Messages of God's Love: 1931

Psalms 64 is a last call to God for preservation from the enemy of the day that is coming soon. It is a prayer that breathes confidence, though troubles assail the godly, when the evildoers counsel together secretly, and the workers of iniquity are openly threatening. Conscienceless they attack with bitter words suddenly the unoffending Israelites who shall be looking for the Messiah they once crucified to come again. It will be a day, when the power of Satan is at its height. (See Revelation 12:12-17; Matthew 24:9-29). The end will be that the righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory (verse 10).

The next four psalms are songs, as their titles let us know: songs of praise for deliverance that is very near.

Psalm 65 begins with a striking expression: “Praise waiteth for Thee in since, O God, in Zion” (see marginal note and New Translation). Praise will presently be heard; it is already, so to speak, in the heart, and will soon be on the lips.

Out of the experience of deep trial which always is profitable to those who are exercised by it (Hebrews 12:11), comes that name for God found in verse 2: “Thou that hearest prayer.” How many, their number only known to Him, have in all ages gone to Him in prayer, earnest, supplicating prayer, for needs both theirs and others; and found the assurance that He hears (Philippians 4:6, 7), and in due course have received the answer, too, as it has pleased Him.

Verse 3 is confession, and faith’s assurance of forgiveness; verse 4 owns the election of grace, and declares the believer’s contentment with the prospect thus made his. But the dawn of that day when righteousness shall reign must bring judgment: “By terrible things in righteousness wilt Thou answer us, O God of our salvation” (verse 5). It is a mistake to suppose that the end of the present order of things in the world will be peace; that it will end in terrible judgments, many scriptures tell us.

Past the scenes of judgment, the psalmist however looks, in verses 9 to 13, to the great millennial day when the creation will no more groan, when the hills shall be girded with gladness and the meadows are clothed with flocks. What a day of rejoicing it will be!

Yet for the Christian there is a prospect far excelling the delights of the thousand years of Christ’s righteous reign; for this, one may turn to such scriptures as John 14:2, 3; 17:24; Romans 8:29, 30; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Ephesians 1:3-14, 22, 23; 2:5-8; Colossians 3:20, 21.

ML 01/04/1931

Saved in a Kitchen

Not in a stately cathedral, or some other grand consecrated building, but in a farmer’s kitchen I was saved.

A few young men, and all newly converted, came out from the town, and spoke on the village street on the summer Sunday afternoons. They had a good hearing. Some of us young people were ashamed to be seen standing at an open-air meeting, but we heard what was said all the same, standing in some hidden corner. It was a great reproach in those early years to be converted; and those who confessed they were, had many a cross to bear, and some hard things were said about them, especially by religious people. When the nights became dark, the meetings were held in a kitchen, and it was there many were brought to the Lord.

Well do I remember the night the Word of God found me out, sitting on a stool in that man’s kitchen. A young man was telling how he was saved through believing that Christ died his death and suffered in his stead, quoting the words:

“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.”

He went on to say, “It is not your good works, but Christ’s.” I saw God’s way of salvation, then and there, and believing on Christ, was saved that night.

Will you not accept this same Jesus who loves you and has died for you, and longs to bless you?

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

ML 01/04/1931

The Shepherd

The shepherd and his flock have been down to the river, and he has led his flock across. As our Lord says of a good shepherd, he goes before, and the sheep follow. Not all in the same manner, however; some enter boldly, and come straight across. These are the loved ones of the flock, who keep near by the footsteps of the shepherd, whether sauntering through the green meadows by the still waters, feeding upon the mountains, or resting at noon beneath the shadow of a great rock. And now others enter, but in doubt and alarm.

Now, can you watch such a scene and not think of that One “Who leadeth His flock like a Shepherd?” He, too, goes before, and, as in the case of this flock, they who keep near Him, fear no evil. They hear His voice saying, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the floods, they shall not overflow thee.” Isaiah 43:2.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

“My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.”

“I and My Father are one.” John 10: 27-30.

“I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVETH HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP.”

John 10:11.

ML 02/15/1931

"Anybody That Likes"

An old woman lay dying. She knew she had but a brief time to live, and by her bedside sat a little girl reading the Scripture to her. She was reading the third chapter of John and had reached verse 16, when the old woman’s attention was arrested by the word “whosoever.”

She stopped the child and asked her what “whosoever” meant. She did not know. Then said the woman, “Run as quickly as you can and ask the first person you meet.”

The girl put down the book and ran to inquire the meaning of the word “whosoever.” She stopped the first person she met and said,

“If you please, sir, can you tell me the meaning of the word ‘whosoever?’”

“O, yes, my little girl,” replied the gentleman, “it just means ‘anybody that likes.’” She thanked him and ran back to the old woman.

As soon as she reached the bedside, the poor dying creature raised her eyes and said,

“O, have you found out yet?”

“Yes,” replied the child, “I met a gentleman who said it just meant ‘anybody that likes.’”

“Thank God,” she replied, as she put her tired hands together and looked up to heaven,

“Thank God! Then I like, I like.”

Soon after this she breathed her last, and without doubt passed away to be with Him who had been set before her as the Object of faith.

What a simple thing is faith. It just takes God at His word without question or quibble. It is this simple belief of what He tells us of His Son having died in our room and stead, that honors God and saves the soul.

May the reader thus believe God, and reap in richest blessing the fruit of that mighty work of Calvary. Remember, it is unto all—yes, ‘anybody that likes’ may take to himself and enjoy its unspeakable benefits now and forever.

“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 01/04/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 73.

We here begin the short Third Book of the Psalms, which ends with Psalm 89. It continues but one of David’s, —the 86th.

In the First Book, ending with Psalm 41, are the great principles of the position of the Jewish remnant in connection with Christ, the rejected and glorified One.

In the Second Book the remnant is seen separated from the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem, and gone from the city; in it too we found the Lord coming to cheer and deliver the remnant, and to set up His kingdom.

The Third Book now looks at the condition of Israel as a nation restored to their land, though it distinguishes the goy or true-hearted among them. In this Book the coming of the Lord is not included; the Fourth Book will again set that glorious event forth.

In Psalm 73 the saint has been troubled seeing the prosperity of the wicked, and the trials of the godly. Is it not often so today? Pride, violence, riches, oppression, boastfulness, —these are still the common marks of the ungodly in the world, and the people of God on the other hand are usually not prosperous, are even in deep distress and suffering from oppression through the selfishness that is natural to man; waters in fullness are wrung out to them. (Verse 10). They wonder if God knows how they are tread, and that it is the wicked that prosper and heap up riches.

Thinking over it all, the saint at first decides that he has cleansed his heart and hands for naught, because all the day he has been plagued, and every morning chastened. But if he should say this he would be faithless to the generation of God’s children (verse 15). He could not understand; the state of things was so contrary to what one would expect, for an Israelite looked upon riches and possessions as proof of God’s blessing. Going into the sanctuaries of God, he understood their end. (Verses 19-20); he was all wrong, as ignorant of the ways of God as a beast.

Instructed of God, the saint is comforted in a contrary scene; God has preserved him; He will guide him by His counsel, and after the glory, after it has been revealed by the coming of the Lord —he will be received and blessed on earth. (See Zechariah 2:8). He realizes his blessed portion through the exercise of soul he has been experiencing, and sees and desires none but the Lord. Flesh and heart fail indeed, for man is a frail creature at all times, but the intelligent language of faith at all times and in all circumstances is “God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” In God alone is safety and true blessing. It is through affliction that the believer learns the truth of the last verse of the psalm,

“It is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Thy works.”

ML 02/15/1931

The Snow Storm

The girls in our picture are making their way through the fast falling snow. They are trying to shelter themselves with the large umbrella.

It is good to find a shelter in the day of storm, and I want to direct my readers to a safe refuge, —that refuge is Jesus.

There is a storm coming on this world, —a storm of God’s anger, because of the murder and rejection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. But while He was nailed to the cross by wicked men, He, out of His great love for us, bore God’s judgment instead of our bearing it, shed His blood to wash away our many sins, and now all who trust in Him as their Saviour, are sheltered from the coming judgment.

But those who will not accept Him as their Saviour, must meet God’s judgment, which will be sure to send them to hell Forever. There is no other way to be saved but through Christ, and His atoning work on the cross.

May all who read this be able to say,

“I WILL SAY OF THE LORD, HE IS MY FORTRESS: MY GOD; IN HIM WILL I TRUST.” Psalm 91:2.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians. 1:9, 10.

ML 01/04/1931

Lost

Some years ago two little children between two and four years old, grew weary of their play at home. They were restless and wanted a change.

So they slipped out of the house and started down the street in the direction of some railroad tracks. They were not old enough to know the danger, and toddled along without any fear.

It was not long, however, till father and mother missed the sound of their voices, and began looking for them. When they were not found in the house, their father started out, overtook them just before they reached the railroad, and brought them home to safety.

Many children run away from home and get lost. Others never do.

But in one way we are all lost, —lost in sin. And we are in danger of something more terrible than trains.

But just as the father of the children in our story went after them and rescued them from danger, so Jesus is seeking those who are lost in sin, and rescuing them from the eternal punishment that would surely follow if they continued in their wanderings on the “broad way that leadeth to destruction” (Matthew 7:13).

Often children run away and have a very happy time for a while, not knowing that they are lost. But when they grow weary and long for home, and don’t know how to get back, it is quite another story.

So, with lost sinners. They go on and on looking for pleasure down here, not knowing that they are lost in sin, and that danger is ahead of them.

Jesus is calling and telling you of the danger. And it is only when you listen to Him and find out how great that danger, how great your need, and how helpless you are, that you can ask Him for help and salvation.

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

A little girl in Canada writes, “I was a lost sinner, I knew that I need salvation, and that I must come face to face with my dear Lord someday. But now I can say, ‘He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes I am healed.’” Isaiah 53:5.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” John 6:37, is my favorite text, and I think it is so wonderful to know that someday we will go Home with Him to glory.”

This dear child not only trusts in Jesus as her Saviour, but when she is feeling discouraged or unhappy, she tells Jesus all about it and leaves her burdens with Him.

May you who are reading this have that same simple faith.

ML 02/15/1931

Jesus, the Lord, Is Full of Love

Jesus, the Lord, is full of love,

How mild are all His ways; He hears His children’s prayers above, And loves their notes of praise.

Soon from the gloomy world they’ll rise, To Jesus borne along, And then above the starry skies,

They join the heavenly throng.

There all behold the Saviour’s face, The Lamb who died for them,

And sing the wonders of His grace

Who did their souls redeem.

ML 01/041931

The Cat and the Chickens

There were some ten or twelve little chicks, and their mother hen, scattered about a garden in which I was walling one lovely summer’s morning. They were all very busy picking away among plants and bushes, gathering up the little seeds and worms and insects which they seem to like so much. The chickens were so occupied with their food that they seldom looked about, but I noticed that the hen several times left off pecking, and looked up into the air, and then all around her—she was on the lookout, lest any dangerous bird or animal might come to harm her little brood.

Well was it for the chickens that the mother bird cared for them—well was it that she thought of them, when they did not think of anything but the grubs and worms—for very soon I saw that the little chickens were in great danger—they did not know it—but they were in danger of being killed. An old cat had watched these little things, and very slowly and stealthily was coming closer and closer to the place where they were so enjoying themselves—hiding behind the cabbages and bushes so that they should not see her —and only waiting until close enough to spring upon and seize one of the poor little things, and carry it away, and tear it in pieces.

Do you know, my little reader, that you are in great danger? —for there is one after you who is very powerful and cunning and crafty, and who walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. If you turn to your Bible, you will find in 1 Peter 5:8 who this terrible one is, —Satan, the devil.

But the old hen was, as I have told you, on the look-out, and she saw the danger her little ones were in, and began cackling very loudly to the chickens, and they heard her voice calling them to come—and they all left their food which they seemed to be enjoying so much, and, lifting their little wings, ran off very much frightened to the hen, whose strong wings were held out for them; and very soon all the little chicks were cozily and safely sheltered by the mother bird, and the old cat had to go away disappointed, for she dared not touch the hen.

This all reminded me of a little picture drawn in words, which you will see in Matthew 23:37. There you will find the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to do the will of God His Father, and to save sinners, speaking about the people of Jerusalem; and He says, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

Poor, foolish people—they were in awful danger, and there was One, the Lord of Glory, calling them to come to Him, He who had all power and could save them, but they would not come. And He called them many times— “often,” but they paid no heed to His call, they went on with their business and their pleasure, and cared nothing for the Lord Jesus, who in love and pity had come among them to “gather them to Him, but they would not come to Him,” and very soon He ceased calling, and the enemy came and destroyed them and their city.

Today He is calling us to come to Him. He knows our danger and lovingly warns, and will lovingly welcome us if we come at once.

He is now calling from heaven “Come unto Me, ... . and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

ML 02/15/1931

Feeding the Birds

Winter’s snow is thickly falling, and soon the ground, as well as the trees and the bushes, will be robed in a mantle of white. And what will the poor birds do then, for the ground will grow hard with the frost, and there will not be any worms or insects for them to feed upon! Even the leafless branches of the trees will not afford them food as in summer.

We might think they must soon starve to death. But, no; God takes care of even the little birds. He feeds the sparrows; He hears the raven’s cry.

In our picture today, we see a dear child feeding the birds; and from near and far, they seem to be coming at his call. If he had not shown them kindness, they would keep at a good distance; but they have received food from him before, and now, without fear, they come close to him, and eagerly pick up the sweet crumbs that he has in readiness for them. Does it not give you pleasure, as you look upon the picture, to see how happy and confident these little creatures are!

Let us learn from it, two little lessons, first; may we learn to show kindness to all of God’s creatures, God cares for them, and we should care for them, second; let us thankfully recognize God’s care over us. While He thinks of the little birds and cares for them, He tells us we are of “more value than many sparrows.” He does not wish us to be troubled about what we shall eat and what we shall wear. He would have us to take these cares to Him who cares for us. He tells us to consider the ravens, for He feeds them; and to consider the lilies which He clothes so beautifully. He tells us too, that He will feed and clothe us, and we are not to doubt His love to us. He gives us this beautiful word, “Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” Should not this be enough for our hearts?

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

Matthew 6:33.

ML 01/11/1931

Jesus and His Love

Come, listen to a story, friend, I want to tell to you;

A story very, very old,

But still as good as new.

I learned it at the Sunday school,

And now would have you prove

The joy that such a story gives—

Of Jesus and His love.

We all had wandered far from God, And gone like sheep astray.

And the’ so very young, you see

I, too, had turned away.

But God who set His love on me,

My little heart did move, For through His holy Word I learned Of Jesus and His love.

He left His home in heaven, I read,

For sinners such as I,

He must “be lifted up,” He said,

On Calvary’s cross to die.

I never could have gone to heaven,

To dwell with God above,

But for the blessed, joyful news

Of Jesus and His love.

I trusted Jesus’ precious blood,

Which cleanseth from all sin.

That blood has made me pure and white,

As though no sins had been.

And while in journeying through the world,

His daily grace I prove,

I love to think, and talk, and sing

Of Jesus and His love.

My story isn’t finished yet,

He’s coming soon, He says,

To take me home to dwell with Him

Through everlasting days.

And when the sweet new song I sing

With all His saints above,

‘Twill be the dear old story still,

Of Jesus and His love.

ML 02/15/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 66 and 67.

These two psalms continue the song of praise begun in the 65th. Psalm 66 is addressed to all the earth in view of the Lord’s having come to set up His authority here; He will have put down all that oppose Him. He must reign, 1 Corinthians 15:25 tells us, until, He has put all enemies under His feet, though that will not be entirely accomplished at the beginning, but at the end of the millennium. What triumph for the Crucified One when His enemies, who once nailed Him to a cross and now despise Him, come cringing to Him (verse 3)!

Verse 6 refers to the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt at the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

Verses 8 to 12 make known that the afflictions of the remnant were intended by God to be not only a blessing to them, but to the Gentiles who would believe through their word.

“Thou has tried us” in verse 10 is “Thou hast refined us.” (See in this connection Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9 and Malachi 3:3).

Silver was the metal used for redemption, a type of a ransom for the soul, in Exodus 30:12-16. See its use in the tabernacle, God’s dwelling place in the wilderness with His people, in Exodus 36:20-31, to support the acacia wood boards which formed the sides, and to faith represents the believers brought together by power not their own to form the house of God. (See Ephesians 2:19-22).

Not in cold, lifeless formality does the renewed heart consider the prospect of going to the appointed place of meeting (verses 13-15); the voice of testimony is heard (verses 16-19), and the psalm closes with praise to God. Such should be the habit of the Christian as he passes on his way to glory with Christ.

In Psalm 67 the song of praise reaches its height, and all the inhabitants of the earth are again before the inspired writer for their blessing.

Truly blessed will be the inhabitants of this world when He reigns, for whom creation waits.

Psalm 68, also a “song,” is of different character to those which have preceded it, a sort of review or reflection upon what has happened, and so we may say that after the short psalm 67 before us, the subject changes, yet praise to our God continues, and will continue without end eternally, for all the mercy and grace He has shown to those who have, all unworthy in themselves, been led to put their trust in Him,—in the Son of His love.

ML 01/11/1931

A Mother's Love

Is it not a pretty sight to see a dear little baby lying in his mother’s arms!

We often see it, and have, no doubt, noticed by the expression of the mother’s face, how much she loves her baby; but if we look at him, we see, not so much an expression of love, as, a picture of helplessness.

The little one cannot do anything for himself, but the mother must do everything for him; first, because she loves her little baby; second, he is not strong enough to take care of himself, This reminds us of the love that God has shown to us, for the Bible says: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.

This is beyond a mother’s love for her baby.

Have you ever thought that God really loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you, so that you may be saved through Him? He loved us when we were helpless, and could not do anything for ourselves in order to be saved. He looked upon us in love, and knew our helplessness, so He did everything for us.

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

Romans 5:6.

02/22/1931

The Leper

In the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew, we find Jesus up on a mountain, teaching the disciples, while multitudes of people were around listening.

The truths Jesus taught are very wonderful and precious. And if you will read and study carefully these three chapters, you may learn many helpful lessons.

“When He (Jesus) was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.” Matthew 8:1.

Among this great number was a leper. A leper is a person who has leprosy, and leprosy is a terrible disease that cannot be cured.

In this country people who have leprosy are sent to places that are called leper colonies, so that other people will not get the disease from them.

In olden times if a leper was near people who did not have the disease, he was expected to cry, “Unclean, unclean,” so that they would know he had leprosy, and would keep away from him.

The leper we are reading about in the 8th chapter of Matthew, had no right to be in the crowd of people that were following Jesus, but he had heard of this wonderful Man who healed diseases, and he had faith in Him.

“If only I can get close enough to speak to Jesus,” he thought, “He will cure me.”

So he pushed through the crowd and when he got close to Jesus, he worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

“And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be thou clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

No one else in all that multitude of people would have dared to touch this man, sick with such an unclean and terrible disease, But Jesus’ love went out to him just the same as to others, and restored him to health.

Dear children, because leprosy is incurable, it is used in God’s word as a type of sin. We are all sinners.

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

And we cannot get rid of sin, any more than the poor leper could get rid of his leprosy. God alone is able to cleanse us.

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

Do not think you can make yourself good. And do not think the good deeds you may do can wipe out, or atone for the bad ones. Nothing less than the death of His own beloved Son, bearing your sins on the cross, could satisfy God.

Jesus suffered the punishment you deserve, and if you turn to Him for salvation, your sins will be forgiven.

“There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” Psalm 130:4.

ML 01/11/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 74.

Plainly this psalm, this pleading prayer will rise from Jerusalem and the Holy land, and the time for which it speaks is when Gentiles as well as apostate Jews are enemies of the godly ones there. For many years Jews have been going to Palestine to make their home in that land which God long ago anointed for Israel (Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 32:8), and since the great war, increased numbers of them have been settling there. Just now there is a hindrance to Jewish immigration, but it cannot last long, for God’s Word shows in many passages that the Holy land will be the possession of the Jews when His dealings with them as a nation begin again.

Touching is the appeal to God here; faith addresses Him on the ground of His original purchase of them, and there is not a word of confidence in themselves in the entire psalm. The language employed is the work of the Holy Spirit; it will be the fruit of His work in them. They claim deliverance on the ground of being His, — they are His sheep (verse 1); His assembly or congregation, His inheritance (verse 2); and so it is His place of assembly (verse 4); His sanctuary, the dwelling place of His name (verse 7); His synagogues or places of assembly (verse 8).

From verse 12, God is addressed as He who asserted His authority, and displayed His power of old. An enemy had reproached Jehovah; a foolish people had blasphemed or treated with contempt His name; they were His adversaries (verses 22, 23). Can such an appeal fail?

This psalm adds to our knowledge obtained from other Scriptures of the events of the last days, showing that the temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem will be desecrated: everything in it will be destroyed by the enemy (verse 3); they will break down its carved work altogether with hatchets and hammers (verse 6), and set the building on fire (verse 7), will even burn up all God’s places of assembly in the land. Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 10:5, 6; Zechariah 14:1, 2; Isaiah 28:14, 15, 1820; Revelation 13:11-18; Matthew 24:551, and many other scriptures throw much light on the state of things in and around Jerusalem when the Church of God, composed of all true Christians, shall have been called away by the summons of Christ to the heavenly scene (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57), and God by the Holy Spirit will take up Israel again for blessing (Ezekiel 37).

Verse 4 speaks of signs and wonders of the last days (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 13:13, etc.). No signs will be given by God to meet these Satanic signs (verse 9); we know from Revelation 11:3-6 that there will be signs given by chosen witnesses of God, but they are essentially different in character and limited in display.

There will be no prophets then (verse 9), but if these saints have the Scriptures before them, they will learn that the day of the Lord’s return for their deliverance is set (Daniel 9:27; 12:6, 7, 11-13). It will be 7 years from the beginning of the seven-year agreement for carrying on the Jewish system of religious observance in the Holy land, or 3 1/2 years from the time that the false prophet-king takes that important step of assuming God’s place as the object of worship—the “abomination” that will bring the Assyrian desolator (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9).

In this the Christian hope is distinct; there are no “times and seasons” (1 Thessalonians. 4:15-18; 5:3) for us who have been led to own ourselves lost sinners and to claim the guilty sinner’s Saviour in this wonderful day of God’s grace. O, that we were more constantly looking for Him to come!

Saviour, come, we long to see Thee, Long to dwell with Thee above,

And to know in full communion

All the sweetness of Thy love.

ML 02/22/1931

Hero's Rescue

One afternoon as we were coming from school, many years ago, we saw a boy sitting on the river bank with a little dog on his knee. As we came up to where the boy sat, we noticed that he had a string around the dog’s neck, and at the other end a big stone tied with the cord. The little fellow was crying bitterly, and every now and again, he gave the little dog a hug to his bosom. Several of the school-boys stood, but no one liked to ask what was the matter with the weeping boy.

At last a gentleman came walking along the river bank, and when he came opposite to where the boy sat with the dog, he stood, and in a kind, sympathizing tone, inquired.

“What are you going to do with the dog, my boy?” Bursting a-fresh into tears, the boy said, “My master sent me to drown it, sir, but I never drowned a dog in my life, or killed any of God’s creatures, and I cannot do it?”

“Why does he want the dog drowned?” asked the gentleman.

“I think it’s because he has no need for it, and nobody would buy it, sir,” replied the lad, half hoping that the gentleman would in some way, relieve him of the unwelcome job he had to do.

“Come along with me to your master, and we’ll hear what he says. I am in want of a dog, and if he will sell him to me, I will save you the unpleasant work of drowning him” said the gentleman.

The boy wiped his tears away, cut the big stone from the cord, and in a minute was on the way to his master’s house; the gentleman walking by his side, and we all following to see the end. The boy’s master was very glad to sell the dog, the money was paid, and Hero—for that was the name his new owner gave him—was rescued from death, and passed over to the new master, who had redeemed him. He grew up to be a fine useful animal, and for many years was the faithful watchdog of his master’s property.

Oft as I think of this simple incident of early days, the picture rises before me of a greater deliverance, and a redemption at higher cost. We were condemned to die the sinner’s death, and from that just and well-deserved doom, we could not deliver ourselves. But there is One who could. His name is Jesus. He saw our ruin: He knew we had “nothing to pay.” Then it was, that He Himself paid our ransom price, and the price was “His own blood.” All who have believed on Him have been set free, to enter His service and to own His claims as Lord and Master. Surely, we ought to serve the One who bought us at such a price—faithfully.

Dear boys and girls, are you among the rescued, or are you still under condemnation?

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

ML 01/11/1931

The Listening Plowboy

In this day and age when the Scriptures are so widely distributed, we naturally conclude that all are familiar with the Bible, that is so well known to most of our readers. But we find that there are many, even in this land, who are still strangers to it.

We will relate to our readers the story of a boy who was quite ignorant of the Scripture, but we are glad to say that he did not remain in that condition. Unusual were the circumstances under which he heard the Word of God read which was the means of giving light to his dark soul.

He was employed as a helper on a large farm and also worked on the grounds that surrounded the residence. On one occasion when he passed under an open window he heard someone reading aloud and he paused to listen.

It was an old lady reading her Bible. She loved her Bible and was in the habit of reading aloud at that hour of the evening, little realizing that there was anyone listening.

John made a practice of coming to the window to hear her read, for it interested him greatly. She often read from the Gospels and how eagerly he listened to every word, it was all so strange and new. The Spirit was silently at work in the boy’s heart as the lady read about the Lord Jesus who died that all might be saved from their sins by simple faith in Him.

At another time she read the 53rd of Isaiah, and he was deeply moved. When she read “All we like sheep have gone astray,” he said to himself— “That’s me.” He was filled with awe and wonder that the holy One of God should bear in His own body the sins that guilty ones deserved.

He stole away from the window under deep conviction. When he reached the hedge not far away, he fell upon his knees and cried out from the depth of his soul, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

That cry was heard, and then and there he accepted as his Saviour the One who was bruised and wounded as his substitute.

It was years afterward that he told this story of his conversion. The deep peace that filled his soul when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Saviour shone in his eyes, convincing all that his early experience was not a passing one, but one that was deep and enduring.

Would that all might improve their opportunities as well as this boy did. It was only under difficulties that he heard the Word of God read, but it was not lost upon him. He treasured up each word and received its wondrous message to the salvation of his soul. He took the sinner’s place and accepted the sinner’s Saviour, that was made known to him by means of the Word.

Reader, have you so improved your opportunities? Probably you have free access to the Scriptures and this great privilege is known to God. What use have you made of the heavenly message? Have you profited by it? Have you the assurance of salvation that is the natural result of laying hold of the gospel message?

This faith is precious in God’s sight, and will be reckoned to your soul as righteousness.

“Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Galatians 3:6. (New translation).

“These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:31.

ML 02/22/1931

Why Daisy Loved Jesus

Daisy was a little girl only seven years old — such a happy, rosy-cheeked child, and loved to play as well as any little girl I know of. One evening as we were coming along and she was skipping by my side, I asked her, “Does my little friend Daisy love Jesus?”

“O, yes,” she said, “I do.”

“But, why do you love Him?” I asked. She looked, up in my face as if quite surprised I should ask such a question, and then, with a bright happy smile on her face, and in a tone of glad certainty, she said, “Why do I love Jesus? Because He loved me so much before I loved Him, and He died for me!”

What a sweet answer! Happy little Daisy. She knew the meaning of that beautiful text, “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

He loved us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans, 5:8), and made us. “nigh by His own blood.” (Ephesians 2:13).

Have you ever thought that it was to give you life eternal that Jesus died; that it was to give you the light of life that He endured those hours of awful darkness; that it was that you might have joy unspeakable when He went through such sorrow? Have you ever begun to search out the love of God, the Father, in giving His Son; and the love—the strong, deep love of Jesus—in coming to die for you? If you have not, do begin at once.

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

ML 01/11/1931

Little Sunbeam

You will think this a strange name for a little girl, yet I think if you had seen the cheerful and happy face of the little one who bore it, and only knew the half of the kind acts she did, in her own simple way, to make others happy, you would say she was well named “Little Sunbeam.” For just as the bright warm rays of the summer sun, make everything cheerful upon which they shine, so did this girl’s life and deeds gladden those with whom she daily came in contact.

Would you like to know the secret of “Little Sunbeam’s” happy and useful life? Well, first of all she was a saved little girl. She knew and trusted Jesus, as her own personal Saviour: apart from this, she never could have been a “Little Sunbeam.” You must first be brought into living union with Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, the great source of all life, and light, and love, before you can give any of these out to others.

Then, “Little Sunbeam” lived near to Jesus, so that she was always filled with His light and love, and had some to give to others. And she was not a selfish child, she did not keep all to herself, she watched for opportunities to make others happy, and as she saw others gladdened, she was made glad herself.

Now, I think you will own she was rightly named “Little Sunbeam,” and what is better still, you may be a “Little Sunbeam” too, first, by receiving Christ as your Saviour; then by living with Him, and for Him.

You will never be really happy yourself, or make others around happy, until your heart has been won for Jesus. Then the springtime of your life will begin. God in His holy heaven above, will have His delight in you, and the risen Christ on the throne will rejoice over you. Your own young heart will be filled with heavenly light and love, and you will go forth in the bright morning of life, to shine as a “Little Sunbeam” for Jesus, showing forth His praise.

But be sure first of all that you are converted. You cannot please Jesus or live for Him, until you know Him as your personal Saviour and Lord.

The Lord Jesus said, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47.

A loving, cheerful temper,

A gentle, smiling face; Will cast a ray of brightness,

Within the darkest place.

Words, looks, and deeds of kindness, Are “Sunbeams” bright and fair;

God help you, little Christian, To shed them everywhere.

ML 02/22/1931

The Guarded House

Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalms 121:4.

It was a time of war, and it was expected that whenever a short peace, or truce, had come to an end, parties of cruel soldiers would take possession of the homes and property. The people of the little town were specially afraid when the truce was to end.

Beyond the town, close to the main road, on the way-side where the soldiers would enter, was a solitary house, larger and better than the poor cottages near it.

A godly old woman lived there, who knew, and trusted in the Lord. She was frequently in prayer, that God would raise up a wall around them, so as to protect them from the enemy.

Her daughter, who was a widow, and one grandson lived with her.

“Grandmother,” said the boy, one morning “what do you mean by praying that the Lord would build a wall around our house? Can you be so foolish as to believe that He will do such an impossibility?”

“My son,” she replied, “I did not intend exactly what I said, but only desired that the Lord would defend us, and our town by any means. But you know, dear, nothing is impossible with Him. And if He wills, could He not do even this very thing?

The night came—a terrible night, such a storm of wind and snow. Soon those in the solitary house, knew by the trampling of horses, and sounds of shooting and shouting, that the enemy was nearing the unhappy town. There was much terror in many homes, but the heart of the dear “Grandmother” was calm and peaceful.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3.

No one even knocked at the door. When daylight, appeared, they soon discovered the secret of their escape: The wind had drifted an immense mass of snow between them and the road, so that those passing by, could not come near the dwelling.

“My son,” said the old “Grandmother,” “do you not see now how easy it was for the Lord to raise a wall around us?”

Surely none of those in “The Guarded House” would ever forget that night, and I am sure they thanked the Lord for so graciously preserving them.

How comforting for God’s true children to know that He can never slumber nor sleep, and is ever watchful over His own.

He will keep you, dear children, in your little trials, if you bring them to Jesus in prayer.

“HE THAT KEEPETH THEE WILL NOT SLUMBER.” Psalms 121:3.

ML 01/18/1931

"What About God?"

Some little ones were spending their first night in the great city of Nanking. The house was large and strange, and partly unoccupied. They were put to sleep in a big room, with trunks and bundles all around, and it was very dark.

Through a thin partition I could hear their conversation before they fell asleep. After a time in an awed voice the little lad of six asked,

“What about the lions?”

In a tone of perfect assurance and confidence, his sister, (two years younger,) replied,

“What about GOD?”

It was unanswerable.

I could not but think how many questions raised by our adversary the devil, —that roaring lion,—would be unanswerably settled forever by the same question, “WHAT ABOUT GOD?”

How terribly sad that most children of China have never heard of the True GOD, and so cannot trust or love Him. They do not know that GOD IS LOVE.

Do you know Him, dear children?

ML 02/22/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 68.

This is the fourth and greatest of the series of songs (Psalms 65 to 68), and celebrates the judgments of God, the setting up of His authority on earth with the blessing of the righteous, and the scattering of the enemies. The opening verse is the word of Numbers 10:35, when God let His people of Israel through the wilderness to the promised land. Verses 1 to 6 comprise the preface or brief of the psalm.

There will be no standing out against Him in that day verse 2 lets us know, but the righteous shall rejoice exceedingly, as we learn from verse 3. The distress and agony of the godly during the fearful three years and a half of Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:11; Matthew 24:15-29, and Relation 11:3-13 will then be, over, and tears and fears will have given place to peace and joy (see Isaiah 52:7-12 in connection with this psalm).

In verse 4 the better reading is “ ... . cast up a way for Him that rideth in the deserts; His name is Jah; and rejoice before Him.” Jah is a name of God which is found twice in Exodus; 40 times in the Psalms, and three times in Isaiah, and is usually translated LORD, like the name Jehovah. Jah is Him who was, and is, and is to come, the existing One.

Except for the “rebellious,” who are the unrepentant Israelites (verses 5 and 6), describe the humble and God-fearing who have suffered for righteousness’ sake, and who will be blessed in that day of deliverance.

Verse 7 brings us to the body of the psalm, and like verse 1, the first thought is of that early day of Israel’s history when, fresh from the slavery of Egypt, they were led by the pillar of the cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night to the border of the land designed for their dwelling place. (See Judges 5:4, 5).

The psalm speaks much of God as active in goodness in behalf of His poor afflicted people; though they have lain among the refuse, they shall be as wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with greenish yellow gold (verse 13). What a contrast! Kings of armies flee, and the housekeepers divide the spoil (verse 12). Great indeed must then be the number of those (women apparently, for the word is feminine) who tell out the glad news of God’s restoring grace toward His people (verse 11).

Verse 15-17 refer to the cleansed Jerusalem, fitted for God’s dwelling place. In verse 17 the translation should be: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand; thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; tis a Sinai in holiness.”

The first part of verse 18 is quoted in Ephesians 4:8 as referring to Christ, and it is evident from a reading of the psalm that it is He who is spoken of as Jehovah, God, the Lord; the close of verse 18 shows this in a very marked way, for it tells that the once rebellious, but soon to be repentant Israel is to have the earthly dwelling place of Jah Elohim, the Lord God,—here no other than the rejected Messiah!

Why is not all of verse 18 quoted in Ephesians 4? Because the latter part is about Israel and the earth, and Ephesians is occupied with Christ and the Church, His heavenly bride.

The close of the psalm shows reunited Israel (verses 26, 27), and the subjection of kings who will bring presents to Jerusalem to Him who is God and Son of David (verse 29).

Verse 30 seems to refer particularly to the Antichrist and those of his company, and the last five verses show the millennial reign of Christ fully established.

ML 01/18/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“The Children’s Class”

1. “Therefore judge,” etc. 1 Corinthians 4:5.

2. “And such were,” etc. 1 Corinthians 6:11.

3. “But we preach,” etc. 1 Corinthians 1:23.

4. “In a moment,” etc. 1 Corinthians 15:52.

5. “For there must be,” etc. 1 Corinthians 11:19.

6. “Know ye not,” etc. 1 Corinthians 9:24.

7a. “How is it,” etc. 1 Corinthians 14:26.

7b. “Let all things,” etc. 1 Corinthians 14:40.

Bible Questions for March

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be Found in Galatians

1. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Shall no flesh be justified.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Gave himself for our sins.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The hope of righteousness.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The adoption of sons.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The promise of the Spirit.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Reap life everlasting.”

7.What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said to the Galatian Christians, “Ye did run well.”

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Jews, Gentiles, and Church of God. 1 Corinthians 10:32.

2.No. 1 Corinthians 6:1.

3.No. 1 Corinthians 1:17.

4.They that are Christ’s. 1 Corinthians 15:23.

5.To minister to them in temporal things. 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14.

6.Put them away. 1 Corinthians 5:13.

7.(1) Those who build gold, silver, precious stones; vs. 12, 14.

(2)Those who build wood, hay, stubble; vs. 12, 15.

8.Those who defile the temple of God, vs. 17.

Bible Questions for March

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be Found in Galatians

1.What was the theme of the Epistle to the Galatians?

2.What is the “rule” of the believer’s walk?

3.What is our responsibility to our teachers in the Word?

4.What is the perpetual struggle in the belier’s soul as long as he is in this world?

5.How do we get the victory over the lusts of the flesh?

6.How do we receive the Holy Spirit?

7.What verse in Galatians would bear on the question of the Christian’s observing of Christmas?

ML 03/01/1931

Frank's Peace

Frank and George have both been afflicted many years, and are confined to their beds. Little boys and girls who are strong and healthy, and can run about and play, little think what a great blessing they have in health.

Frank is always peaceful, though often in pain and weariness of body. He says,

“Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so.”

Faith in the Lord Jesus and the Word of God is the secret of Frank’s peace. He waits for the Lord either to call His little stricken lamb to Himself through death of the body; or, what is still better, to come and take him, with all others who know and love Him, up in the air to be “forever with the Lord.”

“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 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.

Poor little George is pining and unhappy. He does not know the love of Jesus. He does not believe that the Lord died to save him. He does not like to be spoken to of Jesus. He fears to die, and his parents, who do not themselves know the Lord, do not like their child to be told of Him.

What a sad thing! I trust the Lord will speak to the heart of the poor boy, and teach him to love the precious Saviour, and so be no longer sad because he cannot play and walk as other children do, but be happy as Frank, thinking of the One who loves him.

He will certainly be left behind when the Lord comes for all of His own, as He will take to be with Him only those who have accepted Him as their loving Saviour, and are washed in His precious blood.

There is nothing left for those who are left behind but judgment for eternity, as they have refused the only way of salvation. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6.

We trust that George, as well as all of our readers, will not be so foolish as to neglect their salvation through not accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their own precious Saviour at once.

“He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47.

ML 01/18/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 75 and 76.

In the 75th psalm we have the Messiah speaking, except in the first verse where the voice of believing Israel is heard giving thanks for the blessing they are assured is near. When the Messiah shall receive the assembly (or, when He shall reach the set time, —the exact reading is not clear) He will judge with equity. When everything on earth is broken up, He will be found to have established that which will abide. He will rule, as is said of Him in Isaiah 11.

If He shall reign in righteousness, the wicked shall not be passed by; the cup of the fury of God will be drunk by the nations (see Jeremiah 25).

Singing psalms to the God of Jacob (verse 9) brings in the thought of His faithfulness, for Jacob’s self-seeking course brought him much sorrow but he was a worshiper when nature’s energy was weakened (Hebrews 11:21). The horn (verse 10) is a figure of power.

Psalm 76 continues the theme of the 75th, but it is not now the Messiah speaking; but the godly of Israel, rather.

“In Judah is God known; His name is great in Israel,” seems to show as Psalm 80 and others, that the remnant of Israel, of the lost ten tribes are looked at as united with the remnant of the Jews, the two tribes of Judah, in this Third Book of the Psalms.

“Salem”, verse 2, is Jerusalem, and Hebrews 7:2 tells us that “King of Salem” is “King of Peace”. It is nevertheless there that the Lord as Israel’s Messiah will break the power of the confederate kings, who will come up against the city, not knowing that He is there (See Micah 4:11-13, and Zechariah 12:2-5; 14:3). Verses 1-3 present the result of what is set forth in verses 4-12.

The intervention of God in behalf of Jerusalem in king Hezekiah’s day, told of in 2 Kings 19:35, and Isaiah 37:36 is a picture, doubtless, of what will occur at the time for which Psalm 76 was written, when the Beast and the False Prophet shall have been destroyed (Revelation 19: 19, 20).

Who the enemies are that come against Jerusalem after that event is shown in Psalm 83, and what they will do there is said in Psalm 79; it is apparent that these enemies will come twice; the first time they will take half the city, but on their return they are surprised to find the Lord is there, and they are destroyed. Who can stand against Him? He will make their fury to praise Him.

Very instructive are these Psalms, pointing as they do to a time of trouble without parallel in the history of the world (Matthew 24:21), and telling of the salvation to be brought to the godly in that day.

The Christian, having a heavenly hope, will not pass through the described tribulation. Revelation 3:10 speaks for him its encouraging word, and in the last chapter of that little-read book (verse 20) is a promise which must now be very close to fulfillment. All here below is, to the watchful child of God, evidently drawing near to a solemn judgment; the apostacy is at hand. Christian, are you ready for the coming of the Lord?

ML 03/01/1931

Jesus Is Not Dead

D.R.P. tells how a little girl came to him after the close of an evangelistic service. Nearly everyone had gone, and the lights were being put out. The evangelist noticed that the child was following him around. At last he said: “Little girl, what do you want; why are you not away home with the rest of the folk?”

As she turned to him he saw that her clothing was ragged, her feet bare, her hair tangled and hanging loosely, and her face was none too clean. Altogether she was a forlorn-looking little creature. She stood up on her bare toes, and whispered into his ear: “Mister, I want to get saved.”

Surprised and startled at the intensity of the child’s tone, he scrutinized her narrowly and questioned her more closely.

“So, you want to get saved? And why do you want to get saved?” Again, the child raised herself on her toes and whispered: “Because I am a sinner.”

“Who told you, you are a sinner?” asked the evangelist.

“God says so in His Book—and—feel it here,” laying her little dirty hand over her bosom.

“Well,” asked the evangelist, “do you think I can save you?”

A sudden change came over her, and drawing away, she did not whisper this time, but her words rang out short and clear: “No, Mister, you can’t save me. No man can save a sinner!”

Then drawing the little inquirer beside him on the seat near, the preacher took her little hands in his own, and in a kind tone said: “You are quite right, dear little girl, no man can save you. Tell me, why did you come to me? Who can save you?”

Again, her voice dropped almost to a whisper, and with infinite pathos in her words she replied: “Jesus, Mister; He can save me.”

“Ah, yes, my dear,” said her questioner, “Jesus can save you. But tell me how He is going to do it?”

Again, the little lips lifted to his ear, and her eyes filled, as she eagerly answered: “O, Mister, He died for me.”

Some curiosity prompted the evangelist in putting the next question: “Then He is dead, is He? How can He save you if He is dead?” The child sprang from her seat and her eyes now flashed. Again, her voice rang aloud: “He’s not dead. He’s not dead now! He died for me, but He’s not dead now. He’s God’s Son, Mister. Didn’t you say that this very night in your sermon, that God raised Him from the dead? No, He’s not dead now.”

Her voice dropped again, and once more came the pathetic words: “O, Mister, I want to get saved.”

The child had grasped the truth with a clearness seldom observed. She left happy and rejoicing, having learned that by simple faith she was saved by trusting in the finished work of the risen Jesus.

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

ML 01/18/1931

Little Jamie's Faith

Little Jamie was lame, and walked on a crutch. He was a delicate little fellow, and the doctor said he would never be strong. He attended our Sunday school, and learned how God saves sinners, and he not only heard, but believed the good news, and was saved.

On the way home one stormy evening, he took a chill, and was very ill. When the doctor called, he found Jamie suffering from inflammation of the lungs. For many days his life was despaired of, and Jamie himself thought he was to be taken home.

“It’s all right, doctor, it will either be health or heaven,” said Jamie, as the doctor stood by his bedside one night. “If I get better, I shall be safe, though still away from my Home. If Jesus calls me away, I shall be at Home with Him in heaven.”

The doctor was astonished to hear such words. He had never heard anybody say they were so sure of being in heaven. But Jamie was quite certain he would go there, because he had God’s Word for it.

Jamie recovered, and still lives, following and serving the Lord. The boys and girls often gather around him on the street, asking if he has any “little books” to give them, and he generally carries a supply.

Do you know Jamie’s Saviour, reader, as yours? Can you say as he could,

“He has fitted up my mansion,
Which eternally shall stand: My abode will not be transient
In that holy, happy land.”

“In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2, 3.

ML 03/01/1931

Astonished

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ML 01/25/1931

A Late Snow

Winter was thought to be over, and it seemed just as disappointing, as the first snow of the season was received with gladness and delight.

All things should be received with thanksgiving by those who know the Lord, for we know that important scripture, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20.

The people of the world do not think of thanking God for anything. They sit down and eat even their food, without thanking God; just like the poor dumb animals.

The cow knows who feeds her, and the chickens know the one who comes so kindly with their feed in a pan for them to eat out of, when the snow is on the ground, and they express their thankfulness as well as they know how.

We know that God, the Creator, is the giver of everything, so we should give thanks to Him, and remember too, the great love He had for us to give His only Son to die in our stead. Then we can say, seeing He loved us so much, that all things, pleasing or painful; dark or bright, must be the very best for us, and therefore we may thank Him for all things.

Nothing can happen without His allowing it, for He is all powerful, and He loves us too much to allow anything that would not be for our good.

“IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU.” 1 Thessalonians. 5:18.

ML 03/01/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 69.

The language of this psalm points us directly to the rejected Messiah, Jesus the Lord, and the occasion, His crucifixion. We have not here God forsaking Him as the Holy Sin Bear, as in Psalm 22, but His sufferings at the hands of men. It is plain that our blessed Lord is here seen (as in many other psalms), occupying the place of the godly remnant of the future day, experiencing rejection on account of His faithfulness. In the fullest way the expressions found in the first twenty-one verses were fulfilled in Jesus; some of them can only in a limited sense be true of the godly among Israel during the great tribulation, but all is for their help and encouragement.

The feelings of the Holy One of God as here told, are deeply touching to the Christian heart; there was the one Perfect Man whose feelings were not at all blunted by indwelling sin, as every other man’s (even the subjects of redeeming grace), meeting the full tide of human enmity poured upon Him without a cause.

Death is before Him; the waters are come into His soul; the flood overflows Him. How real, and how intense His sufferings—far beyond the thoughts of David as he penned the psalm for the sinless One, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

It was when man’s wickedness rose to its height that He restored that which He took not away: He glorified God in the fullest way as the obedient Man in a scene where man was in revolt, —at enmity with God. And how His Father must have delighted in Him thus obedient unto death! (See John 12:27, 28; Philippians 2:6-11; Isaiah 53:12; 1 Peter 2:22, 23). What a contrast between the first and last Adam, between Genesis 3 and Luke 22 and 23!

In verse 5 the cause and the occasion of the remnant’s sufferings is told: folly and sins (trespasses), and, we may add, the greatest sin of the Jews, in the rejection of the Just One (Acts 7:52; Zechariah 12:10).

It is only in the deep sympathies of His loving heart with the remnant that verse 5 could express our Lord’s feelings, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. And how precious is the prayer of verse 6, considering in the agonies of the cross those who might be stumbled by reason of these unprecedented sufferings of the only Righteous One!

Verses 7 to 12 show how rejection was Christ’s portion all through, and not just at the close of His life. The zeal of God’s house had devoured Him—so far had Israel’s guides gone in departure from the law and the prophets.

Notice the difference, characteristic of the psalm in the language of verse 13, from that in Psalm 22, verses 1 and 2. Psalm 69 we may consider as Christ’s portion, in part, during the first three hours, and Psalm 22 The last three hours, on the cross, but the distinction cannot be applied throughout.

Verses 22 to 28 show that Psalm 69 is not occupied with Christ as the Sin Bearer as making atonement for our sins; they are the call of the Righteous One for judgment upon the wicked, when the day of God’s long-suffering patience is over. Such language will suit the epoch of the great tribulation, but is not for the Christian.

In verses 29 to 36 is the application of the psalm distinctly the remnant with the creation praising God, Zion saved, and the cities of Judah inhabited by those that love His Name.

ML 01/25/1931

"A," "The," "My"

It was in a little country schoolhouse. Twelve boys and girls, formed the class. Anxious to interest them in the great matter of their present and personal salvation, the schoolmaster’s wife who taught that little Sunday school, departed from her usual lesson and used the blackboard, giving the children a plain talk on the Lord Jesus Christ, A Saviour, The Saviour, My Saviour.

One of the hearers, a bright-eyed boy of twelve, was that day led to accept Jesus as his personal Saviour, and say “my Saviour.

The blackboard was often used after that with good results, and the boy who was that day saved, is himself now a dilent Sunday school teacher, and in his service for the Lord often uses the blackboard, to explain very simply to the chiren the one way of salvation.

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

ML 03/01/1931

His Last Message

Many years ago there lived a man by the name of John Bacon. His occupation was that of a sculptor, a vocation in which he had more than ordinary ability.

We know little of his life and character; the only incident recorded is that before his death he prepared an inscription to be placed on his tombstone, which was full of meaning. It was as follows: “What I was as an artist seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ, is the only thing of importance to me now.”

What a splendid message to leave bind when he left this world. What wisdom is expressed in it. Being a sculptor, he may have made the tombstone himself. How the importance of the message must have burned in his soul as he chiseled the words into the flinty marble.

We all have our interests in this life—our occupations, our relationships, our friendships. Perhaps many of our readers are employed in getting an education, to fit them for their life work.

All these things have their place, and occupy our attention to quite an extent. But we must never forget that these things that pertain to this life, which is only for a time, are of lesser importance than that which relates to the never-ending life to follow.

It was this point that our friend sought to emphasize in his last message, and he did not fail to mention the means by which one could be prepared (believing in Christ).

He must have been familiar with the Scriptures, for this is right in line with its teachings. We will quote two passages from the Lord’s own words that relate to this subject of salvation.

