know Him as our Saviour, as the One who gave His life for us, we can ask Him for grace that we may be more like Him and thus be pleasing to God in all our ways down here.

“LET US HAVE GRACE, WHEREBY WE MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR.” Heb. 12:28.

ML 04/19/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 32

IN the forty-three verses of this song which Moses spoke, we find a brief history of the people of Israel, and of God’s dealings with and for them. The importance of what it had to say to any Israelite, is attested by the opening call to the heavens and the earth to attend.

There are two parties here, and one (Israel) has already failed, and would yet more seriously. Thank God, all depends upon Him, and as the last chapters have shown here in Deuteronomy, we find veiled references to a secret thing with God, whereby He would bless them finally when they had all but destroyed themselves. What that secret was we discover in the New Testament, and particularly in its practical foundation in the Epistle to the Romans.

We begin with what God is, upon Whom all security rests. He is the Rock, standing unmoved when all mankind falls. All His ways are just, a God of faithfulness without deceit (New Translation).

And what of those whom He has befriended? They have corrupted themselves, or rather “dealt corruptly with Him,”—a crooked generation.

But, as for God, when He set the boundaries of the countries, He had in mind the children of Israel, for they are His earthly people. He had found them without anything of their own, had led them, preserved them “as the apple of His eye.” In perfect love He had treated them as the eagle does her young—compelling them to leave their comfortable nest to try their wings, then flying beneath the young birds as they fall seemingly to destruction, she “spreadeth abroad her taketh them, beareth them on her wings.” So, through the trials of the long wilderness journey, there were lessons to be learned of the love and purpose of God, as it is with Christians today, if they will but apply their hearts to learn them.

God had proved His power, as well as his love in the great company of the children of Israel’s never having lacked food or clothing all the years of their pilgrimage. The sky had provided food, and the rocks water when their case seemed, humanly speaking hopeless. But Jeshuron (a poetical name of Israel, applied only four times in Scripture), waxed fat and kicked, —gave up God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. Such is man!

But yet further, (verse 17) those whom God had taken up, “sacrificed to devils, not to God,” during the forty years’ journey from Egypt to Canaan. (See the martyr Stephen’s address to his murderers in Acts 7, verse 42, and the First Epistle to the Corinthians chapter 10, verse 20).

In due time judgment began to fall (verses 10 and following), and God took up the Gentiles (as in verse 21). He said He would (see Romans 10:19). The Gentiles were wicked enough for anything (verse 27), and God stays His hand against Israel. and will not allow the Gentiles to go beyond the bounds He has set in punishing the chosen people.

How many Gentiles are like Israel’ in verse 29: unwise as they were, they do not consider their latter end, when the world of the ungodly will be judged in righteousness by Christ, and those who have not received Him as Saviour will meet Him as Judge.

The song ends with the day of which Romans, chapters 9, 10,11 speak, when Israel shall turn to Him whom they have despised and rejected. but when, also unsparing judgment will he poured out upon the enemies of God. Lastly the blessing of the saved among the nations is brought in. God will bring His own purposes to pass, purposes of blessing, and of judgment. How all-important to be right with God, now!

Moses is again told (verse 52) that he should not go into the promised land on account of his sin in Numbers 20 when he struck the rock type of Christ, God having told him to speak to the rock. We do not forget that Moses was still a child of God He had not, because of his sin, lost his eternal portion.

ML 04/19/1925

The Children's Compass

THERE is a story told of a father who explained to his little son the Mariner’s Compass and showed him how it could guide the sailors over the sea, as well as the travelers upon land.

The boy was so pleased with the idea that he begged his father to lend him his compass, and to allow him to try it for himself. The father gave him the compass and permitted him to find his way alone through the forest, which was close to his home. The little fellow struck off confidently into the depths of the forest, compass in hand, and much to his delight, it led him safely, after much walking, back to his father, who received him with expressions of affection and joy.

As we read this story, our minds naturally turn to the compass which God has given us, to direct us safely from earth to heaven. The Bible is our unerring guide, and those who follow it, can never miss their way. It is far better, and surer than the compass about which we are speaking, because God’s compass never can lead us astray, if we humbly seek the teaching of the Holy Spirit in reading its truths. Sometimes the Mariner’s compass has failed to point true and then the consequences are very terrible.

A sad story is told of a vessel that was once driven upon a dangerous coast and lost. The pilot thought he was steering straight for the harbor but all the time he was directing the ship towards the rocks upon which she perished. The owners tried to fix the loss of the vessel upon the officers in charge, but neither the pilot’s skill, nor the captain’s fidelity nor the prompt obedience of the crew, could be doubted. At length, it came to light that a passenger was trying to smuggle a basket of steel into port, and had hidden the unlawful merchandise in his berth. The berth lay nearly under the compass, and the attraction of the steel swerved the needle from the north, thus deceiving the pilot and causing the ship to drive upon the rocks, and become a complete wreck.

Sin, hidden in the heart, will surely wreck our souls, as the unlawful steel hidden in the ship led to its destruction. You remember the words of the Psalmist,

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

God will never have a divided heart. He wants it all. God wishes us to use His Word, as the little boy used his compass.

“Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psa. 119:89.

ML 04/19/1925

What Is Jesus to You?

WE were glad to take refuge in a little Jewish store as the rain was falling heavily. The keeper of the store was assisted in his work by his daughter, a bright and cheerful little maiden who seemed ready to help her father in every way possible. We were treated very kindly, and invited to stay as long as we wished.

As our attention was thus turned to this dear girl. our hearts went out to her, for we knew that she was not being brought up to love the name of Jesus. It seemed to us a real calamity, knowing as we did that there was no salvation apart from that name.

A halt hour passed, and the storm continued. The rain even increased in violence, and we were obliged to remain longer.

The postman called, and in the mail which he left, was a Jewish magazine which the daughter offered to us to look over to while away the time of waiting.

In its way, it was of interest. It treated of everything relating to Jewish affairs—the ancient land of Palestine around which the Jewish heart and hopes are properly centered. The name of God was mentioned, but O how lacking it seemed to us, for the name of Jesus was absent.

How sad that there are those who would deliberately ignore the Lord Jesus. What a hopeless outlook is theirs in so doing.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6.

“He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12.

Were it not for the coming of the Lord Jesus into the world, and by His death on the cross, opening up in this way an approach to the Father, our situation would be deplorable indeed. But we know that Jesus has come, and that by His sacrificial work, sin was dealt with, and the only question with us now is whether or not we accept Him.

Probably the most of those who read these lines, are not open rejectors of the Lord Jesus, as is the Jewish nation at large. Many of you, doubtless, are in the broad sense, within the pale of Christianity. But the formal acceptance of Christian truths will not save the soul. One might believe that Jesus is a Saviour, and yet spend eternity in company with His bitterest enemies.

What then is essential to salvation? Let us answer this question with the following passage of Scripture,

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name.” John 1:12.

He who truly receives the Lord Jesus into his heart, can say, “It was for my sins that Jesus died, and He has become my Saviour,” thus. by faith, making God’s provision your own.

God wants you to reap the benefit of the work on Calvary’s cross. He wants you to be saved. Therefore receive the Saviour today, and be made happy now and forever.

ML 04/19/1925

The Bible

O Lord, with wonder and with praise.

On all Thy works I look!

But still Thy wisdom, power and trace,

Shine brightest in Thy Book.

The fields provide me food, and show

The goodness of the Lord;

But fruits of life and glory grow

In Thy most holy Word.

‘Tis here I learn how Christ has died

To save my soul from hell;

Not all the books on earth beside.

Such heavenly wonders tell.

Then let me love my Bible more.

And take a fresh delight,

By day to read its wonders o’er,

And meditate by night.

ML 04/19/1925

Happy Children

SEE these dear little children out here in the grassy meadow, among the daisies and other pretty posies. How happy they seem to be with their balls, throwing them back and forth to each other, and bouncing them on the ground. I think probably their mamma, or perhaps their Sunday School teacher has brought them out here to spend a happy afternoon together, playing among the trees.

As I look at the picture it makes me think of some other little children that lived many, many years ago, in a land far away, across the great ocean. These other children lived when the Lord Jesus was on the earth, and the mothers brought them to Him. What do you think the Lord Jesus did when the mammas brought their children to Him? Do you think He said,

“O, go away, I can’t be bothered with children—I came to see the great people, and they are the only ones I am interested in?”

Was that what He told the mothers? O, No! Instead of speaking so roughly, He took the little ones up tenderly in His arms and blessed them. There were others there, who thought differently and tried to send them away. But Jesus told them not to do so, and said,

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14.

How very kind and loving the blessed Saviour was, and how happy those children must have been, when He took them in His arms, and they listened to His gentle words.

When I was a little girl, I used to wish that I had been one of those little ones, so that I could have looked in His face and listened to His voice.

Do you know, my little friends, that if you love the blessed Lord Jesus, if you believe that He died to save you, you will then be one of His little followers, and you will someday see His face and hear His voice? And what do you think He will say to you? He will welcome you into His happy home, where all is peace and joy and love, and then you will be one of that happy band that stand around His throne singing,

“UNTO HIM THAT LOVED US, AND WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD.” Rev. 1:5.

ML 04/26/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 33.

MOSES, who was just about to die, thinks according to God of his beloved people, and tells of his desires for them as almost entering the land, their home. In Genesis 49, we have noticed Jacob’s blessing of the people as expressing their history from first to last, but Deuteronomy 33 is not a complete history; rather like all of this fifth book of the Bible, preparing Israel for entering the home long awaiting them.

Verses 2-5: God was their ruler; He gave them the law—not only, as we have before noticed, the ten commandments, but an entire system whereby a people might go on in relationship with Him. Moses was their visible king, ruling under God.

Verse 6: Reuben had led in sin of old, and God requires that which is past, though in grace He records, “Let Reuben live, and not die; and let his men be few.” (Omit “not” which is in italics).

Verse 7: Judah is the tribe of which Christ came according to the flesh; He it is that is referred to. He will be brought to His people in the day of His power.

Verse 8: Levi is to be blessed on account of faithfulness before, —for example in Numbers 25. God had proved the nation at Massah and Meribah (Exodus 17 and Numbers 20), and they had failed both in themselves as a whole, and in their priest and king (Numbers 20). The children of Levi had however stood for God at Sinai (Exodus 32:26-29), disregarding the closest natural relationship to obey the Word of God (verse 9). It is however only in Christ that perfection is seen; He alone set God first in all His thoughts and ways from beginning to end of His life here below, and verses 10 and 11 surely will have their greatest fulfilment in Him when He comes to earth again to reign.

Verse 12: Benjamin comes next. The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, covered, dwelling between His shoulders. Notice that all depends on nearness to the Lord: this is the only place of safety, —the place of God’s favor. Literally it is Jerusalem, the city of Gods earthly dwelling place; figuratively again it speaks of Christ, the true Benjamin, Son of the right hand (Genesis 35:18).

Verses 13-17: Joseph, type of Christ, as we have considered him before, in Genesis, both in his history and in his father’s blessing (Genesis 49:22-26): the fulness of blessing is expressed here in Moses’ words.

Verses 18-24 seem to be blessings for the most part yet future.

Verses 25-29: these inspiring words form the closing benediction on the nation. Strength for each day is promised to the people of God; He is their succorer, their refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will, when that day dawns, destroy their enemies, and they shall dwell in safety alone. Happy people!

The tribe of Simeon is not mentioned by name in this chapter; there appear to be two or more reasons for the omission: one, that both Joseph and his sons should be named: another, that Simeon’s character described in Genesis 49:5-7 was unchanged, while Levi had taken a firm stand for God.

ML 04/26/1925

The Young Missionary

IN a town on the banks of the river llm, where, during the summer months many guests could be found, who had exchanged the dusty streets of the city for quiet recreation in the wide and glorious forest of Thuringen, there lived a godly man with his wife and two happy children, Fred, the oldest, a boy of 12 years, did all the errands for his father; while Ida, his 10 year old sister, stayed at home, and tried to help her mother as best she could.

Fred received 20 Pfg. (5c) weekly, from his father, for his services; half of which went to his savings bank, and the other half was given to the Sunday-school collection. When at times he received a little change for himself from some of his father’s customers, this went into a special collection-box. With this money he bought, with the approval of his parents, various tracts, writing on these the address of the hall where Christian meetings were held, to which he and his parents went. He distributed these among the summer-guests staying in that locality, with the invitation to come to the meetings. Seeing his labor was not in vain, he became more bold.

One Lord’s day morning he went quite early to the “forest,” to give out his tracts. His path led him passed a hotel-lawn filled with guests. Fearlessly he went in, going from table to table, offering his leaflets. A few refused his papers, remarking mockingly

“Keep your leaflets, we have other things to read.” But Fred was not so easily put off, and asked:

“Are those other things which you read, the Word of God, which shows you the way to the Saviour, who wants to save you?

“O, my boy,” answered one of the young men, “I feel myself so blest here in Thuringen. I do not wish it any better.”

“But what will become of you after death?” asked the boy, who seemed to pick up courage,

“Then I will be buried,” answered the man, with a mocking smile on his face. Fred tried again to offer him a tract, but it was refused, like the first one.

“If you do not care to read God’s Word, sir, you do not have to the Saviour does not impose Himself upon anyone. He wants people who will believe on Him voluntarily, and follow Him gladly.”

Then he went on. When he had offered his tracts to all many of which were gladly received and read he booked back, while standing in the entrance of the garden, and glancing again prayerfully over the whole company of summer-guests, he sang:

“Come to the Saviour, make no delay;

Here in His word, He’s shown us the way;

Here in our midst He’s standing today,

Tenderly saying, ‘Come’.

Joyful, joyful will the meeting be,

When from sin, our hearts are pure and free,

And we shall gather, Saviour with Thee,

In our eternal home!”

He put his whole soul into the hymn. All eyes were turned to the entrance, and all ears listened eagerly to the sweet tune, which sounded to them as a warning invitation brought by the mouth of angels, from the world above. With still deeper feeling for poor sinners he sang the second stanza

“‘Suffer the children O hear His voice,

“Let every heart leap forth and rejoice,

“And let us freely make Him our choice;

“Do not delay, but come.

“Joyful, joyful, will the meeting be,

“When from sin, our hearts are pure and free,

“When we shall gather, Saviour with Thee,

“In our eternal home.”

This hymn sang from the heart, had deeply impressed the listeners. All day long it sounded in their ears. In the evening of this same Lord’s day, a well-attended and blessed meeting was held, there. The Spirit of God working mightily; and when at its close the invitation went forth to come to the Lord Jesus there was also that young man among them, who had, in the morning, mocked and laughed about divine things, but was now convinced of the truth of God’s Word, and of the seriousness of eternity. He sought peace and rest for his guilty soul at the feet of Jesus, who shed His blood for sinners. Restored to health in body and soul, this young man returned to his home town, happy in the sunshine of God’s love.

The young missionary, who had given his heart to the Saviour in his early years, and then sought to win souls for the Lord Jesus, has now become a man, who, through God’s grace, has been a guide to many in pointing them to the Saviour, through whom they have found eternal life.

“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.” Ecclesiastes. 11:6.

ML 04/26/1925

Have You a Soul?

PERHAPS you may think this a strange question, but many live as though they had no soul.

God “breathed into his (Adam’s) nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Thus every human being shall live forever.

Dear children, where will you spend ETERNITY? You must spend it either in heaven with Christ and His redeemed ones; or in hell with Satan and his angels, and those he has led to neglect the salvation of their souls through accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

You are a sinner, and God is a righteous God, and cannot have sin in His presence, but there is pardon for sinners, through the Lord Jesus Christ, if they will believe on Him and His work on Calvary’s cross for them.

Then, dear children, accept Christ as your Saviour at once, before it is too late. Do not put off the salvation of your soul any longer. Come to Him NOW, while you may.

“Thou art a God ready to pardon gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” Neh. 9:7.

ML 04/26/1925

Why Should You Do Without Him?

Why should you do without Him?

It is not yet too late;

He has not closed the day of grace,

He has not shut the gate.

He calls you! hush! He calls you!

He would not have you go

Another step without Him,

Because He loves you so.

Why will you do without Him?

He calls and calls again—

“Come unto Me! Come unto Me!”

O, shall He call in vain?

He wants to have you with Him;

Do you not want Him too?

You cannot do without Him.

And He wants—even you.

ML 04/26/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for March

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

2.“This know also,” etc. 2 Tim. 3:1.

3.“Now the Spirit speaketh,” etc. 1 Tim, 4:1.

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

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

6.“Looking for that,” etc. Titus 2:13.

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

Bible Questions for May

The Answers are to be found in 1St, 2nd and 3rd John, Jude and Revelation

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Follow not that which is evil.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Lieth in wickedness.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Knoweth us not.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The blackness of darkness.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Even so, come.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Partaker of his evil.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Every eye shall see him.”

ML 05/03/1925

Many Youthful Heads Are Bending

Many youthful heads are bending

O’er the sacred Word,

God of mercy, through those pages

Let Thy voice be heard.

While the children thus are searching,

Give the trustful look,

Let them find Thy Son, Christ Jesus,

In Thy precious Book.

Dimpled hands the leaves are turning.

Many bright young eyes

Search Thy Wondrous, holy Record,

Eager for a prize.

Guide, O Lord, the tiny fingers,

Rivet fast the sight,

Shed from truths of Thine unfolding

Rays of living light.

While each little mind is working,

May the heart take hold

Of the grandest, oldest, Story

Ever known or told.

Bless this effort made to lead them

To Thy Word alone,

Teach them by Thy Holy Spirit,—

Make them all Thine own.

Keep, O Lord, these little children.

Guard them with Thy love,

Lead them home to dwell forever.

With Thyself above.

ML 05/03/1925

Bible Lessons

Deuteronomy 34.

HOW touchingly gracious of God to show Moses that land of desire, which he was not to enter! The people had provoked this man of God, meek above all the men upon the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3) by their rebellion, so that instead of upholding God before them, he asserts himself (Numbers 20:10-12). Accordingly, God had said to Moses,

“Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”

There was a spiritual reason too, for Moses to be removed at this time he had been the administrator of law, and the people were to enter the land on the ground of grace.

And what grief Moses was spared, in not entering the land, to have seen the unfaithfulness of those he had led, never truly conquering the enemy, and presently turning to idolatry there!

This notable servant of God dies, is buried in secret. Forty years at the court of Pharaoh in Egypt; forty years in the desert alone, and forty years as the leader of the redeemed people to the banks of the Jordan, are closed, with undimmed eye and natural force unabated.

An inspired writer adds (verse 10) that there had been no prophet afterward in Israel like Moses, but a greater came in the person of Christ, in Whom all the prophetic scriptures are fulfilled.

We have finished our brief examination of the five books of Moses. If we have gone over them in faith, in dependence on God, we have profited in our souls. Great principles have been before us, —those according to which God acts in His dealings with man. In Exodus we saw a people delivered by the power of God; in Leviticus and Numbers we saw them, given a marvelous code of rules, perfect as the Giver, and we saw those rules powerless to change human hearts: they, to whom they were given, were first sinners and then transgressors. Lastly, we have seen the grace of God in blessing, and announcing abiding blessing upon this people promising in veiled language to justify them in the power of a new covenant written in their hearts. Such is God, “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” Exodus 34:6, 7.

Reader, is He, through the blood of Jesus Christ, your resource?

ML 05/03/1925

Too Late

THE other day, as I was standing at the door of a Hall, where a friend was preaching the gospel, a little boy came up and said:

“Please, sir, may I go in?”

“No, my boy,” I replied; “impossible to let you in, there is no more room.”

“But I was in there last Friday evening, and the Friday before I am a regular one.”

“Very likely, my boy; but today you cannot go in.”

“But you said last Friday afternoon, ‘There will be meeting for boys and girls at the M— Hall on Friday evening, at seven.’ Why can’t I go in?”

“Look here, my boy,” I said, showing him my watch, “it is twenty minutes past seven, so You are too late, and the room is full, and Your being there last Friday does not take you in tonight.”

Soon the last seat in God’s house will be occupied, and it will then be too late to come and knock.

“Now,” God says, “is the day of salvation.” Those who refuse God’s invitation will be found at the door knocking, and, like this little boy, will be denied entrance.

“When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us and He shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know not whence ye are.’” Luke 13:25.

ML 05/03/1925

Kindness

THIS little girl has her three rabbits in her apron, and, they do not seem one bit afraid that she will let them drop. Notice how carefully she holds them, but they look to be rather heavy for her to hold long.

We do like to see children careful and kind to their pets, whatever they may be —kittens, dogs. birds, etc.—to feed them well, and keep their houses clean and comfortable. They will appreciate your kindness to them, and will be friendly to you.

God made all of these animals, and He is good to all of His creatures. It is pleasing to Him when He sees us kind to them too.

Boys and girls are not always kind to each other, and this is not pleasing to God. If we are His children, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been forgiven many, many sins, and as we remember how much God has forgiven us, we shall also be able to forgive others who may do us a wrong. Think of how many times we displease God in our ways, and how gracious He is to us.

“BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.” Eph. 4:32.

ML 05/03/1925

Jesus and the Children

Jesus is the gentle Shepherd

Who, upon the cross,

Died to save the little children,

When He died for us.

Jesus loves the little children,

Loves to hear them say,

Lord, my heart is very sinful.

Wash my sins away.

Jesus calls the little children,

Calls them tenderly;

Once He put His arms around them,

Saving, “Come to Me.”

ML 05/03/1925

Boyhood Days

JUST look at that boy leaning against the corn shocks perfectly happy, with an apple in his hand and no thought of care or trouble. He may have done a little work, as we see the hoe lying by his side, but we know such a little boy could not earn his living. He is not thinking about that, as he knows his parents will give him what he needs.

Those who know the Lord Jesus can be perfectly happy in the midst of difficult and trying circumstances, as it is not the circumstances that make them happy; it is being occupied with the Lord Jesus, who is perfect in every way, and the One who has said,

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

Then, again we are told to be “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7.

This is the privilege of all those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, but for those who do not so know Him, their happiness can easily vanish, for it all depends on the pleasing circumstances, which are but for a no meat. Then when they get into sorrow they have no comfort.

May those who know the Lord praise and thank Him, not only for saying them, but for all that He is to them every step of the path, and what He will be for them throughout eternity.

“BOTH YOUNG MEN, AND MAIDENS; OLD MEN, AND CHILDREN: LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD.” Psa. 148:12,13.

ML 05/10/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 1.

THERE is a new commander now. Joshua having succeeded Moses, and the word goes out to the host of Israel to prepare to enter the land by crossing the Jordan. The wilderness they had traversed was the way, but not the end.

The land was all theirs (verse 2) in one sense; it was theirs also only as they took possession of it (verse 3). So it is with the Christian, in what Canaan typifies, —the rest for the people of God. The Epistle to the Ephesians brings this out, showing in chapter 1, verse 3, the believer’s present portion, blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ (Israel’s blessings were earthly); and in chapter 6, verses 10 and following, having a warfare to carry on against Satan, who will seek to hinder the Christian’s progress in the new life. What then is the subject of the book of Joshua? It is not the rest, but the fight with the powers of Satan, to possess the promises of God.

Verse 4: The limits of the land here given have never been fully taken possession of by the children of Israel, but they will be in the millennium.

Together with God’s promise, “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” is the injunction, “Be strong and of a good courage ... .Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee turn not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” etc., (verses 5 to 9).

It is forgetfulness of just such directions as these in verses 1 to 9 (notice especially the importance attached to God’s Word here, of course, limited to what was then written) that explains the failure of the children of God to live practically the life of faith in our day, as it explains the failure of Israel in the day of Joshua to take full possession of the land of Canaan.

All the fighting force must cross the Jordan, though the choice of some of them was on this side of the river. They had been attracted by a place which was not Egypt but though it was within Israel’s dominions, it was not Canaan; the docks and herds and goodly pastures were more to them than the place to be won by Joshua in the power of the Spirit of God.

Just so it is with many of the children of God today; their circumstances are what guide them, rather than the heavenly Leader: they lower Christianity to an earthly level; Christ should be our object, not the “much cattle.”

ML 05/10/1925

Sins Blotted Out

I DON’T want God to write down all the naughty things that I have done today. I wish He wouldn’t! I wish He’d blot them all out!”

The above words were those of a little boy whose father had come into the room to find out why his little boy was still grieving and crying over some disobedient things he had been doing, and for which he had had to chasten his little son.

A Christian nursery governess had taught this little boy from the Word of God that a Day of Judgment was coming, spoken of in Revelation 20:11 etc., when all who have not had their sins and iniquities blotted out, will have to meet God about them, and that there is no forgiveness then; no hope then, nothing but utter and eternal condemnation in the lake of fire! That each one there will have to answer for himself for what he has done, already written down in the books, which books will be opened then.

No wonder the little fellow cried bitterly as he thought of what had gone down in God’s book, and longed for God to blot them all out now before that terrible day comes! Yes, for in Isaiah 43:23 and 20, God speaks of himself as the blotter out, for His own sake, of the transgressions of those who come to Him about them. and He says He will not remember them anymore!

“Put Me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified” (cleared), —not be condemned! Like the Prodigal coming back to his father in Luke 15.

Is not this blessed news, dear children, or older ones either? For we cannot undo anything we have said or done that is wrong, no matter how we may try, or how sorry we may be for what we have said, or done! But God says, “Come to Me about it all!” Let us plead together! “I, even I, am He, that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will no more remember thy sins!”

If you ask me how to come, —what is the way to come? “Christ, is the way!”

And if you ask me what God refers to, when He says He does it “for His own sake,” it is because of what God’s love gave His Blessed Son to do for us! Because of what that Beloved One did when He died for our sins, suffered for sins, the Just for us unjust ones, to bring us to God. God could not blot out one sin, if His Son, as sent of the Father, had not willingly come, and died, that our sins might be blotted out, and be forgiven. But it is done. The work has been accomplished.

“Come” like this dear little boy did, after his father encouraged him to do so, and they both knelt down at that bed side, and that dear little repentant boy, asked God from his heart for Christ’s sake (that is, because Christ had died for those naughty things that he had done, and said to blot them all out! And God did blot out his sins. God kept His word, and that little boy ceased his crying and grieving, believing that God had done so, according to His word. He is waiting and willing to do the same for any who thus turn to Him! Then no great white throne: no opening of books and judgment, will come upon those, who come now in this day of grace! John 5:24 tells such, they shall not come into condemnation!

ML 05/10/1925

The Girl From Greece

ABOUT fifty years ago a young girl England of 13 years went to England from Greece to attend a higher school there. One day as she was walking along the shore with her teacher and her class, she noticed a man who was preaching in the open air to the passers-by, and to all who cared to listen. He told them of the gospel concerning the Lord Jesus, —how God had given up His only begotten Son in death and judgment for His enemies, (sinners and guilty ones,) to save, and grant forgiveness and redemption to all who come to Him, by faith, accepting His as their own Saviour and Lord.

How much the girl heard of the sermon, I do not know, but on arriving home she asked her teacher:

“Please tell me more about this Jesus who wants to give us peace, and of whom the man at the sea-shore spoke so nicely.”

Although she belonged to the “orthodox church,” she knew almost nothing of Him. The teacher answered:

“I cannot for I had to promise your relatives, not to speak to You about religion.”

But the seeking girl rested not, until she knew all about the Lord Jesus, who brought peace to her troubled soul.

O how happy she was now; and being a true and obedient little lamb of the Good Shepherd, the joy of her heart remained, and even grew more and more.

Years passed, and she became the wife of a believing young man. But that in no way altered her attitude towards her Lord and Redeemer. Day and night she thought of her poor kinsfolk in Greece, who knew not the salvation of God; and begged her husband over and over again to go to Greece and preach the precious gospel to her people.

Finally, he consented, and they went to live in Athens, where he labored many years in the blessed work of God. About a year ago he died, or rather, went to be with the Lord Jesus.

In this way, the once little girl, became a great blessing to her country-people. For the seed of God’s Word, not only took root and grew in her young heart, but also brought forth much fruit. She labored much with her husband in Athens. bringing the word of life to many souls; untiring in her efforts to visit the poor, bringing them temporal help, and above all, the Living Bread, the Word of Life: continuing faithfully until her sudden home call, which came about 17 years ago.

Mrs. D. went into the most disreputable places, and where robbers dwelt, of whom even the police were afraid, and brought the gospel of the Lord Jesus into their dwellings and dens. No one touched her; all loved her and greeted her.

Now she is at home with the Lord, who many years ago gave her to hear His precious Word, and early won her heart, and gave her happiness in Him.

Today, her daughter, who is now an orphan, is laboring also in Athens, for her Lord and Saviour, among the women and children. Thus the labor of this Greek girl has brought much fruit for God, and is still doing so.

O, children, will you not also, all of you, early give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, and live for, and serve Him, who loved you and died for you?

“Those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Prov. 8:17.

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

ML 05/10/1925

The Conies in the Rocks

“The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks for the conies.” Psa. 104:18.

“The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” Prov. 30:26.

The conies are a “feeble folk,”

But make “the rocks” their home:

Whatever dangers are abroad,

To them they cannot come.

The beasts go forth to seek their prey.

The lion leaves his lair,

But in the rocks all safely hid,

They cannot reach them there.

The thunders overhead may roll,

The lightenings flash and kill;

Within their rocky, refuge home,

The conies fear no ill.

Like them, I am a feeble one,

Yet hid in Christ the Rock;

I fear no roaming mighty foe,

No coming judgment’s shock.

ML 05/10/1925

Rover

WHEN my uncles were little boys, they had a big dog named Rover. They liked him very much, and he liked them because they were kind to him. They had a harness for Rover, and they hitched him to their little wagon. He liked to draw them that way, and carried them quickly to any part of town.

Rover was very much like the dog in the picture. This dog looks patient and gentle. No doubt he loves the children because they are good and kind to him.

We often see children very impatient and naughty, and quite willing to be unkind to each other. Do you think the dog ever does this way? I think not. Then let us learn a lesson from the noble dog that is always so faithful and good to its little masters.

We too should show affection for one another. But let us not forget that although we might show a great many good traits, and seek to act according as God had intended, this would not make us fit for God. We must believe in Jesus as the One whom God has sent to die for sinners, and thus take Him as our own Saviour. In no other way can we come to God, or be fit for His presence than through the Lord Jesus as the One who has died for us.

God loves us and has given us many good things, He showers His blessings upon us day after day. If we love Him we ought to try to please Him, and show patience, gentleness and kindness in all our ways—at all times and in all places. “WALK IN LOVE, AS CHRIST ALSO HATH LOVED US, AND HATH GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US.” Eph. 5:2.

ML 05/17/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 2

WHY did Joshua send the spies into Jericho, the city soon to be utterly destroyed? Scripture does not furnish an answer; it may have been only with thoughts of the approaching doom of the place, but if we consider what were God’s thoughts about the matter, we know that they were purposes of mercy, even towards a very wicked woman. God is rich in mercy, and His love is great towards those who are dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1-5.)

The king of Jericho is like Satan; it displeases him mightily that the messengers of God are received into the house of even a Rahab. He sees the end of his rule in sight. The men had come to “search out all the country”: there is nothing hid from God, for “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb. 4:13).

But this wretched woman, who tells lies without hesitation, has determined to throw herself on the mercy of that God of whose power in judgment she has heard; perhaps He will show her mercy, for she sees only destruction before all the people of Jericho. Moved with fear, then, of a greater power than any of earth or hell, Rahab conceals the men whose nationality she had recognized, and now when darkness hides her movements, her voice is heard saying, like Nicodemus in John 3:1, 2, “I know.”

It is not the triumphant “we know” of Romans 8:28 and 1 John 3:2, but a confession of a knowledge that she, or he, is outside of God’s favor. Rahab and Nicodemus, at opposite poles in this world’s reckoning; the one debased by sin in which she lived; and the other highly esteemed among men, alike tell that the lives they have lived leave a guilty conscience, an unsatisfied heart.

Reader, is it not so, that this world cannot give peace of conscience, rest of heart? Try as you will, you cannot find rest within or around. There is One who says,

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. Have you had to do with Him?

Rahab asks not for herself alone, but for her fathers’ household. Moses displays the same spirit, we may say, in Exo. 10:9, “And Moses said, we will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds we will go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.”

Also in Luke 16:27-31, the once rich man, from the torment of a lost eternity, cries out for his five brothers.

The writer of these lines remembers the oft repeated earnest prayer of his mother now many years absent from the body, present with the Lord, for all her children to be saved.

Perhaps you, dear reader, have long been the subject of heartful prayers for your salvation. If so, I beg you to resist the Holy Spirit no longer. Come to Jesus! Come to Jesus! COME TO JESUS!

Rahab has a promise; true, it was only that of men, but it was on God’s authority that it was given. He who trusts in the sheltering blood of Jesus, has the assurance of God Himself:

“Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man (the risen Christ Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38, 39. Judgment will never reach the believer.

One thing more: Rahab had so much before her mind, the coming fulfilment of the promise made to her, that she puts the reminder of it, the scarlet line, in her window. She has turned to God from idols, and never a day, or perhaps an hour passes, that she is not thinking of the day of her salvation.

What of yourself, reader? Is Christ your object seven days in a week, twelve months in the year? He should be. Give Him all you are.

ML 05/17/1925

What I Saw Through the Microscope

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

During the evening we were asked to partake of fruit and figs. Now, I was very fond of figs; nothing was a greater treat to me. Well, while we were enjoying these good things, someone said,

“I should not be much surprised if the dust on these figs is alive with insects.”

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

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

After looking for a minute or two, he said,

“Come and look for yourselves.”

I ran to the table, and looked through the tube, and saw two or three insects that looked like tiny fat pigs. They seemed to be turning over and eating the best of the food.

Seeing us look so disappointed when we found that the sweet figs had such insects crawling over them, my uncle said,

“Why, what has the glass done?”

We knew that the glass had done nothing, except to open our eyes to the actual state of the figs.

“Surely it is better to know the truth, than be deceived, though I fear by your looks, that you wish you had not seen the insects, so that you might enjoy the figs more,” my uncle said.

I have never forgotten that evening, nor the microscope and what it taught us, and I sometimes think whether the Bible is not a kind of microscope for us now, because it shows us the truth about everything; it reveals the true state of our hearts, and the true state of the world in which we live.

One of the things that the Bible tells is, that by nature, our hearts are “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Then it tells us the other side of the truth; how we may be cleansed from all our sins and evil ways; how we may be made fit for the presence of God in heaven through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

ML 05/17/1925

What Will Become of My Soul?

IN a quiet little town on a beautiful sunny morning, where everything looked so bright and cheerful, a Sunday-school teacher was hastily summoned to the bed side of dear little Mary, whom her teacher loved dearly. As she entered the home the father met her, weeping, and said;

“O, Mrs. —our darling is dying, and we cannot give her up.”

She followed the father into Mary’s room, and saw at once that the golden bowl was breaking, and the silver cord would soon be loosened. What a change had come over this young and beautiful form in a few days. Her friends scarcely knew her, she was so worn and haggard.

In a tone that startled everyone in the room, Mary exclaimed,

“O, Mrs. — I am dying, and what will become of my soul?” Her teacher took her cold and clammy hands, and pointed her to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. In words few and simple she opened to her the way of salvation. She listened with fixed attention,

“O,” said Mary in reply, “these things, and the eternal world are so dark to me.”

Her teacher prayed with her, commending her to the grace and mercy of God. Very soon she sank into unconsciousness.

Mary was the child of godly parents, and attended Sunday-school regularly. She was instructed in the truth, but her heart was wild and wayward, and she put far from her all things concerning eternity.

She intended to be a Christian some time, but death came suddenly, and she found herself unprepared.

My dear friends, may this sad ending be a solemn warning to all who are unsaved. Are you without Christ in this world of sin and death? Are you going on rejecting God’s offer of salvation, as did poor Mary? The time will come when you will not have another opportunity.

“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14. Be warned, and come to Jesus NOW! “Behold, NOW is the accepted time, behold NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2.

“All things are ready, come,

Tomorrow may not be.

O, children, come, the Saviour waits

This HOUR to welcome thee.”

