Messages of God's Love: 1943

A stout boy who worked in a grocer’s store was one day carrying a big basket filled with oranges and parcels of tea, coffee, sugar, and other good things, along a narrow lane to a house on the edge of the village. As he walked slowly along with his load, a merry little fellow came running in the opposite direction whistling like a lark on a sunny morning. He was a little careless, for he tilted plump against the grocer lad’s basket, and knocked it off his arm. Away rolled the bright oranges, and out went the parcels on the dusty path, very much to the chagrin of the errand boy. With hot face, flashing eyes, and closed fists, he squared himself for a fight.

But the little fellow did not wish to fight, for he felt innocent of any intention to do harm to the other. So with a pleasant smile he said,

“I’m very sorry. I was careless, didn’t mean to upset your basket. Come, let me help pick up the things.”

These were soft words. The spirit of kindness was in them, and it melted the anger from the other boy’s heart in a moment. He dropped his arms, and went to picking up his scattered goods. When everything was replaced, the boys wished each other good morning, and went their way cheerful and happy.

Now suppose the careless boy had used hard instead of soft words. What then? There would have been trouble, of course. Soft words prevented all this, you see. Are not soft words delightful and blessed things? Yes, they are precious pearls.

Remember this, and keep. lots of them in your month ready to drop out when needed. The wise king said,

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

“Be ye kind one to another.” Ephesians 4:32.

ML 01/03/1943

The New Year

What know I of the coming year,

Or what it will bring to me?

Whether its close will find me here,

Or in eternity.

What found I in the rear that’s past

To make My heart forget

That this perhaps may be my last

Although in childhood yet?

For little ones, still less than I,

Their short-lived course have run,

Who never, never thought to die

When first the year begun.

But I am left, while they are gone:

O, shall we meet again,

And, on the resurrection morn,

Eternal joys obtain?

We shall, if in the Christ of God

Accepted, we are seen;

We shall, if cleansed by Jesus’ blood,

Which makes the vilest clean.

ML 01/03/1943

He Had Forgotten, What? Have You Forgotten?

“I’ve forgotten! I’ve forgotten!”

The words were ejaculated again and again by a gentleman to his doctor.

He had been calling on a merchant, and suddenly feeling ill, dropped into a chair near by—a dying man.

The office boy was sent for the medical man, and when he arrived the patient recovered a little, and repeated the words again and again,

“I’ve forgotten! I’ve forgotten!”

“What is it you have forgotten? Is it some matter connected with your business? Do you want to see your lawyer?” Questions such as these were asked, but in vain. All he seemed to be able to say was,

“I’ve forgotten! I’ve forgotten!”

The lawyer was sent for in case it was something to do with his will that the dying man was anxious about.

Having come he begged his client to inform him what it was that troubled him so much. At last the reply came in a whisper:

“I’ve forgotten about my soul.”

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

ML 01/03/1943

Winter

What a beautiful winter scene this is, with the sun shining on the pure white snow.

Most children like winter, when the snow flies around them, touching their faces, and falling on their clothes, and they love to make snowballs. The parks look beautiful with all the dark trees and bushes surrounded by the white snow.

Is there anything whiter than snow?

Yes, a sinner who is washed in the prious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is whiter than snow.

Are you washed, dear reader, in the blood of Jesus? Just come to Him, and accept Him as your dear Saviour, who loves you so much, as to die for you on the cross, and bore the judgment you derved for your sins.

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

ML 01/03/1943

The Coming of Jesus

Matthew 1

The life of the Lord Jesus on earth was written by four men, each giving some events not told by the others. These writings are called “Gospels” which means “good news”; the first Gospel was written by Matthew.

God wants all to know this good news about His Son, who left heaven to come to this world. There is no news so important as this.

The beautiful story of the angels telling the shepherds that the Saviour had been born in a manger in Bethlehem, was not written by Matthew. But he wrote that an angel told Joseph that the holy Child to be born should be named JESUS, which means Saviour.

He was the holy Child, told of long before by the prophet Isaiah, to be called also, Emmanuel, a most wonderful name, for it means “God with us” (Isa. 7:14; Math, 1:22.)

King David and others had been told that the Great One to come, would be King over Israel and over all the earth, that He would be from the family of David. To prove to the people that Jesus belonged to that family, and from Abram, was the reason for the long list of names which begins the book of Matthew.

Those names were of fathers and sons from Abraham to King David, and from David’s son Solomon, to Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The people then kept their records carefully and knew that list was correct, and. by their law, Jesus was heir to the throne of Israel, from Joseph.

At that time the nation of Israel was weak, and ruled by another nation, and needed the Great King.

If you read over that list of names you will see some you know, kas Isaac, Jacob, others. All the men named were of the Hebrew nation, but three of the four women mentioned, were of other nations, and had no right of their own to be in families of Israel. But all believed and valued the promises of God, and He blessed them.

The women were Thamar, mother of Phares (vs. 3); Rachab, the mother Booz (vs. 5); Ruth, mother of Obed (vs. 5); and the mother of Solomon (vs. 6), who was Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:13). These women seem to be in that important list to show how willing God has always been to bless any who believe Him.

More is told of Jesus being born to be King of the Jews in the next chapter of Matthew.

Note: The spelling of many names in Matthew, and in all the New Testament, is often different from the spelling in the Old Testament, because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek; as: Boaz is written Booz Judah is written Judas; Hezekiah is written Ezekias; Josiah is written Josias.

The Hebrew people spoke of The One to come from God as the Messiah, “the anointed One,” and the title, the Christ, means the same (John 4:25).

ML 01/03/1943

Early Teach the Little Children

Early teach the little children,

Of the Lord who came to die;

Came to bring them free salvation,

Take them to His Home on high.

Jesus loves the little children,

Left His happy home above,

Came to seek the lost and straying,

He, whose heart is full of love.

When on earth the Saviour, Jesus,

Laid His hands upon their head,

Took them in His arms and blessed them,

“Let them come to Me,” He said.

Come, then, children, do not tarry,

Seek the Saviour while you may;

Trust Him, He who died to save you;

Soon He’ll come; perhaps today.

“THOSE THAT STIEK Ff EARLY SHALL FIND ME.” Proverbs 8:17.

ML 01/10/1943

Answered Prayer

Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened, unto you, for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened,” Matthew 7:7,8.

How simple, how rich with meaning are these promises of the Lord Jesus! And no conditions are attached to their fulfillment, except this, that the asker lay his request before the Lord with simple and childlike faith.

He who asks will find that the Lord awers his prayers, even if, in many cases, differently from what he expected.

O how many glorious answers we would have to our prayers if we would ask in more childlike simplicity and confiding trust.

Mary was a little girl of ten years who lived with her grandparents and both of them knew the Lord Jesus and had instructed their little granddaughter to take heed to her soul’s salvation. Often had they told her of Jesus and His readiness to answer our requests.

Well, one day, the teacher at the close of the lesson said,

“For tomorrow the lesson will be on page—of your arithmetic.”

All wrote down the number of the page in their note books, and then with gladness hurried home.

Mary’s grandparents lived not far from the school. When she reached home and had finished her supper, she took down her arithmetic, and note book to work at her lesson, but how frightened she was when on looking at the page assigned by the teacher as the next day’s lesson, she found it was so poorly printed that not a single problem could be clearly read.

Now good counsel was needful! No one in her class, to whom she could go, lived near her, and the teacher was very strict. She was much troubled and at last began to cry, for what was to happen the next day? She was afraid of being severely punished. At this moment, her grandfather entered the room and seeing her cry, he asked the cause of her grief. Mary told him her diftulty. The grandfather looked at her quietly and then said,

“Just tell Jesus! He can help you. It is an easy matter to Him!”

Mary looked at her grandfather with surprise, for how could the Lord Jesus be able to help her? but when she saw that the old man was serious in his aice, she went to the next room and asked the Lord to help her to get her lesson done, as she did not know what to do.

After the prayer she was comforted a little, but she was not yet quite confident. At last she went out into the garden, which was quite near the school house. She had not been there long when her eyes fell on a page of paper, which, crumpled up like a ball, hung on the hedge. Not thinking much about it, she picked it up and smoothed it out.

Who could describe her astonishment, when she saw that it was the very page she must have, and the print not unreable, as in her arithmetic, but clear and distinct. With delight she hastened into the house and showed the paper to her grandparents.

When they understood the case, they kneeled down with her and thanked the Lord for having answered her request so quickly and in such a wonderful way. Then Mary worked her lesson, and I need hardly, say, that this time she did it specially quick.

Mary is no longer a child. She lives no longer with her grandparents, but has a home of her own, but this remarkable answer to prayer in her childhood days, she has never forgotten. The remembrance of it in her later years has been useful and blessed, arid she has told me the account so that I might tell it again to the young and old readers of “Meassges of the Love of God,” for their encouragement and blessing.

ML 01/10/1943

The Book "Par Excellence"

Show me a book,” said a thinking man, “which will cause me to rejoice when I am sad; to feel strong when I am weak; which lightens the darkness; enables me to bear with meekness, the taunts and sneers of the world; to forgive my enemies and to love them; to live no more to myself, but for others—show me such a book, and I shall know it does not come from men, but from God.”

This book, we know is God’s Word.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much One gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

“Moreover, by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Psalms 19:7-11.

ML 01/10/1943

For the Little Tots A. B. C.

Here we are with a new A. B. C. The letters are just the same as you learn at school, you see. A. first, B, next, then C. Now, there is a little text connected with each one of these letters which I want you all to learn. You will try to remember this A. B. C. lesson, won’t you, when I tell you it comes from God. He sent it down from heaven for every boy and girl, and for big people also to learn.

“What is the first letter?”

“A.”

“Yes, and the text for A is,” “ALL HAVE SINNED.”

“What does ‘ALL’ mean?” “Everybody.”

“Yes, every one here, John, James, Maggie, and Mary: all, every one has sinned.”

“Now, the second letter. What is it?”

“B.”

“Now, the text for B is,

“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD.” “Who is the Lamb of God?”

“JESUS CHRIST who died for sinners, for every one of you, to save you from your sins. Now the last letter of the three is what?”

“C.”

“The text for C is,

“COME UNTO ME.”

This is an invitation from Jesus, the Lamb of God, to every one of you. He calls you to come to Him NOW.

“Suffer the little children to come unto. Me, and forbid them riot: for of such is the kingdom of God.... And He took them up in His arms, and put His hands upon them, and blessed them.” Matt. 10:14,16.

ML 01/10/1943

"I Shall Be There"

A lady on board a homebound steamer noticed a barefoot little girl playing about the deck. She spoke to her, and said,

“Where do you come from, my dear?” “From San Francisco,” she replied. “And where are you going?” asked the lady.

“O, to England.”

After further conversation the lady said,

“Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“Who is He?” said the little girl, “I don’t know Him.”

The lady took her aside and told her the story of His birth, sufferings, and death. Tears stood in the little girl’s eyes, showing that her heart had been touched, by what she had heard.

“But,” added the lady, “He is coming again soon for all those who love Him, that they may be with Him forever.”

When leaving the vessel, the lady waved her good-by, to her little friend, who in reply, pointed upward to the sky and said,

“I shall be there! I shall he there!”

Will all our dear little readers be there?

ML 01/10/1943

The Wise Men's Visit

Matthew 2

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying: “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”

It is not told from how far east those men had come, or how they knew the star they had seen in their land was in honor to the “King of the Jews.” But God must have shown them, and they desired so much to see that King that they made the hard journey. They knew that He was from God, for they said they had come to worship Him.

Jerusalem was the capital city of the Jews, so they expected to find the new King there. Herod called for the men who had the writings of the prophets, who said the Great Ruler was to come from Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2)

Those people of Jerusalem had known a King was to come from Heaven, and we would think many would have gone to see Him. But it is not told that any went,—only the wise men.

After they started for Bethlehem, they again saw the star they had seen in their own land, and it guided them to the house where the young child Jesus was. The men had brought valuable gifts, suitable for a King: gold, frankincense, the dried gum of rare trees, used to burn for its sweet perfume, and myrrh, also from rare trees, used as a medicine and to preserve.

Gold speaks of the Lord’s righteousness; the incense of the life of Jesus, which was pleasing to God; and the myrrh teaches of the “healing” of many.

Herod had told the wise men to come back and tell him, after they had found the young child born to be King, and he would go to worship Him. But he wa, not speaking the truth, for he was a wicked man, and really wanted to destroy, the One to take his place as king.

God knew Herod’s thoughts and gave the wise men warning, in a dream not to go to tell Herod. So they returned to their homes another way. This story of the wise men shows God’s wish to bless many far away, by His Son.

It is not strange that a special star shone in honor of the Lord Jesus coming to earth, for we are told that “all things were made by Him.” John 1:3.

Do you know how long ago it was that the Lord Jesus came as a Baby to this earth? Our year dates tell us as near as is known: as, the year 1942 meant it was that many years since Christ was born. His birth was so important an event that our time is reckoned from His birth.

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.” Galatians 4:4.

Were the wise men glad when they saw the star? (Matt. 2:10).

Are we told how many wise men came? (Matt. 2:1).

When the wise men saw Mary and the Baby Jesus, whom did they worship? (Matt. 2:11).

ML 01/10/1943

The Three Enemies

The poor little rat in the picture has three powerful enemies, the dog, the cat and the trap. The dog is too busy keeping the cat from making a meal of the rat to devour it.

All who believe in the Lord Jesus still find themselves very weak, and they have three strong enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. It is like a fort with one enemy, the flesh, (our evil nature), inside; and two outside, the world and the devil. Satan comes to us, and presents something of the world which the flesh likes very much, and unless we are on our guard, the door of the fort is opened, and we have been caught.

But, dear children, there is no excuse for our being caught, because the Lord Jesus conquered that great enemy of our souls when. He died for us; and now we can always draw strength from Him to meet every temptation. In order to do this, we must have our minds set on Him, for that will keep the flesh in the place of being dead to the world.

“SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.” Colossians 3:2.

ML 01/17/1943

The Lord's Care

A lady who owned an estate, but had learned what was more enduring riches than anything on the earth—that is, the love of Christ to sinners—was accustomed to have meetings for prayer and reading the Scriptures, and conversation in her house. At one of these meetings they were speaking of the kindness of God, in times of sorrow and trial, and it was asked if there were any present who could tell of some things in their own life that showed this in a special way.

An old man then related this account of the Lord’s goodness to him,

“Many years ago, at the time of famine in this part of the country, my wife and myself were suffering great want. At last we had come down to having nothing at all in the house to eat. Then the queion came from my wife,

‘What shall we do?’

I told her to put on the pot for porridge, and we would look to the Lord for the oatmeal to make the porridge in it. So she put the water on the fire, and we bowed before our gracious Father in prayer, asking Him to give us oatmeal to keep us from starving, as He had given us salvation through Christ. And now, dear friends, mark this, as a token of His being a living and ever present God. While we were at prayer, we heard a noise near the door, and upon our rising from our knees, we opened the door, and there stood a sack of oatmeal ready for our use! We could see nobody anywhere near, and feeling sure that the Lord meant it for us, took it in, rejoicing in our blessed Lord who had so wonderfully prided for us. We never learned through whose hands it came, but we knew well that it was from the Lord, and that He had sent it just in the right time. He is worthy of all praise.”

All listened with deep interest while the old man was speaking, but especially the lady at whose house they were gathered. Deeply affected, she told her story, which was really an explanation of this very matter.

“I remember, she said, very clearly, one evening, during that time, in which there seemed to be laid on my heart a great weight—the condition of the poor about me—so that I could not go to sleep. I thought, Here I am having plenty, and some might be at the very point of starving. O, if I only knew how to find them out! So deeply did I feel the matter that I arose and called a. servant, and bid him take a sack of meal at that very hour of night.

‘But where shall I go?’ he asked.

‘Take the horse, and put the sack on his back, and let him go for himself, and wherever he stops, put down your sack at the nearest door, and come home.’

Then I asked the Lord to direct the whole matter, leading the animal to the place where the meal was most needed, as He led the oxen which bore the ark, when the Philistines sent them with it (1 Sam. 6:14); and as He led the ravens to His prophet Elijah in his need.

The servant returned in due time, telling me he had left the sack as I directed, the horse having stopped at a cottage at some distance. After putting down the sack, he came back, at once, without seeing anyone. And now, dear friends, I see the movement of the Lord’s hand in all this, and I praise Him who has brought it all out tonight. How rich is His mercy! It endureth forever.”

Was not this a precious token of God’s kind care, in taking from one of His chiren to provide for others, just at the right time?

If that had happened to you, either as giver or receiver, would you not feel quieted with the thought of how near He was? And if He has come to you desing to forgive your sins, and make you His own, is He not as near? You may safely rest in Him.

“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32.

ML 01/17/1943

The One Who So Loved Me

Jesus, I know that Thy blood can save,

For I know it has saved me;

I once feared death, and the dark, dark grave,

And the darker eternity.

I felt my sins were a fearful load;

No language my sorrow could tell;

And ah! as I walked the broad, broad road,

I knew ‘twas a journey to hell.

But I heard of One who loved me so,

That He came from His throne on high,

To bear the weight of my sin and woe,

And to bleed on the cross, and die.

He washed my sins in the crimson flood

That flowed from His open side,

And I knew I was saved by the precious blood

Of the Lord who was crucified.

So, now, a sinner redeemed by blood,

In Christ accepted I stand,

And wait, as a blood-bought child of God,

For my home in the heavenly land.

And this is the joy I seek below,

As I sing of His love so free,

That others the wondrous love may know

Of the One who so loved me.

ML 01/17/1943

The Hindu Boy's Sermon

Far away in India, some few years ago, a group of dark-skinned black-eyed boys were standing at a street corner. You would have thought them very funny, with their loose cotton clothes; but there was nothing strange in their appearance to the crowds of people passing that busy afternoon. Yet as God looked down from heaven, what a difference He saw! Most, if not all, of those people worshiped idols—ugly idols, blocks of wood and stone. They try to wash away their sins by bathing in the river Ganges, knowing nothing of the precious blood of Jesus which alone can cleanse from all sin. Few among them had ever heard of His love or read His message in the Bible; hut these few boys had heard it. They had been taught in a school kept by those who loved the Lord Jesus, and beer still, they had believed His Word; and coming to Him just as they were—poor, ignorant heathen boys—they had been washed and forgiven, they were Christians. So it was no wonder, when the teacher who was going to preach on the street corner that afternoon, asked if they would go and help him to sing the hymns, instead of having a game in the playground, they willingly agreed; for, those who have believed in the Lord Jesus, love to serve and please Him.

They were there in good time, but the teacher was not. Something had haened which hindered him in getting there, and he could not let them know, so the boys waited and waited.

“Let us sing a hymn: he may come by the time we have Finished,” said one.

So the boys sang one hymn, and then another, but no teacher came. Meanwhile the people stopped to listen, and quite a crowd gathered round.

“Let us go home now,” said one of the boys, as they finished another hymn.

“O, cannot one of us preach?” as he looked at the people standing around who had never heard of Jesus. Who would? Who could?

“You can.” And they pushed forward one among them who they thought could tell a little of what he knew. O, how the people laughed! That boy preach? They called him names and jeered at him; but the little boy sent up a prayer to the Lord Jesus for help, and then asked permission to speak, so politely and modestly, that everybody listened.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “we read today in school that once, when the Lord Jesus was in this world, His clothes became so dazzling and His face so bright, that even those who loved Him could not bear it, but fell on the ground as if they were dead. Gentlemen, I pray you, think, if that happened to those who loved Him, what will happen to those who do not love Him at all, when He comes back in His glory to judge the world? Good afternoon.” And bowing politely, the boy went back into the group, and they all were soon on their way home.

Dear children, will you ask yourself that boy’s question? What will happen to you when the Lord Jesus returns?

ML 01/17/1943

A Journey at Night

Matthew 2:13-23

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and dee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the child to destroy Him.”

Joseph obeyed the word of the angel, and started at night, so none would see them. It is thought that they rode a donkey, as only the rich rode horses or camels, and they must have had a long, hard journey to Egypt.

After they had gone from Bethlehem, the dreadful cominand came from the jealous King Herod that the children, two years old or younger, in the town and country around, should be killed. By that cruel order, he thought the new King, the wise men told of, would be killed. But the little Child Jesus was safe in Egypt.

This sad thing was told of long before: “In Ramah...great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children.” Jeremiah 31: 15. Ramah was a small place near Bethlehem, where the mothers wept at Herod’s awful command. It was in a corner of the land of the tribe of Benjamin; Rachel was his mother, so the mothers were written of as “Rachel” (Matt. 2:18).

After a time, an angel told Joseph they could return to the land of Israel, as Herod had died. Joseph left Egypt with the Child Jesus and Mary. But he heard that a son of Herod ruled, and he feared to live near him, so he went north to the town of Nazareth in Galilee, where he had before lived, and they made their home there.

No more is told by Matthew about, Jesus when young. But do you remember the story of Jesus going with His mother and Joseph to a feast at Jerusalem? He talked with the men in the Temple, and surprised, them by His wise words (Luke 2:42-52).

They went home again to Nazareth, and Jesus obeyed Joseph and Mary in all things. It was because Jesus’ home was at Nazareth that He was called “a Nazarene”. Matthew wrote that the prophets had said He would be called that, ahough those words are not in the writings we now have Nazareth was built in the hills of Galilee, about sixty miles north of Jerusalem, and seems not to have been well thought of by other people. So it was a humble place that Jesus lived on earth. There is still a town Nazareth; if we could go there, we would see the same hills, but few or none of the same houses.

“Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.

ML 01/17/1943

Awake Thou That Sleepest

Well, dear children, what we have before us in our picture, is, the world asleep.

How this speaks to us of many people who seem asleep as to eternity and the need of the salvation of their souls. They have heard the gospel of Christ as Saviour, but they turn a deaf ear to it. They seem so satisfied with their condition, feeling they are all right, but the time will soon come when their false joy will be turned into sorrow. The Lord is coming to judge all who refuse Him.

“The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3.

Many of you remember the ark which Noah built. God was about to send judgment upon the world, and the Lord said to Noah,

“Come, thou and thy house into the ark,” “and the Lord shut him in.” Genesis 7:1,16.

Dear children, that door was never opened again to those on the outside, who refused to go in while the door of the ark was standing open. Neither will the door of salvation be opened after the door of mercy is shut to those who refuse to go in now, in the day of God’s grace—now while the door is standing open.

How dreadful it will be for you to be found outside for judgment.

Are you indulging in a mock peace and safety with the world? Asleep? Awake! before it is too late.

God’s time is now!

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

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

ML 01/24/1943

"The Name of Jesus"

A dear little girl of tender years has a drunken father. One day, the father on returning home, was requested by his little girl, to play with her. Reluctantly he consented, and asked her at what they should play; after considering for a few moments, she said,

“Let us play Sunday-school.”

He was inwardly annoyed, but felt he could not refuse.

“Now, daddy,” said she, “you sit clown there, and say exactly what I tell you.’’

After he had seated, she turned to him, and taking the place of teacher, bid him say,

“Jesus.” He was further annoyed but abruptly blurted out, “Jesus!”

“No, daddy,” she said, “you must not say it like that; you must say it softly and slowly,” and she repeated that holy name reverently to her father, just to show him how he was to say it. He imitated her, and as he slowly and quietly uttered the name of “Jesus” it thrilled his whole being. His little girl then said:

“O! daddy, I feel so tired, I cannot play any longer,” and she went to lie down.

God used the power of that sweetest of all names—the name of Jesus—to awaken in that man’s heart a sense of his deep need, and a longing to know as his own Saviour, the One who bore that name.

He, knew he was a sinner, for he knew his whole course had been one of gross wickedness, and forgetfulness of God. From the lips of his wee little daughter, he learned the story of the rich and gracious provision that God had made for such a sinner as he in the Person of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He eagerly drank the truth into his heart, and received as his Saviour and Friend, the One whose preous name he had been bidden to repeat, and he proved the truth of the Word of God that

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

This little incident reminded me of much that we get in the Word of God about the Name of Jesus.

“Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21, which means that He was the Saviour. Then how glad a dear sinner should be, when he feels his great sins, and he bears of that Name, and what it means.

O, dear children, do you know this Jesus, the Saviour of sinners? is He your Saviour? O, if not, how my heart aches for you, for you must be awfully desolate and unhappy. There can he no question as to the saving. power of His Name.

“To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name, whosoever believeth in Him, shall receive remission or sins.” Acts 10:40.

ML 01/24/1943

Where's Mother?

Mother!” has gone out to call upon a neighbor. Her little daughter has just come home from school, and not finding her mother, has begun to search for her, and is almost in tears at not finding 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 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.

ML 01/24/1943

Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me

Jesus loved the little children,

Gently took them by the hand,

As they stood with upturned faces,

In that far-off Eastern land.

Still the Saviour loves the children,

For He died that they might live;

Blest eternal life He gives them,

If they trust Him and believe.

Howe’er young and weak and tender,

They are precious to the Lord;

He will cherish, guide, and strengthen

All who love to hear His Word.

Jesus loves the little children,

Still is bidding them to come;

He will keep them all their journey

Till they reach His glorious Home.

ML 01/24/1943

"Lost, Lost"

One afternoon in November, I went for a walk along the coast. The weather was foggy, and I had no compass. I went on until I thought it was time to return, and then I knew I had lost my way. I could see only a few yards round about; but hearing a bell tolling, and thinking it was at the church, I walked in the direction from which the sound came.

After going several miles, I was met by the approaching tide, which was coming rapidly in. The ringing I heard came from a bell on a buoy, which was floating over a sandbank, where it was placed to warn sailors of danger. I then hurried off another way, not knowing where I was going, for the tide, when coming in, flows in many directions.

I thought my end was near, and my evil life came up before me. I shouted as loudly as I could.

“Lost! lost!” And then an answer came,

“I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” Eccles. 1:26.

I was afraid to look up, or even to pray, for I knew I was a lost sinner. At length I came upon a target-frame, used for floating targets; and I thought I would cut some cords from it, and bind myself to it until morning, for it was getting dark. I then resolved that if God would deliver me I would lead a new life. I continued to call aloud, being then afraid to leave the target-frame, and the seagulls that flew around seemed to mock me with their cries.

Still I called for help, but it was not until I had almost sunk from exhaustion that at last I heard a fog-horn blow, and a voice call,

“Come this way.” Hurrying forward as fast as I was able, I met the man who had come to my rescue, and together we reached the shore.

Those awful hours were the means a loving God used to bring me to Himself.

The agony of soul I then passed through made a lasting impression upon me, and I was miserable until I found peace through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

ML 01/24/1943

Voices in the Wilderness

Matthew 3

It had been written by the prophets that there would be “a voice in the wilderness” calling to the people to make ready for the Lord, a messenger”, to go before Him (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1).

Those words were fulfilled by a man named John, who lived in the wilderness not far from Jerusalem, and people went there to hear his words. He wore coarse garments made from camel’s hair, and instead of a good cord or cloth girdle, he had a strip of animal’s skin, or leather, around him.

For food John had honey which he found in rocks or trees, made by wild bees; and he had locusts, which are sometimes used for food in those lands. It is said that people prepare and salt them as fish or meat.

John lived that plain way to teach the people by his life as well as by his words, that it was not pride of riches, or great things which would fit them for the rule of One from Heaven. He told them that to be ready for Him, they must repent, or be sorry for sins.

Many of the people who heard John were sorry for their sinful ways, and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, which was near.

John said that there was One to come mightier than he, Who would clear away all that was evil, as men fanned chaff from wheat and burned the chaff. The mighty One to come was Jesus, who one day came to that place near the Jordan.

But Jesus did not then clear away sins, or punish evil; instead, He told John to baptize Him. Jesus had no sins to confess or repent of. Yet it seemed He wanted the people to know that sins must he put away, and that John’s words were true, and He shared the place with those who believed God.

When Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water, a most wonderful event took place: The Holy Spirit came from Heaven and rested upon Jesus, and a Voice from Heaven spoke, saying,

“This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”

God had spoken from Heaven that the people should know that Jesus was His Son. They had heard the voice of John telling the words which God had long before said should be told, then they heard His voice direct that they should surely believe.

And this was written that we who read of it now, will also believe in Jesus, the Son of God.

ML 01/24/1943

The Snow

Who sends the white and feathery snow

From yonder inky cloud?

Its gentle flakes fall soft and slow

Till shrubs and flowers they shroud.

Now scarlet berries, leaflets green,

Are hidden from our sight;

Nor is the earth e’en longer seen,

All, all is spotless white.

Dear children, He who makes the snow,

And sends it from the sky,

Is God, who to us long ago,

Sent Jesus here to die.

And by His blood our souls are made,

Ah! whiter than the snow;

Thus speaks His word, and what’s there said

Is true, we fully know.

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7.

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

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

ML 01/31/1943

Little Johnny

While visiting in a country district, a friend of the writer’s came to a cottage, the only occupant of which was a boy about twelve years old, just recovering from a severe attack of fever. In the course of conversation the man asked if he attended Sunday school when well.

“Yes, sir;” was the reply.

“What do you read at school, Johnnie?” “The Testament, sir.”

“What does the Testament speak about?”

“About Jesus, sir.”

“What did Jesus come into the world to do?”

To die, sir.”

“For whom did Jesus die?”

“For good people, sir.”

“For good people, Johnny?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And are you good?”

Shaking his head, the little fellow rlied,

“No, sir.”

Opening his Bible at 1 Timothy 1:15, my friend asked him to read it. Taking the book in his hand, the boy slowly read the grand old verse,

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save”—then, pausing, he looked more closely at the Scripture, and then gazed in astonishment in my friend’s face.

“Well, Johnnie, was it good people that Jesus come to save?”

The tears started in the boy’s eyes, his face brightened up, and he replied,

“No, sir; sinners, sir.”

“Yes,” said the servant of God. “The Good One died for us, the had ones.” This Johnnie was led to see that it was for his sins that Jesus had bled and died; and by believing on Him, he had everlating life (John 3:16, 36).

Dear young reader, have you been under the impression that God only loves good people? Perhaps you have been told that God would not love you if you, were bad, and that it was only “good people” He loved. As on have grown older, you have not got rid of the thought, and even now, it may be, you believe that it is only “good people” who are the objects of His love. If so, dear young friend, be undeceived.

God loves you as you are, and where you are.

While hating your sins with a perfect hatred. He loves your soul. Does a mother not love her boy when he is disobedient and naughty? Assuredly she does. Notwithstanding God loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you. The Lord Jesus loved you so much that He gave Himself a ransom for you soul’s deliverance (1 Tim. 2:4-6). It was not for “good people” Jesus died. It wa for sinners.

“Are on a sinner?”

“Yes, I am a guilty sinner.”

Then it was for you He died, my dear young friend. He wishes to save you now. Are you willing to be saved? Do you answer

“There is nothing I desire so much as to be saved?”

If such is the case, the Bible shows very clearly how you can he saved, and saved now.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised from the dead, Thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

Could anything be simpler? If you confess with your month the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God hath raised Him from, the dead, thou shalt be saved. Take God at His word. O, bieleve Him, and rejoice in the liberty which can only be found in knowing Him whom to know is life eternal.

Happy children who are waiting

For the bright and joyful day,

Knowing Jesus as their Saviour

They can watch for Him and say,

“Come, Lord Jesus!

Take Thy little ones away.”

Take Thy little ales away.”

ML 01/31/1943

The Wonderful Jewels

A lady who had lost all her health in following the gaieties of the fashionable world, was reclining on her bed, longing for the society and pleasure that she once enjoyed. She told her nurse to fetch the box that held her jewels, so that she might amuse herself in recalling to her memory the festive seasons when she had worn them to the admiration of so many.

“Now, nurse,” said she, “would you not like to have some of these jewels?”

“No, ma’am, not at all; for I have jewels much finer.”

“How can that be, nurse? Mine are the finest jewels in the land. Where are yours? You never wear them.

The nurse held up her Bible, saying, “My jewels are in here.”

The lady, thinking that there were some hidden away in the book, said,

“Take them out and show them to me.” Why, ma’am, my jewels are so precious, I can only show you one at a time.” Then she opened her Bible and read,

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Phil. 4:11.

She told her of the treasure that she had in heaven; how that, though poor, she had a loving Father, who provided for her, and the great happiness that she had in Him, and how she was patiently waiting for the Lord to come.

“Why, nurse, I never heard anything like that; how happy you must be to feel as you do! I wish I could do the same.”

The next day the lady said,

“Nurse, I should like to see another of your jewels; the one you showed me was beautiful.”

The nurse again opened her Bible, and read,

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

From the few words that followed, the lady’s heart was opened to feel that she was a sinner, that Christ Jesus was her Saviour; and she soon found rest, peace, joy, in believing and trusting Christ Jesus as her Saviour also.

ML 01/31/1943

My Favorite Text

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

John 3:10 hung on the wall of our nursery when I was a child, and was the first I was taught to repeat. I got a prize at the Sunday school for repeating John 3:16, when I was six years old. But, although able to repeat it, I did not persolly believe it, or know its saving power.

When I went first from home, my mher gave me a Bible, and marked with her own hand John 3:16. For her sake, I often read it, but, beyond that, it had no power over me.

A companion, who was a true Christian, asked me, one night, what verse was the means of leading me to the Lord Jesus, for she evidently thought I was converted. I felt unable to answer her, so she asked,

“Is it long since you got ‘eternal life?’”

I hung no head, for I was ashamed to tell I did not have it at all. She drew me to her side, opened my Bible at John 3:16, marked by my mother’s hand, and told me how she had been saved by believing on the Lord Jesus, as He is presented there.

God loved me, God gave His Son to me: I believed, I received everlasting-life. It all seemed so simple. I saw it was for me as well as for her, for “WHOSOEVER” included Annie.

O how different John 3:16 was to me then, for it showed me God as loving me, His Son as given to me and everlasting life as mine. I have it framed in my room. I call it my favorite text; but beer than all, I really believe every word of it, and it makes me happy indeed.

What wonderful love God had for us, that led Him to give His only begotten Son, to die for sinners, and to wash away our sins in His most precious blood!

The Lord Jesus will soon come to call away from this wicked world all who have accepted Him as their own Saviour, to live with Him Forever. Can you say, “Come, Lord Jesus?”

ML 01/31/1943

A Great Enemy

Matthew 4:1-17

The first part of the Bible tells of a wicked spirit, who spoke by a serpent to Eve, and caused her by his deceitful and false words to doubt God’s words, and His goodness. She obeyed the wicked one, and disobeyed God’s words (Gen. 3:1-6).

That same wicked one, called Satan, was so bold that he tried to tempt Jesus to obey him. It was in the wild lonely land near the Jordan River; there was no food in that rocky place, and Jesus had not eaten for a long time, and was hungry.

Satan wanted Jesus to command the stones to be made bread. But Jesus had not come to earth to use His power for Himself, but for others, and He did not obey Satan. His answer was with words from the Scriptures that God had told Moses to write:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word....of God.” Deut. 8:3.

Then Satan showed that he knew scripture, and quoted from a psalm, wanting Jesus to cast Himself down from a high place of the Temple, that angels should come to keep Him from harm (Psa. 91:11,12).

Jesus did not obey Satan, but again told him words from the Scripture:

“Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 6:16.

A third time Satan tried to tempt Jesus, saying he would give Hint the rule and glory of all nations, if Jesus would worship him. It is God who over rules the nations, so they were not Satan’s to give (Dan. 4:17).

Jesus then commanded Satan to go away, telling him more words of Scripture:

“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve”. Deuteronomy 6:13.

Jesus was more directly tempted by Satan than others ever have been, yet He did not obey him, but perfectly obeyed God’s words. That evil one is still an enemy to those who love the Lord; he is not seen, and has not a body, but is able to put doubts in our minds to tempt us to sin. Yet he cannot succeed if we trust God, and obey His words. Faith, or trust, is like a shield against him (Eph. 6:16).

After this, Jesus went to Nazareth, then to other towns farther north. That land had once belonged to the tribes of Israel, but when Jesus went there, many of the people were of other nations, called Gentiles. It was told long before to Isaiah that those people should see The Great Light, which meant they should see Jesus, the Son of God Jesus went to them, and many believed on Him there (Isa. 9:1; Matt. 4:14-16).

ML 01/31/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for November

“The Children’s Class”

1.“God forbid,” etc. Romans 3:4.

2.“Or despisest.” etc. 2:4.

3.“For when,” etc. 5:6.

4.“He staaaered not,” etc. 4:20.

5. “Who is he. etc. 8:34.

6.“Knowing.” etc. 6:9

7.“And declared.” etc. 1:4.

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, “For your sakes he became poor.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Died for them, and rose again.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Them that are lost.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “God which raiseth the dead.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “His unspeakable gift.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “In distresses for Christ’s sake.”

7.When is the day of salvation?

Answers to Bible Questions for November

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.It worketh patience. Romans 5:3.

2.Adam. Romans 5:14,17,19,

3.All things. Romans 8:28.

4.In the Holy Scriptures. Romans 1:1,2.

5.By Jesus Christ. Romans 2:16.

6.The ungodly who believe the gospel. Romans 4:5.

7.Death. Romans 6:23.

Bible Questions for February

“The Young People’s Bible Class” The Answers are to be found in 2 Corinthians

1.Why did Paul afore in his infirmities?

2.What becomes of a Christian when he is absent from the body?

3.How must we give in order to please God?

4.In what plausible way does Satan transform himself?

5.Should a Christian join himself with an ueliever?

6.What equips us to comfort other believers in their sorrow?

7.What are we to do with the (reasoning, margin) imaginations of our natural mind in divine things?

ML 02/07/1943

How a Shepherd Came to Christ

A shepherd became concerned about the salvation of his soul. One Sunday he heard the minister preach a stirring sermon in which he urged his hearers to come to Christ, and receive the forgiveness of their sins. This was what the shepherd longed for, but he did not know how it was obtained. He went to visit a gospel preacher, and he told him he had heard an eloquent and earnest sermon, and he told us to come to Christ, without telling us how to come to Him. I said to myself,

“O, if he would only tell us how to come”, and looking at the preacher, he said,

“Can you tell rue how to come to Christ?”

The preacher was delighted to have the opportunity of pointing him to the Saviour.

“I will answer your question by asking if you can fly to Christ?”

“No.”

“Could you walk to Him?”

“No.”

“If you could fly to the stars, would you be nearer to Him.”

“No.”

“Is He not as truly here as anywhere else?”

“Yes.”

“Then He is thinking of you at this very moment, and His heart is dwelling with, tender love upon you Did He not love you so much, that He died for you? Does He not love you still? Think of His loving kindness to you; come to Him with your heart and mind, and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.”

“Is that it? Is it so easy? Is that the way to come to Christ?” exclaimed the shepherd, and there and then he had great joy.

Come to Him now as you read these lines, and you will be able to say trutully:

“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.”

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

All who come to Christ are welcomed, saved, and will be presented faultless before the throne.

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

ML 02/07/1943

"Why Not Ask Jesus?"

I thought I might send you this little incident in my own life which I think was the first means of making me go to the Lord for myself in prayer. My dear mother and father had taught us from babyhood to go to Jesus at all times, and Mamma had explained to us before, the meaning of the verse, “Ask and ye shall receive.”

She had told us that no little child was too young to ask Jesus anything, as He loved little children and loved to hear their prayers.

We had a very strict school teacher then, and I had lost my home work that day, and must take it to school the next day; I had looked over and over again on a little book stand we children had for our school books, and was in tears, for I could not find it, and I knew it meant punishment in the morning. All at once a voice seemed to say

“Why not ask Jesus?”

So I knelt down just there, and in a little child-like prayer, I asked Him for my home work; before I was off my knees I knew where it was, for as I opened my eyes they fell straight on the lost book.

Since then He has answered many prayers of mine but this was the little start of my going to Jesus, and I am sure He will answer any little child who goes to Him in prayer, and trusts Him in little things.

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

ML 02/07/1943

The Dog in a Manger

What an interesting picture this is! Do you, little readers, know what it means?

A manger is a kind of box in a barn or stable, in which a man puts hay and grain for his horse or his cow. Just as we have tables and dishes from which to eat our meals, so horses and cattle have mangers for theirs.

In today’s picture we see the beautiful face of a cow, and her food is there in the manger all ready for her.

But she is not eating. I wonder why? See the dog showing his teeth! He does not like hay himself, and isn’t going to eat any; and yet he won’t let the cow eat it.

Does this picture remind any of you of Proverbs 3:27?

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”

The Lord wants us to give to others tile things that belong to them. It also pleases Him to have us share with others the things that belong to us by right.

Let us then, not be selfish, nor jealous if we see someone else enjoying somhing that we care nothing about. But “LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL.” Gal. 6:10.

ML 02/07/1943

Fishermen of Galilee

Matthew 4:18-25

The home of Jesus was not far from the sea (or lake) called Galilee, on the border of the country of Galilee. There were many people in that part, as several towns were near or on its shores.

The Jordan River flows through the sea of Galilee, bringing fresh water from the mountain streams, so the water is clear and deep, and has many fish. Men with boats and nets made fishing their work.

One day Jesus walked along the shore, and talked with two-men who were putting their net into the water. These men were brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew. Jesus told them to follow Him, and He would make them “fishers of men.” Then He spoke to two other fishermen near, to follow Him; they were of another family and brothers, also.

Matthew did not write much about the fishermen, but Luke wrote that Jesus was in the boat of Peter, and told him to cast the net into the deep water, and so many fish were caught that they called for the men near to help them to land. The men were astonished at the great number of fish caught, and were certain that Jesus was Lord, with power over all.

These men had before this heard the prophet John, and believed him about the mighty One to come. Andrew had seen Jesus where John was baptizing, and he had gone for Peter to come to see Him. (See John 1:35-42).

So when Jesus told those men to follow Him; they knew Who He was that they should follow. To become “fishers of men,” meant that they should tell others of the Lord, that they should know Him, also.

After that, Peter, Andrew, James, and John went with Jesus to the towns around, and saw the wonderful things He did for the people, and heard His words. It was one of these men, John, who wrote one of the Gospels. They were not sorry that they followed Jesus, but loved and hored Him, as the Son of God, and their Lord, even to death.

People of other countries outside of Palestine heard of the power of Jesus to cure the sick, and Matthew told that from Syria, people with all kinds of diseases were brought to Jesus and He healed them. The people came from Jerusalem and from across the Jordan, to see and hear Jesus.

How soon did Peter and Andrew foow Jesus? (Matt. 4:20).

How soon did James and John follow Jesus? (Matt. 4:22).

You can read of the great net full of fish in Luke 5:1-11,

Look for the Sea of Galilee on a map.

Galilee was also called Gennesarat, because land of that name was on one side. It was also called the sea of Tiberias, for a large town of that name on its shore.

ML 02/07/1943

Lost in the Snow

We wonder if this dear boy would be ready to meet God, if he should die alone in the snow?

How would it be with you dear one, if you were called to die today? We all must know how uncertain life is.

A great many die without a moment’s warning. If they have been trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they go straight to be with Him. But if not, they are lost forever. Terrible fact!

If one is lost eternally, it is his own fault, for God has provided the Saviour for us, and what a blessed thing it is to be always ready to go, for we know riot what moment we may be called. The Lord now says,

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

“He died for me,” and “I love Him because He first loved me,” and then prove it in all your ways. It will not then be with fear that you will meet death, but you will be happy and ready to go.

THE LORD IS ... .NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.” 2 Per 3:9.

ML 02/14/1942

The Needlework

“As for God, His WAY is Perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:31.

“He is the Rock, His WORK is perfect.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

“I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” John 17:4.

“It is finished.” John 19:30.

A young girl, who was very skillful with her needle, used to work for a large lace faory; she gave her employer great satisfaction, and earned a good sum each week. She could copy the most difficult pattern exactly, and whenever the employer had some very special piece of work to be done, that needed great care, he would give it to Maggie, who did the work at her own home.

One day she told her employer that she would not be able to work for him much longer, as she was to be married in a few weeks.

“I am very sorry indeed, Maggie, that you are going to give up the work,” said he, “and scarcely know what I shall do with some of my difficult patterns.”

“O, sir, if you don’t mind giving the work in future to my younger sister, Mary, I think she will be able to give you perfect satisfaction, as she has so often seen me working, and can manage it nearly as well as I can.”

“Well, I will gladly give her a trial.” So Mary soon began to call at the factory for the work, and the employer found that she was quite competent and reliable.

One day he sent for her, and said that he had a large and important order, but the pattern was very difficult, and the work had to be done in about three weeks, so he showed her the design, and asked whether she could undertake to do it.

Mary examined it carefully, and said she fully expected to be able to manage it; so took the work home and began it in right good earnest.

But something, happened that was very sad for poor Mary—the next day she was taken seriously ill! Poor girl! she tried to work but could not; her head throbbed and her hand shook, and she was obliged to go to bed and have the doctor, who told her she must not attempt to get up, or do the needlework. That was a great blow for Mary, but she sent for her sister Maggie and told her what the doctor said. She was much distressed at the thought of not completing the work, and said, “What am I to do, Maggie?”

“O, never mind about that, just lie still and make haste and get well I will take the work away and finish it in good time.”

The day came, Maggie brought back the work beautifully done, and Mary was well enough by that time to take it to the office.

The gentleman examined it carefully, compared it with the pattern, and said:

“I am very much pleased indeed, Mary, it is perfect; but did you really do it all yourself?”

Mary blushed, and was obliged to say,

“No, sir, I only commenced it, and then was taken ill, and my sister finished the work for me.”

“O, never mind who did it,” said he, “the work is well done,” and he paid her handsomely.

Surely I need not tell you how she thanked her kind and able sister, who really did the work for which she obtained a reward!

And we, who were sick with the terrible disease of sin, and could never obtain salvation by our own efforts, can only fall down before our blessed. Saviour, who has accomplished the work of remption for us, and thank Him, not only with our lips, but in our lives, and crown Him Lord of all.

“What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” John 6:28. Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:29.

ML 02/14/1943

"That's Me; Thay's My Prayer"

A poor Hottentot in South Africa lived with a God-fearing man, who kept up family prayer daily. One day the latter read from Luke 18,

“Two men went up into the temple to pray.”

The poor savage, whose heart had been touched with the finger of God, looked up with deepest interest as these words fell from the reader’s lips, and whispered.

“Now I’ll learn how to pray.”

The man continued until he had reached the words,

“God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men,” when again the Hottentot whispered, and this was what he said,

“No, I’m not; I’m not; BUT I’M WORSE.” Again the man read,

“I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” And again there was a whisper,

“I don’t do that: I can’t pray like that, what shall I do?” said the distressed savage.

The reading was continued until they came to “the publican, standing afar off.”

“That’s where I am!” cried the poor African.

“Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven,” read the other.

“No more can I,” said the Hottentot. “But smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

“That’s me; that’s my prayer!” cried the poor creature, aloud now, being too deeply moved to confine himself to whispers, and smiting on his dark breast, he prayed,

“God, be merciful to me a sinner,” like the poor publican had done, and he at once became a saved and a happy man.

The word was mixed with faith—how truly, how simple! He appreciated it, and thus it was he appropriated it, and he was saved by the blood of Christ. Dear reader, are you?

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17.

ML 02/14/1943

Do You Love the Saviour?

A little converted Wamacqua girl, when asked if she loved Christ, answered, “Yes, I do; and I desire to love Him more.”

When asked why she loved Him, since She had never seen Him, she answered,

“He loved me first, and died for me on the cross, that I might live.”

Another converted heathen was asked the state of her mind; she replied,

“Happy! happy! I have Christ here,” laving her hand upon her heart, “and Christ there,” pointing up, to heaven.

Ah, children, no one can be happy, unless he has the love of Jesus shed abroad in his heart, but with Him he can he happy anywhere and everywhere.

ML 02/14/1943

A Divine Traffic Signal, Stop!

Stop, dear children! stop and think,

Before you farther go!

Will you sport upon the brink

Of everlasting woe?

Once again, I charge you stop!

For, unless you warning take,

Ere you are aware, you drop

Into the burning lake!

But as yet there is a hope

You may His mercy know,

Though His arm is lifted up,

He still forbears the blow;

‘Twas for sinners Jesus died,

Sinners He invites to come;

None who come shall be denied;

He says, “There still is room.”