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

“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.

It is the enemy that would seek to occupy us wholly with the things of this life, to the neglect of our soul’s welfare. It is just a question of whether we are going to be wise or foolish.

We trust the reader will be among the wise; that he will see the great importance of being prepared for eternity by accepting the Lord Jesus as his Saviour now.

If he does this, he will, according to the Lord’s own words, have everlasting life, and can look forward to an existence of joy and happiness in heaven forever.

“The things which are seen are tempol; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

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

ML 01/25/1931

God Has Done It

Isaiah 53:6.

What! “lay my sins on Jesus,”

God’s well-beloved Son?

No! ‘tis a truth most precious

That God e’en that has done.

Yes! ‘tis a truth most precious,

To all who do believe,

God laid our sins on Jesus,

Who did the load receive.

What! bring our guilt to Jesus

To wash away our stains?

The act is past that freed us

And naught to do remains.

ML 03/01/1931

Children and Lambs

It is always a pleasant sight to see the flock of sheep and lambs brought home. I once watched an old shepherd gathering his flock together. He had no difficulty with the sheep, but it was the lambs that gave him trouble. They were coming down the mountain side, and had to cross a small stream.

The shepherd walked before, and all the sheep followed him, but, when it came to the lambs, he had to go over and over again, and fetch them in his arms, one by one, as they were afraid to cross the lake alone, and stood bleating until the kind shepherd had carried them all over.

Then he put them for the night into the fold, and gathered the lambs together in a warm spot, and covered the very young ones with his own plaid, for the nights in Scotland are often damp and cold.

Well, when I had seen all this, what do you think came into my mind?

Dear children, I thought of you, and of the Good Shepherd, who giveth “His life for the sheep,” and the old shepherd reminded me of Him, of whom it was said, “He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.” Isaiah 40:11.

Jesus called a little child to Him—it does not say a wise man, or a great man, but “a little child.” It is not His will that one of these little Ones should perish. What does it all mean? Just this: Christ loves the little ones, and He wants them to love Him while they are young, before they go astray or away from Him, as the lost sheep in the parable.

Give special attention to this, dear children, because, if Jesus is the Good Shepherd, He must bestow care on the lambs as well as on the sheep. Some of you may be afraid, as the lambs were afraid to cross the stream, but Jesus is waiting to carry you safely through the waters—He will take you safely to the other side—and you have only to trust yourself in His arms, and He will carry you to the fold, where the pastures are forever green, and the still waters cool. As David says, in Psalm 23, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you need fear no evil, for He is with you.

Well, do you see that Jesus calls you? The text says, “And Jesus called a little child”—even so He calls you. God does not want you to be lost, for, “The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:11.

Will you, dear children, answer the Shepherd’s call at once? Or will you wait until He has to seek for you as a stray sheep, weary with wandering out of the true fold, foot-sore and sad of heart?

ML 01/25/1931

Happy Children

A number of children have gathered in the grounds of a large home and are having a pleasant time. Some poor children have come in and are looking wistfully at all the good things they see.

One little girl, with pity and love in her heart for these poor children, has left the others, with a basketful of fruit and other good things, to give to these children.

We hope our dear friends will not for get the poor. We should share with them what God has given to us. This is what the Lord would have us do, and even more, for the word is,

“When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee.” Luke 14:13, 14.

You will notice one boy seems afraid to go near, although he sees the others getting the fruit freely, and the little girl is handing it out to them as fast as she can. He seems to be the oldest one in the bunch.

This is like many today; they hear of the offer of salvation, full and free, but they are afraid to accept it. The Word of God says,

“Let him that is athirst come; and whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

The Lord wants us to come to Him, for He came from the highest glory, down to this poor world of sin to save us. Do not then be like the boy who is holding off, but come to the Lord Jesus now, if you have not already done so.

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

“HE THAT HATH PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD; AND THAT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN WILL HE PAY HIM AGAIN.”

Proverbs 19:17.

ML 03/08/1931

The Saviour Is Coming

“The Lord himself shall descend with a shout.” 1 Thessalonians. 4:16.

The Saviour is coming,

The moment is near;

The bright Star of Morning

Will quickly appear.

Then will His beloved ones

With swiftness arise,

And meet their blest Saviour,

With joy, in the skies.

With Him they together

To heaven will go,

Where rivers of pleasure

And peace ever flow.

They’ll shine in the likeness

Of Him whom they love,

And dwell in the brightness

Of glory above.

Who now trust the Saviour,

The Sent One of God,

Are cleansed and forgiven

Through His precious blood; And when all in heaven,

To praise Him, shall throng,

Each one who here loved Him

Will join in the song.

ML 01/25/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 77.

This psalm and Psalm 73 are the musings of an exercised, afflicted soul; in the latter he considers the ways of God in connection with the wicked, his enemies, but in Psalm 77 he is learning about God’s way with himself; both are needed lessons. It is through deep exercise of soul in the presence of God that the believer learns and is blessed.

Verses 1 to 3 (as often) show the suspect of the psalm; deep distress leads to a cry to God who will give ear to the suppliant. He thinks of the days long past (verse 5); happy days, when the loving kindness of God was known. Then was Israel enjoying God’s favor, but now is the day of trouble. Overwhelmed with grief, the question is raised, Will the Lord cast off forever? Will He be favorable no more? Hath God forgotten to be gracious, or hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Such thoughts are not of faith, and in verse 10 they are owned.

Instead of occupying his mind with thoughts of unbelief, the psalmist will meditate upon all God’s work and upon His doing (verse 12). The result is seen in verse 13, “O God, Thy way is in the sanctuary;” that is, He deals with His children according to His own nature, and having before Him their real state, inwardly.

Verse 19 views the same subject from another angle; if man in his own natural thoughts will judge what He does, it must be to acknowledge that God’s ways are in the sea, His footsteps are not known, —they cannot be traced by man.

The believer is privileged to know Him in the holy place, but it requires a guarded, watchful, self-distrustful habit of life, occupation with the Word of God and prayer, to thus know Him and understand His “way”. What an incalculable blessing He has made possible for the believer! May we all seek more earnestly to realize the portion thus offered to us.

ML 03/08/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for December

“The Children’s Class”

1. “O the depth,” etc. Romans 11:33.

2. “And that he,” etc. Romans 9:23.

3. “But what saith it,” etc. Romans 10:8.

4. “For none of us,” etc. Romans 14:7.

5. “Be not overcome,” etc. Romans 12:21.

6. “But put ye on,” etc. Romans 13:14.

7. “Now I beseech,” etc. Romans 16:17.

Bible Questions for February

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be Found in 2 Corinthians

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “all” (three times), “always,” and “every.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “And be ye separate.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Crucified through weakness.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The obedience of Christ.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The sufferings of Christ.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “And the glory of Christ.”

7.Write in full the verse containing the words, “From glory to glory.”

Answers to Bible Questions for December

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1. By confessing with our mouths, and believing in our hearts. Romans 10:9.

2. “Whatsoever is not of faith.” Romans 14:23

3. Present them as living sacrifices to God. Romans 12:1

4. The fate of Israel under the gospel dispensation.

5. “God of peace” (vs. 33.)

6. No. “Owe no man anything.” Romans 13:8.

7. Romans 16:1,2.

Bible Questions for February

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in 2 Corinthians 1.

1.Name ten things which the apostle suffered as a minister of Christ.

2.Why did Paul glory in his infirmities?

3.In what plausible way does Satan transform himself?

4.What are we to do with unchristian thoughts?

5.What verses show the wrong of a believer’s linking himself with an unbeliever?

6.Where is a believer who has died?

7.What three offices of the Holy Spirit are linked together in the first chapter?

ML 02/01/1931

Lem, the Chinese Boy

Thousands of children who are reading this paper, live in Christian countries and know little or nothing about idols and idol-worship.

But there are some heathen countries where the people know as little about our God, as we know about idols.

They have a desire to worship something, and they make idols of clay, wood, and stone, —likenesses of men and animals. To these they pray for help and blessing.

Some years ago, in China, there was a boy named Lem, five years old, who bonged to a family of idol-worshipers, and at that age he, too, began to worship idols.

There were missionaries in China, who went there to tell these people about the true God and His Son Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save sinners.

Lem’s people had heard about Jesus, but did not believe in Him. They hated Christianity and taught Lem to hate it.

Four years later, when Lem was nine years old, he went to one of the missionary schools to learn English.

His teacher told the children about Jesus, and His love, and Lem was very much interested. He wanted to hear more and he wanted to ask questions, but was afraid to ask anyone outside of the school, because he knew that his relatives and friends hated that precious Name.

So he just listened and learned what he could at school.

When Lem was fourteen years old he started to Sunday School. There he was able to hear much more about the Saviour than in day school. He learned, too, how displeasing to the Lord were some of the things he was doing.

When Lem was only six years old he played around in the slums with boys and men who gambled and loafed about the streets instead of studying and working and behaving themselves.

So Lem learned to gamble. But later on, when his parents found out and punished him for it, he tried to stop. Poor Lem, it was too late then, for the habit had become so strong that he seemed unable to stop, even though he knew he would receive a thrashing.

Dear children, if you play and associate with those who do wicked things, you will soon be doing the same things.

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Proverbs 4:14, 15.

Ask the Saviour to keep you out of bad company. Ask Him to keep you from forming bad habits from which you would find it very hard to break away.

Lem kept on gambling till he was fifteen years old and had lost his last cent. Then he turned to Jesus, and asked for help, for he had come to have a simple faith in that blessed One.

Lem’s prayer was answered, for he never gambled again. He also stopped worshiping idols.

He kept on going to Sunday School, though he was often punished for doing so. The love of Jesus had won his heart and exercised his conscience.

His family tried to persuade him to give up Christ, but Lem refused. His Uncle offered to give him a good education, and spending money, and books to read. But no, Lem would not forsake the Friend who had given up even His own life for him.

So he has gone on studying hard and working hard to pay his own expenses.

Lem hands out tracts to others that they too, may learn about Jesus and the way of salvation. And his hope and desire is that when he is a little older, and has learned more about God’s Word, he can go out and preach the gospel.

How many of you love the Lord Jesus enough to suffer for Him? Enough to go without the things you would like to have, rather than deny His blessed Name?

“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12.

“If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:12.

ML 03/08/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 70, 71.

The 70th Psalm which is almost exactly the language of five verses in Psalm 40, is linked with the 69th in the thoughts that are expressed.

It calls for help for Him of whom Psalm 69 speaks, and that those who take pleasure in His adversity should be turned backward and confounded. Verse 3 may be compared with Mark 15:29, 30, where “Ah” should be “Aha!” —the expression of malicious joy.

He thinks of those—His own, through divine grace that seek God, and desires that they shall be glad and rejoice in Him, and say continually, “Let God be magnified.”

Verse 5 puts us in mind of 2 Corinthians 8:9; both speak of the same blessed Person who gave all that He had for the object set before Him (Matthew 13:44-46).

Psalm 71 is David’s language when his wicked son Absalom sought to take the throne of Israel from him and to kill him (2 Samuel chapters 15-18). This period in David’s life supplied the background for many of the psalms of the Second Book (Nos. 42 to 72). But it is plain that the 71St psalm has a place in God’s Word as having to do with the history of Israel, once young and now old, and pleading to be not cast off in the time of old age.

This is the last psalm that takes up the case of the remnant as distinguished from the nation. The prayer is for deliverance out of the hands of the wicked, the unrighteous and cruel, for in the Lord Jehovah is full trust. Observe the confidence expressed in verse 3.

Verse 5 does not mean that Israel has depended upon God from the first, but that in Him only have the faithful of all times confided. That which was of God in Israel, was as a wonder to many. It will be seen that the ways of God, and not the failure and sin of David or of Israel occupy the Divine Penman of this psalm.

And now it is the old age of Israel, as of David, when this psalm was written; will God cast off in the day of weakness? The answer is in verse 20 and the remaining verses of the psalm. Well may the inspired writer say, “O God, who is like unto Thee?” (verse 19), for He will bring back again to spiritual life the dead members of the chosen nation, so that the earth shall resound with the praise of Jehovah.

ML 02/01/1931

"This Is the Very Thing I Want"

I had been troubled about my soul for some time, when I was a girl in the Sunday school. I seldom lay down at night, without thinking of the great eternity beyond.

I went for a few weeks to live with an uncle in the country. While there, I met with a farmer’s daughter, a bright, cheerful girl, who invited me to stay with her for a few days. I found she did not care for worldly pleasures, or to read novels, and I said, “I wonder how you put in the winter up here; you must be very lonely.” Laughing, she replied, “O no, I am never lonely. I never know what it is to be without company, or without plenty of happy work.”

I wondered, and asked if she could give me a recipe for cheerfulness, for unless I was in company, I felt miserable.

“Well” she said, “I can well understand that, for I once was exactly the same, and tried everything I could think of to make myself happy, but found no relief. One day, sitting in my room, I came across a booklet, the title of which was,

“This is the very thing I want.”

It was the story of an Indian who had tried many pilgrimages and penances to get rid of a burden on his conscience, but all in vain. One day he heard a missionary preach the Gospel from the words, “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

“This is what I want” said the troubled man, and going to the missionary he heard more of Christ and His work on the cross to save lost sinners, and he believed in Him.

After reading the story, I said to myself, “and this is just what I want too. Well I cast myself on the Lord Jesus, receiving Him as my Saviour, and I have been saved and satisfied ever since.”

Reader, I commend Christ to you. Trust in Him and He will save you, too.

“To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43.

ML 03/08/1931

Walk with Jesus.

Read Luke 24:13-24

Have you ever thought, dear little friend, how sweet it would be to take a walk with Jesus? I am sure the two disciples of whom we have been reading, must have found it so. We do not know how far they had gone on their long walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, before “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them;” but we can imagine how short the miles must have seemed to them when the Lord was their companion.

A little girl was toiling slowly up a steep hill one cold January afternoon. In one hand she carried a jug of milk, and in her arm, blue and numb with cold, were three or four loaves of bread. Her little thin cloak afforded scanty protection from the bitter, piercing wind, which seemed ready to blow her away altogether, and when at last, breathless and panting, she reached her home, she looked as fragile and delicate as the snowflakes with which she was covered.

“What a disagreeable walk!” you exclaim. But Nellie had not found it so, for as she deposited her heavy burden upon the table, she began to tell her mother how she had enjoyed it.

“What made it pleasant, child?” asked her mother.

“Why, mother, Jesus was with me all the way.”

Yes, that was the secret. What walk can be like a walk with Him? I wonder how many of the thousands of our young readers really know what it is to walk with Jesus.

As the two disciples walked side by side with their beloved Master, they poured out all their doubts and fears into His listening ear; and if you belong to the Good Shepherd, you will love to do the same. But remember, you can never enjoy the companionship of Jesus till your sins have been washed away in His precious blood, and you are His.

Are you leaning on Him as you journey day by day? Can you say, “My sins are forgiven ‘for His name’s sake?’”

One little word to those dear children whose hearts can answer my questions with a glad “Yes!” Don’t forget that though the journey may be difficult, it is a homeward journey. Let your motto be, “Still upward:” “Looking unto Jesus.”

Remember that the Lord is with you every step of the way, and soon, very soon it may be, the last stage of the journey will be reached. And then, fairer and brighter than any sun-lit mountain peak, radiant with a light more glorious than that of the sun, will be seen the golden city for which you look, —your own happy home.

“The City had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 21:23.

ML 02/01/1931

The Flood

Four little boys were talking about the flood. One, on being asked what he would have done if he had been living at the time of the flood, replied,

“I would have gone into my mother’s bedroom and shut the door.” The second said,

“I would have climbed to the top of a big tree.” The third said,

“I would have climbed to the top of a high mountain;” and the fourth said,

“I would have gone to the door of the ark, and said, ‘Mr. Noah, please let me in.’”

The first three boys, who would have tried to save themselves, would have been lost, and the fourth boy only, who would apply for admittance, would have been saved. Neither young nor old can save themselves. All who want to be saved must go to Jesus as their Saviour, and put their trust in Him.

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

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

ML 03/08/1931

David and Goliath

Goliath of Gath was a great giant in the Philistine army. These Philistines were enemies of God’s people Israel, and had gathered for battle against them. Goliath came out alone to defy God’s people.

David was a young man who wished to deliver the people from this great enemy.

He met the giant with only a stone and a sling and killed him. God, through David, saved the people from this foe.

In this beautiful story of David and Goliath we have a remarkable picture of the Lord Jesus delivering us from the power of Satan.

Like a mighty Goliath, Satan, our great enemy, held us in slavery. No human power could deliver us from him. We were like the poor Israelites who were trembling at the voice of Goliath. We knew that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” and therefore were in fear of death.

But, O, thanks be to God! a great deliverer appeared, far more than David, and volunteered to save us, poor sinners, from the power of death and Satan. And this Deliverer, this One who alone could save us, is the Lord Jesus, our Saviour, the Son of God, the true David. By His death on the cross He destroyed Him that had the power of death, that is the devil. It was there, in those terrible hours that He fought the fight alone, and won the victory.

And now, dear reader, if you are one who is trembling at the thought of death, look at Jesus on the cross; see how He has done it all, vanquished Satan, paid the mighty debt, and is ready to set you free. Only believe, and accept Him as your Substitute, with a heart full of thankfulness and praise for His great love to you.

“FOR THIS PURPOSE THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.” 1 John 3:8.

ML 02/01/1931

He Died for Me

Jesus loves me, loves me dearly,

In the cross His love I see;

Now I hear Him calling clearly,

“Come, come to Me.”

Jesus calls me, O, so sweetly,

Though a little child I be; Lord,

I yield myself completely,

Now, now to Thee.

Jesus loves me, Jesus makes me

His own little lamb to be;

Never leaves me, nor forsakes me,

Kind, kind is He.

Jesus loves me, wondrous story,

Soon His lovely face I’ll see,

Soon I’ll sing in brightest glory,

He died for me.

ML 03/08/1931

Put up Your Sign

If we love Jesus, we should never be ashamed to show our colors, and let it be known that we are Christ’s followers.

A worker among the sailors tells the story of a young man who, having accepted Christ as his Saviour a few nights before, came to him and asked him to write some words for him on a card.

“You will do it more plainly than I can,” he said.

“What shall I write?” was the question.

“Write these words, sir: ‘I LOVE JESUS: DO YOU?’” was the answer.

The gentleman wrote them, and then said to the sailor,

“What are you going to do with the card?”

The sailor replied, “I am going to sea to-morrow, and I am afraid if I do not take a stand for the Lord at once, I may begin to be ashamed of my religion, and let myself be laughed out of it altogether. Now, as soon as I walk on board ship again, I shall go straight to my bunk and nail this card on it, that everyone may know that I am a Christian, and they may give up all hope of making me ashamed, or afraid of standing up for Him.”

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

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” Romans 1:16.

ML 02/01/1931

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 the 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.

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 03/15/1931

Gypsies

What a strange, wandering class of people the Gypsies are. Some think they are descendants of Ishmael, but be that so or not, they are a class who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was in such a company that the little boy was found alone in a tent dying, that the hymn No. 132 in the “Messages of Love” Hymn Book was written about. He was one who not only believed on the Lord Jesus just as soon as he heard about Him, but was anxious for everybody else to hear about that Saviour.

Some of my readers have heard, and read many times about the Lord Jesus, and still do not know Him as their Saviour, and are indifferent about Him. May it not be so with you, dear reader, but may you take such a Saviour as yours, right away, and join in with the Gypsy boy and say,

“Tell it again! tell it again!

Salvation’s story repeat o’er and o’er, Till none can say of the children of men “Nobody ever has told me before!”

“BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 02/08/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 78.

This instructive psalm tells of the way of God with Israel of old, (answering to the 77th Psalm, verses 5, 10-12, etc.), from the time of their slavery in Egypt, to David’s being made their king. At the same time, the ways of Israel are faithfully told. The story is told that the children should not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation that prepared not their heart, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

O, the patience, forbearance and amazing love of God! A believing Israel, unlike the Israel of old, and today; but a generation to come, will tell His praise when their hearts are turned to receive the Messiah they crucified 1900 years ago.

Ephraim (verse 9 and verse 67) had the firstborn’s place (Genesis 48:14-20), but his tribe, except for Joshua (Numbers 13:8), and that Shiloh, where the tabernacle was until Samuel’s day (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4), was in their territory, was not zealous for God. Proud and envious their history shows them to have been; they allowed the Canaanites to live among them (Judges 1:29), and refused to take part in the war to free the country of the oppressing Ammonites,—for which they were punished ( Judges 11 and 12:1-6). Afterward they took the chief place in the division of the country following Solomon’s death, turning quickly to idolatry. (See Hosea 4:17 and 14:8, also Isaiah 11:13, for Ephraim will yet be blessed).

Zoan (verse 12) was a town in lower Egypt. Verses 12 to 31 recite Israel’s history as told in Exodus chapters 1 to 17, and in Numbers 11. For all that they saw of God’s gracious provision for them, and of his unsparing judgment of sin, they sinned still, and believed not in His marvelous works. (In connection with verses 32 to 41, see Deuteronomy 1:34, 35, 41-46; 2:14, 15; 4:3; Exodus 32; Leviticus 10:1-7; Numbers, chapters, 14, 16, 20, 21 and 25). But “they remembered not His hand, the day when He delivered them from the oppressor;” God’s mighty works for the children of Israel in the land of Egypt (verses 42-51); how He had brought them safely through the wilderness to the promised land; had driven out the nations who lived there, worshiping idols and most wicked in their lives, and that He had given the tribes of Israel to dwell in that land as their inheritance (verses 52-55).

Verses 56 to 58 declare what Israel did after Joshua was dead. (See Judges 2:11-19). Verses 60 to 64 set before us the story told in 1 Samuel 2:27 to 36. In what follows to the end of the psalm, Saul, first king of Israel, is left out as the people’s choice and rejected by God (1 Samuel 16:1). It is David and Jerusalem that are brought in, for the purpose is to present the Son of David, David’s Lord, whose reign will begin with smiting His adversaries, and putting them to everlasting reproach.

Like all other Psalms, this one was written for the fast approaching time when God will turn from the gospel hardened Gentiles to Israel, many of whom then will be ready to hear Him.

To the Christian it speaks of Him whose abundant love, grace, and mercy have gone out in fullest measure, Gentiles who were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:11, 12).

ML 03/15/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 72.

This, the last psalm of the Second Book, is briefly headed “for Solomon,” and yet it speaks of an infinitely greater Son of David than the last sovereign of united Israel; verse 17 for example, but others also, were never true of Solomon. The king and the king’s Son of verse 1 are both, in the prophetic sense of the psalm, the Lord Jesus, David’s Son who is David’s Lord (Psalm 110, verse 1; Matthew 22:41-45). He will bring about the long-awaited reign of righteousness and peace, and none shall reign after Him.

Of the times of refreshing (Acts 3:1921) which will be known then, verses 6, 7, etc., give assurance. When Satan is bound (Revelation 20:1-3), and the Crucified One is the Exalted and Reigning One, the whole creation will rejoice (Romans 8:19-23). None will dispute His dominion (verses 8-11); all nations shall serve Him.

In verse 16, instead of “There shall be an handful of corn,” read, “There shall be an abundance of corn.”

Verses 18 and 19 of this psalm are really separated from it; they are the outflow of a full heart reflecting upon the ways of God as witnessed in the entire Book. What believer will not echo the words, and long for that awaited day of Christ! (Psalm 72:18, 19.)

The Second Book of the Psalms at whose close we have now come, records the casting out from Jerusalem of the goy when the Antichrist reached out to claim divinity for himself (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4; Matthew 24:7-18, etc.), and the distress, as well as the faith of these earthly saints; this was followed by the appearing of the Messiah to deliver them and to set up His kingdom. At this point, the remnant cease to be viewed separately from the whole nation, for the Third Book (Psalms 73-89) considers Israel nationally.

May the Lord’s blessing be with us in these studies in His word!

ML 02/08/1931

The Broken Window

A number of boys were playing ball one afternoon, and during their play the ball accidently went through the window of an adjacent Mission Room. Of course, like most boys they all scattered, and very soon none were to be seen. After a while the caretaker of the hall returned, and found the broken window, but nobody in sight.

After meditating over the affair, the people of the mission, printed on a card the following scripture;

“Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23), and placed it over the broken window.

Two days after, a boy came to the Mission and confessed that he had thrown the ball through the window, for which he was sorry and was willing to pay for it to be replaced.

This boy coming back and thinking that no one would know him as the culprit, noticed the text on the broken glass and read it. You are guilty and found out, this is what the words conveyed to his conscience, and he had no peace until he decided to confess his wrong. These are his own words, and show how the Spirit can bring conviction to one, through the word of God.

When we read or hear the Word of God, if a work of grace is being done in our hearts, the Spirit of God reveals our fallen and lost condition, and the soul is given to see its sinful state, and thus is burdened and confessing its helpless condition seeks for relief—which is never refused by Him who said “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

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

Just as the boy in our story could find no rest until he had confessed his wrong; so the sinner burdened with his sin cannot find rest until he accepts the invitation of Jesus, who said, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:23.

“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.

Reverting back to the boy of our story, we see the good of acknowledging our wrong doing.

May many who read this message be likewise exercised as to the wrong done to the name of the God of all grace, — “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23),—and be led to confess their sin to Him, and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, ... . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7-9.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

ML 03/15/1931

A Fog at Sea: Or Safety First

A gallant ship was the Oita. Staunch, beautiful and seaworthy, she stood an excellent example of a passenger transport, and many were the trips she had made across the great Atlantic in fair and foul weather.

Her captain was a brave and wise man who never lost sight of the fact that his ship was laden with human beings. Therefore his motto was always “Safety first.”

On the particular occasion to which we refer, the good ship was in mid-ocean, plowing her course from the shore of prance to that of the United States. She had on board a large company of American tourists, who had been abroad and were returning to their native land.

How intently they all looked forward to the homecoming. All hearts beat a little faster when they realized that before many suns should rise their own shores would greet their longing vision.

One morning that had risen bright and clear, soon changed and a dense fog set in; one of those weather conditions that every mariner dreads, as it is one of great danger.

The captain forthwith ordered the fog horn to be sounded, and every other minute it boomed loud and long, sending out warning in every direction. It was not long before another foghorn was heard, which proved that another ship was near at hand. It was impossible to see any distance, and the atmosphere was so dense that one could not tell from what direction the sound came.

We have said that the captain was a wise man, he took no chances with the many lives that were entrusted to his care, and he ordered that the ship should stand still. Accordingly, the throb of the great engines ceased, and the Orbita stood motionless for four hours, sounding her warning far out across the deep. At the end of this time the fog lifted and the ship went safely on her way.

What a mercy it is to be warned in time. How many disasters have been averted, and lives saved, by a timely warning.

Probably the thought of danger is something far from the minds of our readers. The sun may be shining, and many just in the bright morning of life, with the natural prospect of many active and happy years before them.

But when we look into the Word of God, we have good reason to question if life on this earth will flow on as smoothly as many expect. Indeed, we are led to believe that some very marked changes will take place in the near future; changes that will result most disastrously for those who are unsaved.

According to the Scripture, the Lord’s coming is very near at hand. It may occur at any moment. He who came in lowly grace and died on the cross in order that a lost world might live, will come again and call away all those who have obeyed His voice, and received Him in faith.

A great shout will be heard in the air, and instantly all those who compose His Church, both the dead and living, will rise to meet Him, and go to be forever in His heavenly home.

And what about those who are not His and are left behind? What about those who have perhaps delayed coming to Christ for the sake of a little worldly pleasure? Ah, theirs will be a sad plight. There will be no hope or salvation then. And, reader, if you are not saved, this is the terrible risk you are taking.

We would raise a warning note to those who are unprepared. As the Orbita sounded out her warning over the sea, so we would in all earnestness, seek to warn you to flee from the wrath to come.

Let “Safety first” be your motto, and that safety is found alone in Jesus. He is the Saviour, the only refuge from the coming storm. All those who heed the warning and flee to Him, will be safely housed in His home above when the storm of judgment breaks in all its fury upon a Christ-rejecting world, from which there will then be no escape.

Be wise and heed the warning, come to Christ without delay, and you will be saved forever. The assurance that a glad eternity awaits you, will add much to your happiness even in this world—a peace and joy that will be realized in its fullness in the ages yet to come.

“The Lord Jesus will 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 Thessalonians. 2:7, 8.

Do flee to Him for refuge before that time comes. He is saying to you now, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37), but He may not say this much longer.

ML 02/08/1931

A Solemn Warning

Little George M. was twelve years of age, and being of an amiable disposition, and ever full of fun and glee, he became a favorite in the Sunday school. His teacher loved George, whose winsome manner and open countenance were very taking, and as the little boy listened Sunday after Sunday to the word of truth, which she taught, he seemed much impressed with the solemnity of its meaning. But soon, alas! the fear of the end of sinners, and the sense of the need of salvation, were forgotten, for George was but a wayside hearer.

One Sunday, as tickets for a children’s tea-meeting were being given out, George said to his teacher, “Do I deserve to have one, for I do not want one unless I deserve it?”

His teacher told him the ticket was a gift, and was not granted because he deserved it.

“And by this,” she added, “you may learn of the gift of God, eternal life, given to all who receive Christ, who died for sinners and rose again.”

George, we need not say, took the ticket as a gift, for he was glad to go to the Sunday school treat; but would he care to have the gift of God—eternal life?

“No, another day,” he murmured. Thus weeks and months passed away, and still he remained indifferent to the call of God.

About this time a great many children at the Sunday school where he went, confessed Christ, and among them were two of George’s companions. These boys persuaded him to accompany them to the week-night Bible-class, but, sad to say, he only went to mock.

On the following Sunday he came to school, and it seemed that the Spirit of God was striving with him, for his attention was marked, and he joined in singing the last hymn, heard the closing prayer, and with a thoughtful countenance walked with his companions to listen to some open-air preaching.

However, while the servant of God was speaking, George stood mocking and throwing dust in the air, upon which the preacher turned towards him, and pointing with his finger, said, “If that boy knew he might be a corpse a week from today, he would not mock at God’s message now.”

Upon hearing these words, the guilty boy walked away, but that was the last invitation to salvation he ever heard.

On the following Sunday his seat was vacant. His teacher called at his house after school was over to inquire for him, but it was TOO LATE, for at the very time the school doors were closed that Sunday afternoon, George had then passed into eternity. On the Friday previous to his death he had taken cold, inflammation had set in, he had become unconscious, and remained so until he died.

Dear boys, do not put off your solemn feelings about eternity until tomorrow, for tomorrow, it may be TOO LATE.

“Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 03/15/1931

"Mother, I mean to be a Missionary"

These words were spoken by a little boy of nine years of age, as he returned home from a cottage meeting, conducted by the town missionaries. Let me tell you how this boy began by being a home-missionary.

“Sir,” said his mother to me, “I could not help crying as I listened to the conversation between him and his little sister, only five years old, ‘Lily,’ he said, ‘I am quite sure it’s time you began to pray. You ought to begin now.’” A few evenings after the mother had told me of this conversation, at the close of a cottage service, an invitation was given to any present, who felt drawn by the Holy Spirit, to offer a few words of prayer. Somewhat to my surprise, a little girl kneeling before me, with a devout and earnest manner, began thus: “O Lord Jesus! be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me. Amen.”

Then followed her little brother in earnest and affectionate entreaty that God would bless his father and mother, and lead them to Himself through Jesus.

Dear children, I tell you this short story that you may see that this dear little boy not only felt a strong desire to be useful, but sought for strength, and began at once to work for Jesus, and began at home, trying to point his little sister to the Saviour, and so proved that it was a real purpose of his young heart, not a mere idle wish, forgotten as soon as uttered, that made him say, “O, mother, I mean to be a missionary.”

“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 02/08/1931

"Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me"

I’m not a grown up woman yet, I’m just a little tot,

But in God’s big salvation plan I was not then forgot.

Yes! Jesus loved the children well,

The little ones like me,

They flocked into His sheltering arms

And sat upon His knee.

You do not need to grow up big

To love a great big lot,

Just ask the mothers what they think

Who have a tiny tot.

And so I mean to love Him well

For O, He loves me much,

He said His Own Heavenly Home

Was just composed of such.

ML 03/15/1931

Saved Just as You Are

I was aroused to think about eternal things in my class in the Sunday school, while my teacher was speaking from the parable of “The Prodigal Son,” one afternoon.

I was much troubled for some weeks, my proud heart being unwilling to yield to God and say, “I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight.” Luke 15:18.

On a Saturday afternoon, after coming from my work, I wandered on very unhappy. A young man passing handed me a tract, which I took and thanked him. Walking along, reading as I went, I came upon these words, “You may be saved just as you are, and where you are, by simply trusting your soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.’” John 6:37.

I saw that if that were true, He would save me. I do not know how it happened, but I found myself saying half-aloud:

“Jesus, I will trust Thee,

Trust Thee with my soul.”

And then it was that peace filled my
heart. I know that I am Christ’s and He is mine.
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psalms 2:12.

ML 02/08/1931

Jesus of Nazareth

Our picture is a little sketch of Nazareth. Nazareth is beautifully situated on the slope of a hill, but like most of the Eastern towns of the present day, is not very clean. In this town there live some true believers of the Lord Jesus, though many of the sixty thousand people are still in darkness.

In John 1:46, Nathanael asks, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Yes, indeed, that precious Jesus of Nazareth came from here, the One who died to save us.

Jesus was born at Bethlehem, but very soon Joseph and Mary took their Son down to Nazareth. In Nazareth He spent most of thirty years. He is called the Nazarene. The Lord of glory, God manifest in the flesh, took a humble place in this world.

There is only one well in Nazareth. This water flows from the spring, as it did in the time of our Lord’s sojourn down here over 1900 years ago. The Lord, no doubt, drank from this well.

When we think, children, that the Lord Jesus walked down this sloping hillside, drank from this well, worked here in the carpenters’ shop with Joseph, lived a perfect life, our hearts are filled with love and praise to this Jesus of Nazareth, the lowly Nazarene, who traveled all the way from glory to the cruel cross. There He died to save us and bring us to God. We can but thank and praise Him for love so marvelous.

“O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO.” Psalms 107:1, 2.

ML 03/22/1931

If I Come to Jesus

If I Come To Jesus
If I come to Jesus,
He will make me glad; He will give me pleasure,
When my heart is sad.

If I come to Jesus,
Happy I shall be, He is gently calling
Little ones like me.

If I come to Jesus,
He will hear my prayer, For He loves me dearly,
And my sins did bear.

If I come to Jesus,
He will take my hand, He will kindly lead me
To a better land.

There with happy children, Robed in snowy white, I shall see my Saviour In that world so bright.

ML 02/08/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 79.

In point of time we have now reached in Book 3 of the Psalms, nearly to the appearance of the Lord Jesus as the long awaited Messiah-King of Israel, Son of David, King of kings and Lord of lords. It will be remembered that the Third Book which includes Psalms 73 to 89, deals with Israel nationally, (the 12 tribes); while the Second Book (Psalms 42 to 72) took up the case of the remnant of the Jews as driven out of Jerusalem, because of their faithfulness to God at the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years, before the Lord comes to the world to set up His earthly kingdom.

Not very long before the Lord will descend in power, He will bring about the attack by the desolator spoken of by Him in Matthew 24:15. The “abomination of desolation” is a reference to idolatry which is abomination to God to be begun in the temple at Jerusalem, which God will punish by causing a desolating army, or armies, to overrun the land of Palestine and capture Jerusalem. It is this situation which is the occasion of Psalm 79. (Scriptures which tell of the invasion are Daniel 9:27; 11:40-45; Joel 1 and 2; Zechariah 14:1, 2; Ezekiel 38 and 39; Micah 5:5, 6; Isaiah 10 and 28:2).

This psalm is then an appeal to God on behalf of Israel when the northern and other armies (not part of the to-be-revived Roman Empire) will have ruthlessly attacked Jerusalem and defiled the rebuilt temple, destroyed much of the city, killed many of its inhabitants. Will God allow this to go unnoticed? His people deserve the punishment they are receiving, but will He be angry with them forever? Shall His jealousy burn like fire? (verse 5). In due time, doubtless, He will answer the supplications here found.

As in many other psalms, the language used with regard to enemies (verses 6, 10, 12), entirely suitable for the righteous in the coming dispensation, is wholly unsuited for the Christian who is called to love his enemies, to bless when cursed. Indeed, the language of the psalm while speaking deeply to our hearts of sorely tried saints just before the Millennium, does not express the Christian’s position; we who believe, in this singularly privileged period of grace, know ourselves accepted in the Beloved One, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:6, 7). To apply the language of Psalm 79 to ourselves, is to make Jews of ourselves. We must rightly divide the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

ML 03/22/1931

Christ Is Coming, Are You Ready?

How good it would be if He came tonight!”

These words fell on Ellen’s ears as she looked up from the book she was reading.

“If who came tonight? Are we to have a visitor?” thought Ellen.

Her curiosity was aroused, and as she listened, she found it was the Lord Jesus her two friends were talking about. Quick as thought the answer rose in her mind, “O, no! it would not be good if He came tonight, for I am not ready to meet Him.”

Right well she knew that the Lord Jesus was coming back again, and that only those who were washed in His precious blood—whose sins were forgiven would go with Him, and that those who were not ready would be left behind for judgment.

But “Coming tonight”—somehow Ellen hadn’t even thought that possible. And as for death, was she not young, and well, and likely to live a great many years yet? She believed what Satan said:

“There was plenty of time yet.”

After thinking over it a few moments, she turned to the book she had before thought so interesting, to find that it had now lost its charm, and in her ears were ringing the words,

“Coming tonight; coming tonight.”

Days and weeks passed, and instead of getting rid of the feeling, she was awakened to see the danger she was in.

“I’m not any worse than other girls, and a great deal better than some; I really mean to be saved some day.” These were thoughts which came into her head. But many a night she lay awake, unable to go to sleep lest the Lord Jesus should come, and she should be left behind.

One Sunday evening she went to a Gospel meeting. On previous occasions she was glad when the preaching was over. Tonight however, she listened to every word. At the close of the meeting a gentleman said to her,

“Do you know the Lord Jesus?” Ellen could not answer.

Then he took up the Bible Ellen had been reading so diligently during the past months, and turning to Isaiah 53, made it personal, reading thus,

“He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and by His stripes I am healed.”

That night Ellen learned that the Lord Jesus had died for her, but yet she could not say that she was saved. She tried to feel saved, before she had learned to know it.

She was hoping and doubting, until she almost despaired of ever knowing the peace she longed for. At length, in despair, she shut herself in her room, and falling down on her knees, told Jesus everything, how she had tried to make herself better, and how she had failed, and that if He would just take her as she was, she would give herself to Him.

As she knelt there in the deep consciousness of being in the very presence of God, the words came into her mind,

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

Ellen accepted the Lord Jesus just as she was, and O, what peace and happiness filled her heart.

Thus Jesus speaks: who makes reply, “O, Lord, I come to Thee;

Thy precious love hath won my heart, Thine henceforth I will be?”

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

ML 03/22/1931

Willard's Confession

Willard was about seven years old. He had light hair and blue eyes, and he loved his father and mother very dearly. But Willard was often forgetful; so forgetful that he did the very thing his mother had bidden him not do, and then would say, “O, I quite forgot!” Do you know anyone like Willard in this respect?

There was one thing Willard’s mother had often told him he must not do: “Never play with fire, my boy,” she said, “never even touch a match; many a child has been burned to death by meddling with matches.”

Willard listened to what his mother said, but a match was a great temptation to him if it ever came in his way, for he did so enjoy seeing a piece of wood take fire and blaze up.

One day, when Willard was on a visit, he saw his grandfather take a match from the matchbox. The match did not take fire when he struck it, so he dropped it and tried another. All the while Willard sat watching him, and when he left the room he picked up the forgotten match and tried to strike it. To his great surprise the match did take fire; the little boy was frightened, he threw it as far as he could into the stove and walked away.

By-and-bye Willard began to think of what his mother had said, and the more he thought of his disobedience the more troubled he was. At last bedtime came, and he was still very unhappy, so unhappy that he could not help telling his nurse, Maggie, all about it.

“What shall I do, Maggie?” he said.

“You had better go down at once and tell your mother,” said the nurse; “the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to tell the truth. I would not wait till morning if I were you.”

Now Willard had thought that he would tell his mother the next morning when he was alone with her, and would ask her to forgive him; but he made up his mind to go downstairs at once. His mother was in the dining-room with his father when Willard softly opened the door, saying, “Mamma, may I speak to you?”

“Yes, dear,” said his mother. “What is it?”

Then Willard told his mother he wanted to speak to her quite alone; and when she came to him in the hall, he put his arms round her neck and told her the whole story about the match, and confessed that he had been so naughty as to disobey her.

What do you think his mother said?

“I am sorry my little boy has disobeyed me, but I am very glad he has confessed and told me all the truth.” Then, as she gave him a good-night kiss, she whispered, “I forgive you, Willard, and I don’t believe you will ever touch a match again.”

So the little fellow went to bed happy, because he knew he was forgiven.

What made him ready to go to his mother with the tale of his fault? He knew she loved him so well, that she could forgive him at once if he confessed his disobedience.

Willard did not ask to be forgiven, he confessed his disobedience, and his mother forgave him.

“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.

Let the child of God who has sinned, simply come to his Father, without fear, though sorrowful to have grieved Him who has so loved him, and he will find the truth of these words: communion will be restored, and he will be again happy with God.

ML 03/22/1931

The Saviour

Jesus is able to save you, No matter how great your sin; He died on a cross of suffering The vilest of sinners to win.

He came from the heights of glory To the depths of a world of woe; From the presence of God who loved Him, To the hatred of man below.

He came as a man to suffer,—The trials of earth to endure. The One who was rich in heaven In this wicked world was poor.

Such was the love of Jesus,

Such was His wonderful grace; Do you not long to know Him?

Would you not see His face?

Think on this “Man of Sorrows”,

You who are lost,—undone; List to the earnest pleading

Of Jesus, the heaven-sent One.

Come while the door is open, Come to Him while you may; Jesus is able to save you, Why should you longer delay?

ML 03/22/1931

Alice and Her Kittens

A little girl named Alice owned two pretty kittens like the ones in our picture. She watched them every day getting bigger and bigger, and it seemed as though she loved them more and more. All the time she had to herself was spent in playing with her pets, and each morning and evening she shared her milk with them.

But one day when Alice was at school, a fierce dog got into the yard where her kittens were, and killed them. When the little girl found out they were dead, her grief was extreme, and she cried for days.

“Darling, I can tell you of One who will never die.” Alice listened eagerly while her mother told her of Jesus, and how by His death, He had put away the sins of those who trust Him, and that if she would receive Him as her Saviour, He would give her peace and joy, as well as tell her that all her sins were put away by His death. Then she would know Him who said,

“I AM HE THAT LIVETH AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER MORE.” Revelation 1:18.

Alice had often heard this before, but it had never impressed her as it did now. She felt how much she needed the One who says, “I am alive Forever more,” and there and then, on her mother’s lap, she believed on Him, and began to love the “One who will never die.”

ML 03/29/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 80.

Psalm 80 continues the cry of the 79th psalm on behalf of the people of Israel. Notice that the language used refers not to the godly remnant in the midst of, or separated from, an ungodly generation, as in the Second Book of the Psalms, or to the trials of the righteous man in the midst of those who reject God’s testimony (often it is Christ that is spoken of) as in the First Book; here the appeal is for Israel, the nation, that it be restored and revived as of old.

This psalm looks to God as the Shepherd of Israel, as Israel’s God. (See Isaiah 40:10, 11; Exodus 25:10-22). Past the centuries of their wanderings as “Not My People” (Hosea 1:9), scattered among the Gentiles, this psalm turns back to the first, bright days of Israel, and so in verse 2 we have the three tribes who were nearest the ark in the camp on the wilderness journey (Numbers 2:18-24), and who immediately followed the sanctuary on the march (Numbers 10:22-24). Israel then here in faith looks to Jehovah, God of hosts to lead them in displayed power as of old.

He had brought out a vine from Egypt, and planted it; it had grown great, but its fences were broken down; it was wasted and became food for the beast of the field. (See Isaiah 5:1-7). All this is acknowledged, it was God’s dealing with Israel because of fearful sins; but to Him Israel is here seen to look, and to call for deliverance.

Verse 17 introduces the Lord Jesus, the lowly One, despised and rejected of men, the Son of Man as He is here called, and in that title, He will appear. (See Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 20:18, and 26:64).

All Israel’s blessing depends upon the Man they rejected and scorned and crucified, Whom God has made the Man of His right hand, made Him strong for Himself, as the verse reads. In Christ we see the eternal God become man in lowly grace; manhood once assumed, He will never give it up, and as man, yes, as Son of Man, He will come forth in power to reign where He was crucified.

The last two verses ascribe to God the power for which Israel waits: “Revive us, and we will call upon Thy name; Restore us, and we shall be saved.”

When faith thus looks to God, there will be blessing. Does not the earnestness, the confidence expressed in the prayers in the Psalms, remind us who are believers, that we do not pray as often, and as earnestly, as believingly, as we should?

ML 03/29/1931

If Jesus Had Been Your Teacher

Nellie BLACK was one of the brightest girls in the school. A general favorite with her brothers at home, and with the girls in her class, sunshine seemed to ripple perpetually on her brow. To see her in her happy home, with her kitten playmates, made a sight for any artist’s eye. And yet Nellie was not always happy. Favored with a converted preacher in the little chapel near, and a converted teacher in the day school, who not merely sought the mental and moral, but higher spiritual welfare of the pupils under his charge, Nellie had learned that,

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Hence after the mirth of the day was past she might have been found with the tear in her eye, and the burden at her heart, wondering how she might get the great question of sin settled.

I hope you have felt the same, for there is little chance of anyone being saved until they realize they are “lost” (Luke 19:10).

Mother never sends for the doctor for you till you are ill; the firemen are never summoned until there is the appearance, at least, of fire; the lifebelt is only thrown to those in danger of drowning. So with salvation. The great Physician is for the sin-sick soul, the Rescuer is for those in danger of “the wrath to come,” the Gospel lifebelt is for the perishing.

Have you, like Nellie, got thus far? Do you own up that you are a lost, guilty sinner, deserving nothing but “eternal doom?” If so, listen how Nellie got sad.

Again and again the teacher had placed the way of salvation before his earnest pupil. Nellie read that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). She knew that the Bible said,

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephes. 2:8; that Jesus Himself had said,

“Believe, and be saved” (Luke 8:12). But it seemed such a big thing for a simple, sinful girl to commit her soul to the Saviour’s keeping, and be “saved with an everlasting salvation” (Isaiah 45:17). Great though it was, she did so. Shall I tell you how? Her mother commissioned Nellie to make a few purchases at the store on the road from school, giving her some silver coins to pay for the goods. Not being accustomed to handle so much money, Nellie thought it best to ask the teacher to take charge of it till school hours were past. Approaching the master’s desk, and laying down the money, she made her request.

“But, Nellie,” said the teacher; “can you trust me with so much?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Had you not better get two of the other girls to witness that I have received the money?”

“No, sir, I can trust you with it.”

“Then, Nellie, if Jesus had been your Teacher, would you also have trusted Him?”

“Certainly, sir.”

“Well, Nellie, if you could trust Him with the silver coins, could you not trust Him with your soul?”

“Yes, sir, I could.”

“Now, Nellie,” continued the soul-winning teacher, “as you have trusted me just now with your money, will you not trust the great Saviour, who loved you and gave Himself for you, with your precious soul? Will you do so just now?” A moment’s pause, then the anxious girl quietly replied,

“Yes, sir, I could trust Him, I will trust Him.”

A little more conversation, then a steady routine of lessons, then home; but Nellie never forgot the real joy of that night, as again and again she hummed to herself the little verse:

“Jesus, I will trust Thee!
Trust Thee with my soul; Guilty, lost, and helpless,
Thou canst make me whole.”

Perhaps your name is not Nellie, but you are a sinner and need salvation. Think of Jesus dying on the Cross of Calvary in agony and shame for you; hear His triumphant cry at last, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Finished for you. In view of such love, such agony, and such a mighty triumph, will you just now say, “I will trust, and not be afraid?”

Remember, “None perish who Him trust.” Hundreds upon hundreds of boys and girls have accepted the invitation of the Lord Jesus: found His promise true;

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

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out,” John 6:37, and are living saved and happy lives. Will you trust Him now and happy be?

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

ML 03/29/1931

Salvation

A gentleman was walking on a country road, when his attention was attracted by a little child crying piteously. He went to her and asked what was her trouble.

“O, sir,” cried the child, “my sister is in the ditch.”

The gentleman looked into the very deep ditch, but could see nothing at first, but presently saw a little child held fast in the mud and bushes. She was nearly drowned and it was no easy matter to save her. But he succeeded, and put her on her way near her home.

Now, is not this like the case of the sinner? He is in the mire of sin. He tries to get out, and the more he struggles the deeper he sinks in, till at last he gives up and thinks he is lost. Then comes One who goes down where the sinner is and brings him out.

“Thou hast brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalms 40:2.

The gentleman might have stood by the ditch all the day, but that would never have got the little child out of it. And so it was with us. He had left His bright home on high, and came down to us, and He has brought us up out of the ditch. And He has washed away all the evil from us, and has put a beautiful song in our mouths,

“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 Forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5,6.

ML 03/29/1931

Come

Come, dear little children,

Unto Christ the Lord!

Come, for He has called you;

Listen to His word.

Come, while young and tender,

To His loving arms,

Prove His sweet compassion,

And His matchless charms.