ML 05/17/1925

The Stranger

A weary Stranger walked this earth,

Unnoticed and unknown;

Some said He was of royal birth—

King David’s promised Son.

He healed their sick, and raised their dead,

He cleansed the leper vile;

He fed the hungry poor with bread,

He made the weeping smile.

And yet they knew not who He was,

And little cared they too;

This Stranger was the Son of God,

Known only to a few.

A few by faith had pierced the veil—

The manhood that He bore;

They saw His glory was divine,

Though He, despised and poor.

And yet they little understood

His purpose—why He came;

They thought His glory should be seen,

And He, as King, should reign.

‘Twas love that laid the glory by,

Took weakness in that hour;

He meant to put our sins away

By dying, not by power.

And so, content to be alone,

Alone, He onward trod;

And ever did His Father’s will—

The Well-Beloved of God.

Then came the cross—that dreadful cross—

Weep as You see Him there;

That gracious, holy, spotless Lamb,

God’s wrath on sin did bear.

He had no sin—it was our sins

He bore upon the tree;

He loved you well enough to die,

And dying set you free.

Now having met God’s holy claims,

He raised Him from the grave;

Exalted Him in heaven on high,

The mighty One to save.

And you would like to dwell with Him

In His bright home above;

O, such a home—the Father’s house—

Most blest abode of love.

Yes, all is yours by simple faith

That owns the record true;

Dying, He died to save the lost,

It was His love for you.

ML 05/17/1925

Sheep

WHAT a pretty flock of sheep we see in our picture; their wool looks so white and clean in the sunshine. The faithful old shepherd is leading them to some distant grassy hill of which he knows. He has cared for sheep for many years; see how kind he is to carry this little lamb which could not keep up with the rest of the flock. What would he do if one of these sheep, would stray away from the flock? I think he would hunt until he would find it; then if it had fallen into a ditch or puddle of water, the crook at the end of his staff would help him to pull it out. How carefully he must have watched these little things, but he knows every one, and they know him. They cannot get mixed with other flocks, for each sheep wants to follow its own shepherd, and knows his voice.

Are you one of Jesus’ little lambs? You are His if you have been saved, and He is watching over you as faithfully as this shepherd is watching over his flock. He will not let you go.

Look up Matt. 18:12 and 13 in your Bibles. If a human shepherd has such love and care for his sheep, how much greater the love of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, must be!

Be sure and listen to the voice of Jesus.

He speaks to you through His word, the Bible.

“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.” John 10:27.

ML 05/24/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 3

THE cross of Christ is presented in different ways: in the passover night of Exo. 12; the crossing of the Red Sea in Exo. 14; and in Joshua, chapters 3 and 4.

The first tells of putting to death of an acceptable substitute, and of the consequent safety from the judgment of God of those who are under the shelter of the blood.

The second pictures redemption, God’s positive work of freeing the sinner, and bringing him out of Satan’s power, into a new position in relation with God.

The third presents the believer’s entering practically into what God has done for him. In the crossing of the Jordan is seen death and resurrection with Christ, and entrance into what, for the Christian, is a heavenly position, though not literally the glory, for there are enemies to be conquered in that new place.

The people approach to the river’s brink, and halt for three days. Then when the ark (type of Christ) goes before them, they, seeing it, remove from their place and follow it. Yet there must be a measured space between the ark and the people, because of the immeasurable value of the Person whom the ark typified, and His work.

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3.

This is an immense truth, standing alone through time and eternity, but it is also true that I (the believer) am crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). The ark (Christ) has gone before me into the river of death; I am to follow, in the experience of my soul, associated with Him by faith.

“All that we were in the flesh has found its end in the cross of Christ. We can say, ‘I am dead to sin, dead to the law’ (Rom. 7:4). My eyes, fixed on the ark—on Christ—see in Him the end of my personality as a child of Adam; but in Him also a victorious power, now made mine, introduces me in resurrection life in Him. beyond death into the full enjoyment of the things which this life possesses: I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal. 2:20).”

“The living God” (verse 10) was among them, and that was assurance that He would without fail drive out from before His people every enemy. The full flood of death, the waters of sin, was met by the ark (verse 15) (Jesus went down under that which here in the type is cut off. Psa. 69:1, 2), and therefore the people passed over on dry ground, the ark making a way. “Thus the Jordan became not a barrier, but an entrance into heavenly places for the people of God. Efficiently Christ is there till all are over.”

Reader, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Where do You stand at this moment? Saved, or lost? And if saved, have you realized that God is done with man according to the flesh?

ML 05/24/1925

The French Text

A LONG row of beds, most of them occupied, and a great many pale faces that seemed familiar with pain, met the eyes of the old gentleman and the little girl as they stood in the large ward of a hospital. This scene of suffering was no strange sight to them. They went there often to visit the sick and the friendless, to bring some words of comfort and cheer, as well as fruit and delicacies to the sufferers.

“Who is that man in the last bed?” asked the man of the nurse. “It is a new face, and he looks like a foreigner.”

“Yes, sir,” the nurse answered, “he is a French sailor, who met with a fearful accident a few days ago. They brought him here, but he understands only a word or two of English. His ship has left, and he has no one to speak to him in his own language. I sometimes listen to him muttering to himself, but of course, I do not understand. Perhaps your little girl would not mind speaking in French to him. I am sure that would please him.”

The gentleman looked down at his little girl who was holding his hand.

“Will you go, Anna, and speak to the poor fellow? You could speak a few words to him in French.”

“O, father! I know so little French.”

“Afraid to attempt it, I suppose,” he said, “I cannot speak a word of French myself, or I would speak to him.” A bright idea had struck the little girl.

“Father,” she whispered, “shall I repeat to him my French text?”

“Yes, do! That will be better than anything else you can say.”

Her French text was one that she had learned by heart from a French Bible that was given her but a week or two before. It had been some little labor to learn it, but at last it was fixed firmly in her memory; and how glad she was now that she could leave her text with the poor sailor, for perhaps he had never heard it before.

Timidly she approached the bed in the farthest corner, for had not the nurse said he had met with a fearful accident? She shrank from the thought of what suffering he must be going through even now, for his eyes were closed, and the mouth was drawn, as if with pain.

She paused. What if he were dying? The face was very death like, and he lay there very still. But no; the sound of footsteps soft and quiet though they were, had caught his ear; the weary eyes opened, and fixed their gaze upon the child as she stood beside the bed. Slowly, very slowly, the little voice repeated the words,

“Car Dieu a tant aime le monde, gull a donne Son Fils unique, afin que quiconque croit en Lui, ne perisse point, mais qu’li ait la vie eternelle.” 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”). Then she turned away.

Strange that this little girl should have given that message to him; stranger still, he had heard those very words before. But where? His memory was clouded, he could not remember. These words were ever sounding in his ears. O! where had he heard them before? Strange, he could not help thinking of them. Then came days when the pain was easier, days of calm and quiet, and the mind before so clouded, was clear at last. Again, and yet again that vision seemed to come before him. It was, he thought, a little angel face that had appeared for such a brief moment, and the soft voice kept sounding in his ears the words he could not forget. It was a message to him—a message from God.

At last it came clearly before him he saw it all. The little village church, the old minister, and he, a boy sitting at his father’s side listening to the very words that had now been told to him again. He had not heeded them much then, but now he remembered the solemn question that the preacher put to the congregation years ago,

“If you were to die today, should you perish, or have everlasting life?”

Someone had placed a French Bible by his bedside, and in this he read that God is love; that Christ, his beloved Son, had come to die for sinners, that He would freely bestow forgiveness of sins on all who would come to Him, for He is saying, “Come unto Me.” This broke down the sailor’s heart, and he came to the Lord Jesus, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding entered his heart. The message that the little girl had brought to him, had not been in vain. The text of Scripture had done its work, the seed had fallen into good ground, and had borne fruit for God.

“He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML 05/24/1925

The Last Voyage

Ahoy! my lads, we’re off to sea:

A down the stream we’re flying.

The tide’s as gentle as can be

With fragrant zephers sighing.

So off we go, for the sea is hailing,

Ahoy! my lads, how is the sailing?

The sailing’s fine! no wave, no wind,

No angry tempest trailing.

The peaceful harbor left behind,

We’ve seven days been sailing.

And all is well, our hearts are glowing,

To home and friends we now are going.

But O! there comes a message grim,

From one who oft has spoken:

“We may not see the land again,

For something has been broken.

Alas, my lads the ship is leaking,

While we the port again are seeking.”

The captain’s face looks worn and pale

He trembles for the morrow.

His boat has weathered many a gale,

And witnessed many a sorrow.

But now, alas, her cargo’s sinking,

While we in solemn mood are thinking.

They say there is a heaven above

Where all is joy and gladness.

They say there is a hell beneath

Where naught is known but sadness.

To which of these am I now going?

I tremble in my fear—not knowing.

My father and my mother dear

Are with the Lord in glory.

My brother Jim and sister too,

Believed the wondrous story.

And now up there they all are waiting

While I down here am hesitating.

But O, my lads I have a thought,—

A thought so re-assuring.

Down in my trunk, deep down, I have

A Book that’s most enduring.

My mother gave it with her blessing,—

With hope and love her boy caressing.

“John—three—sixteen,” O where is that?

O, how my hands are shaking!

I scarce can turn the precious leaves,

But now the light is breaking.

“For God so loved the world,”—O, listen!

“He gave His only Son”,—now risen.

O, yes, my lads, I see it now,

To Jesus I am going.

To be with Him, forevermore

Where streams of joy are flowing.

He died for me, O, wondrous story!

And I shall live with Him in glory.

Let sink the old steel bottomed boat

No more to brave the ocean.

Our hearts look up and praise the Lord

With wonder and emotion.

To those I love I now am going

With songs of praise and heart o’erflowing.

ML 05/24/1925

The Meadow Lark

DO the birds ever waken you early in the morning with sweet songs? The meadow lark is a specially sweet songster; the one in our picture looks very happy with his mate. Their nest though we cannot see it, is nearby in this meadow.

We should thank the Lord for giving us the birds and so many things out of door to make us happy. Saved boys and girls have the right to be the very happiest of all of God’s creatures, and if their hearts are full of love for Jesus, they will want to open their mouths often in songs of praise to Him. We read a great deal about our mouths in Scripture. In Matt. 21:16 we find that even babes and children may say things that will bring praise to the Lord’s name. We can tell what people are interested in, too, by what they talk about; so the Lord Jesus says in Matt. 12:34, that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.”

So, dear children, let us think more about the Lord Jesus each day, and about what He has done for us; then I am sure our mouths will speak for Him, and we will love to praise Him, too.

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

ML 05/31/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 4

WE may consider again the steps we have been viewing in connection with the people of Israel — steps in type and shadow of greater things not then revealed, but which the New Testament plainly sets forth.

First, then was God intervening for faith, and providing a lamb, whose blood He would accept as a type of the Son of His love who was afterward to be put to death under the judgment which the sinner should have borne. “When I see the blood”, said He, “I will pass over you.” Exo. 12:13. But to leave the people in Egypt, slaves of the enemy, was not at all God’s purpose, and therefore we are next shown Satan’s efforts to retain his slaves, and his overthrow, together with God’s triumphant deliverance, (and in type, justification) of His people through the Red Sea, fresh type of the death of Christ. Henceforth they are separated to God, out from under the dominion of sin and of Satan. In all this we observe that man has no part; it is wholly God’s work, this of visiting judgment upon an accepted substitute, and of redeeming a people for Himself, while overthrowing the enemy, Satan.

There is much to be learned by the redeemed ones, however, and so there next appear extended humbling lessons of self-distrust, of failure and sin where faith should have triumphed. The scene of these experiences is a wilderness, marked with every evidence of God’s care. But there is something yet more which is important to learn experimentally: God is done with the old nature, the old man; He identifies me, who have believed on His Son. with Him in the place He took for me.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; and the life I now live—I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

I have, I trust, learned the painful lesson of Romans 7, and I am in the position of Romans 8:1, no condemnation, because viewed by God as in Christ Jesus. I have died with Christ, and am risen with Him, henceforth to walk in newness of life.

“It is important first to see Jesus alone in life and in death: there we have the thing itself in its perfection. It is equally important then to know that God sees us (believers) as having been there, —that it (the death of Christ) expresses our place; that God sees us in Him, and that it is our place before God. But then, there is also our taking that place, by the Spirit, in faith, and in fact. The former was the Red Sea; as to death, it was Christ’s death; while the Jordan exhibits our entering into death with Him.” The crossing of the river then brings us, not as physical death, as so many have hastily supposed, but now in life on earth, as risen with Christ, into the state or condition which makes us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

What then of chapter 4? The memorials of the thing that has been made mine—viewed by God as dead with Christ, the old nature judged, and I delivered from its power—are set up on the other shore, a continual reminder of the believer’s deliverance from the power of sin, at the very entrance to the place, in resurrection life, that He now enjoys.

“The believer, risen with Christ, has the indelible marks of His death imprinted on him, and if such is my place in Christ, can I live any longer in the things which I have abandoned, which Christ has left in the depths of Jordan? (Rom. 6:2, 11).

The twelve stones taken out of the depths of the river, remind the believer of what he has to be. In the Jordan, God declares him to be dead; on the further shore, He presents him risen with Christ.

But there was another monument, set up in the midst of the Jordan. Who could see it? Faith considers this memorial. “When I think of the stones in Jordan, my heart is in communion with Christ in death. I return to sit, so to speak, on the banks of the river of death, and I say, ‘That is my place; it is there I was; there He has been for me . . .What led Thee, blessed Saviour, to take this place? It was Thy love to me.’”

ML 05/31/1925

Praying Always

A LITTLE girl who knew and loved the Lord Jesus, was in the habit of praying at bedtime. Her mother, who was a Christian, had taught her to bring her little troubles to the Lord, in the full confidence that He would guide and help her.

One day she told her mother she wished that it was night so that she might pray, thinking that this was the only time that prayer was in order. She was told that she could pray at any time. We do not know what this dear child had on her mind, but we feel sure that it was pleasing to the Lord to hear the prayer of the trusting little heart.

God encourages His children to “pray always,” and “pray without ceasing.” If we wanted to ask anything of our earthly parents, we would go to them at any time or place, and they would doubtless help us as far as they were able. We should be just as free and informal in asking anything of our heavenly Father, and we know that His power and wisdom have no limitations. And not only this, but His love is also boundless.

It is because of who God is, that inspires us to trust Him. When we consider all His wonderful qualities, it makes our hearts overflow with confidence. One would surely be the gainer by coming often to such a Friend as this. We need to draw upon His strength and wisdom. We should seek to be guided in all things by Him; yes, we need Him every hour, and it is good to realize this. What wonder then that we are encouraged to “pray always.”

It may be that some of our readers do not know God as Father. To such we would say, —He wants to take you into His family too. We have just been saying that God’s love is boundless, and how dearly He has proved this by making it possible for all to be saved. He has given His Son to be a sacrifice for sin. His blood shed on the cross has power to wash you from every stain, and make you acceptable in His sight.

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

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. So you see that God’s family is made up of all those who simply believe in Jesus.

We trust our reader will be enabled to reach out by faith, and lay hold of these wondrous blessings that are unto all, but upon all them that believe.

ML 05/31/1925

"I Forgive You."

MANY years ago, there was a boy employed by King George III. as under-groom in the Royal stables. A groom, dear children, is one who has the care of horses.

Something about the boy won his master’s favor, and the king treated him kindly in many ways. but a time of temptation came, and the poor boy fell into disgrace.

He had stolen some oats from the Royal bins, and being detected, was discharged. Not long afterwards, when the king again visited his stables, he noticed that the boy was absent, and asked one of the grooms what had become of him. The man, fearing to tell the truth, yet not liking to tell a falsehood, said he had left.

His majesty, suspecting something wrong, called the head groom to him and inquired again.

“I have discharged the boy, sire,” said he.

“For what reason?” asked the king.

“He was discovered stealing the oats from one of the bins, and I sent him away.”

The king ordered him to be sent for at once. The boy was brought and stood face to face with the king, a convicted thief. There he stood, trembling, not knowing what was before him.

“Is this true that I hear of you?”

The boy’s only answer to the kind inquiry, was a flood of tears. His mouth was stopped, for he knew he was guilty, and he stood condemned, without excuse.

“Well, my boy,” said the king, putting his hand kindly upon the boy’s head, “I forgive you.”

What words were these, dear boys and girls, for one who deserved punishment and prison! Then turning to the head groom, he said,

“Let this boy have his former place, and let him be cared for,” and as his majesty was leaving, he turned round, and in the hearing of the servants, said, “If any one says a word to you about those oats, tell me.”

This little incident, dear ones, brings before us the loving kindness and grace of God. By nature all are guilty before Him, but any boy or girl who comes to Jesus owning his or her guilt, and trusts wholly in His finished work, has “redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14), and has also the blessed assurance of God’s word,

“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 10:17.

“If God be for us, who can be against us.” Rom. 8:31.

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

ML 05/31/1925

Who Takes Care of You?

LITTLE Helen was only three years old, and, on the day of which I am speaking, as the family was at dinner, she was busy with spoon and fork in hand, and her blue eyes looking around the table, and her little ears listening to all that was said.

“I wish that Maggie would hurry home. for we must start soon,” said the mother, looking at the clock.

“Yes”, replied Susie, the elder sister, “for we cannot leave the children only with Ann.”

Baby Helen looked from one to another, and then in her own little language said,

“Jeser (Jesus) will take care of we.” O! how I wish every one of our young friends could say with happy assurance, “Jesus takes care of me.”

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

“I will never leave thee; nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13:5.

ML 05/31/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for April

1.“Who serve unto the,” etc. Heb. 8:5.

2.“But to do good,” etc. 13:16.

3.“Thou hast loved,” etc. 1:9.

4.“For the prophesy came,” etc. 2 Pet. 1:21.

5.“Pure religion and,” etc. James 1:27.

6.“But the end of all things,” etc. 1 Pet. 4:7.

7. “I thank my God,” etc. Philemon 4.

Bible Questions for June

The Answers are to be found in Matthew

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The wrath to come.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Leadeth to destruction.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Not able to kill the soul.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The world to come.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “In exchange for his soul.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Bind him hand and foot.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Had not been born.”

ML 06/07/1925

Two Mothers

WHAT an interesting picture we have before us! Surrounded by the beautiful trees and flowers is a kind-looking mother with her little boy.

She has doubtless come down to the stream with her pitcher to get some water, and seeing the pretty little ducklings, has sat down to watch them.

But there is another mother watching them, and she does not look so happy. Little chickens do not know how to swim, and if they did not keep out of the water, they would be drowned. But ducks can swim, and it is the nature of the little ones to run right into the water as soon as they see it. The hen does not know the difference between them and the little chicks, so when she sees the ducklings in the water, she looks quite frightened, for she fears they will be drowned.

Just as it is the nature of the ducklings to swim and to love the water, so it is the nature of children to sin and love to have their own way. All people, old and young alike, have sinful natures and love sin. But God is holy. He hates sin, and we cannot go to be with Him unless we get a new nature that also hates sin. And how can we get this? Jesus died on the cross to bear our sins. He was made sin for us, and when we believe on Him, we receive a new nature that never sins, but always delights in doing good. It is this new nature that brings forth the “Fruit of the Spirit.”

The old sinful nature is still in us, and so we are sometimes tempted to do, naughty things. But we must ask God every day to help us to do right, and not allow the sinful nature to have its way. “PRESERVE ME, O, GOD: FOR IN THEE DO I PUT MY TRUST.” Psa. 16:1.

ML 06/07/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 5

AN extension of the lesson we have been considering in the crossing of the Jordan, is the main theme of this chapter. Turning to the Epistle to the Colossians let us read chapter three, and in particular, verses 1 and 5, which latter expresses what circumcision stood for as a type. See also in the same Epistle, chapter 2 verse 11; in the Epistle to the Philippians, chapter 3, verse 3; and in 2 Corinthians, chapter 4, verse 10.

Christ is dead to sin, in Him I am dead to sin. Therefore I can mortify (put to death, in practical experience) my members, which I could not do as being seen of God as alive in the flesh. We remember the death of Christ, and this mortifying of our members on the earth is accomplished through grace, and in realizing the grace of God to me. In order to “mortify”, there must be life; and if I have life in Christ, I have already died in Him who died for me.

“In every circumstance then we must remember that we are dead, and say to ourselves: If through grace I am dead, what have I to do with sin, which supposes me to be alive?”

The enemies to be met, and of whom we shall, D. V., read in further consideration of this book of Joshua, are spoken of first in this chapter, and then God prepares His people for warfare with them. The reproach of Egypt, (every mark of the world is a reproach to a heavenly people,) is rolled away, and the Passover is kept in the new position, beyond the Jordan, and here the food of the wilderness ceases. Christ in a new character, is their future food. In the wilderness aspect, it is Christ as come down from heaven, and it is His humiliation, His grace, which comfort, relieve and sustain us. But as a heavenly people it is Christ as belonging to heaven and heavenly things, that is our portion. (Colossians 3:1, 2).

First, then, we have the believer’s position, given him by God, to be lived in and enjoyed.

Next, we see that war must follow. There must be the Captain of the host of the Lord to lead His people to victory. It is Christ who leads in this warfare, which knows no neutrality. The believer is on holy ground.

Reader, how much do you and I practically know of these things? O, let us who know Christ as Saviour, look to Him and to the Word of God, for power to enter in positively in the experience of our souls, to the blessed portion He has won for us. Let us be like Joshua, falling on our faces and asking of God,

“What saith my Lord to His servant?”

ML 06/07/1925

"His Precious Love."

I SUPPOSE if it were possible to ask every one of you, young and old, what is the most precious thing you have ever had, or hoped to have, I am sure I should get many answers. I fancy I hear one saying,

“O, I have such a precious baby brother at home; such sweet blue eyes,” etc.

This would be a very beautiful answer, for it makes us most happy to see children loving their smaller brothers and sisters. Another perhaps says,

“Why, it’s my mother. She loves me so much, I just can’t help loving her. I love to please her in every way I can, she is so precious to me.”

This is also a beautiful answer, but better still when your love to your parents responds in willing service, joyfully seeking to please them. How this does delight the hearts of your parents, dear children; for was it not the delight of our Lord and Saviour to do His Father’s will in every detail?

But we are writing about “His Precious Love”, for it was of this that little Viola Martin wrote to us only a few weeks before her Saviour called her home.

It was not quite two years ago when she first came to our Sunday-school with her sister and two brothers. They all paid good attention during the lessons, (how this does cheer the hearts of your teachers, dear children), but little Viola grew sick, O, so gradually, we scarcely realized it, but her blessed Lord was calling her to Himself, and also taking her from us.

How she gladdened our hearts and made us rejoice, when, one day, she sent to us the following lines written and composed by herself:

“His PRECIOUS LOVE.”

It isn’t work, it isn’t play,

That makes us happy all the day,

But ‘tis Jesus high above,

That shows us all His precious love.

It isn’t work, it isn’t play,

That makes them very sad all day;

But ‘tis because they don’t believe

On Jesus, and His precious love.

Viola was only 11 years of age, and away from school for a long while, but she had what many great ones of the world do not have. The love of God dwelt in her heart, and that is what made Jesus so precious to her, and I am sure to many of my dear readers also.

We do pray that many more of you may put you trust in Jesus, and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, “NOW.” Tomorrow may be too late.

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

ML 06/07/1925

Are You Saved?

“WELL, Jimmy, are you saved?” was a question I put one Lord’s Day evening, after a gospel meeting, to a little fellow ten years of age.

“Yes,” he replied, “I am quite confident now that Jesus died for me. I used to think I was all right because father and mother were saved, but I found out that I was all wrong; but now I know for a certainty that Jesus has borne all my sins away.”

“What do you think is the reason why the Lord Jesus does not take us to heaven as soon as we are saved?” I asked.

“O, because He wants us to tell others of His love. We ought not to keep it to ourselves, you know,” he answered.

Earnestly we would ask you, dear young reader, Are you saved? Can you say, “Jesus has washed all my sins away in His own precious blood?” If not saved, we would urge you to lose no more time, for,

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

Come to Jesus where you are, and as you are. He turns none away, but receives all who cast themselves upon Him. No one is too great a sinner for the Saviour to save.

“This is a faithful saying ... that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15. Soon the day will come when the saved will be taken up to meet the Lord; but the unsaved will go into eternal torment. Be wise! Time is short. Decide for Jesus.

ML 06/07/1925

The Sculptor's Statute of Christ

I fear t’will baffle all my art to trace

Lines that would even shadow forth the grace

That shone so brightly in our Saviour’s face.

My soul’s ideal will no more compare

With Christ the real, so divinely fair

Than rough hewn stones, with gems both rich and rare.

And yet I fain would try my utmost skill

To plan and mould a form that surely will

Some glimpses of that matchless face reveal.

I hear a little footstep on the stair—

“Eva, come in, and tell me who stands there;

Thou knowest His name, say what is it, my dear?”

The child looked up, but with a puzzled air,

In that small head, one thing alone seemed clear—

“It is a good man’s face, my father dear.”

Ah! well my Eva’s verdict is too true:

This patient hand must now its task renew,

It is love’s labor, and will win love’s due.

Creator-God, guide this hand of mine

That from its touch there may such beauties shine

As will disclose its origin divine.

“Come, Eva, and beside me take thy place,

Look yonder, love, and tell me whose sweet face

Beams down upon thee with such tender grace?”

The little head, sore puzzled seemed to be,

Till nestling ‘tween my knees, “O, ‘tis”, said she,

“Suffer little ones to come unto ME.”

ML 06/07/1925

Helping Mother

IT was love that caused little Dora to want to help her mother. She loved her mother because her mother loved her, so she did what she could for her.

How this reminds those who know and believe that Jesus loves them, that there should be this same response and delight to live and serve our blessed Lord. And we know this will be, if there is the real belief in the heart, that the Lord Jesus gave Himself for us on Calvary’s cross. “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS: THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” John 15:13.

But the love of the Lord is greater, for He gave His life for us, knowing there was no love in our hearts to Him.

What love was His, who can measure it! And what response must be expected from us?

But it may be that the one who is reading these lines has not taken the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, so is still a rejecter of the very One who loves him. If so, I beseech you, dear reader, do not spurn that love longer, but bow now and accept from His hand, full and free salvation which has cost Him so much.

“He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5.

ML 06/14/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 5. Continued

WE have found that the Jordan is behind, and there are enemies before, and they are first spoken of. The kings of the Amorites, and of the Canaanites were afraid when they heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan that the people might pass. But the children of Israel are not ready for war; there is another lesson to be taught.

Before the believer can be ready to fight Satan, he must attend to an enemy within. As we saw in our previous paper the believer is to “mortify”—put to death—his “members which are upon the earth”, not in order that he may win God’s favor and so be safe from His judgment, but because the judgment due to him has been borne by Jesus whose death and resurrection have put him into a new position of acceptance before God. 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 expresses this in the beautiful language of Scripture:

“He (Christ) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again . . . . Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new, and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ.”

God considers all that Christ has done, as though it had happened to me His child: Christ has died to sin, and in Him I am dead to sin; I am now risen with Him as to my position before God. Then in everything in my life today I must remember that I am dead, and ask myself, what have I to do with sin? Every likeness to, or mark of, the world is a reproach to the Christian.

“He who possesses this life may pass through the world, and do many things that others do. He eats, works, suffers, but as to his life and his objects, he is not of the world, even as Christ was not of the world. Christ risen and ascended up on high is his life. He subdues his flesh, he mortifies it, for in point of fact he is down here, but he does not live in it.”

Next follows the passover in the plains of Jericho, where enemies were, which suggests Psalm 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

The next day the people ate of the old corn of the land, a type of Christ known as heavenly who feeds our souls. The manna, food of the wilderness, ceased; it expressed Him as down here, God manifest in flesh. This character of His is never forgotten, but while knowing what He has been, it is Himself, where He is now, once dead, but alive again, and gone up where He was before, whom I now know.

ML 06/14/1925

What Is There in Heaven That Human Hands Have Made?

THIS strange question was once asked by an earnest Christian. He of whom it was asked, upon first thought was going to answer, “Nothing.” “For,” said he to himself, “heaven is the dwelling place of God, that wonderfully glorious place, where sin can never enter, the home of myriads of angels, the eternal home of the hosts of the redeemed: what could be there which was made by the hands of man?” No, nothing could he think of there, that would he made by man; on the contrary, he thought of that word in Isa. 66:2,

“For all these things hath Mine hand made.” And as he was about to answer: “I don’t know”, there seemed a voice to whisper to him,

“The wounds of the Lord Jesus.”

Yes, so it is, these have been made by men’s hands, and these wounds, though now healed, the Lord Jesus took with Him out of the grave, and into the heavenly glory above. When He will return to judge the world, Israel’s tribes will look on Him whom they have pierced, and they will ask Him,

“What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.” Zechariah 12:10; 13:6.

In the glorified body of our blessed Lord, are, and will be forever, the wounds received by the hands of men on the cross, where He was punished for our sins, and obtained an eternal redemption for us.

Praise, honor and glory be to Him forever.

ML 06/14/1925

Are You Ready?

HANS N. was hall-boy for a doctor. This doctor was a true Christian. In a large room frequent meetings were held, attended by many believers in that city. Hans had the duty to open the door and show the way to this meeting room. As soon as the meeting began, Hans would seat himself at the entrance and listen. In one of these meetings the subject was:

“The second coming of Christ.”

Many passages were quoted, telling that the Lord Jesus will come again to take all His own who through sincere faith in Him, are washed from their sins, in His precious blood to His Father’s house on high; but those who do not believe, are to be left behind in this world, awaiting the final judgment, as foretold in the parable of the ten virgins. After the meeting was over the doctor asked Hans,

“‘Did you understand what was said during the meeting?”

“Yes, doctor,” was the answer.

“Do you know now what the Lord Jesus does when He comes again?” Again he answered,

“Yes, doctor.”

“All right,” said the doctor, “I just wanted to tell you, that when the Lord Jesus comes, all these things which I possess now, I will not need any more then, as my whole family and I will then leave this world. So you may have my whole house if when the Lord comes, you are still in my service.”

Such an offer Hans had never expected, and imagine his surprise when the doctor added,

“You may have all my furniture, the carriage, and the horses, besides all my money.”

Hans was so taken by surprise, he could not even utter a word of thanks. That night he could not sleep, he was so excited. A thousand thoughts passed through his mind. But as he lay thinking about all these riches, a certain thought struck him; what use is the house, furniture, carriage and horses, when the Lord Jesus comes for His own, and I am left behind to await Him as my judge? I would much rather be one of the wise virgins, and enter heaven with Him. It must be terrible to be left with the foolish virgins outside of the shut door.

As the silent hours of the night passed on, his heart beat more loudly, in the contemplation of the truth he had heard. Finally he could bear it no longer, so getting up, he went to his doctor’s door and knocked.

“Well, Hans, what is the trouble?” asked the doctor.

“Excuse me, dear doctor, I don’t want your house, when the Lord Jesus comes.” “Really not?” asked the doctor.

“No! Hans answered decidedly, “and I don’t want your carriage and horses and money either.”

“Well, Hans, what then do you want?”

“O, doctor, when the Lord Jesus comes, I would like to be ready to go to heaven with Him also.”

How glad the doctor was to hear this; he arose, and took Hans to another room where they talked together, and then they kneeled down, and the doctor told the Lord that Hans wanted to be saved. Hans also prayed with all his heart, owning his sins, and telling Him of his desire to be saved. The blessed Lord and Saviour who is ever ready, day or night, to grant peace and salvation to every true repentant sinner, heard the earnest petition.

Hans found peace through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious blood, “which cleanses us from all sin,” according to God’s Word. Now he was ready, like all believers, to meet the Lord Jesus, and had no fear or dread, but on the contrary, could say: “Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20).

Hans has since grown to manhood, and as a Christian, has told many sinners of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and of His second coming.

Now, how is it with you, my dear little readers; would you all be ready should the Lord come today?

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning.” Mark 13:35.

ML 06/14/1925

A Sunbeam

DURING the hot summer months little Willie was with his aunt in the country. At noon one day, his aunt, having closed the shutters to keen the room cool, a sunbeam stole into the room, and, as is always the case, showed up the impurities in the air, which looked like smoke.

“What is this?” said Willie. “Is this smoke?”

“No,” replied the aunt, “it is dust.’’

“Dust?” asked the little one astonished. “Where does the dust come from? Why, is the whole room dusty like this?”

The aunt replied: “The whole room is full of this dust, but only where light is, can it be seen.”

Upon this Willie was very thoughtful, and at night when being put to bed asked auntie again,

“Was it true, that the whole room was full of dust?” The aunt said that it was so, and continued,

“You see, it is the light which makes manifest the dust.”

So it is with the light from God. By His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit, He shows up the sin-dust of our hearts, thus showing us how unclean we are.

“You see, Willie, your heart also is unclean. You have found this out, have you not?”

The boy admitted it.

“But thanks be to God,” continued the aunt, “by the same light, we see the completeness of the Sacrifice, and Atonement, Christ made when He offered Himself an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. All who believe on Him, and receive Him as their own Saviour, will be cleansed through faith in Him. He becomes a child of light. (1 Thess. 5:5).

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

ML 06/14/1925

Fred's Birthday

IT was Fred’s birthday. He was ten years old, and got up early that morning, as it was much on his mind that he could now write his age with two figures. But what do you think he spied when he got out of bed? Ah, he saw someone had been up earlier than he, and put a package on his table. It was addressed to Fred in large handwriting. He soon saw that it was for him, and quickly opened it and there he found two beautiful books. One was a Bible, and the other a text book.

It did not take him long to get dressed that morning, and he was off to his mother’s room with the two books under his arm. Then he learned his first lesson from his birthday Bible. We do not know what the lesson was, but we know a good one to begin with,

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM: AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY IS UNDERSTANDING.” Prov. 9:10.

Then another one is, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psa. 119:105.

These are two very important portions. If we think of the holiness of God, then we are afraid to do anything contrary to His will, knowing He cannot allow sin to go unpunished; so, to have the fear of Him before us, will make us wise, and keep us out of many evils.

The second verse shows us how we may get proper guidance for all our path down here—it must be by the Word of God. It is the lamp that gives out the light for our whole path, and shows us where we should go and what we should do. May you, dear reader, consider these portions well.

ML 06/21/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 6.

WE may consider this chapter in two ways. First we shall look at it as a picture of God’s dealings with the world, now in grace, but soon in judgment.

“Jericho was straitly shut up . . . . none went out and none came in.” There was one within its walls who had laid claim to the mercy of God, —Rahab the former harlot,—but the inhabitants generally were shut up in unbelief, awaiting the just judgment of God. Such is this world! And there is no escape, except through joining Rahab in the house of faith. What the most of them saw and heard, they ridiculed or ignored, just like the world today.

Looking down from the strong and high walls of Jericho, its citizens may have said to themselves, as they saw the daily passage of the ark preceded by the priests carrying trumpets, “How absurd; how useless!” And such, doubtless, is the thought of many today.

Dear reader, “Beware, therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” Acts 13:40,41.

But the passing days bore witness to eyes and ears (if they would but attend to what God was doing) that mercy was still offered. Rahab hears the trumpets sounding, —sweet notes in her ears; yet warnings of judgment for the rejecters of God’s mercy, —and gathers within her walls, her father, her mother, her brethren, and all whom, she had persuaded to join her in trusting in the word of the living God. Day succeeds day, and the fall of Jericho has not yet occurred.

Scoffers are one of the promised signs of the last day (2 Peter 3:3,4), and there may have been many a derisive laugh from the ramparts of the city before the last moment arrived.

“The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

See how on the last day—the last opportunity for any to be saved—the mercy of God is announced from the very dawn of day (verse 15), and seven times the circuit of the city is made. At last there is to be no more mercy, —no more delay the time has come; a long blast of the trumpet, a great shout, and the mighty wall falls down flat. All within the city perish; none escape, —except those in Rahab’s house. As to them, they are welcomed into the camp of Israel on account of their trust in God. None who put their trust in Him perished. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10).

Reader, have you claimed the shelter of the precious blood of Jesus? “How shall you escape, if you neglect so great salvation?”