ML 02/14/1943

Words of Jesus

Matthew 5

There were many hills and mountains in Galilee, and one day Jesus went away from the crowds who were follong Him, and went up a mountain. The men who believed Jesus was The Messiah, and stayed with Him, were called disciples; they followed Him up the mountain, and there He told them many wonderful words, which we may now read.

Jesus spoke much of the Kingdom of Heaven. A kingdom means people ruled by a king; the people of that kingdom were on earth, and were to be ruled by One from Heaven. Jesus told them how people should live under such a Holy King, and what would honor Him. He told them who would be “blessed” or made happy by God:

The “poor in spirit”, or heart, not the proud, would be blessed; “those who mourned”, that may mean mourn for sins, were “blessed”; those who were meek, or humble; those who were hungry and thirsty for the right, truly wished for the right; those who showed mercy; those who were “pure”, or honest in heart; those who made peace, not trouble, the last two were much alike, those who were wrongly spoken against. They were told to rejoice.

If we think over those words, we know those ways are not what are easy to do, or what would be natural for us, yet are pleasing to God. Jesus taught those disciples by things which they and we now well know: He said they were “the salt” of the earth; salt flavors and preserves; they were “the light of the world”. He said:

“A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

Jesus said He had come to fulfill the words of the law and the prophets, and He said every word written should be fulfilled, or come true, even every “jot and tittle”, which were the smallest marks of the Hebrew language.

Jesus told the disciples things which those who believed God, should not do: not be angry, not to resist wrong done to them. He told them these plain words:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.”

The Lord Jesus had already been wrongly treated by those who knew Him (Luke 4:29), so He well knew the wrongs that would be felt by those who followed Him.

Choose some of these words of Jesus, and memorize, and think of them: many boys and girls have learned the verses of those “blessed”, or the verses about light, about the candle and the bushel and others. Think of the said the words,—Jesus, who lived as a boy and a young man in this world, and knew sorrow and trouble, yet the way to please and honor God.

How many verses in this talk of Jesus’ begin with the word “blessed”?

Those verses are sometimes called “The Beatitudes”, and all of Jesus’ teaching on the mountain, “The Sermon on the Mount.”

ML 02/14/1943

Arabs Lost in the Desert

What a sad sight we have bore us in this picture; these poor people are starving to death! Without food and without water, they are filled with despair. See their empty jugs lying around, and they can not get a bit of water anywhere to fill them again.

How faint and distressed the poor creatures look that are sitting on the ground; the child seems limp and almost dead. But what is the girl doing, that has climbed high upon the rocks? She seems to be looking far into the distance. She is hoping and longing to see some camels coming loaded with food and water.

Our poor bodies depend so much upon our food: our meals supply the strength they need. But children, we have a soul as well as a body; the body demands so much attention each day that many do not think about the soul. But which is the more important?

The soul never dies, whether saved or lost,—and the body lives down here only for time, and that time may be very short for you. Many die very young.

Come to Christ Jesus for the saving of your soul—then find in Him the necessary food for it each day. Jesus said to the people when here on the earth,

“My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:32,33.

It is only as you know Him as your own Saviour, and feed upon Him and His Word each day that your spiritual life can grow. Your soul must have food as well as your body.

“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35.

ML 02/21/1943

The Bible in Korea

Here is another little story of how the Word of God can bring light into the dark hearts of the poor heathen. A missionary traveling in Korea, heard of some Christians who lived away up in the mountains. He writes as follows:

“I procured a guide, and after a long and dangerous climb came upon a cabin sheltered just under the highest peak. The people live up there by growing a certain root that is very highly prized for medicinal purposes.

To say that my reception was cordial, is to but feebly express the experience. This was the first missionary ever to come near them, and they were simply delighted.

They told me that they had been praying for years, that God would send them some one to teach them more clearly the Way of Life. They first became interested through a copy of St. Matthew’s Gospel an English missionary had given to the father when he went to have a look at the foreigner’s house in Longdo, eight years before. When they discovered that it was I who had given the book, their delight knew no bounds.

Though shut off from the rest of the world, in their high rocky home, the Light of Life had penetrated even to them, and they had accepted the Gospel in all its simplicity. How true is that verse,

“Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1.

ML 02/21/1943

Enlightened Eyes

There lived in Allahabad, in India, a young Hindoo about eighteen years old. The smallpox had disfigured his face almost beyond recognition and robbed him of his eyesight. He could no longer remember the time when he last saw daylight.

“Do you know the Lord Jesus?” a missionary once asked him.

“I heard His name many years ago,” replied the blind boy, “but do please tell me more about Him.”

The missionary then told his eager listener the old, and yet ever new, story of the Saviour, who came into the world to save sinners; and the Hindoo believed on Him.

From that time, when the love of God rose in his dark heart, like the morning sun upon the horizon, his scar-covered face beamed with joy. “I must belong to Him; I must be baptized,” he exclaimed, “and David shall be my name, because, like David, I will sing of His grace.” Henceforth he was no longer to be pitied, for his heart flowed over with joy and his disfigured face always lit up so beautifully whenever he began to sing or to speak of Jesus. He came every day to the missionary to get his daily food. It was not, however, food for the body, but a portion from the Bible—God’s Word—which was read to him, and which he carefully remembered all through the day.

One day on coming to the missionary, he appeared to be quite troubled, and as that was very unusual, the missionary asked him at once what was wrong.

“O, teacher!” exclaimed David, “I do wish I could read.”

“But, David, you must not wish for impossibilities, for you are blind,” replied the missionary.

“That is true,” the boy sadly admitted, “but I have heard that there is a print: which those who are blind can read. Do you know anything about it?”

The missionary knew, of course, but saw no possibility of getting such an expensive Bible for his poor scholar, and he, therefore, thought it better, rather than to allow him to have false hopes, to nip in the bud any desire on his part to have it. But David was not discouraged.

“Will you pray with me that my heavenly Father may send me His Word and teach me how to read it?” he asked. Such a request the missionary could not refuse, but afterward he confessed that he had said he would do so without much faith.

The months passed by David continued to come each day, as usual, to have a portion from the Bible read to him, but he never mentioned his prayer. One morning, however, he came hastily stumbling up the stairs to the veranda.

“Are you there, teacher?” he called. “Yes, what is it?”

“Look, someone has pushed this parcel under my arm, saying,

‘Poor blind boy, I have felt sorry for you for such a long time. May this be the means of blessing to you.’ What is it, teacher? Open it quickly for me.”

The missionary undid the string of the parcel and expected to find in it a garment, but what do you think it was? The Gospel of John in blind-print! O, the joy!

“I really knew that my Father would send it to me if only I waited. It is my Father’s own Word and own gift!”

Full of wonder and thankfulness David pressed the Book to his lips and kissed it.

The first thing, however, was to kneel down and to thank God together for it, which they did. David then started the difficult task of learning how to read it when at last he could do so, he said one day,

“Teacher, I cannot, and must not, keep this to myself. Hundreds are hungering after its precious treasures, as I once did.”

The next Sunday he went out with the Book fastened round his neck by a cord, and as he went along he read out aloud some of his favorite texts.

In the course of time, David became an active missionary. He traveled his homeland, and as he went through the villages he would read aloud from his Book to the villagers. Later he daily visited a blind institution, where he read to his fellow-sufferers.

Many of them, through David, came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Saviour, and David rejoiced greatly.

“The Word of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.’’ Psalms 19:7.

ML 02/21/1943

Jesus Is Calling

Jesus is calling the children

Unto His side,

Stretches His arms to receive them,

Opens them wide,

Gently to lead them,

Guard them and feed them,

Jesus is calling the lambs to His side.

Jesus is calling the children,

Why do they stay

Out in the wilderness wand’ring,

Going astray?

Jesus is calling the children,

Calling today;

Hasten each one for the blessing,

Do not delay.

ML 02/21/1943

In the Days of They Youth

A little girl who intended to be a Christian when she grew older, came home one day bringing a bouquet of beautiful fresh carnations for her sick mother.

The nurse admired their loveliness, and then said— “We will not take them to mother just yet. They are too fresh and beautiful. We will wait a few days till they have begun to fade and wither.”

The little girl was surprised and almost angry, and asked nurse to explain what she meant.

“Is not this what you are doing to the loving Saviour? Are you not keeping to yourself the beauty and freshness of your young life, and waiting to offer Him the faded blossoms from which all the freshness has departed?”

The girl felt the force of the reproof, and she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and was happy in Him.

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

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

ML 02/21/1943

A Prayer

Matthew 6

Jesus told the men with Him the words of this prayer, which began: “Our Father Who art in Heaven. Hallowed (holy) be Thy Name.”

Those Words showed that, although God was in Heaven, He cared for those who trusted Him as their Father, and they could pray directly to him. He is holy, no wrong could be with Him; those who know He is holy, will not say His Name in careless or wrong way.

In this prayer they asked for the Kingdom of God to come on earth, as all the people who believed God’s words to the prophets were waiting for a Holy King to be sent.

Jesus came that they could choose Him to be that King, but it was not long until the leaders of that land refused Him to be King.

Since that time, those who believe Him, have prayed to God the Father, that many would trust the Lord Jesus, to be with Him in Heaven, not for His Kingdom on earth. Yet that prayer will be answered: Christ as King over all the earth was a promise of the law and the prophets, which Jesus said will surely he fulfilled.

Do you know what “Amen” means? The word means “true’’, so whoever says “Amen” agrees that what is before said is true.

Perhaps you know what it means to fast; when people fast they eat little or no food, and mourn for sins, or, because of some loss; fasting and praying were clone together. Jesus said it was to be done only to honor God, not that others should see.

Here are words as true for us as for the people then:

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and serve the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches).”

Jesus told the men who were following Him, not to be anxious about their food or other needs, but to. trust God. He said,

“Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

Anything suffered for His sake, brings comfort from Him, which is better than what was lost.

What may happen to treasures on earth? (Matt. 6:19).

Where did Jesus say to have treasures? Matt. 6:29.

What did Jesus say of the fowls? (Matt. 6:26).

What did Jesus say of the lilies? (Matt. 6:28).

“Which of you by taking thought, can add one cubit (about 18 inches) to his stature?” (Matt. 6:27).

ML 02/21/1943

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 everhing 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.

ML 02/28/1943

The Thirteen Stolen Lambs

A poor woman had brought up thirteen pet lambs. She gave each a different name, and they would follow her about and come at her call like children. One night she lost the whole thirteen, and could not get any clue as to their whereabouts. At last her suspicion fell upon a well-to-do neighboring farmer. She immediately went and communicated her loss to him. He denied all knowledge of the missing sheep, and said his were all marked; but the woman, not being satisfied, got a policeman, and went with him to the farmer.

The woman asked the farmer to gather the sheep together. As soon as they were closed in the barton, she called out the name of each of her sheep, and, to the astonishment and surprise of the farmer and policeman, seven of the missing sheep came out of the flock direct to where the woman stood. The result was, the farmer was tried, and found guilty, and suffered the penalty of the law by a term of imprisonment.

How this reminds us of the Lord’s own sheep and lambs, His redeemed ones.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” John 10:27,28.

ML 02/28/1943

"Thou, God, Seest Me"

In the far-away land of Argentina there once lived a little girl whom we shall call Roma.

Every Lord’s Day Roma went to a Sunday school some kind missionaries had for boys and girls. There she heard God’s Word, and the story of His wonderful love in sending Jesus to die for our sins. Now, as Roma was very bright and clever, she soon had learned to say from memory one hundred verses of Scripture! Always she was in her place in Sunday school, but week after week went by and Roma was not saved. Indeed, she thought herself quite a good little girl, and did not see her great need as a sinner. But she was soon to find out how wicked was her heart, and how much she needed to be washed in Jesus’ precious blood.

Near Roma’s home there lived a dear old lady for whom Roma often went messages. Quite often the errand was to the store. One day Roma kept back some of the change, and when her friend did not miss the money, she did it again and again until she had kept back at least a whole dollar!

Now in Argentina the summers are very, very warm so one night, as Roma was getting ready for bed, she decided, in order to get the night breeze, to pull her bed over to the large open window. This she did and jumped into bed. As soon as she lay down, however, a large bright star caught her eye. It seemed to look right down at her, and Roma grew very uncomfortable under its steady gaze. It seemed more like an eye than a star—like God’s eye peering down, down into her very heart! And what did He see there? Ah, that secret sin she had been hiding, and many more sins too. So ashamed did the star make her feel, and unhappy too, that she got up and pulled her bed away from the window, but on lying down again she found the star still gazing at her with its quiet, steady gaze. How ugly it made her know her sin to be!

On awaking next morning the first thing she remembered was her sin. Yes, she was a sinner, and God knew all about her sins! So miserable did she become under her load that everyone wondered what had happened to the once merry child.

She determined to tell her Sunday school teacher about it, so on Sunday after the lesson, she said,

“Miss—,may I speak to you alone?”

“Yes, dear.”

When the other pupils were gone, Roma poured out the story of her sin-burdened heart, and together the teacher and pupil knelt at the throne of grace and told the Lord all about it Miss—told the child that Christ had died for her sins, and that if she believed this, her sins would all be gone, for Gods Word says,

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

Roma did believe, and went home with a light heart and a happy step. She told her mother the whole story, and then what do you think she did? She went to the old lady from whom she had stolen the money, and confessed her sin to her. With her kind mother’s help, she was able to pay back what she had wrongfully taken. From that time forth Roma lived for her Lord and Saviour, and grew up to tell others of the One Who loved her and gave Himself for her.

“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.

“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God path raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9.

ML 02/28/1943

Laying Hold with a Grip

Just a word with you, reader. Are you saved? You are not quite sure, you say, but you hope you will be. Well, then, I will be sure for you. You are not saved, and the sooner you face that terrible fact the better.

But you are doing your best, you say, and you want to be saved. Well, when do you want to be saved, and how eager are you to be saved?

Let me tell you an anecdote related at a prayer-meeting in Boston by a ship captain.

“A few years ago,” said he, “I was sailing by the island of Cuba, when a cry ran through the ship, ‘Man overboard!’ It was impossible to put up the helm of the vessel, but I instantly seized a rope and threw it over the ship’s stern, crying out to the drowning man to lay hold.”

Now tell me, reader, before I proceed, how long would you have waited, had you been he, before you would have taken the rope? Would you have said,

“Tomorrow will do?” or would you have been more polite, saying,

“Thank you, captain; you are very kind, I will not lose sight of the rope; but I prefer doing my best, for I really mean to catch the ship and get on board?”

Man, you are drowning! Seize the rope, or you crlll perish!

“THE SAILOR SEIZED THE ROPE AS IT FELL. I immediately took another rope, and making a slip-noose of it, attached it to the other, directing the poor fellow to pass it over his shoulders and under his arms, and he should then be drawn on board.”

“This he did, and was rescued; but he had grasped the first rope with such vehemence, with such a grip, that it took hours before his hold could be relaxed and his hands separated from it. With such eagerness, indeed, had he clutched the oect that was to save him that the strands of the rope had become imbedded in the flesh of his hands.”

Reader, let this anecdote teach you what it is to be in earnest, and remember that the sailor neither talked nor trifled, but he instantly availed himself of the way of diverance, SEIZING THE ROPE AS IT FELL, and thus he was saved.

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

ML 02/28/1943

God's Gift

O what a gift the Father gave

When He bestowed His son!

To save poor ruined, guilty man,

By sin defiled, undone.

For I was lost and vile indeed!

To sin a willing prey;

Till God in mercy interposed,

And turned my night to day.

Now I can call the Saviour mine,

Though all unworthy still;

I’m sheltered by His precious blood

Beyond the reach of ill.

ML 02/28/1943

Two Roads and Two Men

Matthew 7

The Lord Jesus told the people about two roads: one was a broad road and had a wide gate at which to enter; He said, many went in that gate and walked on that broad road: the other road, He said, was narrow and had a “strait” (narrow) gate, where few eered, and few walked on that narrow road. Jesus told them where the roads led to: the broad road led to Destruction, and the narrow road led to Life.

Do you think Jesus meant real roads and real gates? No, but He told of things which they all knew, or could see, to explain what they could not see. He wanted them to have everlasting life in another world, when their life on earth was over. He told them the right way to choose, He said,

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to Destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:13,14.

So the “strait”, or narrow, gate and way, was God’s way; and the wide gate and way, was their own way. Afterward Jesus told these men that He, Himself, was The Way and The Door, or Gate. He said,

“I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved.” John 10:9. (See also John 14:6).

Those who believe and trust the Lord Jesus “enter” God’s way to everlasting Life. It is a “strait” or narrow way, because it is the only way to God. Those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus, but go their own way, as they please, are in the broad way which leads to Destruction.

Each of us now must choose one of these ways: our own or God’s; our own way would lead to Destruction, but God’s way, through the Lord Jesus, leads to Life everlasting.

Jesus also told of two men who each built a house: one built his house upon a strong foundation of rock; the other man built his house on sand. Rain and floods and stormy winds beat against the houses: the house built on the rock was not moved by the water and winds; but the floods washed away the sand from under the other house, and it fell, and was ruined.

Jesus told the people that whoever heard His words, and believed Him, was like the man who built his house on the rock, and was safe in the storms and floods. But whoever heard His words, yet did not believe, was like the man who built his house on the Sand, and all was ruined in the floods and storms.

If we now trust Jesus„ He is our safe “Rock”, and the “storm” of God’s pushment of our sins cannot hurt us; but if we do not trust in Him, the “storm” of God’s punishment must come on us and we can not be safe, but be lost forever.

All Jesus’ words were very plain to understand, and the people felt that He spoke as One who had the right to be obeyed. He had that right, because He was Lord of all, and He still has that right.

ML 02/28/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for December

“The Children’s Class”

1.“Now I beseech, etc.Romans 15:30.

2.“Now to him,” etc. 16:25.

3.“For I say,” etc. 12:3.

4.“Well; because,” etc. 11:20.

5.“For there is,” etc. 10:12.

6.“The night,” etc. 13:12.

7.“For the scripture, etc. 9:17.

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, “Son of God, who loved me.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Live by faith.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Given to them that believe.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “God sent forth his Son.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Love, joy, peace, long-sufferina.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

7.What did the Lord Jesus do according to the will of God?

Answers to Bible Questions for December

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Pricilla and Aquila. Rom. 16:3-5.

2.Romans 9:5.

3.Yes. Romans 11:5.

4.God of patience, Romans 15:5; of hope, 15:13; of peace, 15:33.

5.All of us. Romans 14:10.

6.Our salvation. Romans 13:11.

7.Romans 10:15.

Bible Questions for March

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Galatians.

1.Why should we not be weary in well doing?

2.What was Peter’s failure in walk?

3.What is the fruit of the Spirit?

4.What determines the kind of crop we reap in our spiritual lives?

5.What is the portion of anyone preaching ather gospel?

6.What is the portion of those who place themselves under law?

7.Why should we bear one another’s burdens?

ML 03/07/1943

Wakening and Waiting

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

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

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

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

ML 03/07/1943

Do You Love Your Bible?

Having the Scriptures at all times within our reach, we are in danger of losing sight of their value. We read that in the days of Samuel the word of the Lord was precious (1 Sam. 3:1).

How precious it must also have been in the thirteenth century, when a written Bible, in nine volumes, was sold to W. de Howton, for a sum equal in value to about twenty-five dollars of our present money, and when it then would have taken a laboring man fourteen or fifteen years to earn sufficient to purchase such a copy of the Scriptures!

Now many a laborer earns, in one day, enough to buy two or three Bibles; but if he does not take the advice given in the first of Joshua, and take heed to the call in the first of Proverb’s, he might as well be without the Scriptures. To have them, and neglect to read them daily, is to poess that which condemns; for no one can prosper in his soul who does not make the Word of God, the Bible, the man of his counsel. (Psa. 119:24). David says,

“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee,” and, again,

“I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved. I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil. Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them. My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.” Psalms 119:11,47,162,165,167.

ML 03/07/1943

The Word as a Fire and a Hammer

Is snot My Word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29.

A corporal named F. was crossing the court of the garrison hopital. Suddenly he felt a blow on his shoulder. Thinking a stone had struck him, he turned about, and was surprised to see that it was a book that had been thrown out of the hospital window.

A nurse had found a patient with the book, tore it from him, and threw it out of the window. This poor nurse had no idea that the book—it was a New Testament—contained words of eternal life for her, and all mankind words through which man may become rich and happy.

Corporal F. picked the book up. He did not know what it was; he had never before had a Bible in his hands. He began to read, and soon his heart became deeply moved by God’s Word. Inside the cover of the Testament was written the name and address of a believing teacher C. who had the privilege, through God, of preaching the Gospel among the soldiers, and God had acknowledged his labor by abundantly blessing it.

F. sought him out, and C. instructed him in the Word of God. Thus the corporal found peace with God, became a true Christian, and through him many of his comrades, as well as his own aged father, were converted to Jesus.

The Word of God had not only smitten him outwardly on the shoulder, but also sank deep into his heart; so that his whole life was altered.

Up till then he had gone through life without God, and without hope; now he saw the mountain of his sin and guilt separating him from God; but he saw also that the Lord stood for him, to save him out of his lost state, and to give him eternal life. The Word of God shone as a clear light into his heart, and the love of God conquered him.

“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 03/07/1943

A Leper, a Captain, and a Scribe

Matthew 8

One man who came to ask help. of Jesus was a leper: he must have already known of Jesus’ great power and believed He was from God. for he called Him “Lord”: he said,

“Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

The leper knew what a dreadful diase he had, yet he believed Jesus could cure him, if He would. Was Jesus wilng? Yes, He was very willing; right away He said to the man,

“I will; be thou clean.” And the man was cured of the disease.

Then Jesus told the man to take a gift to the temple, as told in the law, that the men there, would know that such a great miracle had been done, as a leper cured.

There is something we all have, that is like the dreadful disease of the leper,—it is our sins; they make us unfit, or “unclean” for God. Jesus is just as able and willing to forgive, or cleanse us of our sins, as He was to cure the leper of his awful sores, if we believe Him as Lord and Saviour.

Another man who came to Jesus for help, was a captain; he is called a centurion, which means he had one hundred soldiers to direct. This man. had a serpant whom he liked very much, who was sick, but he believed Jesus was able to cure him, and he came to ask Him, and like the leper, called Jesus, “Lord.”

Jesus told the captain that He would go to his house and cure his servant. But the captain felt he was not good enough for the Lord to come to his house, and he asked Him to just speak the word to cure the servant, Jesus said to the captain,

“Go thy way, as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee.”

That captain was not of the nation of Israel, yet he believed Jesus’ power more than many who had heard more about Him, and Jesus was greatly pleased at his trust.

There was another Man who came to Jesus about this same time; he was a scribe, one who did writing, or copying, for then all such work was done by hand. This man may have copied the writings of the prophets about the One to be sent to earth by God, and so knew the promises well. Anyway he believed in Jesus as a great. person, and wanted to go with Him wherever He went. This was the awer of Jesus,

“The foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head,” Matt. 8:20.

Does that not seem strange that One who was doing such good to all, had, Himself, no home, and still more strange, because that One had made all things, and was Lord over all. But Jesus did not claim a place for Himself when on earth, and was not always given a place, because some of the people did not like His true words.

Where did the centurion live? (Matt. 8:5).

ML 03/07/1943

Ready for a Camel Ride

The people in our picture think no more of riding on the back of the camel than we would of riding a horse; but to those who are not used to the awkward movements of the camel, such a ride is exciting. When the camel would rise from his knees we should feel that we were surely falling off.

The camel has been fitted in a wonderful way for the dry countries where he lives. God has been good to man in priding him just such animals as he needs in the various parts of the world.

It is a grand thing to recognize God’s land in everything created. How varied are the needs and conditions of the different peoples of the world, and how wonderfully has He met all these needs. But it is not enough merely to own God’s power in creation, and His goodness to mankind. Even the devils believe there is a God,—

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe and tremble!” James 2:19.

Thus if you believe that there is a God, but are a stranger to His grace, you are lost. It is only as you know His love to you in giving Jesus as your own Saour, that you can be saved.

“IN THIS WAS MANIFESTED THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARD US, BECAUSE THAT GOD SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM.” 1 John 4:9.

ML 07/14/1943

The Hiding Place in the Rock

When I was a child, I spent my summer holidays in the coury at my uncle’s farm, and had happy times with my two little cousins. One day we were out in the fields, when we heard a snort, and looking across the field, we saw a wild bull coming straight toward us. There was no house or help near, and I remember crying out in fear. My elder cousin kept very quiet and I noticed her lips moved. Turning round she said,

“Follow me!” and we crept up, the side of a rock into a crevice, from which we heard the wild animal rush past, and where we remained for a long while, till danger was over. When we got to our little room I asked cousin Annie what she was saying when the wild bull was cong along.

“I was repeating a text I learned last Sunday, “‘Thou art my hiding place,’ and had no sooner done so, then I remembered the hole in the rock behind us.”

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

ML 03/14/1943

Teddy's Conversion

Let us draw our chairs together, and I will tell you about Teddy’s conversion.

You must know, like many other boys, he was willful and wayward, but he had Christian parents. who brought him up in the fear of God. At this time he had left school and gone out into the world, and you know, dear boys and girls, that the world is very attractive. Things look very nice to the eye, but God’s Word says, it “lieth in the wicked one,” and therefore it is a sinful world.

But we must get on with our story. Our young friend became very unhappy, and his sins pressed very heavily upon him. He thought of judgment, of having to do with God, and this was the cause of all his uneasiness. But God had His eye upon him. For six long, months he went about trying to find satisfaction in the world and in him but it was not to be found in this world.

No, dear boys and girls, satisfation and joy, salvation and rest, are only found alone in One whose name is Jesus this our young friend had to prove. Going to do better in the future was vain; the sins of youth, big sins small ones, would come up before like a giant mountain.

“God requireth that which is past.” Eccl. 3:15.

Just about this time a book was placed upon the table by his father, and b struck by the title of the book, which said,

“Though Your Sins be as Scarlet he took it up and read it.

The whole story of the book I need not relate, as it would take up too much time but it was about a young man who going one Sunday evening to enjoy himself at the house of some friends who like himself, were bent upon the pleasures of the world. But as this you man was hurrying along, a tract was into his hand by a passer-by, bearing the above title, which was the means his salvation, and God used it for his friend’s salvation also.

Now Teddy was very fond of reading books that commenced with a story, a if it chanced to touch upon the subject, of salvation, he would put it down a read no more; but somehow the story was continued to the end, but interwoven between the lines were those words which occurred several times over, “Though your sins be as scarlet.”

Night after night he went to bed, he could not sleep. Over and over agt the words kept ringing in his ears, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

But at last the night of decision came. The clock had struck eleven; Satan whispered, Time enough yet; wait till you a little older. But God said, NOW. I came downstairs and was met by my parents, who had been upon their knees, praying to God.

Our young friend burst into tears, saying,

“I’m a great sinner.” To which his father made reply,

“He is a great Saviour.”

He was told that Jesus had borne all his sins, and satisfied God on account of them.

Our young friend found Jesus as his Saviour, and from that time he has been rejoicing in the Lord.

But we had better get our Bibles and open them at Isaiah 1:18, and read the whole of the verse,

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

May those who read these lines follow our young friend’s example and, “COME NOW.”

ML 03/14/1943

How Are Our Sin Washed Away?

A little boy of three years old sat beside his mother repeating that sweet hymn, “There is a fountain filled with blood,” and when he came to the verse,

“The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day,

And there have thousands vile as he

Washed all their sins away.”

“Have you washed all your sins in that fountain, my dear?” his mother asked. The child looked up in her face, with such a sweet smile and said, “No mamma, I have not, but de Lord Jesus has washed all my sins away.”

The little boy was right; we, cannot wash our own sins away in the blood of Jesus, a better form of the stanza is,

“The dying thief rejoiced to see

That Saviour in His day;

And by that blood, though vile as he,

Our sins are washed away.”

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

At another time the mother and child were alone, and father was gone to preach in the town. The child saw his mother’s lips move, and said,

“Who are you talking to, mamma?”

“I was asking the Lord to bless the Word papa is now preaching to the poor sinners who are hearing him, darling.”

“Den I will pray, too, mamma.” Directly he knelt down and said,

“Blessed Lord Jesus, bless de words papa is speaking to poor sinners about You.”

That evening souls were blessed in a remarkable way; one especially who had been for years a wanderer from home and country, and, like the prodigal, had returned, naked and hungry, without God and without hope, was convicted of sin, and brought to the foot of the cross with tears. Before he slept that night he got peace through the Blood of the Lamb.

Thus the Lord heard and answered the simple prayer of a little child.

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

Great Grace

Jesus, the Son of God,

Came from His home on high,

Suffered for sinners,

And on the tree did die.

The mighty work is done;

See! Christ is risen now

Yes, it is finished!

Crowns are upon His, brow.

Soon He will come again

To take His own above;

Welcomed to glory,

Ever to share His love.

Come to the Saviour, come,

Gently He calls for thee;

None are too sinful,

All may to Jesus flee.

ML 03/14/1943

A Voice in a Storm

Matthew 8:28-34

One evening after Jesus had talked to many people, and had cured many of sicknesses, in a town on the shore of Galilee, He went into a boat, and told the men to go to the other side of the sea. It must have been a large boat, and Jesus must have been tired, as He laid down in the boat to rest, and went to sleep.

While the men were rowing (or sailing) across the waters, suddenly a hard storm came up, the wind began to blow the big waves into the boat. The men were used to the sea, but the storm was so dreadful, they were afraid the boat was going to sink. They awakened Jesus, saying,

“Lord, save us: we perish!”

Could the Lord save them from a storm? O yes, He arose and spoke to the waves to be still. The great wind stopped at once, and all was quiet, and the boat was safe. The men had seen Jesus do wonderful things, curing the sick, yet they wondered at the power that could stop the mighty waves of the sea. But Jesus was the Creator of all, and all obeyed Him.

This story gives comfort to all who trust Jesus now, to think He can still give peace to the heart, even in great trouble.

When Jesus and the men with Him had landed on the other shore, they were in a country where the people seem not to have honored God for a very long time, but had given themselves to wicked ways and to wicked spirits, until wicked spirits lived within some of them. There were two men with wicked spirits, which made the men so fierce, other people were afraid of them. The men stayed in caves and tombs of the wild land.

Those wicked spirits knew Jesus had power over them, and expected. Him to cast them out of the men; and they begged of Him to let them enter a herd of swine, or pigs, which were feeding on the hills high above the seashore. Jesus told the evil spirits to go; as soon as they entered the herd, the swine ran down the steep banks into the sea, and were drowned.

But the men who had been so badly treated by the wicked spirits, were made free, and instead of being fierce and wild, it tells of one of them who sat quietly at the feet of Jesus (Mark 5:15).

The men who had been keeping the swine, ran to the town to tell the owners what had happened. Then the men of the town were so disappointed that the swine were lost, and seemed to fear they might lose something more, that they came to where Jesus was, and begged Hi to go away from their land: they did not think how much better it was to have the fierce spirits gone and the men free: they thought only of the loss of the animals.

Afterward Jesus and the disciples went back to the other side of the sea of Galilee (Matt. 9:1).

Sometimes people now think if they listen to words of Jesus, that they will have to lose, or give up something they have, or want to do; so they will not listen to His words, or about Him. But how much better to be blessed by the Lord, than to be like those men who begged Him to leave their country!

ML 03/14/1943

The Temptations of the Devil

These pigs are being driven to market.

Rowland Hill, a Christian who was an earnest preacher, told that he once met a drove of pigs on one of the narrow streets of a large town, and, to his surprise, they were not driven, like these we see today, but quietly followed their leader.

That singular fact excited his curiosity, and he pursued them, until they all quietly entered the place where they were to be butchered. He asked the man how he succeeded in getting the poor, stupid, stuorn pigs so willingly to follow him, and he told him the secret.

He had a bag of beans under his arm, and kept dropping them as he went along, and so they followed after him, picking up the beans, though not knowing where their journey would end.

“Ah! my, dear friends,” said Rowland Hill, “the devil has his bag of beans, and he knows how to suit his temptations to every one. He drops them by the way, and the unsaved are led captive, and, if grace does not prevent, he will lead them into their doom, and keep them there forever.”

How very different this is from the “Good Shepherd” and His Sheep. He goes before the sheep, and they follow Him, for they know His voice. He knows them every one, and they are not, like the poor pigs, being lured to their death; but He gives His sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of His loving hand (John 10).

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.” Prov. 4:14.

ML 03/21/1943

What M. Fond Out

It was near school time, and quite a number of boys and girls were around the schooouse door discussing last night’s children’s meeting.

Various were the opinions expressed, when M. stood on the steps and said:

“Look here, boys, I have found out something this morning—you can be saved just anywhere. All you have to do is to believe the gospel—believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You have to look to Him and live, which just means the same thing. I knelt down at the bedside this morning, and I looked to Jesus, and now can I say I am saved.”

All eyes were on him as he finished this little confession of his faith, and there was a general approval of it, which was cut short by the school bell ringing, calling them to form into line, ready to march into school.

Have you, dear young readers, discovered this blessed fact—that if, as sinners, you come to Jesus, He will save you there and then, and will surely bring you to His Eternal Home?

If you have, do not be ashamed to own His blessed name.

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

ML 03/21/1943

"Keep Close to the Rock, Johnnie"

The hedges were covered with blackberries, heavy ripe clusters growing in beautiful luxuriance.

Millie and her little brother Johnnie with eager fingers, stained with the rich red juice, gathered the fruit as fast as possible, running from bush to bush in their hunt after the finest and best.

“The tiresome things always grow just where we can’t get them, I mean the biggest ones,” sighed Millie, with cheeks hot and flushed. “Johnnie,” with a sudden thought “I don’t think it would matter for just this once if we got down there where the train goes,—there are some beauties there.”

Of course Johnnie agreed; everything that Millie said and did, must be right, he thought.

O, Millie! what about all your promises to mother before you left home, to take care of Johnnie, and keep away from the railroad? but Millie was a very thoughtless little girl, and had forgotten everything but the blackberries.

“Keep very close to the hedge, Johnnie,” she said, lifting the little fellow over the gap and landing him safely on the narrow path between the rails where the trains passed over, and the hedge where the coveted blackberries grew. There they hung, such beauties, ripe and luscious, and soon all danger was forgotten, and the children picked away to their heart’s content.

A sudden whistle! and the next moment the train swept round a large projecting rock that had hidden their seeing its approach. Terror-stricken, Millie seized her little brother, and placed him upon a narrow ledge of the rock, then scrambled up herself.

“Keep close to the rock, Johnnie,” she cried, as the little fellow bewildered, and trembling with fright, held on with all his might.

The train whizzed past, almost touching the children as they clung desperately to the projecting piece of granite, but they were safe, and with a beating heart, and trembling limbs, Millie lifted her little brother down again. Blackberries and everything else were forgotten now, in their haste to get home, and sob it all out to mother, and I don’t think thoughtless Millie tried that again.

Keep close to the Rock, nay more, keep on the Rock, the only place of real safety. I mean the Rock, Christ Jesus. If you are there nothing can harm you, danger may be on all sides, but they will not have power to move the heart that has found its rest upon the Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ.

You all know the hymn, dear little readers

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.”

Have you ever thought what those sweet lines mean? Jesus is that riven Rock, that has stood the storms and tempests of long ages, and it is He who now bids you come to Him and prove that He is all that the Bible says of Him:—

“Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A shelter in the time of storm.”

Thousands have found Him to be that.

Boys and girls, who have learned to love Him, and have grown up into maood and womanhood, to go forth into the cold dark world to meet its trials, and worse, its so-called pleasures and allure-, ments, have proved that He has been able to keep them resting on the unmoble Rock, safe and out of the reach of all danger.

O! I want you to test Him. This Rock will bear all your weight, no matter how hard you lean. Jesus Himself asks you today to trust Him, to come to Him with your sins, known and unknown, and accept His pardon for them. He has said, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” So come.

“Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee, Thou bless’d Rock of Ages,

I’m hiding in Thee.”

What a blessed place of refuge!

ML 03/21/1943

"Is Father Still on Board?"

It was night. A furious storm was raging. A small ship was tossing in mid-ocean. The frightened passengers had risen and were huddled together expecting at any ment that the ship would be broken and all would be lost.

There was one passenger, however, who slept peacefully. She was the Capatin’s daughter. Someone roused her, telling her of the great danger that threatened them.

Is father still on hoard?” she asked. “Yes,” was the reply.

“Then he will take care of us. Do not be afraid,” and so saying she snuggled down under her covers and went to sleep again.

What sweet and simple trust this was! How pleased the Captain was when he heard of his little daughter’s faith in him! And the ship did reach port safely.

God is the Father of all who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour (John 1:12). He never sleeps nor slumbers. He is a very present help in trouble, and He is bringing every one of His Own safe to the Home above.

How wonderful for boys and girls to be able by faith in the Lord Jesus, to call God, Father! If we know Him as Father, we need have no fear. We shall reach Home at last.

“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

ML 03/21/1943

"Come unto Me"

Let the little children come,

Let them come to Me!

There is room for every one,

There is room for thee.

I have died for little ones,

Sinners, though they be;

God will call them His own sons,

If they come to Me.

God has loved the children dear,

So He gave His Son;

To Himself to bring them near,

Come, then, little one!

Soon I will return again,

All Mine own to take;

Where no sorrow is, nor pain;

E’en the dead I’ll wake.

With Myself and like Me, too,

Beautiful and glad;

All My glory they shall view—

None shall e’er he sad.

ML 03/21/1943

Jesus' Call to Matthew

Matthew 9

One day Jesus saw a man sitting, in the place where taxes were collected from the people, and He said to that man. as He had to the fishermen, “Follow Me”, and the man left his work and went with Jesus.

Men who collected taxes were called “publicans”; they were not liked by the rest of the Jewish people, because the taxes were for the nation which ruled over them. But Jesus knew this publan believed in Him.

This man had two names, Matthew and Levi, most often called Matthew. He had probably seen Jesus before, and heard His wonderful words and knew of His great deeds, because Jesus had been much in the towns near Galilee and lived near there.

Matthew made a supper at his house in honor of Jesus, and invited his friends that they could see and hear Him. Some men thought Jesus should not eat with publicans, whom they thought were more sinful than other people. But Jesus was ready to help all who needed Him.

Later Matthew went about the land with Jesus and the other disciples, and afterward he wrote this book about what Jesus did and said But Matthew did not write about himself, only that he was a publican and that Jesus called him to follow Him. Matthew must have been a careful, accurate man, to have collected the money for the strict Roman ruler. He must have listened carefully to Jesus’ words, and he was the one God used to explain for the Jewish people that Jesus came as Son of David, their rightful King.

In the same town where Matthew lived, there was a little girl who was very sick. Her father was a leader in the synagogue, the building where the scriptures were kept, and where they were read to the people. Perhaps this ruler had heard Jesus read the Scriptures, and had seen people He had cured, for he believed Jesus could cure his little daughter, and he also believed Jesus had come from God, for when he came to ask Jesus to heal her, he worshiped Him.

Jesus started on the way to the ruler’s home, but before they reached there, a, messenger came to tell the ruler that his little daughter had died (Mark 5:35). Jesus came to the house, and the friends were mourning that the girl was dead. But Jesus went to the bed where she was laid. He took her hand, and by His power she arose, alive again.

The friends who had seen that she was dead, wondered greatly at the power of Jesus, and told about this in all the country. The father and mother and that young girl must often have seen Jesus afterward, and how they must have loved and honored Him!

The same day the girl was raised to life, while Jesus was walking with crowds of people close to Him, a woman who had suffered from a sickness a long time, came and touched the hem of His garment, and was made well. All these were wonderful miracles which no one else could do. There were so many persons cured, that each one is not told of.

ML 03/21/1943

"Tom" And the Frog

Did you ever see anything so funny,—a cat carrying a frog in his mouth? You perhaps, say, “I have seen cats catch mice and birds.” Yes, and so have I, but never did I see a cat catch a frog!

It seems that this cat, “Tom”, to amuse his mistress would bring in a toad or a frog, and lay it at her feet, his eyes round and glaring, and his tail as stiff as a poker. The poor creatures used to squeal piteouy, but as Toni never harmed them, when let go, they would hop away into the garden.

No doubt, our little readers could tell many interesting and cute tricks their cats and kittens have done. They are very graceful in all their movements, and often make one laugh.

The cat is one of God’s dumb creatures. You and I are God’s creatures, but of a higher order. God gave to man intellence, and so man is responsible to God for what he does and says.

God has given His Word to us, and in it He tells you and me that we are sinners, and that we need a Saviour, and that He loved us and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross, and that there is no other way for sinners to get to heaven than by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

“Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

ML 03/28/1943

How Long Will He Knock?

As a child was looking at a famous picture, entitled,

“The light of the world,” she turned to her mother and said,

“Mother, how long will He knock?” The familiar hymn known to us from childhood’s days says:

“Behold a Stranger at the door;

He gently knocks, has knocked before,

Has waited long, is waiting still;

You treat no other friend so ill.”

While holding some Gospel meeting’s in the country, a farmer’s daughter was awakened to a sense of her guilt and danger. But, alas, like so many others, she neglected the Saviour. Some time afterward she was laid on a death-bed, and her folly in not accepting of God’s “great salvation” was clearly understood by her, and in view of eternity she exclaimed,

“Lord Jesus, you once knocked at the door, of my heart; won’t You call again?”

“If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with, Me.” Revelation 3:20.

Hearken to the good news of the Gospel of God’s matchless grace The Gospel does not tell of a work to be done by us; it brings good news regarding a work done for us by the Lord Jesus Christ, and is contained in the glorious words of John 3:16,

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

Let in the light of the blessed Gospel, and the moment you do so, you will draw back the bolt of unbelief, and welcome Christ as Saviour and Lord. Then you will be saved with an everlasting salvation.

ML 03/28/1943

What Jim Did for Tom

Jim and Tom were brothers. They were very much like each other in appearance and habits, and were true brothers in every sense. In the same school and in the same class, it often puzzled the teacher to tell which was Jim and which was Tom. One day he did not even know they had changed places. It came about in this way.

During the teacher’s absence, the usual noise and frolic took place. Returning unexpectedly he found Tom ringleader in the uproar. He must take the punishment for the offense, so was brought forward to the desk. But no cane could be found; it had been left behind by the teacher in his hasty return. Leaving Tom standing, he proceeded to find the instrument of punishment. In a moment, Jim, the brother of the offender, slipped into his place, gave him a push toward the desk, and stood sullenly awaiting the punishment.

When the teacher returned, he did not notice that one brother had taken the place or become the substitute for the other, so punished Jim, the innocent though willing victim, and let Tom, the real offender, go tree.

An ordinary incident in school life, a picture of the greatest event in the world, when it is said of the Lord Jesus, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:5.

Listen to the testimony of the chief of sinners:

“The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

Jim only took a caning instead of Tom, but Jesus died in our room and stead on the Cross of Calvary! What mighty love! God “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” Romans 8:32.

I feel sure when school was over that Tom thanked Jim warmly for volunteering to take his place and bear his punishment. I also feel sure if you could but realize how much the Lord Jesus has loved you, how great a danger He is willing to save you from, and how great a glory He is willing to save you to, you would not retire to rest another night without thanking Him for loving you, dying for you, rising for you, and soon coming to take you to His Eternal Home. Why not thank Him now?

ML 03/28/1943

"Ask, and It Shall Be Given You"

In spite of long arithmetic sums, and hard French verbs, one thought was uppermost in the mind of the boys and girls, “Only two more days till Saturday!”

They had been counting the days so impatiently, so expectantly. Now there were two days left until the promised hike into the woods where they would cook dinner over a real camp-fire, and learn how to flip pancakes in the approved fashion.

But Thursday brought disappointment when the teacher wrote on the board that she had lost her voice, and would probably be unable to take them hiking. Before lessons started the matter was discussed. What could they do? Be very quiet? very good? Then Billie seemed to have found a solution for he waved his hand eagerly and burst forth,

“Couldn’t we pray about it?”

A swift prayer for guidance went up, and then the teacher wrote on the board again,

“To be sure, Billie, it is the best thing we could do, for the Lord can bring back my voice if it is His will.”

Later at recess she knelt down to ask the Lord to grant the children’s request that they might early learn to trust His loving care. Had He Himself not said,

“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son?” John 14:13.

This precious verse gave her glad confidence to face the thirty pairs of anxious eyes that watched her all day, waiting for the answer.

It came. So soon, so unexpected was the return of the teacher’s voice in spite of all strain, that the class was filled with awe. The next morning they thanked the Lord Jesus together for answering their prayers, and together they sang their morning hymn:

Praise Him! Praise Him!

All ye little children,

Thank Him! Thank Him!

All ye little children,

He is Love, He is Love.

When Saturday’s sun looked down from a cloudless sky into the woods ouide the city, a happy group of children pressed round the camp-fire to watch the sausages sizzle, and in turn flip the pancakes over the glowing embers. Between mouthfuls of dinner, or an exciting tale, or swing in the maples, they came, one by one, and whispered to the teacher,

“I prayed every evening, and I also asked Him to give us a sunny day. Wasn’t it good of Him to answer?”

Have you put your trust in the God that answers prayer? Have you ever come to Him in your need? You may come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ, and find out for yourself that He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Eph. 3:20).

ML 03/38/1943

Twelve Men

Matthew 10

Jesus chose twelve men to go about the land of Palestine with Him the last two or three years of His life on earth. They heard His words, and saw the wonderful miracles. One day Jesus told these men that they should go to towns and people without Him. They were to tell God’s words, and speak of the great kingdom to be set up. He gave them power to cure all sorts of sickness, and even to raise the dead, as He did.

Jesus told the men to go only to the people who were of the nation of Israel, wilo knew the promises of God. They were to show them that God was ready to bless them, as He had told them in the writing of the prophets. The men were not to carry extra food or clothes with them, nor money, because the people they were to visit, were as relatives, and should gladly receive them to their homes, and do for them. It would be a small thing for people to help the disciples with food and a night’s rest, when their sick were cured and the dead raised. Jesus had done much for the disciples, and they were to do for others, He said,

“Freely ye have received, freely give.”

Jesus said the people were like “lost sheep:” they had turned from God’s words (carelessly), as sheep may turn away from a good shepherd. Just before this Jesus had also said the people were like a harvest field, ready to be gathered in, and there were few to help gather; many were ready to hear of the Lord, but there were few to tell to others His words of blessing. So Jesus sent the disciples as workers, and as shepherds to help others.

But Jesus told the men that they would not be kindly treated by all, yet He said, whatever was done for others, even for and, because they believed in Him, and did the good for His sake, would be rewarded by God.

After the Lord Jesus had been put to death, and raised again, He told those who believed on Him, to tell others of Him, and how much He loved them and died for them, not only to save them from an everlasting hell, but to take them to be with Himself forever. We can surely tell others how much He has done for us, can we not? He did not tell them to go to one nation only, but to go to the whole world.

In our chapter, the Lord was giving the people of Israel the chance to accept Him as their King, as He had been promised to them, and we know God’s promises will at last be fulfilled.

The men went as Jesus told them. Some of them had homes of their own, as Peter and Matthew, but to do as Jesus said; was more important than any work of their own. They had been called disciples, because a disciple is one who believes the teaching of some person; after this, these twelve men were called “apostles”, which means “sent ones”. The writing of Mark says that they were sent two together, and in the list of names, they are named in twos.

Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother;

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the publican;

James, the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus;

Simon, the Cannanite, and Judas Iscariot (Matt. 10:2,3,4).

ML 03/28/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“The Children’s Class”

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

2.“Therefore judge nothing,” etc 4:5.

3.“So that ye come,” etc. 1:7.

4.“Which none of the,” etc. 2:8.

5. “Whether therefore ye,” etc. 10:31.

6. “And now abideth.” etc. 13:13.

7. “Death.” 15:26.

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, “Giving thanks always for all things.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Praying always with all prayer.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The truth is in Jesus.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “I bow my knees.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Faith in the Lord Jesus, and love.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “It is the gift of God.”

7.What should a Christian do rather than steal?

Answers to Bible Questions for January

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.No. 1 Corinthians 6:7.