He has died to save you

With His precious blood,

Died to make you happy

And forever good.

Would you live without Him?

Could you live in sin?

This would be but folly,

And to sorrow bring.

Listen then, dear children,

Trust in Jesus now,

Trust Him as your Saviour,

In His footsteps go.

Then you will be happy,

Then you will be free,

Soon He’ll come and take you

With Himself to be.

In His home in glory,

There on high to sing Glory, honor, blessing

Unto Christ the King.

ML 03/29/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“The Children’s Class”

1. “And God is able,” etc. 2 Corinthians 9:8.

2. “Wherefore come out,” etc. 6:17.

3. “For though he was,” etc. 13:4.

4. “Casting down,” etc. 10:5.

5. “For as the,” etc. 1:5.

6. “Whether any,” etc. 8:23.

7. “But we all,” etc. 3:18.

Bible Questions for April

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in Ephesians

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Having no hope.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The gospel of your salvation.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “His promise in Christ.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be strong in the Lord.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “As dear children.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be no more children.”

7.What is the reason given in Ephesians why children are to obey their parents?

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1. (1) Beaten five times; (2) Stoned; (3) Shipwrecked; (4) A Night and day in the deep; (5) Perils of waters; (6) Perils of robbers; (7) Perils from the Jews; (8) Perils from the heathen; (9) Perils from false brethren; (10) Cold and nakedness. 2 Corinthians 11:24-27.

2.That the power of Christ might rest upon him. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

3.As an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14.

4.Bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2.Cor. 10:5.

5.2 Corinthians 6:14-16.

6. “Absent from the body, ... present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8.

7. (1) He anoints us; (2) He seals us; (3) He is the earnest in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.

Bible Questions for April

“The Young People’s Bible Class” The Answers are to be found in Ephesians

1.Of what are man and wife a type?

2.For what should we give thanks unto God and the Father?

3.What is God’s habitation now?

4.What verses show that salvation is not of works?

5.What is the meaning of “earnest” as used in this Epistle?

6.Who is Head to the Church?

7.What gifts are still found in the Church?

ML 04/05/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 81.

This psalm is a call to Israel to gather together for the “new moon” (verse 3). This expression refers to the reappearance of Israel to reflect upon the earth the light of heaven. For centuries Israel’s light has been extinguished, but it is about to shine again.

Verse 5 is a reference to the sojourn of the children of Israel in the land of bondage. “I heard a language that I knew not,” —God is speaking of that foreign land. Canaan was His land. Since then Israel has gone through far deeper and more protracted sorrows than were known by them in Egypt. From the captivity of the Pharaohs, God set them free (verse 6), and when they called in trouble, He delivered them. The secret place of thunder (verse 7) is the throne of God (Revelation 4:5) in connection with the judgment of the world. He requires holiness and righteousness, and He will not share His glory with another.

He not only answers the call of the needy; he proves those who profess to trust in Him. Israel tempted Him (Exodus 17:2), doubting His word, but He was testing them with difficulties as at Meribah, and He answered them in grace, met their thirst with an abundance of water.

How touching is the language of verses 8, 9, 10, addressed to an ungrateful and heedless people. Had Israel refused other gods (Exodus 20:3), the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt would have satisfied their souls, but they would not hearken to His voice, would have none of Him. Therefore, He gave them up unto their own heart’s stubbornness; they walked after their own counsels (verse 12).

What yearning love is there not, in the words of verse 13; what grace!

If Israel had walked in His ways (and why did they not?), how different, how much happier their history would have been! They were on the ground of law, or law and grace mingled, and utterly afraid. Only unconditional grace will do for man, as the New Testament reveals.

Of course the failure of man, and of highly favored Israel, gave God the opportunity to bring in salvation through Christ, and thus the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1) have been revealed to Gentile and Jew alike. (Romans 11:32-36).

ML 04/05/1931

The Little Sister's Love

Four little school-girls, returning to their home, were overtaken by a storm of wind and rain. For a time, they were sheltered under the large umbrella of one, but, after a while, the wind overturned and broke it. Then the eldest covered her little sister with her cloak, but it also was pulled away by the force of the storm. The youngest girl, who was in delicate health, became faint and unable to go any further. Her devoted sister, although exhausted by the long journey, lifted her, and carried her on her back through the ever-increasing fury of the storm, till she reached their home. Within a step of the door, she sank exhausted, but her younger sister was saved.

That noble act cost the elder girl her life. She never recovered from the effects of it. Grasping her sister, whose life she had saved, with her wasted, feeble hands, she said: “I am so glad I brought you safely home that day. Will you think of me when I am gone, and remember you had a sister who loved you?”

With many tears and kisses, the younger girl promised she would ever remember her love. A few months later, in the village burying ground, a plain slab was erected above a green grave, bearing the simple, but touching inscription,

“In Loving Memory of my Dear Sister
Wilhelmina
who gave her life to save mine.”
“The Son of God who loved me, and gave
Himself for me.”
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
Many who visit that quiet spot, are told the story of that sister’s love, and are led to think of a greater love, even the love of Jesus, who died—not for His friends—but for His enemies, that they might be saved.

Have you believed on, and welcomed, Him as your Saviour; and can you say truthfully: “I live, because He died?”

“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.” Isaiah 53:5.

ML 04/05/1931

But-

I should like to give myself to Jesus; but—” So said a young girl to me once, as with tears in her eyes, she told me the sad tale of her short life.

“Would you really like to give up all and come to the Saviour, Emma?” I repeated.

“O, yes,” she said, “I should like to do so, but I am too bad to come, sir.”

“Nay, nay,” I replied, “not too bad for Jesus to receive you, for though it may be hard for some, who know how wicked you have been, to love you, Jesus died to save sinners.”

It was a short conversation, but the Spirit of God was at work with my young friend, and soon she exclaimed, “I can give myself right up now, sir.”

Yet how often it is that boys and girls are found shrinking from the loving, outstretched arms of the Saviour, and while they watch the happy faces of their Christian friends, they say to themselves, “I, too, should like to give myself to Jesus—but”—and here they stop.

But why? Surely not because they think the Lord Jesus does not mean what He says when He bids them come to Him; but because they feel as Emma felt, when she said, “I’m too bad.”

I do lovingly ask any young seeker after Christ, the sense of whose sins hinder him from at once coming to the Saviour, to remember that Jesus has said, “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

ML 04/05/1931

Wonders in Nature

How cool and refreshing the water looks as it is splashing over the rocks. Can you imagine the great noise it is making as it comes roaring down this canyon from the mountains with tremendous force?

God’s work in creation is something wonderful, dear children. You know He made the world before He made the first man, Adam.

Do you own Him as your God, as your Creator? He has given us these beautiful things to enjoy, but none of these can give us rest in our hearts and souls. If you travel the world over, dear ones, and see all the majestic things that God has made, you will then come home with an unsatisfied feeling, unless you know God in a nearer and dearer way than just as your Creator. Do you understand? You must know Him as your Saviour-God; must accept His most wonderful Gift—His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your personal Saviour, or you will not, you cannot be happy.

“Were the vast world our own,

With all its varied store,

And Thou, Lord Jesus, wert unknown,

We still were poor.”

“HAPPY IS THAT PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.” Psalms 144:15.

ML 04/05/1931

O, Won't You Be a Christian

O, won’t you be a Christian While you’re young?

Don’t think it will be better

To delay it until later,

But remember your Creator

While you’re young.

O, won’t you love the Saviour

While you’re young?

For you He left His glory,

And embraced a cross so gory;

Won’t you heed the melting story While you’re young?

Remember, death may find you

While you’re young,

For friends are often weeping,

And the stars their watch are keeping

O’er the grassy graves, where sleeping

Lie the young.

O, walk the path to glory

While you’re young;

And Jesus will befriend you,

And from danger will defend you,

And a peace divine will send you

While you’re young.

Then won’t you be a Christian

While you’re young?

Why from the future borrow,

When, ere comes another morrow,

You may weep in endless sorrow

While you’re young?

ML 04/05/1931

Watching

What an interesting picture we have before us! Did you ever have a dog? It is touching many times to see how devoted a dog is to his owner. See how this dog is looking and watching for the return of his master, the shepherd. One dog is tired, and not as faithful as the other; he has lain down for a rest.

Do you see the shepherd’s hat with his Bible on top of it? He must surely be a Christian; at least we are glad that he cares to have God’s Word with him, as he is left alone up there in the mountains, away from all people, with his sheep and dogs. God has preserved His blessed Book to us for hundreds and hundreds of years; it has passed through many dangers. Wicked people have tried many times, in years gone by, to destroy all copies of it, but God never permitted them to succeed in their evil efforts. How thankful we ought to be to Him for this wonderful Book, the Bible! David the Psalmist, says,

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light into my path.” Psalms 119:105.

Surely, every saved person can say the same. There is no other book that can be a daily guide to us as this book can: God wants us to make it such—a daily guide.

Remember as you read it, dear children, that it is God talking to you through His inspired writers.

May we take a lesson, too, from the faithfulness of the dog that is watching so eagerly for his master.

Our Master is gone, our blessed Lord, and how pleasing to Him if we who are saved, are eagerly watching for His return! Too many of us are like the dog that has grown tired watching, and is resting and thinking only of his own ease. Jesus says to us,

“BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS, WHOM THE LORD WHEN HE COTH SHALL FIND WATCHING.”

Luke 12:37.

ML 04/12/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 82 and 83.

The 82nd psalm continues the general theme of the 81St psalm; Israel had broken down utterly, departing from the ways of God, and their judges (called gods in verse 1) judged unrighteously; they had His word to guide them, and authority to act for Him, but made light of it. He, however, judged among them, and though “gods” as representing Him, they should die like men. The call is therefore to God to arise to judge the earth for it is His, and He must soon take it in hand to set things right.

In Psalm 83 we have another glance at the history of Israel at the close. It is the last gathering of the nations around the land of Canaan, a last effort of Satan’s to cut off Israel from being a nation (verse 4).

Then we have a list of the nations that will make an alliance to attack Palestine. Edom, Moab, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia and Asshur, we might suppose to have died out as nations, but it is clear from Scripture that they are only waiting for the coming day to be known by their old names again, meanwhile they cannot be known among the nations.

Turn to Isaiah 11:14 and 63:1; Jeremiah 2:4-15; Obadiah; Ezekiel 25; Zephaniah 2:4-15; all of which await for fulfilment, the day of the Lord, and in these scriptures see the punishment God has in store for them.

The 83rd psalm is the last which precedes the Lord’s appearing to establish His kingdom, and set up His throne as Israel’s rightful King.

ML 04/12/1931

The Elephant on the Bridge

I was told by a friend who had returned from a foreign land, where he has long lived, that the elephant is most careful to ascertain, whether that on which he treads, is safe footing. For example, in crossing a bridge which has only been built for men, he will first test its strength, before committing himself to it. This he does, by placing his trunk and one of his feet upon it first. If he finds it strong enough, he then trusts himself to it, and passes over to the other side.

If you or I saw that huge elephant pass across the bridge safely, I think we would have no hesitation, in trusting ourselves to it. We would naturally say, —if the bridge has carried that great animal safely across, it will surely be strong enough to sustain us.

This is how it was with one who was anxious to pass from death unto life, and out of the country where Satan rules, into the kingdom of God’s Son, but was afraid that the bridge would not carry him safely over: in other words, he was afraid to trust himself at once, to the Lord Jesus. Reading one day, “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” (1 Timothy. 1:15), he found that Christ had already saved Paul, “the chief of sinners,” and taken him safely to heaven.

“Then surely He can save me. If the greatest of all sinners has been saved by Him, I may trust Him for my salvation also,” said he. And he did trust himself to that wonderful Bridge of Salvation, and was immediately saved.

Great elephantine sinners have already trusted Him. Do not be afraid to commit yourself to Him but believe on Him and His Word and you will prove His promise true, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML April 12th 1931

The Convenient Season

What must I do to be saved?” has been asked by many since the question was uttered by the jailor of Philippi.

Florrie W. once asked the above question. She was an amiable, industrious girl of fifteen. Gentle and obedient, both at home and school, she was deservedly loved by all that knew her. But Florrie was not saved!

God’s all-searching eye looked at her heart, and found it to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. God classed her along with all the people who have lived, or are now living, in this world, as having come short of His glory, and by His Spirit, taught our young friend that she was a lost sinner, totally unfit for His presence. She feared the coming of the Lord Jesus, and she feared to die!

One day a lady, who loved the Lord, spoke to some young girls on the convenient season. (Acts 24:25.) Tears of bier sorrow fell from Florrie’s eyes as the kind lady said,

“Come now; do not put it off. You cannot have a better time than the present. Now is God’s word to you.

‘Behold, now is the accepted time; bold, now is the day of salvation.’” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

“ ‘All things are ready!’

We must not delay;

We only reap sorrow

By staying away.

“There can be no season

So suited as this,

And while yet we linger,

True joy we may miss.”

Florrie longed to know herself as saved, but the more she looked at herself, the farther off she felt from God. She was unable to join her companions in their parting hymn, but sat silent, bemoaning her unhappy state.

When all the rest were gone, the lady said, “My dear Florrie, is this morning to be the convenient season for you to come to Jesus?”

“O! that it may be, for I am very unhappy. I have tried to do something for God, but I find I can do nothing to please Him. I am truly unprofitable—such a poor sinner. Tell me, what must I do to be saved?”

“The answer to the Philippian jailor was, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ Do you believe on Him?”

“With all my heart.”

“Then, dear girl, you are saved.”

“Am I?”

“Yes; God says you are. Do you not believe His own word?

‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.’ Thus God says you are saved.”

“He does,” replied the young girl, “and I believe Him.”

“To Him be the praise!” was the lady’s joyful exclamation.

“‘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.’”

“O!” exclaimed the girl, “I want no more to make me believe. I do believe. I am saved!”

“What has become of your sins?”

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin,” was the answer. What a happy change—the burden of sin Forever gone! Florrie went to her home with the full consciousness that God had not a charge against her, and rejoicing that Christ had suffered the Just for the unjust to bring her to God.

Three years have passed away since that conversation, and our young friend still rests on God’s own word, and finds it a sure abiding place. She is looking forward, in sure and certain hope, of dwelling Forever with Jesus in His happy home.

May you, dear young reader, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.

ML 04/12/1931

Only Trust

One day I asked a little girl, “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“No,” she said, “but I want to very much.”

“Why?” I inquired, and her reply was, “Because I am a sinner. I have tried to be good, but I do want to come to Him, and to love Him.”

“Well, dear,” I said, “think for a few moments of these two verses: ‘God hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all,’ and ‘His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ Now, if God laid your sins on the Lord Jesus, and He bore them, where are they?”

“Well,” she said, very slowly, “if God put them on Jesus, and He bore them, I can’t bear them too.”

“No, dear,” I answered, “but let us look at it like this. God hated sin. He could not look upon it, and must punish it, but the Lord Jesus loved little Emily, and bore her sins and her punishment instead of her, upon the cross.” She looked up so brightly, and said,

“Is that what trust or believe means? Then I do trust Him.”

She waited a moment, and then said, “Is that really all? I want Him to take my heart now. I do trust Him.”

I think little Emily, then and there, really put her trust in the Lord Jesus, her Saviour; and to you, dear children, who feel your need of the Saviour, I would say, come to Him, as Emily did, in all your sins, for He will save you. Take your place before God as a sinner, and ask Him to show you the Lord Jesus on the cross bearing your sins.

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

The Lord Jesus shed His precious blood for sinners, and all who trust Him, have their sins washed away, and are made whiter than the snow.

ML 04/12/1931

"That Is All I Want"

A little girl had tried so very hard

To learn that lovely Psalm, the twenty-third;

She read it verse by verse so many times

That “Now,” she thought, “I’m sure of every word.”

“Mother,” she said, “I’ve learned the Shepherd Psalm,

So will you hear me say it, please, today?”

“Yes, darling, I will hear each verse tonight,

Before you go to bed, after you pray.”

The evening came, and girlie’s bedtime too;

After she prayed, she started to recite:

“The Lord is my Shepherd,—that is all I want—”

And then she stopped, for mem’ry failed her quite.

Now, don’t you think in making that mistake
The little girl said something very true? For, having Jesus as your Saviour-Friend,
“That’s all I want” can well be said by you.

ML 04/12/1931

Rover

These dear little children were very fond of their 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 carry 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.” Ephesians 5:2.

ML 04/19/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 84.

This much loved psalm, dear to the Christian heart and rightly so, for its language is as suited to the believers of the present dispensation of grace, as to the coming one of power and glory, expresses the feelings of Israelites whose hearts have been touched and consciences exercised so that they are one by one returning to Zion, the temple site at Jerusalem. The Lord, at the time for which Psalm 84 is written; will have come to the earth to set up His kingdom; will have brought to an end the brief but fear-full persecution of His earthly people. Jerusalem is once more the center, and thither the godly will betake themselves.

So long given up to desolation and to the wicked, the city of God’s choice will again be His earthly dwelling place. (See Isaiah 40:9-11; Jeremiah 50:4, 5; Zephaniah 3:14-20).

The believer thinks of the blessedness of drawing near to God, come down in grace, and longs, even faints for His courts; heart and flesh—spirit and soul—cry out for the living God. Surely every saint of God should heartily echo the language of verses 1 and 2. And is not the presence of the Lord among His saints—His tabernacle—to be known to faith today? Wherever two or three are gathered tether unto His Name, there is He in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). What condescension! What grace! Can any other place or manner of gathering but this, satisfy one who truly loves Him and desires His glory?

Verse 3 brings before our minds the least of His creatures, —the despised sparrow and the restless swallow both secure and at rest, —precious tokens of the fullness of His grace to man. Blessed indeed are they that will dwell in His house. It is the redeemed of Israel that are here in view, as in Psalm 23:6, but the Christian’s thoughts are rightly directed to the heavenly home. (John 14:2, 3; Revelation 5; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

To be with Christ will draw out constant praise (verse 4). How could it be otherwise? The heart fills with joy at the thought of being with Him, like Him, with all the redeemed, —all debtors to grace unfathomable.

Verses 5 to 7 speak of the way to the scene of glory, the path of blessing. It is through suffering and trial, through the valley of tears, but those whose strength is in the Lord, make it a wellspring; they go from strength to strength; each one will appear before God in Zion. The road may be rough, but it cannot be long; the end is near, and prayer should characterize us (verse 8) that we may have the Lord before us all the way. He will surely the strength and the deliverance as needed.

Verse 11, “grace and glory”—unmerited favor, and the delights of a scene where sin is banished, and the Rejected One is the Honored One—these are bestowed freely by our God.

“No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Mark those words well. We cannot expect to enjoy His bountiful provision here and hereafter, unless we seek constantly to answer to His Word in our ways.

Verse 13 is the meditation of the heart upon the happy portion of the redeemed. Blessed, indeed, are they who trust in the Lord!

ML 04/19/1931

The Word of God

One busy Saturday evening a young man was walking the street of a country town, when these words, spoken by an open-air preacher, arrested his attention: “Have you a Bible? If not, buy one, and go home and read it.”

The young fellow listened to God’s voice, through His servant, and bought a Bible. The divine letter of God’s love to lost man was the means of bringing him to his Saviour, who still says,

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

“My sheep shall never perish” John 10:28.

Another copy of God’s Word was destined to bring eternal happiness to its reader, who is now used of God to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ. A little girl gave her playfellow a Bible on her birthday. It was treasured by the recipient, who, after she married, took it out to India with her. A page came out, and this was being kept by her until she returned, and could have the Bible round, but in the meantime God had His purposes for His Word, which He says shall not return unto Him void.

While the lady was away upon the hills, her husband, who had at the time no hope, and was without God in the world, saw it and this sacred page was the means of his conversion.

The third true anecdote is of a girl who had always been brought up to read her Bible every day, but after she had been married a little time, and had many things to occupy her, thought she should give up doing so, but this was not to be so. God inclined her heart to continue reading His message of love, and one day, when she was reading the Epistle of Ephesians, He himself showed her that Christ was her Saviour, and ever since then, which is a good many years ago, she has been rejoicing in the finished work of Christ alone for her salvation.

Nothing in this world is certain; but eternity draws near. Why trouble so much about the things of this life, which may end any moment? It is Satan’s temptation to occupy us with this world’s riches, cares, and sorrows; but surely God is calling louder than ever to us to turn to Him.

Everlasting peace He gives to those who trust in Jesus; and how can we doubt such a Saviour, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life? By all means read your Bible.

Hear what the great apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy. 3:14, 15.

What an honored place the Word of God has! Read it, my reader, and may God bless you with His blessing in so doing.

ML 04/19/1931

The Mandarin's Jewel

A happy Chinese convert, preaching the Gospel to a company of his own countrymen, sought to illustrate, “How to trust the Lord Jesus” by the following simple but effective story.

A wealthy mandarin living in a country infested by robbers, was very much afraid of losing a costly jewel in his possession. It was well known that he was the owner of it, and he could not sleep at nights for fear the robbers might break into his house. He first hid it beneath the floor, but that did not seem safe. Next, he put it in a recess in the wall, but that did not satisfy him. Anxiety and care were leaving their traces on him, and making him quite sad.

“Why don’t you have it stored in the imperial safe, where many of the Emperor’s jewels are kept?” said a friend one day to the anxious mandarin.

That was a new thought to him. If the Emperor’s jewels were there safely guard night and day, his would be safe there also. The jewel was handed over, and the look of care passed from his brow. He was trusting now, instead of fearing. The strong guards who kept watch over the Emperor’s treasures, defended his jewel also.

“And so it is,” said the speaker, “with us who have trusted ourselves to Christ. We are kept by the power of God, and only those who are strong enough to break His power, can ever reach us to harm us.”

True and beautiful was this simple testimony to the keeping power of God.

Have you committed yourself to it, dear children, for salvation and protection for time and eternity? You need not fear to trust yourself for salvation to Christ.

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Psalms 2:12.

ML 04/19/1931

And I Was One of Them

A little girl in my class was asked one day to write down what she knew about Jesus, and, although very busy dung the week, she wrote down a long list of those things which she could remember, and about the middle of her list she put the following sentence, which pleased me very much: “Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, and I was one of them.”

Can you say this, my dear young rear? Although young, she knew that Jesus had come to save her. Do you know it? And why did she know it? Simply because she believed what God had said about her, that she was lost, for God says, “All have sinned;” “There is none good: no, not one.” She not only classed herself among the lost, and believed that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, but she believed that He had found her, and saved her. Can you say with her, “Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost, and I was one of them?” The little girl took her place as a lost sinner. If you do not, salvation is not for you.

The jailor at Philippi cried out from the bottom of his heart, “What must I do to be saved?” Now the Lord will save you in the same way as He saved the jailor and the little girl, —that is, without money and without price, for we read, “By grace are ye saved.... and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

O! if you have not yet, dear young friend, come to God as a lost sinner, come now, this very moment—come to Jesus now, just as you are, and be sure He will save you, for He has said Himself, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” Then doubt not your welcome—”But take, with rejoicing, from Jesus at once The life everlasting He gives, And know, with assurance, you never can die, Since Jesus your Substitute lives.”

ML 04/19/1931

The Name of Jesus

Jesus is the Saviour,

Died at such a cost,

Found me as a sinner,

Guilty, vile and lost.

Jesus is the Saviour,

He is kind to me,

Once He died to save me,

Nailed upon a tree.

Jesus is the Saviour,

He is ever kind, I’m a little soldier,

Keeping Him in mind.

Jesus is the Saviour,

He washed my sins away,

He’ll take my hand and lead me,

Along the narrow way.

Jesus is the Saviour,

May I do His will,

Then I will be happy,

Safe from every ill.

Jesus is the Saviour,

Coming by and bye,

I shall soon be with Him,

Up above the sky.

ML 04/19/1931

Niagara Falls

What a wonderful scene this is of God’s creation! How one is struck with awe as he watches the waters tumbling over the great precipice, and hears the solemn roar!

Just recently tons of rock became loosened and fell with a terrible crash into the river below, thus changing the outline of the falls. One can only say, “O, Lord, how great are Thy works!”

The story is told of a stranger, who, many years ago visited Niagara Falls, and becoming so fascinated with the surroundings, took up his abode on one of the islands above the Falls. Not content with continually gazing on the roaring waters, he was in the habit of bathing in them; until one day venturing thus into the treacherous stream, the waters he had long recklessly dared, claimed him as their own, and he was swept away to his doom by the invisible current.

Dear reader, how much this is like the case of so many poor sinners. They become fascinated with the pleasures of sin, engross themselves in them, are swept away into everlasting perdition.

There is only One, dear children, who can save us from this terrible place, and I am sure you have heard of Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of all who will come to Him and put their trust in Him. He is willing and able, and “mighty to save.”

Do come to Him now. Put your full trust in Him. Do not wait until it is too late.

“THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.” 1 Timothy 1:15.

ML 04/26/1931

Black and White

Can anyone tell what is blacker than coal,

And whiter than storm-driven snow,

In the heavens, or earth from equator to pole,

The ocean, or caverns below?

The raven is black—dark as ebony night—

And sable the Ethiop’s skin;

But they’re whiteness itself, and as bright as the light

Compared with the blackness of sin.

There’s nothing we know that is whiter than snow,

But the soul that is washed in the blood

Of Jesus, who died ‘neath our judgment and woe,

And poured out the sin-cleansing flood.

ML 04/26/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 85.

The 85th psalm is founded upon God’s deliverance of His people Israel which Psalm 84 views as accomplished, as we have seen. The land is His, though for many centuries His earthly people have had hardly a foothold on it; now He, in the person of His beloved Son will have asserted title to it, and taken possession. The captivity of Jacob is ended (verse 1).

Israel as a nation has not been a free people since the assault of Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria in 2 Kings 15:29, and 1 Chronicles 5:26, unless an exception be made of the brief span of years of the Maccabean period.

The captivity of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manassah occurred about 735 years before the birth of Christ; to this add the 1926 years since that time, and it will be seen that the captivity of Jacob, i.e., the time since the first of them were taken captive, and carried away beyond the Euphrates to be presently lost to sight, is already 2,661 years. Counting from the first captivity of Judah, it is 2,526 years.

It may be objected that the Jews, who comprise two of the twelve tribes of Israel, are not now captives; this is undeniable, but nevertheless they have no title to their own land, and are only tolerated there. Where Solomon’s temple stood on Mount Zion is now a Mohamman Mosque, and the existence of the Jews’ wailing place where sons and daughters of Jacob poured out their lamentations, is a present testimony in Jerusalem that their captivity is not over.

Verses 2 and 3 tell of the national deliverance brought about by the Lord’s coming in power, but verses 4 to 7 refer to the inward state of the people. Does not Zechariah 12:10-14 make plain that there will be (as is surely called for) a deep work in the consciences and hearts of the Israelites after the Lord has come to their help?

Verses 8 to 13 express the result in blessing. Verse 10 particularly attracts our attention, because it is a definite answer to the cross of Christ. Consequent upon that, righteousness and peace have kissed each other, and in the millennium, truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from the heavens. Blessing will be great, but it will not be without the accompaniment of righteousness. A king, Isaiah 32:1 declares, shall reign in righteousness, speaking of the Lord Jesus when He comes to the world again.

The closing verse should read “and shall set His footsteps on the way,” or “shall set itself in the way of His steps.”

ML 04/26/1931

A Saviour for Children

There is a Saviour for children. He has saved many, and is still saving all who come to Him. And any boy or girl may come to Him.

He is not calling for good children—He knows that all children have done wrong; but He calls children just as they are—sinful children—to come to Him. And all who come receive His blessing. Never yet did He refuse one who came. He has welcomed and blessed all who have turned to Him. And He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

I have known many boys and girls who having found out that they needed salvation, have looked to the Lord Jesus and have found peace and happiness in trusting Him.

Some of them have come fearing that they would be left behind at His coming. And now they know that they will be with Him Forever.

Some have come because they felt their need of a Friend. And now they know that He who is the Friend of sinners is their Friend.

Some have come that they might be saved from the power of sin. And now they are able to walk so as to please God.

All have found much more than they sought when they came. And all who have come are only sorry that they did not come before.

Will you not come to Him? He calls you just as you are.

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

ML 04/26/1931

"I do love you, Mother!"

Some years ago I knew a lady who had been sick for two years, she had only one child, a little boy.

One afternoon, as I was sitting by her side, little Harry came and put his arms round his mother’s neck, and laying his head on her breast said: “I love you, mother. I wish you were not sick.”

This soothed Harry’s mother, who loved her little boy. But an hour later the same boy came into the room all aglow, shaking the snow from his feet, and said, “O mother! may I go skating? Edward and Charlie are going.”

“No, Harry dear,” said his mother feebly.

“It is too bad,” sobbed the boy.

“I would like my little boy to go,” said his mother, but I feel sure the ice is not strong enough yet; then, looking at Harry, whose face was covered with frowns, “You said you loved me, now be a good boy.”

“No, I don’t love you now, mother,” said the boy, going out and slamming the door.

We thought no more of the boy, but I noticed the tears falling fast upon her pillow, and she sank from exhaustion into a light sleep.

In a little while we heard the muffled steps of some men coming into the house, as if carrying something.

What had happened?

Simply this: Harry had left his mother in anger, and in direct disobedience had gone to skate. The ice, as his mother had said, was very thin; it broke, and let Harry into the water. He was only saved from a watery grave by the prompt action of these men who were near the spot.

I closed the door, feeling there was more danger for her life than the boy’s, and coming softly back to her bed, she said, “I heard them, it is Harry; O, I knew he went. Is he dead?”

She did not seem to hear my answer, but a violent fit of coughing came on dung which she passed away from this world to be Forever with the Lord.

In an hour’s time I sought the boy’s room to see how he was. I could not tell him then that his mother had gone. He said, “I wish I hadn’t told mother I didn’t love her; to-morrow I’ll tell her I do,” and the child sobbed.

The next day he came running to her room and said, “Mother, I do love you,” and leaned over to kiss her lips, but they were cold and lifeless, there was no response, also the hand he touched was cold and heavy.

His sorrow was very real as he repeated, “Mother, I do love you, I do love you,” but it was now too late to hear her voice again on earth.

After this, the boy’s whole life was changed, he has always since been sober and sad. He is now an old man, but he can never forget that one great act of disobedience in his boyhood, and the last words that his mother heard him say, and which he would have given all the world to recall or to be able to apologize for.

Will the boys and girls who read this story remember that every act of disobedience, naughty behavior or cross words are like arrows in their mothers’ hearts; and more than that, God takes account of it, for He has said, “Children, obey your parents.”

On the other hand, such is God’s great love to us, that though we grieve Him with our sins, yet He gave His dear Son to suffer and die on Calvary’s tree that all our sins might be washed away by His precious blood, and we made fit for the holy presence of God.

It is, however, by faith in Christ that forgiveness and blessing comes to us; hence, dear reader, let me urge you not to delay in trusting yourself to that blessed One who has proved His love by bearing our sins in His own body on the tree. Then you will indeed be able to say, “He loved Me and gave Himself for Me.” Galatians 2:20.

The Apostle Paul it was who made use of these words, and we may use them too, if we first own the Lord Jesus as our own Saviour.

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

ML 04/26/1931

A Saviour's Love

O who could bear the dreadful thought,

To be shut out from heaven?

To have no portion in the place

Where crowns of life are given?

Yet though we cannot bear the thought, Alas! it must be so,

Unless, believing in the Lord,

To Him for life we go.

For none can gain admission there,—To that bright world above,

But they who in the Lord believe,

And know a Saviour’s love.

Poor trembling sinner, “Come,”

God waits to comfort thee;

O cast thyself upon His love,

So vast, so full, so free!

ML 04/26/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for March

“The Children’s Class”

“Knowing that,” etc. Galatians 2:16.

“Who gave himself,” etc. 1:4.

“For we through,” etc. 5:5.

“To redeem them,” etc. 4:5.

“That the blessing,” etc. 3:14.

“For he that soweth,” etc. 6:8.

The Galatians had formerly gone on in a way

that was pleasing to the Lord. Galatians 5:7.

Bible Questions for May

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in Philippians and Colossians

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “As Christ forgave you.”

2.Write in full the verse containing-the words, “In lowliness of mind.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Sincere and without offense.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Stablished in the faith.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The righteousness which is of God.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The grace of God in truth.”

7.In what way did Epaphras labor fervently?

Answers to Bible Questions for March

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.The believer’s freedom from the bondage of law keeping for salvation. Galatians 2:16; 3:10-1.4, etc.

2.The Truth of being a new creature, or new creation. Galatians 6:15-16.

3To supply their temporal needs. Galatians 6:6.

4.The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. Galatians 5:17.

5.By walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16.

6.By the hearing of faith. Galatians 3:2.

7.Galatians 4:10.

Bible Questions for May

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Philippians and Colossians

1.Name six things worth thinking about.

2.Who worked hard at prayer?

3.What is death for a believer?

4.The theme of Colossians we find in the second chapter; what is it?

5.Where is the best place to have your name?

6.How did Christ make peace?

7.Over whom did the apostle weep?

ML 05/03/1931

One New Year

This is the beginning of a New Year for the “Messages of the Love of God,” and we send the papers out prayerfully that they may be of blessing to all who read them.

Each year brings changes in our lives, and we often receive messages of joy or sadness. Sometimes there are changes that we would rather not have. Perhaps we are occupied too much with the passing things of time, and forget the Giver of every good thing.

The best of all messages in this world are God’s messages in the Gospel. Do you know them? Here is one message for our hearts, “I am the Lord, I change not.” Malachi 3:6.

Through all the changes here below, God wants us to learn to trust the One who never changes.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

He is now a living Saviour in the glory for all who trust His finished work on Calvary’s cross, where in perfect love He gave His life for us.

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

ML 05/03/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 86.

Psalm 80 is the one psalm of David in the Third Book. Psalm 83 as we have seen, presented the last attack of the nations, and Psalm 84 is founded on the Lord’s having come for the deliverance of His people. What follows to the end of this Book (at Psalm 89) relates to the feelings of the godly thus delivered.

It is a known and trusted God that is addressed here; One in whom there is confidence growing out of having known Him. It is interesting to observe His attributes as here given: lie keeps the soul of the godly, and will save His servants who confide in Him ( verse 2); He will be gracious to those who call upon Him ( verse 3); He can make His servants re-puce (verse 4); Ile is good, forgiving, and of great loving kindness to all that call upon Him (verse 5); He is a prayer-answering God ( verse 7); He is exalted in power above all the mighty ones ( verse 8); every knee shall bow to Him ( verse 9); Ile is great and does wondrous things, He is God alone (verse 10).

The first section of this psalm is a prayer for help in distress, —such a request as is often made to God by His saints; but the second section, verses 1 1, 12, 13, goes a step further:

“Teach me Thy way.... I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name,” and again,

“I will praise Thee, O Lord my God with my whole heart.” This should be the language of every believer. We are prone to seek only for escape out of trouble, and having received the answer to our prayer, then to settle down in a natural, self-centered fashion. Rather should we be seeking to learn from the Bible, His Word, what is “His way” for us, and to walk in His truth. From such occupation comes true happiness and the outflow of praise to God with one’s “whole heart.” The 13th verse expresses that which is true of every believer.

Verses 14 to 17 appear to point to the wicked not yet dealt with by the Lord. It is evident from various scriptures that the enemies will not all, at one time, be dealt with by Him; David’s reign, —type of the beginning of the Lord’s millennial reign, was one in which enemy after enemy was subdued.

ML 05/03/1931

Daily Food

I was brought to Christ while working on a farm. My employer was a Christian man, and took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of his servants. He conducted family reading every night in the kitchen, and all the servants were expected to be there, and I believe he spoke to each separately about his own salvation as well.

When I was saved, he gave me a nice Pocket Bible with my name written on the fly-leaf, and under it the text,

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them.” Jer. 15:16. As he handed them to me he said:

“Now, Johnny, if you are to grow in grace, and be a healthy and happy Christian, you will have to eat your daily bread out of this Book. The new life that you received cannot get on without food, and what it feeds on is all found in God’s precious Word. My advice to you is, get a portion out of it each morning before you go out to your work, and be sure you do not neglect prayer and the Word of God. They are as necessary to the soul as your daily food is to your body.”

I never forget that dear man’s advice. I regret to have to confess that some days I have neglected to read my Bible, and they have been unhappy days, for when the soul is not right, things go all wrong. I have proved in my experience the blessedness of feeding on Christ as He is set forth in the Word, getting something new about Him each day, as the manna came fresh from heaven, and was gathered and eaten by the people of old in the desert.

Never allow any service, any company, or even any good book, to hinder you from reading and meditating on a portion of God’s Word daily. This is the secret of all spiritual strength and progress heavenward.

It is only those who read God’s Book that are of use in His service.

“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12; “The meek shall eat and he satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live forever.” Psalms 22:26; “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

ML 05/03/1931

Two Mothers

In this pleasing picture we see a young mother and her children, and a mother hen and her family.

The chubby half-dressed boy standing by his mother’s knee has been feeding the chickens. He has paused now and is eagerly asking some questions to which his mother smilingly replies.

Two of the little chicks are late, and come running to the feast, with wings outspread. The sleeping baby beside the mother is carefully tied in a rude low cradle. The cooking pans hang on the walls, and the floor is cracked and uneven. A bunch of flowers stands on the wooden cupboard, and where flowers are, there is usually happiness.

If mothers who know the Lord Jesus, will tell their children about the Saviour’s love for us, and our need of trusting in the One who died that we might have our sins forgiven through His blood, then they will be saved, and will live with Christ forever in glory.

It must be a happy mother and child where these things are enjoyed.

May all little boys and girls who hear of the Lord Jesus, learn to know and follow Him.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD.”

Jer. 17:7.

ML 05/03/1931

Saved by Grace

There are many little children

Who think they’re very good,

Because sometimes they’re doing

As little children should.

But sometimes these dear children Forget to do what’s right,—

Get cross with one another,

And even quarrel and fight.

Now listen, little reader,

To what God says of you;

For every word of Scripture

Is very, very true.

He says that none are righteous,

Alas, not even one.

The only sinless Person

Was His beloved Son.

The heart is most deceitful,—

“Above all things”, God saith,

“And desperately wicked”,—

Yes, hastening on to death.

But God the Father loves you in spite of all your sin,

And sent His Son, the Saviour,

That He your love might win.

That blessed One was crucified

On Calvary’s, awful tree,

And there He bore the punishment

Deserved by you and me.

If you believe in Jesus

Your sins are washed away,

And He will someday take you

With Him to always stay.

Your works can never save you,

But if you’re saved by grace

You’ll try to please the Saviour

Till you see Him face to face.

ML 05/03/1931

Watching the Birds

What a pleasant time these girls are having in the woods. They seem to be enjoying this nice, quiet spot. The lovely trees are shading them from the hot rays of the sun as they watch the birds hopping from tree to tree, or perhaps building their little nests and sinning their songs of gladness.

If these girls love the Lord Jesus, they too, will be thankful, and sing songs of praise to Him for all the blessings they enjoy, both for the food they have to eat, the clothing they have to wear, the house they live in and for the kind parents and friends, as well as every eternal blessing which is theirs through Christ.

When we meditate upon His great love for us— “In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”, we cannot help having our hearts go up to Him in praise and thankfulness, and then, surely, we have the desire to live for Him for the little while He may leave us here.

“SERVE THE LORD WITH GLAESS; COME BEFORE HIS PRENCE WITH SINGING.” Psalms 100:2.

ML 05/10/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 87

The 87th psalm is about that Jerusalem that shall be, when the Lord shall have appeared and put down His enemies. Then, as Obadiah 17 says, “Upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness, and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” Of the city in that coming day it is written in Zechariah 2:4, “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein, for I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her;” and in verse 10: “Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion, for behold I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.” See also Zechariah 8; Micah 4; Isaiah 4 and 62, which tell of Jerusalem’s coming glory.

What He has founded is in the holy mountains (or mountains of holiness). Verse 1 Thus lets us know that the Jerusalem of the day of the Lord will have a very different character from the city as it is today. Then holiness will be everywhere in the city and the country around it. What a wonderfully blessed place it will be when the Lord reigns there, —the world’s center of peace and of divine glory, as well as holiness.

Rahab (verse 4) is a poetical name given to Egypt; it is found also in Psalm 89, verse 10; and in Isaiah 51, verse 9. The name means “insolence,” some think, and others “tumult.” Egypt and Babylon were Jerusalem’s greatest rivals, the centers of Gentile power when Israel’s glory was fading after Solomon’s reign. Philistia and Tyre on the west, and Ethiopia in the south were neighbors of Israel.

Their greatness is gone, and so will all man’s boasted grandeur disappear when He reigns whose title is supreme.

The first half of this short psalm is concerned with the city; the last half is about those who belong to it.

Christ is the man of whom the psalm tells that was born there; not as an infant, though Bethlehem was but 6 miles south of the city, but as the One who rose the conqueror over death and Satan’s power (See Psalm 2, verses 6-12, which speak of Him as the Son begotten in resurrection).

Through the atoning and delivering power that belong to Him, there will be a new redeemed Israel whose joys are centered in the place of His choice, —Jerusalem.

ML 05/10/1931

For Me

I have heard of a Saviour’s love,

And a wonderful love it must be,

But did He come, down from above

Out of love and compassion for me?

I have heard how He languished and bled,

How He suffered on Calvary’s tree;

But then, is it anywhere said

That He languished and suffered for me?

O, yes! for the Bible doth tell

Of salvation so priceless and free,

For every poor sinner who will,—

And so’tis salvation for me!

ML 05/10/1931

Embarkation of the "Mayflower" For America

These people were called Puritans because of their dire to live pure lives. They were true followers of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but they were greatly persecuted. Three hundred of the Puritan ministers were silenced, imprisoned or exiled during the first year of King James’ reign.

At this time young America was just beginning to be settled. The Puritans thought they would find in this country plenty of room and freedom, and believed it would be a good place to start a colony.

Accordingly, preparations were made and on the 6th of September, 1620, one hundred one (101) of these pilgrims sailed away from Holland in a ship called the “Mayflower.”

For nine weeks they were tossed about on the stormy ocean, but finally reached Massachusetts Bay in safety. Here they landed in the cold November weather, with no homes to go to. But they were brave and courageous, and though many died from the cold and exposure of that winter, not having sufficient shelter, some of them lived to build homes.

Later on they sent for more of their friends in Holland. Year by year others came over,’ and the colony at New Plymouth grew rapidly.

—Many of you readers can trace your ancestry back to these people and be thankful that the Lord spared them to spread His blessed gospel in a new country. Many of them were God-fearing Christians, and it was God’s will that they should come here when they did—where they could worship Him in peace and teach their children all about Him.

It was truly God’s mercy to many individuals and to this great country of America, to send to it such people. Let us thank Him for all His wondrous ways in the past as well as in the present.

“O THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN.” Psalms 107:8.

ML 05/17/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 88

If we have read with profit the psalms which have been-bore us week by week, we have learned much of the experiences, the sorrows, dangers, persecutions and the hopes and prayers of those among the people of Israel who will seek God when they shall have gone in far greater numbers than now back to the land that He gave their fore-fathers.

Many of the psalms we have examined speak of the God-fearing Jews’ enemies, —enemies among their own people and the Gentiles, but Psalm 88 speaks of neither class. Every psalm and group or series of psalms was designed of God to foretell some part of the circumstances and feelings of those who will turn in heart to Him in the age to come.

Psalm 51 describes the sorrow and repentance of the Jews over the blood guiltless that is theirs through the cross of Christ, and Psalm 88 pictures their realization of the guilt of the whole nation on account of the broken law.

When God gave Israel the law (Exodus 20), and the statutes and judgments which occupy so much of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, they quickly turned to idols (Exodus 32), and not once only (see Amos 5:25, 26; Judges 2:12-19; Ezekiel 8, and many other passages). Thus they broke both the first and second commandments. And these early sins were quickly adopted by the nation; deer and deeper in transgression went Israel as is told out in such solemn scriptures as Isaiah 1; Amos 3 and 2 Kings 17:7-17. Other scriptures foretell the state of Israel in the future as worse than ever before.

Psalm 88 will have its season when the Lord has come to deliver the remnant of Judah and to set up His earthly kingdom. It will be then that the believing Jews will realize how the nation has offended God; their consciences will be thoroughly searched.

The ten commandments are “Thou shalt” and “Thou shalt not,” without any provision for passing over the transgressor. The great distance between themselves as Israelites and God, whose wrath they have incurred and whose severe judgment they deserve, must be realized bore they can enter into blessing.

Psalm 88 is addressed to the “Lord (Jehovah) God of my salvation,” so that there is a knowledge of and confidence in Him, but it is without a single word of comfort; for this we must look to the next-psalm.

ML05/17/1931

Stewart and Willie

Stewart and Willie were schoolboys. They walked to and from the school together, and often spent the evenings with one another. I met the two boys one night at the close of a Children’s Meeting. Stewart was sitting close to the wall, looking so serious that I was certain something was troubling him. Sitting down by his side, I asked,

“Well, Stewart, is your soul saved yet? Can you look forward to being with Jesus in that bright and happy home where they see His face?” He raised his head, and with such an earnest look—his big blue eyes peering into mine—he slowly replied,

“I cannot say that, sir; but I would like to be saved, and I have been trying all I can since last Friday night.”

“And what have you been doing, Stewart?” I asked.

“When I went home from the meeting last Friday, I told my parents I would like to be saved, and they told me if I was good, and did what I was bidden, and keep God’s commandments, I would be saved, and get to heaven; and they said that was in the Bible, sir; and so Willie and I have made up our minds to do this, and we will try and live as well as we can for the time to come,” answered the boy.

The decided manner in which the little fellow spoke, left no doubt on my mind that he was really in earnest about his salvation; but it was sad to think he had been put on the wrong track to find it, by those who were entirely mistaken, and had told little Stewart what was not true. There is no part of the Bible that says boys and girls will get to heaven if they are “good” and “keep the commandments;” but I’ll tell you what it does say. It says there is none good, “no not one.” Everyone has broken the commandments, and all are therefore under the curse. Just read Romans 3:9-19, and Galatians 3:10, and you will see.

When I told the dear boy this, his blue eyes filled with tears, and he sobbed bitterly—for, after all his reformation, he saw that he was unfit for heaven, and could not go there.

“And what, then, shall we do, sir?” he asked seriously.

“You can do nothing, Stewart, because you are ruined sinners; but if you both come close, I will let you read in my Bible what Jesus has done for you.”

The boys drew near, and we turned and read,

“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.” Isaiah 53:5. This tells about the sufferings of Jesus, when He died on the cross for sinners.

“Now all this was for lost sinners,” I said, “and He suffered and died that they might go free. I am saved by His work, and not by mine. Do you believe that Jesus died for you?”

“Yes, I do, for I am a sinner,” said Stewart.

“You are quite sure you believe?” “Quite sure, sir.”

“Well, now, let us see what Jesus says of those that believe.” We turned to John 6:47, there Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”

“What does He say you have, Stewart?”

“Everlasting life, everlasting life,” said the boy, and the cloud passed from his face as he said it.

I thought it best to leave the Word of God with the two boys, and not to press them to say they believed; and soon after, we parted.

Next evening, a good while before meeting time, my two little friends were there. I asked Stewart how it stood with him now.

“Saved, sir, saved, and Willie here, too. He saw it first, and we are both happy now.”

The two little soldiers go on rejoicing in Christ, their Saviour.

ML 05/17/1931

The First Strawberries

A little girl once had a bed of strawberries, and she was very anxious that they should ripen, and be fit to eat.

“Now for a feast!” said her brother to her one morning, as he picked some beautiful ones for her to eat.

“I cannot eat these,” said she, “for they are the first ripe fruit.”

“Well,” said her brother, “all the more reason for our making a feast, for they are the greater treat.”

“Yes, but they are the first ripe fruit.” “Well, what of that?”

“Dear father told us that he used to give God the first out of all the money he made, and then he always felt happier in spending the rest; and I wish to give God the first of my strawberries, too.”

“Ah! but,” said her brother, “how can you give strawberries to God? And even if you could, He would not care for them.”

“O, I have found out a way,” said she. “Jesus said ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me’; and I mean to go with them to Mrs. Perkin’s sick child, who never has a strawberry; they are so poor.”

Away went the children to give them to the sick girl; and when they saw her put out her thin arms, and take the ripe, round fruit in her little shriveled fingers, and when they saw her eyes glisten, and her little faded lips smile, they felt as if they had a richer feast than if they had kept the ripe fruit themselves; and something within them told them that God had accepted their little offering.

Whatever we give to the Lord, or to any of His own, for His sake, it is “an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord: and that which he hath given, will He pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17.

ML 05/17/1931

Little Mary

Under a shade-tree

Some children were sitting,

Singing and playing

And having such fun;

Happy and care-free

And childlike forgetting

The little home duties

That soon must be done.

All of a sudden

Up spoke little Mary,

“Can it be true

That the Saviour loves me

When so many times

I am really quite naughty,

And do things

I wouldn’t want Mother to see?”

“O yes, Mary, dear,”

Said one of the children,

“No one too naughty

For Jesus can be;

It wasn’t for good people

Jesus once suffered

‘Twas only for sinners

Like you and like me.”

“So turn to Him, Mary,

And tell Him about it,

And ask Him to help you

To do as you should.

Confessing your sins,

You will have His forgiveness

And strength for each day

To do that which is good.”

“O such a kind Saviour

Is Jesus,” said Mary,

“I do want to please Him

And do nothing wrong;

So I’ll pray to Him often

And ask Him to help me

To be always truthful,

Obedient, and strong.