ML 06/21/1925

"Only Once More!"

A CHRISTIAN father was reading to his family, one Lord’s day not long ago, a solemn incident entitled: “Only Once More;” at the close of which he added a few warning words to his still unconverted sons. Probably no one present anticipated that God Himself was going to speak still more earnestly to them. One of them, a youth of 16 years, had until then gone in ways pleasing to his parents, still there had not been “joy in the presence of the angels of God” on his behalf, for Karl had not yet come to the Lord Jesus as a lost sinner.

For some time he had been keeping company with several friends of his own age, some of which indeed had Christian parents, but they loved the world and its joys. When at times the friends would stop for a drink, or billard playing, Karl would turn away. He would rather obey his parents, and go with them to hear the Word of God. This naturally brought contempt and evil names from his friends, which caused him to feel deeply the reproach.

But who would have thought that Karl, on this particular day, after listening to that exceptionally solemn incident, followed by his father’s earnest admonition, would not be able to withstand the tempter’s voice? It was but a short time after this hour, that his parents received word: “Karl is in the saloon playing and drinking!”

O how poor, how powerless is man’s heart, as long as he is not really the Lord’s. The parents were deeply grieved, and spoke earnestly to Karl when he came home. Poor Karl did not realize that he had only one more opportunity to listen to the message of God’s grace in the midst of believers, on the same Lord’s day evening.

The following Tuesday Karl came home complaining of an ear-ache; but this was not considered serious, until the following evening when severe pain in the head and chest set in with high fever. A physician was called, and shortly after an examination told Karl and his parents, “There is no hope!” This was a shock to all, especially to Karl himself, who had now become quite weak from suffering.

A few days later a Christian came to visit the sick boy, and conversed with him about his soul’s salvation, but Karl said very little. These were days of grief and care for his parents.

Although Karl was not indifferent as to his lost condition, yet it seemed as though his weakness and suffering allowed him no time to really come to himself, and, like the prodigal, hasten to God with the confession of his guilt.

To his mother, especially, this condition was unbearable. She cried to God continually, feeling as though she must force her son’s conversion. Gradually, however, she became more subdued, trusting in the promises which the Word of God attaches to the prayers of faith, which correspond with God’s will. Now God’s time had come, and He acted. Karl began to show more uneasiness and concern about his sins, although he said little.

One night, thinking his mother was asleep, he sat up in bed and prayed aloud for the forgiveness of his sins. The mother remained perfectly quiet, while in her heart she rejoiced and prayed with him. The next morning Karl smiled, while half asleep; then his mother came to him and asked:

“Karl, have you not yet believed in the word and work of the Lord Jesus?”

“Yes, mother, I have believed, and know now that the Lord Jesus has forgiven all my sins; now I have peace.”

Karl lived about two weeks longer. He was very weak, and could speak but little, yet remained happy and joyful to the end, which was a peaceful departure to be with Christ.

My dear little readers, when will you turn to the Lord Jesus, the Saviour, to be saved?

Do not try to persuade yourself that you will have time to come to the Lord Jesus while on your sick bed. You may not have a lingering illness. Many, many people, young and old, die very suddenly without a moment’s warning, and have no opportunity to come to Him.

O, come to Him now, while you are well, and have the time to do so; and if sudden death overtakes you, or if the Lord Jesus comes to take away all of His own to be with Himself, it will be well with you.

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

ML 06/21/1925

"Isn't It Nice?"

“ISN’T is nice? My sins are all washed away in the blood of Jesus.”

Such were the sweet and simple words uttered with great earnestness by my little girl as I entered the room.

She was sitting in the arm-chair, and evidently thinking of the precious Saviour, and with a bright smile, she told out to me her heart’s trust in His precious blood.

“Isn’t it nice?” Indeed it is, so nice—so real; such a happy thing for the young thus to confess their trust in Jesus.

What about my dear young friend who is reading these few simple lines? Sins we all have, whether we are young or old. Sins, few or many, if unforgiven must shut us out of heaven. Trust, then, in the precious Saviour—Jesus—who died on the cross for sinners, young and old. His precious blood was shed there for sinners.

Thus it was little E—could say,

“Isn’t it nice? My sins are all washed away in the blood of Jesus.”

Can you say this? If not, why not? Why not now, young though you are, believe on Jesus as your very own Saviour? “His blood cleanseth from all sin.” Wait no longer; you are not too young to be saved; and Jesus is coming. Death, too, carries many young people into eternity every day.

Now, then, trust simply in Him who died, and you will find how nice, how very blessed it is to be washed in Jesus’ precious blood.

ML 06/21/1925

Ye Must Be Born Again

How solemn are the words,

And yet to faith how plain,

Which Jesus tittered while on earth,

“Ye must be born again.”

“Ye must be born again,”

For so hath God decreed,

No reformation will suffice,

‘Tis life poor sinners need.

“Ye must be born again,”

And life in Christ must have;

In vain the soul may elsewhere go,

‘Tis He alone can save.

“Ye must be born again,”

Or never enter heaven;

‘Tis only blood-washed ones are there,

The ransomed and forgiven.

ML 06/21/1925

Industry

THERE was a little girl about six years old, who lived at B. and was bright and active. She had been playing with her young friends, all of them apparently having a pleasant time together.

This little girl’s name was Lucy. She came into the house during the morning feeling very fretful, because she was tired of play.

“Lucy”, said a friend, “have you no work to do?”

The little girl opened her blue eyes, and looked earnestly at the speaker to see if she was in earnest. Then she said,

“No, indeed! Papa works, because he is a big man; all the tall men ought to work, so ought the great ladies, and the big boys, and the large girls; but I am only six years old.”

Just then a honey bee came buzzing along, and alighted on a white rose.

“The bee”, said her friend, “is not a tall man, a great lady, a big boy, nor a large girl, —yet he finds work to do.”

“He works to make honey”, replied Lucy; and taking a knitting needle from the table, she idly stirred his soft wings.

Then they saw a bird that was building a nest upon the apple tree. This little bird was very busy carrying sticks, straw, and all manner of things, and singing merrily when she had deposited her heavy load. Lucy’s friend whispered in her ear,

“The birds find work to do.”

Then they saw the little ants running to and fro; and a spicier weaving a web.

“They are all at work.” Then her friend kindly said, “You see, dear Lucy, the smallest of all God’s creatures are flying, creeping, or swimming to their work. They have no soul, and yet they understand that they must have a part to do in the world’s great work. But who will do the work of the little Lucys, who are only six years old?”

What answer do you think this little girl gave? She replied,

“Everybody seems to have his own work to do; what if the idle little Lucys should do what belongs to them?”

This friend then brought before her the one thing needful, that of accepting the Lord Jesus, as her own dear Saviour, for little Lucy knew she was a sinner, and could never go to heaven, unless her sins were forgiven, and washed away in His own precious blood.

His wondrous love touched her heart, she came to Him, just as she was, and could sing from her heart,

“Jesus bids us shine,

First of all for Him;

Well He sees and knows it,

If our light grows dim:

He looks down from heaven,

To see us shine—

You in your small corner,

And I in mine.”

Dear little Lucy had now a new life. Her one concern was to let her light shine for Him to whom, she belonged. She was no longer idle, but helped mother; and desired to learn to knit, that she might make her father’s socks. She was no longer fretful, but found delight in doing all as unto the Lord, the One who loved her, and gave Himself for her.

“WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO IT HEARTILY, AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT UNTO MEN.” Col. 3:23.

ML 06/28/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 6. Continued

WE shall take another view of this interesting chapter. Before the people of God, about to progress through the inheritance they have been given, Satan has erected a terrible obstacle. He proposes to keep them out of possession if he can.

Sooner or later, with every Christian, when the question is raised of taking hold of the heavenly position and character which God has given His people, Satan will be found at the outset with an impediment, —not the same for all, but for each believer something to, if possible, deter him from an unworldly Christian life. One’s business, his friends or associations, his parents and other reasons are advanced by the devil to hinder the believer. O, how many dear children of God lose courage when this stage is reached, and turn back into a worldly Christianity!

But he who depends upon God, trusts His Word; for him there is the cheering word of Hebrews 11:30,

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”

“I have given into thine (Joshua’s) hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.” (verse 2)

All that is needed is obedience to God and to His Word. To the world, all is foolishness, —wasted time and energy, —but faith has its rewards, of which the world knows nothing. Faith counts upon the power of God; it has no plans of its own.

ML 06/28/1925

The Little Japanese Girl

SOME years ago there was a Japanese sentenced to be executed for some crime he had committed. God who does not desire the sinner’s death, but that he should repent and live, had thoughts of this criminal’s salvation.

Who do you think was the servant whom He used to lead this poor man to the Saviour? It was an eleven-year-old, believing Japanese girl! Her parents had been heathen, but were saved through faith in Christ, and through her parents she had heard and believed the gospel, and now desired to do something for her Saviour; she wanted to be a fruitful branch, (John 15).

When she heard of the sentence of this poor man, she first prayed for his soul; but she was not satisfied with this, but begged of her parents a tract to send to the director of the prison. She chooses the booklet, “The last days of Daniel Mann,” which was translated from the English into the Japanese.

It was this booklet she sent to the prison director, with the request to give it to the sentenced man. This touched the poor man’s heart, and he read it and was deeply interested. God blessed the contents of the booklet to the man’s soul. He saw that not only had he sinned against man, but he had sinned against God. He owned his guilt, and received Christ as his Saviour, —was saved and rejoiced in Him. He wrote a letter to the little girl through whom, by the grace of God, he had been won for the Lord Jesus Christ, and now belonged to Him. After thanking her for her interest in his eternal welfare, he wrote,

“Of the 50 millions of Japanese, you are the only one who thought of my soul, and now I am saved.”

Was not this happy work for the Lord, dear children? Did not this little girl use to good advantage her “pound” to serve her Redeemer? Would you not like to do likewise? (Luke 19:12-17).

May we not, all of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus as our own Lord and Saviour, let others know of Him too? Of all that He has accomplished on Calvary’s cross, and that He in His great love, is now calling to every poor sinner to come to Him for salvation.

We can hand out tracts, and send them out through the mail, asking the Lord to bless them to the ones to whom they are given or sent, and that they in their turn may be used in blessing to many other people.

“Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58.

ML 06/28/1925

Confessing Christ

“I AM not afraid of owning that I belong to the Lord. Those that serve the devil don’t mind showing whom they serve,” said a man to me the other day on a railway train.

Alas! it is true enough that many of those who serve the devil do not mind others knowing it; they give Christians to understand that they do not want the Bible; that they dislike, or even hate, the name of Jesus.

On all sides we may every day see those who openly serve the devil, and we can tell many a one at a glance.

Can they tell by a glance at us that we serve the Lord?

Alas, how the world and its god influence many of those who are saved! Are we not often afraid of letting others know that we serve the Lord, that we love His Word, the Bible, that we love indeed the name of our Saviour Jesus? Would it not be better if many of us were more like my fellow traveler, in not fearing to own he served the Lord; and more like Paul, the prisoner, on the vessel, with many heathen soldiers and sailors around, speaking of the Lord, “whose,” said he, “I am, and whom I serve.”

May the Lord give all who are His more boldly to own the One who gave Himself for them.

ML 06/28/1925

"And Me, Too, Grandma!"

WHILE visiting the grandmother of a little friend of mine, I was with her delighting in that precious portion of God’s Word,

“The Son of God, who loved me; and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20), when there came from the lips of the dear little girl the words,

“And me, too, grandma—me, too!”

She had been quietly rocking herself in grandma’s arm chair; and we had not noticed her very much, as we were occupied in drinking in the blessed sweetness of that word “me,” until the grandchild took hold of grandma’s sleeve and, with a real hearty tug, broke in with her claim for the blessing.

Yes, indeed, it was for her too, for did not Jesus say, “Suffer little children to come unto Me”? There are, I fear, many dear little ones who think the blessing of knowing Jesus as a personal Saviour is something to look forward to when they get older. This is a great mistake. When the Lord was speaking to the grown-up people, He told them that unless they became as little children, they could not enter into blessing (Matt. 18:3); and it never says that little children have to wait until they become grown-up people. So that the little ones have all the advantage, and may come to Jesus while they are little and need not wait until they get older.

Mark well the word “little.” “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Our blessed Lord Jesus puts the word “little” in so that all children may come, and come now. The Lord Jesus yearns over their souls.

May you in faith do as our little Dot did, say, “And me, too!” and then you can truly sing our well-known hymn,

“Jesus loves me, this I know;”

and be able to sing the “me’s” from your very heart of hearts. May the dear Saviour give you, as you read Gal. 2:20, to answer to Him, “And me, too, blessed Lord.”

ML 06/28/1925

Heart

“Keep thy HEART with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

MOUTH, LIPS

“Put away from thee a froward MOUTH, and perverse LIPS put far from thee.”

EYES, EYELIDS

“Let thine EYES look right on, and let thine EYELIDS look straight before thee.”

FEET

“Ponder the path of thy FEET, and let all thy ways be established.”

HANDS

“Turn not to the RIGHT HAND, nor to the LEFT.” Prov. 4:23-27.

ML 06/28/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for May

1.“Beloved, follow not that,” etc. 3 John 11.

2.“And we know that we,” etc. 1 John 5:19.

3. “Behold, what manner,” etc. 1 John 3:1.

4.“Raging waves of the,” etc. Jude 13.

5.“He which testifieth,” etc. Rev. 22:20.

6. “For he that biddeth,” etc. 2 John 11.

7. “Behold, He cometh with,” etc. Rev. 1:7.

Bible Questions for July

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Am well pleased.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “A great calm.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Tell them how great things.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Suffer.” “Rejected.” “Killed.” “Rise.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “A cup of water.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Shall not pass.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Cover His face.”

ML 07/05/1925

The Happy Boy

WITH delight and satisfaction little Harry returned home from his fishing, whistling as he went along with his fishing-rod on his shoulder and the fish hanging on a string on his hand. What do you think made him so contented and happy? O, you say, he might well feel happy, getting such a fine catch to take home to his mother for supper. Yes, that was it. It was not a great deal to be happy about, nor could this make him happy very long. Soon he would forget all about it, and he would learn that these things made him happy only for a little while, and then it would pass away.

But would you, my dear boys and girls, like to know what will bring you lasting joy and satisfaction? Ah, let me say, it could be nothing that belongs to this scene; but there is that which will bring to you lasting joy and satisfaction.

It is only to be found through faith in Christ Jesus who died on the cross for sinners, and if you trust Him and accept Him as your own Saviour, you will have joy, both in this world and for all eternity. “IN THY PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY; AT THY RIGHT HAND THERE ARE PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE.” Psa. 16:11.

ML 07/05/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 6. Concluded

AT the close of chapter 5 we saw Joshua inquiring for orders from the heavenly Commander in Chief, and the directions he gets are brief and simple: “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.”

The method of attack (verses 3, 4, 5), must have seemed to human eyes foolish indeed, yet “hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? . . . but we preach Christ crucified . . . . unto the Greeks (Gentiles) foolishness.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-23.

It was God’s work, and God’s way that brought the destruction of this solid walled obstruction to the progress of God’s people. The ark was the token of God’s presence; and the power of Satan falls, without the use of any means that could account for it.

There could, we must notice also, be no fellowship with what was under judgment. Holiness, entire separation from evil, are required for victory in this war with Satan. God may use what we cannot, by consecrating them to Himself, if He chooses (verse 19); but the believer must not meddle with the world, or what is its strength.

Jericho is put under a curse (verse 26), and sentence is passed in advance upon whoever should rebuild it. This sentence was carried out about 540 years afterward when Hiel, in the days of the wicked king Ahab built the city again. (1 Kings 10:34).

"Messiah's Children."

THAT was what a few Jewish children were mockingly called by their comrades. The father of these children was a pious Jew living in Hungary, who in his advanced age traveled to Jerusalem, the desired city of every pious Jew. Here he also died and was buried.

While living in Hungary he had read and studied much in the Old Testament, and saw by it that the Messiah had already come; and therefore he went to Jerusalem, in the hope of meeting Him there. Whether this pious Jew has been told there by believing Christians that Jesus the “Messiah” had really come, but was rejected and crucified for us, I do not know; but hope it may be so.

The children who were mockingly called the “Messiah’s children,” because of their father’s faith, bore it patiently.

Sometime after this, the mother immigrated with them, and some other Jewish families from Hungary to America.

That was God’s way for them; for here they heard about the Lord Jesus for which they had no opportunity in Hungary. When the children heard of the crucified Saviour, which the Jews rejected as their Messiah, they remembered the words of their father, who used to say,

“The Messiah must have already come, and we did not know Him, therefore the judgment of God rests upon us.”

With great attention, and inward longing the children listened to the good tidings, and turned to the Lord with all their heart. How happy they were now, and how often they spoke of the longing desire of their aged father, who was mockingly called “Messiah.” One of his children told us this incident himself.

Possibly some of our young readers, who are believers in the Lord Jesus, are being mocked by other children. Bear it patiently, for you are much better off than those who mock you; because, if they will not repent and turn to God, His judgment will surely come upon them. For you, it is an honor to suffer scorn tor Jesus’ sake, who is the Lord of heaven and earth. I trust you can say from your heart,

“We gladly suffer shame for Him, who bore our sins.”

Soon He will come again to take His own to share His eternal glory with Himself, but all who have despised His grace and salvation, must bear their own punishment for eternity.

ML 07/05/1925

God Is Love

“God is love!” can this be true?

Yes, the Bible says it is;

Children, let me ask of you,

Have you ever thought of this,

That “God is love”?

God delights to pardon sin,

Grace and mercy to bestow;

Little children, though unclean,

Come to Him, and you shall know

That “God is love!”

ML 07/05/1925

"Could I Keep the Good News?"

MANY years since, a New Zealand girl was brought over to be educated. She became a true Christian. When she was about to return, some of her playmates endeavored to dissuade her, saying, “Why go back to New Zealand? You are accustomed to this climate now, and it suits your health; besides, you may be shipwrecked on the ocean; and everybody there will have forgotten you.”

“What!” she said in reply, “do you think that I could keep the good news to myself? Do you think that I could be content with having received pardon, peace, and eternal life for myself, and not go and tell my dear father and mother how they may have it too?”

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19.

ML 07/05/1925

The Lord Jesus' Seat

Far, far away o’er the deep blue sea

Lived a man who was kind as kind could be,

He loved the children, and spread every day

A table from which none went empty away.

Poor children came in from alley and street,

With rags on their backs, and no shoes on their feet;

Girls and boys, large and small, some naughty and rude,

But John Falk loved them all and did them all good.

And while they were eating, he often would tell

Of the Lord Jesus Christ, who on earth once did dwell:

How He loved little children—each one of them there

He was watching from heaven with tenderest care—

How happy and blessed would he the child’s part

Who would let that dear Saviour come into his heart.

Each day when the children assembled to eat,

He taught them to offer this prayer with their meat;

“Bless, Jesus, the food Thou hast given today,

And come and sup with us, dear Jesus, we pray.”

But once when the children had finished this prayer,

One poor little fellow stood still by his chair

For a moment, then ran to the closet where stood

The bright cups of tin and the platters of wood.

“Now what is the matter?” said Falk to the child.

The little one looked in his kind face and smiled:

“We asked the Lord Jesus just now in our prayer,

To sup with us here, but we’ve placed Him no chair.

If He should come in, how sad it would be!

But I’ll put Him a stool close here beside me.”

Then the boy quite contented sat down to his food;

He was hungry and tired and his supper was good!

But a few minutes after, he heard at the door

A knock low and timid, one knock and no more,

He started to open it, hoping to meet

The Lord Jesus Christ, come to look for His seat;

But when it was open, no one could he see

But a poor little child, much poorer than he,

His face blue with hunger, his garments so old,

Were dripping with rain, and he shivered with cold.

“Come in!” cried the boy, in a tone of delight,

“The Lord Jesus Christ could not come this dark night

Though we asked Him to come and partake of our bread,

So He just sent you down to us here in His stead.

The supper is good and we’ll each give you some,

And tell the Lord Jesus we’re glad you have come.”

From that time when the children assembled to eat,

There was always one place called, “The Lord Jesus’ seat”.

And the best that they had was placed there each day

For one who was poorer and hungrier than they,

And the Lord Jesus Christ, in reply to their prayer,

Sent always some person to sit in His chair;

And sweet was the food that the Lord did provide

For the stranger He sent them to eat at their side.

Dear friends, who have read this short story, you know,

The words that our Saviour once spoke when below,

If we wish for His presence to hallow our bread,

We must welcome the poor of the flock in His stead.

And when we serve our feasts, this our motto must be—

“As ye do to My poor, ye have done unto Me”.

“Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matt. 25:40.

ML 07/05/1925

Catching Fish With a Net

IT might seem quite a pleasure to little brother to catch fish with a net in the running stream, but if he is doing that just for the sake of pleasure it is very wrong; but if they need fish for supper at home, and he is trying to catch the fish for that purpose, it is all right, for God has given us fish for food. But how interested the two sisters are in watching him. They are anxious to see how many, if any, will get into the net.

This has brought to my mind a text of Scripture.

“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Prov. 1:17. So if a bird sees some one setting a net, or a trap, it will not go into it. It is wise in this respect, and the lesson for us to learn from this is, to take heed to God’s Word, and keep no company with those who do not fear God. Read the whole of Prov. 1, and may this verse be specially pressed upon you.

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

If you pay attention to this verse all the nets or traps they will set for you to lead you into wrong, will never catch you and you will be preserved from many sorrows.

ML 07/12/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 7.

THE first verse tells us that there was sin in the camp of Israel, and though only one person had done what God had forbidden, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the nation. It is plain that Joshua and all the people had become somewhat self-confident after the fall of Jericho. They too, had lost a true sense of the holiness of God. To a large extent a parallel case is found in 1 Corinthians 5. The cases are alike in that the assembly was looked upon by God as responsible for unjudged sin within it, and only was cleared of guilt when the sin was judged and put away; alike also in being in a state of soul, not unlike that of the world around them.

Joshua was at Jericho (verse 2); he might better have been back at Gilgal, considering again the lessons of the river Jordan which we noticed in connection with chapters 3, 4 and 5. But it was from Jericho that he sent men to Ai which was beside Beth-aven (“house of iniquity”), and near Bethel (“house of God” but in Satan’s possession now). The names speak for themselves.

The men return with a confidence that left God out of consideration. It was not necessary that many of the people should go there to attack the little town, they said, but did not inquire of the Lord, and so the three thousand who went against Ai, were driven back with a loss of about 36 men.

Out of communion with God, Joshua, instead of inquiring of Him for the cause of this humbling reverse, mourns over what God had done when He brought them, over the Jordan! The three verses of his lament (7, 8, 9) are all concerned about Israel, except at the end when God’s great name is mentioned. But when God answers, He discloses to Joshua that which he might have learned before: Israel had sinned. It was on this account that they could not stand before their enemies, nor would God be with them anymore, unless they destroyed the accursed from among them.

There must then be a separation; and a heart searching follows under the searching eye of God Himself. The guilty one must be punished, but all Israel is first dealt with because all were responsible; they were one in privilege and in responsibility, and the sin of one was the sin of all. Practical corporate holiness, much forgotten in these days of growing lukewarmness, is as important as individual holiness.

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.” 1 Corinthians 5:3, 7.

The Christian must stand clear of connection with everything contrary to the expressed mind of God.

It was a painful thing indeed to put away the evil, but there could be no advance in the war against Satan’s hosts until it was put away. God requires holiness in His people, as we see also in the case of Ananias and Sapphire in Acts 5:1-11.

This valley, the witness and memorial of the first sin committed after entering the land, is promised in Hosea 2:14, 15 for a “door of hope” in the day when God in sovereign grace will take Israel in hand again. What marvelous grace!

ML 07/12/1925

A Sad Story

IT is about a boy named Owen. He had not been long at our Sunday-school before his disobedience one day caused his parents and friends bitter anxiety and sorrow. We had no trouble with him. He was always fairly attentive, said his text, and sat quietly as we talked together of Jesus.

“Owen’s lost,” was what greeted me one afternoon as I entered my class of little boys, whose ages ranged from four to seven years. “Yes, he’s lost, and his father and some men are out looking for him all the time, and his mother too, but they can’t find him, and he has not come home himself either, and it’s all true, ‘cause I live quite close to his place and go to school with him sometimes.” The little fellow’s face was unusually serious, and he stopped for breath after running off the long sentence.

When school was over I set out to make further inquiries as to the story of which the children were so full, and this is what I heard.

They had not seen him since last Monday morning. His mother dressed him ready for school; he had a new suit on and with his bag over his shoulder looked quite the little man.

“That will do, mother,” he said, anxious to be off, as she smoothed down his coat.

“Well, good-bye, Owen, your lunch is in the bag, be a good boy, and come home straight from school,” and she stood at the gate watching as he ran down the hill.

Four o’clock struck, five passed, Mr. T. came in from, his work, but still no Owen appeared.

“Where can the child be,” said his mother, beginning to feel uneasy.

“I will inquire of some of the children in the street,” answered her husband, “maybe he has gone off somewhere with one of them.”

But all he could gather from the children was that Owen had not been at school all day, and this news did not at all allay the mother’s fears.

“Something must have happened to him; do go to the police station,” and at her request the father communicated with the police. No child had been taken to any of the stations, but they promised to do what they could.

The poor parents passed a sleepless night, and the next day the search was again begun, but without any success. Various small boys answering to Owen’s description people said they had seen here, there and somewhere else, but the lost child could not be traced. Days succeeded days, a week went slowly by, and the search continued through the second week. The parents’ feelings I could not attempt to describe. I am sure they cried to God in that trying time. In the meantime the rumors subsided somewhat, excepting perhaps one. There were people living on the water front who were certain of having seen a child in school hours on the day in question playing about on a low concrete wall. which ran cut in two arms from the esplanade to form a small boat harbor.

After nearly three weeks the terrible suspense was ended. Owen’s little body was found one morning floating within this enclosure, and then we knew all. Sad to say, Owen had made up his mind to play truant, when he begged to be allowed to take his lunch to school. Do you think he was happy as he struck off in an opposite direction from the school and hurried along to the sea? He could not have been, for he knew he was doing wrong, although only a little boy. And how sadly it all ended. While walking along the wall of the boat harbor he must have leaned forward, lost his balance. and fallen into the water. With no one near enough to see him fall or hear his cry, he was drowned.

“What a sad story,” I hear someone saying. Yes, indeed it is, and what makes it all the more sad is that it was disobedience that brought it all about.

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

“The wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.” Eph. 5:6.

“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1:7,8.

ML 07/12/1925

"Paid for."

SUPPOSE I go into a store, and buy something. The storekeeper wraps my parcel, and I pay for it. I tell him I will leave it, and come for it in an hour or two. He then writes my name, and the words, “Paid for,” upon the parcel, and under the words “Paid for,” he prints four other words, “To be called for.”

This is what is written on every believer: — “Paid for.” How? By the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18, 19); and “To be called for,” for the One who paid for us will call for us very soon, that we may live with Him forever. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” John 14:3.

Is that what is written on each of you, my dear children? “Paid for”; and are you waiting “to be called for”?

“Jesus is the Shepherd—for the sheep He bled,

Every lamb is sprinkled with the blood He shed:

Then on each He setteth His own secret sign,

They that have My Spirit, these, saith He, are Mine.”

ML 07/12/1925

Become Fishers of Men

HOW often have children who go to Sunday-school promised to do their best to bring others with them, but how easy it is to forget and not keep the promise.

A Sunday-school teacher told his class the following incident,

“Many years ago there was a boy on his way to Sunday-school, and he noticed a few ragged and dirty boys about his own age playing on the street. He begged them very earnestly to come with him to Sunday-school, but one only could be persuaded to come. He had neither jacket nor cap on. When they came to the door and saw how all within were neatly dressed, he was about to run away saying,

“I’ll not go in there, for I have not even a coat on.”

“Here is mine,” said John who was loathe to let his prize go, and quickly pulled off his coat and helped put it on his new friend. Thus both went in.

The teacher who told the story added,

“I know the little incident very well, for I was the boy who had no coat, and Dr. John Paton, the great missionary, of whom you no doubt have heard, was the boy who gave me his.”

So had this great soul-winner begun in his early boyhood days to lead souls to Christ. He sought after those who knew nothing of Christ. And you, dear believing children, may try to seek to bring other children to Sunday-school where they may learn about the Lord Jesus as their Saviour.

The Lord Jesus said, “Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17.

ML 07/12/1925

Are You Ready

Christ is coming, O be ready;

Let not slumber dull your eyes;

Do not say, “My Lord delayeth;”

He is coming, O be wise!

Some with empty lamps will hasten,

Seeking oil for them to buy;

But, alas! they’ll never enter;

Vain for them has been the cry.

Such, with hearts of anguish burning,

When they find the door is shut,

Will in terror, cry, “Lord, open;”

He will say, “I know you not.”

ML 07/12/1925

The Way Home

NOT far from the great city of S. there are beautiful farms on Lake Washington, and many of these farmers have their own little ferry boats, so that when they have to come to the city to buy what they need, they can do so, and then return home. This is the means they have of reaching their homes. They have other ways as well, but many use them. But some way is needed in order to cross the lake.

I wonder, dear children, if you have ever thought how you are going to get to heaven. I am sure you would all like to get there, at least when you have to leave this world. But what means have you of getting there? A boat of some kind was necessary to convey the farmers and their families from S. to their farms, but what means could be suitable to take us to heaven? Some perhaps will say, prayer; others, to do good. But the Lord Jesus says:

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

He does not say, I am a way, but “I am the way.” There is no other. Have you, dear reader, come to the Father by the Lord Jesus, and thus been assured that your way into heaven is secured? Prayers and doing good are important things but are by no means ways to heaven. O, how simple God has made it for us. Simply to take Jesus as our Saviour, the One who died for our sins, and He will take us safely there. If we believe this, we will delight to please Him while we are down here.

ML 07/19/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 8.

ONCE sin is judged, God’s word to His people is, “Fear not, neither be dismayed.” Yet the attack upon Ai is greatly changed from the simple procedure at Jericho. Now, all the people must go up to the little city, and “thirty thousand mighty men of valor” are sent at night to be in ambush, while the remainder of the people are to approach the city openly. These are to appear to run away for their lives, so drawing the men of Ai out of the place after them, and then the Israelites in ambush were to enter the town and destroy it, the end being, the destruction of all the people of Ai.

All of this was a rebuke to the pride and self-confidence shown in the first attack upon Ai. It has been truly remarked that more pains are needed to return into the path of blessing, than to have avoided the evil, but the simplicity of faith and its strength can be regained in no other way.

It does not appear that the ambushed men saw Joshua’s stretching out his spear (verses 18, 19); it seems rather to be an illustration of God’s directing His people unseen, and perhaps unrealized by those He acts upon.

There is no rebuilding Jericho and Ai (verse 28). Ai, which means “heap” becomes a heap forever. There can be no restoration of Satan’s rule.

Joshua here by two acts signifies that he has taken possession of the land in God’s name.—first, by his commanding that the body of the king of Ai be taken down at sunset, as Deuteronomy 21:22, 23 ordered: and second, in the building of the altar unto the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, which served both as a witness and a bond between the people and their God who gave them the land. Evidently divine strength and human weakness had both, to be brought out first, otherwise the altar might have been built as soon as the promised land was entered (Deuteronomy 27: 1-8).

All that Moses had commanded was read to the people, —the law, the blessings and the curses (See Deuteronomy 27:11-20.

ML 07/19/1925

Speak the Truth

NO one will think that I broke the window,” said Freddy to himself, as, with a look of dismay on his countenance, he stood gazing at the mischief which his new tennis ball had just wrought. “I really am very sorry, too. Mamma will return from her visit to Uncle George’s this evening, and I wanted her to see how careful I had been in her absence.”

“Old Mary is busy upstairs, and, besides, she is so deaf at the best of times, I’m sure size couldn’t have heard the noise the glass made in falling. If they were to ask me if I did it, of course, I should not tell a falsehood about it. But if no one asks me—and I don’t think they will—there is no need for me to say anything about it.”

“Father would be angry too,” he said, half aloud. “Perhaps, even, I should have to pay for the window, out of my pocket-money, and I want all that, to buy a present for mother’s birthday. There is no reason why I should say anything, unless I am really asked about the matter.”

Suddenly some words which had been spoken by his Sunday-school teacher had recurred vividly to his memory,

“Boys,” his teacher had said, towards the close of the past Sunday’s lesson (and Freddy almost seemed to hear again the solemn earnest tone in which he had spoken). “Boys, truth is a thing which we can never price too highly, and the importance of which is immensely greater than some among us imagine. We have been looking this afternoon at the judgment of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. I trust we shall learn from it God’s estimate of their sin. Yes, boys, a lie is an awful thing, and very frequently is but the commencement of other vices. And let us also remember, that an acted lie is as had as a spoken lie. Someday, perhaps, one of you may be tempted in this very manner. Fear of the consequences may lead you to attempt to hide a fault by silence, if not by an actual falsehood. But remember, that in God’s sight the sin is the same. Rather, when tempted to deceive in such a manner, ask God to help you to speak the truth, and to confess your faults with courage. He will help you and give you strength to do what is right and pleasing to Him, if you only ask Him to do so.”

With a rapid step he ran down the lane to meet his father, who had just appeared in the distance; and, as he did so, he silently asked for courage to tell his father exactly how the accident had happened.

“You’re quite out of breath, my boy,” said Mr. Brown, as his little son drew up by his side. “One would think you had something very important to tell me,” and Freddy’s father gazed in surprise at his eager face.

“Yes, father; I’m in a hurry to tell you something,” responded Freddy, in a quick, eager tone and his voice trembled a little as he spoke. “I’m very sorry, but I have broken the back window. I was tossing my ball; without thinking of any danger, and, all at once, it struck the window. I’m very sorry, father.”

“That is right, my boy,” said his father, kindly, as he took his little son by the hand and walked on towards home. “Always come directly, and tell of any mischief you have done. I would rather have every window in my house broken, than that my boy should tell a falsehood to hide his carelessness, or act a lie in order to save himself from deserved blame.”

Then, as he walked by his father’s side, Freddy told him how he had been tempted to keep silence about the broken window, as well as the way in which his teacher’s words recurred to his recollection.

“My dear boy,” said his father, as, with a light, joyful step. Freddy sprang to open the gate for him to enter, “I am so thankful that you have been taught to see how easily we may be guilty of the sin of falsehood, even without uttering a single word. I trust, also, that you have learned another lesson by this little incident. Never trust in your own strength, but, when tempted to do wrong, ask God to give you grace to resist the temptation.

“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Psa. 120:2.

“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.” Prow. 12:22.

“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Prov. 23:23.

ML 07/19/1925

"Waiting for the Answer."

A MOTHER had been praying with her family one morning, and, on rising from her knees, went into another room, where she was detained for a few minutes. Upon her return she saw one of her children still kneeling.

Going up to her, and putting her hand on her shoulder, she said, “What are you doing, my dear? We have finished prayers.”

“Why,” answered the little girl, looking up into her mother’s face, “I was waiting for the answer.”

Should not we do well to imitate this child’s simple faith, and wait for an answer to our prayers? How often we present petitions to the Lord, and scarcely expect to get them answered, forgetting that He has said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you.” John 16:34.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matt. 7:7, 8.

ML 07/19/1925

The Gospel Seen

HAVE you ever heard the Gospel?” a missionary asked a Chinaman.

“No,” was the reply, “but I have seen it. I know a man who was the terror of the whole district. He was at times as fierce as a wild animal, and was also an opium-smoker. When he accepted the Jesus’ religion, he became quite changed. Now he is meek, and is no longer wicked, and has given up opium-smoking. I can see by that that the Gospel and the service for Jesus are good.”

Someone has said: “Lamps do not talk, but they illuminate. Light-houses make no noise, but they give light.”

Thus must the walk of a Christian be a living sermon. Actions speak louder than words.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16.

ML 07/19/1925

The Bright and Morning Star

When you at night lay down your head

Upon your pillow for repose;

While angels watch around your bed,

And slumbers light your eyelids close—

Could you from that sweet sleep awake,

And then lift up your eyes on high.