2.Because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14.

3.1 Corinthians 1:18.

4.No. 1 Corinthians 14:34.

5.1 Corinthians 3:3,4.

6.No. 1 Corinthians 8:12,13.

7.He should be put away. 1 Corinthians 5:13.

Bible Questions for April

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Ephesians.

1.With what should the believer’s feet be shod?

2.To whom should servants look?

3.What shall we do with evil speaking?

4.When were we chosen in Christ?

5.What verse in Ephesians 2 includes the Trinity?

6.Of whom was Paul a prisoner?

7.In what three ways are we to walk? Ephesians 5.

ML 04/04/1943

He Knows and Loves us Still

How many little ones, yes, and bigger ones, too, can enter into the feelings of a little girl I want to speak of?

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

One day, having been unusually rebellions, she was banished from her schoolfellows for the rest of the day. The following morning she was utterly ashamed to meet anyone, and remained in her room as long as she dared. Reaching the dining-room, however, she was greatly surprised to be greeted with a kind “Good morning” from some one seated there.

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

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

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

“O, ‘twas love, ‘twas wondrous love!

The love of God to me;

It brought my Saviour from above,

To die on Calvary.”

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

“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3.

ML 04/04/1943

I wish I were Somebody else

“O,” says the cooper, “mine is a hard lot, forever trotting round like a dog, driving away at this hoop.”

“Heigho,” sighs the blacksmith, “this is life with a vegeance, melting and frying one’s self over the fire.”

“O, that I were a carpenter,” ejaculates the shoemaker. “Here I am, day after day, working away, cooped up in this little seven-by-nine room.”

“I am sick of this out-door work,” exclaims the carpenter, “broiling and sweating under the sun—if I were only a tailor.”

“This is too bad,” cries the tailor, “to be compelled to sit perched up here plying my needle; would that mine were a more aetive life.”

“Were ever such a life as mine?” said the housemaid, “ever on the run to carry out the whims of missus.”

“The days are too long,” says the mistress; “how one is plagued with these servants.”

“Trade is shocking,” says the shopkeeper; “people won’t buy, and I can’t get my money in. I wish I were in a situation.”

“Happy fellow,” says the assistant; “here am I kept hard at it from morning to night, while master can go out whenever he pleases.”

“Was anything so perplexing?” says the merchant; “that bill due tomorrow, and not a penny in the bank to meet it; I wish I were out of this concern.

“O!” groans the lawyer, as he scratches his head over some perplexing case, “I would rather be stone-breaking than at this.”

“What! another ring at the bell,” says the doctor, as he turns out of his warm bed. “I wish I were sound asleep some twenty miles from here.”

And so it is, all through life; none content, nothing will satisfy but Christ. A real Christian never wished to be someting else.

“Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

ML 04/04/1943

Wise Counsel

Francis Xavorias, counseled John the Third, King of Portugal, to meditate every day a quarter of an hour upon the text,

“What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36,

Such a practice might be profitably adopted by many who only care for the life that now is, and forget that after death is the judgment. (Heb. 9:27).

“As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time without sin, unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:27,28.

ML 04/04/1943

The Menagerie

How do you like this interesting picture? The little boy seems to be entertaining his playmates by telling them some of the characteristics of the various animals he has collected, and is announcing the tricks they are supposed to perform. We fear Tabby cannot be found when her time comes. The toys stay right in their places, but the live animals seem to need to be held to keep them from running away.

We are each very much like Tabby in having wills which want to take us ways which please ourselves instead of pleasing. God. The Lord Jesus did always the things that pleased His Father and of Him it is written,

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

We need often to remind ourselves of this verse:

“HE DIED FOR ALL THAT THEY WHICH LIVE SHOULD NOT HENCEFORTH LIVE UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT UNTO HIM WHICH DIED FOR THEM, AND ROSE AGAIN.” 2 Corinthians 5:15.

ML 04/04/1943

About John in Prison

Matthew 11

Not long after the prophet John baptized Jesus, he was unjustly put in prison by the ruler of the land. John had heard the Voice from heaven saying that Jesus was the Son of God, and John had believed that Jesus would set up His rule as King of Israel, and stop all wrong acts; and he must have wondered that Jesus had not freed him from prison. So because of his trouble, he thought Jesus might not be the promised King, and he sent men to ask Jesus,

“Art thou He that should come; or do we look for another?”

Jesus waited to answer until the men had seen the great miracles He did for the people, then He told them to go tell John what they had seen: that the blind were made to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, the lepers cured, the dead raised to life, and the good words of God told. Those were the things which the prophets had written that the One to be sent from God would do (Isa. 29:18).

When John heard the things which Jesus did, as promised in the scriptures, he must have been comforted. Jesus told the people that John was the “messenger” told of by the prophet many years before (Mal. 3:1).

Although Jesus did the miracles which no one else could do, many would not believe He was from God; He told them that they were more wrong than the people who had not seen His works, but He gave thanks to God for all who did believe, and He gave a most kind invition to all in trouble, He said,

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

Jesus knew that the people had much trouble because of their sins, just as we have now; even boys and girls sometime find that their sins are the heaviest load that they have, harder to bear than any work. It was the burden of sins from which Jesus offered “rest”, or forgivess. Afterward He suffered on the cross for sinners, and ever since then “rest” has been offered to any who trust, or “come” to Him.

Jesus also said these words to the people:

“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, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

In the country where Jesus was, yokes were used on people as well as on oxen to carry heavy loads; the yokes were placed across the shoulders of one or two persons, and baskets or bundles were fastened at each end of the yoke. If the yokes were made of light wood, the buens were carried easier than without a yoke. But sometimes the yokes were made of heavy wood, the loads were too large, and the masters were cruel. Jesus said that His “yoke” was easy and His “burden” was light.

We know that Jesus did not mean that He would put real yokes on the people: He meant if they would let Him be their Master, that He would share their “burdens”, and the work He would give them to do for Him, would not be too hard, for He was not harsh, but “lowly”, humble. So let us be thankful that Jesus is willing to take our burdens of sins, and all we need to do is to accept His invitation to “come” to Him. He will then give us things to do for Him, and will also share our troubles on the way through this world, as a loving Master.

ML 04/04/1943

The Pheasants

The pheasants are beautiful birds, and have a natural shyness and wildness, apparently impossible to breed out They make their homes in long grass, willows or alders, and when frighned they start up with a tremendous wher-r-r, and shoot off like the wind in search of new cover. They continually chase grasshoppers, flies and other insects for their food, and seem to enjoy it, as children do their play. But they, too, like all the rest of creation, have their pests and troubles. Hawks of various kinds come down upon them, and foxes, too, are bitter enemies. Then also a disease known as “gapes”, which sometimes gets among them, and causes a great many to die.

Why, one may ask, does God allow such a condition to be in His beautiful creation?

The answer is, sin has come in, in connection with the head—Adam—and so the whole creation suffers.

But God will not always allow it to be so. He will make a new creation out of this ruined one, and every trace of sin will be done away. There shall be no more tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. Everything will be perfect then.

Would you, my dear reader, like to be in that new creation? If you would, God does not ask you to do anything in order to take part in it, but simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God. That One, who by His sacrifice, has atoned for sin—or covered sin by His blood—must be believed on; and if you do, you can say, “My sins are covered, blotted out and will be remembered no more.”

Then you will rejoice in looking foard to the time when all things will be made new.

“BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” John 1:29.

ML 04/11/1943

Where Will You Sing?

A lovely song had just been sung by a lady. The voice was as sweet as the words and music. It was exquisitely soft and clear, and the song had been rendered with great pathos and power.

An earnest Christian gentleman was present, and longed after her salvation, for as yet she was but living in pleasure, and knew nothing of the joys which were his.

Crossing over to her side, he quietly remarked, as he thanked her for her song, “You have a beautiful voice. Where will you sing in eternity?”

It was a message from God to her. She could not forget it. Each song she sang would recall it. And at last, owning her need and wasted years, she was found a penitent in the presence of the Saviour.

She now knew where she would sing in eternity; that it would be in the home of the Saviour whose precious blood had cleansed her from her sins. She knew that He would be her song as she joined with the choir of the ransomed, saying,

“Thou art worthy,... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.” Revelation 5:9.

ML 04/11/1943

The Cobbler's Mark

Ross hastened home, and handed the shoes to his mother.

“The cobbler had them fixed, so I brought them home. I told him you would pay him later.”

“That was all right,” his mother said, giving the shoes close inspection as she passed upon the cobbler’s work.

“Those are peculiarly marked heels, but they seem to be good work. You can put these on now, and save your better ones.”

The telephone rang loud and long. Ross changed his shoes while his mother answered the phone.

“Mrs. Brown wants me to help her for an hour,” she said as she hung up the receiver. “You stay here at the house and play until I come back.”

“Can I go down to the creek?” he asked.

“Not this morning,” she replied.

Five minutes after his mother had gone, Ross was invited to go for a swim by one of his chums.

“Mother said I couldn’t go,” Ross declared. “But she won’t be back in an hour. I can take a plunge, and be back home in that time. You won’t tell on me, will you?”

“Of course not,” replied his chum. “Hurry up!”

Although his conscience troubled him somewhat, Ross hastened along with the other chum. Into the creek they plunged, swam around for a few moments, and then hurried back home.

When mother returned from Mrs. Brown’s home, she cut across the fields, and came in the back door by way of the path which led to the creek. Ross was sitting in a rocking-chair, busily engaged in reading a book.

“Did you have a good time down to the creek?” she asked him. “Was the water warm?”

“What?” Ross asked in surprise, his face growing crimson.

Knowing that he could not conceal the truth from his mother, he decided to admit his guilt at once, but determined also to find the identity of her informer.

“Did Jake tell you?”

Not a person has told me a single word,” said mother.

“How do you know I have been there?” asked Ross, seeing a faint hope of escape.

“A silent witness told me,” mother rlied. “Come with me, and I’ll let that same witness tell you the truth. First, we will look at the heels on your shoes. Do you see those peculiar marks in the rubber? Follow me, now, and we will see where those marks lead us.”

Wherever Ross had stepped in a dusty place, he had left that peculiar mark which told the story, and he no longer made any attempt to deny his act of disobedience.

“You can’t cover up sin,” said his mother. “It will always reveal itself. God will see you if human eyes cannot. Remember these words, “Thou God seest.’”

One of the signs of the last days, which brings on the judgment of God, is disobedience to parents (2 Tim. 3:1-4).

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

ML 04/11/1943

"I'll Take My Chance"

If I can but get out into the broad Atlantic I shall be safe,” thought the captain of an outbound vessel, which was caught in a storm.

The nearest port could, at the time, be easily “made.” There he knew he would be safe, but he thought:

“I’ll take my chance, and run for the open sea.”

The storm rapidly increased in its fury, and the captain soon saw that he could not make the ocean, and so at once steered for P.

Alas! it was too late. The raging of the storm rendered his vessel almost uncontrollable and before long it was drifted helplessly on to the rocks.

Messengers were sent for the lifeboat by the watchers on shore, and it was quickly manned and launched with its brave crew into the foaming billows, but all in vain; before they could reach the vessel, it was broken up by the violence of the waves, and only two out of her crew of fifteen men survived. These two were picked up half dead by brave ones who ventured on to the rocks to help.

Had the ship been run into F. when the storm first overtook them, all might have been well; but the desire to get on the journey quickly, urged the captain to run the risk, and led to his death and that of most of his crew.

There are many today who are like-this foolish captain—they refuse a place of safety, and still pass onward. They turn from the Lord Jesus, and think they will be all right without Him.

Soon it may be too late—then no Saviour will be found. Many people will wake up to their danger when the Lord Jesus has cone and taken all His own away. Many will be in earnest then—but too late! too late!

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

Will you dare “take your chance” of being saved by-and-by? I warn you:

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

You have been warned, my reader. Again and again have you been told of that coming storm of judgment upon those who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you not heard of the open harbor for poor, tempest-tossed sinners? Christ Jesus says:

“Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

Why delay? Why will ye die?

“Now! now!! now!!!

Delay not from death to flee: O! wherefore the precious moments waste, When Jesus is calling thee?”

ML 04/11/1943

Plucking the Grain

Matthew 12:1-37

One day Jesus and His disciples were walking by a field of grain: the disciples were hungry and they picked off some heads of the grain, rubbed off the chaff, and ate the grain. It was not wrong for them to take the handfuls of grain, for their law allowed them to do that; it said,

“When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand: but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor’s corn.” Deuteronomy 23:25. (Grain is often spoken of as “corn” in the Bible).

It was on the Sabbath Day that the men with Jesus picked the grain, and some men who saw them do it, said that they were wrong to do so on the Sabbath.

God had said in His laws to their nation, Israel, that the people should do no work on the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week); they were to rest from all work, so they would not forget that God bad brought their nation from Egypt, where they had worked hard as slaves. (Ex. 31:12-17).

But there were certain men, called Pharisees, who had made laws of their own for the Sabbath, and they thought more of their laws than of God and His words. It was some of those men who said it was wrong to pluck the grain on the Sabbath day.

Jesus asked these men if they had not read that once when David, whom they honored, was very hungry that he was given bread from the House of God, although the bread was meant only for the men there to eat. (1 Sam. 21:6). David had been chosen and anointed by God to be the king of Israel, but he was refused by many, and in need of food, which was given to him and his men at the House of God.

Jesus had been anointed by God to be a far greater King than David, but He also was refused, and there was no food for Him and His disciples, so they should have the grain. Jesus told those men that He was greater than the Temple, and that He was Lord (Ruler) of the Sabbath Day.

Afterward Jesus was in the synagogue of the town, and there was a man who had one hand withered. The Pharisees thought that Jesus would cure the man as He had so many others, but they were more angry with Him because He had shown them their hard ways, and they wanted to find more fault with Him, so they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day?”

Jesus then asked them a question, He said if one of them had a sheep which fell into a ditch, would not he lift out the sheep? Jesus told them that a man was better than a sheep! The wise answer of Jesus should have again shown the men how hard and wrong they were. Jesus then said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch forth thy hand.” The man held out his hand, and it was well as his other hand.

The Pharisees were so angered at Jesus because of His words that they went away to plan together, how they could bring harm to Him. But Jesus knew their wicked thoughts, and kept out of their way. He went on curing the sick ones who followed Him. Jesus did all His great works in a quiet way, as had been told of Him in the scriptures. (Isa. 42:1-3). What did Jesus say about “idle”, or light careless words? Matthew 12:36.

ML 04/11/1943

The Pool of Bethesda

This quiet, peaceful spot, surrounded by rocks and beautiful trees, looks very inviting.

I wonder how many of you little readers know about the Pool of Bethesda. We are told about it in the 5th chapter of John’s Gospel. This Pool was at Jerusalem, and had five porches.

Many years ago, when the Lord Jesus was on earth, any one passing by this pool would have seen a great crowd of people on these porches. What do you suppose they were doing there? Why do you suppose they had come or been brought to these porches around the pool? Our chapter tells us that at times an angel went down into the pool and stirred up the water.

The one who got in first was cured. If he was sick, he became well. If he was blind, he could see after he stepped into the water, if he was lame, he could walk all right again.

When Jesus was here He cured a great many sick people, because they had faith in Him, and believed He was able to make them well.

Many of us have strong healthy bodies, and don’t need to be cured, like the people who waited at the Pool of Bethesda. But we all have sinful, bad hearts that we cannot make good of ourselves, but Jesus is just as able to cleanse us from our sins, as He is to heal our diseases. If we have faith in Him, our sins are forgiven.

“IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” Colossians 1:14.

ML 04/18/1943

Grace

A preacher in China once asked a Chinese artist to read the story of the Prodigal Son in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, and then make a picture for him of the son’s return home. This the artist agreed to do, so taking the story with him, he went home to make the picture.

Some days passed and the artist returned. When the preacher unrolled the canvas, what do you think he saw? Why, there was the poor prodigal son kneeling at the father’s feet begging for mercy, and what do you think the father was doing? Beating him with a big stick!

“Why that is not what the story says,” said the preacher.

“I know it isn’t,” said the artist, “but that is what he deserved.”

Was the artist right? Yes, he was. The son deserved naught but the father’s angry blows. But that is not what he got. Instead the father ran to meet him, covered him with kisses, told the servants to put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet and clothe him with the best robe. Yes, and a grand feast was made and there was rejoicing-and gladness, because this naughty young man had come home! By what name do we call loving, ueserved favor like this? Grace is what the Word of God calls it. We read in Ephesiaris chapter two, verse eight, “By grace are ye saved.”

We all deserve God’s anger and judent, but because Jesus died for us on the cross, God can now show grace to all who come to Him by faith.

“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 04/18/1943

It's All the Little Book

As the writer was sitting in a railway coach, a pleasant voice sang out:

“Paper, sir? Paper, sir? Morning paper, lady?”

There was nothing new in the words, nothing new to see a small boy with a package of papers under his arm; but the voice, so low and musical—its clear, pure tones, mellow as a flute, tender as only love and sorrow could make, called up hallowed memories. One look at the boy’s large, brown eyes, the broad fore-head, the mass of nutbrown curls, the pinched and hollow cheeks, and his history was known.

“What is your name, my boy?” I asked, as, half blind with tears, I reached out my hand for a paper.

“Johnny”; the last name I did not catch.

“You can read?”

“O, yes; I’ve been to school a little,” said Johnny, glancing out of the window; to see if there was need of haste.

I had a little brother whose name was Johnny. He had the same brown hair and tender, loving eyes; and perhaps it was on his account I felt very, very much disposed to throw my arms around Johnny’s neck, and to kiss him on his thin cheek. There was something pure about the child, standing modestly there in his patched clothes and little, half-worn shoes, his collar coarse, but spotless white, his hands clean and beautifully molded. A long, shrill whistle however, with another short and peremptory, and Johnny must be off. There was nothing to choose; my little Testament, with its neat binding and pretty steel clasp, was in Johnny’s hand.

“You will read it, Johnny?”

“I will, lady; I will.”

There was a moment—we were off. I drained my eyes out of the window after Johnny, but I did not see him; and, shuting them, I dreamed what there was in tore for him, not forgetting God’s love or the destitute and tendervoiced boy.

Later I made the same journey and passed over the same railroad. Halting or a moment’s respite at one of the many places on the way, what was my surprise to see the same boy, taller, healthier, with the same eyes and pure voice.

“I’ve thought of you, lady,” he said. “I wanted to tell you, it’s all the little Book.”

“What’s all the little Book, Johnny?”

“The little Book has done it all. I carried it home and Father read it. He was out of work then, and Mother cried over it; they quite frightened Uncle, who lived with us. At first I thought it was a wicked book to make them feel so bad; but the more they read the more they cried, and it’s all been different since. It’s the little Book; we live in a better house now, and Father doesn’t drink, and Mother says ‘twill be all right again.”

Dear little Johnny, he had to talk so fast; but his eyes were bright and sparing and his brown face all aglow.

“I’m not selling many papers now; and Father says maybe I can go to school this winter.”

Never did I so crave a moment of time. But now the train was in motion. Johnny lingered as long as prudence would allow.

“It’s all the little Book,” sounded in my ear; the little Book that told of Jesus and His love for poor, perishing men. What a change! A comfortable home; the man no more a slave to strong drink. Hope was in the hearts of his parents; health mantled the cheeks of the children. No wonder Johnny’s words came brokenly!

From the gloom of despair to a world of light from being poor and friendless, the little Book told them of One mighty to save, the very Friend they needed, the precious Saviour, with a heart of love and tenderness.

O, that all the Johnnys who sell papers, and the fathers that drink, and mothers that weep over the desolation of once happy homes, would take to their wretched dwellings the Book that tells of Jesus and His love! And not only these but all the Johnnys that have no parents, living in cellars, and sleeping in filth and wretchedness—would that they could learn from this little Book what a Friend they have in Jesus.

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

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

ML 04/18/1943

The Leopard

Can the leopard change his spots,

Woven in his coat of skin?

Can he move those colored dots

Which the world’s attentions win?

No; however much he tried,

All his efforts would be vain;

He with spots would still be dyed,

Every one would still remain.

Can the sinner—vile within—

Covered o’er with evil blots—

Cleanse himself from shame and sin,

And efface his sinful spots?

Nay! there’s not a thing of earth

That can cleanse a sinner’s stains;

All he tries is nothing worth,

He polluted still remains.

Let me not, then, be enticed,

Such a folly to begin;

Nothing but the blood of Christ

E’er can take away my sin.

Washed in His most precious blood,

Which in love did freely flow,

Bathed in that all-cleansing flood,

Whiter I shall be than snow.

ML 04/18/1943

A Great Sign

Matthew 12:38-50

Some leaders of the people asked Jesus “to show them a sign”. They seem to have meant that He should do some wonderful miracle to prove to them that He had come from God. Jesus had already shown them His power by many great miracles. They could not do one of the many cures which He had done, and what greater miracle should they ask, than dead persons to be raised to life, as He had done?

Those men also had read God’s words in the Old Testament scriptures about the Messiah to come to earth, and about what He would do to bless the people. They should have believed God’s promises, but they had not believed the signs already done for them.

Then Jesus told those men who asked for a “sign”, that there would be one sign given them: He said that it would be the sign of the prophet Jonas (Jonah), that as Jonah had been three days within the great fish, so should the Son of Man (Jesus) be three days and three nights in “the heart of the earth.” We know that Jesus meant that He would be in the grave.

The men Jesus spoke to, knew the story of Jonah, and that God had caused a great fish to keep Jonah from drowning in the ocean; they believed it was true, and they knew how the people of the city of Ninevah had been sorry for their sins when Jonah told them of God’s punishment to come. Yet these men had not been sorry for their sins, although God had sent His own Son to speak to them, and He was so much greater than Jonah.

Perhaps afterward, when Jesus was buried in the grave, some of the men who had heard Him, remembered His words about “the sign to be given.”

Sometimes people now say that the story of Jonah could not have been true, but it is plain from Jesus’ words that He knew it was true.

Jesus spoke to the men, also, of the Queen who came a long journey to learn if what she had heard about the wonderful riches and wisdom of King Solomon were really true. And Jesus said to the men, “Behold a greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus was the One with them, “greater than Solomon”, yet the men would not listen to, or believe His wise words. Instead, those men were trying to find cause to have Jesus killed.

About this same time, while Jesus was inside of a house, or the synagogue, His mother and His brothers came wanting to speak to Him. Someone told Jesus that His mother and brothers were ouide, wanting to see Him. The answer of Jesus shows how very much He loveci and valued those who believed that He was from God, for He pointed to the disciples and said that they were as dear to Him as though they were His mother and brothers. At that time the brothers of Jesus did not believe that He was froni God (John 7:5), but the disciples had left their work and homes to stay with Jesus, because they loved Him and believed God had sent Him.

Later on we find that the brothers of Jesus believed that He was the Son of God, and not like themselves; they stayed with the apostles after Jesus’ death, and shared all things with them (Acts 1:14). Two of the brothers, James and Jude (or Judas) were the men who wrote two of the short books of the New Testament, and called themselves “servants of Jesus Christ.”

ML 04/18/1943

The Artist

You see, papa is an artist and his little son likes to imitate him. He has climbed up on his father’s high stool, and has taken his palette and brush, and is pretending that he is painting.

How good all this seems to us in childhood, and now that some of us are older, we can look back and think of these times when we loved to do the things that papa or mamma did. The reason we did so, was because they loved us and we loved them.

There is a lesson we may learn from this, for there is One who loves us much more than even papa or mamma can, and He is God. The way He has shown that great love to us, was by giving His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for us on Calvary’s cross, so that His holy and righteous claims which stood against us could all be met, and He could righteously let us go free. Is that not wonderful love? Surely we must say it is!

Then if we do believe that God has so loved us, and that we are now His chiren, let us seek to imitate Him, and show love to others,

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

ML 04/25/1943

Only a Baby

Can you imagine a little island overgrown by the jungle where dark-skinned natives live in straw huts, lost in the immense stretches of water of the Southern Pacific? For two years Alex and Billie had worked there, with hearts eager to tell these people that God loved them just as much as the rest of the world, because He had given His Beloved Son to die for them.

First the two young missionaries had built a bungalow on the hill overlooking the village. Then as they learned the strange language of the island, they tried to tell the natives how to find peace for their souls by believing that God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, had been punished for everyone of them, because they were sinners. God was ready to forgive them forever.

But strange, to say they refused to listen, for, said they, such words and such news were only good for the white man.

However, Alex and Billie kept on trying, and, better still, they prayed earnestly. God had sent them here, for He “is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance”. Sometimes they would have decided to give up had it not been for this Scripture. If God cared so much for these ignorant natives, they had no reason not to.

One morning as the sun was gilding the tops of the palm trees of the dark jungle, a funeral procession filed out of the village. The two young men hurried down in the hope of an opportunity of speaking about their Blessed Saviour. The chief’s wife had died and was being buried with her live baby. Filled with indignation at this cruel act, Billie tried to stop it;

“No, O, no!” he cried, “why kill the helpless child?” But the chief gave orders to proceed.

“Who wants to look after somebody else’s child? After all it’s only a baby. It is best to get rid of it.”

The boys protested, but in vain. Suddenly the chief turned towards them with a cynical smile and shouted for all to hear,

“You take the child, if you think it is wrong to kill it. Perhaps the God Who, you say, loves little dark children, too, will keep it alive.”

It was a challenge. After sending up a quick prayer for guidance, Billie jumped forward, picked up the babe, then beckoning to Alex, he strode up the hill while the people looked after him in surprise. Billie knew that the Lord meant him to take it, for in answer to his prayer, had come the verse,

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

Once in their home they were soon faced with the problem of caring for it, as the little dark bundle was kicking and crying lustily for food.

“O, what shall we do?” wondered Alex. “we’ve no feeding bottle, and the nearest shop is weeks of travel away, and I’ve never looked after a baby before.”

After trying to pour a cup of goat’s milk down its throat and nearly choking it, they decided that some other way must be found, if they were going to keep it. But God was answering their prayer. It occurred to Billie to fit a clean medicine bottle with the rubber end of a dropper, pierce it, and fill this new feeder with milk. And, lo, it worked, for the baby drank, and expressed its satisfaction with prolonged gurgles.

Could you have peeped in, as did the chief’s messenger, you would have seen a strange prayer meeting. The men were kneeling on each side of the boy, thanking the Lord for helping them in such a wonderful way so far, and praying earnestly for grace to bring him up, to know the Saviour Who had died for him, so that when He would come to make up His jewels, this little one would be among the gems of His crown. With glad hearts they got up feeling sure that God was already answering, and that He would use the child for blessing to this dark spot.

Down in the village the messenger gave a graphic account of the surprising event. Soon every man, woman and child that could come, trooped up the hill to watch the feedings on the verandah. There were hundreds of people. Never before had they seen a feeding bottle. No wonder the sight fascinated them. Suddenly, Lillie realized that this was the opportunity they had prayed for. Then, while Alex held the bottle, he stood up, and, from an overflowing heart, told them the Story that never grows old with telling: how the Creator of all, they could see God’s only Beloved Son, was born a Babe into the world He had made, that, as Man, He might bear their sins in His body on the tree, that they might be healed by His stripes. Now He was seated in Heaven at His Father’s right hand. Because of this sacrifice where His Son willingly shed His precious blood for them, and God was now ready to pardon them, and to deliver them from all fear. Yes, Jesus “was able to save them to the uttermost” if they came to God by Him.

In silence they listened. When the feeding was over they disappeared, only to reappear promptly the next time baby was fed. Day after day the men took turns in proclaiming the Glad Tidings of Jesus’ love. The crowd listened respectfully until one day the old chief broke down and wept for the first time. God’s Word had pierced his conscience. He realized his sinful condition, his helplesess to save himself, and that God was a holy God, and joyfully, he accepted the pardon offered through the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The next day the chief paid a formal call at the bungalow. He begged to be allowed to take back his child. In return for their kindness to it, he promised, to build a large hut where they could teach the people and tell them often about his Saviour.

“I desire above all,” he added, “that you should tell the little ones, so that they early will get to know that their sins are forgiven, because Jesus died for them, and that they might not become such wicked men as their fathers have been.”

If you had, a few years later, visited that lonely island, lost in the Pacific Ocean, you would have met many true Christians. Although their skin is as dark as ever, their hearts have been washed white through the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that can make even the blackest whiter than snow. Among them you would have met the Chief and his little son. God can use even a little child in order to bring blessing to others and to glorify His Name. He will do so again for we read in Isaiah 11:6,

“A little child shall lead them.” We also read in Mark that the Lord Jesus said to His disciples,

“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

“How shall they call on Him Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?” Romans 10:13-15.

ML 04/25/1943

Sowing Seed

Matthew 13:1 to 24

Long ago when a man wanted grain sown in his field, he scattered the seed over the ground by handfuls. It was about such a sowing that the Lord Jesus told this story:

‘Behold a sower went forth to sow: and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up. Because they had no deepness of earth, when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them. But some fell into good ground, and. brought forth fruit, some a hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, some thirty-fold.

The men who heard these words, knew that Jesus wanted to teach them something more than about sowing grain: they called this “a parable”, which is a story with a hidden meaning. And they asked Him to tell the meaning.

Jesus told them that “the seed” meant the Word of God (Luke 8:11), and people’s hearts were “the ground” where the seed was sown. He said those who heard God’s words, but did not believe them, were the “hard ground,” or the “wayside”, where the birds quickly took the seed and flew away.

Those who at first believed God’s words, but did not care more about them, were “the stony ground” which had little earth, and the plants dried up.

Those who let work or pleasure crowd out God’s words were “the ground” where the thorns choked out the grain.

But those who believed God’s words, and wanted to keep them in their hearts, were the “good ground” where the seeds grew, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much as the seed sown.

The Lord Jesus was Himself the Great Sower; He told God’s words to all people; sonic believed, some were careless of them, His words have been “sown” in many hearts since. And now when any boy or girl or grown up person hears those words read or spoken, and does not believe, that one is like the hard road: soon the words are forgotten and lost to that one. And, do you know, if we do not believe when first we hear God’s words, our hearts bome harder and harder, and “the good seed” may never take root?

Jesus told the people then, that if they had believed the words of God which they had before heard from the scriptures, they would have believed Him. He said that their hearts had become “gross”, (heavy and rough), that their ears were dull to hear, and their eyes to see, or they would have known that He was from God.

He said that many prophets and others had believed God’s words, and longed to see the One God had promised to send to earth, yet had not seen Him. They could see and hear Him, yet many did not believe.

Who took away the good seed? (Matt. 13:19).

What kind of a heart is called “good ground?” (Luke 8:15).

Where was Jesus sitting while He talked to the people, and where were the people? (Matt. 13:2).

ML 04/25/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“The Children’s Class”

1.“For ye know,” etc. 2 Cor. 8:9.

2.“And that he died,” etc. 5:15.

3.“But if our gospel,”, etc. 4:3.

4.“But we had,” etc. 1:9.

5.“Thanks be unto God.” etc. 9:15.

6.“Therefore I take,” etc. 12:10.

7.“Now.” 6:2.

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, “Watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Redemption through his blood.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “So walk ye in Him.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “According to his riches in glory.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “We look for the Saviour.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Became obedient unto death.”

7.What is well-pleasing unto the Lord?

Answers to Bible Questions for February

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.That the power of Christ might rest upor him. 2 Cor. 12:9.

2.He is present with the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:8.

3.Cheerfully. 2 Cor. 9:7.

4.As an angel of Light. 2 Cor. 11:14.

5.No. 2 Cor. 6:14.

6.Having tasted the comfort of God in our own sorrows. 2 Cor. 1:4.

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

Bible Questions for May

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Philippians and Colossians

1.What verse applies to two sisters in the Lord who disagree?

2.How should our speech be seasoned?

3.What was the significance of holy days, new moons, and sabbath days?

4.What resurrection did Paul desire?

5.To whom was it given to complete (fulfill) the Word of God?

6.In what did Paul rejoice?

7.At what Name was every knee to bow?

ML 05/02/1943

Trust in God

An aged believer was much perplexed as to her future, and as to the way in which the Lord would lead her at a time when nothing but poverty seemed to be in store for her; and she besought Him to make clear her path give assurance of His loving protection and care.

As she was thus lifting up her heart in prayer to God, a tapping was heard on the window pane of the small cottage. The poor, tried woman looked up and saw a sparrow knocking on the window sill, having a large crumb of bread in its beak. Instantly she arose from her knees, gratefully accepting this simple messenger’s testimony of God’s loving care for His creatures, and so for herself. “FEAR NOT, THEREFORE; YE ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.” Luke 12:7.

It only remains to add that her way was opened, and a plain path made for her to walk in. But the lesson of simple trust and confidence in God has never been forgotten, and to this day the dear old Christian narrates it to cheer and comfort others sorely tried.

May this serve to remind you, dear young Christian, of the Lord’s tender care and watchfulness over you in all the daily affairs of this life.

ML 05/02/1943

Flee from the Wrath to Come

Matt. 3:7

It was a large sheet, with only six words on it, painted in plain blue and red letters. It hung for many years in a little room where boys and girls met on the Lord’s-day afternoons to hear of Jesus and His love, and where meetings were also held for older people in the evenings. It was colored by a little boy who loved the Lord, and desired to do something to lead others to Him. He was too young to be a teacher, and the thought crossed his mind that he might spend a few of the winter evenings coloring this text for the meeting-room, and perhaps it might be the means of arousing some little one to think. After he had finished it, he asked permission to put it up on the wall. Many an eye rested on it, and it was known that God blessed the word of that Colored Text to make more than one think about the great eternity and “the wrath to come.”

How many boys and girls who are saved might do a similar work, and if it were truly done for the Lord Jesus, he would bless it to many.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML 05/02/1943

A Peaceful Scene

That a peaceful place this is, and how we would enjoy sitting there quietly to watch the calm water and the boat gliding along.

Some of us have watched the ocean and looked at the restless waves as they splashed high on the rocks. We may have enjoyed it for a time, but very soon, we have wished the rough waves would become calm.

This poor world, with its dreadful confusion, does not know how to make peace, and it will not know peace till the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, comes to reign for one thousand years in peace and righteousness. Then the world will have peace; but He will first destroy all His enemies, all who refuse to accept Him as the One who died for them on Calvary’s cross, and has washed their sins away in His precious blood, have peace in their hearts, even in the midst of the present awful condition all over the world.

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

We plead with all those who have not put their trust in Him as their Saviour, to come to Him at once, as we do not know how soon He will bring judgment upon this poor Christ rejecting world.

“Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:15.

ML 05/02/1943

Bad Seed Sown

Matt. 13:24-30

There is another parable told by the Lord Jesus:

“A man... sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (weeds) among the wheat, and went his way. When the blade was sprung up... then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder (owner) came and said unto him,

“Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in the field? from whence then hath it tares?” He said unto them,

‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him,

“Wilt thou that we go and gather them up?” But he said,

“Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest, I will say unto my reapers,

“Gather ye together first the tares in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn” (storehouse).

Tares are a sort of wild grain which grows in most lands, but not good for food for either people or animals. When the young plants first come up, they cannot be told from grain; later they have a small head, with small seeds, but they are bitter, even poisonous. The tares cannot be pulled out of the field without uproong the wheat, and are left until harvest time. So surely it was a wicked person who would sow tares in a grain field!

The men with Jesus asked Him what hiis story meant, and He told them that He was the Sower of “the good seed”, that the “field” where it was sown, was the world, and the enemy who sowed “the tares” was the devil, Satan (Matt. 13:36-43).

Jesus said those who would believe His words about the Kingdom to be set up, were “the children of the kingdom”, or “wheat”; among them Satan would have his followers who would pretend to believe God, they would be like “tares”. Jesus said His servants were not to pull up “the tares”, they might injure “the wheat”; they were not to destroy or condemn, all were to be left until the “harvest”.

Jesus had told the people about His kingdom on earth, when all must be true and right, so before that time could begin, there will be “a harvest” when what is of Satan will be destroyed, but “the wheat” will be safe in the “storehouse”, with Him.

Yet during all the time, the Lord Himself always knows who are His people. He said, “I know them” (John 10:27). He said many words like these,

“Whosoever believeth on Him (The Son of God) should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

He wants His people to know that they are His. After He had gone back to Heaven, He had one of these same men, John, write very plain words, that those who believed in Him should know that they had everlasting life by Him: “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 5:9-13.

Note for older ones: The words, “the end of the world” in Matt. 13:39, mean the end of a certain time, or age the time since Christ began speaking of His Kingdom is the “growing’’, or waiting time; then will be the “harvest” or judgment time: (not the end of earth); afterward the time of the righteous Kingdom set up on earth.

ML 05/02/1943

Danger Ahead

As the dog runs along with the bird in his mouth, he suddenly stops. Little reader, do you know why?

If you look, carefully you will see a snake in the grass, with its head up, all ready to spring. The dog is in danger, and he knows it, but he has seen it in time, and will either kill the snake, or go round another way so it cannot bite him.

Dear reader, you little know how often there is “danger ahead” for you.

Sometimes we run into dangers when it is too late to avoid them. Sometimes we see them in time to escape. But more often the Lord preserves us from them, when we know nothing about it.

But there is one “danger ahead” that is worse than all others,—the danger of eternal punishment—of being shut out of God’s presence forever.

But God in His mercy has provided a way of escape from this most dreadful of all dangers.

Jesus died, dear reader, that you might live. Will you accept Him as your Saviour? He offers you salvation. It does not cost you anything, although it cost Him more than tongue can tell,—more suffering, and agony than the human heart can conceive.

Believe in Him now. He will keep you not only from eternal punishment, but also from the many temptations that Satan is putting in the way as you journey through this world.

“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.

ML 05/09/1943

How Three Schoolmates Parted and Met

Beautifully situated on the wooded hillside, standing in its own grounds, sheltered by the high hills on its western side, stands the house of a wealthy city merchant, from which he travels every morning to his business in the city. Across the valley, hid among a clump of trees, is the cottage of a day-laborer who works on the estate of a farmer, whose herds of cattle graze on the hillside and broad acres of pasture land, which have been possessed by his family for generations.

The wealthy farmer, the city merchant, and the day-laborer had all sons about the same age, who in their younger days ascended school in the village, a short distance off. The boys were “chums,” and although Ronald, the laborer’s boy, was poor, he was not on that account looked down upon by the others, but rather esteemed, because of his noble spirit and straightforward ways. Ronald had from his earliest years been taught to fear God, and although nothing more than a moral, upright boy—for he had not then been born of God—he was exemplary in all his conduct.

For several years the boys went to and came from school together, enjoying themselves in thorough schoolboy fashion, until the day came when they had to part company: Ronald, the laborer’s boy, going to farm service; Oliver, the merchant’s son, to learn his father’s business; and Alfred, the wealthy landowner’s heir, to complete his education at college. They were sorry to part, but full of the buoyancy and bright hopes of youth, they entered upon their new paths in life, and soon were fully occupied in their varied spheres, all but forgetting each other as companions at school.

In a certain city the gospel of the grace of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and His work of atonement on the cross for sinners, was being preached, and God had saved a number of young men. Some of whom came to testify for their new Master and tell the young men what grace had done for their souls. Among them was Alfred, grown up to young manhood, converted just in time to save him from making shipwreck by a fast life, and now fully and decidedly on the Lord’s side. In the company who listened to the testimony of the students that evening, was a tall, slender youth who had been invited to accompany a cousin who had been converted under the preaching, and was now anxious —as all newly saved folks are—that his kinsman should be brought to the Lord. Although in no degree in sympathy with the Revival movement, but rather inclined to laugh at it, Oliver did not wish to “fall out” with his “religious cousin,” as he called him, so he accompanied him to the meeting. As one after another of the students gave his testimony, telling how grace had saved them and how bright and happy they found the path of discipleship to be, Oliver was undoubtedly interested. He had always thought of “religion” as a thing for old maids and “soft” young men, but something to be avoided by fellows who wanted to see and enjoy life. But the testimony of these students—not to religion but to Christ, possessed, enjoyed, and confessed, which they took care to explain, was something entirely different from a religious profession or a morose, Sunday Christianity—opened up to the young warehouseman a view of the subjet he had never seen before. The climax of his interest was reached, when a tall, fair-haired young man stood up to add his testimony to the rest, and did so, in few, but well-chosen words. The speaker was Alfred, and it was only at the close, in what turned out to be a memorable “after meeting,’’ that he found his old schoolmate Oliver was one of his hearers, and, what was better still, had accepted Christ as his Saviour, and confessed Him as his Lord during that after meeting.

It was indeed a joyful meeting when the two former schoolmates clasped hands in the vestibule of the building, and greed each other as “brothers” in the Lord. And their cup of joy fairly ran over, when, at the station, a ruddy young man joined them, and told that he too had been “saved by grace,” in another part of the country, and had come to the city to be present at that meeting. The speaker was Ronald, making the trio of village school days once more complete, and joined in closer bonds, as children of the same Father, and fellow-disciples of the same Master.

They arranged that the three should spend a Sunday together in their native parish, and testify together in the old schoolroom to the Gospel’s saving power, which they did, God blessing their testimony to the conversion of others. In different paths of earthly life, all leading onward to the same glorious City, the three thus saved in early years, still joyfully pursue their way.

Dear children, do not think you can wait till you are grown young men and women, as the coming of the Lord Jesus to take all of those who know Him as their own Saviour through His work on the cross, to be with Himself in His glory, and ALL who are left behind, will have nothing but certain judgment for all eternity.

Do not lose any time in accepting Him as your own precious Saviour, and be ready to go with Him when He comes, ALL who know Him are happily expecting Him every day.

“I will come again, and receive you unto Myself.” John 14:3.

ML 05/09/1943

Jesus Bids Us Shine

Shine Jesus bids us shine,

With a pure, clear light;

Like a little candle

Burning in the night.

In this world of darkness,

So we must shine,

You in your small corner,

And I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine

First of all for Him;

Well He sees and knows it

If our light grow dim.

He looks down from heaven

To see us shine—

You in your small corner,

And I in mine.

ML 05/09/1943

Ever Present

“Cecil,” said a father one day to his fine boy,

“I will give you this orange if you can tell me where God is.”

He held the tempting fruit in his hand as he spoke; but the boy, instead of attempting to take it, appeared to deliberate for some moments. At last a look of great intelligence crossed his face, and he replied:

“And I, father, will buy you two oranges if you can tell me where God is not.”

The father was pleased, but not baffled. He had merely wished to develop the opening powers of his son’s mind, and to test his faith in the constant presence of God.

“Right, my boy!” he returned, “there is an Almighty Eye upon us, an Almighty Friend ever near and ready to help. When tempted to do wrong, say to yourself, ‘Thou God seest me!’ The great God, who fills all space and is everywhere present, will bend down to hear the prayer and observe the ways of a boy like you.”

Cecil was silent again, but as he walked thoughtfully away, revolved in his own mind the matter he had heard.

ML 05/09/1943

A Small Seeds and Leaven

Matthew 13:31 to 35

Jesus said, “The kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest tiniong herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches.”

The tiny mustard seed grows to a big, strong plant in all lands, hut in the warm land where these words were spoken, it grows so large, it is often much higher than a man, and its branches spread out like a tree, where birds gather for shade or to eat the seeds. Mustard is useful in some medicine, and to season some foods.

You may wonder how the kingdom of Heaven could be like a little seed: but we know that this kingdom was first told of, only to the people of Palestine, and only a few of them believed it was to come. Then after Jesus had gone back to Heaven, His words were told in all countries, and written in all languages, and very many people have believed them. Then we can understand that Jesus knew His kingdom would grow and spread like the little seed.

Jesus also said, “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven (yeast) which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (made light and spongy).

Perhaps you know that leaven or yeast are tiny plant cells which ferment in warm, moist meal or dough until the whole is raised, if left long the dough will even be frothy. Dough with yeast seems to be double the amount, and we like our bread made light with it, if baked at the proper time.

Yet it is plain that in God’s Word, leaven does not teach of what is good, but of what is untrue and unreal and of careless ways which effect all. Jesus spoke of the wrong things taught by the leaders “as leaven”; they talked of God, but did not really honor Him, and told false things (Matt. 16:6,11, 12). When the people of Israel were to show real sorrow to God for sins, they were to eat unleavened bread (Ex. 12:15). After Jesus’ death, the believers were told to keep the feast with unleavened bread of “sincerity and truth”, which did not mean with real bread, but they were to be themselves sincere and true, not unreal and untrue as leaven.

The meal of the woman in the parable was for food, and the leaven made it less pure. So God’s words are for food to His people, but wrong things have beet, taught and done, to cause His words to seem less true, and to make His people careless. It was not the Lord who put in the leaven, but people, who are, or profess to be His, and sometimes spoken of as a “woman.”

These parables showed by simple things, easy to understand, what His people could expect while Jesus would be away; and they show His great wisdom in knowing all that was to come. It had been told before, that the people would be taught by parables, which words Jesus fulfilled (Psa. 78:2; Matt. 13:35).

ML 05/09/1943

God's Handiwork

When you’re walking in the garden

With its many colored flowers,

Do you ever stop and wonder,

As you gaze, perhaps for hours,

Why so many shapes and sizes—

And each one a different hue—

Pink and white and red and yellow

And some lavender and blue?

‘Tis the handiwork of God.

Can you tell when sitting, resting

In the shade of some old tree,

Why the oaks and pines and cedars

All so different should be?

Or why carrots, beets, and lettuce,

Pears, bananas, plums, and grapes

Differ all in taste and color

And have many different shapes?

‘Tis the handiwork of God.

When you’re standing by your window

Wrapped in wonder at the sight

Of the moon in all her brightness,

And the beauties of the night,—

At the planets shining brightly,

And the twinkling stars beyond,

Does a note of thanks and gratitude

Deep in your heart respond

To the handiwork of God?

Yes, the flowers, the trees, the mountains

All bespeak God’s love and power,

And the heavens in all their splendor

Breathe His glory, hour by hour,

May our hearts be ever grateful

To the One Who made them all,

And our ears be ever open

To His tender, loving call.

“IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.” Genesis 1:1.

ML 05/16/1943

Stormy Wind Fulfilling His Word

One sultry afternoon, two little boys were walking in the country with their mother. They were little town boys, and to them it was a treat to wander along the country lanes, gathering a bouquet of wild flowers to take back to the cottages in which they were staying. It was a very hot day, and the air so still, that the leaves on the trees seemed scarcy to move. But when they were about a mile from home, suddenly a breeze sprang up and a faint rustling was heard in the trees near by. Then from behind came a peculiar roaring, getting nearer and nearer every moment, which ended in fierce gusts of wind sweeping over the little wood, lashing the trees like a gale.

Realizing that a squall had suddenly blown up from the sea, only a few miles away, the boys’ mother turned quickly round, intending to hurry back with them as fast as possible. To her dismay she saw great banks of black clouds rolling up, threatening soon to envelop them in a drenching downpour.

One of the boys, frightened by the gathering gloom and the howling wind, began to cry, but their mother knew who to turn to in time of trouble, and she tried to comfort the boys by telling them that God could see them, and He knew the plight they were in, and that He had power to hold the storm in check until they had reached home. Then, as they stood with bowed heads and closed eyes, their mother cried to God for protection from the storm, the boys repeating the words after her. They hurried on, comforted by their mother’s assurance that God would hear the prayer of each of them, and would take care of them. After about five minutes the wind dropped as suddenly, as it had sprung up, and the clouds ceased to roll any farther towards them. The storm became a calm!

God was answering their prayer, and although that mile seemed a very long one, they encountered only a few drops of rain just before they reached the cottage; but no sooner were they safely indoors, than the rain came down in a deluge.

Safely sheltered inside the house, the mother and her boys knelt together in prayer, thanking God for the wonderful way in which He had answered their prayer for protection.

Now, dean boys and girls, I have related this incident to encourage you always to turn to God in every difficulty or danger that you may encounter, trusting in Him to hear your prayer and to come to your help. There is nothing too small to pray to Him about, and He never considers anything too small to listen to. He delights in the faith of His children far too much ever to turn a deaf ear to their cry.

“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” John 14:13,14.

ML 05/16/1943

The Promise Fulfilled

“Children,” said a Sunday school teacher, when the lesson was over, “I should very much like for each of you to try next Sunday to bring a new scholar with you. I think it would not be very difficult, and in that way we will have many scholars to teach the way of life. Will you try?”