ML 05/17/1931

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 05/24/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 89

This is the last psalm included in the Third Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible. Its theme is the mercy, or more exactly, the loving kindness and faithfulness of God, and the fulfillment of the promises to Israel through Christ the Son of David, when the nation has lost everything as Psalms 88, 51 and others show. Happy for Israel that there is One worthy of their trust, their Redeemer as well as ours, for the Christian’s Saviour is the Hope of Israel.

Psalms 88 and 89 bear respectively the names of Heman and Ethan who are mentioned in 1 Kings 4:31, and 1 Chronicles 2:6, and 15:19. How many of the saints of God of all ages and climes not even known to us by name, we shall know in the great unending eternal day!

Verses 1 and 2 tell the result, —the purpose of what the Psalm reveals, —a song of praise to God. Verses 3 and 4 are His assurance of blessing through David; see 1 Chronicles 17, and 2 Samuel 7, where the unconditional favor of God is promised to David and his house

In Matthew 1 we see the line of David’s descendants down to Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

In verses 5 to 18 the psalmist’s thoughts are centered upon God because of His faithfulness. It will be noted that He is alone in this section of the psalm, except where in verses 15 to 18 “the people” who are blessed by Him.

Verse 10 speaks of “Rahab” (Egypt), crushed as one that is slain when by dine power Israel was led across the Red Sea, and the Egyptians essaying to follow them, were drowned.

Tabor and Hermon (verse 12), are notable mountains of Palestine. Hermon on the northern boundary, is the highest of all the peaks in the land, —9,200 feet, and nearly always snow-capped. Tabor, southwest of the Sea of Galilee, is not lofty, only 1,843 feet, but a conspicuous hill.

It is interesting to observe that when “the people” are brought in (verse 15), and God is seen to be the giver of the new-found joy, Christ is spoken of (verse 18). Through Him that new joy is to be realized. This mention of the Holy One of Israel at once brings out God’s thoughts about Him as David’s son (verses 19-37).

Verses 38 to 51 show again the sense of rejection which Israel must feel before they can enter into full blessing when the Lord appears. So verse 46 pleads, “How long, O Lord,”—that the chastening hand of God may be removed.

Verse 52 Concludes Book 3 with “Blessed, be the Lord (Jehovah) for evermore. Amen and Amen.”

Thinking of God in His amazing kindness and free favor, whether to man as such, or to Israel, or the Church, the exercised believer joins his own Amen and Amen, to the words of this closing verse.

ML 05/24/1931

A True Tiger Story

I suppose all of you children have seen a tiger, but I expect it was safely behind iron bars, and not able to get at you. Out in China there are plenty of tigers, living on the mountains, which are very lonely places, and have caves, and ravines, which make good hiding places for wild beasts; yes and for wild robbers too, but my story today is not about robbers, but tigers.

The hills all around the cities are covered with graves, sometimes up to the very top. It makes one feel very sad to see all these graves, and think of the hundreds and thousands of people who are buried there, who never heard of God, and died without hope. Between the graves, and all over the hills, long grass often grows and women go up to cut it, and then sell it for fuel, for wood is scarce and expensive, and the people are mostly very poor. Sometimes you meet six or eight women coming down from the hills, each carrying two great bundles of dry grass; the bundles are fastened at each end of a pole, and carried on their shoulder. As they come towards you, there is not much to be seen, but a big hat, and big bundles of grass.

One day, some years ago now, a poor woman went up to the hills to cut grass. She had a baby tied on her back, and another little child by the hand; in the other hand she carried a sharp little sickle, to cut with. Just as she reached the top of the hill, she heard a roar. O! how it frightened her, and a mother tiger sprang at her, followed by two little cubs. I daresay the tiger thought the woman was going to hurt her babies, and I am quite sure the woman was afraid the tiger would hurt hers, so as the tiger sprang, the woman slashed at it with her little sharp sickle.

Now this poor Chinese mother was very ignorant, she had never been to a church, or a meeting, or a Sunday School in her life. She had never seen a Bible, and she could not have read it if she had, but one day as she was walking on the street, she heard a white lady talking to a few women about someone called Jesus, who was able to help you if you were in trouble, and as the tiger tore her arm and shoulder with her great claws, she remembered this wonderful story, and as she cut at the tiger with her little weapon, she kept crying out, “O! Jesus help me,”

Do you think He heard her cry? Yes, indeed, for His ears are always open to our cry, and His promise is, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.”

We sometimes make promises and break them, perhaps we forget, or perhaps we find we cannot do what we said we would. But the Lord Jesus Christ is not like that. It is said of Abraham in Romans 4 that he was “fully persuaded, that what He had promised He was able also to perform,” and we may also be fully persuaded of the same thing. And so, this poor woman found out.

She went on hitting at the tiger, and crying each time, “O! Jesus help me,” and in a few minutes the answer came. The great beast, who could so easily have killed her, turned and ran away, and the woman turned also and managed to crawl back to her village. She was a good deal hurt, but her friends carried her to a missionary hospital, where she was cared for, and got quite well.

But best of all, she there learned to know more about that Jesus, who had sad her from death, and she found that He could also save her from eternal death which is banishment from God. David said in the 103rd, Psalm, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.”

How glad this poor Chinese woman must have been to find such a wonderful Saviour, who could do so much for her.

ML 05/24/1931

"Does God Keep a Whip?"

A little girl saw a whip in the hands of a man who was driving some horses. She nestled close to her mother, and was looking up to the deep blue sky, and then at the man’s whip. A thoughtful expression was passing over the dear child’s face while she was looking from the sky to the whip. Presently she said, “Does God keep a whip?”

The man who heard the funny question from the child’s clear voice, turned around, smiling, evidently waiting to hear my answer.

“Yes, Maud dear,” I said: “God keeps a whip.”

“Where? up in the sky, and have you seen it?” continued the anxious inquirer.

“I have never seen it, but have felt it sometimes when I have been disobedient to God’s loving voice and will. You know, Maud, when you give way to a naughty passionate temper, or when you tell a story, and will not do as mamma or nurse tells you, you are punished, are you not?”

“Yes, I am,” she said.

“And then when you feel very sorry and cry, and tell mamma that you will try and be a good girl, she wipes your tears and kisses you, and forgets all about it. Every day you are a little naughty, and often need to be forgiven.

“Now God loves His children very much, but He will not let them be disobedient. If they are self-willed, and forget His words, He is obliged to chasten them; but when they come to Him, confessing their sins, He forgives them. God is a kind and loving Father, who always hears us when we speak to Him. He will listen even to a little child like you, and you may tell Him all you want. God tells us in His book, that

‘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.

I then told my little hearer how that she might become one of God’s children, adding,

“Then, Maud, dear, you will be so happy, and Jesus the Saviour will help you to please God and do the things your mamma wishes.”

The child’s question made me think of the words of Scripture addressed to Christians,

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art re buked of Him; for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” Hebrews 12:5, 6.

Therefore, let us, through His grace and help, willingly and with cheerful surrender of ourselves to Him, accept the love that deals with us as with sons, and let us seek to please the One in whose love we confide.

ML 05/24/1931

The Bible

I love to read the Bible,—

The precious message read;

I think it is amazing

That Christ for us should bleed.

It tells us in the Bible

That Christ, the Saviour, died;

He suffered on that cruel tree,—

For us was crucified.

He loves His sheep, the’ wayward,

And lambs that need His care;

He leads them all so tenderly

In pastures green and fair.

That’s why I love the Bible

And hope that others do;

Because this loving shepherd

Laid down His life for you.

I hope you’ll go to heaven

And with the Saviour spend

Your days in singing praises

That nevermore will end.

ML 05/24/1931

Can You fix This?

Dolly’s cradle has been broken, and, like everything else in this world, needs repairing in a very short time. Nothing here lasts forever, any more than we do.

A few things on this earth last longer than we do, but after this life there is eternity for us. God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life, so man is in contrast to all the beasts of the field, and therefore he lives forever. We have spirit as well as soul. The great question is, Where are we going to spend eternity?

We cannot get fixed up, so that we can spend eternity on this earth. The oldest man that ever lived on this earth was Methuselah, but he died at the age of 969 years. There is an end here. It is well for us to think of it, for eternity has two sides to it; one of bliss, and the other of woe: Which will it be with you, dear reader?

God has provided the salvation for us that we need, so that we might have the eternity of bliss, and all that He has asked us to do, is simply to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who took our place, and bore what we deserved while He was in the three hours of darkness on Calvary’s cross.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36.

“THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” 1 John 5:13.

ML 05/31/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 90

Psalms 90 to 106 form the Fourth Book of the Psalms. In the First Book (Psalms 1 to 41) it may be well to repeat the subject is the state of the Jewish remnant in the first period after their consciences are reached by the Holy Spirit, when, returning to the Holy Land to make their home there, they are living among the ungodly of their nation.

The Second Book looks at the Jewish remnant as having been forced to leave Jerusalem and awaiting the Messiah’s appearing.

In the Third Book which we have just gone through, Israel, the nation, is considered in relation to His coming.

The Fourth Book brings in full deliverance, and the Messiah—who is seen as Jehovah, the Lord—reigning over the earth.

The Fifth book gives a general survey of God’s ways, and closes with praise.

Psalm 90 bears the title “A prayer of Moses, the man of God,” but unlike the 18th Psalm which is taken from 2 Samuel 22, this psalm is not found elsewhere in the Bible. God is Israel’s dwelling place, their home, and from eternity to eternity He is God; time, however long in man’s reckoning, is of small account to Him. Thus, the Fourth Book begins. It is mortal man looking to the eternal and discerning-God.

“Thou makest mortal man to return to dust, and sayest, etc.,” (verse 3, N. T.). Man is like grass that grows up only to be soon cut down, but there has been dine wrath against iniquity, and Israel—that is, the godly ones—are consumed by God’s anger, troubled by His fury.

The three score and ten years given as life’s ordinary span (verse 10) reminds us of the great change from the days bore the flood when men past nine hundred years old were living. After the flood man’s life was much shortened. Abraham lived to be 175, and Isaac 180 years, Jacob 147, Moses 120, Joshua 110, Eli 98, and these last seem to have been exceptionally long lived for their time. The object in mentioning man’s years in the psalm is evidently by way of contrast with God and eternity. In the millennium evidently, none but sinners will die (see Isaiah 65:20-22).

In the latter part of verse 10 the better reading is “yet is their pride labor and vanity.” Verse 13 is an appeal to God to return for deliverance; how long would they have to wait for the display of His power? Faith looks to Him, that as He had afflicted His people, in due time He would turn their sorrow into joy.

ML 05/31/1931

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

Not long ago, I was walking past some cages and pens where wolves are kept. This was in a Zoological garden, or “Zoo”, as you children call it.

The wolves had such pretty faces, and reminded me so much of a dear pet dog that I used to have, that I felt like going up close and patting them.

But what do you think would have happened if I had done so? Probably my hand would have been bitten off, and I might have been torn to pieces.

Wolves are often no larger than a big dog. Yet they are not afraid to attack much larger animals, such as cows and deer and often men.

So, you see they are really quite dangerous.

Does this remind you of Satan and the worldly attractions that he puts before you? God’s Word says, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14. And his prophets “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.

He puts before you good-looking and attractive things that draw your thoughts and your hearts away from the Lord Jesus. These things look harmless, but Satan gradually gets you in his clutches and carries you away to destruction.

To listen to Satan and to yield to his temptations, is just as dangerous as to go close to a beautiful animal that is longing to tear you to pieces.

If you turn away from these worldly temptations, you may think you are missing a lot of harmless pleasure. But anything, dear reader, that takes your thoughts away from Jesus and His love, is not harmless, but very harmful.

Would you not rather do as Moses did? “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” Hebrews 11:25.

None of us can stay here more than a few short years. The pleasures and treasures of earth we must soon leave behind.

How much better to be occupied with Christ, —learning of Him and serving Him, and thus laying up treasure in heaven, —treasure that you will enjoy not for a short time only, but throughout the endless years of eternity.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Matthew 6:19, 20.

ML 05/31/1931

"Jesus Never Told a Lie"

M. you are very ill; perhaps you may die. Are you ready? Do you think you will go to Jesus?” asked a Christian friend who visited him in his illness.

“Yes, yes,” said he; “I am sure I shall go to heaven.”

“And why are you so sure?” she asked again.

“O, ma’am,” was his answer, “Jesus says, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you’; and that’s me. ‘He that heareth My word’—and I do listen to His word— ‘and believeth on Him that sent Me’—and I believe— ‘hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death into life’—and Jesus never told a lie.”

Here was his happiness, here his peace and assurance, Jesus was true; He could not tell a lie. If Jesus said,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you,” M. believed what He said; he did not trouble himself to reason on the words of the blessed Saviour, but received them as a little child. And thus the dear boy was perfectly happy.

“He who believeth not God,” saith the Scripture, “hath made Him a liar.”

O what a beautiful thing is a little grain of simple faith! By it the soul is saved Forever—Jesus glorified, heaven gladded, Satan disarmed.

Have you, my friend, this boy’s faith in Jesus—is it quite enough for you that He who hung on Calvary, that He who for love to such sinful creatures as we; gave up His pure life a ransom on our behalf—is it enough, I say, that He says,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation?” &c. John 5:24.

Are these blessed words an answer to the accusing’s of your troubled conscience, to the roars of the adversary? They are the words of Him who cannot lie, as He says, “I am the truth;”

“The words that I speak unto you they are spirit, and they are life.”

Do you believe the words of Jesus? If so, you have everlasting life. If you will not believe, you make Him a liar, and you will perish in hell.

What a grand thing it is to be simple, like a little child with God! Eternal joy depends upon it, and happiness here also.

“Verily, I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Mark 10:15.

ML 05/31/1931

"I Want to Be Sure About It"

At the close of our Friday Evening Children’s Meeting, a little boy came up to me and said,

“I want to be sure about it, sir.”

“What do you want to be sure about, my boy?” I asked.

“About my salvation, sir,” he replied.

We sat down side by side, and spoke together a long time about Christ, and His precious blood. We read,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

“Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” Acts 13:38, and several other portions of Scripture that make all who believe, sure about their salvation, and at the close of our conversation, the dear little fellow said,

“I am sure about it now.”

Reader, are you sure about your salvation? Are you certain that, if you were called into eternity now, you would go to heaven to be with Jesus? Do not put the question from you. Ask yourself, “Am I sure about my salvation?”

ML 05/31/1931

Jesus Loves You

The blessed Lord Jesus

Once came down to earth

And lay in a manger,—

So lowly His birth.

Because He loved sinners

With love strong and true,

He came down to save them.

And Jesus loves you.

The Word of God tells us

That there is none good.

And this, reader, dear,

Should be well understood.

For none of your efforts,

Nor ought you can do

Can bring you salvation.

Yet Jesus loves you.

He died on the cross

To atone for your sin.

He endured greatest agony

Your love to win.

He bore the harsh punishment

That was your due.

Because you’re a sinner,

This Jesus loves you.

No matter how guilty

A sinner you are,

No matter how deep

Sin’s indelible scar.

Though stubborn and reckless

The things that you do,

In spite of your wickedness

Jesus loves you.

And if you believe on Him,

Trusting His grace,

What joy will be yours

When you see His blest face!

Ere long He will take you

And all others, too,

Who know Him as Saviour,

For Jesus loves you.

ML 05/31/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“The Children’s Class”

1.“That at that time,” etc. Ephesians 2:12.

2.“In whom ye also,” etc. 1:13.

3.“That the Gentiles,” etc. 3:6.

4.“Finally, my brethren,” etc. 6:10.

5.“Be ye therefore,” etc. 5:1.

6.“That we henceforth,” etc. 4:14.

7.Because this is right. 6:1.

Bible Questions for June

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be Found in 1 and 2 Thessalonians

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Belief of the truth.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Not as the word of men.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “By the word of the Lord.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Stablish your hearts.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Glorified in his saints.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Live together with him.”

7.Into what two things did the Apostle pray that the Lord might “direct your hearts”?

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Of Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:24.

2.For all things. Ephesians 5:20.

3The Church. Ephesians 2:22.

4.Ephesians 2:8, 9.

5.A first payment down, a pledge of what is to come. Ephesians 1:14.

6.Christ. Ephesians 1:22.

7.Evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Ephesians 4:11.

Bible Questions for June

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1 and 2

Thessalonians 1.

1.What must first happen before the Lord can appear to judge the earth?

2.What will happen to believers before the events referred to in the above question?

3.For what were the Thessalonian saints waiting?

4.What is expected of us before we have a right to eat?

5.What is the triple sanctification of the believer?

6.List one reference in each of the eight chapters where the Lord’s coming is referred to.

7.What should be our attitude toward our spiritual leaders?

ML 06/07/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 91

This psalm is about the Messiah, and the part He will take, identifying Himself with the Jews. Verse 1 declares, concerning Him, that He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, that is, enters into the purposes of Him who is over heaven and earth, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

In this verse are two names of God; the Most High is His title of absolute supremacy when He takes possession over the earth (see Genesis 14:18-20); the Almighty is the name of complete power by which He was in relationship with Abram (Genesis 17:1).

Verse 2 is the language of the Messiah (Jesus); He says that He will take the place of which verse it speaks; Jehovah, translated “the Lord”—God’s name of relationship with man, and especially with Israel (see Exodus 6:2, 3). It means the Ever Existing One is His refuge and His fortress, His God, and He will confide in Him.

In verses 3 to 8 the Holy Spirit makes answer to the speaker of verse 2. God will deliver Him from the snare of the fowler, cover Him with His wings. The language used would be true of any godly Israelite, but it is the coming Messiah that occupies the Spirit’s mind.

Verses 9 to 13 are believed to be the expression of the Jewish remnant led by the Holy Spirit. The Lord would not take the place and the promises of Psalm 91 when He was on earth before, as Satan found when he quoted verses 11 and 12 in the second temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:5-7).

In the last three verses of our Psalm, Jehovah speaks of Him as the One who has set His love upon Him, setting His seal on what has been said. It is a most interesting Psalm. All is in connection with the earth, and the sufferings of the cross of Calvary are not referred to, but to the spiritual mind, here is a precious revelation concerning Jesus, and the place He will shortly take on behalf of His earthly people. The psalm presents Him in a different way than He is known by faith now, but it is the same blessed Peon, whom having not seen we love.

ML 06/07/1931

Coming Quickly

The Lord Jesus is coming to take all those who have believed on Him, up to heaven to stay with Him Forever. Do you think He would take you, little child?

I once knew a little girl who never went to bed without thinking,

“Perhaps the Lord may come tonight and take away my father and mother, and many more who I know have their sins forgiven, and I shall be left behind to live here with all the people who do not care about God; and when I die I shall have to go to hell, and live with the devil and his angels.”

She became more and more unhappy, and more and more frightened every night, for she knew that the last words of the Lord in the Bible were,

“Surely I come quickly”, and she thought if it was quickly when the Bible was written so long ago, His coming must be very near indeed now. And instead of being able to say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”, she used often to pray,

“O Lord Jesus, please don’t come till I am saved.”

One night she could bear it no longer, and she thought,

“Why should I not be saved now? I don’t feel quite sure how I am to be saved, but I know I am such a sinner that I must be left behind when the Lord comes, unless He saves me now.” So she got out of bed, and kneeled down and said,

“O Lord Jesus, I know I am a bad sinner, but the Bible says that whosoever believes in Thee shall not perish; and I do believe that Jesus died for me. Thou wilt not turn me off.” She got into bed again and said, “Now I am so safe”; and she thought of those words Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37.

The next morning she was able to tell her relatives that she was saved, because she had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Word said any who believed on Him were saved.

No! the Lord Jesus could not “turn her off” after she had rested in His work on the cross. He had been punished there for sin, and so God could never, now that she believed, punish her.

That little girl has grown up, and she still thinks about the Lord’s coming when she goes to bed at night, and when she wakes in the morning, too; and now she feels very glad that the Bible says, Jesus is coming quickly, and she likes to say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20.

Do you like to say this too, little child, or are you afraid He will come before you are saved?

ML 06/07/1931

"' Cause I'm Happy"

A little girl, who lived with her mother in a country home, was in the habit of singing to herself all the time her brother was away at school. She had no companions or playmates during the day, and I wondered how she could spend day after day singing as she did. I asked her one day, what made her sing.

“’Cause I’m happy,” was the simple reply.

This is exactly why the Christian sings. God has saved him, and he is happy.

Are you happy, my dear young friend, because Jesus has saved you? Can you sing with truth,

“Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away?”

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

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Revelation 5:9.

ML 06/07/1931

Little Samuel

Hannah asked the Lord for a little boy, and He gave her one. She called his name “Samuel,” and she loved him very much.

As soon as he was old enough, she took him to Shiloh to present him to the Lord. When they arrived at the Temple, where, in those days, the people worshiped the Lord, Hannah said to Eli the High Priest, “O, my lord, I prayed for the child, and the Lord has given me the petition that I asked of Him; therefore I have lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth!” So he stayed in the Temple with Eli, and worshiped the Lord and served Him.

The Lord Himself came to Samuel one night and called him by his name, “Samuel!” He thought Eli had called him, so he arose and went to Eli, but Eli had not called. When the Lord had called him the fourth time, he knew it was the Lord’s voice. Samuel said, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” The Lord then told Samuel what He wanted him to know.

Samuel was a very obedient child, and he listened to what the Lord said to him, and he obeyed.

The Lord speaks to us now through His Word, the Bible, and we may hear His voice in many parts of it.

“Come unto Me.... and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” Isaiah 45:22, and many other calls.

Children, the Lord is calling you. Have you heard His loving voice? Have you listened, and obeyed?

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

ML 06/07/1931

The Home Above

I’m going to a Home of peace—

A Home of joy and love,

And no more tears shall dim my eyes

When I’m with Christ above.

O, won’t you now accept His love

And share those realms so bright,—

Be with and see Him face to face

In that all-glorious light?

For He is coming back again,—

We cannot tell how soon;

The saved will hear the trump of God

Some morning, night, or noon.

O, come to Christ—do not delay;

Why should you longer wait?

If you refuse His call today,

You may repent too late.

I’m waiting for my blessed Lord—

To meet Him in the air;

By grace I’m saved—by Him made fit

To dwell in realms up there.

ML 06/07/1931

I Am the Lord

What a sad picture we have before us this week. We see the awful result of despising and disobeying God. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was one who had no thought of God, neither did he fear Him. Just think of one of God’s creatures doing as he pleases instead of asking God what He wanted him to do. But Pharaoh went further than that. He said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” Ex. 5:2. He ought to have known the One who had created him, for God has shown Himself in creation.

“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. No wonder that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. And God does so today to those who despise Him and ruse to know Him.

“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Isaiah 1:3. Should not Pharaoh have known who it was that was providing him with food and raiment? He evidently did not, so the ox was more intelligent than he, for the ox knew his master who fed him. Do you, my reader, know the One who gives you all you need? If you do, then you can say, “The gift above all the gifts that God has given, is His beloved Son to die for us.”

“Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.

“Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

The awful end of Pharaoh here upon earth is what is pictured before us, and not him only, but all who followed him. But the terrible and final judgment of those who will not know nor fear God, will be to be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death.

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

“BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME, BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.” 2 Corinthians 6:2.

ML 06/14/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 92. 93

Psalms 90, 91 and 92 together form an introduction to the subject which occupies Psalms 93 to 100, that Jehovah (“the Lord”) reigns. In Psalm 45 the immediate results of the Lord’s coming to deliver the remnant are seen, and more in Psalms 66-68 and 72. But that He will not immediately set up His throne at Jerusalem seems plain. The exercises disclosed in various psalms must first be experienced by His people, and great changes will take place before the Messiah reigns (see Matthew 25:31-46; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Zechariah 13:8, 9; 14:8; Romans 8:19-22; Isaiah 2:4; 11:6-9 and 55:13).

Psalm 92 is a song of thanksgiving in the day of rest on account of the redemption wrought by God. The wicked had sprung up as the grass, and flourished, but destruction has come upon them; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. The righteous shall now shoot forth like a palm tree. Thus are the full results of the Messiah’s coming to be seen.

Psalm 93 begins the word: “Jehovah reigns!” He has clothed Himself with majesty and girded Himself with strength. The floods (or rivers) of lawless men had risen against Him, but He is mightier than the voices of many waters. His testimonies are very sure, so that faith can count (and has counted) upon them at all times. And holiness suits His house Forever.

How comprehensive is this short psalm! It reaches from past eternity (in verse 2) to the settled order of the millennium (verse 5). It begins with the simple statement that Jehovah reigns, and it shortly states that He is mightier than the voices of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, thus picturing the sinners who have stood against Him. So we have the Lord, and wicked men, and the blessed ones here; the trials and dangers of the way are over, and, as to the discouragements and weariness of it, forgotten.

ML 06/14/1931

Living for Jesus

Your great object, dear young friend, now that you know the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour, should be to live for Him. Life is like a battlefield; it is a struggle. The world would have your heart, and God says to you,

“My Son, give Me thine heart.” Proverbs 23:26. Who then is to have your heart, your affections, and the strength of your life?

The whole question of living for Jesus, or living for the world, depends upon where your heart is. You need not make a number of promises or resolutions, for if your heart is really given to the Lord you will live for Him. If on the other hand your heart is only half for Christ, then it is all for the world.

“Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Matthew 6:24.

These are precious years of your life, Christian boys and girls.

“The way the twig is bent the bough’s inclined.”

Every day spent with God is a day spent for God. Every day of your youth given to the world is bending the twig crooked. You could not straighten an old twisted oak tree, and the way the early days of your lives are spent will affect your whole life.

We cannot believe that anyone of you is so selfish as to say,

“I am saved, I am going to heaven, therefore I can live for myself.”

“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.

ML 06/14/1931

Not yet

He hasn’t tum yet.”

The words came from a little fair-haired girl of six years. It was an eager little face, with the blue eyes surrounded by golden curls, and the eyes looked very bright just then, for the voice had something of doubt in it, as the words were uttered. Bright little soul! always singing. About a week before, she had heard for the first time of the Lord’s coming.

So new, so beautiful, so strange, it seemed to her, that often during the day she would stop in some play, or meal, to ask, “Tould He (come) tum now?” But this evening evidently doubts had entered into the ardent little spirit.

“No, He has not come yet,” was the answer, “but He will come. He does not tell us when He is coming, He only tells us to watch for Him, because He may come at any time.”

“Seems He’s telling me to watch all the time,” returned the little one earnestly.

“Not come yet,” and the child was disappointed— “Not come yet,” and she had watched for Him for a whole week— “Not come yet,” although she was full of joy at the prospect of telling Willie, her only brother, that He was coming.

“Not come yet,” dear reader, and it is more than nineteen hundred years since the promise was given—but “He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.” He will not tarry for the unbelief of the world, or the sleeping ears of His own, or the power of Satan spread abroad.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye we shall be changed.”

“We,” those who know Him and love Him—those born of the Holy Spirit, redeemed by His blood, made members of His body, and united to Him in the glory, that “same Jesus” who went up in the clouds in the act of blessing His disciples, “shall so come in like manner.” They did not doubt the angel’s word, so returned to Jerusalem with great joy, worshiping and praising.

“For 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 Thessalonians. 4:16, 17.

He has not come yet, and if you do not know Him, He is calling while your eye is on this page, longing to save you before He comes in judgment on those who have rejected Him. Will you not accept Him and His finished work now, and rejoice in the hope of the glory which shall be revealed?

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

ML 06/14/1931

Extracts from Letters

The following extracts from letters may prove of interest to our dear young readers, being written by young people who have found out for themselves what a Saviour Jesus is: One writes, “I can say I am saved, because I know Jesus took my sins to the cross, and bore them in my stead, and all I have to do is to rest upon the finished work.

“Please ask God to make me faithful, and to be watching for Jesus to come again.”

“I am very happy, trusting in the finished work of Christ,” writes another. “I have been living and working for Jesus since last June, and am so pleased to reply to your letter.

“‘For I was lost and vile, indeed,

To sin a willing prey,

Till God in mercy interposed,

And turned my night to day.”

“And what a sweet thing to know that we are safe in the Everlasting Arms, simply waiting for Him to come and take us to be with Himself above, and to be like Himself.”

“The Lord in His love called me from darkness to light, first by showing me my sinfulness, and then by revealing Himself as my Saviour,” is the testimony of a third.

“O, I do trust that He will keep me sitting at His feet, and following in His footsteps. This is my desire.”

“Naught, naught I count as pleasure,

Compared, O Christ, with Thee;

Thy sorrows without measure,

Earned peace and joy for me.”

“I can find no word better to express what I feel.”

May each dear young reader re-echo these words, and be able to say, “Jesus is mine.”

ML 06/14/1931

Why Daisy Loved Jesus

“O, yes,” she said, “I do.”

“But why do you love Him?” I asked.

She looked up in my face as if quite surprised I should ask such a question, and then, with a bright happy smile on her face, and in a tone of glad certainty, she said,

“Why do I love Jesus? Because He loved me so much before I loved Him, and He died for me!”

What a sweet answer! Happy little Daisy. She knew the meaning of that beautiful text,

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

He loved us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8), and made us “nigh by His own blood.” (Ephesians 2:13).

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

ML 06/14/1931

The Morning Bath

Wherever has mother gone! She has left Bobbie with little sister, who has just finished taking her bath, and he plunged into the tub before mother had put in some warm water. The water is too cold, so he gives vent to the shock to his nerves, by a loud call to his mamma.

Do you think mamma has forgotten him? O, no! she has put the cold water into the tub and was going to put in some warm water, when she had to run out to see about something outside, and little Bobbie grew impatient, and climbed into the tub too soon.

How this is just like children, and grown up people, too, sometimes; they lack patience, and so have to reap a bad result.

“HE THAT IS SLOW TO ANGER IS BETTER THAN THE MIGHTY; AND HE THAT RULETH HIS SPIRIT THAN HE THAT TAKETH A CITY.”

Proverbs 16:32.

How needful is this word. Some children think it is getting big to fuss and show temper about every little thing.

We all need to learn this lesson of patience, and it is good for us if we learn it in our young days, for if we do not, we grow worse until we get into contention with people, and then there are fights. How terrible!

What is needed is, first to take Christ as our Saviour, and then learn of Him who was the meek, lowly and patient One.

ML 06/21/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 94

This psalm is the call of the remnant that the wicked shall be judged. Fullest confidence in God is seen throughout. He is the God of vengeances, the Judge of the earth, but also the high tower and the rock of refuge for the righteous.

In verse 13 of Psalm 90 is the same “How long” as in verse 3 of this psalm, and Revelation 6:10 has it too. It is the earnest and urgent asking of God by His saints, that long deserved punishment shall be meted out to the rebellious, and, that blessing may abound in the earth. All is laid before Him that He may act according to His own glory, so it is not “us”, but “Thy people”, “Thine inheritance” that suffer at the hands of the wicked (verse 5).

The weak and defenseless (verse 6) are oppressed by the workers of iniquity; so it has ever been since man turned away from God to his own way. Verses 8 to 11 are addressed to the unbelievers in Israel. It might seem to them that God, because He has not interfered openly with the course of things, does not concern Himself with the world, will not punish the wicked; but “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? He that instructeth the nations, shall He not correct?”

In verses 12 to 15 are weighty words regarding the trials of the godly. Blessed are they whom God chastens, and whom He teaches out of His Word (verse 12); yielding up their wills to Him, looking to Him to guide and keep them, they are given rest from the days of evil until the pit be digged for the wicked. Judgment shall return unto righteousness; they have been far apart; see for example judgment in Pilate, and righteousness in Jesus, in Luke 23.

The godly, in verses 16 to 23, express their dependence upon God in the trials and anxieties of life. He had been their help (verse 17); their sustainer when in danger (verse 18), and their comforter in deepest anxiety (verse 19).

What of the throne of wickedness, shall it be united to God? (verse 20) The last verse gives the answer: He will bring upon them their iniquity, and will cut them off in their own evil. God will never compromise with evil.

ML 06/21/1931

I Am Not My Own

A little girl named Susie was talking to her father one day, and said, “I wish I had some money to give to God, but I haven’t any.”

“God does not expect you to give Him what you do not have,” said her father, “but you have other things beside money, and when we get home I will read something to you which will show you plainly what you may give to God.”

After dinner Susie’s father took down a large book from his bookcase, and made Susie read a passage aloud from it, which he pointed out, as follows:

“I have been to God this day, and have given myself to Him, all that I am and have; so that now I am no longer my own. I have no right to this body or any of its members; no right to this tongue, these hands, these feet, these eyes and ears; I have given myself right away.”

“These are the words of a dear man, written long ago, who is now in heaven. Do you see from this, Susie, what you have that you may give to God?”

Susie was silent, as she looked first at her hands and then at her feet. At last she said in a low voice half to herself, “I don’t believe God wants them.”

Her father heard what she said, and in reply he said, “He does want them, and He is looking at you now to see whether you will give them to Him, or keep them for yourself. If you give them to Him, you will be careful never to let them do anything naughty, and will teach them to do every good thing they can. If you keep them for yourself, they will be likely to do wrong and to get into mischief.”

“Have you given yours to Him, father?”

“Yes, indeed, long ago.”

“And are you glad you did?”

“Yes, very glad.”

Susie was still silent; she did not quite understand what it all meant.

“If you give your tongue to God,” said her father, “you will not allow it to speak unkind, angry words, or tell tales, or speak an untruth, or indeed anything that would grieve God’s Holy Spirit.”

“I think I’ll give Him my tongue,” said Susie.

“And if you give God your hands, you will watch them, and keep them from touching things that do not belong to you. You will not let them be idle, but will keep them busy about something.”

“Well then, I’ll give Him my hands.”

“And if you give Him your feet, you will never let them carry you where you ought not to go; and if you give Him your eyes, you will never let them look at anything you know He would not like you to look at, if He were by your side.

“But now I have left the most important thing till the last, and that is giving Him yourself, for I am sure that if you give Him yourself, you will belong to Him entirely, and will not want to keep anything back.”

Then they kneeled down together, and Susie’s father prayed that God would bless all they had been saying, and especially help her to yield herself to the Lord Jesus Christ as her own loving Saviour.

“I beseech you therefore....by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1.

“What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price (the blood of Christ): therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.

ML 06/21/1931

The Sheep in the Cabbage Field

One afternoon I passed a large field of cabbages where a number of sheep had been put. A great many of them, instead of eating the nice cabbages, were just lying down among them; either because they had had enough, or because they were too lazy to eat them.

I thought we might all learn a lesson from the sheep. If we want our bodies to grow we must take food, and the same is true about our souls. We find the food for our souls in God’s own Word—the Bible.

But how many alas! think that they get so much of the Bible that they do not care to have any more; and so at home, or in Meetings, or Sunday schools, where God’s Word is read, they take no interest in it, and let opportunities slip by for storing up nourishment for their souls.

Others again, are too lazy to read their Bibles; but they would soon find it was well worth their while to read even one verse every day.

How sorry all will be some day when they are older, and find how needful it is to have the mind stored with God’s Word, if they wish to walk in the way with Him, and do what is right in His sight. The Bible tells us, “All Scripture ... .profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be ... . thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

If our souls are nourished by God’s Word, not only will we do right ourselves, but we will be able to help others too, and tell them what is pleasing to Him.

Did you ever read of a man who defended the food of God’s people? God has mentioned him among “mighty men,” though he was only defending the food for their bodies. (2 Samuel 23:11, 12).

How much more should we prize the food for our never-dying souls!

“In the Bible, God is speaking, Precious, living word; With your souls He’s gently pleading Children, have you heard?”

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

“The Word of the Lord endureth Forever. And this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:25.

ML 06/21/1931

Do You Really Mean It?

When Ada was a little girl, she loved to go to the gospel meeting with her father. She, used to march so proudly bind him as he walked right up to the front of the Hall, next to the preacher. She would sing all the hymns, and listen very attentively to the speaker.

But one evening, after the meeting, the preacher asked Ada a question, “You sang the last hymn so sweetly, but did you really mean it?”

Ada hung her head very low, and did not answer, but her conscience was awakened.

Would you like to know what hymn it was? I expect you know it,

“I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary and worn and sad,

I found in Him a resting place,

And He has made ME glad.”

The next Sunday, little Ada was in her place beside her father, but she did not sing. The preacher missed her little voice, and he knew God was speaking to her little soul. She knew the Lord Jesus had died on the cross, and that she might have Him for her very own Saviour, if she would only accept God’s way of salvation. But she did so want to put it off until she was older. She became so miserable at the thought of not being able to sing truly so many precious little hymns, that she could not bear it any longer, but whispered, “Jesus, I will trust Thee.”

The next Lord’s day, such a happy little face shone beside her father, that the preacher knew something had happened, and Ada sang the hymns so very heartily.

After the meeting, he spoke to the little girl, and was rejoiced to know that she had now accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour.

When you sing one of your sweet little hymns, at home or at school, or anywhere else, will you think of this true little story, and say to yourself, . “Do you really mean it?”

If you will just trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your soul’s salvation, the hymns you sing will have a true, precious meaning for you.

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.” Psalms 92:1.

ML 06/21/1931

A Halt on the Oasis

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

There is very little real rest known in this world. Indeed, it is full of unrest on account of sin. The Scripture says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest.” Isaiah 57:20.

There are wars between nations, and quarreling between one and another, and even the dear children in school have their fusses with other children. What a condition this poor world is in!

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

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

Matthew 11:28.

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

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

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29.

For such there is a rest that remains for them at the end of all their labors on this earth.

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” Hebrews 4:9.

ML 06/28/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 95, 96

Psalm 95 is a call to Israel, and Psalm 96 is addressed to all the earth. The time has now come of which Psalms 2, 24 and 45 speak, and Jehovah the Lord of the earth takes His power and reigns. What a contrast these psalms present to the first coming of the Messiah as portrayed by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! For Jehovah here is Jesus whom the heavens have received until the time of restitution of all things (Acts 3:19-23).

Notice how the Holy Spirit makes use of the latter part of Psalm 95 in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 3. It is a last appeal for repentance; presently the opportunity for salvation will be closed forever. What a story of divine grace this psalm contains!

Psalm 96 presents Jehovah to the nations in the spirit of the everlasting gospel (see Revelation 14:6, 7). At the close, the heavens, earth and sea are called upon to rejoice. In its full expression, this rejoicing is shown in the last three psalms, 148, 149 and 150.

The Christian rejoices already in the thought of the day of which these psalms speak. We too own Jesus as Jehovah, but He is our Lord whom we have known by faith (whom having not seen we love) in the time of His rejection and absence, and when Israel beholds Him we shall be with Him. Then the heavens, the heavenly people, will rejoice with the earth. What hallelujahs will fill both heaven and earth when the once thorn crowned, now glory crowned Jesus is revealed to adoring hearts!

ML 06/28/1931

The Circle of Stones

Rows and rows of stones round a circle in the sand, some large and some small, but all neatly arranged, with two larger ones standing in the middle; five children busily hunting for little white pebbles, and putting them among the others. This is what I saw one afternoon on the beach at a seaside town. Do you wonder what all this meant? I did. So I asked Harry, one of the little boys, who was busy with the tiny white stones.

“O! this is a model of our Children’s Service on the sands. This stone is Mr.—, and that Mr.—, the gentlemen who speak to us, and the white stones are the hymn papers they give out.”

“What is this black stone by them?” I asked.

“That’s the black bag they carry the hymns in, and the picture books they often give us after the service.”

“Do you think it wrong to play bat this?” said Elsie, a little girl of nine years old, who was helping them.

“I wanted to play at the gentlemen speaking to us,” interrupted Harry, “but Elsie would not let us.”

“Why not?” I said to Elsie quietly.

“O!” she said, “you know they always tell us about Jesus when they talk to us, and I could not bear the boys to do that in play.”

“Will you tell me why, Elsie?”

Very softly was the answer spoken,

“Because I love Him, and He is my Friend.”

Dear children, I wonder whether it grieves you when you hear others—grown up people sometimes, I am afraid—speaking lightly of that loving Saviour, and whether it is for the same reason as Elsie —because you love Him! If we love any one very much, we cannot bear to hear anything unkind said of them.

I shall never forget, while waiting at a country station, hearing two men talking about a farmer, for whom they worked. They said he was very irritable, and sometimes they could not please him. At last a man sitting by, got up and said, “That farmer is my friend, and, if you knew him as I do, you would not say such things. He is not strong, because when a boy he worked so hard to support his widowed mother, and often when you think him cross, he is suffering very much, and scarcely knows how to move about, but is so anxious to be able to provide for his mother and sister.” That man cared for his friend, did he not? The Bible says: “Unto you therefore which believe He (Jesus) is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7.

Elsie loved the Lord Jesus, her Saviour, as her friend, and would not hear Him lightly spoken of, and told her little friends so.

We often find it is an effort to show that we belong to the Lord Jesus before our friends and schoolfellows— “to confess Him”—but He says,

“Whosoever” (and that must mean even little children) “shall confess Me bore men, him will I confess also before My Father, which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32.

Think of the happiness of that! If we confess Jesus because we really love Him, He will one day confess us, poor weak ones, before His Father and the holy angels.

ML 06/28/1931

God's Care

Most children like dogs, and many dogs like children. So you will be glad to hear a true story about a child and a dog.

Many of you have heard the story of Daniel and the lions, —how Daniel was put by wicked men into the den that the lions might kill and eat him. But God closed the lions’ mouths and kept Daniel from all harm until he was taken out of the den and again in a place of safety.

You remember, too, how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a burning fiery furnace, but came out again without even a hair of their heads singed, because God was watching over them.

God’s Word tells of many others who were protected from the plots of wicked men.

Dear children, God is just as able now to keep us from harm and dangers as He was in those days long ago.

This very year, 1931, a dear little baby named Jane, just old enough to toddle around alone, slipped away from home one day, unnoticed by other members of the family. But their faithful shepherd dog went with her as she wandered off to a vacant lot nearby.

Jane, wearied with walking, lay down on the ground and dropped off to sleep with her head pillowed on a rock.

Too young to know anything about danger, she had stopped close to a steam-shovel. Many of you know that a steam-shovel digs and scoops up the earth and rocks and empties them into a big truck, to be carried to some other place.

When Jane lay down by the steam-shovel it was not working. But her faithful companion knew that when the shovel started again, it would dig down into the earth where Jane was lying, and might shovel her up with the dirt and rocks, and perhaps kill her in doing so.

When the men came back the dog took his stand right in their way so they could not start the shovel.

The men called him and tried to coax him away, but he would not move. Then they tried to chase him away and he just growled. They threatened to strike him and he barked, but nothing they could do would make him move.

After nearly an hour of this, Jane’s mother came along. Then the dog wagged his tail and barked joyfully, for he knew that Jane was at last out of danger. Her mother found her right under the shovel and carried her away to safety. So the Lord allowed this faithful dog to be the means of saving Jane from a serious accident.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” Deuteronomy 33:27.

The Lord often preserves us from dangers as we go about our daily work and play.

But there is a more serious danger from which He wants to save us, and that is the punishment we all deserve as lost sinners,

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

“The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.

Putting these two verses together, you will see that we all deserve death. But Jesus died on the cross and bore the punishment that you and I deserve. And He adds to the verse above, “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

If you love the Lord Jesus and believe that He died for you, this gift is yours.

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

ML 06/28/1931

The Sailor and His Compass

We were wrecked in a storm; I, with three others, floated on a raft for a day and two nights on the sea, expecting each moment to be swallowed up. We were far from land, and had only a few provisions.

I had a small pocket compass, which I had carried in my pocket ever since I went to sea, which my shipmates had laughed at and called a toy. To it we owed our lives. It enabled us to pilot our frail, raft in the direction of land, and, by keeping to its guidance, we arrived on the third day, faint and famishing, but safe in port. I have since then been led to the Saviour, and I carry a little New Testament in my pocket, side by side with my compass.

Some scoff at me; others smile at my simplicity, but I stick to my TWO compasses—one for the soul, the other for the sea.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105.

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

ML 06/28/1931

Come to Jesus

Come, dear little children,

To Jesus, come today;

For He will soon be coming

To take His own away.

We’re all poor helpless sinners,

With many sins and great,

But the blood of Christ can cleanse us,

If we are, not too late.

I know that I’m a sinner

But I’ve confessed my Lord;

I know Him as my Saviour

And I believe His word.

Then come to Jesus, sinner,

While open is the door;

He longs to have you with Him,

And safe forevermore.

ML 06/28/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“The Children’s Class”

1.“Forbearing one another,” etc. Col. 3:12.

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

3.“That ye may approve,” etc. Philippians 1:10.

4.“Rooted and built up,” etc. Col. 2:7.

5.“And be found in him,” etc. Philippians 3:9.

6.“Which is come unto you,” etc. Col. 1:6.

7.By praying for them. Col. 4:12.

Bible Questions for July

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Unto his heavenly kingdom.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words,

“I rather beseech thee.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Be strong in the grace.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The mystery of the faith.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The glorious gospel of the blessed God.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “God and his doctrine.”

7.How may a Christian “Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour?”

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Whatsoever things are (1) true, (2) honest, (3) just, (4) pure, (5) lovely, (6) of good report. Philippians 4:8.

2.Epaphras. Col. 4:12.

3.Gain. Philippians 1:21.

4.“Holding the Head”. Col. 2:19.

5. the book of life. Philippians 4:3.

6.Through the blood of His cross. Col. 1:20.

7.Those professors who refused the practical side of the cross. Philippians 3:18, 19.

Bible Questions for July

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be Found in 1 and 2

Timothy, Titus and Philemon

1. How can we help in securing the presence among us of a servant of the Lord?

2.Did the Apostle Paul always heal his sick fellow servants?

3.What verses would show that the office of an elder and bishop is the same?

4.Would it be scriptural for a woman to teach a men’s Bible class?

5.What verse shows we should pray before we eat?

6.What is the promised portion of all that purpose to live godly in Christ Jesus?

7.What should rich believers do?

ML 07/05/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 97.

At the time of which this psalm treats, the Lord Jesus will have taken His throne as the Son of David, Israel’s King and King of nations, the long-promised Messiah. It will be observed in this and following psalms, that the words used are not “The Messiah reigns!”, but “the LORD reigns!” and this word “LORD” is not at all the same as “Lord,” as we say, “Lord Jesus,” His title as the glorified One, but the name of God, well known to Israel— “Jehovah.” In other words, when the once rejected Jesus of Nazareth returns, as He will in power and glory, to this earth, He will be seen to be God, as we, believers, know Him now to be, coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 97 is the introduction, the binning of His reign. How different it all is from that for which the Christian looks, —the coming of the Lord for His heavenly saints, which is spoken of so many times in the New Testament, and vividly told in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. It is this for which believers who have searched the Word of God are waiting. But His coming for His own is separated by a number of years (just how many, the Scriptures do not tell), from His coming with them to deliver the earth from oppression, and to put its present god and prince, —the devil, —in chains. The Psalms are occupied with this later coming, of which both Old and New Testaments tell on many pages.

ML 07/05/1931

Christ Is the Door

There was a young girl who was exercised about her soul’s salvation, so I said to her,

“Lydia, I want to read a verse to you from the Bible.”

“‘I am the door;’—it is Jesus Christ who says it, — ‘by Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved.’” John 10:9.

I had her attention. She was gazing earnestly at me as I slowly read and explained,

“All those who go in at the door, that is by Jesus Christ, are saved. Do you understand that, Lydia? But if any do not go in at that door, they are lost! —lost! Lydia, do you see that?”

“Yes,” she falteringly answered. Again, I said,

“Lydia, are you saved or lost?” With a quivering voice she answered,

“Lost!”

“Lost?” I said. “Lost! With the door wide open before you, and the blood of the Good Shepherd sprinkling all the way by which you go in? Lost!” I said. “With the voice of Jesus Christ Himself calling you to come in, and find pardon, peace, and safety? Lost! and the Shepherd Himself standing waiting at the door to take you by the hand and lead you in, that He may fold you to His bosom as one of the lost ones He has found.”

By this time she was in tears, for the word had entered, and her heart was broken. I knelt with her in prayer, and on rising, said to her, “Now go to your room alone, cast yourself, with all your sins, upon Jesus, who died for sinners; open your whole heart to Him, He will not cast you out. Go right in at the Door, and He will save you now—this very night; for ‘Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.’” The dear girl did not go in vain. “The Lord is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

She went down from her room saved. That night she confessed to a Christian what the Lord had done for her soul. No longer afar off, but made nigh by the blood of Christ; no longer outside, but brought within the door, to listen to His voice, to go in and out, and to find pasture.

The only way to be saved is through the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

ML 07/05/1931

"I Love Jesus Best"

Many happy hours have we spent, scattering the good news of God’s love from door to door. We have seen the children gathered in groups, reading our sweet stories, which told them of Jesus.

Knocking first at one door and then at another, and asking all whether they know God, and are saved by the Lord Jesus, brings out strange and different answers. By some, angry replies are given; by others, laughing answers; a few sigh, and say,

“Ah, would that we knew these things!” But here and there the cheerful voice boldly and thankfully blesses God for His love and His gift.

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

Let us today knock lovingly and earnestly at the door of each of your hearts, dear young friends. You have read many times our simple stories of the love of God, and of His Son dying for sinners.

Do now, we beg you, answer these questions.

Are you saved by the Lord Jesus? Do you know God?

There is a little boy, now seven years old, who, when he was four, was asked, “Whom do you love best; your mother, or the Lord Jesus?”

He looked thoughtfully into his father’s face and answered,

“I love Jesus best.”