Before the day begins to break,

And see the rich and sparkling sky—

Then I would tell you of His Name,

Who, shining on us from afar,

Thus says, “I soon shall come again—

I am the Bright and Morning Star.”

May you through all your nights and days

Live in obedience to His Word;

And know, and love, and bless, and praise

The Name of Jesus Christ, the Lord.

ML 07/19/1925

Rabbits

MANY of my readers are no doubt familiar with rabbits, as they are so common, both wild and tame, so I will not write of their habits, save one. We all know they are very destructive in the fields and to young trees, and in this, one is reminded, this is all the result of sin, as God has made all animals for man’s use and not to be pests, and the day is not far distant, when the Lord Jesus will come back to this earth and will take Satan, who now is the prince and power of the air, and put him in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, then this earth and the creatures in it will be delivered from his destroying power.

What a glorious time that will be for this poor world. But for those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour they are looking for a still better time, for before that good time will come for this world, the Lord Jesus will come in the air to take them to Himself, and change their bodies to be like His own and they shall be with Him forever. This may take place at any moment, and let me ask you, dear reader, are you ready and watching for the Lord to come? If you are one who can say, “Jesus is my Saviour,” He will take you when He comes, but if not you will be left behind for the terrible judgments that are to come upon this earth, previous to the time of blessing when even the animals will be delivered from Satan’s power. “THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.” James 5:8.

ML 07/26/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 9.

THE first verse shows the enemy aroused; he will not yield without war. Satan well knows how to attack the people of God. Jericho gave way before faith, but Satan got at the people through their lusts, and the accursed thing is found in the camp of Israel; self-confidence, too, was a cause of weakness. We have seen how they were delivered in chapter 8. In chapter 9 Satan is a wily enemy; he does not attack openly, as at Ai; nor stand behind high walls as at Jericho. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:11 speaks of being not ignorant of Satan’s devices (thoughts), and in Ephesians 6:11, the believer is directed to put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to stand against the wiles (artifices) of the devil. There is no other defense provided, no other needed.

Satan appears now in the inhabitants of Gibeon who come with deceit; living nearby, they dressed as ambassadors from a distant land, carried old sacks and old wine bottles, wore old and patched sandals and old clothes, and took dry and mouldy bread with them. They found Joshua at the camp at Gilgal and announced that they had come from afar, desiring to make a covenant with Israel. The Israelites had some misgivings about them, but they listened to their lies, and “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord” (verse 14), and so failure is again recorded. The lesson of Ai was not enough. Quite possibly, news of the confederation of kings mentioned in verses 1 and 2 had reached Joshua and the people of Israel. Certainly, they were not prepared for this sort of an attack, but they should have asked counsel of God. Prayer and supplication should be the constant resource and habit of the believer.

A covenant is made, bat in three days they see they have been led into a trap carefully planned by Satan; —these men were neighbors in the land, and should have been put to death along with the ether wicked inhabitants, but their lives must now be spared. Again is man, even with the best intentions, the best thought of the time, as people say, found at cross-purposes with God (1 Corinthians 1:20). There should be no alliance between the world and the people of God, yet that is what is found in this day in which we live, and a few words in Revelation 2:13— “among you, where Satan dwelleth”— testify to this as of long standing, and many other passages of God’s Word likewise.

The grace of God is however with Israel, and though in this chapter the entrance of evil into the congregation is shown, we do not find its development. God delivers us from certain consequences of our sin, and allows others to remain. The Gibeonites were an accursed race, but to be borne with; and king Saul’s effort to exterminate them in zeal for the congregation, was in no wise after God’s mind (2 Samuel 21:1).

ML 07/26/1925

Faith's Amen!

IN the Sunday-school one Lord’s day, we were reading the first chapter of Revelation. I had the feeling that we should take up this chapter, and I thought even though we do not understand it all, yet God will give the promised blessing to the reading. Very distinctly do I recollect that afternoon when all the dear girls were gathered around me, eager to learn. I myself had as yet little knowledge, but it gave me much joy to teach the dear children what little I knew.

We read as far as the 5th verse; which reads, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Here we stopped for a while, wishing to dwell on the meaning and preciousness of the words quoted. Finally, I asked whether there was one among them who could say “Amen”, to these glorious words, that is, to accept them as her own? I asked them:

“Who of you rests your salvation entirely upon the blood of the Lord Jesus, so that you can say of Him, ‘He has washed me from my sins?’”

Of course, I could not look into the hearts of my dear little ones, to see what was going on there, but that same day one of the girls came to me, and told me that she had found the Saviour, and had accepted His salvation.

“I thought,” she said, “I would put my ‘Amen’ beneath the verse, so I did it right there and then!”

How good this was! She accepted the Saviour, who has washed away the sins of His own by His blood; she trusted to His finished work and word. Now she was certain that He also loved her and had given Himself for her.

Can you, my dear little reader, say that you love the Lord Jesus? Have you said, “Amen” to His love and His work for you?

ML 07/26/1925

Little Nell

ONE Lord’s day afternoon, when our class was assembling for the Bible reading, or “weekly talk about Jesus,” as one of the girls called it, a new scholar was brought in; —a child of eleven, with rosy cheeks, and a happy smile. She soon made friends with all, and was known only as “little Nell.”

After seeing her for some weeks, her teacher kept her back after the other children had gone one day, and found that the child she had learned to love was unsaved.

“How can a little girl understand enough, teacher? There is plenty of time yet. I can’t trust Jesus Christ until I get older.”

And the bright look always vanished when spoken to earnestly about her danger.

Four months later “little Nell’s” mother lay dying, and with her last breath begged her child to open her heart’s door, and let the Saviour in, but “little Nell” still held out, and would not heed His voice.

Two years went by. One day her teacher had a letter from “little Nell,” in which she said,

“I am not well, and always feel so tired, and besides that, I am unhappy. I do want to belong to Christ. If only my name was in the Bible, I should be quite sure Jesus loved late, and died for me, but I can’t believe I may come. Do pray for me.”

One morning a short note came from Nell asking her teacher to call on her at once.

Down by a canal, with chilly damp air filling a tiny room sat “little Nell,’’ though her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes bright, the bloom was not of health; one glance was enough to show that her days on earth were numbered.

“Teacher, the doctor says I’m very ill, and that I must go to the hospital, but I am not a bit afraid, for I have opened my heart to Jesus, and let Him in.”

“Did you find your name in the Bible then after all?”

“Yes, teacher,” said Nell, and a happy light shone in her eyes, “it is there. I knew my sins were great, and I so longed to be at rest and peace, and then one night that text came to me with new meaning, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’ I believed it; and I say it over and over again when Satan tells me I am a sinner. I am just fourteen, teacher dear. I’m young to go, am I not? But I’m so ready. I have just read about the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and ask the Lord Jesus to look after me very carefully. Isn’t He kind to let me know so well that He loves me? Nurse says I may be home by morning.”

“Little Nell” was right. Before sunrise her weary body was at rest, and her spirit had fled to Him who gave it.

Children, do not wait till you are better, or older, or wiser, but let Christ, who so willingly offered Himself a sacrifice for sinners, have your love. your life, your all, while you are young.

“Today, if ye will hear His voice harden not your hearts.” Heb. 3:7.

ML 07/26/1925

A Saviour for You!

O, children dear, to me give ear,

I speak of Christ the Lord:

God’s well-loved Son, His only One,

The everlasting Word.

Before He spoke, and all things woke.

Before the sun had shone;

Before His hand outstretched the land,—

He dwelt with God alone.

Yet even then He thought of men.

His thoughts were thoughts of grace;

Said He would die to bring us nigh,

And save our ruined race.

And this to do, “faithful and true,”

In human form He came;

As Mary’s Child, all meek and mild,

Jesus, the Christ, His name.

Behold what love, all ill above,

He cures all woe and pain;

Lightens the blind, restores the mind,

Makes lepers without stain!

Now see Him sleep, whilst billows sweep,

Disciples quake for fear;

They weakly cry, “Lord, must we die?”

Not knowing God so near.

He speaks His will, the waves are still,

They hear their Maker’s voice;

A calm ensues, th’ astonished Jews

Wonder and yet rejoice.

But Christ must die to bring us nigh,

He dies to do us good;

For all our sins, He pardon wins,

Who trust His precious blood.

And now He’s risen, the veil is riven,

All saints in Him brought nigh;

His victory gained, glory obtained,

For all His own on high.

Then, children dear, by faith draw near,

Christ’s evermore the same;

Believe His word, own Him your Lord,

Confess the Saviour’s name.

ML 07/26/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for June.

1.“But when He saw many,” etc. Matt. 3:7.

2.“Enter ye in at the,” etc. 7:13.

3.“And fear not them,” etc. 10:28.

4.“And whosoever speaketh,” etc.12:32.

5.“For what is a man,” etc. 16:26.

6.“Then said the king,” etc. 22:13.

7.“The Son of man goeth,” etc. 26:24.

Bible Questions for August

The Answers are to be found in Luke.

1.Write in full the verse containing the words. “Was subject unto them.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Like a dove.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Let him deny himself.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Confess before the angels.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Rose from the dead.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “It is I Myself.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou shalt forgive.”

ML 08/02/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 10.

AROUSED to concerted action by the repeated victories of the people of Israel, and incensed at the Gibeonites because of their having sought and obtained peace with them, the kings of the Amorites attacked Gibeon. At once the people of the city sent a message to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal by the Jordan, and said, “Slack not thy hand from thy servants;” “come up to us quickly and save us and help us.” Such a request could not be denied, and Joshua went up from Gilgal with all the people of war and the mighty men of valor. Approaching through the night, they surprised the enemy in the morning, and were delivered into Joshua’s hand by God. The Gibeonites were relieved, but of far greater moment was the utter destruction of the power of the enemy.

So fearful was the destruction, that we are reminded of the judgments which will fall upon this world after the Church of God is taken away, descriptions of which are given in the book of Revelation. One thing is clear: no mercy is shown when the judgment day dawns; the day for mercy is past, its opportunities disregarded.

Reader, you must meet God; there is no escape. Seek Him now, as He delights to make Himself known, as a Saviour; there is none beside Him. Jesus, the spotless lamb of God came into the world to save sinners.

It was a day of fearful carnage when not only through Joshua’s army, but by direct intervention from heaven the power of God was exerted to crush the united kings. Joshua spoke to God, and at his word the powerful rays of the sun were reduced (the command to the sun to “stand still” is properly “be silent”) so that the earth revolved at half speed, and a day of unequalled length occurred. This is one of the miracles of the Bible at which infidels have scoffed, but that it was well known at the time the book of Joshua was written is shown by the reference to a book of Jasher in verse 13, evidently a commonly known record, though not inspired. Although the humble believer accepts what the Word of God says without thought or care whether the more or less fabled histories men have compiled, it is interesting to know that Chinese, Egyptian and Greek records refer to a day of extraordinary length at this time.

The latter part of this chapter tells of the continued victories of Joshua. One by one the cities of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and its surrounding towns, and Debir, fall and the whole southern portion of the land at least, is conquered.

The chapter closes with Joshua and all Israel. back at Gilgal, the abiding memorial of (loath as the end of the natural man, place where the heap of stones from the river bed told of life out of death. Happy it is for every child of God if he retrace his steps constantly to the place of which Gilgal is the type—death with Christ, resurrection with Him beyond the grave, and “always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4: 10).

ML 08/02/1925

The Shoe Black

WITH a light heart and not a care, the shoe-black sat with his hands over one knee, laughing as he looked at his well-trained dog, who sat on a box to do his bidding, holding the old tin bucket in his mouth, and looking at his master as if waiting to be told what next to do.

It was not the wealth of this world that made that boy happy, for he cared not for these things, and seemed to be in a measure, contented with his meagre earnings, and to have a little fun with his dog. In fact, he had not taken responsibility upon his shoulders, and was, in this respect, just like most boys. Nevertheless, he was cared for and had his needs supplied. But, we know, as he would get older, he would look at things in this life more seriously, and have a great deal more care with all he would do.

One might ask how is it that such a boy can get along? Indeed, one might wonder how each one in the world can manage to make a living? There is one verse in God’s Word that enables us to understand how such, and indeed all, are cared for, and that is in 1 Tim. 4:10. There we learn that the living God is the Saviour, or Preserver, of all men, specially of those who believe.

The living God, the creator of all things, is watching over all and is giving what He sees is best, He allows some to take a great deal of this world’s goods, and thus heap to themselves many riches; and from others He sees fit to withhold this world’s goods, and we know He has a wise purpose in it all. He tells us in Luke 16:19-31 of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had left God out of all his ways, but the end of that man was dreadful, for after he died, he was in torment; but the end of the poor man was with blessing, for after he died he was cared for and was in happiness.

He had believed God’s Word, and had taken heed to it; whereas the rich man had not believed it, so when he found he could not get out of the place of torment into which his unbelief had landed him, he called to father Abraham, to warn his five brothers, who were on earth, so that they would not come into that place; but Abraham had to tell him,

“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”

Then he replied, If one went unto them from the dead, they will repent, but Abraham said,

“If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

This does not show to us that no rich people can be saved, but here was a man, who allowed his riches and his luxury to so fill his mind, that God and His Word were forgotten. And that is the case with a great many. But, on the other hand, the poor are often, by their poverty, brought to think of God and turn to His Word, and there they learn what the true riches are—eternal things—secured for them, by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ah, dear reader, you may be poor, or you may be rich in this world’s goods; but if you do not have Christ as your Saviour, you will not only be poor for ever and ever after you leave this life, but you will be in torments.

The question is then, not, how can you get along in this life, or what momentary pleasure can you get, like the boy in the picture; but, will you be poor, or will you be rich for eternity; will you have happiness, or will you have woe?

Now is the time to settle it. Be not heedless and thoughtless, like the shoe-black, but believe now on the Lord Jesus Christ as the One who gave His life that you might live; and eternal bliss, with that Saviour, will be yours forever.

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

ML 08/02/1925

"I Am Glad."

A LITTLE girl was with her father on the cliffs. She had been running about gathering flowers, and playing with her brothers and sisters; but now the others had all gone on, and she stood by her father’s side, watching the sun set over the sea. It looked like a huge ball of fire, and as it appeared to dip in the water, she exclaimed, “Isn’t it wonderful! It’s just like fire. I wonder whether this earth will look like that at the end of the world. I don’t like to think about that time. It’s so dreadful to know that this world is going to be burnt up, and everything in it. I hope I shall die before then.”

Taking her hand into his, her father said,

“All those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, will be with Him before that time. He is coming to take His own people away before the dreadful things which are to happen on this earth take place; and if you are really one of His own, you need not fear the end of the world, for you will be in the glory with Himself—safe in His keeping.”

“O! I am so glad,” exclaimed the child, “for I do belong to Him, but I didn’t know that He was coming before the end of the world. I thought that all who were alive then, would be burnt up, and that the believers would go to heaven, and the unbelievers to hell; but it’s very nice to think of being taken away by the Lord Himself before that time I am glad.”

“Yes,” answered her father, “those believers who are alive when He comes, will never have to go through death. ‘The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord’.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

From that time the prospect of the Lord’s coming was a great reality to her; and she is now, with many others, waiting for God’s Son from heaven, knowing that in “a little while He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. 10:37).

ML 08/02/1925

Eternity Has No End

How long sometimes a day appears,

And weeks, how long are they,

Months move as slowly as if years—

Would never pass away.

Both months and years are passing by,

And soon must all be gone;

For day by day as minutes fly,

Eternity comes on.

Days, months and years must have an end,

Eternity has none;

‘Twill always have as long to spend,

As when it first begun.

Great God! an infant cannot tell

How such a thing can be;

I only pray that I may dwell

That long, long time with Thee.

ML 08/02/1925

Impatience

POOR Dick can’t wait in the morning for his little playmate to wake up, so he has to jump upon her bed, and scrape with his paws and pull the cover off her, until he gets her fully awake, and then he expects a romp.

But why, you say, did he not wait? It would only have been a little while, and the little girl would have been awake, and he would have had his play just the same, and she would have had her full rest. Yes, why? just because he was impatient.

And are you never impatient? can’t wait till the time comes for some particular thing, and even act ugly about it? Ah, how often we see that and the papa or the mamma have to say, “Have patience; wait till I give it to you, or wait till the time comes for it” and so on. Ah, patience is a great virtue.

God is spoken of in Rom. 15:5 as, “The God of patience.” There is one way He shows it above all others, and that is, in waiting on poor sinners to accept His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. So the Scripture says,

“THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS; BUT IS LONG-SUFFERING TO US WARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Peter 3:9. Some people think because the Lord does not come right away and punish the evil-doer, that He has not meant what He said; but it is His patience or long suffering, not willing that any should perish. What patience He has shown in waiting all these years on you, and is still waiting! Ah, may you not keep Him waiting, for the time is near when He will wait no longer, and all who have not come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ, will have to receive His judgment.

ML 08/09/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 11.

SATAN is not so easily defeated as we might think. He is very powerful, and he has I different weapons. We can easily see Jabin, king of Hazor, to be a good picture of the devil, for his name means “intelligent”, and he is the leader against the people of God in the land. He gathers a great army, terrifying in their numbers (verse 4), but numbers make no difference to God; “be not afraid”, is His word to Joshua, “for I will deliver them up all slain.”

How desperately they must have fought at the waters of Merom! Defeated here with his full strength engaged, the power of Satan over the whole land was broken before Joshua and his army.

Is not this a plain picture of Satan’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Lord Jesus when on the cross the victory was won whereby poor sinners are eternally saved? Then and there, on the cross of Calvary the judgment of this world was expressed, and the prince of this world was dealt such a blow that when his punishment is carried out, it will put him in hell forever (John 12:31; Rev. 20:10).

In Joshua 11, verse 4 we read of the associated kings of Canaan and their armies: “And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the seashore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.”

It is the same energy of Satan as appeared on the Egyptian shore of the Red Sea in Exodus 14, only there Satan’s object was to prevent the deliverance of the people; here in Joshua 11, he was seeking to keep them from taking the place God had given His ransomed and separated people, behind whom rolled the waters of judgment.

Just so is it with Satan today. As to those who are not saved, but troubled about their sins, his determination is to stop them, —to hold them in his fearful slavery; and then with those who have received Christ as their personal Saviour, the devil does all he can to keep them from the enjoyment of the heavenly things which God has made theirs. Where do you stand, dear reader, in this warfare?

The victory must be God’s; no power can long stand against Him, so we learn in verse 8 of our chapter that Joshua’s forces “smote them (His enemies) until they left them none remaining”—their horses were killed and their chariots burned with fire. Hazor, the capital city of all those kingdoms, was utterly destroyed; Satan’s dwelling place will not do for God.

The believer’s heart rejoices in such words as verse 15. “As the Lord commanded Moses His servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.” Is the whole Word of God in this way before my reader?

ML 08/09/1925

The Little Immigrant

ON a hot July day I was on a train. Across from me sat a boy of about 13 years, in simple but very neat attire. After we had been on the way for a while, he opened a bundle from which he took some buttered bread, and as he did so, tears rolled down his cheeks. I said to him,

“You, no doubt, think of your good mother who has so kindly provided this for you, and has given you all you needed for your journey?”

“Yes”, said he, “mother said as she told me good by, ‘Joseph, when you get hungry on your journey, open your bundle. There you’ll find all you need.’”

“Have you a long journey before you?” I asked him.

“Yes, sir,” he replied, “I am going to H., and take ship from there to New York. My dear mother is a widow, and I am her only son. Three of my sisters are still at home; two are in America. These two have written me to come to New York where I may earn some money. They have sent me the money for the journey.”

“Was it not hard for you, my dear boy, to leave your mother?”

“It was, indeed it was, especially for mother, but I think I can soon earn some money in America, and send it to my mother and this is a comfort to me.”

“It is nice that you think of your mother,” said I, “but have you no fear about going across the ocean, and into a distant and strange land?”

“Why should I fear? Mother said, God would care for and keep me on the way, and my sisters will be at the harbor to meet me. My sisters love me, and would not have sent for me if they did not think it was for the best.”

Dear children, I have told you of my conversation with the young immigrant, because you too are on the way to another country, but I do not know which one it is—heaven or hell. In the Bible, which is God’s Word, He gives you many warnings to keep you out of hell; and many an invitation to come to the Lord Jesus, and receive salvation through faith in Him and His precious blood. He says, “I am the Way”, —the way to the Father’s house. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

As the sisters paid for their little brother for every mile of the way, so the Lord Jesus has done all that God requires to bring a poor repentant sinner to heaven.

O, my dear young friend, are you really on the upward, that is, the heavenward journey; or on the downward one? All those who have the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, are happy immigrants to a better, a heavenly country. They can speak with firmness and assurance of going to that better land, because God in His Word has promised to bring them there. Remember that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanseth from all (or every) sin. If yet unsaved you need the cleansing blood. Come, come now.

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

ML 08/09/1925

Not Be Ashamed

A VERY plain and simple way for any child who is in doubt as to whether he should do this or that, is to ask this question:

“Can I take Christ with me? Can I feel that, if Christ were to come, He would be pleased with what I am doing?”

“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28.

ML 08/09/1925

"Any One That Likes."

IN a little cottage on the high road an old woman lay dying. A small girl was sitting beside her bed, reading aloud the third chapter of John. She read on until she came to the sixteenth verse, when the old woman, who had been listening intently, stopped her.

“Read that verse again,” she exclaimed. The child read again those wonderful words,

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

“Stop!” cried the woman. “What does ‘whosoever’ mean? Tell me what that word is.”

The child hesitated, and said she did not know; so the old woman continued in eager, tremulous tones,

“I must know what ‘whosoever’ means. Go out into the road, and ask the very first person you meet what it means.”

The child ran down the stairs and stood at the cottage gate, shading her eyes with her hand, as she looked up and down the road, but there was no one in sight.

At last she saw a man coming, on horse-back, and she ran to meet him. Seeing the child, he reined in his horse.

“Please, sir, can you tell me what ‘whosoever’ means?”

The gentleman was surprised at the strange question, and looking down at the little eager face, he asked her why she wanted to know; but she only repeated her question; so he replied,

“It means any one that likes.”

Repeating to herself over and over the answer, “any one that likes; any one that likes.” The little girl ran back to the cottage, and up the stairs to the room where the old woman lay. As she came in the woman raised herself, and looked towards her.

“What is it? tell me quickly,” she said,

“He says it means any one that likes,” replied the child.

“Read the verse again, and put that in,” said the feeble voice. The child took up the Bible and read slowly,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that ‘any one that likes’ to believe in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The old woman clasped her trembling hands together, and with the tears rolling down her cheeks, she exclaimed with her weak dying voice,

“Thank God I like; thank God I like!”

Reader, do you “like” to believe on God’s Son? That is the only way of salvation. God offers eternal life to all who believe in the Lord Jesus. Will you take His free gift, and join that dying woman in thanking Him?

ML 08/09/1925

The Lambs of Christ

EACH lamb of Christ is purchased

By precious blood;

Each lamb of Christ is nourished

With heavenly food;

Each lamb of Christ is tended

With loving care;

Each lamb of Christ is destined

His home to share.

How happy to be folded

Upon His breast!

His purchased lamb, there ever

In peace to rest;

To fear no condemnation

Since He has died;

To have full salvation—

To none denied.

Dear child, and art thou loving

This precious One?

Art thou, by faith, rejoicing

In God’s dear Son?

Fly to His loved embraces,

He waits for thee;

Accept His offered mercy,

And happy be.

ML 08/09/1925

Peace

HOW peaceful is the scene before us, with the cattle standing quietly, knee-deep in the river, lashing the flies away with their long-tails, and cropping the ends of the over-hanging boughs. The sheep lie in the shadow of the elm trees, and the shepherd boy seems to have covered up his face with his hat, perhaps to keep the flies off while he may try to sleep.

However peaceful all around may seem, it is possible that the boy may not have much peace in his heart. If he thinks about his sins and having to meet God, it might well fill him with fear; but if he only knows that he can have all his sins put away through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, he may have peace in his heart.

Do you have peace in your heart? Can you say you have peace with God? All that is asked of us in order to have this peace, is to have faith in Christ. Do you ask, “What is faith?” Faith is believing what God has said, without seeing or feeling. The Scripture says,

“THEREFORE, BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” Rom. 5:11.

ML 08/16/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 12.

THE last verse of the eleventh chapter told us that the whole country was taken, and was given to the people of Israel for an inheritance from God, and that the whole land rested from war. When wars are over, and not before, the Holy Spirit recounts the victories, —reckons them as Israel’s victories, though they were God’s. What victories (defeats, too) God’s people will learn of as God has recorded them, in the day when all their past will pass before their eyes at the judgment seat of Christ, when they shall know as they are known, see no more through a glass dimly, but face to face with their Lord and Saviour, like Him, and for Him eternally!

For the Christian, the time has certainly not arrived to recount victories; this is a day of watchfulness against the wiles of the devil, and the child of God is to be armored with all that belongs to true godliness, and armed with God’s Word (Ephesians 6:10-18), to meet Satan’s attacks. We must not be discouraged in the struggle with him, for soon the place of conflict will be exchanged for the place of God’s rest. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews records many of faith’s victories in others, as God reckons them, and then follows the opening of the twelfth chapter:

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (the faith-worthies of chapter 11), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

ML 08/16/1925

The Good Shepherd

KATIE N. was surrounded with everything this world could give to make her happy, and she had plenty of health and spirits to enjoy what was given her. But she was a lonely child, and the very, exuberance of life and fun made her more intensely sad and solitary in herself. She heard a great deal about God, but that was a subject she never cared about. She delighted in reading: but if there was anything in it about God, or a quotation out of the Bible, she always slipped over it.

Perhaps you think Katie was a very naughty child, though perhaps not more naughty than other children are, but she did not know God. She saw no beauty in Jesus that she should desire Him: her heart was at enmity with God.

She was very quick and also diligent at her lessons, and yet she was seldom able to repeat her Scripture verse correctly. This was a source of sorrow to Katie, for she felt it very humiliating to have it returned to her.

One day her governess gave her to learn some verses in the Gospel of John: but the words of grace and truth would not abide in her unreceptive mind. Three times over her teacher returned the book so that she might learn it more perfectly. The third time Katie took the Testament, read the verses over, and feeling that she could not make her memory hold the words, she dashed the book across the room in a burst of passion and despair. Her teacher, who loved the Lord, was greatly pained by such conduct, picked up, the Testament, and said to Katie,

“I shall give you no more Scripture to learn.”

Poor Katie! she was to be treated as a rejector of God. She tried to be glad, but her pride did not like it, for we all like to be thought good of, whether we are so or not. Something whispered to her that it was a great relief to have no verses to learn; but deep down in Katie’s heart, there was a great pain.

One, two, three, four days passed. At last Sunday came. Was Katie to learn no verses, even on Sunday? She shut herself alone in her room to think. Then she took up the Testament, while her little hands trembled with agitation, and she felt cold all over. She thought she would really try, and she did try, but the verses would not stay with her. At last she burst into tears, and threw herself on her knees, and said,

“O, God, do make me able to learn these verses.”

She knelt there a long time, as if waiting for God to say He would. At last she got up, and tried again. Calmly and quietly, she read the verses over out loud, and for the first time, it struck her that they were beautiful and a thought sank down into her heart that pained her very much, —it was this:

How dreadfully bad my heart must be, not to like the very words that Jesus spoke when He was down here, and from that moment Katie began to wish to be converted.

She went down stairs, and going very softly up to her teacher, she put the Testament into her hand. She took it silently, and Katie slowly and solemnly repeated every word correctly, while her teacher’s heart rose up in thankfulness to God, who had not permitted the enemy to triumph, and that Katie had not taken another Scripture, but had really overcome where she had failed. At that time Katie was about ten years old.

One day she heard some grown-up people say that a very good man was coming to preach, and that he had been remarkably blessed to little children. Katie listened eagerly to these accounts, and though she would not allow anyone to know her feelings, she secretly hoped that she might hear him, and be converted too; for she felt more and more unhappy and lonely, and it seemed to her that the only truly happy people were those who loved God.

One evening it was proposed that Katie should go with her nurse to hear this good man. Her heart bounded, and she thought,

“Perhaps I shall come home quite changed.”

She went, —the place was full of children—some attentive, others careless. The moment the preacher began, Katie fixed her eves upon him, and listened with such earnestness that when she went home, she was able to write it all down. But, alas! she did not feel converted. This was a great disappointment.

Why do You think Katie’s desire was not granted? Was it not a right desire? Was God unmindful of her desire? Was Jesus slow to reveal Himself to a heart that wanted Him? O, no, He delights to respond to the very weakest movement of a heart toward Him, and let me assure you of what is more blessed still, —no heart ever yearned for Christ until Christ’s heart had first yearned for it. We love Him because He first loved us, and if you have the smallest longing towards the Lord, you may be sure He has put that longing there in answer to His own desire for you.

Do you know why Katie could not see Him as her Saviour? Because she was looking into her own poor little miserable heart to see some wonderful change in there.

She read all the stories of conversions in the New Testament and in all, there seemed to come some wonderful change, so Katie thought; and she fancied that, like Paul, scales might fall from her eyes, or that she would see a vision, or hear words said to her and all this mistake was because Katie did not know that she was lost, that her heart was so bad that God would not trust it one bit, but that, apart from her altogether, before ever she was born. God had settled the whole question of sin in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. She had nothing to do with it; God had done it all.

This is what Katie did not know, and now she became very careless, and tried for a long time to forget all about it. She threw her whole heart into all that she thought was pleasant, and she thought she would soon be gay and thoughtless like other girls. But there is a Person in heaven who is sitting at God’s right hand, and that Person had His eyes on Katie all the while. He knew every thought in her heart, whether by day or night, and He loved her. He thought of her as one for whom He had died on the cross. He was the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, who loves His little lambs. and who goes after them until He finds one missing lamb. What does He do? He carries it home on His shoulder, rejoicing, and saying,

“I have found My sheep which was lost.”

Reader, you were also a missing lamb from the fold of Christ. Are you now being carried in those arms that were once stretched out upon the cross for you? O, the pain to that Holy One, to hang upon the shameful cross, and all for sinners such as you and me, for in Him is no sin. Thus the Good Shepherd: watched over Katie.

It was soon after this that she lost one whom she greatly loved. She had been lonely before, but now she felt as if the earth was too desolate to be endured, and she said to herself,

“I must have God, or I shall die.”

Katie had plenty of kind friends, many who loved her, but none could give her happiness, and she felt Jesus could. Katie was beginning to feel what it is to be lost—a lost soul! God seemed far away, and all was darkness about. Many nights she lay awake for a long time, thinking sad and dreadful thoughts—that God heard everybody but her, and that perhaps He never would hear her, and a great deal more that Satan was glad to make her think.

One night the Holy Spirit whispered to Katie’s heart the question. Did not Jesus say.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out?” Then such a number of verses came into Katie’s mind, so that she was quite surprised. She began to think over the whole life of Jesus; she recalled the lovely story of His birth, and of the shepherds rejoicing in company with the heavenly host that a Saviour was born; the thought of His lowly life. and of His terrible death: and as it came to her mind that that perfect One had suffered in the sinner’s place, the words. “It is finished”, seemed illuminated before her eyes.

“It is finished” she repeated, “What is finished? All is finished. and finished for me, for me!”

She jumped out of bed, and though the room was quite dark, it seemed lighted up to Katie, as she knelt there and spoke for the first time consciously to the One who had finished all the work of redemption for her, —who had given her eternal life that she might never perish.

Truly, so it had come to pass, —Jesus had bound up in the bundle of life with Himself this poor desolate child, whom nothing in this world could satisfy: whom no one could make happy. But Himself.

The Word of God was her companion, her comfort, her resource: so that she used often to say she could never be lonely again.

“The Shepherd’s bosom bears each lamb

O’er rock, and waste and wild.

The object of that love I am,

And carried like a child.”

ML 08/16/1925

Unseen Danger

THIS picture, tells its own story pretty clearly. It is enough to make one shudder to see those great eager eyes, and that savage face, and that immense mouth of the lion; and then to notice the thoughtlessness, and fancied security of the innocent little deer.

Soon he will spring upon them and devour them. Poor things!

Ah, well! such things are happening all over the country, everywhere, and it is sad enough. “What?” you may say, “you do not mean that there are any lions in our neighborhood? It is all safe and quiet, and I am not afraid to run around anywhere.”

This is exactly the way with these little animals; they do not see the enemy either, and yet there he is. If they were to see him, they would bound away in a moment, before he could catch them.

Who, does the Scripture say, is our enemy? Look at 1 Peter 5:8, and you will find who it is.

“BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE: YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.”

Remember, he already has those who are not Christ’s, he is their prince; they are led by his will.

But, he wants to injure all who are Christ’s; he means to stir up all the evil in us and make us care less for God and Christ, and heavenly things. He would destroy us if he could, but that he cannot do, since Christ conquered him, and destroyed his power by death.

He is willing that people should speak well of Jesus, if they will not make anything of His death; willing they should pray, if they do not pray in the name of the Lord Jesus; willing they should live, if they do not live for Christ; willing they should enjoy the world in all its wickedness, but not live out of it, saying “We are not of the world.”

Well then, what must we do? This verse says, Be sober, be watchful. Now the best thing is to walk with the Lord Jesus the conqueror of Satan, learning more and more of Himself and His work, and clinging to that with all confidence.

Satan is conquered by two things (see Rev. 12:11), the blood of Christ, and the Word of God. First of all if you are resting on the blood of Christ alone, there is safety. Stand to that, for Satan will want to tell you that you are not saved.

“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Next, get acquainted with the Word of God, and do not use your own reasoning about things, but take that Word. Christ took God’s Word when the devil came to Him; He answered “It is written” to everything the devil said; that is, He answered Him with Scripture, and the devil left Him.

ML 08/23/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 13.

THE land as a whole was now conquered; the kings of the south had been subdued and put to death with their people; in the north, Joshua had made slower progress, and it seems clear that some of the former inhabitants having fled from the country, had returned and settled down again. It is now a question of the faith of the individual members of the elect nation, whether the remaining enemies be dispossessed or not: God’s word was given that He would drive them out from, before the children of Israel (verse 6). The land not yet possessed is described according to its boundaries in verses 2 to 6, but the whole inheritance without regard to the presence of enemies is to be divided among the people, now that the enemy’s power is broken. Where there was faithfulness to God, the enemies were driven out finally and completely, and there was rest for the people who thus acted in dependence upon Him.

The latter part of the chapter gives the possessions of the two-and one-half tribes who were satisfied to dwell on the east of the Jordan. It is humbling- to note that (verse 13) they did not expel the Geshurites and the Maachathites, but left them to dwell among them. Trusting in God, they should have driven out every enemy; these remained, a thorn in their side, to tempt with their evil ways, and mingle with them without that separation to God in heart and soul which is the true and only happy portion of His people.

Sorrowfully we find, as we go through the following chapters, that not one of the tribes drove out all the enemies of God; they were content to have them among them, or at least without spiritual energy to be rid of them.

There is another, and a brighter thing for the children of God to consider.; it is the portion of the sons of Levi, whom far back in the sacred volume we found separated to the service of God. Verse 14 declares that there was no inheritance, no parceling out of the land, for Levi’s children, for “the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said unto them,” and verse 33 gives a yet higher and more intimately blessed portion to them the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as He said unto them.

Rich indeed, were they, if they lived in the power of these elevating terms. Lands stretching as far as the eye could see, and cattle great in number, were little in value when compared with a close, an intimate association with the God of Israel. As they lived in the power of these things, the hearts of the Levites were surely detached from earth, to look upward to Him who was their inheritance. He would provide for their needs, while at the same time occupying them with Himself and engaging them in His service.

This is the most elevated path of faith. Christian, are you seeking to walk in it? What matter the broad fields, the flocks and herds, in the light of eternity? Christ must fill your heart, or you will never be really resting in His love here.

ML 08/23/1925

A Saviour and a Friend

ANNIE W. came to Jesus, and found in Him both a Saviour and a Friend. By reason of her attention, and the pleasure she took in saying her text every Sunday for some time, I had thought that little Annie had something the other girls in her Sunday-school class had not. So one afternoon I wrote her a little note, asking her whether she could say that Jesus was her Saviour.