There was a general shout of “Yes” in reply, If the children really realized whet they were promising, and whether they would take any trouble to keep, their promise, was doubtful. But one little girl did keep her promise, and that was little Mary Gordon. When on her way borne, she said to herself.

“I have promised to try, but all the children that I know, go to Sunday school, except Tom, and I can’t speak to him. He is a big boy, and so rude, I am really afraid of him. No, I can’t ask Tom.”

Tom, that Mary was so afraid of, was the terror of all the children in the neigorhood. If a boy found his kite torn, or his skates broken; or a girl found that her cat had been ill-treated, or thrown into the water, it was always Tom who had done it. Naturally, he didn’t want to hear anything about the Sunday school, and once he had said, with a threatening air, that he would like to see the person that would try to take him there. No wonder, then, that little Mary was afraid of him, but still she could not forget her promise.

“I promised to try,” she repeated, “It was a promise and I will break it, if I don’t try, and that wouldn’t be right. And he might come; then he would hear how he could get to heaven. I fear he doesn’t even know that he ought to be converted. Yes, yes, I will speak to him; perhaps he will come.”

Not long afterward she found an opportunity. The next day, coming out of school, she met Tom. She saw him first. With trembling lips, and a beating heart, she called out to him.

“Tom, will you go with me next Suay to Sunday school?”

Tom looked at her as if he could not believe his ears, and then said slowly, “To Sunday school! What in the world would I do there?”

Mary picked up courage, and looking at him, said very earnestly,

“O, don’t you want to go to heaven?”

“Yes, I do want to go there,” was his reply, “but going to Sunday school won’t bring me there.”

“No, it won’t,” answered Mary, “but Torn, when I first went to Sunday school I heard them singing, O, so beautifully,

‘One there is above all others,

Well deserves the name of Friend.’

I thought then I should like to learn to know the Lord Jesus, and I asked how I could learn to know Him, and Tom, it will be just the same with you, if you go with me.”

The friendly child had scarcely finished speaking, when Tom turned his back on her, and walking away a few steps, began whistling as hard as he could, to mock poor Mary.

Poor little girl! Her hopes were dashed to the ground; her little heart was heavy, and large tears filled her eyes. When she took out her handkerchief to wipe away her tears, all at once she saw Tom standing before her. She was startled and sighed.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, “surely not because I’m not going to Suay school with you?”

“O, Tom!” she said looking at hint pityingly, “won’t you go with me? O! do!”

“Listen, Mary,” said the boy, “this has never happened to me before, that anybody thought enough of me to shed tears on my account. Don’t cry, next Sunday I’ll go with you.”

He kept his word. Nobody could be happier than Mary. After he had gone once, he never missed a Sunday. Like Mary, he not only sought the way to get to heaven, but when he had found Jesus as his Saviour, he walked with Him through life. The last I heard of him was that he had gone as missionary to the heathen. Whether he still lives and works for the Lord, I cannot say, but this I know, that when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall arise, he, who was on the road to destruction, shall rise to eternal life. And still more I know that Mary shall receive a great reward from the Lord, when He comes to call home all of His redeemed ones to be forever with Himself (Rev. 22:12), for she was the means, in God’s hand, of saving the soul of wicked Tom.

ML 05/16/1943

A Treasure and a Pearl

Matthew 13:44,45,46

Another parable told by the Lord Jesus was about a treasure:

“Again the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

What could Jesus have meant by the “treasure”? We know from words of His before, that the people who believe God’s words are dear to Him. So it can be no other than the Lord Jesus Who wanted so much the treasure hid in the field, that He sold all to buy the “field” (the world) that He might have the “treasure”, (the Church).

Christ gave up all His rights in order that He might have sinners washed in His blood, and redeemed to God. It was He who bought the field, in order to get the “treasure” He valued.

Jesus told another parable, much the same as this one:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchantman seeking goodly pearls, who when he had found one of great price, went and sold all he had, and bought it.”

There are some pearls more beautiful and precious than others: the one the merchant wanted was a very costly one. But we may be certain that it was not about a real pearl that Jesus wanted to teach by the parable. It also seems plain that Jesus was Himself “the merchant seeking the pearl” just as He was the “man to want the treasure”.

Whom could Jesus have meant by the one special “pearl’?

“He loved the Church and gave Himself for it.”

He saw the beauty of the Church, all who have had their sins cleansed by His blood, and are the “one pearl of great price.”

The Lord knew before how He would be treated on earth, yet He left His glory with God the Father, He sold all to buy His people, who are as a beautiful “pearl” to Him.

“Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Hebrews 12:2.

There is something else to think of in this story: a pearl is not formed by itself, but is thought to be formed when a tiny grain of sand, or other substance gets inside the shell of an oyster (or other shell fish), around which the oyster throws a soft fluid to protect itself from the irritation; this covering becomes hard, smooth and of great luster, making the pearl.

So the Lord’s people are not made beautiful by themselves, but by Another, by the sufferings of Christ.

Is it not wonderful for all who trust the Lord Jesus as their Saviour to think of this story which He so simply told to show His regard for His own?

“We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:10.

“The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

ML 05/16/1943

The Ruined Nest

Here some boys have been throwing up, stones at the dear little birds, and some of them have fallen into the nest and broken the eggs, and broken down one side of the nest.

Little did they think of what it would mean to these birds to have their eggs broken, and their nice little home that they had taken so much pains to build, ruined in a moment of time.

I think we all may see what a hateful thing sin is, whether in breaking up birds’ nests, or in other wrong ways. And if hateful to us, what must sin be in the sight of a Holy God!

Well may we praise and thank God that He has, in love, provided a Saviour for us, so that we can approach Him tnrough Christ and His finished work, knowing that all our sins are atoned for by Him.

Then the desire is to please Him in all our ways, and to tell others of Jesus, the only One through whom we can come to God.

“TEACH ME THY WAY O LORD, AND LEAD ME IN A PLAIN PATH.” Psalms 27:11.

ML 05/23/1943

Do I Love Jesus?

I want you, my dear young readers, to make this a personal question, and do answer it thoughtfully. I am very emphatic, and I will tell you why.

A gentleman was speaking in a gospel meeting some time ago, and there was one very attentive listener present every evening, whose name was Lottie, and she used to walk home with him every evening after the meeting, so one night as he was wisng her “Good-bye,” he said,

“Lottie, do you love Jesus?”‘ She said that she did.

“Have you ever thanked Him for long you?” he asked.

“No,” she replied. He told her to thank Jesus for loving her before she went to sleep that night, and she promised to do so. As she knelt in prayer that night, she felt that she had not told the truth, and she wept tears of repentance. The next night she came with a bright face, beaming with joy, and said,

“O, Mr. H., I told you a story last night. I said I loved Jesus, and I really did not; but I do now, and I have thanked Him for His love.”

Before the meetings closed, she brought her sister to Jesus, and they are both happy in His love.

So, my dear young friends, Do you love Jesus? If so, have you ever thanked Him for loving you?

“We love Him because He first loved us.”

I am Jesus’ little lamb,

Washed in Jesus’ blood I am;

Now I’m sheltered from all harm, Hallelujah!

“Now, therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.” 2 Chron. 29:13.

ML 05/23/1943

Old Jonathan

All have been children. And all, when children, acted more or less as children do. Even the apostle Paul could say,

“When I was a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.” 1 Corinthians 13:11.

And few there are, either of men or women, but can look back upon their youthful days, and over and above much that is worthy only of being forgotten, recollect with interest, if not advantage, many. events of their youth; treasuring in their memory many an incident worthy of remembrance, unimproved, perhaps, at the time, but the recollections bring much interest and instruction to them in later years.

It is so with myself. Years have rolled away, but incidents have not been forgotten. One and another connected with them have passed off the scene, but rembrance of them still lingers.

Jonathan is one of them. “Old Jonathan,” as we used to call him. I remember him as he stood with his high, shining forehead, wrinkled by time, and scantily covered over with white locks of hair, and back bent with age.

He had been a shoemaker in his young days, though at the time to which I am alluding he was a warehouseman in a large store.

Old Jonathan was one of those whose cheerfulness increased with his age, and whose pleasure it was to show kindness to all around him, and especially to young people, and I need hardly say that everybody loved him. The way to be loved is to love. The way to merit esteem is to be obliging, respectful, and cheerful; even as Solomon says,

“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly.” Proverbs 18:24.

And this applies to us all alike, whether children, youth or aged. Let us never forget this: Love is its own reward.

But, best of all, Old Jonathan was a Christian. You know what a Christian is—one who believes in Jesus, and knows the value of His atoning blood. One who loves Jesus, not only for what He has done, but for what He is,

“The chiefest among ten thousand.” “He is altogether lovely.”

And being a Christian, the dear old man loved to talk of Jesus. We like to speak about those we love, don’t we? And the more we love them, the more will our hearts be full of their virtues, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak.

It was also Old Jonathan’s duty in winter months to attend to the fires in difrent parts of the building, for the puose of warming different stores. I can picture him even now, running here and bustling there, in his anxiety to keep the fires burning brightly. Christians should always perform their work in a happy, cheerful spirit, “as to the Lord.”

One winter’s day another boy and myself had occasion to go to the warehouse, and near the fire there was an open loft. Hearing the well-known footsteps of Jonathan approaching, we hastily climbed into the loft for the purpose of having a little innocent fun with our aged friend. He came; and having attended to his fire, we were about to puzzle him with some strange noises, when to our surprise, he quietly knelt down where he was, and spent some time in evident, earnest prayer.

Do you think, dear young readers, that then was a time for play? O, no! There we remained, motionless and quiet, until Old Jonathan, having arisen from his knees, had gone to attend another fire at a distant room; when, as hastily descending as before we had ascended, we hurried off to our work.

Much as I respected Old Jonathan before, I did so much more after this. I had the assurance that he was sincere. No human eye, to his knowledge, saw him in that storeroom, and beside that cheerful fire, lowly upon his knees, pouring out his soul before God. It was not to be seen of men, though we, from our hiding place saw him. We could not hear all of his petitions, but He who never slumbers nor sleeps, both saw and heard.

Dear young reader, can you pray? Do you know a Father to whom to pray, and a Saviour who is “The Way” to that Father? In other words, do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ, and know Him as your Saviour? Unless you do, you can never pray; for, alas!

“How many say their prayers,

Who never, never pray!”

But Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and You believe in Him and love Him, He will teach you how to pray. He loves the prayers of children, as well as the praise of children. He was once a child Himself. And how many who have prayed to Him here below, are now in His presence above praising Him.

Remember, if you cannot pray to Him on earth, you can never praise Him in heaven. Prayer is the forerunner of praise.

“Behold he prayeth,” was once said of the apostle Paul; and now, if we could sec him, we would say, “Behold, he praiseth.”

May the former be said of every little reader of “Messages of the Love of God’: now, and then the latter will, by and by be true of them, also. And now, let me in love ask:

“Is there a little soul that pants,

To taste redeeming grace,

And longs to pour out all its wants,

Before a Saviour’s face?

Fear not, poor little trembling thing,

With cruel scorn to meet

To Christ your sins and sorrows bring

And lay them at His feet.

Think how He answered praying Paul,

And sinking Peter, too:

And so, if you on Him do call,

He’ll hear and answer you.”

ML 05/23/1943

The Parable of the Fish

Matthew 13:47 to 58

The last three parables told at that time by Jesus seem to have been told to the disciples alone, not to the crowd of people, The last one was about fish: He said,

“The kingdom of Heaven is like to a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.”

We have found that a parable has a hidden meaning; so we are certain it was not really of fish that Jesus was speaking. But people who hear the words of God about His kingdom are likened to fish, the same as Peter and John were to tell those words to people, and Jesus said He would make them “fishers of men”.

Those who believe the Lord’s words are “good fish”, not good of themselves, only that they believe. The “had fish” may not seem bad, or different from others, only they have not believed God’s words. When the net of fish was brought to the shore, the good fish were kept, the bad thrown away.

So we can understand that this last parable is to tell of a time of judgment, (much as the parable of the tares, which were to be burned), Jesus did not say how long until that time would come, but He was showing that the time was as certain as that fishermen would save good fish, but would surely throw away bad ones. We do not like to think of a time of judgment, but Jesus was faithful to tell those who believed Him, what would at last come.

Dear children, there will be an eternal separation between those who have aepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and those who have not. How solemn! With which company will you be? Those who do not know Him as their Saviour shall be cast into a furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“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.

Afterward Jesus told the disciples that those who had been taught these parables were like a man who had “treasures of things new and old”: some things about Christ’s kingdom had been written in the Scriptures which they knew, so were “old”; but there were some things taught by the parables which were new to them. We too, may learn more of what was new as we read more of Jesus’ words.

The last part of this chapter of Matthew shows again the sad unbelief of people who knew Jesus. It says that He came to “His own country”, which must have been to Nazareth and Capernaum and the places near, and taught in the synagogues as He had before. At first the people were astonished at Jesus’ wisdom, and at His mirqcles, and they said,

“Whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty deeds?”

But they did not believe He was from God, or different from themselves, and they were offended at His true words. So they lost His help and blessing.

Sometimes people who have always heard about Jesus, do not value His words as other people do, who have not known them, long. This too is sad; they lose the time to honor Him, and also His help and blessing.

ML 05/23/1943

Kindness

Kindness is one thing that becomes us, and we have a nice illustration of it before us in the dear children showing kindness to the horses.

We can see that the horses and kitty are accustomed to the kindnes’s of the children.

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

In Luke 10 we get the beautiful illustration of the kindness of our blessed Lord, in the case of the certain Samaritan, who did everything for the poor man that had fallen among thieves.

So if we know what the Lord Jesus has done for us in taking our place on Calvary’s cross, we must seek to show that same grace to others, and as we become more like Him in our ways, even the animals around us will be treated kindly.

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

ML 05/30/1943

Reject! Neglect! Accept!

I was talking to some little boys, the other day, telling them of the “great salvation,” Which God is now offering them, and I tried to explain to them the meaning of the three words, which are at the head of this paper,

Reject! Neglect! Accept!

“Supposing,” I said, “that I should invite you boys to tea with me, next week, and some of you were to say,

“We don’t care about your old tea, and we don’t intend to go.”

“That would be to reject my invitation.”

“But,” said one of the boys, “we would not say such a thing.”

“No,” I replied, “I am sure you would not, and I hope that not one among you is treating God’s offer of salvation in such a manner; and yet, though you would not reject my invitation, you might be so taken up with your lessons, or your play, or some other thing, as to forget to come on the right day; that would be neglecting, and would lead to the same consequence as rejecting, for in neither case would you have the good of the tea.

Now, that is what so many children and grown up people, too, are doing. They are putting off accepting, what God is offering, until a more convenient season; while always intending to come to Jesus, and have their sins forgiven someday. They neglect doing it now. Weeks, and months, and years pass on, and at last they find it is too late. But it is not too late yet, there is yet time to accept; to come to God, and confess your sins, for the sake of the One who has died for you upon the cross.”

Then the little boys repeated sonic verses to me,

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation” and

“Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”

“I have one more thing to say to you, I do want you all to come to tea with me next week.”

Do you think they rejected or accepted my invitation? Well, if you had heard them all shout and stamp, and laugh, you-would not have doubted their acceptance, and moreover, they said,

“We’ll all come.”

Now one little chap left the room that afternoon, without making quite sure that he knew the day, and the hour, and just where my house was.

Now, the children were in earnest; they wanted to come. Are you in earnest, little boy or little girl who may be reading this paper? Do you really want to be saved, to know that all your sins are put away? Do you say,

“I would like to accept but I do not know how?”

Well, how did my little boys accept? Why, they just believed what I said, and can not you believe what God says, when He tells you that the Lord Jesus, His Son, has been punished instead of you; and so He can freely forgive all your sins?

When the day came for our little tea, I missed one boy. He had not been present when I invited the rest, so I had sent him a message, still he did not come. “Where is Freddie,” I inquired and the answer I received was a very sad one.

“I gave him your message, but he said he did not believe it.”

O, dear little children, I am giving you God’s message today, a message of pardon, and peace, and joy, will you not believe it? Remember, God says in His Word,

“If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful.”

Now, one word, before I finish; I want to tell you how the dear little boys who accepted my invitation, showed that their hearts were full of love and gratitude to me. Do you ask if they came and told me so? No, that was not the way. They did not talk about it, but they put all their pennies together, and brought me a pretty present. Do you think I was pleased? Yes, indeed, I was, for you know we all like to feel that those we love and care for, love us in return.

And you, dear children, who have accepted what God is offering; who have received from Him the forgiveness of your sins; who in some measure have learned to “love Him who first loved” you, are you loving only in word, or is it in “deed and in truth,” as the Apostle John tells us? Are you trying day by day to please Him, or do you think first of pleasing yourselves? Do not say, “I am too young and ignorant to please Him now.”

He has told us something that even a child may do to please Him, it is very wonderful, but it is true, for He has actually written it down in His holy Word.

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

ML 05/30/1943

Saved in Her Class

I was saved in the Sunday school when a child, and have proved the Lord Jesus a true and faithful Saviour, Lord and Friend. I had a godly father who set before us all our need of conversion, and told us that we were just as bad in the sight of God as the children of the drunkard. I remember well, how my sister and I resented that, our proud hearts taking refuge in the fact that we were children of Christian parents.

Our teacher was speaking to us one afternoon, on the children of Bethel who mocked the prophet Elisha, and she made the remark that these Bethel children were worse than the heathen, although they lived at a place which at one time was the House of God, and then she added solemnly,

“Some of you who have long heard the Gospel may become scoffers at God’s servants and His truth, if you remain unsaved.”

I was arrested by that saying. I knew it applied to me. All the week I was in soul-trouble, and would fain have told it, but was too proud. The following Sunday our lesson was in John 10,

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

I entered in, and was saved in my class.

Have you, too, entered in by the Door, (Jesus), and have been saved, as I was on that day in my class? He is anxious and willing to save you, too. Will you not come to Him now?

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

ML 05/30/1943

Let the Little Children Come

Let the little children come,

Let them come to Me!

There is room for every one,

There is room for thee!

I have died for little ones,

Sinners though they be

God will call them His own sons,

If they come to Me.

God has loved the children dear,

So He gave His Son;

To Himself to bring them near,

Come then, little one!

Soon I will return again,

All Mine own to take;

Where no sorrow is, nor pain;

E’en the dead I’ll wake.

With Myself and like Me, too,

Beautiful and glad;

All My glory they shall view,

None shall e’er be sad.

ML 05/30/1943

A Ruler's Birthday

Matthew 14:1-12

You remember the name of the wicked ruler who wanted to kill Jesus when He was a baby, was Herod. His son, also named Herod ruled over We country of Galilee when the prophet John preached to the people. This Herod was also a wicked man. He became very angry with John because he told him of his sins, so he kept John in prison.

One day Herod celebrated his birthday, and his friends and officers were invited to a feast. A young girl came to entertain Herod, and his guests by dancing: Herod was very pleased with this girl, and wanted to do some great favor for her in return. So he told her that he would give her whatever she would ask him.

This girl’s mother was not a good “woman, but very wicked. She was more angry at John for his right words than Herod was. She told her daughter to make a most dreadful request of Herod: it was that John should be killed. The age of this girl, is not given; she may have been too young to know how wicked the request; it was the mother who sinned so greatly.

When Herod heard the girl’s request, he was sorry that he had made her the promise, for he knew the people under his rule would be against him if he ordered John killed, for they believed John was a true prophet of God. But Herod was more proud of keeping his word than he was of saving the life of John. So he sent men to the prison and John was killed.

Jesus was not so very far away at this time, and men who had been with John came to tell Him of the wicked, cruel deed to John.

We know that Jesus could have used His power to have saved the life of John. But it is plain that He had not come to punish men’s sins, nor to save His people from danger. He would soon suffer cruel treatment from the rulers Himself, while taking the punishment for sins. But Jesus showed His sorrow for the wrong done to John, and went away to a quiet place with sadness.

A short time after that, Herod heard of the great miracles done by Jesus, and he said that the prophet John must be risen from the dead, and did the mighty deeds. This shows that he knew that John was a prophet of God, but he was not really sorry for his sin. He wanted to see Jesus, to have Him do some great miracle. But when another ruler sent Jesus to him, and he could have treated Him justly and freed Him, instead, he and his soldiers mocked Jesus, and were cruel to Him also (Luke 23:6-11).

There have been unjust and cruel rulers since, like Herod, who have taken pleasure in hurting people who believe God and His Son, the Lord Jesus. But the people have been comforted to remember that Jesus also suffered unjustly, and that He now sorrows with them. He is waiting now to forgive, and bless any one who will believe Him.

“If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed (or disturbed), but let him glorify God on this behalf.” 1 Peter 4:14,16.

But when Jesus comes to earth as The Great King, all sin will be punished, and those who have not believed, will mourn.

“They shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds... with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30.

Then men will say, “The great day of His wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17.

ML 05/30/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for March

“The Children’s Class”

1.“I am crucified,” etc. Gal. 2:20.

2.“But that no man,” etc. 3:11.

3.“But the Scripture,” etc. 3:22.

4.“But when the,” etc. 4:4.

5.“But the fruit,” etc. 5:22.

6.“But God forbid,” etc. 6:14.

7.“Gave himself for our sins.” 1:4.

Bible Questions for June

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1St and 2nd Thessalonians

1. When does the Lord take vengeance on them that obey not the gospel?

2.From what Christians are we to withdraw ourselves?

3.Whom are we to esteem very highly?

4.Who are contrary to all men?

5.How did the Thessalonians receive the Word of God?

6.For what were the Thessalonians waiting?

7.From what are we to abstain?

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, “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Abound in love one toward another.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “God, which trieth our hearts.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The wrath to come.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Them that know not God.”

7.What will people be saying just before destruction comes?

Answers to Bible Questions for March

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Because in due season we shall reap if we faint not. Galatians 6:9.

2.Pretending to be subject to Jewish national ceremonial prejudice. Galatians 2:11-15.

3.Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Galatians 5:22,23.

4.What we sow. Galatians 6:7,8.

5.Let him be accursed. Galatians 1:18.

6. They put themselves under its curse. Gal. 3:10.

7. Because thus we fulfil the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2.

Bible Questions for June

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1st and 2nd Thessalonians

1.When does the Lord take vengeance on them that obey not the gospel?

2. From what Christians are we to withdraw ourselves?

3. Whom are we to esteem very highly?

4. Who are contrary to all men?

5. How did the Thessalonians receive the Word of God?

6.For what were the Thessalonians waiting?

7. From what are we to abstain?

ML 06/06/1943

Would He Take You?

Two little downcast faces, the shrill tone’s of Nurse K—, and the pretty calendar torn to shreds in the waste-paper basket at once told me that something was wrong, as I entered the nursery one morning early in January. The story was soon told:—

A week previous the nurse had brought in the calendar in question, and hung it upon the nursery wall, with strict injunctions to the children not to touch it.

However, the elder of the two, a bright little fellow of eight, in a fit of anger, seized the almanac, and with the help of his sister, it was soon destroyed.

Now, fearing the consequences, they both denied having had anything to do with it; and it was long before I could induce them to confess their, fault.

Then with a few words as to the serious nature of the sin they had committed, and an entreaty to confess it to the Lord, and seek His forgiveness, instead of covering it up, the matter apparently was forgotten.

But not so. A few days later I was speaking of the Lord’s return, how He was coming very shortly to take His own to be “forever” with Himself, and added,

“This very day we may hear the assembling shout—

Here a little voice interrupted, saying,

“If Jesus comes today, He wouldn’t take me, would He?”

“Why not, dear?” I asked.

“Because I told that untruth about the calendar.”

Ah, dear children, have you ever thought that one untruth, one angry word, one sinful deed, if unconfessed and unforgiven, is enough to shut you out from that bright home above forever?

But how blessed to know that Jesus, by His death on the cross, has opened up a way in which you and I, though sinners, can be brought to God, made “whiter than snow” through the cleansing power. o f the precious blood.

So highly does God value that work, that His word declares that “by Him” (the Lord Jesus) “all that believe are justified from all things.”

I will just put this question to you:

“If Jesus were to come today, would He take you?”

Do not throw this paper aside, thinking “nobody can be sure about that.”

If you know anything of the blessedness of “iniquities forgiven” and “sins covered,” you most surely will be among that company which shall 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.

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

ML 06/06/1943

Happy Harry and His Cat

Henry Bell was best known as “Happy Harry,” because he seemed always happy, and no one ever felt dull in his company. His joyous disposition made him a great favorite in the village. Jim, his cat, was almost as well known. as his master. Listen to the story of how he became so happy:

He heard a faithful preacher tell of the love of Jesus; and that He left His bright Home above to die on Calvary’s cross to save sinners. Harry listened attentively, and did accept Jesus as his loving Saviour.

Ever since that night Henry was a true Christian, and never ashamed to confess he belonged to Jesus. If you feel you shOuld do the same, delay no longer. Settle the matter tonight. None ever regretted that wise step.

“UNTO YOU THEREFORE WHICH BIEVE, HE IS PRECIOUS.” 1 Peter 2:7.

ML 06/06/1943

Small Thirgs for Him

“I cannot do great things for Him

Who did so much for me;

But I would like to show my love,

Lord Jesus, unto Thee.

Faithful in very little things,

O, Saviour, may I be.

There are small things in daily life

In which I may obey;

And thus may show my love to Thee

And always—every day—

There are some little, loving words

Which I for Thee may say.

I ask Thee, Lord, to give me grace,

My little place to fill;

That I may ever walk with Thee,

And ever do Thy will;

And in each duty, great or small,

I may be faithful still.”

ML 06/06/1943

The Little Cripple Boy

A little boy was so crippled that he could not even turn over the leaves of a book, but he loved his Bible, and used to keep it open before him. A friend asked him one day why he was so fond of reading it. He simply replied,

“I like to read the Bible, because it tells me about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Do you think you have believed on Him?”

The child’s face lighted up as he answered,

“Yes, I know I have.”

“But what makes you think so?” He promptly replied,

“Because I know Him as my Saviour, and He helps roe to bear the pain patiently.”

Food for the Hungry

Matthew 14:13 to 21

Jesus and His disciples went to a lonely part of the country of Galilee where no one lived, to have a quiet time. But people soon learned where He had gone, and began to follow Him, tang their sick friends and relatives with them to be healed. Before long there was a large crowd of several thousand people out in that wilderness.

Jesus was sorry for the sick and cured them all, and talked to the people. When it was near evening, the disciples spoke to Him that He should send the people to their homes, because there was no place near where they could get any food.

There were children also in the crowd who had walked to this place, and Jesus was sorry for all those people to walk home again, hungry and tired. He said to the disciples,

“They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”

The disciples could not understand how they could give food to so many people: they said that they had only five loaves of bread, and two fishes.

Jesus knew Himself what He could do, and He told them to bring the bread and fish to Him. Then He said for the people to sit down on the grass.

“And looking up to Heaven, He blessed, and broke the loaves and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitude, They did all eat and were filled.”

Not only did the people have plenty to eat, but there was much bread left which was put in baskets. The disciples must have been very surprised to have the five loaves and two fish supply all that big company. And how good the food must have tasted to the hungry boys and girls! They would not forget it, and should always have trusted One so kind and with such power.

You may think bread and fish a poor meal, but it was good food, perhaps the fish were dried, as often so kept in warm lands, and was such a meal as many might have had at home. Jesus did not think the meal too small, or too plain to give thanks to God in Heaven, and this was an example for us. Grain could not grow for bread, nor there be any other food to eat, except that God caused all to grow.

After the meal was over, Jesus sent the people to their homes.

How many men were fed, beside the women and children? (Matt. 14:21).

How many baskets were filled with the pieces? (Matt. 14:20).

How do we know the people walked to this place? (Matt. 14:13).

Read this story also in John 6:5-14.

ML 06/06/1943

The Blessed Man

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful:

But His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalms 1:1,2.

The happy man, whom David describes in the first Psalm, is one who finds his “delight” in the word of his God, and who keeps himself apart from the selfish and sinful ways of “the men of this world.” There are those around him who are “ungodly;” who have not the fear of God before their eyes, and who live out their days as though there were “no God;” but he is not guided by them.

“Looking unto Jesus,” is the way to be led aright in this sinful world.

Then, if we are directed by His “counsel” (Psa. 73:24), it is not the “way of sinners” in which we “stand.”

We have learned that we are sinners, but that Christ “died for sinners;” and that God Himself shows “His own love,” in that while we were sinners, “Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

When we are thus saved froM our sins, it is no longer the “way of sinners” we delight in, but we say,

“Show me thy ways, O Lord: teach me thy paths.” Psa. 25:4.

ML 06/13/1943

Jesus Came to Save

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

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

“O,” said the little, cold, weary, hungry child, “I have no mother, no one cares for me; no one loves me at all. O! if some one would only love me, I would be so happy.”

And again the tears ran down the thin, wan cheeks of the child. Softly and gently the lady drew the little outcast to her, kissed her, wiped her tears away, and whispered in her ear, “Dear child, I will be a mother to you.”

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

Will my dear young readers think of who Jesus is, and what He has done, and look to Him and be saved?

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

ML 06/13/1943

Peace on the Battlefield

It was the morning of the African Mail, and they expected a letter from their soldier brother, who had gone as a volunteer to the war. Twice they had heard of his company being in action, and in common with others who had loved ones facing death, they were anxious to hear of his welfare.

When the bundle of letters was handed to Maggie, she hurriedly glanced over them, and seeing her brother’s familiar handwriting on one of the envelopes, she shouted to her elder sister who had by this time left the house, and was running along the walk, “Hurray, a letter from Willie.”

With eager haste the envelope was burst open, and in a quiet corner of the garden, under the trees, the three girls sat down to read it Willie’s letter told of hardships on the battlefield, such as he had never expected to endure, and such scenes of carnage he had never expected to see, which made the girls weep. On the last page of Willie’s letter, he told of a young man, “a real good fellow,” who was mortally wounded at his side. As he fell with his life blood flowing, he sang;

“Jesus lover of my soul,

Let me to Thy bosom fly.”

And with these words on his lips he died. That song from those dying lips had fixed itself on Willie’s heart. He went on to say, “I never heard anything so beautiful, could only weep. But thank God, I can now say as he could, that Jesus is my soul’s refuge, and that I am safe for time and Eternity in His keeping. I came to Africa for war, but in the goodness of God, He has given me peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. If He spares me to come home, I hope I may be able to tell to others what great things the Lord hath done for me.”

Willie’s letter caused great searching of heart in, at least, one of the three girls, that day; and for many days after. She was a giddy thoughtless girl, but God spoke to her through her brother’s letter, and before many weeks had come and gone, Lizzie came as a sinner to Christ, and He saved her.

How glad she was to write a long long letter to her soldier brother, telling him of her new-found joy, and assuring him, that when he returned to the old farmhouse, they would “praise the Lord for His wondrous love” in saving them both.

Reader, can you praise Him for saving you?

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. After you have accepted Him as your own Saviour, you can say,

“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 06/13/1943

Extracts from a Letter

I thank you very heartily for the reward you sent me. I received it on S—, and I hope the Lord will use it in some way in bringing me more closely in His tender care. How I do thank the Lord for being so merciful to me a sinner. But these are the people that Jesus wants, for He came not to call the righteous.

“O happy day, O happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away.”

How joyfully I can sing this. I am released from my heavy burden, for He bore all. Hoping you will put in a word of prayer for our Sunday school and sick ones. I have taken great interest in the ‘Messages of Love’ questions.”

“It is a pleasure to me to write to you, and to tell you how well I enjoy searching the Scriptures. I am happy to tell you how nicely our school here is growing. We have nice lessons taught us, and the children seem to be ready to repeat their verses, and I trust the Lord will reveal Himself to these little ones in their youthful days, that if He spares them to grow older they will learn to fear Him.

I often look around, and see the little ones and wish that I had loved Jesus before I did. But now I have proved. His great love to me for a few years, and pray that my little friends will learn to love Him too.

Now I must close my letter with love to the schools in your country, and asng them to remember us in their prayers. Love to all the dear ones. From —.”

“I have found my answers again and I feel blest by doing so. I found them by myself after the rest had gone to bed.”

ML 06/13/1943

"Those That Seek Me Early Shall Find Me."

Pro. 8:17.

Little ones, these words are written

In God’s Book for you;

They are words of One who loves you,

Won’t you love Him too?

Little children did He welcome

To His arms of love;

“Let them come to Me,” said Jesus,

Now, and then above.

Still He calls the little children,

Still He seeks to save,

Still He loves, and still He’s waiting,

You He wants to have.

What a Saviour! O, receive Him!

Make Him now your choice,

Early seek, and you shall find Him,

Now obey His voice.

ML 06/13/1943

On the Sea

Matthew 14:22 to 36

In the evening after Jesus had given bread for the great crowd of people, He told His disciples to go before Him in the boat to the other side of the sea of Galilee, and He went up onto the mountain alone to pray.

The men in the boat rowed out into the sea, but the night was stormy, and they had much trouble to go forward, as the wind was against them, and the big waves tossed the boat. They rowed hard all night, but could not get across.

In the fourth “watch”, which was toward morning, Jesus came near them, walking on the water. But they did not know that it was Jesus; they thought He was a spirit, and were very afraid. Then Jesus called to them, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”

When Peter heard Jesus’ voice, he wanted to go to Him and said, “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come to Thee on the. water.” Jesus answered him, “Come.”

Peter got down out of the boat, and started to walk on the water to Jesus, but he looked down at the big waves, and was greatly frightened, then he began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter, and they both came into the boat, and the storm stopped.

The disciples greatly wondered at what they had seen: Jesus had before quieted a tempest at sea, and they had seen Him cure many sick people, and raise the dead; and just that evening they had seen Him make a few loaves of bread feed over five thousand persons. Yet, that He could walk on the water seemed even more wonderful, and they worshiped Him, and said, “Truly Thou art the Son of God.”

The trouble of these men on the stormy sea while Jesus was away from them on the mountain, seems like a picture of the time now for the Lord’s people while He is away in Heaven. This world is always “a stormy sea” for those who believe God, and they find it hard to keep on through trials, like “contrary winds”, and they forget the Lord’s care as the disciples did.

But Jesus came to the disciples before the morning. And He has promised to come again for all who trust Him. He said, “I will come again”. John 11:3.

Peter seems like those who have simply believed Jesus to be their Lord, and want to be with Him, whom He will first call to come to Hini. (1 Thess. 4:16). The men in the boat are like those of Israel, who will not confess Jesus to be Son of God, until they see Him come in power (Matt. 23:39).

It will comfort us now in trouble to remember that Jesus will surely come, and also that He is near to keep us, for we too have little faith and would sink as Peter.

Jesus and the disciples afterward landed on the shore of a country where the people welcomed Jesus, and sent word to all the people around. They brought their sick ones to Him, and asked that they might only touch the hem of His garment, which shows how fully they believed His power.

ML 06/13/1943

We Plow the Fields

We plow the fields, and scatter

The good seed on the land;

But it is fed and watered

By God’s almighty hand:

He sends the snow in winter,

The warmth to swell the grain;

The breezes, and the sunshine,

And soft refreshing rain.

Chorus—

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above:

Then thank the Lord, O, thank the Lord,

For all His love!

He only is the Maker

Of all things near and far:

He paints the wayside flower; He lights the evening star;

The winds and waves obey Him;

By Him the birds are fed;

Much more to us, His children,

He gives our daily bread.

We thank Thee, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good:

The seed-time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food.

Accept the gifts we offer

For all Thy love imparts;

And—what Thou most desirest—

Our humble, thankful hearts.

“EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER.” James 1:17.

ML 06/20/1943

Left Behind

When I was a boy at school, unsaved and unconcerned about my salvation, I was brought to think of eternity and my lost condition, through overhearing a conversation bween my mother and a Christian woman who was at our house spending an eving. They were speaking together about the second coming of Christ—a truth that they had just recently learned from the Scriptures—and the change there would be among the living and the dead in that moment of His descent to the air, for His people.

I was sitting in the room reading a book at the time, but the conversation became so interesting that I forgot all about my story and sat listening to what they were saying,

“There is a dark side to it,” said the Christian lady to my mother. “What about those of our households who will be yet unsaved when Jesus comes? They will be left behind for the judgment. The doom of those who have lived rejecting Christ will be sealed then. I often think if we should be caught away during the still hours of night, what an awakening it will be to the unconverted ones under our roof, to find us all gone, and them left behind.”

I could sit no longer. I crept out and got off to bed as quickly as possible, but that word haunted me. What if during the night the Lord should come? I knew that my dear father and mother would be gone—they were both saved; so was my sister and the servant maid; I alone in the house was unconverted. I spent several nights of great trouble thinking of the possibility of being left, Several mornings when I awoke and all was quiet, I thought they had gone.

One morning, particularly, I felt so uneasy, I arose, dressed, and stood on the stair listening for a sound from the kitchen. How thankful I was to hear Mary, the servant maid, lighting the fire. I knew then the Lord had not come, and that I had another chance given me. This went on for several days, until I could endure it no longer. I told a Christian young man, who worked in my father’s office, of my state, and he told me it was God speaking to my soul, urging upon mc, the need of deciding for Christ, and that I ought not to stifle my convictions, but close with Christ, accepting Him as my Saviour.

“If you have Christ, you will rejoice then that He is coming, but mind there is no time to trifle.”

This seemed to sound as God’s final warning to me. I saw clearly that I had to make a choice between Christ and the world: I could halt no longer. So going out into the dark night, I took off my cap, looked up into the starry heavens, and said,

“Lord Jesus, I accept Thee as my Saviour; I believe that Thou hast died for me: I want to be Thine.” Just then I remeered that it was written in God’s Book,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36; and I believed God’s testimony, thanked Him for giving it to me, and hastened to my room.

I was saved, everlastingly saved, all in so short a time, that I could scarce realize it was true. But my heart was filled with peace, and I had the witness within me, as well as the Word of God before my eyes. that I was in reality saved. I could not keep it longer; I ran downstairs and told my parents and sister, and there was great joy that night”

Such was the story told by a young worker at our meeting one evening. It speaks for itself. Most blessed as is the truth to the believer in Christ, that the coming of the Lord Jesus—His personal return to call His ransomed people home to share His glory—is near, and that it will be sudden, whether at noonday or midnight.

It has its dark side for the rejecter of the Gospel of God—the despiser of Christ. To all such, it will ring the knell of doom. There will be no more pleading from loved ones in Christ; no more tearful entreaties to come to Jesus. Full well the unconverted sinner knows all this, and dreads the coming of that long-expected day.

Reader, these are the true sayings of the Book of God. They are not sentental fancies; they are not cunningly dised fables. Jesus—the Son of God—will come again, and at His coming He will gather home His own; and the Christ-rejecter will be left for judgment.

I only add the question—Have you ever thought what the coming of the Son of God will do for you? Will you be among those caught away to “eternal glory,” or will you be left to the “eternal judgment?” Pause and think!

“Left, though God pleaded often,

Asked thee again, again;

Called, but thou wouldst not hearken—

Why was it all in vain?

Left, not because He wished it,

Left at thine own self-will;

Left, and thy heart grew harder,

Thou wert rebellious still.

Left for the coming judgment,

Left for the sinner’s doom;

Left while thy life-day darkens

Into a solemn gloom.

Left, but instead of heaven

What will thy portion be?

“Weeping and wailing” only,

All through eternity.

ML 06/20/1943

"Emmanuel, God with Us"

A great and kind man was one day walking in his garden. Now, on the path some busy little ants had made a home. They were hurrying this way and that, each one doing his special work and all so carefree and happy.

But when the great man’s shadow fell upon them, there was a sudden change. Fear and alarm seized them. The closer he drew near, the more frightened they became. Some grabbed the ant babies and hurried down the hole, others seized precious burdens of one kind or another and in great panic made off with them, no doubt fearing this great monster would devour them all.

How this grieved the kind man! He loved to watch these little creatures at their work and play and certainly had no thought of hurting them.

“What can I do to make these tiny insects understand that I do not wish to harm them?” he said to himself. He thought and thought and at last said,

“Why, the way to make them know my thoughts toward them, is to become an ant! But alas! I cannot do this, so must forever be a fearful stranger to them.”

Children, after man had sinned, he became afraid of God, and thought Him a great, mighty, terrible God, one only to be feared. So, what do you think God did? Why, in the Person of His Son, He became a man in order to show His sinful creatures—men and women, boys and girls—that He is kind, loving and gracious.

One of the titles given the Lord Jesus was “Emmanuel,” which means, “God with us.”

He went about doing good, healing all manner of sickness and disease, raising the dead, blessing little children, and taking them up in His arms. He received all who came to Him, no matter how sinful they had been, and set them free from sin and Satan, giving them joy and happess untold. Then at last He went to the Cross and died for our sins. O, how great is God’s love for you and me, dear children!

Now, do we need to be afraid of One like this? Ah no, come to Him, boys and girls, and let Him cleanse you from your sins, and make you happy and free.

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

ML 06/20/1943

A Law Not Kept

Matthew 15:1-28

Many years after God gave the laws for Israel on Mt. Sinai, leaders of the temple made laws, which they thought more important than God’s laws. Some men saw that the disciples of Jesus did not wash their hands as those laws required, and they asked Jesus why they did not keep those laws. Jesus asked them,

“Why do ye transgress the commandment of God? For God commanded sang, Honor thy father and mother.”

This law was so important that God had said those who kept it should have long life in their land, and those who dishored and spoke evil to father or mother, were guilty to die (Exodus 20:12 and 21:17).

Yet these men, Jesus said, allowed a son to bring a gift to the temple, and he need not honor his father and mother, making God’s law of no use, but teaching their own laws as though from God.

How are we now to treat our parents? (See Ephesians 6:1,2).

Jesus said it was not unwashed hands, but wicked thoughts in the heart that “defiled” (made a person unfit for God). He said all evil things come from, the heart,— had words, lies, thefts, murders, and all, other wrong things. A wrong is first thought, before it is said or done. Water is one of the most common things God has given, and it is right to wash; but Jesus wanted the people to know that water could not wash away bad thoughts in the heart, or make them pure for God.

After this, Jesus went to the coast of the Great Sea, where the cities of Tyre and Sidon were. There was a poor girl who was dreadfully troubled by a wicked spirit. The people of her nation had known God’s power, but would not honor Him. They worshiped all sorts of images, and did the ways of Satan, and evil spirits had power to distress them.

The girl’s mother heard of Jesus, and came to ask Him to free her daughter. She said,

“Have mercy on me, Thou Son of David.”

As a man on earth, Jesus was of the family of King David, and was called “Son of David” to the nation Israel. But this woman’s people had always been against Israel, and denied God, so she could claim no help.

When Jesus answered the woman, He said He had been sent to Israel. When she heard Him speak, she seemed to bieve even more and worshiped Him. She was willing to confess that she deserved no favor, and spoke of herself as like “a dog, which ate the crumbs which fell from the master’s table.” Dog’s were not pets in that land, but ran about half wild, and to be likened to a dog was a term of disgrace.

Jesus was pleased at the woman’s humble words, and at her trust in Him. and told her that her daughter should be made free of the wicked spirit.

Jesus returned to Galilee, and it is not told that tie ever went to that land again. But after He went back to Heaven, the disciples went there, and many people became Christians. Perhaps that woman and her daughter heard that Jesus had died to save those of every nation who would believe Him.

Later the apostle Paul stopped at Tyre, and men, women and children, who loved Jesus, knelt down on the shore to pray (Acts 21:3-5).

ML 06/20/1943

A Life Boat

There is a country in Europe called Holland. Some of you are old enough to go to school and have studied about this wonderful country. Much of it is below the sea level.

In many places, walls, called dikes, have been built along the streams to keep the water from over-flowing the land. Sometimes one of these dikes breaks. Then the water pours in over the land, and causes a great deal of trouble.

In our picture we see the water up almost to the roofs of the houses. See those dear little chicks! Do you know what they are in? It looks like a wooden shoe—the kind of shoe that people in Holland wear. Because it is made of wood, it is light enough to float and keep the water out.

How safe the chicks are in this lifeboat. The water cannot touch them. The big wooden shoe is a place of refuge which means a place of shelter or safety.

Do you know, dear children, where you can find refuge in all kinds of trouble and danger? There is a beautiful verse that says,—

“GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.” Psalms 46:1.

He is glad to protect you from harm and danger if you trust in Him. He also wants to protect you from the punishment that we all deserve as sinners. He died on the cross to bear the punishment of your sins and mine. So in Him we find refuge from the punishment we deserve, if we believe in Him as our Saviour, and there will be no other refuge,— no other life-boat,—when God pours out His judgment on this sinful world.

“There is none other name (but the ie of Jesus Christ of Nazareth) under heaven given among men whereby we:mst be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Dear reader, if you are not safe in Christ, turn to Him at once. You may not have another opportunity. Turn to Him today for refuge. Tomorrow may be too late.

ML 06/27/1943

"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"

Sunday schools, in which the Old, Old Story of Jesus and His love is simply, lovingly and attractively set before the boys and girls, not only have many young hearts won to the Saviour in them, but the godly influence of those young folks, who are brought to the Lord themselves in early years, can never be measured or fully known. But we are constantly hearing of parents, brothers, sisters and kinsfolk of those dear children, whose hearts are early won to the Redeemer, through whose childish, yet powerful testimony to the Lord whom they love, is being used to melt prejudice, overcome opposition, and in many cases, to subdue hard hearts to the Word, which has in it the power to save, as no other thing on this earth has.

Mrs. Thomas, was a Christian woman, known to the writer, the mother of two fine young children in our Sunday school, who had come to my class from their very early years. Indeed, I often wondered how it was she was able to send them out on Lord’s Day afternoons so well up to time, always with their Memory Texts nicely memorized, and able to repeat them before all the class.

But Mr. Thomas, their father, was no lover of the Lord Jesus, or of His Gospel, but a careless man, more interested in his dogs and the racecourse than in his “bonnie bairns.” But their mother was simple-minded Christian, and sought t. bring up her little boy and girl in the knowledge of the Saviour, whom she had herself trusted in her school days, and sought to follow all her years, even while having little sympathy from her husband. But her heart laid hold of the promise of God,

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

On God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise she counted, first for her children, when their hearts were young and tender and even for the conversion of her husband, for, while he was still indifferent to his own salvation, she often said,

“God will bring him yet, and very likely” in a way, and at a time different from what we may expect.”

And thus it truly happened, in this way. Children’s Services were being held for a week in the hall where Bill and Gerty, the two children, went to Sunday school, and there were several of the elder scholar, brightly converted, and giving true evidence of spiritual life being in them. One marked sign was, that these converted children were in the habit of kneeling down at their bedside at nights, and praying audibly for schoolmates and companions. One night after Gerty had been converted, she prayed audibly and earnestly that God would

“Save father, and make him happy in the Saviour’s love.”

Bill, although only five years old, repeating his evening text to mother, as his usually did, added the words in his little prayer,

“Make my daddy one of Thy dear sheep, quickly.”

Whether the father actually heard that desire of his child, or whether his mother told him of it, I do not know, but next day he remarked, “It is about time I was thinking of this myself, if my child is praying about me.”

Daddy did begin to think about it and more, before many weeks he was brightly converted, and it was a pleasing sight to see him, with his little son seated on his shoulder, hurrying along to the Children’s Service. Verily, that dear child of heaven was the “means,” as we say, of leading his father to first think of the Saviour. And there are many such, for now as ever, the promise is true,

“A little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6.

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6.

ML 06/27/1943

Our First Open Air Meeting

Six of us, all young boys, were brought to the Lord during a work of grace in our native town, in the early spring. We had little Prayer Meetings and Bible Readings among ourselves for several weeks, and then it was suggested we should go out and have an open air meeting, at a row of cottages a short distance off.

I shall never forget that Sunday evening. We formed a circle on the road, sang two hymns, during which the people gathered at their doors. None of us had ever spoken publicly, so we were a bit nervous. One read the third chapter of John, said a word or two on verse 16,

“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” then told simply how he was saved. All the others followed, each giving a short text, then his testimony to the Gospel’s saving power. The people stood listening eagerly. It was all new to them. At the close, we gave tracts to all, and were asked to come again. We went home singing all the way, happy in our new service.