“But has not your mother fondly cared for you and nursed you since you were a baby?” said his father.

“Yes,” replied the child, “but mother did not die for me, and Jesus did.”

Not long ago little Charley was asked by a friend of his, what made him so happy.

“Jesus,” was his reply.

“How do you know this,” further inquired his friend.

“I can feel Him in my little heart,” Charley answered.

Charley wrote a nice letter to his friend, saying that Jesus was his shepherd, and that he was Jesus’ lamb.

May each of you, dear young friends, be able to answer our questions with all the happiness of little Charley.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.

To sing His love and mercy,

My sweetest songs I’ll raise,

And though I cannot see Him,

I know He hears my praise;

For He has kindly promised

That I shall surely go,

To sing with His redeemed ones, Because He loved me so.

ML 07/05/1931

Pets

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

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

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

The Scripture says:

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

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

ML 07/05/1931

"Jesus Only"

Mark 9:8.

Jesus with me day by day,

Jesus all my pilgrim way:

Jesus with me to abide,

Jesus walking by my side:

Jesus in the darkest night,

Jesus in the morning light;

Jesus nigh my heart to cheer,

Jesus to allay my fear;

Jesus ready to defend,

Jesus with me to the end;

Jesus on the brighter shore,

Jesus Christ for evermore.

ML 07/05/1931

God's Creation

God made the trees, dear children,

Beneath whose grateful shade

We love to watch the colors

In which they are arrayed.

Gay oranges and peaches,

And cherries, brilliant red,

Or maybe rosy apples

Are hanging overhead.

God made the pretty flowers

That give us such delight,—

Red, yellow, pink and purple,

Blue, lavender and white.

And God made all the cornfields,

The wheat and rye and rice;

Potatoes and tomatoes

And everything that’s nice.

God made the little birdies

That perch up in the tree

And sing so very sweetly

To you, dear child, and me.

The rain that comes so gently

And makes the garden grow,

The beautiful white blanket

Of softly falling snow,

God made these too, clear children,

And many things beside:

The valleys and the mountains,

The rivers, seas, and tide.

For, as God’s Word has told us,

All things were made by Him,

And nothing of man’s making

God’s glory can bedim.

Then let us praise and thank Him

For all these gifts of love,

Until we sound His praises

In heaven itself above.

“IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREAD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” Genesis 1:1.

ML 07/12/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 97.

Verse 1, which, like many other psalm-beginnings, sums up the whole of the Psalm, makes clear that the blessings of the Lord’s thousand year reign will not be limited to the children of Israel, —“the earth” and the many islands must include the world; both near to and far from Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

Verses 2 to 9 give the character of His reign, and the judgments that will be carried out. Clouds and darkness (verse 2) express the presence of God in majesty and judgment; the throne is one of righteousness, where sin will be dealt with. There is no thought of a mercy seat (Hebrews 9:5) here.

Fire (verse 3) is a figure of the unsparing judgment of adversaries, and verses 4 and 5 show what power will attend the Lord’s appearing.

The heavens (verse 6) declare His righteousness, whom the world rejected and crucified. Where will the idols be when that day of power and glory dawns? (verse 7). “All ye gods” is a reference to the angels, the same expression as in the fifth verse of the 8th psalm. (See also Hebrews 1:6).

The long afflicted Zion—Jerusalem— have reason to rejoice, and the daughters of Judah will be glad (verse 8) when the King of Israel—God’s King—establishes His throne there, and His rule is begun.

In verse 9 the expression “high” applied to the Lord, is properly translated “the Most High,”—one of the names of God (See Genesis 14:18-20).

The last three verses of the Psalm are addressed to those who had believed the message of God’s grace to Israel, —the remnant, —for their encouragement. If they love Jehovah, they should hate evil.

He preserves the souls of His saints, and not that only, He delivers them from the wicked.

Light and joy, and no longer darkness and grief, are the portion of the godly. So the Psalm closes with a call to them to rejoice in Jehovah, and to give thanks in remembrance of His holiness.

ML 07/12/1931

How a Little Girl was Made Glad

A little girl about ten years old, was very unhappy, but she would not own this to any of her friends; indeed they would hardly have believed her if she had done so. She had a kind father and mother, a comfortable home and many nice things to enjoy, which other little girls of her own age had to go without.

“Whatever made her unhappy then?” I hear you saying.

Well, I will let you into the secret. Her dear parents were both believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, and she knew that if the Lord Jesus were to come for them, as He might do now at any moment, they would be quite ready to go with Him to the beautiful home above the sky, and she would be left behind. It was not that she did not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ had come to this sinful world to die on the cruel cross for sinners, but she did not feel quite sure that He had died for her.

One evening she went as usual to hear a gospel address, and it seemed to her as if the preacher must have known how miserable she was. Just as he was about to finish speaking he said,

“Are there any here who want to believe, but who for some reason or other are afraid that this good news is not for them? If so, I beg them not to go to bed before they have said these words from their heart,

“Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.”

That little girl, before she got into bed that same evening, breathed out these words to the One Who was waiting to comfort her, and that very minute she was made perfectly happy. She could now believe that her sins were washed away in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she also was ready for Him if He should come.

Many years have passed since the time of which I am speaking, and the little girl has grown to be a woman; but she has never doubted for one moment the love of the Lord Jesus Who died on the cross for her.

Dear little ones, He died for you too. Will you not believe on Him now, before it is too late?

If you will accept Him now as your own precious Saviour, He will call you His own redeemed one, and when He comes to call all of His own, He will surely take you, too, to His happy Home.

“They that are Christ’s at His coming,” (1 Corinthians 15:23) will go to be with Him. Not one of those who belong to Him will be left behind.

ML 07/12/1931

Answered Prayer

A lady was walking in the country, when her attention was arrested by the voice of a little child. She turned aside, and saw a tiny boy, his face upturned, his little hands clasped tether, kneeling beneath a large spreading tree.

As she stood and listened she heard him say,

“Lord, save my mother, and wash her sins away.”

When he rose from his knees, she took him by the hand and asked him where he lived.

He pointed to a cottage just within sight, saying,

“I live down there.”

He trotted by her side, chatting in his childish way. She soon found out that he attended the Sunday school, and there had not only learned that God hears and answers the prayers of His little ones, but also that the Lord Jesus had died for him, and young as he was his great desire was that his mother, who was lying very ill, might know his Saviour too.

“Do you think the Lord Jesus will answer your prayer?” the lady asked.

“O, yes,” he replied, “for teacher says, ‘He loves to answer prayer.’”

At that moment they reached the cottage door, and with a bright smile he ran in, saying “Goodbye.”

With a prayer upon her lips for blessing on the little boy, she retraced her steps.

His prayer was answered. His mother was led to trust in the loving Saviour. The little boy would tell his father all that he had learned in the Sunday school, and thus he, too, was brought to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.

Now, my dear children, may this story of a little boy’s simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ speak to your hearts, and if you do not yet know Him as your Saviour, just come to Him at once, and believe that He has died for you, and you Will then be saved, and will long for those around you to trust Him too.

For those of my young friends who know the Lord, may this story of prayer answered, be an encouragement to each one of you to pray and continue praying for your loved ones who are still strangers to God’s grace.

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2.

ML 07/12/1931

Until He Find It

Have you seen my little girl anywhere, ma’am? She has long, light hair.”

I was walking on a country road, when the woman, who thus accosted me came running quickly from a side-lane. It was dusk, and on my replying, “No,” she turned and looked up the road, straining her eyes to see if there was anything like a little girl to be seen. But no little girl was in sight; and the poor woman seemed ready to burst into tears.

“O!” she said, “I took her into the town a mile away, and went into a house for a moment, and when I came out, she was gone.”

“How long ago was that?” I inquired. “It must be several hours back.”

“And have you been looking for her ever since?”

“O, yes! and I have walked miles about the streets, and I shan’t give up till I find her.”

I have often thought of that poor woman’s words,

“I shan’t give up till I find her.” They remind me of that beautiful story in Luke 15, of the shepherd seeking the lost sheep. The poor sheep has wandered away from its home, but the good shepherd loves it, and goes after it. And how long do you think he looks for it? All day and all night? Ah! “Until he find it.”

Children, we all “like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”

Many little children, and old people, too, think that they have a great deal to do in order to seek the Saviour. But it is He, who is seeking us. What we have done, is to turn to our own way; and did the poor sheep look for the shepherd, or the shepherd look for the sheep?

The Lord Jesus Christ, never gives up till He finds; and He had to go through death to find His sheep!

“The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” And it was for our sins He died.

The Shepherd’s shoulder is a safe and a happy place. He does not drop the sheep halfway, and leave it to find the rest of its way home as best it can. He takes it safely all the way, and then He rejoices. Yes! the Shepherd’s heart is happiest then. The sheep is happy too—far happier than it ever could have been away from Him: but it is the Shepherd who says to His friends and neighbors,

“Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was lost.” Luke 15:6.

ML 07/12/1931

Jesus

‘Twas God who gave the precious Name

Of “Jesus” to His Son,

Because for all His people’s sin

And guilt He should atone.

The Name of “Jesus” Saviour means, And such He is indeed,

To all who know the weight of sin,

And peace and pardon need.

His Name was Jesus when on earth, His Name is Jesus now;

And God declares that to that Name

All heaven and earth shall bow.

And truly happy is the child

Who loves that precious Name;

He soon shall Him in glory see,

Who once in mercy came.

ML 07/12/1931

Ship Building

What a busy scene this is, getting the big ship ready to go out into the great deep.

It seems they are at the last job and that is the painting. Soon it will be away so far, that those on shore will not be able to see it, and those on board will not see anything but the water and the sky. All may seem bright for awhile but then the storm comes up, the ship founders and sinks, often with all the rich cargo, but her owners will receive an insurance which will cover the value of cargo and vessel.

What insurance is there for the seamen who go down with her? No golden policy covers the priceless value of their souls; and when the last struggle is made in the boisterous waves, with many, no glory above will arise to their view, for they were strangers to the blessed Saviour. Such is the case with most of the seamen. They are a rough and godless class of men, but they have souls and will spend eternity like others, either with Christ in glory, or fiends in despair.

You, as well as the seamen, need Christ as Saviour.

“THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.” 1 Timothy. 1:15.

ML 07/19/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 98.

Psalm 98, the second Psalm about His millennial reign, celebrates the result of the Lord’s setting up His authority on earth. A new song is mentioned seven times in the Old Testament: twice in Book 1 of the Psalms (33 and 40); twice in the Fourth Book (96 and 98), and twice in the Fifth Book (144 and 149); once in Isaiah 42. Twice in the New Testament (Revelation 5:9, and 14:3) is this expression found. In these passages the song is of praise to God on amount of His victorious power. In Psalm 40:3, the Lord Jesus as the obedient man is heard; but in the other five psalms mentioned, it is the believers, redeemed Israel —that are prompted to sing a new song.

Revelation 5:9 is the new song of the heavenly people, and Revelation 14:3 that of the earthly people. All of these passages except Psalm 40 belong to a time not yet come.

The 98th Psalm calls for a new song, because of what the Lord Jesus has done,— i.e., since His taking the throne of Israel. Wondrous indeed will be the change in this poor world when He shall have taken over its government. There will be then a display of power coupled with holiness (verse 1), and righteousness (verse 2) such as has never been seen on this earth, “Salvation” (or deliverance) as ‘the glad portion of all who accept the last offer of free grace is now known; those who will have believed the Jewish messengers bringing the Word of God, and warned of the wrath to come, suffer shame and contempt, cruel persecution, and, perhaps, imprisonment because of their trusting in the Lord, will now be seen to be the truly blessed.

The house of Israel (not only the Jews, but the long lost 10 tribes), God’s earthly people, though they have long slept in the dust of the earth, will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2).

In dealing with these and with the nations (Matthew 25:31-46), His righteousness will be openly shown in the sight of the world (see Isaiah 53:11). Israel will thankfully own that His loving kindness and faithfulness, and nothing of their doing, are responsible for the favor and blessing which will have become theirs un the Lord’s return.

These considerations bring out the joyous expressions found in verses 4 to 9. Judgment there will necessarily be, but it will be of a character not before known by the world; with righteousness and with equity. There will be no partiality then; the rich and poor will fare alike, and no mistakes will be made, as man makes now.

ML 07/19/1931

A Word in Season

A shepherd was taking a flock of lambs along a country road. As he passed a cottage, a woman crossed the road, and, in a jocular way, said,

“You might give me one of those lambs.”

The shepherd, who was a Christian man, replied,

“There is a Lamb God’s Lamb—and you may have Him for nothing. ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’” And he passed on.

Thank God, the word uttered had passed in—yes, right in to that woman’s heart, to do a work for God and eternity.

“There is a Saviour, and you may have Him for nothing!” What a wonderful word! Reader, has it ever entered your heart?

The following year the shepherd passed the same way with another flock of lambs. He had entirely forgotten the above circumstance until reminded of it by the woman, who happened to see him as he passed, and, recognizing him at once, she said to him,

“That was a fine word you gave me that day.”

“What was that?” asked the shepherd.

“Do you not remember,” she replied, “a year ago, as you passed here, I asked you to give me a lamb, and you told me there was a Lamb—God’s Lamb—and I could have Him for nothing? I knew nothing about God’s Lamb then, but I’ve Him now, and I know He has taken away my sins.”

How blessed! The shepherd’s word had proved to be a “word in season;” and, as the Scripture says, “how good is it!” and the shepherd had “joy by the answer of his mouth.” (Proverbs 15:23).

Yes, there is a Lamb—God’s Lamb. “My son, God will provide Himself a Lamb,” were the words of Abraham to his inquiring son, as they wended their way together to the place of death. (Gen. 22:8.)

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” were the words of John the Baptist as he pointed to Jesus on earth. (John 1:29.)

Shortly afterward, at the place called Calvary, the true altar was erected, and the true victim was offered up and accepted by God to make atonement. O, wonder of wonders! The Son of God, here on earth, was offered up and died for ungodly sinners!

Hard must be the heart that rejects such grace and love! How truly, then, were the words of Abraham fulfilled. God provided Himself a Lamb, and, as Peter tells us, “a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Pet. 1:19.)

Reader, is this not sufficient for you and me? Could you desire more? God provided the Lamb, and His Lamb has been slain. The sacrifice has been offered and accepted. Yes, thank God, the vacant cross, the empty grave, and the occupied throne all alike attest the fact that God has been glorified by the work of Christ at the cross, and now any poor sinner can have peace and blessing by simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. If you ask,

“What must I do to be saved?” I reply, “Nothing.” Jesus did it all. Just receive Christ by faith, and thank God for Him. Then let your life ever after “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” (Titus 2:10.)

ML 07/19/1931

Little Dot

Little Dot was only seven years old when she learned the greatest lesson of life—her need of the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour.

She had read of the judgment to come; of the Great White Throne; the Judge who will sit upon it; the great multitudes of the lost ones who will stand before it to be judged, and she knew she was not fit to stand before a holy God.

Her little body shook with fear, for “Dot” saw her guilt and danger.

“My sins, my sins!” was the cry of the distressed child when asked what was the matter.

“Why do you cry about your sins?” asked a lady friend who had come in to see her mother.

“Because I am afraid of the judgment,” answered little “Dot,” surprised that such a question should be asked.

“I’m not afraid of the judgment,” said the lady. “I went through the judgment more than nineteen hundred years ago.”

“You didn’t, you didn’t!” cried the child indignantly, “you’re not old enough for that.”

In answer to this, the wonderful, glorious message of Gospel grace, of judgment borne by Another on the cross, was told to the sin-burdened little one.

“I believe,” said her friend, “that Jesus died for me, and I thank Him for it, and know that I am forgiven, because God says so.”

It was just “the old, old story,” and it had the old, old effect, for, with a heartfelt sigh of relief, the little one, bidding her friend good-night, went to her room, and there, kneeling by her bedside, alone with God, gave thanks that the Lord Jesus Christ has borne the punishment instead of her.

The storm was over, and God’s own calm had come, for, laying her weary little head upon the pillow, she soon was peacefully asleep, while angels beheld the joy of God over another new-born soul into His family.

“Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 07/19/1931

The Open Door or Fed by Ravens

Within a town of Holland once

A widow dwelt, ‘twas said,

So poor, alas! her children asked

One night in vain for bread.

Now this poor woman loved the Lord

And knew that He was good,

So with her little ones around

She prayed to Him for food.

When prayer was done, her eldest son.

A boy of eight years old,

Said softly: “In the Holy Book,

Dear mother, we are told,

“How God, with food by ravens brought,

Supplied the prophet’s need.”

“Yes, yes, my son, but that was done Long, long ago indeed.”

“But, mother, God may do again

What He has done before,

And so to let the birds fly in

I will unloose the door.”

Ere long the Burgomaster passed,

And noticing a light

Paused to discover why the door

Was ope’ so late at night.

“My little Dirk has done it, Sir,”

The widow smiling said,

“E’en that the ravens might fly in

To bring my children bread.”

“Indeed” the Burgomaster cried,

“Then here’s a raven, lad,

Come to my home and you shall see Where bread may soon be had.”

Along the streets towards his house

He quickly led the boy,

And sent him back with food that filled That humble home with joy.

The supper ended, little Dirk

Went to the open door,

Looked up and said, “Lord, many thanks,’

And shut it fast once more.

And the’ no bird had entered in He knew that God on high

Had listened to his mother’s prayer, And sent a full supply.

“My God shall supply all need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.

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

ML 07/19/1931

Contented

How contented our little boy looks as he watches the kitten play with the spool.

Poor little child! He looks so very frail and it seems his legs are not strong enough to bear the weight of his body, so his dear papa and mamma have a support for him, so he can go out in the garden and exercise his little limbs, and get the fresh air, too. All tells of the tender and loving care of his parents.

How much sorrow and suffering is brought upon the human race, all because of sin. Not because this dear little boy has sinned, but sin has brought all kinds of sickness and sorrow into this world, and, no doubt. God has a blessing to bring out of it.

Often we find that those who have weak bodies and are unable to get out like other people, are made to think more of God’s love and goodness to them than those who have health and strength. Not that we should be so, no, we should be very grateful to God for all the good things He gives to us in this life, and seek to live all the more for His glory. But if He sees fit to give us a weak body, we must remember, He is ever acting in love and wisdom to us.

“ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” Romans 8:28.

ML 07/26/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 99.

This Psalm is a further development of the millennium theme: The Lord (Jehovah) reigns.

“The peoples” (verses 1 and 2) refers, not to Israel, but to the Gentile nations who will be blessed and brought into divine favor through Israel. So, “He sitteth between (or dwells above) the cherubim,” once the place of God’s dwelling in the midst of Israel (Numbers 7:89; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chronicles 13:6; Isaiah 37:16; Psalm 80) points to the place that He will then have taken as the Judge or Governor of the nations, as well as of Israel.

Cherubim (verse 1) are always seen in Scripture in connection with God’s ways in government. When man had lost that original state of innocencecy, and as a sinner was driven out of the garden of Eden, they were set to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). In symbolic figures they were in the tabernacle, over the ark of the covenant, shadowing the mercy seat (Exodus 25 and 37; Hebrews 9:5); afterward in Solomon’s temple the figures of two cherubim were in the holiest (2 Chronicles 3 and 5; 1 Kings 6 and 8).

Seraphim are seen in Isaiah 6; and the living creatures (mistakenly called “beasts”) in Revelation 4 and 5 combine the characters of cherubim and seraphim. The seraphim give the thought of the consuming holiness of God.

“And the strength of the King that loveth justice” (verse 4)—The King is the Messiah, but also the LORD (Jehovah); He it is that will bring equity and establish judgment and righteousness in Jacob, who for a long time has been far from God in heart and way.

The Holy Spirit here turns back to those faithful men of old, Moses and Aaron and Samuel; they had called to Jehovah in the days of their pilgrimage, and He had answered them; they kept His testimonies. And He was a forgiving God to them, though He never forgot His government in dealing with them; He “took vengeance of their inventions,” or doing.

This will be His way in the time to which these. Psalms refer, yet it has always been His way: grace to all who will receive it, and government as holy and true as He is. The Israel that will be, is thus linked with the Israel of early days.

It will be noticed that the holiness of the Divine Person who reigns is emphasized in this Psalm, as His faithfulness was in the 98th, and His righteousness in the 97th.

ML 07/26/1931

Satan's Handkerchiefs

Here is one which Satan often uses to blind people with: the pleasure of sin, which hides the guilt of it.

Many years ago there lived in Egypt a man who had many advantages. He was strong and handsome, gifted, learned and well educated. He was prominent among the king’s advisers, and stood a good chance of becoming King, or Prime Minister of Egypt. But when he was forty years of age he made a very important choice: a very foolish one in the eyes of his worldly friends, but a very wise one in the eyes of God. He decided that he would no longer “enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25), and so he left the palace, with its honors and riches, and threw in his lot with the people of God. Moses is one of the greatest men we read of in the Old Testament.

The “pleasures of sin”. Has sin any pleasure in it? Of course, it has. Why does a boy play truant? Is it not because of the pleasure he gets out of his stolen holiday? Why does a girl take something that is forbidden? Because of the pleasure that comes from possessing it. And the pleasure that comes, blinds them to the guilt of the wrong they do.

Satan has another handkerchief: the profit to be had from the sin, that hides the loss of it from the eyes of the mind. A man does something wrong, let us suppose, in business. He is not at first found out. On the contrary, he gains by the wrong. He repeats the wrong, time after time, and still he seems to prosper, and all the time, the profit lie is gaining is blinding him to the sin he is doing. Poor man! Satan has got his handkerchief over his eyes. Let us hope that before it is too late he will face the question,

“What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark. 8:36.

Boys, be long-sighted; girls, look right ahead. Don’t play into Satan’s hands. Don’t let him put his handkerchiefs over your eyes. Look right into the future, —past the time when you are grown up, past old age, past death, —right through into the next world. You can’t see beyond death without the help of the telescope—the Word of God.

Death seems to you like a great mass of black rock in the distance, stretching from earth to heaven. You can see nothing that is on the other, side. If you look through God’s Telescope, you will see that what you thought was a mass of rock, is really a thin, half-transparent curtain, through which you can make out some of the things that are going on, on the other side; you will see that what is on the other side is real. God calls some of these things “pleasures for evermore”, which will be enjoyed by every boy and girl that comes to Jesus.

And even in this world, which you think such a deal of, you will have both pleasure and profit, for you will belong to the Lord and so will possess the best of all blessings in Him.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Ephesians 1:3.

“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:7, 8.

ML 07/26/1931

Thou knowest not what a day may Bring Forth

You will not be long, Freddy?” said Mrs. S. to her little boy, one fine day, as she sent him out for an errand.

“No, mother,” replied the boy, “I shall soon be back,” and, kissing his mother, he went away, delighted at the thought of being allowed to do something for mother.

Mrs. S. watched her little boy until he was out of sight, little thinking it would be the last time she should see her son alive.

But little Freddy, although he was a good boy when at home, forgot his last words, “I shall soon be back,” and, instead of doing what his mother had bidden him, went near the river—which he had been especially told not to do—and, seeing some planks on the water, thought he would go on them, and have a nice game.

For a few moments all went on pleasantly, and the little boy amused himself very much. But while Freddy was on the planks, a steamboat passed up the river, and its swell tossed the planks about, and Freddy fell into the water.

Two little boys saw him fall into the water, but they could not save him, and before help could come, poor little Freddy was drowned.

If on that Monday morning you had said to him, “Freddy, you will die today,” he would probably have replied, “I am young and healthy, and hope to live a good many years yet.”

A little act of disobedience took him into eternity. You, too, are young, strong and gay, but remember how uncertain is your life, and let me affectionately ask you, “If God were to take you away today, where would you spend eternity?”

You and I deserved to be banished from God’s presence, for we have disobeyed God, but Christ died on the cross so that “whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16.)

Come, then, to Christ while you are young, for God says,

“Those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 1:28.

If you are not ready to meet God, do not rest until you know that you are.

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

ML 07/26/1931

Take God's Gift

A dear Christian mother was quietly waiting the home-call. As she lay on her death-bed she was asked, “Have you any wish?”

“Yes,” she replied, pointing to one who stood at the end of the bed, “I’d like to know that my daughter is saved.”

This verse, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely,” was quoted to that anxious girl, and she was pressed to “take.”

There and then the question was settled, as she simply answered, “Taken.”

“Say it louder,” said the dying mother.

“Taken, taken,” responded her child, as she accepted Christ as her Saviour.

Dear reader, will you not take now? Simply believe what He says. Believe on His finished work, and faithful word.

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

Hark! the voice of Jesus calling—Come, ye children, come to Me; I have rest and peace to offer, Rest, dear children, now for thee.

Take salvation,

Take it now and happy be.”

ML 07/26/1931

I Have a Friend

I have a Friend, a precious Friend,

Unchanging, wise, and true:

The Chief among ten thousand.

O! I wish you knew Him, too.

Encompassed with a host of foes,

Weary in heart and limb,

I know who waits to soothe my woes.

Have you a friend like Him?

He comforts me; He strengthens me. How can I then repine?

He loveth me. This precious Friend,

In life or death, is mine.

ML 07/26/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for June

“The Children’s Class”

1.“But we are,” etc. 2 Thessalonians. 2:13.

2.“For this cause,” etc. 1 2:13.

3.“For this we say,” etc. 1 4:15.

4.“To the end,” etc. 1 3:13.

5.“When he shall come,” etc. 2 1:10.

6.“Who died for us,” etc. 1 5:10.

7.“The love of God” and “The patient waiting for Christ.” 2 3:5.

Bible Questions for August

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be Found in Hebrews

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Author of eternal salvation.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Author and finisher of our faith.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Mediator of a better covenant.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “High priest of good things to come.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou art the same.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “A rest to the people of God.”

7.With what kinds of sacrifices, offered by Christians, is God said to be “well pleased?”

Answers to Bible Questions for June

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Antichrist must first appear in the temple at Jerusalem. 2 Thessalonians. 2:3, 4.

2.They will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians. 4:17.

3.For the Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians. 1:10.

4.That we should work. 2 Thessalonians. 3:10.

5.Of body, soul, and spirit. 1 Thessalonians. 5:23.

6.1 Thessalonians. 1:101 2:19; 3:13; 4:16; 5:23. 2 Thessalonians. 1:10; 2:1; 3:5.

7.Esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. 1 Thessalonians. 5:13.

Bible Questions for August

“The Young People’s Bible Class” The Answers are to be Found in Hebrews

1.Whence do we go forth unto Jesus?

2.Of what was the tabernacle a pattern?

3.Whom did God the Father address as “God?”

4.What did Moses think of the reproach of Christ?

5.What is the character of the Christian’s calling?

6.Can a real apostate from Christianity ever be recovered?

7.For how long is a real believer sanctified?

ML 08/02/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 100, 101.

Psalms 100, as its title tells, is a psalm of thanksgiving. “All ye lands” in verse 1 is properly read “all the earth,” or “all the land” (of Israel)

The ground or occasion for thanksgiving is “His mercy (or loving kindness) endureth forever, and His truth (or faithfulness) from generation to generation.”

Once His people, but having lost all title, Israel will again be His people, and the sheep of His pasture, because of immeasurable mercy. Thus His gates may he entered with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Psalm 100 ends the series of psalms presenting the coming of Messiah, Jesus-Jehovah, to set up a rule of righteousness in the world, and to take the throne of Israel.

Psalm 101 speaks of the King, of the principles according to which He will rule when He takes the kingdom in the name of the LORD (Jehovah). David wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for his great Son, when He should take the throne as Israel’s King (John 1:41, 49), so he asks “When wilt Thou come to Me?”—when will the day of the Solomon-like reign of glory begin?

Psalm 101 is simple in character, and seems to call for little of exposition. In it we see the holiness and righteousness, the grace and perfectness of the Lord Jesus when He “the same Jesus” (Acts 1:11), will again be on earth; no longer the despised and rejected of men, the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, but the Son of Psalm 2, and the Branch of Isaiah 11.

In the last verse, instead of “I will early destroy,” read: “Every morning will I destroy.” There will be sin in the millennium, but it will be promptly punished (See Isaiah 65:20).

ML 08/02/1931

He Took Me as I was

I was brought to the Lord out in the West. Two of my companions perished in the earthquake and fire at San Francisco, but I had left the doomed city ten days before the disaster.

When I read the account of it in the papers, it brought to my mind what I had often heard about the panic that will come upon sinners in the judgment, when they will cry out, “Rocks, fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” Revelation 6:16.

God spared me, and showed me I was not ready to meet Him.

My parents and two of my brothers are Christians, and they must have seen I was in distress. They told me of Jesus, the sinner’s Refuge, and to Him I fled.

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

He took me as I was, and I have His Word that He will not cast me out.

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

I am saved and happy now. His Word is sweet, His work is a delight. Seven of us, all lately saved, are in a Bible Class, which is a great help to us in our spiritual life.

ML 08/02/1931

"God Knows Me Anyhow"

A little boy—Franky—as he was called, cut off the pretty curls which had clustered round his head, and had been his mother’s delight.

To punish him for his mischief, the family agreed to pretend not to know him when he came to the table at meal time. (I do not think they were quite right in this, but such was the case.)

“What strange boy is this?” inquired the father, as the boy extended his hand for a plate.

“Why, I’m your Franky, papa!”

“My Franky!” in apparent amazement. “Nonsense! you needn’t try any such game here! My Franky was a different boy.”

Surprised, but not abashed, Franky turned to his brother, but his brother heeded him not.

It was fun for him at first, but as he made requests of one and another, and found no one, not even his mother, knew him, his fair, sweet face grew sober and long. No one talked with or petted him they gave him his food in silence. Frank choked down his food—his face growing more and more pitiful every moment.

At last he could endure it no longer; he leaned back in his little high chair, and looked once again into each unanswering face; he saw no love, no recognition anywhere—he felt utterly alone. Bursting into tears, he exclaimed: “Never mind! God knows me, anyhow; and I wish some of you did!”

There were other eyes full of tears just then, and, in spite of his little shorn head, Frank was suddenly recognized by all. He was hugged to his mother’s heart more tenderly than ever before, and a deeper love than Frank, with his beautiful curls, had ever known, sprang up in the heart of each for the sobbing child.

“God knows me, anyhow!” Frank remembered what many of us forget—that, whatever betide, God never fails to recognize His own. It is a comfort, indeed, sometimes to think of this.

There are those who know us only when fortune smiles, —who greet our uplifted face with cold, unanswering looks when the dark days come; But God’s hand is ever outstretched to bless us. He is glad to know us—that He is ever a loving Father to every one of His children, and He never pretends that we are not His own.

The Lord Jesus knows us, too, if we are His. He says, “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, 28.

ML 08/02/1931

Feeding the Chickens

Here in our picture we see a very common and yet a very pretty sight. How natural this woman looks as she stands there feeding her chickens! I am sure each one of you has, in the same way, scattered bits of food to the chickens, as you called them around you, either in your own, or in some farmyard when you were visiting in the country.

Now as you look at this picture, does it make you think of the One who really has provided the food? This woman can give only what He has given her. Who can that One be? Surely it is God, who has given so many good things for His creatures down here to enjoy. He not only provides food and shelter for the chickens, but just think of the birds, animals and other tiny creatures that He has made, and how wonderfully He provides and cares for all!

Does this care, then, not include you and me? Jesus tells us of His care for the ravens; if He watches over the birds, such tiny creatures, He surely watches over us, and His care for us is far greater. He says, “Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” Luke 12:24.

In God’s Word we also read, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17.

Of all these good gifts, what is the greatest one that God has ever given us? I am sure you all agree that it was the gift of His only Son, Jesus, to come down to this world to die on the cross for us.

What a Great Giver God is! and how dependent we are upon Him; not only for our food and daily needs, but above all, for our eternal welfare.

The gift has been given and now it is for you to accept it. There is no real peace for your soul until you do know Jesus, God’s greatest gift, as your own personal Saviour.

“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?” Romans 8:32.

ML 08/02/1931

Come to Jesus

O! come to Jesus, little child,

For He has said you may;

And you shall dwell in heaven above,

Through God’s eternal day.

Though you have sins of crimson glow, Yet Jesus died for thee:

His blood will wash you “white as snow,”

And He says, “Come to Me.”

Then come to Jesus, little child;

Yes, come without a doubt;

For He has promised to receive,

And in no wise cast out.

O! He is loving, good and kind,

He’ll be a friend to thee;

And soon will come to take thee home. His glory there to see.

ML 08/02/1931

Sound Asleep

Our dear little boy has fallen sound asleep after playing till he was tired. How refreshing when wearied to go quietly off to sleep. It is a wonderful provision which God made in order to refresh our bodies.

But for those who are not saved—do not know Jesus as their own Saviour—we wonder how they can lie quietly down and go to sleep, knowing they may waken in hell; or the Lord might come and they would be left behind, and the door of mercy be forever closed against them.

O, dear children, do not delay another day in taking your place before God, a lost sinner, and accepting His precious gift—the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Redeemer.

There are some precious verses in God’s Word for those who are saved, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalms 4:8.

“HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP.” Psalms 127:2.

“When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24.

O, how blessed to know that whether asleep or awake, all those who belong to Jesus when He comes, will go up with Him to the Father’s house, to be “forever with the Lord.”

Happy children who are waiting

For that bright and joyful day, Knowing Jesus as their Saviour,

They can watch for Him and say,

“Come, Lord Jesus! come Lord

Jesus!

Take Thy little ones away.”

ML 08/09/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 102.

This has been called the most remarkable of the Psalms. It presents Christ as the chosen but rejected ruler of Israel, and the particular time of it is just before His crucifixion. He is looking to Jehovah who had called Him to the place of Messiah, and speaking of His full rejection by His people.

Knowing fully what lay before Him bore He entered upon that path of matchless grace and lowliness, yet our blessed Lord felt with perfect sensibility—our feelings are blunted by sin—all that rejection meant.

Let us trace Him in the Gospels a little. In Matthew 12:9-13, He enters a synagogue and heals a man’s withered hand while the Pharisees watch, ready to accuse Him for doing good on the Sabbath; then we are told, “But the Pharisees, having gone out, took counsel against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Mark 3:16 lets us know that the Herodians were partners with the Pharisees in this plotting against the Lord. Did He, this holy, harmless, undefiled stranger from heaven not feel this enmity? Surely He did, and deeply, though He knew what was in man (John 2:24, 25).

We turn to Luke’s Gospel, and hear Him say (chapter 9), when James and John would desire to command that fire should come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans who did not receive Him,

“Ye know not of what Spirit ye are.” And presently to one who unthinkingly said that he would follow Him wherever He went, He said,

“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven roosting places, but the Son of Man has not where He may lay His head.” Luke 9:58. (N. T.)

And what were the feelings of this blessed One when, as John records (chapter 19), the soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and mockingly said, “Hail, king of the Jews,” and gave Him blows on the face. Before this He had felt the traitor’s kisses; afterward as He looks out upon the crowd outside of the judgment hall of Pilate, He hears as from the very depth of Satan-ruled hearts,

“Crucify Him; crucify Him!” Were these words and actions not felt intensely by Him?

Lastly, the shame and exposure, the riling He had to endure on the cross, both from the passersby, the chief priests, the rulers and the scribes, and from the thieves crucified with Him: how these must have wounded Him who presently was to take upon Himself the iniquity of us all who trust in Him!

Observe that this blessed Sufferer received all from Jehovah. He had lifted Him up and cast Him down (verse 10). There is no call for vengeance on His enemies, but He is fully the despised and rejected of men, rejected because of His faithfulness and entire devotion. Born a King (Matthew 2:2; John 18:37) He must die with malefactors, the death of the cross.

Jehovah, He says, Thou wilt rise up: Thou wilt have mercy upon Zion, and a people that shall be created shall praise Jehovah.

Abruptly the language of the psalm changes in verses 24-28. The humbled, desolate One, sharing the rebuke of Israel, having taken the place of the godly remnant there, and become the pattern for all who should follow in His steps, is seen to be the Creator, Jehovah, the Eternal One. (See the application of these verses in Hebrews 1:10-12).

ML 08/09/1931

Children Astray

I will tell you what happened to a little boy of about five years of age. His name was James, and his parents loved the Lord Jesus and taught their child of Him, seeking to make him understand that the Bible is the Word of God. But little James heeded not his kind parents’ instructions.

Upon one occasion, when a boy somewhat older than himself formed the plan of what the children called “running away,” James thought it would be a very grand thing to do. So on a Saturday afternoon, in the bright early summertime, when the birds were singing and teaching their little ones how to fly, James and his companion started through the lanes, running away from home.

For the first few hours it seemed very pleasant to the two boys as they tripped along under the trees and picked the sweet flowers, but presently dusk came on. They had wandered to a small village, a considerable distance from their homes, and very fortunate for them it was so; for had they gone over the hills and into the woods they might both have been lost.

Some people stopped them, and wanted to know where the two little children were going. Of course, James and his companion could not tell—all they knew was where they had come from. While the people were talking to the runaways, a messenger from home found them, and carried little James back on his shoulders.

Surely this simple anecdote recalls to our minds what the Bible says about all having gone astray, and had we been left to ourselves we must have been lost forever. Like the kind messenger who sought and found little James, Jesus has come from God in heaven to “seek and to save that which was lost.”

Dear child, do you believe what the Bible says—that you are lost? Remember that when the shepherd found the lost one, he carried it home on his shoulders rejoicing, just as the kind brother carried James; and I should be glad to be quite sure that you, little child, are safe in the arms of Jesus.

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

“I was lost: but Jesus found me—

Found the sheep that went astray;

Threw His loving arms around me,

Drew me back into His way.”

ML 08/09/1931

The Stowaway's Story

A little ragged boy aged nine years was discovered on the fourth day of the outward voyage of a vessel from Liverpool to New York, and carried before the first mate, whose duty it was to deal with such cases.

When questioned as to the object of his being stowed away, and as to who had brought him on board, the boy, who had a beautiful sunny face, and eyes that looked like the very mirrors of truth, replied that his stepfather did it, because he could not afford to keep him, nor to pay his passage out to Halifax, where he had an aunt who was well off and to whose house he was going.

The mate did not believe the story, in spite of the winning face and truthful accents of the boy. He had seen too much of stowaways to be easily deceived by them, he said; and it was his firm belief that the boy had been brought aboard and provided with food by the sailors. The little fellow was very roughly handled in consequence.

Day by day he was questioned and re-questioned, but always with the same result. He still affirmed that he did not know a sailor on board, and that his father alone had secreted him, and given him the food which he ate.

At last the mate, wearied by the boy’s persistency in the same story, and perhaps a little anxious to inculpate the sailors, seized him one day by the collar, and dragging him to the forehatch, told him that unless he confessed the truth, in ten minutes from that time he would hang him on the yardarm. He then made him sit down under it on the deck.

All around him were passengers and the sailors of the midday watch, and in front of him stood the inexorable mate with his chronometer in his hand. The officers of the ship were by his side.

It was the finest sight, said our informant, that we ever beheld, to see the pale, proud, sorrowful face of that noble boy, his head erect, his beautiful eyes bright through the tears that had fled.

The mate had told him that he had but two minutes, and advised him to speak the truth and save his life; but he replied with the utmost simplicity and sincerity, by asking the mate if he might pray.

The mate said nothing, but nodded his head. All eyes turned on him, this brave and noble fellow, this poor waif whom society owned not, and whose own stepfather could not care for; there he knelt with clasped hands and voice upraised, while he prayed to the Lord Jesus to take him to heaven.

Sobs broke from strong hard hearts, as the mate sprang forward to the boy and clasped him to his bosom, and kissed him and blessed him, and told him how sincerely he now believed his story and how glad he was that he had been brave enough to face death and be willing to sacrifice his life for the truth of his own word.

“If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye.” 1 Peter 3:14.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Matthew 5:10.

The little stowaway believed on the Lord Jesus and stood for the truth.

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.” 1 Peter 4:16.

ML 08/09/1931

Forever

“What will it be when we get to ‘forever’?” said a little fellow to his sister.

Little could he comprehend what eternity was; his childish mind could enter but feebly even into the things of time; and thus the things of eternity were beyond him altogether.

My reader, what will it be for you when you get to forever?

The Word of God is clear and plain that the soul and spirit of every human being shall live forever; and the important question for each one is, ETERNITY! WHERE?

Shall it be in the regions of joy, or of judgment; of weal, or of woe; of delight, or of doom?

Ponder the child’s question, my reader: “What will it be when we get to forever?”

“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matthew 25:46.

ML 08/09/1931

Gifts Received

What do you do when a gift is offered to you by some loving friend?

Do you beg for it? Do you wait until you feel that you deserve it? Do you question whether it is really meant to be yours?

No! you take it just as you are and thank the one who bestows it.

The greatest gift is offered to you by God.

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom: 6:23. You cannot buy it. You cannot earn it.

You need not wait until you are better. God offers it freely. Take it NOW and give Him the thanks of a grateful heart and a devoted life.

ML 08/09/1931

Forbidden Fruit

The children in today’s picture are helping themselves to the good things in the basket. Hungry, and seeing food that looks so good, they cannot resist the temptation to take some. They ought to be taking it home to mother instead. She would then give them their share. But they are just like many other children, and older people too, who sometimes yield to temptation.

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman who ever lived in this big world, were tempted to eat the fruit God had told them not to eat. They disobeyed God, and had to be put out of the garden of Eden.

Their children and grandchildren inherited the same sinful nature, and so on down through all the generations to our own. And “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23.

“As by one-man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12.

Dear reader, no matter how good you think you are, you belong to the race of Adam, and you are a sinner. But God loves us, poor sinners, and does not want us to die in our sins. He does not want us to be lost forever.

So, at a terrible cost, He provided a way of salvation. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the righteous, to die on the cross. Jesus gave His life a ransom for our sins that we might escape the punishment we deserved.

As Adam brought death into the world, so Christ has brought salvation and life eternal to all who believe in Him.

“THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETEAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.” Romans 6:23.

If you are saved, it is not because you deserve salvation, or have earned it. It is the gift of God.

I trust that many of you young readers have accepted God’s wonderful gift, and know Jesus as your Saviour.

If you know Him and love Him, you will try to please Him. You will ask Him to keep you from temptation, and make you obedient children, —not doing the things that would displease your parents, as the children in the picture are doing.

ML 08/16/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 103.

OUR related psalms now complete the Fourth Book. They give the answer to the Messiah’s rejection in the thanksgiving of His earthly people and the world. What mercy to Israel is seen in a comparison of Psalms 102 and 103. All, it is plain, depends for Israel as for the Church, upon the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103 begins and ends with “Bless Jehovah, O my soul”; it is Israel’s praise-song as Psalm 104 is all creation’s praise-song to the Lord Jesus.

Man’s first need as a sinner is forgiveness (verse 3), and the fruits of sin in disease cannot continue in the presence of the Messiah. These two things are seen together strikingly in the narratives of the paralyzed man in Matthew 9; Mark 2 and Luke 5.

Verse 4 brings in the realization of what the sinner’s desert had been—destruction, or “the pit”—as the new translation reads, but he is redeemed, and not only redeemed—bought with a price—but crowned with loving kindness and tender mercies. What a change from what we deserve, to what grace has provided!

Verse 5, no doubt, refers to Israel’s “old age,” now to be satisfied with the good things of that age of unparalleled blessing, and youth renewed like the eagles.

In verse 6 we are turned from consideration of the blessings to consider the Blesser. He executes righteousness and justice for all that are oppressed. This is the character of His reign. But there is much more that the godly may learn, for He made known His ways unto Moses, while Israel the nation, saw only His acts.

It is in communion with God that we learn practically His ways, as they are spoken of in verses 8 and following.

Verse 12: How far is the east from the west? It cannot be measured.

Verses 15, 16 show the frailty of man and the shortness of human life, but verse 17 meets this with the loving kindness of Jehovah from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His precepts to do them. There is no change in His ways; time does not alter His loving kindness or His righteousness. These blessings are for the obedient (verse 18).

It is the earth that is in view here, of course, but Jehovah’s throne is established in the heavens; it is there that blessing is secured to Israel, for the King of Israel, the King of Kings indeed is none less than Jehovah, eternal God, in the person of the Son.

Well, therefore, does the psalm conclude with a call to His angels, the heavenly host, to bless Him; to all His works in all places of His dominion to bless Him, and finally the saint says to himself as at the beginning, “Bless Jehovah, O my soul!”

ML 08/16/1931

Time is Short it is Time to Seek the Lord my Times are in Thy Hand Eternity

Now, my dear young readers, let us just look at these words, and see if there is not something we can learn.

Let us turn to the first one:

“Time is short.” 1 Corinthians 7:29.

Ah! how true this is. Each one of us has proved that. We have but a short time here in this world; then O! the importance of making good use of it.

I wonder how many have come to the Lord Jesus, and know Him. O! if you have not, I would urge upon you the importance of the next scripture,

“It is time to seek the Lord.” Hosea 10:12.

When is it time to seek Him?

NOW, at once, even while you are reading this, if you have not done so bore, for in Isaiah 55:6 we read, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found.” There is a day coming when it will be too late.

Even the cold hand of death might overtake you, or should the Lord Jesus come, and you would be left behind, O! then, how important to seek the Lord at once.

But now I want to tell you that the Lord is seeking you. It is He who has made you feel your sins, and long to know what it is to be saved; and it is He who came to this earth, and died in the sinner’s stead. O! what love that was! And so now He wants to save you. Won’t you put your trust in Him? “It is time to seek the. Lord,”

Now I come to the third scripture and that is,

“My times are in Thy hand,” Psalm 31:15.

If you have put your trust in Him, and know what it is to be saved, you will rejoice to know this. Even young people know there are various times; such as a time of joy, a time of happiness, a time of sorrow, a time of poverty, and a time of prosperity.

Well, the one who trusts in Jesus knows his times are in the Lord’s hands, those very hands that hold His sheep so tightly, that none can pluck them from them, and He rejoices that only what He allows will overtake him, and so he can rest calmly in His love.

And now I have just one word left. It is the word

ETERNITY,

which is only found once in all the Bible, and that is in Isaiah 57:15. It is a solemn word, and expresses what is AFTER TIME.

Time is followed by Eternity. When I asked,

“What is Eternity?” one little boy answered,

“For ever and ever.”

Now, each one of us will live for eternity, or “Forever and ever”; and so I want you to just ask yourself the question, “Where shall I spend eternity?”

If you are unsaved, you will have to spend it under the judgment of God; for all those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

But if you are saved, thank God, you will spend it with Jesus in mansions of glory.

“These shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Matt, 25:46.

ML 08/16/1931

Fading Flowers

Most people are very fond of flowers; they are among the sweetest things in the world. They have been called “living poetry”; “visible music”; “stars of the earth”; “nature’s jewelry.” Another name given to flowers is “silent sermons.” They quickly fade and die, and so remind us of the shortness of our life on earth.

During April in Palestine the land is carpeted with any number of beautiful wild flowers. But about the beginning of May a burning wind from the desert sweeps up and smites the land with the blast of a furnace, and in so short a time as twenty-four hours withers up all the flowers. And the Bible says, “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more.” Psalms 103:15, 16.

“Is there anything to love that will last Forever?” asked a little boy.

“Yes, Christ; and when we receive Him as our Saviour and Friend, He remains ours Forever, for our present and eternal enjoyment.”

A young girl accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour. She had been fond of worldly pleasures, but now that she knew and loved the Saviour, she found that she had lost interest in these things. She had something far better. She spoke to her young brother about the Lord, and asked him to come to Christ. But Willie at first did not want to. He said to her,

“See what you have had to give up since you became a Christian.”

“Willie”, she replied, “when you were quite a little boy, you used to play with a rattle, but when you became older you had to give it up.”

“No, I didn’t”, he said, “I dropped the rattle when I found something better.”

“Neither have I had to give up anything”, the girl answered. “I dropped those worldly things when I took Christ and His salvation; when I had something better they simply fell off.”

Do you know what that means? Love to Christ drives out the love of sin, and of the things that pull the wrong way. And as soon as you really believe His love for you, and receive Him as God’s gift to you, you will begin to love Him. And you can start today.

“The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth Forever.” 1 John 2:17.

“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, lie is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, 17.

ML 08/16/1931

Fear Not

Two boys were alone with their father in a railway train. In the course of their journey they had to pass through a long tunnel, and as there was no light, they were plunged in total darkness.

The boys were afraid, and drew near to their father, and placed their hands in his. He told them it was all right and bade them not to fear. His presence and his word gave them comfort and cheer until they were through the tunnel and in the daylight again.

How sweet is the Lord’s word to His people, “Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God,” Isaiah 41:10.

And again He says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.” Hebrews 13:5, 6.

ML 08/16/1931

Building

Do you know, dear children from our early childhood till we leave this world, we are all building something? T h e little child delights to have building blocks, and while building with them may seem to be only play, nevertheless, his little mind is developing by it, and such things are no doubt the first steps toward doing something better. It is important that we should be always building something good, then we will have good results. The Scripture says,

“Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon; for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:10, 11.

According to what we do, we shall have results.

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

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

ML 08/23/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 104.

In Psalm 103 we were shown the praise of the redeemed of Israel in the latter day on account of the place of favor, into which by divine grace, they will have been brought. In Psalm 104 the Lord is still the object before the redeemed ones, and now the earth as His handiwork, apart from man, is considered.

As in the 103rd psalm, the beginning and ending is “Bless the Lord (properly Jehovah, as we have before noticed) O my soul.” In that coming day He will in very truth inhabit, or dwell amid, the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3).