The next Sunday afternoon, Annie brought me a note as follows: —

“Dear teacher,

In reply to your note, the Lord Jesus is to me a Saviour and a Friend; He died on the cross to save me from my sins, and has washed me whiter than snow.

‘Whiter than snow.’

‘Christ died for the ungodly.’

‘The wages of sin is death.’

Your affectionate pupil,

ANNIE W—.”

I have given her answer in her own words; is it not a beautiful answer from a little girl of eleven years old? I wonder how many of the girls and boys who read “Messages of Love” can say the same?

O, girls and boys, if you did but know what is in the heart of this precious Saviour who died on the cross for sinners, how gladly would you come to Him to get blessed, and say—

“I hear Thy welcome voice,

Which calls me, Lord, to Thee,

For cleansing in Thy precious blood,

Which flowed on Calvary.”

He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML 08/23/1925

"I Shall See"

“Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty, they shall behold the land that is very far off.” Isa. 33:17.

POEM WRITTEN BY A BLIND GIRL.

O! the day has been a long one,

And a little trying too:

Hand and brain alike are weary,

They have had so much to do;

But the night brings rest and silence,

Not a sound falls on my ear,

Save the gentle, even ticking

Of the old clock standing near.

I have brought my precious Bible

From its place upon the shelf,

Feeling glad that with my finger

I can read it for myself;

And I turn its sacred pages

With a tender, reverent touch,

I am searching for a promise

I have learned to love so much:

‘Tis a sweet and blessed promise,

And ‘tis doubly sweet to me:

For it says the time is coming

When these eyes of mine shall see.

It was written by the prophet

In the ages long ago;

It was God who bade him write it,

Every word is true I know.

These my eyes shall look on Jesus,

That is what the promise tells;

I shall see Him in His beauty,

In the “far land” where He dwells.

I who never in my life-time

Gazed on any lovely thing,

With a clear and perfect vision

Shall behold my Lord the King.

Christ the Altogether Lovely,

Christ, our Shepherd good and true,

Christ my ever blessed Saviour,

And my mighty Keeper too,

He will only need to whisper

What He wants to say to me;

I shall be so very near Him,

When these eyes of mine shall see.

O! the joy this promise brings me!

What unutterable bliss!

I shall then be safely folded

In those loving arms of His.

Never more shall I be weary,

When I rest in His embrace,

All the darkness will be banished

By the light of His dear face.

For His eyes will beam upon me,

Bright with love-light all divine;

What a large full cup of blessing,

In that moment will be mine.

I shall see him crowned as Monarch,

See Him seated on His throne;

I shall yield Him all the homage

That is due to Him alone.

What a blessed revelation,

What a wonder it will be,

When the glory bursts upon me,

And these eyes of mine shall see,

I shall keep so close to Jesus,

There will be so much to tell,

I shall talk about the dear ones

I have learned to love so well.

I will tell Him how they cheered me,

How they helped me in my need;

I will lovingly remember

Every little kindly deed.

Many will be there to greet me,

I shall see their faces bright;

We shall all rejoice together

In the glory of that light.

And the dear Lord will reward them,

For the kind things they have done,

For their tender ministrations

To His much-tried suffering one.

I shall praise Him for their friendship,

Which was always sweet to me;

I shall say, “ ‘Twas all His mercy,”

When these eyes of mine shall see.

‘Tis a little weary waiting,

For I long to reach my home;

But I must not be impatient,

For it maybe He will come

Very soon. Perhaps at midnight,

Or at dawn of morning fair,

Bidding all His blood-bought children

Rise to meet Him in the air.

O! it would indeed be glory,

All at once to flit away!

From the darkness and the shadows

Into realms of endless day.

Yet it maybe He will guide me

Through death’s valley, awful shade!

But I know He will not leave me,

So I shall not be afraid.

I can trust my precious Saviour,

For which ever it may be,

He will surely keep His promise,

And I know that I shall see.

ML 08/23/1925

The Letter

THESE two sisters have walked down the road to meet their brother as he comes from town, to find out if he has brought a letter to them from their mother who is away from home, and they are eager to hear from her.

You can see by the pleased look on their faces that he has told them that one has come for them.

There is One in heaven who has written you many messages in a book called the Bible; do you ever read His letters? He is One who loves you very much—far more than your parents do. His book is full of His loving messages—there He gives such kind invitations to all unsaved ones to come to Him, to have their sins put away.

In Matt. 11:28, we have such a wonderful invitation,

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

In John 3:16 we see God’s great love,

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

Now look at the last verse of that chapter—what an awful thing if you do not listen to the Saviour!

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

Turn to the tenth chapter of John. What beautiful promises are given in verses 28 and 29. Jesus says to those that put their trust in Him,

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

And for those who have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour, He tells them He is coming for them, and they shall live with Him forever.

“I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.” John 14:3.

ML 08/30/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 14.

WE come now to the division of the land west of the Jordan—the true land of Canaan, which God had long purposed for His people Israel, —among the nine and one-half tribes remaining on that side. According to God’s order, the division was made; there was no room for man’s will in any way.

Now appears a bold man, Caleb the son of Jephunneh, whom we found in Numbers 13 and 14, as one of the twelve spies sent to look over the land some forty-five years earlier. Then he had been one of the two who gave a good report of the inheritance, and of him God had said,

“But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.” I will quote from another:

“Joshua prefigured Christ, the Saviour-Jesus, bringing His people into the rest of the promised land, and Caleb walks in company with him. The great name of Joshua overshadows, so to speak, that of Caleb, and imprints upon it its character. These two men have but one thought, they have the same faith, confidence and courage, the same starting point, the same path, the same purpose of heart, the same goal. Is it so with us, dear reader? Are we so associated with Christ that our name cannot be uttered without His, and that our very existence owes its value to the fact that by grace we have been made companions of the Lord Jesus?

Hebron, Abraham’s and Isaac’s and Jacob’s burial place, was Caleb’s choice, —the place of death, but the place of faith. May we not say that the cross of Christ was thus foreshadowed—the place of the end of man, yet the place where faith lodges, seeing there the sinner’s Substitute in death, presently to come forth as the Lifegiver. There are “Anakims” (giants), and “cities great and fenced”, but “if so be”, said this man of faith, “that the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

Sweet to trust in this God of our refuge! How firm a foundation is under the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus! Poor man or woman of this world, you are suffering an incalculable loss.

“Come to the Saviour, make no delay!”

ML 08/30/1925

Disobedience and Its Consequences

MRS. W. was going out to spend the day with a friend, but just before she started she called her little girl, whose name was Alice, to her side.

“Alice” she said, “I shall not be home till seven or eight o’clock tonight, and I want you to promise me that you will be very good indoors today. I do not wish you to go beyond the play house; you may amuse yourself there if you are well wrapped up. Mary is ill and cannot attend to you when you are out of the nursery, so be a good girl, and mind me, and I know you will be glad when the evening comes.”

Alice kissed her mother, and she went away.

The first hour or two passed, and she was very happy; then she said,

“Nurse, may I go into the play house for a little while?”

“Yes, dear, if you don’t go further.

Off ran the little girl into a large outhouse which her papa and mamma had fitted up for her amusement, and there she had nice toys to play with, besides a seesaw and a rocking-horse. This afternoon she played contentedly for a little while but after a time she grew tired, and began to wonder why she might not run in the garden.

Presently as she was looking and longing to go, she saw her hoop lying on the gravel path some distance off.

“I am sure mamma would not wish that to stay there all night, for it might get spoiled if the rain should come; it could not be wrong to pick it up,” so she ran quickly down the path after it. When she reached the place where it lay, she caught sight of her swing under the trees.

“I must have two or three swings now I am here,” she said; and in a moment she had jumped upon it, and was passing backwards and forwards in the air.

Having so far disobeyed her mamma, it was easy to go further and though something told her she was doing wrong, she still went on and swung higher and higher, to keep her thoughts away from her mother’s last words.

No one could see her as she swung. for the trees and shrubs hid her from the sight of the house, so she spent half an hour in this way, feeling quite afraid to go in. But at last Alice grew so cold (for the wind was sharp and keen, and a mist was rising) that she was obliged to go, and you may imagine how frightened she felt when she caught sight of a servant who had come out to look for her.

Of course they scolded and told her she was a naughty girl, and little Alice had a miserable ending to what might have been a happy day. At eight o’clock her mamma was not home, so she was put to bed, but from the time she came in, she showed symptoms of a severe cold.

When her mamma returned, late in the evening, she went to her little girl’s bedside; there she found nurse in quite a frightened state. She said the child had been making such a dreadful noise in her throat, and seemed as if she would be choked.

“It is the croup,” said Mrs. Wells. “O, nurse, have you let her go out in this cold east wind?”

Then nurse was obliged to tell of what Alice had done, and how disobedient she had been.

Her mamma was very grieved and alarmed too, and sent off directly for the doctor. After a little while he came, and said it was a very bad attack, and for some little while they thought she would not get better; but at last she began to improve, and in three or four days after, was sitting on her mamma’s lap by the fire.

“O, Alice,” she said, “how grieved I am to hear of what you have done, and how you disobeyed me; it shows me, and show you too, what a naughty heart you have. You had everything to make you happy, and yet you longed after the one thing I denied. Are you sorry for what you have done?”

“I am, dear mamma,” sobbed Alice; “do forgive me.”

“I will, dear; but you have offended God, and He will not, cannot pardon you, unless your sin is put away from His sight. Can you do anything to wipe away the stain, this sin, and all your sins have made? For every sin you ever committed must be put away, or you can never get to heaven and be with Jesus.”

“No, mamma, I don’t think I can.”

“What did I do when I came home and found you ill?”

“You sent for the doctor, and he did me good.”

“Quite right; through God’s blessing it was so, and God says that you, and all in this world, have the disease of sin, and that it can only be taken away by going to the Great Physician. He alone can cure the sin-sick soul, and can you tell me who this is?”

“You mean Jesus Christ, do you not, mamma?”

“I do, dear; and if you go to Him and own what a sad state you are in—that you are stained with sin, and are not fit for God’s presence, He will save you, and wash you from your sins in His precious blood, and you will be blessed for evermore. So, I hope, dear Alice, you will go to Jesus today, own your sin before Him who loves you, and died for you, and you may be happier than you ever were in your life before.”

Children who read this, have you ever been disobedient or untruthful? I am afraid so. Then confess your sin before God, and come to Jesus, who is waiting to pardon you and to bless you, because He took the sinner’s place on the cross, and died that you might live.

“He loves to wash poor sinners clean

In His most precious blood,

And make them fit to stand again

Before a holy God.”

“And these shall spend eternity

Beneath their Saviour’s smile,

A brighter home than Eden’s theirs,

Where nothing can defile.”

ML 08/30/1925

I Have Given Myself to God

AT the time I am about to relate, Ethel was eight years old. She was one of many children who regularly came to our children’s services, and we often had little conversations with her. Although so young, she was thirsting for the water of the fountain of life.

One Sunday evening, she said to me, “I’ve given myself to God tonight,” and, then referring to the address, she said, “It was such a sweet story, that when it was over I was wishing it was going to be told all over again, and then it seemed as though Mr. —, the speaker, knew my thoughts, for he gave out the hymn;

‘Tell me the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.’

Why, here it is all over again, I thought, and just when the others were singing, I was giving myself to God.”

Dear little Ethel! she is now one of the number who are waiting to see the Lord Jesus face to face when He comes. Shortly after this, I found that Ethel was longing that her sister, too, might accept her Saviour.

ML 08/30/1925

King Solomon

King Solomon of old

A happy choice had made;

‘Twas not for life, ‘twas not for gold,

Nor honors that he prayed.

He chose that better part

That leads to heavenly joys,—

A wise and understanding heart;

And God approved the choice.

Far better than his crown,

And all his grand array;

That wisdom which the Lord sent down,

To guide him in his way.

If this is what we seek,

We cannot ask amiss;

The youngest, poorest child may speak,

And ask the Lord for this.

ML 08/30/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for July.

1.“And there came a voice,” etc. Mark 1:11.

2.“And He arose and,” etc. 4:39.

3.“Howbeit Jesus suffered him,” etc. 5:19.

4.“And He began to teach,” etc. 8:31.

5.“For whosoever shall give,” etc. 9:41.

6.“Heaven and earth shall,” etc. 13:31.

7.“And some began to spit on,” etc. 14:65.

Bible Questions for September

The Answers are to be found in the Gospel of John.

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “We have found Him.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Abideth on him.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Die in your sins.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Went forth to meet Him.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “They are not of the world.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be not faithless but believing.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Neither let it be afraid.”

ML 09/06/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua, Chapters 15 to 21.

IN these chapters we observe chiefly the exact possession of each tribe of the nine and one-half tribes who made their homes west of the Jordan. These details we shall not enter upon here; we may be sure that they will be read with the very greatest interest by the people of Israel in that time now fast approaching, when they are brought back to Canaan to possess their land as never before, when Israel’s Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2).

But we notice too that though the place for each tribe was definitely appointed by God, not one of them fully took possession. As to every one we are told that there was failure to drive out the enemies.

We must turn to the first chapter of Judges to find the full record as to this. “This story of human failure is repeated at every occasion throughout the Word of God. We found it in the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3; and in the brief statement about the world just before the Word in Genesis 6:5. We found “failure” written on Noah, head of a cleansed earth, when he became intoxicated in Genesis 9:20, 21; and we might mention portion after portion of the Scriptures to the same effect.

It is plain today, to spiritual minds. that the people of God have fallen very far short of taking possession of all that God has made theirs. His Word is plain but they have not made it their own.

There is one last enemy that will never he expelled until the Lord Jesus Himself takes His power, and that is Satan (Revelation 20:1-3), but whatever is permitted that is not of God in the lives and associations of God’s children, in its measure keeps them from the full enjoyment of the Christian’s portion. It is worldliness that causes much of the weakness and coldness of heart among believers today.

Summarizing the chapters: in 15, 10 and 17 we are told in turn of Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh taking their inheritance. In chapter 18, Joshua, after the tabernacle has been set up at Shiloh, seeks to stir the other tribes, because of their slackness in taking possession of the land (generally north of the first three tribes) and Benjamin’s portion is given. In chapter 19, Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Napthali and Dan in turn are located, and Joshua’s portion is given in Mount Ephraim.

In chapter 20, the cities of refuge west of the Jordan are appointed for the unintentional killer of a person; in this, as we have before noticed (Numbers 35). we see a picture of God’s provision of a Saviour for the lost, and of His actions toward Israel concerning the death of His Son, our Lord Jesus.

The 21St chapter gives the portions of the three divisions of the Levites. —Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites and the sons of Aaron. The closing three verses call for our particular attention: what is of God is perfect. He gave all the land, gave them rest, delivered their enemies into their hands, and nothing of which He had spoken to His people failed. Blessed be God. His ways are unchanging in love to His own, however they may (and do) fail.

Do you believe the testimony He has given concerning His Son: And if so, are you not moved to seek to have Christ for the very object of your heart—to live for Him?

ML 09/06/1925

"Jesus Died for Me"

I WAS at a large orphan home for boys. One little fellow attracted my attention, and I said to him,

“Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“Yes, sir,” was his prompt answer. “Why do you love Him?” I continued. “Because He first loved me,” he replied.

“And how do you know that He loved you?” I went on.

“Because He died for me, sir.” was his ready response.

That little boy loved the Lord Jesus because He first loved him, and he knew that Jesus loved him because He died for him.

Can you say truly, from your very heart,

“JESUS DIED FOR ME?”

If so, you know the Friend for little children, and, believing on Him, are saved for ever.

“I suppose you know that heaven is His Home? Who are going to be in that Home?”

“Those who love Jesus.”

Yes, all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Friend for little children.

Such a bright and blessed place it is. The Lord Jesus will be there we shall see His face, and His name will be in our foreheads (Rev. 22:3, 4).

In His presence there will be fulness of joy. No one will ever feel the pangs of hunger, nor will the tongue ever lie parched for want of water; sorrow and pain will be forever gone: and God will wipe away all tears from our eyes.

Many know by the grace of God that they will be there. and long even now to be gone to see that living, loving, precious Saviour who died for them. Well may they exclaim.

“O, what a Home! But such His love

That He must bring us there,

To fill that Home, to be with Him,

And all His glory share.

The Father’s house, the Father’s heart.

All that the Son is given

Made ours—the objects of His love

And He, our joy in heaven.”

May God grant that each one of you. dear boys and girls, may meet us in

The Home For Little Children, and then together we will sing the praises of Jesus throughout eternal day, for it is alone through Him, that we shall be found in “His Home.”

ML 09/06/1925

Digging Potatoes

I KNOW of nothing dear children, more interesting in nature than country life. We have an extensive country around our home town, and we so much enjoy driving out to the different farms with tracts and papers, at the same time watching the work of the farmer. It is especially refreshing in the summer time.

The old man and the women have come out to dig potatoes, and to lay some by for the winter. They are working hard and no doubt will be ready for a substantial dinner, after their hard toil in the heat.

Now, my dear young friends, God is speaking to you and me. He has placed man here to plant, but it is God who gives the increase. He has promised seed-time and harvest, and His word will never fail.

God has made the right kind of soil, and given the right degree of warmth. He gives the beautiful sunlight, the refreshing rain, and the gentle dew. If He had not done all this, nothing would grow. You and I are dependent on the goodness of God for our daily bread. How thankful we should be to Him. O, that our hearts may be in the spirit of praise continually.

But, dear children, there is a much deeper lesson in all this for us, than merely provision for our bodies. The soul is of much greater importance, and we long for the Word of God to have a place in your hearts.

There is much good seed being sown, which is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). How often, dear ones, you have listened to His Word at home, and in Sunday-school. Has the seed only fallen by the way side; and has Satan devoured it? That is what Satan does with many of your memory texts, and lessons. You forget them immediately.

Some fell on the rock, —perhaps a sprinkling of soft earth on the top, and rock beneath. This is like a boy or girl whose feelings are touched by the Word, but it never reaches the heart they are not saved.

Others hear, and go away, and the pleasures of the world choke the Word.

Now, boys and girls, it is only when the ground is plowed up by the Word, that is, when you feel the sinfulness of your heart, then you feel your need of a Saviour. This in Scripture, is called good ground. The seed falls into the heart, takes root and brings forth fruit—for Christ.

May your hearts, dear ones, be ready to receive the seed—The Word of God, and may it have power over your heart and conscience, bringing you to fully trust in a crucified and risen Christ.

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John, 12:24.

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

ML 09/06/1925

Good News

Good News! the blessed tidings hear,

And listen to it, children dear:

Though “Little ones,” it is for you,

And every precious word is true.

The news is this—God’s only Son,

The holy, blessed, spotless One,

Into this sinful world has been,

And died upon the cross for sin.

And now God sends the tidings forth,

To the remotest parts of earth,

That all who now in Christ believe,

Life, joy and peace at once receive.

‘Tis no hard work He bids you do.

But to believe the record true,

Which in His Holy Word is given,

Of how a child may get to heaven.

And, children dear, the Lord loves you,

Just now, as when on earth below:

Then trust His all-atoning blood,

Which brings the guilty nigh to God.

And you who have through grace believed,

Are with the Holy Spirit sealed;

So live to Him, who for you died,

Who for your sins was crucified.

ML 09/06/1925

Grandmother and Little Lucy

LUCY was a very thoughtful little girl. Her mother having died when she was a babe, she was obliged to go to her dear grandmother’s humble cottage, and there she received training that will remain with her as long as she lives.

Her own mother was careless and indifferent to God’s Word, not knowing the Lord Jesus as her own Saviour, and not having His Word stored in her heart, she was unable to bring up the little one “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). But God had His eye upon little Lucy, and provided a home for her, where each day she would listen to the reading of the Scriptures.

Grandmother loved the Lord Jesus, and loved His Word, and it was her delight to sit down with the little one for a reading, and explain many things that Lucy as yet could not understand.

Her little heart was opened, and she felt, although young, she was a sinner, so naughty and disobedient, and she longed to have her sins washed away in Jesus’ blood.

Her dear grandmother told her that Jesus was waiting to receive her, just as she was: waiting to pardon all her sins, and to receive her as His own little lamb.

“Will you come to Him, Lucy?”

“Yes, grandmother, I will come to Him now.” Grandmother went on to say,

“Remember, Lucy, He not only died for you, but He is living in heaven for you, —a dear loving Saviour. The eye of faith looks up and sees Him there.

Seeing Him there for you, dear, gives joy and peace.”

“WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS, (HE) SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH.” Heb. 1:3.

Now, my dear children, what about your never dying soul? O, that you may be awakened as to your condition before God. How often you have listened to the old, old, story of Jesus and His love, and many of you have passed it by, as an idle tale.

Remember, the message of salvation will soon cease, and the door of God’s grace for you will be closed for eternity.

“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14.

My dear friends, we plead with you again; Do come to Jesus now. He wants to save your never dying soul, He wants you among His sheep and lambs at His coming.

Christ is earnest; bids thee come,

Paid Redemption’s priceless sum:

Wilt thou spurn the Saviour’s love

Pleading with thee from above?

O, be earnest, do not stay;

Thou mayst perish, e’en today,

Rise, thou lost one, rise and flee,

Lo: thy Saviour waits for thee.

ML 09/13/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 22.

BEFORE ever the Jordan was crossed and the land entered by the children of Israel, the tribes of Reuben and Gad had chosen for their inheritance the country east of the river which was the proper boundary of Canaan. They had voiced their wishes in Numbers 32, and now that the war of conquest was ended, Joshua told them that they were free to return to their homes and with them were half the tribe of Manasseh. Had their uppermost thought been the God of Israel instead of their “very great multitude of cattle,” a safer place as well as a happier one on the west of the Jordan would have been their choice.

The opening verses of our chapter show that they had been obedient in the matters spoken of, but verse 5 discloses the feeling of danger that Joshua had about them when the Jordan should separate the two and a half tribes from the rest of the nation. Anything short of the place of God’s appointment for His children is indeed a source of danger to them, and we are not surprised to find in 2 Kings 10:32,33 that the king of Syria attacked the tribes east of the Jordan and took part of their land, while 1 Chronicles 5:20 records their being all carried away captive by the Assyrian kings nineteen years before the remaining portions of the Kingdom of Israel and 1:12 years before the Kingdom of Judah was brought to an end.

Not quite at ease, realizing- that they were not in the full divine position of the nine and one-half tribes, the children of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built a “great altar to see to” by the Jordan at the place where the nation had crossed when entering the land. This monument, by which they intended to show their oneness with Israel, aroused their brethren across the Jordan to go to war with the builders. With earnest words (verses 10-20) they addressed them, reminding the two and one-half tribes of the iniquity of Peor and of Achan, and inviting them to “pass over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth and take possession among” them. The answer of the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites (verses 21-29) showed that they meant nothing wrong, so the others returned to their homes.

It will be noticed that the settling on the east of Jordan was not after seeking direction from God, and the erection of the great altar was likewise a human expedient; their own wisdom led the people to these things: not the Word of God. Complications arise and human expedients seem necessary only when the true path of obedience is given up, for a worldly one.

ML 09/13/1925

The Solemn Question

HAVE you ever thought, my dear children, of measuring eternity, of conceiving it as a period of time which has no beginning, and which shall have no end?

If you have not, may God in His grace lead you to think of it as He led a boy of my acquaintance several years ago.

As I thought you might like to hear his story, I will relate it to you as briefly as I can.

That boy had just left home to go and reside in a distant city.

Free from parental control, and having not the fear of God, he plunged boldly into sin. Do not believe he was happy, however, for though the satisfaction of his lusts, whose slave he was, gave him momentary enjoyment, but “there is no peace for the wicked.”

One day, as he was walking alone, his thoughts took a serious turn: eternity was the subject; he tried hard to compass it, but he felt altogether his inability to measure with his finite intelligence what was really infinite, and he dropped the subject, which was far from pleasant to him, but which had presented itself to his mind in such a persistent way, that he had not been able to shake it off.

It was God Himself who was beginning to work in his soul, as you will see.

A few evenings afterward, he heard, as if it were a voice, putting to him this question:

“If you were to die tonight, where would your soul go?”

“To hell forever!” he had to answer.

His conscience had at last been roused to its utmost depth. He felt himself a lost sinner, undone and justly doomed by a holy God to an eternity of woe.

Fully realizing the peril of his situation, but hoping there might perhaps be a deliverance for him, he quickened his steps, ran up to his room, lit his lamp, took his Testament from the bottom of his trunk, and began eagerly to read it.

The more he read the worse he felt, until in his agony he dropped on his knees and cried to God for mercy.

He found peace that very night, and without any human instrumentality whatever, but he was led by the Holy Spirit. through the Scriptures, to believe that the Lord Jesus had borne his sins on the cross, and that though his sins were as red as scarlet they had been washed as white as snow in the precious blood of the Lamb of God.

And the following morning, when he went down to his breakfast, his heart was overflowing with peace, joy and praise, and he could not but speak to others of the great good God had done to his soul.

Now, my dear children, let me in all love ask you the same question that was asked of this boy:

“If you were to die tonight where would your soul go? To an eternity of bliss with the Lord and the redeemed; or to an eternity of woe with Satan and his angels?”

May you take the place of lost sinners before God, and believe that He so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

"That's Me: That's My Prayer"

POOR Hottentot in South Africa lived with a God-fearing man, who kept up family prayer daily. One day the latter read from Luke 18.

“Two men went up into the temple to pray.”

The poor savage, whose heart had been touched with the finger of God, looked up with deepest interest as these words fell from the reader’s lips, and whispered,

“Now I’ll learn how to pray.” The man continued until he had reached the words,

“God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men,” when again the Hottentot whispered, and this was what he said,

“No, I’m not; I’m not; but I’m worse.” Again the man read,

“I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” And again there was a whisper,

“I don’t do that; I can’t pray like that; what shall I do?” said the distressed savage. The reading was continued until they came to “the publican, standing afar off.”

“That’s where I am!” cried the poor African.

“Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,” read the other.

“No more can I,” said the Hottentot. “But smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

“That’s me; that’s any prayer!” cried the poor creature aloud now, being too deeply moved to confine himself to whispers, and smiting on his dark breast, he prayed,

“God be merciful to me a sinner,” like the poor publican had done, and he at once became a saved and a happy man.

The word was mixed with faith—how truly how simply! He appreciated it, and thus it was he appropriated it, and he was saved by the blood of Christ. Dear reader, are you?

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

ML 09/13/1925

Come to Him and Live

Ho! ye thirsty, Jesus calls you,

Jesus came to give

Wine and milk of free salvation;

Come to Him and live.

Whosoever will may take it!

Hear the Gospel cry;

Without price and without money,

Come to Him and buy.

Wherefore do you toil and labor

Where there is no bread?

Only by the living Saviour

Dying souls are fed.

None can be too vile for Jesus,

None can be too poor;

By His blood are peace and pardon,—

Mercies ever sure.

O, His tender love and pity!

Still He calls today:

Never one to Him who cometh

Shall be cast away.

From all sin He came to save us;

Satan’s slaves to free;

To His royal feast He bids us;

Children, taste and see.

ML 09/13/1925

The Three Enemies

WE can see in the picture that the poor little rat has three powerful enemies—the dog, the cat, and the trap. We see too that it has been caught in the trap and the dog and the cat would both like to have a meal off of it, but instead, are quarreling with each other.

Now dear children, all who believe in the Lord Jesus still find themselves very weak, and have three strong enemies— the world, the flesh, and the devil. A dear brother was explaining to us about them thus: It is like a fort with one enemy, the flesh, inside; and two outside, —the world and the devil. Satan comes to us, and presents something of the world that the flesh likes very much, and unless we are on our guard, the door of the fort is opened, and we have been caught.

But, dear children, there is no excuse for our being caught, because the Lord Jesus conquered that great enemy of our souls when He died for us, and now we can always draw strength from Him to meet every temptation. In order to do this, we must have our minds set on Him and that will keep the flesh in the place of being dead to the world, so we can say with the apostle Paul.

“GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.” Gal. 6:14.

ML 09/20/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 23.

JOSHUA was now not far from the age of Moses at the time of his death (Deuteronomy 84:7; Joshua 24: 29), and was himself soon to die.

Although he would soon be gone from their sight, the Lord their God was still, as always, the resource of the people if they would but seek Him. Joshua commends them to the Word of God (verse 6) to keep all that is in it, turning not aside to the right hand or the left. The ungodly among them were a source of weakness (verse 7), but they were to cleave to the Lord: He would fight for them while they remained faithful to Him. They must be separate from the ungodly (verse 12), or the chastening hand of God would be on them.

Here then was the testimony of their aged leader: “Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you: all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Yet Joshua solemnly predicts (verses 15 and 16) the departure of the people from God, and of their removal from the land for which He brought them out of Egypt to possess.

God cannot, and will not, go on with His people in independence of Himself; holiness must be maintained. And yet how great is His patience; His love how amazing!

ML 09/20/1925

How Would the Unconverted Feel in Heaven?

IT was Lord’s Day evening and pleasant group were gathered round a cheerful fire. The countenances of parents and children showed that it had been a happy day.

“Come, George,” said the father, “what did you have at Sunday-school today?”

“Well, father, the teacher said one thing I would like to ask you about. Our lesson was John 3. Christ said to Nicodemus, ‘Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

“This is a most important subject, my boy. We cannot hear of it too often.”

“But, father, here is what the teacher said: not only, we cannot get to heaven without a new life from above, but even if we could, we would not be happy there. Now that seems very strange; I thought everybody would like to be in heaven.”

“Yes, my son, I dare say they would wish to escape going to hell; and if it were possible for unsaved boys or girls to get into heaven, they would be most miserable. Take your Bible, and read Rev. 21:27,

‘There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life,’ and, my boy, remember. Jesus continued to lay before Nicodemus atonement through Himself lifted up on the cross, and God’s free love to a perishing world. Faith accepts God’s precious gift the Lord Jesus, who died for your sins. Will you take Him now as your Saviour? His blood, and that alone, will wash away your sins. Then grace will enable you to say, Heaven is my Home. You will then be happy, knowing that through Christ’s death and resurrection, you have been made fit for that Home.”

May each reader be able to sing,

“We know there’s a bright and a glorious Home,

Away in the heavens high.

Where all the redeemed shall with Jesus dwell,

But will you be there and I?

If you take the loving Saviour now,

Who for sinners once did die,

When He gathers His own in that bright Home,

Then you’ll be there and I.”

ML 09/20/1925

The Soldier's Letter

“Dear Madam,

THIS comes from the once little Tommy King, the orphan boy, who used to be in your Bible class when you lived at B—. I am a dying soldier now, in a hospital in India. When you receive this letter, I shall be with Christ in the happy land, ‘not far away’ of which we used to sing in the Sunday-school. You will be glad to hear that I am a sinner saved by God’s grace.

The texts of Scripture, learned when in your class, have been blessed of God by His Spirit to me. One text,

‘I am the way, and the truth and the life,’ is especially precious; and I am so happy; I often think of those happy times when you read the Word of God to us, and we sang together,

‘In heaven we’ll part no more.’

I write this to cheer you, and to beg of you not to give up your Bible class, but to go on telling poor little orphan boys and girls of the Good Shepherd, who came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Such was the message received by a Christian lady who, many years before, had held meetings in her house on Lord’s day afternoons, for the boys and girls of the village.

All believers have some work to do for the Lord Jesus. It may be but a little but let us do that little. A simple word spoken to some companion school mate or friend; a tract put into the hand of a passer-by may be seed sown in good ground, which sooner or later, will bring forth fruit to the Saviour’s glory.

“My Word ... .shall not return unto, Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isa. 55:11.

ML 09/20/1925

Harry's Flower

HARRY had a dear kind father who loved him tenderly, and taught him many wise and good lessons.

His father was taken ill, but when he recovered he could not take such long walks as he had been used to so in the fine weather his easy chair was brought into the garden, and he sat there and enjoyed the fresh breezes, and the pretty sights around him.

Harry came running up to him one afternoon with a flower, which he had picked expressly for his father. Its delicate, white blossoms were encircled by dark green leaves. A few of the leaves had fallen away from the rest, and were drooping, but the others, fresh and vigorous stood erect around the flowers.

His father looked long and intensely at it, “Father, what do you think this flower makes me think of?”

“I do not know, my son,” he answered smiling.

“It makes me think of Jesus.”

“How so, Harry?”

“Because father, I think those beautiful white flowers resemble Him, and those green leaves that look so fresh, are like the Christians that get near to Christ and trust Him. They are bright and happy, you know, father those poor leaves that are almost dead, and hang down so sadly, are like the persons who are far away from Christ. They can’t be happy, you know, father, because they don’t love Him enough to get near to Him.”

“I am glad, dear Harry,” he said, “that your flower gives you such sweet thoughts of Christ. Will you always try and keep close to Him, Harry? You may not have your father with you very much longer, but if Jesus Christ is your Friend and Saviour, and you keep close to Him, you will not be lonely or unhappy.”

I am sure each young believer, and older ones too, will perceive the lesson for us in Harry’s flower.

The more closely we adhere to Christ and to Him, alone, the stronger and safer we shall be, as one has said,

“To have Him as a perfect covering for our eyes, to keep close to Him—fast by His side—this is our safe-guard.”

May each redeemed one, “Cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart.”

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

ML 09/20/1925

Come to the Lord Jesus Christ Now

YES! in your youth, in the bright, fresh spring-time of your life, while all is sunny before you, and while you are strong, remember your Creator. Give God your early days, your best days. How many a one has lamented in middle life that he did not give himself up to God in his youth!

“I am brought to God,” said one to us not long since, “but I have one deep regret, I have lived till my hair has grown grey and my strength has failed without Him. O, that I had turned to God in my youth!”

May our dear children be able to truthfully say,

“Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.” Psa. 71:5.

ML 09/20/1925

God Loved the World

God loved the world. His Son He gave.

Happy news! happy news!

And Jesus died our souls to save.

Happy news! happy news!

Yes, on the cross His blood was shed.

He suffered in the sinner’s stead.

Ascended now, He’s Lord and Head.

Happy news! happy news!

From heaven He’s saying unto all,

“Come to Me! come to Me!”

O! hearken to His gracious call:

“Come to Me! come to Me!

“Come ye who are by sin oppressed,

“Recline upon My loving breast,

“And find in Me eternal rest.

“Come to Me! come to Me!”

He welcomes now, He calls today.

Hear His voice! hear His voice!

Why should ye tarry, why delay?

Hear His voice! hear His voice!

Soon shall His own to Him arise,

To dwell with Him above the skies.

Come now to Him; today be wise.

Hear His voice! hear His voice!

Soon every knee to Him shall bow;

Jesus, Lord! Jesus, Lord!

How blest are they who own Him now,

Jesus, Lord! Jesus, Lord!

For all who have confessed Him here,

With Him in glory shall appear;

Mine all His foes shall see with fear,

Jesus Lord! Jesus Lord!

ML 09/20/1925

The Kind Brother

SCHOOL was out for the day, and John was running home with his bag of books, glad to be out in the fresh air.

He was thinking of having some fun out of doors after spending so many hours in school.

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

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

Now can you tell me of One who never sought to please Himself, but always did the will of His Father. I know you will say, It was the Lord Jesus. Yes. He came down from heaven to do the Father’s will, and the will of God was that He should go to the cross and there suffer and die for sinners, that all who believe in Him might have their sins put away, and become children of God.

Put your trust in Him and believe that He died for you, and you will have the joy of knowing that you belong to Him. Then you will seek to please Him by being kind and gentle to others.

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

ML 09/27/1925

Bible Lessons

Joshua 24.

IF the address of Joshua in the 23rd chapter is general in its bearing that of this chapter is detailed and pointed. The fathers of this people had been idol worshipers, living on the other side of the “flood” (the river Euphrates is meant). Their history under God’s powerful, protecting hand is given in the verses ending with 13. This was all the exercise of the unwearied grace of God toward His earthly people, and should have moved them to confess their utter failure. But instead, when asked by Joshua “Choose you this day whom ye will serve”—the gods of idolatry or the true God,—and Joshua giving his own testimony: “But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” the people answered, “We also will serve the Lord for He is our God” (verse 18), and again, upon Joshua’s solemn reply, “Ye cannot serve the Lord; for He is an holy God: He is a jealous God.” their rejoinder is, “Nay but we will serve the Lord.” Then said Joshua, “Ye are witnesses against yourselves, that ye have chosen the Lord, to serve Him.” “Put away the strange gods that are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.”