All summer we continued, and when it became too cold for open air work, a home was offered us. There we continued, and a number were won to the Lord. First, two young boys, then their parents were saved. They became co-workers, and soon two meetings were held.

How grand to be saved, to serve.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

ML 06/27/1943

Christ's Lambs

Mary and May were walking across a field from school one day, when they saw some sheep with some red letters painted on their fleeces.

“O, see, May!” said Mary, “those sheep have some marks on them. I wonder what they are for?”

“That’s the mark the farmer knows his sheep by,” said May “Don’t you know what teacher said to us about Jesus hang marks to know His lambs by?”

“Yes, but Jesus doesn’t put marks like that on His lambs, does He?” asked Mary.

“No, Mary, Jesus puts His mark in us, on our souls, and not our bodies.”

Little Mary was right, Jesus does mark His lambs in their hearts; Jesus 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 pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:27,28.

Though the marks that the sheep and lambs of Christ have, are in their hearts, yet they can be known as Christ’s sheep, by their walking in the footsteps of Christ, He loved His enemies, and prayed for those who treated Him cruelly. Little boys and girls, who love the Saviour, can pray in His name, that they may be long in word and deed, then their parents and friends can see that the Saviour has marked them for His own. If they ask Him, He will guide them in holy ways here, and after this life, take them to glory to dwell with Him forever.

“Then they shall see His face,

With all the saints above;

And sing Forever of His grace,

Forever of His love.”

ML 06/27/1943

Many People Again Feed

Matthew 15:29-39

Whenever the people knew where Jesus was, crowds came to Him, bringing the sick, the lame, the blind, and the dumb for Him to heal. Each time we read, “And He healed them.” This chapter of Matthew tells of Jesus being far away from the towns, in a lonely part near the mountains. Yet a very large crowd of people had come and had been there three days. Perhaps many were those who had before been cured and wanted to hear Jesus’ words. They must have brought some food with them, but after three days it was all used.

Jesus was sorry for the people to return to their homes hungry, no doubt they had to walk, and He told the disciples they might faint by the way. Not very long before this He had made a few loaves of bread feed more than five thousand persons. Yet the disciples seem not to have thought that He could feed another crowd, and they asked Him how bread could be got for so many.

Jesus asked the disciples how much bread they had. They told Him that they had seven loaves and a few little fish. He said for the people to sit down on the ground, or grass. Then we read,

“He took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the diiples to the multitude, and they did all eat and were filled.”

We might think this not as great a micle as when the many people were fed before. Because there were about five thousand men fed with five loaves of bread the first time, and the second time only four thousand men with two more loaves of bread. But when He could increase a few loaves to feed even one thou sand persons, surely He could supply as many as needed, The basketsful left showed that His goodness and power could not be all used.

Perhaps one reason the exact number of loaves of bread, the number of baskets of pieces left, and how many men were fed each time, were written that we who read now would be certain that there were two separate miracles. Jesus spoke of the two meals, saying that once five thousand men were fed, and once-four thousand men (Matt. 16:9,10).

Another disciple, John, who also wrote of the multitude fed, wrote that Jesus told the people that He would give something far greater than bread; the bread kept them from fainting that night, but the next day they would be hungry again.

What Jesus said He would give was a life that would last forever.

He spoke of Himself as “the Bread of Life”, and said,

“He that believeth On Me hath eveasting life.” John 6:47.

To give the soul life that cannot end, is far greater than to give bread for the body. But there is one thing to notice: the bread was given to all, but the life eveasting is only for those who believe the Lord Jesus. He will not refuse any who truly believe Him.

ML 06/27/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“The Children’s Class”

1.“Giving thanks,” etc. Ephesians 5:26.

2.“Praying always,” etc. 6:18.

3.“If so be,” etc. 4:21.

4.“For this cause,” etc. 3:14.

5.“Wherefore I also,” etc. 1:15.

6.“For by grace,” etc. 2:8.

7.“Labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give.” “ 4:28.

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, “The love of money is the root of all evil.

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Godliness is profitable unto all things.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Jesus Christ of the seed of David.”

4. Write in full the verse containing the words, “From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “That blessed hope, and the glorious appearing.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “According to his mercy he saved us.

7.Who is the mediator between God and men?

Answers to Bible Questions for April

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.The preparation of the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15.

2.Unto Christ. Ephesians 6:5.

3.Put it away. Eph. 4:31.

4.Before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4.

5.Either verse eighteen or verse twenty-two. Ephesians 2.

6.Of Jesus Christ; Of the Lord. Ephesians 3:1; 4:1.

Bible Questions for July

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1St and 2nd Timothy, Titus and Philemon

1.Which Epistle was written to send back to his master a runaway slave?

2.What was the last inspired Epistle Paul ever wrote?

3.What was Paul’s will for the younger women?

4.How are Christian women to adorn themselves?

5.Who cannot lie?

6.How should believers live?

7.Who turned out to be profitable to Paul?

ML 07/04/1943

A Good Title

Well, my friend, are you going to heaven?” asked a servant of Christ of a man, who, among many others, had come into a room where a lunch had been provided, and the gospel. was to be preached.

“Yes, sir,” I believe I am,” he replied.

“And what is your title to go there?”

The man was silent for a few moments, and so the servant of Christ continued:

“Suppose, now, you found yourself in heaven, and an angel came to you and asked what right you had to be there, or what was your title to be there, what answer would you give?”

After a few minutes’ silence, the poor man looked up, and replied,

“The atoning value of the blood of Christ.”

Blessed answer! Children, what awer could you give? None will gain an entrance there, but those who have trusted in the atoning value of the blood of Christ, while in this life here on earth.

“O, precious blood! on Calv’ry shed

For sinful souls in trespass dead!

And seated on the throne is He

Whose precious blood atoned for me.

O, precious blood! O, living way,

By which the chief of sinners may,

Accepted, stand before his God!

O, precious, reconciling blood!”

ML 07/04/1943

Harold's Confession of Christ

I never thought I was such a coward! Afraid to tell my own sister that Christ has saved me, and that I am now His follower. But I’ll do so yet. It must never be said of me, that I was ashamed to own my Lord.”

The speaker was a schoolboy, home for ins summer vacation, and just in from a ramble with his sister through the woods, every path and tree of which was familiar to them both from their earliest years.

Through the earnest testimony of a schoolmate, Harold had been brought to accept and confess the Lord Jesus as his Saviour during the session just closed, and his prayer had been that he might have grace given to confess Christ at home, especially to his only sister, two years younger than himself, the first night he was under the home roof. He knew full well, that if he let that first night pass without confessing the Lord, and telling his sister Grace the story of his conveion, it would be more difficult to do it later on.

During their ramble in the wood, he had more than once made a muffled attempt to introduce in a general way the subject, but this had done no more than arouse the curiosity of his sister Grace, who was quick enough to see there was something more, which Harold either could not or did not tell. After tea, they were walking together in the garden, and again the desire came to confess Christ, and this time Harold silently prayed,

“Lord give me strength to do it.”

That cry was heard in heaven. As surely as the angel was sent to strengthen Daniel of old, so did strength come to the converted schoolboy that moment. Taking his sister by the arm, he quietly said,

“I have given myself to Jesus since I was home last, Grace, and He has made me very happy. I wish you knew how good it is to be on the Lord’s side, having him with us always, helping us in everything.”

Grace was silent: she scarcely knew how to reply, but in her heart she was glad to hear Harold’s confession. They had both been brought up in a godly home, had been familiar with the Gospel, and the Word of God from their early years, but like many others in a similar position, neither of them had personally appropriated the Gospel for their own salvation, or confessed Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord—not till Harold’s conversion, which Grace had now heard of for the first time.

The effect of that simple, honest testimony was, peace to the young believer’s own heart, and it was used by God to stir up a slumbering anxiety in regard to the things of eternity in his sister. And she was ready to accept the same Saviour as her brother rejoiced in, which she did, and was saved also.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess 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.” Matt. 10:32,33.

ML 06/04/1943

Little Phyllis and Her Dog

Little Phyllis loves her beautiful dog, and he shows how much lie appreciates her kindness to him.

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

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

“BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE, MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.” John 13:35.

ML 07/04/1943

The Lord's Question

Matthew 16

One day Jesus asked the disciples who the people said He was: they answered that some said He was John the Baptist; others, that lie was Elias (Elijah) or some other prophet. Then Jesus asked them,

“Whom do ye say that 1 am?” Peter answered,

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter and the other men with Jesus did not think He was a prophet come back to earth, but God’s own Son. The scriptures told of One to come from God, to be as God, and called Son (Psa. 2). The disciples believed Jesus was that holy One, celled The Messiah, which meant the ehosen and annointed by God: “The Christ” also means that.

Jesus knew whom the disciples thought Him, yet He wanted them to say, and was honored by Peter’s answer, Some people, now say Jesus was a great prophet or teacher, but do not give Him true honor as God’s Son. They have not believed God’s words about Him.

The holy One to come had been written of also as “a Rock and a sure foundation.” Isa. 28:16. So Jesus was that safe place for all who believed Him. He told Peter that on that Rock “He would build” the gathering together of His people, called the Assembly, or the Church.

Long before this, the temple of God was built in Jerusalem, and the people came there to honor God. But when the people sinned greatly and worshiped idols, the temple was spoiled. It was later, rebuilt and when Jesus was on earth, was highly regarded. But He spoke of the new building, not to be made of stones, but of people, who would believe that He was the Christ, the Son of God. These people are called. “living stones,” (verse 18; 1 Peter 2:5), and Peter and the others wh, believed were the first “stones” in this new “temple” to honor God (2 Cor. 6:16).

Because Jesus called Simon, “Peter”, meaning a stone, some have thought Peter was the “Rock” to be “built” upon. But the word, “Peter” did not mean a foundation rock, only Christ could be the One to trust. When Peter wrote of this building for God, he did not speak of himself, but of Christ, “the chosen of God”, and he called those who believed Him, “living stones ... . built up a spiritual house”. Christ is spoken of also as “the Corner Stone”, that which joins the stones together (1 Peter 2:4-6).

Jesus said He would give “the keys of the kingdom of Heaven” to Peter. That could not have meant real keys, because Jesus was not speaking of a building, but of the rule of God for His people on earth, We read that after Jesus had returned to Heaven, and the people were troubled at, the great sin of crucifying Him, Peter was the first to tell the way to God’s blessing,—by repenting their sin, and believing in Jesus, God’s Son. So Peter opened the way for them, as keys open a door (Acts chapters 2; 3:19-26).

We who read the words of Jesus, must decide how we would answer His question:

“Whom say ye that I am?” All who truly believe Christ, the Son of God, are “built” on that safe “Rock,” Christ. There is no other safe place.

ML 07/04/1943

Safety

Do look at the kittens, how contented they seem! And do you know why John and Ethel had them up in their arms? Because nearby there was a little black and white dog who didn’t like pussies, and always wanted to bark and chase them away. But they don’t seem to worry now they are out of the puppy’s reach, and the one on John’s shoulder looks so safe and contented—I am sure he thinks his master can take good care of him. It reminds me of that verse,

“The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12.

Wouldn’t you like to be in such a safe place? That is where every one is who has his sins washed away in the precious blood of Christ, and how happy it makes him!

If any of you, our readers, have not yet come to the Saviour, who is waiting and longing to receive you just as you are, now is the time to do so. It makes Him so sad when you stay away for He says, “

YE WILL NOT COME TO ME THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE.” John 5:40.

If you do come to Him, you will be saved, and safe for all eternity, and He says,

“I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28.

Safe in the arms of Jesus,

Safe on His gentle breast!

There by His love o’ershaded,

Sweetly my soul shall rest.

ML 07/11/1943

The Children's Text

A Christian mother, whose husband was an unbeliever, was in the habit of teaching her two little children a text of Scripture, which they repeated every night before going to bed. Then they knelt at her knee, and clasping their hands, prayed that God would watch over them during the night, and that He would bless their father and mother.

While the children were thus engaged one evening, their father came home, and attracted by the sound of his children’s voices, he listened at their bedroom door while they repeated their evening text, which that night was,

“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.

The words fixed themselves in the man’s memory; they were kept alive in his rembrance all the next day, and when he returned home the next evening, he clasped his wife and children to his bosom, and said,

“God, who so loved the world as to give His Son, has saved my soul, and sent me home to join with you in reading His Word, and thanking Him for the gift of everlasting life.”

From that day, he has gone on, a true disciple of the Lord, following Him and testifying of Him. His delight is to gather his little ones around the Sacred Word, and teach them the way of life through Jesus Christ alone. He preaches Christ to his fellows, and is esteemed by all as a true believer. The texts learned and repeated by his own children, were the means used in his conversion.

Let parents and teachers be encouraged in this good work. There is a power in the Word of God, which can never fail to bring those to whom it comes, into the presence of God, its Divine Author. Le free use be made of it everywhere, anti at all times, God will look after it.

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

“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 07/11/1943

Little Things

Little foxes spoil the vines, so little sins spoil noble lives. “No harm in this.” “No harm in that.” “Plenty of time.” These are Satan’s silent suggestions to simple souls. Do you remember the little verse?—

“Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean

And the beauteous land.”

Little things accumulate to an alarming extent, and it may he true of most as it was of a speaker whom the writer heard say the following words:

“The thoughts of my life have been many, but the sins of my life have been more.”

A lesson only learned in the light of God’s love, as revealed in the person of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

How important a. little thing may be! Two young women retired to rest one evening, leaving a gas stove burning in their room. During the night a little mouse gnawed a small hole in the rubber tubing through which the gas passed.

It was only a small mouse and a small hole, but the consequences were almost fatal to the sleepers, for the escape of gas was so rapid, that one of the girls quickly became unconscious, the other only awaking in time to raise an alarm. Both narrowly escaped with their lives. I wonder if they were ready if they had died. How important, children, that we should be ready, anyway.

God’s Word says,

“Now is the accepted time.”

Perhaps you have removed the last letter of that little word “now,” and made it “no” to many gospel appeals and earnest entreaties to come to Christ. O! believe the gospel, even now. Then you may read the word backward, “won.”

Won for Christ; and removing the letter “w” may read the word “on.”

“On” the Lord’s side.

“On” your way to the better land.

“On” your way to meet the Lord, who says,

“Behold, I come quickly.”

ML 07/11/1943

One More Sunday

There was a Sunday school which was attended by sixty or seventy scholars. One of these, a girl of about fourteen years, gave much trouble to her kind teachers. She was a good-natured girl, but very mischievous, and took away the attention of the other scholars by her naughty ways.

No amount of talking made her any better; and at last the teachers were discouraged, and thought that they must expel her. But one of them, who pitied the girl, begged the others to allow her one more Sunday.

They agreed, and made the matter a special subject of prayer.

Next Sunday they waited anxiously to see how the girl behaved herself. To their surprise and joy, she sat quite quietly, and made no attempt to behave badly. From that time she was a different girl. Before, she had caused sorrow; afterwards, she did all that she could to give others pleasure. Such is the power of prayer, God hears the feeblest prayer that His loved ones offer in the name of the Lord Jesus.

“If ye ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” John 14:14.

“For there is one God; and one mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5.

Sometimes we pray for something which is not good for us, and we are surised that we do not get it. But it is not that God does not hear us. Surely, He who does not forget the sparrows, will not forget us, for whom He spared riot His own Son. (Rom. 8:32).

All wisdom belongs to Him; and if any of us lack wisdom let us ask of Him, and He will give it to us. (James 1:5).

This same scripture, however, goes on to say that one must ask in faith, nothing doubting; and that he who doubts, ought not to think he shall receive anything of the Lord.

ML 07/11/1943

If I Come 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 07/11/1943

On a High Mountian

Matthew 17

Jesus told the disciples that when He would go to Jerusalem, He would be put to death. The disciples loved Jesus, and believed He had come to be the great King, so they did not believe He could die, and Peter said,

“This shall not be done unto Thee.” It was wrong not to believe Jesus’ words, and afterward Peter learned that Christ must first suffer for His peoples’ sins before He could rule in power and glory.

Jesus told them that He would rise from death, but they seemed not to notice those words. Then He told them that some of them should soon see His glory (Matt. 16:21-28). A few days after, that promise came true, Jesus took three of the disciples up on a high mountain with Him, and they saw the wonderful sight of the Lord Jesus, with the glory of Heaven shining about 1Him; His appeance was changed and His clothing was “white as light.”

Two prophets, Moses and Elias (Elijah), who had lived on earth long before, appeared on the mountain, and talked with Jesus. Peter had heard much of those prophets and wanted to honor them, and said three temples should be made on the mountain, one for Jesus, one for Moses, one for Elias.

While Peter was speaking, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud spoke these words,

“This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.”

The three disciples were afraid of the Voice, and fell down with their faces on the ground, until Jesus touched them and told them to rise, and not to fear. When they looked up, the two prophets were not there.

Moses and Elias had been faithful prophets and servants to God. But Peter and the others learned that day that God’s Son was far greater than the prophets, and that He was the One God wanted honored.

Jesus told the men not to tell what they had seen on the mountain until after He should be risen from the grave; perhaps that was because He knew those who did not see the glory would not then believe them.

It must have been some years later that Peter wrote of the wonderful sight of Christ’s glory which He saw that day. He said he and the other apostles were not speaking fables (what was untrue) when they told the people of the glory of the Lord Jesus. Because they had seen the honor given to Him by God the Father, and heard the voice saying,

“This is My beloved Son.”

“This voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him on the holy mount.” 2 Peter 1:16-18.

Those men did not doubt that the Lord Jesus is to come with glory, as was wrien by the prophets, and as He told them: but the time for His coming was not told.

“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Matt. 25:31.

ML 07/11/1943

A Lesson in Ship Building

Little Fred listens with interest to grandpa’s instructions as to how the ship should he built. Although a thorough knowledge of some kind of trade or profession is very useful for every one, there is a lesson of far greater importance, and that is to learn to attend to whatever God tells us.

We must pay the utmost attention to the very first step, in this lesson, for if we do not learn it properly, we shall never be able to learn anything else in the things of God.

This first step of such moment is to believe our great need of a Saviour, and God’s love in providing that Saviour. We are all aware that we have sinned: we have had wrong thoughts in our minds, we have said things which we should not have said, and we have done things we should not have done. These three ways of sinning are probably used by us every day of our lives. If we multiply every day we have lived by three, we shall see die least number of sins we have. One man counted up, and found out he had sinned 70,000 times, and no doubt many more than that. Yet many people consider themselves good enough to go to heaven.

It is not alone what men call sins that we need be concerned about, but it is all that will not come up to God’s holiness. What a great measure that is, and what great sinners it shows us up to be.

How then, can we be saved?Ah, God has not only shown us what we are, but has also shown us what we need, and has provided for that need. We need a Saviour, and God has given His only begotten Son to die in our stead and thereby save us. Those sins that are many, may all be forgiven us through Jesus having paid the debt, in giving His life in our place.

“THROUGH THIS MAII (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 07/18/1943

Evenings Around the Bible

My early years were spent in a humble home, in which the Bible, God’s Holy Word, was read and held in honor. Some of the happiest hours of my childhood were, when father, mother, brothers, and sisters were gathered around the fireside, while wintry winds blew, and storms raged without.

A Bible Story was our usual Sunday Evening reading, and these stories. are with me in memory still. The story of the Eden Fall; the Coats of Skin covering Adam and Eve; Abel’s Sacrifice; Isaac on Moriah; Joseph in Prison and as Ruler of Egypt; Moses in the Cradle of Bulrushes; The Sprinkling of the Blood on the Lintel and Doorposts in Egypt; The Great Exodus at the midnight hour; The Passage of the Red Sea; The Manna falling morning by morning from Heaven; The Brazen Serpent; Crossing the Jordan; with the Gospel lessons they teach, were all set forth in simplicity and beauty by our father in these early years.

If you would be safely led and peacefully guided, use God’s Book day by day, never neglecting to consult in all life’s hours, the Word of God. For therein is all that you need to save, and to keep you happy.

The daily use of the Book of God in the family circle is, it is to be feared, much neglected in our time. If this continues, and becomes a habit, it will soon tell or the coming generation, and the early conversions, and happy youth we have seen in years gone by, will be less heard of. For it is the Word of God, and the truths it presents, that bring life to the soul.

“The Word of the Lord endureth forever, and this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:25.

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

ML 07/18/1943

Sally's Hymn

Visiting one day in a row of cottages, I met a little girl and asked her if she went to any Sunday school.

“No,” she said, shaking her head, “father won’t let me; he says I can go when I am big, but it’s no use a little girl like me going; I wouldn’t know what was said.”

“O yes,” I said, “you would easily understand. We have lots of little girls younger than you, who come every Sunday. They have learned that Jesus died for them, and some of them are saved and very happy. Is your mother in the house?”

“No, Mam,” said the dear child holng down her head, “my mother’s dead, and father and I live together here. He is out working all day, and comes home at six o’clock; if you come after six, you will see him.”

My heart was drawn toward the child, arid I longed that she might hear of Jesus and His love. I called in the evening and found her father there, a rough, careless man. Still he had a fond regard for Sally, and at once consented that she should go to Sunday school the following week. Sally was there tidily dressed, and listened most attentively to what her teacher said. She took a hymn book home with her, and some nice “picture leaflets” with gospel stories.

All through the week Sally kept singing away to herself—

“Have you any room for Jesus?” and the next Lord’s-day she was able to sing the whole hymn very nicely. It was a favorite with her father, and he began to hum it to himself. God used the simple words to show him that he was a sinner, without Christ, and without hope. Nor was this all. When Sally came home from the school the second Lord’s-day, she could say,

“Jesus is mine.” She had “let Him enter” into her heart, and now she was saved and happy. Her father sat in the house that night listening to Sally sing her hymn, as she called it, and the words—

“Soon thy heart be cold and silent, And the Saviour’s pleadings cease,” laid hold upon his soul. For long he was deeply anxious; then he opened and let Jesus “enter” too. Sally and her father are now followers of the Lord, and often while all alone by the cottage fireside, do they join in singing “Sally’s Hymn.”

Have you opened your heart and let Jesus in, or are you still rejecting Him?

The day will come when Jesus will knock no more.

“After this the judgment.”

Reader, this is the Gospel; this is God’s day of salvation. Have you received it?

“He that heareth My Word, and belieth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24.

ML 07/18/1943

God's Love is Unbounded

I passed from death to life from bondage in sin, to liberty in Christ; from the kingdom of Satan, into the kingdom and joyful service of the Son of God, on a Saturday afternoon. I had been troubled about my soul—sometimes very much troubled.

I had gone to hear sermons preached, but nothing that I heard seemed to meet my case. I thought I must feel love to God, and be worthy of being loved by Him, before I could be saved. I must have been taught this in my early days, for it was firmly embedded in my mind, In the quiet of the Spring afternoon, I walked out to the park. A copy of a little book entitled,

“The Soul and its Difficulties,” given. me by a friend, was in my hand, and I opened it in the hope that I might find something to help me, The first words my eyes fell on were these,

“It is not how much. I love God, but how much He loves me. My love to God is as nothing. God’s love to me is vast, unbounded.”

Could that be true? Yes, the Bible says,

“Not that we loved God, but that He loved us.” 1 John 4:10. I rested in God’s love to me, and I was saved through Christ, my blessed Saviour.

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

ML 07/18/1943

Jesus Shed His Blood

Jesus shed His Blood

Your poor heart to win;

He will cleanse and wash it

From all taint of sin;

He came down from Heaven,

Left His home on high,

To the cross for sinners,

Went forth to die.

Jesus on the cross

Shed His blood for all;

Now the little children,

On his name may call;

They must be forgiven,

Hear the Saviour tell,

Ere they enter Heaven,

With Him to dwell.

Jesus stands and waits,

Just to save you now,

Let Him wash your heart and

Make your knee to bow;

Take Him as your Saviour,

Early while you may;

Children, wait no longer,

Just come TODAY.

ML 07/18/1943

Like Little Children

Matt. 18

The disciples expected Jesus soon to rule over all people, and they asked Him who would be greatest in His kingdom. Before Jesus answered, He called a little child to come to Him, and set the child where all could see it. Then He told the men that none would be in His kingdom except they became like he little child.

Perhaps that seems a strange answer, for we know no one can become a child over again: but Jesus was making His meaning plain. They knew what a little child was like; it believes whatever it is old. And Jesus meant that the people in His kingdom must believe God’s words, just as the child believes what it is told. A little child is not proud, but the men were thinking of a place of honor. Jesus said those who were humble as the child, would have the place of honor: the humble, not the proud, would be great.

This shows that Jesus knew children, and He also said there is a place before God for them. But they will be there because Jesus came to save them. He called Himself “The Son of Man”, a humble name, because Be had become a man to die. And here He said,

“The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.”

He told them this story: “What think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine in the wildeess, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?”

Even the youngest child has a nature that is lost to God, and helpless as the sheep lost on the mountains, yet Jesus said,

“It is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (To perish, means to be always “lost” from God). Jesus was the Good Shepherd who came to save thy lost, by giving His life for them.

While Jesus was on earth, those who loved Him, both young and old, could see Him and be with Him. But He knew He would soon return to Heaven, and they could not see Him. He told them these words,

“Where two or three are gathered to gether in My Name, there am I in the midst of them.”

When we hear the name of one we know, we think of that person; so to come together in the Name of Jesus would he to think of Who He is, and of all He has done. If a ruler sends a messenger in his name”, it means the ruler has given authority and instruction for whatever is done. So those who meet in the Name of the Lord, are to do as His word directs, and to His honor. Boys and girls who love the Lord Jesus, may come together with older people “in His Name’’. Although they cannot see Hini as the diiples did, yet He said He would be “in their midst.”

ML 07/18/1943

Cattle

How much these cattle seem to like the water; they have hunted this marsh to get away from the heat. The trees, too, spreading over the water, make it more comfortable for them here. We are glad they can have such a refresning spot.

Not only cows like to wade in water, but how much little boys and girls enjoy doing so, too. You have been wading at some time, I know; how cool the water seemed to your tired, hot feet, and how you liked to splash about in it. These little lakes and marshes are of so much comfort to us.

Isn’t it good of the Lord to give you these things for pleasure, as well as the things which supply your needs? But these things you can enjoy only as long as you live down here on the earth.

Does His love for you stop here? No, indeed, He has made a way for you to be saved, so that you may go to heaven, and have eternal life with Him. How has He made this way possible? It was by the death of His Son, and if you believe in Him, as your Saviour, you may be sun, of happiness, not only in this life, but for eternity.

Do you know that you are a sinner? Have you been to Jesus to ask Him for forgiveness of your sins?

Where will you spend eternity?

“Who is like unto Thee, O Lord?” Ex. 15:11.

“HE THAT IS OUR GOD, IS THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION. Psa. 68:20.

ML 07/25/1943

Little Emily

Little Emily had been a constant attendant at our Sunday school for more than a year before she was brought to a knowledge of the Saviour: and perhaps some of you would be interested to know how she first learned to love the Lord Jesus.

It was a bright Sunday afternoon on which I was leisurely pursuing my way to school, having a carefully prepared lesson in my mind. I intended speaking to the children from the old, old story of Noah and the ark; but as I neared the school I felt impressed that it was not to be my subject for that afternoon.

“Revelation 3! Revelation 3!’’ ran through my mind again and again, and on arriving at the school, I turned to the chapter and read,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will conic in to him, and will sup with hint, and he with Me.” vs. 20.

“That must be my text then,” I said to myself, as I took my seat among my scholars.

There were fifteen present, all under seven years of age, and among them, in her favorite seat by my side, was little Emily, aged five.

I spoke earnestly to them of the One who stood knocking at the door of their hearts, entreating them to let Him in before it was too late. At length I asked, “Is there no one here who will open her heart to let Jesus come in this afternoon?”

A soft little hand stole into mine, and a sweet voice whispered,

“Teacher, I will let Him in.”

It was little Emily who spoke, and raised her blue eyes, now filled with tears, to my face.

“You will, Emily?” I said, “and why will you let the Saviour in?”

“O because I love Him so!”

I had a little talk with her after school, and since that day she has been happily trusting in the Lord Jesus as her own Saviour, whose precious blood has washed her sins away.

Dear reader, will you let the Saviour in? Or, will you keep the door of your heart, at which I le waits and knocks so patiently, bolted and barred against Him?

O, throw open the door! No longer turn a deaf ear to His knocking, so oft repeated, so gentle, so loving. Give the Lord of heaven and earth an abiding place in your heart, and prove, as clear little Emily does, what a kind and loving Friend He is.

“We love Him because He first loved us.”

ML 07/25/1943

Is Your Confession Real?

It is said that a lady came to Charles Wesley, complaining that she was the chief of sinners, the worst of transgressors, utterly lost and helpless. Mr. Wesley replied,

“I have no doubt, madam, that you are had enough.”

The lady instantly flew into a passion, declaring that she was no worse than her neighbors, and scolded the preacher as a slanderer!

What a sham confession she had made! When Mr. Wesley took her at her word, the utter hollowness of her profession was at once laid bare. There was no reality in her. While it was perfectly true that she was a sinner, a transgressor, and utterly lost and helpless, she did not wish to be considered so. She could tell the preacher all this, thinking he would tell her she was all right, and flatter her wretched pride; but when he took her at her word, she was angry.

And are there not thousands who are in this very condition? They can talk religiously about being sinners, but when you tell them they are bad, they will try to make out that they are better than others. They are self-righteous and full of pride, and when they talk piously and make confessions, they do not mean it. There is no truth in them.

Now, sinners of this kind are not a whit better than drunkards and thieves. They are liars, and they make God a liar, because they deny what He has said about them. They may be outwardly more decent than publicans and harlots, but their hearts are just as black in the sight of God.

God has said that all have sinned;” and besides He says

“There is no difference.” One bad egg is no better than another had egg; one rotten apple is just as worthless as another rotten apple; and if the carnal mind is enmity against God, one sinner is no better than another sinner. All are under judgment, all are lost, and all are helpless.

When the woman said to Mr. Wesley that she was lost and helpless, it was true, but she did not believe her own words. She was talking pious talk without meang it.

Will you not come to Jesus now, with the publican’s cry,

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner?” He will hear you, and He will pardon and cleanse you.

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

“The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, eleanseth us from all sin.”

Come, then, to the Saviour; and come now.

ML 07/25/1943

"Come unto Me"

A young convert was called to the bedside of a dying girl. In broken sentences she told the story of a mis-spent life. The only child of her parents, she had been carefully watched over by a loving father and a praying mother. But death removed the mother when the child was growing up; Ulm a gay step-mother took the vacant place. After the mother’s death the poor girl went with gay companions, and now as she lay dying, she feared to face the God she had sinned against. When she fell asleep, as she sometimes did for a few moments, she kept repeating, “Come onto Me,” and when asked what she meant, she said this was the first verse she had learned in the Sunday school, and now it was ringing in her ears. She asked that it might be reated. And so in the stillness of the death chamber these blessed words were main uttered in her ear and they were the last words on her lips:

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

How much happiness down here she might have had, if she had come to Him when she first heard that kind invitation!

ML 07/25/1943

Come to Jesus Now

Little children, come to Jesus,

Youthful days are dying fast,

And your happy golden morning,

With the years will soon be past.

Come while He is gently calling-,

Now the door is open wide,

Enter quickly ere it closes,

Take your stand with Him inside.

Little children, wait no longer,

Till your love has colder grown,

While your heart is young and tender,

Claim the Saviour for your own.

Jesus died for little children,

Lifted high on Calvary;

His shed blood the mighty ransom,

Such the cost to set you free.

Little children, He is waiting,

At your heart’s door now He stands,

Knocking, pleading, for a welcome,

Holding out His blessed hands.

Lowly bow the knee before Him;

Let your heart believe His word;

Jesus loves the little children,

Sweetest story ever heard.

ML 07/25/1943

Forgiveness

Matthew 18:23-35

Here is another view of the kingdom of heaven where a certain king took account of his servant, and of what they had been doing, so God takes notice of all that we do, nothing is hidden from Him.

One man was brought before the king who owed him 10,000 talents. That amounts to about $2,357,500.00, a large sum of money, isn’t it? You could not pay that debt, nor neither could I.

The man was to be sold, his wife and children and all that he had, in order to pay that debt, but with all that, it would not be enough to pay that large sum of money.

What was the poor man to do! He was in great distress, and fell down before his lord and said,

“Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.”

The man made a promise that he could not keep, so the king felt sorry for him and forgave him all the debt.

Was that not wonderful grace, (undeserved favor) shown to the man, and he should have said,

“I will see how much grace I can show to others, to let others see how glad I am that I have been forgiven so great a debt,”

Dear children, we all have sinned against God, and our sins have been piling up every day, for years, and we could not pay God enough to have even one sin forgiven, and how could we pay for the great pile of sins, What shall we do!

God in His love to us sent the Lord Jesus into this world to be the Saviour, and those who will accept Him as their own Saviour, He forgives all their sins and makes them fit to live with Him forever.

But what did the man do who had been forgiven such a huge debt? He went out and found another man who owed him the small amount of about $15,00, and when he could not pay, he took him by the throat, and cast him into prison till he could pay him the small sum.

Children, what do you think the man should have done who had been forgiven the very large debt?

We would have supposed that after he had been forgiven such an enormous debt, he could easily have forgiven the small one.

The first man shows us just how wicked our own hearts are. We know, if anyone says anything against us, how we rise in anger about it, and make a great fuss, and do not forgive the one who we may feel has done us the wrong. Perhaps it amounts to very little, and we could easily overlook it and say nothing about it. People could not say anything against us that would compare to what was said against the Lord Jesus, and He did not, make trouble about it. He was meek and lowly.

When the lord found out what the first man had done, he said,

“O, thou wicked servant” (let us not give our Lord the occasion to say that about us), I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest tne: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?”

He was delivered to the tormentors, till he should pay all.

“So likewise shall My heavenly Father also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses.”

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

ML 07/25/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“The Children’s Class”

1.“Continue in prayer, etc. Col. 4:2.

2.“In whom we have,” etc.1:14.

3.“As ye have,” etc. 2:6.

4.“But my God,” etc. Phil. 4:19.

5. “For our,” etc. 3:20.

6. “And being found,” etc. 2:8.

7.To “obey your parents in all things.” Colossians 3:20.

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, “He that shall come will come.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Endured the cross, despising the shame.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Appointed unto men once to die.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Laid the foundation of the earth.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “If we neglect so great salvation.”

7. What did Moses refuse?

Answers to Bible Questions for May

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Philippians 4:2.

2.With salt. Colossians 4:6.

3. A shadow of things to come. Colossians 2:17.

4. The resurrection from among the dead. Philippians 3:11.

5. Paul. Colossians 1:25.

6. In that Christ was preached. Philippians 1:18.

7. At the Name of Jesus. Philippians 2:10.

Bible Questions for August

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Hebrews

1.Why should we be content with such things as we have?

2.What gives us boldness to enter into the holiest?

3.To Whom was it said, “Thy throne, O God, is forever”?

4.Whom did the Word preached not profit?

5.Who is the Apostle of our profession?

6.Who is made higher than the heavens?

7.What city do Christians seek?

ML 08/01/1943

What Shall I Give?

Away in the northwest, a Christian missionary was preaching the Gospel to a company of Indians. As he spoke of the love of God, an old Indian chief arose, walked forward, and laid his tomahawk at the missionary’s feet.

“Indian chief give his tomahawk to Jesus Christ,” said he, and sat down.

Still the missionary went on speaking of the love of Him “who though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.”

Presently the old chief rose again, and walked forward once more to the front. Unwrapping his blanket from his shoulders, he laid that at the preacher’s feet, saying,

“Indian chief give his blanket to Jesus Christ.”

But still the preacher went on, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Again the old chief rose and disappeared from the meeting. By and by he came leading his pony to the tent door. He tied it to a stake and again walked up the aisle. Facing the missionary, he said,

“Indian chief give his pony to Jesus Christ,” and sat down.

But now as the missionary continued to speak of the love of God, who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, tears began to stream down the dark cheeks of the old Indian. Rising for the last time., he walked forward to the front of the tent, and kneeled down before the missionary. With trembling lips, he said,

“Indian chief give himself to Jesus Christ.”

Dear children, do you realize that Jesus wants you, not your works, or your things, or a part of your time, but you, yourselves. He loved you so much that He came from heaven to seek and save you when you were lost. He longs for you to come to Him, and He says,

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

ML 08/01/1943

If You Please Make Me a Christian

A missionary said, I well recollect in the course of my labors, a poor Hindoo youth who followed me about the garden of the school, asking of me to make him a Christian.

“It is impossible, my dear boy; it is possible only through the Lord Jesus Christ ... Pray to Him.”

How well I recollect the sweet voice and face of that boy, when he soon after came to me, and said,

“The Lord Jesus Christ has come, and taken up His place in my heart.”

“How is that?”

“I prayed and said, O, Lord Jesus Christ, if you please make me a Christian! and He was so kind, that He came down from heaven, and has lived in my heart ever since.”

How simple and how touching!

“Lord Jesus Christ, if you please make me a “Christian!”

Can you say that you have made a similar appeal, in such a spirit as this poor Hindoo boy? Can you say, my young friends, that Jesus Christ has come down from heaven to live in your hearts?

Do you love Jesus who died to save you, reader?

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

ML 08/01/1943

The Orphan's Faith

What do you do without a mother to tell your troubles to?” said a child who had a mother, to one whose mother was dead.

“Mother told me whom to go to before she died,” answered the little orphan. “I go to the Lord Jesus. He was mother’s friend, and He is mine.”

“Jesus Christ is up in the sky; He is far away, and has a great many things to attend to in heaven. It is not likely He can stop to mind you.”

“I do not know about that,” said the orphan; “all I know is, He says He will, and that is enough for me.”

The orphan was right. God’s ear is open to babes, as to young men and fathers.

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

ML 08/01/1943

A Harmful Breakfast

The little birds do not realize that bees would not be good food for them, though they may be making great effort to catch them.

We too, often want things that would be harmful to us if we had them. Little babies will cry for a sharp, shining knife, but we could not give it to him, not because we do not love him, but out of kindness to him.

We ask the Lord for things we want, and many times in His goodness He gives them to us, while at other times, as the little girl said, He says “NO,” out of His kindness and wisdom towards us. He knows the things we want would be harmful to us, and we would bring dishonor to Him, through them. He is all-wise and knows the end from the beginning. He makes no mistakes.

“O GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD; FOR HE IS GOOD.” 1 Chron. 16:34.

ML 08/01/1943

A Young Man's Choice

Matthew 19

Jesus left Galilee, where He had spent the most of His life on earth, to go to Jerusalem, about sixty miles south in Judea. His disciples were with Him and no doubt they walked, and were several days on the journey. The people who lived on the way had heard of Jesus, and brought the sick for Him to heal.

Some brought their little children for Him to speak words of blessing to them, but the disciples thought they should not trouble Him. Jesus saw they were sending them away, and He said,

“Suffer (let) little children, and forbid them not to come unto Me.”

He put His hands on their heads, and yoke in blessing for them, and took the very little ones in His arms. It is happy for us now to think how ready Jesus was to have the children come to Him, and showed His love for them (See also Mark 10:13-16).

There was one young man who came to ask Jesus a question: he knew that his life on earth would not last always, and he asked what he could do to have life that would not end,—eternal life.

Jesus told the young man that if he would “enter into life,” to keep the laws God had told Moses for Israel. The young man belonged to that nation and knew those laws, and he asked which law he must keep. Jesus named the laws which told how the people should treat each other, the sum of those being,

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

The young man said, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”

Jesus answered him that if be would be perfect, to go and sell his property and give to the poor, and come and follow Him.

Do you think he did as Jesus said? No, he turned away from Jesus. He was very rich and did’ not want to share his things with others, although he said he had always kept the law, to love his neighbor as himself.

Jesus’ answers should have proved to the young man that he had not kept the laws of God, and that he had spoken falsely when he said that he had. That is what the law, given to Moses, teaches us all: we do not keep its perfect way. But to believe and follow Jesus is to have life eternal, which the young man would surely have found if he had believed Jesus, instead he chose his wealth, which was a sad choice.

After the young man had gone away, Jesus told His disciples that it was hard for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom. He said,

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

No doubt the Lord Jesus meant a common sewing needle. With men this way impossible. So it was impossible for a rich man, naturally, to leave his wealth; God only could show him it was better to believe and follow Jesus.

Whatever I may have and trust in, besides Christ, makes it impossible, but with God (and may we bless Him for it), all things are possible, no matter what the difficulties may be. All difficulties give God the opportunity to overcome everything that would hinder us to enter into the kingdom by His own power and grace.

ML 08/01/1943

The Hungry Kittens

Poor hungry little kittens! How they do long for the milk they usually find in the bowl. The grasshopper seems not to understand their plight.

When milk was put in regularly, do you suppose they appreciated it? Human beings are inclined to take the supplying of their daily needs for granted, and then complain when these provisions are cut off.

Now, as many know, the word “milk” is sometimes used to mean the Word of God. How easy it is now to obtain a Bible and to read it, and thus obtain the necessary food for our souls. Yet this food is not prized as highly by a great many people as it was when people had to save their earnings for many months, and then walk perhaps fifty miles to buy a Bible.

The empty bowl suggests two things which show the necessity of feeding well on the “sincere milk of the Word” while we can do so. One is, we may lose our eyesight, and we then would wish we had read the Bible more, and learned more about the Lord Jesus. The other is the fact that in some countries people are not allowed to own a copy or to read the Scriptures.

We cannot tell how long we may have our eyesight, or how long we may be permitted to read God’s Word. If we have taken Christ as our Saviour, we do know that whatever of this blessed Book we have fed upon and hidden in our hearts, Is ours to enjoy throughout all eternity.

“Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against. Thee.” Psalms 119:11.

“THE SCRIPTURE SATH, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.” Rom. 10:11.

ML 08/08/1943

How Shall Lou Escape?

It is now nearly two years since the Lord showed me myself. About that time God was working mightily in my home, saving several of my brothers and sisters, and seeing them rejoicing in the Saviour they had found, made me long to know the blessed peace and joy that they possessed.

There was a mission being held in the place where I lived, and there I heard the glad tidings of salvation to lost sinners proclaimed. The preacher spoke from those words in Hebrews 2:3.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so, reat salvation?” and asked us how we thought we were going to escape, if we vent on neglecting such salvation.

“How shall you escape?” again he said. These words sank deep into my heart; I shall never forget how I trembled when he uttered them, for it made me wonder how I should escape.

After the meeting was over, I returned home, feeling very miserable on account of my sins, and went to my room and knelt down by the side of my bed, and tried to pray. But I felt I could not, for the burden of sin was so great, and Satan tried to delude me by telling me that I was as good as others, and that if I kept on trying I should get to heaven at last. This did not satisfy the longing I had within. I had been under conviction of sin for about a week when I heard that grand and glorious verse, John 3:16,

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

O, how I received those words of life! They seemed to come straight from God to my sinsick soul.

I was going Out at the close of the meeting, when a young man at the door asked me if I were saved. I felt I could not answer him, although I knew not why. I went home, and again at my bedside poured out my heart to God. Then the burden rolled away forever, as our blessed Lord showed me that coming to Him, I must put all thoughts of self away, and trust entirely to Him. All that night I could hardly sleep, I was so overwhelmed with the new-found joy I had in believing.

Shortly afterward Satan seemed to whisper to me,

“You are not saved after all.”

This made me very unhappy, and began to wonder if I really was saved. Then the Spirit of God led me to that verse 1 jolm 5:13,

“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.” These blessed words removed all doubts and fears, and gave me full assurance.

Now, I can rejoice, knowing that my blessed Saviour has saved my never-dying soul in a little while I shall dwell with Him in glory, where all sorrow and suffering shall be done away with; but during this little while He has left me down here, my desire is to work for Him, and to tell of His love, and willingness to save all who come to Him.

O, dear reader, if you would be saved, it must be by the precious blood of Christ, that flowed on Calvary!

Can you go on unheeding the blessed Saviour who has done so much for sinners? O, come and trust Him, and may the Saviour that I have found, be your Saviour, too. I can say from experience, that I knew no true joy until I came to Him and was saved. I then belonged to the Lord. His own rejoice in Him now, and also will rejoice in Him when they are with Him through the unending ages of eternity,

“And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood.” Revelation 5.9.

ML 08/08/1943

"I Am Sure Jeus Loves Me"

While I was visiting at a hospital at B. my attention was attracted towards the little girl of whom I am about to tell.

I walked across the ward, and seated myself by little Lizzie’s side. Marks of suffering were visible on the little wan face and yet it was lighted up by a look of peace and restfulness that contrasted strangely with many of the sufferers around. Some faces were very sad, but Lizzie’s was sweet and calm.

To my joy, I found that Lizzie, though so young, was resting on the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the Sunday school she heard how He had died for poor sinners, just like she felt herself to be. She had believed the wonderful story of His grace towards her, and now she was lying in the hospital happy, and perfectly contented in the knowledge of her Saviour’s love.

“Lizzie,” I said some time later, as I saw it was time to go, “I want you to tell me what makes you so happy?”

Her dark eyes quite beamed in answer to my question, and her little face brightened into a beautiful smile, as she readily replied,

“It is because I am sure that Jesus loves me.”

Dear little Lizzie. No wonder that she was happy. She had the Lord Jesus for her Friend, and the constant thought of His love made her perfectly content.

Dear children, can you say, like Lizzie,

“I am sure Jesus loves me?” If not, why not? Believe and trust Him as Lizzie did; and then you will realize, also, the joy of the Saviour’s love to you.

You have heard of Jesus, the Saviour of sinners, and how He condescends to become the Unchanging Friend of each boy and girl who trusts Him for salvation. You may have Him as your Saviour; and then you will know what it is to be perfectly happy. He waits to bless you, and whispers those blessed words of forgivess and. peace.

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

A Candle

A man once said, “I have no more influence than a candle.”

“Well,” was the reply, “a candle can do a great deal; it can set a hay-stack on fire; it can burn down a house; yea, more, it will enable a poor creature to read a chapter in God’s book. Go your way, friend, let your candle so shine before men, that others, seeing your good works, may glofy your Father which is in heaven.”

ML 08/08/1943

Just as I Am

Some time ago a poor boy came to a City Missionary with a dirty, worn out piece of paper. He said,

“Please, sir, father sent me to get a clean paper like this.’

Opening it out the missionary found it was a leaflet, containing that beautiful hymn,

“Just as I am—without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee;

O Lamb of God, I come!”

The man asked the boy where he got it, and why he wanted a clean one.

The boy replied, “We found it, sir, in sister’s pocket after she died. She used to be always singing it while she was sick, and she loved it so much, that father wanted to get a clean one, and to put it in a frame and hang it up. Won’t you give me a clean one, sir?”

This sweet, simple hymn given to the little girl in a Sunday school, or perhaps by some one on the street, seems to have been by God’s blessing the means of brinng her to Christ.

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

ML 08/08/1943

In a Vineyard

Matthew 20

This is one of the stories told by Jesus:

“A man went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

“He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place, and he said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

“Again he went out about the sixth and ninth. hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, ‘Why stand ye here all the day idle’? They say unto him, ‘Because no man hath hired us.’ He saith unto them, ‘Go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.”

When the day’s work was done, the owner told the caretaker to pay each man the same,—a penny (which was of value about 15 cents). The men who had worked all day, were angry that the men who worked only part of the day, should be given the same money as they.

But the owner told them he had given them what he had agreed, and had done them no wrong. But because he was kind, he had given the same to those who had not been sent so early. Jesus said this was like the kingdom of heaven; goodness would be shown to all. Those who, deserved little would be most grateful, would they not?

The mother of two disciples, sons of Zebedee, came to ask Jesus for the places of high honor for them. Jesus answered that those places would be given by God the Father. But He said if any would be great they should serve others:

“Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Those are very wonderful words, for “to minister” means to serve others; Jesus came to serve while on earth, and to give His life to save, to ransom, all who would believe Him. He was then on the way to Jerusalem where He knew He would suffer and die, yet He kept on doing good, “serving” the needs of the people.