How very great is the person who will rule the earth when it is set right by His power, verses 1 to 4 tell. There is no mention in the psalm of the depth to which the Lord stooped, but Philippians 2:6-11 gives in six short verses what He was, what He became in lowly grace, and what is the unique place reserved for Him because of that humiliation and death. (See also Hebrews 1). The Bible is the only book that can properly set forth the glory of His Person.

Genesis 1:9, 10 may be referred to, in connection with verses 6-8 of our psalm, and Genesis 9:14-17 in connection with verse 9. The gracious, providential provision of God in creation is witnessed in verses 10 to 30. The recording of this leads out the testimony of verse 24.

All depends on the Creator-King, for it will be observed that the Person spoken of in these psalms as Jehovah, the LORD, is Jesus, acknowledged as the eternal God.

This psalm seems to call for little explanation, but every verse tells of His glory.

ML 08/23/1931

The Deserted Lamb

Rushing forward in one of the Western Coast trains, which carry the passengers through some of the most rustic and romantic parts of the country, we were admiring the hillsides dotted with white fleecy sheep and lambs, on a lovely summer morning.

The care of the Great Shepherd for the people of His flock, was naturally the subject of conversation of the two companion travelers, who had been “as sheep going astray; but had now returned to the Shepherd.... of their souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

“Did you ever hear of a lamb being deserted by its mother?” inquired my friend, as we watched the gambols of the lambkins,

“No.”

“Well, let me recount an incident which happened somewhere in this district as related by the gentleman himself: —

“A few summers ago I passed the night at the cottage of a shepherd friend. The next morning, I set off to cross the mountains. As I approached the summit of the pass, a little lamb was bleating in tones more sad than I had ever heard before. It seemed to say, as plain as if it were uttering human words,

‘Pity me! help me! save me!’

One good thing the lamb realized it was ‘lost’ (Luke 19:10). So many boys and girls think they need to grow up, fight, drink, swear, and commit great crimes before they can be spoken about as being ‘lost’; whereas the Scripture makes it plain that we were born lost (Psalms 58:3), and by nature are lost sinners (Ephesians 2:3).

Yet, thank God, not eternally lost, so we can cry like sinking Peter,

‘Lord, save me.’ Matthew 15:30.

I stopped, and the lamb ran toward me. It was evident that it had been forsaken by its mother, for it was a mere skeleton, and its loosely-hanging skin and sharp features betokened starvation. I could not resist its appeals, so took it in my arms and carried it toward a sheep that was browsing not far off. But the sheep mod away, and the tiny lamb ran back to me, still imploring help. Again I took it in my arms, and carrying it toward another sheep farther off, put it down where some bracken would hide it from me as I rapidly stepped back.

The lamb did not go toward the retreating sheep, but remained where it had been placed, and still repeated its sad cry, ‘Pity me! help me! save me!’

So far ‘lost’ that its companions were of no avail. How like us, of whom it is said, ‘None of them can by any means reem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him’ Psalms 49:7. Our only Saviour must be the Lord Jesus Christ.

‘There is none other Name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12.

I took it in my arms once more, and sat down meditating what I had better do. Should I carry it forward with me till I reached the first house, several miles distant? But might not such an act seem suspicious if I met the owner of the flock? At any rate, I would not, I could not, leave to perish a helpless creature which had cast itself on my protection.

Just then, looking down into the valley, I saw a small object at the foot of the mountain. It came nearer. It was my shepherd friend. I at once showed him my, lamb, and entrusted it to his care.

‘Poor thing!’ said the shepherd; ‘its mother has forsaken, it; they sometimes do when pasture is scarce. It would have died in an hour or two; but I’ll take it down and give it some milk, and it will soon be all right again.’

Then the shepherd took in his arms the little trembling lamb, which at once nestled its head in his bosom, and hushed its pitiful cry. And as this great, strong, tenderhearted man stalked down the mountainside like a giant, bearing his tender burden, I thought of the words of the prophet concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd: ‘He shall feed His flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs with His arms, and carry them in His bosom’” Isaiah 40:11.

Did the lamb struggle against the kindness of the shepherd? Indeed no, feeling itself utterly lost, it was glad to have a saviour of any kind, and doubly glad to have a saviour—willing, able, kind, and true. Hence it was “found.” (Luke 15:6.)

Come to Jesus now, and you will find Him a kind, loving, strong Saviour, who will never let you go.

He will carry you safely home to His Father’s House, where you will spend eternity with Him, where all is joy and peace.

ML 08/23/1931

"I Got Saved Last Night"

I had been spending a little time in one of the quiet country retreats, seeking to make known the Way of Life to old and young, as opportunity occurred.

On Monday morning as I sat in the dining-room of the house in which I was staying, a young lady with her little sister entered, saying, “Mr. D., Mary has something to tell you.”

So as the thoughtful looking child came to me, I bade her let me hear her secret. Looking me in the face with her truthful Gray eyes she falteringly said: “I got saved last night.”

On the previous night, after coming from the Gospel meeting, Mary was seen to be very quiet, and as bedtime drew near, the silent tear fell down her cheeks. She feared to go asleep, she said, lest the Lord Jesus should come and take the others and leave her behind.

Mary was afraid to meet God. Her sister pointed her to the Lord Jesus, who died to save, lives to save, and at once does save all who simply put their trust in Him. So Mary wiped away her tears, and praised her Saviour. My little friends.

“Take Christ, God’s gift, this very hour, Possess Him for your very own.”

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

ML 08/23/1931

When Father Comes Back

Each morning after breakfast

Dear father says goodbye,

And tells his boys and girls

He wants them all to try

To be good little children,

And do whatever’s right.

Then adds, — “If nothing happens,

I’m coming back tonight”.

Sometimes the sun is shining

And gentle breezes blow;

Sometimes it’s cold and windy,—

The ground all white with snow.

But rain or shine, dear children,

Your father goes away

To work and earn some money

While you are at your play.

He pays for food and clothing

To keep you well and warm;

For a house with doors and windows,

A shelter from the storm.

And just because he loves you

And likes to see you glad,

He often brings you nice things

Some children never had.

And so each day that passes

Your father kind and true

Is doing all he can to bring

More happiness to you.

And just because he loves you,

With joy your faces light

At the thought that dearest father

Is coming home tonight.

But there’s Another loves you,

And seeks to make you glad,

And that One came to save you.

Because your hearts are bad.

Upon the cross He suffered

And shed His precious blood,

That you might be forgiven

And reconciled to God.

And God the Father wants you

To have a heavenly home,

Where sin and pain and sorrow

Can never, never come.

A place where you’ll be happy

In singing hymns of praise

To Jesus Christ, your Saviour,

Throughout eternal days.

And Christ is now in heaven,—

He’s prepared for us a place,—

For all who know and love Him

And long to see His face.

For there are many mansions

In the Father’s house above,

And there we’ll know the Saviour

In the fullness of His love.

And just as you are happy

When father comes at night,

And often run to meet him

And fill him with delight;

So Jesus’ heart rejoices

When you’re longing for Him, too,

And looking for that moment

When He’ll come back for you.

ML 08/23/1931

The Storm at Sea

“IT IS I; BE NOT AFRAID”

The Saviour’s voice we love to hear

Above the waves and wind,

It stills the tempest far and near,

And calms the anxious mind.

Our bark had sailed away from land

In times of peace and calm,

Had scarcely stretched across the strand,

Ere tempest gave alarm.

Then Jesus came across the seas,

Unhindered by the storm,

To put to silence winds and waves,

And make a sudden calm.

Where Jesus comes—Where Jesus is—

What room for doubt or fear?

His voice upon the ocean waves

Will soothe the listening ear.

Nor does He on the water stay,

When sailors find Him room;

But comes on board to show the way,

And bring them safely home.

“HE WILL BE WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

ML 08/30/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 105

Psalms 105 and 106 bring to a close the series of psalms celebrating the reigning of the Lord Jesus as Israel’s King. They declare the faithfulness of God to His covenant, and in Psalm 106 His mercy is prominent. Thanksgiving is called for, and the proclamation in word and song of Jehovah’s praise. Thus does Psalm 105 begin.

In verse 2 There is a deeper thought than “talk ye of” all His wondrous works; the expression is better translated, “meditate upon” all His wondrous works. In this modern age of hurry, meditation—centering one’s thoughts upon the. Word of God, is but little known among Christians, and there is not the blessing that there ought to be, in consequence.

Observe also, in verses 3 and 4, the recurrence of the word “seek.” This is more than to “inquire after”; the word implies having an earnest desire and using diligence to obtain it. And how shall we “seek the Lord, and His strength; seek His face evermore?” O, this is a step further for the believer beyond meditating upon His wondrous works; it is to seek to know Him through His Word. Consider the following,

“And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee,” John 17:3, etc.

“He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.” Psalm 103:7. “Acts” are what are seen, but “ways” are deeper, we know; they are known only to those who are well acquainted with the person spoken of.

May our Lord stir us up to seek to know Him better through diligent occupation of mind with His Word; coupled with prayer.

Our psalm treats of God’s unconditional promise to Abraham, renewed and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob (See Genesis 12:1-3; 26:2-5, and 28:13, 14). This covenant will yet be fulfilled, though because of Israel’s sins under the covenant of the law (Exodus 19:5 to 24:8), and most deeply in Judah’s putting to death the Messiah (Matthew 27), they are now set aside, while God in grace goes out to the Gentiles with the gospel of the glory.

The psalm considers Israel’s history from Abraham to the exodus, and to Ca naan, setting out God’s acting on their behalf in delivering them from oppression, overruling the earth’s mighty ones (Genesis 12:17; 20:3-7; 31:24; 35:5; 11:38-43; Exodus chapters 6-12, 14), and finally placing His people in the land promised to Abraham.

In view of the behavior, the stony-hearted unbelief and sin, which marked the children of Israel from Egypt to Canaan and afterward, verses 39 to 45 are very remarkable. Their failure and ruin are set out in the next psalm, but here the inspired writer sees only God as the covenant-keeping God, the Deliverer, the Protector, the Provider, the Giver of all Israel’s blessings. What a God is ours!

ML 08/30/1931

Contentment, as a Loss and as a Gain

The first essay we had to write, when at school, was on the subject of “Contentment,” and well do we remember the various illustrations ( of a rural character) that presented themselves to our young mind, as suitable for the subject in hand.

But we knew not then, as now we do, the important place “contentment” really holds in the Word of God, and the solemn contrasts connected with it, therein presented to us.

Will you turn, for an instance, to Luke 12: 16. Here we find a wealthy man. His goods are largely on the increase, and he is full of his own purposes and plans.

“I will do,” “I will pull down,” “I will build,” “I will bestow,” “I will say to my soul,” etc. Occupied with “the things that are seen,” and “are temporal,” he gave no consideration to “the things which are unseen,” and “are eternal.”

This man was CONTENTED WITUT GOD; and what was his end?

“Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” (Verse 20.)

Turn again to Luke 16: 19. Here we are introduced to another “rich man.”

“Clothed in purple and fine linen,” he “fared sumptuously every day.” But, occupied in his “life time” with the “good things” of earth, he ignored the danger of an eternity with its “evil things” being at hand.

This man, likewise was CONTENTED WITHOUT GOD; and what was his end?

“In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.” (Verse 23.)

O, my reader! these solemn verities from the Word of God, bringing before us, as they do, the truth that contentment without God is a TERRIBLE LOSS—the loss of one’s soul, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8: 36.

From these two sad instances, let us turn to a very different scene, recorded in Acts 16, a man of God in a dungeon at Philippi, scourged, and thrust into an inner prison, with feet made fast in the stocks, praying and singing praises unto God, rejoicing in tribulation. (Acts 16:25; Romans 5: 3.)

This same man, writing to some of God’s people at Philippi, years afterwards, during his imprisonment at Rome, says:

“What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Philippians 3:7.

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, ... to be content.” Philippians 4:11.

This man was CONTENTED WITH GOD; and the secret of it was to be found in the fact that he possessed Christ; as a little hymn so simply puts it,

“Possessing Christ, I all possess, — Wisdom, and Life, and righteousness.”

How truly, therefore, it is written, that “Godliness with Contentment is GREAT GAIN.” 1 Timothy. 6:6.

There is a beautifully simple verse in John 1: 12, which says,

“As many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”

Let me ask, my reader, Have you known what it is to receive Christ as your Saviour? Have you truly believed “on His Name?”

ML08/30/1931

"Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock"

Revelation 3:20

Mrs. B—, or, as all the school children called her Grandma B—, kept a little store near to our playground. We often gave her a call when we had a spare penny to spend, for Grandma kept a special kind of home-made candy of which as boys and girls we were very fond. Not only did we get “a good pennyworth,” but she had always a nice. kind word to speak to us. On Saturdays when there was no school or lessons, we often paid her a visit, and she told us nice stories.

Many years have come and gone since she went to be with Jesus, but I have not forgotten yet, the touching story of how the Lord saved her, as she told it to me one afternoon. I will repeat it to you, dear boys and girls, and I trust you may be saved as Grandma was, and as I have since been. She said,

“When we were young girls, my sister and I were fond of dancing. Many a long night we spent tripping on the ballroom floor, and then came home tired in the morning. We thought this was pleasure, and that there was nothing better worth living for. We had returned from a ball one morning before the daylight had dawned, and my sister and I were in our room preparing to lay aside our costly dresses.

All of a sudden, my sister sank into a chair and her face became white as the dress she wore. I ran for my mother, who came quickly, but before we could do anything for her, poor Agnes had passed into eternity, without speaking a word. I cannot tell you now all that I felt, but I never forgot that morning, and the sight of my dear sister lying pale in death, dressed in her ball dress. Ever after that, a voice seemed to follow me saying,

“Prepare to meet thy God.”

“I knew well that I was not ready to die, for my soul was not saved. For long and weary months, I tried to get saved by prayers and tears, but I was none the beer. One night I was hearing an address from the words,

“Behold I stand at the door and knock,” and O how glad I was, when I then learned that I had only to open and let the Saviour in. I did accept Christ as my Saviour; I did open my heart and told Jesus to come in, and He came, and has remained until this day. I am never weary, for He keeps me company.

I wish you boys and girls at school would open your hearts and let Jesus in. You have no idea how happy He would make you, and you would be spared the sorrow and tears that I had to bear until my heart was broken, and my cup of worldly pleasure spilled.”

This was Grandma’s story, ever sweet to me, because it showed me how I could be saved and made happy.

Have you, dear children, opened your hearts to Jesus and let Him in. He longs to be your Friend, your Saviour, and your Lord. He has loved you so much that He died for you, and if you take Him as your own Saviour, He will forgive you all your sins, but if you refuse His loving call and still keep Him out, there will come an hour when you will knock at His door, to hear the solemn words, “I never knew you: depart from Me.” Matthew 7: 23.

“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 tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Luke 13: 25, 27.

ML 08/30/1931

Where Is Your Name Written?

We may write our names in albums,

We may trace them in the sand,

We may chisel them in marble

With a firm and skilful hand:

But the pages soon are sullied,

Soon each name will fade away,

Every monument will crumble,

Like all earthly hopes—decay.

But, dear friend, there is an album

Full of leaves of snowy white,

Where no name is ever written

But for ever pure and white.

In that book of life—God’s album, Written by the Saviour’s hand—

Is your name Forever entered?

With His loved ones will you stand?

“He that hath the. Son hath life: and

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

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 21:15.

ML 08/30/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for July

“The Children’s Class”

1.“And the Lord,” etc. 2 Timothy 4:18.

2.“Yet for love’s sake,” etc. Philemon 9.

3.“Thou therefore,” etc. 2 Timothy 2:1.

4.“Holding the,” etc. 1 Timothy 3:9.

5.“According to,” etc. 1 Timothy 1:11.

6.“Let as many,” etc. 1 Timothy 6:1.

7.By living honestly and faithfully so that the truth of God is commended. Titus 2:10.

Bible Questions for September

“The Children’s Class”

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

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The precious fruit of the earth.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The head of the corner.”

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

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Found of him in peace.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “As obedient children.”

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

7.What is the difference between suffering “as an evildoer”, and suffering “as a Christian?”

Answers to Bible Questions for July

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.By asking the Lord to send him. Philemon 22.

2.No. 2 Timothy. 4:20.

3.Titus 1:5 and 7.

4.No. 1 Timothy. 2:12.

5.1 Timothy. 4:4, 5.

6.Persecution. 2 Timothy. 3:12.

7.Trust in the living God, and be large hearted in making use of their money for the Lord. 1 Timothy. 6:17-19.

Bible Questions for September

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The answers are to be found in James, and 1 and 2 Peter

1.Name eight characteristics of heavenly wisdom.

2.What personal adorning on the part of women is condemned?

3.At what do the unbelievers of the last days scoff?

4.How does a believer prove to his fellow man that he has genuine faith?

5.By what are we “born again”?

6.What do we escape by being believers?

7.How should we react to suffering for Christ’s sake?

ML 09/06/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 106

In this, the last psalm of the Fourth Book, we reach the end of what might be called the historic portion of the Psalms.

In the First Book (Psalms 1-41), after a number of psalms which are a sort of introduction to the whole, the godly remnant of Judah is revealed in Jerusalem or nearby, and free to go there to worship.

The Second Book (Psalms 42-72), shows them driven out by the Antichrist and his Gentile and Jewish friends, and in exile waiting for the Messiah’s coming to deliver them, and to set up His throne at Jerusalem.

In the Third Book, which commences with Psalm 73, the view is of the nation of Israel as a whole, redeemed, and not just the believers among the Jews.

The Fourth Book, beginning with Psalm 90, has brought in the Messiah’s reigning. Psalms, at the closing of both the Second and Third Books, indicate the Messiah’s coming to the help of those who wait for Him, but He will not immediately take the throne.

All of this, it will be understood, is yet in the future; the Psalms were written for a time to come, when the children of Israel, brought back to the land of their forefathers, will become a nation again under the protection of the— to be— revived Roman empire. When that time arrives, what the Scriptures call the Church of God will have been taken from the earth at the coming of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52: 1 Thessalonians. 4:16, 17), to be with Him in heavenly glory. This event Christians are assured is very near.

The keynote of Psalm 106, it is plain, is the “loving kindness,” or mercy of God to a sinful and wayward people. The psalm takes up the history of Israel in this light, and views them from Egypt to Canaan and thereafter, until He turns away ungodliness from them and makes them again His people.

An important verse, showing what God has allowed to self-seeking saints of our own times, and not only to Israelites, is the fifteenth:

“And He gave them their request”—they were seeking worldly things— “but sent leanness into their soul.” Is not this the cause of much of the low state of soul met with among Christians? Let us bare of making an object of anything short of Christ in our lives.

It will be noticed that in this psalm, the rejection of the Messiah is not mentioned: the reason is, no doubt, that in this Fourth Book as in the Third, the twelve tribes of Israel are seen, —the long lost ten tribes united with the two tribes of Judah or the Jews. The latter only were guilty of the crowning sin of putting their Messiah, our Lord Jesus, to death, as well as the Gentiles (Matthew 27:22).

ML 09/06/1931

Knowing the Shepherd

There is a great deal said about sheep in the Bible, but the point most strongly brought out is that they know their shepherd. Have you ever watched sheep feeding in a field? Supposing you were to open the gate and walk in among them, what would they do? Why, they would all set off as fast as possible, and never stop till they reached the other side of the field. Why would they be so frightened? Because they do not know you.

But now, see that man coming up the road. He opens the gate and walks tards the sheep. Do they run away from him? No; they are all running to him. Ah! he is their shepherd, and they know him. They are accustomed to his voice. and they have been fed every day by him.

If you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you know Him. This is not only knowing about Him. You have all heard something about Him. But do you know Him? Has your little heart ever had to do with His heart?

“And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. Here is another verse:

“I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” John 10:14.

Two little boys were talking together one day; the youngest was only three and a half years old, but the elder thought he was becoming quite a learned man, and was great in his own eyes, so he said to his little brother, “You know nothing at all!”

“Yes, I do,” said the little fellow, thoughtfully; “I know the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Ah! you see he knew His Shepherd’s voice. Could you say you know it, too? Do not be content with just hearing about Him, if you are one of His lambs, and then you will be able to say you know Him, and it is life eternal to know Him.

ML 09/06/1931

Four Things Which Sting

I am sure you will agree with me that stings are very bad things. If ever you had a sting, you do not wish any more, do you?

Well, the first thing I am going to mention is the wasp. Wasps fly in the AIR. Very beautiful they look with the yellow ribbons round their bodies and their gauzy wings, but their sting is very painful, and has been known to cause death.

The next is the jellyfish which lives in the SEA. They too look very pretty and harmless, but they give a dreadful sting when they touch the little hare legs of boys and girls wading.

The next thing is the nettle. It, of course, grows out of the EARTH, and when mother sees the children going near the hedge, she is almost sure to call out, “Take care, don’t touch the nettles.”

The fourth thing is the worst, and it is in your heart, little reader; its name is SIN.

I must tell you that the sting of sin is deadly.

“Sin came into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”; and “the sting of death, is sin.” Romans 5: 12.

Now suppose the wasp’s sting had been taken away, would you be afraid of it?

O, no, it was the sting you feared.

Well, Jesus has taken away the sting of death for all who flee to Him, and they can say, “O death, where is thy sting?” 1 Corinthians 15: 55.

On the cross Jesus was made sin (or a sin offering). He felt the sting in all its dreadfulness, because He loved sinners.

Was it for you?

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

ML 09/06/1931

Creation

What a beautiful picture of a Colorado mountain stream with a dear little boy standing on a rock near the water.

This boy is now a big boy, but we are sure he will not mind our showing you the picture.

The whole scene reminds us of the wonderful works of God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

But there is something more wonderful than the power of God in creation. He has taken up poor sinners—guilty men, women and children—who deserve to be punished forever for their sins, and has made them clean and white and fit for His holy presence.

When God wished to create the world, He had only to speak the word, “Let there be light.” “Let the earth bring forth.”

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

But when sinners were to be saved, the Lord Jesus must give His life, must shed His precious blood. Yes, sin must be punished, so the Lord Jesus bore the punishment in our stead that we might go free.

“HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES.” Isaiah 53:5.

ML 09/06/1931

Happy Day

Jesus is coming with joy to the sky,

Then all who love Him shall heavenward fly,

Upward shall fly to the Lord in the air,

And all together with Jesus be there,

Far from the earth and from sorrow and care,

O, happy day! happy day!

Parents and children again then shall meet,

Sisters and brothers—O, it will be sweet!

We missed them on earth, to Jesus they went;

But them we still love, their absence lament;

When all meet again, we shall be content,

O, happy day! happy day!

Are we all ready, should Jesus now call?

Would each one answer, the great and the small?

We long to rise up and with Thee to be,

We long our dear Saviour, Jesus to see.”

Children, would you, then sing sweetly with me?

O, happy day! happy day!

ML 09/06/1931

The Singing of Birds

There are many of my little readers who are delighted by the singing of birds, even if it be but the chirp of the city sparrow.

And I hope there are no children who do not love birds, for even if they were not so charming in themselves, we ought to love everything which God saw was of importance enough for Him to make.

I was once in a place where each morning there was such exquisite music of birds as only you who live in the country can know.

God wants praise not only from the birds, but from people, though how little is given to Him. It is only those who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ, that can sing songs of praise to Him. This is one of the happy songs of praise: “Unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God, even His Father; to Him be glory and dominion Forever and ever.” Revelation 1:5, 6.

There is also a New Song that never was heard before in all God’s creation: even the angels listen to this song in adoration and wonder. And what is so wonderful about it is that none but blood washed sinners can sing it:

“AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG, SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY,... FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD.” Revelation 5:9.

ML 09/13/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 107

At this point we begin the Fifth and last Book of the Psalms. If we have profited by our study of the first four books, we have discovered how admirably they supplement the writings of the prophets from Isaiah to Malachi, and illuminate the portions of the New Testament which speak of what is to take place on earth in connection with the Jews and the whole nation of Israel. How marvelous in its scope and its unity is the Word of God!

We have been considering in the psalms recently examined, the reign of the Son of David, Jehovah-Jesus, with its consequences, — His rule established, enemies put down, His earthly people blessed as they have never been before, in the thousand years of righteousness and peace foretold by other scriptures for this sin-racked, sorrow-laden world. At this point the Divine Author pauses, as it were, and then in the psalms which follow, gives us a comment on, or review of, the subjects and circumstances presented in the preceding 106 psalms.

Psalm 107 forms a sort of introduction to the Fifth Book. It is a call for the giving of thanks to Jehovah because He is good; because His loving kindness endureth forever, and because of His wondrous works to the children of men (verses 1, 8, 15, 21, 31). The redeemed ones here spoken of comprise all the twice-born souls who will form the Israel of God, and we observe in verses 2 and 3 the two classes into which they fall.

The Jews who are delivered in and near the Holy Land when at extremity of trial, as we have learned from Matthew 24:9-30; Psalms 54, 55, 56, 69, 70, and other passages, are referred to in verse 2; while the redeemed of the lost ten tribes of Israel, yet to be brought back from other lands (Matthew 24:31; Isaiah 11:11-13; Jeremiah 31:7-9; Ezekiel 20:34-44) are seen in verse 3 together with the Jews.

With what rejoicing, what heartfelt thanksgiving will the redeemed of Israel consider their former and present case, we may gather from these psalms. The long years of oppression and of homeless wandering, away from God in heart, are then forever past, but their deliverance is owned as entirely God’s doing.

Three times in this Psalm (verses 4-9; 10-16; 17-22), in deepening understanding, the objects of divine forbearance view their former condition, and (later) what in themselves was the cause of it.

In the first of these, they were simply homeless and needy, and as such they cried to Jehovah and found deliverance in Him; He had brought them to a city of habitation.

But a deeper work is going on in their souls, we judge, and they see themselves more as God saw them; they now reckon that they had been in a pitiable state—prisoners bound in affliction and iron, in darkness and the shadow of death, and that this was due to their rebellion against His words, and despising His counsel; He had bowed down their hearts with labor; they stumbled, and there was none to help. In such evil case as this, had the redeemed of Jehovah been, but, crying to Him in their trouble, He had brought them out and freed them.

Again, in verse 17, the matter is taken up, and this third time the evil is judged at its source: it is not so much the trouble into which they were, but their own character as they now see themselves: fools persons without understanding, and wicked besides. Jehovah answered their cry, sent His Word and healed them, delivered them from their pitfalls.

In verses 23-30 the sovereign power of God, both in bringing man into troubled circumstances, and in taking him out of them when he has learned his helplessness and cries out for deliverance, is set out in the example of the shipmen in a great storm at sea.

Verses 33 to 41 carry on the thought of Jehovah’s power, exercised in delivering His redeemed ones, to consider what He will do in altering the course of things on this earth.

The psalm closes with a word of encouragement: first to the righteous or upright, and after to the wise. The saint of God rejoices in all that His Lord does (verse 42), and the wise—those saints who seek to add to their knowledge of Him—will understand His loving kindnesses. May we be not only “upright,” but “wise” before God.

ML 09/13/1931

Satan's Cushions

You, of course, know what a cushion is for. It is to make you feel easy and comfortable. Now Satan has his cushions with which he makes boys and girls feel comfortable in their sins, for our great enemy knows very well that when anyone feels uneasy about his sins, he will want to seek the Saviour.

Here is one of Satan’s cushions: “I have never done any harm.” Will you dare tell God that you have never done any wrong? What about sins of the tongue and of thought, as well as sins of action? What does this first cushion suggest to you? It is this—that you don’t need Jesus; you have no use for the Saviour! What an ugly thought it is, is it not?

Here is another of Satan’s cushions: “It is such a little thing.” So seemed the eating of the forbidden fruit to our first parents in the Garden of Eden. Yet that one act of disobedience brought sin and death and all manner of evil into the world.

Some people who were taking a holiday in Switzerland noticed the strange behavior of some swallows. They suddenly stopped in their flight, and fell headlong to the earth. On hurrying up to them, it was found that they were dead. Underneath the wings of the birds were discovered large spiders which had drained the poor birds of their blood and so killed them.

While the birds were in North Africa during the winter, spiders had laid their eggs under their wings, and these had been hatched by the warmth of the swallows’ bodies; the young spiders fed on the blood of the birds and grew rapidly, until at last they killed them. Do not let Satan slip this cushion under your soul: “It is such a little thing”, and thus keep you away from the Saviour. Here is another:

“Everyone else does this.” That will not save you from punishment.

We can well imagine how the people laughed at Noah while he was building the ark. They no doubt said to one another, “That man is always speaking of a judgment of God which is coming, and he is preparing that big ship to save his family. We see no sign of judgment. It is true, we deserve punishment for our evil lives, but we are all alike. We are doing wrong, but everybody is doing the same.”

Yes, they sinned all together, but they died one by one.

Boys and girls may sin in a crowd, but they will be punished one by one. A boy feels bold to do wrong when there are other boys to encourage and applaud him. The presence of others makes him feel safe. He sometimes escapes punishment in the crowd because it may be difficult to find out the true offender, and a mistake might be made. But God makes no mistake; He singles each one out by himself and says,

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4. Satan has another cushion:

“It will never be found out.” Well, it may not be found out by anyone in this world, but God, the all-seeing One, knows all about it already, and, if unforgiven, it will have to be answered for after death, —but after death the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).

Don’t let Satan put any of these cushions under your soul. Tell God the wrongs you have clone, and take God’s gift which you never could deserve—Jesus Himself.

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15.

ML 09/13/1931

A Letter

Some years ago a postman got a letter to deliver bearing the peculiar address: “To any sinner in H—.” He tried the postmaster, his fellow-postmen, then took it from door to door on his rounds, causing many peculiar comments. Not one person in all his travels would own that they could be rightly addressed as “sinner,” and as the postman himself disliked the title, and the letter contained no address of sender, it was sent to the dead-letter office.

Had you lived in that place would you have said,

“I’ll take the letter, as I am a sinner in the sight of a Holy God, for ‘all have sinned’ (Romans 3:23), but as I have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ I am a ‘sinner saved by grace.’”

Do you say that here and now? Remember, all who do not acknowledge their sinner-ship will land in God’s “dead-letter office.” Are you a lost sinner, or are you saved? One or the other you are now, and will be in eternity. Which? Where will you spend it, in heaven or in hell?

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

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

ML 09/13/1931

Jesus Came from Heaven

Jesus came from heaven,

Many years ago;

Left His Father’s glory

For this world of woe.

Here He lived and suffered;

Here He also died;

On the cross of Calvary

He was crucified.

‘Twas for sin He suffered,

In the sinner’s stead,

And His Father raised Him,

Even from the dead.

Now in brightest glory

Jesus lives on high,

And His voice is calling. —

Calling from the sky.

“Come to Me, ye weary,

I have rest to give;”

Hearken then unto Him,

And your soul shall live.

He has peace and pardon

For the sin-sick soul;

Come to Him believing,

He will make you whole.

ML 09/13/1931

Happiness

This circle of children with their bright, happy faces rinds us of the many times we, too, have played on the lawn, or in the meadows and woods. Surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers, we have often listened to the merry songs of the birds, and felt thankful to God for allowing us to enjoy all these pleasant things.

What a good time they are having! God intends that children, as well as grown people, should be happy, but how much depends on what makes them happy!

Children cannot be happy if they are not obedient to their parents, for they are displeasing the Lord when they do not give heed to their parents’ wishes and obey them.

God blesses the children who listen to father and mother, for they love you and want you to find your pleasures in that which is right, and if we love them, we shall seek to please them in our ways.

It is when we realize how much God loves us, that we are led to love Him. His love cannot be measured: the gift of His own blessed Son, Jesus, proves this to us. What goodness God shows us, to Himself prepare a way so that we can come to Him and be saved.

If we come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, then we shall be happy, and will seek to please Him in all our ways.

We will never realize how much Jesus loves us until we are taken to be with Him—then we will have a whole eternity to praise Him for saving us, and taking such good care of us’ each day while we were on earth.

“PRAISE THE LORD; FOR THE LORD IS GOOD: SING PRAISES UNTO HIS NAME; FOR IT IS PLEASANT.” Psalms 135:3.

ML 09/20/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 108

The words of this psalm are identical with the latter parts of psalm 57 and 60 except for an occasional word. In those psalms they gave faith’s confidence concerning the outcome expressed in prayers for deliverance from the enemy, at the time oppressing God’s earthly people. The prayers will have been answered, and the redeemed ones are arming for battle against those enemies within the boundaries of the promised land, who were not put to death with the Beast and the False Prophet and their armies, at the appearing of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 19:19-21).

Many passages of Scripture indicate that the establishment of universal peace will be preceded by conflict with certain enemies in and near Palestine: Moab, Edom, Philistia and northeastern nations spoken of as the Assyrian or the King of the north. (Read Psalm 83; Isaiah 10:12; 11:14; 25:10-12, and chapter 34; Ezekiel 25:12-17; chapters 35, 38 and 39). Also the prophesy of Obadiah and Micah and other Scriptures, as well as the closing verse of our psalm, from which it is clear that there will be warfare, and that it will be waged by the re-born Israelites, after the Lord’s appearing, and before the reign of peace begins.

He will be first the antitype of David, the man of war; and afterward antitype of Solomon in a reign of peace and displayed glory.

It may be said that the nations of Moab, Edom and the Philistines have disappeared from the lands they occupied in Israel’s day, and are unknown today. It is evident that they will reappear, as will the lost ten tribes of Israel, to be actors in the last days, for God’s Word must stand, and “He requireth that which is past.”

ML 09/20/1931

Are you "Wheat" Or "Chaff?"

“Thrashing” is generally a most enjoyable season of work, for the neighbors of a farmer who is about to thrash, go to him for the time, so that the expense of hiring men is saved.

When the thrashing machine has been brought up and started, the “hands” who have come together pitch the sheaves into a cylinder, where they are broken to pieces and beaten. The grain, being heavier than the straw and chaff, falls into sacks or into a heap at the bottom, while the straw and chaff are blown through a large pipe on to a stack. This process having continued until all the sheaves have been thrashed, the floor is cleaned up, and all sit down to a hearty and well-earned meal.

Have you ever thought of what such a thrashing may rightly remind us? There is a time of thrashing of which the Lord Jesus speaks to us in God’s holy Word. It will not be a merry time for all, as a thrashing usually is; for there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in connection with it. It is the thrashing of Gods judgment. We read, “Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into His garner, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” Matthew 3:12.

Very soon this thrashing may take place. Are you “wheat” or “chaff?” Will you be gathered into God’s garner of everlasting joy and blessing? or will you suffer the vengeance of eternal life?

Now is the day of salvation. Put not off coming to Christ for another hour. Come at once! for still the message runs “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:30.

ML 09/20/1931

Which Is the Best Way?

I came across a group of seven or eight boys and girls playing; most of them were swinging upon a gate at a point where two roads met.

Dismounting, I asked one of them the way to M. Two curly-headed boys immediately pointed up a hill before me, and said.

“Up there, sir,” while several of the others chimed in with,

“This is the best way, sir, through the gate.”

I closely questioned them, and ultimately they all agreed that the best and nearest way was through the gate, for, added one fellow,

“They all go this way.”

As they were all standing around me, I said to them,

“Now you have answered me one question; see if you can answer me another. Who can tell me the way to heaven?”

They all seemed to have lost their tongues, and they looked first at me and then at each other, as though they were perfectly bewildered.

After a few moments silence, I said,

“Now, as none of you appear to know, I will tell you a boy’s answer to the same question; he replied, ‘First turn to the right, and keep straight on.’ Can you tell me,” I continued, “who said, ‘I am the Way’?”

“Jesus Christ,” promptly answered one. “Quite correct, my boy,” I replied, “and I hope each of you boys and girls will remember that He is the only Way to heaven. He is also the Truth, He will never deceive you; and He is the Life of all who trust in Him. God looks upon us all as dead in trespasses and sins; as lifeless as a boy I once saw dragged out of the river, who had fallen in and was drowned. But remember this, dear children, that all who go to heaven must make a start, as I must if I am to reach my destination. It is one thing to know the way to heaven, but quite another to start by entering the narrow pathway which leads to the beautiful heavenly Home.”

You, my dear young friends, may know quite as well as those country children that Jesus is both the Door and the Way to heaven; but have you ever entered by the Door? Are you walking in the Way? You may know that His blood cleanses from all sin, but have you been cleansed? You may know that there is salvation in none but Jesus, but have you received that salvation? If not, turn now to the Lord Jesus Christ. He loves you, He died for you, just now in compassionate love He calls you to Himself to receive His pardon and blessing.

As you read these lines, He is speaking to you from heaven, saying, “Come unto Me.”

Do not trifle with the Saviour, lest you die in your sins, and are Forever shut out of the Paradise of God; for Jesus once said to a company of triflers:

“If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” John 8:24.

How loving of the Lord Jesus Christ to say:

“Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 19:14.

Do not be so ungrateful as to despise His gracious words. Come to Him now and life evermore will be your portion.

ML 09/20/1931

A Talk About Jesus

There are two little boys that I know, called Arthur and Bertie. Arthur is nine years old, and Bertie six. They are both dear little fellows, and they know Jesus as their Saviour, and are trying to please Him. They both get up very early in the morning, and go to bed with the birds at night. When the two little boy-birds are in bed, I often go into their room to say “good-night,” and kiss the rosy faces. Then the little arms are thrown round my neck, and I am held prisoner.

“Please stay, do now! You’re not going yet! I’m not going to let you!” from one little bed.

“Hold her fast, until she promises to stay and talk to us!” from the other.

“Well, I promise!” Then the arms unclasp willingly, and there comes a sigh of content from both beds.

“Now talk—a nice, dear little talk—about Jesus!”

“Now come and sit by me!” “No, me!”

I compromise matters by sitting between the two little beds, with two soft hands in mine.

“Now begin—we’re all ready!”

And then I tell all about Jesus, and how He loved us and came down to die for us, and how He still loves little children, and takes care of them night and day, and about what they can do for Jesus in the world, and about heaven, and how Jesus is coming for us and we shall see Him.

“I hope He’ll come soon!” Artie says, pressing my hand.

“Might it be tomorrow?” asks Bertie.

“Yes, any day; but He doesn’t tell us the time, so that we may be always looking for him.”

“I wish all the little children would love Jesus, and be looking for Him,” says Arthur. “It would be so nice to be all looking together, wouldn’t it?”

“And then to have Him come for us while we were looking—wouldn’t it be delicious?” says wee Bertie.

And so we talk on, until I say that it is high time that all little birds were sleep, and go away, leaving a text with each of them to think over.

“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 Thessalonians. 4: 16, 17.

ML 09/20/1931

Come Believing

Once again the Gospel message,

From the Saviour you have heard;

Will you heed the invitation?

Will you turn and seek the Lord?

Jesus for your choice is waiting;

Tarry not; at once decide!

{link src="\\/bile" alt="While" /} the Spirit now is striving,

Yield, and seek the Saviour’s side.

Cease of fitness to be thinking;

Do not longer try to feel;

It is trusting, and not feeling,

That will give the Spirit’s seal.

Let your heart to God be given,

Trust in Christ’s atoning blood;

Look to Jesus now in heaven,

Rest on His unchanging Word.

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

ML 09/20/1931

Pastimes of Children

These dear little children are having a good time, as they call it, having no care or even thoughts about how to get their food or clothing, but are passing their time making mud pies.

God has not intended them to have any responsibility of earning their food and clothing, or to provide a home, but He has provided parents, and given them the ability to care for the children, and to earn money to buy the things that they need, and watch over them, and give them instructions, as the dear little ones do not have proper judgment.

How wonderful and good it is of God to thus watch over all His creatures, and so graciously provide for them. Let us not forget to thank’ Him, and trust Him for Everything.

Let us ever remember also, that God has not withheld from us the dearest object of His heart, which is His beloved Son, for He has given Him to be a sacrifice for us, and if we believe this, we then can say in the words of Scripture,

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM, SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” John 3:16.

Now I can call the Saviour mine,

Though all unworthy still;

I’m sheltered by His precious blood, Beyond the reach of ill.

Come, all who trust in Jesus now,

And tell your joys abroad;

Let thankful hymns of praise ascend.

For Christ, the Gift of God.

ML 09/27/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 109

In this psalm we are brought back to the earthly life of Jesus, to consider again His lonely path of rejection, the enemies who daily sought to destroy Him, and His dependence upon His God as He passed as the obedient man through a scene of man’s guilt and Satan’s triumph.

Evidently, too, as in earlier psalms, those Israelites who should become His disciples and taste His rejection, —the “remnant” of Scripture—are included in the language of Psalm 109. Peter in Acts 1 quoted from this psalm regarding Judas, the betrayer of his Master; and in Matthew 10:16-26 and other scriptures, the Lord points to a path of suffering, after the pattern of His own, for His followers, particularly among the Jews.

Matthew 26:47-68 conies before us as we read verses 2-5. All the power of Satan in deceived, willful and guilty man, full of malignity and scorn, came out in the closing scenes of our blessed Lord’s life here below. How much He suffered from His creatures (and far more God-ward as the Sin Bearer during the second three hours on the cross) we shall never fully measure, but not the least of His suffering was that His love was met with hatred (verse 5); for it they were His adversaries (verse 4).

Christians, instructed in the New Testament to love their enemies, to bless when cursed, are apt to wonder at the calls for vengeance upon the wicked which are found in the Psalms. We are apt to forget that the judgment of the wicked will take place upon earth at the appearing and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the answer to the suffering of His earthly people is not translation to heaven with Him as is the Christian’s hope, but the setting up of a rule of righteousness, with sin curbed and glory displayed on earth.

Verse 27 looks forward to the day when it will he seen that God was on the side I! is afflicted ones, as verse 26 looks to I lint for help and deliverance.

ML 09/27/1931

Emily and Amy

I had a class of little children in a Sunday school, whom I used to teach hymns and read Bible stories to. All the children in the class were very poor. I loved them much.

One little girl in my class was called Emily. She was a dear child, and very fond of me. One Sunday, Emily did not come to school, and when I asked why she was not in her place, a little girl said, “Please, teacher, Emily is very ill, and her mother’s gone to get the doctor.”

Before next Sunday came, little Emily was dead. I saw them lay her in the little grave dug out of the green churchyard, and then I went home to think about it. I had never had anything to do with death before. Nobody that I loved had ever died, so far as I could remember. It seemed a very terrible thing to be rosy and well like Emily one Sunday, and to be cold and dead before the next.

Suppose it had been you, dear children, instead of Emily, where should you have gone when you were dead? Where did Emily go? Now dear young friends, will you think about this,

“If I were to die tomorrow, where should I go?”

If you believe that Jesus died for you, and has washed away your sins in His own blood, then Jesus Himself tells you,

“I will receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 3. You shall be with Jesus, with love and peace, and everything that can make you happy—forever.

Now, let me tell you about a little girl called Amy, who did love Jesus, and who went to heaven only a few months ago. When she was dying, someone asked her if she felt much pain, or was very tired.

“Only very tired,” she said; “but Jesus is here, and I think He is going to take His little girl into His arms, because she is so tired.” Then a beautiful light came into her eyes, and she exclaimed joyfully,

“Yes, I see Him! I see Jesus—and there is a little place left for me at His feet!” So she died. She is quite happy now—all the tiredness gone forever!

But what a terrible thing it must be to die all alone without Jesus; to be shut out from heaven and happiness, into all the dreadful pain and darkness of hell, with Satan and His angels forever!

O dear young reader, see that you have Jesus for your Saviour now, that when the time comes for you to die, He will be with you. To those who love Jesus, death is only going home. All our play, all our work, everything of earth that we care for here, we will not want there. They will be of no use to us when we come to die. We can carry nothing with us. All must be left behind. But if we are Jesus’ little ones, He will surely stay with us then.

But we may not die, for the Lord Jesus is coming very soon to call away all of those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour, to meet Him in the air, and He will take them to His Father’s home to be happy with Him Forever. Not one of His own redeemed ones shall be left behind.

“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 Thessalonians. 4: 16, 17.

“But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:23.

“Surely I come quickly,” He says.

May we say from the depths of our hearts, “Amen, even so, COME, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22: 20.

ML 09/27/,1931

I Don't Want to be left Behind

Afternoon lessons and addresses were over in a Sunday school, and the classes were leaving in their usual order when a girl went to get her little brother from the infant class of boys. She found him just ready to cry, and he said to her in a most dismal tone,

“O, I don’t want to be left behind.”

“No, dear, of course not,” answered his sister; “I have come now to take you home, as 1 always do, you know.”

“O, I don’t mean that at all,” said the little fellow; “I mean what the teacher has been talking about.”

“And what has he been talking about?”

“Why, about the Lord Jesus coming soon to take all who love Him up to live with Him; and the teacher said some people would be left behind, and, O, I don’t want to be left behind.”

The little boy’s sister told him that those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus would not be left behind when He comes to call away all of His own, and he trotted home happily by her side.

Now, does not this incident show plainly to you, dear children, that even the youngest in the Sunday school—tiny boys and girls in the infant classes—can understand and can remember something at least of what is told them by their teachers, if they will only pay attention.

The Lord Jesus is certainly coming, and we know not how soon, to take all His own people—all who are saved—to be Forever with Himself in glory. He loves little children particularly, and wishes them to come to Him now, and be ready to go to be with Him when He comes.

Would you be willing to be “left bind,” or do you say from your inmost heart, like little Willie, “I don’t want to be left behind?”

If so, accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour right now, and you will be “ready,” and you will be one of His watching and waiting ones.

If your father or mother, whom you love so dearly, has been away from you for some time, and you know that he or she is about to return, but you do not know the hour, yet you want very much to be the first to run out and meet them, do you not keep waiting at the door, and watching from the window to catch the very first sight or sound of their coming? Our Lord said,

“Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Luke 12: 37.

May that rich blessing be yours„ dear little reader; may you so be found, “abiding in Him that you will not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28.

O, think of the joy, the bliss of meeting the Lord in the air, and of going home with Him!

Think also of what it would be to be “Left Behind” for certain judgment.

“They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:10, 11, 12.

ML 09/27/1931

A Christian or a Sinner

There was a lady in my neighborhood who had been in deep anxiety about her salvation. She read her Bible, prayed over and over again, and could get no rest to her soul.

But one day she came looking so happy that I knew something had transpired.

“You are happy now,” I said.

“Yes,” she replied, “I am. I found the secret at last. I was endeavoring to make myself out a Christian, and to come to God as such; but having dropped the idea of being a Christian, I found redemption for the sinner. Now,” said she, “I know Whom I have believed—now I know what and where I am.”

Ah, dear young friends! don’t try to make yourselves Christians before you come to Christ. Sinners appear before (..ccl accepted, and enter heaven, on the ground of what Christ has done for the lost.

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

ML 09/27/1931

"Jesus Called a Little Child!"

Jesus called a little child

“Unto Him” in accents mild;

O! what love and tender grace

Then was shining in His face!

Children He will now receive—

Little ones who Him believe—

Take them in His arms of love,

Carry them till home above.

In those arms His power they know;

“Never perish”—is it so?

Jesus says it—He is Lord—

We believe it—‘tis His word.

Come, O, come to Him to-day!

Turn not from such love away;

He will cleanse you from your stain, Take you home with Him to reign.

ML 09/27/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for August

“The Children’s Class”

1. “And being made,” etc. Hebrews 5:9.

2. “Looking unto Jesus,” etc. Hebrews 12:2.

3.“But now hath he,” etc. Hebrews 8:6.

4.“But Christ being come,” etc. Hebrews 9:11.

5.“And as a vesture,” etc. Hebrews 1:12.

6.There remaineth,” etc. Hebrews 4:9.

7a. “The sacrifice of praise.” Hebrews 13:15.

7b. “To do good and to communicate” Hebrews 13:16,

Bible Questions for October

“The Children’s Class”

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

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Building up yourselves.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “He that is in the world.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “It is the last time.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Let no man deceive you.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Not by water only.”

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

7.What was there in the conduct of the elect lady’s children which caused the Apostle to “rejoice greatly?”

Answers to Bible Questions for August

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Outside the camp. Hebrews 13:13.

2.Of things in the heavens. Hebrews 9:23.

3.His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:8.

4.He esteemed it greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. (For us Egypt is the “world”). Hebrews 11:26.

5.It is “heavenly”, i.e. he is called to heaven. Hebrews 3:1.

6.No! Hebrews 6:4-6.

7.Forever! Hebrews 10:10, 14.

Bible Questions for October

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

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

1.What caused the apostle John to rejoice greatly?

2.For what should believers earnestly contend?

3.Did the Lord’s servants accept fellowship in the Lord’s work from unbelievers?

4.Who have the right to know that they have eternal life?

5.What provision is made for the believer when he sins?

6.How do we know that we have passed from death to life?

7.Who is antichrist?

ML 10/04/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 110

How evident it is that this psalm supplies the divine answer to the riddle of a suffering Messiah. In Psalm 109:4, 5, “For My love they are My adversaries ... ... and they have rewarded Me evil for good, and hatred for My love,” and in this one, “Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool....Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power.” “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.” Isaiah 53:11.

The first verse is quoted five times in the New Testament; the first time (Matthew 22:41-46) when the Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees concerning the promised Messiah; the second time, and the third (Mark 12:36 and Luke 20:4144) when He asked the same question of the scribes and Sadducees; the fourth time, when Peter in Acts 2:34 gives the answer the Jewish leaders could not or would not give because of unbelief. Last of all this verse is quoted in Hebrews 1 in declaring various glories of the Son of God (verse 13).