How like the scene at Mount Sinai this is, and yet how utterly without thought as to their own history from the Red Sea to the Jordan and since, was the confident promise of Israel to serve Him, Whom they as a nation had never really served, and against Whom they had rebelled in heart and in action not a few times, —and they had even now idols among them! Grace was what they needed, not law, but to law they cling, though it pronounced their ruin.

It should however he observed that the people spoke as they did in some knowledge of and dependence upon the power of God. They had not yet lost the realization of that power acting on their behalf, though their own unfaithfulness was proved by the presence among them of enemies who should have been totally removed, had there been true devotedness to God.

How similar to the Church of God ever since the days of the apostles! Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua. and all the days of the elders who outlived him, and had known all the works of the Lord that He had done for Israel (verse 31).

The book of Joshua has shown us the power of God to bring His people into possessions, into blessings (as identified with Christ in His death and resurrection), beyond forgiveness of sins typified in the passover in Egypt, Exodus 12), beyond redemption, deliverance from Satan’s power (typified in the crossing of the Red Sea, Exodus 14), and beyond the blessings and mercies of the wilderness which followed.

And what are these blessings which are not realized until the soul of the believer apprehends his death and resurrection with Christ? The present realization of the believer’s eternal portion; his inheritance in Christ in glory, —in brief, what the Epistle to the Ephesians sets forth (see chapters 1 and 2). Together with the blessings, is a warfare with Satan, not known before. May God grant to us who trust in His Word, to be more zealous to enter into what He has opened up to us.

ML 09/27/1925

Is Life so Soon Over?

BE ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matt. 24:44.

In these closing days of God’s grace, we see on every hand, and feel the carelessness and indifference of boys and girls toward God’s offer of salvation. The young minds are taken up with that which Satan is holding out to them, and closing their ears to God’s Word.

“He that hath an ear to hear, let him bear.”

God loves you too well, to allow you to be banished from His presence for eternity. He therefore sends another cry of warning, dear ones.

If today, you were laid upon a bed of sickness, and you were told by your doctor that it was only a matter of a few hours, and all would be over; or if the Lord should come for His redeemed ones, where would eternity find your soul? This is a most searching question my friends.

A few months ago, a merchant was attacked suddenly by internal disease, death came on with rapid pace, all that money could procure or friends devise, was sought to no avail. Physicians from the city were consulted, but no relief could be given. How did death find him, dear ones. It found him surrounded by all the comforts and luxuries a large and increasing income could give. But O! that was only outward life; he was following the devises of his own evil heart, and walking after the course of an ungodly world.

During the time of his short illness, he steadily refused to see any who would speak to him of a Saviour’s love. He had closed his ears and heart against God and His Word.

A few moments before he died, he turned his eyes to his wife, and said,

“Is life so soon over? Is it so soon over?”

Was this not a very sad ending? “After death the judgment.”

O! dear unsaved soul, may God awaken you.

“Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 3:7.

“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. Eph. 5:14.

ML 09/27/1925

Afraid of God

SOME years ago, a band of missionaries in the Fiji Islands found their home surrounded by a troop of savages armed for battle. Being both unable and unwilling to fight, they shut their door, and began to pray.

Presently the howling of the savages ceased. Then one of the missionaries went out and found only one savage there.

“Where are your chiefs?” said the missionary.

“They are gone. They heard you praying to your God; and they know your God is a strong God; and they are gone.”

The savages were right at last. God is a strong God; strong to help those who love Him; strong to punish His enemies. This strong God is the friend of little children. What good news this is for the weak and helpless.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress. and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.” Psa. 18:2.

ML 09/27/1925

Good News!

DEAR friend, you may be saved as you read these lines: —

Why? —Because Christ died for sinners (1 Peter 2:24).

How? —Believe on the Lord

Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).

When? Now, or it may be never (2 Cor. 6:2).

Where? —Just where you are (Luke 14: 21-23).

Who? —The ungodly (Rom. 5:6).

From what? —From the wrath of God (John 3:36).

To what? —To peace with God and glory to come (Rom. 5:1, 2).

ML 09/27/1925

Little Elsie's Prayer

A little girl, named Elsie,

Of four or five years old

(Whose parents were in heaven

And safe in Jesus’ fold),

Was taught in early childhood

To love His precious name:

And in His Word believing,

A Christian thus became.

Now Elsie had a brother,

And Jesus was his joy;

She also had another,

A wild and wayward boy.

And by his naughty manners,

His sister’s heart he grieved,

She wished he loved the Saviour,

And on His name believed.

One day her elder brother

Met Elsie on the stairs,

Her face seemed full of sorrow,

Her mind seemed full of cares.

“What ails my little Elsie?

And what has made her cry?”

But Elsie seemed unwilling

To tell the reason why.

He lovingly embraced her,

And asked her yet again—

“What is the little trouble

Which gives my sister pain?”

At length she gently whispered,

While looking on the floor,

“I’se just been asking Jesus”—

And then she said no more!

Her brother seemed astonished

(But joy was in his face)

To find his little sister

Had sought the throne of grace.

Then Elsie, gaining courage,

Her secret told to him—

“I’se just been asking Jesus.

To save dear brother Jim!”

“Pray on, my little sister,”

Her brother then replied,

“And always go to Jesus,

And in His love confide;

For He is ever faithful

To those who trust in Him;

And may our gracious Jesus

Soon save dear brother Jim.

“For even naughty children

Are objects of His care:

No doubt that He will answer

My little sister’s prayer.

He bids us not be weary.

But always watch and pray,

And from a child’s petition

He will not turn away.

“And though He is in glory,

And angels worship Him,

He hears the prayer of Elsie,

To save dear brother Jim.”

ML 09/27/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for August

1.“And He went down with,” etc. Luke 2:51.

2.“And the Holy Ghost,” etc. 3:22.

3.“And He said to them all,” etc. 9:23.

4.“Also I say unto you,” etc. 12:8.

5.“And He said unto him,” etc. 16:31.

6.“Behold My hands and My,” etc. 24:39.

7.“And if he trespasses against,” etc. 17:4.

Bible Questions for October

The Answers are to be found in Acts

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “In like manner.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “None other name.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Looked up steadfastly.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “His chains fell off.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “He will judge the world.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “To build you up.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “From darkness to light.”

ML 10/04/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 1

JUST a word, first, about this book: it is the history of failure on the people’s part, and of God’s delivering them again and again when their disregard of Him and His word brought them into slavery. At first, when Joshua was but lately dead, there was some spiritual energy and of this we read in the opening chapters. But the book is a record of increasing sin, each revival followed by greater decline.

The children of Israel did well indeed, in asking God for guidance (verse 1), and great encouragement they received in the answer (verse 2): “Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.” The sequel, too, in verse 4: “Judah went up and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hand” shows the reward of those who put their trust in God.

The captured king, Adoni-bezek, (his name means “Lord of lightning”) had that done to him which he had done to others. He had to own, “as I have done, so God hath requited me” (verse 7). No power can withstand God, however great its boasting.

In the 10th verse we learn of the slaying of Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmiai, of whom mention was made by the spies in their report to the people of Israel in Numbers 13:22, 28, 33; and by Moses in Deuteronomy 9:2. Caleb, we were told in Joshua 15:14, had driven these giants out, and here but a line or two is taken to record their being put to death at the hands of the people of Judah.

Fear of these men had been used by Satan to keep the people out of the inheritance God had provided for them. “We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight”, said the spies, but their children, going in God’s strength to the battle, are quickly victorious. “There be more with us than with him” (the enemy), 2 Chronicles 32:7.

Next we have examples of individual faith in Caleb, Othniel and Achsah, first given to us in Joshua 15, and as it appears, faith on the part of some who were not of Israel (verse 16), in forsaking the city of palm trees (thought to be the cursed ruins of Jericho) for the company of God’s people. Again Judah and Simeon are seen warring against their enemies, “and the Lord was with Judah” (verse 19), but their faith in Him was not sufficient for victory over those whose chariots were of iron.

The fourth chapter shows us something different in this respect (verses 13-16, etc.), where the army of Sisera with “nine hundred chariots of iron” was destroyed after the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of twenty years of cruel oppression (verse 3).

Seven of the tribes of Israel, —Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali and Dan did not drive out the former inhabitants, and no doubt these latter went on with their idolatry and the wickedness which they practiced along with it. Very soon the Israelites became like those who lived among them, as we may see from chapter 2.

The two-and one-half tribes east of the Jordan are not included in this chapter, —Reuben, Gad, and the half of Manasseh, —but this leaves Issachar not mentioned. Do we find the explanation in what was said by Jacob of him in Genesis 49:14, 15?

O, that God’s people today were stirred in their hearts to serve Him first! To consider their own comfort last!

ML 10/04/1925

"A Penny for Your Thoughts"

ONCE on a long summer’s evening, after the busy day had closed, and the sun was setting in all its beauty and splendor, showing the sky as only it can be seen in the east, my ship was lying in a lonely bay; and having had a hot day, I was glad to retire, as was my usual custom, up into the netting, or sides of the ship, and there to pour out my heart unhindered to the Lord, and gather grace and strength to go on again. I had just heard about the coming of the Lord in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and was looking with joy to meet Him, knowing it was the same Jesus who died for me, and had washed me from all my sins in His own blood.

I earnestly longed to be changed, and made like Him, and with rapturous emotion I yearned to cast my crown at His feet, to worship and adore Him unceasingly. While looking on the horizon, clothed with gold and radiant colors, wondering what the coming of Jesus would be like, a young man, a boat mate of mine, jumped up, and found me looking intently into space, and said abruptly,

“A penny for your thoughts.”

His name was James, he was rather a reserved young man, yet he always tried to enjoy himself, as he said, “because it can’t last.”

I drew him towards me, and said, “Jimmy, I will tell you my thoughts without the penny;” and pointing to the rays of the departing sun, said, “Do you know that Jesus is coming quickly, perhaps before the morrow’s sun rises? He will come and take all who love Him to Himself, and then, if you are not saved, you will be left behind for judgment.”

James did not like this kind of talk, he wanted to get away at once, so I said, “You may never hear it again; may the Lord give you the hearing ear now,” and I told him, of Jesus, “mighty to save.”

He had heard of God as a great God, and a righteous God, but never as a God of love. The story of His love broke him down, and he was very unhappy; he soon ran away, on another Christian man making his appearance, so I prayed earnestly to the Lord for him.

The next morning I found him in no mood to talk, but faith looked up for him, and he became wretched, and I rejoiced to see him so. Do you wonder at this? Ah! dear little ones, God had touched his heart, and he was looking at himself in all his sins; he might well be cast down.

The time soon came when light began to dawn on his soul. I pointed him to the words in the Bible, “He hath made peace by the blood of His cross.” Ah! this did it; the darkness soon vanished, and he exclaimed, “I see it now, it is not me, but the blood.” And ofttimes when speaking to a dear doubting Christian he would say,

“John, if you want to be happy, as you turn into your hammock, and cover your blanket over you, believe in the blood as sufficient to cover you,” then he would look up into his face, and repeat, “God looks at the blood, you know.” James delighted to tell of this Jesus, who loved him so, and called himself a stranger to anyone who did not bow to His name.

One day a gentleman addressed him, saying, “Have I not seen you somewhere?” With a sweet smile, he said,

“I don’t know! do you know Jesus?” The gentleman, surprised, said,

“No, I do not; I wish I did.” He then heard what the Lord had done for sinners.

Now, dear ones, in conclusion, I ask you James’s question:

“Do you know Jesus?” It is eternal life to know Him! as it is written, “and this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Then bow your knee now, believe the word now, accept His salvation now, for to you is the word of this salvation sent:

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

ML 10/04/1925

The Best Home

HAPPINESS in a home is not the result of having beautiful things around, but by knowing the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Friend. In our picture they all seem to be happy and yet they are in humble circumstances.

You may have a beautiful home in the city, or a beautiful home in the mountains, or a beautiful home in the country, or a beautiful home by the sea. Have You a beautiful Home in heaven?

How is it with you, dear children? You may have a happy home here, but sooner or later you will have to leave it, and leave the world altogether. Have you a home for eternity? You may have a happy home for ever, if you, accept Jesus as your Saviour.

There’s a home for little children,

Above the bright blue sky;

Where Jesus reigns in glory,

A home of peace and joy.

No home on earth is like it,

Or can with it compare;

For everyone is happy,

Nor could be happier there.

“WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EL CHANGE FOR HIS SOUL.” Matt. 16:26.

ML 10/04/1925

Bring the Little Ones to Jesus

Bring the little ones to Jesus,

They to Him belong;

He will keep them, love them, guide them,

Shield them from the wrong.

Bring the little ones to Jesus

How He loves them all!

He is calling you to seek them;

Will you heed His call?

Bring the little ones to Jesus;

Tell them of His love,—

How He bled and died to have them

In His home above.

Bring the little ones to Jesus;

You will find true joy

Bringing to the blessed Saviour

Each dear girl and boy.

Bring the little ones to Jesus

Who for sinners died;

And in heaven you’ll find blessing

At His precious side.

Bring the little ones to Jesus

Teach them of His Word,

How the prophets told about Him,—

Dear and gracious Lord.

Bring the little ones to Jesus;

And they too will tell

Others of His love and mercy

Till with Him we dwell.

ML 10/04/1925

The Rising Tide

OUR two friends were enjoying themselves by climbing the great rocks by the sea, but they had not noticed that the tide was coming in, which would prevent them from returning to their home.

What could they do? They could not climb any higher to get away from the rising water. They were indeed in a dangerous position.

Could they—would they be saved?

How like this is to the condition of many a sinner! He sees the tide of judgment rolling in. He cannot climb the precipitous cliffs of safety by his good works. What can he do? Can he be rescued? “What must I do to be saved?” may well be his agonizing cry.

Happily, for the two girls, their need was seen and a boat came to their rescue.

And happily for the sinner his peril has been seen, and the way of salvation has been provided. The Lord Jesus came and suffered and died in order that He might reach and rescue us.

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

“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE.” John 3:36.

ML 10/11/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 2

WE noticed in our reading of the book of Joshua, the special place given to Gilgal; there the twelve memorial stones were placed that were taken out of the Jordan; there the Israelites were circumcised (type of separation from the system of things in which the unsaved live), and the reproach of Egypt was rolled away. Gilgal was the first camp in the land, —the starting point in taking possession of it, and the place to which Joshua returned after each campaign. Here we learn that God was there (verse 1).

But the people have not obeyed His voice, and they have sunk to the level of the inhabitants of the land, and the angel of the Lord quits Gilgal, going to Bochim, to the place of weeping, declaring that He will no longer drive out the enemy whom Israel had spared. The tears (verse 4) are for lost blessings, and God accepts them, because His relationship to the people is not altered. This change from Gilgal, the place where self is, so to speak, buried, and divine power supplied, to Bochim, the place of tears, is the key to the book of Judges and it expresses so often the condition of God’s children in our own day.

From verse 6 of this chapter to verse 7 in the third chapter we are given the historical development of the position of Israel. Like the assembly or Church of God, —preserved during the lives of the apostles, and then falling into unfaithfulness and rebellion, mixing with the unbelieving, and so getting deeper into ungodliness, —so it was in this earlier day with Israel. While Joshua lived and the elders that outlived him, the people served the Lord (verse 7), but another generation arose (verse 10), and they did evil in the sight of the Lord and served Baalim. This worship of Baal, the chief male god (Ashtaroth—verse 13—was the chief female god) of the Canaanites, persisted in Israel until the last, although it was almost entirely stopped under Samuel and Jehu, and in Elijah’s day all his prophets were killed.

Accordingly, the hand of God was against Israel (verse 15) and they were “greatly distressed”; nevertheless He raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who oppressed them. Then we get the sad record about the people in verses 1 and 19 that they would not listen to the judges, and went after other gods.

This has ever been the history of the people of God, true in all dispensations and in all periods of time, though He in grace has raised up repeatedly devoted ones who gave their lives for Him.

Yet there is a deeper question: As we consider these people of a long past period, has the reader himself peace with God? His word declares how that peace is obtained.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1, 2. There is no other way but through Jesus and by His shed blood!

Do not rest in your feelings, but in Christ and His work on the cross, dying as the divine Substitute for sinners who trust in Him.

ML 10/11/1925

Lisbeth

THE following true account was given to the writer by her parents. Lisbeth was a happy child, and even in her early childhood her heart was filled with sincere love for the Saviour. It was a real joy to her to go to Sunday-school, or to the meetings of Christians, giving heed to all that was said. In Sunday-school her teachers were often astonished at her answers concerning the Lord and His Word. Her young heart belonged entirely to the Lord; the poor and sick were often visited with refreshments, and she also took gospel tracts to them.

Young as she was, she lived a life of prayer; never going to school or studying her lessons without kneeling before the Lord, asking His help. Yet in all this she was often misunderstood by others, and had to bear much ridicule, but this did not make her waver, for her godliness was real, —the result of inward convictions. Indeed, she had no greater joy than to sing hymns to Him Whom she loved.

But this happy and blessed life was, according to the unsearchable wisdom of God, to be of short duration. When she was nine years old, she was taken sick with Diphtheria, and for seven weeks she suffered much; yet in all this long, trying time, she never murmured. For several weeks she was not able to speak.

One Lord’s Day afternoon she said to her father: “I am going home,” and she asked for her mother, brother and sister; who came and stood weeping around her bed. She said,

“Do not weep when I go home; when the Lord Jesus comes you will be there too. We shall meet again.” She folded her hands and prayed,

“I thank Thee, dear Saviour, that Thou hast died for my sins and also for me. I am one of Thy sheep. Thou art my Good Shepherd, dear Saviour, Thou didst have to bleed at Golgotha for us. Thou wert scourged and mocked. Thy dear hands had to be pierced with nails. There Thou didst have to cry out: ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ Thou hast also received the thief on the cross, saying: ‘Today thou shalt be with Me in paradise.’ Accept thanks for it all.”

A few minutes later she added: “O, that I were already there. Dear Saviour, take me today, while it is yet light, or in the night.” Then she lay still, her eyes looking up as though she saw something. Her mother asked,

“Darling, what do you see?”

“An angel is bringing me a white robe,” she answered, “and another one a golden crown. In the midst is the Saviour—, and I am, not yet at home.”

Her mother asked: “Darling, how does the Saviour appear?”

“He is smiling so sweetly, O, that I could describe that glory to you! Come, dear Saviour, take Thy little lamb home!”

After a while she looked around the room and said;

“There where your are, dear mother and father and sister, it is light; but where Richard is standing, it is dark.”

Richard was at that time about fourteen years old. He had long known that he was a sinner, and that without possessing the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and receiving the forgiveness of his sins, he would be forever lost; but he had not yet accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. When at this moment he heard from the lips of his dear sister, this strange, and to him so important remark, it moved his innermost soul. He went into an adjoining room, threw himself upon his knees, and cried as a lost, guilty sinner to the Saviour for mercy. It was not in vain: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

The truth of this word Richard proved at that hour. In the meantime his dying sister was praying for her unconverted brother. After a while she prayed:

“Dear Saviour! Thou hast helped me in school, hast given me good reports, hast guided and protected me. Accept thanks for it all! O, dear Saviour, convert also my dear grandfather, and explain to him all that Thy Bible says. O, that many sinners may yet be converted to Thee, Amen.”

Richard had by this time re-entered the room. Then the patient looked at all of them, and said: “Now it is light where Richard is standing too.”

At four o’clock in the morning she took leave of her dear ones, saying, “Till we meet again with the Lord! When the sun rises I shall be with Him.” At dawn she spoke her last words:

“Come, dear Saviour, for Thy little lamb, and lead me by Thy hand into the Father’s house!” At nine o’clock she spread out her little arms and— was at home with the Lord. When she drew her last breath, they all wept. Much had they lost, yet they did not wish her back again. To be with Jesus, is “far better” (Phil. 1:23). This assurance comforted them.

ML 10/11/1925

A Little Boy's Prayer

I KNEW a little boy who had done something wrong and had been hiding it all day. It was only a small wrong that he had done, and many children do the same thing and have no conscience about it.

But Arthur could not forget it. He had gone to the cupboard and taken some sugar. He ate it and went back to his play as if nothing had happened.

All that day Arthur was unhappy; and conscience, like a voice within him, seemed to remind him of what he had done. It was like darkness in his heart which he could not shake off.

At last, when bedtime came, and he had said “good-night” to his grandmother, he went upstairs in his little room and his aunt kneeled down beside him and began to pray.

Presently she found that Arthur was really praying himself, while she said the words. He looked up for a moment and said, “Tell God about that sugar, auntie.”

Many of our young readers may think the act of taking sugar when no one is looking is such a small wrong, but, dear children, one who will begin by taking sugar or any other small thing when he thinks no one is looking, in later years will take things of more value, which is sure to end in serious trouble.

I beg of you, dear children, do not take anything that is not your own, no matter how small it may seem, but ask for what you want and get the consent of the one who owns it, that you may have it. Then you will be happy about it.

“Let him that stole, steal no more.” Eph. 4:28.

Arthur went to bed feeling so much happier than he had been all day, before he had told the truth about what only God and Arthur himself knew.

This shows us that when anything wrong has been done, the only way to get forgiveness and be relieved from the sorrow it brings, is to confess it to God, and if we have wronged any one to confess it to him also.

“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.

ML 10/11/1925

Gone! Gone!

HER little pet was gone. The cage door had been left unfastened, the window was open, and the bird had flown.

Those who have suffered similar losses will understand what the child felt when she made the discovery. She thought all was well when she went to sleep at night, but when she awoke she learned her loss.

As I thought about it my mind turned to other things. I began to think of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His beloved people.

This blessed event may happen at any time. It will occur, we are told, “in a moment, in the twinkling; of an eye at the last trump.”

It is for

“THOSE THAT ARE CHRIST’S”

that He will come. As sinners they have fled to Him for refuge from judgment and sin. They have believed on Him and have confessed Him as their Lord and Saviour, and sought to live for His praise and honor. To them He says from the glory where He now is:

“Surely, I come quickly!”

And their hearts answer His blessed message with the invitation:

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LEFT BEHIND?

They will awake at last from their sleep of folly and sin, and find that the Christians who have spoken with them, and at whom they have laughed, are gone, and gone forever. The door of blessing and salvation has been closed; and closed forever against all who have slighted and rejected the Saviour. They meant to be Christians someday, but it was always “Not yet”—and now—

IT IS TOO LATE.

O! what heart-rending sorrow will be theirs! To think that they have missed all the golden opportunities which they had. Their last chance came to them, and they let it slip, and now, unconverted, unsaved, undone, they have only to tread their way helplessly, hopelessly on to the judgment of God.

Awake, awake, dear children. The Lord is at hand. He is coming quickly. He is coming surely. He is coming soon.

“THEY THAT WERE READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE MARRIAGE: AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.” Matt. 25:10.

ML 10/18/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 3

SADLY, contrary to the revealed mind of God was the dwelling of the children of Israel among those they should have put to death. In Joshua 23:12, 13 their leader had solemnly warned the people on this very point, and spoke of marriage with these idolaters, but the warning was lost upon them, for the Israelites lived among the six nations, and intermarried with them, and became idol worshipers with them. Because of these things the anger of God was hot against Israel, and they were lint under the rule of Chushan—rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.

Eight years of oppression are ended by God’s raising up Othniel, Caleb’s nephew of whom we have read before, to deliver the children of Israel. After this the land had rest for forty years, and Othniel died. Quick to forget the admonitions of the deliverer God had raised up, now that he was dead, the people fell back into sin. Therefore, God uses Satan’s power to chasten them, in Eglon, king of Moab, aided by the Ammonites and Amalekites. This oppression lasted eighteen years, when Fluid is used to free the people. Eighty years pass, and Shamgar delivered Israel, as it appears, from their western enemy the Philistines.

Weak were the instruments which God raised up to work deliverance for His people here, but they were each just what was needed. Victory in each case we may be sure was won by God’s omnipotent power, however feeble and contemptible the instrument.

It was when the children of Israel cried to their God that He sent deliverance; clearly God was not in their thoughts when everything went well with them.

How like God’s people today! If they had not been put in hard circumstances, their unbelief would not have been less but more, and they would have missed the opportunity to learn of God, as well as to learn what was in their own hearts. For the same reasons God permits His children today to pass through trial.

ML 10/8/1925

Poor Joseph

AT a meeting a servant of Christ, well known to those present, arose and said, in tones of deep feeling;

“My friends, I stand before this company as a monument of the efficacy of tracts.

“When a young man, careless, unbelieving, and impenitent, as I was one day passing along the road, I saw a piece of paper, half covered with mud. It attracted my attention, I picked it up, and found it to be the tract entitled, ‘Poor Joseph’!

“I seated myself on a bank beside a small stream, and read it. And, O! I shall never forget the feelings I had as I read over that simple story. The Spirit of God sent home its truths to my heart. I trembled and wept in view of my sins, and I never rested until I reposed in the blood of Christ for salvation.

“If I have ever done any good in the cause of Christ, and if I may be hereafter made instrumental in leading lost and perishing souls to the Redeemer, it may be all traced to that tract. It has started a train of causes that must operate through eternity.”

The foregoing statements may well introduce to the readers of our little paper the following narrative of poor Joseph.

POOR JOSEPH

A poor, weak-minded man named Joseph, whose employment was to go on errands and carry parcels, passing through the streets one day, heard the singing of Psalms in Dr. C.’s church, went into it, having a large parcel of yarn hanging over his shoulders.

The Doctor, after awhile read his text from 1 Timothy 1:15:

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Then he preached, in the clearest manner, the ancient and apostolic gospel, that there is eternal salvation for the vilest sinner, through the precious work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who made all things.

Joseph, in rags, gazing with astonishment, never took his eyes from the preacher, but drank in with eagerness all he heard. Trudging homewards, he was overheard muttering to himself,

“Joseph never heard this before! Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who made all things, came into the world to save sinners like Joseph. And this is true. And it is ‘a faithful saying’!

Soon afterwards Joseph was seized with fever, and was dangerously ill. As he tossed upon his bed, his constant language was,

“Joseph is the chief of sinners: but Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and Joseph loves Him for this.”

His neighbors, who came to see him, wondered at hearing him always dwell on this subject. Some addressed him in the following manner:

“But what say you of your own heart, Joseph? Is there no token of good about it? No saving change there? Is there not something that you must do in order to be saved?”

“Ah! no,” says he, “Joseph can do nothing; Joseph has nothing to say for himself, but that he is the chief of sinners.”

Someone finding out where he heard this doctrine, on which he dwelt with so much delight, went and asked Dr. C. to come and visit him.

He came; but Joseph was now very weak, and had not spoken for some time, and though told of the Doctor’s arrival, he took no notice of him. But when the Doctor began to speak to him, and he heard the sound of his voice, Joseph sprang upon his elbow, and, seizing his hands, exclaimed as loud as he could, with his now feeble and trembling voice,

“O, sir! you are the friend of the Lord Jesus, whom I heard speak so well of Him. Joseph is the chief of sinners: but it is a faithful saying that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who made all things, came into the world to save sinners, and why not poor Joseph? O! pray to that Jesus for me; pray that He may save me; tell Him that Joseph thinks that he loves Him for coming into the world to save such sinners as Joseph.”

The Doctor prayed, and when he concluded, Joseph thanked him most kindly. He then put his hand under his pillow, and took out an old rag, in which were tied up fifty dollars. Putting it into the Doctor’s hand, he thus addressed him:

“Joseph, in his folly, had laid this by for his old age. But Joseph will never see old age. Take it, and divide it among the poor friends of the Lord Jesus, and tell them that Joseph gave it to them for His sake who came into the world to save sinners, of whom he is the chief.”

Joseph had listened to the message given by the Doctor as to a voice from heaven; he drank in every word. With others, the Word fell like seed on stony ground, or by the way-side (Matthew 13:19-21). But Joseph received it as God’s Word, and not as man’s word, and treated it as such. His mind was intent on his salvation; he knew that he was a sinner; and his soul clung to Jesus as the Saviour of sinners. He turned away from himself to rest solely on Jesus, his Almighty Saviour. Reposing in Him, he could not but have peace.

Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out”. John 6:37.

ML 10/18/1925

Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour

Jesus is today our Saviour,

If you’ll only trust His Word,

Jewish rites no longer needed,

Nor burnt offerings to the Lord.

He who came to save lost sinners

Shed His blood upon the tree,

Bore the wrath of God completely,

Left no work for you and me.

Nothing left but to accept Him

As your Saviour, Lord and Friend;

Sing e’en now with joy His praises

And through ages without end.

ML 10/18/1925

Follow Me

WHILE speaking to some of the little girls in my class one day, I asked them what two words the Lord Jesus said to Philip when He found him.

“Follow Me,” was the prompt reply. Then, said I, “Those two words also apply to you. What is your answer?”

“I mean to follow Him some day,” said one.

“I should like to follow Him,” said another.

But one little girl did not make any answer. She was very attentive and thoughtful, and so our little class broke up.

The next Sunday the silent little girl put a small note into my hand, which ran as follows:

“I came to Jesus this afternoon, and my answer to that question is this: I will arise and follow my own dear Saviour.”

“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.” John 10:27, 28.

ML 10/18/1925

Five Stepping Stones

FAITHFUL Shep watches her mistress as she goes from one stepping stone to the other, across the running stream, carrying two of her pups, while the third one is left behind to wait till the two are carried safely across.

These stones are placed at a convenient distance from each other, so that they can be reached with an easy step; but if the last stone is to be reached, the first one has to be taken and then one at a time. This is true in all our lessons.

There is a verse of Scripture that gives us five stepping stones. John 5:24 is a verse which has been a blessing to thousands of souls.

Its simple statements form five stepping stones from doubt to certainty—from trouble to rest.

Are you in distress, not knowing how you stand in the sight of God?

Listen then to the words of comfort; they fall from the lips of the Lord Himself.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,”

1.“He that heareth My word.”

Have you heard the voice of the Son of God—the Saviour? In grace He speaks in the gospel message.

2.“And believeth on Him that sent Me.” Do you believe God the Father who sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world?

3.“Hath everlasting life.”

What certainty is in that word Hath! It speaks of that which is possessed. Hearing and believing result in having.

4.“And shall not come into condemnation.”

For the believer the judgment is past—Christ has borne it on the cross. He is risen. The believer is accepted in Him.

“There is therefore Now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

5.“But is passed from death unto life.”

The wonderful change is made already. Soon the believer will pass from earth to heaven. But now while here he has passed from death to life.

Have you passed?

“SEEK YE THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR.” Isa. 55:6.

ML 10/25/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 4

A SECOND Jabin, king of Hazor in the north country now rules with a heavy hand over the sinful Israelites. The former king and his capital city had been destroyed (Joshua 11:1-13), but the unfaithfulness of God’s people gave occasion to rebuild the city and re-establish the kingdom.

It will be noticed that the source of the trial, its exact form and its length vary in each of the cases we have been noticing, but God’s purpose is the same in every one, —to exercise the people, who had professed to serve Him in regard to their ways. The crying to God always brings an answer from Him in grace, though we may think rightly that there was a great deal more in the people’s prayers of complaint about their sufferings, than of confession of their departure from God and His Word.

Considering the deliverers in order, from Othniel to Deborah and Barak, we see a gradual increase in weakness; their names—for nothing is in vain in Scripture, —themselves indicating it as well as the circumstances in which each appears.

(Othniel—God is force; Ehud—strong; Shamgar—cup-bearer; Deborah —bee, or wasp; Barak—lightning; Jael—chamois or deer).

That a woman judged Israel was contrary to God’s ordinary dealings, and a disgrace to men. It was however a sign of God’s over-ruling power, for Deborah was a prophetess. She learned the mind of God and passed it on to Barak (verses 6, 7), here was safe ground for faith to tread: would Barak act, thus directed and assured from God Himself? He obeys, but sadly lacks faith for the undertaking, for he will not go without the presence of Deborah, who he rightly judges, is walking nearer to God than himself.

The case has a certain parallel in the experience of Moses who was directed of God to appear before the monarch of Egypt, and demand of him liberty for the people of Israel, but, unwilling to act on the hare word of God, has to share his appointment with his brother (Exodus 4:14-17). So the honor will not be Barak’s (verse 9) but a woman’s, and that one not of the children of Israel, but a stranger (verses 11, 17-22).

Following the slender faith of the feeble army under Barak and Deborah, the mighty God, ever interested in and acting, though often unrecognized, for those whom in grace He has picked up, proceeds on behalf of Israel, so that the enemy’s leader, Sisera, flies for his life, his army destroyed to the last man. The stranger, Jael, now takes his life using such a weapon as came to her hand, —the whole incident manifesting God’s power displayed in “earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of Him, and not of us”. (2 Corinthians 4:7).

ML 10/25/1925

"Behold, I Come Quickly"

WE all know the pleasure of watching for the return of someone we love; and none know better than children do how delightful this is. With what shouts of joy do they hail the news of the quick return of their father or mother, or perhaps an absent brother or sister! How slowly the days seem to pass, and how often it is said, “Only a little time, and they will be here”! What eager faces are pressed against the window to catch the first sight of the coming one, and how quickly do the little feet run to open the door and get the first kiss!

Now, dear children, I want to talk to you of One who has told us that He is coming quickly, and for Whom we may all watch and wait every day. Take your Bibles and read the last verse but one,

“Surely I come quickly.” Rev. 22:20.

Who is speaking here? Who is saying this, and saving it as if He knew there were those who would be rejoiced to hear it? Look back at verse 16. “I, Jesus.” Yes, it is the blessed Lord Jesus Himself who is coming, and coming quickly.

Will you be glad to see Him, and to welcome Him? Are you watching for Him? Can you say, as a little girl once said when reading a chapter in her Bible.

“How nice to think that we shall really see Jesus when He comes, and that He may come before we finish the chapter! Then, we should have nothing to do, but to catch up our Bibles and go to meet Him.”

But perhaps to some of you, this thought brings fear instead of joy? It may be with you as with another child, who said,

“Jesus may come today, but most likely it will not be till tomorrow.”

Why should there be this difference; why should you desire that the Lord Jesus should delay His coming for one day? Ah! I am afraid it is because you do not know Him; you do not believe His love to you; there, is something you prefer to Jesus, or you would long to see Him; you are not ready to meet Him.

Let me tell you a story to show how you, too, may be able to look forward with joy to the Lord’s coming.

A little boy was one day repeating the hymn beginning,

“There’s a home for little children, Above the bright blue sky.”

When he finished, he said, “I am going there some day; Jesus will take me when He comes.”

“For whom is Jesus coming?” he was asked. For a moment he paused, and then said,

“Jesus is coming for me.”

“But, Freddy, you know that happy home is a holy place, where no sin can enter; how can you be sure that you, who have often done naughty things, will be taken there when Jesus comes?” Again there was a pause, and then he answered? “Don’t you know Jesus came once to die for me, and He is coming again to take me home, and He will never let me drop.”

It made this little boy happy to think of this, for he was ready, and knew that the One who was coming was his Saviour; and you, too, will be able to watch for Jesus, if you come to Him now, and believe on Him as the One who has died to put your sins away. Then it will be your greatest joy to know that He may come today, and to seek to please Him in everything, as long as He leaves you here.

A little girl once said, “Jesus may come before we finish our lesson, so we must try to do it very well, for we should not like Him to come and find us idle.”

How nice it is to have this hope that Jesus is coming to take those who believe in Him to His own home above the bright blue sky, and while we are waiting for Him, to seek to please Him in all we do every day, “till He come”!

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

ML 10/25/1925

He Knows Best

THE children of a Sunday-school were once taken by their teachers a few miles into the country, to spend the day in the green fields and under the shade of pretty waving trees.

On reaching their destination, however, the sky quickly became overcast, and rain, at last, poured down, very disappointingly, until the evening, when a short time of sunshine, and a beautiful sunset, closed the day.