As Jesus and the disciples walked along the highway, many people joined them. At one place there were two blind men sitting by the road. It seems they had before heard of Jesus and His power to heal, and they believed He was the holy One to come from God, so when they learned He was passing so near them, they called out to Him,

“Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou Son of David.”

The people told them to keep still, but Jesus was willing, as always, to know the need, and He asked what they wished Him to do for them. They said, “Lord, that our eyes be opened”. They meant that they should see.

Jesus touched their eyes and healed them, and they showed their gratitude by going on with Him. It must have been very blessed for them to see Him.

What were the names of the two sons of Zebedee? (Matt. 4:21).

The name of one of the blind men is given in Mark 10:46.

ML 08/08/1943

"Five Years Old Today"

You can guess why the little boy in the picture holds up his five fingers. Yes, he was just five years old on the day the picture was taken.

These five, wee, chubby fingers remind me of a very wonderful Name that has just five letters in it —J E S U S. This is the name that means “Saviour”, the name of the One Who said,

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

Five years before the picture was taken this little lad was born into his parent’s family, and we know his coming gave them great joy. But think of the greater joy God, the Father, has when such little ones are born into HIS family! “How can that be?” I hear someone say. Oh, it is so simple! If one believes that Jesus died for him, and by simple faith takes Jesus as his own Saviour, then he is “born of God,” or “born from above” —yes, born into God’s own family for Jesus Exactly Suits Us Sinners and though we were all born in sin, because Adam, our first father sinned and we, ourselves have sinned more than any of us know, yet,

“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 08/15/1943

O, I Am so Glad!

Some time ago I was traveling with a Native Evangelist from India. We had been holding meetings and God greatly blessed the Word, and many yielded themselves to God. Leaving there for a distant part we took the train for a six days’ journey.

My friend was dressed in European clothes, but wore his turban as a distinive mark that he was an Indian. As we took our seats, I noticed a girl about foueen get in with her mother. She kept looking at my friend, and I could not help being amused.

The curiosity of the child got stronger, till at last she said to me,

“Please, sir, is that a real live Hindoo?” pointing at my friend.

“Yes,” I replied.

“O, I am so glad; can I speak to him? Do you know I have often thought about the Hindoos. In our mission band we give our money to convert the Hindoos. O, I would like to talk to him.” I told her how glad he would be to speak to her.

“He knows English well, and loves children,” I said. So I introduced her to him. She asked him a great many questions about India, its customs and ways, what they ate, and what kind of clothes they wore?

At last she got through, and then my friend said, “Now you have asked me a lot of questions, it is my turn to ask you some. May I?”

“O, yes,” she replied.”

“Have you really given your heart to Jesus? Can you say your sins are all forgiven? You have sent your money to India to convert the heathen, but are you converted?”

You ought to have seen the change in her face; how all the brightness went out of it. She hung her head, and spoke so low we could scarcely hear her say, “I am not sure I can say so.”

My friend put his hand on her arm in such a loving way, and spoke so pleadingly, that it quite won her heart.

“Well, and would you not like to be quite sure?”

And he went on to tell her all about Jesus—how much He loved her, what He suffered, and how he bled and died on the cross so that her sins could be forgiven, and to make her His own dear child.

She looked up with tears in her eyes and said,

“O, yes I would.”

So he showed her how she could be saved. First to see herself a sinner, and confess her sins, and then to take Jesus as her own personal Saviour, by believing what God says in the Bible, that Jesus bore all her sins in His own body on the tree.

The dear girl, then and there, just took Jesus as her own personal Saviour, and O, how glad she was. We did thank God.

The next day they got off the train, as she was leaving, she came up with such a beaming, happy face to say goodbye, and said,

“O, I am so glad I met you, for now I can say Jesus is my own Saviour.”

I shall never forget her bright, smiling face, and the joy she had when she said,

“Now, I know my sins are all forgiven, and I belong to Jesus.”

Now, dear boys and girls, or you who may read this, supposing I were to ask you this same question. Are your sins forgiven? What would you say? —Would you hang your head like this little girl did? Or could you look up brightly and say,

“Yes, thank God, for Jesus’ sake, all my sins have been forgiven, and Jesus is my own Saviour.” Which would you do?

If you are not quite sure, I beg you for yet, I own soul’s sake, for Jesus’ sake, Who bled and died for your sins, give yourself to Him right away.

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

ML 08/15/1943

Found Out

Mother had been shopping, and when she returned she left the laden basket on the table, while she went to take off her hat. Her little girl was playing in the room, and as she passed the basket, she noticed a paper bag, looking like a bag of candy on the top. Without pausing to think if she was doing wrong, she opened the bag, and saw inside some very nice coconut candy. Quick as thought she popped a piece in her mouth, and just at that moment a step was heard, and her elder sister came in,

“What are you eating?” she asked.

“Only a piece of apple,” said the little girl. She had just been eating an apple, and she thought she would not be questioned further.

“Are you sure?” asked her sister. The bag was still wide open, and she guessed what had happened.

“Yes,” said the child, feeling very uncomfortable, but determined not to give herself away.

“Open your mouth, then,” said her sister. When she did so, there, telling the tale plainly, as if it could speak, was a small piece of coconut.

O, how guilty she felt! She realized the truth of the verse,

“Be sure your sin will find you out.” She had been found out, and her lies were all exposed.

Her father drew her to him, and told her that God had seen her all the time, and even if it had not been found out, she had sinned against Him, and it was grievous in His sight.

He explained to her that it was Satan who had first tempted her, as he did Eve, to look, then to take what did not belong to her, and lastly to cover up her evil action with a lie.

However, he did not stop there, for he told her, too, of the precious Saviour so ready to forgive all who confess their sins to Him.

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

ML 08/15/1943

Simple Thanks

One November day little Dora, five years of age, was walng out with her aunt. The sun had not been visible all the morning when suddenly a ray of brightness darted full in their faces, and little Dora exclaimed,

“O auntie, how beautiful! I do like the sun!”

“Does my darling know who made the sun to shine?” asked the aunt, with a smile.

“Yes,” replied the child, pointing up: wards; “It was God in heaven.” And the little girl kissed her hand up to the sky three times; then turned to her aunt and said,

“Auntie, I have sent three kisses to the Lord, and He will be sure to have them, bacause the angels will carry them to Him. Perhaps He will send me some back when I’m asleep.”

Auntie looked fondly at the little prattler as she asked,

“Why did you send the kisses, Dora?” “To thank Him for sending His sun out,” replied the child.

And the aunt thought,

“This little child is thanking God for one of His most common mercies; yet not only common, but special mercies. have often been unacknowledged by me!”

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.” Psalms 107:1.

ML 08/115/1943

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 take my hand;

He will kindly lead me

To the better land.

ML 08/15/1943

The Lowly King

Matthew 21:1 to 17

Behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just and hang salvation (coming to save); lowly, and riding upon an ass.” Zechariah 9:9.

Those words were written by one of the last prophets of Israel, about five hundred years before Jesus was on earth, and made true by Him on His last visit to Jerusalem.

Before He entered the city gates, He told two of His disciples to go to a village near, and they would see an ass (we would call a donkey) tied there and its colt with it. They were to untie them mid tell the owner, “The Lord hath need of them.”

The men went and found the animals as Jesus said, and the owner was willing they should be taken. The disciples placed their cloaks on the donkey, and Jesus rode into the city, with the disciples and many people walking beside.

The people had seen the great miracles of Jesus, and heard His words, and believed Him to be their King from God, and were happy to honor Him. They called Him “Son of David” the title for their king, and called out the words of a psalm,

“Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord,” which meant that He was sent by God; and they also called out to Him, “Hosanna”, which meant “Lord save us” (Psa. 118:25,26).

As they went on into the city, more people joined them, till it was a very great procession, and all the city knew, and saw the honor given to Jesus. They went up the hill to the temple and into the court, still singing psalms of praise. The children of the company sang in the temple, “Lord save us”, and called Jesus “Son of David.”

But the leaders of the temple did not like to hear Jesus praised and wanted Him to stop them. Jesus did not stop the sinng of the children; but answered the men with words from a psalm which they well knew, showing God wanted the praise of the children (Psa. 8:2).

But Jesus was not crowned king; the leaders of the nation refused Him. They should have remembered the words of the prophets and “greatly rejoiced”, as they were told to, since they had seen His miracles on other visits, and known His power.

Jesus only showed His right to rule, by sending out of the temple men who were wrongly selling things there, and dishost. He showed His mercy by curing the lame and blind who were there, as He always did.

The ride of Jesus into the city may not seem to us worthy for a king; but Solomon and other kings rode the same way; the kings of Israel were to be humble, to rule by God’s power (see 1 Kings 1:32-39). But no king was just, and humble as Jesus.

What was the name of the mount where Jesus started the ride? (Matt. 21:1).

What was used to decorate the road? (Matt. 21:8).

What did Jesus say the temple should be? (Matt. 21:13; Isa. 56:7).

ML 08/15/1943

God's Gifts

These gentle creatures feeding

Upon a woodland hill,

Are happy and contented

Where all is wild and still.

The God of all creation,

Who marks the sparrow’s fall

Is One who never slumbers,

But watches over all.

He sends the rain and sunshine

To every creature here;

He gives them food and shelter,

And all that life holds dear.

But there’s one gift, dear reader,

That Man alone can claim,—

The gift of life eternal

Through faith in Jesus’ Name.

For man alone possesses

A never-dying soul—

A soul that keeps on living

While endless ages roll.

The soul of man by nature

Is sinful and defiled,—

To save itself, as helpless

As any infant child.

But God Himself has given

His well-beloved Son,

A sacrifice most holy,

To cleanse the guilty one.

Believe in Him, dear reader,

Accept this gift divine,

For on His blood relying,

Salvation must be thine.

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

ML 08/22/1943

"My Sins Are All Forgiven"

One very hot summer day I was sitting by a patient in one of the wards of an Infirmary. All the beds in the long room were occupied; and my attention was presently attracted by a woman stooping over a bed, and fondly kissing a pale-faced little girl.

When she was gone, I went over.

“Fanny R., aged 14,” was written on the ticket at the bed’s head.

I found that she was ill, and got but little better. The doctors, she told me, did not say whether she would recover.

I soon found that she did not know the Lord Jesus, or the forgiveness of sins; but she looked at me earnestly while I spoke of His love; and when I saw her again, in a week or two, she warmly weomed me.

“O! no,” she said, “she could not say that she was saved; she wished to be; she prayed to be; but she was not happy.”

Not long afterward, I was surprised to meet her in the street.

“O! Miss, I am so glad to see you.” “Why, Fanny! are you so much better?”

“Yes, I am better,” she said; “but I am only out of the Infirmary now for an hour’s walk.”

“Well, and have you been thinking of Jesus since I saw you?”

“O! yes; and what is best, He has forgiven all my sins.”

“Has He?”

“Yes, I know He has; and I’m so happy now. I did ask Him to, every since the first time you came to see E. K.”

Fanny soon left the Infirmary, and came to live at home, close to where I held a little class on a Sunday afternoon. She used to come in with her bright, beaming face, and sit and listen.

“O! I am very happy,” she used to say. “I have Jesus, my precious Saviour, always with me.”

“Fanny,” I said, one day, before some of her neighbors, “you know that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, don’t you?”

“O! yes,” she replied, with such a smile. Her little Bible was always beside her. I never saw a cloud on her sweet face.

“I do love Jesus, and I know He loves me,” would be often her joyful exclamation.

One Sunday afternoon as I was leaving her, she held my hand and said,

“O! Miss, I can’t be afraid to die now, for my sins are all forgiven; and I would rather go to be with Jesus, than stay here. I long to see Him.”

“But He is with you now, Fanny, is He not?”

“O! yes; He is precious.”

“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 08/22/1943

Do Not Close Your Eyes

I am sure you boys and girls who read this paper know right well the story in the Old Testament of the bitten Israelites and the brazen serpent; how Moses, at God’s command, made that serpent of brass, and hoisted it upon a pole, that those who were bitten by the fiery serpents might “look and live.”

I was telling this story very simply to some little friends of mine, and I asked a little boy among them if he thought there were any there, even among the Youngest, who would not be able to see this serpent in the camp of Israel. His simple answer was,

“No, unless they closed their eyes to it.”

These were solemn words, although they fell from the lips of a little boy. This serpent of brass was indeed lifted up in their midst, so that they might “look and live”; but what if they closed their eyes, and would not look, and so did not see? Alas! then nothing but death was before them.

Perhaps those who closed their ears, and hearts to that wonderful message, “Look and live,” thought that it was too simple, too easy a way to be cured of such a deadly bite; but, then, nothing but certain death was before them, for it was only as many as looked who lived.

Now, for a moment, turn to John 3:14,15, and you will read of One of whom the serpent of brass lifted up was but a faint picture. God’s well-beloved Son has been lifted up on the shameful cross for poor sinners who were ready to perish, lost and guilty. Many times He has been held up. as the only Saviour, the only Refuge, the only Escape from the terrible consequences of sin.

Have you looked in faith to Him? Have you that eternal life which is given to those who believe? Often, it may be, your lost condition in the sight of a holy God has been put before you, your danger and your need. Have you believed that it is indeed all true? or have you closed your eyes to it? Open your eyes now, and look to Christ; open your ears now, and believe His message; and open your heart, and let that precious Saviour, now glorified, enter with all the blessings He so longs to bestow upon you.

The dear little boy of whom I told you did look to Jesus, because he felt his need: and he was fit for God’s presence, and he had eternal life given to him. Let it not be said of you that you closed your eyes to that once uplifted Saviour, and that yogi closed your ears and heart to all His offers of grace and mercy.

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved.” Isa. 45:22.

ML 08/22/1943

Who Loved Me and Gave Himself for Me

Galatians 2:20

What would you do, my little fellow,” said a Christian to a boy, “if your father and mother were to go away from you, and leave you alone in the world?”

“If they did that I should not be left alone, I should still have Jesus,” replies the boy.

“Most assuredly you would, my dear child, and the Lord grant that you may never lose your happy confidence in Him; but what makes you think that Jesus would still remain with you, if all your friends left you?”

“Because the Bible says that Jesus died for me, and if He loved me so much as to come all the way from heaven to die for me, I know He will take care of me, until He comes to take me to His beautiful home.”

“But, my dear child, you might die and be laid in the cold grave before Jesus comes, and what then?”

“If I were to die, my soul would go to Jesus at once, so it would only be my body that was laid in the ground, and when Jesus comes He would raise that up too, and change it like His own, and then both my body and my soul would be joined together, and I should he with Him forever.”

In reading the foregoing the following beautiful scriptures came to my mind:—

“When my father and my mother foake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Psalms 27:10.

“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.

“He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5,6.

“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 08/22/1943

A Fig Tree

Matthew 21:11-32

In the morning as Jesus returned into the city (Jerusalem), He hungered. And when. He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, ‘Let no fruit grown on thee hencorward forever,’ And presently the fig tree, withered away.

“And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, ‘How soon is the fig tree withered away!’”

Perhaps you have never seen fig trees and they are different from most trees, as they grow only in some warm lands, and you may not know, the fruit begins to grow on the branches before the leaves. The figs are first tiny round green bunches, and as the big glossy leaves grow, are often hidden. On a good fig tree, more figs grow later, so there is a second crop of figs.

If the fig tree Jesus came to, had been good tree, there would have been fruit on it when the leaves were out. But there was no fruit, just leaves.

Jesus was Creator of all things, and it was sad, that when He was hungry that morning, there was no fruit for Him. Because of that, He said the tree should never have fruit, and at once it withered and died. The men with. Jesus were surprised; but He bad power over the tree, as over all things.

The people of that land should have gladly cared for the needs of the Lord Jesus, that He should not have been hury, and should have honored Him as their Creator and Lord. Because they did not, they have, as a nation, “withered,” with nothing for God.

And if we have nothing for the Lord Jesus in our lives, we too, will be useless to Him as the fig tree.

Jesus told this story about two young men:

“A certain man had two sons: he said to the first, ‘Son, go work in my vinyeard.’ The son answered, ‘I will not”: but afterward he repented and went.”

The man spoke the same to his other son, who answered “I go, sir”: but went not.

It was not right for the son to say he would not work in his father’s vineyard. But, because afterward he was sorry and went he was better to his father than the other, who said he would go and work, but did not do so at all.

Jesus told the men of Jerusalem these stories that they should think about their wrong ways, and do God’s way, and they teach us the same.

The Lord Jesus says to us now:

“Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

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

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

ML 08/22/1943

The Spring

A dear little girl has come with her mother to get some water. What a beautiful trust the child has in her mother, for she is conscious of her mother’s love and care.

There is One whom we should ever trust as this small child does her mother. It is the Lord, Who is ever caring for us. He says:

“TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING.” Proverbs 3:5.

The Lord does not ask us to pay for the things He gives us: they are as free as the water at this spring. And better than the air, sunshine and water without which we could not live, is the “Water of Life,” which we can get only from the Lord. He says,

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

“Whosoever drinketh of the water than I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.” Isa. 55:1.

ML 08/29/1943

A Wonderful Magnet

I wonder how many of my readers know what a magnet is. I suppose many of you have seen the strange little piece of steel that can pick up another piece of steel or iron and hold it tight to itself. Very often we see magnets shaped like little horse shoes, and how intresting they are to play with! But today I want to tell you about a much bier one, a big round one, as big as a wagon wheel. Besides little pieces of steel or iron, this one can lift great big pieces—pieces far bigger than any man could lift.

A few months ago some men had to move a very big pile of little tiny pieces of steel, some no bigger than your little finger nail, and yet the pile was as big as a house. They shoveled all the top part of the pile into railway cars and took them away. When they got down to the boom of the pile, they could not do this, as they shoveled too much dirt up with the steel or else left much of the steel behind.

At last someone thought of this big magnet I was telling you about. They brought it over to the place where the pieces of steel were lying and moved it about in the air a little above the steel, and, O! children, it was wonderful to see all hose little pieces of steel come out from under the dirt and go up to meet the manget in the air.

They were all caught up by the magnet. None were left behind. Bright, shining pieces—old, dirty, rusty pieces, the magnet drew them all up to itself in the air. But none of the dirt went up to meet the magnet. It was every bit left behind.

I am, sure this reminds you, as it did me, of a far more wonderful time, when, instead of little pieces of steel being caught up to meet a magnet, boys and girls an men and women, whose sins are washed away in the precious blood of Christ, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. It makes us think of that time when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

Just as every bit of true steel was attracted by the magnet from the midst of all the dirt around, so every one, who is a true believer in the Lord Jesus, will be attracted by His power, to HIMSELF, and when He gives that shout, each one will rise off this sad old earth to meet the Lord in the air.

O, dear reader, will you be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, when He comes for His own, or—awful thought—will you, like the dirt, be left behind?

“Shall we gather at His coming,

When the dead in Christ arise?

Shall we hear the Saviour’s summons

To His home beyond the skies?

Yes, we’ll gather at His coming,

His glorious, His glorious coming,

Gather with His saints at His coming

If washed in the Saviour’s blood.”

ML 08/29/1943

Saved

I can recall distinctly an incident that occurred during my boyhood.

I was strolling leisurely down a narrow pathway, on the right of which was a cornfield, on the left a running stream, broad and deep.

I had noticed in the distance two little children sitting on a stile at the top of the bank near the stream.

As I wended my way towards them, I observed that quite suddenly they had both disappeared from view, and knowing it to be a dangerous part, I hastened to the spot, and to my horror found that the younger child had slipped from the stile, rolled down the bank, and was now struggling in the deep water. The elder child stood by terrified, and unable to render any assistance other than raising an alarm. As quick as I could I rushed to the waterside, and my arm being longer and stronr than the elder child’s, I was able to reach, and to save the little one from drowning-.

She had been in imminent danger of being drowned. She also knew full well that she needed a saviour. But now she was saved, and she knew it. It was well for her that I was so near and able to save her. Now this may remind us of the following scriptures:

“Mighty to save.” “Able to save.”

Years rolled by, and the question of my own soul’s salvation was pressed upon me by an earnest Christian, and for the first time in my life it dawned upon me that I was in peril, and that I needed a Saviour, Him of whom it is written: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1:15.

My pressing need brought rue to that precious Saviour, whom I gladly accepted. Have you accepted Him?

ML 08/29/1943

Trust

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

“When I know Jesus as my Lord,

And that He died for sin,

‘Tis sweet to look beyond this world

And long to fly to Him.

Sweet to look inward and attend

The whispers of His love;

Sweet to look upward to the place

Where Jesus lives above.

Sweet to look back, and-see my name

In life’s fair book set down;

Sweet to look forward, and behold

Eternal joys My own.

Sweet to reflect how grace divine

My sins on Jesus laid;

Sweet to remember that His blood

My debt of sins has paid.

Sweet on His faithfulness to rest,

Whose love can never end;

Sweet on His covenant of grace

For all things to depend.

Sweet in the confidence of faith

To trust His firm decrees;

Sweet to lie passive in His hands,

And know no will but His.

Sweet, blessed hope! and I at last

Shall see Him and adore;

Be with His likeness satisfied,

And grieve and sin no more.

ML 08/29/1943

The Chinese Girl's Thanksgiving

In a little Gospel Room in Nanchang-fu the Gospel is preached to the Chinese in their own language, and the needs of the sick are attended to likewise.

A young woman from the country came one evening, and after having an abscess from which she suffered attended to, desired to stay over night. This is most unusual, as the natives are generally afraid of foreigners at first.

The second evening she attended the prayer meeting in the lady missionary’s home, and to the astonishment of all, she knelt down in the center of the circle and repeated over fifteen times the words, “Thanks be to God’s grace for taking away my sins.”

She had only heard the Gospel three times, but she knew her need of it, and welcomed it to her heart.

Reader, have you, like this heathen girl, discovered that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour?

You are, as surely as she was, for God’s Word declares,

“All have sinned.” Rom. 3:23.

And it also tells that Christ “gave Him, self a ransom for all,” (1 Tim. 2:6), for, YOU, as surely as for her.

Have you personally put in your claim, and said “for ME?”

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

ML 08/29/1943

The Vineyard Keepers

Matthew 21:33 to 46

Jesus told men of Jerusalem this parable (a story to teach a lesson):

“There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”

You see this owner had a well-prepared vineyard, with a thick hedge to keep out animals or thieves; a tower built for a watchman to stay in; and a press made to crush the grapes. He went away to a far land, leaving keepers in charge. When it was near time for the fruit to be gathered he sent servants to the vinard.

But the keepers would not give the servants any fruit, and treated them roughly, and at last killed them. The owner sent other servants who were treated the same cruel way.

When the owner heard what the keepers had done, he decided to send his own son to them; he said, “They will revence my son.” But, instead, when the owner’s son came, they said among themselves, “This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and seize on his inheritance.”

The rough men wanted the vineyard for themselves, and were so wicked they took the owner’s son and killed him, as they had the servants.

Jesus asked the men who listened to this story what should be done to the wicked keepers. They said those keepers should be punished and the vineyard put in charge of other men.

This parable was really the story of the nation, Israel: God had given them a good land and every blessing: they should have obeyed and greatly honored Him. But, instead, they had disobeyed His words, and cruelly treated His servants, the prophets. At last He sent His own Son, Jesus, and they showed Him no honor, but killed Him.

The men who were listening to Jesus, were even then trying to find cause to destroy Him, but feared to do so because they knew the people believed Him to be from God (vs. 46).

Jesus asked the men if they had not read the scripture which said, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become Head of the corner.”

The men knew those words, written in the psalms, but they would not believe that Jesus was the One meant, who would be rejected, but was to be the honored One, as the corner stone is of a building (Psa. 118:22). They refused Jesus as King and Lord, but God has given Him the place of honor. He has raised Him from the dead, and has seated Him at His own right hand in the glory, till He shall come forth to rule this world in righousness and PEACE. This world will not know Peace till then.

ML 08/29/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for June

“The Children’s Class”

1.“For the Lord,” etc. 1 Thess. 4:16.

2.“And the Lord,” etc. 3:12.

3.“But as we,” etc. 2:4.

4.“And to wait,” etc. 1:10.

5.“Whereunto he called,” etc. 2 Thess. 2:14.

6.“In flaming fire,” etc. 1:8.

7.“Peace and safety.” 1 Thess. 5:3.

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, “Suffered for sins, the just for the unjust.”

2.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The precious blood of Christ.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

5. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Ye ought to say, If the Lord will.”

6. Write in full the verse containing the words, “Every perfect gift is from above.”

7.Why should we cast all our care upon God?

Answers to Bible Questions for June

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.When He shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8.

2. Those who walk disorderly, contrary to the teachings of the Word. 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

3. Those who labor in the Lord’s work. 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13.

4.Jews. 1 Thessalonians 2:14,15.

5.As it is in truth, the Word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

6. For His Son from heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

7.From every appearance of evil. 1 Thess. 5:22.

Bible Questions for September

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in James and I and 2 Peter

1.What ought not so to be?

2.For what do we look?

3.Above all things, what must we have?

4.What is the sin of omission?

5.What are we to lay aside?

6.What happened to the angels that sinned?

7.What should be the attitude of the younger toward the elder?

ML 09/05/1943

"Will You Come with Me?"

It was a little girl, a cousin of my own, who was the means of leading me to Jesus. I was staying at my uncle’s farm during my summer vacation.

All the day long, I went in for boating, fishing and swimming in the river that ran along the end of his fields, and was enjoying myself, as I thought, immensely. But an incident occurred one day which turned my thoughts to a subject I had not thought much about before.

Being very hot, I went in for a bathe, and took cramp. Unable to move a limb, I sank like a stone, and must have been drowned, but for the aid rendered by a servant from my uncle’s farm, who heard my cry, and came along to the spot just in time to save me alive. I had never been so near death before, never in fact had I thought of it so far as I personally was concerned, or where I would be after. But that narrow escape, set me thinking, and brought realities of eternity very near.

My uncle and aunt were true Christians, and I have no doubt, had prayed for me, and watched an opportunity to speak to me of Jesus; but they possibly knew that I was very proud, and would resent it, unless the Lord gave a suitable oppounity.

When I got to the farm, still shivering with excitement, my uncle gave me a warm bath, and put me to bed, patting my cheek as he left me to sleep, and saying,

“What a mercy, Walter, you were rescued; you might have been in Eternity.

That word “Eternity” stuck to me. Next day I was better. My little cousin May, a bright little girl, came up to me as I was going off into the country, and said,

“Cousin Walter, we are going to the tent tomorrow; will you come with me?”

I had heard my uncle and aunt speak of a friend of theirs, an evangelist, who had pitched a canvas tent in a town some miles away, and was preaching in it. Uncle proposed that we should drive across on the Sunday afternoon, and attend the meeting. He had not definitely asked me to go, perhaps he thought it wise to leave it till nearer the time, in case I had some excuse; but May, of her own accord, was the first to invite me. I could not well refuse, and, although I had no particular wish to spend the Sunday evening in that way, I was in a rather religious mood after my late deliverance, so I told my little cousin I would go. This pleased her immensely, and she ran into the house to tell her mother.

A long drive through a finely wooded country brought us to the tent, which stood in the corner of a field near to a river. The seats were all filled, and the canvas sides taken down to allow those who sat on the grass outside to hear. My uncle and aunt found seats near to the speaker, and little May—who clung close to me—pointed to a spot on a grassy knoll, where we might sit close enough to hear, yet not to be seen by the preacher.

The address was on “Salvation—eternal, present, and free”; and, although I do not now remember all its points, it showed me that I needed to be saved, and that God had provided salvation for me. I believe it was during the meeting that I trusted myself to Jesus, but it was only on the way home, while uncle was telling me how God saved him thirty years before, that I really saw clearly I was saved, and confessed the Lord. That was a happy day to me,—the beginning of days for on that day I was born into the family of God. Praise His Name, I am there still, and ever will be. So may you too, for Jesus is still mighty to save.

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

ML 09/05/1943

"All Things Are Ready, Come"

“All things are ready, Come!”

Come to the supper spread!

Come, rich and poor, come old and young,

Come, and be richly fed!

“All things are ready, Come!”

O make no vain excuse—

No yoke of oxen, wife, or field

Instead of Jesus choose.

“All things are ready, Come!”

The door is open wide.

O feast upon the love of God

For Christ, His Son, has died.

“All things are ready, Come

” Tomorrow may not be:

O, children, come! the Saviour waits,

This hour to welcome thee!

ML 09/05/1943

Thirsty

When we go out among hills and streams we will find here and there a spring clear cold water bubbling up from the ground, or from between the rocks.

We all get thirsty, and when out walking on a warm day, we are pleased to run across one of these refreshing springs.

But it is our bodies that thirst for this kind of water. When we learn what poor, sinful creatures we are, and there is nothing in this world to satisfy us, we find our souls growing thirsty for something that will satisfy.

Dear reader, God tells us how we can satisfy this thirst. Jesus says,

“If any man thrist, let Him come unto me and drink.” John 7:37.

“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into eveasting life.” John 4:14.

The invitation is free. It cost the Lord Jesus all the sufferings and agony of the cross, but it costs you nothing.

ML 09/05/1943

Guests for a Wedding

Matthew 22:1-14

This is the story of a great wedding feast told by the Lord Jesus to people in Jerusalem: “A certain king... made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding, and they would not come.

“Again, he sent forth other servants, saving, ‘Tell them which are bidden, ‘Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.’”

It is a special honor to be invited to a marriage, and surely a great honor to go to that of a king’s son. We would suppose those people would have been eager to go when the servants came for them: But, instead, they did not care to honor the king’s son, and some laughed at his servants, and some were angry and treated them roughly, and at last killed them.

The king still wanted guests at his son’s marriage, so he sent other servants into, the streets and lanes to tell whoever they saw to come to the marriage feast.

The servants went, and told people, and many came for the marriage.

At that time it was a custom for a king, or rich man, to provide suitable clothes for the wedding guests to wear: when this king came in, he saw that one man had not put on the garment provided. Perhaps the man thought his clothes were better, or good enough. When the king asked him why he had not put on the wedding garment; he was so ashamed he could not answer; he had refused the king’s garment.

Jesus said this parable was like the kingdom of heaven: there is to be a time when the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, will be fully honored. God now invites people to be ready for that time.

Many have refused His invitation, but He sends the message to others; any who will, are to come. But for that time, there is one rule: each must wear the “wedding garment,” which God, the great King, provides.

What do you think that garment is like? From God’s Word we know that none are fit for God’s holy presence, and cannot provide a suitable “robe”.

But God has provided a way to make sinners fit; by giving His Son, Jesus, to be punished for their sins, and they may be made righteous by Him. So Christ is as a “robe” for them to appear in God’s presence, and they are so fitted for that time when His Son will have joy and honor.

When we think of this parable Jesus told, as God’s invitation to honor His Son, it is a wonderful story for us, as well as the people who listened to Him. Think of the kind words, “All things are ready, Come!”

Boys, girls, men and women are invited to come. Why should any be so wrong or foolish as not to come and take the “robe” of salvation, Jesus Himself, and be fit to honor Him? He deserves the greatest honor He created all things, and is the only Saviour.

ML 09/05/1943

A Lamb Instead

A good many years ago in Norway some men were working on the roof of a very high building. One of the men slipped, and before he could catch hold of anything to save himself from falling, he had rolled off the edge of the roof and fallen to the ground.

The other workmen were sure he would be killed, and came down the ladder as fast as they could to see where he was. They were very much surprised to find that he was not dead, and didn’t even have as much as a bruise on him!

Beside him on the ground was a lamb, bruised, bleeding, and almost dead. The lamb had been standing on the grass just under the place the workman had rolled off the roof. He had fallen on its back and the lamb had saved his life—for if it had not been there the man would surely have been killed.

This story reminds us of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who suffered in our stead. If He had not been willing to “His own self bare our sins in His own body or the tree” (1 Peter 2:24), we would have to bear the punishment of God for our sins.

But perhaps some of our readers have not yet come to the Lord Jesus and taken Him as their Saviour. Do so at once while the day of salvation is still and He will make you so happy in knowing that your sins are forgiven.

We would seek to point you to the Saviour, as John the Baptist did when he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said,—BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD, WHOM TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” John. 1:29.

ML 09/12/1943

Beware of Your First Step

I once saw a little girl who was so honest, that she would not take a pin from her sister’s cushion without permission. She had a cousin who was very different in this respect, for he would take what suited his convenience, without asking any one.

One day this honest little girl went home from school with her cousin. No one was in the house when they arrived, though it was evident that some one must be near, for the baby was asleep in the cradle, and the doors were open.

“I am very hungry;’’ said Robert, “here is some nice-looking cake, just taken out of the oven. Come, Mary, I will give you a piece.”

“No, thank you,” said Mary, “please don’t cut it it would be stealing.”

“Stealing,” replied Robert, with a laugh, “stealing to take a piece of cake when I am at home!”

“Yes,” said Mary, “it is stealing, bause you would not do it if your mother was here. You know that she would not allow you to cut a rich cake just from the oven.”

“Then I shall do it before she comes,” said Robert, and he buried a knife in the cake, which fell crumbling to the table.

His mother was very angry with him, and called him a wicked, mischievous boy: but she did not tell him that this was the first step towards being a thief. No matter how small a thing you take, a pin, a needle, a bit of thread, a lump of sugar: the smallest matter if taken slyly, is a theft. God regards this as sealing, dear children, and we would impress that little verse of Scripture upon your heart,

“Thou God seest me.”

If this is always remembered, it will keep you from many a downfall. Be honest, children, you need not fear being too much so, no matter who thinks vou too particular. Honesty is a rare virtue, and an honest child will grow into an honest man or woman.

“Thus was it with little Mary; her mother was a widow, and people called her poor, but it was soon found that she possessed a treasure in this trustworthy little girl; she was one of the Lord’s little ones, and therefore under the shelter of His blood. As she grew up, Mary became so noted for her fidelity and tender conscience, that she was placed at last in a very responsible situation, which she filled with great credit to herself, and to the entire satisfaction of her employers. She was thus enabled to support her mother, in her old age, and educate her younger sister. She carried everything to the Lord in prayer, and thus He helped and sustained her.

Not so with poor Robert, who knew not the Lord. His habit of helping himself, was not long confined to the comparatively small matter of eating. He at length left his home with a large sum of money which he had taken from his father’s desk, and has not since been heard of.

Dear boys and girls, “The way of transgressors is hard.” Proverbs 13:15.

May this be a lesson to all. Remember, your heart is no better than poor Robert’s.

“Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7.

ML 09/12/1943

Only Trust

One day I saw a little girl of twelve years lying in one of the beds of a hospital, and asked her, “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“No,” she said, “hut 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 fewmoments 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 putt 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 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, and will believe Him with all my heart, now.”

“You must only believe or trust the Lord, and He will give you power to be good after you have truly trusted Him.”

She waited a moment before speaking, and then said,

“Is that really all? I want Him to take my heart now. I do trust Him.”

I think little Emily, then and there, really put her trust in the Lord Jesus, her Saviour; 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 our 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 09/12/1943

God's Treasures for Little Children

News for little children!

Hark! how sweet the sound,

Rolling in its fullness,

To earth’s furthest bound

News of God’s salvation—

News with blessings rife—

Saving, helping, cheering—

Wondrous words of life.

Love for little children,

Sent from God’s own throne;

Love—how sweet the tidings—

Each can make his own;

Love that inaketh happy,

Love that maketh blest;

Love that gives the weary

Full and perfect rest.

Peace for little children,

Peace from God on high,

Brought by Christ, the Saviour,

When He came to die;

Made in Calvary’s darkness,

Sealed with Jesus’ blood,

To the world proclaimed—

Perfect peace with God.

Joy for little children,

O, such perfect joy,

Not like earth’s enchantments,

Full of earth’s alloy:

But a joy that resteth

On foundations sure,

Joy—for God hath said it—

Which must e’er endure.

Strength for little children,

Leading each along;

‘Tis the weak and helpless

Jesus maketh strong;

On they journey singing—

Strong in Christ alone:

His right-hand sustaining—

Every moment known.

Rest for little children,

Rest as passing on,

While the “rest remaining”

Beckons them along;

There the peace is perfect,

There the rest endures;

Hear it! All these treasures

Faith in Christ secures!

ML 09/12/1943

The Tax Money

Matthew 22:15 to 46

Men came to Jesus to ask Him if it were right to pay tax, or tribute, money. They did not care to know for themselves, but they wanted to cause Jesus to speak against the rulers who taxed them, so they could accuse Him, and have Him punished.

At that time the Roman nation ruled over Palestine, and Caesar was the name of the emperor. One of the rulers under him was Herod, and because these men favored him, they were called “Herodians.”

Jesus knew the men wanted to cause Him harm, and this was His wise, true answer: first He said, “Show me the tribute money.”

The men showed Jesus a coin, and He asked them whose words and image, or likeness; were engraved on the coin. They said, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus told them, “Render (pay) therefore unto Caesar, the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

The tax money belonged to the ruling nations, and must be paid, but God was greater than all rulers, and they did not give Him obedience or praise. The men knew Jesus answered truly, and that they did not give God honor, and they went away. If they had taken Jesus for their King, He would have freed them from other nations.

There were men, called Sadducees, who slid not believe the dead would be raised to life, and they came to question Jesus. He told them that if they knew the scriures, and believed God’s power, they would know He would raise the dead. He spoke of God’s words about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who had believed God, but had died long before, that God called them “living”, saying He was “their God, the God of the living.” This showed that the men had a spirit which lived after the body died. But the men did not believe they had a spirit. They could not answer Jesus since He had shown them to be ignorant of the scriptures of their people (see Acts 23:8).

David and others wrote in the Scriptures of a life after the life on earth: (2 Sam. 12:23; Psa. 23:6; Psa. 34:22; Eccl. 12:7 Job 19:26).

Jesus told of resurrection: (John 5:28,29; John 11:23-25; read Acts 24:14,15).

Next, the men, called Pharisees, came to Jesus. These men regarded the laws given their nation on Mt. Sinai more than they did God who gave them, yet they did not keep those laws, and were unfair to the people. They asked Jesus which law was the greatest.

Jesus’ answer showed that God’s laws were together; if they kept the first law, to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, they would love His children, and do them no wrong. Jesus told them that the prophets had taught the same. The men knew they did not love God with all their heart, nor love their neighbors as themselves.

Jesus then asked them a question, how the Messiah (the Christ) could be both David’s Son and David’s Lord. They could not answer, and after that did not dare come to ask Him any more questions, for His wise answers showed them to be wrong. They did not believe God’s Word.

ML 09/12/1943

The Stork

The picture of the storks calls to mind a story which you may like.

In a village in far off Norway there once lived a little boy named Conrad and his widowed mother. They were very kind to a stork which built its nest near their home every summer for many years. They fed it and petted it, so that it got to know them, and when Conrad whistled for it, it would come to eat from his hand. Each spring they watched for it eagerly, and it seemed equally glad to see them.

When Conrad grew up he went to sea, hoping to earn money enough to be able to keep his mother in her old age. Near the coast of Africa the ship he was on was attacked by pirates, and he and the other sailors were put in chains and afterward sold as slaves.

As the weeks went by and the poor widow did not hear from her son, she gave up all hope of seeing him again, and mourned for him as drowned. Things around her held little interest for the poor lonely woman, but for Conrad’s sake she welcomed the stork and fed it till it flew away into the sunny south.

One day as poor Conrad toiled away at his dreary work in some lonely place, a stork came flying close to him, wheeling about him in great delight. Scarcely knowing what he did, when the memory of his home, his mother and their yearly visitor came before him, he whistled as he used to do to call the stork.

To his great joy the stork came at once to him as if to be fed. He lifted up his heart to God, and with tears gave thanks for the coming of his pet. Day after day he fed the bird all he could spare from his wretched meal.

When it came time for the stork to go north again, Conrad was sad. Was it going to his mother’s cottage? Was the nest still there, and was his mother there to welcome and feed the bird? Then it occurred to him that the stork might help him to gain his freedom. He managed to write a brief message on a scrap of paper, telling where he was and that he was held as a slave, and tied the paper firmly around the bird’s leg.

Spring came again to Norway, and with it the stork. The widow’s eye lit up when she saw the stork, and more tenderly than ever she welcomed it. While feeding it, she noticed the strange letter tied to its leg. Think of her joy when she found that it was from her son.

The tidings quickly spread that Conrad was alive, and the king sent a ship which the pirates would not dare to touch, to recover Conrad from his slavery. Ships traveled slowly in those days, but in due time Conrad was redeemed from his slavery, and was safely at home in his mother’s cottage.

We can pray to the Lord for His help to free us from the bondage of sin and the evil of our hearts. Prayer is the white-winged bird that can bear our messager right up to the Father’s House. And the answer comes, God knew our need long, long ago; and the Lord Jesus, His Son, came down to redeem as by giving up His own life for all who desire to be freed at such cost.

“CHRIST JESUS WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL.” 1 Timothy 2:5,6

ML 09/19/1943

Wanted, a Christian

Some time ago there appeared in a city newspaper an adveisement for a clerk, with the unusual condition that he must be “a decided Christian,” A number applied for the place, but when asked for “a reason for the hope that was in them,” concerning Christ, scarcely any could give a Scriptural answer, These facts were brought to the notice of a Christian who related them to his children, and asked them how they would have replied. He asked them to write their answers. Harold gave the following answer: “I am a Christian-because I love Jesus and want to be a missionary, and work in His service, to do all I can for Jesus, I love Him because He first loved me, and has done so much for me.”

Harold. W. O1iver.

Harold was a school boy, like many who will read this. Suppose the question were asked of you, “Are you a Christian?” what answer would you give? And if still further you were asked, “How do you know that you are a Christian?” what answer would you give?

Consider the question very seriously, quietly, alone with God and your own heart. God reads the secrets of all hearts. How are you treating the Lord Jesus? Can von say you know Him, and love Him?

I well remember the thrill of joy I had when first I gave a clear, decided answer to that question.

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

ML 09/19/1943

How C. was Saved

Do my little readers know that God loves them, and cares for them, and wants them all to be really happy? I am going to tell you a story that will show you that this is so.

C—was a boy who lived with a great number of other boys at a large school. One evening, at prayers, the teacher, who loved the Lord Jesus, and wanted the boys to love Him too, had been speaking to them about the fourth chapter of Romans. He told them how God forgave the sins of everybody who believed His word: and spoke of the way Abraham had his sins forgiven, as that chapter tells us.

The teacher felt that night that God was speaking to the hearts of some of the boys. I dare say my little readers have heard God’s voice speaking to them, and telling them of their sins. And it has made you unhappy, has it not? Well, if God makes you unhappy, it is only that you may come to Him, and tell Him all about it; and then He forgives all your sins, and fills your heart with joy.

That night, when prayers were over, and the boys had marched out of the dining hall, the teacher stepped down from the desk to go out too. But, just before he got to the door, a voice whispered, “Call C—over, and speak to him of his sins.”

Do you know whose voice that was?

It was God’s, who loved C—and wanted him to be happy in knowing his sins forgiven.

But the teacher thought it was no use speaking to him, as he was playing with other boys; and he turned to go out. But the voice said again, “Call him over.”

Feeling sure then that it was God who was speaking to him, the teacher called the boy to him, and said,

“C—, do you know that your sins are forgiven?” Poor C—‘s eyes filled with tears as he replied,

“No, sir,”

God had been speaking to him that night, and all the time he was playing his game, his heart must have been very sad as he thought of his sins, all black and unforgiven. But God, who loved him so, and knew all that was in his heart, was going to make him glad. The teacher very gladly told him how Jesus had laid down His life at the cross, so that his sins might all he washed away.

C—listened to every word, and not only listened, but believed it, too; and when the teacher asked him, a moment or two after, whether he could now say his sins were forgiven, he was able, with a heart full of joy, to say,

“Yes.” And his bright face showed that he meant it.

Dear boys and girls; are your sins forgiven? If not, I tell you that God loves you as much as he loved dear C—and Jesus died for you as much as He did for him. The good news now is.

“Him that cometh to Me I will in o wise cast out.” John 6:37.

"That Means Me"

A missionary before three hundred children placed 25 cents under a book on the table, and said, “Whosoever believeth, let him come and take it.”

He waited; they were all “whosoevers,” but only one was “whosoever believeth” a little boy who came up, took it, and said, “Thank you, sir,”

“What is your name?” said the missionary.

“Cecil Smithers.”

“I did not say Cecil Smithers could have the 25 cents.”

“No, sir,” said the half-frightened boy, “but you did say, ‘whosoever,’ and that means me.”

Many there are who rejoice in the word “whosoever.” It makes no conditions. It throws the door open to anyone who wishes to enter, “Whosoever believeth in Him shall reive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43.

ML 09/19/1943

"Ye Would Not"

Matthew 23

The words of Jesus in this chapter are very sad, they were spoken to men who knew God’s words and taught His laws to people, but did not themselves honor Him. Jesus told of their great pride.

Long before, when God saved the oldest son of each family of Israel from death, in Egypt, because the blood of a lamb had been sprinkled around their doors, He told the fathers to write His words about that time and keep them as a sign on their hands and on their foreads, and they were to tell them to their children. Later, they were told other words also to be written, and bound on their arms and foreheads.

You see each family could not have all the scriptures as we now have, but they could read those words fastened on their arms, and be reminded of God’s power in saving them, and of what He wanted them to do. Later, the people seem to have had small leather cases in which they placed the words, these were bound on their arms and foreheads and called “phylacteries”.

Instead of thinking of God’s care for them, these men of Jerusalem were making those little cases larger, that other people would be sure to notice that they wore them!

Another thing God had told the people to do, was to make a band of blue cloth on the lower edge of their cloaks or garments (Num. 15:38,39). When they looked at those blue borders they were to think of God’s words: the color blue spoke of the sky, and was worn near their feet to remind them to walk and live to please God in Heaven.

The proud men Jesus spoke of wore very wide blue bands on the border of their garments, but did not honor the Lord nor do His ways. They were taking the seats of honor at the feasts and in the synagogues, yet they did not act fairly as judges, nor show mercy when needed, nor have faith in God.

Jesus said the men were as wrong as the men before them, who had done evil to the prophets. They were so angry because He had told them their sins, that they hated Him and would not believe He was God’s Son. Yet Jesus spoke most sorrowfully of them, speaking as though to the city:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children tether, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

How much He had wanted to do them good! He would have kept them from danger as carefully as a hen shelters its chickens under its wings—their enemies could not have harmed them. What sadder words could there be than those of Jesus, “Ye would not!”

Then Jesus said, “Behold your House (the Temple) is left desolate” (forsaken).

The Temple had been “God’s House” and all there had been to teach of Christ. But, because He was refused, the Temple was no longer an honor to God.

What must the people of Israel say when Christ comes to Jerusalem again? (Matt. 23:39).

ML 09/19/1943

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 Nazereth?” 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 carpenter’s shop with Joseph, lived a perfect life, our hearts are filled with love and praise to this Jesus of Nazareth, 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.” Psa. 107:1,2.

ML 09/26/1943

God Loves You

At the close of a gospel address I went up and spoke to a young man who I thought seemed to be impressed by the Word, but I soon found out that he had not heard a word, for he was deaf and dumb. However, I was not hindered by that difficulty; for, knowing a little of their language, I just told him the words at the head of this article, “God loves you.”

He looked at me with a vacant stare, and shaking his head, he replied in the same manner,

“No, no, I don’t believe it; I know He hates me.”

“However can you say so?” I asked.

“I went to—church, and the preacher’s sermon was interpreted to us, and he said that “God would forever cast us into hell if we did not live holy lives, and keep His holy commandments; and ever since I heard that, I have not opened a Bible, I was so afraid, and of course I never went to that church again.”

“What did you come here for? You could not hear anything.”

“I don’t know why I came.”

“Shall I tell you?” I asked.

“If you know, you may.”

“Well, dear fellow, you were drawn by unseen Person, that you might know at ‘God loves you.’”

‘I wish that I did know it.”

Taking up a Bible, I turned him to John 3:16, that grand old verse which has brought peace to thousands,

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

The light seemed to shine in little by little; but still there was a kind of dread, and so turning to many other Scriptures which spoke of God’s love, I at last pointed him to 1 John 4:17,19,

“Herein is love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judent: because as He is, so are we in this world.”