It will be noticed that in the Psalms, the present period of grace, and the taking out of a people for heaven, chiefly from the Gentiles, is wholly left out. In verse 1 of our psalm, the despised and rejected Man of Psalm 109 is invited to sit at the right hand of Jehovah until His enemies are made His footstool. They are not being made His footstool now, certainly, for the gospel of the grace of God is proclaimed to all, both Jew and Gentile. That the Church of God to be composed of all who believe in the Lord Jesus from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) to His soon-coming descent from heaven to claim them (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17), was secret not disclosed in Old Testament days, is expressly told in Ephesians 3:1-13.

The position of Psalm 110 is that the Lord Jesus, as Israel’s Messiah, has appeared again on earth according to prose; has defeated and destroyed the mighty host assembled by the Western powers in the land of Israel, and has set up His authority as Israel’s King in Zion (Jerusalem). His people who formerly demanded and secured His crucifixion, crying, “Away with Him; crucify Him,” will now be willing in the beauties of holiness (or, in holy splendor), and as born again in that day.

The fourth verse speaking of the order of Melchizedek, invites a reference to brews, chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8, where the subject is taken up and explained. It will suffice here to remark that believers need and have been given, a High Priest in the blessed Lord Jesus; and that He could not be a priest according to the law of Moses, because He was not of the tribe of Levi, but of Judah. Melchizedek furnished an illustration which the Holy Spirit has made use of, of a priest not tracing his descent from a family of priests, nor passing on his priesthood to others after him.

“He shall drink of the brook by the way” (verse 7), refers to His lowly, dependent life while passing through this world on the way from the manger to the cross.

ML 10/04/1931

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

Jesus bears the name of THE GOOD SHEPHERD. None other shepherd has such a name. He was never selfish. He did not come to make a gain out of the poor sheep. O, no; He came to heal the sick, to bind up that which was broken, and to bring together again those who were scattered.

Shepherds may serve for hire, but the Good Shepherd serves for love. Jesus served His Father and the sheep, because He loved His Father’s will. He came from His bright home in heaven to toil and to suffer upon earth, because He so loved us.

We may know why Jesus bears this beautiful name of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is so very kind, and so full of love and pity, that He “giveth His life for the sheep.” He loved His sheep so much that they were clearer to Him even than His own life.

The prophet Isaiah speaks very sweetly to us of the Good Shepherd. He says,

“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”

If your father had you in his arms, you would feel quite safe, because you could trust your father’s strength. I have never heard of a very little child saying,

“Father, don’t let me fall.” It is only older children who have such fears; when in their father’s arms, they will say sometimes, “Don’t drop me, father!” If you rose on Jesus’ strength, you will never fear that He will let you fall.

Think of what He has said:

“Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.”

A very strong robber might pluck the lamb out of the shepherd’s arms, but Jesus is Almighty, and none can steal us away from Him. No one—neither Satan, nor anyone else—can steal away from the Good Shepherd the least of the little lambs who belong to Him.

If you had your head upon your mother’s bosom, you would feel quite happy, because of your trust in your mother’s love. I never yet heard of a tiny child saying, “My mother does not love me.”

But Jesus’ love is stronger even than a mother’s, and He loves His own too much to part with even one of them. He loved His own so much that He died for them, and now that He has risen from the grave, and gone back to glory, He says,

“Because I live ye shall live also.”

ML 10/04/1931

Little Servants

The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20.

The well-known words were being read to a little fellow of but four years of age. His eyes filled with tears as he thought of the Saviour who loved and died for sinners not having a home or a bed, and he cried out,

“I am sure, mamma, if I had been there I would have given Him my pillow.”

He is not here now. But still if we love Him we may give Him something that He will value more than He would have valued a pillow when here. We may come to Him just as we are, accept Him as our Saviour, and then ask Him to let us know how we may serve Him.

Little Samuel served Him. Little Joash served Him. The little boy served Him who gave his barley loaves and little fish for Him to use to feed the multitude. The little girl who waited on Naaman’s wife served Him. And you may serve Him too.

First of all in your home, by obedience to your parents and kindness to brothers and sisters. Then at school and among your friends by being loving and forgiving to them. These are little things, but by and by if you serve Him in small things now, He will give you greater things to do for Him.

“His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:23.

ML 10/04/1931

The Lion

I look on the lion with wonder and fear,

And tremble in awe when his roaring I hear,

And think, if he could but escape from the cage,

He’d tear me in pieces in fierceness and rage.

That great man of valor, called David the king,—

Goliath he slew with a stone and a sling;—

Once fought with and killed both a lion and bear,

To save the poor sheep which were placed in his care.

The battle he won in the strength of the Lord,

A much surer weapon than arrow or sword;

He faithfully fought for the poor little flock,

And stood in the conflict as firm as a rock.

A mightier than David—God’s own blessed Son—

A vict’ry far greater than David’s has won;

He Satan has vanquished, and sin put away,

Delivering sinners, of Satan the prey.

He now lives, the Saviour, in heaven above,

And safe is each soul in the arms of His love;

No lamb of the flock will He ever let go,

But guard it and keep it secure from the foe.

How blessed with Jesus in heaven to be,

From Satan and sorrow and sin ever free,

With none to disturb, to mislead or destroy,

And nothing to check the o’erflowing of joy.

“WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM.” Hebrews 7:25.

ML 10/04/1931

The Gleaners

In our country, where God has provided such abundance of foods, we know very little of gleaners. Our great wheat fields are mown in summer time, the wheat tied in great bundles: then it is thrashed right in the fields, and taken to the granaries. The many ears left on the ground are eaten by the fowls or go to waste.

But not so in the eastern countries, which are thickly inhabited. When the wheat has been cut and gathered in, the poor send their children, or go themselves, to pick up every ear of wheat they can find left behind. It will be carefully rubbed between the hands, the grain used for food during the winter months, and the straw to fill their mattresses for their beds.

We read in God’s Word that He forbade His people, the Israelites, when they should come into their land, to go after the reapers in the fields to gather what might have been left behind, but on the contrary, they were to leave for the poor the corners of the fields; also in the vineyards, they were not to gather all the grapes, but leave some for those who had none.

God had given them the land, and all its riches, and He wanted His people to remember it, and provide for those who had less. So should we, for whom God has done so much.

Everything we receive is from His long hand, and He wants us to show our appreciation by sharing with others.

“GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.” 2 Corinthians 9:7.

ML 10/11/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 111, 112, 113

Psalms111 and 112 are acrostic psalms, the initial leer in each half-verse following the Hebrew alphabet. Psalms 25, 37 (with double verses), 119 (in periods of 8 verses, each of which begins with the same Hebrew letter), and 145 (verse 14 being an exception) are also alphabetical psalms.

Psalms 111, 112, and 113 go together in one theme of praise to Jehovah. The first of the three speaks of His works; the exhibitions of His power will be much spoken of by redeemed Israel, because by power He will bring them into undisturbed possession of their land at last. There is a marked difference between the earthly saints and the heavenly ones; of the former we have the Lord’s testimony to Thomas (John 20:29),

“Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed,” and to the nobleman (John 4:48), “Except ye see signs and wonders ye will not believe.”

See also 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; 2:9, 10, and 1 Peter 1:8 which give the character of the Christian’s faith in contrast with Israel’s unrealized hopes.

We cannot rightly consider God’s works without thinking of Him, and this comes out in verses 4 and 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Psalm 111. To fear Him we are told is the beginning of wisdom; to live according to His Word is (more than the beginning of wisdom) to have a good understanding. Similarly, the word in 2 Peter 3:18 is “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” showing that we who know Him should be advancing in the truth. Let us seek this worthwhile gain.

Psalm 112 shows the result of such a life of godliness; he who fears Jehovah and delights greatly in His commandments, is blessed. The blessings spoken of are earthly and connected with the millennial reign of Christ, but there is a spiritual lesson here for the Christian.

Psalm 113 returns to the praise of Jehovah “from this time forth and for evermore.” Verses 3 and 4 would make it plain that the blessing is world-wide, and not limited to the land of Palestine. There is none like Him, who, having placed His dwelling on high, humbles Himself to look on the heavens and on the earth. The poor and the needy are those whom He has blessed, lifting them from the lowest place to an exalted one, and the barren woman is made to keep house as a joyful mother of children.

All blessing is seen to be from God, and this we well know is true of the Christian, equally as it shall be true of the Israelites in the time of which the psalms treat. God delights to bless His people.

ML 10/11/1931

Hanging by a Thread Above the Precipice

Many years ago there lived a poor widow with her son of sixteen years, who was her only joy and help. They were very poor and Ronald in order to get strengthening food for himself and his mother, used to climb the steep mountains on the coast to hunt for the sea-birds’ nests and take their eggs home. This was a dangerous undertaking, as the large birds defended themselves furiously, when their nests were robbed.

On a certain day, Ronald, after saying good-bye to his Mother, set out to search for nests. He was provided with a strong rope by which he was to be let down over the side of the cliffs, and with a knife to defend himself from the birds of prey. The beach there was beautiful; with an extended view over the foaming ocean that dashed unavailingly its mighty waves against the rocks.

Having climbed up the rocks, Ronald fastened carefully the end of the rope to a rocky point, then tied the other end round his body and he was lowered to a cleft where there were nests. Arriving there, he made a sign to his comrades not to let him down lower. He set his foot on the rock, took in one hand his knife, and stretched out the other to seize the eggs.

At this moment he was attacked by a bird; he tried with a blow of his knife to defend himself, —but O! horrors! instead of hitting the bird, he hit the rope and cut it nearly in two. He uttered a heartrending shriek, that was heard by his comrades. Seeing the danger he was in, they pulled the rope up carefully. Terrible moment! As they were drawing it up, Ronald could distinctly feel that one thread after another was breaking. His first thought and prayer was,

“O Lord! have mercy upon me,” and the next:

“My God! comfort my poor mother!”

He closed his eyes, so that he should not see the precipice, as he felt that every second the rope was getting thinner. They drew on the rope again and again; at last there was but one thread on which he was hanging. He heard the anxious shouts of his comrades, and of his mother, who they were trying to hold back from throwing herself over the cliff, with the desperate desire to save her child. And then, nothing more! He was losing consciousness. But just at the moment the rope broke, one of his friends caught him with a powerful hand, leaning far over the edge of the cliff at the risk of his life, and Ronald was saved!

Is there anyone among my readers whose soul is not yet saved, and is in the same terrible position? His life is hanging by a thread over the precipice of eternal destruction. As years fly past, the strength of the thread lessens. Reader! how much time have you left? Any moment the thread of life may break, and the terrible precipice swallow you up!

Dear reader! Do you know that you are in this position? Ronald felt his condition in that terrible moment, and he thought himself utterly lost, but a strong hand saved him.

May the Lord by His Holy Spirit make known to you the danger you are in, so that you may without delay cast yourself into the powerful arms of the Saviour of the lost. His hand is stretched out to save you, to lift you up, and to bring you to His home in heaven.

Accept the Lord Jesus Christ at once as your Saviour. He will keep you from falling into the terrible abyss of hell.

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

If you believe on Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who loved you and gave Himself for you, then you are saved.

ML 10/11/1931

Not Satisfied

I have traveled from end to end of this country seeing all that is to be seen, and still I am not satisfied,” said a young, tourist who sat by my side on the top of a bus.

“I do not wonder at it; for that’s exactly what a wealthy and wise king said three thousand years ago, after he had traveled farther, and had seen a great deal more than you or I have ever seen.”

“Is that so?” asked the young tourist, quite astonished.

“Yes,” I said, pulling out my Bible. “Here are his words,

‘All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.’ Ecclesiastes 1: 8, 14.

You will never be truly satisfied till you,

“Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. This is the greatest of all sights—greater than anything in this world, and all who see Him are both saved and satisfied.”

The young fellow shook his head as he stepped from the bus saying, “I wish that were so with me.”

Yes, this is the greatest sight, reader. Have you seen him? You will never be truly satisfied until you see your sins borne away, and your title to glory made sure in the blood of the Lamb.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2: 9, 10.

ML 10/11/1931

The Water of Life

If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.” John 4:10.

“If thou knewest,” little child,

The gift that God has given,

How fully would thy thirst for joy

Be satisfied from heaven!

“If thou knewest,” little child,

That, sinful as thou art,

Compassion fills His soul for thee,

And tenderness His heart!

“If thou knewest,” little child,

The pleasures of His love,

Thy little heart would love to think

Of Him who is above;

Would think of Him who’s seated there,

And hear His gospel tell,

How once, to show the way of life,

He sat beside the well.

And now, His tenderness the same, Who still is meek and mild,

He draws the living waters still,

And gives them to the child.

Drink, little children, freely drink, These waters are for you;

The springs of life are ever fresh,

The wells of mercy new.

ML 10/11/1931

How to Make a Fortune

A young man had been a brilliant success both at school and the university. He attracted the attention of a wealthy man, who propounded a plan how to make his fortune. He consulted his old professor, who listened to his proposal, then quietly asked,

“You wish to make a fortune, for which world?”

This set him to thinking as to the value of this world in comparison with “the world to come” (Mark 10:30), and eventually led to the wise course of making sure of “an inheritance incorruptible, that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 1:4), whatever he might do here. Was that not a wise choice? Have you done the same?

Whatever prospects lie ahead of you as to this life—are you ready for Eternity? Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? If not, make this your “first.”

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” that He loved you, and died on the Cross for you and “thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.

ML 10/11/1931

Sheep

We all love to watch a flock of sheep quietly feeding on the hillside, and the little lambs skipping about, without any thought of where they are to get their food.

Their shepherd takes them from one place to another, and he finds out the best pastures for them.

The Lord Jesus has a flock of sheep and lambs, and He is their Shepherd.

Are you one of his flock? And is He your Shepherd? Can you say, with the Psalmist,

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters?” Psalm 23:1, 2.

Where are these green pastures and still waters to be found for us? They are, clear children, in His blessed Word.

If any of you have not yet come to Jesus, listen now to His loving call, and you will then be one of His lambs, whom He will love and care for until He takes you to be with Himself forever.

“HE SHALL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD. HE SHALL GATR THE LAMBS WITH HIS ARM, AND CARRY THEM IN HIS BOSOM.”

Isaiah 40:11.

ML 10/18/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 114 and 115

Psalms 114 is a poem of high quality, as are many of the psalms we have been studying. This short one attracts our close attention. Why is God not named early in the psalm? Is it not because the hearts of these saints will be full of His praise, and He so much the subject of conversation among them, that the personal pronoun as in verse 2 is appropriate?

What hath God wrought? will be the theme of His earthly saints, as well as of His heavenly people, eternally. In Psalm 114, redeemed Israel looks back over the centuries to God’s power and goodness exercised in the exodus from Egypt’s land of slavery to Canaan’s land of liberty and blessing. The redemption yet to be wrought for Israel will be eternal in value, for then all will know Jehovah; all Israel will be twice-born souls at the beginning of the millennium.

In Psalm 115 the glory of Israel’s new found blessing is ascribed wholly to God. During the perilous times, before the appearing of the Lord Jesus for their deliverance, the Jewish believers, feeble and few, were derided by their unbelieving kinsmen who said, “Where then is their God?” See in this connection Psalms 42 and 79, though other psalms tell of the bitter taunts of the enemies.

The trial of faith establishes the saint in God, leads to growth in a spiritual way, and so verses 3 to 8 give the answer of confidence in Him:

“Our God is in the heavens; He hath clone whatsoever He pleased; their idols are ... .the work of men’s hands ... .They that make them are like unto them—every one that confideth in them.” This high level is faith’s position, supplied by God.

Verses 11 and 13 bring in the believers among the Gentiles in the future day, and verse 16 again makes plain that the psalms, and the blessing of Israel are connected with the earth.

Those who receive the Word of God in the present dispensation of grace, are being formed into a body, the assembly or Church of God, the bride of Christ, to share His heavenly glory. So there will be a heavenly people, and an earthly people, eternally to the praise of the Iamb. Hallelujah!

ML 10/18/1931

The Escape

Little Emily lives with her mother and sister Ellen in a quiet little street. It is rather a poor street, but the houses are neat and respectable, and sometimes in summer the tiny gardens look gay with flowers. Emily’s mother is a dressmaker, and has to work hard with the needle, and Emily will go on errands, and help to keep the house tidy. I am glad to tell you that although young, she is a believer in the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps you may learn a lesson from the trouble that this poor fatherless family was called to pass through during two days, a few months ago. Their street is near the river, and one Saturday the waters began to rise. Emily with her mother and sister, and the aged grandmother, took refuge upstairs with all the things they could carry with them. The waters rose higher and higher. Poor Ellen thought she and her mother would have to die together. All night there was no sleep for them, and in the morning they looked out anxiously for someone to come and save them.

At last they saw some kind men they knew, coming near in boats. Emily and Ellen called from the bedroom window “O! Mr—, come and save us!”

“I am coming after you,” was the answer. Glad indeed they were when their deliverers helped them into the boats, and saved them from a watery grave. One of the kind helpers nearly lost his life in the effort.

How earnestly Emily and Ellen watched from the window, and how eagerly did they accept the deliverance their heavenly Father provided for them. They all four love Jesus, and during that dark and sorrowful night, the widowed mother remembered the words,

“Put your trust in God,” and her soul was sweetly sustained and comforted.

What would you have thought of Emily and Ellen, if, instead of watching at the window, when their deliverers were drawing nigh, they had hidden themselves in a corner of their room? Would not that have been very foolish? Surely then the men would have said, “Either these persons are rescued, or they do not wished to be saved.” We can scarcely imagine anyone would have been so unwise.

Dear children, if you are unsaved, re-member—

“Another flood is coming soon,

Of fiery wrath and woe,

On all whose hearts have here refused

The God of grace to know.

“But Jesus is the living Ark,

Where all who will may come,

And find in Him a hiding-place—

A safe, a happy home.”

A Deliverer has drawn nigh, the blessed Saviour who invites you to come unto Him. Do not refuse.

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

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2: 3

ML 10/18/1931

Asleep in a Wheelbarrow on a Railroad Track

A few years ago the passengers on an express railway train, were startled by the prolonged whistle of the locomotive as they descended a sharp grade. The noise continued for some time, and then the engine was brought to a sudden standstill. There was a general rush to the windows to find out what was the cause of the stoppage. To the astonishment of all, they learned that a little boy had been found fast asleep in a wheelbarrow in the center of the railway track.

Had the engineer not noticed him just in time to reverse the brakes and stop the train, the little fellow would in all likelihood have been killed in a moment, and his lifeless body been mangled and bruised. At first the boy was not at all well pleased at being so rudely awakened out of his sleep, but when he understood how narrowly he had escaped from a terrible death he felt deeply grateful to his deliverer.

Unconverted people, like the little boy, are exposed to dreadful danger. A far more terrible “death” stares them in the face, but they close their eyes to the fact and persuade themselves that it is distant; or, at any rate, they “hope” that they will escape it.

Friends raise the “danger signal,” urge them to flee for their lives; but still they tarry. Some, when faithfully and tenderly spoken to of their peril, become annoyed and irritated. They assert that they attend to their “own business,” and tell those who have taken the trouble to speak to them that they are “a great deal better than some who profess,” and that they have “as good a chance” of getting to heaven as they.

Unsaved reader, you are even now “condemned already” (John 3:18).

What would you think of a mother suspending her child over a precipice by a single thread? You would think that she was insane. Yet you are doing a far worse thing than that. By the “brittle thread of life” you are hanging over the abyss of woe. At any moment you may be cut down, and awaken in an undone eternity, to weep and wail and gnash your teeth at your own folly throughout the eternal ages.

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

Accept Him as your Saviour and Friend by believing the glorious Gospel of the grace of God (John 3:1(3, 33; Isaiah 53: 5,6).

ML 10/18/1931

Seek Him Early

You are not too young to come to the Lord Jesus. The promise is,

“Those that seek Me early shall find Me,” and there is no

such promise to those who seek Him late.

Now, in your early days, is the very best time to come. The Lord Jesus blessed little children when on earth, blessed them very much, and He blesses little children still. I know many boys and girls who have been made happy by Him. He is waiting to welcome you, and if you trust Him now in your childhood, He will make your whole life happy and useful.

“Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:7, 8.

ML 10/18/1931

How Ted was led to Trust

Gerty had been converted for some months, and was rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven. Meeting her younger brother Ted near the house one day she launched forth, out of a full heart, the Old, Old Story of a Saviour’s love, and wound up with a very plain and pointed appeal to accept of the Lord Jesus there and then.

Ted, who had noticed a change in Gerty, and wished at times he had her happiness, was really stirred, but, boy-like, declared “he could not keep it.”

“It!” cried Gerty, “it’s not ‘it,’ it’s ‘Him.’ Jesus not only saves, but keeps. He is able to ‘save.’ He is able to ‘keep’” (Hebrews 7:25; Jude 24). Then pointedly she asked, “Ted, here and now, will you take Jesus as your own Saviour and be happy?” Thinking more of the Saviour than of the future, Ted answered quietly, but with purpose.

“I will.” His “I will” was confirmed by the Saviour’s,

“Him that cometh to ME I will in no wise cast out” John 6: 37. Will you also “come” and say to the Lord Jesus Christ,

“I will trust and not be afraid? Isaiah 12: 2.

He loved you, He died for you, come as you are, and you will be saved.

ML 10/18/1931

"Jesus Calls You!"

Jesus calls to you, dear children

And His words are words of love: “Come to Me, receive My blessing—Come to Me, and live above.”

“But,” you say, “He lives in heaven, How can I approach Him there?” Listen then to what He utters—

Thus His gracious words declare—

“For My love to ruined sinners

To this wretched world I came,

Here I died to make atonement,

Justice now no more can claim.

“Children now in Me believing Everlasting life receive:

Come in faith, to Me for pardon—

I have died that thou may’st live.”

ML 10/18/1931

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 to learn to read, and the same care will have to be shown that he may have good and instructive reading, and not that which would poison and destroy the mind, so that it might be 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 Timothy. 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 10/25/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 116, 117

The first two verses of Psalm 116, like the opening verses of many others, give the key to what is brought out in the course of the psalm. It is another song of praise, the heart exulting in the Saviour God who has heard the cry of distress and answered it in power. Love to Him wells up in the breast of every redeemed one.

“We love Him,” says the apostle John in his first Epistle, chapter 4, verse 19, “because. He first loved us.” How could it be otherwise?

At the close of Psalm 115 (verse 17) death is spoken of, and it is referred to several times in the 116th. Those whose hopes for glory and blessing are all connected with the earth—as are Israel’s—will try to keep their lives through the fearful days of persecution that are to come after the Church of God has been removed, and Psalm 116 expresses their feelings when their trials are over.

Verse 3 pictures the intensity of suffering these afflicted saints will experience.

Verse 5 names three characteristics, if one may use such a word, about Him, three attributes of God:

First, He is gracious; it is His nature to look with favor on His creatures, to view them with tender compassion.

Second, that which is essentially His, the foundation of His throne: He is righteous, just. How strikingly this was shown in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Who died for our sins according to the Scriptures!”

Lastly, He is merciful; mercy is for offenders, sinners, those ill deserving.

Thankful we are that God is both gracious, righteous and merciful, for otherwise there could have been no salvation for us.

We might couple these three characters, and say, in grace God gave His only begotten Son; in righteousness He visited upon Him the punishment we deserved, and in mercy, He forgives the confessed sinner. And this is only the doorway, so to speak, into fullness of blessing eternally for the forgiven ones.

The “simple” in verse 6 are the guileless. (See Psalms 19:7, and 119:130, the only other passages in the Psalms where this word is used).

Verse 10 is quoted in 2 Corinthians 4:13, a striking use of the passage as a principle for all of God’s children.

The word “haste” in the 11Th verse does not mean that the speaker was wrong in saying what he did; it is rather that when he was in great distress, in terror because of the persecution he had gone through, he said of all mankind, They are liars. The passage brings to mind Romans 3:4, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”

Verse 13. The “cup” of salvation is salvation enjoyed. “Cup” is used many times in the Scriptures in connection with both favor and affliction.

“My cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5.

“The cup which My Father giveth Me.” John 8:11.

In verse 15, “precious” means that God does not lightly permit His saints to die. This will have a special significance in the troublous times that are foretold for the sons of Jacob, but it is a truth for all saints.

The short 117th Psalm is a call to all the nations by redeemed Israel to praise Jehovah. The ground of it is the divine mercy upon Israel, and His truth enduring forever. It is the language of those born again, entirely different from the spirit which characterized the Jews in the time of Christ and the apostles. (See 1 Thessalonians. 2:15, 16).

ML 10/25/1931

Please Lead Me

As I was passing down one of the busy streets one day, I saw a blind man holding out his hand for someone to lead him across the road.

With care I did so, amid the throng of vehicles which were passing. He kept fast hold of my arm, and felt himself safe, although he could not see one step before him, or discern night from day. On our arriving at the other side of the street, he said—

“Thank you, my friend; and so may God lead you to heaven.”

“By what way?” I asked.

“By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” he answered, seeming surprised at my asking such a question, and that I did not know the Lord Jesus who had said,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 6:37.

I shook hands with him, saying, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.” And so we parted: He went his way, and I passed on mine, perhaps never to meet again till we see each other in the glory to part no more forever.

But in the few simple words he uttered he told out the gospel of the grace of God fully and truly, according to God’s own Word. When the Philippian jailer asked the apostle what he must do to be saved, the answer was,

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16: 30, 31.

And it is as true today as it was then. Jesus, and none but Jesus, can give rest to the heart. Dear young reader, true rest is only to be found in the precious blood of the Son of God.

“He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities.” Isaiah 53: 5.

“He that believeth on the Son (of God) 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.

But one more look at the blind man. He kept fast hold of my arm and felt himself safe, quite safe, notwithstanding the seeming confusion and turmoil which he could hear all around him.

So also is it with the sinner; he not only has eternal life through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, but he has perfect peace and safety while passing through this world of confusion and sorrow, by simply looking to that same glorious One.

Dear young reader, may I ask, Do you know the happiness of being led day by day onward to heavenly glory? The blind man was shut out from the light of this world, but he was through mercy given to know the blessedness of these eternal realities through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into this world and put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself; and He is coming again the second time without sin unto salvation.

Dear young reader, are you prepared to meet Him? Do you know the cleansing power of His precious blood? Have you tasted the sweetness of redeeming love? If so, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5: 16.

ML 10/25/1931

Where Is Your Name Written?

It was a charming winter’s morning, the roads were hard and dry, the frosty air brought the color to our cheeks, and the untrodden snow sounded crisp under our feet. A little friend, whom we will call Eva, was my companion.

We took our walk along a country road, where the unmelted snow became cleaner as we got away from the town. When Eva had run on a good way ahead of me, I halted before a lovely bank of the purest snow. It looked tempting, and my umbrella was soon at work making holes and figures.

At last I wrote my name in large round letters; very beautifully it stood out from that depth of snow; you could have read it from the middle of the road.

But I have been along that way many times since and have never seen my name.

“O!” you will say, “of course not, the snow has melted.”

Just so, and my name has melted too. I have also often seen children write their names in the sand, and very soon as you know, the waves have washed them quite away.

But now let me ask you, where is your name written?

In Jeremiah 17:13 we read of those who had forsaken God, and they were to be written in the earth.

When Jesus was here, He told His disciples not to rejoice at the great things they had been doing, but to rejoice because their names were written in heaven.

Now we know that God is going to burn the earth up, so it is of no use to have our names written here. But have you had yours written in heaven?

In Philippians 4:3 we read of the “Book of Life,” and in Revelation 20:15 it says, “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” So you see how careful we ought to be to have our names written there.

It is God who writes these names. He writes the name of any child who believes in His dear Son Jesus.

Some child may say, “O, but many children have the same name as I, and mine is the same as father’s.”

Quite true. I know two girls called Annie Harvey and two boys named John Brown. Still God knows each one separately, for if “He numbers the hair of our heads,” don’t you think He knows every child’s face? Never fear, God will make no mistake. He won’t let some other person into heaven instead of you, nor will He allow you to go there instead of someone else.

It is the names of those who have eternal life that are written in the book of life, and Jesus said,

“Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:15.

ML 10/25/1931

O, Come to Him!

The blessed Saviour, as He trod

His lowly path on earth,

Was always pleasing unto God, Obedient from His birth.

No glory for Himself He sought;

And as in years He grew,

Still was the spring of every thought His Father’s will to do.

And with delight the Father smiled Upon His holy Son,

Amidst a world by sin defiled,

The sinless, perfect One!

And when His precious blood He gave

Poor sinners to redeem,

He knew His Father loved to save,

And this was joy to Him.

As Jesus did the Father’s will,

Whatever were the cost,

Then know it is His pleasure still

To seek and save the lost.

O! come to Him, dear little child,

And trust His cleansing blood;

He’ll bear you through this desert wild,

Till safe at home with God.

ML 10/25/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“The Children’s Class”

1.“Be patient,” etc. James 5:7.

2.“Unto you,” etc. 1 Pet. 2:7.

3.“And the scripture,” etc. James 2:23.

4.“Wherefore,” etc. 2 Pet. 3:14.

5.“As obedient,” etc. 1 Pet. 1:14.

6.“For so,” etc. 2 Pet. 1:11.

7a. Suffering “as an evildoer” means paying the penalty for ones own crimes. 1 Pet. 4:15.

7b. Suffering “as a Christian” means bearing reproach for Christ’s sake. 1 Pet. 4:16.

Bible Questions for November

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation, Chapters 1-11

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Fall on us.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Where also our Lord was crucified.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The Root of David.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Hast not denied my name.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Given unto him much incense.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “They shall hunger no more.”

7.On what particular day was John said to be “In the Spirit?”

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.(1) pure; (2) peaceable; (3) gentle; (4) easy to be intreated; (5) full of mercy; (6) full of good fruits; (7) without partiality; (8) without hypocrisy. Jas. 3:17.

2.Plaiting the hair; wearing of gold; putting on of apparel. 1 Peter 3:3.

3.The Lord’s coming again. 2 Peter 3:3, 4.

4.By his works. Jas. 2:18.

5.By the “Word of God”. 1 Peter 1:23.

6.“The corruption that is in the world”. 2 Peter 1:4.

7.We should rejoice. 1 Peter 4:13, 14.

Bible Questions for November

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation, Chapters 1-11

1.What verse marks the first chronological end of prophetic events in the book of Revelation?

2.What verse gives the three divisions of the book?

3.What verse marks the transition of the church to heaven?

4.With what three of the seven churches is the Lord’s coming mentioned?

5.List in order the seven verses giving the seven seals.

6.List in order the seven verses giving the seven trumpets.

7.What was the subject of the new song of heaven?

ML 11/01/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 118

This is the last of the series of praise psalms which began with the 111Th. The new Israel will never weary of telling the praise of Him whose mercy (or loving kindness) endureth forever. Israel; the house of Aaron, and “them that fear Jehovah,” in verses 2, 3 and 4 are linked together in His praise just as in Psalm 114, verses 9-11. They were besought to confide in Him.

In verses 5 to 28 is the voice of the redeemed of Israel. What can man do unto him who has Jehovah on his side? (Verse 6). It is better to trust in Him than to put confidence in man, or in princes or nobles (verses 8, 9).

In verses 10 to 18 Israel looks back to the time of persecution, of severe trial, only lately experienced. All nations sought their destruction, and were near to success when the mighty Deliverer came; then came their destruction (verses 10-12).

Verse 13 introduces another enemy, the old Serpent, the Devil; he had tried his best to destroy all that trust in Jehovah.

Notice the three ‘s’ in verse 14: my strength, my song, my salvation: He is all of these for all who, whether Jew or Gentile, put their trust in the Lord. Do we know Him in all these ways, satisfyingly?

Verse 18 brings in the third side, or aspect, of Israel’s distresses: God has chastened them sore, though He had not given them up to death. There was a cause for this chastening, as Israel will well know: a long course of departure from God, crowned with the murder of the Son of God.

Sometimes we who know the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, pass through circumstances in which we too feel the full character of trial—both the enmity of man and of Satan, and the chastening hand of God upon us. This psalm is instructive and comforting in such a case.

Having owned God’s hand, not only in chastening but in deliverance, as expressed in the preceding verses, the precious result of trial is revealed in verses 19, 20, and 21.

The Psalm would not be complete without the Messiah’s being brought in. And this is done in a striking way, —The Stone which the (Jewish) builders rejected, has become the head of the corner, or the corner stone (verse 22). This passage is quoted four times: Matthew 21: 42; Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17, when the Lord brought it before the religious leaders who were plotting to kill Him; and in Acts 4:11, when the apostle Peter told the same men a few weeks later that Jesus of Nazareth is the stone rejected by “you the builders.”

With entirely changed feelings and repentant hearts, the Israel of God shall say (verse 23), “This is of Jehovah, it is wonderful in our eyes.” Verse 26, too. will be on their lips, as the Lord foretold in Matthew 23:39.

How plainly these passages (not to speak of many others) show who it is that wrote the Psalms: None other than the Holy Spirit; and also how plainly do they show the time to which the Psalms refer: the coming day of Jacob’s trouble, the great tribulation.

Psalm 118 closes with the words with which it began, —of thankfulness and of praise to Jehovah for His unchangeable ways of grace.

ML 11/01/1931

I Know What it Cost

Two gentlemen were riding past a beautiful park. The one said to the other,

“How much do you think this estate is worth?”

“I don’t know how much it is worth,” was the answer; “but I know what it cost the late owner of it.”

“How much?”

“His soul,” was the startling reply. “The owner of it died a wretched death, stating on his deathbed that all his misery was due to his love of money, which had often led him into fraud and sin.”

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36, 37.

ML 11/01/1931

Jesus for Me! Jesus for Me!

I wrote to one of the scholars in our Sunday-school, on, whose earnest face, for some time, I had noticed a look of unhappiness. I could not but feel that she was in trouble about the question of her soul’s salvation. I told her of the Saviour’s love, and begged her not to trust to any fitness on her part.

“All the fitness He requireth

Is to feel your need of Him.”

Nearly two years passed before an answer came. It arrived a few weeks ago: “You must feel that it was wrong of me not taking any notice of your letter before, but I was still in darkness, but now I trust I can say the words you quote in your letter,

‘Jesus, my Saviour, Thou art mine,

The Father’s gift of love divine,

All Thou hast done, and all Thou art, Are now the portion of my heart.’

Please will you write some texts out for me to study through the week? O, it is,

‘Jesus for me, Jesus for me!’

The look of unrest has now left the face of my little friend, and instead, the joy of God’s salvation rests on it. Do you, dear little reader, know Jesus?

You may know about Him, but do you know Him as your own precious Saviour? Can you say, “Jesus for me?” If not, let me entreat you to seek Him now in the days of your youth. He has said, “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 8:17.

Dear children, read your own Bibles every day, and the Lord will point out precious verses for you to meditate on for the day, and look for some more to think on when you go to bed.

This is the food for our souls, and this is the way we grow as Christians. We learn of our blessed Lord and the precious things He has in store for us throughout eternity, all through what He has done for us on the cross.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

ML 11/01/1931

Listen

With great attention John (we will call him) listens to his little brother’s secrets. Very likely it does not amount to much, but no doubt he has great delight in thinking of some kind act he wants to show to his dear father or mother, and wants his brother to enjoy the thought along with himself. So John gives his ear fully to him, and takes it all in, and delights to please his younger brother because he loves him.

There is a question I would like to ask each one of my readers,

“Where will you spend ETERNITY?”

Have you, dear children, considered this important question? If not, I beg of you to consider it NOW.

Jesus is able to save every sinner that comes to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus Christ is as able to save, as He is willing; and has promised not to cast out one sinner that comes to Him (John 6:37). Therefore, no sinner need be lost, even though he is the chief of sinners.

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

Come to Jesus now, if you have not done so before, and then in all earnestness and affection, like the little boy in our picture, tell others of that same Saviour. Eternal happiness shall be spent with Him.

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

ML 11/01/1931

"It Is Finished!"

“It is finished!” what a gospel!

Nothing has been left to do,

But to take with grateful gladness

What the Saviour did for you.

“It is finished!” what a gospel!

Bringing news of victory won, Telling us of peace and pardon

Through the blood of God’s dear Son.

“It is finished!” what a gospel!

Here each weary laden breast

That accepts God’s gracious offer,

Enters into perfect rest.

“It is finished!” what a gospel!

Jesus died to save your soul;

Have you taken His salvation?

Have you let Him make you whole?

ML 11/01/1931

The Faithful Servant

Fido brings the book to his loving little mistress with great delight, as he thinks he has accomplished a great feat, and likes to return kindness for all her kind and tender treatment of him. Not only so, but as she sits on the garden bench and reads her book, he keeps watch, and if anyone would attempt to do her any harm, he would protect her to the best of his ability.

This faithfulness might well cause us to think of the loving, tender, watchful care of our God which far exceeds what we have been considering. He knows all about us, and nothing is hidden from Him. The Psalmist could say:

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, Thou understanth my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.” Psalms 139:1-3.

Do you think of that care? Ah, He is faithful, no matter how forgetful you may have been. He has ever been watching, supplying the needs, and keeping you from the many dangers in this life.

But that is not the greatest expression of His watchfulness, care and love. That only can be seen at the cross, where God gave His only Son to die for us poor, forgetful sinners. He was His only Son —the Son of His love, His delight, and O, think of it, He gave Him to die for us! Who could measure love like that!

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

ML 11/08/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 119, Verses 1 to 16

The 119th psalm is another example of the use of the Hebrew alphabet in acrostic form in the Psalms. It is divided into 22 sections, each containing 8 verses, and over each section is a Hebrew letter with its name in English. These Hebrew letters are arranged in alphabetical order, “aleph” being the Hebrew A, “beth” the Hebrew B, and so on to the 22nd and last letter of that alphabet, “tau” or “tav” corresponding to our letter T or TH. Each of the eight verses in a section in the original language begins with the letter written over it.

The first section of 8 verses is a sort of introduction to the whole psalm. It is the fourth “blessed” psalm; Psalms 1:32; 41; and 128, are the others which tell who the blessed, ones are; compare particularly Psalms 1; 32 and 119th (verses 1, 2).

The marginal reading “perfect” is beer than “undefiled” in verse 1 of the 119th psalm. This first section seems to call for no exposition here.

The subject of the second section is the cleansing power of the Word of God. The opening verse asks and answers a question, and in connection with it we may refer to John 3:5; 13:3-15; 15:3 and 19:34; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5; 1 John 5:68, all of which speak of water in a symbolic way. Water we know cleanses, and the Word of God cleanses, purifies the believer morally by the power of the Holy Spirit. This cleansing is connected in the most striking way with the death of Christ; both atonement for sin, and the cleansing of the sinner are seen in the blood and water flowing from the side of the dead Saviour. The. Bible shows us that we were dead in trespasses and sins, and that through Christ’s death alone we have life, eternal life.

The Word of God known in the heart is not only to cleanse our ways however; it is also the secret of a happy life as verses 10, 11, 14, 16 show.

ML 11/08/1931

Peace and Glory

One day a little baby was born in a village near the sea in South China.

As it was a little boy, his mother was very proud and happy, and she felt that a name must be chosen for him that would bring him good fortune throughout his life. Probably many names were considered, but in the end he was named “Peace and Glory” as, no doubt, his mother thought that if he had “peace and glory” he was sure to be happy.

Often, however, boys and girls in their characters are very different to the names they bear, and so it was with little “Peace and Glory.” He had never heard of the “Prince of Peace”, the “King of Glory”, in whose service alone true peace and glory may be found, and as he grew up, his only thought was to serve his own will and do his own pleasure. He did not know that in doing this he was really serving a king, Satan, who would try to keep him from ever getting either peace or glory.

Like many thousands in the world, he did not know the “way of peace”, and there was “no fear of God before his eyes”, so that when an opportunity came for him to join a band of robbers who lived a wild, adventurous life in the hills near his village, doing no work but robbing and stealing from the neighboring villages, he readily threw in his lot with them.

As he was a strong, bold man, he soon rose to a high place in the band, but though the life seemed a free and easy one, he had no peace, for that can never be found in the bondage of Satan, and he always had the knowledge before him that if caught by the soldiers, he would be put to death without mercy. Certainly there was not much glory in that way of living!

At this time the Government of the Province in which he lived, wished to get many more soldiers for the army, and so a proclamation was issued, offering a pardon for all past crimes to any robbers who would give themselves up and would join the army.

“Peace and Glory” heard of the offer, and the thought of pardon was very sweet. How tired he was of living night and day in the fear of being captured and punished for his crimes! Certainly it would be much nicer to be a soldier, even if he did not make as much money! And with this thought in his mind he gave himself up to serve the Government.

When he became a soldier, the same strength and boldness caused him to raise rapidly, and before long he became the officer of the guard, which was stationed in his own village, as a protection against robbers. On more than one occasion he proved himself without fear of man by attacking strong forces of robbers, and he soon became a leading man in the village.

However, “Peace and Glory” was still far from the “way of peace”, as although he had changed his position in the world, he was still going on in the service of Satan, and was just as far from God when he became a soldier as he had been when a robber. To add to his pay as a soldier, he would spend much of his spare time gambling, at which he was very clever, and he also built a large house where men could buy and smoke opium, and he himself became an opium-smoker.

While he was in charge of the guard, a native Christian came to preach in the village, and stirred up the hatred of “Peace and Glory” by teaching that gambling and opium-smoking, which were so common in the village, were sins against the true God, and would meet with His punishment, unless the people repented and turd to the Saviour that God had provided.

Though some in the village believed and turned to God, confessing the Saviour, “Peace and Glory” would not listen to the teaching, even though the One who was preached was the Prince of Peace. Following his bad example, the majority of the villagers turned against the gospel, and made fun of the preacher, wishing to go on with their sinful pleasures, rather than to accept the pardon that God was offering in the gospel.

When the preacher was leaving the village, he called together the few Christians and encouraged them not to fear the sneers of their enemies, but to keep on serving the Lord, and praying that He would cause some others to believe through their words.

Years went by, however, and the people seemed just as opposed as ever, and even the Christians got discouraged and coldhearted, and after a time they stopped having any meetings together. One of them, however, was a young relative of “Peace and Glory”, and the older man often amused himself by ridiculing the faith and hope of this young believer in the true God.

Shiu Poang, as the young man was named, longed that his old relative might be delivered from the power of Satan, and become a follower of the Prince of Peace, and on every occasion he would press upon him his need of the Saviour he had so long despised. No matter how much fun the old man made of his words, he would repeat the story of the Cross, and assure him that it was only through the Saviour’s blood that he could ever have his many sins forgiven.

One day “Peace and Glory” agreed to read a Gospel that Shiu Poang gave to him. He thought that by reading it he would more easily be able to show the young man the foolishness of leaving the religion of his father and mother and all his relatives, to put his trust in this new Faith.

He began to read the Gospel of Luke, but he found that though the words were so simple, they seemed to convey a depth of meaning that he could not understand. He had often to ask the meaning of the things that he read.

One day he read the 15th. chapter and as he pictured to himself the hopelessness and helplessness of the poor prodigal son, Shiu Poang explained that the father’s loving forgiveness was a picture of the grace and love of God. “Peace and Glory” suddenly realized that he was the prodigal son, and that all his life he had been singing against that love. Truly he was in a land far distant from God, and it was a land of famine where there was nothing to satisfy his heart.

As the wonderful story sank into his heart, he realized also that the Father’s arms were open to receive him, and to welcome him Home. There and then “Peace and Glory” decided that he would forsake his sinful ways, and turn to the God who had so loved him as to give His Son to die for his sins. Believing on that Saviour, for the first time he found “peace” in his heart, and soon he found that he could also rejoice in hope of the “glory of God.”

How happy Shiu Poang was when he saw how God had answered his prayers after so many years! How encouraged, too, the other Christians were when they saw that God had done more than they had asked or thought, in bringing to repentance the man who had been the ringleader in their troubles.

When “Peace and Glory” knew His sins had all been washed away in the Saviour’s blood, his first thought was to tell all who knew him that he was now serving under a new Leader.

“I did not choose Him,” he said, “but He chose me and saved me.”

No more did he want to lie for hours smoking opium; now he wanted to use his spare time to learn more about his Saviour, that he might know better how to obey his Captain’s commands.

His opium house he turned into a Gospel Hall with gospel posters and hymns stuck along the wall, and Bibles, and tracts on the table for any who came to read. In one corner was his bed, and day and night he is glad to read the Scriptures to any who will come to listen, and he urges them to trust in the Saviour who had made such a difference in his own life.

Several months later “Peace and Glory” was baptized, and openly and definitely showed himself, on the new ground of trusting to the death and, resurrection pf Christ for his forgiveness and justification. Among those with him on that morning were Shiu Poang, and the preacher who six years before had spoken of the power of God to win others to Him,

“Is not my Word like a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer breaketh the rock in pieces.” Jeremiah 23:29.

As you read of “Peace and Glory” and how he was brought to walk in the way of peace, just stop and ask yourself whether you have also found that path, and can rejoice in hope of the glory of God. If not, you are still in the distant country, a prodigal from the Father’s Home.

One of “Peace and Glory’s” first acts was to go off to the district in which he had been a robber, that he might tell the people of the villages of the change that had come into his life, and of the Saviour who was able, and willing, to save all who would come to Him.

If you know that Saviour’s love and power yourself, will you not pray for this old man in China, that God may keep him safe from harm, and use him to bring many more to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

May we also tell others of what a long Saviour we have found.

ML 11/08/1931

Bible Lessons

The shepherd-dog has been sent after the flock of sheep and goats, and now he is bringing them home. They run in front of him because they are afraid of him, nevertheless he will bring them to their shepherd, and the place of pasture the shepherd has for them.

How different this is from the way the Lord Jesus does with His sheep. He goes before them, as He knows the way and He leads them. If we are His sheep, and we follow Him, we shall be led in paths of righteousness, and we shall have a happy path, and shall be to God’s glory, pleasing Him in all our ways. We shall also be able to say, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalms 23:1, 2.

That would be a good and happy place for the sheep, and it is such a place the Lord ever leads His own, if they are willing to follow Him.

On the other hand, there are those who do not love the voice of the Lord Jesus, they do not know Him, and they like to follow in the paths of sin, and thus they reap bad results.

Dear children, do not rest till you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Shepherd, and then seek to follow him closely, and you will not only please Him, but your path will be one of happiness.

“I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY HAND.” John 10:28.

ML 11/15/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 119, Verses 17 to 56

The third section of this long psalm brings to view the saint of God in trial. Here the Word of God has been the guide, and the meditation of one sustained in hope. Already he has been relieved by God’s intervention, but he looks for yet fuller blessing, and connects his hopes and prayers with the Word, of which he desires to know more.

The fourth section, verses 25 to 32, carries on the thought of a saint of the coming day on earth, in trial. He is not here occupied with the judgment of the proud as in verses 17-24, but is thinking of his own failure. He looks to God for strength and for enlargement of heart, that he may live according to God’s Word.

In the fifth section (verses 33 to 40) is seen the result of trial gone through in dependence on God; the saint asks to be taught by Him, to be given understanding; he would be made to walk in the path pointed out in the Word of God. He desires to be established, and to find even more enjoyment in His Word.

The sixth section looks for mercies, so that the saint may be able to answer those that reproach him, and to testify before kings for God.

In the seventh section, verses 49 to 56, there is the sense of comfort in the Word of God giving rise to songs in the house of pilgrimage.

What gives Psalm 119 its special character is the Word of God written on the heart—the fulfillment of Hebrews 10:16. It is not the Christian’s position that we see in this psalm, but that of the recovered Israelite in the time of the Messiah’s showing Himself again to that nation. The heart opens out to God, and the thoughts and feelings of these faithful ones are set out as they view His statutes and judgments.

What a contrast there is between the language of Psalm 119, and the behavior of the Jews when the Lord was here 1900 years ago! (See Romans chapters 9, 10 and 11.)

ML 11/15/1931

The Bee's Mistake

One day a large bee flew through an open door into a house. It had lost its way and flew round and round the room trying to find a way out.

After flying about for several minutes it suddenly went, straight for a large mirror standing at one side of the room. It could see the trees and sunshine reflected in the mirror and thought that now it would be free. But, no! it was still a prisoner and it began to buzz louder than ever and to fly round the room again in search of a way out.

After a time someone took a duster and gently but firmly drove the bee towards the open door, and it flew away into the bright sunshine, glad to be free once more.

Now, little ones, we can learn a lesson from this bee. The bee knew it was in a wrong place, and tried to get out. But instead of flying through the open door it banged itself against the mirror, thinking the trees it could see there were outside.

There was only one way out and that was through the door. And there is only one way for us to be saved and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ, Who calls Himself the Door. He says,

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

Even little boys and girls need to be saved, for they too are lost. That is why God has given us His holy Word that we may find there the way of salvation. The Lord Jesus did the work when He died for us on the cross, and all we need to do is to trust ourselves to Him.

“Jesus is the Way, the only Way, Lovingly He calls us, so the Scriptures say,

Whosoever will, let him come today, The blessed Saviour is the only Way.”

ML 11/15/1931

"It's My Heart That's Aching"

Mary and Jennie had not known each other very long, but they had “taken to” each other at first sight, and the liking had increased with their intimacy.

They were both away from home at school and were to sleep in the same room.

Just now Mary was wondering why Jennie did not put out the light so that they could go to bed. But Jennie reached over to the table and got her Bible instead.

“Shall I read for both!” she said. Mary nodded assent.

Mary was a church member but had not thought of her Bible till she saw Jennie take hers. When Jennie had read her chapter she said,

“Shall we pray together Mary!”

Mary nodded again, thinking they would kneel in prayer. But when Jennie added, “And will you lead us, dear?” she only stammered,

“O, no-o, no-o, you do, please.”