“I have been wondering so much,” said one tired little girl, as she gladly prepared for bed, “how it is that we have had such a very wet day, when father asked God this morning to give the children a nice, fine one, if it was His will; but the thought struck me, that, very likely, just at the same time, a lot of other people were praying for rain, because the ground was so dry and hot, and that is how it is that the Lord sent both, I expect.” And this conclusion quite settled the matter in the child’s mind.

Happy indeed are they, whether young or old, who can rest quietly on the perfect love, and the perfect wisdom of God their Father at all times. He can make no mistakes. “He doeth all things well.”

O, dear children, do go straight to the Lord Jesus in every trouble or trial (for even children have many, as well as grown-up people); run to Him, as to a kind Father, for everything you need, and believe that He does really know best, and will do the very best for you, although you may not at all times be able to think so, or to understand why He has seen fit to do this thing, or has not seen fit to do that thing, which, perhaps, you have been praying for very earnestly. He loves you, and wants your love in return; and can you help loving so kind, so good a Friend?

Precious thought my Father knoweth,

In His love I rest;

For whate’er my Father doeth,

Must be always best,

Well I know the heart that planneth

Naught but good for me;

Joy and sorrow interwoven—

Love in all I see.

“Trust in Him at all times.” Psa. 62:8.

ML 10/25/1925

Little Child, the Saviour Loved You

Little child, the Saviour loved you,

So He left His home on high;

Came on earth a lowly stranger

For your sins to bleed and die.

Sin had set its stamp upon you,

And must shut you out from God,

Jesus came to make atonement,

Though it cost His precious blood.

“It is finished!” said the Saviour;

Well He knew His work was done,

He for sin had made atonement,

He, God’s holy, spotless Son.

ML 10/25/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for September

1.“Philip findeth Nathanael,” etc. John 1:45.

2.He that believeth on the,” etc. 3:36.

3.“I said therefore unto you,” etc. 8:24.

4.“Took branches of palm,” etc. 12:13.

5.“They are not of the world,” etc. 17:16.

6.“Then saith He to Thomas,” etc. 20:27.

7.“Peace I leave with you,” etc. 14:27.

Bible Questions for November

The Answers are to be found in Romans

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Divisions and offences.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Every knee shall bow.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Bless, and curse not.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Your reasonable service.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Glorified together.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The knowledge of sin.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “I am not ashamed.”

ML 11/01/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 5.

THE song of Deborah and Barak is first of all praise to God for the marvelous victory over Sisera and his army which He had given His people. God had caused the people to willingly offer themselves for the fight (verse 2); they had no weapons of warfare: not a shield or spear (verse 8), but they needed none when He was their dependence.

The roads had been unused and those who traveled went by crooked paths; the villages ceased (verses 6,7) because of the oppression of the king of Canaan. Surely the distress brought on Israel by their sins had been great.

Commencing in verse 14 to 22 The tribes of Israel are named, and their response or the lack of it, to the call of God for war against the oppressing enemy. Ephraim, Benjamin. Machir (in Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, Naphtali are commended, Zebulun and Naphtali most of all (verse 18).

Reuben abode among the sheepfolds: was it to hear the bleatings of the flocks? It may be that the tribe of Reuben had not suffered under the oppressor, the king of Canaan; however while they were not at ease (verses 15 and 16) about the call from Deborah and Barak, they did not go to the help of their brothers across the Jordan. Gilead (Gad) also stayed in his place, but, as we may judge, without the concern that the Reubenites had. Dan and Asher also kept on in their own affairs when the call to war against the enemy came. No mention is found of the tribes of Judah and Simeon in the extreme south.

In verse 23 Meroz, (whose location is uncertain but some think it was near the lake of Merom north of the sea of Galilee) is cursed of God because they came not to the war.

It is plain that in these verses we have God’s thoughts about those who stand in some relation to Him. Those who went out in the war for God, and took His side when the prophetess’s message came, form one class; while those who, though a good deal concerned about it, stayed at home, form another, and a third class were indifferent to the call of God. What will eternity show for us of this day, reader, when God’s records of all are opened?

There was a rich farmer once who took no thought but of his ease and his earthly gain and happiness, but in an hour he had not prepared for, the word came, “Thou fool; this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Luke 12:20. See in this connection Matthew 6:19-24.

Verses 19, 21; the scene of the battle with Sisera’s army was in the northwest, near the Mediterranean Sea, and the river of Kishon is a mountain stream where later Elijah killed the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40).

Verses 24-27. God had foretold that, since Barak was unwilling to take the leadership against Sisera without Deborah’s being associated with him, a woman should be the instrument of the Canaanite’s end (chapter 4, verse 9), and verse 31 classes Sisera as one of God’s enemies; not merely an enemy of Israel. Undoubtedly therefore, Jael was moved by the same fear as possessed Rahab the harlot of Jericho (Joshua 2) when she took a stand for God as against all-natural feeling. We are not told that God justified the means Jael took, —the apparent deceit she employed, but the end was according to His mind; His will was done. There are a number of similar instances in the Scriptures; none of them supply any justification for that which is contrary to the revealed mind of God.

ML 11/01/1925

Go Alone with God

MY dear young friend, I would not say one word to grieve you or break in upon your youthful pleasures, but am. I not your friend in telling you of One who would take away all your sins NOW? Surely you cannot be happy at home—at school—at play—with your sins unforgiven! Pause a little, dear boy or girl; get into the presence of God, and ask your heart this question, Will I have to bear my own sins forever away from God? I am quite sure that the question is not a very pleasant one to think about, but I charge you before God, give the question a little thought, say half-an-hour, and let it be considered by yourself all alone with God.

Now, what has Jesus done? What has He suffered that our sins might be pardoned, that our sins might be blotted out? Read, more than once, the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and you will know something of what it cost Jesus to bear our sin: —

He was wounded; He was bruised; He was afflicted; He was oppressed; He was stricken; He was put to grief; He was brought to the slaughter; He was chastised; He was scourged; He was tormented; He was rejected; He was despised.

Why was the Holy One of God so treated? Ah, my young friend, it was because He took the sinner’s place in grace, in order to redeem him to God.

Dear young friend. why not be saved now! Do you really believe that Christ bore your sins in His own body on the tree—that His precious blood cleanseth from all sin? Then you are one to whom I can say,

“God will remember your sins and iniquities no more.” Heb. 10:17.

ML 11/01/1925

The Result of Disobedience

A GROUP of merry schoolboys started off on a Saturday morning to sail their boats in a stream some distance off. Strict orders were given by their parents that on no account were they to bathe, as there were many deep and dangerous pools in the stream. For several hours the boys enjoyed themselves with their boats, but when it was mid-day, it became so hot, that one proposed “a swim.”

At first, the other boys refused, but after much persuasion, with the promise that “no one would tell” the whole of them stripped, and plunged into the water.

One immediately disappeared. His brother scrambled on to the bank, gave a loud cry for help, which brought three men from a field close by. One of them at once threw off his coat, and dived into the pool, and Sam was brought up unconscious and laid on the bank. In an hour he was in his own bed, and soon recovered, but he never forgot that day.

“As I was going down, my disobedience and other sins came flashing across my mind; it was awful, but nothing to what it will be when a sinner goes down to the pit with memory awakened” said Sam, who is now a Christian, and in preaching Christ often tells this story of his early days. Reader, are you safe in Christ?

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

ML 11/01/1925

Has Jesus Made You Glad?

“I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made me glad.”

A LITTLE boy that I know repeated these lines over and over again to himself, and then turned to his grandmother with the question,

“Grandma, has Jesus made you glad?”

“Yes, dear, He has,” she replied.

A few minutes after, he put the same question to an aunt and cousin, and, receiving the same answer, exclaimed joyfully,

“Then, He’s made us all glad.”

Dear reader, can you say the same?

Is He still waiting for you? If so, come to Him at once, and you will find a sure and safe resting place, and He will make you glad.

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

ML 11/01/1925

Naughty Pussy

NAUGHTY Pussy, what have you done? You played so nicely with your little mistress for quite a while, and then you scratched her arm! I expect Pussy did not intend to do that, but such might be expected by little girls and boys if they play with pussy. There are always consequences to all that we do.

You know it would not do at all for locusts to play with chickens, nor kitties with lions; so you see we too must choose our company to play with.

In Acts 4:23 we read, “Being let go, they went to their own company.” That shows us that those who are Christians should keep company with Christians: then there are those who are Christians who may not obey God’s Word, and the Christians who want to please the Lord, are exhorted to have no company with such.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITTETH IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.” Psa. 1:1.

But we should love all, and seek to do them good, although we cannot keep company with all. Are you a Christian?

ML 11/01/1925

Jesus and the Little Ones

Jesus left His home above,

Full of mercy, grace and love,

Came a Saviour-God to be,

For the little ones like me.

He was once a little child,

Pure and holy, meek and mild;

Now I know that He will be

Kind to little ones like me.

Weary heads were laid to rest,

On His loving, tender breast;

Just to show that there will be

Room for little ones like me.

Jesus, I on Thee believe,

To my heart Thy love receive;

Cleaving ever close to Thee,

Keep a little one like me.

ML 11/01/1925

The Young Artist

EDWARD, we will call him, has started in quite young to try to represent on paper the various things he sees around him. It is quite interesting to his sisters and brother, so they watch, him to see what kind of work he will make of it. We all are representing something, or someone, in our lives down here, so we are either good or poor artists.

“Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children,” (Eph. 5:1.) is said to Christians. You must be one of His children to be a follower, or an imitator. You know whether you are His or not; and if you are, may you seek to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ in all His lowliness and meekness, His gentleness and love, His perfect obedience to His Father, and His delight to do His Father’s will.

Let all those who know the Lord Jesus seek to be good imitators of Him, for He was the perfect One in everything, and was the full revelation of God to us. True happiness is alone to be found in this path, so this is another incentive for us to follow the Lord.

“A little while”—He’ll come again;

Let us the precious hours redeem;

Our only grief to give Him, pain,

Our joy to serve and follow Him.

Watching and ready may we be,

As those who wait their Lord to see.

“HAPPY IS THAT PEOPLE, WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.” Psa. 143:15.

ML 11/08/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 6.

AGAIN, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. How quickly they forgot the lessons learned in affliction! Only forty years had elapsed since the Canaanites were vanquished, their cruel oppression ended, and now the Israelites must, because of their sinful ways, be put into Satan’s hands again. More severe was this visitation than the last, so that the people forsook their lands and their homes for dens in the mountains, and caves and strongholds by reason of the Midianites.

We last read of the Midianites in Numbers 22 to 25 and 31, as those who brought Balaam the false prophet to curse Israel, afterward leading the people into sin, and upon whom heavy punishment fell because of this. Now they are a strong nation again, and with them in oppressing God’s people are the Amalekites, ancient enemies, and the children of the east, probably the Assyrians and Babylonians. As the former oppressors seem to have come from the north, these were from the south and east. “Till thou come unto Gaza” (verse 4) seems to show that the whole land was ruined, as Gaza was the furthest south of the cities along the Mediterranean Sea.

When all was well with them, the children of Israel forgot God; now when great evils are befallen them, and they are in dire distress, they cry to Him. Nor does He at once deliver them. He first sends a prophet to them to tell them the cause of their troubles. It is the same word as in chapter 2:2: “Ye have not obeyed My voice.”

This is the cause of the unhappiness of Christians in our day, —neglect of the Word of God. O, that its pages were constantly and devoutly searched by every child of His!

An angel of the Lord went to Gideon the son of Joash, of the tribe of Manasseh, in whom was faith, though it was weak. Clearly Gideon had been deeply moved by the state of things in Israel before the angel visited him, and he thought of God rather than making up his mind to endure the slavery of the Midianites. Thus the angel could say, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor,” to which Gideon responds, “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” He would not consider himself, but all Israel —God’s people; this is an important principle of faith. God, he owns, had delivered the nation into the hands of the Midianites. Now Gideon is to go at the command of the Lord Himself in the strength he had received from Him, in connection with his exercise of heart.

Gideon feels his own unimportance (verse 15) but is told, “Surely I will be with thee.” Sweet and powerful encouragement! Realizing, that he has been in the presence of the angel of God, he needs the message of peace now given him. The altar’s name, Jehovah-shalom, means “Jehovah is peace.”

Public service now begins, by reestablishing; in his own family and in his own city of Ophrah the relationship between God and His people (verses 25-32). Baal must be put away lest the deliverance about to be wrought should be ascribed to the false god. Obedience is first required, and then power for action is supplied; this is God’s order. Now the enemy is mustered in full strength, and the Spirit of the Lord comes on Gideon. He gathers a following from the four most northerly tribes, and God graciously grants him a sign to strengthen his weak, but real and sincere faith.

ML 11/08/1925

Cain and Abel

IN speaking to you of some Bible brothers, it is only natural we should choose the first two boys we read of in the Bible, but in doing so, I only wish to point out the chief points in their lives, that we may learn a lasting lesson from them, it may be a lesson of warning or of encouragement as the case may be.

In the two brothers, the lesson is, the right and the wrong way of coming to God.

If I ask you whose was the right way, I can fancy all my readers are saying, Why, Abel’s of course. You are quite right. But why is Abel’s the right way?

Because he brought the best he had! No, that will not do, for you see Cain did that also: you will have to learn that it is not our best, but it must be God’s way. Naaman thought the rivers in his own country far better than Jordan, but Jordan was the means God was going to use for his cleansing.

Abel came the right way, because he brought that which pleased God, for the lamb spoke of God’s Lamb that He was going to send into the world to take away its sin. (John 1.) Then again, Abel owned to God his sinful condition, and if he would come near to God it must be in the death of another; even so in our case, we can only draw near to God because Jesus has died, His precious blood has been shed. The blood of Jesus Christ, His (God’s) Son, cleanseth from all sin.

Cain ignored his sinful condition, and thought he could come near to God in his own way, with a bloodless sacrifice, but God would neither accept Cain nor his offering. Now notice, instead of Cain being sorry for his actions and asking forgiveness of God—although if you will read Genesis 4:6,7 carefully, you will see how good God was to him, telling him the way he could come to be accepted (for the words, “sin lieth at the door,” mean the sin offering was crouching at the door ready for him to offer to God)—instead of doing this he was very angry; and O, sad to say, the next thing, he murders his brother.

You thus see where wrong ways lead to, but may God in His mercy give you to take the right way, and may you come to God through “Jesus,” who when here said, “I am the way;” no other way will do for God. There is only one way and one door, and Jesus is both—the way and the door. Be wise then, dear young friend, and learn from Abel the way that pleases God and that will bring you into eternal blessing.

ML 11/08/1925

The Power of the Word of God

“HOW are you getting on today, Tom? Are you happy in the Lord?” I asked a young plow-boy who had been converted about two weeks before this.

“Thanks be to God, I am happy, but Satan has been troubling me, as you said he would, trying to make me doubt whether I am really saved or not.”

“What do you meet him with on these occasions, Tom?” I asked, being desirous of knowing on what he rested for his salvation, and the assurance of it. The young boy drew from his pocket a Testament, and opening it, said,

“I just give him the verses through which I was led to the Saviour. The first is in Romans 5:8, ‘While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,’ and the other in John 3:36, ‘He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting- life.’ When I read these verses out loud, my soul is happy, and Satan leaves me.”

These are the true weapons of warfare wherewith to meet the great adversary. He cannot stand against the Word of God. The work of Christ is the cause and Rock of our salvation; and the Word of God gives us the ground of our assurance.

But like the happy boy, you must first discover your need of Christ; then receive Him as your personal Saviour before you can stand firm on the Rock, and thus meet the adversary of your soul with the Word of God.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8,9.

ML 11/08/1925

Lost

DEAR children, have you ever thought of what it is to be lost; to get out of the path, and not able to find your way back?

A man and his wife attended a meeting, and after the meeting was over they wished to go to a friend’s home for the night, and in order to reach there, they were obliged I to walk some distance on the beach. They had been there before, and felt assured they could find their way. However, they started and were only half way, when they realized they were lost. They stood still to contemplate just what to do, for it was a very dark night. A man in the distance, on the shore, called out, hearing their voices,

“Are you lost?”

And they replied, “Yes.”

He said, “Stand just where you are, and I will come to you.”

This they did, so thankful for a guide, and this man took them to their destination.

Now dear ones, what do we learn from this incident? Why, just this: There is a Saviour for the lost.

How many of you, dear unsaved ones, are willing to take the place before God of being LOST?

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquities of us all.” Isa. 53:6.

A sheep is a very foolish thing: when it wanders away, it never finds its way back to the fold. The Shepherd goes after the lost sheep and brings it home; so the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, to seek and to save that which was lost. What wonderful love and grace, dear ones. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet. 3:9.

ML 11/08/1925

"I Will Come Again"

Dear children, have you ever heard

That Christ the Lord will come,

With angel’s voice and trump of God,

To call His people home?

Then they who live shall changed be,

And they who sleep shall wake;

The graves shall yield their ancient charge.

And Christ His people take.

The saints of God, from death set free,

With joy shall mount on high;

The heaven shall ring with praises loud,

They’ll meet Him, in the sky.

Together to their Father’s house

With joyful hearts they go,

To dwell forever with the Lord,

Beyond the reach of woe.

O, say, if He should come today,

Would you in terror he?

Or would you lift your heads with joy,

The 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.

ML 11/08/1925

Darling Baby

JUST see what baby is doing! Someone has left a basin of water on the floor, and he has crept up to it and is amusing himself by splashing it about, with his little fat hand. How serious he seems, as if he were wondering why the water splattered so when he struck it. No doubt his little mind is full of questions.

There are so many things for little folk to ask questions about. As they grow older they have so much to learn, and one way to find out about things is to ask.

There is one question which children, and grown people too, would do well to ask and to have settled. That is,

“What will become of me when I leave this world?”

You will not always be here. Time is passing, and children, as well as grown people, are dying. Also the Lord will soon come, and take all who believe on Him away from this world. O, how important to have that solemn question settled!

Our sins would shut us out from God’s presence, but if we take our place as sinners, and believe in the Lord Jesus as the One who died to put our sins away, they will all be forgiven.

“WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.” 1 Peter 2:24.

ML 11/15/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 7.

THIRTY-two thousand men joined Gideon, but so weak in faith were they, that when in the presence of the Midianites, twenty two thousand of them were ready to go back to their homes. So, easily is the pride of man raised that spite of their timidity, the people would, if God gave the Midianites into their hands, say, “Mine own hand hath saved me” (verse 2). The number is yet too great, for God’s hand alone must be seen in the overthrow of the enemy. Only those may remain who drank hastily, more concerned with the prospective battle than with their comfort and ease. This reduced the number following Gideon to 300, but his faith is strong; he no longer looks at himself, but to God, trusting in His word Who said, “I have delivered it (the enemy) into thine hand.”

The ways in which God acts on behalf of His own people are various, as we are reminded by the case of the Midianites. Their soldiers are spread out in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude, yet there is terror in their breasts, fear put there by God. “Into his (Gideon’s) hand hath God delivered Midian and all the host” says one soldier to another (verse 14). Gideon, directed by God to go down to their camp that he may learn what they are saying, hearing this, returns to his feeble, unarmed band of 300 men, saying, “Arise, for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.” It is God who does everything for Israel; the trumpets and lamps only announce His presence and that of His servant Gideon, and the terror-stricken enemy, amid the darkness of the night, kill each other, for the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow even throughout all the host.

Now the men of Israel come out of their cities to pursue the enemy, profiting by the work of faith, though without faith themselves, and so the chapter ends. What power in God, open to the appeal of faith; what weakness in man, however he may he blessed!

ML 11/15/1925

Choose Thou for Me

“Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” Psalm 143:8.

SOME years ago, a young girl felt in great perplexity as to how she ought to act in what, to her, was a matter of considerable importance. She had, after leaving school, remained in her father’s house, trying, in some little measure, to fill the place of a dearly-loved but invalid mother. By degrees the responsibility of the welfare and comfort of the whole family had, to a very great extent, come to rest upon the head and shoulders of this young girl; but real love to her parents, brothers, and sisters, and a sweet sense of duty, helped her to “work willingly with her hands.” Still, to tell the truth, there were many other things which (had she been allowed a choice) she would have greatly preferred to household duties. Studies of all kinds she naturally delighted in; music would have been a passion with her, while instructive books, the acquiring of languages, drawing, &c., were things she felt she would have reveled in. She often sighed inwardly, “O, that only I could get at these things, I would succeed!”

In the daytime this was utterly impossible, so she tried at one time to study in her own room at night, instead of going to bed at the usual hour; but her pale looks and languor soon told tales, and it was forbidden her in future. Then she tried early rising instead, so determined was she to progress instead of standing still in her studies, as she thought herself to be; but her strength (not at any time great) would not carry her through her usual daily duties at that rate, so she had most sorrowfully tor own herself again beaten, while the thirst for knowledge remained strong and unquenchable as ever.

Then came the perplexity spoken of, and a decision had to be made. A dear relative proposed to receive this young girl into her house, where every opportunity would be hers of carrying on and completing her own studies while assisting others in theirs.

O, how Jessie’s heart throbbed at the thought; how she was ready to jump for joy! Had it come at last, the kind of life which she had so ardently longed for? Might she not accept the offer at once with the greatest delight? Inclination said, “Yes,” loudly enough; but some other troublesome little voice would make itself heard in spite of a half wish, half resolve not to listen to it. It sounded like the voice of duty, and it would keep saying:

“O yes, very nice for you, no doubt; but how about your poor dear mother? how could you leave her when you hear her say constantly, ‘I do not know what I shall do without you;’ and when you see the tears stand in her eyes at the bare thought of it, and you know she is never selfish, and would gladly let you go for your pleasure, and suffer quietly herself. Your little sister is much too young to take your place, then who will do those ‘hundred and one’ trifling things which ought daily to be done for one who is so suffering and weak? Who but a daughter should do them for such a mother, who has quite worn herself out for you, as well as for the others?”

All this, and more to the same purpose, duty and conscience together seemed constantly dinning- into Jessie’s ears; and yet, O, was she called upon to sacrifice, perhaps only for a notion—a mere scruple—what might be her last chance, and one for which she had so long waited, too? Here were two paths indeed opening up to her, which was the right one? which ought she to take? that was the question uppermost in her mind.

Through, God’s rich mercy, Jessie was already a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation, her feet had been set, some years before in the way which leadeth unto life, and now her chief desire was to walk therein, and follow Christ, closely in the light of His own Word. Therefore, the cry now went up from her heart straight to God:

“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” “Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk.” In answer, God showed her unmistakably the words:

“Let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents, for that is good and acceptable before God”! 1 Tim. 5:4.

To Jessie’s mind that just showed which path it ought to be. and settled the matter for her. Was she disappointed? Yes, indeed she was, more than she could tell anyone— any human friend; but she could freely tell it all out to God her Father, feeling there not even ashamed to show her tears, as she would elsewhere, and He fully understood her, and sympathized so sweetly with her.

“I dare not choose my lot!

I would not if I might.

Choose Thou for me, my God!

So shall I walk aright.

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine; so let the way

That leads to it he Thine.

Else I must surely stray.”

Trust Him to lead you on, dear young Christian, and seek light for every dark spot and corner of your way from God’s Word, and from none beside.

“Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Prov. 1:32.

ML 11/15/1925

"Time Enough yet"

I REMEMBER when in B— a young man was taken very sick. He had previously been urged on many occasions to accept Jesus as his Saviour, but his answer had ever been. “Time enough yet.”

My dear friends, you cannot possibly magnify the danger of delay. You cannot believe it to be half so great as it is. That fearful putting off, Satan was constantly whispering in his ear,

“Time enough yet.”

This reached its fearful crisis at last. He was very ill, writhing in pain and fever, but the fever of his soul caused him more anguish than all his bodily ailments. A friend leaning over his bed, said to him,

“If ever you needed a Saviour, it is now. He is willing to save you, even now.”

“O,” he replied, “I have put off seeking Jesus too long.”

His friend begged him to look to the Crucified One, who suffered that a poor sinner like him might be saved, but he replied amidst sobs,

“Too late, too late; there is no rest for me. I am going someplace, I know not where,” when his head fell back upon his pillow, and he was gone.

May this very solemn incident awaken your soul to its awful reality. May the Holy Spirit bring God’s Word home to your heart and conscience. You may be young, but remember, God is speaking loudly, in these closing days to YOU. God has a record of all your sins. Come to Jesus NOW, and His precious blood will wash them all away, for eternity.

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

ML 11/15/1925

Good Night

Good-night, my darling Nellie,

It’s time you were asleep;

When mother comes to bed, dear,

At you she’ll have a peep.

See! nurse the candle’s bringing,

To carry you away,

There’s no more time for singing,

But don’t forget to pray.

Then soon our little Nellie

Is sleeping safe and sound,

No thought of any trouble

In her young heart is found.

Well, sleep on, dearest Nellie,

There’s nothing you need fear

Will harm you in the darkness,

For God is ever near.

‘Tis sweet to know that Jesus

Takes special care of those

Who look to Him for safety,

And in His love repose.

O! may we ever trust Him,

Not only night and day,

But for our soul’s salvation:

For Christ He is the way.

Then reader, nurse, and Nellie

Will meet with all above,

To chant the wondrous story

Of Jesus and His love.

ML 11/15/1925

Patience

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

“Rover, you have patience, and wait till I tell you.” All the others are holding back, and waiting for the word, “Now, go ahead.”

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

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

“May men, Bampa.”

She was hungry, and wanted to start to eat, and knew that when thanks had been given, that it was closed with “Amen”, and then she could eat.

The dogs don’t know anything about giving God thanks, but they have been taught patience, and that they must wait till they are told to eat.

Not only little ones are impatient, but older children, too. Sometimes they want things that someone else has, and they get impatient or get angry. Such need to learn patience.

“BE PATIENT TOWARD ALL” 1 Thess. 5:14.

ML 11/22/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 8.

ONE hundred and twenty thousand soldiers of the Midianites and their associates, the Amalekites and the children of the east, died in the conflict (verse 10); about 15,000 remained, and these Gideon attacked, in the stronghold to which they fled, and took their two kings. Gideon pursues the enemy in the energy of faith, unmoved from his purpose by the attitude of others. To the men of Ephraim, who thought they had too small a share in the victory, Gideon answers discreetly, and their anger was abated toward him. “A soft answer turneth away wrath” Prov. 15:1.

On the east of the Jordan we again do not see the same energy of faith as in the land distinctly of promise; this is as we have been led to expect, where there is first thought for one’s possessions, and God has the second place in the heart. The men of Succoth and Penuel disown the man to whom under God they owed the mighty work then nearing its conclusion, and on his return Gideon punishes them for their cowardice.

Israel now wished Gideon to reign over them, but he rightly refused, saying, “The Lord shall rule over you:” however he made an ephod (a priest’s garment supposed to have reached from the shoulders to the knees) from the spoil of the Midianites, and this became an object that practically displaced God—became an idol, a snare to Gideon and his house. A memorial of God’s intervention is not present faith in the God who has intervened. The time of victory is a time of peculiar danger, and Gideon failed.

During Gideon’s after life of 40 years, there was quietness in the land, but as soon as he was dead, the children of Israel turned to the worship of idols. How sad!

Must there not be a reckoning day when God will deal with those who turn away from Him? Yes, indeed. Not only did judgment overtake the Israelites then, but God “hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained, —whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.

There is a solemn day of judgment awaiting this world, but “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth. in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:10.

Sinner, listen to the voice of the sinner’s Friend, Jesus, the Son of God.

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

ML 11/22/1925

Faithful Charlie

RATHER more than a hundred Years ago, a boy was born named John. Like many another boy born to accomplish great things, there was nothing to show that this child was to grow up an honored servant of the Lord, and in His service to be greatly used in blessing to others.

He could boast of neither rank nor fame in any of his known ancestors, and as a boy at school, much like other boys, more noted in the play-ground in the various games then in vogue, than in the class-room where lessons were being taught. So much so that his mother one day remarked to a neighbor,

“My son John is my chief trouble.”

What distressed her most was that when John left school at the age of thirteen he had shown no signs of early piety, for which she longed and prayer.

When schooldays were over young John was sent to learn a trade. John took to the business and put all his heart into it, as he had done into his play, but the post was not altogether a desirable one for the boy, for the master was not at all kind to those he employed.

One day, however, an event happened which had a great effect upon John’s future life. A new apprentice came to the business, and the first night be knelt in prayer by the side of his bed before turning in. The other boys looked on in silence, and John was reminded that all the time he had been there, he had neglected to pray as he had been taught when young.

He became uneasy, and before long was found kneeling at his own bedside, and from that time never gave up the practice. Thus we see how that the new apprentice was like a messenger from God to him. and in speaking of the incident in after life he said,

“I shall ever have cause to bless God for this act on the part of Charlie, the new boy.”

But he was a great help to him in more ways than one, for young John noticed that all his actions were in keeping with what he had done on the first night. He noticed, for instance, that when business was over for the day, Charlie generally went out by himself for an hour.

After a time John found out where he went and how the time was occupied. He visited a shoemaker who lived in a humble cottage, so he asked if he might go with him, and one evening the two boys were seen to enter the humble abode.

It appears that the shoemaker and his wife were two earnest Christians, and loved to speak of heavenly things, and the boys were drawn into conversation with them. Before leaving, they all kneeled down and the shoemaker prayed. Later on he asked the young boys to take part also, and so it came about that the voice of John was first heard in prayer in this shoemaker’s shop, who in after years was destined to thrill the hearts of hundreds of listeners before whom he preached and prayed.

Thus John found the way of life for himself, and the next thing was, he had a great desire to be the means of showing it to others. He began to teach in the Sunday-school and found great pleasure in the work. Then from step to step he gradually became a noted preacher. Birmingham was where most of his years were spent, and when the first building in which he preached became too small for the numbers that flocked to hear him, a larger One was erected, which could accommodate no less than eighteen hundred people, and even then was not found to be any too large, and many hundreds were brought to the Lord.

Then at the age of seventy-four this earnest servant of Christ went to his well-earned rest in the presence of the Lord.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML 11/22/1925

God's Gifts

PERHAPS each dear child who reads this paper has thanked God for some things. God has given us food and clothes, home and friends, health and strength, and many other things for which we often thank Him, but we may not remember to thank Him for the beautiful things we see and hear around us.

What pleasure we take in the bright spring time, when everything is fresh and green, when the beautiful flowers begin to bloom, and when the merry birds are singing all about us!

Summer follows with its abundant crops and other blessings; then fall, with its mild, pleasant days and beautiful autumn leaves.

Each season is different from the others, and we appreciate the change, and enjoy each as it comes.

Last of all we have winter, and I know many of my readers are glad to see the beautiful white snow. The millions of flakes falling so softly and silently have an attraction for us as they cover the ground, the fences, the buildings, the trees; everything, with a mantle of white.

After a new fallen snow we can see very plainly any dark object moving about, such as the rabbits running so swiftly over the snow, and the snow-birds hopping about on the white branches.

While we are thanking God for all these pleasant scenes He gives us, we are reminded of the greatest, most wonderful gift of all. It is a gift that God offers to everyone. Some of you have accepted it. If there is one of you who has not, may you do so at once.

This wonderful gift of God is “Eternal Life.”

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

God gave His own beloved Son to die on the cross, so that we need not die, but instead, receive everlasting life. The precious blood of Jesus was shed to wash away our sins, so that we may enter God’s presence without any sins upon us. He says,

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 11/22/1925

A Faithful Mother

JAMES had a pious, God-fearing mother, who had never neglected any opportunity to impress his young mind with the urgent need of accepting the Lord Jesus as his Saviour in his youthful days. But he had constantly neglected to pay more than a passing attention to his mother’s admonitions, until one Lord’s Day evening when she invited a young girl, a neighbor’s daughter, to accompany them to meeting.

The young girl replied to the invitation in a light and trifling manner,

“O, no; I cannot go until next Sunday. I shall then have a new coat. My old one is too shabby.”

Alas! the next Sunday never came to her. On Monday, she was taken sick; on Wednesday, she died.

James’ mother, told him, with tears streaming from her eyes, when she came home from watching by her bedside,

“Mary is gone, and gone, I fear, without being saved.”

This was so sudden, so unexpected, that it awoke within James’ heart, the cry,

“What must I do to be saved.” Thank God that cry was not in vain. Jesus had mercy on his soul, and today he is rejoicing in a Saviour’s love, and able to warn others, of the danger of neglecting God’s offer of mercy.

Do not put off this all-important question. Tomorrow may be too late. NOW is God’s time.

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” Heb. 2:3.

ML 11/22/1925

Interested

AS WE look at our little darling, we are pleased to see him interested in looking at the pictures in the books, and it makes us feel the importance of putting before him such pictures as may instruct him, instead of foolish things that might do him damage.

Sometimes he has to come to us and ask us what they mean, and then we have to tell the story given in the Scripture that the picture is made to illustrate.

Very soon he will be going to school and will learn to read, and the same care will have to he shown that he may have good and instructive reading, and not that which would poison and destroy the mind, so that it might he said of him, as it was said of Timothy:

“FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.” 2 Tim. 3:15.

There is no book that can give us all we need, like the Word of God. It gives us instruction for our whole path, and above all, shows us Christ Jesus, God’s beloved Son, as the Saviour for us.

Have you, my dear reader, accepted that blessed, wonderful Saviour that God has provided. If you have not, O, do so now, and give attendance to reading the Word of God, and learn more of that precious Saviour.

ML 11/29/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 9

PLAINLY the state of Israel was getting worse; the son of Gideon did not tread in his father’s earlier footsteps. The former lessons are forgotten; God Himself is given up for Baal-Berith. The source of some of the evil of the ninth chapter we may trace back to Gideon, whose heart was ensnared by Satan when the victory over the Midianites was complete. Popularity and worldly comfort are dangerous for God’s people; they lost to Gideon and his children the far greater rewards of a walk with God.

Abimelech, son of Gideon, planning to be made king over Israel, went to his native city, Shechem, and so won over to himself his mother’s relations, and through them, the people of the place, that they were disposed to follow him. He hired “vain and light persons” (verse 4) with money taken from the false god Baal-Berith by the people of Shechem, and his next step was to go to his father’s house and murder all his seventy brothers except one who escaped by hiding himself. The citizens of Shechem, far from punishing this man of blood, now gathered together and made Abimelech their king.

Jotham, sole survivor of the seventy sons, delivered a warning, but it appears to have passed without much notice at the time; we hear no more of him, but his testimony was shortly fulfilled. God was pat in their thoughts, whether Shechemites or followers of Abimelech. He had been given up by them for Baal-Berith, and violence and deceit thereafter marked them.

The two last verses of the chapter give the divine side of the whole matter. It was impossible that God should pass over sin. Perhaps to Abimelech it seemed only a question of getting rid of his brothers and thereby becoming king, and afterward of enforcing his claims: the people of Shechem had been for Abimelech, partners in his crime and when their feeling, changed toward him they turned away from him. But God was to be reckoned with nothing escaped His eves, and judgment came; the “wickedness” of the one and “all the evil” of the other, was rendered to them.

Reader, let me press upon you, if unsaved, Romans 2:3, “And thinkest thou this, ........that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” You may have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1) who is now offered you as a Saviour, but do not delay. Now is the accepted time with God.

ML 11/29/1925

Little Helpers

WHEN boys and girls have been brought to the Lord, and really trust in Jesus as their Saviour, it is a happy thing if they can help to bring blessing to their young friends.

It is not always easy to speak of Jesus especially to those who have known us in our unconverted days, but there are two ways in which all may help. One is by inviting others to go with us to a Sunday-school or gospel address.

Soon after I knew I was saved I felt a great interest in a young man I had known for some time.

I called on him and told him how I had received blessing, and asked if he would go with me one evening to hear the gospel preached.

He heard what I had to say, but only laughed. However, I called again and again, till at last one day, out of curiosity, he said, “Yes, I’ll come.”

That night a great work went on in his soul and he was saved. I did not know it at the time, but he, told me about it a few days afterwards. O, how glad I was that I had not given up asking him to go.