“We love Him because He first loved us.”

Again and again he read them, and the change in his countenance was wonderful, and taking his note-book out, he wrote, “I see it all now; and, although dumb, I can praise God for the gift of Jesus.”

Dear children, are you deaf? Or have your ears been unstopped to hear the voice of the,Son of God? God loves you, and has shown that love, in giving His Son to die for you. I want you to understand this, and to make no mistake about it, that God loves you. Now give Him credit for it by just owning yourself a sinner, and let that love draw you to Himself.

ML 09/26/1943

Jack's Testimony

A busy city thoroughfare, and a bolting horse coming up a cross street. It was the work of a moment, but a well built school boy of sixteen lay as if lifeless on the pavement, and the horse sped on. Willing help was at hand, and a policeman, stooping over the boy, said, “I am afraid it’s all over with him.”

An ambulance was quickly brought, and as they gently raised him, he said in a low voice,

“It is all right either way; His name shall be called Jesus.”

“Surely it was the young fellow that spoke?” said the policeman, holding his head; “yet his lips did not seem to move.”

Again the low voice said slowly,

“I said it is all right either way—thank you for being so kind—for my side—hurts badly—but Jesus—Jesus.”

No other sound escaped his lips till he was laid on a hospital bed. Then, when asked if he could give his name and aress, he answered in a weak, but glad voice,

“Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”

“Ah, thank God, he knows that,” said a young medical student. And an old doctor said,

“It would be good for some of us older ones if we knew that as well as this youngster seems to do.”

“Perfect quiet, and a special nurse; internal injuries, and a bad case,” was the doctor’s verdict.

During the night of unconsciousness, with ice bags on his head, over and over again Jack Payne murmured, “Jesus, my Lord Jesus;” “Mother,” “Mother, lay your hand on my head,” or, “Never mind, mother, His name is called Jesus, so it is all right.”

Next morning the doctors shook their heads, but a medical student said to the nurse,

“I believe God will raise him up. Most cases like this toss and rave, but he lies still, whispering about Jesus, His name, and mother. He has the peace of God in his heart.”

Police inquiries or newspaper notices reached Jack’s mother, and soon a sweet-faced widow was seated beside his bed. But he did not recognize her, though her touch evidently pleased him; still more did the texts she repeated softly to him. And the nurse noticed that each one she chose had the name of Jesus in it, and he would say over again, “His name shall be called Jesus, yes, that’s it, Jesus.”

Jack Payne got better, and lived to tell others of Him, (Jesus) to whom God has given a Name which is above every name, that “whosoever believeth in Him, shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43.

ML 09/26/1940

Call the Children

There was along the coast, a shipwreck one day and the crew was in great danger. On shore stood a few spectators, who, when they saw the danger, ran to the lifeboat to float it, and to save, if possible, some, or all of the unfortunate ones. I don’t know how it happened, but the boat stuck fast in the sand. Quickly there came the women, and helped to pull and push, but the boat remained unmovable. Finally some one said, “Why not call the children?”

The children were called, and a great crowd of them came and laid hold with their small hands; they helped with all their might, and, lo, the boat moved, and amidst their shouts it slid into the water. It was manned, and rowed out to the shipwreck, and soon all stood on solid ground. The children could not have moved the boat alone, but they helped, and their little strength was needful to complete the good work.

In the Bible, too, we read how children have done certain things. Was it not a little boy who had five loaves and two fishes? But the Lord fed 5,000 men with them.

You, also, can be of blessing to some one, if you are the Lord’s both at home, and in school, and abroad. And you can pray, and the Lord hears you when you pray to Him. The Lord blesses your little gifts too. When you pray to Him, you are not to speak with your mouth only, but with your heart as well; and when you have something to give to the poor, or for the Lord’s work, see that you do it with joy. First of all, you must give yourself to the Lord Jesus, and then you may serve Him, and you will do it with joy.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thess. 1:9,10.

ML 09/26/1943

I Want to be a Sinner

Thelma age 4, had just returned from Sunday school when she amazed her aunt by asking: “Auntie am I a sinner?”

“Why, no,” said auntie. “I guess— I hope not!”

“Well, I want to be a sinner,” said Thelma soberly.

“O, no you don’t,” said auntie.

“Yes, I do,” insisted the little girl. “Cause the preacher said, Jesus died to save sinners, an’ I doesn’t want to be lost I”

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

ML 09/26/1943

The Disciples' Questions

Matt. 24

The people of Israel greatly admired the Temple in Jerusalem, and the disciples wanted Jesus to notice its beauty. They must have felt sad when He told them that those stones would all be broken down.

Afterward, while they were sitting with Him on Mt. Olives which is close to the city, and from which they could see the Temple, they asked when such a time would be. He had also told them that He would suffer and be crucified, and had spoken of a time when He would come in glory (as also told by the Prophets, as Zech. 14:9; Matt. 16:21,27). And the disciples asked Him what sign there would be of His coming.

People now ask when Christ will come again, and what will happen on the earth. But to understand what Jesus told, we Must first trust and love Him as our Saviour, as the disciples did: Then even boys and girls will find His words plain to understand.

Jesus’ answers were not about pleasant, easy things for those who would see Him came in power and glory, instead, He said that they will have great troubles. They will tell all nations of the great Kingdom to be, but will not be well treated, they will be hated by many.

When they see the dreadful sin in the temple, told of by Daniel, the prophet (Dan. 11:31), Jesus told them that those in the land of Judea should flee to the mountains, and they will know that His coming is near. The events will take place so quickly that the generation alive at that time will see all Jesus told, come to pass (vs. 34).

Jesus said if any should claim to be the Christ, or say He had come already, not to believe them, for His coming will be “as the lightning cometh out of the east even unto the west”,—quick and plain for all to see (vs. 27).

But Jesus did not give the disciples a date of His coming with the great power and glory. He said none knew the time but God, the Father. Yet He said, “My words shall not pass away.” So His coming is certain.

These answers of Jesus are solemn, for they are all of judgment, all that is false and evil will be punished at that coming. He said people will not believe judgment will come, but will keep on doing as they please the same as the people whom Noe (Noah) told of the flood; they did not believe until the waters came and they were drowned (vs. 39).

It was about 40 years after Jesus spoke of the stones of the Temple that it was broken down by soldiers. The people of Israel have had no Temple in Jerusalem since; it must be rebuilt before the final sorrows told of by Jesus.

The coming of the Lord Jesus in power and to judge or’ punish is written of in later scriptures also, as,

“The Lord cometh with ten thousand of, His saints to execute judgment upon all, and to, convince all that are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds.” Jude 14,15; (2 Thess. 1:8; Rev. 1:7).

There is another coming of the Lord Jesus which we will read about next time, if the Lord will (see 1 Thess. 4:15,18).

ML 09/26/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for July

“The Children’s Class”

1.“For the love,” etc.1 Tim. 6:10.

2.“For bodily exercise,” etc. 4:8.

3.“Remember that,” etc. 2 Tim. 2:8.

4.“And that from,” etc. 3:15.

5.“Looking for,” etc. Titus 2:13.

6.“Not by works,” etc. 3:5.

7.“The man Christ Jesus,” 1 Tim. 2:5.

Bible Questions for October

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in 1. 2:3 John and Jude 1.

1.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Deceivers are entered into the world.”

2. Write in full the verse containing the words, “I have no greater joy.”

3.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Declare unto you, that God is light.”

4.Write in full the verse containing the words, “If any man love the world.”

5.Write in full the verse containing the words, “He that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

6.Write in full the verse containing the words, “Remernber ye the words which were spoken before,”

7.Why did the Father send the Son?

Answers to Bible Questions for July

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1. Philemon. Philem. 10-19.

2. 2 Tim. 2 Tim. 4:6,7.

3.That they marry, bear children, and be home makers. 1 Tim. 5:14.

4.In modest apparel. 1Tim. 2:9.

5.God. Titus 1:2.

6.Soberly, righteously and godly. Titus 2:12.

7. Mark. 2 Tim. 4:11.

Bible Questions for October

“The Young People Bible Class” The Answers are to be found in 1,2,3 John and Jude

1.What are we to hate?

2.Where are the angels that kept not their first estate?

3.Who abides forever?

4. What ought we to be willing to do for the brethren?

5.Who is born of God?

6.Why should we not receive evil teachers?

7.What verses show the hatefulness of ambition for religious leadership?

ML 10/03/1943

Jesus Will Soon Be Here

The midnight hour has passed,

The morn is near;

Before the dawn has come

He may be here.

And as we journey on,

We watch and wait

To hear the lifting latch

That opes the gate.

Bright rays of morning star

Light up the skies;

We soon shall hear the shout

That bids us rise.

To Him we turn our gaze,

While here we roam;

Come, Jesus, quickly come,

And take us Home.

ML 10/03/1943

"May I Be Sure?"

May I be sure, mamma?” said Kitty, as the good news of God’s free love was read to her, and she was told there was forgiveness for her.

“Yes, dear one, you may.”

“But how, mamma?”

“Simply by believing what God has said, for God tells no lies, and breaks no promises.”

“And what has God said?”

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

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

“If thou, shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

ML 10/03/1943

"What Can we do?"

The fields are all white,

And the reapers are few,

We children are willing,

But what can we do

To work for our Lord in His harvest?

Our hands are so small,

And our works are so weak,

We cannot teach others;

How then shall we seek

To work for our Lord in His harvest?

We’ll work by our prayers,

By the gifts that we bring,

By small self-denials—

The least little thing—

May work for our Lord in His harvest.

Until, by and by,

As the years pass at length,

We, too, may be reapers,

And go forth in His strength,

To work for our Lord in His harvest.

ML 10/03/1943

Bessie

When I was a little girl, I met with an accident, and lay in the Children’s Hospital for many weeks. I was weary there, and longed to be able to play with my little school companions again. In the winter evenings there were many visitors to the ward, and one little girl, who aways came with her mother, brought me some nice toys. I was delighted, and spent many an hour dressing my doll. One night, just as Amy was leaving my bed, she bent her head close to my ear, and whispered,

“Do you love Jesus?”

I could not answer, for I had not thought much about Him. Amy saw that I was unable to answer, so she whispered again, “Jesus loves you, Bessie, and wants to save you.”

I thought all next day about that, and wished Amy would come again. When she did come, she brought with her a pretty book, saying, “That’s for you, Bessie.”

Then she told me that Jesus had saved her two years ago, and she was happy,

“How did He save you?” I asked.

“I came to Him as a sinner, believing He died for me on the Cross—that was all.”

I came to Jesus in that way, too, am He saved me.

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

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3i.

John's Friend

We don’t know what the dog’s name is, but we can see that John is very fond of him; and it must have taken a good deal of time to train him to sit up so nicely. A dog is a very faithful friend, and I’m sure John has a good time with him.

But John has another Friend of Who I would like to tell you—a Friend Who will never leave him. Perhaps some of you have already guessed that I am speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. For one day John saw himself as God sees him a lost, guilty sinner, and one who derved nothing but punishment for his sins. But believing the promise,

“Him that cometh to Me, I will in wise cast out.” John 6:37, John “came” and trusted in the only One Who could cleanse him from his sins. And now he has for his Friend the One of Whom it is written,

“THERE IS A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.” Prov. 18:24.

John has proved Him so recently, while far from home at a camp, and he loves to go, when he is able, where the Word of God is read, and he will hear more about Him.

One there is above all others—

O how He loves!

His is love beyond a brother’s—

O how He loves!

Earthly friends may fail or leave us,

One day soothe, the next day grieve us,

But this Friend will ne’er deceive us—

O how He loves!

Is He your Friend, too?

ML 10/03/1943

A Blessed Hope

1 Thess. 4:13-18

The Lord Jesus told His disciples on the Mt. of Olives that He would come to earth in power and great glory (Matt. 21:27). He told them also that He would come again and reive them unto Himself.” John 14:3.

After Jesus had gone back to Heaven, those who loved Him looked for Him to return to set up His Kingdom. After some years, it was given for the apostle Paul to tell the people of a coming of the Lord, not to earth to begin His rule, but in the air to call those who believed on Him to Himself.

Paul wrote this to the believers in the city of Corinth, Greece; he told them as something new and before hidden:

“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed,” 1 Corinthians 15:51,52.

Paul also wrote of this coming to those who believed in Christ in another city:

“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.

Those were very wonderful words to those who believed in the Lord Jesus, and they are just as wonderful to all now who love Him, for His people still wait for this coming in the air. His coming is certain, for Paul was told “by the word of the Lord.” It is called a hope, but the word hope in the Bible means something sure to come, not something simply wished for, as we use the word (1 John 3:3).

Many boys and girls, as well as grown people, have been happy to learn of this hope, and many now look and wait for the Lord Jesus. The verses show that His coming will be very quick, so quick it will be “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”. There will be no time then to prepare; that must be done before: the way to be ready is to believe and trust the Lord Jesus now; those He will call will have already trusted Him as their Saviour.

It is not told that even those who believe, will see the Lord coming in the air, but will he called by His voice. But of His coming to earth in power, it is written,

“Every eye shall see Him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” (Rev. 1:7; Matt. 21:30).

Both of these comings seem mentioned in these words:

“Looking for ‘that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.

ML 10/03/1943

The Clipped Wing

In our picture today we have a flock of pigeons. No doubt many of our boys and girls are interested in these birds with their lovely plumage, as it shines forth when in the sun. How graceful too, they are in all their movements. God has formed them thus.

A little boy came running to his mother, and said, “Mrs. L— has lost her beautiful pigeon. She was afraid it would fly away, and so had its wing clipped. A dog ran after it, and it could not fly, so it was caught and killed.”

How very like these birds children are in this world of sin and sorrow! Satan, their enemy, goes about their path, seeking whom he may devour.

But have you no wings, dear children, with which you may fly away, and be safe? Yes, you may have if you belong to Jesus, for faith and prayer are to the soul, what wings are to the birds. Beware: that Satan does not clip your wings, and hinder you in prayer and simple faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

How it delights Jesus’ heart to hear the voices of His little ones in prayer, spreading out in faith their needs with thanksgiving.

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

ML 10/10/1943

God, or the King, Which?

A story is told of two beggars who, many years ago, lived in the city of Rome. One went about the city calling out,

“He is helped whom God helps”, while the other called,

“He is helped whom the king helps.”

On hearing these two calls, the king decided to make a test as to which one was right. He ordered his baker to make a loaf of bread, and, before baking it, to hide in it a handful of golden coins. When the loaf was baked, the king gave it to the beggar who called, “He is helped whom the king helps.”

Now, what do you think this beggar did? Noticing that the loaf was heavy, he said to himself, “This bread is ill-baked. I’ll see if my beggar friend will give me a penny for it.”

The bargain was made, and the loaf carried to the home of the man who called,

“He is helped whom God helps.”

Imagine his surprise on finding the coins! He thanked God, and from that day was able to live in comfort. But the other poor fellow still went about calling,

“He is helped whom the king helps.”

Greatly surprised, the king asked him what he had done with the loaf.

“Well, well”, said the king, “truly, he is helped whom God helps”—and sent the beggar away empty.

“It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man. It better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes.” Psalms 118:8,9.

ML 10/10/1943

The Way to Heaven

Rain was coming down in torrents, making the great city look very dreary. The poor horses were slipping and sliding about on the asphalt, and every one seemed to be pushing each other very unceremoniouy, in their hurry to get home as quickly as possible.

A man with a kind face and a big overcoat was hurrying over one of the slippery crossings; no sooner had he reached the pavement on the other side, than he felt a gentle tug at his coat sleeve, and looking down, his eyes met a pair of large earnest gray ones.

“Well! my little girl,” he cried, “and what may you want?”

“If you please, sir, can you tell me the way to heaven?”

“The way to where?” asked the man, somewhat taken aback at the question.

“I want to know the way to heaven,” repeated the little one with eager questioning face. The good man hesitated a moment, and then laid his hand on the little shoulder.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked.

“Well, sir,” said the little woman quite reassured by the kindly face, “it was like this—when father was dying he told me he was going to heaven, but I’ve forgotten the way. I only remember he said, ‘You must find the road to heaven, Lizzie, and meet mother and me there.’”

It was a strange question to be asked in the middle of the surging, hurrying crowd, but the little maid had found some one at last who could direct her to the straight and narrow way that leads to the celestial city. This man was a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, and his own heart warmed as he pointed the little pilgrim to the Way, the Truth and the Life—Jesus.

Very eagerly the little one listened to the sweet story of redeeming love, and a few moments later as he watched her hurrying through the crowd, his heart went up in prayer to the Good Shepherd to keep this little lamb until that day when He should gather His blood bought ones into the fold, from whence they should no more go out.

Some of you dear boys and girls have learned to know this kind and loving Shepherd, and have listened to His voice many times as it spoke to you from His Word. O! how nice it is when we have found the way! Jesus Himself is the Way, which leads to life everlasting. It is to those who do not know Him that I want to write, to those who are wandering far away in the broad road, that leads to everlasting destruction.

There are only two roads in this life; one is smooth and broad and nice to look at. It is lit up with lights which charm and dazzle, as you walk. A throng of laughing, careless men and women, boys and girls, hurry over its pavements, each following on the other’s track, but where? Ah! they don’t know! They don’t care. The cunning ingenious one who planned this broad road, has taken care, too, that they shouldn’t see very far ahead, but the end is darkness and despair forever.

The other road is but a pathway, and few traverse its rugged windings, but all along the way a trusty Guide goes before, turning back ever and anon with words of loving encouragement, stopping in His onward track, to lift the,weary, trembling ones over the difficult places.

Which will you choose? The faithful guide is Jesus, who today offers you life eternal, and a, full and free pardon for all your sins. Accept that pardon, and He will receive you to Himself. He loves you, and wants you. Choose Him today,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36.

ML 10/10/1943

Naughty Tears

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

“Why are you so often crying?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ML 10/10/1943

No Oil in the Lamps

Matthew 25:1-13

A marriage was a time of great joy and celebrating in Palestine, as in most countries. It was often at night, so the people carried lamps or torches. One custom was for young women, called virgins, to welcome the bridegroom and those with him, when he arrived for the marriage.

Jesus told a parable of ten such young women; five of them, called “wise” virgins, took oil with their lamps to have lights when the bridegroom came. But five of them, called. “foolish” virgins, took no oil with their lamps.

The bridegroom was a long time coming, and while, the young women waited, they all fell asleep. After awhile there was a call that the bridegroom was near. The young women arose quickly, and trimmed their lamps. Perhaps some of you have not used oil lamps, which have a wick, and one end rests in the oil, the other end is lighted, and after being burned awhile needs to be trimmed to light again.

As the virgins trimmed their lamps, the foolish ones realized that they had no oil, and wanted the others to give them some. They could not do so, for they would not have enough for themselves, and told them to go and buy oil. While they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and the wise virgins went in with him to the marriage.

The foolish virgins came to the house, and called to be let in. But the door was shutt, and the master of the house answered that he did not know them.

Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven was like this parable, and we learn what it means from other scriptures Jesus Himself is the One to be waited for and welcomed. At first, after His return to heaven, people looked for him to come, but after awhile they were careless, like the virgins, who went to sleep, and their lamps gave no light in the dark night.

But the parable shows that at last, people will be aroused to welcome the Lord, and that He surely comes, although at a late hour. The virgins seemed all the same, yet some of them could not welcome the bridegroom: they had no oil, which is as life to a lamp, and is useless without it. So to be fit to meet the Lord, there must be life within from Him.

No one knows when, the Lord Jesus will come, but HE IS COMING for all who have accepted Him as their own precious Saviour, and He will take them Home into the glory to live with Him forever, where there is only peace and joy. He now says, “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.”

If you do not know Him as your Saviour, you will be left behind for certain judgment. He will say to you, “I know you not.”

ML 10/10/1943

God's Works

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 over head.

God made the pretty flowers

That give us such delight,—

Red, yellow, pink and purple,

Blue, lavender and white.

God made the little birdies

That perch up in the tree

And sing so very sweetly

To you, dear child, and me.

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 created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

ML 10/17/1943

Jesus Loves You

On a certain Sunday afternoon I was busy teaching in the Sunday school, when all at once an unusual shouting and laughing in the street disturbed our quiet. I looked at my boys inquiringly.

“O! Miss B—it is only the boys of the gipsy-wagons who are playing out there.”

“Well, we must invite them in.”

“What! Miss B—let those gipsies come in here?” they all cried out together.

“Yes, ask them. Open the door.”

“Come in, boys!” I cried out, when the door was open, “I am just beginning to tell a nice story, I am sure you would like to hear it.”

A moment’s hesitation, and then they came in. There were about seven or eight of them, real rough boys, dirty, with torn, ragged clothes, and sticks in their hands. A moment later they were sitting on the benches, looking around them with wondering eyes.

I began my story, and what I had hoped for happened. The new boys listened attentively from beginning to end. Then I questioned my boys about what I had been telling them and heard their answers, while the others listened in amazement. After this a hymn was given out as usual, of which the refrain was:

“O! come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

This refrain was repeated so often that I had no doubt, but that the new boys knew it by heart.

“Boys!” said I, “now you know it certainly by heart and can sing with us.”

To the astonishment of my own scholars, they at once sang with us, loud, clear and pure. When the singing was over I said to them,

“Now I want to ask you something. Will you promise me that when you return to your wagons you will go at once to your father and say: ‘Father, Jesus loves you!’ And then to your mother the same thing: “Mother! Jesus loves you!’ “They promised and went away.

The following Sunday they were there again, and to my great surprise they looked entirely different. I scarcely recognized them, so clean and neatly they were dressed. From that day forth they came regularly to Sunday school. Three weeks later a workman addressed me and said: “Miss B—among the gipsies they are talking a good deal about you. Their chief tells to everyone that he is quite changed through a message that you sent him. And it appears to be true, because formerly he was always drunk. He was one of the foremost in fighting and swearing. And now he doesn’t seem to be the same man. He says frankly to everybody that for the future he will serve God. He would like to have a talk with you.”

And so it happened that the following Sunday when the boys were leaning, I saw an old man, standing at the door, strangely dressed in a long embroidered tunic, with a felt hat and an unusually thick stick in his hand. When he took off his hat I noticed that his hair was gray.

“Thanks be to God, Miss!” he cried out, “for all this, and for what He has done for me.”

“And what has He done for you?” I asked, with a friendly manner.

“Well, Miss! You called our boys in here, the boys of the gipsy-wagons, and gave them a message.

My little Mark, when he returned, came right to me, climbed on my knee and said: “Father, we have been with the teacher in the school, and they sang there so beautifully, and the teacher told us such a nice story, and she said that I must tell you that: Jesus loves you. O Miss! I did not know what I heard, and my first impulse was to push the boy out of the wagon, for you must know that I was a bad man, and had often made a bad use of the name of Jesus. But it did not last long before the boy came back and began singing:

“O, come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t stay in the wagon. I went outside without thinking of supper or anything else, and the whole evening I wandered around in solitude. My whole life passed before me. I had led a bad life, neglected my children and set them a bad example. This all rose up before me and made me miserable. The following Sundays I went to church, first to one, then to another, in the hope of hearing a word of comfort, and on a certain morning I heard some one preach on the “Bread of Life.” That touched my heart. One day, the week after, I was in my wagon on the way to the city to fetch materials for my basket-making. Yes, I said to myself, This is now for the daily bread, but the “Bread of life” where shall I find that? I was so troubled that I remained behind alone, and creeping into the bushes I knelt down and cried to God,

“O, Lord! I am only a poor sinner, but I must have the Bread of Life, or else I have no rest. Yes, I must be delivered from sin. O, God! have mercy on me!”

And God had mercy on me. For see, in the middle of my prayer the words of the hymn came back to me:

“O, come to Jesus! Jesus is here.”

Yes, Jesus came to me and remained with me. Then I went back to the wagon, and on the way to the city I was the whole time thanking God for what He had done for me. My wife and children were surprised, not knowing what had happened to me: they really thought I was not quite right in my mind. And now Miss! since then I tell everybody about Jesus.”

It was really just as he said. Everywhere he went, (and he traveled all over the country with his wagon), he bore testimony to the love of the Lord Jesus that he had learned to know for himself.

This was one glorious fruit of the Sunday school, and at the same time a proof that God will also use children to make known to others His message of love and salvation.

Dear young readers, it is not enough to hear regularly about the Lord Jesus and all that He has done. No, we must know Him personally as our Saviour, and be able to cry out, “Jesus loves me, He has saved me, from eternal condemnation. He died for me, and therefore I am free from the punishment of sin.”

And when you have learned this, your heart will compel you to tell to others,

“Jesus loves you.”

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

ML 10/17/1943

"And That's Me"

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

ML 10/17/1943

A Master's Money

Matthew 25:14-46

The Lord Jesus told a parable of a man who went away to a far country. Before he started, he gave money, called “talents,” to each of his servants with which to trade and earn more talents. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, to another one talent.

“A talent” was a certain weight of metal of great value. So even the servant entrusted with one talent had a large amount to use. The master did not say how much they were to gain, hut it was the duty of the servants to use as well as they could.

The man was gone a long time, and when he returned, the servant to whom he had entrusted the five talents, had gained five more, and the servant to whom he had entrusted the two talents, had gained two more. But the servant entrusted with one talent, had not used the money at all; he had dug a hole in the ground and buried it, until the maer’s return. He said he did that bause he knew the master was a hard, unjust man; which was not true.

The master was well pleased with the gain of the first two servants, and said to each of them, “Well done, thou 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 (master).”

But the last servant he called, “wicked and slothful” (one who will not work); in all the time of his master’s absence he had done nothing.

The parable has a lesson hidden in the story: in this one, Jesus is “the master” to go to ‘“the far country,” Heaven.

Before He left He told the disciples to teach others what He had taught them (Matt. 28:19,20). He had taught them the words or truths of God, and those are “the talents” of great value, which He gives His sernts to use for Him in His absence, and which will gain “treasure” for Him.

The Lord Jesus is a good Master, not “hard” or “unjust,” as the wicked servant said. He will fully reward the faithful servants, whether they have done little or much. And more than rewards, He will have them share His joy!

Verses 31-46 tell of a time after the Lord Jesus has taken away from this earth, all who are His own, as we read in the first 13 verses in our chapter. Soon after that time, He will come in all His glory, and sit upon the throne of His glory, to judge all His enemies, —all who have not accepted Him in this time, as their Lord and Saviour. And He will judge all nations.

There will he some living then who have not heard of Him, and His work of salvation for lost sinners, as it is now preached, who will believe the message given out by His “brethren”, the faithful Jews, that the Lord is cong as Lord of lords, and King of kings, to reign in peace for 1,000 years. They will believe this message, and will be saved.

Then, and then only will this poor world have peace. The Lord Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.”

ML 10/17/1943

The Tailor Bird

This curious little bird is a Tailor Warbler, and lives in India.

It is a tiny creature, not much larger than a humming-bird, glittering with blue, purple, green and gold, not over three inches in length, and weighing about three ounces.

You have never seen the “Tailor Bird,” nor have I, but there is one bird I am going to speak about, and see if you can guess his name. Just when the sun is setting he comes into my garden to sing his evening song.

No doubt every child knows Robin Redbreast, and not one of all the birds is a greater favorite.

His air of simple trust wins our admiration. Who does not like to be trusted? I am sure you do; nothing pleases you more than when father or mother trusts you to do something which perhaps you have never done before.

And don’t you think the Lord Jesus likes to be trusted? Yes, indeed, and has He not asked you to put your trust in Him for the salvation of your precious soul, and then to trust Him for all your needs?

“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord His trust.” Psalms 40:4.

ML 10/24/1943

A Sunbeam for the Lord Jesus

From the children’s ward in a hospital, even early in the morning little Minna could be heard singing her songs. Although she was suffering and quite weak, yet she could not be silent. She was the sunbeam of the house.

Minna was a happy child of God. She had Christian parents, and her brothers and sisters knew the Saviour, too. She herself had been led to the Lord Jesus by her Sunday school teacher, who also had taught her the nice hymns, which she so loved to sing.

Suddenly this happy child became sick. After tenderly caring for her at home for almost a year, and seeing her condition did not improve, but rather grew worse, her parents took her to the hospital. The doctor ascertained spinal-meningitis, a very painful affliction. The child lay for months with her back in a hard cast, which allowed little moving about, yet she bore it patiently like a little lamb. Never did she utter any complaints. Joyfully would she ever sing her favorite hymns, which cheered so many of the patients in the next wards. To please Minna, she was sometimes carried into the adjoining wards, where she would then sing with a clear voice,

“Jesus, my Lord would have me

To be a bright sunbeam here,

Which shines its light from day to day,

Alone for Him, who is so dear.”

While thus singing, in spite of her bodily weakness, she looked so happy, that it often deeply touched the hearts of the patients. Some of them, when feeling sad and depressed, would quietly go to the small children’s ward, sit down next to her bed, and listen to her singing.

In this way, the little sufferer let her light shine brightly, because the Lord Jesus filled her heart with glaess to overflowing. His salvation and love were sufficient for her to forget all earthly suffering, and even to help those who did not yet know Him.

Do you, little friend, thus love the Saviour, and seek to live for Him, and to gladden His heart, and the hearts of others?

“He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.” Psalms 40:3,4.

ML 10/24/1943

A Parable

O dear, I am so tired of Sunday,” said little Willie, a playful boy who was longing for Monday to come, that he might play with his toys.

“Who wants to hear a story?” said his Uncle James, who was sitting by reading.

“I do,” said Willie, and so said his brother and sisters, and they all gathered around their uncle.

“Our Saviour, when He was on earth, used parables, and so now I want to tell you a parable. It is about a kind man and his apple tree.

The apples were hanging on this tree quite ripe and looking very beautiful. A poor man, as he was passing along the road, stopped to look at this tree, and to admire the beautiful apples that hung on it. He counted the ripe golden pippins and found there were just seven of them. While he was looking at them, the owner came out. He was a kindhearted man, and loved to make people happy.

“My friend,” he said, “I’ll give you some of these apples.”

“Thank you, sir,” said the poor man. Six of the apples were put in his hands. The owner only left one for himself.

“Now don’t you think that poor man ought to have been very grateful for the kindness shown to him? Certainly he should. But he was not. He wanted to have the seven apples all to himself. And at last he made up his mind that he would go back and steal the other apple.”

“And did he do that?” asked Willie, indignantly. “The mean fellow! he ought to have been ashamed of himself. I hope he got well punished for stealing that apple.”

“How many days are there in the week, Willie?” asked his uncle.

“Seven,” said Willie, blushing deeply; for now he began to see the meaning of the parable, and it made him feel very uncomfortable. And well he might feel so, as also some of our readers. For when God has given us six days out of the seven in each week for our own purposes, and only keeps one for Himself, isn’t it mean and wicked in the highest degree for us to rob Him of that one day?

On the Lord’s day the Lord rose from the dead (John 20:1-9).

On the same day He appeared in the midst of His disciples (John 20:19).

His disciples came together again, later, on that day to “break bread” (Acts 20:7). -

May we devote that day to the Lord.

ML 10/24/1943

Now I Cannot Come

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

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

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

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

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

Hear what an aged man of great wealth said to an earnest preacher: “I would give all the money I possess if I could have faith. But it is too late. I turned from all the pleadings of God when I was young, determined that I would be rich, and now I cannot come.”

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

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

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

ML 10/24/1943

The Most Wicked Bargain

Matt. 26:1-13

The leaders of Jerusalem, the scribes, priests, and others knew that Jesus had come to the city. They had seen Him and talked with Him; they knew He spoke God’s words, and had done great miracles for the people. Yet they hated Him because He had told them their own sins against God.

So awful was the hatred of those men, that they met together in the palace of the High Priest, the leader in the temple, to plan a way to have Jesus taken and put to death, when the people would not see aim taken. They knew the people believed Jesus had been sent by God, and at that time there were crowds in the city, because many had come for the Passover Feast, and they might prevent such an unjust deed.

One of the disciples heard that those leaders wanted to take Jesus secretly, and this man loved money so much that he went to them and said,

“What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?”

The leaders were willing to pay, and the price was agreed to, and we later find how the plan was carried through. That was the most wicked bargain ever made, to sell, or betray the Son of God.

Jesus knew their plan, but He did not go away or try to prevent their scheme. Sometime before, He had told His disciples that He would be betrayed and put to death; at this time He told them the exact day: “After two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.”

It is good to read, that at that same time there were other people who wanted to honor Jesus: one man who lived in a village near Jerusalem, made a supper at his home in honor of Jesus; the disciples and others were invited. This man was called Simon, “the leper,” but he must have before been healed, as Jesus had cured many such. And Simon must have been very grateful.

While they were at supper, a woman came with a box of sweet perfumed ointment and poured it on the head of Jesus, which was a custom to show great respect. Such oil was often obtained from other countries and was rare and expensive, used only by the rich.

Some present called the woman’s use of the ointment, “a waste”, and said it could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.

But Jesus said that she had done a good work; He said, “Ye have the poor always with you, but Me ye have not always.”

Jesus told them that the woman had done this for His burial. She seems to have heard what Jesus had told them of His death, and desired to give Him the greatest honor she could for that time.

Jesus appreciated her thought of His death so much, that He said her act should be told wherever in all the world the gospel, or story, of Him should be told. From this we know the Lord appreciates those who believe His words, and especially any who give Him honor for His death.

ML 10/24/1943

Going to Pasture

It is always pleasing to the eye to look at a picture of sheep. They are such gentle creatures and so inoffensive. They can be led better than driven.

The Lord Jesus likens His people to sheep, and He desires that they should be meek like sheep, and that they should hear His voice, just as sheep hear their shepherd’s voice, and follow Him.

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

“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 10:28-30.

Do you listen to His voice? Perhaps sonic may wonder bow they could hear His voice. The only way is through the Scriptures. There we may hear Him speaking to us, so we need to read it and meditate on it, as words coming from Himself.

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

Have you listened to that word coming from the Lord? If you have, and have acted upon it, then you can say you are one of His sheep, and Coider all that He has done for His sheep. He will never give them up.

ML 10/31/1943

Because God Says so

My parents were children of God, and were anxious that my brothers and sisters, together with myself, should he brought to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. They insisted on our going to the Sunday school, and also to hear the Word of God preached. The preaching on one Sunday night I well remember. When it was over, the preacher went to the door, and spoke to the people as they passed out; presently he took my sister aside and spoke to her. I saw the tears flow, indeed I believe my sister was converted that night. In anger I said,

“If that’s the way he goes on, making people cry, he is not going to speak to me,” and, crossing over the room, I went out by another door.

I lived on without God, getting further and further away from Him after this, but at length the Holy Spirit arrested me, showing me that I was a lost, hell-deserving sinner. He also showed me that I could not get salvation by my own works.

I was miserable, and continued in this state for some time, praying God to save me before it was too late, for I knew that if I died in my sins, my portion would be outer darkness forever and ever. I knew if the Lord should come, and with His voice wake the dead and call the living, and take them to His Home, that my parents would go with Him and that I should be left behind. Though the Word told me that Christ came to seek and to save the lost, I could not make Him my own. Prayers and works were of no avail, and my misery increased, until God in His grace showed me what does avail.

One Saturday morning, while getting my breakfast, I was reading in a monthly periodical a piece entitled, “Because God says so.”

The story was about an old lady questioning a man as to how she was to know she had eternal life. The man told her to believe she had it, and on this ground, “because God says so.”

Those few words were used to the deliverance of the old lady from her doubts and fears, and, looking into self as I read it, God used it to my deliverance also. I knew I had eternal life, “because God says so.” How well I remember that morning, I could have danced for joy. I took God at His word, and knew I was saved there and then.

Now I can look forward to the coming of Christ with joy instead of fear. I know that I am a child of God, and that my Father has reserved for me a place in heaven. The Lord Jesus said,

“In My Father’s House are many mansions (or abodes): if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there ye may be also.”

Thanks be to God, the place is prared, and blessed truth to know that where Christ is, that is the place where we shall dwell. He will not send an angel to fetch us, but will come for us in His own blessed person, and throughout the endless ages of eternity we shall be with Him and like Him.

“With Thee in garments. white,

Lord Jesus, we shall walk,

And spotless in that heavenly light

Of all Thy suffering’s talk.”

And now, dear unsaved reader, ask yourself this question,

“Where shall I spend eternity?” Where? Where?

If God were to stop your heart beating at this moment, where would your soul go that must live on throughout the endless ages of eternity?

Reader, it is a solemn reality. When your feet touch the cold, dark waters of death, and your soul is on the verge of eternal turnings, you will shake like a leaf in an eastern gale. The moment your soul leaves your body, its eternity will begin. What will be the remorse of those who are lost as they recall opportunities rejected, and pleadings spurned! O! shelter yourself under the precious blood of Christ while it is yet today.

“Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15.

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

Take God at His Word, believe it, “because God says so.” If you spurn the offer, your portion must be weeng and wailing throughout eternity. Eternity!

Where shall I spend eternity?

ML 10/31/1943

"Where Are Your Sins?"

A young girl came to see the preacher, being anxious about her soul. “Are you saved,” he asked, “or are you only trying to be saved?”

“I am trying,” she sadly replied. “How are you trying?”

“I am praying, and reading the Bible, and going to church, and striving to keep the commandments.”

“How are you succeeding?”

“Not very well,” she sorrowfully answered.

“Do you not see that in all this trying, you are leaving Christ out as truly as if there were no Saviour who has come down from heaven to deliver us from sin and its dreadful consequences?”

“O, I believe in Jesus!” she quickly responded.

“You do? Let us see. Do you believe that Christ died upon the cross?” “Yes, I know it.”

“How do you know it? You were not there to see Him die.”

“I know it because God says so in His Word.”

“Do you believe, then, whatever God says in His Word?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, why did Christ die upon the cross?”

“He died for our sins.”

“You are correct; for God says over and over again that Christ died for our sins. Your sins were upon Him when He was nailed to the cross, were they not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Where is Christ now?”

“He is up in heaven.”

“You are right again, for God repeatedly tells us this in His Word. Are your sins upon Him?”

“No, sir.”

“Observe, your sins were upon Him once when He was nailed to the cross, and today He is in heaven without them. Where are your sins?”

She looked down for a few moments in deep thought, and then, raising her eyes, a sweet smile played over her face as she said,

“They must be all gone.”

“Who His own self bear our sins in Ills own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

“Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17.

ML 10/31/1943

The Passover Feast Kept

Matthew 26:17-29

Jesus and His disciples had no homes in Jerusalem, and seem to have spent the nights outside the city. But the Passover supper was to be eaten within the city, at sundown of the certain day, and the disciples asked Jesus where they should prepare it.

Jesus told them to go to a certain man and tell him the Master wished to keep the Passover at his house. It was not unusual for the people of the city to allow those who came from away, to use a room for this purpose. The man may have known Jesus, anyway he was willing for his room to be used, and the disciples made the meal ready.

So Jesus and the disciples ate this supper together. As they were eating, Jesus told them that one of them should betray Him to the priests. To betray a friend to his enemies is a very disgraceful act, and the disciples were sad to hear that one of them would do that.

It had been written in the Psalms long before, that such a deed would be done:

“Yea, Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up his heel against Me.” Psalms 41:9.

Jesus knew which disciple would do this, and He said,

“Woe unto that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.”

Each of the disciples had asked,

“Lord, is it I?” Judas seems to have been the last to ask; he said,

“Master, is it I?” Yet he had already made the bargain to do it!

Jesus answered Judas, “Thou hast said,” which meant that he was the one, then Jesus told Judas, “That thou doest, do quickly,” and he went away (John 13:27). From what happened after, we know Judas went to guide the soldiers to the place to take Jesus.

After the Passover supper was ean, Jesus showed those who loved Him a new “feast” to keep: He took bread, gave thanks to God, broke it in pieces, and gave to the disciples to eat: then He gave thanks for “the cup,” in which was “the fruit of the vine”, grape juice, and told them to drink it together.

In this way Jesus taught them of His death, the broken bread like His body, bruised in death; the drink, as His blood shed. He spoke of this being so sure, as though already done: saying, “This is My blood of the new testent (agreement), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Many animals had been sacrificed year after year because of sin, but Christ was the sacrifice, “once for all”, His blood was the new agreement by which God can forever forgive the sinner. Since then, those who believe Christ’s words, do not keep., the old feasts, but the one simple feast of the “bread,” and the “cup”, to remember Him in His death for them. (See also Luke 22:19,20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).

ML 10/31/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for August

“The Children’s Class”

1.“For yet a little,” etc. Heb. 10:37.

2.“Looking unto Jesus,” etc. 12:2.

3.“And as it,” etc. 9:27.

4.“Neither is.” etc. 4:13.

5.“And, Thou,” etc. 1:10.

6.“How shall we.” etc. 2:3.

7.“To be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” Heb. 11:24.

Bible Questions for November

“The Children’s Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation chapter 1-11

1.Write in full the verse with the words, “If any man hear my voice.”

2.Write in full the verse with the words, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

3.Write in full the verse with the words, “Thou hast created all things.”

4.Write in full the verse with the words, “Him that liveth forever and ever.”

5.Write in full the verse with the words, “Men shall seek death, and shall not find it.”

6.Write in full the verse with the words, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

7.Why was John a prisoner in the isle called Patmos?

Answers to Bible Questions for August

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.Because the Lord has promised never to leave nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5.

2.The blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19.

3.Unto the Son of God. Hebrews 1:8,

4.Those in whom it was not mixed with faith. Hebrews 4:2.

5.Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1,

6.Our High Priest, the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 7:26.

7.The one to come. Hebrews 13:14.

Bible Questions for November

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation chapters 1-11

1.Whom did the four and twenty elders worship?

2.What city was compared to Sodom?

3.When will the saints have power over the nations?

4.Where was John when he received the Revelation?

5.What was the name of the star that fell from heaven?

6.How many “woes” are there?

7.How had they washed their robes and made them white?

ML 11/07/1943

A Christian Soldier

A chaplain of the army, once related an incident of a young soldier who, on one occasion, had consulted him on the subject of prayer,

“Last night,” said the young man, “before getting into bed, I knelt down and prayed; suddenly my comrades ban to throw their shoes at me, and raised a great laugh.”

“Well,” replied the chaplain, “but suppose you defer your prayers till you get into bed, and then silently lift up your heart to God.” A week or two afterward the young soldier called again.

“Well,” said the chaplain, “you took my advice, I suppose? how has it answered?”

“Sir,” he answered, “I did take your advice for one or two nights, but I began to think it looked rather like denying my Saviour,.and I once more knelt at my bedside, and prayed as before.”

“And what followed?”

“Not one of them laughs now, sir: fifteen kneel and pray too.”

“I felt ashamed,” added the chaplain in narrating the story, “of the advice had given him. That young man was wiser and bolder than myself.”

“Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My word, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26.

ML 11/07/1943

I Like Them While They are Young

One morning, a dear little girl came to her mother with a beaming, happy face, having in her hand a tiny basket, which had been presented to her full of chocolates. These had long since disappeared, as all our young friends will understand, but now, on opening it to show to her mother, it was seen to be filled to the brim with the pretty, young, silvery buds of the palm tree, which she had gathered, and stripped off the hard brown covering which had protected them during the cold of winter.

Her satisfaction was evidently great in seeing her valued little basket filled with the velvety things she so much liked.

Her mother said, “How pretty! But is it not a pity to gather them so young? They would grow so much larger.”

“O, no, mother, I like them while they are young!” she answered.

“Yes, dear child,” was the mother’s reply, “that is why the Lord Jesus Christ invites the little children to come to Him. He likes them to come while they are young, and says, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me.’”

And if you are past being little children as to age, the same blessed Person says, “Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy YOUTH, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Ecclesiastes 12:1.

ML 11/07/1943

The Gospel Bells

The Gospel bells are ringing,

Over land, from sea to sea;

Blessed news of free salvation

Do they of fer you and me.

“For God so loved the world,

That His only Son He gave!

Whosoe’er believeth in Him

Everlasting life shall have.”

Refrain:

Gospel hells, how they ring,

Over land from sea to sea;

Gospel bells—freely bring

Blessed news to you and me.

The Gospel bells invite us

To a feast prepared for all:

Do not slight the invitation,

Nor reject the gracious call.

“I am the Bread of life;

Eat of Me, thou hungry soul:

Though your sins be red as crimson,

They shall be as white as wool.”

The Gospel bells give warning,

As they sound from day to day,

Of the fate which doth await them

Who forever do delay,

“Escape ye for thy life!

Tarry not in all the plain;

Nor behind thee look, O, never,

Lest thou be consumed in pain.”

The Gospel bells are joyful,

As they echo far and wide,

Bearing notes of perfect pardon

Through a Saviour crucified:

“Good tidings of great joy

To all people do I bring;

Unto you is born a Saviour,

Which is Christ the Lord” and King.

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

ML 11/07/1943

Taken by Soldiers

Matthew 26:30-75

After the Passover supper, Jesus and the eleven disciples went to a quiet place outside the city on the side of Mt. Olivet, where they had often gone before. It was night, and the disciples slept while Jesus prayed to God. He knew that He would soon be taken by the soiers and suffer cruel treatment and death.

Beside that, Jesus knew that He would bear the punishment of the sins of all His people. This caused Him such sorrow as we can never know. The disciples did not realize His sorrow, and slept on until He awakened them when He knew the soldiers were near.

Judas came leading many soldiers and men from the priests, armed with swords and other weapons. The soldiers did not know Jesus, but Judas had told them that the man he would kiss was the person to take, and he spoke to Jesus, saying, “Hail, Master”, and kissed Him. It was a custom for friends to kiss on meeting, but how deceitful in Judas to do so to the One he had betrayed!

Jesus told the disciples that if He would pray the Father, He would at once send twelve legions of angels, which were very many, to save Him. Instead of that, Jesus allowed the soldiers to take Him, that He should die for them.

When the disciples saw Jesus was taken “they all forsook Him and fled”. They fulfilled, which Jesus had quoted to them in the evening:

“I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Zechariah 13:9.

Jesus was as the Shepherd” to be smitten, and the disciples ran away as frightened sheep.

The soldiers took Jesus to the palace of the High Priest, the leader in the temple, to be questioned, while it was still night, for the priests did not want the people to know what they had done. Those priests and leaders taught the laws of God to the people, and should have held a fair trial, but they did not, and had witnesses to speak falsely against Jesus.

At last the High Priest demanded of Jesus to say if He were “the Christ, the Son of God”. Jesus answered, “Thou hast said”, which meant, “That is true.”

Then those leaders all cried out, “He is guilty of death”, and they treated Him in shameful ways: spit in His face, and buffeted (struck) Him. But the Lord Jesus did not resist them, He fulfilled the words of the prophet about the One to come,

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7.

ML 11/07/1943

"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"

How would you like to stand in the midst of all these animals? No doubt you have seen lions, wolves and leopards behind iron bars, and were thankful the strong bars were between you and them.

God did not make the animals to be dangerous, and kill one another or people Satan has made them so, but the time is coming when they will be calm and quiet as you see them in the picture. Read carefully Isaiah chapters 11, where you will see that the Lord will bring peace on the whole earth.

Before this the Lord Jesus is coming in the clouds to call all who believe on Him to meet in the air (1 Thess. 1:16, 17) and be with Him forever.

Not long after this, He will come to judge the people of this poor world for all their wickedness, and the greatest sin of all—rejecting Him as Saviour, after He had done all He could for their salvation.

Dear children, do you know Him as your Saviour; or will He be your judge?

After He has cleansed the world from all His enemies, (Rev. 19:11-19), He will reign as King for one thousand years in peace and righteousness (Rev. 20:4, and many other Scriptures).

“THE LORD SHALL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH.” Zech. 14:9.

“Yea, all kings shall fall down bore Him; all nations shall serve Him.” Psa. 72:11.

ML 11/14/1943

Prayer Answered

I had a dear young friend when I was a little girl. We both loved and trusted Jesus; and you may be sure we sometimes had sweet little talks together.

One day, I remember, we were talking about praying and receiving answers, and she told me a little incident to encourage me to go to Jesus with every trial, however small.