They knelt and Jennie prayed just as she had been used to at home, and they went to bed. It did not occur to her that she had done an odd or unusual thing. She had come from a Christian home, where God as Father was called upon in simple and unaffected fashion.

Long after Jennie had gone to sleep, Mary lay awake thinking more seriously than she had ever done before, of all her light, careless life. Presently Jennie heard a little moan. Mary had complained of a tooth during the evening, and Jennie thought she was suffering again.

“Does your tooth ache, so badly, dearie? Just you lie still a minute, and I’ll have a hot flannel ready.”

“No, no, Jennie,” she replied putting out her hand to stop her, “it’s not my tooth. I’m so unhappy; it’s my heart that’s aching,” and with that Mary put her arms around her neck, and cried as if her heart was breaking. Jennie awe-struck and wondering, could not say a word, but presently Mary found voice to say,

“It all comes of what happened before we went to bed. You know I belong to the church, and even go to communion, but I never realized that I wasn’t a Christian at all till then. You know your Bible, and then you asked me to pray and I could not.

“I never had anything make me feel so in all my life. I thought how dreadful it is for me to pretend to be a Christian when I did not know even how to pray when you asked me. It cut me like a knife and I’ve felt it ever since, I could not endure it any longer without talking to you about it.

O, Jennie, dear, I am so unhappy ... . Do you think I’ve been so wicked that God can’t take me?”

“O, no, no!” cried Jennie, “Don’t you remember what Jesus said, ‘I came not to call the righteous but sinners?’ Don’t you want to be a Christian?”

“O,” groaned Mary, “I think I’d give my right hand to know that my sins were forgiven.”

“Do let’s pray,” said Jennie. And with her arms around Mary, she asked God, ‘for Christ’s sake’ to help Mary to trust in Him and to forgive her sins. Then she said, “Don’t you remember that verse, Mary,”

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

There was a silence during which Jennie was earnestly praying in her heart for Mary. O, how we can fancy we hear her in simple words but with entreaties pleading with the Lord Jesus that by His Spirit He would just make it all clear to Mary.

Yes, and poor broken-hearted Mary, how she was longing to know what Jennie knew so well. And the evil one, how he would be trying to make it more cloudy and difficult than ever. However, it did not last long that night for God’s Holy Spirit soon made it all so clear and simple, that presently Jennie felt Mary’s arms tightened about her and the hot tears dropping on her shoulder.

“O, Jennie,” she sobbed, “I’m crying for joy; I see it all so clearly now. He died for me, for me. I’m so happy!”

“So am I,” cried Jennie, her tears flowing also for pure joy. “But isn’t it simple, when you come to it. Just believe and let Jesus save you. Just believing that He has done it all.”

“O, I could die for Him,” said Mary, “couldn’t you?”

“Yes; but I think He wants us to live for Him,” said Jennie softly.

The girls as they lay talking and rejoicing did not think that just then there was joy in heaven over another sinner brought in; but so it was.

ML 11/15/1931

Isn't It Nice?

Isn’t it 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.

Weak and suffering, she was now lying resting in the arm-chair and evidently thinking of the precious Saviour. She sat up, and, with a bright smile, 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?

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

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 a thing it is to be washed in Jesus’ precious blood.

ML 11/15/1931

Prayer

It is not natural to us to ask God for anything, because we are a part of a fallen race that is away from Him; so we often have to be taught that we have to do with God, and He sometimes allows us to be put in trying circumstances to make us cry to Him.

But there is one need above all that might well trouble us, and that is to get rid of the load of our sins. Has that ever troubled you, dear reader, so that you have bent your knee, and closed your eyes to all that is around, and cried to God about it? May you feel what a load that is, and the terrible thing it is to have to do with a holy God, and you will soon learn the way to have all your sins blotted out.

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

Jesus, the blessed Son of God, died in the place of the sinner, and bore the dreadful penalty for our sins. His life’s blood was poured out, proving that He had died, and the giving up of that spotless life was acceptable to God.

Have you taken that Saviour as yours? If so, the bowing of the knee before Him will not be such a burden, but the committing of all your ways to Him and giving Him thanks for all His love and mercies by the way, will be a pleasure to you.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5.

ML 11/22/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 119, Verses 57 to 96

In the eighth section of our psalm, Jehovah is the portion of the believer. He has been thinking of his own ways, and the blessed result is, that he has turned his feet to the Word of God. Would that all God’s children did this!

In verse 55 the name of Jehovah was remembered in the night, but verse 62 shows a yet happier state when the saint is awake at the midnight hour.

The benefits of affliction are before us in the ninth section: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Thy Word.” Verse 67.

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes.” Verse 71.

The Christian is apt to murmur when trials come, not seeing that God has purposes of blessing which wait upon this necessary training of His children. Can each of us say, as the expression of cur own hearts, what verse 72 declares? It is well with us if we can.

In verse 73 Jehovah is asked, as His Creator, to give His servant understanding in order that he may learn His commandments. But He is more than Creator,—He rules, He governs, He is interested in all those who fear Him, and acts in mercy toward them; in faithfulness He afflicts them.

Verses 75 to 80 are the response to Him of one whose heart has been touched by the goodness of God to him. The eigheth verse should find an echo in every Christian’s breast.

The eleventh section (Caph) is written for one in trouble. He is like a leather bottle in the smoke of the curing house, and pleads for the comfort which only God can give him. He has however learned the value of the Word of God, as nearly every verse shows.

In the twelfth section God is again looked upon as the Creator, His Word stands in the heavens where none can reach it, and His faithfulness is unchanging. He established the earth and it stands by His ordinances while century succeeds century of time. In the written Word of this changeless and faithful Jehovah, the tried and troubled saint rests in hope.

All of this psalm is connected with the exercises of heart which the children of Israel will pass through who will turn to God in the last days. Other psalms have told of their circumstances; this tells the effect of the writing of the law on their hearts while in the furnace of affliction, and afterward.

How precious is the mercy of God, to be shown, after centuries of dealing with the Gentiles, again to the Jews, whose bitter cry was, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matthew 27:25.

ML 11/22/1931

The Infidel's Child

I had long wanted to speak about Jesus to a little girl, who lived near my cottage. I knew her father was an infidel, and that for six years some Christians had been praying for his conversion. When I saw his child my heart was sad, fearing she was growing up without any knowledge of God.

One bright morning the little girl was playing out of doors, quite alone, so I thought this was my opportunity for the long-wished-for talk. I quickly went out to her, and asked kindly, “Would you like to come with me, dear, and pick some pretty flowers in this field?”

“O! yes, I should,” she answered brightly. “I shall be so pleased to get some.”

We were soon both of us busy filling our hands with the pretty wild flowers in the field—big white daisies and bright king-cups, ragged-robin and quaking grass, and sweet purple and white clover.

“Do you know, my dear,” I asked, “that this field is a bit of God’s great flower-garden, and that in the love of His heart He made these sweet blossoms to give us pleasure?”

“O! yes,” she answered, “I know He made them all, and made us too, and everything in this world. There are many people who won’t believe it, but they will have to see it is true someday, will they not?” she added, looking up earnestly into my face.

“Indeed they will,” I answered gravely, “and it will be a terrible moment for those who do not know Jesus as their Saviour. Dear child, do you believe on God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?”

“O, yes,” she replied, “I do believe that He died for our sins, and if we do confess and own them to Jesus, He will rejoice over us, won’t He? It is so strange that people try to keep their sins secret from Him, for they will all come out at the judgment day, for Jesus knows everything about us. We ought to try and please Him for dying for us, shouldn’t we?”

“Yes, indeed, we should, my child,” I answered, my heart full of joy to see that truly my Saviour was her Saviour, too. “You and I love Jesus, do we not, though we have not seen Him?”

“Yes; there is a text in the Bible I like so much: it is this, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29.

When Jesus was on earth there were some people who would not believe on Him, although they did see Him; but now we believe on Him without seeing Him.”

This simple confession of faith from the child of an infidel greatly surprised me, and I asked her where she had learned and read the Bible. She told me that it was at the school she attended.

O, what joy to know that God had let His light shine into this dear child’s heart, and to hear how freely and confidently she spoke of what she really knew of Jesus! She also said,

“You know Jesus is alive on the throne of God today, and He will come again to this world, won’t He?” What joy it was to me to see the reality with which the little girl spoke!

What a blessing this dear little lamb of Christ may be in this sinful world!

Every time I have since seen her, she has run to me joyfully, wanting to go and pick flowers and have another talk. Yes, heart is linked with heart in those that love the blessed name of Jesus; yes, my heart was drawn to her as soon as she began to tell out all she knew of that blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear children, do you know Him? If you do, tell others of His love. If you do not know that precious and blessed Saviour, Jesus, come now, just as you are; come straight to Him, in all your sins, all your wickedness, and He will receive you. I pray you, do not try to hide your sins from Jesus, but tell Him everything, and His forgiving mercy will flow like a stream. He cannot save you unless you come, and those who come to Him He will in no wise cast out. It was for sinners Christ died, not the righteous. Sinners, Jesus calls. O! won’t you come?

ML 11/22/1931

Will You Take God at His Word?

I must tell you of one of my young friends, whose name is Maggie.

“O, how I should like to see you truly saved, Maggie,” said I to her one day, “now, will you promise me to repeat these words every night this week before you retire to rest:

‘O Lord, show me myself?’”

This Maggie promised to do, and I said no more to her for six weeks, having left her in the Lord’s hands to bless her soul. It was about the end of that time, Maggie came to me in great distress, because of what she had heard the minister say the day before. He had urged all his congregation to come individually to the Lord Jesus, and to come at once, just as they were. Poor Maggie was in trouble of heart.

“No tomorrow is promised me,” said she, “in God’s Word— ‘Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts,’” (Hebrews 4:7); and, she added, “I long to be saved, but I have always believed. The devils believe and tremble; they have no peace, neither have I.”

Then I gave her these two texts of Scripture,

“The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. I also gave her a slip of paper having written on it, “Will you take God at His Word? say Yes, or No.”

Most gladly did Maggie say, “Yes,” and no sooner had the word fallen from her lips than she wept for joy. Indeed, I too rejoiced with her, and, remembering the blessed words of Jesus,

“I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10. We both thanked the Lord for His grace in saving such wretched creatures as we are.

ML 11/22/1931

Whiter Than Snow

There’s a beautiful word which I often have heard

Its meaning I wish much to know;

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

About being “whiter than snow.”

It puzzles me much to think there is such,

For whiteness there’s nothing I know With the snow to compare, so shining and fair;—

Then what can be “whiter than snow?”

Perhaps angels’ wings, or some beautiful things

Which I as a child cannot know;

If I think all the day, I never could say

What there is that is “whiter than snow.”

The snowdrop looks brown with its head drooping down

On its white winter border below;

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

The claim to be “whiter than snow.”

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

To a wiser than I, I will go,

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

Of this wonderful “whiter than snow.”

But can God behold as I have been told,

A child who’s so little and low?

And can it be true, If I’m washed in His blood,

That I shall be “whiter than snow.”

I thought of the flowers freshened up by the showers,

Of the clouds with the bright sunlight glow;

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

And washed and made “whiter than snow.”

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

If washed in the blood that did flow

So freely to cleanse away the dark stains,

And to make even me “whiter than snow.”

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

And in love and in wisdom to grow; From sin undefiled, blest Lord, keep Thy child,

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

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7.

“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,... to Him be glory and dominion Forever and ever, Amen.” Revelation 1:5, 6.

ML 11/22/1931

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 dour 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 he is,

“BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.”

1 Peter 5:8.

Remember, he already has those who are not Christ’s; he is their prince; they are led by his will.

Satan is conquered by two things (see Revelation 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.” 1 John 1:7.

ML 11/29/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 119, Verses 97 to 136

The 13th section of the psalm tells the new and deep delight of the saint in God’s Word. In it he meditates; through it he is made wiser than his enemies, and obtains more understanding than all his teachers, and the aged. Along with these gains, he has learned to keep out of every evil path, and to not depart from God’s judgments. Verse 104 calls for more than passing notice.

“From Thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false path.” O, that God’s Word were in this way more and more in the heart and mind of every believer today!

Section 14 carries the subject further, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”( vs.105).

The book of God, the Bible, makes altogether plain the way that you and I are going, dear Christian. It throws a clear light just where I need it, as I take my way through a morally dark world, and its bright rays lighten up the whole path for me. This is as true in days of trial as in quiet, untroubled days.

The 15th section is closely connected with the 14th, because when the Word of God gives me light on my pathway through life, it leads me to walk carefully. Verse 113 is rightly translated,

“The double-minded have I hated, but Thy law do I love.” (See James 1:8).

Judgment will come upon the wicked, and the thought of that time makes the saint to tremble. We cannot call this fear, a right feeling in believers of our own day; with greater light and richer blessing, we can take our stand upon 1 John 4:17, though not unmindful of 2 Corinthians 5:10.

The 16th section (“Ain”) looks for Jehovah to act; the Israel of nature having made void His law. Those who oppressed the faithful, will be still in the land at this time, it is clear. Not all at once will the Lord, Israel’s mighty Deliverer, bring to an end the power of rebellious man.

In the 17th section is an important principle worthy of our study,

“The entrance of Thy Words giveth light, giving understanding to the simple.” Verse 130.

The Word of God has power over the conscience and the heart, the mind too, if we are subject to it. How much we owe to the wisdom, love and power of our Saviour God! Blessed be His name forever!

ML 11/29/1931

"I Often Look at Him, Sir!"

Will you kindly accept a little book about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour?” said a man as he spoke to a cottage woman, on a mountain side.

“Thank you, sir! I often look at Him,” she answered as she asked him into her home.

“Do you? Where?” he inquired.

Pointing to a picture which was nailed to the wall above the fire-place, she exclaimed,

“There, sir!”

On the picture was an illustration of Christ on the cross. It was to this that she referred.

“Ah, but He is not there to look at. He was there once, blessed be His Name; but He is not there now. He was there to do the work of redemption. He is not there now, because the work is done. He is at the right hand of God.”

It seemed a strange sound to her ears. The meaning of the blessed truths, that the work of Christ is finished, and that He is risen and glorified, was unknown to her.

She doubtlessly believed the fact that Christ was risen. But the teaching connected with that fact she knew not. The apostle Paul says,

“If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15: 17.

But Christ is risen. Our faith is not vain. We are not in our sins. To us who believe, His resurrection is the blessed proof that our sins are blotted out Forever.

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

ML 11/29/1931

What has Jesus Done for Me?

It was on a Sunday afternoon. The Sunday School was being held, and a hymn well known and well liked by the scholars was being sung. It was the one beginning—

“O! what has Jesus done for me?

He pitied me, my Saviour;

My sins were great—His love was free,

He died for me, my Saviour.”

The chorus is:

“Jesus, Lord Jesus,

Thy name is sweet, my Saviour;

Soon shall I see Thee face to face,

My wondrous, blessed Saviour.”

The superintendent of the school then asked the children to write down what the Lord Jesus had done for them, so that the hymn’s question, “O! what has Jesus done for me?” might be answered.

The next week the replies were received and read, all names of writers being withheld, of course. And a very happy time was spent in going over the different answers that were handed in. Of course, they vary a great deal, for some of the scholars are much older than others, and were more used to putting down their thoughts. One who replied named some thirty or more things which the Lord had done for her.

A paper that I liked very much was very simple. I will let you see part of it. Here it is—

“WHAT HAS JESUS DONE FOR ME?”

“Jesus shed His precious blood for me.”

“He suffered on Calvary’s cross.”

“Jesus came down to save me because

He loved me so.”

“He died for me that I might be saved from death.”

“Jesus waited a long time for me so that He might save me.”

“Jesus has carried all our heavy loads and borne our sorrows.”

How much this means. Christ came and suffered and died. He bore the burden that we might go free. And then He waited for her to come to Him.

Now I wonder if you can say this of the Saviour. Do you know Him and believe on Him for yourself? Perhaps “father” or “mother” is one who loves and serves Him, and happy, indeed, it is to belong to a Christian home. But that is not enough. Each one of us needs to take Christ for our own.

Think, then, what you can say in answer to the question, “What has Jesus done for me?” The answer that springs to my lips as I look at the words is, —

“The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

He is my Saviour, and His love to me is my joy and delight. Is it so with you? Do not rest until it is. He will give you that which is far better than all that the world can supply, and you will be enabled to bring gladness to others.

ML 11/29/1931

The First Boys

Who were the first children? The fourth chapter of Genesis tells us about them. Can you find out their names? They were called Cain and Abel, and were the children of Adam and Eve.

When they grew up, Cain became a farmer and grew fruit of different kinds. Abel became a shepherd, and had numbers of sheep and lambs.

Both Cain and Abel had sinful hearts, like boys and girls today, and needed to be saved just as we all do. One day they brought presents or sacrifices to God. Cain brought fruit which he had grown. Abel brought a little lamb which he killed.

Cain does not seem to have felt that he was a sinner, needing to have Another die for him. He thought the result of his own labor would be enough. In his offering there was no owning that he was a sinner and deserved to die. His own name “Cain” was written on his offering, so to speak. Now Cain’s name called for God’s judgment because Cain was a sinner. And our names, however pretty they may sound, call for judgment too. God did not accept Cain’s sacrifice. He could not take any pleasure in it, for there was nothing in it to speak of Jesus, His Son.

Many people today think if they are real good, God will accept them on account of their good works but He says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

It is only those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour that He will save and take to heaven to live with Him.

Abel believed that he was a sinner needing a Saviour; he knew that he deserved to die. The offering he brought said, “I am a sinner and I ought to die, but this lamb dies for me.”

What word was written on that offering, do you think? Not “Abel,” I judge. No! I think that the word “Christ” was to be seen there.

Now since then Christ has died for us so that we might be saved. He is the Lamb of God, the One who God had said should come.

Abel by his sacrifice talks to us today. What does he say?

“Sinner, trust in Jesus. Do not trust in anything that you can do. No works of yours can be pleasing to God until you are saved through Jesus. His blood alone can cleanse away your sins, and make you right in the sight of God.”

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.

ML 11/29/1931

Daily, Sing to Jesus

Daily, daily sing to Jesus,

Sing, my soul, His praises due,

All He does, deserve our praises,

And our deep devotion, too.

Lost in wondering contemplation

Be His majesty confessed,

Yet He is our loving Saviour,

Jesus, Friend and Saviour blest.

Sweetly, sweetly sing to Jesus,

Tell, my soul, His matchless love,

Sound aloud in songs of triumph,

How He came from heaven above.

How in deep humiliation,

He for us did live below,

Died on Calvary’s cross of torture,

Rose to save our souls from woe.

Ever, ever sing to Jesus,

Join with saints His name to bless,

Till the ransomed hosts of heaven

Round His feet with anthems press.

Sing in songs of praise resounding,

Sing His majesty and grace,

Sing till here your service ending

You in heaven shall take your place.

ML 11/29/1931

Answers to Bible Questions for October

“The Children’s Class”

1.“But ye,” etc. Jude 20.

2.“Ye are of God,” etc. 1 John 4:4.

3.“Little children it,” etc. 1 John 2:18.

4.“Little children, let,” etc. 1 John 3:7.

5.“This is he,” etc. 1 John 5:6.

6.“Beloved, follow not,” etc. 3 John 11.

7.They were “walking in truth.” 2 John 4.

Bible Questions for December

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation, Chapters 12-22

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Thou only art holy.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “War in heaven.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “This is the second death.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Their works do follow them.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “No need of the sun.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “True and righteous are his judgments.”

7.Who is invited to “Take the water of life freely?”

Answers to Bible Questions for October

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Finding children walking in truth. 2 John 4.

2.The faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 3.

3.No. 3 John 7.

4.Those who believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13.

5.The advocacy of Christ with the Father. 1 John 2:1.

6.Because we love the brethren. 1 John 3:14.

7.He that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:22.

Bible Questions for December

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation, Chapters 12-22

1. List in order the seven verses giving the seven vials.

2.Who is the “man child?”

3.What is the instrument of the destruction of religious Babylon?

4.If possible, look up in a revised or J.N.D version the corrected reading of Revelation 22:14.

5.Name four things absent from heaven.

6.When are the wicked dead judged?

7.Are miracles a conclusive testimony that the power demonstrated is of God?

I love my precious Bible,

For in it I can see

God’s love as told in Jesus

Who bled and died for me.

“Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89.

ML 12/06/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalm 119, Verses 137 to 176

The 18th section of this psalm upholds God’s righteous ways and His faithfulness in the difficulties of the godly in the time to come for which the psalms were written.

The 19th section calls upon Him out of trouble, as having His law written in the heart, and the 20th section is similar, but looks for deliverance, the wicked persecutors and oppressors being many, but His tender mercies many, too.

In the 21St section, the believer is occupied with God and His Word. He has experienced persecution without a cause. Verse 162 tells the story of a believer who has found the key to happiness, “I have joy in Thy Word as one that findeth great spoil.”

Such is the Bible to those who study it prayerfully, seeking to learn God’s ways, and more of the Lord Jesus Christ our hope.

One result of this diligent study of the Word of God is seen in verse 163, another in verse 164 and another in verse 165; indeed the whole section is a testimony to the power of the Book to draw the earnest, devout believer near to God. Shall not we take encouragement from verses 161 to 168, and addict ourselves to the humble study of the Book of Books?

The last section is more general, a prayer for full deliverance from trial, and for understanding according to His Word. Hebrews 12:11 and this section may be compared.

It will have been noticed that every verse of the 176 has included some mention of the Word of God. Shall we not henceforth more highly regard this invaluable Book, and read it prayerfully, and with a purpose, every day? It is, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, a complete guide for the child of God. It reproves, corrects, blesses, cheers and strengthens those who love the Lord, enlarges their understanding, deepens their love to Him who died for them and lives again, is coming soon to take them to His eternal home, eternally His love to share.

ML 12/06/1931

Eternity

It was the one word “ETERNITY” in bold blue letters on the wall of a house that first made me think of my latter end. I was very ignorant of my need of a Saviour, and also of God’s way of salvation.

The man who lived in that house, spoke to me of Christ, and I thank the Lord that by the means of the following scripture he gave me, I learned that Jesus died for me, “He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities: the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and with His stripes I am healed.” Isaiah 53:5. Blessed, peace-giving words.

ML 12/06/1931

Maree's Answer

There was once a little girl called Maree. Perhaps you say “what a funny name!” Well, she was the only little girl I have met who had that name. But Maree, though only five or six years old, knew something that a great many other children, and grown up people too, do not know.

Little Maree went to a school where a chapter of God’s Word was read and a verse of Scripture said each day, before the other lessons commenced.

The children had been learning the different names of the Lord Jesus Christ, and one morning when they had learned several of these, the teacher went round the class, and instead of asking each child to repeat a text, in which was given one of the names of the Lord Jesus, she asked, “Who is the Son of God?”

Some gave the name given in their favorite text; some repeated what the child before had said, but when it came to Maree’s turn, she paused a moment, and then with a bright smile answered,

“He is my Saviour.”

Why did she say this? Because young as she was, she knew it—knew that all her sins had been washed away in His precious blood.

“There is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

“There is no other Name than Thine,

Jehovah Jesus, Name divine,

On which to rest for sins forgiven,

For peace with God, for hope of heaven.

Name above every name, Thy praise

Shall fill you courts through endless days,

Jehovah Jesus, Name divine,

Rock of salvation, Thou art mine!”

Dear little reader, can you say of Jesus, “He is my Saviour?” If not why not?

ML 12/06/1931

"Where Is Mother?"

A little girl had just come home from school, and not finding her mother, began to search for her, and was almost in tears at not being able to locate her at once. With “mother” she is content. Without her she is restless and anxious. She feels she needs mother at every turn and cannot settle to anything while she is away.

And so it is with the Christian and his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The believer cannot get on without Him. He needs Him every day, and all the way, and nothing goes right unless he has the sense of His presence. With Him there is safety and peace. With Him we need have no fear of darkness or distress or death. He is always able to meet every difficulty.

A little girl, nine years of age, was talking with a Christian friend. Among other things she told her she was not afraid to die.

“Why?” she was asked.

“He died for us.”

“He died for sinners,” her friend remarked. Looking up earnestly, she replied,

“I’m a sinner. O, yes! I’m a sinner, but He forgives. Sometimes I think He is standing beside me.”

What a comfort it is to know His heart of love that is ever ready to bless. And He never leaves His loved ones. He always stands by their side to hold them up. He has said,

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

So we may put our feeble hand in His mighty one, and know that He will carry us through.

“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” Isaiah 43: 1.

ML 12/06/1931

My Pussy!

Beautiful pet! Do you think you could find anything more contented, or happier looking, than this fine creature held so carefully by her gentle mistress!

Pussy looks perfectly satisfied and does not seem to have a shadow of fear, but rests quietly and lovingly in the arms of the one who is holding her.

As you look at the face of this dear young girl, do you not see kindness written there? You would not think of her as giving blows or speaking harsh words to her handsome pet, would you? You will usually find that those who are kind to animals, are kind to people.

God has shown great kindness to you in giving His blessed Son to bear your sins on the cross. Do you know Him as your own blessed Lord and Saviour?

Some boys think it manly to be rude in their speech, and rough in their ways; but such a thought is a great mistake. The only perfect Man that ever trod this earth, the Lord Jesus, was characterized by “meekness and gentleness” (See 2 Corinthians 10:1). And the more like that blessed One you are, the meeker and more gentle you will be. If the Spirit of God is working in you, gentleness and goodness will be part of the fruit that will be borne.

“THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE.” Galatians 5:22, 23.

ML 12/06/1931

All Are Welcome

All ye weary come to Jesus;

Still He calls, O, come away;

All are welcome to the Saviour,

Come to Him without delay.

Trust upon His sacred promise,

All who come to Him are blest;

He will save you, come to Jesus,

He alone can give you rest.

ML 12/06/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 120, 121

Psalms 120 to 134 are 15 “songs of degrees;” four were written under inspiration by David, and one by Solomon; the others have no author’s name; we are not told of the particular circumstances under which they were written. The word translated “drees” means “going up” or “ascent;” it is translated “steps” as steps to a throne in 1 Kings 10:19; and as steps to an altar in Exodus 20:26; but in 2 Kings 20 the word is translated “degrees” in connection with a sun dial.

The sun dials of the ancients were however not the clock-like dials which most of us have seen, but probably a series of steps arranged so that the shadow cast by a pillar nearby would fall on them, and so with the passage of the sun across the sky, the time of day could be told. Evidently therefore the songs of degrees are really “songs of ascent,” and it is thought that they were written to be sung on the way up to Jerusalem, and that they will be sung again when redeemed Israelites go there to worship. We shall find the theme of these psalms to ascend gradually from the low ground of distress to the high elevation, of Jerusalem’s walls.

Psalm 120 appears to begin the series with the time spoken of in Daniel 8:23-25, and the liar and deceiver is the man spoken of by other prophets, as the Assyrian or the king of the north, the power which will rise again to the northeast of Palestine, under Russian over lordship. This seems to be borne out by the” names of Mesech (which is Moscow) and Kedar which is in the same direction.

Psalm 121 is an expression of the fullest trust in Him who is both Creator and the Sovereign Keeper and Guardian of Israel, the mighty Jehovah. Safely will He guard all those who commit themselves to His keeping. How good to be in His hands, who has undertaken, to preserve His beloved ones from all evil!

The subject of Psalm 121 is, of course, in connection with the earth, where all of Israel’s hopes are centered, and it therefore falls short of the Christian’s full blessing, but the same guarding care attends us, as is promised Israel, we can have no doubt.

ML 12/13/1931

The Little Boy who could not say where his sins were

One, evening, after a service in a town situated upon one of the principal gold fields of Australia, I asked some among the audience as to the security and “salvation of their precious souls, and their present-knowledge and enjoyment of the forgiveness of their sins. From nearly all to whom I spoke I received, in response to my inquiries, “I hope so, sir; I hope so.”

This reply was given by some with much readiness, as though it were a well-learned lesson, by others it was uttered in uncertain tones, such as make the heart ache, of one who yearns for the salvation and deliverance of precious souls.

Somewhat saddened, I turned to a little fellow, and said to him,

“Well, my little man, where are your sins?”

He looked up into my face and smiled sweetly, but did not speak a word. Fearing that he did not catch my question, I repeated it, but still received no answer. His mother said, “Come, don’t be silly, Harry; answer the gentleman at once.” He looked up at me, still smiling, but did not answer.

Thinking that he was shy, I said a few words to him, and then bade them good night. On arriving home, his mother said to him,

“Why didn’t you answer, Harry?”

“Because I couldn’t,” rejoined the little boy.

“Why, that you could, I’m sure,” said the mother.

“No, I couldn’t, mother.”

“Why could you not, Harry?”

“Because I don’t know. I know that Jesus bore my sins and put them away, but where He has put them I don’t know, and I did not think anyone else did.”

O, what a volume of precious peace-giving truth falling from the lips of a mere babe! O, that all of you, dear young readers, might be able to take up the words of little Harry, “I know that Jesus bore my sins and put them away.”

It may be, my young reader, you are troubled about your sins; and perhaps you now say to yourself, “O, how I wish that I were like that little boy! If I could but say what he said, should not I be happy!”

Well, I have good news for you. You may know what he knew, and be able to say what he said this very hour, and on no less authority than the word of the living God. Do you believe His word?

“Yes,” you answer, “I believe everything the Bible says, but yet I cannot say that my sins are all pardoned.” Let us see what the Bible says. We will look at a few texts. Turn to Isaiah 53:6.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.”

Do you believe that?

“Yes.”

“You don’t hope you believe it, do you?”

“No, certainly not.”

“Do you feel that you believe it?” “No, I believe it.”

“Well, go on now: ‘But the Lord hath,’ Does it say may, or will?”

“No; ‘hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.’”

“Do you believe those words?”

Look now at Hebrews 1:3. This Scripture speaks of the same blessed Person.

“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” The resurrection of Jesus our Lord from the dead is a proof that His work is finished to the satisfaction of God.

“What about your sins, then?”

“But I don’t feel,” is your answer.

“Now, we have not been speaking about our feelings, but about God’s word. You said at the outset that you did not feel you believed, but believed. If you believe that you have gone astray, but that the Lord hath laid on Him (Jesus) your sins, and that He has borne them on the tree, and that He by His death has put them away, and that He is now risen, and seated at God’s right hand—blessed proof that His work is done! —where are your sins? Do you think it possible that Jesus bore your sins and put them away nineteen hundred years ago, and that they are still upon you?”

“Well, no; they must be gone, whether I feel it or not. God says so—I believe it.”

Now a few more texts as to where the believer’s sins have been put.

“Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19.

“Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” Isaiah 38:17.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12.

When will the east and the west come together? Never. When will the believer and his sins come together? Never. The Lord hath said, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

Rest on God’s word alone, and with the little boy, you will answer the question, “Where are your sins?” by saying, “I know that Jesus bore my sins and put them away, but where He’s put them I don’t know.”

ML 12/13/1931

A Young Girl's Reply

A little girl of about eleven or twelve years of age was at one of the large railway stations. Her face was wan and thin, and it required not a searching gaze for anyone to tell that she was very ill.

This was the case indeed; she was at this time on her way to the hospital to be treated for the disease from which she suffered.

A rough working man who was in the station could not help remarking the pinched appearance of the girl; and as she came near to him he said to her, “It is easy to see that you are not long for this world, so you had better get ready for the next.” To his astonishment she answered:

“I am ready now, but it’s my father, mother, brothers and sisters that I am thinking of and anxious about.”

The man said half aloud as he was moving away,

“I wish I were ready.”

“They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:10.

“Through this Man, (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things.” Acts 13:38, 39.

ML 12/13/1931

Come, Ye Children

Come, ye children, praise the Saviour,

Sing His boundless power and love,

He deserves your sweetest praises,

Let them reach His throne above.

Angels praise Him there in heaven,

Joining saints to bless His name,

All its courts resound with anthems,

Setting forth His matchless fame!

Of His love they tell the story,

How He left their home on high—

How He gave up heaven’s bright glory,

And to earth came down to die.

Children, would you join their chorus,

Singing sweetly as they shine,

Bearing harps of golden luster,

Strung and tuned to strains divine?

Bring them more than ‘Hallelujahs,’

Bring your hearts, His right and due,

Say, ‘Lord, take our youthful spirits,

Seal, and make them to Thee true.’

‘Blessed Saviour, take our spirits,

Gladly at Thy call we come;

Make us heirs of grace and glory,

Raise us to Thy heavenly home!”

Then we’ll sing sweet Hallelujahs

For Thy love so kind and free,

And with angel hosts before Thee Spend a long eternity!

ML 12/13/1931

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 Romans 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 USWARD, 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-doers, that He has not meant what He said; but it is His patience or long-suffeng, 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 12/20/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 122-124

Jerusalem rightly comes next in the songs of degrees, for there the hopes of redeemed Israel will be centered; to it they will earnestly hope to come. (See Zechariah 8:3-8; Psalm 147 verses 2, 12-14; Isaiah 2:2,3; and 45:18, 19). Jerusalem once was and will be again the city of God’s earthly dwelling place, and to be there while the long rejected, once crucified and slain Messiah reigns, will be the bright hope of the godly while waiting for that day.

We whose hopes are heavenly; how much is the eternal day of glory before us! how much is the admonition in Colossians 3:1-4 effective in our lives? Does the thought that the Lord is coming soon to take His heavenly people away to spend eternity with Him thrill our hearts with joy unspeakable and full of glory? O, it should!

The brief Psalm 123 is very precious; here the tried and troubled Israelites have, we may say, made another advance not only in the way to Jerusalem, but in the experience of their souls, for how could Jerusalem’s coming splendors satisfy the heart unless Jehovah be there? To Him they now address themselves; to Him they look; for Him they wait until He shall have mercy upon them. Not yet are their sorrows wholly past; the scorners and the proud have not been put down, nor the lowly exalted.

Psalm 124 follows the destruction of the last great enemy, the northern army of which Joel; Micah; Isaiah in chapters 10 and 14; Zechariah in chapter 14; Daniel in chapter 11:40-45, and Ezekiel in chapters 38 and 39 treat.

Quickly after the Lord has destroyed the western or Roman power at His coming, but before He has taken the throne of David; the king of the north, or the Assyrian, appears in the land of Israel with an immense army. It appears beyond any doubt to be the Russian power or influence that controls, but all the nations of eastern and northeastern Asia will be joined together, bent on making Palestine their own. But it will be a vain effort, and the king of the north will be put to death like the Beast or head of the Roman empire; and the false prophet of the Jews; but not at the same time.

It is at the end of these momentous days that Psalm 124 has its place, evidently. The deliverance of the godly remnant of Judah and Israel is owned to be all of God’s power.

ML 12/20/1931

A Child's Victory

Let me tell you about a little child who by the power of the Holy Spirit overcame a great temptation. She was a child naturally of extreme self-will, and if opposed in any way, she directly became exceedingly obstinate, sometimes remaining so many hours.

One of these occasions showed itself when she came into my room to have her daily Bible lesson. She was learning the 23rd Psalm. Her parents had gone abroad for a time, and were soon returning; and I said to her,

“You don’t yet know your Psalm very well, I should like you to know it much better before your mamma comes home.”

“O! but,” she said, “I must know it for mamma, I must say it quite well to her.”

I knew this cost her much, as she was not fond of learning, and found difficulty in retaining by heart.

She then began to repeat the Psalm, making several mistakes at the fourth verse,

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” I said to her, “I want E——to say that verse over till she says it without one fault.”

After having repeated it three times with many faults, she stopped short, and said in a very decided manner, plainly showing she meant what she said,

“I won’t say it anymore; I can’t, I don’t want to.”

I paid no attention to this, but simply told her to say it again; then she looked very angry, and exclaimed,

“I said I would not say it again, I’m not going to; I won’t say it anymore;” and her little face, before radiant with sunshine at the thought of “saying it quite well to mamma,” now looked dark and cloudy, as though some distant storm were brewing, and I saw with pain she was in one of her sadly obstinate fits, and that the Evil one was getting the better of her.

Again she was asked to say it; again she sternly refused.

Seeing it to be quite useless to ask her anymore, and knowing that self-will and obstinacy are peculiarly difficult to deal with, I thought it best to turn her mind to something else.

As I had said, she was to repeat the verse till she knew it perfectly, I wished to keep to it, at the same time knowing it required a far higher power than mine to make her willing to obey, so strong was her will.

After waiting a few minutes, I silently asked the Lord to guide and show His mind about it.

It may seem to you a little thing, but nothing concerning any of His children is small in the Father’s eyes, because the Father looks at them as in Christ, and all that concerns them concerns His Son, and therefore, must accordingly be precious to Him; and we are told the Father loves the believer with the same love with which He loves the Son, ( John 17:23) and that we know is measureless! We can never bear in mind too much that God delights for us to go to Him about everything.

After a deep silence, I said, “Can E——tell me what Jesus did when He was down here on earth, and Satan came and tempted Him to do a very naughty thing, and one that would have disobeyed and displeased God very much?”

“No, I can’t,” she said.

“Shall I tell you?”

“Yes.”

I then told her how Satan tempted the Lord Jesus three times, and how He told Satan to go behind Him, and overcame the Tempter by using God’s own Word, and she seemed much struck, and it was touching to watch the struggle that was going on within.

“Does Jesus want us to be like Him?” I said.

“Yes,” she said.

“Yes,” I repeated; “and it is the Father’s wish to make us like His Son in everything. He is thinking of it all day long; and every little thing that happens to God’s children down here, is to make us more and more like His Son. That is God’s one object concerning all those who are washed in the blood of Jesus.”

“If,” I continued, “Satan came and tempted me to be very naughty, and I said, ‘go away, Satan,’ do you think he would go?”

She looked up in my face, and said slowly,

“Yes; —I think he would, and I think God would make him go away,” and without another word she turned her little head round.

She did not know with what tearful joy I saw those little lips move; but what was my joy in comparison to the joy it gave the heart of God, to see a little child scarce more than five years old overcoming an evil passion by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In another moment she looked up in my face, with almost tears on her own, and said,

“I will say that verse now, I will say it as often as you like, till—till— I know it quite well.”

The victory was won—the child was happy—God was praised, and I silently thanked the Lord for thus glorifying Himself in one so young, and in bringing His own Word home with power to her young heart; feeling it to be a lesson from Himself that both the child and I would never forget.

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13.

ML 12/20/1931

Who Are Your Friends?

You have many friends, no doubt, but who is your best friend?

We read in the Bible about the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Of course, you know who this Friend is. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. Is He your best Friend?

I heard a young man who had been converted a few days before, singing with his wife and little boy,

“What a Friend we have in Jesus!”

Could you truthfully take that word “we” out, and write “I” instead—like this? —

“What a Friend I have in Jesus!”

If not, I want you to speak to the Lord Jesus; and tell Him you are going to accept Him as your own Saviour and Friend.

Boys and girls who do belong to the Lord Jesus should be very careful as to whom they make friends with. We have to be kind and courteous to everybody, but it is very sad to find young Christians choosing as their companions those who do not love the Saviour.

A certain farmer saw a lot of crows picking up the seed that he had sown in one of his fields. So he took his gun, and fired at them. All the birds flew away at once, except one that lay on the ground, wounded. The farmer went up to the wounded bird, and found to his astonishment that it was his own pet parrot that had escaped from his cage, and flown out to join the crows in the field.

Its wing was broken with the shot, and the farmer picked it up gently, saying, “Ah! Polly, this is the result of your keeping bad company.”

He put the poor parrot under his coat, and went off home. When he got near the house, his little girl ran to meet him.

“Father,” she said, “have you shot any crows?”

“I have shot Polly!” said the farmer.

“O father! however did you manage to do that?”

Before the farmer could tell his little girl how it was, the parrot put its head out from under his coat and exclaimed,

“Bad company! bad company!”

Dear young Christian, don’t keep bad company with the crows, or you will be sure to be wounded!

I mean don’t make friends of unsaved people. They will do you harm.

The best kind of companion to have is mentioned in Psalm 119:63,

“I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.”

“The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” James 4:4.

ML 12/20/1931

The Gray Wolf

There is no animal, outside of the domestic, more generally known than the wolf, as it is found in every part of the world.

In our picture we see them out on the cold snow hunting for food, and no doubt it will be very difficult for them to find any, but we know God takes care of all His creatures in one way or another.

The way the wolf is described in Scripture is as ravening and seeking its prey in the evening. It is very destructive among sheep, destroying more than it can eat. This makes the wolf a fit emblem of the wicked, who molest the sheep and lambs of God’s flock, and even creep in among them.

During the Millennium (or one thousand years) when the Lord Jesus will reign over the earth, and Satan shall be bound, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6.

What a change that will be from the present time. At the present, these poor creatures are under Satan’s power, and that is the reason they are ravenous; and when people hate those who belong to the Lord, they are under the power of Satan, too. Do you love the Lord’s people?

“WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE BRETHERN.” 1 John 3:14.

ML 12/27/1931

Bible Lessons

Psalms 125-128

The 125th psalm is faith’s acknowledgment of the gracious and powerful dealing of God on behalf of His earthly people and their homeland. The days of trial, of fear and distress unparalleled, are then over.

“They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His People from henceforth even forever.”

Blessed be God, He will finish His work in righteousness when Israel shall have turned to Him, owning the fearful sin which compelled Him to disown them and to scatter them worldwide.

The 126th begins a series of three praise psalms. Israel’s woes are over and joy is in the heart. They who had sown in tears, will be reaping with rejoicing. Blessing from heaven has surely always been found by those who go forth and weep, bearing seed for scattering. God’s best servants have been those who mingled tears with their prayers; the spiritual results of such exercise will be seen at the resurrection of the just.

All depends upon the Lord; unless He builds the house, the builders labor in vain; unless He keeps the city, the keeper watches in vain; in vain too was the rising up early, and lying down late, for Jerusalem as man built it had come to naught. Blessing to the full, in an earthly sense was now before them (Psalm 127).

Psalm 128 continues the subject entered upon in No. 127. It gives a beautiful picture of the life to be enjoyed by the earthly saints during the Lord’s millennial reign. Anxiety and care and even want, so often marring the happiness of many a home in these days, will be banished in that day. How sweet that rest and peace must be to the faithful Israelite!

Yet for us, the believers of the present dispensation of grace, how much more blessed, more glorious, the future! We shall be like the Lord (1 John 3:2), and with Him (1 Thessalonians. 4:17) forever. Heaven, not earth, is our home. He will have us with Himself (John 14:3 and 17:24), and we long to be with Him (Revelation 22:20) in the home above.

“Lord, haste that day of cloudless ray. That prospect bright, unfailing!”

ML 12/27/1931

Rosie's Sins Rubbed Out

Rosie was a clever girl, but she had a cross temper and many naughty ways. Had the truth been told she would never have received one of those presents which aunties used to bring, marked, “For a Good Girl.” Without being extremely bad, she was a living proof that

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. But do not think that you are any better than she was. Next to a doll—the delight of every girl’s heart—her favorite pleasure was to draw. She would spend hours sketching houses, men and women, cats, motor cars, and other things on blackboard, paper, or any conceivable thing.

A visitor at the house one day observed Rosie disobey her mother, and full of frowns instead of smiles. Wondering how she could reach her conscience, she thought of her artistic efforts. When they were quite alone they had a talk about the Lord Jesus; how good He was when He was a little child on earth; how He grew tip to be a man, and was kind to everyone, though people were wicked and cruel to Him; how He let men nail His hands and feet to the dreadful cross of wood; how He hung there, and did not say an angry word, but prayed to His Father for His murderers; how He rose up from the dead, came out of the grave, and went back to heaven, where He still intercedes for His people who live in this wicked world.

Little Rosie liked very much to hear about the “holy child Jesus,” and she said:

“Do you think Jesus can make me a good girl?”

“Yes,” said her friend, “I am sure He can, and He will do so if you trust Him.” Then came the use of a simple event which had happened only a few evenings before. Rosie could not work out the sum on her slate, but got the figures all wrong. Mother finding it all wrong, crossed it out with many crosses. Such a looking slate made the little girl cry. What was to be done?

“O, mother, do rub it out, take the sponge and clean it off.” This done, Rosie dried her tears, and exclaimed,

“Now, mother, you cannot see it, I cannot see it, and no one can see it.”

Then the visitor explained that her heart and life were all wrong, but that “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), and that if she would just own up she was a sinner and let the Lord Jesus Christ save her, cleanse her, and keep her, all would be put right.

Kneeling down with the little girl, the visitor asked the Lord to make the way of salvation simple and plain to her little friend. Then she asked Rosie to speak to the Lord, which she did in the following simple words.

“Blessed Lord Jesus, do cleanse my wicked heart; let the Blood You shed on the cross wash my sins away now. Amen.” Sometime after this Rosie said,

“I know all my sins are gone, Jesus did rub them all out. Now, He cannot see them, the angels cannot see them, I cannot see them, and no one will see them anymore.”

“Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” Isaiah 38:17.

“Their sins and iniquities will I redeemer no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

In all honesty of heart Rosie owned her lost condition, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her own personal Saviour, and was saved.

Her sins which were many were cleansed; her heart was filled with the “rest” which He alone can give (Matthew 11:28); her tastes, likings, desires, in fact, her whole nature has been changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). “A Friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) has been her companion; the Word, “which endureth Forever” (1 Peter 1:25), her unfailing guide; a hope, “sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19), has filled her heart, that yet a little while (Hebrews 10:37) and the One who shed His blood for her on the cross (Galatians 2:20) will welcome her to His glory throne to be forever with Himself (1 Thessalonians. 4:17).

What little Rosie did, any other little girl or little boy may do. Jesus said,

“Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14.

Rosie accepted His invitation, took Him as her Saviour, and went on her way rejoicing. Will you not do as she did and know your sins forgiven.

Make sure that Rosie’s choice is your choice now; that her Saviour is yours for time and eternity. Think not there is plenty of time. Others, like yourself, have been suddenly called. Be real, be earnest. Look to the Saviour and be saved now.

ML 12/27/1931

I'm as Good as Anybody

In the neighborhood of the home of a boy of whom I am about to tell you, there had been from time to time special religious gatherings for the young. Several of his acquaintances were in some way changed; but how that change was brought about this boy could not understand.

One winter’s evening he set out with the determination to go and see for himself what these services were like, and what had made his young companions so different.

My young friend from his infancy, had been trained religiously, and, was naturally amiable—so comparing himself with many boys whom he knew, he reasoned thus:

“It is a good thing for them to be changed; it is very well for them to begin to lead a new life, but with me it is very different. I always read my Bible, and pray every day. I have no need of this change. I am as good as anybody.”

With these self-righteous thoughts filling his mind, he arrived at his destination. He listened attentively to the preaching of the word, and sang the hymns with the rest, and then returned to his home with the confirmed idea that he needed no new birth.

The next night he went again, and presently something was said, which seemed as if aimed directly at him. The word of God,

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” struck into this self-righteous boy’s soul. The Holy Spirit revealed to him his lost condition, and he saw himself to be, “though as good as anybody,” still, after all, nothing but a poor lost sinner. His heart was broken, and in his shame and grief he besought the Lord to speak peace to his sin-burdened soul.

Henceforth he no longer boasted of his own goodness. He looked to Christ for pardon, and is now living to tell others of his Saviour.

Dear young friends, are you saying, “I am as good as anybody,” or, have you cried to God, “I have sinned,” and found mercy?

“There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:3.

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

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:13.

ML 12/27/1931

Jesus Will Bless the Little Ones

The infant children Christ received,

O praise His precious name;

He took them up into His arms,

He blessed each babe that came.

An awful warning Jesus gave,

To those who would offend;

Let none despise these little ones,

God cares for all of them.

Go, gather in these little ones,

From off the field of sin,

The harvest great, the laborers few,

Then bring, O, bring them in.

ML 12/27/1931

Messages of God's Love: 1931

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for November

Bible Lessons

Saved in a Kitchen

The Shepherd

"Anybody That Likes"

Bible Lessons

The Snow Storm

Lost

Jesus, the Lord, Is Full of Love

The Cat and the Chickens

Feeding the Birds

Jesus and His Love

Bible Lessons

A Mother's Love

The Leper

Bible Lessons

Hero's Rescue

The Listening Plowboy

Why Daisy Loved Jesus

Little Sunbeam

The Guarded House

"What About God?"

Bible Lessons

Answers to Bible Questions for January

Frank's Peace

Bible Lessons

Jesus Is Not Dead

Little Jamie's Faith

Astonished

A Late Snow

Bible Lessons

"A," "The," "My"

His Last Message

God Has Done It

Children and Lambs

Happy Children

The Saviour Is Coming

Bible Lessons

Answers to Bible Questions for December

Lem, the Chinese Boy

Bible Lessons

"This Is the Very Thing I Want"

Walk with Jesus.

The Flood

David and Goliath

He Died for Me

Put up Your Sign

A Mimic Battle

Gypsies

Bible Lessons

Bible Lessons

The Broken Window

A Fog at Sea: Or Safety First

A Solemn Warning

"Mother, I mean to be a Missionary"

"Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me"

Saved Just as You Are

Jesus of Nazareth

If I Come to Jesus

Bible Lessons

Christ Is Coming, Are You Ready?

Willard's Confession

The Saviour

Alice and Her Kittens

Bible Lessons

If Jesus Had Been Your Teacher

Salvation

Come

Answers to Bible Questions for February

Bible Lessons

The Little Sister's Love

But-

Wonders in Nature

O, Won't You Be a Christian

Watching

Bible Lessons

The Elephant on the Bridge

The Convenient Season