The other way to help, is to pray for those who are still unsaved. God loves to answer prayer, and He loves to see those who are really His sheep and lambs taking an interest in each other, not because they know each other well, but because they each belong to Jesus.

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19.

ML 11/29/1925

Jacob and Esau; or Despising God's Blessings

GOD’S just dealings with Esau shows us that we must not treat God’s blessings lightly.

If we measure Esau’s thought of God’s blessings by the price he sells his birthright for, “one morsel of meat” (Heb. 12: 16), Genesis 25: 34 tells us “Esau despised his birthright,” but he found out his error. “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Heb. 12:17.

So you see how serious it is to set at naught God and His things; but awful to think that God sets aside those who do these things, even if they weep ever so much. But you are saying, I am not Esau, I would not do as he did. Listen!

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all My counsel, and would none of My reproof.” Prov. 1:24,25. This is what God is saying to you, if you have not put your trust in Jesus.

How many times have you heard the gospel of the grace of God, God’s only way of salvation through Christ, God’s appeals, and His solemn warnings, and how have you treated all His tender, loving entreaties? Perhaps you were moved at the time, and the still small voice was saying to you, “Now is the time, bow to Jesus now”; but no, you closed your eyes to the beauty of Christ, your ears to His loving voice, and you showed in ways far louder than words how much you thought of God’s great blessings.

What have you allowed to come in to hinder you? “A morsel of meat,” or something more trifling, the laugh of a schoolfellow, a workshop mate, etc. You think Esau a foolish young man, but are you not doing the same thing, and that in face of far greater light as to God’s blessings than ever Esau had? But let me finish the portion.

“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind ... ..then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Prov. 1:26-29.

Please read all of these verses, especially the last one. I only draw your attention to this to show how easy it is to be like Esau and share his awful fate.

Now Jacob’s history is not a very bright one, but it does show how faithful God is to everything He promises.

Jacob desired blessing from God and he got it in abundance, and so will you, dear young friend, if only you turn to God in all your need. God will bless you in time and for eternity. “God so loved.” “God gave.” “God gives.” The word now is, How are you treating His blessed Son? Who is your choice, “Christ or Barabbas”?

ML 11/29/1925

"Did You Say 'Thank You'?"

OLD and infirm as Uncle Hugh was growing, he was sure to be up first in the morning. We were often awakened by his slow step, and the sound of his staff in the hall. When the morning was fair and warm, he would go out and sit on the verandah for a quiet reading out of his worn Bible. He would sometimes sing a hymn, and though his voice was feeble, we thought no one could sing like Uncle Hugh.

Katie and Sophie were going, on this particular morning, to the city to visit Aunt Lucy, whom they had not seen for a year. They slept but little the night before, and were up early that morning.

Uncle Hugh was sitting on the verandah, and they greeted him with their good-morning kisses, telling him of what they were to enjoy that day.

“O, Uncle, how we wish you were going, too.”

“Well, darlings, did you say ‘Thank You’?” and he looked from one to the other.

There was a solemn earnestness in his voice which interpreted his meaning to them both.

“Now, I know what you mean,” said Sophie, “It is whether we said, ‘Thank You’ to God this morning? No. Uncle, I think we forgot.”

Then Uncle Hugh said, “If it had rained very hard, or some of us were very, very sick, and all thoughts of the visit had to be given up, would you have had nothing to be thankful for?”

“Yes, there would have been a great deal,” replied Katie, “but I should have been so disappointed, I could not have kept from crying.”

“You will never see the day, children, no matter how much sorrow and trouble you have, when you cannot raise your voices in thankfulness to God. Do you think you could count all the gifts He has given you; or tell of all He has done, and is constantly doing for you?”

“But, Uncle,” asked Katie with perplexed face, “if father, mother, Sophie and you, and every one I love should die, and I should be left a poor little beggar, would I have anything to be thankful for?”

“O, yes Katie, everything, everything! You make me think of a blind beggar, that hobbled to my door one cold winter’s day to beg a crust of bread. He had been rich once, but lost everything. I had heard him spoken of as a Christian, so while he sat warming his almost frozen fingers, I asked him if he could find anything in his desolate, wretched life to thank God for? I shall never forget the bright expression of his face.

‘Anything to thank God for!’ said he, ‘sir, I do not forget all God’s goodness to me in past years when health and happiness were mine and can I ever have cause for complaining, when I know of the love that prompted Him to give His only Son in order that my soul might be redeemed, and my sins washed away by His own precious blood; and too of Tis present grace, and coming glory?’”

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.” 2 Cor. 9:15.

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:20.

ML 11/29/1925

The Lamb Was Slain

The Lamb was slain, His precious blood,

On Calvary’s awful tree was shed,

He, for the contrite sinner stood,

And bore the judgment in his stead.

Proclaimer of that peace to all,

He tells of full, unmingled grace,

To high and low who hear that call,—

To young and old of Adam’s race.

Behold Him now exalted high,

Upon the throne He took His seat,

O! wondrous grace, that we brought nigh,

And in Him, seated are complete.

ML 11/29/1925

Answers to Bible Questions for October

1.“Which also said,” etc. Acts 1:11.

2.“Neither is there salvation,” etc. 4:12.

3. “But he, being full of the,” etc. 7:55.

4.“And, behold, the angel of,” etc. 12:7.

5.“Because He hath appointed,” etc. 17:31.

6.“And now, brethren, I,” etc. 20:32.

7.“To open their eyes,” etc. 26:18.

Bible Questions for December

The Answers are to be found in 1 Corinthians

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “All speak the same thing.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Rather take wrong.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Their weak conscience.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Make a way to escape.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The same night.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be done decently.”

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

ML 12/06/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 10

TOLA and Jair were mercifully raised up by God to preserve Israel for periods exceeding twenty years each, but when both were dead, the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord. They “corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from, their stubborn way.” (chapter 2 verse 19).

More idols than before were adopted from the nations around, and the people whom God had made His own, and by wonderful acts of power and grace had brought from cruel slavery in Egypt to peace and plenty in Canaan, “forsook the Lord and served not Him” (verse 6).

We are not surprised then that “the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel,” and that He sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and the Ammonites to whose gods they bowed down. The chastening they now received was severe, but necessarily so. Left to themselves, the children of Israel invariably fell into the ways of the idolatrous world.

This also has been the experience of the people of God since the cross of Christ, though much more enlightened and blessed. There is no safety in following man no matter how intelligent and however blessed of God. Well may repentant Israel say,

“God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:1; and so, here in our chapter the people, “sore distressed”, cried unto Him, confessing their sin in forsaking their God and in serving idols.

There was not now immediate deliverance; these confessions had been made before, under the rod of affliction, but when once relief was given, the people had gone on with the practices which had brought on the suffering.

“Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen! Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation!” is God’s answer, and it leads to deeper exercise. The strange gods are now put away, and they serve the Lord. Then His heart is grieved for the misery of Israel (verse 16). In His own time., but none the less certainly, He will deliver them, answering the prayer of their exercised hearts. So James tells us (chapter 5 verse 16).

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We must wait for the next chapter to tell how deliverance came.

ML 12/06/1925

The Good News

“O UNCLE,” said a young lady, a pleasant looking person, well-off, as far as this world is concerned. “O, uncle, have you heard the good news? I have only three or four days to live; in three or four days I shall be with Jesus! Is not this good news?

This young lady, on asking her doctor if she were likely to live long, was told,

“No! —only three or four days.”

To many of us, this announcement would not come as good news, but we might think it bad, very had news. Not so with this young lady. She was tired of this world, and ready for the next—yea, more than that, she was going to meet some One she loved.

Have you, dear reader, ever known what it is to count the days, the hours, until the dear friend, the loved object of your heart come or to watch the clock until the time fixed for your going to meet him? If so, you can tell something of what this dear young lady’s thoughts were; and, O, wondrous fact! the One she was going to, was God’s own Son.

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” Phil. 1:23.

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8.

ML 12/06/1925

Praise the Lord, All Ye Children

BOTH young men, and maidens; old men, and children let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psa. 148:12,13.

Precious, peerless name of Jesus,

Sweetest sound on human tongue,

Who can utter half the praises,

Which to His dear name belong?

Who has ever found His equal?

Surest Guide, unfailing Friend:

Of His love; so strong, so tender,

Who has ever reached the end?

Little ones proclaimed His praises

While His dwelling was with men:

Childish voices filled the temple

With their loud hosannas then.

And how graciously He listened

To their simple joyous strain.

Quieting those who, in their malice,

Would have hushed the sweet refrain.

O! how Jesus loved the children.

Loved to call them to His side:

Tired and weary though He might be,

Never once were they denied!

And His love to little children

Is forever more the same;

Naught of changefulness He knoweth,

He who hears that great, sweet Name.

Little children, seek to know Him,

Who has given His life for you:

Then in His unending praises

You will soon he joining too.

For the eves that see His beauty,

And the hearts that know His love,

Cause the lips, with truth and gladness,

Ceaselessly in praise to move.

“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.”

“SING UNTO THE LORD, BLESS HIS NAME; SHOW FORTH HIS SALVATION FROM DAY TO DAY.” Psa. 96:1,2.

ML 12/06/1925

Ishmael and Isaac; or Mocking and Trusting

ISHMAEL’S name means “God shall hear.” This is true at all times, as is also the lesson Hagar, Ishmael’s mother, learned: “Thou God seest me.”

Think of it, dear young friend, “God hears” and “God sees.” Ishmael had to learn also that others could see and hear.

It was a great day in Abraham’s house when the child of promise, Isaac, was weaned, for he made a great feast; but sad to say in the midst of it, Ishmael is found mocking. Now mocking at divine things and at the ways of God is a very wicked thing. To make this plain, read 2 Kings 2:23,24.

God had taken Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind and Elisha was going to Bethel, and “as he was going up by the way, there came forth, little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.”

They did not want the man of God amongst them, therefore they wanted him to go to heaven in the way Elijah had gone, but God heard and God saw, “and there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.”

“God is not mocked,” nor will He allow His things or people to be mocked at Ishmael had to be cast out of Abraham’s house, also his mother. But how different with Isaac, how he trusts his father! although his father gets word from God to offer him up, and in Genesis 22, they are on the way to mount Moriah, the wood is laid on Isaac’s shoulder, Abraham takes the fire and the knife.

As they journey on, Isaac speaks to his father and says, “My father ... .behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Listen to the beautiful answer.

And Abraham said, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” You know the rest of this beautiful story, how obedience gets its reward. The caught ram is offered up instead of Isaac, but you know a ram is not a “lamb.” The time had not come for God’s Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ, to come; but hundreds of years after we read in John 1, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Jesus, God’s Lamb, has been offered up; by His sacrifice, sin has been put away. It is by His precious blood we have redemption.

“Precious, precious blood of Jesus,

Shed on Calvary;

Shed for rebels, shed for sinners,

Shed for me.

Though thy sins are red like crimson,

Deep in scarlet glow;

Jesus’ precious blood can make them

White as snow.”

O then to be delivered from mocking, but may we like Isaac be obedient to what God would have us to do and to say, that we might be His for time and eternity.

ML 12/06/1925

Jesus Who Lives Above the Sky

Jesus who lives above the sky

Came to this wicked world to die,

That He the little ones might bless

And clothe them in God’s righteousness.

He left the home He had on high,

Far, far above the starry sky,

That He might, through His precious blood

Bring little children home to God.

He died on Calvary’s cross to save:

He rose triumphant o’er the grave;

And now upon the throne we see

The Man who died on Calvary.

To little children is His call,

Come unto Me, come one and all;

Believe in Me and be forgiven,

And spend eternity in heaven.

ML 12/06/1925

A Full House

WHAT a full house! There are four little puppies in the basket and one outside. How sad the poor little fellow looks who has fallen out; he is probably cool and wishes he was in the nice warm hay with his brothers and sisters, but it is of no use for him to wish, as he is not old enough to climb back, and besides if he could, there is not room for him.

Does not the puppy remind us, dear little reader, of all who have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour? Yes, such an one is outside of God’s house, outside of His family. But one thing we should be thankful for, is that in God’s house there is now plenty of room. But some day the Lord Jesus will come and take all those who have trusted in Him, up to glory to stay with Him forever. And then God’s house will be full; the door will be shut; there will be no more room. Then the ones which are outside will say, “Lord, Lord open to us,” but will receive the terrible answer, “I know you not.”

Why will the loving and tender Jesus answer them in such a way when He now calls tenderly to everyone, “Come unto Me”? It is because many, many times before, they have heard the loving invitation, but they refused. While there was yet room, and God’s door wide open, they would not hearken to Jesus’ call and enter in.

Dear little reader, have you accepted the invitation and entered in? The Lord Jesus came down to earth and died that you might enter; He received the just punishment that you deserved, and calls to all who have never yet heeded, “Come unto Me.” O, what joy it gives Him for someone to say, “Lord, I come! Thou hast died for me.”

“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.

ML 12/13/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 11

ANOTHER man of low degree, Jephthah, is now brought forward. Rejected by his own people, he had fled to a district of, Syria northeast of Gilead, where “vain men” were gathered to him and went out with him. Oppressed, as we have seen in the last chapter, by the Ammonites, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah to persuade him to be their captain to lead the people against their oppressors. With their promise that he should be their head if he led the people to victory, Jephthah went with the elders.

The king of the children of Ammon refusing to listen to the message of Jephthah, war begins. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah (verse 29), but from this alone we cannot judge that the latter was a believer, for both Balaam and Saul are spoken of in the same way (Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:10).

In the New Testament from the forming of the Church of God (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit indwells every child of God (Ephesians 1:13), and this is a proof of the new birth (Romans 8:9).

The Spirit’s coming on Jephthah was however to energize him for the fight with the Ammonites; he was raised up for the purpose, and we know from Hebrews 11 That he knew God by faith, though his life was far below the standard of earlier judges and deliverers of Israel.

He made a rash vow (verse 30,31), and suffered the consequences of it, his daughter—his only child—never marrying. It does not seem at all possible that Jephthah killed his daughter; the condemnation to childlessness was a great calamity to an Israelite, sufficient to bring out the father’s expression of grief in verse 35.

ML 12/13/1925

Alice

ON an eminence near the banks of a flowing stream, stood the proud ancestral hall of her father. Not far distant, in the woods, was the church.

There had been a change of ministers. The pastor had been succeeded by a young minister who set himself to restore, what he called, the customs of antiquity in the ancient edifice. The plain window was accordingly replaced by a painted one, and costly flowers adorned the table.

Alice was an only child and great heiress. Lovely and accomplished, she lived only for this world; idolized by her parents, she knew not the meaning of a wish ungratified. She entered zealously into the innovations of the new minister, deluding herself with the idea that she was all right, by devoting her talents to God’s service, and thus her mind was drawn off from the real Object of worship, Christ.

But an unexpected visitor arrived at the mansion. A pale messenger came to Alice, —hectic flush suffused her beautiful face. The eagle eye of a mother’s love soon perceived that the seed of consumption had been laid. The skilled physician pronounced the heart-rending verdict that her days were numbered, and that the career of love and self-indulgence would soon be over.

Alice sank by degrees, and as she lay on her couch, she began to think how sad it was to leave her loving friends, and her brilliant prospects, and to go—where? where?

She could not find an answer satisfactory to her soul, so she sent for the clergyman. He came, and they all knelt round the bed. He intoned the service for the sick. Having received her confession, and pronounced absolution, he administered the sacrament, and placing his hands on her, blessed her and pronounced her a good child of the church. He departed perfectly satisfied, and assuring the parents that all was right.

Was Alice satisfied? She had endeavored to join in the service, but in her soul she felt a blank.

“Father, “she said, “I am going to die. Where am I going?”

The father gave no reply.

“Mother, darling, can you tell me what I am to do to get to heaven?”

No reply save tears.

“William, you who were to be my guide through life, can you tell me anything of the future?”

No response.

“I am lost! lost!” she cried, “Am I not, father? Is there anyone who can tell me what I must do to be saved?”

At length the father spoke,

“My child, you have always been a dutiful daughter. You have attended the church, and helped in the service, and the minister has expressed himself satisfied with your state.”

“Alas! Father, I feel that is not enough. It is no rest to my soul. It is hollow it is not real.”

Misery over-shadowed the circle. Eternity was looming before them. They knew not how to answer the agonizing appeal of a beseeching soul, awakened to a sense of sin—to a dread of appearing before God.

Alice was attended by a little maid, who was in the habit of frequenting a meeting held in a barn in the village, where prayer and praise were offered up in simplicity. She longed to tell her mistress that she might “wash and be clean”, but felt diffident. At last she took courage, and told her mistress.

“There is a preacher in the village who proclaims salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and urges us to accept the forgiveness freely offered in the Gospel.”

“O, that I could see him”, cried the dying girl.

Alice besought her father to invite the preacher to the house, and though he thought it extraordinary, her wish was granted.

Again the family were assembled, and the man of God entered the room. The dying girl raising herself, and appealed to him,

“Can you tell me what I must do to obtain rest for my soul, and die at peace with God?”

“I fear I cannot.”

Alice fell back. “Alas! and is it so; is there no hope for me?”

“Stay”, said he, “though I cannot tell you what you can do to be saved, I can tell you what has been done for you. Jesus Christ has completely finished a work by which lost and helpless sinners may be saved. God, who is love, saw us in our lost and ruined state. He pitied us, and in love and compassion sent Jesus to die for us.

‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ The penalty due to sin is death.

‘The soul that sinneth, it ‘shall die.’

It was necessary that a substitute should be found, that the sinner might be spared. The Lord Jesus left the throne of His glory, came into this world, became a man, and offered up Himself on the cross, —an atonement for sin. The Son of God was made a curse for us, ‘He was numbered with the transgressors.’ He endured the wrath and vengeance of God against sin. Thus He has satisfied the justice of God.

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

“And have I nothing to do?”

“Nothing, but to believe on Him. It is not a work done in you by yourself, but a work done for you by another, long, long ago. Jesus has completed the work of our redemption. He has said, ‘It is finished.’”

“I do believe that Jesus died on the cross for sinners; but how am I to know that God has accepted me?”

“When you believe, you are accepted in Him. Look to ‘Jesus only.’ Look to Him who was pierced on Calvary’s cross for your sins.

‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ “

The Holy Spirit through the Word of God, revealed Christ to her soul. The glad tidings of salvation fell as balm, upon her troubled spirit. Her face was lit up with heaven’s sunlight. Looking upwards she exclaimed,

“O, what love! what grace!”

“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness,

My beauty are, my glorious dress.”

ML 12/13/1925

The Life of Moses

When Moses was a little boy,

His parents would not him destroy,

Although they knew if he was found

By Egypt’s law he must be drowned.

Three months they hid him safe away,

And did not show him night or day,

But now if they would save their son

They saw that something must be done.

They made an ark and daubed it well,

But how ‘twould end they could not tell;

They sent it to the river’s brink,

Where savage beast oft came to drink.

‘Twas here the hand of God came in,

And brought the daughter of the king

To see the child and hear it weep,

And have it taken home to keep.

She had him brought up as her son,

Although a Hebrew he was born;

For God would bring the means about,

To lead His people Israel out.

In Egypt he began to see

His people’s grief and misery,

He thought they would have understood

That he was sent to them for good.

But this they did not understand,

And Moses had to quit the land,

He then in Midian found a place

With one who dealt with him in grace.

A shepherd’s life was now his lot,

Till wife and children he had got,

And thus he was content to stay

Till forty years had past away.

His people’s bondage still increase,

Till he came back to their release;

So will the present Jewish race

Till Jesus gathers them in grace.

Then will their bondage all be o’er,

And Jesus reign from shore to, shore,

When Jew and Gentile own Him King,

And all the nations bow to Him.

ML 12/13/1925

A Shepherd and His Sheep

A MAN was accused of having stolen a sheep. He was arrested, taken before the judge and brought face to face with his accuser who declared himself the rightful owner of the animal.

The judge, knowing that in his country it is the custom for shepherds to always walk before their flock and to call to them to follow, had the sheep brought into the court room. Then, sending the prisoner into an adjoining room, he ordered the other to call his sheep. But the sheep, which did not know his voice, paid no attention to him.

In the meantime, the prisoner was getting restless, and, chafing under the delay, began to whistle softly, giving the call to which, his flock was accustomed. This startled the sheep, who immediately ran toward the door to answer the well-known voice.

The judge had therefore no difficulty in deciding who was the real owner of the sheep.

In John 10:4, 5, we read, “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” In verse 11 of the same chapter:

“I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”

You all know, dear children, who the good shepherd is—Jesus Christ, our Saviour, — the One who gave His life for the sheep. But do you know His voice, and does He know you as His own lamb?

“I know My sheep,” He says, “and am known of Mine;” and then again, “I lay down My life for the sheep.” Is not the weakest lamb safe in the care of such a Shepherd? Will you not come to Him and be safe from “the thief (who) cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”?

“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.” John 10:27,28.

ML 12/20/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 12

HERE we find sin breaking out again and as usual, soon after God had wrought a great deliverance for His people. What marvelous forbearance He showed, and still shows, for mercy has not yet given place to judgment! But since the cross of Christ, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18), and, knowing the terror (judgment) of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11). Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), but how shall they escape who neglect so great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3).

The quarrelsome men of Ephraim of whom we have read before (chapter 8). had not followed Jephthah to the war against the Ammonites, but now, when victory is obtained, they blame him for not calling them, and threaten to burn his house over his head. There does not appear the fear of God in the words of the Ephraimites, nor yet in the doings of Jephthah, for the latter gathered all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites suffered death at the hands of Jephthah and his followers from Gilead.

The Word of God does not tell us His judgment about this fight; it does not seem that either side could be commended. Jephthah should have met the angry men of Ephraim with a gracious spirit, as Gideon had met their fathers (chapter 8:1-3). Summing up his life we should rather form an opinion of Jephthah from the meaning of his name (an opposer), and what we have seen of him in the eleventh and twelfth chapters that he was a selfish and violent man of the world who did not know God by faith as Gideon, Deborah and many others before him in the record of the Holy Scriptures, but the divine Penman in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, speaking of those “faith-worthies” of the Old Testament says:

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson and of Jephthah ... ..who through faith subdued kingdoms ... ...

We must be slow to judge others, but apply the Word of God strictly to our own individual selves. It is “sharper that any two-edged sword ... .and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12,13).

ML 12/20/1925

Samuel

AMONG the many stories of Bible children, there is none more touching, more beautiful, than the story of Samuel, the child-prophet, who from his early years, till a ripe old age, served the God whom he loved so faithfully.

Samuel had a praying mother (1 Sam. 1:12). In the day of her distress, she poured out her heart to God in earnest prayer. No doubt, in his very earliest years, Samuel was accustomed to hear that pleading voice supplicating Jehovah for His blessing on her boy, praying that he might be saved in his early years. Need we wonder that God makes mention of Samuel as being one who called “upon His Name” (Psa. 99:6). A praying mother was honored to have a praying son, for Samuel was truly a man of prayer.

He was in early life also a dedicated child (1 Sam. 1:28). He was “lent to the Lord,” wholly given up to Him and to His service.

There are boys and girls truly saved, who are not dedicated to the Lord Jesus. They grow up to please themselves, to get rich, to become great in the world, and instead of becoming bright and shining lights for Jesus, they soon sink down so, far, that it can scarcely be known that they are the Lord’s at all. How much happier it is with those who yield themselves unto God, who present their lives as living sacrifices unto Him (Rom. 6:16; 12:1).

Samuel next appears as a little servant (1 Sam. 2:18), serving, girded with a linen ephod, in the temple. It was while there, that the voice of the Lord awoke him out of his sleep one night, and gave him a message and a call to His service, more public and more difficult than any he had yet done.

If those who are saved serve the Lord in little things, in the home, the school, among brothers, sisters, companions, fellow-workers, they may be called to more honorable service.

Samuel became a faithful prophet (1 Sam. 3:20), and all God’s people acknowledged his calling and his work. God was with him, and preserved him amid many dangers to old age, and now he is in heaven with many more, who were saved by grace, and faithfully served the Lord on earth. If you would be there, you must he saved too.

ML 12/20/1925

Why Hettie Was Happy

MOST girls would have thought that Hettie Bowers had not much to make her happy. She had few friends, and had passed through many trials in her brief life. But the truth of the matter was that Hettie was a Christian. There was often a song on her lips, and Mrs. Adams was wont to say,

“The kitchen is the brightest room in the house.”

“What a bright disposition your little kitchen maid has!” guests would often say to Mrs. Adams, and the mistress, who knew well the secret of Hettie’s happiness, always answered,

“Yes, it is the sunshine of God’s love in her heart.”

“Hettie,” Mrs. Adams asked one day, “why are you always so happy?”

“Why, ma’am’,” she answered, “Jesus loves me, and isn’t that enough to make any one happy.”

“But how do you know that He loves you, Hettie?”

“He said so, ma’am, and I couldn’t doubt His Word.”

“Then you think He never forgets, Hettie?”

Her face lit up with a smile,

“O, that is the beauty of such love; we forget, but He never forgets.”

“But, Hettie, don’t you ever feel lonely?”

“Not while He is with me, ma’am; but sometimes when I forget His great love, I am apt to become discontented.” “Well,” said Mrs. Adams to herself as she stepped out of the kitchen, “what grace He has bestowed upon this girl!” While Hettie may be a poor kitchen girl, as we view things, yet hereafter a great reward awaits her.

We are but little children weak

Not born in any high estate;

What can we do for Jesus’ sake,

Who is so high, and good, and great?

With smiles of peace and looks of love,

Lights in our dwellings let us make:

Bid kind, good humor brighten there,

And still do all for Jesus’ sake.

ML 12/20/1925

Lost Nannie

LOST, a little girl with light hair and blue eyes; any information will be thankfully received.” This was the announcement, and it was passed from street to street.

How sad, I thought, that a pretty little girl should be lost! How anxious her parents will be about her! I hope she has not gone near the rocks and fallen over! I sat down to rest on the grass, and after a few minutes, I noticed a child coming along all alone, crying bitterly, “Mamma, mamma come to Nannie.”

“Light hair and blue eyes,” and the sight of the child brought the words fresh to my mind. There she stood, sure enough.

“Come with me, my dear,” I said, taking her by the hand. “I will lead you safely home,” and little Nannie put her plump little hand into mine without a moment’s hesitation, and I led her to her mother, who welcomed her with tears and kisses, and hugged her to her bosom.

Like little Nannie, you are lost, my little reader, lost in sin, wandering away from God and heaven. But He has sent One to seek and save you, even His own Son, the Lord Jesus. If you will put your trust in Him, as Nannie put her hand in mine, He will save you and lead you to God and heaven. You do not require to cry, or wait until He comes, for He has come forth already to seek and to save you. Even now His voice is heard in loving tones, speaking to you, and this is what it says,

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

Dear young reader, have you come to Jesus, and has He saved and brought you home to God? If not, will you trust. Him now, just this very day?

ML 12/20/1925

God Is Love

The flowers which deck my pathway round
And skirt the shady wood,
Proclaim as with a thousand tongues,
That God is very good.

The ripened fields of waving grain,
For man and beast assigned;
Tell that the great Creator is,
Not only good, but kind.

The glorious sun and peerless moon,
And stars which round them wait,
Prove God to be not only good
And kind, but very great.

But O! the Cross where Jesus hung,
Doth yet more strongly prove,
That, though so good and kind and great,
The mighty God is LOVE.

ML 12/20/1925

A Mimic Battle

RATHER an unequal contest, perhaps my reader will say, three against one, in the snow battle about to take place. Two girls and a dog on one side and a single boy on the other.

Fortunately, they are what we may call friendly foes, who are eager to try their skill in driving off the enemy. It is not, however, always the case that numbers win the day, and I doubt not here but that the boy will come off the victor.

But the girls have one thing in their favor, they know that mischief is brewing, and they are on the watch to resist or oppose it.

Sometimes we may have an enemy at work against us and not know it, then how easy it is for us to be tripped up. Do you know of one enemy who is ever active, always working behind the scenes to bring about evil?

It is Satan who has been man’s enemy ever since he tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, but what good news to know that there has been One on this earth who has been able to destroy the power of Satan, and deliver all those who had been subject to his bondage.

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

“RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” James 4:7.

ML 12/27/1925

Bible Lessons

Judges 13.

VERSE 1: When those who are in relationship to Him are marked by ways of sin, God, who is holy as well as loving, and a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), allows them to suffer at the hands of their enemies. The divinely given history which we are reading has to say that “the children of Israel did evil again,” but their God is faithful; He had not given them up, though they had all but given Him up, as we have before noticed in this book of the Judges. How slow He is to turn away; how long put off is the day of judgment! And men are today, as of long time, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:3-15.

The Philistines here become the oppressors; they were not as the Moabites; the Canaanites under Sisera; the Midianites, Amalekites and children of Ammon, enemies from outside the borders of the land, but enemies inside the enclosure of Israel. The Philistines had already proved themselves enemies (chapter 10:7), and now were at the height of their power. From an enemy within, when the condition of God’s people is such that they cannot be led out against an enemy as in the preceding examples of this book, we are in this chapter pointed directly and at length to the resource provided of God for our own times: entire separation from the evil. (2 Timothy 2:21).

The name “Nazarite”, (found also in Numbers 6, Lamentations 4:7, 8, and Amos 2:11, 12,) means simply “separated”. The Nazarite might not touch, strong drink, or anything that came from the vine, —typical of turning away from sources of earthly energy, and joy; no razor must come upon his head,—suggestive of the giving up of self and of natural rights and proprieties as man (see 1 Corinthians 11:7, 14); he must not touch any dead body,—typical of avoiding contact with moral defilement, association with the world viewed as dead and separated from God because of sin. The one great example of true Nazariteship was the Lord Jesus in His spotless, God-glorifying life on earth, when evil reigned among the people to whom He came; though one of the people, He was not of them, but apart, separate from the evil. And since His resurrection He is completely separate from sinners; the world sees Him no more except in judgment.

Separation to God as indicated in Samson’s case, and in its fulness in Jesus, is, under the circumstances, the only means of enjoying the strength of God.

Samson’s birth, like that of Isaac (Genesis 18:10, 11), of Samuel, (1 Samuel 1) and of John the Baptist (Luke 1:7, 13- 20), and above all of our Lord Jesus who was born into the world in a way peculiar to Himself alone (Luke 1:35), marked the power of God passing by man who is powerless through sin.

"What for God"

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

Whilst 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,

“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 Reader, 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.” O, 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 cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 12/27/1925

The Tongue

MY dear friends, in the book of James 3:5 we have,

“Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” How often have we seen the reflection in the sky of a terrible fire, and the next day found out that stores, and houses were burned to the ground. That fire might have been kindled by the striking of a match. In walking along the country road we see the black ashes of what the night before was a splendid farm-yard, with its hay-stacks, stables and cow-sheds, —all that sad work was done by a match.

The Indians in some part of the world, strike a spark from a flint and steel, and set fire to the dry grass, and the flames spread with such rapidity, until they sweep with a roaring torrent over prairies. Men and cattle have to flee for their lives.

“Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth, and the tongue is a fire” (Verses 5,6).

A few rash words will set a family, a neighborhood, a nation by the ears; they have often done so. Half the law-suits, and half the wars have been brought about by the tongue. Homes are made miserable; bosom friends have become bitter foes, all on account of fiery arrows shot by this powerful little member.

Which of you, dear ones, has not felt its power? Have you thought, dear children, that each of you has one of these little members fixed in your mouth? There it is all ready and waiting for orders from morning till night.

“There is not a word on my tongue, but lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether.” Psa. 139:4. It is God’s gift to you, and He is watching to see what use you make of it. Is it busy for God, or for Satan? Is it doing harm, or is it doing good?

These are serious questions. Do not put them aside, dear ones, but answer them in God’s presence. If you are still unsaved, your tongue is being used for Satan. God says,

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9. How very black, and naughty the natural heart is in God’s sight; but in His great love and mercy for all such, He has provided a way by which all can be saved through the death and resurrection of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Boys and girls, who come to God, through Christ, will then have grace to use their tongues for the One who loved them and gave Himself for them.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

ML 12/27/1925

Disobedience

A MOTHER said to her little boy, “Bring your sister into the house; the dew is falling, and she will take cold.”

Now, this little boy did not want to obey his mother’s command, and yet he was afraid to act in open disobedience. If he had wanted to obey his mother, he would have taken his sister, and gone promptly into the house. Instead of that he pulled her roughly by the hand; and when she cried, he called to his mother and said, “Sister won’t come.”

“Bring her, then,” was the next command, and the little boy brought her to the door-sill, and set her down.

The mother had now gone out, and there was no one to say for the third time,

“Take your little sister into the house,” so she soon crept out again, playing upon the cold door-stone, and among the damp grass, until mother came home, and when the little boy was reproved for disobedience, he answered in this way,

“I did mind you, I brought her in, as I was told. You did not say, ‘shut the door,’ and she crept out again.”

Was that obedience, little reader? No it was wicked, determined disobedience at heart, and a poor half-way obedience of action, and what do you think was the result? The dear little sister was attacked with croup, and in a few days died. This was a dreadful result indeed, and one which through life must be remembered, — sadly, painfully remembered by that little boy.

Let each dear boy and girl examine his heart, and ask himself, “How often have I failed in obedience to mother or father?”

Kindly turn to 2 Timothy 3:2, and there you will find, being “disobedient to parents” is one of the marks of the last days. This is a great sin in the sight of God, who says in His Word,

“Honor thy father, and thy mother,” Eph. 6:1, also,

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

Ah, I suppose everyone who reads this, will remember some time when he or she sinned in this way; for Satan is ever tempting us, and disobedience is one of the sins he gets children most easily to fall into. Do not go on any longer in your sins, but come to Jesus; He loves you, He died for you, and He will save you.

“By one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19.

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

ML 12/27/1925

Lord of All

Before I lay me down in bed,

Or on the pillow rest my head,

I would, dear Saviour, ask of Thee

To own me Thine, who lovest me.

I know that I was born in sin,

That I’ve an evil heart within:

I know that we can nothing do

To please Thee, till we’re born anew.

But with the Spirit helping me,

My Father, I will pray to Thee;

And thank Thee Thou in love didst give

Thy Son to die that I might live.

I’ll thank Thee also for the grace

Thou givest those who seek Thy face;

Now, Jesus, at Thy feet I fall,

To own Thee mine, and “Lord of all.”

ML 12/27/1925

Messages of God's Love: 1925

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for November.

A New Year's Motto

Bible Lessons

About the River Folk in China

Step by Step

Fear

Bible Lessons

About the River Folk in China

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Which Will Be You Portion?

Just a Peep

Bible Lessons

Close to a Refuge, but Outside

Candles and Rabbits

Who Loves You?

The Call Obeyed

The Lost One Found

Bible Lessons

Taken or Left

The Conversion of Annie and Mary

Love One Another

Answers to Bible Questions for December

Bible Lessons

God's Care

The Little Shepherd Boy

Sympathy and Comfort

Life, Rest, Joy, Peace.

Timothy

Bible Lessons

Only Believe

Are You Ready?

Inside or Outside?

Jesus Our Friend

Life

Bible Lessons

The Children's Task

Repentance Toward God, Illustrated in a Little Child

Auntie's Great Reward

Clearing Away the Snow

Bible Lessons

A Child's Confession of Christ

Taken or Left?

Come Now, Dear Children

Answers to Bible Questions for January.

Bible Lessons

The Bible and the Devil

Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

Jesus Watches O'er His Sheep

Luxury and Poverty

Bible Lessons

Help at the Right Time

Because He Loves You so

Lord of Heaven, Bless the Children

The Shepherd and His Flock

"'Tis Finished!"

Bible Lessons

What the Silkworms Teach Us: Glory, or the Lake of Fire?

Take off the Tarpaulin

Lizzie's Journey

Lost

Bible Lessons

Epitaph on a Tomb Stone

The Card on the Flowers

In the Shepherd's Bosom

The Donkey

Bible Lessons

Justice and Mercy

"Come Unto Me"

"Whosoever!"

"What Is Your Life?"

Answers to Bible Questions for February.

Bible Lessons

Counting the Day's Receipts

Little Harry

Why Did Jesus Die?

Little Mary

Bible Lessons

A Narrow Escape