I trust that our dear young readers may be encouraged, too, to go and tell Jesus all their little difficulties. I will endeavor to tell it to you as nearly as I can in her own words:

“I was left at home on Sunday morning to cook the dinner while father and mother and all the children went to the meeting. Everything was left in readiness for me. All I had to do was to put it in the oven at the appointed time, and attend to it. I was so glad that my dear mother could trust me, although only twelve years old, and so get a little relief from her many duties.

“Just as the time came round, I opened the oven door and saw that mother had forgotten to remove the center plate. I tried with all my strength, but failed to move it. What could I do? The dinner could not go in without its being removed, and it would be late before any one came in to help me.

“I thought of Jesus, and how He had said, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, I will do it.’

“I knelt down in the kitchen and told Him all my trouble, and asked Him to help me. When I got up I felt frightened, and didn’t know how it would be done, although I was sure that He would help me. I looked up the garden to see if any one were coming, but saw no one. I went to the oven again to see if the shelf were out, but no, it was there just as firm as before. Then I took a cloth and seemed to hardly touch the plate; it slid out in my hands so easy. My heart rejoiced and I sang to think how Jesus helped me in my trial.”

Now, my dear little readers, the same loving Jesus is waiting to be your Friend. Will you have Him? He longs to have us trusting His love, and He will give you answers too. But first you must believe in Him.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6.

Jesus “is the true God, and eternal life.”

“Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” Rom. 10:11.

ML 11/14/1943

What Came of Minding Mamma

Two little boys with scowling faces stood before their mamma. She had told them she did not think it best for them to visit Neddie Tucker that day, so they began to pout and behave in a very naughty manner.

“Now,” said Mrs, Gray, “I am going out. Be good boys, and amuse yourselves until I come back.”

“What shall we do?” whined Harry. “Play with the soldiers,” answered mamma.

“They are nearly all broken,” cried both the boys.

“Then put your cut-up pictures together.”

“Three of the pieces are lost.”

“Play with your building-blocks or your tops, or swing in the hammock, or roll your hoops in the garden.”

“We are tired of all those.”

“Then,” said mamma, “I don’t see anything for you to do but to be my good boys.”

The clouds vanished from Charlie’s face, and throwing his arms around his mother’s neck, he exclaimed,

“Yes, mamma, I will be your good boy!”

Not so with Harry. As soon as their mother was gone, he began to fret, and at last said to his brother,

“Let us go over to Neddie’s.” Charlie opened his blue eyes very wide as he replied,

“Why, Harry! mamma said we could not go!”

“Never mind; she will never know it if we do go. Come on, Charlie; I am going.”

Charlie looked very sober.

“No,” he said firmly; “whatever you may do, I shall mind mamma.”

Harry’s hand was on the gate. At that moment he paused to draw his handkerchief from his pocket, and with it came a small Sunday school card, on which was printed in pretty letters,

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Harry put the card back in his pocket, and drew a long breath.

“I came pretty near being naughty,” he said.

Half an hour later, Grandpa Gray drove up in his farm-wagon, and called to the boys—

“I am glad you are here, for I can’t stop three minutes. I have come to take you up to the farm to stay for a little. I met your mother on the way, and she says you may go. Now fly off, for I am in a hurry.”

“Aren’t you glad you didn’t disobey mamma?” whispered Charlie to his brother after Grandma Gray had tucked them up in bed that night.

“I guess I am,” replied Harry earnestly, “And I am going to always remember that verse whenever I am tempted to do what my parents would not be pleased with.”

“God is in heaven, would He know

If I should tell a lie?”

“Yes; if thou saidst it soft and low,

He’d hear it in the sky.”

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

ML 11/14/1943

I Have Found a Friend

O, I am happy, full of praise,

For I have found a Friend:

His heart is love, His precious ways

Of kindness never end.

I love Him, for He first loved me;

He told me, thou art Mine;

And I through all eternity

Shall in His likeness shine.

Should trouble be my portion here,

This Friend is near at hand,

To soothe my heart and bid me cheer,

Through all this weary land.

O, would you know His lovely name,

‘Tis written in God’s Word;

Today and evermore the same,

‘Tis Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Receive Him in your grateful heart,

And He will ever stay;

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

Nor let you go away.

ML 11/14/1943

The Traitor's End

Matt. 27:1-10

When the disciple Judas, who had led the soldiers in the night to the place to take Jesus, heard that Jesus was condemned to die, he was very distressed. He knew that Jesus was not guilty, but just and true. Judas had seen the many miracles Jesus had done, and no doubt thought that Jesus would free himself from the soldiers and priests, yet, he would have the money for betraying Him.

In those days money was weighed, and the thirty pieces of silver seem to have been promptly weighed and paid to Judas, for in the morning he went with them to the temple to the priests who had paid him. He told them that he had sinned in betraying an innocent person, and wanted them to take back the money, as though that would clear him of his wicked deed.

But the priests did not care that One Who was innocent had been wronged, and would not take the money from Judas. Then he threw down the thirty pieces of silver on the floor of the temple and went away.

Judas knew the great evil of his act, for he had been with Jesus a long time, and had heard His true words; he felt the shame of his deed, yet it is not told that he tried to see Jesus and tell Him, or that he confessed to God. Instead, Judas had a sad end; he took his own life. The money he had gained by his wicked bargain was of no use to him; he had sold the Lord Jesus for those few pieces of silver.

A prophet long before, had been shown about that wicked bargain, and just how many pieces would be paid; he had written,

“I said unto them, If ye think good, give Me My proce ... so they weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver.” Zech. 11:12,13.

That was called “a goodly price”, and both Judas and the priests seem to have considered it a good price. Yet it was only the price required by their law for a slave. This shows how low a value the Lord Jesus was to them.

After Judas had gone away, the priests who had paid him to betray the Lord, and were as wrong as he, picked up the thirty pieces of silver he had thrown down. They said it would be wrong to use them for the temple, and decided to buy a piece of ground from the potters, where day had been taken for their work, so was of little value. But it could be used as a burial place for the poor or strangers.

The prophet of long before, had written also that the silver pieces would go to the potter; he wrote,

“Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the House of the Lord.” Zech. 11:13, Matt. 27:9,10.

ML 11/14/1943

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, the Lord Jesus, on this earth who has been able to destroy the power of Satan, and deliver all those who had been subject to his bondage.

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8.

“RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.” James 4:7.

ML 11/21/1943

George's Dream

I want to tell you, dear children; about a boy I know whom we will call George.

He was about twelve years of age, when, one night, he dreamed that he saw a bright light in the sky with many stars around it, and that, as he looked, the sky opened and the Lord came out, and took all true believers up to be with Himself, and the rest were left behind. The people in the street where he lived were filled with astonishment, and could not think where their neighbors had gone.

Now, God sometimes speaks to people by dreams, as you will see if you get your Bibles and read Job 33:14-30, and He certainly spoke to George that night, and I am glad to tell you that George listened to His voice.

Do YOU listen when God speaks to you? It may be by a dream, the death of a loved companion, or, as He most certainly has spoken to you, by His word.

George began to think, Would he be left behind if the Lord were to come? and feeling he was not ready, he became so sad that he could get no rest about, the matter all the remainder of that week.

Saturday night came, but no rest nor peace came to his troubled soul. On Sunday he was left alone with his mother in the evening, and still burdened, he said to her,

“Mother, how can I know that I, am saved?”

“You must receive the message; that dream was a message from God to you, you must receive it,” she replied.

The following morning he told his mother that he was saved, that he had received the message.

George, like many who read these pages, knew the plan of salvation in his head. He had been brought up by Christian parents, who had taught him from his earliest days about the blessed Saviour, who came to suffer and die for sinners on the cross. But though he knew all about it, he had not yet appropriated it by simple faith, uil God sent him this message in a dream to teach him the necessity of being “ready.”

Now, dear children, will you let this be a message from God to you? Jesus is coming; this dream will have its fulfilment some day, and will be soon, for He says,

“Behold, I come quickly.” Rev. 22:9-12.

He will not take away all. Which of you will go? God says,

“They that were ready went with Him (Jesus) to the marriage, and the door was shut!” Matt. 25:10.

O! while there is yet time, come to the Lord Jesus, trust in Him, and you will be saved from the judgments that are coming on this poor world.

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

“Be ye therefore ready also.” Luke 12:40.

ML 11/21/1943

"Are You Saved?"

It seemed a strange question, especially to be asked by a boy of one of his chums. I wonder what you would think if someone was suddenly to ask you the question, “Are you saved?”

John was going home from school one morning with two other boys, and when they reached the place where they had to part, James turned to him and said abruptly,

“John, are you saved?”

“Yes, I am,” said John quickly, wondering what had made James ask such a question.

“Well, I’m not,” said James, “but I expect God will save me one day, when I grow up,” and so saying he ran home to dinner.

George had listened to the conversation between the other two boys, and as James ran off he remarked,

“Perhaps you may die before then.”

When John reached home he, had a very uncomfortable feeling, for the answer he had given to James’ question was not true. He had heard ever so many times about the Lord Jesus, and could have told James the way of salvation quite plainly, but he did not really know that all his sins were forgiven.

To know how to be saved is a very different thing to knowing for yourself that the Lord Jesus has borne the judgment that you deserve, and that all your sins are forgiven.

But God was speaking to John, and it was not very long after this conversation that he really did believe in his heart that the Lord Jesus died for him, and then he could answer truthfully when asked the question,

“Are you, saved?”

“Yes, I am.”

What would your answer be to James’ question,

Are You Saved?

If you cannot truthfully answer, “Yes,” then do not rest until you get the matter settled. It will not do to wait till you grow up, as James said he would do, for who can tell if you will live to grow up? God says,

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

Take the Lord Jesus as your own Saviour today, and you will be saved for time and eternity.

ML 11/21/1943

What Would You Say?

Two little girls were talking with their mother about ‘the Saviour, and about their sins. One of them said,

“I wonder, mamma, if I were to die, what I would say to God?”

“I know what I would say,” said her sister Nellie.

“Well, what would you say?” asked the mother. The child replied “I would say—

‘Remember all the dying pain

That my Redeemer felt,

And let it answer for the stain

Of all my sins and guilt.’

That’s what I would say, and then God would not say anything, would He, mamma?”

She had laid hold of the blessed word,

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1. He has borne all the punishment for our sins on the cross, and there is none left for those who put their trust in Him, to bear.

How blessed it is to rest in what the Redeemer has done. Blessed, too, to know that God gave His Son to come to be the Saviour in order that we might have all our sins and guilt awered for, and that we might know Him, and be able to rejoice in Him forever.

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

“Only trust Him, only trust Him,

Only trust Him now;

He will save you,

He will save you now.”

“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.” Psa. 40:4.

ML 11/21/1943

The Unjust Trial of Christ

Matthew 27:11 to 31

When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the Jewish people were under the rule of the Romans, and although the Jewish leaders said that Jesus deserved to die, they had nc power to carry out their wicked desire. So, early in the morning they took Jesus bound to the court of Pilate, the Roman governor for trial.

The priests told Pilate that Jesus had called Himself King of the Jews, thinking that Pilate would put Him to death for that, as an enemy of the Romans. Pilate asked Jesus if He were the King of the Jews, He answered,

“Thou sayest”, which meant “That is true.”

At a fair trial, persons are allowed witnesses, to speak for them, but there was no witness to defend Jesus: the scribes and priests spoke falsely of Him, but He made no answer, and Pilate wondered at Him.

Pilate learned that Jesus had come from Galilee, and he sent Him to Herod, the ruler of that land, who was in Jerusalem that day. Herod questioned Jesus but found no cause to condemn and sent Him again to Pilate (Luke 23:6-11).

Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, called “the Christ”, and they cried out loudly in great anger, “Let Him be crucified!” Pilate said, “Why, what evil hath He done?” But they cried out the more, “Let Him be crucified!”

Then, although Pilate knew that Jesus had done no wrong, he granted the angry men their choice and consented to the death of the Lord Jesus. It was a serious act for a judge to condemn a person not proven guilty, and Pilate tried to clear himself of blame: he took water and washed his hands before all the people saying,

“I am innocent of the blood (the death) of this just person: see ye to it.” Could the water clear Pilate? Perhaps as an official, but not before God, or for the right.

After the quick trial, Pilate let the soldiers take Jesus to a common hall, where all could see them treat Him roughly as they pleased, and mock Him as a king. They put a scarlet robe on Him, a color worn by kings, a crown on His head, a weak reed (instead of a scepter) in His hand, bowed down in mockery, spit on Him, as a sign of contempt, and struck Him, then led Him away to death.

This is the most shameful story that the Holy Son of God, who had done only good to all, should be so treated on earth. But God will some day show “Who, is the only Potentate (Mighty One), the King of kings and Lord of lords”. 1 Timothy 6:15.

ML 11/21/1943

The Deer

Where the deer are much hunted they never venture forth during the day, but feed altogether at night, so they will soon be off again for their place of seclusion.

How good of God to give the deer suitable clothing for this kind of weather, so they do not feel the cold, but there are many people who do not have warm clothing and comfortable homes.

Don’t you think we should consider those in need, and see what we can do to help them?

This is what the Lord Jesus has done for us. He did not stay in the glory and enjoy His wonderful home, but He came into this world of sin to suffer and die on the cross for us, to bear our judgment due to us on aount of our sin, so that, in our aepting Him as our Saviour, we shall be taken out of a world of sin and suffering as this is, and placed in His happy home above where all is peace and happiness forever.

“In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa. 16:11.

ML 11/28/1943

A Brave Boy

Among the scholars in a college in a small country town were two boys—James Hartley and Edward Jemson. Hartley was a new scholar, and his parents were honest and respectable people, but not very rich. He was a bright, manly boy. Most of the other boys were the sons of wealthy parents.

One morning, as a number of them were going to school, they saw Hartley driving a cow to a field a little beyond the school.

“Halloo, Hartley,” said Jemson, “what’s the price of milk?”

“What do you fodder on, Jim?” asked another.

“Well done, boys,” said a third, “if you want to see the latest Paris style, look at those boots.”

Hartley waved his hand and smiled pleasantly as he passed, without saying a word. He drove the cow to the field, took the bars down, and then went into school with the rest.

At the close of the afternoon, he let the cow out, and drove her off, none of the boys knew where. He did this every day for two or three weeks.

It caused great wondering among the boys. They knew that Hartley’s father didn’t keep a cow, and as he did not choose to explain why he did this, they couldn’t tell what to make of it. Most of the boys were of that foolish class who look upon any honest labor as a sort of disgrace. And so they made all sorts of fun about Hartley and his cow.

“Well, Jim, how’s the ke-ow today?” was a question they often asked him.

“I suppose, Hartley,” said Jemson to him one day, “I suppose your daddy means to make a milkman of you.”

“Why not?” asked Hartley.

“O, nothing; only don’t leave too much water in the cans when you rinse them—that’s all,” said he.

Then the boys all laughed. Hartley never got angry, He bore it all with the greatest good humor, and only said,

“Never fear, boys; if I ever rise to such an honorable position, you may be sure of one thing—I’ll give you good milk and good measure.”

The day after this conversation there was a public examination in the college. A number of ladies and gentlemen, parents of the children, were present. After the examination, prizes were given to the best scholars, and Hartley and Jemson, who were the smartest boys in the school both reived prizes.

After these had been distributed, the principal of the school said there was one prize consisting of a gold medal, which was not often given, because it was seldom that any one was entitled to it. It was the prize not for scholarship, but for Heroism. The last boy who received it was young Manners, who, three years ago, saved a blind girl from drowning at the risk of his own life. And now I wish to rate a story.

Not long since, some of the scholars belonging to this college were flying a kite, just as a boy on horseback rode by, on his way to the mill.

The horse took fright and threw the boy off, injuring him so badly that he had to be carried home, and was confined to his bed for some weeks. None of the boys who had occasioned the misfortune were gentlemanly enough to inquire about the wounded boy. One scholar, however, not among the kite flyers, saw the accident. He went to inquire after the boy who was hurt. and ask if he could be of any help.

He found that the boy was the grandson of a poor widow, whose only support consisted in selling the milk of a very fine cow, of which she was the owner. When she saw her poor boy brought in wounded, she said,

“O, what shall we do? I am old and lame, and now there is no one to take care of the cow.”

“Never mind, good woman,” said the scholar, “I’ll drive your cow till your boy gets well again.”

“God bless you, my boy,” said the old woman, while she wept the thanks she could not speak. But the scholar’s kindness did not stop here. He found that money was wanted to buy medicine.

“I have money that my mother gave me to buy a pair of shoes with,” he said, “but I can do without them for a while.”

“O, no,” said the old woman, “I can’t consent to that; but here is a pair of heavy boots that I bought for Henry. He can’t wear them now, and if you would only buy them, we could get on nicely.”

The scholar bought the boots, clumsy as they were, and has worn them up to this time.

Well, when it was discovered by the other boys of the college that our schor was in the habit of driving a cow, they heaped all sorts of ridicule upon him. They especially made fun of his clumsy cowhide boots. But he kept cheerfully on, day after day, not fooshly trying to keep out of sight, but bravely doing his duty.

The laughs, and jokes, and sneers of his companions were a temptation to him to give up, but he resisted this temptation. He persevered in driving the cow, and wearing the thick boots, because he knew he was doing right. He wouldn’t tell the boys why he was doing this, because that would look like praising himself. And he didn’t mind the fun they made of him, because he knew it was a feeling of false pride which led them to think that it was a disgrace to be engaged in any honest employment. I only found it out by accident yesterday.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen.” said the teacher, “I appeal to you, if there was not true heroism in this boy’s conduct? Nay, Master Hartley, don’t creep out of sight behind the blackboard! You were not afraid of ridicule, you mustn’t be afraid of praise. Come out, Master James Hartley, and let us see your honest face.”

Hartley came out blushing, and the whole company broke out into loud applause of his noble conduct. The ladies stood and waved their handkerchiefs, and the men clapped their hands and gave three cheers for the brave boy. Even the clumsy boots on. Hartley’s feet seemed like a brighter ornament than a crown could have been on his head.

The teacher called him up and put the gold medal round his neck, to honor him for resisting temptation, and doing right.

We judge this dear boy knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, and he sought to follow Him “who went about doing good,” and who “pleased not Himself.”

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10.

ML 11/28/1943

Then She Is Rich

This was the remark of a little Sunday school boy, who, being very ill, was visited by the teacher. The teacher, on leaving him, observed that she was going to visit a poor sick woman.

“Does she love the Saviour?” inquired the boy.

“Yes,” was the reply, “I hope she does.”

“Then she is rich,” replied the boy. And was he not right? He that loves Jesus, and has Him for his Saviour and Friend, must be rich.

“For your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.”

ML 11/28/1943

Christ on the Cross

Matthew 27:32 to 62

There was a bare hill outside the walls of Jerusalem where men were taken to be put to death. In their language it was called Golgotha, or “a place of a skull”, as that was its shape, and such a hill can still be seen there. It was to that hill that the soldiers took Jesus to be crucified. which you all may know was done by nailing the hands and feet of the person to a cross or tree or pole, and leaving them to hang there in great agony until dead. To tell that such was the death of the Lord Jesus is the saddest of all stories. He was the Creator, the giver of life, yet put to death by men in the most cruel way they could plan.

These words were placed over His cross,

“This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Those men had not believed the writings from God that One would come to die for sin, God had said that sins could not be forgiven but by bloodshed. Jesus, the Son of God was the One to be the sacrifice:

“He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.”

“He poured out His soul unto death.” Isaiah 53:7.

It was the third hour (Mark 15:25) of the morning, or nine o’clock, that the Lord Jesus was put on the Cross, and at the sixth hour, noon, the sun was hidden and all the land was dark for three hours until the ninth hour. During that time Jesus cried out words written long before,

“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” The answer to that question was written in the Psalm: “But Thou art holy.” Psalms 22:3. Because God was holy He could not help or free His Son while He took the punishment for our sins. At the ninth hour, three p. m., Jesus called with a loud voice, showing He still had His strength, and gave up His life, “yielding up His Spirit.” Sins had been suffered for.

There were earthquakes and the rocks broken, and the veil of the temple torn in two when Jesus gave up His life. That veil was a very precious thing to the people, yet it was what kept all, except the High Priest once a year, from the inner room. That was torn, not from the bottom as a person would do, but from the top to the bottom. This taught them that the way which shut them from God’s presence, was at an end; Christ, by His death, was the “new and living way” to come to God (Heb. 10:20).

It is for each of us to ask ourselves, was it for my sins the Lord Jesus so suffered? One of the disciples later wrote,

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24.

“Truly this Man was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:54.

ML 11/28/1943

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“The Children’s Class”

1.“For Christ also,” etc. 1 Peter 3:18.

2.“But with the,” etc. 1:19.

3.“The Lord knoweth,” etc. 2 Peter 2:9.

4.“Be ye also,” etc. James 5:8.

5.“For that ye,” etc. 4:15.

6.“Every good gift,” etc. 1:17.

7.Because He cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7.

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 with the words, “The battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

2.Write in full the verse with the words, “Whosoever was not found written in the book.”

3.Write in full the verse with the words, “The marriage supper of the Lamb.”

4.Write in full the verse with the words, “The Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord.”

5.Write in full the verse with the words, “I will give unto him that is athirst.”

6.Write in full the verse with the words, “Worship him that made heaven, and earth.”

7.Who may “take the water of life freely?”

Answers to Bible Questions for September

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

1.For the same mouth to bless and to curse. James 3:10.

2.New heavens and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13.

3.Fervent charity among yourselves. 1 Peter 4:8.

4.Knowing to do good and doing it not. James 4:17.

5.All malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speaking. 1 Peter 2:1.

6.Reserved in chains unto judgment. 2 Peter 2:4.

7.Be in subjection to them. 1 Peter 5:5.

Bible Questions for December

“The Young People’s Bible Class”

The Answers are to be found in Revelation chapters 12-22

1.Who is that old serpent?

2.Who can enter the holy city?

3.Who may take the water of life?

4.How did they overcome the dragon?

5.What was the number of the beast?

6.What is the portion of those who die in the Lord?

7.Where does God gather the nations to battle?

ML 12/05/1943

How Little Janie Came to Jesus

A little girl, named Janie, went to a Sunday school, where she had a kind teacher, who was very anxious that all the dear children in her class should be saved, so she used to plead with them to come “now,” while they were still young, and rest alone in Jesus. And she told them, what many of the dear children who read this have been often told, that it is much easier to come “now,” while they are young, since every day adds fresh sins to the long black list; and she also told them of the dreadful judgment coming upon all who are not saved.

Little Janie listened very attentively, and the thought of being lost, of what a dreadful thing it is to be a sinner, made a deep impression upon her mind. In truth, the Holy Spirit was working with her, and when bed-time came on that Sunday evening, it was with a heavy heart that she lay down. Janie went to bed, but not to sleep, and she wished and longed that she was saved; her sorrow increased the more she thought of being shut out of heaven, until at last, about two o’clock in the morning, she could bear it no longer, but jumped out of bed, and called,

“Father, father!” Her father came up to her room, and she said,

“O, father, do pray for me; I am so sinful. Father, how can I be saved?”

Janie’s father could not very well answer his little girl’s question so he bade her say her prayers, and go to bed.

Janie went to bed again, but the load at her heart was still there.

“O,” she kept saying, “I do wish I was saved! How can I be saved!” when all at once she remembered that her teacher had said there was “notng for anyone to do, but that we had only to come, just as we are, to Jesus.”

Janie then wondered which was the right way to go. If Jesus had only been on earth it would have been easy; but she forgot that Jesus is more easy to go to now than when He was upon earth. At length she raised herself up in bed, and suiting the action to the word, she said,

“Here I am, Lord Jesus; take me just as I am.”

Her load went; she felt so happy, her tears were turned into joy, and from that very moment, trusting the Lord, she knew she was saved, and safe in the arms of Jesus.

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

ML 12/05/1943

Bedtime

Lord, teach a little child to pray

To Thee in heaven above;

And lead me in Thy blessed way,

That I may trust Thy love.

And in my childhood, and my youth,

Be Thou my heart’s delight;

And guide me by Thy precious truth,

And keep me day and night.

ML 12/05/1943

A Schoolgirl's Service

A schoolgirl who had been recently converted, felt the deep need of those with whom she came into contact. She was at that time a pupil at a school with some fourteen other girls, none of whom knew the Lord Jesus as a personal Saviour. After three months of incessant prayer for them, her special friend yielded herself to the Lord Jesus.

This greatly encouraged her, and three weeks after this, she and the two principals of the school began to meet together each morning to pray for a revival. Soon one of the other girls came to her to know the secret of the newly found joy. This led to a personal talk, and the arrangement to read and study the Bible together daily. Gradually all the other pupils joined them, and one by one each came to the Lord Jesus, and proved His power to save and to keep.

ML 12/05/1943

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 pieeces 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 has won:

He, Satan has vanquished, and sin put away,

Delivering sinners, of Satan and 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.

“WHEREF HE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM.” Hebrews 7:25.

ML 12/05/1943

The Third Day After

Matthew 28

The Lord Jesus had plainly said that the third day after His death He would rise again. The men who had caused His death remembered His words; the next day after His body was buried in the tomb and the big stone rolled over the entrance, they went to Pilate and asked him to make the tomb more secure, lest His disciples should go at night and take His body away and say He had risen.

Pilate told them to make the tomb as sure as they could. So those men sealed the stone of the tomb of Jesus, and left watchmen to keep guard day and night until after the third day. (Matt. 27:62-66.)

But very early in the morning of the third day after the death of Jesus, there were events which no seal, or soldiers on guard, could hinder: there was a great earthquake, and an angel came from Heaven and rolled the great stone from before the tomb, and sat upon it. His garments were white as snow, and his face bright as lightning. The watchmen were so frightened they shook in fear and could not move.

At that time two women, both named Mary, who had known the Lord Jesus, came to the tomb. The angel spoke to them that Jesus was not in the tomb, but had risen, and for them to look in the tomb and see that He was not there. Then the angel told them to go tell His disciples.

The women were very happy to hear Jesus was risen, and started to go to the disciples. As they were going they met One greater than the angel, Jesus Himself! He spoke with them. and told them to tell the disciples that they should meet Him, as He had said.

These women had seen Jesus as He hung on the cross and gave up His life; they had seen Him taken down from the cross and carried to the tomb and buried, which had all been so sad to those who loved Him. Then to see Him alive, standing near and speaking to them, how wonderful the change! And they worshipped Him! Then they went to tell the disciples the joyous news.

There were others who went to tell the great events; they were the men who guarded the tomb. They went into the city and told the Jewish leaders, who had hired them, what had happened, and that Jesus was gone from the tomb.

When the leaders heard their story, they added another awful sin to what they had done against the Lord: they gave the watchmen a large sum of money to tell people that the disciples had come in the night and stolen the body of Jesus while they slept. The guards told that wicked lie, although they had felt the earthquake, and seen the angel, and knew Jesus had not been stolen away.

There is not much told by Matthew about the time the Lord Jesus was on earth after He arose, only that He met His disciples just as He had said He would, and that He told them to go to all people and teach them what He had taught them, and to baptize, which was a sign to others of what was believed, His last words given are,

“Lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”

The Snow

Who sends the white and feathery snow

From yonder inky cloud?

Its gentle flakes fall soft and slow

Till shrubs and flowers they shroud.

Now scarlet berries, leaflets green,

Are hidden from our sight;

Nor is the earth no longer seen,

All, all is spotless white.

Dear children, He who makes the snow,

And sends it from the sky,

Is God, who to us long ago,

Sent Jesus here to die.

And by His blood our souls are made,

Ah! whiter than the snow;

Thus speaks His word, and what’s there said

Is true, we fully know.

“He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth.” Job 37:6.

“Halt thou entered into the treares of the snow?” Job 38:22.

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: through your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

ML 12/12/1943

Messages from Heaven

As I was passing along a beautiful road, my attention was drawn to a singular looking object which was floating irregularly in the air, at the height of perhaps a hundred feet from the earth. Not knowing what it was, I was examining it attentively, when my curiosity was greatly increased by observing a number of small fluttering things falling from that strange object to the ground. What was my further astonishment on seeing sixty or seventy children, who till then had been hidden from my sight by the hedge which separated the road from the meadow in which they were, all eagerly endeavoring to oain possession of one or more of the little papers—for such I found they were. Presently, too, I heard loud exclamations of delight from the children, showing that something of much interest to them was engaging their attention.

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

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

As one of your own hymns says,

“Here’s a message of love

Come down from above,

To invite little children to heaven:

In God’s blessed Book

Poor sinners may look,

And see how all sins are forgiven.”

Now, just as there were a number of pieces of paper with a short text upon each, and they were scattered from the balloon, so God, in His kind considerion for the littleness of our minds, breaks up His Word into small pieces for us, so that even the youngest may be able to learn something of the great love which He has shown in the gift of His dear Son. Let us look at a few of these precious portions, any one of which is enough to save the soul of the one who receives it as in deed and in truth the Word of God. Our first favorite passage is, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not pesh, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Another much like it is,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May this be your case, dear young reader, as it will if you receive in your heart God’s message of love in the gospel of His dear Son.

ML 12/12/1943

Danger

Little Lillie was not four years old, and did not know the danger she was in. Roaming by the side of a pit she saw some wild flowers growing on the edge. While gathering them, she fell over. The doctor was fetched, and found poor little Lillie unconscious, but still grasping the flowers in her tiny hand. The doctor took her to the hospital, where, I am sorry to say, she died the next day.

We would have liked to warn this little girl if we had seen her in such danger. With this true incident, let me warn you, dear little reader, of a still greater danger you are in. The Bible tells us that we have all gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, just like sheep. Now sheep need a shepherd, for they are in danger of wandering, and being lost.

And you need a Saviour to save you, as well as a shepherd to guide you. How blessed to know that Jesus says,

“I am the good Shepherd,” and that He came to save that which was lost. He said also,

“I am the way.”

Without Jesus you, are in the greatest danger for your soul. Be warned in time. Accept Jesus as your Saviour, and you will be safe for time and eternity.

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

ML 12/12/1943

Come and Learn

What though I’m but a child,

And little can discern;

Christ is a Teacher, meek and mild,

And bids me come and learn.

When Jesus dwelt below,

The infants He caressed.

He prayed for them and blessed them, too,

And surely they were blest.

Then let me not delay

To learn the road to heaven,

For Jesus tells me He’s the way,

And grace is freely given.

ML 12/12/1943

The Prowised King

A Review of the Book of Matthew

The Lord told men of early times that a just and holy Ruler should come to earth: the writing of Mahew explains that Testis was that promised One. Read these words by the prophets, then read what Matthew wrote to show their words had come true.

This Ruler to come, a child: “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government shall be upon His shoulders.” Isa. 9:6. A descendant of King David: “I have sworn unto David, My servant, Thy seed will I establish.. and build up Thy throne to all generations.” Psa. 89:3-4. (See also Jer. 28:5.)

Matthew wrote the names of the heirs of King David, which showed that Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the right heir to be king of Israel. And Jesus had that right from Joseph. The people at that time were ruled by another nation, but they had the records, and could prove the list by Matthew, to be correct.

The Holy Ruler to be born in Bethlehem: “Thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda ... out of thee shall He come ... .to be Ruler in Israel.” Mic. 5:2.

Matthew wrote: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod.” Matt. 2:1.

The Holy Child’s name: “And shall call His name Immanuel.” (The Lord with us), Isa. 7:14.

Matthew wrote: “The angel said, ‘Thou shalt call His name Jesus,’” (The Lord is Saviour). Matt. 1:21. Both names meant He was Lord.

Gentile nations to honor: “Gentiles shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising,” Isa. 60:3.

Matthew wrote: “There came wise men (Gentiles) ... .saying, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews, for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.’” Matt. 2:1.

To be called from Egypt: “Out of Egypt have I sailed My Son.” Hos. 11:1.

Matthew wrote: “The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise and take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel.’” (Away from Egypt). Matt. 2:19,20.

A messenger to tell before of the Holy One: “Behold I will send My messenger, and He shall prepare My way before Me.” Mal. 3:1, Isa. 40:3.

Matthew wrote: “In those days came John... preaching in the wilderness, ‘Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’” Matt. 3:1.

Ruler to ride as King: “Behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and. having salvation, lowly and riding upon an ass.” Zech. 9:9.

So Matthew shows that Jesus was the holy, and just, but humble One, sent by God.

ML 12/12/1943

"Whiter Than Snow"

There’s a beautiful word I often have heard,

Its meaning I wish much to know;

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

About being “whiter than snow.”

It puzzles me much to think there is such,

For whiteness there’s nothing I know

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

Then what can be “whiter than snow?”

The snow-drop looks brown with its head drooping down

On white winter border below,

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

The claim to be “whiter than snow.”

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

To a wiser than I, I will go,

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

Of this wonderful “whiter than snow.”

But can God behold, as I have been told,

A child who’s so little and low?

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

That I shall be “whiter than snow?”

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

Since washed in the blood that did flow

So freely to cleanse away the dark stains,

And make me far “whiter than snow.”

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

And in love and wisdom to grow;

From sin undefiled, O Lord, keep Thy child,

Who is washed and made “whiter than snow.”

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” Pea. 51:7.

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

ML 12/19/1943

Frank's Recitation

The Sunday School children were having their annual treat, and many of the parents and elder brothers and sisters of the scholars were present. After tea and prize distribion five boys, who had all been brought to the Lord during the year, gave their testimony. It was a blessed meeting, and many hearts were melted. The last item on the list was a “Recitation” by the youngest boy in the school, a bright little chap of six years. He got up on the platform and repeated a part of “The Old, Old Story.” An aged lady, who heard Frank’s recitation that night was won to the Saviour. The words used by God to bring that weary one into rest in Christ were:

“And now the work is finished,

The sinner’s debt is paid,

Because on Christ the Righteous

The sin of all was laid.

And God released our Surety

To show the work was done,

And Jesus’ resurrection

Declared the victory won.

Do you at heart believe it?

‘Do you believe ‘tis true.

And meant for every sinner,

And therefore meant for you?

Then take this great salvation,

For Jesus loves to give:

Believe, and you receive it;

Believe, and you shall live.”

If you receive this message in your heart, confess Jesus as your Lord with the mouth, you too will be saved.

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

ML 12/19/1943

Phil, and His Protector

In a certain farm there was a favorite sheep dog who had guarded the sheep on the hills for years. And Phil—for this was the sheep dog’s name—was the children’s guide and conductor to and from the country schoolhouse to which they went, along three miles of rough and rugged roads, not too clean, and in winter time often unpassable for young footsteps to tread. And there had been some ugly stories told during that winter, of scholars on that bleak and lone road, being frightened and attacked by thieves bent on mischief, if not robbery. But none of Phil’s proteges ever shared these dangers, for the faittful sheep dog would have dared any to touch those under his care.

But there came a day when the laws of that part claimed that all who kept a dog—even a sheep dog—should pay a license to the Government each year for him, or, if they failed to do so, the dog was liable to be shot at sight. This was hard lines on many a small farmer and shepherd, whose livelihood was largely dependent on the services of his faithful sheep dog.

On one winter’s day, the small farmers of that hill region were thrown into a state of excitement by the unwelcome news that a man, said to be a Collector of Taxes, was raiding the cottages and small farm houses in that part, to collect the revenue of the dog’s tax, or, as it was reported, to capture the dogs themselves to destroy them.

When the children of this farm house heard of this, they hastened to hide Phil from his would-be captors. And one of the boys had him locked up in an old barn near the house. But this became known by some means, and the Tax Collector was seen in the neighborhood of the farm house in search of the favorite sheep dog. The younger girl of the family, thinking she would shield Phil from danger, quietly led him outside the farm yard, away to the shelter of some trees, where she considered he would be immune from seizure. But it was not long ere a stranger appeared on the farm, with a rope in his hand to lead away the dog. In the dark corner of the yard, with the arms of Marjory locked around his neck, the Tax Collector found the pair. Holding up his lantern, he asked, “What are you doing with the dog, lassie, there?” Promptly came the answer,

“Hiding him from the dog man.” At this the Collector laughed, and said, “You need not bother, I am the dog man.”

The fact was that her older brother, who had come home from a far-off land, with lots of money in his purse, had met the tax man on the way to the farm, found out what his demands for Phil were, paid them on the spot, and had the taxman’s receipt in his pocket. The taxman told the trembling child this, and Phil was honorably released, the charge against him having been firstly met by Another. Then the sheep dog was released and led back in triumph to the farm house, where no one need hide him, and none molest him now, for he had been righteously set free, by the grace of another, who met all legal claims against him.

This simple story of olden times serves to illustrate how a sinner is set free from law and its claims, through what Another has paid for him, and how the believing sinner is set free from fear of legal claims, or just judent, by the One who, by His Death on the Cross, paid the debt and bore the curse to set the believing sinner free.

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Rom. 4:7,8.

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

ML 12/19/1943

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 hainess 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.” Isa. 55:6.

ML 12/19/1943

The Holy King Rejected

A Review of Matthew

King David and others wrote that the holy King would be refused: “The kings of the earth.. and rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed.” Psa. 2:1.

Matt. 27:1,2, “The chief priests and scribes... took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death, and delivered Him to Pilate, the governor.”

The Holy One would be sold, “They weighed for My price thirty pieces of silver.” Zech. 11:12.

Matt. 26:14,15, “Judas...said, ‘What will ye give me, and I will diver Him unto you? They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.’ “

The Holy One to be “smitten,” and His followers scattered, “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd... saith the Lord of hosts, smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered.” Zechariah 13:7.

Matt. 26:50,56, “Then came they (the soldiers), and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him. Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.”

The Holy One to suffer, “I am weary of My crying.” Psa. 69:3. “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter.” Isa. 53:7.

Matt. 27:26, “When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”

Garments to be divided and vinegar to drink, “They parted my garment among them, and cast jots upon My vesture.” Psa. 22:18.

In my thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink.” Psa. 69:21.

Matt. 27:34,35,48, “The soldiers parted His garments, casting lots.” “They gave Him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall.”

The Holy One to be mocked, “All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn... they shake the head saying, He trusted in the Lord... let Him deliver Him.” Psa. 22:7,8.

Matt. 27:39, “They that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads.. also the chief priests mocking Him.. said, He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now.”

David wrote the cry of the Holy One, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Psa. 22:1.

Matt. 27:46, “Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sa—bachthani?’ that is to say, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’”

The Holy One to die, “He was cut off out of the land of the living.” Isa. 53S.

Matt. 27:50, “Jesus yielded up the ghost (His spirit).”

David wrote, the Holy One would not “see” corruption (decay): “Neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psa. 16:10.

Matt. 21:6, “The angel of the Lord...said, He is not here (in the tomb) but is risen.”

So the Holy One from God was refused and gave up His life. But the prophets also wrote of the time when this Ruler would punish all evil, and rule in justice (see Isa. 9:7; Jer. 23:6).

ML 12/19/1943

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 time 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 list’ning 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.” Deut. 31:8.

ML 12/26/1943

Nancy

Seated in a row, close by the sea shore, about a dozen young girls might have been seen night after night through the summer, in the pretty little fishing village where I spent my holidays when a boy. Hymn singing was not so common then as now, but that company of happy girls did make the village ring as their sweet voices blended in singing their favorite hymn, the opening lines of which are:

“In the Christians’ home in glory,

There remains a land of rest,

Where my Saviour’s gone before me,

To fulfill my soul’s request.

He has fitted up the mansions,

Which eternally shall stand;

My stay shall not be transient,

In that holy, happy, land.”

They had all been converted during a time of special meetings in the village the previous winter, and now they kept together, as little Christians should, apart from their old companions and their former ways. It was not all smooth sailing with them, especially when they gathered on the sea-beach to sing Immanuel’s praise.

A band of godless girls, such as they themselves had been before their conversion, met together for the purpose of annoying them, calling names, and otherwise mocking, while they sang the praises of the Lord. One of the ringleaders of this band, was a girl named Nancy, a fisherman’s daughter. Nancy was not ashamed to show her colors on Satan’s side. She played all sorts of tricks on the young Christians, and kept the villagers in fun, by her witty sayings and wicked jests. Nancy knew better, but as is often the case, Satan was urging her on in her opposition to the Gospel, to help her forget her own condition as a lost sinner on the way to the pit.

The Christian girls made Nancy the subject of special prayer, and they believed that God would yet save her. She had served the devil faithfully, and they were firm in the conviction that she would yet as faithfully serve the Lord Jesus.

But as it often happens, the answer to their prayers came sooner than they thought. One morning, while one of the Christian girls was along the shore, she saw Nancy coming along, and fully expected to have the usual onset made upon her, but to her amazement, Nancy came up smiling, and in a subdued voice, said,

“Mary, I was converted yesterday, and I’ve been looking for you all morning to tell you.”

Mary could scarcely believe it; it seemed to have been wrought so suddenly. But when Nancy told the whole story, and how troubled she had been for long, but tried hard to hide it, Mary praised the Lord, and greeted Nancy as a sister in Christ.

“You’ll come down to the shore and testify tonight Nance; mind, there must be no hiding of your light beneath a bushel,” said Mary, as she hurried off to tell the good news to the others.

When the circle of Christian girls gathered that night, Nancy was one of the number, and there was many a wondering look among the fisher folk, as they saw Nancy’s well-known form, and heard her sing with all her might,

“My old companions, fare ye well,

I will not go with you to hell,

I mean with Jesus Christ to dwell,

Let me go, let me go.”

Nancy proved by her life and walk, that she was truly converted, and many heard from her lips, the wonderous story of the love of Jesus.

Loved reader, has there been such a change in you? Have you been truly converted to God?

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

ML 12/26/1943

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

What would you think of a lion coming all the way from his distant land to die for mice, that he might set them free?”

The little girl looked astonished.

“I know a lion who did that. Jesus, ‘the Lion of the tribe of Juda’ (Rev. 5:5), died for us, to deliver us from the net of Satan, who had us captive at his will. We are only as mice compared to Him; yet He came to free us. And ought not we to thank the good Lion if He came back to life?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Of course, we ought thus to thank Jesus and love Him. But suppose this lion was gentle, and loving, and tame, and was willing to walk with us day by day, always at our side, ready to protect us. Should I be afraid to go through the dark woods, if I had such a lion with me?”

“No. ‘Cos you’ve got Jesus with you.”

“Yes, dear, that is it. So I can say, as David did,

‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me’” Psalms 23:4.

The lion is the king of all beasts of prey.

“What is stronger than a lion?” Judges 14:18.

“A lion, which is strongest among beasts” Proverbs 30:30.

Thank God, even he who goeth about “as a roaring lion,” “seeking whom he may devour” (Satan) (1 Peter 5:8), has his Conquerer in Jesus.

“Why do you think Jesus is called a lion?”

The child looked very serious, as it was explained that one reason was because He was coming back to punish His enemies. He came first as a Lamb, to be a sacrifice, and to put away sin; He is coming again. to bring delivence to all who believe, also to take “vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel” (2 Thess. 1:8). Then He will be as a lion.

The dear girl seemed frightened at the thought.

“You like to think of Jesus as the gentle Lamb. Well, trust in Him, and let Him set you free. Have Him walk with you as your Protector now, and you will not need to fear His coming again.”

If “the fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion”; and, “whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul” (Prov. 20:2), much more is it true of the King of kings, Who has said,

“Consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Psa. 50:22).

Come to Him now, dear young reader, while the day of mercy lasts.

“The Lord... is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to rentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

ML 12/26/1943

Jesus and the Little Ones

Jesus left His home above,

Full of mercy, grace and love,

Came a Saviour-God to be,

For the little ones like me.

He was once a little child,

Pure and holy, meek and mild;

Now I know that He will be

Kind to little ones like me.

Weary heads were laid to rest,

On His loving, tender breast;

Just to show that there will be

Room for little ones like me.

Jesus, I on Thee believe,

To my heart Thy love receive;

Cleaving ever close to Thee,

Keep a little one like me.

ML 12/26/1943

True Events

A Review of Matthew

You may have heard someone say that the story of Noah in the ark and the flood of Jonah and the great fish, were not true, but told as fables.

Some persons say that, but if they would read the book of Matthew, they would know those stories are true, because the Lord Jesus spoke plainly of them, as also of other events, and early men on earth.

He spoke of the death of Abel, the second boy in the world, and the first person to die (Matt. 23:35).

The flood was a very real event: Jesus spoke of “the day Noah (spelled Noe) entered into the ark”, and He said of the people drowned, “the flood came and took them all away” (Matt. 24:38,39.

Jesus said that Jonah (Jonas) was within the great fish “three days and three nights”, and that people of the city of Nineveh repented when he preached God’s words (Matt. 12:40,41).

Jesus said that God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of early time after the flood (Matt. 8:11; 22:32).

Jesus spoke often of Moses and the laws he wrote (Matt. 8:4; 19:8). He told of King David, and what he wrote (Matt. 12:3; 22:43,45).

Jesus spoke of King Solomon’s wisdom and riches, and of the queen who went to see his splendor (Matt. 6:29.; 12:42).

Jesus reminded the people of the words of the prophet Isaiah (Esaias), and of Daniel, and of others (Matt. 13:14; 24:15). So we can firmly believe that all those men, and events are true.

The Lord Jesus was grieved by pele who knew the writings of the prophets, but did not trust in God. He warned in His parables of people who were not true believers in God, and yet seemed to be real, as in the parable of the wheat and the tares.

Jesus did not speak much of His greatness, yet He told the people that He was “greater than Solomon”, their most honored king; “greater than Jonah”, a great prophet; “greater that the Temple”, which was their most honored place; and that He was Lord (Ruler) of the Sabbath Day. (They held the law of the Sabbath Day their most binding law).

Jesus Himself told His disciples that He would be cruelly-treated and put to death, and by what death; crucifixion (Matt. 16:21; 26:2).

Jesus also told of His resurrection, and told His disciples the exact day of His being taken, and that the third day He would rise. All this showed them afterward of His power to know all things. And the facts of His death and resurrection were well known to the Gentile rulers; to the leaders of Jerusalem; to the soldiers; the captain, and very many people.

In our next paper, we will begin the account of Christ’s life by Mark, the Lord willing.

ML 12/26/1943

Messages of God's Love: 1943

Table of Contents

Answers to Bible Questions for October

The Soft Answer

The New Year

He Had Forgotten, What? Have You Forgotten?

Winter

The Coming of Jesus

Early Teach the Little Children

Answered Prayer

The Book "Par Excellence"

For the Little Tots A. B. C.

"I Shall Be There"

The Wise Men's Visit

The Three Enemies

The Lord's Care

The One Who So Loved Me

The Hindu Boy's Sermon

A Journey at Night

Awake Thou That Sleepest

"The Name of Jesus"

Where's Mother?

Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me

"Lost, Lost"

Voices in the Wilderness

The Snow

Little Johnny

The Wonderful Jewels

My Favorite Text

A Great Enemy

Answers to Bible Questions for November

How a Shepherd Came to Christ

"Why Not Ask Jesus?"

The Dog in a Manger

Fishermen of Galilee

Lost in the Snow

The Needlework

"That's Me; Thay's My Prayer"

Do You Love the Saviour?

A Divine Traffic Signal, Stop!

Words of Jesus

Arabs Lost in the Desert

The Bible in Korea

Enlightened Eyes

Jesus Is Calling

In the Days of They Youth

A Prayer

A Mother's Love

The Thirteen Stolen Lambs

"Thou, God, Seest Me"

Laying Hold with a Grip

God's Gift

Two Roads and Two Men

Answers to Bible Questions for December

Wakening and Waiting

Do You Love Your Bible?

The Word as a Fire and a Hammer

A Leper, a Captain, and a Scribe

Ready for a Camel Ride

The Hiding Place in the Rock

Teddy's Conversion

How Are Our Sin Washed Away?

Great Grace

A Voice in a Storm

The Temptations of the Devil

What M. Fond Out

"Keep Close to the Rock, Johnnie"

"Is Father Still on Board?"

"Come unto Me"

Jesus' Call to Matthew

"Tom" And the Frog

How Long Will He Knock?

What Jim Did for Tom

"Ask, and It Shall Be Given You"

Twelve Men

Answers to Bible Questions for January

He Knows and Loves us Still

I wish I were Somebody else

Wise Counsel

The Menagerie